if he had not elected him for the work he undertook And then 3. For the comforting of Christ in undergoing that which he was to suffer for the carrying on of this work He must endure the wrath of God the contradiction of sinners before he could be the corner stone Divine appointment comforts a man in the hardest sorrows Gen. 31. 9. Thou saidst return to thy country The consideration of this strengthned and comforted Christ in all he suffered John 18. 11. The Uses of this 1. The Father and holy Ghost have a hand in the work of mans salvation as well as Christ we scarce take notice of the Father in the work of redemption as if he only did look on and approve what Christ did he acts in it as well as Christ he chose Christ he sent out Christ he fitted Christ for this great work Though the second person was he that was incarnate yet both the first and third person concurre and contribute to the work The divine election is the first wheele that moves in this work 2. That the work of our salvation by Christ is not a rash work 'T is not a work of inconsideration or precipitancy but a serious work There was much deliberation and consultation about it Here is mention of electing Christ It 's a work of infinite and unsearchable wisdom The mystery of godlinesse the Apostle calls it 1 Tim. 3. 16. The manifold wisdom of God Ephes 3. 10. here is depth of wisdome in this work 3. That the Elects salvation by Christ is a work well pleasing to God It 's called the pleasure of the Lord Esay 53. 10. It is a great contentment to God to see it carried on it cannot be otherwise when he himself hath elected Christ to it That which a man chuseth and contrives he is pleased when it is carried on God that hath chosen Christ for the foundation will carry on the work in his hand 4. Why Christ is called Gods Elect and Gods Servant Esay 42. 1 2. not as if he were inferior to God in regard of his divine nature Zech. 13. 13. Phil. 2. 6. but because he is chosen of God to be the foundation He is chosen to be the head of the Election all the Elect are chosen 5. Let us with confidence cast our selves on Christ Can we chuse better then God hath chosen 'T is an undervaluing not onely of Gods love but of his wisdom to chuse another foundation God will take it ill if we reject his choice Adventure on him you may Believe and trust in him without doubting He that hath elected Christ will not reject those that accept and relie on Christ The Election of God will mightily aggravate the refusal of Christ Encourage faith by this He that beleeveth in him shall not be ashamed 6. Very great comfort to them that have built on Christ God doth not chuse mouldring stones but firme stones If God have any wisdome to chuse Christ is sufficient to beare all their weight He hath laid help on one that is mighty Psalme 89. 19. Let what blasts will come this Elect stone will hold 1 PET. 2. 6. XXI SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. Febr. 13. 1652. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Precious I Go on to the second property of this corner stone as it is laid down in this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 precious The word here used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies that which is of great worth or value in it selfe and that which is much prized and esteemed by another A thing and a person may be valuable in it self and not valued by others And then a thing may be highly in it self esteemed which is of no great worth but this word signifies both That it denotes the worth of things or persons you may see Luke 14. 8. When thou art bidden to a wedding sit not down in the highest room lest a more honourable man then then be bidden of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That it signifies the valuation or high esteeme of things or persons appears from Phil. 2. 29. The Apostle writes to the Church about Epaphroditus that they would receive him and saith he hold such in reputation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make much of such let them be deer to you 'T is opposed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies one of no esteeme or account amongst men The Observation is this Doct. That Jesus Christ the chief corner stone of the Church is exceeding precious As he is a stone of Gods chusing so he is a choice stone He is therefore precious because he is of Gods choice Christ is a corner stone precious in himself and it is our great sinne if he be not precious unto us Christ is not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 precious but he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of very great price Matth. 13. 46. What is that pearle of great price but Jesus Christ himself for the obteining of whom a wise Merchant will readily part with all that he hath Nothing is worth a mans All but Jesus Christ But in comparison of him all things even the best are nothing worth Jesus Christ is a precious stone as well as an elect stone In the handling of this Doctrine I shall open two things for Explication 1. In what respects Christ is precious 2. Why he is so meanly esteemed by the greatest part of men 1. For the first Christ is precious in foure respects 1. He is precious in the account of God Jesus Christ is the delight both of the Father and of the holy Ghost God values him as a pearl of great price 1 He is in Scripture called the Son of his bosome The onely begotten Sonne who is in the bosome of his Father John 1. 18. As men and women shew their esteeme of jewels and pearls by wearing them at their bosome so doth God testifie his high esteem of Christ by laying him in his bosome The Sonne of God never was never will be out of the bosome of the Father 2 The publick testimony which God gave from heaven to Jesus Christ at his baptisme is an evidence of the high esteeme he hath of him Mat. 3. 17. This is my well beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 3 He is so precious in Gods account that the Father will accept of none but through him nor will he reject any whom he recommends to him 4 The great designe of God in the Gospel is to put honour upon Christ He commands all men to honour the Sonne as they honour the Father All the good he bestows upon men is in Christ and through Christ alone 5 The Father would never have put such a trust into his hands as the redeeming and saving of the Elect if he had not been of precious account in his sight 6 His present session at Gods right hand in heaven is a full and manifest proof how dear he is to him God hath set him there as a testimony of the highest account
stinking They defile all that comes neer them whatsoever they meddle with whatsoever toucheth them is defiled by them 2. They that are spiritually dead have no use of any of their spiritual senses The soul hath senses as well as the body but he that is dead cannot use any of these They cannot heare they cannot see they cannot taste they cannot smell they cannot feele they cannot heare Christs voice in the Gospel they cannot see the glory of Christ nor of grace they cannot feel the heavy weight of sinne they cannot taste the sweet and delicate pleasures of Jesus Christ they cannot smell the fragrancy of Christs sweet ointments They have no pleasure in those things that are most plesant in themselves and most desirable to such as are spiritually alive They are to all spiritual things and all spiritual things are to them as if they were not 3. This spiritual death if it be not removed is a certaine forerunner of eternal Death Blessed and happy is he that hath part in the first resurrection of him the second death shall have no power Rev. 20 6. but he that continues still in this spiritual death shall for ever be under the power of the second death the eternal death And this is the state of all such as want Jesus Christ Use 2. That that spiritual life which is in the soul of a beleever shall never totally and finally die It may be at deaths door it may be ready to die so it was with the Church of Sardis Rev. 3. 2. A Christian may be in regard of his spiritual life as a tree in the depth of winter no difference to all outward appearance between him and a dead plant but it is impossible that the spiritual life shall utterly be extinguished because Jesus Christ who is our spiritual life lives for ever Your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. hid as in a root for safety and security Because I live ye shall live also John 14. 19. while the root liveth the plant cannot die while the fountaine runneth the streames cannot cease while the olive-trees convey their oyle through the pipes into the lamp the lamp cannot go out A living Christian may grow very weak but he cannot die Jesus Christ must cease to live before the life of grace in a Saint do utterly perish while the cause continueth the effect will Use 3. That there is a true spiritual union between Iesus Christ and a beleever This is one of the great mysteries of the Gospel that Christ and a beleever should be made one it s set out by many examples as of root and branches Iohn 15. init head and members Eph. 5. 3. foundation-stone and the superstructory stones Eph. 2. 20. meat and eaters Iohn 6 56. husband and wife Eph. 5. 32. This very doctrine makes it good He could not be our life if he were not united to us and we to him 'T is by vertue of our union with him that we come to draw life from him As the soul and body are united so are Christ and a beleever the whole mystical body is called by his name 1 Cor. 12. 12. so also is Christ speaking of the Church Use 4. Deadnesse of Spirit want of spiritual Activity is very inexcusable in a beleever The ground of this inference is very cleare Jesus Christ is his life Christ hath life enough in him and he is willing enough to communicate more and more of this spiritual life If the fountaine of this life were a meer creature something might be said for thy deadnesse and coldnesse but now seeing Jesus Christ is thy life thy deadnesse is inexcusable in thy self and it is also dishonourable to Christ The life and greennesse of the branches is an honour to the root by which they live Spiritual greennesse and fruitfulnesse is in a beleever an honour to Jesus Christ who is his life Psal 92. 12 13 14 15. The righteous shall flourish as a Palm-tree c. To shew that the Lord is upright c. The fulnesse of Christ is manifested by the fruitfulnesse of a Christian Use 5. It is the duty of a Christian to live comfortably on this Doctrine It affords very much comfort 1. Against the weaknesse of this life in our selves What Christian is there but finds this life very weak in him at some times well when it is weakest in thee it is then strong in Jesus Christ And God looks upon thy spiritual life not only as it is in thee but as it is in Christ 2. Against the fear of the wanting of the Ordinances of life 'T is a great losse to lose the Ordinances Lev. 26. 31. Well though thou lose these yet thou doest not lose thy life These are but the pipes Christ is the Olive-tree These are but the chanels Christ is the fountaine Man liveth not by bread alone but by the word of blessing Thy soul liveth by Christ not by Ordinances They are but the instrumental cause Christ is the efficient 3. Against the feare of Satans workings to destroy this spiritual life 'T is his great designe to take away this spiritual life He labours to stifle it by sinne he stirs up his instruments to remove the Ordinances Well he cannot prevaile He must destroy Christ before he can destroy our life He must either wither the root or he cannot kill the branches Use 6. Let beleevers be careful to carry themselves towards Christ as he who is their life 1. Acknowledge him the Authour of your life 2. Go to him when you want life 3. Strengthen your union with him Eph. 4. 15. 4. Live to him who is your life Rom. 14. 8. Use 7. It should invite all to lay hold on Christ All men are dead by nature There 's no other way to live a spiritual life If Christ be not thy life of grace he will never be thy life of glory COL 3. 4. When Christ our life shall appear then III. SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. June 1. 1651. shall we also appeare with him in glory I Have handled the first Proposition as it relates to the life of grace viz. that Jesus Christ is a beleevers spiritual life I shall now consider of it as it refers to the life of glory and so summe it up into this conclusion viz. Doct. Jesus Christ is the eternal life of every beleever Christ is the everlasting life of all those that are eternally saved As he is their life of grace so he is also their life of glory He is often called in Scripture not only a Saviour but Salvation The salvation of God Luk. 3. 6. An horn of salvation Luk. 1. 69. And all because he is the salvation of all the Elect. I must here put in that Caution which I did before viz. That the Father and Holy Ghost are not to be excluded they are our life as well as Christ The Spirit and the Father are Saviours as well as the Sonne Opera Trinitatis ad
fitly taken carries away the defilements that are contracted within the body The blood of Christ is of a cleansing nature 'T is indeed the only cleanser It doth being taken by faith carry away all the filthinesse of the inward Man All the Ceremonial purifications were types of the purifying blood of Christ Heb. 9. 13 14. There ye have the typical cleansings expounded The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sinne 1 John 1. 7 Christ takes away the guilt of sinne by justification and he cleanseth us from the filthinesse of sinne by sanctification You reade in Zech. 13. 1. of a fountaine opened for sinne and for uncleannesse This fountaine is nothing else but the fountain of Christs blood He that drinks daily of this blood shall be cleansed daily 3. Drink is of a reviving nature It recovers from faintings it opens the eyes helps feeblenesse of Spirit vid. Judg. 15. 18 19. Sampsâ—n being tired by that great slaughter of the Philistines found his spirits sink he prayes for drink and when he had refreshed himself with water his spirit came again and he revived Solomon Prov. 31. 6 7. prescribes strong drink to him that is ready to perish and wine to the heavy hearted that they may forget their poverty and remember their misery no more Some drink is called Aqua-vitae because of its usefulnesse and efficacy this way The blood of Jesus Christ is a reviving blood When the soul is in deliquio spirituali when it faints and dies and sinks the sprinklings of this blood will fetch it again a drop or two of this true Aqua-vitae taken down by faith will open the eyes and restore it again This effect it had on Asaph Ps 73. 26. My heart and my flesh faileth c. but thou art the stay of my heart and my portion for ever This was foretold of Christ long before his birth by that Evangelical Prophet Esay 61. 1. and chap. 57. 15. To revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones It is his blood and that alone that healeth the broken in heart 4. Drink is of a cheering nature It doth beget and continue cheerfulnesse The Psalmist tells us that wine maketh glad the heart of man Psalme 104. 15. The blood of Christ is a heart-chearing thing It 's the only foundation and the only preserver of true joy It will make the heart merry in adversity it will create laughter in heavinesse Psal 4. 6 7. Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance c. Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart c. The light of Gods countenance is lifted up onely in and through Jesus Christ Christs blood is the onely medicine for spiritual Melancholy When the Church was drinking in Christs wine-cellar taking down this blood how was her heart cheared Cant. 2. 3 4. I sate down under his shadow c. The Uses of this are 1. For Information in these particulars 1. Take notice of the great mystery of a beleevers union and onenesse with Jesus Christ The Scripture sets this out as by expresse testimonies â—o by natural resemblances as of vine and branches John 15. init of head and members Eph. 1. ult Eph. 6. 30. of husband and wife Eph. 6. 32. of the foundation and superstructory stones Eph. 3. 20 21. and of meat and eaters as in the Text. As there is a union between the meat and the body of him that eats it so there is an intimate union between a beleever and Christ his spiritual meat And indeed ouâ— union with him is the foundation of our feeding on him He could not be our meat if he were not our Head by mystical uâ—im This is the foundation of this eating this makes Christ ours gives us right to eat The Apostle Col. 2. 19. makes our union with him the foundation of our receiving nourishment from him And the souls feeding on him proves the soules union with him So it follows ver 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and â— in him As the meat which we eate is turned into the substance of our body so are we turned into Christ made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone 2. Behold here the fulnesse of Christ Whence shall we have bread in the Wildernesse to satisfie so many say the Disciples to Christ Mar. 8. 4 5. The fulnesse of Christ appears in this that he hath enough in him to feed so many and to feed every one so plentifully He hath sed his people ever since that promise Gen. 3. 15. and he will feed all his Elect to the end of the world and he will feed them all abundantly every kind of way he feeds them with grace feeds them with knowledge feeds them in respect of justification and he feeds them in respect of sanctification c. and yet is there no abatement of his fulnesse Did not the fulnesse of the Godhead dwell bodily in him Col. 2. 9. he could not feed so many so long every way without any diminution of his fulnesse the children have been eating above five thousand years and the loaf is still whole III. Behold the great love of Christ and of the Father in giving us this meat and drink Remember 't is his flesh that is our meat his blood that is our drink He could not have been our meat and drink if he had not been sacrificed the Priests were not to eat of the offerings allowed them till they were sacrificed had not Christ been sacrificed he could have been no food for us The love of Christ and of the Father appear the more in it that he should sacrifice his Sonne to be a meat offering for us and let out his blood to be a drink offering for us wonder to eternity at this love John 3. 16. the Scripture expresses the great love of God to the Israelites that he gave them Manna from heaven Psal 75. 23 24 25. How much greater love doth he expresse in giving his Sonne to the Elect to feed them That Gods onely Sonne should be torn in pieces to be meat and drink for us Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us as to feed us with the body and blood of his own Son IV. Behold here the compleatnesse of Christ The Scripture speaks much of his compleatness and perfection Look upon him in what respect under what notion you please and you will see his compleatnesse Behold him as a Saviour and so he is a compleat he saves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 7 25. he saves the soul the body from all evil unto all good and that for ever Consider him as a Physician and his compleatnesse will appeare He heales the soule the body heales in an instant heales to the bottom c. whatsoever he is compared to he is compleatly and perfectly so Behold him as a Feeder and he is compleat in that notion He is not onely meat nor onely drink but he
feed the inward man Those that have the fattest bodies have not alwayes the fattest soules But Christ is spiritual meat and drink He feeds the soul the conscience the spiritual part His blood purgeth the conscience Heb. 9. 14. it refreshes the conscience it chears the conscience his body strengthens the soul repaires the decayes of the inward man 2. Christ is heavenly meat and drink Joh. 6. 32. My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven Other meat and drink is terrene and earthly Your bread grows out of the bowels of the earth Your wine is the blood of an earthly grape The flesh you eat is fed of the tender grasie that springs out of the earth If the earth should prove barren you would soone feele a famine The King himself is served by the field Eccles 5. 9. 'T is true the blessing comes from heaven but all the materials of meat and drink are earthly But Jesus Christ is the bread of heaven and the wine of heaven The Manna came from the clouds onely but Christ from the beatifical heaven even from the bosome of the Father 3. Christ is incorruptible meat and drink All earthly meat and drink is of a fading perishing nature The best bread grows mouldy in a little time the best flesh in time putrifies and taints the best wine growes eager and sowre in a little time and becomes unfit for the body of man The very Manna it self when it was kept till the morning of the next day contrary to Gods command bred wormes and standk Exod. 16. 20. But Jesus Christ knows no corruption His flesh blood is now as sweet and pleasant after so many Ages as it was the first houre it was eaten and drank John 6. 27. And it will be as farre from corruption at the end of the world as now it is The Manna in the golden pot corrupted not though kept for many Generations Christ is Manna in that golden-pot the humanity in the golden pot of the Divinity shall see no corruption 4. Christ is such meat and drink as preserves from death Other meat and drink cannot keep man from the grave That rich man that fared deliciously every day was not made immortal The rich man died and was buried Luke 16. 22. All that Generation that fed on Manna and drank the water out of the rock died John 6. 49. But Christ preserves the soul from Death John 6. 50. This is the bread of God that came down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die It immortalizes the soule that feeds on it He that beleeveth on me hath eternal life ver 51. And then 5. Christ is soul-satisfying meat and drink He that beleeveth on me shall never hunger and he that cometh to me shall never thirst John 6. 35. There is a hunger of desire and a hunger and thirst of total emptinesse and want He that hath this meat and drink shall never totally want him It is not so with other meat and drink A man may have his belly filled with other meat and drink and may have a good quantity before-hand and yet may at last want a morsel and die for want of a draught of water But he that once hath this spiritual meat and drink though he eat but a little shall never be utterly destitute Jehn 7. 37 38. The widows handful of meal and spoonful of oyle was never spent till God sent raine upon the earth 1 Reg. 17. 16. He that hath but a handful of Christs flesh and a spoonful of his blood shall never see want but shall have enough to satisfie him to all eternity 6. Christ is such meat and drink as gives life to the Dead Other meat and drink cannot preserve a living body from death much lesse can it give life and restore breath to a dead body Put the most delicate meat the strongest drink into the mouth of a dead man and they will not give him life if the soul be quite departed They may recover from a swoon they cannot from death But the flesh and blood of Christ quicken the dead Christ by putting his flesh and blood into the mouth of the dead soul conveys life into it His flesh and blood make the lips of the dead to speak As the Father raiseth the dead and quickneth them so the Son quickneth whom he will John 5. 21. if thou hast any spiritual life in thee thou didst receive it from the enlivening vertue of Christs flesh and blood communicated to thee by the Spirit of life 7. Christ is such meat and drink as will never surset All other meat and drink if it be taken immoderately and unseasonably tends to sicknesse and suâ—fetting The more lushious and delicate they are the sooner do they surfet the body Hence is Solomons advice Prov. 25. 16. drunkennesse and surfeting bring more to their long home then pining famine But the flesh and blood of Christ never surfet A man cannot eat and drink too much of Christ nor can they eat and drink him unseasonably There is no killing no annoying vertue in Jesus Christ this meat and drink will never clog never cloy the stomack Christ is an occasion of death to none but to those that refuse him 8. Christ is such meat and drink as is suitable for all persons at all times Other meat and drink is not fit for all persons nor for the same person in all conditions That that will nourish a man may kill a childe That that strengthens a man in health may kill him in sicknesse There is meat for strong men milk for babes c. But Jesus Christ is meat and drink for all persons for all conditions He is meat for the strong man he is milk for the babe He is proper for the healthful person and he is fit for the sickly person He is the labouring mans food and he is the sick mans diet His blood is Physical drink to him that is sick cooling drink to him that is parched with heat he is strong cordial-drink to him that faints He is a suitable nourishment 9. Jesus Christ is meat and drink that is freely bestowed He is not purchased by our money nor procured by our industry but freely communicated Other meat and drink is procured at dear rates Men must Till and Plow and Sowe their land men must breed up cattel men must plant vines dig springs and fountaines otherwise they can expect neither meat nor drink The Egyptians in a time of famine pawn'd their lands for food they gave their cattel for bread and at last sold their land out-right that they might have food Gen. 47. 15 16 17 18 19 20. But Christ is meat and drink though the most costly in himselfe yet costlesse to us Nothing is required on our part but receiving of him If any should offer money Christ would say as Peter to Simon Magus Act. 8. 20. Thy money perish with thee He that will not take this meat and drink as an
every 〈◊〉 beleever doth very much resemble Jacob 〈◊〉 that 1. In regard of their godly simplicity It was the commendation of Jacob that he was a plain man Gen. 25. 27. It relates not so much to his outward condition as to the inward frame of his heart Beleevers are a single hearted generation That which our Saviour saith of Nathaniel is true of them at least in desire and affection they are not only without gall but even without guile John 1. 47. they study plainnesse rather then greatnesse they put away deceit far from their Tabernacles 2. In regard of their holy zeal Jacob was a man full of the fire of heavenly zeal How earnest was he in reforming his family Gen 35. 2 3. Here is true zeal it begins reformation at home all true beleevers have sparks of this coelestial fire in their bosomes Tit. 2. 14. They desire that they and theirs may be reformed who ever walk disorderly They resolve as Joshuah I and my house will serve the Lord Joshuah 24. 15. 3. In regard of their wrestlings with God Jacob had the Name of Israel given him because of his violent wrestlings with God by prayer Gen. 32. 28. The Prophet doth fully interpret what this wrestling was Hosea 12. 3 4. His prayers and teares were the two armes by which he wrestled with God Every true beleever is frequent in this exercise I give my self to prayer saith David Psal 109. 4. he that hath true grace loves no exercise better then this of holy wrestling with God Epaphias is described by his frequency in these holy wrastlings with God both for himself and others Col. 4 12. In all holy vertues true beleevers are like Israel and therefore may well be called by his name 2. For the second Christ is the consolation of Israel in two respects By way of purchase By way of conveyance First By way of purchâ—se and merit Whatsoever is an ingredient or cause of true consolation is by the purchase and procurement of Jesus Christ The Scripture makes mention of many grounds of spiritual consolation To instance some particulars 1. Reconciliation with God There can be no true comfort till God and the sinner be made one Reconciliation is the first bottom of Consolation Rom. 5. 2. The begining of his Prodigals joy was the reconciliation of his father to him Luke 15. latter end Now the Scripture tells us that reconciliation is the purchase of Christs blood he is the only atonement of the soule Col. 1. 21 22. There had never been any pacification between heaven and earth if Jesus Christ had not interposed himself He was contented that the Father should make war with him that his fury towards us might cease He is our peace-offering by whom we have peace with God and with our selves 2. The work of grace in the heart Sanctification is one ground of consolation The Kingdom of God is righteousnesse and peace and joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. That comfort which is true is builded upon righteousnesse The effect of righteousnesse shall be peace and the fruit of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for 〈◊〉 Esay 32. 17. Now all our holinesse and grace is the purchase of Jesus Christ The shedding of his blood doth not onely procure for us glory hereafter but grace here The conscience is purified by the streames of his blood Heb. 9. 14. He is as properly our sanctification as our salvation 3. The pardon of sinne Remission is an inlet of Consolation Esay 40. 1 2. Comfort ye comfort ye my people tell them that their iniquity is forgiven Sence of pardon is the true ground of spiritual laughter Our Saviours usual receipt for the working of comfort is this Be of good cheer thy sinnes are forgiven So he saith to the paraâ—ytick Mat. 9. 2. the heart may be light in heavinesse when sinne is once remitted Now we know Christs blood is the meritorious cause of the remission of sinne 'T is he that hath expiated our sinnes Col. 2. 13 14. He that will be forgiven any other way shall never be forgiven His blood is the onely bath for the washing away of sin Eph. 1. 7. 4. Right to the promises The promises of the Gospel are the wells of true Comfort The Apostle makes mention of the comfort of the Scriptures Rom. 15. 4. If there be any comfort in the Scriptures it is in the promises Precepts are written for direction threatnings for terror promises chiefly for consolation The Prophet mentions the breasts of the Churches consolation Esay 66. 11. The promises of the Gospel are the breasts of the Churches consolation by sucking at these breasts the heart is made glad Now who but Christ purchased the promises The Apostle saith that all the promises of God are in Christ 2 Cor. 1. 20. They are in him as the procuring and meritorious cause of them all The Covenant of grace which is nothing else but a bundle of rich promises is the purchase of Christs blood The world had never heard of a promise of any good if it had not been for Jesus Christ 5. Hope of salvation Hope is the door of consolation We rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God saith the Apostle Rom. 5. 2. There 's more cause of rejoycing in this then in being able to cast out devils Luke 10. 20 Now we know that it was none but Jesus Christ that did or could unlock the way to heaven He is the way to heaven He is the purchaser â—f heaven God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his Sonne 1 John 5. 11. He is called the salvation of God in this song v. â—0 There would have been no entrance for any of Adams lost seed into glory if Christ had not set the door open it is be that opened the Kingdome of heaven to all beleevers 6. The gift of the Spirit The holy Ghost is called the Comforter John 14. 26. His office is to work consolation â—â—â—he hearts of Gods people Spiritual comfort is therefore called joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. because the holy Ghost doth create it in the soul Now we know the in-dwelling of the holy Ghost in us is the purchase of Christ John 15. 26. When the comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father The third person had never been our comforter if the second person had not been our Redeemer There is nothing can be thought on which hath any causality or efficiency in our consolation but it is of Christs procurement This is the first Secondly By way of conveyance As all our grace is communicated and conveyed unto us from Christ so is also our consolation Jesus Christ doth by his Spirit in the Ordinances of grace actually convey comfort unto his people as he sees them stand in need of it The Apostle speaks of the beleevers consolation abounding by Christ 2 Cor. 1. 5. All comfort is in Christ as a fountaine in him God hath put it
fountain of his blood as a laver for sin When thy heart hath any good thoughts of sin remember this way of expiation and it will appear very hainous 2. Behold the dignity and merit of Christs blood The Scripture calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 1. 19. precious blood It 's precious blood in regard of the dignity of his person it is the blood of God himself that is of that person who is true and very God Acts 20. 28. And its precious in regard of the vertue and effect of it By this blood God and man are reconciled By this blood the Church of God is Redeemed And by this blood sin is expiated and perfectly done away Consider these three things 1 The multitude of sinners that are cleansed by Christ An innumerable company all the Elect of God in all ages 2 The multitude of sinnes in every person not one but many every sinner is full of sores not one free part either of soul or body 3 The perfection of the cure Every sinner is as perfectly healed as if he had never been wounded He is said to cleanse from all sinne in 1 Joh. 1. 7. He is said to take away the sinnes of the world He is said for ever to perfect them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. All these expressions shew the compleatnesse of the sinners cleansing Were not his blood of infinite value it could never have wrought such an effect The blood of all the men in the world could not expiate one sin â—ut the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth multitudes of sinners from millions of sins and every one of them mortal 3. Behold the exceeding greatnesse of the love both of God the Father and of Christ to man-kind The Evangelist admires it John 3. 16. It is admired by the Saints in heaven Rev. 5. 9 10. and it may well be admired by the Saints on earth That God should let out the blood of his own Son to make a spiritual fountain for us to wash in This argues not onely exâ—ctnesse of justice but abundance of love It will appear to be love indeed if we consider what Christ must endure before he could expiate sinne He must drink up the deep fountaine of his Fathers wrath before he could be a fountaine for us to wash in He shall drink of the brook in the way saith the Prophet of Christ Psal 110. 7. This brook is the wrath of God it was a large brook and a deep brook the streames of it were very fierce and very muddy This brook Christ did not onely saile over or swim thorough but he drank it up even the thickest dregs of it That God should cause his Sonne and that the Son should be willing to drink up such a brook of wrath that he might become a fountain to wash away our sin this argues love unspeakable and stupendious in both towards elect men 4. The Church of God shall never want sufficient means for spiritual purification Here is a fountaine opened and being once opened it shall never be shut again and as it shall never be shut so it can never be drawn dry The streams of it shall perpetually flow out in the Gospel whilest the Church hath need of washing Other fountains may faile through continuance of drought but this fountaine can never faile God promises to his Church perpetual springs Esay 5â— 1â— Thâ—â— shalt be as a watered garden and like aspring of water whose waters faile not This continuance of the fountaine is intimated in the circumstance of time mentioned in the text in that day The whole time of the Churches pilgrimage in this life is comprehended under that expression The fountaine stands open and runnes all the day long in a full and plentiful streame It is the Churches misery that she contracts defilement continually but it is her comfort that the purifying fountaine doth and shall run continually 5. How inexâ—â—sable those are that die in their filthinesse under the Gospel Those who live and die with their filthinesse upon them where the Gospel is not shall be without excuse at the day of judgement because God made them at first cleane and they did wilfully defile themselves Mans first â—â—â—â—ling in the mire of sin was his own voluntary act he can blame none but himself therefore none of mans defiled posterity can be acquitted but of all men those that live under the Gospel shall be without excuse For to them a fountain is set wide open and they are dayly invited to wash themselves therein their sinne iâ— double They do not onely sinne in pollâ—ting themselves but they sin in keeping the pollution upon them They are filthy noâ— because they want water but because they want a heart to make use of water The â—â—reames of Christs blood runne by their doors and therefore if their guilt abide nothing can be pleaded by way of excuse They were told of their 〈◊〉 they were invited to wash they saw others by washing were cleansed therefore their guilt remaineth If Nâ—â—â—â— after the Propheâ— directed him to wash in Jordan had returned without washing who would have pitied him if he had died a leper Those that are brought to this spiritual Jordan if they will not wash 't is pity but their sinful leproâ—ie should remaine upon them They do shut that fountain against themselves that God hath graciously opened Thus much for the first Use of Information 2. For Exhortation It commends several duties which we should carefully practise As 1. Take heed of despising this fountaine The Prophet foretelling of Christ did long since by way of complaint speak of the despising and rejecting of him Isa 53. 3. We have cause to joyne with him in the same complaint the fountaine of Christs blood is exceedingly despised 1. The Iews they keep open the typical fountain 2. The Papists despise this fountaine in that Heb. 10. 14 they make other expiatory fountaines They instead of going to the fountaine of Christs blood 1. They go to the Masse which they call a propitiatory sacrifice And 2. To the merit of their own works thinking thereby to expiate sinne purchase the favour of God Jesus Christ may complaine against the Papists as God doth against his people of old because of their apostasie Jer. 2. 13. My people have commited two evils they have forsaken me the fountaine of living waters and have hewen them out cisterns broken cisterns that can hold no water The Scripture makes not good works but Christs blood our ransome and propitiation Tit. 3. 4 5 6. Our good works are so farre from cleansing us from the guilt of sinne that they themselves have need of cleansing Domine lava lachrymas meas was the prayer of that father and it must be our prayer Doth not the Scripture attribute filthinesse to the best of our works Esay 64. 6. All our righteousnesses are as filthy râ—gs Thy repentance thy prayers thy duties must be sprinkled in this fountain else God will loath
being above the world the work of God might prosper better in their hearts If ye be rison with Christ c. v. 1 2. This he presseth by two cogent Arguments 1. They are dead to the world v. 3. for ye are dead By faith they are partakers of Christs death and by their profession they are under an obligation of dying more and more 2. Their life is hid with Christ in God v. 3. They are appointed to a higher kinde of life then that which other men live therefore they ought to seek after those things which appertaine to this life Now lest any should object if the life thou speakest of be a hidden life what advantage will it be to be so mindful of it the Apostle answers v. 4. though it be for the present an hidden life yet it shall be revealed and that perfectly When Christ who is our life shall appear c. In which we have these two Propositions viz. 1. Jesus Christ is a beleevers life 2. That Christ who is a Beleevers life shall appear Of these in Order Doct. 1. That Jesus Christ is a Beleevers life For the understanding of this we are to know that a Beleever hath a twofold life for I shall not speak here of the life of nature which a beleever enjoys not as a beleever but as a reasonable creature Jesus Christ is a beleevers life as he lives the life of nature Act. 17. 28. in him we live move and have our being 'T is from Christ that we live the life of men But to wave that a beleever as a beleever hath a double life 1. The life of grace which he lives after he is regenerated by vertue of the Spirit of Christ living in him and uniting him to God by Faith 2. The life of glory which he shall live in heaven to all eternity after this life The soul begins this life immediately upon its departure out of the body and the body shall enter into the possession of this life immediately after the resurrection and reunion of soul and body Both these kindes of life are a Beleevers as he is a beleever and Jesus Christ is a Beleevers life in reference to both these And because both of these are included in the Text the one of them the life of grace is but the inchoation of and a preparation to the life of glory I shall speak of both of them in the handling of the Doctrine Jesus Christ is a beleevers spiritual life He is so to a beleever in these foure respects 1. He is their life originally It is Jesus Christ that works this life in their soules He is the Creator and Former of life in them The second Adam was made a quickning spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. As the father raiseth the dead and quickneth them so the Sonne quickneth whom he will Joh. 5. 21. Thy soul had never fetched out spiritual breath had not Jesus Christ breathed into it the breath of life The time cometh and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Joh. 5. 25. The Ordinances are the instrumental cause but Jesus Christ is the efficient cause of the animating of the soul by a spiritual life 2. He is their life materially He is that principle by which they live Every living Creature hath some intrinsecal principle of that life which it lives Jesus Christ is the inward principle of a beleevers life He is the soule of their soule The Apostle speaks of this Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ lives in me It is only by vertue of the soules union with Christ that it comes to live the life of grace He is the foundation or form as I may say of their life 3. He is their life conservativè He it is that doth preserve this spiritual life in their soules by continual communication of himself he maintains and upholds the life of grace from dying and perishing When they are sleepy he awakeneth them when they languish and faint he recovers them He strengthens the things which remain that are ready to die He removes those inward distempers which waste this spiritual life and be blesseth those Ordinances which feed this life When David was going down the hill and in regard of this spiritual life was almost at the dust of death so weak that he could scarce fetch his breath Jesus Christ did restore and renew him again He restoreth my soul Psal 23. 3. he cast water upon the dying plant and made it green and vigorous again Of this the Apostle Col. 3. 3. our life is hid with Christ 4. He is their life exemplariter He is the example and pattern according to which they are to live Jesus Christ is the rule according to which they are to walk he is the copy according to which they are to write One end of the incarnation and life of Jesus in the flesh was to set us an exact and perfect pattern for our imitation 1 Pet. 2. 21. And by the diligent viewing and studying of his example is our spiritual life carried on to perfection The Uses of this point are these Use 1. That all those that are without Jesus Christ are spiritually dead The Scripture accounts all unregenerate sinners as dead men They are dead in sins they are dead unto God they are dead unto grace they are as truly without spiritual life as the body is without natural life from which the soul is departed This thy brother was dead and is alive againe Luk. 15. 32. conversion is called the quickning of the dead Mat. 11. 5. because all who are unconverted are as to all spiritual considerations in a dead condition And it cannot be otherwise because they have no interest in Jesus Christ who is the Authour and principle of spiritual life The Apostle asserts this clearly Eph. 2. 1 12. he tells them at the first verse That they were dead in sins and trespasses he gives them the reason v. 12. because at that time they were without Christ And so another Apostle tells us 1 Joh. 5. 12. He that hath the Sonne hath life but he that hath not the Sonne hath not life Till Christ be formed the soul is a dead thing without either life or motion And this is a very miserable condition for a dead soule is far worse then a dead body in as much as the soul is more excellent then the body Consider a few particulars 1. Dead souls are loathsome Nothing more noisome then a dead body By this time he stinketh Joh. 11. 39. Let me bury my dead out of my sight saith Abraham even his wife Gen. 23. 4. she that was the delight of his soul while she was alive became noisom to him when she was dead The soule that is spiritually dead is very loathsome both to God and man The Scripture compares them to stinking carrion Psal 14. 3. They are altogether become
the light Jesus Christ hath a penetrating and searching power No heart so close but his eye is in it no conscience so dark but he sees to the bottome of it See what the Apostle saith of him Heb. 4. 13. All things are naked and open to his eyes and every creature is manifest in his sight 4. Light hath a chearing and 〈…〉 The light contributes much 〈…〉 and growth and life of 〈…〉 creatures Light and motion are the câ—me of that heat which the heavenly bodies send down upon the earth Light is that instrument whereby all the influences of heaven are communicated and dispensed to the world The motions of nature are both quickned and comforted by the light and by it all the births of nature are cheared and comforted Jesus Christ hath a chearing comforting and quickning vertue 'T is by influences from Christ spiritual life and comfort are obtained and preserved The Prophet speaks of this vertue of Christ under this very Metaphor of light Mal. 4. 2. All that spiritual livelinesse and brisknesse that beleevers have at any time in their hearts is from the beaming wings of Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse He is a heart-chearing a heart-warming a heart-quickening Saviour 5. Light hath a Purifying vertue Fogs and Mists that are gathered in darknesse are dispersed and scattered when the light comes When a candle is lighted and set up in a room if there be any damps they gather about it Light is the fining pot of Nature The world would be an unwholsom Pest-house if it had not light Jesus Christ hath a purifying and cleansing vertue By vertue from him it is that those nasty filthinesses of sinne which are in the soul are purged away Heb. 8. 14. All the Levitical Ceremonial purifications used in the Law were types of him The Prophet compares him to a refiner and purifier of silver Mal. 3. 3. By his blood he purifies the soul from the guilt of sin By his grace he cleanseth the soul from the filth of sinne The Prophet compares him to a fountaine set open for purification Ezek. 13. 1. All that ever were all that ever shall be cleansed from the filthinesse of sin are cleansed by Jesus Christ 6. Light is of an undefilable nature Though it passe through sinks and the most polluted places yet it contracts no defilement It cleanseth all things but is defiled by nothing It is a quality so spiritual that nothing can fasten upon it to pollute it Jesus Christ is fitly resembled to light in this respect He is not capable of any defilement He assumed sinful nature without the least sinne He had the likenesse of sinful flesh Rom 8. 3. but not the least sinne in his flesh In the dayes of his flesh he did as a spiritual Physician repaire to all sorts of sinners but he carried away from them no pollution at all He conversed with Mary Magdalen with Zacheus the Publican and other Publicans and sinners without the least taint of corruption He was born he lived and died in a corrupt generation in a very Pest-house of sinne without the least tincture of sinne He lived and died holy harmlesse undefiled and separated from sinners as the Apostle saith Heb. 7. 26. 7. The nature of the light is hard to be known The Philosophers are much troubled about the defining and describing of it 'T is not a substantial forme because it is perceived by the sight which no substantial forme is 'T is not a body because then when the light passeth through a perspicuous body two bodies would be in one place which is against 〈…〉 and reason Nor is it an 〈◊〉 from a luminous body for then the Sonne by his continual shining would be deprived of â—igâ—t but it is an accidental forme or a patibâ—e quality and so very hard to be described The Scripture speaks of the difficulty of searching out the nature of the light perfectly by any mortal man Job 38. 19 20 21 24. Onely he who is the Father of lights doth perfectly understand it Jesus Christ is not perfectly to be understood by any living man Who can declare his generation as he is the Sonne of God Esay 53. 8. Who can declare his conception exactly as he is the Sonne of man the Holy Ghost hath overshadowed it Luke 1. 35. He that created the flesh of Christ is onely able perfectly to understand the manner of it Who is able to declare the mystery of the hypostatical union of the two natures in one person exactly We beleeve these things comprehend them perfectly we are not able His Name is wonderful Esay 9. 6. there are such wonderful mysteries in the nature of this light as no man no creature can fully and perfectly comprehend Secondly Christ dispenses this light these two wayes 1. By the preaching of his Gospel in the publick Ministery thereof The Ministers are called Stars and the Ministery or preaching of the Gospel is that Orb in which this light shines and by which it is communicated and dispensed to the world We preach Christ crucified 1 Cor. 1. 23. Where the Gospel hath never been preached this light hath never yet shined This is the chariot in which this glorious light is carried about ordinarily in the world 2 Cor. 4. 3 4 5 6. 2. By the vertuous efficacy of his Spirit in the Ministery The most powerful preaching of Christ that can be will be to no purpose without these inward workings of the Spirit By the Spirit of Christ three things are done 1 The blindnesse of the minde is removed The holy Ghost causes the skales to fall off the eyes 2 A visive faculty is bestowed This is that which the Apostle calls the enlightening of the eyes of the understanding Ephes 1. 18. 3 Power is given actually to close with the light The soule is enabled to follow the light or to walk in the light as our Saviours phrase is John 12. 35. So that by these two meanes this light is communicated By the preaching of the Gospel the object is made present and by the Spirit of Christ the object is made visible the faculty of sight is bestowed and a power of following the light is created Thirdly Christ is differenced from all other lights viz. Prophets Apostles who are called lights Mat. 5. 14. He is differenced from all them five ways 1. They are lights onely Ministerially They are lights onely as they do by their office hold out this light They are lights as the candlestick may be called a light because it carries the candle where the light is But Christ is a light of and in himselfe He is a light not Ministerially but Originally The fountaine of light 2. They are small lights Christ i◠〈…〉 light They were but like little â—â—thing 〈◊〉 Christ is as a great Torch which teacheth from heaven to earth They are light as the Stars are light a little glimmering borrowed light Christ is light as the Sunne and therefore he is called The
people When God committed our salvation to Christ he committed it to one that was mighty Christ is not a reed of salvation but a rock of salvation A strong Redeemer as the Scripture calls him Ierem 50. 34. Consider four things 1. What strong enemies Christ was to vanquish that he might save us 1 He was to save us from sinne Now sin was very strong it grew fast and deep in the heart Sinne is interwoven in the very constitution of every man Christ could not save the Elect if he did not pluck up the very roots of sinne He was to save them from the guilt from the power from the filthinesse yea from the very being of sinne Had he not been very strong he could not have subdued such a potent enemy as sinne was 2 He was to save them from the devil The devil is called in Scripture The strong man yea the strong man armed Luke 11. 21. One devil hath more strength then all the men in the world and there are many Legions of devils which are in the possession of the Elect by nature The devils are called principalities and powers for the greatnesse of their strength Eph. 6. 12. Jesus Christ if he had not been very strong could never have routed these mighty spirits Consider 2. The manner how he was to save us He was to beare and undergo the wrath of his Father for his Elect a heavy burthen which they were notable to bear The grappling with sinne and Satan was but easie in respect of this to beare the wrath of God without sinking The Prophet speaks of this Esay 53. 5 6. all the punishment of the sinnes of men was laid on Christ He treadeth the wine-presse of the fiercenesse and wrath of Almighty God Rev. 19. 15. There it 's spoken of him as the Executioner of his Fahters wrath but he did first tread it as a sufferer And he did beare all this alone And he was to undergo it without sinking and fainting Had he not been a strong salvation he had perished under this burden To beare the wrath of God is a greater work then the subduing of all the devils strength He could have done this by a word but to satisfie the justice of his Father could not be done without his personal suffering Consider 3. The multitude of the persons he was to save Thousands and millions an innumerable multitude the Scripture affirmes them to be Rev. 7. 9. All the Elect of God which did then live yea all that had been all that should be to the end of the world Had he not been a strong Saviour he could not have saved so many And which doth shew his strength more All these were at first unwilling to be saved by him The Elect when Jesus Christ 〈…〉 them and to apply the salvation 〈…〉 which he hath merited for them are 〈◊〉 unwilling to be saved they runne away from him they like their condition so well that they desire not to be removed out of it They â—â—ject Christ yea they fight against Christ and the salvation that he brings until he have subdued their hearts and of unwilling made them willing by the power of his irresistible grace And then they willingly and freely adhere to him Draw us and we will runne after thee Consider 4. The perfection and fulnesse of his salvation His salvation is a compleat salvation This is that which the Apostle saith Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the uttermost oâ— to perfection What is it to save to the uttermost or to perfection 1. 'T is to save the whole man 2. 'T is to save from all evil to all good 3. 'T is to save to eternity Jesus Christ doth perfectly save in all these respects He will never leave off his Elect till he hath brought them to glory Christ is called a Horne of salvation because he saves both Offensively and Defensively he saves his people and wounds his enemies It 's a Metaphor from horned creatures which do save themselves and offend their assailant Thus much for the second particular Why he is called an Horn of salvation 3. How Christ comes to be an Horn of salvation This is expressed in this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God hath raised him up This phrase notes these three things 1. Gods decree whereby Jesus Christ was from eternity designed to this work The Scripture â—â—lls that by a solemne Decree of all the three Persons Jesus Christ the second person was designed for this work of salvation He was set apart by the determinate Counsel of God to be the Authour of salvation unto the Church The Psalmist speaks of this Psal 2. 6 7. Yet have I set my King c. I will declare the Decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my Sonne this day have I begotten thee 2. Gods Mission of Christ. As he was before all time appointed for this work so he was in the fulnesse of time sent to accomplish it In the fulnesse of time God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law to redeeme them that were under the Law Gal. 4. 4 5. Of this Mission the Prophet speaks largely Esay 61. 1 2 3. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me c. He hath sent me to binde up the broken hearted c. To this belongs that solemne publick promulgation of the Father whereby he proclaimed Christ as his salvation to the world Mat. 3. 17. by an immediate voice from heaven This is my well beloved Sonne 3. The Act of God in furnishing Christ with such qualifications as might render him fit for such a work As he established him by his Decree and by his publick Mission sealed him for this work so he did furnish him with all those qualifications which were necessary for the carrying of it on for the good of his Elect This furnishing of Christ relates to two things 1. The preparing of a body for him A humane nature was necessary for him that was to be the salvation 〈…〉 must be made to Justice by the 〈…〉 that committed the trespasse And 〈◊〉 besides the Divine Nature was not capable of saving that way that salvation must be wrought namely by suffering God therefore fitted Christ with a body in which body by the grace of personal union the God-head was caused to dwell Of this the Apostle speaks Heb. 10. 5. Sacrifice and meat-offering thou wouldest not have but a body hast thou fitted me 2. By conferring upon the humane nature fulnesse of all those spiritual qualifications and endowments which were necessary for him to the carrying on of his work Strength wisdome judgement mercy love patience and many other graces were needful for this work of salvation God therefore furnished Jesus Christ with all these Esay 11. 1 2 3. And as he had variety of all these graces so did God bestow upon him a fulnesse of all these not a limited stinted fulnesse as he bestowed upon
any Saint should perish eternally God himselfe would be robbed for every Saint iâ— his inheritance Ephes 1. 1â— The Lord Christ 5. will not suffer the Spirits Temple to fall into the eternal possession of the Devil Now the Elect are the Temple of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor 6 19. 6 Christ will not empty Heaven to fill Hell Every Saint helps to fill heaven 7 Christ will not bear a Name in vaine He will neither mock himselfe nor mock his Father nor his people Now if he should be called an Horn of salvation and not actually his Elect of salvation he would be the greatest mock that ever was in the world 2. Vse Reprehension Those are to be blamed that erect other hornes of salvation 1. The Papists they do set up their own works as a horne of salvation at least they joyne works and Christ together as con-causes of salvation the Scripture layes the whole merit on Christ they lay a part of it on works Greater dishonour then this cannot be done to Christ If he be of himselfe sufficient what needs the addition of other things but he is sufficient Heb. 1. 3. chap. 7. 25. Hear what the Scripture saith concerning those that look for salvation by works Gal. 5. 4. As many as seek to be justified by the Law are fallen from grace How did it fall out with Israel that followed after the Law of works the Apostle will tell you Rom. 9. 30 31 32. Yea I shall adde this Jesus Christ will be a horne of destruction to those who will not make him the sole horn of Salvation 2. Much like to these are many ignorant Protestants who think to be saved by their duties by their prayers and by their repentanâ—◠〈◊〉 men should consider that Christ must 〈◊〉 them from the guilt of all their duties as well as from the guilt of their sinnes Our holiest services have a mixture of unholinesse in them Domine lava lachrymas was Austins prayer And it must be ours The filth of our holy things must be expiated by Christ 't is thorough him that they are accepted You may read this Gospel in the Ceremonial Law Exod. 28. 36 37. The holy services we do are not accepted because of any worth that is in us or them but because of the engraved plate which is upon the forehead of Christ 3. Vse Exhortation 1. This should provoke all sinners to close with Christ The great work of the Ministery is to bring Christ and the soule together They are the friends of the Bridgroome and it 's their office to woo sinners to come in to Christ Here is encouragement enough in this text He is a horn of salvation a horn of Gods raising flie to him for salvation salvation is to be had in Christ salvation is to be had no where else Acts 4. 12. Under the Law offenders did flie to the hornes of the Altar 1 Kings 2. 28. He that flies to the hornes of this Altar shall be sure to be safe Onely two things must be observed 1 All sinne must be cast away The wicked man must forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts Esay 55. 7. Jesus Christ will not be a horn of salvation to an impenitent sinner He came not to save men in their sinnes but to save them from their sins Mat. 1. 21. 2 Christs own termes must be embraced Christ came not to save men upon any termes but upon his own termes Now the termes of the Gospel are A voluntary resignation of our solvet to be at Christs disposing To do his Will to submit to his Scepter The soul must say as Saul did to Christ Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts 9. 6. That soul that doth cast away sinne by repentance and surrenders himself to Christ to be in all things ruled by him shall whatever his condition hath been before finde Christ an horn of salvation to him Do not say my sinnes are great c. The greatest sinne thou didst ever commit is thy so long standing out against Christ John 3. 19. Murther Adultery are great sins but the souls refusal to come in to Christ is a greater sinne those are sinnes onely against the Law this is a sinne against the Gospel this is a sin against the Remedy this is a sinne that bindes and continues the guilt of all thy other sinnes upon the conscience He that doth not close with Christ saith one of these things either that he hath no need of Christ or else that Christ is not able to save him 2. This teacheth Gods people whither to go when their salvation is endangered Sometimes Satan by hot temptations sometimes corruption by its violent out-breakings do so exceedingly prevaile upon the servants of God as that in their apprehension their salvation is in a great hazard they feare the Crown will be pluckt away from them God lets them come into such jeopardy that they may exercise all their graces and thrive the faster They pray they watch yet Satan gets ground sinne overpowereth them so that the◠〈…〉 to conclude that the hope of 〈…〉 In such case your onely refuge must be to 〈◊〉 is horn of salvation David when sinne was 〈◊〉 hard for him goes to God Psal 65. 3. We must flie to this horn and by his strength defend our selves and vanquish our enemies There are several branches of this Horn which must be improved at such a time His Death his Resurrection his Ascension his Intercession All his Attributes all his Promises these are several little hornes growing out of this great Horne This Horn will give you strength to overcome this Horne will keep what he hath purchased for you He hath pushed down Satan sinne the world already and if they get head againe he can easily subdue them He is not onely the Horn of your salvation but the Captain of your salvation Heb. 2. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It was his free-will at first to undertake it but having undertaken it 't is his office to perfect it When salvation is at a hazard go to him fight in his Name and he will give you victory 3. Blesse the Father for Jesus Christ This holy man that pend this song he begins it with praises Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people and hath raised up an horne of salvation Never think of a horn of salvation but have in your hearts and mouths a Benedictus Dominus If every thought of heart were a rapture we could never sufficiently extol the love of God in raising up Christ for us Especially if he have made Christ an horn of salvation to us in particular What storms did Christ go thorough what deeps did he wade over that he might be to us an Horne of salvation He that is not thankful for Christ can be truly thankful for nothing When God gave Christ he gave all Naturallists speak much of the Unicorns horn Christ is the true Unicorn 4. Do
healing vertue this is in the text There would be no health amongst men or any other living creatures if there were no Sunne The world would be a Hospital if the Sunne were not First the Sunne dries up cold moistures exhales vapours which would infect the bodies of men and other creatures Secondly the Sunne helps on the growth and vegetation of all healing plants and in both these respects hath healing in his wings The Lord Jesus Christ hath a healing vertue he heals both as medicine and Physician His blood is the Physick that heals and he himself is the Physician that applies it to the soul The Scripture speaks of Christ as a healer Esay 61. 1. He heals the soul of the guilt of sinne by the grace of justification and he heales it of the filthinesse of sin by the grace of sanctification The Prophet Esay speaks of this chap. 53. 5. By his stripes we are healed If Christ do but lay his hands upon the diseased soul it is cured whatsoever infirmitie be upon it The very border of his garment if it be but touched with a hand of faith cures all the bloody issues of the soul You have a rare cure done by the touch of Christs garment Mat. 9. 20. There are thousands of soules in heaven that have found perfect cure of strange diseases under the wings of Christ And then 5. The Sun hath a melting and softning vertue Though it patch and harden the clay yet it softens the wax the hot beames of the Sunne melt the yee and mollifie the ground when it 's frozen into hardnesse The Sunne when it was up melted the Manna Exod. 16. 21. The Lord Jesus Christ hath a melting and softning vertue if he do but send down one hot gleam upon the soul it 's dissolved and melted like wax We have an example of Christs softning vertue in Peter Luke 22 61 62. his heart was grown as hard as yee by his threefold denial of Christ and yet one beame from the eye of Christ thawed this yee into teares The Lord turned and looked upon Peter and he went out and wept bitterly Christs eyes are like a flame of fire Rev. 1. 14. These heavenly beames of Christ are able to turne the flint-stone into springs of water Those three thousand mentioned Acts 2 37. were as hard as marbles for they had their hands in the blood of Christ v. 36. yet when Christ did shine upon them in the minstery of Peter they are so soft that any frame may be put upon them Men and brethren what shall we do The Jaylor a rough hardned sinner that drew blood from the backs of the Apostles yet when Jesus Christ did but spread his hot wings upon him even at midnight how is he softned Acts 16. 29. 30. he that was lately like a stone is now like wax any impression may be put upon him There is not the most stiff necked sinner in this or any other Congregation but if Christ put out his power he can distil him into tears of repentance And then 6. The Sunne hath a vegetative vertue It doth bring on the growth of plants and flowers and all vegetables The Sunne darws the sap from the root into the branches and makes it thâ—ust out into buds blossomes and fruit and when the fruit is knit it ripens it and brings it on to perfection This is mentioned Deut. 33. 14. To this Bildad alludes Job 8. 16 He is green before the Sunne and his branch shooteth forth in his garden Though the soyle be never so good and the husbandry never so exact yet without the Sunne nothing comes to perfection the fruitfulnesse of the earth is to be ascribed to the Sun more then to the Earth or Tillage Jesus Christ hath a vegetating vertue he brings on the spiritual growth of every grace in the soul did not this Sunne send down his beams the spiritual plantation would come to nothing The Scripture attributes all Christian growth to Christ he is the root which feeds grace All supplie comes from him God hath stor'd all our nourishment in Christ from him to be communicated as we stand in need The Apostle sets this out in two texts Col. 2. 19. Ephes 4. 16. And the Prophet in the text makes it one effect of Christs rising upon the Saints They shall grow up as the calves of the stall You may thank Jesus Christ for the thriving of your graces as well as for the planting of your graces John 15. 5. And then 7. The Sunne hath a purifying vertue When your garments are mouldy you hang them out in the Sunne when your roomes are musty you set open the windows to let in the Sunne that they may be sweeten'd Jesus Christ hath a purifying vertue he makes the heart sweet and he keeps it sweet See how this Prophet describes him Chap. 3. 2 3. he is like a refiners fire and like fullers sope c. When the heart hath gathered any defilement when it growes mouldy and musty there 's no way to get the ill favour out but to bring it under the shine of Jesus Christ And then 8. The Sunne hath an elevating vertue By the heat and power of the Sunne are many things exhaled and lifted up from the earth which otherwise would lie there many meteors and impressions there are in the aire which are exhaled from the earth by the power of the Sunne Jesus Christ hath an elevating vertue he it is that doth exhale and lift up the earthly hearts of men to heavenly things and heavenly meditations The heart of man naturally is so deep buried in the earth that if Christ did not by his heat which he sends down in his ordinances lift it up it would never have one thought of heaven he hath an attractive power to draw up the hearts of men to himselfe John 12. 32. It is from Jesus Christ that ever you had one serious thought of heaven or heavenly things The Apostle applies our spiritual raisednesse to Christ Col. 3. 1 2. It is from Christ as the merit of it and it is from him as the worker of it in us the power of our spiritual resurrection at first is from Christ and the power of Christ is that that helps us to raise our selves higher from day to day did not Christ send down his exhaling power we should lie like stones and never ascend he descends and then we ascend III. Christ is called the Sunne to shew the cleernesse of the Gospel worship in respect of the legal dispensation God used towards the Fathers This is Calvins Note upon the text God did never shine so clearly to the sonnes of men in the person of Christ The Ceremonial Law with all the appendixes thereof was but dark Gospel worship is clear The Apostle compares the Law to a shadow Heb. 10. 1. that was but Moon light or star light Gospel worship is Sun-light 2 Cor. 3. 10. The Patriarchs saw Christ and hoped in him and were
making a promise This is the second 3. 'T is an undecent thing 'T is a very uncomely thing that God should be hurryed by his creatures to make good his promises before his own time The undecency of it will appear these wayes As. 1. God is our Superiour He is our King he is our Master he is our Father he is the supreme Lord as far above the bighest of us as the Creator is above the creature 'T is not good manners to be too hasty with a Superiour Woman saith our Saviour to the Virgin What have I to do with thee my houre is not yet come Joh. 2. 3. It is unsutable to the highnesse of the God of glory to stoop so low as to observe the time of the best of creatures Great men will not be hastened by their servants its incongruous that the great and mighty God should have his time appointed him by the works of his own hands The great God is willing to be petitioned by the meanest but he will not be determined by the greatest of his creatures Greatnesse will not be uncivilly hurryed by meannesse Luther having once been too bold with God bout a businesse which he thought necessary telling God it must be dâ—â—ne thought he heard this answer Martine admodum sapis sed ego non sum Deus sequax It is not meet that God should either take counsel or be importunately hurried by his servants 2. God is a free agent in whatever he doth or promises All his promises are gracious and all his gracious promises are free Nothing bâ—t his meer will caused him to make any promise They are called promises of grace not only because they conteine gracious things but because they are the effects of free-grace Now it is not meet that a free agent should be determined either for matter or time When we do with impatience over-eagerly put God on to fulfil what he hath promised we do forger that he doth all things according to the counsel of his own Will which is affirmed by the Apostle Ephes 1. 11. It 's not equal to determine a free agent 3. God hath waited patiently and doth still wait patiently on us Before our conversion he waited long stretching out his hands with unwearied patience while we did oppose him Since our conversion he waits still Cant. 5. 2. Rev. 3. 20. He waits for our rising after falls for our obedience to duties commanded 'T is the most incongruous thing in the world that a patient waiting God should be impatiently hastened This is the first 2. For those who never look after the promises of God Many men are so negligent and careless that they never take any thought about the promises of God they neither pray for them nor wait for them Iâ— God will give them a â—eing they can be contented if he never fulfil them they can bear it I would have such Christians consider these four things 1. This is a great sleighting of the promises and of the good which is centained in them The Apostle Rom. 2. 4. speaks of some who despise the riches of Gods goodnesse He that never looks after the promise is guilty of this sinne He scornes the love of God the Father the maker of the promise the blood of God the Sonne the purchaser of the promise the grace of God the holy Ghost the applyer of the promise God complaines of his people that they accounted the great things of his Law as strange things Hos 8. 12. He that never looks after the fulfilling of the promises of God accounts the Gospel and the great things thereof mean things 2. It renders the promise lesse comfortable when it is fulfilled The souls consolation in receiving the good of the promise is according to the souls expectation in waiting for the promise The Prophet mentions this Esay 25. 9. He that exerciseth most saith and hope in waiting for a promise shall finde most joy in gathering the promise We know how it befel that incredulous Lord who would not beleeve the promise of plenty which God made by his Prophet 2 Kings 7. 1â— He saw iâ— with his eyes but did not eat of it He that mindes not the good which God hath promised robs his soul of half of that joy which he might have from the promise The promise will neither be so fat nor so sweet as it would have been if the heart can be more confident in expecting it 3. This makes the promise wholly uncomfortable till the accompâ—â—shment of it The very blossâ—ms of Gods promises yield some comfort to the soul God hath for this end revealed his promises that the souls of his people might have some refâ—eshment by them before they be brought forth The thoughts that such a good shall certainly be ours beare halfe as â—uch comfort as if it were already ours We rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God saith the Apostle Rom. 5. 2. The present hope of future glorification is not without some joy Good in reversion yields much joy in possession The promise made to Christ that his body should not see corruption was a foundation of present comfort Psalme 16. 9 10. the hope of the bodies resurrection makes a childe of God die with comfort All Gods promises lay a foundation of present comfort But he that never looks after the promise what joy can he have from the promise 'T is the souls beleeving and studying of the promise that draws comfort out of the promise He that mindes not what God hath promised hath as little present joy from the promise as if it were not at all 4. The neglecting of the promises is a real slighting of the Precepts The same God which hath made the promise hath commanded the soul to wait for the promise and no man can dis-regard the promise but he doth thereby make himself guilty of disobeying the Precept This is the second use of the point 3. For Exhortation Let all that professe themselves to be of Simeons religion waite as he did for the accomplishment of the promises of God God hath made many promises which are of general concernment to the Church of God the promise of calling the Jews of ruining Antichrist of Establishing the mountaine of the Lords house upon the top of the mountaines of settling unity and uniformity of worship in his Church God hath made many promises of particular good things to beleevers the takâ—ng away the stony heart the giving of them victory over their spiritual enemies c. be intreated to expect the fulfilling of all these I shall in this Use 1. Urge the duty by some Motives 2. Propound some rules to direct us in the manner of our waiting 3. Answer some objections which the soule makes against waiting 1. For Motives Consider 1. That all the promises which God hath made shall have their certaine accomplishment in their time The Apostle saith in 2 Cor. 1. 20. That all the promises of God in Christ Jesus are Yea
extra sunt indivisâ— Prophets Act. 10. 43. Apostles 1 John 5. 11. Christ himself Joh. 14. 16. do all bear witnesse to this truth That Jesus Christ is life eternal to every true beleever In what respect Christ is our life of glory I shall shew in the following particulars viz. 1. In regard of merit and acquisition Jesus Christ is the procurer of this life of glory Heaven is called a purchased Redemption or Possession Epb. 1â—4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ is the purchaser of this possession and his blood is the price of the purchase As he hath by his death purchased the Elect so hath he also by his blood purchased this life for those redeemed ones 1 John 4. 9. in this was manifested the love of God towards us because he sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that we might live through him Had not Jesus Christ shed his blood no sinner had ever tasted of this life eternal Eternal life is the free gift of God and yet it is merited by Christ Christ who is the price and meritorious cause of life is the free gift of Gods grace and therefore our salvation is both free and yeâ— merited 2. He is our life efficaciously Though salvation be purchased for the Elect yet must the Elect of God be fitted and prepared for this salvation before they can be put into the possession of it The Apostle speaks of making the soule meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The best of men are unfit for salvation as well as unworthy of salvation Though heaven be prepared for them yet cannot they enter into heaven till they be prepared This fitnesse or preparedness stands in the changing of our nature by the working of grace in the heart and in the merciful acceptation of God covering our infirmities and reckoning our weak endeavours for perfect obedience Natura mentis humanae quantumvis perfect a naturalibus donis absque gratiâ non est susceptibilis gloriae Parisiens lib. de vâ—rt cap. 11. The Apostle tells us that a man must be wrought for glory 2 Cor. 5. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Elect of God come into the world rough and unpolished filthy and defiled as well as others and they are not fit for this life till they be refined and polished Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the Kingdome of heaven Aquinas saith well Gratia haec divina eò infunditur electis ut peragant actiones ordinatas in finem vitae aeternae Now Jesus Christ doth fit and work the Elect for this glory He doth by his Spirit change their nature he doth by his grace renew the spirit of their minde he doth set up his own image in their soules and by working grace fit them for the enjoyment of that life of glory which he hath purchased 3. He is our life He is the fountaine of our eternal glory 1 John 5. 11. This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Sonne 'T is in him as in the head as in the root as in the fountain or spring All our glory is laid up in Jesus Christ as in a publick treasury Iesus Christ and all beleevers make up one mystical body of which he is the head and they the members therefore is their glory laid up in him 4. Jesus Christ is our life in regard of preparation As he doth prepare us for heaven so doth he prepare heaven for us This is attributed to his Ascension Iohn 14. 2 3. I go to prepare a place for you Not as if the place of glory were not created till the Ascension of Christ There were many souls in heaven glorified before Christ did corporally ascend thither Abel Abraham Isaac Iacob and the Prophets the meaning of it is onely thus much that Iesus Christ did not ascend only for himself to dwell in glory alone but he ascended for our sakes in our stead and place to possesse the purchased inheritance for us and to keep it for us till we actually come to be possessed of it our selves 'T is by way of allusion to the practices of great Kings who send their harbingers before them to make ready for them against their coming Iesus Christ is pleased to stile himself so in reference to the Elect. And therefore the Apostle calls him our forerunner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and tells us that he is entred into the vaile for us Heb. 6. 20. and hence it is that we are said to sit down together with Christ in heavenly places Eph. 2. 6. 5. He is our life as the way to life He calls himself the way Iohn 14. 16. No man comes to the Father but by Christ This is that new and living way which the Apostle mentions Heb. 10. 19 20. 'T is through the vaile of Christs flesh that we enter into the Holy of Holies Iacob in his vision at Bethel saw a ladder which reached from heaven to earth Gen. 28. 12. upon this ladder the Angels of God ascended and descended This ladder is Iesus Christ so he tells us himselfe Iohn 1. 51. hereafter ye shall see heaven opened and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Sonne of man He hath not only shewed us the way to heaven by his example but he is the way himself in which we go to God 6. He is our life in regard of distribution and communication As he hath purchased life for us and keeps possession of it for us so he it is that shall put us into possession of it when we come to enjoy it I will come againe and receive you unto my self Iohn 14. 3. The Apostle speaks of this in 2 Tim. 4 8. There is laid up for me a Crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me in that day 'T is to be understood of Christ he that hath purchased the Crown for us will in that day visibly set it upon our head Come ye blessed of my Father receive the Kingdome c. Matthew 25. latter end 7. He is our life formally Iesus Christ is the matter of eternal life Our eternal life and glory stands in the full enjoyment of Iesus Christ in heaven The seeing of God the enjoyment of Christ is our very glory Rev. 22. 3 4. The Throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his Face and his Name shall be in their foreheads The glory of heaven is called the eating of the tree of life Rev. 2. 7. Iesus Christ is the tree of life the enjoyment of him is the souls glory Iob therefore reckons up all his eternal glory by this very thing I know that my Redeemer liveth c. I shall behold him not with anothers but with these very eyes Full and perfect â— immediate