the Deaf be unloosned the Lame shall leap as an Hart and the Tongue of the Dumb shall sing for Joy Isai 56 c. For the bodies of the risen believers that are now wrapt up in Dishonour shall be then cloathed with the highest Honour Fifthly THEN Weakness shall put on Strength and that that is sown in weakness shall be raised in power 1 Cor. 15.43 Then the Coward shall be valiant and the Feeble exceeding strong their Strength and Courage will be very near Angelick then We read that an Angel destroyed an hundred thousand in one Night and how great ineffably great will be the Strength and Power of the spiritual Bodies of the risen Saints in that day But having spoke of this dispersedly afore under other Heads I shall now add no more thereunto nor mention several other Advantages that the Bodies of the Saints shall arise with that I might insist on For these are sufficient to evince that Believers can triumph over the Grave in respect of their Bodies THUS having dispatchd the Doctrinal part I now proceed to the Application which I briefly intend to finish in three or four Inferences The two first will particularly relate to the last branch of the Doctrine The two last will respect the whole Doctrine in general 1. Infer THE first Inference is for the Comfort of Believers against Death If it be so that their dead Bodies can thus triumph over the Grave what else is there in their Death that seems terrible As for their Souls they are then instantly lodged in the Mansions prepared for them above But if their Bodies are thus also excellently provided for every thing in Death is to be contemned Nor need we shrink at the Pangs that usually attend Death they are but the Cracks of a tattered House blown up in order to be rebuilt a stately Edifice or rather a Groan or two at farewel between two parting Friends that have been long loving Companions together but now must be separated for a great season that they might meet again to the greater advantage of both and these are the Body and the Soul And Death is no less to be scorned coming by his terrible Messengers Fire Sword Gibbets Poison or the like When he uses Instruments he is generally more courteous and gentle in his Dealings and quicker of dispatch A torrid malignant Feaver or a Torture of several Weeks or Months by the Stone Gout or Strangury have dealt more cruelly with a Body in dissolving it than the Spanish Rack or Parisian Wheel have done So that consider Death in all its affrighting Circumstances it need not be at all frightful to the dying Believer 2. Infer THE second Inference is for the Comfort of Believers against the tiresome fatigue of Pains Sicknesses and Infirmities The comfortable Consideration is this That all Pains and Maladies prepare and hasten the Body for the place of refining as they are Nature's Sufferings so they are the effect of Grace mellowing the whole Man for Glory They in whom Grace shines most are commonly most infirm in their Bodies for the Souls that are most on the Wing for God whose Graces are most vigorous in their Exercise eat out soonest the Tenement of Clay As the painful feeling of the Body of Death within is the nailing of the old Man to the Cross by the new Creature and Corruption painfully felt and odiously seen is Corruption a mortifying proved by the Apostle Rom. 6.5 where he calls the Mortification of Sin a being planted into the likeness of the Death of Christ which was a painful and shameful as well as a cursed Death v. 6. he calls it the crucifixion of the old Man and the destruction of the Body of Sin that of Galat. 2.20 being added thereunto and compared with Romans 7. from the 15 vers to the end particularly vers 24. compared with vers 25. From all which places 't is evident that the painful feeling of Unbelief and the Body of Death within is Unbelief and the Body of Death crucified and the dying Tyger roaring in the Soul The inward Blows of that Nature we feel are Stabs at Heart given to inbred Corruption by the second Adam So the pains Believers feel in their Bodies are but as so many Blows the second Adam gives there to the first in order to drive him out and take up the whole Room for himself Comfort thy self then with these words thou sick Believer under thy tedious malady and sore pains or with such arguings as these These Pangs indeed are sharp but they will after yield peaceable and blessed fruits for 't is in order that that which is earthly may be done away that that which is spiritual may fill up all in all 't is for the refining of Flesh and Blood for Flesh and Blood as now circumstanced cannot inherit the Kingdom of God neither Corruption inherit Incorruption 1 Cor. 15.50 I will be patient under my greatest pains then since their tendency is to eat out Corruption in my Body so that it might inherit eternal Glory together with my Soul in incorruption THE other remaining Inferences relate to the whole Doctrine as laid down in the first Sermon 1. Infer THAT the Doctrine is a cogent motive to Holiness in Life and powerful Godliness in Conversation If so be that a Believer can triumph over Death and the Grave in reference to his Soul and Body then the unspeakably free rich glorious Grace of God in Christ manifested in him and believed into must needs oblige the Man or Woman to all manner of holy Conversation When Men have said all they can against the Doctrine of Free Grace impiously branding it with the Names of Antinomianism and Licentiousness yet this is undeniable from the experience of the most Godly as well as from the Word of the Lord that nothing constrains to all manner of holy Obedience like the Love of Christ revealed to the Conscience and the Love of the Father in his Love All that are most godly can say what is said of the Woman in the Gospel they weep much and do much as she Luke 7.44 47. because they love much and they love much because much is frankly forgiven them This is certain that the inherent Holiness of the Soul is the Strength of the Soul and the Strength or inward Sanctification of the Soul depends upon looking to by Faith that Grace that is in Christ Thou therefore my Son be strong within 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 2.1 5. in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus viz. at God's right hand 'T is not said Be strong in the Grace that is in your selves for that is to seek the living among the dead a living Christ in our dead Frames when he is never to be found there for he is risen and ever lives at the Father's right Hand to make intercession for his Children and a constant steady looking to him there always interceding and still full of Grace and Truth 't is
as well as others are for wallowing in their Lusts For all equally refuse the Lord Jesus and will have none of him for Life and Salvation but tread with like scorn and contempt the offered Son of God under-foot There 's not a Dram of Gospel-Holiness nor one Evangelical good Work but what flows from Faith in the Person and Righteousness of the once-crucified but now ascended Jesus at the Father's Right Hand Object 3. BUT for all my Reformation Duties and Profession I seek to Christ too Ans THAT is perhaps as the common Proverb runs You will set the Cart before the Horse Your Duties and Righteousness shall lead the Van and Christ and his Righteousness shall bring up the Reer You will put him to no other use than to carry the Train of your ragged Robes of Righteousness to patch up your Rags and make up what is wanting in your Duties But the Garment of Christ is seamless and cannot be divided but if it could be that his new Cloth could be pieced to your old the rent in yours would be the worse Mat. 9.16 Perhaps you are sensible of your inability to do therefore ye look to him for assistance to help you to do for Life But what says the Lord The Just shall live by Faith Rom. 1.17 You would have him be King over you to subdue your Iniquities that for your subdued Iniquities you may get to Heaven But you must look to him by Faith to be saved and then mortification of Sin and Holiness shall be given in unto you The High Priest under the Law had his Mitre and Crown on his Head and his Urim and Thummim on his Breast to typifie that the Lord Jesus executes his Kingly and Prophetical Office by his Priestly Office and all whom he instructs and subdues he does it by shedding in the Faith and Hope either more or less of their pardoned estate through his Blood into their Consciences Again Do not you seek Christ because of your Reformation Duties and Tears If so you bring your own Money in your Hands to buy Christ and that 's quite contrary to the Proclamation the Lord makes of Heaven's Market Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth that is after the Things of the World or their own Righteousness for 't is such thirsting as v. 2. calls spending Money for that which is not Bread and labour for that which satisfieth not These are summoned here to come to the Fair of the Almighty where glorious Commodities are put to sale Waters Wine and Milk But what price must the Buyers bring No price at all They that would speed in Heavens Market must come without Money and without price Heb. 12.13 Esau sought to buy Repentance with Tears but he found no place for it All buying in the meaning of Christ is but accepting and he gives the power to do that too Therefore come to Christ as poor blind miserable naked vile ungodly Wretches and and he will be Riches to the Poor Eyes to the Blind Happiness to the Miserable Cloathing to the Naked and Sanctification to the Vile and Ungodly The voice of the Gospel is for the present time 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the accepted time behold now is the day of Salvation Heb. 3.15 To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your Hearts The Gospel does not say Go home now and pray and mourn and weep and come to morrow or next week or next month after you have prepared and qualified your self with so much praying mourning weeping repenting and reformation then come to Christ but come now now is the accepted time now is the day and hour of Salvation But further some may be ready to ask me Quest WHAT is believing in Christ or Faith in him Ans IT would be too tedious now to answer the Question as it ought to be I shall only briefly thus define it and then make good my Definition Faith as strictly and properly taken is a powerful Conscience-Perswasion wrought by God concerning Christ and his Things their excellency and suitableness to the Soul and more or less concerning the Souls Interest in them according to the Word of God Faith in the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to perswade and really signifies a perswading 'T is phrased in Old Testament-language in Noah's Prophecy concerning his Children Gen. 9.17 God shall perswade Japheth and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem. And to the same purport 't is phrased in the New Testament 't is said to be 2 Cor. 4.6 A light shining into a dark Heart which is a perswasive Knowledge Called Rom. 1.17 the Righteousness of God in the Gospel revealed from Faith to Faith 'T is named Rom. 3.21 a manifestation without the Law of the Righteousness of God v. 25. stiled a declaration of his Righteousness for the remission of Sins and defined to be Heb. 11.1 The evidence of Things not seen which are Christ and his Righteousness which are wholly without us not seen by our bodily Eyes or natural Reason or Understanding The Spirit in working Faith is said to take of Christ and his Things and shew them to the Soul John 11.14 15. God the Father as the Worker of it so is said to reveal his Son in the Soul Gal. 1.16 Which Expressions evidently import a perswasive Knowledge 2dly This Perswasion is an inward Conscience-Perswasion and not only an Head Knowledge or notional Perswasion Gal. 1.15 but when it pleased God c. v. 16. to reveal his Son in me c. 1 John 5.10 He that believeth hath the witness in himself i. e. a Conscience-Testimony 3dly This Conscience-Perswasion is very powerful for it instantly works a great change on the whole Man Heart Lip and Life 'T is a creating Power 2 Cor. 4.6 an exceeding great Power Eph. 1.19 and 't is the Declaration of the King of Heaven to the Conscience and where the Word of the King is there is Power Eccles 8.4 c. And as Divines say in this the Soul is wholly passive like a dark Room that has light let into it from without The object of this Faith is Christ and the Things of Christ as in that fore mentioned place John 16.14 He shall glorifie me for â—he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you v. 15. All things that the Father hath are mine therefore said I that he shall take of mine and shew it unto you The Rule of Faith is the written Word of God 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. And this I take to be and Concomitants of this inward revelation of Jesus which are also called believing which is the Souls accepting of this manifested Jesus and his Righteousness venturing it self upon him and committing it self to him which Acts are set forth in Scripture by various phrases as Looking unto him Isa 45.22 Coming unto him John 6.37 Casting our selves and burden upon him Isa 55.22 Staying upon him Isa 5.10 Leaning upon him Cant. 8.3 Trusting
in him and many more And thus I have answered this Question with all the brevity and perspecuity I could as the Lord has enabled me and as time would give leave And now methinks some are ready to ask in the words of the blind Man whom Christ had restored to his Sight Quest BUT who is he that I might believe on him John 9.36 You say he must be seen and ventured on pray then who is he Answ I shall answer you from the Sermons of the Apostles preached by them after they were endued with Power from on high And first the Apostle Peter tells you who he is Acts 2.22 23. Jesus of Nazareth a Man approved of God him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and Fore-knowledge of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and stain comp with 32. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all Witnesses 33. Therefore being by the right Hand of God exalted hath received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost Once more Acts. 5.30 The God of our Fathers hath raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a Tree 31. Him hath God exalted with his right Hand to be a Prinee and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins Add to these Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the joy set before him in the saving of Sinners enduring the Cross despising the shame and is now set down at the right Hand of God In short he that was made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh Rom. 3. who yet is God over all blessed for ever Rom. 10.5 That mighty glorious God-Man who was born of a Virgin that lived and preached in Judea Rom 8.38 that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right Hand of God who also ever lives to make intercession Col. 1.18 the first born from the dead Col. 1.15 and the first born of every Creature the despised Jesus of Nazareth 1 Col. 2.9 in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily And all the Glory Excellency Beauty and Majesty that shines on Jesus of Nazareth is the Glory Excellency c. of the Godhead This is he that blessed Object of your Faith this is he whom you must believe in When he lived on Earth the Faith of his Children was more dark about his God-head than his human Nature but now he is in Heaven their Faith is more at a loss about his human Nature and it is to be lamented that the glorified human Nature even Jesus of Nazareth is so little in the Preaching Profession Faith and Experience of Gods own Children But yet this is the Lord whom we through Grace have seen and tasted to be gracious Will not you too O Sinners come and taste and see how gracious he is Cant. 5.16 This is our Friend this is our Beloved O Daughters of Jerusalem He is altogether lovely Cant. 5.10 He is the chiefest among ten thousand He is able Heb. 7.27 to save you to the uttermost O come therefore and venture your Souls upon him commit them to him O that you would but try him you have tried his Patience to the utmost by your Rebellion and Obstinacy in Wickedness O that you would but try his boundless Grace by casting your selves into the Ocean of it You must venture on his Grace or you must be damned Mark 16.16 He that believeth shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned If you accept not of this offered Jesus you despise this only Sacrifice and there remaineth no more Sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation which shall devour the Adversary Heb. 10.26 I am now come to the second Branch the Believers triumphing over Death AND 1. the Believer triumphs over the Sting of Death and what else does concur to make it 2. THE Believer triumphs over every thing else in Death that is formidable First THE Believer triumphs over the Sting of Death He then can rejoycingly cry out O Death I fear thee not thou art very harmless unto me Thou comest indeed like a Dragon with open Mouth but where is thy Sting I dread not that open Mouth or that wide Throat I with Joy am swallowed up of it and pass through it up to the highest Heavens into my Redeemers Arms. Here at this dark Portal I undress my self of this mortal Flesh and fly with holy Confidence to the Presence of the Lamb upon the Throne and the Presence of God the Father in him and the bright innumerable Company above in this full Assurance that I shall not be found naked Wellcome Death to dissolve and pull down this earthly House of my Tabernacle that so I may go to my House not made with Hands the Building of God eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5.2 Wellcome sweet Messenger that comest to fetch me home from this mad confused wicked raging tottering World into my Fathers House I thank thee O grim Porter who openest the Gates to eternal Happiness 'T is true the News of thy Approach did terrifie me as the Report of the Coming of rough blustering Esau with his armed Men did Jacob Gen. 32. But yet now thou art come to me I can say as he did I behold thy black and grisly Face as the Face of the Angel of God or the Messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ For in thy black Face I see Beauty in thy grisly Terrors great Glory In thy Dragons Mouth no Sting at all O Death where is thy Sting Thus the Believer in dying triumphs over the Sting of Death 2. THE Believer in dying triumphs over those things that go to make up the Sting of Death And 1. OVER Sin The Sting of Death is Sin says the Words of my Text. And 1. In its Guilt 2. in its Pollution And 1. OVER the Guilt of Sin Thus the Believer in dying glories over it O Guilt of Sin who in my Life-time since my Conversion notwithstanding I was washed with the Blood of Jesus and he had obtained an eternal Redemption for me didst often use to sting my Conscience and thereby to fill me with Dread and Horrour and so didst weaken my Faith and Confidence in the Lord Jesus didst strengthen the Hands of my Unbelief in making me depart from the living God Didst make me often come in Prayer to God as my angry Judge and not as to my Father reconciled to me in Christ And thereby didst bind up my Soul fetter my Spirits so that I had no freedom of Access to God through Christ Thou didst often deal with me as the Man that went from Jerusalem to Jericho didst wound me and strip me and leave me half dead Didst often force me to entertain hard murmuring and outragious Thoughts against my dear Lord and Master Jesus and my reconciled God and Father in him Didst often make me add Iniquity to my Sin and a carnal