the Trial of all Doctrines God himself wrote the first Scripture that ever was written with his own Finger Exod. 24.12 And the Lord said to Moses Câ—me up to me into the Mount and be there and I will give thee Tables of Stone and a Law and Commandments which I have written that thou mayest teach them And then commanded Moses and the Prophets to do the same Exod. 17.14 And the Lord said unto Moses Write this for a Memorial in a Book And Exod. 34.27 And the Lord said unto Moses Write thou these Words for after the Tenor of these Words I have made a Covenant with thee and with Israel So he bids Jeremiah Chap. 36.2 Take thee a Roll of a Book and write therein all the Words that I have spoken thee And so God spake to all the Prophets tho it be not exprest and by inward Instinct bids them write their Prophecies that it might be a publick Record for the Church in all Ages Now this Way was always accompanied with Prophetical Revelations until Christ's time who as the great Doctor of the Church perfected the Rule of Faith and by the Apostles as so many Publick Notaries consigned it to the use of the Church And so when the Canon was compleat then John as the last of the Apostles and outliving the rest closed up all and therefore closeth up his Prophecy thus Rev. 22.18 19. For I testify unto every Man that heareth the Words of the Prophecy of this Book If any Man add unto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book And if any Man shall take away from the Words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the holy City and from the Things that are written in this Book Which sealeth up the whole Canon and Rule of Faith as well as the Book of the Revelations And therefore 3. There is now Writing only without the Word without Visions and Revelations There needeth no more now because here is enough to make us wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. And that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness That the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works It is sufficient to make us wise to preach and you wise to practise It is now certain enough God hath left a publick Record that we might not spend our time in doubting and disputing And it is full enough you need nothing more either to satisfy the Desires of Nature or to repair the Defects of Nature to satiate the Soul with Knowledg For God hath given to the Church sufficient Instruction to decide all Controversies to assoil all Doubts and to give us sure Conduct and Direction to everlasting Glory III. The next Question is Of what Concernment it is to enquire of the Truth of the Scripture Many think that such a Discussion needs not because this is a principal matter to be believed not argued and Arguments at least beget but an humane Faith Yet certainly it is of great necessity if you consider four things 1. It is good to prepare and induce carnal Men to respect it and to wait for the Confirmation of the Spirit An Humane Faith maketh way for a Divine when Men hearken to the Word upon common grounds God may satisfy them as those John 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Son of the Living God They first believed upon the Woman's Report and then upon their own Experience So it is good to establish sound Grounds that we may know the Truth of God first upon Hear-say and afterward upon Experience This way we induce and invite Men to make a Trial. 2. Because it giveth an additional Confirmation and greater Certainty to the People of God Foundation-Stones can never be laid with exactness and care enough For if you mark it you will find all doubting in your Belief all disproportion in your Practice ariseth from this because the supreme Truth is not setled in the Soul We ought to believe it more and more then it stirs up greater Reverence greater Admiration and makes way for your Delight and Joy to have your Charter cleared It is good to look upon this Argument that it might further Our Comfort and that this Fire may be blown up into a Flame and that Truth may have more Awe upon the Conscience 3. It awakeneth them that have received the Word upon slight grounds to be better setled Most Men look no further than humane Authority and publick Countenance they have no other grounds to believe the Scriptures than the Turks to believe the Alcoran because it is the Tradition of their Fathers Most Mens Belief is but an happy Mistake a thing at peradventure and they are Christians upon no other grounds than others are Turks God loveth a rational Worship he would have us to render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Reason of the Faith that is in us But they are Christians by Chance rather than Choice and solid Reason it is because they know no other Religion not because they know no better Well then that you may be able to justify your Religion For Wisdom is justified of her Children Mat. 11.19 that you may take up the Ways of God upon a rational Choice it is good to see what Grounds and Confirmations we have for that holy Faith we do profess 4. That we may know the distinct Excellency of our Profession above all other Professions in the World The Daughters of Jerusalem are brought in asking the Spouse Cant. 5.9 What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved O thou fairest among Women What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved that thou dost so charge us What can you say for your Christ and for your way of Salvation and for your Scriptures above what other Men can say for their Worship or their Superstition A Christian should know the distinct and special Excellency of his Profession Jer. 6.16 God bids us Stand in the way and see and ask for the old Paths Where is the good Way It is good to survey the Superstitions we have in the World and compare the Excellency of our holy Profession with other Professions In Scripture we are required not only to glorify God but to sanctify him Isa. 8.13 Sanctify the Lord of Hosts in your Hearts So 1 Pet. 3.15 Sanctify the Lord God in your Hearts and be ready always to give an Answer to every Man that asketh you a Reason of the Hope that is in you with meekness and fear Now what is it to sanctify It is to set apart any thing from common Uses This
I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear He is more ready to answer than we to crave So it is said to Daniel Dan. 10.12 From the first Day that thou didst set thine Heart to understand and to chasten thy self before thy God thy Words were heard See God's readiness to accept the Services of his People in the first day of the three Weeks he had set apart Vers. 2. Daniel thought it would be long Work and God heard him the first day Certainly God delighteth in the Graces of his Children when he doth so readily take notice of the first Act and Exercise of them 2. I Observe by comparing that place with this That the Apostles Faith was weak not only imperfect but unconstant and subject to wavering and yet Christ commendeth it to his Father John 16.30 31 32. We are sure thou knowest all things and needest not that any Man should tell thee by this we believe that thou camest forth from God Jesus answered them Do ye now believe Behold the Hour cometh and now is that ye shall be scattered every Man to his own and shall leave me alone Yea and indeed if we look into the History of the Gospel we shall find their Faith was very weak It is true they did receive him for the Messiah and did acknowledg that he was the Son of God his natural and only Son which they knew by his Baptism by his Transfiguration by his Miracles They believed that he was the Lamb taking away the Sins of the World that he was the living Manna that came down from Heaven but all this while their Faith was weak they had but a confused sight of his Godhead of his eternal Generation by the Father they knew little of his Death were leavened with the thoughts of a terrene Kingdom and pompous Messiah understood not his Predictions of his Death and Passion Peter gave him advice to the contrary and at his Death denied him So that though they knew him to be the Redeemer and Saviour of the World yet the manner of his Death and Passion they knew not We trusted that it had been he that should have redeemed Israel Luke 24.21 Observe how Christ commendeth weak Faith Certainly he loveth to encourage poor Sinners when he praiseth their mean and weak beginnings Mat. 12.20 A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoaking Flax shall he not quench until he send forth Judgment unto Victory Christ will not despise weak Beginnings though there be more Smoak than Flame but little Strength Certainly we should not despise the Day of small Things nor discourage Learners and blast the early Blossoms with Reproach and Censure Cant. 2.13 The Fig-Tree putteth forth her green Figs and the Vines with the tender Grape give a good smell Christ taketh notice in his Garden of the Green Figs the green Knots or Buds are acceptable to him tho they want Ripeness and Sweetness as well as the softer Clusters the imperfect Offers of the Spring We should learn hence to do our best in believing Christ will help you against Weakness and pardon Imperfection 3. Observe again From Christ's mentioning their Obedience their Knowledg their Faith The Father knew for whom Christ prayed neither was there need to set forth their Faith and Obedience in so many words but that in the hearing of the Apostles he would draw forth the Grounds of their Thankfulness and the Evidences of their Interest Well then this is the use we should make of our Graces and Duties to praise the Lord and to look upon them as so many Arguments and Evidences of his Love Partly to shew them what kind of Persons God will hear such as know and believe and obey though in a weak measure Thirdly The next thing in the Text is the chief Object of justifying Faith and that is the Authority of Christ's Mediation Observe The sum of Christian Doctrine is to shew that Christ was sent by God to save Sinners This is the ground of all Hope and firm Confidence he came out from the Father to purchase Grace and went back again that we might receive it But let us consider the Parts 1. They have surely known that I came out from thee This may be expounded two ways 1. From thy Essence by Eternal Generation 2. By thy Command as Mediator If you take the former sence it sheweth that the Authority of Christ and of his Father were equal he came out from him If you take the latter it denotes their equal Charity and Love the Father sent him and out of the same Love the Son came out from the Father he assumed Flesh emptied himself and performed the Office of a Mediator committed to him by the Father Which is to be preferred Some say the first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is a word proper to the natural Generation of the Son Micah 5.2 Whose goings forth have been of old from Everlasting The Spirit 's Procession is expressed by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Generation of Son by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is said of none of the Saints that they come out from God But tho this Eternal Generation must not be excluded yet that which is chiefly intended here is that he came out by the command of God as Mediator as is clear by that place John 16.28 I came forth from my Father and am come into the World again I leave the World and go unto the Father It is applied to his appearing as Mediator before God Observe The great Love of Christ in that he came out from God for our sakes 1. Consider from whom he came from the Father from his Bosom from the full Fruition of the Godhead from the Center of Rest the Seat of Blessedness We shall know what place the Bosom of the Father is when we shall come to Heaven and shall be glorified with Christ. 2. How he came not in Pomp or the Equipage of a Prince but in the Form of a Servant He was Lord of all things but he came now as the Servant of God's Decrees John 6.38 I came down from Heaven not to do mine own Will but the Will of him that sent me He was God's Servant not upon Terms of Grace his Covenant was a Covenant of Works Isa. 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his Soul and shall be satisfied by his Knowledg shall my Righteous Servant justify many He was subject to worldly Powers a Servant of Rulers Isa. 49.7 He voluntarily submitted himself to worldly Powers Nay he came to be our Servant Mat. 20.28 Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his Life a Ransom for many He came to serve in the Ministry of the Gospel to lay aside all the Interests of his Humane Nature Rom. 15.3 Even as Christ pleased not himself 3. For whom he came for wretched Men to seat us in the vacant Places of fallen Angels 2. And they have believed
We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord then we shall be changed by the beatifical Vision 1 Joh. 3.2 When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is our life here and life there is but one life begun here and perfected there here are manifold imperfections but there is compleat blessedness sometimes as the morning to high noon or light of the perfect day Prov. 4.18 The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more to the perfect day here the day breaks but it is but a little sometimes to a man and a child 1 Cor. 13.10 11 12. But when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away When I was a child I spake as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child but when I became a man I put away childish things For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known as it is in the change of Ages so is it between this and the other Life Now all these things shew both the sameness of the life and also the necessity of one degree of Grace to another 3. Observe how fitly this is mentioned as an help to Mortification we should sweeten the tediousness and trouble of the work by thinking of the life that will ensue 1. The Life of Grace Conscience calleth upon you for your duty to your Creator and Lust hindereth it now is it not a great advantage to have a vital Principle to incline us to God By the life of Grace we are enabled in some measure to do what is pleasing in his sight Heb. 12.28 Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear Set about Mortification and you shall have this Grace This should be a great consolation to us who are so often vexed with guilty fears because of the neglect of our duty 2. The Life of Glory Pleasures Honours and Profits seem great matters to a carnal heart and can do much till you put Heaven in the balance against them as Moses did Heb. 11.26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt for he had respect unto the recompence of reward he looked off from one object to another Alas when we think of this life all that we enjoy here is nothing and should do nothing upon us to gain us from God and our duty to him we should have such thoughts within our selves Shall I take these pleasures instead of my birth-right For this preferment shall I â—ell my part in Heaven Shall I cast away my Soul for this sensual delight The Devil usually prevaileth over men when Heaven is forgotten and out of sight Sure the Baptismal Vow and Engagement hath little hold upon us 2 Pet. 1.9 He is blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins These things are fitly coupled 4. Observe how we have all with Christ we dye with him and we live with him as we mortifie sin by virtue of that Grace which he purchased for us by his Death so we hold Heaven by his gift or the Grant of that Covenant which he hath confirmed by his Blood his Dying is the Pattern of our Mortification and his Life of our Happiness and Glory if by his Example we first learn to dye unto sin according to his Pattern and Example we shall have a joyful Resurrection to eternal Life for still we fare as Christ fared he would not be a Pattern to us only in his worst estate but in his best also we shall be partakers of the same glory which Christ hath at the right hand of the Father and as we shall live eternally so we shall eternally praise our Redeemer who deriveth influence to us all along both in dying and rising III. The certain Apprehension we have of this we believe Here I shall handle 1. The necessity of this Faith 2. The grounds of it 3. The profit of believing this 1. The necessity of believing 1. This life is not matter of Sense but of Faith whether you take it for the life of Grace or the life of Glory 1. The Life of Grace If you consider the nature of it which is of the order of things spiritual and men that judge according to things of sense see no glory in it 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Alas the rich preparations of Grace which God hath made us in the Gospel a carnal heart hath no savour for them nor value and esteem of them is nothing moved with the tender and offer we must have a higher light to see these things Besides the new Nature is hidden under manifold infirmities and afflictions Col. 3.3 Your life is hid with Christ in God and 1 Joh. 3.2 It doth not yet appear what we shall be Once more it is Gods gift and a matter full of difficulty for them to apprehend that are sensible of their own vileness and are daily conflicting with so many lusts that they should be quickened and inabled to live to God is a matter which they cannot easily believe Shall these dead bones live O Lord thou knowest Ezek. 37.3 It is an hard matter to perswade them that have a great sense of the power of their bewitching lusts they shall ever overcome 2. For the Life of Glory that is also a matter of Faith because it is a thing future unseen and to be enjoyed in another World Now faith is the substance of things not seen and the evidence of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 2. The Person Office and Power of our Redeemer are all mystical Truths Joh. 11.25 26. I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never dye believest thou this That Christ is able to raise the dead to life again now or hereafter 3. The matter is difficult to be believed that after worms have consumed this flesh it shall be raised again in Glory and at length reign with Christ for ever Therefore Abrahams Faith is so often propounded to the Faithful Who considered not his own body now dead nor yet the deadness of Sarahs womb Rom. 4.19 and the Apostle sheweth us That such a kind of faith shall be imputed to us for righteousness vers 24. who believe Christs Resurrection and then ours All this sheweth the necessity of Faith in this case 2. The grounds of believing this blessed Estate which is reserved for the mortified 1. The infinite Love of God which prepared these Mercies
giving all diligence add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledg c. wherefore the rather brethren give all diligence to make your calling and election sure c. for if ye do these things ye shall never fall for we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. So for Consideration Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider the Apostle and high priest of our profession Jesus Christ. The weightiest things lye by and are as if they were not sleepy reason is as none and the most important truths work not till consideration make them lively so for application what concerneth us not is passed over unless we hear things with a care to apply them we shall never make use of them Eph. 1.13 After ye heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation 'T is not enough to know the Gospel to be a Doctrine of Salvation to others but we must look upon it as a Doctrine that bringeth salvation to our own doors and leaveth it upon our choice a plaister doth not heal at a distance till it be applied to the sore truths are too remote till we set the edg and point of them to our own hearts Now this Question in the Text relateth to all Three 1. It challengeth our faith What shall we say to these things Do we believe them and assent to them as certain verities The Apostle doth in effect demand what we can reply or say to these things The unbelieving dark and doubtful heart of man hath many things to say against divine truths let God say what he will the heart is ready to gainsay it yet 't is good to press our selves thoroughly with the light and evidence of truths to compel the heart to bring forth its objections and scruples if any mind to contradict have we any solid arguments to oppose truth wanteth its efficacy when 't is received with an half conviction and doubts smothered breed Atheism irreligion and gross negligence certainly the weighty truths of Christianity are so clear that the heart of man hath little or nothing to say against them therefore follow it to a full conviction doth any scruple yet remain in our minds 't is good thoroughly to sift things that they may appear in their proper lustre and evidence John 11.26 Believest thou this Pose your hearts 2. This question doth excite consideration or meditation We should not pass by comfortable and important truths with a few glancing and running thoughts 't is one part of the work of grace to hold our hearts upon them Acts 16.14 Whose heart the Lord opened that she attended to the things that were spoken Otherwise in seeing we see not and in hearing we hear not when we see and hear things in a crowd of other thoughts as when you tell a man of a business whose mind is taken up about other things no your minds must dwell upon these things till you are affected with them a full survey of the object sheweth us the worth of it What shall we say to these things That is what can be said more for our comfort and satisfaction Or what do we desire more How should we be satisfied with this felicity and love of the Ever-blessed God to his people 3. It awakeneth application to our selves that we may make use of these things for our own good Application is twofold direct or reflexive and the question may be explained with respect to both 1. Direct application As when we infer and bind our duty upon our selves from such principles as are laid down so What shall we say to these things That is what use shall we make of them Christianity is not a matter of speculation only but of practise therefore when we hear the truth of it enforced we must commune with our selves What doth this call for at our hands but serious diligence 2 Pet. 3.11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness The truths of the Gospel are not propounded that we may talk at an higher rate than others do but to live at an higher rate if I should be negligent indifferent careless What will become of me 2. Reflexive application is when we consider our state and course and judg of it by such general truths as are propounded to us direct application is by way of practical inference reflexive by way of discovery and to this sense may this question be interpreted What shall we say to these things Doth heart and practise agree with them Do I live answerable to these comforts and priviledges What am I one called and sanctified and one that continueth with patience in well doing upon the hope of eternal life 2 Cor. 13.5 Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye are reprobates If Christ be formed in his people is he formed in me Thus things must be brought home to the heart and laid to the conscience if we would make a profitable use of them USE is to awaken this self-communing To make our assent more strong our consideration more deep and serious and our application either by way of inference or discovery more close and pungent Do we assent Is this a truth to be lightly passed over If this be true what must I do Or what have I done Now this you should do upon these occasions 1. When you are tempted to unbelief There are some points which are remote from sense and cross the desires and lusts of sensual men and we either deny them or doubt of them or our hearts are full of prejudice against them and also the Devil doth inject thoughts of blasphemy or doubts about the world to come into the hearts of people especially in those that take Religion upon trust or are secretly false to that Religion they have received upon some evidence Now to prevent all this 't is good to commune with our selves that we may be well settled in the truth therefore see with what evidence the great things of the other world are represented unto us in the Word of God and what a just title they have to our firmest belief Faith will not be settled without serious thoughts and it soon withereth there where it hath not much depth of earth Matth. 13.5 6. No thoughts in the highway ground slight thoughts in the stony ground faith is a child of light and given upon certain grounds Luke 1.4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed and Acts 17.11 12. They searched the Scriptures whether those things were so Therefore many of them believed But presumption and slight credulity is a child of darkness the fruit of ignorance and incogitancy therefore 't is good in those truths that need it most to ask What say we to these things 2. When you are in danger
with the Spirit of Christ assisting but not reforming as an Angel sometimes appears in an assumed Body But 't is dangerous to rest in this it maketh our sin and Judgement the greater if after a taste we rest in a common work Historical Faith if not growing into a saving sound Faith 't is a kind of mocking of God and an Hypocrites portion As for instance We profess to believe him Omniscient yet fear not to sin in his presence Omnipotent yet cannot depend upon his Alsufficiency to believe a day of Judgement yet make no preparation for our Account Tit. 1.16 Mens sins and Judgements are aggravated according to the sense they have had of Religion and so their latter end may be worse than their beginning 2 Pet. 2.20 And sad it will be for those that from hopefull beginnings fall off from God I will tell you a man may live and die with a temporary Faith and Affections to God and Holiness without making any visible Apostasie and yet have no sound Faith of the right Constitution Yea if you regard what little rooting Grace hath in mens hearts how weak their Pulse beateth this way how strong their Affections are to the World and the things thereof how little they can vanquish the cares and fears of this world and the temptations that arise from voluptuous living 't is to be feared the far greatest part of Christians are but Temporaries 3. Oh then be sure to get this truth of Grace into your Hearts let your Hearts be effectually subdued to God let there be a Principle of Life set up in them Religion respects our Principles as well as our Performances 2 Tim. 1.5 The end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart and a good Conscience and Faith unfeigned There must be a renewed Heart as the fountain a well informed Conscience as our guide and Faith unfeigned as our great encouragement And so all acts of Charity to God and men are accepted with God as a piece of Obedience done to him If we will not regard the Manner God will not regard the Matter Oh then get this renewed Heart and a lively Faith and an awakened Conscience This is to get Oyl into your Vessels and if once you get this it will never fail but increase exceedingly like the Sareptan's Oyl But how shall we get it I answer 1. You have this Oyl from Christ. The Unction is from the Holy One 2 Joh. 2.20 As the Precious Oyl was first poured on Aaron's Head and then came down to the Skirts of his Garment so Christ is first possessed of the Spirit and then we have it by our Union with him Joh. 1 16. Of his fulness we receive Grace for Grace We must go to the Fountain every day to seek new supplies Christ was anointed with the Oyl of gladness above his fellows Zech 4. Christ is represented by the Bowl and the two Olive Trees that alwayes poured forth Golden Oyl Christ as Mediator is the Store-house of the Church who is intrusted with all Gifts and Graces for our benefit Oh bring your empty Vessels to this golden Olive-tree The Widdow only brought Casks the Oyl failed not till the Vessels failed 2. If you would have it from Christ you must use the Means of Grace the Word Prayer Sacraments Meditation We need continual supplies must use continual Prayers seek the Grace of the Spirit to keep in our Lamps Luk. 11.13 So the Word God droppeth in something to the Soul that waiteth on him Mark 4.24 Take heed how you hear for with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again If we be earnest and diligent in waiting upon God God will abound to us in blessing his Word to us So for Meditation Mat. 13.19 The High-way Ground did not bring the Word to their minds again doth not revolve it mindeth it not heedeth it not So for the Lords Supper 't is a means to root us in the Love of God when we so often renew our Oath of Allegiance to him to excite our Faith in Christ. All these are a price put into our hands to get Oyl in our Lamps and prepare for his Coming 3. Keep your Vessels clean The Spirit dwelleth not but in a clean Heart Doves build not their Habitations on Dung-hills He cometh as an efficient Cause as a Spirit assisting before he comes as a Spirit inhabiting and purifieth our Hearts by Faith 4. After you have gotten this Oyl cherish it that it may not decay Of its own nature it would do so witness that stock of Original Righteousness which Adam had Gods Promise by which it is secured supposeth our endeavours to waste it Luk. 8.18 Whosoever hath to him shall be given but whosoever hath not from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have 5. Do not only cherish and keep it from decay but see that you encrease it 2 Pet. 1.5 Add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge 1 Thes. 3.10 Perfect what is lacking 1 Thes. 4.1 That as you have received of us how you ought to walk and please God so you should abound therein A little Faith will be as no Faith not honourable to God nor comfortable to you nor useful to others All our doubts perplexities uncertainties come from the smallness of our Graces 'T will not make an Evidence therefore give diligence No endeavour labour pursuit after God but hath its recompense not an earnest thought an earnest Prayer or time spent What shall I say They whose Hearts are upon the wayes thereof go on from strength to strength You are almost at home nearer than when you first believed Then you thought all your pains too much now all too little Let me apply all to the Sacrament 1. There we come to meet the Bridegroom in a way of Grace The Marriage Covenant between God Incarnate and his espoused Ones is here celebrated and solemnized The Sacrament is a Transfiguration of the last Marriage Supper to ascertain us what entertainment we shall have at the Day of Judgment when the Bride the Lamb's Wife shall be made ready and cloathed with fine Linnen Rev. 19.23 and then be received in to the Nuptial Feast Blessed are they that are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. All is now prepared in this Duty 2. In some respect there should be a Serious Preparation for the one as for the other as we would prepare to dye or prepare to meet Christ the Judge Christ did not wash his Disciples feet when he took them with him to Tabor to his Transfiguration but when he took them with him at his last Supper Joh. 13.7 Surely to rush upon the presence of the Bridegroom with a perfunctory careless common frame of spirit is a dangerous thing When a People come hand over head prepare themselves slightly pray slightly before they come and live carelesly and negligently they slight the Bridegroom and wrong themselves strengthen themselves in sin rather than
against it Methinks it looks like going to the Day of Judgment Here we receive the Pledges of our Salvation or Damnation 3. We should come with Oyl in our Vessels as well as in our Lamps 1. Our Lamps should be kept burning bright If you are sluggish now 't is a sign you are slight in the whole Surely now the King sitteth at his Table Cant. 1.2 our Spicknard should send forth the smell thereof a lively exercise of Grace Now we come for meat which perisheth not now is our familiar converse with Christ and near Communion with him now we come to our Legal Investiture Christ and all his benefits are delivered by these signs which he hath instituted As if a man should say Here is my House when a Deed is delivered and you give up the Key or give possession of Land by a Turf This is our solemn taking possession of him and all his benefits We receive Christ in the Promises of the Covenant but here is a particular close Application In the Word Christ is offered and exposed to all as the Brazen Serpent that whoever looked upon him might be healed But this Supper is like the Blood sprinkled upon the Door-posts In the Word Christ and Immortality are brought to light now Christ is slain before our eyes The Bread is put into our hands and mouths 2. We should come with Oyl in our Vessels Would we have the Spirit blow upon a dead Cole He findeth nothing in us to work upon We are bidden to examine and what must we examine 1 Cor. 11.28 The Apostle will tell you Whether you be in the faith or no 2 Cor. 13.5 But to speak to this case I confess that in Foro Ecclesiae in the Court of the Church all are Virgins that take their Lamps that do profess to believe all these must be admitted But in Foro Coeli in the Court of Heaven none but Converted ones are admitted But in Foro Conscientiae in the Court of Conscience I dare not discourage those that have the grace of the second or third ground 'T is a means to strengthen them in Faith Hope and Love and make them more firm in the Covenant of God And the difference is too nice between temporary Grace and saving Grace for any to exclude themselves I am bound to come with Grace but I am not bound to come with Assurance Besides in the Kingdom of Grace Christ will not shut them out They that have good affections should come but with this caution I would press them to mind the renouncing and engaging part of the Covenant and earnestly to break the League between themselves and their own wayes and engage themselves more firmly to God for time to come that you may not think as you have done or speak as you have done nor behave your selves in your Relations as you have done but throw sin out of doors I would press you in the Apostles words Heb. 10 22. Let us draw near with a true heart having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with clean water The one relateth to the Duty-part Let us draw nigh with a true heart the other relateth to the Promissory part Though your Grace be common Grace 't is this way moulded into special 2 Doct. That this will be found to be true Wisdom and the other Folly For Wisdom to begin with that Wisdom is Index sui obliqui Wisdom lyeth 1. In proposing a right End 2. In the Choice of fit Means And 3. In an earnest Prosecution of the End by these Means This is the property of Wisdom in the General and it holdeth true in Godly Wisdom The wise Virgins did so Their End was right to be admitted in to the Nuptial Feast or everlasting enjoyment of God And then they use right Means such as will bring them to the end We do not use to draw Ships in the Sea with Horses nor draw Wagons with the Wind. We must not use contrary means nor insufficient means We cannot go to to the bottom of a Well that is thirty foot deep with a line that is but ten foot We must use such as will certainly do The Wisdom of God hath fixed Means for us and we are doubly Fools if we will not use them opportunely carefully and constantly Else 't is a Prize put into a fools hand Prov. 16.17 The Wise Virgins did all this sought Oyl in time both for their Lamps and Vessels Luk. 13.24 On the contrary he that contents himself with a profession of Christ without a work of Grace upon his Heart is a Fool he is not a Profane Fool that doth the contrary but a Professing Fool that sort of Profession is better than Prophaneness so far 't is a degree of Wisdom but rested in 't is Folly it faileth in all the points of Wisdom in the end they do not esteem the Lord as the chief good for they think a little ease of the Flesh or a little sensual Liberty or a satisfaction of a Lust to be better or Honour or Pleasure or Gain this quiets them in the neglect or want of God they see some good in Christ offer fair for him but take him not as the chiefest good they are willing to part with something but not with all for his sake SERMON IV. MATTH XXV v. 5. While the Bridegroom tarryed they all Slumbred and Slept WE have seen wherein they differed now we shall see again wherein they agree In the words observe 1. What happened to the Virgins They all slumbred and slept 2. The Occasion of it I do not say the Cause While the Bridegroom tarryed The Cause of sleeping was Infirmitas humana the Occasion of it Mora Sponsi In the first of these 1. Who They all 2. What slumbred and slept First Who They all 'T is no wonder to hear it of the foolish Virgins but that the wise should do it there is the difficulty Therefore some of the Ancients understand it of Death which is called sleep in Scripture but that is improbable and suiteth not with the frame and drift of this Parable Some would understand it distributively not conjunctively that the wise slumbred and the foolish slept but 't is not said slumbred or slept but slumbred and slept The meaning is all of them were not so diligent in their Duty as they should have been even the good are in part negligent as well as the foolish though they alwayes keep a good Conscience and an heart in some measure alwayes prepared to meet Christ. Secondly What Slumbred and slept Wherein the degree of their security is set forth they did not only slumber which is a less failing but Slept Thirdly The Order First slumbred and then slept Doctrine That the Foolish and Wise both Slumber and Sleep I shall First enquire What this Slumbering and sleeping is Secondly How far it may befall the Children of God or the Wise Virgins Thirdly The Causes and Reasons of it First What
long and given us a large space of time wherein to employ our selves but what have we done for his glory Alas either we do nihil agere or male agere or aliud agere either we do nothing or nothing to the purpose or that which is worse than nothing which will undo us for ever Oh what thoughts will we have of a careless and mispent life when we come to die Many do not think of the end of their Lives till their lives be ended and then they moan and bewail themselves when they lye a dying Oh rather think of your last end and great account betimes 'T is lamentable to begin to live when we must die Quidam tunc incipiat vivere cum desinendum est they end their lives before they begin to live Therefore if hitherto you have been pleasing the flesh idling and wantoning away your precious time say 1 Pet. 4.3 Let the time past suffice I have been long enough dishonouring God and destroying my own soul hath my Master tarryed so long and shall I still abuse his patience This is an holy and right use of this delay Secondly His Work what he will do when he cometh He reckoneth with his Servants Doct. II. Those that have Talents must look to reckon for them For though he be long first yet at length the Lord cometh 1. Consider the certainty of this Account his Wisdom Justice Goodness and Truth require it His Wisdome requireth it for no wise man would put hiâ— Goods to trust and never look after them more and shall we imagine that the wise God would send reasonable Creatures into the World and furnish them with excellent Gifts and Endowments and never consider how they imploy themselves Is man Gods Servant then certainly he is liable to an account You had never come into the World but for this business to serve and please God For God maketh nothing in vain but all things for himself Prov. 16.4 And do you think that after you are made for this end you may live as you lift and never be called to a reckoning So absurd a thought cannot enter into the heart of a reasonable man Eccl. 11.9 Rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes But know thou for all these things God will bring thee to judgment Man would be but a sort of Beast if he had no other end of his Actions but to eat and drink and sleep and no other account to give surely the most wise God would not have given us such excellent faculties in vain He fitteth all Creatures for their use Every Workman fitteth his work for the end for which it serveth so God hath made Man for some end and use And Gods Justice requireth it that it should be well with them that do well and ill with them that do ill In the World it is not so his Servants are very often abused while doing their work most faithfully the World thinks them mad hateth them They that neglect their own work beat their Fellow-servants therefore the honour of his Justice requireth they should be called to an account 1 Pet. 4.5 Who must give an account to him who is ready to judge the quick and the dead There is not a thought in wicked mens Hearts nor a word in their Mouths contrary to God and his People but he taketh notice of it and will exact an account thereof a strict and impartial account of all their hard speeches And the Goodness of God requireth it His goodness to the World in general the World would be a Wilderness and Men like ravenous Beasts if there were not some Bridle and awe of a World to come upon them but every one that had power would prey upon others but that there is an higher Judge God hath appointed a supream Tribunal where Causes are judged over again otherwise those that have power enough to do mischief would be under no restraint But 't is goodness to his people whom he hath set a work and therefore hath appointed a day when he will give them their wages his goodness will not permit that they should be any losers by God their love and obedience to him that deny themselves their own affections and interest for his sake Therefore certainly the great God of Recompences will come and call the VVorld to an account that the faithfulness of his Servants may appear with praise and honour This is a supream Truth Heb. 11.6 That he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him And his Truth requireth it 't is laid at pledge in the VVord that 's the proper ground for Faith to build upon Now there we have not only Gods VVord but Gods Oath Rom. 14.10 11. For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God There we have plentiful evidence 2. 'T is a personal Account Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God VVe should not look to others what they be and do As to our selves we must give an account of our selves our life our heart our own thoughts words and actions 'T is personal partly because every one must give his Account apart not every one shuffled together and in gross but every Servant apart and severally first he that had five Talents then two then one And partly because every one unavoidably must answer for himself Here we may have our Attorney or Advocate to appear for us in Court but there every one for himself every man must in person give an Account of his own fidelity 3. 'T is an Impartial Account every one without exception Revel 20.12 I saw the Dead both small and great stand before God Small and great King and Peasant they shall all one day be called to an Account whether Faithful or no. None so high as to be exempted from this Account none so mean as to be neglected in it he that received five Talents and he that received one both gave an Account The poor Beggar is not left out nor the King excused 4. 'T is a particular Account God will not take our Accounts by the heap and lump but there is a narrow search into all our Hearts and Ways the the great thing is What we have done in that place and Relation where God hath set us our Stewardship Luke 16.2 But that 's not all we are to give an Account of every Action Eccles. 12.14 For God shall bring every work into Judgement Every idle Word must be Accounted for Mat. 12.36 All the time we have spent degrees of Grace we received what we have done proportionable to our Trust five for five two for two 5. 'T is an exact
highly exalted him and given him a Name above every Name That at the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow of things in Heaven and things in Earth and things under the Earth And that every Tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father His Inauguration into the Throne and Authority over all Things The preaching of the Gospel in his Name together with the success of it Isa. 55.4 5. Behold I have given him for a Witness to the People a Leader and Commander to the People Behold thou shalt call a Nation that thou knewest not and Nations that know not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the Holy One of Israel for he hath glorified thee His Return at the Day of Judgment with Power and great Glory The Petition must be explained according to the Event of all the Glory that God put upon Christ after his Passion The meaning of the whole is Hitherto I have laid aside my Glory and now lay down my Life sustain me by thine Arm that I may overcome Death and raise me again with Triumph and Honour that I may go into Glory leading Captivity captive and receive the Principality that by the Resurrection publication of the Gospel and last Judgment the Glory of my Divinity may be known and acknowledged But how doth Christ pray Glorify me when he saith elsewhere John 8.5 I seek not my own Glory I Answer Christ speaketh there of himself in the Judgment of his Adversaries who thought him a meer Man and sheweth that he came not as an Impostor to seek himself God would well enough provide for his Glory and Esteem There he disclaimeth all particular privat Aims Affections and Attempts here he sueth out his Right according to his Father's Promise Observe hence 1. Christ saith The Hour is come and then Father glorify me The true Remedy of Tribulation is to look to the succeeding Glory and to counter-ballance future Dangers with present Hopes In this prayer Christ reviveth the Grounds of Confidence One is Father glorify me This was Comfort against the sad Hour and so it must be our course Not to look to things which are seen but to things that are not seen 2 Cor. 4.17 to defeat Sense by Faith When the Mind is in Heaven it is fortified against the Pains which the Body feeleth on Earth Strong Affections give us a kind Dedolency a Man will venture a knock that is in reach of a Crown 1 Tim. 4.8 It is the folly of Christians to let Fancy work altogether upon present Discouragements Faith should be fixed in the contemplation of future Hopes It is a sad Hour but there is Glory in the issue and close 2. Observe again First Christ had his Hour then he saith Glorify me Luke 24. 26. Ought not Christ to suffer and then to enter into his Glory Shame Sorrow and Death is the Road-way to Glory Joy and Life The Captain of our Salvation was thus made perfect Heb. 2.10 and all the Followers of the Lamb are brought in by that Method It is the folly of some that think to be in Heaven before they have done any thing for God's Glory upon Earth You would invert the Method and stated course of Heaven None is crowned except he strive lawfully 2 Tim. 2.5 6. and Vers. 11 12. It is a faithful saying for if we be dead with him we shall also live with him If we suffer we shall also reign with him It hath the Seal of a constant Dispensation it is a faithful Saying All the Promises run To him that overcometh We must have Communion with Christ in all Estates Rom. 8.17 If so be that ye suffer with him that ye may be also glorified together It is a necessary Condition We are Heirs if so be that we suffer with him c. We are too delicate we would have our Path strewed with Roses and do not like this Discipline Abel signifies Mourning and Stephen a Crown they were the first Martyrs of either Testament If you want Afflictions you want one of the necessary way-marks to Heaven 3. Glorify me Christ seeketh not the empty things of this World but to be glorified with the Father We want some Spiritual Ambition and are too low and groveling in our Desires and Hopes If you be risen with Christ seek those things that are above where Christ sitteth at the right Hand of God Col. 3.1 It is no Treason to aspire to the Heavenly Kingdom Mat. 6.33 Seek first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof and to seek a place on Christ's own Throne Neither is it any culpable self-seeking to seek Self in God John 5.44 How can ye believe that receive Honour one of another and seek not the Honour that cometh from God alone Joh. 12.43 They loved the Praise of Men more than the Praise of God Here we may seek our own Honour and Glory without a Crime O behold the liberality and indulgence of Grace God hath set no stint to our Spiritual Desires we may seek not only Grace but Glory 4. Christ himself prayeth to be glorified it noteth the Truth of his Abasement He is the Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2.8 and had a natural and eternal Right he thought it no robbery to be equal with God and yet Christ himself is now upon his Knees If he had said Let them be glorified that had been much that he would open his Mouth to plead for Sinners But he saith Glorify me or glorify thy Son which is a strange Condescention that he that had the Key of David should now be knocking at the Father's Gate and receive his own Heaven by Gift and Intreaty He might take without robbery Glory as his due yet as our Mediator he is to ask When he took our Nature he brought himself under the Engagement of our Duty 5. Christ asketh what he knew would be given So John 8.50 I seek not my own Glory there is one that seeketh and judgeth The Father was zealous for the Son's Glory there was an Oracle from Heaven to assure him of it John 12.28 Father glorify thy Name Then came there a Voice from Heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorify it again meaning by strengthning him in the Work of Redemption And yet now again Glorify thy Son that he may glorify thee Obs. Providence doth not take away Prayers We are to ask though our Heavenly Father knoweth we have need of these things and we know God will give them to us John 16.26 27. At that day ye shall ask in my Name I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you The meaning is though there be need of my great Instance and I need not tell you I will make Intercession I pass by that now I only tell you of that free Access you have to God and his great Affection to you yet still you must
10.38 That ye may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him 1 John 4.16 We have known and have believed the Love that God hath to us John 6.69 We know and believe that thou art Christ. We must first know before we can believe In Faith there is a Knowledg an Apprehension as well as Discourse a pregnant Apprehension Faith is a clear Light it freeth the Soul from the Mists of Prejudice by representing God in the Allsufficiency of Grace and Power Heb. 11.3 Through Faith we understand that the World was framed by the Word of God It puzzeled the Philosophers but Faith maketh all clear After Faith 2 Pet. 1.5 Add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledg Faith is the Fruit of Knowledg Knowledg is the Fruit of Faith So Psal. 119.66 Teach me good Judgment and Knowledg for I have believed thy Commandments that is a fuller manifestation First we receive the Word by Faith then we know more Oportet discentem credere First we know That it is then How it is The ground of Faith is that they are revealed How or what they are we learn by more acquaintance and experience Light is always increasing most necessary to the Christian Life Faith is as Knowledg is more or less explicite yet not so explicite but that there is some impliciteness in it as long as we live here 1 John 2.3 It doth not yet appear what we shall be but this we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him We have not a particular Account not a Reason of the Thing but we have a Reason why we believe it 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is a proper Act of Faith God is always on the giving and we on the receiving Hand we receive the Word we receive Christ and we receive Remission of Sins and Glory the main of our Duty is but a Receiving Let me press you to receive the Word to receive Christ. 1. Receive the Word give it a kind entertainment There is an Act of Consideration meditate upon it seriously that Truth may not float in the Understanding but sink into the Heart Luke 9.44 Let these sayings sink down into your Hearts Believe it the Truth is a Soveraign Remedy but there wanteth one Ingredient to make it work and that is Faith Heb. 4.2 The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it There is an Act of the Will and Affections which is called a receiving the Truth in Love 2 Thess. 2.10 Make room for it that Carnal Affections may not vomit and throw it up again Christ complaineth that his Word had no place in them John 8.37 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like a queasy Stomach possessed with Choler that casts up all that is taken into it 1 Cor. 2.14 A natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God Let it lodg and quietly exercise a soveraign command over the Soul 2. Receive Christ in the Word In a Contract there is not only a receiving a Bond but by virtue of the Bond an Inheritance conveyed to us So you must not only receive the Word we are not saved by giving credit to any Maxim of Religion Fides non est assensus axiomati Not they that saw the Ark many saw it and scoffed but they that were in it were saved from drowning When a Man is ready to perish in the Floods it is not enough to see Land but we must reach it stand upon it if we would be safe It is not a naked Contemplation but a real Implantation into Christ. Now if you will know it whatever was in Christ in the History must be in you in the Mystery You are Adopted Sons 1 John 3.1 Christ must be formed and conceived in you Gal. 4.19 You must suffer and be crucified to the World and Sin Rom. 6.6 You must be buried and raised up again Col. 2.12 All is to be done in a spiritual manner I speak not this to turn all Scripture into an Allegory but every Act of Christ hath some Spiritual Accomodation So much for these two acts or parts of Faith They have known surely and have received thy Word Before I go off from this Clause there are two or three Observations to be raised especially if we compare this Verse with John 16.27 28 29 30 31. For the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and believed that I came forth from God I came forth from the Father and am come into the World again I leave the World and go to the Father His Disciples said unto him Lo now speakest thou plainly and speakest no Proverb Now are we sure that thou knowest all things and needest not that any Man should ask thee by this we believe that thou camest forth from God Jesus answered them Do ye now believe From whence I observe That this was but a late Acknowledgment Vers. 30. Now we are sure and by this we believe that thou camest forth from God And presently within an hour Christ commendeth it to his Father They have known surely and have believed 1. Observe How ready Christ is to take notice of the Good that is wrought in us He watcheth for an occasion to commend us to God Satan and his Instruments they watch for our halting Jer. 20.10 All my Familiars watched for my halting peradventure he will be inticed Let us watch say they we may have Matter against him The Devil is a Spy that lieth upon the catch that he may frame an Accusation against you before God A Dog doth not wait for a Bit from his Master's Trencher more than he doth for a passionate Word some evil Gesture and Practice whereof to accuse us so his Instruments watch to defame you in the World But now Jesus Christ looketh after Matter of Praise and Commendation Now we know verily and believe and Christ presently telleth his Father of it Oh what an encouragement should this be to press us to grow in Knowledg and to abound in every good Work you furnish your Intercessor with matter of Praise and give your Advocate an Advantage against your Accuser Christ watcheth for a good Action as the Devil doth for a Bad He is a swift Witness not only against his Adversaries but for his People Mal. 3.5 I will come near to you in Judgment and I will be a swift Witness against the Sorcerers c. He cometh to convince them sooner than they are aware none of their Sins are unknown to him and they are brought in Court before they dream of it And the Godly have a Witness in Heaven too So Job 16.20 Behold my Witness is in Heaven and my Record is on High And he is a swift Witness we reap the Fruit of many Actions as soon as they are performed A continual Experience we have of this disposition of Christ in the speedy answer of Prayers Isa. 64.24 And it shall come to pass that before they call
the Vessel keepeth its course tho they move a contrary way or as in Clocks tho some Wheels move one way and some another yet all tend to make the Clock go 5. Observe In the Church are wicked Men who may finally miscarry nay Men eminent for a while in the Church yet afterwards prove dreadful Apostates There was a Cham in the Ark a Judas among the Apostles The visible Church never wanteth a mixture there is no possibility to eschew it Partly because they may be useful as to external Employment and Service God hath an use for wicked Men as a dead Post to support a living Tree They may have Gifts for the Benefit of the Body Wicked Men may supply the place of an Officer as Judas was an Apostle A wooden Leg may be a Stay to the Body tho it be not a true Member Mat. 7.22 23. Many shall say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name cast out Devils and in thy Name done many wonderful Works And then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work Iniquity Christ will disclaim them as here he doth A Torch giveth never the less Light tho carried by a Blackamore nor is the Gospel less efficacious because managed by carnal Instruments Partly because God hath reserved a perfect Discrimination till the last Day left the Wheat should be pulled up with the Tares He knew Men were envious and censorioâ—s therefore till Sins be open he doth not allow us to judg Partly to shew us his Patience to the worst of Men. Judas was continued among the Apostles Christ knew him when he was a Thief as well as when he was a Traytor before he discovered the Traytor he bore with the Thief tho a Son of Perdition he doth not deny him the Means Vse 1. Do not rest in outward Privileges Say What am I It is a Privilege to be a Member of the Church David accounted it so to be a Door-keeper in the House of God Psal. 84.10 A Man may be an Apostle of great Authority but there is a more excellent way that is Grace Outward Advantages without special Grace will not serve the turn Judas was under Christ's own Instruction Vse 2. Look to your Grounds and Motives upon which you take up the Profession of the Name of Christ. A sound Beginning will have an happy Ending but if it be only upon carnal Reasons sometime or other you will fall off and all will end in shame and horror Vse 3. When Scandals arise the whole Body is not to be condemned for the Miscarriages of some Members As the Beauty of a Street is not to be reckoned by the Sink and Kennel nor the sound Grapes by the rotten ones We are not to condemn Religion and Religious Persons tho some among them prove scandalous We are not to think the worse of Christ and his Apostles because a Judas was in their Company In the Floor there is Chaff as well as Wheat in the Field there are Tares as well as Corn in the Draw-Net there are bad Fish as well as good Mat. 18.7 Wo unto the World because of Offences for it must needs be that Offences come but wo to that Man by whom the Offence cometh Such is the Enmity of Man to Good that he is glad to have occasion to blemish the Truth Are there not many that are sincere and walk unblameably And doth not thy Heart tell thee thou hast no reason to speak against them Religion it self condemneth such ways Vse 4. Hearken unto this you that commit Sin with Jollity and Security you can eat and drink and rise up to play O take heed lest at length thou criest out O I have sinned I have damned my Soul I have betrayed Christ Judas came at length to this I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent Blood Mat. 27.4 Some are fet up as Beacons to warn others that by their dear Cost we may learn to beware We are whipped on their Backs as some Malefactors their Bodies are not buried but their Quarters are set up upon Gates of Cities and Places of great resort for a Warning to others Vt qui vivi noluerunt prodesse eorum morte Republicae utatur saith Seneca As Lot's Wife was turned into a Pillar of Salt to season after-Ages It is the property of God's Children still to edify themselves by what they see in others be it good or evil The Lord grant both you and I may tremble at this Instance to stir up Watchfulness for our own Safety that we may not fall into like Offences We have to do with a just and an holy God Thin Exhalations turn into great Clouds and Storms Thirdly The next Circumstance is an Appeal to Scripture That the Scriptures might be fulfilled Why doth Christ make this Appeal Partly to avoid the Scandal as if Christ could not discern an Hypocrite Partly to draw their Minds from the Treason of Judas and the Malice of the Jews to the Counsel of God revealed in the Scriptures Partly to shew the certain Accomplishment of whatever is foretold by the Holy-Ghost I shall prosecute these two last Reasons and thence take two Observations 1. Observe In the whole Passion of Christ nothing fell out by chance He was not betrayed by chance it was a Circumstance that fell under the Ordination of God It is notable that the same Word is used of Judas Mat. 26.15 What will ye give me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and I will deliver him unto you Of the Jews John 18.30 If he were not a Malefactor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we would not have delivered him to thee Of Pilate Mat. 27.26 When he had scourged Jesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he delivered him up to be crucified And of God Rom. 8.32 Who spared not his own Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but gave him up to the Death for us all But there are express places of Scripture Acts 2.24 He being delivered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the determinate Counsel and Fore-knowledg of God We must look not to Instruments but to God's hand The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may have reference to a Prince giving Royal Gifts he gave us this precious Gift out of his Treasury Or to a Judg who delivereth a Malefactor into the hands of the Executioner Christ died not only as a Martyr but as a Surety here lieth all the hopes of our Salvation So Acts 4.28 For to do whatsoever thy Hand and thy Counsel determined before to be done God decreed it and God over-ruled it This is in part the meaning 2. Observe To shew the Truth of whatever is foretold in Scripture Scriptures must be fulfilled whatever Inconveniencies fall out See how tender God is of his Word 1. He valueth it above all his Works John 10.35 The Scriptures cannot be broken Luke 21.33 Heaven and Earth shall pass away but my Words shall not pass away God
the strength of Desire Many of God's Children are tempted to make away themselves but I never heard of any that were tempted to make away themselves in the heighth of Assurance or out of the vehemency of Spiritual Desire tho the present Life be accompanied with many Vexations and Afflictions Despair maketh Men to lay violent Hands on themselves but not Assurance as Saul fell upon his Sword and Achitophel went home and hanged himself and Judas was his own Executioner But Assurance tho it desireth God's presence yet it tarrieth God's leisure Waiting is a Fruit of Faith as well as Confidence Spiritual Desires are always conceived with Submission and Obedience if God hath more work they can brook the delay of the Reward and tarry for their Wages I remember a Passage of a Heathen of Tully in his Somnium Scipionis when Scipio had said If true Life be only in Heaven why stay I then upon Earth why haste I not to come to you No saith his Father unless God free thee from the Fetters of thy Body thou canst not come hither Men are born and bred upon this Condition that they should promote the good of the World You must not fly from the Duty assigned by God the Soul is to be kept in the custody of the Body till it be commanded thence by God that gave it at first This was his saying and indeed it is wonderful Christians learn to wait Gâ—d's leisure it is better to be with Christ but you must not look for your Wages till you have done your Work When a Sentinel is set upon the Watch he must not come off without the Commander's leave and till he is discharged by Authority God hath set us in a Watch and we must not leave our Ground till we have done all that is injoined us till we receive a fair Discharge This Point will serve to open two Cases 1. Case Whether Men confessing Christ may make away themselves to avoid the cruel Torments of their Persecutors and they know not certainly what their strength may be able to sustain This was a great Case in the Primitive Times and it may be still of use Eusebius telleth us lib. 8. cap. 24. that in the Time of Dioclesian's Persecution which was very bloody and cruel there were divers that procured Death to themselves by leaping down from Losts and high Places or else thrust themselves through with Knives or Swords I Answer This is sinful Christ prayeth not that his Disciples might be taken out of the World but kept from the Evil. The sinfulness appeareth 1. Because this is an Act of Disobedience contrary to the Law of God Thou shalt not kill now the more unnatural any Act is the greater is the Crime A Man is not Lord of Life and Death 2. It is an Act of Distrust 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no Temptation taken you but such as is common to Men but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it God will either temper the Affliction to our strength or raise our strength to the degree of the Affliction Christ hath laid in this Prayer for our encouragement in this Case Keep them from the Evil it is a making haste as if God would not be faithful but require Brick where he giveth no Straw 3. It is a disparagement and dishonour to the Cause which we maintain It robbeth God of a great deal of Glory when he calleth us out to shew our Love to him to take our Lives out of God's Hands when he claimeth them Rom. 14. 7 8. For none of us liveth to himself and no Man dieth to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lord 's Providence hath singled you out to be Witnesses God by his Providence challengeth his due It is a retracting of your Vows And therefore tho God may be merciful to the Soul yet the Act is unnatural and sinful and base when God hath drawn you out to be him Champions and Witnesses to the World 2. Case is about wishing for Death You know the Law doth not only forbid Acts but Thoughts and Desires Therefore is it lawful to long for Death and Dissolution We find Instances on both Hands in the Scriptures The murmuring Israelites are taxed Exod. 16.3 Would to God we had died by the Hand of the Lord in the Land of Egypt And it is usual for Men in a pet to wish themselves dead to curse the day of their Birth and long for the day of their Death On the other side Paul out of a spiritual Affection desireth to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Phil. 1.23 I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ. What shall we say in this case I Answer in several Propositions 1. There is a great deal of difference between serious Desires and passionate Expressions The Desires of the Children of God are deliberate and resolved conceived upon good grounds and after much strugling with Flesh and Blood to bring their Hearts to it Carnal Men are loth that God should take them at their word as he in the Fable that called for Death and when he came desired him to help him up with his Burden Alas they do not consider what it is to be in the state of the Dead and to come unprovided and unfurnished into God's Presence We often wish our selves in our Graves but if God should take us at our word we would make many Pauses and Exceptions Men that in their Miseries call for Death when Sickness cometh will run to the Physician many Gifts are promised if Life could be restored None more unwilling to die than those that in a Passion wish for Death 2. We must carefully look to the grounds of these Wishes and Desires Carnal Wishes for Death arise either 1. Out of violent Anger and a pet against Providence as Jonah 4.3 Therefore now O Lord take I besâ—ech thee my Life from me for it is better for me to die than to live And Vers. 8. He fainted and wished â—n himself to die and said It is better for me to die than to live The murmuring Israelites when they felt the Famine of the Wilderness wished they had died in the Land of Egypt When Men are vexed with the World they look upon Death as a Release to take vengeance upon God to deprive him of a Servant 2. In deep Sorrow as Job 3.11 Why died I not from the Womb Why did I not give up the Ghost when I came out of the Belly And Job 6.8 9. O that I might have my Request and that God would grant me the thing that I long for Ever that it would please God to destroy me that he would let loose his Hand and câ—â—â—e off Elisha 1 Kings 19.4 He
in their place but by their Faith and the Godly are elsewhere called of the Hâ—â—shold of Faith Where ever our Implantation into Christ or Participation of the Privileges of his Death or our Spiritual Communion in the Church is spoken of the Condition is Faith It is a Grace that sendeth us out of our selves to look for all in another It is the Mother of Obedience as all Disobedience is by Unbelief so all Obedience is by Faith First he said Ye shall not die and then Ye shall be as Gods First he seeketh to weaken their Faith in the Word they could not be proud and ambitious till they did disbelieve Therefore above all Things let us labour after Faith Our Hearts are taken up with the World the Honours and Pleasures of it these cannot make us happy but Christian Privileges will all which are conveyed to us by Faith But let us come to the second Point Doct. 2. That in the reckoning and sense of the Gospel they are Believers that are wrought upon to believe in Christ through the Word Here is the Object Christ the Ground Warrant and Instrumental Cause and that is the Word The Warrant must be distinguished from the Object the Warrant is the Word and the proper object of Faith is Christ as considered in his Mediatory Office Sometimes the Act of Faith is terminated on the Person of Christ and sometimes on the Promise to shew there is no closing with Christ without the Promise and no closing with the Promise without Christ. As in a Contract there is not only a receiving of the Leaâ—e or Conveyance but a receiving of Lands by virtue of such a Deed and Conveyance So there is a receiving of the Word and a receiving of Christ through the Word the one maketh way for the other the Promise for our Affiance in Christ. Faith that assents to the Promise doth also accept of Christ there is an Act terminated on his Person Faith is not assensus axiomati a naked Assent to the Propositions of the Word but a Consent to take Christ that we may rely upon him and obey him as an Alsufficient Saviour But now let us speak of these distinctly First Of the Object that is to believe in Christ. There is believing of Christ and believing in Christ. He doth not say those that believe me but those that believe in me through their Word Believing Christ implieth a Credulity and Assent to the Word and believing in Christ Confidence and Reliance Once more Believing in Christ is a Notion distinct from Believing in God Joh. 14.1 Ye believe in God believe also in me Since the Incarnation and since Christ came to exercise the Office of a Mediator there is a distinct Faith required in him because there are distinct grounds of Confidence because in him we see God in our Nature we have a claim by Justice as well as Mercy we have a Mediator who partaketh of God's Nature and Ours and so is fit to go between God and us Briefly to open this believing in Christ it may be opened by the Implicit or Explicit Acts of it 1. There is something Implicite in this Confidence and Reliance upon Christ and that is a lively sense of our own Misery and the Wrath of God due for Sin All God's Acts take date from the Nothingness and Necessity of the Creature and from thence also do begin our own Addresses to God God's Acts begin thence that he may be All in All from the Creation to the Resurrection God keepeth this Course and then the Dispensation ceaseth for then there is no more want but fulness Creation is out of Nothing Providence interposeth when we are as good as Nothing at the Resurrection we are nothing but Dust God worketh on the few Relicts of Death and Time So in all Moral Matters as well as Natural it is one of his Names He comforteth those that are cast down When he came to convert Adam he first terrified him They heard the Voice of God in the Garden and were afraid Gen. 3.10 He delivered Israel out of Egypt when their Souls were full of Anguish We are first exercised with the Ministry of the Condemnation before Light and Immortality are brought to Life in the Gospel and still God keeps his old Course Men are first burdened and sensible of their Load before he giveth them ease and refreshment in Christ. At the first Gospel-Sermon preached after the pouring forth of the Spirit Acts 2.37 They were pricked in their Hearts Christ's Commission was to preach the Gospel to the poor and broken-hearted and bruised Luke 4.18 The Spirit of the Lord was upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted to preach Deliverance to the Captives the recovering of Sight to the Blind to set at liberty them that are bruised This is the Road-way to Christ. And all our Addresses to God begin too thence Man is careless Mat. 22.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they made light of it and proud Rom. 10.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God The Israelites were not weary of Egypt till they were filled with Anguish Adonijah when he found himself guilty of Death he laid hold on the Horns of the Altar The Prodigal never thought of returning till he began to be in want and to be soundly pinched Therefore till there be a due sense and conviction of Conscience it is not Faith but carnal Security In short we can never be truly desirous of Grace we cannot prize it we do not run for refuge Heb. 6.18 We are not earnest for a Deliverance till there be some such Work There are two Things keep the Conscience quiet without Christ Peace and Self Carnal-security and Self-sufficiency 1. It is hard to wean Men from the Pleasures of Sense and to make them serious in the Matters of their Peace before Christ and they be brought together they and themselves must be brought together This God seeketh to do by outward Afflictions that he may take them in their Month as the Ram was caught in the Briars In Afflictions Men bethink themselves 1 Kings 8.47 If they shall bethink themselves in the Land whither they are carried Captives c. It makes them to return upon themselves how it is between God and them If Affliction worketh not he joineth the Word it is a Glass wherein we see our natural Face James 1.21 God sheweth them what loathsome Creatures they are how liable to Wrath. Or if not by the Power of his Spirit upon their Consciences their Reins may chasten them they cannot wake in the Night or be solitary in the Day but their Hearts are upon them so great a Matter is it to bring Men to be serious 2. Self When the Prodigal began to be in want he joined himself to a Man of that Country Luke 15.15 We have slight Promises and Resolutions and
as well sever the Leaven and the Dough when they are kneaded together as separate Christ and the Church when once united Impossible est Massam à Pastâ separare Christ will not suffer his Body to be mangled the cutting off of a Joint goeth to the Quick Vse 1. To press us to look after an Interest in this great Priviledg It is the main Work of your Lives To move you consider the Honour and the Happiness of them that they are thus one with God through Christ. 1. The Honour What am I to be Son-in-Law to the King What are you to be Members of Christ Christ counteth himself to be incompleat and maimed without us Eph. 1.23 The Church is his Body the Fulness of him that filleth all in all How are we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Fulness of him it relateth not to his Personal Perfection take Christ absolutely as God and he is a Person most perfect and glorious Before the Assumption of the Humane Nature before any Creature in the World was made there was enough in Christ to satisfy his Father's Heart Nay take him relatively as Mediator what doth Christ want Doth the Body give ought of Perfection to the Head No the Fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily and he filleth all Things But taken in his Mystical Person Christ Mystical as Head and Members are called Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 As the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ. So he is not perfect without his Body as an Head without Members is not perfect Now what an Honour is this that he accounteth himself imperfect without us And till all his Members be gathered in we are not grown up to the State wherein Christ is full Eph. 4.13 Till we all come to the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ. Christ's Mystical Body hath not its compleat Stature till all the Saints be gathered This Honour is not put upon the Angels they are Servants but not Members He did not take their Seed to be an Head to them nor dy for them nor took them for his Members as he doth us Prov. 8.31 Rejoicing in the habitable Parts of the Earth and my Delights were with the Sons of Men. He left the Company of Angels to dwell with us his Heart was set upon our Good that next to the Title of Son of God he valueth this of being Head of the Church He purchased it with his Blood He loveth his Mystical Body above his Natural for he gave his natural Body to redeem the Church which is his Mystical Body as Husbands love their Wives as their own Body Oh Christians is not this a mighty Priviledg We are not only His but Him and Christ knoweth us and loveth us as Parts of his own Body and will glorify us not only as his Clients and Servants but Members all the Injuries and Wrongs done to the Church Christ taketh it as done to himself Wicked Men they are his Foot-stool Christ is over them but not as a Mystical Head As the Head of a King is lifted up above all his Subjects and governeth them and weareth the Garland of Honour but in a peculiar manner it governeth and guideth his own natural Body So Christ is Head over all Things to the Church Eph. 1.22 Certainly this is a great Honour put upon poor Worms What are the Fruits of it We are interessed in all Christ's communicable Priviledges we need not stretch it too far it is ample enough of it self Some Things are incommunicably proper to Christ neither given to Man nor Angel as the Name above all Names to be adored to be set at the Right Hand of God to be Head of the Church the Lord our Righteousness But other Things are communicated to us first to Christ and then to us Christ is one with the Father and a poor Christian though never so mean is one with Christ. Christ is called God's Fellow Zech. 13.7 and every Saint is Christ's Fellow Psal. 45.7 Thou hast anointed him with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows The Father loveth him because he is the express Image of his Person and delights in the Saints because they are the Image of Christ. God is his God and our God his Father and our Father where Christ is they are because they are a Part of his Body Alas we should count it Blasphemy to speak so if the Word did not speak it before us 2. The Happiness In him the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily There is a sufficiency in Christ for all his Members We have all things in him which is as good as if we had it in our Hands and better for he is a better Steward and Keeper of the Treasuries of Wisdom Grace and Comfort than we are If he hath it it is for our use for Christ is full as an Officer to impart Life Sense and Motion to all the Body It is the Office of the Liver to impart the Blood to the Veins it were monstrous and unnatural to keep it As a Treasurer it is his Office to pay Mony out upon all just Demands Psal. 16.2 3. My Goodness extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the Earth and to the Excellent in whom is all my delight Thou shalt not be forgotten for the care of Christ extendeth to every Member to neglect a Member is to neglect our selves If a Man could forget a Child yet certainly he could not forget his Members This is your Relation to Christ if he hath bid the Members to take care one of another 1 Cor. 12.25 What will the Head do These Grounds of Comfort and Faith you have Vse 2. How shall we know that we have a share in this Mystical Union I Answer By the Spirit of Christ. 1 John 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit There is a Communication of the Spirit so Rom. 8.9 Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his his Creature but not his Member a Limb of Satan not a Member of Christ. Christ's Spirit is poured on all his Brethren it is shared among them it is given to every Member as soon as they are added to Christ's Body Now how shall we know whether we have the Spirit of Christ Answ. By Life and Conformity 1. Life and Stirring A Man may know whether the Spirit of Christ be dwelling in him as a Woman knoweth whether the Child in the Womb be quickned yea or no she knoweth it by the stirring So you may know whether the Spirit of Christ be in you by it's working They are no Members of Christ that are not quickned by the Life of Grace there is no withered Member in his Body If a Member of a
more endearing Title the Spirit of God here will use it Father if I can do any thing or have any room in thy Heart or Affection Father I will c. When we would prevail Christ biddeth us urge our Interest When we pray say Our Father Luke 11.2 so doth he When we mediate for others we are wont to mention our Relation as a Circumstance of Endearment◠So doth Christ expresly mention his Relation when his Requests are of great Concernment Secondly The next Circumstance is the Manner of asking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will a word of Authority becoming him that was God and Man in one Person who knew the Father's Will who had made a through Purchase and so might challenge it of right So some observe he doth not say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But possibly it may bear a softer sense in this place and thus is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used elsewhere Mark 10.35 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Master we will that thou shouldest do to us whatever we desire thee if that look like an Expostulation or a Capitulation rather than a Request see Mark 6.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will that thou give me by and by in a Charger the Head of John the Baptist. Mark 12.38 Master 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we would see a sign from thee Briefly then it doth not express his Authority so much as the full bent of Heart only because he useth the word Will and because at least the manner of expression carrieth the force of a Promise which if it be backed with his Prayers cannot fall to the ground We may thence Observe The Certainty of our glorious Hopes If I will be not a word of Authority it looketh like a Testamentary Disposition Christ was about to die and now he saith I will When Christ made his Will Heaven is one of the Legacies which he bequeatheth to us This was his last Will and Testament Father I will You have the very words and form of a Testament Luke 22.29 I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the only word we have for a Testament Heaven is ours a Legacy left us by Christ. But what Power had Christ to dispose of it Let me clear that by the way since he saith Mat. 20.23 To sit on my right Hand and on my left is not mine to give but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father Christ's Power of disposing is not denied but he sheweth only to whom it is given not for by-Respects but according to God's Eternal Will and Purpose In the Original the words run otherwise than they do in our Translation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is no Ellipsis which some have fancied and it should be rendred thus It is not mine to give save to those for whom it is prepared of my Father He doth not deny degrees of Glory he doth not deny his own Power to distribute them but only asserts that he must dispose according to his Father's Will not for outward and temporal Respects of Kindred and Acquaintance but as God hath given to every Man his Measure Certainly Christ's Will standeth good to all Intents and Purposes for as God he hath an Original Authority and as Mediator he doth nothing contrary to his Father's Will he is tender of that as you see in the place alleged so that the Objection confirmeth the Point Vse 1. It is comfort to us when we come to die thou hast Christ's Will to shew for Heaven When God's Justice puts the Bond in Suit against us then let Faith put Christ's Testament in Suit There is an old Sentence against us In the Day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die Gen. 2.17 Confront it with Christ's Prayer In Life we should provide for Death and a comfortable departure out of the World Hear for the time to come it is good to have our Comforts ready Can a dying Man have a sweeter Meditation than Christ's Words Father I will that those whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am We know not how soon we may go down to the Chambers of Death and become a Feast for the Worms When we come to make our own Will we should think of Christ's Father I will c. Vse 2. It is an Engagement to Holiness That is a part of Christ's Will 1 Thess. 4.3 For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification How can I plead his Will in one thing and not in another Hereditates habent sua onera Legacies have their Burdens annexed Christ will have an Action against us if we do not fulfil his whole Will As a Man that sueth for what is left him by Will must take care that his claim be not invalidated Did Christ ever say I will that all that live as they list should at length come to Heaven for all that No But I will that all those whom thou hast given me c. And therefore Thirdly The next Circumstance is the Parties for whom he prayeth It is as ne-necessary to know for whom Christ prayed as for what it is not enough to hear of a Privilege but we must consider which way our Claim and Interest doth arise For those which thou hast given me that is for all the Elect who are intended in this Expression Observe That there is a certain number given to Christ which cannot finally miscarry but shall come to Glory But of that in former Verses 1. Who are given hath been already discussed The Elect are given those that come to him from the Father John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me They are given before all Time and therefore in Time they come and actually accept of Grace And as they come to him so they keep there for of those he can lose nothing Vers. 39. And this is the Father's Will that hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing 2. But how are they given By way of Reward and by way of Charge the one as his Work the other as his Wages 1. By way of Reward John 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them me They were given to be Members of his Body Subjects of his Kingdom Children of his Family Christ hath a special and peculiar Interest in them This was the Bargain which he made with God that he should be Head of the renewed State This was all the Honour and Benefit accruing to Christ by the Covenant of Redemption Isa. 53.10.11 He shall see his Seed he shall prolong his Days and the Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his Hands He shall see of the travel of his Soul and shall be satisfied Christ was pleased with the Bargain Nothing could be added to the greatness of his Person who was the Eternal Son of God equal with the Father in Glory and Honour yet he was pleased to account it
concerning his Essence and Will Psal. 138.2 Thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name there he hath made himself most known In Creation and Providence we may read much of God but in the Bible more and chiefly his Word of Promise and Covenant which is that Theater upon which his Mercy and Truth is discovered which is the Representation wherein God delighteth And again the Covenant as it is revealed in the Gospel is a chief part of his Name for his Name was secret before the New-Testament-Dispensation was set afoot Judg. 13.18 Why askest thou thus after my Name seeing it is secreet There was little known of the Trinity of the Son of God the Incarnation of the Son of God c. 1. Point That one great Priviledg of the Gospel is to know God by his right Name 1. I shall shew you how God's Name and Title hath been often changed and altered because he would acquaint his People with his full Name by degrees Exod. 6.3 I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the Name of God Almighty but by my Name IEHOVAH was I not known to them First to Abraham to distinguish him from Idols and false Gods El Shaddai then Jehovah as giving Being to his People making good his Promises after God of Abraham God of Isaac and God of Jacob as relating more to the Covenant then God that brought them out of the Land of Egypt Exod. 20.2 then God that brought them out of the Land of the North then the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ before that The Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23.6 The Jewish Church knew little of the Doctrine of the Trinity distinction of the Persons quality of the Mediator God proclaimed his Name Exod. 34.6 7. The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in Goodness and Truth keeping Mercy for thousands forgiving Iniquity and Transgression and Sin but the way of Pardon was not then so fully discovered Some Names God hath from Everlasting as Eternal Infinite some relate to the present State as Creator Lord God in Covenant the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. 2. What the Gospel especially doth discover more of God 1. The Distinction of the Persons in the Godhead At the Baptism of Christ the whole Trinity was sensibly present the Son in the Body the Father in the Voice and the Holy Ghost in the form of a Dove This was the Mystery brought upon the Stage 2. The Incarnation of Christ 1 Tim. 3.16 God manifest in the Flesh. The World was acquainted with this great help to Piety The Jews had a Temple here is a Temple wherein the Godhead dwelleth bodily Col. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily 3. The Attributes of God are more amply declared Every Excellency of God hath its proper Theater where it is seen In the Gospel all are discovered but chiefly Mercy Justice and Truth His Power and his Wisdom are seen in the World but more in the Gospel the Heavens do not declare half so much of the Glory of God as the Word and Doctrine which Christ brought out of the Father's Bosom 1 Cor. 1.24 Christ the Wisdom of God and the Power of God There is Truth 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the Promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen The greatest Assurance of his Faithfulness was his sending Christ that which we expect is nothing so difficult to believe as the Incarnation of the Son of God his second coming is not so unlikely as his first if he came to Suffer and to Purchase he will come to Reign His Wisdom in joining God and Man together in the Person of Christ Justice and Mercy together Comfort and Duty together in the Covenant of Grace two Natures two Attributes God loseth no Honour Man wanteth no Encouragement God sheweth his Justice Rom. 3.26 To declare I say at this time his Righteousness that he might be Just and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus While the Sacrifices continued God only shewed Patience and Forbearance His Holiness and Hatred of Sin by laying it on Christ punishing it in Christ. His Wrath the most dreadful sight of God's Wrath is upon Golgotha God spared not his Son But his Grace that was on the top Tit. 3.4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards Man appeared This is the Attribute that beareth sway in the Gospel Mercy is in Office ever since the Fall there was not so much Kindness to Man discovered in Innocency God did good to a good Man there was no Mercy to Enemies then there Man was made after God's Image here God is made after our Image and Likeness Mercy and Grace comes now to shew it self to the World Vse Let us admire and study more the Name of God in the Gospel The first Letter of Christ's Name is Wonderful He is a Mystery that is worthy our Contemplation The Angels have known more of God since Christ was revealed Eph. 3.10 To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God Let it take up your Thoughts set your Minds awork Heb. 3.1 Wherefore Holy Brethren partakers of the Heavenly Calling consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession Jesus Christ. There cannot be a more affective humbling and Heart-changing Consideration 2. Point That none can discover this Name of God but Christ none Authoritatively none perfectly 1. None Authoritatively can fix his Name by which he shall be known among the Creatures The imposition of Names implieth Superiority the less is named of the greater Adam had this favour to name the Beasts as having Authority over them Gen. 2.19 20. And out of the Ground the Lord formed every Beast of the Field and every Fowl of the Air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them and whatsoever Adam called every Living Creature that was the Name thereof And Adam gave Names to all Cattel and to the Fowl of the Air and to every Beast of the Field Now God is over all there is no higher to name him therefore he nameth himself Jesus Christ who is the very Image of God he cometh and declareth his Name My Name is in him Exod. 23.21 He is God and therefore Authoritatively fixeth the Name of God establisheth the Gospel as the Rule and Direction of the Church 2. None can so perfectly discover him Our Hearts are too narrow to conceive of God and our Tongues too weak to express him Prov. 30.4 What is his Name and what is his Son's Name if thou canst tell Who knoweth his Pedigree exactly Who knoweth his Being Who hath been in his Bosom to discover him so as Christ hath done we must have a borrowed Light to see him Vse 1. Sit down with this Revelation which Christ hath left in the Church there is enough to instruct Faith tho not to satisfy
partly under the vail of the natural life 'T is a life within a life they live in the flesh as others do but they do not live after the flesh they eat drink sleep trade marry and give in marriage as the rest of the world do but all these things are governed by Grace and carried on to high and eternal ends The spirit and life is not seen and felt by others but only discovered in the effects as these things are carried on holily and with a sincere respect to Gods Glory 1 Cor. 10.31 Besides the effects are imperfect and clouded with a mixture of remaining infirmities the best Christians shew forth too much of the flesh and do not act as those that have the spirit of God dwelling in them now this is a great hindrance to the converting of the world and a means of hardning to prying Atheists who think all strictness is but a pretence 1 Cor. 3.3 While there is yet strife envyings and divisions among you are ye not carnal and walk as men Matth. 18.7 Wo to the world because of offences for it must needs be that offences come but wo to the man by whom the offence cometh 'T is dangerous to scandalize the world but the chief cause is their secret enmity to holiness they censure and traduce good men by reproaches and base misprisions and cannot endure that those that take a contrary course should have an excellency owned that might alarm their consciences to reverence 1 Pet. 4.6 Judged according to men in the flesh but live to God in the spirit as deceivers and yet true So reputed in the world as a company of dissemblers the worlds malice will not give them leave to see any good in those whom they dislike 3. It sheweth how much it becometh Christians to give such a demonstration and proof of the spirits dwelling in them that others may be able to say they are not in the flesh but in the spirit So did these Romans to Paul they gave ground for his charity to think them justfied so should all that are sincere do Now these others may be either the godly or the carnal world First for the godly who are best able to judg they have cause to think so when you are companions with them in the Faith Holiness and patience of the Gospel the men in the world are tied to one another like Sampsons Foxes by their tails tho their heads look several ways by their mutual interests and common agreement in mischief and enmity to the godly but the godly themselves should be joined together in the communion of the spirit loving one another with a Christ-like love and seeking each others good as their own and being affected with mutual sympathy towards each others condition as if it were their own case and with one mind and mouth glorifying God and promoting the interests of his kingdom and by their personal holiness bringing his honour in request in the world surely whoever do so we are to judg them heirs with us of the same grace of life and to bless God for them Secondly for the carnal world you must keep up the majesty of your profession that they may see there is a generation of men whose life is not spent in carnal pleasures and delights who are not as other men nor as themselves once were and do things which can be accomplished in them by no other Means or Agent than the Spirit of God Who in their common business act upon reasons and principles of Religion and turn all duties of the Second Table into duties of the first discharging all their respects to men out of the love of God and fear of God and are led by conscience rather than Interest and begin and end with God in all they do and cast their whole lives into an holy and heavenly mould making straight steps to their feet and walk with a temper becoming Religion in all the inequality of conditions they pass through in the World looking for no great matters heâ—e but fetching their main supports and comforts from the World to come 1. Those that do so will in time overcome malice and prejudice and convince the world that God is in them of a truth and they a heavenly and holy people and have a spirit and a presence that others have not Prov. 12.26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour 2. They will reprove the World Heb. 11.7 Noah condemned the world by his ready obedience to Gods warning 3. They will make the world wonder 1 Pet. 4.4 They think it strange you run not into the same excess of riot with them 'T is no wonder to see men proud covetous revengeful carnal self-seeking corrupt Nature will sufficiently prove this As 't is no wonder to see the Sun move tho 't was a wonder in Iâ—shuah's time when the Sun stood still so 't is no wonder to see men loose and wicked but 't is a wonder to see men holy heavenly mortified self-denying 4. You will justifie the ways of God against the cavils of Atheists and prophane carnal men Matt. 11.19 Wisdom is justified of her children and Israel justified Sodom Ezek. 16. 2. Vse is to exhort us to get this holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts that he may work in us a Divine Nature or that spiritual and Divine Temper which will teach us to live above and against the inclinations of the flesh 1. The means of infusing the Divine Nature into us is the Doctrine and example of Christ First his Doctrine which discovereth higher things than the flesh inclineth us unto and is the only cure of the carnal spirit This word was indited by the holy spirit For holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy-Ghost 2 Pet. 2.21 He inspired the Holy Apostles first to speak and then to write the Doctrine of Christ he led them into all truth John 6.13 The same Spirit attested this Doctrine by miraculous gifts Heb. 2.4 is conveyed by it Gal. 3 2. Received ye the spirit by the works of the law or the hearing of faith He prepareth and assisteth the ordinary Ministry that they may be fitted to convey this great gift Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over which the Holy-Ghost hath made you overseers and 2 Cor. 3.6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament not of the letter but of the spirit He writeth this Doctrine upon the heart Heb. 10.8 and 2 Cor. 3 3. Doth so renew and sanctifie our souls that we may live unto God Secondly The example of Christ for he had the days of his flesh John 1.14 and Heb. 5.7 lived in the world as men do but not after the flesh and God in our nature is the fit pattern for us to imitate that we may be in the world as he was in the world and not please the flesh as he pleased not himself To this example we are to be conformed but
some promised good The act is a desirous expectation The object is some promised good Of the act I shall speak afterwards the object I shall consider now 'T is some good for evil is not hoped for but feared and a good promised for hope the grace is grounded upon the word of God Psal. 130.5 I have hoped in thy word And the Apostle telleth us that the heirs of promise being secured by two immutable things Gods word and Gods oath do fly for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before them Heb. 6.18 The promise doth both declare and assure declare what we may hope for the Apostle saith 't is set before us not before our senses or the eyes of the body but before our faith the eyes of our minds in the Gospel and with all doth assure us in hoping for we have the word of God who is the supream Verity that neither can deceive nor be deceived and the promises of the Gospel are ratified by the solemnity of an oath the more to excite our drowsie mindâ—â—o consider upon what sure grounds we go upon Well then there is some word of promise assented unto by faith before we expect the good promised Promises are the holdfast we have upon God and the sure grounds of raising hope in our selves or pleading with God in Prayer we may plead them to our selves if we would have strong and solid consolation Psal. 56.4 In God I will praise his word in God have I put my trust I will not fear what man can do unto me Thus did David rebuke his fears The fidelity of God in his promises is matter of firm confidence and hope to us Only we must not make promises to our selves lest we become false Prophets to our selves and build upon our own dreams So in pleading with God we have free leave to challenge God upon his word Psal. 119.45 Remember the word unto thy servant wherein thou hast caused me to hope Our necessities lead us to the promises and the promises to Christ in whom they are yea and amen and Christ to God as the fountain of grace there we put these bonds in suit and turn promises into prayers 2. The promises do concern either this life or that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable to all things having the promise of this life that now is and that which is to come There are supplies necessary for us during our pilgrimage therefore God hath undertaken not only to give us Heaven and happiness in the next world but to carry us thither in a way best pleasing to himself and conducible to our good that we may serve him with comfort and peace all the days of our lives Therefore there is an hope in Gods promises for what we stand in need of by the way and God delighteth to train us up in a way of faith and hope in expecting our present supplies that by often trying and trusting him for these things we may the better hope for the great salvation as men practice swimming in the shallow brooks before they venture in the deep ocean But temporal things are only promised so far as it may be for Gods Glory and our good we must not set God a task to provide meat for our lusts or imagine that his providence will lacquey upon our humours and vain fancies 'T is the ordinary practice of his free grace and fatherly love to provide things comfortable and necessary for his Children Matth. 6.32 For your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all these things There is a common bounty and goodness which reacheth to all his creatures even to the preservation of the smallest worm how much more will he provide for us whom he hath Adopted into his family and to whom he hath made promises that he will never leave us to insupportable difficulties You would count him an unnatural Father that feedeth his dogs and hawks and lets his Children die of hunger Certainly we may hope in God that he will do what is best all things considered 3. The great promise and so the principal object of our hope is salvation by Christ or eternal life 1 John 2.25 This is the promise which he hath promised us eternal life Christ hath promised other things but this is the promise 'T is the great end of Christs mediation to bring us to God 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God And that is not fully done till we live with him in Heaven this is the end of our faith 1 Pet. 1.9 This is the prime benefit offered to us in the Gospel to which all others tend By Justification our incapacity is removed by Sanctification eternal life is begun by the mercies of daily providence we are preserved in our duty and motion towards this happy estate Kept blameless to the heavenly kingdom 2 Tim. 4.8 From hence we fetch our comfort during the whole course of our Pilgrimage This we look upon as the recompence of all our pains and losses and upon the hopes of it the life of grace is carryed on and the temptations of sense defeated and therefore hope is described in Scripture by this object more than any other thing Called thence The hope of salvation and all other hopes are in order to this Rom. 15.4 Whatever things were written afore time were written for our learning that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope that is by submiting and waiting upon him in variety of Providences here in the world we might still keep up the hope of eternal life 4. Eternal life must be expected in the way God promiseth it We must not take that absolutely which God promiseth conditionally God promiseth it to them that believe in Christ John 6.40 This is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Those that saw him with the eyes of the body and were not offended at his despicable appearance but could own him as the Messias as Lord and Saviour Those that see him with the eyes of the mind see such Worth and Excellency in him as to be content to run all hazzards with him and count all things but dung and dross that they may be found in him that they may venture their souls and all their interests in his hands Sometimes to the obedient Heb. 5.8 Sometimes to them that persevere notwithstanding temptations Rom. 2.7 Sometimes to the mortified Rom. 8.13 Now you must consider not only the grant or the benefit contained in the promise but the precept the condition required the benefit or priviledg offered expresseth Gods Grace the condition required points out your duty and by consequence your right for we are not duly qualified according to promise and the gift is suspended till we fulfil the condition but
to stand upon our guard and defend our selves but we must implore the divine assistance which is ingaged for us Eph. 3.16 That he would grant unto you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man 1 Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape The spirit that inlightneth a Christian fortifieth him and the same grace which he sheddeth abroad in the soul filleth us both with light and strength and as a spirit of strength and counsel doth inable us to bear all the afflictions which otherwise would shake and weaken our resolutions for God and Heaven 4. They that rouze up themselves and use all means are in a nearer capacity to receive influences from the spirit than others For the Apostles word is he helpeth also We have been at the work reasoning and pleading but he maketh our thoughts effectual Psal. 27.14 Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart wait I say on the Lord. If we do not exercise faith and hope How can we look for the assistance of the Holy Ghost If we give way to discouragement we quit our own Comfort But when we strive to take courage from the grounds of faith 't is followed with strength from God to undergo the trouble So Psal. 31.24 Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the Lord. When we arm our selves with constancy and fortitude there is no doubt of Gods seasonable relief but if you out of love of the ease and contentment of the flesh give way to difficulties and despond How can you expect Gods assistance You banish it from you 1. USE Is Comfort to the children of God for the Lord is not a spectator only of our troubles but an helper in our Conflicts We are set forth as a spectacle to God Men and Angels 1 Cor. 4.9 Therefore we should see how we acquit our selves but our comfort is that he is the strength of our souls that we are ingaged in his Cause and by his power and strength God will not desert us or deny to support us unless we give him cause by our negligence and grievous sins no if you wait upon him strength will be renewed to you Isa. 46.31 They that wait on the Lord shall not faint but renew their strength in our weakness he maketh his strength and power to appear and can inable his servants to do and endure any thing rather than quit his cause they shall have a new supply of strength when they seem to be clean spent And overcome all difficulties in the way to Heaven 2 USE Is direction To ascribe our standing to the spirit We are weak creatures of our selves able to do nothing but through the spirit of Christ all things Phil. 4.13 That is go through all conditions we owe all that we are and all that we do to the holy spirit We live by his presence understand by his light act by his power suffer by the courage he inspireth into us We are ingrateful to the holy spirit if we ascribe that to our selves as authors whereof we are scarce servants and Ministers Paul more humbly acknowledges 1 Cor. 15.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am 3. USE Is Exhortation Let us not faint under our troubles There are many considerations 1. Sinners are not discouraged by every inconvenience occasioned by their sins but can deny themselves for their lusts sake And shall we be discouraged in Gods service Every lesser inconvenience that befalleth us in the way of our duty is taken notice of but the great evils of sin are not regarded When you see sin's Martyrs walk about the streets or carried to their Execution it should be a shame to Christians Some whose flesh is mangled by their sin impoverished by their sin brought to publick shame by their sin die for their sin and are we so weak when we suffer for Christ 2. Others have born for heavier burdens and yet do not sink under them The Lord Christ Heb. 12.3 endured the Contradiction of sinners and many of his precious servants Heb. 11.35 They accepted not deliverance looking for a better resurrection They might upon certain conditions have been free from their cruel pains and Tortures But these conditions were contrary to the law of God therefore would not by indirect means get off their trouble now shall we praise their Courage and not imitate it That is to be Christians in speculation 3. God promiseth to moderate the afflictions and sweeten the bitterness of them lest we should faint Isa. 57.16 I will not be wroth for ever and contend always for so the spirit should faint and the soul which I have made God hath great consideration of manâ— infirmity and weakness and how unable they are to hold out under long and grievous troubles Therefore he stayeth his hand will not utterly dishearten and discourage his people A good man will not over-burden his beast if you be satisfied in the wisdom and faithfulness of Gods providential Government you have no reason to faint but keep up your dependance upon him 4. When reason is tired faith should supply its place and we should hope against hope Rom. 4.18 Faith can fetch water not only out of the Fountain but out of the Rock when other helps fail then is a time for God to work 5. Give vent to the ardour of your desires in prayer Luke 18.1 Christ taught men to pray always and not to faint Keep up the suit and it will come to an hearing-day ere it be long Jonah 2.7 When my soul fainted within me I remembred the Lord and my prayer came unto thee into thy holy temple When our infirmity cometh to a degree of faintness then 't is a time to be earnestly dealing with God 6. What will you get by your fainting but the creature of God Heb. 3 1â— Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Murmuring for Prayer Lam. 3.39 40. Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins let us search and try our ways and turn to the Lord. Unlawful shifts for duty Isa. 28.15 For we have made lies our refuge and under falshood have we hid our selves This is overmuch hast will you chuse God for your enemy to escape the enmity of man and perdition for salvation Heb. 10.39 but be not of them who draw back unto perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Will you run into hell for fear of burning 7. The holy Spirit blesseth these coâ—siderations and doth further comfort
â—s above others for that we cannot know till we love him but his common love and mercy to sinners and that was manifested in Christs being sent as a propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world 1 John 2.2 This is that which is propounded to us to recover and reconcile our alienated and estranged affections to God 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself This grace God offereth to us as well as to others namely that God for Christs sake will pardon our sins if we will but forbear further hostility and enter into his peace None are bound to believe that God especially loveth them but those that are specially beloved by him for none are bound to believe a falshood and a falshood it is to us till we have the saving effects and benefits and therefore it is not the special but the general love of God which draweth in our hearts to him yea his Saints after some testimonies received of Gods special love make this to be the great engaging motive Gal. 2.20 I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me 2. There is a special love when this grace is applied to us Eph. 2.4 5. But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us when we were dead in trespasses and sins He did not begin to love us when we were converted that is of a more ancient and eternal rise but then he did begin to apply his love to us and this no ordinary but great love when God was angry with us and pronounced death on us in the sentence of his law then he quickned us and reconciled us to himself when his law represented him as an enemy and in the course of his Providence he appeared as an enemy and the apprehensions of our guilty fears bespeak him an enemy then did God for Christs sake bestow his converting grace upon us Now 't is a great advantage to draw nigh to God as a reconciled Father and actually in covenant with us surely this is and will be the object of our everlasting love and joy Rom. 5.18 And a notable prop of confidence in prayer could we once believe that he dearly loveth us and is actually reconciled to us and taketh us for his children and delighteth in our prosperity Oh how chearfully should we come into his presence John 16.27 The Father himself loveth you because you have loved me and believed that I came out from God We have then not only his own intercession but the Fathers especial love as the ground of our audience and acceptance Now this particular interest dependeth on something wrought in our souls by the holy Spirit our Lord mentioneth two things their faith in Christ and love to God or a thankful acceptance of him as our Lord and Saviour love to God or a thankful obedience to him John 14.22 23. We cannot perceive our special interest in the love of God but by the evidences of our sincerity when we see Gods love tokens in our hearts faith and love wrought in us by his spirit then we may know that he loveth us by this special love the question is Doth God love me Hath he given his Spirit How shall I know that Answer By the Effects Do you believe in Jesus Christ How shall I know my faith is sincere and the faith of Gods Elect Doth it work by love Gal. 5.6 How shall I know that I love God The acts of sincere love are seeking after God and delighting in him if you cannot find the latter the former is a comfortable evidence Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me and they that seek me early shall find me The desiderium unionis the desirous seeking love if it be serious and earnest it is sincere tho you find not such delightful apprehensions of his grace to you clear this once and when you come to pray you may know that God loveth you with a special love the dearest friend we have in the world doth not love us the thousand part so much as he doth nay as Valdesso saith the highest Angel doth not love God so much as he loveth the lowest Saint God loveth like himself becoming the greatness and infiniteness of his own Being and with this perswasion pray to him 2. Gods love is not a cold and uneffectual love That consists only in raw wishes but an operative active love that issueth forth to accomplish what he intendeth to us tho by the most costly means and at the dearest rates God is good and doth good Psal. 119.68 He hath a love to us and will do good to us our love many times goeth no further than good wishes and good words be warmed be cloathed but give not those things which are needful to the body Jam. 2.26 Our Lord rested not in kind wishes but giveth a full demonstration of his love if Christ be needful for the Saints they shall have him God spared not his own Son 3. 'T is a great love such as may raise our wonder and astonishment and so may enlarge our expectations and capacities for the reception of other things Eph. 3.18 19. That ye may with all saints comprehend what is the heighth and breadth the length and depth and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God There is such an infiniteness and immensity in this love of God in Christ as raiseth our desires and hopes to expect all other things from him which belong to our happiness if God will do this what will he not do for those whom he loveth he that hath given a talent will not he give a peny We confidently go to one with a request who hath done some great thing for us already What greater thing could there be than his giving his Son to die for a sinful world John 13. 13. Greater love hath no man than that he lay down his life for his friends We were not friends in state but only friends in his purpose nay we were actual enemies but reconciled and brought into friendship by his death No man can express greater love to his dearest friends than to adventure to die for them This did Christ for us 4. 'T was a love expressed to us when our case was not only difficult but desperate and remediless as to any other agent Isa. 56.16 And he saw that there was no man and wondred that there was no intercessor therefore his own arm wrought salvation for us Psal. 40.8 The redemption of the soul is precious and ceaseth for ever Like perplexities often occurring in the Churches case 2 Chron. 22.12 O our God wilt thou not judg them for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us neither know we what to do but our eyes are unto thee And Esth. 3.14 When the writing was signed and sent abroad
his internal or external government and giveth us many blessings as the pledge of his love and above all the gift of the Holy Spirit whereby he sanctifieth us more thoroughly and worketh in us that which is pleasing in his sight This he giveth as the God of peace as reconciled to us in Christ Heb. 13.20 21. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ faithful is he that calleth you who will do it but more fully at the last day when we enter into everlasting glory and the wicked are turned into hell with the Devil and his Angels Matth. 25.46 And these shall go into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal then is the full and final execution a perfect freedom from all misery and a possession of all happiness 3. How it can stand with the wisdom justice and holiness of God to justifie a sinner 'T is a great crime to take the unrighteous to be righteous and to pronounce the wicked justified seemeth to be against the word of God Prov. 24.24 He that saith unto the wicked Thou art righteous him shall the people curse Nations shall abhor him Prov. 17.15 He that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just even they both are an abomination unto the Lord now what is an abomination unto the Lord is surely contrary to his nature Exod. 34.7 He will by no means clear the guilty Answer There is no abating the force of these objections if there were not good ground for Gods absolution or sentence of justification I shall mention three Christs ransom the Covenant of grace and our faith or conversion to God First Christs ransom maketh it reconcilable with Gods justice and the honour of his law and government Job 33.24 Then he is gracious unto him and saith deliver him from going down into the pit I have found a ransom Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins There is full satisfaction given to Gods wronged justice 2. His Covenant reconcileth it with his wisdom God is not mistaken in judging us righteous when we are not for we are constituted righteous and then deemed and pronounced so made righteous as the Apostle speaketh Rom. 5.19 Our right is founded in Christs obedience but resulteth from the promise The constitution is by Covenant God doth first put us into a state of favour and reconciliation and then treateth and dealeth with us as such constituteth us righteous by his Covenant and then in his judgment accepteth us as righteous he will not acquit them in judgment whom his Covenant doth not first pardon 3. Effectual calling or the conversion of man reconcileth it with his holiness for a sinner as a sinner is not justified but a penitent believer 't is true 't is said God justifieth the ungodly Rom. 4.5 those that were once so but not those that continue so certainly he sanctifieth before he justifieth Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in me And in many other places No man is freed from the guilt of sin which rendreth us obnoxious to Gods wrath who is not freed from the filth of sin which tainteth our faculties for Christ is made to us both righteousness and sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 By losing Gods image we lost his favour and in the order wherein we lost it we recover it God regenerateth that he may pardon and justifie and restoreth first our holiness and then our happiness 't is not consistent with Gods holiness to give us pardon and let us alone in our sins A man would not put a Toad in his bosome But more fully to give you a prospect into this matter let us take notice of the several things which are mentioned in Scripture as belonging to our justification as for instance sometimes we are said to be justified by grace as Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace sometimes by the blood of Christ as Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him sometimes by faith as Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ sometimes by works James 2.24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only All these things concur to our justification and do not contradict but imply one another The first moving cause of all is grace the meritorious cause is Christs blood the means of applying or the condition on our part upon which we are capable at first of receiving so great a priviledge is faith and the means of continuing in our justified estate is by good works or new obedience I say our first actual pardon justification and right to life is given upon condition of our first faith and repentance but this estate is continued to us both by faith Rom. 1.17 and new obedience these fairly accord The grace of God will do nothing without the intervention of Christs merits and Christs merits doth not profit us 'till it be applyed by faith and sound believers will live in a course of new obedience Let us consider them severally 1. The first moving cause that inclined God to shew us mercy in our undone and lost estate was meerly his grace God might have left us obnoxious to the curse without any offer of peace as he did the fallen Angels but such was his grace that he thought of the way of our recovery how we might be redeemed renewed and justified surely all this is of grace Titus 3.5 6 7. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour that being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life The rise of all is the love and good will of God 2. We are justified by the blood of Christ. Blood is not exclusive of the other parts of his obedience but doth imply them rather as the consummate act thereof Phil. 2.7 He became obedient unto death even the death of the cross 'T is by the merit of his sacrifice and obedience God took this course to exalt the glory of his justice as well as his grace and in the mystery of
the time of my departure is at hand but this is forced 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rather implyeth sheep destined to the shambles The similitude importeth partly the contempt of the enemies they made no more reckoning of them than of sheep Zech. 11.4 5. Feed the flock of the slaughter whose possessors slay them and hold themselves not guilty That is they care no more for their death than they do for the killing of a sheep 2. It noteth their own imbecility they had no power to resist as Matth. 10.16 Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves sheep have no power or means to preserve themselves 3. Their meekness they did no more resist than sheep Isa. 53.7 He was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth Doctrine Such as resolve upon the profession of Christianity must prepare to give their life for the maintenance of it when God calls them thereunto This seemeth hard But 1. Christ requireth it of all Luke 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his own life he cannot be my disciple 'T is too late for us to interpose for an abaâ—ement when the terms are thus fixed by Christ himself So our Lord when he openeth the Doctrine of self-denial he sheweth it must extend to life Matth. 16.24 25. He that saveth his life shall lose it There is nothing so near to us as life nothing which nature doth so highly value and tenderly look to and so unwillingly let go many that can yeild in other points cannot yeild in this but then they are not sincere with God for you must not look upon it as a note of excellency but the disposition of those who have the lowest measure of saving grace as appeareth by these clauses If any man will come after me and he cannot be my disciple You will say What can the strong and eminent Christian do more than part with life This is not the difference between the strong and the weak Christian that one can part with a few things for Christ and the other can part with all no all must part with all not this that one can part with his ease profit and credit and the other can part with his life no both must part with life The difference is not in the things to be parted with but in the degree of the affection the strongest Christians can die with greater zeal love readiness joy and so bring more honour to God by their death than weak Christians do who offer up themselves to God with greater reluctancy and unwillingness 2. Such have been the tryals of Gods children in all ages as the instance is brought from the godly who lived under the Law-dispensation Now if the Saints of old endured such hard things and tribulation even unto death Then it followeth 1. 'T is no strange thing 1 Pet. 4.12 Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery tryal as if some strange thing had happened unto you Our taking the ordinary case of the godly for a strange thing is that which doth disturb and distemper us none wondreth at a bitter Winter coming after a sweet Summer or a dark night succeeding a bright day because 't is an ordinary thing so here 2. Then 't is no grievous thing but such as the people of God have endured when they had not the advantages that we have A double advantage we have above the Saints of the Old Testament 1. They had not such a pattern of self-denyal as we have and that is the death of Christ which teacheth us to obey God at the dearest rates Matth. 10.24 The Disciple is not above his Master nor the Servant above his Lord. Christ is a pattern of sufferings and to look for exemptions from them is to expect to be better dealt with than he was we tread upon no step of hard ground but what Christ hath gone there before us and his steps drop fatness left a blessing behind him to sweeten the way to us So Heb. 12.1 2 3. Look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross despised the shame and is sate down at the right hand of the throne of God For consâ—â—â—r him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest you be wearied and faint in your minds Jesus is propounded as our example he endured cruel pains in his body and bitter sorrows in his soul deserted by God contradicted by men yet he bore all patiently and undauntedly this is the copy and pattern which is set for our imitation that we may not sink under our burdens 2. The other advantage They had not such a clear discovery of eternal life as is now made to us in the promises of the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 Since the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ Life and Immortality is brought to light in the Gospel 'T was but sparingly revealed then and to appearance the Covenant ran more in the strain of Temporal promises but now Christ hath struck a thorough light into the other world and clearly tells us that great is our reward in Heaven and therefore we may rejoice if men persecute us Matth. 5.11 12. we will do so if we believe him Who would not permit another to take down a shed if we did believe that he would build a Palace for us at his own cost and charges The reward is so far above the suffering that certainly now we should more willingly submit to be killed all the day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter if the people of God did so heretofore upon those few glimmerings which they had about eternal life certainly they had not such a clear prospect into the other world nor such a visible demonstration of the certainty of it as we have by the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. 3. To manifest the truth and reallity of our graces of our faith in Christ and love to him and hope of Salvation 1. To shew our faith which is such a trusting our selves in Christs hands that we are willing to part with all even life its self for his sake this is called a believing to the saving of our souls Heb. 10.39 Sense saith Save thy self Faith saith Save thy soul Heb. 11.35 They accepted not deliverance looking for a better Resurrection when stretched out by torture like the head of a drum 2. To shew our love Nothing can or ought to separate us from the love of Christ God alloweth us to love life but he will be loved better for his loving kindness is better than life Psal. 63.3 now the greatest things must be greatly loved and then is our love tryed when the blackest dispensations cannot draw us from God
that was required of Christ Now Christ was obedient to death Phil. 2.7 Many may sustain some reproaches for Christs sake make some small losses sacrifice their weaker lusts hoping to satisfie God thereby as Saul destroyed the weaker cattel of Amalek at Gods command but reserved the fattest No life and all must be laid at Christs feet 4. Thus to be prepared for death should be the great care of a Christian and many Considerations are necessary to press this 1. That God is Lord of life and will dispose of it at his pleasure He that gave life is the Lord of it for he hath the free disposal of his own gift to continue it or take it back as he shall think fit 't is a mercy that God only and properly hath potestatem vitae necis the power of life and death 't is not in the power of enemies to take it away at their pleasure for the soveraign disposal of his creature is in Gods hand Matth. 10.29 A sparrow cannot fall upon the ground without our heavenly Father 'T is not in the power of your own hands for you cannot make one hair black or white you are not Lords of your lives but guardians Well then 't is in the power of God alone and shall not he dispose of his own and do with it what he pleaseth 2. Many of the lives of birds and beasts go for us daily and we would be troubled if we should be retrenched of this liberty when our necessities require it and hath not God a greater right and power over us than we have over the birds and beasts His right is original ours by grant and free-gift his power is absolute ours limited for the good man is not cruel to his beast and we sin when we destroy them in wantonness and sacrifice them to our lusts we are to give an account of our selves and all the creatures which we possess but God giveth no account of his matters now if we count it no cruelty to take the life of the creatures why should we think of God as cruel and despising the life of his creatures because he requireth them to lay down their lives upon just and convenient reasons There is a greater distance between us and God than between us and the meanest worm 3. If you deny him your life he can snatch it from you in fury and take it whether you will or no if you sin to escape suffering◠you leap into hell to escape a little pain upon earth Luke 12.4 5. And I say unto you my friends be not afraid of them that can kill the body and after that have no more that they can do But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell yea I say unto you fear him Men may by Gods permission kill the body but God can cast body and soul into hell fire you think 't is a fearful thing to fall in to the hands of men it is indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 10.31 a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God The carriage of your very enemies should awaken your faith why should you fear them more than they are afraid of God In persecuting they run the hazzard of the Wrath of God in suffering persecution you run the hazzard of the wrath of men your fear justifieth their boldness if you be afraid of men they may as well contemn God they run upon the greater difficulties and you by complying with them incur greater misery than you avoid 4. If the less be countervailed by a greater gain you have no reason to stick at it In the general 'T is gain to a believer to die Phil. 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain and 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens Much more to a Martyr God is able to make it up Mark 10.29 30. Verily I say unto you there is no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife and children or lands for my sake and the gospel but he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time and in the world to come life eternal When he calls for you to come home to him by a persecutors hand you have death abundantly recompensed Therefore you may die with the greater confidence and joy 't is not an ordinary place is reserved for you in heaven the promise is certain and your dying upon this occasion maketh your claim sure 2. The absoluteness of their conquest and victory We are more than conquerors But there seemeth to be a contradiction between the two branches the greatness of the tryal and the absoluteness of their conquest they are killed all the day long how then are they conquerors and more than conquerors Answer 1. Some refer it to the kind of the conquest they have a nobler victory than if they conquered them by the sword The conquest of faith is more then a conquest gotten by a Temporal force and the power of the long sword 1 John 5.4 5. For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God 2. Others to the degree of victory 1. 'T is a conquest when we keep what we have as Job 1.22 In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly They are conquerors under trouble who are kept free from sin and provocation in the hour of tryal they stand their ground how ever assaulted their bow abideth in its strength Gen. 48.24 2. 'T is more than a conquest when we gain by it That is first when graces are strengthened that is a greater spirit of faith cometh upon them 2 Cor. 4.13 We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak Their love is more fervent as fountain-water is hottest in coldest weather usually Matth. 24.12 The love of many shall wax cold but when their love groweth hotter and their zeal for God is so great that the minds of persecutors are daunted then they are more than conquerors Secondly When experiences are inlarged and they have a fresher and more lively sense of Gods love to them Rom. 5.5 Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto us 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified So one in prison said Se divinas Martyrum consolationes sensisse When they are more secured in the love of God Thirdly Their reward
John 10.28 29. This is the great security of the Fold that they are under the power of so careful and so able a Shepherd This Almighty power of God and Christ doth mightily fortifie us against all temptations we meet with in the way to Heaven 6. This right accrueth to believers by virtue of their interest in Christ 1 Cor. 3.22 23. All things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or to come all are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods All things are theirs wherein they are concerned if not in possession yet in reduction or final use Friends Enemies Ordinances Providences all conditions Life Death If you resolve firmly to obey Christ and adhere to him you need not fear any thing Now upon these grounds a Christian may conclude that nothing shall separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 4. That we ought firmly to be perswaded of this here I shall shew you how this perswasion is bred in us 1. By the word of the Gospel discovering to us the whole mystery of our Redemption by Christ with all the consequent benefits There all Gods merciful designs for the justifying sanctifying and glorifying the creature are manifested to us as matter of our faith Acts 19.8 And perswading the things concerning the kingdom of God The Doctrine and end of his Ministry was to perswade men of the necessity of coming out of their lapsed estate and the power of the Devil and to put themselves under the government of the King whom God hath set upon his holy hill of Sion that he may defend them against the Devil the World and the Flesh and at length bring them to everlasting happiness Again Acts 28.23 And he expounded and testified the kingdom of God perswading them concerning Jesus c. Assuring them of his sufficiency to save them Now this they did partly by shewing the danger of the contrary 2 Cor. 5.11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we perswade men and partly by shewing the grace and readiness of God to own them in all troubles Acts 13.43 Perswading them to continue in the grace of God And if men do quarrel at this dispensation they will not be edified by any other be it never so extraordinary Luke 16.31 Neither will they be perswaded though one should rise from the dead There is more reason to perswade the Scriptures are true than if a message were brought to us by a vision or apparition which would not induce us to quit our sinful habits and customs Now this is the means when we receive it and are perswaded of it 2. By the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we may know the things that are freely given us of God The spirit of God is necessary that we may believe the Doctrine of the Gospel and cure our worldly and sensual inclinations for who else will be brought to forsake the things which he seeth and loveth for a God and a Glory which he never saw 3. By faith which is a perswasion of the truth of such things as God hath revealed because God hath revealed them 1 John 4.16 And we have known and believed the love which God hath to us 'T is matter of faith to believe the love and care of God over his people 4. Experience The perswasion with application increaseth our confidence His love to us in particular is known by what he hath wrought in us and for us and this increaseth our perswasion and breedeth in us a holy confidence 2 Cor. 1.10 Who hath delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 2 Tim. 4.17 18. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthned me and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lyon and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work In this perswasion confirmed seasoned experienced Christians do continue who have not only a true faith in Christ and a settled love to him but such as maketh up an evidence in their conscience of their sincerity and giveth an undoubted perswasion of his love to them 1. They are such as are rooted and grounded in faith The full comfort of Christianity is reserved for such as are described by the Apostle Col. 1.23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel There is an initial faith which may wither as the grace of the second and third ground and there is a rooted faith which will be supported and maintained in the good and honest heart Therefore 't is not sufficient once to assent to the truth of the Gospel in our understandings or imbrace the good things offered to us by our will and affections but we must be rooted and grounded in the faith Fluctuating opinion without a well-grounded perswasion will not serve the turn Some slight desires and affections to blessedness to come will not maintain us against the several blasts of so many temptations as we meet with but we must get a faith that will make us indifferent to all worldly things heighth or depth life or death The sound world-conquering faith will only give us safety and I am sure will only give us comfort 1 John 5.4 For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith Such a sound belief of blessedness to come maketh us dead to the present world 2. Such as are rooted and grounded in love A taste may fail Heb. 6.3 4. A slender insufficient touch of the love of God upon the soul will not break the force of opposite inclinations and temptations Eph. 3.17 18 19. That ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able with all saints to comprehend what is the breadth and length and depth and heigth and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge A sincere love doth so fasten us to Christ that no temptation is able to shake us or unloose us for they are acquainted more and more with Christs love and admire it are ravished by it feel the effects of it The breadth noteth the great blessings we have by it or the ample priviledges of the New Covenant The length the duration of it from one eternity to another The depth of it his profound condescention fetching us out of Hell its self by a painful cursed and ignominious death The heigth as it raised us up to the glory of Heaven and that everlasting blessedness Now none are said to comprehend this but those that are rooted and grounded in love that is to comprehend them to their comfort and joy to comprehend it to their conquest and victory over temptations to comprehend it as their triumph and confidence None but those whose hearts are filled with the love of God and
this Evidence Page 84 Ground of hope Page 231 232 Evil in sin evil after sin Page 128 No good man dares sin Page 362 Evils in the World consistent with a Deity and Providence Page 273 F FAinting what Page 245 The degrees of it Page 245 Faint not why Page 247 Faith is consent of subjection Page 14 To be in the Faith what Page 68 It propounds greater motives than the flesh can Page 77 Full grown prove our hope Page 232 Previous to our Christian hope Page 238 Faith gives eye to see our hope Page 238 Favour of God seen in internal Government Page 85 Fear may begin love perfects Conversion Page 157 Fear twofold and what each is Page 153 Fear and Hope motives to obedience Page 105 Fears of wicked men grow till they are Condemned Page 157 Flesh what Page 41 42 106 6 Its tendency Page 6 Contrary to the spirit and in what Page 7 Who walk after the Flesh Page 7 Things of it Page 41 When minded how diverted Page 44 45 46 Wholly and without controul rules some Page 46 47 117 Continueth to the last in the best Page 47 Would be pleased Page 49 Gets ground by our yielding Page 49 Not to be indulged and why Page 49 Our greatest enemy Page 113 49 50 The worse enemy by being indulged Page 50 Indulged undoes Body and Soul Page ib. Such indulging contrary to our hopes is unthankfulness to Christ Page 51 We must watch and weaken it Page 51 52 'T will act Religion in a design Page 57 Its wholly emnity to God Page 62 63 64 65 And to us Page 114 To be in the Flesh what Page 68 75 To live after the Flesh what Page 106 107 The more indulged the more dangerous enemy Page 113 Flesh in the mind how Page 115 116 Signs of its prevailing Page 117 Is ever active Page 125 First Fruits of spirit what Page 215 218 219 〈◊〉 in this World and in the next differ 〈…〉 Page 190 〈…〉 venture on Death by chusing sinful 〈◊〉 Page 112 Forâ—â—kâ—ng of sin needful to our reconciliation Page 36 Foreknowledge and Predistination Page 298 What each to what we are Predestinated How these two differ Page 298 The Predestinated in time called c. Page 304 Force nor Fraud cannot untwist the cords of our love to Christ Page 378 Foyls of Believers possible too often but not final Page 370 Fulfilling the Law what and how Believers do fulfil it Page 34 When they begin this Page 38 Not finisht in sudden Page 38 Must be increased Page 39 Future state of perfection to which all tend Page 188 To Saints what Page 206 207 G GAin of sinners by their sins now woful and what 't is Page 112 Gifts common and Grace special Page 81 Greater to common Christians than to the Heathen World Page 81 164 And what of God peculiar to his children Page 170 All are free Page 326 May be comprehended but this Gift Christ given for us is incomprehensible Page 327 Grieve not the spirit a Comforter Page 153 Glory future incomparably above present things and in what Page 183 'T is revealed at last Page 188 189 When revealed shall better the whole Creation Page 201 Goodness and holiness the very nature of God Page 38 280 281 He hath done Good to us Page 281 And how What hath most of God is most lovely Page 282 What our love to God is Page 282 Its properties Page ib. 283 Gospel offers an exemption from condemnation Page 3 To this we must appeal Page ib. Is Rule and Law Page 11 Threatneth forest penalties Page 12 What kind of Doctrine it is Page 18 Is Gods act of Oblivion Sanctuary c. Page 159 Gospel-spirit most sociable Page 16 Its fruits Page ib. Full of love to God and free in conversing with God Page 160 Gospel presents God most lovely to us Page 165 Gods love to us Page 379 Twofold and what each they blessed on whom 't is pitcht Page 379 380 And why how we perswaded of this unchangeable love Page 381 Who these are Page 381 God is Page 313 He will review and Iudge all Page 314 Over-rule all Page 316 How with his Page 314 How to be Gotten on our side Page 321 Gods Soveraignty Page 10 11 His Government internal and external Page 12 And what Page 12 Tho not bound by promise yet in his Goodness he doth reward the Good which natural men do Page 71 His right may repel all temptations and how Page 103 104 He and Flesh irreconcilable Page 112 God worketh with new Creature suitably to its nature Page 136 First loved for his benefits to us next for his own Goodness and excellency Page 142 Is with his Page 314 And how God a Father and in what respects Page 161 Great priviledge Page 168 Assisteth his children Page 246 247 Grace all planted in us by the spirit Page 17 Purchased for us Page 36 37 Increased how Page 44 Common acted sometime rewarded with more Page 71 Great which preserveth a Good man admist the temptations and sufferings in the flesh Page 76 It maintains the Combat and Conquers Page 76 Weak yet hath strength in it Page 77 Increaseth by decrease of sin Page 126 Special Grace what and its difference from Gifts Page 82 Coworks with God and must the reason why Page 136 In Grace as in nature Life Motion and Conduct from the very same principle Page 146 Groaning of the Creature Page 208 What how Page 209 We concerned in them Page 210 And how Groans of children of God Page 215 And what Page ib. 250 H HAtred to God not onely in Heathens but in nominal Christians Page 62 Lyeth in three things Page ib. All sin Hatred of God Page 63 Twofold Hatred Page 63 And what each is both in Carnal man against God Page 65 First Hatred of sin is from its Hurtfulness then from its sinfulness and contrariety to God Page 143 Happiness but one whatever men chuse to be it Page 112 True is knowledge and enjoyment of God Page 142 250 272 318 319 In Heaven inconceiveable and unspeakable Page 184 191 Future and certain Page 220 Consummate after the Resurrection Page 220 Happiest of men are Gods children Page 273 Hasty ones weary of Religion Page 242 Misjudge God Page 269 Lower Heavens shall be purified by fire Page 202 And why Page 201 Heaven and Hell divided between flesh and spirit Page 41 Begun in this World and how Page 184 Heavenliness whence and what Page 16 Heart is withdrawn from God if set on any thing else Page 62 290 278 322 Prepared by and then fill'd with the spirit Page 76 Heart makes that it 's God which lyeth next to it Page 107 Hath flesh in it and what 't is Page 116 Grows weak as lust grows strong Page 117 Carnal cannot make it self Spiritual Page 135 Heart searcher God Page 156 Heirs of God are all Believers Page 176 Title by Grace right is present possession future supply sure Page ib.
Excellencies of this inheritance Page 177 178 Holiness distinct from Godliness Page 16 The better part of our deliverance Page 38 Holiness and Goodness is the very nature of God Page 38 Holiness compleated ere we enter Heaven Page 38 Holiness visible to be charitably judged Page 77 Wherein it now consisteth Page 300 Honesty binds us to obey God Page 104 Hope and fear motives to duty Page 105 Saving Hope Page 230 Twofold of expectation and experience Page 165 Great and glorious Page 202 Saveth Page 222 What 't is Page 223 Its object Page 223 Ground Page 224 Very necessary Page 225 Vanquishes Page 225 Respect between Faith and Hope Page 226 May every one Hope for Salvation Page 227 Distinguisht into its kinds Page 229 May be interrupted Page 232 Mercy object of Hope Page 232 So is the promise Page ib. 233 How we brought to Hope Page 233 234 How increased Page 234 235 Brings Heaven to us on earth Page 235 Proper object Page 237 Built on promises Page 238 These confirmed sufficiently Page 239 How far seen Page 239 Real Page 240 Should over-rule our Hearts Page 241 Its qualifications Page 242 Humiliation what where begins and ends Page 145 I IGnorant we may be of some thing without danger Page 201 Incarnation of Christ with the ends and fruiâ—s of it Page 28 29 30 Immunnities we have by Christ Page 205 Inclination of the flesh what Page 41 Not alike to all sins Page 121 Indulgence to the flesh what Page 43 44 Image of God None so fit to restore as Christ Page 300 301 Image of God Must be restored ere we can have communion with God Page 34 35 It is mans glory Page 300 Immensity of God thence Omniscience Page 257 Immutability of God and eternal merit of Christ foundation of our eternal glory Page 183 Immortality known or guessed at by nature Page 141 Impotency of mind is from unmortified heart Page 130 To prayer without the spirit Page 251 Impeccable no Saint on earth is Page 148 Infirmities in Believers and occasions to the World to misjudge them and the spirit Page 77 They sin but design it not Page 103 Innocent Creatures punisht for mans sin and why and how Page 198 Impossibilities may be imagined not hoped Page 237 Interests of flesh what Page 41 Prevails in some without any controul Page 103 Our true Interest by God made motive to our duty Page 140 Intercession of Christ and of the spirit Page 244 How these differ Page ib. Invisible World to be sought Page 241 Joys of good conscience are foretasts of Heaven Page 148 Judgment to come not so generally known as Immortality and a state of Eternity Page 141 Yet known and own'd by some Page ib. Presag'd by fears of guilty conscience Page 240 Justice of God joins sin and punishment Page 22 60 Justification excludes not Mortification Page 125 What it implyeth Page 333 How many ways this done Page 334 How consistent with Gods Justice c. Page 334 335 336 Sinner Repenting and Believing is justified Page 335 336 Shall not be reversed Page 336 And why Page 336 337 Justified ones are Sanctified Page 335 K KIndness to be shewed to the creature subjected to vanity by our sin Page 199 Kingdom of God some far off Page 47 Knowledge of our selves and our state how to be obtained Page 43 44 That carnal men have of God is cold and lifeless Page 55 Knowledge of sin by the spirit necessary to mortification Page 133 L LEadings of God by which Saints are kept in their way Page 146 147 To be Led what Page 148 Its branches Page 148 149 Great mercy Page 151 It is through all duty Page 152 Legality partial or predominant and what each is Page 158 Law of spirit of Life what Page 8 Of sin what Page 9 Why so called Page 9 Its effects Page ib. Of God constitutes and directs duty Page 11 Given to man in innocence Page 11 And what Page ib. Of nature left in fallen man Page 11 Its effects Page ib. 155 Of man what tends to Page 11 Law what it includes Page 12 The New Covenant or Law of God and man differ and in what Page 13 Law could not put away sin Page 26 Nor justifie us ib. and Page 27 Was next to Christ and the Gospel most Divine Page 26 Cannot sanctifie us Page 28 Nor save Page 154 Irritates sin Page ib. Is not abrogated Page 35 36 37 Hath twofold office Page 154 Continues in force in Heaven Page 37 How fulfilled by a Believer Page 37 Law pretended against persecuted Christians Page 363 Law ceremonial what Page 206 Law-giver God Page 101 Legal spirit what and its operations Page 154 155 158 'T is timerous towards God and for truth Page 158 159 How removed Page ib. Liberty from sin and death by Christs merit and intercession Page 23 On what terms to be had Page 24 These terms cannot by man be changed Page 24 Of Gods children what now Page 201 Liberty mistaken Page ib. 'T is not to live as corrupt nature listeth Page 204 205 Liberty future glorious what Page 206 207 Compar'd with our present Liberty Page 207 Light and Life brought to Light by the Gospel Page 360 Life natural Beast-like Rational Spiritual Page 75 What this is Page ib. Of Grace vigorous as sin languisheth Page 126 Grieved with opposite sins Page 133 Spiritual both beginning and pledge of Life eternal Page 139 What it is Page ib. Natural and eternal compared Page 144 Eternal and Spiritual compared Page ib. Life must be ventured for Christ and why Page 363 Love of God to Believers engaging motive to love him and obey Page 330 To suffer also Page 369 Love of God to what Page 36 Lesser love to God is accounted hatred Page 62 And why Page ib. Love or hatred as we respect Gods Law Page 63 Love to God is principle of mortification Page 128 Surest way to assurance Page 160 Love that you may Live Page 140 And go possess the blessed hopes Page 242 Longings spiritual shall not be frustrated Page 140 For God giveth them that he may satisfie them Page ib. The objects of them Page 219 Lusts contrary to each other Page 48 Love to God what Page 280 281 282 Its properties Character of such as God will benefit by all and why Page 284 285 Best seen in sufferings for God Page 285 Twofold sincerity of Love and what each is Page 286 God Lovely for himself Page 286 For his Love to us Page 286 M MAn subject to God and on what grounds Page 10 11 Owes him a voluntary obedience Page ib. and 71 Men are of two sorts different in original principles c. Page 39 Discover what they are by respect to different objects Page 42 Three sorts of Men in the World Page 46 Mankind fallen under Gods displeasure Page 69 Corrupted wholly Page 106 Of two sides Page 314 315 Man pleasing what c. Page 72 Master sins like great diseases
IV. That this sure Confidence of our own right in it and future possession of it doth fortify the Soul against all the difficulties dangers and pressures of the present life yea against Death itself This last Proposition I am now to make good And First I shall speak of the sure and certain confidence Secondly Of the force and strength of it 1. The Confidence is two-fold Of the Thing and of the Person 1. Of the certainty of the thing itself 2. Of our own right in it and future possession of it 1. Of the Certainty of the thing itself For till that be rooted in the Soul it will have no predominancy in controlling commanding the passions affections Now of the thing itself all true Christians have and should a certain and infallible knowledge not a may be not a bare possibility 'T is not enough to say it's possible there may be an Heaven and happiness hereafter But 't is certain I know 't is as true as the Word of God is true 't is as true as if I saw it with my eyes as true as the things which I daily see Acts 24.14 15. I believe all things saith Paul which are written in the Law and the Prophets and have hope towards God which they themselves allow that there shall be a Resurrection of the Just and Vnjust This is no doubtful thing to a Believer by the Word of God 't is more sure than if there were a message sent from the dead for if Men do not regard what is in Moses and the Prophets they would not regard what one saith to them who cometh from the dead Luke 16.30 31. If one should come from Hell in flaming Garments or from Heaven with all the Brightness and Glory which all the blessed Saints might be thought to appear in there were not a greater Credibility in these Visions and apparitions that what is commonly offered in the Scriptures Why How cometh the believer to have such a prospect into an unknown world to be so sure and certain I answer Partly the internal grace of Gods Spirit opening the eyes of his mind to see the truth and worth of things to come Eph. 1.17 18. And partly by the promise of God in his Word confirmed by his oath and that giveth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 6.17 18. Strong consolation And the seal of Miracles Heb. 3.4 And fulfilled prophecies 2 Pet. 1.19 with 16 17 18. The Old Testament foretold the Kingdom of the Messiah and the previledges thereof long before it came to pass A transient voice is more easily mistaken and forgotten than a standing Authentick Record as Samuel thought Eli spake when the Lord first revealed his word unto him and so offereth a more sure ground for our faith to rest upon than a voice from Heaven could be Besides this word of promise beareth Gods Image and superscription as every thing doth which hath past his hand even to a gâ—at and pile of grass and so shineth to us by its own light if man were not strangely depraved and corrupted by vile affections 2 Cor. 4.2 3 4. By the manifestation of the Truth commending our selves to every mans Conscience For if our Gospel be hid it is hid to those that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them The Truth of its self commandeth its own respect if men were not strangely perverted and infatuated they would see it cure the faculty and the object is clear enough and would evidence it self As the Sun is seen by its own light Besides this offer of pardon and life by Christ hath been Blessed by God to the conversion of many Souls in all places and throughout all succession of Ages Col. 1.6 The word is come unto you as it is in all the world and bringeth forth fruit as it doth also in you since the day ye heard of it and knew the grace of God in Truth That word which bringeth forth the fruits of an holy life in all those that heard of it and received it is the very Truth of God Joh. 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy Truth thy word is Truth In the first Age Christ did swiftly drive on the Chariot of the Gospel for within a few years after his death in all the parts of the world it obtained its effect and since it hath held up its head against all encounters of time and therefore we may safely venture our eternal interests on this bottom and build upon the promise of eternal life given us by Christ. Besides God hath given the Spirit which is Gods earnest sealing us up to the day of finall Redemption 2 Cor. 1.22 and 2 Cor. 5.5 and Eph. 1.13 14. Now the Spirit first confirmeth the Scripture before it confirmeth our particular interest and its joys being dispensed to the most holy men in their most sober severest moods cannot be a phantastical impression but doth convince us of the reality and excellency of the unseen Glory And therefore upon all these grounds a believer is confident We know there is a Blessed state reserved in the Heavens for all that believe in Christ and Love God We do not build upon the promise of a deceitful man but upon the word of the everliving God and hence ariseth the strength of our comfort Our interest is a thing rather supposed than apparently asserted and pleaded in Scripture and if men did not leap into faith by the advantage of their Baptism and education rather than take it up solid and certain evidence there would not be such ado about it As fire well kindled of its self bursts out into a flame SO if we did believe these things more firmly our joy would soon be full 1 Joh. 1.4 These things write we unto you that your joy may be full As if the certainty of religion well apprehended would soon make way for Joy And full Joy 2dly The certainty of the person We know that we have a present right and shall have a future possession The certainty of the thing it self dependeth upon the promise of God who is able to give it and hath decreed so to do And to that end hath signified his purpose and confirmed his promise by an oath yet because the promise requireth a qualification and performance of duty in the person to whom the promise is made therefore before we can be certain of our own interest we must not only perform the duty and have the qualification but we must certainly know that we have done that which the promise requireth and are duly qualified and then our Title to Heaven is incomparably more sure than any man's Title to his possessions and inheritance here upon Earth Therefore I shall here first shew What are the qualifications of those who shall have this Blessed Estate Secondly The several degrees of certainty
evidence of things not seen it realizeth our hopes and sheweth us the other world as in a glass As the Devil shewed Christ the glory of the world as in a Map and representation So doth Faith represent the glory of the world to come as in a Map it giveth us a kind of Pisgah sight or view of the promised Land Other men have but a general guess and tradition about Heaven talk at the same rate other Christians do but have not a lively affective sight of it A Believer hath a sight of it other an empty notion he a real prospect Many hang between believing and unbelieving neither assent to the truth of the Promise nor directly deny it Oh Could we by Faith lift up the Eye of the Soul to view those everlasting Mansions By Faith see Heaven in the promise we should be other manner of Christians than we are but most never thought seriously of it to make their assent more firm and strong Keep the Eye of Faith clear The world is a blinding thing 2 Cor. 4.4 2. Faith giveth not only a sight but a tast It is a delightful confidence a strong assent and therefore they are said to tast the powers of the world to come Heb. 6. Faith an anticipation of our Blessedness or a prae-occupation of our everlasting estate 'T is such a sight as ravisheth the heart and filleth it with joy John 8.56 Heb. 11.13 These all dyed in Faith not having received the Promises but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and embraced them hugged the Promises And 1 Pet. 1.8 In whom though now ye see him not yet believing that is believing for eternal life ye rejoyce with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory To others the Promises are as dry chips and withered flowers Luke 6.23 Rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy for behold your reward is great in Heaven 3dly How shall we rouze up our Faith and more firmly believe the promised glory Foundation Stones can never be laid with care and exactness enough None of us believe it so but we may believe it again with more certainty and assurance of understanding At least we need to revive it often as when the Picture waxeth old we refresh the Colours The motives of credibility I have given you in former discourses I shall only now mention its own intrinsick grounds which have a more direct influence on the confidence of a Believer A Blessed Estate is very sure to the Heirs of Promise 1. Partly as being appointed to them from all eternity Mat. 25.34 Come ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World A purpose so long ago thought of and prepared with such solemnity and designed to us in Christ will not easily be broken off 2 Tim. 1.9 10. He hath saved us with an Holy Calling according to his purpose and Grace which was given to us in Christ before the world began but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light in the Gospel It seemed good to God from everlasting to decree within himself concerning us to give us eternal life by Christ Jesus who came to free poor Creatures from Eternal death and the wrath of God abiding on them and to make the offer of a glorious estate to them in the world to come as the fruit of his merit Here was the first Stone laid towards this eternal building even the foundation of God which standeth sure 2. 'T is secured to them by the promise of the faithful God 1 John 2.25 And what needed God to promise what he would not perform In other parts of Scripture we own Gods Authority Why not in the Promises The same God which gave the Commands which you find so powerful on your Consciences the same God gave the Promises In all other promises God standeth to his word and is very faithful and punctual in them as in those which are of a present accomplishment in ultimo non deficiet God hath entred into Covenant with us A Covenant supposeth both parties ingaged it doth not leave one bound and another at large The Precept doth not leave us free and the Promise maketh God a debtor Therefore if he hath promised he will be as good as his word 3. The third ground which raiseth this confidence is the raising and glorifying of Christ who is entred into Heaven as our Fore-runner Heb. 6.20 1 Pet. 1.21 God raised him and gave him Glory and Honour that your Faith and Hope might be in God Heaven is possessed by our Head and surely in our name John 14.2 which is a sure pledge that the Members shall be glorified if our Head be raised he will not leave his Members under the power of Death He hath carried our Nature into Heaven our Flesh thither and advanced it to the Fathers right Hand in Glory let us follow him and we shall get thither also Well now these are the grounds of Confidence whereby we know that there is a Blessed estate reserved for us II. Hope for it Next to a sound belief of such things there must be an earnest expectation of them For having a Promise Hope waiteth for the accomplishment of the thing Promised and looketh out to see it a coming There is a twofold Hope the one necessary to Grace the other very profitable but not absolutely necessary to the Life and being of a Christian. The one is the immediate effect of regeneration 1 Pet. 1.3 The other the fruit of experience Rom. 5.4 The one dependeth upon the promises of God which are proposed to men to beget in them an hope of the greatest good they can expect from God The other dependeth upon our own qualification The one is Antecedent to acts of Holiness the other followeth after it and resulteth from it 1. An Antecedent Hope there must be before the effect of the holy life can be produced For since Hope is the principle of all humane endeavours and actions 't is Hope that sets every Man awork in the world The Merchant Tradeth in Hope the Husbandman Ploweth in Hope the Souldier fighteth in Hope So 't is Hope that sets the Christian awork The Twelve Tribes serve God instantly day and night that they may come to the Blessed Hope Before a Man can ingage in the Spiritual life he must have some Hope and indeed this Hope dependeth upon the conditional offer of eternal life according to the terms of the Gospel This conditional offer is very comfortable to hunger bitten Sinners who do seriously mind their own happiness Of this Hope the Apostle speaketh Heb. 3.6 Whose House are we if we hold fast the Confidence and the rejoycing of the Hope firm unto the end This is the first tast of the pleasures of the world to come 2. There is another Hope which cometh after much exercise in Godliness which requireth
thee naked as in the day wherein thou wast born 'T is not meant that God would take away their apparel but deprive them of his Spiritual favours leave them as he found them at their first birth and then how miserable were they Well then in its self 't is shameful and maketh us odious and abominable to God To flye from him to shun his presence as Adam when he sinned found himself naked and ran away from God to the Bushes Gen. 3.7 So all naturally lye before God as deformed sinners have naked and loathsome Souls though the Body should be clad with gorgeous Robes 2dly We being naked our great business is to get a Garment wherewith to cover our nakedness that our shame may not appear Rev. 2.17 18. Thou art poor and blind and miserable and naked I Counsel thee to buy of me white Raiment that thou mayest be Clothed Our business is to be traffiquing with Christ about Garments of Salvation how to get our sins covered with such a covering as will hide them from the sight of God This is our business if we would not have God dreadful but amiable Adam when he found himself naked was looking out for a covering But he could find out nothing but a few fig leaves till the Lord made him Coats of Skins possibly of those beasts which were offered in sacrifice for the news of the seed of the woman or the first tydings of the Messiah who should come to redeem the world was then imediately made known to him and Sacrifice appointed to signify and prefigure it 3dly There are no Garments of Salvation to be had but from Christ alone no way else found out to cover our nakedness Therefore we are said to put on Christ Gal. 3.27 Rom. 13.11 Put on the Lord Jesus So that then we are not found naked but Clothed with Christ who alone can cover our loathsome nakedness and render us acceptable to God As Hester had Garments out of the Kings Ward-robe so the Church hath granted unto her by the Kings gift and allowance fine Linnen which is the Righteousness of the Saints Rev. 19.8 Whatever the Instruments be yet Christ saith I will give thee change of Raiment Zech. 2.4 Alas our own Righteousness is as filthy rags and will never cover our nakedness our best Robes need to be washed in the Lambs Blood or there is no appearing before God with any comfort and confidence 3dly Why none but they can groan and desire earnestly to be Cloathed upon with the House which is from Heaven 1. None but they are in a state or have a right to enjoy it the change of an earthly estate into an Heavenly one requireth first as a necessary foregoing Condition that we should be in this world Clothed with Christs Righteousness and regenerated and sanctified by his Spirit and Glorifie God by new obedience For Corruption cannot inherit incorruption and none but new Creatures shall inherit the new Jerusalem And good works are the way to the Crown c. Well then none but they are got ready and so are in a Conditon desirously to expect this Glory The Soul being Conscious to its self of having this true qualification doth more comfortably expect and desire and groan for immortality 'T is but a small part of lost mankind who shall injoy this Blessedness for the flock to whom the Father will give the Kingdom is but a little flock And these are such as are Justified and Sanctified They that are destitute of Righteousness cannot look God in the Face much less desire his presence Surely a man must be born again before he can enter into the Kingdom of God Joh 3.3 5. 2dly None have a right temper of heart to incline them to it but those that are Cloathed A man is ashamed to be seen in his nakedness especially before his Superiors but being Clothed cometh forth with confidence So here guilt and sin breed a shyness of God but pardon and sanctification give an Holy boldness Joh. 2.28 And now little Children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming So 1 Joh 4.17 That we may have boldness at the day of Judgment because as he is so are we in the world Be justified be Sanctified and walk as Christ walked and why should you be afraid to appear in his presence Whereas others are ashamed to be seen by him Shame is properly a fear of a rebuke a reproof from the Judge of the world is the greatest rebuke of all Now what maketh the Saints so bold and allayeth their fear and shame since they are Conscious to themselves of many infirmities Answ. Their nakedness is covered they have white raiment cast upon them that all their defects and infirmities are hidden More particularly 1. That which is the matter and cause of fear and shame is removed That which makes a man afraid is guilt and sin which sometimes is represented under the notion of filthiness and sometimes of nakedness Now this filthiness is washed away by the Blood of Christ This nakedness is covered by the Righteousness of Christ. They have put on Christ and are invested with his Righteousness Rom. 8.1 2dly The ground of our boldness is laid so that we may have a comfortable expectation of Everlasting Blessedness 1. The Justified and Sanctified are at peace with God Rom. 5.1 Being Justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord-Jesus Christ. And for Sanctification Gal. 6.16 And as man as walk according to this Rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Our great business is to be found of God at peace in a state of amity at the last day 2 Pet. 3.14 Since ye look for such things be the diligent that may be found of him in peace and without spot and blame The great end of all diligence is to be found of him in peace and there is no way to be so but to be without spot and blame without spot relateth to the Soul without blame to the Conversation The great business then wherein a Christian is to be exercised is in the getting off our â—inful spots and in putting off our filthy Garments that we may be Clothed with change of Raiment Certainly much sweet peace and quietness is found in their Spirits who make it their serious work to have the guilt of sin washed away by the application of the Blood of Jesus and their filthy natures changed by the power of his Spirit On the Contrary others lye under much unquietness and bitter anxiety who are still under the burden of unpardoned guilt and unrenewed nature These are not at peace with God 2dly They have a Conscience witnessing of their sincerity though they have many failings And the Testimony of Conscience giveth great boldness and confidence 2 Cor. 1.12 1 Joh. 3.21 1 Joh. 3.19 Hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts
Persecution may not scorch it nor the cares and pleasures of the World choak it Col. 1.23 Continue in the Faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel We must be thoroughly persuaded that it is the very Truth of God and venture our Souls and all our concernments and interests upon this Bottom when we seriously consider what we do There is a slight and superficial Confidence which soon vanisheth away as the seed that fell upon the stony ground soon sprung up for it had not much depth of earth but as soon withered because it had no root Matth. 13.5 6. Some may readily receive the Offers of Eternal Life but the Word is not ingrafted in their hearts No the Confidence of Faith must be sound and permanent such as is not easily shaken with the Winds of Temptation 3. It must be predominant and in some degree of Soveraignty in the Soul not only over our doubts and fears but over our lusts and carnal affections subduing the heart to God and vanquishing the Devil the World and the Flesh. The World 1 John 5.4 For whosoever is born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith And Taming the Flesh Acts 15.9 purifying their hearts by Faith and mastering our carnal desires and affections Resisting the Devil 1 Pet. 5.9 It sheweth us better things with which our minds are wholly taken up Every mans heart cleaveth most strongly to those things which he judgeth best Now Faith shewing us the things of the other World present things are lessened in our eyes and our desires to them abated A â—light and superficial Confidence soon vanisheth away they are not able by it to vanquish Temptations John 12.42 43. Nevertheless among the Chief rulers also many believed on him but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him lest they should be put out of the Synagogue For they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God 'T is such a dependance upon the mercy of God in Jesus Christ as to count it better than life Psal. 63.3 Such a value of the blessing promised as will Counterballance the Temporal good or evil which the Devil the World and the Flesh opposeth to their good or Evil. Men may have some beginnings or dispositions to true Faith but they are weak and feeble and so are soon over mastered by worldly and carnal respects and cannot prefer the Service of Christ before the glory of the World John 5.44 How can ye believe which receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh from God only 4. 'T is growing As our assent to the Word of Truth is more full and strong so our Adherence Confidence and Dependance increaseth also and we cleave faster to the Promises of Christ and are better established in the practice of godliness and have a more setled boldness against fears and doubts and temptations so that they can bear better repulses from God Matth. 15.28 Great is thy Faith Grow more couragious in dangers and difficulties Rom. 8.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us ver 37. Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerours And are the less shaken and troubled with cares and fears Mat. 6.20 Shall he not much more cloath you O ye of little Faith And believe in hope against hope Rom. 4.20 The highest degree of Confidence is not gotten at once nor at first ordinarily but by degrees after some continuance of waiting upon God after many Tryals and Conflicts and Experiences of his Love and Favour therefore still we are to labour after this that we may with greater quietness wait on God in the midst of pressures overcome the World contemn the pleasures of Sin curb our unruly Passions Come to the Throne of Grace with more boldness and confidence 2. What is the Earnest of the Spirit See the Sermon on the former verse 3. How this Confidence ariseth from having the Earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Three ways 1. As an Argument 2. By way of Effectual Influence 3. By way of gracious Improvement 1. As a confirming Argument against all our doubts and fears which are apt to assault and hurt us till we be in full possession especially in great Tryals The Spirit 't is an argument strong and full to confirm us in the truth and worth of the promised Glory The truth is plain so the worth as before 'T is an Argument in our own bosoms other things are without us but this is within That which before was written in books or spoken by men is now transcribed upon our hearts and so nearer at hand for our use 1 John 5.10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself When I go to my Bible there I find promises of eternal life which are the ground of my Confidence I go to my heart and there I find the beginnings of eternal life and so my Confidence is much increased a believer hath that within which assureth him of better a state to come he hath a tast of it in his Soul a spiritual sense That which is within us and lyeth as near as our own hearts is more sensible and affecting and more likely to work upon us effectually than that which is without us 'T is a very ingaging Argument to bind us not to depart from these Hopes shall we turn the back upon God after experience 'T is their great aggravation Heb. 6.4 5. 'T is impossible for those that have been once inlightned and have tasted of the Heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost have tasted of the good word the Powers of the World to come if they should fall away to renew them again unto Repentance There may be some kind of tast and preparation towards this Earnest from whence men may fall away 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again intangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning for it had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered unto them But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb the dog is turned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire Some knowledge and some experience some Common work of the Spirit This Argument doth increase our confidence because it doth evidence our right and interest as well as the truth of the thing its self that there is an Immortal Blessed Estate and that it is ours An earnest is given to secure the party that hath it This earnest is the Spirit convincing comforting changing the heart
by faith for our life is not maintained so much by the things which we injoy as the things we look for from God If a Christian had no more to look for from God than he injoyeth here he were of all men most miserable not only equal but more miserable Gods Children have fewer Comforts more afflictions and their affections to heavenly things are stronger than others Therefore that which we look for must be our Solace What relief will Faith yield us 1. Faith hath its sights though not full and ravishing as those which Presence and Immediate Vision will yield to us By the light of Faith we see the good things which God hath promised and provided for us We see them in the promise though not in the performance That there is a Spiritual sight which Faith seeth by John 6.40 He that seeth the Son and believeth on him Faith is a sight of Christ such a sight as affecteth and ingageth the heart such a fight as maketh us to count all things but dung and dross Thus Abraham rejoyced to see my day and saw it and was glad The Lord-suspended the Exhibition of Christ in the Flesh till long after Abraham but he got that which was far better than a bodily sight he got a Spiritual sight of him by faith Faith hath an Eagles Eye and can see a very far off and can draw Comfort not only from what is visible for the present but yet to come for a long time through all that distance of time could Abraham see Christs day This will in part â—atisfy vs Eph. 1.18 That the eyes of your mind being inlightned ye may know what is the hope of his calling The Eye of the Soul or the mind is Faith without which we are blind and cannot see afar off 2 Pet. 1.9 It seeth things past present and to come Past Gal. 3.1 Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth Crucified among you Christ was not crucified in Galatia but in Jerusalem 'T is not meant of a Picture and Crucifix for in those early days they did not paint what they worshipped but set forth to their Faith So plain and powerful is the apprehension of faith as if he had acted his Bloody passion before them as if they had seen Christ Crucifyed So not only for present things but in the other world God Heb. 11.27 As seeing him that is invisible Christ at the right hand of God Stephen saw it in vision and extasy Acts 7.51 But every Believer seeth it by faith Things to come as the day of Judgment Rev. 20.12 I saw the dead small and great stand before God A believer is certainly perswaded and suitably affected so Abraham saw Christs day 2. Faith goeth not upon fallible but certain and sure Grounds Injoyment is more comfortable but faith is sure sight is better than faith yet Faith is our present strength comfort and support 'T is our unhappiness that we walk not by sight but 't is some piece of happiness that we walk by faith so that a Believer is comforted but not satisfied His Faith is Satisfyed though his love and desire be not For faith goeth upon good security the security of Gods promise who cannot lye nay we have not only promises but pledges which faith worketh 'T is of Faith that it may be sure to all the seed But the World thinketh nothing sure that is invisible To carnal men what they see not is as nothing that the promises are but like a night Dream of Mountains of Gold that all the Comforts thence deduced are but fanatical illusions Nothing so ridiculous in the Worlds eye as trust and dependance upon unseen comforts Psa. 22.7 8. All they that see me laugh me to scorn saying he trusted in the Lord that he would deliver him Ungodly wits make the life of Faith a Sport and a matter of laughter They are all for the present World present delights and present Temptations have the greatest influence upon them one little thing in hand is more than the greatest promise of better things to come 2 Tim. 4.10 Demas hath forsaken us and imbraced the present World But are all things future and invisible to be questioned Surely we do not deal equally with God and man Countrey people will obey a king whom they never saw if a man promise they reckon much of that they can tarry upon mans security but count Gods nothing worth They can trade with a Factour beyond Seas and trust all their estate in a mans hands whom they have never seen And yet the word of the infallible God is of little regard and respect with them even then when he is willing to give Earnest 3. Faith hath some injoyment All is not kept for the World to come We are partakers of Christ Heb. 3.14 Partakers of the benefit 1 Tim. 6.2 That is of Salvation by Christ. A Christian hath here by faith what ever he shall have hereafter by sight or full injoyment They believe it now they receive it then they have the beginnings now the consummation then 4th Point Those that have Faith are not satisfyed and contented till they have sight For therefore the Apostle groaneth after and desireth a better estate The Reasons of this 1. The excellency of that better estate which is to come 'T is expressed in the Text by Sight Now what sight shall we have The sight of God and Christ. Of God 1 Cor. 13.12 We shall see him face to face and we shall know as we are known And for Christ 1 Joh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is And Joh. 17.20 That they may be where I am and behold my glory What is this glory The Excellency of his Person the Vnion of the Two Natures in the Person of Christ John 14.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in the Father and the Father in me The clarity of his humane nature They shall see the Lambs Face and be eye-witnesses of the honour which the Father puts upon him as Mediatour In what manner shall we Behold it 'T is either ocular or mental 1. Ocular Our senses have their Happiness as well as our Souls there is a glorifyed eye as well as a glorified mind With these eyes shall I behold him Job 19.26 We shall see that person that Redeemed us that nature wherein he suffered so much for us God intendeth good to the Body and hath intrusted it with the Soul and that Soul with so much grace that he will not lose the outward Cask and Vessel 2. There is a mental Vision or Contemplation The Angels that are not bodily are said to Behold the face of our heavenly Father Mat. 18.10 And when we are said to see God 't is not meant of the bodily Eye a Spirit cannot be seen with bodily Eyes so he is invisible Col. 1.15 And seeing face to face is opposed to knowing in part The Mind is the noblest faculty And therefore must have its Satisfaction
bringeth forth sin Jam. 1.15 It hath produced its consummate act and discovered its self to the full 3. It bendeth and inclineth the heart to the thing loved Amor meus est pondus meum 〈◊〉 feror quocunque feror 'T is the vigorous bent of the Soul and it so bendeth and inclineth the Soul to the thing loved that it is fastened to it and cannot easily be separated from it We are brought under the power of what we love as the Apostle speaketh of the Creatures 1 Cor. 6.12 But I will not be brought under the power of any 'T is deaf to counsel in its measure 't is true of our love to Christ if we love him we will cleave to him A man is dispossessed of himself that hath lost the Dominion of himself as Sampson like a Child led by Dalilah So is a man ruled and governed by his love to Christ. 4. To a most kindly principle to do a thing for another out of love What is done out of love is not done out of slavish compulsion but good will Not an act of necessity but choice 1 John 5.3 This is love that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous That 's bad ground that bringeth forth nothing unless it be forced Natural Conscience worketh by fear but Faith by love Love is not compelled but it worketh of it self sweetly kindly it taketh off all irksomness lessens difficulties facilitates all things and maketh them light and easie So as we serve God cheerfully Where love prevaileth let it be never so difficult it seemeth light and easie Seven years for Rachel seemed to Jacob as nothing made him bear the heat of the day and cold of the night Gen. 29.10 But where love is wanting all that is done seemeth too much 5. 'T is a most forcible compelling principle non persuadet sed cogit one glosseth the Text so It cometh with commanding intreaties reasoneth in such a powerful prevailing manner as it will have no denyal Titus 2.11 12. For the grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying all ungodliness and worldly lâ—sts we should live soberly righteously and godly in the present World Nothing will 〈◊〉 your hearts to your work so much as love Lay what bands you will upon your selves if a temptation cometh you will break them as Sampson did his cords wherewith he was bound Promises Vows Covenants Resolutions former experiences of comfort when put to tryal all is as nothing to love But now let a mans love be gained to Christ that 's band enough quis legem dat amantibus major lex amor sibi est Love so far as love needeth no Penalties nor Laws nor Enforcements for it is a great Law to its self it hath within its bosom as deep obligations and ingagements to any thing that may please God as you can put upon it Indeed if there were not an opposite principle of averâ—eness this were enough but I speak of love as love fear and terror is a kind of external impulse that may drive a Soul to a duty but the inward impulse is love that will influence and over-rule the Soul and ingage it to please Christ if it beareth any mastery there 6. 'T is laborious it requireth great diligence to be faithful with Christ. Now love is that disposition which puts us upon labours this if any thing will keep a man to his work Heb. 6.10 God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love And 1 Thes 1.3 Remembring without ceasing your work of Faith and labour of Love 'T is not an affection that can lye bashful and idle in the Soul So Revel 2.4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love Till love be lost our first works are never left Our â—ord when he had work for Peter to do gageth his heart John 21.15 Simon Peter lovest thou me Love sets all a going 7. It dilateth and inlargeth the heart and so 't is liberal to the thing loved I will praise him yet more and more I will not serve the Lord with that which cost me nothing Other things will not go to the charge of obedience to God It will be at some cost for God and Christ and maketh us obey God against our own interest and carnal inclination It was against the hair but the young man deferred not to do the thing because he delighted in Jacobs Daughter Gen. 34 19. 8. 'T is an invincible and unconquerable affection Cant. 8.6 Love is strong as death â—ealousy is cruel as the grave The coals thereof are as the coals of fire which hath a most vehement flame Many waters cannot quench love Neither can the floods drown it if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned There is a vehemency and an unconquerable constancy in love against and above all afflictions and above all worldly baits and profits The business is of whose love this is to be interpreted of Christs or ouâ—s If we understand it of Christs love then 't is really verified Christs love was as strong as death for he suffered death for us and overcame death for us he debased himself from the height of all Glory to the depth of all misery for our sakes Phil. 2.7 8. And 2 Cor. 8 9. Overcame all difficulties by the fervency of his love despising the cross and enduring the shame on the one hand Heb. 12.2 on the other refusing the offers of preferment Matth. 4.9 10. The Devil maketh an offer of all the World to Christ. Of ease Matth. 16.22 23. And Peter begun to rebuke him saying be it far from thee Lord. Of honour Matth. 27.40 43. Thou that destroyest the Temple and buildest it in three days save thy self if thou be the Son of God He trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the Son of God But is also verified of Christians in their measure who love not their lives to the death overcome all difficulties Acts 21.13 Willing to die at Jerusalem Indure all afflictions Psa. 44.17 All this is come upon us yet we have not forsaken thee And suffer the loss of all worldly comforts Matth. 19 27. Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee And Luke 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters and his own life also he cannot be my disciple But rather I apply it to the latter for 't is rendred as a reason why they beg a room in his heart the love that presseth us is of such a Vehement Nature that it cannot be resisted no more than death or the grave or fire can be resisted Nothing else but Christ can quench it and satisfy it such a constraining power it hath that the persons that have it are led captive by it an ardent affection and love to Christ
to us is very comfortable Things that do most concern us do most affect us as a man is more pleased with legacies bequeathed to him by name then left indefinitely to those who can make friends if I can discern my name in Gods Testament it is unquestionably more satisfactory and more ingaging than when with much ado I must make out my Title and enter my self an heir Eph. 1.13 After that we heard the word of truth the Gospel of your Salvation It is not sufficient to know that the Gospel is a Doctrine of salvation in general or to others only but every one should labour by a due application of the promises of the Gospel unto themselves to find it a Doctrine of salvatâ—on unto themselves Salvation by Christ is a benefit which we need as much as others and therefore should give all diligence to understand our part and interest in it Gods love to us is the great reason of our love to God ours a reflection the more direct the beam the stronger the reflection T is the quickening Motive to the Spiritual life Gal. 2.20 Certainly they are much to blame who can so contentedly sit down with the want thereof so they may be well in the world If God will love them with a common love so as they may live in Peace and Credit and Mirth and Wealth among men Our joy comfort and peace much dependeth on the sense of our particular interest Luke 1. 46. My Soul doth rejoice in God my Saviour And Rom. 5.11 We rejoyce in God as those that have received the atonement 'T is uncomfortable to live in doubts and fears or else to live by Guess and uncertain conjectures Well then if we would maintain the joy of faith the vigour of holiness we should get our interest more clear 2. T is not absolutely necessary Because love is the fruit of faith not of assurance only Gal. 5.6 Faith working by love Love is not so grown indeed where there are fears and doubts of our condition 1 John 4. â—8 He that feareth is not made perfect in love Yet a love he hath to God If love did wholly depend upon an actual perswasion of Gods special love to us it could never be rooted and grounded for this actual persuasion is an uncertain thing often interrupted by the failings of Gods Children and Spiritual desertions and frequent Temptations we do not sail to Heaven with a like tide of comforts Our evidences are many times dark doubtful and litigious but the grounds of faith are always clear fixed and stable And therefore the serious Christian may make a shift to love Christ though he doth not know that he loveth him with a special love so as to be absolutely assured of it he is not so necessarily a Comforter as a Sanctifier And though he doth not fill us with joy yet he may work a strong earnest love in our hearts which is as much seen in unutterable groans as in unspeakable joys Love is one of our greatest evidences and therefore goeth before assurance rather than followeth after it And assurance is rather the fruit of love than love of assurance See John 14.21 23. He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self unto him If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our â—bode with him 'T is because we love God so little that we want the fruits of his manifested love So that you must not cease to love God before you are assured of his love to you But you must love him sincerely and strongly and then you will know God loveth you In the love of benevolence God beginneth but as to complacency the object must be qualifyed We must have a good measure of grace before we can so clearly discern it as to be certain of it 3. There are many considerations which are proper to our state every one of us have cause enough to love God if we have but hearts to love him Not only as he created us out of nothing but as he redeemed us by Christ Cannot I bless God for Christ without reflection on my own particular benefit His general love in sending a Saviour for mankind John 3.16 God so loved the World that he sent his only begotten Son into the World that whosoever believed in him should not perish but have everlasting life As they reasoned Luke 7.5 He loved our Nation and hath built us a Synagogue Few did injoy the benefit of it but 't was love to the Nation of the Jews So his Philanthropy his man-kindness should put that home upon us that there is a sufficient foundation for the truth of this Proposition that whosoever believeth shall be saved That Christ is an all-sufficient Saviour to deliver me from wrath and to bring me to everlasting life that such a doctrine is published in our borders wherein God declareth his pleasure that he is willing all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2.3 That the door is wide enough if you will get in and if you have no interest you may have an interest We must not think that general grace is no grace The life of Christianity lyeth in the consideration of these things In the free offers of grace all have alike favour and none have cause to murmur but all to give thanks All that God looketh for is a thankful acceptance of the grace made for us in Christ surely when we think of Gods goodness and kind-heartedness to miserable and unworthy sinners and do often and seriously think what he is in himself and what he is to you what he hath done for you and what he will more do for you if you will but consent and accept of his grace Such serious thoughts cannot but warm your hearts and through the Lords blessing awaken in you a great love to God In short the love of God shed abroad in the Gospel is the great and powerful object that must be meditated upon And the love of God shed abroad in your hearts the most effectual means to keep these objects close to the heart And then doubts will vanish 4. The mercies of daily providence declare much of the goodness of God to you and to make him more amiable Christians are much wanting to themselves and to their duty to God when they do not increase their sense of Gods goodness by their ordinary comforts Deut. 30 20. Thou shalt love him for he is thy life and the length of thy days 1 Tim. 6.17 18. 'T is the living God who giveth us richly to injoy all things in this present World And Psa. 68.19 The God of our Salvation who daily loadeth us with his benefits Every days and hours experience should indear God to us 'T is his Sun that shineth
and obedience as if delivered by Christ himself in person Otherwise he would not have mentioned that respect without detestation Acts 14.14 The Apostles rent their Cloaths when they would have given them Divine Honour Well then attention credit and obedience is due to their Message 2. The value and authority of this office They sustain the person of God and supply the place of Christ upon Earth As though God did beseech you by us and in Christs stead This is added to bespeak credit and respect to their Message 1. Credit Salvation is a weighty thing and we had need be upon sure grounds and not only have mans Word but Gods for it Mans Word breedeth but humane credulity and that 's a cold thing 'T is faith actuateth and enliveneth our notions and opinions in religion and maketh them operative 1 Thes. 2.13 The Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the Word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe The Apostles word as it concerned them was evidenced to be of God Partly by the evidence of the Doctrine its self which had Gods impress and stamp upon it and to minds unprejudiced did commend its self to their Consciences 2 Cor. 4 2 3 4. And partly by the power and presence of God with them Acts 5.31 32. And 1 Cor. 2.4 5. Per modum efficientis causae per modum argumenti enlightening the mind perswading the heart outwardly by miracles inwardly by the operation of the Holy-Ghost The objective Testimony was made up of both The internal sanctifying work and the external confirmation by miracles For 't is said 2 Cor. 3.3 They were the Epistle of Christ prepared by their Ministry written not with Ink but the Spirit of the living God He writeth the Law upon the heart Heb. 8.10 And Jer. 31.33 As it was the Ministration of the Spirit and carryed a sanctifying vertue along with it that their faith might be grounded upon the authority of God opening their heart to receive the Word Acts 16.14 Now the ordinary Ministers the truth of their Doctrine is evidenced by its conformity to the direction of the Prophets and Apostles Isa. 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word there is no light in them That 's the standard and measure by which all Doctrines must be tryed to prevent the obtrusions of errour Well then though other Doctrine be brought to us by men yet our Faith standeth not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God It must be resolved into a Divine Testimony Though men bring it yet God is the Author what the Embassadour saith the King saith if he be true to his Commission And therefore this word of reconciliation must be received as the Word of God When you come to an Ordinance the awe of God must be upon your hearts Acts 10.33 We are all here beforâ— thee to hear all things commanded thee of God 2. Respect They speak in God's Name and in God's stead as if God were beseeching and Christ calling upon you Luke 10.16 He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me 'T is Christ maketh the request for your hearts The Father sent him and he us 'T is a wonder that after so much evidence of the Christian Faith and the World hath had such sufficient Tryal of its Goodness Efficacy and Power any should suspect the voice of God speaking in the Scriptures But 't is a greater wonder that believing the Scriptures to be the Voice of God and the Testimony of God we should so slight it and carry our selves so neglectfully in a business of such Importance as if either we suspected what we profess to believe or the hatred and love of God were such inconsiderable things that we did not much consider the one nor the other If an Oracle from Heaven should warn you of danger bid you seek the Peace of God or you are undone for ever would not you seriously address your selves to this business God doth by us beseech you we in Christs stead pray you to be reconciled 'T is God's Word that we hear and God's Message that is sent to you As Peter prescribeth Ministers to speak as the Oracles of God 1 Pet. 4.11 so you must hear as the Word of God ought to be heard with reverence and attention and serious regard as if God and Christ himself had spoken to you to press you to it This Word which you hear slightly as it is the Testimony of God to you so one day it will be the Testimony of God against you This Word shall judge you John 12.48 It doth not fall to the ground but will be producâ—d as a Witness against your negligence and carelesness 3. The Manner Here is beseeching and praying in and by this Ministry which God hath instituted God cometh down from the Throne of his Soveraingty and speaketh Supplications We must treat with men after the manner of Christ when he was here upon Earth calling Sinners to Repentance with all the affectionate importunity imaginable 1. With Love and Sweetness The manner must suit with the matter We have an Authority to Exhort yet in regard of the rich grace we offer we must beseech and intreat with all gentleness and importunity Paul in a like case doth the like elsewhere Rom. 12.1 I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God that ye present your Bodies a Living Sacrifice Church Power and Civil Power differ much They go altogether by way of Injunction and Command We must beseech They compel we must persuade The Power of Christ's Embassadors is a Ministry not a Domination We are to deal with the Will and the Affections of Men which may be moved and inclined but not constrained Again there is a difference between the Law and the Gospel the Law doth not beseech but only command and threaten You shall have no other Gods before me Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image c. But we as in Christs stead pray you to be reconciled The Law is peremptory I am the Lord. The Gospel wooeth before it winneth and reasoneth with us The Gospel being a Charter of God's Love we must use a dispensation suitable invite men to God in a loving sweet way And surely if men despise God's still Voice their condemnation will be very just When Nabal slighted David's kind Message he marches against him in fury 1 Sam. 25.13 14. to cut off all that belonged to him It we despise the 〈◊〉 Voice we must expect the Whirlwind I stretched out my hands and no man regarded Prov. 1.24 I will laugh at their calamity How can we expect that God should hear our prayers if we be deaf to his requests and when we in his stead pray you to be reconciled and still you refuse to hear 2. Meekness and Patience Praying and
these do not consider the strictness of the Law Covenant nor the purity of God nor themselves or their own defects A Broken hearted sense of sin would make us prize Christ 1 Cor. 4.4 I know nothing by my self yet am I not thereby justified but he that judgeth me is the Lord. FINIS ERRATA Page 3. line 8. read shed p. 7. l. 2. r. speaketh of it as already past p. 15. l. 14. r. He hath p. 16. l. 53 54. r. Is it not strange Things that are afar off and about which they have no present exercise They strongly believe p. 18. l. 2. r. Surety p. 19. dele 1. p. 23. l. 23. after long r. In the Lord's Supper we have a foretast of that New Wint that is in our Fathers Kingdom p. 26. l. ult p. 27. l. 1. r. T is our Ornament a beautiful Vesture to the Soul p. 43. l. 14. after comfort add is p. 47. l. 24. r. Therefore p. 53. l. 1. r. go p. 58. l. 41. r. Here is neither all evil p. 59. l. 39. r. worketh upon p. 60. l. 26 27. r. and be like him p. 61. l. 38. r. on our part l. 44. for of our way r. of Faith p. 62. l. 16. after self-denying r. r. or having and p. 65. l. 14. dele and report dele This p. 67. l. 7. r. when the body is weakest p. 73. l. 27 28. r. The being reconciled to him is his great care the pleasing of him his most industrious Imployment His life is nothing else c. p. 74. l. 215. a Carnalist p. 76. l. 39. dele is p. 107. l. 1. dele cheap p. 118. l. ult r. hating p. 121. l. 18. r. the difficulties of Obedience p. 151. l. 40. dele our p. 154. l. 43. r. intensivè l. 44. r. appretiativè l. 54. for secure r. severe p. 156. l. 25. for air r. awe l. 30. for alter r. of p. 159. l. 51. r. degree p. 163. l. 27. r. partialities p. 175. l. 9. r. increase of grace p. 177. l. 29. after nakedly add sin p. 181. l. 12. r. for sincers p. 187. l. 32. r. But according p. 188. l. 54. for men r. way for seek r. check l. 55. for his r. our for he r. we p. 203. l. 3. r. his Soul p. 207.l 40. for neither r. will then p. 211. l. 16. r. unregenerate p. 223. l. 57. for profess r. propose p. 232. l. 12. after with add God by p. 241. l. 20. for Abner r. Hanan A TABLE OF THE Principal Matters contained in the SERMONS On 2 CORINTH 5. A. ABsent how ae Believer is absent from the Lord in this World Page 54 Acceptation with God must be our great scope Page 72 And our great work Page 74 It will be our advantage and comfort Page 72 73 To be laboured after not only when we die but in this life Page 75 Why we should labour after it Page 76 v. Pleasing of God Afflictions why a burden Page 32 Approbation of God how Believers come to have it and why Page 119 Why it should be lookt after Page 120 Approbation of God to be lookt after before the Approbation of Conscience and the Approbation of Conscience before the Approbation of Men. Page 122 Assurance may be had Page 6 Why we should look after it Page 12 How it is wrought Page 7 v. Confidence Certainty Authority of Christ. Page 85 B. BOasting what the false Apostles boasted in Page 116 Body of Man compared to a House Page 2 Why called an Earthly House Page 3 Boldness holy wherein it appears Page 46 Boldness in Expectation of Heaven the grounds of it Page 29 Burden of Believers in this World for Sin and Misery v. Affliction and Sin Page 21 32 Burden of Sin felt by a tender and by a wounded Conscience Page 233 v. Sin C. CErtainty of Heaven the grounds of it Page 17 25 The degrees of it Page 11 How it is confirmed to us Page 37 Change there is a great Change wrought at Conversion Page 201 The Change that Grace makes in a Man Page 130 Moral Change what it is Page 201 This doth not amount to the New Creature Page ib. Sudden Changes may be soon worn off Page ib. Outward Change may be without change of heart Page 202 Partial Change not sufficient to denominate the New Creature Page ib. Christ delights to be with Men. Page 54 Christ Spirit Ministry must not be separated Page 239 Christ was made Sin and a Curse for us Page 171 Though he was made Sin yet not a Sinner Page 252 What in the punishment due to Sin Christ was freed from Page 172 Commendation how Paul commends himself to the Corinthians Page 118 Communion with Christ difference between it here and in Heaven Page 54 64 Confession of Sin hath a promise of pardon Page 96 Confidence of Heaven both of the Thing and of the Person Page 8 44 Of Faith and of Assurance Page 63 The Nature of it Page 45 The Kinds of it Page ib. The Opposites of it Page 46 The Properties of it Page 47 The Effects of it Page 46 The Force and Vertue of it Page 12 How it ariseth from the Earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Page 48 Conscience its Work and Office with respect to Sin Page 231 Checks of Conscience to be regarded and why Page 232 Believers have a Testimony in their own Consciences of their Sincerity Page 119 This must be regarded and why Page 121 They have a Testimony in the Consciences of others Page 120 This is to be regarded and how far Page 121 Consideration sets home Spiritual Truths on the Soul Page 175 Conversion Power of Man to convert himself the Absurdities that follow it Page 210 God's working all in Conversion is no ground for looseness or laziness to the Regenerate or to the Vnregenerate Page 211 212 Yet Exhortations to press us to become New Creatures are not in vain Page 212 The true Vse of this Doctrine of Man's Insufficiency to convert himself Page ib. Why the actings of Love are more vigorous at our first Conversion Page 157 Conviction How a good Life convinceth wicked men Page 120 How the Creature shall be convinced at the day of Iudgment Page 99 Covenant why we should often renew Covenant with God Page 250 Curse Christ was made a Curse for us Page 171 Objections answered Page 171 What there was in the Curse or Punishment due to Sin that Christ was freed from Page 172 D. DEath no Extinction Page 36 Desire of Death v. Desire Death of Christ. Christ died as a common Head or publick Person Page 179 Christ died as a Surety Page ib. Christ died not only for our good but in our stead Page 170 How the Love of Christ appeared in his dying for us Page 173 The End of Christ's Death Page 174 The Consequent Benefits of it Page 148 Death of Christ discovers the heinousness of Sin Page 174 181 What use the Death of Christ hath to make us die to
Sin and the World Page 181 When Christ died all Believers died to sin in him Page 177 How those that were not then born were said to be dead to Sin when Christ died Page 179 How to improve the Death of Christ for the mortifying of Sin Page 182 Pardon of Sin is chiefly eyed in the Death of Christ. Page 230 Defects and failings of Christians to be bewailed Page 165 We are to labour to get ground of them Page ib. Desiring Christ. Why the Soul desires to be with Christ. Page 54 What hinders these Desires Page 55 v. Presence with Christ in Heaven Desire of Death Death not simply to be desired Page 24 What Desires of Death are lawful Page 24 34 Desire of Death ariseth from Assurance Page 70 Whether all Christians must desire Death Page 24 The Holiness to Regulated Desires of Death Page 35 Desire of Heaven None can desire Heaven but those that are clothed with a Gospel Righteousness Page 28 Determination a great help in Religion Page 175 Difficulties of Obedience how sweetned Page 73 Dominion of God his Title to it Page 86 Dying to Sin our consent to it given at Conversion and ratified in Baptism Page 180 How Believers may be said to be dead to Sin since there are so many carnal motions after Conversion Page ib. The Influence Christ's Death hath on our dying to Sin v. Death of Christ. E. EArnest the Nature of it Page 42 The difference between an Earnest and a Pledge Page 43 Earnest of the Spirit what it is Page 42 The Vse and End of it Page 43 Enemies all men by Nature are Enemies to God Page 217 244 The several Kinds of Enmity against God Page 217 244 245 God's Enemies carry on a War against him Page 246 God is an Enemy to carnal men Page 247 Wherein this Enmity of God is seen Page ib. It is a dreadful thing to have God an Enemy Page ib. End ultimate and subordinate Page 133 How to know what is our main End Page 77 The End varieth the Nature of the Action Page 136 Esteem of God the Effects of it Page 155 Esteem A Christian is not religiously to esteem others for external carnal advantages Page 194 The Reasons of it Page 195 Excellency of Heaven wherein it appears Page 38 Execution of the last Sentence will be certain speedy and unavoidable Page 107 Why the Sentence shall be certainly executed Page 107 The Sentence shall be executed on the wicked first Page ib. The Execution of the last Sentence shall be terrible F. FAith the objects of Faith Page 56 How it works as to another World Page 17 Faith goeth on certain grounds Page 59 How it should be rowzed up with reference to the promised Glory Page 17 Walking by Faith v. Walking Faith and Sight opposed to one another Page 56 Faith is for Earth Sight for Heaven Page 58 Till we have Sight it is an advantage that we have Faith Page 58 What relief Faith yields us in this World till we have Sight Page 59 If we have Faith we shall have Sight Page ib. Those that have Faith are not satisfied till they have Sight Page ib. Faith hath its Sights Page ib. Faith in Christ what it includes in it Page 255 256 Faith and Repentance Repentance respects God Faith Christ. Page 224 Both are wrought by the Word and acted in Prayer Page Ib. Fall of Man all mankind Fell in Adam Page 216 Fear Causes of Fear Page 111 Terror of the Lord ground of Fear v. Terror Page 110 Fear of future Iudgment how raised in us Page 114 Fear of Wrath and Love of God how consistent Page 113 Fitness for Heaven what it is Page 39 41 Gradual Fitness is to be lookt after Page 40 Fools carnal men are Fools v. Madness Page 126 127 Free Grace manifested at the day of Iudgment Page 98 Friendship between God and Mâ—â— in a State of Innocency Page 216 How this Friendship was broâ—en off Page lb. Fury of wicked Men in their sins Page 127 G. GArment Gospel Righteousness a Garment to cover our nakedness Page 28 Glory of God A Christian is in all things to aim at the Glory of God Page 130 We are to Glorifie God in all Relations and Conditions of Life and with all our Talents Page 135 136 I Indifferent actions God's Glory is to be our end Page 131 Actions that tend to our dishonour should not be omitted when God's Glory calls for them Page 133 Whether in every action a Christian is always bound to have actual thoughts of the Glory of God Page 132 Why the Glory of God is to be our Great end Page 128 133 139 Believers are fitted for Glorifying God as Men and as renewed Page 134 135 Aim at God's Glory ariseth from Love to God Page 131 How to know whether we Glorify God Page 140 Exhortation to Glorify God Page 137 Motâ—ves to Glorify God Page 138 Directions to Glorify God Page 139 Glory of God and good of the Church conjoyned Page 131 Glory of all that Grace that fits us for Heaven is to be given to God Page 41 Goodness of God the mercies of daily Providence declare much of God's Goodness Page 153 Gospel why called the Word of Reconciliation and why the Ministry of Reconciliation Page 234 To whom the dispensation of it is committed Page 234 Governour our Governour must be our Iudge Page 87 Grace the change that Grace makes in a Man Page 130 Acts of Grace easily discernable by a mans own Conscience Page 119 Habitual and actual Grace what Page 211 Groaning for Heaven the Reasons of it Page 20 Directions to stir it up Page 25 v. Desire of Heaven H. HAppiness Eternal why it is delayed Heart New v. New Heart Page 42 Heaven the Certainty of it v. Certainty Page 8 The Excellency of Heaven Page 38 Fitness for Heaven v. Fitness Why Believers are not presently admitted to Heaven upon Conversion Page 42 58 Hiding sin men naturally love to hide their sins from God men and themselves Page 96 God's people are subject to it Page ib. Why men endeavour to hide their sins Page ib. The folly of it Page ib. Holiness in God and in man how it differs Page 84 85 Holiness of Christ as God and as man v. Innocency of Christ. Page ib. Holiness of God manifested at the day of Iudgment Page 97 Home a Christian is not at Home while he is in the Body V. Strangers Page 50 Reasons of it Page Ib. God's Children are not at Home till they come to Heaven Page 54 Hope of Heaven the kinds of it Page 18 Expressed in Scripture by looking and longing Page 18 House State of Glory called a House Page 4 20 What a kind of House this is Page 5 Hypocrites the Reasons of the decay of their seeming Love to God Page 156 I. IMpediments that hinder man's turning to God Page 236 The Word of God a proper remedy to remove them Page 237 Imputation Non-Imputation of sin what is