we haue boldnesse and accesse with confidence by the faith of him THere are two principall radicall and fundamentall graces in a Christian heart and inward man viz. Faith and Repentance Hebrewes 6.2 Repentance from dead Workes and Faith towards God These two rootes shew themselues by fruits in life and conuersation Repentance shewes it selfe in hating and flying sinne and in vsing all meanes of abstaining from sinne and vanities Faith shewes it selfe in motions and imployments towards God which are chiefely these two 1. Our Accesse to God by Manuduction as led by Christ which makes vs confident in going to God because we are led and goe not of our selues As with all care and feare we flie all sinne by repentance so we must boldly and confidently goe to God being led by Christ taking vs by the hand 2. The second motion or imployment is freedome of speech The first is of the inner man the second of the outward man The worke and imployment of Faith in the soule called that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which we most serue honour and attend on God as Ioh. 6.29 Heb. 6.10 1. Thess 1.3 stands in these things here set downe in this verse 1. We take Christ our Mediatour by the hand and lay hold on him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is that faith which laies hold on his Person 2. Hauing him by the hand and led by him to God we haue accesse to God goe to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. We goe with boldnesse and confidence being so led and hauing such a guide as the second Person in Trinitie the Sonne of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. Beeing come to God in this confidence led by Christ we open our minds and hearts and speake to him freely with open face without feare or shame Of these in their order 1. Faith laies hold on Christs Person and takes him by the hand in all motions to God and in all things wherein we haue to doe with God We must haue nothing to doe with God without Christ our Mediatour As the Iewes had no dealings with God no accesse to him but by the high Priest taken from among men Heb. 5.1 and ordained for men in all things appertaining to God Therefore they first went to the high Priest before they went to God So we must first goe to Christ before we goe to God Iohn 14.6 Heb. 7.25 The soule cannot thinke of going to God but it thinkes of laying hold of somewhat by which to be imboldned to goe vnto God to finde acceptance with him Therfore it saith to it selfe Mich. 6.6 7 8. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my selfe before the high God who or what shall warrant me a worme dust and ashes to goe to so high and a great God Reason and flesh saith 10005. of rammes and ten thousand and fiue riuers of oyle and some great thing answerable to so great a God No man can apprehend the Highnesse and Greatnesse of God aboue himselfe and thinke of going to him but he must also thinke of what hee must bring to God But Faith as it only sees aright the height and greatnesse of the most High God and the face of tha Father of glory in the glasse of the Gospel wherin also hee hath reuealed and offered vs a Mediatour answerable to himselfe and to his glory so faith onely answeres this question and resolues the soule saying Hee hath shewed thee O man what is good and what the Lord requires of thee There is nothing great and good enough for God but Christ his Sonne He is infinitely abased if any thing neuer so great or good bee thought fit to present to God or to warrant vs to goe to him but onely Christ his Son Especially we thinke too basely of his Maiestie and Glory if wee conceiue that the same offended by sinne and dishonoured can bee satisfied by any creature but by his onely Sonne the second person in Trinity and shall wee thinke to giue the fruit of our body for the sinne of our soule No it s onely the fruit of the Virgines wombe that Branch and Off-spring of Dauid the onely begotten Sonne of God Now Faith first laies holde on the humane nature of Christ as a handle fit for mans nature to lay sure hold on and as the hand of the Sonne of God fit for vs to grapple or graspe and imbrace as our owne flesh For it cannot lay hold on the God-head its fire consuming in the man-hood it imbraceth the God-head dwelling in it bodily Colos 2.9 As he that holds a Lanthorne by the handle receiues and holds also the light thit is in the Lanthorne So he that by Faith laies hold on Christs flesh and body as the Lanthorne laies hold on Christ the second Person and the fulnesse of the God-head and hee is Emanuel God with him Matth. 1. Vse In going to God some lay hold on their workes as the Pharisie Luke 18. some on Saints and Angels as the Papists let vs onely lay hold on Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Heb. 2 c. 12.2 hauing hold on Christ he goes before and leads and wee follow him as our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and our fore-runner Heb. 6.18 19 20. 1. Pet. 2.25 We were as sheepe that went astray following our lusts but now are returned to the Shepheard of our soules that hee may lead vs to God It s nothing what sinnes wee turne from if we turne not to Christ to leade vs to God the chiefe good it s nothing what euils wee auoid if we goe not streight to God and make straight steps to our feet This leading by the hand is opposed as a Medium or middle vertue or motion to two extreames First desperation whereby Deuils and wicked Men flie from God and come not to him but as drawne and compelled and that with horrour and hatred of God Secondly presumption of proud and blind Iustitiaries that goe to God of themselues as the Pharisie Luke 18. not led by the hand of a Mediatour but trusting to themselues As Sathan leades all wicked mens soules to Hell so Christ leades the soules of all Saints to God That is called the Spirit of the world which swayes the whole world Ephes 2.2 this the Spirit of Christ swaying all his body and members Hee onely leads vs because hee onely remooues whatsoeuer makes vs vnworthy or vnfit to come or feares and discourageth vs to come vnto God and giues vs whatsoeuer makes vs acceptable as his Person merits sacrifice c. Hee came downe from the bosome of the Father to bring vs thither and was made flesh for this end that by the hand of his flesh wee might lay hold on him crucified and risen againe and so be drawne by him to God He is that ladder of ascension to God Iohn 3.13 Vse Shall wee not then goe to Christ who is come downe from Heauen to vs and
Now this Hand of God is also the Hand of Christ the second Person as made Flesh It s the Hand of Flesh especially as risen from the dead and glorified the holy Ghost is his Breath Shadow Wings Arme Hands and whatsoeuer proceedeth from him towards his Church both Ministers and people is nothing but that eternall Spirit the third Person who proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne Iohn 14.26 By which as High Priest Heb. 9. hee offered himselfe without spot to God as with his owne Hands So now much more the same Spirit proceedth from him in more abundance from his Flesh glorified For before Ioh. 7.39 the Spirit was not giuen in that abundance because that Iesus was not yet glorified But now this Flesh of Christ being glorified this eternall Spirit is all the Breath Armes Hands Strength Shadow Light and Glory of Christ He now breathes nothing but the holy Ghost and Spirit He breathed vpon his Disciples Ioh. 20.21 and said Receiue ye the holy Ghost He hath it now at command as his Breath and as naturall to him and can as easily and plentifully giue it He holds the 7. Starres his Apostles and Ministers in his right hand not of Flesh but of the holy Ghost and being risen he gaue commandements to his Apostles not by a humane breath and voice as before but more specially by the holy Ghost Acts 1.2 See Iohn 5. The time shall come and now is but shall be much more that the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God that is shall shall haue his quickning spirit 1. Cor. 15. The first Adam was made a liuing soule and all that he could communicate to his posteritie and children if he had continued in innocency had bin only a liuing soule qualified with Gods holy Image but the second Adam is made a quickning spirit which hee communicates to his members and posteritie and which proceedes from him This Spirit is Christs light by which he shines to vs Eph. 5. Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and Christ shall shine vnto thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whatsoeuer proceeds from Christs Flesh now in heauen is nothing but Spirit He is ascended farre aboue all things Eph. 4.7 8. to fill all things with his Spirit Whereas therefore he is said to feed vs from heauen with his Bodie as Manna and to wash vs from our sinnes in his blood to guide vs with his light all this is nothing but his Spirit which being purchased by his death comes as it were through his body and blood giuen to vs as our own flesh and blood This Spirit is obtained and giuen by his death and sufferings and comes to vs by his humane flesh and nature into our flesh and nature Ioh. 6.63 Therefore his Flesh is called meate indeed and his blood drinke indeede For the flesh of it selfe profiteth nothing but because for the merit of his sufferings in his flesh and by it as by a cundit the third Person the holy Ghost proceeding naturally from the Father and the Sonne is hereby procured to flow issue and come forth to vs and into our hearts by grace Galat. 4.4 Because yee are sonnes reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts which cryeth Abba Father The Spirit doth and would euer naturally issue and proceed from God into vs as Iam. 1.17 did not our sinnes stop the currant and keepe him out of our hearts by our indisposition and vnworthinesse and vncapablenesse of receiuing him as Ioh. 14. Which the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but our sins remooued and abolished by the death sacrifice of Christ and by his flesh and body broken through it as by a conduite the spirit againe hath its issue and vent to flow into our sinfull flesh and hearts and God becomes againe that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That liuing God Iam. 1.3 that giues to all men simply without exception whatsoeuer his sinnes he and reproacheth no man that by faith comes to him but poures of his Spirit vpon all flesh Act. 2.17 This Spirit as its God the Fathers hand so it s Christs our Sauiours hand the hand of flesh which Christ reacheth from heauen to vs as to his brethren and takes vs by the hand Now that Christ is glorified in our flesh and nature that Spirit which from eternitie proceeded from the Father and the Sonne and was as their breath and hand by which they made the worlds and breathed into mans face the breath of life and made him a liuing soule the same spirit and third person doth now proceed from the Father of Christ as man and from Christ the second Person Incarnate and is now both the breath of Christ and the arme of Christ which breath of eternall spirit Christ now breathes into man dead in sinne to make him a new creature created in Christ Iesus vnto good works creating anew all the powers and faculties of soule and body as it were new hands and feete quickned with a new life for new motions towards God and seruices and workes it s the hand and arme of Christ which he now reueales and makes bare from heauen and thrusts into our hearts quickning and creating in vs new hands that is new faculties of our soules to lay hold on and fasten on spirituall good purchased by his death and offered vs by his Gospel Christ by his Priestly Office hath performed all things needfull for our saluation and prepared all sauing matter And by his Propheticall Office in the Ministery of his Word offers vs himselfe the second Person incarnate to be our Sauiour and all his sauing benefits and spirit if we will reach forth our hands that is the faculties of our soules to receiue and apprehend him but our hands lye dead in sinnes that is our minds and hearts from vnderstanding choosing willing and affecting any such Person and his Spirit and benefits offered Therefore Christ as King risen from the dead and as Lord of life reacheth forth his arme hand from heauen and creates in vs new hand◠that is new mindes and hearts Hee breathes into vs the breath of life that is his quickning spirit that quickens our dead hands to apprehend spirituall things For the naturall man by his naturall soule and spirit 1. Cor. 2. as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore the Spirit creates in vs. First a right hand of Faith to know and apprehend the Person of the Son of God and to choose and take him for our Sauiour as he is reuealed and offered in the Word reiecting all other Persons Angels or Saints or any creature or our selues and our workes betaking our selues to Christ alone and to this second Person in Trinitie made flesh fastning vpon him and receiuing him as offered and commended to vs in the Gospel euen as crucified and made our King
Priest and Prophet our Wisedome Righteousnesse sanctification and redemption and all that good which the Gospel sets him forth and commends him vnto vs Christ himselfe giues vs such a minde 1. Iob. 5. The Sonne of God is come and hath giuen vs a minde to know him that is true and his infinite hand and arme that is his Spirit creates this minde as a hand by which we fasten vpon this Person euen the hand of Faith beleeuing the Gospel by which we are vnited to Christ this Person and are in him that is true and the only true Sauiour that is in his Sonne Iesus Christ this is very God and eternall life and therefore can by his Spirit giue vs such a minde to know him and quicken our dead minds as a liuing hand to apprehend his Person with all his benefits offered to vs. 2. This Spirit and Hand of Christ creates and quickens in vs a left Hand of a renewed Will and Affections For our wils and affections being dead in sin selfe-loue and lusts of the world this Spirit breathes into them such holy motions as casts out these wicked lusts and swaies the will and affections to heauenly things which spirit the Comforter so felt quickning the will and affections they againe close with this spirit consent to it imbrace and hugge these holy motions and resigne vp themselues with full resolution to forsake all for his Spirit and Graces and to be ruled guided and swayed only by this Spirit as by the hand of Christ and to be comforted supported and ordered by it That as the Faith of the minde as a right hand chuseth the right Person and preferreth him before all and takes him only by the hand as a Mediatour all-sufficient to bring him to God So the renued will and affections ioyne hands with his spirit that omnipotent quickning hand which hath created them a new and put a new life into them by spirituall and diuine inspiration which Person with all his offices and benefits offered and which hand of his spirit and spirituall motions and inspirations felt in our hearts by the word preached when our hearts wils and affections doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gladly imbrace then Christ and wee are one we goe hand in hand together to God and to heauen he leading vs by the hand of his Spirit and we following him by the motions and inspirations of it Rom. 8. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sonnes of God But if any man haue not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his Now some in hearing the Word resist and put backe the hand of Christ the holy Ghost reiecting all spirituall motions and will not bee led by them but choosing rather to follow their owne reason flesh sense and lusts to walke after the flesh not after the Spirit as sheepe that goe astray and will not returne to Christ the Shepheard of their soules to bee led and guided by him 1. Peter 2. Rom. 10.21 In preaching of the word Christ stretcheth foorth his hands that is offereth vs his Spirit to counsell guide inlighten sanctifie and men refuse it which some doe ignorantly the Spirit hauing not inlightned their mindes to inable them to discerne it selfe to bee the hand of Christ graciously offered and reached forth to them and this is the common state of the World and of all sinfull naturall men as Christ sheweth Iohn 14. Which the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not nor knoweth him that is which Spirit and hand of Christ the world and all naturall men cannot receiue nor lay hands on or ioyne hands with because they are not inlightned by it to know it Christ and therefore cannot will or desire them but yee know him for hee dwelleth with you and shall be in you Some doe it vpon knowledge wilfully and maliciously who beeing made partakers of the holy ghost and inlightened by it so farre as to know Christes person the Lord of glory and his Spirit of glory and to see and discerne his gracious arme and power and to taste and feele in some measure and to perceiue the spirituall motions and inspirations of it and the powers of the world to come that is the powerfull vertues and suggestions to a better life but this Spirit and the hand of God not ouercomming the stony hardnesse and impenitencie of the heart and will dead as a stone in selfe loue and lusts of the world to make it resolue to forsake it selfe and its lusts and the world to receiue and choose Christs person benefits counting all things as doung for him and to imbrace the hand of his Spirit and promises aboue all creatures and his spirituall motions and inspirations but though they know them to bee such yet for selfe-loue and for their lusts sake to keepe them vnmortified they will rather fight against the spirit checke it and kill and strangle the good motions of the spirit and rather crucifie Christ againe and peirce through his hands and feete then that hee shall crucifie their flesh and lusts and his hands mortifie them their lusts and therefore through the rottennesse of their vnrenewed hearts they vtterly fall away from Christ his person and Gospel whom they know and haue professed and acknowledged and maliciously hate him and persecute him and his Ministers and members and in the disposition and affection of their hearts as much as in them lies they crucifie againe to themselues the Sonne of God and make a mocke and scorne of him of sinceritie and holinesse and tread vnder feete the Sonne of God despight the spirit of grace seeking to expose to all shame godlinesse and sinceritie and godly Ministers and people euen whom their consciences know to be such and onely because they professe and vrge the mortification of their flesh and lusts and liuing and walking spiritually which their corrupt and impenitent hearts and willes cannot indure But they that are Christs Galat. 5. haue crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts that is in the heart choice will and purpose accepting and allowing and imbracing that which Christ hath done for them to that end which wicked men abhorre and reiect being offered them Some through ignorance reiect the gracious mercifull hand of Christ reached from Heauen euen his Spirit and sauing vertues and benefits Some though knowing them by illumination of minde and by some taste of Diuine sweetnesse and comfort in them yet ouercome of their lusts and loue of the world their hearts and willes vnrenewed and vnchanged grow to hate and detest them seeking their destruction and abolishing because they seeke the destruction of their flesh and lusts and therefore had rather Christ were againe crucified and dead for euer in the graue then that hee should rise with such hands of his Spirit as should crucifie their flesh and lusts Therefore such is their malice that they would euen pierce through these hands
in this estate no benefite of this Mediatour Vse Hereby we see what it is to be a Puritan To professe or thinke himselfe to be so holy of himselfe as daring to goe to God in his owne name that he needs not a Mediatour to lead him that feeles no such filth and corruption in himselfe for which God should abhorre him or if there be sinne and corruption yet it s so little light and veniall that we neede not make so great friends and suite a Saint or Angel may be sufficient for mediation Such a Puritane was the proud Pharisee and euery carnall presumptuous Atheist who without faith and repentance dare goe to God in the Church to the Word and Sacraments and such as goe in confidence of their ceremoniall righteousnesse These lay the imputation of Puritanisme on others which themselues chiefely practise Vse Sinne being an infinite euill and infinitely hated of God its infinite pride and presumption for any creature to dare to present such a sinner to God For its worse then any sinne committed against God to be an Aduocate for sinners to dare to speake for them and to countenance them before God as Romanes 1. verse last vnlesse that hee that shall dare to doe this be as great as God and as a surety will vndertake to satisfie and answer God for them and therfore to make any Saint a Mediatour to God for sinners is to make him God So much of the Ground of this leading In the Meanes and Manner of leading we consider First the Person leading Secondly the Persons led Thirdly the hands by which the one leadeth and the other is led The Person leading as I haue shewed is only the second Person in Trinitie the Sonne of God made flesh like vnto vs as I haue already shewed The Persons led are the Saints and children of God reconciled by Christs flesh crucified and imperfectly sanctified as is also shewed The hands by which this leading is made are carefully and distinctly to bee considered And first the hand of Christ the Person leading The hand of the second Person in Trinitie Iesus Christ euen now as he is man is his spirit As it was the hand of the second Person before hee was made Flesh so it is now since he is made Flesh especially since his Resurrection The hand of God is the hand also of Flesh now risen from the dead and glorified Now God hath no hand but his Spirit the Father and the Sonne haue no hands but the Spirit the holy Ghost For nothing can proceed from the Father and the Sonne but the holy Ghost which is sometimes called the hands of God Thy hands haue made mee and fashioned me that is as else-where is expounded his Spirit Eccl. 11.5 Who knoweth the way of the Spirit and how the bones grow in the wombe of her that is with childe Iob 26.13 His Spirit garnished the heauens and renueth the Face of the Earth Psal 104. â—0 Thou sendest forth thy Spirit and they are created which in other places is called his hands His hands prepared the dry land Psal 101.26 And Christ calles it the finger of God If I by the finger of God cast out Diuels Luk. 11.20 then is the Kingdome of God come vnto you which is expounded by him to be his Spirit It s also called the breath of God which proceeds from him the heauens were made by the word of the Lord and all the Host of them by the breath of his mouth and His word and Spirit proceede and come forth from him together that is his commandement and infinite diuine Spirit and power as his Arme and therefore it s called the Word of his power Heb. 1.2 Who hath beleeued our report and to whom is the Arme of the Lord reuealed and the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 breathed forth by his Spirit It s called the shadow of God and the wings of God and whatsoeuer proceeds from the Father and the Son to Man or to any creature is only the holy Spirit Luk. 1.35 The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most High shall ouer shadow thee Psal 90.1 Psal 90.1 Such as dwell in the secret of the most High shall abide vnder the shadow of the Almightie Psal 63. Vnder the shadow of thy wings will I reioyce all which must be meant of his Spirit counselling comforting strengthning as Isa 30.1 Woe bee to them that seeke a couering and not by my Spirit Therefore Mary conceiuing by the holy Ghost without all power of nature a weake woman sings Luke 2. that God had shewed strength with his Arme. As the shadow comes from the body so the holy Ghost from God which is therefore sometimes called a shadow because it shewes it selfe but darkely obscurely and mystically and yet surely and powerfully and this especially in the Ministry of the Church both in Ministers and people In Ministers as Isa 50.16 I haue hid thee vnder the shadow of my hand that I may plant the heauens c. that is I will powerfully by my Spirit way thee and inable to this so great a worke as to make a new world by thee and protect thee from diuels and men No shadow can proceede from God but what is God himselfe his Spirit and Diuine power and vertue which when it s giuen obscurely and not so manifestly is called a shadow In people as Acts 3.19 that is when God in his infinite loue mercy and grace shining to you as his face shall send to you his Spirit the Comforter which shall assure you of the pardon of your sinnes and refresh you with ioy peace comfort in Christs righteousnesse applied to you blotting out your sins out of your consciences if ye continue to grieue repent and to be sorrowfull for them daily and by sorrow to kill and mortifie them Let all your care be only to repent and to lament your sinnes to mortifie them and to grieue for them all your dayes and God knowes the best season when to refresh you with comfort which is the Season of all Seasons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is when to giue you the Spirit the Comforteâ— as an infinite gift of his Fatherly loue and mercy and when to shew you that his Fatherly Face and the refreshing from it by sending his holy Spirit to assure your grieued hearts of his fauour and true reconciled in Christ which is the most comfortable refreshing season that can come to a mans soule Now we must not appoint God this season when to refresh vs with the comforts of his Face and Loue by his Spirit but we must goe on in our worke and labour of repentance and daily turning to God flying all sins and vsing all meanes of obtaining all the good promised vs and God in his due time after all our toile labour and sorrowes will send his Spirit to refresh vs. But this by the way to shew what Gods Hand is
of Christs spirit as the Iewes pierced through and crucified through ignorance fleshly Christ as I may say in the dayes of his flesh when he was in abasement to whom Christ promiseth pardon vpon repentance Matth. 12. If any man speake a word against the Sonne of man that is as onely knowing him as a Man and ignorant of his God-head and Spirit it may bee forgiuen him But if any man blaspheame the Holy ghost and God-head of Christ shining and sparkling in him it shall neuer bee forgiuen him Some now maliciously crucifie Spirituall Christ risen from the dead and shining into their hearts and soules by his Spirit and comming to apply his Crosse and Death to crucifie their flesh and lusts by his Spirit and Spirituall hands they now not as in the dayes of his flesh but in the eternitie of his Spirit and Glory would crucifie againe and abolish for euer They that are thus affected towards the spirit are said to be so affected to Christ because the Spirit is Christs hand and because it reueales presents and offers Christs person merits righteousnesse and the sauing vertue of his Crosse to crucifie all our lusts for this spirit takes of Christ and shewes it vnto vs Ioh. 16.9 10. it comes with its hands full of Christ So that as I loue Christ and take him by the hand when I gladly imbrace his Spirit and suffer my selfe to bee led by it and its spirituall motions so contrarily they hate Christ and crucifie him and pierce through his hands that hate his Spirit and destroy his spirituall motions suggested to their hearts For as some of the Iewes through ignorance of Christs God-head crucified Christ onely as a poore man the Carpenters sonne that had proudly vsurped a Kingdome ouer them and against Caesar and therefore put him to death as a Traitor and as onely crucifying his fleshly hands Yet some others and especially the Scribes and Pharisees that knew him by the light of the Holy Ghost that hee was God and by the finger of God had cast out deuils as Christ knowing their hearts professeth they did They crucified him not as the Sonne of man nor onely his fleshly hands as hee was the Carpenters sonne but his Spirituall hands as he was the Sonne of God hating his spirit and power in the Ministery of his Word and Miracles and Doctrine and Disciples for which sake they chiefely crucified him that if they could possibly they might abolish for euer his Name Doctrine Religion Profession Spirit and Church which now began to bee gathered Hee was crucified of these not as the Sonne of Ioseph but as the Anointed and Holy One of God anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power doing what they could to crucifie the Holy ghost to pierce through the hands and feete of the Spirit They trode vnder feet not the sonne of man but the Sonne of God and made a mocke of him Hebr. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in confidence Christ leading and taking vs by the hand and we laying hold on his flesh crucified for vs wee goe confidently If wee lay hold on any creature else and bee led guided by any Saint or Angel wee goe with feare and doubting with perplexitie and anxietie when conscience of sinne accuseth vs and are neuer secure that wee shall bee saued To bee bould and confident with God at any time but especially in the conscience of sinne is a marueilous courage Before whose face and presence the Angels are abashed the mountaines melt whose Maiestie and presence is so glorious fearefull and terrible that no creature can abide his presence when hee is angry The most Holy Angels without spot of sinne in nature and conscience yet couer their faces as abashed at his presence though doing his will in obeying the voyce of his mouth How much more must sinfull man dust and ashes melt and bee confounded with shame and horrour at the presence of so Holy a God yet Faith in Christ makes confident and bold Iacob had strength and courage preuailed with God Moses indured as seeing him that is inuisible by this Faith in Christ who at Horeb in the giuing of the Law where the sight was so terrible hee confessed I feare and quake Rom. 5.11 Wee not onely glory in afflictions saith Paul which some stout hearted carnall men haue done by pride ambition or strength of nature who vpon the sight of God haue trembled like Belteshar but wee also glory in God see 1. Iohn 4.17 3.21 Abrahams boldnesse was with God to parle with him though hee was but dust and ashes Wee see how hard a thing it is to be bold in the presence of a King a mortall man especially if he be angry His wrath is like the roaring of a Lyon How much more to bee bold in the presence of God the King of Kings when hee is angry who cutteth off the spirit of Princes who is terrible to the Kings of the earth that they feare in their Priuie-chambers Psa 14.4 Psal 76.5 Sinne weakens and breakes the heart and soule of man by breeding doubts feares griefes tremblings and horrours So the Deuils and Adam by their fall brake themselues into shiuers of feares and tremblings And as the Deuill trembles so our corrupt nature and guilty conscience like his is to doe as the Deuill doeth for wee are broken and infected like him by sinne Rom. 5. when wee were yet of no strength Christ died for vs that is when wee were broken and infected with the guilt of all sinnes Therefore the Lawe first breakes vs and kils vs with the sight and guilt of sinne before Christ cures vs and binds vs vp and this is the cure of the heart and soule by Faith in Christs blood and breaking for vs his terrours horrours griefes and paines in soule and body that we are strengthened with confidence Ephe. 3.16 by his spirit in the inner-man 2. Tim. 1.7 and haue not the spirit of feare but of power and loue and of a sound minde Rom. 8.15 Isa 61.1 not the spirit of bondage to feare againe but of adoption to cry confidently Abba Father This is to bind vp the broken hearted Therefore is Christ called the Rocke of the soule Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rocke will I build my Church because hee giues the heart and soule built on it by Faith strength of courage nd confidence Therefore the fearefull and vnbeleeuing are cast out with dogs Reuel 21. Christ is the Redeemer of the soule chiefely and therefore from feares doubts and griefes chiefely and from the spirit of bondage to feare againe The chiefest vertue of bread is to incourage and strengthen the heart So Christ crucified his body broken and fed on by faith its vertue is to incourage and strengthen the heart with confidence towards God If therefore wee feele feare fainting doubting goe the more to the Sacrament of Christes body which as it requires some courage and hope that we shall
and good issue out of all our troubles If hee vouchsafe vs the honour to call on him to speake or petition to him its certaine it s his purpose to free vs Psal 10. last vers When a King is purposed to destroy a Rebell or offender he commands him to be kept close prisoner and not come forth to make or present any petition to come into his sight or speake to him but if he giue him leaue to goe abroad though with his Keeper in restraint only with libertie to vse his friends and best meanes it shewes there is hope of his inlargement and of the Kings purpose to free him So if wee haue libertie to goe to Christ by Faith and take him by the hand and vse him our Mediatour by him to petition to God and make our suites its assured securitie to bee heard and deliuered Hereby wee may also know if we haue beene fed with Christ haue drunke his blood and spirit or the spirit obtained by his blood in the Sacrament we shall then sing and praise Christ his benefits our mouthes will be opened as Psalme 22.26 and Ephes 5.18 Likewise if we be the redeemed of the Lord Iesus and his seruants by redemption he will giue vs a new mouth and language to praise and honour him The receiuing of a new language is a note and marke and indeede a bond of subiection Thus the ancient Romanes did plant their language the Latine tongue in the countries which they conquered And the Kings of Spaine cause the Indians to speake Spanish Whom God conquers by his Word hee plants his Word in their hearts in their mouthes Where Christ or Satan raigne in the heart their language and voice or tongue is in their mouth If Christ dwell in the heart by faith hee will giue a great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the mouth Eph. 3.17 with 12. verse and Heb. 3.6 The Beast of Rome exalted by Satan the Dragon or the Dragon reigning in the Heathen Emperours and their successors gaue them a mouth to speake as a Dragon As Christ especially reignes in his Ministers and sets vp his Kingdome in others by them preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome so hee giues them a speciall mouth and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aboue others 2. Cor. 13.3 So he promiseth to Moses in a speciall manner to be with his mouth to conquere Pharaoh and to redeeme his people and to giue his Disciples a mouth wisedome against which all their aduersaries shall not be able to speake or resist but it shall conquere them and all their wisedome pollicy sophistry and all the wisedome of this world and of the Princes of this world which come to nought Mens beastly prophane earthly and fleshly speech mouth and language sheweth that they are base slaues and vassals to the flesh belly earth and Satan Contrary holy and godly speech and the Word and Truth of God in mens mouthes holy conference of diuine things shew Christ to reigne within When the word of Christ dwels in vs plenteously Col. 3.16 and wee abound in all speach and in all wisdome as 1. Cor. 1. not in excellency of humane speach wisedome but as 2. Cor. 6.11 As God raignes by his word and it s his kingdome so where he sets vp his Kingdome in any mans heart and soule it giues him the lip of excellencie and a mouth of glorie as to Christ speaking with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and authoritie and not as the Scribes Mat. 7. verse the last God rules and gouernes all by his Word Hee stilleth the raging of the Sea by his Word Reu. 19. The word of God is King of Kings and hath many Crownes vpon his head conquering the Beast and false Prophet and sends them to Hell and the rest that is the Kings of the Earth are slaine by the sword that comes out of the mouth of him that sits on the white horse that is sanctified godly ministers which sword is the gospel of the kingdome For Christ raignes by his Word in the mouthes of his true Ministers contrarily Antichrist raignes by the Temporall sword His Kingdome stands not in his mouth word preached as of the true Prophets Reuel 11.5 Out of whose mouth came fire to deuoure their aduersaries that is the holy Gospel in spirituall and powerfull preaching For thus it becommeth true Ministers to fight and to kill their aduersaries verse 5. But the Beast that comes out of the bottomelesse pit makes warre against them with the Temporall sword and kils their bodies verse 7 8. for their kingdome stands in Temporall Power Honour and Dignity Christes Kingdome is his Word Preached Antichristes Kingdome and power stands in Kings and Princes power the tenne hornes of the Beast wherewith he is armed to gore wound the body of Christ From Adam to the building of Babel the Church of God was one and vniforme and all the seruants of God confessed one faith in one language and professed their obedience and subiection to the kingdome of Christ in one language the Hebrew the Primitiue holy Tongue till the confusion of Languages came in at the building of Babel In the Primitiue times all the Churches and seruantes of Christ professed their obedience and subiection to Christ the Lorde that had bought them by one vniforme confession of Faith till spirituall Babylon erected brought a confusion of Languages and differing confessions of Faith and of the worshippe and seruice of Christ in diuers articles of Doctrine and Discipline of differing formes of Churches betweene Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicea which will continue till Babylon it selfe be destroyed and then the vniuersall Church shall be vniforme in all Nations and one confession of faith both of Iewes and Gentiles professing their ioynt subiection and seruice to Christ their Lord in one forme of confession of faith in one holy language and forme of worship praising God with a ioynt Halleluiah Reuel 19.1 the generall state of the vniuersall Church and the common forme of Diuine worship and praising from the first calling and rising of it out of Egyptian bondage and Antichristian darkenesse to this time is a new song before the Throne of God now raigning ouer them being redeemed from the tyrannie of Antichrist A new song of praise and worship not before heard for many ages Reuel 14.3 The song of Moses and of the Lambe chap. 15.3 the song of a small number chap. 14.3 But now that Babylon is destroyed and both Iewes and Gentiles called and Church inlarged by the comming in of the fulnesse of the Gentiles the common forme of Diuine worship praising of God is altered and brought to the first and Primitiue auntient forme from the Creation which is Halleluiah See Reuel 19.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. FINIS