in Glory when I see how Satan buffets and assaults you from day to day then I look upon the Palms of my hands and see your names engraven there and will not leave you comfortless I will come again to you He sends his Spirit to keep them Company here on Earth and he will come and fetch them home at last he will be faithful to them in all things that pertain to God and for the Salvation of their Souls Heb. 2. 17. and Believers may urge him with his Promise and Faithfulness and this obliges Christ to do all he can for them Seventhly Because of the great Necessity they have of his pleading for them He sees they would be undone if he did not stand up for them Satan would lay in his Accusations he is the Accuser and what ways he hath to accuse the Saints before God we know not he accused Job and doubtless he is ever and anon laying in fresh Charges against the people of God therefore Christ pleads for them he sees they want Grace and want Strength therefore he cannot be silent he saw Peter had need of Support Luke 22. 31 32. therefore he prayed for him Christ sees they stand in need of Promises Experiences Consolations and Priviledges therefore he pleads in Heaven for them Sixthly What are the Comforts and Advantages that flow from the Intercession of Jesus Christ to believing Souls There 's Cause of wonderful Joy and Consolation to Believers when they cast their believing Looks towards Heaven to see their Advocate there First In regard of the Excellency of this Intercessor O! what a glorious mighty and potent Friend have Believers to plead for them he is no mean person he is the Son of God the express Image of his Fathers Person Heb. 1. 3. He is one that made the World and upholdeth the World and after he had suffered for Sin he is gone to Glory and takes his Seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high he doth not stand by as a Begger but sits down on the Throne by the Fathers side and speak as a Friend for them O what a glorious and transcendent person is he it is not an Angel it is not a Saint but it is the Lord Jehovah Jehovah Christ O when the Believer by Meditation comes to reflect on his Glorious Agent in Heaven how he is honoured by Angels Saints and every Creature it will wonderfully consolate his Languishing Spirit Secondly Consider the Successfullness of this Intercession and it cannot but yield much Comfort the Father heareth him always Joh. 11. 42. The Father and he are one of one Nature one Glory one Will what the Son wills the Father wills and Jesus Christ is the Executor of his own Will and hath all Power in his hands to give out and perform what he pleads for What would'st thou have Soul Lord sayes the Soul I would have more Grace be more holy have strength against this and the other Temptation I am afraid I shall perish under these Blasphemous Thoughts Oh the horrible injections of Satan Lord support me Why sayes Christ Fear not Soul In me is Everlasting strength thou shalt have it in my time and according to my measure Thirdly Consider the extent of Christs Intercession and that will contribute wonderful Joy to Believers His Favour is not narrowed up to one or two Favourites but for all his Saints All that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. All that believe in him Joh. 17. 20. Christ excepts none In this he out-goes the Affections of all Creatures It is rare for the largest Affections of Men not to run within some narrow limits but Jesus Christ hath an equal respect for all his Seed And then he intercedes for them in all their Matters Isa 63. 9. In all their Affiictions he is afflicted There is no part of their Trouble but he is concern'd in it As Christ is an Advocate in Heaven he is engag'd to attend the Concerns of his People though they should neglect him Isa 57. 18. He is privy to all their Matters How should this revive the Believing Soul It is the usual complaint of Souls O I fear Christ will not intercede for me I am so Carnal so full of Deceit Hypocrisie and Backslidings It is true He takes pleasure in the Prosperity of his People but I fear I am none of his They that pray and plead Spiritually may hope but I cannot pray nor look up But let me tell every poor trembling Believer There 's never a Soul that hath the Lord for his God that Jesus Christ can be unmindful of He intercedes for all his People and in all their Concernments Fourthly This may yield wonderful Comfort to Believers to consider That Jesus Christ doth not onely intercede in Heaven in their Names but in their very Natures He presents the Humane Nature in his own Person glorified and in this Nature he pleads to God for them He is set forth as the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. He cannot but be full of Pity and Compassion because he is of the same Nature with them They are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones Eph. 5. 30. O if that Scripture were but put into the Believing Meditation of Believers what Comfort will flow from it O trembling Saint thou mayest object thy Unworthiness and defiled Nature but Jesus Christ hath thy Nature glorified now in Heaven at the Father's right hand Fifthly The restlesness and unweariedness of Christs pursuing the Blessedness and Salvation of all his Seed is that which may yield wonderful comfort to the Believing Soul Consider his Temper and Disposition whiles he was on Earth His Spirit shall not fail till he hath set Judgment in the Earth Isa 42. 4. And if Christ was so earnest to undergo such work then and was so restless and active till it was done surely he must needs be restless to carry on this Work now in Heaven He lives ever to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. There are some times when men on Earth cannot agitate the Cause of their Friends but Christ is alwayes taken up about this Work of Mediation Christ's Authority is capable to manage all the Affairs of his People were they millions of men therefore it must needs be matter of wonderful Comfort to Believers that they have such a Mediator in Heaven Sixthly Consider the Advantages that flow from this Intercession of Christ to Believers and it will yield matter of wonderful comfort Their Sins shall be surely pardoned O what wonderful comfort is this Blessed is the man whose Transgression is forgiven and whose Sins are pardoned Psal 32. 1. He is an Advocate for them to take away their Sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. 1 Joh. 1. 7 9. No Bill shall be laid in against them at the Bar of God Who dares accuse that Soul that is covered over with the Blood of the Redeemer Rom. 8. 33 34. Their Persons and Performances shall surely find acceptance
second Adam as Mediator the Difference between whom was great the first Adam but a Creature this a Creator or Quickning Spirit the first Adam had his Rise from the Earth this second Adam as to his person from Heaven whence saith Paraeus 't is evident the Apostle doth not speak here of the matter of Christs Body but of the Original and Dignity of his Person for he grants in this whole Discourse that Christ's Body is one and the same with ours else how can his Resurrection be a proof of ours and 't is said As by man came death so by man came also the Resurrection of the Dead 1 Cor. 15. 20 21 22. And if Christ had not a real natural Body then he could not be the Seed of the Woman neither had his Death been a real Death or a satisfactory Propitiation if the same Nature that sinned had not also suffered And therefore it must needs be that Christ had a Natural Body He Eat Drank Spake Walked was weary smitten bound crucified which are also demonstrations of a Natural Body And as he had a perfect Body so had he a Soul also contrary to the Doctrine of Apollinaris or else he could not be a perfect Man and in all things made like unto his Brethren for 't is said when God made Man He breathed into his Nostrils the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul Gen. 2. 7. Hence saith Lactantius A Soul-less Body is no Humane Body 'T is said His Soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto Death Mat. 26. 38. Had not Christ a real Soul he had not been a living man nor could be said to have died when he cried out Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit Luke 23. 46. And having said so he gave up the Ghost This Spirit the Lord Jesus gave up into his Father's hands was not his Divine Nature for that was one with and ever with the Father and therefore must needs be his Soul which was his Life and that departing he is said to dye and give up the Ghost Besides That Knowledge in which he is said to increase with those Humane Affections that manifestly appeared in him and those Acts of his Natural Will plainly proves his Soul these being the Essential Faculties of a Rational Spirit Neither could he have perfectly transacted the Office of a Mediator and undergone all the Sufferings that were to be borne for the Sin of Man had he not consisted of a Humane Soul as well as Body part of these Penalties yea the greatest part being Spiritual and such as none but the Soul could be fully sensible of And in point of Justice the Soul of man having sinned there must be a Soul also in the Redeemer to undergo Sufferings wherefore he must needs be perfect man in the Essential Parts of the Humane Nature Body Soul He had also the Properties of the Humane Nature both Essential and Accidental The Essential Properties of man as well of the Soul as Body were in him The Essential Properties and Faculties of the Soul which are the Understanding Will Affections were seated in his Nature he had a created Understanding that eminently shin'd out in his youthful years being able at Twelve years old to dispute with the Learned Doctors of his Day even to the astonishment of his Hearers Luke 2. 46 47. And they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them Questions and all that heard him were astonished at his Vnderstanding and Answers And ver 52. Jesus increased in Wisdom and Stature He had likewise Natural Affections so as without sin He loved the young man in the Gospel for those Excellencies that were in him Mark 10. 21. And had a peculiar degree of Affection to John above the rest of the Disciples Joh. 19. 26. He had compassion on the multitude Mat. 9. 36. And was grieved for the Heart hardness of his Disciples Mark 3. 5. And had indignation against Peter's tempting him to decline his Redemption-work Mark 8. 33. He had also the Essential Properties of a Humane Body such as do flow from the Essence thereof and are so absolutely necessary to it as that without these the Body would cease to be a Body as Quantity Figure Members Dimensions He had a Material Body consisting of Flesh and Bone with its Lineaments and Members Face Hands Feet he had a Stature in which he grew as other men do Luke 2. 52. A Body circumscribed in a place that must needs have a Circumference and be in one place at once circumscriptively not definitively as Spirits are Neither does its Union with the Divine Nature or its glorified state in Heaven alter this Essential Property of a Body Nor is the Omnipotency of God a sufficient Argument to warrant the Body of Christ to be in Heaven and Earth and in divers places at once seeing God's Absolute Power never crosseth his Actual Power or infer a contrariety to his Truth and to the natural Being of things Neither did he assume the Parts and Essential Properties of Man only but the Infirmities also and accidental Properties of the Humane Nature though not those which were Personal and Vicious and procur'd by Personal Sins or defection in their particular Natures as Diseases Blindness Lameness Deformity which were not the absolute and universal Products of Original Sin incident to every one but arising from some particular Causes and peculiar to some Persons onely these our Lord Jesus did not take upon him but such Infirmities as were accidental to the whole Nature for that he himself also is compassed with Infirmities Heb. 5. 2. not sinful as culpable Ignorance and Errour but Natural Infirmities such as were incident to our Natures Sin excepted and such as were the Effects and Punishment of Sin these Christ took on him as inculpable Ignorance Humane Passions of Sorrow Fear Anger in the Soul Hunger Thirst Weariness Pain bloody Sweat and Death in the Body Mark 13. 32. Mark 11. 13. Math. 26. 38. Math. 9. 36. Mat. 16. 23. Joh. 19. 28. Joh. 4. 6. Heb. 5. 8. Luke 22. 44. Mat. 27. 50. And O what enriching Priviledges and full Consolation do flow to Believers from the Words assuming the Humane Nature into Personality with himself And what glorious Excellencies are in Jesus Christ as he is God-Man in one Person infinite Treasures which can never be traced out nor fully understood by the Children of men as will appear if we consider the kind of this Union and the Consequents of it First Consider the kind of this Union between the Divine and Humane Nature of Christ and O what a glorious Mystery is it First It is a real Union 't is not Nominal in Name onely or Metaphorical in Shew or Similitude but in Reality and Truth The Divine and Humane Nature do constitute one Person which is Jesus Christ We have already proved that Jesus Christ is perfect God and perfect Man he is really so in one
was undone because a man of unclean Lips Isa 6. 4 5. And the Church Isaiah 64. 6. profess they were as an unclean thing Paul an elect Vessel a man of singular Revelations yet laments that in him dwelt no good thing Rom. 7. 18. That he was carnal and sold under Sin ver 14. and when he would do good evil was present with him ver 21. Secondly Here 's Comfort that their Corruptions in them shall not break their Covenant Relation to God Psal 89. 30. to 35. There can be no Forfeiture of this Promise I will be their God and they shall be my People Thy Lye cannot make God untrue Rom. 3. 3. 4. Thy evil Eye cannot make his Eye evil too Matth. 20. 15. Thy wicked Thoughts cannot alter his gracious Thoughts Isa 55. 8. 9. Thy invincible Corruptions cannot overcome his Mercies nor the Enmity of thy Nature make God thy Enemy Thirdly Christ is employed in Heaven about this very Work of subduing thine Iniquities he intercedes ever and why That this People might be sanctified by the Truth Joh. 17. 17. That they might have more Grace and the Spirit given out to mortifie their Corruptions he reigns in Heaven on purpose to bring down his and their Enemies 1 Cor. 15. 25. He carries on the work of Redemption in Heaven and what is that but to set his People free indeed he hath an assured care now in Glory to fulfil his Promises one of which is that Iniquity shall be subdued Mic. 7. 18. Romans 6. 14. Fourthly Christ's promise to the Father is security for the Destruction of thy Sin he is engaged to present his people compleat to the Father Eph. 5. 27. and to keep them unblameable to his heavenly Kingdom 1 Thes 5. 23. Fifthly His Glory and Pleasure is concerned in the Death of thy Corruptions Isa 53. 10. The Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand What is this Pleasure of the Lord It is the Redemption of his People from the Tyranny of Sin and the Slavery of Satan into the glorious Liberty of the first born of Glory 2 Thes 1. 11 12. Lastly Grace is of a prevailing Nature and must destroy thy Lusts at last and the Spirit of Grace is in his people Mat. 12. 20. the Interest of Sin and Sinners cannot always stand before the Interest of God and his people Esther 6. 13. Fourthly Here 's Comfort to tempted Believers such as are always dogged with filthy and frighâ—ing Temptations restlessly haunted with vile and blasphemous Thoughts and miserably buffeted with dreadful and dangerous Suggestions if Christ be interceding in Heaven then surely he will one day or other put an end to all the Temptations and in the mean time over-rule them that they shall not prevail over thee 1 Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 2. 19. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour those that are tempted Christ is a merciful High-priest and wants neither Knowledge Bowels or Abiliiy which might render him capable to relieve the tempted he hath the tempting Serpent the roaring Lion in Chains and will mercifully say to that proud one come so far and no farther Fifthly Here 's Comfort to Gods people under their Afflictions and Sufferings in the World or by the World if Christ be interceding in Heaven for them then surely he will not leave them comfortless in their Sufferings for him Joh. 14. 8. chap. 16. 32. 33. Then Tribulation nor Persecution nor any thing else can separate them from the Love of God in Christ Rom. 8. 35. He that is for them is stronger than all that are against them â—ers 31. He will be with them in the Fire and in the Water Isa 43. 2. Christ is never sweeter than when the World is most bitter to a Child of God Afflictions can but file away the Rust and scoure away the Filth it cannot diminish the Grace nor injure the State of those that are interested in Christ's Mediation Christ's Cordials are never better than when his people are most faint and languishing Christ in Heaven laughs at the vain hopes of his Enemies and will dash all their Attempts against himself and Interest in pieces Psal 2. 4 9. He will strengthen his tyred distressed Servants under Sufferings Isa 42. 10. 2 Cor. 12. 9. His Arm is made bare his Power display'd and his Strength made perfect in their Weaknesses Psal 27. 14. This may be the Trouble and dejecting Fears of some how they shall hold out-in times of Tryal I am afraid says one I shall never bare Reproaches Hatred Bonds Loss of Goods and death for Christ with a magnanimous and Gospel Spirit Why Soul It shall be given thee in that hour not only to believe but to suffer for Christ Phil. 1. 29. The Fury of the Adversary shall not terrifie you nor their rampent Rage deject your Courage Isa 35. 4. Sixthly Here 's Comfort to such as are Mourners for Sion and grieve at the Afflictions of God's People That lament to see Christ's Interest on foot and the Wicked on horse-back Transgressors to prosper and the Godly afflicted that weep to behold Divine Providences thwarting his Promises The Lord hath promised that to Christ shall every Knee bow and every Tongue confess Men read of glorious things spoken of Sion but when they look to the Interest of God they see nothing but matter of trouble and grief They look to the Earth and behold Darkness and Confusions they look to the Church of Christ and lo Decayes and Dyings Now this breeds trouble to the Friends of Christ to see things run counter and cross to expectation and promise yet here is Comfort from the Intercession of Christ on this account For First The Lord Jesus sits at Helm he is upon the Throne and reigns as King for ever and this hath been the Faithful s Refuge and Support in the worst of Times Psal 10. 2. 4. 16. Psa 29. 10. The Lord Jesus hath the Government of Nations as well as of Sion on his shoulders Isa 9. 6. Eph. 1. 22. He rules over all Psal 103. 19. His Kingdom ruleth over all Men and Devils cannot wrest the Scepter out of his hands In spight of all he is King of Sion Psal 2. 6. and his Government is maintained in all the Confusions that are on the Earth and if so there is no cause for the People of Christ to be dejected Fear not said Caesar to his Mariners in a Storm Caesar is here Why are ye so fearful said Christ to his Disciples when trembling at their Dangers in a boysterous Storm O ye of little Faith Matth. 8. 26. That Vessel cannot miscarry that hath Christ at Helm and if it could said Luther mallem ruere cum Christo quam regnare cum Caesare I had rather perish with Christ than reign with Caesar Secondly His Paths are in the deep waters Psal 77. 19. Thy way is in the Sea thy paths are in the deep waters and thy foot-steps are not
pleasant Habitations after all your Wilderness Journeyings There 's a large dwelling-place here you are thrust into corners and may be have little conveniencies in your Houses Here you dwell in Strangers and perhaps Enemies Houses but there your dwelling shall be in your Father's House 'T is really so I do not flatter you with vain hopes or feed you with false reports if it were not so I would have told you Some might object here That there may be Houses in Heaven and yet they in Hell No says Christ I go to prepare a place for you when I come to Heaven I will bespeak a House for you it shall be your own your own proper Right every one of you and of all my People shall have a House of their own and it shall be Fee simple theirs to all Eternity But some may say How shall we be sure of this that when we dye we shall have a place in Glory Why saith Christ As sure as I go to Heaven shall you have a Mansion there for 't is one end of my going thither 't is part of my business there I go to prepare a place for you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word saith Grotius notes a Divine Appointment a place that God allots and appoints for you that you might not think it is procured by your own Merit and labours As if he should say you may be sure my People you shall not miss of a place in my Father's House because he hath given you a house in Heaven and I go to possess it for you and to make it sure My Father hath given it and I have purchased it and now I go to take it into my own hand for you yea to fit and sute your Lot in Heaven as may be most meet for you and as may bear a full proportion to all your Labours and Sufferings for me And thus the word likewise imports saith Dr. Preston to fit and fashion one as a Vessel is fashion'd and shap'd to its proper Use But Believers may urge Lord how shall we get thither the Journey is far the Way we know not many Dangers lye betwixt this and Heaven the Prince of the Air and all the Devils of Hell lye betwixt this and Glory and how shall we get safely through all these Dangers Why saith Christ I will come again and receive you when I have done your Work in Heaven when I have difpatched my gathering and compleating work on Earth when all my Saints are called and perfected then will I come again and receive you to my self I will come and unite your Souls and Bodies together and then will shew you the way to Heaven and lead you into your own habitations there and as surely put you into possession of Glory as I am going to possess it for my self and in the mean time I will take care of you in the way and send my Spirit to guide you and bear you thorow it and my Angels when you are at your Journeys end shall receive your Souls and bring them unto me that where I am you may be also Joh. 17. 24. Joh. 12. 26. What greater Love can there be than the Engagements of Christ's Heart to get all his Children brought home to Heaven that they may be ever with him and partake of his Glory 1 Cor. 15. 22 23. CHAP. X. Several Deductions drawn from the Love of Christ IF the Lord Jesus be so full of Love and tender Affection then First What reason have Sinners never to be quiet till the Lord Jesus become their Friend till they have an Interest in his special Love Alas poor Souls the common Love of Christ though now you fare the better for it will shortly be at an end His Philanthropy though procious yet is but like a Box of Ointment which may be wasted and consum'd Mark 14. 4. But his special Love is like the two Olive Trees Zach. 4. 12. always emptying out it self through the golden Pipes of his Ordinandes to his People Christ's common Love to Sinners is like a Land-flood that will be drained But his special Love is compar'd to a Fountain a Wood of Water that springeth up to Life Eternal O then labour after an Interest in this Love of Christ that brings Salvation Put away the Evil of thy doings hearken to Christ's counsel receive him into thy Heart by Faith obey his Voice take him to be thy Lord and God and thou shalt possess his love too Psal 45. 10. Secondly Then what an abominable thing is it to hate Christ how unexcusable will Sinners Enmity against him be when he comes to Judgment Jer. 2. 5. Prov. 8. 36. All they that hate me love Death Psal 21. 8 9. Psal 132. 18. Nah. 1. 2. 3dly Then why should Believers take up such hard thoughts of Christ Isa 40. 27. Why sayest thou O Jacob my way is hid from the Lord and my Judgment is passed over from my God that is my Condition my trouble my Soul is out of God's thoughts He takes no notice of nor cares what becomes of me And my Judgment that is God's judging my Cause his righting and helping my oppressed Soul is gone from me or he hath laid it aside he will not help me in my Affliction This was Sion's complaint and hard thoughts of God and this displeased him Why sayest thou O Jacob c As if he should say what cause hast thou O Israel my People to entertain such harsh conceptions of my Love what Iniquity hast thou found in me what wrong have I done thee Have I not born thee from the Womb and carried thee all the dayes of old Look back to the Red Sea and to the Wilderness who cared for thee there Call to mind the Manna and the Rock the Bread and Water on the Way I suffered none to do thee harm I delivered thee out of the hands of all thy Enemies and plagued them that injured thee Thus have I been thy help from thy Youth up and why sayest thou then my way is hid from the Lord O Jacob thou dost ill to censure me so severely Is this the requital of all my love and kindness to thee hitherto Repent of these injurious apprehensions and put more favourable constructions on my wayes Gracious Souls have no reason to prejudge the Heart of Christ and censure him of unkindness and negligence for 't is impossible he should forget his People Isa 49. 15. He hath paid too dear for them to do so They have cost his Blood Eternal Counsels many Troubles many Wonders and will he reject them after all O no. He hath engraven them on the Palms of his hands where he cannot but see and must secure their names Isa 49. 16. I cannot look upon my hands but I must remember thee I should forget my self should I forget thee thou art set as a Seal upon my Heart and thy Walls are continually before me that is though thy Protection be gone for a time and I
to these also he exerciseth much Long-suffering and Patience if you weigh First the Multitude of their Sins they are more than can be numbred more than the hairs of their head Psal 40. 12. Sins of Thoughts Words and Deeds Sins against Law and Gospel the first and second Table Sins in Duty and out of Duty Sins every day every moment Gen. 6. 5. Sins to the last hour of their Lives till their Tabernacle be pull'd down and the body of Death destroyed and this is not only the Condition of one or of a few Souls but of all the Elect every man that liveth 1 Kings 8. 46. There is none that sinneth not Secondly The Aggravation of their Sins taken First From the persons sinning The redeemed of God such as have been bought with a great price 1 Cor. 6. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 18. The pardon of whose former Sins cost so dear the Sons and Daughters of God Deut. 32. 19. Souls loved and chosen out of all the World to be his yea they only elected and all others left Amos 3. 2. Adopted to a glorious state to be Kings and Priests unto God to be Heirs and Co-heirs with Christ to be a name and a Glory to him and yet for these to be always grieving always provoking always reproaching of him is hard indeed but not too hard for Christ to bear Secondly From the person against whom they sin they sin against their Father who loved them with an everlasting Love drew them with the Cords of Love and led them in the paths of Love who hath given his Son for them and to them and fixed his unchangeable Love upon them imparted the royal Priviledges of Sons to them and yet to Sin against him who is the Father of Christ and their Father whose Glory was dearer to him than his own Blood is an aggravated Sin indeed They sin against God the Son who gave himself for them and bought them with a great price They sin against the holy Ghost who visited them in their low Estate and brought them the good News of Salvation who broke open their Prison-doors and let them forth into a glorious State of Liberty who quickned enlightned comforted and helped them in all their Soul-straits now to sin against this God the Father Son and Spirit cannot but exceedingly provoke the Soul of Christ Thirdly the State in which they sin O! how inconsistent is this with such an high and glorious Condition Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall have no more Dominion over you because you are not under the Law but under Grace The Sins of such are the works of Darkness in the day time Acts of Enmity in a state of Reconciliation and grievous Bondage in times of Liberty Fourthly The dangerous Effects of their Sinning 'T is a corrupt Tree that brings forth sad Fruit even the Grapes of Sodom and the Wine of Gomorrah their Sins rob God of his Glory and bring a greater Dishonour to him than all the Sins of the World besides Rom. 2. 23. They grieve the Spirit of Christ whereby they are seal'd up to the day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. They depress and load yea break the Heart of God Amos 2. 13. They endeavour to frustrate divine grace and render the Death of Christ in vain Gal. 5. 4. They do as it were reduce the Lord to a great strait what to do to save their Souls Hâ—s 6. 4. they Shipwrack all their Duties and put a Vanity upon all their Profession Labours and Sufferings such run in vain Gal. 2. 2. They sadden the Hearts and weaken the hands of the Godly and become stumbling blocks in their way Psal 119. 158. And they do a great deal of mischief to the wicked in prejudicing them against the Lord Jesus and his holy ways in hindring their Reception of the Gospel and depriving them of the Fruits and Labours of Christ towards their Conversion in justifying them in their wayes encouraging them in their Sins and in causing them to blaspheme the holy Name of God Fifthly The blessed Advantages they have enjoy'd against their Sins they have many Obligations against it and many Experiences of the Evil of it and yet still continue in it O this doth make the burden of the Sins of the Godly exceeding heavy to Christ and yet that he should bear them so patiently and not consume them That though provoked daily by the Brambles and scratching Abominations of his People yet his Fury should not be kindled into a terrible Flame to burn them up doth manifestly demonstrate his meekness to be exceeding great Secondly Christ's forbearing of his People is another Evidence of his Slowness to Anger He is not easily provoked Neh. 9. 17. How long doth he forbear before he strikes he first threatens and then waits calls and exhorts shakes the rod and then strikes gently Isa 30. 18. Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious Thirdly His readiness to be reconciled to them when angry Psal 86. 5. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive O consider his perswading them to Repentance how doth he labour to convince them of their Sin and invite them to return he entreats reasons and beseecheth them to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. Lo how affectionately doth he receive them when they return how willingly doth he listen his Ear to their confession of Sin and bemoaning of their condition Jer. 31. 18. Fourthly The moderation of his Anger when raised shews his meekness Isa 27. 7 8. In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it He stayeth his rough wind in the day of his East-wind Job 11. 6. Lastly His actual forgiving all their Iniquities Psal 103. 3. Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities Luke 7. 47. Isa 44. 22. Vse Now if the Lord Jesus Christ be so full of meekness to his very Enemies so rich in gentleness sweetness of Nature and Patience to his People then learn this needful Lesson of him to be of a meek and patient Spirit Behold how quietly he took up his Cross and bore reproaches and Indignities from the worst of men yea how still he was under the infinite weight of his Father's wrath Learn meekness from his Gentleness as the Elephant doth from the Lamb when the Elephant is in his greatest Fury set but a Lamb before him and his wrath will presently be allay'd Learn of Christ to bear Injuries to restrain your Anger not to be angry but when Duty and the Cause of God calls you to it 'T is onely Sin should be the Object of a Christian's Anger Moses was calm at his own Reproaches but could not be still when God was dishonoured Learn from Christ to moderate the measure of your Anger he corrects in measure Let not your Anger exceed the desert of the Provocation Learn from him to time your Anger As a word fitly spoken so Anger seasonably exerted is beautiful and learn from him to remove it when the Cause is gone Anger should be as Physick
his Natures in his Offices in his sweet and gracious Dispositions In his Natures severally considered and united in his Hypostatical and Personal Union The Person of Christ consists of two Natures God the true Emanuel or God with us God manifested in the Flesh Man the true Emanuel or God with us God manifested in the Flesh So Joh. 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory of the onely begotten Son of God full of Grace and Truth That is the Word which was God in the Second Person The brightness of his Glory and express Image of his Person Heb. 1. 3. took our Nature to himself in one Person and became Mediatour perfect God and perfect Man First Perfect God equal with the Father in Essence Joh. 10. 30. I and my Father are one that is one God not one Person 't is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Person but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one thing or Being I am in the Father and the Father in me and therefore my Sheep are safe they are in my hand and in my Father's hand here are two distinct Subsistences and we are the same I and my Father are one God as God I am equal with him the same in Substance equal in Power and Glory Rom. 9. 5. Of whom concerning the Flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever over all men and over all things or in all as Vatab. This Scripture is generally used by all Interpreters to prove the Divine Nature of Christ He is God over all and blessed for ever in himself and of himself and the Author of all those Blessings his Creatures enjoy By him are all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth Visible and Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Coloss 1. 16. And therefore he is perfect God this being his peculiar Operation to create the World By him all things consist he upholds all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. Supporting and ruling them which is another property of the Divine Nature the ruling and bearing up of all things in the World which none but everlasting Arms can do So he hath Power to forgive Sins which only God can do to raise the Dead to judge the World Mark 2. 5 7. Joh. 11. 43 44. Acts 17. 31. To know the Secrets of all Hearts Luke 5. 22. To be the Object of Religious Worship Heb. 1. 16. All which abundantly prove the Lord Jesus to be perfect God and so of infinite Perfection and Blessedness to inrich all that come unto him which will evidently appear if we do but a little consider those Perfections of the Divine Nature as opened in the Scriptures all which are in Jesus Christ First His Simplicity being a most pure Essence without the least Composition or Diversity of Parts or Accidents There is no mixture of Qualities or Excellencies in God but every Attribute is his entire Essence and therefore he is a most pure and simple Being as the Names he gives himself import especially these two Ehejeh Exod. 3. 14. I am hath sent me unto you The Word is in the future Tense I will be hath sent me but in the Hebrew the future Tense expresseth often both the Present and preterperfect and so this Word holds forth God's most simple absolute and immutable Being and self Existence So Jehovah a Name which God seems to take most Delight in and which doth as it were sum up all his glorious Excellencies in one word importing his most pure glorious and incomprehensible Essence which he hath in and from himself before all time and unto all Eternity subsisting in and of himself and giving Being to all his Creatures and therefore must needs be the most perfect and simple Being The Unity of his Essence proves his Simplicity he is one God though three Persons Deut. 6. 4. Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one God he is the first Being and one undivided Essence and therefore most pure and simple He is altogether a most perfect Being in and of himself who wants nothing that is excellent nor can have any thing in himself that is evil and therefore is a most simple pure Nature And if Jesus Christ as God be such a simple and excellent Being then he is a most perfect Treasure to his People there is nothing wanting in him to make them happy nor can there be any thing in him or come from him to make them miserable then he is true and faithful to Believers there can be no Contrarieties in him or Contradictions proceed from him his Love is sincere his Purposes are true there is a reality in his Expressions for he is one and of one mind to his redeemed ones O Believers think on the Purity of Christ's Nature the Perfection of his Blessedness the Integrity of his Affections and the Infiniteness of all his Perfections to make his beloved ones happy There 's no Moth or Rust no Worm or Death can ware out his pure Affections to his People There is no mixture in his Nature Composition is the Corruption or Imperfection of created Beings but in Christ's Divine Nature there is Unity and Simplicity there is nothing can alter his Thoughts and Resolutions to his sincere ones he is most true and most full in all his Perfections and this his Simplicity assures Believers of eternal and infinite Blessedness in their Union with and Relation unto him for he is in himself the most absolute and perfect Being the first and most simple Being he is most perfect in and of himself for he hath all his Perfections in and of himself as God and all that is sufficient for his infinite Blessedness in and from himself and hath all that in him which is sufficient for the Good of his Creatures and highest Happiness of his People Again he is most perfect because he wants nothing from another to make him blessed He needs no Creatures to contribute any thing to him nor doth he lose any thing by Creatures falling from him or can have any Addition to his Glory or Blessedness by the access of men or Angels to him So also he doth what pleaseth himself nothing can resist his Will or frustrate his Purposes and therefore is most perfect in himself And if the Lord Jesus be so perfect in himself then he is the Author of Perfection to his People for he hath made over himself his whole Person God-Man to Believers to be their Shield and exceeding great Reward Then Believer thy case is happy thy Treasure is full and perfect thy Choice is a blessed Choice and thy Lot a perfect Lot fall'n in a good Ground Then the Person of thy Beloved is altogether lovely his Accomplishments being altogether perfect not a Spot or Blemish in him Then all his Gifts to his Spouse are perfect his Righteousness is a perfect
to the Father Eph. 5. 25 26 27. Christ gave himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it and that he might present it to himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle Here 's a double Effect of Christ's Mediatorship One is By vertue of this Blood the Spirit comes and cleanses away the Corruption and subdues the Iniquities of his People this is that cleansing by Sanctification Then there 's a presenting the Saints to the Father complete in him without spot or wrinkle thus the vertue of Christ's Intercession and Righteousness applied by him to the Believer doth prove such a covering for all Believers that it hides every spot from God's Judicial Eye that the Lord is said to behold no Iniquity in them i. e. so as to be angry with them they are presented lovely and comely in Christ though black and deformed in themselves As a King And so he hath Authority to erect a Kingdom of Grace in the World to make Laws for the well-being of his Church and to require Obedience of all Persons Hence the Magistrates of the World are call'd upon to stoop to Christ Psal 2. 12. Kiss the Son lest he be angry All Authority in the World is placed under Jesus Christ in order to the carrying on his Mediatorly Kingdom Hence 't is said Prov. 8. 15. By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice they have their Power and Authority by the Government and disposing of Jesus Christ who is said to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He hath absolute Power over every Creature Every Knee must bow and every Tongue confess to him all must subject to him Psal 22. 28. For the Kingdom is the Lords and he is the Governour among the Nations He shall have Dominion also from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the ends of the Earth They that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him and his Enemies shall lick the dust Psal 72. 8 9. As a King he is invested with Right and Power to give out the Spirit of Grace for the effectual fulfilling of and compleating Obedience to all his Laws by his Church and People Obedience to the Laws of Christ cannot be yielded but by the Spirit the best of his People are no further subject to him than they are Spiritual for the Carnal mind is Enmity against God Hence he saith When I go away I will send the Comforter John 16. 7. It is an Expression that notes Authority When I go away when I mount my Throne I will send the Spirit and he shall promote Obedience He shall lead his People into all Truth ver 13. 14. Whenever he intends the flourishing of his Kingdom in the World he hath residues of the Spirit to give out the more Holiness there is in Saints and Churches the more there are of the pourings out of the Spirit I will pour out my Spirit upon thy Seed and they shall spring up as among the grass as Willows by the Water-courses Isa 44. 3 4. So Joel 2. 28 29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh c. In those days that is in the time of the Gospel and especially when the Jews are called Again as King the Lord Jesus Christ hath sufficient Power to protect and rule his People to govern and subdue his Enemies He is altogether compleat to enact his own Purposes and to fulfill his own Will for as God nothing is too hard for him He takes up the Isles as a very little thing Isa 40. 15. It is an easie thing with him to blow off the Nations and subdue all the Powers that oppose him He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in Derision Psal 2. 4. He makes nothing of all the Powers of his Enemies it is but to look through the Clouds and trouble their Hosts Exod. 14. 24. One Angel can suddenly destroy thousands of them he hath absolute Power over all Creatures to bring down all his Enemies where and when he will and he must reign till he hath brought them all down Heb. 2. 8. Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Psal 2. 9. The Saints are ready to tremble when they consider the Potency of their Enemies but it is far easier for Christ to dash all the Powers of the World in pieces than for a man to break an earthen Pitcher He will order and establish his Kingdom with Judgment and Justice Isa 9. 7. It is not for want of Ability in Christ to order and perfect the Obedience of his Church and People that there are such Disorders found amongst them only he is pleased to leave Irregularities for a while that he may come at last with his Fan and purge them So neither men nor Devils can pluck his Sheep out of his hand Jo. 10. 28. Enemies may touch them Temptations may wound and buffet them and sometimes Captivate his People but they cannot remove them out of his hand he will still support and preserve all that the Father hath given him Fifthly In this personal Union of the Lord Jesus Christ lies his Mediatorship In these two Natures he takes upon him and undergoes the Office of Mediator And this is so great a deep that time is too short to give a full Display of the Glory of Christ's Mediatorship Heb. 8. 6. But now he hath obtained a more excellent Ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant But now c. That is by vertue of this Union of both Natures in the Person of Christ he is become a Mediator of a better Covenant this we may see if we look back in vers 1. The Apostle speaks of Christs divine Nature who is set on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in Heaven and vers 2. his humane Nature is shewn called the Minister of the Sanctuary and vers 3. ordained to offer Gifts and having spoken of Christ in both his Natures he tells us that he is now become a Mediator betwixt God and Man a middle Person a days-Man he hath a Mediety or Middleness of Nature as God-Man and is a Mediator in regard of his Office in which Office the Lord Jesus stands in a double Relation first to God secondly to Man having both Natures he is interested in both parties the Son of God and the Son of Man one with God Joh. 10. 30. I and my Father are one of one Nature one Will one Delight having one Design and one Glory As man he is of the same Nature Flesh and Blood with fall'n man Heb. 2. 11. 14. 17. He hath the same Temptations the same Weaknesses and Infirmities with them Sin excepted that he might have a fellow feeling of the Infirmities of his people and put on Bowels of Compassions that he might be capable of fulfilling all Righteousness suffering for them and holding Communion with them Heb. 5.
and have it more abundantly He was made Sin for them that they might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. And now he is performing this and strips the poor Soul of his filthy Garments and takes away the filth of Original and Actual Sin and comes and cloaths the Soul with Righteousness and puts his fair Ornaments upon it and makes it as a fair Jewel in the sight of God and when the Soul hath bespotted his own Garments Christ comes and cloaths him with pure Rayment So that here 's alwayes Work for Christ to do for his People whilst on Earth to apply the fruits of his Purchase Fourthly The Lord Jesus Christ in pursuing his Mediatorly Work doth take upon him the Work of an Intercessor in Heaven and Advocates in the behalf of all his People He hath done all that was needful for him to do on Earth and now he is entred into the Heavens and sate down at the Right hand of God and ever lives to make Intercession for the Saints Heb. 7. 25 27. That is his Work now in Heaven to perform that part of his Priestly Office as is needful for him to do as a Mediator there CHAP. V. Wherein is opened the glorious Advocateship of Christ with the unspeakable Comforts and Advantages thereof THere are two parts of Christs Priesthood 1. His Satisfaction 2. His Intercession The first I have spoken to already and proved That the Lord Jesus by his Active and Passive Obedience hath satisfied the Law of God and made a full Atonement for the Sins of all Believers that he underwent all that they were bound to undergo and that in their Name Room and Stead for their Sakes Heb. 7. 22. Gal. 4. 4 5. Rom. 5. 19. This he did by his Active Obedience and also by his Passive Isa 53. 4. to vers 7. Gal. 3. 13 14. Joh. 1. 28 29. And by this one Offering of his hath he perfected them that are sanctified for ever Heb. 10. 14. by way of Merit that God hath no more now to charge on Believers by way of Punishment for their Sins seeing Christ hath borne it in his own Body for them on the Tree By this he hath obtained Salvation for them that 's the first part of his Priestly Work But Secondly Having dispatch'd his Expiation 't is needful that he carry on his Application of this Obedience and Suffering to them and this is done by his interceding in Heaven for them Now because so much of the Riches of Christ lies in this part of his Mediatorly Work and it is of such infinite Concernment as to the Faith Comfort and Advantage of Believers therefore I shall speak the more fully to this Subject and shall prove 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ God-Man doth now sit down at the Right Hand of God Interceding there in Heaven 2. How the Lord Christ carries on this Work of Intercession in Heaven 3. For whom he doth intercede in Heaven 4. What he doth intercede for 5. Why the Lord Jtsus Christ as a Mediator carries on this Work of Intercession 6. What are the unspeakable Comforts and Advanvantages that flow from this Intercession of Christ First Jesus Christ doth now sit down at the Right Hand of God and is entred upon the Work of Intercession There are two Arguments to prove this First The nature of the Office the Lord Jesus Christ hath undertaken now in Heaven He hath taken on him the Office of an Advocate on the behalf of his People 1 Joh. 2. 1. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word is ordinarily rendred a Comforter when applied to the Holy Ghost but when spoken of Christ as Gomarus and other Learned men affirm it is taken for an Advocate or one that undertakes the Cause of another an Atturney or Officer at Law that appears in Court for one that is there concerned and accused to look after and plead his Cause He is one that is by Law deputed and set apart to that Office and so is bound to do his utmost for his Client as for himself Thus is Jesus Christ set apart and deputed by the Father to this Office of Advocate and Intercessor Joh. 6. 27. For him hath God the Father sealed That is appointed set apart and confirmed to be Mediator and High-Priest Psal 110. 4. That he might satisfie for the Sins of his People and sue out the Benefits of it for them Secondly Christs Fidelity in the Performance of this Work proves he is now in Heaven interceding He cannot be content to have a Name and no more he is faithful in things pertaining to Men. The Lord Jesus Christ did actually carry on this Work of interceding for his People before he took their Nature upon him and came into the World Isa 53. 12. He bore the Sins of many and made Intercession for the Transgressors Upon his Deputation to this Office and by vertue of the Sacrifice to be offer'd he did ever since the Fall mediate for his People and put on Bowels for them He carried them all the dayes of Old Isa 63. 9. whilst he was in Heaven ever since Adam's Fall assoon as he had any Seed on Earth Again Christ was faithful in this Work of Mediation and Intercession whilst on Earth Heb. 5. 7. Who in the dayes of his Flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong cries and tears Those cries and tears he put up were for his People not for himself he needed it not He was willing to be subject to his Fathers Will to drink of the Cup the Father gave him to drink But he prayed for the conversion of those the Father had given him and prayes for the Salvation of his People Joh. 17. 19 20. Luke 22. 32. And this he doth now he is in Heaven he carries on this Work there in his Humane Nature He is entred into Heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9. 24. It is a Metaphor taken from an Atturney that appears in the behalf of his Clients So Jesus Christ is at the Right hand of God making intercession by way of Office When Satan or the Law doth accuse Believers there 's Christ at the Bar ready to make answer for them to plead the Cause of his Clients and procure their Justification the Apostle makes use of Christs Intercession to this purpose Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us Rom. 8. 33 34. So Heb. 6. 19 20. Which Hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the veil whither the Fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus made an High-Priest for ever By an
a mortal wound Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am to behold my Glory Joh. 17. 24. All his Glory that he hath purchased with his Blood is for his People As a Father if he gets a large Estate his Children shall fare the better for it he will leave it all to them so Christ in Heaven intercedes Father I will that my Children may share with me in my Glory may Reign and sit on Thrones and be crowned with Immortality with me Where I am there shall my Servant be Thus you see what Christ intercedes for in Heaven Fifthly Why doth the Lord Jesus Christ intercede in Heaven First Because he hath undertaken this Work for his People He is their Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. He is an Officer in Heaven for them and hath undertaken their Cases and being bound he will be faithful He is there as their Fore-runner and his Fidelity lies at stake to make their way plain to Glory If they come not after how can he be their Fore-runner Secondly Because of his Interest in them they are very near to him they are his own Having loved his own that were in the World Joh. 13. 1. Persons use to love their own The World loves its own therefore is Christ so concern'd in the welfare of his People because they are his Propriety They are his Friends Joh. 15. 14 15. Ye are my Friends I have called you Friends And will not a man concern himself about his Friends There 's never a man on Earth that hath a Friend so near his heart as the Saints are to the heart of Christ They are his Brethren He is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. 2. 11. He is their Elder Brother and they are younger Brethren and he cannot but have a tender heart towards them How full of Bowels was Joseph to his Brethren though they had sold him and injured him yet how affectionately did he discover himself to them he wept that the Egyptians heard him Gen. 45. It is a most affecting Story to shew what the heart of a Brother is or should be O how much is Jesus Christ concerned in the welfare of his People Again He is their Father He hath the Bowels of a Father He pleads in Heaven at the Right hand of God as a Father doth speak for his Children O! if a man had a Child or some Children condemn'd to dye how would a tender Father speak for them and weep for them that they might not dye with such Bowels doth Jesus Christ plead for his People in Heaven Again They are his Spouse his Love his Dove married to him Cant. 5. And can a tender affectionate Husband shut up his Bowels towards his own Flesh So Christ in Heaven accounts nothing too dear that might be for the welfare of his People because of their conjugal relation to him Thirdly Because of the great Love he bears to them therefore will he make Intercession for them Isa 63. 9. In his Love and pity he redeemed them Nor men nor Angels can tell the Height Depth Length and Breadth of the Love of Christ it is Love passing Knowledge Eph. 3. 18. Christ's Love to his people is unconceivable unchangeable many waters cannot quench it all their Unkindness cannot diminish it therefore he remembers their Concernments and pleads their Cause Fourthly Because of the Sympathy the Lord Jesus Christ hath with them he hath a fellow-feeling of all their Infirmities and Afflictions as he is their head he cannot but sympathize with all the Maladies and Distempers of every Member he is the high-priest and must have Compassion Heb. 4. 15. For we have not an High-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities He cannot be capable of Insensibility of the Cases Concerns and Conditions of his people Weaknesses Sins and Wants whatever becomes the Burden of his People it is near his Heart It is not his own Glory in Heaven can take off his Thoughts and Care of them He that abuseth the Saints offers Violence to Christ's Eye Zach. 2. 8. He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of his Eye While he was in Heaven in the Possession of the Fathers Glory no sooner did their Cry come up from Aegypt but presently it reached his Heart God tells Moses he could not stand still to hear the Complaint of his poor afflicted people God in Christ the second person the Angel of the Covenant resents the Miseries and Afflictions of his people Exod. 2. 23. 24. I have surely seen the Afflictions of my People which are in Aegypt and have heard their Cry and I am come down to deliver them Exod. 3. 7 8. And if he was so pityful as to be soon afflicted with the Afflictions of his people before he assumed the humane Nature upon him is he not as much now sith he hath taken our Nature upon him and stands in Heaven cloathed with our Body and Soul Heb. 5. 2. Christ carries no Weaknesses to Heaven with him he hath no kind of Wants Pains nor Sorrows but he is compassed with Infirmities that is a Sense of the Weaknesses and Remembrance of the Afflictions and Infirmities whilst he was here He knows the Heart of a Stranger he knows what it is to be under the Wrath of God therefore cannot but have a fellow-feeling of the Infirmities of his People No tender Mother can be more affected with the pain of a little sucking Child with the Fear of losing it than Christ is with the case of his people therefore he pleads for them Fifthly Jesus Christ cannot chuse but speak for his People in Heaven because he hath purchased them he hath bought them and paid for them he thought it fit to lay down a very great price for every believing Soul 1 Cor. 6. 19. You are bought with a price He was willing to have his Heart opened and his Side opened that he might let out his Blood for them and surely he cannot but be willing to intercede for them when he was willing to dye and bear divine Wrath for them he hath bought Grace and Glory for them and he must needs speak that they might have what he hath paid for It is true if God should deal upon the account of Creature-deservings they would soon be totally destitute but though unworthy in themselves Christ pleads his Worthyness Father I will that thou give out this and the other Mercy to them I have purchased it for them it is true they have abused the Gospel and sinn'd away the Light of thy Countenance but I will that thou speak comfortably to them for my sake for I have always obey'd thee and done thy Will Sixthly Because of his Promise to them he hath promised he will not leave them Jo. 14. 18. I go away says Christ but I will not leave you I go to Heaven but it is for you I carry your Names on my Heart that I might think upon you when I am
upon a Death-Bed Ah! what are all thy Cries when God hears not Thirdly there 's sure Damnation waits for thy Soul the Devil stands by and expects the time when Christ will take his final leave of thee O Sinner if once thy time be gone and precious Overtures of Grace do cease then certain Ruine follows as sure as the Work-man's wages is due to him so will Damnation be to thy Soul that dost live and dye in thy Refusal of Christ every Soul that will not hear this Prophet shall be destroyed Acts 3. 23. Psal 2. 12. Fourthly all the precious Intercessions of Jesus Christ will be turn'd against thee and this is a most doleful Consideration enough to make the hardest heart to break now while there 's hope the blood of Christ pleads Father wait a little longer for this Sinner when divine Justice says cease interceding that I may take Vengeance on this wretch no says the blood of Christ spare this Drunkard a little longer O wait one day longer one year longer for this Swearer but upon thy final Refusal of Christ the blood of Christ pleads another wâ—y Father I will the Damnation of this Sinner I will that Mercy be no more tendred to him Luke 2. 34. This Child is set for the Fall and Rising again of many in Israel Christ is for the Fall as well as the rising of many and believe it his blood hath as great a Vertue to heighen the Damnation of willful Unbelievers as ever it hath to further the Salvation of Believers and O what a dreadful thing is this when the blood of Christ shall plead against thee It may be upon thy Death-bed thou wilt cry Lord pardon me Lord let me never go to the place of Torment but the Blood of Christ will say Father damn him he made me wait many Days and Years and would not let me into his Heart Father let him perish and whom do you think the Father will hear This is one of the most trembling Considerations that I know to heighten the Wrath of Sinners that Soul must needs go deep into Hell that the Blood of Christ sends thither the blood of Christ cries for Vengeance Ah! Sinners think of it what a fearful thing it is to refuse this Mediator the Lord open your Ears and the Lord work upon your Hearts that you may turn and live while there is Hope Fourthly Hence see whence 't is that the Prayers of any are so prevailing with God what is it that makes Faith and Prayer so omnipotent 'T is the Intercession of Christ in Heaven that wings our Prayers and makes them so speedily arrive at the Mercy-seat and come off with an answer of Peace 'T is a Friend in the Court of Heaven that makes the Saints Sutes so prevailing with God Rev. 8. 3 4 5. 'T is his Incense makes way for the Prayers of the Saints and then Fire comes out of the Censer and burns up the Enemies of Christ O there 's wonderful Mightiness in the prayers of the Saints whom Christ favours with his Mediation Vse 2. Of Confutation If the Lord Jesus Christ be the Great and onely Mediator between God and Man then this will strike down that dangerous damnable Errour of the Papists Of Praying to Saints and setting up other Interceders besides Christ making Addresses to the Virgin Mary placing her in the Throne with Christ If there be but one Mediator 1 Tim. 2. 5. and one that liveth to make Intercession and that the Assurance of Salvation depends on this Intercession of Christ Heb. 7. 25. Then 't is a damnable Errour of the Papists to pray to the Virgin Mary as they do in their Missal one of which is thus O Virgin the onely chaste Mother loosing our Sins give us the Kingdom for thou art Queen of the World art able to do all things and with thy Son disposest all things Another is That God by the Prayers and Merits of the ever blessed Virgin and of all Saints would bring us to the Kingdom of Heaven Amen Nay they say That Prayers made to and delivered by the Saints are better than those by Christ So Sal. Now if Christ be the only way to the Father and Acceptance is through him alone then this is a false Way and never of Gods appointing but blasphemous Sacrilege and horrible Robbery of the very Flower of Christ's Crown Nothing plucks the Scepter out of Christ's Hand his Crown from his Head as these irreligious Opinions of the Papists If Prayer be an act of Worship Matth. 4. 10. then 't is onely due to God Indeed there 's a civil Worship due to Superiours but Religious Adoration is God's Prerogative If we must trust on him to whom we pray Rom. 10. 13 14. then we must pray to none but God in Christ for cursed is the man that trusteth in man Jer. 17. 5. He to whom we pray must be able to know our wants and our Hearts to see our Miseries and hear our Prayers Now this the Saints in Heaven cannot do Abraham is ignorant of us and Israel acknowledgeth us not Isa 63. 16. 'T is Omnisciency alone can hear our Prayers and Omnipotency that can Answer them Psal 65. 2. Matth. 6. 6. 8. 32. Eccles 9. 5. Thus we may see the Heterodox Assertions of the Papists in making many Mediators Vse 3. For Reprehension to the professing People of God First To such as are no more affected with this great and glorious Privilege of having an Advocate with the Father Ah! Did Souls but know what an Ocean of Privileges and Fountain of Mercies is comprised in this one Mediator Jesus Christ it would fill their Hearts with Joy tip their Tongues with Praises and make them more glad in the Salvation of God But it may be you are more affected with your Frames fine Expressions and your own Duties than with the Pleadings of Jesus Christ This deserves a sharp Reproof 2dly Such as make little Use of the Intercession of Jesus Christ Alas how few employ Christ about their Matters in Heaven and engage him in the momentous and weighty Matters of their Souls May not Christ complain still as once on Earth Joh. 5. 40. You will not come to me that you may have Life 'T is sad indeed that the Lord Jesus Christ should enter upon so costly an Office and pay so dear for a Right to do thy Soul good and thou neglect to use him after all This is the condemnation to Unbelieving Sinners That they turn their Backs upon the Intercession of Jesus Christ Alas Soul Are not thy wants great and thy Sins many thy Provocations and abuses of Mercy daily and yet wilt thou not engage Christ for thy help to procure thy Pardon and Passage from Death to Life O how justly miserable will thy case be who might'st be happy but would'st not He is worthily miserable saith one that will not be happy for the asking Who knows but that thy hard heart might have been softened thy
and perfume them with my Incense not the Excellency of your Duties but the Worthiness of my Intercession shall procure your needed Mercies Secondly Here 's Comfort to troubled Believers such as are in the depth of Soul-misery and cast down with the sight of their Sins guilt of their Consciences and Fears of their Condition that go mourning all the day long forget to eat their Bread feed on Worm-wood and Gall refuse with Rachel to be comforted because their first born their Comforts first Love and Holiness are not Jer. 31. 15. This is the case of some poor Souls from day to day they meet with no Consolation eat Ashes in stead of Bread and mingle their Tears with their Drink they go from Ordinance to Ordinance and their Fear come and go with them they feel little Change by all they do or enjoy their Hearts are harâ— proud vain carnal unbelieving hence they fear they are Hypocrites and shall be cast away to all Eternity Now here 's Comfort to such from Christs Intercession in Heaven he is there pleading thy cause and pressing after thy cure thou hast provoked God but he is appeasing his Wrath 1 John 2. 1. 2. Thou art angring God every day but he is always pleasing him for thee thou art making Breaches upon the Law of God and he is there closing up those Breaches by his Blood and Intercession thou art busie making wounds upon the Glory of the Father and Christ is there presenting the deep Gashes and bloody Stroaks his Justice laid upon him for those very Sins when God is resolv'd to be aveng'd for thy Backslidings Christ is then discovering his constant Obedience and upright Faithfulness for thee he pleads with the Father thus Father shall thy Anger burn for ever and thy Vengeance always wax hot against this Soul My Child Remember what I have borne for him I have already suffered for his Sin and given a plenary Satisfaction to the Demands of Justice and wilt thou charge it on him Father let his Sins be on me as David 2 Sam. 24. 17. Let thy hand I pray thee be against me these Sheep what have they done 'T is I am their Surety and in thy Account the Offender I have answered for their Offences and discharged their Debts why wilt thou pursue them in thy Anger Holy Father in Justice spare these Offenders behold them in my Blood and cloathed with my Righteousness Obedience and Suffering 't is true their Natures are vile but mine is holy and they are Members of my Flesh and of my Bones they are diseased but I have undertaken their Cure and will present them to thee without Spot and Wrinkle And this Intercession of Christ shall certainly prevail with God for thee that thy Iniquities may be pardoned and thy Sins remembred no more Heb. 8. 12. All that is promis'd in the new Covenant Christ intercedes for in Heaven for he is the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. The Mediator of the new Covenant Heb. 9. 15. But the Forgiveness of Believers Sins is part of the new Covenant Jer. 31. 34. Mich. 7. 18. where God forgives one Sin he forgives them all Jer. 33. 8. I will cleanse them from all their Iniquities c. He will pardon not only Sins before but after Grace not only small but great Sins Psal 25. 11. Not only Sins that have been once but often committed Jer. 3. 22. Return ye back-sliding Children and I will heal your Back-slidings He doth not say once or twiee but let their Back-slidings be never so great and many upon their Return God will pardon them nay though they be as Scarlet and as red as Crimson Isa 1. 18. Object I did once hope that God had pardon'd all my Sins but now I fear it because I have back-sliden after Mercy and wallowed in Sin after washing and God threatens he will not forgive such Jer. 14. 10. chap. 5. 7. Sol. 1. The Reason why God would not pardon their Sin was not because they were too great for Pardon but because they would not return Jer. 15. 7. I will destroy my People because they return not from their Ways Jer. 23. 14. The Lord promiseth to such as have gone aside from his Ordinances even from their Youth that if they will return to him he will return to them Mal. 3. 7. Jer. 4. 1. Secondly If God will pardon all their Sins then he will pardon their Relapses after Mercy be they never so great upon their returning to him God speaks indefinitely I will cleanse them from all Iniquity Jer. 33. 8. Thirdly If God will pardon their Sins before Grace much more those after Grace if he will forgive them when Enemies then much more being reconciled the Apostle useth the same Argument Rom. 5. 8. 9. Fourthly If there be no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus then God will surely pardon all their Sins that ever they commit for there is never a Sin but will condemn the Soul if it be not pardoned but the Soul that is in Christ is never no not one Minute of time in a condemned State Rom. 8. 1. Fifthly If the Lord Jesus haâ—h satisfi'd for all the Sins of Believers then they shall furely be forgiven otherwise God would be argu'd of Injustice and Christ would shed his blood in vain but the Lord Jesus hath satisfied divine Justice to the full for the Sins of all his People Isa 53. 5. 6. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Ransome 1 Tim. 2. 6. paid by Christ was a full and sufficient price and therefore his Satisfaction is compleat for all their Sins if this were not so he could not have cleans'd them from all Sin but he cleanseth them from all Sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. Christ could not have saved them to the uttermost that come to God by him were his Satisfaction imperfect but this he doth Heb. 7. 25. Lastly If the Lord should not pardon all the Sins of his People he would be unjust and unfaithful 1 Joh. 1. 9. but that he cannot be Zeph. 3. 5 He will not do Iniquity he is the faithful one that cannot deceive or be deceiv'd Isa 45. 21. Let God be true and every man a Lyar. Thirdly Here 's Comfort to Believers that are dejected in the sense of their strong Corruptions and unsubdued Lusts The Body of Death in some doth make them doubt the truth of Grace and fills their Lives with Bitterness and Terrours The badness of their Hearts and vileness of their Natures makes some conclude their final Ruine But here 's Comfort to such Firstly In that it hath been and is the case of the dearest Children of God their Corruptions like the Sons of Zerviah have been too hard for them Abraham accounts himself Dust and Ashes Gen. 18. 27. Job cries out I am vile Job 40. 4. David says Mine Iniquities are gone over my head as a Burden too heavy to bear Psal 38. 4. Isaiah from a reflex View of God's Glory concludes he
known The Psalmist alludes to that Providence of God in leading Israel through the red Sea when Deaths were on every hand God walked on those Waters and made a way through them for his People So Nah. 1. 3. The Lord hath his way in the Whirlwind and in the Storm and the Clouds are the dust of his Feet Those ways that men cannot stand up in are Gods usual walks in which he leads on his Work and Interest His wayes are above our wayes and In the Mount will the Lord be seen Gen. 22. 14. His Providences Ezek. 1. 16. are like a Wheel in the middle of a wheel and a skain of Silk strangely entangled When Israel was come near the Borders of the promised Land they must be turned back again into the Wilderness and wander up and down forty years in the Desarts When Sion's Mercies were come to the Birth they prov'd Abortive Strange indeed is the Womb of Divine Providence and seemingly contradictory to Humane Reason Thirdly No cross Providences can hinder Christ's Work in the World He hath purposed and will perform it Combinations of men Psal 2. 1 2. the Gates of Hell Matth. 16. 18. and the Powers of this World can no more impede the Success of Christ's Work than the Barking of Dogs can hinder the Moon 's passage to its Journey end Isa 43. 13. I will work and who shall let it Who art thou O great Mountain before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain Zach. 4. 7. He taketh up the Isles as a very slender thing Isa 40. 15. The Lord brings in his mightiness here to comfort Israel under Discouragements by reason of Difficulties in the way of their Mercy Comfort ye my People saith the Lord ver 1. Tell her her warfare is accomplished ver 2. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed ver 5. O Jerusalem that bringest good tidings lift up thy voice with strength Be not afraid of Dangers preach my Word be undaunted in my Service Behold your God ver 9. He will come and his Reward with him ver 10. He will feed his Flock like a Shepherd v. 11. He will keep up his Word and Ordinances in spight of all opposition Obj. But our Enemiâ—s are many Ans Why he hath measured all the waters of opposition in the hollow of his hand vers 12. Obj. But all our wisdom cannot see how these great things should be brought about Ans Why who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord ver 13. He wants not wisdom to accomplish his Work Obj. But Nations and Islands combine against God's Israel Answ What if they do they are no more to God than the drop of a bucket and the dust of the Balance ver 15. Therefore fear not he will perform his Promises and fulfil his Designs Quest Why what hath he promised Answ He hath promised that the stone cut out of the Mountain without hands shall become a great Mountain and break in pieces the Image of the Beast Dan. 2. 35 45. and that he will set up the Kingdom of his Son in the World ver 44. Isa 2. 2. He hath promised Peaceful times to the Church of God when the Sword shall be turned into Plow-shares Isa 2. 4. Isa 55. 13. Great shall be the peace of thy Children None shall hurt or destroy in all God's holy Mountain Isa 65. 25. Ezek. 28. 24 Isa 16. 18. Psal 72. 9. He hath promised times of Light and Knowledge Isa 11. 9. chap. 52. 8. ch 54. 13. ch 60. 19 20. He hath promised times of Holiness Isa 60. 21. ch 4. 3. ch 35. 8. Zech. 14. 20 21. He hath promised times of Union Zech. 14. 9. Zeph. 3. 9. Ezek. 37. 19. He hath promised times of Joy and Comfort to his Interest Isa 65. 13 14. ch 35. 10. ch 25. 8. He hath promised Enlargement to the Church Isa 2. 2. ch 60. 8 9 13. He hath promised Stability and Settlement Isa 54. 14. ch 60. 20. He hath promised Activity and Liveliness Isa 26. 19. Fourthly As those great and glorious things are spoken of Sion so they shall certainly be accomplished in due time Isa 60. 22. Deut. 32. 35. The Vision is but for an appointed time Hab. 2. 3. As the Things are appointed so is the Time beyond which God will not go one moment Exod. 12. 41 42. The self-same day the Jewish Doctors say it was mid-day as soon as one hundred and thirty years was out to an hour God fulfill'd his Promise Lastly God takes usually the most unlikely time to fulfill his Promises As in Abraham when his Body was dead Gen. 18. 10 11. Abraham and Sarah were sensible of an utter inability and unfitness in themselves for such a Mercy yet then was the Promise fulfilled Gen. 22. 14. So Israel were brought out of Egypt when all things made against it their Oppressions increased Exod. 2. 23. chap. 5. 7 8 19. Pharaoh resolv'd not to let them go Exod. 10. 27. and Moses charg'd to see his face no more on pain of Death chap. 10. 28. When Gods time was come to bring Israel out of Babylon they were as dry Bones and said Our hope is lost we are cut off for our parts Ezek. 37. 11 12. Psal 126. 1. Deut. 32. 36. Mic. 4. 10. Thou shalt go into Babylon and there shalt thou be delivered Before that glorious Salvation of the Jews in Shushan under Ahasuerus they were brought under a Sentence of Death the Decree was seal'd and posted away the time appointed for their destruction and no possible hopes left of reversing it Esth 3. 12. to the end compar'd with Chap. 8. So much for the Use of Consolation CHAP. VIII Containing an Vse of Exhortation to Sinners and Saints IF the Lord Jesus Christ be such a Glorious Mediator then First Let perishing Sinners be perswaded to get an Interest in him And for Motive herein consider these four or five things First The Lord Jesus will Mediate for and save none but those that are his Many common Mercies Favours and Boons he bestows on his Enemies but Salvation-blessings are the priviledges only of his People Matth. 1. 21. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Luke 1. 68. Secondly Many will lay claim to Christ who have no Interest in him Luke 13. 25. High Pretenders may be shaken off Math. 7. 22. chap. 25. 12. Some that shall think themselves something may be found nothing some that shall be thought Saints by others may yet be cast away 1 Joh. 2. 19. As Hymenaeus and Alexander 1. Tim. 1. 20. The Galathians and scattered Saints Gal. 1. 6. chap. 3. 3. 2 Pet. 1. 20. Rev. 8. 12. Nay the very Elect shall find it hard to stand Matth. 24. 24. Thirdly There is but a time in which Christ may be found Isa 55. 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found intimating there is a time in which he will not when the door will be shut and Christ will speak knock and call no more There is but a day of Grace
precious Graces and Endowments in him which will much illustrate the personal Riches of Christ and be of wonderful Encouragement both to Saints and Sinners to think better of him and to hasten after a Dependance on him Now the first thing we shall treat of is the goodness of his Nature He is Goodness it self Psal 34. 8. O tast and see that the Lord is good This Psalm was penn'd by David when he was driven from Achish and was in sore danger of his Life in this Condition he seeks the Lord and found help by reason of the Goodness of God that is God in Christ indeed there is Creation-Goodness and providential-Goodness but the choicest is his Redemption-goodness that Goodness which he lets out to poor Sinners in a Mediator Thus is Jesus Christ the Gift of his best Love and is qualified and disposed to commend the infinite Goodness of God to perishing Sinners his Goodness is great Zac. 9. 17. called the Riches of his Goodness Rom. 2. 4. Now this goodness of Christ appears First In it's Extensiveness he is good to all Mans goodness is contracted and narrow its greatest Proportion reacheth but a few none but Friends Relations and such as may oblige or requite them are usually Sharers in it but the goodness of Christ is immense it reacheth to all the work of his hands Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good to all by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. He upholdeth all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. The very vilest and most unworthy Grace-abusing Soul have some kind of share in Christs Goodness he upholds his very Enemies and maintains the Being and Enjoyment of such as oppose him Secondly In it's Invincibleness all the Provocations of his Enemies cannot impede it's designed current he is resolved they shall have a share in his Mercy though they oppose their own Mercies nay all the Unkindness of his people cannot conquer it nor many Waters quench it He maketh his Sun to shine upon the good and bad Math. 5. 45. It 's strange to think how rare a portion of Mercy the wicked have in their day he that cryed Father forgive them they know not what they do cries Father spare them to see what they will be Thirdly It 's Freeness 't is not extracted but flows out of it 's own Accord Isa 65. 24. Before they call I will answer c. It hath no Creature-merit to provoke it Exek 16. 6. I said unto thee when thou wast in thy Blood live when there was no Beauty to attract it no desires to draw it forth mans Worthyness is no ground for the Communication of Christs Goodness what Lovelyness had the Ephesians to deserve it's liberal Effusions Eph. 2. 1. Fourthly 't is unwearied enduring Goodness it hath not the Shallowness of a slender Vessel which is easily emptyed but the Unfathomableness of the Ocean that can never be exhausted the vast Expences and Communications of it from the Creation of the World to it 's final Destruction will not diminish it one Iota his Anger indeed hath but a momentary Continuance Psal 30. 5. But his Goodness endureth for ever Psal 52. 1. Fifthly 'T is Communicative goodness running over flowing down and liberally diffusing it self for the good of others so 't is defined to be a Vertue by which a person of his own accord is abundantly prone to acts of Benignity Christ's Goodness is manifestative distributive and it's Dispensations are as natural as the irradiating Beams of the Sun Secondly Another excellent Disposition in Christ is his Love not only his Phylanthropy or good Will he bears to all men and the Desire he hath of their Salvation Ezek. 33. 11. But his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his special Love from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 valde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acquiesco such an ardent Affection hath the heart of Christ for a person adhering to him that it greatly acquiesces in and is fully contented with him Eph. 2. 4. Such is the Sweetness of Christ's Nature that it is full of Love God is Love 1 John 4. 16. And as the Father hath loved me so have I loved you Joh. 15. 9. Now this Love of Christ to his people is First A supreme Love the chiefest Love he hath a love of Benevolence to all Mark 10. 21. He beheld the young man and loved him but the Love he bears his own is transcendent and exceeds the Love of men and Angels Joh. 15. 13. Secondly An infinite Love Love that passeth all Knowledge exceedeth all Dimensions Eph. 3. 18. Chist's Love saith one hath Length in it because he loved his Elect from Eternity to Eternity O unmeasurable Length that hath no end his Love hath Breadth in it because not the Jews only but the Gentiles also are sharers in it 't is extended to the whole World Math. 28. 19. It hath depth in it because it brought him down into the Deeps not only of the Earth but of unconceivable Sufferings It brought him as low as the Grave yea to the very Borders of Hell Isa 53. 3. It hath height in it because it ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all in all become our Advocate there prepare us for it and it for us and at last takes us up to himself that we may behold his Glory Thirdly An eternal Love Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting Love All Creature-affections have their Beginning and End their Risings and Settings but the Love of Christ is as himself everlasting Rev. 1. 13. The transiency of his peoples Love cannot injure its permanency for where he loves he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. Fourthly An unchangeable Love it hath no Ebbings and Flowings Waxings and Waneings Risings and Fallings but is th◠same Yesterday to Day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. It knows no Alteration Addition or Diminution the Heavens shall wax old as a Garment and be changed Heb. 1. 11. 12. But Christ and his Love is invariable Mal. 3. 6. 'T is true the Manifestations of his Love is mutable he may smile to day and frown to morrow but not the nature of it the Cisterns may be dry but not the Fountain Fifthly A free Love it hath no Consideration of Creature-merit fore-seen Faith or persevering Holiness Hos 14. 4. I will heal their Back-slidings and love them freely What reason can be given that of the same Lump should be made one Vessel of Honour and another of Dishonour nay that persons of the most exquisite Abilities natural Endowments unspotted Moralities and uncontroulable Sovereignty should be rejected and left to the hardness of their Heart and the righteous Judgment of God and that others of the meanest parts inconsiderable Qualifications prodigiously vitious Lives and miserable Penury should be elected to the highest Priviledges received into the most intimate Communion and made partaker of the highest Glory Sixthly The Spring and Fountain of all that Love that is in Believers to
holy he takes up his abode with them and keeps his Court amongst them Thirdly His bowing down of his Ear to hear the cryes of his poor and despised People Psal 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble Psal 31. 2. Bow down thine Ear to hear me Fourthly His gentle and kind reception of their poor pitiful Offerings and Services Psal 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit a broken and a contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise Fifthly His owning them in the face of the World before Kings and Rulers 1 Chro. 16. 21. 22. He is not asham'd to call them Brethren Heb. 2. 11. Sixthly His appearing for them in Heaven and confessing them before his Father's Face in Glory Matth. 10. 32. Heb. 9. 24. Seventhly His looking after their meanest Concerns and numbring the very hairs of their head Matth. 10. 30. Lastly His slowness to Anger But this properly pertains to another excellent Disposition of the Lord Jesus Christ namely his Meekness where you may find it fully handled Is Jesus Christ of such an humble submissive Disposition then First Admire the greatness of Divine Love in giving such a Saviour of so humble and lowly a Spirit Had not the Son of God been of a condescending Nature he would never have become man and what then would have been the state of Sinners Had he not been of a lowly mind he would never have consented to have come into the World in the form of a Servant and then enthralled Sinners could never have been made free Had he not been humble he would never have been willing to be made under the Law and then the righteousness of the Law had never been fulfilled Had he not been lowly he would never have borne our Fault and Punishment and then our Sins must have been charged upon our own heads Secondly This will serve to shame the proud hearts of men especially those that profess Christ O see the vileness of your Pride in the glass of Christ's Humility Thirdly Labour to be like to Christ and to be enriched with this excellent adorning Grace of Humility Fourthly Here 's Encouragement to humbled Sinners from the Lowliness of Christ You that see your Iniquities to be heavier than you can bear and are afraid because of the Terrours of the Almighty yet be encouraged to come to Christ because he is humble Isa 57. 15. You that see no Worthiness in your selves to come before him but are fearful to approach into his Presence because of your Poverty and low Estate be encouraged to draw nigh to him because he is humble Isa 41. 17. You that see an Infinite distance betwixt God and you and so dare not approach him let his Humility encourage you he will not despise the Prayer of the destitute Psal 102. 17. You that think your Souls beneath the thoughts and care of such a God and that he will take no notice of you O consider his Humility for your Hope Psal 113. 6. Cherish expectations from Christ's Humility for the mortification of your Pride because 't is God's Ordinance and appointment unto this end Matth. 11. 29. CHAP. XIV Wherein is shewn the transcendent Meekness and Gentleness of Christ To his Enemies and to his People ANother Branch of the sweetness of Christ's Disposition and Nature is Fifthly His Meekness He is meek and lowly Matth. 11. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is facil and easie as Criticks derive it because they that have this Meekness are of a gentle pleasing and affable Spirit to others The Latines express it by Mansuetus one used to the hand alluding to those wild Beasts that are thus tamed They are gentle and brought to the hand they are sociable and familiar not strange and harsh And such is the Lord Jesus he is meek of a sweet and gentle Spirit and carriage towards all when he opens himself as a Saviour to them but especially he is so towards his People Meekness especially relates to Anger as allaying and moderating of it So Arist defines it to be the sweetning of ones Spirit removing its roughness harshness and Passion and rendring it gentle pleasing and affable even to them that provoke it Now this is an excellent Spirit 1 Pet. 3. 4. 'T is spoken of Moses as one of his chiefest Excellencies Numb 12. 3. Now the man Moses was very meek And the Lord Jesus sets forth this to be the greatest Excellency that he presents in himself for the Imitation of his People Matth. 11. 29. When the Prophet Zachary would delineate the stately Majesty of Christ in his Kingly progress to his People he displayes him in the Glory of his meekness Zach. 9. 9. Thy King cometh to thee meek c. So Psal 45. 4. The Glory of Christ in his triumphant March in the World is held forth in his Meekness and Truth this is part of Christ's excellent Glory as Mediator 2 Cor. 10. 1. I beseech you by the Meekness of Christ Now the Lord Jesus is replenished with Meekness First To his Enemies This he manifested whilst on Earth to such as hated him abused him and sought to take away his Life 't is of such the Prophet speaks Zach. 9. 9. compar'd with Math. 21. 5. Now this Meekness of Christ to his Enemies appears First In his Slowness to Anger Psal 103. 8. The Lord is slow to Anger He was not easily provoked whilst on Earth under all the Provocations and Abuses cast upon him Matth. 12. 19. He shall not strive nor cry neither shall any man hear his Voice in the Streets Passionate persons will strive to have their Will when crost to defend their Names to oppose their Adversaries and to revile them that reproach them but Christ was not so he strove not in a contentious quarrelling way but being reviled reviled not again 1 Pet. 2. 23. Under all his Sufferings such as were able to make the meekest man on Earth to cry out and to stir up his Spirit against them yet Christ was silent Isa 53. 7. He was oppressed he was afflicted and yet opened not his Mouth he is brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before his Shearer is dumb so he opened not his Mouth You shall not find one froward Word from Christ in all his Sufferings by Jews or Gentiles look over the Jeers and Reproaches that were cast upon him in his Life and at his Death Is not this the Carpenter's Son Matth. 13. 55. Is not this the Carpenter the Son of Mary Mark 6. 3. They call'd him a Wine bibber a Friend of Publicanes and Sinners and yet we find him as a Sheep dumb before the Shearers The Pharisees charg'd him to be on◠that had Correspondence with Devils Matth. 9. 34. but he was silent another time they call him a blasphemer Matth. 9. 3. but see how mildly Christ answers them vers 4. Why think ye Evil in your Hearts Another time we find him sleighted by the Samaritanes
not deliver thee out of thy present Evils if he thereby preserves thee from a greater Evil As Paul had a thorn in the Flesh the Messenger of Satan to buffet him lest through the abundance of Revelations he should be puffed up and his Soul in danger of Ruine Lastly Christ doth fulfill his Promise if he doth it in his own time though he doth it not in our time So in Abraham God promised him a Son he expected it many years sooner but God kept it till the most convenient season Every thing is beautiful in its season Eccles 3. 11. 1 Pet. 5. 6. Mercies are Afflictions when out of due time Now 't is he that gives the Mercy can best tell when to give it Jer. 49. 19. Who will appoint me the time Lev. 26. 4. The Faithfulness of Christ is firm and unalterable whatever Objections Unbelief makes against it He will perform all his Promises Gen. 28. 15. And behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest and will bring thee again into this Land for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of O what a blessed word is this 'T is a promise made to Jacob when he was to undertake a difficult Journey and what things are written are written for our Instruction Promises made to particular Saints are applicable to all the Saints in the same condition as we find that of Joshua 1. 5. I will not leave thee nor forsake thee The Apostle makes Use of it Heb. 13. 5. Now I shall give a few Reasons to prove that Christ cannot fail of fulfilling his Promise For First He is Truth it self and cannot lye Rev. 3. 14. He is called The Amen the faithful and true Witness The Holy one of Israel who cannot lye For God is not as man that he should lye or as the Son of man that he should repent hath he said and shall he not do it hath be spoken and shall he not make it good Numb 23. 19. Secondly He came to fulfill all Righteousness Matth. 3. 15. It becometh us to fulfil all Righteousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It behoveth us I ought to do it by the Appointment and Will of my Father as Chemnitius renders it Christ came into the World to fulfill all Righteousness Now to perform and make good the Promises of God is part of this Righteousness 't is a debt God is engag'd in and Christ came not only to pay Sinners debts to the Father but to make good the Father's Engagements unto them Thirdly Did not Christ fulfill all the Promises of God to Believers then the New Covenant would be an imperfect and faulty Covenant were the Promises of the new Covenant unfulfilled then it would be a Covenant of Works and so imperfect But the New Covenant is establisht on better Promises Heh 8. 6 7 c. Now new Covenant-promises are better than the old not only as to the Matter of them but as to the certainty of their performance The first Covenant-promises were liable to be broken Jer. 31. 31 32. But these New Covenant-promises are sure to all the Seed This was the principal thing undertaken in the New Covenant for Believers that the Promises should be certainly fulfilled and therefore 't is called a better Covenant than the Old Fourthly Christ must needs fulfill the Promises or he would die in vain and shed his Blood to no purpose for the Blood of Christ is the Blood of the Covenant Matth. 26. 28. and it was shed on purpose to confirm the truth of the Promise to all that believe Heb. 9. 15. For this end he came into the World and became a Mediator Rom. 15. 8 9. Fifthly That he might finish the Work the Father gave him to do and so give up his Account with joy This is the Work God sent Christ into the World for that he might be the Mediator of the New Covenant and make good the Will of God to all the Federates thereof Joh. 6. 38. to 41. and this Christ cannot fail to perform Joh. 17. 4. His Spirit shall not fail till he hath set Judgment on the Earth Isa 42. 4. Sixthly That he may stop the mouth of Devils and prove Satan a Lyar. The great work of Satan is to belye God and represent him to Sinners Unfaithful and untrue Now Christ is to fight against the Devil and destroy his Works 1 Joh. 3. 8. and prove the Truth of God against all opposers Rom. 3. 4. Seventhly He is fully able to do it He hath all Power in his hand both in Heaven and in Earth Matth. 28. 18. He is a merciful God and so nothing is too hard for him He will work and none shall let it besides he hath all that Grace and Goodness that poor Souls need in his own hand He hath received the Spirit without measure Joh. 3. 34. All Fulness dwells in him Name any thing which thou standest in need of which is not in Christ to give thee Dost thou want Pardon Peace of Conscience Grace Holiness Power over thy Corruptions Victory over thy Temptations Comfort under thy Troubles satisfaction of thy Doubts quieting of thy Fears and remove of thy Burdens Dost thou want quicknings softnings for the hardness of thy Heart strengthnings under thy weakness fitness for thy Mercies and Duties Patience under thy Sufferings and Humility under thy Priviledges Dost thou want thankfulness for thy Mercies clearing up of thy Evidences Tasts of God's Love and readiness for Death Judgment and Eternity Why all this Christ hath in his own hand already He is not to seek for these things when thou criest after them Again As he hath Power to help thee and fulfill all the Promises of God to thee so he hath Right and Authority too He is the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. He is sent deputed and sealed of God to this very Work Joh. 6. 27. All the Promises upon that Redemption-agreement betwixt the Father and the Son are made over to him and put into his hand 2 Cor. 1. 30. Now all that Christ can do for the making good of his Father's Word and benefitting his People he will certainly perform for he ever liveth to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. and is entred into Heaven to appear as their Advocate and Agent Heb. 9. 24. Lastly Christ must needs fulfill his Promises or else he would weaken the Encouragement of Souls to believe in him and so overthrow all his own Design in and by the Gospel which is to bring Souls to believe in him Joh. 20. 31. These are written that you may believe Joh 17. 21. That the World may believe that thou hast sent me Joh. 10. 38. Now if Christ fails of his Promise how would this discourage Souls from believing in him who would trust Christ should he not be faithful and the Devil would be sure to make the most of this Advantage to prevent believing Christ will make good his
on Eagles Wings out of the reach of their destroying Adversaries Deut. 32. 11. Exod. 19. 4. Deuâ— 33. 27. The eternal God is thy Refuge and underneath are everlasting Arms. He will keep the Feet of his Saints 1 Sam. 2. 9. And be a little Sanctuary to them in all places Lastly His cleaving to them for ever and being one Felsh with them 1 Sam. 12. 22. For the Lord will not forsake his people he is a present help to them in time of Trouble always with them never unmindful of them and their guide unto death Psal 48. 14. Yea in Death and to all Eternity he will be their Life and Salvation here death determines the Capacity of the most faithful husband but Christ will accompany his Spouse and be a Salvation in and beyond the Grave Fourthly As a head is the Lord Jesus Christ faithful to his people That is another Relation in which Christ stands to believers Col. 1. 18. He is the head of the Body the Church c. He is compleatly furnished with all Excellencies and Fullness for that end to be the head of his Body the Church both as to natural and purchased grace As God he is eternal and so hath all sufficiency in him Before all things and is their Maker and Preserver and as man he is the first-born from the dead and by his death hath purchased a Mediatorly Sufficiency to be the head of and to preside his Body and perform all the Offices of Headship to it as to Honour Government and Influence And he hath not only a Fitness to be a head to his Church but a Right too for the Father hath given him to be the Head over all things to his Church Eph. 1. 22. Gave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 constituit saith Zanchy he appointed him and parted actually with him and made him over to the Church to the whole body of Believers and to every single person to their use intent and purpose that he should be a Head to them a true head a perfect head an only head and an eternal head Now in this Relation is Christ faithful also answering the ends filling up the plâ—ce and discharging the Offices of it Now in this headship of Christ are six things wrapt up First Counsel and Wisdom In him are all the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. All that Light and Knowledge which is needful to make his people wise to Salvation all that Wisdom which is requisite to repair the lost Image of man and all that Wisdom which may render him exceeding excellent and glorious for in him is the excellency of Knowledge Phil. 3. 8. And all this Counsel he stands engag'd to impart to his people as they are able to bear it Eph. 1. 8 9. Wherein he hath abounded towards us in all Wisdom and Prudence Wherein that is Qua gratia By which Grace saith Zanchy He hath abounded towards us that is hath made us to abound in So the Scholiast and Erasmus He hath plentifully imparted to us hence 't is ensured to all that truly seek it of God Jam. 1. 5. He will tell them what to do in all cases as Christ did to Cornelius by Peter Acts 10. 6. He hath all Wisdom in him the stone on which is seaven Eyes Zach. 3. 9. and will be in every Difficulty and Danger with them As Moses said to Hobab we are to encamp in the Wilderness but thou mayest be unto us instead of Eyes Numb 10. 23. So he hath engaged to guide them continually Isa 58. 11. Deut. 1. 33. He is as Eyes to them where they are in a Land of Pits and Desarts to guide them in the Wilderness Journeys while they are searching out the Land of Glory Secondly Care His Eyes and his Heart are on them continually 2 Chro. 7. 16. He is measuring Jerusalem to see what is the Length thereof and what is the breadth thereof that she may be built Zach. 2. 2. Thirdly Conduct is the Office of a Head It ought to lead and dispose of the body and all it's Members to their several Offices So the Lord Jesus is given to his Church for their Leader as well as Commander Isa 55. 4. chap. 48. 17. I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way thou should'st go 'T is in the Original making or causing thee to walk he doth not only shew them the way but leads them by the hand and helps them to go as Hos 11. 3. Deut. 32. 12. So the Lord alone did lead them Christ undertakes to conduct his people thorough the World unto Glory Fourthly Government is another act of Headship Mic. 2. 13. Their King shall pass before them and the Lord on the head of them that is The Lord shall be their Governour and General Isa 9. 6 7. The Government is upon his Shoulders Heb. 3. 16. He is the Son over his house to rule and govern it and this he doth by making righteous and perfect Laws and Rules thereby to govern his Church Matth. 28. 20. Acts 1. 2. Heb. 3. 1 2 3. And by governing and subduing the Hearts and Wills of his people unto them Psal 110. 3. 2 Cor. 10. 5. Fifthly Influence This comes from the Head all animal Influence for Subsistence Motion guiding and action come from thence in the Head are all the Senses and Intellectuals exerted for the use and Service of the Body so is the Lord Jesus the head of all vital Influences to the whole Church and every part of it Psal 87. 7. All my Springs are in thee Joh. 15. 4. As the Branch cannot beare Fruit except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me Col. 3. 3 4. chap. 2. 19. Believers can no longer live than Christ becomes a quickning Spirit to them he alone animates their Souls to every good work anoints their Eyes and causeth them to see regulates their Palate and maketh them to tast the Sweetness of spiritual things open their Ears to discipline causeth them to feel the Weightiness of Sin and to smell a sweet savour in his precious Oyntments Lastly Ornament The head is the beauty of the Body if that be removed the Body is but a deformed lump Christ is the Believers Excellency and Glory he hath the preheminence in all things Col. 1. 18. And his glory is the Glory of the body 1 Cor. 12. 24. All the Saints Excellencies are in and from him Psal 68. 34. Psal 89. 17. For thou art the Glory of their Strength 't is through his Comeliness they are perfect Ezek. 16. ver 10. to 14. Fifthly Christ is faithful in the acts of distributive Justice and renders to every one their Due Psalm 62. 1â— Thou renderest to evâ—ry man according to his Work There is a legal and evangelical Debt legally There is nothing due to the Children of men but Wrath and Tribulation Rom. 2. 9. But Evangelically all the Believers Rights are due on the account
we do to obtain this Adoption-grace Answ This is an act of Sovereign pleasure and Free-grace Rom. 9. 15 16 18. It cannot be purchased by any thing in or done by the Creature You cannot with Simon Magus buy this Relation Act. 8. 18 19. yet there are some ways in which Adoption grace may be obtained as First Get your Souls separated from sin 2 Cor. 6. 17. Secondly Get justifying Faith Eph. 2. 13 19. Thirdly Beg the Spirit of Adoption Gal. 4. 6. Lastly Open the door of thy heart to the Spirit Psa 24. 7. Rev 3. 20. CHAP. XX. The Confirmation of the new Covenant is the Fruit of Christ's purchase prov'd by several Arguments ANother glorious Fruit of Christs blood and purchased Treasure for saved Souls is the establishment of the new Covenant to Believers and Believers in the Covenant This is the certain effect of Christ's death the making sure the Covenant to all his seed That there is no more possibility of making it void to the Heirs of promise This is the great thing undertaken in the new Covenant that it shall be sure to all the seed Rom. 4. 16. There are Eight things which secure this to Believers First This new Covenant must needs be firm and unalterable because the reason why God â—â—und fault with the old Covenant was because it was weak and could not secure those that were within it Heb. 8. 8 9. Which Covenant they brake though I was an Husband to them saith the Lord Jer. 31. 32. Now if this were the reason why God did alter the first Covenant then the new Covenant he makes in the room of it must nâ—eds be free from this Imperfection and mutability or else it would abundantly reflect on the infinite wisdom of God to make a new Covenant guilty of the same errour Secondly This was Gods design in making a new Covenant that it might be ordered in all things and sure 2 Sam. 23. 5. That it might be firm and established upon better promises Heb. 8. 6. Why are they called better promises Are there better promises than the promises of Heaven and Glory They are called better because more pure and absolute promises and because it was Gods design to make them sure Rom. 4. 16. Thirdly It is confirmed by the blood of Christ and therefore the blood of Christ is called the blood of the Covenant Mat. 26. 28. This is my blood of the new Testament 'T is the blood of the new Testament in that it seals to the fulfilling of this Covenant The death of the Testatour makes the Testament to be in full force Heb. 9. 17. That now all the Promises and Legacies are certain and cannot be disappointed to the Legatees and Heirs of Salvation Again this blood of Christ is the blood of the Covenant and confirms it in that it makes good all the conditions of it that whatever is required to make this Covenant good is undertaken by Christ in the behalf of all his feed and therefore he is called the surety of the new Covenant Heb. 7. 22. By death he hath fulfill'd the Condition of the first and undertaken for the fulfilling of this new Covenant in and by Believers Yea his obedience is for them to present them compleat to the Father notwithstanding all their failings Fourthly This new Covenant is sure to Believers because the Administation of it is in the hands of Christ Heb. 8. 6. But now he hath obtain'd a more excellent Ministery by how much he is the Mediatour of a better Covenant The whole trust about the Administration of new-Covenant-blessings is devolved on Jesus Christ and therefore he is called the Mediator and Minister of the Covenant So that the Covenant must needs be sure seeing the dispose thereof is by compact betwixt the Father and Christ deliver'd into his hand upon the account of his death Now he that is the Believers Friend Head and Husband hath all power in Heaven and Earth to make good the Covanent to them Mat. 28. 18. So that the promises of the Covenant cannot be forfeited by Believers being made over to Christ as to a Trustee for them and their Covenant state also being so surely confirm'd that they cannot fall from it Fifthly Christ's sufficiency to see new-Covenant-promises made good and new-Covenantends accomplished to them is security enough for their safety He is an alsufficient Saviour able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. He is able to see Gods part fulfilled having all the promises in his hand and all the things promised at his dispose and he is able to see the Believers part fulfilled also for he hath all that in him which is needful for the making of the Condition good on their part For First He hath all Wisdom in him to make them wise to Salvation Col. 2. 3. He is made of God to his people Wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. Appointed of God to receive Wisdom for them whatever they need to guide them in the way and fit them for Salvation Knowledge is necessary to Eternal Life Joh. 17. 3. The Image of God consists partly in it Col. 3. 11. Without it the heart is not good Prov. 19. 2. No Faith without Knowledge 2 Cor. 4. 4. No Obedience without Knowledge Psa 18. 44. This is needful to discern the wiles of Satan 2 Cor. 2. 11. The sinfulness of sin Rom. 7. 13. The preciousness of Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. The beauty of holiness Ps 110. 3. The love of Christ that passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19. The hope of your calling and the things freely given of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. And for this end all Wisdom is laid up in Christ to be given out to his people by his Spirit through his word hence 't is said that Believers have an Unction from the holy one to teach them all things 1 Joh. 2. 20 27. And the promise of the Spirit is made to them to lead them into all truth Joh. 16. 13. So that whatever is needful for Saints to fit them for Covenant-Duties and Mercies all this is in Christ for them and so he is able to make the Covenant good to them Secondly He hath all Grace in him that tends to the fulfilling of this Covenant in Believers and for them He hath received the Spirit without measure Joh. 3. 34. And why is this But that from his fullness Believers may receive Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. He is the fullness that filleth all in all Eph. 1. 23. And therefore hath promised Grace sufficient to his people in all their temptations 2 Cor. 12. 9. 1 Cor. 10. 13. under all their burdens Psa 55. 22. For all duties and undertakings Phil. 2. 12 13. Chap. 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Thirdly He hath all power in Heaven and Earth put into his hand Math. 28. 18. Power to bruise Satan under his peoples feet Rom. 16. 20. To subdue Corruptions in them Mic. 7. 19. To
no defrauding of his Spouse no pre-mortgage to take it away If Christ's Life could not be taken from him without his consent when he was Mediatour Joh. 10. 18. Then all the Estate he hath purchased with his blood is unremoveable the Father hath given it who is greater than all and in whose hands Believers are put and their Estates secured for them All new-Covenant promises are sure as you have heard part of which is the inheritance of the Saints This Estate is sure both by donation and purchase The Father hath given Christ and all that is his to Believers Isa 55. 4. I have given him to be a witness to the people a leader and commander to the people This shews the certainty and truth of this Covenant which is confirmed in Christ whom the Father hath given and made over to Believers to be the confirmation of his promises 'T is confirm'd by purchase he hath bought and paid for 't he went and sold all to get this pearl he parted with his Life Blood Glory his All to get this Estate for Believers The Father hath received every Farthing of the money and gives him an acquittance under his hand declares before men and Angels that Christ ows him nothing for all the whole Estate he hath purchas'd for Believers Mat 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased O 't is a sure Estate A conveyance is made of it to Christ in the behalf of Believers Isa 49. 8. Math. 28. 18. All power is put into the hands of Christ The Deeds are drawn and interchangeably sealed between the Father and the Son that the Estate is firm and sure to all Believers Nay the seisure and delivery is given and Christ hath taken possession of it and he is entered into the Heavens in the behalf of Believers and all to make this sure O sinners will you espouse Hell and let go Jesus Christ who is Heir of Life and Glory that hath such a sure Estate for you Fourthly He hath a sutable Estate Let a man have a fair free and sure Estate yet if it be not sutable to his quality necessities and desires 't is unsatisfying But Christ's Estate is every way sutable both to himself and to his Bride He hath a large inheritance sutable for his dignity and to his Spouses quality Christ having finished his work on Earth being about to drink the last draught of the Cup he comes and treats with the Father about his receiving and 't is Glory sutable to his quality O Father glorifie thou me with thy self with the glory which I had with thee before the World was Joh. 17. 1. to ver 5. O unreasonable Souls that despise Christ O sinners had you ever such a Lover stood at your doors No nor never will have the like if you refuse this Jesus Yea 't is a sutable Estate to his Spouse too 'T is a fit joynture for the Kings Daughter sufficient to maintain her Immortality and Glory Luk. 22. 29. I appoint unto you a Kingdom Now a Kingdom is a sutable state to a Kings Daughter O Souls will you fall in Love with Christ he hath Crowns Thrones a Kingdom of Glory for you Then 't is an Estate sutable to your necessities too There 's enough in Christ to spend upon and maintain you bravely richly here and for ever O sinners will you match with Christ whatever you need is in him My God shall supply all you wants Phil. 4. 19. If a Kingdom will do it you shall not want it If a Crown of Glory will make you happy and blessed you shall not want it his Estate is fullness that filleth all in all Eph. 1. 23. O Believer it may be thou wantest Bread Cloaths Money and thou goest up and down dejected sad full of fears But hast thou espoused Christ O consider thou hast a fullness O what a vast Estate hath Jesus Christ for thee Sinners your wants are many more then you know God only knows your wants Sinners yet there 's enough in Christ's Estate and Patrimony to supply them all Then 't is sutable also to their desires Sinners desires are large O what wandring things are the desires persons may desire things to the utmost ends of the Earth which they cannot get But all that the Believer rationally desires Christ's Estate can satisfie He will fulfill the desires of them that fear him Psa 145. 19. Yea 't is above their desires Desire as much as thou canst Christ's Estate is above thy desires Pro. 3. 15. O what a treasure then is Christ it fills every chink of the Believers desires with an overplus 'T is more than can be desired Fifthly 'T is a pleasant Estate Psa 16. 6. The lines are fallen to me in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly herritage The Chaldee renders it in sweetness others delightful place A great Estate if it be not well scituated and lye not in a pleasant place is not half so contentful but Christs Estate is well scituated it hath all considerations and circumstances that may make it desirable Canaan that was a type of it is call'd the pleasant Land Jer. 3. 19. 'T is in the Original the land of desires So the Believers portion that is prepared for him by Christ 't is a Land of desires an Inheritance of beauty and Glory Christs Riches are very precious and pleasant Riches Pro. 24. 4. And by knowledge shall the Chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant Riches Rare as the word imports delighting Riches The whole possessions of Christ are pleasant the way to it is pleasant Pro. 3. 17. The borders of Christs interest are made with pleasant stones Isa 54. 12. And all thy borders of pleasant stones The first fruits of Christ's harvest is all pleasure and delight much more the lump the maintenance he allows his Children here in the way is delighting much more the Estate reserved at the Journeys end The Fruits that fall from this Tree of Life is sweet to those that sit under its shaddow Cant. 2. 3. how much more to them that climb and crop the pleasant fruits thereof Their drink is pleasant Psal 36. 8. Thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy pleasures And at last he brings them to his Right Hand where are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. Sixthly It is a peaceful state not liable to contests and controversies as mens Estates oft-times are here A man may have a great Estate but it may be a litigious Estate It may occasion many Law Suits about it But it is not so in Christ's Estate 'T is a peaceful Estate no wars grow out of this Estate Christs Countrey is called Salem The Land of peace Psa 76. 2. And he is The King of Salem The King of peace Heb. 7. 1. His Kingdom is Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. He is their peace Eph. 2. 14. In him they shall have peace Joh. 16. 33. His
very Doctrine are words of peace Eph. 2. 17. He came to guide our feet into the way of peace Luke 1. 79. He came and Preached Peace O what a blessed Estate hath Christ what a lovely Lord is Christ He bequeaths peace to his people Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you Joh. 14. 27. They have peace with God who Espouse this Christ Rom. 5. 1. Peace with Saints and Angels Col. 1. 20. Peace with Conscience too Phil. 4. 7. Heb. 10. 22 The Fruits of the Spirit is Peace Gal. 5. 22. His Riches have no sorrow annexed with them 7thly It is a perpetual Estate An inheritance that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven 1 Pet. 1. 4. Christs Riches are durable Riches aged Riches strong solid Riches Opes densae that is â—ultae firmae says Mercer they are great stable Riches Pro. 8. 18. Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness His Gold is not liable to rust 'T is said of the Cedar worms will not breed in it sure there 's no worm in Christ's Treasure O Souls 't is a lasting Estate That neither time nor changes can wast nor weaken All the Saints spending upon it to all Eternity never detracts from it Christs Treasures are like the deep waters or like the bottomless Ocean that cannot be exhausted his treasure will last as long as God the Soul and Eternity lasts which is for ever for ever for ever Some men have out-liv'd their Leases and their Estates and have seen an end of their Houses and Riches but the Spouse of Christ can never out-live her jointure it lasts to all Eternity Lastly 'T is a possest estate Some may have great estates but it is in reversion they may look long for it as some Heirs do all their days But Christs Estate is all in his own hand 't is actually made over to him by the Father and possession given him when he sate down at the Right hand of God Heb. 1 3. He hath actually obtained this Inheritance with the Fruits of it Heb. 1. 4. And is actually invested with this glory Heb. 2. 7. This sinners is the Estate of that Beloved that is tendered to you in the Gospel for your choice he is very wealthy he hath a fair free sure sutable pleasant peaceful perpetual possession an Estate you cannot spend or comprehend an Inheritance you cannot lose or out-â—ive riches that will not cloy nor clog yâ—u a portion that cannot be out-vy'd or match'd Come view the Rentals of his Lands the Inventory of his Goods and see what a rich match Christ is there 's none like him where can you mend your penny-worths all the world no nor the Heaven of Heavens can yield you such another bargain Job 28. ver 13. c. Man knoweth not the price thereof the gold and the Chrystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shall not be for Jewels of fine gold c. Then Jesus Christ is worth a looking after if he be so rich as the Scripture reports him to be and I presume you question not the truth of this testimony O slight not this bargain which will make you happy to all Eternity if wealth will please you here 's enough what say you Have you any objection against his estate If not what stick you at Secondly Dost thou dislike his person Then it argues thou knowest him not for he is altogether Lovely the chiefest of ten thousands The fairest of the Children of Men O come behold the Lamb of God Look upon this glorious Jehovah Christ O see his Personal Excellency and it will allure you and invite you to come to him he is the brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express image of his Fathers Person Heb. 1. 3. Sinners look well upon him view him from top to toe there is no blemish in him O he is the most exquisite one his perfections are enough to please you his beauty sufficient to allure you See his excellent lineaments the sweet proportion of every part O how lovely is Christ to the believing eye in regard of his Person Consider his Natures God Man sweetly concentring in an intimate and Eternal Union perfect God perfect Man in one person O where can you espy such an object sure he is a Non-such none like him in Heaven none like him on Earth in regard of his Personal Glory as Mediatour God Man look over his Characters that his friends have given him See in that Book of Cant. Chap. 5. How the Spouse displays him and you will find him a beautiful Person ver 11. to the end His head is as the most fine gold His Wisdom and Government is most pure solid and excellent His locks are bushy and black as a Raven Which notes not only his love liness but his strength and vigour he hath his radical moysture his vital heat He is strong his vigour abides with him he hath strength sufficient for all his undertakings and he is able to go through what he sets his hand unto he is strong vigorous and spritely His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the Rivers of Waters washed with Milk and fitly set His sight is quick and perfect his understanding is infinite His Counsels are holy and consistent all well set his decrees his purposes all methodically ordered and fixed His looks are gracious his aspects lovely enamouring the eyes of them that behold him O such a lovely Christ is tendred to Sinners O I know not how to set him forth to your capacities he is a most taking object indeed His face is white and ruddy Emblems of Rich Beauty captivating the eyes and ravishing the hearts of beholders The purity of the divine nature with the passions of the humane and procurements of his Redemption sets him forth as infinitely amiable in the eyes of Believers His cheeks are as a bed of spices as sweet flowers His graces and choice discoveries of his Excellencies doth wonderfully feed and delight the Souls of those that have acquaintance and fellowship with him his sweet and lovely perfections discover'd to Believers are like a rich feast that stay with them His lips like Lillies dropping sweet smelling Myrrhe The impartings of his wisdom the droppings of his Doctrine his gracious words his Holy Communications are savoury and sound pure and incorruptible they strengthen the heart and heal the Soul of those that imbrace him His Doctrine carries wonderful strength to those that are in weakness how do the words of grace revive the fainting hearts of Believers his wayes are strength to the upright like Myrrhe they make the heart sound His hands are as gold rings set with the Beryl His works and administrations in the World are full of order beauty and excellency All that he doth in Sion and out of Sion is all holy every providence that seems to us sometimes to be unseasonable is in infinte wisdom display'd by Jesus Christ for the good of his people
that is set upon some Gifts of Christ more then Christ himself when these are suspended the others will decay but love placed upon his Person will last Hence 't is many do so easily leave Christ when it comes to parting with other things because their love was set more upon these things then Christ himself O Soul be sure 't is Christ himself thou dost chuse and not another O be not guilty of that mistake as Jacob was to take Leah instead of Rachel Be sure it be not a false Idea of Christ in thy thoughts but that it be a real Christ thou takest and then thou wilt never look for another Be sure give Christ the preheminence The Father hath given him the preheminence and wilt not thou Phil. 2. 9. Col. 1. 18. Col. 2. 9. If Christ must take the best place in Heaven he hath reason to take the first place in thy heart Fifthly If thou wouldest come to Christ aright then bring thy all with thee to him and make a free and full surrender of thy self and thy all to him When God would have Israel out of Egypt they must not leave a hoof behind Exod. 10. 26. 2 Cor. 8. 5. They first gave their own selves to the Lord Be sure make over thy self first to Christ and then all thy interests and Capacities Come and subscribe to Christ Isa 44. 5. One shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord. Calvin hath a saying upon this A Person saies he can never have true faith in Christ till he comes to make this testification and confession of him In the espousing betwivt Christ and the Soul there is a mutual resignation of each to other with all they have Christ gives his Person and Purchase to Believers and the sincere Soul gives back himself and all to Christ To detain the least part from Christ is abominable fraud and lying against the Holy Ghost Acts 5. 3. If thou accountest any one thing too good for Christ He accounts all his too good for thee Lastly Be sure your acceptance of Christ be considerate and sincere sit down first and count the cost Luk. 14. 28. Thou must be no more thy own thou must take up thy Yoke and his Yoke Thy cross and his Cross Thou must denie thy self and follow him Weighty things are not to be undertaken rashly Diu deliber andum was an ancient Motto Hasty matches seldom prove well O Soul be not rash in thy taking Christ The Lord Jesus Christ Espouseth his in Judgment as well as in Faithfulness Hos 2. 19 20. in considerate bargains are oft-times broken or repented of You will never espouse Christ in Faithfulness till you espouse him in Judgment Weigh all things consider Marriage Articles what they are and whether you are willing to perform them Math. 16. 24. O Soul try can thy heart consent to this O the falseness of Souls pretended match to Christ hath undone many You must take whole Christ with the whole heart or else you will never match aright with Christ You must chuse him never to chuse again You must make him your only choice and let all your other choosings be by him Thou shalt choose our inheritance for us Psa 47. 4. Say then I will only chuse him I will chuse his Person his Laws his Honour and Glory but Christ shall chuse all for me Let Christ chuse my place and condition high or low Let Christ dispose of me where and how he will in the World I will dispose of Christ in my heart So much of this Fourth Inference That Jesus Christ is worth a looking after CHAP. XXVII Shewing the folly of such as pursue earthly things with neglect of Christ considering the Nature of those things the Terms on which they are to be enjoyed The casualty that attends them The guilt such contract IF there be such great and glorious treasures of Christ tendered to sinners in the Gospel Then see the folly of those that pursue earthly treasures with a neglect of Christ For Souls to turn their backs on Christ and court the World and periâ—hing things O folly indeed I shall give four Reasons to convince such persons of folly The 1. Taken from the things themselves they pursue with neglect of Christ 2. The different terms on which Christ and these are to be enjoyed 3. The casualâ—y that attends Souls attempts after Earthly things 4. The guilt that such contract who pursue Earthly treasures more than Christ First 'T is folly yea madness to pursue Earthly things and neglect Christ because the things themselves they chuse cannot be compar'd with Christ which will appear in several particulars First They are uncertain Riches There 's no dependance upon them 1 Tim. 6. 17. Nor trust in uncertain Riches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Riches that are not declared and manifested to be sure and certain for a dependance They are not a sure bottom for Souls to build so much hope and delight upon when it comes to a pinch indeed then iâ—â—ppears they are vain and will not profit in the day of wrath Like a broken Staff when you lean upon it then it breaks So the Riches of this world when Souls put some stress upon them then they fail They are uncertain sometimes you enjoy them and anon they are removed Pro. 23. 5. Wilt thou set thine Eyes upon that which is not for riches certainly make themselves wings they flye away as an Eagle towards Heaven They come slowlie but get off swiftlie when they come to men they have leaden feet and when they leave them Eagles Wings To day they flourish like the grass and to morrow burn like an Oven A man hath a beautiful house to day and to morrow an heap of Ashes O most uncertain Riches All the world runs in changes To day says one they arâ— for the Bosom and to morrow for the Beesom To day men take them into their bosoms to morrow vengeance sweeps them away Secondly They are empty things they cannot satisfie the Soul that feeds upon them The world is not filling meat to an immortal Soul let a person feed never so heartily yet he is hungry The whole world â—â—nnot fill one heart Alexander wept that there were no more worlds to conquer Nature puts bounds to the Sea and all Earthly beings have their end Psa 119. 96. but sin hath made carnal desires boundless It is with earthly minded men as Solomon says it is with the Grave and barren womb and the fire that say it is not enough Pro. 30. 15 16. Wherefore says the Prophet do you spend your money for that which is not Bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Isa 55. 2. One calls the whole Turkish Empire but a bone that is thrown to dogs very dry meat so are all the things of this world Riches are like meat in a dream An hungry man thinks
the excellencies of her Husband and glory in them as her own Such pleasure doth the Spouse take in the beauty of Christ Cant. 5. 10. And reckons them as her comliness though she was black Cant. 1. 5. I am black but comely What consolation is this to a child of God to be intitled to such a glorious Jesus Though thou art poor yet thy beloved is rich Though thou art unlovely he is fair though thou art obscure and vile yet he is honourable and his riches beauty and honour are thine and thy reputation with God Saints and Angels shall be in him and as he is Cant. 6. 10. Who is she that looketh forth as the morning fair as the Moon clear as the Sun The Lord Jesus hath a high account of the Spouses beauty she is bright fair clear but it is as the Morning or Moon who borrow their beauty from the Sun Comfort thy Heart O drooping Believer though thou canst see no worth in thy self yet thou hast enough in Christ for thee Again what wonderful Comfort may a Child of God gather from a seen Title to all the purchase of Christ his Righteousness Graces Priviledges sure Covenant and Salvation when he can upon warrantable grounds lay claim to all this but so the Believer may 1 Cor. 1. 30. Secondly The time is drawing near when they shall have a full possession of all those treasures of Christ Rev. 21. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things All those great and glorious things promised shall be his possession God shall be all in all to him 1 Cor. 15. 28. Every tittle of his word shall be fulfilled though Heaven and Earth pass away Math. 5. 18. Here Believers are rich Heirs under age which differ nothing from a Servant Gal. 4. 1. but the day hastens when their great Estate will fall into their hands and they shall live upon it to all Eternity the expectation of which is cause of comfort when veils shall be taken away and thy soul ever with the Lord when thy filthy Garments shall be taken off and thy beautiful rayment for ever worn when thou shalt live no more at small allowances of Grace but receive it without measure thy Table spread thy Cup overflow thy feeding shall be no more on sent portions from thy Fathers Table but shalt sit down in his presence and feast upon his fulness to all Eternity Then shall all promises be turned into performances all hopes shall end in fruition and all desires center in delights then shall parts be turned into perfections darkness into delight changes into immutabilities fears into joyes wants into fulness absence into presence O blessed Eternity When the Lord shall bring forth all his Treasures open his Ward-robe and and pay off every saved Soul with an infinite fulness as much as he can receive or desire to have treasures of love in God the Father Son and Spirit rivers of joy in the presence of God and fulness of grace in conformity to God Things which eye cannot see nor ear hear nor the heart of man conceiue 1 Cor. 2. 9. And is not a cerainty of these future treasures ground enough for present comfort Thirdly from an interest in this rich Jesus here 's comfort to Saints under all their present wants whether outward or inward In that First There 's enough in Christ to supply them In him dwells the fulness of the God-head Col. 2. 9. Thy wants Believer are but finite be they never so great but Christs fulness is infinite Thy necessities are the needs of a Creature his abilitie is the power of a Creator The Lord Jesus Christ can more easily supply thy need then a whole Ocean can fill one pitcher for betwixt the Creatures there is some proportion but betwixt God and the Creature none at all Secondly As there is enough in Christ to fill all thy wants so all the fulness that is in Christ is thy own Believer laid up in Christ for thee made over to thee 1 Cor. 1. 30. Deus mens omnia mea And therefore mayest boldly expect supplies according to the measure of Christ 1 Cor. 12. 11. Dividing to every man severally as he will Thou mayest as boldly go to the treasury of Christ as a man doth to his Purse for money or to his Cupboard for Bread and as a Child doth to his Father for necessary supplies Math. 6. 32. Lastly The Lord Jesus Christ stands engaged to see the wants of his people supplied Ps 34. 20. They that fear the Lord shall want no good thing Phil. 4. 19. So that thou mayst boldly say the Lord is my helper Heb. 13. 6. Dost thou want Food Rayment Health c. for thy Body or dost thou want Grace Wisdom Faith Love Humility Patience Courage Self-denial Power over Corruptions Succour under thy temptations victory over thy lust thou mayst go to Christ with expectations of all that God sees best for thee seeing there are such treasures of all Grace plac'd and entrusted in Christ for thee Fourthly Comfort under all your losses for Christ surely if Christ be yours and such vast treasures are in him he will not see you losers for his sake he can and will save you harmless nay requite your expensive love for him all that strength of affection liberty time talents Christians you lay out for him shall be given in again Jesus Christ is that good Samaritane who hath past his word to repay again whatever is laid out for him or upon his at his bidding Luke 10. 35. If a tender hearted Paul would take the offences of an Onesimus on his account Philemon ver 18. Much more will Christ take the expences for him on his account and repay it a hundred fold in this life with Glory in that which is to come Math. 19. 29. Lastly Comfort under all your reproaches for Christ 'T is the lot of gracious Souls many times to be accounted vile and the off-scouring of all things by the men of this world 1 Cor. 4. 13. so ver 10. We are Fools for Christs sake and despised 'T is part of the Cross of Christ to be reproach'd for his sake 1 Pet. 4. 14. But here 's Comfort in such a case in the consideration of those treasures of Christ Christians your relation to such a Jesus who is the Heir of glory will wipe off all your disgrace Think on that account you have with God and the glory you shall shortly have in your own Countrey and that will ballance all troubles on the account of disgrace for Christ CHAP. XXIX Containing an use of Examination Characters of such as have an interest in Christ and in all those glorious treasures CHristians you that have hopes of an Interest in these treasures of Christ clear up your title Be sure your claim be good Rest not till you can have your evidences of Christ past dispute to make the matter plain and certain to you that you are Christs and Christ is yours Adventure
Regards for these and no more for this Grace of God O wonder more at this Love Fourthly Consider how this is the great Design of God in this grace that you should be to his praise Eph. 1. 12. That is the end which God aimed at in Predistinating you to Glory that you might be to the Praise of his grace that his Grace might procure the Manifestation of his Praise 't is not for an Enlargement of his Revenue or Advancement of his Profit for man cannot be profitable to God Job 22. 22. or for any addition to his Honour being above all Praise but that he might receive the Tribute of his own Glory and the returns of his outgoing Goodness Now if this be the very end why God sets his love upon you Christians then you have reason to glorifie his Grace lest you endeavour to overturn the whole Projâ—cts of Salvation-kindness Fifthly Think how delightful Praise is to God Psal 69. 31. This also shall please the Lord better than an Oxe or a Bullock that hath Horns and Hoofs That is an Adult and full grown Beast which is more fit for Sacrifice as Rabbi D. Kimohy notes a Beast was not fit for Sacrifice under two years old so that Praise is preferred here above all Sacrifice as that which God takes most delight in of any thing because this doth most honour him to acknowledge him the Author of all Mercy and God of all Grace Psal 50. 23. Whoso offereth Praise glorifieth me That is He doth in a singular manner shew forth mine Honour and this is pleasing to him Sixthly This brings Profit to your own Souls Psal 50. 23. For 't is the means and way to obtain the Salvation of God Ponit viam aut praeparat viam saith one it opens the way for Salvation to go out to that Soul this duty of Praise will bring you Gain because it engageth God to give out more Mercy and it leaves Influences of spiritual Good on your own Souls it puts the heart into a good Frame to love God and delight in him and leaves more obligedness on the Soul to fear and serve God so David after that Psalm of Praise to God 2 Sam. 7. was wonderfully influenced to duty to God as you may see chap. 8. 11. and had his Spirit abundantly sweetned to men chap. 9. 1. Lastly Consider also how pleasant this duty of Praise is to the Soul it self it is wonderfully delightful and abundantly affects and ravishes the Heart to have the sense of divine Mercy in it Psal 147. 1. Praise ye the Lord for it is pleasam and Praise is comely O Believers let me effectually perswade you then to the highest Acknowledgments of Redemption-grace and to the utmost Praises for this rich Jesus who hath blessed you with all spiritual Blessings Eph. 1. 3. 2 Duty Secondly You that have an Interest in this glorious Redeemer labour to keep up a high valuation of him in your Hearts if he be so rich as the Gospel reports of him O then prize him acoording to his excellent worth Great men are highly esteemed the Cap the Knee the best Room the chiefest Seat are theirs Jam. 3. 3. And how much more worthy is Christ of your account 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifies an high Estimation of anothers Worth and Excellency ready to be attested by all possible and due Demonstrations four things should oblige Believers to a high Esteem of Christ First His own transcendent Excellency which singularly resides in him and eminently shines out from him ten thousand times brighter than the Beams of the Sun which in their own nature challenge the highest Adoration of men and Angels especially of saved Souls to whom he is most endeared and most nearly related As the Apple-tree excells the meanest and most useless Shrub infinitely more doth the Lord Jesus over top all the Glory of the world as Mediator Cant. 2. 3. He is the chiefest of ten thousands Cant. 5. 10. He is before all things Col. 1. 17. Both in dignity and time he precedes all Creatures he is the Fountain of all Excellencies his divine and personal Perfections make him the glory of Heaven the adoration of Angels the admiration of Saints and the object of all Observance and holy Wonder 2 Thes 1. 10. Secondly The high honour the Father puts upon him He is his Well-beloved Matth. 3. 17. The object of his Delight the Exaltation of his right-hand who hath put all things under his Feet Heb. 2. 8. Set over the works of his hands crowned with Glory and Honour vers 7. Worshipped by all the Angels by the Fathers Appointment and set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1. 3. 6. entrusted with all the Concerns and Interests of God in the World made his pleni-potentiary to compose all Differences betwixt himself and fall'n man now hath the Father such a high Valuation of Christ then surely 't is an unworthy thing in you to detract from his Honour 3dly The Lord Jesus Christ deserves your high Estimation because he is the Fountain of all those Streams that do make glad your Souls the Sun of all those Beams that warm your Hearts the Author of all those Mercies that do supply and delight you all your Excellencies and the things you mostly value are Derivations from his glory things are ratable as they come from Christ he turns your Water into Wine sweetens your bitter Cups and makes them to overflow all your graces come from his Fullness he is your Friend your best Friend your old Friend your none-such in Heaven and Earth Psal 73. 25. The Procurer of all your Mercies the sweetness of all your Comforts the crown of all your Glory and doth he not deserve your Estimation If he hide his Face all Light goes with him if he suspends the Communications of his Favour nothing is comfortable to you if he lock up his Treasures nothing bâ—t Poverty and wasting covers your Souls every thing without him is nothing and with him any little thing is enough Bread and Water is rich cheer with Christ Disgrace and Reproach is Honour with Christ Poverty is Riches with Christ O prize Christ then for he puts a worth upon all things that you can enjoy Fourthly Consider the wonderful value the Lord Jesus Christ puts upon you and let this perswade you to a due valuation of him Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me and gave himself for me Joh. 15. 16. O amazing wonderful sovereign Grace That the Son of God should set his highest Regards upon loathsome Dung swept out of door by divine Justice cast out into the open Field pityful loathsome undone Creatures that he should account you Believers as the Apple of his Eye who have been as Thorns in his side that he should account you as a Seal on his Heart who have been spears to pierce through his Bowels that he should value you as the travel
Derivations from his Excellency Drops of his Fullness Sips of his Sweetness the impress of his Fingers The precious Ordinances of Christ are but the Galleries in which he walks the Chariot in which he rides the Cabinet wherein his Jewels lye the Cisterns through which Waters of Life pass to saved ones and if these be so pleasant O what then is himself and should not Believers then delight themselves in him Quest But how shall I do to get my Heart to this delight in Christ I find my Affections cold and my Spirits dead that I cannot taste that Sweetness in Christ nor take that Pleasure in the Almighty as I would Answ First withdraw your Hearts from all other Delights this course doth the Lord set Israel to get up to a delight in himself Isa 58. 13 14. There is no greater Enemy to true delight in God than a persons own carnal Pleasure and delight in things below God Whoredom and new Wine take away the Heart Hos 4. 11. 'T is impossible a Soul can take pleasure in Christ and Sin together Mat. 6. 24. For carnal Pleasures withdraw the Affections from God Job 21. ver 12. to 15. 1 Joh. 2. 15. Secondly Rest not till you have cleared up your Interest in Christ and can upon good grounds apprehend him as your peculiar and chief Treasure better than all the World besides and appropiate it to your own Souls Cant. 2. 3. 5. This drew the Spouses Heart to so much longing after and solace in the Lord Jesus even the sight of his transcendent Worth beyond all others and her title to all those Excellencies 't is seen Interest in Christ that draws out the Heart after him Cant. 7. 10. Doubts of Relation to Christ and Fears of laying a claim to these precious Treasures damps the Soul pleasure in Christ Thirdly Be satisfy'd about Christ's special love to you and delight in you 1 Joh. 4. 19. Jealousies about an Interest in this love of God did so cool the Jews Hearts towards him Isa 49. 14. But Zion saith the Lord hath forsaken me and my God hath forgotten me From hence they began to slack their pace after God and cryed out behold what a weariness is it and snuffed at it Mal. 1. 13. chap. 3. 14. Suspition of Christs Heart towards you will straiten yours towards him think well of Christ's Heart to you cherish daily a good Opinion of his Nature Affection and Faithfulness Fourthly Beg hard for heart-affecting fights of Christ This so enamoured the Spouses Heart she saw the beauties of her beloved Cant. 2. 1. She beheld him to be the rose of Sharon and Lilly of the Vallies the powrings out of his Name drew her affections to him Cant. 1. 3. The Eye affects the Heart Lam. 3. 51. As with Sorrow so with Joy 'T was David's Sight of God in the outgoings of his Love and Glory that made his Soul thirst after him Psal 63. 1. 2. Fifthly Be much in the consideration of what Christ hath done for you and bestowed upon you this so engaged Hezekiah's Heart to God Isa 38. 17. and filled David's heart wiih such an Extasy of Joy in God 2 Sam. 7. 19 20. Psal 8. Sixthly Get a nature and Spirit sutable to Christ Similo Simili gaudet Psal 17. 15. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness This made the Image of Christ glorious in the Souls eye also when once it becomes changed into it's Likeness 2 Cor. 3. 18. Therefore did Paul delight in the Law of God after the inner man Rom. 7. 22. Because he had his inner parts changed into the Image of it what pleasure will wicked men take in a wicked Cause from the similitude it hath to their own Nature So will the Soul in Christ when once brought into a sutableness to him Lastly Be much in Communion with Christ and this will beget wonderful Joy in him Psal 119. 167. David's being much conversant in God's Laws begat and strengthen'd his delight in it So vers 14. 'T is Intimacy breeds Delight whereas Strangeness lessens all that Familiarity and Pleasure we else might take in Persons Psal 14. 10. A Stranger intermeddles not with his Joy Be not contented to keep to duty but press after Communion with Christ therein 6 Duty Sixthly Be not troubled at your Wants Losses and Sufferings you undergoe in this World Consider these four things First You can want no good thing the God of Glory stands bound for your Supplies Psal 34. 10. They that seek the Lord shall want no good thing Psal 23. 1. The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want It cannot be that those who are so much interested in the Heart Care Person and Treasure of the Lord Christ can be destitute what can you want who are entitled to all good things 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Who are Heirs of the Promises Promises that concern the Life that now is and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. You have a surer Title to your Supplies than they that have most of the World in their hands for God hath laid up in the hands of Jesus Christ a full Allowance for you how short soever he may seem to keep you for a while the Earth is your Lords and the Fullness thereof and the Cattel on a thousand Hills Psal 50. 10. 12. Psal 24. 1. Heaven and Earth and all things therein are made over in the everlasting Covenant for your use Secondly You shall want or suffer no more than infinite Wisdom and fatherly Love sees best for you 't is impossible that divine Purposes should be frustrated towards you he that will work will work and nothing shall let 't is not Men nor Devils nor the greatest injury of time can deprive you of your Fathers Allowance and that is upon infinite Wisdom and good Pleasure The Wings and Wheels of Gods Providence over his people and for them are full of Eyes within and without to shew the wise Care and Providence of God over his in the worst of times and hardest condition and these Wheels are moving for your Good Christians and God sees in the darkest Providence what is best for you all his Dealings with his people are the Fruits of everlasting Love Jer. 31. 3. God doth in infinite Wisdom manage all your Concerns 't is not by Chance or through any inadvertency any Crosses or Losses befall you but all is done in wise Counsel 3dly The less you have of Creatures the more will God give you of himself if you be looking to him and by Faith live upon him God will admit of no Vacuums towards his people they can want no good thing therefore if creature-supplies be remov'd Grace comes in the room as they say Water will ascend to prevent a Vacuum and Grace will descend to prevent Emptiness in Believers God comes in the room of creature-comforts when Job was stript of all he had more of the visions of God Job 42. 5. John had never more
1. 2. This Term Mediator is taken sometimes in a more large sense sometimes in a more strict sense First This Term as it is taken in a large Sense so the Lord Jesus Christ is a Mediator as he is the Head the middle between God and his Creatures so he is the Mediator of Angels as well as men It is by him the Angels were made and in him the Elect Angels are chosen and by him they are preserved for Angels cannot be thought to come to such a State of Felicity and such near Union with God but upon the account of a second person Col. 1. 20. in the sixteenth verse Christ is said to be the Creator of Angels and in this 20. ver there 's his Mediatorship for Angels By him to reconcile all things to himself whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven This is a place of very great Difficulty and hath puzled many Interpreters some conceive it is to reconcile man and Angels together supposing the Angels were enemies to fallen man but by Jesus Christ brought into a State of Amity but it cannot be so understood here for the Parties reconciled are not said to be men and Angels but God and these things how then is this understood Some therefore conceive that this Reconciliation is to be understood by way of Proportion and Similitude not as if the Angels needed Pardon for they never sinned but they stand in need of a Mediator that they may not sin for as Creatures they are mutable and as subject in their Nature to sin as the Devils were and it is by Jesus Christ they are preserved and kept in the Favour of God It is said all things in Heaven The Heavens themselves are or shall be brought into a capacity of meetness for the presence of God Saints and Angels by Jesus Christ as Mediatour The Angels are called Elect Angels 1 Tim. 5. 21. And how but as they are chosen in Christ for all Election is founded in the Lord Jesus Christ as a middle Person as the Head of Election Eph. 1. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him all those Creatures that shall be made or kept holy are plac'd in the Lord Jesus Christ Likewise the Angels are call'd the Sons of God Job 38. 7. When the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for Joy Now all Adoption is in the Lord Jesus Christ If they are reputed as the Sons of God this Relation must needs be in Christ who is the onely begotten Son of God therefore all the Angels must needs have dependance upon Christ as Mediator Eph. 1. 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of time he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in Heaven and which are on Earth even in him Some conceive it is meant of those Saints that were in Heaven before Christ came to suffer but that cannot be it being put in the Neuter Gender All things in Heaven so that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Mediator of Angels in that he procures for them Preservation with God and were it not for a Mediator they would never be secur'd from Falling Secondly More strictly Christ is called Mediatour in respect to God and fallen Man coming betwixt them as a middle Person to make up the Breach effect a Peace and reconcile them together Heb. 9. 15. He is the Mediator of the New Testament Heb. 12. 24. And to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant John 14. 6. He is the Way the Truth and the Life It is through his Name alone Salvation is to be had Acts 4. 12. He is appointed of God the Father to this end Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation for our Sins to be one that may reconcile God to Man and render him propitious and favourable to him Acts 2. 23. 1 Pet. 1. 20. Heb. 5. 4. Joh. 6. 24. For him hath God the Father sealed He was annointed and furnished with all Abilities for this end Isa 61. 1 2. And he is the onely Mediator 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. The onely Surety Heb. 8. 6. The onely Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. 'T is God the Son the Second Person is the only Mediator 't was he that made man and therefore fittest for him to re-make him It would be a great derogation from Christs Honour saith Austin should another mend and reform that spoiled work which he made He is fittest to restore man to the lost Image of God who himself is the express Image of the Father 'T is best meet for him to commend the Love of God to man who himself is the Son of the Father's Love He is the onely begotten Son of the Father and so fit to Adopt others into a state of Sonship As Man also Christ hath Right to Redemption-work Lev. 25. 23. As God he hath Ability to redeem As Man he was capable to suffer As God he was able to bear up the Humane Nature under Sufferings As Man he could bear the Punishment of Sin As God he could remove our Sins and purifie our Natures As Man he could compassionate his People As God he could help them As Man he is capable to tender a Satisfaction As God to render it infinite As Man he was able to become a Sponsor a Surety to make a promise in the behalf of his Seed And as God he could make good his Promise He can reveal the mind and disclose the deep things of God and pour out the Spirit of Grace He hath all Power in Heaven and Earth and is able to save to the uttermost He can exalt his Interest and subjugate his Enemies under his Feet He sits at the Right hand of God and is God with the Father and Man with Man CHAP. IV. Shewing what is the Work of Jesus Christ as he is Mediator WE come in the next place to shew wherein the Office and Work of this Mediator lies And it will much conduce to the Glory of Christ to display his Mediatorship Now we must consider him in a double Relation The Lord Jesus Christ hath to deal with two different Parties where there is a Breach 1. His Work lies with respect to God the Father 2. His Work lies with respect to fallen Man First His Work lies with respect to God the Father And here his Office lies in several particulars First One great part of the Work of Christ as Mediator is to mediate in the behalf of fallen Man with the Father so as to procure terms of Reconciliation Thus a Mediator is to agitate with the offended Person to bring to terms of Peace This was the Work of Jesus Christ from before all time He did act with God the Father that there might be a way found out for agreement between him and poor Sinners This was drawn up in the Covenant between the Father and the Son as in Isa 42. 6 7. I the Lord have called thee
in Righteousness and will hold thy hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles To open the blind eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison Here 's the result of Christs Mediation in the behalf of fall'n Sinners He doth treat with the Father that he would be pleased to shew pity to fall'n man and the Father returns this Answer That he will consent to the terms of Jesus Christ for the saving of Sinners that he shall be a Covenant for the People and give out Salvation to perishing Sinners So Isa 49. 5. to the 10 vers The Persons for whom the Lord Jesus Christ mediates are Jews and Gentiles and under these are comprised all the Elect of God And the Father treats and concludes with Christ about the saving of these two Parties In an acceptable time saith he have I heard thee and I will give thee for a Covenant of the People All the Elect of God both among the Jews and Gentiles shall be called and saved by this Mediation of Jesus Christ But what are the terms upon which the Father consents to the Mediation of Christ that there shall be Peace for all that come to him First One thing concluded upon between the Father and the Son is That the Lord Jesus Christ shall make up the Breach of the first Covenant There 's a Righteous Covenant of God broken by the Sin of Adam and upon the breach of this Covenant God is bound in Justice to lay Death upon Adam Condemnation upon all fall'n Mankind Now that this Blessing may be procured which Christ mediates for the Sentence of Death is to be reversed and this cannot be till the Punishment of the broken Covenant be borne Now the Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily undertakes to do this Heb. 10. 7. Then said I Lo I come All other ways were ineffectual to make satisfaction to the Justice of God for Adam's Sin Now when no way could make up this Breach then Christ comes and consents to pay the price himself to be a Sacrifice for Sinners Lo I come to do thy Will What is the Will of God Why that Mercy and Justice be reconciled Justice was all for Punishment Justice would not be satisfied till the Penalty was executed Now Christ must come in the Sinners room and undergo the Penalty of this broken Covenant Sayes God In the day thou breakest this Covenant thou shalt dye therefore Christ must come and dye This is one of the terms If the Lord Jesus Christ will be a Substitute in the room of the Offender and undergo the Punishment then he will take off the Condemnation Rom. 8. 3. For Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh that is in the Flesh of Christ Justice must be satisfied The Law could not do this God sends his Son and he must undergo the curse Gal. 3. 13. And this the Lord Jesus Christ did consent unto Secondly Another thing required is That the Lord Jesus Christ should obey the Precepts of this Covenant perfectly in his own Person in the behalf of all his Seed That God might have no Quarrel with the Children of the Covenant Christ must dye to make up the former Breach of this Covenant He must obey to fulfill the End of the Covenant he was not only to undergo Sufferings but he was to complete all active Righteousness and this the Lord Jesus Christ consented to Hence he saith It behoveth us to fulfil all Righteousness Mat 3. 15. God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law Gal. 4. 4. The Lord Jesus Christ as Mediator becomes obliged to the preceptive Law of God and must in his own Person fulfil all the parts of this Law and must work out a perfect Holiness and Obedience that the first Covenant might be fulfilled if Salvation be obtained Thirdly Another thing which the Father and Jesus Christ agree upon about this Work of Reconciliation is That the first Covenant to all its demands being fulfilled and there being nothing now to lay in against the Believer from this Covenant that Salvation may be sure he concludes to make a new Covenant which that it may be faultless Jesus Christ should now become the Surety of another and better Covenant The first Covenant God found fault with and therefore he thinks upon a second that may be effectual to all the ends of Salvation-grace Heb. 8. 7 8. For if that first Covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for the second for finding fault with them he saith Behold the dayes come when I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and Judah As if the Lord should say to his Son The first Covenant will never answer thy Proposals to save fallen Man and that thy Seed may be blessed therefore there shall be a new Covenant drawn that shall be effectual to the ends of Salvation and thou shalt be the Head and Mediator of this Covenant this was the agreement between the Father and the Son Now Jesus Christ becomes the Angel of this Conant God agrees with Jesus Christ for fallen man Jesus Christ covenants with the Father in the behalf of all his Seed that he will bring them to Life He promises to work in them and for them all that is required to Salvation and that they shall be saved to the uttermost Heb. 7. 22 25. By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better Testament wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost Thus he becomes an Engager to the Father in the behalf of all Believers O Friends this is a glorious Mystery I fear too few are insighted in the glorious Work of the Mediatorship of Christ The Lord Jesus Christ becomes a Surety not only to pay the Debt but to perform the Condition A Surety or a Sponsor is one that promises and undertakes in the behalf of another to fulfill what he was bound to do Tâ—us the Lord Jesus Christ hath performed this first Office of a Mediator by drawing up an Agreement between God and fallen Man by bringing the Father to terms of Reconciliation Secondly The terms being thus concluded upon the second part of this mediatory work of Christ is that he actually set about this Obedience and Suffering and make good the Agreement between the Father and himself and this he did in the fulness of time he comes and actually accomplishes all his Promises to the Father in point of Merit and Satisfaction There are two great things Jesus Christ is to do in order to the fulfilling of this Promise to the Father in behalf of his Seed First meritoriously procuring the things for them and Secondly efficaciously applying what he procures Heb. 9. 15. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of Death for the Redemption of the Transgressions that were under the first Covenant they which are called might receive the promise of eternal Inheritance