Blessing to all the Members of Christ viz. All who savingly believe in him There are some whose Names I am unwilling to mention who tell Men that bodily Death is a Part of the Curse due to sin and that the Believer as well as the Unbeliever must undergo and bear it as such namely the Curse which is due to the Believer for sin From whom I do and shall for ever dissent and that for the two Reasons here following First Because Death puts an end to all a Believers sinning and sorrowings which occasioned holy Master Dod's Saying that Death was the greatest Friend to a true Believers Grace that is in the World For saith he that which Praying and Hearing and Sacraments c. do but help to weaken viz. sin in the Heart and Life of the Believer Death comes and with one stroak cuts it off And at the same time and with the same Blow puts an end to all the Believers Sorrows and Afflictions And if this be a Curse to a Believer for my part I do not understand what it is to be Blest Though Death in it self be a Curse to the first Adam and his Children as it is the Wages of sin Rom. 6.23 yet to them who are in Christ that Curse is turned into a Blessing so saith the Holy Ghost whose Testimony goes beyond all other Testimonies in Matters of Faith See Rev. 14.13 And I heard a voice from Heaven saying write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord From henceforth Yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them And of such it is also said And God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying nither shall there be any more paâ—n for the former things are passed away Rev. 21.4 Secondly Because Death not only perfects the Grace of a true Believer but it is also an Inlet to the Kingdom of Glory On these two Accounts it is I doubt not that the day of Death is preferrable before the day of ones Birth Eccles 7.1 A good Name is better than precious Oyntment and the day of death than the day of ones Birth On the same Accounts I do not question Paul did prefer to die rather than to continue in the Body as he himself tells us Phil. 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is Gain Herewith also concurs 1 Cor. 3.22 Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the World or Life or Death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods In this Enumeration of Particulars of second causes wherein the Members of Christ are said to be interrested I understand the same thing to be intended which is held forth in that general Assertion And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose Rom. 8.28 And is not this a sweet Fruit to a Believers spiritual Taste Fourthly The Powerful and Glorious Resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the Dead is most sweet and delightful to the true Believer That Christ was raised up from Death is beyond controversie Acts 2.24 Whom God hath raised up having loosed the pains of Death because it was not p ssible he should be holden of it Acts 17.31 Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given Assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the dead Rom. 1.4 And declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection f om the dead This Resurrection of Christ from the dead can be no other than sweet to all true Believers and that on a threefold Account First As it is God the Fathers Actual Discharge to Christ the Publick Head and Representative of Gods Elect and to them in him from that sin of theirs which he as their Surety stood charg'd with and from the whole of that Debt which he undertook to pay for them As Christs Active and Passive Obedience was the full Payment of Believers Debts to God so Gods raising him from Death was Gods Actual Discharge to his Son and in him to all Elect Believers to assure them that the Debt which Christ his Son undertook to pay for them is now fully paid and satisfied witness his Actual Release and Discharge from the Prison of the Grave where Christ as Undertaker and Surety for Gods Elect was detain'd until the Justice of his Father said it is enough I am now satisfied to the full every Iota and Tittle of the Law is by him perfectly obey'd both Actively and Passively I have no more to lay to his or the Elects Charge for whom he became a Surety Discharge him let him be set at Liberty as Christ the Son prov'd faithful to the Father in performing to the utmost what he had undertaken for securing the Fathers Glory and the Salvation of the Elect committed and given in charge to him by the Father So God the Father proves Just and Righteous to Christ in giving him under the Hand of his Unerring Spirit of Truth a full Release and General Discharge not only for himself but for his Redeemed ones also Of this Christ had not the least doubt when he struck Hands with his Father he knew his Father to be the God of Truth who could not lie or deal unjustly with any much less with his own only Son who he could not but know would stick at nothing though it were to empty himself and to become nothing And which was worse to be made a Curse to finish the Work his Father had given him to do For the Lord God will help me therefore I shall not be confounded therefore have I set my Face like a Flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed He is near that justifieth me who will contend with me Let us stand together who is mine Adversary let him come near to me Isa 50 7 8. What was of old predicted by this Evangelical Prophet concerning God the Fathers justifying his Son upon his finishing the Work he had undertaken to go through it is now declared and made known by the Gospel to be Actually accomplished and made good according to those and other the like Predictions of him I have glorified thee on the Earth I have finished the Work which thou gavest me to do Jo. 17.4 5. And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was All Power is given me in Heaven and in Earth Mat. 28.18 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins Acts 5.31 And without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifested in the flesh
because the Lord hath anointed me to Preach glad tidings to the meek c. This was excellently held forth in the Person of Aaron the High Priest under the dark Dispensation of the ceremonial Administration an Eminent and Glorious Type and Shadow of Christ the Elects High Priest Psal 133.2 It is like the Precious Ointment upon the Head that ran down upon the Beard even Aarons Beard that went down to the Skirts of his Garment The material Oyl wherewith Aaron Christs Type was anointed did prefigure and type out the Effusion of the Spirits Gifts and Graces on the Human Nature of Christ to fit and qualifie him for the Work the Father hath sent him about this anointing was poured out on Christ without measure as witnesseth the Scripture Jo. 3 34. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the Words of God for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him This is further backt and confirm'd by Colos 1.19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell And Colos 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Besides the personal Anointing of Christs Human Nature wherewith the Father anointed him above his fellows Psal 45.7 there was a Soul enriching Stock of Grace put into his Hands as Mediator in time to be communicated to all the Elect who are to be the Members of his Mystical Body Hence it is that Believers are said to receive of Christ's Fulness Jo. 1.16 And of his Fulness have all we received and Grace for Grace Ephes 4.7 But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ Christ as God is the Source and Fountain of all the Graces of Believers as God-man he is the Meriter and Purchaser of all Grace for them and Christ as Mediator he hath the dispencing Power committed to him by the Father to communicate to and bestow upon every Member of his Body what measure of Grace he pleaseth Secondly Christ far excels all Adam's Children on the account of the Work to which the Father design'd him in Eternity and whereto he in time call'd him This great Work is to reconcile God and elect Sinners together by the Interposition of his Mediatorial Righteousness to make up that Breach which the Sin and Apostacy of Adam had effected between God and the Elect and to keep and continue them in an everlasting Covenant of Love and Peace so as that there should never be any Possibility of their being at Enmity any more for ever 2 Cor. 5.19 to wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses to them By World in this as in other places is intended the elect World for whom Christ was made Sin and a Curse and between whom and God his offended Father he stept in as a Mediator to make Peace by offering up himself in Sacrifice to God's Justice 1 Tim. 2.5 6. for there is one God and one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus Who gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due time Compare with this Jo. 10.15 and Jo. 17.9 and it will plainly appear that Christ became a Mediator of Redemption and Intercession for God's Elect and none else If what hath been said concerning what Christ is in himself and the great Work to which the Father hath design'd and call'd him be rightly considered it will appear beyond all Contradiction that he infinitely excels and transcends all the Children of Adam None of Adam's Posterity were ever qualified like him neither were any of them ever call'd to so great and glorious a Work as he was this in the general But more particularly to come to the Allegory or Metaphor by which his transcendent Excellency is allegorically set forth there are three things in the Apple-Tree which bespeaks the Lord Jesus a None-such to the Elect. First The Lowness and Comliness of the Apple-Tree above other Trees It grows lower and nearer the Ground than other Trees usually do The matchless Lowliness and Humility of Christ is hereby set forth none could ever compare with him herein Mat. 11.29 Take my Yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly This is anciently Predicted of him as appears Zach. 9.9 Rejoyce greatly O Daughter of Zion shout O Daughter of Jerusalem behold thy King cometh unto thee he is just and having Salvation lowly and riding upon an Ass and upon a Colt the Foal of an Ass Mat. 21.4 5. Six things wherein this will appear First His condescending to become his Father's Inferior first as a Son a Relation which imports Superiority and Inferiority Psal 2.7 I will declare the Decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee c. Jo. 3.16 For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son c. Jo. 14.28 For my Father is greater than I. Secondly As a Servant to do his Work Psal 89.20 I have found David my Servant with my Holy Oil have I anointed him Esa 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth * This Inferiority of Christ to God is to be understood in respect of the Office he voluntarily took on him for the Elects sake not in respect of Nature or Essence as appears Zach. 13.7 Awake O Sword against my Shepherd and against the Man that is my Fellow Jo. 10.30 I and my Father are one Heb. 1.3 Who being the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person c. Secondly His condescending to assume the Humane Nature Heb. 2.14 Forasmuch as the Children did partake of Flesh and Blood he also himself took part of the same Vers 16. For verily he took not upon him the Nature of Angels but he took upon him the Seed of Abraham There are two things which if considered will put a bright Lustre on this Act of Christ's Condescention First The Baseness of the Matter of that Body he assumed viz. A Clod of Earth and that the worst of Earth viz. Red Earth so the word Adam in Hebrew signifies Secondly The abject State and wretched Condition into which it fell by the Apostacy and Rebellion of Adam to which he knew he must become subject Hence it is he is stiled a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief Esa 53.3 4. Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful Flesh c. Thirdly In his being Born of mean Parents Christ as God did single out and choose the Womb in which his Humanity was to be Conceived which was not an Empress a Queen or some Lady of Rich and Noble Extraction according to the Flesh but a mean and despicable Maid of a mean and poor Family so poor that she was not able to compass a Lamb but must be trusting to a pair of Turtle Doves for a Sacrifice
astray wâ— have turned every one to his own waâ— and the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquity of us all Ver. 7 He was oppressed and he was afflicted yet 〈◊〉 opened not his Mouth he is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep before her Sheater is dumb so he opened not his Mouth What was the reason of this profund Silence when not only his Reputation but his Liberty and his dear Life too lay at stake No other Reason can be given by Men or Angels for it but this viz. His voluntary Act in striking hands with his Father as a Sponsor or Surety in the behalf of the Elect in whose room as their Representative he promised to see all their Debts fully discharged And that by a most exact keeping the Law for them and by bearing to the uttermost the Shame Curse and Death to which the Law sentenced the Elect for sin The Blessed Redeemer having thus laid himself under a legal Tie or Obligation to God his Father when Justice call'd him to hold up the Hand at the Bâ—r in order to his coming to a full and legal Trial He had not one word to object against the severity of the Laws proceeding against him though he had not the least spot of sin of his own to be charged with yet having undertaken as a Surety for the Elect their sins tho' never so many horrid and vile he must take them as his own And 〈◊〉 he did witness his own Acknowledgment at the Laws Bar. Psal 4â— 12 For innumerable Evils have compassed me about mine Iniquities have taken hold on me so that I am not abâ— to look up c. The numberless Numbers of the Elects Iniquities were by God imputed and charg'd to his Account and he the Immaculate spotless Lamb of God takes them as hiâ— own according to Esa 53.8 and 1 Peâ— 2.24 who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the Tree c. They who deny a change of Persons between Christ and God's Elect do buâ— bewray their own Unskilfulness in thiâ— greatest of Mysteries And in pretence of opposing Antinomianism sufficiently demonstrate themselves to bâ— the worst and most pernicious Antinomians now in London For most certain it is and Goâ— will make such Men know it sooneâ— or later that in the same sense where in Christ was made a sinner at thâ— Bar of Gods Law the Elect of Goâ— stand justified at the Throne of Grace As the Lord Jesus Christ could be nâ— other way made or prov'd a sinner but by Gods imputing to him the Iniquities of the Elect to which he himself agreed and consented so Elect sinners can no other way be Partakers of a spotless justifying Righteousness but by Gods imputing that of his Sons to them As all the Guilt and Defilements which by sin came on Gods Elect were imputed to and charg'd on the Son of God so all that Mediatorial Righteousness both Active and Passive which Christ perform'd and fulfill'd to answer the Laws demand was and is imputed to and charg'd on the Elect in effectual calling for their free and full Justification from all charge of sin and he or they that have the face to deny this do sufficiently prevent any others studying Arguments to prove them Heterodox and unsound in this Foundation Doctrin of Justification wherein they who are made Partakers of the Anointing of the Spirit of Christ cannot but see and stand convinced that the whole current of Sacred Scriptures and of Orthodox Protestant Divines both Non and Conformists are full â—tive against them Thirdly The Death of Christ is sweet â—nd delightful to the true Believer Three things there be which bespeaks it so to be First In that Christs dying the cursed Death to which the Elect were liable was the consummating Act oâ— the Execution of God's Law upon him and in him upon all the Elect oâ— God It was Luthers Observation and Saying upon the Son of Gods being put to Death that the two greatesâ— Potentates on Earth were on thâ— Cross striving for Victory viz The Law of God and the sinless Soâ— of God The Law falls on Christ as the greatest of Transgressors as he stood charg'd with all the most horrid Abominations that the Eye of Gods Omâ—nisciency foresaw the Elect should eveâ— fall into The Laws knows or shews nâ— Mercy though Christ be the Son oâ— God and the Law-maker too yet Satisfaction must be given which give occasion here to mind the Readeâ— of the Old Maxim Law-makers muâ—â— be no Law-breakers I am certain that Maxim was never yet morâ— truly verified and made good in nâ—â— case than it was in this of Chrisâ— bearing and undergoing the Penalty 〈◊〉 his own Righteous and Just Law The Law cries out against Christ in whose Person all the sins of God's Elect did meet here 's a Transgressor a Sinner the greatest that ever appeared at God's Bar And that on the account of the innumerable Rebellions and Transgressions of all the many Millions of God's Elect which lay upon him though he was never toucht with the least stain of Corruption in his assumed Nature Neither was the least Deviation from the Rectiâ—ude of the Law ever found in his Practise and Life yet he is the Party who is like to satisfie Justice for all those Debts he hath taken on him to discharge and seeing that the principal part of the Debt which he took on him to pay viz. Actual Conformity to the Righteous Demands of the Law is undeniably found in him And that there remains now nothing to discharge and clear off of what he hath undertaken as a Surety but to under go a bodily Death to answer the Accessory Debt whereto the Elect became obnoxious by Adam's first Rebellion let him die that shameful ignominious and cursed Death of the Cross Thus the Law Sentenc'd and Condemn'd him as a Malefactor and the blackest Criminal that ever held up Hand at the Bar of any Court of Judicature either Human or Divine The Law having passed on him he was deliver'd up to Justice to the end the Curse of the Law might be inflicted on him his Executioner in this doleful Tragedy must be his own Dear and Tender Father who Lov'd him from Everlasting and will to endless Eternity love him as he loves himself Yet notwithstanding Die he must and that by having the Sword of his Fathers vindicative Justice sheath'd in his very Bowels till his very Soul was powered forth like Water Awake O Swordâ—â— against my Shepherd and against the Man that is my Fellow Zach. 13.7 c. Because he hath powered out his Soul unto death c. Isa 53.12 I am poured out like water and all my Bones are out of joint my Heart 〈◊〉 melted l ke Wax in the midst of my Bowels Psal 22.14 He that spareâ— not his own Son but delivered him up for us all c. Rom. 8.32 Here 's an Argument of the Fathers Love to Elect sinners
but into Heaven it self now to appear in the Presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 And there are three Ends for which he so appears First That he might represent his Members Spotless and Blameless in the Virtue and Merit of that Obedience which he himself as their Representative perform'd on Earth to answer the Demand of the Law It is on the Account hereof that the Spouse of Christ viz. the Church of true Believers is by Christ himself styl'd and accounted all fair and Spotless Thou art all fair my Love there is no Spot in thee Ephes 4.7 Cant. 4.7 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blemish Ephes 5.27 And ye are compleat in him c. Colos 2.10 Secondly That he might enter on the Possession of the purchased Inheritance which he himself purchased for his Members Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his Glory Luke 24.26 And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Jo. 14.3 The Believers Life and Crown are in the Hands and Keeping of Christ to be secur'd for them till they arrive at Heaven where he is Which is the Earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased Possession unto the Praise of his Glory Ephes 1.14 And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus Ephes 2.6 This is a Mercy and an Inestimable Priviledge given by God to the Elect that the Life of their Souls and all the Glory and Blessedness whereto God elected them in Christ his Son is deposited by God the Father in the Hands of Christ who will never fail or betray them On which Account it is that the condition of the poorest and weakest Believer living is in a better and infinitely safer State than the first Adam and his Posterity were in before the Fall The Reason whereof is this viz the Life and Salvation of the first Adam and his Children depended on the Obedience of a Mutable Agent who might and did fall and come short in fulfilling the condition of that Covenant of Works under which they Acted for Life But the Life and Salvation of the Elect is now secur'd in Christ God-Man who can as soon cease to be what he is as he can forget or neglect or suffer the poorest and weakest of those committed to him by the Father to perish And is not this a most sweet Fruit And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish c. Jo. 10.28 And this is the Fathers Will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should loose nothing but should raise it up at the last Day Jo. 6.39 Thirdly That he might enter on the Great and Necessary Work of Intercession which leads to the Sixth Particular comprehended in the general term Works Sixthly The Intercession of Christ is most sweet to the true Believer There are six things in it which makes it so First The Propriety the Believer hath in it yea even the meanest and weakest Believer hath as real a Propriety therein as the strongest 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. 8.34 My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not and if any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 Jo. 2.1 Secondly Whatevever Christ Prays for he most certainly obtains it of this he had Experience when on the Earth before he had Actually discharg'd the Debt which he took on him for the Elect. And Jesus lift up his Eyes and said Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me And I knew that thou hearest me always Jo. 11.41 42. Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong Cryings and Tears unto him that was able to save him from Death and was heard in that he feared Heb. 5.7 But now seeing all Righteousness is by him fulfilled according to what he undertook and he in the Merit thereof not only Ascended from Earth to Heaven but even sat at the Father's Right Hand what is it that the Father can deny him especially when what he prays for is before in the Heart and Promise of God his Father to grant him and that in a way of Recompence for the faithful Discharge of the Trust reposed in him by his Father Psal 2.8 Esa 53.12 There are some poor trembling Believers who when they need such or such a Mercy and know not what they shall do without it dare not beg the Mercy they want The Mercy is so great and they themselves so every way unworthy they think it great Presumption to seek or pray for it Let such turn their Eye off from staring and poring on their own Unworthiness keeping it fixt on the Incomprehensible Merit and Worthiness of the Lord Jesus Christ and then let them keep back from God's Throne of Grace and give way to Discouragement if they can 'T is Christ's Worthiness not the Believers Qualifications that prevails with God Oh! poor distressed fainting Soul who art even swallow'd up of that Gulph of Sinfulness Distraction Deadness and Heart Hardness whereof thou complainest Consider and remember for thine Encouragement that when thou findest thy self unable to pray there is one at God's Right Hand praying for thee whom God the Father knows not how to deny or throw off So prevalent with him is that Efficacious Intercession of his own Son who was Consecrated thy High Priest by God's own Sacred Oath The Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedech Psal 110.4 And having such an High Undertaker for thee with God so my part I cannot conceive what should discourage or drive thee back from Wrestling with God till Jacob like thou overcome him This is the Use that God himself would have the weakest Believer make of that great High Priest Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we might obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 Thirdly There is there can be no Case or Condition so desperate or wretched in respect either of Sin or of Affliction out of which Christ by his Intercession cannot rescue and save the tempâ—ed fallen and deserted Believer Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is Mercy and with him there is plenteous Redemption and he shall Redeem Israel from all his Iniquities Psal 130.7 8. The Lord preserveth the simple I was brought low and he helped me Psal 116.6 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of Temptations c. 2 Pet. 2.9 There hath no Temptation
taken you but such as is common to Man but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able to bear 1 Cor. 10.12 To which I will only add Wherefore he is able also to save them to the utmost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them Heb. 7.25 And can any Fruit be sweeter than this to a poor Distressed Tempted and Despairing Soul Fourthly By the Intercession of Christ the Peace and Reconciliation procured by his Meritorions Sacrifice is kept up and conâ—inuâ—d for ever For unto us a Child is Born unto us a Son is Given and the Government shall be upon his Shoulders c Esa 9.6 The keeping up and continuing the Peace between God and the Elect as necessary as the first Procurement of it As by the Meritorious Virtue of his Sacrifice he hath procur'd Peace with God for the Elect so by the renewing Efficacy of his Spirit in the Souls of Believers and his prevailing Intercession in Heaven for them he continues and keeps up that Peace Psal 37.23 24. Jer. 32.40 Rev. 8.3 4. Fifthly The Intercession of Christ in Heaven is the cause of Application of all the Good spiritual and bodily which Believers receive at the Hands of God As the Procurement of all Good for the Elect depends on Christs Sacrifice so the Actual Application thereof to them depends on his Intercession And whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be Glorified in the Son If ye ask any thing in my Name I will do it Jo. 14.13.14 In the sixth place to add no more The Intercession of Christ with his Father in Behalf of the Elect is not a matter of precarious Entreaty but of Justice and Equity wherein he cannot be put off He intercedes for no Favour or Mercy but what he first paid 〈◊〉 price for on the Behalf of his Elect and therefore it must not be thought a matter of meer Entreaty but of Equity and Justice for God to 〈◊〉 to Believers what they ask in Christ's Name To what hath been observ'd concerning those six several sorts of Works which are Peculiar to Christ as Mediator between God and Sinners I will add one more and it is his Providential Work of Gubernation or Ruling the World and that as all the rest of his Works is most sweet to the true Believer That the Government of the World is in a way of Recompence committed by the Father to Christ is plain by his own Declaration thereof to his Apostles All Power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth c. Mat. 28.18 The same witnesseth Paul And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be Head over all things to the Church Ephes 1.22 The same also Apostle to the Philippians saith Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a Name which is above every Name That in the name of Jesus every Knee should Bow both of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth Phil. 2.10 That the Works of Providence are also sweet to the true Believer seven things will make it Appear First God's King who Rules the Providential Kingdom here on Earth he is also the Believers King That Christ is God the Fathers King is plain and evident from the Scriptures above-mentioned to which may be added Psal 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my Holy Hill of Zion From these Scriptures it is plain that God hath committed the Government of all things in his Providential Kingdom to Christ his Son to be improv'd for the Good and Advantage of God's Elect. The Prospect which Balaam had hereof put him on declaring the Victoriousness and Felicity of the People of God above all other People on Earth The Lord his God saith he of Israel is with him and the Shout of a King is among them Numb 23.21 That Christ is the Believers King is evident from the Scriptures following Esa 33.22 For the Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us Rev. 15.3 And they sang the Song of Moses the Servant of God and the Song of the Lamb saying great and marvellous are thy Works Lord God Almighty Just and True are thy Ways thou King of Saints Of Kings it is said Regum est parcere Subjectis debellare superbos It is the Part or Property of Kings to deal gently with these who submit readily to their Rightful Authority but to subdue and vanquish their Enemies who submit not to the Yoke of Duty This Property of a King will be found to be in God's and the Believers King above all the Crowned Heads that ever breath'd on Earth For as Christ is God the Father's King to Sway the Scepter of his pardoning Mercy and Gospel Grace in the Hearts and Lives of the Elect who in effectual Calling are made his willing Subjects He will by his Almighty Power defend and save them from all adverse Powers which seek to spoil and ruin them He will not only defend and protect them from all Enemies and Dangers but he will carry it gently and tenderly towards them under all their Weaknesses and Infirmities But towards the wicked who refuse and reject his Yoke he will vanquish and subdue them Not by the Scepter of his special Grace as he deals with God's Elect But wiht that Iron Rod which the Father hath put into his Hand for this very end He will break them to pieces Psal 2.9 But those mine Enemies which would not that I should Reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me Luke 19.27 This is undoubtedly a high Priviledge and Mercy wherewith God's Chosen are Eternally Blest above the rest of the Race of Adam to be under the commanding Power and Everlasting successful Conduct of such a King The Damned in Hell would give ten thousand Worlds if they had them at command to be under the Conduct of this King But for their opposing and despising this precious and sweet Redeemer they are judicially given up to the Tyranny of such a King as knows no Mercy who instead of saving will continue to torment and destroy Rev. 9.11 This Lord Jesus He and He alone excluding all others is the Head and King over the Church of God's Elect. None will claim such a Priviledge but the Man of Sin and such as are akin to his Antichristian Hierarchy Christ is to the Church of the Living God a Head of saving Influence as well as a Head of Commanding and Protecting Power which none in Heaven or Earth can pretend to without borrid Blasphemy Were this very Point but rightly understood and by Faith apply'd as it should it would make the weakest Believer in England as bold as a Lyon in the ways of his Holy Profession But for want of this even Ministers themselves shamefully Cowardize when Christs Enemies appear Rampant Secondly There
No sooner am I set down under that refreshing Shadow and become sensible of my Safety but I presently fall upon solacing my spiritual Senses with beholding and feeding upon its Fruit applying unto my self by Faith the saving Benefits of Christs personal Graces and the Improvement he hath made of the same for me a poor Worm together with the saving Benefits of his Word and Works as above discovered appropriating each Particular unto my self Thus the Improvement which my dear Lord Jesus made of the Anointing poured out upon him by the Father to fit him for the Work of Mediation it is mine The Promises of the Everlasting Covenant of Grace which are suited to every Condition I either am or can be in they are mine That wonderful and amazing Work of his Incarnation or becoming Man it is mine It was to Unite me to God in a nearer and firmer Bond of Union than was between God and me in the first Creation The Work of his unparallell'd and matchless Humiliation in my Nature it is mine It was for me to prevent my Perishing by the Damning Pride of my corrupted Nature and to merit and purchase for me Gospel Humility That Work of his perfectly obey'd the Moral Law in Heart and Life it is mine he obeyed the Law for me as my Surety The Death which he suffer'd and underwent it is mine It was for me that he might unsting Death for me and to give full Satisfaction to Justice for my breaking the Law that my Sins might be Arraign'd and put to death in his Death The Guilt of Sin can now no more condemn or cast me at God's Bar neither can its reigning Power from henceforth detain me as its Captive or Slave that I should obey it in the Lusts thereof The Resurrection of Christ from the Dead it is mine He Rose for my Justification hereby I am fully Assured from under the Hand of the Spirit of God that the Whole of my Debt for which Christ my Surety Actually Dy'd and lay confin'd in the Grave is new fully Discharg'd I am from henceforth no more liable to the Arrest of the Law for Sin for that the Justice of God hath by raising my Surety from the Dead Releas'd and Discharg'd me The Ascension of Christ from Earth to Heaven it is mine be Ascended for me as my Surety and Representative to present before his Father the Success of his Negotiation which he undertook for me when on Earth The compleat and perfect Righteousness he fulfilled for me to answer the Laws Demand and the Universal Conquest and Victory which he by that Rigâ—â—eousness hath Atchiev'd over all his and my Enemies he makes open shew of them in Heaven Besides this he Ascended to enter upon the Possession of that Crown and Mansion in Heaven which he himself purchased for me the which he hath as my Forerunner taken into his own keeping for me until I have accomplisht the Service to which he hath appointed me on Earth The Intercession of Christ in Heaven is mine He sits at the Fathers right Hand to lay my Case in all its various Circumstances open before Gods Throne of Grace pleading in my Behalf the Price which he himself hath paid to Justice for the Procurement of all the Good I stand in need of till I come to the end of my Race And to Encourage my coming to God's Throne of Grace in Prayer with a Humble and Holy Boldness to obtain in the Virtue and Merit of the Price he hath paid and the Intercession he makes in Heaven the Mercy and Deliverance which at any time or in any case I stand in need of The Providence of Christ whereby he governs the World it is mine He Orders and Rules all Creatures or secondary Causes wherein I am concern'd for my Advantage and spiritual Good Devil World Indwelling Sin Poverty Reproach Friends Enemies Adversity Prosperity Health Sickness Life and Death No further will the All and Over-ruling Providence of Christ suffer any of these to move or stir then he will order for my Good and Eternal Advantage Matters being brought to so Excellent an Issue through the powerful Operation of the Holy Ghost my Soul finds it self under a Holy Constraint of crying out Admiringly Here 's Fruit indeed none could ever compare with it of these Celestial Fruits that Feast of Fat things promised in Esa 25.6 is made up and they are by Christ himself intended in those Words For my Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed Jo. 6.55 What the Prime and Fatness of Beasts and the most delicious and purest of Wines are to feast and satiate the Body The Flesh and Blood of Christ the Son of God as held forth in the Gospel and by Faith apply'd and fed upon is unspeakably more to the Soul of a true Believer to feed his spiritual Hunger and to quench his spiritual Thirst The Believer while he finds himself thus overcast with the Shadow of the Appletree and his spiritual Senses so unspeakably cheer'd and ravish'd with its Fruit he cries out with Peter on the Mount at the Transfiguration of Christ it is good to be here Mat. 17.3 There 's no Shelter like this of the Apple-tree which secures from all manner of Storms be they inward or outward from Devil from the envious wicked World from Heart Corruption or from God hiding his Face Neither is any Fruit to be compared to its Fruit. A Fruit which never fails a Hungry Soul which feeds on it to feed to fatten to corroborate the Soul against all spiritual Qualms and Faintings of Soul A Fruit which as soon as tasted brings the perplexed melancholly distracted despairing Heart and Mind to Rights again A Fruit which is so far from cloying or surfeiting the Believer that the more and the oftener he makes use of it the more doth he long to be at it again This Fruit produceth in the Soul of a Believer such a Holy Dropsie or unquenchable Thirst as nothing short of the Beatifical Vision in Heaven will perfectly cure Rev. 7.16 Come then Oh! come all ye Poor distressed melancholly despairing Souls who dread the Terrible Sentence of the Law who are frightened by thâ—â— Devils Temptations who are readâ—â— to die away in Despair of the Agonies and Wounds which Sin hath occasion'd in your Consciences ye who are afraid ye shall perish for want And are afraid that God's Wrath will be your Portion for ever hasten under the Shadow of the Spouses Appletree lest the Avenger of Blood overtake thee And for thy Encouragement know it that this Appletree affords Shelter to all comers to all sorts of Sinners The oldest Sinners the vilest and most notorious Sinners who breath this sicâ— Hell and Destruction all will find Welcome none will be rejected who have a mind to come All that the Father gieth me shall come unto me and he that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Jo. 6.37 Ho! Every one that Thirsteth come ye to the Waters and he that hath no Money conâ— and Eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price Esa 55.1 2. And the Spirit and the Briâ—â— say come and let him that heareâ—â— say come and let him that is athirâ—â— come and whosoever will let him taâ—â— of the Water of Life freely Rev. 22.1 All other spiritual Physitians and Means of Cure will be found Insignificant and of no value Here 's the Physitian who must cure thee if ever thou be saved Jo. 8.36 Acts 4.12 And I dare boldly to assure thee that the whole World cannot afford thee a safer Physitian with whom to trust thy Sin-sick dying Soul than this dear Lord Jesus under whose Hands never any Soul yet miscarry'd and for cheapness never was the like The Scriptures last quoted make this plain to which I will only add that of the Apostle Paul Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them Heb. 7.25 And in a better and more Encouraging Place of Scripture I cannot end FINIS