of the flesh to be honoured of God or will of this or that man hath any thing to do in or makes any difference in All that are in Christ being born thereto and therein of God and reckoned after Christ in whom they are as Gal. 3.28 29. with John 1 13. signifies and then from and as a consequent to this 4. God so loves them as to give them the Spirit of the Son both his Spirit to open the knowledge of Christ his Son to them and the disposition liberty boldness towards and affection to and affiance in him in some measure The same Spirit that dwelt in and yet dwells in Christ and led him as man in the dayes of his flesh to have confidence in and boldness towards his Father and so to go to him upon all occasions as to his Father he gives also to the believer in him to let him know Gods Fatherly love to and care of him upon the account of Christ and to lead him in hope and confidence to depend on and call upon him as also to guide instruct comfort strengthen and help him on all occasions To this purpose is that in Gal. 4.5 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father and so many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God and the Spirit it self helps our infirmities c. Rom. 8.15 16 26 27. and this he gives both as a pledge of his love and acceptance and as an earnest of the Inheritance Ephes 1.13 14. 2 Cor. 1.22 5. Yea and as he gives them the priviledge of Sons and the Spirit of his Son so also the respect of Sons so as that as he heard and helped Christ his only begotten Son in the dayes of his flesh in all that he called upon him for and took care of him to provide for and protect him so doth he also to those that believe in his Son The eyes of the Lord are open upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cryes and his face is set against the wicked that hate and oppress them 1 Peter 3.12 13. He is nigh unto his people in all that they call upon him for as our Saviour also promises John 15.7 Abide in me and let my words abide in you and ask what ye will it shall be given you and that as a testimony of his great love to them in which he imbraceth them in Christ his beloved one in whom they are accepted Ephes 1.16 See also John 14.13 14. Psal 145.17 18 19. as our Saviour testifies John 16.27 saying In that day ye shall ask the Father in my Name namely when they had received the promise of the holy Spirit to be a Spirit of grace and supplication in them and I do not say that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God Yea 6. In his love he teacheth them by his holy Spirit and leads them into all truth as is good and needful for them John 14.17 26. Prov. 1.23 teacheth them how to walk and how to pray guides and leads them in the way that they should go makes known his words shews them his mind the Mysteries of his Kingdom c. So Psal 25 8 9 12 14. Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners the way the meek will he guide in judgment the meek will he teach his way i. e. those that being convinced of their own poverty and emptiness do meekly receive his words The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant And Matth. 13.11 To you sayes Christ to his Disciples it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God and I have called you not Servants but Friends for all things that I have heard of my Father have I made known to you He takes care of them that they may not wander out of the way of life and righteousness yea he shews them those delights and pleasures of his wayes and gives them a glimpse too of the glory of the end of it even of the glory of his Kingdom so as that they are thereby made to love his way and walk in it comfortably and with great delight Prov. 3.17 Psal 119 32 165. 7. In love also he nurtures them as his Children giving them chastisement as he sees needful and good for them not leaving them to their own counsels wayes and wills as he doth those that coutemn his counsels and submit not to him He is faithfully reproving and warning them and timely châ—stening them with his afflictions that he might teach them his Law and they might keep his Statutes Psal 94 12. and 119 67 71. as a Father that loves his Child and therefore spares not his Rod Prov. 13.24 for he knows that a Child left to himself comes to misery and shame nor yet doth he in afflicting smite them as he smites these that smite them and are his and their enemies but as a Father chastens the Son in whom he delighteth Prov. 3.11 12 Isai 27.7 8. that is he doth it in measure and judgment not in fury so as he sees they may bear and as may be for their profit Isai 27.8 9. Heb. 12.10 He is faithful and will not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able but with the temptation or tryal will give an issue that they may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10 12. For he pities them as a Father pities his Child knowing their mold and temper and that they are but dust and therefore doth not deal with them after their sins nor reward them according to their iniquities but punisheth them less than they deserve is slow to wrath toward them and abundant in goodness and truth and doth not chide them alwayes nor retain his anger for ever Psal 103.9 10 11 12 13. yea and with his chastisements affords his supports and consolations to refresh their hearts Psal 94.18 19 yea and turns again and hath compassion according to the multitude of his tender mercies Lam. 3.32 Yea 8. He takes pleasure in them in them that fear him and in them that hope in his mercy Psal â—47 11 The Lord takes pleasure in his people Psal 49.4 It 's his design and delight to make them happy and to beautifie them with his Salvation to make them as a Crown of Glory and as a royal Diadem in his hand therefore he calls them Hepâ—zibah that is my delight or pleasure is in her owning them together in Christ as his royal Spouse and Consort as Isai 54 5. with 62 2 3 4. it rejoyceth his heart to see them thrive and prosper for he hath pleasure in the prosperity of his Servants Psal 35.27 Yea and though they have their failings weaknesses and spots that might render them unlovely yet having given Christ to
4. The means and course to be taken and used by them to attain that end and that is in ver 20. and that is two-fold 1. Building up your selves on your most holy Faith 2. Praying in the Holy Ghost keep c. 5. The manner posture or frame of heart in which they were to do all these things viz. in proposing to themselves the ultimate end Eternal Life to have their hearts and minds exercised to and waiting for the most necessary means as from Christ toward them as to their attaining thereof namely the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ without which nothing of those other great things exhorted and directed too could be to any purpose either done or attempted by them Waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life The two former the Compellation or Title given these persons to whom this Epistle was writ and their distinction from the ungodly and deceivers before described and warned of we shall not insist upon much only we might note from the first Obs 1. That such as abide in the Truth of God and walk therein when others turn from it abuse or oppose it are worthy of and are to be respected with more love by those who are over them in the word of the Lord and minister the knowledge of God amongst men than such as slight and depart therefrom and so they were Beloved of the Apostles and Servants of Christ as well as of Christ himself in their Ages For This word Beloved signifies not only pitied commiserated or persons for whom good is desired for so much love may and should be testified to others whilst there is hope for them that they may be saved as Paul testified such love to the unbelieving Jews who stumbled at the stumbling stone and submitted not themselves to the righteousness of God Rom. 9.33 and 10.1 2 3. and it is to be testified to all that have not sinned to death 1 Tim. 2.1 2. with John 5.16 but Beloved is more intimately affected valued esteemed owned delighted in and desired as so Christ is called God's Beloved one in whom his Soul is well-pleased Isa 42.1 with Matt. â— 12.18 and 3.17 This is my Beloved or well-beloved Son c. Cant. And so Christ is also called by the Church his Spouse Her Beloved One Cant. 1.13 14 16. It is a word implying and signifying more indearedness of affection towards the persons so spoken to and stiled and therefore usual in the writings of the Apostles to Brethren in the faith and confession of Christ and never to strangers from or much less the enemies to it By their use of which they signified either 1. That the Brethren Believers in Christ were dearly cared for valued and prized of God and Christ objects of their especial care and affection and partakers of his Grace and Love or 2. That they were especially amongst men cared for owned valued and delightfully affected by them the Apostles and their fellow-labourers they being therein of the mind of God and Christ to love and affect especially those who with special care and affection are embraced of Christ and of God in and through him All men are to be honoured but the Brotherhood in a special sense to be beloved 1 Pet. 2.17 not only though specially also with a love of Charity but also with a love of Brotherly kindness a love of Brethren 1. Pet. 3.9 Hebr. 13. 2 Pet. 1.7 even as Christ preferred such before his natural Brethren Mother and Sisters as such only Matth. 12.48 49 50. So did the Apostles and Servants of Christ prefer the hearty believers of the Doctrine of Christ before all other persons and so demeaned themselves in word and deed towards them owning them as their Brethren and beloved carrying themselves to them as Fathers toward their children 1 Cor. 4.14 15. 2 Cor. 12 14. yea as a Tender Nurse or Foster-Mother toward her little ones as Thess 2.7 8. They were gentle towards them as a Nurse that cherisheth her children so kindly affectionate to them that they were willing to impart their lives and Souls to them And so they instructed the Elders and Ministers ordained by them to be especially careful of and watchful over such Act. 20.28 1 Pet. 5.4 2 3. and exhorted them to be kindly affectioned one to another Rom. 12.10 yea and this from the difference between these and others For Obser 2. As there is a great difference between hearty believers in Christ and others that believe not and much more those that are turned aside and endeavour to corrupt others from the faith of him so the Apostles used and others that are the Servants and Ministers of Christ should use in their ministration to put a great difference between them also for The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour Prov. 12.26 More excellent both as to his root which is Christ and God in him in whom he is by faith planted and stands and grows and in respect of his branches or what issues and springs up from the faith of Christ in his heart as his thoughts and estimates of and affections to God his Truth Wayes People Though there may be much of the flesh cleaving to him in these and rendring these so imperfect that he hath no cause to boast of them in the presence of God yet in these the righteous believing person is far otherwise and better than his Neighbour that is unrighteous and hath nothing of the sap virtue and Spirit of Christ in him And then in his fruits and usefulness to others in word and work and for the glorifying of God to and amongst them and shewing to them the way of righteousness which being righteous he doth also practice and exercise himself to His lips feed many and his tongue is as choice silver Prov. 10.20 21. He is furnished for others good and helpfulness so as others are not and his estate and condition is far more excellent Better a little that he hath than the great riches of many wicked Psal 37.16 Yea he is more noble and honourable in his birth and descent as righteous as being a Son of God John 1.12 More rich as being an Heir of God and of the Kingdom that he hath promised to them that love him Rom. 8.17 James 2.5 He is more safe and secure as more out of the reach of danger as being infolded in the everlasting Armes of God and in all respects is furnished with and interested in far more durable and excellent injoyments than his Neighbour is i. e. then any other man that is not righteous or that is out of the Faith of Christ and therefore much more than the wicked Apostates and Deceivers that are Trees twice dead and pluckt up by the roots as this Apostle saith for they are corrupt and their hearts wicked and their works and fruits abominable and wretched being fallen from God and his Truth there is less hope of them than of any others For better
of Faith so also of patient waiting that being a fruit of faith He that believeth maketh not haste Isa 28.16 Such is the praying in the holy Ghost not to mention any other particulars And that 's the second thing inquired 3. The third is what is implied in exhorting believers so to pray And that is divers things as 1. That believers are not able or sufficient of themselves as of themselves to keep themselves in the love of God or to that purpose to edifie or build up themselves on their most holy faith They need the help and furtherance of God and his Grace thereunto In all their minding his Grace exercise of their gifts walking in Charity c. they need to look to God for direction and guidance and for his strength and assistance they need him to build them up in their building up themselves and to keep watch over them in all keeping themselves and watching over themselves and one another Except the Lord build the house in this sense too they labour but in vain that build it And except the Lord watch over the City the watchman watcheth but in vain Psal 127.1 2. their strength being so small and their enemies so many and so great 2. That there is sufficient Grace in God and Christ for their helpfulness therein and that also communicable to them by him by which they may be built up and so be kept in his love all the oppositions from without them or from within them notwithstanding If they had sufficiencie in and of themselves or in what they have already received then need they not cry unto God continually for more from him or if there were none in him for them to be afforded to them than no ground or incouragement for their crying to him however much they might want but in willing them to pray in their building up themselves both are implied we need like the builders of the wall in Nehemiahs time to fight with one hand and to build with the other and the former by praying to and calling upon God for so shall we be saved from our enemies Psal 18.3 for we are not led to pray to a God that cannot save but to him who is mighty in power able to save us one that can perform all things for us as being Almighty able to doe all things and hath made ready in Christ all supplies of Grace and Blessing for us all things are ready that may conduce unto our protection and preservation in his Grace and the edifying our selves in our most holy faith as well as for bringing us at first thereunto 3. That yet God will be sought unto and depended on for the supplies of his Grace to us he will have us in that way exercise our faith in him in calling upon him though he could give us without our asking and doth give us and doe much for us before we ask to move and incourage us to look to him and ask of him for more yet he will have us accustome our selves in that exercise of prayer to him to that purpose are many passages in Scripture as Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal 50.15 so in Jer. 33.3 Call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not Ezek. 36 37. God having promised to do great things for Israel yet says For this he will yet be inquired of by them And our Saviour bids ask seek knock and so they should receive find and have it opened to them Matth. 7.7 8. And this God will have his people do 1. That they might therein exercise and shew forth their faith in him and dependance on him for his Grace while they goe to him for all things as a child to his Father or as a wife to her Husband Therefore it is noted in Scripture as a fruit and consequent of faith with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and then with the mouth confession is made to Salvation for whosoever calleth upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10.10 11 12 13. 2. That they may have more acquaintance and intercourse with God and not live as strangers from him but by calling often upon him and receiving answers of Grace from him have a holy familiarity and communion with him as persons dayly resorting to the Court and speaking to the King and presenting Petitions to him and receiving answers from him thereby get more knowledge of him and acquaintance with him and so are fitted the better for going out and publishing to others the manner of his entertainment of mens suits and the vertues and goodness they discern in him Children that scarce ever come and speak to their Father grow strange to him and so do men that make little use of this priviledge of coming nigh unto God whereas such as come dayly to him to ask favours of him gather good acquaintance and proof of his love and faithfulness to them David implies this in saying Oh taste and see that the Lord is good Psal 34.8 and Eliphaz in saying to Job Acquaint or accustome thy self now with God Job 22.21 3. To keep them in a more reverend awe of him lest they should offend him and so put a barr against their own petitions to him for as Children that have often occasion to come before their Parents will be more careful of dirtying or soyling their cloathes or tearing and renting them or of doing any thing unbecoming them if they know their parents cannot like to see them in such a case whereas they that seldome come into then sight grow more loose and careless dirtied and torn c. even so God foresees that if we did not come often to him we would be little careful of our conversation before him whereas seeing we call upon the Father who without respect of persons judgeth every man righteously according to his works therefore it behoves us to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear and take heed that we regard not iniquity in our hearts because that wil provoke God to hide himself from us not hear our prayers That he might make us therefore stand in awe of him and be perfect with him he makes us to be often waiting upon him in his presence and begging at his door for Grace and Mercy to help us in our needs 1 Pet. 1.17 Psal 66.18 4. To give us more experience of his care over us and notice taking of us and so of his love to us in that he hears our prayers and helps us Did we not pray unto him we should not have that experience that his eyes are open upon us and his eares attentive to our prayers we should look upon mercies as proceeding from some other causes be more obnoxious to atheistical principles whereas the experience of his nighness to us gives us a more full proof of his care over us and so of
from God's favour or favourable acceptation of them c. It behoves us therefore to continue in the faith of Christ that we may abide in the love of God Which leads to the next point Keep your selves in the Love of God Whence we may note further Obser 4. That it is the business of the greatest concernment to believers in Christ to keep themselves and one another in the love of God I say themselves and one another for so I look upon the force of the word your selves here The Apostle speaks to them as a Community Body or select Society whose priviledges and concernments are common and by a common consent and joynt endeavour to be prosecuted and pursued Therefore as when any Message is sent to a Town or Corporation from a Prince or General to look to themselves that their enemies break not in upon them the Message concerns them in common and it suffices not that every man look to his own house or person but that with one consent and joynt counsel and endeavour they each one seek the safety of the whole Corporation or Town so it is the case here Believers in Christ are as the Body of Christ and as it is in the natural body if one member suffer all are grieved and if one be in danger all endeavour the defence and safety of it and every member in its place endeavours not only its own private and particular safety and welfare but the safety and welfare of the whole body so is it or ought it to be amongst Believers Every one is to take care of himself and of the whole body or society according to his capacity Looking diligently least any fail of the grace of God or any be guilty of an evil heart of unbelief or be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3.12 13. and 12.15 especially those that are Guides to the rest or are indued with greater understanding in the grace of God or gifts for usefulness to others as the eyes or hands in the natural body are concerned to take heed to their brethren of less abilities And in such a sense I say to keep themselves in the love of God is the business of greatest concernment to all unfeigned Believers To that purpose we may observe that as it was the great business care and endeavour of the Apostles towards or with the World to preach Christ and the love of God in him to them to draw and perswade them to accept therof and so to believe in Christ that they might be in the lâ—â—e and favour of God that they might obtain favour 〈◊〉 the Lord as Pro. 8.33 34. be justified and accepted of God and adopted into the number of his Sons and so that it might be well with them for ever that they might be reconciled now and saved in in the great Judgment c. as 2 Cor. 5.10 11 19 20. with 6.1 2 16 17 18. Isa 55.1 2 3 Act. 13.37 38 39 40. So with the Churches that had already through the Grace of God believed and had obtained the mercy and favour of God in Christ as these to whom this Apostle here wrote their great business was that they might be kept therein by abiding in the faith of Christ and obedience to him to which purpose is that of the Apostle Col. 2.1 2 3. c. I would ye knew what great conflict I have for you that your hearts might be comforted being knit together in love to the riches of the ful assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery both of God the Father and of Christ in whom or in which mystery are bid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge This I say least any man should beguile you with inticing words and ver 18. Let no man beguile you of your reward through a voluntary humility in worshipping of Angels c. and so to the Corinthians I am jealous over you with a godly jealousie lest as the Serpent beguiled Eve your minds should by any means be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus and Watch ye stand ye fast in the faith quit ye like men and be strong 2 Cor. 11.3 1 Cor. 16.13 to the same purpose is that in Gal. 5.1 Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free and be not intangled again in the yoke of bondage for I Paul say unto you â—â—â—t if you be circumcised Christ shall profiâ—â—â—u nothing So again to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 10.1 12. I would not have you ignorant that all our Fathers were under the Cloud and all of them passed through the Sea and were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the Sea and did all eat the same spiritual meat c. but with many of them God was c. let him therefore that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall and to the Romans chap. 11.20 22. Thou standest by faith he not high minded but fear And to the Ephesians Finally my Brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Put you on the whole Armour of God that ye may be able to resist in the evil day and having done all to stand c. Eph. 6.10 11 12 c. And so the Apostle John in â— John 2.24 25. Let that therefore that yee have heard from the beginning abide in you if that which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you ye shall continue in the Father and in the Son and this is the promise which be God hath promised us even Eternal life and ver 28. And now little Children abide in him that when he appears we may have boldness and not be ashamed at his appearing and so 2 John 8. Look to your selves that we loose not the things which we have wrought c. and Rev. 3.11 Hold fast that which thou hast let no man take away thy Crown And indeed what can be of greater concernment to the believer than this to keep himself in that state of safety and happiness to which by the great sorrows and sufferings of Christ and by his great goodness in bringing his salvation to him and striving with him with much long suffering and forbearance he hath brought him What can be of greater concernment to a man pursued by deadly enemies that hunt for his life when he hath gotten into a strong hold that cannot be taken by any storm or assault and that is every way well provided for for his preservation and defence than to keep himself therein and not by any means to venture out of it no not upon the fair pretences and flattering perswasions of pretended friends lest he fall into the hands of his enemies Such is the believers case here seeing in the love and favour of God he is most safe and happy but out of that nothing but misery is to be met with it stands him in hand to keep himself well while he is so Keep your selves in the Love of
to the Saints preached by the holy Apostles and Prophets and witnessed to by the holy Spirit and so by the holy God who bare witness to the Preachers of it both with Signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost Heb. 24. is a holy pure clean Word The Word of the Lord as the Gospel of Jesus Ghrist as preached by the Apostles is often called as in Acts 6 2 7. and 8.25 and 12.24 and 13.5 7 12 44 46 49. is pure as Silver seven times tryed in the fire Psal 12.6 No dross or mixture in it it is not yea and nay but yea yea or yea and Amen as in 2 Cor. 1.18 19. As God is true our word toward you was not yea and nay for the Son of God Jesus Christ who was preached among you by us was not yea and nay but in him was yea for all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us The Apostles did speak in simplicity and sincerity what they had heard and received from God and Christ and did not as the false Apostles sophisticate and corrupt the Word of God as the Apostle also saith 2 Cor. 2.17 But as in sincerity and as of God they spake in Christ in the sight of God Even as Jesus Christ himself the matter and subject of their word the faith or foundation of faith the object to be closed with and rested or built upon is the holy One the holy One of Israel and so is frequently stiled as Acts 3.14 Ye denyed the holy One and the just So 1 John 2.20 Ye have an Vnction from the holy One and ye know all things And Heb. 7.26 He is holy harmless undefiled c. a spotless one a Lamb without blemish his nature and life and death and sacrifice and person altogether blameless sinless and undefiled even so the Doctrine of the Apostles concerning him was pure and clean too like to pure water No soil or mud in it Yea and 2. It was and is set apart separated and devoted to God and for his glory to be the foundation ground and way of our believing and so becoming an holy habitation and people for God Jesus Christ the main matter and subject treated of in the Gospel is in that sense holy to God chosen by him separated and set apart for him to be his salvation to the ends of the earth the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world his righteous Servant in whose hand his pleasure shall prosper his Elect in whom his Soul delighteth who hath sanctified himself and given up himself to him to do his will in all things to be his Prophet to declare his mind and bring forth judgment to the Gentiles and light to the people to be his High-Priest as it is said The Lord hath sworn and will not repent Thou art a Priest to me for ever after the order of Melchisedeck Psal 110 3 4. to make atonement for the sins of the people offer up their gifts and sacrifices and make intercession for all that come to God by him Heb. 2.17 and 5.1 and 7.25 and bless them in his Name Heb. 7.6 7. His King whom he hath set upon his holy hill of Sion Psal 2.6 7. being wholly holy unto God to do his pleasure in his presence for men and from him to and with men Rom. 6.10 his Foundation namely that he hath lay in Sion to be the foundation and corner-stone of his holy building an habitation for his Holiness and glory by vertue of whom it is that the whole building becomes an holy House to God and an habitation separated unto him to dwell in by his Spirit as Ephes 2.20 21. And so the Doctrine or Faith concerning him is holy separated and set apart for Gods use for drawing men into the knowledg and faith of Christ and so to himself by and through him and therefore it is called The power of God to salvation to every one that believes Rom. 1.16 The Medium that he made choice of for saving those that believe it and so through it believe in him 1 Cor. 1.21 so that in this respect too it is holy As also 3. In respect of the effect and fruit of it it makes holy those that receive it and are united with it and built upon it So Jesus Christ the main matter and subject of it the foundation properly laid in it and by it for men to believe in and be built on is not only holy in himself sinless and set apart for God but also is made of God holiness to us the cause of holiness to us He in and by vertue of whom we are holy to God 1 Cor. 1.30 He being the holy Temple and habitation of God makes us so too in being united with him He being the holy foundation makes all the building holy And so the Doctrine of the Apostles preached and published concerning him and received and held fast by these Believers was holy in respect of the effect and fruit of it in Believers who are said to be sanctified by the faith in Christ Jesus Acts 26.28 Sanctified or made holy through Gods Word which is the Truth John 17.17 and to be made clean through the Word spoken to them John 15.3 Sanctified and washed by the washing of water the Love Grace and Knowledge of God held forth in the Word that they might be presented a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it might be holy and without blame or blemish Ephes 5.26 27. as also the holiness of the new man is therefore in Ephes 4.22 called according to the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The holiness of truth because the effect or product of the Truth believed by men To this purpose are those sayings of David in Psal 119.9 11. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his wayes By taking heed thereto according to thy Word And again I have hid thy Word in my heart that I might not sin against thee c. Yea 4. It is called the holy Faith to signifie the great care that God hath of it its acceptableness to him and his respect to and care of it as in that sense in Jer. 2.3 Israel was said to be holiness to the Lord being his people his peculiar portion he had an especial care over them to defend them so as that all that devoured them offended evil came or shall come upon them So is Christ holiness to the Lord very dear and delightful to him and therefore especially cared for and defended by him as in Psal 89.21 With him his right hand is established and his arm strengthens him so as the enemy shall not exact upon him nor the son of wickedness afflict him he will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him Yea therefore they that believe not in him shall be condemned and perish and they shall be destroyed that will
not hear and obey him Mat. 28.18 19. with Mark 16.15 16. Acts 3.22 23. And so God hath a singular watchfulness over and care of his Name and Doctrine the Gospel of Christ preaching and declaring him as the foundation of God for men so as that he will not bear that it should be slighted rejected and disobeyed by men It shall be easier in the judgment for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those that so do Matth. 10.15 with John 12.48 49 50. His presence is in and with it and it is a ministration of life righteousness and spirit as in 2 Cor. 3.5 6 7 8 9 c. thus the Faith is holy But 2. It s also called the most Holy to signifie 1. The superlative holiness and more abundant excellency of it above other holy things as to say 1. There were many things or persons types of Christ holy to God under the Law and some of them more holy and more set apart than others as there was the whole people holy to God The holy people Dan. 12.7 and Deut. 7.6 The holy seed Ezra 9.2 The Levites were yet more holy as being chosen and taken out of the people to do the service of the Tabernacle in liew of the first-born which God hallowed and chose for himself to be peculiarly his above the after-births of them Exod. 13. â— with Numb 3.12 13. and yet the Priests were more holy than they as having liberty to the holy Place and to go into the Tabernacle and offer upon the Altar which the Levites might not do and yet the High-Priest was more holy than they as only having liberty to enter the Holy of Holies Levit. 21.2 6 8 10 11 c. But Jesus Christ is more holy then them all the most holy Person that appears where Aaron or none of them might even in the Heavens themselves and by the vertue of his own blood to make intercession for us none holy like him who is the Lord nor any Rock like our God 1 Sam. 2.2 3. Yea there were many things holy as the Land was the holy Land Zech. 2.12 and the portion of it set apart for the Sanctuary more holy Ezek. 45.1 The Chambers of the Priests holy Ezek 42.13 Their Garments holy Exod. 28.20 and 29.29 The Crown put upon Aaron was the holy Crown Levit. 8.9 The Altar was holy yea most holy and whatsoever touched it was holy Exod. 29.37 The Sanctuary and all the Vessels of it holy Levit. 16.33 1 Chron. 22 19. Yea the Trumpets and other Instruments Numb 31.6 The Oracle or inner-place of the Sanctuary and Temple was most holy and therefore called the Holy of Holies and the most holy place as the Ointment made to anoint and sanctifie them and the Priests was most holy but yet Christ was more holy than they or any of them the most holy One the truth of them all they were but types and figures of him and their holiness of his yea there were holy Prophets and holy Apostles but yet he more holy than they the most holy One none so pure spotless oâ— undefiled the holiest Places and Vessels contracted soil and dust and needed cleansing sometimes and were sometimes defiled with Idols and other pollutions and needed an atonement to be made for them and at last because of the pollutions wherewith they were polluted they were given up to spoil to fire and to Captivity none of which can befal the Son of God though he was once put to death for our sins which were charged upon him yet being raised he dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him in that he died once he died unto sin but in that he liveth he liveth now unto God holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners made higher than the Heavens who needeth not dayly as those other Priests to offer first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people for this he did once c. Heb. 7.26 27. The holiest Priests had their sins properly their own to offer for he never did sin nor was guile found in his mouth the holy Prophets and Apostles had their sins and failings Moses the meekest man on earth yet once spake unadvisedly with his lips in his anger and provoked God to deprive him of entring into the Land of Canaan Aaron the Saint of the Lord made a molten calf also at the instance of the people David the man after God's own heart yet fell very grievously So did Solomon the wisest yea none of the Patriarks but in offering Sacrifices for sins therein confessed themselves to stand in need of mercy and forgiveness The Apostles confessed sins in them and tell us if they had said there was no sin in them or that they had not sinned they should have deceived themselves and the truth had not been in them But Christ was the perfectly spotless One in whom is no sin Nay the very Angels vail their faces and cover their feet in his presence as appears by what Isaiah saith when he saw his Glory in a Vision and spake of him Isa 6.1 2.3.4 with John 12.40 41. so that he is absolutely the most Holy One and therefore also the most consecrated and devoted unto God the Levites might come neerer to the Sanctuary and so to God as dwelling in it than the generallity of the people and the Priests neerer than the Levites and the High Priest neerer than the rest of the Priests but Christ comes nearer than any For he is not entred into the Holy places made with hands as they did but into Heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 Yea neither Saint nor Angel is so devoted to God or admitted so neer to him as Christ they are about the Throne but Christ is in the midst of it yea and though the four Beasts figuring the Camp of the Saints or their Leaders be said also to be in the midst of the Throne as well as round about it yet the Lamb is in the midst of them as the most inmost amongst them Rev. 4.4 6. and 5.6 11. and therefore also the most Holy both as to his efficacie and vertue for conferring holiness upon others it being He only that is made to us of God wisdome righteousness holiness and redemption No man or Angel hath that honour with or besides him the holy and holy-making Spirit is fully and immeasurably only upon him and sent forth by and from in his name Saints and Angels have not that honour and power as he and therefore also as to Gods tender care of him or heighth of love to him they are below him For to which of the Angels said he at any time sit thou on my right hand or thy Throne O God endureth for ever c. So that in all respects none holy as he none else the foundation the holy foundation of God's holy building but he Other foundations can no man lay but him 1 Cor. 3.11 and so 2. In
Son of God himself consecrated by an Oath for ever and ever living to make intercession for us in all which respects he is infinitely better and greater than the Priests under the Law abler to make us and our prayers acceptable to God c. 7. as also having an High Priest so merciful to us and so faithful both to God and us in all that concerns us one that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities and can succour those that be tempted because he himself suffered and was tempted as Chapter 2.17 18. and 4.15 one that can pity and have compassion on those that are ignorant and â—ut of the way Heb. 5.1 2 3. Let us therefore draw near with true sincere hearts in full assurance of faith our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water In these incouragements the Holy Ghost moves and incourages us to draw nigh and to pray to God as also is shewed Rom. 8.34 in that Christ hath died for us yea rather is risen again who also is at Gods right hand and maketh intercession for us 3. The infinite power and alsufficiencie of God in Christ and of Christ in God to hear help save and satisfie us and to fulfil all our petitions that are according to his will power belongs unto God Psal 62.11 12. therefore trust in him at all times ye people pour out your hearts before him he is a refuge for us So in Job 5.8 9. I would seek to God to God would I commit my cause who doth great things c. I am God Almighty Gen. 17.1 this incouraged Christ in the days of his flesh to pour out strong cries and tears that his Father was able to save him all things were possible to him Heb 5.7 Mark 14.36 and this through the love he hath manifested in Christ and the greatness faithfulness and mercifulness of Christ as our High-Priest and the infinite virtuousness of his sacrifice for us for obtaining favour and acceptation for us with God is of great usefulness to incourage us also that he that so loves us and with whom we have such a Priest and Sacrifice to befriend us is able to help and save us as Psal 57.2 I will cry unto God most high unto God that performeth all things for me this incouragement the Holy Ghost propounded to and by Paul as a motive to pray to him That the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is be of whom all the family in Heaven and earth is named and that in him are riches of Glory and that he is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all we ask and think Ephes 3.15 16 20. indeed this without the other would be little incouragement but rather terrifie us from him but with and through it it gives exceeding much incouragement to consider that he is able both in respect of wisdom and knowledge to discern our wants and in respect of Power and Authority to supply them 4. His Covenant and promises made and confirmed in Christ for hearing and helping those that come to him by Christ and for perfecting all that concerns them both as to salvation from evil and satisfaction with good It s his Covenant in Christ to write his Law in the heart and to put his fear into them and their iniquities and sins to remember no more c. and so it is to hear their prayers and to save them So Psal 50.14 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal 91.14 15. He shall call upon me I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him and honor him with long life will I satisfie him shew him my salvation so by our Saviour Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name I will give it you John 16.23 Godliness hath the promise of this life and of that that is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 to which add 5. His infinite truth and faithfulness through Christ to keep his Covenant and mercy for ever this incouragement is also propounded and was often made use of by the servants of God as the Apostle to move the Believer to draw nigh to God uses this amongst others Faithful is he that promised therefore let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering which is done as wel by our persevering in prayer and continuing to draw nigh to God Heb. 10 23. this was made use of and pleaded by Nehemiah c. 1.5 The great terrible God that keepeth Covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments so by those good Levites mentioned in Neh. 9 4 5. in Verse 32. and by Daniel Dan. 9.4 as also it is propounded as an incouragement to call upon God and to seek him and seek his face Psal 105.1.4 8. He hath remembred his Coâ—ont for ever c. 6. The Relations that they stand in to God and God to them that the Holy Spirit also makes use of to encourage to pray and to call upon God So in Matth. 7.11 If ye that are evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him So again in Luke 11.13 and this also the holy men of God have been encouraged by to pray to him as Isa 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us c. Thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer thy name is from everlasting c. So Jer. 14.8 O the hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in time of trouble c. 〈◊〉 very often David makes use of this encouragement that God was his God and his King his Rock Refuge c. 7. The often proofs they have had of his Goodness and Power and Mercy in former times Call to mind says the Apostle amongst other motives and encouragements to draw nigh to God and to hold fast the Profession of the Faith the farmer days in which after ye were illuminated ye endured a great fight of afflictions And this is often made use of and found as an encouragement to the servants of God in former times as Psal 4.1 O God of my righteousness hear when I call Thou hast set me at liberty when I was in distress have mercy upon me and hear my prayer and in Psal 18 3. we have David resolving to call upon the Lord worthy to be praised and assuring himself that so he should be delivered from his enemies And see what encouraged him to that assured expectation and so to that holy resolution Verse 4 5 6. The sorrows of death compassed me c. In my distress I called upon the Lord and cryed unto my God he heard my voyce out of his Temple c. Like to which is that in Psal 116.1 2. I love the Lord because he hath heard my voyce and my supplication because he hath inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him
improbable to the eye of flesh and blood or carnal reason that ever it should be performed Psal 105.19 So God exercised and tried Abraham's faith concerning a childe making him wait 25 years after his coming into Canaan before he performed the promise thereof to him and so he tried David as pertaining to the Kingdom c. for that 's an evidence of the Souls believing God and trusting in him when it yet holds fast its confidence though he seems to forget his word and makes no haste to perform it to it 2. To try and exercise the love of the Creature to God and to the mercy promised whether it will yet wait upon him and stay for his promise or imbrace some other more present injoyment that is more at hand and in its power to attain it men love not God nor the mercy promised at some high rate they will let it go and not stay or tarry for it they will with Demas imbrace this present world but if they love him and his mercy they will wait and tarry for it how ever long it be that he delay it as Jacob that loved Rachel was willing to wait and tarry for her seven years rather than not enjoy her and counted it but a small time for the love he had to her Gen. 29.20 3. To draw out the desire and affection of the Soul more after him and his mercy that it might long for it and pray and be earnest with God for it that so it might not come before it be heartily welcome and acceptable to the Soul that so also the Soul may be more thankful for mercy and better prizesâ— use it when it comes what men come easily and suddenly by they often as little value or regard but what they long for and earnestly desire and seek after and yet do not presently finde that they more prize when they doe obtain Abraham and Sarah being long delayed before they obtained a childe when at length God gave one to them they called him Isaac because of the joy and laughter that then they had in him Gen. 21.6 And Hannah having obtained a Son after long seeking and waiting dedicated him to God in thankfulness to him 1 Sam. 1. and 2. 4. To humble and meeken them in their hearts and spirits that so they might not lift up themselves in the mercy injoyed as if they had it either by themselves or for some worthiness in themselves but know that they receive it of the Grace of God in his time and at his pleasure that so he might therein and therefore be glorified Should God give men favours and mercies so soon as they desire them they might be apt to be lifted up in and for them as if their worthiness was such that God gave them with respect thereto or as if their desires did fetch them down and so after a sort by their power they had obtained them but when God withholds his mercies for some time he gives his people in that time to see and prove the many weaknesses of their endeavours and the many distempers and frowardnesses in their hearts the murmurings and faintings that they are apt to fall into and how soon they are apt to tire and be weary if God did not in mercy pardon and quicken them by which means they prove that it is not for their own worthiness that they are at last supplied satisfied but out of the great goodness of God toward them Or also that it is not by the power of their endeavors or desires but by the power and good will of God that they are saved Thus Moses tells Israel from God that he had led them forty years in the wilderness to humble them and prove them that he might do them good in the later end that they might not attribute the Lords giving them the good land to their worthiness but to his goodness Deut. 8.2.3.16 and in Chapter 9. minds them of their many failings and great iniquities committed by them in that time of tryal that so they might not say when brought into the Land of Canaan that for their righteousness he had brought them into that Land Yea he goeth over it twice or thrice that not for their righteousness or the uprightness of their hearts they did go in to possess that Land but for the wickedness of that people God drave them out and to perform his words sworn to their Fathers c. which he demonstrates from the many proofs of their stubborness which they had given in that time of exercise and trial ordered to them Deut. 9.4 5 6 7 c. 5. In a word God doth thus to prepare his people for mercies and make them more meet and fit for the injoyment of them and more thankful for them while they see they are at his pleasure and in fittest time bestowed on them that patience having its perfect work in them they might be intire wanting no good thing James 1.3 4. for 2. There is also in this tarrying a patient bearing that delay or deferring of comforts and a still retaining their confidence that they shall be granted and a keeping the way in which they are directed to expect them even as he that waits for a man both goeth to the place in which he hath promised to meet with him and in the time of his not coming stays there for him till he come not turning and going again though at his first coming and for some time after he there finds him not yea and though he sustain some troubles by so staying He that believes makes not haste Isa 25.16 He casts not away his confidence as they that draw back to perdition but exercises patience till he have done the will of God therein and so through faith and patience inherits the promises Heb. 6.12 with 10.35 36 37 38. and both those things are joyned together in the Lamentations as answering to waiting for the Lord Lam. 3.25 26. for having said ver 25. The Lord is good to the man that waiteth for him to the Soul that seeketh him it follows by way of inference It is good for a man both to hope and quietly to wait or tarry for Gods Salvation v. 26. yea in waiting is further implied 3. An earnest desire and seeking after the mercy and salvation of God as from that â—ference now mentioned as the consequent from the assertion of Gods goodness to the soul that seeks him is implied And indeed the heart cannot tarry and wait in hope and expectation of any thing that it hath no desire to injoy or see However the outward man might be forced and constrainedly made to stay in a place till such a thing come yet the heart is gone from it in case it hath no desire after it An earnest desire then for and a seeking after this mercy and Grace of God is here also commended to us in this waiting posture exhorted to that our affections should be after and upon that eternal life
injoyable by us and as that which is the fountain well-spring of all blessing and happiness But here let us view 1. What is meant by this Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. What that phrase or term of Mercy to be waited for signifies and hints to us 1. To the first Mercy is either an affect in the heart or An effect in its work to take in both of them Mercy is properly an affection or frame of heart in which it pities and compassionates anothers misery and affliction leading to spare one where there is power to harm him and to succour him in necessities and indigencies where there is power to help him And this is attributed to God and Christ that he is merciful and full of compassion ready to forgive offences and relieve in wants and miseries and do what is good for the Creatures deliverance from evils and conferring safety and happiness as may be abundantly seen in the Scriptures Psal 103.8 The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Yea this his Name The Lord Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands c. Exod. 34.6 7. And so it is said of Christ that he is a merciful and faithful High-Priest in Hebr. 2.16 17. And indeed God and Christ have abundantly manifested their merciful heart toward poor sinful afflicted Creatures many ways As 1. God hath manifested himself merciful 1. In taking pity on mankinde when fallen from him into a state of exceeding great sin and misery in that he did not then cast him off and destroy him but on the contrary devised a way and means for his redemption and recovery yea such a way of recovery as the translating our sin and misery upon his own onely begotten Son appointing in due time sending him forth into the world to be the propitiation for our sins bearing them on his own body on the tree that through his stripes we might be healed both abasing him thereto and exalting him to the height of Glory and Majesty therethrough at his own right hand that he might by the vertues of the former and in the exercise of the latter upon that account bring us back again to God Herein he hath shewed himself loving and merciful to us beyond all question or expression as it is said Through the tender mercy of our God the day spring Christ the bright and the Morning-Star from on high hath visited us c. Luke 1.78 2. God hath also manifested himself merciful to us in freely justifying us mankinde by his Grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ not imputing to the world their trespasses but preaching peace to us by him and through his blood and opening his Kingdom for us and to us with gracious calls and counsels and invitations to enter thereinto and be made partakers of the blessed priviledges thereof unto everlasting life and in freely admitting and accepting all that obey his calls and counsels therein however otherwise and formerly sinful and unworthy as may be seen in Mary Magdalene the Publicans harlots and prodigals whom upon their coming to him he hath freely pardoned and accepted and made partakers of his righteousness and blessing as if they never had been so vile and wretched Rom. 3.23 24. 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. Eph. 2.15 17. Mat. 22.4 8 9. and 9.12 13 Luk. 7.37 47. 15.1 2 15 16 c. 1 Cor. 6 9 10 11. 3. God hath shewed himself merciful to us Gentiles and Heathens in calling us so wonderfully to the knowledg of his Son and of his Grace in him when as formerly we were so gross and grievous sinners against all former dispensations of his goodness and manifestations of himself in his works and providences It was his great mercy through the blood of his Son to make peace and atonement for us blotting out all former trespasses admitting us to fellowship with the Saints and so with himself through Christ Jesus as Ephes 2.4 5 11 12 17 19 20. as it is said that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his Mercy Rom. 15 9. and who had not in times past obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2.10 whence I beseech you by the Mercies of God offer up your body a living Sacrifice c. Rom. 12.1 and the like he will shew forth to the Jews in calling them again and receiving them to favour after all their unbelief and stubbornesses against him as it is said He hath shut them all up in unbelief that he might have mercy upon them all Rom. 11.32 4. God hath doth dayly shew himself merciful unto men in passing by iniquities and extending helpfulness to them in their afflictions which they procure to themselves by their great follies and rebellions as is also frequently testified in the Scriptures as in Psal 78.38 when Israel oft and much â—â—oked him in the wilderness so as he therefore 〈◊〉 them sometimes with his Judgments yet 〈◊〉 â—eing full of compassion forgave their iniquity 〈◊〉 â—estroyed them not yea many a time he turned his anger away and did not stir up all his wrath So in Neh. 9.16 17 18 19. 5. So also in his patience towards sinners not willing they should perish but rather come to repentance and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9.15 Rom 2.4.5 1 Tim. 2.5 and to say no more 6. His readiness to hear the cries and prayers of the poor and afflicted and not to despise their prayers but to hear and help them as in Psal 22.24 yea to hear the cries of other Creatures as the young Ravens and provide food for all flesh Psal 136.25 and 147.9 much more doth he fulfil the desires of them that fear him yea he also hears their cries and saves them Psal 145.15 17 18. 2. So also Christ hath abundantly shewed forth his mercy toward us 1. In that being in the form of God not thinking it robbery to be equal with God yet for our sakes at the will and appointment of the Father he abased himself laid aside his Glory humbled himself to the Death the Death of the Cross and therein bare our sins in his own body on the tree and was made a curse for us to redeem us from sin and curse that so he might in the vertues of his sufferings and Sacrifice bring us back again to God Ye know saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 8.9 the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that he being rich became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich He is merciful full of compassion and gracious Psal 145.8 2. In pitying poor miserable men in his personal converse with them and ministration to them while on the earth Going about and doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil curing their sicknesses and Diseases instructing their Souls in pity to them where ignorant and out of the way Mark 8.2 Act. 10.38 As also 3. In preaching peace by his
when brought to own him for out Lord and to subject our selves to his Government over us as in believing on him we do and especially if we therein exercise our selves to more knowledge of him and obedience to him as in building up our selves on our most Holy saith If justified by his Blood much more will be save us from wrath in his Mercy towards us Rom. 5.9 2. And yet more in that he is our Lord as the Lord of all generally in a more common sense and relation so the believers Lord in a special sense and relation as exercising his Lordship peculiarly over and for them as one owned as their Lord and depended on for the exercise of his power for their help yea he is so the Lord of the Believers as the Husband is Lord of his wife as he is often stiled in the Scripture language as in Psal 45.10 Hearken O Daughter and consider incline thine eare also and hear forget also thine own people and thy Fathers house so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty for he is thy Lord and worship thou him And surely he that is specially the Lord owner Head Husband and disposer of his people is both worthy to be waited on by them â—nd will be more especially merciful to them He that is good and a merciful bountiful Lord over all and to all his Creatures so as to open his hand and liberally to satisfie the desire of every living thing will especially be rich in mercy to all that call upon him that call upon him in truth that pray in the Holy Ghost He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him He also will hear their cry and he will save them Psal 145.18 19. 3. 〈◊〉 that he is our Lord Iesus that is so our Lord as also our Saviour our Lord and Saviour the Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 his name was therefore called Iesus because he was born into the woâ—ld and manifested to save his people from their sinâ— Matth. 1.21 and Believers in him who are brought to and built upon him are his people in a special sense his sheep his flock his Disciples yea his Body whereof he is both the Head and Saviour Ephes 5.23 and therefore he is both worthy their waiting on him for his mercy and they have good ground of incouragement to expect his Mercy in the pardon of their sins and saving and helping in out of all their sorrows afflictions and sufferings and supplying of their wants in their waiting for it from him especially seeing also 4. He is our Lord Iesus Christ that is our Lord that is anointed of God to be our Savior He is both appointed of God his Father thereto and furnished with the Holy Ghost and power to fit him thereto It is the will of the Father his designaâ—â—â—n choice and ordination of him that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him should have everlasting life and that he should raise him up at the last day namely to the injoyment of that everlasting life And therefoâ—e he being faithful in all things to him that appointed him as well as merciful and loving to us that believe in him they that flee to him for shelter and refuge may comfortably expect and wait for his Mercy even unto eternal life put all these together As he is Lord it implâ—s him to have power and authority to shew us Mercy as our Lord relatioâ— and ingagement to exercise his power and authority for our good as our Saviour mercy toward us in his heart and as Christ or anointed to save us an Office and designation of God his Father to shew us mercy according to his great power and goodness all speak ingagement upon us and incouragement to us to wait for his mercy for his mercy in all our present case yea mercy unto everlasting life which is the next thing considerable Vnto eternal life Which denotes either the tendencie and issue of his mercy or the term of our waiting for his Mercy 1. The Mercy to be waited for desired and to be sought after by us is not only Mercy in this life or the Mercies or benefits of this life though they are also in his hand and dispose and he is ready to impart them to us as he sees good for us but such Mercy as conduces to and ends in eternal life such as be the forgiveness of our sins the giving of his Spirit and Grace to us his supporting us in all trials and afflictions his sanctifying us and conforming us to himself in all holiness and goodness his receiving our Spirits in Death and raising us up from the dead to eternal life and glory and the possessing us of it at the day of his appearance all which are the fruits and effects of his Mercy and his Mercy stands appears and is acted sorth in the gift of them to us they being not the procurements of our goodness services or sufferings or to be looked upon as our merits things any way deserved by us but the procurement of his Mercy in his Death and sufferings for us and his Mercy and compassion and riches of his Grace and bounty towards us yea eternal life it self is the gift of God through Iesus our Lord as the effect and fruit of his Mercy to us and therefore 2. We are to wait for his Mercy unto or until we arrive at eternal life till we have and attain to the full of that which his Grace and Mercy hath procured for us and he as our Lord and anointed Saviour is designed to give unto us and confer upon us which is included and contained in eternal life 1 Iohn 2.24 25. This is the promise which he hath promised us even everlasting life which although it be given us even mankinde in Iesus Christ inasmuch as he is given of God to us that he might be received by us whether we receive him or not and he is that eternal life that was with God in the beginning and in these last days was manifested to us 1 Iohn 5.11 and 1.1 2. and he hath in him all that will produce in us being received by us eternal life or an everlasting happy state and condition as remission of sins the Holy Spirit of life and power the presence favour and fulness of God and of all Grace and blessing yea and though the Believer is said now to have everlasting life inasmuch as he hath Christ in whom it is and so hath it by way of right title and interest and some beginnings and first fruits of it in that he hath the forgiveness of his sins the Holy Spirit the favour of God and his blessing in which is life Psal 30 5. and 133.4 Prov. 8.34 yet that which is most properly eternal life is that full perfect and everlasting freedom from all sin sorrow and evil and that full perfect and perpetual injoyment of the glorious presence and blessing
who stood in need of his Sons coming and saving of them In that love as we noted in one sense all men are till any of them slighting it and rebelling against God as exercising his love to them are therefore blotted out of the Book of Life and reprobated and reckoned after Satan as incorporated into him that is all men as fallen were and are till then the objects of that love God would not that any man should perish but that all might come to repentance and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9 He would that all men be saved and come to the knowledge or acknowledgment of the truth for there is one God and one Mediator of God and men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all a testimony in due time 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Such Grace or Good will was in the heart of God toward the whole World or every one that there through Christ was sent forth for them and tasted death for every one Heb. 2.9 by which bearing upon himself the sin of the World therein he took it away John 1.29 obtained such a release of that judgment that was upon all for one offence to condemnation that there is justification to life and righteousness in him for all Rom. 3.22 and 5.18 He being risen again a Conquerour over sin and death for our justification and being as a reward and recompence of his services and sufferings taken up to the right hand of God He is by him made Lord and Christ Phil. 2.10 11. Acts 2.36 Lord of all both of the dead and living Acts 10.36 Rom. 14 9. And anointed and filled with the Holy Ghost and power that he might be the light to lighten the Gentiles and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth Isai 61.1 and 42.1 7 8. and 49.8 9. The great Prophet and Teacher of the Truth of God to men the Great High Priest who having offered up himself an acceptable Sacrifice to God is in the vertues thereof the Mediator of God and men the propitiation for the sins of the whole World 1 John 2.1 2. 1 Tim. 2.5 So as that mercy and goodness patience and forbearance is by him extended from God to the whole World in the day of his grace and patience to lead them to repentance Rom. 2.4 5. Psal 145.8 9 10. and there is in and through him a way of access for any of them to God and of acceptance with God in their repenting and coming to God by him Heb. 7.25 and 10.19 20. John 14.6 and 3.16 17. Who is also the Great King over all the Earth who are given him for his inheritance and possession Psal 47.7 Jer. 10.7 Psal 2.8 And in the exercise of these his glorious Offices He is the Saviour of all men and especially of them that believe and through him God his Father is so also 1 Tim. 4.10 All things are ready in him for men even a feast of fat things for all people Mat. 22 4. Isai 25.6 And both he and the Father in him is ready to entertain thereto all that come to him in the strength and vertue of his grace and gracious call preventing them which is therefore also extended to them generally by God and Christ in his works about them or words to them with his Spirit there through working to convince reprove and move them to seek after and turn to him Isai 55.1 2 3 6 7 8. and 45.22 Prov. 1.20 21 22 23 24. Psal 50.1 2. Prov. 8.1 5. and 9.1 6. John 6.37 Such love hath God to all generally and to those that believe he testified the same to draw them to believe and come to him they also being before their believing Children that is fit for and worthy of wrath even as others Ephes 2.3 Tit. 3.3 4 5. Yea and now that they believe having nor wholly put off the fruits of the sin of the first Adam but being as men still defiled with sin dwelling in them and mortallity and death upon them as such they are objects still of that love of pitty to mankind and stand in need of the exercise of it to their salvation they are not by believing passed out of that love much less blotted out but are yet continued in it though also advanced higher and so not only as all other men the objects of that love but also 2. As brought unto Christ they are in a further sense in that love too so as other men are not that is to say they are in the understanding belief and knowledge of that love of God to man that is they in some measure understand believe know it yea have it in their hearts so as they are also begotten to God and Christ thereby are born of it and have the foundation ground or beginning of their faith and hope in God in it for it is in the discovery and perception of that love of God to man that the heart is overcome and framed to trust in God and brought out of it self and out of its former false confidences into Christ not the sight of special love to it self above others but the sight and knowledge of Gods love to the World Therefore when our Saviour had preached to Nicodemus the necessity of regeneration to the entring into the Kingdom of God or seeing and injoying it he did not afterward for effecting that regeneration in him tell him of some peculiar electing love of God towards him in particular but of Gods love to the World in general John 3.3 5 15 16. Even as it was not the lifting up the Brazen-Serpent in some special fashion for this or that particular person of the Israelites stung with the fiery Serpents and their beholding it as in some such special fashion lifted up for them by vertue whereof this or that person of them was healed but by its being lifted up for all of them in general this or that man beholding it as so lifted up as a common Medicine for their healing received healing by it and perished not And as Moses lifted up that Serpent in the wilderness the only common Medicine for all that were stung so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life So the Apostle Paul saith Tit. 3.3 4. that it was the effect and product of the love and pity of God our Saviour towards man and not as towards themselves only or in some special manner that they were pull'd out of the state of the world saved While any man knows or takes heed to and minds the Name fame or Doctrine of God that sets him forth in his greatness power love mercy faithfulness c he will trust in him That Name known and minded though it be but one and the same in it self for and to all men as considered alike will beget and frame the hearts of such as know it to trust in him It is the sight understanding or perception of the General
love of and goodness of God to all even to sinners and enemies that overcomes any whiles sinners and enemies to turn to God trust and hope in him and in his mercy for their salvation The sight and perception of the goodness of God to believers as such may make a man to wish himself to be such and more diligently to listen to what may make him such that he may partake of that choice goodness and it is very useful also to be propounded in the hearing of others as our Saviour did propound the blessed state of his Disciples to them in the hearing of the multitude Matth. 5.1 2. with Luk 6.20 21 but it is the sight knowledge or perception of God's graciousness to sinners in his being upon the account of Christ and his sacrifice and mediation ready and willing to accept any poor sinner turning to him forgiving his sins and not retaining his trespasses against him to barr him out from his favour that draws and perswades a sinner and ungodly one to turn unto him and hope and believe in him yea and it is the flesh of Christ given for the life of the world that the believer also feeds on Now all men are not in this sense in the General love goodness and gratiousness of God they do not see perceive and believe it much less are their hearts taken with it and living in it sucking in vertue and power from it to trust in God and to renew them into his image and unto his obedience But the believers are in this sense in it too in the words and Doctrine of Christ John 8.31 32. feeding upon it even upon the flesh of Christ given for the life of the world John 6.51 Christ given to be the ransome for all and there-through the Saviour of the world is the root spring and foundation of their hope and faith towards God and then 2. They are also there-through in the special love of God The love wherewith he loves Christ comes upon them and they are in it included in it and inclosed with it because through the discovery of Christ and the Grace of God in him for all men they are brought into Christ Being baptized into him they have put him on as Gal. 3.26 27. and are lookt upon of God as in him as his Branches John 15.1 4 5 his Members Ephes 5.30 and so they are reckoned after him according to their new-Birth of and into him 2 Cor. 5.16 17 Being in Christ they are no more known after the flesh After what they were in Adam and derived from him to be disowned of God by reason thereof but they are new Creatures old things are passed away and all things are become new they are now in another a new State and condition from what other men are in out of Christ that from what themselves were in before they were in Christ or believed in him they were amongst others in the state and fellowship of the world Branches of the same Wild-Olive as it were with them ungodly sinners children of wrath such as deserved wrath and were obnoxious to it as well as the rest but now through the blood of Christ and by faith in him they are made partakers of Christ the second Adam the root of righteousness the plant of renown the Son of God and his dearly beloved One and so they are 1. Justified acquitted from all their former sins and trespasses none of them remain upon them as imputed to them there is not only righteousness in Christ for them as for all Rom. 3.22 but it is also come upon them so as they are in it By Christ all that believe are justified acquitted and set free from the charge and imputation of all things wherefrom they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Act. 13.38 39. even from such sins as the Law of Moses provided or allowed no Sacrifices for as Murther Adultery c. what ever they were before they are now justified sanctified washed or made clean therefrom in the sight of God in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. and they are now reputed and reckoned righteous in Christ and so stiled and spoken of by the Spirit of God in the Scriptures 2. They are now also owned and accepted of God into a nearer relation and station to him they are now in Christ become his not only his in a common sense as all the earth are but his in a more special and peculiar sense not only his because his Creatures in Adam and so he their Soveraign Lord to rule over and dispose of them as he pleases but also his because his new Creatures Created as his workmanship in Christ Jesus unto good works which he hath ordained for them to walk in his people his Subjects his purchased ones not only as generally ransomed from under the power and tyrannous jurisdiction of Sathan and Sentence of curse to be under Christs Lordship and dispose as all are but also as through his love therein testified and made known they are purchased and procured to a voluntary subjection of themselves to his Government to own him for their Lord and themselves to be his Subjects and and Servants and so are translated out of the Kingdom and jurisdiction of Sathan and the power of darkness as to their living therein and obeying thereofi nto the Kingdome and gracious Government of his Dear Son Exod. 19.5 6. Eph. 2.10 1 Pet. 2 9. Col. 1.11 12 13. Yea they are made of his family and houshold in the choice sense Fellow Citizens with the Saints of the Heavenly Jerusalem the City of God c. 3. Yea God so loves these that he adopts them to himself for Sons being in Christ his Son and made members of him whereas before were they others Servants servants of sin and heirs of death To them that received him he that is Christ gave this liberty freedome or dignity to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name being begotten and born thereto not of bloods or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man but of God whose work it is to bring a man to and make him in Christ by and through the word of truth declared to men and listened to by them John 1.12 13. Jam. 1.18 thence that also ye are all the Sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ for as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.26 27. It is a fruit and consequent of mens being in Christ a priviledge resulting from Christ the Son of God by nature and generation that any obtain this Grace and favour to be reputed and owned of God as his Children and therefore also it is common to all believers that are truly such without difference or respect of persons it is nothing that the carnal parentage or natural blood or birth of better or worse parents or that the desires