greatest Evils so he Swears again to assure us of the greatest good By my self have I Sworn saith God to Abraham that in Blessing I will Bless thee Heb. 6.13 14. Those to whom Christ is made Righteousness do also receive the Holy Spirit The clean Water of Christ's Blood and the Spirit do go together Ezek. 36.25.27 Tit. 3.5 1 Cor. 6.11 Psal 51.12 Some call the gift of the Spirit Executive Justification they mean that God executes the Sentence of Justification by bestowing the Spirit to break off our Chaines burn up our Dross purge away our Filth and make us free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 Though the Law of Sin be a strong and powerful Law to inslave us yet the Law of the Spirit of Life is more mighty to set us free as Jesus Christ by his Blood redeems us to be the Temple of God so by his Spirit he comes into his Temple takes Possession of it and fills it with his Glory As we live by the Sentence of Justification so Christ lives in us by the Spirit of Sanctification Gal. 2.20 The Spirit is given as a Tree of Life and all Graces are the Fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 The Holy Ghost is given as the well of all Living Waters and Spritual streames John 4.14 John 7.37 38 39. By Faith we drink in the very Well it self and therefore Believers can never be totally dry He that Believeth on me shall never thirst John 6.35 Observe and compare the words of God the Father Zech. 13.7 with the words of the Church Cant. 4. last As God said once Awake O Sword against my Shepherd against the Man that is my Fellow smite the Shepherd so the Church now saith daily Awake O North wind and blow O South wind upon my Garden that the Spices of it may flow forth Because the Sword of Justice hath awaked terribly against Christ the Spirit may sweetly awake and blow on our Soules excite quicken and draw forth Grace into act and exercise Christ gives his people the Glory that the Father gave him John 17.22 Musculus understands this Glory to be the gift of the Holy Ghost The Spirit was on Christ Isa 61.1 and given to him John 3.34 And Christ communicates this glorious Spirit to his Members as the soul of the whole mystical body and this makes them one with the Father and the Son and perfects them in one because they participate of the Spirit that proceeds from the Father and the Son and have by it a new divine Nature and do aim at design and seek the Glory of the Father and the Son as they do design their own Glory 6. The Prayers of Justified persons are acceptable to and powerful with God for the Spirit that testifies God's Grace to Believers doth make Intercessions in them As a Spirit of Grace it gives Encouragement to Prayer as a Spirit of Supplication it gives assistance in Prayer Zeck 12.10 Rom. 8.26 This is the Fire from Heaven that warms our cold hearts and kindles all our Sacrifices that they may flame upwards The Prayer of a Believer is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 James 5.16 A deep in-wrought Prayer it is not born in the lips but springs from the Soul Luther on Genesis well expresses it it is not Spuma oris sed singulus cordis The Foam of the Mouth but the Throbbing and Sighing of the Heart The Holy Ghost breaths in Holy Affections and the Soul then breaths out holy desires and expressions Saints pray as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as those that are possessed and acted mightily by the Spirit of God hence it is that they so strive and wrestle with God and their prayers are so much valued and desired by Christ Those are wonderful words Cant. 2.14 Christ saith to the Church Let me see thy face let me hear thy voice He that seeth his Father's Face above desires to see Petitioners Faces below He that hears the Songs the Hallelujahs of Angels of Saints in Heaven desires to hear the Voice the Suits of Believers on Earth And as their Prayers are desired so they are accepted The Prayer of the upright is God's delight Prov. 15.8 They Pray in Christ's powerful Name John 16.23 26. and he adds the Incense of his Merits to the Prayers of all Saints Rev. 8.3 and so takes away the Iniquity of their Holy Things The Altar had a Grate of Brass Exod. 27.4 the use of it was to separate the Earthy and Grosser part of the Sacrifice and to let the Ashes through So Christ is an Altar that hath a Grate he separates our sins our defects our weaknesses from our services yea he is the Altar on which our Offerings must be laid and that renders our Sacrifices acceptable to God Isa 60.7 It is said that the Offerings of Believers shall ascend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon Good-Will my Altar God speaks and puts this glorious Name on Christ Good-Will my Altar What an encouragement is this to Saints that are Spiritual Priests to offer Holy Sacrifices seeing they have Good-Will for their Altar God is so pleased with and delights in Christ that he calls him Good-Will my Altar 7. All the outward and Temporal Mercies of Justified Persons are heightened and sweetened to them by the Spring from whence they flow and they have a new tast He delivered me saith David because he delighted in me Psal 18.19 In love to my Soul saith Hezekiah he hath delivered me from the pit of corruption having cast all my sins behind his back Isa 38.17 Even Temporal Mercies are Glasses in which they see their Father's Face and are Stairs or Ladders by which their Hearts are raised to God Jehoshaphat had an Established Kingdom Riches and Honour in abundance And what was the fruit and effect of this his heart was lifted up in the ways of God 2 Chron. 17.5 6. Earthly Enjoyments do usually fuel Men's Lusts but they fed and inflamed Hezekiah's Love to God they are to Carnal Men Weights that press them down the Prosperity of Fools doth destroy them Prov. 1.32 but through Grace they are Wings to raise Saints Souls to God Believers enjoy their outward Mercies by a Spiritual Right they have them by Promise Heb. 11.9 Canaan was the Land of Promise and Abraham was Heir to it by the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.13 Sacrifices were slain that Typified Christ and then God entred into a Covenant with Abraham gave and assured Canaan to him Gen. 15.8 9 10 17 18. Believers have a Right to Earthly things by God's Promise and Christ's Death who is the Heir of all things Heb. 1.2 Earthly things are but as Cyphers but God adds a great Figure to them to make them signifie something Gen. 17.8 I will give thee the Land of Canaan and I will be thy God they are to Believers but additional things as an over-plus cast into the Kingdom of God as the Principal Matth. 6.33 So the Country of Sihon and Og the King of
control vile affections subdue and yield your Spirits to God You also are Priests first offering up your selves and then offering up Prayers and Praises to God Under Christ's Priesthood of Attonement there Springs up another Priesthood of Gratitude and Thanksgiving As on Christ the Altar God presents the Flesh and Blood of Jesus as Sustenance to us So on the same Altar we offer our Souls and Bodies and all Spiritual performances as precious Sacrifices to God Justification is joined with strength to resist and overcome Sin Isa 45.24 Surely shall one say in the Lord I have Righteousness and strength Jesus at once Satisfied for Sin and also curcified our old Man Rom. 6.6 Christ ruined the Natural Life of the First Adam he destroyed that Life and Body that is the Subject of Sin and the Members by which it is executed The animal Life is a great Temptation to Sin we are enticed by the Pleasures Profits and Honours that belong to it Christ therefore abolished it as an imperfect Life in himself that he might destroy it as a Sinful Life in us He pulled away the Earth in which this weed growes and pulled down as Sampson the very house in which our Lusts as Spiritual Philistines dwell as the first Adam's corrupt Nature passes with the guilt of Adam's first Sin so the new Nature of Jesus Christ passeth to Souls together with his Righteousness In the same Testament that Christ doth dispose Remission of Sins he doth also Bequeath a new Heart Ezek. 36.25 26. If God blots Sins out of his Book he will write his Laws also in our Hearts If he Reverse the Sentence of Death passed on us he will breath the Spirit of Life into us Those that are sprinkled with Christ's Blood are Redeemed from all Iniquity and consecrated to God As a Redeemed People they are obliged to be first Fruits to God Revel 14.4 and as a Regenrated People they are enabled to be First-fruits to God Jam. 1.18 Where Christ washes with his Blood he doth also anoint with his Spirit Are we adopted John 1.12 Have we power and right to be called the Sons of the living God Hos 1.10 Are we the Children of the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. last Justification is alwayes attended with Adoption Those that receive a white stone that is are absolved acquitted Justified from all their Sins they have also in this white Stone a new Name Revel 2.17 What is this new Name but the Name of a Child of God Adoption is an Amplification of our Justification We are not only pronounced as Righteous and owned as Friends but reputed and accepted as Sons and Daughters are nearly Related and greatly endeared to God Are you the Children of God not by Hagar the Bond Woman but by Sarah the Free Woman Do you serve with a free Spirit and not as slaves that have no delight in God and could wish his Law were totally abrogated 5. Do you love God and Christ Luk. 7.47 She loved much because much was Forgiven her When great debts are Remitted Heinous crimes are Pardoned deep Spots and Stains are fetched out this calls for highest and hottest Love He that covereth Transgessions seeketh Love Prov. 17.9 Then surely God and Christ have sought our Love by covering our Sins Psal 32.1 2. Our Iniquities are many ways aggravated and so are of a Scarlet and Crimson Dye Isa 1.18 And for this deep dye to be washed and fetched out and for them to become as white as Snow and Wool this is wonderful Mercy For a Sinner to be as much accepted with God as if he had never Offended and Transgressed Our Sins as Commited against God are Talents and as they have been multiplied 't is a debt of Ten Thousand Talents and for this whole debt to be freely Forgiven 2 Col. 13. And for the Blood of Christ to be the clean Water to purge away Sin Ezek. 36.25 Revel 1.5 this must needs warm and inlarge the Heart heighten and inflame the affections towards God If you do not give your Hearts to God if you do not set your Love on Christ it is a plain Sign that you have not Tasted of the Grace of God or experienced the Kindness of Christ in Forgiving your Sins 6. What free access have you to God and what joy and Delight have you in him Are your Consciences so perfected that is so perfectly purged that you dare to draw nigh to God and that with confidence Heb. 7.19 Heb. 10.19 It is a great thing to have boldness to enter into the Holiest Place and to approach to the Highest Majesty Heb. 12.23 Jisus Christ died to bring us to God 1 Pet. 3.18 Dare we to come to God the Judge of all as being assured he will not Condemn us Heb. 12.23 Do we rejoyce in God through our Lord Jesus Christ having now received the Atonement Rom. 5.11 Do we rejoyce in what God is to us in what he hath done for us and in what he farther designs towards us Can we Feast on Mount Ebal Deut. 27.7.13 14 15. where the Curses were Proclaimed Can we there Triumph because Christ Jesus hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law by being made a Curse for us Gal. 3.13 Are we so Justified in the Lord as to glory Isa 45. last In the Lord shall all the Seed of Israel be Justified and Glory Can you Glory over all Accusers and Accusations Do you glory in the Person in whom and in the Righteousness by which you are Justified there is no exception against the Person that Justifieth and there is no flaw or defect in the Righteousness that is imputed Surely shall one say in the Lord I have Righteousness so it is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is a full and compleat Righteousness in Christ as Christ Rising from the dead did carry away our Sins so he propagates a new Nature to the Redeemed Is our Justification matter of greatest joy to us Isa 61.10 I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord and joy in my God for he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness 7. Do you much Praise and Bless God for Reconciling and Pardoning of you Psal 103.12.3 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Bless his Holy Name who forgiveth all thine iniqutites O Lord I will Praise thee For thou wast angry with me but thine anger is turned away and thou dost comfort me Isa 12.1 In the times of the Gospel it is said Men shall shew forth the Praises of the Lord Isa 60.6 The time of the Gospel is as a Pleasant and Delightful Spring The Winter is past the Rain is over and gone the time of the Singing of Birds is now come Cant. 2.11 12. The Spring is as it were a mediator between the extreme cold of Winter and the excessive heat of Summer and so is a fit Emblem of the times of the Gospel in which Christ is Revealed as a Mediator between us that are so cold as
about their Eternal State Hope is an Anchor cast within the Vale as soon as they set out and begin their Voyage they may cast their Anchor into their Port and Haven and so have their Hearts established Heb. 6.19 2. Those that have hope of this Salvation are supported under Afflictions and Persecutions 2 Tim. 18.9 Partake thou of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God who both saved us and called us As if Paul should say Murmure not at faint not under the Afflictions of the Gospel for God hath saved you from the greatest Enemies and from the worst Evils and all your Afflictions shall turn to your Salvation Phil. 1.19 They shall further advance promote it they shall refine Saints from their Dross wean them from their strange Land and cause them to long more after their Father's House and Heavenly Country Have they any Reason to be discontented whom God loves 1 John 4.59 and that are Heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 and of the Kingdom James 2.5 3. These may die with comfort they have hope in Death Prov. 14.32 That which doth shipwrack others shall land them safe on the calm Shores of a Blessed Eternity that which impoverishes others shall enrich them Though Death doth pluck off the Rags of Mortality yet God shall cloath them with Robes of Glory When their Bodies drop down into the Pit their Souls shall be taken up into the Palace when their Flesh feeds Worms their Spirits shall feast with Saints and Angels though God doth kill them yet they may trust he will be their Salvation Joh 13.15 16. When the Eye of Sense shall be shut so that Saints shall no more see Worldly Objects yet then God will shew them his Salvation Psal 91. last They shall see God's Salvation from Sins Temptations Troubles Afflictions they shall see a freedom from Spiritual and Temporal Evils and also be translated into an Eternal Kingdom Christ will receive their departing Souls and be their Guardian and Trustee till the Resurrection O it is sweet when God adds to the Mercies of Sixty Seventy Eighty Years the enjoyment of a blessed Eternity It is Salvation that must crown Old Age with Glory Death is the critical time the Soul must then see Life or Death a Heaven must shine from God's pleasing Countenance or Hell be rained from his angry Face O how sweet is it then to see the truth of God's Promises in the enjoyment of an Eternal Salvation 4. Those interested in this Salvation shall be saved in the Day of the Lord 1 Cor. 5.6 when Sins will find out others and Vengeance will take hold of them then Believers shall be saved O what unexpressible comfort will it be to point out Jesus Christ at the Great Day and to say This is our God we have waited for him and he will save us and we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation Isa 25.9 This is a Salvation that will for ever set Souls beyond Gun-shot out of the reach of all Dangers Evils Enemies They shall then fully receive the end of their Faith even an Eternal Salvation 1 Pet. 1.9 Christ will appear unto Salvation to those that look for him Heb. 9. last Then Saints shall be Heirs in full possession of Salvation Heb. 1.14 They shall be redeemed from all Evils or possessed of all goodness be exalted to the Kingdoms and be placed in the Throne I shall lastly give you some Directions how you may be saved 1. You must be enlightned and convinced of your Danger you must see the Evils you are under and the Danger and Destruction you are exposed to Few do think themselves to be condemned to Death and to be sick unto Death That they are Children of Satan and Enemies to God They will not believe that they are captivated by the Devil enslaved by Sin and chained to the World The Scripture teaches us that Men are held Rom. 7.6 and that they are led 1 Cor. 12.2 they are held in the Snares of Sin and led by Satan Their Lusts are Bonds their depraved Wills and corrupt Affections are the Chains that the Devil leads them by Men discourse see or discern what are the true Evils that they should be saved from they are not sensible of the blindness and vanity of their Minds the deceit and desperate wickedness of their Hearts That their Wills are perverse and rebellious and the greatest Enemies to God and their own Souls They will account that Troubles Afflictions Reproaches Wants and Death are Evils but they do not perceive that their greatest Evils and worst Enemies are within themselves A Root of Bitterness an evil Treasure a Body of Death a Fountain of Iniquity that is in their Souls But Sinners must know what first cleaves to them abide in them do defile and deform their Souls and testify against them before God Isa 59.12 Our Transgressions are with us and as for our Iniquities we know them Yea Men have no liking of that which is the true Salvation Saints are said to love God's Salvation Psal 70.4 but a Carnal Creature doth not love but loath God's Salvation to be delivered from his false Notions his vain Thoughts his corrupt Opinions his inordinate love of himself and of the Creatures to be taken off from his sensual Pleasures carnal Delights to be brought to give his Heart to God set his Love on Christ to delight in Spiritual Future Invisible things this is a Salvation he dreads and hates and if he could go to Heaven with this vain Mind and carnal Heart it would be a place of Exile and of Punishment to him You must see your Danger that you are as Isaac bound laid on the Altar and ready to be sacrificed as a whole Burnt-Offering in the Flames of Wrath. You must hear the just dreadful Sentence Matth. 18.25 The Lord commanded the Debtor to be sold and Payment to be made It is dreadful to be sold into the Prison into a Place of Eternal Bondage Your Heart must be broken your Spirit wounded your Soul burdened under the sense of the guilt and filth of Sin else you will not have a due value of the Doctrine and Promise of Salvation 1 Tim. 1.15 We must account it worthy of all acceptation more valuable than all the Riches Pleasures Honours of the World If a Man were sinking and drowning he would not regard a Bag of Gold or a Box of Diamonds but prefer a Cord cast out to save him a Boat to take him in more than all the things of the World Believe that your Condition is exceeding bad and dangerous Lot's Wife looked back as one that doubted whether Sodom would be destroyed and Lots Sons in Law could not believe that the danger of Sodom was so great and its Destruction so near Gen. 19.14 So Sinners believe not that to be Carnally minded is Death that they that live after the Flesh shall die that they that are far off from God shall perish Psal 73.27
destitute of the Love of God and God that is a consuming Fire to Sinners and therefore this is a fit season for the Singing of Birds Justified Souls will sing Praises to God that heals their Backslidings and to Jesus Christ that is their Righteousness and Ransom The Redeemed of the Lord shall return to Zion with Songs Isa 35. last Though the Ark was heavy laden with Noah his Family all the Birds Beasts living creatures and suitable Food for them that was laid up in the Ark yet it did not sink but was born up by the Waters so what matter of Praise is it that we that are heavy laden with Iniquity are born up by the blood of Christ and do not sink into Predition We are guilty Creatures our mouths are stopt as we are Sinners Rom. 3.19 But O! what a wonderful and amazing change is this that we should be so Justified by the Grace of God and thorugh the Redemption of Christ that the mouths of Spiritual Enemies and accusers are stopt Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect it is God that Justifieth Who shall condemn it is Jesus Christ that hath died Our Lips were sealed up with Guilt now the mouths of Accusers are stopt by Christ's Satisfaction And shall not our Lips be opened and our Tongues loosed to Sing aloud of God's Grace and of Christ's Righteousness 8. Are we willing to go out of this World to die and to be with God and Jesus Christ those that are Justified have Peace with God and rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God Rom. 5.1 2. Those that are in a Storm do dread the Shore least they should be Shipwrackt but they that have good weather do desire it Tho' Condemned Sinners shall be cast away on the Shores of a miserable Eternity yet Justified Souls shall be landed safe in the Harbour of a blessed Eternity When others pass into the Prison Justified Persons enter into the Palace of God When the Tares are reaped for the Furnace Believers are reaped for and gathered into the Garner Matth. 3.12 Will Justified Persons shun the Glorious Presenc of God or slavishly dread his Tribunal Shall Pardoned and Adopted Persons be afraid to go home to their Father and be put into the possession of their Heavenly Inheritance Are you therefore willing to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5 6 8. It is a great thing to be willing to part with the Body that is one half of us to leave it in the dark Chamber of the Grave to feed Worms to crumble to Dust to sleep for a long Night till the Morning of the Resurrection Yet Paul saith We are always confident and willing to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord. The sight of Christ's Face the enjoyment of his Glory is more to me then Union with the Body Can you therefore conquer the Fears of Death Are you willing to leave your place on Earth to enjoy the Place prepared for you in Heaven to put off the Rags of Mortality that you may be clothed with the Robes of Glory to quit your Tabernacle for a Heavenly House 4. Vse O! desire earnestly and seek diligently to partake of this Righteousness of Christ 2. If you are interested in it if Jehova be your Righteousness O be thankful for it 1. O seek that Jehovah may be your Righteousness For the prosecuting of this First Branch of the Use of Exhortation I shall do two things 1. I shall lay down some Motives to quicken and urge you to seek an Interest in Christ's Righteousness 2. I shall lay down some Directions how you may partake of and be Invested with the Righteousness of Christ 1. Consider the great want and need you have of this Righteousness 1. In your Natural State you are far from Righteousness Isa 46. Ye stout-hearted that are far from Righteousness and You are free from Righteousness Rom. 6.20 that is a Carnal Man hath nothing to do with it they are not under the Empire Dominion and Command of it Men are dead Trees and therefore can bring forth no good fruit but they are corrupt Trees and are laded with evil Fruit. As they are alienated from the Life of God they cannot act for him or please him Ephes 4.8 Rom. 8.8 but as they have a Carnal Life they cannot act against him and walk contrary to him Mens thoughts are evil from their youth Gen. 8.21 yea they are born flesh John 3.6 yea the Holy Ghost goes one step farther In sin they are conceived in iniquity they are shapen Psal 51.5 they are not only idle and do not work Matth. 20.6 but they are dead and cannot work for God 2 Col. 13. A corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good fruit Matth. 7.17 18. The carnal mind is enmity to God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be they that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.8 A Natural Man is so far from being Sanctified by his Religious Services that he pollutes them all Hag. 2.14 15. The Sacrifice of the Wicked that is his best Actions and the way of the Wicked that is his common Actions are both an Abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 9. The Law will not acknowledge in or allow to an Unconverted Man one good Work Rom. 3.20 by the Law comes only the knowledge of sin The Scripture that is the Law hath concluded all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things of an Unregenerate Man under Sin all done by him all that flows from him all the Thoughts Intentions Affections Words and Actions of such The Mind is darkness Ephes 5.8 And can a blind Archer aim right at the Mark The Heart is Whorish Ezek. 6.9 And will a Whorish Heart love God or direct any action to please him Can a corrupt Fountain send forth sweet waters Men till Regenerate do nothing else but sin the Plague of the Heart infects all the Leprosie of the Soul defiles all that a Man doth 1 Kings 8.38 as a Fountain casts forth its water so they cast forth their wickedness Jer. 6.7 The whole Life of Men is cursed barrenness or wicked fruitfulness Christ is said to be the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the World 1 John 29. it is expressed in the singular number the sin of the World to Note and signifie to us that the whole Life of an Unregenerate Man is one continued sin wholly a course of Enmity Provocations and Rebellions against God Zech. 3.3 4 We have that expression Take away the filthy garments This Notes that all the acts of an Unregenerate Man are filthy and only filthy Garments They are all over defiled and therefore wholly to be taken away But the expression is otherwise concerning the Saints that they washed their Garments white in the blood of the Lamb Revel 7.14 the Garments were not wholy cast off or put away but washed There
by the Law By the Law is the Knowledge of our Sin not of our Righteousness Rom. 3.20 It discovers nothing but Sin in us shuts up all of ours under Sin Gal. 3.22 all the inward Operations of our Souls and all the Outward Acts of our Bodies it Condemns we are as it were put in Prison and shut up under Condemnation by the Law and all this is to cause us to find our need of and to make us Sigh and seek for a Redeemer to open our Prison-door and give Liberty to our Souls Isa 42.7 Isa 49.9 Isa 61.1 The Law if rightly understood drives us from it self I through the Law saith Paul am dead to the Law Gal. 2.19 As the Glorious Light that did shine in Moses his Face did Terrisie the Israelites and drive them from him discourage or deter them from coming near to him Exod. 34.30 32 33. So that Glorious Purity and Holiness that Impartial and Severe Justice that shines in the Face of the Law should drive us from Resting in or trusting on the Law for Righteousness and despair of ever being pronounced Righteous by it Shall the Law that was intended but for a School-Master to direct us unto Christ Gal. 3.24 be made a Father to give us an Inheritance of Righteousness But how many have grosly erred and grievously mistaken about this they have Enervated and Dispirited the Law of God they have pared off a great deal of its Purity cut off much of its Spirituality and made it to look like the Civil Law of Man as if it were given to check words and restrain outward acts but was not prescribed to the heart but the Law is like the Law-giver as he seeth the Motions of the Mind and Will so his Law forbids all evil Thoughts and Vile Affections and on this account it is called Spiritual Rom. 7.14 But the Jews especially the Pharisees did think the Law of God did not reach to Regulate or Condemn those Evils that were the meer Creatures of the Heart How else could the Elder Brother signifying the Pharisee say to God his Father Lo these many years have I served thee neither at any time have I transgressed thy word Luke 15.28 Paul when a Pharisee thought himself as touching the Righteousness of the Law to be blameless Phil. 3.6 These accounted themselves to be such Just Men that they needed no Repentance Luke 15.7 To these the Gospel is Foolishness 1 Cor. 2.14 Is it not folly to speak of Reconciliation Healing Liberty to those that never thought themselves to be Enemies to God to be Sick Prisoners or Captives How doth the Papists at this day pervert and corrupt the Law of God they call the most Spiritual part of it not a Command but a Counsel to Love God sincerely some of them will allow to be a Command but to Love him with all the Mind Soul Heart and Strength this they assert to be but a Counsel and not a Command And without this Wicked Opinion they cannot Maintain their other Errors that Men may be perfect in this Life and truly fulfil the whole Law of God Thus Men do at this day by their Corrupt Glosses False Distinctions Perverse Interpretations of the Law of God Undermine its Purity Spirituality and Perfection and so clap a Vail on Moses his Face that the Law may not be Terrible to them but that they may draw near to it and trust on it for their Justification Thus Men go about to establish their own Righteousness by derogating and detracting from the Extent and Obligation of the Law they Lower the Law that they may Heighten and Exalt their own Righteousness 3. Come to and descend into your selves that you may find out that evil Treasure that Root of Bitterness that Fountain of Iniquity that is in your selves Abraham as touching the Flesh did not find a Righteousness in himself to boast of and Glory in And can we find that in our selves that Abraham could not find in himself Rom. 4.1 2. If we cannot find Righteousness in our selves do we not need to be found in Christ Phil. 3.9 To stay and trust on that Righteousness which is of God by the Faith of Christ we must desire God as Luther saith not only to turn away his Eyes from our Sins but also from our Services not only to forgive our wrong steps out of the way but also our slow steps in it when we are bought with so great a price and encouraged to run with so Glorious a Prize set before us We may see enough in our selves to Condemn us We are Children of Wrath by nature and Children of Disobedience by practice Every faculty is diseased and perverted every Work of ours is corrupted and defiled God threatens the Jews to spread the dung of their Solemn Feasts on their faces Mal. 2.3 The Beasts that were brought into the Courts of the Temple on the Feast-days did dung in them God seems to compare the faults and failings in the Jews Spiritual Sacrifices to the dung of those Beasts that were Offered up in Sacrifice Perhaps Paul may allude to this expression when he accounts his own Righteousness and priviledges to be but Dung there is some of the Dung of the Old Man that is vented in and mixed with our best performances that doth stain defile and in part at least render them unsavoury before God Sin dwells in us is present with us We can never shake it off shut it out or totally leave it behind us when we draw near to God We cannot put God in mind of one perfect duty but he can put us in mind of Thousands of defective Services performed by us If we dwell at home and trust in our selves Revenging Justice will break in upon us and destroy us If we stay abroad do not fly to and House our selves in Christ a storm of Fire and Brimstone will be Rained on us Psal 11.6 We needed Christ's Death on Earth and we want his Intercession in Heaven that the Iniquity of our Holy things may not be charged on us for our Condemnation and destruction 4. We must beware of unbelief as to God's threat'nings and take heed of Carnal security Sinners are too apt to take the shield of unbelief and to quench all the Fiery Darts of God's threat'nings which he casts at them How prone are presumptuous Sinners to give God the lie He saith There is no peace to the Wicked Isa 48. last yet Sinners do promise themselves peace though they walk in the Imaginations of their own evil Hearts Deut. 29.19 God saith of an ungodly Man That his eyes shall see his Destruction and he shall drink of the Wrath of the Almighty Job 21.20 yet he flattereth himself with vain hopes as those Jer. 5.12 Evil shall not come on us neither shall we see Sword or Famin. How dreadful is it when a Spiritual Lethargy is added to other diseases and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Spirit of slumber falls on Men Rom. 11.8
out of Prison Isa 49.9 that he should be wounded to heal us and be bruised to bind us up Isa 53.9 10. Isa 61.1 that a Vail should be cast over Christ's Innocency by our Iniquity taken on him that a Vail might be cast over our sins by his Righteousness imputed to us There was an Offence committed that might have remained on us and have destroyed us But O what kindness is this that there should be a Free Gift of Righteousness to relieve and justifie us Rom. 5.15 Christ Redeemed us from Destruction by devoting himself to Death for us in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to Redeem in the Arabick Fada fignifies to Devote ones self to Death This Fada is the same word with the Hebrew Phada and by comparing the two significations of the word in the two Languages we learn this excellent Truth †Vid. Oriental Lexicon That we are Redeemed by Christ's devoting himself to Death for us What we our selves should have fully wrought out that Christ hath bought and freely gives us Dan. 9.24 Rom. 5.19 O how should we admire God Who is a God like to him glorious in Holiness Exod. 15.11 Yet who is a God like to him pardoning iniquity and passing by Transgression and Sin Mic. 7.18 19. As he is Holy he hates sin yet as he is Gracious he pities Sinners His Holiness doth not hinder or obstruct his Mercy 3d. Vse Examine your selves whether you can truly call Jehovah by this sweet and comfortable Name Is he your Righteousness Are you invested with this Righteousness and discharged from your Sins Put these following Questions to your selves for Trial. 1. Did you ever come to your selves Luke 15.17 Did you ever feel your selves to be bound with Cords of Guilt laden with Iniquity ready to sink into the Bottomless Pit Men must be Condemned before they are Justified be cast down before they are lifted up apply the Curse to themselves before they apply the Blessing hear the Sentence of Death denounced against them by the Law before they partake of Justification of Life by the Gospel as the World was first without the Law and then the Israelites were under the Law and then Christ came with Righteousness and Peace So every Justified Sinner is first without the Law he is alive and full of hopes because he is without the Law Rom. 7.9 he knows not the Spirituality of the Commands of the Law nor the Severity of its Threatnings he hath a Calm and Peace because he never imputed his Numerous sins to himself or bound his Heinous Iniquities on himself The Soul is a dead Sea without motion towards God and yet is a calm and quiet Sea without dread and fear of God But when God intends good to the Soul first the Commandment comes Rom. 7.9 and then Sin Revives and a Storm is raised in the Soul but in due time Faith comes Gal. 3.25 and then the Soul is calmed and quieted being Justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 If you were nevere burdened you cannot be eased if you were never broken you cannot be bound up if you were never mourners you cannot be Comforted if you never tasted the bitterness of Sin you cannot tast the sweetness of the Grace of Christ and experience his purifying Blood and his reviving Righteousness If you are Justified How did you come by Pardon and Peace Can you call them Naphtali that you got them by wrestling It is said Israel shall be Justified and saved Isa 45.17 last Jacob wrestled with the Angel for a Blessing his Conscience might accuse him for Fraud and Lying in procuring the Blessing from blind Isaac yet he held the Angel fast said he and would not let him go except he did Bless him Gen. 32.26 And for this his Name was changed and he was called Israel Gen. 32.28 When we find Sin stirring in us when Conscience accuses the Law curses God according to the first Covenant condemns To Believe on Christ for Righteousness is as Peter's walking on the Sea in a storm If we have ever felt the smart of our wounds the Schorching heat of God's Wrath the Burning Poyson of the old Serpent in our Consciences If 〈◊〉 were ever arrested arraigned condemned shut up surely in the anguish of your Souls you have cryed out We are destitute of Righteousness and where shall we find it we have contracted guilt and provoked Wrath And where shall we be Found 2. Were you ever divorced from and dead to the Law and Covenant of Works as your First Husband and then Married to Christ we are first joined to the Law and the Covenant of Works as our First Husband and it makes us a jointure of Life upon condition of perfect Obedience The Apostle compares the Law to a Husband but the froward Heart of Man is not subject to this Husband The more the Commands of the Law are urged on it the more it contradicts and Rebels The motions of Sin are said to be by the Law Rom. 7.5 but the Fruits of Righteousness are by Jesus Christ Phil. 1.11 The Law cannot Sanctifie or Justifie us this is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.3 the thing that is impossible to the Law Have you therefore been divorced from and become dead to the Law Rom. 7.4 as it is a Covenant of Works Have you despaired of finding righteousness in your selves and of obtaining a Blessing from the Law and so have looked and fled to Jesus Christ †Heb. 12.24 as those that have been pursued by sin and the wrath of Ged Paul saith Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a Man is not Justified by the Works of the Law but by the Faith of Christ Even we have Believed in Jesus Christ that we might be Justified by the Faith of Christ and not by the Works of the Law For by the Works of the Law shall no Flesh be Justified 3. Are you Sanctified Justification and Sanctification always go together as in the Natural Body the Blood and Spirits do flow out together so the Blood and Spirit of Christ are always joined John 19.34 Blood and Water Signifiing the Spirit came together out of Christ's Side He comes by Water and Blood 1 John 5.6 else he would be but half and imperfect Saviour As the same day that the Waters went off form the Earth and were gathered into the Sea the Earth was adorned with Grass Herbs Flowers Trees Gen. 9.11 So when a deluge of Wrath goeth off from the Soul it is presented adorned with the grace of the Spirit and called a Tree of Righteousness Isa 61.2 Those that are Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus are also Justified by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 If God Loves the Soul he makes it Lovely If Christ washes you he also makes you Kings and Priests Revel 1.5 6. You are no longer Vassals to your Lusts but as Kings rule in your own Hearts You check vain thoughts