it self and his excellencies as therein discovered for the believing in or on the Lord is an effect of the believing God and therefore that phrase or saying Abraham believed in the Lord. Gen. 15.6 Is by the Apostle rendred Abraham believed God Rom. 4.3 As implying that then God is heartily believed in his Testimony when he whom he testifies of is believed in as also that the believing in the Lord is an evidence and product of believing God 2. Here is mentioned also the several causes of this perswasion and so by consequent of that perception and believing on Christ that follows upon it As 1. The principal and first cause the Author and begetter of this faith belief or perswasion and of all that follows upon it is God himself testifying of Christ As it is said Ye are saved by grace through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 And this is the work of God both that which he requires of us and that which he works in us That ye believe on him whom he hath sent Joh. 6.29 Yea and our Saviour further testifies it to be the work wrought of God in saying No man can come to me except the Father that hath sent me draw him v. 44. And No man can come to me except it be given to him of my Father Ver. 65. Of him descendeth and cometh down every good and perfect giving And therefore both this perswasion and all therethrough effected But he works mediately and so here is 2. The subordinate and mediate cause of this perswasion and believing on Gods part which is the same that is also the object believed even the Word and Testimony of God the very clearness excellency and evidence of which as manifested of God to the heart perswades the heart to embrace and credit it As by the light of the sun a man sees the sun so the goodness and truth of Gods Testimony is seen by its own brightness and that draws in the heart to receive it By his word God wrought at first in making the world and by his word he works in making new creatures And that this is that by which he works in the heart and perswades it to believe on Christ our Saviour himself testifieth in saying John 6.45 They shall all be taught of God every one therefore that hears and learns of the Father comes to me Thence also his word the Testimony he beareth of Christ the Gospel is called the word of faith Rom. 10.8 But yet this produceth not this believing without some act of man which is and may be called 3. The subordinate cause or means on mans part that without which this believing is not effected and that is expressed to be a serious listening to that word Whence that in Isa 55.3 Hear and your souls shall live And in Rom. 10.17 Faith is of hearing and hearing is of the word of God They that stop their ear lest they should hear deprive themselves of the efficacy of God and his word even of the Spirit of God breathing and working in the word and are justly left of God to their perverseness and unbelief Matth. 13 14 15. I add the word serious to signifie that it is not a careless formal hearing but a diligent attentive hearing Such as our Saviour signifies in that double expression Every one that heareth and learneth so heareth as also to learn of the Father comes to me Such a hearing as includes that which Moses called on the people to do when he said Set your hearts to all these words Deut. 32.46 Or as that in Heb. 2.1 A giving earnest heed to the things spoken in the Gospel And this leads to the next viz. 3. The proper subject of this perswasion belief and so also of the perception and all that follows upon it and that is the heart as it is said With the heart man believes to righteousness Rom. 10.10 And indeed when men set their hearts to attend to Gods words and to consider them God will perswade their hearts and the heart perswaded and believing is there-through both framed to do righteousness in believing on Christ and also is accepted and justified of God therein and the man accounted of God righteous And in both these senses the words may be understood that with the heart man believes unto righteousness Many there are that profess and say they believe and are perswaded of the truth of Gods word and yet they are far from believing on Christ as their lives make manifest in many of them because they believe not with the heart their hearts are not set to or ingaged in the matter They may learn so much of the form of Knowledge in subserviency to some other designs as of getting a livelihood honour and respect with men ease from troubles of mind c. as that they may draw nigh with their mouths and honour him with their lips and yet their hearts be removed far from him going after their covetousness or what they mainly design Isa 29.13 Ezek. 33.31 And these attain not to righteousness They neither render to God and Christ that which is right just and meet viz. that honour fear faith trust and affection that he is worthy of Nor are they therefore justified and accepted of God as righteous persons But when men so receive Gods Testimony as to believe on Christ their minds wills and affections are all ingaged therein and through the presence and operation of the Spirit of God which is always ready to help and save and to that purpose to effect what he requires and is needful to their Salvation in them that attend to him and as he is preventing them by his grace yield up themselves to him they are strengthened and framed to all the acts and exercises both conducing to and contained in this believing on Christ the Son of Man Which are also in this description expressed both 4. The acts productive of and the acts contained in the believing on Christ 1. The acts productive of it are 1. An heart-perswasion or belief of the truth of God or of the word that he speaks and testifies concerning Christ as of him we have largely shewed that he testifieth This is properly the believing God and the believing Christ and the believing his Prophets and Servants in their testimony as speaking forth the word of God and of Christ and they that so do are in the way to prosper 2 Chron. 20.20 This is that by which the faith or belief of the Patriarchs is expressed Heb. 11.13 They see the promises afar off and were perswaded of them And they whose hearts are perswaded of God to believe his testimony as God will perswade Japheth or the perswasible as some render Gen. 9.27 those that meekly hear and attend Psal 25.8 James 1.18 19 21. in them also is certainly effected 2. A heart-perception of the Excellencies of Christ Eor as God in his Doctrine beareth witness to his Son the Son
be corrupted from the simplicity in Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 3. and so they should fall from the sincerity and stedfastness of their believing And where there is a decay and danger of falling off there can be no expectation or possibility of present growth and going forward in the Believing nor can any thing possibly recover the decayed and backslidden soul to its believing again but the undecieving the soul and so purging out of it those low and unwholesome thoughts and apprehensions it hath Sucked in of Christ to the poysoning of it from its believing on him and how can that be done but by a fresh and more convincing Discovery of the Excellencies and Perfections in Christ or the truth of the Testimony of God concerning him formerly doubted of or rejected by the soul in its departing from him Therefore we find the Lord and his Apostles lifting up of the Son of Man not only to and for the drawing in men to believe on him But also 1. To preserve them in the Faith and so to keep them from withdrawing and falling from him and to hearten them to abide in him and continue and go on in their believing on him Thus our Saviour himself to instruct and strengthen his Disciples to abide in him sets before them his own Excellencies as the true Vine and the Priviledges and Benefits they should derive from him in abiding as Branches in him John 15.1.4.7 8. The Apostle Peter too thought it needful for him to put the Believers in remembrance of the Grace in Christ Jesus As how Through the knowledg of him all things are given us pertaining to Life and Godliness And that they were no cunningly devised Fables that were Preached to them by them concerning the Power and Coming of the Lord Jesus and put them upon taking heed to the Words of the Prophets and commandments of the holy Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus Of whose coming again and faithfulness to perform his promises therein he also minds them that they might not be Led away with the errour of the wicked and so fall from their own stedfastness 2 Pet. 1.3 4.16.18 and 3.1 2 10.14.17 So also the Apostle John to perswade to abide in believing on Christ sets before the Believers what a one Christ is and the great Grace in him and the Testimony of God concerning him 1 John 1.1 2 3.9 and 2 1 2.24 25 26.28 and 5.10 11 12 13. That knowing they have eternal life in him they might believe That is go on to believe on him 2. To perswade to and promote growth in their believing on him that they might be rooted and grounded in him and be established in the Faith abounding therein with thanksgiving and that they might grow in Grace and in the knowledg of Christ See to this purpose Col. 2.2 3 4.6 Ephes 1.17 18 19. and 3.8.17 18 19. and 4.16 2 Pet. 5.6 with 3.18 and many other places 3. To recal and recover such as began to decline and turn aside from him to other things and so as the Apostle Peter wrote the things above mentioned to secure from declining after false Teachers 2 Pet. 2.12 c. So the Apostle Paul understanding that the Galathians through some false Apostles lifting up Circumcision and the Observation of Moses Law as necessary to Salvation thereby obscuring and darkning of the Grace in Christ were greatly indangered insomuch that he was afraid he had bestowed on them labour in vain To preserve and restore them makes it his business to lift up or set forth Christ and the Grace in him so Travelling in birth again till Christ might be formed in them Gal. 1.4.6 7. and 2.16.20 21. and 3. throughout with 4.4 5.11 12.19 and 5.2 3 4. Even as Christ also for recovering the Angels of the Churches of Ephesus Sardis and Laodicea to their first Love Life and Zeal sets himself before them and wishes them to remember whence they were fallen how they had received and heard and counsels to buy of him Gold tried in the fire c. All which implies a need of continuing to lift up to the Son of man to the preserving in promoting of and recovering to the believing on Christ So also the Apostle Paul for recovering some of the Corinthians from their denial of the Resurrection as also to preserve the rest in the belief of that Article and dependance on Christ for the Benefit included in it and promoting all their stedfastness and growth in Piety and good Works minds them of the Gospel fore-preached to them by him concerning Jesus Christ his Death Burial and Resurrection his answering and giving us Victory over the Law Sin and death c. 1 Cor. 15.4.58 CHAP. XIX Two other Conclusions shewing the Fulness and Sufficiency of this means for begetting and preserving in the Faith of Christ and for bringing to the Salvation and Eternal life to which it is appointed WHen two things are so ordered and disposed one for and toward the other as that one be the way and means to the other and that other the end whereto that way and means is directed in case that which the means to the end be some rare singular and costly thing it may be supposed that when such a means is made use of for and towards that end there was some necessity for it either as to the absolute or at least the most excellent attainment thereof as well as also that the end to be attained was of great usefulness excellency or necessity But much more is it requisite in such a case of the excellency and necessity of that which is the end that what is ordered as the means should be apt proper and sufficient for the attainment of that end for otherwise the means would be useless or in vain and therefore I here add That Conclusion 3. The lifting up of the Son of man in the sense aforesaid is a full perfect proper and sufficient way or means for prevailing with men in their giving up or attending to it to believe on him and for preserving and increasing the Faith of those that do believe I put in that parenthesis in their giving up or attending to it because Faith is of hearing where men stop the Ear and close the Eye and harden the Heart left they should see with their Eyes and hear with their Ears and understand with their Heart There is no marvel if under the most excellent means they be not converted and healed or believing follow not Yea and where there is no taking heed to the things heard that they slip not out No marvel if the believing begun be so far from increasing that it come to nothing The aptness fitness and perfection of a means is sufficiently evidenced if being duly applied it produce its effect No man judges a Medicine unfit or defective that cures not the Malady without using or applying it if but set in the Window looked on with the Eye or taken in the
all the goodliness of man is like the Flower of the Grass the Grass withereth and the Flower fadeth but the Word of the Lord even that word that in the Gospel is Preached to us the Word made Flesh abideth for ever That we might only look to and believe on him Isa 41.29 with 42.1 2 3 4 8. and 40.6 7. Acts 4.10 11 12 1 Pet. 1.24 25. 11. With this Doctrine and Exaltation of the Son of man therein is also the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit whose Word it is and whose work and business it is to Lift up this Standard in and by all Means and Mediums for Working and Begetting Confirming and Strengthening Increasing and Giving growth to this Faith or Belief on the Son of man He I say is present in and with it to make it Powerful and Effectual to in and upon the Heart of the Hearer that in hearing he might believe and live That he in hearing opening the Mouth to take in this Word of Faith he might strengthen and cause the Soul to Eat and feed upon Christ held forth therein EZek. 3.1 2. Whence it is called The Ministration of the Spirit and the Words of Christ said to be Spirit and Life because of the Spirit Ministred therein and there-with which Spirit quickneth and giveth Life whence also it is a Ministration of Righteousness and Life 2 Cor. 3.6 8 9. John 6.63 The Spirit is Ministred not in the works of the Law but by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3.2 In the lifting up of the Son of man or report given in the Gospel of and concerning him is the Arm of the Lord revealed Isa 53.1 And this Spirit being the Arm of the Lord must needs be powerful for all that it is given or put forth to either for begetting preserving strengthening or increasing this Faith or believing on the Son of man Whence it is also called the Spirit of Faith We having the same spirit of Faith we also believe and therefore we speak knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up by him 2 Cor. 4.13 14. And God hath not given us the spirit of Fear but of Power and Love and of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.7 As implying that it is the Effect and Fruit of the holy Spirit working in and received by men that they believe and stand strongly and stedfastly in the Faith though under Temptations and Oppositions to the contrary Whence it also follows as a further Conclusion Conclusion 4. That the lifting up of the Son of man in the sense aforesaid viz. the Magnifying and Exalting him in the view of men is the proper and effectual means though not for putting any thing into Christ for us more then God hath put into him and upon him in his real Exalting and Lifting him up in his Person for in that respect he is compleat and perfect before the Preaching and Testifying of him The preparation for the poor was perfect before God gave the word and raised up the multitude of Preachers Psal 68.10 11. Even as the Serpent was perfect in it self as to what Moses was to make it before he set it up on the Pole Yet for the conveying Grace and Blessing to men and putting his Salvation and Life Eternal into them This in part was spoken to and its truth shewed in what was said above to the way of Christs saving the Believer from perishing from the way And in what we said of the Believers receiving and having Eternal life yet something we shall further here note And so I say this way of Exalting though it puts nothing into Christ but only ascribes and attributes to him what is in him yet it brings something into men even of Gods salvation to preserve them from perishing from the way of Life and Righteousness and so from the second Death in the Conclusion and of the Eternal life that is given us in him And this may be further Evidenced and Confirmed from the Titles given to the Gospel as that it s called the Word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 The Gospel of Peace Ephes 6.15 The Gospel of our Salvation Ephes 1.13 The Word of Life Phil. 2.16 The Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.13 Yea The Words of Eternal life John 6.68 Which Names are given to it not only because it declares what God hath done in Christ for Reconciling us to himself and making Peace Or what Peace and Peaceableness is in the Heart of God towards us or what salvation righteousness and life are given us in him but also because it is it self the way Medium or power of God for reconciling the hearts of men to himself and creating peace in them Isa 57.17 and of saving quickning and giving life Num. 1.16 James 1.21 1 Cor. 15.2 Psal 119.93 Isa 55.3 c. Let us view the effects and fruits produced thereby in Men. 1. Therein and thereby Christ gives forth his voice and divine light to declare and discover to Men where and what they are what case and state they are in and where their safety lies and which way they may attain it Yea what not that may be useful for Men to see and know for saving them from the powers of darkness and what ignorance and error expose them to Thus as Christ is called the Light of the World so his word that declares and lifts him up is a light too a light to our feet and a lanthorn to our steps Psal 119.105 Whatsoever makes manifest is light Eph. 5.13 and this word manifests God and Christ Sin and Righteousness Life and Death and all things and therein also is the voice of God and Christ calling to us to awaken and stand up from the dead that Christ may give us light that so our feet may be directed into the ways of peace Ephes 5.13 14. yea this makes the Preachers of and walkers in it Lights too to Men as the Baptist who bare witness to Christ as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World and lifted him up as the true light the Christ preferring him before him as one who was before him was therein a burning and a shining light Joh. 1.6 7 8 9 28 29. 5.32 33. And the Apostles whose work it was to witness to and preach forth Christ and his excellencies were called the light of the World and were sent forth to open mens eyes by their word and turn them from darkness to light Matth. 5.16 Act. 26.18 For with this voice and light in the exalting of Christ is given forth 2. A certain divine force power and operation of and by the spirit to inliven quicken and so indue the hearer and receiver thereof with a capacity 1. Of seeing and discerning the light and hearing the voice of the Lord discovering and directing into the way of peace and safety and so saving from the way of errour and deceit that leades to destruction thence the light of Christ which he gives
Pharaohs Court as the Son of Pharaohs daughter yet through faith believing on the Son of Man he was not snared so as to perish from the way thereby but refusing to be called the Son of Pharaohs daughter chose rather to suffer adversity with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproches of Christ greater riches then all the treasures of Egypt for he had respect to the recompence of reward Heb. 11.24 25 26. 5. In case of Gods giving honour power and authority to men they are in a danger to and often do perish from the way either neglecting and sleighting and so missing it or if they were somewhat in it before they wander out of it not believing in the Son of Man to steer them evenly and uprightly in it as is to be seen in many Kings and Princes that are or have been corrupted by power and greatness Instances we have in Saul and Vzziah Solomon and other Kings of Judah and Israel but now if any such believe on the Son of Man and in God through him he will preserve them from perishing from the way as may be seen in David Asa Jehosaphat Hezekiah and Josiah though they all had their stumbles and falls in the way and this is that that is implyed in the second Psalme when he saith Be wise now therefore O ye Kings understand or be instructed ye that Judge the Earth Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce before him with trembling Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish out â—f the way if his wrath be kindled but a little Kiss that is imbrace honour submit to believe on the Son even him that is set upon Gods holy hill of Sion to whom God said Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Gods Son this Son of Man the Lord Jesus But then in adding Blessed are all they that trust in him He implies that they who do so in an exercise of faith in or believing on him they shall be happy in this that they shall be preserved from such perishing out of the way as befalls others that do not kiss or believe on him I may also add 6. In case of Gods honouring and lifting up men with great spiritual gifts and favours as knowledg utterance experience and such like priviledges The heart not exercising faith in the Son of Man and living upon him as nothing in and of itself notwithstanding them and as needing always to be found in him upheld and supplied by and presented in him is in danger to perish out of the way As is implied in that counsel and warning of the Apostles to the Gentiles Rom. 11.20 21. Thou standest by faith be not high-minded but fear for if God spared not the natural branches take heed lest he also spare not thee And as was exemplified in Jerusalem Ezek. 16.16 17 18. That trusting in her own beauty and excellency received from Christ her husband and not living upon and trusting only to and in him plai'd the harlot and perished from the way as is to be seen in the following verses there and in Jer. 2.5 6 7 31. Whereas the living by the faith of the Son of God and exercising it by believing on him preserves and saves there-from as the Apostle Paul and all that in all ages lived by faith in their injoyments of Gods gifts favours and priviledges were Gal. 2.20 Heb. 10.38 7. In case of difficulties and seeming hardness in the words or works of God or Christ so as we cannot find them out or comprehend them by our understanding from want of believing on the Son of Man many perish from the way of truth and righteousness So we find that Israel fell in temptations and provocations not knowing Gods way erring in their hearts through unbelief of his words not mixed with faith in them Psal 95.10 Heb. 3.15 16 18. with 4.2 When Caleb and Joshua that believed followed God with a full heart and were not offended at any of his ways Asaph had like that way to have slipt but that going into the Sanctuary of God through believing what he there met with he was recovered Psal 73. Jeremiah also though he would reason with God of his judgments yet holding fast faith and believing that God was righteous in all his ways was not in danger of miscarrying Jer. 12.1 Yea in a word Great peace have they that love Gods Law and nothing shall offend them either in Gods words or works for they believe that his word is right and all his works are done in truth Psal 119.165 with 33.4 That God is a Rock his work perfect and all his ways judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32.4 But a most eminent instance of this we have in Christs Disciples Joh. 6. where at a hard saying of his about eating his Flesh and drinking his Blood many of his Disciples were so offended that they perished from the way turning back from and no more walking with Christ and that because they believed not hung not upon him as the Christ tho Son of God trusted not to his leading beyond what they could see and comprehend with their own understandings as one they were perswaded of that he would not deceive or mislead them Whereas Peter the other Apostles being asked If that offended them also and if they would go away too replied Whither shall we go Thou hast the words of eternal Life and we know and are sure that thou art the Christ the Son of the living God and would not depart from him Joh. 6.60 61 64 67 68 69. Abraham also believing according to what was said and giving glory to God staggered not through unbelief either at the strangness or greatness of what was promised or at the unlikeliness of its being performed and so turned not out of the way however he may be said to have tripped in it by listening to Sarahs advice Gen. 16. Rom. 4.16 17 18. Whereas Israel in the Wilderness as is noted afore not believing for the words sake nor for Gods sake upon the account of his power and faithfulness but judging by sight and appearance and accordingly believing or distrusting turned aside and perished from the way many of them And to say no more in case of temptations generally men not believing on Christ the Son of Man and so on God are in danger to perish out of the way being overcome of their lusts and of Sathan And so all the diverse ways of the people of Israel falling into sin and perishing from the way as by lusting after evil things by Idolatry by murmuring against Christ by tempting Christ and by fornication mentioned 1 Cor. 10. are resolved generally into their unbelief as the grand root and cause of them Heb. 3.19 Jude 5. When as they who hold fast faith in Christ and depend on him continually are thereby preserved from every evil way As it is
affliction we must enter into Gods Kingdom Acts 14.22 No partaking of this life but through death and that 1. Through a Spiritual Death or death in and of our Spirits to false life as to the life of or in sin life to the world and to the Law as thinking to have life thereby as in our own righteousness according thereunto No living to righteousness and to God but in dying to sin and to the world so as to cease to be slaves or servants to them Rom. 6.10 11. Gal. 6.14 1 Pet. 2.24 nor is there any living to Christ and so to God but through dying to the Law as to our hopes and rejoycings in our own righteousness according thereunto Gal. 2.19 And in these kinds of deaths there are pains in self-denials taking up our cross for Christs sake Mat. 16.24 2. Through the bodily Death for neither is there any entring into the joys and glories of Heaven and of the life to come so as to the actual full fruition of them but through bodily Death and Grave except of such as shall be found alive at his appearing 1 Thes 4.15 16. that so we may be made conformable to the death of Christ and be planted therethrough into the likeness of his Resurrection in our body also For the way to this life is also 2. Through the Resurrection from the dead otherwise if we should dye in our selves to false lives and never rise up in a true and divine life we could not have eternal life The life of Christ is a life from the dead whence he is called the first begotten or first-born from the dead Col. 1.18 Rev. 1.5 and so all that share with him therein are raised up to a life from the dead too First raised up in their spirits with him through the faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12 3.1 crucified with Christ to self and flesh and sin and all false life but yet so as they live yet not they but Christ liveth in them Gal. 2.20 And then also at the great day of Christs glorious appearing their dead bodies shall be raised up by him and be made like his Thence the Resurrection said to be to those that have done good a Resurrection to Life Joh. 5.28 29. and Christ in telling us that they who believe on him shall have everlasting life once and again adds And I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6.40.44 as implying that they must pass through death and be raised up again thereunto 2. In respect of the manner of their having it they have it as they have Christ himself who is their life the ground foundation authour and the fountain of it Col. 3.3 4. and so only in receiving abiding in and enjoyment of him and so 1. They have it here in a sense not in the fulness and perfection of the fruition of it for we are not capable of having it so now and here while we have not Christ in Person with us but they have it now 1. In Christ the Heir of it and the root and spring of it that eternal life that was with the Father and was manifested to us 1 Joh. 1.2 5.11 12 13. as they have him theirs and have union with and interest in him through whom also they have it 2. In a first fruits of the Spirit and of the Life that is in and by it and so in a begun life or happy state of forgiveness acceptance spiritual quickning c as before said 3. In the promise of the whole even of the full fruition of it to be had hereafter God and Christ have given it them in his Will and Testament so as in believing on the Son of Man they are made Heirs of it Tit 1.2 3.7 1 Joh. 2.25 This is the promise that he hath promised us even eternal life 1 Joh. 2.25 See also Gal. 3.29 And so they have it 4. In the hope of it Tit. 1.2 1 Pet. 1 3 4. 2. In the state to come they shall have it 1. Upon their dissolution and going to Christ in their spirits more fully resting in and with Christ and being blessed Phil. 1.21.23 Rev. 14.13 2. Upon their Resurrection in the full perfect and perpetual possession and fruition of it for ever Mark 10.30 A portion infinitely desirable and worthy the looking after and yet this is the portion of every one that believeth on the Son of Man without exception No respect of persons no difference of stronger or weaker believer as to the future enjoyment or present right to and interest in it by and through Jesus Christ There is neither Male nor Female Jew nor Greek Circumcision nor Uncircumcision bond or free but all are one in Christ Jesus and if Christs then Abrahams Seed and Heirs according to promise Gal. 3.28 29. And yet in the rewards to be received in the Davidical Kingdom or the thousand years reign at the coming of Christ and before he deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father and God be all in all there will doubtless be different degrees of Glory and Honour conferred according to mens different works services faithfulness and fruitfulness in their services and greatness of their sufferings for him as is hinted in those parabolical passages Be thou Ruler over ten Cities be thou Ruler over five Luc. 19.17 19. otherwise it would be all one to serve Christ little or much here to be abundant or sparing in the work of the Lord contrary to that of the Apostle He that soweth liberally shall reap liberally and he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly 2 Cor. 9.6 Though yet a shorter work more singly done may have equal reward with a larger not so singly done as the Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard Mat. 20. may seem to import Wherefore Let us be always stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the works of the Lord knowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord Rev. 20.6 with 5.10 1 Cor. 6.2 3. with 15 24 28.58 CHAP. XV. The application of the two former viz. the fourth and fifth Observations in part in exhortation to believe reproof for not believing incouragements to continue in believing on the Son of Man and some directions thereto THE consideration of the two last mentioned observations shewing the necessity and advantage of believing on the Son of Man as also the nature of this believing is and may be very useful upon diverse accounts As to Use 1. Exhort and press all men to believe on the Son of Man the Lord Jesus Christ as declared and set forth unto them in and by the discoveries teaching and operation of God and his Spirit vouchsafed to them And that they may believe on him to listen to mind and embrace and hold fast the Faith or Doctrine of him in which is the power spirit and hand of the Lord moving and enabling to believe yea begetting in the heart this faith that is so necessary and profitable for men For
subsistence here withdrawing from oâ— not singly depending on Christ and God in him 1 Tim. 6.17 Ier. 9.23 24. Psal 62.9 10. and 146.3 4. Prov. 3.5 5. In a word by taking any relyance on God and Christ wherein the heart is not from the belief of Gods testimony carried up to Christ and God in Christ to depend on him and to be guided and governed by him to be that believing on him Such a relyance and staying upon God without that dependance on submission for guidance to him the Prophets sometimes tax Israel with as a false deceitful trust and confidence Isai 48.1 Mich. 3.10 11. Ier. 7.4 5 c. And all such relyance is false though it look back to what God hath done in and by Christ formerly or to any present testimony of his mercy and goodness which lead to love and submit to him as well as and not without them to expect help from him For this believing on the Son of man is a single hearty belief of Gods Testimony concerning Christ so as to like come and seek to rest and depend upon him as the sole full compleat and perfect Saviour in all things and in all cases and conditions in listening to and obeying him in his wholesome counsels and instructions and as the full ground and foundation of our expectation of Gods help and salvation in such a way of obeying him And so He and He only and upon his own account that is upon account of what He is hath done is doingâ— and is become with God for us and is made of God to us is to be believed on 1. For all forgiveness pardon of sin and justification therefrom as it 's said Through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins and by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Act. 13 38 39. And he is set forth for a propitiatory through faith in his blood for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God Rom. 3.25 and being justified through his blood much more shall we be saved from wrath Chap. 5.9 And in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of our sins Eph. 1.7 Col. 1.14 2. For all acceptance with God in our access to and service of him as also all our liberty thereto we have through him He hath made us accepted in his beloved Eph. 1.6 And having liberty or boldness to the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus by a new living way which he hath consecrated through the vail his flesh and having an High Priest over the House of God Let us draw nigh with true hearts and full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water let us draw nigh as believing our welcome and with full assurance of faith as in respect of the truth of the faith believed so also in respect of confident expectation of acceptance coming with such truth of heart sprinkling of conscience and washing of our body as grace requireth and worketh Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. And so our Spiritual sacrifices are acceptable through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 For Christ is made to us of God righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 3. For all spiritual blessings in heavenly things for our comfortable and acceptable walking with God here in this life and usefulnesse towards men As for instance 1. For all light and knowledge of God and understanding in all things He being come a light into the World that whosoever believeth on him might not walk in darkness but see the light of life Joh. 8.12 and 12.46 Psal 34.5 He will teach us his ways Isa 2.3 2. For all wisdom for making a right and profitable construction and use of Gods truths and providences and for chusing the good and refusing the evil and ordering our conversations aright before him and towards others improving all providences mercies chastisements and occurrences to the right and best advantage and acting wisely in all things Jam. 1.5 Col. 4.3 and 2 3. Psal 144.1 He being made of God wisdome to us 1 Cor. 1.30 3. For all sanctification and holiness The subduing of corruptions renewing of our minds hearts and spirits and conforming us unto God Christ is made unto us of God holiness or sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 Ye are sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Sanctified by the faith that is me said Christ Act. 26.18 4. For all strength to walk with God and in his ways against all discouragements and difficulties and to bear and indure all troubles and exercises that he orders to us I am able to do all things through Christ that strengthneth me Phil. 4.13 He shall strengthen them in the Lord and they shall walk up and down in his name Zach. 10.12 Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2.1 who is made unto us of God redemption 5. For all peace of conscience and quiet of mind and spirit He is our peace Eph. 2.24 and being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 And these things have I spoken saith Christ that in me ye might have peace Joh. 16.33 6. For all joy and consolation in our hearts and spirits from and in God That ye may be filled with joy and peace in believing Rom. 15.13 By Christ we have accesse into the grace of God in which we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Yea we joy also in tribulations and not only so but we joy also in God through Jesus Christ by whom also we have received the atonement Rom. 5.2.3.11 And so 7. For all hope in and confidence toward God and for the performances of his gracious promises Thence he is called our hope 1 Tim. 1.1 Iesus Christ our hope and Christ in you the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 in believing ye may be filled with hope through the power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 15.13 8. For all useful gifts by which we may be fitted to be useful and profitable in our Generation in that place of the body of Christ in which he sets us For it is he who being ascended up on high gives gifts unto men distributing to every one according as he will Ephes 4.7 8 11. 4. For all supplies also of outward mercies necessary for our present subsistance here so as we may seek after wait upon and walk with God cheerfully and comfortably and be useful to and among men My God will supply all your needs according to the riches of his glory by Jesus Christ Philip 4.19 All the promises of God are in Christ yea and in him Amen to the glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 And the promises of God are some of them for the life that now is 1 Tim. 4.8 Therefore the living God is to be trusted in through Jesus Christ
requisite that the doer thereof obtain for us and give to us the Spirit of Life and power from God to quicken and enliven us to hope in and love God and there-through to be Holy to God and preserve in that holy state against all Oppositions and Enemies yea and to raise the dead and possess them of the everlasting Kingdom and the fulness of God and of Divine joys and satisfactions therein which be works of Omnipotency agreeable only to Divine Nature and Majesty 2. For his being called forth to and suffering death for us the necessity thereof we have seen before in order to our salvation We must have perished in the first Death and Judgment had not he endured it and given himself the ransom for us much less could he have offered up himself a spotless Sacrifice through the Eternal Spirit to make a purgation of our sins and obtain Eternal Redemption for the taking away the following sins committed by us against the Grace and Mercy of God exercised towards us and extended to us in our several persons and making reconciliation for us nor could there have been an improvement of his Sacrifice by making intercession or mediation for preparing us for and bringing us to Eternal Life Indeed there could have been no sins of that nature last mentioned and therefore nothing to save from them nor any Oblation or Offering of him self had he not suffered for his offering himself supposes a suffering first Heb. 9.24 25 26. And therefore without this that would have found no place nor any thing that follows thereupon unto Eternal Life for which no Roome had we perished in and never been raised from the first death 3. And without his Resurrection neither had the Redemption from the first Judgment been perfected that Death had not been Abolished or Evacuated and he that had the power of it destroyed nor the Resurrection from it obtained Much less could he have received in the Nature of man any power or authority to meditate with God and work in and with men in order to the preserving the Sinners from perishing or for the obtaining and giving to any or bringing them to Eternal Life These being the works of a living not of a dead Person 4. Nor could he have appeared for us as the great High Priest in the presence of God for us in the Holy of Holies upon the Mercy Seat and Cherubims of Glory set down on the Throne of Majesty on the right of God unless he had been Exalted with Gods Right Hand being raised again And without that he could not have sent forth the Holy Ghost and given Gifts to men for making him known nor meditated with God for men that their Sins might be forgiven their Consciences purged their Hearts purified and so they prepared and fited for and brought by him through the Resurrection of the Dead and by his just Doom and Award as the great Judge of all unto Eternal life Yea in a word seeing it is his being every way perfected through his sufferings and so being made the Author of eternal Salvation to all that obey him that renders him a meet Object to be believed on and affords sufficient ground thereto That which was needful to render him an Object to be believed on must needs be understood also to have been needful or necessary to his preserving from perishing and giving eternal life to any For if he be able to preserve from perishing and to give Eternal life without these things then would he also without these things be an Object meet to be for them believed on And so what was said on the former Branch proves the truth of this also CHAP. XVIII Another Conclusion proving the necessity of his being Lifted up by way of Demonstration to men by God and men both unto mens-believing on him and abiding in that believing Conclusion 2 THe lifting up of the Son of Man by way of Declaration of his Worth and Excellency and Commendation of him to men rendring him Glorious and an Object worthy and fit to be believed on for Life and Salvation is Necessary to the begetting and furthering distinct and explicite Faith or belief on him in order to their attainment of Salvation and Eternal life by him This I shall speak to in two Branches either of which is also evident and manifest Branch 1. Necessary it is for mens believing that he be so lifted up by way of Demonstration for necessary it is for mens believing on him that they know him and understand good ground and reason for believing on him For Faith or Believing is not only an Act of the Heart and will closing with an Object coming to seeking help of and relying and trusting upon it for that help but also of the understanding Such an Act of the Will aforesaid as proceeds and springs from the Understanding Discerning and Perceiving good reason and ground for what it doth therein as may be seen in what was Noted in the Acts and things included or contained in believing on him and as may be seen in what both the Prophet David saith in saying They that know thy Name will trust in thee Psal 9.10 And in what our Lord Jesus Christ saith in John 6.44 45. That no man can come to him namely to seek and help and Salvation in and from him believe in him and depend on him for it except the Father that sent him draw him And that that drawing is by the Fathers teaching so as that Whosoever hears and learns of him comes to Christ For Hearing and Learning of him pertains to the right informing of the understanding in the things Taught as also in that it s said Faith cometh by hearing and hearing is of the Word of God Rom. 10.17 Only here it is to be minded that we speak of Explicite Faith or Actual Believing and not of an Implicite Believing or of Gods gracious Imputation of Faith to Children or the like â—â—cepting them in their not Acting against as if believing on him For certain it is that the actual Faith that is by hearing is such as proceeds from an information of the Understanding and so an apprehension of some good cause or reason to Believe the thing informed of and in or upon the Object commended to us in such Information Clear it is that no man believeth on any thing or Person for any help or good to be received there-from unless he apprehend there is Ability and Probability of finding help or good from it Now no man can come to or believe to find such great effects as preservation from Destruction Misery and Wrath deserved by our sins and threatned of God to us because of them and a being raised up from Death and Grave to eternal Life and Happiness from an ordinary man that nothing differs from another but is in the same state of Sin and Death and of the same Infirmity and Impotency with others Nor from an ordinary Prophet or good man that
Power and Virtue to life Everlasting in his heavenly Kingdom But this excellent matter worthy to have been conceived in a more pure Womb or Mind and laid in a far better Dress then I have here wrapt it in as conceived and Discoursed of by me partakes of and evidences my great weakeness and as here Imprinted the Printers and Stationers too great Carelessness or Vnfaithfulness both which may gain it disrespect to many and is as here represented far short of that Excellency and Glory that Properly and Originally is its own and appertains to it and may perhaps meet with course Respect Censurings and Sufferings if it fall into some mens hands especially from the Scribes and Pharisees men Learned and of great Zeal for Gods Ordinances and Worship to appearance but yet such as have their Faith and Fear towards God taught them by the Traditions and Traditional Glosses of some Elders of their Party According to which also they Teach it to others and generally from Proud and Malevolent persons But yet if the Superfluity and Fleshliness of its Expressions in any thing being cut off by the judicious Judgment and charitable candid Constructions of the understanding Reader and it being Animated by the holy Spirit and his Presence and Blessing it be duly considered listened to and imbraced it will appear to have something in it of Virtue and Divine force So as that attending to the Truth and Spirit of it in singleness and simplicity of Heart it may be useful for Instructing Helping and Healing thy Soul but if Rejected or Abused it will rise up another day as a Witness and Judg against thee Take heed therefore good Reader to what thou Readest and take heed how thou Readest Hearest and Receivest it not judging of its Truth and Goodness according to the weakness in Phrase and Expression or the too many Mis-spellings and Mis-pointings in its Printing but according to its agreement in Matter and Desiâ—u with the Doctrine and Writings of the holy Apostles and Prophets That so thou mayst not fail of the Grace of God tendered in Christ to thee in and by it Heartily minding and obeying the Truth herein propounded thou shalt find I hope here-with and here-through Gods Blessing with thee and upon thee praying for which upon thee and upon all that hear it and to the same purpose committing thee to God with my self and weak Labours and Indeavours and desiring thy Charitable and Candid construction and kind Acceptance thereof and thy Prayers for me for further Grace and Mercy I leave thee and rest Thy Well-wishing Friend and Servant in and for Christ Jesus J. Horn. Lyn Febr. 6. 1673. REader there is a Passage in page 36. wherein I say the Apostles and Evangelists never call Christ the Son of man in their speaking of him which I should have restrained to the Writings of the Evangelists or also to the Epistles of the Apostles otherwise I must desire a Grain of Allowance because St. Stephen though indeed neither Evangelist nor Apostle yet a Holy man and Inspired by the Holy Ghost called him the Son of man in Acts 7.56 when he said I see Heaven open and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God And the Apostle John imitating or using the phrase of the Prophet Daniel saith of him I saw one like the Son of man Rev. 1.13 with Dan. 7.13 The BRAZEN SERPENT Or GOD'S Grand DESIGN Which is Christ's Exaltation for Man's Salvation in believing on him John 3.14 15. And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have everlasting life CHAP. I. Brief Observations upon Nicodemus and our Saviours Discourse with him OUr Lord Jesus at Ierusalem wrought many Miracles at the Feast of Passover by means whereof many believed on him but he that knew what was in Man and needed not that any should testifie of Man knowing all men did not commit himself to them saith the Evangelist Iohn 2.24 25. But above all the rest who are left unnamed the Evangelist gives us an account in this Chapter of one man by profession a Pharisee the strictest sect of Religion among the Jews by name Nicodemus and by place a Ruler of the Iews and tells us what passed between our Lord and him as that he came to Jesus bâ— night He came to him as bâ—ing moved and drawn by the excellency of the Power of God that appeared in him and attested the truth and divinity of his Doctrine and so much he also tells him in his address to him making this Confession Rabbi or Master We know that thou art a Teacher come from God for no man can do those Miracles which thou dost except God be with him And yet he came by Night either being letted by his other business to come by Day or rather as being not yet so strong in his affection to him as for his sake to be willing to undergo the reproches and rebukes that an open Day-light resort to him and owning of him might have occasioned to him He loved yet it 's likely to retain his honour with his Brethren and to avoid the speech of People about him and yet so much he loved him as come to him he would and acquaint himself with him and therefore chuses to come to him by Night rather then not to come at all Nor doth our Saviour upbraid him with his weakness or brand him as guilty of Cowardliness for so close and hidden an acknowledgment of him but bears therewith till better knowledge of him and more acquaintance with him might put more Courage into him as afterward we find it did for he durst and did plead for him among and against his Enemies Ioh. 7.50 51. Yea and when he was in his lowest abasement Crucified and put to death as a Malefactor and was hanged upon the Cross or Tree in a most shameful and reprochful manner he durst and did own him so far as to joyn with Ioseph of Arimathea in bestowing an honourable burying upon his then dead Body Joh. 19.38 39 40. honouring him when dead whom all the Authority and chiefest of the Priests and Rulers had dishonourably persecuted while alive and ceased not until they had put him to Death yea and then also reputed and blasphemously spake off as a Deceiver yea he then owned him when the rest of the Disciples yea even the Apostles had forsaken and left him Surely our Lord herein set us a good Example verifying the Prophecy that went before of him viz. that he should not cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the Streets that he should not break a bruised Reed nor quench the smoking Flax till he bring forth judgment into victory Isa 42.2 3. And also by shewing himself meek and lowly in this case Condemned that Pride and rashness of Spirit too ready to shew it self in others that are too apt to
to no godly edifying Or leading men to walk in a road of Practices Observations and Performances of External duties without the Root the great mystery of godliness the right understanding perception and receit of the grace of God in Christ so as to the renewing them in the Spirit of their mind about which there is in many both Teachers and Professors of Religion exceeding great blindness and thence incertainty and confusion in their apprehensions The labour of the foolish wearying every one of them because they know not the way into the City Eccles 10.15 Much zeal there is and may be about the outward form and time of Baptisme the manner and way of Praying receit of the Supper or Communion Hearing Fasting the times and places of Worship with its Formes and Ceremonies yea and about walking in divers Religious practices when yet inwardly pride and arrogancy confidence in our selves our own frames or works with unbelief and rejection of the Grace and Truth of God Despising Hating and even Persecuting men because differing in their modes and apprehensions Envy Malice Covetousness Fraud and such like things lurk and bear sway underneath And yet men are apt to think all is well with them and incourage themselves and one another to expect Gods Kingdom Crying Peace peace where God speaks not peace and healing the hurts slightly that should be made sound like those in Jeremiahs days that thought their having Gods Temple and Worship among them should secure them from Judgment though their hearts were uncircumcised and their ways and doings naught and unmended But it s good to take heed to sound Doctrine the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ and of his holy ones taught and instructed by him for they spake what they knew and testified what they see not stearing our course by the multitude for so we should be rejecters of the Truth For Christs Doctrine was not so crouded after as to be heartily imbraced by the most for then would he not have said We speak what we know and testifie what we have seen and no man receiveth our testimony wherein after signification of his own and his holy Servants fitness for teaching others and faithfulness in teaching he faults and complains of the too great want of credit to and receit of their faithful teachings by the generality of men which he yet signifyeth to be the more inexcusable because he spake but hitherto of things Earthly or done upon earth and therefore thence argues their greater unfitness and incapacity for Heavenly things more properly and in a fuller sense such If I have told you Earthly things and ye believe not how shall ye believe if I tell you of Heavenly v. 12. As implying also his fitness and ability for declaring the heavenly things the things done or to be done in Heaven also Yea and he further signifies his only fitness and sufficiency for declaring them in what he adds viz. when he saith ver 13. And no man hath ascended up into Heaven but he that came down from Heaven even the Son of Man who is in Heaven Signifying as his own descent from and yet being in Heaven so that none but He That Son of Man is fit or able to declare the things of Heaven because none else came down thence furnished with the Knowledge of them And whereas Nicodemus might still be more amazed at these intimations of his coming down from Heaven ascending up to Heaven and being in Heaven even while he see and heard him on the Earth speaking to him he adds the words of the Text. And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life Of which he gives the reason in the next verses For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life c. Whence we may note by the way that Christ did not for Regenerating Nicodemus Preach to him some particular love or special manifestation of it to him more than to others but generally love or grace even the love of God to the World As the Apostle Paul also tells us that that which saved him and others from their natural and sinful state was the appearance of the love and pity of God to mankind Tit. 3.3 4. He saith not it was some peculiar love to them more then to others that was made to appear as the object upon which their eyes and hearts were fastned but the love of God to man more indefinitely and generally And therefore they are not to be heard who rejecting the Testimony of Gods love and grace to mankind and to the World make it their first and main business to Preach special and particular love to some elect and chosen ones as the way to bring Souls in to God Let us follow the way our Saviour hath walked in before us Preach to men Gods good will and love as testifyed to all in general in the gift of Christ and leave it to God to bear testimony to the word of his grace and to work therewith opening their understandings and perswading their hearts to imbrace it and evidencing and bearing witness to them as he who knows their hearts sees good Act. 14.3 15.8 CHAP. II. The words of the Text considered its parts Four main points thence Observed The first point spoken to viz. The Type of the Brazen Serpent lifted up in some brief notes upon it LET us veiw the words themselves which I have chosen to treat on wherein we have 1. The main thing asserted viz. That the Son of Man must be lifted up 2. The manner of it proposed by way of similitude As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up 3. The end of it declared viz. That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have Eternal Life We may note from the words also these several notes or points 1. That Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness that 's supposed and implied 2. That the Son of Man must be lifted up that 's mainly asserted 3. That this latter must answer to the former The lifting up the Son of Man must answer to the lifting up the Serpent by Moses in the Wilderness As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up 4. That the end of the Son of Mans being so lifted up is That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life To the first Point which is the comparison or that by which the lifting up of the Son of Man is illustrated and set forth viz. Moses his lifting up the Serpent in the Wilderness I shall speak more briefly the other points being more principally intended And in speaking thereto I note 1. The thing set up A Serpent 2. The cause or reason of
he came and was born into the World for the publick general and universal benefit of Mankind And that so far as the nature of Man extendeth so far hath he relation and favour so as for the good of his Creature he came in and stands to the nature of man and not only of this or that person of it in the notion relation and affection of a Son And so we may understand that saying of the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 9.6 To or for us a Child is born To or for us a Son is given and the Government shall he upon hiâ— shoulder c. To or for us Men namely not Jews only though more immediately and directly to or for them as of them and first sent to them Rom. 9.5 Act. 3.26 To be their glory as it is said Salvation is of the Jews John 4.22 And he was born to be the glory to or of his People Israel Luk. 2.29 30 31 32. And so it is said Of them came Christ after the flesh who is God over all blessed for ever Amen But though he was of them so â—as not only of them some of the Gentile stocks as to his Mothers side were in his Geneology also Mat. 1.3 5. So much less was he for Salvation to them only but to be also a light to lighten the Gentiles as a Son or Child is called a Light or Lamp to the Parents or Family 1 King 11.36 15 4. And to be for Salvation to the ends of the Earth Luk. 2.32 Isa 49.6 And so a Child born To or for mankind the Son of Man as owning Man generally in a larger sense as his Mother though in a choice sense or more Spiritually they only are so that hear the Word of God and do it Luk. 8.21 He is so given to man and owns a Relation to Man as that he is the Saviour of all men especially of those that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 And so he puts an honour and dignity upon the Nature of Man though in a special sense he is the glory of his people Israel As before Both as to Israel after the flesh as after the flesh he came of them and also and most especially and chiefly of Israel after the Spirit whose Saviour and Portion in the most full and choice sence he is for ever But I say his being made Man puts an honour upon the Nature of Man and shews him to be a lover of Man even of that Nature and Creature above all others even Angels too whose Nature he took not Heb. 2.16 And that his delight is with the Sons of Men. As is said Prov. 8.31 For as it was a great honour that man was made in the Image and likeness of his Maker So it was a great honour and shewed yet more respect to Man and his Nature that God even the Word which was and is God the Son of God and Mans Maker For all things were made by him Joh. 1.2 Should be made in the likeness of men and in the habit of a man Phil. 2.7 8. Though as it 's twice said so it s twice true with respect to either Adam that Man being in honour and without understanding or not considering to walk worthy of it becomes like or is compared to the Beasts that perish Psal 49.12 20. But sure it 's a great priviledge to our nature to have such a Son begotten on and brought forth by it and to it as it were And he being also the Son of the Father in love and Truth full of goodness righteousness and charity What may not men expect from him as being his Brethren For so he is not ashamed to call us from such a Son from such a Brother who is also the Everlasting Father and so the wonderful one ready to cherish and provide for us for ever Sure he will and doth honour both his Father and Mother both God his Father and the man-hood or man as his Mother as in doing all things to his glory and renown so in doing what may be for her that is mans honour support and benefit Whatever a poor decayed decrepid Mother may expect from a loving Child that 's rich and honourable for her maintainance and support man may expect from this Son of Man yea in him the honour and dignity conferred upon the nature of Man in the first Adam is fully and with advantage restored And that which was truly affirmable of us in that first Adam Lord what is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of man that thou visitest him for thou hast made him a little lower then the Angels thou hast crowned him with glory and honour thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thine hands thou hast put all things under his feet c. Is now applyed to man in Christ Jesus with advantage I say because Angels and Authorities and Powers are also made subject to him Psal 8.4 5. With Heb. 2.5 6 7 8. 1 Pet. 3.22 1 Cor. 6.3 And what ever poor and perishing Brethren may hope for from a rich and powerful Brother that is good and righteous that may men expect from Christ the Son of Man only as in case such a Mother and Brethren be unruly proud scornful refuse to be helped by or receive relief from and be beholden to such a Son or Brother in such a way as is just and honourable to Himself and to his Father but will rather rejecting his help shirk elsewhere through their stubborness contempt and scorn they may ruine themselves so is it with man here But because his delight is with the Sons of men as his Brethren and he loves and honours the nature of man as his Mother in a sort therefore he calls to men and counsels them to be ruled by him that he might by relieving them make them happy As it is said Doth not wisdom cry and understanding lift up her voice As who would say can that be denied or doubted of surely no it 's a matter beyond controversie She stands upon the top of high places where she may with the most and greatest audibleness and advantage call by the way in the places of the paths She is not far from any one of us but in all mens ways and walkings though she walk not with them nor can go in their paths she is by her Spirit striving in man judging reproving and calling to him She cryeth at the Gates at the entry of the City As and when men come to the years of discretion and are entring as it were into the World to be conversing there-with choosing and refusing for themselves at the coming in at the dores The entring into or upon their several conditions or states wherein they are seeking rest To you ô men I call and my voice saith she is to the sons of men O ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be the of an understanding heart hear for I will speak of excellent things and the opening of my
of Man so there is nothing to be said of Christ because nothing in him but what is excellent for in him all fulness dwells and he is fairer then the children of men the chiefest or he that carries the banner among ten thousand The most powerful wise just holy merciful and gracious one And the entrance of Gods word concerning him gives light discovers the excellencies in him the Forgiveness of sins Redemption Spirit and Spiritual Blessings the Grace and Glory in him and it gives understanding to the simple It gives sight to discern the light and what is discovered in and by it It opens the eyes of the blind and makes wise the simple Psal 19.7 8 9. 119.130 And so the Soul perceives the excellencies of Christ That he is the excellent and precious one Beautiful and glorious excellent and comely Isa 4.2 however he appears to others whose eyes are not opened but they are yet spiritually blâ—â—d or are blinded of Sathan for their not believing 2 Cor. 4.4 Yet the enlightened Soul sees him worthy to be adhered to above all other things and persons worthy above all to be loved and to be believed on Thus the Apostles whose eyes were blessed because they see saw in him as the glory of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and of truth And therefore pronounced of him Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God and whither should we go thou hast the words of eternal life c. John 1.14 6.68 69. Matth. 16.16 Now from this perswasion of the truth of Gods Testimony I say and this perception of his Excellencies discovered therein flow 2. The acts contained in the believing on Christ wherein the believing on him properly stands and is exercised which the Scripture variously expresseth To take in all which I say 1. It 's a hearty betaking of the Soul or of a mans self to Christ In which expression I include and intend what our Saviour or the Evangelists expresses in two used by them viz. 1. The receiving Christ which hath respect or reference to his being given of God to us and coming in his name and tendring himself to us to be our Saviour Helper Healer and in order thereto our Prophet Master or Teacher our King Commander Protector and Defender our precious Sacrifice and perfect High Priest yea our Lord and our God Now he that betakes himself to him receives him with all acceptation as such a one as the great gift of God and of himself unto and for all those exercises of his authority over us and grace toward us unto which he is given and which he tenders And this is interpreted in the Scripture it self to be believing on him or on his name John 1.12 He came to his own and his own received him not but to as many as received him he gave power to become the sons of God even to them that believed on his name This phrase also our Saviour uses to signifie the believing on one John 5.43 44. And so he that believes on him receiving him as the Prophet and Teacher sent of God receives also his sayings instructions reproofs counsels c. and receiving him as the Lord and King receives his commands yea receiving him as the great High Priest receives him so as to come to God by his Sacrifice yea receiving him as God receives his sayings and commands as the most sovereign and absolute sayings and commands of God To which also tends 2. The coming to him This also is included in believing on him and so in the betaking a mans self to him yea so as to go from all other to him For receiving him as such a one the Soul comes to him or betakes it self to him from all others that may stand in competition with him to be taught instructed counselled commanded and so to be helped healed protected and saved by him and to obtain blessing from God by his Sacrifice and Mediation And this phrase also is often used to express and signifie the believing on him As when it 's said Ye will not come to me that ye might have life John 5.40 He that cometh to me shall not hunger John 6.35 If any man thirst let him come to me and drink which in the next verse is He that believeth on me John 7.37 38. and many beside Now this coming is 1. First and principally of the heart and inward man liking prizing loving and looking to him for all grace and blessing and such is the believing heart a heart drawing nigh or cleaving to him with purpose or resolution Heb. 10.22 Acts 11.24 As the unbelieving heart is called an evil heart withdrawing or departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 10.39 An heart removed far from the Lord Isa 29.13 or departing from him Jer. 17.5 8. 2. Secondarily as the way to and an effect of the former it contains and leads to a coming to him in his Ordinances and the appointments of God as to the Assemblies and Societies of Gods people where he is spiritually present and exercising his power and dispensing his grace and blessing in a bodily coming thereto Matth. 18.20 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 1.13 Heb. 10.24 25. Psal 133. II. It 's a yielding up a mans self to him which as it is also included in the receiving Christ the admitting or entertaining him in his Doctrine counsels reproofs commands and so in the exercise of his Priestly power with God and Princely Authority over us and all things so it also hath in it that resigning up a mans self to his gracious guidance and government which is required of us and that obeying him which is to be exercised by us as is implied in that saying Heb. 5.8 9. That being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him which is put there for that which here and in other places is believing on him Obedience to him in yielding to his counsels and commands and so in being ruled and governed by him being a necessary and indispensible fruit or exercise of the faith or believing on him to which the promises are made exercised also and practised by the antient and approved believers recorded in the Scripture whose faith we are to follow as is to be seen in Heb. 11.7 8 17. Whence the unbelievers are called the children of disobedience and judgment threatned to them as such Eph. 5.6 Col. 3.6 2 Thess 1.7 8 9. This expression of yielding a mans self to the Lord we have in 2 Chron. 30.8 Yield your selves or as the Margent hath it Give your hands to the Lord who is stretching out his hand to us to succour and supply us to pull us out of the snares of sin and Sathan and to bring or lead us into his Sanctuary c. III. It 's an attendance to him also called in Scripture sometimes a looking to him as seeking and expecting all grace and blessing from him Isa 45.22 Psal 34.5 and a waiting
have their share in that Yea some that have been the best have dyed the youngest As Enoch was translated far short of that age to which others then lived But that that is said is That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life Where the profit and advantage of believing on Christ is set forth 1. Negatively He shall not perish 2. Affirmatively but have eternal life Concerning which advantages I shall speak to these four following Enquiries The former two whereof are touching the former part The latter two touching the latter 1. What is this perishing from which the Believer on Christ is and shall be saved or preserved And 2. How he shall be saved from this perishing These about the former part Then in the latter 3. What that eternal life is that the Believer on Christ shall have And 4. How and when he shall have that eternal life 1. As for this perishing it may be understood to be either 1. From the way Or 2. In the end 1. A perishing from the way as it is said Psal 2.11 Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his anger is kindled but a little In such a sense it is said of the Prodigal This my son was lost The Greek word signifies and is sometimes rendred yea in this John 3.15 â—6 it is so for the word here used is the same in its root with that there was perisht He was quite gone out of the way the way of life and peace Now he that credits the testimony of God concerning Christ so as seeing his beauty and goodness he believes on receives comes to attends and relies on and trusts in him shall not perish or be lost much less wholly lost from the way but being in it shall be preserved therein shall continue in the Son and in the Father 1 John 2.24 2 John 9. They who believe not on the Son of Man as evidenced to them of God they do and are in danger to perish from the way continually they that do not know come to and close with him know not the way of peace Rom. 3.18 they find not the way that tends to life Matth. 7.14 Though they seek wisdom they find it not scorning to seek and accept it of him in his way of giving it Prov. 14.6 Though they may have a zeal of God and follow after righteousness yet not seeking it by faith the belief of Gods Word and Testimony concerning him and so in a way of looking to and depending on him but as it were by the works of the Law they attain not to the righteousness that they seek Rom. 9.31 32. The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them because though they labour and toil in their own wisdom never so much yet they find not the way into the city Eccles 10.15 Yea he that believeth not on him Satan gets power to blind his mind that the light of the glory of the Gospel of Christ should not shine into them 2 Cor. 4.4 And the Gospel being hid from them they are lost verse 3. Lost out of the way of understanding And if men have known something of the Grace of God and come to Christ in some measure yet if they go not on to believe and exercise faith in him they are in danger to be lost and perish out of the way of truth and righteousness Every condition is likely to destroy them from it as to say 1. Let God try and exercise them with affliction poverty and temptations that lye heavy upon them they are in danger to perish out of the way of truth and life and to say with Jobs wife Curse God and dye or rather to do so Job 2.9 As it 's likely what counsel she gave her Husband she would have her self practised had she been in his case Asaph or the Pen-man of Psal 73. was in danger so to have done when he came to that in ver 13 14. Verily in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency for I have been plagued all the day long and chastened every morning Thus they that receive the word like seed in a rocky ground in the day of temptation fall away wanting depth of earth or rooting in their faith Matth. 13.5 6 20 21. So Israel in the day of temptation did in the wilderness The word that they heard being not mixed with faith in them nor they trusting on his salvation Heb. 4.2 Psal 78.22 23. 106.12 13. Jude 5. For if the faith or believing on the Son of Man fail then they fail of receiving his light direction strength or of the prevalency of the light and life given so as not to walk aright in the way of God and then they must needs turn out of it into crooked paths as is implied in Psal 125. That they do who trust not in the Lord ver 1 2 5. whereas if the faith or believing on the Son of God fails not for the faith or that object of faith never fails any man that trusts to it then he therein receives that understanding and discretion that delivers him from the way of the evil man that walks in crooked paths and from the way of the evil woman that flatters with her tongue yea such understanding as causes to hate every false way Prov. 2.10 11 12 15. Psal 119.104 And if a man should through temptations get a fall in the way as Peter did when through fear he denied his Master yet he will get up again and go on in his way his faith not failing as Peter did for Christ will help him up again to whom he looketh and in whom he believeth not imputing the weaknesses of his believing though reproving them And so he shall go on in his way still Luke 22.31 32. Matth. 14.30 31. 2. If God orders persecutions for the Gospel sake to befall unless the Son of Man be believed on and looked to and received in his instructions counsels and grace extended a man will perish from the way from attending to and walking with God in Christ in the way of his commandments for he will want strength and courage to persevere and so will turn to the world again either through fear of what will come the fear of man proving a snare Prov. 29.25 as it did to Israel who for fear of the Giants and strong Nations in the Land of Canaan turned back in their hearts Numb 14. and were reputed as unbelievers and destroyed therefore in the Wilderness ver 10 11 22 23. and as it was to Peter in the case above-mentioned or else through the feeling of troubles that come upon them and press them Like to many of the Israelites in the Wilderness whose souls were discouraged through the difficulties they felt in the way Numb 21.4 5. But where the Son of Man is believed on with the heart trusted to and relied upon he gives strength and courage both against the fears
all means with diligence that may strengthen us hereunto As Direction 1. Mind we and take heed to the word of faith The Gospel which as it is the word of faith and the means of believing on him at first So it is the means too to nourish and strengthen the believing on him The power of God to salvation to them that do believe to save them from falling from their faith Rom. 1.16 1 Pet. 1.5 The nourishing doctrine and usefull for growth as well as the seed of divine regeneration 1 Pet. 1.23 with 2.2 1 Tim. 4.6 Taking heed thereto Let us also Direct 2. Observe and wait upon God in his Ordinances annexed to and for the furtherance of the Gospel wherein the Lord and the grace preached in him are witnessed and preached to us and to be sought for of us and which areas seals and assurances also from God some of them of his truth and faithfulness Thus the disciples are to be taught to observe all things commanded of Christ to his Apostles Matth. 28.20 And the Apostle mentioning the prevalency of the spirit of delusion upon the unbelievers or turners from the faith exhorts the believers to stand fast and to hold the traditions which they had been taught either by word or by Epistle Such as the Ordinance of the Supper in which the Apostle delivered to them what he had received of the Lord. 1 Cor. 11.23 And the assembling of themselves together Heb. 10.25 c. as ways wherein they might wait upon God to preserve them from the like evill falls and the influences of such delusions 2 Thes 2.10 11 12 15. with and in all crying and praying to the Lord to maintain and increase our faith Luke 17.5 Yea and Direct 3. In all look we diligently to and upon and so consider Jesus as lifted up in the Gospel and it's Ordinances like as the Brazen Serpent was by Moses upon the Pole that so in beholding the fulness of grace and truth in him the love wherewith he hath loved us and which he hath testified to all and more especially to those that are his disciples and followers the promises promised in him with his ability and faithfulness to obtain them for us and bring about the accomplishment of them to us and his ingagement to do all for and in and unto such as depend upon him and his sufficiency for it and faithfulness shewed already both to his Father and to us in his sufferings and sacrifice we may be incouraged and strengthned to hold fast and go on in believing on him Heb. 3.1 2 and 12.1 2. So the Apostles set him before believers to confirm and strengthen them in believing on him Col. 2.2 3 9 10 1 Joh. 5.11 12 13. And to that purpose is the whole Epistle to the Hebrews and other places Direct 4. Yield we up our selves to the teachings and operations of his grace and spirit in us To turn at his reproofs and walk in his ways in the exercise of our selves in all sobriety righteousness and godliness in this present World looking for the blessed hope for to be spiritually minded or the minding of the spirit is life and peace Rom. 8.6 And he thâ— soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting Therefore let us not be weary of well doing for in due time we shall reap if we faint not Gal. 6 7 8 9. CHAP XVI Some further usefulness of the said Observations in Cautions and Instructions Use 4 THose two Observations also about the necessity and benefit of believing on Christ may serve to admonish and warn us of diverse things As 1. To take heed lest there be in any of us an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God but rather as a way to prevent it to exhort one another while it is called to day and so also to encourage one another Least any of us be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3.12 13. And let us take this heed both every one for himself and all of us for one another Love to our selves may lead us to the former and Charity to others will lead us to the latter For the former of these it 's needfull to mind what hath been said above in the motives and incouragements to believe and the means to be used for helpfulness therein To which I shall add 1. Take heed to the things heard in the Gospel Lest at any time we let them slip and grow forgetfull of them For the forgetfulness of God and Christ and of the things said of and by them lead to withdraw from them and so to neglect and fail of his salvation Heb. 2.1 3. Thus it 's noted that Israels forgetfulness of God and of his word and works ushered in their Apostacy from him as is implyed Psal 106.12 13. Where after they are said to have believed his word and sung his praises It follows That they soon forgat his works and waited not for his counsels as the inlet to their Apostacy and their afterward not believing in him for his salvation See the same implyed Deut. 32.15 18. Whereas the keeping in mind what and how we have heard in the Gospel is the way to be saved and preserved by it in the faith if we have heartily believed and not in vain â— Cor. 15.1 2 3. Be we not therefore forgetfull hearers of his word in which also his mighty and famous works are remembred and recorded but doers of it not deceiving our own souls Jam. 1.22 24. And to that purpose also 2. Take heed of forsaking the assemblings of our selves together to exhort and speak to one another and so to hear and be minded of the name of the Lord. Heb. 10.24 25 with 3.13 Mal. 3.16 And so to use and wait upon God in his Ordinances and appointments delivered to us to exercise our selves in as before was signified 2 Thes 2 15. 3. Take heed of high mindedness and conceits of our being so sure as that we cannot miscarry and God may not cast us off or harden us though we walk never so carelesly Be not highminded but fear beholding the goodness and severity of God to them that fell severely and to them that believe goodness if they continue in his goodnesse otherwise they also shall be broken off Rom. 11.20 21 22. Pride goes before destruction and a haughty mind before a fall Prov. 16.18 19. The conceiting our selves rich and increased with goods and wanting nothing lays us open to luke-warmness and laziness and slothfulness casts into a deep sleep c. Rev. 3.13 14 15 16. Prov. 19.15 4. Take heed of false Prophets and Deceivers that confess not Jesus Christ come in the flesh but pretending to teach us higher things and to lead us into a higher safer condition than in only depending and believing on Christ and on God in him and so into more equality with God and Christ undermine the simplicity in Christ Jesus and seduce therefrom by inticing
happinesse as without whom the best are too bad to be saved from wrath and admitted into the Kingdom of God There being no other name given under heaven either of thing or person whereby we must be saved but only his Act 4.11.12 and in and by whom the poorest and meanest sinfulnesse and unworthiâ—est may and shall be saved believing on him And indeed this Phrase That whosoever believeth on him may or should not perish c. Shews both a necessity for the best to believe on him as implying that none is sufficient to keep himself from hell and destruction or to climb and ascend up to heaven and happinesse but need to be saved from the one and advanced to the other by him in taking heed to leaving and relying on him and so only and no other way the wisest strongest and most righteous even by his wisdom righteousness mercy and grace may be saved and also that by him the worst and unworthiest believing on him may be saved and live such the sufficiency and perfection of grace that is in him through his sufferings sacrifice mediation Therefore I say neither are we to lift up our selves in our selves or in any thing of or after the flesh to the neglecting him as if we were therein or therfore Lords and need not come or be beholden unto him or as if we had lesse need of living in or depending on him nor yet so to grieve over or discourage our selves by our unworthiness or any poverty or sinfulness in or of our selves as if the grace in him was too scantâ—y to help or save us But knowing his sufficiency for all and freeness and openness to all cleave we with purpose of heart to him believing on him and not fearing But again 2. From the description given in the former Observation of this believing on the Son of man we may further admonish and be admonished To take heed of resting in a false and pretended believing on him which is not indeed and in truth the believing on him here signified A man may think himself to be something therein when he is nothing and so deceive himself And many so deceive themselves the heart being deceitfull above all things 1. By taking an external profession of the faith or of believing in God and on Jesus Christ his Son for a real and hearty believing on him Many professe themselves to know God who yet indeed deny him And many professe to believe on Jesus Christ who yet in their lives proclaim that they neither know him nor regard him much lesse have their faith in and dependance on him Tit. 1.16 Not every one that saith to or of Christ Lord Lord is such a one as believes on him so as to be saved from perishing and to have or obtain eternal life or enter into Gods Kingdome But they that do the will of God that sent him that so believe the Testimony of God concerning him as indeed to receive him for their Lord and depend on and obey him Matth. 7.21 22. Many this way deceive themselves indeed no evill liver no fornicator no blasphemer no drunkard no coveteous person or the like believe on Jesus Christ however they may say They believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord for if they did they might have eternal life and so enter Gods Kingdom whereas the Scripture saith and often assures us that no such ill liver shall do so 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19 20 21. Ephes 5.3 4 5 6. Rev. 21.8 22.15 2. By taking every such profession of the faith of him and of believing on him as in which men preach and professe him and find some good effects follow thereupon among men to be the believing on him here spoken of Whereas many shall say in that day when Christ comes Have we not preached in thy name and in thy name cast out devils and done many wonderful works To whom yet Christ shall say and professe I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity Matth. 7.22 23. Many may see and say many excellent things of him as Balaam did of Israel and do many things in his name as Judas did and yet not be believers on him because not obeyers and followers of his heavenly Counsels and instructions 3. By taking any zealous way of profession of Religion and care to perform and practice duties for a believing on Christ whereas there may be much zeal and strictness in profession and for performing duties when yet Christ is not known or understood and his grace not perceived or received but opposed much lesse lived and depended on but the life of mens own hands found and lived upon As it 's said Isai 57.10 As the Jews who were Zealous for the Ordinances of Moses and the external and and lighter matters of the law were yet ignorant of and neglected faith judgement mercy and the love of God and such like greater and weightier matters of the Law Matth. 23.23 Luk. 11.42 So may it be and is with many Christians by profession Many of them that are strict and zealous for outward Observations Ordinances Fastings Prayers Walkings Sabbaths Yea as Paul in his Pharaisisme was blamelesness of conversation in things commanded for matter of practice among men and in Religious exercises yet are void of the true knowledge and faith of Christ and the great things of his grace so as not to live thereupon Many in whom their zeal and frames and works spring not from faith in Christ but from other principles as a desire to be saved with a thought that they must be so upon the merit or account of their own good works as is to be seen among many Papists and others and such may be said to be of works rather then of faith and so far from being heirs of eternal life that they are under the curse Gal. 3.10 11 12. Rom. 4.4 4. By taking a faith or dependance partly on Christ and partly on other things or objects joyned with Christ as grounds of their hope and confidence to be this believing on him to which the promise is made as Christ and the Law Christ and the Pope or other men Christ and riches Christ and our own wisdome and policy c. Thus was it with the Galathians in their perverted state they joyned Moses and Christ together law and faith together as the ground of their hope and expectation Gal. 1.6.7 and 3.2 3. and 4.9 10 11. And such is the evil of men when they make their own righteousness good frames and doings a ground of their confidence with Christ and not Christ only the root and spring of all their goodness and ground of their confidence And so it 's an evil of like nature to trust in uncertain riches the friendship of this World the authority and power of man or our own policies yea it s a sin when but for a comfortable livelihood or
and upon his account for all things which he knows needful for us in this life also and not uncertain riches 1 Tim. 6.17 19. Whether food raiment counsel courage health friends or what else he may see good for us with submission to his wisdom and will and so 5. For outward defence and safety in our ways and services not coveting after or trusting in mans friendship and defence Psal 146.3 4 5 6. So Ezra was ashamed to ask a Guard of the King to secure him in his way to Jerusalem but sought it of God having said to the King That the hand of the Lord is for good to and with them that seek him but his power and wrath against them that forsake htuâ— Ezra 8.22 And Christ sending out his Apostles incouraged them to believe on him for safety in his work telling them All power in Heaven and Earth is given unto me and lo I am always with you to the end of the world Mat. 28.18 20. Let our conversation therefore be without covetousness and be we content with such things such things for defence and protection also as we have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper I will not fear c. Heb. 13.5.6 6. For Eternal Life the receiving our Spirits in death Acts 7.59 Psal 31.4 5. The resurrection of our bodies from the death when he appears in glory John 11.25 26 5.28 29. 1 Cor. 6.14 15.21 22. The glory then to be revealed and enjoyed Col. 3.4 1 Thes 4.15 16. Rom. 5.2 Thence he is in the believers the hope the ground of their hope of Glory Col. 1.27 And where he is so looked to and depended on for all these things and in a word for all grace and glory that in the looking to and depending on him the heart and life is yielded up to him to be ordered directed and framed by him according to his Word and Will through the grace brought to us by him there the believing is right and such as hath the promise and shall have the performance of Gods salvation from perishing and of Eternal Life And great care is to be taken herein that we be not deceived with a pretence of Religion wherein yet the heart is going after and relying on or hoping in other Objects instead of Christ and God in him or upon other accounts then of the grace in him or the heart and life is not yielded up to be ordered by him And surely if in worldly things men are careful not to be paid with Copper instead of Silver and Gold or to have their Bags filled with Counters instead of currant money and that they have not false and counterfeit Deeds and Conveyances instead of what is good and valid in the Law for their Estates How much more should we be careful in the matters of our Souls that we content not our selves with a faith or believing that is not aright a believing in vain instead of a reall unfeigned believing on Jesus Christ the Son of man and the Son of God Now that we may believe on the Son of man as the Scriptures have said and as they approve and so be preserved from perishing and obtain eternal life the son of man must be lifted up And so we come to CHAP. XVII The Sixth and last Observation proposed and spoken to in certain Conclusions the first of which in two branches shews the necessity of Gods lifting up Christ in himself both as to mens believing on him and as to their being saved and living for ever by him Obser 6 THe Sixth and last Observation is That it is needful and behoveful to the end that men may both believe in Christ and also therein be preserved from perishing and have eternal life therefore also its Gods good will that Christ the Son of man be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness How that was we have in some measure seen by whom He is and is to be so lifted up that which remains here to be considered is that it 's necessary and behoveful that he be so lifted up both with reference to mens believing on him as the next end of it and with reference to their not perishing but having eternal life who believe on him and in their believing on him which is the last and Ultimate end and to demonstrate this I shall briefly lay down and prove two or three conclusions Conclusion 1. That the lifting him up both by men upon the cross as ordered of God and by God himself in his uniting the nature of man in him to the eternal word and his calling him forth to upholding him in raising him out of and rewarding and glorifying him at his right hand after his sufferings was of absolute necessity both as to mens believing on him and as to their being saved from perishing and having life eternal in believing on him In which conclusion be two branches Branch 1. That this lifting him up was necessary to mens believing on him and that is clear because otherwise he could not have been an Object to be believed on for any of those things which we need in order to our salvation and ever-living For 1. Had he not been made one with the Word the seed of David made the Son of God he had been but a Creature and so not meet to be believed on with a divine faith or dependance on him either for procuring for us or conferring on us the things pertaining to salvation and eternal life no meer creature being so to be believed on by us or able to save us nor had he been such a one as had answered the prophesies foregoing concerning the person in whom we are directed to have our trust For he in the prophesies is described to be the Son of God I wil declaree the decree the Lord hath said unto me thou art my Son this day have begotten thee Psal 2.6 And this Son is he of whom its is said Kiss the son lest he be angry and blessed are all they that put their trust in him vers 11 12. The Son given is He that is the mighty God Isai 9.6 and if he were not so he should be looked upon but as a meer creature and so as a meer medium by whom and by which God extends his mercy and goodness and not as the extender and procurer of it we are counselled and sometimes people have been commended for believing the Prophets of the Lord who were but men indued with the spirit or gifts of the spirit of the Lord. As it is said Believe his Prophets so shall ye prosper 2 Chron. 20.20 And they believed God and his servant Moses Exod. 14.31 But not any where to believe on any man that 's a meer man but always in or on the Lord Jehovah As in the same 2 Chron. 20.20 Where he saith Believe his Prophets He saith Believe in or on
Teachers for perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the Edifying the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and acknowledgment of the Son of God to a perfect man c. Ephes 4.7 8.11 12. And it was needful he should give such Gifts to men to the end that he might be Lifted up by men in the Exercise of them Yea and that they be faithful to men therein making it the great Business Work and end of all their exercise of their Gifts and so of all their Ministry and Conversation to Lift up and Magnifie the Son of Man to glorifie Jesus Christ our Lord by and from whom they have all their said Gifts and all their Mercies and Injoyments bestowed upon them Heb. 13.7 8. 2 Thes 1.12 Yea and of all that know and believe in him to confess him with their Mouth and magnifie him both in Word and Work calling in others to him And so it 's said The Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come Rev. 22.17 And this Witnessing to him and Lifting him up as the Son of God the Christ the Saviour of the World the Lord the Ransom of our Souls who hath given himself the Ransom or Price of Redemption for all the Testimony in due time the Reconciliation and Reconciler the Propitiatory or Mercy Seat through whom God doth cover the Sins of men through Faith in his Blood and the Propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole World The Peace-maker and Peace between God and man and between men and men The great Prophet and Apostle Light and Leader of men into the Truth true Knowledg Faith and Worship of Cod the great High Priest over the House of God the Mediator of God and man that makes Intercession for Transgressors and for all that come to God by him the great King of Saints and Nations the Procurer and Giver of Remission of sins and of the Holy Ghost and of all Spiritual Grace and Blessing the great God and our Saviour who hath the Fulness of God yea all the Fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him Bodily and hath the Government of all things committed to him so as he hath all Power and Authority over all things in Heaven and Earth and hath the dispose of all Mercies for this Life and that to come Spiritual and Corporal the only Way to the Father to be worshipped by us and from the Father to Convey all Grace and Blessing to us the Resurrection and the Life yea the All I say the lifting him up as such a one is exceeding useful and behoveful yea necessary for begetting in mens hearts an exceeding high apprehension of him so as to render him precious to them more precious then the fine Gold of Ophir or the Mountains of Prey and to lead them to account all things loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledg of him and so to come to and believe on him And though in all Ages nor in all Places there hath not been given forth a like Express and full Testimony of and to him as there is given in these Ages and these Places wherein we live having the Testimony of the Apostles and of the holy Spirit by them nor where we have that is there in every one the same fulness of understanding firmness of belief and clearness of declaration of what is said and contained therein Yet this in the fulness of it and all that is in it is very needful and behoveful for bringing men in to believe on him explicitly and firmly against and because of all the oppositions of the Devil and evil Spirits and of the reason and wisdom and stubbornness of the Flesh and carnal Heart and the course and principles of the world tending to keep men therefrom as to mens more distinct full and comfortable exercise of Faith in him Indeed as it is not of absolute necessity to Salvation and Eternal life that every one have the same fulness and comfortable exercise of believing so also neither is it of absolute necessity that they have every one the same clearness and fulness of understanding and perswasion of the commendations pertaining to him Yea as to Gods power to save men through him I cannot assert a necessity of a distinct knowledg of the Name and particular Acts of Christ at all for doubtless many who died before his Incarnation and had no distinct knowledg of his Person and personal Acts in the flesh were saved as well as many Infants and others since But yet generally needful it is that he be so far Lifted up and made known and there-through that the heart be so far perswaded of his Being Fulness Power Excellency Sufficiency as that the heart see him the only excellent and sufficient Object of Faith and Confidence the only powerful One to be looked to and hoped in by us or else he cannot be distinctly believed on to Salvation and Life everlasting Where there is no Vision the people perish but where there is so much as that people may see the Law and Doctrine of Christ or the Mind of God concerning them through him he that keeps the Law is happy Even that of the Law that concerning him or by and through him is made known Prov. 29.18 with Rom. 2.26 Acts 10.34 And where men have the clear knowledg of him to declare to others for their helpfulness in believing on him and they conceal it from men woe to them for so doing 1 Cor. 9.16 Br. 2. As the Exalting and Lifting up of Christ by way of Declaration of him as aforesaid is necessary for mens believing on him for Life and Salvation at the first and further then he is made known in his Being and Excellency no man can have any Faith in or belief on him So this is necessary also to the abiding and growth in him and recovery of the Back-sliders to Faith in him again that he be still and always Lifted up and Magnified in the Eyes of men even of those that have begun to believe or have formerly believed on him For if by any means the Lifting of him up and the Preaching and praises of him being with-held or neglected the Serpent foist in high thoughts of some other thing or things as better and fuller then he or as necessary besides him and the Grace in and by him for our Life and Salvation or for our Welfare and Happiness either here or hereafter so as the thoughts or mind be corrupted from the simplicity in him And he begin to appear or be looked upon as less Full Precious and Desirable the soul is in present danger to be withdrawn from him and be gone ceasing to believe and depend on him or to do so singly and rightly for the Salvation and Life that is in and by him which occasioned the Apostles godly jealousie of the Corinthians least by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve their minds should
hand yea or but tasted and spit out again it heals not the Distemper If it fail not to heal when ever duly applied it s an approved Medicine and may have a Probatum est written upon it The waters of Jordan were manifested to be an apt proper and sufficient remedy for Naamans Leprosie in that it healed him perfectly upon his seven times washing in it though had he either gone away in his rage and not washed at all or washed but four or five or six times in it and not seven times as he commanded his Leprosie had not been cleansed The like we might say of the Brazen Serpent that healed in being looked upon though its bare setting up or being felt on would not have done it Now that to such as give up and attend to the Gospel it s a means of begetting preserving and increasing Faith it may be thus evidenced 1. In that its the way that God hath appointed and it s to be certainly believed that what God orders is and must be proper and sufficient for the end whereto he orders it his work being perfect and all his Ways judgment Deut. 32.4 We may not so injure the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of the only wise God who is Love and Goodness it self as to think that he would direct his Creatures to improper or insufficient means for their attaining the most excellent and necessary end as if he either could mistake himself or would impose upon and delude us Now that this is the means of his appointing is evident in this that the Gospel was ordered by him to be Preached For the obedience of Faith in all Nations Rom. 1.5 and 16.26 And that it Pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe To whom also it is the Power of God for that purpose Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. 1.21 Even to save them from unbelief and disobedience Yea it s called the Word of Faith Rom. 10.8 both as its the Word that is to be believed and as it begets and nourishes Faith where entertained As also the Preaching of the Cross is said to be the Power and Wisdom of God to the called to such as obey the call both to lead and strengthen them to and direct and uphold them in believing on Christ and God by him 1 Cor. 1 22r 24. As also it is that Faith where-through the Believer is kept by the Power of God to the Salvation ready to be revealed in the last days 1 Pet. 1.5 2. In that in and by it all things are given us of God pertaining to Life and Godliness both to quicken to and in believing and preserve in it and lead out to the right worshipping of God in the exercise of it 2 Pet. 1.3 as to say 1. A discovery of all such things or Objects as may move the heart to imbrace Christ and preserve it with him taking it off from all other things For therein is declared as was also noted before 2. The excellency of his Person that there is none like him for us to believe on he being the Son the only begotten Son of God one with God yea God over all blessed for ever Amen John 1.1 2 14. and 3.16 Rom. 9.5 One by whom and for whom all things in Heaven and Earth were Created and made and are by the word of his Power upheld Col. 1.16 Heb. 1.2 3. One that was in the Form and hath the Riches and Fulness of God Phil. 2.6 7. 2 Cor. 8.9 And therefore one mighty in Power Wisdom and Fulness for performing his undertakings for us to save us Isa 9.6 2. The greatness of his Love and Grace toward us in coming forth from his Father in the fulness of time to seek and save us to that purpose emptying himself of all his Riches and Glory and taking on him the form of a Servant the fashion of Men yea bearing our Iniquities on his Body on the Tree becoming poor a man of Sorrows and acquainted with Griefs yea made sin and a Curse for us to redeem us from sin and Curse and to inrich bless and make us Righteous to that purpose Dying the accursed and shameful Death of the Cross for us Gal. 4.4 and 3.13 Phil. 2.7 8 9. 1 Pet. 2.24 2 Cor. 8.9 Isa 53.4 5 6. 2 Cor. 5.21 Which may perswade us of his willingness to save and bless us 3. That all this was done to him and suffered by him for the World the whole World for all and every one and not only for some few out of love to the world and Grace to every one God being not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance and so to the knowledg and acknowledgment of the Truth and to be saved John 3.16 17. and 12.47 Rom. 5.18 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 20 21. 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Heb. 2.9 and 4.9 10 14. Ezek. 33.11 2 Pet. 3.9.15 And so reaches to and includes every of us 4. That all this he did by the Will and Appointment of God his Father in Obedience to and in Union of mind and will with him and therefore with his Likement and Acceptance who sent him gave him made him of a Woman and under the Law yea made him Sin and a Curse for us laid upon him the Iniquities of us all pleased to bruise him and put him to Griefs and made his Soul an offering for sin upheld him in all and was well-pleased with him and therefore also bare witness to him in both Life and Death but especially in Raising and Exalting him as was formerly shewed For He raised him from the Dead it being indeed impossible that he should be held of Death Acts 2.24 and gave him Glory that our Faith and Hope might be in God He delivered him for our Offences and raised him again for our Justification and did all things needful and abundant to him in Glorifying him that he might be our Saviour the Author of eternal Salvation to all that obey him John 3 16 17. Gal. 4.4 2 Cor. 5.19 21. Gal. 3.13 Isa 53.5 6 10 11. and 42.1 Rom. 4.25 1 Pet. 1.21 Heb. 5.9 For as 5. It is also declared in this Doctrine He being such a Person in himself who did and suffered such things and doing and suffering them for us all by the will and appointment of his Father and in Union of will with him his said Abasement Sufferings and Death were accepted and owned of God as and so are a sufficient Ransome or Price of Redemption for all Both for freeing all from perishing in and under that Death and Condemnation which came upon all in the first Adam and for his Transgression out of which therefore all shall at last be Raised up by him and also for Freeing Discharging and Delivering from Curse and Death eternal upon the account of their personal sinnings against the Law Goodness and Grace of God in and through him all or any that upon Convincement thereof in the day of
co-workers with and under him we are subject to his Spirit and sowing thereto we shall reap a good reward even life everlasting Gal. 6.8 Rom. 6.19 And indeed God will accept of no praises or commendations of him from us in which we neglect and lay by his Son the Son of man according to the measures of the Revelation given us of him seem our praises and commendations of him never so glorious The Pharisees would have had the blind man give the glory of his seeing to God so as to detract it from the Son of man as a sinner out of envy and opposition to him Joh. 9.24 But were they accepted think you in such a pretended glorifying of God Surely no Nor yet those zealous Pharisees and Jews who being zealous of God but not according to knowledge through ignorance of Gods righteousness went about to establish their own righteousness and submitted not to the righteousness of God which is Christ Jesus the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believes Rom. 10.1 2 3 4. and no better but rather worse be those Antichristian spirits who taking offence at the Cross of Christ and lifting up themselves above it not holding the head do talk of God and Spirit but so as they confess not Christ come in the Flesh but through their knowledge of him after the flesh and ignorance of him according to the spirit of God lay him by as an unprofitable thing or thing out of date as much as the Ceremonies of Moses Law Joh. 4.2 3. Motive 2. Herein we shall be profitable to men to whom we lift him up that being the way to do them good and bring them in to believe and so to be saved from destruction and be made partakers of eternal life And what can we do better for them then to be Instruments of so great good to them Indeed this is the way to be profitable to them in every thing for if we be means of bringing them to Christ and planting them into him then are we means of their being made apt and fit for doing that which is good and well-pleasing in the sight of God in all things It being the only thing that puts Men into a sound and right plight both towards God and men and then we are means too of their being made able to bear and endure all kinds of tryals and exercises profitably which may befall them Yea this is the way to make them live both comfortably and acceptably to God and to dy in the favour of God and so to be happy for ever There is nothing then wherein we can be more friends to men or more beneficial to them then in a due lifting up the Son of man before them in word and conversation therefore it is that God calls upon us so frequently to praise bless exalt and magnify the Lord even Jehovah which Title or Name is attributed to the Lord Jesus also And he must needs be included in the object of that act inasmuch as God accepts not of our praises to him but in and through him as was shewed before especially the Servants of the Lord who stand in the House or Courts of the Lord they are called upon to exalt lift up or praise the Lord or the Name of the Lord Psal 134.1 2. and 135.1 2 3. And they are they that are chiefly set in the World to be Instruments of good to and in it and this is the way in which they are directed to do Men good even by praising and commending the Lord to them as we might consider in viewing particulars how all their service in the House of the Lord and in the World is to be done with this Engine or Instrument the praising or lifting up the Lord the Son of man As for instance Instance 1. Would we convince the World of Sin for not believing on Christ the way of the Holy Spirit is to do it by witnessing of him lifting him up and setting him forth as the object to be believed on the Christ the Saviour the Son of God that hath dyed for them and is risen again this presently pricks them at the heart as it did those in Act. 2.36 37. at the Apostle Peter's Preaching and till Men see and be convinced that He is such a one they think not themselves guilty in rejecting him seeking safety and happiness in the works of the Law or some other things till Paul see that Jesus of Nazareth was such a Person He was so far from thinking that He sinned in not believing on him that He thought He ought to do many things against his name Act. 26.9 But when he came to perceive who he was then he was convinced of sin in that and judged himself for it ever after as unworthy therefore of such mercy as was conferred upon him 1 Tim. 1.12 13 14. 1 Cor. 15.9 Eph. 3.8 This then is our way to convince men of sin for their unbelief on Christ let them see that He is anointed and appointed of God to be their Saviour their only Saviour that He hath dyed for them and is risen again and is every way able and ready to save them and therefore is to be looked to and to be believed on for all grace and blessing and then they who thought before that they might not believe on and hope in him they are so bad and unworthy will see it s their sin not to believe on him and that that is a greater evil then all their sins besides as binding them all upon them and hindering them from receiving the pardon of them they may be convinced of other sins by the Law as Murther Adultery Theft c. But not of this that they sin in not coming to Christ and depending on him for all grace and blessing but in his being lifted up and evidenced to be so excellent and glorious an one Joh 16.8 9. And again Instance 2. Would we shew men the odiousness of all other sins how hateful they are to God and how needful it is that they turn from them to Christ to receive forgiveness of them and washing and cleansing from them The way is not so much to tell them of the Law and what that saith as to let them know what Christ suffered for them and that through his death and sufferings only there is forgiveness and cleansing of them that way will do it if men in hearing hear and in seeing see and perceive what is set before them as we shewed before Thus the Apostle saw and judged all to be dead and in an utterly lost state in themselves in this that One died for all 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Instance 3. Would we convince the most seemingly righteous and just man in his own righteous walking and working that He is a sinner lost in himself and needs to believe on Christ and seek Justification and Righteousness in him the way is to set forth Christ and lift him up as the Son of
6. and 3.1 2 13 14. c. and 5.1 c. Instance 10. Would we comfort any in any Temptation or Affliction The way is to lift up the Son of man and shew the Grace in him and how God orders all things wisely and holily in him so as to the good and profit of men to further their Salvation and Welfare and that there is help in him in every condition Heb. 12. 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10. c. 1 Thes 4.13.17 Rom. 15.4 5 6 13. Yea in a word would we either humble or exalt cast down or raise up encourage and strengthen in and unto what is good or do any other good thing in which we may profit men this is the way to do it viz. By Lifting up and Exalting Christ the Son of man and setting him and the Power and Grace in him before men as also his Terrours against those who refuse and turn from him 2 Cor. 5.10 11. Heb. 1. and 2.1 3. and 10.26 29. and 12.25 So that this way we may be profitable to men doing all in the Name of the Lord Jesus as we are exhorted giving thanks to God even the Father by him Col. 3.17 But waving this we do or can do nothing as is said John 15.4 5 6. That 's the second Motive Motive 3. Being acceptable to God and profitable to men we cannot but be useful to our selves also both in as much as no acceptable service to God or profitable work to men shall be without its reward 1 Cor. 15.58 Heb. 6.10 11. And also inasmuch as in Lifting up Christ to others we may mind him our selves if we do it as we ought And indeed we can scarcely Lift him up profitably to others without viewing and considering knowing and taking notice of him our selves and that 's the order and way approved of God for our doing it Let every one that heareth say come Rev. 22.17 And He that heareth speaketh constantly Prov. 21.28 While we view and look upon Christ our selves that we may commend him to others we shall not be without Fruit Profit and Advantage to our selves also opening our mouth wide in this sense too God will fill it Psal 81.10 And The liberal soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself Prov. 11.25 Wherefore let us make it our business and design to know and view and serve the Lord Jesus and to know and view him that we may serve him and as we know him serve him in Glorifying and Lifting him up as we are exhorted Psal 99.5 8. Exalt that is lift up the Lord our God and worship him at his holy Hill for he the Lord our God is holy And let us do this as in all cases or to all purposes so in all things As to say 1. In all the Ordinances of God In Baptizing let it be into Him and his Name so as holding him forth and directing therein to Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world manifesting Christ to men as the Baptist did John 1.29 31. In breaking Bread or eating the Lords Supper lift up Christ the Son of man shewing forth his Death until he come 1 Cor. 11.26 Let it not be Baptism and the breaking of Bread much less the Water the Bread and the Wine that we lift up bless and magnifie therein but the Son of man they are sufficiently lifted up in being made the Mediums of lifting him up and conveying Virtue from him to us In Praying lift up the Son of man and so in Praising Thanksgiving and Singing of Psalms while we Pray and ask in his Name and upon his account and give thanks to God in all things by him and bless in his Name and in Singing Make melody with Grace in our hearts to him the Lord John 14.13 14. and 16.23 24. Col. 3.15 17. Ephes 5.20 Yea What ever we do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God even the Father by him In our Meditations let them be much of him and of nothing but as represented also in and through him Psal 104.34 and 48.9 Isa 26.7 8 9. Mal. 3.16 And so In our Conferences and Discourses Let us with one mind and mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ so as the Father of him and so as lifting him up therein Rom. 15.5 Jude 20.21 And so 2. In all our whole Life and Conversation let us lift up the Son of man in walking so as becomes the Gospel of Christ Standing fast in one Spirit and in one Mind striving together for the Faith of the Gospel which is the Gospel of Christ and concerns him Phil. 1.27 Rom. 1.3 4 16. Oh let it be our business in all things and by all means to lift up the Son of man to Praise the Lord to Sing forth his Praises and to make his Praise glorious CHAP. XXVI Reproof to those that are faulty in not lifting up or in not rightly lifting up the Son of man With some discovery of Spirits which are of God and which not Use 4 HEnce also we may Reprove the Evils of men yea too much our Defficiency therein every where in not making it more our Business to lift up and look to the Son of Man I may speak briefly to either Branch And Reproof 1. First He is too little lifted up by men even by those that Minister and pretend to be his Servants and to Preach his Gospel too many such are faulty in not lifting him up in their Ministry Such as 1. They who lift up Themselves their Parts Wit Learning Places Offices being Proud of them and Vaunting themselves of and in them above their Neighbours but not lifting up Jesus Christ the Son of man that men might see his Glory Look to and Believe on him Too many there are like to Diotrephes that love to have the preheminence themselves rather then to endeavour that Christ may have it in all things and in all hearts and spirits seeking their own things and not the things that be Jesus Christs 3 John 9.10 Col. 1.18 Phil. 2.21 Most men proclaim every man his own goodness but a faithful friend to Christ who can find Prov. 20.6 2. Such as lift up other men and have their persons in admiration for advantage sake as the Apostle saith of the false Teachers Jude 16. Whether it be the Beast either the Papal or any worldly Power lifting up it self like Jereboam who made Israel to sin in the Temple and House of God and exercising Lordship therein over the Consciences of men and Worship of God As it is said Prophetically of many yea of the whole World worshipping and wondering after the Beast that they will lift or cry him up saying Who is able to make War with him and to overcome him Rev. 13.4 And many such flatterers there be admirers and applauders of the Antichristian powers and Preachers up thereof in opposition to
designs to do it hateth the light neither cometh to the light least his deeds should be reproved Joh. 3.19 20. and so we find the Scriptures every where assert that the cause of Mens destruction is their voluntary rejections of the remedy as in Psal 81.10 11 12 c. When God offered himself to Israel to be their God bidding them open their mouth wide and he would fill it their refusing him his advise and counsel not hearing his voice nor accepting him to be their helper but preferring others before him procured his leaving them to themselves and their Idols and then what but misery and destruction could befall them the like we see in Prov. 1.20 24 25. Wisdom addresses her self to all within and without the City or Church of God reproving their love of their simplicity scornfulness and folly and tendring her grace and spirit to them but they generally will not answer her calls and hear her counsels nor regard the stretching forth of her hands to relieve help or draw them in to her self but put away all her counsels and will none of her reproofs and therefore destruction comes upon them the like may be seen in Isa 66.3 4. Jer. 7.24 25 26. And the like we find our Saviour and his Apostles say of the cause and reason of mens perishing not to be any want of goodness or graciousness in God or want of provision in Christ or readiness in him to help them but mens own wilfulness in refusing and putting from them the grace and truth discovered of God in and by Christ to them for their salvation that they receive not the love of the truth that they may be saved believe not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. That they stop the ear close or wink with the eye least they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and he should heal them Matth. 13.14 15. Acts 28.20 27. Yea the very Heathens who had the least discoveries of God and his goodness and grace that through Christ he exerciseth towards and among men yet perish upon this account that they with-hold the truth in unrighteousness that when they know God they glorified him not as God nor were thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkned that they liked not to have God in their knowledge and the like Rom. 1.18 21 28. 2. As to the equitableness and justness hereof what more just and equitable then that men who will not be saved should perish that they who refuse the most excellent remedy and compleat Medicine and way of healing which the most wise and gracious God in his most perfect understanding and heighth of love and affection hath devised and prepared for them dye of their wounds which through their own default and wickedness they have brought upon themselves Yea when God hath been at a great cost and charge to provide man a Saviour and prepare them help and shewed forth his great goodness therein for their happiness when He hath not spared his own Son but delivered him as made man the Son of man for our offences and raised him again for our Justification and therein and thereby hath saved men from perishing in the first Death into which they were fallen in and through Adam and therein cured that deadly wound given them at first by the Serpent and hath glorified him and filled him with his own infinite fulness of power spirit and all spiritual grace and blessing therein both impowering him and appointing him to raise all men out of the first death which he also will not fail to do and also providing in him all things by which he is furnished for calling and drawing them in to believe and in believing on him to preserve them from the second Death and to make them to live for ever being furnished with authority and fitness to cure all such stings of the old Serpent as might and would otherwise sting them to that second Death and all this without their knowledge motion or desire Yea and through him also and by him making known to us what he hath done and calling and counselling us to come to him and accept of his grace and salvation in and through him through whom also we live and move and have our beings and are made capable of hearing and coming at his call to him in whom we are so compleatly provided for that there is no defect or want of any thing needful for our salvation and everlasting well-being yea and that we might have both the greatest ground of assurance of finding help in him and the greatest ingagements upon all accounts to hearken to and comply with his counsels and yield our selves subject to his will and commandements he hath set before men both his alsufficiency as being the Son of God and God and his having in him all the fulness of God and also the greatness of the love both of the Father in not sparing him but giving him forth and preparing him through so great sufferings to be our Saviour and of the Son in sustaining them for our sakes that there-through he might be so perfected for us how should he not be provoked to great displeasure and so to leave us to dye and perish of our wounds if they or any of us after and notwithstanding all this refuse his calls and will not submit to him to be saved and be made happy for ever by him What man of us and especially what Prince or Nobleman if he be at great cost and labour to prepare either a feast to entertain or a Medicine to heal his poor neighbours likely otherwise to perish through want or diseases could take it well if after that they scorn his love and make light of his provision and yet such is the case of Mankind towards God as the parables in Matth. 22.1 14. and Luc. 14.17 24. shew And surely the offence is so much the greater and the more inexcusable and unpardonable in us men and lays open to the greater and deserves the more severe punishment then any can be deserved from or inflicted by the greatest or mightiest man by how much God is greater than man and more uningaged to us than man and by how much his provision and love therein and the tenders and proffers thereof to men exceed all that can be found in or from men So that God will certainly be just in his proceedings against men in his condemning them and will be justified in the eyes and sight of all his Creatures both Angels and men yea the condemned ones themselves when he is judged as is said Rom. 3.4 And there will be nothing found by men to plead for themselves or condemn him when he enters into Judgment with them not so much for that his power and greatness will bear them down as because of the exceeding great equity and righteousness that will
appear clearly and evidently in his proceedings And if it be so equitable that they who neglect or refuse to look to Gods salvation perish how much more will it be so for those who beside their neglects and rejections of this remedy themselves and through so doing either are unfaithful to God in his Design of mercy to men while having some knowledge of it vouchsafed to them and command to help their Brethren therein in setting forth or lifting up this remedy to them they neglect so to do so as through their unfaithfulness they occasion them thorow ignorance and misprisions to erre and perish there from surely it s but just if those Persons bloods also be required at their hands as is threatned Ezek. 3 18. and 33.6 8 or and much more still if they also oppose and set themselves against Christ and the grace of God in him and the testimony of God in the Gospel concerning him Inasmuch as they are not only defective and injurious to their own souls but also betray or offer violence to the souls of others defrauding them of or driving them from their everlasting welfare and salvation yea and as to the latter sort found fighters also against God and his Grand Design 3. And their destruction must needs be inevitable and unavoidable when it befalls them for if they only refuse and neglect to look to Christ that they may be saved by him yet how can they possibly escape destruction there being no other name given under Heaven whereby they may be saved but this of Christ the Son of man lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness If there could have been deliverance from Death and wrath any other way God would not have put his Son upon such abasement and sufferings that we might be saved by him And now if there be but one Medicine that will Cure a Disease and if that be when with much care and cost it is procured rejected how can that Person who rejects it possibly escape dying of his Disease Such is the case here Acts 4.11 12. Heb. 2.3 And they in refusing the grace of God and Christ provoke him to anger how much more if they be unfaithful to others and hinder them of their good And how then can they escape destruction also from him seeing He is so infinitely great in power wisdom and counsel against them A child of three years old may as well or better think to make its party good against the greatest Giant in the World as the greatest and most powerful Man or Company of men in the World may think to make his or their party good against God Who can stand when He is angry whose fury is poured forth like fire and before whom the Rocks are thrown down Noh 1.6 Thence the Prophet proposes to Israel what is good to be always proposed by us to our selves when we be tempted to sin Can thine hands be strong or can thine heart indure in the day when I deal with thee Ezek. 22.14 And the Apostle proposes the like to the Corinthians to perswade them to look singly to God in Christ and not to provoke him to anger by looking to other things and committing Idolatry which is a spiritual adultery with them against him Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie Are we stronger thâ—n He 1 Cor. 10.22 Surely that 's a great folly to ingage so Great Invincible and Almighty a Power against our selves But how then can they prosper and stand against him and not be overthrown by him and perish from his presence who are Enemies and Adversaries to him in his Grand Design If it s his absolute Purpose and Decree to the accomplishment whereof He ingages all his wisdom and counsel power and greatness that the Son of man must be lifted up how then can they but perish who set themselves against him to keep or throw him down either in his Person or Truth or Members Surely they must needs and it s but just right and reasonable that they perish in all their designs purposes and endeavours there being no wisdom understanding or counsel against the Lord Prov. 21.30 No fleeing from his Presence Psal 139.7 8. Nor standing against his Hand or Power None ever resisted or hardned themselves against him and prospered Job 9.3 4. All that rise up against Christ therefore whether in Himself his Truth or People must inevitably and unavoidably be destroyed What got Pharaoh by opposing him and persecuting his People but destruction to himself and all his Armies What got Saul and Haman and Julian and all the Persecutors of Christ and his People but their own Ruine And so shall it be with all others be they never so great or prudent or numerous though Jewes and Gentiles conspire against him yea and though the Kings of the Earth stand up and the Rulers take counsel together they shall not prosper but He will laugh them all to scorn and have them all in derision and when he speaks against them in his wrath and vexes them in his hot displeasure as so he will speak to them if they persist against him they shall perish before Him Psal 2.1 2 3 4 12. and 68.1 2. No weapon formed against Him or his Spouse and People shall prosper because in them also He will be admired and glorified 2 Thes 1.10 And every tongue that riseth up against them shall they also condemn Isa 54.17 Whence Vse 8. This Doctrine also affords matter of comfort and consolation that however men neglect and slight Christ and the Devils with their Instruments and Followers oppose Him and how few soever they be that duely prize him yet He must and shall be lifted up It 's Gods Decree and Ordination and it must take place This Christ comforted himself with the consideration of in John 6.37 when he had said that the Jewes saw and believed not on him He adds as a comfort to himself his Disciples and Lovers All that which the Father giveth me shall come to me and He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out It is in the neuter Gender as to the former Branch not all they that but all that which the Father giveth me we may understand it of all that glory honour fulness of grace salvation blessing power authority c. All this shall come to him in despight of Men and Devils that set themselves against him or any who carry unworthily towards him not believing what or though they see what may commend him to them and draw them and their hearts after him as it is said in Isa 52.13 14 15. Behold all ye that love the Lord Jesus know and behold it for your comfort my Servant shall deal prudently or as the Margin hath it shall prosper He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high He shall be both exalted of God with his right hand and extolled both by the Spirit of God and by his Servants the Holy-men yea and
in due time of all Men and be very high exceeding high and glorious As many were astonished at thee speaking to him his visage was so marred c. so he shall sprinkle many Nations The Kings shall shut their mouths at him for that which hath not been told them shall they see and that which they had not heard shall they consider Whatsoever the Father giveth him shall come to him nothing shall keep it back or any part of it who or whatever opposes it And then He that person Man or Woman that cometh to him He will in no wise cast them out which is a great incouragement also to any man to come to him Yea here is a double incouragement 1. That He shall have the heigth and greatness that God gives him He shall and must be lifted up and be made high 2. That He being so high and by consequent able to help succour satisfy and save all that come to Him He also is so good and merciful that whosoever cometh to him for help salvation or satisfaction he will in no wise refuse or cast him out which may both comfort us in his behalf and incourage us in our own to look to him who-ever they be that look away from or neglect and slight him For He came not down from Heaven to do his own will but the will of him that sent him and this is the will of him that sent him that of all that which the Father hath given him he should loose nothing nothing of all that honour glory Kingdom c. but should raise it up again at the last day And this is the will of him that sent him that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him should have everlasting life and he will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6.37 38 39 40. And these two Branches of his will answer to those two Branches of his assertion in vers 37. and that given him is distinct from him that seeth and believeth on him and the raising up of the one distinct from the raising up of the other as those words And this is the will of him that sent me in the beginning of vers 40. implies it being spoken of as a distinct business and so we may say As God gave him in the nature of man the Throne of Majesty in the Heavens and a great and glorious Name here on Earth among men notwithstanding all the folly and negligence of the Jews that see and believed not yea and against all the oppositions both of Jewes and Gentiles opposing Him his Doctrine and Servants and persecuting Him and them to Death so God lifted Him up to Heaven both in his Personal Body and as brought forth by his Church in the knowledge and faith of Him wherein he was taken up to the Throne of God Rev. 12.5 As also among men he was exalted extolled and made very high But now by the Anti-christian Beast and false Prophet arisen and grown great in the World He is darkned and diminished again as it were The Beast hath the great Company of followers and worshippers and is wondred after and magnified by them saying Who is able to make War with the Beast and Who is like the Beast even that which appertains to the Lamb the Lord Jesus is attributed to him see Psal 89.6 8. And we may take up that complaint which follows in that Psalm vers 38. Thou hast cast off and abhorred thou wast wrath with thy Anointed or Messiah not as to his Person but as to the appearance of his Name and Glory in the World and as to his Members here as his Name and Glory is upon them and they by his permission and providence are rendred as if they were objects of his wrath and abhorrency Thou hast made void the Covenant of thy Servants the Gospel-covenant at the present takes little place in the World thou hast prophaned by casting down his Crown to the ground c. But now saith our Saviour This is the will of Him that sent me that how-ever low my Crown Glory or Repute seem to lye I should not loose it but raise it up again at the last day and so He will When He arises and lifts up Himself to judge the World and to take to Himself his Great Power and Reign His Enemies shall be scattered Antichrist the Beast and false Prophet shall be discomfited and taken The Lamb shall overcome them and then when they are overcome by him He will thereby raise up his Name Covenant Throne and Kingdom again in the eyes views and hearts of the World as it were or into a more high and glorious form and appearance then before they fell down then before there was such an Apostacy and departure from him even as the Persons and Bodies also of those who see and believe on Him shall be raised into a better state and form then they were in before they fell into the earth by death then God will give him the Throne of his Father David and he shall raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen down and he shall build it up and shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever then shall that be fulfilled which is spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah chap. 2.11 22. That the lofty looks of man shall be humbled and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down and the Lord alone even the Lord Jesus and God in him shall be exalted in that day for the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty and upon every one that is lifted up and he shall be brought low and upon all the Cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up and so upon all that 's high or pleasant to men that now eclipses or darkens his glory and robs him of his honour and they shall all be cast down and the Idols shall be utterly abolished and the Lord even Jesus alone shall be exalted and then great shall be his glory in Gods salvation visibly and apparently in the World also For at that last day he shall appear in glory and all his Saints shall appear in glory with him and then he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high indeed not only in himself but in his appearance in the World also and in the eyes and hearts of all men For then all the Kings of the earth shall praise him even such as now despise and persecute him when they shall hear the words of his mouth yea they shall sing in the ways of the Lord for great shall be his glory Psal 138.4 5. Yea and then all the ends of the World shall remember and turn to the Lord and all the Kindreds of the Nations shall worship before him for the Kingdom shall be and is the Lords and He the Governour then most gloriously among the Nations all they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship and all they that go down to
the dust shall how before him every one shall confess and give an account of himself to Him see Isa 45.23 with Rom. 14.10 11 12. and Philip. 2.10 11 and none can keep alive his own Soul Psal 22.27 28 29. Yea all Nations that he hath made shall come and worship before him and shall glorify his Name because He is great and doth wondrous things He as all the fulness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily is God alone Psal 86.9 10. Yea and all Flesh shall worship him and bless his holy Name for ever and ever Psal 145.21 Isa 66.23 Then shall those Prayers and Prophecies be accomplished that we have in Psal 67.3 4 5 6 7. Let all the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee O let the Nations be glad and rejoyce or sing for joy for thou shalt judge the People righteously and govern the Nations upon Earth let the People praise thee O God yea let all the People praise thee then shall the Earth yield her increase for then shall all things be restored and made new new Heavens and new Earth in which shall dwell righteousness Isa 65.17 25. 2 Pet. 3.13 14. Rev. 21.1 5 6 and God even our God shall give us his blessing God shall bless us and all the ends of the Earth shall praise Him And then what our Lord directs his Disciples and Children to pray for daily shall be fully answered God's Name shall be so hallowed and his Kingdome come that his will shall be done on Earth as it is in Heaven as universally perfectly and perpetually for Sin and Satan and all that are wicked and love iniquity and would not let it go shall be thrust down into the Lake and shall have no place either in Heaven or Earth and those that believe on Christ being saved from perishing therein shall enjoy eternal life The sinners shall be consumed out of the Earth and the wicked shall be no more Bless thou the Lord O my soul praise ye the Lord Psal 104.35 CHAP. XXIX A brief Discovery of the True and False Church their distinct Manners and Priviledges And the Conclusion of the whole Treatise in a Brief Exhortation Use 9 HEre also we may take a brief View of the True Church of God who they be and what their Priviledges Many there be who greatly mistake that as well as their Fathers did mistake the Christ the Son of man the Lord and Head of it many cry up and lift up the Church instead of Christ crying the Church the Church the holy Catholick Church calling men as they think to it when they totally mistake themselves and it doing as those in Isa 48.1 2. who Sware by the Name of the Lord and made mention of the God of Israel but not in Truth nor in Righteousness though they called themselves of the holy City the holy Catholick Church and stayed themselves on the God of Israel the Lord of Hosts is his Name This that men usually magnifie as the Holy Church is but the outward Court that is without the Temple which the Beast and False-prophet the Antichrist or man of Sin sits in and sets up their Image in and which the Angel ordered the holy Man to cast out and not to measure as being prophane and no sufficient mark by which to know who is Holy and Accepted of God it being given unto the Gentiles even to those that are Uncircumcised in heart and life boasting in and knowing themselves by and after their flesh and fleshly Priviledges As their Birth Breeding Riches Learning Places Offices and the like and walking in and after the Flesh performing and rejoycing in a carnal fleshly Worship Religion Zeal Devotion and upon such accounts trampling under foot the holy City which they say they are of but Know Own or Love it not but do hate and Persecute it even the true holy Catholick Church indeed because it hath not nor approves and applauds but reproves and faults such carnal rejoycings and confidences as Adulteries and Treacheries against her Lord even the Lord Jesus That which they cry up in stead of it is the Whore that sits upon the many Waters or multitudes mounted stately upon the Beasts back riding him and upheld by him even by the Imperial power of the World Dressing her self partly with Christs Jewels his Scriptures and Ordinances mingled with and marred by her Adulterous additions her Inventions Orders and Impositions in Doctrine and Worship even the Church or Court of Rome and her Daughters that exercise her or a like power which is so far from being the holy Church that it is indeed a Nest and Cage of all unclean and impure Birds as is too evidently seen in the Lives and Practices of those that are of them too generally from the Pope to the Apparitor every where But leaving that filthy Whore with all her Members drunk with the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus the filthy Sink of sin and wickedness both Mother and Daughters we may note here That the true Church is indeed those and all those who through the Lifting up of the Son of man do believe on him obeying and following him and his holy Doctrine All that in their hearts perceiving his Excellency and Goodness do love and cleave to him receive his Commandments and keep them being Ruled and Governed by him and living in dependance on him These as united in and by one Spirit in and with him and so among themselves and one to another in the Faith and Love of him and love of one another for his sake are his holy Church his Body all of them together and Members of him in particular 1 Cor. 12.12 27. Rom. 12.5 And these need not to nor desire to Lift up Preach and commend themselves as the Whore the false Church and her Members do But they make it their business to lift up their Head and Husband the Son of man in whom they think themselves lifted up sufficiently This Church knowing her self to be his Body his Members his Beloved she judgeth that she hath enough in knowing his Worth Height Glory Excellency Power and Authority and that is the thing that She looks after yea looks upon and admires and cannot but talk and boast of to others She desires nothing but his Love and Fellowship to be admitted into the Knowledg of and Acquaintance with him and through him to have Access to and Acceptance with his Father who is through him her Father also and that she may Honour and Serve him and bring forth Children to him Let him have the Glory the Power the Riches the Wisdom the Strength the Honour and Blessing yea though she be Despised Dishonoured Impoverished and made conformable to him in her Use and Intertainment in the World she is well contented therewith for his sake She leans not upon the Power Riches and Authority of Princes and of the Nobles of the Earth though if God perswades any of
saith is of hearing and hearing is of the word of God not of every hearing nor of every word but of hearing the word of God From which word hearing or the hearing Ear also is effected and proceeds Rom. 10.17 For no man can come unto Christ this Son of Man unless it be given to him of God unless he draws him and he draws by his teaching men the knowledge of him whence it is said every one that heareth and learneth of the Father comes unto him Joh. 6.44 45 65. It is of his own good will that he begets men through the word of truth to be of a contemptible vile worthless creature as man hath made himself by his sin a kind of first-fruits of his creatures a more noble and prime creature to him a new creature a first-fruits of his future new creation therefore it behooves men every one to be swift to hear slow to speak slow to wrath slow to murmur and be angry at the word of truth and the instructions reproofs and counsels of it because clashing with the wisdom and will of the flesh the principles thoughts and practices of the world and of the wise men thereof but with meekness to receive the ingraffed word the word as God puts and ingraffs it into the heart which is able to save the Soul being not only hearers of the word but doers of it as it is working and so God in and with it to will and to do of good pleasure Jam. 1.18 19 21. Phil. 2.12 13. turning at Gods reproofs therein given from whatsoever in conceit apprehension or opinion we hold or imagine that clashes with the truth discovered in the word and its instructions that we may so conceive judge and believe as that declares and informs us of all things and from whatsoever in affection desire purpose or practice we naturally or through evil principles or customs affect desire purpose or practice disagreeing with and reproved by the light and instruction of that blessed word that so we may obey its counsel and instruction and affect desire purpose and practice what it commends and leads us to seeking after that and so the wisdom of God will pour out his spirit to us and make known his words Prov. 1.22 23. and so hearing the Soul shall live Isa 55.3 there through attaining to know the name of the Lord the Son of Man we shall be strengthened framed and have the will set to trust in him Psal 9.10 in meditating in the law and doctrine of the Lord and exercising our selves in it day and night the heart will be fixed to trust in the Lord and to make him its hope Yea and therein to be rooted grounded and fixed like a Tree planted by the water side so as to abide in the blasts of temptations and be fruitful in every good work increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all might according to his glorious power to all patience and long suffering with joyfulness Psal 1.1 2 3. Jer. 17.7 8. Col. 1.10 11. for the Gospel of Christ the preaching of the cross is the power of God to salvation even from unbelief and all the power of darkness to every one that believes it Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. 1.22 23. So as that in taking diligent heed thereto and yeilding up our selves to the power that worketh therein we shall be helped and framed to believe on the Son of God it s through his name that men receive power to believe on him Acts 10.43 and therefore it behooves all men as they would avoid the perishing from Gods way and the everlasting misery and destruction at the end and as they would obtain the everlasting life and happiness propounded and promised to give serious and diligent heed and obedience thereto who would willingly incur pain grief and affliction here or to perish by hunger cold prison gallows or the like and yet these things are infinitely short of the evil of perishing from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power for ever Yea who that is travelling to some remote place where if he go right on to it he shall find great riches honours or gain would be willing or through carefulness expose himself to loose and be lost out of the way and to wander in a Wilderness among bryers and thorns boggs and lakes yea among wild and savage creatures as serpents lyons tygers c. when in a diligent careful inquiry after and attendance to some faithful direction and guide he might go right and safe and attain the good proposed and miss that perishing by hunger cold the teeth of the wild beasts that he is otherwise in danger off and yet that perishing from the way and danger of finally perishing by the ways or means forementioned are little evils in comparison of perishing from Gods way and by what that perishing exposes to who again that hath proffer and opportunity of being made rich honourable living pleasantly and delightfully for a long time so long suppose as was the life of Methuselah would willingly refuse and loose such enjoyments and incur answerable miseries and yet this eternal life which God hath promised to give to them that believe on and follow after the Son of Man is infinitely more excellent then all the honours riches pleasures and most excellent enjoyments of this world though they might be enjoyed safely not only so long as the life of Methusalah but also so long as from the beginning of this world to the end thereof without interruption Oh therefore how concerns it all men to come and believe on the Son of Man and to that purpose to listen to and receive the teachings of God concerning him that such miseries may be missed and such mercies enjoyed that they may not perish in the way and from the end but may have everlasting life Vse 2. How doth this then reprove the vanity folly pride and wickedness of the world which rejects and puts from them and matter not to believe on this most excellent one whom God to such glorious ends hath raised up for us If it be folly and madness in men who may in hearing their Fathers and freinds good instructions in matters of this world live well and comfortably have and get yet more of the good things of this world to maintain them and preserve them from want and beggery and make them live in credit and repute to turn their backs upon such good counsels and thereby willingly and wilfully through their pride folly slothfulness love of bad company or the like bring themselves into debt poverty prisons and nothing but a Series of miseries How much more is it folly and madness for the world or any of us to neglect Gods word and Gods Son and that great Salvation wrought and preached and brought to us by so great and glorious a hand as that of this Son of Man being also the Son of God the mighty God and our Saviour and thereby to