Inheritance in Glory Eph. 1. 14. But nothing that defileth shall enter within the Gate of the new Jerusalem Rev. 21. 27. So much for the first Head That Jesus Christ hath Purchased Holinesse We shall now enquire Secondly For whom hath the Lord Jesus Purchased Holinesse Answ For all his feed for every Soul the Father hath given him Joh. 17. 9. Christs Purchase death and Intercession is only for those the Father hath given him and every one of them for all his seed that belong to him as the second Adam And in this sense is that Scripture to be taken Rom. 5. 18. As by the offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon all Men to Justification of life That is As death came by Adams fall to all his seed so life comes by Christ to all his seed neither can it be stretched further as the Apostle affirms 1 Joh. 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath life but he that hath not the Son hath not life Neither will any affirm that all Men are justified unto life nor any but those that believe in Christ which are his seed The Lord Jesus tells us Joh. 17. 20 'T is for all them that believe on him through his word Gal. 3. 22. That the Promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe The Apostle speaks here of a double Promise made to Abraham and through him to Believing Gentiles 1. The Promise of Righteousnesse in Justification ver 18 19. 2. The Promise of the Spirit in Sanctification ver 14. That we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith and both these are made over to Believers You that come to Christ in truth and receive him into your hearts by faith and take his Yoke on your shoulders obey his Laws sincerely give up your all to him and are no more your own but though you see your want of Holinesse yet are really willing to be Holy as God is Holy submitting to all the appointments of Christ in order to it you are the seed of Christ the people to whom the Promise of Holinesse doth belong Thirdly What is the Holinesse Christ hath Purchas'd for his People Answ First The truth of Grace in opposition to Hypocrisie The Lord Jesus never shed his blood for counterfeit grace His purchas'd Treasure consists not of Counters but tryed Gold Rev. 3. 17. What he offers to Sinners that he purchased and dyed for but Christ offers tryed gold to invited Souls Any thing short of saving grace is not worth the shedding of the blood of the Son of God That which Christ Promiseth to his people is the same with that he hath purchased but he promiseth true grace Ezek. 36. 26 27. He Promiseth a new heart and a new heart is a truly sanctified heart 'T is his Spirit he will put within them and his Spirit is a Spirit of truth Joh. 14. 17. There is never a Soul whose heart is made willing to be the Lords but Jesus Christ hath purchased sincerity for him Christ never dyed for Lies and Untruths but seeming grace is a lye and not of the truth This is wonderful comfort to poor troubled Souls that are always doubting of the truth of their graces and would give a thousand Worlds to be sure that their gold is tryed gold and their graces true graces Now if ever thy Soul were brought to desire Christ in truth and to receive him with a lively Faith thou mayest be sure thy graces are true because the Lord Jesus hath purchas'd this for all Believers Now this truth of Grace consists in a through change of the Soul even of the whole Man which may be distinguished into these two parts 1. The taking away of Sin 2. The giving of Grace the delivering the Soul from the power of Satan and the reducing it under the power of God and into his Kingdom The purging the Soul from Lust and possessing it with Grace the destroying the works of the Devil and creating it the workmanship of God In freeing the Soul from the Ruling Power of sin in every part and implanting the Nature and Image of God on every Power and Faculty of it Acts 26. 18. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Tit. 2. 14 Rom. 6. 14. Secondly Perseverance in Grace Their continuance in a state of grace And the abiding of the seed of God in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 't is the same word that signifies the Spirits abiding with Believers which Christ saith shall be for ever Joh. 14. 16. 1 Joh. 2. 27. This he hath Promised in the new Covenant and therefore this he hath purchased Jer. 32. 40. And therefore the sanctified are called the preserved in Jesus Christ Jude ver 1. And the Saints are said to be kept by the Power of God through faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. This Christ stands engaged to the Father to do Joh. 17. 12. If Jesus Christ hath not purchased perseverance in Grace to the end for all his people but leaves their continuance in the truth to their free-will then he leaves them in the same state in which they were under the first Covenant For the standing of Adam in the first Covenant was upon his own choice and will but this cannot be because Christ hath taken away the first Covenant from Believers and Established the second which makes the Commers thereunto perfect Heb. 8. 6. to 11. Chap. 10. 9 10. Thirdly Growth in Grace What he calls them to that he hath purchased for them for Christ cannot invite his people to uncertainties or disappointments what he exhorts them to he promiseth to work them to Phil. 2. 12 13. Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling For 't is God that worketh in you both to will and to do Now he bids them to grow in Grace 2 Pet. 3. 18. And this he Promiseth also Hos 14. 5. 7. I will be as a dew unto Israel and he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon they that dwell under his shaddow shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine Psa 92. 12. The Righteous shall flourish as the Palm-Tree and grow as the Cedars in Lebanon What God Promised under the new Covenant Christ hath dyed for for this Covenant is wholly Confirmed by blood by the death of the Testator Heb. 9. 14 17. Quest Then what is the reason Gods People grow no more in Grace this day Answ First All are not Israel that are of Israel Many passe for Saints in the Judgment of Men which were never sanctified in Christ Jesus nor will appear to be so in the approbation of God and therefore some in whom you see no growth are no contradiction to this truth at all they being none of the seed of Christ Secondly The Lords Trees as well as the Trees of the Wood have their growing times The Winter is no time to
preaching the Gospel to the poor and calling the base things of this world and things that are not shews his lowly mind And his humility hath been abundantly prov'd already He will dwell with the Lowly Isa 57. 15. 2. Object But I have no portion for Christ I am exceeding poor and beggarly I have no Righteousness no Grace no good things dwell in me I can bring nothing to glorifie him I have no ability at all to serve him I cannot pray or do any thing that is good and will Christ accept of me Ans Christs design in these Gospel tenders of himself to sinners is not to get but to give Riches He wants no treasures for himself but he rather wants objects to give them to He wants no goods but like the Rich man in the Gospel he wants room to bestow his goods He is willing to impart his treasure to sinners 2 Cor. 8. 9. Of all persons in the world he is sure to hear the desires of the poor The rich shall be sent empty away but the poor that waiâ— on him shall be heard Psa 69. 33. Art â—â—ou a poor Soul in thy own eyes The Lord hatâ— special regard for such These are the persons he invites to him that have no money no price Isa 55. 1. The poor have the Gospel preached â—o them Math. 11. 5. Therefore sinners 't is â—ot thy poverty can break the match nor hinder â—y reception of Jesus Christ if thy heart be wâ—â—ling 3. Object But I am a deformed loveless Creature I have no beauty at all in me I am black with sin full of all uncleanness and abominations polluted in my blood wallowing in my Mire and Vomit scarce such a nauseous Object as I in all the world O what a filthy heart O what an unclean Soul O what vile affections bave I and will this holy one cast a glance of Love on such a Creature as I I dare not think he will endure the sight of me therefore I am afraid to look to him Answ Believing sinners though black in their own eye yet are comely in Christ's Eye Cant. 1. 5. Faith puts an amiableness on the believing sinner in Christs account This is one of those eyes that ravishes his heart Cant. 4. 9. He looks upon them as lovely that come to him though unlovely in themselves Affections spie no deformity in the beloved object Christs love is so great to fallen man as that nothing appears unlovely in him but an unwillingness to be hiâ— He sees no iniquity in Jacob though therâ—â—e a great deal The halt blind lame impâ—â—â—nt are no amorous Objects yet these Christ invites to his feast Luk. 14. 21. Others are not worthy says Christ but bring these they aâ—e companie for me if they will but come â— Let not thy deformity and the sense of thy uâ—worthiness keep thee from Christ because hâ— hath beauty enough for himself and thee He hath comeliness enough to cover thy nakedness 't is but for some of his beams to reflect on thy Soul and thou wilt be altogether glorious thy perfection lies in his and not thy own comeliness Christ can soon fill thee with amiableness see in Ezek. 16. what a change Grace makes upon deformed sinners The beautie of sinners is Christs beautie put upon them and Christs Holiness imparted to them and there 's enough of it for thee 3. Know that Christs blood is cleansing blood it doth not only cover spots and deformities but it takes away filthiness if thou come to him the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. 4. Object But I am a great sinner none like me therefore I cannot think the Lord Jesus will pass them by or have thoughts of favour for me Ans So was Davids and yet found pardon Psa 25. 11. for thy name sake O Lord pardon mine iniquities for they are great Manassch's sins were notorious and yet upon hiâ— Repentance found favour with God 2 Chro. 33. 3 4 5 6. He reared up Altars for Baalim worshipped all the host of Heaven and served them he built Altars in the House of the Lord and caused his Children to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom He also observed times and used Iâ—chantments and Witchcrafts and dealt with familiar Spirits and with â—izards and when God spake to him he would not hearken ver 10. O abominable sins One would think here was a man ripe for Hell yet upon his supplication when he was in affliction God heard him and pardon'd him ver 12 13. Paul was a flagitious sinner in his own eyes the greatest that ever was 1 Tim. 1. 15. A Blasphemer a persecutor injurious but obtained mercy ver 13. Therefore 't is not the greatness of thy sin can stand in the way of thy mercy if thou come over to Christ with all thy heart 5. Object But I have been an old sinner I have been rooted in sin and liv'd in sin all my days I have been a continual provocation to the Lord for many years through my whole Life sin hath touch'd sin and I cannot think Christ hath thoughts of Love for me Answ So did the Thief upon the Cross he sinn'd to the last hour of his Life and yet obtained mercy Luke 23. 40 41 42 43. So did some of those that were called in at the Eleventh hour yet embracing the call obtained mercy Math. 20. 9 12. it was not the length of their sinning time excluded the Efficacie of Salvation-mercy when they did come in at the call of it I mention not this for a Pillow to secure sinners but for a Cordial for desponding Souls Now the Gospel calls thee nner if thou come in this hour and embrace the calls of mercy 't is not the length of thy sinning time will make void the Grace of God 6. Object But saies the Soul I have sleighted many calls already I have quenched many motions of the Spirit I have despised the first call and may I have hopes to go to Christ Will he receive me Answ So did Manasseh he did reject many calls God did speak to him but he would not hearken and after his rejection of the first call yet mercie found him The Jews in the wilderness rejected many calls of God yet the Lord said while 't is called to day harden not your hearts Hâ—b 3. 7 8. Though thou hast been guiltie of despising many calls this is matter for thy humbling but not for thy despair 7. Object But I am never the better for all the means and mercy I have enjoyed though I had despised the first calls of mercy yet if I had been the better for after tenders of grace there were some hope But I am still the same notwithstanding all the Sermons I hear and precious overtures of Salvation my heart is hard and dead under all Answ So it was with the Impotent man a great while he was diseased thirty and eight years Joh. 5. 5. He lay at
the Pool's side near the means of cure but never the better ver 6. 7. And so continued till Christs time came to cure him So Israel were barren and unfruitful till the Lord became a dew to them Hos 14. 5. Therefore this is no discouragement if thou believe and come to Christ God will be a dew to thee and thou shalt quickly find a change 8. Object But saith one I am not only never the better for all the means of grace but I am worse than I was before when I was under first awakenings my heart was more tender but now my heart seems to be more brawny and hard I find more unbelief than ever more indisposition to go to Christ I am worse than I was Answ So was Sarah too as to the receiving the promised mercy more and more indisposed she complaines of the deadness of her womb she was past age to be the Mother of Children till the time of life came then Sarah's growing indisposition becomes no impediment at all to the fulfilling of the promise So was Israel they began to say for their part their hope was cut off and God had forsaken them when mercy was nearest to them So the woman that had a bloody issue twelve years and had spent all that she had on Physitians yet was nothing bettered but rather grew worse till Christ came and healed her Mark 5. 25 26. Persons are usually worst in their own eyes when mercy is nearest their doors Again Thy not comming to Christ is the cause of thy decaies and hardnings 't is thy unbelief that deadens thy heart and withers thy Soul Christ doth withdraw his influence from such and refuseth to do any mighty works in them because of unbelief O then Soul come away to Christ and this is the way to cure thee 9. Object But saies the Soul Christ seems to take no notice of me I call but he heareth me not I come to Ordinances but I cannot see him nay he seems to be angry with me every thing goes against me his word speaks bitter things to me methinks there 's never a threatning but belongs to me I am the Hypocrite and unclean person that God strikes at in every Sermon and his rod lies heavy on me too and in the way of his providence he writes bitter things against me Answ Soul is this thy case doth Christ take no notice of thee It is because thou takest so little of him when he unveils his beauty thou dost not believe in him when he makes a promise to thy Soul When he sends words of Counsel thou dost not obey him He hath called and thou hast not answered and therefore when thou callest he doth not answer Zach. 7. 13. Yet at such a time what follows doth God make an end of such sinners No see Chap. 8. 2 3. O Soul if the Lord Jesus Christ seems to take no notice of thee but to frown upon thee it is to frown thee from thy unbelief it is but to make thee sensible of thy slighting him If thou wilt this day accept of the Lord Jesus Christ his frowns will soon pass away as a dark Cloud doth when the Sun shines he will remember thy Iniquities no more 10. Object But may some Soul say I would fain come to Christ but I cannot I like the terms well but O my unbelieving heart O my impenitent hard heart I cannot sense Salvation-kindness Answ O Soul The afflicting sense of thy unbelief is a hopeful sign of thy faith If thou dost see thy unbelieving heart so as to be burdened under it and be weary of it the Lord reckons it for the beginnings of faith Mark 9. 24. This is the method of Salvation-Grace in begetting faith to convince thee of its impotency to believe Joh. 16. 9. Soul is this thy weariness that thou canst not come to Christ Wouldst thou have a wider heart for him Thou art the Soul he waits for that mournest over thy unbelief Mark 9. 24. But there 's one thing more may be as a discouragement to some Souls 11. Object O saies the Soul I fear the time is past and that God will be gracious no more I have had a day of grace but that is gone The Angel came troubling the Waters but I would not step in I bave had the dawnings of mercy but I resisted I fear I have outstood my Market That I have outstrived the Spirit so long that he will strive no more And this bows me down that I am afraid to look up Answ Sinner if this be thy case know that thy fears of losing the day of grace is a sign it is not lost The greatest symptome of departing grace is security and false peace 1 Thes 5. 3. So it was with the people before the flood Noah threatned judgments but they dreamt of peace Math. 24. 37. c. Security usher'd in the departure of grace from them But while the Spirit of grace strives with thy Soul the day of grace is not past from thee Doth God call upon thee now and plead with thy heart And dost thou find some movings and turnings of thy Bowels in thee crying out O that there might be mercy for me that this day of grace may not be past If so then sure the Spirit strives yet with thy Soul Therefore Soul if now thou wilt close with Christ none of these pleas can debar thy closing with him Well Sinners consider the Lord Jesus Christ invites you to come to him once more he demands your answer what say you will you be his or no Do your hearts accept of him Do you like his proposals will you heartily consent to be his upon all his terms If so I shall lay down some Counsels to direct you in your right comming to Christ First Sinner if thou will come to Christ thou must come as a poor needy empty undone Sinner stript of all beauty as having nothing at all that may deserve his favour 'T is the poor have the Gospel Preached to them Math. 11. 5. It signifies such as are brought to great necessities and extremities So Beza renders it Such as are brought very low Therefore some derive it from a word that signifies falling down at the rich Mens feet As some beggers will Ferus interprets it the poor in Spirit that acknowledge themselves mean and are low in their own eyes So Calvin takes it for them that are oppressed with the sense of their own wants such as feel their pinching necessities that lye down overwhelm'd with the apprehension of their emptiness The Treasures of the Gospel are design'd to such Persons that are poor and afflicted in their own Spirits There 's no greater obstacle in this Match betwen Christ and sinners than a sense of self worthyness This keeps many from seeing the beauty of Christ their own Righteousness hangs in their eye they are too heavy laden with their own thick clay I mean the sense of their own worthyness to be
Righteousness that makes Believers in God's Account as perfect as Christ himself were not the robe of his Righteousness every way as large as thy Guilt and Nakedness were it not long enough and broad enough to cover all thy Deformities and hide all thy Imperfections from the pure and judging Eye of the Father it were not perfect But all his Procurements by his Blood are perfect His Holiness is a perfect Holiness and he will make his Peoples Graces perfect too e're he hath done He is the Rock his Work is perfect i. e. He doth perfectly fulfill his Promises his Works are true to his Word and he will perfect that which concerns his People Psal 138. 8. i. e. He will accomplish that which he hath begun in me Let the doubting Believer know that the Perfection of Christ is Security for Perfection in his Graces also in due time he that hath begun a a good work in thy Soul will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ he will e're he hath done bring thy weak Graces to Perfection that when he shall appear to Judgment thy Holiness shall be presented to the Father without Spot or wrinkle Secondly As the Godhead of Christ is a most pure and simple Being so is he an infinite Essence both internally without all Limitation or Dimension of his Being and externally without all Comprehension of Places or Capacities every Attribute of his is infinite His Vnderstanding is infinite Psal 147. 5. His Wisdom Power Love Mercy Faithfulness and all his Perfections are one entire infinite Being that cannot be known or comprised no Bounds or Measures can be set to his divine Excellencies The Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him 1 Kings 8. 27. or compass his Greatness how much less can a narrow Heart receive his Fulness his Love and all his Attributes are beyond Knowledge Isa 40. 25. To whom then will ye liken me or shall I be equal saith the holy one This Infiniteness of Christs divine Nature is a mystery too deep for humane Capacity to fathom not curiously to be searched out but humbly to be ador'd and no way discoverable but by his own Light and according to the model of a created understanding Some dark Reflections of this visible Glory are discoverable in the Glass of sacred Scripture which declare the Greatness of God both as to his incomprehensibleness and Eternity he is every where and yet circumscâ—ibed no where he fills all places in the World or without the World but confin'd no where no where included no where excluded containing all things contained by none his essential Presence is in all places not by any Extension or Division of parts which are not in God but as the Soul in the Body so is God in the Universe the whole in the whole and the whole in every part He is essentially present in all Places not by imparting his Essence to any created Being but by giving and preserving the Being of those things which fill up those Places so his Power is every where in that all things are subject to his Power his Wisdom fills Heaven and Earth in that all Things and Places are manifest in his sight And this yields 1. Comfort to Believers 2. Terrour to Sinners 3. Caution to all First Wonderful Comfort to Believers in the Assurance of Christ's Omnipresence with them to counsel and comfort them The Believer can say what none else can Where I am there is my Treasure with me In all Estates and Places is the Lord Jesus with his People while they keep with him In the Water he wades with them in the Flames he stands between them to keep off Destruction from them when under Wants Temptations Dangers he is by them at their right hand to relieve them he knows their Soul in Adversity for he is near them He is by when Corruptions insurrect in them when Satan with his fiery Darts assaults them or Enemies oppress them he sees when their Fears rise and their Tears fall He stands behind Ephraim's back when he is mourning and puts his Tears into his Bottle and layes his Complaints upon his Heart No sooner is Mary mourning for her departed Lord but he is by her side to comfort her When his Daniels are thrown into the Lyons Den he goes with them to shut the mouthes of devouring Lyons or to give Life in the midst of Death When the Knife is at the Throats of his Isaacks his Power is by to hold back the murtherous hand from destroying We will break their bands and cast their cords from us Psal 2. 3. say the Saints Enemies Hold there saith Christ I am with them to defend them No cruel Edicts can exile them from his Presence He was in Patmos with John and turn'd it into a Pavilion with Jeremiah in the Dungeon and gave him Goal delivery Earthly men may be abroad and their Treasures at home but faithful Believers carry their Treasure with them or their Portion their Inheritance follows them Secondly The Immensity and Omnipresence of Christ speaks Terrour to the Wicked in that he is near them to behold and requite their Transgressions He knows their Works and their Thoughts all their secret Designs are naked in his sight There 's no covering from his Eye The Darkness and Light are both alike to him Psal 139. 12. He sees their Rage and Fury against him their hidden works of Darkness All their Plots and Purposes against his Interest are open to his Eye their inward Thoughts filthy Lusts close Practises are before him he is behind thy back Sinner to hear thy blasphemous Oaths thy reproachful Slanders of his wayes and People thy malicious resolves thy bloody Decrees against his poor and faithful ones He is before thee to obviate thy Designs to frustrate thy Attempts and requite thy Spight and Mischiefs O you who are yet in your blood and gore of Sin in your confederacy with Death and Hell in your fixed Wrath against the Lord and his Anointed be perswaded to believe the greatness of your Danger before you feel it think how visible all your works of darkness are when God who is all Eye is in every place and how desperate your sinful Adventures are on the drawn Sword of Divine Justice at your Breasts how unsafe your securest state is who are compass'd within the Circle of Omnipresence and have Vengeance continually at your heels yea are taken in the Arms of devouring Judgment Thirdly The belief of Christ's being every where gives a Caution to all to carry themselves in all Places and Undertakings as such who are ever in his sight His Eyes run to and fro to behold the Evil and the Good He stands by thy Bed side to inspect thy waking Thoughts to observe thy unchaste Motions thy Earthy vain Cogitations no sooner is a forbidden wish in thy Heart but his Eye is there also thy tow'ring Pride thy pale Envy thy flaming Anger thy frothy Pleasure thy lustful Desires thy revengeful Projects
to these also he exerciseth much Long-suffering and Patience if you weigh First the Multitude of their Sins they are more than can be numbred more than the hairs of their head Psal 40. 12. Sins of Thoughts Words and Deeds Sins against Law and Gospel the first and second Table Sins in Duty and out of Duty Sins every day every moment Gen. 6. 5. Sins to the last hour of their Lives till their Tabernacle be pull'd down and the body of Death destroyed and this is not only the Condition of one or of a few Souls but of all the Elect every man that liveth 1 Kings 8. 46. There is none that sinneth not Secondly The Aggravation of their Sins taken First From the persons sinning The redeemed of God such as have been bought with a great price 1 Cor. 6. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 18. The pardon of whose former Sins cost so dear the Sons and Daughters of God Deut. 32. 19. Souls loved and chosen out of all the World to be his yea they only elected and all others left Amos 3. 2. Adopted to a glorious state to be Kings and Priests unto God to be Heirs and Co-heirs with Christ to be a name and a Glory to him and yet for these to be always grieving always provoking always reproaching of him is hard indeed but not too hard for Christ to bear Secondly From the person against whom they sin they sin against their Father who loved them with an everlasting Love drew them with the Cords of Love and led them in the paths of Love who hath given his Son for them and to them and fixed his unchangeable Love upon them imparted the royal Priviledges of Sons to them and yet to Sin against him who is the Father of Christ and their Father whose Glory was dearer to him than his own Blood is an aggravated Sin indeed They sin against God the Son who gave himself for them and bought them with a great price They sin against the holy Ghost who visited them in their low Estate and brought them the good News of Salvation who broke open their Prison-doors and let them forth into a glorious State of Liberty who quickned enlightned comforted and helped them in all their Soul-straits now to sin against this God the Father Son and Spirit cannot but exceedingly provoke the Soul of Christ Thirdly the State in which they sin O! how inconsistent is this with such an high and glorious Condition Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall have no more Dominion over you because you are not under the Law but under Grace The Sins of such are the works of Darkness in the day time Acts of Enmity in a state of Reconciliation and grievous Bondage in times of Liberty Fourthly The dangerous Effects of their Sinning 'T is a corrupt Tree that brings forth sad Fruit even the Grapes of Sodom and the Wine of Gomorrah their Sins rob God of his Glory and bring a greater Dishonour to him than all the Sins of the World besides Rom. 2. 23. They grieve the Spirit of Christ whereby they are seal'd up to the day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. They depress and load yea break the Heart of God Amos 2. 13. They endeavour to frustrate divine grace and render the Death of Christ in vain Gal. 5. 4. They do as it were reduce the Lord to a great strait what to do to save their Souls Hâ—s 6. 4. they Shipwrack all their Duties and put a Vanity upon all their Profession Labours and Sufferings such run in vain Gal. 2. 2. They sadden the Hearts and weaken the hands of the Godly and become stumbling blocks in their way Psal 119. 158. And they do a great deal of mischief to the wicked in prejudicing them against the Lord Jesus and his holy ways in hindring their Reception of the Gospel and depriving them of the Fruits and Labours of Christ towards their Conversion in justifying them in their wayes encouraging them in their Sins and in causing them to blaspheme the holy Name of God Fifthly The blessed Advantages they have enjoy'd against their Sins they have many Obligations against it and many Experiences of the Evil of it and yet still continue in it O this doth make the burden of the Sins of the Godly exceeding heavy to Christ and yet that he should bear them so patiently and not consume them That though provoked daily by the Brambles and scratching Abominations of his People yet his Fury should not be kindled into a terrible Flame to burn them up doth manifestly demonstrate his meekness to be exceeding great Secondly Christ's forbearing of his People is another Evidence of his Slowness to Anger He is not easily provoked Neh. 9. 17. How long doth he forbear before he strikes he first threatens and then waits calls and exhorts shakes the rod and then strikes gently Isa 30. 18. Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious Thirdly His readiness to be reconciled to them when angry Psal 86. 5. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive O consider his perswading them to Repentance how doth he labour to convince them of their Sin and invite them to return he entreats reasons and beseecheth them to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. Lo how affectionately doth he receive them when they return how willingly doth he listen his Ear to their confession of Sin and bemoaning of their condition Jer. 31. 18. Fourthly The moderation of his Anger when raised shews his meekness Isa 27. 7 8. In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it He stayeth his rough wind in the day of his East-wind Job 11. 6. Lastly His actual forgiving all their Iniquities Psal 103. 3. Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities Luke 7. 47. Isa 44. 22. Vse Now if the Lord Jesus Christ be so full of meekness to his very Enemies so rich in gentleness sweetness of Nature and Patience to his People then learn this needful Lesson of him to be of a meek and patient Spirit Behold how quietly he took up his Cross and bore reproaches and Indignities from the worst of men yea how still he was under the infinite weight of his Father's wrath Learn meekness from his Gentleness as the Elephant doth from the Lamb when the Elephant is in his greatest Fury set but a Lamb before him and his wrath will presently be allay'd Learn of Christ to bear Injuries to restrain your Anger not to be angry but when Duty and the Cause of God calls you to it 'T is onely Sin should be the Object of a Christian's Anger Moses was calm at his own Reproaches but could not be still when God was dishonoured Learn from Christ to moderate the measure of your Anger he corrects in measure Let not your Anger exceed the desert of the Provocation Learn from him to time your Anger As a word fitly spoken so Anger seasonably exerted is beautiful and learn from him to remove it when the Cause is gone Anger should be as Physick
of Christ So that all what Christ hath purchased or the Father promised to Christ is due to his Seed so that Mercy Grace and Glory is as much the Believers due as Death and Vengeance is the Sinners on the score of his Sin 2 Thes 1. 6. 7. Therefore the Justice of Christ is laid to pawn for the pardon of Believers Sins upon their penitential Confession 1 John 1. 9. This is the great Error of troubled Souls that they make their Worthyness or Unworthyness the Standard and Measure of all their Expectations this is the Impotency the violated Law of God hath left on fallen man that they cannot get over Mount Sinai nor see the Righteousness of Christ and the Equity of Salvation upon his account for their Sins and Unrighteousnesses do so hang in their Eye that they cannot see themselves righteous in the Righteousness of another This Tang of a legal Spirit is a malady-Grace is long a curing in Saints themselves the want of which robs Christ of the Glory of his Grace and Righteousness But know O Believers the Lord Jesus would be unfaithful if he render not to those that live on him for Sanctification and Salvation all that he hath promised in the Gospel and hath dyed to purchase for them but this cannot be as you have heard abundantly that the Lord Jesus is faithful in acts of Remuneration he cannot keep back anothers due who would have all men to render to others their due But all that God hath made over in the new Covenant to Believers is their due and therefore will Christ render it in it's season And thus have I opened and proved this glorious Excellency of the Lord Jesus even his Faithfulness it remains now that we make some Improvement of it Vse 1. How great then is the Sin of all those that will not credit the Faithfulness of Christ there are none that perish under the Ministery of the Gospel but stumble at this stumbling block they do not judge God faithful nor believe the report given of Christ Isaiah 53. 1. Though Christ be manifestly held forth to be a perfect Saviour yet few will believe in him not one of a hundred says Calvin that hear Christ dayly will yet believe in him you know it Sinners you may safely adventure your Souls on Christ he cannot lye or fail you you have the whole word of God for your Assurance all the Scriptures testifie of him John 5. 39. Acts 18. 28. You have the Evidences of Christ's Faithfulness in his state of Humiliation he did and suffer'd all things written of him Luke 18. 31. He fulfill'd all Righteousness Matth. 3. 15. His Death Resurrection and Ascension prove him faithful in all things tending to purchase Salvation You have the Testimony of others who have found Christ faithful 1 John 1. 1 2. All the Saints on record are witnesses of Christ's Fidelity Nay you your selves have found him faithful hitherto how often hath he made good his Promises to you when you have called upon him and trusted in him for outward Mercies You trust other things that are unfaithful and yet will not believe in Christ You trust your own Hearts and they are deceitful Jer. 17. 9. You trust in men and yet they are a lye Rom. 3. 4. You trust in Creatures and yet they are vanity Eccles 1. 2. You know without Faith you must perish to all Eternity and yet will not believe in him Vse 2. Then this reproves the People of Christ for their injurious Thoughts of him Joh. 1. 11. He came unto his own and his own received him not This is an aggravation indeed that Christ's own People such as have professed him chosen him commended him and born witness of him and yet will not adventure their All upon him O this secret Jealousie of Christ is a fearful Sin This was that our Lord reproved in Thomas Joh. 20. 5. So Ioh. 14. 11. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else believe me for the Works sake O the Questions and Doubts that Souls have about the fulfilling of Promises how loth they are to trust Christ further than they see him Vse 3. This should humble Christians for their great unfaithfulness Alas how few are found faithful amongst the Saints this day How may we complain with the Psalmist Psal 12. 1. The godly man ceaseth and the faithful fail from among the children of men and Christ seems to Quere where he may find a faithful Steward Luk. 12. 42. And Paul says I know no man like minded to Timothy who so faithfully and naturally careth for your state O the falsness of Professors to the Lord Jesus and one another How rare is it to find one that makes Conscience of Promises and Profession one that is faithful to his Trust to his Word to his Relation-duties and in distributive Justice O Christians Mourn over your great unfaithfulness to God and men to those Souls you are concern'd in Your unfaithfulness to your Children Servants and Neighbours how little have you done for these to this day Some of you are Parents and Masters but where hath been your Industry in your Families in teaching reproving and labouring to save the Souls of those committed to you The Lord lay not the neglect of this to your Charge nor being in the Blood of your ignorant prophane perishing Families Children or Servants on your head I must tell you Friends it will be dreadfully heavy to bear the blood of Souls at the Judgment-seâ—t of Christ and yet I fear without Repentance is like to be the case of some that now hear me who have been unfaithful to the Souls of their Relations Husband Wife Children and Servants who have been too furious in reproving their Faults towards them but scarce ever reproved their Sin against God Who can hear their Children and Servants swear take God's Reverend Name in vain and see them prophane Sabbaths and spend Sacred time in Debauchery and Idleness and scarce ever check them that can suffer them to lye in Ignorance and ready to perish for want of Knowledge and never labour to catechize and instruct them in the knowledge of Salvation This is a lamentable case and will appear so when these Parents and Masters shall appear before God with their garments all gor'd and stain'd with the blood of their Families O cruel Masters and Parents that will be tender of a Horse or a Dog to feed them and secure them from want but can endure to see your children and Servants perish for want of knowledge Vse 4. Here 's Comfort to Believers Is the Lord Jesus Faithful then be of good cheer For First All the Promises of God shall be made good to you in due season He will not suffer a word to fall to the ground of all that good he hath spoken concerning you 1 Sam. 3. 19. Isa 55. 11. 2 Cor. 1. 20. Numb 23. 19. Then you cannot do too much for God you can't
they are given usually but to a few So is Holiness the priviledge of the fewest and least number of men few there be that find it Mat. 7. 13. Riches can procure the greatest things procurable as one saith Money answereth all things that is all things that are saleable among men so Holiness though it cannot purchase Mercy yet it fits persons for the greatest Mercies and highest Services None more advanced than holy Souls they dwell in the presence of God Psal 140. 13. They are through Christ very potent with God they are fit for the highest work When Persons come to dye they see the excellency of holiness and would purchase it with a world This proves that Sanctification is a rare Treasure Again The purchas'd Holiness of Christ hath not only excellent worth but large quantity he hath purchas'd fullness of Grace Grace for Grace O Believer though thy heart be empty of grace yet Christ's Treasure is full he hath as much as ever thou canst need or crave to make thee as Holy as thou wouldest be and that to all Eternity VSE If Holiness be the Purchase of Christ then 't is not the Creatures procurement or by any ways or means obtained short of the merit of Christ what the Apostle says of Righteousness is true of Sanctification Gal. 2. 21. If Righteousness come by the Law then Christ is dead in vain So if holiness be the Fruit of Mens Purposes Labours and Duties then Christ died in vain 'T is too common an errour in many to charge Christ with too much in some things and too little in other things In justification some lay too much on Christ I mean by charging their sins on him for pardon which they were never throughly convinc'd or repented of and in sanctification charge him with too little expecting their holiness and meetness from their purposes duties and improvements As if holiness were to grow out of the Sepulchres of their Services and not out of the grave of Christ 'T is true indeed the Lord Jesus hath appointed means for the promoting of Holiness and given promises and Ordinances for the conveying and perfecting of it but the vertue of all depends upon his blessing 1 Cor. 3. 6 7. Rom. 9. 16. Secondly Then how unexcusable are perishing Sinners under the Gospel that will not come to Christ to be made holy You that lye in your blood and from the Crown of your head to the sole of your feet are full of filthy Ulcers and putrifying sores whose Consciences cannot but condemn you sometimes for uncleannesse and never being cleansed by the blood of Christ how will you appear before the Holy God a Consuming fire in your unpurged sins How unjustifiable is your filthynesse who might have been cleansed but would not What will you answer in the day of Indignation when all this tender'd but refused Grace shall come against you when you would willingly part with the whole World if you had it to get a clean heart and a purged Conscience How dreadful will that word be in the day of Inquisition Ezek. 22. 24. Thou art a Land Thou art a Soul that art not cleansed How cutting will the memory be of rejected Grace when God shall say I would have healed you but you are not healed Jer. 51. 9. You might have had your natures changed your Consciences cleansed and your hearts sanctified but you would not Now away thou prophane hard-hearted wretch Be gone thou secret Drunkard Swearer Thief Lyer take him Devil go and be filthy still wallow in thy blood there lye cursing in torment to all Eternity as long as I am God thy blood shall lye upon thee Thirdly Then the Holinesse of Believers is and shall be sure being grounded on the Purchase of Christ 'T is bought and paid for O Believer for thee purchas'd Sanctification is assuredly thine as thou art not thine own The truth continuance growth and perfection of Grace is procured for thee by a price A price agreed on betwixt the Father and the Son First God will not deny it Justice it self cannot with-hold thy purchas'd due As sure as Christ with-holds not one drop of his blood or penny of the price so sure will not God with-hold any part of this Purchase Rom. 3. 26. That he may be just and the justifier of them that believe in Jesus And if the justifier then sure the sanctifier Poor doubting Believer when thou seest nothing but unworthiness in thy self of the least Grace and peace from God then think 't was Christ not I that made this purchase he who did not can not make a forfeit of his right and whose blood must perish whose Honour and Interest must suffer if one of those for whom Christ dyed should dye and perish for want of Holinesse O no! this cannot be The Judge of all the Earth must do right Gen. 18. 23. Secondly Jesus Christ the believers Advocate cannot suffer to see his poor and needy deprived of their right He is the Mediatour betwixt God and his people The days-Man and Umpire to see truth Established in the Earth and every one to receive his due He will give wicked Men their due much more his Children And all Power in Heaven and Earth are in his hands Math. 28. 20. He is the Faithful Witnesse Holy and Just one and therefore will cause that believers shall have the distributions of the due Measures of his Purchas'd Grace Thirdly there is nothing in thee or without thee that can hinder the accomplishment of it Isa 43. 13. I will work and who shall let Let Earth and Hell Sin and self combine together they shall not keep back the Communications of grace one day beyond God's time Math. 12. 20. 'T is not the strength of thy lusts can prevail against the arm of God and forces of his eternal Spirit who is commissioned to bring down all thy Enemies and set thee free indeed Christ will Reign till he brings down all his Enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. The greatest part of which is the Corruptions of his people CHAP. XIX Adoption-Grace prov'd to be the Fruit of Christ's Purchase The excellency of this state opened in several particulars I Come now to a fifth Fruit of Christs Purchase and discovery of that glorious Redemption-Treasure procur'd by his death that is a state of Adoption those whom he sanctifies he adopts and brings into a new Relation to himself to God the Father Son and Spirit The work of Sanctification doth change their Nature Adoption changeth their state they are really alter'd by Sanctifying Grace and relatively by Adoption-love God now becomes their Father and they are his Sons and Daughters 2 Cor. 6. 17 18. Come out from amongst them and touch not the unclean thing Here 's a change in their Nature and Life And I will be your God and you shall be my Sons and Daughters there 's a change in their state Adoption is the taking of persons that are strangers and
very Doctrine are words of peace Eph. 2. 17. He came to guide our feet into the way of peace Luke 1. 79. He came and Preached Peace O what a blessed Estate hath Christ what a lovely Lord is Christ He bequeaths peace to his people Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you Joh. 14. 27. They have peace with God who Espouse this Christ Rom. 5. 1. Peace with Saints and Angels Col. 1. 20. Peace with Conscience too Phil. 4. 7. Heb. 10. 22 The Fruits of the Spirit is Peace Gal. 5. 22. His Riches have no sorrow annexed with them 7thly It is a perpetual Estate An inheritance that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven 1 Pet. 1. 4. Christs Riches are durable Riches aged Riches strong solid Riches Opes densae that is â—ultae firmae says Mercer they are great stable Riches Pro. 8. 18. Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness His Gold is not liable to rust 'T is said of the Cedar worms will not breed in it sure there 's no worm in Christ's Treasure O Souls 't is a lasting Estate That neither time nor changes can wast nor weaken All the Saints spending upon it to all Eternity never detracts from it Christs Treasures are like the deep waters or like the bottomless Ocean that cannot be exhausted his treasure will last as long as God the Soul and Eternity lasts which is for ever for ever for ever Some men have out-liv'd their Leases and their Estates and have seen an end of their Houses and Riches but the Spouse of Christ can never out-live her jointure it lasts to all Eternity Lastly 'T is a possest estate Some may have great estates but it is in reversion they may look long for it as some Heirs do all their days But Christs Estate is all in his own hand 't is actually made over to him by the Father and possession given him when he sate down at the Right hand of God Heb. 1 3. He hath actually obtained this Inheritance with the Fruits of it Heb. 1. 4. And is actually invested with this glory Heb. 2. 7. This sinners is the Estate of that Beloved that is tendered to you in the Gospel for your choice he is very wealthy he hath a fair free sure sutable pleasant peaceful perpetual possession an Estate you cannot spend or comprehend an Inheritance you cannot lose or out-â—ive riches that will not cloy nor clog yâ—u a portion that cannot be out-vy'd or match'd Come view the Rentals of his Lands the Inventory of his Goods and see what a rich match Christ is there 's none like him where can you mend your penny-worths all the world no nor the Heaven of Heavens can yield you such another bargain Job 28. ver 13. c. Man knoweth not the price thereof the gold and the Chrystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shall not be for Jewels of fine gold c. Then Jesus Christ is worth a looking after if he be so rich as the Scripture reports him to be and I presume you question not the truth of this testimony O slight not this bargain which will make you happy to all Eternity if wealth will please you here 's enough what say you Have you any objection against his estate If not what stick you at Secondly Dost thou dislike his person Then it argues thou knowest him not for he is altogether Lovely the chiefest of ten thousands The fairest of the Children of Men O come behold the Lamb of God Look upon this glorious Jehovah Christ O see his Personal Excellency and it will allure you and invite you to come to him he is the brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express image of his Fathers Person Heb. 1. 3. Sinners look well upon him view him from top to toe there is no blemish in him O he is the most exquisite one his perfections are enough to please you his beauty sufficient to allure you See his excellent lineaments the sweet proportion of every part O how lovely is Christ to the believing eye in regard of his Person Consider his Natures God Man sweetly concentring in an intimate and Eternal Union perfect God perfect Man in one person O where can you espy such an object sure he is a Non-such none like him in Heaven none like him on Earth in regard of his Personal Glory as Mediatour God Man look over his Characters that his friends have given him See in that Book of Cant. Chap. 5. How the Spouse displays him and you will find him a beautiful Person ver 11. to the end His head is as the most fine gold His Wisdom and Government is most pure solid and excellent His locks are bushy and black as a Raven Which notes not only his love liness but his strength and vigour he hath his radical moysture his vital heat He is strong his vigour abides with him he hath strength sufficient for all his undertakings and he is able to go through what he sets his hand unto he is strong vigorous and spritely His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the Rivers of Waters washed with Milk and fitly set His sight is quick and perfect his understanding is infinite His Counsels are holy and consistent all well set his decrees his purposes all methodically ordered and fixed His looks are gracious his aspects lovely enamouring the eyes of them that behold him O such a lovely Christ is tendred to Sinners O I know not how to set him forth to your capacities he is a most taking object indeed His face is white and ruddy Emblems of Rich Beauty captivating the eyes and ravishing the hearts of beholders The purity of the divine nature with the passions of the humane and procurements of his Redemption sets him forth as infinitely amiable in the eyes of Believers His cheeks are as a bed of spices as sweet flowers His graces and choice discoveries of his Excellencies doth wonderfully feed and delight the Souls of those that have acquaintance and fellowship with him his sweet and lovely perfections discover'd to Believers are like a rich feast that stay with them His lips like Lillies dropping sweet smelling Myrrhe The impartings of his wisdom the droppings of his Doctrine his gracious words his Holy Communications are savoury and sound pure and incorruptible they strengthen the heart and heal the Soul of those that imbrace him His Doctrine carries wonderful strength to those that are in weakness how do the words of grace revive the fainting hearts of Believers his wayes are strength to the upright like Myrrhe they make the heart sound His hands are as gold rings set with the Beryl His works and administrations in the World are full of order beauty and excellency All that he doth in Sion and out of Sion is all holy every providence that seems to us sometimes to be unseasonable is in infinte wisdom display'd by Jesus Christ for the good of his people
your fellows He will make you Kings and Priests to God he will set you in Heavenly places he will seal your title to a Rich Joynture he will make sure your interest to all the Treasures of Heaven He will possesse you with grace and assure you of glory O sinners is not this argument enough to win your Souls and make you willing to accept of such a Majesty as Jesus Christ Eighthly Sinners think upon the greatness of that love tâ—e Lord Jesus Christ bears you He hath good-will towards Men towards sinners as sinners whiles in their blood he hath a love of pity for you 'T is true till you close with Christ he can have no love of acquiescense in you but he hath a love of good-will to your Souls he hath so much love for you as hath made him willing to shed his blood for you his love brought him down from the Fathers Glory made him willing to drink the dregs of a cup of wrath for you the love of Christ to Sinners hath set up a standing Ministery in the World sent forth multitudes to publish glad tidings O Sinners did you but believe this how attractive would it be upon your hearts to draw you to Christ But if none of these arguments will prevail let me adde one consideration more Lastly The effects of your refusing Jesus Christ will be dreadful if you will not accept of this proposal O think what a terrible answer Christ will send you Such shall not taste of his Supper Luke 14. 24. Not a crumb that fall from this Rich Table of Salvation-chear shall fall to the share of that wretched sinner If you will not have his Person you shall not have his purchase He hath sworn in his wrath these shall never enter into his Rest Heb. 3. 11. O sinner were there no other Hell but the loss of Heaven it were enough to break thy heart in pieces O think upon the sad Issue of thy final unbelief When thy sins get over thy head and thy guilt follows thee at thy heels When Death and Hell shall be at thy back and then to call and cry and knock at the door of mercy and not be heard O what a doleful thing will this be When armies of devils are round about thee ready to snatch thy Soul into everlasting burnings and none to relieve thee O fearful will the case of thy Soul be When thou shalt cry O for mercles sake Help Lord I am going to Hell for mercies sake help and then for the Ear of God to be deaf and thou not have one good word and the door be shut against thee O what a dolefull case will this be for tender mercy to cease is miserable But for mercy to become cruel to you O fearful case indeed when tender Bowels shall become Brass and Iron and there shall be no sounding at all in it towards thy Soul O sinner if thou wilt not accept of this Christ he will laugh at thy Calamity and mock when thy Fear cometh Pro. 1. 26. That 's terrible when God shall not only cease to pity but deride thy misery Be assur'd Soul as quiet as now thou art a day of Calamity will come there will come a time of Fears for thy poor Soul and then will mercy it self be turn'd into wrath and laugh at thy Calamity yet further sinner if thou wilt not accept of Christ then will incensed fury send forth its army of destroyers and ruine and cut off thy Soul for ever Mat. 22. 7. Then shalt thou be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and from the glory of his Power 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Then shall vengeance glut it self upon thy Soul and seize upon thee in flaming Fire O 't is a dreadful thing to lye at the mercy of vengeance O what will not enraged fury do to its adversaries when it hath them at its power But what will divine vengeance do O sinner when God shall arraign thee at the Bar of Judgment for kicking at the Bowels of mercy for Crowning the head of Christ with thorns and trampling his blood under feet what wilt thou do then O canst thou read this and not shake when thou shalt see Devils round about thee and flaming vengeance take hold of thee But thus it will be Then they that would not let Christ reign over them shall feel Devils rending of them Then they that fled from the Arms of mercy shall fall into the Jaws of fury Then they that shut their ears against the fervent wooings of Christ shall open their hearts to the fiery wrath of Christ Then they that would not get into the bosom of Christ shall lodge in the burnings of Hell Then the Furnace of Hell shall be heated seven times hotter for those whose hearts freezed under the warm beams of Christ's Love Oh dreadful will thy state be Sinner if thou refuse Christ Well sinner take the Counsel given thee kiss the Son Iest he be angry turn in turn in hither reach out thy arms come away to Christ say Lord Jesus I am willingly thine Sinners are you perswaded what answer shall we return to this Lord of Glory Will you be his Will you accept of this grace tendered to you before it breathe its last to you CHAP. XXVI Objections answered Counsels how to come to Christ I shall now endeavour to answer those Objections which are made by doubting Souls against their coming to Christ 1. Objection Says a Soul But will this blessed Potentate this glorious King of Kings stoop so low as to look upon such an obscure Creature such a worthless worm as I am Alas I am too mean to unloose the latchet of his shooes I am too unworthy to be the meanest Servant in his House To be a dog to his Flock And will he cast his skirt over me O do not flatter me into such vain hopes and fond dreams that such a King of Glory will look upon me I am too low for one aspect of his Eye Answ Abundant Testimony hath this Lord given of his condescending heart to sinners Dost thou think thou art too low for such a Majesty When he left his Fathers Kingdom and came down from his Eternal Glory with the Father he gave abundant proof of the humility of his heart when he did espouse thy nature sinner to himself and took upon him the form of a Servant he shewed his humble heart that he was far from contemning sinners He was the true Jacob who served a far harder bondage for thy Soul than ever Jacob did for his Rachâ—l this shews his humility His choosing such mean persons such notorious sinners for his companions in nearest Union and Communiwith himself Matthew the Publican Paul the Blasphemer Poor Fishermen of no regard upon Earth These did Christ personally chuse for his nearest Converses this shews his condescension And 't is not thy low state sinner can discourage Christ if thy heart be really willing His
these several duties 1 Duty First Be exhorted to Thankfulness to the rich Grace of God for giving such a Treasure and Treasury as Christ is be continually offering up Praises and Thansgivings to God Flames of holy Affection be admiring the Grace of God as the Fountain and Spring of these waters of Life as the deep Mine of those glorious Treasures now to scrue up your Affections and wind up your Hearts to make way for holy Melody admiring triumphing and blessing God for giving Christ consider these following Particulars as motives to this choice duty First Consider what you were without Christ O! Christians look back and see what once you were Eph. 2. 11. Remembring that in times past you were Gentiles in the Flesh The worst of men an idolatrous sort of men Worshippers of Devils you were wild Olives Enemies to God in your minds Col. 1. 21. hateful and hateing one another Tit. 3. 3. Lying in your blood to the loathing of your persons Ezek. 16. 4 5 6. dead in Trespasses and Sins wretched miserable poor blind naked Rev. 3 17. Children of Wrath heirs of Hell born to Wrath Eph. 2. 1 2 3. under the Curse and Condemnation of the whole Law Gal. 3. 10. O lamentable state Obnoxious to Death liable to everlasting Destruction every moment no guard about you open to Devils liable to the pourings out of divine Fury and the openings of the deep Treasures of infinite Vengeance to have no security from the greatest Evils nor capacity ever to be deliver'd out of them obnoxious every minute to a fearful looking of a fiery Wrath and Indignation which shall devour the Adversary Heb. 10. 27. This was once your state Believers you were stubble ready for everlasting Burnings Fuel for that Fire that can never be quenched and Food for the Worm that never dyeth O! sad case indeed and was not freedom and deliverance from such a state a Mercy worth your highest Thanks Had you but lookt into the place of Torment and dipt your Finger into that lake of Fire and Brimstone you would have wonder'd at Redemption-mercy and adored that Grace of God that pluckt you out of it and is not your acknowledgment of preventing Grace as due now as it would have been to an actual deliverance out of these Miseries Secondly Consider what you are by Grace if you are related to Christ you are brands pluckt out of the Fire Zach. 3. 2. Bond-slaves redeemed from the Pit Zach. 9. 11. Condemned Wretches sav'd from Wrath to come 1 Thes 1. 10. Translated from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan into the Kindgdom of God Acts 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. Made Sons and Daughters to God called to his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thes 2. 12. Gal. 4. 6. Crown'd and invested with a Right to his Presence and most glorious Priviledges Eph. 2. 18. 19. Under the Eye of God under divine Care infinite Grace is an Undertaker for you 1 Pet. 5. 7. O glorious State Consider further how you lye upon the Heart of God as a Seal and Signet there Cant. 8. 6. Reckoned amongst his Jewels accounted his peculiar Treasure Exod. 19. 5. Mal. 3. 17. Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1. 12. Sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus made Vessels â—itted for Mercy fill'd with Mercy devoted to Mercy Rom. 9. 23. And Heirs of Glory Jam. 2. 5. O wonderful wonderful Grace this is matter of Praises to God to all Eternity Time would fail to read over your Inventory and to look through your Treasury 't is Work for an Eternity to do O believe what you cannot see and admire what you cannot know and study out what you yet understand not of your blessed state both privatively and positively consider'd and when you have found out a little of your Happiness then look on those beneath you put your Mercies into the scale with the World's Miseries rate your Redemption-interest with the lot of Christless Souls matter of the same Lump with you think on your Acquaintance Friends Relations Neighbours that have enjoyed the same Gospel-Priviledges with you and yet these are left to their Blindness to perish in the Error of their ways and must down into the deep for ever but you are exalted and lifted up to Glory O! What cause is here for Praises blessings Thansgivings and Hallejuahs to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for evermore Thirdly Consider the greatness of that Grace which hath made you to differ Ah! Believers Redemption-grace saw nothing more in you than in Judas Demas and those that perish you were of the same Lump cut out of the same piece there was not a Jot of Difference between you and the damned but only the good pleasure of Grace only divine Mercy laid it's hand upon you O that astonishing word because it pleased him to make you his people 1 Sam. 12. 22. It was only the free grace of God that chose Jacob and left Esau Rom. 9. 13. It was not for your sakes Christians that the Lot was cast so well for you No Be it known to you O house of Israel be ashamed and confounded for ever in your own Eyes Ezek. 36. 32. The moving Cause the Wheel within the Wheel that made you adopted and others rejected was only the good Pleasure of his Will Eph. 1. 5. 7. It was from hence God so loved the World out of this Womb sprung all your Mercies it was Height of Grace Length Breadth Depth Love passing Knowledge Eph. 3. 18. 19. O ye heirs of Glory be affected astonished ravished with the sense of this rich grace of God towards you in giving Christ not only for you but to you and revealing him in you and uniting him to you by the Spirit from the same Mass of fallen man to single out some for pardon and leave others for Punishment O wonderful The Sense of this made the Apostle break out in such a holy Extasie Rom. 11. 33. O the Depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God O the depth A note of Exclamation and silencing wonder O consider this Love of God to your Souls 't is free Love without any Influences from the Creature full Love without Circumference or Bounds eternal Love without Beginning and without end Fruitful Love abounding in the rich Gifts and Procurements of it O the Gifts and Tokens God sends to you now and O the large store he lays up for ever for you 't is sympathyzing Love full of Bowels delighting Love full of pleasure in you 't is resting Love He will rest over them in his Love 't is immutable Love without Changes giving Love forgiving Love caring Love securing Love returning Love overcoming Love O! where shall I make an end How can you come to the bottom of this Deep wade a little further till you have lost your selves in holy wonder Can you see your brave houses fine Cloaths comfortable Relations and have such high
grace if you once get your Hearts resolved for them Secondly Labour for a holy skill in managing Christianity to the greatest Advantage this makes men thrive when they have the Mystery of their Art and are their Crafts Masters and understand the Rules of their Trade unskillful persons are not like to thrive whatever their Employment be Prov. 4. 7 8. Prov. 3. 13. 14. Prov. 24. 3. Thirdly Be diligent in the use of all your helps and advantages to Soul-profit Prov. 10. 4. chap. 13. 4. 2 Pet. 1. 5. Take all Opportunities of waiting at the Pools side Isa 55. 1. They that will be rich in the World take all Opportunities of getting and ply Markets and Fairs and Seasons of Advantage for their Interest and so do Souls that thrive in Spirituals they are much in waiting on God they lose no Seasons that will bring them in some Soul-advantage Prov. 23. 23. Fourthly Be still getting in more and more grace from Christ 't is Christ's Treasures that enriches the Soul he that will be rich must buy tryed gold of Christ Rev. 3. 18. The graces of Christ are true gold they will bear the Fire and hold out in greatest Tryals counterfeit grace will be as reprobate Silver when it comes to melting it will be as Hay and Stubble that perish in the Fire but true grace will hold in time of Tryal 1 Pet. 1. 7. In this Gold differs from all other Mettals in that it loseth nothing by the Fire but comes forth the more pure so is the grace of Christ 't is as tryed Gold that doth not loose but get in the Fire of Affliction and Temptation Naturalists say that Gold is more warm in the night than in the day so true grace cheers the Heart more in the night of Tribulation than in the day of Prosperity O Christians if you will be rich get in grace from Christ every day for that is the true Cornucopia or the Souls plenty Joh. 1. 16. Of his Fullness have we received Grace for Grace Make some new Additions to your graces every day 2 Pet. 1. 5. What the Heathen said concerning Learning Nulla dies sine Linea Let the Christian say concerning Grace Nulla dies sine Gratia This would be a notable way to Soul-prosperity to be getting from Christ some more grace in every Approach to him as are your Receivings from Christ so will your Thrivings be put often the hand of Faith into Christs Treasury and grasp large Portions of Grace for thy Soul Faith is the only receiving grace Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God Joh. 7. 39. Therefore 't is called the Substance of things hoped for Heb. 11. 1. Faith appropriates to the Believer the Overtures and Promises of grace and by a secret magnetick Vertue derives in from the Fullness of grace needed Supplies Faith dips into the Fountain and fills the Soul with what it needs Fifthly They that will be rich in grace must be thrifty saving Souls choice of their time and careful that they do not wast their graces or loose the things that they have wrought 2 Joh. ve 8. So persons that are thriving in the World are saving of every thing that nothing be waste the same Care is needful to spiritual Enrichings Prodigality will soon consume great Estates he that is not saving will never be wealthy Christians do not consume your days as a Tale that is told Psal 90. 9. make the most of every hour do your proper work every day a wise and faithful Improvement of time would tend much to Soul-flourishings Eph. 5. 16. Spend no words in vain put Time and Talents to the greatest Advantage they got most for God and themselves who were most in the Improvement of their Talents hold fast also the Truths you have received Rev. 2. 25. That is keep and retain the Doctrine preserve and maintain the practice of those Truths you have received Sixthly Be much in begging grace be always asking some spiritual Blessing from God as Caleb's Daughter Achsah Judg. 1. 15. her Father had given her one Blessing and she asks another and 't is said he gave the upper and the nether Springs so be not content with what you have but still be craving for more grace like Princes Favourites who have their Lords Ear will be often begging now this place then that Preferment so Believers be suing hard for Grace ply the Throne of Grace daily loose no Opportunity wherein you may further your spiritual Interest by Supplication this is Gods appointed way to the obtaining of Mercy Ezek. 36. 37. Follow your Sutes till you obtain let your chiefest Requests be for Grace and be restless till you prevail like Jacob who would not let God go till he had blest him Isa 62. 7. Give him no rest till he establish and make Jerusalem the Praise of the Earth Never leave begging till the Lord Jesus hath left off giving and that will not be whilst he sits upon the Throne Eph. 4. 8. Lastly Maintain constant intimate and universal walks with God He is the most thriving Soul that keeps nearest to God as that is the fruitfullest ground that is nearest the warm Sun Isa 18. 4. Deut. 33. 14. so is it to keep near to God This was that which exalted Israel above all Nations they were a People near to God Psal 148. 14. This made Enoch so soon ripe for Heaven he was one that walkt with God Gen. 5. 24. Christians 't is not your sitting under God's shadow will make you thrive till there be a dew on your Souls Hos 14. 5. 7. Keep much in his presence with him is the Fountain of Life Psal 36. 9. Be also constant in thy walks with God not by sits and flashes but drive a steady Trade of godliness Let thy whole course of Life both in thy Civil and Religious Duties be as one constant Walk with God Gen. 17. 1. In your Callings Relation-Duties in every state change and undertaking keep close to God this is a notable way to spiritual prosperity Deut. 5. 33. 2 Chro. 17. from vers 3. to 7. Secondly Improve your Interest in Christ towards your inriching in good Works Labour to be rich towards God as well as in your own Souls Luke 12. 21. 1 Timothy 6. 18. Consider Christians the more you lay out for God the more are you like to God who giveth us richly all good things 1 Tim. 6. 17. And in being rich towards God you will inrich your own Souls also for he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 2 Cor. 9. 6. Acts of Mercy and Piety are as good Seed that shall not miscarry but shall bring forth a sure crop in glory Gal. 6. 8 9. 9. Duty Ninthly Live up to your Treasure Walk as becomes so high a Dignity and Relation to so rich a Jesus 2 Thes 2. 12. This is but reasonable if God hath changed your State that you should change