though not from the Eye of Omnisciency yet from the Eye of Vindictive Justice 3. I shall inquire how we are interested and partake of the Righteousness of Jehovah manifested in our flesh how we are Entitled to it and Invested with it Answ It is by Faith The Righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that Believe The Gentiles have attained unto the Righteousness which is of Faith Rom. 9.30 With the heart man believeth unto Righteousness Rom. 10.10 The Righteousness of God is said to be Revealed from Faith to Faith Rom. 1.17 This is the Righteousness from first to last that Faith cleaveth to and buildeth on The Just do not for a Day a Month or a Year only subsist by Faith but they all their days live by Faith So the same Righteousness is revealed to Faith at first when it is weaker and to Faith at last when it is stronger It is said We are Justified by Faith Rom. 5.1 This Phrase is used of no other Grace It is not said We are Justified by Love Repentance or Obedience It is exceeding observable that it is not said Abraham left his Countrey quitted his Idolatry abandoned his Relations or that he Offered his Son and it was imputed to him for Righteousness but that Abraham Believed God and it was counted to him for Righteousness Gen. 15.6 which sheweth the peculiar dignity and excellency of Faith It is singularly fitted and suited to take hold of Christ and his Righteousness as a Beggar 's hand to receive an Alms. When as Love brings something to the Person beloved it is a grateful Eccho to his Love it doth Retalliate and as it were Recompense Requite and Re-pay him that Loves But Faith brings nothing L. Com. cap. 11. Justif but receives all things from Free-Grace Love poures it self out but Faith takes in Peter Martyr thinks that God chose Faith to this Office because it is a less noble Grace than Love and so all the Glory is given by it to God Love Gives and Faith Receives and it is more noble to Give than to Receive Faith looks to Christ Psal 45.22 Look unto me all ye ends of the earth and be saved We must look unto Christ and be healed John 3.14 15. we must run to Christ Heb. 6.18 we must lean on Christ by Faith Cant. 8.5 and lean hard lean strongly on Jesus Christ we must put the very stress of our Souls on Jesus Christ and not trust partly on our selves and partly on Christ As in the Old Testament Men stretched out the hand of Faith and laid their Sins on the Head of the Sacrifice as a Type and on Christ in Truth So we must now stretch out the hand of Faith to Christ come and receive Righteousness from him Rom. 5.17 We have that Phrase of coming into the Righteousness of God Psal 69.27 This may be farther cleared by that expression Heb. 12.24 Ye are come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament and to the Blood of Sprinkling By coming unto Christ and his Blood we come into his Righteousness we come into it as our Garment we put on Christ we are clothed with the Sun Revel 12.1 We come into this Righteousness as into our Castle Fortress City of Refuge wherein we are secure from the Lash of Conscience the Accusations of Satan the Threatnings and Curse of the Law God will not come into Judgment as an Accuser as a Witness against us Psal 143.2 Come not into Judgment with thy Servant Lord. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Do not come Ne Venias as Pagnine renders Lord come not into Judgment with me do not bring any Charge or Accusation against me God will not come into Judgment as a Plaintiff against those that are come into the Righteousness of Christ These are passed from Death to Life and shall never come into Condemnation John 5.24 When we are dismaid by looking down on and into our selves when we are full of Confusion by reason of the Deformity Filth Nakedness and Diseases of our Souls when we know not what to do and are ready to Despair Sink and be Over-whelmed then Christ Graciously calls us to look off from our selves to him for Righteousness and Salvation This is the will of the Father that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him may have Everlasting Life John 6.40 It is this sight of Christ and his Righteousness that revives us when our hearts were dying within us If we fix the eye of Faith on Christ God himself will fix his eye on Christ our High-Priest for our comfort and advantage The High-Priest did bear this Inscription in a Plate of Gold on his Forehead Holiness to the Lord Exod. 28.36 37 38. God doth now look on the Face and Forehead of our High-Priest who is now near to him always before him he beholds him as perfectly Holy and Devoted to God for us John 17.19 For their sakes I sanctifie my self So the eye of a Believing Man and of a Righteous God do meet on Christ Believers Feel and Run to Christ Isa 55.5 Nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee As the Man-slayer was to flee to the City of Refuge and stand in the entry of the Gate of it and there declare his Cause and claim the Priviledge and Benefit of the City of Refuge Then the Elders of the City having heard his Case were to take him in and to give him a Place that he might dwel among them Josh 20.4 So an enlightned awakened humbled Sinner being sensible of his danger flies to Jesus Christ gets to the Gates of this Blessed City of Refuge there pleads his Cause God's Invitations Offers and Promises and claims the Benefit of the City of Refuge And will not Christ receive and take such into him as Noah stretched out his hand and plucked the Dove into him into the Ark Gen. 8.9 God provided by his Law that if a Servant did fly from a hard Master those that received and entertained him should not restore him again to his severe Master Deut. 23.15 Even so Convinced Broken-hearted Sinners do fly from the Law as a hard Master It was given at Horeb this is derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying Drought or Dryness it gives no Water of Grace Comfort or Refreshment It was delivered in Sinai which is derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seneh signifying a Bramble or Brier For the Law Scratches Wounds Gores us by its Terrible Threatnings Surely those that fly from this hard Master to Christ shall not be restored to or put under the Covenant of Works again Those that receive the Peace-maker shall also receive the Atonement But the main Influence that Faith hath on our Justification is as it joyns us to and interests us in Christ By Faith we joyn our selves to Christ Zech. 2. xi Jer. 50.5 and Christ dwells in our hearts by Faith Ephes 3.17 But how doth Faith act towards Christ Answ 1.
Kingdom Christ's Testament doth make both Children and Heires 1. Saints have their new nature from God's Gracious Covenant so they are born of the Covenant that promises a new Heart and Spirit Ezek. 36.26 and on this account are said to be the Children of the promise Rom. 9.8 And they have the Eternal Inheritance from the same gracious Covenant and so are stiled the Heires of promise Heb. 6 17.11 We cannot obtain a blessing by our own Righteousness and Works but by the Sacrifice and Death of Jesus Christ Levit. 9.22 23. This Text of Scripture is observable when Aaron had offered Sacrifice then he was to Bless the people in the Name of the Lord the form of Blessing is expressed Numb 6.24 25 26. The Lord make his Face to shine the Lord lift up the light of his Countenance upon thee When Christ was Sacrificed God hid his Face from him and did forsake him Psal 22.1 Christ's Sufferings purchased and procured this Blessing for us That God's Face may shine on us and the light of his Countenance may be lifted up upon us Jesus Christ bare the Curse Galat. 3.13 He was made a Curse that the Blessing of Abraham might come on us Gentiles Galat. 3.14 God promised to Abraham That in his seed all the Nations of the Earth should be Blessed Gen. 22.18 Christ was the Seed meant and intended Galat. 3.8 There could be no Blessing without Redemption from the Curse and we could not be Redeemed from the Curse if Jesus Christ did not endure it There are blemishes and defects in our best Works and they deserve a Curse and therefore cannot earn and merit a Blessing but we must seek it in Christ they that are of Faith are Blessed with Faithful Abraham Gal. 3.9 It is not said they are Blessed with working Abraham but with Faithful believing Abraham Abraham himself did not get the Blessing by Working but by believing He did not find that in his own Heart or Life that would warrant him to Glory in himself before God The same way that Abraham got the Blessing all his believing seed must attain it Object But here it may be Objected Is it not said Psal 112.1 Blessed is the man that Feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandments and Psal 119.1 2. Blessed are the undefiled in the way that walk in the Law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his Testimonies and seek him with their whole heart Answ No man since the Fall did ever earn a Blessing by his obedience to the Works of the Law therefore Calvin excellently observes Rom. 32. ver 1 2. that all such passages are grounded on the Blessing we have by the free and full forgiveness of our Sins Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is the man whose Transgression is forgiven whose Sin is covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord Imputeth not Iniquity Paul asserts that David describeth the Blessedness of the Man to whom the Lord imputeth Righteousness without Works saying Blessed are they whose Iniquities are forgiven Rom. 4.6 7. No man is blessed for any Righteousness or works of his own but as the person is a Believer in Christ and freely Justified by Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 3.24 Fearing God walking in his Law keeping his Testimonies are sweet Indications and Comfortable Characters who the persons are that are Blessed But it is the Forgiveness of Sin that is the true cause of our Blessedness The Mercies that God bestows are not conferred by our Covenant as if we had earned and merited them but by his Covenant as the Fruits of his meer and pure Grace Observe well this distinction which God makes between our Covenant which is a Covenant of Works and his Covenant that is a Covenant of Grace and that Good things are given by his Covenant but not bestow'd by our Covenant Weigh well the Importance of this Scripture Ezek. 16.61 62. 12. We enter into Rest by Faith in Christ and not by our own Works Heb. 4.3 We that have believed do enter into rest It is not said We that have wrought Righteousness do enter into Rest It was the Speech of Fisher Bishop of Rochester Fides Faeta Justificat sed ante partum * Treat of Justiffcation Faith that is impregnated with Good Works doth Justifie but yet before it brings them forth yet Faith doth not Justifie as it is adapted fitted or disposed to bring forth Good Works but as it respects Christ eyes his Righteousness and Obedience The Faith big with Good Works doth Justifie but not because it is so or as it is such but by virtue of its respect to Christ and the Free Promise Noah by Faith entred into the Ark and rested there it had no Rudder or Helm for him to handle and manage no Sailes for him to trim no Rigging for him to look after he did nothing to Stear or Sail the Ark up and down but he sweetly rested by Faith in the Ark He believed God would Stear and Guide it that it should not be broken dashed to pieces sink or miscarry Noah in this Temporal deliverance from the Flood saw and apprehended an Eternal Salvation from the Flood of Divine Vengeance in and by Christ the true Ark of Salvation and that blessed rest and security that is attained by Faith in him Hence the Apostle saith That Noah became Heir of the Righteousness that is by Faith Heb. 11.7 he did believe that by the Righteousness and Obedience of the Messiah to come as an Ark he should be saved from the Wrath to come This is much to be observed that the Sabbath Instituted in Paradise was the Seventh in order after Six Working days and was suited to Man's State of Innocency and did most properly belong to the Covenant of Works that Promiseth a Blessed Life and Rest after perfect Works of Righteousness wrought by us Rom. 10.5 The man that doth those things shall live by them But the Christian Sabbath is the First Day of the Week before our Six Working days and therefore is suited and fitted to the New Covenant that Promiseth a Rest to the Consciences of them that believe before uhey do Works of Righteousness Those that are Justified by Faith have peace with God through Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 Calvin doth think that God pointed at this in such a severe and rigid injunction of the Sabbath He that would not have us to be weary in well-doing Galat. 6.9 yet commands us to cease from our own works Nonne eo ipso pronuntiat omnia oper a nostra mala esse And Isaiah teaching us that the Sabbath is violated Quando invenitur nostra voluntas Isa 58.13 When we find our own will and pleasure doth shew a necessity of ceasing from our own Wills and Works in our Justification Calvin thus Discourses in the 1st and 6th Book against Pighius concerning Free-will we are Justified not by shewing our Good Works but by our Evil Works being hid and covered
of the World then the power of Christ is spread as a Tent over us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 12.9 Christ the Captain of our Salvation can be present with and mighty in all his Soldiers and ride in triumph through the World on poor Worms He that hath wounded the Head of the Old Serpent and broke the strength of Satan is able to foil all his scatter'd Forces that yet remain Rev. 6.2 He rideth forth Conquering and to Conquer and turneth the Battel even to the Gates of Hell Isa 28.6 Christ the true David doth succour his People out of the Heavenly City 2 Sam. 18.3 and send to his Fighting Soldiers the Supplies of his Spirit Phil. 1.19 8thly Christ is alive and lives for evermore Rev. 1.18 And Christ doth not live idly but to make intercession for all that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 He lives to execute his Testament sprinkle his Blood and apply his Redemption Paul reasoneth thus Rom. 5.10 If we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son much more shall we be saved by his Life Christ hath gone through with the most hard difficult and painful part of his work he gave his Life a Ransom he poured out his Soul unto the Death and will he neglect or omit the easiest part of his work He may live and save us he needs not to bleed again to go forth into any more Storms or to be set up as a Mark of God he may sit in his Throne he may wear his glittering Crown and reign in his Glory and do al the rest that is requisite to accomplish and compleat our Salvation Because Christ liveth his People shall live also John 14.19 Christ liveth and therefore his Interest shall not die in the World Our Redeemer liveth to quicken our Spirits Job 19.25 26. Now by his Spirit to receive our departing Souls and to revive our dead Bodies Christ is alive to woo his Spouse Cant. 8.8 and marry her Romans 7.4 to assault and subdue his Enemies Isa 42.13 14. Rev. 6.2 I shall come now to the use of the Doctrine Vse 1. Shall Men be most eminently saved in Christ's Days then we may be inform'd of the wonderful Mercy of God of the admirable Grace of Christ that we have such days of the Messiah The days due to Sinners are days of Punishment days of Vengeance Luke 21.22 A day of Evil a day of Destruction is properly called a Sinners day Psal 37.13 The Lord shall laugh at him for he seeth that his Day is coming Ezek. 21.25 And thou Prophane Prince of Israel whose day is come when Iniquity shall have an end By these Passages of Scripture we may see what days Sinners deserve and what days they might have looked for If God had dealt with the World according to the rigour of his Justice the Threatnings and Curse of his Law there would have been no other days but the days of the first Adam In his days Sin reigns unto Death and Death reigns Rom. 5.14.21 How terrible would it have been if there had been no other days but days for Sin and Death to Reign in It is through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we have an Accepted time and a day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Otherwise Men would do nothing else but sow the Seeds of Woe here and reap a full Harvest of Misery hereafter They would sin in this World and suffer in the World to come they would walk contrary to God in time and God would walk contrary to them to Eternity Vse 2. If Sinners are saved most eminently in Christ's Days O then examine your selves whether Christ's Salvation be applied to you whether God doth cloth you with the Garments of Salvation Isa 61.10 I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord that hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation Have you obtained the Salvation that is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2.10 Try your selves by proposing to your own Souls these following Questions 1. Were your Eyes ever opened liberty of sight makes way for liberty of Soul the opening of Mens Eyes is the first step that Christ takes towards their Salvation Isa 42.7 He is appointed to open the Blind Eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in darkness out of the Prison-house As those Jews that were born in Babylon if they were not better inform'd would account Chaldea to be the Native Country of their Fathers and that they had always dwelt there and so be contented to stay in the Land of their Captivity They therefore needed to have their Eyes opened that they might know that Chaldea and the other Countries under the Babylonish Empire were the Land of their Captivity That God in wrath had slung them out into this strange Country Jer. 10.16 That their sins had driven them hither and scattered them among their Enemies Even so Sinners need to have their Eyes opened that they may know whose they are and where they are Men do not acknowledge and consider that they are under the Law of Sin the power of Satan and the wrath of God Sinners do not know themselves to be Condemned Men and Women shut up under a Sentence of Death and reserved to the Day of Wrath and Execution Job 21.30 Men are as careless and unconcerned as if they had not degenerated and fallen from God as if their Natures were not corrupted and depraved as if Mankind never knew a better state but were always as vitious loose and wicked as now they are Could Sinners be so quiet yea be so merry and jovial as they are if they knew they were God's Prisoners and that the Day of Judgment and Vengeance was at hand Consider therefore how it is with you did God ever open your Eyes and let in Light into your dark Prison Did you ever feel the Chains of Guilt that are about you the burden of Iniquity that is upon you Have you ever applied the Threatnings and Curse of the Law to your own Souls and so have in the bitterness of your Souls cried out that you are undone None are fit to be Christ's Patients but such as are broken in Heart or are capable of Christ's Comforts if they be not first Mourners in Zion Isa 61.1.2 The Prodigal came to himself and was sensible of his Misery before he took a Resolution that he would arise and come to his Father Luke 25.17.18 Did you ever see your worst and most dangerous Enemies to be within you Have you been made sensible of your vain Minds hard and whorish Hearts and carnal Affections 2. Were you ever effectually called 2 Tim. 1.9 He hath saved and called as with an holy Calling Hath God called you so as to save you from your unbelief and impenitency Hath God spoken to you with a strong hand Isa 8.11 Hath he laid the hand of his Power on your Hearts The Angels spake to Lot with a strong hand they did not only exhort him to hasten
Have you Faith of God's working Col. 2.12 Hope of God's begetting 1 Pet. 1.3 Love of God's kindling 2 Thes 3.5 Deut. 30.6 Have you Evidence that you are redeemed that is bought again 1 Cor. 6.20 in that your Captivity is turned and that you are brought again Isa 52.8 Hath God saved you 2 Tim. 1.9 Is God's Salvation in a considerable degree communicated to you and executed in you God's Gifts and Calling are without Repentance Rom. 11.29 Those that God hath begun to save in Time he will not destroy to Eternity Several SERMONS ON Jer. XXIII 6. And this is his Namewhereby he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness IN the former part of the Verse we are informed what the Messiah should do that in his Days Judah should be saved and Israel should dwell safely In the latter Words we are instructed how he should effect this This is the Name whereby he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness Salvation and Righteousness are often joyned together in the Scripture Zech. 9.9 He is Just and having Salvation My Righteousness is near my Salvation is gone forth Isa 51.5 I bring near my Righteousness it shall not be far off and my Salvation shall not tarry Isa 56.13 Paul saith the Gospel is the power of God to Salvation because in it the Righteousness of God is Revealed 1 Rom. 16 17. The Gospel could not offer and promise Salvation if it did not reveal Righteousness God will not exalt Mercy and debase and wrong Justice God will save in a way becoming of himself and that shall eminently redound to his Glory as he will magnify Grace so he will exalt Justice as Love shall shine and Grace reign so God's Holiness shall be crowned his Law magnified the truth of his Threatning be demonstrated He that is the greatest instance and gift of God's Love shall also be the most Terrible Example of his Revenging Justice and Severity In the Words we may observe 1. That a Name should be given to and put on the Messiah This is the Name whereby he shall be called 2. What this Name is he shall be called Jehovah our Righteousness 1. This is intimated that a Name should be given to the Messiah God delights in the Scripture to give several Names to the Messiah and that 1. To describe and set forth the greatness of his Person Isa 7.14 A Virgin shall conceive and bare a Son and shall call his Name Immanuel which signifies God with us God and Man were at the greatest distance and enmity with each other What a wonderful thing then is expressed in this Name that God is with us in our Nature made Man and manifested in our Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 He thus came down to us to raise us up to himself He apprehended our Nature Heb. 2.16 that he might apprehend our Persons Phil. 3.12 and espouse them to himself Hos 2.19 20. There is a wonderful Marriage of the Divine and Humane Nature in one Person that the Son of God and Believers might be joined together in one Body Eph. 5.23.29 30. An other Name of the Messiah is mentioned Isa 9.6 Vnto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given he shall be called the Mighty God the Everlasting Father Here weak Flesh and the mighty God Time and Eternity an Infant of Days and the Ancient of Days a Child lately born and the Everlasting Father meet in one Person Though the Humane Nature did cloud and eclipse yet it did not abolish or extinguish the Majesty and glory of the Divine Nature 2. God gives the Messiah a Name that points at and sets out his Office He shall be called the wonderful Counsellor the Prince of Peace Surely he is a most excellent and wonderful Counsellor that can direct and advise how Enemies may be reconciled Prisoners be enlarged Captives be released languishing dying Souls may be healed those that are lost and entangled in a woful Wilderness may get into the right way and return into the Favour and Family of God and Strangers may be adopted by and related to God and he is an Admirable Prince that can speak Peace to Enemies and give Happiness to the Miserable that shall quiet and satisfy their Souls 3. God gives Christ a Name that signifies his new Relation to a Spiritual Seed He shall be called the Everlasting Father Isa 9.6 If we consider Christ upwards so he is the Everlasting Son but if we meditate on him downwards so he is the Everlasting Father He propagates his new Nature he raises up an Holy Off-spring he begets Sons and Daughters to God as a Second Adam because the new Nature shall never perish his Spiritual Life shall never be extinguished Christ may well be stiled an Everlasting Father the Seed of the new Creature is incorruptible it lives and abides for ever in that holy Nature that springs from it 1 Pet. 1.23 4. In the Words of the Text it is said that the Branch raised up to David should be called Jehovah our Righteousness A Branch should be joined to Jehovah and so should work out Righteousness for us and derive it to us This is indeed a wonderful Name given to the Messiah and Three things are implied in it 1. That our Righteousness is not in our selves but without us it is a Robe put upon us Isa 1.10 He hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness The Righteousness of God is said to be upon all them that believe not in them Rom. 3.22 How false then is that Name that Medina on Thomas Aquinas in Prim. Secund. Quest 113. Artic. 21. by the way of Contempt doth put on the Lutherans extrinsicarii Haeretici that is Hereticks that assert an outward Righteousness imputed for Justification 2. This Text proves and demonstrates that Christ is our Righteousness that his Obedience is the Matter of our Righteousness and his Attoning Sacrifice the Meritorious Cause of our Justification God accepts us in Christ the well-beloved Ephes 1.6 We are blessed in him that endured the Curse and are forgiven for his sake who was made Sin Ephes 4. last The first Adam was the efficient cause of our Sin but the second Adam is the formal cause of our Righteousness 3. This truth the Text doth further declare and hold out that this Righteousness of Jehovah must be made ours we must be interested in it we must be invested with it else Jehovah cannot be stiled our Righteousness And how can this be but by a Donation and Imputation of this Righteousness to us God that made Christ Sin for us 2 Cor. 5.21 doth also make him Righteousness to us 1 Cor. 1.30 We must believe into Christ and so believe unto Righteousness How sweetly do those Phrases answer he that believes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on and into the Son John 3. last with his Heart he believes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 10.10 unto or into Righteousness I shall a little further consider of insist on and explain this Name
said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Righteousness of God so the word might be render'd and this Phrase the Righteousness of God seems to be taken and be proved from my Text Jehovah our Righteousness 2. Faith is said to be in the Blood of Christ Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth for a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood All the Garments of Christ are said to smell of Myrrh Aloes and Cassia Psal 45.7 As Christ's Garments are expounded to be his Graces so they may also be interpreted to be the Actions of Christ that flow from those Graces Garments signifie Actions so it is said they washed their Robes white in the Blood of the the Lamb Rev. 7.14 So these Garments point out the Active Obedience of Jesus Christ It is said also That Christ gave himself an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to God Ephes 5.2 Zanchy on the place observes the Emphasis of the Apostles words that Christ is said to be first an Offering and then a Sacrifice There were Offerings of First-fruits and Fine Flower and of such things as had not life but living creatures were offered up in Sacrifice and then their blood was spilt and their lives taken away Christ's being an Offering may point out the Holiness of Christ's Life and his being a Sacrifice did signifie his Sufferings and his Death How satisfactory and refreshing is it to us to Read and Hear of the sweet smelling Garments of Christ and the sweet smelling Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus It was foretold of our Lord Jesus Christ that his Ears both his Ears should be opened Psal 40.6 one Ear was opened as he was Man to hear and obey the Commands of the Moral Law and Christ's other Ear was opened to listen to and comply with that peculiar Commandment that was given to him As Mediator to lay down his Life Joh. 10.18 Innocent Man owed but a single debt to God and that was Obedience to his Law but Fallen and Guilty Man is bound to God in a double Bond. He owes God Obedience as he is a Creature and he owes God Glory to be raised out of his Sufferings Misery and Torments as he is a Guilty Creature Therefore Sins are called Debts Matth. 6.12 because the Transgressors of the Law for Non-payment of the Debt of Obedience contract another and New Debt and that is an Obligation to endure Punishment As they wrong and rob God by their sins of Omission and Commission so they are bound to make Restitution to God by their eternal Sufferings and Torments 1. Jesus Christ was to obey the Commands of the Law Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do Jesus Christ was to Glorifie God in the Nature of a Creature in the Form of a Servant he was to be a perfect Pattern of Piety and an example of Righteousness on Earth where there had not been a full and exact Instance of Righteousness and Obedience fince the Fall Eccles 7.20 There is not a just Man on earth that lives and sins not The Earth hath been full of violence and wickedness before God Gen. 6.13 How much was it then for the Glory of God and the Honour of his Law that there should be a Man Perfectly Holy and Just on Earth A Virgin-Soul among Whores and Adulteresses A Diligent Servant among Drones and Lazy Loiterers A Loyal Subject among Rebels and Enemies How little Honour had been given to the Law if only the Penalty of it had been inflicted and its Curse been executed but the Commands of it had never been obeyed and fulfilled Is it for the Credit or Glory of an Earthly Prince to have no Obedience paid to his Laws but only the Penalties annexed to them to take hold of and be executed on all that are under his Jurisdiction And shall God's Laws never be obeyed Shall the Penalties of them only be executed As a Foreign Prince if he Travels through the Territories and Dominions of another King doth owe him a Topical Allegiance and must needs be subject to his Laws so the Son of God though he was a Rightful and a Glorious King yet Travelling through the Dominions of his Father in the nature of a Creature to Redeem Captives must needs be subject to the Laws that God gave to all Mankind The High-Priest under the Old Testament was an eminent Type of Christ he was bound to wear a Plate of Gold joyned to his Mitre on his Forehead Exod. 25.36 37 38. This did intimate and teach us that the true substantial High-Priest was to be Perfectly holy and absolutely devoted to God Tho' God may spy Faults and observe Blemishes and Spots in the best of Saints yet he may look to the Forehead of Jesus our Great High-Priest and there read nothing but Holiness to the Lord. The Law of God was perfectly impressed on Christ's Heart and fully expressed in his Life He loved God to the Height of utmost Perfection He loved Men even his own that were in the World with the most pure ardent and intense Love John 13.1 he was so intent so fixed in Exalting and Magnifying God that when his Soul was troubled in the prospect of his Sufferings yet he Pray'd thus Father glorifie thy own Name John 12.27 28 29. As if he should say However I am clouded and eclipsed whatever bitter Cup I drink whatever heavy Burden I bear yet Father glorifie thy own Name As the First Adam ruined us by his Self-seeking so the Second Adam raised and Recovered us by his Self-denyal and Christ's Love to his People was stronger than Death He leaped over Mountains of Difficulties and brake through Hosts of Enemies and Sufferings to Redeem them He did forget himself for a time that he might remember us to eternity He veiled his Glory and Majesty to manifest his Love to us We are all as an unclean thing Isa 64.6 but Jesus Christ is that Holy Thing that was Born of the Virgin Mary Luk. 1.35 he came into this World without a Foreskin on his Heart and therefore was that Holy Seed that was Figured and Typified by Circumcision Phil. 3.3 And we may Glory in him on this account The Fountain was pure from his Conception and Birth and the Stream that did flow from it was ever after clear and clean It was requisite that Christ should be Holiness to God that he might be made Righteousness to us 2. Christ's Sufferings may well be accounted a part of his Righteousness For 1. They were the Fulfilling of the Law given to him as Mediator that he should make his Soul an Offering for Sin and pour it out to the death Isa 53.10 12. Joh. 10.18 As the Moral Law belonged to Christ as a Man he could not possess our Humane Nature in Purity or order his Conversation with Beauty without submission to it so the Ceremonial Law belonged to him as a Jew and he was obliged to die as
Cut off for our Sins that as a Surety he took on himself though he was a Green Flourishing Fruit-bearing-Tree yet all our Barrenness was charged all our Corrupt Fruits were hanged on the Tree of Life by Imputation therefore a Fire was kindled against him he was hewed down and cut off from the Land of the Living Isa 53.8 Christ's submitting to Circumcision Luke 2.21 and to Baptisme Matth. 3.13 16. that were Ordinances proper and peculiar to Sinners did shew that he took our Sins on him that we in Baptisme might have our Sins put away and his Righteousness put on us 3. Christ's Sufferings may well be called and accounted a part of his Righteousness because in bearing his Sufferings he admirably exercised his Graces and was most active in fulfilling the Law to the utmost height and pitch of Perfection Indeed mere Innocence is not Rewardable but as it is accompanied and attended with an Active Obedience and Righteousness He submitted to the Will of his Father Matth. 26.42 If this Cup may not pass from me except I drink it thy will be done He evidenced declared and demonstrated to the world that he loved the Father and would do what he commanded him the Threatning of Death against us was changed into a Commandment given to Christ that he should die Therefore he would go forth to offer himself to the hands of his Enemies and to meet Death John 14. last And Christ manifested wonderful Meekness and Patience towards his Enemies and expressed admirable Goodness in Praying for his Persecutors and Murtherers Luke 23.24 Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Sinners hated Christ without a cause and he loved them without a cause What astonishing kindness did Jesus Christ discover towards his Sheep in that he would lay down his Life for them John 10.11 15. Was not the love of Christ a love passing knowledge Ephes 3.18 19. Was it ever known that when the Butcher came to the Fold to fetch Sheep and Lambs to kill them that the Shepherd should offer and substitute himself in their room and to be contented to be slain himself that they might be spared Some have thought that this was a strain of Love above and beyond what the Law requires from one Neighbour towards another Men are to Love their Neighbours as themselves but Christ loved his Sheep more than himself he forgot he denied himself was swallowed up in most pure and ardent Love towards them Love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.10 So that Christ was highly Righteous and perfectly conformed to the Law in all his Sufferings and Sorrows Thus Jesus Christ did Answer the Character that the Church of Old gave of him that he was white and ruddy the chiefest amongst ten thousand Cant. 5.10 Jesus Christ was White in his Active and Ruddy in his Passive Obedience and so did at once commend us to God's Holiness and secure us from his Wrath and Justice As the First Adam in Transgressing the Positive Law God gave him not to eat of the Forbidden Fruit did violate the whole Moral Law he was unjust to God injurious to himself and cruel to all his Posterity whom he betrayed defiled and ruined So the Second Adam in Obeying a Positive Law to Die Fulfilled the whole Moral Law in perfect Love to God and Man and absolute Denial of Himself 2. The Second thing I am to insist on is to Evidence That Jehovah the Son of God is our Righteousness First No other but he that was God Manifested in the Flesh could now in this degenerate state of Fallen Man satisfie and fulfil the Commands of the Law The word of God is very pure Psal 119.140 The Command is exceeding broad Psal 119.96 The Law is very Spiritual Rom. 7.14 There is a wonderful depth in the Law of God it goeth deeper than the actual consent of the Will Others of the Ten Commandments as the Fifth Sixth Seventh and Eighth do forbid heart-evils for the Law is Spiritual It is the Law of an Omniscient heart-searching Lawgiver and therefore it is not only given to the Lip and Life but reaches and extends to the Soul But the Tenth Commandment is yet more deep and spiritual it forbiddeth the First buddings and stirrings of Sin in the Soul whereby the Will is Tempted by it self and sollicited to consent and comply These are the Neighings of a Carnal Heart after fleshly objects Jer. 13.27 I have seen thy Adulteries and thy Neighings These Neighings of an unclean heart do tend to Fornication and Adultery In these First Covetings and Lustings the Old Man doth as it were cast forth its seed into the Womb of the Heart but Lust doth not conceive in the Language of James James 1.14 15. till this Seed is received cherished and embraced in the Womb of the Will till it consents and yields to a Temptation Who now of the best of the Sons of Men can stand before this holy and perfect Law of God Dare the best of Saints in the World go to a Trial before God on the account of their Works Did not David himself decline such a Trial Did he not wave and deprecate it Psal 143.23 Enter not into judgment with thy Servant For in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified But this is that excellency and glory of Christ that he was a Spiritual Beauty among deformed Ethiopians an upright Soul among crooked Creatures one that did dwell in the Torrid Zone of Love when the Hearts of others were Congealed and Frozen towards God He had the highest flame of Love and not the least spark of Lust But the obedience of no others is of sufficient purity according to the Covenant of Works to be Tried at God's Touchstone or of Weight enough to hold in God's Ballance But Christ's Obedience for Purity and Weight will be approved before the Tribunal of God The Eye of Omnisciency can see no fault in it the Holiness of God is not dissatisfied with it but highly approves of it and delights in it As no meer Creature can satisfie for the Guilt of Sin and so prevent Eternal Death so the obedience of no mere Creature can Merit Eternal Life The Command of the Law must be fulfilled as well as the Curse executed there must be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Righteousness that there may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Justification 2. No other but Jehovah could bear the Weight of Millions of Sins and endure sufficient Punishment for them The People of Israel were a Nation of heavy Iniquity Isa 1.4 Laden with Transgressions The Earth on which they did dwell is said to Reel and stagger like a Drunken Man and the Transgression of it that is of the Inhabitants of it is said to be heavy on it Isa 24.20 And if there was Heaviness of Iniquity in one People What was there in the Whole World No other Neck could bear such a Weighty Yoke of Punishment for Transgressions but
greatest Evils so he Swears again to assure us of the greatest good By my self have I Sworn saith God to Abraham that in Blessing I will Bless thee Heb. 6.13 14. Those to whom Christ is made Righteousness do also receive the Holy Spirit The clean Water of Christ's Blood and the Spirit do go together Ezek. 36.25.27 Tit. 3.5 1 Cor. 6.11 Psal 51.12 Some call the gift of the Spirit Executive Justification they mean that God executes the Sentence of Justification by bestowing the Spirit to break off our Chaines burn up our Dross purge away our Filth and make us free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 Though the Law of Sin be a strong and powerful Law to inslave us yet the Law of the Spirit of Life is more mighty to set us free as Jesus Christ by his Blood redeems us to be the Temple of God so by his Spirit he comes into his Temple takes Possession of it and fills it with his Glory As we live by the Sentence of Justification so Christ lives in us by the Spirit of Sanctification Gal. 2.20 The Spirit is given as a Tree of Life and all Graces are the Fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 The Holy Ghost is given as the well of all Living Waters and Spritual streames John 4.14 John 7.37 38 39. By Faith we drink in the very Well it self and therefore Believers can never be totally dry He that Believeth on me shall never thirst John 6.35 Observe and compare the words of God the Father Zech. 13.7 with the words of the Church Cant. 4. last As God said once Awake O Sword against my Shepherd against the Man that is my Fellow smite the Shepherd so the Church now saith daily Awake O North wind and blow O South wind upon my Garden that the Spices of it may flow forth Because the Sword of Justice hath awaked terribly against Christ the Spirit may sweetly awake and blow on our Soules excite quicken and draw forth Grace into act and exercise Christ gives his people the Glory that the Father gave him John 17.22 Musculus understands this Glory to be the gift of the Holy Ghost The Spirit was on Christ Isa 61.1 and given to him John 3.34 And Christ communicates this glorious Spirit to his Members as the soul of the whole mystical body and this makes them one with the Father and the Son and perfects them in one because they participate of the Spirit that proceeds from the Father and the Son and have by it a new divine Nature and do aim at design and seek the Glory of the Father and the Son as they do design their own Glory 6. The Prayers of Justified persons are acceptable to and powerful with God for the Spirit that testifies God's Grace to Believers doth make Intercessions in them As a Spirit of Grace it gives Encouragement to Prayer as a Spirit of Supplication it gives assistance in Prayer Zeck 12.10 Rom. 8.26 This is the Fire from Heaven that warms our cold hearts and kindles all our Sacrifices that they may flame upwards The Prayer of a Believer is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 James 5.16 A deep in-wrought Prayer it is not born in the lips but springs from the Soul Luther on Genesis well expresses it it is not Spuma oris sed singulus cordis The Foam of the Mouth but the Throbbing and Sighing of the Heart The Holy Ghost breaths in Holy Affections and the Soul then breaths out holy desires and expressions Saints pray as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as those that are possessed and acted mightily by the Spirit of God hence it is that they so strive and wrestle with God and their prayers are so much valued and desired by Christ Those are wonderful words Cant. 2.14 Christ saith to the Church Let me see thy face let me hear thy voice He that seeth his Father's Face above desires to see Petitioners Faces below He that hears the Songs the Hallelujahs of Angels of Saints in Heaven desires to hear the Voice the Suits of Believers on Earth And as their Prayers are desired so they are accepted The Prayer of the upright is God's delight Prov. 15.8 They Pray in Christ's powerful Name John 16.23 26. and he adds the Incense of his Merits to the Prayers of all Saints Rev. 8.3 and so takes away the Iniquity of their Holy Things The Altar had a Grate of Brass Exod. 27.4 the use of it was to separate the Earthy and Grosser part of the Sacrifice and to let the Ashes through So Christ is an Altar that hath a Grate he separates our sins our defects our weaknesses from our services yea he is the Altar on which our Offerings must be laid and that renders our Sacrifices acceptable to God Isa 60.7 It is said that the Offerings of Believers shall ascend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon Good-Will my Altar God speaks and puts this glorious Name on Christ Good-Will my Altar What an encouragement is this to Saints that are Spiritual Priests to offer Holy Sacrifices seeing they have Good-Will for their Altar God is so pleased with and delights in Christ that he calls him Good-Will my Altar 7. All the outward and Temporal Mercies of Justified Persons are heightened and sweetened to them by the Spring from whence they flow and they have a new tast He delivered me saith David because he delighted in me Psal 18.19 In love to my Soul saith Hezekiah he hath delivered me from the pit of corruption having cast all my sins behind his back Isa 38.17 Even Temporal Mercies are Glasses in which they see their Father's Face and are Stairs or Ladders by which their Hearts are raised to God Jehoshaphat had an Established Kingdom Riches and Honour in abundance And what was the fruit and effect of this his heart was lifted up in the ways of God 2 Chron. 17.5 6. Earthly Enjoyments do usually fuel Men's Lusts but they fed and inflamed Hezekiah's Love to God they are to Carnal Men Weights that press them down the Prosperity of Fools doth destroy them Prov. 1.32 but through Grace they are Wings to raise Saints Souls to God Believers enjoy their outward Mercies by a Spiritual Right they have them by Promise Heb. 11.9 Canaan was the Land of Promise and Abraham was Heir to it by the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.13 Sacrifices were slain that Typified Christ and then God entred into a Covenant with Abraham gave and assured Canaan to him Gen. 15.8 9 10 17 18. Believers have a Right to Earthly things by God's Promise and Christ's Death who is the Heir of all things Heb. 1.2 Earthly things are but as Cyphers but God adds a great Figure to them to make them signifie something Gen. 17.8 I will give thee the Land of Canaan and I will be thy God they are to Believers but additional things as an over-plus cast into the Kingdom of God as the Principal Matth. 6.33 So the Country of Sihon and Og the King of
Masses may be said and Supplications made for their Souls * Dr. Addison of the Customs of the Jews in Barbary The Jews in the begining of the New Year do run into Rivers and there think to wash away their Sins if they see a fish in the water they will shake themselves and as it were endeavour to unlade their sins on the Fish that he may swim away with them On the day of Atonement the Men break the neck of a Cock and the Women of a white Hen as if those Birds should bear and expiate their Sins Some of the Jews as Buxtorf relates in his Synagoga Judaica do offer this Cock to the Devil to Bribe him that he may not Accuse them or hinder their Prayers When a Jew is sick and dying the Rabbi changes his Name and then Prays for him that if God were offended with one that did bear the first Name that yet he would be pacified towards him that now passes under a New Name as if the change of a Sick Person 's Name did make him another Person Indeed the Sinner must change his Name that he may be Pardoned but it is Christ's New Name that must be put on him that he may be Justified 1 Cor. 6.11 Yet these things do not quiet the Minds of the Jews but when they come to die they Pray to God That their Death may be the Expiation of all their Sins But how foolish is this to put their own Death in the room and place of Christ's Death Yet this doth not allay their Fears they further own that all or many of them must suffer pains in another World for Eleven or Twelve Moneths and that they need the help of their Living Friends to Pray them out of this place and pains The Bannians in the East-Indies are Baptized in the River Ganges for the cleansing away of their Sins as Mr. Lord relates in his History some do bring the Dead Bodies of their Friends ten days Journey or more to wash them in the River Ganges that they may be purified from guilt others do stand in painful postures with one Leg up others do Vow they will never eat any thing but what they find on the High-way There is a Tree in the East-Indies which the Natives do call Adam's Tree on the Boughes of it they do hang up sharp Irons much like such as our Butchers do hang dead Beasts on the Boughs of the Tree being low they leap up with their Naked Bodies against these Iron Hooks and if they do take hold of their Flesh they hang on them till the weight of their Bodies doth tear them off from these Iron Hooks this they do as they pretend to Expiate Adam's Sin in eating of the Forbidden Fruit. These things Tavernier Relates in the History of his Travels in the East-Indies The Mahometans do Fast go on Pilgrimage to Mecha to Mahomet's Tomb they draw Water out of a Well there and in the Water of it they think they Wash away all their sins Many more of such Foolish Inventions and Practices I could Instance in at what painful or costly service or suffering will an Awakened Sinner stick to pacifie God's Wrath and to be rid of the Fear of Eternal Torments But there is no other Shadow for Scorched or Rest for Weary Souls but in Jehovah our Righteousness I shall now give some Directions how Persons may be driven to seek Righteousness in Christ and partake of it through him 1. We must consider that we have to do with God We must appear before his Tribunal and be weighed in his Ballance we must not as Hypocrites only look at the Eye Judgements and Praise of Men Luke 16.15 Ye are they which justifie your selves before Men sought honour one of another John 5.44 but it is to God that you stand or fall he weigheth Spirits Prov. 16.2 He searcheth the heart and trieth the reins Jer. 17.10 Men may commend a fair Shew a Beautiful Tomb of out-side Religion when God seeth the Dead Souls and rotten hearts that is underneath Mat. 23.27 Acquaint your selves with the Holiness Purity and Justice of God God is a pure Light as he is Holy and a consuming Fire as he is a Just God He takes pleasure in Uprightness he hates Iniquity the Foolish shall not stand in his sight Evil shall not dwell with him Psal 5.45 An Hypocrite shall not come before him Job 13.16 He will not clear the Guilty Exod. 34.61.17 or Justifie the Wicked Prov. 17.15 He not only weighs the Actions 1 Sam. 23. but he also weighs the Spirits of Men Prov. 16.2 He hath Eyes that are exceeding pure Hab. 1.13 His eyes also are as a flame of Fire Revel 2.18 to espy the secret filth of Hypocrites God is Jealous of his Honour and Glory Nahum 1.2 He is a consuming fire to Impenitent Unbelieving Sinners We have to do with God are to present our selves in his sight and at his Tribunal The Righteous Judge of the World cannot be blinded will not be Bribed or Byassed Shall I count them pure with the wicked Ballances Micaah 6.11 Should I receive comfort in these corrupt Idolatrous Services Isa 57.6 God will not pervert Judgment accept or approve what Sinners would impose and obtrude upon him Will God allow a Faulty and Defective Righteousness Will he admit and impute it for a Full Perfect and Satisfactory Righteousness Will any other Righteousness but our Saviour Christ's please God's Eye weigh in his Ballance or be pleaded at his Tribunal Those that have not this Righteousness will be rejected as Reprobate Silver Jer. 6. last 2. Study the Purity Spirituality and Perfection of the Law of God The Law of the Lord is perfect Psal 19.7 The Word of God is very pure Psal 119.140 The Commandment is exceeding broad Psal 119.96 Though we may find out the utmost perfection that is in the Creature yet we cannot discover the depth and breadth of the Law of God We cannot say we have found out the utmost of Duty that the Law requires or the utmost of that Transgression and Iniquity that the Law forbids and condemns it obliges to the height of Love to God and forbids the least and lowest Lust to the prejudice of Men Matth. 22.37 39. Rom. 7.7 The first and last Commands do eminently discover the admirable purity and perfection of the Law of God Can you Answer Obey Stand before this perfect Law of God Should not the Terrible Trumpet of the Law Exod. 19.16 cause you to prize and long for to hear the sweet Trumpet of the Jubilee Levit. 25.9 The Law was not given to stop or detain us in it self but to drive us to Christ This was the Glory of the Law yet this Glory of it was Vailed and hidden from the Jews This was intimated by the Vail on Moses his Face The Jews did not see God's end in giving the Law 2 Cor. 3.13 God did not intend to Justifie us but to Accuse and Condemn us by
Israel out of his sight and cast Judah and Jerusalem also out of his presence 2 Kings 24.20 And God removed Judah out of his sight 2 Kings 24.3 because the King and the People did evil in his sight 2 Kings 24.9 19. They were not cast out of the sight of God's Omniscient Eye but from the Eye of his gracious and Fatherly Providence 3. God will at last Rain a Hell from his Angry Face 2 Thes 1.9 Those that known not God and obey not the Gospel shall be Punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Face of the Lord the same Face shall shine a Heaven of Happiness into the Souls of the Saints and shall Frown an Hell of Misery into the Souls of the Wicked 2. If God hide his Face from our Sins Love will come up into his Face and look out at his Eyes on Believers and Saints Psal 4.6 Lord lift thou up the light of thy Countenance on us the Love that was secret and hidden in the Heart comes up into his Face and is manifested to and shed abroad in the Hearts of Believers by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 Cant. 8.10 I found Favour in his Eyes Love and Kindness sparkles in and looks out from the Eyes God looks with a pleasing Countenance on his People the Spiritual Day doth break and Dawn and the Sun of Righteousness doth Arise and Shine in the Hearts of Believers Malachy 4.2 Psa 130.5 6. and the Countenance of God is said to behold the upright Psal 41. last that is with complacency and delight he withdraweth not his Eyes from the Righteous Job 36.7 He sets his Eyes on them for good Jer. 24.6 I will set mine Eyes on them for good If Sin be not set before God's Face God may take good out of his Treasury for us and bestow it on us Hos 14.2 yea God will set us before his Face for Ever Psal 41.12 That we may still dwell in his Presence Psal 140. last and behold his Face in Righteousness Psal 17. last Psal 16. last 2. It is most desirable for God to blot out all our Iniquities for 1. It is the most dreadful Evil and Curse that can be wished for Sin not to be bloted out Psal 109.14 Let not the Iniquity of his Mother be blotted out 2. If God do not blot out Iniquitie he may by sudden Judgement and sore Vengeance blot persons out of the Land of the Living Gen. 7.4 Every Living Substance that I have made I will destroy in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will blot out Corrupt Men are Evil lines of being and it is said It repented God that he had made Man on the Earth it greived him at his Heart Gen. 6.5 Man is so cross and contrary to the very end of his Creation that God did blot out the Old World of Men by the Flood if Men are bloted out of the World in their Sins Where must they be lodged but in a miserable Eternity 3. If we consider what Sin is What a valuable Mercy is it for it to be bloted out 1. It is a mist a thinner or a thicker Cloud according to its Nature and aggravations Isa 44.22 I have blotted out as a thick Cloud thy Transgressions and as a Cloud thy Sins Sin is as a hiding Cloud it hinders the light of God's Countenance from shining on us Isa 59.2 Your Sins have hid his Face from you 2. It is as a storming Cloud Psal 11.6 The Lord will rain Fire and Brimstone on the Wicked this shall be the portion of their cup. If Men suffer here They are cast into the hand of their Transgression Job 8.4 In the Hebrew it is That God did cast Job's Children into the hand of their Transgression If their Iniquities are punished hereafter they do for them fall into the hands of God Heb. 10.31 2. Sin is a debt Matth. 6.12 Forgive us our debts These debts are recorded in the Creditor's Book God saith Behold it is written before me Isa 65.6 and it is registred also in the debter's Book Jer. 17.1 It is written it is graven that is the Sin of Judah on the Table of their Heart Sin is called a debt because the Sinner owes God Glory to be raised out of his Sufferings and Eternal Torments And it is desirable this debt should be blotted out to prevent God's arrest and our Eternal Imprisonment 3. Sin is a crime a capital crime and that which is kept safe as matter of accusation against the Sinner It is as it were sowed up in a bag Job 14.17 As the depositions of Witnesses and the confessions of Malefactors are kept safe against the Assizes and day of Trial. Yea Mens Sins are sealed up among God's Treasures Deut. 32.34 God speaks of the Israelites bitter and corrupt Fruit and then puts this question Is not this laid up in store with me Is it not scaled up among my Treasures God hath a Treasury of knowledg of all past things and Sins are sealed up among these Treasures But what a kind of capital crime is Sin I answer 1. It is Rebellion against God I have Nourished and brought up Children and they have Rebelled against me A Rebellious Subject with us a Rebellious Son among the Jews was put to Death What Homage do we owe to God our King What Obedience should we render to God our Father 2. Sin is Spiritual Whoredom and Adultery Hos 4.12 They have gone a Whoring from under their God Thou hast destroyed such as go a Whoring from thee Psal 73.27 Adultery was capital it was punished with death by the Law of God Men loath God and love the Creature 3. Sin is Robbery and Stealing Mal. 3.8 Ye have Robbed me God saith My Son give me thy Heart Prov. 23.26 But the Heart of Men goeth after their Coveteousness Ezek. 33.31 Though they are by Baptism and a Solemn Covenant devoted to God yet they Sacrilegiously alienate themselves from God Isa 24.5 They broke the Everlasting Covenant Is it not our benefit to have our Crimes blotted out 4. If Sin be not blotted out God cannot write his Laws in our Hearts Jer. 31.33 34. God promiseth to write his Laws in the Heart And why It is thus answered vers 34. For I will forgive their Iniquity and I will Remember Sin no more Forgiveness of Sin is the root of all the Promises and Covenant-Blessings 5. God cannot record any Good thoughts words or works of ours if Sin be not blotted out Mal. 3.16 A Book of Remembrance was written before him for those that feared the Lord and thought on his Name Sin doth so corrupt and stain our best Works that nothing might be recorded for our honour or advantage Nehemiah prays that God would not wipe out his good deeds Neh. 13.14 6. If Sins be not blotted out the time is coming when God's Book will be opened Revel 20.12 God will review Men's Sins look on them and