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
This Child-like zeal in Craesus dumb Son open'd his mouth when his Father was in danger to be slain Fifthly A fiducial dependence on his care and faithfulness Psa 23. 1. The Lord is my shepheard I shall not want Rom. 8. 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you This was the Child-like confidence of Job in his God Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him This dependence on the Fathers care quieted Musculus when he was forc'd to labour in the Town Ditch for his Maintenance Est deus in Coelis qui providus omnia curat Credentes nunquam deseruisse potest Mat. 6. 32. Your Heavenly Father knows you have need of all these things Sixthly Humble Submission to him Heb. 12. 9. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word notes an orderly subjection according to that order and place in which God hath set a Man that subjection that is in an Inferiour to a Superiour The same word is used of Christ Luke 2. 51. And he went down with them to Nazareth and was subject to them that is submitted himself to that place duty he owed to them as his Parents Seventhly A carefulness to please him Isa 56. 4. That chuse the things that please me to them will I give within my house a place and a Name better than of Sons and Daughters That is such will I own for my Family my Sons and Daughters that chuse the things that please me So did the Lord Jesus evidence his filial duty to his Father Joh. 8. 29. I do alway the things that please him 1 Joh. 3. 22. Eighthly An endeavour in all things imitable to resemble him 1 Pet. 1. 15. As he that called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Luke 6. 36. Be ye merciful as your Father in Heaven is merciful Mat. 5. 48. Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect that is In the grace of love to Enemies Eph. 5. 1. Be ye followers of of God as dear Children Ninthly A labouring to walk worthy of so high relation and nearness unto God 1 Thes 2. 12. That you walk would worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory Worthy of so high a Calling like the Children of a King like Gideons Brethren who all resembled the Children of a King Judges 8. 18. Your duty is to live above the Children of this World who only are wise in their generation Luke 16. 8. But be ye wise in the things of God evidencâ— your highest wisdom to be in keeping â—he Law of the Lord Deut. 4. 6. Live like them that are Adopted Heirs of a Kingdom even the Heavenly Kingdom that fadeth not away O live above the snares and fears of this world Lastly A maintaining a real Love to your Brethren and an endeavour to live peaceably with them 1 Pet. 3. 8. Love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous c. 1 Joh. 5. 1. Every one also that loves him that begetteth loveth him also that is begotten 1 Joh. 3. 11. Gen. 13. 8. Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee between my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren Chap. 45. 24. See that you fall not out by the way 2 Cor. 13. 11. VSE Thus you see what a glorious Treasure Adoption-grace is view over this Inventory Believer and tell me what thou thinkest of it Is it not a Treasure indeed which all the Gold of Ophiâ— cannot equallize Nor all the glory of the World worthy to be compared with And see all this procured by the Sweat and Blood the Obedience and Death of the Son of God and then say whether Christ be not precious indeed Look upon the Children of this World in all their Glory view their priviledges in their utmost latitude and extent and answer me whether a Believer in rags doth not far surpass them Christ speaks of Solomon that he in all his Glory was not to be compared to one Lilly in the Field So one Saint and Child of God infinitely excels the Great men of this World in all their Grandure and Advancements O then admire the Lord Jesus on this account also for procuring Adoption-grace 1. Quest But how may I know whether I have obtained this Adoption-grace Answ This is a point worth the enquiring into and satisfaction in so fundamental a point is very necessary But 't is the Office of Gods Spirit to seal us up to the day of Redemption and bear witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8. 16. Men may lay down marks but 't is God must determine the Quest yet notwithstanding for thy resolution Believer consider First Such are partakers of the Divine Nature and are really Sons as well as Relatively 2 Pet. 1. 4. They have the Image of God instampt upon their Souls They have the seed of Holiness Faith Love Hope Patience and Humility in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. Rom. 8. 29. And they have received of his fulness Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. Secondly Such prize nothing in all the world like to Relation to God Ps 73. 25. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the Sons of God Thirdly Christ is exceeding precious to such in whom they are chosen and by whom this Grace comes 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious None in Heaven or Earth that they value like to Christ they account all things but dross and dung in comparison of Christs excellency Phil. 3. 8. Fourthly Such will employ their greatest care to imitate God Eph. 5. 1. 1 Joh. 3. 22. Fifthly such have a Spirit of prayer and supplication Rom. 8. 15 16. Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Not Parts not Light not the gifts of Prayer only but such a Soul hath the Spirit of Prayer very strong strains of Faith and Love run through all his Duties He hath a Spirit of boldness whereby he comes to God as to a Father O how earnest and unwearied are his breathings after God what wrestlings with God in secret hath he what pourings out of strong cries to him as Christ did in the days of his Flesh Heb. 5. 7. O the struglings O the wrestlings O the ardent breathings of such for the pardon of their sins for the mortifying of their lusts and for the reviving of their graces Now where the Spirit of Adoption is there is the state Sixthly Such are enabled to bear and profit by affliction Heb. 12. 7. If you endure chastening God dealeth with you as with Sons Lastly Such have endeared affections to the people of God 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren 2. Quest What must
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
precious Graces and Endowments in him which will much illustrate the personal Riches of Christ and be of wonderful Encouragement both to Saints and Sinners to think better of him and to hasten after a Dependance on him Now the first thing we shall treat of is the goodness of his Nature He is Goodness it self Psal 34. 8. O tast and see that the Lord is good This Psalm was penn'd by David when he was driven from Achish and was in sore danger of his Life in this Condition he seeks the Lord and found help by reason of the Goodness of God that is God in Christ indeed there is Creation-Goodness and providential-Goodness but the choicest is his Redemption-goodness that Goodness which he lets out to poor Sinners in a Mediator Thus is Jesus Christ the Gift of his best Love and is qualified and disposed to commend the infinite Goodness of God to perishing Sinners his Goodness is great Zac. 9. 17. called the Riches of his Goodness Rom. 2. 4. Now this goodness of Christ appears First In it's Extensiveness he is good to all Mans goodness is contracted and narrow its greatest Proportion reacheth but a few none but Friends Relations and such as may oblige or requite them are usually Sharers in it but the goodness of Christ is immense it reacheth to all the work of his hands Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good to all by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. He upholdeth all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. The very vilest and most unworthy Grace-abusing Soul have some kind of share in Christs Goodness he upholds his very Enemies and maintains the Being and Enjoyment of such as oppose him Secondly In it's Invincibleness all the Provocations of his Enemies cannot impede it's designed current he is resolved they shall have a share in his Mercy though they oppose their own Mercies nay all the Unkindness of his people cannot conquer it nor many Waters quench it He maketh his Sun to shine upon the good and bad Math. 5. 45. It 's strange to think how rare a portion of Mercy the wicked have in their day he that cryed Father forgive them they know not what they do cries Father spare them to see what they will be Thirdly It 's Freeness 't is not extracted but flows out of it 's own Accord Isa 65. 24. Before they call I will answer c. It hath no Creature-merit to provoke it Exek 16. 6. I said unto thee when thou wast in thy Blood live when there was no Beauty to attract it no desires to draw it forth mans Worthyness is no ground for the Communication of Christs Goodness what Lovelyness had the Ephesians to deserve it's liberal Effusions Eph. 2. 1. Fourthly 't is unwearied enduring Goodness it hath not the Shallowness of a slender Vessel which is easily emptyed but the Unfathomableness of the Ocean that can never be exhausted the vast Expences and Communications of it from the Creation of the World to it 's final Destruction will not diminish it one Iota his Anger indeed hath but a momentary Continuance Psal 30. 5. But his Goodness endureth for ever Psal 52. 1. Fifthly 'T is Communicative goodness running over flowing down and liberally diffusing it self for the good of others so 't is defined to be a Vertue by which a person of his own accord is abundantly prone to acts of Benignity Christ's Goodness is manifestative distributive and it's Dispensations are as natural as the irradiating Beams of the Sun Secondly Another excellent Disposition in Christ is his Love not only his Phylanthropy or good Will he bears to all men and the Desire he hath of their Salvation Ezek. 33. 11. But his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his special Love from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 valde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acquiesco such an ardent Affection hath the heart of Christ for a person adhering to him that it greatly acquiesces in and is fully contented with him Eph. 2. 4. Such is the Sweetness of Christ's Nature that it is full of Love God is Love 1 John 4. 16. And as the Father hath loved me so have I loved you Joh. 15. 9. Now this Love of Christ to his people is First A supreme Love the chiefest Love he hath a love of Benevolence to all Mark 10. 21. He beheld the young man and loved him but the Love he bears his own is transcendent and exceeds the Love of men and Angels Joh. 15. 13. Secondly An infinite Love Love that passeth all Knowledge exceedeth all Dimensions Eph. 3. 18. Chist's Love saith one hath Length in it because he loved his Elect from Eternity to Eternity O unmeasurable Length that hath no end his Love hath Breadth in it because not the Jews only but the Gentiles also are sharers in it 't is extended to the whole World Math. 28. 19. It hath depth in it because it brought him down into the Deeps not only of the Earth but of unconceivable Sufferings It brought him as low as the Grave yea to the very Borders of Hell Isa 53. 3. It hath height in it because it ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all in all become our Advocate there prepare us for it and it for us and at last takes us up to himself that we may behold his Glory Thirdly An eternal Love Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting Love All Creature-affections have their Beginning and End their Risings and Settings but the Love of Christ is as himself everlasting Rev. 1. 13. The transiency of his peoples Love cannot injure its permanency for where he loves he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. Fourthly An unchangeable Love it hath no Ebbings and Flowings Waxings and Waneings Risings and Fallings but is th◠same Yesterday to Day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. It knows no Alteration Addition or Diminution the Heavens shall wax old as a Garment and be changed Heb. 1. 11. 12. But Christ and his Love is invariable Mal. 3. 6. 'T is true the Manifestations of his Love is mutable he may smile to day and frown to morrow but not the nature of it the Cisterns may be dry but not the Fountain Fifthly A free Love it hath no Consideration of Creature-merit fore-seen Faith or persevering Holiness Hos 14. 4. I will heal their Back-slidings and love them freely What reason can be given that of the same Lump should be made one Vessel of Honour and another of Dishonour nay that persons of the most exquisite Abilities natural Endowments unspotted Moralities and uncontroulable Sovereignty should be rejected and left to the hardness of their Heart and the righteous Judgment of God and that others of the meanest parts inconsiderable Qualifications prodigiously vitious Lives and miserable Penury should be elected to the highest Priviledges received into the most intimate Communion and made partaker of the highest Glory Sixthly The Spring and Fountain of all that Love that is in Believers to
Blood he likewise also himself took part of the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He did freely receive their Communion-nature or did freely communicate with them in the same Nature He took on him the Seed of Abraham 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he consented to take their Nature and therein to be their Avenger and Redeemer as the word imports O Humility That this glorious Jehovah should condescend to so near a Union with man a Creature so low and of so small Account Isa 2. 22. Psal 8. 4. A Creature so poor destitute of all Good and deprived of its Beauty Strength Riches and Glory Psal 140. 12. Rev. 3. 17. A Creature so filthy and vile that it drinketh up Iniquity as water Job 15. 16. And a Creature so guilty before God of Rebellion and high Treason one that hath forfeited all his Mercies and stands bound over to the just Sentence of Death and Condemnation Secondly in his Birth He was born of mean and obscure Parents Joseph his Father was a Carpenter he descended not from persons of the highest Dignity but of low Estate as Mary her self acknowledgeth Luke 1. 48. He was born in a Stable and laid in a Manger Luke 2. 7. A contemptible place where bruit Beasts use to lodge and feed he was worshipped by the wise men of the East acknowledged to be King of the Jews and proclaimed to be Saviour of the World by an Herauldry of Angels and yet hath no bâ—tter Cradle than a Manger O unparellel'd Condescension Thirdly In his voluntary making himself of no Reputation and taking on him the Form of a Servant Phil. 2. 7. He did as it were evacuate himself and spoil himself of all his Glory as the word signifies not that he ceased to be God or to be equal with the Father but he concealed all this Glory and as it were depriv'd himself of all the Manifestations of it by uniting to himself the form of a Servant that is the humane nature in a servile State he took upon him the Form of a Servant Non dimittendo quod erat sed assumendo quod non erat says Zanchy As God he was omnipotent but this Omnipotency was hid under the weakness of his humane Nature his Omniscience veiled under a limitted Knowledge his Glory clouded under Shame his Riches concealed under Poverty his Majesty obscured under Contempt and his Immortality cloathed with Mortality Quest What Servant did Christ take on him the Form of Ans Why 1. Of the Servant of God Isa 42. 1. Behold my Servant whom I uphold Some take it passively on whom I will lean and in whom I will trust and commit my whole Work unto others actively whom I will raise up and strengthen and carry through my Work Again 2. He became the Servant of man also Matth. 20. 28. The Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister Fourthly In his being made under the Law Gal. 4. 4. When the Fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made under the Law and therefore 't is said he was a Minister of the Circumcision O! What Humility was this That the Son of God should stoop to the Paedagoge of the Law and enter on this low and legal Obedience Fifthly In his Obedience to his Parents and Submission to their low and mean Condition both for Food and Apparel Luke 2. 51. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them Sixthly In his Employment and Calling he was pleased to use till he entred upon his Ministry He continued with his Father and as one of the Fathers hath it wrought at his Father's Trade and therefore was called the Carpenter Mark 6. 3. Joseph says Mr. Lightfoot taught Christ his own Trade And Justin Martyr an ancient Writer sayes That Jesus Christ before he entred upon his Ministry made Plows and Yokes Seventhly In his Company He did not chuse the Society of Great and Noble but of mean and obscure Persons He set apart Fishermen and Publicans to be his Disciples and accompanied Publicans and Sinners which caused the Senate of Rome to vote him down from being a God because all his Disciples and followers were inconsiderable and beggarly Joh. 7. 48. Eightly In his contentment with mean things He had not a house where to lay his head Matth. 8. 20. And 't is said he was willing to be poor For being rich he made himself poor that we through his poverty might become rich 2 Cor. 8 9. He was content with any fare Barly Bread and Fishes a broyled Fish and an honey-comb Luke 24. 42. He was not as proud Persons are nice and choice of his Dâ—et but was pleased with any food Joh. 21. 5. Children have you any meat Ninthly In his submissive carriages towards God and men when the Lord bruis'd him and made his Soul an Offering for Sin we find not one hasty or undue Expression But 't is said He was led as a Sheep dumb before her Shearer Isa 53. 4 6 7. All that he said was this humble complaint O God my God why hast thou forsaken me He was rejected and despised of men and yet maintain'd an humble deportment ver 3. He was lowly to all Persons not only to the high and noble but to the poor and despicable not only to Friends but to Enemies not only abroad but at home not only among the meek and humble but among the proud and peevish not when it was admired but when despised Tenthly In his doing the meanest Services He condescended to the lowest and most contemptible actions if he might administer good Matth. 20. 28. He girded himself with a Towel as a Servant and washed his Disciples feet Joh. 13. 4 5. Lastly In his patient bearing others Sins and Sufferings Proud men cannot endure to bear another's Fault but Christ was willing to be numbred amongst Transgressors to be reckoned an Offender and to bear the Sins of many even of all that come unto him 1 Pet. 2. 24. He humbled himself to the Death Phil. 2. 8. To a shameful Death the Death of the greatest Malefactors and to the cursed Death of the Cross Secondly The Lord Jesus was not only humble whilst on Earth when he pass'd through his state of Humiliation but even now when he is in Heaven and hath entred into his Glory he detains this lowliness of heart This will be perspicuous if you consider First His Condescention to behold the things on Earth Psal 113. 5 6. One would have thought it beneath the Dignity of Christ now advanc'd above all Glory to take any notice of Sublunar Affairs but if he delighted in the habital Parts of the Earth before he came down to redeem them then much more now he hath the possession of the fruit of his Blood among them Secondly His Converses with the meanest and most despicable Persons on Earth by his Spirit Isa 57. 17. Joh. 14. 19. 21 23. Be they never so low and poor yet if
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
Jesus Christ To love and delight in them to feed and cherish them to care and provide for them to dwell and abide with them to impart and Communicate of all his fullness and sweetness to them so far as it sutes with the measure of Christ and their best good Is not this a great thing indeed that God should make over himself to the Believer O glorious Covenant Again Another great and glorious thing engaged in this Covenant is That Believers shall be to him a people a peculiar people his own people his Jewel his Treasure Mal. 3. 17. They shall be the Apple of his Eye the delight of his Soul a Seal upon his Heart A people near to God Psa 148. 14. Nearer to him than all the world besides nearer than the Angels that never sinned What a wonderful thing is this They shall be dandled on his knee Lye in his Bosom sit at his Table here and sit down on Thrones in his Kingdom to all Eternity O what a wonderful Covenant is this This should fill the Believers heart brim full of Joy and Consolation Again He hath promised in this Covenant that he will write his Law in their Hearts and put his truth in their inward parts Jer. 31. 33. They shall be his Epistle known and read of all men 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. He will lead them into all truth Joh. 16. 13. He will shew them his Covenant Psa 25. 14. He will be merciful to their unrighteousnesses and remember their sins no more Heb. 8. 12. He will put his Spirit within them and cause them to walk in his ways Ezek. 36. 27. He will give them Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withold from them Psa 84. 11. He will admit them into his special presence at all times through the blood of his Son Heb. 10. 19 20. He will give them the Spirit of Adoption to cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. They shall be Kings and Priests to God cloathed with beautiful Garments a right noble seed all glorious within and advanc'd into intimate familiarity with God in Christ by the Spirit Rev. 1. 6. They shall be kept by his mighty power through Faith to Salvation 1 Pet. 4. 5. O are not these great things indeed for poor sinful Dust and Ashes mercy-abusing Creatures O we want Hearts to contain them and Tongues to express them Again As this Covenant is made up of great things so it contains in it all good things Jer. 32. 40. All Gods Thoughts and Resolves are to do them good all his dispensations are bringing them in good Rom. 8. 28. O what a Glorious thing is this Yea they are sutable things that are wrapt up in this Covenant Such as are sutable to their Natures sutable to their Spiritual desires sutable to their wants and sutable to their advantages The new Covenant carries nothing Hetrogeneous to the well-being of the Saints O what a wonderful thing is this Great things indeed are contain'd in this new-Covenant that tends to the infinite contentment pleasure and profit of saved Souls Surely this must needs fill Believers Joys and yield them merry days here and prepare for them Rivers of pleasure to all Eternity Secondly Consider the way which God hath appointed for the attaining those glorious things and this will advance the Believers comfort Persons may come at good things in a bad way and that would abate much of their consolation But these great and glorious things contain'd in the Covenant of Grace for Believers are gâ—ven out in a most excellent way For First It is in a way of Grace If God had given them to be bought and sold to be purchased by mans merit it would not have been so sweet But they are held out freely without money without price Isa 55. 1. It is by Grace you are saved not of your selves Eph. 2. 8. There 's nothing for man to glory in about his Salvation that is of his own Saved Souls are created to their mercies They are prepared for their mercies Rom. 9. 23. And their mercies are prepar'd for them 1 Cor. 2. 9. They are also prepar'd for their Duties in order to their mercies They are Vessels of mercy fitted and prepared for mercy and glory 2 Tim. 2. 21. Secondly It is in a self-humbling and abasing way The more the Creature is abased the more Divine Glory is exalted and the more God is all in all the more is the saved Souls Glory Comfort and Joy the more the loftiness of man is brought down the more God alone is exalted Isa 2. 17. And the more God is exalted the more Believers are pleased Now God gives out these new-Covenant mercies in such a way as may most abase self for he gives them out in a way of Believing and no Grace more cuts off self than Believing All boasting and Self-glorying is cut off by Believing Rom. 3. 27. Therefore God hath ordered such a way for Souls to come at new-Covenant Mercies as may cut off all Self glorying that so their comforts may rise to the greatest measure to be full Joy and Consolation to see the Creature abased and God exalted There 's nothing but Man's cursed self can indeed prove a real Enemy to his comforts A Child of God is never more filled with the pure Wine of Consolation than when he is emptied of all the Lees and Dregs of his own vain-glory Thirdly It is in a pure and clean way that God brings saved Souls to these new-Covenant mercies It is in a way of Holiness No uncircumcised shall pass therein It is in that way of Grace and Purity without which none shall see the Lord It is the upright pure in Heart the sincere Soul shall attain to these great and glorious things The clean Hands and the clean Heart Mat. 5. 8. Psa 140. 13. Psa 24. 4. Isa 35. 8. Fourthly It is in a sweet and pleasant way A delighful way for such are all the ways of Holiness to gracious Souls sweeter than Hony â—nd the Hony-comb They take wonderful â—leasure in Holiness Psa 119. 17. Prov. 3. 17. Legal ways were hard and troublesome ways The Yoke of the Law is a heavy Yoke Act. 15. 10. But the Yoke of Christ is an easie Yoke Mat. 11. 30. O that God should confirm such a Covenant as this that contains such glorious things and all these ensured to Believers and they led to them in such a choice way surely this must needs yield wonderful comfort and advance the Believers Joy Another improvement of this grand truth is by way of Duty There 's nothing more strengthens the Believvers Bond to Obedience than the consideration of the certainty of the new-Covenant Not to mention all those arguments that might be urged to engage Redeemed Souls to all manner of Holiness from the certainty of the Covenant I shall insist only on these two First The consideration of that Infinite Love of Christ that led him through such a costly way to make good
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