on the judgment to come but in this way nothing so delightful as the presence of God and the light of his countenance gives peace and joy against which is no Law and which no death nor guilt of sin can destroy The Law is delightful death desirable and sinne it self made humbling and profitable because now hateful and abominable to us by how much the more we believe and know that thus God is love 3. All here is kid untill God reveal All here is mysterious 1 Cor. 2. 7. All James 1. 17 18. is heavenly all from above from above Creation from God under another notion 1 Cor. 2. 12 14. then as a Creator The animal or natural man cannot receive these things when told him cannot finde them out till they be told him but the spiritual only who hath received the Spirit of God and not the spirit which is of the world Nothing suits with these things of the Gospel but what is from above the born from above can alone close with these things They are too high for the unregenerate man who is the fool under the power of folly and values them as the Swine doth Pearls A double revelation of the Spirit is absolutely necessary to the discerning of the things of this salvation the one of the Holy Ghost inspiring the Prophets and Apostles to preach and write them the other of the same Holy Ghost as he is the Spirit of Wisdome and Revelation inlightning the eyes of our understandings to know them when in and by the Word they are declared to us 1 Cor. 2. 10. Ephes 1. 17 18. 4. Here is truth of salvation and here is strength of salvation truth of salvation for God is the rock his work is perfect all his wayes are judgment A God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32. 4. And strength of salvation when he giveth quietnesse who then can make trouble and when he hideth his face who then can behold him whether it be done against a Nation or against a man only Job 34. 29. 5. Here is satisfaction and assurance to the soul satisfaction for the Lord laid on his Sonne our iniquities the Lord bruised him God gave his Son nothing can satisfie the awakened soul nothing can set down the doubting soul but God who is above the soul and above the Law above sin and Satan And assurance is here it is no venture but a state in which we may glory to cast our selves on God we Ps 62. 7. 56. 10. Rom. 8. 31 33 36. may say every one for himself in God is my glory in God will I praise his Word in God we are more than Conquerors 6. Here is irreversiblenesse God cannot lie God cannot deny himself God is not as man that he should repent he hath blessed and who shall curse Tit. 1. 2. Numb 23. 8 19. His gifts and calling are without repentance he will never repent of them Rom. 11. 29. 7. God is in Christ in Christ and in him alone is God reconciling the world to 2 Cor. 5. 19. himself he is not nor can be found in the whole work of Creation reconciling a sinner and not imputing trespasses no science of the nature of the creatures no knowledge of the connexion and rational mutual chaining of the several creatures in this whole globe as so many parts of the universe having dependence one upon another and influence into each other by way of cause and effect no knowledge of the Deity that made all and rules all no principles and seeds of virtue and righteousnesse there learned and thence gathered by all the strength of the principles of reason and light in man and improved to the utmost for the framing of thoughts desires gestures words and deeds none of these nor all these nor whatever other manifestations of the infinite invisible eternal God-head as the invisible world of Angelical spirits be they Thrones Dominions Principalities or Powers none none of them have God in them reconciling a sinful man to himself not imputing trespasses In none of these nor in all these layed together hath God set forth a ransome for a sinner a price of a redemption for a soul that hath sinned a sacrifice and sin-offering or himself appeased propitious and merciful forgiving sins and receiving the sinner into his favour or any of them set forth as a propitiation or in them as on a mercy seat as upon a throne of grace no no but God is in Christ merciful reconciling pardoning accepting into a state of grace and favour Christ Jesus God hath set forth a ransome a price of redemption a sin-offering and a propitiation for our sins Christ is the Lamb of God God hath provided the Lamb for sacrifice as Abraham answered his son Gen. 22. 7 8. Isaac who said to him My Father behold the fire and the wood but where is the Lamb for a burnt-offering to whom Abraham said My son God will provide himself a Lamb for a burnt-offering Behold the Lamb of God as John the Baptist Joh. 1. 29. cryed 8. All things are of God 2 Cor. 5. 17 18. that is all things in the regeneration in the Kingdome of Christ in the businesse of Redemption in the Church of Christ as it is his Church are of God of God not in the way and the putting forth of his power and the manifestation of his glory as he is the faithful Creator but they are of God as he is the God and Father of Jesus Christ oâ—r Lord as he is pleased to set forth himself his power and glory in the way of Redemption here they are all of God and nothing of Angels or Men or of any other whatsoever Whatever is not of God in this work but of men or any other is altogether disagreeable to be rejected unprofitable and shall be rooted out 9. Here we see it makes nothing at all neither is it a pin to choose what or which of the twain befall us to be blessed of the world or to be cursed to be blessed of evil Ministers of Balaams or to be cursed to blesse our selves or to have misgiving thoughts of our selves We stand or fall to God and not to man or to our selves Heark what God saith of thee and to thee and not what man or thine own heart saith as David said of old I will hear what God the Lord Psal 85. 8. will speak 10. Here we see believing is the work that God would have of us He findes out in his own wisdome of his love and good pleasure within himself all that concerns this work it is the mystery of his will his bosome secret and counsel Ephes 1. 10. his Spirit must reveal and tell it if he speak not if he give not out his Word none can dive into it now then he testifyeth and we are to receive his testimony and to believe his Word he that believeth sets to his seal that God
work sutable to Gods dealing with us he sends his Sonne we are to receive him whom God hath sent and believing is receiving he tells and testifies this unto the world we are to believe his Word and Testimony there is no other work left Christ hath done and suffered all for us believing is the acceptable work it gives glory to God and destroyes boasting utterly this faith doth all the work by faith Christ is revealed conceived formed born lives and dwells in the heart faith makes the sinner mourn pray wait at wisdomes gates confesse Christ contemn and overcome the world deny himself exalt God lay under the creature resist the Divel live holily and heavenly and dye in hope peace and joy faith purifieth the heart worketh by love circumciseth the heart to love God makes to fear the Lord and his goodnesse frames to the life of a pilgrim and stranger on earth and enables to do and suffer and labour and grow vigorous in the midst and strength of all that opposeth like men heaven-born born from above as men heaven-aspiring as bound for and tending to the Countrey above This is the will of God the Father that sent Jesus Christ his Sonne that every one that seeth Joh. 6. 40. Joh. 17. 3. the Sonne and believeth on him should have everlasting life This is Eternal life 2. Meditate Say with thy self Lord what is sinne what is man who art thou sinne it is the mischief that which destroyes the work of Gods own hand and that which ruines the choicest creature which no holy Law can abolish which no sacrifice but that of Gods own Sonne can expiate that which condemns the Sonne of God and can never be condemned in it self and in the heart of the sinner but by such a way and as for man what is he even dust and clay at his first and best raised out of the dust of the earth a very rebellious lump a masse of rebellion a lump of rebellious clay a leprous heap a putrified sore a hateful and hating enmity proud conceited brutish foolish sinful flesh that is not subject to the Law of God nor can be unlesse mortified crucified and created again but as for Thee O Lord God what is this name of Father what is this thy Sonne what is thy Sonnes name Oh that we could tell dost thou make thine own Sonne to be sin and condemn him as a sinner and condemn sin in his flesh is this the manner and Law of thy love to the sonnes of men to sinful man what manner of love is this Now stay make up what is wanting in thy conceiving of these things in admiration in the administration of faith which makes us draw near to God which transforms us into the image of Gods love 3. Fasten thy thoughts know thy self and God in Christ more behold his glory to make thee like him in this his love Take the Gospel glasse and while in the glasse of the Law thou seest thy self to just detestation and shame of face with open face behold the glory of God in his grace in Christ his Sonne crucified in that mitrour view it freely to transform thee into the image of this his love and grace from one degree of glory to another degree of glory Let Gods love work in thee such love to thy own soul first and then such love to the souls of others their salvation dearer to thee then thy own things temporal than thy temporal life A pure love sinne the enemy and the sinner the object of thy love sinnes against thee not hindering thee seeking of their good Love that is in deed and in truth love to die for the brethren love making willing to part with lay down lay out expose to the utmost of sufferings whatever is dearest willing to be counselled appointed and sent no envy no ambition nothing of self The greatest and lowest service proves the greatest love love bearing one anothers infirmities and temptations Behold this love to the espousing of thy soul to Christ for ever and adjure all not to disquiet him who is the love Cant. 2. 7. 3. To convince 3. Suffering the Word of exhortation Consider also how this doctrine is full of conviction It convinceth of the great sinne and misery of all men yea of all Christians that refuse Jesus Christ their refusal is of the onely remedy of a poor guilty sinner it 's the refusal of the Son manifesting the greatest love 't is the refusal of God the Father coming to undone man in a way of salvation as mysterious as salvifical as full of glory as of grace the more exalted in lofty height the more it is matchlesse in lowest condescensions of free grace their refusal is a Prov. 8. 36 degree of hatred of Christ and this hatred of the Sonne is the hatred of the Father they love death they love to be damned they love to go to hell they love that which will bring them thither they passe not for that which would deliver them thence they have not the Word nor the love of the Father abiding Joh. 5. 38 42. 8. 41 42. in them for then they would receive him whom the Father hath sent and all this hath the greater aggravation in that every one so knows his sicknesse and seels his wound that he will go out for some or other and any one that comes in his own name whom God the Father never sent nor sealed him he will receive every one will have his way of Religion but this way of God he will not own 4. This doctrine also giveth ground of 4. To humble deep humiliation even to the godly who do believe yet are guilty of much neglect of three things 1. Of the riches of assurance both of full assurance of understanding to the acknowledging of this mystery of God even Col. 2. 2. of the Father and of Christ and of the full assurance of faith that they might in God all day long and night glory in the Lord Christ alone and rejoyce in him for evermore 2. Of enjoying God in Christ in all other their enjoyments 3. Of the high valuations of Jesus Christ when you hear these reproofs say Is not this a part of that love in Christ to the Elect Vessels of mercy that God condemns my sinne but yet he condemns not me he condemns my sinne that he might save me 5. Lastly This ministers strong consolation to the humbled every one that 5. To comfort desires to be found in Christ that seeks his righteousnesse that owns his own want of all righteousnesse and takes his own sins as the detestable and deadly thing to thee is this Saviour sent for thee did he come into the world to thee doth God come in every step of this way to thee belongs this grace of God bringing salvation Go over the whole of this truth and put in thy self thy name thou art the man or woman for whom God took all
of Gods appointing ordained for thee it is the righteousnesse of faith thine by believing not by working thou hast not a righteousnesse of works for thou art a sinner but here is a righteousnesse provided for a sinner believe and it is thine it is an everlasting righteousnesse live ever by believing and all thy sinnes are covered thou art clothed for ever The Sonne of God Jesus Christ is the Lord our righteousnesse 3. But man is yet a creature and though he be not under the curse and be acquitted of his sin yet is he bound to obedience and not the lesse bound but the more because God so loveth as to give Christ his own Son my bonds of obedience are greater and yet I sin daily my sin is the more aggravated because they are against such a gracious God and Father and against such a Lord Redeemer it is answered The Son of God is sent to fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law in us how may you say 1. By setting out to the world and to the heart of a sinner sinne more vile and the more condemned in and by the heart of the sinner which is one point of righteousness to hate judge sin And God most holy while most of love and most just while most of mercy now this heals us of profaness whilst it allures draws with cords of love whiles it fills with holy fear sin is hated and God loved the name of the Lord Christ is named with an heart departing with a blessed Apostasie from iniquity as love abounds just abomination of sin encreaseth with self-loathing and self-abhorrency 2. By shewing a crucified Christ which sight wounâ—s to the quick perswades to Zach. 12. 10. Joh. 12. 32 33. Joh. 3. 14 15 16. Gal. 2. 19 20. believe in God so loving as not to spare but to deliver up his own for us so faithful of his word performing in due time the greatest unlikeliest and ancientest promise he ever spake to believe in Christ so gracious to believe his promises threatnings commandments and all his words This sight crucifies us with Christ yeâ— causes to live to God and to live in and through crucifyings 3. By this faith the sinner is united to Christ not by a moral union as love uniteth but by a mystical receiving his Spirit not by a Physical or natural union but by a supernatural Christ of whom the Word the Spirit do therein testifie faith receiveth faith receiveth Christ in the Word justifieth and Christ is formed in the heart faith brings home the love of God in Christ as the Holy Ghost in the Word of the Gospel revealeth and by that Word reveals the Sonne in the sinners heart believing this faith works love this faith works by love which is the fulfilling of the Law 4. By this faith Christ is received not only as satisfying Gods justice punishing and commanding but as purchasing grace glory and all good things else yea as purchasing the blessing of the promise even the Holy Ghost who reneweth after Gal. 3. 12. the image of God and sets the heart on high in hope of the glory to come eternal life 5. Christ coming into the believer breaks down sinnes dominion and sets up his own government in the soul the Rom. 6. 14 authority of the Law-giver the spiritualnesse of the Law and his delight in all this 6. By his Spirit he creates us anew he confers all principles of obedience he comes and dwells there in the new creature he is in the seed abiding in them he enables he excites that ability he imparts to them the promises he puts life into the Word and Ordinances that they may be in power 7. By his exemplary life in holinesse both in doing and suffering he beats out before us the way of righteousnesse as our pattern which draws out imitation man being a creature prone to be led by examples and his imitating inclination in his new Creation sanctified now we would walk as Christ walked the heart is set on high and perfect patterns even on Gods holinesse and on Christs purity 8. Here is the image of God to be beheld in a mirrour in liberty and in great 1 Cor. 3. 17 18. glory the image of God lost but in Christ found again begetting in us the very same image we see and are transformed we see are assimilated made like unto it All this work is in true and powerful beginnings which tend to and are growing towards perfection and shall be perfect with perfection of degrees and fulnesse as here it is of parts and of uprightnesse SECT 2. This Doctrine is of singular use to wipe Uses 1. To vindicate the Gospel Gal. 2. 17 18 19. off all aspersion cast upon the Doctrine of justification of a sinner by faith in Jesus Christ without the works of the Law as if it were a Doctrine of loosnesse for see here Christ is not the minister of sin he destroyeth sinne in believers he by faith purifieth them to the very heart the preaching of this Gospel of forgivenesse of sinnes out of free-grace by faith in Jesus Christ destroyeth sin it makes the believer to live to God through a double death and the latter of them which this Gospel by faith puts the sinner unto is no less than crucifying yet a death to the believer most desirable because it is a crucifying of him with Christ And now this believer cannot but abhor the thought of being such a transgressor as to go about to build again that which by receiving and professing and preaching if he be a Minister this Gospel he destroyed was there ever the like effectual way of destroying sin and fulfilling the Law in a sinner as this here sin is made hateful in the heart of the sinner profanesse of heart healed the heart formerly alienated now drawn to God the old man crucified which Christ and the believer lives yet or rather Christ lives in him faith uniting to Christ and receiving Christ works by love love constraining to live to him that dyed for them the Holy Ghost is received the Son of God revealed in the soul Christs government is set up and sins dominion is broken down the heart is created anew and the sinner enabled to walk in Gods statutes to do his commandments with delight in the spiritualness and purity of the Law he would be holy as his heavenly Father is holy and pure as Christ is pure and walk he would as Christ walked by faith beholding God in Christ all of love he suffers a change from glory unto glory which shall be perfected in both body and soul in glory Was there ever such a fulfilling of the righteousness of the Law by weak sinful man as this which is wrought by faith in the Sonne of God sent into the world to take away sin by one offering and sacrifice once for ever Jesus Christ was a curse for sinne not a cloak for sinne he fulfilled
to rellish temporal things only or chiefly and to have no rellish of spiritual things the things of Jesus Christ or to savour spiritual things no otherwayes than carnally as when our Saviour spake of the gift of the Spirit that living water to the woman of Samaria she said Lord give me of this water that I may not thirst nor come to this Well to draw Job 4. 15. And when he said to the Jewes that there was bread of life of the which whosoever should eate he should never dye some cryed out Lord evermore give us this bread Good words but arising Joh. 6. 33 34. wholly from earthly apprehensions of the things of which Christ spake 7. In the reign of some particular lust Gal. 5. 19 20. or known sinne as uncleannesse covetousnesse malice pride profane swearing railing drunkennesse gluttony when we live in any manifest work of the flesh 8. In the power of carnal princâ—ples 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. reasonings and objections against faith and holinesâ—e these are strong holds these are the flesh's fortifications which while they stand undemolished the flesh reigns these be the in-works when they are taken and sleighted the flesh is dismantled and led Captive but not till then 9. In the hatred of the godly the hatred of the brethren which is the not loving Gal. 4. 29. 1 Joh. 3. 14 1. of them we cannot know them to love them but can finde them out to reproach to shoot out the mouth at them a strange perversenesse when we can quickly discern them to slander them and call them hypocrites who though they will not swear yet will lye when we cannot see who are godly Do not all offend in many things yet can privily Psal 11. 2. shoot at the upright in heart when we can see them well enough to shoot at them but we cannot see Christ in them to do them offices of love brethren Mat. 25. 43 45. we cannot love this brotherhood what is this communion of Saints well said here is flesh all over 10. In the speaking evil of the Gospel and of Christs name or way and in an heart alienated from the life of God 1 Tim. 5. 14 Eph. 4. 18. from a godly life a life in which God is seen and in which it is evident that the man hath seen and known God as he hath revealed himself in his Word he is an adversary that is glad of an occasion to speak reproachfully of Gods way he is in the power of Heathenisme whose heart cannot close with the power of godlinesse Thus far for a more general discovery of the reign of the flesh SECT 4. In particular the flesh being a close enemy and in the times of the Gospel it And in matters of Religion its reign discovered as standing with the State policy of this Queen Regent to have somewhat of God and of Christ seemingly and for a colour that she might sit fast in the chaire and reign still indeed let me shew you her in the Throne and descry the Regency of the flesh in the choicest works and means of Religion And here we lay down this for a certain truth that There is not any outward duty profession or priviledge of Gods people which the flesh will not take to and suck to her self advantage out of it she is such an hypocrite and in her wickednesse hath wit at will Therefore see her Regency 1. In prayer they that live and walk 1. In prayer Prov. 28. 9 Isa 1. 15. in sinne and disobedience to the Word of God may make many prayers but an abomination to the Lord are all their prayers and the Lord saith I will not heare when ye multiply prayers for the flesh hath the rule in them while they pray and it is thus discovered First if an Heathenish spirit act them Seven wayes Mat. 6. 5. which thinketh God is well-pleased with the work done or the cries of a natural heart with a few good and holy words with much speaking or with the number and tale of our prayers a touch and outside of the duty Secondly if a Pharisaical spirit act Mat. 6 5. them which thinks to merit at the hands of God and prayes to be seen of men and to be accounted for devout Thirdly if things spiritual be asked as savoured onely under carnal notions and for carnal and worldly ends chiefly Fourthly if the things of this life be asked onely as there are multitudes who never offered any desires to God that were the desires of their hearts but what were for health when they were sick or for successe in their earthly Affairs or for deliverance when they were in distresse and dangers or for a plentiful Harvest and good Crop with such like or if the things of this life be asked chiefly if God should give us Solomons priviledge and then we have not Solomons heart nor Davids one thing nor Agurs discerning feare of sinne and temptations with preferring of contentation with food and rayment if the requests we offer up in the words of prayer be never so spiritual and in the work the affections stir and are jogging and make a great noise but it is all but for the time of prayer when the constant bent of the heart is for covetousnesse and the heart is set upon riches or the things of this life or if the things of life be asked as temporals and not that they may be spiritualized and sanctified to us in their use they cry as the young Ravens cry and pray as rhe Lyon hungry roars and seeks his meat of God Fifthly if temporal afflictions and judgments make us pray and cry but not sinne nor spiritual judgments such prayers have not the heart to God in them they are the howlings of wolves and God Hos 7. 14 so reckons of them Travellers captives sick folks sea-men and all under extremities will cry unto God in their troubles and the Lord hears so as to deliver them out of these distresses but if when they are delivered sinne be still their Idol and spiritual plagues are not felt lamented nor prayed against but rather danced under their prayers are but the cries of swine when they are pinched and the cryes of nature to the Lord of nature Sixthly if sinne and the wrath of God because of guilt and consciences gripes and sentence or if the Laws threatnings and denunciations of judgments out of the word and the work of the spirit of bondage which is upon us if these do cause us to pray cry out and repent but yet there be no workings of the Spirit of grace and of Adoption nor sinnes filthinesse and offence do put us to grief and be a burden and heavy load further then it is abominable to the light of nature and is cryed shame on in the world this kinde of sorrow for sinne is no more than what may be found in a Cain or in a Judas Seventhly if we pray and
contrariety of things that stands out in these Gospel-dayes and rises so stoutly for one against another amazes the best heads and staggers yea confounds the stoutest hearts that are by place and office to manage them here are with us in one womb the old revived strugglings of the holiest and profanest the purest and the subtlest the most for power and the most denying of the power of godlinesse the most zealous and the most formal and richly goodly luke-warme the weightiest grain and the lightest chaffe the deepliest poor in spirit and the loftiest proud in the flesh the heaven-born Sons of marvelous light and the hell-born brats of thickest darknesse these cause difficulty to rule so as to foster the gracious and discountenance the wicked severing the precious and the vile Faith an active faith the faith of the Lords Heroes is the one only helpe this keeps with God in his Word for principles of Policy for upright wayes for support and courage in both against carnal counsels courses confidences and fears the worst of Counsellors These Considerations possesse whil'st with joy in God through Jesus Christ glorying in his works all honourable and glorious and in his wayes all righteous and holy with fears sorrows and prayers because of judgements impendent for the wickednesses of errors divisions profanenesse abounding and for the Magistrates sake and their concernments and for Common-weals and Kingdomes the Innes of the Church for as for the Ministers sackcloth cannot hinder the efficacy of their Prophesying and Witnesse-bearing salutiferous and destructive nor their slaughter do any more than issue forth their resurrection to the fall of the tenth part of the City to be visited and the ruine of seven thousand of men of name let the earth-dwellers the merry world of them beware For the Publishing of this Treatise besides the Importunity of many of the Commissioners of Surrey for the ejection of ignorant and scandalous Ministers who heard part of it delivered in Sermons which wrested from me a concession to their desires two things swayed with me First that in this sleight age tossed to and fro with puffes of windy vaporings which blow high and big and take with many the wholsome old everlasting and absolutely necessary truths of saving doctrine might be laid again before all mens sight to cure if the Lord will this giddinesse of head and secondly that in this notional high-flown conceited age wherein nothing is esteemed but that which goes under the name of Mysterious of a more spiritual dispensation and above Scriptural and the plain truthes of the Scripture are overlook't called low carnal and fit for none but Saints under the lowest dispensation It might be manifest that these truths only are truly heavenly spiritual Gospel-mysteries of the highest dispensation that ever shall be in this world and that upon the review and Christian-experience all might see that the other Novel speakings are low carnal beggarly things belly-breaths the issues of fleshly tumors indigested waterish tympanies and crackes of clouds without rain That I prefix your Highnesses name is an act of boldnesse for which pardon is humbly craved I adventured on it that I might acknowledge the encouragement given to my Ministery two years since at a needful time by your Renowned father now with Christ who openly and really owned it almost opprest by willing my labours at Kingston of which poor labours as they are mine these are some of the fruits presented to your most serene aspect and offered to the service of your faith What remains but prayers promised that your life may be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord your God your person may abide in the secrets of the most High hid there even in his bosome-love in Christ your heart may remain large wise holy humble and believing your eyes may see the great Council in Parliament assembled full of grace and peace the Lords and yours to his glory and your abundant joy for the good of these Nations and of the people of Christ in all the world In you also through the advice of that your great Council it may be manifest that God doth and will still bless these Nations and make them instrumental to the ruine of Romish Babylon with all that belongs thereto and that out of illuminated zeal for the Gospels the Saints injuries and blood till the vengeance and recompence be rendred to her double which work shall be fulfilled in its time by the Lamb and his called and faithful and chosen On which work your heart set you have the Hosanna of him that waits for the mighty thunderings of the Hallelujahs and is Your Highnesses most obliged for the Gospels and the Publique good Richard Byfield The CONTENTS Chap. 1. AN Explication of the Text in its dependance and manner of laying down with three special observations giving further light to the words and with the foure great truths of doctrine three of them expressed and the fourth strongly implied in the Coherence Chap. 2. The first great truth which is this that there is no salvation by the Law or by any other means save by Jesus Christ Chap. 3. The second great truth The fulnesse of salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ and that set forth by many choice truths which the Apostle in this Text takes for granted Chap. 4. The fulness of salvation by Jesus Christ expressed in the person who is the first efficient cause he that provides this salvation God even God the Father Chap. 5. The fulnesse of this salvation in the Person who undertakes to work it out even Gods own Son Chap. 6. The fulnesse of salvation manifested in the way God taketh to save sinners by his Son Chap. 7. The fulness of a sinners salvation evinced in the outward cause moving God to give his own Sonne and to take such away to save which was the impotency and impossibility of the Law to save and the lost estate of the sinner Chap. 8. The fulnesse of this salvation in the end of Christs mission intended and attained which was the expiation of sin and the fulfilling of the righteousness of the law for and in the sinners that shall be saved Chap. 9 The fulnesse of salvation shines in the person who maketh saving application thereof dethroning corruption of nature and ruling the whole man even the Spirit the holy Ghost the Spirit of the Father and of the Son Chap. 10. The third great truth the lively description of the persons that shall be saved and do partake of this salvation by Jesus Christ viz. They are such who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Chap. 11. The fourth and last great truth which is The fulnesse of the assurance and of the consolation of those who are in Christ and walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit THE Gospels GLORY ROM 8. 3 4. Ver. 3. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own
is that which is the impossible thing of the Law that which is impossible for the Law to do The Law is the holy Commandements of the Eternal God Maker of all things these discover sinne and condemne the sinner but they deliver not from either That which is of use and is of this nature to shew and sentence for sinne cannot possibly work deliverance to a sinner but it is the Gospel that Law of faith that discovereth a Saviour Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ how a sinner may be made righteous and so be delivered from sinne and how one condemned by the righteous Law may be delivered from that condemning sentence and so be set free from death which sinne deserved God sending his own Sonne c. where it appears that a sinner may be delivered from his sinne and made riâ—hteous and delivered from the Law and not condemned What the Law could not do in that it was weak through â—â—e flesh God sending his own Sonne c. The former Objection may yet be urged for it may be said the Law is righteous and can it not then give righteousnesse and life Answ The Apostle explaineth the Yet the Law is in no fault thing and amplifieth it the Law cannot do it not that there is fault in the Law this impossibility cometh through the weaknesse of mankinde now fallen who are not able to keep the Law The Law is not weak as if not perfectly righteous and holy or as if it had not a promise of life annexed to it but you are weak who are not able to keep it It is through mans weaknesse who is not able to performe the righteousnesse thereof that the Law is become weak the perfect exact holinesse thereof makes through our weaknesse weakning it that none can stand righteous by it nor live by it Hence ariseth the inpossibility of help by the Law Thus the Law is still preserved honourable and is magnified when yet it cannot help us and we are in the fault the fault is wholly ours Again the Apostle displayeth the Gospel 2. By opening the causes of a sinners salvation glory and displayeth the mystery thereof by opening the causes of the salvation of a sinner 1. The outward impulsive cause the impossibility and impotency of the Law to save through the impotency of man who stands bound to keep the Law this is the external impulsive this very thing that the Law cannot help us but condemns our sins and us for our sinnes and curseth us which is not thorough any fault in the Law of it self but only by accident by reason of our corrupt nature this this is that outward thing which moveth God to save sinners that which might move God to come and execute the sentence of the Law that moved God to provide a Saviour That which the Law cannot do through mans default that God doth by sending his own Son 2. The efficient or working cause the first working cause in saving a sinner God God set the accent there it must be noted with emphasis lift up the voice and stay the heart upon that Word write it in great letters It is not my observation that you must not slip over this one syllable but the Apostles divinely inspired as afterwards in this chapter when he saith If GOD be for us and again It is GOD that justifieth God against whom our sins are God whose righteous and eternal Law we have rendred uselesse to an utter impossibility to do us good and that for ever until He put us into another state He is the first agent in the work of our salvation 3. The material cause What course doth God take to save a sinner God sends his own Sonne Gods own Sonne doth take away sin by his passion bearing our sins in his own body his own Son in our flesh in which he was incarnate kept the Law for us and so the righteousnesse of the Law is fulfilled 4. The final cause which is this Redemption is wrought by the Christ of God that the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in us in us who have made the Law unable to do us any good who have made it to the Law impossible to set us free from sin and death 3. In us may some say in whom lest 3. By describing the persons for whom this salvation is wrought we should be deceived herein to our everlasting undoing while there is such a Gospel such a Saviour we have the persons described for whom all this is done In us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit that is in us that believe in Jesus Christ but because many do deceive themselves in saying we believe and do not believe the Apostle useth not those words but taketh up this description which noteth out a believer by the Spirit he hath received and the Spirit by the rule and dominion he hath now in and over him and this rule of the Spirit over believers by this that sin doth not now reign in them though sinne be in them and the ruling of the Spirit and the dethroning of sinne by their walk it is not ordered by the flesh nor at the will of the flesh but their life is ordered by the Spirit of Jesus Christ through the Word of this his grace dwelling in their hearts Thus we see proved in these words that there â—an be no condemnation to those that are in Christ for though the Law would condemn them because they are sinners and there is sinne in them that deserves condemnation yet their sinnes being condemned in Jesus Christ by a righteous God God may pardon them with the good leave of his justice doing no wrong at all to the holy Law SECT 3. For the further opening of the words here are Three things of special observation three things of special observation 1. The diverse acceptation of the word flesh in the compasse of this Text. First it notes mankinde with all its abilities and excellencies upheld in men of 1. The word flesh taken four wayes here God himself in his long-suffering since the fall in these words weak through the flesh Secondly it notes out the humane nature as corrupted with sinne in the words sinful flesh for the flesh of sinne that is mankinde such as sin hath made it not such as God made it soaked with sin under the power of sin weak frail flesh the soul and its endowments beslaved to the flesh to the senses to the sensual apperite to the things the outward man the flesh desireth insomuch that the whole man may well be called flesh Thirdly It notes the humane nature frail and mortal but not polluted with sin In the words condemned sinne in the flesh that is in the flesh of Jesus Christ Fourthly it notes the corruption or sinfulnesse of mans nature in the words walk not after the flesh Now from these several acceptations of the word flesh we gather Four observations from that
the Law as to the point of life and righteousnesse of justification and salvation which is briefly delivered by Paul who in his own person gives us one that is taught of God thereby when he saith I through the Law am dead to the Law never more looking for righteousnesse and justification of life that way that I might live unto God Gal. 2. 19. No life but through this death never thus dead but through the Law when it comes the Law comes sinne revives and we dye and this dying is the way to life even to a living unto God SECT 3. Secondly No sinner can work his own 2. A sinner cannot save himself for six reasons deliverance for 1. We are weak and without strength Rom. 5. 6. There is no strength in us to fulfill the Law no strength to satisfie the justice and so turn away the wrath of God much lesse is there strength in us to recover our lost integrity nor to keep it if we had it again restored to us no strength to help our selves to meet the Lord in the wayes of his saving grace or to choose and walk in the way that is call'd holy no strength for any service unto God 2. We are flesh and in the flesh that is wholly corrupted with sin under the power and reign of sin the poyson of the Old Serpent hath run like water into our bowels and like oyle into our bones from the spirit of our mindes to all our outward members we are leprous all unclean and soaked in iniquity conceived in sinne and shapen in wickednesse we Rom. 5. 6 8. are sinners and ungodly when God in Christ by his death comes in love and â—ity to redeem us we lie in our blooâ— untill he saith to us Live we are dead in sin and trespasses till he qâ—icken us and how can such please God they cannot do Rom. 8. 8. it 3. We are enemies unto God our Rom. 5. 10. 8. 7. Col. 1. 21. 2 Cor. 10 3 4 5. wisdome our savour and smatch is enmity unto God We are enemies in our mindes because they are on evil works our principles our thoughts our reasonings our imaginations are high things lifted up in rebellion against the knowledg of God and the obedience of Christ and as strong holds fortified and kept in a desperate Warre against the Spirit of the Lord which in the Ministry even of the Gospel comes forth to bring us into a blessed captivity and subdue us and our very hearts the worst part of man unto himself and to his obedience the carnal minde of man is not subject to the Law of God neither can be there is no good to be done with it put it off Rom. 8. 7. mortifie it crucifie it crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof for that is all the good that can be done with it good it will never be but we must be in the Spirit and the Spirit of Christ dwell in us to enable us to such work or else we have no will no heart to it Rom. 8. 13. Oh then how farre are all men from any ability to work their own deliverance 4. We see not our sinfulnesse nor our misery nor can nor will be brought to see it by any other means than by the Scripture the written Law of God which is the only glasse in which we can truly see our selves James 1. 23. Rom. 7. 7. 5. Though the Law hath not lost it's rectitude yet our weaknesse to keep it maketh the Law by accident to be the more against us And 6. Notwithstanding all this that hath been spoken we yet are full of high thoughts of our selves we are proud and secure sinners and are naturally bent to seek to establish our own righteousnesse For the use of this The consideration The use of this hereof should take us wholly off our own legs and bring us to self-denial It should cause us to deliver up our selves to the Law that we might be throughly convinced of these things and that the Spirit might be in and through the Law a Spirit of bondage in us and we might be glad at heart of a Saviour that can deliver us SECT 4. Thirdly No meer creature can possibly 3. No meer creature can save a sinner for six reasons Matth. 16. 26. 1 Pet. 1. 18 deliver us for 1. No creature is above the Law If the Law of God cannot give life it is not in the power of the creature to do it The Creator alone is above the Law 2. No creature nor the whole Creation hath in it a worth to be a price of value for a soul All the treasures of both the Indies all things in this world because corruptible things are not so excellent as a soul and the price of the Redemption thereof at the hands of God is too high for men and Angels it ceaseth for ever in respect of the creature Psal 49 6 8. 3. Whatever any creature can do he owes it for himself and does but his duty 4. Grant yet that some creature could give help could there be any salvation for then for this very cause we should be servants unto the creature and this were to bring us into bondage and not into liberty they are not their own who are bought with a price if the creature did lay down the price we were the creatures servants which to be is absolute slavery 5. Our evils are greater than can be removed by creatures yet removed they must be if any of us be saved and our good that we may be happy is greater than can be by them communicated The evil is the infinite wrath of God the guilt and damning nature of sinne standing in force and confirmed by the strength of an eternal perfect Law the Empire of sin and death the power of the Divel that strong armed man of whom we read Luk. 11. 21 22. The good we stand in need of is a righteousnesse above the righteousnesse of the Law a Resurrection as well spiritual as corporal the communication of the divine nature eternal life and a blessednesse excelling the blessednesse of Adam in Paradise and a Kingdom which cannot be shaken All and every of these are beyond any created power to give or take away 6. No creature could ever think of the way manner or means whereby we might be delivered The world in the wisdome of God upheld for some thousands of years in its wisdome and abilities by its wisdome knew not God much lesse could finde out the way of peace and â—reconciliation for sinners with the God that made them 1 Cor. 1. 21. Markinde was continued and their rational power sustained and the work of the Law written in their hearts was apparent in them and yet with all the glory of God in his works of Creation and general providence preaching to them they perished in their vain imaginations and professing themselves wise in searching to finde out
who speaketh is true John 3. 33. He that believeth not maketh God a liar 1 Joh. 5. 10. Because he receiveth not his testimony or witnesse he that receiveth Christ Jesus receiveth God that sent him he that rejecteth Christ rejecteth God All respect or neglect in this great businesse runs up so high as to God himself SECT 3. The use of this point is to call upon us to entertain these thoughts digest this The use hereof truth and it will work warme it and rub it in by meditation and it will enter into thy soul First believe this truth in the general that GOD doth thus tender the everlasting salvation of poor sinners great sinners and then bring it home unto thy self that GOD offers life to thee a sinner Dwell awhile on these if we lay away the principles of sound doctrine and care not to know them if we stick in an overlie knowledge and do not believe them with the heart receiving them as the saving truths revealed by the Spirit of God and testified to the children of men as Gods own Record and Testimony there is no talking of the application of faith upon them to our own souls Quest But some may say how may one know that he hath apprehended aright this truth that it is GOD that hath provided the way of salvation Answ In general thus if rightly apprehended then every word of this salvation will come to the soul as the Word of God not as the word of a man though never so worthy credit not as the word of a King yet power goes with the word of a King not as the word of an Angel it is more than so when it comes to thy heart as the Word of God It 1 Thes 2. 13. will come to thee in the power of God in divine life and strength it will work effectually in thee Gods Word-runneth very swiftly he commandeth and the thing is done Again it will come to thy soul as the good Word of God the Word and Message in which thy good thy everlasting good doth lie to such a r Thes 1. heart the Gospel comes in much assurance and in the joy of the Holy Ghost the Gospel now stands to thee as an undoubted unmovable truth now it is the best news that ever came into the world the glad tydings of great joy the onely light and life of thy heart In special attend that God the Lord is the first and principal Agent or Worker here 1. It layes down in the heart of a sinner a possibility of his salvation That which to the Law to man whiles he stands to the Law is impossible that GOD will yet do it it becomes very possible with God all things are possible say to thy self before the Lord it is possible that such a sinner as I am or as thou art mayest be saved for GOD sends a Saviour for sinners you this layes down a possibility above all difficulties the difficulties are great our innumerable sinnes the bortomlesse depth of the deceitfulnesse and the desperatenesse of the wickednesse of our hearts the impenitency of an hard heart that cannot repent the death in sâ—n and trespasses the alienations withdrawings and gain-sayings of an heart that cannot believe the cursed barrennesse in the heart and life of all grace and good fruit the defilement and contagion of sinne as a leprofie and as the plague of pestilence the guilt and condemning power of sinne the distance and separation yea the enmity between God and man which sinne hath made the great enemies such are the Law the Curse Mortality Death the Grave Hell Satan Tentations Persecutions the world with all its lusts and errours the body of sinne called the body of this death Rom. 7. 24. the Back-slidings and Apostasies which we are subject unto Satans strong holds within in false principles high thoughts and devised devotions depths carnal reasonings foolish and snarling objections besides the wisdome of a conceited the pride of a presuming and the dejections of a despairing heart If these Armies of difficulties and of impossibilities to created means should beset thee yet that GOD should reveale himself in a saving way stayes the heart and renders all of them Conquerable 2. It awakens it shakes the carelesse soul and fills with trembling It saith with Jacob God is here in this Word of the Gospel and I was not aware little thought I of such a presence in this contemned Word 3. It layeth a basis a foundation unmovable thus we have him to believe on who supports Heaven and Earth who is the Rock of Ages 4. It sets another face on God and on all things God is in Christ reconciling the world God at peace and all things become full of peace Behold all 's new there is now a new face of 2 Cor. 5. 18. things In this light we see light and have life there is a blessing in all through Gods blessing the worst and most deadly are not onely harmlesse but medicinal and helpful the heart begins to live at this presence a heavenly calme passeth bespreadeth and dwelleth upon the soul Tranqâ—illus Deus tranquillat omnia 5. It heals the heart of hard thoughts of God and of alienations from God then I perceive saith the soul the holy God will yet look after me 6. It sets the heart on God is there hope yet for such a one as I am surely it is good for me to draw near to God 7. It prevents and allayes the over-much grief for sinne or for afflictions and miseries our own or the Churches overmuch in both is hurtful to our soules dishonourable to God scandalous to men this delivers I even I am he that comforteth you saith the Lord Isa 49. 14 15. I blot out your transgessions Isa 43. 25. 8. It makes to cry to God out of the depth of our hellish filth and guilt Psalme 130. 1. It boiles up the spirit to fervency in Prayer 9. It puts an Awful Reverential Uniting feare into the soul Psalme 130. 3. There is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared 10. It enclines the soul to believe hope wait and love Psalme 130. 4 5. 11. It comforteth with comforrs rational and real from grounds in God from the presence of God 2 Cor. 6. 17. I will dwell in them I will walke in them I will be their GOD and they shall be my People 12. It devotes it assures it raiseth to Triumph What shall we say to these things If GOD be for Rom. 8. 31. Eph. 1. 3. 1 Pet. 1. 3. us who can be against us What shall separate us from the love of GOD it fills with praise and with gloryings and humble boastings in God This GOD is our GOD GOD is become my salvation Thus of the person who is the first mover in the great work of a sinners salvation CHAP. V. Treateth of the fulnesse of the salvation of a sinner in the person who undertakes to work it out even Gods
5. â—1 4. 9. of the salvation of Gods people for 1. In this Son is our eternal life placed This is the Record the summe of Gods Testimony witnessed in the Bible that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Sonne God sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that we might live through him In this Sonne the beloved Pro. 8. 30. Mat. 3. 17. the Sonne of his bosome his eternal delights God the Father doth rest well-pleased for ever 2. This assure the absolute sufficiency of Christ Jesus for his Office he is the Mediatour who is the Son of God The Son is the Prophet he declares the Father Joh. 1. 18. Joh. 3. 32. 6. 68 96 Joh. 5. 25 28. Heb. 1. 8. Joh. 1. 49. 10 30. he testifies what he hath seen and heard he hath the words of eternal life his voice raiseth the dead the dead spiritually out of their sinnes the dead Corporally out of their graves The Sonne is the King greater than all who hath all Soveraignty authority and power The Sonne is the Priest who is consecrâ—â—ed Heb. 4. 14. 7. 28. for ever more who hath the heart and eare of the Father alwayes 3. This puts a value and worth of infinite price upon all that he hath done or 1 Joh. 1. 7. doth for us now in heaven into his sufferings and into his intercession The blood of Gods Sonne clerâ—seth us from all sinne the Sonne is consecrated for evermore 4. He can do all that we stand in need Joh. 1. 51. 3. 13. of because he is the Sonne of God He can create the heart anew and give the Holy Ghost He baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and with fire He opens heaven and brings in the Angels-service that they may minister unto us He seeth the truth of grace in our hearts He knoweth the workings beatings and breathings of our Joh. 1. 47 48. 10. 28 29 30. Joh. 5. 26 28. Heb. 12. 16 23. Psa 89. 27. Jer. 31. 8. Exod. 4. 22 Psa 89. 19. spirits and all our secret duties the guilelesse spirited Nathanaels their most retired meditations and prayers under the fig-tree He gives the power or priviledge to be Sonnes of God he makes free indeed he gives life to whom he will he preserveth the life spiritual given and gives eternal life he fetcheth out of the graves he makes us a Congregation of Gods first-born God hath laid help for us upon one that is mighty 5. There is no danger to adventure Jer. 17. 7. Joh. 3. 16. 36. Joh. 14. 9. here No feare of that curse Cursed be the man that trusteth in man for Jesus Christ is the Lord Jehovah It is no fault to believe on him to worship to serve to call upon to obey him There is no perishing to a believer There is nothing but wrath to him that believeth not on him Here is the only way to see the Father SECT 4. For the Application and Use Improve it The Use thus 1. By this Doctrine Inform thy self 1. Of Information First of the excellency of the word of Scripture which revealeth this truth and especially of the glory of the New Testament which is the Gospel of the Sonne of God Secondly of the honour conferred on sinful men called to the faith of Jesus Christ they are called to fellowship with the Sonne of God Thirdly 1 Cor. 1. 9. of the faithfulnesse of God in the wayes of his free and saving grace he failed not to send his own Sonne into the world according to his promise We may trust him to make good all that he hath spoken the heaven of heavens and blessed life and immortality there is not too much nor too good for believers It is not so good as his own Son 2. Be perswaded to dwell upon these 2. Of Exhortation Ephes 4. 13. Gal. 2. 20. meditations untill thy heart be winned and perswaded first to believe in the Sonne of God secondly to seek growth in the knowledge of the Sonne of God and then thirdly to live by faith of the Sonne of God and fourthly to digest this truth in the power of it that thou mayest triumph over all Brethren beloved look above all to this faith that Joh. 20. 31 1 Joh. 5. 12. you may receive and have the Sonne in you and that you may know you have him Let there be the hearing of faith the Confession of faith the emptyings of faith to reject all for him to forget all for him the application of faith that makes us apply our selves to him to draw near to the saving of the soul and not to Mark this distination of the applying act of faith draw back that applies him to our selves in desires of the hungry and thirsty and in high prizings of the poor in spirit and in the repoâ—e of the weary and laden and in the breathings and aspirings of the lowly and in the waitings of those that know no other door of mercy till we come to the applications of comfortable perswasions the obedience of faith the betrothed Mat. 22. 12 love which faith worketh and the wedding garment of all Gospel-dresse that may become the Espousals of such a Bridegroom 3. And why should we not delight our 3. Of Consolation Isa 8. 9 10 9 5 6. Psa 2. 1 2 5 6. 1 Joh. 5. 5. souls in this glorious principle of Christian Religion which leads us unto the holy One the mighty One of Israel for here we see and from hence we meditate and threaten terrour to the associations of all enemies We carry victories over the world's lusts and lyes errours and terrours vanities and violence We know the advancing and amplitude of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ We are confirmed Psa 2. 6 8. Ro. 8. 32. Heb. 2. 2 3 12. 25 26. 10. 29. Joh. â—7 26 1 Joh. 4. 9. Rom. 8. 31. 32 39. in the stability of all the promises and in the greatnesse of the sin and misery of all the disobedient and contemners of the Gospel We have the love of God manifested the love wherewith he loves his own Sonne reaching and clasping us A love that cannot but freely give us all things a love that assures God is for us a love from which nothing can separate us CHAP. VII Treateth of the fulnesse of salvation manifested in the way God taketh to save sinners by his Son SECT 1. 3. THe third truth demonstrating the 3. The way God took to condemn sin in the flesh of his Son and so to take it away provs the salvation full perfect fulnesse of salvation by Jesus Christ cometh now under consideration which is from the way and course God in his good pleasure took and held in saving sinners by his Sonne This is held out in these words Sending his own Sonne in the likenesse of sinful flesh and for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh which
awake arise and live he is the Spirit of life the righteousnesse of Christ declared and set forth by God in the Gospel and brought home to the soul of an humbled sinner by the word attended with the Spirit and the Spirit is life because of this righteousnesse life from the death of condemnation which sin deserved life from the death of sin life true and joyful 3. He circumcises the heart with a circumcision made without Rom. 2. 29 Col. 2. 11. hands In this work the word is the circumcising knife this knife is taken into the hand of the Spirit the heart is the part that is to suffer and not the flesh or body of the sinner the fore-skin is the superfluity of maliciousnesse and wickednesse Jam. 1. 21. Deut. 30. 6. the skin upon the heart the skin of other loves which oppose the love of God as self-love the love of the world the love which is called lust and the love of superstitious vanities and mens inventions in Religion and worship and the cutting off this fore-skinnesse is when the word in the hand of the Spirit and by it skilfully used getting between our hearts and them it makes the heart to see them to be such as the word sayes of them and to judge it self for them and to cast them away as unprofitable and destructive even because of Christ circumcised and made under the Law for us and for our deliverance from the same Law Untill this work be done no love of God can be wrought in us strange loves have the heart and when this work is done it reacheth to the circumcision of the ears and of the lips and of the whole man Insomuch that the body of the sinnes of the flesh the whole frame of sinful flesh suffers and is destroyed 4. He gives us spiritual senses and a sagacity and quicknesse of sente whereby he makes us savour spiritual things and to smell out and delight to pursue spiritual wayes this work is so eminent that the Rom. 8. 5. Isa 11. 2 3 newborn babe can taste distinguishingly the sincere milk of the Word fit to feed batten and make to grow from all adulterate stuffe and can see and discern judiciously the things of the Spirit of God from all other things and make up a right judgement concerning them and can in hearing try the words of doctrine delivered and try the spirits in the teachers the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of Antichrist the Spirit of God and the spirit which is of the world the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour In ordering his Conversation he can sente and smell the wayes of holinesse from those of profanenesse so that he is of quick understanding in the feare of the Lord and is sensible and hath his feeling of spiritual mercies and plagues of sin that annoyes spiritual life and of the power and spiritualnesse of Ordinances and Administrations from ordinances of men in will-worship and formal out-sidednesse and shews and florishes in administrations All this the new born babe is able to do by a naturalnesse like an instinct though for want of Art or of strength of the reasoning ability or not yet having the wits the senses exercised in the word of righteousnesse he cannot shew to his own or others satisfaction where the fault lyeth much lesse is able to dispute it and by arguing convince the evil doers the opposer and the pleader for the evil the quicknesse of spiritual senses doth grow as age in Christ cometh on the Spirit in this work rested upon Jesus Christ as he was man in all fulnesse as became our head and it is on every living member of his mystical body according to his place of membership as becomes such a Member 5. He writes his law in our hearts The Law 2 Cor. 3. 2 3 Rom. 8. 2 that is the summe of revealed truth both of the Law strictly so called the Law of the ten Commandments and of the Gospel this is that which is written the writing is such an engraving of the truth with love of the truth upon our hearts made soft tender and fleshy as that it cannot be blotted out The soul may be torn from the body but the truth cannot be torn out of the heart And this impression of the truth is such that now it is the Law of the mind which Laws the man It is the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus as the Head and in them as the members this is an heavenly edition of the Bible so imprinted upon the soul that the man becomes a living walking Bible which print comes off so fair in the life of the regenerate and sanctified that they are the Epistles of Christ to be seen and read of all men 6. He gives liberty he sets us free from the law of sinne and death the title the dominion of sin is taken away that we may 2 Cor. 3. 17. Rom. 8. 2. Joh. 7. 37 38. 4. 14 become servants of righteousnesse 7. He is a spring and rivers of lâ—ving waters in our bellies flowing up within us unto eternal life Our hearts by nature are as a dry and barren howling Wildernesse not fit for habitation nor bearing any good plants untilled and horrid to the sight It is the Spirits work to be in us whom the Lord will save changing the very will breaking open springs and causing Rivers of sweet wholesome and healing waters of the blessings of the Gospel of all gifts and graces and grounds of comfort to flow within us even in the very heart and conscience in the belly of the man and there these waters to be not as standing lakes and ditch-water but ever streaming out and fed from the hid well-head of the holy Spirit When this work is in us then of Wildernesses we become fruitful Fields then we have within us Isa 44. 3. 49. 10. Joel 3. 18. Zach. 14. 8 that which will satisfie and will allay and quench our thirsts our souls will be as a well-watered garden whose waters never fail 8. He causeth all the fruits of graces fructifying to be in us and to abound in us all his fruits he maketh to break Ephes 5. 9 Gal. 5. 22 23. 2 Cor. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 13. forth all goodnesse righteousnesse and truth love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance against which and such like there is no Law 9. He transforms us into the image of God from glory to glory 10. He enableth us to believe and Eph. 2. 18. Jude 20. Gal. 4. 6. to speak by confession to pray to the Father through Christ with gracious and fervent desires crying Abba Father to mortifie the deeds of the body our members that are on the earth and to be crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts Rom. 8. 13 Gal. 5. 24. thereof that old bel-dame original sin the sinfulnesse of our natures in which we
called the spirit of errour and envy the spirit of envy and the wisdome of the the world is called the spirit of the world because of this force appearing in it acting of it which force cometh from the energy or effectual working of the Divel who is an evil Angel a spirit indeed But besides these spirits there is the 1 Cor. 2. 10 12. Spirit of God considered as set in opposition to the spirit of man and of the world this is the spirit spoken of in this Doctrine yet one that hath not this Spirit of God as the Spirit of grace may have the Spirit of God in some lesser and lower workings and presence he may have some excellent gifts of the Spirit of God as for instance he may have the Spirit of government as King Saul had he may have the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit gifting him with faith of miracles Mat. 7. 21. 1 Cor. 12. with tongues with prophesie or with wisdome and the like he may have the ordinary gifts of the Spirit such are all ministerial gifts he may have the common graces of the Spirit as general illumination convictions faith historical and temporary and thereupon tasts of the good Word of God the Word of the Gospel and of the powers of the world to come and many fruits arising from thence insomuch that by falling away willingly and sinning against such grace he may resist the Holy Ghost and may runne so high in this way to commit the sinne against the Holy Ghost that unpardonable sinne that sinne unto death he Heb. 6. 3 4. 10. 26 29. may have the spirit of bondage which is a good work but not enough to life and salvation It is the work of the Law accompanied with the Spirit quickning that part of Gods Word upon the soul and working lively and powerfully in the Ministery thereof Now the work of grace is above all this and the Christian in respect of this renewing and sanctifying work of the Spirit is more excellent than any other however otherwise qualified Pharaoh admiring in Joseph the work of the Spirit as the Spirit of prophesie and of the interpretation of dreams said of him Can we finde such a man as this is a man in Gen. 41. 38 whom the Spirit of God is but much more worthily may these words be applied to the regenerate and sanctified by faith which is in Jesus Christ which makes them workers of righteousnesse and no more workers of iniquity which is that good work which he that hath begun in Phil. 1. 6. any will not cease nor fail to perfect it till the day of Christ SECT 11. The Vse of Exhortation in the first branch of it Therefore let the Exhortation take place with you both to seek the Spirit and Use 2. Exhortation to seek the Spirit The way and means to receive the holy Ghost in ten directions to be rightly ordered towards him when you have him 1. Attend the way and means whereby you may receive the Holy Ghost Seek the sense and comfort of the gracious presence and the lively working of the Spirit of Sanctification and Adoption for this purpose these are choice directions First Come out from the world and give thy self up to the Word The world cannot receive the Spirit thou art among and of the world by nature Come out from among them touch not the unclean thing come out from the worlds lusts the worlds vanities and pomps the worlds traditions the worlds Idols and superstitions the Religions and Devotions as ever thou wouldest have God to receive thee into fellowship with Jesus Christ his Sonne through the communion or communication of his Spirit say of all these What have I to do any more with you the Spirit is the holy Spirit the world and the things of the world are the unclean thing The word is the vehicle the Chariot of the Spirit he spake by the Prophets and Apostles and he for ever works in and by their doctrine By the Word engrafted the Spirit dwells in the heart Receive the Word let it be in the truths contained in it as a heavenly Cyons which entertained with meekness and with laying aside all superfluity of wickednesse may be so naturallized into thee that thou mayest be turned into the nature of it and then thou shalt finde the Holy Ghost enter into thee and take up his habitation in thee Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in thee in all wisdome and the Spirit of Christ will fill thee with grace and glory The Scripture is the store-house of Wisdome Wisdome speaks there justifie Wisdome and thou art a childe of Wisdome whom the Holy Ghost hath regenerated this is the incorruptible seed of which Gods children are born anew who is the spiritual but he that is made up of the Word of God he who hath the Word of Christ to be the reason of his reason the light of his minde the life of his heart and the rule of his life he is the Christian indeed Secondly but when thou comest to the Word thou wilt be sure to meet with reproofs no looking into that glasse but thou wilt see all amisse Christ knoweth he shall finde thee a fool and a scorner simple and loving simplicity ignorant and hating knowledge now know he will reprove but yet with serious exhortations and alluring invitations calling and crying after thee what then is to be done Turn Turn at wisdom's reproofs and the promise of the pouring out of the Spirit unto thee is thine Thirdly Behold the Promises and how they are made I will put my Spirit within you saith God then shall ye remember Ezek. 36. 25 31 32. your own evil wayes and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations Remember thy wayes and doings that have not been good and loath thy self that 's all the qualification that is required of thee that thou mayest enjoy this great and all other the precious promises of the Covenant of grace Fourthly Wait on the preaching of the Gospel for that is the Ministery of the 2 Cor. 3. 6 8. Gal. 3. 2. Spirit The Spirit is given aâ—d received by the preaching and hearing of the Word of the Gospel the faith and not the Law by hearing that glorious heavenly Law of faith which excludeth boasting not the Law of works Fifthly Consider the gift and who it is that bestoweth the gift appointed to Joh. 4. 10. that work of God the Father even Jesus Christ the Sonne of God sent in our flesh made of a woman and made under the Law to redeem us from under the Law and consider that God the Father is in and through this Christ our heavenly Father Luk. 11. 13 Consider these three things and then ask the Holy Ghost by prayer for he is promised to those that ask him The gift indeed is great but no lesse
a gift will do us good is it great and is it not worth the asking it is too great and good for us but Christ is the giver the Father is the giver he that gave freely for a sinner for chief of sinners his own Sonne and gave himself a God in Covenant and a Father in that his Sonne he will not think the gift too good and too great to give his holy Spirit Ask then Ask of thy heavenly Father Ask for his Sonne Christ Jesus sake not for thy own sake this gift may be had for asking Sixthly Let thy utter destituteness and want of the spirit the more felt the more make thee athirst and then let thy thirsty soul call and cry for this living water Isa 43. 3. Mark the promises I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and stoods upon Joh. 7. 37 38. the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring The thirsty coming unto Christ and believing on him shall have the Spirit given unto him Seventhly Cherish the motions of the Spirit in and by the word moving upon thy heart Its motions that we may know them are these 1. The revealing of things supernatural and the setting home of holy truths he causeth by the Word the light to arise and shine upon thee and lets it in by the understanding upon thy heart and thus is striving with thee to give it entertainment Shut not thine eyes draw the curtain of neglect and security open the doors and let the truth come close to thy heart and sink down deep into thy soul 2. The discovery of our sinnes and sinfulnesse and rebukes to astonishment general and to sorrow special unto the manifesting of the unreasonablenesse of our carnal reason and of the misplacing of our affections and in both these laying low the stournesse and haughtinesse of man a most necessary work for we are not more sinful then proud and lofty as appears by our scorning and our delight at least in the secret disposition of a scorning heart at all the counsels of wisdome that tend to the power of Godlinesse 3. The leading to Christ crucified for justification presenting Gods great mercy and Jesus Christs obedience and sufferings to the heart and carrying out the heart to it with such heart-breakings as produce supplications and with such perswasions as produce joy and peace 4. The framing and fashioning to holy obedience with soulpurifyings and with readinesse and livelinesse 5. The raising of strong lustings that is holy hatred fear sorrow carefulnesse blushings and shame vehement desire indignation reveâ—ge and endeavours to grow better and better by all the means of grace by failings by falls by experiments by mercies by corrections by word and works by all occurrences joyous or grievous all the creatures These are the motions of the Spirit now then cherish these Eighthly Take â—eed of Intemparency that is all excesse in the use of things lawful of things which we must use of necessity and of duty It is excesse when the use of such things as of meat drink apparrel and honest recreations causeth uncircumspect walking taketh off from wise Redemption of our time deadeth or wasteth spiritual mirth and melody of heart and behaviour destroyeth thankfulnesse to God as Father through Christ and lifteth up from submission one to another in the feare of God The Context in Ephes 5. from ver 15. to v. 22. teacheth this Ninthly Obey God in his Gospel and in the ministery of it This obedience is Act. 5. 32. Act. 2. 38 39 40 41 42. expressed in repentance and the works of the truly penitent in glad receiving of the Word in receiving the â—oâ—pel-Ordinances and continuing in the use of them in forsaking the wayes of an untoward generation crosse and opposing together with their society and in embracing the wayes and society of the faithful and godly together with the godly faithful Ministers who labour among us and admonish us Tenthly Love the Lord Jesus Christ Joh. 14. 15 16. 1 Joh. 3. 22 23 24. and out of love to him have hold and keep his Commandments of faith and love which he hath given in charge the Spirit who glorifieth Jesus Christ will dwell and will not abide to come but to those who delight in doing Christs Commands and the things that are pleasing in his sight This is the first branch of Exhortation the second followeth concerning SECT 12. The ordering of the believers aright towards the holy Ghost given to them When we have received the Spirit let us have our hearts upon the duties which To be ordered aright towards the Spirit we owe towards him they are these they order us aright in two particulars First that we avoid all sinning against the Spirit Secondly that we expresse the virtue of his Communion and manifest his name put upon us in our Baptism and his glory dwelling in us and resting on us There are many wayes of sinning against In five rules for avoiding evils against the Spirit the Spirit all which are the more dangerous because not discerned by the world and chiefly because they are against the applying of the remedy provided for sinners in Jesus Christ lest it should be received in vain and lest any should fail of the grace of God Herein our duty is laid down in five rules 1. Quench not the Spirit this is done 1. by neglecting or despising the Word 1 Thes 5. 19 20. 1 Cor. 14. 2. and the means of grace which have the promise of the Spirit especially among all the means that of Prophesying or the Preaching of the Word 2. By permitting 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. with ch 4. 2 3. any thing to put our hearts out of a gracious fâ—ame And this is a gracious frame a heart seeking others edification full of love and goodnesse joyful in the Lord Jesus prayerful thankful nourishing the gifts graces and motions of the Spirit in our selves or any others in whomsoever we perceive them stirring them up and blowing that holy fire highly esteeming the gifts operations and administrations of faithful preaching bringing all to the touch-stone of the Word tenacious of that which is good fleeing the appearing of sin of all sorts and seeking growth in sanctification this is gathered from the Context in verse 14. to the 24. of 1 Thes 5. The Spirit is like fire fire consumeth stubble purifieth mettals illighteneth and heateth and is of vehement and powerful acting to turn all into fire and make all things like it self So the Spirit it burneth out our lusts it purifieth the soul it giveth light and heat of knowledge and zeal it maketh spiritual and that which is of the Spirit is Spirit The Spirit is like the holy fire which came down from heaven upon the Altar which the Priests by Office were to keep in that it might never go out Shall we quench the Spirit without which there is neither light
he may so walk he shunnes all fellowship with the unfruitful works of darknesse these are his study and endeavour this is the way which he doth choose Thirdly After Christ as those that are betrothed unto him and cleansed by his blood and anointed by his Spirit are married unto him risen from the dead and now they would keep themselves chast to him in the simplicity and purity of his Gospel and Ordinances and in the sincerity and incorruption of the love of their hearts they would imitate him walk as he walked and be as he is even in this world would they be such they would maintain communion and fellowship with him in the bed of his green and flourishing Ordinances in their wayes conversings relations and enjoyments of the creatures and in the secret lonenesse and the chamber of their hearts Fourthly In light this they love and come unto because it is that which makes manifest they would walk as understanding Joh. 3. 20 21. Eph. 5. 10 17. Phil. 1. 10. wise and prudent proving what the will of the Lord is and approving what is excellent and things that differ this is their armour which they Rom. 13. 12. put on and wear knowing their spiritual holy walk cannot be kept further then it is maintained by a War Fifthly In searchings of heart awakenings of conscience and holy watchfulnesse God awakens theit ears morning by morning and with those awakenings bores the ears bows the heart and in the bowing makes teachable and godly wise that they hear as the learned as the taught of God these gracious walkers are inquisitive asking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward inquiring for the old and good way they are seekers of the Lord of his face and strength they seek and keep the Word of God they keep and seek it as not to seek of Word Ordinances and means of Gods own giving and sanctifying which have the promise of his presence and Spirit these they have and in them they seek the face of the God of Jacob they are full of the communings with their own hearts their spirits make diligent search within them that they may settle their state spiritual their doubts their wayes through serious examinations by the Word They come to the light daily to see whether their Joh. 3. 22. deeds be wrought in God or no this is the manner of their walk they consider Ps 119. 59 their wayes and turn their feet unto Gods testimonies Sixthly In the power of supernatural Phil. 1. 27. truths This walk is a Conversation becoming the Gospel the Gospel frames and influenceth their conversation It is a Conversation in heaven where their Saviour Phil. 3. 20 21. is and whence they look for him to change their vile bodies in the resurrection into the likenesse of his own glorious body these spiritual walkers do live their Creed Seventhly In sincerity such holy plainnesse 2 Cor. 1. 12 perspicuity and transparent clearnesse which God worketh and witnesseth withall no way hypocritical and varnished over but in simplicity purging from and stirring up himself against the hypocrite and the hypocrisie of their own hearts And all this by the grace of God the free-grace of God which destroyes the dominion of sinne in them which thing the Law could not do and by the which they are what they are in things pertaining to salvation and by the gift of inherent grace which is now the leading principle guiding their conversation towards all men and in the Church of God Eighthly In repentance faith and love that is they make it their every dayes work to be renewing their repentance towards God their faith in Jesus Christ and their love to the Word to the Saints and to all men All this the spiritual do do not without the feelings and motions but with a contrary Gal. 5. 17. stirring egging and workings of the flesh insomuch that they cannot do what they would yet they truly would what they should and cannot do as they would In all the eight fore-named the flesh being contrary is in them lusting against the Spirit but is not yielded unto nay it is resisted with mighty lustings and still these walkings are chosen their hearts and lives speak thus Not the flesh but the spirit not the world but the Word not lust but grace not Satan but Christ not in darknesse as a night bird as one of the night and of darknesse but in light as a childe of light and of the day not in sleep of security but in awakings of tendernesse of a good conscience not in vanity but in the power of Gospel truths not in hypocrisie with fleshly wisdome but in godly sincerity by the grace of God not in with-drawings and forgetfulnesse of God but with drawings near of faith in power to the saving of the soul not in those but in these would I unfeignedly have my walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit will I walk is the language of the spiritual Again the order of placing is very significant in this description he that is now in the Spirit was first in the flesh he who now walks after the Spirit had his former Conversation corrupt and after the flesh therefore the spiritual mans walk is thus he is ever putting off and Eph. 4. 22 24 25 c. getting further from his former corrupt Conversation and is putting on a renewed Conversation day after day Beloved shall I hence present you The character of a spiritual man with the draught of a spiritual man The spiritual man is one who being regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Ghost who in that work gives him a new life no other than eternal life in the beginnings of it and comes into him to rule and frame the whole soul spirit and body in the power of the new life received he gives up himself unto the Word that he may be for ever under the governance of the Spirit he dares not compasse himself about with sparks nor walk in the light of a fire of his own or of mans kindling The Law of God is in his heart guiding his steps that none of them do slide he is a walking bible he is the Epistle of Christ of the best Edition so fair written that it is to be seen and read of all men Grace in his heart is stamped upon his daily course from a good treasure within he bringeth forth good things he is married to Christ risen from the dead that he might bring forth fruit unto God to him to live is Christ being of the truth and of the day he walks Gospelly-genteel * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 13. 13. in a truly honourable dresse comely beautiful and terrible as an Army with Banners That others sleep keeps him the more awake and his security is in his keeping the watch and ward of the awakened His conversation is on high as is his high and heavenly calling with
the first is justified by faith freely of free-grace through the righteousnesse and redemption which iâ— in Jesus Christ and in his blood this is most true the great truth of the Gospel and it is of the same Gospel-truth that the â—ust the justified sinner now made just and righteous by faith and whose heart God hath purified and sanctified by faith the just shall live by his faith for the righteousnesse â—phes 1 6 2. 8 9. whereby he stands righteous iâ— revealed from faith to faith and not first to faith and then afterwards to works and he is still by free-grace accepted in Christ the beloved and is what ever he is by the free-grace of God We are saved by grace through faith and that is not of our selves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast Salvation is by faith that it might be of grace were it of works it were no more of grace Will any say grace is not grace Why sayest thou I but I can do nothing I have done nothing I still sinne after forgivenesse I have upon me a very necessity oh my dayly sinnes and debts what will become of me for my sinnes since God hath graciously visited and called me Do we not see the Answer live by faith upon free-grace and upon the redemption which is in Christ as thou didst at first when thou wast nothing but sinne God hath begun thy salvation by faith and he will never turn thee over to the Law again to be perfected by it Wilt thou begin in the Spirit and then go to be made perfect by the flesh Fourthly That all that is required of us even repentance faith and uprightnesse as well as perseverance is promised given undertaken for and wrought by God the Father and by Jesus Christ the Sonne of the Father and by the Holy Ghost the Spirit of the Father and of the Sonne Why sayest thou despondingly I cannot repent I cannot believe I have a deceitful heart I cannot be rid of hypocrisie vain-glory and secret self-confidence art thou sensible of these condemn them judge thy self for them and go to him as a child to a father through Christ by the Spirit according to his Word for power to repent believe and to walk uprightly Owning thy disability look to him who whiles and in the bidding exhorting and promising giveth and worketh what he commands Say Turn thou me and I shall be turned Lord I desire to believe help thou mine unbelief accomplish in me all the good pleasure of thy goodnesse and the work of faith with power Take out of me the heart of stone and give me an heart of flesh give me a new heart and a new spirit and put thy holy Spirit into me which shall cause me to walk in thy Statutes and to do them Lift up thy drooping soul and say Let him command what he will who gives what he Commands and gives by commanding Fifthly That free-grace is the ground of all and abounds through all and reignes above all to eternal life Why sayest thou as one discouraged The sense of my sinne and guilt abounds how then can I have comfort In thy self thou canst not loath thy self upon the account of thine own righteousnesse thou canst not but in God in Christ upon the account of his free-grace thou mayest and mayest the more for all the mercy of this Covenant of loving kindnesse peace and salvation was and is for sinners guilty sinners chief sinners that were under sinne and death in their power and for no other that where sinne abounds grace might super-abound and was and is from free-grace above and against desert Sixthly That Jesus Christ is the second Adam and the Covenant is within and in him with us Why sayest thou How can it be that Christs righteousnesse should be mine how can any be perswaded of this Why sayest thou not How can the Rom. 5 12 and forwards to the end of the Chapter first Adam involve me in sinne and death is not the answer clear and full He is the first Adam and is not the answer as clear and full Jesus Christ is the second Adâ—m this he is to all who are in him thou findest the first Adam's disobedience hath made thee sinful and brought in death upon thee place thy self under the Word of faith receive what God there testifieth to be true and why not for God is true and thou shalt feele that the obedience of Christ will make thee righteous the fâ—ee-gift will come upon thee unto justification of life In this thing Adam was a fâ—gure of him that was to come even or the Lord Jesus Christ the second Adam SECT 4. In the third place Mark well The sinnes 3. Falls and backslidings though repeated shall not condemne the spiritual walker of those that walk after the Spirit shall not hinder the benefit of Christs salvation from them no not their falls in their walk not their back-slidings nor their relapses into the same iniquity again The Apostle boldly affirms there is ro condemnation to them tâ—ey are in Christ and to them that are in Christ there is no conâ—emnation They that are in Christ have the benefit of all the salvation which is in him salvation is full where there is no condemnation They sinne but Christ is their Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. Jer. 31. 18 19 20. Christ is their propâ—tâ—atâ—on They bemoan themselves for their untractable hearts God owns them for children dear by Adoption in Christ Jesus he spares and pities with fatherly yearning bowels as Ps 103. 13 14. Their falls was said before And as for their falls their falls are with rising again with as it were another conversion with a new setting in joynt again They grow better by their falls as did David and Peter not that it is ere the better that they fall or that they are better than those that hold on their way and walk in uprightnesse without falls but thus they are better than they were before they fell they recover the fall and walk on with the more self-denial watchfulnesse holy jealousie speedy stedfastnesse and redoubled zeal and power they were over-taken in a fault and they run the faster tread the streighter and surer They did the Lord dishonour and disservice they now mind the more his honour and some higher service if none fall in their way they will make famous to his honour their own shame owned in repentings but nevet more come near the very appearance of commission or perpetration of such sin by their good will Their falls therefore shall not hinder their salvation No nor their back-sâ—idings I distinguish Their back-slidings them thus A fall into some particular sinne A back-sliding is a departing from the faith or from the holy way back-sliding is of the nature of Apostasie in doctrine or practice there is a new Religion and another frame of conversation in back-sliding As Apostasie is
in the love of sin lyes the dominion of sin and it will enable to mortifie the deeds of that body of death It fills with the fruits against which there is no Law and it sets the soul at liberty 4. They are no debtors to the flesh they owe it neither suit not service but they are debtors to the Spirit they owe all they are and have towards salvation unto him 5. They are servants to righteousnesse the Covenant of their hearts when Ro. 8. 17. they first knew the grace of God in Christ to sinners in truth and they first saw the Son in the Gospel and believed on him was to be bound servants to righteousness and disavow the service of sinne And the Covenant of grace sets them free from sin that they might be the more servants of righteousnesse which is absolute and perfect liberty and this it doth for those that were servants of sin and free from righteousnesse which is absolute and perfect vassalage Who would run from his liberty to his bondage Who would be at full liberty who is daily and hourly threatened and dogg'd by that which would bring him into bondage and slavery A slave in the gallies would give himself up with all his heart to one able to give full deliverance and the more he hath felt and tasted such a powerful gracious hand the more so long as he is in any danger would he give himself up fully into such a hand Quest But do those that retain their integrity do as well as they can and as they might according to the measure of grace received and according to the means of grace which they do enjoy because some Ministers urge this much and do lay some stresse upon it when they exhort Christians to do what they can and comfort them if they do what they are able and it is usual with all in whom no work of grace discovereth it self in the conversation to plead and rest much upon this that they do and will do as God shall give them grace as if there were no fault in them and as if rather the fault were in God who giveth them no greater a measure Answ This is a certain truth There is no man that ever lived since the fall of our first Parents that walketh up to the light he hath received of God or to the means which God hath given him or hath done all that he might according to the gift and ability which he hath received he is a sinner against his light he Ro. 2. 3. hath his own thoughts accusing many times he pollutes himself in his own gifts Both Jews and Gentiles are guilty in this kinde and as for the regenerate First They have a will graciously inclined so to walk but this will is yoked with another backward crosse and thwart will which although it be subdued and be as it were under tribute yet it is not quite destroyed and sometimes it is up in rebellion and leads them Captive they cannot do what they would Secondly Their renewed will doth rule their walks and that so farre as to the measure of grace received and of the means enjoyed in a prevailing proportion I say prevailing so farre as to a greater strength than they themselves had before they had that measure and enjoyed that means but not to a proportion of strength that answers fully the measure received and the means enjoyed No Saint on earth which doth all that he ought to do No Saint on earth that doth all that he might do and therefore we must be humbled for our failings stirre up the gifts that are in us watch against spiritual slothfulnesse and negligence suffer the word of exhortation take heed of quenching the Spirit and of despising prophesying or faithful preaching and live by faith in the Lord Christ for righteousnesse and for strength Hitherto of the explication of this comfortable truth SECT 8. The demonstration of this doctrine The demonstration of rhis truth four ways in the general is worthy consideration or the reasons why comfort and assurance are not destroyed by the sinnes found upon those who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit 1. Because of the Covenant of Grace under whâ—ch they are If they were under the Law if they were to stand or fall by the Covenant of Works their sins would condemn them but they are under the Gospel the Law of faith and that proclaims a Jubilee unto them Not that the Gospel allows of any sinne it forbids all sinne These things saith John I write Isa 61. 1 2 unto you that you sinne not It is as full and strict in forbidding all sinne and as severe in condemning all sinne as the Law is or can be and that to those who have received the free-gift even the justification of life and the Spirit of Grace and of Adoption It is the voice of the Gospel Abstain from all appearance of evil from all kinde of sinne and from all appearance of sinne of what sort soever it be It destroyes the dominion of sinne which thing the Law cannot do because the Law neither knows of a Ransome nor giveth the Spirit to renew sanctifie and priviledge and form to Adoption but the Gospel ptoclaims a Jubilee in that it brings in Christ a sinne-offeriâ—g a Ransome an Advocate with the Father and a Propitiation and in Christ it brings in God reconciling them to himself not imputing trespasses God in Covenant merciful to their transgressions and remembring their sinnes no more and through Christ God pouring out the Spirit of grace and supplication and sending the Spirit of his Sonne into their hearts God accepts them in Christ the beloved and by his Spirit through the Gospel he is perfecting that which concerns them never forsaking the works of his own hands in the regeneration he is accomplishing all the good pleasure of his goodnesse towards them and the work of faith with power in them 2. Because of the indissolublenesse of the chain of salvation in which in their effectual calling they are actually taken half off and in their justification they are actually acquitted from their sinnes and from damnation and adjudged unto everlasting life 3. Because it is not they that do commit sinne it is their flesh that Ro. 7. 25. Gal. 5. 24. doth them which they hale to the Crosse and have and do crucifie And while the Spirit leads them and hath the guidance of their conversation what ever sinne there is with them it is but of an enemy troubling and yet kept under 4. That which any man soweth that Gal. 6. 7 8 shall he reap now these believers sow not to the flesh but to the Spirit but because they yet have many sinnes and many a brush by them they sow in tears neverthelesse they go forth they carry precious seed with them sowing Ps 126. 5 6. they will be while they have time be the season a dirty winter season therefore
yet such as is tending unto and will attain perfection but not in this life but it is not a righteousnesse to stand in without spot before the Throne of God it is not a Righteousnesse to justifie a sinner in Gods sight it is not a Righteousnesse that God ever appointed for such a work or purpose And secondly they think to squeeze out the comfort of their being in Christ and of the promises to those that are in Christ by reasoning objecting and seeking resolution of their objections and by the examination of themselves by all the light they can get which things are good in themselves and duties as we may have opportunities but not the main thing for they should seek their comfort and settlement chiefly by walking on holily great establishment is in well-doing Comfort should not be expected presently it must have a time to spring and ripen upon a Tree of righteousnesse which the Lord hath planted and which brings forth the fruits of righteousnesse and than the blessing of comfort By diligent adding of one 2 Pet. 1. 5 8 10. grace to another in our practice we become fruitful in the knowledge of Christ and so we make our calling Isa 32. 17. and election sure A barren life be the knowledge never so great and the profession never so high strict and splendid will be but unsetled and uncomfortable The fruit of righteousnesse is peace and the effect of it is quietnesse and assurance for ever SECT 10. Be not therefore reasoning so much but be walking up and be doing and 2. Of exhortation and encouragement the Lord shall be with you Thou hast great encouragement in thy leader and in thy way the leader is the Spirit the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit in the New Testament dispensation the highest that ever shall be till our Lord Christ appears in his glory and great power at the last day Thy way it is the way of all Saints and believers from the beginning of the world this was the character of the godly in all ages as Henoch Noah before the flood Abraham David Hezekiah Zachary and Elizabeth the holy Apostles and all other the Saints of God to walk with God It is the way of the upright not to look what strength and measure of grace they have and what they have done or to think they are already perfect but waiting on him who is their strength to go on and reach forth to that which is before eying the price of their high calling in Christ Jesus It is the surest way to comfort not to look chiefly to our affections feelings and joyes but to our walks and this is most distinguishing this brings most glory to God and edification to others Others by the story of our affections joyes experiences may be made fancyfull and put into a fools Paradise and be raised to admiration of our persons which ends usually in imitating our evils or in doating upon some phrase of words or notions and high strains of opinion or in self-admiration as having themselves out-stripped us and all others and they are disdained now as low and carnal in comparison of themselves as much as before they were exalted and magnified by them as the onely spiritual It is most comfortable and excellent when our lives confute our reasonings answer our objections shew our faith confirme our interest in Christ as it is most comfortlesse and abominable when our joyes perswasions confidences hopes and our faith also are confuted by our lives Walk then after the Spirit and receive Of exhortation and direction the instruction and direction which lieth in the bowels of this Exhortation First The Word of God which is the Spirits testimony and witnesse that 's the rule and way for thy walk but remember that the power to walk is from Christ flowing by his Spirit into thee through the Word walk on then but fetch power daily from Christ giving out his Spirit by the Word Secondly be putting in still into thy aright ordered Conversation that which is lacking enlarge thy heart to all the Articles of faith that their mold and stamp may be upon thy life to all the Commandments that the righteteousnesse of them may be respected and expressed and to all Christs Ordinances that the fruit and special ends of them for which they were instituted for the benefit of Gods Elect may be attained and be made more and more manifest that they are attained Thirdly Be not hearkning what thine own heart saith but what the Lord saith by his Spirit in the Word who speaketh heace to his Saints and while he speaketh peace and no condemnation Ps 85. 8. speaks as effectually that they turn not again to folly but keep on their spiritual walk Fourthly Be not wicked over-much when thou carriest a strict hand over thy sinful deceitful heart lookest over thy wayes with as prying an eye as can malice it self or thy vigilant enemy the Divel himself so farre as truth will bear judgest thy self severely and livest as one condemned in the flesh see Eccl. 7. 17 what Christ hath done for thee what the Spirit hath wrought in thee be not so foolish as to deny his grace in thee which thy walk speaks and testifies for thee to thy conscience and before God and men why shouldest thou so wickedly torment thy self and dye before thy time As it is evil to be righteous over-much by arrogating to thy selfe more than is right so is it a dangerous evil to be wicked overmuch in denying or undervaluing what God hath graciously wrought in thee Condemne the flesh but own and justifie the Spirit Fifthly Walk on remembring the work is begun which God will perfect the greatest work is done already even the quickning thee from the dead it is a farre greater work to give life from the dead than to cause to walk and to uphold him that walketh thou hast been enabled to do and hast done the greatest work already thou hast crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections thereof so saith our Apostle Ther that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5. 24. Sixthly When thou seest abroad the Heresies Divisions Apostasies Back-slidings Superstitions Formality Conceited Pride of Spirit Luke-warmnesse Sensuality Security Incorrigiblenesse Impenitency Atheisme Earthly-mindednesse Profanesse and wickednesses of all sorts in many in too many remember thou hast flesh the seed of all this within thee and get away from thy self loath thy self and so walk on Seventhly be not turned off by the flesh's lustings walk though the flesh fret and grinde walk though hell be moved walk though thy way be straitned walk for thy estate is safe thy way good and on high walk though envy spite thee and the flesh way-lay thee for God will keep thy foot from being taken Eighthly be not quarrelling with God but walking humbly say not Why doth not God give me a full and perfect deliverance so soon as