God that ye present your bodies that is I conceive taking a part for the whole their bodies and souls their whole selves a sacrifice living holy acceptable unto God And therefore all that will approve themselves unto God must look upon themselves as under a double consecration as dedicated to God under a twofold Notion and Respect both as Priests and as Sacrifices How then should they study labour and follow after holiness Both Priests and sacrifices under the old Testament were consecrated to God as holy He that was unclean was not fit as a Priest to sacrifice How should they strive to be holy as the Lord is holy who should be both Priests and Sacrifices And therefore it is said Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good that perfect and acceptable will of God As the Priests were chosen out and separated from other men and consecrated as holy to the Lord and the sacrifices were chosen out and severed from the common herds and flocks to be offered up to God so Christians must not be conformed to this world nor follow the common throngs and herds according to the course of the world but be transformed new framed in conformity to Christ that they may be both Priests and sacrifices acceptable to the Lord. Secondly as Priests of the new Testament they must offer holy services and duties of obedience as spiritual sacrifices to the Lord. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise So the Apostle speaking of that contribution which the Philippians sent unto him being a Prisoner for the Gospel of Christ said I have all and abound I am full having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you an odour of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable well pleasing to the Lord. It might also be noted how the Priests and Levites were teachers in Israel as Christ is the great Preacher and Prophet of the Church but I know not whether herein he be not more lively represented by the Prophets of the old Testament this belonging to his Prophetical office But here by the way I think it seasonable to put you in mind that in all the new Testament I am confident it cannot be found that the Ministers of the Gospel are called Priests in respect of their particular calling or office The extraordinary Ministers are called Prophets Apostles Evangelists the ordinary are termed Pastors Teachers sometimes Bishops or Overseers Elders or Presbyters never Priests for a Priest by office is one that offereth sacrifice for Propitiation for appeasing the wrath of God and so there is no Priest of the new Testament but the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore when prophane persons do in scorn call the Preachers of the Gospel Priests they commit a double sin and shew double prophaneness 1. Attributing that name to them which iâ— proper to Christ. 2. Accounting that Title of Christ a word of reproach And therefore I find not that Ministers of the new Testament are any where called Priests in Scripture but only as all other true believers are which Christ hath made Kings and Priests to offâ—â— spiritual sacrifices If the Popish shavelings will take upon them that Title as pretending to offer the very body of Christ to God iâ— the Mass What is that to the Ministers of the Gospel who detest that abominaâ—â—on Sixthly Take notice of some sacred thingâ— that were subservient to sacred or holy â—ses And First The Tabernacle which the Lord directed Moses to raise instead whereof afterwards Solomon erected a Temple In some things these two agreed in some they differed 1. Both of them were framed by the Lords appointment For the Tabernacle thâ— Lord gave command to Moses Exod. the 25 and the 26. And David shews that the Lord made choice of Solomon his Son to build hiâ— house and his Courts and David gave to Solomon the pattern of the Temple and thâ— things belonging to it by the spirit all thâ— said David the Lord made me to understand by his hand upon me even all the works 〈◊〉 this pattern 2. Both were dedicated to God as places designed for his special presence and therefore each of them was called his house both were places appointed for special ordinances of God not to be used elsewhere They differed in that the Tabernacle was a slight frame of boards and Curtains the Temple a substantial building The Tabernacle was a moveable Tent that might be carried from place to place The Temple fixt upon its foundation in one certain place I conceive both of them did 1. Primarily signifie the precious body the flesh the humane nature of Christ the word was made flesh and dwelt among us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in a Tabernacle in a mortal weak body exposed to sufferings and death Christ being come a High-Priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands c. So the Lord Christ calleth his body a Temple destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up The Iews seemed to take it of the Temple of Hierusalem but he spake of the Temple of his body As God is said to dwell in the Tabernacle and Temple made with hands because there he vouchsafed his special presence there he setteth up his worship and ordinances so God dwelleth in a peculiar manner in the humane nature of Christ in him dwelleth all the fullness of the god-head bodily or substantially The godhead is united personally to the humane nature of Christ for verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham The Lord Christ made choice of the Nature of Man for his Tabernacle rather than of the Nature of glorious Angels Hence that part of the great mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh the invisible God taking the humane Nature into the unity of his person became not only visible but actually seen and manifest in the flesh This sheweth 1. His wonderful condescension and voluntary abasement of himself that he who filleth Heaven and Earth was pleased to dwell as it were in a Cottage in the flesh in the Nature of man The Creator became a creature yet still remaining the Creator The Son of God became also the Son of man He who made all things as he is God was made of a woman as he is man 2. Herein appeareth his unconceivable love to mankind that he was pleased to become bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh their kinsman of the same blood for all Nations of men are made of one blood so that there is a consanguinity between Christ and other men he was pleased to become their
power and Authority striving to abolish the Law and to deface the likeness of God's holiness out of the minds of all mankind for ever that God should have none amongst the children of men to serve obey and honour him but all of them should become slaves and vassals to the Devils being led captive by them at their will 2. They aimed at the destruction of mankind to bring them into the same condemnation with themselves by blotting out the Law written in their minds according to which they should have walked and according to which they shall be judged and bringing them under a contrary Law of sin and death so then God having written this Law in the soul and the Devil having blotted it out and brought mankind under a contrary Law of sin In the third place let us consider the work of the Lord Iesus Christ that was to destroy the works of the Devil Saith the Apostle Iohn He that committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the begining for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil He that committeth sin he that maketh sin his business sinning with the full bent of his will is of the Devil He remaineth in that condition into which the Devil brought mankind at the first subject to the Law and power of sin which is quite contrary to that Law of righteousness and holiness which God imprinted upon the soul of man in the Creation for the Devil sinneth from the beginning he sinned and fell from God and he drew men into sin and still leadeth them on in a course of sin and disobedience against God Now saith the Apostle for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil He doth not say barely that the Son of God destroyed the works of the Devil but for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that c. one great work of the Devil as ye heard was to deface the likeness of God in the soul of man and to bring him under a Law of sin This work among others Christ came to destroy where note 1. That no meer Creature was able to destroy this work of the Devil It may be some may think that good and holy Angels might be as able to undo this evil work as Devils or evil Angels were to do it But it is not so the reason is not because the good Angels have less power than the Devils but because of the nature of that work of the Devil for the work of the Devil was a destroying work as hath been shewed it was the destroying of the Law of mans Creation which was written in his soul the defacing and blotting out of Gods hand-writing the likeness of Gods holiness and the subjecting of man to the destroying Law of sin it was the taking away of mans spiritual life by dividing him from God the fountain of life Now to destroy or undo this destructive work of Satan is to abolish that Law of sin and death in man and to write that contrary Law in the soul of man which Satan had blotted out that is to restore man to the likeness of God to fashion him again after the Image of God in knowledge Righteousness and holiness to raise man whom Satan had murdered to spiritual life Now it requireth a far greater power to repair and restore then to destroy one Murderer may take away life all the Angels in Heaven nor all the men on earth cannot restore life to the dead None but the living God can do it who is the fountain of life So the Devil and man yeilding to the Devils suggestion could destroy spiritual life The Law written in the heart of man that primitive perfection and integrity of mans Nature framed after the Image of God in knowledge righteousness and holiness but no meer Creatures none but the Prince of life the supream Law-giver by whom all things were made could restore spiritual life write this primitive Law in the soul of man But it may be Objected That this work which the Apostle Iohn saith Christ came into the world to do is a work of destroying I Answ. We are to consider the object of this destroying work of Christ what it was that Christ destroyed that was a destructive work wrought by the Devil that great destroyer and Murderer Christ came to destroy that destruction which Satan had wrought to destroy destruction is to repair and restore that which was destroyed to destroy death is to restore life So the Apostle speaking of the Resurrection of Believers to glory saith When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory Death had slain thousands of Saints and Christ by restoring them to life raising them to immortality and everlasting life shall swallow up death in victory So in the Prophecy of Hosea I will ransome them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from Death O death I will be thy Plague O Grave I will be thy destruction The Lord may be said as it were to kill death and to destroy or bury the grave when he ransometh his people from death and the grave and raiseth them up to everlasting life So in this case when Christ is said to destroy the destructive works of Satan ye must understand that he was to restore that which Satan had ruined This no meer Creature in Heaven and Earth was able to do and therefore in the second place the Son of God undertook it it was a work of Almighty power to restore the Law of mans Creation spiritual life the Likeness of God his Righteousness and Holiness to any of Adams posterity to any of the seed of the woman and to inable any of them to perform â—ull and perfect obedience to the Law None but God could do it and therefore the Son of God who is very God performed it The Devil seemed for ever to have deprived mankind of the Image of God and for ever to have disabled all the Sons of men from fulfilling the Law but the Son of God confounded Satan herein and destroyed this destroying work of the Devil by restoring that which he had destroyed by framing one of Adams posterity one of the seed of the woman after the Image of God in righteousness and holiness and inabling him perfectly in every point to fulfill the Law Thirdly The Apostle shews how the Son of God performed this great work it was by the manifestation of himself For this purpose the Son of God was manifested c. His manifestation was his incarnation his being made flesh taking the nature of man into the unity of his person for the Son of God in his divine nature is invisible not manifested but when he became Man he was
divisions and stirs and contentions followed by accident not from the Nature of the doctrine delivered by Christ and his Apostles But 1. From the malice of Satan 2. From the Corruption Blindness Perverseness of mens Spirits First From the malice of Satan who looked upon the powerful preaching of Christ his Gospel as an Engine of battery planted against his strong-holds He being the Prince of darkness extreamly hateth the Light and therefore whereas he possessed all in peace before when the light of the Gospel breaketh forth he betaketh himself to his arms standeth upon his guard striveth to keep possession of the hearts and souls of men Yea he is not content to make a defensive War only but rageth and laboureth to put out the light stirreth up his instruments to oppose and persecute those that receive the love of the Truth and give up their names and hearts to Christ. Secondly The Corruption of mans Nature the blindness and perverseness of their spirits is a cause of theâ—e divisions and commotions Their ignorance errours lusts sinful courses are reproved by the word yea others receiving and obeying it is a condemning of their unbelief impenitency disobedience and therefore they are easily perswaded by Satan to oppose and persecute the Truth and them that embrace it So that it is from the malignity of their hearts that divisions follow I may add yet a third cause Thirdly And that is the weakness of some who for the main do embrace and love the Truth but for want of more clear and solid judgements do differ and dissent in things of lesâ— moment whereupon follow estrangements and too much alienation of affection And aâ— Satan and the world took occasion to stir up contention and cause division upon occasion of Christ his coming and preaching so also upon the publishing of the Gospel by hiâ— Apostles and by consequent by other faithful Preachers of the Truth Paul and Barnabas at Iconium so spake that a great multitude both of the Iews and also of the Greekâ— believed Here was the proper effect oâ— Christs spirit working in the Gospel preached it made peace between God and men and united Iews and Gentiles together who werâ— odious to each other Now see also the effect of Satans malice and the perverseness oâ— unbelievers in taking occasion hence to cause divisions But the unbelieving Iews stirred uâ— the Gentiles and made their minds evil affected against the Brethren It seemeth these mischievous persons then began to kindle the fire of contention in the breasts of ignorant persons but it did not presently flame out And therefore in the third verse we find that these faithful servants of Christ went on in their work without interruption Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord which gave testimony to the word of his Grace and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands But at length this fire of Hell that lay smothered under the ashes brake forth the multitude of the City was divided and part held with the Iews and part with the Apostles and an assault was made both of the Gentiles and Iews People and Rulers to use them despitefully and stone them so that the Apostles fled and preached the Gospel elsewhere Here it is as clear as the Sun that the unbelievers and enemies of the Truth were the cause of this division If we should trace the Apostle Paul in his travels from place to place where shall we find a place free from divisions not caused by his preaching but following occasionally from his preaching Satan and his Agents kindling the coals of contention The Apostle could not bring men to Christ by his Ministry but he must of necessity wrest them out of the power of Satan and call them from the course of the world and thereupon Satan and the world were enraged and so contentions and divisions followed Second Caution The use of this may be First To teach us more seriously to lay to heart and bewayle the great and lamentable inundation and overflowing of Errours and Heresies among us Saith Iohn I beheld and heard an Angel flying through the midst of Heaven saying with a loud Voice Woe Woe Woe to the inhabitants of the Earth by reason of the other voices of the Trumpet of the three Angels which are yet to sound Before we may read of seven Angels with their seven Trumpets now after four of them had sounded and sad consequents followed here is a solemn preparation made against the sounding of the three last It seemeth the reasoâ— is because the calamities following should be more grievous than the former and accordingly an Angel flying through the midst of Heaven denounceth three woes to the Inhabiters of the Earth It is supposed this Angel was Gregory 1. Bishop of Rome said to fly through the midst of Heaven or the middle space between Heaven and Earth because on the one side he came nearer the heavenly purity of doctrine and worship than his Successors but was yet far below that heavenly purity of the primitive and Apostolical times and so declining toward the earth according to the corrupt times wherein he lived who by foretelling that the King of Pride was at hand Antichrist was at hand with an army of Priests follow-him gave warning of these woes approaching Soon after this warning given the fifth Angel sounded which is the first of the three woe-bringing Trumpets as they may be called and the first consequent following is thus expressed And I saw a Star fall from Heaven unto the Earth and to him was given the key of the bottomless Pit It is conceived that this Star noteth out both the Pope in the West and that false Prophet Mahomet in the East who though they differed far from each other in their particular way of acting yet they both promoted the main design of the Prince of darkness and therefore may well be represented by one Star falling from Heaven and said to have the Key of the bottomless Pit They fell from Heaven from the heavenly purity of the true Church often called Heaven in this Book About three years after the death of Gregory his Successor Boniface the third received of Phocas the perfidious Emperor who murdered his Master Mauritius the Emperor with his children the Title of Universal Bishop and so a vast power to work mischief in the Church which accordingly was put in execution as it followeth And he opened the bottomless-pit and there arose a smoak out of the Pit as a smoak of a great furnace and the Sun and the Air were darkned by reason of the smoak of the Pit The smoak of errours and superstitions like a most loathsom fogg came out of the bottomless pit darkning the light of the truth and blinding the eyes of men the efficacy of errour and strong delusion bewitching multitudes of poor souls Besides this out of the smoak came locusts upon the earth huge multitudes of Monks and Fryers
him who is invisible and so despising earthly things Labour for union with Christ that partaking of his Spirit ye may partake of his holiness and graces and so of his beauty and glory Holiness beautifieth and adorneth the soul and ptepareth it for perfection of heavenly beauty and glory whereas sin doth both defile and disfigure the soul filling it with deformity This being noted in general I intend to mention some few of the particulars First The two precious stones upon the two shoulders of the Ephod or Priestly Robe wherein were ingraven the Names of the twelve tribes of Israel six in one stone and six in the other so that the high-priest bare their Names upon his two shoulders 1. This may note unto us the support which the Lord giveth unto his Church and to all the living members of it He beareth them as it were upon his shoulders Hence it is that his little flock hath been preserved in the midst of so many wolves from age to age Vpon this rock I will build my Church aud the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it What a blessed priviledge have they that are in Christ being built upon him as a rock immoveable and upheld by him born upon his shoulders who is their eternal high-priest 2. See how precious the people of Christ are in his account as if their names were engraven in precious stones and set in ouches or bosses of Gold 2. The breast-plate of Iudgement in which was to be set four rows of precious stones three in a row in all twelve stones of several kinds and in these again were ingraven the twelve names of the twelve Tribes of Israel and so Aaron was to bear the Names of the Children of Israel in the breast-plate of judgment upon his heart when he went into the holy place for a memorial before the Lord continually 1. See the tender love and affection which the Lord Christ hath toward his people he beareth them upon his breast upon his heart continually he shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom next his heart and therefore it seemeth the Church prayes to Christ set me as a seal upon thine heart that tender love which moved him to let out his heart blood for their redemption is still so powerful and prevailing with him that he beareth them upon his heart in heaven 2. Ought not Christians then to bear Christ upon their hearts to entertain him to dwell in their hearts by faith to cleave unto him in love and walk in him following the guidance of his spirit 3. Christ this eternal high-priest beareth the Names of his people upon his breast-plate or heart now that he is in heaven before his Father for a memorial before his face continually I conceive this noteth Christ his intercession for his people He presenteth their names before his Father in Heaven as the High-priest did in the holy place on the earth which was a figure of Heaven Blessed are they whose Names God the Father readeth engraven upon the breast-plate written upon the heart of his beloved Son in whom he is well-pleased What is there that such may not obtain of the Father through the Son And how should all labour to give in their names and to give up their hearts to Christ that he may bear their names upon his heart for a memorial before the face of God continually Thirdly Vpon the hemme of the High-priests Robe were placed golden Bells and Pomegranates that his sound might be heard when he went in unto the holy place before the Lord and when he came out so the Lord Christ entring in to the most holy place in heaven after his death and resurrection maketh a most sweet and pleasing sound in the ears of his Father far beyond that of golden bells his mediation and intercession in behalf of his people grounded upon the merit of his death sacrifice and satisfaction maketh heavenly melody before his Father Jesus the mediator of the new Covenant and the blood of sprinking which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel And these Pomegranates may well resemble the sweet savour of Christs sacrifice Again Aarons bells were heard to sound not only when he went in to the holy place but also when he came out Now although the Lord Christ as he is man continueth within the most holy place not made with hands and doth not come out again yet he sent down his spirit upon his Apostles soon after and caused these golden bells to give a most pleasant sound throughout the several Quarters of the world publishing the glad tidings of pardon and salvation through Christ to the comfort and refreshing of many thousand souls and the precious promises of the Gospel published in the name of Christ were as Pomegranats that yeilded a pleasant smell to the reviving of many fainting hearts and drooping spirits Had we circumcised hearts and ears gracious spirits heavenly affections how pleasant would the sound of the Gospel preached how sweet would the promises of it be unto us Fourthly The Lord gave this Command Thou shalt make a plate of pure Gold and grave upon it like the engravings of a fignet Holiness to the Lord and this golden plate was put on the forefront of the Mitre and so to be worne on the forehead of the High-priest that he might bear the iniquity of the holy things which the Children of Israel should hallow in all their holy gifts and it was to be always upon his forehead that they might be accepted before the Lord. The Inscription I suppose may be read either Holiness to the Lord or the Holiness of the Lord. 1. Here see how the Lord Christ whose holiness and righteousness is of infinite worth and value the holiness and righteousness of Iehovah of him who is very God taketh away the iniquities and pollutions of the duties services spiritual sacrifices offered by his people Aaron did bear these but in a figure and in a way of representation Christ did really bear them and his holiness and righteousness of Jehovah is imputed to them and is alone sufficient to take away all their uncleanness and to procure acceptance for them How should Christians be humbled that such is the corruption of their natures and imperfection of their graces that the best of their services the holiest of their offerings have such iniquity cleaving to them that they need the imputation of Christs righteousness to cover them And again this may comfort them that are in Christ and are sincere in their services and stir them up to thankfulness that such a precious remedy is provided them in this case even the Holiness of Jehovah 2. This golden plate with this Inscription on the forehead of the High-priest may intimate unto us that God the
Son who are one God and two distinct persons then his God-head is expresly asserted And the word was God the same God with the Father all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made all the Creatures were made by Christ of nothing and therefore he is very God for by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were Created by him and for him and he is before all things and by him all things consist not only all visible Creatures on Earth but also all the glorious Angels of Heaven were created by him and his eternity is declared He is before all things his Almighty power is asserted by him all things consist The frame of the world would fall in peices the Beings of the Creatures would be disjoynted dissolved did not his Almighty Arm hold all together He upholdeth all things by the word of power and least any blasphemous adversary of Christ his God-head should object that Christ might create the world as aâ— instrument and inferiour Agent under the Father The Apostle telleth us All things were created not only by him but also for him He is the principal Agent and he is the cheif end of the Creation They were made for his glory a clear evidence to prove him to be very God the same God with the Father for it is the peculiar Prerogative of God to be the highest of the whole Creation for whom all things were made for of him and through him and to him are all things to him in this place and for him in the other have the same sense and the original is the same in both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Apostle shews That Christ being in the form of God thought or judged it to be no Robbery to be equal with God in all eternity he was in the form of God he was really properly essentially God and therefore judged it to be no robbery to be equal with God This cutteth off all cavils for how could it have been less then an high degree of robbery or Sacriledge for any one that was not as truly and properly God as the Father even the same God with the Father to judge himself equal with God in as much as God the Creator is infinitely above the most excellent of the Creatures Secondly He took upon him the Nature of man the word was made flesh The eternal word or Son of God who was before all time without beginning of dayes was pleased in the fulness of time to be made flesh not by transmutation but by assumption not by turning his unchangeable God-head into flesh but by taking flesh that is a true humane Nature soul and body into the unity of his person so uniting the nature of man to his God-head as to make it properly his own to become one person with himself the God-head being never separated again from the manhood nor confounded with it both natures remaining distinct but never divided from each other the same Christ remaining perfect God and perfect man so where it is shewed that being in the form of God c. it followeth But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of men and found in fashion as a man c. And without controversie great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh This is indeed a great mystery of such an height and depth and far exceedeth the reach of mens understandings yet a most certain and infallible truth to be received by faith and it was necessary the Redeemer of manking should be both God and man that he might satisfie the justice of God and bear the penalty of the Law due to the sins of the world First It was necessary that he should be God 1. That he might inable the humane nature to bear the weight of Gods wrath and revenging justice to support the manhood from sinking under it and being swallowed up of it whom God hath raised up having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it death had taken a prisoner whom it was no way able to hold Jesus Christ as he was man suffered death and lay dead in the grave but as he was God he raised his humane nature from the dead Secondly That the infinite worth and excellency of his God-head might make his sufferings of sufficient value to satisfie the justice of God and the severity of the Law for the numberless sins of the world the same man that suffered being one person with God and so his sufferings being though not the sufferings of the God-head yet the sufferings of God that is the sufferings of him who is God and therefore it is said that God hath purchased a Church with his own blood And what is there which the blood of God was not sufficient to purchase Secondly It was necessary Christ should be man that he might satisfie the Law and bear the penalty 1. That he might be subject to the Law for it was impossible that the God-head should be made under the Law because the Law received its Authority from God and therefore could have no Authority over him therefore he was made of a womnn and so made under the Law 2. That he might be in a capacity to suffer the full penalty of the Law for it is impossible for the God-head which is the fountain of life to dye or to bear the Curse being the fulness of blessedness and therefore saith the Apostle We see Jesus who was made a little lower then the Angels for the suffering of death He that being very God was infinitely higher then the Angels took into the unity of his person a nature a little lower then the Angels scil the nature of man and that for the suffering of death and so for the satisfying of the Law 3. That He might make Satisfaction to the Law and bear the punishment of it in the sâ—me nature of man in which the Law was transgressed and broken for verily He took not on him the nature of Angels but He took on him the seed of Abraham wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people to make satisfaction for the transgressions of the people against the Law and to reconcile them to God the Law-giver 3. He took upon him the guilt of mens sins putting himself into the state and standing in the state of guilty sinners as it were putting his Name into their Bond and voluntarily taking their debts upon himself all we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the
eminent Saints of his to err in some things that men may learn not to think of men above that which is meet but to give that great prerogative of infallibility to the God of truth alone who hath revealed his Truth in the holy Scriptures and therefore Christians should try all spirits and doctrines by this Rule bring them all to the Law and to the Testimony concluding that if they speak not according to this Rule it is because there is no light in them no light in their doctrine so far as it will not endure the trial of Scripture light yea the Apostle speaks very high in this case Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached let him be accursed If it were possible for a blessed Angel to preach false doctrine we must reject and cleave to the Scripture against all contradiction For answer to the Second Question In as much as Satan and the corrupt nature of man are the cause of Errours and Heresies What is the reason that many carnal persons both such as are of civil conversation and fair moral principles and also such as are loose and licentious yea openly profane are free from errours in such places and ages where when false doctrines abound whereas they are such in whom the corruption of nature raigneth and such as are held captive by Satan according to his will For answer to this I conceive First that some such persons being naturally quick of apprehension and judicious may be so clearly convinced of some truths that though many deny them and oppose them yet they will stand to them especially when there is liberty for all sides to hold and profess what they list and a man may stick to the Truth without loss and danger in such cases natural Conscience is a strong tye upon mens spirits to cause them not willfully to deny a known Truth Secondly Some may affect the reputation of constancy being loth to be noted for light vain and fickle persons and therefore in as much as it was their lot to be trained up from their childhood in the truth they will cleave to it howsoever others cast it off so long as they see they may do it with safety They account it a childish thing to hearken to every novelty and vain fancy as indeed it is and therefore not becoming their gravity It may be they would have been as obstinate in error had they happened to have been taught it in their youth as now they seem to be constant in the Truth Is not this apparent in divers at this day who stand firm in doctrinal truths and remain perversely stiffe in old Ceremonyes and superstitious observances which have no footing in the holy Scriptures because they have been trained up in both On the one side they were trained up under sound doctrine concerning the main points of faith On the other side they received some superstitious observances by tradition and therefore they will part with neither Thirdly I suppose Satan having possession of carnal persons another way doth not much tempâ— some of them to renounce the Truth and entertain errours because they are not such as are likely to do him any special service in promoting false doctrines Fourthly many carnal persons may be engaged to stand for the Truth against errors because some whom they respect or upon whom they depend or of whom they look for some advantage go that way Fifthly many carnal persons seem to be indifferent in matter of Religion They are serious and hearty about things that bring in profit in following their business or in pursuing their pleasures in satisfying their lusts they think it no great matter what men hold or profess in matter of doctrine When the Iews accused the Apostle Paul for teaching false doctrine saith Gallio the Roman deputy If it be a question of words and names and of your law look ye to it for I will be no judge of such matters See how slightly he speaks of matters of Religion as if they were but empty words whereas the Question between Paul and the Iews was one of the weigtiest that ever was in controversie scil Whether the Lord Jesus were the Christ And so Festus another Roman Governour relating Pauls Case to King Agrippa accused by the Iews said When the Accusers stood up they brought none accusation of such things as I supsed but had certain questions against him of their own superstition and of one Iesus which was dead whom Paul affirmed to be alive It seemeth he thought these things to be frivolous queries not worthy of the cognizance of so great a Magistrate as himself whereas the Râ—surrection of Christ from the dead which was in question between Paul and his adversaries was such a fundamental point as that mans salvation depended upon it Thus it seemeth many are kept from embracing errours because they hold it a matter of no great weight what men profess in point of Religion But let all that mind their salvation receive the love of the Truth and walk in it hating and shunning every false opinion and every false way out of sincere love to the Lord Jesus Christ and true zeal for his Glory So much of the Question or Objection CHAP. II. THe Answer is first by way of abhorrence or detestation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let it not be or far be it from â—s which our translaturs render God Forbid I suppose because this English phrase is used in cases of like nature howsoever the Apostle by these words signified that he abhorred and detested such a consequence as to make void the Law by the doctrine of free justification through the righteousness of Christ applied by Faith Hence may be noted this point That gracious hearts do exceedingly abhor those opinions which corrupt or oppose the truth of God Heresies and false doctrines are odious to the godly 1. This may appear in many examples and first in the old Testament Moses did exceedingly abhorre the wicked counsel of Balaam whereby he taught the Midianites to deceivâ— the people of Israel so as to draw many of them from the worship of God to Idolatry and therefore saith he to the people arm some of your selves to the war and let them go against the Midianites and avenge the Lord of Midian which they did and slew the Males and five Kings of Midian and Balaam himself who gave this wicked counsel But Moses was not satisfied with this execution but was wroth with the officers of the Host and said unto them have ye saved all the women alive Behold these caused the Children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord and then he commanded them to kill all except the women children which were Virgins And it seemeth that
this was one of the last acts of Moses his life for the Lord said unto him avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites afterwards shalt thou be gathered unto thy people it was a work fit for him to do when he was ready to leave the world How odious were those Prophets of Baal to that zealous Prophet Elijah Saith he take the Prophets of Baal let not one of them escape and they took them and Elijah brought them down to the brook Chishon and slew them there Micaiah shewed his detestation of those lyes spoken by the false prophets when he told the King now therefore behold the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy Prophets The like may be shewed of the Prophet Ieremiah how he abhorred the lyes of those false Prophets Hananiah Ahab Zedekiah and Shemajah but I come to the Examples of the New Testament And first to begin with Iohn Baptist who came to prepare the way of the Lord with what zeal did he detest the corruption of doctrine brought in by the Pharises and Sadduces When he saw many of them come to his Baptisme he said unto them O generation of Vipers Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come But above all take the blessed Example of the Lord Jesus Christ with what heavenly zeal did he manifest his detestation of the false doctrine taught by the Scribes and Pharises Thus have ye made the Commandment of God of none effect by your tradition And he gave his Disciples this Caveat Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharises and of the Sadduces which is meant of their corrupt doctrine How sharply doth he reprove them and how many woes doth he denounce against them He calleth such Wolves Theeves and Robbers And the Apostles and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ being led by the spirit of Christ did abundantly discover how exceedingly they detested and abhorred Heresies and falsâ— doctrines The Apostle Peter inveigheth with much vehemency against false Teachers calleth their corrupt doctrines damnable heresies whereby they denyed the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction He terms their ways pernicious and shews how they make merchandise of souls He calleth them pernicious self-wilâ—ed and such as are not afraid to speak evil of dignities wells without water speaking greaâ— swelling words of vanity with divers other expressions St. Iude agreeth with St. Peter and among other passages compareth false Teachers to Cain Balaam Core The Apostle Iohn calleth them Antichrists adversaries to Christ and false Prophets They are called deceivers yea it is said ver 10 11. If there come any unto you and bring not thiâ— doctrine receive him not into your house neitheâ— bid him God speed for he that biddeth him Goâ— speed is partaker of his evil deeds In the Revelations written by St. Iohn the Angel oâ— Minister of the Church at Ephesus is commended for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans Pergamus is threatned because in that Church was found those that held the doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans and therefore t is added Repent or else I will comâ— unto thee quickly and will fight against theâ— with the sword of my mouth Thiatira is blamed for suffering the woman Iezabel which called her self a Prophetess to teach and seduce A great part of this book declareth the wickedness of the Whore of Babylon the Antichristian popish faction the mischief they do the Judgements of God hanging over them and how odious their false doctâ—ines and false worship is to God and his people The Apostle St. Paul as he laboured and wrote more than the rest so he is very plentiful in declaring his detestation of false doctrines and false teachers In his Epistle to the Romans â—he earnestly exhorteth the Saints I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them for they that are such serve not the Lord Iesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple He speaketh of those that cause divisions contrary to â—ound doctrine not of those that oppose false doctrine and corrupt customes whereupon sometimes divisions may follow through obâ—tinacy of those that resist the truth How largely doth he declare against that fundamental errour of them that denyed the resurrection He calleth them corrupt teachers false apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ Ministers of Satan and imitating their Master transforming themselves into the Ministers of righteousness as he being the Prince of darkness transformeth himself into an Angel of light How sharp and severe is he this way in the Epistle to the Galatians Though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gosâ—el unto you than that which ye have received let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again if any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed Yea he spared not that great Apostle Peter but withstood him to the face and gave him a publick reproofe because he did but warpe a little and by withdrawing from the believing Gentils for fear of offending the Iews gave occasion to men to question the doctrine of free justificâ—tâ—on through the righteousness of Christ alone and to think that circumcision and the ceremonies of the Law were necessâ—ry to justification Again saith he O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that yâ— should not obey the truth shewing that tâ— be led by â—alse teachers is to be befooled and bewitched Corrupts teachers bewitch and make fools of their followers Again saith he I would they were even cut off that troublâ— you He calleth false teachers dogs evil workers the Concision and sheweth that such are apt to beguile others with enticing words and to spoil them through Philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ intruding into those things which they have not seen vainly puffed up by their fleshly minds How notably doth he set forth Antichrist and his followers speaking of a grand apostacy and general falâ—ing away and calleth the head of it the man of sin the Son of perâ—ition who opposeth and exalteth himself c. He calleth the mystery of Antichrist the mystery of Iniquity He calleth him that wicked one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying the lawless one a term exactly agreeing to the Pope who trampleth upon the laws of Christ at his pleasure and exalteth his own Laws He sheweth that his coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish c. He sheweth that to fall into Heresie is to make shipwrack of faith
like Locusts overspreading the earth devouring the fruits of it These came out of the smoak of the bottomless pit the smoak of errours and superstitions for when such doctrines passed for currant that men might be saved by observing vain humane traditions that there was a Treasure in the Church filled up with the merits of those that had an overplus besides what was needful for themselves and that they who were benefactors to the Monks should be partakers of their merits how mad was the world in building Monasteries and giving their Land and goods to the Friers devoting their children to that profession Yea it seemeth divers noble persons and some Kings and Queens turning Monks and Nuns And as the smoak of the pit did breed the Locusts so the Locusts encreased the smoak and made the mists of darkness greater and thicker multiplying errours and superstitions If this were one of those grievous woes whereof the Angel flying through the midst of Heaven gave warning to the world how should we be humbled and ashamed in respect of the great earthliness dulness senselesness of spirit that is among us yea too much in those that have some love to the Truth that this great and woful evil doth so abound with us and is so little laid to heart Should not the very thought of it startle us that such thick and dark vollies of smoak in our days should break out of the bottomless pit and cover so great a part of our Land darkning the Air and Sun eclipsing the Light of the truth and putting out the eyes of many and so many Locusts deceivers and deceived coming out of the smoak of errours This ought to be for a Lamentation But how many that profess themselves Christians set their hearts so much upon their own private concernments their business wealth ease and pleasure c. and those that have something of a publick spirit yet confine their serious thoughts to the external good of the Common-wealth that they little or nothing regard these destructive evils that are of a spiritual nature If Gallio his temper who when complaint was made to him about differences in Religion slighted them as words and names and cared for none of these things may be thought tolerably or at at least not much to be marvailed at in an Heathen yet doubtless it is shameful and odious in a Christian. What! a Christian and not moved that Christ who is the Truth is so highly dishonoured by lyes and falshood taught and received instead of Truths that multitudes of poor souls are in a ready way to be destroyed by damnable doctrines that errours beget errours and are likely to overgrow the Truth to spread far and wide that so many are both infected by them and alienated from the remedy shunning the publick Ordinances where sound doctrine is taught that such bleeding wounds and Rents are made in the Church Art thou a Christian and so one that pretendest to be begotten with the word of Truth and hast thou no such principle of contrariety planted in thee against errours and false doctrines as to make them bitter and grievous to thee Some may raile at those that are misled and others may make a sport of their folly but how small is the number of those who like Christians mourn for them as dishonourable to Christ pernicious to souls How deeply was the holy Apostle affected with the obstinacy of the Iews in their errours in preferring the ceremonies of the Law above Christ the Substance and their own imaginary legal righteousness above the perfect righteousness of Christ applied by faith I say the truth in Christ. I lye not my Conscience also bearing me witness in the holy Ghost that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart for I could wish that I my self were accursed from Christ for my Brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh How passionately did he express himself to the Galatians who had once embraced the pure doctrine of the Gospel but afterwards suffered themselves to be so deluded by seducers as to seek justification by the Law My little children of whom I travel in birth again until Christ be formed in you He felt such sorrow such fear such strong and compassionate workings of heart towards them as were answerable to the pangs of a woman in child-bearing Saith the Psalmist I beheld the transgressours and was grieved because they kept not thy word This I conceive doth plainly concern both transgressions in practice and in doctrine or belief Both these forts of transgressiours are guilty of not keeping Gods word They that live in a course of sin they keep the word in their judgement and profession but keep it not in their lives and actions They that go on in errours keep not the word so much as in judgment and profession Besides how can a man forsake any truth of God which he hath once received but he must ipso facto in that very act transgress in point of practise He transgresseth that precept Prov. 23 buy the truth and sell it not that of the Apostle be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine c. and that hold fast the form of sound words c. Now the Psalmist beheld those with a mournful eye I beheld the transgressours and was grieved c. Is it not a sign of a graceless heart to behold transgressours without grief If we moan not for these things out of spiritual respects the Lord may justly make us mourn for those outward evils that they may bring upon us The Divel as he is the Father of lyes so he is a murderer Spiritus mendax est homicida and they that are led by a lying spirit if they can establish their facton and party so as to grow confident of their power may soon discover a murtherous spirit and then those that are lukewarm and indifferent in matters of Religion may feel their fury as well as they that are most zealous Secondly This truth may shame those who plead for a toleration of all sorts of errours Hereticks Seducers false prophets It seemeth the Apostle Paul accounted them intolerable when he pronounced them accursed and wished them cut off But such pretend Christian charity meekness mercy I answer 1. Will they boast of more love than Paul had who could have wished himself accursed that Israel might have been saved Will they pretend to more meekness than Moses who was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth and yet ye heard how he acted against Balaam and the Midianites and we find also that he caused three thousand to be slain for Idolatry If men will approve themselves to be of such a spirit as Paul and Moses let them shew meekness and love in â—earing and forgiving private and personal injuries offered to themselves and on the other side manifest true zeal for the Truth and
the interpretation of this Mystery For the bodyes of those beasts whose blood is brought into the Sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burnt without the Camp wherefore Iesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the Gate And he bearing his Cross went forth unto a place called the place of a Skull which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha It seemeth this was a loathsome place without the City where they executed the vilest offenders and so at that time there were two malefactours Crucified with the Lord Jesus Christ one at each hand A place of a skul where there were it is likely many skuls and bones of such as had been there put to death even as the sin-offering was burnt at the place where the ashes were poured out First Here we have an other evidence of the wonderful abasement of the Lord of glory thrust out of the Camp out of the City as an outcast as an unclean and cursed thing so extreamly was he vilified whom all the Angels of God worship and to whom every knee must bow of those in heaven c And therefore let us make the same use of it as was formerly hinted Secondly In particular let us make the use of it which the Apostle points us to Let us go forth therefore unto him without the Camp bearing his reproach Both Iews and Gentiles conspired together in Crucifying the Lord Christ and therefore Believers must go out of the Iews Camp and out of the worlds Camp bearing the reproach of Christ they must not joyn with the obstinate Iews in observing legal Ceremonies nor be conformed to the world but labour to be conformed to a crucified Saviour and be content to endure scorn reproach persecution for Christ following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Many will seem to close with Christ if they can find him in the Camp if they can enjoy their credit their favour with the world their earthly interests But how few will go forth to him out of the Camp bearing his reproach so as to be rejected by the world and dealt with as outcasts and the off scouring of all things For saith the Apostle here have we no continuing City but we seek one to come If Christ suffered without the Gate of the City let us not be so affected as if this world were the place of our rest Let us not mind earthly things let us have our conversation in Heaven labouring to make sure of our interest in that everlasting inheritance Let us therefore fear lest a promise being left us of entring into his rest any of you should seem to come short of it The Apostle urgeth from this Type of the sin-offering that they which would still rest in the observation of Iewish Ceremonies had no right in Christ We have an Altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the Tabernacle for the bodies c. as before The bodies of the sin-offerings were burnt without the Camp and so the Priest did eat no part of their flesh whereby was signified that they who would feed upon Christ and partake of the benefit of his sacrifice must leave the Tabernacle or Temple Priesthood Sacrifices Ceremonies of the Law now that Christ hath suffered for thus are all established by Christ not so as to be observed much less to be rested in but so as to attain their end in Christ in whom it appeareth that they are no empty shadowes but lively types of great and weighty Mysteries whereof also they are useful illustrations Thirdly I proceed to somewhat of meat-offerings It seemeth these were sometimes offered by themselves and sometimes joyned with other sacrifices as they were offered by themselves we have them set down Lev. 2. The original word is taken for a gift or present so these meat-offerings were to be given and presented to the Lord and this offering was to be fine flower of the purest part of the wheat and so it is conceived to signifie the perfect purity of Christ offering himself to God for his people resembled by pure flower without any mixture of bran The Lord Christ is brought in speaking to his Father Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me in burnt offerings and Sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure Then said I Loe I come in the volumn of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God I conceive here those three sorts of sacrifices are mentioned burnt-offerings sin-offerings and meat-offerings none of these could satisfie the justice of God for the sins of men and therefore he prepared or fitted a body for his Son an humane nature fitted to suffer for the sins of men a pure humane nature as the pure flower of wheat by the miraculous operation of the holy Ghost This humane nature united in one person with the Son of God was sufficient to make full satisfaction to the infinite justice of God which all the sacrifices of the Law could not do In respect of his body or humane nature he was fitted for a sacrifice in respect of his God-head he was an all sufficient sacrifice of infinite value Labour then to lay hold on Christ by faith and to turn to the Lord by repentance that ye may have interest in this most pretious offering this compleat and most perfect sacrifice every way fitted for this use for as Christ is the only Son of God he is most nigh unto the Father the same God with the Father and infinitely beloved of the Father of infinite worth and excellency and so able to make full satisfaction to his justice As he is the Son of man so he is nigh unto men their Brother one of the seed of that woman who was the Mother of all living one of the same nature and so of a nature fit to suffer and therefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him 2. This meat offering of fine flower seemeth also to signifie the offering up of believers to Christ because the members are to be conformed to their head They shall bring all your Brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all Nations The word there translated offering is the same that elsewhere is rendred meat-offering Suitable whereunto is that of the Apostle saith he that I should be the Minister of Iesus Christ to the Gentiles ministring the Gospel of God that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable being sanctified by the holy Ghost Although the Gentiles were prophane Idolaters and defiled with manifold abominations and so fitly resembled by the beasts that were unclean under the Law yet the Apostle preaching the Gospel to them and the holy spirit of Christ working in and with his Ministry upon their souls were renewed cleansed sanctified and so presented as an acceptable offering to the Lord 1. Let all Christians pray
for the Success of the Gospel in all places particularly in the place where they live that those that are unclean may become an acceptable offering unto the Lord being sanctified by the holy Ghost Is it not much to be lamented that where there are many people living under the Gospel the Lord should have so few offerings that so few shloud give clear evidence that they are as fine flower sifted from the bran of their natural corruption and so fit to be presented as meat-offerings to the Lord and how restless should each particular soul be until 't is thus sifted and sanctified by the holy spirit that it may be a holy offering unto the Lord. 2. Oyl was to be poured upon the fine flower This may signifie the annointing of Christ concerning whom it is said God even thy God hath annointed thee with the Oyle of gladness above thy fellows Those pretious graces of the spirit poured forth abundantly upon Christ were resembled by oyle and therefore it is said of him He is full of grace and Truth and of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace He hath an overflowing fulness of this heavenly oyl of these spiritual graces enough for all that are united to him for God giveth not the fpirit by measure unto him Let all be stirred up to come to Christ and turn unto him that they may receive of his fulness grace for grace They that are wholly empty of saving grace may receive from him they that have some beginnings may receive increase from him Is it not want of exercising faith upon Christ and keeping close to him that maketh Christians so defective in grace It is said the pretious ointment upon the head of Aaron the High-priest went down to the skirts of his garment The unconceivable fullness of grace poured upon Christ the eternal High-priest is ready to distill upon his members if they be not wanting to themselves 3. There was also frankincense put upon this meat-offering so the Lord Christ gave himself for his people an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling favour and God the Father proclaimed from heaven concerning him This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased The sweet odour and savour of Christs sacrifice is so pleasing unto the Father that he is appealed toward all that are truly united to Christ and reconciled to him by Christ and this also maketh the services of such well-pleasing to the Lord the sweet savour of Christ his Sacrifice perfumeth their offerings 4. An handful of this meat-offering was to be burnt upon the Altar as a memorial and the rest belonged to the Priests the Sons of Aaron 1. The memorial may signifie that the Lord is moved to remember his Covenant of grace by the merit of Christ his sacrifice Not that the Lord is subject to forgetfulness or needeth to be put in remembrance but it is spoken after the manner of men and to help the weak faith of his people and therefore they may assure themselves that the Lord will ever be mindful of his Covenant and shew himself faithful in his promises Again in a Secondary way it may be a ground of much comfort to the people of God in respect of their duties and services which they offer up to God by Christ in sincerity The Lord will have them in remembrance the Lord hear thee in the day of trouble remember all thine offerings So the Angel told Cornelius Thy Prayers and thine Alms are come up for a memorial before the Lord. 5. The remnant of the meat offering was to be Aarons and his Sons who were Priests of the Lord. The Apostle inspired and directed by the holy Spirit argueth thus from hence Do ye not know that those which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait on the Altar are partakers with the Altar Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel They that did service at the Altar under the old Testament did partake with the Altar as here in the meat offerings the Altar had part and they that waited on the Altar had part So the Apostle shews that it is the Lords own ordinance that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel They therefore that oppose the maâ—ntenance of the preachers of the Gospel do resist the ordinance of God and presumptuously oppose his supream authority 6 The meat offering was to be seasoned with salt Yea it seemeth this was to be used not only in this case but also generally in all Sacrifices for so it is said Every oblation of this meat offering shalt thou season with salt neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the Covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat-offering With all thy offerings thou shalt offer salt 1. Salt consumeth crude and raw humours and preserveth from putrefaction and rottenness so Christ by his spirit seasoneth the souls of true believers and worketh out the natural corrupt distempers of their hearts and where the spirit of Christ is wanting men are left to the bent of their own spirits How wofully are they filled with corruption and rottenness and therefore it is said Have salt in your selves get the graces of the spirit to season your hearts 2. Salt maketh things savory and of good relish How unsavory and loathsome is a carnal unregenerate soul in Gods account that savoureth not the things of Christ his spirit for they that are after the flesh do mind or savour the things of the flesh They are loathsome and unsavory unto the Lord they have not salt in themselves But they that are after the spirit do mind or savour the things of the spirit they have salt in themselves though not of themselves they have it of Christ yet they have it in themselves 3. Salt when it meeteth with sores causeth smart The grace of the spirit and the word of grace in which the spirit worketh seemeth smarting to corrupt hearts yea to gracious hearts so far as they have corruptions remaining in them but they that will present themselves living holy acceptable sacrifices to God through Christ must be willing to be salted with the grace of Christ his spirit and with the word of grace though the flesh smart For every one shall be salted with fire and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt Every one that will be acceptable to God must be salted with fire the power of Christs spirit as a fire from heaven to consume the dross of their lusts and to refine their souls And every sacrifice c. Every one that will be a pleasing sacrifice to God must be salted with this salt of the sanctuary He must have the graces of Christ to mortifie his corruptions and to cause him to savour the things that be
for thy righteousness for thou art a stiff-necked people it was not because of the greatness of thy Nation or the multitude of thy people The Lord did not set his love upon and chuse you because you were more in number then any people for ye were the fewest of all people but because the Lord loved you c. It was a pure act of grace and work of Gods free love towards Israel and therefore the Apostle as one transported with admiration of that which he could not comprehend breaketh out into this exclamation O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out 2. Let us magnifie the goodness of God towards the Nations of the world in these latter days that he hath sent his only begotten Son into the world manifested in the flesh to break down the partition-wall that was between Iew and Gentile that as now that difference between several sorts of beasts c. is taken away so that they are not opposed to each other as legally clean and unclean as they were under the Law of Ceremonies so the difference between Israel and other Nations is now also abolished and it is as free for an people as for the posterity of Abraham to partake of the Covenant of grace in Church-priviledges both was declared to Peter by a vision and a voice from Heaven for Cornelius an Heathen Captain being directed by an Angel to send for Peter the Lord prepared this Apostle for the journey by casting him into a trance and causing him to see Heaven opened and a certain vessel descending unto him as it had been a great sheet wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts and wild-beasts and creeping things and Fowls of the Air and there came a voice to him Rise Peter kill and eat but Peter said not so Lord for I have never eaten any thing common or unclean And the voice spake unto him again the second timeâ— what God hath cleansed that call not thou common Now when Peter came to Cornelius and his company He said unto them ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Iew to keep company or come unto one of another Nation but God hath shewed me that I should not call any common or unclean The Lord spake of beasts c. Peter rightly applyeth it to men so that the Lord Christ took away the difference of clean and unclean that was under the Ceremonial Law both between men of several Nations and between other Creatures How should we in particular stir up our selves to be thankful to the Lord that he hath reserved us for these times wherein it is as free for us descended from Heathen Ancestors to partake of the Priviledges of God his Covenant as for the people of Israel yea when the Israelites being natural branches are cut off through unbelief we may be grafted in by faith Let us take heed then least our unbelief impenitency security deprive us of this blessed priviledge for though none now are unclean in respect of the Nation whereof they are more then others yet all are unclean in the sight of God who remain dead in trespasses and sins out of Christ whose Natures are not renewed and cleansed from their filthiness 3. Observe with thankfulness the liberal use of the Creatures which God hath given to his people now under the new Testament through Christ above that which he allowed the people of Israel under the old Testament for now every Creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving Nothing that is wholesome for mans body is to be refused as unlawful and so the same Apostle saith All things are lawful for me viz. all sorts of meats for of such things he speaketh in that place and therefore whereas blood in particular was forbidden under the old Testament it is now lawful But it hath been objected that blood was forbidden upon a moral reason taken from the Nature of the the thing forbidden because the blood is called the life of the Creature For answer I conceive this is no moral reason but a natural reason implying a mystery scil to shew that men should abhor cruelty and bloodshed and so I suppose if we did throughly understand the Natures of all the Creatures which the Israelites were forbidden to eat there might be some natural reason given for it comprehending the Mystery Again it seemeth there was also a farther Mystery in the prohibition of blood for eating of blood and fat are both forbidden together scil such fat as used to be sacrificed because the blood and fat were both in a peculiar manner to be offered unto God The blood poured forth signified the taking away the guilt of sin by the death of Christ and shedding of his blood The burning of the fat it seemeth signified the mortification of sin by the spirit of Christ and so they might be forbidden both the eating the blood and fat to teach all not to take to themselves the honour either of their justification or of their sanctification but to ascribe it wholly unto Christ. But it may be said that blood was forbidden after Christ his death and resurrection by the Apostles and Elders in the Synod of Ierusalem I Answer It was but a temporary decree imposed upon the believing Gentiles that they might not give offence to weak believers among the Iews who were not yet clearly satisfied about the abolishing of legal Ceremonies and the extent of that Christian liberty which Christ had given them Secondly An other Ceremonial observance was the keeping of their solemn festivals 1. In general These feasts may intimate unto Christians that gound and matter of joy which true believers have through Christ and accordingly that duty of holy rejoycing in Christ which they are called unto so the Angels said unto the Shepherds Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people for unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And the Apostle saith We are the Circumcision which worship God in the spirit and rejoyce in Christ Iesus This is that spiritual feast which the Lord promised In this mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined 2. In special there were three solemne feasts which they were commanded to observe every year 1. The Feast of unleavened bread which was annexed to the Passeover of this somewhat hath been formerly spoken 2. The feast of Harvest which was called the feast of weeks it seemeth because it was as it were a week of weeks after that other feast of
the Passeover and unleavened bread scil seven weeks the same that is called Pentecost it is called the feast of Harvest their Harvest being much earlier then ours in that hot Country This may teach Christians to stir up their hearts to sincere thankfulness unto the Lord for all his blessings particularly for the increase of the fruits of the earth that they may serve the Lord with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things At this Feast of Harvest of weeks or Pentecost the Lord Christ having ascended into Heaven about ten dayes before did in a more glorious manner send down the holy Ghost upon his Apostles that so he might furnish them abundantly with gifts graces abilities to gather in his Harvest to bring in the Nations of the earth into his barn into his Church which before were in the open field of ahe world being strangers to Christ and subject to Satan the God of the world and Prince of darkness He had said unto them Lift up your eyes and look on the fields for they are white already to Harvest And herein is that saying true One soweth and another reapeth I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour other men laboured and ye are entred into their labours The ancient Propâ—ets that foretold of Christ his coming death resurrection and ascension into Heaven and that great and glorious Harvest wherein the Nations of the world should be gathered into Christ were â—eedsmen that did not live to see this rich crop brought into the barn they died long before the Son of God was manifested in the flesh and the Gentiles converted but the Apostles were called to Harvest-work to reap what the Prophets had â—own to gather in the Nations of the earth unto Christ and here the Lord Christ told them it was Harvest-time the fields looked whiteâ— the fulness of time was come and they were the reapers that must bring in his Harvest which he had so dearly paid for even with the price of his most precious blood but it was needful that that they should be furnisht in an extraordinary measure and manner for such a work and therefore the Lord Christ said unto them Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Hierusalem until ye be endued with power from on high do not fall rashly upon the work until I have fitted you for it and so he told them Ye shall receive power after the holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Hierusalem and in all Iudea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth after ye are thus fitted and enabled for so great a work ye shall go over the large field of the world to bring in mine Harvest and accordingly at this feast of Harvest the day of Pentecost the Lord Christ sent down his spirit upon them wonderfully enabling them for this service Thirdly There was a third feast scil the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year when they had gathered in their labours out of the field I conceive when the last of their fruits their vintage or Grapes c. were gathered in This I take to be the same which is called the feast of Tabernacles This was to begin on the fifteenth of the seventh month which seemeth to answer to our September and continued seven days and again it is said to be at the time when they had gathered in the fruit of the Land and they were commanded to take boughs of goodly trees branches of Palm-trees and the boughs of thick trees and willows of the Brook and to rejoyce before the Lord their God seven days they were also commanded to dwell in Boothes seven days that their Generations might know that the Lord made the Children of Israel to dwell in Booths when he brought them out of the land of Egypt This feast was solemnly kept after the peoples return from Captivity 1. This again may stir up Christians to thankfulness unto the Lord for all his blessings and particularly for the fruits of the earth as before 2. This dwelling in Booths and slight Tents or Tabernacles made of green boughs in memory of their condition when they came out of the Land of Egypt the house of bondage may teach Christians often to call to mind their afflictions and low condition out of which the Lord hath at any time delivered them especially they that are in Christ should often and seriously remember that woful bondage and misery under sin and satan and the danger of condemnation out of which the Lord Christ hath delivered them and labour to be exceedingly thankful for it 3. They were to go out of their dwelling houses to dwell in booths when they had gathered in their fruits least when their barns and store-houses were plentifully filled they might forget God who gave them all these things and set their hearts upon the Creatures resting in their outward enjoyments giving themselves up to voluptuousness like him spoken of Luk. 12. Soul thou hast goods laid up for many years eat drink and be merry but God said unto him thou fool this night shall thy soul be required of thee then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided Learn then in the midst of the greatest abundance to raise up your hearts above all earthly things to make God your portion to walk with him in the light of his Countenance 4. This dwelling in Booths or Tabernacles may teach Christians to be affected as strangers here on earth having no continuing City in this world their bodies being slight and weak frames easily dissolved like summer-houses made of green boughs that will suddenly wither labour then to make sure of a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens purchased by the blood of Christ for all those that are sound in him in as much as ye have no continuing City here seek one to come and labour for sound evidence to clear your title to it Fourthly Besides these three great feasts there was to be a memorial of blowing the Trumpets upon the first of the same seventh month and then upon the tenth day of that month a day of Atonement solemne humiliation repentance and afflicting the soul so the silver Trumpet being sounded in the preaching of the word summons the hearers to repentance to afflict their souls to abase and humble themselves to turn to the Lord with all their hearts Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their transgressions and the house of Iacob their sins This silver Trumpet was sounded by Iohn Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Iudea and saying Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand for this is he that was spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah saying The voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye
covered and ye may have holy boldness and confidence before the Lord. What a blessed priviledge hath the soul which can say with the Apostle I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me How happy shalt thou be if finding thy self in Christ and finding Christ dwelling in thine heart thou canst assure thy self that thou art washed in his bloud from all thy sins that he hath crossed all thy sins out of the Debt Book of Gods justice that he is thine Advocate with the Father and the propitiation for thy sins pleading thy cause at the right hand of God and bearing thy name among the rest of the Israel of God upon his breast-plate for a memorial continually Bend thy care and endeavour to the uttermost toward this one thing necessary to make sure of Christ and his most perfect Righteousness 5. Renounce all trust abhor any degree of confidence in thine own Graces duties services Grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ watch alwayes fear alwaies bring forth much fruit labour to do holy duties in sincerity with servency of spirit strive after perfection more more that thou maist fill thy mouth with arguments abundance of evidence that thou art truly united unto Christ by a lively principle of faith unfeigned and so justified by his Righteousness but do not entertain the least thought that way as if all that thou hast done or canst do should make the least satisfaction to the justice of God for any of thy sins or any way help toward thy justification In a word Take heed of splitting thy soul against either of these two Rocks either on the one side deceiving thy self with a dead faith without holiness and fruits of faith and so thinking thy sins to be pardoned and thy person justified when it is nothing so Or on the other side resting with any confidence upon any graces or duties Labour after these and look upon them as evidences of the soundness of thy faith but lean not upon them as grounds to support thy faith So much for the Negative Let us now consider the Affirmative whereby it may appear how and in what regard the moral Law is declared to be established by the doctrine of Faith I conceive the Law is established in five respects First By that full obedience performed to the Law by the Lord Iesus Christ. Secondly By that full satisfaction which he made to the Law in bearing the penalty of it Thirdly In the imputation of his perfect Righteousness to Believers Fourthly In that he establisheth the Law as a Rule of obedience for his people Fifthly In that he conformeth his people to the Law and these may be so many branches of the general point and therefore so many special points of doctrine 1. Then observe this point That the Lord Iesus Christ did establish the Law by fulfilling it or He did perform full and perfect obedience to the Law and so establish the Law Wherein you may note two particulars First That Christ did fulfill the Law Secondly That in fulfilling it he did establish it 1. Of the former So he said Think not that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill I conceive this speech was delivered soon after the Lord Christ began publickly to preach and this was seasonable to prevent or remove dangerous prejudices or mistakes For besides that general expectation of the Messias about that time the Scepter being departed from Iudah and they being subject to a Forreign yoak there were many extraordinary things which happened at the Birth of Christ Then the Testimony which Iohn Baptist gave him the Heavens opening the holy Ghost descending upon him in the visible form of a Dove God the Father by an audible voice from Heaven proclaiming this is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased His fasting forty days and forty nights when he was led of the spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Divel His wonderful diligence in preaching in divers places His glorious miracles in healing all manner of sickness and diseases especially in delivering those that were possessed with Divels The great multitudes of people following him from Galilee Decapolis Hierusalem Iudea and from beyond Iordan in somuch that his fame was spread abroad suddenly beyond the borders of the Land of Israel throughout all Syria These and the like things might well raise the peoples expectation and give them occasion to look for some notable change to be wrought by him and as men are lead by divers principles are upon such occasions apt to fancy some one thing some another so it is likely the most did expect that he should set up an earthly Kingdom some might think that he would take away the Law which God delivered to their Fathers by Moses and the doctrine of the Prophets and hereupon some might seek advantage to disparage his person and his doctrine others might hope that he would open a door for carnal liberty as in our dayes upon occasion of far lesser changes some have embraced strange fancies as if the time were come to cast off those ordinances which Christ hath appointed to be used until the end of the world as if an universal liberty must be granted to all corrupt opinions Heresies Blasphemies under colour of favouring tender Consciences Now the Lord to remedy these things telleth plainly that He came not to destroy but fulfill the Law and the Prophets 1. He fulfilled the Ceremonial Law by exhibiting the substance of those Types and accomplishing those things which were signified and represented by them 2. He fulfilled the Prophets verifying their prophesies teaching doing and suffering that which they foretold 3. He fulfilled the Moral Law 1. Doctrinally rejecting the â—orrupt interpretations then received and giving the true and full sense of the Law 2. He fulfilled the Law practically by performing full and perfect obedience to the Law which is the thing in hand So he said before It becometh us to fulfill all Righteousness God sent forth his Son made of a woman under the Law He was made under the Law by his own voluntary act taking upon him the Nature of man and the office of a Mediatour between God and men though as God he was the Lawgiver and therefore having put himself into this estate he was bound to obey the Law fully in every particular and could not have failed in one jot or tittle without being guilty of sin and therefore all those Texts which declare his perfect Righteousness being compared with this do prove that he performed perfect obedience to the Law So where Stephen calleth him the just one and Paul saith He knew no sin scil no sin either original or