hath accomplished that great work of our redemption and that unto the ful That the ignorant who never knew him the stubborn and rebellious amongst whom he lived and preached yet would not receive him yea the flinty hearted Jews that scorned and despised the meanness of his person and the power of his dispensation Al these at last should be constrained to acknowledg that he is the true and only Messias set a part and sent to that work This is the Son of God saies the Heathen of whom we have heard but never laboured to know him This is the Son of God saies the prophane whom we in his word have opposed and hated in his servants This is the Son of God sent to save us and we have blasphemed his name and flame and crucified his person despised his government saies the Jew See the lively expression of this Rev. 6.13 This I say wil certainly come to pass for our Savior hath prayed for it yea pursued it with re-doubled desires propounded in the 21. Verse repeated in verse 23. And he is alwaies heard in what he begged Hence we have two things 1. It s lawful to begg the same thing several times in the same prayer We have here a pattern before us beyond al compare a practise beyond al exception nay in truth beyond al question or doubt He cannot do but wel who could not erre in what he did where he hath gone before us in his example in things imitable we may without either feare or hazard safely go after him As it was said of his speaking and it s as true of his praying he prayed as never man did And there do not many sentences pass between but ye have the very same petition expressed What our Savior did its lawful for us upon the like occasion and like grounds for us to do to put up the same petition several times the same prayer If we find we have greater need of that we ask than any other or if there be special worth in it or that our hearts grow warmer in the work and increase into the strength of our affection towards the thing we ask For then there is no vain babling or empty repetition but the expressions though the same have new strength of fresh apprehensions and affections put upon them Therefore David again unto the place striks the same string often which made best melody in that musick and song of his Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders he doth for the Children of men 2. We ought to pray most earnestly that the power of our Savior might be expressed that his right appointment to the work of Redemption might be acknowledged by the world It s that which our Savior doubles his desires for the attainement of as that wherein the great weight of the work lay and which he counted worthy such importunate seeking for at the hands of his Father And this carriage should be a Copy and Sampler to conform our prayers unto This is that which God the Father is so Zealous of Hebr. 1. When he brings his first begotten into the world he saies Worship him all ye Angels of God And to this purpose was the eight Psalm penned and is to be understood touching our Savior as having the preheminence above al creatures in Heaven and Earth as Mediator So the Apostle to the Hebrews seems to expound it Hebr. 2.20 Learned Junius judgeth and therefore here the Psalmist dwels and delights to descant on this strain Psal 8.1 O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in al the world That 's most worthy our desires upon which our Savior spent his This only from the repetition The point it self we spake unto on verse 21. So much of the first end The second End is this Our Savior prayes that they might be perfect in one that so the world also might know that the Father hath loved them as he loved him This is for the honor and excellency of beleevers in the acknowledgment of the world That howsoever while they are wildering here in this vale of teares they become the scorn of the wicked the scrapings of men as the Apostle hath it and the Off-scouring of the world in the misguided apprehension of the wicked of the world who know not how to judg aright of things and persons and therefore account them Out-casts of Heaven and Earth yet our Savior prayes that they may proceed on to that perfection of Oneness with the Father and himself unto which one day they shal attain in Heaven That the world may be constrained to see and say that indeed they are Gods precious ones to whom his Soul is exceedingly indeared in surpassing love even like unto that wherewith he hath loved the Lord Jesus his only Son This our Savior Christ prayes for as a means to this end and therefore it wil undoubtedly attain it There be two points in the worlds 1. The world shal know that the Father hath loved the faithful as he loved Jesus Christ 2. This shall then be known when they come to be perfectly one with the Father and Son in Heaven But we shal handle them both together because they border so neer each upon other and the explication of either wil add to the discovery and so to the confirmation of both Point Then shall the world know that the Father hath loved the Faithful as his Son when they come to be perfected in Oneness with the Father and the Son These two the Apostle joynes together also in his prayer 2. Thess 1.11 12. Wherefore we pray alwaies for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling And fulfil al the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you that is the first that Christ may be acknowledged as he that hath been sent for that work and hath done it Secondly That ye might be glorified in him according to the Grace of God at aâ—d â—uâ— Lord Jesus Christ Next under the Advancement of his own Name the Lord provides and the Apostle praies for the Advancement of his Servants ' Matth. 13.41.43 when the Lord shal gather out of his Church whatever doth offend whatever persons that are wicked and whatever things even aâ—oâ—gst the godly that offend Then shal the righteous sâ—ine as the Sun in the Kingdom of my Father They have been here undeâ— hatches cooped up in Duâ—gâ—â—ns there they shal be in their Kingdom and that in the Kingdom of their Father Here they lie among the ports al dinâ—â—ed â—eâ—coâ—ed with the shame and disgrace that hath been cast upon them as the scum of the world and the scorn of Heaven and Earth This is Zion whom to Man regarded There they shal shine and that as the Sun which every man wil see because he cannot look ofâ— the light of it and wil be dazelled with the
have polluted they are now contented with them and they shal be plagued by them therefore it s said God filâ—s their Bellies with his hid Treasures the things of this world which are in Gods store-house and he hath a hidden dispensation of them These are the diet of wicked men they have not the hid manna spiritual food to refresh them If the God of the world rule them The Spirit of the world act them The things of the world content them Then are they truly said to be World USE Before we pass let us make some use of this That wicked men are worldly men and hence we may discover our condition and take a trial of our estate whether carnal or spiritual whether gracious or wicked look what it is that carries thee what it is that contents thee Are these worldly things great in thine Eye and in thy apprehension and approbation dost thou center thy self upon these satisfiest thou thy self with these beleeve it thou art of the world and shalt perish with the world So our Savior Joh. 3.31 He that is of the Earth is earthly and speaketh of the Earth It is his Nature and he doth his Nature his actions manifest his disposition we judg ever the Nature and quality of the thing by its motion place whither it tends Light things wil ascend and never stay tiâ— they come to the place their Nature desires heavy things descend downward and they wil not stay before they come thither See thou the poâ—se of thy spirit the motion and inclination of the heart whither it goes naturally and where it would be if it be there where it desires and where it rests if left unto it self If the weight of thy thoughts and desires carry thee freely and strongly after the lust of thine Eyes the lust of thy flesh and stop it doth not stay it would not before it be there Thy heart is on the Earth and thou art a Citizen on Earth and thou hast thy portion on this Earth thou hast no Heaven in thee to this day and thou shalt never come to Heaven It skills not that thou meeâ—est somtimes with the things of Grace and life thy speeches thy conference thy carriages and thy actions meddle now and then and converse with the things of Heaven and happiness because they be such as come in thy way and will keep thee company if not beyond thy expectation yet beyond thy desire The Traveiler passeth by many countries baits at many places but he takes not up his abode and rest before he come to his own Country and own home and there he stayes That shews he is that Country man Thou mayest in thy travel meddle with the heavenly ordinances of God take up holy duties in thy course and bait thy self in such performances as may maintain either quiet within or credit without amongst men Oh! but which is thy home wither thy heart and desires are going and wil not rest before they repair thither thou seekest God to serve thine own turn touchest at holy courses to take in fresh comfort incouragements c. But thy heart is not at home before it can satisfie it self in the pursuit and possession of worldly things The God of the world rules thee the spirit of the world leads thee the things of the world content thee when thou art there thou art in thy Element when drawn from thence thou art dragd like Fish out of the Water much a-do to live That is thy condition It s possible for a heavy thing by a strong hand to be held from descending downward but leave it to it self thou shalt easily see whether it be its place or suitable to its inclination it moves immediately downwards Your Sea-horses and Crocodils go somtimes ashore for their prey but because they retire and take up their abode in the Waters we therefore know they are Sea not Land-creatures So its possible to seek a prey i.e. For thine own ease or praise thou mayst put to the performances of holy duties or happily either company place persons the lawes or ordinances hold thee by strong hand and-force thee to a shew of zealous profession But when these poises are plucked away mark what thy Soul before desired inwardly what it now wil into of it self If to the world and the vanities thereof thou art a worldly man to this day Hence it is that many in these places drop away and fall hand-pat to the world after a long profession of a heavenly life These earthly heavy Souls would have been at their center long before but there were some impediments in their way that stopped their proceeding Wheras if the heart be heavenly it rests not before it come thither Psal 42. Oh when shall I appeare before the living God many say who will shew us any good but Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance And the Apostle concludes it Coloss 3.1 If ye be risen with Christ seek the things that are above ye ought to do so and ye will do so The Apostle Issues both the parts with the grounds of them 1 Cor. 15. 48. The first Adam is from the Earth earthly the second Adam is the Lord from Heaven As we have born the image of the earthly so shal we bear the image of the Heavenly Yea our Savior concludes it They are not of this world as I am not of the world As he by the power of his God-Head took our Nature to himself by the power of the fame God-Head he takes our Souls to himself carries them to himself acts them upon himself keeps them with himself 2. How the world are said to beleeve Christs sending Answ It cannot be meant of saving Faith the faith of Gods Elect or that Faith by which we beleeve unto Salvation for that Faith which is here meant wicked men should and its certain sooner or later they shal attain for its that which the Father intends and aims at and our Savior Christ looked at as his scope in his prayer and we know that the Father never fails to accomplish what he intends nor our Savior to attain what he prayes for But this our Savior aimes at in his praier as one principal scope and end of it There is therefore in the second place a Faith which doth belong even to the wicked which is truly termed or called Faith in the language of the Scripture and the common speech of men I say truly called Faith though iâ— be not truly saving Joh. 12.42 43. Many beleeved on him but durst not confess him for they loved the praâ—e â—f men moâ—e than of God Theâ—e is saith then and men do also beleeve who love the praise of men more than of God but this no man can do and beleeve savingly Joh. 5.44 How can ye beleeve which receâ—ve honor one of another and seek not the honor that cometh from God only Joh. 2.23 24. Many beleeve in him But our Savior did not commit himself
not known nor whom we know deal harshly and discourteously with us in our common occasions of commerce or If those of alliance and acquaintance who are prophane and ungodly if they be fals in their promises or injust or injurious in their carriages towards us They deal like themselves they do but their kind as we say If fals hearted persons deal falsly If loose men shew themselves base to us it s that they do to al yea to their own Souls we expect no other and therefore if we find no better measure it doth not trouble If it had been an Enemy I could have born it saies David but when it comes to that It was thou my familiar Friend we took sweet counsel and went up to the house of the Lord together It was he that lift up himself against me this is more bitter than death It is so with the Lord. If the Ignorant world who knows him not who are strangers from him and the convenant of his Grace If the wicked and prophane who are professed adversaries to his Grace and Kingdom if they dishonor his name transgress his Laws grieve his spirit and cast his Ordinances behind their back It I say the world deal so with the Lord he looks for no other he hates the world he never gave his Son for the world Christ never prayed for the world But that his faithful whom he hath owned imbraced in the Bowels of his tenderest mercies should deal frowardly in his covenant this is killing unkindness Will ye also go away Joh. 6.67 When the Crown of those counterfeit wretches who followed Christ for the Loaves when they missed of their Dinner and sweet morsels they departed presently and came no more at him Our Savior is content to see so free a riddance of them and the place quit of their company But turnes himself to his disciples with that melting expression wil ye also go away q. d. That they are gone I care not it matters not I never knew them nor was known of them but wil ye also go away that would be unsufferable Though Israel play the Harlot yet let not Judah offend And hence it is The Lord is compelled with such unreasonable carriages to make his complaint unto the senseless creatures as those who would give in witness against such miscarriages as professedly cross to the course of things Hearken O Heaven and hear O Earth I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebelled against me Isa 1.2 And upon this ground it is the Lord makes that so sad an expression when the Sons of God married with the Daughters of men and were carried with the common stream Gen. 6.6 The Text saith It grieved God to the Heart It went to the heart of the Almighty Bears any thing but the Contempt of his love and goodness For it is a sin out of measure sinful Not only that which Nature gainsaies and reason rejects and conscience condemnes and Grace abhorres to the bottomless pit But it is a practise more vile than the worst of sinners wil adventure upon Math. 5.46 If ye love them that love you what reward have ye Do not the Publicans the same Not to return love for love c. It s that which the Publicans the worst and most reffuse wretches in the world do loath For the faithful who have been redeemed by the precious Blood of Jesus comforted by the spirit of Jesus beloved of the Father as the Lord Jesus his only begotten Son for them to be tainted with that sin which the Publicans the worst of men wil give witness against Oh how hamous are such miscarâ—iages and how grievous must they needs be to the God of love I shal Instance in two Evils unto which the Saints are usually too much subject and taken aside withal which are so professedly opposite to this enlarged compassion of the Lord. 1. When the Faithful either question this Love when it is so sure Or 2. Undervalue it and little esteem of it when it is so great as that it exceeds the thoughts and apprehensions of men Both are marvelously distastful and that justly to the Father of Mercies and in truth unsufferable were it not that he makes us acceptable and lovely through his wel-beloved It could not be that he could bear with the abuse of his constant kindness in so gross and unkind manner and yet this is the baseness and wretchedness of our unreasonable hearts He hath loved us with an everlasting Love he never ceaseth loving and we never cease questioning and quarrelling with his kindness we are ever of the jealous and suspicious hand that this favor of the Lord it is but for a fit it wil one day fail and we shal be forsaken utterly If Christ wil cease to be a Son and to be this wel-beloved of his Father with whom he is wel pleased then wil he cease to love thee to accept of thee and to be wel pleased with thee in him The one is impossible the other is incredible and therefore stifle those distempered pangs they are so deeply injurious to the Lord and distastful to his Majesty that he cannot bear them but wil undoubtedly correct Such a way-ward jealous pang ye shal perceive in the Church of the Jews in the day of Discouragement when God cals Heaven and Earth to rejoyce in the Consolation of his People Sing O Heavens and be joyful of Earth break forth into singing O Mountains for God hath comforted his People and will have mercy on his afflicted Isa 49.13 but they were silent in this Quaere and sate down in sullen discouragement verse 14. But Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Can a Woman forget her sucking Child that she should not have compassion on the fruit of her Womb yea they may but yet will not I forget thee verse 15. and therefore the Lord professeth he takes it unkindly Isa 40.27 Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel amp c. This is the dayly talk of al dismayed and gloomy discouraged Spirits it 's al they speak and have in their Meetings Jacob saies and Israel speaks this is common My way in hid from the Lord and my Judgment is passed over of my God Thus ye say but what saies God Why speakest thou c. q. d. I cannot abide those words God cannot brook such groundless suspicions of his Favor which is more sure than the Foundations of the Earth As it is whith men who are real and cordial in their kindness and sincere hearted in the expression of their Love so that they never gave the least appearance of any instability and feebleness in their Promises and Performances as either their engagements or others desires or necessities should require if yet their Friends and intimate Familiars should out of their jealousie either cast out such words in their presence or give it in their expressions to others to understand That however they have ever been
wickedness in the minds and hearts of men Rev. 12.7 Michael and his Angels the Dragon and his Angels USE 1. Of Instruction 1. Hence there is no reconciliation between such as be of the World and such as be of God to be hoped for between the Worldlings and those that are truly Christians It 's as possible to make Heaven and Earth meet Fire and Water Light and Darkness Christ and Belial accord together Because these are Contraries their very Being and Constitution is Dissenâ—ion and therefore they must cease to be if they cease to oppose and seek the good and preservation each of other Let the ungodly for their own ends and to serve their own turns profess never so fair promise never so much pretend never so much Love and Faithfulness and seem also somwhat seriously to endeavor to ingratiate themselves into the hearts of the Godly Be they never so neer in acquaintance and familiarity with them Be they for the present never so studious and laborious in al proceedings to promote their good It 's certain their distempers are but restrained and the malignity of their Nature curbed and confined for the while Let but occasion suit and temptation be offered and they wil be as deadly Enemies nay most fierce in their malice and out-rage as they have been friendly in appearance in former times None more inward with David than Achitophel while opportunity served to bring about his own Honor by that acceptance he had with David It was thou my familiar friend we took sweet Counsel together and went up to the House of God together also complied in al occasions temporal spiritual were endeared each to other bore each other in their very Bosoms But no sooner is Conspiracy stirred and Rebellion raised by Abshalom that was likely to carry it but Achitophel he forsakes his Colors forgets al former Engagements becomes the deadliest Enemy of the most inward and endeared Friend as formerly he did pretend Judas trained up under the Wing of Christ but he had a worldly heart and when the time served he betray'd his Master for it Never therefore look what men pretend but look what they are If he be of the World and Friend to it know assuredly he wil be an Enemy to God And therefore it checks the deluded Conceits and misguided Apprehensions of some of Gods own that are Novices in Religion who are apt to conclude It 's want of Prudence and Christian Moderation Humility and sweetness of Carriage that they do not win every man even the wicked and such as be worldly and Carnal that they might have their Approbation their Love and Affections as they list enlarged Oh! men are not prudent they do not so wisely carry themselves in that courteous manner as they should they might win al and have every mans good word If a man wil not lay aside his Grace and Holiness let him walk as prudently and melt into kindness and Courtesie the World wil be cross to him and he to it and he must conclude he shal find contention and opposition Al his Policy wil not work his Peace It 's folly to expect and it's madness to promise it That Reconciliations and Contradictions should meet Who walked in greater Prudence and Innocency than our Savior beyond the exception of Envy it self and yet he was not beyond Opposition and that most fierce which he found in the World 2. We must not judg the worse of mens Persons and Profession because of that universal opposition they find abroad It 's the portion of Christ and that which al those that are like him must expect It was the Sect of the Saints and such as followed the Rule of the Lord of whom they confessed as a thing commonly known This Sect is spoken against every where and yet no Sect sincere but that Acts 28.21 Al men persecuted and spake evil of such of whom the Word and our Savior speaks Blessedness Blessed are ye when all men persecute you and speak evil of you for my Names sake Matth. 5.10 They may as justly and reasonably challenge Gods Name guilty and blame-worthy as those who profess it because that is most of al opposed and condemned when men are reviled for that Therefore it is a shallow and mis-guided Conceit of some who are ignorant to make such Inferences Certainly al is not right there is some more than ordinary failings in his way a shrewd suspicion his course is faulty else how comes it he should be opposed and spoken against by so many so universally The World is up in Arms against him So it was against Patriarchs Prophets Disciples and Christ Therefore the Lord hates the World praies not for the World condemns the World It was no more but what Christ found and those who are most like him shal 3. Saving Conversion wil break the dearest Friendship and neerest Relation in the world amongst those that are of the world Because it sets men in greatest opposition and crossness one to another It cals men into Light and therefore darkness cannot accord with it It makes men Righteous and therfore Unrighteousness cannot agree therewith Thus Christ is said to come into the world to set the Mother-in-Law against the Daughter-in-Law The Father against the Son a mans Enemies shal be those of his own House His saving Grace sets them in greatest opposition and contrariety and therefore must occasion the greatest contention amongst them Christ puts Enmity he laies the Siege and none can raise it USE 2. Of Examination and Tryal This gives in sad Evidence against those who are Neuters in Religion Such are discovered by the former Doctrine to have no Religion nor Truth at al in them Such as can plough with an Ox and an Ass Your Linsey-woolsey men who can take the color of any Company and occasion with the Saints they can seem such and with the world they wil be such as they are Can serve Time and Tide wil be of any side provided they may be of the safe side As Neutral Cities in time of VVar they are content to pay to both Armies that they may not be spoiled with either They are content to favor the world that they may not be persecuted yet they would not oppose Religion lest they should be justly condemned of gross wickedness But carry fire in one hand they would not be counted prophane but honest and yet water in the other hand they would not be conceived too strict VVhen indeed there be but two Kingdomes thou must be in one either in darkness or in light The world is up in Armes and there be but two sides and thou must take the one He that gathers not scatters Thou canst not serve two Masters Be Follower to two Commanders If Christ be God follow him If the world be God follow it But how shal we know 1. Observe what affection the world and worldly men beare to thee However happily there is not so fair and ful and free
and carried beyond al the abilities they have yea beyond al the power of al the grace they have That look as when we see a swadling Child left in his Cradle in a lower room come againe we find it laid in the highest loft or Chamber in the house each man easily concludes There was another power than that it had of it self that conveyed it thither So here when the poor and ignorant amongst men come to know and do the things that are spiritual Eph. 2.10 His workmanship They are inlightned and inabled beyond al they had or ever once apprehended or could come into their own thoughts there was a higher power even the presence and assistance of a God the Lord Jesus himself to help Math. 11.25 I thank thee O Father that thou hast revealed these things to babes and adds no man knowes the Father but the Son Therefore the Prophet begs that he might not be left to his spirit Psal 143.10 Teach me the way to thee thy Spirit is Good q. d. My spirit is naught 2. Where the presence of Christ is The soul at the lowest ebb and the greatest under that ever it comes unto it is yet ever panting after a Savior cannot â—est before it come to him Isa 26.8 The desires of our Souls are towards thy name and to the remembrance of thee In the greatest desertion that can befal them the greatest temptation that can assault by the one they are disinabled to do what they would by the other opposed and hindred from attaining that which they do indeavor Yet they set themselves that way Though they see they are like Captives and under the Tiranny of their distempers they find they do not yea may be at such an under and in a forlorne condition that they conclude they are past Hope and expectation never shal be recovered yet their hearts bless them that injoy that happy estate and Oh that they might That as it s said of the ungodly They set themselves in a way that is not good These contrariwise set themselves in the aime and bent of their heart Rom. 7. As the Pilot that hath the Helm in his hand though it may be the wind is too stiff and the stream too strong and al against him that he cannot make way forward nay it may be is turned back again by contrary stormes yet he tacks about and keeps her to that point stil So here when the Lord Christ takes the Helm of the heart of a beleever in his own hand though the wind and tyde of the most violent temptation for the while stop his course yet the bent of the heart is that way My Soul followeth hard after thee Psal 63.8 USE 4. This shews the excellency of the Saints even in the meanest and worst condition above the wicked and ungodly when they are in the greatest ruffe and Soveraignty that they can attain unto in this world The Saints are the Temple of the liveing God 2. Cor. 6.16 Their Souls are the throne where the Lord sits and shews the riches of the glory of his Grace and mercy the habitation where he dwels and takes up his abode the Kingdom where he rules by the power of his Grace the Guidance and Government of his blessed Spirit and the scepter of his word True he exerciseth the Soveraignty of his power and justice upon the wicked on Earth and the damned in Hel as amongst his Enemies and Out-laws whose rebellion he wil revenge and whose ruine he wil work according to the desert of their works But his Children and servants are his loyal and loving subjects amongst whom he sets up the Kingdom and exerciseth the government of his Grace and mercy and they in love and loyalty submit thereunto and advance the same The hearts of his are as I may say the Paradise of Gods pleasure in which he walks and takes his content So the Lord promiseth I will walk among them So the wise man professeth Wisedom delights in the habitable part of the world Prov. 8.31 This is my habitation for ever here I delight to dwel But it is not so with the wicked it s not so with them Those miserable Souls of theirs are the throne where Satan sits that Synagogue where he is worshipped and even where his throne is seated Rev. 2. The habitation and Hel where he abides Math. 12.45 Came and found the House swept and garnished The Kingdom of darkness in which he rules Eph. 2.2 He rules in the hearts of the Children of disobedience There he sports himself and there he finds and takes greatest contentment Because he hath such as will heare and entertain his suggestions and do his wil and lusts and therefore they are said to be Satans and of the Devil yea to be Devils Look therefore what difference there is between Heaven and Hell the Kingdome of light and the Kingdom of darkness the habitation of Devils and the temple of the Lord Such is the excellency of the Saints such is the miserable condition of the ungodly USE 5. Here is matter of marvelous and unspeakable COMFORT to al the Saints to cure us or al Fears and deliver us from al discouragements that ever we shal meet withal in this World The Lord Jesus is a Helper a strong Helper ready to save so the Apostle Phil. 4 infers The Lord is at hand Are Devils at hand to tempt thee are Enemies subtil and mighty at hand to persecute and oppose thee are thy fears and discouragements at hand to over-bear thee The Lord Jesus is at hand neer tâ—ee nay in thee to succor and supply add satisfie 1. Comfort in al thy Spiritual tryals when Satan grows most fel thy corruptions most strong and thy heart begins to fail thee in the apprehension of thine Infirmities as that thou shalt never be able to subdue to overcome nay not to resist Behold 1 John 4.4 be they never so great Greater is he that is in thee than be that is in the world Though thou beest never so weak and thine Enemies nevers so great Christ is greater than al Devils than al distempers than al the power of darkness and malice of the wicked Thou seest and findest a Law in they Members rebelling against the Law of thy Mind and carrying thee captive Behold the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ shal free thee from the Law of Sin Rom 8.3 Here is Law against Law Spirit against Spirit Christ against thy Corruption That Spirit is in Christ and Christ is in thee Therefore our Saviour concludes None shall take them our of my hand neither head of Satan nor hand and power of Sin and Grave John 10.28 2. Comfort against WANTS and Necessities that may surprize and over-bear thee Thy Pressures and Calamities are present they pinch and sit sad The Lord Jesus is present to sweeten thy sorrows with the sense of his Love and to supply al with the fulness of his sufficient Grace It would refreshany in
this In-being of the Father in him See the very ground given Joh. 10.10 The word I speak is not mine but the Father that dwels in me c. Joh. 8.38 For the works sake beleâ—ve that the Father is in me and I in the Father Joh. 5. The Son doth nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do Issue the whol Thus. What ever the second person and Son of God as such doth that he doth by vertue of his eternal generation from the Father and from his abiding in him But as Son he takes our Nature into personal union with himself and as Son advanceth it to that priviledg and liberty to set al the Attributes on work and to send the Holy Ghost yea sends al Officers and appoints al Offices and blesseth them Therefore by vertue of this his eternal generation from the Father and his abiding in him this Union Mission and Operation of the Human Nature proceeds The second person by this eternal generation from the Father and abiding in him is reflected upon the Father and as the Father hath an Eye only to the son in giving the susibstence of a Son the Son hath an Eye to the Father in returning the subsistence of a son to him they wholly give and take So the Son uniting the Human Nature into one person holds it in reference and dependance with himself upon the Father All is communicated to him as sent and so to the Human Nature All acted by him and so by the Human Nature The In-being or existence of the Father in the Son is the first rise whence the unity of the faithful with the Father and the Son comes to be perfected Hither our Savior ascends and here he staies Leads us to the Well-Head and fountain whence our spiritual wellface and everlasting good Issues And this is the highest of al and higher we cannot go beyond this visible world and al creatures therein even to Heaven and in Heaven above Angels to God and in the God-Head to the first original in the glorious and blessed Trinity and the first act in that origination To this accords that of the Apostle each place adds mutual light unto the other Col. 3.3 We are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God Christ is the Treasurer but the Father is the Author Christ is the keeper but the Father is the first Appointer thereof For so you must understand the Name God not essentially but personally being put in opposition and reference unto Christ our life is hid with Christ but Christ and life and al is in God in the Father Upon this ground it is and to the like purpose that the Apostle carries the hearts of the Corinthians in the work of their calling unto this consideration as that wherein the lowest part of the foundation of our comfort lies 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God in made unto us wisedom righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Christ is all even complete Redemption who delivers from the power and presence of al evil and gives all Grace quickens what he gives perfects what he quickens owns what he perfects But he is made this to us not of himself but of the Father for so stil the word and Name of God is to be taken as appears verse 24. Christ is the power of God and the Wisedom of God Christ is made our Redemption and we are made his redeemed ones and the Father makes both he our Redemption and we his redeemed And this is the cause why the Apostle is so inlarged inlaying forâ—h the soveraignty of the Fathers work beyond al the compass either of the being of the creature or the Graces and apprehensions of all Churches Eph. 4.5 6. There is one Lord Jesus one Faith and one Baptisme one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you al. Above al even in the highest power that is dispensed in his Church Christ is the Head and Husband the Holy Spirit the comforter God is the Father Through al the operations and administrations that are in the Churches and Graces dispensed He sends his Son to the great work of our Redemption God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself 2 Tim. 1.4 Given us Grace in Christ Jesus before the world was He sends the Spirit in the work of Application Joh. 26. In all the Saints as drawing and conjoining the hearts of the faithful as fellow Brethren unto himself with the Father and one to another in him and for him So one in relation here as wel as in a Savior And from hence lastly it is we meet usually with that phrase which may receive a right explication and true understanding from t he point in hand 1 Then 1.1 To the Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and in our Lord Jesus And that so al the Churches and al the faithful are in God the Father as the Father of the Churches in the Son as the Head of the Church In the Father who out of the Authority or priority of order not of dominion first appoints our Savior to the word and the work to him In the Lord Jesus as he is appointed by the Mission to work from the Father and by commission sent as man united to the second person to have al Graces first in way and right of communication to the Church The Father he knows the Son there is the Deity and al the excellencies thereof reflecting exemplifying or characterising upon it self where the expressions of the Deity and all the excellency thereof exemplifying from it self that 's to be in the Father that is it is in the vertue of the Father that it is so done The Son again as the Character reflected or exemplified and where this examplification or excellencies returned again is to be seen so far the Soul may be said to be in Christ that is in his vertue not looking so much at the work or thing done for that Issues from all but at the manner of doing and carry that along it wil direst and not deceive Open the Doctrin 1. Recal what this Oneness is 2. How it s Perfected The first I shal not trouble you withal because I have heretofore opened it at large only mention so much as you may keep your Eye or consideration upon it as the White or Mark that you may discern how the following expressions hit it Briefly then This unity as ye have heard is not the Oneness of affection amongst the Saints but the Oneness of relation they have to God in Christ as his Adopted ones One with us nor one with themselves This Oneness of Relation lies here in that our Saviour doth not bring the Souls of the faithful in neerest relations of dearest love as adopted Sons but also into that spiritual intercourse of peculiar and divine operation of God upon the Soul whereby the Soul returnes unto God to do al and to take al.
of Wrath and expectation when thou shalt be arraigned and condemned by the righteous Sentence of Gods revenging Justice Satan accuseth Conscience gives in witness against thee and the Justice of God passeth Sentence Look up to this Glory that Christ stands possessed of now in Heaven and al these Accusations will vanish immediately nor wil once appear to plead against a beleeving sinner Upon this ground Paul flings out the Gantlet against al Adversaries and there is not an Action that can pass nay not so much as a motion made against him that can find audience in Court Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of Gods Chosen it's God that justifies nay it 's Christ that hath died nay rather risen again nay sits at the right hand of God Justice cannot condemn Christ hath satisfied and is freed and now is at Gods right hand and is at the better hand with Justice triumphs there Devils cannot cavil they are silenced Conscience accuse that is answered nay those dayly failings which might seem to interrupt the Terms of Agreement betwixt God and the Soul and make new Controversies These are taken up and intercepted by the Lord Jesus Nay the main Pith of this Glory was as ye have read before That the immediate execution of Gods whol Counsel towards the Sons of Men is by his means comes through his hands And if there be any thing against his Members his Spouse he wil be sure to stop that proceeding So Paul disputes Rom. 5.9 If reconciled by his Death how much more shall we be saved by his Life 5. By this all Graces shall be strengthened and made glorious answerable and in some measure proportionable to the Glory that Christ hath possessed The Father gives glorious Power and Grace to him and he dispenseth glorious Grace and Power to us This is the ground of the Inference The Spirit was not sent because Christ was not ascended That the larger measure of the Spirit in the more spiritual and efficacious operations thereof was not yet given because he was not yet in the Throne of Glory and invested with the fulness of that power which then he should re-assume and challenge to himself And this Peter renders to be the reason of those extraordinary Gifts that were given and admirable Works that were done by the Apostles When al the People wondered and stood amazed to hear each man speak in his own language the magnificent things of God the holy Apostle Peter carries them hither as to the first root and rise of al those miraculous Dispensations Acts 2.34 36. That Christ whom ye have crucified God hath raised and made him both Lord and Christ and having received the Promise of the Spirit having as man received the Spirit without measure as much as Nature was capable of and as God possessed and recovered the same Glory which he had with the Father before al Worlds He now sheds abroad this which ye now see and hear Great Princes reserve the greatest Gifts and Entertainment unto the daies of greatest Solemnity as Coronation or Conquest The day of Christs Ascention and sitting and so possession of Glory is the day of his Coronation and Conquest returns into his own Country and there triumphs and then gives Gifts enlargeth himself in the Graces of his Spirit Eph. 1.20 22 23. when Christ was set in Heavenly places and advanced to his Glory It was that he might be Head of his Church and might fill all in all By this he comes to be Head and hath all Graces By this he comes to communicate himself not in sparing manner but fully and freely he fils all in all 6. By this thou mayest be enlarged in all Services not only receive more Graces but exercise what thou hast received in a more active and excellent manner than ever otherwise thou should'st or could'st have attained unto The Glory of our Savior over-shadowing thee wil make thee pray gloriously lead a glorious life and perform glorious Duties Thus our Savior disputes John 14.22 Verily verily I say unto you he that beleeveth in me shall do the Works that I do that is in regard of the Doctrine he then delivered or Works he then wrought Nay greater works than these shall he do Why Because I go to my Father He goes to possess al Glory in al the fulness of the Execution of al power and dispensation thereof And therefore having more dispenseth more vertually by the power of his sitting at the right hand of God than he did when he was bodily present in the daies of his Humiliation Peter by the vertue of his death and that glorious power which Christ possessed in Heaven he converted at once three thousand which our Savior never did while he preached Christ healed the Sick and cured Diseases of such as came to him but Peter such as he sent his Hand-kerchief unto Nay our Savior ads Whatever ye ask in my Name in the Name of Christ now in Glory as he is gone to his Father If ye ask any thing never so miraculous hard improbable impossible to Flesh and Blood he wil bring it about And upon this Tenure it is that promise is made to the Church of Thyatira That she shall rule the Nations with a rod of Iron Rev. 2.26 27. A poor handful of People the mighty and invincible power of a multitude of Nations See the Reason it is As I have received from my Father This power of this glorious Dispensation is such as he hath received in a more ful and eminent manner he wil so also communicate it And therefore our Savior professeth it is expedient that he should go away for if he go not he wil not send the Comforter but if he do he wil send him and then he shal lead you into all truth John 16.7.13 The last resolution rests there Al is Christs that the Father hath and he shal take of Christs and give to them 7. By this thou maiest be sure thou canst not miss of Eternal Life This was the end why Christ receives God the Father gives this Glory that he may give it unto the Faithful John 17. Thou hast given me power over all Creatures that I may give unto them Eternal Life Christ cannot miss of his End nor thou of Glory And if al power can bring to Eternal Life thou canst not but enjoy it Christ must fail of his intent if thou fail of thy happiness and therefore you shal find our Savior so solicitous to settle the hearts of his Disciples in this and himself so unweariable to accomplish it John 14.2 3. Let not your hearts be troubled c. They were and al the Saints find a hard shock here they are troubled what wil become of them at last and how shal they once arrive at the Haven the storms so strong the waves so fierce oppositions from without so great corruptions from within so out-ragious Why our Savior saies Be not troubled I go to
and fullest communication of himself that may be and hence as he came out of his bosom and left his glory so also he must bring him unto glory that he may again lie in the bosom of his love This our Savior intimates Joh. 13.3 Knowing that the Father gave al things into his hand and that he came from God and went to God he came from the Father for the accomplishment of the great Work of Redemption and he furnished him with the supply of al power and al provision al things in Heaven and Earth to attend him until he come again to him and when he is come into Heaven as he put the greatest glory upon him so he advanceth him to the neerest familiarity with himself By his right hand he hath exalted him Act. 2.33 And set him at his right hand Verse 34. That he might make him ful of joy with his countenance that the Eye smiling countenance of the Father might ever be upon him and fulness of the perfection of joy in him for ever If glory carry with it the greatest perfection that can attend our Savior and neerest union unto the Father then the love of the Father wil provide it But glory includes both greatest perfection in regard of Christ and neerest union unto the Father Therefore the love of the Father wil provide for it USE 1. Trial. We may hereby try what mettal our love is made of whether it come from the God of Love carry his likeness and superscription that we may be sure that he will own it at the great day and we both now and then may find the undoubted comfort of it unto our Souls we shal know the nature of it by the efficacy and work of it As it is in prime cordial quintessences if they be made of lively ingredients they do not only warm the Mouth and heat the Stomach a little but they search into al the Veins clear al the passages Purg al the Humors and cleanse the Blood that the Body is recovered to a lively and healthful constitution But if it warm a little overly and work no further we conclude it It s not the right it hath not the right work So with thy love if it be like the love of God it wil have the like work It aimes ever at the glorious good of the thing or person beloved staies not in these lower and inferior things but in and by these looks at those which be higher and of a more heavenly excellency Take then a Survey of the several operations of thy love according to the several occasions with which it meets and therein it s exercised What doth it work in the family where thou livest in the place and amongst thy neighbours with whom thou dwellest with thy Brethren who are linked to thee and thou to them in the fellowship of the Faith Nay what doth it do for thine own Soul if there be any power and efficacy it will then appear In thy family thou castest up and down how to compass the things of this life and art marvailous busie to contrive al earthly conveniences to thine own content Thou seekest what to Eat to Drink what to put on and obtainest what thou seekest and thy love looks no further Surely its worldly love and that in the lowest degree Thou wilt do as much for the beasts of the field and Heards of Cattel as for thy servants Children family Thou dealest courteously with those who shew Kindness to thy self yieldest repect to mens places honorest their persons carriest thy self honestly and inoffensively towards al. This love is no great excellency do not the Publicans and sinners the same Nay it may be thou dost incourage men in a good course and strengthenest their hearts and hands in the profession or the Gospel labourest for some knowledg of the truth and ablities to holy services that thou maiest carry out thy profession with applause and approbation of such with whom thou dost converse Lookest after ability to please eares rather than for humility and abasedness of heart to please God and here thou art at thy furthest desirest to be no other and do no more And it s the Pitch thou wouldest have others to aim at This is but the love of Formalists and moralists Thou never hast the love of God shed abroad in thy heart nor yet the true love for the good of thine own Soul to this day If thy love had been from God it would not have ceased until it had brought thee and others unto Heaven and glory and God Noâ— that it is in our power to do this but its certain if the Love of God be in us it wil make us look at this and be easeless to endeavor after this So Paul travels till Christ be formed not til they had got a form of Godliness until Morality or Civility was formed in them but Christ glorious Grace Power Peace This is God-like Christ-like Love 2. TRYAL Whether our Love to the Lord Christ be God-like Love it 's then certain God wil own it Christ accept it and we may find comfort in it If it bear the Image of the Love of the Father it wil imitate God loved the Son and gave al things to the Son Do likewise give thy self yield and resign thy soul and al things unto Christ Thy Mind let him teach thee Heart let him rule thee Affections let him order thee Rom. 12.1 1 Cor. 6. last He out of his Love exalted him far above all Principalities and Powers and whatever is named Do thou set up the Lord in thy Soul far above al profits pleasures thy dearest lusts thy darling delights al powers and principalities the principality of thine own wil mights and dominions mighty and domineering distempers above every name the name of thine own Parts and Gifts the name of thy Glory and Credit and that which is named in another World even thy safety and Salvation He gave him Glory made him Lord and King Acts 2.36 Do thou likewise Let him Lord it over thy Lusts thy Pride thy haughty and high thoughts and bring every thing into obedience Rev. 4.10 Cast down the Crown of al thy Excellencies whatever is most honored admired loved lay it at his foot Honor him with al thy substance As he in the Gospel if he need let it go USE 2. For COMFORT to the Saints whom are beloved of the Father through Christ Where he loves his love wil work alike He is not the weaker for the working nor hath the less for his giving He loveth thee as Christ therefore he wil glorifie thee as he hath done to him Get Love and gain al Love carries al with it If he love thee if dead he wil quicken if weak he wil strengthen if damned he wil save though stubborn he wil draw thee With an everlasting Love I have loved thee and therefore I have drawn thee USE 3. Of Direction How we may gain the Gift of Glory from the
hand of God 1. Set his Love on work and that wil set his Grace Power and Spirit on work to be enlarged in al the glorious operations thereof Go go to this 2 Thes 3 5. The Lord direct your hearts into the Love of God This wil give God no rest This made him send his Son and set his Counsel on work to contrive al for thy good By this thou maiest plead and wilt certainly prevail John 16. I will not say I wil ask the Father for the Father himself loveth you q. d. though I shal speak a good word yet there is that which wil do it and that it may be more effectually That Love sent me set me on work therefore I need not set that on work As David to Jonathan 1 Sam. 20.8 Thou shalt deal kindly for thou hast brought thy Servant into Covenant with God When Boas his heart was towards Ruth Naomi tels her Ruth 3. last He will never rest until he bath done the thing 2. Keep we our selves in this Love John 15.10 If we keep his Commandements we shal abide in his Love John 14.21 23. Jude 20. And thus we have done with this last Clause which we said we were inforced to take into consideration before we would come to the main Point wherein the pith of our Saviors Prayer appears which was the Second Particular observed in the Verse and are now to enquire into it The thing which our Savior praies here so earnestly for The 2d Partic. That they might be where he is And thence we have this Point namely Our Savior doth affectionately desire to have the presence of the Faithful in Heaven with himself Doct. I say he affectionately desires and that appears in his expression I WILL Which implies Three Things in this place as thus used That it is thing which suits the heart of the Lord Christ and which he chuseth as a thing that is wel pleasing to him This is as he would have it 2. That he presents the efficacy of his Merits and Obedience before God the Father and by vertue of the Covenant and Agreement betwixt him and the Father transacted touching his Elect and Chosen whose Redemption and Recovery he hath undertaken and he challengeth and claimeth at the hands of the Father the enjoyment of Heaven and Happiness which he hath purchased for his Servants the Faithful and his enjoyment of them and their presence 3. He earnestly requests and praies unto the Father for the accomplishment and performance of this The first and last of these Particulars ye have fully declared by the same word as used upon the like occasion When our Savior was to enter into his Agony in the Garden a little before he was betrayed he prayed more earnestly saies the Text If it be possible let this Cup pass and in the close ends and issues al with this subjection Not as I will but as thou wilt Marth 26.39 that is according to the Rules of Nature and Reason I would chuse and do desire mine own preservation as man yet as Mediator having undertaken the Redemption of mine I submit my Wil and Prayers to thy good pleasure and purpose And for the Second Particular it 's thus also plain Because his Prayer is one part of his Priestly Office and of that Intercession which he makes for his redeemed ones and that appears amongst other things in this As he purchased so in a righteous way he may obtain the performance of al that good from the Father in the behalf of his That they may be with them and happy in them for ever Isa 53.11 He shal see the travel of his Soul he shal see the fruit of his dying and praying the bringing of his unto God the Father into Heaven and their blessedness there And this our Savior doth not as man only but as God-man the Mediator of his Elect as he voluntarily submitted to the place of a Surety and became a Servant for our sakes and so less than the Father John 14.30 The Father is greater than I. Look as his Complaint so his Prayer may be conceived as issuing and proceeding from the same ground But when he complains My God my God why hast thou forsaken me he was not forsaken of God by the withdrawing of the sence and sweetness of his Favor as man only but as Surety therefore as Mediator and therefore so he prayed and so was heard then and now also heard and accepted of God the Father And this affectionate desire of our Savior appears in this That as he cannot take content in Heaven unless he have his Faithful with him So he wil not rest in Heaven but wil come again to fetch them to him John 14.3 I will come again and take you to my self He hath betrothed his Bride and Spouse here and he wil come as somtimes Princes and States come from their own Places and Kingdoms with the great retinue of his Courtiers and attendance of glorious Angels thousands shal go before him and thousand thousands administring to him at the Solemnization of the day of Marriage and he shal say as in Psal â—0 Gather my Saints to me those that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice We shal al be taken up with him into the Clouds and he shal carry his Bride with Triumph into his own Country and Kingdom into Heaven and there we shal be ever with him REASON 1. Hereby the Scope and End of the great Work of Restitution of lost man is in part and in an especial part thereof attained This is the end of the Death and offering of our Savior Heb 9.7 8. But into the Second went the High-Priest alone once every Yeer not without Blood the Holy Ghost thus signifying That the way into the Holy of Holies that is into Heaven was not yet made manifest while the first Tabernacle was standing but verse 11. Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come not by the blood of Goats but by his own Blood he entred once into the Holy Place that is Heaven having obtained eternal Redemption for us So that we have boldness to enter into the Holiest of the Blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the Vail that is his Flesh This is the Scope of his Resurrection and Ascention John 14.3 In my Fathers House there be many Mansions I go to prepare a place for you that is He ascended into Heaven that by vertue of his Ascention we also might arise and ascend and sit in Heavenly places with him For Ascention doth firstly appertain to our Savior and from him as our Head it is communicated to us as his Members Had not the Second Adam ascended for ought I can see no Son of Adam had ever come into Heaven When the last Enemy which is Death is vanquished and that he hath brought al the Elect home and presented them to God the Father Here am I and
Heaven and Hell can frustrate to make the Lord repeal his purpose This was the best support that shored up Peter when he was at the hardest shock Luke 22.31 32. Simon Simon Satan hath desired to winnow thee as Chaff but I have prayed that thy Faith fail not Thy Heart and Hope and Grace and al might have failed and would but I have prayed that it fail not Thou happily wilt say Satan is subtil indeed and the snares of the World secret but I find most harm from mine own heart a Wil that cannot submit and wil not come though I might be saved Look higher and further for help to the Prayer of our Savior now in Heaven and there thou mayest certainly find Christ saies Father I will that they be with me The Devil and men and thine own heart wil the contrary whether wil the Father grant and which of al these is like to prevail The wil of Christ shal stand certainly and he wil do whatever he wil do the wil of Devils shal not hinder it thine own wil shal not be able to resist 2. Comfort against all the contempt of the World when the wicked and the mighty despise the meanness of the persons disdain the presence of the poor Saints If thou beest rejected on Earth and received into Heaven if men disdain thy Company and Christ desire it nay the World desire it the more our Savior longs for it and thee Thou hast no cause to be discouraged nor discomfited Thus David fenceth himself against the reproach of Michal Oh how gloriously c. saies he It was before the Lord who chose me rather than thy Fathers house 2 Sam. 6.21 As Haman solaced himself in this as no ordinary favor in that the Queen had invited him alone to her Banquet Hesth 5.12 Yea Hesther the Queen let no man c. Much more here when the Lord Christ professeth I pray not for the World but for all that thou hast given me c. John 17.9 3. Comfort against those feeblenesses which attend upon us in our best Duties My Prayers are so poor my Desires so faint and feeble that I rather beg a denial than have any hope to attain what I desire nor like to see Heaven nor Christ there Nay somtimes not a heart to ask and somtimes so much deadness and heartlesness in asking that how can I think to come to Heaven when I have not a heart to desire it Be it thy heart and thy prayers fail thee yet the prayer of our Savior ever took place and found speeding acceptance in Heaven Joh. 11.41 42. Father I know that thou hearrest me alwaies He is alwaies soliciting and pleading our cause before the Father and he cannot but find acceptance Therefore alwaies preserved Keeps them in the world alwayes assisted alwaies quickned to al perseverance USE 4. Of Exhortation If Christ affectonately desire our presence let us long to be with him to be out of the Pest-House of the world where we have been infected out of this prison of our corrupt Nature where we have been deeply annoyed with the Body of death and the stench of this carcase of abominations we bear about with us Long we for the consummation of the marriage long for this day that our Savior so much desires Our Savior longs for our company worthless Wretched that we be though he have not need of us and was ever happy without us lies in the Bosom of his Father and hath been his delight from Eternity who hath millions of Angels to attend and serve him Yea so far longed for our company that he came down from Heaven and took our Nature that he might die for our sins in the daies of his humiliation that those may not hinder our beleeving and coming to him and he would come again from Heaven that he may take us to himself that death may not stop our passage Therefore we have more reason to long for him of whom we have so much need in whom we shal find so much happiness to sleep out our daies in the bosom of his love through al eternity If our Feofment and inheritance lay here he would be with us here but it is not but reserved for us in Heaven where he is and therefore he wil have us with himself So they Isa 26.8 The desire of our Souls is towards thy Name and the remembrance of thee This is the last of al desires where they are compleat and ended The Soul desires union to the Body in the Grave but Body and Soul desire union with Christ To follow the Lamb where ever he goes Why stand we gazing one upon another go we to Heaven When our Savior saies I will they be with me Answer and I wil be with thee Lord. Say so ye Fathers and Mothers in Israel ye are almost within sight of shore there is one step to Death that is the Wagon and then to Christ Say so ye Yong men and Maidens though ye may live long ye cannot better this is the marriage I wil go also I wil be with Christ also who hath loved me died for me and redeemed me And if any be yet in a demur let me ask them as Laban asked Rebecca Gen. 24.57 58. When Eleazar Abrahams servant came to fetch her Wilt thou go and she said I wil go So let me propound the wil of Christ He hath chosen it desires it prayes for it what say ye wil ye go to Jesus I wil go Truly let us go The time wil come ye would be glad to hear that voice Come ye blessed c. Where then are our hearts that your hearts should be thus affected either the Saints have lost their interest or their affections Either Christ hath few servants or they have lost their desires 1. What Hinders 2. What might help Hindrances are Three The First Hindrance When we surfet on these sinful pleasures and contents in the world those eat up our desires and take off the edge of our Affections As Lot neer Sodom then in Sodom then cannot be perswaded to leave Sodom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hemammered Lime-twigged with the things of the world as Birds cannot find their Wing Gen. 19.16 As surfettings take off our Stomach Al men seek their own none the things of Christ Phil. 2.21 The Second Hindrance When through carelessness and guilt they loose their evidence and assurance of their interest in Christ and acceptance with him And therefore fear and so fly him as a Judg rather than rejoyce to be with him as a Savior Is it not that Christ whose Blood I have shed whose Name I have dishonored whose Spiri◠I have greeved They think to appear before Christ as Malefactors before a Judg. As though stubble should be with fire Who shal dwel with those Everlasting Burnings Hence David desires some respit Oh spare a little before I go hence Psal 39.13 The Third Hindrance When we please our selves with the certainty of what we
have and settle upon our own sufficiency and think we can make a shift and therefore lay aside the care of a Christ becauss that dale is mown that danger is over and fal hand-pat to other things The ful Soul despiseth the Hony-Comb Wind and raw Humors cloy the Stomach As Bears wil live many months and suck the moisture of their Claws Helps are Three The First Help Make sure of our interest in Christ And maintain it I go to your God and my God your Father and my Father Joh. 20.17 No man will leave the poorest cottage the meanest provision where he is for the uncertain Hopes of a palace when he knows not whether ever he shal injoy it Ye know the place and the way Joh. 14. And therefore they desire not to stir He that knows he hath a Father to go to he goes freely The Second Help See the dayly use and need of a Savior and that wil maintain a dayly desire as men of an useful helpful companion Him we must needs have sales one I pray you cal him him we cannot want I pray you intreat him We can do nothing without him by any means prevail with him So they say Truly without Christ we can do nothing Joh. 15.4 He saith it we find it Each man desires to maintain his life Such is Christ to us Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life c. Therefore Paul saw more of himself and his life in Christ than in himself 2 Cor. 5.8 And therefore desired to be absent from the Body that he might be present with Christ And that he was a Stranger while he was in the Body The Third Help There is nothing desireable but the Lord Jesus We have done with the second particular The Third and last comes now to be considered and that is The scope of our Savior in this his petition and the maine good and benefit for which our Savior makes this request for them Namely That they might see his Glory Not that they might have any glory in themselves see or satisfie themselves with their own glory but that they might gaze upon the Glory Which the Father hath given to his Son and be swallowed up with the admiration thereof and that through al Eternity q. d. That is the staple commodity for which they trade in Heaven and the only business about which they ought to be imployed and beâ—â—ow themselves through al worlds And about this our present inquiry wil be spent for this time The happiness of our being in Heaven is to behold the glory of the Lord Jesus Doct. which he hath received by gift from God the Father I say they happiness of our being in Heaven lies in this for this is the end at which our Savior aimes in this Prayer This is the end of that Priviledg and blessing for which he Prayes For it is not the place of Heaven though the lustre and beauty of it is beyond compare and indeed unconceivable nor yet our being in Heaven barely and nakedly considered could satisfie either our desires or wants and answer the Expectation of the Soul If Christ were not there or we might no injoy his presence and â—ee his face though we were shut up in a corner of Heaven certainly Heaven would be no Heaven our happiness no happiness if we had no Christ As he said What availes mâ— if I may not see the Kings face And therefore the dregs of the vengeance of Hell is discovered in this that they shal be destroyed from his presence and from the glory of his power The End we say is better than the Meanes as that which adds beauty and amâ—bility to them The End of our being in Heaven is better than Heaven it self and that is to see the glory of Jesus and hence it is This spiritual and special communion betwixt Christ and the Soul is ever implied in such expressions as intimate the happiness of our being in Heaven So when the Apostle would by a more than ordinary Cordial fetch up the fainting hearts of the Saints here he lands al desires Hopes indeavours and expectation 1 â—hess 4. and last The trump shal blow the dead shal rise we shal meet him and be taken up into the Clouds and â—â—ere we shal over be with the Lord. Not be in Heaven but be with Christ there that makes the feast and have glorious communion with him and injoyment of him Els Gods frowns and displeasure in Heaven would make it a Hell to the Soul and that indeed insufferable Hence the Prophet makes this the highest pitch of al the Hopes and desires he had and the having of that was enough and did satisfie fully Psal 17.15 Having spoken of the Pomp and prosperity of the ungodly they had what they would and did what they would in this world he reposeth his spirit upon this As for me I wil behold thy Face in righteousness and when I awake I shal be satisfied with thy likeness When he awakes at the day of resurrection The sight of Gods glory gives ful satisfaction Whom have I in Heaven but thee It s not Heaven but God in Christ in Heaven that makes it desirable All desires of al the hearts of the Saints empty themselves and end here Their desires are to thy Name And the remembrance of thee The Soul in Heaven desires the union of the Body and the perfection and accomplishment of the number of their fellow brethren But when Body and Soul are raised and the Saints completed then al desires are to Gods Name and to the remembrance of him There is the remembrance of nothing else The things and relations of this life are like prints left in Sâ—nd there is not the least appearance or remembrance of them The King remembers not his Crown the Husband the Wife Father the Child nothing that we had that had any worth and desirableness in it It s forgotten only the Name of God in Christ that is so far and so much as he hath manifested himself in his Christ to the Soul thâ—â—s now in their Eye and aime that only comes into remembrance This is the top and highest pinnacle of perfection which the Apostle hath in his Eye 1 Joh. 3.1 2. We are now the Sons of God but it doth not appear what we shal be Why what is that excellency that then may be expected Answ We shall be like him for we shall see him as he is The Sight of his Glory is the highest step and stair of ours Here we shal enquire three Things 1. What this Glory is 2. What it is to see it 3. How the sight of this Glory brings in our End and happiness of our being in Heaven and that will be the Reason of the Point 1. What Glory is Answ There be Two Things in it 1. One is supposed and that is the worth and excellency of such Graces and Perfections which are in Christ for al Glory presumes some worth as the Basis
Father would keep them Joh. 17.11 3. To perfect that life of Grace in Glory Joh. 12.49 50. 1 Joh. 4.9 Joh. 6.40 I wil raise them up at the last day He is sent on this Errand that he shal see them safe arrived landed in Heaven USE 1. Matter of Admiration See and be swallowed up with the wonderment of Gods love to such worthless ones as we Had he sent his letters to comfort his Creatures to visite his Angels to administer it had been more than we worthless worms could have expected So the Apostle 1 Joh. 4.9 10. In this was manifested the love of God towards us in that he sent his Son If any man question his love or desire to see the discovery of love In this it s manifested undeniably infallibly Love unmatchable unconceivable that he should send his own Son from his own bosom to such worthless dust In this is Love herein is Love it 's here to be adored admired for ever Not that we loved him for that had been Love to have owned us and accepted of us But that he loved us and sent his Son to be a Propitiation for our sins Elizabeth is drawn to a wonderment at the coming of Mary How comes it that the Mother of my Lord cometh unto me Luke 1.43 But how cometh it that the Lord himself come It 's more than is usually observed or indeed can be expected that a man should send a choyce Pearl from his Closet a Diamond out of his Cabinet But that one should send his whol Treasure it 's more than can be imagined Or desired But it 's so here God hath sent his Son in whom al the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg are his and to us so vile so unthankful and unworthy Nay as God when he would convince Satan of Jobs Sincerity he impannels a Jury from Hel tels him that he had moved him to afflict Job without a Cause for yet he held his Innocency and the Devil could not deny it So consider here for thy shame if thy heart stir not with admiration we shal impannel a Jury from Hel which wil give in a Verdict 2 Thes 1.8 9. At the day of Judgment God shal be Glorious in all his Saints but admired in them that believe When al the wicked shal be gathered at the left hand of Christ the Devils and damned Spirits and al the rabble of those fulsom Goats shal see the poor Saints such as were opposite to Christ haters of him to be made one with him They who rejected nay may be persecuted Christ and the means of Grace to be now made partakers of Christ and Grace The Devils wil admire this mercy though they never share in it and shalt not thou admire it who art partaker of it 2. Comfort of never failing assurance of our safety and happiness It 's the wil of the Father and that must stand and Christ is sent to do his wil and he wil not fail of doing that for which he was appointed and therefore thou canst not fail of Heaven Christ professeth John 6.38 39. he came to do the Wil of the Father and this is his Wil That he should lose none but raise them up at the last day and he resolves he wil lose none but he wil raise them up verse 40. We have done with the Two former Things which were to be attended in the Explication 1. What it was to be sent 2. Why or for what End he was sent III. We are now to enquire touching the knowledge of this so far as it comes in an especial manner to be appropriated to the Saints And his is the third Particular to be opened for the discovery of the former Point are we shal only look at it in that peculiar respect as it is a proper Brand for Christs Sheep and a Livery of his Servants and Followers For so the Text intimates and our Savior speaks of it in that regard The World knows thee not they never attained this Learning nor were trained and taught up to it they are amongst the Petties and Punies of the world and may have some worldly wisdom These waies of wisdom they are above and too high for a Fool such as the wicked of the World are These who are promoted to the University of the Gospel and have learned of Christ these know such and such only know have a special knowledge of God the Father in Christ they know him as sent and therefore must needs know the Father who did send him Touching the Specialty of this Knowledg which is the Portion and Inheritance appropriated to the Saints as the wise man saies The Wicked meddle not with the Joy of the Righteous so it 's as true in this they reach not their Knowledg Of this we shal enquire 1. Wherein the Specialty of this Knowledg consists 2. How it comes to be communicated to them First The Specialty of this Knowledg consists in Four Things 1. In the Ability by which they know 2. In the thing known 3. The Manner of the discovery of that so known 4. The setling of the heart by that 1. This Knowledg is peculiar to the Saints in regard of that special Ability which they do receive from God in special manner by which their Judgments are cleered and their Understandings enabled to search and see into such mysterious depths and secret Dispensations of God unto the Souls of his in the Covenant of his Grace and the Conveyance of his Mercy which exceeds and over-flies the most Eagle-sighted Apprehensions of any Natural Man in the World They have the wisdom and enlightening Grace of the Spirit in their Minds and the concurrence and assistance of the Spirit to act and lead them out and thereby to lead them into al Truths and these must not be severed because God hath joined them together Zach. 4.2 3. There must not be Lamps only to burn in the Golden Candle-stick but there must be Olive Trees to feed those Lamps and to further their Light in their dayly burning As that is true in the Church of Christ it 's true also in the heart of every Member of the Church there is not only a Lamp of Knowledg burning in the Mind but there must be also a constant supply of the Oyl of the Spirit which must quicken and act out that Spiritual Wisdom for the right discerning of the things of our Peace And this is the Condition of al the Saints and the ordinary course of Gods Dispensation of himself in the way of the Gospel He hath given us a mind to know him saies the Apostle 1 John 5.20 he hath given his Spirit saies Paul whereby we may know the things that are graciously given us of God This is the end of giving both without which it cannot be So the words run 1 Cor. 2.11 12. We have not received the Spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are graciously given us of
him that sends to the ful accomplishment of this work for the procuring of the welfare of the humbled Soul and then his love may be in them and Christ in them also We have now got shore and gained thus much that we understand what this name is which is to be made known We shal open it in both the Particulars 1. The Name of the Father of mercies containes four things 1. That everlasting compassions are firstly and independently in him he is the Father of them al these yerning commiserations come out of his own Bowels Isa 63.15 Where are the sounding of thy Bowels We should father compassion upon nothing we have or do or deserve but only upon God No good we have or can do can cause these no evil we can do except the sin against the Holy Ghost can hinder these 2. There is a generation and succession of mercies which have been extended through al Ages to al conditions of men and that upon al occasions al which are of the same House and pedegree come from the same Father of mercies are of the same line and lineage Al the sins of al his which have been committed in all Ages and generations with al the heightning Circumstanceâ— thereof could never lessen weaken interrupt the course of these Fatherly compassions much less exhaust them and draw them dry The Psalmist finds no end of them Psal 136.23 24. For his mercy endureth for ever Though temptations endure which may annoy yet his mercy indâ—res for ever And that which is especially to be attended is that he works as the Father who hath been wronged and provoked and yet as a Father pities us .. 3. There be renewed and unknown Commiserations which were never heard of before yet may be expected and wil certainly be provided for the good of those that he wil do good unto He is the Father of mercies he begets fresh and new compassions every day and moment such as never saw light nor happily ever entred into the apprehensions of the sons of men Such things as wel looked mot for Isa 64.3 This props up the heart under overbearing pressures Thou saiest ordinary medicines wil cure ordinary and common diseases but thy rebellions are not to be matched no sinner no sin like thine Be it so either in truth or in thy conceiving yet here be unheard of compassions if thine be unheard of provocations Lam. 3.22 23. 4. He hath sent Christ on purpose to help those that cannot help themselves Hos 14.3 With thee the Fatherless finds mercy With this Father of merc es the most helpless Hopeless Orphane Fatherless Soul may find relief He was sent on purpose not to cal the righteous not the haughty and self confident who pride themselves in their excellencies conceive they can heal themselves with their own balsom and that their own abilities wil work their own welfare No but was sent to cal the sinner the broken-hearted and self-denying sinner And he is come on this Errand and wil not fail of his end or the effecting of that for which he was sent 2. There is yet another piece of this name of the Father which is his Faithfulness As he is the Father of mercy and of al good in himself so he hath freely and fully ingaged himself to accomplish the good and welfare of such as be truly humbled and he hath given to the Lord Jesus He hath passed his Word and signified his Wil to see al good done for them that can be desired as needful al evil removed which they can fear as hurtful and dangerous to their Souls And in this the Psalmist triumphs Psal 56.4.10 In God will I praise his Word c. In the Lord wil I praise his Word For what had it availed that God hath al mercy in himself unless he had ingaged his word to improve and imploy that for my benefit I had had no ground to claime any thing nor Hope to expect any thing at his hand Psal 138.2 Therefore herein God hath magnified his word above al other his Name he hath laid al his excellencies and sufficiency to pawn and improved al that the Salvation of an humbled sinner shal not miscarry This is the sweet that goes through all his names and gives a pleasing relish unto al When his word is in his Power it wil preserve not destroy c. As he sent Christ for to save so it is his wil which he hath expressed and its the end which he intended in furnishing our Savior with al fulness of power Joh. 17.2 Thou haft given him power over all flesh that he might give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him Now there is some ground for our hearts and Hopes to look unto that this wil shal be accomplished and this power improved See how all the work of life proceeds on pleasantly They who were thus given they shal come that is beleeve Joh. 6.37 and Joh. 17.8 When they come then Christ keeps them Joh. 17.12 Those whom thou hast given me I have kept and none of them is lost Nay he prayes the Father would keep them also Yea he wil not overly keep them himself but he intreats the Father Keep through thine won Name that is the Name of thy Fatherly mercies for in thy word those are also ingaged for their good Joh. 17.11 Nay not only kep't but quickned increased perfected in all Grace and not left til he see them Crowned in glory Joh. 6.39 No wonder therefore that our Savior should resolve ever to be making known this name of the Fathers mercy and Faithfulness since it comprehends the beginning continuance end and perfection of al we can have or Hope for here or hereafter Learn this and learn all Perfect this and perfect al. All that Christ wil teach returnes to this All that we can learn is Vertually contained in this As a Father of mercies he hath al begets all good Out of the Faithfulness of his word he dispenseth all Thus we see what the Name of the Father containes 2. How doth Christ make known this Answ This wil appear in a double work 1. The Lord Christ spreads all those glorious excellencies before the Eyes of the Soul darts in the Beams of those surpassing Beauties of mercies and compassions and causeth all this glorious good to pass before us as he speaks to Moses which at the first dazels and draws the Eyes of the Soul towards them to gaze at such an amazing sight 2 Tim. 1.10 Brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel Joh. 3.13 No man hath ascended up into these Heavenly apprehensions but the Son of man Who is in Heaven he brings Heaven down to the Soul Those were like dazeling Colors laid forth in the greatest perfections laid in a dark Room not discerned but the light came that acted them to the Eyes The strangeness of the sight takes up the understanding makes it stand wondering and gazing As Moses did
trusting too much to Earthly Contentments Psal 30.6.7 I said in my prosperity I shal never be moved Lord by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong Thou did'st hide thy Face and I was troubled When we turne our Eyes and hearts to the world God turns away his gracious respect he expressed towards us He wil make his presence welcome or he wil withdraw Math. 23.38 Ye shal see me no more til ye shal say blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. And therefore our Savior settles himself in this Math. 11.25 I thank thee O Father because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him 1 Joh. 2.16 2. Beware of Resistance of the Truth when it is made known If ye wil not have his word to direct you ye shal not have the knowledg of his Mercy that may support and refresh you When the spirit of truth comes to lead us into al truth then it shal take of Christs and shew to us Joh. 16. and Joh. 17.8 I have given them thy word and they have Received it and they have known that thou hast sent me This receiving wil let in this knowing Revel 3.20 If any wil open I will come and Sup with him 1 Joh. 2.24 If the word that ye have heard abide in you ye also shal continue in the Son and in the Father so Verse 27. 3. Take heed of Sleighting and making little account of any of the Commandements of the Lord Presume not to neglect the least or tamper with any sinful distemper or give way to infirmities or passions So Jonah 2.8 He that trusteth in Lying vanities for saketh his own Mercy That is the mind of the context Joh. 14.23 If any man love me be wil keep my words and my Father wil love him and we wil come unto him and make our abode with him And Verse 21. I will manifest my self to him that is keep him in his purity keep him in his power as we keep liquors that they loose none of their life they drink lively and quick as when new put up 3. Collection The Faithful should increase in the knowledg and right apprehension of this Name of Gods Fatherly mercy and it is their own fault if they do it not for els they might For where can there be any cause of none Proficiency found but in our selves Christ hath undertaken the work and who more able than he who is the Wisdom of the Father and came out of his Bosom and therefore is able to make known those Bosom secrets of Gods Fatherly Love which never did see Sun and reveal them Yea he is as willing as able and ready to communicate these unknown depths of Gods indeared affections Yea you that are faithful you have experience of his sufficiency this way you have a pawn in your hand a real proof of what he hath done when you were at the worst not only unskilful but uncapable of his knowledg Yea he hath made you know the things belonging to your Peace when ye never sought after nor inquired for him And he is the same that ever he was and professeth he wil make it known there is no fault nor want in Christ But you are wanting to him and your selves and play the Trevants in this are laze and heedless to learn that which is so carefully so constantly taught you If a Scholler had the choicest and ablest man for his parts most diligent in his place to be his â—â—acher yet if he came not on in his learning but stood at a stay every man would conclude there is no want of sufficiency or Faithfulness in the Master he might have grown and many have come on under him but the cause and fault is in his own heedlessness Object But alas my person is mean my infirmities so many my parts so Poor I am a very Dullard heavy headed long before I can attain a little but am never likely to come to any great matter Answ There is no one excepted not one excluded that is faithful He hath given thee knowledg he can as wel add to what he hath given and he wil do it Thy weakness cannnot hinder his Faithfulness who hath promised Yea he is ready and professeth his willingness that he wil make thee know Nay he is unweariable to teach notwithstanding al thy unteachableness to learn He hath given thee a mind to know and he wil increase that knowledg and make him dayly more known that thou mayest dayly increase Isa 48.17 I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go And Chap. 42.16 I wil lead the Blind by a way that they knew not c. This I wil do unto them and not forsake them 4. Collection We here see the Reason why after many Prayers made many pains improved by diligence and endeavor of the dear Servants of the Lord that men might see and savingly and experimentally know the precious Name of Fatherly Mercy yet after al many are at so great a loss and know so little find almost nothing of the sweetnesâ— which is to be had out of this Name that Christ wil make known and would make known to them Truly we do not go to the right door and we receive not the dole Christ is the way to lead us to the Father and we miss the way and so attain not to our end Christ is said to be the Light Isa 49.6 He is given as a Light unto the Gentiles In him was the Promise of Life and that is the Light of men to lead them by the hand to the Love of God the Father and the Faithful Performance of the Covenant And we follow not that Light but we compass our selves about with our own Sparks and follow the light of our own Fire the carnal conceivings and contrivements of our own Carnal Reason and stay not upon the Name of God and therfore it is we lie down in Sorrow Isa 50.11 Christ bids us learn of him Matth. 11.29 Buy of him Rev. 3.18 And we learn of our own Delusions and Discouragements we learn of the wrong Master go to the wrong Shop buy of our own Abilities make Tradings of our own We should not look to our own Grace but to Christ first to quicken our Grace 5. Collection Here is matter of Abasment of heart and holy fear in both which we ought to walk before the Lord. 1. Ground of Abasement Not to boast of any measure of enlightening or Assurance which at any time we do partake of as though by any sufficiency of ours or improvement of any Ability of our own we had attained thereunto There is never a spark of this Fire but it is from Heaven not one Beam of holy Light but it comes from this Sun The entrance continuance perfection al is from him he is the Author and