he suffers Satan to tempt he doth not suffer them to be utterly overcome Thus he was a hiding place to Peter Luke 22. 31. Thus he was a hiding place to Saint Paul 2 Cor. 12. 7. Though he did not hide him from being buffetted yet he hid him from being vanquished by those buffettings 3 He hides their graces Their faith their hope their patience their humility c. were not Christ a hiding place to their very graces they would wither they would die they would come to nothing he hides the root of grace keeps that warme that it perish not yea he so hides it as that he makes it fructifie 4 He hides their joy their peace of conscience Our comforts have need of Christs protection as well as our graces Should not he be a hiding to our inward peace and joy the winde of terrour and temptation would soone blow them away In the world ye shall have tribulation but in me ye shall have peace John 16. 33. Our peace is built upon Christ our peace is laid up in Christ our peace is preserved and defended by Christ The Devil would soone quench our joy if Christ were not a hiding place to it Jesus Christ is in every place and in every thing a hiding place to his people 3. Why Christ is a hiding place to them There is a double ground of it Necessity Convenience I. It 's necessary that Christ should be their hiding place This necessity is grounded upon a double consideration 1. Beleevers want a hiding place They are exposed to many enemies to many dangers The world the devil the flesh are assailing pursuing making attempts upon them every day and that several wayes Luther was wont to compare the Church to a poor weak Virgin in a wilde Wildernesse where there is nothing but ravenous creatures that seek her life Our Saviours comparison is somewhat like it Lak 10. 3. Behold I send you forth as sheep among wolves Joseph is a fruitful bough The Archers have shot at him c. Gen. 49. 23 24 25. Beleevers are in this world in a strange land they are not of the world and therefore the world hates them They want a hiding place for their bodies for their soules for their graces for their comforts The chicken doth not want the wing and the nest more then they do a hiding place 2. There is none other besides Jesus Christ that can be a hiding place for them First they cannot be hiding places to themselves They are weak and foolish they expose themselves to danger they know not well how to hide themselves in Christ much more unable are they to be protectors to themselves Should Christ leave the best of us to our selves we should be our own Butchers not Protectours Secondly no other creature can protect and hide them Kings and Princes they cannot hide us Psalme 146. 3. and if they cannot inferiour men are much more unable Horses and Armies they cannot be a hiding place to us Psalme 33. 16 17. They are soon routed and scattered If they could be hiding places to our bodies yet surely to ouâ— soules they cannot Gold and Silver cannot be a hiding place to us Though men say to their wedge of Gold thou art my confidence Job 31. 24. yet will not mountains of Gold and silver be safe hiding places in the day of trouble The Holy Angels cannot be hiding places to us They are but subprotectors they do but spread Christs wings over us The truth is all creatures want hiding places for themselves The best of creatures are but as the Dyal they cast no shadow unlesse the Sunne shine upon them The best of creatures is like Jonahs Gourd the least worm eats them thorough and thorough in a short time II. There is Convenience as well as Necessity It 's very expedient that Christ should be a hiding place to beleevers First he hath all qualifications that may fit him for this work 1. He hath strength A hiding place must be locus munitissimus Paper houses will never be good hiding places Houses made of reeds or rotten timber will not be fit places for men to hide themselves in Jesus Christ is a place of strength He is the rock of ages His name is the Mighty God Esay 9. 6. 2. He hath height A hiding place must be locus excelsissimus Your low houses are soon scaled Jesus Christ is a high place he is as high as Heaven He is the Jacobs ladder that reacheth from earth to Heaven Genesiâ— 28. 12. He is too high for men too high for Devils no creature can skale these high Walls 3. He hath secret places A hiding place must be locus abditissimus The more secret the more safe Now Jesus Christ hath many secret chambers that no creatures can ever finde Caâ—â—icles 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the secret places of the staires As Christ hath hidden comforts which no man knows but he that receiveth them so he hath hidden places of secrecy which none can finde out but he that dwells in them Come my people enter into thy chambers and shut the doors upon thee Esay 26. 20. 4. Christ is faithful He that will hide others had need be very faithful A false hearted Protector is worse then an open pursuer Will the men of Keilah deliver me up saith David They will deliver thee up saith the Lord but now Christ is faithful Revelations 3. 14. He is the faithful witnesse He cannot be bribed to surrender up any creature that comes to hide himself with him Christ will die before he will betray his trust 5. Christ iâ— diligent Diligence is as necessary in those that will hide others as faithfulnesse A sleepy Guard may betray a Castle or Garison as well as a faithlesse Guard But Jesus Christ is very diligent and watchfull he hath his Intelligencers abroad yea his own eyes runne to and fro in the earth to see what contrivances are made and set on foot against those who are hid with him Psal 121. 3 4. He that keepeth Israel neither slumbreth nor sleepeth 2. Ground Christ is fit in regard of that propriety he hath in his Saints All his Relations make him a fit hiding place First He is the Captaine General of the Church The Church is compared to an Army with Banners Christ is the General of this Army Joshuah 5. 13 14. It was Christ the Angell of the Covenant whom God hath made a Leader and Commander to the people as the Prophet calls him Esay 55. 4. Who should secure the Souldiers but the General Secondly He is the Churches King Psalme 2. 6. The Kings Court is the Subjects hiding place Nebuchadnezzars dream Dan. 4. 12. shews that Kings should be shelters to their Subjects Thirdly He is the Churches shepherd John 10. 11 12. Shepherds are to secure their flocks David slew the Lion that tore the flock Fourthly He is the Churches Father Isaiah 9. 6. The Fathers house is the childes Castle The childe when
as lively stones are built up a spiritual house 2. He is a stone of Gods immediate laying God himself did both polish and place this stone Other corner stones are fashioned and laid by men but this is fashioned by God himselfe This is in the Text Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone He is therefore called by the Prophet Dan. 2. 34. A stone cut out of the mountaine without hands that is without the hands of men There was no humane help for the polishing of this stone God himself is the chiefe and onely Architect 3. He is a Corner stone that can never drop out of the building Other corner stones will in time loosen and fall the corner stones of that Temple did at last fall but this corner stone can neither fall nor be weakned Christ sticks as fast now as he did the first day he was placed 4. He receives no strength from the other stones All material corner stones as they strengthen the building so they receive strength from the building The other stones are some defence to the corner stone but Christ receives no strengthening from any stone of the building What need hath Christ of support If he had what can weak Saints do to support him The Saints help to strengthen one another they contribute no strengthening at all to him 5. Christ is a Corner stone that reaches from the bottome to the top In other buildings there are many corner stones because no one is large enough to serve for all But Christ is so large that there is no need of any other The building is a carrying on every day and will be till all the number of the Elect be brought in but let it rise never so high there will not need one corner stone more If there were but one corner stâ—nâ— in other buildings the whole structure would be spoiled This spiritual structure would he spoiled if there should be one corner stone more One Christ supplies the need of the whole Church 1 PET. 2. 6. A chief corner stone elect precious XIX SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. Decem. 26. 1652. I Proceed to the Application which is for Information which is for Exhortation which is for Consolation 1. For information It teacheth seven lessons 1. The perpetssity of the Church The Church of Christ is a stable building it may shake and totter and be ready to fall but it cannot utterly fall The Church of God may erre both in Doctrine and manners The best of men are but enlightned and sanctified in part there is a remainder of blindnesse and ignorance in their minde and of rebellion and stubbornesse in their wills and affections therefore they may erre both in Doctrine and manners The Church of Ephesus is charged by our Saviour that she had left her first love Rev. 2. 4. The Church of Galatia is said to be removed to another Gospel And that which befals Chap. 1. 6. one or two Churches may befal an hundred Churches Our Divines prove against the Papists that general Councels have erred The Church of God may sometimes he hid under persecution it may want the publick preaching of the Word with the publick Administration of the Sacraments Our Divines prove against the Papists that the Church of God is not alwayes so apparently visible as they would have it In the dayes of the Prophet Elijah the Church of God was under a great eclipse See what he saith 1 King 19. 10. The children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant c. The Church was very low when so intelligent a Prophet could not finde one besides himself that cleaved to God yet what answer doth God give him v. 18 Yet have I left me seven thousand in Israel all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth which hath not kissed him Hear what the Prophet Azariah saith to King Asa to this very purpose 2 Chron. 15. 3. For a long season Israel hath been without the true God and without a teaching Priest and without Law As the Sunne and Moon do not alwayes visibly shine out to the world but sometimes suffer an eclipse so doth the Church of God yet neverthelesse the Church of God can never be utterly exterminated If we consider the nature of the thing the Church may be abolished and cease to have a being in the earth but if we consider the Decree of God so the Church can never cease God ever had since the promise made to Adam in Paradise a Church in the world and he ever will have a Church in the earth till all the members thereof be made triumphant in heaven The gates of hell shall never prevaile against it Mat. 16. 18. It may be brought low but it cannot be thrown down These material fabricks where the Church of God meet for holy worship may be thorough the fury and covetousnesse of men be taken down that one stone shall not be left upon another See how the Church complains of the havock made by those Sacrilegious invaders Psal 74. 7 8. The Church was not destroyed though the Temple and Synagogues were destroyed This spiritual building of the Church shall stand though all other structures fall The great reason is because Christ is the foundation and corner stone Other buildings may fall though the foundation stand but this building cannot fall unlesse the foundation be destroyed 2. That the Church of God is a very glorious building Amongst many other titles which are given to the Church this is one it 's called a glorious Church Eph. 5. 27. It shall be glorious when it comes to heaven of which that Text is properly to be understood And it is glorious even here on earth I am black but comely O ye daughters of Jerusalem as the tents of Kedar as the curtains of Solomon Cant. 1. 5. A glorious and high throne from the beginning is the place of our Sanctuary Jer. 17. 12. All the Edifices and Palaces on earth are but ugly cottages it they be compared with this spiritual building the Church The Temple of Solomon was the most excellent fabrick that ever the earth carried It s called a glorious and beautiful house Isa 64. 11. and yet that was but a type of this building See how it is described in the Revelations chap. 21. 10 11 c. It must needs be glorious because all the stones are living stones Every stone hath the glory of God on it and then besides which makes it beautiful indeed Christ himself is the corner stone How gloriouâ— must that building be where Christ himself lies as the foundation stone To be the least stone in this building is far better then to be the greatest pillar of any material building 3. The Beleevers union with Jesus Christ The Scripture doth frequently tell us the mystery of the spiritual union of Christ and Beleevers They are not onely one by participation of gifts and graces they are not onely one in will and affection as the
extra sunt indivisâ— Prophets Act. 10. 43. Apostles 1 John 5. 11. Christ himself Joh. 14. 16. do all bear witnesse to this truth That Jesus Christ is life eternal to every true beleever In what respect Christ is our life of glory I shall shew in the following particulars viz. 1. In regard of merit and acquisition Jesus Christ is the procurer of this life of glory Heaven is called a purchased Redemption or Possession Epb. 1â—4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ is the purchaser of this possession and his blood is the price of the purchase As he hath by his death purchased the Elect so hath he also by his blood purchased this life for those redeemed ones 1 John 4. 9. in this was manifested the love of God towards us because he sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that we might live through him Had not Jesus Christ shed his blood no sinner had ever tasted of this life eternal Eternal life is the free gift of God and yet it is merited by Christ Christ who is the price and meritorious cause of life is the free gift of Gods grace and therefore our salvation is both free and yeâ— merited 2. He is our life efficaciously Though salvation be purchased for the Elect yet must the Elect of God be fitted and prepared for this salvation before they can be put into the possession of it The Apostle speaks of making the soule meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The best of men are unfit for salvation as well as unworthy of salvation Though heaven be prepared for them yet cannot they enter into heaven till they be prepared This fitnesse or preparedness stands in the changing of our nature by the working of grace in the heart and in the merciful acceptation of God covering our infirmities and reckoning our weak endeavours for perfect obedience Natura mentis humanae quantumvis perfect a naturalibus donis absque gratiâ non est susceptibilis gloriae Parisiens lib. de vâ—rt cap. 11. The Apostle tells us that a man must be wrought for glory 2 Cor. 5. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Elect of God come into the world rough and unpolished filthy and defiled as well as others and they are not fit for this life till they be refined and polished Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the Kingdome of heaven Aquinas saith well Gratia haec divina eò infunditur electis ut peragant actiones ordinatas in finem vitae aeternae Now Jesus Christ doth fit and work the Elect for this glory He doth by his Spirit change their nature he doth by his grace renew the spirit of their minde he doth set up his own image in their soules and by working grace fit them for the enjoyment of that life of glory which he hath purchased 3. He is our life He is the fountaine of our eternal glory 1 John 5. 11. This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Sonne 'T is in him as in the head as in the root as in the fountain or spring All our glory is laid up in Jesus Christ as in a publick treasury Iesus Christ and all beleevers make up one mystical body of which he is the head and they the members therefore is their glory laid up in him 4. Jesus Christ is our life in regard of preparation As he doth prepare us for heaven so doth he prepare heaven for us This is attributed to his Ascension Iohn 14. 2 3. I go to prepare a place for you Not as if the place of glory were not created till the Ascension of Christ There were many souls in heaven glorified before Christ did corporally ascend thither Abel Abraham Isaac Iacob and the Prophets the meaning of it is onely thus much that Iesus Christ did not ascend only for himself to dwell in glory alone but he ascended for our sakes in our stead and place to possesse the purchased inheritance for us and to keep it for us till we actually come to be possessed of it our selves 'T is by way of allusion to the practices of great Kings who send their harbingers before them to make ready for them against their coming Iesus Christ is pleased to stile himself so in reference to the Elect. And therefore the Apostle calls him our forerunner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and tells us that he is entred into the vaile for us Heb. 6. 20. and hence it is that we are said to sit down together with Christ in heavenly places Eph. 2. 6. 5. He is our life as the way to life He calls himself the way Iohn 14. 16. No man comes to the Father but by Christ This is that new and living way which the Apostle mentions Heb. 10. 19 20. 'T is through the vaile of Christs flesh that we enter into the Holy of Holies Iacob in his vision at Bethel saw a ladder which reached from heaven to earth Gen. 28. 12. upon this ladder the Angels of God ascended and descended This ladder is Iesus Christ so he tells us himselfe Iohn 1. 51. hereafter ye shall see heaven opened and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Sonne of man He hath not only shewed us the way to heaven by his example but he is the way himself in which we go to God 6. He is our life in regard of distribution and communication As he hath purchased life for us and keeps possession of it for us so he it is that shall put us into possession of it when we come to enjoy it I will come againe and receive you unto my self Iohn 14. 3. The Apostle speaks of this in 2 Tim. 4 8. There is laid up for me a Crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me in that day 'T is to be understood of Christ he that hath purchased the Crown for us will in that day visibly set it upon our head Come ye blessed of my Father receive the Kingdome c. Matthew 25. latter end 7. He is our life formally Iesus Christ is the matter of eternal life Our eternal life and glory stands in the full enjoyment of Iesus Christ in heaven The seeing of God the enjoyment of Christ is our very glory Rev. 22. 3 4. The Throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his Face and his Name shall be in their foreheads The glory of heaven is called the eating of the tree of life Rev. 2. 7. Iesus Christ is the tree of life the enjoyment of him is the souls glory Iob therefore reckons up all his eternal glory by this very thing I know that my Redeemer liveth c. I shall behold him not with anothers but with these very eyes Full and perfect â— immediate
At another time the raine falls plentifully when no shower is expected Jesus Christ comes down upon the soules of his people many times when they look for no influences from him the Church observes this Cant. 6. 11 12. I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley and to see whether the vine flourished and the pomegranates budded Or ever I was aware my soul made me like the chariots of Aminadab Here a shower fell upon her head when she did not look for it The soul sometimes comes to an Ordinance ful of misgiving thoughts expecting no good and before it depart it 's wet from top to toe with the distillations of Christs Spirit The Church found it so when she had the least reason that could be to expect it Cant. 5. 5. She might have expected to have found flames of brimstone in regard of her dealings with Christ and behold she findes the droppings of sweet-smelling myrrh Sometimes in the night-watches Christ raines upon the soule when it never expects any such thing David made his bed to swim Psalme 6. 6. he could not have watered his couch with his teares if Christ had not first watered his heart with his grace Sometimes the soule comes to the Throne of grace parched with hardnesse perhaps as dry as the rock in the Wildernesse and Christ suddenly sends down a shower that it goes savourâ—y weeping from his presence Did not our hearts burne within us while he talked with us by the way Luke 24. 32. Jesus Christ did desâ—end suddenly upon them while they were in conference with him Sometimes a servant of God takes the book of God into his hand when his soul is dry and withered and before he hath read half a Chapter he findes the clouds melting and his soul bedewed with a shower of grace never did a shower comedown so suddenly as the grace of Christ hath sometimes comedown upon the soul Fifthly The raine comes down not for its own benefit but for the benefit of the earth What advantage hath the cloud by all the moisture that drops down from it It empties it selfe that it may enrich the ground Jesus Christ doth by his Word and Spirit and Scepter descend for the benefit of men His Doctrine the influences of his Grace are for the enriching of his Elect. Christ came down at first in his incarnation for our sakes 2 Cor. 8. 9. and all his other descensions are for our good For the filling of our empty soules for the quickning of our dead souls for the comforting of our straitned and distressed souls it is that Christ comes still down into the world His preaching his knocking his striving is onely and meerly for our benefit What profit is it to God that thou are righteous Job 22. 3. Christ hath no more advantage by all the drops he sends down upon thy soule then the clouds have for all the showers they let fall upon the earth Sixthly The rain comes down variously sometimes after a more stormy manner sometimes after a milder manner Christ comes down somtimes by promises comforts enlargments in a way of mildness sometimes he descends in a way of severity by rebukes threatnings The Church hath as much need of stormy showers as milder showers of cold raine as of warmer drops Christs more angry drops are as useful for his people as his more pleasant drops His chiding and frowning distillations make his comforting droppings more sweet His milder showers comfort us but his stormy showers try us more If Christ should not rebuke us as well as comfort us he would indeed lose us The great raine of his anger keeps us from stragling when â—he small raine of his love occasions us to wander Seventhly The raine comes down plentifully Not a drop or two but whole showers Though it come not down all at once yet as much comes down as is useful for the earth Jesus Christ comes down plentifully he doth not scant the soul he doth not give one comfort but many comforts Eat O friends drink abundantly Cant. 5. 1. He hath enough in him to give The soul wants more then a little He is not niggardly but bountiful therefore he gives plentifully and then as the raine falls down in many places at once so doth Christ All the earth for many miles together is sometimes rained upon at oâ—e and the same time the rain waters many fields at once Jesus Christ comes down abundantly he can if he please water many soules yea many Congregations at once So many Churches so many Fleeces so many Congregations so many Pastures Christ can rain upon this Congregation and he can water other Congregations at the same time Jesus Christ if â—e pleaseâ—â— an send down such a shower as shall water every Congregation yea every soul in the world aâ— one and the same time As the drops of a shower cannot be numbred no more can the drops which fall from Jesus Christ upon his Church If we receive not plentifully from Christ 't is because we ask not plentifully For the third particular Quae disproportio And here I shall shew the excellency of Christ above all material raine in six particulars 1. Christ comes down from the highest heavens The raine descends from the visible heavens Philosophers divide the aire into three Regions the highest the middle and the lowest Region Now they all hold that the raine descends onely from the middle Region there it is generated and from thence it descends upon the earth But now Jesus Christ comes down from the invisible Heavens There he sits at the right hand of God Acts 5. 31. and from thence doth every drop which distills upon the hearts of men descend This is that which Peter tells the Jewes Act 2. 33. Being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which now ye see and hear All the good of his Word of his Scepter of his Spirit comes down from the Heaven of heavens There the royal throne is and from thence doth the raine fall You must look above the highest Region of the aire yea above the highest star in the firmament if you expect any drop from Jesus Christ 2. The raine that descends upon the earth doth first ascend from the earth A cloud which is the womb of the raine is a cold and moist vapour exhaled by the heat of the Sunne out of the earth or waters into the middle Region of the aire where it is by the cold condensed and there hangeth till by the heat it be dissolved into a shower So that the showers which do drop upon the earth are first drawn out of the earth Psal 135. 7. But now all the drops which distil from Christ are generated in heaven Jesus Christ is not beholden to the earth to furnish him What ever he distils either in his Word or by his Spirit is originally in and from himself
the Gospel The Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the glorious Gospel or the Gospel of glory 1 Tim. 1. 11. The Gospel is exceeding full of glory there 's nothing in it but that which is very glorious This is enough to proclaim the glory of it because in it the Lord Jesus Christ is discovered the Gospel is the Orbe in which the Sunne of righteousnesse shineth it is the Chariot in which Christ rides It is the Golden vessel which carries this glorious light about the world The Gospel is the true Bethshemesh or house of the Sunne it is called the Word of Christ Col. 3. 16. Because by this Word Jesus Christ is discovered and manifested to the world David doth admire the heavens for this that in them God hath set a Tabernacle for the Sunne Psal 19. 4. The Gospel is that glorious Tabernacle which God hath set and established for this great Sunne of righteousnesse Where the Gospel is not Christ is not known remove the Gospel and Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse is totally removed 2. The exceeding great glory of heaven The Scripture makes mention of heaven as of a glorious place Amongst other things this shewes the glory of it that this Sunne of righteousnesse shines in it Rev. 21. 23. and 22. 3 This will further appear if we consider how far Christs shining in heaven dazzels his shining here on earth I will instance in these three particulars 1. In heaven Christ shines upon the soul immediately There is nothing to interpose between Christ and the soul his shinings in this life are immediate through the Ordinances We see his beames in this life through the thick glasse of Ordinances the Churh tells us the manner of his shining in this life Cant. 2. 9. We have his beames here only by reflection but in heaven they are immediately darted down upon the soul There is no Temple in heaven Rev. 21. 22. Christ himselfe is the Temple Now if the mediate beamings of Christ upon the soul he so glorious What abundant glory will there be in his immediate shinings 2. In heaven he shines with his full strength upon the soul All have here on earth but small beames of this Sunne A beam in one Ordinance and a beam in another here a little and there a little as we are able to bear it the eye of the soul while it is unglorified is not able without dazling to look upon Jesus Christ shining in his full strength Thou shalt see my back parts but my face cannot be seen Exod. 33. 22 23. but in heaven the soul shall be able to take a full view of Christs face 1 Cor. 12. 12. All that ever we have seen of Christ in this world will be but darknesse in respect of that full sight of his glory we shall have in heaven 3. In heaven Christ shines without intermission The soul here doth often lose the sight of Christs face every day is not a Sunne-shine day There are some dark and gloomy dayes even to them that have the greatest interest in Christ Esay 50. 10. but in heaven the Sunne is alwayes up There are no clouds to Eclipse the light of Christs face in that region There 's no night in heaven Rev. 27. 25. That which causes the soul here to lose the sight of Christ shall not be in heaven No sinne enters into that holy place if the immediate perfect uninterrupted shining of Christ can make a place glorious heaven is a most glorious place 3. The miserable condition of those that have no interest in Jesus Christ The Scripture makes it the top of all misery to be without Christ Eph. 2. 12. This text beares witnesse to it How uncomfortable would the world be if there were no Sunne If God had not made the Sunne the world would have been but an uncomfortable prison What a muse and astonishment are men put into when the Sunne is Eclipsed but for a few houres How doleful is their condition upon whom the Sunne of righteousnesse hath never risen They have neither spiritual light nor spiritual warmth nor spiritual healing nor spiritual softnesse that are without Christ They want both the righteousnesse of justification and of sanctification that have not a saving interest in this Sunne of righteousnesse There are no people upon the earth that stand in more need both of your compassions and prayers then those that want Jesus Christ And they are so much the more miserable because they want eyes to see their misery 4. That there is no righteousnesse either of justification or sanctification without Christ he is called the Sunne of righteousnesse in both these respects and therefore till he arise upon the soule it hath no righteousnesse in either of these respects 1. For the righteousnesse of justification The Papists they teach and maintain that a person must have in himself inherent righteousnesse to justifie him before Gods tribunall They say that Christs righteousnesse is not the proper cause of justification but that whereby God is pleased to accept of the habits of righteousnesse in us placing the matter of justification either in something habitually inherent in us or flowing from us This Doctrine doth devest Jesus Christ of this name which God hath here given him He is called the Lord our righteousnesse Jer. 23. 6. If he be our righteousnesse then we are not our own righteousnesse I would not be found saith a good Divine in the righteousnesse of the best prayers I ever made at the day of judgement To take off men from this Popish doctrine I shall lay down these Arguments against it 1. The righteousnesse of God and the righteousnesse of man are opposed in Scripture as things inconsistent in the matter of justification Phil. 3. 9. To mingle these two together were to wear a garment of linnen and woolen which God forbade in his Law He that submits to the one cannot submit to the other So the Apostle teacheth us expresly Rom. 10. 3. he that trusts to the righteousnesse of man cannot trust to the righteous of God Our righteousnesse is that which we do in obedience to the Law but Christs righteousnesse is that by which we are reckoned righteous in the sight of God 2. If righteousnesse be by workes then it is not of free grace but of due debt This is the Apostles argument Rom. 11. 6. The Papists answer this by understanding by works there the works of nature and unregeneracy only and not of works flowing from faith But this is a meer falshood for the Apostle proves Rom. 4. 2. that works flowing from faith cannot justifie before God Abraham was regenerate Abrahams works were works flowing from faith yet were not those works his righteousnesse but Christ apprehended by faith 3. That righteousnesse by which and for which a person is justified must exactly answer Gods justice It must be so every way perfect that justice it self can require no more but the best of our works are imperfect and
be perswaded to beleeve Use 2. The deare love of Jesus Christ to his people As his departure was a rich testimony of his love 'T is expedient for you that I go away so is his returning I will not leave you comfortlesse I will come unto you Joh. 14. 18. Never think of Christs returning but meditate upon the greatnesse of his love Use 3. That Christ is not now corporally in the world The Scripture speaks of his corporal appearance as of a future thing The Papists they make him corporally present in the Sacrament His body shall descend but once and that shall never be till he come to take his people into glory with himself The doctrine of the real corporal presence of Christ is a doctrine of real falshood Use 4. This is a very sad doctrine to all ungodly sinners Christ shall appear It were well for wicked men if this Doctrine were an untruth The very end of his appearing is to bring you to a publick tryal for all your acts of High-treason against his Crown and dignity He will appeare and then you shall appeare before him to render an account of and to suffer punishment for all your hard words and cruel actings against him and against his in the world when he appeares you shall wish that the mountaines might fall upon you to hide you from his sight The appearance of Christ to you will be as the appearance of a severe Judge to a convicted malefactor Consider of it before-hand that by timely and thorough repentance you may prevent that dreadful sentence which will be denounced and executed upon the wicked in that day Falix trembled when he heard this doctrine Acts 24. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If the hearing of it work such fear how great fear will the sight of it work be humbled and converted that ye may stand when the Sonne of Man appears You cannot hide any wickednesse from him You cannot bribe him to excuse your wickednesse Use 5. Let the friends and favourites of Christ draw comfoâ—t from hence Lift up your heads saith our Saviour when he is preaching of this very Doctrine Luke 21. 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is a day of lifting up the head to you Think of it and gather comfort from it 1. Against all the shame you meet with here That day shall wipe off all your shame Isa 66. 5. 2. Against all false judgements and accusations In that day all shall be judged over again Christ shall appear and he will judge righteous judgement 3. Against all slanders 4. The appearing of Christ is a general antidote against all evils you suffer 2 Pet. 2. 9. beleeve it meditate much upon it Mar. 13. 35. Luke 12. 42. 5. Prepare for it JOHN 6. 55. My flesh is meat indeed and my VI. SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. Decem. 14. 1651. blood is drink indeed IN this Chapter we have something Historical and something Doctrinal The Historical part relates two great miracles done by our Saviour his feeding five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes ver 1. to 15. his walking upon the water v. 15. to 22. The Doctrinal part is from v. 22. ad finem The first and principal Doctrine he handles is to prove himself to be the bread of life He is occasioned to preach this Doctrine from the peoples flocking after him to be fed with miraculous bread v. 22 23 24 25. seeing a great multitude resort after to Capernaum he knowing their intentions tells them v. 26. that they followed not because they saw his Divine power in the late miracle but that they might satisfie their natural appetite with bread and thereupon v. 27. adviseth them that they would minde that spiritual bread which did excel the other as far as the soule did the body v. 27. And after some debate with them when he saw their hearts a little raised after it he doth openly declare and professe himselfe to be that spiritual bread And when there was some contention among the Jewes how he could give them himselfe to eate v. 52. he doth v. 53. shew the misery of them that did not eat him and v. 54 the happinesse of those that did feed upon him and thereupon layes down this assertion in the Text For my flesh is meat indeed c. The worâ—s taken absolutely and excluding the causal particle for containe in them a double Proposition 1. That Christs flesh is meat indeed 2. That his blood is drink indeed I begin with the first My flesh c. in which we have 1. The subject My flesh 2. The predicate Meat indeed EXPLICATION My flesh Flesh when it is spoken in relation to Christ as here in the Text signifies two things 1. Sometimes the manhood alone So you have it Joh. 6. 63. It is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing In this place the flesh signifies onely the humanity of Christ So Austin expounds it and Calvin after him The humanity is without advantage if it be separated from the spirit that is à spiritus virtute quâ perfusa est caro Calvin 'T is the Divinity that gives efficacy to the humanity It is from the Spirit that the flesh hath any feeding vertue 2. Sometimes the whole person of Christ God-man And so it is to be understood in the Text. My flesh is meat that is I am meat I God and man in one person Now why flesh is mentioned here Cameron gives the reason because our life is in the flesh and blood of Christ Si enim carnem sanguinem Christo tollas non erit amplius cibus noster For that he might be food for our soules it was necessary that he should satisfie the justice of God and so purchase for us remission of sinnes Therefore because by the shedding of his blood and by the sacrificing and offering up of his body upon the crosse he purchased this for us Heb. 9. 22. his flesh is said to be our meat and his blood our drink Is meat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word is translated sometimes rust Mat. 6. 19 20. Lay not up for your selves treasures on earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but lay up for your selves treasures in heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifies any thing that by rust or fretting doth eat into metal or other creatures and so consumes them It is also translated meat and signifies generally all kinde of food which is for the support of life 2 Cor. 9. 10. he that ministreth seed to the sower both minister bread to your food 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and multiply your seed sowen c. And so 't is used in the Text. Indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the flesh of Christ is called meat indeed in a twofold respect 1. In respect of all other food All other food in respect of this is but cibi tantummodo umbra vana imago as Cameron saith As natural life in respect of the spiritual is but a shadow of
feed the inward man Those that have the fattest bodies have not alwayes the fattest soules But Christ is spiritual meat and drink He feeds the soul the conscience the spiritual part His blood purgeth the conscience Heb. 9. 14. it refreshes the conscience it chears the conscience his body strengthens the soul repaires the decayes of the inward man 2. Christ is heavenly meat and drink Joh. 6. 32. My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven Other meat and drink is terrene and earthly Your bread grows out of the bowels of the earth Your wine is the blood of an earthly grape The flesh you eat is fed of the tender grasie that springs out of the earth If the earth should prove barren you would soone feele a famine The King himself is served by the field Eccles 5. 9. 'T is true the blessing comes from heaven but all the materials of meat and drink are earthly But Jesus Christ is the bread of heaven and the wine of heaven The Manna came from the clouds onely but Christ from the beatifical heaven even from the bosome of the Father 3. Christ is incorruptible meat and drink All earthly meat and drink is of a fading perishing nature The best bread grows mouldy in a little time the best flesh in time putrifies and taints the best wine growes eager and sowre in a little time and becomes unfit for the body of man The very Manna it self when it was kept till the morning of the next day contrary to Gods command bred wormes and standk Exod. 16. 20. But Jesus Christ knows no corruption His flesh blood is now as sweet and pleasant after so many Ages as it was the first houre it was eaten and drank John 6. 27. And it will be as farre from corruption at the end of the world as now it is The Manna in the golden pot corrupted not though kept for many Generations Christ is Manna in that golden-pot the humanity in the golden pot of the Divinity shall see no corruption 4. Christ is such meat and drink as preserves from death Other meat and drink cannot keep man from the grave That rich man that fared deliciously every day was not made immortal The rich man died and was buried Luke 16. 22. All that Generation that fed on Manna and drank the water out of the rock died John 6. 49. But Christ preserves the soul from Death John 6. 50. This is the bread of God that came down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die It immortalizes the soule that feeds on it He that beleeveth on me hath eternal life ver 51. And then 5. Christ is soul-satisfying meat and drink He that beleeveth on me shall never hunger and he that cometh to me shall never thirst John 6. 35. There is a hunger of desire and a hunger and thirst of total emptinesse and want He that hath this meat and drink shall never totally want him It is not so with other meat and drink A man may have his belly filled with other meat and drink and may have a good quantity before-hand and yet may at last want a morsel and die for want of a draught of water But he that once hath this spiritual meat and drink though he eat but a little shall never be utterly destitute Jehn 7. 37 38. The widows handful of meal and spoonful of oyle was never spent till God sent raine upon the earth 1 Reg. 17. 16. He that hath but a handful of Christs flesh and a spoonful of his blood shall never see want but shall have enough to satisfie him to all eternity 6. Christ is such meat and drink as gives life to the Dead Other meat and drink cannot preserve a living body from death much lesse can it give life and restore breath to a dead body Put the most delicate meat the strongest drink into the mouth of a dead man and they will not give him life if the soul be quite departed They may recover from a swoon they cannot from death But the flesh and blood of Christ quicken the dead Christ by putting his flesh and blood into the mouth of the dead soul conveys life into it His flesh and blood make the lips of the dead to speak As the Father raiseth the dead and quickneth them so the Son quickneth whom he will John 5. 21. if thou hast any spiritual life in thee thou didst receive it from the enlivening vertue of Christs flesh and blood communicated to thee by the Spirit of life 7. Christ is such meat and drink as will never surset All other meat and drink if it be taken immoderately and unseasonably tends to sicknesse and suâ—fetting The more lushious and delicate they are the sooner do they surfet the body Hence is Solomons advice Prov. 25. 16. drunkennesse and surfeting bring more to their long home then pining famine But the flesh and blood of Christ never surfet A man cannot eat and drink too much of Christ nor can they eat and drink him unseasonably There is no killing no annoying vertue in Jesus Christ this meat and drink will never clog never cloy the stomack Christ is an occasion of death to none but to those that refuse him 8. Christ is such meat and drink as is suitable for all persons at all times Other meat and drink is not fit for all persons nor for the same person in all conditions That that will nourish a man may kill a childe That that strengthens a man in health may kill him in sicknesse There is meat for strong men milk for babes c. But Jesus Christ is meat and drink for all persons for all conditions He is meat for the strong man he is milk for the babe He is proper for the healthful person and he is fit for the sickly person He is the labouring mans food and he is the sick mans diet His blood is Physical drink to him that is sick cooling drink to him that is parched with heat he is strong cordial-drink to him that faints He is a suitable nourishment 9. Jesus Christ is meat and drink that is freely bestowed He is not purchased by our money nor procured by our industry but freely communicated Other meat and drink is procured at dear rates Men must Till and Plow and Sowe their land men must breed up cattel men must plant vines dig springs and fountaines otherwise they can expect neither meat nor drink The Egyptians in a time of famine pawn'd their lands for food they gave their cattel for bread and at last sold their land out-right that they might have food Gen. 47. 15 16 17 18 19 20. But Christ is meat and drink though the most costly in himselfe yet costlesse to us Nothing is required on our part but receiving of him If any should offer money Christ would say as Peter to Simon Magus Act. 8. 20. Thy money perish with thee He that will not take this meat and drink as an
Armour 1. No other Armour will serve Sauls Armour will not serve Gods souldiers 2. This Armour will serve it was never battered it will never be broken Take it therefore and put it on 1. Put it on wholly 2. Put it on speedily 3. Use it when it is on 4. When you have done all hide your selves in Christ who is here called for their comfort Latibulum à vento of which comfortable point I shall speak the next time ESAY 32. 2. And a man shall be as a hiding place IX SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. Feb. 15. 1651. from the winde TWo things I observed in this Text. 1. A danger intimated in this word Winde 2. A remedy prescribed A man shall be as a hiding place The Observations were two 1. That Christians must expect to meet with windy dayes even under the Kingdome of Christ Of which I have spoken Doct 2. That Jesus Christ is the beleevers hiding place in all the windy dayes which they meet withal in the world He is latibulum or Absconsio à vento whether they be windy dayes of outward trouble or windy dayes of inward trouble temptation desertion discouraging feares and terrours Christ is a hiding place to them in all these days and in all these cases Here are foure words used in this text which set out this hiding vertue that is in Christ hiding place covert rivers of water shaâ—ow of a rock Many other Scriptures bear pregnant testimony to this truth Esay 4. 5 6. The Lord will creatâ— upon Mount Sion upon every dwelling place of Mount Sion and upon all her assemblies a cloud c. This is spoken of Christ the beautiful branch of the Lord v. 2. This glorious and beautiful branch the root of the stock of Jesse shall be a cloud and smoak a defence a Tabernacle a shadow a place of refuge a covert and that not to one but to every dwelling place of Mount Sion and to all her Assemblies To this agrees that of our Saviour Cant. 2. 14. O my dove that art in the clefts of the rock and in the secret place of the staires Jesus Christ is this cleft of the rock he is this secret place of the staires Christ is called Shiloh Gen. 49. 10. Shiloh is from the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies in quietâ— vel pace agere tranquille in otio vivere all safety is in Christ The tunicle in which the infant is wrapt in the mothers belly is called by the Hebrews Shiloh because it lies there securely out of fear In the prosecution of this point I shall open these three things 1. What it is in Christ that is a hiding place 2. What it is of theirs that Christ hides 3. Why Christ is a hiding place to them 1. There are several things in Jesus Christ which make up this hiding place indeed every thing in Christ is a hiding place I shall instance in some 1. The providence of Christ The Scripture tells us that the eyes of the Lord runne to and fro thoroughout the earth 2 Chron. 16. 9. Jesus Christ hath the same watchful eyes of providence over his people that the Father hath Col. 3. 17. By him all things consist It 's one Argument Divines bring to prove Christs divinity because be governs the world by his providence as the Father doth John 5. 17. My Father worketh hitherto and I work It 's meant of his providential working And Heb. 1. 3. Christ is said to uphold all things by the Word of his Power which is an act of providence Now as Christ by his providence watcheth over all things and and creatures so do his eyes watch continually over his people Esay 27. 3. I the Lord do keep it I will keep it night and day This is one great stone of this biding place 2. The Attributes of Christ All the Divine Attributes are ascribed to Christ as well as to the Father Eternity Micah 5. 2. Almightinesse Esaâ— 9. 6. Omniscience Heb. 4. 13. It 's spoken of Christ our high Priest Wisdome Prov. 9. 1. He is called God onely wise Jude 25. All these Attributes are as so many stones that make this hiding place Prov. 18. 10. The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower Christs name the Prophet mentions Esay 9. â— Wonderful Counsellor c. every one of these names is a room in this hiding place 3. The Promises of Christ All the promises of God are in Christ yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. Christ hath purchased them they all have their ratification and accomplishment in Christ The Scripture is full of promises of all sorts of protection provision deliverance salvation Every promise is a piece of this hiding-place Ps 18. 30. The Word of the Lord is tryed He is a buckler to them that trust in him Christs Word of Promise is the souls defence 4. The merits of Christ. Christ hath by the shedding of his blood merited for his Elect whatsoever is necessary These merits are a beleevers hiding place O my dove that art in the clefts of the rock Cant. 2. 14. those foramina petrae are vulnera Christâ— There the beleever hides himself in the time of danger As the dove when she is pursued flies to her windows so the beleever flies to the wounds of Christ and there is hid 5. The intercession of Christ The Scripture tells us that Christ appeares continually before the Father for us he is still moving for us at the right hand of God His Intercession in heaven is the beleevers Sanctuary on earth So the Apostle tells us in two places Heb. 6. 18 19 20. and Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save c. because he lives for ever to make Intercession for us Christ directs Peter to this Luke 22. 31. 2. What it is of a beleever that Christ is a hiding place unto 1. Christ is a hiding place to the outward man He hides that in time of stormes Christ hides that two wayes 1. Sometimes he hides it from danger He keeps his people from the rage of them that would swallow them Thus the Church was hid Rev 12. 6. The woman fled into the Wildernesse where she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred sixty dayes Thus David was often hid from the fury of Saul and his Courtiers that sought his life 2 Sometimes God hides it in danger That though his people be in danger yet they are not destroyed Thus the Church was hid in Egypt The bush was burning yet was not consumed Ex. 3. 2. 2. Christ is a hiding place to the inward man And herein he excells all other hiding places 1 He hides the soul from sinne The best of his people would sinne more frequently and more grievously if Jesus Christ did not hide them from sin 2 He hides the soule from temptations He chaines up Satan from tempting them that he cannot bait them so furiously as he would and when
's very like the Pharisee spake no more then what was true for they were generally men very inoffensive as to all such things For the discovering of this false foundation I shall lay down foure things viz. 1. 'T is a very great mercy to be freed from these scandalous sinnes If God have preserved you from these visible diseases that you have none of these botches of Egypt upon you it is to be acknowledged as a very great blessing The Pharisee did not amisse in blessing God that he was no Extortioner if he had done it upon a right ground if he had not gone on to censure the Publican he had not been blamed but commended for it David blesses God for preserving him from the sinne of murther upon Abigails perswasion Vid. 1 Samuel 25. 32 33. And there is very great reason for it For 1 Hereby we are delivered from much anguish and torment of conscience These scandalous sinnes as they do in an extraordinary manner waste the conscience so they do lay a foundation of much horrour and trouble in the soul every sinne creates much torment but these great abominations create exceeding much What horrour did Davids Adultery and Murther cast into his spirit Though God pardoned them both to him yet he was filled with anguish a long time after vid. Ps 6. Ps 38. Ps 50. 1. Now t is a great mercy when God prevents any anguish 2. Hereby we are delivered from being hurtful examples to other men Grosse scandalous offences are very prejudicial to others The hearts of those that are good are grieved and such as are wicked are caused to stumble oftentimes to their eternal ruine Davids sin gave great occasion of sin to others Now it 's a great mercy when God keeps a person from being an instrument of hurt to others especially of hurt to their soules 2. Such as expect salvation must keep themselves from such wickednesses Vid. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Heaven is not a place of common receipt for good and bad 'T is not like your ordinary Innes which lodge all kinde of passengers without difference such Lepers so living and dying must expect to go to another place Rev. 22. 15. Without shall be dogs c. 3. 'T is possible for a person to be free from these abominations and yet to be mortally sick of spiritual diseases Every sick man hath not the plague A man may die of a consumption as well as of a Fever A person may be in a damnable state that never committed murther or uncleannesse 1. The Pharisee was free from all these impieties and yet deadly sick in his soule Luke 18. 11. Paul when he was a Pharisee saith that he was blamelesse concerning all such enormities Phil. 3. 6. and yet at that time sick even unto death so he in Mat. 32. 11. so the five Virgins Mat. 25. 1. Those in 2 Pet. 2. 18 20. A natural conscience may keep men from such enormities The penalty of humane Lawes may preserâ—◠〈…〉 these great wickednesses Civil education may preserve a man from falling into these wickednesses A desire to keep our reputation in the world with men with whom we converse may keep us from these high impieties Meer restraint may do this 2. If freedome from these offences were enough to proclaime men to be spiritually whole then no hypocrite should be sick A man must be free from all these sinnes before he be advanced into the hypocrites forme Now we know that every hypocrite is spiritually and mortally sick Yea the Scripture tells us that hell is prepared for the hypocrites other sinners are said to have their portion with the hypocrites Mat. 2â— 51. The hypocrite is of all sinners the special proprietor of Hell and yet he is free from all these offences 3. It 's possible for one that hath no saving grace in his heart to be free from these offences Though every one that hath grace will abandon these sins yet every one that is free from these sins hath not grace The instances mentioned before will prove this But every one that wants saving grace is under the rage of spiritual sicknesses Yea he that is without true grace is not onely sick in sinne but dead in sin Eph. 2. 1. and yet those that are dead in sin may be free from these wickednesses 4. Although many be free from the actual commission of these sinnes yet they have the roots of these sinnes in their hearts Every sinne is in that bundle of sinne which we call original There is pride and murther and theft c Now the pollution of nature if it be not healed by justifying grace and pardoning mercy and sanctifying grace is enough to make the soule sick and that unto death Yea indeed the great sicknesse of the soul lies there There lies the strength of sinne and the heat of sinne David when he bewailes his murther goes to that as the root of it Psalme 51. 5. All a mans actual sinnes be they never so grosse might soone be healed if that were but healed This is the fountaine of blood This is the law of sin here is the devils magazine 5. Though thou art free from thâ—se foule sins yet thou mayest have some secret idol or other set up in thy heart Now the least sin a vaine thought is a mortal sicknesse in it selfe and if it be not healed will prove a soul-destroying sicknesse The Papists have devised a distinction of sinnes venial and sinnes mortal That there are some sinnes that in their own nature do not make a man liable to eternal death but onely to temporal chastisement so Bellarmine teaches The Scripture knows no such distinction nor can we allow it All sinnes are venial to true repentance except that one sinne against the holy Ghost He that commits that shall never be forgiven But there is no sin venial in its own nature the least is a mortal sicknesse and deserves eternal death So saith the Scripture Gal. 3. 10. Rom. 6. ult the Apostle speaks of all sinne that is opposed to legal righteousnesse and there is no sinne so small but it is a breach of the Law of God For of every idle word that a man shall speak he shall give an account at the day of judgement Mat. 12. 36. What is lesse then an idle word and yet that doth in its own nature deserve wrath By all these things it appeares that a man may be spiritually 〈…〉 thief nor drunkard c. 4. Yet may a person gather evideners of grace from his acting against sinne in some cases David argues so Ps 18. 23. And therefore for the winding up of this point I shall lay down some Rules whereby a person may know whether his acting against sinne be from a principle of saving grace or meerly from common restraint 1. He that forbears sinne from a principle of true grace doth act from the Authority and declaration of anaked truth When the immediate declaration of Gods Will in his Word
are described by such termes as set out the sensiblenesse of their condition The meek the broken-hearted the captives them that are bound them that mourne in Zion them that sit in ashes them that are under the spirit of heavinesse The cure is set down in expressions suitable to the nature of these sicknesses To the meek good tydings to the broken hearted binding up to the captives liberty to them that are bound the opening of the prison to them that mourne comfort the oile of joy to them that are in ashes beauty to the spirit of heavinesse the garment of praise The Authority enjoyning this is the Divine unction of the Father by the Spirit The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me the Lord hath anointed me So Esay 50. 4. Jesus Christ is a very exact observer of his Fathers Commandment He hath his 〈…〉 not onely in his hand but even in hi◠〈◊〉 Psalm 40. 8. in the middest of his bowels Now because God hath in so peculâ—ar â— manner recommended these to his â—are therefore doth he apply himself to them for their cure 2. From the instigation of his own mercifulnesse Jesus Christ is very tender-hearted he is full of the bowels of compassion The Apostle calls him a merciful and faithful High Priest Heb. 2. 17. He could not be a compleat High Priest if he wanted either of these Now being so merciful and compassionate he will not turne away his bowels from them that are in so dejected a condition This is rendred as the reason why he was so ready to heale the wounded travellor Luke 10. 33 34. When he saw him he had compassion on him and bound up his wounds Jesus Christ hath lost none of his tendernesse by going into heaven He is still touched with the sensible feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4 15. this inclines him to this readinesse 3. That he may not lose the glory of that work which he hath begun The humbling and convincing of proud sinners is as truly the work of Christ as the restoring of humbled sinners 'T is his work to prick the heart as well as to comfort the heart Now if he should humble and convince a sinner and then leave him and proceed no farther he would lose the honour of what he hath done The soule doth not heartily praise Christ for conviction till conviction be carried on to conversion The soul so long as it abides onely under the paines of conviction apprehends no love but onely wrath and anger and so long as the love of Christ is unseen the glory of Christ is not proclaimed Now Christ will not lose the glory of the first work therefore is he so careful and ready to carry on the second work The Uses of this Point 1. Let this preserve all that are in such a condition from despaire Satans great plot upon convinced and humbled sinners is to drive them to despaire As he endeavours to heighten and harden unbroken sinners to presumption so his great designe is to afright humbled sinners to despaire This Doctrine is a good preservative against such temptations you that see sinne and complaine of your spiritual sicknesses know this to your comfort that as Christ hath prepared you for healing so he will be ready to heale you Object I have been a long time under these heart-pricking convictions and yet cannot finde any healing my wounds are as wide and as deep as ever they were I have lyen many moneths yea many yeares under the apprehensions of sinne and wrath and yet am not healed How shall I beleeve this Doctrine Sol. 1. Many sinners are healed who do not apprehend themselves to be healed Many wounded sinners will not beleeve themselves to be healed unlesse they could finde no skarre or spot of sinne upon them They think they are not healed of sinne 〈◊〉 they are not quite delivered both from the being and acting of sinne They even look to finde as perfect healing on earth as they shall have in Heaven But we must know that a person may be healed both of the guilt of sinne by Justification and of the dominion of sinne by Sanctification and yet still finde many sores of sinne upon and new sores breaking out every day in him Paul was healed when he cried out O miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Romans 7. 24. David was healed and yet he cries out My wounds stink and are corrupt through my foolishnesse Psalme 38. 5. and againe verse 7. My loynes are filled with a loathsome disease and there is no soundnesse in my flesh When the love of sinne the secret delight in sinne the allowance of sinne the commanding rule of sinne are removed though there continue many wounds and scarres too upon the soule the cure of sinne is wrought and that which is wanting shall perfectly be finished 2. Many sinners keep themselves from being healed by their own default They do keep terrour and apprehensions of wrath upon their soules because they will not close with the promises of the Gospel Though the comforts of the Gospel be held out never so clearly and with never so much perswadingnesse yet they will have none of them They are not humbled enough as they think they are not so prepared as they should be therefore they will not come to Christ to close with him as with a Saviour nor apply the promises of the Gospel but reject them and put them away as none of their portion This is the case of abundance of sinners Is it any wonder if such say they are not healed 'T is because they will not be healed They are not worthy of mercy and therefore they will have none They do not consider that all our worthinesse stands in the sense of our own unworthinesse They do not consider that they do not come to bring fulnesse to Christ but to draw out of Christs fulnesse John 1. 14. if such sinners would but lay aside this spiritual pride and close with Christ because they see they are unworthy of him they should finde that he would in a short time spiritually heale them For he is willing to heale and willing to do it speedily Jesus Christ never did never will put any sinne-lamenting sinner to any unnecessary trouble to any unnecessary delay 2. Let all the people of God especially the Ministery of God be ready to follow Christs example When you see or know of any soul that is wounded with sinne apply what healing medicines you can that they may be healed 'T is given in charge to the Ministers of God both in the Old and in the New Testament Esay 35. 3. and 1 Thes 5. 14. As it is cruel mercy to prostitute the comforts of the Gospel to proud sinners so is it great cruelty to with-hold the cordials of the Gospel from such sinners as are burthened with their sinnes Jesus Christ will take it very kindly at any mans hand that will help forward the
the light Jesus Christ hath a penetrating and searching power No heart so close but his eye is in it no conscience so dark but he sees to the bottome of it See what the Apostle saith of him Heb. 4. 13. All things are naked and open to his eyes and every creature is manifest in his sight 4. Light hath a chearing and 〈…〉 The light contributes much 〈…〉 and growth and life of 〈…〉 creatures Light and motion are the câ—me of that heat which the heavenly bodies send down upon the earth Light is that instrument whereby all the influences of heaven are communicated and dispensed to the world The motions of nature are both quickned and comforted by the light and by it all the births of nature are cheared and comforted Jesus Christ hath a chearing comforting and quickning vertue 'T is by influences from Christ spiritual life and comfort are obtained and preserved The Prophet speaks of this vertue of Christ under this very Metaphor of light Mal. 4. 2. All that spiritual livelinesse and brisknesse that beleevers have at any time in their hearts is from the beaming wings of Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse He is a heart-chearing a heart-warming a heart-quickening Saviour 5. Light hath a Purifying vertue Fogs and Mists that are gathered in darknesse are dispersed and scattered when the light comes When a candle is lighted and set up in a room if there be any damps they gather about it Light is the fining pot of Nature The world would be an unwholsom Pest-house if it had not light Jesus Christ hath a purifying and cleansing vertue By vertue from him it is that those nasty filthinesses of sinne which are in the soul are purged away Heb. 8. 14. All the Levitical Ceremonial purifications used in the Law were types of him The Prophet compares him to a refiner and purifier of silver Mal. 3. 3. By his blood he purifies the soul from the guilt of sin By his grace he cleanseth the soul from the filth of sinne The Prophet compares him to a fountaine set open for purification Ezek. 13. 1. All that ever were all that ever shall be cleansed from the filthinesse of sin are cleansed by Jesus Christ 6. Light is of an undefilable nature Though it passe through sinks and the most polluted places yet it contracts no defilement It cleanseth all things but is defiled by nothing It is a quality so spiritual that nothing can fasten upon it to pollute it Jesus Christ is fitly resembled to light in this respect He is not capable of any defilement He assumed sinful nature without the least sinne He had the likenesse of sinful flesh Rom 8. 3. but not the least sinne in his flesh In the dayes of his flesh he did as a spiritual Physician repaire to all sorts of sinners but he carried away from them no pollution at all He conversed with Mary Magdalen with Zacheus the Publican and other Publicans and sinners without the least taint of corruption He was born he lived and died in a corrupt generation in a very Pest-house of sinne without the least tincture of sinne He lived and died holy harmlesse undefiled and separated from sinners as the Apostle saith Heb. 7. 26. 7. The nature of the light is hard to be known The Philosophers are much troubled about the defining and describing of it 'T is not a substantial forme because it is perceived by the sight which no substantial forme is 'T is not a body because then when the light passeth through a perspicuous body two bodies would be in one place which is against 〈…〉 and reason Nor is it an 〈◊〉 from a luminous body for then the Sonne by his continual shining would be deprived of â—igâ—t but it is an accidental forme or a patibâ—e quality and so very hard to be described The Scripture speaks of the difficulty of searching out the nature of the light perfectly by any mortal man Job 38. 19 20 21 24. Onely he who is the Father of lights doth perfectly understand it Jesus Christ is not perfectly to be understood by any living man Who can declare his generation as he is the Sonne of God Esay 53. 8. Who can declare his conception exactly as he is the Sonne of man the Holy Ghost hath overshadowed it Luke 1. 35. He that created the flesh of Christ is onely able perfectly to understand the manner of it Who is able to declare the mystery of the hypostatical union of the two natures in one person exactly We beleeve these things comprehend them perfectly we are not able His Name is wonderful Esay 9. 6. there are such wonderful mysteries in the nature of this light as no man no creature can fully and perfectly comprehend Secondly Christ dispenses this light these two wayes 1. By the preaching of his Gospel in the publick Ministery thereof The Ministers are called Stars and the Ministery or preaching of the Gospel is that Orb in which this light shines and by which it is communicated and dispensed to the world We preach Christ crucified 1 Cor. 1. 23. Where the Gospel hath never been preached this light hath never yet shined This is the chariot in which this glorious light is carried about ordinarily in the world 2 Cor. 4. 3 4 5 6. 2. By the vertuous efficacy of his Spirit in the Ministery The most powerful preaching of Christ that can be will be to no purpose without these inward workings of the Spirit By the Spirit of Christ three things are done 1 The blindnesse of the minde is removed The holy Ghost causes the skales to fall off the eyes 2 A visive faculty is bestowed This is that which the Apostle calls the enlightening of the eyes of the understanding Ephes 1. 18. 3 Power is given actually to close with the light The soule is enabled to follow the light or to walk in the light as our Saviours phrase is John 12. 35. So that by these two meanes this light is communicated By the preaching of the Gospel the object is made present and by the Spirit of Christ the object is made visible the faculty of sight is bestowed and a power of following the light is created Thirdly Christ is differenced from all other lights viz. Prophets Apostles who are called lights Mat. 5. 14. He is differenced from all them five ways 1. They are lights onely Ministerially They are lights onely as they do by their office hold out this light They are lights as the candlestick may be called a light because it carries the candle where the light is But Christ is a light of and in himselfe He is a light not Ministerially but Originally The fountaine of light 2. They are small lights Christ i◠〈…〉 light They were but like little â—â—thing 〈◊〉 Christ is as a great Torch which teacheth from heaven to earth They are light as the Stars are light a little glimmering borrowed light Christ is light as the Sunne and therefore he is called The
is called That great Shepherd First the parallel between Christ and a shepherd stands in these five particulars viz 1. A shepherd â—â—ed this stock 'T is his work to provide both pasture and water for his sheep Pastour â— Pascâ—ndâ— Ezek. 34. 2. Should not the shepherds feed the flocks A good shepherd will take care that his flock may have both grasse and water When they have eat one place bare he drives them to another when one fountaine is dry he leads them to another he had rather want bread himself then that his sheep should want provision He feeds them with his own flesh and blood John 6 5. Jesus Christ provides sufficient food and nourishment for his sheep Three things 〈…〉 1 He hath provided Ordinanâ—◠〈…〉 very Ordinance is a spiritual 〈…〉 fountaine for the feeding of Chris◠〈…〉 Psalmist speaks of this Psal 23. 2. He 〈…〉 to lie down in green pastures he leadeth me beside the still waters What are those pastures of tender grasse What are those waters of quietnesse but the Ordinances of the Gospel the fields where Christs sheep feed the rivers where they drink The variety of the Ordinances shewes the variety of â—eeding the richnesse and fulnesse of the Ordinances shewes the plentifulnesse of Christs feeding here are many pastures and every pasâ—ure so rich that it can never be eaten bare here are many streames and every streame so deep and broad that it can never be drawn dry the sheep have been eating in these pastures ever since Christ had a Church on earth and yet they are as full of grasse as ever The sheep have been drinking at these streams ever since Adam and yet they are brim full to this very day they will so continue till the sheep be above the use of them in heaven 2 He hath provided shepherdâ— to dâ—spense these Ordinances The sheep can neither feed themselves nor water themselves unlesse they have some to help them The Ministers of the Gospel do by vertue of their office open these pastures and lead the sheep into them they roll away the stone from the mouth of these Wells and draw water for them that they may drink and be satisfied The Apostle tells us that Pastouâ—s and Teachers are given of Christ for the edification of his Church Eph. 4. 11 12. This was the work of the Prophers in their 〈…〉 Apostles and Evangelists in their generaâ—on and of Pastours and Teachers the present Ministers of the Church yea we shall finde how severely Christ bath charged them under the paine of his highest displeasure to be diligent in feeding the flock See 2 Tim. 4. 1 2. and he â—ath allured them by the most glorious promises that they should be careful in this work See 1 Pet. 5. 2 4. and John 21. 15 16. And he furnisheth them with gifts and abilities for this very purpose Vid. Luke 12. 42. 3 He doth by his Spirit blesse the feeding which he hath provided He hath promised to be present with the sheep and shepherds when ever they come to feed in these pastures and drink at these waters he hath promised I say to be present to blesse their foâ—d and water for the good or their soules He promised it Mat. 28. ult and he doth to this day make it good he doth walk and he will walk in the middest of the Golden Candle sticks to bless the seeding of the sheep to the end of the world He hath purchased the Holy Ghost to be bestowed both on the sheep and shepherds for this very purpose 2 A Shepherd kâ—owes 〈◊〉 He knows the number of his sheep and he knows them particularly 〈…〉 sheep Those phrases which are 〈…〉 concerning the sheeps pâ—ssing 〈…〉 rod â— ev 27. 32. and of passing under the 〈◊〉 of him that telâ—eth them Jer. 33. 13. shew â—â—e knowledge that good Shepherds have of their flocks they know one of their own sheep though it be in the midst of a strange flock Jesus Christ knows his sheep exactly He knows his people quâ—t sint quinam sint both the 〈…〉 ticular persons John 10. 11. 〈…〉 dungeons prisons though the 〈…〉 off and the skin torne by persecution yet 〈◊〉 they are within the knowledge of Christ Consider four things First He knows them as they are given to him by the Father in his eternal Election God the Father hath given all the Elect unto Christ from eternity Iohn 17. 6. By vertue of this donation doth Christ know them He hath taken them by number from the Father and he is to surrender them by number to him againe Their names are all written from eternity in the Lambs book of life Rev. 21. 27. while this book continues they cannot wear out of the knowledge of Christ Secondly He knows them as he sees in them his own image Every sheep of Christ doth partake by grace of the image of Christ There is a conformity of likenesse between him and them His Fathers Name is written upon their foreheads Rev. 14. 1. What is this Name of God but that Divine nature which is from Christ communicated to every sheep of the fold So long as this Name abides on their foreheads and it shall abide for ever they cannot weare out of the knowledge of Christ Thirdly He knows them as he sees the sprinklings of his own blood upon them Every sheep of Christ is washed white in the Lambs blood Rev. 7. 14. They are cloathed with his righteousnesse for the justification of their persons They have his merits in which they are invested Now so long as this garment remaines 〈…〉 and it can never be worn off or â—â—ollen off Jesus Christ must needs know them Fourthly He knows them as he remembers the service they have done fox him in the world Every sheep of Christ that hath attained unto years of discretion hath with care served Christ in its generation They have often prayed to him they have often worshipped him they have to their very uttermost laid out themselves for his glory in the world c. Jesus Christ hath recorded and set down all their good actions and as long as he rememberâ— their works he cannot forget or be igâ—orant of their persons This we may gather from that which stands on record Mat. 25. 34 â—5 c. They have fed him in his hungry members they have cloâ—thed him in his naked mâ—mbers c. Christ will never forget these holy actions therefore he can never forget the persons of them by whom they were performed They have both done for him and sufâ—ered for him therefore he knows them and will know them 3. A Shepherd preserves his stâ—ck 'T is the work of â— Shepherd to defend his sheep David bazarded his own liâ—e to deâ—end his sheep from the invâ—ding â—â—on and â—â—venous bear 1. Sam. 17. 34. Shepherds watch their flocks by night as well as by day to preâ—erve thâ—m from the devâ—uring creatures So did Jacob Gen. 31. 40. So did those Shepherds to
2. 10. To shew that this eternal 〈…〉 from him 1. He hath merited this salvation for the Elect 'T is his purchase 2. He keeps it for them and them 〈…〉 1 John 5. 11. 3. He will actually put them into full possession of it when he returnes from heaven in the latter end of the world of which he speaks John 14. 3. Thus much for the first particular namely the extent of that salvation of which Christ is said to be an Horn. He is the salvation of the Elect Privatively from all evil Positively to all good till he have brought them to heaven the place of eternal salvation 2. Why Christ is called an Horn of salvation That we may come to the full understanding of this let us consider how the word is used in Scripture Now we finde that this word doth Metaphorically denote two things especially 1. Glory and dignity So we finde it used Lam. 2. 3. where the Church complaining of the misery which had befallen her hath these expressions The Lord hath cut off in his fierce anger all the Horn of Israel That is whatsoever was glorious or excellent in Israel God hath now removed So we may see cleerly if we reade the first verse The Lord hath cast down from heaven unto earth the beauty of Israel he hath covered the daughter of Sion with a cloud c. and then it follows He hath cut off all the Horne of Israel The glory of God manifested in his appearings when he brought Israel out of Egypt is expressed by this Metaphor Hab. 3. 3 4. His glory covered the heavens c. His brightnesse was as the light He had hornes coming out of his hand c. So Psal 9â— 10. My Horn saith the Psalmist shalt thou exalt like the horn of an Vnicorn that is thou shalt encrease my glory and dignity 2. Serength and Power So 't is used Lam. 2. 17. He hath set up the horn of thine Adversaries saith the Church that is he hath encreased the power and strength of thine Adversaries So when God threatens to weaken the power of Moab he doth it by this Metaphor Jerem. 48. 25. The Horn of Moab is cut off and his arme is broken The breaking of the arme doth fully expound the cutting off of the Horn. And when God promiseth to give his people power to subdue their enemies he useth this expression Micah 4. 13. Arise and thresh c. for I will make thine horne Iron Now then when Christ is called an Horn of salvation the meaning of the Holy Ghost is 1. The glory of his salvation 2. The strength of his salvation First The glory of his salvation Jesus Christ is a glorious Saviour and the salvation which he brings to his people is a glorious salvation in three respects 1. Consider the person of Christ. God raised up many hornes of salvation for his people when they were in distresse The History mentions them Neh. 9. 27. According to thy manifold mercy thou gavest them Saviours which saved them Gideon and Jepthah and Sampson c. they are called Saviours because they saved instrumentally the people of God from their enemies But they were but mean Saviours in respect of Christ his person 〈…〉 They were but men He God 〈…〉 person Though his glory was 〈…〉 eyes of carnal men yet they that had spiritual eyes did behold it John â— 14. We 〈…〉 glory the glory as of the 〈◊〉 begotten of the Father If the person of Christ be compared with the persons of other saviours it will appeare that he is a glorious Saviour All other horns of salvation were but wooden horns Christ is a golden Horn of salvation 2. Consider the nature of the salvation it self 'T is spiritual salvation 't is eternal salvation All those hornes of salvation which were raised up in sundry ages for the defence of the Church were but horns of outward salvation and of temporary salvation They saved onely the outward man and that neither but for a time The Church was in as much peril after they had wrought salvation for them as ever they were before When Gideon was dead the children of Israel fell into as great danger as they were in before So after the death of Jepthah and after the death of Sampson they were overwhelmed with as great hazards as before as you may reade in the story in the book of Judges But now Christ is a Horn of salvation to their soules as well as to their bodies He saves them from their spiritual enemies Sinne Satan as well as from men He saves them from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1. 10. And then he saves them for ever The Church never can be never will be in that danger again as they were before this Horn of salvation was raised He hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. 3. Consider the glorious manner of the working of this salvation Never any salvation so glorious at this There are three things in it 1 He saved the Elect by his own power The power by which all other hornes of salvation delivered the Church was by a power one of themselves the strength they had was none of their own but the power by which Christ saved and still saves his Church is from himselfe the Divinity impowered the Humanity Psal 98. 1. His own right hand and his own holy Arme hath gotten him the victory 2 He saved the Elect solely Other horns of salvation had the concurrence of many besides themselves Gideon and Jepthah and Sampson c. They blew the trumpet and gathered multitudes to assist them in the battels which they fought for the salvation of the Church All Israel came after them But this Horn of salvation wrought the Churches deliverance alone Esay 63. 3 5. I have troden the wine-presse alone c. He had no other Horne to help him He entred the field and fought the battel alone and by himself obtained the victory 3. He saved the Church by his own death Other hornes of salvation delivered the Church by the death of the enemy Ehud slew Eglon but he himself did not die Iudges 3. 21 22. Gideon shew Zeha and Zalmunna the enemies of Israel Judges 8. 21. but he himself was not slain But now this Horn of salvation got the victory by dying his Crosse was his Conquest He triumphed over principalities and powers on the Crosse as the Apostle speaks Col. 2. 15. He subdued all the horne of the 〈…〉 of his blood 〈…〉 life his grave is our victory 〈…〉 do fully prove that Jesus 〈…〉 salvation that is a gloriouâ—â—â—lvation 〈…〉 first Secondly The strength of his 〈…〉 Christ is a strong Saviour the salvation 〈…〉 he works for his people hath strength in it He hath raised up a mighty salvation for us so some translations render this text To this agrees that of the Prophet Psal 89. 19. I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the
When Jesus Christ comes to the soul he brings joy to the soule Esay 9. 3. They joy before thee according to the joy in harvest and as mon rejoyce when they divide the spoile When the Eunuch had his soul bedewed with this raine He went on his way rejaycing Acts 8. 39. The ground of his rejoycing you may see v. 32 33 35. Philip had acquainted him with Christ and Christ upon Philips preaching had rained down a soaking shower upon his soule that created a holy gladnesse in his heart Christ is the onely cheerer of the heart He can remove spiritual melancholy he can take off spiritual heaviness and put unspeakable joy into the soule 'T is true many of the members of Christ want spiritual joy This ariseth either from the restraining of this raine or from their not discerning of this raine When ever the distressed soul shall come to the feeling of these showers it will rejoyce and be no more sad The Doctrine of Christ is a cheering Doctrine The whole Doctrine is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Doctrine of good tidings All the Ordinances of Christ are cheering Ordinances I will make them joyful in my house of prayer God hath planted Jesus Christ as a root of joy to his people As he is a plant of salvation so he is a plant of consolation no joy is either real or lasting which is not bottomed upon Jesus Christ That soul that hath received this raine into his heart shall have some joy here and he shall have everlasting full soul-satisfying joy in Christ and with Christ and from Christ in the other world This is the second Christ is like raine in respect of usefulnesse 3. Christ is like the raine if we consider the manner of its descending There is a great similitude between the manner of Christs descension upon the soule and the descension of the rain upon the earth I shal instance in seven particulars First The raine comes down successively and gradually now a little and then a little The raine doth not fall down all at once but it comes now a shower and then a shower as the earth stands in need of it God pierces now one cloud and then another in a pleasant succession Jesus Christ comes now a little and then a little as the condition of the soule requires A drop in one Ordinance and a drop in another Ordinance A shower falls in this Sermon and a shower at another Sermon This is that which the Prophet mentions Esay 28. 10. Precept must be upon precept line upon line here a little and there a little Now one comforting influence comes down and then another now one quickning impulsion then another now one promise is rained down then another 1 Jesus Christ would have his people in a constant dependance on himself 2 He would have them wait constantly upon every Ordinance 3 He would not have them surfet either upon his Doctrines or comforts therefore he observes a succession in his distillations of good things upon them 4 He would have every Doctrine and every comfort soak into their hearts Luke 9. 44. 5 Christ would have nothing lost which he is pleased to bestow 6 Christ would endear every drop of his grace to his people 7 The soules of his people are like narrow mouth'd vessels they cannot receive much at once without spilling 8 We are such bad husbands that Christ dares not trust us with much at once For these and such like reasons doth he cause all he gives to distill in a way of succession Jesus Christ doth in a way of wisdome parcel out all the good which he raines down upon the souls of his people Secondly The rain comes down irresistibly When God doth by his Word of command speak to the cloud to distil its moisture upon the earth it is not in the power of all the creatures in heaven and earth to hinder its falling down As the clouds cannot open their own veines till God give the word no more can they â—â—â—â—ch themselves when God sets them a bleeding Jesus Christ comes down upon the hearts of men with an irresistible power and efficacy whether we understand it of his Doctrine or of his Scepter or of the influences of his Spirit he doth descend with a forcible and mighty power His Word is called a powerful Word Heb. 4. 12. The Word of the Lord is quick and powerful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Scepter is called a Scepter of strength Psal 110. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Sion His Spirit is a Spirit of might and it s said to work mightily in the hearts of his people Col. 1. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let Pelagians and Arminians talk what their wilde fancy dictates of the resâ—stibility of grace the Scripture mentions no such thing the raine will come down whether men will or no and let the earth be never so hard it will soak into it When Christ by his Word and Spirit descends it is with a mighty power that the soul is not able to resist it I shall shew the power of Christs Word Spirit and Scepter in three great works Conviction Conversion Consolation To speak particularly to these 1. For Conviction When Christ comes down with an intention thoroughly to convince the conscience of sinne and righteousnesse the soul though it may stand out for a time yet it is through the mighty smitings of Christs Word and Spirit so powerfully over-ruled that it cannot but yield we have an instance of this in Paul Act. 9. 6. Jesus Christ doth with such an invincible evidence come upon his conscience that though he was in a violent motion carried on in a contrary course yet he yields up himselfe as a prisoner into his hands crying out Lord what wilt thou have me do He hath no strength to stand out any longer nay not so much as to dispute it with Christ Of this convincing power the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. Jesus Christ when he comes down with a purpose to bridle the conscience doth deal so effectually that the proudest sinner is brought upon his knees and made to passe sentence against himself Yea with such a mighty power doth he come down upon the soule that even those who are not savingly brought in have their mouths stopped and are unable to say any thing for themselves Thus it was with those that brought the woman taken in the act of Adultery to Christ John 8. 9. They were so mightily convicted by the Word and Spirit of Christ that they were not able to abide in his presence but shrunk away one by one as men self-condemned Thus it was when Christ descended in the word of Stephen Acts 6. 10. Though they would not yield yet they were so powerfully convinced that they could not resist the Spirit by which he spake Christ doth so demonstratively smite the conscience that carnal reasoning hath no door of evasion Of this powerful
of the Israelites out of Egypt into Canaan which place was assigned unto them by lot as we reade in the book of Joshuah Then were the Jews in a more conspicuous manner formed into one Polity or Common-wealth and from that time the separation began That which made this separation was the Ceremonial worship which God established in that Church or Nation according to which they and their posterity were to worship God This separation continued from that time untill the death and resurrection of Christ During all this long tract of time there was a manifest separation between the Jew and the Gentile But now Christ hath as a corner stone made a firme union between these two so that the Jew and Gentile are brought together under the same worship This is done by the abolition of the Ceremonial Law Christ hath taken down this wall of separation and so made both one Church The Apostle treats largely of this in Eph. 2. 13 14 15 16. He is our peace who hath made both one and broken down the middle wall of partition between us c. The Jew and the Gentile are now made one house by the death of Christ 2 In reference to the spiritual union of beleeleevers one with another We reade often in Scripture of spiritual fellowship and communion between beleevers The Apostle Phil. 2. 1. speaks of the fellowship of the Spirit and Phil. 1. 5. He makes mention of their fellowship in the Gospel So 1 John 1. 7. saith the Apostle If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another This spiritual communion or fellowship doth consist First In mutual affection one to another One Saint loves another though they have never seen the faces one of another Secondly In participation of the same graces and priviledges They are all like one another They partake of the same gifts of the same Graces the same Reconciliation the same Adoption the same Sanctification the same Salvation that belongs to one belongs to them al. This is that which the Apostle mentions Eph. 4. 4 5 6. From hence it is that the Scripture calls the salvation of the Elect Common-salvation Jude 3. because it's common to all the Elect. The same graces which are wrought in one Saint are wrought in another though perhaps different in degree Thirdly In the performing of mutual offices one to another They pray one for another they give thanks for the good of one another they grieve for one anothers evils they beare one anothers burthens they rejoyce in one anothers comforts they supply one anothers wants both outward and inward as far as they are able The Apostle speaks of these mutual offices which beleevers by vertue of that fellowship which is between them owe one to another in that 1 Cor. 12. 26 Now it is in and through Christ that union and communion of Saints one with another is made Our communion with Christ is the foundation of our mutual communion which we have one with another John 17. 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one 'T is this uniting corner stone that brings every particular stone of the building into one For our mutual union one with another is in him who is the head of the union The Apostle speaks fully to thâ—s in Eph. 1. 10. That he might gather together in him all things both which are in heaven and which are in earth The Greek word is very significant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to gather to a head All the Saints of God that are were or shall be both those that are gloriously triumphing in heaven and those that are yet militant on earth are gathered together to a head in Jesus Christ Membership with him is the foundation of mutual membership which we have one with another This is the second 3. In regard of Direction The corner stone is that which gives the builders direction how to lay and place all the other stones If the several stones of the wall be not laid level to the corner stone the whole building is spoiled He that would build right must have his eye to the corner stone Jesus Christ is a beleevers Direction and Rule in all spiritual things that which is not done by Christs Command or example or by some direction from him is not wel done Learne of me saith our Saviour for I am lowly and meek-hearted and ye shall finde rest to your souls Mat. 11. 29. Jesus Christ is the beleevers pattern His Word and his example we must have an eye continually upon if we would not miscarry He that saith he abideth in Christ he ought so to walk as he walked 1 John 2. 6. Lay all things level to Christ and then act vigorously I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you John 13. 15. Nothing will either be lasting or comfortable which doth not runne parallel with the line of Christ 4. In regard of Beauty Skilful builders place the strongest stones in the corner because of bearing and the fairest stones because of beauty If the corner stones be graceful the whole building is the more comely Psal 144. 12. More Art is bestowed on the corner stone then on any other part of the building Iesus Christ is the beauty of the spiritual building If this one stone were taken away the whole building would be an uncomely heap One Christ hath more bâ—auty in him then ten thousand Sainâ—s Psalm 45. 2. Thou art fairer then the children of men The fairest Saint is but an Ethiopian if compared with Christ He is in respect of his beauty compared to the Lily and Rose which are the most beautiful of all flowers Cant. 2. 1. The blinde world looked upon him as deformed Esay 53. 2. There is no forme nor comelinesse in him but those that know him admire his beauty Look upon him in his Divine Nature and so he is more beautiful then the Sunne Look upon him as man and so he is exceeding beautiful No doubt but his body for the outward feature of it was very comely 'T is a Rule which Divines have That which God doth immediately he doth most exactly And for his soule that had more grace in it then is in all the sons of men laid together His soul was unsoyl'd by sinne and it was richly furnished with all grace God shewed more of his Art and skill in Iesus Christ then upon all the stones of the building besides The beautiful Angels are black if compared with Christ This is the first particular 2. For the second Christ differs from all other corner stones in five respects 1. He is a living stone The corner stones of all material buildings are inanimate But Christ hath life in him 1 Pet. 1. 4. He hath life in himself and he communicates life unto the whole building From him all the stones of the spiritual house are called lively stones ver 5. Ye also
hath taken up a prejudice though they be never so deserving Ahabs prejudice against the Prophets of the Lord would not suffer him to heare them 1 Kings 22. 8. 1 PET. 2. 6. XXII SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. Febr. 20. 1652. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Precious I Proceed to the Uses which are 1. Information 2. Examination 3. Exhortation 1. For Information This teacheth a twofold lesson 1. The exceeding great glory of the Church of Christ. The Scripture tells us that the Church of God is a glorious body Though the Church taken in its more large acception as it contains all visible professors be in many respects lesse glorious because o◠the mixture that is in it it being a field wherein is both wheat and tares Mat. 13. 24 25. Mat. 3. 13. Mat. 13. 48. a barn floore wherein is both good corn and chaff a net in which are fishes good and bad yet the Church of God more strictly taken for the number of them that are effectually called the invisible Church is a very glorious society The Apostle calls it a glorious Church Eph. 5. 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It 's glorious as in regard of the holinesse of the members so chiefly in regard of Christ the glorious foundation A house whose corners are laid with precious stones and whose superstructory stones are all lively stones must needs be glorious Never such a building in the world as the Church of God is See how the Evangelical Prophet describes it Esay 54. 11. O you afflicted tossed with tempests and not comforted behold I will lay thy stones with faire colours and lay thy foundation with Saphires c. 'T is much like that description which is made of it Rev. 21. 10 11 12 c. Every thing which is in the Church makes for the glory of it Glorious in its members who are cloathed with the glory of God glorious in regard of the worship which is there used and of the Ordinances there dispensed in regard of the Doctrine there there maintained Calvin I remember understands by those precious stones mentioned Esay 54. 11 12. The variety of the gifts and graces of God to his people Paul understands by the same precious stones the doctrine taught in the Church 1 Cor. 3. 11. The Church is glorious both in respect of the doctrine and of the various gifts and graces of God dispensed amongst the members of it But the great glory of all lies in the foundation-stone Jesus Christ That must needs be a precious building which hath its foundation on such a precious stone as Jesus Christ is who it as far above all precious stones and a great deale more then they are above common stones For the setting out of this consider how Christ excels all other precious stones 1. He excels them in largenesse Other precious stones are but of a small dimension and of a very little weight You may put many of the largest that ever were seen into a small Cabinet but Jesus Christ is very great As God he is infinite without dimension filling heaven and earth with his presence See how the Prophet speaks of the infiniteness and incomprehensiblenesse of Christ in regard of his divine nature Esay 40. 12 13. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out the heaven with a span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountaines in scales and the hills in a ballance That all this is spoken of Christ appeares from verse 11. where he is prophecied of as the Shepherd of his flock 2. He excels them in duration Other pearles and precious stones are of a perishing nature they may be defaced broken dissolved they may lose their beauty There 's a day coming when they shall be melted away into nothing Cleopatra dissolved a pearle of very great worth by the Art of Chymistry and drank it at one draught to her Antonius But Jesus Christ is a durable precious stone Neither time nor eternity will be able to dissolve this stone His beauty cannot be lost or dimished He never will have any flaw or crack or spot in him in the eyes of those that are able to judge aright of him His brightnesse is an unfading brightnesse The heavens and the earth fade and wax old like a garment but Jesus Christ is still the same and his years have no end Heb. 1. 11 12. And 3. He excels them in the multiplicity and perfection of his properties There is not any precious stone that hath all excellencies and vertues in it Some excel in one property some are excellent for another vertue Whether their medicinal vertues be considered or their other excellencies as their colour their forme their roundnesse c. One excels most in this kinde another in that But the vertues and excellencies of all pearls and precious stones meet in Christ Whatsoever perfection is to be found in any created stone the same is to be found in Christ The properties of the Saphire the Diamond the Chrysolite the Sardonix the Amethist and of all other stones meet in Christ alone And then they are all in him in a farre more transcendent manner then they are in any of these His brightnesse is above the brightnesse of the Diamond his whitenesse far exceeds the whitenesse of the Pearl The medicinal and physical properties that are in Christ are far more excellent then those that are in other precious stones Some Pearls they say do strengthen the heart others clear the sight others remove the vertigo or dizzinesse of the head and many other useful properties are recorded by learned men but none of them are so excellent in any of these kindes as Christ is for he removes and heales the distempers of the soule and minde as well as of the body he cures the spiritual eye-sight Rev. 3. 18. He cures the troubles of the conscience which no other precious stone can do being never so artificially used He being rightly applyed and taken cures the soul of sinne removes guilt which none other precious stone can do The neck-lace of pearle cannot cure the wounds of conscience the girdle of diamonds cannot remove tremblings from the spirit the costly jewel in the bosome cannot quiet the heart throbbing for sin or Gods departure all this Christ can do And 4. He excels them in this that he hath no hurtful qualities Other precious stones have a killing quality powder of diamonds they say is poysonful put in the bowels or throat takes away life presently But Jesus Christ hath no destructive quality He is occasion of hurt to none but to him that refuseth him Put all these together and it will appeare that the Church of God which is erected upon and united unto such a precious foundation must needs be a glorious Church 2. The great riches of true beleevers A member of Christ how poore soever he is in regard of outward riches yet he is the richest man in
now shining at the right hand of God we should say the Sun were but like sackcloth in comparison of it how much more bright is he in his Godhead this is so glorious that no man can see it and live The face of Jesus Christ is that which makes and constitutes the very glory of heaven And then 2. His omniscience The Sunne in the firmament travels up and down and beholds every part of the world David saith there is nothing hid from the heat of it Psalm 19. 6. Jesus Christ as he is the Sonne of God is perfectly omniscient The Apostle speaks of his omniscience Heb. 4. 13. There is no creature that is not manifest in his sight c. Yea he sees every thing not by moving up and down as the Sunne doth but by one fixed and constant view There can be no fence made to keep out the sight of his eye he doth simul semel together and at once behold all creatures with all their motions thoughts and imaginations This is the first II. In respect of his effects and workings upon his people There is a great resemblance between the Suns effects upon the creatures and Christs effects upon his people I shall instance in eight particulars 1. The Sunne hath an enlightning vertue The Sunne is the great luminary which God hath appointed and made to carry the light abroad to the inhabitants of the earth The presence of the Sunne makes day The Sunne is the great torch of heaven by which men and other creatures see what to do and where to go Gen. 1. 14 16. By his light we see it and all other things Jesus Christ hath an enlightning power and doth actually enlighten the hearts of men The soul is by nature in darknesse and never sees till Christ beame down his light upon it All men by nature in regard of spiritual light are as that blinde man was John 9. 1. without any spiritual sight They see neither sinnes blacknesse nor their own misery by reason of sinne They see not Christs beauty not graces excellency till their eyes are opened They have thick skales upon their eyes as Paul had before his conversion Act. 9. 18. Therefore they are called darknesse and their state a state of darknesse Eph. 5. 8. Now Christ gives them light When he riseth upon them savingly then and not till then do they see their condition and the way out of it Eph. 5. 14 As the Sun is speculum munds the worlds looking glasse so is Christ speculum Animae the souls looking glasse All spiritual light which is given to the soul is in and thorough Jesus Christ So the Apostle tells us 2 Cor. 4. 6. The Gospel is the vehiculum lucis the great chariot that carries this light abroad but the fountaine of it is this bright Sunne of righteousnesse Jesus Christ Spiritual illumination is Christs work This is that which the Evangelist saith John 1. 9. John Baptist carried the â—orch but Christ himself was the light Till this Sun be up the soul lies in grosse darknesse but when it appeares then light comes Presently Esay 60. 1. When the glory of the Lord is risen upon the soule then is darknesse expell'd and the soul shines forth The heart that is as dark as any dungeon when the beames of this Sunne are darted down into it is as light as a Paradise Christ turnes Egypt into Goshen And then 2. The Sunne hath a warming vertue Though it be not formally hot yet it is hot in its effect Psal 19. 6. The beames of the Sunne warme the earth and the ayre the bodies of the rational and irrational creatures Experience teacheth that the Sunne hath a heating power the light and motion of it causes heat The Lord Jesus Christ hath a warning vertue in him The heart that is as cold as yee is heated and warmed by the influences of his Spirit into a good temper The luke-warme heart when Christ shines upon it is set into a burning heat The beames which are cast from Christ in his Ordinances put the cold soul into a spiritual sweat We have an instance of this in the two Disciples Luke 24. 32. They were in a freezing temper till Christ overtook them but when they had continued a while in that spiritual sun-shine their hearts were put into a violent flame Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way The forerunner of Christ tells the Jews that he that came after him did baptize men with the holy Ghost and with fire Matth. 3. 11. Christ can kindle the sparks of grace which seeme to be as dead and put them into a burning flame Many a Saint hath come to the Ordinances with his heart like the cold earth and before he hath departed Christ hath sent him away like a burning lamp the cold water hath been put into a vehement boyling that the heart hath runne over again eructâ—vit cor meum Psal 45. 1. Peter grew cold at the high Priests fire when the beames of Christ were withdrawn but when Christ shone upon him his cold heart was heated when Elisha had lien a while upon the Shunamites dead childe his flesh waxed warme 2 King 4. 24. Though a soule be as cold as death if Jesus Christ do but once stretch himself upon it it waxes warme And then 3. The Sunne hath a comforting vertue The Sunne is in Scripture put for comfort Job 30. 28. To walk without the Sunne is to walk without comfort and Solomon tells us that it 's a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the Sun Eccles 11. 7. Weak and sickly persons when they are brought into the Sunshine finde their spirits cheered by it The Lord Jesus Christ hath a heart-comforting vertue He is the first inlet of comfort into the soul He is the preserver of joy in the soule and he it is that restores joy unto the soul after dejections and droopings of heart Noah was herein a figure of Christ see what his father Prophecies of him Gen. 5. â—9 Jesus Christ is the true Noah the great comforter of his people in all the griefs and sorrows of this world Christ is the foundation of all true comfort to thy soule Tolle Christum tolle solâ—â—â—um that reconciâ—iation which he hath made between God and man is the very basis of all consolation Whatsoever in God in the Scriptures yeilds any comfort to the soul is so onâ—y in and through Christ that comfort which is not built upon Christ is bastard comfort which will end in terrour The Spirit of God is called the comforter John 15. 20. his office is immediately to cheer the soul How doth he comfort but even by making application to the soul of a sinner of that which is merited for him All the arguments whereby the spirit comforts the heart are drawn from Christ he seales up to the soul that Christ is his and so fills it with comfort And then 4. The Sune hath a
healing vertue this is in the text There would be no health amongst men or any other living creatures if there were no Sunne The world would be a Hospital if the Sunne were not First the Sunne dries up cold moistures exhales vapours which would infect the bodies of men and other creatures Secondly the Sunne helps on the growth and vegetation of all healing plants and in both these respects hath healing in his wings The Lord Jesus Christ hath a healing vertue he heals both as medicine and Physician His blood is the Physick that heals and he himself is the Physician that applies it to the soul The Scripture speaks of Christ as a healer Esay 61. 1. He heals the soul of the guilt of sinne by the grace of justification and he heales it of the filthinesse of sin by the grace of sanctification The Prophet Esay speaks of this chap. 53. 5. By his stripes we are healed If Christ do but lay his hands upon the diseased soul it is cured whatsoever infirmitie be upon it The very border of his garment if it be but touched with a hand of faith cures all the bloody issues of the soul You have a rare cure done by the touch of Christs garment Mat. 9. 20. There are thousands of soules in heaven that have found perfect cure of strange diseases under the wings of Christ And then 5. The Sun hath a melting and softning vertue Though it patch and harden the clay yet it softens the wax the hot beames of the Sunne melt the yee and mollifie the ground when it 's frozen into hardnesse The Sunne when it was up melted the Manna Exod. 16. 21. The Lord Jesus Christ hath a melting and softning vertue if he do but send down one hot gleam upon the soul it 's dissolved and melted like wax We have an example of Christs softning vertue in Peter Luke 22 61 62. his heart was grown as hard as yee by his threefold denial of Christ and yet one beame from the eye of Christ thawed this yee into teares The Lord turned and looked upon Peter and he went out and wept bitterly Christs eyes are like a flame of fire Rev. 1. 14. These heavenly beames of Christ are able to turne the flint-stone into springs of water Those three thousand mentioned Acts 2 37. were as hard as marbles for they had their hands in the blood of Christ v. 36. yet when Christ did shine upon them in the minstery of Peter they are so soft that any frame may be put upon them Men and brethren what shall we do The Jaylor a rough hardned sinner that drew blood from the backs of the Apostles yet when Jesus Christ did but spread his hot wings upon him even at midnight how is he softned Acts 16. 29. 30. he that was lately like a stone is now like wax any impression may be put upon him There is not the most stiff necked sinner in this or any other Congregation but if Christ put out his power he can distil him into tears of repentance And then 6. The Sunne hath a vegetative vertue It doth bring on the growth of plants and flowers and all vegetables The Sunne darws the sap from the root into the branches and makes it thâ—ust out into buds blossomes and fruit and when the fruit is knit it ripens it and brings it on to perfection This is mentioned Deut. 33. 14. To this Bildad alludes Job 8. 16 He is green before the Sunne and his branch shooteth forth in his garden Though the soyle be never so good and the husbandry never so exact yet without the Sunne nothing comes to perfection the fruitfulnesse of the earth is to be ascribed to the Sun more then to the Earth or Tillage Jesus Christ hath a vegetating vertue he brings on the spiritual growth of every grace in the soul did not this Sunne send down his beams the spiritual plantation would come to nothing The Scripture attributes all Christian growth to Christ he is the root which feeds grace All supplie comes from him God hath stor'd all our nourishment in Christ from him to be communicated as we stand in need The Apostle sets this out in two texts Col. 2. 19. Ephes 4. 16. And the Prophet in the text makes it one effect of Christs rising upon the Saints They shall grow up as the calves of the stall You may thank Jesus Christ for the thriving of your graces as well as for the planting of your graces John 15. 5. And then 7. The Sunne hath a purifying vertue When your garments are mouldy you hang them out in the Sunne when your roomes are musty you set open the windows to let in the Sunne that they may be sweeten'd Jesus Christ hath a purifying vertue he makes the heart sweet and he keeps it sweet See how this Prophet describes him Chap. 3. 2 3. he is like a refiners fire and like fullers sope c. When the heart hath gathered any defilement when it growes mouldy and musty there 's no way to get the ill favour out but to bring it under the shine of Jesus Christ And then 8. The Sunne hath an elevating vertue By the heat and power of the Sunne are many things exhaled and lifted up from the earth which otherwise would lie there many meteors and impressions there are in the aire which are exhaled from the earth by the power of the Sunne Jesus Christ hath an elevating vertue he it is that doth exhale and lift up the earthly hearts of men to heavenly things and heavenly meditations The heart of man naturally is so deep buried in the earth that if Christ did not by his heat which he sends down in his ordinances lift it up it would never have one thought of heaven he hath an attractive power to draw up the hearts of men to himselfe John 12. 32. It is from Jesus Christ that ever you had one serious thought of heaven or heavenly things The Apostle applies our spiritual raisednesse to Christ Col. 3. 1 2. It is from Christ as the merit of it and it is from him as the worker of it in us the power of our spiritual resurrection at first is from Christ and the power of Christ is that that helps us to raise our selves higher from day to day did not Christ send down his exhaling power we should lie like stones and never ascend he descends and then we ascend III. Christ is called the Sunne to shew the cleernesse of the Gospel worship in respect of the legal dispensation God used towards the Fathers This is Calvins Note upon the text God did never shine so clearly to the sonnes of men in the person of Christ The Ceremonial Law with all the appendixes thereof was but dark Gospel worship is clear The Apostle compares the Law to a shadow Heb. 10. 1. that was but Moon light or star light Gospel worship is Sun-light 2 Cor. 3. 10. The Patriarchs saw Christ and hoped in him and were
Iohn 13. 10. he that is washed needeth not to wash save his feet He that hath the least measure of this oyntment shall as certainly finde all the effects of it as if he had the whose vessel poured upon him 5. He excels all other oyntments in the manner of composition All other oyntments are compounded and made by men they are called the oyntments of the Apothecary Eccles 10. 1. God created the materials and he it is that hath given man skil and understanding how to make use of them but the composition is made by men But this precious oyntment is not made by men but by God It is he that hath compounded this golden box of oyntment It was God that anointed Christ with the holy unction of the Spirit Psal 45. 7. and it is he that hath designed him to be oyntment unto others Yea the truth is this oyntment is God himself Though the humanity be a creature yet the Divinity is the Creator Christ is not only unguentum Dei the oyntment of God but unguentum Deus that oyntment which is God himself The Uses These I shall draw 1. From the general Doctrine 2. From the particular resemblances First In general We may take notice of 1. The excellency of Christ He is compared in Scripture to all things that are necessary and to all things that are pleasant and delightful One great piece of the study of Christians in this life is to search into the excellency of Christ To know what Christ is in himself and what he is to us comprehends a very great part of a Christians study in this life Paul desired to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. This one resemblance shews him to be a precious one he is so excellent that all the choice things in nature are made use of to shadow out his glory His Name saith the Prophet shall be called wonderful Esay 9 6. how wonderful is that Name which is comâ—â—sed of so many excellent things 2. This should draw our hearts exceedingly towards the Lord Iesus It should beget in us desire after him and delight in him Precious oyntment draw the affections of men towards them The best oyntment is but a drug to Jesus Christ If we be not enamoured with him we do despise him He that looks on him as oyntment cannot but be greatly delighted in him It follows in the text Therefore do the virgins love thee draw me we will runne after thee That man doth not value Christ as oyntment that doth not love him and desire to be drawn after him 3. The excellency of grace 'T is the graces of the Spirit in Christ that makes him compared to ointment his sweet oyntments are his meeknesse patience holinesse and the rest of those heavenly graces True grace is a choise thing the Scripâ—ure compares it to the choisest things in all the world Cant. 4 13 14. Next to God and Christ and the Spirit there 's nothing in heaven or earth comparable to Christ 4. That the grace of Christ is not a thing common to all His common graces are communicated to all his special grace is more confined His Name is oyntment The holy oyntment in the Law was poured upon none but upon consecrated things and persons Exod. 30. 2â— 24 25 30. It must not be poured on mans flâ—sh v. 32. Christ is compared here to this oyntment A select number the Elect of God onely those that are spiritual Priests these and these onely â—e made partakers of Christ and his graces Thuâ— much for the general doctrine Secondly particularly First from the fragrancy of Christ 〈◊〉 may learne four thing 1. How unsavoury they are that want Christ Wicked men have animam pro salâ— their soules keep their bodies sweet but what have they then to keep their soules sweet the holy Ghost compares men that are in the state of nature to that which is most unsavory Psal 14. 3. They are unsavory both in their persons and in services that want this oyntment A heart unanointed casts the worst smell of any corrupt thing in the world 2. Acknowledge from whence it is that all your fragrancy proceeds If there be any good smell upon your souls it is because this oyntment hath been poured forth upon you Jesus Christ mentions the sweet smell of his Spouse Cant. 4 10 11. and indeed every beleever is a sweet savour unto God The precious oyntment of the graces of Christ poured upon your head at your conversion is the onely reason of this good savour 't is great pride and ingratitude not to own it 3. This teacheth us all how to make and keep the soul sweet Satan labours to make it musty by breathing the ill ayre of sinne into it and if you would have it smell sweetly you must anoint it with this oyntment every day Drop but every day a drop of this oyntment upon it by prayer meditation or some other holy duty and it will preserved sweet notwithstanding the thick fogs of sinne and temptation Carry Christ in your bosome and you will smell very sweet in every company 4. When ever you smell any sweet savour think on Christ The best use which we can make of perfumes and oyntments is to make them remembrancers to put us in mind of him who perfumes both earth and heaven And then Secondly from the cheering vertue of this oyntment learne two things 1. Whither to go for heart reviving When you finde your spirits dull and melancholy when your hearts are tired out and your souls languish smell to this precious oyntment and it will revive you It 's Christs work to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite The smell of the oyntment either of Christs satisfaction or of his promises or of his intercession is the speediest and surest way to be rid from the power of spiritual heavinesse 2. Let them that have this oyntment maintaine spiritual cheerfulnesse God calls for spiritual gladnesse as well as spiritual sorrow Phil. 3. 1. A well grounded cheerfulnesse honours religion as much as holinesse The Scripture was written for consolation as well as for conversion John 15. 11. Rom. 15. 4. The Spirit is a comforter as well as a sanctifier John 15. 26. You that have this oyntment maintaine a holy light-heartednesse There is a vaine mirth and there is a sinful and sensual mirth avoid these but the holy mirth must be kept up It s a disparagement to the holy oyntment to see anointed ones droop in the blackest seasons And then Thirdly from the mollifying vertue of this oyntment learn two things 1. The Scripture remedy against hardnesse of heart It 's a disease the best are troubled with lesse or more chafe this suppling oyntment 〈◊〉 to it and it will grow soft This oyntment was never used aright but it did in time remove the spirituâ—l hardnesse of the soul 2. Ascribe all heart softnesse to Christ Had not this