marriage motioned upon assurance that the man would not rest till he had finished the thing Ruth 3.18 So much more should we learn silently to wait for the happy issue of this great transaction betwixt Christ and us in our compleat Redemption and full marriage in heaven 3. Hearty rejoycing in the foresight of it Let those strong desires and lively hopes be carried on and sweetned with the mixture of spiritual joy which may comfortably refresh and chear your soules all along in every condition upon the view of this day before-hand The Apostle speaking in the Name of justified persons saith We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God yea even in tribulations Rom. 5.2 3. and of himself he saith a crown of righteousness is laid up for me having fought a good fight c. The manner of his expression breathes out joy and contentment in the forethought of it 2 Tim. 4.8 and long before this holy Job discovers the same spirit of gladness I know saith he that my Redeemer livâ—th and that he shall stand up at the last day and then I shall see God in my flesh Job 19.25 26. How doth the apprentice or hired servant rejoyce to think on the expiration of his Terme and the last day of his service Thou poor soul who art still forced to serve the Law of sinne in thy flesh look forward and see the time of thy freedome coming on and be comforted How do the Mariners and Sea-faring men that have been wether-beaten and tossed with tempests rejoyce Psal 107.30 when they see the haven afarre off where they may be quiet If thou be put upon hard adventures and art sailing through a rough sea of stormes and troubles in this world yet lift up thine eyes and behold the haven of perfect liberty and glory whereunto thy Redeemer will wafâ— thee shortly and let this chear up thy Spirit How greatly doth it glad the heart of a condemned prisoner that lies bound in affliction and iron to hear the report of a pardon sealed at Court for him which shall be put into his hands at the Assises and solemnly proclaimed for his benefit the welcome thought of these things makes his heart even leap for joy and he begins to insult upon the prison his bonds and fetters and all the instruments of his restraint and saith I shal get rid out of all your hands ere long Thou ransomed soul Thy pardon is sealed in heaven the report thereof is comed to thine eares and heart by the ministerie of the Gospel It shall be effectually pleaded for thee at the day of Christ's appearing and thou shalt be possessed of an absolute freedome never to know bondage under sinne and the Curse any more Oh then Plal. 126.1 1. let thy mouth be filled with laughter and thy tongue with singing Let thy meditations on this subject be sweet and feast thy soul thereon with great delight Say thus to the glory of thy Redeemer Lord Jesus thou camest once to be accursed for me that was my shame but thou wilt come again at that day to be admired in me that shall be thy honour 2 Thes 1.10 Beloved Christians let us learn these lessons and practise them But truly such carriage requires a spiritual frame of heart I shall therefore adde a few particulars commending them to your observation as necessary helps to further us in the main dutie 1. Carefully keep thy self unspotted of the world let not the pleasure of any carnal lust so tickle thy soul as to get within thee and seise upon the vitals of grace give not libertie to thy foot to walk in any forbidden path but take pains to purge out thy dross and baggage more and more that thou mayest be pure in heart and undefiled in the way Through this gross neglect too many Christians suffering iniquitie to cleave to their hands disable themselves from loving the appearing of Christ they do not desire it but are averse from it they do not hope for it but rather fear it they cannot sensibly rejoyce in it but the thoughts of it put them into dumps and sadness Onely this taking heed to thy self will dispose thee to lift up thy face without spot yea thou shalt be secure because there is hope Jâ—b 11.14 c. 2. Preserve in thy self a willingness to die Thâ—s was the failing of Elijah 1 Kin. 19.4 and Jonah Chap. 4.3 8. I mean a well-grounded reall willingness not slavish or constrained through impatience under sufferings or discontent in an unwelcome condition but sincere and cordial from a longing after Jesus Christ to enjoy him in the full fruit of his Redemption This was S. Paul's temper Phil. 1.21 There is indeed in every man naturally an aversness from death being the dissolution of his frame and an evil of punishment and the grace of Regeneration doth not wholly take it away but onely keeps it within due Bounders and raiseth up in the soul a supernatural desire of blessedness with Christ in heaven and a willingness to submit to death in order to the attaining thereof Get thy heart wrought to this frame and held up By death the Lord will set thee free from all thy chaines and not till then if thou canst not make it welcome it seems thou art not wearie of thy chaines yet alas how common is this distemper We look upon the grace of Redemption as very desireable and we would enjoy it at the very height yet we hang still in the bodie and are loth to die The prisoner that knowes his Supersedeas is granted or his pardon sealed will he be loth to see the prison doores set open or shrink at the knocking off his bolts from his leggs If the Lord Jesus came down from heaven took upon him the curse of the Law and bare the wrath of God due to us Rebels and all that he might bring us to God in glory shall we stand off and so cause him to lose his labour Is heaven and the pleasures of God's right hand of no more worth in thine eye Oh Christians death may well be terrible to such as are strangers to Christ but he hath taken away the sting of it for you Therefore labour to get up above your feares and be freely content to be unclothed that you may be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5.1 8. 3. In thy whole course after conversion commit thy soul and all the hopes of thy happiness unto Jesus Christ Lay up thy crown with him commend thy darling thy choicest treasure unto him and let him keep it for thee He hath ransomed thy soul which thou hadst lost and recovered the inheritance of heaven which thou hadst forfeited by thy treason therefore put them over into his hands by faith and hope and let him have the custody of them Do this in every condition of life wherein the Lord shall set thee When the light shines about thy Tabernacle and thou enjoyest prosperitie in things below say
cast filth upon it therefore I doe remand it from thee it shall no longer abide in that base unworthie soule of thine henceforth let that ugly image of sinne and hell which it seemes pleaseth thee better seize upon thee take it to thee and fils thy self with it Thus we are all alienated from the life of God Eph. 4.18 This part of the curse lyes heavie on the whole soule 1. On the Mind and understanding part which is impotent and unable to conceive the things of God and to discerne of things that differ our understandings are darkened Eph. 4.18 see 1. Cor. 2.14 2. On the Conscience which is defiled Tit. 1.15 being either sensles and so excusing when it should accuse Eph. 4.19 or when awaked wanting just matter of excusing and so unpeaceable Isa 57.21 3. On the will which is rebellious against the truth and wayes of God revealed to the mind depraved in its power of chusing can will onely that which is evil cannot will that which is good see Pro. 17.11 Jer. 5.23 Math. 23.37 4. On the affections which being the Wills Waiting-Maids are of the same temper disordered affecting evil disaffecting good running into extremitie of excesse or defect and so spoyling the conversation Thus man once made upright yet by seeking out many inventions Eccl. 7.29 is become without God in the world Eph. 2.12 ergo accursed 3. When the soule and body are parted then the wretched soule is sent down to hell to take possession of those everlasting flames As soone as ever the first death hath done its office forthwith the doome of the second death passeth upon the immortall soule and then the great Jaylour of hell layeth hold upon it and drags it into the presence of the Almighty on whom it shall look with horror and amazment Thy now sleeping conscience shall then be awakened and all thy sinnes shall be set in order before thee thou wilt not see them now but they shall then stare in thy face yea thy secret sinnes shall be set in the light of Gods countenance and thy most pleasing iniquities shall appeare before thee in their proper black hiew to gaster thy soule into finall desperation No place left for repentance the doore of mercie and the gate of heaven shall be thenceforth shut up against thee for ever thy wretched soul must take up its lodging in the lothsome prison of hell with the Divell and his Angels Luk. 16.22 23. 1 Pet. 3.19 where it shall lie filled with the wrath of God for the present astonished and swallowed up with the apprehension of the eternitie of that to come and tremblingly waiting for the great day of reckoning and the dreadfull houre when it shall be poured downe in full vials upon the whole man III. The curse which comes upon body and soule together or the whole man may be summed up in these 3 particulars also 1. The losse of his right unto and soveraignty over the creatures The Lord invested Adam in the day of his creation into a title and power * Jus 〈◊〉 potâ—staâ—e vâ— over the work of his hands especially the creatures here below he had free libertie to use them and they were given to be serviceable to him even the Sun Moone and starres to give him light the garden and all the trees of it except that one for his necessarie and comfortable sustenance and refreshing God hath given the earth to the children of men Psal 115.16 yea the Patent extended to dominion over the creatures Gen. 1.28 in which respect the Psalmist greatly admires the Lords high honouring of mankind Psal 8.4 6. c. But now by the fall Adam hath forfeited all this interest so that the creatures might justly deny us their service the Sun Moon and starres might withhold their light heat and influences from us the fire aire water c. might refuse to act or work for our good yea contrarily the creature setts it self against us in the quarrell of its Creatour as if it owed us a mischeif the Lion Bear Woolf would devoure us the beasts of the feild make head against us yea every worme will turne againe All the hosts of heaven and earth are readie even like to rebell against us This is a curse which all the sonnes and daughters of Adam feele in some measure and sometimes reacheth to the taking away of life limbe and all comforts And although the sinner enjoy the benefit of the creatures both for necessitie and delight yet that is onely by the indulgence of the most High who makes his Sun to shine and his raine to fall upon all and the choicest enjoyments are but as the Accommodations afforded to a Traitour in the Tower there 's a deadly curse lying hid in the bowels of them which will make sad work in the latter end 2. The general Judgement after death which is called the Judgement of the great day Jude 6. The Lord Jesus shall come in the clouds and shall be revealed from heaven with his mightie Angells in flameing fire 2. Thes 1.7 8. He shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God 1. Thes 4.16 When the trumpet sounded at the giving of the law Exod. 20 18 Heb. 12.19.20 21. it was doubtles to set forth the terribleness of the curse which attends the Law but at this great day it shall sound farr lowder to fill the eares and hearts of sinners which have broken it with the dreadfull report of it to their conviction and confusion Jude 14.15 Their bodies shall be raised out of the dust and united to their soules and their persons shall be presented before this glorious Judge and arraigned at the barr of his great Tribunall The books shall be opened and all their foule businesses although now cast behind their backs and laid to sleep in the darkest vaults of forgetfulness shall be unmasked before the whole world Eccl. 12.14 The processe and result of the transactions of that day will be no small part of this curse when the Goats which shall stand at Christs left hand shall heare him solemnly sounding out that most dolefull sentence Depart ye cursed c. Math. 25.41 3. The full and finall Execution after Judgement As soone as ever this great work of judging the world is over and the last doome awarded then shall follow the execution thereof accordingly then shall the great black curse be poured downe upon sinners all the curses of the Law and Gospell too shall meet together as in one Sea and fall upon the soules and bodies of all impenitent ones in their perfect strength and furie and abide on them for ever this is called everlasting punishment Math. 25.46 and it stands in 2 things 1. Some that 's privative called the punishment of losse * Paenae damni an utter expulsion or banished from the blessed face and presence of God and the glorie of heaven Depart from me Math. 7.23
but what then is the curse of him who is the God of all people that 's but a flea-biting to this 2. It 's a grounded and authorative curse It hath a superscription and stampe of divine warrant upon it the power of heaven goes along with it which puts weight upon it and makes it heavie and bitter Elisha cursed the mocking children in the name of the Lord and that curse commissioned and enraged the 2 she beares to teare them in peices 2. Kin. 2.23.24 So the Law curseth the sinfull children of Adam in the name of the Lord and this curse armeth all Gods judgments against them The causles curse is contemptible it shall not come Pro. 26.2 But the Law of God finds abundant cause in the sonnes of men and therefore it curseth with authoritie and efficacie When a naturall father curseth his children as Noah Cham Gen. 9.25 And Jacob Simeon and Levi Gen. 49.7 This breaths out authority and therefore it strikes deep When the Pope curseth with bell book and candle as they say his seduced slaves which have received his marke tremble at it because they apprehend though falsly the authoritie of Christ himself to be in it how much greater cause of trembling is there when the father of the spirits who is God over all curseth transgressours 3. It 's an impâ—â—â—iall and thorough-dealing curse it overtakes all sinners none can escape or avoyd it Cursed is every one that continueth not in al things c. vers 10. Before No abilitie of nature or religious priviledge or any excellencie whatsoever can possibly shelter or safeguard thee from it till thou arrivest at Jesus Christ We read of Levi that he knew not his father nor his mother nor his brethren nor his owne children Deut. 33.9 So the curse of the Law saith unto every one without exception I have not seen thee I doe not know thee it falls downe-right on all without respect of persons They use to picture Justice blind even the justice of humane Lawes so the justice of the divine Law is after a sort blind it can neither be bribed nor dashed out of countenance it cannot be swayed either by feare or favour it takes no notice of any by considerations which might turne it aside from it's right course Zach. 5.3 The flying roule goes over the face of the whole earth to cut of every one that stealeth and every one that sweaâ—eth c. Yea it 's so impartiall that it will not spare or favour a justifyed person who is now under the wings of Christs blessing but will look grimly upon him and reach him some sharp lashes if it find him faultie or miscarrying 4. It 's a subtil and a spirituall curse it peirceth into the inwards and goes downe into the bowels of the bellie it can strike the very spirit of the sinner so that oftentimes when no curse appeares without yet then there is nothing but curse within when the outward man is compassed about with blessings the inward man lies in the midst of all evil yea is filled with the curse of God The bodie is fat and faire liking the bones flourish like an herb the Estate prospers their name is up no bands in their death c. but even then God sendeth leanness into their soules Psal 106.15 Their minds are more blinded their hearts more hardened their consciences more seared they are more crusted they grow more secure and uncapable of any good Lam. 3.65 Give them obstinacie of heart thy curse upon them Let their hearts be covered over as with a buckler to keep of every blow from Gods word or hand This is Gods curse on the heart so that while all things are so well composed without that they promise to themselves nothing but blessing yet even then the curse of God sits close on their spirits and ripens them insensibly for destruction 5. It 's a standing and abiding curse The Justice of God hath brought it so home and given it such a deep expression into the nature of man that it 's unremoveable No power either of man himself or of any or all the creatures in heaven or earth is able to take it off The sinfull soule under the curse of the Law is like to a prisoner bound hand and foot and throwne into the dungeon readie for execution he cannot loose the chaines nor get himself out he is sure for starting No power abilitie disposednes in or from the sinner himself can availe any thing towards the ridding of him from the jawes of the curse No footsteppe or possibilitie of help by or from the creature man or Angell to put to a little finger towards his release from it The flying Roule which enters into the house of the Theife and swearer must remaine in the midst of his house and consume it timber and stones and all Zach. 5.4 The wrath of God abides on the disobedient sinner Jo. 3.36 Time cannot wear it out Isa 65.20 If a remedie be tendered to the sinner he is utterly uncapable of it * 1 Cor. 2.14 He hath nothing which can concur with grace whereby to further his recovery in the least measure but contrariwise he fastens the curse more upon himself * Rom. 2.5 and runs more and more into the clutches of it and further still out of the reach of blessedness Lay all these things together and judge in your selves what cause we have to reflect sadly upon our selves and to lie downe in dust and ashes under the sence of our owne miserie as finding and knowing our selves to lie under the stroke of his great and terrible curse Woe is me for the lamentable ignorance and sottishnes of our people generally which sport and sing and walk merrily under this burthen as if they were the happiest creatures under the Sun But oh be convinced of it and put it not away from you any longer Why will you not acknowledge your selves to be such as the Lord and his Law have found and voted you to be will you goe about to make the Law a vaine thing and the Lawgiver a liar That thou canst never doe the word of the Lord endureth for ever let God be true and every man a lyar Come downe into the dust cast away thy plumess thy corrupt fancies of an imaginarie blessednes thou art really a cursed man Please not thy self in this Hell of thine as if it were an Heaven but be advised to take downe this unquestionable truth and know it for thy self that it may lie neer to thy heart and thou mayst be humbled under thy wofull condition Thus much of the 2d use Sect. 4. Use 3d 4th THirdly let us heare pause a while that we may consider and admire the wonderfull condescension of the Lords goodnes and wisdome towards the sonnes of men in that he doth so sweetly allay and mitigate the curse that it doth not poure out all it's furie upon us All the inhabitants of the world being
determinate counsel and fore-knowledge of God The hands whereby he was taken crucified and slain were wicked hands yet those hands therein did that very thing which the hand and counsel of God determined before to be done Act. 2.23 4.28 Therefore he is called the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Rev. 13.8 that is 1. In respect of Gods eternal purpose manifested by the promise made in Paradise That the seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 And 2. Of the efficacie of his death upon all the Elect from the beginning of the world although the world was four thousand years old before he was actually slain It is observable that the Scripture ascribes the dispensation of this whole work to God the Father as the first moover and sovereign Manager of it He laid on him our iniquity Isa 53.6 He made him to be sin for us 2 Cor. 5.21 He set him forth Rom. 3.25 He sent him Rom. 8.3 Gal. 4.4 It pleased the Lord to bruise him Isa 53.10 The Lord calls on the sword Zach. 13.7 to awake and smite his Shepherd the man that is his fellow he means Jesus Christ God-man who is equal to the Father as God but inferiour to him as man appointed to be the great Shepherd of the sheep the Lords little flock But saith the Lord I will smite the Shepherd Symbol Athanasâ—â— The application of this Prophesie we have Matth. 26.31 2 Christs voluntary condescention thereunto Joh. 14.31 having disavowed Satans power over him he professeth his own willingness and that from a principle of love to do that which his Father had commanded him Compare this with Joh. 10.18 where he saith I lay down my life of my self c. And it will appear that this was his own act to be made a Curse for us in that he did freely and of his own accord submit to his Fathers Commandment touching the laying down of his life God the Father made him perfect by sufferings Heb. 2.10 and he sanctified himself Joh. 17.19 by preparatory sufferings first and then by offering up himself even as the Priests in the Law were first sanctified by the sprinkling of blood upon them and then they offered for the sins of the people Exod. 29.20 21. He gave himself for our sins Gal. 1.4 He made himself of no reputation He took on himself the form of a servant he humbled himself and became obedient c. Phil. 2.7 8. yea although he knew before what was his Fathers will and his own duty yet by the sufferings themselves he learned obedience that is he came experimentally to know as a man what it is to obey and how hard a thing it is for the creature to grapple with the wrath of the Almighty and to submit to the pleasure of his justice in conflicts with the second death Vide Bezam Pareum Gerhardum in Locum Heb. 5.8 His willingness appears further by his setting his face stedfastly to go to Jerusalem when the time of his suffering drew near Luke 9.51 by his taking up Peter very sharply for discouraging and dis-swading him from it Matth. 16.22 23. and by his speech to him at his apprehension when he had cut off the ear of Malchus The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Joh. 18.11 3 A compact or agreement solemnly made betwixt God and Christ the Mediator which is the result of the two former Gods Commandement and Christs obedience We may present it to our understanding in this form God the Father saith to Christ the Mediator I look upon Adam and his posterity as a degenerate seed a generation of Apostates and back-sliders yea Traitors and Rebels liable to my severest wrath and utterly undone yet I cannot finde in my heart to see them all perish I have determined to shew mercy upon a considerable number of them to save them and bring them to glory If therefore thou wilt undertake for them becoming a Curse in their stead and so making satisfaction to my justice for their sins I will give them unto thee to take care of them and to bring them up to my Kingdome for the manifestation of the glory of my grace Well saith Christ I am content I will do it with all my heart and so the agreement is made This may be gathered from Psal 2.7 8 9. and Psal 40.6 7 8. Christ the Son speaks in both places In the former he publisheth the Decree or Ordinance of heaven touching himself and bringeth in the Father installing him into the Priesthood or office of Mediator for so the Apostle applieth that Text Heb. 5.5 Thou art my Son c. and also avouching this Covenant and agreement in the two main parts of it 1 The Condition which he will have performed on Christs part or what Christ must do He must ask of God that is not onely verbally by prayers and supplications beg mercy pardon righteousness and salvation for poor lost sinners but also really by fulfilling the righteousness of the Law both in doing and suffering and so by his satisfaction and merit purchasing acceptation for them at his hands 2 The Promise which he ingageth to perform on his part or what he will do himself thereupon The Son must ask and the Father will give he will give him the heathen c. that is he shall both be the Lords salvation to the ends of the earth Isa 49. â—6 Mâ—t. 28.18 Phil. 2.10 11. and have all power given him in heaven and earth so that all knees shall bow to him and every tongue shall confess him to be Lord. In the other Text before mentioned Psal 40. Christ declares his compliance to the agreement and his subscribing the Covenant on his part when he came into the world as the Apostle explains it Heb. 10.5 c. Mine ears saith he hast thou digged or pierced Lo I come to do thy will as if he should say Oh Father thou dost ingage me to be thy servant in this great work of saving sinners Lo I come to do the work I here covenant and agree to yeeld up my self to thy disposing and to serve thee for ever It seems to be an allusion to the Masters boaring through the servants ear Exod. 21.6 we have an abridgement of this Agreement Isa 53.10 in both parts Si posuerit sacrificium pro reatu animam suam or Si posuerit sacrificium anima eâ—us 1 On Christs part his soul shall be made an offering for sin 2. On the Fathers part he promiseth that thereupon Christ shall see his seed he shall have a numerous spiritual posterity begetting and bringing many thousands to the obedience of his Father Yea further vers 11. So ample shall be the fruit of his sufferings that he shall be satisfied in seeing the travel of his soul he shall have abundant joy and contentment even in that which hath cost him dearest he shall justifie many poor guilty
effectual calling Jesus Christ was made a curse and so became a sacrifice for sinners not that they might immediately without any more ado be made partakers of the redemption purchased thereby or be actually redeemed upon the very offering made but that having first made this benefit feasible so that now there is such a thing to be had which without him neither is nor could be he might afterwards communicate it to the Elect and give them the personal possession of it that they might enjoy it for themselves And this he doth by a powerful drawing them to himself and so by union to him they have a real interest in this benefit Therefore the Apostle sometimes speaks of it as appropriated to beleevers Eph. 1.7 Col. 1.14 and Jehovah stiles himself the Churches Redeemer Isa 49.26 as often elsewhere and Job calls him his Redeemer Job 19.25 Both these considerations are here implied as depending necessarily the one upon the other in respect of those that shall be saved and that they are not to be confounded but distinguished appears by Heb. 9.15 where we may observe a clear difference betwixt the death of the Mediator for the redemption of transgressions and receiving the promise of the inheritance This latter being laid down as a consequent or fruit of the former and limited to them that are called To conclude Take the whole in this short summe Redemption is the buying out and delivering of sinners from the curse of the Law and so from the guilt of sin and the wrath of God and the condemation of hell due thereunto by the death and satifaction of Christ the Mediator Sect. 2. Proof from Scripture-reason FOr the latter this main truth concerning the redemption of sinners by Christ now made a curse for them may receive further confirmation from grounds of Scripture-reason whether we consider the fitness of the person to undertake such an enterprise or the efficaciousness of his sufferings 1 The person was every way fit to redeem us being both God and man 1 He is true God 1 Joh. 5.20 blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 the only begotten of the Father Joh. 1.14 the onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father vers 18. and therefore very gracious with him which the Father himself did solemnly testifie by a voice from heaven Matth. 3.17 He is the mighty God Isa 9.6 therefore the Father hath laid help on him Ps 89.20 the Horn of David Psal 132.17 and the Horn of salvation Luke 1.69 mighty to save Isa 63.1 he was infinite lyable to break through all difficulties and with an holy scorn to sleight an whole host of the most terrible enemies to march through them without danger and in despite of them all to fetch waters of life for us out of the Well of Bethlehem He is the Lord 1 Chro. 11.18 Is there any thing too hard for him Jer. 32.27 2 He is true man also in one and the same person flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone next a kin to us therefore he is not ashamed to call us brethren Heb. 2.11 It was a Levitical Ordinance that if an Israelite were fallen into decay and had sold himself to a stranger any of his brethren or nigh of kin unto him might redeem him Lev. 25.47 48 49 and the same might be done if he had sold any part of his possession vers 25. therefore these two phrases are used indifferently to note the same thing a near kinsman and one that hath right to redeem Ruth 2.20 3.9 Of this we have an instance in Hanameel Cosen-german to the Prophet Jeremy Chap. 32.7 8. c. This doubtless had some reference to Christ We had sold our selves to a stranger even to Satan to serve him Christ is a near kinsman one of the same stock and blood with us therefore the right of redemption is his It was also a statute and a custome in Israel That if a man dyed having no childe to inherit after him then his brother or next kinsman should take his wife and raise up seed to his deceased brother Deut. 25.5 c. and withall if the inheritance were alienated or set to sale he was to buy it out or redeem it for the use of the first-born that so it might continue settled upon the Family of the dead man Wee have a clear instantial Gospel-truth lys hid as I conceive Old Adam dyed and left no seed behinde him that might inherit heaven and moreover the inheritance was quite extinct and lost as to him and all his and therefore the Lord thrust him out of Paradise Gen. 3.24 Onely Jesus Christ is found the next kinsman who begetting sons and daughters by the word of Truth doth therby raise up a seed of God redeem the forfeited inheritance and so settle it upon the first-born of Adams family for ever yet with this difference that this seed shall not be called after the name nor inherit in the right of the first Adam but they shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name Isa 62.2 And they shall inherit in the right of the second Adam onely Act. 26.18 Eph. 1.11 2 The sufferings of Christ were fully efficacious to redeem us for thereby 1 He hath given abundant satisfaction to the justice of God and so hath weakned yea nullified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and taken away sin in the guilt and condemning power of it God sent his Son in the similitude of sinful flesh and for sin that is upon the sad and woful occasion of sins being in the world or that he might abolish and destroy it And what is the fruit of this glorious designe Why he hath condemned sin in the flesh that is by laying the curse which the Law threatned against sinners upon that very flesh or nature which had sinned he hath cast sin in its own plea. A mans work may be said to plead for his pay the crime of a Malefactor cryes for the execution of the Law upon him so sin pleads against the sinner and calls for death its wages to be inflicted upon him Sin although as an act it be transient yet in the guilt of it lyes in the Lords high Court of Justice filed upon record against the sinner and calling aloud for deserved punishment saying Man hath sinned and man must suffer for his sin But now Christ having suffered for sin that plea is taken off Lo here saith the Lord the same nature that sinned suffereth mine own Son being made flesh hath suffered death for sin in the flesh the thing is done the Law is satisfied and so he non-suits the action and casts it out of the Court as unjust Thus whereas sin would have condemned us he hath condemned sin and there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 3. The blood of the Mediator out-cryes the clamor of sin We read Lev. 16.7 c. of two Goats which were
of peace and salvation to the lost world but every mothers childe of us had continued in the bond of iniquity and had suffered the extremity of the curse in our own persons for ever For this is the very next bottome whereupon all Gospel-grace and whatsoever is necessary to the salvation of sinners doth stand and as it were the soul from which it hath both being and breathing The excellency of the cause hath a strong influence into the effect to make it excellent also If we look upon the nature and frame of man in the first Creation his body curiously wrought out of the dust of the earth his soul breathed into him from heaven to be both a living creature and made after the Image of God Gen. 1.26 2.7 and all this done with a word we cannot but say it is a very excellent and precious work David stands wondering at it Psal 139.14 15. How much more excellent and precious is the work of grace which is the fruit of Redemption our second Creation for the effecting whereof the Lord did not onely Let it be but as if that were not sufficient the second person must lay aside his glory and take upon him the form of a servant and not onely bear our nature but also our sin and curse even to the death Phil. 2.7 8. By this we should estimate the exceeding great worth of that grace which is brought unto us by the revelation of the Gospel If some good things of nature be precious much more are those of grace Deut. 33.1 c. Prov. 3.14 15. And if we cannot but wonder at some of the eminentest works of nature how much more cause have we to admire the beauty and glory of that great work of grace which the Apostle calls marvellous light 1 Pet. 2.9 See 1 Pet. 1.12 4 God will have a Church Although Adam and all his posterity revolted from God and ran away into the tents of Satan his utter enemy to his dishonour and their own ruine yet for all that he hath a designe to fetch back and recover a number of them to make them his own people and thereby to glorifie the riches of his grace towards them in an eminent measure Me thinks I hear the Lord speaking on this manner What hath the crooked Serpent of hell served me thus Hath he enticed Adam unto rebellion against me and cheated him into the curse of my Law Alas poor man I pitty thee that thou hast suffered thy self to be thus ensnared How art thou fallen from thy dignity Into what a gulf of perdition hast thou implunged all thy posterity Ier. 48.30 But I know Satan his pride his malice and his envy that he would not leave me a people on the earth to serve me I know his wrath but it shall not be so his lyes shall not so effect it I will take a speedy course to befool him in his own plot I will have a people that shall be for my praise in despite of him Having therefore predestinated from eternity a considerable number of this forlorn generation and finding them now among the pots covered all over with filth and shame through their Apostacy his infinite wisdome deviseth a way to recover them out of captivity He gives the Lord Jesus out of his own bosome thaâ— by taking upon him the curse due to them he might ransome them from the curse and separate them from the lost world which lyes in wickedness and under the power of Satan and so form them for himself that they might shew forth his praise Isa 43.21 These are the very matter whereof the Church consists I mean the invisible Church which may be defined a chosen company of the posterity of Adam whom God hath purchased with his own blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People Mat 16.18 and Nation to be a peculiar people to himself Act. 20.28 Rev. 5.9 Tit. 2.14 Thus out of the ashes of this ruined world God raiseth up to himself a glorious Phenix Eph. 5.26 A Church which shall never dye but shall be established for ever Psal 102.28 125.1 5 The Church is very dear and precious in the eyes of the Lord Jesus They are the purchase of his own blood and thereby are become his peculiar people The costliness of any commodity puts upon it a suitable preciousness endearing it to the person which bare the cost of it Jacob served a hard service for Rachel and that inhanced her worth in his heart and increased his love to her so that the dayes seemed to him but a few Gen. 29.20 Michal Davids wife cost him two hundred fore-skins of the Philistims 1 Sam. 18.27 A great adventure an high exploit This doubtless rendred her the more dear to him which appears by his peremptory requiring her after she was unjustly taken away from him and had been some years another mans wife Probably seven years 2 Sam. 3.13 14 c. Jesus Christ served a very hard service and wrought a very great exploiâ— that he might purchase unto himself a Church to be his Spouse and having compassed her with much difficulty he looks upon her as his Sister his Love his Dove his fair One yea all fair the fairest among women the One the onely One the choice One his heart is ravished with her Cant. 4.9 she is as the poor mans little Ewe Lamb that lay in his bosome and was unto him as a Daughter 2 Sam. 12.31 A Kingdome or City wonne in battel with confused noise Hephzibah Isa 62.4 Multo sanguine ac vulneribus ea victoria stetit and garments rolled in blood Isa 9.5 is so much more dear to the Conquerour because it cost so dear The Kingdome of heaven the City of the great King is conquered out of the the hands of Satan at a very dear rate It cost the Lord Jesus strong crying and tears yea much blood and many wounds therefore surely it is very near to his heart and precious in his sight Isa 43.4 6 The condition of the invisible Church and all the members of the Lords chosen people is incomparably happy They are the onely renowned Society in the world for they are the Lords Redeemed ones This glorious design when once it takes place in poor lost sinners and is laid in their bosomes puts them into a glorious estate We may say of the Church as Moses of Israel Deut. 33.29 Happy art thou who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord c. That we may take the length and breadth of this happiness let us look upon Redemption in its 1 Properties 2 Benefits 3 Priviledges Sect. 2. Three properties of Redemption and three Benefits issue from it 1 REdemption by Christ hath these three excellent Properties 1 It s free and gracious As the Israelites sold themselves to their corporal enemies for naught so we became slaves to our spiritual enemies without price and as they so we are redeemed without
in their first birth this Livery that they are children of wrath Eph. 2.3 and his wrath is revealed from heaven against sin Rom. 1.18 yea the Lord is said to hate not onely sin but sinners Psal 11.5 Hos 9.15 and they are called haters of God Psal 5.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dei osores Deo exosi Pareus sic Theophyl Deut. 5.9 Rom. 1.30 But now by the Redemption which is in Christ as the Curse is taken off so the enmity also is slain wrath is turned away reconciliation is wrought The Messiah was to make reconciliation for iniquity Dan 9.24 which is as much as that 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself Being enemies we are reconciled by his death Rom. 5.10 and when poor sinners being by sin enemies and strangers do receive Jesus Christ then in him they receive the Attonement Rom. 5.11 so that now they are actually reconciled Col. 1.20 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and set in an estate of firm amitie and friendship with the glorious God through the blood of the Covenant In the first Adam he disclaimes us as base Rebels but in the second he owne's us as reconciled friends Let the Lord's Redeemed ones lift up their heads and know their happiness Jesus Christ hath slain the enmity which was betwixt God and you This price of Reconciliation hath broken down the wall of separation and although the Lord be still a consuming fire marching against the briars and thornes and burning them altogether yet even then he saith to his vineyard Furie is not in me Isa 27.4 2. Remission of sinnes This goes hand in hand with reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 As the violation of the Law of an earthly Governour brings upon the offender besides the Governour 's displeasure an obligation to punishment and when that obligation is voyded then he is said to be pardoned so man's disobedience against the great Lord of heaven and earth did oblige him to such punishment as the royal Law had threatned but Christ our Surety by bearing it for us hath voided that obligation and so we are discharged from it and in this stands our Pardon Therefore the Apostle joynes Redemption and Remission together as being upon the matter both one Eph. 1.7 Col. 1.14 and expresly ascribes them both to his blood as the meritorious cause Vide Grot. defens cap. 6. Ludov. Luc. Assert contra Mich. Gittich arg Iun. Non idem sed tantundem Whence by the way we may discover the weakness of that Socinian Argument against Redemption by Christ's satisfaction because our Redemption is called Remission For where satisfaction is made say they by undergoing due punishment or paying a valuable price there is no place for pardon But surely the Holy Ghost knowes better then we how to speak properly It 's Redemption by his blood and yet it is forgiveness of our sinnes And their argument hath more shew then weight For this satisfaction was not made by paying the very same but the as much not the proper strict debt which the Law changeth upon the sinner but the full value or weight of it with some alteration The Law saith The soul that sinneth shall die even the self same person and it must be death eternal because the sinner can never pay the uttermost farthing Had this been there had been no place for pardon Psa 69.4 But now Christ comes in and voluntarily undertakes to restore the things which he took not away that sinners which took them away might be set free Suppose a subject hath committed a crime deserving in rigour of Law perpetual imprisonment if now the King's Son be content to undergo 6 moneths imprisonment in his stead which considering the quality of the person is as much as a mean man's suffering it during life the King indeed may refuse this way of satisfaction because it is not the very letter of the Law but if he accept it what doth it import less then a pardon to the subject This is the Case The Son of God giving himself a sacrifice for sin doth in a short time wrastle through and master those sufferings which would have mastered sinners and hold them under to all eternity Now although Almighty God the great Law-giver might have refused this kinde of payment as not being the very same which the Covenant of works exacteth yet having not onely consented but devised and settled it as the most covenient way for the security of sinners and the manifestation of his glory thereupon he is well pleased with it being as full satisfaction to justice as if the sinner had satisfied in his own person So that the Lord 's accepting of it upon this account is so far from excluding remission that it rather makes way for it and gives it a being This appears further by the Apostles ruled case Heb. 9.22 See Jun. paral Pareus without shedding of blood no remission which holds both in Legal sacrifices and in the great sacrifice of Christ typified thereby as the scope of the place shews But to return The Law chargeth the curse upon the sons of men The Lord Jesus takes the curse upon himself and thereby makes an end of sinnes for this was one of the works which he was to do Dan. 9.24 the debt being paid the book is cross'd the bond is cancelled No forfeiture to be taken no penalty to be undergone Let wretched sinners take notice of their happiness in this also Christ was sent to purge away all your iniquities 1 Ioh. 1.7 Psal 65.3 Redemption blots out all your Items and layes up pardons in heaven for your use to be readie for you in the time of need 3. Justification of our persons Obligation to punishment doth imply liableness to accusation and condemnation for the offence which deserves such punishment The righteous Law of God finding man a transgressour and so unrighteous threatens death as his due And in order to the inflicting of it stands up as an Accuser and passeth sentence against him Now Christ being made sinne and a curse in the sinners stead doth thereby with one and the same labour both set him free from the punishment of sin and acquit him from the accusation and condemnation of the Law Whereupon he may plead that although the demerit of his sin doth crie aloud for punishment yet it is not due to his person because Jesus Christ hath borne it for him and made full satisfaction to justice Rom. 3.24 The Apostle makes justification an effect of the Redemption which is in Christ Jesus Dan. 9.24 the Messiah was to bring in everlasting righteousness Jer. 23.5 6. a righteous Branch is promised to be raised up to David and his name shall be called Jehovah our Righteousness And thus he is made of God to us Righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 When the offence is taken away by a pardon the person is accounted righteous Therefore the not imputing of sin and the
c. and in that Prayer which he put up so solemnly before his passion he makes requests for those that should beleeve hereafter Joh. 17.20.21 Non humiliter supplicando quasi genibus flexis sed gloriose representande c. Ames Medul l. 1. c. 23. And what he did on earth he doth much more in heaven although not in the same manner but in such a way as agrees to a glorified estate not by falling down on his knees in humble supplications but by presenting his sufferings with the satisfaction and merit of them and procuring at the hands of his Father the actual application of them to poor sinners for their conversion and salvation according to that Psal 2.8 Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance c. It was by vertue of his prayer on the Cross that so many thousands were brought in as the first fruits immediately after his Ascention and it is by vertue of his intercession in heaven that the whole harvest of the Elect shall be brought in also in all succeeding generations 2 For those that are actually made partakers of this grace of Redemption He appears continually before God to plead their cause Aaron had a brestplate of Judgement wherein were set twelve precious stones with the names of the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel engraven upon them that he might bear them upon his heart when he went into the holy place for a memorial before the Lord Exod. 28 15.-29 So our Lord Jesus the High Priest of our profession hath the names of all his redeemed people as signets on his heart and presents them continually to his Father in heaven that upon the account of his All-sufficient Sacrifice offered for them he may perswade and prevaile with him for all necessary supplies of grace in all their concernments to continue them in their reconciled condition to give them daily strength to obey him to issue out pardons for their daily slips 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In opposition to Satan who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 12.10 1 Joh. 2.1 2. He that is our Propitiation is also our Advocate with the Father and to hold them close to him so that not one of them shall perish but they shall all arrive at the happy haven of eternal glory All this was prefigured in the Law The High-priest having first offered a Goat for the whole Congregation of Israel must come the same day into the Holy of Holies and bring the blood with him and sprinkle it on and before the Mercy-seat withall burning Incense that a cloud might arise and cover it that by thus doing on one solemn day every year he might make an Attonement for all their sins Lev. 16.15 16 -33 34. Even so Jesus Christ our High-Priest having given up himself a sacrifice for the sins of the world and thereby obtained eternal Redemption entered into heaven and there appears with his blood to make Intercession through the merit of it for guilty sinners sprinkling their consciences with it to purge them from dead works Heb. 9 12.-14 to render them accepted by the Incense of his prayers and to manage the whole business of their salvation to the end Christ our Surety carries the price of our Redemption to heaven and renders it in his Fathers house See here righteous Father saith he this is the ransome for lost Man-kinde I have brought the full summe my will is that it shall be effectual both to deliver those that are still captives and to bring those home thou hast given me infallibly to salvation Thus ouâ— redemption by Christ becoming a Curse for us was not onely fully satisfactory to justice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A savour of rest Gen. 8.21 Numb 28.2 but also an offering and sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour Eph. 5.2 Oh what an happiness is this Dear heart thou hast a fast friend in the Court who is both able and willing to look to thy cause and to follow thy business that it shall not miscarry thou needest not fear but he will save thee to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 4 Our Redeemer hath purchased of his Father the gift of his holy Spirit that he may bestow it on all the Elect Having purchased it by hâ—s passion he conveyes it by his intercession Ioh. 14.16 and thereby both fetch them in and carry them on in the state of grace The Apostle acquaints us with this priviledge also in the 14. verse following God sent his Son to redeem us that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith Christ in his Sermon at Nazareth applies to himself that notable Prophesie which is set down Isa 61.1 2. concerning his anointing and sending to heal the broken-hearted and to set at liberty them that are bruised ascribing this to the Spirit Luke 4.18.21 The Redeemer coming out of Zion shall not onely turn away ungodliness from Jacob but convey unto them his Spirit which shal never be taken away from them Isa 29.20 21. The Lord promiseth to put his Spirit on the Messiah his Servant that he may bring forth judgement unto victory Isa 42.1 2. c. which was fulfilled in part Matth. 12.17 18 c. Christ promiseth the Apostles to send the Spirit of Truth from the Father to testifie of him Joh. 15.26 and that even for the conversion of those that hated him as vers 24. Yea he shall convince the world of sin righteousness and judgement Joh. 16.8 c. shewing them the things which he receives from Christ and so glorifying him vers 14. They that are freed from condemnation by Christ coming in the flesh have the Spirit of God dwelling in them Rom. 8.1 2 9. for all necessary supplies in the way of salvation to teach them all things Joh. 14.26 to soften their hearts and to inable them to obey Ezek. 11.19 20. to change them into the image of the Lords glory 2 Cor. 3.18 to frame them to the affections of children and to stir up in them groans of prayer Rom. 8.26 27. Gal. 4.6 to witness with their spirits their adoption As Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to plead for us with God in heaven so the Spirit is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to plead for Christ with us on earth Ioh. 14.16 Rom. 8.16 to be a seal and earnest of their inheritance untill the day of final Redemption Eph. 1.13 14. and to raise up their mortal bodies at the last day Rom. 8.11 Oh admirable priviledge Judge in your selves If a King having ransomed a company of his subjects from Turkish slavery should send to every one of them a Noble-man to be alwayes near them were not this an incredible favour And if Jesus Christ the King of Saints should send a glorified Saint or a good Angel to abide with his redeemed people what an honour were it But if he should give his Spirit to be our Keeper Comforter Leader yea our All under himself
reason of frequent neglects faylings wandrings swarvings from the rule of the word since his conversion Oh saith the godly soul I can do nothing aright how often do I miscarry in the manner motives and ends of obedience Methinks I am fettered that I cannot go a foot pace much less run in the way of Gods Commandements To some kinde of evill ready and free enough to some kinde of good too often dead and sluggish If I be redeemed indeed why am I thus or what comfort can I have in the work of Redemption while I am in this case Doth the prisoner when he is released feel the shackles still on his legs If Christ by undergoing the curse of my former bondage hath brought me into liberty why am I still in bondage who shall answer for me now or where is the ransome for it But now consider if these distempers are the unavoidable workings of remaining corruption which cannot be wholly shaken off The best Saints may finde in themselves an indisposedness to good and forwardness to evil especially about those things which are most spiritual and require much self-denial in their carnal and earthly interest of ease credit and other outward enjoyments as in a constant course of secret prayer private reproof of others upon just occasion acknowledging a miscarriage to their own disgrace putting up wrongs for the maintaining of peace and such like Why is thy heart dejected for that which is the common lot of all the godly Thou mayest think it is well that the Lord hath not left thee to grosser sins and although thou hast many failings yet the Lord looks upon thee according to thy better part he will own his own grain in the midst of much chaffe And here is the crown of thy comfort Christ Jesus hath offered a sacrifice for every one that erreth and for him that is simple Ezek. 45.20 and he can reasonably bear with the ignorant and those that are out of the way Heb. 5.2 and he will carry on his work in thy soul till thy sinful distempers bee wholly subdued and thou shalt have no more cause to complaine Sect. 2. Comfort against inward terrours reproaches of men and outward afflictions 2. AGainst inward fears and terrours of conscience arising from sense of guilt and liableness to Gods displeasure Even the Lords redeemed may have shrewd remainders of the spirit of bondage upon them their spirits are sometimes startled and terrified with the fear or feeling of Divine wrath God lets Satan loose against them to bring their old sins to remembrance or to roar upon them as a Lion for new miscarriages And when he meets with a timorous unbeleeving heart he plies it so long with his fiery darts till at length he bereaves the sinner of all comfort Sometimes he is dejected and laid low in the sight of his own vileness Sometimes he is tossed and disquieted as the Sea with storms and tempests Sometimes he is even swallowed up with waves of soul-trouble as a ship ready to sink so that Satan seems to have his will of him Lam. 3.18 and he saith My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. A sad and unwelcome business I confess yet many of Gods dear servants have been thus put to it as both Scripture and experience do testifie Job complains that God held him for his enemy and made him to possess the iniquities of his youth Job 13.24 26. and therefore the poyson of his arrows did drink up his spirit and the terrours of God did set themselves in array against him Iob 19.25 Chap. 6.4 yet elsewhere he professeth his faith in the Redeemer David cries out that Gods arrows stuck so fast in him and his hand pressed him so sore that there was no soundness in his flesh nor rest in his bones Psal 38.3 4. The like we may see in Heman the Ezrahite Psal 88.3 6 7 14 15 c. But let the afflicted soul now have recourse to this harbour of Redemption and there he shall finde good shelter against all these storms What hast thou to fear save the curse of the Law why but that is removed and gone Thy Surety hath freed thee from it by making an end of thy sins No sin no curse If the Lord hide his face and frown upon thee it will bee for a moment for a small moment but he will return and with everlasting kindness have mercy on thee And for this thy Redeemer hath ingaged his word Isa 54.7 8. As for Satan that Lion of hell when he can neither hold nor recover his prisoners it is his next policy to disquiet them and to make their lives uncomfortable But tell him that thou art Christs devoted servant by vertue of a dear ransome and he hath nothing in thee neither shall hee rule in thy conscience he may go lash and torment his own marked slaves but thou art out of his reach And if the Lord and Satan do still pursue thy soul with terrours remember that thy Master Christ hath drunk of this bitter cup before thee and be assured that he will plead thy cause with his Father and at length he will take that roaring Lion under-hand and rend him as he would rend a Kid as it is said of Sampson Judg. 14.6 Know it dear Christian for thy comfort there are no storms in heaven 3 Against the cursings evill speakings reproaches contradictions of the men of the world Their tongues are set on fire of hell and they are very eloquâ—nt in the hellish art of cursed language especially against the Lords Redeemed ones smiting them with bitter words and heaping upon them the basest indignities which either the Devil can suggest or their malicious hearts invent Hast thou been acquainted with such unwelcome salutations Do thy prophane neighbours open their mouthes against thee And dost thou hear the words of cursing and bitterness yet be not troubled at it These arrows though they be very sharp and sent from a strong arm yet they shall not reach to pierce thy heart these coals of Juniper though they keep in the fire a whole year yet thou needest not fear scorching by them the malignity of them is taken away by the grace of Redemption If the curse of Gods righteous Law be voided to thee much more is the curse of mans unrighteous law If the Lord hath reversed and disanulled his just sentence passed against thee in heaven will he suffer the unjust sentence of sinful man on earth to stand in force against thee If the curse which is deserved shall not come much less shall that which is causeless Prov. 26.2 Say thou to God as David Let them curse but bless thou Psal 109.28 thou mayest hope that the Lord will requite thee good for their cursing as 2 Sam. 16.12 when the children of Israel were brought out of Egypt and upon their way to the promised Land Balaam was hired to curse them but the Lord turned the curse into a
lawfull selflove in your breasts if you have not wholy abandoned all compassion of your selves and are become your own enemies be awaked from your sloth and look about you Do you thus requite the Lord Jesus O foolish people and unwise Is not he thy father Rom. 7.9 that hath bought thee Rather let my counsel be acceptable to you in these few particulars 1. Give way to the Light and authority of the Law in the ministry of it to bring thee to a thorough conviction of thy misery and extream need of the help of their Redeemer Think it not sufficient that the Law hath lent thee light enough to say All men are sinners and so to wrappe thy self in gross with them and to be content to be reckoned among them seeing thou canst not avoid it but bring it home to thy conscience believe thy self to be his accursed sinner and say I am the man Imprison not the truth in unrighteousness but let it so overpower thy soul that thou mayest be no longer able to resist it but mayest yield thy self into the arrest of God's justice that the spirit of bondage may cause thee to fear the curse and wrath of God and thou mayest lie slain Deut. 32.6 and dead in thy self utterly unable to recover thy self and therefore helpless and hopeless as to thy self or any thing in the world Let the Law have its free course to work thee into this frame When the Lord meane's to apply the ransome to a poor sinner for his deliverance from the pit he first open's his ears and scale's his instruction that he may hide pride from him Job 33 17.-24 If thou be wise thou wilt meet the Lord in this way though it be unpleasant yet it is profitable But if thou either continuest dead and blockish under the discoveries of the Law or favourest thy self in thy sloth and ease or liftest thy crests in confidence of the safety of thy condition there is no hope for the present of any saving good towards thee And yet alas how is the Spirit of the Law straitened in these sad times Our people will not suffer it to come near them much less to master them If any thing be offered them in way of conviction they either drown it in their cups or sing it away in merry Jiggs or laugh it out of countenance or at the best suffer it to wear off and to die in their hands But in the fear of God beware of these things I tell thee thou mayest be quite dismounted and cast down at the Lords feet All wayes must be block'd up whereby the carnal heart may take occasion to nourish hope of escaping out of this prison 2. Being at this loss advisedly resolve not to abide in this condition but to make hast out of it Say to thy self O my soul Where in what case art thou It 's no tarrying here It 's too hot to be under the curse in the flames of hell Who can dwell with the devouring fire with everlasting burnings Isa 33.14 Search enquire ask counsel Go to the ministers of Christ and say unto them as these Acts 2.37 Men and brethren what shall we do and the Jaylour Acts 16.30 Sirs what must I do to be saved They are the messengers of the Lord of hosts their lips should preserve knowledge and you must seek the law at their mouths Mal. 2.7 Their office is to publish this ransome and to declare unto the humbled sinner his righteousness in pronouncing him delivered by virtue of that Ransome Job 33.23 24. But oh alas if there be a Minister in the Town an Interpreter one that is willing according to the measure of the gift bestowed on him to reveal the counsel of God to poor sinners how long may he sit at home before any of his neighbours will knock at the door to tell him that they are wretched prisoners under the Curse and know not how to get out yea although he be accounted one of a thousand scarcely four persons in a whole twelve-moneth will come to him travelling under their burthen and propounding such questions as these Oh how shall I get from the Curse of the Law who shall draw me out of this woful dungeon wherein I ly Truly this speaks sad things to such a people and testifies against them that they are seared in their consciences and sealed up unto condemnation 3. Fall down before the glorious Majestie of the great Lawgiver the Lord of heaven and earth as forlorne prisoners and condemned Slaves Spread your case before him by a free and full Confession ripp up the bowels of that darkness and death that sinkhole of hell that lies in your souls Tell him in what a desperate state thou art deal plainly seriously and sincerely leave no covert or shelter or figg-leaf to hide thy self under but lay thy soul bare and naked before him Let thy Laughter be turned into mourning James 4.9 and in the sence of thine undone condition crie mightily as the prisoner at the barre for mercy and deliverance Ionah 3.9 who can tell but that the Lord will returne and have compassion on thee that thou perish not in the hands of the Curse When Saul was stricken down to the earth by a light and voice from heaven and stood before the Lord trembling and astonished he forthwith falls to this work Lord saith he What wilt thou have me to do as if he should say Lord thou hast overcome I must yield what shall I do in this exigent If thou wilt shew me thy minde and the way which I should go Lo I am here willing to obey Acts 9.3 4 c. and the Lord speaking of him to Ananias mentions it as a thing very remarkable even with a starre in the forehead Behold See Iob 3â— 26 he prayeth verse 11. And certainly If the Spirit of bondage hath brought the Curse close home to thy soul and caused it to sting thee to the purpose thou wilt not be restrained but thy chamber and closet and every corner where thou canst have Libertie to disburden thy self will be witnesses of thy complaints and petitions and thou wilt let the Lord see that thou art in good earnest But wo is me while our people continue so sottish and prophane and their hearts so unaffected with their misery that they cannot bow nor bend they have neither expressions nor affections of prayer it is no marvel if the grace of Redemption lie altogether neglected Restraint of prayer argues security Iob 15.4 If the bankrupt debtor be so stout and stiff that he will not fall down and beseech his Creditor to have patience and compassion on him he may lie by it who can pittie him 4. In the mean time take notice that there is a Ransome paid for sinners by Jesus Christ that he hath taken upon him the Curse to buy them out from it Take it for granted and write upon it as unquestionable that redemption is feasable
basely unthankful to the Lord Jesus Hath he laid aside his majestie and descended into the lower parts of the earth yielding himself a prisoner to the Curse of the Law and all that he might rescue thee from it and make thee a freeman of heaven Hath he purchased thy ransome with so great a summe and made so hard an adventure to hale thee out of hell Hath he brought thy deliverance even to the very nick of enjoyment and now is readie to lay it in thy lappe and to thrust it into thy bosome and dost thou shrink back from the gift wilt thou render all this coste and labour of love to be as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again Oh! do not requite him so badly There be some that draw back and that threaten's their perdition and there be some few that believe and this tends to the salvation of their soules Heb. 10.39 Now consider whether of these two companies is the more desirable and betake thy self thereunto without delay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. It 's the most commendable Self-love 8. Yea and besides thou art else very injurious to thy self If it might be any gain to thee or at least no loss to be so unthankfull to thy Redeemer and yet this can admit of no excuse something might be spoken towards the extenuation of thy folly but truly thy loss will be invaluable thou foregoest that commodity which can never be recovered and implungest thy self into that mischief which will stick by thee for ever If thou wert floating on the Sea or some deep river in danger of present drowning should any well-willer of thine come and venture his life to save thee if thou shunnest him and refusest his help is not this to destroy thy self But oh thou hast cast thy self headlong into the Sea of God's curse and Jesus Christ hath as it were put his life in his hands that he might fetch thee out If now thou wilt not apply thy self to him but holdest off from him thou perishest through thine own default for there is no salvation in any other Acts 4.12 If thou missest it here thou mayest bid it farewell for ever 9. It is a blessed thing to believe when there is nothing visible to the eye of reason which may give encouragement thereunto but all things speak the contrary this is the excellency of faith it presents things which are not seen and convincingly evidenceth them to the soul They that reach up to this height are pronounced blessed John 20.29 Mary was eminently blessed in bearing Christ and this was an addition to her blessedness that she believed the message of the Angel concerning it though cross to her reason Luke 1.28 42 45. God's appearances are sometimes dark he threatens to condemne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 11 â— when he mean's to save he rejects when he will embrace as the woman of Canaan to whom he gave sundrie sad repulses and yet both entertained her and highly commended her faith Matth. 15.28 The tender Mother doth sometimes set her self out of her childes sight yet even then her eye is upon it she takes care of it and it is then safest when it apprehends danger neerest Thus doth the Lord deal with thee therefore now stirre up thy self to trust in his name There is a choice promise Isa 41.17 If thou seekest water and findest none and thy tongue faileth for thirst yet then the Lord will hear thee and not forsake thee Every word hath weight and sweetness Take hold upon it and let it not go 10. Consider that thousands of poor captive souls have gone this way and have sped well When David said he was cut off and gave himself for lost he did but cry and the Lord heard him Psal 31.22 The Psalmist sighing out of the depths hoped in the word waited on God and at length was able to say out of his own experience With the Lord is mercy and plenteous redemption Psal 130.1.5 7. The Jaylour comes trembling to Paul and Silas and being exhorted to beleeve on Christ he followes their counsel and rejoyceth Act. 16 29.-34 This use we may make of the Parable of the Prodigal when he comes to himself and resolves to return his Father meets him falls on his neck kisseth him puts on him the best Robe with a ring on his hand and shooes on his feet and kills for him the fatted Calf which holds forth Gods wonderful graciousness to impoverished sinners that return to him by faith and repentance Luke 15.20 c. and the Publican in sense of unworthiness crying to God for mercy goes away justified rather than the Pharisee Luke 18.13 14. But especially look upon the example of Saul who is after called Paul the Lord meeting him on the rode as he was posting to persecute the Saints having convinced him of his sin sends him to Aâ—anias by whose Ministry hee is brought to imbrace Christ and to preach him zealously Act. 9.6 17 20. and herein he is set forth for a patterne to others in time to come that they might be encouraged to beleeve 1 Tim. 1.15 16. Do thou so too and expect the same success Thus the Lord speaks to thee O desolate soul as Laban to Abrahams servant Gen. 24.31 Come in thou blessed of the Lord wherefore standest thou without as a meer stranger to mee and to the grace of Redemption my Sonnes satisfaction by his bearing thy curse hath made room for thee in mine house and he hath provided for thee all spiritual accommodations to make thee happy I am loath to leave thee till thou art perswaded therefore I shall adde one thing more Thou sayest I do not I cannot beleeve But what if I make it appear that thou dost beleeve even now when thou verily thinkest thou dost not Observe then the very stress of faith lyes in the wills hearty consenting to the offer of Christ in the Gospel Thou art a wretched sinner accursed by the sentence of the Law utterly unable to help thy self Thou hearest the good news of Redemption by Jesus Christ The Lord invites thee and saith If thou wilt renounce all confidence in thy self and the creature and unfainedly accept of Christ alone for thy Redeemer to save thee and thy Lord to sanctifie and rule thee he shall both free thee from the curse and bring thee to the Kingdome of glory See here he is for thee Art thou willing to have him Thou sayest yea with all my heart if I might And is it even so with thee thou canst not deny it else what mean those breathings and groanings towards him in prayer those solicitous inquiries and searchings after him in addresses to Gods Ministers Oh where shall I finde Jesus Christ Whither is he turned aside When will he own me That restlesness of thy spirit that thou canst not be satisfied without him These are plain demonstrations that he hath thy heart and that the strength of thy
work and the grace of the Spirit which gives us power to do it The Spirit and the Letter are not opposite but sweetly subordinate Rom. 7.6 The opposition is onely betwixt the newness of the spirit and the oldness of the Letter That service which we before performed as slaves we now performe as sonnes Christ makes a change in us in relation to the Rule but no change in the matter of the Rule it self 2. In Suffering Christ hath undergone hard measures for thy sake and hath thereby purchased thy freedome Be thou willing to undergo hard measures for his sake that thou mayest advance his honour If thou hast tasted the bitterness of thy bondage and the sweetness of Redemption thou wilt not grudge to lay down all thy worldly contentments at the feet of thy Redeemer yea thou wilt not refuse to put thy life in thy hands and to be sacrificed for the promoting of his glory and be thankfull that thou art thought worthie to suffer for his Name Yea more Acts 5.41 Phil. 2.17 if Gods providence shall so order that a black night of darkness and trouble shall come upon the Church which may threaten to destroy or at least to shake the faith of Christians in this case it seems necessary that such of the Lords Redeemed as are grown strong should put their necks under the heaviest yoke of extraordinary afflictions if it may conduce to the establishing of others in the Truth and the furthering of their salvation S. Paul professeth his readiness hereunto 2 Tim. 2.10 and the Apostle John enjoines it as a necessary dutie upon this very ground 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. We owe it as a dâ—bt Hee laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren 1 John 3.16 Oh the noble heroik spirit of Moses and Paul who were willing to forego their parts in the glory of heaven on condition that the Lords wrath might be turned away from their countrymen the Jewes that they might be saved Exod. 32.32 Rom. 9.3 And oh that we could thus farre deny our selves for the honour of him who hath denied himself infinitely more for us Conclude then for certain that the Lord 's Redeemed ought to resigne themselves wholly unto the will and service of Jesus Christ their Lord The equitie yea necessitie whereof may further appear if ye minde these few motives 1. He onely hath the right of proprietie in you The ransomed Captive is not his own to dispose of himself nor can any other person claim an interest in him to require service of him save onely he that hath paid the price of his Redemption Even so neither thy self nor Sathan nor the world but onely Jesus Christ hath the unquestionable title of dominion over thee to order and to rule thee so that thou art no debtor to live either to thy self or to them but to him that died for thee Rom. 6.11 The Sacrament of baptisme holds forth this lesson Thou wast baptised into the name of Jesus Christ and hereby art really engaged unto his service To withdraw thy self from his service and betake thy self to other Lords is an high degree of theft and Covenant-breaking The Prophet speaks of witholding Tithes and Offerings as of a strange unheard of kinde of robbery Will a man rob God Mal. 3.8 What unreasonable brutishness is this Rom. 12.1 What is it then for a Christian to rob God of himself and his reasonable service Shall the pettie Thieves be severely punished and the grand Robbers escape Resolve then and say Lord other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us but now we disclaim them and we will remember thy name onely Isa 26.13 2. The safety and comfort of your standing all along in this pilgrimage here below depend very much upon this If you will forsake your selves and all other Lords and referre your selves to the guidance and appointment of Jesus Christ you need not fear any hard measures from him in whom there is no unrighteousness you may trust him he will see Psal 92.15 that you shall fare no worse for that but better He that hath saved you in the swellings of Jordan will assuredly look after yoâ— in smaller dangers This is the way to secure your own peace and happiness if having owned Christ by faith for your alone Redeemer you will yield up your selves to him in unreserved obedience in every condition to do and suffer according to his will But if you will needs be your own masters or put your selves under the command of other Lords you do hereby discharge him from taking care of you and expose your selves to infinite perils Thou that hopest thou hast an actual share in this benefit and yet either refusest to live wholly to him or else dost capitulate with him and wilt have a vote in the managing of thine own wayes thou mayest fear that God will give thee up to follow thine own counsels and to shift for thy self in all the stormes which thou mayest meet withall And woe to that poor creature whom God doth leave to himself and to his own carvings he must needs be in a very tottering condition farre from peace 3. In the great day of reckoning which is to come Christ the Redeemer shall be judge for the Father hath committed this business unto him and hath given assurance thereof in that after his sad conflicts with the Curse and death he raised him up a Conquerour Acts. 17.31 Now in that great Assize Inquisition shall be made among those which are retainers to Jesus Christ chiefly concerning 2 things 1. Whether hast thou in the sence of thy wofull bondage under the Curse of the Law heartily accepted of Christ offered in the Gospel and renouncing all other helps in thy self or the creature rested on him as thine onely Redeemer 2. Whether hast thou willingly resigned thy self up to him as thy soveraigne Lord to rule and order thee in thy whole conversation so as thy main study and work hath been to minde and to seek his interest to live to him and to die to him and so to be intirely for him and for his glory This Latter shall then be insisted on and put home Matth. 25.35 42 c. to trie the truth of the former Therefore it concernes you to bethink your selves before hand what answer you will make when you shall stand before the judge If your hearts tell you that you have onely given Christ good words calling him Lord Lord but have not made conscience of coming up to his commandes or yielding obedience to his will or submitting to his pleasure and disposing hand in all things Oh what a black day will that be when you shall not be able to lift up your faces before him but must stand speechless Then shall you be sensible of your desperate folly and condemne your selves for it sadly lamenting that you have so grosly neglected both your Redeemer
and your own soules but all too late your day will be past Happy is that man 2 Pet. 3.14 that shall then be found of him in peace without spot and blameless although his lot should be to live in beggerie and misery in this world all the dayes of his appointed time Yet alas what a wofull guilt lies on the consciences of too many Christians We all confess with our mouthes Christ's authority over us by the right of Redemption but how few of us make any proof thereof by suitable obedience The most have given up themselves to seek the interests of the flesh and the world their desires designes endeavours imployments delights contentments run wholly in theâ—e channels but the will service honour of Jesus Christ is not in all their thoughts He bids us be holy be sober and watch deny our selves take up our cross love our enemies have our conversation in heaven seek things above crucifie the flesh walk in newness of life grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ c. But these are strange things to many of us which challenge a part in the grace of Redemption and yet walk contrary denying Christ his right making provision for the flesh and inslaving our lives to the lusts and pleasures of this world What a number of hollow-hearted self-seeking Clyents hath Jesus Christ which follow him that they may escape wrath and the damnation of hell and injoy Gods favour and salvation in heaven and yet are never like to attain that which they expect but are even at the next door to destruction And all because they have not devoted their hearts and lives sincerely to the service of the Redeemer but fancied such a carnal salvation as will comply with the service of sin and requires no pâ—ins for compassing it but may be had with a wish and snoâ—ting on their beds and allows them sparing from the diligent study pursuit and practise of holiness in their conversation Perpendâ— qui talem pro nobis dedit pecuniam quale a nobis sit exasturus usuram August But as for you that love your Redeemer I beseech you lay to heart the dishonour that is done to him and look to your own soules If Jesus Christ hath disbursed so great a summe for you he may justly require some considerable profit If he hath even emptied himself to save thee from the curse what canst thou do less than devote thy self wholly to his honour I remember a story of a young man which being arraigned for some foule crime was condemned to dye The Judge looking upon him and taking some liking to him told him that he would reprieve him At which unexpected favour the young man being astonished professed that unless the Judge would take him into his service that he might wait upon him as long as he lived hee would rather chuse to dye Bee thou like minded let it not satisfie thee that Christ hath rescued thee from the curse and there an end but now take him for thy Lord let his will be thy will let the bent of thy desires and endeavours be to please him in all things breath after the highest pitch of obedience be willing to be at his disposing in the greatest difficulties 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non tam efficientâ—m notat quam finem Zan. in locum and make it thy daily work to further thy Masters interests some way or other And whereinsoever thou failest or fallest short make it up by godly sorrow and faith in the Redeemer Rest not till thou canst say with St. Paul To me to live is Christ I am striving to live up to the minde and will of Christ he shall be my utmost end Phil. 1.21 In a word Christ accounts it his honour and do thou account it thine to serve him for ever See the Apostles profession 2 Cor. 5.14 15. and turn it into practise Sect. 3. The fourth Duty 4. LAbour to bring in others to the participation of the same benefit When thou art redeemed help forward the Redemption of thy poor brethren If the Lord Jesus hath taken compassion on thee and delivered thee from the curse of the Law by the actual application of his satisfaction to thy soul then it behoves thee to have compassion on thy fellow-prisoners and to use thy best endeavours that they also may be set at liberty Christ hath given himself a ransome for many Matth. 20.28 and he hath abundance both of merit and spirit to impart unto them so that if many millions of poor souls were brought in Rom. 5.17 there would be no less for thee Do thou then what lyes in thee that many may be brought to the reall possession of this benefit Oh that there were such an heart in all the Lords Redeemed to study the advancement of their Redeemers glory in furthering the salvation of captive-sinners that all if possible may be made partakers of this grace I would gladly presse this duty upon my self and you according to the several relations wherein we stand It concerns 1. Ministers of the Gospel We are Christs Heraulds sent forth to proclaime deliverance to the Captives and to perswade them to imbrace it Lev. 25 9 10 even as one part of the Priests office was by sound of Trumpet to give publick notice of the year of Jubilee and to prepare the people for the injoying the priviledges of it Our work is very important therefore it behoves us to be very faithful and diligent in it We have many under our over-sight alas too many which lye in the bond of iniquity strangers to Jesus Christ Our maine business is in reference to these that we may turn them from the power of Satan unto God and bring them to the injoyment of true spiritual liberty by Jesus Christ Wee may look upon those truely miserable soules as the ruful objects of our choisest pity and we ought by all due means especially by publick preaching and private instruction to labour their conversion and to save them from dropping into those everlasting burnings See the grave counsel of the Apostle to this purpose 2 Tim. 2.25 26. And here we must have a special eye upon those whom we perceive to be awakened to look out toward a change When the Lord sends to us any poor souls that are struck down by the Ministry unto conviction and humiliation he doth then call us to hold forth such spiritual direction and consolation as may sute best with their several conditions according to the word Mal. 2.7 Job 33.23 When the Lord appointed Cities of Refuge for the man-slayer he gave charge that a way should be prepared and the coasts of the Land divided into three parts It seems this division was in favour of the persons that every one might take the benefit of the nearest City lest the length of the way might occasion danger Deu. 19.3 6. And when the Lord promiseth to bring in his people by the cal of the Gospel
out in the cursing of others Jobs and Jeremies cursing the day of their birth and the man that first brought tidings of it with the overflowings of inordinate passion in no case to be looked on as presidents And some have a Curse Ah fie upon him ready on a short warning to fling at a godly man even because he is godly as if the Lords Redeemed were the proper marks at which these sharp arrows should be shot Oh most abominable Bedlam-practice If you love your souls beware of it Consider these motives 1. Such language is the breathing and framing of the Angel of the bottomless pit it is the Dialect of hell fit for none but blinde heathens strangers from the Covenant such as Goliah 1 Sam. 17.43 or for prophane hardened sinners which give themselves up to all iniquity and professedly hate the righteous as Shimei 2 Sam. 16.5 7. Would ye not be in an higher form then these are Can ye be content to be so far from the very suburbs of heaven 2. The sentence is passed long ago and shall never be reversed Cursed is he that curseth the people of God It is the Lords own doom though it was delivered by the mouth of Balaam the false Prophet Numb 24.9 he was hired on purpose to curse Israel and came with a minde free enough to do it but the Lord turnes him aside from his own byas puts words of blessing into his mouth which he never thought of and causeth him against the bent of his own heart to pronounce those accursed that curse Israel And now dares any of you adventure upon a practise which will be so far from taking the curse from off your selves that it will seal you more surely under the power of it 3. It is a very gross and dangerous taking Gods Name in vain which may appear thus Every blessing and curse is virtually a prayer As praying to God to do some good thing for our selves or others is a reverent using of his Name because it is a petitioning for that which he hath promised to do so on the contrary praying for some evill to befall another is a taking of it in vain because it is a petitioning for that which he hath resolved not to do or at least hath given no intimation of his purpose concerning it which may be our warrant for such a prayer 4. It carries along with it apparent injustice and that in an high degree for godly men are blessed men So the Lord tells Balaam and upon that ground forbids him to curse his people Numb 22.12 Hereby thou wrongest God himself giving him the lye opposing him in his way and undoing what he hath done and them also in bearing false witness against them and representing them to the Lord in the most odious posture If a man should be spread before a great Prince some false accusations concerning his favourite thereby to incense the Prince against him what an injury were this to them both Surely cursing the godly is a greater injury both to God and them If then thou dost not like to bear the black brand of an unrighteous man resolve against this wickedness in the language which God himself put into the mouth of Balaam How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed or detest whom he hath not detested Num. 23.8 But truly snarling Dogs will bark and bite too if they can and the children of Belial will tear us with Curses Who can hinder them And we may observe that some mens tongues are so set on fire of hell they are so full of the poyson of Aspes and are so desperately transported beyond all reason that the very expressions are able to make the hearts of moderate men to tremble Indeed the dishonour of God and the danger of their souls may give us cause to mourn but they need not trouble us on any other account For first they are causeless Prov. 26.2 Godliness is no just cause of cursing but rather of blessing the Lords Redeemed are not Buts for such poysoned arrows the persons are mistaken such curses are like Birds which flye at rovers aiming at no set place or prevented in the flight Saepe sinistra cava praedâ—xâ— abâ—iâ—les corniâ—â— Vâ—rg that they do not reach it No wise man will regard the flying of Swallows The flying or chattering of some birds on the left hand as ominous or boding ill luck was an heathenish observation grounded meerly upon superstition without reason And the imprecations are the issues of prophane hearts and therefore not to be feared but contemned 2. Therefore they are bootless they shall not come they are vain they cannot effect that which they are sent for As Wasps which have lost their stings as the report of powder without shot as a crack of thunder without a bolt or as an arrow shot upward in the aire which soon spends its force and falls to the ground For 1. The Lord hath settled his blessing upon them by so firm and indefeasable a title that all the power and malice of the gates of hell cannot take it off or make it void God saith of them as once Isaac said of Jacob I have blessed them yea and they shall be blessed Gen. 27.33 2. And he will also as a most expert Physitian extract sweetness out of their poyson send down a blessing instead of a curse and do his servants good even the rather as David hoped 2 Sam. 16.12 See this more fully pressed in the Use of Consolation before To conclude Let the godly abandon this wicked practice even upon this score because they are redeemed from the Curse Say thus If the Lord Jesus hath ransomed sinners from the Curse and made an everlasting separation betwixt it and them then what have I to do with any more God forbid that I should bee so bold as to fasten it on my selfe or others or endeavour to revive it Nay I will not so much as take the name of it once into my lips I am called by the mercy of God to bee an Heire of Blessing 1 Pet. 3.9 and I will behave my self accordingly FINIS BOOKS Printed and sold by Thomas Johnson at the Golden Key in St. Pauls-Church-yard THE History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpents describing at large their true and lively figure their several Names Conditions Kindes Vertues Countries Of their breed and the wonderful work of God in their Creation Preservation and Destruction Together with the Theatre of Insects or Lesser living Creatures as Bees Flies Caterpillars Spiders Worms c. A most elaborate work By T. Muffet Dr. of Physick in Folio The Lord Francis Bacon's Natural History in Folio Lexicon Anglo Graeco Latinum Novi Testamenti or a Compleat Alphabetical Concordance of all the words in the New Testament both English Greek and Latine in three distinct Tables Shewing also the several significations Etymons Derivations Force and Emphasis and divers acceptations of each word in Scripture A work of very great
have a very foule nasty heart my soule is a very stie of all uncleanness I am carnal fold under sin Rom. 7.14.23.34 I can do no good thing Oh miserable man who shall deliver mee why Christ thy Redeemer hath made thee a new creature he hath put into thee a principle of holiness and he is still at work in thee weakning sin by degrees so that though it will dwell in thee yet it shall not over-master thee nor bring thee under its feet Corruption shall go down and grace shall get up more and more The Lord Jesus will not spare either pains or cost in prosecuting this business he will wear of that filthy slough of the old nature and the image of hell and make thee partaker of the divine nature that thou mayest be conformed to his own image Sigh and breath after it 6. Final Redemption Which stands in the total removal and absence of all miserie and imperfection begun at death to be perfected at the resurrection The Apostle calls it the Redemption of our bodies Rom. 8.23 as I conceive for these reasons 1. To distinguish it from the first and great act wrought by Christ on the Cross to wit Redemption by way of merit whereon the main stress of the business lay which was not intended so much for the body as the soul to deliver it from guilt and curse 2. To intimate that part of Redemption which we shall be partakers of by death whereby we shall be set free from manifold evils and annoyances which compass us about and molest us while we are in the bodie 3. Because the accomplishment of this benefit at the last day shall be more visible in the bodie The soules of righteous men even before the resurrection are fully delivered from all bondage wanting onely that perfection which stands in their union to their bodies These lying in their graves as in prison under misery shall then be united again to their souls and so both shall be equally sharers according to their several capacities in this final Redemption So then this is a certain effect or consequent of the great work wrought by Jesus Christ the price is paid for the whole and full deliverance shall come in the day of Resurrection which is therefore called the day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 and Christ is made of God to us Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 At that day oh most desirable day there shall be a clear riddance from all those unwelcome guests which sin hath brought into the world As 1. from the evils of the bodie or outward man all crosses incident to our imperfect condition here whether attendants on mortality or corrections for our wandrings and miscarriages or sufferings for righteousness 2. from the evils of the soul or inward man from sin with all the rags and tatters of it which being fast on us here from the temptations of Sathan and the inticements of an evil world wherewith we are encompassed and also from the second death the wrath to come in the damnation of hell Gladâ—us mortâ—s retusus vulnerat adhuâ—â— sed câ—â—â—a pâ—â—â—cuâ—um Calv. in 〈◊〉 The first death indeed will hold us under a long time but at length it shall be destroyed 1 Cor. 15.26 and in the mean time it is but as a sword without edg which may wound a little yet without danger it shall do us no hurt but be as a wicked door to let our souls into immortalitie and the grave with the corruption of it shall be as a bed of spices to perfume our bodies and to prepare them for the resurrection Briefly whatsoever there is in all the world that can be called evil we shall be set free from it all forever all imperfection both of parts and degrees shall be done away Matt. 22.30 1 Cor. 13.10 yea Gods own ordinances as marriage preaching and sacraments which are given as remedies of weakness here shall take their leave as things whereof we shall have no further need or use Let the Lords redeemed lift up their heads and see this part of their happiness afarr off Your soules and bodies both lie under a thousand wearisome vanities in this pilgrimage but your redemption draweth nigh when there shall be no more sorrow nor crying but all tears shall be wiped away from your eyes Rev. 21.7 never to know or taste of misery any more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. Full Glorification We have some foretasts of it in this life therfore the Apostle speaketh of it as a thing done in those that are justified Rom. 8.30 when God gives poor believing souls assurance of his love sence of his favour and fills the heart with joy and peace then he begins to glorifie them Therefore this joy is called unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 these are a choice portion of the first fruits of the spirit Rom. 8.23 we shall reap the whole harvest of glory in heaven It s called by way of Eminency the salvation of our souls 1 Pet. 1.9 Redemption and the former benefits flowing from it are salvation begun and continued for we are saved here Eph. 2.8 2 Timoth 1.9 but this shall bee salvation consummate The Scripture sets forth this benefit by variety of appellations as Eternal life Matth. 25.46 Everlasting habitations Luke 16.9 Paradise Luke 23.43 The recompence of reward Heb. 11.26 A Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 A Crown of glory that fades not away 1 Pet. 5.4 The glory which is to be revealed in us or into us Rom. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—to us Nâ—n nâ—m astâ—bâ—mus q asâ—inanes vacui Spectateres nec gâ—oria quasi extriae sâ—cus revelabâ—tur nâ—bâ— sed in nobis Bernard 8.18 For we shall not stand as idle spectators looking upon it as a thing without us but we shall be possessours of it within us the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2. Pet. 1.11 The inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1.12 and the riches of the glory of it Eph. 1.18 Yea an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and which withereth not away 1 Pet. 1.4 And on this account the Apostle calls it the Adoption Rom. 8.23 because that shall be the time of our entring into the full possession of the Kingdome which is prepared for us and unto which we are intituled by adoption It was a main end of Christs giving himself for the Church that at length he might present it to himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle Eph. 5.25 27. And the Apostle reasoning from reconciliation by Christs death to salvation by his life Rom. 5.10 intimates that this is a necessary consequent of that This estate shall be the perfection of all created contentments Here shall be riches which cannot be plundered treasures which corrupt not pleasures which vanish not whatsoever is truly desirable which men enjoy severally some this some that in this world heaven hath all these and infinitly much more in a far more
excellent manner and measure to bestow on every one of the Lords Redeemed It shall be a full age of communion with God in knowledge and holiness the whole man shall be made partaker of unspeakable glory and filled with all the fulness of God to all eternity Here is now the top of all If we have our part in this Redemption 1 Cor. 13.12 1 Io. 3.2 two parallel texts let us stand a while and consider what great things the Lord doth for us We read of Abraham that he sent away Hagar and Ishmael her son with bread and a bottle of water and that by Gods own appointment because the Son of the bond-woman must not be heire with Isaac Gen. 21.10 12 14. And after that Isaac had been rescued from death by the offering up of a Ram in his stead Gen. 22.13 Abraham growing old gave small gratuities to the sons of the Concubines and sent them away from Isaac but unto him he gave all that he had the inheritance was reserved for him Gen. 25.5 6. You that are ransomed from the curse by Jesus Christ the great Ram of Consecrations you only are the Lords Isaac's the children of the promise The Ancient of dayes measures out to the men of the world the servants of sin some pittances of his good things temporal blessings for their subsistence here below but you are they that shall go away with the Inheritance It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome Luke 12.32 Oh then let us contemne all worldly glory let it fall out of our hands and hearts and let us rejoyce in the hope of this heavenly glory Rom. 5.2 These are the rare spiritual benefits which Redemption brings forth seven fair Daughters of one blessed Mother Look upon them and behold their beauty Are they not exceeding fair Incomparably lovely Did you ever see any beauty like unto their beauty Oh that we could all fall in love with them that we might never rest till we get an interest in them to injoy them in their goodness and sweetness both here and hereafter for ever Sect. 4. Four precious priviledges of actual Redemption 3 REdemption by Christ invests those that are partakers of it in sundry precious priviledges The benefits before mentioned give us a being and standing in the state of grace These concern our well-being and help to make our condition both more honourable and more comfortable For they are secondary effects of the Cross of Christ and his Legacies left to his friends wherein the world hath neither part nor portion Let us make a little inquiry after them and take a short taste of some of them for our use 1 It makes us truly and properly blessed The Apostle assures us of this in the next verse That the blessing of Abraham might come on us Gentiles through Jesus Christ God had ingaged himself to Abraham by express Covenant Gen. 22.18 that in his seed all the Nations of the earth should be blessed Gen. 22.18 that is in the seed of the Woman bruising the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 This blessed seed Christ Jesus should destroy all Satans power which he had over sinners by means of sin and the curse and thereby render them really blessed And certainly those and onely those are singularly blessed which are made partakers of this Redemption All other blessedness is but a shew a shadow a complement scarcely deserving the name of blessedness At the best the world can hold forth onely some poor shreds or scraps but the soul and the marrow of it is here The Elect are happily carried by the hand of their strong Redeemer from Mount Ebal over the valley to Mount Gerizim Psal 115.15 while their neighbours are left behinde under the curse They are the Lords Jacobs which get the blessing from Esau for they are called to inherit a blessing 1 Pet. 3.9 See a notable Text for this Isa 19.23 24 25. which tells us that in after-times when the Gentiles Egypt Assyria shall be brought into the fellowship of the Gospel with Israel then the Lord will solemnly bless them as being his inheritance even by purchase and they shall be a blessing yea all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed Isa 61.1.9 Who are they that shall be thus acknowledged even Captives to whom the Lord Jesus proclaimes liberty And who are they that shall make this acknowledgement All that see them even strangers and such as have no share in it as Laban Gen. 24.31 Saul 1 Sam. 15.13 and Balaam Numb 23.26 This is the prime priviledge and hath an influence into the rest 2 By the grace of Redemption we become a special a peculiar people to the Lord above all other people Deut. 7.6 Tit. 2.14 This follows upon the former being a choice branch of blessedness Psal 33.12 When a man hath paid a great ransome for some poor Captives he challengeth them for his own and they account themselves not their own nor any others but onely his that hath bought them so the Lord saith to the Redeemed You are mine Exod. 19.5 6. Mal. 3.17 and they eccho again to him Lord we are onely thine Psal 119.95 Cant. 6.3 7 10. Hos 2.23 The Redeemer himself owns all those whom the Father had given him to be peculiarly theirs Joh. 17.9 10. St. Paul insists much on this priviledge upon the very same ground Yee are not your own but the Lords for yee are bought with a price Rom. 14.8 9. 1 Cor. 6.19 20. Oh let us lift up our eyes and consider what an excellent priviledge this is to be the Lords and onely his to be a Garden inclosed a Spring shut up a Fountain sealed for him and to his use onely Cant. 4.12 to be graven upon the palmes of his hands Isa 49.16 to be a people near unto the Lord Psal 148.14 What can we desire more Beloved Christians It is not material in what condition thou art in as to men whether high or low rich or poor if you be in the number of the Lords ransomed ones you are his and you may humbly glory in it How do some men pride themselves in their relations and dependances I am such a mans son brother cousin-german tenant servant c. Poor matters to boast of in comparrison of this to be one of the Lord Jewels or a golden vessel in his house while many are looked upon as base contemptible rubbish and wholly laid aside 3 Our Redeemer is in heaven at Gods right hand carrying on the work that it may not fail but be effectual to all the Elect. Oh glorious priviledge He is at work 1 For those of them that are still under the curse to whom this benefit is not yet brought home He made intercession for the transgressors having first born their sins Isa 53.12 this he did while he was on earth he prayed for them that crucified him Luke 23.34 Father forgive them