as he is Psalm 17. 15. When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy Image and likeness by knowing we come to Love and by loving God we know him there is Vision Assimilation Satisfaction the object is efficacious the intimation vigorous and clear the subject prepared for the impression 2. In Body Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body the body shall be endued with all glorious qualities as brightness strength agility it is a body wholly impassible and incorruptible fit for the operations of a glorified soul and with it shall for ever remain a glorious Temple of the Holy Ghost therefore it is good to be here USES 1. Let this draw forth our Love to such a blessed estate which is so full of delight and contentment and wean us from these things which are most pleasing in the World 1. The best estate in the World is but vanity altogether vanity Psalm 39. 5. mingled with some grievances Wealth hath its incident cares and Honour its tortures and all pleasures here are but bitter sweets there is a Worm that feedeth on our gourd and will in time wither it At last death commeth and then the lust of the World is gone 1 Iohn 2. 17. The World passeth away and the lust thereof The Godly themselves have but a mixed estate because of remaining infirmities they live here in a Vale of tears and snares and sin doth not gasp its last till death removeth us from this sinful flesh and puts us into the sight of God himself Wherefore the Saints are groaning and longing for the parting day when putting off the flesh we shall put off sin and come and dwell with God for ever 2. None are translated unto Heaven but such whose hearts are there first 2 Cor. 5. 2. In this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven Phil. 1. 23. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Rom. 8. 23. We that have the first Fruits of the spirit groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption the Redemption of our bodies A Christian waiteth and longeth for a purer state of bliss and immortality the first Fruits shew what the Harvest will be and a tast what the Feast will prove though they are thankful for this refreshing by the way yet they are longing to be at home cannot be contented without it 3. The excellency of this estate requireth it if it be not worth your desires and best Affections it is little worth Christ procured it for us by a life of Labours and Sorrows and the pangs of a bitter cursed death and when all this is done shall not we desire it and look after it that is foul ingratitude Oh then let your Hearts be upon it desire must go before delight 2. To move us to labour for it and seek it in the first place and to get it assured that we have a part in this blessed and joyful condition Mat. 6. 33. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof Luke 13. 24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate So 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure What profit is it to know that there is such a blessed and joyful estate if we have no interest in it Heaven is worth our pains and will bear all the cost we can lay out upon it so the children of God thought Acts 26. 7. Unto which promise our twelve Tribes instantly serving God day and night hope to come if we do not desire it we do not believe it if we do not labour for it we do not desire it 3. Let us comfort our selves with the hopes of this blessed and joyful condition 1. Against all the miseries and afflictions of this present Life these are necessary we would sleep too quietly in the World if we did not sometimes meet with thorns in our beds we should be so pleased with our entertainment in the way as we should forget home but God awakeneth us out of our drowsie fits by sharp afflictions as if he said arise depart hence this is not your rest Micah 2. 10. while we wallow in sensual comforts our hearts say it is good being here 2. When there is a joyful and blessed condition beyond them it is some comfort in this shipwrack of mans felicity that we can see banks and shoars a landing place where we may be safe and enjoy our repose To you that are troubled rest with us when the Lord Iesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels 2 Thess. 1. 7. Here our days are sorrow and our travail grief but there is our repose 3. That our joy and contentment is so infinitely above our sorrow and trouble 2 Cor. 4. 7. so that in all the troubles and sorrows of this Life we may look beyond them and through them to the joy and comfort of the Life to come This joy is set before us in the promises of the Gospel Heb. 12. 2. Christ for the joy that was set before him endured the cross c. and Heb. 6. 18. Who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us we see it by Faith though not by sense II. Doctrine That one of the diseases of mankind is that we catch at felicity without considering the way that leadeth to it Peter seeing and apprehending this estate to be an estate of Happiness and Glory doth not consider what he must first do and first suffer before he could come to converse with Christ and the glorified Saints Our Saviour had lately told him that he must deny himself and take up his Cross and follow him but Peter overlooketh all this and saith it is good to be here he would be glorified before he was abased and had suffered all the afflictions foretold and would have his wages before he had done his work Every one would enjoy Christs Glory and Happiness but we do not like his yoke are loath to submit to his Cross. If we would enjoy happiness with Christ and the glorified Saints we must be humbled with them and suffer with them first But we would triumph before we had fought any battle and receive the Crown before we have run our Race and reap in joy before we have sowed in tears or performed that necessary work that God requires at our hands Now the Reasons of it are these 1. Because by nature we love our own ease and contentment Gen. 49. 15. He saw that rest vvas good We are loath to undergo the Cross and desirous to enjoy Happiness and Glory before and without Afflictions but this is an untimely and preposterous desire proceeding from self-love God hath appointed another order that the Cross should go before the Crown Rom. 8. 17. If so be that we suffer with him that we may be glorified together 2. From the Libertinism and yokelessness of our natures and
fixed his residence there and the Angels serve him and attend upon him and he will be no less terrible to his foes in Sion that oppose the Gospel than he shewed himself in Sinai when he gave the Law Where the King is there his attendants are so where Christ is the Courtiers of Heaven take up their station Now Christ is with his Church to the end of the World therefore these thousands of Angels are there ready to be employed by him Now we may be sure of this Ministry 1. They delight in the Preaching of the Gospel and the explication of the mysteries of Godliness 1 Pet. 1. 12. Which things the Angels desire to look into Eph. 3. 10. To the end that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God 2. They delight in the Holy Conversation of the Godly as they are offended with all impurity filthyness and ungodliness If good men be offended at the sins of the wicked as Lots righteous soul was vexed from day to day with their ungodly deeds 2 Pet. 2. 8. much more are these holy spirits especially when all things are irregularly carryed in the worship of God 1 Cor. 11. 10. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the Angels 1 Tim. 5. 21. I charge thee before God and the Lord Iesus Christ and the Elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality 3. They fight against the devil and defend the godly in their extream dangers When the devil cometh into the Church of God like a Wolf into the flock they oppose and resist him Therefore there is said to be War in Heaven that is in the Church between Michael and his Angels and the devil and his Angels Rev. 12. 7. And there was war in heaven Michael and his Angels fought against the dragon and the dragon fought and his Angels In the highest heaven there is no War In short the Angels and Believers make one Church under one Head Christ and at length shall both live together in the same place Why doth God make use of the Ministry of Angels and how far 1. To manifest unto them the greatness and glory of his work in the recovering Mankind that their delight in the Love and Wisdom of God may be increased All holy Creatures delight in any manifestation of God the Angels more especially 1 Pet. 1. 12. Which things the angels desire to look into And Eph. 3. 11. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places may be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God Though they themselves be not the parties interested the spectators not the guests yet they are delighted in the glory of God and are kindly affectionated to the salvation of lost men and that they may have a nearer view of this mistery God gratifieth them by sending them often to attend upon the dispensation of the Gospel and to assist in it so far as is meet for Creatures They are present in our Assemblies see 1 Cor. 11. 10. 1 Tim. 5. 21. they see who is negligent in his office who hindreth the preaching of the Gospel they observe what is the success of it and when it obtaineth its effect Luk. 15. 7. There shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repeteth They are hereby more excited to praise and glorifie God and are careful to vouchsafe their attendance about the meanest that believe in him Psal. 91. 11 12. He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes They shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone 2. To maintain a society and communion between all the parts of the family of God When God gathered together the things in Heaven and in Earth he brought all into subjection and dependance upon one common head Jesus Christ Eph. 1. 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him Men by Adoption Angels by Transition are taken into the family of Christ. Now there is some intercourse between the several parts thereof our goodness extendeth not to them but is confined to the Saints on earth in whom should be our delight yet their help may be useful to us they being such excellent and glorious Creatures But we are forbidden to invoke them or trust in them God doth imploy them in the Affairs of his people Their help is not the fruit of our trust in them but their obedience to God and it is seen in frustrating the endeavors of Satan and his Instruments and other services wherein Christ employeth them God shewed this to Iacob in the Vision of the Ladder which stood upon Earth and the top reached to heaven a figure of the Providence of God especially in and about the Gospel Ioh. 1. 51. Hereafter you shall see the heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man To carry on the work of the Gospel and to promote the glory and interest of Christs Kingdom in the World Thus far in the general we may be confident of 3. To preserve his people from many dangers and casualties which fall not within the foresight of man God imployeth the watchers as they are called in the book of Daniel chap. 4. 13 17. for he is tender of his people and doth all things by proper means Now the Angels having a larger foresight than we they are appointed to be Guardians This they do according to Gods pleasure preventing many dangers which we could by no means foresee They observe the devil in all his walkes and God useth them to prevent his sudden surprizals of his people as Instances are many 4. Because they are witnesses of the Obedience and Fidelity of Christs disciples and so far as God permitteth they cannot but assist them in their conflicts Thus Paul 1 Cor. 4. 9. We are made a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men Now the Angels that are witnesses to their combates and sufferings cannot but make report to God Mat. 18. 10. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my father which is in heaven The Angels which are appointed by God to be their Guardians have their continual recourses and returns to Gods glorious presence Now being so high in Gods favour and having continual access to make their requests and complaints known to him they will not be silent in the behalf of their fellow-servants that either the trial may be lessened or grace sufficient may be given to them 5. They do not only keep off hurt but there are many blessings and benefits that we are partakers of by their ministry As
the Angel of the Lord delivered Peter out of Prison Acts 12. 7. And behold the angel of the Lord came upon him and a light shined in the prison and he smote Peter on the side and raised him up saying Arise up quickly and his chains fell off from his hands c. but he doth not give thanks to the Angel but to God ver 11. Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent his angel and hath delivered me c. He directeth it to God not to the creature The Angels do us many favours all the thanks we do them is that we do not offend them by our sins against God other gratitude they expect not 6. Their last office is at Death and Judgment In death to convey our souls to Christ Luk. 16. 22. And it came to pass that the beggar dyed and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom that so we may enjoy our rest in heaven In the last day they will gather the bodies of Christs Redeemed ones from all parts of the World after they have been resolved into dust and mingled with the dust of other men that every Saint may have his own body again wherein he hath obeyed and glorified God Matth. 24. 31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other That is from all parts and quarters of the World that their Souls may return to their old beloved habitations and then both in body and in soul they may be for ever with the Lord. USE Now this is a great comfort to the Church and People of God when the Powers and Principalities on earth are employed against them to consider what Powers and Principalities attend upon Christ. We serve such a Master as hath authority over the holy Angels to employ them at his pleasure and in their darkest condition his people feel the benefit of it As the Angel of the Lord appeared to Paul in a dreadful storm Acts 27. 23 24. There stood by me this night the angel of the Lord whose I am and whom I serve saying Fear not Paul c. So to Christ in his Agonies Luk. 22. 43. There appeared an angel to him from heaven strengthning him So against Satan the good Angels are ready to comfort us as the evil Angels are ready to trouble and tempt us Let us then look to God at whose direction they are sent to help and comfort us Doct. V. If God taketh away ordinary helpes from us he can supply us by means Extraordinary As he did Christ's hunger by the Ministry of Angels Therefore till Gods power be wasted there is no room for despair We must not limit the Holy One of Israel to our ways and means as they did Psal. 78. 41. They turned back and tempted God and limited the Holy One of Israel THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST SERMON I. Matthew 17. 1. And after six dayes Iesus taketh Peter Iames and Iohn his brother and bringeth them into an high mountain apart With Luke 9. 28. It came to pass about an eight dayes after these sayings he took Peter and Iohn and Iames and went up into a mountain to pray I Mean to handle the Transfiguration of Christ which was 1. A solemn Confirmation of his Person and Office 2. A pledge of that glorious estate which is reserved for us in Heaven 1. It was a confirmation of his Person and Office as appeareth Matth. 17. 5. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him So Peter who was one present urgeth it 2 Pet. 3. 16 17 18. We have not followed cunningly devised Fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of His Majesty For he received from God the Father Honour and Glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And this voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the Holy Mount and Iohn also Iohn 1. 14. We beheld his glory as the glory of the onely begotten of the Father they were Eye and Ear-witnesses and therefore could affirm the certainty of this Doctrine 2. It is a pledge of our glorious estate for Christs Body was adorned with heavenly Glory and he had spoken chap. 16. 27. of his coming in the glory of the Father and now he gives his Disciples a pledge and earnest of it In this Introduction four things are observable 1. The Time after six days 2. The Persons whom he takes with him Peter Iames and Iohn 3. The Place he bringeth them to into an high Mountain apart 4. The Preparative action he went up into a Mountain to pray First The Time The Evangelist Luke saith about an eight dayes Matthew and Mark after six days The Reconciliation is easie Matthew and Mark spake of the space of Time between the day of Prediction and the day of Transfiguration exclusively Luke includeth them both The Jews called that flux of time between one Sabbath and another eight dayes including not onely the intervening week but both the Sabbaths according to their custom Luke speaketh Matthew of the time between Secondly The Persons chosen to attend him in this Action Peter Iames and Iohn 1. Why Three 2. Why Those three 1. Why Three so great an Action as this was needed valuable Testimony for the Law saith in the mouth of two or three Witnesses every thing shall be established Deut. 17. 6. Now Christ would go to the utmost of the Law and would have not two onely but three Witnesses as the Apostle speaks of three Witnesses in Heaven and three on Earth 1 Iohn 5. 7 8. so here are three and three three from Heaven God the Father Moses and Elias and three from Earth Peter Iames and Iohn 2. Why those Three Many give divers reasons Peter had led the way to the rest in that notable confession of Christ Matth. 16. 16. and is conceived to have some primacy for the orderly beginning of Actions in the Colledge of the Apostles Iames was the first Apostle who shed his bloud for Christ Acts 12. 2. and Iohn was the most long lived of them all and so could the longer give testimony of those things which he heard and saw till the Church was well gathered and setled Others give other Reasons but to leave conjectures it is certain that these had many singular favours afforded them above the rest of the twelve as appeareth partly in this that Christ changed their names calling Peter Cephas or a stone and the other two Boanerges sons of Thunder which was a token that Christ loved these more then the rest Yea among these Iohn was his bosome Favorite and therefore called often the Disciple whom Jesus loved Partly because he was in the whole course of his life more intimate with these
the Eyes of Beholders with a false Appearance as Magical Impostors or those Apish Imitators of Divine Glory as Herod Agrippa of whom we read Acts 12. 21 22 23. how he appeared in Royal State and made an Oration and they said the voice of a God and not of a Man Iosephus telleth us the manner how he sat in the Sun with glistering Garments of Cloath of Silver and when the Sun-beames did beat upon it the People cried him up as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as something higher and more excellent then a Mortal Creature No this was not a phantastical Representation but a real Impression of Divine Glory on the Body of Christ. 4. Although this appeared in the face chiefly as the most conspicuous part of the Body the Text saith his face did shine as the Sun yet more or less the other parts of his Body were cloathed with Majesty and Glory and thence was the splendor derived to his Garments 2. How his Body Transfigured differed from his glorified Body this must be stated also for Christ by his Transfiguration was not admitted into the fulness of the state of Glory but onely giveth some glimpse and resemblance of it These two Estates agree in the general Nature but some Clarity Glory and Majesty is put upon Christs glorified Body that was not now But the difference is 1. Partly in the degree and measure the Clarity and Majesty of Christs glorified Body is greater and more perfect Here is a Representation some Delineation but not a full exhibition of his Heavenly Glory 2. Partly in continuance and permanency this change was not perpetual but to endure for a short time onely for it ceased before they came down from the Mount 3. The subject or seat of this Glory differed the Body of Christ being then Corruptible and Mortal but now Incorruptible and Immortal If Christs Body had been Immortal and Impassible then Christ could not die 4. Here are Garments and a glorified Body shall have no other Garments than the Robes of Immortality and Glory in Heaven Christ shall be clothed with Light as with a Garment Secondly The Ends of it By this Transfiguration God would shew 1. What Christ was 2. What he should be And 3. Also what we shall be 1. What Christ was The Dignity of his Person and Office that he was the Eternal Son of God and the Mediator of the New Covenant the great Prophet whom God would raise up to his People 1. The Dignity of his Person was seen for the Transfiguration was a Ray of the Divine Glory It was not the Addition of any Glory to Christ which he had not before but a Manifestation of the Glory which he had though obscured under the Vail of our Flesh for the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily Col. 2. 9. And we beheld his glory as the glory of the onely begotten Son of God Ioh. 1. 14. But it is said 2 Pet. 1. 17. that he received from God the same Honour and Glory This is spoken of him as Mediator the glory of the Son of God Incarnate was so obscured for our sakes that he needed this Solemn Act to represent him to the World 2. His Office The great Prophet of the Church Hear ye him A greater Prophet then Moses Moses saw the Face of God but he was in the Bosom of God Moses his face shone but not as Christs for it could be hidden by a Vail Christ darts his glory through his Garments Moses his shining was Terrible Christs was Comfortable the Apostles were loth to lose the sight of it 2. To show what Christ should be for this was a pledge with what glory he should come in his Kingdom Matth. 16. 27. it prefigured the glory of his second coming Thus for the Confirmation of their Faith Christ would give his Disciples a glimpse of his Glory he knew they would be sorely assaulted and shaken by the Ignominy of his Cross. But what is all this to us we see not his Glory 1. What was once done and sufficiently Attested needs not to be repeated but it is a great satisfaction to us that we have a glorious head and chief when we suffer for him we need not be ashamed of our Sufferings the Apostles urge this concerning us as well as them 2. The immediate Manifestations of him who dwelleth in light inaccessible would undoe us while we are in our mortal Bodies Blessed be God that he hath chosen fit means to reveal himself to us that we may behold the glory of the Lord in a Glass 2 Cor. 3. 18. by the Ministry of the Word and other Ordinances The Israelites were sensible how little they could endure him who is as it were all Sun and all Light and all Fire Exod. 20. 18 19. Let not God speak to us least we dye Elijah wrapt his Face in a Mantle when God appeared unto him 2 Kings 19. 13. when Christ appeared to Paul from Heaven he trembled and was astonished and was three dayes without sight as you may see Acts 9. 9. there was a special Reason why an Apostle should see him in Person 3. We shall see this Glory when fit for it Ioh. 17. 24. Father I will that they whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me The Queen of Sheba took a long Journey to behold the glory of Solomon that was but a Temporal Fading and Earthly Glory Now much more Transcendent is the Glory of Christs Body in Heaven this we shall see to all Eternity 3. To shew what we shall be for Christ is the Pattern primum in unoquoque genere c. 1. It sheweth the possibility of our having a glorified Body When the Lord is pleased to let forth and communicate his Glory he is able to adorn and beautifie our Earthly and obscure bodies the body of man in its composition hath a great mixture of Earth which is dark and obscure Now God can make this clod of Earth to shine as the Star or Sun for brightness Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself We are apt to say How can it be if we consider the infinite and absolute power of God and this Instance of Christ it will make it more reconcilable to your thoughts and this hard point will be of easier digestion to your Faith 2. The certainty of it as well as the possibility for Christ assumed our body not for Passion only but for Glorification that therein he might be an instance and pattern to us For if the head be glorious so will the members also how base soever the people of God seem to be in this World yet in the Life to come they shall be wonderfully glorious Mark 13. 43. The Righteous shall shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their
to open a way to Heaven and Happiness this accomplisheth all that is necessary by way of Merit and Satisfaction Now what shall we learn from hence for surely such solemn actions of Christ were not in vain I. A notable Argument to confirm the Christian Faith namely the consent between the Law and the Prophets and Christ for Moses and Elias are all Christs Ministers and Servants agreeing in one with him and therefore appear at his Transfiguration where he is proclaimed to be the beloved Son of God and the great Doctor of the Church whom all are bound to hear under pain of Damnation I will prove two things First The Necessity of this Appearance both to the Iews and us Gentiles 1. To the Iews in that Age for there were three Opinions concerning Christ some had a blasphemous Opinion of him as if he were an Impostor and called him Samaritane and Devil so the chief Priests and Pharisees Matth. 27. 63. We remember that that Deceiver said while he was yet alive after three dayes I will rise again And Matth. 12. 24. This fellow doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils Generally they looked upon him as an Enemy to Moses Ioh. 9. 29. We know that God spake to Moses as for this fellow we know not whence he is Others had a more moderate Opinion who were alarum'd by his Miracles and convinced by his Holiness Mar. 6. 14 15 16. Some said it is Elias others said it is a Prophet Ieremias or one of the prophets but Herod said it is Iohn whom I beheaded who is risen from the dead and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him Herods Conscience could not digest Iohns Murder therefore he twice saith it is Iohn it must needs be Iohn The third Opinion was that of the Disciples Thou art the Christ the son of the living God Ioh. 6. 69. Now to set all at rights to confute the blasphemous Iews to rectifie the moderate Iews to confirm the Disciples here come Moses and Elias to justifie him they would not have owned him if a Blasphemer and Impostor nor have come from Heaven to honour him and do him homage if he had been an ordinary Prophet therefore they appear in Glory and talk with him of his Death 2. With respect to the Modern Iews and us Gentiles this Apparition was necessary to confirm us in the Faith both of Christs Person and Office that he was the great Teacher sent from Heaven to make known the way of Salvation to lapsed Mankind and Moses and Elias must be hereafter silent now the great Prophet and Doctor of the Church is brought forth and no other Revelation or Dispensation is to be expected or regarded now he is brought forth There is need that this should be sufficiently evidenced partly because Christ had the Law of Moses to repeal which was well known to the Iews to be Gods own Law or else they and every true Subject of God might refuse to obey him partly because he had a new Law to promulgate even the Law of Faith and Gospel Ordinances and so must manifest his Authority before they can be received and submitted unto with that firm Assent and Consent which is necessary partly because he himself was to be received and entertained as the Redeemer of the World who had Expiated our sins by his Decease at Ierusalem which was a new work yet Mans Salvation lay upon it And his Death there was Clouded with many Prejudices for they put him to death as a false Prophet guilty of Blasphemy and Sedition Therefore it needed to be made manifest that such a Man of Sorrows reckoned among Transgressors was the Saviour and Redeemer of the World Secondly The Sufficiency of this Evidence For if Moses and Elias appear in Glory to Countenance this Dispensation and declare their hearty Concurrence and Consent there is no Reason Iew or Gentile should scruple it if Moses the Lawgiver and Elias so zealous for the Law consent why should the Iew refuse the Gospel so agreeable to their Dispensation or the Gentiles question a Doctrine so long agoe manifested to the Church by God long before Christ and his Apostles were in being Those that lived in so many different Ages could not lay their Heads together to cheat the World with an untruth There is a double Argument may be drawn hence 1. The Matter of Fact Moses and Elias did appear to Witness their Consent Now this dependeth upon the Testimony of the Apostles present whose Testimony was by other means ratified and made valuable 2 Pet. 1. 16 17 18. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of his majesty For he received from God the father honour and glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased And this voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy mount 2. Their Consent in Doctrine which is obvious in all their Writings the Apostles related nothing concerning Christ but what Moses and the Prophets had foretold and what was History in the New Testament was Prophesie in the Old either as to the Person of Christ or as to his Kingdom the Duties and Priviledges thereof Ioh. 5. 39. Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal Life and they are them that testifie of me So Ver. 45 46 47. Do not think that I will accuse you to the father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust For had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me for he wrote of me But if ye believe not his writings how will ye believe my words The Old Testament beareth witness of Christs Person Natures Offices Birth Life Sufferings and the Glory that should ensue 2 Pet. 1. 19 20 21. We have also a more sure word of prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as to a light that shineth in a dark place till the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts Knowing this first that no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private Interpretation For the prophesie came not in old time by the will of men but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost The Apostles taught the same things the Prophets had written only applyed them to Jesus of Nazareth whom they had Crucified that they might know that he was Lord and Christ. The Heathens take notice that at that time when Christ appeared there was Vetus constans Fama Sueton. Ex antiquis sacerdotum libris Tacitus That their King Messiah should come USES 1. For Confutation of the Iews and to shew their obstinacy in not receiving Christ as the Messiah God had told Moses Deut. 18. 18. I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto thee and
because that God sent his onely begotten Son into the world that we might live by him That God should bestow his Son upon us to procure our salvation God tried Abraham's love in sacrificing his son but manifested his Love to us in sending his own Son he spared him not but delivered him up for us all Now that such a Remedy and Ransome is found out for us it should leave an Impression of Gods love on our Hearts that we may love him again who first loved us 1 Ioh. 4. 19. Think nothing too dear for God who thought no rate too dear to purchase our Life and Peace As our salvation was precious to him let his Glory be dear to us onely let me tell you this Love must not be confined to a bare act of our Reason but you must pray to God to shed abroad this love in your hearts by the Holy Spirit Rom. 5. 5. that so you may study to love and please God prize Christ and his precious Benefits above all things in the World and live to him who died for you that you may feel the constraining Efficacy and Force of Love SERMON VI. MATTH 17. 5. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Hear ye him 1. THe Design and Intent of this Scripture is to set forth the Lord Jesus as the great Mediator as appeareth 1. From the occasions upon which this Voice came from Heaven at his Baptisme which was Christs dedication of himself to the work of a Redeemer and Saviour and now at his Transfiguration to distinguish him from Moses and the other Prophets and publickly to instal him in the Mediatory Office 2. The matter of the words shew his fitness for this Office for here you have 1. His Dignity not a servant but a Son Heb. 3. 5 6. Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant but Christ as a son over his own house Now the old Prophesies foretold the Union of the two Natures in his Person and necessary it was that our Mediator should be God-Man There is a Congruity between his Person and Office one fit to be familiar with Man and naturally interessed in his Concerns and yet so high and near the Father as may put a sufficient value upon his Actions and so meet to Mediate with God for us 2. The Dearness between God and him my beloved son Christ is the Object of his Fathers love both as the second Person in the Trinity and Mediator The one is the ground of the other for because he loved him he intrusted him with souls Ioh. 3. 35. The father hath loved him and put all things into his hands the Elect and all things else all power that conduceth to their salvation Afterwards loved him as Mediator Ioh. 10. 17. Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life that I might take it again Now such a beloved Son is fittest to Mediate for us and to come upon a design of Love to demonstrate Gods great Love to wretched sinners and to be a pledge of that love which God will bestow upon us who are altogether so unworthy of it 3. His Acceptableness to God who is well-pleased with the Design the Terms the Management of it II. This work of Mediator Christ executeth by three Offices of King Priest Prophet For he is Head and Lord of the renewed state a Priest to offer a sacrifice for sin which having once offered he for ever represents in Heaven he was also to be Teacher of Mankind to acquaint us with the way of salvation These Offices are often alluded unto in Scripture Rev. 1. 5. The faithful witness the first begotten from the dead the prince of the kings of the earth So Heb. 1. 2 3. God hath spoken to us by his son he having by himself purged our sins sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high The effect of them is more briefly described Ioh. 4. 6. I am the way the truth and the life The way was opened by his Passion and is kept open by his Intercession Truth as a Prophet Life we have from him as Prince of Life or Head of the renewed Estate So the effects 1 Cor. 1. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Iesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness sanctification and redemption Wisdom as a Prophet to cure our Ignorance and Folly Righteousness and Sanctification as a Priest Redemption as the King and Captain of our Salvation The same Benefits which he purchaseth as a King he bestoweth as a Priest revealeth as a Prophet These three Offices were typed out by the First-born who were Heads of Families and also Prophets and Priests 3. That though all the three Offices be imployed yet the Prophetical Office is more explicitely mentioned partly as suiting with the present occasion which is to demonstrate that Christ hath sufficient authority to repeal the Law of Moses which the Prophets were to explain confirm and maintain till his coming But now Moses and Elias appear in Person to certifie their consent and God his Approbation from Heaven to that new Law of Grace which Christ should set up Partly because it is not necessary that in every place all the Offices should be mentioned sometimes but one as where Christ is called either King Priest or Prophet sometimes two together Heb. 3. 1. Prophetical Sacerdotal Consider the apostle and high priest of our profession Christ Iesus sometimes his Prophetical and Kingly Isa. 55. 4. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people and for a leader and commander to the people Partly because if Christ be received in this one Office he will be received in all the rest for as a Prophet he hath revealed that Doctrine which establisheth his Kingly and Priestly Office for he hath revealed all things necessary to salvation and therefore his own sacrifice and Regal Power Lastly some think all expresly mentioned here thus Christ is Gods beloved Son and therefore the Heir of all things and Lord and King in whom he is well pleased that is pacified and satisfied with his offering as a Priest or appeased by his compleat sacrifice Hear him as the great Prophet and Doctor of the Church This premised I come now to observe Doct. That Christ is appointed by God the Father to be the great Prophet and Teacher whose voice alone must be heard in the Church I. That Christ is the great Prophet and Teacher of the Church appeareth 1. By the Titles given to him he is compared with Moses the great Law-giver among the Iews The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of you like unto me unto him shall ye hearken Deut. 18. 15. He was to be like a Moses but greater than Moses a Lawgiver as he a man as he one that saw God Face to Face as he a Mediator as he but far other in all respects a better Law a more glorious Person a more
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of unrighteousness unto sin but yield your selves unto God as those that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God And Rom. 13. 12. Let us cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light Christs Baptism had the same general nature with ours not the same special nature the general nature is an engagement to God the special use of Baptism is to be a seal of the New Covenant or to be to us the Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of sins Now this Christ was not capable of he had no sin to be repented of or remitted but his Baptism was an engagement to the same military work to which we are ingaged He came into the World for that end and purpose to War against sin and satan he engageth as the General we as the common Souldiers He as the General 1 Iohn 3. 8. For this purpose the son of God was manifested 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he might destroy the works of the Devil His Baptism was the taking of the Field as General we undertake to fight under him in our rank and place 2. At this Baptismal engagement the Father had given him a testimony by a voice from Heaven this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and the Holy Ghost had descended upon him in the form of a Dove Mark 3. 16 17. Now presently after this he is set upon by the Tempter Thus many times the Children of God after solemn assurances of his love are exposed to great temptations Of this you may see an instance in Abraham Gen. 22. 1. And it came to pass after these things that God did tempt Abraham that is after he had assured Abraham that he was his shield and his exceeding great reward and given him so many renewed testimonies of his favour So Paul after his rapture lest he should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations there was given to him a thorn in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet him 2 Cor. 12. 7. So Heb. 10. 32. But call to remembrance the former days in which after ye were illuminated ye endured a great fight of afflictions i. e. after ye were fully convinced of the Christian Faith and furnished with those vertues and graces that belong to it Gods conduct is gentle and proportioned to our strength as Iacob drove as the little ones were able to bear it He never suffers his Castles to be besieged till they are victualled 3. Immediately before he entred upon his Prophetical Office Experience of temptation fits for the Ministry as Christs temptations prepared him to set a foot the Kingdom of God for the recovery of poor Souls out of their bondage into the liberty of the children of God verse 17. From that time Iesus began to preach and to say Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand Our state of innocency was our Health the grace of the Redeemer our Medicine Christ our Physician for the Devil had poisoned our humane Nature Therefore when he sets afoot his healing cure it was fit and congruous that he should experimentally feel the power of the tempter and in what manner he doth assault and endanger souls Christ also would shew us that Ministers should not only be men of Science but of Experience 4. The Place or Field where this combat was fought The Wilderness where were none but Wild Beasts Mark 1. 13. And he was there in the Wilderness forty days tempted of Satan and was with the wild beasts and the Angels ministred unto him Great question there is in what Wilderness Christ was their opinion is most probable who think it was the great Wilderness called The Desert of Arabia in which the Israelites wandred forty years and in which Elijah fasted fourty dayes and forty nights In this solitary place Satan tryed his utmost power against our Saviour This teacheth us 1. That Christ alone grapled with Satan having no fellow worker with him that we may know the strength of our Redeemer who is able himself to overcome the tempter without any assistance and to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. 2. That the Devil often abuseth our solitude It is good sometimes to be alone but then we need to be stocked with Holy Thoughts or employed in Holy exercises that we may be able to say as Christ Iohn 16. 32. I am not alone because the Father is with me Howsoever a state of retirement from humane converse if it be not necessary exposeth us to temptations But if we are cast upon it we must expect God's presence and help 3. That no place is priviledged from temptations unless we leave our hearts behind us David walking on the tarrass or house top was ensnared by Bathsheba's beauty 2 Sam. 11. 2 3 4. Lot that was chast in Sodom yet committed incest in the mountain where there were none but his own Family Gen. 19. 30 31 c. When we are locked in our closets we cannot shut out Satan II. The Reasons why Christ submitted to it 1. With respect to Adam that the parallel between the first and second Adam might be more exact They are often compared in Scriptures as Rom. 5. latter end and 1 Cor. 15. and we read Rom. 5. 14. that the first Adam was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the figure of him that was to come and as in other respects so in this in the same way we were destroyed by the first Adam in the same way were we restored by the second Christ recovereth and winneth that which Adam lost Our happiness was lost by the first Adam being overcome by the tempter so it must be recovered by the second Adam the tempter being overcome by him He that did conquer must first be conquered that sinners might be rescued from the captivity wherein he held them captive The first Adam being assaulted quickly after his entrance into Paradise was overcome and therefore must the second Adam overcome him assoon as he entred upon his office and that in a conflict hand to hand in that nature that was foiled The Devil must loose his Prisoners in the same way that he caught them Christ must do what Adam could not do The victory is gotten by a publick person in our nature before it can be gotten by each individual in his own person for so it was lost Adam lost the day before he had any off-spring so Christ winneth it in his own person before he doth solemnly begin to Preach the Gospel and call Disciples and therefore here was the great overthrow of the Adversary 2. In regard of Satan who by his conquest got a twofold power over man by tempting he got an interest in his heart to lead him captive at his will and pleasure 2 Tim. 2. 26. and he was made Gods executioner he got a power to punish him Heb. 2. 14. That through death he might
office it is to keep us in the way and to bring us into the place which Christ hath prepared for us he it is that must be obeyed by the people of God and pardon their transgressions in him is Gods Name for he will not communicate it to any other that is not of the same substance with himself God is in him and he in the Father and his name is Iehovah our Righteousness So Exod. 33. 14. My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest My presence that is my Angel spoken of before called the angel of his presence Isa. 63. 9. In all their affliction he was afflicted and the angel of his presence saved them This Angel is called Iehovah Exod. 13. 21. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud c. This Angel of Gods presence was no other than Jesus Christ the conductor of them in the Wilderness who safe-guarded them and secured them all the way from Egypt to Canaan And we Christians may also tempt Christ for the Apostle warneth us against it We tempt Christ now he is ascended into Heaven when we disobey his Lawes question his Authority doubt of his Promises after sufficient means of conviction that he is the Messias the Son of God grow weary of his Religion lothing spiritual Manna and begin to be glutted with the Gospel and are discouraged in the way to our heavenly Canaan whither we are travelling 3. The Holy Ghost is said also to be tempted Acts 5. 9. How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the spirit of the Lord Namely by their Hypocrisie and Dissimulation putting it to the trial whether he could discover them in their sin yea or no they had endeavoured as much as in them lay to deceive the Spirit by keeping back part of the price that is by that practice they would put it to the trial whether the Holy Ghost yea or no could find out that cheat and fallacy It is not barely to deceive the Apostle who was full of the Holy Ghost and had a discerning spirit though to them they brought their lye no saith the Apostle ye have not lyed unto men but unto God Ver. 4. and therefore they are said to tempt the Holy Ghost whether he could find them out or no though they had so many experiences of his care and respect to the Church and all affairs belonging thereunto and so the injury was done not to the Apostles but to the Holy Ghost himself Secondly The Act. What is this Tempting of God Temptation is the proving and making Trial of a Thing or Person what he is and what he will do Thus we tempt God when we put it to the Trial whether God will be as good as his Word and doubt of the cominatory and promissory part thereof or whether he will be such an one as he is taken to be Now this is lawful or unlawful according as the Trial is made humbly and dutifully or else proudly and sinfully whether God will do such a thing as we have prescribed him And again as the trial is made necessarily or unnecessarily sinfully we are said to tempt God when we make an unnecessary experiment of his Truth Goodness and Power and Care of us having had sufficient assurance of these things before 1. There is a tempting or proving of God in a way of Duty So we are bidden Malachi 3. 10. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in mine house and prove me now therewith saith the Lord of hosts if I will not open you the windowes of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it God there submitteth to a trial upon experience though we are to believe him upon his bare word yet he will have us to wait for the good things promised and in this sense it is said The word of the Lord is a tried word he is a buckler to all them that trust in him Psal. 18. 30. All those that build any hope upon it and wait to see what the Lord will do will find that God will stand to his Word This is a constant duty to observe Gods Truth and Faithfulness To suspend our belief till the event is distrust but to wait observing what God will do as to the event is an unquestionable Duty 2. There is an allowed trying of God in some cases I cannot say it is a Duty because it is only warrantable by Gods special indulgence and dispensation and I cannot say it is a sin because of Gods gracious condescension to his People Iudges 6. 39. And Gideon said unto God Let not thine anger be hot against me and I will speak but this once Let me prove I pray thee but this once with the fleece let it be now dry only upon the fleece and upon all the ground let there be dew The request was not of distrust and malice but of infirmity and from a weak Faith not out of Infidelity to tempt God but out of Humility being sensible of his own weakness he desired this help for the further confirmation of his Faith concerning his calling to this work as an Instrument authorized and the issue and success of it and also to assure others who followed him To this head I refer Thomas his proof and trial Ioh. 20. 25. Except I see in his hand the print of the nailes and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe Here was weakness in Thomas to suspend his Faith upon such a condition but an Apostle was to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Eye-witness of those things which were done especially of his Resurrection and therefore Christ meekly condescended to his request ver 27. Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing I put it among infirmities he alloweth him his trial of sense but with some rebuke To this head may be referred that of Hezekiah who when he was sick of a mortal disease and the Lord had extraordinarily promised him on his mourning that he should be recovered again he asks a sign for the confirmation of his Faith and God grants it him 2 Kings 20. 8 9. And the instance of Ahaz who when the Prophet bid him ask a sign he said Isa. 7. 12. I will not ask neither will I tempt the Lord. He believed nothing of what the Prophet had spoke and was resolved to go on in his way but he pretended a reverend and religious respect to God This kind of tempting God is tolerable being an act of condescension in God to the weakness of his People 3. There is a sinful Tempting of God and this is done two ways 1. Generally every Transgression in a general sense is a tempting of God Num. 14. 22. They have tempted me now these ten
they had so many convictions of Gods Power and Providence over them which should in reason have charmed them into a full and chearful resignation and dependance upon him they remembring the Flesh-pots in Egypt must have their luxuriant Appetites gratified and because they had not that Festival plenty which could not be expected in the Wilderness they reproached Moses for having brought them out of Egypt to dye in the Wilderness and now God must show them a Miracle not for the supply of their wants but to pamper and feed their lusts Psal. 78. 18 19. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust Yea they spake against God they said Can God furnish a table in the wilderness A Table must be prepared he must give them Festival diet in the Wilderness 6. It argues Impatiency Psal. 106. 13 14. They soon forgat his works they waited not for his counsel But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted God in the desert The word signifies they made haste took it ill they were not presently brought into that plenty that was promised Numb 20. 5. Wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt to bring us in unto this evil place it is no place of seed or of figs or of vines or of pomegranates neither is there any water to drink which was the plenty that was promised in the land of Canaan Thus they made hast were impatient of staying Gods time of giving them this inheritance and because they had it not presently they wished themselves back again in Egypt Tempting is because we cannot attend the performance of Gods promise in his own time They went out passionately in the pursuit of their plenty which they looked for and assoon as they discovered any difficulty conclude they were betrayed not waiting with patience Gods time when he should accomplish his promises made to them 7. The greatness of the sin is seen by the punishments of it One is mentioned 1 Cor. 10. 9. Neither let us tempt Christ as some of them also tempted and were destroyed of serpents They were bitten of Serpents because they tempted God and murmured because of the length of the way that they could not get presently into Canaan And the Apostle tells us that all the things which happened to Israel of old happened to them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as patterns of Providence A people might easily read their own doom and destiny if they would blow off the dust from the Ancient Providences of God and observe what proofs and characters of his Justice Wisdom and Truth are engraven there The desert of sin is still the same and the exactness of Divine Justice is still the same and therefore what hath been is a pledge and document of what may be if we fall into like Crimes God is impartially and immutably just he is but one Gal. 3. 20. God is one alwayes Consonant unto himself and doth like unto himself his Power is the same so is his Justice Even the historical part of the Word is a kind of Prophesie not only a Register and Chronicle of what is past but a kind of Calendar and Prognostication of what is to come As other Histories in Scripture are left upon record for our Learning so especially the History of Israel's passage through the Wilderness unto Canaan USE Let us not tempt God in any of the kinds mentioned 1. Not by requiring new grounds of Faith when God hath given sufficient already not by cherishing Scepticisme and Irresolution in point of Religion till new Nuncios come from Heaven with a power to work Miracles and to be endowed with extraordinary Gifts as the seekers do Many waver in Religion would fain see an Apparition and have some extraordinary satisfaction which God would not give them upon every trifling occasion The Pharisees must have a fign from Heaven The Papists would have the Protestant Teachers shew their Commission by Miracles The Iews would believe if Christ came down from the Cross. To suspend our Faith till God give us our own terms is to tempt God and to disposses you of this conceit consider 1. Signs and Wonders done in one Age and Time for the confirmation of the true Religion should suffice all Ages and Times afterward and it is a tempting God to ask more signs and wonders for the confirmation of that Truth which is sufficiently confirmed already if there be a good and safe Tradition of these things to us The giving of the Law was attended with thunderings and lightnings and the sound of a terrible Trumpet Exod. 19. by which means the Law was Authorized and owned as proceeding from God Now it was not needful this should be repeated in every Age as long as a certain Report and Records of it might convey it to their Ears In the setting up a new Law signs and wonders are necessary to declare it to be of God but when the Church is in the possession of it these cease So in the Christian Church when the Gospel was first set on foot it was then confirmed with signs and wonders but now they are unnecessary See the Law and Gospel compared Heb. 2. 2 3 4. For if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost according to his own will 2. If you had lived in the Age of signs and wonders there were hard hearts then unbelievers then and blasphemers then and tempters of God then Psal. 78. 22 23 24. Because they believed not in God and trusted not in his salvation Though he had commanded the clouds from above and opened the doors of heaven And had rained manna upon them to eat and had given them of the corn of heaven c. to Ver. 32. For all this they sinned still and believed not for his wondrous works Extraordinary works will not work upon them upon whom ordinary works will not prevail Object But for them that have to do with the conversion of Indians and remote parts of the World is it a tempting of God to ask the gift of Miracles Answ. I cannot say so God may be humbly sought unto about direction in the Gifts of Tongues and Healing being so necessary for the Instruments imployed as well as the conviction of the Nations I dare not determine any thing in the case but I am satisfied with Acostus his Reasons why Miracles are not afforded by God now as well as in the primitive times Then simple and unlearned men were sent to preach Christianity among the Nations where many were armed and instructed against it with all kind of Learning and Philosophy But now learned men are sent to the
future state of his Friend so Acts 8. 14. Peter and Iohn go to Samaria to confirm the Disciples See Iohn 18. 15. And Simon Peter followed Iesus and so did another Disciple and that other Disciple was known unto the High Priest meaning himself so that in these and other places you still find Peter and Iohn together as very near and fast Friends they alwayes keep together possibly for spiritual assistance for Peter was of an hot temper Iohn the Disciple of Love Peter hasty and of a Military valour Iohn all for lenity and peace Well then though we ought to seek peace with all men as much as is possible Rom. 12. 18. and there should be special concord and Communion with all Christians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 riseth higher then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. 7. Yet Friendship and inward conversation should only be with a few such as may be helps to us in godliness and may promote our mutual good Temporal and Spiritual So did Christ who had twelve Disciples single out three of them for greatest intimacy and so did Peter who though he had eleven Collegues and held concord with all yet his intimate Friendship was with Iohn the Disciple whom Jesus loved It is good to hold Friendship with those who are beloved of God and one who by his love and lenity might cool his heats and abate his hasty fervours which were so natural to him Now having so fair an occasion I shall treat of spiritual Friendship for an heavenly faithful Friend is one of the greatest treasures upon Earth A Friend is valuable in secular matters much more a spiritual Friend Prov. 27. 17. As Iron sharpneth Iron so doth the countenance of a man his Friend that is when he is dull his Friend setteth an edge upon him 1. Friendship is necessary for every one that would live in the World because man is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sociable Creature Man was not made to live alone but in Company with others for mutual Society and Friendship and they that fly all Company and live to and by themselves are counted inhumane Eccles. 4. 9 10 11 12. Two are better then one for if they fall the one will lift up his fellow but wo to him that is alone when he falleth for he hath not another to lift him up Again if two lye together they have heat but how can one be warm if he lye alone And if one prevail against him two shall withstand him Thus far Solomon The Egyptians in their Hieroglyphicks expressed the unprofitableness of a solitary man by a single Milstone which alone grindeth no Meal but with its fellow is very serviceable for that purpose The Lord appointed mankind to live in Society that they might be mutually helpful to one another Surely God never made them to live in Desarts the wild Beasts love to go alone but the tame in Flocks and Herds The Lord doth give variety of gifts to the sons of men to all some but to none all that one might stand in need of another and make use of one another and the subordination of one gift to another is the great means of upholding the World Man is weak and insufficient to himself and wanting the help of others needeth Society and is inclined to it by the bent of his Nature 2. Though Man affecteth Society yet in our Company we must use choice and the good must converse with the good for these Reasons 1. Partly because like doth best sort with like Friendship is founded in sutableness and maintained by it eadem velle nolle to will and nill the same things breedeth an harmony of minds the Godly will have special love to the godly and they that Fear God will be Companions of them that fear him Psalm 119. 63. they must needs be more dear and precious to them then others as a wicked man easily smelleth out a fit Companion for him Psalm 50. 18. When thou sawest a Thief then thou consentedst with him and hast been partaker with Adulterers like will to like every man sheweth his temper in his Company The Fowls of Heaven flock together according to their several kinds ye shall not see Doves flocking with the Ravens nor divers kinds intermixed Men that delight in Excess of Drink choose Company sutable to their brutish humour Those that delight in Gaming choose such as make no Conscience of their time or have no care of their Souls That which every one is taken withal he loveth to do with his Friends therefore they that love God delight in those that love him those that are most apt to stir them up to the Remembrance of Everlasting things and the Preparation necessary so they are of singular use to us 2. If they be not like to us Intimacy and Converse will make us like to them Every Man is wrought upon by his Company we imitate those whom we love and with whom we frequently converse Prov. 13. 20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a Companion of fools shall be destroyed As a man that walketh in the Sun is tanned insensibly so if we are not aware we adopt their Manners and Customes and get a Tincture from them especially in Evil for we are more susceptible of Evil then of Good As the sound get a Sickness from the diseased sooner than the sick get Health from the sound Or in the Types of the Law that which was clean by touching the unclean became unclean but the unclean were not purified by touching the clean Prov. 22. 24 25. Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou shalt not go left thou learn his wayes and get a snare to thy soul. A Man would think that of all sins Wrath and Anger should not be propagated by Converse the Motions and Furies of it being so uncomely and undecent to any beholder yet secretly a liking of the Person breedeth a liking of the Sin and a man is habituated into such a frame of Spirit as they have whom he hath chosen for his Companions Now this should be regarded by us because we are sooner made Evil by Evil Company than Good by Good Company therefore how careful should we be to converse with such as may go before us as Examples of Godliness and provoke us by their Strictness Heavenly-mindedness Mortification and Self-denial to more Love to God Zeal for his Glory and Care of our own Salvation Especially doth this concern the young who by the weakness of their Judgment or the vehemency of their Affections and want of Experience may easily be drawn into a Snare 3. Because our Love to God should put us upon loving his People and making them our Intimates for Religion influenceth all things our Relations common Imployments Friendship and Converse 1 Ioh. 5. 1. Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him The New Nature inclineth to both there is an inward Propension
censure of the Holy Ghost Luke saith not knowing what he said In Mark chap. 9. 6. He wist not what to say for they were sore afraid They were words of a man in a Rapture or surprized with great astonishment There were two affections dazled with the Majesty of this Glory and transported with joy there was also a great fright usually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such things as bring a hurt occasion fear and also things of excellent Glory such as surpass our present meanness as here the change of Christs Person and the glorious Appearance of the great Prophets so long since separated from the commerce of mankind Observe before we proceed the inconvenience of great and excessive Passions they make us speak we know not what Peter is an instance in Scripture let us keep to him you see him surprized with a great passion of fear when at Christs command a great draught of Fish came to hand in an unlikely time Luke 5. 8 9. Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord. For he was astonished and all that were with him at the draught of Fishes that they had taken you find him at other times transported with a passion of excessive Reverence or Humility Iohn 13. 8. Lord thou shalt never wash my feet With a passion of Love or Pity to his Master Lord let it be far from thee this shall not be unto thee when his Master had foretold his death Mark 16. 22. in case of contempt of Christ here with a passion of joy or ravishment or transport of soul Lord it is good for us to be here Now all these passions were religiously exercised but it is dangerous when Religion which should bridle and govern our passions is made the matter and fuel of them Passionate joy or passionate fear passionate reverence or passionate zeal and anger may easily transport us to some uncomely action or motion for though in all these there was Religion at top yet sin at the bottom and therefore you see how much it concerneth us to moderate and reduce our selves to a due temper for passion causeth us to do things without and against reason yea to speak and do we know not what and when Religious matters over heat our affections we may erre exceedingly Now having opened this part of the History let us observe something that conduceth to our practical instruction I. Doctrine That the state and condition of the glorified Saints is a most delightful state and condition For when Peter had but a glimpse of it in the transfiguration of Christ it seemed so ravishing and transporting that here would he abide and stay by it so was he affected with joy in the company and presence of Christ and Moses and Elias appearing with him that all his natural comforts and relations were forgotten This would compensate all if once we be gotten into this blessed estate we shall never desire to come out of it and part with it this which the Disciples had was but a little glimpse and tast of the Life to come this must needs be so it is called joy Mat. 25. 21. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord and fulness of joy Psal. 16. 11. In thy presence there is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore no better estate can be expected The Soul is at rest as having obtained its end And it is also proved by the priviledges and benefits the Saints shall enjoy in the world to come 1. A Freedom from all Evil which here are matter of Grief to us And 2. The Fruition of all Good which may any way bring Ioy and Delight and Contentment 1. There is a Freedom from all Evil. There is a twofold evil either of Sin or Punishment In Heaven there is neither Sin nor Misery 1. To begin with sin that is the worst evil because it maketh us hateful to God and grieveth the Saints most Rom. 7. 24. Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this Death If any man had cause to complain of Afflictions Paul much more being often imprisoned whipped stoned but his lusts troubled him more then scourges and his captivity to the Law of sin more then Prisons Gods children are most weary of the World because they are sinning here whilst others are glorifying of God and enjoying God and the company of his blessed Ones Now in Heaven there is no sin Eph. 5. 27. there is neither spot nor blemish nor wrinkle on the face of the glorified Saints their faces were once as black as yours But now they are washed in the Lambs blood and fully cleansed now with much ado we mortifie sin but then it is nullified but if we subdue the power of sin we do not get rid of the being of it but then we are rid of all at once of all sin and temptation to sin There was a Serpent a tempter in Paradise but there is none in Heaven the devil is shut out and the old man is left in the Grave never to rise more 2. There is not the least evil of Affliction Rev. 21. 4. All tears shall be wiped away from their eyes whatsoever is painful and burdensome to nature is a fruit of sin a brand and mark of our Rebellion against God Therefore when sin is done away Affliction which is the fruit of it is done away also In Hell there is Evil and onely Evil in Heaven Happiness and onely Happiness here our wounds are healed but the scars remain something to put us in mind that we have sin yet dwelling in us but there all the effects of it cease there is neither death nor sorrow nor crying nor any more pain 2. They shall enjoy all Good things which shall bring Joy and Comfort to them in blessedness there is a confluence of all Good our joyes are full and eternal 1. There is the immediate sight and presence of God and Jesus Christ who shall be all in all to them 1 Cor. 13. 12. Now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part then shall I know as also I am known And John 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovest me before the foundation of the World We are brought into the presence of him who is blessedness it self 2. The society of all the blessed Angels and Saints glorified Mat. 8. 11. Many shall come from the East and West and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob in the Kingdom of Heaven 3. The perfection of all Heavenly gifts both in soul and body 1. In Soul that is the Heaven of Heaven 1 Iohn 3. 2. Now are we the sons of God but it doth not yet appear what we shall be but this we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him
sense and the conceits of the sufferer When we are but newly under the affliction we feel the smart but do not presently find the benefit but within a while especially in the review it is good for me It is matter of Faith under the Affliction it is matter of Sense afterwards Gods Physick must have time to work That which is not good may be good though it be not good in its Nature it may be good in its Use and though for the present we see it not we shall see it Therefore good is not to be determined by Feeling but by Faith The Rod is a sore thing for the present but the bitter Root will yield sweet Fruit. If we come to a Person under the Cross and ask him What is it good to feel the lashes of Gods correcting hand to be kept poor sickly exercised with losses and reproaches to part with Friends and Relations to lose a beloved Child he would be apt to Answer No. But this poor Creature after he hath been exercised and mortified and gotten some renewed Evidences of Gods Favour ask him then Is it good to be afflicted Oh yes I had been Vain Neglectful of God wanted such an Experience of the Lords Grace Faith should determine the case when we feel it not Well then Let us learn to distinguish between what is really best for us and what we judge to be best Other Diet is more wholesome for our Souls than that which our sickly Appetite craveth It is best many times when we are weakest worst when strongest all things are good as they help on a blessed Eternity so sharp afflictions are good That part of the World that is governed by sense will never yield to this You cannot convince a Covetous Man that the loss of an Estate is good or a worldly rich man that Poverty is good or an Ambitious man that it is good to be despised and contemned or a sensual Voluptuous Man that it is good to be in Pains that the Body be afflicted for the good of the Soul they will never believe you But those that measure all things by Eternity they know that Poverty makes way for the true Riches and Ignominy for the true Glory Want for fulness of Pleasures and Misery mortifies Sin SERMON V. MATTH 17. 5. While he yet spake behold a bright Cloud overshadowed him and behold a voice out of the Cloud which said This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him IN this branch of the story two things are remarkable and there is a Behold prefixed before either of them to excite our Attention First they see a bright Cloud and then they hear a voice out of the Cloud First Of the Cloud and while he yet spake behold a bright cloud overshadowed them it was not a dark cloud as upon Mount Sinai when God gave the Law but a bright one yet not so bright and lightsome but that it was mixt with some obscurity It was no natural and ordinary cloud such as are commonly engendred in the air above us but extraordinary and supernatural created by God for this occasion The use of it was double 1. To convey Moses and Elias out of their sight when this conference was ended therefore some expound that which is said Luke 9. 34. They feared as they entred into the Cloud after this manner the Disciples feared when they saw Moses and Elias entring into the Cloud that is involved and covered in it It is said of Jesus Christ himself when he ascended into Heaven Acts 1. 9. A cloud received him out of their sight 2. To be a token of the extraordinary presence of God whose voice immediately came out of the cloud as also to vail the glory thereof which was best done by a Cloud a thing of a middle nature between terrestrial and Celestial bodies When Solomon builded the Temple the Lord shewed his special presence thereby filling the House with a Cloud 1 Kings 8. 10. This way of Apparition God useth to moderate the splendor of his excellent Glory We are not able to behold God as he is and must not pry into his Glory there is a Cloud and vail upon it Secondly They heard a Voice and behold a voice out of the Cloud which said this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him 1. Observe That there was a voice distinctly and audibly heard Though God did sensibly now manifest his presence in the Mount with Christ and did audibly speak to them yet he did not appear in any distinct form and shape either of man or any other living Creature but all was done by a voice out of the cloud so Deut. 4. 12. Ye heard the voice of the words but saw no similitude and verse 15. take good heed to your selves for ye saw no similitude in the day that the Lord spake to you in Horeb least ye corrupt your selves and make to you any graven Image The similitude of any figure c. The voice of God may with less danger come to us then any sight or representation of him 2. The matter or what this voice said This is my beloved Son hear ye him By this voice there is 1. A Testimony given to Christ. 2. A command to hear him Or 1. The dignity of Christ he is the beloved Son of God in whom he is well pleased 2. A suitable respect bespoken for him The words are few but yet contain the sum of the whole Gospel and they are spoken not by a Man nor by an Angel but by the Lord himself and therefore they should be entertained with the more reverence The Apostle Peter who was one of the parties present could never forget this Testimony of the Father concerning his Son Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 17. He received from the Father Honour and Glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and besides what Christ speaketh of another voice from Heaven is true of this Iohn 12. 30. This voice came not because of me but for your sakes not so much to encourage him in his suffering as to our edification and instruction All the testimonies given unto Christ from Heaven tended to point him out to sinners as the true Messiah approved and accepted of God therefore these words should ever be in our minds especially when we draw nigh to God in solemn duties I shall begin with the Dignity Honour and Glory of Christ solemnly declared from Heaven there are three things in it 1. The Relation between him and the Father He is a Son 2. The dearness of that Relation His beloved Son 3. The complacential satisfaction which he taketh in him and the price of our Redemption paid by him in whom I am well pleased Doctrine That it is the main and principal point of the Gospel and of great necessity to be known and believed to Salvation that Iesus
thou hast loved me and ver 26. That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them that is by the gift of the Spirit and Everlasting Glory Though Christ was the beloved Son yet his state was but mean and despicable in the world he was afflicted a man of sorrows pursued to the Death even a shameful painful accursed Death yet all this while he was full of the Holy Ghost of his Graces Comforts and afterwards received to Glory and so will he love us At this rate and Tenour his love bindeth him not to give us worldly greatness but if we have the Spirit and may be welcomed to Heaven at the last we have that which is the true discovery of Gods Love So he manifested his Love to the onely begotten Son and therefore the adopted children should be contented with this Love if by the Spirit they may be inabled to continue with Patience in well-doing till they receive Eternal Glory and Happiness 3. The next thing is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in whom I am well pleased This is to be interpreted of Christ as Mediator or God Incarnate for this was twice spoken at Christs Baptisme Mar. 3. 17. and now at his Transfiguration both imply his Mediatorship For his Baptisme had the notion of a Dedication he did then present himself to God as a Mediator for us to be the Servant of his Decree as we in Baptisme dedicate our selves to fulfil the Precepts which belong to us and as we are concerned to promote his Glory in the World Christ presented himself as a Mediator that is as a Prophet to acquaint us with the way of Salvation as a Priest to pay a perfect Ransom for us as a King to give us all things and defend and maintain all those who submit to his Government till their Glory be perfected and they attain unto their final Estate of Bliss and Happiness Now then God from Heaven declared himself well pleased and now again when Christ had made some Progress in the Work confirmeth it for the assurance of the World This then must be Interpreted 1. As to Christ. 2. As to those who have benefit by him and interest in him 1. As to Christ. He was well-pleased Partly as to the Design the Reparation of Lost Mankind Partly as to the Terms by which it should be brought about Partly as to the Execution and Management of it by Christ. 1. As to the Design God was well-pleased that lapsed Mankind should be restored at the first God was pleased with his Creation Exod. 31. 17. on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed that is recreated in the View of his Works as the effects of his Wisdom Power and Goodness And Psal. 104. 31. The Lord shall rejoyce in his works The Lord saw all to be good in the beginning and working not to be repented of This was Gods Rest and Sabbath to take delight in his Works When he looked on it altogether behold it was exceeding good but afterwards Man the ungrateful part of the Creation though the Masterpiece of it in this visible and lower world fell from God his Creator and preferred the Creature before him to his Loss and Ruine then God was so far displeased that he had Reason to wish the destruction of Mankind it is said Gen. 6. 6. That it repented God that he had made man That is he was displeased with us estranged from us no more contented with us than a man is in what he repenteth of For properly God cannot repent but this is an Expression to show how odious we were grown to him Psal. 14. 2 3. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and did seek after God They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Alas there is a lamentable appearance of Mankind to Gods sight now nothing good to be found in them an universal Defection both in Piety and Humanity But then Christ undertook the Reparation of Mankind and the Design was pleasing to God that he might not lose the glory of his Creation and all flesh be utterly destroyed Col. 1. 19 20. It pleased the father that in him should all fulness dwell and having made peace through the blood of his cross by him to reconcile all things to himself The restoring of fallen Man to Friendship with God and all things tending to it were highly pleasing to God namely that Jesus Christ the second Person in the Trinity should become a Mediator for that end he had a great Affection and liking to this thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is the same word used here the thing is highly pleasing to God that the Breach should be made up that man who had lost the Image Favour and Fellowship with God should be again restored by renewing his Heart reconciling his Person and admitting him again into Communion with God who was was so justly provoked by him God stood in no need of our Friendship nor could any loss come to him by our Hatred and Enmity onely it pleased the Father to take this way Isa. 53. 10. For it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his dayes and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands 2. He is pleased with the Terms God who is the Supream Governour of the world and the offended Party stood upon these Terms that the Honour of his governing Justice should be secured and the Repentance and Reformation of man carried on Strictly these must be done or else man must lye under his Eternal Displeasure if one be done and not the other no Reconciliation can ensue Now that God is highly pleased with the satisfaction and compensation made to his governing Justice Heb. 10. 6 7. In burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast no pleasure Then said I lo I come to do thy will O God Ver. 10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all God rejected all other sacrifices but was fully satisfied with this as enough to expiate the sin of Man Christ delighted to give it and God delighted to accept of it He paid a perfect ransom for us besides or above which he craved no more but rested fully content in it for the other the Renovation of Mans Nature to put him into a capacity to serve and please God for God would not admit us to Priviledges without change of heart and disposition Acts 5. 31. God exalted him to be a prince and saviour to give repentance and remission of sins In short God is so satisfied with these Terms that 1. He seeketh no farther amends for all their wrongs Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past 2. No farther price for what they need 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Ye are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without spot and blemish The repentance of a sinner is pleasing to him there is Joy in Heaven Luke 15. 7. Ioy in the presence of the angels over one sinner that is converted A Feast was made at the return of the Prodigal As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner Our Conversion is more pleasing to God than our Destruction 3. He is pleased with the Execution and Management of it by Christ he carried himself in the office of the Mediator according to what was injoyned him Ioh. 8. 29. I do alwayes the things that please him Ioh. 5. 30. I can of my self do nothing as I hear I judge and my Iudgment is just because I seek not my will but the will of the father which sent me And did finish all that was necessary for the Redemption of the Elect before he died Ioh. 19. 30. When Iesus had received the vinegar he said It is finished and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost Evidences of this are his Resurrection from the dead Act. 5. 30 31. The God of our fathers raised up Iesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins Heb. 13. 20. The God of peace brought again the Lord Iesus from the dead through the blood of the everlasting covenant As pacified in Christ received into glory 1 Tim. 3. 16. Certainly God is well pleased since he hath given not onely a Discharge but a Reward The gift of the Spirit for renewing the heart of man which is the great pledge of Gods being satisfied Ioh. 7. 39. This he spake of the spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Iesus was not yet glorified a sure evidence that our ransom is paid Acts 5. 32. And we are his witnesses of these things and so is the holy Ghost which he hath given to them that obey him A Sacrifice of infinite value and esteem 2. That he is well-pleased with us who have an Interest in him In our natural Estate we are all displeasing unto God whatever we are in the purpose of his decree we must look upon our selves as we are in the Sentence of his Law so children of wrath Eph. 2. 3. Enemies by our minds in evil works Col. 1. 21. Estranged from the womb Psal. 58. 3. so that all of us were cut off from the Favour of God obnoxious to his wrath this is our miserable Condition by Nature that we were no way pleasing to him for without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. A sinner as a sinner can do nothing acceptable indeed God having found a Ransom is placabilis but not placatus not actually reconciled to us till we are in Christ and he is placandus antequam placendus to be appeased before he can be pleased he is not actually reconciled till we are in Christ. 2. Awakened sinners are not easily satisfied so as to look upon themselves as pleasing unto God for the Conscience of Sin is not easily laid aside nor is the stain soon got out And though the grant be passed in Heaven yet we have not the sense of it in our own hearts for it is the Blood of Christ can onely do it Heb. 9. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the living God The Carnal offer thousands of Rams and Rivers of Oyl and the fruit of the body for the sin of their soul Mic. 6. 6 7. They would give any thing for a sufficient sin-offering yea the renewed and pardoned have not so firm a peace as to be able always to look upon themselves in a state of well-pleasing therefore often beg that God would dissipate the Cloudes and cause the Light of his Countenance to break forth upon them Psal. 80. 19. Turn us Oh Lord God of Hosts cause thy face to shine and we shall be saved So that when there is a grant of Pardon and Peace and Access to God we have not alwayes the sense 3. Yet the Ground is laid assoon as we have an Interest in Christ God is well pleased with us if you consent to his Mediation and take him in his three Offices as a Prophet Priest and King As a Prophet hear him the business is put out of all Question that God will love you because he loved Christ. When you depend on him as a Priest you have Reconciliation and Access to God Rom. 5. 1 2. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom also we have access by faith into the grace wherein we stand When you subject your selves to him as a King Col. 1. 13. He hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son Christ is dear to God and to him all the Subjects of his Kingdom are dear also So that if you will be more explicite in your Duty you may be more explicite in your Comforts if you will receive his Doctrine so as it may have Authority over your Hearts if in the Anguish of your Souls you will depend on the Merit of his Sacrifice and give up your selves to live in a constant Obedience to his Laws You will find him to be a dear Son indeed one very acceptable with God for you also will be accepted with him for his sake II. Concerning the weight and importance of this Truth 1. It is propounded as the Foundation upon which God will build his Church Mat. 16. 16 17 18. And Simon Peter answered and said thou art Christ the Son of the living God And Iesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Barjona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my father which is in heaven And I say unto thee That thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it 2. It is the question put to those that would enter upon Christianity Acts 8. 37. If thou believest with all thy heart thou maist and he answered and said I believe that Iesus is the son of God When they were serious in the Profession that was enough 1 Ioh. 5. 1. Whosoever believeth that Iesus is the Christ is born of God 3. This engaged the hearts of the Disciples to tarry with him when others murmured at his Doctrine He that cleaveth to this Profession carrieth himself accordingly whatever Temptations he hath to the contrary we believe and are sure that thou art
Their Comfortable and Gracious recovery by Christ verse 7. 3. The Event and Issue of all verse 8. 1. Their Astonishment they fell on their faces and were sore afraid their falling on their faces was not out of Worship and Reverence but consternation as those Iohn 18. 6. As soon as he said to them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground The causes of their fear must be enquired into These were holy men the flower of Christs Disciples they were men in an holy action for Belshazar in his cups to tremble were no news they were not in the presence of an angry God it was a Gospel-voice that they heard This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him They had not a full dispensation of his glory but only a glimpse of it and that under a cloud and revealed in Mercy yet they were sore afraid Upon any Visions and Apparitions of the divine Majesty Gods Servants fell to the Earth Ezek. 1. 28. When I saw the appearance of the likeness of the Glory of God I fell on my face Paul when Christ appeared to him from Heaven he fell to the Earth Acts 9. 4. Rev. 1. 17. When I saw him I fell at his feet as dead Abraham was cast into great horrour Gen. 15. 12. when God appeared solemnly to enter into Covenant with him So Isa. 6. 5. Then I said wo is me for I am undone So Daniel chap. 10. 8. 9. When I saw this great vision there was no strength in me for my comeliness was turned into corruption and I retained no strength yet I heard the voice of his words then was I in a deep sleep upon my face and my face was towards the ground Now I shall give the special reasons why the manifestation and appearance of God to his great Prophets did breed this astonishment and Fear 2. What general Note and Observation may be concluded hence for our profit 1. The special Reasons why these manifestations and appearances of God to his great Prophets do breed this astonishment and fear they are Two 1. To humble them to whom he vouchsafed so great a favour To humble them least the Glory of these heavenly Visions should too much puff them up Therefore there was ever some weakness discovered in those that did receive them Iacob wrestled with God but came off halting and maimed though he prevailed Gen 32. 31. when he came off from seeing God face to face he halted on his thigh Paul was wrapt into the third Heaven yet presently buffetted with a messenger of Satan least he should be lifted up with the abundance of Revelations 2 Cor. 12. 7. Corruption remaineth in us and we are not able to bear these favours which God manifesteth to his choice Servants and therefore there is something to humble them in the dispensation and to keep them from being puffed up with pride something that is a ballance to the great honour wherewith God hath honoured them 2. All those that received Visions from him to teach his people God would season them by leaving a stamp and impression of his excellency upon them This was the preparation of the Prophets and a preparation of the Disciples to fit them for the work of the Gospel A due representation of Gods glory and excellent Majesty doth qualifie them for their duty they are fittest to carry Gods message and describe him to others who are thus qualified and prepared and have some reverence and awe of God impressed upon their own hearts and have felt the power of his great Majesty 2 Cor. 5. 16. Knowing the terrors of the Lord we perswade men The General Conclusion and Observation which we may draw from thence is this Doctrine That God is of such glorious Excellency and Majesty that we are not able to bear any emissions or extraordinary Representations thereof in this state of frailty 1. I will prove that God is a great God and of glorious Majesty 2. Give you the Reasons why we are not able to bear the extraordinary manifestations thereof in this state of frailty 1. That God is a God of great Majesty and ought to be reverenced by all that have to do with him The point being a matter of sense and evident by natural light needeth not to be proved so much as improved 1. Scripture representeth him as such Dan. 9. 4. He is called the great and dreadful God so Deut. 7. 21. A Mighty God and terrible and Nahum 1. 5. A great and terrible God is he and again Job 37. 22. With God is terrible Majesty 2. This eminently shineth forth both in his Works of Creation and Providence 1. Creation in the stupendious Fabrick of the Heavens Ier. 32. 17 18 19. Ah Lord God behold thou hast made the Heaven and the Earth by thy great power and outstretched arm and there is nothing too hard for thee c. In that mighty Collection of Waters in the Sea we cannot look upon that vast expansion of the Firmament that huge body of Waters in the Sea without some religious horrour what is the God that made all this Ier. 5. 22. Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not tremble at my presence which have placed the Sand for a bound to the Sea by a perpetual decree that it cannot pass it and though the waves thereof toss themselves yet can they not prevail though they roar yet can they not pass over it 2. Providence whether in his way of Mercy or Judgment Mercy what a Majestick description of God is there Ps. 50. 1 2 3 4 5. yet there his presence in his Church is described The drift of the Psalm is to set forth Gods Power and Majesty when he comes to call the Gentiles and to set up the Evangelical way of his Worship when the light of the Gospel shall shine forth from Sion Psalm 5. 5. by terrible things in Righteousness wilt thou answer us Oh God thou God of our Salvation Though God is a God of Salvation yet the way of his delivering them carryeth Majesty and Terror with it So his Works of Judgment Psal. 119. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Iudgments when the wicked of the Earth are put away like dross A Lyon trembleth to see a Dog beaten before him and it is imputed as a fault to the wicked that they do not take notice of it Isa. 26. 10. They will not behold the Majesty of God 3. His Greatness and Majesty is such that we cannot comprehend it Iob 36. 26. Behold God is great and we know him not nor can the number of his years be searched out The Greatness of God cannot be known but only by way of Negation that he hath none of those infirmities which may lessen his being in our thoughts or by way of comparison that he is above all God is greater then man Ier. 36. 12. 4. So great that he is fain to put a covering
on to enterpose the Clouds between us and him for we are not able to bear his glorious and majestick presence Ioh 26. 9. He holdeth back the face of his Throne and spreadeth his Cloud upon it What would become of us if he should discover all his Glory this is his condescension to the lower World to appear under a vail and cover his Throne with Clouds But though we do not know his full Majesty yet there is enough discovered both to Faith Reason and Sense that God is great and glorious both in himself and in all his Works Scripture declareth it to Faith and Reason will soon subscribe to so evident a Truth that he that made and sustaineth all things must needs be a great God What other conceptions can we form of him when we look to the Heaven and this Earth which he sustaineth by his great Power and he declareth himself to Sense by his dayly Providence to be a God of great Majesty The proof of it needeth not so much to be spoke to as the improvement of it which we are called upon for every where 1. It is a Mercy that being so great he taketh notice of us Psal. 8. 3 4. When I consider thy Heavens the work of thy Fingers the Moon and Stars which thou hast ordained what is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of Man that thou visitest him When we consider how the Majesty of God shineth forth in the heavenly Bodies and those many glorious Creatures God hath made besides us we may wonder that God should esteem of man and take care of man and be so solicitous about mans welfare who was formed at first out of so vile materials as the dust of the Earth and is still of so very frail infirm and mortal condition and hath carryed himself so unthankfully to God that he should take care of him above his whole Creation Psalm 113. 6 7. The Lord our God dwelleth on high who humbleth himself to behold the things in Heaven and Earth That the great God of such glorious Majesty should take notice of Worms and behold us not only by visiting over-seeing and governing the affairs of this lower World but should condescend to this low estate of ours in taking our flesh whose Excellency and Majesty is so great that he might despise the Angels of whom he hath no need but to stoop so low towards men is matter of wonder praise and adoration 2. We should be humble in our conversing with him considering what he is and we are Iob 42. 5 6. I have heard of thee with the hearing of the ear now mine eye seeth thee therefore I abhor my self in dust and ashes This should keep his children in a holy awe Oh how low should we lye before this great God Gen. 18. 27. Who am I that am but dust and ashes that I should speak unto God 3. That we must not please our selves with the performance of ordinary service to him but we should raise it to an eminent degree of Worship and Adoration Psal. 48. 1. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God and Psalm 145. 3. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised Alass the best we do is much beneath God what low thoughts had Solomon of his stately Temple 2 Chr. 2. 6. Who is able to build thee an house seeing the Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain him who am I that I should build him an house Thus should we see that our best resolutions and performances come much short of the excellency and greatness of God All formality and lifeless service proceedeth from hence that we have not due and raised thoughts of his Majesty and Being Mal. 1. 14. I am a great King saith the Lord of Hosts The greatness of God calleth for other service then usually we give to him he gets nothing from us that is perfect But surely we should not put him off with our refuse but spend the best of our strength time parts and affections in his service Superficial dealing in it argueth mean thoughts of God it is a lessening of his Majesty 4. We serve a great Master and so may expect great things from him He discovereth himself unto his people according to the greatness and Majesty of his Being Ps. 126. 2 3. The Lord hath done great things for them yea the Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad Kings or Princes do not give pence or brass Farthings but bestow Gifts becomming their Magnificence The Heathens were forced to acknowledg it and the people of God do willing acknowledg it so Ioel 2. 21. Fear not O Land be glad and rejoyce for the Lord will do great things Be the Mercies never so rare the way never so difficult God is able to accomplish them 5. This should banish the fear of man as to any danger can come from them to us or to any attempts against God Matth. 10. 28. Fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the Soul but rather fear him who is able to destroy both body and Soul in Hell fire they may threaten great things to us but God threatneth greater See Exod. 18. 11. Now I know that God is greater then all Gods for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly God was above them There is a greater being we have to depend upon 6. Because God is of such Majesty and Greatness we should quarrel at none of his dealings for he is too high to be questioned by the Creature and his Counsels are carryed on in such a way as we cannot judg of them no more then a Worm can judge of the affairs of a man he is great in Counsel and wonderful in working 7. This should keep his children in an holy awe Heb. 12. 28 29. Let us have Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with Reverence and Godly Fear for our God is a consuming fire When we come in the Holy Assemblies Gen. 28. 17. How dreadful is this place In our general course we must not slight his frowns nor despise his favours all comes from a great God nor behave our selves irreverently in his presence but still walk as those that have to do with a great and glorious God II. That in this present state we are not able to bear any extraordinary manifestation of his Greatness and Majesty 1. Because of his Glory which would consume and swallow us up This was a Voice from the excellent Glory 2 Pet. 1. 17. Now if this excellent Glory by the Vail of the Firmament were not obscured man were not able to bear it Iob 37. 20. If man speak he shall be swallowed up 1 Tim. 6. 16. He dwelleth in light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see till we are received to Heaven Thus it is his Glory would kill us his Voice confound us There is a mighty disproportion between Mortal
strengthen him under the trouble He doth it also by a word therefore we read of Gods speaking peace to his People Psal. 85. 8. I will hear what God will say sor he will speak peace to his people and his saints Besides an inward strengthning there is a necessity of a word from Christs own mouth ere we can cast off our Discouragements Besides his touching or his laying his right hand upon us there is need of his word to us USE It teacheth us what to do when we have serious thoughts of appearing before God For the case in hand is about those that were affrighted and disquieted with Divine Visions which was occasioned by natural frailty and partly by a sense of sin Now all of us must shortly come into Gods presence but who can dwell with devouring burnings If your thoughts be serious you will find that it is no slight thing to appear before God who is our Creator and our Judge and who is an holy and glorious God to whom we have carried it very unthankfully and undutifully Now who can relieve you in these perplexed thoughts but the Lord Jesus Christ get a word from him that your Iniquity is taken away and your sin purged Isa. 6. 7. and wait on him till he settleth your souls in the peace and hope of the Gospel Isa. 57. 14. and then you are relieved in your Agonies of Conscience stand up be not afraid the Gospel is a Soveraign Plaister but his hand must make it stick Thirdly The Event and Issue of all ver 8. And when they had lift up their eyes they saw no man save Iesus onely This intimateth two things 1. That this Testimony from Heaven did onely concern Jesus Christ for Moses and Elias vanish out of sight and Jesus is left alone as the Person in whom God is well pleased and all the Church must hear him When they are withdrawn Christ remaineth as Lord and Head of the Church and so it sheweth the ceasing of Moses his Law and the continuance and Authority of the Law of Christ. The Apostle telleth us when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away They onely prophesied prefigured Christ to come but now upon the Exhibition the Legal Ordinances vanished 2. That God manifesteth himself for time measure and degree as he himself seeth fit for our good for the Vision is removed when the intent of it is obtained Here the spiritual Banquet doth not always last Heaven is a perpetual Feast but we must not look upon Earth to be feasted always with spiritual suavities There is no permanency but perpetual Vicissitudes in our enjoyments within time we have clear and cloudy dayes in the World a feast a desertion Cant. 5. 1. c. I am come into my garden my sister my spouse I have gathered my myrrhe with my spices I have eaten my honey-comb with my honey I have drunk my wine with my milk eat O friends drink yea drink abundantly O beloved I sleep but my heart waketh it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying Open to me my sister my love my dove my undefiled for my head is filled with dew and my locks with the drops of the night c. And Ver. 6. I opened to my beloved and my beloved hath withdrawn himself and was gone After the greatest manifestations of Christs love there may be a withdrawing we cannot bear perpetual comforts and God reserveth them for a better time when we are more prepared for them There must be Day and Night in this World and Winter and summer but in Heaven it is all Day there is a perpetual sun-shine never clouded nor overcast FINIS