then againe Vse 6 If it be a new Covenant mercy it will be a spirituall thing though some may call it a carnall and a low thing yet it will be a spirituall thing the Lord teach us to waite upon him to looke up to him to trust in him to relye on him for there shall be a day of his kingdome our worke is to waite seeke pray and waite in these day's the Lord teach his people to goe along with him as the little Children at his entrance into Jerusalem cryed Hosanna Hesanna he rides upon a poore meane creature the foale of an Asse and the Children follow him crying Hosanna Hosanna so we should eye the Lord Jesus now in the meanest appearances and follow him crying Hosanna in the Highest this we should doe The Lord make us waite on him for his owne Time and that time is not farre off I cannot thinke its farre off because many thinke it a great way off it s an argument to me its neare for God comes upon his people when he finds not faith on Earth when Gods people say its farre off then its neare as when God sent Moses to tell the Children of Israel the Lord would deliver them but before deliverance thesentence of death comes and O say they to Moses Aaron what have you brought us to where is their faith now expecting deliverance at the hand of God Now it was worse with them than before and their bondage is encreased and their deliverance was thought further off O but then was the Lords time he Immediatly brought it to passe then was the Lords time come when their faith was gone So when David stood up first upon the account of his kingdome saith he to Abiathar Come with me and thou shalt be safe I am sure God will give me the kingdome though Saul be a Potent Enemy and mine Enemies many yet I am sure God will give me the kingdome but yet after that when Saul pursued him that he was forc't to fly out of one Hole into another Now saith he shall I perish one day by the hand of Saul then when he thought it thus farre off then the kingdome comes forth the hand of the Lord cutts off Saul and the kingdome Immediately comes to David As when the Children of Israel came out of Babylon they thought they should have all things then Jerusalem built and the Temple and all things but when they were about it building the Temple now a stop is put upon the worke and they cry The time is not for the Lords worke yet till that Haggai and Zachary tells them Now is the Time for building the Lords Temple As it is with private Christians in a doubting houre Saints usually conclude we are too forward for that time observe Then is Gods time they had faith at first and after their faith fayles from the worke and they said it was not time mark then was the time the Lord sends Haggai to tell them they liv'd in their Ceiled Houses and neglected Gods house O now was the time when they thought not of it And just so when Christ suffered on the Crosse We thought say the Disciples this was he that should have delivered us their hope was gone of any deliverance by him yet then was their Redemption at hand their Redemption comes forth Immediatly he finishes the worke of Redemption at that time so that to have faith struck dead is not an Evidence that the worke stands a great way off but that its neare and approaching surely the Lord will come forth in his Time and he is not farre from doing some great and glorious thing in the world Gods peoples faith is not grounded upon fancyes but they see and know that God is doing some glorious thing in the world he is overturning kingdomes and setting up the kingdome of his Son O that we could quietly looke up unto the Lord and waite upon the Lord Serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with Trembling kisse the Son lest he be angry yee great ones of the Earth lest his wrath be kindled and you that follow the Lord O doe you rejoyce with feare and serve him with Trembling they that stand may fall O when was there such a falling as now shall be when the Lord saith I will arise to shake terribly the earth no History can paralel such shakings as have been in these last dayes therefore we had need take heed lest we fall and looke up to the Lord that we may stand Indeed it s a blessed truth what ever men may thinke of it so sure as my hand is upon this Bible so sure shall such a thing come forth in due time for as this is the true word of God of a true God that cannot lye so certainly it shall come to passe I have onely insisted on one particular the kingdome as a Branch of the new Covenant but to speake of the kingdome as it s held forth in the Word would take up a large time for there 's not any one truth hath more to be said from the Scripture for it than this of Christs kingdome for as the end of all is Gods glory so this is that concerns Christs glory there 's a vane of it running through the Scripture from the first promise made to Abraham to the last spoken of in the Revelation The Lord give us hearts to looke up to him for the accomplishing of it in his Time FINIS Signes of the Times MATHEVV 16.3 O yee Hypocrites yee can discerne the face of the skie but can yee not discerne the signes of the Times THese words are spoken by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ unto a generation of men which came to him tempting him desiring him to shew them a signe from heaven in the first verse The Pharisees also with the Sadduces came and tempting desired him that he would shew them a signe from heaven The Pharisees and Sadduces they were in their Principles contrary and opposite one unto another and yet they can either of them very well agree and comply against Christ and both joyne hands and heads in tempting our Lord and their Temptation it ly's in desiring a signe from heaven our Lord Jesus he takes occasion from this to mind them of the signes of the times Can yee not discerne the signes of the times and lest that they should reply that these signes were so darke that they could not be knowne therefore our Lord labours to convince them and that from things that were of a more outward nature you say in the evening it will be faire weather for the skie is red and in the morning it will be foule weather to day for the skie is red and lowring O yee hypocrites yee can discerne the face of the skie but can yee not discerne the signes of the times As if he should have said what are yee not as wise in spirituall things as you are in Temporall are you not as wise concerning the
such a remarkable way at such and such a time and thereupon he lays the foundation of his hope if you lay too much upon this your faith will be but upon a providence and this will not be a sure foundation there may be a great deceit in this for Satan may give in a word as well as the Lord a soule may take in a word from Satan as well as from the Lord himselfe besides a word may be given in of the Lord too and yet this not an evidence of our Eternall commition therefore when we conclude our Eternall condition from the giving in of a word we erre in this for this is no foundation to it Hagar had an Angel of God from Heaven speaking to her Thou God seest me saith she and have I also here looked after him that seeth me yet she was an out-câ—st and under the old Covenant the Lord therefore grant that we may not lay our foundation in these things the word of God is a good foundation but if we lay it upon the giving in upon the providence it s a false foundation yet I say the Lord doth often goe in this way with his owne Children very frequently but here 's the mistake when we lay too much upon the providence you may have a word given in day after day and yet be all this while upon a false foundation Jesus Christ is a foundation in opposition to this foundation Fifteenthly Jesus Christ is the onely foundation in opposition to acts of beleiving the act of beleiving is not the foundation but Jesus Christ is the foundation in opposition to this many there are which when they see themselves cast as I may say as to the righteousnes of the law when they see that all the workes of the Law and the righteousnes of the Law will not helpe them but that life and blessednes is alone in Christ in the Gospel and heare the Lord calling upon them to come and beleive in Christ they run to Jesus Christ and hang upon him in an outward way and lay their foundation in the act of beleiving there is a faith of a mans owne as well as a faith of God's there 's a faith of the Law as well as a faith of the Gospel many a man hath laboured by his workes for righteousnes and Justification and when he sees all his working will not bring him in righteousnes and justification then he flies to faith as that which will helpe him and so he beleives in his owne strength and rests upon the Act of beleiving but it s not the act of beleiving that is our righteousnes it s not the act of beleiving that is the foundation of the soule a poore soule may hang upon the outside of the Arke as in the dayes of Noah men might have come and clung upon the outside of the Arke and yet have been cut off except they had come into the Arke that would not have saved them but they would have dropt off so when men by an outward act of beleiving hang upon Jesus Christ in an outward way they may hang a while but at last they will drop off when men make this a foundation they are upon a false foundation See how far men have gone in beleiving and yet it hath come to nothing if you looke into the 106 Psalme the 11 12 13 verses we reade there of a generation of men beleiving it s said The waters covered their Enemies there was not one of them left Then beleived they his words they sang his Praise They soone forgat his workes they waited not for his Counsell Here was beleiving and such beleiving as caused them to sing and yet who are they they are such as forgat his workes such as waited not for his Counsell such as had leaneness sent into their soules such as lusted and contemned God and envyed the Saints Moses and Aaron such as the breath of the Lord came upon and devoured them as wicked ones and yet there was beleiving Then beleived they his word men will lay a great deale of faith sometimes on Experiences and wonderfull providences why lay as much faith as you can upon these and all will faile when the day of Tryall comes men may say God is our God and we are the people of God and he delivered us The waters covered their Enemies there was not one of them left What a wonderfull providence is this and here they fall a singing to God and yet Rebells and Enemies to God and cut off by God by and by this is not the foundation therefore no not the Act 's of beleiving If you looke into Isai 48.1 2. we reade of a generation of men that did beleive and yet notwithstanding fell short Heare ye this O house of Jacob which are called by the name of Israel and are come forth out of the waters of Judah which sweare by the name of the Lord and make mention of the God of Israel but not in Truth nor in righteousnes for they call themselves of the holy Citty and stay themselves upon the God of Israel the Lord of Hosts is his name They made mention of the Lord and stayd themselves upon the God of Israel what is that staying Look into the 26 of Isaiah and you shall finde its beleiving in the third verse staying is beleiving here are a generation of men that stayed themselves upon the God of Israel but not in truth nor in righteousnesse it was not in Truth nor in righteousnesse for all this now I say it s not the act of beleiving that is the foundation there 's a false faith as well as other things therefore if men make this the foundation the acts of beleiving they may be out too Jesus Christ is the onely foundation in opposition to this foundation Sixteenthly Jesus Christ is the foundation in opposition to conviction of Righteousnes this is that which is indeed a higher and a farther step than all that yet I have spoken of for men may goe all the way that we have gone and yet not be convinced of righteousness as his worke may be his righteousnesse so his faith may be his righteousnesse he may goe through all these things and yet not be convinc't of righteousnes this is a high foundation Christ is the foundation in opposition to conviction of righteousnes When a poore soule is wearied out of all when he comes to see that he is a poore miserable lost soule and that it s not all his confession of sin his mourning his sorrow his Teares his vowes his resolutions his revenge upon himselfe his Reformation no not his faith it s not any of all these things will helpe him nor that can helpe that soule ly's crying O Lord I can doe nothing I cannot pray I cannot mourne I cannot shâ—d a teare for sin I cannot beleive ô that thou wouldst helpe me and strengthen me to beleive now a soule is come to this to be convinc't of righteousnes
that it ly's before God Lord here I am I am nothing I can doe nothing I cannot doe this or the other duty I cannot get up a desire I cannot get up a groane I am a poore miserable helplesse creature and Lord if thou wilt trample upon me Lord here I am thou mayest and if thou hast no pleasure in such a one as I am here I lye tread upon me doe what thou wilt I know not what to doe saith the soule now here 's a soule convinc't of righteousnes so as it s come to see if I had all the righteousnes of men and Angells all were nothing though it were as righteous as Adam in Innocency all were nothing if it were as righteous as Noah Adam Peter all were nothing why this it is for a soule to come to be cōvinc't ofrighteousnes Now if in any thing that yet I have said it is here wherein a true sincere heart goes beyond a hypocrite a hypocrite will goe with a true child of God through all the other doth a true child of God confesse mourn for his sin and repent and revenge himselfe and reforme and hath he joy and delight in duty 's and doth he deny himselfe hath he good aymes and ends hath he particular words given in hath he put forth acts of faith so doth the hypocrite all these things though none of them in truth and in righteousnes yet as to the outward act he will goe as far as the sincere heart and it will be hard to find out the one from the other the hardest thing in the world yet in this step of Conviction of righteousnes the childe of God goes beyond the other When a poore soule comes to this Lord I am here I thought I had abundance of things to rest in I thought I was so rich in my prayers and so rich in my Teares and so rich in my resolutions and vowes I had such good fitts in duty 's I had such glorious comfort and Joy but Lord I am brought to this I am nothing here the childe of God gets a step beyond the hypocrite for the hypocrite is never thoroughly convinc't of righteousnes but when he is convinc't of one peice he goes on upon another and when he is beaten off that he creepes on upon another and he is upon some foundation of his owne but now when the Lord Jesus comes to take possession of a poore soule he beates him off all the peices of his owne righteousnes if he will rest upon his confession of sin and mourning he will beate him off there and if he goe higher to resolutions vowes and revenge he beates him off there and if after this he rest upon his Reformation Christ will goe after him and beate him off from peice to peice till he hath wholly conquered the soule to himselfe and brought him off of all those false grounds and quagmires that the soule would have rested upon and perished till he comes to this thorough conviction of righteousnes when they come to great parts gifts and abilities Christ beates them off of this till they come to settle upon a right foundation or else they will drop off if they come not up to the true foundation hence true and faithfull hearts tremble and feare to see these great ones fall upon this account some assert falling away from grace not considering the distinction betwixt the old and new Covenant and the different truth 's that flow from either and not seeing how the same things in appearance flow out of both rootes when they saw the fruit of the old Adam they thought it had been grace and therefore conclude they fell from grace indeed they fall from the grace they had in the first Covenant a man may loose all that but not the grace of the new Covenant the soule that hath it can never fall from that grace but that soule that is partaker of that grace shall stand for ever O therefore looke that ye be rooted upon the new Covenant if you would stand for ever that you may be throughly convinced of all your owne righteousness as nothing And the Lord brings his people to this conviction many times by letting them fall by some Temptation or Corruption and hereby they come to be be beaten off from it God lets out some Temptations or some Corruptions and the soule struggles and strives withall its resolutions and vowes and all its power yet it s beaten downe and cannot stand and then the soule saith verily there 's no hope for me then the Lord brings it to this now I see I have nothing I can doe nothing Lord thou mightest destroy me and tread me underfoote and if thou wilt doe it I will lye before thee I have no hope nor none to turne to thus the soule is convinc't of righteousness and till such time as the soule is thus convinc't of righteousness it will never be able to stand conviction of righteousnes is the removing the soule off all false foundation the foundation of his workes and the foundation of his faith too as a worke and the soule that hath no foundation at all but onely lookes to the Lord Jesus Christ O be thou my foundation When the Lord hath once brought the soule to this that he hath no foundation in the world there is no sinner in the world but he hath one foundation or other he could not beare up else now when the Lord hath brought him to this that he hath no foundation in the world Lord saith the convinced soule I have no foundation in the world I hang between earth and heaven if the Lord bring not Christ as a foundation to me I am undone then is the Lord bringing in his Son Jesus Christ as a foundation of the soule O therefore let us looke into our hearts Professors Christians Saints and Brethren O how have our hearts been rooted have we not a foundation to stand upon of our owne truly the Lord will shake us out of all our righteousnes whether wrought by the Law or Gospel we may be in a miserable condition Jesus Christ is a foundation in opposition to all false foundations Lastly Jesus Christ is the foundation in opposition to true grace it selfe This conviction of righteousnes lookes to all the blessed graces of the Spirit faith repentance and new obedience and selfdeniall all these things as they flow from the holy Spirit as they are wrought in us by the Spirit grow up out of the new Covenant why of all these Christ is the bottome Christ is the foundation in opposition unto these these are not the foundation though grace is the most blessed thing in the world the most blessed thing of all yet it s not the foundation of our soules but the Lord Jesus onely must be the foundation O that every soule would now looke to Christ O is Christ my foundation you had need to look to your hearts here 's much preaching and much profession
it may be I am glorious in the outward parts of obedience and it may be in Comfort too O but is Christ my foundation is Christ at the bottome of all my comfort It may be I performe a great many duty 's but is Christ at the bottome of all my duties O have I yet the Lord Jesus Christ as the foundation for my soule to looke unto O Christians if ever there was a day now it s a day to looke to your foundation when the Lord is shaking heaven and earth even shaking the world and shaking it to peices he will yet shake more than ever he hath shaken till he hath shaken out all the rotten professors that are not founded upon himselfe the good Lord make you to looke to your foundation what a good thing is it to stand firme upon Christ when heaven and earth and all the things of the world shall be shaken yet we shall not be shaken being upon the right foundation the Lord build all your soules upon his Son if you would be upon this foundation say good Lord doe thou come and build how long have I been building and how long have I been working but good Lord come thou and build O that every one of you would but learne thus much as to goe home and say to the Lord Jesus Christ Lord come thou and build good Lord take the worke out of my hands and build thy selfe I shall lay all beside the foundation but come and take the worke out of my hand and if God will come and settle us upon his Son as the foundation of all then shall we have Joy unspeakable and full of glory then shall we Joy and glory in our God then shall we have that comfort and peace which passeth all understanding then shall our soules have heaven begun here that shall last to all eternitie O the Lord build all upon this foundation and let no poore soule here be discouraged those oftentimes that have least cause to be shaken are most shaken and the hypocrite that hath most cause is least shaken poore troubled soules they are apt to be shaken when they heare these things but art thou convinced Soule that thou hast built upon a false foundation do'st thou say thou art undone for ever that there is no hope for thee no rather say blessed be the Lord I have seene my false bottome now I come to the Lord O Lord doe thou build me O Lord doe thou take my soule into thy hand the Lord doe this for every poore soule here that you may all who meete here together meete with the generall Assembly of the first-borne whose names are written in heaven and then shall you not count it in vaine that you have followed the Lord and laid the foundation not in your selves but in the Son of God which the Lord Grant Here followeth the Prosecution of the Point as it was found in the Authors Notes QVest 3. What is Christ the foundation of Ans 1. Of the Fathers Eternall Election Election is built upon Christ he is the bottome stone thereof Eph. 1.4 5. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love having predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himselfe according to the good pleasure of his will Christ is the first of the Fathers Election if I may so say Isai 42.1 Behold my servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soule delighteth and all others are Elected in him Hence the Apâ—stle concludes that the foundation of God standeth sure that is Gods decree of Election cannot be overturned it hath such a bottome Stone Secondly Of the Covenant of Grace The Covenant of Grace is the most blessed thing in the world it s the Magazine of faith Comfort and Holines a Saints strong Tower of defence against all assaults Now Christ is the foundation of this glorious Covenant of grace Hence it s said to be made with him Psal 89.3 I have made a Covenant with my Chosen He is called the Mediator of this Covenant Heb. 8.6 But now he hath obtained a more excellent Ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises And Chapter 12.24 And to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant his blood is called the blood of the Covenant Zach 9.11 As for thee also by the blood of thy Covenant Heb. 13.20 Now the God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepheard of the sheepe through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant Yea he is called the Covenant it selfe Isai 42.6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousnes and will hold thine hand and will keepe thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentills Chapter 49.8 I will preserve thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people to establish the earth to cause to inherite the desolate heritages Thirdly Of all the Promises of God this followes upon the other if of the Covenant then of the promises every promise is built upon him Hence observe the promises still run to Christ the first promise that ever was made runs to Christ the Womans seede the promises afterward given to Abraham looke to Christ Gal 3.16 Now to Abraham and his seede were the promises made he saith not And to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seede which is Christ All the Leviticall Types and shaddowes which were a representation of things to come did looke to Christ the great Sacrifice Hence the Apostle concludes all the promises of God to be in him and because in him to be firme and Immutable 2 Cor 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us Fourthly Of all a Saints speciall priviledges as First Reconciliation 2 Cor 5.18 19. And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himselfe by Jesus Christ and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe not Imputing their Trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of Reconciliation Rom 5.10 11. For if when we were Enemies we were Reconciled to God by the death of his Son much mere being reconciled we shall be saved by his life and not onely so but we also Joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now received the Atonement Coll 1.20 21 22. And having made peace through the blood of his crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himselfe by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
barke the outside of the Oake hereby he may get as well some sap from Christ whilst he thus hangs upon him in an outward way as may somewhat helpe to make him greene keeping life in him for a time as doth the sap he hath from his owne roote and hereby his life is partly from his owne roote which affords him so much sap as gives him strength to cling to this living Oake and partly from that sap which by clinging to Christ in an outward way he draw's from him Yet because this soule hath not Christ for his roote but what nourishment he getts from him is onely in an outward way by an outward cleaving to him clinging about him to which he is assisted and enabled by that strength that is afforded him from his owne roote the old Adarâ— Hence it comes to passe that at one time or other this cleaving soule which receives not his strength life nourishment from Christ by vertue of a reall union with Christ as his roote but by vertue of an outward cleaving and sucking from Christ doth dye and wither therefore I say a difference there is betwixt clinging to Christ and thereby sucking for a time some sap from him and union clinging is not union neither is the coming of sap that way the same with that sâ—p that comes by vertue of the union of the Tree the sap the Ivie getts is forced from the Oake into it selfe by clinging about it and violent sucking but now the sap that comes from the roote into the Tree that ascends in a naturall way So where union is with Christ as the roote the soules feeles the sap its strength holines c. flowing into it from Christ in a secret yet wonderfull naturall way so that it flow's into it without the soules striving and struggling to force this sap to its selfe but it comes in a naturall way it flow's up secretly and in a manner indiscernably into it the soule begins to feele it selfe full of sap but knowes not how it was filled hardly now this being come into it then it causeth this soule to put forth dayly new branches leaves buds and fruit but where it is otherwise though sap may be had from Christ yet it is but a forced thing a thing extorted by outward clinging and as the Ivie when it s owne roote doth not afford it sufficient sap to make it cling to the Oakes dyes so this soule when it s owne strength the strength received from old Adam by which it clings to Christ in an outward way shall faile it that it can cling no longer it will dye and wither notwithstanding for some time whilst its owne strength served it to cling close it did receive a kinde of life and nourishment from him FINIS The Promise of the Father ACTS 1.4 Waite for the Promise of the Father The whole verse runs thus And being Assembled together with them commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but waite for the promise of the Father which saith he you have heard of me WHat promise is this which our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ when he is now ascending into heaven doth give a strict and speciall command to his Disciples to looke at and waite for calling and entitling it The promise of the Father To that I answer This promise is no other but the promise of the holy Spirit and that is cleare from the following words which saith he yee have beard of me This promise of the Father that they were now commanded to waite for it was that promise that Christ had been minding them of sometime before Waite for the promise of the Father which yee have heard of me which I told you of and minded you of before now what was that promise that Christ had been minding of his Children of againe and againe not long before this time If we looke into Johns Gospel we shall finde that the promise of the Spirit Christ did againe and againe pitch the faith of his Disciples upon and that Immediatly before his death before he was taken from them John 14.16 17. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you And ver 26. But the Comforter which is the Holy-Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you So againe Chapter 15.26 But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me So againe Chapter 16.7 8 9.10 verses Neverthelesse I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I goe away for if I goe not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you and when he comes he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of Judgement Of sin because they beleive not on me of righteousness because I goe to my Father and yee see me no more Yea this is cleare in the verse following our Text For John truly baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy-Ghost not many dayes hence So that that great promise which Christ had been minding his Children of a little before which he points at here which saith he yee have heard of me it was the promise of the Spirit and it was not the Spirit in that speciall way of working in glorious miracles and interpreting of Tongues and the like but indeed it was the promise of the Spirit in generall for he referr's to that promise of the Spirit which they had heard of him which was as a Comforter as the leader and guider into all truth as a Testifier of the Love of Christ to the soule as a bringer to remembrance of whatsoever Christ had said unto them as a glorifier of Jesus Christ in the hearts of his Children he shall glorifie me so that it lookes to the promise of the Spirit in generall when Christ saith it s that yee have heard of me Quest 1. But why doth Christ call it the promise of the Father doth not Jesus Christ himselfe promise the Spirit doth not Christ say I will send you another Comforter is it not the promise of Jesus Christ himselfe as well as of the Father why doth he then call it the promise of the Father Ans 〈◊〉 Because Christ himselfe as Mediator hath the promise of the Spirit from the Father Isai 42.1 Behold my servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soule delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him c. And it s fulfilled to Christ Isai 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me saith Christ for he hath anointed me to preach
know things by the Spirit of man but by the Spirit of God for the spirit of man will get a great deale of knowledge and let it out againe O that the Spirit of God condemn'd by many in this generation might be honoured by us art thou a poore soule hast thou no strength nor life to duty do'st thou say I come to pray sometimes and would faine have my heart in heaven and keepe my faith up and be full of groanes but I cannot speake a word nor utter a groane but am just like a blocke O come to the Lord and say Good Lord give me of thy blessed Spirit I have sat often and heard in a customary and formall way and so have I pray'd but Lord give me thy Spirit to heare and thy Spirit to pray and thy Spirit to doe all in my soule O then you should finde strength and assistance and helpe and such helpe as the soule cannot Imagine so hast thou not boldnes can'st thou not call God father say now Lord thy Spirit let the Spirit of Adoption come into my heart Lord fill my heart with thy Spirit that I may cry Abba father if thy Spirit come downe into my soule I shall cry father it will helpe my Infirmities and tell me what to say I would goe to God but I know not what to say nor what to lay before God nor what to aske O Lord thy Spirit now to put words into my mouth and thy Spirit to put groanes into my heart so a poore soule that goes about doubting and saith I am undone such and such are happy and blessed they are the Children of God but I shall perish for ever whosoever goes to heaven I shall goe to hell O goe to the Lord and say Lord I cannot see thy seale upon this my affliction good Lord come and give me thy Spirit that earnest of glory and seale my Spirit for glory and witnes by thy Spirit with my spirit that I am thy childe O let every one looke after this every one mind this we are here but a little while we run through the world and little thinke of Eternitie and then at last we cry out O that I had look't after God his Spirit O that I had now the Evidence of the Spirit I have follow'd pride and vanitie and wantonnesse and the world and how I might be rich O that I had now the Spirit of God I would give ten thousand worlds if I had them that I had but the witnesse of the Spirit and the Evidence of the Spirit O Christians doe not mind the great things of God of Religion and of their soules but we have gotten Religion in a forme and as an art like a trade in the world men thinke they do enough if they doe but now then say over a prayer and read one of the Psalmes or the like O you will wish another day O that I had Jesus Christ O that I were sealed with the Spirit of God if you want this the day of Christ will be a bitter day to you so is your heart dry and withering pray to God to come by his Spirit and water you every moment it may be your hearts are a little stirred when you are under a Sermon but you goe away againe and forget all now say soule say to the Lord my conscience is touched now good Lord as I goe out of this place water me and as I goe home water me and all the weeke water me and every moment Lord water me till I come againe there 's need of this beg of the Lord for it and pray to the Lord to give his Spirit for this end for the Spirit of the Lord doth this so hast thou had many sweete promises many times and thou forgettest them cry Lord thy Spirit thy Spirit to bring all these things to my remembrance all the glorious promises O that I might remember them all and that by the holy and blessed Spirit O that day is not farre off that God will come downe with more abundance of this Spirit it will fall upon our hearts O therefore thinke of these things ponder something and goe away with these groanings in your hearts O father give thy Spirit thy Spirit to my poore soule The Lord worke with you I have spent many words but its God that must give you his Spirit looke up for it and if you will helpe all faults heale all divisions cure all distempers in the soule bring the soule to Joy unspeakeable and full of glory get this Spirit it will give such peace to the soule as shall passe all understanding The Lord give more of it to every one of us FINIS The second Sermon ACTS 1.4 Waite for the Promise of the Father THis promise it s no other but the promise of the holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus is pleased to entitle it the Promise of the Father that his Disciples and Children might be as throughly apprehensive of the Fathers willingnes to give forth the Spirit as they were confident of his The last time I shewed you that this promise was a great promise I shall now the Lord assisting goe on and come to the second thing Secondly That the Promise of the Spirit is the great new Testament promise I say the promise of the holy Spirit is the great new Testament promise here are two things to be cleared and proved First That the promise of the Spirit is a new Testament promise Secondly That its the great new Testament promise First That its a new Testament promise my my meaning is not that its a promise proper and peculiar unto the new Testament Times so as that we are to conceive the people of God that lived under the old Testament Administration had not the Spirit we must not so conceive of the thing for the people of God in the time of the old Testament they had the Spirit Holy men of God saith the Apostle Peter spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost and therefore they had the holy Spirit with them and if they had it they had it in a way of promise and therefore it s not a promise so peculiar to the new Testament times as that the Saints of the old Testament had not this promise as well as we nay the Saints and people of God under the old Testament they had that very same Covenant in which this glorious promise of the Spirit is held forth and given that we have the new Covenant it runs downe even from Adam as I may say to the end of all things the new Covenant it runs through all the times of the old Testament and its this Covenant the new Covenant that gives forth the Spirit and they had that Covenant running through all that long time they had therefore the Spirit given forth to them But when I say the promise of the Spirit is a new Testament promise we are to understand it thus That its a promise that
second coming in glory under that Administration shall have its fulfilling But now the promise of the coming of the Spirit that is the promise that we are to expect the fulfilling of under the present Administration that Administration which is betwixt Christs first and second coming not but that there shall be much more as I shall shew anon of the Spirit of God given forth when Jesus Christ shall be personally present with his Children yet notwithstanding the great promise of the Spirit which is spoken so much of in the old Testament and in the new is that which we are to looke up to God for betwixt the time of Christs first and second coming When Jesus Christ was to goe up to heaven and leave his Children and they were to undergoe a very blacke and tempestuous day and Christ saw what the rage of the world was what the Roman power and the Antichristian power and the Kings of the earth would doe therefore that he might not in such a darke day leave them comfortlesse he makes this great promise of the Spirit as if he should have said In all that time O Saints when ever you suffer looke for my Spirit when ever you want comfort looke for my Spirit when you feare that this Antichrist will deceive you looke for my Spirit and so this promise of the Spirit is a promise that runs through all that time in a more especiall manner to the people of God which they doe wait for the fulfilling of Object If the promise of the Spirit be the great new Testament promise how then comes it to passe that the Saints and people of God under the new Testament Administration have so little of the Spirit Ans Why truly there may be something in this as one reason of it namely The way of Gods dispensation which hath been and it is to put death 's upon his promises not onely before the fulfilling time of a promise comes but even when the fulfilling time is come and in the fulfilling time God will put a death upon his promise Though Abraham had a blessed promise made to him by God that he should have seede and God told him that it should be in Bondage foure hundred and thirty yeares and at the end of that time he would wonderfully shew his power bringing them forth with a high hand and give them the land of Canaan but before the fulfilling time came there 's first one death and another upon the promise first Abraham was a hundred yeares old his body dead and yet without any that should be the heire of the promise and Sarah is old and her wombe dead before the fulfilling of the promise and after the heire of the promise was come forth Abraham must goe and offer up his Son why what might Abraham thinke would become of Gods promise Isaac was the Son of the promise and must I goe and offer him up where will Gods promise be Here was a death upon a death upon it and after this Isaac the Son of the promise in whose loines as I may say the promise ran the promised seede was to come forth from him yet Isaac after Abraham had no seede a great while so that before the fulfilling time of the promise came there was deaths upon deaths upon it yet notwithstanding when the Time was come for the fulfilling it when the Lord was now giving forth that that he had promised to Abraham and when he had sent Moses into Egypt to bring Israel out yet then the Lord in the very fulfilling time brings deaths upon it when the Lord had raised up some measure of faith in the people of God expecting deliverance yet the bondage grow's so great that their hearts grow dead as to hope and they thinke they are further off than ever before and afterward when they thought they had nothing to doe but to run to the land of Caâ—aan no but there are great deaths in the way they must goe through a Sea and through a wildernesse and this not all but they must wander forty yeares in the wildernesse and there the whole generation that came out of Egypt dyes what deaths were there upon the promise in the fulfilling time So God made a promise to his people in Jeremiah's time that after 70 yeares Captivitie in Babylon they should come to Jerusalem againe and that should be built but when the fulfilling time was come what deaths were put upon the promise so that for many yeares together the building of Jerusalem and the Temple was hindred I doe urge this notion to this purpose that though the new Testament Administration be the Administration in which the Saints are to waite for the fulfilling of this great promise yet in the fulfilling time there may be very great deaths upon the promise and such as we may see very little of the Spirit given forth and it may be for ages and generations together as in some generations it hath been but little of the Spirit may appeare Secondly Because although the promise of the Spirit is the great new Testament promise that is made to those times yet the fulfilling of this premise may not be alike to all but may be especially made good to some periods of that time The promise of Christ was the great old Testament promise that which Saints all along in the old Testament waited for but that was not fulfilled till the last period of that time so it may be with this Thirdly Another Reason why Saints under the new Testament Administration have so little of the Spirit though this is the great new Testament promise It may be from Saints darknes in the way of the new Testament Saints going out of the way of the new Testament and that Legality that is in and upon the spirits of the Saints As the promise of the Spirit is the great promise of the new Testament that God gives foâ—th in new Testament times so God will give forth his promise in the way of the new Testament if so be therefore the saints be darke as to the way of the new Testament in which God will give forth new Testament mercy's why truly they may be under the new Testament Administration and yet have but very little of the Spirit for even in new Testament times there is as I may say an old Testament spirit upon the Saints they looke upon themselves through their darkness and Ignorance as standing under the old Administration they have thereby the Spirit of the old Covenant and of the old Testament wrought in them and so far as they have an old Testament spirit so far there will not be a giving forth of the Spirit to them in that full measure for God will give forth the Spirit in the way of the new Testament Quest What is the way of the new Testament in which God will give out new Testament Mercy 's Ans To that I answer The way of the new Testament it s this To
Mr. Tillinghasts EIGHT LAST SERMONS I The Fifth Kingdome or Kingdome of Christ founded on the New Covenant one Sermon on Jer 33.20 21. II Signs of the Times two Sermons on Matth. 16.3 To which is added six Signs as they were in his Notes III Christ the only Foundation one Sermon on 1 Cor. 3.11 With the prosecution of the point as it was in his Notes IV The Promise of the Father two Sermons on Act. 1.4 V The evil of the Times one Sermon on Mal. 3.16 17. VI Look to your Aims and Ends one Sermon on Matth. 11.7 To which is added The Idols abolished being his Notes on Is 2.18 Matth. 3.2 Repent yee for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand LONDON Printed by M. S. for Livewell Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head Alley 1655. A PREFACE TO THE READER THe Lord upon my frequent remembrance of the depth of the Riches both of his Wisdome Rom. 12.33 and of his Knowledge hath given me many and manifold occasions to break forth in the words of the Apostles sudden exclamation How unsearchable are his Judgements and his waies past finding out Yea such hath been the tenor of his dispensations and of the Appearance of some of them of late years from out of those unsearchable depths as may well induce us in the midst of such musings to cry out in the words of the Song of the Lamb saying Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty Rev. 16 3. Just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Who will not fear thee Oh Lord and glorifie thy Name But Oh ye faithful followers of the Lamb who shall be able to fathom and to measure the depth and heighth the breadth and length of those judgements which are yet to come upon the people and the Princes of the earth Wo Wo to the worshippers and admirers of the Dragon of the Beast and the false Prophet how terrible will Jehovah be unto the little Horn the last power which lifts it self up against the Saints of the most High after the expiration of the two and forty months How will this little Horn which goar 's our sides and pusheth us into corners roar when the Judgement shall sit and they that is the Saints shall take away his Dominion Dan. 7.26 to consume and to destroy it unto the end And with what consternation of mind will the proud Nimrods of the world flye before the Lamb and his followers when the mighty Hunters themselves shall be hunted from Mountain to Hill by the little handful of those who ar redeemed from the earth And whitherwill ye rune for shelter Oh ye Tyrants Who shall be your Lord Protector in the Day when Jehovahs fury shall be powred out like fire Nâ—humâ— 6 And if the Rocks are thrown down by him what will become of Reeds If the Sons of ancient Kings be hurried out of the world to their own place for their oppressions and persecutions for their contempt of God his Word and his Works what will be the portion of the New Monarchical Tyrants who are but of yesterday and have not had time to take root in the earth neither shall ever be able to confirm or establish their Domination But to contract and call off my mind from expatiating upon this point It cannot but be confessed That the sudden loss of so blessed an Instrument in the hand of Christ in such a juncture of time may well be matter of astonishment or of great grief to those poor souls who beginning to halt betwixt two opinions found present help and strength administred to their feeble knees by his Ministry and having also their eyes anointed with Gospel Eye-salve for the discovery of the present and other Truths It was no marvel that they became so sensible of the usefulness of such an Interpreter in that populous City as the deceased Author of the insuing Sermons And indeed We Prisoners your Brethren and Companions in Tribulation and in the Kingdome and patience of Jesus Christ could not refrain rejoycing with you for the hopes you had that he should have been as an Arrow or a polished shaft in the hand of a mighty man even the man Christ Jesus in such a day as this But as the heavens are higher than the earth Isa 55.9 so are the Lords ways higher than our wayes and his thoughts than our thoughts We are taught to say It is the Lord 1 Sam. 3 18 let him do with us also as seemeth good to him for indeed we are not our own 1 Cor 6.20 we are bought with a price whether we live or dye we are the Lords Rom. 14 8 and therefore we are obliged to glorifie him in our bodies and in our souls But to proceed to a brief Narrative of some particular passages and circumstances which may be of use for the Christian Readers who are far remote from the City to know It is to be remembred That this Servant of the Lord had waited for some space of time viz. about a year of daies to understand the mind of God in reference to the work which was upon his heart to do for the Lord Jesus at length perceiving his way to be plain before him he came up to the City of London where it pleased the Lord to put a period to his dayes within a very short space after he was arrived But how diligently he improved his time and his talent I need not declare for it s well known to thousands that he laboured as if it had been for his life to promote that glorious Cause which was once the joy of the Saints generally throughout the Nation although now it be almost forgotten by the most and the concernments of Christ and his people in the midst of a generation of Revolters and Backsliders from the work of God in their day Three principal businesses he had upon his spirit to dispatch The first was to speak his mind freely to the Great Man as they call him which accordingly after solemn seeking the face of the Lord with some Brethren he did and did bear his Testimony to his face in the first place in the presence of divers witnesses in such a way of plaineness and pity towards him who was guilty of such open Abominations that undoubtedly it will be of use hereafter to the stopping of the mouths of all Court-flatterers who are one of the worst sort of creeping Vermine in the world purposing moreover to proceed to an higher and more publick Testimony as God should give him a spirit and opportunity thereunto In the next place like another young Apollos Act. 18.27 28. being come to the City he helped them much who had beleeved the present Truth through Grace for he mightily convinced many and that publickly that the Kingdome of Christ is not only a Spiritual Kingdome but an outward visible Kingdome as his words are that this is a branch of the New Covenant That this
But now Christ beside these had outward sufferings he was made a reproach and was buffetted he was nailed to the Crosse and he was peirced Now the reward must be as large as his sufferings if the reward were onely a spirituall reward that would answer onely the spirituall part of Christs sufferings for so great was Christs spirituall sufferings that what ever he receives from the Father in a spiritual way is but a full sufficient reward for them Now what shall Jesus Christ have for all his outward sufferings why surely he must have some reward for these also there must be something that must be given by the Father to the Son as a reward of these therefore I take it that these words they are mainely that part of the reward they doe hold forth the outward part of the reward God had told him before that he should see his seede and that he should Justifie many I but now because Jesus Christ met with a great deale of suffering from the world too therefore saith God I will give him a portion among the great and he shall divide the spoile with the strong because he was buffeted and nailed to the Crosse and peirced therefore the Father will give him a portion among the great and he shall devide the spoile with the strong therefore I will honour him and set him above the great and above the strong and this shall be the reward of his sufferings that the Father will give him a kingdome and glory and that as a reward of his sufferings Isai 52.13 14 15 ver Behold my servant shall deale prudently he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high As many were astonied at thee his vissage was so marred more then any man and his forme more then the sons of men so shall he sprinkle many Nations the Kings shall shut their mouths at him for that which had not been told them shall they see and that which they had not heard shall they consider My servant shall be exalted and extolled and be very high who is this Gods servant why Jesus Christ he whose vissage was more marred then any mans and his forme than the sons of men to speak of Christs suffering day in Christs suffering day his vissage was marred and he was without forme or comelines that is he had no beauty men were astonied at him to look at him seeing him so poore and so despised that this should be the Messiah and the Saviour of the world well saith God though my Son hath been so debased so dishonoured in the world yet I will exalt him above the great men of the world and as the world have been astonied at him and despised him Kings shall shut their mouths at him as much as to say as men when in the presence of a Prince or great man hold their tongues and are silent out of respect and honour so Kings and Potentates shall be silent in his presence in the day of Christs glory though in Christs suffering day every one spake against him called him deceiver and Belzebub and trampled upon him O yet there 's a day saith God wherein my Son shall be exalted shall be very high and then the Kings shall shut their mouths at him the great men of the earth shall be dumb they shall not dare to speake a word in the presence of him there shall be such a dread in the day of his Glory and truly this too you shall see Phil 2.6 7 8 verses Because Christ when he was in the forme of God and thought it no robbery to be equall with God was willing to be vilified and to be trod upon was willing to be of no account that he might thereby glorifie his father and save sinners therefore saith the Lord I will highly exalt him Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow so exalted as every knee shall bow before him we are not to understand this of the Popish bowing of the knee at the name of Jesus for such creatures are said here to bow the knee that have no knees and then too as well every tongue shall confesse him as every knee bow to him But the meaning is this that as Jesus Christ had been dishonoured in the presence of men and Angells so a day shall come that Jesus Christ shall be so exalted by the Father and that in the presence of men and Angells that all men and Angells all creatures in heaven and earth and under the earth they shall all bow to Christ that is subject to him worship before him and every tongue shall acknowledge that this Jesus that was crucified and made a reproach at Jerusalem that he was the Lord Christ the glory of God the Father so that Jesus Christ is to have a kingdome wherein all his enemies are to be under his feete subjected to him and this as the reward of his sufferings This is the sum of that that hitherto I have been speaking of that it was a thing that was concluded upon between God and Christ even in Eternitie when the first foundation of the Covenant of Grace was laid that the Lord Jesus Christ in recompence of what he was to doe here on earth for the bringing about the salvation of sinners shall in reward of his worke have a glorious kingdome given to him by his Father so that this kingdome of Christ it s founded in the new Covenant in the very first striking of it up betwixt the Father and the Son But then Secondly It s cleare if we looke unto the Promulgation of it the first Promulgation of the new Covenant was to man immediatly upon the fall so soone as Adam was fallen the Lord comes to him and in the Lords first words of promise to him we have couched this thing that we are speaking of namely the kingdome of Christ yea it was one great part of it that Christ should have a visible kingdome I take it that that promise that we have in Gen 3.16 The seede of the woman shall breake the Serpents head that it doth very clearely hold forth this thing as will appeare if we doe but consider as Who is meant by the seede of the Woman so likewise What we are to understand by breaking the head of the Serpent It s not questioned but that the seed of the Woman is Jesus Christ who was borne of a woman in the Fathers due time Now about the breaking the head of the Serpent is the Question There may be a question Whether that the breaking of the Serpents head were onely a spirituall victory conquest obtained by Christ over the Serpent his seed or whether there be not something further in it Now indeed I conceive that though there is that in it namely Christs spirituall victory and conquest yet there is more in it viz. that this breaking the head of the Serpent doth
that thing for which others suffer and specially Saints who it may be would never else have minded the notion are very Inquisitive into the thing which they see Brethren suffer for and hereby they attaine light thus God taketh the wise in their owne Craftiness It was said in the Primitive times The blood of Martyrs seede of Churches Did not Queene Mary by her cruelty make those who before were averse to it ready and willing to receive the Protestant Religion Did not the Bishops loose themselves this way and by driving some few out of the Land multiply the number of the oppressed people within it Saints suffering for truth are the loudest and most powerfull Sermons of all others See what Paul saith to this Phil 1.12 13. But I would ye should understand Brethren that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the Gospel So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the Pallace and in all other places Eighthly The Eight signe is Signe 8 The Defection and Apostacy of Eminent leading men in the Churches from their first light and Principles Christ makes it one signe of his second coming the Starr's falling from Heaven Math. 24.29 that is Eminent men as Pastors and others in the Churches falling and saith Christ When you see this know it is neere even at the doore When you see Pastors and Officers of Churches casting off the Churches and running to Colledges when you see men that have pleaded and Apologized for the power of Churches in opposition to Lordlines over them when you see these become Tryers and usurp Authority over all the Churches and people of Christ in the Common-wealth know that it is neere even at the doore Ninthly The ninth signe is Signe 9 The great dread that is upon the spirits of all men that are Enemies of such a thing rising in the world as a fift Monarchy What a dread at the time of Israels coming out of Egypt was upon the Canaanites and this dread is at the end of the forty yeares we doe not reade of such a dread at their first coming out but when the worke was just coming forth of their taking possession of the promised Land then the feare and dread fall's upon them It s observable that from the time that David was anointed king a dread of him though Saul had all the forts and strength of the Nation was upon the spirit of Saul And what a dread is there upon the spirits of those that oppose the worke this kingdome of Christ at this day its visible enough a dread already from the Lord is fallen upon them Tenthly Signe 10 A Tenth signe is Gods wonderfull withdrawing himselfe from such as oppose this truth and worke in respect of those common graces and assistances he hath formerly afforded them in other worke How did God withdraw from Saul so soone as ever David was anointed Before he could deny himselfe and refuse a kingdome Afterwards before another shall come into his Throne he will slay innocent David be it right or wrong and all the Priests of God to boote Before though he had cause and was stirr'd up to it he will by no meanes persecute afterwards though he had no just cause all things considered he puts the Lords Priests to death Before he was a very meeke man in all his actings afterwards he acts like a Mad man And the very Reason is this Reason Davids kingdome was now rising and Saul being in heart an Enemie to it the Spirit of the Lord withdraws from him and this withdrawing was the Immediate forerunner of Davids kingdome the most Eminent type of Christ's pleaded for at this day Now let us Consider whether it be not thus at this day let us looke to men that sit upon the Throne and men that call themselves the Ministry is it not as evident as the Sun when it shines at noone day that the Spirit of the Lord is withdrawne from both I say in respect of those common gifts and assistances they have formerly had whil'st they stood in the cause of God Are there not men this day in England that persecute Saints for laying open their evills and Apostacy's who time was would not persecute them themselves nor suffer others who would have done it to doe it Are there not men who time was feared none they had their faith as their best guard who now are so far from their former faith that they are become Magor-mishabib feare round about Looke to men who call themselves the Ministry could not many some yeares since preach often with life and power now it s a great matter and truly they are not able to doe it to preach once in a fortnight and when they doe preach that life they once had is so gone that Christians that heare had they not the same names and faces would not know them to be the men once the time was that they were able to speake a seasonable word whensoever occasion was offered but truly now they are able to speake no more than they have written in their paper or got by heart as the Schoolboyes doe Is it not evident I say the Lord is withdrawne from them This is a manifest signe the worke is at hand When Davids kingdome was rising the Spirit of God departs from Saul and had not many Bishops in Queene Maries dayes much life and so the Presbyters in the beginning of these times But observe when the worke of God began to rise against the one and the other the Spirit of God went off from them and fell upon that party that bore witnes against them FINIS Christ the only Foundation 1 COR 3.11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ THe Time is but short and therefore I shall wave speaking any thing touching the context or the explication of the words there 's no difficulty in them but there 's a plaine usefull Truth ly's plainely in the words which I shall give you That is Doct That the Lord Jesus Christ is the onely foundation That I may the better open this truth to you for your edification I shall cast those things which are in my thoughts into this Method namely To shew First What I meane by Christ's being a foundation Secondly In what respect the Lord Jesus Christ may be called a foundation Thirdly What Jesus Christ is the foundation of Fourthly Who it is that lay's Jesus Christ as a foundation Fifthly How the Lord Jesus Christ is laid as a foundation And then Sixthly and lastly When Jesus Christ is laid as a foundation in the soule I shall give but a hint of the first 1. Quest What wee are to understand by Christs being a foundation Ans Wee well know the foundation it s the bottome of a building that upon which the weight and stresse of any building ly's in every building there 's the structure it selfe and the foundation the structure it selfe
and the like though they know themselves to be miserable and wretched to be undone yet they hope they shall amend hereafter they shall be better one day and so they take some kinde of rest from this thought A man that makes no conscience of swearing or cozening or lying or defrauding when his conscience comes and tells him thou art a miserable wretch he answers I hope to be better hereafter now this mans foundation is as if a man should goe about to build a house in the ayre Christ is a foundation in opposition to these vaine hopes Secondly Christ is a foundation in opposition to Pharisaicall righteousnesse and holines some there are that come to have a righteousnes though not the righteousnes of God but indeed a righteousnes of their owne as the Apostle saith they are not as other men are they are not drunkards nor swearers they serve God and walke honestly they will not cheate and they make conscience of their word they will have but one word when you come to deale with them they will deale honestly and justly in all their wayes and therefore surely say they we are the Children of God and are in a good condition and thus they lay a great deale of stresse and weight upon their Pharisaicall righteousnes and holines Thus it was with the Scribes and Pharisees in Christs time O saith he I am not like that Publican I am not so and so God I thanke thee I am not as other men be I am a blessed man a happy man I but yet he is a poore miserable Pharisee still Jesus Christ saith notwithstanding all this he was not Justified Christ sends him away as a poore miserable wretch notwithstanding all his righteousness Except therefore saith Christ your Righteousness exceed the righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall not enter into the kingdome of heaven Christ is a foundation in opposition to this foundation Thirdly Christ is a foundation in opposition to conviction of sin conviction of our naturall state and condition Some there are that goe farther than the Pharisee who rest's in his owne righteousnes far from being convinc't of sin that come to see themselves lost and undone and it may be they come gather up hope they scrape up somewhat of comfort here because they find and feele themselves sinners that therefore God will pardon them because they conclude themselves to be lost therefore God will save them therefore they shall have heaven and Everlasting Salvation they gather up comfort here but this is no other foundation than wicked Cain may have saith he I am a cast away and my punishment is greater than I can beare this is not the foundation Christ is the foundation in opposition to this conviction of sin Fourthly Christ is a foundation in opposition to confession of sin to others that is that which some lay as a foundation of their comfort when they are oppress 't and burden'd and afflicted with their sin they run and tell it to others and will be open-hearted and when they have so done they finde ease and have much comfort peace and hope and they build upon it as a man that is stomack-sicke he casts up that which is at the top and then he hath ease and is well We finde that Pharaoh himselfe when he was sicke of his sin he could not be quiet till he had cast up his sin to Moses Exod 9.27 And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron and said unto them I have sinned this time the Lord is righteous and I and my people are wicked Nay he was so sicke of his sin that Moses must be brought in hast to him Exod 10.16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses Aaron in hast and he said I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you they must be brought Post to him that he might confesse his sin and ease himselfe he was so troubled and so afflicted of these things there is a good and a holy use but when men lay the foundation of their comfort upon this confession of sin and would draw comfort from hence and not from Christ this is a false foundation and Christ is a layd as a foundation in opposition to this Doe but looke how far Saul runs in confessing his Iniquitie 1 Sam 26.21 Then said Saul I have sinned returne my Son David for I will no more doe thee harme because my soule was pretious in thine eyes this day Behold I have playd the foole and have erred exceedingly How doth he confesse his sin with great indignation he calls himselfe a very foole and a wretch I have playd the foole I have been a wicked wretch in what I have done and yet is but a Saul notwithstanding all this and Judas when his heart ak't he came and threw downe the silver and saith I have sin'd in betraying Innocent blood he comes and cast's up his sin and yet but a poore miserable Judas and he goes and hang's himselfe this is not the foundation Christ is a foundation in opposition to this foundation Fifthly Christ is a foundation in opposition to our sorrow mourning humiliation fasting prayers and Teares and the like Some will goe farther than a cleare conviction of sin and confessing of it to others they will sorrow and mourne and shed Teares and the like and they thinke because of this surely I am a childe of God and they lay no deeper foundation they have no other foundation but this all their comfort all their joy and all their hope is laid here but this is a false foundath 1 Kings 2.27 And it came to passe when Ahab heard those words that he rent his cloath's and put sackcloth upon his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went softly A king and yet how doth he humble himselfe Ahab throw's off his kingly Royall Robes and puts on Sackcloth and goes softly yet you see what is said of Ahab There was none like unto Ahab that sold himselfe to doe wickednes he did very abominably in following Idolls and yet this wretched Ahab when the wrath of God comes upon him and the word of God falls upon his conscience he will throw off his Robes and Crowne and humble himselfe and mourne and yet but an Ahab still And so Saul when his conscience was smitten he weepes 1 Sam 24.16 And it came to passe when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul that Saul said is this thy voice my Son David and Saul lift up his voice and wept he weepes over his Son David and yet persecutes his Son David againe notwithstanding all this And so Esau he found no place for repentance though he sought it with Teares there 's a great deale of difference betwixt Teares and Repentance he sought repentance and he sought it with Teares yet found no place for it all these things when they come from the right foundation are excellent but otherwise they will stand men in no
is a reall difference betwixt those fruits of Sanctification that spring from the Law and those that come from the Spirit in the Gospel but in regard the Legall worke hath the counterfeite of what ever the other hath therefore the discerning of the true from the false and counterfeite is a most hard thing For First Doth the Gospel-worke cause sorrow for sin so doth the Legall too The Terrors of the old Covenant made Ahab mourne Judas repent c. As the Gospel worke may make the heart soft dissolve it into teares so may the Legall too dissolve the heart into teares soften it greatly for a while Secondly Doth the Gospel worke produce obedience make a soule run to God upon his knees dayly so may the Legal too Isai 58.2 Yet they seeke me dayly and delight to know my wayes as a nation that did righteousnes and forsooke not the Ordinance of their God They aske of me the ordinances of Justice they take delight in approaching to God Ishmael was a praying child God heard the voice of the Lad. Secondly for Reformation Doth the Gospel work cause that so may the Legall too what did Herod Thirdly Doth the Gospel worke produce grace so may the Legall too though not true grace yet grace like the true First repentance See before Secondly for selfdeniall Ishmael shewed a great example of selfdeniall Gen. 25.9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the Cave of Machpelah c. So Saul 1 Sam. 11.12 13. And the people said unto Samuel who is he that said shall Saul raigne over us bring the men that we may put them to death And Saul said there shall not a man be put to death this day Thirdly for delighting in holy duties in the wayes and ordinances of God Isai 58.2 Yet they seeke me dayly and delight to know my wayes c. Fourthly for zeale for God and his wayes Paul before conversion was full of zeale and the Jewes Rom 10.2 For I beare them record that they have a zeale for God but not according to knowledge Fifthly for faith Psal 106.12 13 14. Then beleived they his words they sang his praise They soone forgat his works they waited not for his Counsell But lusted exceedingly in the wildernes and tempted God in the desert Isai 48.1 2. Heare yee this O house of Jacob which are called by the name of Israel and are come forth out of the waters of Judah which sweare by the name of the Lord and make mention of the God of Israel but not in Truth nor in Righteousnes for they call themselves of the holy Citty and they stay themselves upon the God of Israel the Lord of Hosts is his name For there is a faith of the Law as well as of the Gospel so long as a man can obey and performe the condition the Law will give him a faith Thirdly Doth the Gospel worke bring a man into Relation to God and Christ so may the Legall too into some kinde of relation Jer 31.32 Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I tooke them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt which my Covenant they brake although I was an Husband unto them saith the Lord Fourthly Doth the Gospel worke beget peace and Comfort so may the Legal too for observe so far as by the legal worke a faith may be begotten and some kind of relation held forth in that worke so far there will be peace and comfort Fifthly Doth the Gospel worke make a man to abandon all his shelters in himselfe and fly for refuge to Jesus Christ and the Covenant of grace So there may be something like that in the legall worke also for marke it A soule by the light of truth being throughly convinced that all his duties obedience his faith Comfort c. that sprung from the Law is nothing and that Salvation is onely to be had in the Covenant of grace and a naked Christ held forth therein may hereupon quit his trust and reliance in these and now run in his owne strength as before he did to the Law so now to the Covenant of grace and to a naked Christ for refuge I say in his owne strengtst still As a man when the flood was upon the earth might have hung upon the outside of Noahs Arke and yet have perished so a man may run thus far in his owne strength and hang upon the outside of Christ as it were and yet perish And yet all this though what a man runs to is the Gospel yet no more than a Legal worke a worke performed in a mans owne strength and not in the strength of Christ for note as a true Gospel Saint doth Evangelize the Law that is he goes to the Law labours to obey that in Gospel-strength the strength of Christ So a Legalist may legalize the very Gospel that is take hold of Christ the Covenant of grace close with Gospel principles in his own strength When he is convinced he is a miserable sinner and that his repentance his reformation his comfort his faith c. that springs from the Law cannot redeeme him but his onely remedy is in Christ and grace he may run to that and hang upon Gospel notions and principles for helpe Nay he may not onely run to these but attaine some fruit hence First He may attaine some kinde of reformation which it may be he could not attaine by the power of the Law 2 Pet. 2.20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord Saviour Jesus Christ they are againe entangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning And Heb 10.29 Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath treden underfoote the Sen of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and bâ—th done despite unto the Spirit of grace We read of a sanctification that even hypocrites attaine by the blood of the Covenant which is a wonderfull thing for a reformation to be wrought through the beamings of some Gospel light upon the soule Secondly He may have some kind of tast of sweetness even in Christ himselfe Heb. 6.4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy-Ghest The heavenly gift is Christ himselfe John 6.32 33. Then Jesus said unto them verily verily I say unto you Moses gave you not that bread from heaven but my father giveth you the true bread from heaven for the bread of God is he which cometh downe from heaven and giveth life unto the world Thirdly He may in a kinde be made a partaker oâ— the Spirit Heb. 6.4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy-Ghost that