1 Joh. 3. 6 8. Tit. 2. 11 12. And the heynousness and sinfulness of this kind of sin or sinning is evidenced and aggravated by the grace of God in and through Christ against which it is committed Yea III. That this sin and so all sins of this nature are still retained in heaven against men and they reputed as guilty before God whether they go on in the course of acting or serving them still or no while yet they are not washed in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God this likewise is to be seen and understood in the light of Gods testimony concerning Jesus Christ which declares it to be his peculiar work and office in the name of the Father and by the power of the eternal Spirit by and with the vertues of what he hath done and is become in himself for us to save and wash us from our sins It is to him that all the Prophets bear witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive the forgiveness of sins And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Act. 10. 43. 1. 3. 39. Neither is there any other name given under Heaven whereby we may be saved but the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth He hath deputed no man or Church as his Vicar or substitute to do this but himfelf by and through the knowledge of himself is the justifier and cleanser from all unrighteousness Isai 53. 11. 1 Joh. 1. 7 9. And so it is attributed to the Apostles and to them that believe through their word and have that word of reconciliation to minister I say it is attributed to them in their faithful ministration of that Word because of the promise of his spiritual presence with them therein alway to the end of the world that whose sins they remit namely in that ministration and by the power of their word they are remitted in heaven c. For it is Jesus Christ that makes them free through the knowledge of that word of truth it is Christ spiritually ministring and ministred by them he sent his word and healed them Joh. 20. 21 23. with Mark 16. 15 16. and Matth. 28. 19 20. Joh. 8. 32 36. Psal 107. 20. And truely if he wash them not men can have no part with him nor are they washed from their filthiness how clean or pure soever in their own or others eyes Whence it is said of the Corinthians Such were some of you namely fornicators covetous c. But ye are washed ye are sanctified ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God he saith not in the name of the Church or of some High Priest or Bishop on earth no not in the name of Paul or Peter Was Paul crucified for you says he to them 1 Cor. 1. 13. or were ye baptized into the name of Paul But in the name of the Lord Jesus c. 1 Cor. 6. 9 11. Implying that untill they were washed in that name they were not washed nor free indeed nor was their name changed with God but they are still reputed as such with him whatever other washings and cleansings they have had and in what other name soever But being washed in his name in that washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost which is poured forth abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour they are no longer reputed by the Almighty as Whoremongers and Adulterers but are by him graciously owned and called by a new name Sons of God heirs with Christ elect beloved of the chosen generation Behold what manner of love is this that even such may have their sins so blotted out in heaven as to be called The sons of God who would not make haste to this fountain while it is yet held open for the washing us from our sin and uncleanness We knowing the terrour of the Lord against them that will not be made clean whose sins are still retained in heaven against them cannot but perswade men though they count us fools and mad-men for our pains for see the sentence and decree of the holy One Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge which leads us to the last consideration here propounded namely 3. How in what sence and after what manner God will judge them The opposition of Gods judging them in this saying But whoremongers and adulterers God will judge I say the opposition of it unto what is before affirmed of the honourableness of Marriage shews it to be such a correction punishment or judgement for it as is fitly opposed to the honourableness of Marriage and the bed undefiled that is he will put them to shame and wound them with reproach and dishonour And though this may be and is in the beginnings of it in mercy and for their healing and therefore with much mixture of mercy yet still persisting such he will more severely judge them as those that break Wedlock and shed blood are judged a wound and dishonour shall he get and his reproach shall not be wiped away and in the issue they still going on in their trespasses or not being washed in the blood of Christ he will judge them to everlasting shame and confusion as he will do all makers and worshippers of Idols who are spiritual adulterers and fornicators and all that are incensed against him See this distinctly in three branches or steps of Gods proceeding in his judging them according to a threefold sense of Gods judging spoken of in the Scripture Gods judging is sometimes taken for the judgements of his mouth as Psal 105. 5. and of them oft-times more particularly for his passing sentence for or against a man his approving or disapproving his justifying or condemning in respect of which it is said that that he judgeth even now in this present day without respect of persons according to every mans work 1 Pet. 1. 17. and 2. 23. with Joh. 8. 16 26 50. 12. 48. 5. 30. Yet because sentence against an evil work is not speedily executed the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil Likewise more oft and frequently his judgements are taken for the judgements of his hand his executing judgement according to the righteous sentence of his mouth and so sometimes for his judging in this life and world Gen. 15. 14. That nation whom they shall serve will I judge 1 Sam. 3. 13. God would judge the house of Eli for ever Ezek. 7. 3 27. He would judge them according to their ways and deserts Chap. 16. 38. I will judge thee as women that break wedlock and shed bloud And sometimes for his eternal judgement in the world to come After death the judgement Heb. 9. 27. God hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto
such as are resembled 1. By the nature of the Marriage covenant 2. By its being honourable in all 3. By the comely and honourable behaviour in it or in the things pertaining to it as to say 1. In seeking or wooing a wife and in the womans listning to or accepting an husband 2. In betrothing and marrying in righteousness 3. In the demeanour of the married persons towards each other 1. Those I shall mention as resembled by the nature of the Marriage-covenant are 1. That as in the earthly marriage there is a mutual consent and agreement and solemn covenant made by both parties without which they are not joyned together according to Gods ordinance so in the spiritual marriage there is a mutual consent and agreement between Christ and the Church and so on the part of every member in particular without which they are not so joyned to the Lord as to be made of his Spouse his Body his true Sanctuary So much is signified in our types the whole house of Israel when he sware unto them and entred into covenant with them and they became his in the day that he brought them out of the land of Egypt their time was the time of love And he remembred the kindness of their youth the love of their espousals in which they went after him in the wilderness c. They had avouched him that day to be their God and he had avouched them to be his people See Ezek. 16. 8. with Jer. 2. 2. and Deut. 26. 17 18. So likewise those that are of the true Sanctuary of the Spouse and Church of Christ the peculiarly beloved of the Lord they are those that have made a covenant with him by sacrifice Psal 50. 5. even by the sacrifice which he hath first prepared for them and given to them for a witness of his love and for a covenant to the people and so they are said to be reconciled to God by Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5. 18. with Isai 55. 3 4 5 6. Not onely his Word hath come unto them in power c. for so it doth to them that reject it and will none of him in the plain and faithful ministration of it he therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God who hath given of his spirit to accompany such faithful ministration of his Word but they also were willing and obedient in the day of his power as he was working in them to will and to do they received his Word as the Word of God which effectually worketh in them that so receive it to the uniting an joyning them to the Lord so that they turned from idols to God to serve him and to wait for his Son from heaven See 1 Thess 1. 4 5 6 10. and 2. 13. True it is he is the first seeker and wooer of men to be reconciled to God and without his gracious and spiritual calling and drawing no man can come to him and therefore he prevents every man in due time with that yet though he do so and declare his readiness to accept yea and desire that they should come in his drawings and be reconciled and married to him in his Son except they come to him as to a living stone in the powerful drawing influences of him to them they are not as lively stones built up a spiritual house c. Ho every one therefore that thirsteth come to the waters come in the power of the call even to day while he is calling and stretching out his hand if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Encline your ear and come unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you c. He will not force thee against thy will nor own accept or chuse thee into peculiar favour and fellowship without thy will it is thy heart he desires My son give me thy heart for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness And because he knows thou hast neither heart nor power to will or chuse him nor light in thy understanding to perceive his preciousness that might draw thy soul after him therefore in and for that love of pitie and compassion he had to thee and desire after thee even when thou wast altogether dead in sins and trespasses in which love he gave himself a ransome for thee he becomes himself also a testimony in due time to thee and makes the testimony of himself powerful to open thine eyes so to turn thee from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that in turning at the light and power of his gracious drawings and reproofs thou mayst receive the forgiveness of sins and inheritance through the word of his grace with his Saints Onely then rebel not thou against the Lord for consider how great things he hath done for thee but cease from thy own works to believe on him that justifies the ungodly as he is by his preventing grace working in thee the whole good pleasure of his goodness and the work of Faith with power and this shall be imputed to thee for righteousness accepted as thy act and making a Covenant with him by his own Sacrifice which he hath prepared and given for a covenant on both parts there is all his great and pretious promises confirmed and made sure for thee in and by that sacrifice of himself and with him given to thee and therein is thy faith and troth plighted to him in laying hold of his Covenant and drawing neer in the sweet allurements and incouragements thereof he will gratiously accept thee and make thee partaker of himself by his own Covenant and by vertue of his own Sacrifice by which he hath obliged and incouraged thee to give thy self to him 2. As in the earthly marriage he that is joyned to a woman is one body for two saith he shall be one flesh So he that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit he is therein baptized and made to drink into that one Spirit of Jesus the Lord by which he was raised from the dead and which immeasurably dwells in him for the fulness of the God-head dwells in him bodily and which comes forth from him in the name of the Father and testifies of him manifesting the glory of God in his face who is the image of God and being made to drink into this Spirit they are of the same minde with Christ and so reconciled in the spirit of their minde unto God for they have the minde of Christ having received his Word they have known surely and believed that he came forth from God and is a true and faithful witness of God and have so received him and are made partakers of him spiritually for through this knowledge of him that is true they are united and made one in and with him that is true even with his Son Jesus Christ and so with the Father in him 1 Cor. 6. 16 17. with chap. 2. 16. 12. 13. 1 John 5. 20. with
get victory over thy sins nor healing of thy diseases without him yea he therefore called thee and in his call gives himself for thee that on thy coming to him and yeelding up thy self to him and so becoming his he might then wash thee with the washing of water by the word Eph. 5. 25 26. with Ezek. 16. 3-9 Yea he will then thorowly wash away thy bloud forgiving all thy sins and healing all thy diseases and make thee meet for the perfecting the marriage and perfect it in due time take heed of complementing thy self out of this marriage nor let farms nor oxen no nor any earthly marriage or the love of father mother wife or children be preferred before this or be an hindrance to thy coming to the wedding-feast to which thou art called that thou mayst be joyned to the Lord if thou now when called lovest any thing more then him thou art not worthy of him not meet for him and it will be shameful iniquity for anything whatsoever now to neglect or defer seeing thy need of him is such that thou canst not be well nor happie here or hereafter without him Seek the Lord therefore while he may be found and call upon him while he is neer And for further encouragement see what follows 2. As a man that behaves himself comely or honourably in things pertaining to the earthly marriage doth not when he hath wooed and perswaded the woman to consent and that her affections are drawn to him and set upon him he doth not then nor will by any means cast her off not for any infirmities then perceived or meanness poverty and wants then appearing to him but proceeds to betrothing and marrying in righteousness and then seeks to cover and heal her infirmities and supply her wants as his own in the body so and much more the Lord Jesus Christ will not cast away any that come to him in his gracious drawings and wooings Whosoever cometh saith he I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. yea though some men in such cases may he will not for his work is always and in all things honourable and glorious his righteousness remaineth for ever nor will he upbraid them with former unkindnesses and repulses given him no though uncleannesses have been found with them in the time of love as in that type Hos 3. 1. nor with present unprofitableness and infirmities but receive them to the glory of God in union and fellowship with himself he will betroth them to him in righteousness and in faithfulness and will engage all his interest in heaven and earth for them that they may be washed and healed See Hos 2. 18 19 20. with Chap. 3. Rom. 15. 1 7. Jam. 1. 5. Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it even perform his begun good work unto the day of Christ 1 Thess 5. 24. with Phil. 1. 6. So that no unfaithfulness or want on his part can hinder the proceeding and carrying on of the work unto the finishing of it in the perfect day All which powerfully engageth us to abide and be for him though he make us wait many days as in that type Hos 3. 3. 3. In the comely and honourable demeanour of married persons one to another to which marriage obligeth which is in the husbands love and faithfulness to his wife and the wives subjection chastity and faithfulness to her husband we are minded as by way of resemblance of the love and faithfulness of Jesus Christ to his Church which is infinite and without any fayler or imperfection and of the obligation upon the Church to subjection and chastity to him 1. His 〈◊〉 and faithfulness to the Church and to every member in particular and his peculiar care for them is such as that for their sakes he sanctifies himself devotes or gives up himself to minde their good and their things with peculiar design as the first and chief thing directly aimed at in all his works in and government of the world and that unto which all other things must stoopâ— that they also may be sanctified made clean holy and chaste to him through his truth they are set as a seal upon his heart and ingraven upon the palms of his hand that he cannot open his hand to do any thing in the world but they are in his view their safety preservation and defence from evil and making meet for the inheritance is continually before him and in order to that and so as may conduce to that end he will give men for them and people for their lives Joh. 17. 17 19. Isai 49. 15 16. 43. 1 4. Cant. 8. 6. This also in included in his giving himself for his Church Eph. 5. 25 26. Namely his sanctifying or separating himself in and above all things to minde their good with peculiar design as is said That he may wash and cleanse them with the washing of water by the word and this also for the good of others even that by them the world may know that the Father sent the Son the Saviour of the world and that he hath loved these with the same manner of love with which he loveth his Son for he hath chosen and ordained them that they should bring forth much fruit and that their fruit should remain More particularly according to the resemblance 1. Such his holiness and devotedness to them that he will not add another wife to her to vex her in her life-time and that is for ever for because he lives they shall live also the seed of his Servants shall continue for ever So then he will never own nor accept any other woman or Church nor any that are not by that one Spirit baptized into that one body and made to drink into that one Spirit into that nigh relation with him to be heirs together with them of this grace nor put any such burden upon them to own or acknowledge any other 〈◊〉 have their birth to the hope of inheritance from 〈◊〉 â—rinciples as competitors or co-partners with them 〈◊〉 â—his inheritance of the Saints For what saith the Scripture Cast out the bond-woman and her son for the son of the bond-woman shall not inherit with the son of the free-woman Gal. 4. 30. And this that the promise may be sure and upon certain and undoubted terms to all of this body to all the children of promise and that they may have strong consolation and be incouraged and ingaged to abide with him in the faith and hope of the Gospel For if they that are of the law be heirs faith is made void and the promise of none effect Rom. 4. 14-16 Let them know therefore for their incouragement and let all know for their admonition and warning in time That the Lord hath set apart separated from all others to and for himself the man that is godly Psal 4. 3. that is the true worshipper of God that worships the Father in spirit and truth giving honour to the