clearly seen upon the carcase after the skin is taken off Rev. 2.18 His eyes are like unto a flame of fire for pierceing and his feet are like brass for crushing his enemies Vse Therefore let us walk humbly and circumspectly in the fear of our Lord who observes our most secret counsels courses and wayes 1. Look to thy thoughts and purposes although men see them not yet the Lord is of quick understanding to perceive them and see through them Is 10.7 Luk. 24.39 2. He knoweth the secret frettings of the heart at his Word when at any time thou murmurest against the Word preached because contrair to thine opinion or interest Luk. 5.21 22. he knoweth the secret fretting of the heart against his holy Commands when they are contrair to flesh and blood and to our carnal desires Numb 14.27 he knoweth our frettings at the reproof of his Ministers Exod. 16.7 8. he seeth our frettings of heart at the prosperity of others Gen. 4.6 and our frettings against our own personal afflictions Jonah 4.9 3. He knoweth our secret speeches Ps 139.4 our secret reasonings of unbelief Mat. 16.8 our secret whisperings and backbitings to separate friends Ps 50.20 21. Mat. 9.11 4. He seeth our most secret actions Job 26.6 Ps 139.12 2 Sam. 12.12 Joh. 4.18 He knew Judas his secret bargaining with the Pharisees and said to him What thou doest do quickly Remember as now he knoweth so there is a day when he will judge the secrets of all hearts he will make many then to know what now they will not believe and lay to heart for their more humble and circumspect walking in time coming then shall the damned acknowledge their sins and their neglect of the day of their merciful visitation on earth which convincing light of conscience will not comfort them but confound them with shame and horrour Observ 3. Our blessed Lord improved and exercised his quickness of understanding not about the matters of this present world but especially in matters of Religion pertaining to his spiritual kingdom for it is said he shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. In the dayes of his Humiliation on earth he would not interpose as a Judge in civil debates Luk. 12.24 nor in criminal causes Joh. 8.10 because the condition of his Kingdom and Government is spiritual the Ordinances of his Kingdom are spiritual to wit Word Sacraments and Prayer the Benefits and Priviledges are spiritual Rom. 14.17 Righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost The duties are spiritual to wit repentance faith hope love and new obedience the end of the Administration is spiritual to wit to make a man wise unto salvation and the means whereby his Kingdom is enlarged are spiritual Zechar. 6.4 2 Cor. 10.4 Vse 1. The use of this Doctrine is specially to correct four errors which arise from the mistake of the nature of the Kingdom of Christ 1. The jealousies of the secular powers of this world as if the Kingdom of Christ within his Church were not consisting with their civil power Herod the King was troubled when he heard that the King of the Jews was born Mat. 2.3 But our blessed Lord shews them they need not be so jealous and fearful Joh. 18 36. My kingdom is not of this world It is in it but not of it but of men separate from the evil of the world Augustine Tractat. on John sayeth to the powers on earth Venite credendo nolite metuere saeviendo Come to Christ by believing and do not fear by raging against the Church He who giveth an heavenly Kingdom doth not by his Government in the Church take away mortal Kingdoms from them whatever has been the pride violence and usurpation of Church-men on the civil Government in divers Ages it was altogether from their own corruption and not from the nature of the Kingdom of Christ who clearly teacheth his subjects in his spiritual Kingdom to give unto Cesar that which is Cesars and to God that which is Gods Mat. 22.21 Our blessed Lord and King of Saints teacheth them not only subjection and subordination at all times to lawful Authority but also obedience to all their lawful commands Tit. 3.1 and forbids them to use their Christian liberty as a cloak of maliciousness against lawful Authority 1 Pet. 2.16 2. This Doctrine serveth to correct the incroachments of the spiritual Guides at any time upon the civil Authority as was that of Pope Gregory the 7th because Henry 4th the Emperor would not come to a synodical Answer for his investiture of Church-men in Ecclesiastical Dignities For this cause did the Pope excommunicate him absolve the Subjects from their Allegeance stirred them up to rebellion and in end gave the Imperial Crown to Rodolph Duke of Swabland Pope Alexander the third did insolently insult and trample upon the Emperor Fredericus Barbarossa and blasphemously to his wicked purpose abused that place of holy Scripture Ps 91.13 Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon c. This is not to be quick and active in the fear of the Lord as our blessed Lord was but in the pride and violence of their own sinful courses How far is such insolent usurpation from the precept and practice of Christ and his Apostles and also from the humble subjection of the primitive Christians unto lawful powers How disadvantagious such pride and violence has proven unto the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ and propagation of the Christian Religion sad experience has made it evident both in former and latter Generations Such violent dealing has made many men become either open enemies to all true Religion or hypocrites and secret bitter enemies waiting for a time of revenge Devout Bernard his advice to Pope Eugenius 4th was Seing thou art appointed to be a planter in Christs Vineyard know that thou has need of the Dible and not of the Scepter If thou be content with Christs Legacy to wit Feed my sheep thou shalt not inherit glory and pomp but care and labour It serveth to curb the inconsiderat zeal of too many who would have this Kingdom to be propagat by force of armes they consider not that it is spiritual about Religion and the fear of the Lord and suitably to be enlarged by spiritual means and midses such as are especially the preaching of the Word Mat. 28.19 frequent and fervent prayer to God 2 Thes 3.1 a Gospel-like conversation 1 Pet. 2.12 1 Pet. 3.1 and patient suffering persecution for the truth without tumult or sedition Phil. 1.12 Phil. 1 29. Revel 13.10 Therefore it was a bold and arrogant speech of Nestorius unto Theodosius the younger Give thou to me O Emperor the earth purged from hereticks and I shall give unto thee heaven scatter thou the hereticks and I shall with thee scatter the Persians thy enemies These speeches became not a Church-man whose weapons are not carnal but spiritual our blessed Lord though he had power and might would not command fire
joyned with an high estimation of Divine Truths more then men has of thousands of gold of honey and of spoil or plunder as was in David Then mayest thou be assured thou art partaker in some measure of that Spirit of knowledge that was poured forth and rested on Christ thine Head Ps 119.72 103 162. Thou art one of his sheep effectually called and elected to be set on his right hand for his sheep know his voice Joh. 10.4 If the Spirit of the fear of the Lord be in thine heart a fear with humble submission to the will of God both for doing and suffering his will Is 50.10 a fear joyned with hope and confidence on his mercy Ps 145.11 a fear joyned with reverence in his holy worship Ps 5.7 a fear joyned with zeal provoking others by word and good example to worship and fear the Lord Act. 10.2 3. Then mayest thou be assured thou art of the Spirit of Christ for the Spirit of the fear of the Lord rested on him there was in him a fear joyned with submission in the day of his sad affliction for he said not my will but thine be done there was in him a fear joyned with active and passive obedience Philip. 2.8 a fear joyned with confidence even in his greatest desertion and sad complaint my God my God c. a fear joyned with reverence in prayer Luk. 22.44 and a fear joyned with zeal provoking others to fear the mighty God above all things Mat. 10.28 Vse 3. Here is sure ground of unspeakable comfort to the Church and company of Believers against all their fears from the worldly wisdom and power of the enemies of the Kingdom of Christ there is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord Pro. 21.30 The spirit of wisdom in him who is set over the house of God doth far surpass and over-reach all their wisdom falsly so called the enemies of the people of God said Let us deal wisely with them Exod. 1.10 but the Lord in the depth of his wisdom turned their cruel policy to the good and increase of his Church and People it was as the heavy weight unto the Palm-tree to raise them the higher and as the inundation of Nilus to make them the more fruitful in every good work there is no counsel against the Lord for he throughly sees the devices and plots even in the heart of the enemies Is 10.7 He is the stone with the seven eyes Zachar. 3.9 he can discover their secret designs as he did to his servant Elisha 2 King 6.12 He discovered the secret conspiracy against Paul Act. 23.16 The power of the wicked is finit and limited but his power being God is infinit and there is no proportion between finit and infinit He can limit their power and say as to the proud waves come no farther though he permit them to come to the neck yet they shall not drown them Is 8.8 Their Head the Lord Jesus Christ is now far above all the waters of affliction and persecution he can restrain their malice he cuts the horn of the wicked he breaks their teeth Ps 3.7 although they bark yet they bite not or if he permit them to bite yet their bite is not deadly like that of some mad dogs he can put a bridle in the jaws of Sennacherib he can defeat their counsels and contrivances as he did that of Achitophel turned it to folly and ruine to himself he did defeat and wonderfully disappoint the counsel of Haman against Mordecai according to that of Job 5.13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness and the counsel of the froward is carried head-long and in his unsearchable wisdom he turns their malice to the praise of his great Name who is mighty to save his people maugre all opposition Ps 76.10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee There is no might nor power worldly that can overthrow the Church of Christ The gates of hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16.18 Because it is built on him who is the Rock of Ages and is the strength of all who by faith are built on him they are kept by the Father Joh. 10.29 and by the power of God through saith 1 Pet. 1.5 The Church and company of Believers is compared to a strong City fortified with strong Walls and with a deep and broad Ditch Isa 26.1 Isa 33.21 because the mighty Lord is in the midst of them It is true the Lord doth not alwayes shew his might in holding off the trouble from them yet he makes manifest his might and power in upholding them under troubles and in strengthning them to patience and long-suffering with joyfulness they are cast down but not destroyed persecuted but not forsaken perplexed but not in despair 2 Cor. 4.9 Psal 46.5 He that dwells in the bush though he suffer fire to enter into it yet he keeps it from being consumed because he strengthens his own children to bear afflictions Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Likeas a Physician holding his Patient by the hand doth encourage him under the present pain and throws from a bitter potion by confirming him in the hope of better health thereafter Joh. 16.20 2 Cor. 4.17 Sometimes he comforts them with a sense of his love shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which as a cordial doth preserve and revive them that they faint not altogether in times of great trouble 2 Cor. 1.3 4. As a tender father speaketh more kindly to his sick child then he was wont to do formerly in time of his better health so the Lord speaketh comfort to them by his Spirit according to the word of promise when they are in a desolate condition like unto a wilderness wherein they have none or few to speak a word of comfort unto them Hos 2.14 Stephen the Martyr had never such a manifestation of Gods gracious presence as in the day of his greatest affliction and persecution Acts 7.56 And the young Confessor Theodorus as testifies Eusebius felt never more sweetness then in the time he was upon the rack Consider the merciful Lord moderats their afflictions in the specie or kind in not sending alwayes his sorest plagues Sometimes in the number he lays not on all his rods he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east-wind Isa 27.8 Sometimes in the degree and measure in not afflicting them in extremity The Lord hath chastised me sore saith David but he hath not given me over to death Psal 118.18 And he moderats the afflictions in respect of the time and endurance Psal 125.3 The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity The Lord by the spirit of wisdom and power turns all their afflictions in end
to destroy the Samaritans who refused to receive him into their City Luk. 9.55 56. 4. And it is of good use to correct the obstinat unbelief of the Jews who wait for a Messias in outward pomp and glory they mistake the nature of this Kingdom by misunderstanding such places of holy Scripture wherein the Spirit of God speaks of the inward beauty of his Kingdom in an allusion to the outward beauty of earthly Kingdoms Psal 45.3 But if they were not prejudged and obstinatâ— they might learn something of the nature of this Kingdom from Isa 53.2 and Zechar. 9.9 where the Prophets foretell that the Messias shall not come in outward pomp and glory Vse 2. The Spiritual Guides and Ministers of the Church in imitation of Christ the chief shepherd of our souls should go about the business of this spiritual Kingdom and therein especially exercise their quickness and activity this was most minded by the holy Apostles Act. 6.4 Col. 1.28 29. The sense of the burden of this great work made the Apostle Paul to cry out Who is sufficient for these things It was the Apostles counsel 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate on these things and give thy self wholly unto them Famous Gerson lib. de vit Spirit speaking to Church-men Tell me saith he whether it is a more holy thing to serve the world by thy self and to serve God by a Viccar and Substitute or to serve God by thy self and the world by a Substitute Pope Damasus compared the Ministers of the Church who to attend their worldly affairs did commit their flocks unto Substitutes or Suffragans he compared them I say unto some wanton women who having full breasts yet that they might give themselves to their pleasures did give out their Infants to be nursed by others VERSE III. And he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes c. IN the former part of the vers we have the manner of our blessed Lord his judging and governing his subjects with great wisdom and prudence In these words we have his equity and justice set down negatively vers 3. and positively vers 4. Whereas it is said here He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes it may be demanded if it be a fault for men to judge according to their seeing and hearing because men on earth cannot ordinarily understand any cause or action till first they have it in their sense and imagination Answ Certain it is that Judges should determine according to matters alleadged and proven and therefore must judge according to things heard or seen Deut. 1.16 17. The Priest under the Law was appointed to look with his eyes upon the leprous person before he judged and pronounced sentence whether he was clean or unclean But Judges would not be rash to judge according to fama clamosa the common report because in so doing men judged amiss of the Apostles themselves who were commonly but falsly reported to be seditious persons Acts 17.6 As also of their Doctrine calling it heresie Acts 24.14 Whereas a flagrant report is only a ground for inquiring but not for a judicial sentence Deut. 17.4 Neither must men in Judgement judge according to the seeing of their eyes as by looking to the person of the poor man to take no notice of his cause Deut. 1.17 nor should they judge partially out of respect to the man whom they see to be of outward grandour or prosperity in the world Lev. 19.15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour Our blessed Lord judged not of the Pharisees according to his hearing of their fair words nor according to their seeming holiness but he judged righteous judgement of them that they were a generation of vipers The words may be also taken for the way of judging that was peculiar to Christ wherein he excelled all the Judges of the earth in so far as he needed not the help of the outward senses of hearing and seeing because he did discern and judge the secrets of the heart Solomon in judging which of the two women was the true mother of the child made good use of hearing both the one and the other but our blessed Lord knoweth the hearts and thoughts of men though they speak nothing Joh. 2.24 yea he knew the wickedness of their hearts notwithstanding their flattering speeches of dissimulation Vse This equity of our Lord in Judgement serveth for our imitation both in publick and privat Judgement Men in publick Judgement should not upon hear-say and baâ—e information proceed to a sentence of absolution or condemnation but they should inquire diligently if the matter be so as is reported God himself doth teach Judges this duty by his manner of proceeding to judge Sodom Gen. 18.21 and by his precept Deut. 13.14 For if it were enough upon hear-say and common report to judge and condemn then innocent persons should suffer many times Jeremiah was reported to be a factious man who by his preaching did weaken the hands of the people and Paul to be a seditious man that stirred up the people neither should Judges be rash upon hearing only the one party to pronounce sentence against the other for if it be enough to accuse who shall be innocent Prov. 18.17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him Such rashness in judging was contrair to the Law of the Jews Deut. 1.17 Joh. 7.51 Job searched out the cause which he knew not Job 29.16 It was contrair to the Law of Nature and of Nations among the Heathens Alexander the Great in time of judging laid his hand closs upon the one of his ears that he might reserve it as he said for the party that was accused Neither should they judge according to the seeing of the eye as they perceive the party to be a friend or an enemy rich or poor a great or a mean man Levit. 19.15 Deut. 33.9 because the Judge who is a respecter of persons is easily byassed and perverted in judgement Prov. 28.21 The partial Judge saith Shew me the man and then I will shew you the Law but the impartial and unbyassed Judge saith I will shew you the Law be the man what he will It was Tertullian his complaint against the Judges of that time persecuting the Christians there is saith he inquisitio nominis sed non examinatio criminis an inquiry after the name if they be called Christians but no examination of the crime It was well spoken by the Heathen Judge Aristides fitting in Judgement when one of the Competitors pleading before him said This fellow hath also done great wrong to thy self in speaking evil of thee My friend said Aristides I pray thee tell me only the wrong he hath done unto thee for I am Judge here to do right unto thee and not to judge the personal wrongs done
be brought to light and they shall know there is no name under heaven whereby they can be saved but the Name of Jesus Act. 4.12 Quest It may be asked at what time was this prophesie fulfilled For answer Consider the Gospel or Doctrine of the glad tidings of salvation in Christ was a mystery hid from the Gentiles and other heavenly Truths and Ordinances were communicat only to the Jews Ps 147.19 20. Rom. 3.2 There was not a Church among the Gentiles before the time our blessed Lord gave commission to preach unto them Mat. 28.19 It is true there were some proselytes at diverse times before the birth of our Lord in time of the Patriarchs was Melchizedeck though some think he was Shem and Job in Moses his time was Jethro in Joshua his time Rachab in the time of the Judges Ruth in the time of David Ittai the Gittit in Solomons time Hiram and in Jeremiahs time Ebedmelech these were but the first fruits of the Gentiles and drops in comparison of that great flood of Converts foretold Is 2.2 It shall come to pass in the last dayes that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow unto it After the birth of our blessed Lord and his sending forth the Apostles to teach all Nations the knowledge of the Gospel did abound in many parts of the world as the sea abounds with waters it was foretold by our blessed Lord that this prophesie should be fulfilled in a great part even before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Mat. 24.14 and it was fulfilled Rom. 10.18 Their sound went unto all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world Col. 1.23 which was preached to every creature which is under heaven for the Gospel was preached by the Apostles even to the greater part of the habitable world so far as it was known at that time according to that ample Commission given by our Lord to his Disciples Mat. 28 19 20. Therefore faith Augustine de Civit. Dei lib. 22.8 Whosoever he be that requires miracles at this time he himself is a great wonder and prodigy who believeth not when all the world believeth the Gospel But before the end of the world these Nations which sometimes were Christian and are now overspread with Turcism and Mahometism as at this day Assyria and Egypt and many Nations living at this day in Paganism shall be converted to the Christian Faith and the Gospel shall be preached unto many Nations which were not known in the dayes of the Apostles as it is at this day both in the Eastern and Western India Observ The preaching hearing and knowledge of the Gospel is the ordinary mean of conversion and of a Gospel-like conversation 2 Cor. 4.6 God hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Thess 2.14 God hath called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ This is evident from instances of divers persons converted to the Faith of Jesus Christ and to the way of Sanctification by the preaching of the Gospel Act. 2.37.47 Act. 16.14.33.31 It is also evident from the denominations the Gospel getteth as 1. The word of grace Act. 20.33 Not only because it is sent to a Nation or People out of Gods free-grace Matth. 13.11 It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given But also by it as the ordinar instrument the holy Spirit worketh the sanctifying and saving grace of believing and turning to the Lord in all come to years of discerning and appointed for Salvation Act. 11.21 The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. 2 Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds c. Gal. 2.8 He that wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the circumcision the same was mighty in me towards the Gentils Therefore now in these dayes after that this sacred instrument and testimony is sealed and reposited by God in his Church the pillar and ground of the truth 1 Tim. 3 15 as the only authentical Record and invariable Rule of the Christian Faith if any man shall pretend to the inward revelation of the Spirit without or contrair to the written Word it is Enthusiasm and a delusion of his own private spirit neither let any man think it is enough to have the outward revelation of the written Word without the inward operation of the holy Spirit enlightning the understanding by Faith to perceive and assent unto the truth revealed in the Word and enclining the will by love to receive and retain it in the heart for the Lord openeth both the understanding and the heart Luk. 24.45 Act. 16.14 The Gospel is called the word of life Act. 5.20 Because the Gospel is the seed of the new life 1 Pet. 1.23 Faith and belief to the threatnings of the Law is as the Plough to rent the fallow-ground of our heart but Faith conceiving and embracing Christ in the promises of the Gospel is the seed of our regeration Jam. 1.18 Of his own will beg at he us by the word of truth It is called the word of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 Because in the Gospel remission and reconciliation in the blood of Christ is offered unto all who repent and believe in him Act. 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins And it is called The word of Salvation Act. 13.26 Because it is the ordinar mean of Salvation Rom 1.16 2 Thess 2 13. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth That the Gospel is the ordinar mean of Conversion to the Faith of Christ is evident from Reason and clear consequences from Scriptural truths 1. Hope of life and immortality is a strong motive to turn men from the broad way that leadeth unto death and to everlasting destruction Now the Gospel sheweth unto us life and immortality in Christ Jesus Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin 2 Tim. 1.10 The grace of God is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel 2. By the knowledge we have of Christ and by believing in him as he is offered in the Gospel we are turned from an estate of condemned rebels unto an estate of persons justified and reconciled in the blood of Jesus Christ Isa 53.11 By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many for he shall
true Converts is a growing light and knowledge Phil. 3.13 14. I count not my self to have apprehended c. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus And although the child of God possibly doth not grow much in that knowledge of simple apprehension of things that may and should be known yet he groweth in the knowledge of appretiation and estimation of the Lord Jesus Christ and of these unsearchable and durable riches treasured up in Him to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be immortal praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen THE TRUE LIVING WAY TO SALVATION SERMON I. JOHN 14.6 Jesus saith unto him I am the way the truth and the life IN these words is contained our Lords answer to his Disciple Thomas his question How can we know the way to the Father In which answer we have an excellent and comfortable description of our blessed Lord. I am the way saith he wherein men walk to the Father for reconciliation and peace in this life and for glory in the other life I am so the way that I am the truth and also the guide of all them who walk in me and I am life to them in all their faintings in their way to heaven to sustain and uphold them till they come to the end of their faith even the salvation of their souls Three things are here attributed to our Lord 1. That he is the Way 2. That he is the Truth 3. And that he is the Life 1. Our blessed Lord is called the Way 1. Because as a way leadeth men unto a place of rest so the Lord Jesus Christ by the merit of his death hath prepared and leadeth believers on him to a place of eternal rest in Heaven and giveth us access to the Father by faith in him while we are in the world and after death everlasting rest in and with him in the Kingdom of Heaven Col. 1.20 Joh. 14.2 I go to prepare ae place for you 2. As men must walk in the way and set their feet therein that so they may in end come to the place of their rest so we must fasten our hearts on Jesus Christ that walking in him by faith and after him as our great pattern by imitation we may in end come to the possession of eternal life 3. He is called the Way because he is our forerunner in the way to Heaven Heb. 6.20 Not only he hath made the way clear and passable for us to Heaven in removing the wrath of God which was like the flaming sword that kept man out of Paradise this he hath done by the satisfaction made by his death to Divine Justice for our sins but also by his example he hath shewed us the way of sanctification wherein we should walk and now by his intercession in Heaven he applyeth to us that promise made in the Covenant of free Grace Ezek. 36.26 27. I will cause them to walk in my statutes Christ is called the new and living way Heb. 10.20 He is called the new way not that believers before the Law or under the Law went by any other way than by faith in the Messiah to come unto the Kingdom of Heaven because all of them were saved by vertue of the Covenant of Grace made in him in whom believers of all Nations at all times are saved Acts 15.11 We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they Heb. 13.8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Rev. 13.8 he is called The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world But he is called the new way in opposition to the way of the Covenant of Works made with the first Adam which Covenant man through his fall made himself unable to keep and so to be justified thereby and get eternal life Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh It is called the living way because believers in Christ are quickened by his Spirit to walk in him and by him to attain eternal life The Lord Jesus Christ is called the Way because by him only we come to eternal life Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved And there is no coming to the Father for reconciliation but by him as the one and alone Mediator Joh. 14.6 No man cometh unto the Father but by me Object Is not Sanctification and good works called also the way to Heaven Ephes 2.10 God hath before ordained that we should walk in good works And afflictions are also called the strait and thorny way through which we must enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14.22 Ans The Lord Jesus Christ is properly the living way that quickens us and leads us to eternal life Sanctification and good works are comfortable mithes and evidences that we are in Christ the way 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature Joh. 15.5 I am the Vine ye are the branches He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit Sanctified afflictions are as hedges to keep us close with Christ the way that we do not debord nor depart from him and the way of his Commandments Psal 119.71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes Object But I have wandred long and far in the broad way will I be welcome to him who is the only way to get me accesse to the Father and being reconcilled to bring me to glory Ans If thou forsake thy former evil ways he will receive thee and by his Spirit lead thee in the way to eternal Life 2 Cor. 6.17 Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you Thou has his own gracious promise if thou wilt turn from thy former evil wayes and by faith come to him he will accept thee Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wayes cast out He accepted of many who had walked in the way of curious and unlawful arts Act. 19.19 He accepted of some vile and abominable unclean Persons among the Corinthians when they by repentance turned from their former unclean wayes 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Doth not our blessed Lord invite all sinners pressed and wearied under the burden of their sins Mat. 11.28 And albeit at thy first coming to him thou has not so much ease and rest in thy conscience as thou wouldest yet thou may have some case and begining of satisfaction from
of the Spirit in us is the foundation of all our spiritual and supernatural actings without this life men are dead in sin and cannot grow in grace without it men are dead and cannot walk in the wayes of Gods commandments without it men are dead and cannot understand nor perceive the things of God in a saving way for the salvation of their souls 1 Cor. 2.14 2. The necessity of the life of grace wrought in us by the Spirit appeareth in this because without it there is no coming to the life of glory Joh 3.5 This life of grace is the infancy of the life of glory and as one cannot grow up to the perfect stature of a man unless he hath been first an infant so a man cannot be a perfect man in glory except first he be an infant in the state of grace as one cannot be put into actual possession of an inheritance till he first be born into the world so no man can be put into the possession of the heavenly inheritance until first he be born over-again by the holy Spirit the author of the life of grace and the preparer and preserver of us for the life of glory This life in or through the Spirit is absolute necessar even for all men who would come to the life of glory for it is said indefinitly Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Though he were never so nobly descended of earthly progenitors yet if he live not in the Spirit it may be said of him as of Judas It had been good for him he had never been born 3. It is necessar for our comfort to assure us we are united to Christ and that neither life nor death shall separat us from him as life in the branch is an evidence of its ingrafture and union with the Tree So our partaking of the life of the Spirit is a comfortable evidence that Christ is in us by the indwelling of his Spirit and we are in him by faith and love 1 Joh. 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit 3. This life in the Spirit is an excellent life if simply considered in it self 1. In respect of that true and pure pleasure that attends it the deceitful pleasures of a sinful life are like the sting of an asp casting a man into a deep sleep but when the conscience is awaked the heart through fear is as Pashur Magor-missabib fear round about the conscience of a sinful liver is like a chiding wife in the bosome casting up to the man all the former evil wayes he has walked in in the dayes of his former life But the godly and spiritual liver has much inward pleasure and soul-satisfaction Pro. 14.14 The back-slider in heart shall be filled with his own wayes and a good man shall be satisfied from himself His good conscience from the sense of the life of the Spirit within him is like Abishag to David in his old age it doth cherish the inner-man and warm it with a sense of Gods love shed abroad in the heart by the holy Spirit it sweetens common mercies to the man who lives in the Spirit The primitive believers from the sense and comfort of the life in the Spirit did eat their meat with gladeness and singlness of heart Acts 2.46 Oh that profane and worldly-minded men who speak of a holy and spiritual life as a condition sad and comfortless would become spiritual livers in the Spirit and take a proof of that estate of life I say to these men as Philip said to Nathanael Come and see and after sight and proof ye will say as the Queen of Sheba did it was true that was told me but not the half of that contentment and joy I find by experience to be in a godly and spiritual life was told me The life in the Spirit has great and certain gain accompanying it together with much unspeakabl contentment 1 Tim. 6.6 Godliness with contentment that is which has contentment alwayes attending it is great gain 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come It has the promise of temporal blessings Psal 34.6 7. Rom. 8.28 and of eternal blessings 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him These who live in the Spirit do live in great honour and reputation with God and the greater and wiser the person is who doth bestow the honour it is the greater but so it is that the great and wise God doth esteem much of men of an holy and spiritual life he calleth them his Treasure Psal 135.4 his inheritance and portion Psal 35.12 his jewels Mal. 3.17 The friends of God 2 Chron. 20.7 The sons of God 1 Joh. 3.1 This life in the Spirit is excellent if compared with the natural life the life of the sense is common to us with the brute beasts whereof some do excel men in some outward senses the life of reason is common to us with Pagans and Infidels and many of them in their philosophy hath excelled us yea our living under the outward means of Word and Sacraments is common to us with many hypocrits and castawayes but this life in the Spirit is far more excellent than that of sense and reason as a man by reason doth far excel the most sagacious beast so doth a man living in the spirit excel the greatest Moralists who were or are void of the life of grace by the Spirit natural men partake of the divine gifts but spiritual and godly men are made partakers of the divine nature by way of assimilation 2· Pet. 1 4. And as for men living or rather dieing and stinking above the earth in their vile lusts a godly and spiritual life doth excel that vile and miserable life as far as light doth darkness and Heaven doth Hell Seing we live the life of grace by the Spirit we should be very watchful that we grieve not the Spirit 1. It is the worst sort of unthankfulness to render evil for good and it is also unnatural for children to grieve their parents that under God are the author of their natural life How great a sin then is it to grieve the holy Spirit the author of thy spiritual life 2. Thou art sealed by the Spirit who sealeth thy eternal redemption to thy faith by the promises of the Gospel and more clearly by the administration of the holy Sacraments as the outward common seal and effectually by the graces of the holy Spirit of sanctification as the inward and privy seal of thine heavenly inheritance Ephes 1.13 In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise And how loath are men and
give some refreshment to the soul and withall encourage it to go forward to Heaven where they shall get no worse but much more of such fruits Although thou hast not such a measure of the sense of Gods love towards thee as thou desirest yet if there be in thine heart a true and sincere hatred of all sin and a true and deep sense of thine own love toward God that thou mayest say in humility and sincerity as Peter did Joh. 21. Lord thou that knowest all things knoweth I love thee then mayest thou die willingly because 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen c. what God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 8.3 If any man love God the same is known and approven of him Peace in thy conscience from faith resting on Jesus Christ and his perfect righteousness is the earnest of thy full and everlasting peace in Heaven when thou shalt see God as he is Although thy peace of Sanctification may be interrupted now and then by thy sinning sometimes against thy light as it was in David Psal 51. yet in Heaven there will be perfect righteousness inherent for ever and the fruit thereof will be perfect and everlasting peace in the soul Spiritual joy which is called the joy of the Holy Ghost because he is the Author of it and is also called the joy of salvation because eternal salvation in Heaven is the object of it if at any time God hath given joy to thy heart after thy mourning in secret for thy sins and after thy believing in Jesus Christ who came into the world to save even the chief of sinners then look thou upon that joy as a love-token sent down to thee from Heaven and as an earnest of that full and everlasting joy in Heaven that shall never be taken from thee This consideration and joyful expectation maketh the children of God willing to be dissolved and to be with Christ at whose right hand is fulness of joy and pleasures for ever For if there be such joy from the earnest and first fruits that it is called 1 Pet. 1.8 Joy unspeakable and full of glory What will the joy be after this life when we shall receive the full sum of glory and shall reap the full harvest of joy in the kingdom of Heaven It is true some of the dear children of God who sometimes in their lifetime have had peace in their conscience and joy in their heart from the hope of salvation have been a little before their death under a cloud and great wrestlings against temptations to unbelief and despondency which were fierce as the sons of Anak at their coming out of this wilderness but before their dissolution that cloud evanished and they exprest their joy like the joy of the wise men when they saw the Star that led them to Christ appearing again Mat. 2.10 and they cried out Venit venit He is come he is come And then they say as Isa 25.9 This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Use For exhortation unto willingness at death to remove out of the body to this end we would seriously and frequently consider 1. This is the place and the time of our sojourning our rest is not here therefore let us pass the time of our sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1.17 Like unto loving and dutiful children in the time of their travels abroad who are afraid to do any thing in a strange countrey that may dishonour their loving father who sent them to their travels for a time and bare all their charges in the time of their absence this fear to dishonour our heavenly Father and our active care to honour him in this present world will make us willing and confident to return unto him at death who will make us welcome at our return and give us rest in these eternal mansions in our Fathers house this fear to offend God and care to please him in all things made the Apostle Paul willing and confident in the thoughts of his departure from this world 2 Tim. 4.7 8 I have fought a good fight c. henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing 2. Consider often the place thou leavest at death and the place thou goest to after death and the vast difference between these two as the Heaven is distant from the Earth thou leavest a world of iniquity and misery but goest to that other world wherein dwelleth righteousness all happiness there is a vast difference between the earthly house thou flitts from at death and that eternal house and mansion to which thy soul flitts immediatly after death and shall rest from all thy labours Rev. 14.13 Thy soul dwelleth now in a dark house there is much ignorance even in the best of Saints here and any light or knowledge we have now in the body is but like the light unto a prisoner in the dungeon through crevices and slitts by the ministry of our outward senses our hearing and seeing but in that heavenly mansion whereto the believer goeth at death there is full light Ps 36.9 In thy light shall we see light 1 Joh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is There will be an identity in the object God himself seen by all the glorified Saints yet there is an infinit variety of all things desireable for our happiness to be seen and known in God himself infinit in excellency an goodness even as a man beholdeth diverse reâ—ractions frâ—m one and the self same sparkling precious Diamond his light and knowledge in the souls of glorified Saints wilâ— endure for ever Rev. 21.23 The city had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof This eaâ—â—thly house doth oft-times smoak and maketh our eyes to gush ouâ— with tears as smoak doth from a soaking fite not yâ—t put out so the many sinful motions and fumes arising from in-dwelling concupiscence in the body maketh the children of God here many times to mourn in secret before the Lord and in the bitterness of their spirit to cry out with the Apostle Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death But at death the fire of concupâ—scence will be wholly quenched as at flitting the fire of the house wherein they formerly dwelt is wholly put out but after death we shall follow the Lamb in white robes not only without blame but also without all stain Now we dwell in a strait and narrow house here are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great pâ—essures and oppressions of spirit with one affliction after another but after death we shall be enlarged from all trouble and pain then God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes Rev. 21.4 Now we dwell in a dropping house one defluction after another from our weak and distempered head do trouble this earthly body but after death in our eternal house there will be a perpetual influence of life health peace and joy from our strong and everlasting Head the Lord Jesus Christ Now we dwell among many evil and troublesome neighbours who make us oft-times cry out with David Wo is me that I dwell in the tents of Mesecb But in heaven there will be perfect peace a sweet harmony in minds and affections amongst all the fellow-citizens there we shall be in a perpetual communion with the blessed Angels and with the glorified Saints Yea that which crowneth all we shall be in an immediat full and perpetual communion with God himself infinit in glory Rev. 21.3 God himself shall be with them And at the resurrection of the body we shall live in a communion of the visible glory of Christ the Lord whom we shall see with our bodily eyes 1 Thes 4.17 3. Lastly consider what joy thou hast had at any time here from faith in Jesus Christ whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeâ—kable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 O what shall our joy be after death when we shall see him face to face If now thy joy be so great in seeing him only through the lattesse of his Ordinances and if some of the Saints have such joy in suffering for him here how great shall their joy be in reigning with him there If we have some peace and calmness in our conscience when we are in the sea of this world what shall be the peace and calmness when we shall be brought within that haven of â—he third heaven where the salvation of God shall be our perpetual bulwark Old Jacob when he considered the misery and famine of the Land from which he parted when he looked to the waggons and provision sent to him by his beloved Joseph and when he considered he was going to be with his own Joseph in honour and great plenty he departed willingly from the place of his former abode So let us consider this present world from which we part it is a place of sin and misery let us consider any provision of inward comfort God hath sent us at any time it should be as a waggon and fiery chariot to carry our hearts upwards toward God the fountain of all comfort and happiness Consider our dear Joseph the Lord Jesus Christ that was sold for our iniquities is now at the fathers right hand the great Steward and Dispenser of grace and glory by death we are going to him in whom and with whom we shall enjoy all happiness for ever If there be comfort sometimes from a drop of joy here how full ever-flowing and over-flowing will our joy be that shall proceed from the vision and fruition of God for ever These everlasting pleasures and purest joyes are that pure river of water of life clear as crystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb Rev. 22.1 I close with that of the Apostle Jude ver 24.25 Now unto him that is able to keep you â—rom falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty dominion and power now and ever Amen FINIS