resisted his will but that he chose rather to found his kingdom over Creatures of reason in another way i. e. in a voluntary free and chosen submission unto him which might be to them an obedience of more reward and to their Soveraign of greater honor but they straight abused it to his great dishonor and their own shame to repair therefore this kingdom of his Father again in the way God first established it i. e. in mans free submission to and elected service of God And out of a zeal to his Fathers greater glory in procuring him also to be glorified by us his Creatures as he also glorified him For his chief end of his now-to-be-acquired Kindom was the glorifying of his Father not himself see Jo. 17. 1. -13. 31 32. -14. 13. 1 Cor. 15. 28. comp 24 25. where after perfecting of our salvation he resigns his kingdom and as man becomes a subject for what glory could he purchase a new which he had not before voluntarily quitted see Jo. 17. 5. 2. Next out of the singular honour he destined for man to carry up our nature and set it above all principalities and powers c. and to give us those near relations to God as no Creature besides is honored with to be the Lambs wife to sit down with him and judge the nation nay Angels c. made lower then the Angels to be crowned in Him with majesty and Honor above them Ps. 8. Heb. 2. 3. Again out of compassion to man who at the beginning made in Gods image had a kingdom and immortality promised him and by his folly lost it to give him a pattern and shew him the way how he might regain it 4. Lastly to exercise his kingdom which he alwaies had over the Church now with more tenderness of love by contracting new relations unto his subjects and investing their nature and making it a dominion fraternal and with if I may so say more pity and compassion from his experirience by tasting the same infirmities with them by which he might also much more strengthen their hope and confidence in him and so advance their endeavors For these and many more reasons foreseen by this the wisdom of the Father He emptied Himself of all his eternal glories forgat his Creation of all things laid aside his Crown his right to any thing so rich and having all things became poor and having nothing For which how lively doth he resemble his type Abraham in his leaving his own Country and his Fathers house and coming to sojourn as it were into a strange land That so he might be made likewise for the promise to Abraham was chiefly performed to Christ Heyr of the world and Lord of all Nations Till God should rebestow all these upon him as a reward to a Creature of yielding obedience to his Commands and exercising all sinless patience in all temptations according to those promises of a kingdom upon the like patience and obedience made to man For God from the beginning had destined man unto a kingdom Matt. 25. 34. comp 41. but according as his eternal wisdom had decreed mutatability and variation in the things here below and the building by degrees of perfection out of imperfection and the bringing forth of good out of the womb of evil this kingdom and this glory was to be attained by man thro free will thro temptations of the threefold enemy and by a conquest over them Therefore the first man also to come to this happiness was first to encounter the world the flesh and the devil A tree set afore him in the very midst of the Garden standing by the tree of life Gen. 3. 3. -2. 9. good for food pleasant for sight soveraign for its virtue being called the tree of knowledg and desirable saith the text to make one wise Gen. 3. 6. A woman of the same flesh with him and Satan setting her on c. And as he if standing thro all these so his posterity ever since whosoever of them shall pass thro these temptations in all obedience and patience are to have a kingdom c. But so it happened That the first man created to this hope yet weakly failed under those assaults and forsaking Gods word and believing the divels lyes sought a kingdom indeed but not by the way of humility and obedience and shutting his eyes which God had prescribed but by the ambition of wisdom and having his eyes open and knowing good and evil and being as Gods which the devil suggested and so both he and his posterity were defeated of it Our Savior therefore to repair this loss became man to win a kingdom upon the same promises and this second Adam conquered where the first was foiled and for this victory was afterward crowned To this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord c. Rom. 14. 9. see Jo. 5. 27. Because or as he is Phil. 2. 6 7 8. c. 1 Tim. 3. 16. Jo. 13. 3. Luk. 1. 32. Esai 9. 6. Heb. 2. 9 10 14. Psal. 45. 7. Act. 2. 36. -10. 42. -17. 31. Matt. 28. 18. c. to shew to man the truth and performance of Gods promises and to be an example of the possibility of attaining them and being made perfect to be a Joseph in the Court of heaven and an Author of salvation unto his Brethren who animated by his example assisted by his spirit and protected by his power thro the same way of obedience and sufferings shall attain the same reign and dominion and kingdom as the man Christ Jesus hath See Luk. 12. 32. -22. 30. Rev. 2. 26 27. -3. 21. 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. Rev. 20. 4. -5. 10. Dan. 7. 22. And this by the everlasting appointment of the Father Matt. 25. 34. thro the Son Luk. 22. 29. And now to view the greatness and extent of this kingdom of the man Christ Jesus bestowed upon him for his perfect obedience and willing sufferings we find it as large as that of God the Father who is for this universal dominion given him of the Father stiled ordinarily in scripture the Lord as the Father God See Rom. 1. 7. Act. 2. 36. Phil. 2. 11. All power that can be named over every name that can be named in Heaven Earth under earth As over the evil Angels not only to quel them in all opposition but also to imploy them in his service see 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. 1 Tim. 1 20. and to dispose of them in their motions See Matt. 8. 31 32. so over all the good and that for his humiliations Phil. 2. 9 10. comp with 8. 1 Pet. 3. 22. whom he imploies as his Ministers and servants in all 〈◊〉 of his government See Matt. 13. 41. Rev. 1. 1. called his Angels as well as of God Act. 12. 11. Jo. 5. 28. comp with 2 Thess. 4. 16. whom they all adore Hâ—…b 1. 6. And from whom they not having naturally or originally
life knowledge power to the gift and Communication and all he doth to the command and appointment and exemplar of the Father Himself to live by him to have life in himself as the Father hath but from his gift to be sent by him not only the man Christ Jesus to be sent to us in the flesh and human nature but the second Person in the Trinity then the only begotten Son of God the Father see 1 Jo. 4. 9. comp Jo. 3. 13 17. Jo. 6. 38 39. -17. 5. Heb. 1. 2 3. to be first also sent into the flesh and to take human nature upon him for he that was sent descended from Heaven and was made flesh see 1 Jo. 4. 2. Jo. 16. 28. Heb. 2. 14 16. 1 Tim. 3. 16. Jo. 6. 38. Again to judge do as he hears from him as he is taught by him Jo. 8. 28. as he hath seen him do the works he shews him operating as it were after his pattern see Jo. 5. 6. 7. 8. chapters Jo. 14. 28. -17. 3. 1 Cor. 15. 27. Jo. 10. 18. -5. 30. -8. 15. -10. 32. Matt. 20. 23. Many of which places if not all cannot be understood of his human nature Neither are these expressions incongruent to the second person of the Trinity since the like are granted to be used of the third the Holy Ghost See Jo. 15. 26. -16. 13 14 15. 2. But secondly which is more to our purpose in the mystery of the Incarnation here God the Father only represents the whole Deity in its Glory and Majesty and God the Son then divested stripped and emptied Himself of that form of God in which he was and in respect of the use and exercise of it further then as the Father pleased to dispense it unto him of all the Majesty and power of his Divinity In which thing our blessed Lord was fore-typified by Sampson for thus was he for the love of an Harlot we were no better willing to part with and to lay aside all his strength to be bound by his own Nation and delivered up to his enemies Judg. 15. 11. to be blinded and made sport with and to be put to death but by his death as Sampson destroying his enemies and getting the victory See Judg. 16. Thus he became in fashion only as a man Luk. 12. 50. undertaking all the imperfections that are without sin of human nature such as others have and receiving all the perfections of it from the gift of God the Father so as others do c. Suffering the imperfection and infirmities not only of the body but those innocent ones of the Soul too and these not only in the sensitive and appetitive faculties as fear sorrow Mark 14. 34. horror of death c. In so much that he was capable of being strengthened by one of those Angels whom he had made Luk. 22. 43. not to name that treating with him by Ambassadors from Heaven Luk. 9. 31. one from the law and another from the Prophets about his sufferings Besides those natural inclinations and velleities if I may so say that appeared in him of the lower faculties solliciting for things convenient to them tho alwaies ordered by reason and the Spirit to conformity with the will of God see Jo. 6. 38. Rom. 15. 3. Matt. 26. 39. Where we discover natural propensions diverse from those of the Spirit tho these proposing their own desires not opposing the others resolves But some think in the Intellectual part also either 1. The absence of some knowledge supernatural to man non debitoe inesse for some time by the suspension of the light of his Divinity from it as it is clear the Beatifical vision was suspended from it in the time of his sad and dolorous passion Which knowledg increased in him according to the dispensation of the Father See Luk. 1. 80. -2. 52. where Christ is said to increase in wisdom and spirit c. not in appearance only but with God as well as men see Mark. 13. 32. comp with Rev. 1. 1. and this with Rev. 5. 5 6. c. where the Lamb is said to be worthy to c. to have prevailed to open the book Of all future events and to look thereon c. and v. 12. To receive wisdom this being signified vers 6. by the 7 eyes as power by the 7 horns for that he was slain c. and Mark 6. 6. Matt. 8. 10. where he is said to wonder as if some thing happened unexpected Or 2. The absence of that experimental knowledg which he afterward acquired by sufferings see Heb. 5. 8. -2. 17 18. Or 3. at least see Jo. 16. 30. -21. 17. some restraint of the effects and external manifestations of his knowledge till the time the Father had appointed for them to be opened See Act. 17. comp with Rev. 1. 1. and Mark. 13. 32. Matt. 20. 23. Therefore he is said in his youth to have heard the Doctors of the Law and conferred with them tho by this doubtless he learned not from but imparted wisdom to them Luk. 2. 46 47. Nor did he offer to teach till the age allowed for Doctors to profess And not then till after he had as it were prepared himself for it in six Weeks solitude silence watching fasting prayer For he who prayed whole nights when all the day wearied with emploiments certainly omitted it not in that long vacation And so for the external operations of the Spirit it self tho he was by the Holy Ghost conceived and had it not stinted and given by measure as others Jo. 3. 34. Col. 1. 19. who yet are said also to be filled with the Holy Ghost as the blessed Virgin and St Stephen and some even from the womb as St John Baptist. See Luk. 1. 15. Act. 7. 55. yet the more publick functions of it were restrained till at 30 years of age that he was baptized that it at the solemnity visibly descended on him and then he began in the strength of it to preach do Miracles c. Luk. 4. 1. Jo. 2. 11. -4. 54. And so his power tho alwaies as God equal to the Fathers Jo. 3. 35. yet for the actual exercise and execution of it as man successively given him according to the fore-appointments of the Father In which respect he saith more emphatically and with signification of some enlargement of it I mean as Man All power is given me c. Matt. 28. 28. Jo. 5. 20. Jo. 14. 12. -17. 12. -16. 7. Matt. 11. 25. Eph. 4. 10. Rev. 1. 18. And it shall be yet more fully said by him at his second coming till when his fulness and his Kingdom in respect of his members is not prefected See 1 Cor. 15. 28. Eph. 1. 23. 2. Again receiving all perfections of this human nature not from the donation of the Word the second person united to it but from the Donation of the Father For tho as 't is shewed before he hath all dependence on the
salvation and eternal life Rom. 5. 16. Now since all our benefit by him comes from our ingrafting and incorporation into him that so his sufferings may be accounted for ours the Sacrament or religious Ceremony instituted to convey unto us this first effect of the second Adams dying for us and so freeing us from the condemnation and washing us with his blood from the stains of our former sins is Baptism After which tho the infirmity of concupiscence still remain for the benefits of the second Adam are not fully perfected till this life is ended yet is both the strength thereof much abated and the reatus or guilt thereof totally removed i. e. that none shall be condemned for the solicitations and importunings thereof which will happen till our redemption is compleated so they be by him sor which he is enabled with sufficient grace mastered and supprest Therefore are we said in the Scripture to be baptized into Christ to put on Christ. Gal. 3. 27. Rom. 6. 2. to be in Christ Rom. 8. 1. Phil. 3. 9. by one spirit to be baptized into one body 1 Cor. 12. 13. To be baptized into his death to be co-planted in the likeness of his death and to be buried with him in Baptism Rom. 6. 3 4. c. 1 Pet. 4. 1. by baptism to be saved from death and sin 1 Pet. 3. 20 21. c. and therefore as Baptism is called our death so his death by him is called a Baptism Matt. 20. 23 Luk. 12. 50. What by him was really performed being by us too represented and acted in Baptism For our Savior is supposed see Rom. 6. chap. to represent till his death a son of Adam as we are and one that had took sin upon him tho he had none in him and so to suffer the punishment and dy to it as well as for it that is no more afterward to be charged with it Rom. 6. 10. and then to rise again a new man according to which we true sinners in baptism are supposed to dy with him to sin Rom. 6. 2. no more to live in it and then to be born again of him to begin a new life a life to holiness called also newness of life Rom. 6. 4. life spiritual opposed to the former carnal see Gal. 6. 1. 1 Cor. 2. 15. Rom. 7. 6. according to which we are said to be already risen with Christ. Col. 3. 1. That is from death in sin Baptism signifying 1. both our putting on some think signified by the expression borrowed from the pulling of old clothes and putting on new a Ceremony used at Baptism in the Apostles times and after them in the primitive Church and being ingrafted into Christ so that we have right to his sufferings c. and 2. then by virtue of his death our being cleansed from sin typified by the water washing us and then 3. our putting to death crucifying and putting off the old man Rom. 6. 6. the son of Adam and so dying to sin signified by the ancient manner of immersion of the body under water nothing of it to be seen and 4. then our putting on the new man and Christ our being born again of water and the spirit and being made a new creature represented in the emersion and elevation again out of the water See Col. 2. 12. -3. 10. Jo. 3. 5. As if you stood by those curing waters of Bethesda nâ—…w stirred by an Angel and saw a son of the first Adam consisting all of flesh diving into those waters all polluted with sin and dying in them which thing one man in every ones stead did for us and then springing up a new child out of this old stock the son of the second Adam consisting of spirit Jo. 3. 6. 1 Cor. 6. 17. washed clean and pure to live a new life in obedience 2. After he hath thus Communicated unto us as many as are his members absolution from sin by his dying to it for us and our implantation into his death by baptism the second blessing he derives upon his seed is Righteousness Rom. 5. 15 18. 19. Luk. 1. 72 75. that by this we may attain life eternal as by deliverance from sin we escaped death And this righteousness this second Adam conveighs unto us in two manners As Adam in like manner did sin to his posterity 1. For first as we derived both from the example of Adams disobedience and from the propagation of his flesh a natural soliciter even in mans innocence for its own delights without regard of their lawfulness Gen. 3. 6. but much more after the fall a pronity to evil and by loss of the Spirit inability to good so from the example of Christs obedience and the traduction of his spirit we receive a new ability inclination and pronity to good and aversion from evil See Eph. 2. 10. Tit. 2. 14. Jo. 8. 39 41 44. Rom. Rom. 13. 14. Eph. 4. 23 24. Rom. 11. 16. 2. Again as his posterity for Adams one sin and disobedience was made sinner and judgment and condemnation came upon them who sinned not after the similitude of his transgression for not their but his disobedience and that also one onely disobedience of his Rom. 5. 12. c. to the 20th The branches being holy or unholy as the root is See Rom. 11. 16 28. Heb. 7. 9 10. So the posterity of Christ both when they yeild obedience yet for his obedience and righteousness not theirs is accepted theirs whether devotions or good works at least many of them being by reason of the remains of the old man as yet only crucified in part weak and imperfect but his compleat and exact for which therefore all the imperfections of theirs by faith are pardoned And when they disobey their obedience likewise being not constant their repentance if it be rightly performed i. e. by now dying to their new sin since baptism in pennance and mortifications and commemorating the Lords passion in the Communion Matt. 26. 28. 1 Jo. 2. 1 2. serving to the remission of sin as they died before to their old ones in Baptism and then by living afterward according to the spirit for his sufferings and obedience is also accepted for obedience So that we are made righteous in Christ see Rom. 8. 1. comp Heb. 7. 9. 10. as well as from Christ in our selves by his spirit as also we were sinners in Adam Rom. 5. 12. as well as from Adam in our selves by the flesh derived from Him See Rom. 5. 15 19. Phil. 3. 9. Rom. 8. 1. 2 Cor. 5. 21. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Eph. 1. 4 6. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 17. 3. Thus Jesus Christ the righteous 1 Joh. 2. 1. derives to all his members righteousness and life spiritual opposed to carnal Next He for this righteousness advanced by God to Immortality Kingdom Glory c. derives upon his seed the reward of Righteousness life eternal opposed to this
again forerunner according to the opinion of antiquity of the souls too entring into the heavenly Sanctuary in respect of the spirits not only of all Saints dying since him of this no question but of all those that deceased before him from the beginning the very first into this Sanctuary as none ever entred for the cause but by and in relation to him so none for the time beâ—…ore him which opinion seems to be strengthned from thâ—… expressions of our Savior concerning Lazarus That He i. e. his soul. as Luk. 21. 43. this day shalt thou i. e. thy soul was carried by Angels into Abrahams bosom as being Father of the faithful a place of bliss doubtless being opposed to the other's place of torment wherein Lazarus received consolations but now we are said to be gathered unto Christ after this life we and Abraham and all into Christs bosom ours and Abrahams Father See 2 Cor. 5. 1. c. Phil. 1. 23. Act. 7. 59. Eph. 1. 10. Again as 't is said in general Heb. 9. 8. That the way into the holiest was not made manifest under the old Testament so in particular of the Saints of it that they received not the promises before us Which may be interpreted not only of the promises of the Messias but also of those obtained thro him spoken of vers 13 14 16. that they without us were not made perfect Heb. 11. 40. and perhaps in respect of this is the same term used Heb. 12. 23. of the spirits of just men now made perfect i. e. admitted into the Holiest by and with our Savior according to the hymn having overcome death thou openedst the kingdom of heaven to all Therefore none of tâ—…e old Testament Celestial visions have any representation of any Church there none of the new are without it See Rev. 4. 4. Heb. 12. 22 23. where setting down the Court of Heaven he numbers the spirits of just men and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 probably the same with those primitiae Rev. 14. 4. To this purpose some apply Zech. 9. 11 12. comp 9. Jo. 14. 3. Matt. 25. 6 10. Into which notwithstanding the good tidings this Joshuah hath told us of it many fail to enter in partly thro unbelief of the glory and riches of that place beyond this Egypt or Wilderness like those Numb 14. chap. longing and lusting after denyed Onyons and Garlick whilst they are fed with Manna and partly thro cowardliness of not fighting their carnal lusts and withstanding the pleasures of this present life the enemies and Gyants which hinder them from possessing this Holy land which notwithstanding this Joshua and his faithful Souldiers have in many battails discomfited before them But seeing there remaineth a rest Heb. 4. 9. and seeing we have a great High Priest tâ—…at is passed c. v. 14. let us lay aside every weight and run with patience c. looking unto Jesus c. who is set down there Heb. 12. 1 2. that at the last we may be made partakers of of Christ. Heb. 3. 14. Thus much of our Saviors officiating in this perpetual Office of Priest above But 1. As God also still retains Sanctuaries on Earth there are certain persons substituted by him in the same sacred office to do that in these earthly which their Master doth in the Heavenly Church 1. By whom first the sacrifice of his body and blood is presented here unto God for a remembrance of him unto the Father in the consecrated elements for all the same purposes for which it is presented by our great High Priest there i. e. for all the purposes for which he offered it first on the Cross. See Mal. 1. 11. Gal. 3. 1. Itaque veteres in hoc mystico sacrificio non tam per actae semel in cruce oblationis cujus hic memoria celebratur quam perpetui sacerdotii jugis sacrificii ad quotidie in coelis sempiternus sacerdos offert rationem habuerunt cujus hic imago per solennes Ministrorum preces exprimitur Cassand p. 169. 2. By whom is Intercession made both by presenting their own praiers for the people and also the peoples prayers to God thro Christ. For God accepteth no praiers but thro Christ nor yet all those that are made in Christs name except either they come from persons deputed by him who is so dearly loved to which persons God hath made extraordinary promises as those I conceive are Matt. 18. 18 19. Jo. 16. 23. c. or from those that are holy and like unto him For sinners God heareth not till reformed The emploiment of the Saints in heaven as we have any notice of it is praier and praises For first since the spirits of Saints departed hence are in paradise Luk. 23. 43. and with Christ Phil. 1. 23. are now said to be made perfect Heb. 12. 23. and clothed with white garments Rev. 6. 11. that is advances in charity and purity greater then here are described in Priests habits having in their hands vials of incense doubtless to offer it which is interpreted by St. John to be praiers of the Saints Rev. 5. 8 -8. 3. have a zeal to Gods glory in mens salvation beyond ours or their own whilst on earth and more charity which grace is not decayed by death but perfected 1 Cor. 13. 8. 2. Since their interpellations there can prejudice our Saviors no more then the Priests intercessions here 1 Tim. 2. 1. and if any ask what needs theirs we may as justly reply what need these nay what need any praiers at all see Matt. 6. 8. Tho little concerning this their interpellation is revealed and those Christians who have implored it seeming to have grounds partly on Miracles pretended to be done by them But probably true ones done and that frequently at their memorials See Austin Civit. Dei lib. 22. cap. 8. and partly on pretended apparitions of them after deceased yet in general it seems piously credible that as Christs members on earth now suffer as he did on earth so his members in heaven intercede for these sufferers at least in general as he doth there and echo unto the King of Heaven the words of their Master as the Angels do to the Church Rev. 5. 12. comp with 9. Rev. 7. 11 12. comp with 9 10. And that petition Rev. 6. 10. I cannot imagine so circumscribed to themselves that it did not represent to God also the sad condition of their Brethren on earth mentioned vers 11. See Rev. 5. 9. where the Presbyters give praise for the salvation of others as well as of themselves for those of every tongue kindred people and Nation See Rev. 11. 17 18. Thus much of our Saviors officiating in the heavenly Sanctuary and his Ministers here Now this discourse as the former must be concluded with the communicating of this honour also unto us who look whatever he is that we also shall be for we shall be like him 1 Jo. 3. 2.
We are all therefore one day to take holy orders to be made Priests and Kings or Priests Melchisedechical Indeed we are already Priests not only some of us in respect of the rest which I have mentioned before who officiate for them in the publick assemblies but even all the people of God in comparison of the rest of the world the Church being a chosen generation out of all the rest an holy Nation a Kingdom of Priests Gods peculiar treasure the Israel of God separated and sanctified for to serve him See Exod. 19. 5 6. Gal. 6. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 5 9. Rev. 1. 6. Every one of whom not only by the Priest in publique assemblies but by themselves also in their hearts may offer sacrifices immediately to God the Father acceptable thro Jesus Christ Heb. 7. 19. and hence are we also called not only Priests by whom but Temples also and that not our souls only but our bodies inhabited by Gods spirit as that Ancient one was by his Glory in whom such sacrifice is offered as our Saviors body also more eminently was stiled a Temple See Jo. 2. 21. 1 Cor. 3. 16. -6. 19. Eph. 2. 22. But this Temple is yet but in building as it were we being here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and hereafter more perfectly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here Tabernacles hereafter Temples see Eph. 2. 21 22. But these we shall be made yet much more hereafter 1. After the day of judgment For then shall every place become a Sanctum Sanctorum and every one a Priest See Rev. 21. 22 23. where the new Jerusalem that after the final judgment Rev. 20. 12. comes down from heaven where perhaps as God expresseth elsewhere earthly by heavenly things so here heavenly by earthly hath no Temple at all in it For that which indeed makes a Temple whereever it resides the glory of God and of the Lamb being now spread all over it irradiating and illuminating it throughout in which respect there is said to be neither Sunshine nor Night there it is all of it nothing but a Temple vers 3. or God being the Temple vers 22. all over it See the same thing prophecyed Esai 4. 3 5. that every one should be â—…alled holy and every house and assembly in Sion have the same glory upon it cloud by day and fire by night that was on the Tabernacle And in this Sanctum Sanctorum Gods Servants shall see his face without a cloud of Incense betwixt and stand before his glory with his name Holiness unto the Lord in their foreheads Rev. 22. 4. and there they shall serve him vers 3. See Esai 61. 6. -66. 21. night and day in his Temple Rev. 7. 15. before the Throne of Glory in singing eternal glories and praises to him for there shall be no more confession where no sin nor praier where no more want not infirmity nor affliction the nations being healed by the tree of life Rev. 22. 2. no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any curse or excommunication of any Rev. 22. 3. there And secondly As then Priests and Servants to God the Creator so are they also Kings or Lords over the Creation sit down on thrones with Christ and Rev. 3. 21. and reign for ever and ever 22. 5. reign on the earth 5. 10. over the Nations 2. 26 27. Judge Angels Judge the 12 Tribes be rulers over Cities Luk. 19. 17. see Matt. 25. 21. -24. 47. Luk. 16. 10. which expressions so far as they have reference to Christs kingdom after the final day of judgment and not to that prosperous condition of the Church which is promised before it are metaphors expressing the unintelligible things of the next by the more acquainted things of this world which cannot be no more then those Ezek. 43. c. c. speaking of the same things litterally fulfilled 2. Priests also after Death before the great judgment day in the better part of us the soul the estate of which tho it was Gods pleasure that it should not be fully revealed to us yet we may not neglect to take notice of that which is so It seems plain then 1. That tho there is no formal judgment or sentence passed upon any man at the day of Death or final reward appointed or any convention or appearance of the soul before the eternal Judge for why then have not other spirits that are void of bodies as yet received that judgment see 1 Cor. 6. 3. And tho the soul as well as the body attain not as not extensively so neither intensively its full beatitude reward and crown nor vision and communication of God and glory nor a full satisfying of its desires Ps. 16. 15. or punishment pain and torment until the general day of judgment and retribution which is true not only of men 2 Pet. 2. 9. but devils more great and more Ancient offenders then men 〈◊〉 6. as may be gathered from both our Saviors and the Apostles frequent expressions commanding us to depend and cast our hope on the expectation of the coming of Christ in glory at the last day and deferring the receit of our salvation of the reward and of the crown of glory c. till that time See Luk. 14. 14. 2 Tim. 4. 8. -1. 12 16 18. 1 Pet. 1. 5 13. 2 Pet. 3. 11 12. Act. 3. 19 20 21. Luk. 21. 27 28. Phil. 2. 16. -3. 11. 1 Cor. 1. 7 8. -15. 19 32. 2 Cor. 5. 1. c. 2 Thess. 1. 6 7. Heb. 9. 27 29. Rev. 22. 7 12. Col. 3. 3. comp 4. 1 Jo. 3. 2. 2 Pet. 2. 9. Jo. 14. 3. By which it appears that there is a place not to be entered before Christs second coming prepared by his Ascension but before this were many souls in Paradise And this applied not only to the body but the spirit 1 Cor. 5. 5. From the petition and expectation of these souls Rev. 6. 9 10 11. From the just punishments of other spirits much worse and that stay for no bodies yet defer'd till that day See Jude 6. Matt. 8. 19. -25. 42. 2 Pet. 2. 4. Luk. 8. 31. comp Eph. 2. 2. Some at least it seems dwelling in the Air and not yet cast into the Abysse and likewise in this interval between death and judgment tho 't is most probable that some souls attain not so much bliss and glory and priviledg as some others See Rev. 20. 4. comp 5. -14. 4. Nor perhaps so much security I mean not in respect of damnation but in respect of that severe tryal which shall be at that dreadful day and of the measure of their salvation bliss and reward For since some sins shall come into judgment and scrutiny at that day which shall not amount to the condemnation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which our Savior expresseth hell here Matt. 5. 22. as frequently elsewhere See vers 29. Matt. 25. 33. see Matt. 5. 22. comp Matt. 12. 36. And since of those
Rev. 14. 12 13. then their number likewise being accomplished and now judgment going forth against the Beast c. standing likewise upon the sea of glass before the Throne with Harps as the service of the Temple was celebrated with Musick 1 Chron. 25. 1. Harps of God as 1 Thess. 4. 16. and singing Moses's triumphal song over the Egyptians see Rev. 15. 2 3. -4. 6. To these two may be added those primitiae of Israel who first upon earth upon going forth of judgment were sealed to be preserved Rev. 7. 3. and then are found Rev. 14. 3. praising God on Mount Sion Lastly afte judgment executed and finisht as well upon the Beast false prophet c. Rev. 19. 20. as upon the persecutors of the primitive Martyrs Rev. 8. 7. c. We find the promised reward given to the souls both of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus Rev. 6. 10. and those after who had not worshipped the Beast Rev. 15. 2. both joined Rev. 20. 4. in the first resurrection being then made Priests of God and of Christ. Rev. 20. 6. When also Christ himself is said in a more special manner to be admitted to and possessed of his Kindom i. e. after his enemies destroyed in respect of his members See Rev. 19. 6. -11. 17. -15. 4. Dan. 7. 13 14 17. And is yet again to be advanced higher in it after the day of judgment and death destroyed For that giving up the kingdom to the Father 1 Cor. 15. 24. and God being all in all vers 28. is not an annulling except for the manner of it only but perfecting of our Saviors kingdom And all this is done before the last general resurrection of bodies set down Rev. 20. 12. Now this first Resurrection is either to be restrained to the Martyrs under the two great persecutions storied the first Rev. 6. chap. the 2d Rev. 13. chap. as first fruits and those who are come out of great tribulation Rev. 7. 14. -14. 4. and to some others perhaps of extraordinary sanctity whose other zealous service for God hath equalled the Martyrs sufferings who shall have some extraordinary priviledge beyond the rest either in a proper former resurrection of their bodies upon the destruction of the Beast as the general resurrection follows that of Satan Which will not seem so great a Paradox after one hath well considered that such a resurrection of bodies not of a few but many old Testament Saints hath already been accomplished namely at our Saviors resurrection see Matt. 27. 52 53. who accompanied him ascending as the first fruits of the Resurrection of the rest by the same Christ to come Nor will it be a stranger thing then for some before others to enjoy in their bodies celestial bliss then now it is that Enoch and Elias do so Or in a Metaphorical one of the soul Martyres fruuntur ut loquuntur veteres praerogativa resurrectionis sunt jam nunc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sicut alii futuri sunt post universalem resurrectionem Grotius Annot. Cassand Art 21. which as it is capable of the expression of a resurrection to grace Jo. 5. 25. Col. 3. 1. according to that of the Schools Mors animae separatio à Deo So perhaps it may be said to have one and as it were a new life when it is advanced to a far greater glory according as Hereticks that held no other resurrection applied this term only to it 2 Tim. 2. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 12. whilst the souls of the wicked that still lie in prison till the great day are said not to live again till the day of judgment and then to be condemned to a second death See Matt. 10. 28. and the souls of other faithful only to be at rest See 1 Cor. 5. 5. Or if the first resurrection be thus understood namely of souls to greater glory then may it be applied not only to the Martyrs who are named by St. John living in times of persecution 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only but to the spirits of all the Saints that are deceased before our Saviors 1000 years reign Especially if we consider first that St. John names such infinite numbers of them of all nations c. Rev. 7. 9. 2. The marriage of the Lamb which likely excludes no Saints mentioned at this time Rev. 19. 9. 3. The same reward of reigning security of not being hurt by the second death c. Rev. 2. 11 26 27. promised not only to the Martyrs but all repenting and doing good works tho I allow them to the first in a far higher measure Rev. 2. and 3. chap. 4. Because he no where makes mention of other Saints not having the same priviledges but of other dead Where his saying that blessed and holy are they that have part in the first resurrection for on such the second death hath no power seems to imply that the second death should have power over all the formerly deceased that had not part in it See Rev. 2. 11. And thus much of our being admitted first in soul then also in body by Christ to the same honor with him of Priesthood and vision and attendance on God in the holyest of all Blessed be such love to sinners for evermore For what joy do we imagine would an Israelite have had to have been introduced within the veil and to have beheld the glory between the Cherubims which yet the High Priest might then see only thro a cloud of incense How passionately did enamoured Moses beg for one sight of Gods face which only the Gospel admits us to and was suffered only to see his back and Elias on the Mount of God after 40 daies fast admitted only to hear his voice But we all by this High Priest are advanced in due time even to see face to face 1 Cor. 13. 12. And this it is that holy David inflam'd and melted with Divine love every where so much longs and sighs for to dwell in Gods house for ever to behold his beauty in his Temple i. e. to live for ever in his presence for as a Prince makes the Court so Gods presence makes a Temple See Ps. 23. 6. -84. 1. c. How amiable My soul thirsteth Blessed are they that dwell A day in thy Courts Ps. 42. 1. c. As the Hart panteth And so his chief praier to God not to turn away his face to cause his face to shine to lift up the light of his countenance upon him never to be enjoyed but in his holy place into which this our great High Priest first conducted him The greatness of which Divine bliss of his and of all Saints we may measure but how infinitely doth the other exceed it by the joy we should take in the possession of some earthly thing with which we are desperately in love and by the mourning we make for the loss i. e. in the absence of it when despaired So the soul as soon as it hath once cast its
his own power as our Savior answered his Disciples when they were inquisitive about his Kingdom Act. 1. 7. as in other acts going forth already conquering and to conquer Neither are all his enemies to be subdued at once but one after another First Antichrist then Satan the last death See Rev. 19. 20. -20. 10 14. 1 Cor. 15. 26. And so are the same enemies also overcome by degrees They first hindred from conquering his elect which power over them he received at the very first then hindred from assaulting For already by the power of his spirit neither the flesh nor Satan are suffered to overcome us except by our own default but only permitted for the exercise of our virtues still to assail us And that meanwhile many by these assaults perish 't is not from any defect of the power or goodness of this king who is so dilâ—…gent that of all that his Father gives him he calleth them all by their names goeth before them leadeth them out fleeth not from them when the wolf cometh looseth not one Jo. 10. 13 12. -17. 12. Ps. 23. 1. and in heaven in the presence of the Angels rejoyceth like the woman that had found her lost piece and the shepheard that had regain'd his straying sheep for the recovery of every sinner See Luk. 15. 7 10. But from the eternal wisdom and law of the Father which law his power must not transgress not to take away free will from man which done all further demerit and reward ceaseth and by which left he must still have a possibility to sin till the consummation of the world But this only Free-will being continued to man without which as vice so all virtue expireth and what is there that he could have done for his vineyard that he hath not done for there is nothing in or without us that can oppose him concerning ns if we our selves do not See Rom. 11. 23. When we believe not when we will not Matt. 23. 37. Mark 6. 5. Rom. 11. 23. Jo. 16. 12. These are the bounds the Father not to overthrow the nature of man hath set to the power of his Son they arguing no impotency nor unwillingness in him but incapability in us Else all things that can make man happy shall be accomplished by the omnipotent power of this King of Saints in their proper season But to express the manner of this kingdom yet more fully we are to know that as God by our Saviors coming into the world and first appearance of the kingdom of God removed away the weak elements and imperfections of the former times and by this light caused all those shadows to vanish so he compleats not this kingdom neither all at once but makes it to grow like Elijah's cloud from the bigness of a man's hand till it cover all the earth and like those waters Ezek. 47. 3. c. by which doubtless are meant the larger and larger effusions of the spirit till the day of the Lord come Act. 2. 17 18 comp 19 20. Umbra in Lege Imago in Evangelio veritas in Caelo S. Ambrose and advanceth it by gentle degrees to more and more perfection till the end come therefore compared to a mustard-seed and a piece of leaven Luk. 13. 19 21. It was the Disciples error Act. 1. to think that the Kingdom of Christ that was but then vagient in its infancy should presently appear in its full strength without any intermediate growth which had it then come to pass and so nothing have been capable of any further perfection the world must also presently have concluded the fulness of all perfection being only in the last scene of the last Act thereof For there is no decrease or revolution to imperfection or standing at a stay in the work of God Man his image cannot endure this in his petty contrivances but increasing alwaies and advancing to that just height he hath determined for them A prognostication of which governing the world he hath left us in the 6 daies work of the Creation of it And so our Saviors kingdom is not yet come to its period of perfection See Dan. 7. 14 9. Heb. 2. 8. Rev. 11. 15. -16. 17. -19. 6. Luk. 19. 11. c. 1 Cor. 15. 25 26. Dan. 2. 34 44. Act. 3. 21 23. but in a constant progress toward it both in respect of the subduing of his enemies And the more and more enlarging of his dominion till all the Heathen be his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth his possession And for the first To repeat more largely what was briefly said before tho all power in heaven and earth be already givea unto Him in respect of himself Matt. 28. 18. Tho God hath made him both Lord and Christ Act. 2. 36. and we see him crowned already with glory and honor Heb. 2. 9. yet all things are not as yet put under him in reference to his body tho sitting at the right hand of God in his person he is suffering still in his members Col. 1. 24. Saul why persecutest tâ—…ou me At his resurrection long ago he then led captivity i. e. Sin Satan and his instruments Death and its associates captive so as to suffer no more at all from them in his own person nor to suffer in his body the Church so far as that it should be conquered by them Luk. 22. 32. Matt. 16. 18. he then disarming them of their formerly mortal weapons but yet not so far that it should by them be no more assaulted nay the stronger assaults are now toward the latter end of the world as his members are more by him enabled to bear them His servants also conquering the same way as himself they never so much as now since he sits on the Throne being given up to martyrdom and overcoming death by death Christianity is yet only under the conduct of their spiritual Moses travailing afresh in the wilderness toward another Canaan expecting not entred into rest Moses was but a type of Christ the Israelites of the Church Egypt and Babylon and Antiochus of Antichrist that is to be revealed in the last times against whom Christ comes first with aids of grace before he comes with the glory of his presence going forth conquering and to conquer but by several degrees and one enemy after another first triumphing over the Beast and then over his image and the false Prophet first by the constancy the witness and blood of the Saints Rev. 12. 11. Then by the sword of vengeance Râ—…v 19. 15. Then over Satan first so far as to bind him from doing hurt then casting him into destruction Rev. 20. 2 10. and last of all over Death the last of all his enemies that shall be destroyed vers 14. And as the subduing of his Enemies so the enlarging of his dominion is effected by certain degrees He brought salvation to all people but not therefore it tendered to all persons
in all times but only to some generations according to the good pleasure of the Father to whom his kingdom is subject in every country and again to some Countries in every age Matt. 24. 14. How narrow was the sound of the promulgation of his kingdom at first Into any Village of the Samaritans enter ye not How obscure his Sermons And without a parable spake he not unto them How uncapable his Auditors Not able to bear his doctrines Jo. 16. 12. Luk. 24. 21. Great works were done when he was present here but greater to be done after his departing hence Jo. 14. 12. His personal presence with his servants which was a great encouragement to them being advanced into an assisting them with his presence with God in heaven and his spiritual presence not with but in them receiving there from the Father and giving unto them the Holy Ghost by which themselves ignorant whilst his body was with them were enlightned with all truth and thousands now at a time converted to the Truth Therefore was it expedient for the promoting of his kingdom to go hence His Commission before being only from the Jews I am not sent c. Maâ—…t 15. 24. but after his ascent receiving the promise for the Gentiles when he asked of God and had given him the Heathen also for his inheritance Ps. 2. 8. And shedding the gift of all manner of tongues upon his Disciples for instructing them And ever since hath he enlarged his borders and advanced to a further perfection towards his fulneâ—…s which is his body the Church Eph. 1. 21. still bringing more sheep into his fold Jo. 10. 16. and gathering up the children of the kingdom as his Father hath given them him here and there in this or in the next generation not loosing one of those be gives him and sending his Laborers hither and thither according as his harvest is ripe Now forbidding his Apostles to sow their seed in one place where he sees the ground is yet too stubborn to receive it as in Asia Act. 16. 6. and in Bithynia vers 7. They assayed to go into Bithynia but the spirit of Jesus as many Copies suffered them not and in Jerusalem Act. 22. 18 21. They in Jerusalem will not receive thy testimony concerning me make hast depart I will send thee to the Gentiâ—…es Again guiding them and that by appearing himself in person to other places where he saw he had by his Father given him much people as at Corinth Antioch Ephesus See Act. 13. 48. -16. 10. -18. 9 10. -8. 39. Then spake the Lord to Paul Be not afraid for I have much people in this City So in places where they might do him more service pricking them forward extraordinarily with the secret instigations of his spirit See Act. 17. 16. -18. 5. -19. 21. driving Paul without any rest to Jerusalem that he might convey him thence by occasion of a false accusation to sow the Gospel at Rome See Act. 13. 2. -8. 1 4. more spreading the Gospel by a persecution of the professors Gods work being not good without evil But Good out of evil All this zeal toward the Gentile after he had out of his dear affection to his own nation first made tender of their ministry to the Jew where then refused yet in the time appointed his standard shall be set up and they also shall bow unto his Scepter and unto Sion shall come the deliverer Rom. 11. 26. comp with Esai 59. 20. and the light of the Gentiles shall also be the glory of Israel Thus the Sun of righteousness goeth on and prospereth and none are hid from the heat thereof but also as the Sun he enlightneth not all this Sphere at once First rising upon the Jew from them shining on the Gentile amongst these first visiting the proselytes and those who were before introducted into the Jew's religion for such were most of the first Converts Act. 16. 14. -17. 4 12 17. 18. 7. but from these by little and little spreading to the rest of the Gentiles those before abounding in all idolatry and amongst these to the Eastern and Asiatick people sooner the light of the Gospel holding the same course with that of the Sun and night also since having succeeded the day in places where it first shined then to the European and the West those whom the Gospel visited later being recompensed in this that they have retained it longer But this so as the light is still increasing and far more here added to the fold of that great Shepheard then have there apostatized from it and still it proceeds and hath passed over the broadest Seas to new discovered kingdoms America and so from them hath made the round to the furthest East China to the posterity of Sem For by him was the East generally peopled as the North by Japhet and the South by Cham and from them shall at last return to the posterity of Abraham the bodâ—… of the Jewish nation from whence it set forth Rom. 11. with whom we hope that a remnant of Cham s seed also out of which hath sprung that great enemy of Christ shall be gathered to the Church Ps. 72. 10 11. and then that wicked one with those that obstinately follow him be utterly destroyed and then Noah's curse fully accomplished And 〈◊〉 observable that at the same time the Gospel began to decay in some parts it began to be planted in others When the Eastern and African Churches began to be overgrown with Apostacy and Heresy the Northern nations Germany Pole Denmark Sweden Norway c. began to be gathered into the Church And after that the West again had been overrun with the grossest superstitions Sects and Divisions the Gospel was hastily transferred to the East and West-Indies From Christian assemblies it hath grown to Christian States and from these again as it has been of a long time generally belived shall encrease into a Christian and the fifth and last Empire not that all that live then shall be Saints or that the world shall be under one Monarch an opinion made to serve the ends of sedition and tyranny but all or most for their religion Christians neither shall Antichristianism be universal either for place or time Of the 10 horns this Enemy shall prevail but over three Dan. â—… 8. and as he shall be toward the end of the world so shall he not continue unto it nor have the honor mundo secum moriente mori but those Kings at last shall make him desolate who before gave their strength unto him And our Saviour shall conquer the world first another way before by setting it on fire His spirit his word first shall prevail over it over the hearts and souls of men and they shall one day before the last become subjects not only to his power but to his truth when Satan also himself before the time that he shall be utterly destroyed shall first have shackles
laid upon him that he cannot walk about and seduce After which conquest first over the ministers and the temptations of Satan he shall also destroy Satan himself and take his Saints also out of the hands of death and raise them again by his power given him from the Father and glorifie them His Kingdom in respect of his members seeming to have three degrees of its growth and his throne 3 steps or ascents one much higher then another The first beginning at his resurrection a kingdom of grace chiefly when our Savior first goes forth conquering and to conquer Rev. 6. 2. The second beginning at the fall of Antichrist and restraint of Satan Rev. 19. 20. -20. 2. The entrance of our Savior into a kingdom of power a kingdom mixt of grace and of glory too his kingdom on earth See Rev. 19. 6. -20. 4. The third which is the consummation of it and the kingdom of absolute glory his kingdom in heaven beginning at the destroying the last enemy Death and the general resurrection Rev. 20. 12. 2 Tim. 4. 1. Matt. 25. 31. Luk. 19. 12. And then he shall give up this kingdom unto the Father when God shall become all in all in him and in us That is when this Vicegerent in a kingdom now full of opposition shall have gathered all Gods elect into safety and felicity destroyed all enemies and gathered out of it all things that offend Matt. 13. 41. finished his business for which he reigned i. e. our salvation Then shall this General give up his Commission as we say there needs no government where nothing can disobey and return with the Father and and the Holy Spirit to govern after a new and in respect of the manner of it if I may so say after an higher way i. e. God shall govern immediately without any appropriated service of Christ or Angels or men his substitutes or use of external means without the least contradiction or opposition of any thing in his kingdom whereby his glory now is as it were violated and diminished himself offended and displeased When God takes again to him as it were his great power see the expression Rev. 11. 17. for God the Father by the wickedness of free will now as it were admits and undergoes some diminution of his glory and governs with as entire and pure a glory as we may imagine he did before the world was and when there was nothing but himself and perfect and infinite glory reflected only from himself Our Savior also having this kingdom resign'd as he then had it with him Jo. 17. 5. So now as then above all and thro all and in all Eph. 4. 6. as all being nothing but himself all So that this resignment of our Saviors government such as now it is is only the transition of it into a greater perfection for it endures for ever and ever Luk. 1. 33. The more things multiplicious are united and things diverse 〈◊〉 into God the more they also being perfected Which as it is true in all other creatures so also according to his humanity may be verified of our Savior blessed for ever more In respect of which consummation of all things that is yet to come all the present things which are consummations of the types of former times are but types themselves and imperfections as also many of those prophecies that are already fulfilled in there are to have a second fuller accomplishment hereafter Our Saviors first coming but a type of the second and the prophecies applyed to this see Mal. 3. 1. Matt. 3. 10 12. much more verified and fulfilled in that Our Sabbaths but types of the rest to come the present communion of Christs body and blood and the present inhabitation of his spirit but types and earnest-pence of a more intimate incorporation and union to him hereafter When whatever he is we shall be like him tho we cannot now imagine what we shall be and our present knowledg and conceit of things seeing them under the law thro a veil under the Gospel thro a glass somewhat clearer but not yet face to face 2 Cor. 3. 14 18. 1 Cor. 13. 12. such as shall hereafter vanish away 1 Cor. 13. 8 12. but by improvement as Stars vanish in a greater light Meanwhile all things under this King of Saints go on apace to their perfection by whom all that is imperfect shall at last be done away And in his Majesty may he ride on prosperously and may his arrows be sharp in the heart of his enemies and the people be subdued unto him and may he remember his poor servants now he is in his kingdom to whom be glory for ever Amen Lastly to conclude this chapter as the rest what is said of his Kingdom is verifyed also of the Saints By whose merits after whose example under whose conduct assisted by his spirit protected by his power all those who depend on him shall also overcome shall have a kingdom thrones reign on Earth rule over the nations judge men and Angels c. only saving to him the primogeniture the preeminence the right hand c. Rev. 2. chap. 3. CHAP. IX The Benefits of our Savior common to all Generations ever since the Creation LASTLY As all these benefits come to mankind by and thro Christ so they came alwaies by him to all generations of men ever since the Creation And as well these before as those since his coming in the flesh attained salvation and were blessed only by in and thro him God perfecting as all his other works so that of our redemption by degrees and still reserving some better thing behind to superinduce upon the former that the precedent without the following times might not be made perfect Heb. 11. 40. appointed not the full-manifestation of his Son for taking away our sin c. nor after the Son reascended the visible and more plenary descension of the Holy Ghost for enabling our obedience c. till the last times indeed But yet he not only promised them I mean to his Church from the beginning where note that in what manner the sending of the Messias or the promised seed so the sending of the spirit wat only promised to former ages See for this which is less taken notice of Gal. 3. 14. Act. 2. 3â—… 39. Esai 32. 15. -44. 3. Jer. 31. 33. -32. 40. Ezek. 11. 19. -36. 27. Joel 2. 29. Zech. 12. 10. c. and raised a continued expectation and longing for them both in men and Angels Mal. 3. â—… 1 Pet. 1. 12. and therefore the faithful were then called the children of the promises and the priviledges of the Jews the then Church of God said to be great in that they had the promises see Rom. 9. 4. -3. 3. Act. 2. 39. But he also exhibited them and this not only in types the figures and representations of what was to come As all former times were almost in all things types of the latter
general i. e. in respect of all persons and of all Covenants made with and promises made to them but only to those times in respect of the covenant of works which then by the errour of many of the Jews the children of works was generally more looked after then the Covenant of faith which had then but few followers see Rom. 9. 31 32. when also the one Covenant was more largely and legibly drawn in great Characters the other put forth more obscure and in a lesser Print and a veil drawn over it 2 Cor. 3. 14. till the fulness of time was come Therefore also the former times had the denomination of the times of the law the latter of the Gospel And again in respect of the literal promise under the law of felicity in the earthly Canaan Therefore where the Apostle saith established on better promises understand there those typical ones of earthly Canaan made to Israel at the promulgation of the law Or opposed to those times in general but this only first in respect of the diverse administrations of the former times with many troublesome ceremonials and types to be afterward abolished and of the degrees of the greater manifestations in the latter times of the way of salvation being void of shadows types and figures all these now being brought to perfection and accomplishment in the incarnation of the Son effusions of the Spirit enlargement of the Church promulgation of an Heavenly country instead of an Earthly Canaan and from these greater manifestations many more of the children of works becoming now the children of faith And from its stronger beams as well those illuminated who before sate in darkness Luk. 1. 79. and midnight as this light increased to those who had before some dawnings thereof And secondly in respect of the accomplishment of those promises to the faithful of the former ages which are made thro Christ spoken of Heb. 11. 13 14 16. In which they could not be compleated and perfected before the times of the Gospel neither in respect of the body they waiting for the restorement of that till those of the Gospel are glorified with them nor according to the reverend opinion of Antiquity in respect of the soul they not having the kingdom of heaven laid fully opened unto them till our Saviour was first entred in thither See Eph. 1. 10. Col. 1. 20. Heb. 11. 39 40. -12. 23. For indeed the performance and perfection of the mystery of mans redemtion was a thing only received in the last daies And tho the virtue of Christs incarnation is communicated alwaies to all men yet not the latter times on the former but the former depend on the latter for the substance and ground of their hope and salvation Jesus Christ come in the flesh These having the body of which body coming toward them the other had the shadow Col. 2. 17. And in these respects the times of the Gospel are said to have so much advantage of those of the law we seeing in a clear glass Gods glory they thro a thick veil we 2 Cor. 3. 13. standing in a clear whereas the best of them in a dim light and the most of them in utter darkness See Matt. 13. 17. -11. 11. 1 Cor. 2. 10. c. 2 Cor. 3. 7. c. Here note that the oppositions of the times that are used in the other heads preceding in which I follow only the phrase of the Holy Scriptures are by these limitations so to be interpreted as that they no way contradict the doctrine of this last chapter FINIS §. 1. Jâ—…sus Christ the truth in the fulness of time Sent. § 2. § 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 3. §. 4. § 5. Anointed §. 6. A new Law-giver for the law moral 1. Expounding it 2. Requiring stricter obedience 3. Denouncing heavier judgments §. 7. Ministring the spirit § 8. Abrogating the letter § 9. For the law ceremonial Cancelling it § 10. 2 An Apostle of the Gospel §. 11. Preaching it §. 12. Remitting sins giving the Holy Ghost admitting into the kingdom of Heaven §. 13. Before his departure ordaining others §. 14. Transferring his authority to them §. 15. § 16. §. 17. Assisting them from Heaven §. 18. §. 19. Those ordaining others to the end of the world §. 20. He assisting their Successors for ever §. 21. The Apostles also delegating to them the authority received from Him §. 22. The truth of our Saviours doctrines c. attested by 1. Scripture 2 Spirâ—…t 3. Miracles 4. Death §. 23. And a resurrection The way § 1. Christ an Example 1 In doing the work In all obedience to Gods commandements Moral §. 2. Ceremonial § 3. 2 In all sufferings for righteousness sake §. 4. 2 In receiving the reward §. 1. Christ Mediator of the new Covenant §. 2. Enlarged Established 〈◊〉 â—…tter promises §. 4. § 5. The blood of this â—…ovenant §. 6. The Death ratifying this Testament § 7. Performance of tâ—…e promiâ—…es put into his hands revived §. 1. Christ the Sacrifice §. 2. §. 3. §. 4. §. â—… 〈◊〉 1 Sin-offering for remission of guilt §. 6. 2 For puriâ—…ing uncleannesses §. 7. 3 Holocavst §. 8. 4 Eucharistical Peace or thank-offering §. 9. §. 9. §. 10. By eating of which we have Communion 1. with God 2 With his Son and all that is his §. 11. 3 With the Saints and all that is theirs §. 12. And are preserved in both soul and body unto life eternal §. 13. 4 The â—…over § 1. 5. Mans debt to and bondage under 1 Sin §. 2. 2 The law §. 3. 3 Death § 4. 4 Satan 1 As the executioner of Gods justice 2 As Prince of this world §. 5. §. 6. Christ our Redeemer 1 By paying a ransom freeing us from debt §. 7. 2 By making a Conquest freeâ—… us from slavery §. 8. Our Redemption not yet fully perfected §. 9. And why §. 10. How much already performed 1 In respect of sin §. 11. 2 Of the law §. 12. Of Death §. 13. Of Satan § 〈◊〉 §. 1. Christ the second Adam Dependent 〈◊〉 God the Father Before his Incarnation §. 2. Much more after it §. 3. Assuming the infirmities of human nature § 4. Receiving the perfections of it from God his Father §. 5. §. 6. §. 7. A Covenant made with the second Adam as with the first involuving his seed §. 8. He fulfils it By walkâ—… 〈◊〉 a quite contrary way to the first §. 9. §. 10. Receives the reâ—…ard For himself For â—…is sâ—…d 1 The Spirit 2 Life §. 11. His particular benefits 1 As our â—…ead communicates absolution from sin by his death for it § 12. Baptism incorporating us into his death The Sacrament of pardon §. 13. 2 As our â—…ead communicates righteousness or life spiritual by his Resurrection 1 〈◊〉 us to perform 〈◊〉 2 Compleating our imperfect righteousness 3 As our head communicates glory or life eternal in our resurrection §. 14. 1 Effected by the same spirit
natural they yet live in like manner as from the first Adam they were heirs of death eternal See the parallel between them for life and death 1 Cor. 15. 20. and 45. c. as for sin and righteousness Rom. 5. And this life in its due time is to be communicated to all the members of Christ 1. both because the head and members have all the same spirit i. e. of the Father which therefore if it have raised one must needs also raise the other As we see in the living Creatures and the wheels Ezech. 2. 21. when those went these went and when those stood these stood for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels Or as we may imagine a man of those large Dimensions that his head were in Heaven and his feet on Earth and such is Christ and the Church Col. 2. 19. and both called by one name of Christ 1 Cor. 12. 12. how easily and instantly such a one by the animal spirits communicated from the Head would move here below which way he pleased his inferior members See Rom. 8. 11. 1 Cor. 6. 14. Therefore those priviledges which the Apostle applies to Christ Heb. 2. 6. the Psalmist saith of man in general Ps. 8. And again 't is argued negatively from us to Christ If no resurrection of us then is not Christ risen neither 1 Cor. 15. 13. If not possible for the spirit to raise our human nature then not his And 2. because the head as Christ is to the Church naturally gives the sense and motion to the members Therefore as 't is said that the head and members are both raised by the same spirit so also that the Head shall raise and quicken the members See Jo. 6. 39. 1 Cor. 15. 45. 2 Cor. 4. 14. I speak of resurrection to life Else the wicked also shall be raised by him by his voice Jo. 5. 21. as their Judge to be thrown into endless torments which is but a Gaol-delivery and an haling them out of prison to execution an act of his power as God not of his merits as a Savior by their having any union to him as the second Adam And the proper Sacrament instituted to conveigh this life unto us by union with Jesus is the Eucharist being the Communion or Communication unto us of all himself first of his body and blood 1 Cor. 10. 16. by which we are made not in a Metaphor but in a Mystery and that a great one members of his body of his flesh and of his bones Eph. 5. 30 32. And 2. not only of his body but of his spirit too 1 Cor. 12. 13. by which soveraign receit and incorporating of him who hath life in himself our bodies also and souls are according to the ancient form of the Church in the administration of these mysteries preserved unto everlasting life a promise by our Savior annexed so often to this mystical partaking of him Jo. 6. 56 57. c. therefore the consecrated elements called Symbola resurrectionis and formerly never neglected especially to be received at the hour of death For 't is to be noted that tho both the Sacraments have all the same effects Remission of sins Matt. 26. 28. comp with Act. 2. 38. Union 1 Cor. 10. 16. comp with Gal. 3. 27 28. all one in Christ Jesus And Joh. 3. 5. comp with 1 Cor. 12. 13. And both Sacraments do intimate obligation to suffering to the receivers see Matt. 20. 22 23. where allusion doubtless is made to the two Sacraments as 1 Cor. 12. 13. Tho our baptism is not with blood as his nor our cup so bitter yet either of them have some more eminently then others Therefore Baptism to which we have more easy access upon repentance Act. 2. 38. and faith of the truth of the Gospel Act. 8. 37. and the promise onely of a new life Matt. 3. 6 8. is more principally the Sacrament of remission of former sins Act. 2. 38. and of our profession of our death to sin and relinquishing the old Adam and now putting on Christ. And then after this cleansing from sins past by baptism the Eucharist to which we are to bring not only faith and repentance but sanctification and holiness therefore such examination required see Matt. 22. 12. see 1 Cor. 11. 28. the end of 27. and 29. comp with 1 Cor. 6. 15. converted shall I then take the members of an â—…arlot and make them the members of Christ 1 Cor. 5. 11. converted No formcators presume to eat c. with the Saints is more specially the Sacrament of our union to Christ and living by him who is the life by the incorporating of his body and blood and spirit into ours 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. By which incorporation we contract such an identity as it were with him that see what he is we are Is he a Son of God so are we His heir So are we Rom. 8. 17. of the Kingdom the Glory to come only all this by and from him that in all things he might have the preeminence and amongst many breâ—…hren be the first born But we must know that as all these effects of our Savior toward us depend on a second generation and being born again of God by the seed of the spirit Jo. 3. 9. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Eph. 2. 22. -3. 16. which giveth life as the flesh from the first Adam soweth corruption see Gal. 6. 8. 2 Cor. 3. 6. Rom. 8. 11. Jo. 4. 14. Eph. 4. 22. and on our thus being made the true children and ofspring of Christ Heb. 2. 13. Esaâ—… 53. 10 11. So that this our second birth is not compleated all at once but this image of Christ by little and little at last is perfectly formed in us See Gal. 4. 19. 2 Cor. 11. 2. 1 Pet. 2. 2. As also all other works of our Savior are not consummate till his second coming and the resurrection Else did we walk by sight and not by faith how should we be transported with joy upon a vision of that infinite glory and nobility the poor Sons of Adam receive from this their second father to whom be all glory for ever And how should we sigh and groan till we were once possessed of it See 2 Cor. 5. 2 4. and Rom. 8. 23. To consider therefore a little the manner and the progress of our regeneration here in this life Our Savior as soon as he had died to sin as a son of Adam and lived again as a Son to God Rom. 6. 10. presently received this spirit by which he begets us promised long before and therefore frequently called the promise from the Father to communicate to his posterity see Luk. 24. 49. Act. 1. 4. -2. 33. Eph. 4. 10. Jo. 7. 39. by which spirit derived from him to us thro whom we receive all things that we receive from God as it was from his Father to him and therefore called also his spirit of Christ