Law might be fulfilled in us In the Law there is the righteousnesse of the commands and the righteous just damnatory sentence of threatnings against the transgressors of those holy commands Now God sent his Sonne and held the fore-mentioned course in laying our sinnes upon him that the whole righteousnesse which the Law requireth of us might be fulfilled in us who are in Christ by faith whiles by Jesus Christ it is fulfilled for us and for our sakes in our roome and stead and so the Law is while fulfilled for us fulfilled in us who are in Christ by faith And then secondly the holinesse and righteousnesse of the precepts is fulfilled in us whiles by this faith which unites us to Christ receiveth his Spirit draweth from Christ sanctifying grace and purifieth the heart a new obedience in all uprightnesse and integrity respecting the whole Law is begun and more and more encreaseth in us in this life is of that growing nature that it will go forwards hold on fight out its way persevere and overcome and at last be perfected in glory thus the righteousnesse of the Law is in us by faith Christs righteousnesse in obedience and sufferings for us reckoned to us as ours and by the same faith holinesse in truth begunne and growing up to perfection in us See here the Gospel fights not against the Law as the Law is not against the Gospel The Gospel acquits those whom the Law pronounceth guilty but not as considered nakedly in their guilt that were against the Jus the right of the Law but by the intervening of and the guilty considered in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price and satisfaction of the Sonne of God and this is agreeable to the jus the right of the Law The Gospel sets them free from condemnation notwithstanding their sinnes because it brings in God condemning their sinnes in the flesh of his Sonne and the Sonne bearing the condemnation of sinne laid on him of God in his own flesh The Gospel while it acquits from the Law purifieth the sinner and gives him an heart and power to judge himself to love the holinesse and righteousnesse which the Law requireth and in this work upholds him with delight in the inward man till holiness be perfected So the Gospel fulfills the Law every way in Christ and in us fulfills the righteousness of the Law for us and in us and while for us in us 6. The person applying and the manner of application of this salvation even the Spirit the Spirit of Jesus Christ who in all those that are delivered from condemnation by Jesus Christ is uniting them to Christ and regenerating and sanctifying them This Spirit sets himself up in the throne and pulls the flesh out of the throne and he reignes in them and orders their lives This person even the holy Ghost and his work making this salvation to come home with saving efficacy is mentioned implyedly in these words In us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thus the Apostle hath set out lively the second great Doctrine The third is a description of those for The third whom God sent his Sonne to become flesh to condemn their sin in his flesh and to fulfill the righteousness of the Law in them these persons are plainly and lively described thus they are those who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit They are known by their walks that is by the tenour and course of their lives in which they deliberately set themselves with continuance and progress which course of life is framed after the guidance and rule not of the flesh that is of their corrupted nature but of the Spirit that is the Spirit of Christ which by the Word ingraffed in them dwells in them and orders their conversation 4. We have also a fourth point of excellent worth for the comfort of sin-burdened and mortified souls which the word of connexion for leadeth us unto There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ though there be much sin in them for the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and from him coming into them is as a Law that hath delivered them from the Law of sin and so from the Law of death and all this is most evident for in Christ their sins are condemned and they justified and sanctified for see they as men set at liberty do walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh This then is the precious truth which lyeth in the coherence concerning the riches of their assurance and consolation who are in Jesus Christ The sins of those that walk after the Spâ—râ—t shall never be to their condemnation neither shall hinder from them the benefit of all the salvation that cometh by Christ nor â—et ought they in the least kind to hinder their full assurance their comfortable walking in their obedience their constant combating against the flesh nor their full dedition to the Law of the Spirit of life as to that which will give them full deliverance from the Law of sinne and death CHAP. II Containing the first great truth which is this that there is no salvation for any man by the Law or by any other means save onely by Jesus Christ. SECT 1. Having drawn up four choice truths of saving knowledge absolutely necessary to everlasting blessedness and sound comfort compactly delivered by the holy Apostle in this portion of Scripture I 1. Doct. No salvation but by Christ Gal. 3. 21 22. come now to handle those four truths at large the first of them is this There is no salvation for any man by the Law or by any other meanes whatsoever but onely by Jesus Christ. If there had been a Law given which could have given life Verily righteousnesse should have been by the Law but the Scripture hath concluded all under sinne saith this Apostle that the promise of faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that beleeve These are opposite the Law and the Promise the concluding of all under sin and the giving of life and righteousness the faith of Jesus Christ whereby we believe and the works of the Law the giving of the promise which is a reward reckoned of grace to him that believeth Rom. 4. 3 4 5 and the paying of a debt which is a reward to him that worketh If then the Law could save there had been no need of the Promise the Promise were in vain nevertheless the Law is not against the Promise but it shuts all men up to the Promise where life and righteousness is alone to be had by believing in Iesus Christ But may there not be found some other name besides or together with Iesus Christ by which a sinner may be saved for answer hear the Apostle Peter as the mouth all the rest of the Apostles saâ—ing to all men and to all the people oâ— Israel Jesus Christ Acts 4. 10 11 12 of Nazareth whom ye crucified whom God raised from the dead
God they became fools corrupted Gods glory and turned his truth into a lye unto themselves Rom. 1. 21. 2. 14. And as for the holy Angels they could not finde out the way of mans reconciliation for they come to know it by the Church Ephes 3. 10. SECT 5. And fourthly as for any other means what can enter into mans heart but the 4. Nor any other means offering of Sacrifices even to thousands of Rams or ten thousands of Rivers of oyle a thing impossible to be had or the giving of the sonnes of our bodies for the sinnes of our souls a bloody and as fond as desperate a course or the building of Temples to God but all these with such like God rejects Micah 6. 6 7. Isa 66. 1 2 3. Now these are the uses unto which we should put this Doctrine The use of this First to shew our lost estate by nature to put us all among the lost All men are helplesse and hopelesse in respect of themselves or any other creature Secondly To strip us of all fig-leaves lay us naked and to shut us up to Christ Thirdly To endear Jesus Christ unto us that we may say Give me Christ or else I dye And fourthly to form us to a readiness to be any thing that God would have us to be that Christ may be ours CHAP. III. Containing the second great Truth which is the fulnesse of the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ proved and set forth by many choice truths which the Apostle in this Text taketh for granted SECT 1. THe second Doctrine is this There is absolute fulnesse of salvation for sinners in Jesus Christ In Doct. 2 There is fulnesse of salvation in Christ for sinners Proved 1 Cor 1. 30. him there is a redemption plenteous Psa 130. 7. and eternal Heb. 9. 12. salvation to the utmost Heb. 7. 25. in him an everlasting righteousnesse Dan. 9. 24. in him righteousnesse and strength he is made to us of God wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption what can a sinner need and yet his needs are unspeakable but they are all exceeding abundantly in glory to be supplyed in Christ A sinner a most imperfect nothing yet if believing he is compleat in Christ in him it pleased the Father Col. 2. 9 10. Col. 1. 19. Joh. 1. 16. that all fulnesse should dwell that out of his fulnesse poor needy sinners might receive even grace for grace grace answerable to that which is in Christ the head of his body the Church grace upon grace more and more still he it is who came by water and blood all sorts of taking away sinne is in him the whole of legal ablutions 1 Joh. 5. 6. Joh. 3. 34. Rom. 5. 21. and cleansings and he hath the Spirit not by measure Grace reignes over sinne and death through righteousnesse unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. To open this that this fulnesse of salvation Opened may appear I shall follow our Apostle in this Text. Two wayes it may be set forth First In the most excellent truths intimated pre-supposed and taken for granted as bottome substrate and foundation or ground truths upon which his frame of declared Doctrine of the Gospel here delivered is built Secondly In the six special heads expressed which before were pointed out SECT 2. The Truths taken for granted and intimated are these First That even the Elect of God and 1. By five truths taken for granted here in the Apostles words the Redeemed by Christ are by nature in the same condemnation with all others of the children of Adam for they are flesh weak sinful flesh they are unable to keep the Law undeâ— sinne and under the curse for whom God sent his Sonne the Law being unable to help them and their deliverance being that thing which was impossible for the Law to do Although all men are not Reprobates yet all by reason of sinne are reprobable Man in himself hath no cause of glorying and as to God no cause of complaining To the Elect man is there undeserved grace and to the Reprobate is there deserved punishment The Elect and Redeemed remain till their effectual calling in themselves miserable carnal alienated from Ephes 2. 1 2 3. the life of God dead in sinne and trespasses the children of wrath even as othets In them are no propensions inclinations or fore-going dispositions to receive grace not one of them was ever able to raise up himself to meet God in the wayes of his grace God never gave Christ to any because he was better than others nor sent the Gospel to any because they would give it better entertainment This only may be said of him which is true of any other man that being a reasonable creature and not a stock or a brute beast he is a subject upon which the glory of God and his Image may be reestamped but for any goodnesse or lesse guilt God findes them all in their blood and wallowing in their filth none righteous no not one all altogether unprofitable and abominable Secondly That condemnation death and hell have their power from sinne and sinnes strength to condemn lyeth in the Law and in the righteousnesse thereof for mark here God to deliver from condemnation condemns sinne and sinne being the swerving from the righteousnesse of the Law for which the Law sentenceth the Transgressor thereof with the curse sin is then utterly gone when the righteousnesse of the Law is every way fulfilled God therefore purposing to deliver fetcheth out the very heart of sinne and taketh it quite away by providing that the Laws righteousnesse be fulfilled Hence it is manifest that this is an undoubted and first truth that the Laws righteousnesse is the strength of sinne The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law 1 Cor. 15. 56. Full salvation can no other way be wrought but by unstinging death and by fulfilling the Law which is the only way to pluck out deaths sting let this be done and the deliverance from sinne and death is full and compleat Thirdly That mercy in God cannot make him like of sinne or blinde him that he should not see it and the sinfulnesse of it or cause him to dislike the righteousnesse of the Law and of the just sentence thereof because God cannot forgo his holinesse justice and omniscience God condemned sinne that the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled he condemns sinne he provides that the Law be fulfilled and so he saves the sinner Fourthly That the benefit of Gods saving love and of the Redemption by Christ and of the Gospel is never to any man actually till it be in him and if never in him never was it to him intentionally God and Christ never intended life and righteousnesse to those in whom he never fulfills it This is taught in the words in us SECT 3. And fifthly As the ground of the whole work here declared and as the
foundation of the Apostles argumentation this is taken for granted that God of his infinite goodnesse was resolved to save some sinnets out of fallen mankind and to give unto them eternal life Of this the beloved disciple speaketh in 1 Joh. 5. 11. This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and the reason thereof is nothing in the creature but it is that in them whom he shall save Ephes 1. 6 7. 2. 7. Ephes 3. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 12. Gen. 17. 1. Heb. 6. 18. he might shew forth the glory of his mercy love and grace the glory of his manifold wisdome of his power of his holinesse and justice while his grace doth superabound Rom. 3. 24. and in all the glory of his immutable counsels and decrees which no length of time wickedness and unfaithfulness of man power and policy of Satan cords of death depth of the grave and hell can hinder from taking full effect and accomplishment The summe is this sinne is sinne the Law is the Law God is God the persons to be saved as miserable vile filthy and guilty as any and yet Gods mercy magnified Christs grace exalted the sinner saved and while saved not left carnal but all that is done for him hath its holy and blessed work in him These things premised consider now the six particulars expressed by the Apostle and then you will see here omnimodas salutes all sorts of salvations salvation from sinne the curse of the Law death the grave and the wrath to come salvation of the soul and of the body salvation eternal salvation to the uttermost salvation full and attaining its end CHAP. IV. Containeth the fulnesse of salvation by Jesus Christ expressed by the Apostle in the person who is the first efficient cause he that provides this salvation which is God even God the Father SECT 1. THe first truth the Apostle fixeth us upon 2. By six truths expressed as 1. God is he that provides this salvation expresly demonstrating the fulnesse of salvation for sinners to be had in Jesus Christ is this God is the first mover the primary efficient of the wonderful work of saving a sinner God sent his own Son Here begins the excellency and fulnesse of salvation for sinners through Jesus Christ that it is God that provides it Isa 43. 13. If he work who shall let it what God doth is for ever what God doth is done Eccles 3. 14. indeed his work is perfect nothing can be put to it nor can any thing be taken from it upon this word GOD must we must put our accent it is written with emphasis as the Apostle in ver 33. of this Chapter fastens us upon this thought saying it is GOD that justifieth so here GOD sending his Sonne condemned sinne this then is of high and serious thought What hath this of consideration in it and what conclusions flow from hence dwell awhile on these two 1. What matter of due and high What matter of highest consideâ—â—tion is in this seven fold Ps 83. 18. Rev. 1. 4 8 Exod. 3. 14 consideration is there in this that GOD is the worker here this word GOD carrieth our thoughts 1. To the true God Jehovah the one only God whose name alone is Jâ—hovah the force of which name is delivered thus in the New Testament which is which was which is to come who is I am that I â—m who hath his being of himself and giveth to all things their being who gives a being to all his words which he speaketh and to his gracious promises in their season so that no tittle of 1 King 18. 39. them shall fall to the ground this Jehovah he is the God he is the God All other whom men call God are not God by nature they are but either the creatures or the inventions of their own braines the work of their own hands they are Idols and an Idol is nothing in the world it hath no deity at all and therefore as such 1 Cor. 8. 4 5. it hath no being at all and having no being it can do neither good nor evil it is profitable and good for nothing God Jehovah he who is and none besides him he gives this Saviour and therefore his who are taken into this Covenant of Mal. 3. 6. salvation are not consumed nor can ever perish 2. To God as the Majesty offended as he against whom all our sinnes are who might have glorified in his justice upon the sinner but mercies to forgivenesse and to eternal life do please him Who can of right remit because the wrong is against him against him onely if he acquit and justifie who can lay any thiâ—g to their charge if he be for the sinner Psal 51. 2. Rom 8. 33 31. who can be against him 3. To God as cloathed with all his Attributes with all his Essential glory In this salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ look upon his Almightinesse or All-sufficiency he cometh forth and saith to his poor cteature the sinner whom Gen. 17. 1. he calleth I am God Almighty I am God All-sufficient to me nothing is hard nothing impossible have me and thou hast enough thou hast all thou needest not go out to any other nor be to seek and at a losse for any thing or in any estate look upon his Infinity or Infinitenesse the Alpha and Omega who hath Phil. 1. 6. begun and will perfect his work Behold his Eternity is he not from everlasting Hab. 1. 12. the Lord their God theâ—r holy one they shall not dye All the greatest enemies the mighty Lord God hath ordained and established but for the correction of his people Behold his Vnchangeablenesse Heb 6. 17. Numb 23. 19 20. the immutable God is willing here to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his Counsel by interposing himself by an oath he will not repent of this his Word and no conjuration can reverse it hear what he saith I will ransome them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death O death I will be thy plagues O grave I will be thy destruction Repentance shall be hid from Isa 64. 5. mine eyes this unchangablenesse causeth continuance in his saving wayes when his people raise his wrath against them and they ought to say thereupon we shall be Jer. 31. 20. saved this unchangeablenesse shines in the sounding of his bowels towards them repenting and though their provocations are such as would weary and tire out Hos 11. 8 9. any created patience yet he is God and not man the thoughts of giving them up turn his heart within and his immutable counsel makes his repentings to be kindled together so far is repentance from God his gifts and calling are without repentance Rom. 11. 29. Mat. 3. 17. 17. 5. Zeph. 3. 17 Tit. 1. 2. Isa 54. 9 10. Jer. 31. 35 36. Psal 89. 33 34 35. Isa
Sonne in the likenesse of sinful flesh and for sinne condemned sin in the flesh Ver. 4. That the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit CHAP. I. Containeth an Explication of the Text in its dependance and manner of laying down with three special Observations giving further light to the words and with the four great truths of Doctrine three of them expressed and the fourth implyed in the cohaerence SECT 1. THe whole Chapter is the Conclusion The dependance of the words on the former part of the Epistle Their scope is comfort of the large treatise and disputation of the holy Apostle Paul writing to the Romans concerning the Justification and Sanctification of believers in Jesus Christ The Apostle drawes up all that he had delivered in this Epistle for the practice of the Saints and especially for their consolation against all sorts of evils that may befal them in this present Two evils sinne and affliction world Now because there are two sorts of evils which assault their faith and that sorely and dangerously which are the sense of the remainders of sin within them and the manifold afflictions tribulations and temptations that befal them from without two evils sinne and the Crosse sin that dwells in them and the Comfort in Christ to believers against both Cross that attends them from abroad The Apostle against both these doth exceedingly comfort all believers And this he doth not without cause They that believe in Christ do they not finde sinful corruption working in them and is it not as a law in their members doth it not sometimes carry them away captives and is it not alwayes averse and adverse to their holy inclinations unto and delight in the law of the Lord Paul in his own person sets out the estate of a believer to be such in the latter end of the seventh chapter If this be the estate of those that believe and that have in them the beginnings of grace and sanctification How can they be comforted for is not sin to be regarded is not sin the more grievous the more good and gracious God is to them and ought it not so to be do not their souls hate sin the more and are therefore the more troubled because such corruptions stir in them and break forth against God the Apostle grants it all but for full consolation sets Jesus Christ against this evil of sin and asserts that their sins shall not condemn them There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit This is haâ—dled from the first verse to the middle of the seventeenth verse For the second evil true believers are subject to persecutions to afflictions before and above any others they are the 〈◊〉 of contradiction the very strife of tongues how then shall they have comfort Where is the gaine of godlinesse The Apostle saith there is this certaine truth full of Consolation that all afflictions that can befal the believer are so farre from prejudicing his salvation that they promote and assure unto him his greater glory in verse 17. and this argument is continued unto the 31. verse And then in the 31. verse to the end the Apostle breaks out into a triumph of faith over both evil sin and affliction over all that may stand in the way of their comfort not leaving until he hath raised them together with himself in despight of all adverse things to the height of one more than a Conquerour and to the glorying of one that is fully assured In the words of these two verses The The dependance of the words on the former verses To them that are in Christ comfort against the evil of sin proposition for comfort against the sense of sin laid down in the first verse is proved and demonstrated and the meaning of the probation of that proposition given in the second verse is also in these words cleared There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus That 's the proposition whereof these words in verse 3 4. give the full demonstration and 't is this In Jesus Christ their sins are condemned and the righteousnesse of the Law which is the strength of sin is fulfilled What condemnation can there be where sin is condemned and where all righteousnesse is fulfilled and this is the true case of all that are in Christ besides they are under another law even the command of the Spirit of Jesus Christ after whom they walk and who from Christ is in them lawing of them So that they who are in Christ Jesus are not onely under another Law but the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus and from him a their Head and as the second Adam is in them as a Law even the Law of the Spirit of life which delivers them from the Law of sin and death this is the summe of the second verse what is this law of the Spirit It is the Spirit of grace and What is the Law of the Spirit What is the Law of sin holinesse dwelling in us by the Word of the Gospel which hath in us the power and force of a Law What is the Law of sin and death It is the deadly power of sin which hath in all men by nature the strength of a Law to command and commanding reigns through the strength of the holy Law of God unto death or condemnation Now â— observe how the third and fourth verses clear up this nothing but the living spiritual law of the Spirit which is in Christ Jesus can give a sinner an Apostle a Paul deliverance from the power of sin and death but this can this Law of the Spirit of life hath delivered me This is thus made out The Law of God could not do it for that doth not give this Spirit but the Gospel onely can do it because the Gospel giveth the Spirit the Spirit of life which sets free from the Law and power of sin and death This is the dependance of these verses upon the former SECT 2. The words are the summe of the Gospel The manner of laying down the Doctrine of the Gospel here 1. By prevention of an objection Object Might not the Law deliver a sinner explaining the great mystery of salvation which God himself first preached in Paradise to our first Parents miserably fallen which the holy Apostle openeth in this manner He layeth it down first by prevention of an Objection and then by reckoning up the causes of salvation and lastly by re-assuming the description of the persons that have their part therein The Objection is this How doth the Law of the Spirit alone deliver the sinner might not the holy Law of God deliver from sin and death Answ The Law cannot deliver The deliverance of a sinner from sinne and Answ It is the thing impossible to the Law from the damnation of sinne
is that which is the impossible thing of the Law that which is impossible for the Law to do The Law is the holy Commandements of the Eternal God Maker of all things these discover sinne and condemne the sinner but they deliver not from either That which is of use and is of this nature to shew and sentence for sinne cannot possibly work deliverance to a sinner but it is the Gospel that Law of faith that discovereth a Saviour Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ how a sinner may be made righteous and so be delivered from sinne and how one condemned by the righteous Law may be delivered from that condemning sentence and so be set free from death which sinne deserved God sending his own Sonne c. where it appears that a sinner may be delivered from his sinne and made riâ—hteous and delivered from the Law and not condemned What the Law could not do in that it was weak through â—â—e flesh God sending his own Sonne c. The former Objection may yet be urged for it may be said the Law is righteous and can it not then give righteousnesse and life Answ The Apostle explaineth the Yet the Law is in no fault thing and amplifieth it the Law cannot do it not that there is fault in the Law this impossibility cometh through the weaknesse of mankinde now fallen who are not able to keep the Law The Law is not weak as if not perfectly righteous and holy or as if it had not a promise of life annexed to it but you are weak who are not able to keep it It is through mans weaknesse who is not able to performe the righteousnesse thereof that the Law is become weak the perfect exact holinesse thereof makes through our weaknesse weakning it that none can stand righteous by it nor live by it Hence ariseth the inpossibility of help by the Law Thus the Law is still preserved honourable and is magnified when yet it cannot help us and we are in the fault the fault is wholly ours Again the Apostle displayeth the Gospel 2. By opening the causes of a sinners salvation glory and displayeth the mystery thereof by opening the causes of the salvation of a sinner 1. The outward impulsive cause the impossibility and impotency of the Law to save through the impotency of man who stands bound to keep the Law this is the external impulsive this very thing that the Law cannot help us but condemns our sins and us for our sinnes and curseth us which is not thorough any fault in the Law of it self but only by accident by reason of our corrupt nature this this is that outward thing which moveth God to save sinners that which might move God to come and execute the sentence of the Law that moved God to provide a Saviour That which the Law cannot do through mans default that God doth by sending his own Son 2. The efficient or working cause the first working cause in saving a sinner God God set the accent there it must be noted with emphasis lift up the voice and stay the heart upon that Word write it in great letters It is not my observation that you must not slip over this one syllable but the Apostles divinely inspired as afterwards in this chapter when he saith If GOD be for us and again It is GOD that justifieth God against whom our sins are God whose righteous and eternal Law we have rendred uselesse to an utter impossibility to do us good and that for ever until He put us into another state He is the first agent in the work of our salvation 3. The material cause What course doth God take to save a sinner God sends his own Sonne Gods own Sonne doth take away sin by his passion bearing our sins in his own body his own Son in our flesh in which he was incarnate kept the Law for us and so the righteousnesse of the Law is fulfilled 4. The final cause which is this Redemption is wrought by the Christ of God that the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in us in us who have made the Law unable to do us any good who have made it to the Law impossible to set us free from sin and death 3. In us may some say in whom lest 3. By describing the persons for whom this salvation is wrought we should be deceived herein to our everlasting undoing while there is such a Gospel such a Saviour we have the persons described for whom all this is done In us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit that is in us that believe in Jesus Christ but because many do deceive themselves in saying we believe and do not believe the Apostle useth not those words but taketh up this description which noteth out a believer by the Spirit he hath received and the Spirit by the rule and dominion he hath now in and over him and this rule of the Spirit over believers by this that sin doth not now reign in them though sinne be in them and the ruling of the Spirit and the dethroning of sinne by their walk it is not ordered by the flesh nor at the will of the flesh but their life is ordered by the Spirit of Jesus Christ through the Word of this his grace dwelling in their hearts Thus we see proved in these words that there â—an be no condemnation to those that are in Christ for though the Law would condemn them because they are sinners and there is sinne in them that deserves condemnation yet their sinnes being condemned in Jesus Christ by a righteous God God may pardon them with the good leave of his justice doing no wrong at all to the holy Law SECT 3. For the further opening of the words here are Three things of special observation three things of special observation 1. The diverse acceptation of the word flesh in the compasse of this Text. First it notes mankinde with all its abilities and excellencies upheld in men of 1. The word flesh taken four wayes here God himself in his long-suffering since the fall in these words weak through the flesh Secondly it notes out the humane nature as corrupted with sinne in the words sinful flesh for the flesh of sinne that is mankinde such as sin hath made it not such as God made it soaked with sin under the power of sin weak frail flesh the soul and its endowments beslaved to the flesh to the senses to the sensual apperite to the things the outward man the flesh desireth insomuch that the whole man may well be called flesh Thirdly It notes the humane nature frail and mortal but not polluted with sin In the words condemned sinne in the flesh that is in the flesh of Jesus Christ Fourthly it notes the corruption or sinfulnesse of mans nature in the words walk not after the flesh Now from these several acceptations of the word flesh we gather Four observations from that
of greatest moment that can concerne us and our salvation and the assurance thereof laid down in open and expresse words 1. The impossibility of a sinners salvation by any means save by Jesus Christ 2. The absolute fulnesse of a sinners salvation by Jesus Christ 3. The lively description of those among sinners who do obtaine salvation by Jesus Christ And then in the connexion of these words with the former we have a fourth doctrine of excellent worth viz. 4. The fulnesse of their assurance to be out of the reach of condemnation and to be in the estate of salvation and the fulnesse of their consolation who are actually in Christ First The impossibility of the salvation of a sinner by any means saving Jesus Christ This the Apostle teacheth when he saith What she Law could not do It is that which the Law cannot do It is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the impossible thing of the Law When he also saith further In that it was weak he teacheth that the Law is weak and so is unable to give life righteousnesse and salvation to a sinner and to deliver him from the Law of sin and death This is that thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which it is weak The Law is a perfect rule of righteousnesse It commands well It is a holy and exact sentencer of the disobedient it judgeth righteously but as for deliverance and salvation there it leaves a man that hath sinned and to that work it is utterly weak that is the thing in which it is weak therefore this impotency of the Law demonstrateth the impossibility of the Law to deliver a sinner And then when he saith through the flesh that is man since the fall taken with all his best abilities and they and he in them upheld by God the Creator in riches of patience and in riches of goodnesse and having in him the light of natural principles and with him the book of the Creature to read and not onely the work of the Law written in his heart but also the Law given to him from God by lively voice and written in Tables of stone and perpetuated in the holy Scripture man thus sustained and furnished with his utmost improvement which he can make of the same is but flesh weak flesh so weak that he hath brought this impotenâ—y and impossibility upon the Law the good holy spiritual and righteous Law of God which had the promise of life annexed to it Now through the flesh through man who is weak the Law becomes weak and deliverance from damnation and from sin is that impossible thing of the Law which man cannot have by the Law thus this gate to life is fast shut yet the Law is set up in its due worth and power and man cast down under his deserved blame man is laid dead to the Law and the Law dead to man as to the matter of righteousnesse and salvation Therfore also it unavoidably followeth that no other creature nor meanes can deliver a sinner for what means setting aside Jesus Christ is comparable to the Law or what creature is above the Law this is the first doctrine 2. As for the second The absolute fulnesse of a sinners salvation by Christ this is demonstrated by six powerful arguments For 1. It is GOD that provides this Saviour the Lord Jesus and the salvation that is in him God sent his Sonne If GOD will save who can destroy God the Law-giver offended the person against whom all our sins are 2. The person undertaking the work It is Gods own Sonne If he undertake it by whom the worlds were made the Sonne of the Fathers love What a salvation must it needs be and who who or what shall condemne 3. The way God took to save by him it is unspotted perfect and compleat this way was 1. By designation of him to the office of Mediatour and Saviour and to the works of that office God sending his own Sonne Sending noteth the Commissionating and actual employing in the execution of some function and work to the which he that is sent was fore-ordained selected and called and all this designing of the Sonne by and from God is of his mere grace and infinite good pleasure within himself 2. By his Incarnation God sent his Son in the likenesse of sinful flesh here is a suitable Mediatour and Saviour one that hath all right for he took to him flesh and blood and all ability for the Son of God became flesh 3. By allotting the businesse concerning which and for which he is sent It was sinne God sending his Sonne for sinne Sinne was that concerning which he came the businesse he was employed in to be a sacrifice and propitiation for sinne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the foulest thing in the world fouler than hell he is sent about sinne to take that away to take it on him on his own body on the body of his flesh God sent him charged with sinne with the iniquities of all his people God sent him as he that had before all world 's engaged himself for sinne to take it away Go out of heaven out of his Fathers bosome he must for the businesse of sinne for sinne lay upon him and since he had undertaken the debt no rest could there be to him till he had paid the utmost farthing It was much he should be sent in the likenesse of sinfâ—l flesh but behold God sending him so and concerning sâ—nne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for sinne What businesse what work is here for Gods own Sonne to be busied about and to have any thing to do withall 4. By course of justice God condemned sinne in the flesh or in that flesh viz. which his own Sonne had at the Fathers sending taken upon him The Syriac readeth in his flesh The Sonne of God saveth by making satisfaction to Gods justice God condemneth sinne in the flesh of his Sonne and so there is no condemnation to the sinner the Sonâ—e of God in his flesh suffers sinne is said upon him and salvation is brought by redemption by ransome by payment of the debt fully charged and exacted God is gloriously and infinitely just in the act of saving a sinner Sinne is damning but in the flesh of Châ—ist sinne is damned God condemns it there Now the condemnation of sinne is the indemnity of the sinner In these four you have the way God took to save a sinner 4. The outward moving or impulsive cause because that the Law could not help and because that man had made that way to life by the Law impassable that was it that moved God thus to save The impotency of the Law made weak by man What the Law could not do God would do Our undone condition our irrevocable estate by our own default moved God to save This is also to admiration and of strong consolation 5. The end aimed at and attained The end of Christs mission incarnation and passion That the righteousnesse of the
is the stone which was set at nâ—ught of you builders which is become the head of the corner neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given amonâ— men whereby we must be saved Let us yet see how all things are utterly unable to save a sinner SECT 2. First the Law cannot deliver a sinner 2. Not by the Law Moral as a Covenant Rom. 10. 5 Gal. 3. 10. not the Law moral neither as it a Covenant given to mankind which saith Do this and thou shalt live for so man being found to faile in doing he falls from the promised life and on the contrary the Law having this penalty covenanted cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the Law to do them every sinner falleth under the curse as many therefore as will stand by the Law must of necessity fall under the curse But may A Commandment not the Law as it is a Commandment deliver us from sin no neither as it is a holy Commandment can it do it for so it manifesteth sin by the holy Commandment we come to the knowledge of sin which is nothing else but a swerving from that Ceremonial Heb. 9 â— 9 24 Col. 2. 17. perfect rule nor can the Ceremonial Law deliver the whole excellency of that Law consisteth in signifying and shadowing out â—esus Christ The Sacrifices there commanded did make nothing perfect they took not away sin for then they needed not to have been offered up to God again and again their washings and sprinklings did not cleanse the conscience that Heb. 10. 1 2 3 4. Heb. 9. 9. Heb. 10. 5. 6. Psal 40. 6 7. Gal. 3. 24. whole Law was a carnal commandment God while he required them rejected them as insufficient this was their right use to lead them to Christ and to teach that salvation was to be had in him onely and not in them Again as for the moral Law these two things the Scripture affirmes concerning it 1. The Law cannot save 2. The Law cannot save Irenaeus lib. 3. adversus Haer. c 20 Veniens lex quae data est per Moysen testificans de peccato quoniam peccator est Adam regnum quidem ejus abstulit Adae scilicet latronem non regem eum detegens homicidam eum osteodit Oneravit autem hominem qui peccatum babebat in se reum mortis ostendens eum spiritualis enim cùm lex esset manifestavit tantummodo peccatum non autem interemit dominibatur peccatum sed homini Nor was given of God to save The Law was never given of God to that end that a sinner might thereby be saved The Law cannot save for First the Law commands righteousnesse but giveth no strength to do what it commands nor restoreth any lost strength The Law promiseth life but it is to him that perfectly keepeth it It promiseth no good to a sinner Secondly none can keep the Law therefore none can by the Law attaine to righteousnesse through the weaknesse of the flesh the disability of fraile man to continue in all to do it the Law is become impotent for justification And without righteousnesse it is impossible there should be life or that there should not be death and the curse Thirdly If a sinner could keep the Law for time to come yet by the Law no good to him because he must first answer for his former transgressions and dye the death accursed of God his Maker because of them The Law was not given of God that righteousnesse and life might be Rom. 3. 20 7. 7. Ver. 9. 14. 7. Ver. 13. obtained thereby but it was given that by it a sinner might come to the knowledg of sinne that he might know what is sin that lust or coveting is sinne that our natures are wholly polluted and that we For what ends the Law was given are carnal sold under sinne who can hold no proportion to the plat-forme of righteousnesse which the Law delivers and who have on us a very necessity of sinning and that he might know the sinfulnesse of sinne It was given that it might work wrath that is the sense and apprehensions of Gods deserved wrath It was Rom. 4. 15. given that the perfect holinesse and exact rigour of the justice of it might batter down all confidence in humane goodnesse power of free-will works of our righteousnesse priviledges external or any of our performances and pound to pieces all confidence in the flesh It was given to provoke sinne It was given to Rom. 7. 8 convince of our utter disabilities It was given to arrest attach imprison the jolly Gal. 3. 22. secure sinner and to conclude all under sinne that they might be glad to come to Christ in the promise It was given that through the Law we might for ever Gal. 2. 19. be dead to the Law therefore the Law is a killing letter not a dead letter no 2 Cor. 3. 6 7. part of the Word of God is a dead letter for then it could not be of such power as to be a killing letter and the Miâ—istry of it is the Ministry of death and of condemnation Lastly It was given that unto those that being dead to it and brought to faith in Jesus Christ for righteousnesse and life it might be a rule of holy life a light and lamp and the royal Law to guide into all well-doing and contains the good acceptable and perfect will of God Now for the use of this The use to be made of this 1. truth first This confutes and condemns the folly of divers sorts among us 1. Of those that think to be saved by their good meanings good intentions or purposes their prayers and the works of righteousnesse which they have done or intend to do 2. Of those who think to be saved because they hope they do no body any wrong or because they are as they call it of a good nature and of a gentle good and loving disposition and of a sweet temper or because they break not out into great and notorious sinnes of theft murther adultery profane swearing and cursed speaking with the like or if they have been guilty of such staring abominations yet they do many good works which set against their evil works will answer for them and they are perswaded will weigh them down or they rest upon their civility and morality with the love and good report of all their Neighbours 3. Those also that think to be saved by a devotion taught by the precepts of men or by observing a form of Religion and of Godlinesse 4. Those likewise are condemned here who hold and teach and seek justification by works these so remaining can never Rom. 9. 32. 10. 3 5 6. attain to the righteousnesse of God which is not a righteousnesse of works but of faith Secondly This also teacheth the true Vse 2 and right use of
the Law as to the point of life and righteousnesse of justification and salvation which is briefly delivered by Paul who in his own person gives us one that is taught of God thereby when he saith I through the Law am dead to the Law never more looking for righteousnesse and justification of life that way that I might live unto God Gal. 2. 19. No life but through this death never thus dead but through the Law when it comes the Law comes sinne revives and we dye and this dying is the way to life even to a living unto God SECT 3. Secondly No sinner can work his own 2. A sinner cannot save himself for six reasons deliverance for 1. We are weak and without strength Rom. 5. 6. There is no strength in us to fulfill the Law no strength to satisfie the justice and so turn away the wrath of God much lesse is there strength in us to recover our lost integrity nor to keep it if we had it again restored to us no strength to help our selves to meet the Lord in the wayes of his saving grace or to choose and walk in the way that is call'd holy no strength for any service unto God 2. We are flesh and in the flesh that is wholly corrupted with sin under the power and reign of sin the poyson of the Old Serpent hath run like water into our bowels and like oyle into our bones from the spirit of our mindes to all our outward members we are leprous all unclean and soaked in iniquity conceived in sinne and shapen in wickednesse we Rom. 5. 6 8. are sinners and ungodly when God in Christ by his death comes in love and â—ity to redeem us we lie in our blooâ— untill he saith to us Live we are dead in sin and trespasses till he qâ—icken us and how can such please God they cannot do Rom. 8. 8. it 3. We are enemies unto God our Rom. 5. 10. 8. 7. Col. 1. 21. 2 Cor. 10 3 4 5. wisdome our savour and smatch is enmity unto God We are enemies in our mindes because they are on evil works our principles our thoughts our reasonings our imaginations are high things lifted up in rebellion against the knowledg of God and the obedience of Christ and as strong holds fortified and kept in a desperate Warre against the Spirit of the Lord which in the Ministry even of the Gospel comes forth to bring us into a blessed captivity and subdue us and our very hearts the worst part of man unto himself and to his obedience the carnal minde of man is not subject to the Law of God neither can be there is no good to be done with it put it off Rom. 8. 7. mortifie it crucifie it crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof for that is all the good that can be done with it good it will never be but we must be in the Spirit and the Spirit of Christ dwell in us to enable us to such work or else we have no will no heart to it Rom. 8. 13. Oh then how farre are all men from any ability to work their own deliverance 4. We see not our sinfulnesse nor our misery nor can nor will be brought to see it by any other means than by the Scripture the written Law of God which is the only glasse in which we can truly see our selves James 1. 23. Rom. 7. 7. 5. Though the Law hath not lost it's rectitude yet our weaknesse to keep it maketh the Law by accident to be the more against us And 6. Notwithstanding all this that hath been spoken we yet are full of high thoughts of our selves we are proud and secure sinners and are naturally bent to seek to establish our own righteousnesse For the use of this The consideration The use of this hereof should take us wholly off our own legs and bring us to self-denial It should cause us to deliver up our selves to the Law that we might be throughly convinced of these things and that the Spirit might be in and through the Law a Spirit of bondage in us and we might be glad at heart of a Saviour that can deliver us SECT 4. Thirdly No meer creature can possibly 3. No meer creature can save a sinner for six reasons Matth. 16. 26. 1 Pet. 1. 18 deliver us for 1. No creature is above the Law If the Law of God cannot give life it is not in the power of the creature to do it The Creator alone is above the Law 2. No creature nor the whole Creation hath in it a worth to be a price of value for a soul All the treasures of both the Indies all things in this world because corruptible things are not so excellent as a soul and the price of the Redemption thereof at the hands of God is too high for men and Angels it ceaseth for ever in respect of the creature Psal 49 6 8. 3. Whatever any creature can do he owes it for himself and does but his duty 4. Grant yet that some creature could give help could there be any salvation for then for this very cause we should be servants unto the creature and this were to bring us into bondage and not into liberty they are not their own who are bought with a price if the creature did lay down the price we were the creatures servants which to be is absolute slavery 5. Our evils are greater than can be removed by creatures yet removed they must be if any of us be saved and our good that we may be happy is greater than can be by them communicated The evil is the infinite wrath of God the guilt and damning nature of sinne standing in force and confirmed by the strength of an eternal perfect Law the Empire of sin and death the power of the Divel that strong armed man of whom we read Luk. 11. 21 22. The good we stand in need of is a righteousnesse above the righteousnesse of the Law a Resurrection as well spiritual as corporal the communication of the divine nature eternal life and a blessednesse excelling the blessednesse of Adam in Paradise and a Kingdom which cannot be shaken All and every of these are beyond any created power to give or take away 6. No creature could ever think of the way manner or means whereby we might be delivered The world in the wisdome of God upheld for some thousands of years in its wisdome and abilities by its wisdome knew not God much lesse could finde out the way of peace and â—reconciliation for sinners with the God that made them 1 Cor. 1. 21. Markinde was continued and their rational power sustained and the work of the Law written in their hearts was apparent in them and yet with all the glory of God in his works of Creation and general providence preaching to them they perished in their vain imaginations and professing themselves wise in searching to finde out
47. 4. Isa 57. 15. In this his beloved Son he is for ever well-pleased he rests in his love Behold his truth God who cannot lye hath promised eternal life and his faithfulnesse he cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2. 13. This Covenant is as the waters of Noah unto God more stable than the Mountains and Hills as sure as the Ordinances set with the heavens Gods holinesse is here pawned in this redemption it is most gloriously manifested Consider his holinesse who only is holy and therewith his height and loftinesse and never the like manifestations of lower condescensions then in this work of saving the poor humble sinner he is the holy one of Israel never the like manifestation of holiâ—esse as in this work though God be holy in all his works and of purer eyes than to behold iniquity with any liking here the glory of his wisdome is Rom. 16. 27. illustrious the only wise found out this way no Angel of light none of the 1 Cor. 2. 7. wise of the world could ever have thought of it It is the hid wisdome of God wisdome in a mystery the contrivance is such that when it is made known all the Eph. 3. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 12 Eph. 1. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Cor. 3. 19. Isa 44. 25 26. holy Angels admire it as the manifold wisdome of God and are never enough satisfied in the delightful viewiâ—g of it and prying into it the whole businesse is of deep mysterious wisdome all is according to fore-knowledge God knoweth them that are his he cannot be deceived none can go beyond him nothing can escape him he taketh the wise in their craftinesse and turneth them backwards and maketh diviners mad but confirmeth the word and counsel of his messengers to whom he gave the word of this salvation he dâ—spenseth full seasons for making Eph. 1. 10. known this mystery of his will in stupend wayes of wisdome he brings home his chosen both of Jews and Gentiles through Rom. 11. 32 33. investigable passages of Providence he so calleth and bringeth to glory that his foolishnesse is wiser than men and by foolish 1 Cor. 1. 25 27. things he confounds the wise world but above all behold God here gracious and just exactly infinitely just and yet mercy and grace exalted through justice and above justice This word GOD carrieth out or thoughts 4. To God as the faithful Creator the Maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible who hath engaged all Isa 42. 5 6. 41. 1 2. 44. 24. 45. 11 12 18. his glory as he is the Creator to fulfill this work of Redemption And as he layeth all that his glory at the stake to assure it so he layes out no lesse efficiency in the performing of this salvation in every part of it then what was put forth in the Creation Rom. 4. 17. Ps 51. 10. Isa 57. 19. He calls the things that are not as if they were he creates in them clean hearts he creates the fruits of the lips to be peace and so you must conceive of every piece of this salvation that appertains to the being or well-being and comfort of the saved ones all is done in the power of a Creation 5. To God his absolute Soveraignty and Royal Dominion who makes all for his own wills sake who is not bound to give account to any of any of his matters who is not bound to any who hath mercy because he will have mercy who as the Potter hath power over us his clay and makes some vessels to honour when for his own glory he might make all unto dishonour who makes one to honour and another to dishonour when he might shew his power in annihilating as well as his skill in making or if he will shew his skill might shew it in fashioning it another way to other uses or if he will shew his skill in such salvation might shew it upon one or on a few or upon those whom he passeth by and not on us In this work his Soveraignty is full of Regality God is Lord and King here Majesty and Righteousnesse shine in splendor The 2 Tim. 6. blessed and only Potentate Lord of Lords and King of Kings will in his time shew his Christ his will is with perfect justice and his justice to the utmost shewed to set off and make his mercy upon the vessels of mercy more Renowned And his Dominion is mighty holy wise good and reaching to every thing and action of all his creatures to bring about his intended salvation 6. To Gods eternal good pleasure within Ephes 1. 4 5 6. himself doing the whole work according to the counsel of his own will to the praise of the glory of his grace 7. For this word GOD carrieth our minds to God the Father God sent his own Sonne he hath a Son whom he sends therefore he is a Father this God is God the Father God must here be thought on as he is the God and Father of Jesus Christ in this glorious manifestation of himself is God to be beheld in this work of Redemption as he is the Father of his own only eternally begotten Sonne his beloved in whom he is well-pleased and not only as the Fountain of being he is to be beheld in his love and goodnesse not that of a Creator but that love of a Father of the Father of his only begotten Son the Son of his love the Son of his bosome the eternal delights of the eternal Father SECT 2. 2. What conclusions do issue from What conclusions flow from this ten hence is God the Author of this salvation then it followeth 1. Here is love as the Apostle saith 1 Joh. 4. 10. Not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Sonne c. God first loved us here is love 1 Joh. 4. 10 9 19. Joh. 3. 16. 1 Joh. 4. 11 Ver. 19. that is first love manifested love so as cannot be paralleld maâ—chless love love that is the perfect sampler of love love that is the fountain and former of all true love we love him because he first loved us The Laws voice to man is Thou shalt love God above all and thy neighbour as thy self The Gospels voice The voice of the Law and of the Gospel differ is to man hateful and hating God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life The Gospel excells the Law as much as Gods love excells mans it superexcells for it declares and proclaims Gods love to man void of the love to God which the Law commands 2. God is love to us in this way of 1 Joh. 4. 16 manifestation all love out of this way it is a terrible sight to look on God on sinne death the grave and hell upon the Law on any misery or affliction
on the judgment to come but in this way nothing so delightful as the presence of God and the light of his countenance gives peace and joy against which is no Law and which no death nor guilt of sin can destroy The Law is delightful death desirable and sinne it self made humbling and profitable because now hateful and abominable to us by how much the more we believe and know that thus God is love 3. All here is kid untill God reveal All here is mysterious 1 Cor. 2. 7. All James 1. 17 18. is heavenly all from above from above Creation from God under another notion 1 Cor. 2. 12 14. then as a Creator The animal or natural man cannot receive these things when told him cannot finde them out till they be told him but the spiritual only who hath received the Spirit of God and not the spirit which is of the world Nothing suits with these things of the Gospel but what is from above the born from above can alone close with these things They are too high for the unregenerate man who is the fool under the power of folly and values them as the Swine doth Pearls A double revelation of the Spirit is absolutely necessary to the discerning of the things of this salvation the one of the Holy Ghost inspiring the Prophets and Apostles to preach and write them the other of the same Holy Ghost as he is the Spirit of Wisdome and Revelation inlightning the eyes of our understandings to know them when in and by the Word they are declared to us 1 Cor. 2. 10. Ephes 1. 17 18. 4. Here is truth of salvation and here is strength of salvation truth of salvation for God is the rock his work is perfect all his wayes are judgment A God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32. 4. And strength of salvation when he giveth quietnesse who then can make trouble and when he hideth his face who then can behold him whether it be done against a Nation or against a man only Job 34. 29. 5. Here is satisfaction and assurance to the soul satisfaction for the Lord laid on his Sonne our iniquities the Lord bruised him God gave his Son nothing can satisfie the awakened soul nothing can set down the doubting soul but God who is above the soul and above the Law above sin and Satan And assurance is here it is no venture but a state in which we may glory to cast our selves on God we Ps 62. 7. 56. 10. Rom. 8. 31 33 36. may say every one for himself in God is my glory in God will I praise his Word in God we are more than Conquerors 6. Here is irreversiblenesse God cannot lie God cannot deny himself God is not as man that he should repent he hath blessed and who shall curse Tit. 1. 2. Numb 23. 8 19. His gifts and calling are without repentance he will never repent of them Rom. 11. 29. 7. God is in Christ in Christ and in him alone is God reconciling the world to 2 Cor. 5. 19. himself he is not nor can be found in the whole work of Creation reconciling a sinner and not imputing trespasses no science of the nature of the creatures no knowledge of the connexion and rational mutual chaining of the several creatures in this whole globe as so many parts of the universe having dependence one upon another and influence into each other by way of cause and effect no knowledge of the Deity that made all and rules all no principles and seeds of virtue and righteousnesse there learned and thence gathered by all the strength of the principles of reason and light in man and improved to the utmost for the framing of thoughts desires gestures words and deeds none of these nor all these nor whatever other manifestations of the infinite invisible eternal God-head as the invisible world of Angelical spirits be they Thrones Dominions Principalities or Powers none none of them have God in them reconciling a sinful man to himself not imputing trespasses In none of these nor in all these layed together hath God set forth a ransome for a sinner a price of a redemption for a soul that hath sinned a sacrifice and sin-offering or himself appeased propitious and merciful forgiving sins and receiving the sinner into his favour or any of them set forth as a propitiation or in them as on a mercy seat as upon a throne of grace no no but God is in Christ merciful reconciling pardoning accepting into a state of grace and favour Christ Jesus God hath set forth a ransome a price of redemption a sin-offering and a propitiation for our sins Christ is the Lamb of God God hath provided the Lamb for sacrifice as Abraham answered his son Gen. 22. 7 8. Isaac who said to him My Father behold the fire and the wood but where is the Lamb for a burnt-offering to whom Abraham said My son God will provide himself a Lamb for a burnt-offering Behold the Lamb of God as John the Baptist Joh. 1. 29. cryed 8. All things are of God 2 Cor. 5. 17 18. that is all things in the regeneration in the Kingdome of Christ in the businesse of Redemption in the Church of Christ as it is his Church are of God of God not in the way and the putting forth of his power and the manifestation of his glory as he is the faithful Creator but they are of God as he is the God and Father of Jesus Christ oâ—r Lord as he is pleased to set forth himself his power and glory in the way of Redemption here they are all of God and nothing of Angels or Men or of any other whatsoever Whatever is not of God in this work but of men or any other is altogether disagreeable to be rejected unprofitable and shall be rooted out 9. Here we see it makes nothing at all neither is it a pin to choose what or which of the twain befall us to be blessed of the world or to be cursed to be blessed of evil Ministers of Balaams or to be cursed to blesse our selves or to have misgiving thoughts of our selves We stand or fall to God and not to man or to our selves Heark what God saith of thee and to thee and not what man or thine own heart saith as David said of old I will hear what God the Lord Psal 85. 8. will speak 10. Here we see believing is the work that God would have of us He findes out in his own wisdome of his love and good pleasure within himself all that concerns this work it is the mystery of his will his bosome secret and counsel Ephes 1. 10. his Spirit must reveal and tell it if he speak not if he give not out his Word none can dive into it now then he testifyeth and we are to receive his testimony and to believe his Word he that believeth sets to his seal that God
6. 39 40. again for his sheep 3. To be the Covenant of the people of the Jewes and raise them up and to be salvation to the ends of the earth 4. To see that no believer perish but that he raise every one of them to everlasting life at the last day and to give faith to all that the Father hath given him that the given of the Father may come unto him 5. To speak comfort to the weary soul 6. To bruise and Isa 50. 4. 61 1 2 3. Joh. 4. 34. 5. 30. Psal 2. 8 9. 3. His incarnation Heb. 10. 5. Heb. 2. 16. crush the enemies and to rule all for the good of the Elect. A gracious Commission 3. The third step is his Sonnes incarnation God sent his own Sonne in the likenesse of sinful flesh God fitted him a body the Sonne of God assumed not the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham he assumed flesh that is a true and very man consisting of an humane soul and an humane body he assumed flesh and blood not only a soul the more noble part of man but flesh even the beginning of our nature growing from infancy Heb. 2. â—4 Mat. 2. 1. to perfection of age and stature and not a full and perfect man grown at his full stature and ripe age when he first assumed our nature flesh weak dying flesh he assumed into the unity of his person the similitude of sinful flesh the similitude of the flesh of sinne such flesh as sinne hath now made it to be in us sinners not sinful flesh for he never knew sinne but such a soul and body as ours is now by sin and not such as Adams was in the state of innocency that had been great love and great condescension and abasement but how great humiliation to take part of the same flesh and blood of which we consist yet further he took to him the likenesse of sinful flesh in a low and abject condition having no form nor beauty Phil. 2. 6 7 in the form of a servant and not in the forme of the rich the honourable the potent not in the form of a King or of Gal. 4. 4. a Monarch he took flesh made of a woman made under the Law he who was the onely Law-giver and might have been a Law to himself is made of a woman of the seed of Abraham as well as of Adam a Jew under the Law of Moses circumcised and therefore a debtor to keep the whole Law thus made under the Law that he might redeem those that were under the Law See then the Sonne of God the Word who was God is incarnate God manifest in the flesh made flesh of the seed of woman a Virgin the Virgin Mary by conception and by birth by conception by the Holy Ghost by his over-shadowing power sanctifying and making her wombe fruitful In this conception there was the plasmation and forming of the childe Jesus 2. The assumption 3. And the personal union of the humane nature of Jesus Christ The Sonne of God became flesh also by birth born of a woman and brought forth into the world Although therefore he was sent in the similitude of sinful flesh true and very man in all things like one of us yet he was without sinne there was no sinne in his conception no sinne in his birth no sinne in him all his life 4. The fourth step is the work alotted to him by his Father he is sent not only 4. His work appointed to dwell among men which had been a great abasing businesse though it had been to dwell with the Saints on earth but he must dwell among beastly men among fat Bulls of Bashan and be with Mark 1. 13 men set on fire he must be with the Beasts of the Wildernesse farre from the estate of man in Paradise he is sent to fight with Divels the sorrows of death must take hold of him he must be compassed with the pains of hell And which is above and beyond all this he must be numbred with transgressours and bear the sinnes of many even of all the millions which shall be saved he that knew no sin is sent to be made sinne for them and he to bear them imputed to him laid on him on his own body as if he had been the sinner 5. The fifth and last step in this way of 5. Condemnation of sin in his flesh God is this The condemnation of sinne in the flesh of Gods own Sonne Now this hath four distinct things in it 1. The Lord layed on him the iniquities Foure things in that of all the Elect Isa 53. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Sinne indefinitely is charged on him sinne in all its evil came upon him in its condemning power even the curse due to sinne by the Law of God In its defiling power not defiling him but the imputation of the foulnesse and defiling nature of sinne came upon him he was made sinne In its weakning power weaknesses not culpable but miserable weaknesses attending mans nature since the fall but not such as attend particular persons took hold of him he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief 3. He who was the holy one and the just was made the sinne-offering 4. God condemned sinne in his flesh the Sonne of God bears our sinnes in his own body on the Tree for sinne the Son is condemned and crucified being made a curse for us sinne would have held down the sinner for ever in hell there sinne hath the mastery over the sinner there it is alive in its full poyson and strength but here sinne is destroyed and utterly abolished it is fully and for ever taken away and that in a legal and exact way of justice the sinner is saved and sinne condemned This is the way and the five steps in this way of God coming to us to save us SECT 2. 2. The effectualnesse and sufficiency of The effectualnesse of this way this way appears in two things principally First In the fitnesse of Christ Jesus for the work he is God to treat with and satisfie God and he is man to deal with man he is the Sonne of Gods love to make us sonnes and place us in Gods love and favour by whom we have access into and stand in his grace accepted in the beloved he is the image of the Father in whom we may see the Father and who repaires the image of God in us and to whom we are to be conformed he is the son of man our brother the second Adam in whom we partake of all that is Job 19. 25 in him our kins-man to whom the right to redeem doth belong Secondly In the sutablenesse of every thing to our distresse as for the distresse we were in here we have 1. Man the offendor 2. Sinne the sting of death 3. Flesh that is to say man made by sin weak miserable and mortal 4. Sinful flesh flesh of
sinne a body of death a body of sinne 5. The Law the strength of sinne 6. The Laws weaknesse to deliver the sinner 7. God offended these are the seven cords of man distresse answerably here is 1. The Sonne of God made man and so man punished sinne punished in the nature that sinned as God is holy he is an adversary to sinne as just he punisheth sinne as true his threatning before the fall could not be made void it must fall on man for to man was the Law given to man was death threatned to man as the first Adam on man must the punishment light now here is a man an Adam the Sonne of God taking to him mans nature of Adam though not by him hath somewhat to offer and God through his Christ the second Adam and through him crucified receiveth a sinner into favour remaineth holy just and true 2. The Sonne of God made man sent for sinne so that here is in this Christ in his low humiliation a propitiation a mercy-seat here is the Lamb of God in whose flesh sinne was damned the sufferings due to sinne he bears GOD suffers the Sonne of God doth all in the flesh for actions are of the person therefore here justice is satisfied sinne is taken away and death is unstinged 3. In the flesh the humane nature of the Sonne of God sinne is condemned and a perfect conformity to the Law in original and actual righteousnesse is performed and brought in before the Lord therefore here is the sinner justified and healed health and soundnesse restored by curing the disease in the very cause and the flesh is delivered and recovered thorowly Here are the Priestly Robes and the Royal change of rayment to cloath a poor naked sinner withal 4. In this Jesus Christ the flesh and sinne are separated Adams sinne and Adams nature divided and mans nature made a Fountain of holinesse and life wonderful high and heavenly things 5. Here is the Law answered in the Comminations and in the Commandments by Christs obedience passive and active 6. Here God by his Son doth that in weak flesh which the eternal Law could not ever be able to do 7. Here is â—od in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to himself God provides the Lamb God condemns sinne God prepares a righteousnesse fulfilling the Laws righteousnesse and if God be thus for us who can be against us if God justifie who shall condemn SECT 3. For the use of this 1. This precious truth in viteth us to behold Use 1 again the love of God to man Here To invite to contemplation 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. Tit. 3. 4. Eph. 2 4 7. Eph. 1. 7. Tit. 2. 11. is love here is love manifested here is bountifulnesse of love shining never the like love manifested never did God manifest the like love to this that appeared in redeeming in mankinde It is exceeding kindnesse Gods great love wherewith he who is rich in mercy loved us the riches of his grace the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse the glory of his grace abounding the grace of God that bringeth salvation Our blessed Saviour speaks of it with emphasis and admiration God so loved the world Paul speaks of it as alone peerlesse God commended Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 5. 8. love to us and John with an index in this was manifested the love of God herein is love All other manifestations of love are not comparable to this great was Gods love to man in the Creation to place him Lord of the visible world to indue him with a soul bearing on it his Gen. 1. 2. own image and likenesse to seat and plant him in a Paradise to provide him a Sabbath to give him Sacraments the Sacrament of life to establish him and of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil to warn him where his danger lay and to blesse him with conjugal society great is his love in his daily providence over him great in the Covenant made to all Nations in Noah great in the particular experiments Psal 36. Gen. 8. 21 22. Ps 107. 8 c. Psal 104. 27 34. men feel in sicknesse and health at Sea and Land great to all creatures his mercy reacheth to the heavens all wait on him for seasonable food David saith hereupon my meditation of him shall be sweet Great was his love to the Elect Angels whom he hath established about his Throne who alwayes behold his face but to whom gave he his own Son what nature did he ever unite so near to himself where or when did he ever such works for any as in earth to condemn in hell to dissolve all the Divels works in heaven to provide Mansions and all in by and through the flesh the flesh of his own Sonne the similitude of sinful flesh flesh indeed but like sinful flesh for a sinful childe of disobedient Adam justly a childe of wrath All creatures here below are for this ransomed captive sinners rightful new and pure use Angels that fell are reserved in chains of darknesse to the judgment Jude â— of the great day no Saviour afforded them but they are set forth to warn us to flee the wrath to come the blessed holy and elect Angels the innumerable company of them are made ministring spirits sent forth for the good of the heirs Heb. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 8. Rom. 8. 16 of this salvation the world to come is put in subjection to man in Christ we are joint heirs with him of all things This love decâ—ared is the powerful way to work on a sinner Hell and wrath the Law and sinne without this proposed do terrifie and vex but the heart flees God and loaths All other love of God is abused by the deceitful wicked hard heart but let this love be set forth and now sin and all the deserts of it wound stab and gore pierce and tear to pieces and yet the heart draws near and drawing near melts down dissolves desires pants after longs for Christ and God in Christ judges it self justifies God while he judges him trusts though God kill him cannot think or say any thing is ill that this God sayes or does This love is the fatnesse of Gods house the River of Gods pleasures the light the life better than life it self this love fills with love this love makes gracious zealous tender of heart noble of spirit and truly lovely this sweetens the crosses sanctifies afflictions and makes out blessings to be blessings 2. Hast thou informed thy judgment 2. To exhort and taken a view of Gods love in this way of salvation Now then let this doctrine come in the power of it to perswade exhort thee to believe to meditate with admiration and to ascend to fixed contemplation 1. Believe this truth this is the work Joh. 6. 29. of God the work that God requireth since we cannot work the righteousnesse of his holy Law that we believe there is no other
the saved may have no other grounds in themselves to look for mercy but their doings and ways abominable and loathsome and they might be loathing and abhorring themselves as they look to receive mercy that it might be for ever known and acknowledged by them that God doth all not for their righteousnesse but for his own names sake Mark there also how God layeth down this as the reason and ground of making Covenant with any taking them to be his people and promising to be their God For I will saith God be merciful to their transgressions and I will Heb. 8. 9 12. remember their sinnes no more Likewise this is evident from the manner of disposing the heart of the federate of him whom God receiveth into Covenant he is brought to this frame even to smiting on his breast standing aloof off not lifting up so much as his eyes to heaven in sense of unworthinesse and conscience of guilt and filth and to say God be merciful to me a sinner To be ashamed Luk. 18. 13 14. Ezek. 16. 62 63. Mâ—t. 11. 28 1 Joh. 1. 7 9. and confounded and never open his mouth any more because of his shame when God is pacified towards him for all that he hath done So also the promises made to confession of sinnes the invitations of the Gospel to the sinneburdened and sick with sin The prayers and arguments used in prayer by Gods people such as this for thy names sake O Lord pardon mine iniquity Psa 25. 11. for it is great This were strange Logick a strange art of reasoning but that this is all that in us doth move God to pardon even that which deserveth damnation our sinnes our sinfulnesse and this is that only thing besides his own bowels of tender compassions which causeth him to will our salvation and to will the giving of a Saviour and to will the appointing of all means and effectual workings in and by those means useful to salvation Our lost estate by sin moved Christ to come to seek and save and moved God the Father to send him to seek and save Mark the arguings of the godly the bottome on which they fasten their foot when they sue for justification and cry for mercy Enter not into judgement for no flesh Psa 142. 2 Psa 130. 1 2 3. Jer. 14. 7. living can be justified in thy sight And out of the depths of the guilt and filth of sinne have I cried unto thee c. And Do thou it though our iniquities testifie against us for we have sinned against thee for our back-slidings are many So runs the Gospels summe This is a faithful saying and worthy of all 1 Tim. 1. 15. acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners And the subjects of the grace of the Gospel Publicans Sinners Harlots A Manasseh A Mary Magdalene 6. The pattern of Gospel-mercy Saul 1 Tim. 1. 16. with ver 12. 13. Phil. 3. 4 5 6. made a Paul Saul the pattern in what he was before conversion obtaining mercy a Persecutor a Blasphemer injurious full of Pharisaical confidence of his own righteousnesse which held his eyes blind-fold ignorant of Christ and his heart malignant to all that was of Christ and so the chief of sinners this Saul obtained mercy for a pattern these were his meritorious works his previous dispositions his free-will power to the obtaining of saving mercy the pattern in the grace abounding in his conversion the grace of 1 Tim. 1. 14. faith and love which is in Christ Jesus that is which is truly Christian the pattern in the work upon him remaining after Gal. 2. 19 20 21. Phil. 3. 5. 6 7 8. 1 Tim. 1. 15 Rom. 7. 7. to the end of the ch conversion the pattern of mercy to all sinners that shall afterwards believe in Jesus Christ to eternal life in all these through the conflicts they shall sustain in their spiritual warfare SECT 3. Be informed and directed hence in four Rom. 8. 2. The use 1. To inform us things 1. In the right use of the Law in respect of life and justification which is this first that righteousnesse cannot be had by the Law but the curse and therefore secondly Gal. 3. 10. Rom. 7. 13 look upon it that sinne may be known that sinne may become to thee exceeding sinful when thou findest that it worketh death in thee even that Law kills thee which is good holy just and spiritual thirdly make use of it to conclude Gal. 3. 23. Gal. 3. 24. Phil. 3. 8 7 9. thee under sinne and shut thee unto faith in Christ and fourthly that thou mayest be schooled unto Christ fifthly that thou mayest renounce thine own righteousnesse which is by the Law as losse and dung as offalls and dogs-meat that thou mayest winne Christ and be found in him who is true food riches and the best gain sixthly that by the body of Christ Jesus crucified for sinners thou mayest be delivered from the Law of thy first husband legally inasmuch as he is dead even Rom. 7. 4. the Law as it is a Covenant that so thoâ— mayest be free to be married unto another even to the Lord Jesus Christ risen from the dead that thou mayest bring forth fruit unto God and no more bring forth fruit unto thy self dead fruit that hath self-ability for the principle and spring and self-glorying for the end which must needs make the best of works done after the holy Law to be dead fruit carrion-like stinking and abominable 2. In the right use of the disability thou findest in the Law to help and deliver this is by accident Lay the blame altogether upon thy self for there lyeth the cause thereof let thy corrupt nature thy flesh be charged with it that the Law may be magnified and kept honourable in thy esteem and that God the holy Law-giver may be justified and cleared when he therein judgeth thee Say with blessed Rom. 7. 10 14. Paul the Law is holy and the Commandment holy and just and good the Law is spiritual but I am carnal sold under sin 3. In the right use of the weaknesse and wickednesse of the flesh when thou feelest Phil. 3. 3 4 the same Have no confidence in the flesh in thy natural abilities priviledges performances Place no confidence in them for ever for flesh defiles them and makes to it self-advantage of them Never trust thine own heart any more for Prov. 28. 26. this is the property of the fool that is not wise towards God the more thou feelest the motions of sinne in thy members look out and betake thy self to Christ to free-grace so much the more Is there not a cause hast thou not weakned the holy perfect Law bring out thy sick and weak thy blinde and halt thy deaf and dumb thy leprous and dead bring them out before this Lord Messiah The great miracles he wrought in the perfect powerful present
of Gods appointing ordained for thee it is the righteousnesse of faith thine by believing not by working thou hast not a righteousnesse of works for thou art a sinner but here is a righteousnesse provided for a sinner believe and it is thine it is an everlasting righteousnesse live ever by believing and all thy sinnes are covered thou art clothed for ever The Sonne of God Jesus Christ is the Lord our righteousnesse 3. But man is yet a creature and though he be not under the curse and be acquitted of his sin yet is he bound to obedience and not the lesse bound but the more because God so loveth as to give Christ his own Son my bonds of obedience are greater and yet I sin daily my sin is the more aggravated because they are against such a gracious God and Father and against such a Lord Redeemer it is answered The Son of God is sent to fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law in us how may you say 1. By setting out to the world and to the heart of a sinner sinne more vile and the more condemned in and by the heart of the sinner which is one point of righteousness to hate judge sin And God most holy while most of love and most just while most of mercy now this heals us of profaness whilst it allures draws with cords of love whiles it fills with holy fear sin is hated and God loved the name of the Lord Christ is named with an heart departing with a blessed Apostasie from iniquity as love abounds just abomination of sin encreaseth with self-loathing and self-abhorrency 2. By shewing a crucified Christ which sight wounâ—s to the quick perswades to Zach. 12. 10. Joh. 12. 32 33. Joh. 3. 14 15 16. Gal. 2. 19 20. believe in God so loving as not to spare but to deliver up his own for us so faithful of his word performing in due time the greatest unlikeliest and ancientest promise he ever spake to believe in Christ so gracious to believe his promises threatnings commandments and all his words This sight crucifies us with Christ yeâ— causes to live to God and to live in and through crucifyings 3. By this faith the sinner is united to Christ not by a moral union as love uniteth but by a mystical receiving his Spirit not by a Physical or natural union but by a supernatural Christ of whom the Word the Spirit do therein testifie faith receiveth faith receiveth Christ in the Word justifieth and Christ is formed in the heart faith brings home the love of God in Christ as the Holy Ghost in the Word of the Gospel revealeth and by that Word reveals the Sonne in the sinners heart believing this faith works love this faith works by love which is the fulfilling of the Law 4. By this faith Christ is received not only as satisfying Gods justice punishing and commanding but as purchasing grace glory and all good things else yea as purchasing the blessing of the promise even the Holy Ghost who reneweth after Gal. 3. 12. the image of God and sets the heart on high in hope of the glory to come eternal life 5. Christ coming into the believer breaks down sinnes dominion and sets up his own government in the soul the Rom. 6. 14 authority of the Law-giver the spiritualnesse of the Law and his delight in all this 6. By his Spirit he creates us anew he confers all principles of obedience he comes and dwells there in the new creature he is in the seed abiding in them he enables he excites that ability he imparts to them the promises he puts life into the Word and Ordinances that they may be in power 7. By his exemplary life in holinesse both in doing and suffering he beats out before us the way of righteousnesse as our pattern which draws out imitation man being a creature prone to be led by examples and his imitating inclination in his new Creation sanctified now we would walk as Christ walked the heart is set on high and perfect patterns even on Gods holinesse and on Christs purity 8. Here is the image of God to be beheld in a mirrour in liberty and in great 1 Cor. 3. 17 18. glory the image of God lost but in Christ found again begetting in us the very same image we see and are transformed we see are assimilated made like unto it All this work is in true and powerful beginnings which tend to and are growing towards perfection and shall be perfect with perfection of degrees and fulnesse as here it is of parts and of uprightnesse SECT 2. This Doctrine is of singular use to wipe Uses 1. To vindicate the Gospel Gal. 2. 17 18 19. off all aspersion cast upon the Doctrine of justification of a sinner by faith in Jesus Christ without the works of the Law as if it were a Doctrine of loosnesse for see here Christ is not the minister of sin he destroyeth sinne in believers he by faith purifieth them to the very heart the preaching of this Gospel of forgivenesse of sinnes out of free-grace by faith in Jesus Christ destroyeth sin it makes the believer to live to God through a double death and the latter of them which this Gospel by faith puts the sinner unto is no less than crucifying yet a death to the believer most desirable because it is a crucifying of him with Christ And now this believer cannot but abhor the thought of being such a transgressor as to go about to build again that which by receiving and professing and preaching if he be a Minister this Gospel he destroyed was there ever the like effectual way of destroying sin and fulfilling the Law in a sinner as this here sin is made hateful in the heart of the sinner profanesse of heart healed the heart formerly alienated now drawn to God the old man crucified which Christ and the believer lives yet or rather Christ lives in him faith uniting to Christ and receiving Christ works by love love constraining to live to him that dyed for them the Holy Ghost is received the Son of God revealed in the soul Christs government is set up and sins dominion is broken down the heart is created anew and the sinner enabled to walk in Gods statutes to do his commandments with delight in the spiritualness and purity of the Law he would be holy as his heavenly Father is holy and pure as Christ is pure and walk he would as Christ walked by faith beholding God in Christ all of love he suffers a change from glory unto glory which shall be perfected in both body and soul in glory Was there ever such a fulfilling of the righteousness of the Law by weak sinful man as this which is wrought by faith in the Sonne of God sent into the world to take away sin by one offering and sacrifice once for ever Jesus Christ was a curse for sinne not a cloak for sinne he fulfilled
the lusts thereof this the words import not after the flesh but after the Spirit is the spiritual mans walk Thirdly and whereas the flesh would impose upon the most spiritual he glorifies the Spirit and condemns the flesh the flesh is rejected but the Spirit is chosen for guide and leader this refusing and choosing is his daily work daily and continually in his wayes and walks he is refusing to walk after the flesh and choosing to walk after the Spirit the language of his walks and conversation is this not the flesh but the Spirit not the walk after the flesh but the walk after the Spirit 2. Therefore for the second use here is 2. Of comfort singular comfort to all whose wayes are holy who have the Spirit of Christ the orderer of their lives God will account of thee by the course of thy life the wicked while their lives are vain earthly carnal and they like not the way of the holy and choose not the Word and Spirit for their rule and guide they plead Ps 50. 16. and please themselves in the goodnesse of their hearts God knows them for wicked and so will judge them thou complainest of thy heart and mournest over thy vain thoughts thy weaknesses but holdest fast the way which is called holy thy walk is directed heaven-ward Remember now God reckons thee to be as the way is which thou hast chosen whose walks are spiritual they are spiritual they Rom. 8. 1. are in Christ Jesus and not in Adam flesh may lust in them but they fulfill not those lusts for look upon their conversation they walk in the Spirit they walk after the Spirit and that from the power of the Spirit in them as the spring of life as the quickning commanding renewing inward life The Holy Ghost hath his Throne in the heart of those whose walks he frames whose walks are after his minde these holy walkers are in the Spirit in the Sonne and in the Father as their walk doth evidence undoubtedly That this comfort may flow forth clear and strong it will be needful to give here somewhat of Consideration and somewhat of Caution SECT 9. For Consideration Consider seriously Where four relieving considerations 1. What of the flesh may be where the Spirit rules cast under seven heads Jam. 1. 14 15. these four things following First What of the flesh may be where the Spirit reigns there may be 1. The lustings of the flesh contrary to the Spirit In sinne there is first the evil suggestion or first motion the first rising and peering out of sinne This is in the most gracious and spiritual but with great difference for to the unregenerate and wicked it is the babe of his bosome but to the godly it is the brat of Babylon happy would he be esteemed of him that could take and dash them against the stones Secondly delight ensnaring and bird-liming the soul this may be in the godly but it is stollen and of treachery from the inmate the flesh for his chosen delight is in the Law of God his delight is to do Gods will that is within his bowels but as for the wicked his Psal 1. 2. 40. 8. inward parts are very wickednesse he looks and welcomes and with the whole heart closes with the ensnarings of sinnes motions he would not willingly have it to have check in any case no not so much as from his conscience within Thirdly Consent of will this in the godly is but partial but in the unregenerate it is a full consent Fourthly the Act or Commission in a formed thought in word or in deed This in the godly is seldome and then that which he would not but in the wicked it is common and usual and yet not so oft as he would Fifthly persisting in it and making the actings of sinne their way in which they choose to stand and walk taking pleasure therein this in the regenerate is never much lesse doth the godly man continue in sinne obstinately pleading for it and scorning reproof much lesse doth he take a pride in it and boast of accomplishing his sinful desires blessing the wicked whom the Lord abhorreth and hating the godly that fear to sinne in whom the Lord taketh pleasure 2. Sinnes motions may be lively in Ro. 7. 23. the members of the truly godly but not so as to be able to bring forth fruit unto death as the phrase is in ver 5. of Rom. 7. for as lively as they be the godly watch them the more that they shall not be fruitful Death is not their Lord nor hath them under its power now as it was while they stood married to the Law the Covenant of Works but God is their Lord unto whom they bring forth fruit as married to Christ risen from the dead Therefore sinne may stirre lively but not be fruit-bearing in them but in the ungodly the motions thrive as the birth in the belly which they seek carefully to midwife and suckle hugge in the bosome and dandle on their knees because there is no life of God in them they being altogether in death and abiding in death as the Apostle Johns expression is in 1 John 3. 14. 3. Evil may be present when they Rom. 7. 21 would do good To will that which is good is present with the godly but through the flesh that is by reason of the corruption of their natures in which no good dwelleth there is evil adjacent to that willing and easily beletteth them 4. Grievous untowardnesse awkernesse Rom. 7. 14 19 20. Heb. 12. 1 indisposednesse and aversenesse sometimes And this is the more burdening and pressing down begirting and encompassing the more they presse unto the spiritualnesse of any duty neverthelesse unto spiritualnesse in duty they presse on they stirre up themselves thereto and their backwardnesse dulnesse and deadnesse with all formality they mourn over and judge 5. The Law of the members or corruption of nature which no sooner stirs Ro. 7. 23. but it is presently in the members of the body and there is working as a Law this Law of the members making Warre and rebelling against the Law of their minds yet their inner man and such a man they have in them and others have not that is the Master they own his Law is their Law the other they own not but take for a Rebel and his Law for tyranny 6. Yea there may be a Captivity Rom. 7. 23 24 25. under the Law of the members but it is a captivity in their esteem under which they cry out of their wretched condition cry for deliverance and rest not untill they can upon experience blesse God for Christ their deliverer 7. Sometimes they may have a 2 Cor. 12. 7 thorne in the flesh Some special sinne troubling some great temptation or sore affliction or some Satanical molestation with which they may be buffered sorely that they might be kept more humble under choice
go on and encrease more and more and then finding by experience how weak unable wanting and extreamely failing we are we become dejected and sore perplexed and are ready to say If God hath given such promises to them that fear him why am I thus and almost ready to say As good give over all it will ever be thus with me I shall never get the victory over my sins I shall never attain to setled consolation and assurance Ah poor hearts take this advice Go Gods way to work Go the way after faith and grace received which God took with you when you were in your sins dead in sinnes Go that way still with thanksgiving for what you have in the sense of your sinnes and in ability to fetch the next step in the wayes of faith and holinesse be viewing the glory of the free-grace of God in the face of Jesus Christ even of Christ crucified presented by the Holy Ghost in the Gospel which he breathed oh this is the sight which will make you more and more like him and draw upon you to the life the image of such glorious grace and love to your exceeding joy This sight gives power to walk take and hold this course and thou shalt say with David thy loving Ps 26. 3. kindness is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth This sight impowring is the joy and rejoycing of the heart the joyful growing flourishing prosperity of the soul consists in the walking in the light of Gods countenance Ps 89. 15. reconciled and reconciling us to himself in Jesus Christ All power against sinne and unto duty and all comfort and joy all healthfulnesse soundnesse and thriving in our spiritual estate is this way conveighed It is not attained or maintained by extasies and raptures trances ravishments impressions impulses revelations voices joyes that come by Euthusiasme or inward immediate force of the Spirit these at the best are in Gods own hand and they may be given to a Balaam a wicked man a false Prophet a Conjurer a Witch they may be mixed with Satans working they may be of fancy and not of God at all or of faith they may be of Satan Diabolical delusions Now in our upright walking the joy of the Lord is our strength preserve it If this â—oy may be hindred Satan hath his Neh. 8. 19 desire of us let him not bereave you of it SECT 6. In the fifth place the sins of these holy 5. Their sins ought not to hinder their combating against the flesh walkers ought not to hinder their constant combating against the flesh the flesh lusseth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and shall the spiritual yield the day shall they sâ— down discouraged hath the Spirit undertook doth he lead and cause them to walk after him and shall the flesh and its workings turn them off Hear ye Christians of the Gentiles your Apostle the Apostle of the Gentiles this I say saith he walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh the flesh lusteth Gal. 5. 16 17. in you contrarily but walk on and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh 1. You have the better and have no cause to be discouraged these sinnes you see and finde are the flesh's forces but they are but the scattered gleanings of the Field which you have reaped the broken leavings of the body of the Army you have overthrown 2. God could have driven them at once out of you but they are left to learn us the use of our spiritual Armour without an enemy our prowess would not be proved our graces would not be tried our warlike discipline shewed our watchfulnesse excited our strength exercised Vertue lies along without an Enemy 3. We forget our state which is a warfare we fotget it if we admit thoughts of ease or fainting we are to carry our weapons in the one hand while we work in the Lords work with our tooles in the other hand we must fight that we may work and fight out our way Our walk cannot be maintained and held on but by a warre and we warre that we may walk 4. They should be so farre from hindering that they should raise our courage and heat cause us to smite our flesh with sorer blows make us beat down our bodies and bring them into subjection and teach us a point of heavenly wisdome in this warre that is to single out those sins as our special enemies and as the flesh's troops and life-guard say See here be these hellish villains and fall on with a shout against them 5. They should make us the more to think of our Leader and Acter the Holy Ghost and to say should such a man as I flee for fear who of Gods Saints and Souldiers would do it to save his temporal life or estate nay if the rebellion should grow hot high and prevalent yet fight the more and if we be made to cry out Wretched men that we are who shall deliver yet never cease so our holy Apostle Rom. 7. 23 24. gives us himself for a president 6. And indeed there is no cause of fainting and flagging for in the way of righteousnesse there is no death in this walk after the Spirit there is nothing but life and peace in the way that is called holy there is no hurtful thing molestation there may be and will be hurt and destruction there cannot be while thou art in this walk 7. Besides the maintaining of the combate is no losse in thy way the walk is speeded thou art not so much as diverted whiles thou art mortifying these earthly members for this walk is not measured by paces nor by tale of duties but by powerful conquests made over thy fleshly lusts And every resistance is a conquest 8. Let them not put thee to a disorder or an hurry keep thy minde sedate and thy walk steddy take heed of amazements the Spirit delights in a calme breast stand still and thou shalt see the salvation of the Lord and in quietnesse and confidence of faith is thy strength SECT 7. In the sixth place The sinnes of spiritual 6. The sins of the spiritual should not hinder their full dedition to the Spirit Rom. 8. 2 Gal. 5. 18. Ro. 6. 14. walkers should not hinder their full giving up themselves to the Law of the Spirit No rather should they make us to do it the more for 1. No other Law but the Law of the Spirit alone delivereth from the Law of sinne and death 2. They are not under the Law and while they were under it they could get no power against their sinnes but sinne had dominion over them therefore to go to the Law of works will not help them 3. They have had experience of the power of the Gospel that Law of the Spirit It hath broken down the dominion of sinne in them It hath broken off their hearts from the love of sin
in the love of sin lyes the dominion of sin and it will enable to mortifie the deeds of that body of death It fills with the fruits against which there is no Law and it sets the soul at liberty 4. They are no debtors to the flesh they owe it neither suit not service but they are debtors to the Spirit they owe all they are and have towards salvation unto him 5. They are servants to righteousnesse the Covenant of their hearts when Ro. 8. 17. they first knew the grace of God in Christ to sinners in truth and they first saw the Son in the Gospel and believed on him was to be bound servants to righteousness and disavow the service of sinne And the Covenant of grace sets them free from sin that they might be the more servants of righteousnesse which is absolute and perfect liberty and this it doth for those that were servants of sin and free from righteousnesse which is absolute and perfect vassalage Who would run from his liberty to his bondage Who would be at full liberty who is daily and hourly threatened and dogg'd by that which would bring him into bondage and slavery A slave in the gallies would give himself up with all his heart to one able to give full deliverance and the more he hath felt and tasted such a powerful gracious hand the more so long as he is in any danger would he give himself up fully into such a hand Quest But do those that retain their integrity do as well as they can and as they might according to the measure of grace received and according to the means of grace which they do enjoy because some Ministers urge this much and do lay some stresse upon it when they exhort Christians to do what they can and comfort them if they do what they are able and it is usual with all in whom no work of grace discovereth it self in the conversation to plead and rest much upon this that they do and will do as God shall give them grace as if there were no fault in them and as if rather the fault were in God who giveth them no greater a measure Answ This is a certain truth There is no man that ever lived since the fall of our first Parents that walketh up to the light he hath received of God or to the means which God hath given him or hath done all that he might according to the gift and ability which he hath received he is a sinner against his light he Ro. 2. 3. hath his own thoughts accusing many times he pollutes himself in his own gifts Both Jews and Gentiles are guilty in this kinde and as for the regenerate First They have a will graciously inclined so to walk but this will is yoked with another backward crosse and thwart will which although it be subdued and be as it were under tribute yet it is not quite destroyed and sometimes it is up in rebellion and leads them Captive they cannot do what they would Secondly Their renewed will doth rule their walks and that so farre as to the measure of grace received and of the means enjoyed in a prevailing proportion I say prevailing so farre as to a greater strength than they themselves had before they had that measure and enjoyed that means but not to a proportion of strength that answers fully the measure received and the means enjoyed No Saint on earth which doth all that he ought to do No Saint on earth that doth all that he might do and therefore we must be humbled for our failings stirre up the gifts that are in us watch against spiritual slothfulnesse and negligence suffer the word of exhortation take heed of quenching the Spirit and of despising prophesying or faithful preaching and live by faith in the Lord Christ for righteousnesse and for strength Hitherto of the explication of this comfortable truth SECT 8. The demonstration of this doctrine The demonstration of rhis truth four ways in the general is worthy consideration or the reasons why comfort and assurance are not destroyed by the sinnes found upon those who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit 1. Because of the Covenant of Grace under whâ—ch they are If they were under the Law if they were to stand or fall by the Covenant of Works their sins would condemn them but they are under the Gospel the Law of faith and that proclaims a Jubilee unto them Not that the Gospel allows of any sinne it forbids all sinne These things saith John I write Isa 61. 1 2 unto you that you sinne not It is as full and strict in forbidding all sinne and as severe in condemning all sinne as the Law is or can be and that to those who have received the free-gift even the justification of life and the Spirit of Grace and of Adoption It is the voice of the Gospel Abstain from all appearance of evil from all kinde of sinne and from all appearance of sinne of what sort soever it be It destroyes the dominion of sinne which thing the Law cannot do because the Law neither knows of a Ransome nor giveth the Spirit to renew sanctifie and priviledge and form to Adoption but the Gospel ptoclaims a Jubilee in that it brings in Christ a sinne-offeriâ—g a Ransome an Advocate with the Father and a Propitiation and in Christ it brings in God reconciling them to himself not imputing trespasses God in Covenant merciful to their transgressions and remembring their sinnes no more and through Christ God pouring out the Spirit of grace and supplication and sending the Spirit of his Sonne into their hearts God accepts them in Christ the beloved and by his Spirit through the Gospel he is perfecting that which concerns them never forsaking the works of his own hands in the regeneration he is accomplishing all the good pleasure of his goodnesse towards them and the work of faith with power in them 2. Because of the indissolublenesse of the chain of salvation in which in their effectual calling they are actually taken half off and in their justification they are actually acquitted from their sinnes and from damnation and adjudged unto everlasting life 3. Because it is not they that do commit sinne it is their flesh that Ro. 7. 25. Gal. 5. 24. doth them which they hale to the Crosse and have and do crucifie And while the Spirit leads them and hath the guidance of their conversation what ever sinne there is with them it is but of an enemy troubling and yet kept under 4. That which any man soweth that Gal. 6. 7 8 shall he reap now these believers sow not to the flesh but to the Spirit but because they yet have many sinnes and many a brush by them they sow in tears neverthelesse they go forth they carry precious seed with them sowing Ps 126. 5 6. they will be while they have time be the season a dirty winter season therefore
THE GOSPELS GLORY without prejudice to the LAW Shining forth In the glory of God the Father the Sonne the Holy Ghost For the SALVATION of SINNERS who through grace do believe according to the draught of the Apostle Paul in Rom. 8. ver 3. 4. Held out to publick view By the Ministerial labours of Richard Byfield M. A. Pastor in Long-Ditton and teaching on Thursedayes weekly in Kingston upon Thames Surrey Justitia legis fides est Christiana Ambros tom 5. in cap. 2. Epist ad Rom. LONDON Printed by E. M. for Adoniram Byfield at the three Bibles in Corn-hil next door to Popes-head Alley 1659. QUid illam legem naturalem excluserat praevarâ—catio Adae ac propemodum aboleverat in pectoribus humanis regnabat superbia inobedienti âque sese diffuderat Ideò successit â—sta per Moysen ut nos scripto convenâ—ret omne os obstrueret ut totum mundum faceret Deo subditum Subditus autem mundus ei per legem factus est quia ex praescripto legis omnes convincuntur ex op ribus legis nemo justificatur id est quia per legem peccatum cognoscitur sed culpa non relaxatur videbatur lex nocuisse quae omnes facerat peccatores sed veniens Domâ—nus Jesus peccatum omnibus quod nemo poterat evitare donavit chirographum nostrum sui sanguinis effusione delevit Ambro. Tom. 3. Ep. lib. 9. Epist 71. ad Irenaeum Because the prevarication of Adam had excluded that Law of nature and had almost abolished it pride did reign in mens breasts and disobedience had diffused it self therefore this Law written by Moses hath succeeded that it might sue us with a writ and might stop every mouth that it might make the whole world subject to God but the world is by the Law made subject to him because out of the prescript of the Law all men are convinced and no man is justified by the works of the Law that is because by the Law sinne is known but the fault is not released the Law did seem to have been hurtful which had made all men sinners but the Lord Jesus coming hath freely forgiven sin to all which no man was able to escape and hath blotted out our hand-writing with the shedding of his own blood TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS HIS HIGHNESSE Richard LORD PROTECTOR Of the Common-Wealth of England Scotland and Ireland with the Dominions thereunto belonging Grace and peace here and glory hereafter HUmane Creations in civil Societies God doth own And unto every humane Creation for our Lord Christs sake we owe submission this is our well-doing according to the Will of God Here supreme and sent of the supreme is order and beauty bands and beauty Lawes against evil-doers and for encouragement of wel-doers with execution of those Lawes for which purpose they beare the sword are of necessity that Magistracy in its various Creations may attain its end But in the Church all things are of God and whatever is of man is alien to that Society The grand enemies of the Church under the New Testament are the Dragon the Beast the false Prophet this last is the most dangerous the Beasts and Dragons spiritual wickednesse and power the animating vivacity of that lustful Whore Babylon the Great the Woman that rides the beast And the Beast is a Beast whether arising out of the sea or out of the earth or ascending out of the bottomlesse pit And the Dragons poison and paw is in all and all to mischief the Church of Christ This Paradise he affects to be in because not his place but chiefly out of his love his love to work ruines there How slily how insensibly slides in this old Serpent humane here humane of what note soever and Satan presently Acts it Christ knew it well who said to Peter Get thee behind me Satan thou art an offence unto me for thou savourest not the things that be of God but those that be of men The love-feasts shrowd divisions presently destroy the Lords Supper and harbour slie and spotty Heretiques and deceivers Prelacy in the ministery though brought in ad tollenda schismata to take away schismes brings forth the man of sinne and with him the mystery of iniquity An Easter day fill'd the Christian world East and West with miserable contentions and turn'd the Professors of Christs name after formalities and meer Nifles The retired solitarinesse of some eminently devout filled it with Monkery Nunnery and the swarmes of the orders of such Commandments of men received to teach the feare of God do Null the Commandments of God Mens opinions chosen for the rationality or the depth of them have proved the depths of Satan Mens Inventions entertained for their suitablenesse to humane Policies have while served the lusts of men in Magistracy trampled on Magistracy enthroned Tyranny and suborned for sacred Maximes that are the hornes to push at and gone all the godly and the power of godlinesse Such as these No Bishop no King Christs Kingdome is an enemy to Caesar Christs simple Ordinances for worship without the pompe of humane Ceremonies are not for the State and Majesty of Princes That is the world knows his own and will know nothing but his own It hath been long and lamentably experimented that the evils of the Church have ever disturbed the state That which corrupts men and sets up lust must needs be against God and against Magistracy which is from God The Gospel in its purity will help all this evil will bring with it all good this Gospel is one the name of them that hold that one faith is sacred the name Christian The love it teacheth and worketh is the bond that knits them together in one brother-hood love is for Communion not for single standing separating nor dividing It s power is as sweet as strong as beautiful as powerful as good as commanding Administrations there are in diversity but one Lord there is from whom as there is but one Church one body for whose edification all those are given One body in Communion distinguished into several but no severed fellowships or Churches for order and edification-sake Absolutenesse in severed Companies is of Primacy affected The 24. Elders are one community about the Throne and the Lamb and are more able to advise than one that arrogates because he loves to have Praeeminence The Instituted order in Administrations of the New Testament is Apostles Prophets these the Scriptures now supply lay the Bible in the midst and consult therewith and there you have them then Teachers Deacons Governments these Christ Jesus by his Spirit gifts and by his Church owns One way and one heart go together Diversities of wayes nurses up divisions of heart O Princes let Christ the King of glory in his Gospel and Gospel-Administrations come in These things belong unto the wise these concern the supreme primarily and Grace Wisdome and Prudence discerns closeth with and establisheth them The strange crossenesse and
contrariety of things that stands out in these Gospel-dayes and rises so stoutly for one against another amazes the best heads and staggers yea confounds the stoutest hearts that are by place and office to manage them here are with us in one womb the old revived strugglings of the holiest and profanest the purest and the subtlest the most for power and the most denying of the power of godlinesse the most zealous and the most formal and richly goodly luke-warme the weightiest grain and the lightest chaffe the deepliest poor in spirit and the loftiest proud in the flesh the heaven-born Sons of marvelous light and the hell-born brats of thickest darknesse these cause difficulty to rule so as to foster the gracious and discountenance the wicked severing the precious and the vile Faith an active faith the faith of the Lords Heroes is the one only helpe this keeps with God in his Word for principles of Policy for upright wayes for support and courage in both against carnal counsels courses confidences and fears the worst of Counsellors These Considerations possesse whil'st with joy in God through Jesus Christ glorying in his works all honourable and glorious and in his wayes all righteous and holy with fears sorrows and prayers because of judgements impendent for the wickednesses of errors divisions profanenesse abounding and for the Magistrates sake and their concernments and for Common-weals and Kingdomes the Innes of the Church for as for the Ministers sackcloth cannot hinder the efficacy of their Prophesying and Witnesse-bearing salutiferous and destructive nor their slaughter do any more than issue forth their resurrection to the fall of the tenth part of the City to be visited and the ruine of seven thousand of men of name let the earth-dwellers the merry world of them beware For the Publishing of this Treatise besides the Importunity of many of the Commissioners of Surrey for the ejection of ignorant and scandalous Ministers who heard part of it delivered in Sermons which wrested from me a concession to their desires two things swayed with me First that in this sleight age tossed to and fro with puffes of windy vaporings which blow high and big and take with many the wholsome old everlasting and absolutely necessary truths of saving doctrine might be laid again before all mens sight to cure if the Lord will this giddinesse of head and secondly that in this notional high-flown conceited age wherein nothing is esteemed but that which goes under the name of Mysterious of a more spiritual dispensation and above Scriptural and the plain truthes of the Scripture are overlook't called low carnal and fit for none but Saints under the lowest dispensation It might be manifest that these truths only are truly heavenly spiritual Gospel-mysteries of the highest dispensation that ever shall be in this world and that upon the review and Christian-experience all might see that the other Novel speakings are low carnal beggarly things belly-breaths the issues of fleshly tumors indigested waterish tympanies and crackes of clouds without rain That I prefix your Highnesses name is an act of boldnesse for which pardon is humbly craved I adventured on it that I might acknowledge the encouragement given to my Ministery two years since at a needful time by your Renowned father now with Christ who openly and really owned it almost opprest by willing my labours at Kingston of which poor labours as they are mine these are some of the fruits presented to your most serene aspect and offered to the service of your faith What remains but prayers promised that your life may be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord your God your person may abide in the secrets of the most High hid there even in his bosome-love in Christ your heart may remain large wise holy humble and believing your eyes may see the great Council in Parliament assembled full of grace and peace the Lords and yours to his glory and your abundant joy for the good of these Nations and of the people of Christ in all the world In you also through the advice of that your great Council it may be manifest that God doth and will still bless these Nations and make them instrumental to the ruine of Romish Babylon with all that belongs thereto and that out of illuminated zeal for the Gospels the Saints injuries and blood till the vengeance and recompence be rendred to her double which work shall be fulfilled in its time by the Lamb and his called and faithful and chosen On which work your heart set you have the Hosanna of him that waits for the mighty thunderings of the Hallelujahs and is Your Highnesses most obliged for the Gospels and the Publique good Richard Byfield The CONTENTS Chap. 1. AN Explication of the Text in its dependance and manner of laying down with three special observations giving further light to the words and with the foure great truths of doctrine three of them expressed and the fourth strongly implied in the Coherence Chap. 2. The first great truth which is this that there is no salvation by the Law or by any other means save by Jesus Christ Chap. 3. The second great truth The fulnesse of salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ and that set forth by many choice truths which the Apostle in this Text takes for granted Chap. 4. The fulness of salvation by Jesus Christ expressed in the person who is the first efficient cause he that provides this salvation God even God the Father Chap. 5. The fulnesse of this salvation in the Person who undertakes to work it out even Gods own Son Chap. 6. The fulnesse of salvation manifested in the way God taketh to save sinners by his Son Chap. 7. The fulness of a sinners salvation evinced in the outward cause moving God to give his own Sonne and to take such away to save which was the impotency and impossibility of the Law to save and the lost estate of the sinner Chap. 8. The fulnesse of this salvation in the end of Christs mission intended and attained which was the expiation of sin and the fulfilling of the righteousness of the law for and in the sinners that shall be saved Chap. 9 The fulnesse of salvation shines in the person who maketh saving application thereof dethroning corruption of nature and ruling the whole man even the Spirit the holy Ghost the Spirit of the Father and of the Son Chap. 10. The third great truth the lively description of the persons that shall be saved and do partake of this salvation by Jesus Christ viz. They are such who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Chap. 11. The fourth and last great truth which is The fulnesse of the assurance and of the consolation of those who are in Christ and walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit THE Gospels GLORY ROM 8. 3 4. Ver. 3. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own
First what man is since the fall of Adam Take him with all abilities in his best estate here out of Christ he is but weak frail mortal and sinful flesh mortal and sinful man he is flesh that is carnal sensual and wholly corrupted with sin he is utterly unable to keep the holy Law of God to fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law to make satisfaction to Gods justice for the least sin by all the righteousnesse he can by himself attain unto And therefore wholly unable to escape condemnation Secondly We may here learn that the flesh that is man consisting of body and soul though frail and mortal even weak dying flesh enfeebled in his abilities and operations both of body and mind is not in that regard sinful for then the Son of God who became flesh who took on him our nature a true humane soul and body and our nature infirme frail and mortal our very flesh and blood must needs have been defiled with sinne but he knew no sinne he was the Lamb without spot and blemish therefore the flesh or body of man is not evil as it is flesh and blood nor the desires appetite or weaknesse frailties and diseases that attend it no more than the minde the top of the soul the will and affections of the soul are in themselves evil God is the former of our bodies as well as the Father of our spirits and God is not the Author of sinne this is diligently to be heeded against the dreams of most Hereticks old and new against the general sayings of Philosophers and the common and usual conceits all men have of the flesh or body as if that were the evil sinning blame-worthy part in them but their souls their hearts their minds the spirit of the minde that they think to be good and holy and to receive its defilement from the body And therefore men place all Religion in some observations of abstinence bodily bodily exercises as Touch not this taste not that and handle not the other or in some neglecting of the body macerating and punishing it and denying satisfaction to the poor flesh in the natural desires thereof unto which weak body there is an honour due whereas all that defiles a man is from within from the heart and soul of man from these good hearts of ours comes all wickednesse as our Lord Jesus teacheth Thirdly here we are taught that there is something in man farre worse than death mortality frailty or any disease or pain even that which brought all this upon him and that is sinne which we make so light of sinne is the worst thing in the world sin is farre worse than affliction than all deaths Fourthly here may be seen how near the Lord Jesus Christ the Sonne of God came unto us he came so near that he took to himself in nearest union not only our souls which are spiritual substances but our very bodies he took to him our flesh and blood he took to him our whole nature and that in the condition which sinne had brought it unto the very likenesse of sinful flesh our infirme nature a soul subject to some kind of ignorance to affections of love anger and sorrow a body subject to hunger thirst nakedness cold wearinesse a frail mortal man he was but wholly without sinne yea tempted as we are like us in all things sin only excepted he became flesh He did not assume our nature as it was in our first Parents in their innocency but as it is now since the fall he came not into the world in the form of a King or some great Monarch or of an honourable person or rich and wealthy no nor of a free-man but of a servant he became Phil. 2. 7. poor and destitute of all naked flesh 2 Cor. 8. 9. Behold the grace the great love of the Lord Jesus Christ behold it till thy heart be loose from all that men here admire and doat upon and begin to draw towards this Lord the Son of the most High who disdained not to come so low to seek after and exalt thee 2. Here we have the persons distinct 2. Three distinct persons and works of those persons distinct in a sinners salvation with their distinct workings who are employed in the salvation of the Elect 1. God the Father he is sending his own Son he is condemning sin he is salving and keeping whole and untoucht the righteousnesse of the Law 2. Then the Sonne of God Jesus Christ he is incarnate he becomes flesh he payes the price of Redemption by suffering the damnatory sentence of the Law he fulfills the righteousness required in the commands of the Law And lastly The Spirit he unites to Christ that this might he in us through faith he applies and brings home with power all this that the Father and Son have done he thrusts out the flesh the power of corrupt nature and regenerates sanctifies and rules in them so mightily that they walk after the Spirit In us who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Who 2 Sam. 7. 23 Deut 33. 29 are like unto Gods chosen who are thus saved of the Lord whom God the Father and the Sonne and the Spirit thus redeeme for whom these three yet one God do thus go forth and work and are so employed to deliver from sinne and damnation Blessed and happy art thou O Israel of God whether Jew or Gentile thus saved of the Lord 3. We have also here the summary 3. The two wayes given to mankind in which everlasting life might be obtained comprehension of all the wayes that ever God gave to mankinde to obtaine life by that is the Law and the Gospel We have likewise the onely way by which mankinde fallen can possibly be delivered and obtaine everlasting life which is the Gospel And further how these two the Law and the Gospel mutually do work The Law comes but is found weak unable and the deliverance of a sinner thereby a thing impossible yet this Law takes off the sinner from his great confidence leaves him at a losse shuts him up to Christ and to faith in him when that shall come to help The Doctrine or Law of Faith in Christ Jesus that establsheth the Law every way and doth that for the sinner which the Law could not do By it Gods love and Christ Jesus the Sonne of God the Saviour God in Christ is made known the Spirit is given the flesh oâ— corruption of nature subdued righteousnesse fulfilled sinne condemned and the sinner saved And withal the words are so composed that the summe of the Gospel is briefly orderly plainly practically or as it may and must fall into practice and fully set down here to our edification and consolation abundantly SECT 4. Having thus farre unfolded the words here are four precious and important 4. grand truths truths three in the text and one in the context We have three most glorious and necessary truths
who speaketh is true John 3. 33. He that believeth not maketh God a liar 1 Joh. 5. 10. Because he receiveth not his testimony or witnesse he that receiveth Christ Jesus receiveth God that sent him he that rejecteth Christ rejecteth God All respect or neglect in this great businesse runs up so high as to God himself SECT 3. The use of this point is to call upon us to entertain these thoughts digest this The use hereof truth and it will work warme it and rub it in by meditation and it will enter into thy soul First believe this truth in the general that GOD doth thus tender the everlasting salvation of poor sinners great sinners and then bring it home unto thy self that GOD offers life to thee a sinner Dwell awhile on these if we lay away the principles of sound doctrine and care not to know them if we stick in an overlie knowledge and do not believe them with the heart receiving them as the saving truths revealed by the Spirit of God and testified to the children of men as Gods own Record and Testimony there is no talking of the application of faith upon them to our own souls Quest But some may say how may one know that he hath apprehended aright this truth that it is GOD that hath provided the way of salvation Answ In general thus if rightly apprehended then every word of this salvation will come to the soul as the Word of God not as the word of a man though never so worthy credit not as the word of a King yet power goes with the word of a King not as the word of an Angel it is more than so when it comes to thy heart as the Word of God It 1 Thes 2. 13. will come to thee in the power of God in divine life and strength it will work effectually in thee Gods Word-runneth very swiftly he commandeth and the thing is done Again it will come to thy soul as the good Word of God the Word and Message in which thy good thy everlasting good doth lie to such a r Thes 1. heart the Gospel comes in much assurance and in the joy of the Holy Ghost the Gospel now stands to thee as an undoubted unmovable truth now it is the best news that ever came into the world the glad tydings of great joy the onely light and life of thy heart In special attend that God the Lord is the first and principal Agent or Worker here 1. It layes down in the heart of a sinner a possibility of his salvation That which to the Law to man whiles he stands to the Law is impossible that GOD will yet do it it becomes very possible with God all things are possible say to thy self before the Lord it is possible that such a sinner as I am or as thou art mayest be saved for GOD sends a Saviour for sinners you this layes down a possibility above all difficulties the difficulties are great our innumerable sinnes the bortomlesse depth of the deceitfulnesse and the desperatenesse of the wickednesse of our hearts the impenitency of an hard heart that cannot repent the death in sâ—n and trespasses the alienations withdrawings and gain-sayings of an heart that cannot believe the cursed barrennesse in the heart and life of all grace and good fruit the defilement and contagion of sinne as a leprofie and as the plague of pestilence the guilt and condemning power of sinne the distance and separation yea the enmity between God and man which sinne hath made the great enemies such are the Law the Curse Mortality Death the Grave Hell Satan Tentations Persecutions the world with all its lusts and errours the body of sinne called the body of this death Rom. 7. 24. the Back-slidings and Apostasies which we are subject unto Satans strong holds within in false principles high thoughts and devised devotions depths carnal reasonings foolish and snarling objections besides the wisdome of a conceited the pride of a presuming and the dejections of a despairing heart If these Armies of difficulties and of impossibilities to created means should beset thee yet that GOD should reveale himself in a saving way stayes the heart and renders all of them Conquerable 2. It awakens it shakes the carelesse soul and fills with trembling It saith with Jacob God is here in this Word of the Gospel and I was not aware little thought I of such a presence in this contemned Word 3. It layeth a basis a foundation unmovable thus we have him to believe on who supports Heaven and Earth who is the Rock of Ages 4. It sets another face on God and on all things God is in Christ reconciling the world God at peace and all things become full of peace Behold all 's new there is now a new face of 2 Cor. 5. 18. things In this light we see light and have life there is a blessing in all through Gods blessing the worst and most deadly are not onely harmlesse but medicinal and helpful the heart begins to live at this presence a heavenly calme passeth bespreadeth and dwelleth upon the soul Tranqâ—illus Deus tranquillat omnia 5. It heals the heart of hard thoughts of God and of alienations from God then I perceive saith the soul the holy God will yet look after me 6. It sets the heart on God is there hope yet for such a one as I am surely it is good for me to draw near to God 7. It prevents and allayes the over-much grief for sinne or for afflictions and miseries our own or the Churches overmuch in both is hurtful to our soules dishonourable to God scandalous to men this delivers I even I am he that comforteth you saith the Lord Isa 49. 14 15. I blot out your transgessions Isa 43. 25. 8. It makes to cry to God out of the depth of our hellish filth and guilt Psalme 130. 1. It boiles up the spirit to fervency in Prayer 9. It puts an Awful Reverential Uniting feare into the soul Psalme 130. 3. There is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared 10. It enclines the soul to believe hope wait and love Psalme 130. 4 5. 11. It comforteth with comforrs rational and real from grounds in God from the presence of God 2 Cor. 6. 17. I will dwell in them I will walke in them I will be their GOD and they shall be my People 12. It devotes it assures it raiseth to Triumph What shall we say to these things If GOD be for Rom. 8. 31. Eph. 1. 3. 1 Pet. 1. 3. us who can be against us What shall separate us from the love of GOD it fills with praise and with gloryings and humble boastings in God This GOD is our GOD GOD is become my salvation Thus of the person who is the first mover in the great work of a sinners salvation CHAP. V. Treateth of the fulnesse of the salvation of a sinner in the person who undertakes to work it out even Gods
contain this doctrine The way God took to save a sinner by Christ is a sweet and sound demonstration of the alsufficiency of the salvation in Christ Jesus and the way was this to condemn sinne in the flesh of his Sonne whom he sent in the flesh and that of purpose to take away sinne Two things are to be unfolded here 1. The way which God taketh 2. The effectualness of that way 1. The way of God is this while he saveth the sinner he will condeme his sin to the low â— Hell and lower by farre and that in the very same nature that hath sinned even in humane flesh That this may be done he sets out his own Sonne to be made flesh he sends him in the similâ—tude of sinful flesh in a true humane soul and body such as sinne had made frail miserable and mortal such a one as ours is He thus sends him for sin that he may bear all their sins charged on him And then in this flesh of his own Son their sinnes shall be condemned the Son of God condemned for their sin and so in that condemnation sin for ever condemned for this end he sends him as one that hath taken upon him the Office of a Saviour by mediation by suretiship and by redemption and as he whom God had designed to this office Consider every step in this way they are Five steps in this way of God 1 His Sons preordination 1 Pet. 1. 20. Ephes 1. 9 five the first step is 1. Gods preordination of the Sonne to be the Mediatour that he in our nature should execute the office of a Mediatour of Priest Prophet and King in a state of humiliation This preordination is Gods eternal fore-knowledge counsel purpose and decree out of his infinite good pleasure within himself appointing his Son to be the Christ to bring the Elect to glory Christ Jesus as God-man is the means of election to be executed he is the cause of our salvation but not of our election In this preordination there was a Councel held between the Father the Son and the holy Spirit In this councel all that concerns mans salvation was determined Act. 2. 23. 4. 28. The Son is set out and by a free voluntary dispensation he yieldeth to be ordained and appointed Rom. 3. 25. And with him an Agreement is made that he should give his soul an offering for sinne and then according to promise in that agreement he should see the fruit of that his travel of soul to his own hearts full satisfaction Isa 53. 10. All that ever shall be saved were given to him before all worlds John 10. 29. 17. 6 9 6. 37 39. Life eternal is promised before the worlds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grace that Tit. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 1. 10. is free love and favour with the effects of it was given the Elect in Christ before the world began A book of all is written the Records the most High's Parliament Rev. 20. 15 21. 27. 13. 8. Roles called the book of life the Lambs book of life And accordingly he before he was sent was Preached in Gen. 3. 15. promised to Abraham in Gen. 22. 18. and to David in Psal 132. was prophesied of * Isa 7. 4. 9. 6 7. 53. Jer. 23. 5. was Typified in the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant Heb. 9. and in Melchizedech Heb. 7. 3. was seen in fore-shewes in a humane shape in which of old he appeared frequently to the Fathers as the holy Angels also used to do 2. Gods mission of his Sonne is the second 2. His mission step of this way of God The work thus 1. The Father and the holy Ghost do send and the Son voluntarily condescends to be sent All stoops nothing too dear for the salvation of a sinner The Sonne is brought in speaking thus I have not spoken in secret from the beginning from the Isa 48. 16. A cleare old Testament proof of the Trinity Joh. 7. 28 29. time that it was there am I and now the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me 2. The Son came not of himself he took nothing on him of his own head apart from the Father in the whole businesse of Redemption 3. The Father gave him out of his bosome he sent him on this great errand he parted with him spared him not but he delivered him up 4. He sent him in his Incarnation in the fulnesse of time but of this Act in the next step 5. He sent him into the world into this miserable vain sinful place he dwelt among men and was found in fashion as a man he sent him not Isa 61. 1. to delight and glory in the world 6. He sent him furnished with gifts he sanctified him separated him from all other as Joh. 10. 36. Joh. 5. 3â— 9. 4. only able and fit for such a work as to save the world and filled him with the Spirit not by measure as he is man and having thus sanctified him he sent him 7. He sent him and gave him work to do and finish and set him a day a season to do Joh. 7. 6. 8 8. 28. 12. 49. 14. 24. Joh. 17. 1 4. it in he neither did nor spake of himself but as the Father which sent him gave him Commandment what he should say and what he should speak he did nothing of himself he doth what he seeth the Father do and spake what he heard and learn't of his father he did all in the very hour of the allotted day and finished his work in the hour of the day set him the work some of it was none of the easiest or fairest work he was not only to preach the doctrine of the Kingdome and to confirm it by Miracles to keep the law and to fulfill all righteousnesse but to be a pattern in doing and suffering yea to be a Ransome a Price a Sacrifice for sinne to suffer a cursed death and to be made sin and a curse for us and this Heb. 10. 8 9. â—oh 3. 17. Act. 3. 26 1 Joh. 4. 9. 10. Joh. 8. 29. Joh. 16. 32 hard and foul work he delighted to perform 8. He sent him not to condemn but to save the world to blesse his people to be a propitiation that in him we might have life 9. He sent him and was with him he never left him alone because he doth alwayes those things that please his Father he never did his own will or sought his own glory but his glory who sent him and when all his Apostles left him alone and forsook him then the Father was with him 10. He sent him with Commission what was that surely most worthy the perusing by us his Commission he opens and reads it was this 1. His Commission was and is to seek and to save that which was lost 2. To dye and rise Luk. 19. 10. Joh. 10. 28. Isa 49. 6. Joh.
work sutable to Gods dealing with us he sends his Sonne we are to receive him whom God hath sent and believing is receiving he tells and testifies this unto the world we are to believe his Word and Testimony there is no other work left Christ hath done and suffered all for us believing is the acceptable work it gives glory to God and destroyes boasting utterly this faith doth all the work by faith Christ is revealed conceived formed born lives and dwells in the heart faith makes the sinner mourn pray wait at wisdomes gates confesse Christ contemn and overcome the world deny himself exalt God lay under the creature resist the Divel live holily and heavenly and dye in hope peace and joy faith purifieth the heart worketh by love circumciseth the heart to love God makes to fear the Lord and his goodnesse frames to the life of a pilgrim and stranger on earth and enables to do and suffer and labour and grow vigorous in the midst and strength of all that opposeth like men heaven-born born from above as men heaven-aspiring as bound for and tending to the Countrey above This is the will of God the Father that sent Jesus Christ his Sonne that every one that seeth Joh. 6. 40. Joh. 17. 3. the Sonne and believeth on him should have everlasting life This is Eternal life 2. Meditate Say with thy self Lord what is sinne what is man who art thou sinne it is the mischief that which destroyes the work of Gods own hand and that which ruines the choicest creature which no holy Law can abolish which no sacrifice but that of Gods own Sonne can expiate that which condemns the Sonne of God and can never be condemned in it self and in the heart of the sinner but by such a way and as for man what is he even dust and clay at his first and best raised out of the dust of the earth a very rebellious lump a masse of rebellion a lump of rebellious clay a leprous heap a putrified sore a hateful and hating enmity proud conceited brutish foolish sinful flesh that is not subject to the Law of God nor can be unlesse mortified crucified and created again but as for Thee O Lord God what is this name of Father what is this thy Sonne what is thy Sonnes name Oh that we could tell dost thou make thine own Sonne to be sin and condemn him as a sinner and condemn sin in his flesh is this the manner and Law of thy love to the sonnes of men to sinful man what manner of love is this Now stay make up what is wanting in thy conceiving of these things in admiration in the administration of faith which makes us draw near to God which transforms us into the image of Gods love 3. Fasten thy thoughts know thy self and God in Christ more behold his glory to make thee like him in this his love Take the Gospel glasse and while in the glasse of the Law thou seest thy self to just detestation and shame of face with open face behold the glory of God in his grace in Christ his Sonne crucified in that mitrour view it freely to transform thee into the image of this his love and grace from one degree of glory to another degree of glory Let Gods love work in thee such love to thy own soul first and then such love to the souls of others their salvation dearer to thee then thy own things temporal than thy temporal life A pure love sinne the enemy and the sinner the object of thy love sinnes against thee not hindering thee seeking of their good Love that is in deed and in truth love to die for the brethren love making willing to part with lay down lay out expose to the utmost of sufferings whatever is dearest willing to be counselled appointed and sent no envy no ambition nothing of self The greatest and lowest service proves the greatest love love bearing one anothers infirmities and temptations Behold this love to the espousing of thy soul to Christ for ever and adjure all not to disquiet him who is the love Cant. 2. 7. 3. To convince 3. Suffering the Word of exhortation Consider also how this doctrine is full of conviction It convinceth of the great sinne and misery of all men yea of all Christians that refuse Jesus Christ their refusal is of the onely remedy of a poor guilty sinner it 's the refusal of the Son manifesting the greatest love 't is the refusal of God the Father coming to undone man in a way of salvation as mysterious as salvifical as full of glory as of grace the more exalted in lofty height the more it is matchlesse in lowest condescensions of free grace their refusal is a Prov. 8. 36 degree of hatred of Christ and this hatred of the Sonne is the hatred of the Father they love death they love to be damned they love to go to hell they love that which will bring them thither they passe not for that which would deliver them thence they have not the Word nor the love of the Father abiding Joh. 5. 38 42. 8. 41 42. in them for then they would receive him whom the Father hath sent and all this hath the greater aggravation in that every one so knows his sicknesse and seels his wound that he will go out for some or other and any one that comes in his own name whom God the Father never sent nor sealed him he will receive every one will have his way of Religion but this way of God he will not own 4. This doctrine also giveth ground of 4. To humble deep humiliation even to the godly who do believe yet are guilty of much neglect of three things 1. Of the riches of assurance both of full assurance of understanding to the acknowledging of this mystery of God even Col. 2. 2. of the Father and of Christ and of the full assurance of faith that they might in God all day long and night glory in the Lord Christ alone and rejoyce in him for evermore 2. Of enjoying God in Christ in all other their enjoyments 3. Of the high valuations of Jesus Christ when you hear these reproofs say Is not this a part of that love in Christ to the Elect Vessels of mercy that God condemns my sinne but yet he condemns not me he condemns my sinne that he might save me 5. Lastly This ministers strong consolation to the humbled every one that 5. To comfort desires to be found in Christ that seeks his righteousnesse that owns his own want of all righteousnesse and takes his own sins as the detestable and deadly thing to thee is this Saviour sent for thee did he come into the world to thee doth God come in every step of this way to thee belongs this grace of God bringing salvation Go over the whole of this truth and put in thy self thy name thou art the man or woman for whom God took all
this care and concerning whom he had all these thoughts of peace for good Hitherto of the third special truth demonstrating that the salvation by Christ is a full salvation the fourth followeth CHAP. VII The fulnesse of a sinners salvation evinced in the outward cause moving God to give his own Sonne and to take such a way to save which was the impotency and impossibility of the Law to save and the lost estate of the sinner SECT 1. 4. THe outward impulsive cause of Gods giving his Sonne in the flesh to redeem and save is in these words what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Sonne c. these words considered of themselves as one entire proposition namely this the Law could not deliver a sinner for it was weak through the flesh do contain that first great truth handled before in the second Chapter of this Treatise but now take them as the Apostle here puts them in their Syntax in the Contexture woven in together with that which followeth to this effect what the Law could not do that God did by sending his own Son and then we have that which moved God to set forth this way of Redemption by his own Sonne God gave the Law and sin was provoked and the sinner dyed the sinner looked to it stood convinced it was holy just and good but the more seeking righteousnesse and life by it his weaknesse the more appearing and he unable to keep it the more he lay under the curse of it God then takes this course he 'le send his own Sonne and he shall bring righteousnesse and life to this helplesse sinner hence a fourth special doctrine offers it self proving the second general which sheweth that this salvation in Christ must needs be compleat and admirable It is this The very impossibility of the justification 4. The impotency and impossibility of the Law to save and the lost estate of the sinner is the outward thing that moved God to save him by Jesus Christ Proved ten wayes life and salvation of a sinner by the Law and the sinfulnesse of miserable fallen man which brought that utter weaknesse upon the Law was that and that onely from without that moved God to justifie and save a sinner by Christ and therefore it is a salvation glorious gracious and all-sufficient This truth is evident divers wayes 1. That which is the help when the Law cannot help must needs be high and powerful for first The Law is the only way of life which God as Creator doth give to a reasonable creature and secondly The Law is so able that being perfect and Gods own Covenant it cannot be weakned but onely by accident not by its own failing but by ours it is weak but through the flesh 2. The Law for righteousnesse and Christ for righteousnesse do stand in direct Gal. 2. 16 21. opposition yet the Law is not against the Gospel the Law drives to Christ alone the Law is fulfill'd when Christ is Gal. 3. 21 22. received the Law comes in that the offers of Christ might be esteemed which else a proud sinner would wholly neglect Rom. 10. 4 or pervert and never understand aright this is the help given of God which is the end of the Law 3. That help that is able to set flesh sinful weak flesh right in Gods High Court of Justice recta in curiâ as Lawyers speak and to put strength into it and so make up the breach so that both the Law shall stand in its full force and strength and yet the sinner be righteous and live that is altogether a Soveraign salvation but such is the help which Gods grace in Jesus Christ doth bring it puts forth its power gloriously efficacious for and upon and in sinful weak flesh 4. When that which deserves that God should cast off reprobate and condemn to hell for ever and so glorifie his justice is made the ground of giving Christ what now can be alledged to hinder if the Omnipotent All-wise and All-gracious God be able to save a poor perishing creature if Christ the Sonne of God be able to help sinfulnesse of flesh is the very ground It deserves damnation as we see in the righteous sentences of the Law in the casting away of Angels fallen in men whom God reprobates the same reprobablenesse is in the very Elect men in all of them and therefore Isa 43. 22 25. Eph. 2. 1 2 3 4 5. is this Saviour given The Prophet Isaiah pleaded for God with Israel long ago bringing in the Lord speaking in his own words on this wise Thou hast not called upon me O Jacob thou hast been weary of me O Israel thou hast made me to serve with thy sinnes thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sinnes 5. When this that all help failes and through mans own fault shall be the rise and advantage that God will take to give Isa 63. 5. his Sonne to be the Christ and Saviour this answers all objections Now thus it stands here none to help none to uphold therefore saith God my arme Isa 41. 27 28. saves No intercessor no man what no counsellor Behold saith the Lord I give one that bringeth good tydings what can no God Idol god no worship no sacrifice Lambs Rams Bullocks Rivers of oyle no price of silver or gold nor prayers nor tears of blood give help Isa 45. 20 21 22. behold a just God and a Saviour I am and there is none besides me look unto me saith God and be ye saved all the ends of the earth behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world 6. Therefore mercy was the onely motive mercy hath the miserable for its object An unchangeable purpose of love within God himself according to the good pleasure of his will was the onely proper cause causing salvation and therefore it must needs be firme as a foundation of God by grace are we saved above and against desert It is the glory of free-grace and 't is to the glory of free-grace to save Gratia non est gratia ullo modo si non sit gratuita omni modo Rom. 5 20. 3. 27 Eph. 1. 6 7. 2. 8 9. a sinner Grace is not grace any way if it be not frank and free every way 7. It must needs be done thus to shew the glory of grace superabounding when sinne and the Laws curse cannot hinder but where sinne hath abounded grace aboundeth much more and to exclude boasting that glorious superabounding grace may have the praise for ever 8. If it had been grounded upon any thing in us as the cause of this saving love we should never have dared to come near unto the holy God because we are sinful nor could our hearts have stood stable in his presence because
cures of bodily miseries here on earth were all to direct us where to seek and finde the cure of all spiritual maladies Christ Jesus loosed the cords of afflictions by loosing the cords of sinne the true method in taking away the cause and thereby the sad effects sheweth the skill of a Physician indeed 4. Here be advised what is the greatest and most shameful perversnesse and that is to continue in sinne that grace may abound Rom. 6. 1. to turn this grace into wantonnesse and lasciviousnesse to professe Christ and live Heathenishly Grace free-grace and not the Law breaks down the dominion of sinne Christ dissolves the works of the Divel he was manifested Rom. 6. 14 1 Joh. 3. 8 5. to take away sinne and in him is no sin he is not faulty in the work he undertook 2. Be perswaded to come to Christ let rhis love draw thee will God take the Use 2. To exhort rise and ground of shewing mercy from thy undone estate there also do thou take thy rise and from thence look unto him what can stand in the way to hinder that love which sinne cannot hinder which sinne drew forth to full manifestations think on 't seriously frequently believingly to turn thee quite about after this God Again be ravished with desires and admiration Oh the heights depths lengths and breadths of this love of God! The Lord strengthen us with might by his Spirit in the inner man that we may comprehend with all the Saints the love of God in Christ in all its dimensions and Ephes 3. 16 18 19. measures to the filling of us with all the fulness of God the fulnesse of this his revealed glory And while thou contemplatest the wayes of Gods grace admiring astonishment will cause thee to cry out Oh the depths both of the knowledge and wisdome of God! how unsearchable are his judgments and his wayes past finding Rom. 11. 33 34 35. out who hath given to him first let him stand forth and it shall be recompensed unto him who hath known the minde of the Lord or who hath been his Counsellor Use 3. To comfort 3. Comfort also springs out and flows hence in abundance first under sinnes guilt and under sinnes motions Die under Rom. 7. 9 13. the feeling thereof let sinne in the thought thereof grow exceeding sinful and abominable in thine eyes as indeed it is in it self view thy self a sinner in the perfect glasse of the pure Law of God behold it in the reflexion of the crucifying death and burial of the Sonne of God for the sinne of the world and let free-grace be glorified and then thou art safe Secondly under temptations of presumption and of despair under the temptation of presumption either that of carnal confidence or that of carnal conceptions of mercy Nothing in us or in any other creature or thing out of God himself was the cause of Gods love to any Christ himself is but the gift of this love of God when thou lookest upon thy self dwell upon thy guilt and filth that thou mayest by faith alone dwell in God and God dwell in thee he sindes thee sinful lost and forlorn and he will save and in saving cannot leave thee such for then he did not save Under the temptation of despair what support is here No sinne no Law made God to loath as in justice he should but to pity and to redeeme Thirdly under the power of enemies Isa 49. 24 25 26. Behold here sinne that sells the sinner occasions the workings of the tender bowels and mercies of the infinite God of God the Father to save Behold here the Lawful Captive the Captive of the Mighty is redeemed and delivered Hitherto of the fourth truth demonsâ—rating the second great doctrine concerning the full salvation which is in Jesus Christ Now let us come to the fifth medium which the Apostle giveth to demonstrate the All-sufficiency of this salvation CHAP. VIII Treating of the fulnesse of salvation by Jesus Christ proved from the end of the sending of Christ intended and attained which was the expiation of sin and the fulfilling of the righteousnesse of the Law both for and in the sinners that shall be saved SECT 1. 5. THe words of the Apostle now to 5. Salvation is full where sin is expiated and the righteousnesse of the Law is fulfilled for and in us sinners be handled are these And for sinne condemning sinne in the flesh that the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in us did God send his own Sonne here is delivered this glorious truth viz. That the end of Christs mission incarnation and passion being to expiate sinne and to fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law both for and in us doth abundantly prove the salvation of those that are in Christ to be absolute and full Here three affrighting and sinking sentences Opened and while opened demonstrated are savingly and everlastingly answered The awakened sinner when he considers the Law of God and the Bonds of his obedience thereunto as he is a reasonable creature cannot but reason thus 1. I am a sinner and sinne condemns me by the righteous sentence of the Law which I have broken It is answered The Sonne of God is sent in the flesh for sin to be the sacrifice to take it away the Lamb of God slain in sacrifice for the sin of the world God condemns sinne which would condemn thee God condemns it in the flesh of his own Sonne as the Syriack readeth the words in his flesh and the connexion of the words in these two verses doth inforce that sense for he that sent his own Sonne in the flesh to condemn sinne in the flesh and so save the sinner must needs condemn sinne in his flesh and not in our flesh for had we born in our bodies the condemnation due by the Law for our sinnes we had perished everlastingly and had for ever layn under the curse of the Almighty Law-giver but sinne is expiated by a sacrifice of infinite value sinne is condemned in the flesh of Gods own Sonne therefore thou shalt never be condemned for thy sinne 2. The Law requireth perfect obedience and righteousnesse of the creature and continuance in the same I cannot perform the obedience which the Law requireth and were all my former sinnes forgiven I shall sinne again It is answered the Sonne of God hath fulfill'd the righteousnesse of the Law in thy nature for thee for God sent him in the likenesse of sinful flesh he sent him about sinne that he in the flesh the humane nature might fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law therefore he was sent not for himself who was not obliged to the Law but for us to fulfill it for us therefore his obedience is thy obedience his righteousnesse thy righteousnesse The righteousnesse of Christ Jesus the righteousness performed by him is performed for thee not for himself it is thine it is the righteousnesse of God
awake arise and live he is the Spirit of life the righteousnesse of Christ declared and set forth by God in the Gospel and brought home to the soul of an humbled sinner by the word attended with the Spirit and the Spirit is life because of this righteousnesse life from the death of condemnation which sin deserved life from the death of sin life true and joyful 3. He circumcises the heart with a circumcision made without Rom. 2. 29 Col. 2. 11. hands In this work the word is the circumcising knife this knife is taken into the hand of the Spirit the heart is the part that is to suffer and not the flesh or body of the sinner the fore-skin is the superfluity of maliciousnesse and wickednesse Jam. 1. 21. Deut. 30. 6. the skin upon the heart the skin of other loves which oppose the love of God as self-love the love of the world the love which is called lust and the love of superstitious vanities and mens inventions in Religion and worship and the cutting off this fore-skinnesse is when the word in the hand of the Spirit and by it skilfully used getting between our hearts and them it makes the heart to see them to be such as the word sayes of them and to judge it self for them and to cast them away as unprofitable and destructive even because of Christ circumcised and made under the Law for us and for our deliverance from the same Law Untill this work be done no love of God can be wrought in us strange loves have the heart and when this work is done it reacheth to the circumcision of the ears and of the lips and of the whole man Insomuch that the body of the sinnes of the flesh the whole frame of sinful flesh suffers and is destroyed 4. He gives us spiritual senses and a sagacity and quicknesse of sente whereby he makes us savour spiritual things and to smell out and delight to pursue spiritual wayes this work is so eminent that the Rom. 8. 5. Isa 11. 2 3 newborn babe can taste distinguishingly the sincere milk of the Word fit to feed batten and make to grow from all adulterate stuffe and can see and discern judiciously the things of the Spirit of God from all other things and make up a right judgement concerning them and can in hearing try the words of doctrine delivered and try the spirits in the teachers the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of Antichrist the Spirit of God and the spirit which is of the world the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour In ordering his Conversation he can sente and smell the wayes of holinesse from those of profanenesse so that he is of quick understanding in the feare of the Lord and is sensible and hath his feeling of spiritual mercies and plagues of sin that annoyes spiritual life and of the power and spiritualnesse of Ordinances and Administrations from ordinances of men in will-worship and formal out-sidednesse and shews and florishes in administrations All this the new born babe is able to do by a naturalnesse like an instinct though for want of Art or of strength of the reasoning ability or not yet having the wits the senses exercised in the word of righteousnesse he cannot shew to his own or others satisfaction where the fault lyeth much lesse is able to dispute it and by arguing convince the evil doers the opposer and the pleader for the evil the quicknesse of spiritual senses doth grow as age in Christ cometh on the Spirit in this work rested upon Jesus Christ as he was man in all fulnesse as became our head and it is on every living member of his mystical body according to his place of membership as becomes such a Member 5. He writes his law in our hearts The Law 2 Cor. 3. 2 3 Rom. 8. 2 that is the summe of revealed truth both of the Law strictly so called the Law of the ten Commandments and of the Gospel this is that which is written the writing is such an engraving of the truth with love of the truth upon our hearts made soft tender and fleshy as that it cannot be blotted out The soul may be torn from the body but the truth cannot be torn out of the heart And this impression of the truth is such that now it is the Law of the mind which Laws the man It is the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus as the Head and in them as the members this is an heavenly edition of the Bible so imprinted upon the soul that the man becomes a living walking Bible which print comes off so fair in the life of the regenerate and sanctified that they are the Epistles of Christ to be seen and read of all men 6. He gives liberty he sets us free from the law of sinne and death the title the dominion of sin is taken away that we may 2 Cor. 3. 17. Rom. 8. 2. Joh. 7. 37 38. 4. 14 become servants of righteousnesse 7. He is a spring and rivers of lâ—ving waters in our bellies flowing up within us unto eternal life Our hearts by nature are as a dry and barren howling Wildernesse not fit for habitation nor bearing any good plants untilled and horrid to the sight It is the Spirits work to be in us whom the Lord will save changing the very will breaking open springs and causing Rivers of sweet wholesome and healing waters of the blessings of the Gospel of all gifts and graces and grounds of comfort to flow within us even in the very heart and conscience in the belly of the man and there these waters to be not as standing lakes and ditch-water but ever streaming out and fed from the hid well-head of the holy Spirit When this work is in us then of Wildernesses we become fruitful Fields then we have within us Isa 44. 3. 49. 10. Joel 3. 18. Zach. 14. 8 that which will satisfie and will allay and quench our thirsts our souls will be as a well-watered garden whose waters never fail 8. He causeth all the fruits of graces fructifying to be in us and to abound in us all his fruits he maketh to break Ephes 5. 9 Gal. 5. 22 23. 2 Cor. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 13. forth all goodnesse righteousnesse and truth love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance against which and such like there is no Law 9. He transforms us into the image of God from glory to glory 10. He enableth us to believe and Eph. 2. 18. Jude 20. Gal. 4. 6. to speak by confession to pray to the Father through Christ with gracious and fervent desires crying Abba Father to mortifie the deeds of the body our members that are on the earth and to be crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts Rom. 8. 13 Gal. 5. 24. thereof that old bel-dame original sin the sinfulnesse of our natures in which we
called the spirit of errour and envy the spirit of envy and the wisdome of the the world is called the spirit of the world because of this force appearing in it acting of it which force cometh from the energy or effectual working of the Divel who is an evil Angel a spirit indeed But besides these spirits there is the 1 Cor. 2. 10 12. Spirit of God considered as set in opposition to the spirit of man and of the world this is the spirit spoken of in this Doctrine yet one that hath not this Spirit of God as the Spirit of grace may have the Spirit of God in some lesser and lower workings and presence he may have some excellent gifts of the Spirit of God as for instance he may have the Spirit of government as King Saul had he may have the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit gifting him with faith of miracles Mat. 7. 21. 1 Cor. 12. with tongues with prophesie or with wisdome and the like he may have the ordinary gifts of the Spirit such are all ministerial gifts he may have the common graces of the Spirit as general illumination convictions faith historical and temporary and thereupon tasts of the good Word of God the Word of the Gospel and of the powers of the world to come and many fruits arising from thence insomuch that by falling away willingly and sinning against such grace he may resist the Holy Ghost and may runne so high in this way to commit the sinne against the Holy Ghost that unpardonable sinne that sinne unto death he Heb. 6. 3 4. 10. 26 29. may have the spirit of bondage which is a good work but not enough to life and salvation It is the work of the Law accompanied with the Spirit quickning that part of Gods Word upon the soul and working lively and powerfully in the Ministery thereof Now the work of grace is above all this and the Christian in respect of this renewing and sanctifying work of the Spirit is more excellent than any other however otherwise qualified Pharaoh admiring in Joseph the work of the Spirit as the Spirit of prophesie and of the interpretation of dreams said of him Can we finde such a man as this is a man in Gen. 41. 38 whom the Spirit of God is but much more worthily may these words be applied to the regenerate and sanctified by faith which is in Jesus Christ which makes them workers of righteousnesse and no more workers of iniquity which is that good work which he that hath begun in Phil. 1. 6. any will not cease nor fail to perfect it till the day of Christ SECT 11. The Vse of Exhortation in the first branch of it Therefore let the Exhortation take place with you both to seek the Spirit and Use 2. Exhortation to seek the Spirit The way and means to receive the holy Ghost in ten directions to be rightly ordered towards him when you have him 1. Attend the way and means whereby you may receive the Holy Ghost Seek the sense and comfort of the gracious presence and the lively working of the Spirit of Sanctification and Adoption for this purpose these are choice directions First Come out from the world and give thy self up to the Word The world cannot receive the Spirit thou art among and of the world by nature Come out from among them touch not the unclean thing come out from the worlds lusts the worlds vanities and pomps the worlds traditions the worlds Idols and superstitions the Religions and Devotions as ever thou wouldest have God to receive thee into fellowship with Jesus Christ his Sonne through the communion or communication of his Spirit say of all these What have I to do any more with you the Spirit is the holy Spirit the world and the things of the world are the unclean thing The word is the vehicle the Chariot of the Spirit he spake by the Prophets and Apostles and he for ever works in and by their doctrine By the Word engrafted the Spirit dwells in the heart Receive the Word let it be in the truths contained in it as a heavenly Cyons which entertained with meekness and with laying aside all superfluity of wickednesse may be so naturallized into thee that thou mayest be turned into the nature of it and then thou shalt finde the Holy Ghost enter into thee and take up his habitation in thee Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in thee in all wisdome and the Spirit of Christ will fill thee with grace and glory The Scripture is the store-house of Wisdome Wisdome speaks there justifie Wisdome and thou art a childe of Wisdome whom the Holy Ghost hath regenerated this is the incorruptible seed of which Gods children are born anew who is the spiritual but he that is made up of the Word of God he who hath the Word of Christ to be the reason of his reason the light of his minde the life of his heart and the rule of his life he is the Christian indeed Secondly but when thou comest to the Word thou wilt be sure to meet with reproofs no looking into that glasse but thou wilt see all amisse Christ knoweth he shall finde thee a fool and a scorner simple and loving simplicity ignorant and hating knowledge now know he will reprove but yet with serious exhortations and alluring invitations calling and crying after thee what then is to be done Turn Turn at wisdom's reproofs and the promise of the pouring out of the Spirit unto thee is thine Thirdly Behold the Promises and how they are made I will put my Spirit within you saith God then shall ye remember Ezek. 36. 25 31 32. your own evil wayes and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations Remember thy wayes and doings that have not been good and loath thy self that 's all the qualification that is required of thee that thou mayest enjoy this great and all other the precious promises of the Covenant of grace Fourthly Wait on the preaching of the Gospel for that is the Ministery of the 2 Cor. 3. 6 8. Gal. 3. 2. Spirit The Spirit is given aâ—d received by the preaching and hearing of the Word of the Gospel the faith and not the Law by hearing that glorious heavenly Law of faith which excludeth boasting not the Law of works Fifthly Consider the gift and who it is that bestoweth the gift appointed to Joh. 4. 10. that work of God the Father even Jesus Christ the Sonne of God sent in our flesh made of a woman and made under the Law to redeem us from under the Law and consider that God the Father is in and through this Christ our heavenly Father Luk. 11. 13 Consider these three things and then ask the Holy Ghost by prayer for he is promised to those that ask him The gift indeed is great but no lesse
to rellish temporal things only or chiefly and to have no rellish of spiritual things the things of Jesus Christ or to savour spiritual things no otherwayes than carnally as when our Saviour spake of the gift of the Spirit that living water to the woman of Samaria she said Lord give me of this water that I may not thirst nor come to this Well to draw Job 4. 15. And when he said to the Jewes that there was bread of life of the which whosoever should eate he should never dye some cryed out Lord evermore give us this bread Good words but arising Joh. 6. 33 34. wholly from earthly apprehensions of the things of which Christ spake 7. In the reign of some particular lust Gal. 5. 19 20. or known sinne as uncleannesse covetousnesse malice pride profane swearing railing drunkennesse gluttony when we live in any manifest work of the flesh 8. In the power of carnal princâ—ples 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. reasonings and objections against faith and holinesâ—e these are strong holds these are the flesh's fortifications which while they stand undemolished the flesh reigns these be the in-works when they are taken and sleighted the flesh is dismantled and led Captive but not till then 9. In the hatred of the godly the hatred of the brethren which is the not loving Gal. 4. 29. 1 Joh. 3. 14 1. of them we cannot know them to love them but can finde them out to reproach to shoot out the mouth at them a strange perversenesse when we can quickly discern them to slander them and call them hypocrites who though they will not swear yet will lye when we cannot see who are godly Do not all offend in many things yet can privily Psal 11. 2. shoot at the upright in heart when we can see them well enough to shoot at them but we cannot see Christ in them to do them offices of love brethren Mat. 25. 43 45. we cannot love this brotherhood what is this communion of Saints well said here is flesh all over 10. In the speaking evil of the Gospel and of Christs name or way and in an heart alienated from the life of God 1 Tim. 5. 14 Eph. 4. 18. from a godly life a life in which God is seen and in which it is evident that the man hath seen and known God as he hath revealed himself in his Word he is an adversary that is glad of an occasion to speak reproachfully of Gods way he is in the power of Heathenisme whose heart cannot close with the power of godlinesse Thus far for a more general discovery of the reign of the flesh SECT 4. In particular the flesh being a close enemy and in the times of the Gospel it And in matters of Religion its reign discovered as standing with the State policy of this Queen Regent to have somewhat of God and of Christ seemingly and for a colour that she might sit fast in the chaire and reign still indeed let me shew you her in the Throne and descry the Regency of the flesh in the choicest works and means of Religion And here we lay down this for a certain truth that There is not any outward duty profession or priviledge of Gods people which the flesh will not take to and suck to her self advantage out of it she is such an hypocrite and in her wickednesse hath wit at will Therefore see her Regency 1. In prayer they that live and walk 1. In prayer Prov. 28. 9 Isa 1. 15. in sinne and disobedience to the Word of God may make many prayers but an abomination to the Lord are all their prayers and the Lord saith I will not heare when ye multiply prayers for the flesh hath the rule in them while they pray and it is thus discovered First if an Heathenish spirit act them Seven wayes Mat. 6. 5. which thinketh God is well-pleased with the work done or the cries of a natural heart with a few good and holy words with much speaking or with the number and tale of our prayers a touch and outside of the duty Secondly if a Pharisaical spirit act Mat. 6 5. them which thinks to merit at the hands of God and prayes to be seen of men and to be accounted for devout Thirdly if things spiritual be asked as savoured onely under carnal notions and for carnal and worldly ends chiefly Fourthly if the things of this life be asked onely as there are multitudes who never offered any desires to God that were the desires of their hearts but what were for health when they were sick or for successe in their earthly Affairs or for deliverance when they were in distresse and dangers or for a plentiful Harvest and good Crop with such like or if the things of this life be asked chiefly if God should give us Solomons priviledge and then we have not Solomons heart nor Davids one thing nor Agurs discerning feare of sinne and temptations with preferring of contentation with food and rayment if the requests we offer up in the words of prayer be never so spiritual and in the work the affections stir and are jogging and make a great noise but it is all but for the time of prayer when the constant bent of the heart is for covetousnesse and the heart is set upon riches or the things of this life or if the things of life be asked as temporals and not that they may be spiritualized and sanctified to us in their use they cry as the young Ravens cry and pray as rhe Lyon hungry roars and seeks his meat of God Fifthly if temporal afflictions and judgments make us pray and cry but not sinne nor spiritual judgments such prayers have not the heart to God in them they are the howlings of wolves and God Hos 7. 14 so reckons of them Travellers captives sick folks sea-men and all under extremities will cry unto God in their troubles and the Lord hears so as to deliver them out of these distresses but if when they are delivered sinne be still their Idol and spiritual plagues are not felt lamented nor prayed against but rather danced under their prayers are but the cries of swine when they are pinched and the cryes of nature to the Lord of nature Sixthly if sinne and the wrath of God because of guilt and consciences gripes and sentence or if the Laws threatnings and denunciations of judgments out of the word and the work of the spirit of bondage which is upon us if these do cause us to pray cry out and repent but yet there be no workings of the Spirit of grace and of Adoption nor sinnes filthinesse and offence do put us to grief and be a burden and heavy load further then it is abominable to the light of nature and is cryed shame on in the world this kinde of sorrow for sinne is no more than what may be found in a Cain or in a Judas Seventhly if we pray and
because we pray we now think our selves free to commit sinne we have been at prayer therefore we may be at our lewdnesse we have been at Church in the fore-noon of the Lords day therefore we may dance about the May-pole and keep Revels in the after-noon this is like the Harlot who saith to the young Wanton I have peace-offerings with me this day have I paid Prov. 7. 14 15. my vows therefore came I forth to meet thee 2. In reference to the Law of God for though the flesh is not nor will be subject 2. In reference to the holy Law Sixwayes to the holy Law yet the wily wisdome and subtilty thereof will make use of that also and that most perniciously And the Reign of the flesh sheweth it self herein diversly as First when we seek righteousnesse and Rom. 6. 14. 9. 32. 10. 3. salvation by the Law while under the Law we are under the Dominion of sin so long as we go about to establish our own righteousnesse as did the Jewes and as it is found in all men by nature a Phil. 3. 4 5 draught whereof we have excellently and to the life drawn up in Mat. 19. 16 17. to ver 24. this is to have confidence in the flesh Secondly when we take the Law to be no more than as a Law commanding the Ro. 7. 7 9. Mat. 5. 21. to the end of the ch outward man and to forbid nothing but grosse acts of sinne or to require no more than the outward duty and so we are alive we know not sinne which reacheth to the heart and hath its seat there in the deceitfulnesse and wickednesse thereof nor know we lust or inordinate affections and concupiscence to be sinne and therefore we blesse our selves or flatter our selves in our own eyes in our natural estate Thirdly when and whilest that we cannot endure to hear the holinesse of the Law opened and urged and we love not the righteousnesse and purity of the Commandments yet we will have the saying of the Commandments and the publick reading of them as part of Divine service and hold this better than all preaching and without this we care not for Minister or preaching Fourthly when all the fruit of the coming of the Law and Commandment is onely to revive sin and to strike us dead I take the Apoâ—â—les phrase the meaning whereof is this That the Spirit of God doth accompany the Law and the spiritualnesse of the Law being such as Rom. 7. 9. reaches to the thoughts and desires of the heart as well as to our words and deeds when it is opened the Spirit of God brings it home to the conscience with power this is the coming of the Law now when the fruit of it thus coming is this onely to revive sinne and to kill the sinner to ptovoke sinne so that it works in the sinner all manner of concupiscence and then comes the threatning and the curse and slays us and strikes us dead if this be all that we receive by the Law the flesh yet will hold the Chair for we wiâ—l dislike the preaching of the Law we cannot endure these men of sowre spirits these Legal Preachers we will lay the fault on the Minister and if we can but get from under this dinne oh we like the respousal to every Commandment Lord have mtrcy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this Law this God shall have and then we are at quiet and alive again though our sinnes live in us and we live and continue in them love and plead for them Fifthly when there is nothing in us that is subject to the Law of God nothing that holdeth proportion with the platforme of holinesse laid down in the Law Rom. 8. 7. but that only is found in us which rebels frets pulls away the shoulder and esteems all grievous for then we are wholly flesh Sixthly when we never received any further work of the Spirit than that of the spirit of bondage and yet because thereof we conclude we have repented and our estate is good whereas by the Law we should be shut up to the faith of Christ in the Gospel which having changed and made us anew we should live to God and delight in the spiritualnesse and purity of the Law with judging and condemning our selves thereby and justifying God therein the work of the spirit of bondage is to bring to the knowledge of sinne to work the sense of Gods wrath against sinne and to fill with terrours upon awakenings and there is no further work of the Spirit when there is no hâ—tred of the pollution of sinne no heart-forsaking of the sinnes of the heart no hatred of sinne in the sinfulnesse of our nature whence all transgressions do come when no further work did we ever finde than the convictions of rhe spirit light great and convictions strong but the will the heart not created anew that there might be conversion and healing now though these convictions may be not onely of sinne through the Law but of the sinne of unbelief and of righteousnesse and of judgment even of Christ and his Kingdome and righteousnesse through all the good Word of the Gospel yet the flesh may and will still keep the Chair 3. In reference to God and his worship 3. In reference to God and his worship Two wayes Col. 1. 21 22. Isa 66. 1 3 Psal 106. the flesh can yield to assume unto it and choose both Gods name and service with great state and thereby perk up the higher First with the mixture and blending of mens devices our own inventions the commandments of men to teach the fear and worship of God and the rudiments of the world these are savoury these are devotions humility and wisdome these are the rules to which the flesh lyeth level Secondly with philosophical speculations wisdome of words great swelling words of vanity and the worshipping of Angels disputes about words and genealogies Col. 1. 18. 1 Cor. 2. 3 1 Tim. 6. oppositions of science fables depths unwritten traditions vented for Apostolical these and such like the fleshly-minded is puffed up withall it loves to be intruding into things it knows not it would be reputed seraphical by amazing the simple with high-flown notions 4. In reference to Christ and to his 4. In reference unto Christ Eminently in Antichristianisme Gospel his Profession Ministry and Ordinances all these to choose never did the flesh get more by any thing she appears like a Lamb she puts forth the two Horns of Christs vicegerency and beauty external she gets on the sheeps skin and cloathing she hasps to her both the Keyes the Key of knowledge and the Key of Discipline the Keyes of the Kingdome of heaven she will be infallible and give the sense of Scripture unerringly be the Holy Father and the Holy Mother-Church she will exercise and conjure the Divel and cast him out and do a thousand more such
the Moon under his feet and himself set above himself and above tâ—e world while he treads on mould and dwells in a leprous house of clay He cannot abide hypocrisie and loves nothing below that conversation which the grace of God in Christ teacheth He is passing on from faith to faith from glorious grace to glorious grace from strength to strength as one called to glory and vertue but speeding his way through daily mortifications and crucifixions of a home enemy within his own bowels he walks in the Spirit and so fulfills not the lusts of the flesh he walks not after the flesh that he might walk closely after the Spirit he that walks after the flesh knows not the flesh so well as he he avoids and passes by he comes not near but goes away from the flesh's walks for he hates the garment spotted with the flesh He would not defile his garments for fine linnen clean and white is his cloathing even the righteousnesses of the Saints all wrought without hands as himself is the workmanship of God in Christ Jesus by the Spirit in a new Creation yet since that the flesh will be with him the heighth of his spiritual temper is this he will take his garments and his fine array and wash them white in the blood of the Lamb. O spiritual man O Saint of the most high blessed be thou blessed be thy A blessing of his happy change way blessed be thy counsel in choosing this way thou art blessed in such a leader the Holy Ghost the Spirit of life and power what eye-salve but that which Christ alone is Merchant of by a Monopoly that enriches all the Church and infringes the liberty of none what eye-salve but that could have made thee so wel-sighted clearly to discern these two-fold leaders walks and walkers and as if thine eyes were in thy feet to turn thy way with such exactnesse from the one and turn thy walks unto this other Grace is in thy walk and Glory will be thy Crown Christ is not ashamed to call them brethren though he be in glory and they on the dung-hill Of this brood of travellers let my soul be it shall be my hiâ—hest honour among all men to be of this brother-hood which is so nearly allyed and so fast that they are all but one body animated acted and lead by one Spiriâ— and have all one way and walk and one description agreeing to one and all Thus far of the six things proposed for explication of this description which makes up the third great doctrine of this text now follow the uses to be made of this whole truth SECT 8. The use is three-fold 1. Of Tryal 2. Of comfort and 3. Of exhortation Three useâ— of the whole 1. Of tryal 1. This doctrine is full of tryal it is of a distinguishing and differencing nature such are all descriptions they describe not if they distinguish not that one thing may not be taken for another and the excellency of this description is that it is plain and manifest he that runnes may read who is in Christ by faith and who is not the Apostle would not have given it twice in one Context and in the same words in matters of such hiâ—h concernment and on purpose to settle us in sure consolation had it not been most easie to be discerned and palpable to all though malice will not suffer the tongue to own what they cannot but know in their heart The walk the conversation shews the man try then who hath the command of our lives observe that for if we live after the flesh we shall dye for ever but if through the Spirit we mortifie the deeds of the body our members that are on earth Rom. 8. 13 as uncleannesse covetousnesse and the like we shall live for ever and never be damned There are but two principles that rule the man one of these have the command of all men where the one commands there the other cannot that commands that hath power over the conversation It 's lustings and motions are reigning indeed that frame the walk of a man It is then no difficult thing to know what we are by our walks look upon your walk and see your estate The works of the flesh are manifest read and see Gal. 5. 19 20 21. And the fruits of the Spirit are many and go in a chain unsevered Gal. 5. 22. they are sweet and ripe not rotten not hedge-fruit they are such against which there is no Law although they are Gospel-fruit never grew but in that soil Did ever any men make a Law against them and the Law of God is wholly for them Be not deceived by profession and perswasion that thou hast spiritual life within thee if that inward spiritual life do not come forth in power to frame thy conversation after it and no more after Gal. 5. 25 26. the flesh If we saith our Apostle do live in the Spirit let us walk in the Spirit have you spiritual life in you have a spiritual conversation also have a spiritual conversation and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh though you have flesh and the flesh lusting in you The sinnes of the godly are not as the sinnes of the wicked and the manifest difference is this the godly have no way of wickednesse in them no sinne is their way Ps 139. 24 and trade no sinne commands their walk they may fall into a sinne as a wicked man may sometimes fall upon a duty but that is not their course they up again and walk on in Gods way which their souls delight in and choose humbled and ashamed and speeding their way the more their delight is in the Law of the Lord now that allows no sinne neither do they every word of God is pure so is their way and purity of way is that they love there is no wickednesse in all the words of wisdome he that delights in the Word of God as his guide shall of necessity be led in wayes wholly differing from the counsel course and chair of sinners ungodly and scorners Gods children have spots too many but not the spots of unbelievers and hypocrites The spot of Gods children is not the spot of carnal Israelites or carnal professours of the Gospel whatever be the spot of the spiritual this is his beauty he walks after the Spirit he walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit Mark here these three distinguishing points in the trial of our estate First the spiritual takes the Spirit for the Commander and Orderer of his conversation as he would have the Holy Ghost live and rule in his heart and his soul live in the power of the Spirit given to him and dwelling in him so he resolves to walk in the Spirit the spiritual mans walk is a walk after the Spirit Secondly he walks thus refusing and watching against fleeing and warring against the flesh and against the affections and
under bondage and subjected to vanity vanity and vexation of Spirit is attending man in the enjoyment of all things under the Sun Fourthly The harmlesse jollities of the Eccl. 11. 9. flesh shall be brought into judgment Fifthly A conscience checking galling and gnawing for the flesh's ryots Sixthly The flesh's naughtinesse is discovered in the Word of God 2 Cor. 10. 4 5 6. Ro. 8. 13. Seventhly powerful means are given of God to crucifie it The Ministery the Spirit the crucifyings of the Sonne of God and exceeding great and precious promises which present to us a draught of better things than the flesh can propose Eightly In the Word commands and directions are given how to use the flesh such are these be temperate be sober beat down your bodies bring them into subjection Accuse and condemn the flesh silence her reasonings lay-in distinguishing and mortifying principles they are such as these The belly for meat and meat for the belly but God shall destroy them both The body is for the Lord not for lust The body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost The body shall be raised out of the grave but not as it is sowen both soul and body are the more excellent as they are lesse fleshly All the things of this life are such as perish in the using The scheme or fashion of this world passeth away All that is in the world and is of the world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye and the pride of life is not of the Father All these things that are of this lower world shall be dissolved Ninthly A judgment day is appointed and it shall as surely come as it is sure that men dye then this whole visible Creation which the flesh abuseth shall be burnt with fire The heavens shall shrivel together as a scrole and the earth with the works thereon shall be burnt up Tenthly in the mean time bitters are cast into all our earthly sweets and wasting judgments are abroad in the visible Church at this day Meditate often upon these things inlarge your thoughts upon each of them All these will eat down proud-flesh Thus of the three grand doctrines more expressely delivered in this text the last of which concerns the lively description of the believer by his walks the fourth doctrine followeth CHAP. XI Containeth the fourth and last great truth which is The fulnesse of the assurance and of the Consolation of those who are in Christ and walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit SECT 1. The fourth doctrine ariseth from the The fourth doctrine coherence of these two verses with the words before and following when we observe how they are placed in the frame of the Apostles discourse and it is full of consolation for it concernes the full assurance and the safe estate of all those who are actually in Christ notwithstanding their sinnes They have flesh a corrupt How raised nature dwelling with them and many sinnes the issues of that flesh but walking not in them they are in Christ and therefore there is no condemnation to them as the 1. verse with these verses affirmes and proves for their sinnes God hath condemned in the flesh or body and soul of his own Sonne the benefit of the salvarion wrought by Jesus Christ cometh home to them for all that their flesh that body of death can do so that they may and ought to say I thank God through Jâ—sus Christ who hath and doth and will deliver me from the same this is evident by comparing these verses with the 25. ver of Chap. 7. They should also rest assured of their blessed estate when there is no condemnation to them and when the strength of this evidence of their interest in Christ from their spiritual-mindednesse and savour influencing their walk is life and peace as these words looking backwards to the 1. ver of this Chapter and forward to the 5. and 6. verses do plentifully shew And since the scope of the whole discourse from ver 1. to ver 17. of this chapter is to support and encourage these spiritual holy walkers in their way the burden and workings of sin in them should not break their spirits or discourage them in the course of their holy living the miserable conflicting toyle of a gracious heart with the sinne dwelling in him is the thing treated of in the person of holy Paul representing all the regenerate in chap. 7. the latter part of it and the 8. chapter to ver 17. thereof is on purpose adjoyned to back on those Combitants in their warre against the flesh their sinne must not dishearten them in the combate this is the force of that word Now it is a word of encouragement as if he said therefore since Christ is your deliverer for and through whom ye may blesse God and rejoyce with thankfulnesse in the very heat and worst of the battel with your sinnes since flesh and you who are under the Law of your minds and are regenerate are two Now Now therefore stand to it and fight it out there is no condemnation to such as you And let this word for in these verses of my Text be carried to the ver immediately going before it and then they perswade these holy walkers to give up themselves fully chearfully and without fear of miscarrying to the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus which will certainly carry through without peril from the Law of sin and death which threatens them Having shewed the coherence take the fourth doctrine in this proposition The sinnes of those that walk after the Spirit shall never be to their condemnation neither shall they hinder to them the benefit of all the salvation that cometh by Christ nor ought in the least kind to hinder their assurance or their comfortable walking in their obedience their constant combating against the flesh or their full dedition to the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus as to that which will deliver from the Law of sin and death For explication of this truth observe The explication 1. What is granted 4. things here in the first place what is granted 1. It is granted that the sinnes of those that walk after the Spirit are sinnes they are transgressions of Gods holy Commandments they are filthy and do make them guilty they are against God and against Christ and are repugnant to the holy Ghost they deserve condemnation though they redound not unto condemnation they redound to their fault and to their guilt though not to their châ—rge for they are not imputed nor to malediction these Christ hath borne nor to eternal punishment for Christ hath made full satisfaction That their sinnes condemne them not is not from any lesse desert they also strike at the life of grace though they cannot destroy the life of grace 2. It is granted that there is flesh in them the seed and spawne of all sin that
ever mans eye saw or eare heard of of presumptuous sinne even of the sinne unpardonable and unto death but it is subdued and broken or destroyed so that it hath not dominion There is not a full deletion and taking away of the being of sinne He that saith he hath no sinne deceiveth himself and there is no truth in 1 Joh. 1. 8 10. him 3. These holy walkers after the commands of another ruler even of the holy Ghost dwelling in them do confesse as much and do retain the sense of their sins and sinful natures and do hold them contrary to the Spirit contrary to its lustings 1 Joh. 1. 8 9 and contrary to their walking 4. There is not in them a blotting out and taking away of all the sad ruines which sinne hath made upon man-kind these shall not be taken away from them untill the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the second time when the last enemy death and the grave shall be destroyed as it is promised in Act. â— 19 20. then there shall not be so much as a scarre of the woâ—nds which sin hath made SECT 2. In the second place observe when we say that their sinnes should not hinder 2. Whose sins hinder not comfort and assurance and what sinnes their comfort or assurance we â—peak of the sinnes of such as hold on in this walk retaining their integrity otherwise the fall of a David or of a Peter will take away their comfort in holy wayes and the joy of their salvation untill it be unfeignedly repented of and they recovered of such falls We yield that all sinnes in their own nature and by the law of works do make against all comfort but there are great sinnes the manifest works of the flesh which the spiritual may fall into and these for thâ—t time destroy the comfort of the most holy of Saints who are guilty of them Neverthelesse while the regenerate are guilty of these sinnes after calling these in them compared with the unregenerate that live and walk in the same sinnes may be said truely to be of infirmity and to be but falls in their walk although they are not in their own nature sinnes of infirmity There are sinnes of infirmity viz. Sins of infirmity and there are sinnes that may be fallen into of infirmity Now the sinnes which are sinnes of infirmity of these we speak in this doctrine These are such sinnes as have been found in the best and choicest of Gods Servants upon earth who have kept their holy watchfulnesse and while they have kept it Infirmity is when the serious purpose What infirmity is of holy and humble walking with God both general for our whole course and special for our particular wayes and actions is present and firm but to performe what we unfeignedly desire and diligently endeavour is wanting Sinnes of infirmity Rom. 7. 18 And what are sins of infirmity in generaâ— Psa 19. 13. are such as â—nto which presumptuous sinnes are opposite Sinnes of infirmity are opposite to sinâ—es which are done willingly to sinnes against knowledge and conscience I say not sinnes with knowledge and conscience The most knowing and conscientious being truely godly and gracious may see those sinnes which wicked men neither see nor feel but those sinnes which are against knowledge and conscience they are as a thief in the candle as gravel in the shooe of a Traveller More particularly sinnes of infirmity In particular Psa 19. 12. 1. Are secret sinnes which we know not yet knowing our ignorance or defect of full and cleare sight whereby many sinnes may scape us we repent of them as did David saying Who knoweth his eâ—roâ—s â—clâ—nse thou me from secret sinnes 2. They are imperfections and failings cleaving to our good works and to our best actions 3. They are such as arise from want of age in Christ and do accompany the state of a Babe An infant is infirm 4. They are such as proceed from want of strenâ—th where there hath been but little means or though great meanes yet enâ—oyed but for a little time 5. They are sudden indeliberate breakings out contrary to our bent and purpose when our judgements are clouded by some sudden temptation after which we are sensible of our failing mourne complain labour to â—amend and to get ground of our corruption Sinnes of infirmity are found in the regenerate only who have the life of grace begun No weaknesse where no life Weaknesse is properly in those who have and retain a sincere universal and constant inclination to spiritual things as the best No infirmity where the Spirit of Christ dwells not Although the inhabitation of the Spirit be no cause of weaknesse but of strength No infirmity in those that have not gracious principles for in such the deadly law of sinne hath dominion No failings where no right judgement to place us upon high and supernatural ends and aimes Infirmities are in those only that have espoused love to Jesus Christ Infirmities are those sinnes which are the matter of dayly humiliation and the objects of dayly mortification It is not of infirmity to please our selves in our weaknesse to plead for it or to allow of it There are infirmities which are not possibly to be rooted out when yet the upright strive daily against them as forgetfulnesse heavinesse of Spirit distractions in duty sudden passions fears secret fugitivenesse of heart from under the presence of God some kind of rashnesse and rudenesse of spirit in our approaches to God covetings or hanckerings after the creature inordinately with many of like sort and there are infirmities more easily subdued as are all the frailties which break out in gestures words and actions the Apostle gives us the ground of such a distinction when he saith In many things we offend all If any man offend not in word Jam. 3. 2. the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body SECT 3. Now having treated thus of sins of infirmity What is meant in saying sins of infirmity shall not condemn this doctrine sheweth First that these sinnes of infirmity shall not condemn those that are guilty of them Not as if their great sinnes shall condemn them no for Jesus Christ mediates not only for lesser sinnes but for the greatest sinnes and God forgiveth iniquity transgression and sinne sinnes of all sorts and of all sizes but the meaning is that Christ is such a propitiation that these are covered such an Advocate that he pleads to the Father that these by 1 Joh. 2. 1. the tenour of the Covenant of grace be wholly passed by he is such an high Priest as is touched with the feeling of our infirmities for though he never knew what it was to sinne no not of infirmity he knew no sin yet he was tempted and so Heb. 4. 15. is touched with the feeling of the state of one that cannot be free from some touch of defilement when he
worse than Heresie so back-sliding is worse than falling A fall is taken in stumbling and tripping in the way a back-sliding is a real change of the state of a man gone away backward God requires and the spiritual answer his call therein That they Jer. 3. 14 22. return that they acknowledge their transgressions how they have back-slidden that they pray earnestly for pardon and power and vow Thankfulnesse and Reformation Hos 14. 4 5 6 7. with ver 1. 2 3. Luk. 15. 20 22. to the end and this will be found upon them and then God of his free-love will heal back-slidings and bedew them to flourishing sightly sweet-smelling savoury fruitfulnesse and growth Oh the fatherly mercies of God to his returning prodigal son he is clad he is adorned he is feasted heaven earth is fill'd with musick and mirth Quest But may the godly who walk after the Spirit be guilty of relapses and may their back-slidings be repeated and if so shall not that prejudice their salvation Answ It is lamentable to tell but it may so be they may fall and fall again and again they may lapse and relapse Their relapses and back-slide and again back-slide It is not usual but so it may be and though it be pitiful to tell yet it must be told for the Scripture mentioneth it in Sampson and Solomon two of the Lords Worthies Both falls or relapses and back-slidings or relapses do waste the conscience and destroy comfort and joy of our salvation neverthelesse they ruine not utterly they shall not be to condemnation yet relapses go not without some notable testimonies of Gods wrath in this world and their Sunne â—etteth usually in a cloud as did Sampsons and Solomons O all you eminent in faith and grace nourish your fear and humility and your living by faith continually for they that have discovered the greatest acts of faith and have been the highest for wisdome and grace have fallen into the foulest sâ—nnes and dreadful relapses Humble thy self to walk with thy â—od the flesh even in the Saints is a mad beast a hellish monsâ—er a subtle fiend if it be suffered to be wanton and to play its pranks Be not high-minded but fear look to thy standing thou staâ—desâ— by faith Continue in Gods goodnesse and not in thine own not in thine own received in the regeneration and then shalt thou walk surely and thy steps shall not slide Abide in Christ and let his Word abide in thee so shalt thou bring forth much fruit severed from him the true Vine though a branch full Joh. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 of sap thou canst do nothing thou wilt dwingle anâ— fade anâ— wither without the continual influence of his Spirit the Spirit of life and power coming from him Phil. 1. 19 into thee with fresh supplies SECT 5. In the fourth place Obâ—erve the sins that attend thee in thy walk whiles yet 4. The sins of the upright should not hinder their comfortable walking uprightnesse is held in faith anâ— obedience with patience in the sight of God and in love without giving offence to men or when thy falls are recovered and thy back-slidings healed they ought not to hinder thy comfortable walking God said to Abraham I am God all-sufficâ—ent walk before Gen. 17. 1. me and be thou peâ—fect we are not self-sufficient nor all-sufficient much lesse to our selves after faith anâ— grace received but God is to us both these in his Covenant the alone sufficient anâ— all-sufficient for us here is the comfort of the upright in their holy walking When God saith to the Father of the faithful fâ—ar not he encourageth to comfortable chearful walking nothing should daunt or dismâ—y nothing stâ—gger or cloud his Spirit in his way of obedience why so he hâ—d his doubts his failings he had his dangers his enemies yet saith God to him fear not Abraham not because thou art able to defend thy self thou art able to blesse thy self no but because I am thy shield I am thy exceeding great Gen. 15. 1 reward Now then if it be so what should discourage in our obedience who have God the Almighty and All-sufficient for us who have God for our shield to defend who have God for our portioâ— our exceeding great reward to bless us That God is ours this carries in it all good even eternal life through and over death and the grave and notwithstanding our sinnes the Law the justice of God and the wrath to come from which we are delivered They that walk in the fear of the Lord should walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost To them is that exhortation given Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes and again I say Rejoyce Act. 9. 31 Phil. 4. 4. Phil. 4. 6. Instead of caring in any thing they should in every thing be praying and supplicating but still with thanksgiving such exhortation also is that in another place Rejoyce evermore pray without ceasing in every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning 1 Thes 5. 16 17 18 you the heart not kept in a thankful frame is not fit for prayer nor for any duty to God or man This is the description of the godly he that rejoyceth and Isa 64. 5. worketh righteousnesse and now under the New Testament they are the circumcision Phil. 3. 3. which worship God in the Spirit not in the Legal Ceremonies and Ordinances of the worldly Sanctuary and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh But they may say we have sinnes with Object us and if not burdensome and grievous to us they will be our ruine we live also in a troublesome world and these troubles of life do oft provoke our corruption we are sometimes afflicted of God scorned and persecuted of men assaulted by Satans temptations besides pain and mortality death and the grave must be passed through and how then can we walk comfortably for answer He that hath God the Father to be his Sol. God and Father and to him a Father of mercies and God of all consolations he that hath God the Sonne our Lord Jesus Christ the consolation of Israel to be his Comforter sent as the great Prophet who hath given to him the tongue of the learned that he should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary he that hath God the Holy Ghost another Comforter the name The Comforter given to signifie his office given to him and sent into his heatt to shed abroad upon it the love of God and to be and to abide in him for ever the Spirit of Adoption he may and ought to walk in comfort But the walkers after the Spirit have this God three persons and one God theirs in this presence and that by Covenant therefore they should walk comfortably To open this truth further understand Comfort consists in blessednesse blessednesse consists in the fruition and enjoying of
the chief good The chief good is that which when we have we are blessed but not having it we are miserable The chief good is God alone the enjoying and fruition of God is true blessednesse and true comfort This cannot be to a sinner but in Christ who is the propitiation the reconciliation and the atonement Therefore God in Christ is the sinners chief good Christ cannot be received but by his Spirit given thus then to be the Lord Christs in body and soul whether we live or die redeemed by his Precious blood from all our sinnes and from the power of Satan death and the grave and from the wrath to come and through Christ to be the Fathers own poâ—tion received into his fâ—vour and grace as his adoâ—ted childâ—en in Jesus Christ and to be under his fatheâ—ly care and providence that without his will not an hâ—iâ—e can fall fâ—om our heads and that all things are made to woâ—k together for our good and to have the Holy Ghost given to us to renew us to unite us to Christ to enable us to believe to moâ—tifie the flesh to give up our selves to obedience to make us willing and ready to live to him and walk after him and to assure of eternal life this is the onely true and sound consolation both in life and death And this is the estate of those that walk afteâ— the Sâ—iâ—it This true blessednesse cannot be in this life in perfection but onely in inâ—hoation or a begun enjoyment of the same and by faith and hope in a lively expectation of the full and perfect fruition thereof because there is death mortality sinful remaiâ—ders the wâ—ath to come wâ—ich must be utteâ—ly taken away and the soul and body placed in a state of glorious libeâ—ty befoâ—e there can be full enâ—oyment of perfect blisse because also the glory unto which we are called by the Gospel is farre greater than this world is capable of and soul and body in this earthly frame cannot receive it True blessednesse cannot be at all of this world nor of the things thereof could one man be possessed of them all which yet never was nor will be for they are mutable and passing away and if they were abiding yet they are not satisfactory nor can they fill all the capacities of the reasonable creature much lesse can blessednesse be of the things of this life to a sinner for by sin they are become accursed to the sinner and he accursed in their enjoyment They also cannot take away sinne make the sinner holy bring him into favour with God and so bring him to blessedness mistake not then Our comfort is not in this that we have attained and that we are already perfect but that we are in the begun state and that we shall assuredly attain and shall be perfect Our comfort consists not in this that we have no sinne but in forgivenesse at present and in the full blotting out expected when the Lord shall come again in glory Our holinesse or sanctification consists not in this that no sinne is at all in us but in this that our old man is crucified so that we be not servants to any sinne and that we are become servants of righteousness Our holy walking is in finding out our sinnes that they may not finde us out and in eschewing them that we may tread the wayes of God with a larger streighter firmer step and with an evener quicker pace Our progresse in holinesse is by daily mortifying the members on the earth and by bringing forth continually more fruits unto God as those that are alive from the dead Our perseverance is the maintaining of the combate Our present state is that of David under the anointing conflicting with our spiritual enemies that either are like Saul and his confedeâ—ates or like Absolom and his conspirators so that we are singing a Psalme like the third Psalme and it is not that of David upon the Throne singing the eighteenth Psalme whereof the title is A Psalme sung when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of his enemies yet it is the estate wherein we are assured to be singing it with perfect triumph one day Our comfort is begun and held out of godly sorrow we sow in tears and go carrying precious seed with us our comfort is a seed-season and the joy of a harvest-home Our comfort is in Gospel-promises blessings priviledges graces Our comfort is not in freedome from troubles temptations persecutions but in a heavenly Fathers disposing the troubles delivering from the power and poyson of the temptations and of persecutions as they are persecutions putting us into the upper form of his Saints on earth and placing us in highest honour and giving us the matter of greatest joy that can befall us in this valley of tears God hath registred and left upon file for a perpetual Record the way of the Saints comfort on this wise If when we are enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Ro. 5. 10. If God be for us who can be against us he that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with â—â—m also freâ—ly give us all Rom. 8. 31 32. Ps 56. 13. things Thou â—â—st delâ—vered my soul from death wilt not thou dâ—lâ—ver my feet from fallâ—ng that I mâ—y walk before â—od in the light of the living God hath shewed us the way wherein he Gods way of giving grace and comfort is the sight of his grace in Christ and not the eying of our duty or deservings 2 Cor. 3. 18. 5. 19. Ro. 1. 179 giveth both at the first conversâ—on and ever after all grace and comfort It is this he sets before sinners brought to see themselves their sâ—nnes and curseâ—nâ—sse thereby in the glasse of his holy Law the glasse and mirrour of his Gospel where in the beholding of the glory of God as he is in Christ reconciling the world to himself both Jewes and Gentiles concluded all under sinne not imputing trespasses and sending them to the Word and Ministry of reconciliation this sight of glorious grace changeth and transformeth them And as thâ—s righteousnesse of God provided to cloath a sinner withall is through the Gospel-glasse revealed more and more from faith to faith from one measure of faith to another greater and growing measure of faith so will the change and transformation be from glory to glory from one degree of glorious grace and comfort to another greater and growing degree of glorious grace and comfort and the work is no lesse nor lower than the work of the Spirit of the Lord the Lord the 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. Holy Ghost setting the sinner in blessed gracious and glorious liberty We work then at the wrong end when we toyle with our own hearts pore upon our sins think we will believe walk obey and the like and so