God dwelleth with none he will save none but such as are new creatures For except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Joh. 3.3 3. He that is a new creature hath a renewed judgment a renewed will renewed affections and a renewed conversation Grace is like Heaven which dissuseth it self into the whole lump He hath a renewed judgment he judgeth sin to be the greatest evil whereas fools make a mock of sin And he judgeth the enjoyment of God the chiefest good whereas carnal persons make light of God Israel would none of me Deut. 32.15 He lightly esteemed the rock of his Salvation He judgeth all worldly enjoyments to be but vanity and heaven to be the best riches and choisest portion He hath a renewed will whereas before his will was averse to holiness inclined to that which is evil Now the bent of the will is towards God and against sin so that a man chooseth the things that please God and refuseth that which is offensive to God He hath renewed affections whereas his affections were set on things below now they are set on things above He hath a renewed Conversation and walketh in newness of life 4. He that is a new creature is taken off from his old foundation and built upon a new foundation An house may have much repairs done it the Windows may be enlarged the breaches that were made may be stopped up the walls may be whited over and yet this doth not make it a new house unless there be a new Foundation It is he the old house repaired and not a new house So here a man may reform many things as Herod did he may have more light in his understanding he may be like the Pharisees outwardly Righteous a painted Sepulchre and yet be no new creature the old man may lye hid under a form of Godliness he may be dressed up in a religious garb and yet such a man is not a new creature Now a man is taken of his old Foundation in these respects 1. He is taken off from expecting Righteousness and Life by the old Covenant or the Covenant of works For he is fully convinced that by the deeds of the law no flesh whatsoever can be justified in the sight of God Rom. 3.20 By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Now till God takes a man off till the Lord instill renewing grace into a mans heart he seeks for Righteousness and Life by the works of the Law Rom. 9.31 32. But when God makes a man a new creature then he seeks after the new Covenant and expects Life and Righteousness by promise 1 Joh. 2.25 and upon terms of free grace Eph. 2.8 He lives upon the promises of the new Covenant 2. He that is taken off from his old foundation is taken off from trusting in himself in any thing that he hath done or can do and trusteth only in Christ and in what Christ hath done and suffered for us We naturally go about to establish our own Righteousness Rom. 10.3 But God takes us off from this and shews us that Christ is the Foundation on which we are to build our Faith and Hope Isa 28.16 1 Cor. 3.11 Such as are new creatures place all there hope of Salvation in Christ Act. 15.11 Heb. 10.19 3. When God hath taught a man self-denyal then he hath taken him off his old Foundation For an unregenerate man acts from self and for self self is his Principle he acts from and self is his rule he walks by and self is the end he aims at He seeks his own with his own profit his own interest he is a selfish man and prefers himself above God But when God makes a man a new creature he teacheth him to deny himself and to prefer God above himself he is acted then by new Principles and hath new ends in his actions Obedience to Gods command is his Principle and respect to Gods glory is his end 5. Jesus Christ is all in all to such as are new creatures Col. 3.10 11. Ye have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him Where there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Vncircumcision Barbarian nor Scythian bond nor free but Christ is all and in all When may Christ be said to be all and in all How are we to understand it that Christ is all and in all in these that are new Creatures A. 1. They place all there confidence in Christ and place no confidence in themselves or in their priviledges or performances 1 Joh. 5.14 This is the confidence we have in him Phil. 3.3 And have no confidence in the flesh 2. They glory more in Christ than in any priviledges or excellencies whatever Isa 45. ult In him shall all the seed of Israel be justified and in him shall they glory 3. They place all their blessedness not in Riches not in Friends not in any Worldly things but in Christ They reckon themselves blessed upon their enjoyment of Christ Isa 65.16 He who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth 4. They esteem others not for their priviledges or outward excellencies but by what of Christ they see in them and if they discern the grace of Christ in any men they will not slight them for want of outward things but will honour them because they belong to Christ Psal 15.4 He honoureth them that fear the Lord. Psal 40.4 2 King 3.13.14 Doubts about our being new creatures answered Obj. 1. It is said of those that are in Christ and are new creatures that old things are past away and all things are become new Now though through Gods mercy I find something of the renewing grace of God yet I feel still some remainders of the old man I cannot say that all old things are past away and that all things are become new and therefore I am afraid that I am not a new creature A. 1. We must distinguish between a new creature and a perfect creature We may be new creatures though we be not perfect creatures but have imperfections adhering to us There is no doubt but the Apostle Paul was a new creature yet he confesseth of himself that he was not perfect Phil. 3.12 Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect Job was a new Creature yet he disclaimed the saying he was perfect and if he had said it his impatient speeches under his afflictions would have proved his imperfection Joh. 9.20 If I justifie my self mine own mouth shall condemn me if I say I am perfect it shall prove me perverse Perfection of grace is the priviledge of the Saints in Heaven not of the Saints on Earth Heb. 12.22 23. Ye are come to the Heavenly Jerusalem and to the Spirits of just men made perfect 2. Renewing grace is carried on gradually in those
of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief Luk. 19.10 The son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost Hos 13.9 O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help There is help in Christ not only for such as have hurt themselves for such as have wounded sorely wounded themselves but for such as have destroyed them yea though they be Israelites which is an aggravation of their sin and misery for its worse for an Israelite then for a Moabite or an Egyptian to destroy himself Here is the extremity of misery destruction and the height of sin which is for a man to be the Author of his own destruction yet there is help in Christ for such as are undone destroyed and have been the Authors of their own destruction O Israel thou bast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help And as our Lord Jesus came into the world purposely to save lost and undone sinners so he is able to save perfectly those that come to him and unto God by him from all their sins and all their misery Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them And as there is Salvation to be had in Christ for lost and perishing sinners so this Salvation is to be had no where else and by no other way or means whatsoever but by Christ Act. 4.12 Neither is their Salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be savtd Isa 43.11 I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour We are not able to save our selves neither can all the men on earth or all the Angels of heaven save us We cannot save our selves by any ways or devices of our own or by any works or duties that we can perform if we could any way save our selves it must be either by fleeing from God and hiding our selves where God should not find us out but that is impossible for God filleth Heaven and Earth and is present in all places so that a man cannot flee from God or hide himself where God should not find him Jer. 23.24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord Do not I fill heaven and earth saith the Lord. Psal 139.7 8 9 10. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence If I ascend up into heaven thou art there c. Or else it must be by doing some works whereby we may procure the pardon of our sins and the Salvation of our Souls Neither of these can be purchased with mony If a man would give all that he hath in the world to purchase the love of God and the pardon of his sins and the Salvation of his Soul it would be despised and contemned Cant. 8.7 If a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned Job 36.18 19. Because there is wrath beware lest he take thee away with his stroke then a great ransome cannot deliver thee Will he esteem thy riches no not gold nor all the forces of thy strength It is a most detestable thought for a man to think that the gifts of God can be purchased with mony Act. 8.20 Thy mony perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with mony And as we cannot purchase our pardon and Salvation so neither can we obtain it by any works of Righteousness that we are able to do Rom. 3.20 By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Tit. 3.5 Not by works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us And as we are not able to save our selves so neither can any men on earth or angels of Heaven save us Psal 60.11 Give us help from trouble for vain is the help of man And if man can't save us from troubles on earth then much less from the torments of hell Jer. 3.23 Truly in vain is Salvation hoped for from the hills or from the multitude of mountains truly in the Lord our God is the Salvation of Israel By the hills and mountains we may understand either 1. Their Fortifications which were very strong by reason of the hills and mountains There were many hills and mountains round about Jerusalem which made it very strong Psal 125.2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem And therefore called the hill country Luk. 1.39 Or 2. By the hills and mountains may be understood the mighty Kings and Princes of other Nations that had promised them aid and assistance Hos 7.11 Hos 5.13 Isa 31.1 Or 3. The Idols which they worshipped on the hills and the mountains Jer. 2.20 Jer. 3.6 'T is as much as to say Salvation is to be had from no creatures from none of the Gods of the Heathen but only from the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 3. If you would get a saving interest in Christ know and consider well that God maketh a free and general offer of Jesus Christ and all his saving benefits unto every one that findeth a want of him and is willing to receive him I say Jesus Christ and Salvation by Christ as all things requisite to Salvation is offered freely to every one that findeth the want of him and is willing to receive him Rev. 22.17 And let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely For opening of this Scripture let us observe 1. Here is an offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ Let him take the water of Life By the water of Life understand Jesus Christ and those saving benefits we have by Christ Christ and Salvation by Christ is set out by the water of life For as Christ is the bread of life Joh. 6.48 I am that bread of life So he is also the water of life and as he is called the bread of life because he giveth eternal life to those that are pertakers of him Joh. 6.51 I am the living bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever So he is called the water of life because he giveth eternal life to those that are partakers of him And as Christ himself is signified by the water of life so also are his saving benefits Remission of sins is set out by clean water Ezek. 36.25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean The Spirit of Christ and his saving graces are compared to water Joh. 7.38 39. Eternal Life and Salvation is set out by Fountains of living waters Rev. 7.17 2. The offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ is general it is to every one whosoever he be that finds his want of him and is willing
him to have his Righteousness imputed to them Rom. 10.3 For they being ignorant of God's Righteousness and going about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God That resting on our own Righteousness or hoping to attain Righteousness and Life from the works of the law is an hinderance to our being made partakers of Christ We may see from Rom. 7 4. Ye are become dead to the law by the body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him that is raised from the dead By being dead to the law we may understand dead to it as it is a Covenant of life not as a rule of life dead to the law in reference to our hope and expectation of life from the works of the law but not dead to the law in reference to our obedience and conformity to the law And this being dead to the law as a Covenant of life preceedeth our being Married to Christ Such as are Married to the law and expect Righteousness and Life from the law they are not Married to Christ Now we are said to be dead to the law by the Body of Christ that is by that death which he suffered for us in his Body Both as his Death hath purchased for us deliverance from the First Covenant and the establishment of a new Covenant and also it plainly declares that Righteousness is not possible to be had from the law for then he needed not to have dyed to have brought in another way of Righteousness Gal. 2.21 If Righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain If any say how may we be taken off from resting in the law from hoping to attain Righteousness and Life by our own works done in obedience and conformity to the law of God and be brought to see an absolute necessity of going to Christ for Righteousness and Life A. 1. Let us see and consider that it is utterly impossible for any man in this fallen estate to attain unto that perfection of Righteousness and Obedience to the law of God as to be justified and saved thereby Rom. 3.20 By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Gal. 3.11 12. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God it is evident for the just shall live by Faith and the law is not of Faith but the man that doth them shall live in them That no man can attain such a Righteousness from his observing the law as shall justifie and save him Is evident these ways 1. The law requireth personal perfect constant obedience in all things else it pronounceth a curse against us Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Now no man since the fall of Adam Christ only excepted ever did or could continue in all things required in the law without transgressing any command thereof at any time Joh. 7.19 Did not Moses give you the law yet none of you keepeth the law And least any should say Christ meaneth the carnal Jews only when he saith none of you keepeth the law We may see from other Scriptures that the holyest men upon earth cannot keep the law of God without transgressing against it at any time Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not 1 King 8.36 There is no man that sinneth not 2. If any man could have obtained Righteousness and Life by the law then there had been no need of Christs laying down his life for us Gal. 2.21 If Righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain And such as go about to seek for Justification by the works of the law do make Christs obedience and his suffering death to be useless Gal. 5.4 Christ is become of no effect to you whosoever of you are justified by the law ye are fallen from grace 3. God hath made a new Covenant to give us Life and Righteousness through believing in his Son Joh. 3.16 Rom. 3.21 22. And there had been no need of a new Covenant of a new way to obtain Righteousness and Life if Righteousness and Life could have been obtained by the law For if it had been possible for fallen man to have had Righteousness and Life by the law fallen man should have been saved by a Covenant of works as well as Adam in innocency Gal 3.21 Is the law then against the promises of God God forbid for if there had been a law given which could have given life verily Righteousness should have been by the law 4. None that ever sought after Righteousness and Life by the works of the law have been able to attain thereunto Rom. 9.31 32. Israel which followed after the law of Righteousness hath not attained to the law of Righteousness Wherefore because they sought it not by Faith but as it were by the works of the law It may be some will think the reason why Israel could not attain to the Righteousness of the law was because they were not zealous followers after Righteousness but were cold and luke-warm but that is a mistake for many of them were zealous in observing the law Act. 22.3 I was zealous towards God as ye all are this day Act. 21.20 Or it may be some will think that the reason why they could not attain to Righteousness though they followed after it was because they rested in an External Righteousness and did not seek after Internal Righteousness the Righteousness of the heart but this was not the cause for though many of them did rest in External Righteousness yet others of them did look after an Internal Righteousness they knew that God called for the heart Prov. 22.26 When they fasted they did not only afflict their bodies but their Souls also for their sins Isa 58.3 Wherefore have we fasted wherefore have we afflicted our Soul They were sollicitous to have the sins of their Souls pardoned as well as their sinfull actions Mich. 6.6 7. Wherewithall shall I come before the Lord Shall I give my first born for my Transgression the fruit of my body for the sin of my Soul But the true reason why Israel that followed after Righteousness could not attain unto Righteousness was because they sought not after that Righteousness which is by Faith but sought it by the works of the law Rom. 9.31 32. 2. We mistake God's end in giving the law when we seek for Righteousness and Life by the works of the law For the law was not given us to be a Covenant of life that is for this end that we should expect Righteousness and Life by the works of the law As appears 1. Because God had setled another way of justifying and saving sinners namely by Faith in Christ long before the giving of the law and did confirm this way Salvation through Faith in Christ by an Everlasting Covenant made
with Abraham and his Seed 430 years before the giving the law by Moses And therefore the law which given 430 years after God had revealed it to Abraham that he would justifie and save him and his Seed through Faith in Christ could not make void that way of righteousness and life which God had before confirmed by Covenant to Abraham and his Seed As you may see Gal. 3.6 7 8 9 11 16 17 18. 2. The law when given by Moses found man so weakned by the fall of Adam that it could not bring man to righteousness and life but notwithstanding the giving the law man would have perished Eternally had not God sent his Son Jesus Christ to dye for our sins Rom. 8.3 Gal. 3.21 But for what end then was the law given if not to a Covenant of life A. 1. To bring us to the knowledge of our sin and misery Rom. 3.20 By the law is the knowledge of sin Gal. 3.19 Wherefore then serveth the law It was added because of Transgressions 2. To be our School-Master to lead us to Christ that when we see we can't attain that Righteousness which the law requires we may seek for Justification and Salvation to Jesus Christ Gal. 3.24 The law was our School-Master to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by Faith 3. The law was given to be a Rule of our lives to direct us how to carry our selves towards God and towards all men Prov. 6.23 The Commandment is a lamp and the law is light 3. Life and Righteousness is to be had in Christ and no where else but in and by Christ 1 Joh. 5.11 12. And this is the record that God hath given us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life And as Eternal Life is to be had in Christ so also is that Righteousness whereby we are justified and accepted in the sight of God to be had in Christ Isa 45.24 Surely shall one say in the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength Jer. 23.6 This is the name whereby he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness For the better understanding of this that the Righteousness whereby we are justified and accepted before God is not any works of Righteousness which we have done in Conformity to the law but the righteousness which Christ hath wrought for us let us consider these 3 or 4 things 1. All our own righteousnesses are full of imperfections and therefore cannot justifie us in the sight of God who is a God of pure eyes that cannot behold iniquity Isa 64.8 VVe are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousnesses are as filthy rags The Holyest men that ever lived that have been full of good works have been afraid to appear before God in their own righteousness Phil. 3.9 And be found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the law 2. We not being able to bring unto God a righteousness of our own whereby we might be justified and accepted God provided a righteousness for us in and by his Son Jesus Christ whereby we might be justified and accepted in his sight 1 Cor. 1.30 Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Righteousness 2 Cor. 5.21 For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 3. This righteousness of Christ by and upon the account of which we are accepted and justified in the sight of God is his Active and Passive Obedience His Active Obedience in fullfilling all that righteousness which the law required Rom. 5.19 As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made Righteous And his Passive Obedience whereby he suffered Death for our sins Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his blood It was by his being made a Sacrifice for our sins that we are made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.20 4. This righteousness of Christ consisting of his active and passive obedience is made over or imputed to all that believe on him Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the law for Righteousness to every one that believeth 4. A right understanding of the law would give us such a discovery of our sins and the imperfections of our best works as to take us off from resting in the works of the law for our justification before God Gal. 2.19 I through the law am dead to the law that I might live unto God I will mention two or three things concerning the law that may convince us there is no hope for any man whatever to at tain righteousness and life by the law 1. The law is Spiritual and forbids Spiritual sins and requireth Spiritual duties and that may convince the Holyest man on earth of much sin and make him cry out of himself that he is an undone sinner without the mercy of God and the mercies of Christ Rom. 7.14 We know that the law is Spiritual but I am Carnal sold under sin The Spirituality of the law convinceth the Apostle Paul that he had in himself much Carnality and by reason of the sad effects of Original Corruption he was not able to perform that Spiritual Obedience the law called for which is the meaning of that expression sold under sin 2. The law forbids all evil motions and sinfull inclinations of the heart The first motions of sin that arise in the heart and all evil lusts in the heart though not consented to though opposed are a Transgression of the law Rom. 7.7 I had not known sin but by the law for I had not known lust except the law had said thou shalt not covet The Apostle did not understand the lustings and inordinate desires of the heart to be sin when not consented to till he considered that the first motions of sin were forbidden by the law and were Transgressions of that command thou shalt not covet If there be but a foolish thought in our minds though it be not allowed of though it be not suffered to lodge there it is a sin against the law of God Prov. 24.9 The thought of foolishness is sin 3. The least omission at any time of any duty that the law requireth and the commission of the least sin that the law forbids brings us under the curse of the law Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of tht law to do them If a man were able to keep the whole law and should offend but in one point he is guilty of Eternal Death by the law as well as if he had broken all the Commandments of God Jam. 2.10 Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all So Grotius Non minus morte punitur quà m si omnia praecepta violasset And Capellus Aeque damnatur
John the Baptist takes them off from this Mat. 3.9 Think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father As if he should have said you are apt to rest upon this that ye are the Children of Abraham that ye have such a man as Abraham to your Father who was the Friend of God but this will not avail you to Salvation that you are Abraham's Children Think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father For Abraham's impenitent Children shall be cast into Hell when as their Father is in Heaven and they shall not by all their entreaties get so much favour from Abraham as to have one drop of water to cool their Tongues Luk. 16.23 24. 2. It is a great priviledge and an honour to be a Member of a Church of Christ but this will not avail a man to Salvation that he is a Member of a Church unless he be also a Member of Christ For there are Hypocrites as well as sound Christians in the purest Churches in the World Christ had but a small Church Twelve Persons selected out of the Twelve Tribes of Israel but yet amongst them few there was an arch Hypocrite that differed little from the Devil Joh. 6.70 Have not I chosen you Twelve and one of you is a Devil There are barren as well as fruitfull Trees in the Lord's Vineyard and the barren Trees shall be hewen down and cast into the Fire Math. 3.10 And now the ax is laid unto the root of the Trees therefore every Tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire There is Chaff as well as Wheat in Christ's Floor and when he purgeth his Floor he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire ver 12. Whose Fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his Floor but he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire There are foolish as well as wise Virgins that have their Lamps as well as the wise but have no Oyl in their Vessels whose lot will it be to be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven 3. It is a duty and a priviledge to pertake of the Sacraments and attend upon the Ordinances of the Gospel but yet this will not avail a man to Salvation if he do not accept of Christ as he is tendered in the Gospel as will appear these ways 1. No Priviledges no Ordinances no Sacraments will avail a man to Salvation unless he be a new Creature Gal. 6.15 For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision nor Vncircumcision availeth any thing but a new Creature Circumcision was an Ordinance of God a profitable Ordinance Rom. 3.1 2. a painfull Ordinance they that were Circumcised underwent much pain and were sore for several days Gen. 34.25 It was a token and seal of the Covenant Gen. 16.11 yet Circumcision availeth none to Salvation but such as were new Creatures Now many that attend on Ordinances and receive the Sacraments are no new Creatures 2. Many that attend on the Ordinances of the Gospel and have been Baptized in the name of Christ and do receive at the Lords Table are workers of iniquity Isa 58.1 2. Ezek. 33.31 32. And it is not hearing the word Preached and frequenting the Lords Table will avail men to Salvation if they be workers of iniquity Luk 13.26 27. We have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets but he shall say I tell you I know you not whence you are depart from me ye workers of iniquity 3. The participation of Sacraments and Ordinances of the Gospel is accounted as nothing by such as are impenitent sinners Rom. 2.25 If thou be a breaker of the Law thy Circumcision is made Vncircumcision Jer. 9.25 26. The Uncircumcised in heart among the Jews have the same lot with the Uncircumcised Egyptians Edomites Ammonites and Moabites The impenitent Jews offered up a multitude of Sacrifices unto God but the Lord accounted all as nothing Isa 1.11 13. To what purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifices unto me saith the Lord Bring no more vain Oblations Incense is an abomination to me Their Oblations are called vain Oblations as being of no value in the sight of God Many persons are kept from coming to and closing with Christ by resting in the Law or resting in their own Righteousness They think they already have or hope that in process of time they shall attain unto that Righteousness which will commend them to God and give them a right to Eternal Life when as they have no Union with Christ or Interest in Christ That many men do rest in the Law or in their own works of Righteousness done in Conformity to the Law We may see from such Scriptures as these Rom. 2.17 Behold thou art called a Jew and restest in the Law That is as Pareus observs Fiduciam ponis in lege quasi ea te servaret thou placest thy confidence in the Law as if that could save thee Or as de Dieu Non lassat te peccati onus quippe qui ex lege quietem capias The burden of thy sins do not weary thee because thou findest ease from the law Luk. 18.9 He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were Righteous Rom. 9.31 32. Now the reasons why men rest upon their own works of Righteousness done in Conformity to the law of God for that Righteousness which should commend them to God and bring them to Eternal Life are such as these 1. A natural inclination and propensity in all men to look for Righteousness and Life on the terms of the first Covenant which was to give life to such as should obey the law of God Do this and live Gal. 4.21 Tell me ye that desire to be under the Law There is a desire in men to have Righteousness and Life by the works of the law 2. Their ignorance of the true meaning purity and spirituality of the law whereby they are kept from seeing the imperfection of their own Righteousness and because they comply with the outward performance of the law they think they have that which will give them life Rom. 7.9 I was alive without the law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and I dyed That is the Apostle while a Pharisee was without the right understanding of the law and then he thought himself alive in a good condition one that should inherit Eternal Life but when the Commandment came that is when I came to have a right understanding of the law and it came to be applyed to my Conscience Sin revived that is I discovered those sins which I knew not of before I saw my self a lost sinner and I dyed that is my hope of attaining Righteousness and the Life was taken away 3. Ignorance of Christ's being appointed of God to be our Righteousness is another reason why men go about to establish their own Righteousness and do not seek to Christ to be found in
ac si in omnibus deliquisset 4. There is no escaping this curse of the law when we have offended in any one point but by Jesus Christ All the good works we can do in conformity to the law will not exempt us from it but do leave us under this curse Gal. 3.10 As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse The only escaping from the curse of the law is by Christ Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us And therefore there is no resting for any man in the law or in his own righteousness no hope that any man should attain righteousness and life by the law But if we would have that righteousness whereby we may be accepted in the sight of God and would have Eternal Life we must seek for both in Christ and if we close with Christ we shall in him have righteousness and life Another great hinderance of closing with Christ is this present evil world A worldly Spirit hinders our closing with Christ several ways 1. Because when mens hearts are set upon the Profits and Honours and Pleasures of the World they make light of Christ and prefer these things above Christ This is evident from the parable of the King that made a Marriage for his Son which was neglected by those that had their hearts set on the World Mat. 22.5 They made light of it and went their ways one to his Farm another to his Merchandize Many mens heads and hearts are so full of the World that they make light of the offers of Christ and Salvation by Christ 2. Some persons are at such ease in their Worldly enjoyments and are so well satisfied with the World that they find no need of Christ and Salvation by Christ and desire no other Heaven but what they have here on the Earth and to such men their prosperity proves their ruin Prov. 1.32 The prosperity of fools shall destroy them To such as these may be applyed the wo. Luk. 6.24 Wo unto you that are rich for ye have received your Consolation 3. The love of the honours and pleasures and profits of the World keepeth men from embracing Christ because there are several duties in Christianity which cannot be performed but they will expose us to reproaches and losses and hardship and hatred in the World Joh. 5.44 How can ye believe which receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh from God only Now no worldly thing either the honours or pleasures or profits of the World should keep us from a sincere and hearty closing with Jesus Christ and that upon these grounds 1. It is infinitely better to enjoy Christ than to enjoy all the honours all the pleasures all the profits all the goodly things in the World as will appear several ways 1. The good things of this World can be enjoyed no longer than a man lives in this World They may be taken away before we dye but the term of life is the longest time of their enjoyment They may be taken away by Fire by Oppressors by Forreign Enemies that may strip us as naked as in the day we were born Yea if God do not continue them with us by his Providence they would of themselves flee away swiftly from us and come at us no more Prov. 23.5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not For riches certainly make themselves wings they flee away as an eagle towards Heaven He doth not say wilt thou set thy heart but wilt thou set thine eyes The riches of the world in comparison of the Riches of Christ are so far from deserving our hearts that they are not worth the looking after with our eyes He calls them things that are not that is are not what men think them to be are not abiding they are gone in the twinkling of an eye He adds farther that 't is certain riches are most uncertainly for certainly they make unto themselves wings and flee away as an Eagle towards Heaven But if they be not taken away if they do not flee away in the time of life it is most certain we must leave them all behind us when we dye 1 Tim. 6.7 For we brought nothing into the World and it is certain that we can carry nothing out But if we embrace Christ Christ and his benefits shall be ours for ever This God is our God for ever and ever Psal 48.14 He will not only stick to us and bless us as long as we live but he will give us all the good things of Heaven for an Everlasting Possession Joh. 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hath Everlasting Life 2. All the things of this World while they are enjoyed are poor vain empty things that can't give any true satisfaction to the Soul but create more vexation of Spirit than they give comfort Eccl. 2.17 All is vanity and vexation of Spirit The words are few but of large extent All Worldly Enjoyments Riches Honours Pleasures all are vanity empty things uncertain things and all are vexation of Spirit A poor man that goeth to his day labour hath more comfortable Nights and Days than many Rich men that have abundance of the World Eccl. 5.12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet but the abundance of the Rich will not suffer him to sleep Abundance of the VVorld rather causeth disquietment than comfort But now such as embrace Christ have solid and Soul satisfying comforts in Christ Psal 13.5 6. My Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness When I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches The night is a solitary and uncomfortable time yet in the night watches there are Soul satisfying comforts to be had in Christ Such as embrace Christ by Faith have in him and from him joy unspeakable 1 Pet. 1.8 In whom believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 3. A man may possess much of the world and yet be miserable here Jam. 5.1 and be miserable in the other world to all Eternity Luk. 16.22 23. The rich man dyed and was buried and in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torment while he lived he was cloathed in Purple and fine linnen and fared sumptuously every day ver 19. but as soon as he was dead he went to Hell and was tormented in flaming Fire and could not get so much as a drop of water to cool his Tongue But they that get possession of Christ and trust in Christ are in a blessed condition whilst they live and shall be in a most blessed condition for ever in the World to come Psal 2.12 Blessed are all they that trust in him All that accept of Christ for their Lord and Saviour and are obedient to him shall be saved with an Eternal Salvation Heb. 5.9 2. The surest and best way to get the good things of this World at least