Sin and taken great pleasure in it and when they hear what the word says that such must be damned banish'd from the presence of God and be everlastingly tormented with Devils and that this that the word speaks should strike such unspeakable terror to the Heart of Man what doth this argue but that the word is powerful Joh 18.6 as Christ spake but a word and his Enemies that came to take him fell back so that Mens proud and stubborn hearts should fall down before the word and are made to say as the Devils why art thou come to torment us this shews that there is an Almighty God speaking in the word and this fâ—â—ther That some Men yet in a natural condition who love Sin as their own Souls should not dare to commit some Sins because the word pronounceth Judgment and that Men that hate holiness as 't is evident that many do yet out of fear of Judgments denounced in the word should be brought to make some Profession of Holiness that as the unclean Spirit fell down and confessed Christ to be the Son of God so Men of unclean Hearts not renewed are forced to confess the word is of God 2. In the Conversion of Sinners I may say concerning the Word as Christ in his Message to John The Dead are raised the Deaf hear the Dumb speak and tâ— the Poor the Gâ—spel is Preached that a word preached should do this shews it to be the word of God so Men that are dead in Trespasses and Sins are raised by it the word doth bore some Mens Ears and make them hearken and obey it Consider that Men that take such great delight in Sin as we all do by Nature working uncleaness with greediness going to it as an hungry Man to his Meals ready to pine away for the pleasures of Sin and be discontent when we cannot satisfy our Lusts as it was with Ammnon Now that any of us because the word says cease to do Evil Sin no more should loath what we so dearly loved and that our hatred of Sin should be greater than our love was to it and it may be some can tell the time and remember the word that wrought such a mighty change what is to be concluded hence but that this is none other but the word of God Again we know how we love our selves by nature even so as that self-love is the supreme Law with corrupt Nature now that such an one should because the word says if any Man will be my Disciple let him deny himself cast off self-love and self-respects and sacrifice or give himself up to Christ and be his only and prize the Glory of God more than his own good yea choose to undergo the greatest Evils rather than dishonour God this shews the invincible power of the word Again if you have any knowledge of your selves you know what bitter enmity there is in our natures against holiness now that because the word commends holiness any of us should come to delight in it this likewise adds a Seal for the confirmation of this Truth that the word is in truth Gods word Again you know how we naturally love the World even so much that some can even in these plundering times think it better to loose our Lives than our Goods now that any should despise the world for Christ's sake and esteem his Reproaches better Riches only because the word doth commend Christ above the World and propose him as the best Good What doth this argue but a divine efficacy of the word and the power of a God making use of his word as an instrument of his own to bring to pass such mighty works 3. In confounding Christ 's Enemies Psa 8.2 Out of the mouths of Babes hast thou ordained strength to stâ—ll the Enemy this strength of mouth â— Prayer which is grounded on the word and preaching when men come with revengeful Spirits and think to swallow up the People of God the word shall stop and still them the word doth gather Men together and stir them up to fight against Anti-christ Rev. 16 16. and Rev. 17.16 The ten hornes shall hate the Whore c. why the word shall discover her and hence 't is said 2 Thess 2.8 That Man of Sin shall be revealed c. he shall destroy him with the Sword of his Mâ—uth and brightness of his coming Dan. 2.34 A stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands breaks the Feet of the Image and that shall overcome the great Roman Monarchy What is this stone c. a poor weak dispised People of God called by the word believing the same and walking by it these shall overcome all Antichristian powers and as the worm Jacob thresh the Mountains Use To make some application of this by the way Is there such a power in the word and may that be truly said of the word which is falsly of Simon Magus it is the great Power of God 1. Then take heed of despising it Heb. 12.25 see that ye dispise not look well to it if you despise the word you dispise the Power and Authority of God which is in it and which shall be manifested by it either in Conversion or Confusion either in unspeakable Terror or Consolation either it shall be the power of God to save you and then you must believe it and receive it with all readiness or to condemn you if you despise it if it do not now work effectually in you to turn you from Sin into the obedience thereof then it shall Judge you in the last day now you may hear it speaking comfortably to you bringing the glad Tydings to your Souls of good things of a Saviour that is offered to you a Pardon proclaimed Heaven opened to Men that are shut up under Sin and Wrath that is if you will now suffer your Consciences to be awakned to see what condition you are in but if it be not hearkned to it shall speak terribly to you and then you shall not sleep when 't is spoken you shall not sit carelesly under it as you do now but then you shall know the Terrors of the Lord you shall know the power of Divine Wrath to prevent which you should desire to feel the exceeding greatness of his Power in creating Faith in you and the length and breadth of his Love which is revealed therein so when the word is spoken to you let me exhort you as the Prophet Jer. 13.15 Learn be not proud the Lord hath spoken Act. 13.41 Behold ye Despisers and wonder I 'll work that you will not believe If you will not believe what I have said in the Word Precepts and Promises such Judgments shall be brought on you which you would not before believe 2. Believe the Word rest on it be strong in Faith your Faith shall not be in vain you rest not then on a broken reed but on the word of the great God on the great Power of that God The Power of God
it night with us if the Earth get betwixt our Hearts and God at any time they being overtaken with worldly Contentmentt this may intercept divine light and keep it from you so let your Souls dwell in God and not like Satan walk to and fro in the Earth and wander up and down in it The Apostle's Rule is an excellent one Let them that have Wives be as if they had none and those that be Rich as though they had no Riches 1 Cor. 7.29.30 and those that buy as if they possessed not that is let not your Hearts find rest in these things but let the love of God in Christ be your rest live above let your Souls dwell in God and God will dwell in your Souls 2. Give not way to Sin especially take heed of doing any thing against the light of your Conscience There is nothing more likely to cause a withdrawing of light than a walking contrary to light hereby light is rejected and stifled and when Believers will have Fellowship with Sin God may teach them to take heed of Sin by hiding himself and suffering of their Souls to be filled with terrors By Sin Believers may fall though not from the love of God in Christ yet from the light of his Countenance That is the Apostles triumph Rom. 8. Nothing shall be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ yet there may be a falling from the love of God in the Heart by Sin so then take heed of being over taken with it have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness but reprove them 3. Walk not in the light of your own fire and sparks of your own kindling the Children of Promise that are free are yet too much in bondage to the Covenant of Works looking to a Righteousness of their own to Duties Grounding their hopes of favour and acceptation hereupon God may suffer those to lye down in sorrow that look not higher for ground of Joy When the Wise men left following the guidance of the Star it left them they walked in their own light and they go to the High-Priests c. and enquire of them but when they returned then they saw the Star 4. Be well Principled in the Doctrine of the Gospel and labour to understand it aright As 1. That though the Sins of Believers have abounded yet Grace abounds much more that is there is Grace enough in God and to spare for the pardon of all Sins God hath an infinite and inexhaustible treasure of Grace What God's answer was to Paul may be applied to all Believers My Grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 Paul was the chief of Sinners and God had Grace sufficient for him 1 Tim. 1.16 He obtained Mercy that Jesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering for a pattern to them that should believe on him to everlasting life Believe the abundance of Mercy in God through Christ and you shall taste the fulness of it look on Sin and from Sin to Grace and there is Grace sufficient for you so you may have Peace in your heart 2. As their disobedience bath abounded so hath Christ's obedience much more As by one man's disobedience many were made Sinners Rom. 5.19 So by the obedience of one many shall be made Righteous There is more Power in Christ's obedience and Righteousness to Justify a Sinner than there is in Sin to Condemn him God is more honoured by Christ than dishonoured by Sin because Christ is an infinite Person equal to the Father he fulfilled the Law that was Lord of it It appears because sufficient to make a Sinner as Righteous as if he had never sinned sufficient to blot out all Sin that there 's no more remembrance of it Sufficient to recompence God c. And besides there is merit in it It 's a price sufficient to purchase Glory Life c. So that as â—here will be frequent acts of disobedience against these set the infinite obedience of the Lord Jesus abounding beyond them all as a Sacrifice sufficient to take away the evil of all 3. God had never suffered the Elect such as are ordain'd to life to have been in a state of Sin before Conversion c. or to do any act of Sin after Conversation but that he intended to glorify his Grace and Mercy in pardoning their Sin and saving them notwithstanding their Sin this was his design from all Eternity to magnify his Grace and Mercy towards the Vessels of Mercy That he might make known the Riches of his Glory Rom. 9.23 So he suffered them to Sin Rom. 5.24 The Law entred that the offence might abound that is that it might be known how far and how exceedingly it abounded Also by the entring of the Law Sin was irritated c. And this that Grace might be magnified towards the Elect in pardoning them and giving Christ to dye and saving them notwithstanding their Sin Now this may uphold the Soul in the apprehensiâ—n of Sin God never intended that Sin should hinder the Salvation of the Elect but to work good even out of sin and to take occasion from thence to magnify his Grace more abundantly so let us have recourse to Grace manifested in Christ But though God by his absolute power might suffer sin c. yet sin is never theless sinful and so we ought to withstand sin to the utmost and we must not do Evil that Good may come of it that is the note of Reprobates whose damnation is just Rom. 3.8 4. The sin of Believers may cause the hiding of love but no hatred they have not Indignation and Wrath but Compassion God looking on the reliques of sin as their infirmities that he will heal Now as Believers out of infirmity do sometimes sin so it is an infirmity to infer hatred in God towaâ—ds them for it for if so then the Grace of God is not sufficient for them and Christ died in vain for them c. 5. The sin of Believers may grieve the Spirit but does not make the Spirit an enâ—my to Believers Greive not the holy Spirit whâ—reby ye are sealed to the day of Redemption Eph 4.30 The sins of Persons sealed by the Spirit do greive the Spirit this is not to be understood properly because the Spirit is not subject to like Passions with us but he 's said to be greived 1. Because sin is contrary to the mind of the Spirit Rom. 8.27 We grieve at any thing that happens against our minds 2. Contrary to the motions of the Spirit 3. To the Graces and Comforts of the Spirit which call for an obedient walking and an holy Conversation 4 Contrary to the Office of the Spirit viz. to comfort the Spirit delights in comforting so it does as it were grieve the Spirit to be hindered from it 5. The sins of Persons sealed by the Spirit are said but to grieve the Spirit not to stir up Wrath and Indignation and a readiness to revenge 6. Consider
Will may stand there will be an answerable doing Such as are in the Flesh and broad way have their Conversation in Lusts but such as are in the narrow way have their Conversation in the Will of God Rom. 12.2 Be not conformed to this World but be ye transformed that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God An upright mind is that which proves and finds out the will of God and is able to distinguish it and say this it is An upright will is that likes it and approves it and consents to it as 't is Holy Just and Good The doings of Christians the just and upright doings are obeying the good and acceptable and perfect Will of God 2. Obeying the Law as good 1. because 't is better to obey the Law than to obey Lusts God's will than our own not for our good only but because the Law is good being drawn by goodness of Obedience more than by the goodness that comes from Obedience because 't is the Beauty of the Creature to be in subjection to the Creator 2 Because Obedience is acceptable and approved of God Obedience pleases God though it does not pacify him To do goood and to distribute forget not for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased Heb. 13.16 There 's a double Head of Sacrifices 1. A Propitiatory purifying Sacrifice that prevents displeasure from breaking out because of Sin as the Sacrifice of Christ offered on the Cross and none but this 2. A Sacrifice that God is well pleased with and accepts of when he is made propitious to a Person by Christ's Sacrifice and by his Spirit works Obedience Thus doing good is a Sacrifice of Praise which God is well pleased with This is that which moves a sound Christian to do good because it pleases God this is an excellent temper Christ pleased not himself So Christians must not please themselves it is God's Prerogative to do whatever pleases him but 't is Piety in Christians to do whatever pleases God This is the will of God even your Sanctification God's wilâ— is that Believers should be Holy doing good 3. Obeying the perfect will of God that is 1. There 's no Law nothing that God wills to be done that a sound Christian rejects although he fails in many points yet he rejects not nor despises any point of the Law The Carnal Mind is enmity against and makes void the Law but the found Mind does not he does not Sin out of contempt of the Law but through infirmity of the Flesh As renewed there 's a delight In the whole will of God I delight in the Law of God after the inner Man Rom. 7. 2. The doings of those that are in the way of Life are not for Life but from Life i. e. They do not this and that Duty they love not the Saints they abstain not from the Pollution of the World that they may live in their doings their doings proceed from Life and are not to procure Life They know that Christ hath done enough to procure Life he hath obeyed the Law and undergone the Curse of it for Righteousness to them they look on Christ as their Life and not on their doings as their Life They do not to deserve by their doings but because Christ hath deserved their doingâ— They do not count themselves worthy by their Service but do account Christ worthy of their Service and Obedience Their doings are not for Love but â—hey flow from Love They serve not in the oldness of the Letter but in the newness of the Spirit their Service is not old Covenant but new Covenant Service Sect. 18. Doct. 2. A will to embrace speritual good offered or to do spiritual good enjoyn'd is of God's working Eph. 2.10 We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works A willing and doing Christian that 's in the way of Life is God's workmanship a Mind â—iâ—led with the Knowledge of God in Christ filled with his Glory shining in the Face of Jesus Christ a Will drawn out to God in Christ in sweet embraces of his Love full of spiritual dispositions and desires living in God and living to God a life full of good works abounding in the fruits of Righteousness to the Glory of God is the special and peculiar work of God As God at first created the World out of nothing there was no praeâ—xisting matter which God did make use of in forming Creatures out of it they did all come forth from God and spring out from his Divine Power and God-head who said Let there be and they were So consider a Man as spiriâ—ualiz'd his Heart set into a spiritual frame enjoying God as his life and living to him thus he is made out of nothing there is no prae-existent will or disposition to embrace good offered to do any good that is commanded out of which he is educed God doth not by moral perswasions only stir up any good in him or blow up Coals of spiritual good in him that are lying hid under the ashes of Carnality and Corruption like a Talent wrapt up in a Napkin and hid in the Earth but by a Physical work creating Life out of Death in the Soul he doth not bring a greater Light out of a lesser in the Conversion of a Sinner but commands Light to shine out of Darkness as in the first Creation bringing in Spiritual and Divine Light where there was none He doth not bring forth a full perfect and compleat will of Embracing Christ and of laying hold on the Covenant out of a Velleity or imperfect will towards spiritual good towards the embracing of the Lord Jesuâ— but in all that are in the way of Life he creates such a will out of nothing or out of that which is worse than nothing Enmity Contrariety c. God doth not bring perfect Health out of Sickness Strength out of Infirmity Soundness out of Wounds Life out of an half Death as the good Samaritan did by pouring in Oyl and Wine into the wounds of him that was half dead but God in the Conversion of Sinners bringeth Life out of Death absolute perfect Death He creates Holiness out of nothing where there is nothing but sinfulness Purity out of nothing but Impurity Obedience out of nothing but Disobedience So this work is called a new Creation 2 Cor. 5.17 There is nothing of the Spiritual Man remaining in them The influence of God on the Souls of Sinners in their Conversion is not like the influence of the Sun only upon the Earth that is the Mother of Trees Plants Herbs c. the womb in which they are begotten there 's a seminal Power and Vertue iâ— the Earth to bring them forth but that is weak and inefectual in it self till the Sun by its enlivening and quickning influence doth strengthen and draw forth that seminal Vertue So there 's no seed of Grace no root of Holiness no seed of God till God sow
says a sinner must dye but what saith Paul He loved me and give himself for me out of love he made his Soul an offering for sin and now who shall condemn by which it appears that the power of his love to work out Salvation is beyond the power of sin to Destroy 2. The love of Christ towards the vessels of Mercy did abound beyond self-love The Law is to love our Neighbour as our selves Christ did more When Peter said Master pity thy self he was so great an offence to him that he calls him Satan He pitied Souls to be saved more than his Body and loved their lives even to his own Death And if the Jews had ground to say when he wept over Lazarus behold how he loved him much greater cause is there to say when Christ dyed for sinners behold how he loved them If the sheding of tears was so great a demonstration of his love what was this that he yielded his Blood should be shed 3. It abounds beyond all the wants and weaknesses of Saints It is not exhausted by what he hath done for them or bestowed on them as he hath the Residue of the Spirit so the Residue of Love and Grace even the fullness of it so as he accounted no suffering too great to undergo for them so no good thing too great to give them Heaven a Kingdom the fullness of Joy Holyness Light and Grace is not too much for his love to bestow we cannot have less to make us happy and 't is not more then his love can make us partakers of 2. The love of Christ is an abiding love he loves with an everlasting love here 's a love not to be quench'd with many waters which no floods of either Human or Diabolical or Divine wrath could Drown Having loved his own he loved them to the end John 13.1 that is the finishing of that work he had to do for them in the World and will to the end of his Mediatory work till he hath brought up all the Saints to the measure of the stature of his own fullness and when his love shall have brought him to this glorious end of his work in perfecting all the Saints and presenting them to the Father who shall be all in all and he shall have thus loved them to the end then he shall love them without end The Saints have then ground to comfort themselves with the abiding love of Christ If the World pass away if Riches come to nought c. yet the love of Christ doth not pass away and when there is so constant a hatred from the World and such abiding malice against the followers of Christ in evil men and evil Angels there is an abiding love of Christ to comfort them 3. The love of Christ was once a love fulfilling the Law and now is a love fufilling the Gospel it was once a love fulfilling Precepts and now is a love fulfilling Promises Rom. 13.10 Love is the fulfilling of the Law such was the love of Christ love brought him that was Lord of the Law under the Law and carried him through it even to perfect obedience â—is love made him say it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness and by this there is Reconciliation and Peace with God and as it was once the fulfilling of the Law so now of the Gospel All the Promises are yea and Amen in Christ's love When Saints are unworthy of the good of the Promises the love of Christ will bestow it on them There are Promises of not remembring sin of giving Grace and Glory and every good thing of putting the Law in the mind of turning all to good of saving out of all troubles and love will fullfil them all the Gospel is the Testament and Will of Christ and there must be the Death of the Testator that the Will may be of force Now here we may take notice of this truth Christ dyed that his will may be of force and lives again to the Executor of his own will and his love is the fulfilling of it hence Christ promiseth to his Disciples I will not leave you Orphans I will come to you John 14.18 Christ being dead they were Orphans c. but happy were it for many poor Orphans if their Fatheâ—s could come again and set all things right and see that every Child should have his portion now although this cannot be yet it was so with Christ He arose from Death and will be the Executor of his own Will and hence he is called the everlasting Father having a Fatherly love and regard to all the Saints which is everlasting and which will perfect that which concerns them Saints are the travel of Christ's Soul and he must see the travel of his Soul Isa 53.11 Rachel said give me Children or else I dye Christ said let me dye that so I may have Children Rachel dyed in travel and did not live to see of her travel Christ dyed in his travel with the vessels of Mercy and lives again to see of the travel of his Soul Every Saint at first was a Benoni a Son of Christ's sorrow in that he dyed in bringing them forth but afterwards a Benjamin a Son of his right hand he being alive for ever more and is ever seeing them to his satisfaction and they shall see him for ever to their satisfaction and living again he will see that they be partakers of that Grace and Glory that he bequeathed to them 4. The Love of Christ is such that when it finds not its Object lovely it can and doth make it lovely Christ found Mary Magdalen a sinful Woman and so not lovely but made her lovely in converting her Paul was an Enemy to Christ but he converted him his love made him lovely it made him a Believer a Saint a faithful Servant unto him This is set forth in Ezek. 16. Thou wast polluted in thy Blood I passed by thee and thy time was the time of love and love made them lovely I spread my skirts over thee I washed and clothed thee and decked thee with ornaments and thy beauty and renown was perfect through my comeliness put upon thee If we have cause to say as Isaiah wo is me a man of unclean lips If we abhor our selves and repent we may take comfort in this Christ doth not abhor but his love doth make us lovely 5. The love of Christ turns all evil things to good life death things present things to come all are yours the love of Christ makes them so and gives an advantagious and profitable propriety in them and makes even Reproaches for Christ's sake Riches and better then the Treasures of Egypt Heb. 11.26 Riches are things of worth so are Reproaches for Christ The Apostles rejoyced that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ And better then Riches 1. In that God doth not esteem any man's wealth nor him for his wealth's sake will he esteem thy wealth Job 36.19
He will esteem thy Reproaches c. and thy parting with wealth for his sake 2. Better Riches in regard of better gain by them the gain of Grace Spiritual consolation of a Kingdom c. If sufferings for Christ abound consolations abound more 6. The love of Christ is every thing we need this is the Gold that will make us rich Money answers all things but 't is most true concerning the love of Christ 1 Cor. 15.28 That God may be all in all so he is in himself and by love he is all things to the Saints Christ's love is Grace and Glory and every good thing Jacob might well say to Esau I have all Gen. 33.11 So 't is in the Original because God said Jacob have I loved 7. The love of Christ is such that it will make him when glorified serve the Saints As their Duty is to serve one another in love so Christ doth this he did in his state of humiliation but how much more to be admired is this Luke 12.37 Blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching verily I say unto you he shall gird himself and come forth and serve them Here we may say as the Disciples when Christ said a little while and ye shall not see me and then a little while and you shall see me we know not what he saith we are not to understand it after a carnal manner Christ did serve his Disciples at his last Supper he feasted them with himself as Crucified and with the benefits of his Death In his Kingdom he shall feast them with his Glory and with himself as glorified in that he feasted them now with signs of himself in this with himself in sight shewing all his Riches and Glory to them John 16.14 Christ promising the Spirit said he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you this he doth in the conversion of a sinner shewing the Righteousness Merits Power and Wisdom and Love to his Saints but when Christ himself shall appear then he himself shall shew them all that he is and hath here is my righteousness the price and value of my Blood her 's my Love and Grace her 's my Glory He kept the Passover with his Disciples feasting them with the benefits of his Death in a large upper-room furnished c. Heaven is indeed the large upper-room furnished there Christ is feasting the Spirits of just men made perfect with the Glory of his Life he shall shew his Glory as having the fulness of the Godhead in him as the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth as a Prince and Saviour as a Bridegroom Joseph said to his Brethren ye shall tell my Father of my Glory in Egypt Christ shall when he appears tell the Saints of all his Glory in Heaven and let them see and hear that which Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard c. as Hezekiah shewed to the Ambassadors of the King of Babylon the House of his precious things and there was nothing of worth which he shewed not unto them This is the Entertainment that Christ will give c. What encouragement is this to be found in those duties to which this Promise is made That is Seek the Kingdom of God give Alms lay up Treasures in Heaven let your Loins be girt Lamps burning be like men waiting for their Lord This is farther set forth Math. 26.29 I will drink no more of the fruit of the Vine until I drink it new with you c. Quest What is that Wine Answ Contraries illustrate one another now in Rev. 14.10 there is mention of the Wine of Wrath without mixture as the portion of the wicked on the other side then the Wine of Love without mixture is the portion of the Saints Pure Wrath is the portion of the Ungodly pure love the portion of the Godly Evil without mixture of good is the portion of the Wicked Good without mixture of Evil shall be given to the Saints Wicked men shall not have so much as a drop of Water to cool their Tongues Saints not so much as a spark of Fire to torment them Thus we see what Riches of Love there are in Christ which we should be careful not to despise nor abuse by indulging our selves in any evil way because we hear of such Riches of Love If any shall turn Grace into Lasciviousness they may know that there is fury that shall smoke against such Behold the goodness and severity of God goodness to such as continue in his goodness but severity to such as abuse his goodness as who knows the Power of his Love so who knows the Power of his Wrath His Love is above our Faith and his Wrath above our Fear Learn then to love Christ because he loves to live to him because he loves please him serve him deny our selves take his Yoke because he loves and take heed we do not that abominable thing which he hates take heed of that abominable thing Covetousness of that abominable thing Pride Lying Deceit Hypocrisy Lukewarmness and remember that he that loves Saints so much hates sin as much and he looks that those whom he loves should love him and hate the thing that is Evil. CHAP. IV. 2. THere are in Christ Riches of Righteousness Rom. 5.17 They which receive abundance of Grace and the Gift of Righteousness Abundance relates to both there is abundance of Grace giving and abundance of Righteousness given there is uncreated Righteousness in Christ as God which is Infinite Perfect Unchangeable so there is Riches of it and no Iniquity in him Christ may challenge all as God did the Jews what Iniquity have your Fathers found in me Jer. 2.5 There is also the Righteousness of Christ as Mediator which is twofold 1. In his works for Men. 2. In his works towards Men. First In his works for Men being a surety and representative undertaking to fulfil that Righteousness for them which they could not for themselves that hereby he might reconcile them to God and make them stand as just in his sight Here consider 1. Christ's Righteousness fulfilled for the Elect is a full and compleat Righteousness Christ taking the form of a Servant did fulfil the Law both for matter and manner substance and circumstances The Law requires not more active and passive Obedience than Christ yielded The Law is exceeding broad Christ's Righteousness as broad as that The Law was Spiritual so was Christ's Obedience Sin was infinite in Evil because committed against an infinite Person Christ's Righteousness had infinite good in it infinite Glory because fulfilled by an infinite Person who obeying was Equal with the Person commanding Obedience and demanding satisfaction for man's disobedience so that here are Riches of Righteousness Paul had good reason to be found in it What a glorious change is wrought by its imputation it makes a sinner a righteous Person By the Obedience of one many shall be made Righteous 2. It 's
He shaketh the Earth and doth great things past finding out ond Wonders without number And as the consideration of Christ's Power should make us ready to serve him so to serve him with our might Eccles 9.10 What thou do'st do with thy might be not heartless cold lukewarm in the service of so powerful a Lord. The works which he doth for Saints he doth them with his might The Eyes of the Lord run to and fro in the Earth to shew himself strong c. 2 Cbron. 16.9 As he is strong so he delights to shew himself strong on behalf of those whose Hearts are perfect with him CHAP. VII THere are in Christ the Riches of Glory Job 40.9.10 Hast thou an Arm likâ— God Deck thy self now with Majesty and Excellency this is the Glo y of Christ he hath the Arm of God and like God he is decked with Majesty and arrays himself with Glory and Beauty he is clothed with Majesty and Honour and decked himself with light as with a Garment If the King's Daughter be all Glorious within much more is the King himself who is the Lord and King of Glory who is most Glorious in himself and hath the command of his Glory being able to maintain and communicate it as he pleases Christ hath the Glory of being every way the chiefest that is in Dominion Strength Wisdom c. being altogether Lovely therefore altogether Glorious There is an Hâ—brew word for Glory which signifies Weight true Glory arises out of that which is of VVeight and VVorth the World's Glory is but a shadow which flies away as a Bird Hos 9.11 and is but as the Grass of the Field Christ is the substance If Saints shall have an exceeding weight of Glory how much more then hath Christ If their's be Glory from an Hyperbole to an Hyperbole as 2 Cor. 4.17 then how many Hyperboles are there in Christ's Glory Christ is the gathering together of all Glory as the Sea was the gathering of the Waters as the scatter'd light created the first day was on the fourth day gathered into the Body of that great light the Sun which rules the day so the scattered Glory which was here a little and there a little amongst creatures is gathered in Christ into a fulness of Glory which makes him the beginning or Head of the Creation of God Col. 1.17 18. If Sion be the perfection of Beauty how much more is Christ And these Riches of Glory are Unsearchable we may well say here we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness i. e. the darkness in which his Glory dwells in relation to us and by reason of the darkness of our Minds Job 26.14 How little a portion is heard of him When we have thought or spoken out our all we may conclude these are but part of his ways and of his Glory Now to speak what we can of his Glory let 's consider how he himself describes it Luke 9.26 The Son of Man shall come in his own Glory in his Fathers Glory and with the Angels that is the Glory he shall have given him of the Creatures for the Creation which is in bondage to men's lusts and those abuses which it's weary of shall serve to set forth the Glory of Christ which is its earnest expectatiâ—n Rom. 8. 1. There is his own glory his eternal essential glory which he had with the Father before the world and still hath being in the form of God and it is no Robbery to think so when the man of Sin shews himself that he is God that is robbery but not so when Christ is equallized with God The best description of his Glory is to say he is above all Eph. 4.6 the face of his Glory we can't see only the back parts thereof in his word and works c. whence we may conclude as the Psalmist He that made the Eye shall not he not see c. Psa 94.9 He that made all was not he before all and is not he above all so far above all in power that he is the Almighty In Knowledge that he is Omniscient in Duration that he is Eternal he is the brightness of his Fathers glory and Express Image of his Person That is his own Glory which he shall come in Heb. 1 3. 2. There is his Fathers glory which he shall come in that is Glory which he had and shall have from his Father and Glory becoming so glorious a Father Labans Son spoke it enviously of Jacob of that which was our Father's hath he gotten him all this glory we may say it wel of Christ of that which was his Fathers hath he gotten him all his Glory There is 1. The Glory he had from the Father in his humble Estate for in that he had much Glory which was manifested forth in his Miracles in which he had a Witness from the Father When John's Disciples asked Christ art thou he that should come Math. 11.5 he answers go tell John the blind see the Lame walk c. and those works will tell what I am Joh. 9.30 herein is a marvellous thing he hath opened mine Eyes and yet ye know not whence he is Cbrist in his humble Estate had Glory under a Vail and there was a Cloud upon the face of his Glory Under the Law God made a Cloud to be the Sign of his Presence which was then his Pavilion this was a Type of that Cloud of Flesh and humane Infirmities wherein Christ in his Dâ—vine Glory was covered in his humble State although under his Feet then there was a paved work of Saphire stone like the body of Heaven in clearness Exod. 24.10 which was a figure of those Beams of Divine Glory which did shine from Christ's works and goings when he was in the World declaring him to be the Lord from Heaven much of his Glory came forth in his Speech never Man spake like this Man he spake like one having Authority in this State he had the Glory of Grace and Vertue of perfect Righteousness Zeal Power Patience Humility Holiness and Love c. and these were his Glory we are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory that is as John 1.16 we receive of his Fulness Grace for Grace Grace is Glory 2. There is the Glory of his Exalted State and if so much of his Glory did shine forth from under his Sufferings in his low Estate what then is the glory of his Exalted State there is the glory of his Soul and Spirit which in the kind of Spirits is most Excellent being far above Angels There is the glory of his Body which of all bodily things is most Excellent having a brightness above the brightness of the Sun and above the strength of all Creatures If we consider him in his Person as God man so he hath the glory of being the Father's King whom he hath set over all the works of his hands having given him all power in Heaven and Earth and
and heightens their torment they think upon the vain course they led upon the seasons of Grace they slighted the great Salvation neglected by them they contemplate on the eternity of their Misery and they think on the happiness of those that they persecuted and hated Dives is said to see Lazarus afar off the wicked think on the blessed estate of the Godly but on the other side the Saints never see Death but Light and Life they shall see Christ and be ever with him beholding his Glory Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they be with me to behold my Glory to be in everlasting contemplation of it and the Light of him shall satisfy and they shall be ever seeing him there shall not be any Cloud upon his Glory true he shall come in Clouds but when he comes Clouds shall go away when he ascended a Cloud received him out of the sight of the Disciples when he descends a Cloud shall usher him into their sight and then Clouds shall for ever pass away that Saints may for ever see him and then they shall see Christ and all other things by Christ The Lamb is said to be the light of the new Jerusalem by this light they shall see Christ himself as by the light of the Sun we see the Sun and by Christ's light all other things as the Scripture and all those things contained therein The Jews before Christ came knew him by Types and Signs but after Christ came they knew these Types and Figures by Christ now we know Christ by the Scriptures but when he shall appear we shall know the Scripture by Christ now we know the Creator by the Creatures then shall we know the Creatures by the Creator now the invisible things of God are known by the things that are made then that which is invisible to us of the things that are made shall be known by the Light and Glory of him that made them And their seeing shall be a beatifical Vision Christ shall then see the Saints and be satisfied and they shall see him and be satisfied Exod. 24.11 The Elders of Israel saw God and did eat and drink not as when they made the Calf but either they did eat of the Sacrifices or did eat and drink Spiritually they delighted in the Glory of the Lord and fed their Eyes and feasted upon the brightness of his Glory which was better to them than the most pleasant meat In answer to this Christ promises that we shall eat and drink at his Table in his Kingdom this is the Portion of the Saints in Heaven they shall see Christ as God manifest in the Flesh and the God-head in Christ After the general Judgment they shall see God immediately as All in All and not only through the Man-hood of Christ. 2. Christ shall be a fountain of Glory to the Saints they shall receive of his fullness Glory for Glory as the Sun communicates the Glory of his Light so shall Christ the Sun of Righteousness which he beginning to do here shall do it perfectly to the filling of Souls and Bodies with Glory they shall have the Glory of being one in the Father and the Son Joh. 17.21 3. Christs Glory is a Pattern of the Saints Glory who are predestinated to be conformed to the Image of the Son Rom. 8.29 they shall see and be like him and be satisfied with his likeness If Saints now suffer so did Christ and as Christ is glorified so shall they if we suffer 't is no worse with us than 't was with Christ and when Christ shall appear it shall be as well with us as to a like Glory tho' not an equal Glory with his they shall appear with him in Glory there shall be a Manifestation of the Sons of God which the Creature hath an earnest expectation off that they may be delivered from their bondage unto the power of the Man of Sin into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8.18 19 20. 1. A Gracious Liberty which they have being under Grace and in a State of Grace being free from the Curse of the Law from the raigning power of Sin and from being led Captive by Satan at his will this is a Liberty where with Christ hath made free 2. A Glorious Liberty where with Christ shall make them free not only from Sin as a King but from Sin as a Tyrant and from any temptations and buffetings of Satan not only from pleasing Men and walking as Men but from all persecutions from Men for Righteousness sake they shall not hurt nor destroy c. such a glorious Liberty shall be to the Sons of God a triumphant Liberty as under Solomon's Reign when there was neither Adversary nor evil Occurrent And as the Creature so the Saints also having the first fruits of the Spirit do groan for the Adoption even the Redemption of the Body There is a two-fold Adoption Rom. 8.23 First by receiving power to be Sons through believing in Christ Joh. 1.12 2. In receiving the Portions of Sons and that Inheritance which belongs to them as Joynt-Heirs with Christ There is also a two-fold Redemption 1. Of the Soul from under the power of Sin Satan and the World 2. Of the Body from Persecution and Trouble which is the State Saints shall be in after the fall of Babylon when there shall be none to make them afraid as also there shall be Redemption from Death and the Grave so that their vile Bodies shâ—ll be fashioned like Christ's Glorious Body Only 1. Consider if you would see Christ and be like him in Glory see that you be found in him having his Righteousness Psa 17.15 I shall behold thy Face in Righteousness that is thy Righteousness those that will not submit to the Righteousness of God must not look to be Exalted to his Glory yet an inherent qualifying Righteousness also is by many and may well be understood in that Expression whom he Justified them he Glorified 2. You must be Holy without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord you must be sanctified into a likeness with him in Grace else look not to be satisfied with his likeness in Glory 3. Confess Châ—ist and stand for his Glory In his Temple should every one speak of his Glory Psal 29.9 So should we in his Spiritual House they that delight not now to be speaking of his Kingdom and talking of his Power and of the Glorious Honour of his Majesty must not look to have an Inheritance in his Kingdom In his Temple is the joyful sound of his Glory such as now hear the joyful sound shall have the joyful sight of his Glory 4. Do all to his Glory confess he is Lord to the Glory of the Father be just to his Glory be sober to his Glory be charitable and mercifull to his Glory Pray Hear Eat Drink do all to his Glory all things are of thee of thine own have we given thee 1 Chron. 29.14 all Waters are from
time when the day of Judgment should be Dominus dixit se nescire quia non erat paratus aliis revelare Salmeron He accounts himself not to know because he resolves not to make it known whether that be the sense or not this is a Truth God will not account you to know when you have opportunities to distil Knowledge to others as to your Wives Children Servants and you neglect 2. You are in danger of loosing that Knowledge which you have of letting slip the Truths you have received Exercse of Gifts in instructing others is a means to preserve and enlarge those Gifts to hide your Talent will be to consume it or else it may provoke God in Judgment to deprive you of it as he that hid his Talent had it taken away To him that hath himself and in common with others more shall be given him but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath Here 's a seeming Contradiction hath yet hath not if you observe the occasion of this Speech which was the taking away of the hid Talent Math. 25 29. you will find thus much imported 1. He that hath a Talent given him and hides it and doth not improve it to the advantage of others he is accounted not to have a Talent he that knows and doth not inform and labour to benifit others by his Knowledge is accounted not to know 2. He that hath and hides shall loose what he hath it shall come to nothing then what follows v. 30. Cast ye the unprofitable Servant into utter darkness c. a dreadful Sentence Cast ye the unprofitable Hearer the unprofitable Father Master Husband Wife c. that have Knowledge and hid their Knowledge c. see therefore that you improve in Knowledge come hither to gain Knowledge and go home to communicate Knowledge let your Families know what you learn The Woman of Samaria having found Christ in the Mountain goes presently and Preaches him in the City Paul had no sooner that Voice in his Ear I am Jesus whom thou Persecutest but straight way he Preached Christ in the Synagogues that he is the Son of God Act. 9.20 He accounts himself to know what he knows among others for their benefit Paul according to the Interpretation given of the words accounts it a most excellent and precious thing to Preach Christ Crucified Hence Doct. 5. A faithful Minister of Jesus Christ accounts the Preaching of Christ a most sweet and precious Service Non eximium duxi I judged no Work so desirable and excellent as this so sweet to Paul that he esteems it more dear than his Life Act. 20.24 I count not my Life dear to me so I may finish my Course with joy and the ministry received of the Lord Jesus to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God he found Joy enough to carry him through all Sufferings in his course of Service and Duty he had reward enough in fulfilling his Ministry received of the Lord Jesus Glory enough in testifying the Gospel of the Grace of God Christ's Meat and Drink is to do his Father's Will Isa 49. â— Christ complains because of the obstinacy of the Jews I have laboured in vain because Israel is not gathered this seems an uncomfortable Service but he replys no there is sweetness and contentment sufficient even in labouring though in vain among the Jews surely my Judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God my Judgmenâ— c. or as Junius Officium meum penes est Jehovam My Office is with God that is he gave me an Office and I have performed and returned it to him in fulfilling of it that is satisfaction and recompence enough God witnesseth with my Conâ—cience that my Duty is discharged my work is with my God In the Margin my reward His work was a sufficient Reward O what an excellent Pattern is this for Christ's Ministers to account Work for Christ a reward given from Christ Gospel work your great Glory Likewise whatever Service Christ calls you to who are no Ministers know that there is sweetness enough even in the Service that 't is your greatest Honour to lay out your Selves for the Honour of Christ know you your duty to Christ to be your Dignity your work of Faith and labour of Love to be a reward Paul calls it a Grace to suffer for Christ Phil. 1.29 much more to do for Christ be so of Ingeâ—uous Spirits in the Service of Christ Profess the Gospel and live according to the Gospel live according to the Law of Faith to the Law of Love the perfect Law of Liberty Account Obedience to this Law to be most Honorable The Law of thy Mouth says David is dearer to me than Thousands of Gold and Silver not only the precious Promises of thy Mouth not only sweet Expressions of thy Love and Goodness but the Law which requires Obedience Self-denial c. this is more precious than Gold Labour you for such holy tempers of Spirit such Son-lke Dispositions to be in love with Duty to account the practicing of Holiness most precious the hearing of the Gospel Preached a Heaven to enjoy Christ in his Ordinances a high degree of Glory to live a gracious Life to be with Paul caught up into the third Heavens well may it be so accounted 't is so indeed Grace being Glory begun and Glory above is but Grace perfected But Jesus Christ Hence learn Doct. 6. Of all Divine Truths none are of so great necessity to be made known as Jesus Christ giving himself to be Crucified for the Salvation of Sinners This is the main thing for Ministers to apply themselves to make known and for People to know The Law was given on Sinai to drive Men to Christ to search more earnestly after him to be delivered from the Curse of it To him give all the Prophets witness Act. 10.43 he is the Principal Subject of the Gospel he is the Kernel of Scripture the Diamond in that Gold Ring the Sun in that Heaven the Ark in that Holy of Holys Hereto then all Studies and Endeavours must be applied to know Christ c. Thus briefly for these Observations The Main Points to be insisted on are these two Doct. 1. The Knowledge of Jesus Christ is the most Excellent and Precious Knowledge grounded on that Non Eximium duxi I counted nothing so excellent or worthy to be known Doct. 2. The labour of Ministers and the main Care and Endeavour of the People must be this the one to make known and the other to know as the History of Christ Crucified so especially the Mystery of the Cross of Christ 1. The Knowledge of Jesus Christ is the most excellent and precious Knowledge This is the ground-work and foundation in matter of Life and Salvation the Pillar and Grâ—und of Truth Christ is called the Foundation 1 Cor. 3 11. because all a Man's Peace Happiness and Joy lies on Christ as a Structure
the excellency of Knowledge For the more effectual pressing of this Use I shall shew 1. What kind of Excellency Christ's is 2. What Knowledge of Christ it is you must have that you may have the Excellency of it 3. What means to use to get it For the first you must know that the Excellency of Christ is not an outward earthly or sensual Excellency we may say of Christ as he doth of his Kingdom my Kingdom is not of this World the Glory of my Kingdom is not such as the Glory of earthly Kingdoms the great Priviledges of my Kingdom are of another nature as Freedom from spiritual Slavery from Tyranny of Lusts Remission of Sins Right to heavenly Inheritance Members of the Body of Christ so we say of the Excellency of Christ 't is not worldly sensual 't is not that which can be beheld by the Eye of the Body nor by the Eye of natural Reason 't is a Divine and Spiritual Excellency The Glory of Christ is that which he had from all Eternity with the Father his Excellency that in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead that by assuming Flesh he comes to be a meet Mediater that in him is Power to save from sin Righteousness to Justify Grace to Sanctify and Merit to Glorify In a word that by his blood there is a way into the Holy of the Holies an entrance administred into the Everlasting Kingdom that we are begotten again to a lively hope of an Immortal Inheritance The chiefest Excellency of Christ is not that he restores Temporal Peace All things are by Christ there is the Promise of that for these outward things shall be added to those that seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Those that by Christ are made Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven shall Inherit the Earth too but that is not Christ's chiefest Excellency 2. What Knowledge of Christ must we have that we may be said to have that Excellency of Knowledge 1. We must know Christ in both his Natures in all his Offices In both his Natures that is the Excellency of Knowledge to know him to be Immanuel God with us If we look on him only as God we shall but know him to be God against us God whose Justice is offended and wrath provoked But look on him as God and Man then it is God with us so 't is life to know him you see him then as Mediator as making Peace as reconciling God and Man there is sweetness there is preciousness in that Knowledge You must know him in all his Offices as Priest to Redeem as King to Reign as Prophet to Instruct You must thus know Christ that you may see him in the latitude and fulness of his Excellency so we see him described Rev. 5.6 A Lamb slain there a Priest having seven Hornes that is perfection of strength and seven Eyes thar is perfection of Wisdom In consideration whereof the Saints admire him and Sing a new Song of praise v. 12 13. 2. Know the Terms on which Christ tenders himself to Sinners he is that Pearl of greatest price an you must sell all to purchase it you must part with your Lusts part with Estates with Friends forsake all to follow him you must know the emptiness and vanity of these things and that there is such infinite worth in Christ as that he well deserves that you should part with all for his sake you must know that 't is a blessedness to be called to suffer for Christ's sake that 't is matter of rejoycing to be accounted worthy to suffer shame for his Name then do you see the Excellency of Christ indeed when you can account it matter of Joy to part with all for Christ and an honour to suffer for him 3. Know him in a way of propriety and particular application that you may be able to say as the Spouse My beloved is mine and I am his as Thomas my Lord and as Mary my Saviour All the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ is in this Appropiation If you can say that he was a Lamb slain for you if he be your Wisdom making you wise to Salvation revealing to you the Mysteries c. If your King reigning in your Hearts if his Blood be yours his Merit his Spirit his Fulness of Grace your's that 's Excellent Knowledge 4. Be as diligent to know what Christ's Will is that you should do for him as what his good pleasure is to bestow on you Benefit and Duty Promises and Precepts Labour as well to know the mind of Christ commanding Duties as the will of Christ making Promises Account as the Blessings of his Mouth so the Law of his Mouth dearer then thousands of Gold and Silver As soon as ever Christ revealed himself to Paul and said I am Jesus whom thou Persecutest Act. 9.5 He re-apprehended a great worth and Excellency in Christ being Jesus a Saviour so much as might well deserve that he should offer himself a Sacrifice of Praise to Christ and so he askes what wilt thou have me to do I am bent now to do any thing for thee thou hast made thy self known as Jesus and thou shalt be my Law-giver I desire to know thy will Lord what wilt thou have me to do that I 'll do that alone I will do I will know no Voice no Mind no Will but thine So you must know Christ's Will and only Christ's Will in matters of Religion and Worship My Sheep know my Voice They know nothing in matters of Religion but what is Christ's Voice The Voice of Men requiring obedience to their Commands in matters of Religion and conformity to their Institutions and Ordinances i. e. a worshiping of God in their way that they know not they will not practice any thing in matters of Religion unless they can see the Authority of Christ stampt on it and the mind of Christ in it 5. Content not your selves with Speculative and Historical but labour for Experimental Knowledge this is the Excellency of Knowledge as Christ knew when Vertue went out from him so labour you to know Christ feelingly by receiving Vertue into your Selves from Christ 'T is not the Excellency of Knowledge to be able to talk and discourse of Christ to hear of him by the hearing of the Ear but to feel Christ this is the excellency of Knowledge As Sin is truly known when you feel the burden and groan under the evil of it and are weary and heavy laden with it so Christ is known when you experimentally perceive the power of Christ in you the Grace of Christ Sanctifying you and the Life of Christ quickning you that Christ is in your Understandings as Light and Wisdom informing them in your Wills satisfying them in your Affections ruling in and over them We may observe Paul expressing Conversion by these two Phrases 1. By revealing Christ in a Man Gal. 1.16 that is when Men do not only hear a Voice without this is Christ
us a Child is born to us a Son is given c. or as the Wise Men or as Peter thou art the Son of God the Saviour of the World thou hast the Words of Eternal â—ife What Christ said was wanting in them that followed him because of the Loaves let that be in 〈◊〉 Joh 6.26 Ye follow me because ye eat of the Loaves not because of the Miracle of the Loaves thar is you do not follow me because I am the Son of God sent into the World to save Sinners which you should have been convinced off by the Miracle of the Loaves but you follow me for the advantage of eating the Loaves Thus you must know Christ not after the Flesh only not only as having Flesh and being Man not only as you pereceive something in him to satisfy your Carnal Desires of being filled with temporal good thingâ— or fâ—â—â—d from Temporal and Eternal Evilâ— but know him as the Son of God and Christ anointed of the Father to be the Saviour of the World You will never know Christ aright in his Glory you will never fully resign up your selves to him till you be convinced of this O therefore reâ—ieve this Truth that Christ whom we Preach is the Son of the Living God Then you know that he is able to save and you will believe in him then you know that he must be worshiped and served by you being the Great God so you will obey him then you will apprehend greatest love in Christ that being God he should die for you then you will love him and your love will constrain you to obey him and this is totum hominis the whole of a Man the whole of a Christian Man to believe in him as the Son of God and Saviour of Men and to be constrained by Love to Obey him This is the second means 3. Take heed of any conceits of a sufficiency of Knowledge Many think they know enough of Christ as much as they need and content themselves with what they have they hear not the Word they apply not their Hearts search not for more Knowledge If there be any of such an Opinion I shall leave two places for you to meditate on 1 Cor. 8.2 You that think you know enough know nothing as you ought c. You that dream of a sufficiency of Knowledge that you have are like the hungry Man that dreams he eats but waking he is empty You are most deficient 1 Cor. 3.18 Become a Fool. Though never so wise in regard of Worldly Wisdom yet know your selves to be Fools in respect of the Knowledge of Christ that you do want and this you must know that you may be wise Joh. 14.21 4. If you have attained any measure of knowledge you must follow on to know the Lord Hos 6.3 follow on in Study Prayer Hearing Meditating to get more Knowledge His going forth is prepared as the Morning Christ doth not reveal himself all at once but as at going forth of the morning-light 't is by degrees there is a dawning and twilight and then perfect light when the Sun goeth forth in its might so is the going forth of Christ and so you must follow on to know more still of Christ You are not capable of receiving perfect knowledge at once John 16.12 I have many things to say but you cannot bear them now Men are at first but Babes in Christ they we know encrease in understanding strength and stature by degrees what you cannot bear now you must learn another time you must go from strength to strength from one degree of knowledge to another you must follow on to know you must grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of Christ Use 3 Comfort to those that have gained the knowledge of Christ I shall shew 1. Some Signs whereby to know this 2. The grounds of comfort arising from thence 1. The Signs as 1. If you know Christ in such a manner as that your Souls are raised up to an esteem of him above any thing in the World thus it must be and this is the least of Christ that a true Christian can have he must love Christ more then these Esteem Christ more then Honours Riches c. in some degree otherwise he hath not the true Knowledge of Christ He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me The Young man being brought to the Trial which he loved most Christ or Riches left Christ hence it appears that he knew not Christ aright for there is no comparison betwixt Christ and Riches He that will nor forsake the World for Christ is ignorant of Christ he knows not the worth of Christ John 11.48 49. 2. If the word that hath been spoken unto you have been Spirit and Life if the Gospel hath been the Power of God to beget Faith in you to embrace it and lay hold on Christ revealed in it John 6.63 As when Christ said to Lazarus Come forth his words were Spirit and Life to Lazarus he cometh forth so if the words of Christ in the Gospel calling you to repent and to believe the Gospel have been life in this regard if that word Come forth from amongst them that are Sons of Belial have been life to you then have you gain'd this Knowledge When Christ said to his Disciples follow me they followed him O this hath Christ said to you often you have been called on many times have you left your Lusts to follow Christ left the practice of Sin to practice Holiness have Christ's words been Spirit and Life have they been as the Seed that is cast into good ground that lives and grows and brings forth Fruit Then may you comfortably assure your selves that you have gained the Knowledge of Christ 3. If you can rejoyce in the knowledge of perfect Holiness Righteousness and Justice of Christ as well as the Merit Grace and Loving kindness of Christ as well in this that he hath no sin and that he will not have sin to reign in his Members as in this that sin was imputed to him and that he imputes it not to his Members Many love the Knowledge of Grace to hear of satisfaction made c. but yet would continue in Sin They love to hear of a Pardon that might Priviledge them to commit Sin they would be freed from the malediction but not tyed to direction of the Law But if you know Christ aright you will rejoyce in him as pardoning Sin and purging Sin as in his freeing from the condemnation of Sin so in his condemning Sin in the Flesh as in pardoning and exercising Loving kindness towards humbled Sinners so in executing Judgment on impenitent and hardened Sinners Jer. 9.23 24. 4. If the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence Math. 11.12 that is since Christ Preached and men knew him there is a great slocking and concâ—â—â—se of People as if men would take Heaven by force the meaning is Men will strive to enter in at the
by the blood of Christ and by the word that is of promise of free Justification by Christ and Sanctification to be received by Faith This is more plainly exprest Heb. 13.12 Jesus also that he might sanctify the People with his own Blood suffered without the Gate Here is Love indeed Christ passing by and seeing us weltring in Blood cast out to the loathing our Persons having no loveliness nothing but Spots from the Crown of the Head c. and our defeâ—t being to be cast into Hell then Christ gave himself to redeem us by his own Blood to sanctify us by his Blood Thus you see here is a Mystery of Infinite Love of Divine Grace God herein appears to be rich in Mercy and that great Love wherewith he loved us Eph. 2.4 is made manifest 3. Herein is a Mystery of Vertue There is an Infinite Vertue in the Blood of Christ which in general is set forth by the Apostle 1 John 1.7 The Blood of Christ cleanseth from all Sin particularly there is a Vertue going upward expiating guilt and a Vertue going downwards taking away the guilt with the Power and Pollution of Sin out of our Nature 1. There is a Vertue going upward to the Father taking away the Guilt of Sin Quest. How could there be such an Infinite Power in the Blood of Christ Answ Because it was the Blood of him that was God the infiniteness and worth of the Person did derive an infinite worth and value to the Blood of Christ thereby his Blood became an infinite price proportionable to the guilt of Sin which was Infinite As Sin becomes of Infinite guilt from the infiniteness of the Object against whom it is committed so Sin is an Infinite Evil because committed against God an Infinite Good on the otherside satisfaction for an Offence hath its efficacy and worth from the dignity of the Person satisfying so satisfaction made by Christ the price of his Blood becomes of infinite value adequate to the guilt of Sin because the Person whose Blood was shed was Infinite You see how the Blood of Christ hath such an Infinite Vertue For the proof of it that there is such a Vertue see it Zach. 9.11 By the Blood of the Covenant I have sent forth thy Prisoners that is by the Blood of Christ who is called the Covenant Isa 42.6 that is as the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 as the following words a Light to the People seems to confirm from the Pit wherein is no water that is I have redeemed from under the Babylonish Captivity which was a Type of Spiritual Redemption and deliverance from that cursed estate a man is in by Sin Now how is this but by satisfying the Justice of God paying the price of Redemption unto God by whom a Sinner was cast into Prison Luk. 22.20 This Cup that is the Wine in this Cup is the New Testament or New Covenant that is a Seal of the Covenant in my Blood that is which is established in my Blood because thereby is the Remission of Sins and so a Person comes to have part in that Covenant In this see the Vertue of the Blood of Christ. In the Covenant lies all a Christians Happiness therein God is engaged to be his God not to remember Sin any more but to be his God All sufficient Now this is a Covenant in Blood that is that is established and confirmed in the Blood of Christ the Blood of Christ that satisfied Justice therein was a repairing of all that Injury which was done to God by the Sins of the Faithful so Justice hath nothing to plead against them and the Riches of Grace which are contained in the New Covenant are revealed to them and of right do belong to them So they come to lay claim to the Love of God and to that Eternal Inheritance prepared by Christ The Vertue of Christ's Blood as looking upwards is double 1. Satisfying Justice 2. Purchasing and Meriting Everlasting Life There is Redemption from Misery and the Purchasing an Inheritance both these are called Redemption Eph. 1.1 In whom we have Redemption that is the forgiveness of Sins ver 14. until the Redemption that is buying again and putting into actual Possession of that Inheritance The Blood of Christ redeems out of Misery inflicted by reason of Sin and redeems the Inheritance of Eternal Life which was lost by Sin Heb. 10.19 We have boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus that is by the Blood of Jesus the way to Heaven is opened for us 2. There is a Vertue going downwards taking away the Power and Pollution of Sin out of the Nature and the Guilt out of the Conscience 1. The Guilt of Sin out of the Conscience God Condemns a Sinner the Law condemns and so his own Conscience when convinced of Sin condemns also Now by the Blood of Christ God and the Law are satisfied and so a Sinner is acquitted in his own Conscience he is freed from a eondemning Heart 1 Joh. 3.21 If our Heart condemns us not c. 'T is the Application of the Blood of Christ that frees from this condemning Heart Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true Heart c. having our Hearts sprinkled from an Evil Conscience that is with the blood of Christ an Evil Conscience is an Accusing Conscience The sprinkling of the Blood of Christ that is a fiducial Application of it to a Convicted Conscience acquits it from all Accusations Horrors Fears c. 2. The Power and Pollution of Sin Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ purge your Consciences from dead works to serve the living God Which as it notes the purging of the Conscience in regard of the guilt of dead works that is dead Services dead Duties performed by Men dead in Sin so also it implies a purging of the Heart from the power of Sin as appears by that which follows to serve the Living God From the Blood of Christ applied to the Conscience a Vertue goes forth to the abating of the strength of Corruption and enabling it to serve the living God This see farther Rom. 6.2 How shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein That is by Vertue of Christ's Death having therein a Fellowship with him the strength of Corruption comes to be abated ver 6. Our old Man is crucified with Christ c. Quest How is it that there is such a Vertue in Christ's Death and comes to be conveyed to us Answ 1. The proper and principal cause to which this work of mortification of Sin is attributed is the Spirit Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit c. and ver 2. The Law of the Spirit of Life hath made me free c. That is the power and efficatious operation of the Spirit in me c. 2. The formal cause is our union with Christ and planting into him For hereby the Spirit of Christ the Righteousness Grace Merit Life of Christ
which himself prescribes 1. According to his own Laws c. acknowledge no other Lord or Law-giver in matters of Religion Lord of Faith things to be believed Lord of Worship things to be done know that whatever is more than Christ commands is Sin whatever Ceremony to be used in a Religious way as representing and signifying some spiritual thing enjoyned by Men is Sin that is forbid in the Second Commandment thou shalt not make c. i. e. institute and appoint or invent to thy self any way of Worship anything to be used Religiously to set forth any spiritual thing but what God requires that only thou shalt observe herein is the great Apostacy of the Papists and herein consisted that great Sin of our Land which above others hath provoked God to bring this Judgment of War that Men's Laws have been Rules to us in matters of Religion because Men did make Ordinances and enjoyn Ceremonies to be used in a Religious way here was an Intrenching on Christ's Kingly Office herein was Superstition Will-worship and because the abomination of desolation was set up therefore we like Ephraim are smitten in Judgment because we willingly followed after their Commands so are delivered into the hands of the Cruel they that caused us to err are causes of wo Now that we may be healed again let 's remember whence we are fallen and how fallen from the purity of Christ's worship cast off all mixtures in Religion let not our Heart hang after the Onions and Garlick of Egypt after old Ceremonies be longer the Servants of Men. when the Corinthians some of them ascribed too much to Paul too much to Apollo Paul reproves this 1 Cor. 1.13 was Paul Crucified for you intimating he must be honoured above all his Doctrine his Laws we must imbrace and be led by in matters of Religion who was Crucified for us that was Christ 2. Do what Christ enjoyns in Spirit and Truth not feignedly but in truth not outwardly and bodily only but spiritually let the Service we perform be a work of our Spirits pray with the Spirit hear with the Spirit and when you receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper It must be done with the Spirit and the work of the Spirit amidst all these Services is especial in a work of Faith laying hold on what Christ promises and conveys in and by his Ordinances that Grace Life and Strength c. 3. That which Christ's Crucifying especially calls for and most nearly answers it is the Crucifying of our Flesh with the Affections and Lusts that our old Man be Crucified with Christ Gal. 3.23 where you see 't is not enough to have some Members cut off to forsake some particular Sins that may be and the body of Sin live still but crucify the Flesh crucify Original Corruption that is that strength and power of Sin which is in the Heart Quest Now wherein lies the strength of Sin Answ In the Will when Sin hath the Will so that what Sin a Man commits the bent of his will the disposition of his Soul is to commit them if a Man sins and wills to sin then Sin reigns Eph. 2.3 fulfilling the desires of the Flesh c. Sin is a King when the love of Sin constrains a Man to do Iniquity as on the other side Grace reigns when the love of Christ constrains c. then crucify the Flesh so as that Sin may cease to reign if Sin have your Members sometimes yet let it not have your Wills let the strength of all your Faculties be turned against Sin of your Understandings to search into the Evils of it and to study out ways to overcome it let your wills be to be freed from it your Affections turned all against it to hate loath c. Sin cannot be wholy purged out in this life the mortifying of Sin is a work done by degrees as those that are hanged on the Cross dye by degrees 't is a lingring Death such is the death of Sin that railing Thief on the Cross you may take as an Emblem to set forth Sin in the Saints where 't is Crucified his Body hanged on the Cross his Hands nailed he could not rob or spoil any more he ceased now to be a reigning Thief but then his Tongue he used in railing against Christ so for those that are Members of Christ their old Man is fastned to the Cross it cannot reign any longer some life remains it may strugle with the renewed part the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit it would fain overcome but the Spirit of God in the Soul keeps it under and by all the striving of Corruption again Grace Corruption waxes weaker till at last it be wholy vanquished Now this Effect you must labour to shew forth of the Death of Christ and herein be conformed to him Be planted together in the likeness of his Death now be freed from Sin and be no longer Servants to it let it not reign and as Christ being raised dieth no more Death hath no more Dominion over him Rom. 6.9 so labour that Sin may in such manner be Crucified as that it never have dominion in you again 4. Learn hence to make use of the Blood of Christ for obtaining your Justification and Peace with God By the shedding of the Blood of Christ is Remission of Sins this is the Sacrifice that makes Attonement Christ made Peace by the Blood of this Cross Labour for Faith to draw forth this Benefit out of the Blood of Christ to apply it to your selves that it may be yours in the Justifying Effect that peaceable Fruit of it Now what is required of us 1. To believe the Vertue and Value of it that 't is sufficient to redeem a Soul and your Soul 2. To believe God's offer and tender of it to you and Christ's willingness to give it to you if you will but imbrace it 3. That you cast your Souls into that Sea of Blood and rest only on the Vertue of it for Life and Justification Do thus then rest confidently assured of acceptance with God you may go with boldness into the Holiest c Vse 3. Trial. By this you may know what Knowledge you have in the Mystery of the Cross of Christ c. viz. if you so know him as to believe in him to count his Blood most precious to be resolved to obey and suffer for Christ in a due manner and draw Vertue from his Cross for Crucifying Sin and conquering all the World and comforting your Hearts in all Tribulations and Deaths this is to know the Mystery of Christ Crucified Gal. 6.14 The End of the Second Discourse THE THIRD DISCORUSE A Sermon concerning the Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures 1 THESSALONIANS ij xiij For this cause also thank we GOD without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which you heard of us ye received it not as the word of Men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh
also in you that believe IN this Chapter you may observe two things 1. Paul's Relation of the Story of his Preaching the Gospel to the Thessalonians which for the manner was done with boldness v. 2. and in sincerity not in guile v. 3. not out of covetousness v. 5. but his sincerity appeared in two things 1. Because his aim was to please God v. 4. as pleasing God A service is never pleasing to God unless it be our aim and desire above all to please him 2. In his most affectionate desire of the Thessalonians 7.8 that is that they might be won to Christ and be saved Aiming at pleasing God and a desire to win Souls to God are always joyned together Remember these two marks of sincerity 2. The success of his Preaching the Gospel the good it wrought for which he blesses God In the Text observe 1. The Apostles Thankfulness and Praise offered up unto God He doth not Sacrifice to his own Net but casts in his Net to catch Souls for Christ and blesses God for what is done by him The work is only God's to make his word effectual and all the Glory must be his For this cause thank we God 2. The matter of his Thanksgiving and the ground of his praise Because when ye received the word of God ye received as 't was in Truth i. e. as it ought to be received And therein observe further 1 The Divine Authority of the word asserted As it is in Truth the word of God 2. The manner how it must be received by men As the word of God himself 3. The way in which it comes to work effectually that is by believing it Doct. The word contained in the Books of the Old and New Testament is in Truth the word of God This is the first Stone that must be layed when you begin the work of saving your Souls this is the Foundation of Religion our Faith our Hope our Profession of Religion is all vain unless this Principle be rooted in our Hearts Heb. 5.12 I may say of some of you as the Apostle of some of them Ye have need that one teach you which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God Now this is one of the first of those first Principles which that you may be instructed in Four Truths are to be shewn Truth 1. That word which is held forth as God's is so in Truth It hath God for its Author And if you ask as Christ concerning the Coin whose Image and Superscription hath it the Answer is God's give then to God the things that are God's You must not come with the Devil's Question no not in your hearts yea hath God said it But be like the Thessalonians here c. That there is a God that made the World and and all Creatures I hope is certain to you and that this God is to be worshipped There was a Law written in man's heart which did teach him how God was to be worshipped but Sin hath almost blotted out this Law so that there remains but here and there a Character of it and impossible it is that thereby we should come to a saving knowledge of the mind of God 'T is with us in respect of the things of God as with the Blind Man Mar. 8.24 Christ put his hands upon him and askt if he saw ought I see Men at Trees walking So we in our natural condition we see God as Man and as Trees and so fall to such gross Idolatries to worship stocks we look on evil as good on good as evil Now as Christ did put his hands the second time on the Blind Man and then he saw clearly so God must give his Law the second time and give us Eyes the second time and restore a divine and spiritual Light to us then we shall see the things of God clearly The former of these he hath done he lest his will upon Record in the word which in truth is his The latter we must desire him to do if he hath not done it already and as a means to further this I shall endeavour to prove it to you And here take Notice of three things as necessary to establish you in this Truth 1. There is the Spirit in Scripture giving Testimony to it as Christ says Though I bear witness of my self it is true John 8.14 So the Spirit in Scripture giving witness to it self is true John 3 33 34. Faith receives that Testimony 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scâ—ipture c. 2. Pet. 1.21 Holy Men speak c. Truth 2. There are Arguments to be drawn from the word it self to Evidence the Divine Authority As 1. The Power and Efficacy of the word The word is quick and powerful c. Heb. 4.12 There is a twofold word of God 1. There is the Eternally begotten word of God that is the Second Person John 1.1 this is most Powerful Omnipotent because he is God All the great works of God were done by this word v. 3. All things were made by him He is called the Word because begotten of the Divine understanding beholding the Divine Essence And as a word doth express and is the Image the Conceit of the mind so the Son is the express Image of the Father Now some understand that place of this word 2. There is the written word of God which may be called the word of the word of God Christ is the word of the Father This is the word of Christ Col. 3.16 He is the great Prophet that revealed this word Now as Christ is called the Power of God because by him all things were made so this word is the power of Christ 't is a powerful Instrument in his hand whereby he doth all great works Rom. 1.16 destroying Satan's Kingdom and setting up his own Kingdom converting Souls c and in this respect 't is said to be quick and powerful c. by this power Christ overcame the Devil Math. 4.4 7. ' Its written now the power of the word is seen 1. In conviction of the Conscience a wing and restraining mens Spirits How many proud Hearts have been made to stoop and fall down before the power of the word and to stand trembling before it as Act. 24.25 Felix trembled and said go thy way for this time c. he could not stand before the power of the word and experience tells us what a power the word hath in awakning sleepy Consciences in pricking Men at the Heart that they know not what to do in wounding Mens Spirits in such a manner as that the wise man says of it a wounded Spirit who can bear so as that the most exquisite torments of the body are not to be compared with it the scorching of Fire the dividing betwixt the Joynts and Marrow yea Death it self is nothing to it for would not a wounded Conscience choose Death to be freed from the torment thereof what a power is it that the word hath when Men have gone on in
your Salvation look that when God hath begun God should finish The words are a full answer to the Goaler's question What shall I do to be saved and being thus cleared offer several Propositions Sect. 2. From the first sense of those words work out i. e. make it evident get assurance Doct. 1. The great business that requires greatest diligence is making Salvation sure That which most nearly concerns Men to set about with all diligence is the working out their own Salvation the full assurance thereof in their own hearts your work should be to make Salvation sure Heaven sure God and his All sufficiency Christ and his fulness sure The Apostle says he that provideth not for his own is worse than an Infidel If it be so great a fault to be so negligent of making Provision for your Family Children c. then how great a fault must it be to neglect your own Salvation not to make provision for the Soul especially when great Salvation is offered when the way of Life is discovered when Christ is preached that he is willing and able to save them to the utmost This is a work you should set about with so much zeal as never to rest satisfied till the Spirit of God evidence it to your Spirits that you are the Children of God till you see your selves founded on that sure foundation Jesus Christ and till by Faith you can see Heaven opened and Jesus sitting at the right hand of God making Intercession for you preparing Mansions for you so that you may say where Christ is I shall be what Christ is I shâ—ll see For the clearing of this point weigh seriously these particulars 1. Saâ—vation may be made sure Here consider First That for such as are ordain'd to Life or are Heirs of Salvation and have â—elieved in Christ their Salvation is a thing in it self most suâ—e Salvation is entail'd to them and this entail shall never be cut off they shall never be disinherited no Angel Principality nor Power c. shall be able to seperate from the Love of God in Christ 't is as sure as the whole Trinity can make it 1. On the Father's part sure He hath written their Names in the Book of Life And if God writes them who shall blot them out God the Father doth own them The Lord knows them that are his and this the Apostle calls a Foundation that stands sure God's knowing is chusing in his eternal Decree that is of ordering to Salvation That 's a sure Foundation nothing shall make it void 2 Tim. 2.19 And the Father hath covenanted with Believers to bestow Salvation and Liâ—e upon them and for the making good his Covenant hath given his Word and Oath Heb. 6.18 The Salvation of Believers depends on immutable causes so is most certain If Believers should perish God should break his Word and Oath now 't is impossible for God to lye so that â—â—om this place you may gather that 't is now as impossible that a true Believer should come short of Glory and eternal Life as it is that God should Sin So that we may argue thus God can't sin so a Believer can't dye Were a Man nder a legal condition under a Covenant oâ— woâ—ks he might argue thus concerning himselâ— I have sinned so ought to dye I have broken the â—â—w so the Law curses and condemns me and that justly But a Believer in a Gospel estate under the Covenant of Grace may argue thus God canâ—ot sin so I shall be saved God cannot lye so I shall never dye A Believer slips sometimes and may sin out of infirmity but the comfort iâ— though he may sin yet God cannot sin And 't is not a Believers not-sinning that is the Foundâ—tion on which Salvation is built but on the impossibility of God's sinning this is the sure Foundâ—â—ion 2. O Christ's part most sure He hath undertaken to â—ave that is mighty to save that is able to save to tâ—e utmâ—st 1. He is able to conquer the Enemies of Salvation 1. The Law that 's an Enemy to the Salvation of Sinners Those that are Enemies to it it says Curse And it hath dominion over men that are under it Christ was made under the Law who was above the Law he obeyed the Law being Lord of the Law So hath fulfilled the Righteousness of the Law which it required of men and undergone the Curse due to Sinners as Sinners and conquered the dominion and killing power of the Law so that the Law is not against the Promises against the Salvation of such for whom Christ is made a Curse so that there 's no power in the Law to kill a Believer 2. Sin Christ was made Sin it being imputed to him he dyed under the Sin of the Elect underwent punishment and being an innocent and infinite and most Glorious Person he suffered as much punishment as Sin deserved so Believers Sins shall never be punished on them And Christ dying under Sin he now undertakes to be the destroyer of Sin there may be motions of Sin but motions of Sin in Believers are but Sin 's death-pangs Christ hath given Sin a deadly wound Our Old Man is Crucified with Christ Rom. 6.6 Christ dyed for the Sins of Believers Christ will be the death of Sin in them This is a sure Foundation so they shall not dye 3. Satan Christ ascended and led captivity captive He hath taken the Devil captive that had the Elect in captivity Satan seeks to devour but shall but seek to devour the Elect. Christ is conqueror of Satan the Lord shall tread Satan under your feet Rom. 16.20 and Christ shall make them his foot-stool Thus amidst the many Enemies of Salvation Christ shall keep Believers to Salvation 2. Christ is able to make meet for Salvation Col. 1.12 Know ye not that no unrighteous Person c. shall enter c. 1 Cor. 6.11 into the new Jerusalem c. Now Christ can Wash Sanctify Justify his obedience is more able to make Righteous then Adam's disobedience to make Sinners his Righteousness is infinite perfect immutable Rom. 5.15 17. The Justification of Believers depends on a sure Foundation Adam's Righteousness is a slippery Foundation Christ's a sure Foundation No unclean thing shall enter but Christ of unclean can make clean 3. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday to day and for ever so that still Salvation depends on immutable Causes and an immutable God and an immutable Christ His Righteousness is the same sufficient to cover all Sin His Power is the same his Love is the same ground not so much your hope of Salvation on your selves on your abstinâ—nce from Sin or activity in Duties there is a great deal of change yesterday haply lively and quick in Duties to day dead let an immutable Christ Christ the same yesterday to day c. be in you the hope of Glory so your Peace Joy and assurance shall be the same 3. On the Spirit 's part sure The
The Sorrow of the World worketh Death 2 Cor. 7.10 The sorrow of the World that is grieving more for Suffering than for Sin growing under the want of Temporals more than of Spirituals this is a weight it hinders desire after a Heavenly Life pressing on to Salvation this depresses the Spirit Godly Sorrow what carefulness it wrought what zeal what vehement desires c. Lay aside the weight of worldly sorrow 4. Sin Especially the easily besetting Sin Heb. 12.1 Who shall deliver me from the body of Death This is a weight in Paul's Spirit when I would do good evil is present there 's a Law in my Members c. Desire that Sin may be subdued look to the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ to free you from the Law of Sin and Death especially the Lusts that are most prevalent that do most easily prevail that the Soul is usually overtaken with your Dalilah Herodias your Right Hand your Right Eye The following a Lust takes off the Heart from following after Knowledge c. 3. Run your Race with Patience that is first be not angry if the Blessing longed for be not presently bestowed be not like those that ask where is the promise of his coming Hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of God Lam. 3.26 All my appointed time will I wait till my change come Secondly Be not angry at the Crosses you meet with in the way of Salvation c. This was Israel's prevailing Sin whereby they vext the Spirit c. They could not with patience bear any Cross in the way to the Land flowing with Milk and Honey Satan and the World set themselves against the Heirs of Salvation that labour to work it out and with patience endure their buffetting There 's great reason for it for our light Afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more Exceeding and an Eternal weight of Glory Afflistion is not worthy to be compared with the Glory that is to be revealed Rom. 8.18 and 2 Cor. 4.17 Skin for Skin all that a Man hath will he give for his Life endures any thing parts with any thing rather than part with his Life He that will loose his Life shall find it loose Earth to find Heaven c. Psa 84. Going through the Vally of Baca a dry place make a Well this is a Well they going to God can satisfy themselves with his Law c. Thirdly Look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of Faith and Love c. The Author and Finisher of Grace and Glory Believe that he who is mighty to save will carry on the work to perfection The Jews had the Angel of God's presence with them to keep them and to drive out the Canaanites c. In a Wilderness he fed them with Bread from Heaven when they were ready to perish with tâ—irst he brought Honey out of the Rock c. When Sihon King of the Amorites and Og opposed them he slew those mighty Kings and he made a way through the Sea and Jordan Isa 63.9 The Angel of his presence saved them and in his Love and Pity redeemed them and bare them c. even thus Believers have the Angel of God's presence Christ Jesus c. He will bear in his Love and Pity as by his power as the tender hearted Mother bears her Child in her Arms Believers they have Christ to overcome their Spiritual Enemies Christ to feed them and supply them with Spiritual Nourishment Bread from Heaven and with water of Life giving by his Spirit so look to Christ as the Author and Finisher of Salvation As the Cloud and Smoak by day and the flaming fire by night c. was a sign of God's presence so God promises Isa 4.5 I will create on Mount Sion and her Assemblies a Cloud c. the shining of a flaming Fire Shining for Light to the Saints Flaming for Terror to the Enemies Christ will be as careful of Believers now as of the Jews of old believe that you have the Angel of his presence to conduct you to his presence and so hold fast your Confidence firm unto the end and you shall receive the end of your Faith the Salvation of your Souls Heb. 11.14 Christ is passed into Heaven as Priest he bare Sin on Earth but now he is entred without Sin Jesus the Son of God So hold fast your Profession Here 's an encouragement there 's no infirmities but Christ hath felt the like So then come boldly to the Throne of Grace by Faith go to the Throne of Grace in Heaven for Grace to help you to Heaven have Hope as an Anchor fixed in Heaven on a Throne of Grace fixed in Christ so shall you be drawn nearer and nearer to Heaven Section 10. With fear and trembling As the Gospel requires Men to set about a work of following Christ and of saving their Souls so it gives directions for the way and shews where strength is to be had c. Here you have a manifestation of the way and manner in which Salvation is to be wrought out Whence the Doctrine is Doct. 3. Salvation is to be wrought out with fear and trembling Whereas in the former Exhortation somewhat seemed to be ascribed to the Will and Power of Man as if he could do somewhat towards the perfecting of his Salvation This that the Apostle adds in these and the following words takes away all colour and ground of attributing any thing to Nature in this great work But shews it to be the sole work of God's Grace and Power in Christ And there being a glorious manifestation of God in this work revealed in the Hearts of Believers that 's a ground of fear and trembling Now for the opening of this point I shall shew what is not meant by Fear and Trembling 1. Not a slavish fear of Judgment The fear of Christians should be filial i. e. fear of dishonouring God should restrain from Sin not fear of being destroyed but an earnest desire of being accepted Not a dread of Vengeance should move you to walk in Holy and Gospel ways Christians should not be driven to seek Heaven meerly out of fear of Hell but drawn by the Glory of Heaven and Pleasures for evermore in the presence of God Not driven by fear of the wrath of the Lamb but drawn by the Cords of the Love of the Lamb. The fear of Christians should not be the fear of Slaves but the fear of Sons Not the fear of Cain Every one that findeth me shall slay me but the fear of Joseph Gen. 42.18 I fear God Exod. 20.20 When Israel feared because of the thunderings c. Moses said Fear not for God is come to prove you that his fear may be before your faces that you sin not Fear of Evils God doth not account his Fear his fear is not Sin Believers are set beyond the fears of Evil they have no ground to fear wrath and vengeance 'T is an Infirmity to do it
and am abundantly satisfied with him I am Empty Poor Blind and Naked I will buy of him Gold White Rayment Eye-Salve c. And he hath bought my Life bought my Service and he is worthy of it And I am not my own I will glorify him This is the will of a sound Christian that is in the way of Life 2. They are doing Christians Math. 7.21 Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven He that is travelling in the way towards Heaven is careful to do the will of the Father in Heaven Doing his will is not the way so as Christ is the way but such as are in the way are doing Christians He that looks on God as the Supreme Good can't but look on the will of God as the Supreme Rule and the Glory of God as the Supreme End and if God be in the heart he will be in the Life God is seen in his doings he that dwells in God will work in God and will bring forth Fruit unto God will abound in the work of the Lord and their labour will not be in vain in the Lord. Abound in Zeal for God's honour fruitfulness in the work of Righteousness Labour in the Lord in the will of God live Godly Righteously and Soberly and youâ— labour shall not be in vain Altho' your work deserve not a Reward yet God will not forget your work of Faith and labour of Love So Christians that are in the way of Life must be doing in the Lord such as are travelling towards Heaven must have their conversation in Heaven they that walk towards God must walk with God Sect. 17. Use By this it appears that few there be that walk in the way of Life Few there be that WILL like Christians and that DO like Christians that act like such that are in the way of Life How few that set their Souls to the Gospel that is full of precious Promises of tenders of Mercy it holds forth the glorious things of Christ his infinite fulness to Sinners and their freedom of access to it But are not these by most counted a strange thing Are they not made light of How rare is it to find a plenary and full consent of heart to the proffers of the Gospel A full will to take Christ and to enjoy God as the Supreme Good Hos 5.4 They will not frame their doings to turn to God So you that follow the course of the World that wallow in the pollutions of the World as Drunkeness c. Your doings are not framed like the doings of those that are turned towards God that go towards Heaven with your Faces thitherwards your Faces your outward aspects and appearances are not thitherwards if the hearts be thitherwards then the Face and outward appearance are so also The will is not right in many as Particularly 1 You that allow your selves in Sin and consent to Lust What I do said Paul I allow not That is in doing any thing that 's contrary to the will of God he did not allow himself Now if you allow your selves in Sin if you Sin with a secret allowance of Heart that is contrary to the will of a true Christian The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit if you consent to the Flesh and have no lusting against it then your will and consent is not the will of those that are in the way of Life 2. You that delight not in the Law of God after the Inner Man your Wills are not upright That Will that 's spoken of in the Text is not wrought in you Rom. 7 2â— I delight in the Law of God after the Inner Man There 's a suitableness in my will to the will of God the will of God's working is that the will of God should be the Rule or that it should stand The Will of God's working delights in the will of God and rejoices in acknowledgement of his Highness Isa 13.3 Let God be acknowledged as God and be feared and loved c. his will is against Sin and 't is for Holiness Rom. 7.16 If I do that which I allow not I consent to the Law that it is good There is consent to the Law and dissent from sin for where there 's no consent betwixt your Wills and the Law your wills are not those in the Text. The Will that 's mentioned in the Text is 1. A Will altogether perswaded to embrace Christ Not like Agrippa's Will almost perswaded not an imperfect Will but a thorow Will a Will that consents to God as the supreme good consents to come to Christ as the way of Life to take hold of Christ as the one thing necessary and as most lovely and to walk in the way of the Gospel as the best way Not like ths young Man's Will he was willing to follow Christ but not to depart from his Riches to follow Christ He did love Christ but his Riches more than Christ this is but an imperfect an almost perswaded Will. Here was not a full consent I will take Christ whatever it costs me though it cost me Lands and Life c. This thorow Will this willing altogether to take Christ and to obey the Gospel is the Will of such a one as is in the way of Life Whoever go thorow to Heaven have this thorow Will The young man that was but almost perswaded and had but a half Will and Consent to take Christ was but almost come to the Kingdom of Heaven not far but almost willing c. and so but almost a Christian Math. 12.34 2. A Will altogether perswaded to take a whole Christ a whole Will to have a whole Christ Christ as Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Christ to Redeem and Christ to Reign over I count all things but Dung to win Christ c. Every thing in Christ is precious to a perfect Will As his Humiliation so his Exaltation over them as his Obedience imputed 〈…〉 his Dominion exercised over them His Mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely in every part in every Office As the Will in the Text is not divided so not a dividing Will as a Will not divided halting between Christ and the World so not a Will dividing Christ parting his Offices which is a greaâ—er evil than parting his Garments As not half perswasion to have Christ so not a perswasion to have but half Christ but a whole Will to have a whole Christ 3. A Will that 's altogether towards Heaven that is that consents to this that Heavenly things are better than Earthly Eternal better than Temporal and to be with Christ is better than to be in the World 'T is better to be in Heaven than in the midst of Earthly Pleasures and Delights 2. For Doing consider that their doing who are in the way of Life is 1. A doing the will of God When the Will is that God's
grace offered unto them they out of hardnesâ— and unbelief in refusing are made the more inexcusable their Mouths are stopped not only by the Law but the Gospel and the Justice of God is more glorified in their Condemnation This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World c. Objeâ—tion Why is unbelief and not laying hold on Grace charged on Men as their Sin if they have not free will and power of themselves to consent to the taking of Christ Answer Unbelief is never the less sin for that a Man hath not power to believe As transgressing the Law is never less sin because a Man hath not power to keep the Law because Man had once power given him 't was given him in Adam and lost in Adam who was the Head of all Men and representatively every Man There is the more of Divine Grace seen in giving Faith to any and nevertheless of sin in any to refuse it As 't is Man's sin that he doth not believe so 't is Man's sin that he cannot believe Sin caused the Impotency and Impossibility of believing so Impotency and Impossibility doth not make unbelief no sin Sect. 20. Use 1. Of Instruction God works to will and to do the will of the Creature is determined by God to this or that to will good to consent to embrace Christ and things that please him Now if the will of the Creature be determined by God Then 1. The will of God is not determined by the Creatures God works in a Creature a will and consent to be saved by Christ so the Creatures willing and embracing Salvation doth not work a will in God to save him as the Apostle says We love God because he first loved us 1. Joh. 4.10 The love of the Creature is not the cause of the love in God but the love of God is the cause of love in the Creature so Man wills because God wills and works to will God doth not so will the Salvation of Man because Man wills it There 's an Opinion abroad that advances the Creature and the power of Nature to embrace good offer'd and that makes the will of God in relation to Salvation wholy dependent on the will of Man and determin'd by it They say God wills Salvation to all alike and is not determined to this or that Man but by the right use of free will This day if Man's will consents to take Christ c. then God wills his Salvation To morrow if he be off from willing what he did before then God is off from willing his Salvation And thus God's will is not the first mover and cause of things but Man's will This is overthrown by this Text God determines the will of Man Iâ— it be determined by God to will the embracing of Christ this is of God God works Man to will so Man doth not work God to will because God wills it he makes the Creature to will it For further clearing it Consider Consid 1. God wills the Salvation of some but not of all the Gospel says 1 Tim. 2.4 God will have all to be saved But this is meant of some of all sorts not of all of all sorts and God wills it that is calls on all Men to receive the knowledge of the Truth invites all to come to Christ so he wills it with his offering will but not with his ordaining will That thus appears Esau was a Person God never did will to save For before they had done either good or evil that the purpose of God might stand God said the Elder shall serve the Younger Jacob have I chosen Esau have I hated Rom. 9.11 There is Election of God What is that A chusing of one that implies a passing by of another If there be any such thing as Election from Eternity which the Scripture so often speaks off then God doth not will the Salvation of all Consideration 2. The will and decree of God in relation to Man's Salvation is absolute and peremptory 1. In respect of any cause without God no foresight of Faith or of what the Creature will do if it be placed in such a condition and Grace be offered to it Rom. 9.5 He saith to Moses I will shew Mercy to whom I will shew Mercy 'T is not of him that willeth but of God that sheweth Mercy Man's will is not the cause of God's will to shew Mercy 2. Absolute without alteration the foundation of the Lord standeth sure c. 2 Tim. 2.19 Rom. 8.30 Whom he predâ—stinated them he called and whom he â—alled them he justified c. The immutability of his Councel c. Heb. 6 18. Consid 3. Christ was given to dye for such as are ordain'd to life It 's true as in Adam all dye so in Christ all are made alive Rom. 5. It doth not follow that Christ died for every Man Hence if any will conclude that Christ died for every Man it may be as well concluded that every Man shall be actually saved but that 's clear against Scripture For 1. Christ shall save all that he died for For this is the will of him that sent me of all that he hath given me I should not loose nothing but raise it up at the last day Joh. 6.39 But all are not saved so Christ died not for all 2 Christ did not pray for all so did not die for all Joh. 17.9 19. For their sake I sanctify my self that is sacrifice my self For whose sake For the Men thou hast given me out of the World verse 6. Consid 4. God in due time works in their Hearts a consent and will to take Christ for a Saviour whom he did will to save by Christ As many as were ordain'd to Eternal Life believed Act. 13.48 God was willing to shew to the Heirs of Salvation c. Heb. 6.18 God makes Heirs of Salvation his will to save them makes them Heirs And God shews to them his will and counsel and the immutability of it and then God makes willing None can come except the Father draws and it follows they shall be all taught of God Joh. 6.45 All are drawn and made willing that are ordained to Eternal Life So that God's will is the cause of the Creatures will and not the Creatures the cause of God's God's free will is the cause of Salvation and not Man's free will Use 2. Of Consolation To such as do will to be saved by Christ and to take him as he is offered in the Gospel herein you may see a saving work of God on their Souls or God in their Hearts working them to will 1. If your will he to embrace Christ and close in fully with the Gospel Promises then you may reâ—d the will of God to save you the will of God in giving Christ for you this is an evidence of God's will for good God by this writes a Book of Life in your Hearts in which you may read your Names read the Eteâ—nal
the Just by themselves Unjust by themselves Sheep by themselves and the Goates by themselves in this life the Wicked and Godly are mingled together Chaff with Wheat therefore 't is that in this life all things happen alike to all Eccles 9.2 There are calamities that are common to the Godly and Wicked The evil despise and persecute the good and Godly as well as the Wicked dye and rise again but great difference appears when brought to the Judgment-seat of Christ then the precious are perfectly seperated from the vile Then the Righteous shall have the upper hand Ps 49.14 The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning 5. Christ shall publâ—ckly and solemnely pronounce Sentence to the Godly and wicked according to the word and their own Consciences which shall set a Seal of approbation to the justness of Christ's Sentence Math. 25.34 The King shall say to them on his Right hand Come ye blessed c. to them on his Left-hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels For the time when Christ shall come to Judgment nothing can be said but that 't is most certain yet most uncertain Most certain that he shall come but most uncertain when he shall come to Judgment The Lord shall come but he so cometh as a Thief in the night And the time is of purpose on weighty reasons concealed that one day is concealed that it might be looked for every day As the Lightening cometh out of the East and shineth unto the West so shall the coming of the Son of Man be Math. 24.27 that is sudden and at an instant appear to all the World that all shall at once know that he he is coming as the Lightening in a moment shineth from the East to the West For the time how long 't is called a Day but longer space than artificial or natural day contains as the great and manifold work of that universal Judgment day will require Use 1. For exceeding terrour to the Wicked who now with Dives enjoy their good things who are not in troubles nor plagued as other Men that live in pleasure serving divers lusts going whither they would doing what is right in their own eyes running to excess of Riot know that for all this God will bring thee to Judgment Eccl. 11.9 The wickedness that is now sweet in thy Mouth shall be bitter in thy Belly Sin is now a wicked Man's pleasure than it shall be his pain A Wicked Man would not have his sins remembred and discovered he hates the Light of the word that reproves him when the Book of the Law is now opened to convince him of sin he shuts his Eyes and stops his Ears and hardens his Heart and will not suffer himself to be convinced of sin he fears his Conscience but then the Book wherein all is Recorded that you have done shall be opened and by him that openeth and no Man shutteth Rev. 3.7 and Conscience shall be opened And out of that Book not only Christ shall Judge you worthy of death the second death but your selves shall Judge your selves Christ and Saints shall Judge the Wicked yea their convinced Consciences shall be Judges too all â—â—ose shall bear Record against you Judgment 〈…〉 and tâ—ere is no escaping of it Sudden 〈…〉 shâ—ll come as travel on a Woman with 〈…〉 shall not escape Then shall you 〈…〉 Mountains c. Rev. 6.16 As when 〈…〉 was destroyed by the Flood and the 〈…〉 arising the People did get up to the tops of Mountains hoping that the Waters would not 〈◊〉 â—bâ—ve the Mountains in allusion hereto 't is sâ—d the Wicked shall cry to the Mountains c. Put aâ— Amos 9.1 He that fleeth of them shall not flee away and he that escapeth of them shall not be deliverâ—d though they dig to Hell thence shall my hand tâ—ke thâ—m that is if they hide in Holes and Câ—res of the Earth as the Grave is called Hell Your Judge shall be Omniscient or all seeing all â—hings are naked to him c. the Wicked shall know as well as the Churches Rev. 2.23 That he is the searcher of the Hâ—art and Reins And an Omnipotent Judge His Hand shall execute the Sentence he passes Now let this dreadful day possess your thoughts and be not so overcome with the pleasures of sin ard delights of the World as to banish all serious thoughts of Judgment know that it is appointed to all to dye and after Death the Judgment After Life comes Death and after living and rejoycing in sin comes Judgment for sin Now let this Doctrine be to all Wicked Men as the Hand-writing to Belshazzar Dan. 5. 't was said to him Thou hast brought the Vessels of the Temple of God drunk Wine in them and praised the Gods of Silver and Gold and the God in whose hand thy breath is and whose are all thy ways hast thou not glorified and then this Writing was written Mene Mene c. God hath numbred thy Kingdom and it is finished Tekel thou art weighed in the ballance and found too light Peres thy Kingdom is divided even so for you that drink wine c. and praise the Gods of Gold and Silver Brass Iron Wood and Stone that love these earthly things delight more in them than in God and so praise them and glorify not God in whose hands your breath is that is who is Lord of your Life whose are all your ways that is without whose Providence you cannot move a step yet that God you glorify not know that there is a hand writing against you for all this God will bring you to Judgment To strike greater terror Consider 1. That day shall be the day of Christ 's wrath now is the day of Christ's love now is the accepted time and the day of Salvation a time for Sinners to make their peace to make supplication to your Judge but then if this day of Grace be slighted by you and you make it a day of sinning of security Impenitency then shall that day be to you a day of Christ's wrath wherein he shall in as great degree declare his wrath to the Wicked as ever he did love to his Saints Rev. 6.17 The great day of the Lambs wrath is come Now you hear of wrath in a day of Grace when yet is a time and opportunity left you to make peace and to escape wrath but then you shall hear of wrath in a day of wrath when the day of Grace is ended as for the wrath of the Father that may be escaped by flying to Christ for refuge being in Christ wrath cannot break out against us because in Christ the Father is well pleased and he is a propitiation for sin but if the day of Christ's wrath come on you before you have made your peace there is none to deliver from Christ's wrath for this is dreadful wrath The time of this Life is the day of wicked Men's wrath
himself less than the least of Saints For the clearing this Point take these Considerations First The Judgment Saints should have of themselves should be a Judgment of Humility There should be a Judgment of Charity in relation to others so a Judgment of Humility towards themselves By the Judgment of Charity we think and speak the best of others by the Judgment of Humility the meanest of our selves which there is ground to do from the knowledge we have of our own hearts of our weakness corruptions c. and we may say truly of our selves what Eliab spake to David reproachfully I know the pride and naughtiness of thy Heart And this knowledge and experience should keep all humble 2. The carriage of one Saint toward another should be as of an Inferior towards his Superior so far should we be from slighting the least as we are from slighting Superiors Thus we are to understand these places Phi. 2.3 Let each man esteem others better then himself And Rom. 12.10 In honour preferring one another we should honour others and not our selves let another praise and honour thee and not thine own lips As there are Saints of different Ranks in Respect of their measures of Gifts and Graces received so those that have more should prefer those that have less and carry themselves as Inferiors to Superiors The Men in understanding should become as little Children in Humility And as there are Saints under several Forms and too much at a distance their forms being as a partition-wall between them so it were to be wished that the Saints of each form would esteem those of another better then themselves And as there are Saints of different degrees in their outward and worldly Estate there are high and low rich and poor so the high Saints should account themselves less than the poor Saints The rich Saints that have the Goodly Apparel should account themselves less then the least of the poor Saints which have but the vile Garment and rags Thus all should carry themselves with such respect to others as if they were Superiors and with as much care they do not offend them as men have that they do not offend their Superiors The best should account themselves less than the least Saint in that the best ought to become servants to the least Saints should serve one another in Love Gal. 5.13 and Luke 22.26.27 He that is greatest should be as the younger And he that is chief as he that doth serve Whether is greater he that serveth or he that is served Christ himself gave a glorious pattern of Humility in this I am among you as he that serveth and therefore Saints should not excercise Lordship but be amongst other Saints as those that serve Let all Saints then be convinced that it is their Duty to prefer other Saints they ought to be low and lowly in thought speech and behaviour And consider 1. This is not the least Evidence of true Grace when we can thus account of our selves less than the least of the Saints Paul says if we have not charity so may we also say if we have not Humility what are we more than the sounding Brass or a tinkling Cymbal 2. This is the Ornament of a Saint God's Glory is his highness Humility is the Saints Glory God's Glory is his loftiness Saints Glory is their lowliness Be cloathed with Humility 1 Pet. 5.5 This will be like the High Priest's Garment for Glory and Beauty And the more we receive from God the more humble we should be and when we are brought nigh to God when we come to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant to God the Judge of all when made Sons of God and Kings and Priests â—nto God say as David when he was brought to the Kingdom What am I that I should be brought hitherto CHAP. II. HEre we may consider 1. That the things of Christ are Riches or why so called 2. That there are unsearchable Riches in Christ and why unsearchable 3. What are these unsearchable Riches of Christ 1. Why the things of Christ are called Riches Fâ—â—st because the things of Christ are things of great worth Riches are things of worth which men esteem Now the things of Christ are of greatest worth which gives ground to call him the chiefest and altogether lovely In him are the best Treasures which should draw the hearts of men to them and make him most worthy to be called that which he shall be the desire of all Nations 2. Because he hath things of greatest worth in greatest abundance For as he hath received the Spirit so Riches and not by measure They are counted Rich that have much of this World's goods Christ is most Rich having the fullness of the best things Secondly Why Unsearchable Riches Not because they may not be found for Christ saith I counsel thee to buy of me Gold white Raiment c. There is no Angel with a drawn Sword to keep the way of these Riches but every one that thirsts and covets may come and partake of them But they are unsearchable or untraceable as the word imports in that they are above men's understanding and beyond what men can ask or think they cannot be comprehended prized loved desired delighted in as they deserve but there is cause to say as the Apostle of the love of Christ they have length c. which passeth knowledge and as the same Apostle of the decrees of God Rom. 11.33 How unsearchable are his Judgments and his ways past finding out So how unsearchable are the Treasures of Christ and his Riches past finding out They are not past finding but past finding out They are not past knowledge but past knowing out and as the Psalmist says Those that go down into the deep c. So we may say Those that ascend up to this deep for this is a deep like the Waters above the Firmament There shall they see the Wonders of God CHAP. III. WHat these Unsearchable Riches of Christ are 1. There are the Riches of Love and Grace in Christ which may well be called Riches being of greatest worth of more value then the whole World and also being in greatest abundance The Sun is not so full of Light the Sea not so full of Water as Christ is of Love and Grace to his Spouse to his Redeemed and Sanctified ones over whom he Reigns and by the displaying the Banner of his Love Saints may see what they have in Christ to rejoyce in and live upon and sinners and worldlings and strangers from Christ may see what there is in Christ to allure them to him Consider these particulars 1. The Love of Christ is an abounding Love 1. It abounds beyond Sin where sin abounded Grace did superabound Rom. 5.20 that is the power of Grace to save a sinner is beyond the power of sin to destroy and when Grace undertakes this work sin shall not prevent it Sin hath the Law for its strength and that