work sutable to Gods dealing with us he sends his Sonne we are to receive him whom God hath sent and believing is receiving he tells and testifies this unto the world we are to believe his Word and Testimony there is no other work left Christ hath done and suffered all for us believing is the acceptable work it gives glory to God and destroyes boasting utterly this faith doth all the work by faith Christ is revealed conceived formed born lives and dwells in the heart faith makes the sinner mourn pray wait at wisdomes gates confesse Christ contemn and overcome the world deny himself exalt God lay under the creature resist the Divel live holily and heavenly and dye in hope peace and joy faith purifieth the heart worketh by love circumciseth the heart to love God makes to fear the Lord and his goodnesse frames to the life of a pilgrim and stranger on earth and enables to do and suffer and labour and grow vigorous in the midst and strength of all that opposeth like men heaven-born born from above as men heaven-aspiring as bound for and tending to the Countrey above This is the will of God the Father that sent Jesus Christ his Sonne that every one that seeth Joh. 6. 40. Joh. 17. 3. the Sonne and believeth on him should have everlasting life This is Eternal life 2. Meditate Say with thy self Lord what is sinne what is man who art thou sinne it is the mischief that which destroyes the work of Gods own hand and that which ruines the choicest creature which no holy Law can abolish which no sacrifice but that of Gods own Sonne can expiate that which condemns the Sonne of God and can never be condemned in it self and in the heart of the sinner but by such a way and as for man what is he even dust and clay at his first and best raised out of the dust of the earth a very rebellious lump a masse of rebellion a lump of rebellious clay a leprous heap a putrified sore a hateful and hating enmity proud conceited brutish foolish sinful flesh that is not subject to the Law of God nor can be unlesse mortified crucified and created again but as for Thee O Lord God what is this name of Father what is this thy Sonne what is thy Sonnes name Oh that we could tell dost thou make thine own Sonne to be sin and condemn him as a sinner and condemn sin in his flesh is this the manner and Law of thy love to the sonnes of men to sinful man what manner of love is this Now stay make up what is wanting in thy conceiving of these things in admiration in the administration of faith which makes us draw near to God which transforms us into the image of Gods love 3. Fasten thy thoughts know thy self and God in Christ more behold his glory to make thee like him in this his love Take the Gospel glasse and while in the glasse of the Law thou seest thy self to just detestation and shame of face with open face behold the glory of God in his grace in Christ his Sonne crucified in that mitrour view it freely to transform thee into the image of this his love and grace from one degree of glory to another degree of glory Let Gods love work in thee such love to thy own soul first and then such love to the souls of others their salvation dearer to thee then thy own things temporal than thy temporal life A pure love sinne the enemy and the sinner the object of thy love sinnes against thee not hindering thee seeking of their good Love that is in deed and in truth love to die for the brethren love making willing to part with lay down lay out expose to the utmost of sufferings whatever is dearest willing to be counselled appointed and sent no envy no ambition nothing of self The greatest and lowest service proves the greatest love love bearing one anothers infirmities and temptations Behold this love to the espousing of thy soul to Christ for ever and adjure all not to disquiet him who is the love Cant. 2. 7. 3. To convince 3. Suffering the Word of exhortation Consider also how this doctrine is full of conviction It convinceth of the great sinne and misery of all men yea of all Christians that refuse Jesus Christ their refusal is of the onely remedy of a poor guilty sinner it 's the refusal of the Son manifesting the greatest love 't is the refusal of God the Father coming to undone man in a way of salvation as mysterious as salvifical as full of glory as of grace the more exalted in lofty height the more it is matchlesse in lowest condescensions of free grace their refusal is a Prov. 8. 36 degree of hatred of Christ and this hatred of the Sonne is the hatred of the Father they love death they love to be damned they love to go to hell they love that which will bring them thither they passe not for that which would deliver them thence they have not the Word nor the love of the Father abiding Joh. 5. 38 42. 8. 41 42. in them for then they would receive him whom the Father hath sent and all this hath the greater aggravation in that every one so knows his sicknesse and seels his wound that he will go out for some or other and any one that comes in his own name whom God the Father never sent nor sealed him he will receive every one will have his way of Religion but this way of God he will not own 4. This doctrine also giveth ground of 4. To humble deep humiliation even to the godly who do believe yet are guilty of much neglect of three things 1. Of the riches of assurance both of full assurance of understanding to the acknowledging of this mystery of God even Col. 2. 2. of the Father and of Christ and of the full assurance of faith that they might in God all day long and night glory in the Lord Christ alone and rejoyce in him for evermore 2. Of enjoying God in Christ in all other their enjoyments 3. Of the high valuations of Jesus Christ when you hear these reproofs say Is not this a part of that love in Christ to the Elect Vessels of mercy that God condemns my sinne but yet he condemns not me he condemns my sinne that he might save me 5. Lastly This ministers strong consolation to the humbled every one that 5. To comfort desires to be found in Christ that seeks his righteousnesse that owns his own want of all righteousnesse and takes his own sins as the detestable and deadly thing to thee is this Saviour sent for thee did he come into the world to thee doth God come in every step of this way to thee belongs this grace of God bringing salvation Go over the whole of this truth and put in thy self thy name thou art the man or woman for whom God took all
Law might be fulfilled in us In the Law there is the righteousnesse of the commands and the righteous just damnatory sentence of threatnings against the transgressors of those holy commands Now God sent his Sonne and held the fore-mentioned course in laying our sinnes upon him that the whole righteousnesse which the Law requireth of us might be fulfilled in us who are in Christ by faith whiles by Jesus Christ it is fulfilled for us and for our sakes in our roome and stead and so the Law is while fulfilled for us fulfilled in us who are in Christ by faith And then secondly the holinesse and righteousnesse of the precepts is fulfilled in us whiles by this faith which unites us to Christ receiveth his Spirit draweth from Christ sanctifying grace and purifieth the heart a new obedience in all uprightnesse and integrity respecting the whole Law is begun and more and more encreaseth in us in this life is of that growing nature that it will go forwards hold on fight out its way persevere and overcome and at last be perfected in glory thus the righteousnesse of the Law is in us by faith Christs righteousnesse in obedience and sufferings for us reckoned to us as ours and by the same faith holinesse in truth begunne and growing up to perfection in us See here the Gospel fights not against the Law as the Law is not against the Gospel The Gospel acquits those whom the Law pronounceth guilty but not as considered nakedly in their guilt that were against the Jus the right of the Law but by the intervening of and the guilty considered in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price and satisfaction of the Sonne of God and this is agreeable to the jus the right of the Law The Gospel sets them free from condemnation notwithstanding their sinnes because it brings in God condemning their sinnes in the flesh of his Sonne and the Sonne bearing the condemnation of sinne laid on him of God in his own flesh The Gospel while it acquits from the Law purifieth the sinner and gives him an heart and power to judge himself to love the holinesse and righteousnesse which the Law requireth and in this work upholds him with delight in the inward man till holiness be perfected So the Gospel fulfills the Law every way in Christ and in us fulfills the righteousness of the Law for us and in us and while for us in us 6. The person applying and the manner of application of this salvation even the Spirit the Spirit of Jesus Christ who in all those that are delivered from condemnation by Jesus Christ is uniting them to Christ and regenerating and sanctifying them This Spirit sets himself up in the throne and pulls the flesh out of the throne and he reignes in them and orders their lives This person even the holy Ghost and his work making this salvation to come home with saving efficacy is mentioned implyedly in these words In us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thus the Apostle hath set out lively the second great Doctrine The third is a description of those for The third whom God sent his Sonne to become flesh to condemn their sin in his flesh and to fulfill the righteousness of the Law in them these persons are plainly and lively described thus they are those who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit They are known by their walks that is by the tenour and course of their lives in which they deliberately set themselves with continuance and progress which course of life is framed after the guidance and rule not of the flesh that is of their corrupted nature but of the Spirit that is the Spirit of Christ which by the Word ingraffed in them dwells in them and orders their conversation 4. We have also a fourth point of excellent worth for the comfort of sin-burdened and mortified souls which the word of connexion for leadeth us unto There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ though there be much sin in them for the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and from him coming into them is as a Law that hath delivered them from the Law of sin and so from the Law of death and all this is most evident for in Christ their sins are condemned and they justified and sanctified for see they as men set at liberty do walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh This then is the precious truth which lyeth in the coherence concerning the riches of their assurance and consolation who are in Jesus Christ The sins of those that walk after the Spâ—râ—t shall never be to their condemnation neither shall hinder from them the benefit of all the salvation that cometh by Christ nor â—et ought they in the least kind to hinder their full assurance their comfortable walking in their obedience their constant combating against the flesh nor their full dedition to the Law of the Spirit of life as to that which will give them full deliverance from the Law of sinne and death CHAP. II Containing the first great truth which is this that there is no salvation for any man by the Law or by any other means save onely by Jesus Christ. SECT 1. Having drawn up four choice truths of saving knowledge absolutely necessary to everlasting blessedness and sound comfort compactly delivered by the holy Apostle in this portion of Scripture I 1. Doct. No salvation but by Christ Gal. 3. 21 22. come now to handle those four truths at large the first of them is this There is no salvation for any man by the Law or by any other meanes whatsoever but onely by Jesus Christ. If there had been a Law given which could have given life Verily righteousnesse should have been by the Law but the Scripture hath concluded all under sinne saith this Apostle that the promise of faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that beleeve These are opposite the Law and the Promise the concluding of all under sin and the giving of life and righteousness the faith of Jesus Christ whereby we believe and the works of the Law the giving of the promise which is a reward reckoned of grace to him that believeth Rom. 4. 3 4 5 and the paying of a debt which is a reward to him that worketh If then the Law could save there had been no need of the Promise the Promise were in vain nevertheless the Law is not against the Promise but it shuts all men up to the Promise where life and righteousness is alone to be had by believing in Iesus Christ But may there not be found some other name besides or together with Iesus Christ by which a sinner may be saved for answer hear the Apostle Peter as the mouth all the rest of the Apostles saâ—ing to all men and to all the people oâ— Israel Jesus Christ Acts 4. 10 11 12 of Nazareth whom ye crucified whom God raised from the dead
the saved may have no other grounds in themselves to look for mercy but their doings and ways abominable and loathsome and they might be loathing and abhorring themselves as they look to receive mercy that it might be for ever known and acknowledged by them that God doth all not for their righteousnesse but for his own names sake Mark there also how God layeth down this as the reason and ground of making Covenant with any taking them to be his people and promising to be their God For I will saith God be merciful to their transgressions and I will Heb. 8. 9 12. remember their sinnes no more Likewise this is evident from the manner of disposing the heart of the federate of him whom God receiveth into Covenant he is brought to this frame even to smiting on his breast standing aloof off not lifting up so much as his eyes to heaven in sense of unworthinesse and conscience of guilt and filth and to say God be merciful to me a sinner To be ashamed Luk. 18. 13 14. Ezek. 16. 62 63. Mâ—t. 11. 28 1 Joh. 1. 7 9. and confounded and never open his mouth any more because of his shame when God is pacified towards him for all that he hath done So also the promises made to confession of sinnes the invitations of the Gospel to the sinneburdened and sick with sin The prayers and arguments used in prayer by Gods people such as this for thy names sake O Lord pardon mine iniquity Psa 25. 11. for it is great This were strange Logick a strange art of reasoning but that this is all that in us doth move God to pardon even that which deserveth damnation our sinnes our sinfulnesse and this is that only thing besides his own bowels of tender compassions which causeth him to will our salvation and to will the giving of a Saviour and to will the appointing of all means and effectual workings in and by those means useful to salvation Our lost estate by sin moved Christ to come to seek and save and moved God the Father to send him to seek and save Mark the arguings of the godly the bottome on which they fasten their foot when they sue for justification and cry for mercy Enter not into judgement for no flesh Psa 142. 2 Psa 130. 1 2 3. Jer. 14. 7. living can be justified in thy sight And out of the depths of the guilt and filth of sinne have I cried unto thee c. And Do thou it though our iniquities testifie against us for we have sinned against thee for our back-slidings are many So runs the Gospels summe This is a faithful saying and worthy of all 1 Tim. 1. 15. acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners And the subjects of the grace of the Gospel Publicans Sinners Harlots A Manasseh A Mary Magdalene 6. The pattern of Gospel-mercy Saul 1 Tim. 1. 16. with ver 12. 13. Phil. 3. 4 5 6. made a Paul Saul the pattern in what he was before conversion obtaining mercy a Persecutor a Blasphemer injurious full of Pharisaical confidence of his own righteousnesse which held his eyes blind-fold ignorant of Christ and his heart malignant to all that was of Christ and so the chief of sinners this Saul obtained mercy for a pattern these were his meritorious works his previous dispositions his free-will power to the obtaining of saving mercy the pattern in the grace abounding in his conversion the grace of 1 Tim. 1. 14. faith and love which is in Christ Jesus that is which is truly Christian the pattern in the work upon him remaining after Gal. 2. 19 20 21. Phil. 3. 5. 6 7 8. 1 Tim. 1. 15 Rom. 7. 7. to the end of the ch conversion the pattern of mercy to all sinners that shall afterwards believe in Jesus Christ to eternal life in all these through the conflicts they shall sustain in their spiritual warfare SECT 3. Be informed and directed hence in four Rom. 8. 2. The use 1. To inform us things 1. In the right use of the Law in respect of life and justification which is this first that righteousnesse cannot be had by the Law but the curse and therefore secondly Gal. 3. 10. Rom. 7. 13 look upon it that sinne may be known that sinne may become to thee exceeding sinful when thou findest that it worketh death in thee even that Law kills thee which is good holy just and spiritual thirdly make use of it to conclude Gal. 3. 23. Gal. 3. 24. Phil. 3. 8 7 9. thee under sinne and shut thee unto faith in Christ and fourthly that thou mayest be schooled unto Christ fifthly that thou mayest renounce thine own righteousnesse which is by the Law as losse and dung as offalls and dogs-meat that thou mayest winne Christ and be found in him who is true food riches and the best gain sixthly that by the body of Christ Jesus crucified for sinners thou mayest be delivered from the Law of thy first husband legally inasmuch as he is dead even Rom. 7. 4. the Law as it is a Covenant that so thoâ— mayest be free to be married unto another even to the Lord Jesus Christ risen from the dead that thou mayest bring forth fruit unto God and no more bring forth fruit unto thy self dead fruit that hath self-ability for the principle and spring and self-glorying for the end which must needs make the best of works done after the holy Law to be dead fruit carrion-like stinking and abominable 2. In the right use of the disability thou findest in the Law to help and deliver this is by accident Lay the blame altogether upon thy self for there lyeth the cause thereof let thy corrupt nature thy flesh be charged with it that the Law may be magnified and kept honourable in thy esteem and that God the holy Law-giver may be justified and cleared when he therein judgeth thee Say with blessed Rom. 7. 10 14. Paul the Law is holy and the Commandment holy and just and good the Law is spiritual but I am carnal sold under sin 3. In the right use of the weaknesse and wickednesse of the flesh when thou feelest Phil. 3. 3 4 the same Have no confidence in the flesh in thy natural abilities priviledges performances Place no confidence in them for ever for flesh defiles them and makes to it self-advantage of them Never trust thine own heart any more for Prov. 28. 26. this is the property of the fool that is not wise towards God the more thou feelest the motions of sinne in thy members look out and betake thy self to Christ to free-grace so much the more Is there not a cause hast thou not weakned the holy perfect Law bring out thy sick and weak thy blinde and halt thy deaf and dumb thy leprous and dead bring them out before this Lord Messiah The great miracles he wrought in the perfect powerful present
the chief good The chief good is that which when we have we are blessed but not having it we are miserable The chief good is God alone the enjoying and fruition of God is true blessednesse and true comfort This cannot be to a sinner but in Christ who is the propitiation the reconciliation and the atonement Therefore God in Christ is the sinners chief good Christ cannot be received but by his Spirit given thus then to be the Lord Christs in body and soul whether we live or die redeemed by his Precious blood from all our sinnes and from the power of Satan death and the grave and from the wrath to come and through Christ to be the Fathers own poâ—tion received into his fâ—vour and grace as his adoâ—ted childâ—en in Jesus Christ and to be under his fatheâ—ly care and providence that without his will not an hâ—iâ—e can fall fâ—om our heads and that all things are made to woâ—k together for our good and to have the Holy Ghost given to us to renew us to unite us to Christ to enable us to believe to moâ—tifie the flesh to give up our selves to obedience to make us willing and ready to live to him and walk after him and to assure of eternal life this is the onely true and sound consolation both in life and death And this is the estate of those that walk afteâ— the Sâ—iâ—it This true blessednesse cannot be in this life in perfection but onely in inâ—hoation or a begun enjoyment of the same and by faith and hope in a lively expectation of the full and perfect fruition thereof because there is death mortality sinful remaiâ—ders the wâ—ath to come wâ—ich must be utteâ—ly taken away and the soul and body placed in a state of glorious libeâ—ty befoâ—e there can be full enâ—oyment of perfect blisse because also the glory unto which we are called by the Gospel is farre greater than this world is capable of and soul and body in this earthly frame cannot receive it True blessednesse cannot be at all of this world nor of the things thereof could one man be possessed of them all which yet never was nor will be for they are mutable and passing away and if they were abiding yet they are not satisfactory nor can they fill all the capacities of the reasonable creature much lesse can blessednesse be of the things of this life to a sinner for by sin they are become accursed to the sinner and he accursed in their enjoyment They also cannot take away sinne make the sinner holy bring him into favour with God and so bring him to blessedness mistake not then Our comfort is not in this that we have attained and that we are already perfect but that we are in the begun state and that we shall assuredly attain and shall be perfect Our comfort consists not in this that we have no sinne but in forgivenesse at present and in the full blotting out expected when the Lord shall come again in glory Our holinesse or sanctification consists not in this that no sinne is at all in us but in this that our old man is crucified so that we be not servants to any sinne and that we are become servants of righteousness Our holy walking is in finding out our sinnes that they may not finde us out and in eschewing them that we may tread the wayes of God with a larger streighter firmer step and with an evener quicker pace Our progresse in holinesse is by daily mortifying the members on the earth and by bringing forth continually more fruits unto God as those that are alive from the dead Our perseverance is the maintaining of the combate Our present state is that of David under the anointing conflicting with our spiritual enemies that either are like Saul and his confedeâ—ates or like Absolom and his conspirators so that we are singing a Psalme like the third Psalme and it is not that of David upon the Throne singing the eighteenth Psalme whereof the title is A Psalme sung when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of his enemies yet it is the estate wherein we are assured to be singing it with perfect triumph one day Our comfort is begun and held out of godly sorrow we sow in tears and go carrying precious seed with us our comfort is a seed-season and the joy of a harvest-home Our comfort is in Gospel-promises blessings priviledges graces Our comfort is not in freedome from troubles temptations persecutions but in a heavenly Fathers disposing the troubles delivering from the power and poyson of the temptations and of persecutions as they are persecutions putting us into the upper form of his Saints on earth and placing us in highest honour and giving us the matter of greatest joy that can befall us in this valley of tears God hath registred and left upon file for a perpetual Record the way of the Saints comfort on this wise If when we are enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Ro. 5. 10. If God be for us who can be against us he that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with â—â—m also freâ—ly give us all Rom. 8. 31 32. Ps 56. 13. things Thou â—â—st delâ—vered my soul from death wilt not thou dâ—lâ—ver my feet from fallâ—ng that I mâ—y walk before â—od in the light of the living God hath shewed us the way wherein he Gods way of giving grace and comfort is the sight of his grace in Christ and not the eying of our duty or deservings 2 Cor. 3. 18. 5. 19. Ro. 1. 179 giveth both at the first conversâ—on and ever after all grace and comfort It is this he sets before sinners brought to see themselves their sâ—nnes and curseâ—nâ—sse thereby in the glasse of his holy Law the glasse and mirrour of his Gospel where in the beholding of the glory of God as he is in Christ reconciling the world to himself both Jewes and Gentiles concluded all under sinne not imputing trespasses and sending them to the Word and Ministry of reconciliation this sight of glorious grace changeth and transformeth them And as thâ—s righteousnesse of God provided to cloath a sinner withall is through the Gospel-glasse revealed more and more from faith to faith from one measure of faith to another greater and growing measure of faith so will the change and transformation be from glory to glory from one degree of glorious grace and comfort to another greater and growing degree of glorious grace and comfort and the work is no lesse nor lower than the work of the Spirit of the Lord the Lord the 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. Holy Ghost setting the sinner in blessed gracious and glorious liberty We work then at the wrong end when we toyle with our own hearts pore upon our sins think we will believe walk obey and the like and so
contrariety of things that stands out in these Gospel-dayes and rises so stoutly for one against another amazes the best heads and staggers yea confounds the stoutest hearts that are by place and office to manage them here are with us in one womb the old revived strugglings of the holiest and profanest the purest and the subtlest the most for power and the most denying of the power of godlinesse the most zealous and the most formal and richly goodly luke-warme the weightiest grain and the lightest chaffe the deepliest poor in spirit and the loftiest proud in the flesh the heaven-born Sons of marvelous light and the hell-born brats of thickest darknesse these cause difficulty to rule so as to foster the gracious and discountenance the wicked severing the precious and the vile Faith an active faith the faith of the Lords Heroes is the one only helpe this keeps with God in his Word for principles of Policy for upright wayes for support and courage in both against carnal counsels courses confidences and fears the worst of Counsellors These Considerations possesse whil'st with joy in God through Jesus Christ glorying in his works all honourable and glorious and in his wayes all righteous and holy with fears sorrows and prayers because of judgements impendent for the wickednesses of errors divisions profanenesse abounding and for the Magistrates sake and their concernments and for Common-weals and Kingdomes the Innes of the Church for as for the Ministers sackcloth cannot hinder the efficacy of their Prophesying and Witnesse-bearing salutiferous and destructive nor their slaughter do any more than issue forth their resurrection to the fall of the tenth part of the City to be visited and the ruine of seven thousand of men of name let the earth-dwellers the merry world of them beware For the Publishing of this Treatise besides the Importunity of many of the Commissioners of Surrey for the ejection of ignorant and scandalous Ministers who heard part of it delivered in Sermons which wrested from me a concession to their desires two things swayed with me First that in this sleight age tossed to and fro with puffes of windy vaporings which blow high and big and take with many the wholsome old everlasting and absolutely necessary truths of saving doctrine might be laid again before all mens sight to cure if the Lord will this giddinesse of head and secondly that in this notional high-flown conceited age wherein nothing is esteemed but that which goes under the name of Mysterious of a more spiritual dispensation and above Scriptural and the plain truthes of the Scripture are overlook't called low carnal and fit for none but Saints under the lowest dispensation It might be manifest that these truths only are truly heavenly spiritual Gospel-mysteries of the highest dispensation that ever shall be in this world and that upon the review and Christian-experience all might see that the other Novel speakings are low carnal beggarly things belly-breaths the issues of fleshly tumors indigested waterish tympanies and crackes of clouds without rain That I prefix your Highnesses name is an act of boldnesse for which pardon is humbly craved I adventured on it that I might acknowledge the encouragement given to my Ministery two years since at a needful time by your Renowned father now with Christ who openly and really owned it almost opprest by willing my labours at Kingston of which poor labours as they are mine these are some of the fruits presented to your most serene aspect and offered to the service of your faith What remains but prayers promised that your life may be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord your God your person may abide in the secrets of the most High hid there even in his bosome-love in Christ your heart may remain large wise holy humble and believing your eyes may see the great Council in Parliament assembled full of grace and peace the Lords and yours to his glory and your abundant joy for the good of these Nations and of the people of Christ in all the world In you also through the advice of that your great Council it may be manifest that God doth and will still bless these Nations and make them instrumental to the ruine of Romish Babylon with all that belongs thereto and that out of illuminated zeal for the Gospels the Saints injuries and blood till the vengeance and recompence be rendred to her double which work shall be fulfilled in its time by the Lamb and his called and faithful and chosen On which work your heart set you have the Hosanna of him that waits for the mighty thunderings of the Hallelujahs and is Your Highnesses most obliged for the Gospels and the Publique good Richard Byfield The CONTENTS Chap. 1. AN Explication of the Text in its dependance and manner of laying down with three special observations giving further light to the words and with the foure great truths of doctrine three of them expressed and the fourth strongly implied in the Coherence Chap. 2. The first great truth which is this that there is no salvation by the Law or by any other means save by Jesus Christ Chap. 3. The second great truth The fulnesse of salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ and that set forth by many choice truths which the Apostle in this Text takes for granted Chap. 4. The fulness of salvation by Jesus Christ expressed in the person who is the first efficient cause he that provides this salvation God even God the Father Chap. 5. The fulnesse of this salvation in the Person who undertakes to work it out even Gods own Son Chap. 6. The fulnesse of salvation manifested in the way God taketh to save sinners by his Son Chap. 7. The fulness of a sinners salvation evinced in the outward cause moving God to give his own Sonne and to take such away to save which was the impotency and impossibility of the Law to save and the lost estate of the sinner Chap. 8. The fulnesse of this salvation in the end of Christs mission intended and attained which was the expiation of sin and the fulfilling of the righteousness of the law for and in the sinners that shall be saved Chap. 9 The fulnesse of salvation shines in the person who maketh saving application thereof dethroning corruption of nature and ruling the whole man even the Spirit the holy Ghost the Spirit of the Father and of the Son Chap. 10. The third great truth the lively description of the persons that shall be saved and do partake of this salvation by Jesus Christ viz. They are such who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Chap. 11. The fourth and last great truth which is The fulnesse of the assurance and of the consolation of those who are in Christ and walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit THE Gospels GLORY ROM 8. 3 4. Ver. 3. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own
is that which is the impossible thing of the Law that which is impossible for the Law to do The Law is the holy Commandements of the Eternal God Maker of all things these discover sinne and condemne the sinner but they deliver not from either That which is of use and is of this nature to shew and sentence for sinne cannot possibly work deliverance to a sinner but it is the Gospel that Law of faith that discovereth a Saviour Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ how a sinner may be made righteous and so be delivered from sinne and how one condemned by the righteous Law may be delivered from that condemning sentence and so be set free from death which sinne deserved God sending his own Sonne c. where it appears that a sinner may be delivered from his sinne and made riâ—hteous and delivered from the Law and not condemned What the Law could not do in that it was weak through â—â—e flesh God sending his own Sonne c. The former Objection may yet be urged for it may be said the Law is righteous and can it not then give righteousnesse and life Answ The Apostle explaineth the Yet the Law is in no fault thing and amplifieth it the Law cannot do it not that there is fault in the Law this impossibility cometh through the weaknesse of mankinde now fallen who are not able to keep the Law The Law is not weak as if not perfectly righteous and holy or as if it had not a promise of life annexed to it but you are weak who are not able to keep it It is through mans weaknesse who is not able to performe the righteousnesse thereof that the Law is become weak the perfect exact holinesse thereof makes through our weaknesse weakning it that none can stand righteous by it nor live by it Hence ariseth the inpossibility of help by the Law Thus the Law is still preserved honourable and is magnified when yet it cannot help us and we are in the fault the fault is wholly ours Again the Apostle displayeth the Gospel 2. By opening the causes of a sinners salvation glory and displayeth the mystery thereof by opening the causes of the salvation of a sinner 1. The outward impulsive cause the impossibility and impotency of the Law to save through the impotency of man who stands bound to keep the Law this is the external impulsive this very thing that the Law cannot help us but condemns our sins and us for our sinnes and curseth us which is not thorough any fault in the Law of it self but only by accident by reason of our corrupt nature this this is that outward thing which moveth God to save sinners that which might move God to come and execute the sentence of the Law that moved God to provide a Saviour That which the Law cannot do through mans default that God doth by sending his own Son 2. The efficient or working cause the first working cause in saving a sinner God God set the accent there it must be noted with emphasis lift up the voice and stay the heart upon that Word write it in great letters It is not my observation that you must not slip over this one syllable but the Apostles divinely inspired as afterwards in this chapter when he saith If GOD be for us and again It is GOD that justifieth God against whom our sins are God whose righteous and eternal Law we have rendred uselesse to an utter impossibility to do us good and that for ever until He put us into another state He is the first agent in the work of our salvation 3. The material cause What course doth God take to save a sinner God sends his own Sonne Gods own Sonne doth take away sin by his passion bearing our sins in his own body his own Son in our flesh in which he was incarnate kept the Law for us and so the righteousnesse of the Law is fulfilled 4. The final cause which is this Redemption is wrought by the Christ of God that the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in us in us who have made the Law unable to do us any good who have made it to the Law impossible to set us free from sin and death 3. In us may some say in whom lest 3. By describing the persons for whom this salvation is wrought we should be deceived herein to our everlasting undoing while there is such a Gospel such a Saviour we have the persons described for whom all this is done In us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit that is in us that believe in Jesus Christ but because many do deceive themselves in saying we believe and do not believe the Apostle useth not those words but taketh up this description which noteth out a believer by the Spirit he hath received and the Spirit by the rule and dominion he hath now in and over him and this rule of the Spirit over believers by this that sin doth not now reign in them though sinne be in them and the ruling of the Spirit and the dethroning of sinne by their walk it is not ordered by the flesh nor at the will of the flesh but their life is ordered by the Spirit of Jesus Christ through the Word of this his grace dwelling in their hearts Thus we see proved in these words that there â—an be no condemnation to those that are in Christ for though the Law would condemn them because they are sinners and there is sinne in them that deserves condemnation yet their sinnes being condemned in Jesus Christ by a righteous God God may pardon them with the good leave of his justice doing no wrong at all to the holy Law SECT 3. For the further opening of the words here are Three things of special observation three things of special observation 1. The diverse acceptation of the word flesh in the compasse of this Text. First it notes mankinde with all its abilities and excellencies upheld in men of 1. The word flesh taken four wayes here God himself in his long-suffering since the fall in these words weak through the flesh Secondly it notes out the humane nature as corrupted with sinne in the words sinful flesh for the flesh of sinne that is mankinde such as sin hath made it not such as God made it soaked with sin under the power of sin weak frail flesh the soul and its endowments beslaved to the flesh to the senses to the sensual apperite to the things the outward man the flesh desireth insomuch that the whole man may well be called flesh Thirdly It notes the humane nature frail and mortal but not polluted with sin In the words condemned sinne in the flesh that is in the flesh of Jesus Christ Fourthly it notes the corruption or sinfulnesse of mans nature in the words walk not after the flesh Now from these several acceptations of the word flesh we gather Four observations from that
47. 4. Isa 57. 15. In this his beloved Son he is for ever well-pleased he rests in his love Behold his truth God who cannot lye hath promised eternal life and his faithfulnesse he cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2. 13. This Covenant is as the waters of Noah unto God more stable than the Mountains and Hills as sure as the Ordinances set with the heavens Gods holinesse is here pawned in this redemption it is most gloriously manifested Consider his holinesse who only is holy and therewith his height and loftinesse and never the like manifestations of lower condescensions then in this work of saving the poor humble sinner he is the holy one of Israel never the like manifestation of holiâ—esse as in this work though God be holy in all his works and of purer eyes than to behold iniquity with any liking here the glory of his wisdome is Rom. 16. 27. illustrious the only wise found out this way no Angel of light none of the 1 Cor. 2. 7. wise of the world could ever have thought of it It is the hid wisdome of God wisdome in a mystery the contrivance is such that when it is made known all the Eph. 3. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 12 Eph. 1. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Cor. 3. 19. Isa 44. 25 26. holy Angels admire it as the manifold wisdome of God and are never enough satisfied in the delightful viewiâ—g of it and prying into it the whole businesse is of deep mysterious wisdome all is according to fore-knowledge God knoweth them that are his he cannot be deceived none can go beyond him nothing can escape him he taketh the wise in their craftinesse and turneth them backwards and maketh diviners mad but confirmeth the word and counsel of his messengers to whom he gave the word of this salvation he dâ—spenseth full seasons for making Eph. 1. 10. known this mystery of his will in stupend wayes of wisdome he brings home his chosen both of Jews and Gentiles through Rom. 11. 32 33. investigable passages of Providence he so calleth and bringeth to glory that his foolishnesse is wiser than men and by foolish 1 Cor. 1. 25 27. things he confounds the wise world but above all behold God here gracious and just exactly infinitely just and yet mercy and grace exalted through justice and above justice This word GOD carrieth out or thoughts 4. To God as the faithful Creator the Maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible who hath engaged all Isa 42. 5 6. 41. 1 2. 44. 24. 45. 11 12 18. his glory as he is the Creator to fulfill this work of Redemption And as he layeth all that his glory at the stake to assure it so he layes out no lesse efficiency in the performing of this salvation in every part of it then what was put forth in the Creation Rom. 4. 17. Ps 51. 10. Isa 57. 19. He calls the things that are not as if they were he creates in them clean hearts he creates the fruits of the lips to be peace and so you must conceive of every piece of this salvation that appertains to the being or well-being and comfort of the saved ones all is done in the power of a Creation 5. To God his absolute Soveraignty and Royal Dominion who makes all for his own wills sake who is not bound to give account to any of any of his matters who is not bound to any who hath mercy because he will have mercy who as the Potter hath power over us his clay and makes some vessels to honour when for his own glory he might make all unto dishonour who makes one to honour and another to dishonour when he might shew his power in annihilating as well as his skill in making or if he will shew his skill might shew it in fashioning it another way to other uses or if he will shew his skill in such salvation might shew it upon one or on a few or upon those whom he passeth by and not on us In this work his Soveraignty is full of Regality God is Lord and King here Majesty and Righteousnesse shine in splendor The 2 Tim. 6. blessed and only Potentate Lord of Lords and King of Kings will in his time shew his Christ his will is with perfect justice and his justice to the utmost shewed to set off and make his mercy upon the vessels of mercy more Renowned And his Dominion is mighty holy wise good and reaching to every thing and action of all his creatures to bring about his intended salvation 6. To Gods eternal good pleasure within Ephes 1. 4 5 6. himself doing the whole work according to the counsel of his own will to the praise of the glory of his grace 7. For this word GOD carrieth our minds to God the Father God sent his own Sonne he hath a Son whom he sends therefore he is a Father this God is God the Father God must here be thought on as he is the God and Father of Jesus Christ in this glorious manifestation of himself is God to be beheld in this work of Redemption as he is the Father of his own only eternally begotten Sonne his beloved in whom he is well-pleased and not only as the Fountain of being he is to be beheld in his love and goodnesse not that of a Creator but that love of a Father of the Father of his only begotten Son the Son of his love the Son of his bosome the eternal delights of the eternal Father SECT 2. 2. What conclusions do issue from What conclusions flow from this ten hence is God the Author of this salvation then it followeth 1. Here is love as the Apostle saith 1 Joh. 4. 10. Not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Sonne c. God first loved us here is love 1 Joh. 4. 10 9 19. Joh. 3. 16. 1 Joh. 4. 11 Ver. 19. that is first love manifested love so as cannot be paralleld maâ—chless love love that is the perfect sampler of love love that is the fountain and former of all true love we love him because he first loved us The Laws voice to man is Thou shalt love God above all and thy neighbour as thy self The Gospels voice The voice of the Law and of the Gospel differ is to man hateful and hating God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life The Gospel excells the Law as much as Gods love excells mans it superexcells for it declares and proclaims Gods love to man void of the love to God which the Law commands 2. God is love to us in this way of 1 Joh. 4. 16 manifestation all love out of this way it is a terrible sight to look on God on sinne death the grave and hell upon the Law on any misery or affliction
who speaketh is true John 3. 33. He that believeth not maketh God a liar 1 Joh. 5. 10. Because he receiveth not his testimony or witnesse he that receiveth Christ Jesus receiveth God that sent him he that rejecteth Christ rejecteth God All respect or neglect in this great businesse runs up so high as to God himself SECT 3. The use of this point is to call upon us to entertain these thoughts digest this The use hereof truth and it will work warme it and rub it in by meditation and it will enter into thy soul First believe this truth in the general that GOD doth thus tender the everlasting salvation of poor sinners great sinners and then bring it home unto thy self that GOD offers life to thee a sinner Dwell awhile on these if we lay away the principles of sound doctrine and care not to know them if we stick in an overlie knowledge and do not believe them with the heart receiving them as the saving truths revealed by the Spirit of God and testified to the children of men as Gods own Record and Testimony there is no talking of the application of faith upon them to our own souls Quest But some may say how may one know that he hath apprehended aright this truth that it is GOD that hath provided the way of salvation Answ In general thus if rightly apprehended then every word of this salvation will come to the soul as the Word of God not as the word of a man though never so worthy credit not as the word of a King yet power goes with the word of a King not as the word of an Angel it is more than so when it comes to thy heart as the Word of God It 1 Thes 2. 13. will come to thee in the power of God in divine life and strength it will work effectually in thee Gods Word-runneth very swiftly he commandeth and the thing is done Again it will come to thy soul as the good Word of God the Word and Message in which thy good thy everlasting good doth lie to such a r Thes 1. heart the Gospel comes in much assurance and in the joy of the Holy Ghost the Gospel now stands to thee as an undoubted unmovable truth now it is the best news that ever came into the world the glad tydings of great joy the onely light and life of thy heart In special attend that God the Lord is the first and principal Agent or Worker here 1. It layes down in the heart of a sinner a possibility of his salvation That which to the Law to man whiles he stands to the Law is impossible that GOD will yet do it it becomes very possible with God all things are possible say to thy self before the Lord it is possible that such a sinner as I am or as thou art mayest be saved for GOD sends a Saviour for sinners you this layes down a possibility above all difficulties the difficulties are great our innumerable sinnes the bortomlesse depth of the deceitfulnesse and the desperatenesse of the wickednesse of our hearts the impenitency of an hard heart that cannot repent the death in sâ—n and trespasses the alienations withdrawings and gain-sayings of an heart that cannot believe the cursed barrennesse in the heart and life of all grace and good fruit the defilement and contagion of sinne as a leprofie and as the plague of pestilence the guilt and condemning power of sinne the distance and separation yea the enmity between God and man which sinne hath made the great enemies such are the Law the Curse Mortality Death the Grave Hell Satan Tentations Persecutions the world with all its lusts and errours the body of sinne called the body of this death Rom. 7. 24. the Back-slidings and Apostasies which we are subject unto Satans strong holds within in false principles high thoughts and devised devotions depths carnal reasonings foolish and snarling objections besides the wisdome of a conceited the pride of a presuming and the dejections of a despairing heart If these Armies of difficulties and of impossibilities to created means should beset thee yet that GOD should reveale himself in a saving way stayes the heart and renders all of them Conquerable 2. It awakens it shakes the carelesse soul and fills with trembling It saith with Jacob God is here in this Word of the Gospel and I was not aware little thought I of such a presence in this contemned Word 3. It layeth a basis a foundation unmovable thus we have him to believe on who supports Heaven and Earth who is the Rock of Ages 4. It sets another face on God and on all things God is in Christ reconciling the world God at peace and all things become full of peace Behold all 's new there is now a new face of 2 Cor. 5. 18. things In this light we see light and have life there is a blessing in all through Gods blessing the worst and most deadly are not onely harmlesse but medicinal and helpful the heart begins to live at this presence a heavenly calme passeth bespreadeth and dwelleth upon the soul Tranqâ—illus Deus tranquillat omnia 5. It heals the heart of hard thoughts of God and of alienations from God then I perceive saith the soul the holy God will yet look after me 6. It sets the heart on God is there hope yet for such a one as I am surely it is good for me to draw near to God 7. It prevents and allayes the over-much grief for sinne or for afflictions and miseries our own or the Churches overmuch in both is hurtful to our soules dishonourable to God scandalous to men this delivers I even I am he that comforteth you saith the Lord Isa 49. 14 15. I blot out your transgessions Isa 43. 25. 8. It makes to cry to God out of the depth of our hellish filth and guilt Psalme 130. 1. It boiles up the spirit to fervency in Prayer 9. It puts an Awful Reverential Uniting feare into the soul Psalme 130. 3. There is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared 10. It enclines the soul to believe hope wait and love Psalme 130. 4 5. 11. It comforteth with comforrs rational and real from grounds in God from the presence of God 2 Cor. 6. 17. I will dwell in them I will walke in them I will be their GOD and they shall be my People 12. It devotes it assures it raiseth to Triumph What shall we say to these things If GOD be for Rom. 8. 31. Eph. 1. 3. 1 Pet. 1. 3. us who can be against us What shall separate us from the love of GOD it fills with praise and with gloryings and humble boastings in God This GOD is our GOD GOD is become my salvation Thus of the person who is the first mover in the great work of a sinners salvation CHAP. V. Treateth of the fulnesse of the salvation of a sinner in the person who undertakes to work it out even Gods
all righteousnesse but nulled no Law he fulfills the Law in us whiles he enables ro believe that he fulfilled it for us The Ministry of the Gospel is the Ministry of Rom. 3. 31 life of righteousnesse and of the Spirit we establish the Law by faith we magnifie it and make it honourable we bring to glorious liberty not to base licentiousnesse which is most absolute slavery We advance godlinesse while our Doctrine forms it in power and destroyes a powerlesse form of it we maintaine good workes while through the Gospel the sinner is called to come to God through Christ alone and God takes him into his own gracious and powerful hands and makes molds fashions him in his own workmanship in Christ Jesus created anew unto good Eph. 2. 10. works O ye Pontificians ye Papists and all others to whom the Gospel comes know ye The Law is not against the Promise The Promise ingraves the Law in the fleshly tables of the heart This Doctrine also tries and differenceth 2. To try Professors Believers and Believers Christians and Christians upon the Believer and Christian indeed the former three sentences are deeply fastened and the answers are experimentally and sweetly resented in the heart that closeth with them and receiveth the mould of them such a heart is truly believing and Christian and no other Go over them again and again in thy thoughts and try how it is with thee CHAP. IX Sheweth that the fulnesse of salvation shines in the Person who maketh saving application thereof dethâ—oning corruption of nature and ruling the whole man even the Spirit the Holy Ghost the Spirit of the Father and of the Sonne SECT 1. THe person applying and the manner of his application of the salvation by Christ is implied in these words who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit here the Spirit is the person that brings home this work with efficacy and power for here we have a double consideration of the Spirits work in the saved ones the first presupposed and implied namely that God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son do give to those that shall be saved the Spirit who applyeth savingly all the love of the Father and the grace of the Son who pulls the flesh or mans natural corruption out of the Throne and sets up himself to rule the man mention is made in these words of such a Spirit and who can be able to do such a work but the Spirit who is the power of the most High who will be willing but the Holy Spirit or as we usually speak the Holy Ghost likewise either sinners have this Spirit of themselves and so none have for if they had him in them by nature how is it that he ruled not how is it all by nature are under the power of the flesh living and walking in their sins or else he must be given and who can give him but God the Father and Christ his only Son this giving and working of the Spirit for the bringing home the Redemption which is in Jesus Christ is therefore necessarily implied in these words The second work of the Spirit is expressed in a Description of the Redeemed ones They walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit both these considerations are in the subject persons made partakers of that work of the Spirit two wayes commended in the words us who walk c. first that the Jews and the Gentiles the Apostles and all others that belong to God are all alike sharers in this mercy and work of the giving of the Spirit to them to apply savingâ—y this salvation and to reign in them and frame their conversation although they have not all alike this Spirit in the same measure and degree Us who walk saith the Apostle we Apostles we Jewes and you the believers at Rome to whom he wrote you that were sinners of the Gentiles us you as well as we who walk after the Spirit Secondly that neither the one nor the other of them have respect with God but in Christ No were he an Apostle not Paul himself nor do they look for part in this salvation upon lower or other termes but as they fall within this Description Hence therefore we have two things before us 1. The sixth branch of truth that proves the fulnesse of salvation in Christ 2. The third great doctrine which is The description of a true Christian The sixth branch is this The salvation of sinners by Christ is compleat Doct. 6. The Spirit of the as being savingly applied by the Spirit given of God the Father and of Christ Father and the Son applies the salvation by Christ dethroning corruption and ruling the whole man 1 Cor. 6. 11 his own Sonne to them that shall be saved In which application the Spirit dethrones the flesh and rules the whole man The sinners which are washed justified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus have this so great a change wrought by the Spirit of our God saith the Apostle God who sent the Redeemer hath covenanted that his Word and Spirit shall be in the seed and seeds seed of the Redeemer to whom the Father gave them that he should save them as the Prophet Isaiah sheweth saying The Redeemer shall Isa 59. 21. come to Zion As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is upon thee that is upon Christ the Redeemer and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed for whom the Redeemer gave his soul an offering for sin and went in travel with them on the Crosse nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth Isa 53. 10. Gal. 3. 14. 1 Joh. 4. 13. 3 24 and for ever Christ hath purchased it and the believer is possessed of it Hereby we know saith the Apostle that we dwell in God and God in us even by the Spirit which he hath given us This is that way in which he saveth even by the renewing Tit. 3. 3 5. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. 1 Thes 1. 3 4 5. of the Holy Ghost which he sheds on us abundantly through our Lord and Saviour and through this way even the sanctification of the Spirit God bringeth his chosen unto glory Hereby our election is known The Son of God the wisdome of the Father subdueth us by his Spirit poured out unto us by which he makes known his words to us This is called the Communion Pro. 1. 23. 2 Cor. 13. 14. Joh. 3. 3 5 of the holy Ghost And this is so absolutely necessary that unlesse a man be born from above of water and of the holy Ghost he can never see the Kingdome of God that is he cannot come into and enjoy eternal life in heaven he can never enter into it unlest he be born again of the holy Spirit now poured out as plentifully as water
awake arise and live he is the Spirit of life the righteousnesse of Christ declared and set forth by God in the Gospel and brought home to the soul of an humbled sinner by the word attended with the Spirit and the Spirit is life because of this righteousnesse life from the death of condemnation which sin deserved life from the death of sin life true and joyful 3. He circumcises the heart with a circumcision made without Rom. 2. 29 Col. 2. 11. hands In this work the word is the circumcising knife this knife is taken into the hand of the Spirit the heart is the part that is to suffer and not the flesh or body of the sinner the fore-skin is the superfluity of maliciousnesse and wickednesse Jam. 1. 21. Deut. 30. 6. the skin upon the heart the skin of other loves which oppose the love of God as self-love the love of the world the love which is called lust and the love of superstitious vanities and mens inventions in Religion and worship and the cutting off this fore-skinnesse is when the word in the hand of the Spirit and by it skilfully used getting between our hearts and them it makes the heart to see them to be such as the word sayes of them and to judge it self for them and to cast them away as unprofitable and destructive even because of Christ circumcised and made under the Law for us and for our deliverance from the same Law Untill this work be done no love of God can be wrought in us strange loves have the heart and when this work is done it reacheth to the circumcision of the ears and of the lips and of the whole man Insomuch that the body of the sinnes of the flesh the whole frame of sinful flesh suffers and is destroyed 4. He gives us spiritual senses and a sagacity and quicknesse of sente whereby he makes us savour spiritual things and to smell out and delight to pursue spiritual wayes this work is so eminent that the Rom. 8. 5. Isa 11. 2 3 newborn babe can taste distinguishingly the sincere milk of the Word fit to feed batten and make to grow from all adulterate stuffe and can see and discern judiciously the things of the Spirit of God from all other things and make up a right judgement concerning them and can in hearing try the words of doctrine delivered and try the spirits in the teachers the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of Antichrist the Spirit of God and the spirit which is of the world the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour In ordering his Conversation he can sente and smell the wayes of holinesse from those of profanenesse so that he is of quick understanding in the feare of the Lord and is sensible and hath his feeling of spiritual mercies and plagues of sin that annoyes spiritual life and of the power and spiritualnesse of Ordinances and Administrations from ordinances of men in will-worship and formal out-sidednesse and shews and florishes in administrations All this the new born babe is able to do by a naturalnesse like an instinct though for want of Art or of strength of the reasoning ability or not yet having the wits the senses exercised in the word of righteousnesse he cannot shew to his own or others satisfaction where the fault lyeth much lesse is able to dispute it and by arguing convince the evil doers the opposer and the pleader for the evil the quicknesse of spiritual senses doth grow as age in Christ cometh on the Spirit in this work rested upon Jesus Christ as he was man in all fulnesse as became our head and it is on every living member of his mystical body according to his place of membership as becomes such a Member 5. He writes his law in our hearts The Law 2 Cor. 3. 2 3 Rom. 8. 2 that is the summe of revealed truth both of the Law strictly so called the Law of the ten Commandments and of the Gospel this is that which is written the writing is such an engraving of the truth with love of the truth upon our hearts made soft tender and fleshy as that it cannot be blotted out The soul may be torn from the body but the truth cannot be torn out of the heart And this impression of the truth is such that now it is the Law of the mind which Laws the man It is the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus as the Head and in them as the members this is an heavenly edition of the Bible so imprinted upon the soul that the man becomes a living walking Bible which print comes off so fair in the life of the regenerate and sanctified that they are the Epistles of Christ to be seen and read of all men 6. He gives liberty he sets us free from the law of sinne and death the title the dominion of sin is taken away that we may 2 Cor. 3. 17. Rom. 8. 2. Joh. 7. 37 38. 4. 14 become servants of righteousnesse 7. He is a spring and rivers of lâ—ving waters in our bellies flowing up within us unto eternal life Our hearts by nature are as a dry and barren howling Wildernesse not fit for habitation nor bearing any good plants untilled and horrid to the sight It is the Spirits work to be in us whom the Lord will save changing the very will breaking open springs and causing Rivers of sweet wholesome and healing waters of the blessings of the Gospel of all gifts and graces and grounds of comfort to flow within us even in the very heart and conscience in the belly of the man and there these waters to be not as standing lakes and ditch-water but ever streaming out and fed from the hid well-head of the holy Spirit When this work is in us then of Wildernesses we become fruitful Fields then we have within us Isa 44. 3. 49. 10. Joel 3. 18. Zach. 14. 8 that which will satisfie and will allay and quench our thirsts our souls will be as a well-watered garden whose waters never fail 8. He causeth all the fruits of graces fructifying to be in us and to abound in us all his fruits he maketh to break Ephes 5. 9 Gal. 5. 22 23. 2 Cor. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 13. forth all goodnesse righteousnesse and truth love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance against which and such like there is no Law 9. He transforms us into the image of God from glory to glory 10. He enableth us to believe and Eph. 2. 18. Jude 20. Gal. 4. 6. to speak by confession to pray to the Father through Christ with gracious and fervent desires crying Abba Father to mortifie the deeds of the body our members that are on the earth and to be crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts Rom. 8. 13 Gal. 5. 24. thereof that old bel-dame original sin the sinfulnesse of our natures in which we
the heart as ariseth from no lesse than the mighty working of the Spirit and that in a way Demonstration in which demonstration the Spirits light testimony and perswasion is so strong that faith is wrought faith in God and that faith stands founded and rooted upon the power of God 3. Such works of the Spirit as respect 3. Respecting the Church the Church of God Now these respect either Church-Officers or else the whole Church or those members which are called out to Martyrdome 1. As touching Church-Officers the works of the Spirit are these 1. He gives them their gifts which design them out to the Church unto their places and stations therein thus the Deacons Act. 6. 3. Rom. 12. 8 1 Tim. 3. 9. were pointed out by the holy Ghost in that he filled some members of the Church at Jerusalem with gifts of wisdome and of mercifulnesse and of simplicity and of knowledge of the mystery of faith held and kept by them in a pure conscience and this last was the special note of the foure by which the Church should be guided in the election of Deacons whom the Apostles upon such choice were to appoint and ordain that they might have those men in that administration whom the Holy Ghost had gifted and fitted for the work 2. He placeth them in their charges as you may see concerning the Bishops or Elders the Ministers of the Church of Ephesus of whom it is said that the holy Ghost made them Bishops over the flock of Act. 20. 28 God there Our Translators render the word overseers but in the Greek it is Bishops neither can any good reason be alledged why in this place as well as in others of the New Testament they should not use this word Bishops 3. He disposeth of them so that they are fit for one place rather than for another Peter was the Apostle of the Circumcision Paul had the uncircumcision committed unto him Although Peter first of all the Apostles preached the Gospel to the Gentiles as we read in Acts 10. yet Paul is called the Apostle of the Gentiles when neverthelesse the Apostles Mark 16. 16. all of them had the whole world given them in common as their charge in these words Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature And that the Holy Ghost doth in special and eminent manner dispose of the Ministers where they shall perform their Ministry consider these following Texts Act. 13. 4. 16. 6 7. 11. 12. 8. 29 39. Luk. 2. 27. there is not only a providential work of God about it who sets the bounds of mens habitations but there is a work of the Spirit which may be known by his work both upon the heart of the teacher and also upon the hearts and spirits of the hearers and lastly by the judgement and sentence of the Assembly of Pastors and Teachers the spirits work upon the teacher is his enclining and suiting of his spirit to the work of the ministery among them upon spiritual grounds and ends The Spirits work upon the hearers is his opening a door by enclining their hearts to 1 Cor. 16. 9 receive him by stirring up many with desires to heare and receive the doctrine although there be many adversaries and many difficulties The sentence of the Presbytery is also the work of the Spirit when it is done upon mature deliberation and is regular and impartial approving ordaining and appointing that Minister to dispense the Gospel to that particular people 4. He enableth them to their ministerial work with utterance and with a sufficiency for meditation and for ministration And this work of making able and sufficient to the ministery of the New Testament is necessary to the performance Act. 2. 4. 2 Cor. 3. 5 6. of every new acting of the Ministers who after abilities and gifts received still remain insufficient for the least action Ministerial yea for so much as a good thought in that way thus Paul acknowledgeth of himself so absolutely necessary is this concurrence of the enabling power of the Holy Ghost 5. He maketh their ministery effectual that is to be the ministery of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. Rom. 15. 18 19. Rom. 15. 16. of life of righteousnesse and of glory ministering these and thereby to make some of the hearers obedient for God sends not his Gospel to any place where he hath none to call and save and to sanctifie the offering of the converted and obedient ones up unto God as an offering 6. He enableth to solve cases of conscience to the comfort and settling of Isa 50. 4. dejected humble souls and of doubting and trembling feeble-minded ones and weak in the faith this is of high price among the Saints to have a minister that knows how to speak a word in season to the weary soul 7. He guideth them in Councils and Synods while their debates and determinations Act. 15. 28 Mat. 18. 19 20. 1 Cor. 5. 4. are directed by the Scripture and he is present and guides in the Administration of Church-discipline unto the performane whereof Assemblies in Christs name ought to be kept up 8. He raiseth the slain witnesses which are called the two Prophets whose work is Rev. 11. 1â— with v. 2. â— to Prophesie and the dayes and time is the space of a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes which space is fourty and two months all which while the holy City is trodden under foot of the Gentiles even of those over whom the beast that ariseth out of the bottomlesse pit ruleth and his whore the whore of Babylon sitteth * Rev. 11. 7. with Rev. 17. 8 15. these are therefore not the Magistrates whose work by virtue of their office is never called Prophesying nor is it to Prophesie but to bear the Sword and they are not just two but the small yet sufficient number of faithful Preachers during all that space which in Prophetical computation makes 1260. years they shall be slain but that is the work of the beast that ascends out of the bottom-lesse pit It is the work of the Spirit of life from God entering into them to raise them and make them stand upon their feet These are the works of the Spirit respecting the ministery for the saving works sake 2. As concerning the whole Church the work of the Spirit is seen first in the Act. 19. 6. 1 Cor. 12. 4 8 9 11 7 28. gifts which he hath given for the good of the whole he hath given extraordinary gifts Apostles Prophets Miracles gifts of healing to speak with tongues to Prophesie or foretell things to come with the like Secondly in the gifts which he doth give they are divers making up the Churches rich embroidered garments and all of them for the edification of the whole society or body 3. As concerning the Martyrs he Act. 6. 10. Rev. 12. 11 13. 10. 14. 12. enables them to speak
called the spirit of errour and envy the spirit of envy and the wisdome of the the world is called the spirit of the world because of this force appearing in it acting of it which force cometh from the energy or effectual working of the Divel who is an evil Angel a spirit indeed But besides these spirits there is the 1 Cor. 2. 10 12. Spirit of God considered as set in opposition to the spirit of man and of the world this is the spirit spoken of in this Doctrine yet one that hath not this Spirit of God as the Spirit of grace may have the Spirit of God in some lesser and lower workings and presence he may have some excellent gifts of the Spirit of God as for instance he may have the Spirit of government as King Saul had he may have the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit gifting him with faith of miracles Mat. 7. 21. 1 Cor. 12. with tongues with prophesie or with wisdome and the like he may have the ordinary gifts of the Spirit such are all ministerial gifts he may have the common graces of the Spirit as general illumination convictions faith historical and temporary and thereupon tasts of the good Word of God the Word of the Gospel and of the powers of the world to come and many fruits arising from thence insomuch that by falling away willingly and sinning against such grace he may resist the Holy Ghost and may runne so high in this way to commit the sinne against the Holy Ghost that unpardonable sinne that sinne unto death he Heb. 6. 3 4. 10. 26 29. may have the spirit of bondage which is a good work but not enough to life and salvation It is the work of the Law accompanied with the Spirit quickning that part of Gods Word upon the soul and working lively and powerfully in the Ministery thereof Now the work of grace is above all this and the Christian in respect of this renewing and sanctifying work of the Spirit is more excellent than any other however otherwise qualified Pharaoh admiring in Joseph the work of the Spirit as the Spirit of prophesie and of the interpretation of dreams said of him Can we finde such a man as this is a man in Gen. 41. 38 whom the Spirit of God is but much more worthily may these words be applied to the regenerate and sanctified by faith which is in Jesus Christ which makes them workers of righteousnesse and no more workers of iniquity which is that good work which he that hath begun in Phil. 1. 6. any will not cease nor fail to perfect it till the day of Christ SECT 11. The Vse of Exhortation in the first branch of it Therefore let the Exhortation take place with you both to seek the Spirit and Use 2. Exhortation to seek the Spirit The way and means to receive the holy Ghost in ten directions to be rightly ordered towards him when you have him 1. Attend the way and means whereby you may receive the Holy Ghost Seek the sense and comfort of the gracious presence and the lively working of the Spirit of Sanctification and Adoption for this purpose these are choice directions First Come out from the world and give thy self up to the Word The world cannot receive the Spirit thou art among and of the world by nature Come out from among them touch not the unclean thing come out from the worlds lusts the worlds vanities and pomps the worlds traditions the worlds Idols and superstitions the Religions and Devotions as ever thou wouldest have God to receive thee into fellowship with Jesus Christ his Sonne through the communion or communication of his Spirit say of all these What have I to do any more with you the Spirit is the holy Spirit the world and the things of the world are the unclean thing The word is the vehicle the Chariot of the Spirit he spake by the Prophets and Apostles and he for ever works in and by their doctrine By the Word engrafted the Spirit dwells in the heart Receive the Word let it be in the truths contained in it as a heavenly Cyons which entertained with meekness and with laying aside all superfluity of wickednesse may be so naturallized into thee that thou mayest be turned into the nature of it and then thou shalt finde the Holy Ghost enter into thee and take up his habitation in thee Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in thee in all wisdome and the Spirit of Christ will fill thee with grace and glory The Scripture is the store-house of Wisdome Wisdome speaks there justifie Wisdome and thou art a childe of Wisdome whom the Holy Ghost hath regenerated this is the incorruptible seed of which Gods children are born anew who is the spiritual but he that is made up of the Word of God he who hath the Word of Christ to be the reason of his reason the light of his minde the life of his heart and the rule of his life he is the Christian indeed Secondly but when thou comest to the Word thou wilt be sure to meet with reproofs no looking into that glasse but thou wilt see all amisse Christ knoweth he shall finde thee a fool and a scorner simple and loving simplicity ignorant and hating knowledge now know he will reprove but yet with serious exhortations and alluring invitations calling and crying after thee what then is to be done Turn Turn at wisdom's reproofs and the promise of the pouring out of the Spirit unto thee is thine Thirdly Behold the Promises and how they are made I will put my Spirit within you saith God then shall ye remember Ezek. 36. 25 31 32. your own evil wayes and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations Remember thy wayes and doings that have not been good and loath thy self that 's all the qualification that is required of thee that thou mayest enjoy this great and all other the precious promises of the Covenant of grace Fourthly Wait on the preaching of the Gospel for that is the Ministery of the 2 Cor. 3. 6 8. Gal. 3. 2. Spirit The Spirit is given aâ—d received by the preaching and hearing of the Word of the Gospel the faith and not the Law by hearing that glorious heavenly Law of faith which excludeth boasting not the Law of works Fifthly Consider the gift and who it is that bestoweth the gift appointed to Joh. 4. 10. that work of God the Father even Jesus Christ the Sonne of God sent in our flesh made of a woman and made under the Law to redeem us from under the Law and consider that God the Father is in and through this Christ our heavenly Father Luk. 11. 13 Consider these three things and then ask the Holy Ghost by prayer for he is promised to those that ask him The gift indeed is great but no lesse
to rellish temporal things only or chiefly and to have no rellish of spiritual things the things of Jesus Christ or to savour spiritual things no otherwayes than carnally as when our Saviour spake of the gift of the Spirit that living water to the woman of Samaria she said Lord give me of this water that I may not thirst nor come to this Well to draw Job 4. 15. And when he said to the Jewes that there was bread of life of the which whosoever should eate he should never dye some cryed out Lord evermore give us this bread Good words but arising Joh. 6. 33 34. wholly from earthly apprehensions of the things of which Christ spake 7. In the reign of some particular lust Gal. 5. 19 20. or known sinne as uncleannesse covetousnesse malice pride profane swearing railing drunkennesse gluttony when we live in any manifest work of the flesh 8. In the power of carnal princâ—ples 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. reasonings and objections against faith and holinesâ—e these are strong holds these are the flesh's fortifications which while they stand undemolished the flesh reigns these be the in-works when they are taken and sleighted the flesh is dismantled and led Captive but not till then 9. In the hatred of the godly the hatred of the brethren which is the not loving Gal. 4. 29. 1 Joh. 3. 14 1. of them we cannot know them to love them but can finde them out to reproach to shoot out the mouth at them a strange perversenesse when we can quickly discern them to slander them and call them hypocrites who though they will not swear yet will lye when we cannot see who are godly Do not all offend in many things yet can privily Psal 11. 2. shoot at the upright in heart when we can see them well enough to shoot at them but we cannot see Christ in them to do them offices of love brethren Mat. 25. 43 45. we cannot love this brotherhood what is this communion of Saints well said here is flesh all over 10. In the speaking evil of the Gospel and of Christs name or way and in an heart alienated from the life of God 1 Tim. 5. 14 Eph. 4. 18. from a godly life a life in which God is seen and in which it is evident that the man hath seen and known God as he hath revealed himself in his Word he is an adversary that is glad of an occasion to speak reproachfully of Gods way he is in the power of Heathenisme whose heart cannot close with the power of godlinesse Thus far for a more general discovery of the reign of the flesh SECT 4. In particular the flesh being a close enemy and in the times of the Gospel it And in matters of Religion its reign discovered as standing with the State policy of this Queen Regent to have somewhat of God and of Christ seemingly and for a colour that she might sit fast in the chaire and reign still indeed let me shew you her in the Throne and descry the Regency of the flesh in the choicest works and means of Religion And here we lay down this for a certain truth that There is not any outward duty profession or priviledge of Gods people which the flesh will not take to and suck to her self advantage out of it she is such an hypocrite and in her wickednesse hath wit at will Therefore see her Regency 1. In prayer they that live and walk 1. In prayer Prov. 28. 9 Isa 1. 15. in sinne and disobedience to the Word of God may make many prayers but an abomination to the Lord are all their prayers and the Lord saith I will not heare when ye multiply prayers for the flesh hath the rule in them while they pray and it is thus discovered First if an Heathenish spirit act them Seven wayes Mat. 6. 5. which thinketh God is well-pleased with the work done or the cries of a natural heart with a few good and holy words with much speaking or with the number and tale of our prayers a touch and outside of the duty Secondly if a Pharisaical spirit act Mat. 6 5. them which thinks to merit at the hands of God and prayes to be seen of men and to be accounted for devout Thirdly if things spiritual be asked as savoured onely under carnal notions and for carnal and worldly ends chiefly Fourthly if the things of this life be asked onely as there are multitudes who never offered any desires to God that were the desires of their hearts but what were for health when they were sick or for successe in their earthly Affairs or for deliverance when they were in distresse and dangers or for a plentiful Harvest and good Crop with such like or if the things of this life be asked chiefly if God should give us Solomons priviledge and then we have not Solomons heart nor Davids one thing nor Agurs discerning feare of sinne and temptations with preferring of contentation with food and rayment if the requests we offer up in the words of prayer be never so spiritual and in the work the affections stir and are jogging and make a great noise but it is all but for the time of prayer when the constant bent of the heart is for covetousnesse and the heart is set upon riches or the things of this life or if the things of life be asked as temporals and not that they may be spiritualized and sanctified to us in their use they cry as the young Ravens cry and pray as rhe Lyon hungry roars and seeks his meat of God Fifthly if temporal afflictions and judgments make us pray and cry but not sinne nor spiritual judgments such prayers have not the heart to God in them they are the howlings of wolves and God Hos 7. 14 so reckons of them Travellers captives sick folks sea-men and all under extremities will cry unto God in their troubles and the Lord hears so as to deliver them out of these distresses but if when they are delivered sinne be still their Idol and spiritual plagues are not felt lamented nor prayed against but rather danced under their prayers are but the cries of swine when they are pinched and the cryes of nature to the Lord of nature Sixthly if sinne and the wrath of God because of guilt and consciences gripes and sentence or if the Laws threatnings and denunciations of judgments out of the word and the work of the spirit of bondage which is upon us if these do cause us to pray cry out and repent but yet there be no workings of the Spirit of grace and of Adoption nor sinnes filthinesse and offence do put us to grief and be a burden and heavy load further then it is abominable to the light of nature and is cryed shame on in the world this kinde of sorrow for sinne is no more than what may be found in a Cain or in a Judas Seventhly if we pray and
after the lusts of men to live the life of the Gentiles following and imitating their manners hunting after their favours this is the broad way where most go this is the way of the men of this world To live after the course of the world is to live seeking what the Gentiles seck Mat. 6. 32. after what we shall eat what we shall drink wherewith we shall be cloathed how we may rise grow rich and great how we may build plant purchase leave our names great on earth and leave our children so and thus eternize Psal 49. 1. our selves here as the men of this world do that minde and are addicted unto this present life seeking their good things and making up their portion in this world Ps 17. 14. how also they may do well to themselves fare deliciously wear gorgeous artire swim in vanity jollity and pleasure this is their way and their posterity like and applaud it and others that have neither power nor hopes to attain it count these the happiest under the Sunne and though the Spirit of God saith it is their folly and they shall never see light yet this the world doth as their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their eternity as if there were no other life nor other world Secondly After the lusts of the flesh 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. Gal. 5. 1â— that is in some manifest work of the flesh a manifest wickednesse either against piety or against charity or righteousnesse or chastity or temperance Thirdly after Satan as if joyned in 1 Tim. 5. 15. marriage with him so the Apostle expresseth it that is to live in love fidelity and obedience to the Divel loâ—ding it in lying vanities in darknesse of sinne in ignorance of God and in unbelief ruling he is the liar and the murtherer the father of lusts and of lies of all sorts the enemy and envious one the tempter the accuser of the brethren and the back-biter now when Satan may in his temptations play with us touch us with his love-touches in any of those wherein his works consist from which he hath those his former proper names and titles may bed with us and we with him when he may enter into us as he did into Judas Iscariot and fill our hearts as he did the heart of Ananias and Sapphira and take us Captives as fish that love the baiâ— at his own will when we keep open house for him by giving place to wrath revenge uncleanenesse covetousnesse idolatries lyes taught in hypocrisie hatred of the godly cavilling at the Word of truth or at the way of holinesse or the like or when we keep the house empty not stored with holy truths and graces the furniture of the mind and heart when our hearts are true to evil motions and lusts but false to Gods Commandments and Gospel and we passe not much that it is so then we live after Satan These are they in whom Satan works effectually and Eph. 2. 2 3. they fulfill the desires of the flesh and of the mind Fourthly In darknesse no discerning of men either of the godly to make their companions and to choose their portion and lot even the reproaches of Christ or of the wicked to avoid their company counsel way and chaire although they Psa 11. 1 2 1 Joh. 4. 1. can finde out the godly even the upright in heart to shoot privily at them no discerning of spirits of Ministers and Ministery nor of things and doctrines unlesse it be this to account the things of the Spirit foolishnesse no discerning of Joh. 10. 4 5. graces from moralities and civilities which they prefer before the feare of God and faith in Christ the love of the Saints and the patience of hope No discerning of wayes the way which is called holy from the way of the worldling prophane Luk. 12. â—6 2 Cor. 6. 2. Mat. 16. 3. Luk. 19. 44 or formal No discerning of the signes of the times the seasons of grace the day of salvation the day of their visitation Fifthly a life led in security no wonder if the dark and blind who see not their 1 Thes 5. 5 6 7. Deut. 29. 19. danger be altogether secure the night is for sleep they that sleep are of the night and of darknesse they that are of the night are sleepers No questions no cases of conscience the flesh blesseth them in their evil imaginations and flatters Psa 36. 1 2 them in their iniquities no serious enquiries about their spiritual estate or about their wayes about these two are all the main cases of conscience no watchfulnesse over the heart the mouth the eyes the feet and all their goings A man must be awake before he can watch Sixthly In vanity of mind and of conversation In vain principles reasonings thoughts and inventions they walk in emptinesse of the power of saving truths Ephes 4. 18 1 Pet. 1. 18. and graces the conversation vaine foolish unprofitable void of godlinesse in power the words idle unsavoury not good for the use of edifying and the works not directed in truth according to the doctrine which is after godlinesse this is upon them at the best and many times they break out to that which is vile and abominable Seventhly In hypocrisie with fleshly 2 Cor. 1. 12 Mat. 6. 1 2 23. wisdome hypocrisie either natural or pharisaical The natural hypocrisie may stand with a particular uprightnesse as in Abimelech of whom God testifieth that he did in the fact about Sara Abrahams Gen. 20. 5 6. wife that which he did in uprightnesse and it may stand with a general uprightnesse to the light of a natural self-deceived heart and to the light of the Law in a man that seeketh righteousnesse in his own works An uprightnesse legal Act. 23. 1. Phil. 3. 6 c. such as was in Paul before his conversion but not an uprightnesse Evangelical which consisteth in renouncing all confidence in our works and in the flesh or outward duties and priviledges or inward self-abilities in the life of faith in heart-purifyings and a Gospel conversation in rejoycing in Christ Jesus and our interest in him and in conformity to his death in hatred of all sinne we know in bearing respect to all Gods Commandments and in all these in humble strenuous pressings on to that which yet we have not attained but is before us with an heart and eye upon the prize of our high calling to which we are called in Christ Jesus by the Gospel 8. In natural Atheisme in alienations of heart from the life of God in impenitency and unbelief It is with them as with Israel back-slidden Israel of old they Hos 5. 4. cannot frame their doings to return they can do any thing but to order their ways to return they will not they have no heart and when urged to it and the threatnings of God applyed they say no there is no hope if nothing but a Gospel
they shall reap in joy they shall doubtlesse come again and bring their sheaves with them they shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting SECT 9. Come hither all you to whom the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ is come The uses 1. Of information in foure things and inform your judgments in these following truths which arise from this comfortable doctrine 1. Consider what is wrought for and in a poor sinful creature before he can attain to this to walk after the Spirit First the Word of Gods grace the Gospel of salvation is preached by the Apostles with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven and by Pastours and Teachers sent of Christ who in his exaltation to glory in heaven hath received and given these gifts for men this Gospel is brought even unto thee in its truth and purity in these latter difficult times although false teachers have and do abound It is the first step of Gods approach in his way of saving mercy coming down from heaven to bring thee to glory Then secondly God by his Spirit through the Gospel preached which is his testimony illightens thee and reveals the things of salvation the mysteries of hidden wisdome unto thy soul Thirdly he enables thee to choose Christ Jesus and his Gospel above all other Religions whatsoever abominating them and above thine own carnal thoughts inventions lusts and ways and above thine own reason and thine own righteousnesse and the righteousnesse which is of the Law Fourthly the Spirit in and by the Gospel coming into thee sets thee free from the reign and dominion of the flesh of its mindings of its wisdome and of its wills desiâ—es affections and lusts and turns thee from its walks in which thou didst before walk and live and in which still the world lives and walks Fifthly the Spirit quickens the and gives thee life a new life life from above the life of grace which will be glory a life which is eternal in the beginning of it and being quickned and raised together with Christ sets thee on thy feet takes thee by the hand and teaches thee to go Sixthly the Spirit gives thee an heart to order thy conversation aright acording to the holy Commandments as becometh the Gospel from the power of faith and hope which set thee on high even to sit together with Christ in the heavenly places from whence thou lookest for him insomuch that thy conversation is in heaven Seventhly he gives thee power to walk after him going before thee in the Gospel engrafting the Word on thy heart and thereby counselling teaching exciting and inclining or bowing thy will as powerfully as sweetly drawing and making thee to runne in Gods ways Eighthly and with this power he gives a quick discerning and sense of the flesh and of its motions counsels and ways with resolutions mighty and prevailing to the framing of the course of the life not to walk after the flesh but to hold on thy walk after the Spiâ—it though the flesh be still contrarily lusting and working plotting and warring Thus the regenerate and spiritual though hampered and toyled with his corrupt nature walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit Doth so much go to make thee a holy liver and is not the work very great oh have not any low thoughts of this high mercy for which thou canst never sufficiently blesse the Lord nor canst retain the thankful sense thereof further nor longer than thou keepest up the thoughts of thine own and all mens alienations by nature from the life of God Believe it brethren it is not a mean despicable work to frame the conversation or walk according to the Word of Christ It is not little in it self although it seemeth to thee a small and little thing through vehement desires and longings in thee after greater progresse in the way called holy in which thy soul finds such pleasures that thou art impatient of contrary workings and of interruptions let me tell thee who thus walkest the work is so great that it carries the heart to the leadings of the Spirit and the heart is powerfully wrought upon and changed which none can bow and turn but God that made it or else it could not so powerfully order the conversation This is more then to delight in Gods Word and ways and yet that is a mighty work of grace observe for this Davids prayer Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments for therein do I delight Ps 119. 35. Ro. 7. 22 18. To will is of Gods gracious work To delight in Gods Commandments is the top and that which shews and proves the truth of the work of grace upon the soul enabling to will but to do to performe is more by farre God and Christ by the Holy Spirit have the last Phil. 2. 13. hand put to the work of salvation as farre as agreeth to his Saints in this life when the Spirit rules thy walk 2. Behold here the worth of such a Christian He is Gods workmanship in Christ Jesus created again unto good works which God hath fore-ordained that he should walk in In this walk see the man come out of Gods hands in the regeneration This is a choice creature made up to and by the will of the Spirit and his walk speaks it Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile God hath set out two admirable sights once in this sinful wicked world unto which all eyes should be turned the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinne of the world and the Israel of God delivered from this evil world redeemed from all iniquity purified to be a peculiar people to himself zealous of good works This a choice creature as for priviledges and dignity so for heavenly qualifications 3. Take here the maine reason why many under the Gospel attain not to a holy life which is this they take up with that light and with those gifts which will not subdue mortifie and crucifie the flesh they professe the Gospel but the Gospel is not the principle they live by and no other no lower will destroy the reign of sinne the holy Law will not therefore no other Religion no Institutions of Philosophy no light of the Law within man can subdue the flesh the Gospel alone if received into the heart will do it because it gives the Spirit now they by the Gospel never received the Holy Ghost the Spirit of renovation of Sanctification and of Adoption Untill this be had none can attain to an holy life 4. Take hence also the main reasons why the regenerate attain unto so little comfort for first they place not as they should the ground-work of their comfort in this That they are in Christ which this their walk doth evidence but they seek it in their walking which accompanied with sinnes and contrary lustings will beare no higher than to the power of an evidence and to a begunne work which is true but yet but in a part and
under bondage and subjected to vanity vanity and vexation of Spirit is attending man in the enjoyment of all things under the Sun Fourthly The harmlesse jollities of the Eccl. 11. 9. flesh shall be brought into judgment Fifthly A conscience checking galling and gnawing for the flesh's ryots Sixthly The flesh's naughtinesse is discovered in the Word of God 2 Cor. 10. 4 5 6. Ro. 8. 13. Seventhly powerful means are given of God to crucifie it The Ministery the Spirit the crucifyings of the Sonne of God and exceeding great and precious promises which present to us a draught of better things than the flesh can propose Eightly In the Word commands and directions are given how to use the flesh such are these be temperate be sober beat down your bodies bring them into subjection Accuse and condemn the flesh silence her reasonings lay-in distinguishing and mortifying principles they are such as these The belly for meat and meat for the belly but God shall destroy them both The body is for the Lord not for lust The body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost The body shall be raised out of the grave but not as it is sowen both soul and body are the more excellent as they are lesse fleshly All the things of this life are such as perish in the using The scheme or fashion of this world passeth away All that is in the world and is of the world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye and the pride of life is not of the Father All these things that are of this lower world shall be dissolved Ninthly A judgment day is appointed and it shall as surely come as it is sure that men dye then this whole visible Creation which the flesh abuseth shall be burnt with fire The heavens shall shrivel together as a scrole and the earth with the works thereon shall be burnt up Tenthly in the mean time bitters are cast into all our earthly sweets and wasting judgments are abroad in the visible Church at this day Meditate often upon these things inlarge your thoughts upon each of them All these will eat down proud-flesh Thus of the three grand doctrines more expressely delivered in this text the last of which concerns the lively description of the believer by his walks the fourth doctrine followeth CHAP. XI Containeth the fourth and last great truth which is The fulnesse of the assurance and of the Consolation of those who are in Christ and walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit SECT 1. The fourth doctrine ariseth from the The fourth doctrine coherence of these two verses with the words before and following when we observe how they are placed in the frame of the Apostles discourse and it is full of consolation for it concernes the full assurance and the safe estate of all those who are actually in Christ notwithstanding their sinnes They have flesh a corrupt How raised nature dwelling with them and many sinnes the issues of that flesh but walking not in them they are in Christ and therefore there is no condemnation to them as the 1. verse with these verses affirmes and proves for their sinnes God hath condemned in the flesh or body and soul of his own Sonne the benefit of the salvarion wrought by Jesus Christ cometh home to them for all that their flesh that body of death can do so that they may and ought to say I thank God through Jâ—sus Christ who hath and doth and will deliver me from the same this is evident by comparing these verses with the 25. ver of Chap. 7. They should also rest assured of their blessed estate when there is no condemnation to them and when the strength of this evidence of their interest in Christ from their spiritual-mindednesse and savour influencing their walk is life and peace as these words looking backwards to the 1. ver of this Chapter and forward to the 5. and 6. verses do plentifully shew And since the scope of the whole discourse from ver 1. to ver 17. of this chapter is to support and encourage these spiritual holy walkers in their way the burden and workings of sin in them should not break their spirits or discourage them in the course of their holy living the miserable conflicting toyle of a gracious heart with the sinne dwelling in him is the thing treated of in the person of holy Paul representing all the regenerate in chap. 7. the latter part of it and the 8. chapter to ver 17. thereof is on purpose adjoyned to back on those Combitants in their warre against the flesh their sinne must not dishearten them in the combate this is the force of that word Now it is a word of encouragement as if he said therefore since Christ is your deliverer for and through whom ye may blesse God and rejoyce with thankfulnesse in the very heat and worst of the battel with your sinnes since flesh and you who are under the Law of your minds and are regenerate are two Now Now therefore stand to it and fight it out there is no condemnation to such as you And let this word for in these verses of my Text be carried to the ver immediately going before it and then they perswade these holy walkers to give up themselves fully chearfully and without fear of miscarrying to the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus which will certainly carry through without peril from the Law of sin and death which threatens them Having shewed the coherence take the fourth doctrine in this proposition The sinnes of those that walk after the Spirit shall never be to their condemnation neither shall they hinder to them the benefit of all the salvation that cometh by Christ nor ought in the least kind to hinder their assurance or their comfortable walking in their obedience their constant combating against the flesh or their full dedition to the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus as to that which will deliver from the Law of sin and death For explication of this truth observe The explication 1. What is granted 4. things here in the first place what is granted 1. It is granted that the sinnes of those that walk after the Spirit are sinnes they are transgressions of Gods holy Commandments they are filthy and do make them guilty they are against God and against Christ and are repugnant to the holy Ghost they deserve condemnation though they redound not unto condemnation they redound to their fault and to their guilt though not to their châ—rge for they are not imputed nor to malediction these Christ hath borne nor to eternal punishment for Christ hath made full satisfaction That their sinnes condemne them not is not from any lesse desert they also strike at the life of grace though they cannot destroy the life of grace 2. It is granted that there is flesh in them the seed and spawne of all sin that
ever mans eye saw or eare heard of of presumptuous sinne even of the sinne unpardonable and unto death but it is subdued and broken or destroyed so that it hath not dominion There is not a full deletion and taking away of the being of sinne He that saith he hath no sinne deceiveth himself and there is no truth in 1 Joh. 1. 8 10. him 3. These holy walkers after the commands of another ruler even of the holy Ghost dwelling in them do confesse as much and do retain the sense of their sins and sinful natures and do hold them contrary to the Spirit contrary to its lustings 1 Joh. 1. 8 9 and contrary to their walking 4. There is not in them a blotting out and taking away of all the sad ruines which sinne hath made upon man-kind these shall not be taken away from them untill the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the second time when the last enemy death and the grave shall be destroyed as it is promised in Act. â— 19 20. then there shall not be so much as a scarre of the woâ—nds which sin hath made SECT 2. In the second place observe when we say that their sinnes should not hinder 2. Whose sins hinder not comfort and assurance and what sinnes their comfort or assurance we â—peak of the sinnes of such as hold on in this walk retaining their integrity otherwise the fall of a David or of a Peter will take away their comfort in holy wayes and the joy of their salvation untill it be unfeignedly repented of and they recovered of such falls We yield that all sinnes in their own nature and by the law of works do make against all comfort but there are great sinnes the manifest works of the flesh which the spiritual may fall into and these for thâ—t time destroy the comfort of the most holy of Saints who are guilty of them Neverthelesse while the regenerate are guilty of these sinnes after calling these in them compared with the unregenerate that live and walk in the same sinnes may be said truely to be of infirmity and to be but falls in their walk although they are not in their own nature sinnes of infirmity There are sinnes of infirmity viz. Sins of infirmity and there are sinnes that may be fallen into of infirmity Now the sinnes which are sinnes of infirmity of these we speak in this doctrine These are such sinnes as have been found in the best and choicest of Gods Servants upon earth who have kept their holy watchfulnesse and while they have kept it Infirmity is when the serious purpose What infirmity is of holy and humble walking with God both general for our whole course and special for our particular wayes and actions is present and firm but to performe what we unfeignedly desire and diligently endeavour is wanting Sinnes of infirmity Rom. 7. 18 And what are sins of infirmity in generaâ— Psa 19. 13. are such as â—nto which presumptuous sinnes are opposite Sinnes of infirmity are opposite to sinâ—es which are done willingly to sinnes against knowledge and conscience I say not sinnes with knowledge and conscience The most knowing and conscientious being truely godly and gracious may see those sinnes which wicked men neither see nor feel but those sinnes which are against knowledge and conscience they are as a thief in the candle as gravel in the shooe of a Traveller More particularly sinnes of infirmity In particular Psa 19. 12. 1. Are secret sinnes which we know not yet knowing our ignorance or defect of full and cleare sight whereby many sinnes may scape us we repent of them as did David saying Who knoweth his eâ—roâ—s â—clâ—nse thou me from secret sinnes 2. They are imperfections and failings cleaving to our good works and to our best actions 3. They are such as arise from want of age in Christ and do accompany the state of a Babe An infant is infirm 4. They are such as proceed from want of strenâ—th where there hath been but little means or though great meanes yet enâ—oyed but for a little time 5. They are sudden indeliberate breakings out contrary to our bent and purpose when our judgements are clouded by some sudden temptation after which we are sensible of our failing mourne complain labour to â—amend and to get ground of our corruption Sinnes of infirmity are found in the regenerate only who have the life of grace begun No weaknesse where no life Weaknesse is properly in those who have and retain a sincere universal and constant inclination to spiritual things as the best No infirmity where the Spirit of Christ dwells not Although the inhabitation of the Spirit be no cause of weaknesse but of strength No infirmity in those that have not gracious principles for in such the deadly law of sinne hath dominion No failings where no right judgement to place us upon high and supernatural ends and aimes Infirmities are in those only that have espoused love to Jesus Christ Infirmities are those sinnes which are the matter of dayly humiliation and the objects of dayly mortification It is not of infirmity to please our selves in our weaknesse to plead for it or to allow of it There are infirmities which are not possibly to be rooted out when yet the upright strive daily against them as forgetfulnesse heavinesse of Spirit distractions in duty sudden passions fears secret fugitivenesse of heart from under the presence of God some kind of rashnesse and rudenesse of spirit in our approaches to God covetings or hanckerings after the creature inordinately with many of like sort and there are infirmities more easily subdued as are all the frailties which break out in gestures words and actions the Apostle gives us the ground of such a distinction when he saith In many things we offend all If any man offend not in word Jam. 3. 2. the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body SECT 3. Now having treated thus of sins of infirmity What is meant in saying sins of infirmity shall not condemn this doctrine sheweth First that these sinnes of infirmity shall not condemn those that are guilty of them Not as if their great sinnes shall condemn them no for Jesus Christ mediates not only for lesser sinnes but for the greatest sinnes and God forgiveth iniquity transgression and sinne sinnes of all sorts and of all sizes but the meaning is that Christ is such a propitiation that these are covered such an Advocate that he pleads to the Father that these by 1 Joh. 2. 1. the tenour of the Covenant of grace be wholly passed by he is such an high Priest as is touched with the feeling of our infirmities for though he never knew what it was to sinne no not of infirmity he knew no sin yet he was tempted and so Heb. 4. 15. is touched with the feeling of the state of one that cannot be free from some touch of defilement when he