cleanse the inward parts of the belly Prov. 20. 30. and be dedicated to him and filled with the fruits of righteousness and this fruit we reap of it in being exercised to the consideration of the grace of God in Christ that while we were yet without strength in due time Christ dyed for the ungodly and having access by faith thereinto Heb. 12. 2 11. Rom. 5. 2 6. Jam. 1. 2 5. Hence afflictions are compared to water because God is hereby washing and cleansing us Psal 66. 12. Isa 27. 3. and to fire because God is hereby proving and purifying and making white that the trial of the faith of believers being much more precious than that of gold which perisheth though it be tryed with fire might be found to praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ Isa 31. 9. 48. 10. Zech. 13. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. and so the means by which Jesus Christ doth wash baptize and sanctifie are the holy Ghost in the testimony and fire Mat. 3. 11. Luk. 3. 16. 3. How God and the word of his grace doth give and is able to give them the inheritance To this we say as before is noted that he doth not now fully and gloriously give it to them in this day yea Abraham to whom the promises were made and the rest of the Pâ—triarchs they received not the promises Heb. 11. 13 39. God gave Abraham none inheritance in the actual and glorious injoyment of it and he and Isaac and Jacob heirs together with him of the same promise all died in faith not receiving the promises Act. 7. 5. Heb. 11. 13. and though Peter saith he was a partaker of glory yet he saith of the the glory that shall be revealed it is not so yet 1 Pet. 5. 1. But now 1. Jesus Christ doth give it them in giving himself to them in the word of his grace to whom the promises were originally made Gal. 3. 16. who is the heir of all things now actually in our nature Heb. 1. 2. and whos 's the inheritance is and who is entred to take possession for us Heb. 6. 20. and so in receiving him they are made sons of God by faith in Christ Christ is theirs and they are Christs And if sons then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things unto him and he that believeth on the son hath everlasting life all things are theirs as Christ is theirs even by faith whether things present or things to come and they are Christ's and if Christ's then are they Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise Joh. 3. 35 36. 1 Cor. 3. 21 23. Gal. 3. 26 29. and so God in giving Christ as raised from the dead in the wâ—rd of his grace makes an everlasting Covenant with believers Isa 55. 3. with Act. 13. 34. And so 2. God doth in and through Christ give it in the word of his grace by promise which was confirmed of God in Christ before the Law and now actually ratified and sealed by the death of the Testator whose blood is the blood of the new Testament and everlasting Covenant and so God gave the inheritance to Abraham by promise and they who are Christ's are heirs according to promise Gal. 3. 18 29. that they might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them Heb. 6. 17. 20. and so as Abraham is said to have received the promise even in the word of it and through faith and patience to inherit the promises even so he gives and they are receiving it and are saved by hope and so by faith and in hope they are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be moved Heb. 12. 28. for he is faithful that promised having confirmed the Covenant by his blood and is alive to see it performed and is the Mediator of it that the called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance Heb. 9. 14. Jam. 1. 12. 2. 5. 3. He is giving unto them an earnest now even the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of the inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession Eph. 1. 13 14. 2. Cor. 1. 22. 5. 5. An earnest is a part of the whole a first fruits and so they receive a first fruits of the spirit Rom. 8. 23. and an earnest is also an assurance and confirmation that they shall have all in due time this spirit he is now giving unto them to make them partakers of the forgiveness of their sins to be a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ and so to indue them with a new spirit judgment and disposition to write his Laws in their hearts and put them in their minds and to fill them with his fruit love joy peace long suffering c. Heb. 10. 14 17. Eph. 1. 17 18. Gal. 5. 16 22 23. and this spirit which is the earnest of the inheritance he is giving unto them and they receive through the word of his grace according to that Received ye the spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith Gal. 3. 1 5. 4. Yea when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven he will give unto them the inheritance gloriously which here they have been receiving by faith and hope and in the earnest and first fruits of it they shall then inherit all things and God himself will be with them their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes c. and this he will give unto them not according to their works of righteousness but of grace yea and according to the rule of the word of his grace for God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel the word of his grace and so according to that rule he will give eternal life to them that by patient continuance in well-doing have been seeking glory honour and immortality Rom. 2. 7 16. they shall then be judged according to the Law of liberty Jam. 2. 12. and according thereto he that believeth the Gospel and is baptized sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God shall be saved viz. shall obtain that salvatâ—on in Christ Jesus with eternal glory Mark 16. 16. 2 Tim. 2. 10. they shall not then be judged according to the Law of works which is do and live and Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the Law to do them for according thereto no flesh living can be justified in his sight but by the Law of faith the word of his grace in which is declared to us that this is the will of him that sent Jesus Christ that every one that now seeth the Son and believeth in him should have everlastinglife and he will raise him up at the 〈◊〉 day to the glorious injoyment of it and so of that inheritance which
LIGHT IN DARKNESS OR A CONSIDERATION OF A Comfortable and Instructive Resignation OF THE Church of God By an Eminent and Faithful Watchman upon his Departure OCCASIONED By the sad loss of that Faithful and painful Labourer in the Lord Mr. Thomas Moor Junior By C. P. Look away from me I will weep bitterly labour not to comfort me because of the spoyling of the daughter of my people For it is a day of trouble and of treading down and of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of Vision breaking down the Walls thereof c. Isa 22. 4 5. Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy When I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him until he plead my cause and execute judgment for me he shall bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousness Then she that is mine enemy shall see it and shame shall cover her which said unto me Where is the Lord thy God c Mica 7. 8 9 10. London Printed in the Year 1669. To the Reader Christian Reader WHAT the occasion of the following Discourse is thou mayest see before viz. the death of one that laboured abundantly in the Work of the Lord yet not he but the grace of God that was with him whom the Lord in testimony of high displeasure to the survivers took away to himself in the midst of his dayes and Work and thereby hath occasioned and increased mourning and lamentation in the daughter of his Judah Oh! that while he is thus lifting up his hand we may see wherefore he is thus contending with us that we may turn to him that smiteth and seek the Lord of hosts lest his wrath further break forth as fire and devour and there be none to quench it He was one that was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for he knew that it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth and therefore he determined to know nothing else in and unto all things save Jesus Christ and him crucified as he is evidently therein set before us and pourtrayed unto us and did not preach himself but Jesus Christ the Lord nor was his zeal exercised about indifferent things or lighter matters for he was well assured that the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink and so not dayes and times and places and gestures and circumstances and such things as perish with the using but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost and therefore did in these great things of God's Law serve Christ and so was acceptable to God and profitable to men he was even set for the defence and confirmation of the Gospel and that was to him the joy and rejoycing of his heart and he had all his confidence begun and strengthned from the kindness and love of God our Saviour to mankind and his feeding upon the flesh of Christ that was given for the life of the World and the grace of God therein commended by which Jesus Christ tasted death for every man and in the vertue of his blood is raised again in that same body in which he bare our sins on the Tree this was the beginning of his confidence and not some secret thing with him or peculiar manner of love to him the reason of his hope the answer of his good conscience towards God the foundation of his faith and hope the argument by which he was reconciled to God and strengthned to look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life and where-through his heart was purified and principled to the unfeigned love of the brethren and to the love of all men yea of his enemies from hence his hearts desire and prayer to God for them was that they might be saved The love of Christ did constrain him to perswade men and pray them to be reconciled to God and receive his grace to purpose whether he were looked upon as one besides himself or as a sober man because he thus judged that if one died for all then were all dead and he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose again In preaching the word he was instant in season and out of season and was to that end that Christ might be magnified and therein mens good indeavoured and especially the profit of the houshold of faith pursued in journeying often in weariness and painfulness in watchings often c. Who was weak and he was not weak Who was offended and he burned not And in preaching Christ he did warn every man as he had opportunity and teach every man in all wisdom that he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Whereunto he did also labour striving according to his working which wrought in him mightily He hath fought the good fight he hath finished his course he hath kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give to him at that day and not to him only but also to all them that love his appearing Doubtless God in such strokes is signifying his great displeasedness with us in removing so untimely one so much framed to a like mindedness with himself in Christ whose heart was fixed to indeavour the good of all men especially of them that believe sutable to the mind of the living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10. As if he were hereby beginning to rise up out of his wonted place of mercy and to for sake us and wo will be to us when he depart eth from us Oh! that we may consider his work and the operation of his hands lest he destroy us and not build us up In this day suâ—ely the Lord God of hosts is calling to mourning and to weeping and to baldness and to girding with sackcloath Oh! that there may not be beheld among us joy and gladness slaying Oxen and killing sheep eating flesh and drinking wine But O daughter of Zion let tears run down like a River day and night give thy self no rest let not the apple of thine eyes cease Arise cry out in the night in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord lift up thine hands towards him He hath trodden under foot thy mighty men for this thou hast cause to weep that thou shouldst procure such testimonies of displeasure to thy self and that thine eye thine eye should run down with water because the Comforter that should relieve thy soul is far from thee Oh! that we may yet turn again to the Lord. We have still a Lord to turn to when the servants are removed the great shepherd to direct our eyes and hearts to when under-shepherds are taken away And to
the word of his grace 3. His grace still further appears to be great in this word of his grace if we consider the persons for whom he was thus greatly abased and that both as to their condition and as to their number 1. As to their condition in which they were we have it declared Rom. 5. 6 8 10. While we were yet without strength in due time Christ dyed for the ungodly God commendeth his love towarâ—â—â—s in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us when we were enemies we were reconciled by the death of his Son And so when without strength to help our selves sick and sick to death as water spilt upon the ground that cannot be gathered up again 2 Sam. 14. 14. when none could by any means redeem his brother by any thing he could do suffer or offer to God Psal 49. 7. Gal. 2. 21. then he commended his love to us yea this great weakness and helplessness we had contracted to and brought upon our selves by out voluntary departure from God God made man upright in a condition to have had communion with his Creator but they sought out many inventions Eccl. 7. 29. Adam transgressed the Covenant and there dealt treacherously against God even as a Wife treacherously departeth from her Husband Hos 6. 7. and not for want but through wantonness listened to the lye of the tempter and so brought death and misery into the world Rom. 5. 12. Our comeliness was turned into corruption and we retained no strength and now to lay hold on us when we had voluntarily disabled our selves this was great love indeed Amongst men this shuts up the bowels of their pitty when any one doth willingly and wilâ—ully lame or disable himself who will bemoaâ— such an one or turn aside to ask how he doth But in such a state God pityed us yea when we were ungodly and sinners ungodly such as did not worship him or desire and much less deserve any favour yea acknowledged not our fault but sought to hide and cover it Job 31. 33. and to throw it from one to another yea the man as it were secretly to cast it upon God The woman thou gavest to be with me she gave me and I did eat yet now he manifested his love to them that asked not after him yea that hid themselves first from the presence of the Lord and afterward sought to cover their transgression by hiding it in their bosom And sinners such as had mist their mark and were greatly deceived they in their pride not content with their state God created them in but listening to the temptation of Satan aspired to an equality with God and to be as God's Oh high presumption to have a self-sufficiency in themselves but they missed miserably what they in hearkning to the seducer proposed to themselves and so became transgressorâ— and broke his Law and thereby became such as God hears not though they had cryed Joh. 9. 31. such as he could not delight in or have fellowship with yet now he had compassion on us This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Christ hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust 1 Pet. 3. 18. yea when we were enemies enemies to him as well as to our selves haters of him God was in Christ reconciling us to himself David's kindness toward Saul wonderfully wrought upon him and it even broke his heart because he killed him not but spared his life when it was in the power of his hand to have destroyed him If a man find his enemy saith he will he let him go well away wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day 1 Sam. â—4 19. But alas David's love herein though very rare amongst men is not to be compared with this we are speaking of for Saul whom he spared was God's Anointed and King and therefore David could not put forth his hand against him and be innocent 1 Sam. 24. 10. 26. 9. But now on the contrary he that so testified love toward us was the Lord and heir of all things it is Christ the Lord 's anointed that dyed and we were his creatures and servants that had rebelled against him Again David parted with nothing that was dear to him much less laid down his life to shew kindness to Saul only spared him and forbore to touch him but Christ dyed for our sins that he might bring us back to God Is this the manner of man Oh Lord God Greater love than this hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends but God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners and enemies Christ dyed for us Joh. 15. 13. with Rom. 5. 6. 8. Great reason have we to break forth into admiration with the Psalmist and say How excellent and precious is thy loving kindness O God! Psal 36. 7. 2. The persons as to the number for whom he so humbled himself were all of them whose nature he took and in which he vvas made a little lovver than the Angels he vvas crovvned vvith glory and honour that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man Heb. 2. 9. It vvas a light thing too mean for and belovv him that he should be God's servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob c. but God hath given him also that he should be for salvation to the ends of the earth Isa 49 6. And this began to be preached by the Lord himself God so loved the world saith he that he gave his only begotten Son c. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world thrâ—ugh him might be saved Ioh. 3. 16 17. This he spake to one man even to Nicodemuâ— that he might be born again We are apt to think that a particular application of God's love as men call it might have been more proper in this case vvhen our Saviour vvas applying himself to one person yet vve see the course our Saviour the Wisdom of God takes vvhen he is declaring the necessity of the Nevv-birth and directing to the means by vvhich a man may be born again And indeed herein he shevvs vvhat is the vvater of vvhich a man may be begotten again namely the pity and kindness of God to man-vvard and not some particular or peculiar love to this or that man And from his mouth the Samaritans received and learnt this lesson Now say they to the vvoman we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world Joh. 4. 42. So Joh. 6. 51. And this was also confirmed unto us by them that heard him We thus judge saith the Apostle that if oâ—e dyed for all then were all dead and he dyed for all 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Yea this
the salvation Christ hath wrought and obtained in himself for them So it is said Wisdom 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ cryeth without without the pale of the professâ—â— Church without where are dogs Rev. 22. 15. She uttereth her voice in the streets she cryeth in the chief place of concourse in the opening of the gates in the City she uttereth her words namely speaks of excellent things to them and the opening of her lips are right things She declares good things to them the goodness and graciousness of God toward them and right true things also that which is faithful and worthy of all acceptation Prov. 1. 20 21. with Chap. 8. 1 4 6. And so it is said the Spirit of the Lord God is upon Jesus Christ because the Lord hath anointed him to preach the Gospel c. and so to preach it as to comfort all that mourn as distinguished from Zions mourners even all that mourn whatever be the occasion Isa 61. 1 2. and without controversie he is without sin herein he is faithful in what he is appointed to yea not only faithful from the ingagement and obligation of an appointment but his own gracious heart and cordial affection to all moves him so to be for he is the Son of the Father in love Hence that Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners in the way Psal 25. 8 9. He is not simply upright but good gracious and thence also upright therefore will he teach such as are out of the way even such as have missed the way and mark as distinguished from meek ones and fearers of the Lord. And in and with his witnessings of God's goodness he is also faithfully reproving and convincing men of the sinfulness of their sin and of the vanity of their idols he is shewing unto them the emptiness and unprofitableness of all those things in which naturally they are seeking rest So it is said Prov. 1. 21. Wisdom uttereth her words this is the first thing she doth namely speaks of excellent things as before and in and with this reproves How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge ver 22. He is making gracious proclamation and invitation to every one that thirsteth to come to the waters and he that hath no money no gracious frame or qualification and therewith reproving them for and convincing them of their folly and unreasonableness in spending their money for what is not bread and labouring for that which satisfieth not Isa 55. 1 3 41. 29. with Chap. 42. 1. Psal 4. 2 3. 62. 8 10. Prov. 8. 4 10 21 32 36. 9. 1 6. All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light The true light doth not simply reprove but makes all things manifest it discovers things in their right and proper colours that men might flee from the things reproved wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest that hast fellowship with men in their unfruitful works of darkness and arise from the dead both from dead persons and things forsake the foolish and Christ shall give thee light Eph. 5. 13 14. Prov. 9. 6. It is the work and office of the Holy Ghost to reprove and convince the world of sin because they believe not on Christ of righteousness and of judgment and this he doth by glorifying Christ and taking of his things and shewing unto men John 16. 8 14 15. And together with this discovery of God's goodness to all in due time vouchsafed and reproof of mens evils and discovery of the sinfulness of their sin and emptiness and unprofitableness of their objects of rest and satisfying in which in vain they seek what is not in them Jesus Christ is also preventing men in due time with some capacity to behold what he is commending to them and what he is condemning and faulting This is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Joh. 1. 9. God hath put his Spirit upon him and so furnished him and as so furnished he hath given him to be a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes Isa 42. 1 7. Hence that If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth liberally to all men and upbraids not Jam. 1. 5. The poor and deceitful man meet together the Lord lightneth both their eyes Prov. 29. 13. Jesus Christ is the light of the world the great manifestation of God's goodness to men and the giver of light to men Upon whom doth not his light arise Joh. 8. 12. Job 25. 3. He doth seasonably open mens eyes and unstop their ears that they might behold what he is presenting and hear what he is speaking and is also turning men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God even Jews and Gentiles that they might turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God and so by his Spirit preaching not to their outward ears only but to their spirits who still continued disobedient Act. 26. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 18 20. Not only bowing and moving them by a moral swasion as some speak but giving some supernatural light and power unto them as in his hand is power and might and strength so in his hand it is to give strength unto all and he is faithful hereto in due time 1 Chron. 29. 12. The bread of God is he that cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world unto the dead world who are dead in sins and trespâ—sses John 6. 33. and he so cometh down in such manner and to such end that a man any man may eat thereof and not dye ver 50. He is not only calling to men but also stretching forth his hand unto them in the means vouchsafed Prov. 1. 24. And indeed otherwise men could not come unto him No man can come to Christ except the Father who hath sent Christ draw him Joh. 6. 44. they have no sufficiency of themselves as of themselves to think any thing that is good they have no light in their understanding no freedom of will no inclination or affection to anything that is spiritually good in them as of them and from Adam dwelleth no good thing but now that they might come he is vouchsafing the cords of a man some demonstrations of his goodness through a Mediator and is drawing them with the cords of a man with the bands of love and is to them that refuse to return as he that taketh off the yoke on their jaws and layes meat unto them Hos 11. 3 5. Jesus Christ draws all men unto him even such as break his bands and cast away his cords from them and despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance c. Joh. 12. 31 32. Psal 2. 3. Jer. 5. 5. Rom. 2. 4 5. And it is mens refusing their own mercies for lying vanities and neglecting and abusing such capacities given
hearts desire and with-holds not from him the requests of his lips he did oft-times hear Moses but once when he request somewhat for himself the Lord said unto him let it suffice thee speak no more to me of this matter and would not grant him his desire but God never turns away the face of this his anointed one but hears him alwayes Joh. 11. 41 42. And as before is intimated his end in making intercession it is not only that mens lives might be a little longer continued much less is it that he may aggravate their condemnation though if men still refuse and rebel their condemnation will be hereby aggravated and God will wound the head of his enemies and the hairy scalpe of such as go on still in their trespasses Psal 68. 18 21. but that they which live and have their lives prolonged might live not to themselves but to him who dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. and therefore while he intercedes for further sparing it is that he may dig about by his corrections and chastenings in which he hath a gracious end while it is called to day Job 7. 17 18. 33. 19 29. and dung them with his mercies and goodness to lead them to tepentance as Luk 1. 3. 6 8. So also the Apostle signifies in that motive and argument he layes down to move the Coriâ—â—hians not to receive the grace of God in vain for he to wir the Father saith to Christ I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee I say therein is signified that while God hears Christ and that is all the time he is mediating he is also using means and succouring him in his ministration that men might receive the grace of God to purpose and so all this while it is an accepted time and day of salvation in which men may seek the Lord and he will be found 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. Isa 55. 1 6. And hence the Apostle Peter instructs to account the long-suffering of our Lord to be salvation that is not only an evidence and witness of that salvation wrought and compleated in the person of our Lord though it is so also Psal 68. 18 20. nor only that during that time of his exercising long-suffering he is saving them from destruction but also to signifie what the end of our Lord in procuring it for us and exercising it toward us is namely He is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish no not those scoffers that walked after their own lusts and said Where is the promise of his coming while it is called to day but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3. 4 9 15. Prov. 1. 22. for he hath no pleasure none at all neither secret nor revealed in the everlasting destruction of men while the day of his grace and patience continues and that is while Jesus Christ mediates and that is while God is calling men by any means and stretching forth his hand which he doth while he calls Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should dye saith the Lord God and not that he should return from his wayes and live Ezek. 18. 23. 33. 10 11. Isa 49 8. 50. 1 2. and therefore when men have so provoked God as that they have deserved to be presently cut off and he is threatning to bring upon them such judgments as in which many would have their lives taken away and so dying in their sins be sealed up to the wrath to come because he hath no pleasure concurring with their destruction while there may be hope he is through the Mediation of Jesus deferring his anger and waiting that he may be gracious and exâ—â—â—ting himself that he may have mercy upon such Isa 30. 8 18. such his grace to man-ward while it is called to day But now in his present work and office he is especially the Saviour of them that believe the Apostle and High-Priest of their profession to whom he is more abundantly gracious he giveâ—h grace to the humble He forgives them their iniquities that come unto God by him and retaineth them no longer in heaven against them but justifieth them freely by his grace and ever lives to make intercession for them to take away their manifold mixtures weaknesses and infirmities and is therefore able to save them to the uttermost yea they are justified in believing by him from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses even from rebellious iniquities and to them he imputes righteousness without works and they are made accepted in the beloved Heb. 7. 25. Act. 13. 39. Tit. 3. 7. Rom. 4. 5 7. yea God is daily and continually tâ—â— just fier of him that believeth in Jesus through him as the propitiatory Rom. 3. 22 25 26. and so To them he gives power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name and they are the subjects of peculiar grace and favour Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the sons of God even such as were sometimes the children of wrath even as others 1 Joh. 3. 1. Eph. 2. 3. Jesus Christ loves them with the same manner of love as wherewith the Father loves him and the Father loves them with such manner of love as wherewith he loves his Son Jesus Christ Joh. 15. 9. 17. 23. even with a delightful and well pleased love yea therefore he loves them because they have loved Jesus Christ and have believed that he came forth from God Ioh. 14. 21 23. 16. 27. And because they are sons he sends forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts to them he pours forth his Spirit and makes known his words Gal. 4. 6. Prov. 1. 23. He gives unto them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revâ—lation in the knowledge of Christ opening and enlightning the eyes of their understandings that they may know what is the hope of his calling c. Eph. 1. 17 20. And this he doth not because of any perfection of their coming to God by Christ but from his own goodness he is pleased to make and repute them as his people and to favour them with such favour Henâ—e the Psalmist ascribes it principally to the graciousness of the Lord that he still and further teacheth them and makes known his words Good and upright is the Lord therefore the meek he will guide in judgment and the meek he will teach his way and the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant his Son whom he hath given for a Covenant of the people and in whom all the promises of God are yea and Amen Isa 42. 6. 2 Cor. 1. 20 Psal 25. 8 14. He gives them his good Spirit to guide them into all truth to teach them all things and bring all things to remembrance which Christ hath
2. They are free from alâ— pâ—â—secutions in words gestures or actions they are hid in the secret of God's presence from the pride of man and kâ—pâ— secretly in a pavillion from the strife of tongues Psal 31 19. after the body is dead their enemies have no more that they can do Luk. 12. 4. there the wicked cease from troubling and there the weary are at rest there the prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the opprâ—ssor Job 3. 17 19. The reproaches laughâ—ers scorns and persecutions that here they met with did seem to be grievous to them as to what they themselves thereby indured Psal 69. 20. as well as also as to their enemies it caused great grief to them rivers of waters run down their eyes and they were troubled in spirit because men kept not God's Laws but persecuted them wrongfully and were enemies to them for following the thing that was good Joh. 13. 21. this caused heaviness to them to consider the greatness of their iniquity and severity of the judgment they were pulling upon their heads by such iniquities They are now out of the danger of miscarrying and from henceforth there is laid up for them a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give unto them in that day 2 Tim. 4. 8. there is now a great gulf fixed and no passing from one place to another no altering of their condition no not for ever Luk. 16. 26. Eccl. 11. 3. Now abiding in Christ they are safe he that abideth in him sinneth not transgresseth not and misseth not the mark but if a man abide not in him he is cast forth its possible that such as have begun to run well may turn aside from him that called them into the grace of Christ 1 Joh. 3. 6. Gal. 1. 6. 5. 7. but then no change of their state and their works follow them all their work of faith and labour of love and patience in tribulation these shall not be forgotten but be recompensed in the resurrection of the just Luk. 14. 14. And now they are present with the Lord as here they were not when at home in the body seeing and beholding in their spirits the glorified and glorious body of our Lord Jesus and then walking by sight as now they do not for they are more excellent and therefore sorrow not for them as those that have no hope Isa 57. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 6 7 8. Phil. 1. 23 24. 2. It discovers his grace to all of this body both in soul and body when Jesus Christ shall appear the second time without sin to salvation Heb. 9. 28. in which his Israel shall be saved with an everlasting salvation they shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end Isa 45. 17. this is that which Peter exhorts the believers to hope for Gird up saith he the lions of your minds be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 13. and this he calls the grace of life 1 Pet. 3. 7. and indeed that eternal life they shall then inherit gloriously it is not wages as death is of sin buâ— a gift of grace Rom. 6. 23. Zech. 4. 6. And this grace that shall then be brought to them is so exceeding great as none here fully knows Hence that admiration Oh! how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Psal 31. 19. since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear by any thing they have heard in any declaration vouchsafed neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Isa 64. 4 These things were indeed revealed to the Apostles by the Spirit as in formâ—r times they were not and so they have declared them and yet they did but see in part and therefore Prophesie in part 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. with Chap. 13. 9. This grace is inexprâ—ssiâ—ly yea inconceivably great it hath not entred into the heart of man and much less can I declare it in order who have seen so little of it in the testimony but yet as I may be helped I shall speak a little of it 1. They that sleep in Jesus shall be raised and the living changed when Christ shall descend from heaven and so before the rest of the dead 1 Thes 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 51 52. As in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all be made alive but every man in his own order not all at once Christ the first fruits he is risen from the dead already and is become the foundation of the resurrection from and of the dead for if he be not raised there could be no resurrection and he shall be the effecter of it and is become the first fruits of them that are fallen a sleep in him especially like to whom shall be that lump Rom. 11. 16. afterward they that are Christ's at his coming then or afterward as ver 5. the end namely after the end of the thousand yeaâ—s of Christ's and his Saints reigning on the earth there will be the second and general resurrection when the dead small and great shall be raised and stand before God Rev. 20. 7 12 13 15. 1 Cor. 15. 22 24. So the Apostle John saith I saw to wit in vision the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the beast neither his image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished Rev 20. 4 6. Isa 26. 19. 2. In their being raised they shall be saved wholly from all sin death and other enemies And so From sin he shall present them to himself a glorious Church not having spot Eph. 5. 27. they shall then be sanctified wholly in spirit soul and body and be presented blameless before the throne of his glory 1 Thes 5. 23 24. 3. 13. Jude 24. No sin in them but as the first fruits Jesus Christ is holy so will be the lump then compleatly nor any imputation of sin to them or remembrance of sin upon them their sins shall then be compleatly blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and he shall send us Jesus who now is preached to us There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit but yet there is sin in them and if any of them say they have no sin they deceive themselves and the truth is not in them yea and there is some remembrance of sin upon them And as to those that dye in the
Act. 26. 17 18 22 yea any man in having and declaring it faithfully doth minister grace to the hearers Eph. 4. 28. with Col. 4. 6. It is true men have no knowledge of or will to any thing that is spiritually good yea they are naturally inclined to all evil lusting after vain things but he giveth more grace grace abounding and exceeding their natural corruption pulling down their strong holds casting down their imaginations and every high thing that exalts it self against the knowledge of God it presents more excellent and glorious arguments and gives more strength where ore he saith God resisâ—â—th the proud such as still refuse to humble themselves and turn at his reproofs Jam. 4. 5 6. the grace of God saving to all men hath now appeared Tit. 2. 11. and therefore mens sin is rendred hereby to be exceeding sinful because they either receive not this grace or receive it in vain because they receive not the love of the truth so as to be saved thereby 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. But no more to this because it hath been in part spoken to already 3. This Gospel of Christ is called the word of his grace because it is that whereby he gives grace more abundantly to them that hear in hearing he rejecteth the proud that scorn to receive his grace but he giveth grace to the humble Jam. 4. 6. He so gives testimony to the Word of his grace as that in receiving this men receive the Spirit even through this hearing of faith and not by the works of the Law even that spirit of faith whereby they have the faith of the operation of God wrought in them and so they are said to have believed through grace Gal. 3. 2. Act. 14. 1 3. 18. 27. Hence this is called the Word of faith both because it testifies Christ to be the foundation and object of faith and because by it he is working faith in those that hear it yea and doth work it in all those that in hearing hear Rom. 10. 8 17. and so chuses them out of the world from the state and fellowship thereof saves them from their ignorance of God and enmity unto God Rom. 11. 5 6. Tit. 3. 3 5. it is that means whereby he makes them partakers of the forgiveness of their sins in their minds and consciences they are justified by grace justified by faith by this word of faith believed even from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Tit. 3. 7. Rom. 5. 1 Act. 13 39. he makes the opening of his name in his testimony the very declaration of that justification and forgiveness he hath received powerful to wash them from the guilt of their sins and so speaks peace to them Act. 26. 18. the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus doth make them free from the Law of sin and death and so from the a cusation of sin by the Law in opening this arâ—ument unto thâ—m that what the Law could no dâ— in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the â—â—eness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Rom. 8. â— 3. It washes their heart from an evil conscience namely from a conscience that chargeth and condemns it self as held under wrath because our first Father hath sinned and we in him and come forth frâ—m him naturally and necessarily polluted for this is not now the condemnation and from an evil conscience that seeks by dead works to wash it self and speak peace to it self from some works of righteousness of ours This truâ—h known makes free and so the Son hereby Heb. 10. 22. Joh. 8. 31 32 36. yea and hereby they receive remission of those sins in which they sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive forgiveness of sins Act. 10. 43. And so being justified by faith they have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ freedom from the fear of his wrath and that in believing this Word he fills with joy and peace in believing and multiplies grace and peace to them through the knowâ—dge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord even â—â—rough the doctrine of him known and received by them Rom. 5. 1. 15. 13. 2 Pet. 1. 2. and so begers them again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the deaâ— as discovered in the Gospel for it is his word that quickens them 1 Pet. 1. 3. Psal 119. â—0 93. yea hereby he washes them â—rom the dominion and service of sin in their members that henceforth they should not serve sin and walking in the Spirit in minding the things of the Spirit and yielding up to its operations sin shall not have dâ—minion over them nor shall they fulfil the lusts of the flesh Joh. 15. 3. 8 32. Rom. 6. 14. Gal. 5. 16. Psal 17. 4. 119. 9 11. through this knowledge of Christ and God's grace in him he gives unto them still and further the spirit of wisdom and revelation to glorifie Christ and enamour their hearts on him and so to redeem them from their vain conversation Eph. 1. 17 18. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Tit. 2. 14. And hereby he gives unto every one of this body grace even some gracious giâ—t whereby they may speak to God and pour out their hearts unto him and some useful gift to speak to men as this testimony of Christ is received by them and confirmed in them Rom. 8. 26. 1 Cor. 1. 5 6. Joh. 7. 38 39. yea in and with this he doth establish them and save them from the error of the wicked and from divers and strange doctrines that they may not be as children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine Heb. 13. 7 9. Eph. 4. 11 14. 1 Cor. 15 1 2. Psal 17. 4. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son to preserve and keep him from those deceivers that are entred into the world and to make him strong that the wicked one shall not touch him so as to corrupt him from that simplicity in Christ 2 Joh. 7 9. 1 Joh. 2. 13 14 4. 4. 5. 18. yea hereby he gives grace to them to strengthen them with might unto all long-suffering and patience with joyfulness in those afflictions and tribulations which he is ordering unto them this is their comfort in their affliction for his word quickens them and it is unto them the joy and rejoycing of their hearts Col. 1. 11. Psal 119. 49 50 78 82. Jer. 15. 15 16 17. he creates the fruit of his lips unto them in his testimoâ—y peace peace and so heals them that are broken in heart and binds up their griefs Psal 147. 2. with Psal 107. 20. Isa 57. 15 19. with Chap. 61. 1 3. and so causeth them to know and prove
us in the word of the Lord had too much cause to say to some Now ye are full now ye are rich ye have reigned as Kings without us ye are honourable but we are despised we hunger and thirst and labour working with our own hands and too little cause to say of any their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality Oh that there were not cause generally to say from the least to the greatest Every one is given to covetousness How few are there that have been willing to promote the Gospel of Christ to their power and have been faithful in the least things Yea and how much have we been walking in pride and high thoughts of our selves and in those fruits of it such as anger wrath divisions contentions debates whisperings c. Lord be merciful unto me heal my soul for I have sinned Doubtless the thus examining our selves in the light of the Lord is a more meet exercise for us to be exercised unto than to cry out of the affliction simply Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sin it is the punishment of his sin that he suffers why doth he comcomplain for the punishment and mean time too much forget that which procures it Let us search and try our wayes this is a more meet exercise for us Lam. 3. 39 40. Why cryest thou for thine affliction thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity because thy sins were increased I have done these things to thee saith the Lord Jer. 30. 15. See what God saith to Joshua when he rent his cloaths fell to the earth upon his face and said Alas O Lord God wherefore hast thou brought this people over Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us What wilt thou do unto thy great name and the Lord said unto Joshua get thee up wherefore lyest thou thus upon thy face complaining of the affliction Israel hath sinned and they have transgressed up sanctifie the people c. As if he should say is there not a cause for what I have done am I not provoked hereto up and be doing in searching and diligently inquiring what that is that hath procured these things unto you and sanctifie your selves Josh 7. 7 10 15. So the Lord saith to his people when he was judging of them because his house lay waste and they run every man to his own house or as now â—inâ—â— grace and truth came by Jesus Christ all sough own and not the things which are Jesus Christ's Thus saith the Lord of hosts consider your wayes ye have sown much and bring in little ye eat but ye have not enough Thus saith the Lord of hosts consider your wayes Hag. 1. 5 7 9. Phil. 2. 21. And in and with our searching and trying our wayes let us turn again unto the Lord whom we have revolted Lam. 3. 40. Let us not listen unto the deceitfulness of sin in us which is the indeavouring to slay us so as to harden our hearts and say there is no hope the case is desperate we have loved strangers and after them we will go Jer. 2. 25. though we have done all this wickedness yet turn not aside from following the Lord but serve the Lord with all your heart and turn ye not aside for then should ye go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver for they are vain 1 Sam. 12. 20 25. even turn unto him from our iniquities acknowledging and confessing them as reproved and discovered and lay them apart in the light and strength of his grace And to move hereto Remember how great things he hath done for us when we were dead in sins and trespasses and justly banished from his presence in the righteous sentence of his Law he then remembred us in our low estate for his mercy indureth for ever and devised a blessed means that his banished might not be utterly and for ever expelled from him hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end Behold he hath given his Son for a witness to the people of the greatness and sincerity of his love to us let us then remember that Jesus Christ who was delivered for us all was raised from the dead according to the Gospel and let us â—eed upon that bread even his flesh that was given for the life of the world This will incourage us to search and try our wayes and to turn to him against whom he have sinned And herewith also consider that there is mercy with the Lord and with him is plenteous redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of God's grace Eph. 1. 7. there is forgiveness with him not that we should continue in sin that grace may abound but that he may be feared Psal 130. 3 4 7. even forgiveness of the sins reproved and washing and cleansing from them Oh let us then turn unto him and say take away all iniquity and receive us graciously heal our backslidings and love us freely he is merciful and will not keep anger for ever only let us acknowledge our iniquity that we have transgressed against him This is powerful to purge guile out of our spirits and preserve us from it which leads us to keep silence and to hide that we may hold fast the things reproved that he is a God ready to pardon and for this cause shall every one that is godly pray unto him in a time of finding Psal 32. 2. 6. Neh. 9. 17. In this incouragement let us yet look again toward his holy Temple Jonah 2. 2 7. Yea consider that the end of the Lord is gracious in ordering such great judgments while it is called to day and so much the Apostle particularly signifies when he had been saying For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep He adds But when we are judged namely with such judgments and that because we have not timely judged our selves we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. 30 32. His end herein is good that he might awaken us to his righteousness and cause us to arise from the dead that Christ may give us light that he may keep back our souls from the pit and we may be inlightned with the light of the living And it is infinitely better to be now judged and to submit to him therein and bear patiently his indignation than to be condemned hereafter and sentenced to and punished in that lake where their worm dyeth not and their fire is not quenched Yea in thus searching and trying our wayes and turning unto him in the incouragement of the multitude of his mercies humbling our selves before him and confessing our vileness and sinfulness hereby we shall ascribe righteousness to our Maker and give glory to him My son said Joshua give I pray thee glory to the Lord God of Israel and make confession
Zion where ye may cause the weary to rest and this is the refreshing namely that matter wherewith they might refresh those to whom they spake in directing them to the vision of all even to Jesus Christ as he was witnessed in the Law and the Prophets Isa 28. 12 16. These are Pastors after God's own heart that feed with knowledge viz. with the doctrine of Christ and with understanding with skilfulness in the word of God's righteousness Jer. 3. 15. To this then he commits them as to that wherewith they might do all their work for the Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth So the Apostle charges Timothy Preach the word namely the Word of truth the Gospel of our salvation be instant in season out of season 2 Tim. 4. 2. And this he determined to know amongst the Corinthians even Jesus Christ and him crucified as the one thing for and unto all things 1 Cor. 2. 2. Yea this our Saviour commanded his Apostles to preach the Gospel as the one thing in and unto their whole work of discipling Mat. 28. 19 20. Mark 16. 15. Luk. 24. 46 48. and so they did preach even Jesus Christ and not themselves or the Law Rom. 10. 8. Act. 10. 42. yea our Lord Jesus the great peace-maker and peace-preacher was anointed with the holy Ghost to preach the Gospel Isa 61. 1 3. Luk. 4. 18. And it 's the work and office of the holy Ghost to bear witness of Christ to glorifie Christ and therewith to convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment and to guide the believers into all truth and to shew them things to come Joh. 16. 8 14. Surely this word of God's grace is a compleat doctrine both for opening the eyes of the blind and turning to the Lord and for perfecting them that do believe so as there is no need for preaching the Law either at first to prepare men for Christ or afterwards to perfect that by the flesh which was begun by the Spirit In Christ as declared in the testimony ye are compleat c. Col. 2. 3 10. Nor is the Law in the use of it good unless it be lawfully used according to the glorious Gospel 1 Tim. 1. 7 8 11. This is that food then wherewith they might feed even with the Gospel of Christ in which is spiritually given to us his flesh which is meat indeed and his blood which is drink indeed and so here they might be instruments of causing the flock to lye down in green pastures this God even our God being alwayes with this word of his grace in the plain and faithful ministration of it to give himself to us to feed upon even his flesh which he hath given for the life of the world And so in green pastures Psal 23. 2. namely such as are delightful and pleasant to the eye and sweet to the taste sweeter than honey and the honey comb Psal 19. 7 10. 119. 103. And such as are fruitful and which cause growth and increase that from the head all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together may increase with the increase of God Col. 2. 19. For this bread of life cometh down and is given to us in this Gospel of grace so as that while Paul planteth and Apollo watereth God giveth the increases the feeding that is in this word of his grace is not dry like the heath in the wilderness but that which hath â—â—p in it and in which the Lord is the dew unto his Israel to cause them to revive as the corn and flourish like the Palm-tree and grow like a Cedar in Lebanon Psal 92. 13 15. Hos 14. 5 6. 2 Thes 1. 3. And green pastures such as are not â—ouled and sullied but this word is very pure it is a wholsom word Psal 12. 6. 119. 140. there is no lye of it 1 Joh. 2. 27. every word of God is pure Prov. 30 4 6. Though men may corrupt the word of God in their interpretations and glosses and meanings which they put upon it yet it is pure in it self and he hath kept it and will preserve it so in the records of it that we may safely â—eed thereon and therewith And green even tender and easie of digression for the weakest milk for babes as well as strong meat for those that are strong yea such an abundance of feeding here is that the flock may lye down as satisfied as with marrow and 〈◊〉 and lye down and still feed and such security in those pastures as they may lye down and none shall make thâ—â— afraid Jer. 23. 4. Herein also they might instrumentally dâ—rect them to the still waters to give refreshing to their thirty â—â—uls even to him who is the fountain of living waters in whom is forgiveness of sins and fulness of spirit who is filled with grace and truth in whom is and who gives water of life which causeth fatness and fruitfulness and gives satisfying so as he that drinketh hereof shall never thirst yea their soul shall be as a watered garden and as springs of water whose waters fail not Joh. 4. 10 14. Isa 58. 11. and these are still waters even the consolations of Christ as given in the Gospel like the waters of Shiloah that run softly and make no noise in the world This doctrine of the grace of God is not like the divers and strange doctrines of men which make a noise like the noise of many waters and who have the wisdom of this world excellency of speech strength of reason consent of fathers approbation of great ones and power on their sides which makes them appear so strong as if they would carry all before them but this is the weakness of God and foolishness of God and that which being declared in the words which the holy Ghost hath taught is every where spoken against Isa 8. 6 7. 1 Cor. 1. 25. Act. 28. 22. And yet still waters in their effect that whereby God doth and will still and quiet the enemy and the avenger Psal 8. 2. confound the wisdom of the wise and bring to nought the understanding of the prudent and will make them quiet that they shall have nothing to say Act. 6. 10. the weapons of this warfare are mighty through God to the pulling down strong holds casting down imaginations c. 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. yea still waters waters of quietness in their efficacy to any and every one that takes and drinks of this water of life which any one may do freely Isa 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. they give quietness to the soul cause it to dwell at ease Psal 25. 13. cool its thirst quiet its fears still the clamours of sin deliver from the fears of God's wrath and make quiet from the fear of all evil adversity and tribulation so as in Christ they have peace while they have tribulation in the world Joh. 16. 33. yea
deal of cunning craftiness to deceive and beguile others withal her wayes are moveable thou canst not know them Prov. 5. 6. they would be thought many times to commend that which their soul loaths they can sometimes speak of Christ in their words and of Gods grace in him to sinners while yet they only consult to cast him down from his excellency they delight in lyes they bless with their mouth while they curse inwardly Selah Psal 62. 4. they privily deny the Lord that bought them and not openly and in plain words however not at first or until men begin to listen to them and imbrace their strange doctrines 2 Pet. 2. 1. inwardly they are ravening wolves while yet they come unto you in sheeps cloathing Mat. 7. 15. they hide their design so cunningly that they are not easily discovered therein and speak in secret and are like them that peep and mutter as those that are afraid of the light and if one know discern and take notice of them they are in the terrors of the shadow of death and therefore believers are more ready to be insnared with them and it is more difficult so to detect them as to preserve others from them So much the Apostle signifies when he saith Many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping as signifying that the believers were hardly perswaded to believe they were evil workers or as bad as indeed they were because they pretended one thing and intended another and yet notwithstanding their specâ—â—us pâ—etences they were the enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction a marring of the visage of the Son of man Phil. 3. 18 19. and therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the thâ—ngs we have heard that we may not be as children tâ—ssed to and frâ— and carried about with every wâ—nâ— of doctrine by the sleâ—ght of men and cunning craftness whereby they lye in wait to deceive Eph. 4. 14. For notwithstanding their appearing godliness and great boastings of themselves their alluring doctrines their diligent importunity and cunning craftiness in hiding their design we may by the words of God's lips keep us from the error of the wicked and from every path of the destrâ—yer When wisdom Jesus Christ entreth into thine heart by faith and knowledge the word of his grace is pleasant unto thy soul discretion shall preserve thee understanding shall keep thee to deliver thee from the way of the evil man Prov. 2. 10 12. 4. 10 16. On let us hear then the instruction of our fâ—ther which is lâ—t thine heart retain my words keep my commandments and live get wisdom get understandiâ—g to get it not neither decline from the words of my mouth forsake her not and she shall preserve thee love her and she shall keep thee Prov. 4. 1 4 8. In committing our selves then to God and his Gospel we may be preserved from those whole end is destruction For 1. Here is compleatness prepared and discovered to give satisfying to our souls And 2. Direction given whereby we may know so as to beware of those grievous Wolves 1. Here is compleatness prepared and discovered to give satisfying to our souls this to which he commits them is the rest where the weary may find rest and this is the refreshing Isa 28. 12. Jesus Christ as declared in the Gospel is the bread of life and he that cometh to him shall never hunger after other food and he that believeth on him shall never thirst Joh. 6. 35. this God even our God hath done all things well for us and obtained all things into himself that may answer to all our needs supply all our wants and perfect whatsoever doth concern us he having been delivered for our offences and raised again from the dead hath made peace by the blood of his Cross slain the enmity that was between God and mankind broken down the middle wall of partition abolished death destroyed him that had the power of death wrought righteousness compleated salvation obtained eternal redemption received all fulness into himself for us yea he hath all things given unto him that may satisfie us All things are delivered to him of the father Luk. 10. 22. All things are here ready Mat. 22. 4. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand Joh. 3. 35. All things that the Father hath are his Joh. 16. 15. And surely he saith so often All things that we might be assured that all fulness dwelleth in him and we may well reason as the Apostle doth in that he put all things in subjection under him he left nothing that is not put under him Heb. 2. 8. So may we say in that all things are delivered to him and ready and prepared in him it is manifest that nothing is excepted yea and he gives all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of himself even through the word of knowledge the word of his grace 2 Pet. 1. 2 3. How powerful is this to preserve us from those who come unto us preaching another Jesus whom the Apostles have not preached or another Gospel which the believers have not accepted whosoever drinketh of the water which Christ in the Testimony gives shall never thirst This will preserve such as continue drinking from gadding about to change their way and from an itching ear to hear and heap up to themselves teachers that bring not this doctrine and even make them say with Peter when many of Christ's Disciples because of reproofs met with and not submitted to went back and walked no more with him Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life Joh. 6 60 68. Prov. 8. 34 36. In him namely in Christ as declared in the Testimony are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge And this I say saith the Apostle lest any man should beguile you with inâ—icing words in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in him ye are compleat who is the head of all principality and power let no man therefore beguile you c. Col. 2. 3 9 18. These things saith the Apostle John have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know ye have eternal life in having the Son and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God This was powerful to preserve them from those that did seduce them 1 Joh. 5. 10 13. with Chap. 2. 25 26. Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that according as it is written he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 30 31. He is the living bread that came down from heaven Joh. 6. 51. The fountain of living waters for washing and cleansing us for cooling our thirst and satisfying us for watering and making us fruitful even like a watered garden