afflicted condition but run for help and as the poor Widow served the unjust Judge Luke 18.4 5. weary God with thy complaints never let him rest till hee give thee a yeelding answer according to that promise Isa 56.6 7. 6 Adventure upon the grace of God in Christ Cast thy self on his mercy cast thy self on his mercy as did the Prodigal Luke 15.18 saying I will arise and goe to my Father c. what hope could such a Vagabond wretch have of his Fathers acceptance yet he thought it best to adventure upon this course Thinks hee if I must perish I will perish at my Fathers door you know how hee sped Just like those Lepers in the gate of Samaria 2 King 7.4 Mind their successe 1 Consider the large extent of the vertue of Christs death Motives Consider the extent of his death unto all sorts both Jewes and Gentiles 1 Tim. 2 6. God will have all to be saved Joh. 6.37 Him that comes unto him hee will in no wise cast out It is no matter who nor what manner of person he be or hath been so he come at last he may assure himself he shall not be cast out whatsoever villany hee hath lain in suppose him a Drunkard Murtherer Persecuter c. So 1 Joh. 2.1 2. and Gal. 3.28 Christ said to the polluted child lying in his bloud live Ezek. 16. Christ calls not righteous but sinners great and foul sinners Matth. 9.13 yea his bitter enemies Rom. 5.6 8 10. When wee were enemies c. Christ hath opened a door to the vilest sinner 2 Consider the large offer of Christ by the Ministry Consider the large offer Mat. 22.9 All sorts are invited to the feast Luke 14.21 He that is Christ shall stand for an Ensign to the people an erected standard Isa 11.10 to gather whole Armies to him under Christ their General and Commander This standard no opposite rage of the wicked can ever pluck down but it shall be rest to them that gather unto it though sinners have no rest in themselves Moses lifted up the Serpent that all might look unto it for cure of their stingings so is Christ lifted on the Crosse that all may see a Redeemer Joh. 3.14 15. and so lifted up in the Word that every wounded soul in the world may hear him speaking peace to them that are near and to them that are afarre off and if Christ hath appointed himself to bee lifted up to all poor undone Sinners then see that you slight not your remedy but come lifting up your heads with joy for your redemption draws nigh 3 Consider how serious an offer the Lord makes of Christ Crucified Consider how seriously the offer is made to all to whom the Gospel is preached Isa 9.6 The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this Giving a strict command that it be carefully preached to every Creature Mark 16.15 annexing a promise of his presence with it He keeps the fountain open Zach. 13.1 not shut up nor sealed but open for all commers Say not God doth but mock us for hee knows sinners cannot come and receive him for they rather will not come nor receive Christ Joh. 5.40 You will not come unto me that you might have life And you may see God is in good earnest for you are like to be damned for not obeying 2 Thess 2.12 Therefore Christ is serious and no man perisheth but by his own fault that hears these truths preached to him 4 Though it be true Receive Christ and that witnesseth he is sent to thee That Jesus Christ did not lay down his life for every particular man or woman to whom this Gospel is preached yet this is the only sure way to put it out of question that he dyed for thee in particular that is to receive and embrace the Lord Jesus and him crucified John 1.12 Acts 10.12 Isa 56.3 7. Beleeve in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved Acts 16.31 Hee certainly dyed for all them that doe beleeve The Extremity of Christs Sufferings THE NINTH SERMON ON Romans 3.24 25. Through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Vse 2. Of exhortation to the Saints TO prosecute this point yet further take a second use of Exhortation for the Members of Christ that have an interest in this satisfaction to consider the several Duties this truth calls them to 1 It calls to bitter mourning for sin all our dayes Christs members should mourn for sin It should maintain a constant spring of godly sorrow in our hearts to consider what the Lord Jesus hath undergone for us and what wrong and injury wee have done him For the clearing which minde that famous place Zech. 12.10 The Lord saith I will pour out upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication and they shall look upon him whom they have peirced and they shall mourn for him c. This place concerns properly the Jewes but typically the whole Church of Christ And it imports that they shall have such a work of God upon their hearts that they shall look upon Christ crucified by faith and mourn that themselves have peirced him and that hee was wounded for their iniquities and bruised for their transgressions and not only for them but by them yea by every sin that hath been committed by them Thus should every Christian doe that hath any interest in Christs sufferings even to be in bitternesse for every sin as a man is in bitternesse for his only Son Which expression hints to us the manner measure and degree of their mourning You know Parents mourning for a Son and an only Son and a Son whom themselves have murthered with their own hands is very bitter tongues cannot expresse it but tender Parents may imagine it and Davids mourning for Absolon represents it with Rachels grief that would not be comforted It is again compared to the mourning of the valley of Hadadrimmon c. that is as the mourning of Judah Jerusalem and Jeremiah for the death of Josiah slain by Pharaoh Necho 2 Chro. 35.24 25. which was exceeding bitter as appears in that the Singing-men and Singing-women speak of Josiah in their Lamentations to this day yea they composed solemn Lamentations for Josiah and made it an Ordinance in Israel that they should lament for him in after times Such a mourning should that bee of the members of Christ for him whom their sins have peirced upon these ensuing grounds 1 That thou mayest not say Grounds of Saints mourning the Jewes only slew the Lord Jesus and that thou hadst no hand in it Bee assured that Christ was wounded for and by the sins of all those that shall be saved Isa 53.4 5. yea there is never a sin that any of the Elect ever did doe or shall commit but peirced Christ If he suffered not for it it cannot be forgiven All the Jews and Gentiles Devil and all could not
is not only a boat or bridge to carry us into a state of Justification but it is as our leggs to walk with God in a justified state at all times and hence it is put as the condition of the Covenant with Abraham Gen. 17.1 for faith is that whereby wee walk before God and are perfect in Christ continually Object But what need wee trouble our selves any more about our Justification seeing that once justified wee are for ever justified Answ It is necessary for divers weighty reasons 1 Though a justified estate bee a sure estate yet the sureness of it depends under God upon faith 1 Pet. 1.5 Wee are kept by the power of God through Faith it is true God can keep us by his absolute power without faith but his ordinate and orderly power is through a lively and active faith 2 It is a duty that God requires of us to bee careful to continue in a justified estate Rev. 22.11 Hee that is righteous let him bee so still The word signifies let him bee justified still or let him go on and continue in a justified estate and Heb. 3.6 14. whose house wee are if wee hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of our hope vers 14. Wee are partakers of Christ if wee hold the beginning of our confidence the word translated confidence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies subsistence or standing fast to the end against all assaults wee cannot plead subsistence for our outward man without faith but this is of a higher nature we cannot subsist to God-ward without holding fast the grace of faith and use it and that stedfastly to the end 3 It is requisite for the increase and farther growth of our faith Rom. 1.16 17. in the Gospel is revealed the righteousnesse of God from faith to faith i. e. our righteousnesse for Justification is revealed that wee should proceed from one degree of faith to another and this is the way to a full assurance Heb. 6.11 12. wee desire that every one of you give the same diligence to the full assurance of hope It is much to bee lamented that ancient beleevers after a long profession are much to seek in this and are still questioning their title to Christ there are two special reasons of it 1 Their neglect of their watch and their frequent back-slidings into their sins See 1 Joh. 3.3.2 Cor. 7. ◠◠The neglect of the improving their faith upon all occasions they cannot get assurance without this 4 It is requisite for Christians safety and comfort in life and death if wee improve our faith in our Justification wee shall improve our ioy and comfort also and keep an even current without so much ebbing and flowing clouds and ecclipses and in storms and dangers it will keep a Christian on the main where he shall have See-room enough and as they did in their storms Act. 27.28 once they sounded and found it twenty fathoms again they sounded and found it fifteen and lest they should fall on the Rocks they cast out four Anchors So should Christians do I mean not content themselves that they are lanched forth into the stream of Gods Mercy but should bee often spunding in the survey of their spiritual comforts And when they finde them to grow shallow and to lessen it is dangerous to go securely on there bee rocks or sands neer it is good to have your Anchors of faith and hope in a readiness yea to cast them within the veil to prevent such dangers and desperate evils as are approaching Christ the object of justifying faith THE FIFTEENTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.24 25. Beeing justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Doct. FAith as it justifieth The mercy of God in Christ the object of faith hath especially Jesus Christ or the mercy of God in Christ for its object It is expresly said that God is the justifier of him that beleeveth in Jesus i. e. to renounce all other things for Justification and relye only on Jesus Christ and his righteousness Justifying faith may be considered two ways 1 According to the general object and action of it which is to embrace the whole Word of God Joh. 2.22 it receives the Commandements beleeves the Threatnings respects the Promises it receives the good things promised it is a guide to all our actions the fountain of all our obedience it is also exercised about all the Attributes and Works of God about the Immortality of the Soul the Resurrection of the Body and the last Judgement But in none of these senses it doth justifie 2 Justifying faith is considered according to the especial and most eminent effect of it Hath Jesus Christ for the object Acts 16.31 Beleeve on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved Joh. 11.25 I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeveth on me though he were dead yet shall he live Joh. 3.16 Whosoever beleeveth on him shall not perish Acts 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever beleeveth on him shall receive remission of sins Righteousnesse is still tied to faith in Christ who is said to be the end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth Rom. 10.4 and this is that which he commandeth to be preached throughout all Nations Luke 24.47 and this is that the faith of all the Saints hath in a special manner respected and imbraced It was Peters faith Matth. 16.16 and the Eunuchs faith Act. 8.28 and Martha's faith Joh. 11.26 27. Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God This is the faith that justifieth and by it the righteousnesse of God is unto all and upon all them that beleeve Rom. 3.22 and hence it is called the faith of Christ because it apprehendeth Christ as its object Now I adde the mercy of God in Christ because faith in this is all one with faith in Christ So that 1 Pet. 1.21 it is said by him i.e. Christ we beleeve in God that raised him from the dead Christ is not the object of faith abstractly and nakedly considered but Christ with his benefits procured and purchased by him and promised by God the Father The reasons of this duty are Reas 1. Because nothing in the world can make us righteous before God further than it doth lay hold on such a righteousnesse as is perfect and accepted for us as such by God Nothing will make a poor man rich further than it doth convey or impart riches into his possession and all that we can doe by faith to our justification is to receive the righteousnesse bestowed on us and there is no such perfect righteousnesse that is able to cover our shame as Christ's is Revel 3.17 2 Because justification of Sinners doth mainly imply a freedome and discharge from the curse and condemnation of the Law and a way for the full satisfaction of it in order to Sinners pardon and discharge and this is to bee found no where but in
of Christs redemption who though by his redemption hee freed us from sin and Satans power yet never doth free us from their molestations till the Resurrection when Redemption shall bee fully accomplished For Canaanites are in the Land still Tentations Fears and Doubts molest the Conscience still Remainders of corruption make Paul cry out O miserable man that I am Rom. 7.24 and to still his conscience hee looks at Christ again vers 25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. God will have us continually beholding to his Son and therefore hath made him Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 to us 3 To be Servants of God Be Gods Servants that hath bought us at so dear a rate As the redeemed Gally-slave should look upon himself as his Servant that redeemed him Thus Paul argues 1 Cor. 6.19 20. Yee are not your own for you are bought with a price c. You owe your Life and Liberty to the Lord Jesus You are his by right of purchase be therefore wholly at his disposing Never was a dearer rate paid in the world Your utmost service though vessels fit for your Masters use will never recompence the charge laid out upon you You are his by Creation and his by Redemption Hee purchased your souls bodies and spirits and justly then may he challenge all This was the end of our deliverance Luke 1.74 75. delivered from our enemies to serve him 4 Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free Stand fast in Christian liberty Gal. 5.1 All sorts of enemies of our salvation seek to pluck some of our liberty from us The Devil would have us abuse it as an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5.13 to turn our liberty into licentiousnesse as doe the Libertines Papists would bring us in bondage to the Law by looking for righteousnesse from thence Some would bring our Consciences in subjection to mens inventions but Paul adviseth us 1 Cor. 2.23 that being bought with a price we should not bee the servants of men nor subject our consciences to mens traditions 5 You that are at liberty remember them that are in bonds Heb. 13.3 as if you were bound with them Remember them that are in Spiritual bonds See how many in your Families Towns and Neighbour-hood goe clattering up and down in the bonds of iniquity in the fetters and chains of the Devil Pitty these poor prisoners Give them a lift to help them out Admonish the unruly pray for them that have not sinned unto death that they may bee set at liberty This is eminent charity 6 Bee thankful and seriously acknowledge the grace of God for the redemption that is in Christ Ezra 9.8 acknowledges a little reviving in their bondage Acts 12.5 how much more should wee eternal life It is an earnest prayer Psal 107.1 2. O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Let the redeemed of the Lord say so c. who ever is silent Let the redeemed say so So Psal 136.24 This is meant by the Song of Moses and the Lamb Revel 13.3 Moses and Israel praised God for deliverance from Aegypt the red Sea c. how much more should the Saints break forth into praises for deliverance from the nethermost Hell Spiritual bondage is the worst bondage And soul-redemption is the greatest redemption Isa 44.23 Senslesse creatures rejoyce only at the redemption of Gods people from Babylon But what is Babylon in comparison of our redemption by Christ Hear the Apostle Col. 1.12 13. Giving thanks unto God who hath delivered us from the powers of darknesse and translated us into the Kingdome of his dear Son in whom wee have redemption c. No love like that of Christ not no love of Christ like that manifested in our redemption Let thankfulnesse also exceed Vse last Of consolation unspeakable to all beleevers Comfort against Sin and Satan that Redemption is wrought in Christ Sin hath begun to fall and must utterly fall before him that is the chief Captain of our Salvation Satan hath been foyled oft yea vanquished and at last shall be cast bound in chains to eternal torments while the Saints shall triumph with their Redeemer for ever and ever The Satisfaction of Christ THE FIFTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.24 25. Being justified freely by his Grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ THe first Doctrine being unfolded and improved we now come to the second Doct. The justification of a Sinner is through the redemption of Christ 2. That the justification of a Sinner is through the redemption and satisfaction wrought by Christ. This truth the Holy Ghost bears witnesse to Ephes 2.7 In whom we have redemption through his bloud the forgivenesse of our sins Col. 1.14 hath the same words expresly Tit. 2.14 wee are said to bee redeemed from all iniquity That implies iniquity cannot be taken away as it is in the justification of a Sinner but in a way of redemption and satisfaction Quest 1. What is the nature of this satisfaction for the word is rarely found in Scripture Ans As it referres to men the word is found Mark 15.15 Pilate willing to satisfie the people released Barrabbas the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to satisfie is to doe as much as is surficient to him that expostulates or is wronged or to fulfill ones desires either by words or deeds But as satisfaction hath reference to a debt so it signifies full pay or to give a full price But as satisfaction hath reference to our debt unto God the word is not found expresly in Scripture but there are equipollent terms of the same signification as redemption here in the text paying a price and ransome c. which cannot be interpreted in any other good sense but as intending satisfaction Of which nature are these phrases Isa 53.5 Hee was wounded for our transgressions And again vers 8. For the transgressions of my people was hee smitten 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ dyed for our sins Heb. 10.12 Hee offered a Sacrifice for sins The word for there signifies the impulsive outward or meritorious cause respecting the punishment due to our sins Which is manifest 1 In that sin in Scripture is called a debt Matth. 6.12 Forgive us our debts Not that wee owe sin to God but that it makes us liable to Gods justice as Debts of mony make us liable to our Creditors and to any just course in Law for their recovery This debt of sin cannot possibly bee satisfied for by man for Matth. 18.24 it is a debt of ten thousand talents And the Spirits in prison 1 Pet. 3.21 can for ever suffer but not at all satisfie 2 Seeing all Mankind must otherwise eternally perish God the Father appointed of his rich grace and God the Son in infinite compassion condescends to bee our Surety and to take the debt upon himself Isa 53.10 It pleased the Lord to bruise him and vers 6. The Lord hath laid on him
Christ c. 2 Have I no reservation within my self where I would bee dispensed withall in any courses of life or any secret lusts or corruptions at lest known or allowed in judgement or practice Hath my faith such a commanding power that it will not let mee alone in commission of sin or Omission of duty then I may conclude that the faith of Christ is wrought in mee and thence undoubtedly conclude that I am a justified person Because that hee that beleeveth on Christ is already justified Now when this is soundly concluded the soul may upon daily occasions put forth and exercise his faith in Christ for his spiritual and everlasting comfort Direct 5. When thou wouldest exercise thy faith at any time thou must not go about it in thine own strength either of nature or grace received but look up for a fresh influence of the Spirit and his assistance For as it is sure that no creature can of himself look upon natural things nor act without a renewed and fresh concourse of Gods common providence So Grace though it bee above nature and stronger than it yet its motion is from the Holy Ghost And this assistance of the Spirit comes from Christ as the light from the Sun by an efflux Joh. 8.12 the power is in Christ though it work on us Therefore all things are said to be done through Christ strengthening of us Phil. 4.13 Every act of Faith requires a power of Christ in a fresh administration wher in he fulfils the good pleasure of his will and the work of faith with power 2 Thess 1.11 And this is the meaning of Pauls prayer for the Ephesians Chap. 3.16 17. that they might bee strengthened with might by the Spirit and that Christ might dwell in their hearts by faith And as the Holy Ghost must assist the grace of faith before it can act so hee must clear up the objects of faith before faith can work upon them as the light must shine upon the brasen Serpent before the Israelite can see it Wherefore the Apostle praies earnestly that God would give the spirit of wisdome and revelation to know the things they beleeved and hoped for Eph. 1.17 18. Wherefore as in all other graces so in faith God worketh in us the deed as well as the will Phil. 2.13 and Jud. 20. building us up in faith is by praying in the Holy Ghost and wee must look up to the Holy Ghost by earnest prayer to help us in the whole progress of our faith and every act of faith till wee receive the end of our faith the Salvation of our souls Christ Crucified the special Object of Justifying Faith THE SIXTEENTH SERMON ON Romans 3.25 Faith in his blood HItherto of Faith in General as the Instrument of our Justification and Christ the more special Object of it as justifying Now follows the third thing premised concerning the most special Object or the most special consideration of that object in those words Faith in his blood for the understanding whereof let mee put you in minde of the former Explication of the word blood which hath been expounded to bee meant Synecdochically a part being put for the whole So that it signifies all the sufferings of Christ in the whole state of his abasement but most especially his sufferings both in body and soul at his death even all the pains of the first and second death which our Saviour did undergo upon the Cross So that by faith in his blood wee are to understand Faith apprehending Christ crucified or undergoing the shameful and accursed death of the cross Therefore we observe Doct. It is the duty of sinners for their Justification distinctly to apprehend and rely upon Christ crucified Or thus That it is the Duty and should bee the care of sinners to place their confidence on Christ crucified for Justification For that is the meaning of the phrase Faith in his blood that is faith relying on Christ crucified This notes the subject matter of redemption whereon our Faith is principally grounded in the article of our Justification Our faith indeed in the point of Justification doth imbrace whole Christ but most properly and in a peculiar manner it is terminated in the Sacrifice and Propitiation or Death of Christ and this the Scriptures attest Joh. 6.53 54 55. Jesus said unto them Verily Verily I say unto you except you eat the body of the Son of God and drink his blood you have no life in you and this is by beleeving on Christ crucified for Christ doth not speak there immediately of the Lords Supper though Sacramental eating may bee comprehended under it and hee saith peremptorily that there is no life and therefore no justification or Salvation without the eating there mentioned but hee addes on the contrary vers 54. Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood by faith hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day There is a direct promise of Life Justification and Salvation to them that do beleeve on Christ crucified and vers 56. Hee that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in mee and I in him i.e. hath union and communion with Christ Jesus in all his benefits and therefore must needs bee justified and this is the same which John preached Behold the Lamb of God c. Joh. 1.29 i.e. the Lamb of God for Sacrifice that wee should behold for justification with the eye of faith Yea so Joh. 3.14 16. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness c. that lifting up was especially when Christ was Crucified and lifted up upon the Cross and looking on the brazen Serpent signifyed beleeving on Christ crucified that such as did so should not perish but have everlasting life And this is the very condition of the Covenant of grace Reas 1. Taken from the Old Testament wherein the mystery of Christ and Justification was more veiled and dark yet even then this truth was received that their reconciliation was by faith in the Messiah to come and made a sacrifice for sin and hence the Covenant was confirmed with blood shed Heb. 9.20 neither was the Old Testament dedicated without it Exod. 24.8 For when Moses had spoken every precept hee took the blood of Calves and Goats and sprinkled both the book and all the people saying This is the blood of the Testament that God enjoyned unto you and vers 23. it was necessary that the heavenly things themselves should bee purified with better sacrifices than these and it is necessary still that there should bee the same way of cleansing of sin away by way of Sacrifice and Blood of the New Testament Matth. 26.28 For this is the meaning of the sacrifices they were oppointed for attonement yea almost all things by the Law were purged with blood Heb. 9.22 and without shedding of blood there is no remission and so it was then and thereby the people are taught to look for justification by Christ Hence
the greatnesse and multitude of their sins yet have they a good and sure hope through grace still Psal 130.6 O Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption From 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 multum esse magnum esse plurimum esse The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying great and multiplied redemption that though sin abounds yet grace shall much more abound 3 In that they are redeemed from the perpetuity of all miseries felt or feared Thus did Job comfort his heart Job 19.25 Oh that my words were written oh that they were printed in a book that they were graven with an Iron Pen and in-laid in a Rock for ever What words were these that hee would thus eternize Why these I know that my redeemer lives and that he shall stand the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy my body yet in my flesh shall I see God c. that is hee will redeeme me from all my troubles in life and death it self and saies at death Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed mee O God of truth Psal 31.5 Quest How shall we know that we have a part in this Redemption Answ Trial of our redemption by Christ 1. If we be not in bondage to sin which appears in the commission and practise of sin according to that rule Joh. 8.34 Verily verily I say unto you that whosoever commits sin is a servant of sin This rule is universally true no man is set at liberty that commits sin and vehemently asserted Verily verily without all controversie and generally inclusive Whosoever doth it as 1 Joh. 3.8.10 He that commits sin is of the Devil yet note that committing sin is not intended of every particular individual act for so all men commit sin 1 Joh. 1.8.10 the free-men of Christ as well as the bondslaves of the Devil but of the common practice and work of wicked men so 't is 1 Ioh. 3.9 Hee that is born of God doth not work sin and 't is opposed to vers 7. where 't is said Hee that doth or worketh righteousnesse is righteous Now to doe righteousnesse is to exercise it customarily voluntarily deliberately to chuse a righteous course so to commit sin is voluntarily to live in the practice or allowance of any course of sin whatsoever So that he which gives common allowance to any one sin can have no comfort in this redemption but is in bondage still for saies Paul Rom. 6.16 Know you not that to whom you yeeld your selves servants to obey his servants you are c. You lose your own freedome yea you have sold your selves Isa 50.1 Behold for your iniquities you have sold your selves you take profit and pleasure and sell the Devil the eternal possession of your souls yea he holds them by conquest too 2 Pet. 2.19 Of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in bondage Satan fights by tentations and subdues the soul so that it obeys him as a lawful Soveraign as often as it voluntarily chooses any sin ransack therefore an enlightned conscience and it will soon give an Account of liberty or bondage through the observation of thy course of life Obj. But may not a childe of God live and dye in such a state as David 2 Sam. 12.9 or as Paul Rom. 7.14 I am carnal and sold under sin Sol. It is impossible 1 Joh. 3.9 that hee that is born of God should so sin because the seed of grace abides in him and works these four things 1 A will and resolution in all things to live honestly Heb. 13.18 2 A resistance and reluctation against every known sin Gal. 5.17 3 Watchfulnesse about every concernment to prevent sin 1 Ioh. 5.18 4 Restlesnesse in case of relapse As in the Natural body all is restlesse till every joynt be in its place again so in a gracious heart 't is never satisfied till it come back into Gods way Where therefore this restlesnesse and reluctancy is wanting the soul is plunged into the depths of this hellish bondage The heart is hard to be perswaded of this estate and therefore Christ hath spoken so earnestly If thou seest not this misery or act unwillingly to try thy self or wouldest passe over the matter slightly thou mayest infallibly report thy self a slave to Satan and subject to this bondage 2 Consider how Redemption is applied of which Elihu gives an elegant description Job 33.19 to vers 25. Hee is such a one as is pinched with his bondage and chastened with strong pain his soul draws neer to the Grace and his life to the Buryers Then if there be a messenger one of a thousand to declare to man his righteousnesse God will be gracious unto him and say Deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransome 1 The Lord opens the Ears to Discipline How redemption is applied which were before quite stopped up 2 Then he is arrested with the Lords indignation clapt up in prison and laid by the heels 3 Then he looks for deliverance and bayl and some messenger of glad tidings How earnestly doth his soul long for a ransome 4 At last the Lord saith I will be gracious Thus the spirit of bondage precedes and the spirit of adoption follows None set at liberty but such as know their bondage Obj. But a man may see his bondage and never be redeemed out of it Sol. True but none miscarry that are painfully inquisitive after the means of redemption Acts 23.7 16.30 For Reprobates see their bondage and sink under it as Cain and Judas seeking either no means through sluggishnesse and deadnesse of heart or false means through folly and blindnesse 3 Consider what resistance hath been made against thee in thy deliverance out of thy captivity for none is set at liberty without much opposition Satan like Pharaoh Exod. 3.19 will not let you goe no not with an high hand Hee will never let goe as long as he can hold you Luke 11.21 The strong man armed keeps the Palace holds his Prisoners with all his might till a stronger than he comes and ejects him Seek after this resistance 4 See what assistance of God thou hast had against all this resistance by the Devil As he stretched out his arme to deliver out of Aegypt Exod. 6.6 so he puts forth mighty power to deliver from the powers of darknesse by the spirit of his grace Col. 1.12 13. Acts 26.28 Hast thou felt this mighty power Vse 4. Of instruction and exhortation to shew men whither to goe for Redemption And 1 To those that find themselves to bee in this bondage Haste you for there is redemption in Christ none such to be had or heard of all the world over beside And what then should you doe but seek after this Zech. 9.12 Instruction to men in Spiritual bondage Turn you to your strong hold
yee Prisoners of hope As Anna the Prophetess Luk. 2.38 spake of Christ to all those that looked for redemption in Israel so speak we this day to all such amongst us as look for eternal redemption Wee cannot mention any other means but only Christ nor any better thing than liberty For Motives to seek redemption 1 Liberty is the best news to Captives that the world can afford The Father calls the time an acceptable time and the day of salvation Isa 49.8 9. when Christ is given for a Covenant of the people that he may say to the Prisoners goe forth and to them that are in darknesse shew your selves So Isa 61.1 2 3. Christ saith The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek to proclaim liberty to the Captives the opening of the Prison to them that are bound c. The possibility of liberty is good news to a Gally-slave but Spiritual liberty is the best news on earth 2 This Redemption is most excellent It is the Spiritual Jubilee the year of general release the acceptable year of the Lord Isa 61.1 2. How solemn was the Jewish Jubilee observed Levit. 25.8 10. yet that lasted but a year this is eternal Heb. 9.12 3 It is dangerous to refuse this Redemption yet those Jews 2 Chro. 36. ult when Cyrus by Proclamation gave them all a free discharge to depart from Babylon a place where they had suffered grievous bondage to their own Country accepted not the Kings royal favour but abode willing Captives and Slaves still loving Babylon more than Jerusalem so after Proclamation of Redemption wrought and at this day generally offered many love Babylon more than Jerusalem their bondage under the Devil more than their liberty through Christ Joh. 8.36 The Jews contemned the liberty that the Son would have given to them The people of Nazareth hearing Christ preach deliverance to captives liberty to the bruised c. Luke 4.18 24. at first admired the gracious words that came out of his mouth yet would have destroyed Christ and set at nought his counsel So some love the general news of Christ a Redeemer but care not to apply it nor earnestly to seek it The hired Servants might goe free Levit 25.40 41. at the year of Jubilee but many would not goe to their families and fathers possessions but said I love my Master and like my condition so that they had their ears boared with an Awle to be servants for ever Exo. 21.5 6. Thus it is to be feared many might bee boared for Spiritual Bond-men and that Satan hath boared many for his Bond-men Bee exhorted therefore to consider the present offer Gospel days are Jubilee days the year of release the acceptable year of the Lord. It concerns all Bond-men to sue out the general Proclamation if they would have any benefit thereby It was the most prevailing motive amongst the Romans to act when their Liberties lay at stake Estote viri Libertas agitur In this quarrel they would bee prodigal of their bloud but here 's no danger but in not contending for your liberty And indeed Isa 61.2 The day of vengeance is joyned with the Proclamation of liberty Oh see then the dreadful danger of refusal Quest How should I partake of this plenteous Redemption in Christ Jesus Ans Directions to attain Spiritual liberty 1. Let us bring the matter to an issue and draw some conclusion giving the Verdict one way or other that wee are in bondage or at liberty Satan is willing that wee should leave the matter in suspense or else draw a false conclusion As the Jews Joh. 8.32 pleaded that they were not in bondage forgetting that Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath shut up all under sin without exception And that all that are redeemed are drawn up from out of the sink of sin Tit. 2.14 and that all the redeemed were taken from under all the Curses of the Law Gal. 3.13 They like the escaped Beast have as it were a ropes end about their neck and fetters at their heels 2 Let us seek liberty with courage and magnanimity for we must expect discouragements When we but talk of Liberty the tale of Bricks will be doubled and if we are escaping we shall be pursued with all the forces of Pharaoh The Devil will presse hard after us if we set but a foot forward for Canaan Hee will increase our durance and raise all the Train-bands of Earth and Hell against us with all the Militia in the Magazine of our hearts But Isa 57.14 Cast yee up cast you up prepare the way take up the stumbling-block out of the way See your Leader in the Cloud and Pillar of Fire Zech. 9.12 Isa 4.5 See the door of Hope the valley of Achor Hos 2.14 3 Let us renounce all Redeemers but Christ Some think they can redeeme themselves by leaving their sins amending their lives or excusing their sins as small and making God amends for them by duties and services forgetting that no man can redeeme his brother Psal 49.8 nor yet can any redeeme himself 4 Let us with Israel cry continually in our bondage The Lord saw their affliction and heard their cry Exod. 3.7 and sent Moses to them when they were at worst to set them at liberty give God no rest Fill Heaven and Earth with your cryes So did the Church Lam. 5.16 whose bondage was not comparable to ours The Crown is faln from off our heads wee bee to us for wee have sinned vers 21. Turn us O Lord and wee shall c. 5 Study the truth of the Gospel for the promises setled on the heart by meditation bring home the Redeemer and set us at liberty Joh. 8.32 imprison it not therefore Rom. 1.18 6 Attend the motions of Gods Spirit in and with the Word for it belongs to the holy Spirit to apply this Redemption called therefore the spirit of liberty 2 Corinth 3.16 17. slight not the suggestions of it but follow it home into the soul Thus farre for instruction of Captives 2 Exhortation to the Redeemed in divers particulars from this Doctrin 1 To labour for a deadly hatred of sin Return not into Aegypt and watchfulness against it that brought us into this bondage Let us not be like unthankful Israel that when our Ransome is paid and Salvation wrought we should desire to return again into Aegypt What is this but to despise the price paid God destroyed them that he had redeemed out of Aegypt because they beleeved not Jud. 5. And will take it very hainously at our hands that wee should voluntarily accept that slavery that he paid so great a price to redeeme us from Not only a vile conversation is now dangerous but a vain one not only to live scandalously but to live unprofitably For 1 Pet. 1.18 We are redeemed from our vain conversation 2 To make continual use of Christ our Redeemer Make continual use
the eye of man So is God to the Sinner But now as transcendently evil as Sin is Christ hath satisfied for it and put an end to all troubles to thy Conscience about it By one offering hee hath perfected for ever such as are sanctified Heb. 10.15 God saith I will bring forth my Servant the branch and I will remove the iniquities of the Land in one day Zech. 3.8 9. Yee shall call therefore every man his Neighbour under his Vine and under his Fig-tree For Psal 85.10 Mercy and Truth have met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other that is all Gods excellencies gloriously shine forth in Christs satisfaction Comfort yee one another with these words 2 Consider for your Comfort Weak beleever justified as much as stronger That the weakest true beleever is justified as much as the strongest What was imputed to Abraham for his Justification was and is imputed to the weakest Saint Rom. 4.22 23 24 To Us it shall bee imputed if wee beleeve on Christ as Abraham did 'T is true all apprehend not this satisfaction alike but the matter and form of our justification is all one Therefore rejoyce O weak Christian thy cloathing notwithstanding all thine infirmities is as bright shining in the eyes of God as that of Abraham or the greatest Saint in the world Quest How can wee come to comfort through the satisfaction of Christ Answ 1 Gain your Acquittance a writing drawn with Gods own hand with your name in it 1 Joh. 5.13 These things have I writ unto you that beleeve on the Name of the Son of God that yee may know yee have eternal life So that if you beleeve there is the writing grounded on a Record vers 11. and there is your Name in it You see your way to finde your Names there get it sealed to your hearts by the Spirit 2 Let there bee an humble active embracing of Christ in the Word of Promise God requires besides his own good pleasure and the Councill of his will the work of faith Rom. 3.25 2 Thess 1.11 Thou must exercise thy humble obediential Faith as thy day-labour even a conflicting faith Rev. 2.17 and a praying Faith Ezek. 36.32 and a confessing faith As they did their sins laying their hands on the head of the Scape-Goat Lev. 16.21 So the hand the type of faith was put on the head of the burnt offering Lev. 14. And an humbling Faith which indeed is the most humble grace of all Rom. 11.20 Thou standest by Faith bee not high-minded From which grace Christ is never far Isa 57.15 yea they when pricked at heart saw Christ presently Act. 2.38 and Peter applies the Promise to them and reveals mercy to such bleeding souls Christ and a lamenting soul are never far asunder 3 Bee comforted That this way of yours by Christs satisfaction is the true way to Justification Men cry up many new waies 'T is a great mercy in such varieties of errors not to err The truth of this way of Justification is not onely true upon the truth of the word but upon the truth of God himself If God bee God this justification must needs bee true For here justice is satisfied and so God pardons which hee could as well un God himself as do where his justice is not satisfied So that wee may testify to you 1 Pet. 5.12 That this is the true grace of God in which you stand Men have a conceited grace different from this but here you may safely set up your resting place for ever Use 5. Remember to maintain perpetual homage and observance of Jesus Christ Never forget so great a mercy David cries Psal 116.6 O Lord I am thy servant and the Son of thy hand-maid thou hast broken my bonds The way of Servants and Slaves ingaging themselves to their Lords was they yeelded their submission with promise and oath to be Loyal to them as their Lords and holding their hands between the hands of their Lords they said I become your Servant from this day forth for life for limbs for worldly honors and shall owe you my fidelity as long as I live Well might this holy man say I am thy Servant since God had not brought him into but broken his bonds Paul argues much this way 2 Cor. 5.14 15. And hee dyed for all that they that live should not live unto themselves Which falls foul upon that ignoble conceit That if Christ gives satisfaction wee are freed from all obedience to the Commandements By which this doctrin of Christs satisfaction is made the occasion of prophaneness and Christ is become the Minister of sin which Paul abhorred Gal. 2.17 'T is true that since Christ hath paid the price of our redemption there is nothing for us to do by way of satisfaction but as much as in us lies in obedience to the will of Christ both from the nature of righteousness and holiness which are worth our exercising and from the Moral consideration of Christs yeelding obedience to every Commandement and out of a study for conformity to the state of glory hereafter Yea there is a Causal connexion such as is between the cause and effect between Christs satisfaction applyed to us and our holiness For Union with Christ by Faith produceth this fruit necessarily 1 Joh. 3.6 Hee that abides in him sins not The Spirit of Christ works it Ezek. 36.27 and true faith purifies the heart Act. 13.9 Act. 26.18 So then let every man do the works of God without him or suspect the work of God within him Lest fancy that works folly rather than faith that works purification bee found within him For hee that is bought with a price will glorify God in soul and body which are Christs by Redemption The Exactness of Christs sufferings THE SIXTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.24 25. A propitiation through Faith in his blood WEE have spoken in General of Redemption Come we now more particularly to consider first the manner and secondly the efficacy of this satisfaction The Manner of our redemption is by the blood of Christ and therefore 't is phrased here by Faith in his blood of which let us inquire Quest What is meant by blood here Answ The manner of Christs satisfaction is by blood Blood is put by a Synecdoche of the part for All the sufferings of Christ which hee underwent for the sins of the Elect especially his bloody death with all its concomitants So called First because death especially when it is violent it joyned with effusion of blood as Matth. 23.30 If wee had lived in the daies of our fathers wee would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets and Matth. 27.24 Pilate said I am innocent of the blood of this just person that is of his Death Secondly Herein respect is had to all the sacrifices of the Law whose blood was poured out when they were offered up Heb. 9.22 Almost all things are by the Law purged with blood and
God to roar even the fierce wrath of the Almighty So that as the Greek Church prayed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It was unknown torment that our Saviour underwent Hee encountred both the fathers wrath kindled by the sins of all the Elect and entered the lists with Satan and all the powers of darkness Luke 22.23 This is your hour and the power of darkness All the Devils in Hell were up in Armes and issued out of their gates Principalities and Powers are all let loose against the Redeemer of the World This is some part of the second death of Christ but to clear it further wee will answer a few objections Object How could Christ suffer the pains of the second death without dis-union of the God-head from the man-hood for the God-head could not dye Sol. 1 Joh. 3.16 God laid down his life for us The person dying was God else his person could have done us no good The person suffering must bee God as well as man but the God-head suffered not As if you shoot off a Cannon in the bright Ayr the air suffers but the light of it suffers not Actions and Passions belong to Persons Nothing less than that Person who is God man could bear the brunt of the day and overcome for our justification Object How could Christ indure Hell fire without grievous sins as blasphemy and despair Sol. The perturbations of Christ were like the shakings of pure water in a clean glass the water remains pure still When Christ was shaken there was no mudd in the bottome which rises in us when wee suffer extremity And again as the body of Christ dyed without dividing the God-head from it So his soul dyed the second death without parting of the God-head from it Besides Blasphemy and Despair are no parts of the pains of the damned but the consequents and follow the sense of Gods wrath in a sinful creature that is overcome by it Rev. 16.9 But Christ had no sin of his own nor was overcome of wrath and therefore held fast his integrity Object But when did Christ suffer hell torments they are inflicted after death not before it usually but Christs soul went strait after death into Paradise how else could hee say This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Sol. 1 'T is not impossible that the pains of the second death should bee suffered in this life Time and place are but circumstances the main substance of the second death is the bearing Gods fierce wrath The favour of God in Hell to a man would make Hell a Heaven The place is not a part of the debt neither and therefore ought to bee no part of the payment The laying down of the Price makes the satisfaction This is all that is spoken and threatned to Adam Gen. 2.17 Thou shalt dye the death and this may bee suffered here Wicked go to Hell as their Prison because they can never pay their debts otherwise the debt may as well bee paid in the market as the Gaol This Christ did in the dayes of his flesh when hee offered up strong crys and tears Heb. 5.7 not after death Object But the pains due to mans sins are to bee everlasting how can Christs short sufferings countervail them Sol. If the measure of a mans punishment were Infinite the duration needs not be infinite Sinful mans measure of punishment is finite and therefore the duration of his punishment must bee infinite because the punishment must bee answerable to the infinite evil of sin committed against an infinite God But Christ God-man suffered punishment in measure infinite and therefore there is no ground why hee should indure it eternally Add moreover that the dignity of Christs persons did excuse him from punishment infinite for duration for Act. 2.24 It was impossible that hee should bee holden of death because hee was both the Father of Life and the Lords Holy One. Besides continual imprisonment in Hell arises from mans not being able to pay the price for could hee pay the debt in one year hee needs not lye two years in Prison Now the debt is the first and second death because therefore sinful man cannot pay it in any time he must endure it eternally But Christ is ready pay hee laies it down upon the nail to the full for all Christs Elect therefore it is not required of him that hee should suffer for ever Neither can it stand with Gods Justice to hold him under the second death having paid the debt Now that hee hath paid he witnesseth Joh. 19.30 saying when hee had received the Vinegar It is finished So vers 28. After this Jesus knowing that all things were accomplished Many Interpretations are given of the place but this alone will hold water That the heavy wrath of the Lord which did pursue Christ and the second death that filled him with grievous terrors is now over and past It cannot bee construed of the fulfilling all Types and figures for many Types and Prophecies did pre-figure his death as that Dan. 10. that the Messiah must bee cut off and all the Sacrifices must dye the Prophecy of his Resurrection Psal 16.10 the prophecy of his intercession and sitting at Gods right hand Psal 110.1 Isa â—3 ult Therefore the former sense only is true Use 1. Of Terror to Carnal Persons Conceits removed if any argument can shake the heart of a careless wretch that lives in sin this may to consider Christs sufferings for sin imputed to him This will likewise remove those vain conceits men have taken up to secure themselves in sinning 1 That sin hath no such great evil in it as is imagined and therefore they make a mock of sin blaspheming them 1 Pet. 4.3 4. that run not to the same excess of riot with them Let such know that besides the judgements recorded in Scripture against sin and the tumbling of Angels down from heaven reserving them in chains under darkness besides the casting Adam out of Paradise for sin and the drowning the old World the fire and brimstone of Sodom the destruction of Jerusalem the torments of the damned in Hell-fire where the worm dyeth not and the fire goeth not out Mark 9.44 46 48. That which is ten thousand times more terrible take thou notice of that Christ suffers an agony for mans sin behold God dying for the sins of the Elect. See his misery who is but a surety 1 Cor. 2.8 Sins of men crucify the Lord of Glory and put him to so painful so shameful a death as thou hast heard God over all blessed for ever is cursed in but bearing thy sins If God so punished the surety how will he deal with the principal Canst thou hope O impenitent Soul to speed better in thy own sins than Christ could that bare but the sins of others 1 Sam. 14.39 As the Lord liveth who saveth Israel though it bee in Jonathan my Son hee shall surely dye said Saul If the Son must dye what will become of
not hasty in concluding that thou hast it And for the discovery of this whether thou art in the faith consider these trials 1 more general 2 more particular 1 More general Consider First Tryals of faith whether thou hast a lower work of faith which although it doth not justify yet it is a step unto the other viz. to beleeve the truth of all the things that are written in the Law and the Prophets Act. 24.14 It thou hast not a dogmatical faith of these thou art worse than the Devils and if thou beleevest them but as the Devils thou shalt have no more benefit by thy saith than the Devils have But if this faith have a tendency to justifying Faith it is of pretious use to thee and causeth thee as it did Paul to exercise thy self to have a Conscience void of offence toward God and man ver 16. This is known very much by your beleeving the Commandements as well as the Promises but see do you beleeve the Commandements hee that beleeves them will set upon the obeying of them Heb. 11.8 yea he will have respect to every Commandement do you beleeve the threatnings Sure then you will tremble at them So David did Psal 119.120 Isa 66.2 5. As when wee see a Childe shooting at us wee fear not his arrows not will stir for him because we beleeve not that hee can or will hurt us But if we see a skilful archer to level at us wee will not dare to stand within bow-shot because wee beleeve hee will hit us So 't is in apprehending Gods threatnings against our sins When he shoots his arrows at us Ps 45.5 certainly if a man beleeves not Commands and Threatnings hee beleeves not with justifying faith Yea see how thou likest the faithful application of the word to thy conscience especially when it is impartial A naughty unbeleeving heart will turn from it 2 Tim. 4.3 at the least hee doth not love to apply it to himself for his profit Heb. 4.2 and such a hearer may sit under the means all his life time and never bee the better 2 See whether thy faith bee a working faith By this thou shalt know whether it bee the work of God if it act vigorously against the allowance of any sin that Faith which lyeth dead and idle is like a dead and unsavory carcass in Gods accompt Jam. 2.22 24. that Faith that works not by repentance Mark 1.15 that works not by love Gal. 5.6 that brings not forth good fruits that bauks any duty and imboldens to any Sin Col. 1.10 Psal 119.1 2. it is not hard for him that shall descend into his own conscience to discern what manner of faith hee hath attained unto 3 See whether your faith bee any other than what you have by natural power and abilities attained unto hee that hath no other hath not this saving faith wrought in him for this is wrought by a divine supernatural power Matth. 16.17 flesh and blood hath not revealed it Col. 2.12 Faith of the operation of God Eph. 1.19 It is true a carnal man may do many duties required of him in the moral Law for the outward performance because hee hath the seeds of the Law left in him but saving faith must bee created and wrought onely by the power of God which shews that the faith of some is but a meer fancy seeing they have no more than meer nature in them there was never any difficulty in the attainment of it 4 It is a grace that is not wrought in the heart unless soundly humbled Neither will ever abide in a proud heart how can you beleeve c. Joh. 5.44 Heb. 2.4 See how the Lord brought down Paul and the Jaylor and those Act. 2. So that until Pride and Self conceitedness and Vain-glory and Contempt of others bee removed yea all glorying in and boasting of our own righteousnesse And unlesse the heart bee brought to some constant frame of humility it neither will or can beleeve And the want of this is the cause why so many Professors turn to errours and prophaneness and a loose kinde of life it comes from the unbrokenness and untamedness of their hearts Now Faith of all other graces is a heart-breaking and soul-humbling grace More particularly There are divers degrees and measures of faith And wee must take heed that wee do not lay stumbling blocks before the eies of weak beleevers by setting down such trials of faith as belong onely to strong beleevers Such as Abraham Moses Job c. When as weak ones cannot finde them in themselves they disquiet themselves without just cause For clearing of which consider some signs of the weakest faith out of Mark. 9.24 where you shall find an example in the poor man that brought his Son to our Saviour Christ to bee healed and made profession of his Faith in which wee may observe these particulars Signs of the weakest faith 1 There is a sound Conviction of his unbeleef hee perceives what an unbeleeving heart hee had and this is the first work of the Spirit of God Joh. 16.8 and a work perceiveable by the weakest beleever now none can convince the soul of its unbeleef but the Spirit of God and this is such a conviction as causeth the sinner not onely to see but to mourn for his unbeleef before the Lord to pray and strive earnestly against it He said with Tears Lord help my unbeleef hee therefore that is not sensible of this sin on the like manner hath not so much as a weak faith wrought in his heart 2 There is a strong desire after faith and grace and Christ So there was in this poor beleever It is ordinary in the Scripture to expresse the nature of the weakest faith by hunger and thirst as Joh. 7.37 38. now that signifies a restless desire after Christ and Grace accompanied alwaies with strong indeavours in the use of the means to attain unto the things desired It is not a lazy and listless desire such as the Sluggard hath which kills him but such as sets the heart and outward man on work to attend diligently on the means of grace to attain unto faith in Christ and that in a greater measure Wherefore let lubberly and lazy Professors take notice of this that they have no true faith in their hearts 3 In this beleever there was a holy jealousy that hee might not bee deceived about his grace that made him so to complain A weak beleever deals like a wise man that is but a young beginner and newly set up in his trade hee fears exceedingly lest hee should bee deceived with counterfeit wares or copper mony so it is with a provident Christian hee is very circumspect and wary lest hee should bee deceived with Copper and Alchymy faith Therefore hee loves a faithful and searching Ministry that will gage his heart and discover the unsoundness of it Joh. 3.21 Hee comes to the light that his deeds may bee made manifest
Christ who is the end of the lam for righteousnesse in his boing made a curse for us 3 Unlesse faith justifieth as it hath a respect and relation unto Christ as its object it can have no more to doe with satisfaction than any other grace as Charity Temperance c. but we know that they being works of the Law avail nothing to our justification Rom. 3.20 but the great property of faith above other graces is to draw vertue from Christ for justification and to exercise it self on the free grace and mercy of God exhibited in him Obj. But was not Abraham's faith justifying as it beleeved the power of God Rom. 4.21 22. He beleeved in God who quickneth the dead and God that had promised was able to perform therefore it was imputed unto him for righteousnesse Ans It is true he beleeved the power of God but that did not justifie him but his beleeving on the promised seed Gen. 22.18 He saw Christ's day by faith Joh. 8.56 It is true the faith of Gods power was a stay to him in great temptations he was exposed unto so it may be to us but wee cannot be justified by that faith which only beleeves the power of God to save us Vse 1. It serves to refute those that deny faith to have such a relation unto Christ in justification as hath been spoken of Such as say faith doth justifie without reference to Christ whereby the form and life of justifyng faith is taken away Christ is robbed of his glory and the Consciences of Christians of their comfort and peace Vse 2. It discovers the unjustified estate of those persons that doe not cast anchor here i. e. in Christ A man may have great knowledge and many gifts and beleeve too to admiration as they who had the faith of Miracles in the Primitive times Matth. 7.22 23. and yet be unjustified yea he may beleeve the Articles of Christian religion study the Promises and think he doth apply them to himself and yet be unjustified It is the very case of the seed in the stony ground that received the word with joy Math. 13.20 Why consider what is the word that even a carnal heart may rejoyce in it is the word of promise and this word a stony heart may receive and apply to himself and abide stony stil though Israel had transgressed the Law and cast off the thing that was good yet he would cry My God we know thee Hos 8.1 2 3. So the Jewes Joh. 8.39 41. and thus many catch at Gods mercy and seem to build upon the Promise and yet perish everlastingly Obj. But alas should I not build my salvation and justification on the promises of God what else should I repose my considence in Ans Promises vvill not justifie The Promises alone are not sufficient to bear the weight of a sinners justification and salvation neither doe they doe any thing further than they doe direct unto exhibit and bestow upon us a sufficient righteousnesse to save us and this must be had in a person not in a promise or proposition As for example the Israelites bit with the fiery Serpents were not healed with the promise or the light but the vertue drawn from the Brazen Serpent by looking on him So the promise alone will not justifie but only as it discovers and exhibits such a person i. e. Christ who puts forth or is cloathed with such a righteousnesse which being seen with the eye of faith puts the sinner into a state of justification Neither doe all the Promises discover or exhibit Christ though they are all exhibited in Christ 1 Tim. 4.8.2 Cor. 1.20 In Christ yea and amen but without Christ neither yea nor amen Rom. 8.32 God gives his Son first then other things Eph. 1.3 He blesseth us with all spiritual blessings in Christ but we can have none nor lay claim to any promise in the Book of God without him Quest What comfort is there then for such a man by the promises in Jesus Christ Ans The comfort truly is that there is an exhibition and holding forth of Christ in them to the vilest sinners and whilst there is life there is hope to get into Christ and get interest in the Promises 1 Joh. 5.11 This is the record that God hath given us life eternal and it is in his Son Hence Christ is called the Covenant Isa 49.8 because not only his person was and is the main thing in the Covenant but also because all the promises in the Covenant are his and made to him and in him and through him only conveyed to beleevers Thus we see what a dangerous thing it is to pitch our faith first on any thing but Christ and thence to expect a justified estate Quest How is faith in Jesus Christ known Ans 1. By the entrance of it which is such that it separates the sinner unto Christ as Psal 45.11 Forget thy fathers house c. As it is in persons marrried who forget and leave their fathers house and old friends and sequester themselves to marriage communion so it is with those that are married to the Lord Jesus though they have been intangled in their affections to their old ways yet by hearkning to the word of Christ they renounce and forget all for Christs sake then the King takes pleasure in them 2 By the progresse of it as they have received Jesus Christ the Lord so they walk in him Col. 2.6 7. and are subject to him in every thing Ephes 5.24 yea they live by the faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 Vse 3. Instruction and exhortation to shew and exhort us whither to goe for justification It is unto Christ and the mercy of God in him Let the main care and desire of our souls be after the person natures works and merits of the Lord Jesus and thereby shall wee bee possessed of this great benefit of justification through him Neither is my meaning that we should seek to come unto him any other way than by the Word and Promises for if we doe we can never come to him but meet with Satan as an Angel of light in some Enthusiasm But wee must bee acquainted with the Promises yea such as doe carry and exhibit Christ unto us and therein close with Christ before wee can claim the promises of pardon or of the Spirit or of any grace or glory Mot. 1. Consider Christ as he stands in relation to the Father he is 1 No other than the Son of his love Col. 1.13 the Fathers love is infinite to him and therefore he hath given all things into his hands for our justification and salvation Joh. 3.35 whatever fruit or testimony of the love of God the soul stands in need of he may be sure to have it from Christ 2 The Father hath sealed him Joh. 6.27 hee hath not only designed him but signed and sealed him a Commission to be a Mediator hath set his stamp upon him his express
Image in so much that hee hath the fathers broad Seal to bee our propitiation and it can be had no where else 3 Hee is the fathers Annointed who received the Spirit without measure qualifying and furnishing of him with all such sufficiencies as were requisite to his Mediators office and this unction was with the Holy Ghost and Power Act. 10.38 i.e. with power to do whatever his office required to be done Mot. 2 Consider Christ in his person as hee is Immanuel God in our nature as being man hee is fit to be a propitiatory sacrifice and being God is able to vanquish all his sufferings and to give infinite vertue and value to them Being man he is flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone and hath a feeling of our infirmities and being God hee is able to apply all his sufferings unto us that a poor beleever may call him Ithiel and Ucal Prov. 30.1 God with mee and the strong one 2 As hee is a middle Person a Mediatour betwixt God and man 1 Tim. 2.5 6. Heb. 8.6 A Mediatour of a better Covenant established on better promises he is a daies-man between God and sinful man and one fit to deal with both parties at Variance And therefore wee need not complain as Job doth Job 9.32 33. Hee is not a man as I am that I should answer him and wee should come together in Judgement neither is there any daies man or umpire between us that may lay his hand upon us both Yea but Jobs redeemer was a fit redeemer and umpire that could lay his hand upon God and take up all matters with him and lay his hand upon the sinner and bring him to God again 3 Consider Christ in all his fulness and freeness to Communicate that fulness of his His fulness Col. 1.19 it pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell See also 1 Cor. 1.30 Heb. 7.25 how free hee is to communicate his fulness Heb. 2.17 Hee is a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining unto God to make attonement c. Joh. 7.37 38. hee makes solemn Proclamation of mercy to all commers and promises the Spirit of grace unto them 4 Consider Christ as just and a justified person and so fitted to purchase and procure our justification Truely if he had not been justified hee could not have justified us 1 Tim. 3.16 hee is said to bee justified in the Spirit i. e. justified by his divine nature whereby hee raised up himself from the dead As at his death hee was condemned by all sorts so at his resurrection hee was absolved and justified from the sins of his Elect imputed unto him and from all the accusations of the world who looked upon him as a grievous malefactour So that his righteousness both personal and publike appeared before all the world and that God the Father was well pleased with him and in him with all that shall beleeve on him Mot. 3. Consider the pretious excellency of the grace of Faith Which appears 1 In that it is an uniting grace It tyes and unites the soul to Christ and to God in Christ Other graces make the soul to bee like to Christ but faith makes the soul to bee one with him Eph. 3.17 thy Love Patience Humility Heavenly-mindedness make thee very like to Jesus Christ but faith makes thee to bee one with him as a member with the head and that is a greater and better condition for ought I can conceive than the state of the Elect Angels Though they are confirmed in glory by Christ yet they are not so united to Christ as a Beleever is They are the children of God by Creation but Beleevers by Adoption being united to the natural Son of God 2 This is the grace that assures us of our eternal Election Act. 13.48 Tit. 1.1 wee may thence most certainly conclude that our Names are written in the book of life Gods Council concerning our everlasting estate lies hidden in the bosome of God till such time as hee commends his love to us in his Son Jesus by working faith in our hearts this is the Coppy of Gods eternal decree and hath written upon it concordat cum originali it agrees with the Original This is the very meaning of this grace that God hath set his heart upon thy soul Now what ever God gives else as Honour Riches or Excellent spiritual gifts without faith brings but little comfort and a man may be a reprobate for all these things which fall alike to the just and unjust 3 Faith in Christ possesseth us of him and that no other grace will do Eph. 3.17 Heb. 11.1 And hence it is the first quieting-grace to the soul Isa 30.15 Thus saith the Lord in returning and rest yee shall bee saved in quietness and confidence shall bee your strength Heb. 4.1 3. there is a Promise made of entering into Gods Rest and wee enter into it by Faith wee who have beleeved are entered woe have this true Sabbath whereof the unbeleeving Jews had but the type wee have the true Canaan typified by the other this is the very Harbour of a tossed and weather-beaten soul As Mr. Burroughs well expresseth it Faith is the first grace that descries land when the soul is in the tempest and storm of a troubled Conscience Oh Beloved this is the excellency of faith that it not only discovers Land for wee may bee cast away for all that but it carries us safe into the harbour for that is our entrance into our Rest the landing of the wearied soul on Christ its rest Mat. 11.28 Quest But how should I get faith in Christ Direct 1 Be very careful to study the knowledge of Christ Yee may bee sure you cannot beleeve on him whom you do not know This is that which is commended by Christ himself as that wherein life eternal doth consist Joh. 17.3 and Paul who was rapt into the third heavens prefers this before any other knowledge Phil. 3.8 hee calls it the over-exceeding and super-excellent knowledge of Christ This is that which acquaints the soul with a Physitian a Redeemer a Saviour a Propitiation and whatever God requires for satisfaction or man desires or can desire for perfection Tell a wounded spirit that is full of horror of Conscience all the most profound and transcendent notions in the whole circle of Learning they will not a jot refresh him or bring him the nearer to heavenly joys Let him bee acquainted with all the motions of heaven they cannot bring him to heaven With all the secrets of nature they cannot bring him out of the dreggs of nature nor make him a Childe of Grace This is sufficiently experienced in the Heathen Philosophers who for all their great knowledge were ignorant of God witnesse the learned Athenians among whom the true God was but an unknown God Act. 17.23 and the reason was because their knowledge was not joyned with the knowledge of Christ There is no other knowledge
will justify but that and therefore to seek justification or quieting to a troubled soul by any other is but to spend our mony for that which is not bread Isa 55. or to go to buy bread with brass mony such as is not current coyn in Heaven Nay other knowledge is so far from bringing peace to a disquieted spirit that it brings with it tormenting and vexation of spirit Eccl. 1.18 Hee that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow other knowledge may and will puff up 1 Cor. 8.1 2. but this will humble humble us in our own apprehensions but really exalt us Prov. 4 8. Exalt her and shee will exalt thee Other Divine knowledge will build well but the knowledge of Christ laies the foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 this must needs have great substance and strength that bears up all the weight and bulk of the whole Christian edifice and let mee speak from my heart to all Students that hear this that unless your main care bee to get this knowledge you do but build Babels and Castles in the air And oh that many would make this their great study if they did there would not be so many new waies to heaven and false lights as there are 2 Pet. 3.18 19. Direct 2. Make this thy great heart design in comming to hear the word Preached for to get faith seeing it comes by hearing Resolve upon that end and think with thy self if thou commest with any by-ends the searcher of hearts will meet with thee if thou hast an Idol in thy heart thou shalt bee answered according unto it Ezek. 14.7 How many come with their Idols Some to get other knowledge and not of Christ Some to judge the Minister and to carp at the truths delivered Some to see and to bee seen and others out of meer formality and custome But alas where are they that stir up themselves to lay hold on Christ Isa 64.7 Direct 3. Remember to follow the example of the Bereans and in searching the Scriptures be much in studying the promises Act. 10.43 Act. 13 38 39. Think it not enough that you are Children of the Covenant as the Jews were Act. 3.25 but yee must become also the children of the promise for they only are accounted for the seed Rom. 9.8 Direct 4. Bee very watchful that carnal Objections and Cavils against Christ or his heavenly Mysteries or Doctrine arise not in your hearts without checking of them and strugling against them Thou mayest as easily empty the Ocean with a Cockle shell as measure the mystery of godliness with carnal Reason Do not cast off any truth of Christ because you can see no reason for it or cannot understand how this or that should bee Prov. 3.5 Trust in the Lord and lean not on thine own understanding Luther hath such a speech That mans corrupt reason is a terrible enemy to faith and this is the reason why many great Scholars are left of God And so our Saviour saith I thank thee O Father c. Matth. 11.25 Nicodemus will say How can these things bee Joh. 13.6 and the Philosophers will say of Paul when hee goeth to Preach these things what will this Babler say Oh! but remember God will confound the wisdome of this World thou shouldest rather say with Agur when thou hearest the Doctrin of Christ surely I am more brutish than any man when hee heard of Ithiel and Vcal I have neither Wisdome nor Knowledge of the most holy being an humble teachable heart to the word preached Pro. 8.4 5. and if any man among you seem to bee wise let him become a fool that hee may bee wise 1 Cor. 3.18 Prov. 9.4 5. Direct 5. Look at it as an extream vilenesse in thine heart and wily working of Satan when Christ is preached and the grace of God in Christ if thou canst go away from the word preached with an unbeleeving unmoved heart Observe for this two or three places Joh. 8.26.31 Christ had been preaching of the Father and of himself and his own death his mission and Commission and pleasing of the Father and vers 30. the text saith when hee spake those words many beleeved on him the Spirit takes special notice what words they were that wrought upon the hearers i.e. Christs unspeakable conjunction with the Father the Sufferings and Cross of Christ his holy Life and Death they stood out long but now they yielded So 2 Cor. 4 4-6 If our Gospel bee hid c. in whom the God of this World hath blinded the eies of them that beleeve not c. that is all the beauty of God the Father that shines in the face of Jesus Christ his Wisdome Justice Mercy Truth c. are hid from them Satan blinds them and their own naughty hearts and there is also a dreadful judgement of God in it Direct 6. Labour for Self-denial for wee must renounce all confidence in the flesh Priviledges Duties righteousnesse of our own Phil. 3.3.9.10 the righteousnesse of Faith excludes all this this is our betaking of our selves to the wings of Christ Matth. 23.37 i.e. wholly to bee under the covert of them as chickens under the wings of a Hen in a storm Use 4. It is a great comfort to you that beleeve in the Lord Jesus you are in the right way to the Father Joh. 14.6 you are in a most blessed estate Eph. 1.16 Jam. 2.5 the world looks at you as poorly provided for but you have abundance you are rich in faith and rich in Christ partakers of his unsearchable riches Eph. 3.8 1 Cor. 1.5 Vse 5. It serves to teach beleevers a main duty that most concerns them to practise i. e. to go on in a justified estate by faith in the Lord Jesus or imbracing the mercy of God in Christ and that because 1 They have the main principle in them to maintain a justified estate which others want viz. justifying faith Gal. 2.6 Though the well of living waters bee very deep beleevers have wherewithall to draw out of it They have a price in their hands to get wisdome Christ is neer Eph. 2.13 he is neer who iustifieth Isa 50.8 Isa 46.13 2 The benefit of justification should be maintained constantly in a Christians heart and that lively and as far as may bee without interruption and though our justification bee in it self unchangeable yet it is changeable in the diverse effects of it Our peace and comfort is often ebbing and flowing and subject to darknings as with David when hee saith I am cast out of the sight of God Psal 31.22 and cryed his bones were broken and that hee lay in the deep and therefore that wee may maintain our peace its worth our while to take pains in preventing our decaies and declinings It is easier to preserve peace and joy than to recover it out of an afflicted and dark condition as its easier to maintain health and strength than to fetch it at deaths door easier to keep the fire burning than to blow it up
power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings and this was that he might undoubtedly conclude his communion with Christ in his death how should be conclude that hee addes being made conformable to his death and what conformity to Christ's death can there be without mortification of sin I might adde also those places that speak of the cleansing vertue of the death of Christ Heb. 9.14 1 Joh. 1.7 Tri. 4. The true knowledge of Christ crucified doth crucifie us to the world and the world to us Gal. 6.14 Paul looked at the world as a dead thing a carrion which hee loathed so hee looked at the honours riches delights and lusts that the world dotes upon hee looked at it as a dead Carcase yea a crucified i. e. an accursed thing to set his heart upon and though Paul was eminent this way and above the ordinary sort of beleevers yet you shall find all the faithful even the weakest have some measure of this disposition in them as Zacheus when salvation came to his house Luke 19. and Phil. 3.18 19. they that minde earthly things are enemies to the Crosse of Christ but our conversation is in heaven hee speaks of all the faithful there is our trading and dealing Briefly the Apostle makes covetousnesse not only enmity against God Jam. 4.4 but intollerable in a Church of Christ 1 Cor. 5.11 If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous c. Oh then what exceeding cause is there to inquire into our knowledge of Christ to see what it is if it cannot stand with a covetous or worldly frame of heart Vse 3. Instruction to beleevers where to cast anchor in whatever storms or tempests that wee meet withall in this present life that is that we pitch our faith and exercise it in Christ crucified O beloved in the Lord I beseech you not to content your selves with Spiritual things in the lump or the Mystery of Christ in a heap though they may give some sweet savour yet they are in comparison like a bundle of Spices that are whole or a Box of Oyntment shut up and not poured out If the Spices be bruised and the Oyntment poured out oh then how sweet and fragrant is the smell and so let us break as it were this Mystery of Christ in pieces and labour for a distinct understanding and beleeving in Christ this will make these things farre more savoury behold the several beauties of Christ as the Church did Cant. 5.10 see the beauty of every part of Christ Remember what himself said Where the Carcasse is c. this is the crucified Saviour and who are Eagles but beleevers to whom the Crosse of Christ is savoury and they will sent it a great way and flock together from farre to feed upon it Mot. 1. Consider we what it is to bee a Christian truly it is to sprout and spring up out of the grave of Christ Isa 53.10 When he shall make his soul an offering for sin hee shall see his seed i. e. his posterity and Joh. 12.24 Verily verily I say unto you except a grain of wheat fall to the ground and dye it abideth alone but if it dye it bringeth forth much fruit fruit which springs forth from Christs death Heb. 2.10 who by suffering death brought many sons to glory i. e. the children of God and Christ the whole Catholick Church are but the seeds that sprout out from a Crucified and dying Redeemer Mot. 2. There is all sufficiency to be had for justification in a crucified Saviour Luke 14.17 Come for all things are ready and such an one that comes shall never hunger nor thirst Joh. 6.35 The soul is compleat in Christ Col. 2.10 and though there is nothing but emptinesse in other things and those that feed upon them feed on ashes Isa 44.20 and labour in the fire Hab. 2.13 follow the East wind Hos 12.1 and spend their labour for that that is not bread Isa 55.1 2. yet there is fulnesse enough in Christ crurified there is bread eough as the Prodigal saith in our Fathers house Luke 15.17 â—â— Alas quoth he I follow after those things that will not satisfie and am ready to famish for want of bread amongst the husks of the profits and pleasures of this world but in Christ crucified is bread enough full satisfaction and supply of all my wants then whither shall I goe but unto him and beleeve on him Mot. 3. Consider whose bloud it is the bloud of himself i. e. of the person that is God that must needs have infinite worth and value in it Mot. 4. The Lord Jesus himself takes contentment and satisfaction in beleevers betaking themselves to him and his crosse Hee is satisfied in seeing the travel of his soul Isa 53.10 11. The woman that hath had sore travel in Child-bearing when she beholds the fruit of her body forgets her pains and is comforted So it is with our blessed Saviour who takes great contentment when such sinful Creatures doe fly unto his precious bloud for refuge and sanctuary Dir. 1. Above all things take pains to know Jesus Christ and him crucified and that experimentally this was Pauls setled resolution and determination 1 Cor. 2.2 and he picks out above all other this sweet flower or jewel The phrase is not ordinary but it is used to signifie that Paul made it his end that he proposed to himself in Christ let me tell you there is enough in Christ crucified to busie your meditations upon Dir. 2. Labour to see the daily necessity of Christ crucified every day as long as thou livest consider that every day not only in regard of sins but the best duties you have need of this bloud of sprinkling Heb. 9.19 20. He sprinkled with bloud both the tabernacle and the people and the book and the vessels of the ministry almost all things were purged with bloud and when the destroyers are abroad Heb. 11.28 there is nothing in the world can keep off the destroyer but the bloud of the Paschal Lamb Heb. 13.20 21. Dir. 3. O have a singular care to take heed of sinning against the bloud of Christ how ever held forth to thee It is held forth in the ministry of the Gospel Gal. 3.1 2. and in the Sacraments and there is a dreadful wrong done to the bloud of Christ by unworthy receiving of the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.27 such an one is guilty of the Body and Bloud of Christ i. e. he commits such a sin as Judas or the Jewes in murthering Christ Oh! how loud doth the bloud of Christ cry against such sinners that so prophane the Lords Table either by ignorance or mean preparation to it and so Apostacy from the faith is called trampling under foot the bloud of Christ c. Heb. 10.26 27. Dir. 4. Doe as the faithful of old in offering up their sacrifices for propitiation or sin-offerings for they were all types of our Propitiation and Christs
will not carry your load or bee it he will not pardon c. this is spoke of Jesus Christ by God the Father and the Israelites that rebelled against him found that the Lord made it good whereas so many thousands perished in the Wilderness and so shall all the like persons finde in these daies and to the end of the world for certainly to a wicked man nothing is pure To him that is defiled and unbeleeving Tit. 1.15 but grace teacheth to deny ungodliness c. Tit. 2.12 Heb. 10.22 therefore ungodly unrenegerate unsanctified disobedient persons have no portion or lot in this business 3 There is no greater sign of an unsanctified unregenerate and wicked heart than to make an unsanctified use of the grace of God and to abuse the doctrin of it to wantonness and licentiousnesse There can bee no greater character of an ungracious heart and a swinish spirit that hath nothing to do to challenge these Gospel pearls neither knows the nature property and worth of them Remission of Sins through Christs blood THE EIGHTEENTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.25 Through Faith in his blood 4 LET every true beleever know his duty and the bounds of their comfort in this case and this will bee opened by two sorts of conclusions Quest 1 How far a true beleever that hath interest in Christ and his sins forgiven him may charge his soul with sin This must bee cleared that wee may avoid the Rocks that some Sectaries do clash against and I shall clear it in these Conclusions 1 Every beleever is bound impartially to find out by strict examination of himself the secret corruptions that are in his heart or any ungodly practices that are in his Life and Conversation yea so as to judge himself for them that the very least of them is sufficient to bring Gods curse on him and the guilt of eternal condemnation should not the Lord of his free grace in Christ prevent it Every sin in its own nature and power doth and will procure guilt and condemnation to the soul unless that Christ by the merit of his death doth free us from it God called for this searching formerly in times of the Churches calamities Lam. 3.40 Hag. 1.5 7. Thus saith the Lord set your hearts upon your ways Yea this is commanded to every one that receives the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.28 31. Let a man examine himself not onely concerning his Faith but also concerning his sins Yea hee addes that wee should discern and judge our selves which self-judging is to proceed to self condemnation Ezek. 36.31 When God hath given his a new heart and spirit then they shall remember their own evil waies and doings that were not good and loathe themselves in their sight or judge themselves worthy to bee destroyed I say not that beleevers should judge that they shall be condemned but onely that they are worthy to bee condemned 2 Beleevers notwithstanding this forgiveness ought to mourn for their sins Ezek. 7.16 They that escape shall every one mourn for their iniquities like the doves in the vallies Isa 59.11 We roar like Bears mourn like doves for our transgressions are multiplyed So Peter having denyed his Lord remembred the words of Jesus and went out and wept bitterly Matth. 26.75 yea this the Lord commands us Jam. 4.8 9. Bee afflicted and mourn and weep and let your laughter bee turned into mourning Sin pardoned is sin and calls for sorrow and sorrow according to God 2 Cor. 7.10 3 Beleevers are bound for all the forgiveness of sin to confess and acknowledge their iniquities it is notable to this purpose that was practised by Paul even in his last daies 1 Tim. 1.13 15. where hee laies open his sins of persecution and blasphemy hee calls himself the chiefest of sinners and therby hee arises to say that the grace of God was exceeding abundant towards him c. This also the Lord requires of us Jer. 3.13 Onely acknowledge thine iniquities and 1 Joh. 1.9 If wee confesse our sinnes c. as if hee should say that otherwise wee cannot lay claim to the promise of forgiveness It is woful divinity of some in these times that a Christian should not confess sin 4 Repentance and that often renewed for sins frequently committed is still required of the best beleevers Ezek. 8.30 Thus saith the Lord Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not bee your ruine and Christ said to the Disciples Matth. 18.3 Except you bee converted and become as little Children c. The Disciples themselves have need to bee converted still So that Repentance is necessary to beleevers by necessity of Precept as it is also by necessity of Means to dispose and quality at least for the comfort of remission yea no childe of God can have the comfort of pardon before hee hath repented Object But you will say a true beleever hath pardon of his sin though hee hath not the comfort of it without repentance yea it is possible that a beleever sinning may dye without repentance and go to heaven as David lying so long in his great sins might have been taken away without repentance Ans It is possible yet God usually gives space to repent to all beleevers and Christ hath purchased repentance for those that hee hath purchased remission for and gives them together Repentance and Remission go hand in hand together hence ariseth another necessity of repentance viz. a necessity of intent and constitution as an inseparable evidence of faith and forgivenesse and a determined means or condition of escaping death and damnation Luke 13.1 3. Mark 1.15 Rev. 2.5 3.19 Eph. 6.7 Isa 1.16 18. Jer. 36 3. Act. 26.18 Jer. 31.20 Heb. 10.22 Oh! let us bee perswaded to maintain and increase repentance in our hearts as long as wee live not as though thereby wee can make God amends or satisfy the justice of God by it that is an ignorant and Popish conceit nothing can satisfy but the death of his Son and his blood but consider that 1 Christ hath commanded that repentance and remission of sins should in his Name be preached to all nations Luk. 24.47 Those things that are to bee preached together are to bee received together It is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the bitter sweet of the Ministry and must bee joyned yea mixed together as a most wholesome confection So the Passeover was to bee eaten with bitter hearbs Christ also gives them together Act. 5.31 and God hath exalted him for this end Act. 5.31 2 By our continued and unfeigned repentance wee shall have many and singular benefits as 1 Hereby wee shall come to know experimentally the bitterness of sin as well as the sweetnesse of it It is good to look upon sin as full of gall and wormwood Jer. 2.19 See and know what evil and bitter thing it is c. Zach. 12.10 They shall bee in bitterness as for a first born 2 Thy repentance will cause thee to
it may be cleared from the Spiritual businesse it ever puts the soul upon it is active like the vestuous woman which puts her hand to every â—â—rk â—rov 31. â—4 17. 2 Thess 1.11 Hence it is that the 〈…〉 by his faith Heb â— â— believers doe all i. e saith 〈…〉 the faithful of old were inabled to do so great works old were inabled to do so great works Heb. 11.33 Subdued kingdoms wrought righteousnesse c. but it is most especially busie in the use of Ordinances as the Word Prayer Seals though it will not bee 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 callings it works by love and is our victory over the 〈◊〉 1 Joâ— 5.4 So that a true faith is imploying it self on all hands for a beleevers good Now alas when 〈◊〉 faith is but a dead drugge in us or is but an underling in the heart and is at the command of every lust profit or pleasure truly it is not lively much lesse shall you live eternally by it 4 Clear up the way and fruits of forgivenesse of sins the way of bringing it home unto the soul is the Word Acts 26.18 the Word was preached to open mens eyes If ever wee come to the right knowledge of the pardon of our sins it must be by the Word preached working these particulars 1. Illumination discovering effectual your sin and misery to us with a through sense and feeling of it 2 The conversion of the soul and turning of it from darknesse to light Now when the league with Hell is disaâ—ulled then wee come to receive forgivenesse of sin Besides 〈◊〉 the fruit of forgivenesse there bee many 〈…〉 of this sappy root let mee name some First the 〈…〉 heart to love Christ with fervency Luke 7.47 〈…〉 were many were forgiven her for she loved much her love was the effect not the cause of her pardon So Psal 116.1 3 4 c. Quest What kind of love is this to God Ans Such a love as inlargeth the heart in duties to God as it did that poor woman and David and Peter Hence is in them a love to the Word and Ordinances and the Children of God it is not possible for a man to have great debts forgiven him and that out of pitty and bounty when hee hath nothing to pay but that his love should bee kindled and his heart in a light fire in zeal for God 2 A forgiving disposition in case of personal wrongs Ephes 4.32 Bee yee kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven us and this note is given by our blessed Saviour with great earnestnesse and asseveration affirmatively and negatively If yee forgive men their trespasses then your heavenly Father will forgive you Matth. 6.12.14 15. and if yee from the heart forgive not every one his brother their trespasses neither will your heavenly Father forgive you Hee speaks indefinitely every one not excepting any it is a sad sentence for a malicious heart But a merciful heart that can forgive private wrongs and strive against motions of malice and revenge and be humbled for them and that from the heart how great soever the injuries are it is a sure fruit of Gods pardoning him and his freedom from guile and reigning Hypocrisie Psal 32.1 2. 1 Joh. 3.19 6 Maintain and improve the forgivenesse of sin cleared up unto thee and this will be by daily and diligent observation of our wayes by often reckonings with God and getting the Book still crossed by suing out a pardon of course and therefore Christ teacheth us to pray daily Forgive us our debts This was Davids practice as appears by Psal 119.58 59. and other places and this must bee joyned with a resolution and care to shun future sins and failings and hereby wee shall know we are of the truth i. e. sincere and shall assure our hearts before him 1 Joh. 3.19 Now this improvement is First by holy humble and thankful abasement of our selves before God continually Hos 3.5 Ezek. 16. ult so Ezek. 36.29 I will save you from all your uncleannesses then shall yee remember your own evil wayes c. Beware of pride covetousnesse carnal rejoycing shaking off sorrow for sin it is a bad symptom when a man doth so 2 Bee careful to improve your interest in the favour of God for others not only near relations but even for strangers especially for the publick as Noah Daniel Job Moses Samuel c. they were still standing in the gap 3 Bee ready to comfort other with the same comfort wherewith God hath comforted us 2 Cor. 1.4 4 Know and bear in mind your ingagement to the Lord. The Princes pardon is the condemned Malefactors life as Mephibosheth said 2 Sam. 19.28 All my fathers house were dead men before thee Pardon of sinne is the eternal life of the sinner and hee is passed from Death to Life by it Yea as the offending God by Sin is an infinite evil so the forgivenesse of the offence is an infinite good and wee may say What shall wee render to the Lord for all his benefits towards us Surely as Psalm 116.8 9. Hee hath delivered our souls from death our eyes from tears and our feet from falling that we should walk before the Lord in the land of the living Of the Righteousnesse of Christ THE NINETEENTH SERMON ON Romans 3.21 But now the righteousness of Christ c. IN the handling of the point of Justification I have spoken of the several causes thereof and the end thereof in regard of men viz. Remission of sins and thereupon immediately followes the accounting of the beleeving Sinner righteous unto Salvation that is by the imputation of the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ unto the Sinner and that being described in the context and same portion of Scripture I shall proceed unto it now where the handling of it may come in at the due place for our better understanding thereof In the two verses 19 20. the Apostle shewed before Negatively that Justification is not by the works of the Law now he shewes Affirmatively how we are justified and that is expressed 1 By the matter of it The righteousnesse of God amplified by way of opposition to the Law without the Law i. e. without the works of the Law any way Co-working or meriting our justification 2 This is set forth by the Adjunct of the approbation and testimony of the Law and the Prophets 3 By the instrument that is faith of Jesus Christ understand it not actively for the faith whereby Christ beleeved but passively the faith whereby Christ is beleeved on 4 The subject beleevers and those universally and emphatically set down unto all and upon all that beleeve Quest What is meant by the righteousnesse of God Ans It is not to be understood of that whereby God himself is righteous as Osiander said for that is essential to God and cannot be communicated to the Creature but this righteousnesse is elsewhere called the righteousnesse of Christ
Gods Commandements and as he hath commanded 2 In regard of the person obeying it must be with the whole man outward and inward Deut. 6.5 3 In regard of the time of this obedience it must bee with perseverance to the end Jam. 1 23. Gal. 3.10 One sin committed in mans whole life makes a man accursed whatsoever his righteousnesse hath been in the rest 4 That his righteousnesse may be meritorious it must have infinite worth in it Rom. 5.17 there is an infinite evil in sin and that requires an infinite righteousness to cover and remove it Now these conditions cannot bee found any where but in Jesus Christ God-man who first knowes no sin 2 Cor. 5.21 2 He kept the Law with his whole man Luk. 1.35 Psal 40.8 3 He persisted to the end Joh. 17.4 Joh. 4.38 4 There was an infinite value and worth in his righteousness he being God-man in one person Psal 71.19 there is none like unto God and so no righteousness like unto his vers 15. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousnesse all the day for I know not the number of it It can neither be numbred nor measured by any Creature it holds by the same rule for Christs righteousness as for Gods Reas Gods righteousnesse is witnessed to 3. Take that in the text for another ground that this righteousness of God is witnessed by the Law and the Prophets and that sundry ways 1 By evidence and clear Testimony and that is most famose in Jer. 23.6 this is the name wherewith hee shall bee called Jehovah our righteousness and Isa 53.11 by his knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many 2 By Types and figures which went before in the Old Testament as the Brazen Serpent Paschal Lamb the Cloud the Rock the Mercy Seat the Garment of the High Priest with an Inscription of Holiness to the Lord the Urim and the Thummim all these pre-figured this as also all the sacrifices Offerings and Ceremonies of the Law the blood of the Lambs and Goats did signify the righteousnesse of Christ 3 The Sacraments as Circumcision and the Passover do bear witness that its the righteousnesse of God by which wee must be justified Rom. 4.11 Rev. 3.17 Use 1. To convince us of the greatness of the sin To despisers of grace and of the justness of the Condemnation of those that neglect or despise the proclamation of the Grace of God in Christ and his great salvation The righteousness offered is Gods righteousness every way perfect and compleat and it is not possible any thing should bee added to it and can any soul bee content now to bee destitute of this righteousnesse or dare to sleight or refuse the offer of it or when it s offered to be indifferent about the receiving of it this is sure a high contempt of God and affront put upon his grace in Christ this very sin undid the Jews Rom. 10.3 4. They would not submit to Gods righteousness what is that They would not receive it being offered but stubbornly refused it and cast it from them as a superfluous thing and this is called Act. 13.16 The judging of our selves unworthy of everlasting life and the Lord casts off poor creatures for it and their blood shall bee upon their own heads Act. 18. See Rom. 1.17 18. in the Gospel is revealed the righteousness of God But what if a man cares not for it Truely then the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness c. Gods vengeance is poured forth upon them though it may bee they feel it not for it is spiritual vengeance that takes away all sense Quest Who are they that set this righteousness at nought Answ 1 Such as with-hold the truth in unrighteousnesse such as shut up the known truth by their lusts they live wickedly in and under the Gospel 2 They that are careless in seeking it and bee content to bee without it Rom. 10.3 Who are ignorant of Gods righteousness c. 3 They that put off the seeking of it and seek it not first and chiefly Matth. 6.33 4 They that rest contented in a doubting condition about their Salvation and condemnation Use 2. The misery of an unjustified estate To shew unto every soul the misery of an unjustified estate upon this consideration that it is Gods righteousness onely that can justify and in this I dare to appeal to the Consciences of many that hear this truth can yee dare to say that you have gotten Gods righteousnesse to appear before God in have it you in and of your selves if there bee any such blinded hardned presumptuous wretch that dares bely God and his own conscience and say that hee hath this righteousnesse of God I might say as in another case was said of Ananias Act. 5. Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye to the Holy Ghost It is a marvellous and mighty work of Satan to perswade a poor creature that hee hath such a blessing of God as this is when he hath nothing like it Object But you shall never drive me from this that I have part in the righteousnesse of Christ Answ Why but if thou hast Christs righteousnesse thou hast Gods righteousness and hast thou gotten Gods righteousnesse then thou speakest of great and costly matters dost thou know what thou sayest what was Laodicea the better for saying shee was rich and increased in goods Rev. 3.17 they were very beggars for all this or if thou hast Gods righteousnesse how long hast thou had it wa st thou born with this Garment no man is nor with any other or if thou hast it how camest thou by it is it by purchase or free gift Rev. 3.18 It is there gotten by buying Buy white raiment c. didst thou buy it what did it cost thee what didst thou ever part with to make this purchase with true it is that Christ needs nothing of thine but thou canst not have this righteousnesse without parting with something for it with much that this righteousness cannot consist withall Object But it is a free gift Answ Whatsoever a man parts with for it it is so and must bee so yea it is a mighty gift and of infinite value and dost thou think that the most high God hath bestowed this infinite gift upon thee suspect thine own heart whether thou art not ignorant of this righteousnesse as the Jews were Rom. 10. though otherwise a knowing people let mee tell thee that none can know what this righteousnesse of God is but hee that knows the infinite malignity of sin Joh. 16.8 9. and hee that knows that will not easily run into it and commit sin with greediness Yea none knows this righteousness but hee that loves the Gospel and ministry thereof dearly for therein is the righteousnesse of God revealed Rom. 1.17 and the Gospel preached is the ministration of righteousnesse 2 Cor. 3. Moreover if thou dost not first seek it Matth. 6.33 a kingdome is worth the first
he bestows that it is not for our sakes or for our righteousnesse we must all know and understand this So Tit. 3.4 5. Eph. 2.8 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Hee is made unto us of God wisdome righteousnesse c. That hee that glorieth might glory in the Lord. Let not the dung-hill boast it self of the Sun because it shines upon it neither let us boast of our selves because the Sun of righteousnesse shines upon us But let us glory in this that the Lord of his rich grace not for the least worth in our selves hath cloathed us with the Fleece and washed us in the blood of the Immaculate Lamb of God Of Gods Righteousnesse Imputed to Beleevers THE TWO AND TWENTIETH SERMON ON Romans 3.21 Even the Righteousnesse of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that beleeve for there is no difference I Have treated of the chief Points here intended that is the righteousnesse of God and that conveyed by way of Imputation and there is one particular more that belongs to the principal Scope of the Apostle which is of Passive Justification by Faith and the Apostle seems to dwell upon this that hee may point out the persons to whom Justification belongs i. e. Beleevers and hee expresseth it First The righteousness of God which is through the Faith of Jesus Christ That sets forth the Instrument apprehending and laying hold upon Gods righteousnesse that is Faith illustrated by the Object of it Jesus Christ 2 It is said to bee unto all 3 Upon all that beleeve For the understanding whereof we are to know that which also was said before That the Faith of Jesus Christ is not to be conceived Actively to signify the faith whereby Christ beleeved but Passively the faith whereby Christ is beleeved on So it holds forth that Faith as it justifies hath Christ especially for the object of it that is That it is faith in the Lord Jesus that especially justifies a sinner in the sight of God There bee many other things though beleeved and apprehended by faith yet do not justify a sinner But it is faith in Christ Jesus that especially justifies Act. 16.31 But because this latter hath been handled in part before I shall not now insist upon it Quest What is meant by that phrase or those phrases unto all and upon all that beleeve Answ Some understand the former unto all to belong to the Jews that did or shall beleeve and the latter upon all that beleeve to belong to the beleeving Gentiles but this Exposition doth not shew us the reason of the change of the Prepositions Therefore I prefer another sense viz. that unto all signifies Gods decree of the justification of all beleevers 2 That upon all signifies the execution of the decree in the fulnesse of time to all beleevers and onely to them God in his eternal Counsel appointed this grace to all beleevers and onely to them and God in his good providence imputes it and applies it onely to beleevers as such And that this is the scope appears by what is added by way of Interpretation for there is no difference the meaning whereof is that all true beleevers have the same like spiritual benefits and though some have a stronger faith some a weaker yet they are all beleevers and there is no difference in regard of their estate and the main priviledges thereof Doct. 3. That the righteousness of God is both appointed before time and Imputed in the fulness of time indifferently to all beleevers and only to them Or thus That all and onely true beleevers have attained unto and are partakers of Gods imputed righteousness Although there bee difference amongst beleevers in regard of the fruits of faith as Love Repentance Holinesse Obedience bedience c. and in the degrees of faith Some have a stronger some a weaker Yet in regard of Imputed Righteousnesse there is no difference at all they are all elected alike to the injoyment of imputed righteousnesse and it is accomplished for them equally and they are equally partakers thereof So that both the decree of God and the actual imputation of Gods righteousnesse reaches unto all beleevers without exception Yea This is the true Beleevers particular portion it belongs onely unto them and it is necessarily implyed in mentioning beleevers so restrictively all beleevers and none else There are two branches of the Point 1 The Righteousness of God is appointed before time unto all beleevers this may be cleared by these particulars 1 Whomsoever God chooseth hee chooseth unto Faith Act. 13.48 As many as were ordained to eternal life beleeved All beleevers then were formerly ordained unto life and the state of Justification is a state of Life Rom. 5.18 Hence it is that true faith is called The Faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1.1 Gods Elect have a peculiar kinde of faith that none others have but they Besides all Gods Elect Capable of it must needs have it for if any of Gods Elect did want it it could not rightly bee so called Joh. 6.37 All that my Father gives mee shall come unto mee and him that comes unto mee I will in no wise cast out and hee expounds comming by beleeving vers 35. and the giving any unto Christ is their Election from Eternity Now mark that hee saith All that the Father gives mee c. 2 Justification or Gods Righteousnesse is appointed only to Beleevers It is of mighty consideration which our Saviour saith Joh. 10.26 27. Ye beleeve not because yee are not of my sheep Our Saviour had Preached most powerfully and done many Miracles among the people yet they beleeved not and hee shews the reason of it because they were not of his sheep i. e. such as were elected vers 14 15. Such as are known of Christ in a peculiar manner and hee had laid down his life for What then hath not Israel obtained what hee sought for Rom. 11.7 The Election hath obtained it the rest were hardened When persons are hardned and beleeve not they are the rest that are not of the Election The reasons of this branch are Reas 1. From the nature of Election which is the Lords chusing to the mean as well as to the end of eternal salvation Now the imputation of the satisfaction and Righteousness of Christ apprehended by faith is the necessary means of salvation It is the order in all reasonable Agents that first they intend the end then the means to that end But the Lord doth with one single act intend both 2 Thess 2.13 He hath chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth Tit. 3.7 That being justified by his grace wee might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life Rom. 8.30 Whom hee justifies them hee glorifies No justification without faith no faith without imputed righteousness no glorification without justification Quest How are Infants justified who have no faith Ans I will not trouble you with that
Controversie leaving things unrevealed to the Lord without doubt hee hath his ways of applying righteousnesse unto them though wee know it not neither doth it so much concern us the Lord in the Scriptures speaks to them that are of age and among them none shall be saved but such as lay hold upon imputed righteousnesse by faith As when he saith He that will not labour shall not eat 2 Thess 3.10 who will apply this to Infants So that Luke 13.3 5 10. Except yee repent yee shall perish Reas 2. From our election in Christ Ephes 3.4 the meaning whereof is 1 That God the Father hath chosen us in Christ as the Head that he may be the head of all the Elect and the Fountain of those good things which are made over to them in their election That is the meaning of 1 Pet. 1.20 when as Christ Jesus is said to be the Head of those that shall bee saved 2 In as much as Christ made manifest in the flesh shed his bloud for the sins of the elect and fulfilled all righteousnesse for them and made the way to eternal glory open to them Heb. 10.19 20. Joh. 10.11 3 In as much as the Elect doe apprehend him and his righteousnesse and satisfaction by faith and by it are ingrafted into him as branches into a true vine Eph. 3.17 and brought to the possession of all those good things which he hath purchased for them But the meaning of the place is not that we are chosen for Christ or that Christ Jesus was the cause of the Fathers electing of us but rather that we are chosen to be in Christ and being in Christ are made partakers of his satisfaction and righteousnesse which are made ours by faith 2 Branch That Gods righteousnesse is imputed and bestowed on all true beleevers without difference and none others Rom. 4.11 Abraham is the Father of Beleevers or all them that beleeve that righteousnesse might bee imputed to them also That look as Abraham beleeved God Rom. 4.3 and it was imputed to him for righteousnesse so it is with all the children of Abraham that they are justified by the same means and have righteousnesse imputed to them Hence it is called the Righteousnesse of faith Rom. 4.13 Phil. 3.9 that is the righteousnesse apprehended and appropriated to beleevers by faith Rom. 4.10 Christ is the end of the law c. to every one that beleeveth i. e. to every one without exception or distinction Acts 13.39 By him all that beleeve c. i. e. by Christ through whom is preached the forgivenesse of sins and so Joh. 3.16 whosoever beleeveth on him hath the righteousnesse of Christ imputed and for the contrary see Mar. 16.16 Joh. 3.18 36. Reas 1. From the equality of the estate of beleevers there is no difference in regard of sin in their Natural estate and this reason is given vers 23. All have sinned c. therefore where they are justified they stand alike in need of imputed righteousnesse the same being imputed to all neither is there any difference in regard of the truth of apprehending the righteousnesse of Christ by faith all true beleevers having the like precious faith 2 Pet. 1.1 now the old rule is that where equal things are added to equal all are equal still Their misery is equal their faith is equal their imputed righteousnesse is equal therefore there is no difference Reas 2. Because that God is one Rom. 3.30 there is one God that justifies the Circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith Hee proves that whether Jewes or Gentiles they are equally justified because there is but one God justifies both he means not only one God in regard of essence but one in regard of his will and promise So God is one and the same from the beginning to the end of the world and if hee should deal in a differing way with them in point of Justification he should not bee free from partiality and accepting of mens persons but that is farre from God for an equal price is paid for all and equal satisfaction to Gods Justice Reas 3. Because all unbeleevers or mis-beleevers are excluded from this grace Joh. 3.18 because they have not beleeved on the Name of the only begotten Son of God therefore they are condemned and left destitute of this imputed righteousnesse The dignity of the person and all-sufficiency of his satisfaction and righteousnesse the preciousnesse of the Name of the Son of God and also the Promises made in him doe all concur to the aggravation of the Sin of unbelief and hold unbeleevers in the state of Condemnation Vse 1. Righteousnesse being thus appointed and imputed to all true beleevers and to them only wee may then here see a refutation of two errors 1 Of those that affirm a man to bee justified before faith and from eternity which is an opinion contended for in these dayes and appears to be false for these reasons 1 Because no man can be said to beleeve from eternity and no man is justified before he beleeves No man beleeves before his calling wherein faith is wrought after which his justification follows Rom. 8.30 32. as Glorification and election unto glory doe differ so justification and election to justification differ so that although the elect are appointed to justification before faith yet they are not justified Rom. 8.29 A Sinner cannot be glorified from eternity unlesse wee will take up the error of Himeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2.17 18. that said the Resurrection was already past 3 Justification from eternity denies the Scripture that saith in divers places that a state of sin wrath and guilt goe before the state of justification and forgivenesse Eph. 2.1 2 3. 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Rom. 9.25 26. Many other things might bee urged to this purpose but my design now is not to enter on the handling of Controversies 2 The other error is that faith fore-seen is the moving cause of the election of Beleevers whereas imputation of righteousnesse and faith are fruits of election Jam. 2.8 2 Thess 2.13 Vse 2. A ground of unspeakable terrour to all unbeleevers and such as are destitute of justifying faith only by unbeleevers I mean those that live under the Gospel preached and faithfully dispensed and continue still in unbelief Many there be that think it a matter of bravery to stand out under a faithful Ministry against the offers of Christ in their pride covetousnesse and unbelief and slight the satisfaction and righteousnesse of Christ as if they were not worth a taking up or looking after What shall I say to such truly this I will say that they are Gospel unbeleevers And though I would not enter into Gods secrets yet undoubted it is that God's purpose of election Rom. 11.7 can never bee frustrate but must take effect in Gods time and those that are chosen to faith and justification shall beleeve and be justified under the means but what shall become of the rest Why they