of every particular Infant that it belongs to the Election of Grace and so is an Heir of the Promise though we cannot judge so of any with the judgment of certainâ—y 2 I come now to a Use of Exhortation 2Vse Exhortation to give out some words of counsel I Believe that which the Scripture clearly holds forth concerning this Covenant which we have spoken of Couns 1. I Believe that God hath made a second Covenant with man Believe the Covenant a Covenant of Grace since by his fall by transgression he cut himself off from God and happiness and made himself uncapable of life by the first Covenant which was a covenant of works if this were not held forth in the word then there were no consolation of the Scriptures nor no ground of hope given to sinners in them For the word speaks most clearly that we cannot be justified and saved by a covenant of works by the deeds of the Law By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified Rom. â— 2â— Gal. 〈…〉 The Scripture hath concluded all under sin and under sin and death we must all lye for ever were it not for the Covenant of Grace wherein God freely offereth life and salvation by Jesus Christ unto sinners upon condition of Faith and Repentance which he hath promised likewise to give woe woe to all the Posterity of Adam were there not such a Covenant of God's love and mercy in which he hath promised righteousness and life eternal through his Son to all those that receive him This Covenant we must believe or else we can have nothing whereupon rationally to build hope of salvation 2 Believe that all Abraham his spiritual seed and none but they are comprehended in this Covenant favingly interessed in it 3 Believe the confirmation of the Covenant to all this interessed parties by the written Word of God and by his Oath and by his Seals and by the death of his Son whose blood is called the Blood of the Covenant Heb. 10 29. 4 Believe that Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the Covenant by whose mediation all the promised good is procured for us and shall be performed to us so that we must take up the Covenant and the comfort of it in and through him This is the first counsel to perswade souls to believe the Covenant of Grace and to yield a full assent to all that which the Scripture holds forth concerning it Because otherwise they will never regard it or look after it nor can ever have any benefit by it Suffer your selves to be convinced of the misery of being out of this Covenant Couns 2. See the mâ—sery of being out of Covenant and of the necessity of being under it and interessed in it that you may have life and blessedness Poor creatures that are out of this Covenant are without God and without Christ and so without that which can relieve their misery by sin and make them happy What ever their enjoyments are in the world how far is the soul from happiness while it is far from God the Fountain of Blessedness All good is comprehended in God and all true happiness is comprized in our fruition of God sin hath set us at the greatest distance from God and so at the greatest distance from happiness The Blood of Christ brings us near to God and an interest in the Covenant of Grace gives God to be our God and so renders us happy Truly conviction in this case is most necessary for a man will never seek that which he doth not know he hath lost or which he thinks he may well enough be without but a knowledge of our loss by sin and a conviction of the necessity of râ—finding what we have lost will cause answerable affections When a soul is convinced that it hath lost God and lost happiness will it not cry out that it iâ— undone and have a strong desire to recover this loss and so seek an enjoyment of God in Christ above any thing in the world 3 Study the Covenant of Grace Couns 3. Study the Covâ—nant labour for a clear understanding of it that you may know its nature its matter its Author its rise its subjects its priviledges its goodness and excellency its necessariness its perpetuity its ends and the condition of enjoying it It is very sad that whereas it concerns us as much as our souls are worth to have a knowledge of and interest in the Covenant yet people generally are ignorant of it so that they understand not what it is nor whence it is nor why it is nor what need they have of it nor what benefit comes by it nor to whom it belongs nor upon what terms it is to be enjoyed c. Is this ignorance for want of means of knowledge or is it an inconsiderable point the knowledge whereof doth not at all or very little concern us Ah beloved the matter is very weighty and the knowledge of it very necessary and the Revelations of God concerning it very clear but here is the cause of mens ignorance they will not be convinced of the necessity of this most necessary knowledge and interest and so regard not to know the things that concern their everlasting peace Oh how greatly doth it concern all souls that in themselves are lyable to death and damnation to study God's gracious Covenant of Life and Salvation If this were well studied by us we should see more in it then we do and should have more affection to it then we have and should be more diligent and studious to apply it then we are we should see it to be worth the laying hold on and should not be so loath as we are to renounce lusts profits and pleasures and vanities which our hearts are naturally in league with that we may receive this Covenant of God's mercy concerning pardon and peace and all manner of blessings here and eternal salvation hereafter Couns 4. Apply the Covenant Having studied this Covenant sofar as to see the goodness and the desirableness and excellency of it let desire be carried to it and labour diligently to apply it What is it to me that there is such a Covenant of God for the healing and recovering and saving of wounded lost destroyed sinners if it belongs not to me What comfort can the knowledge of that which is excellent and precious afford me if I have no part in it Therefore let me labour truly and thorowly to apply this precious Covenant This counsel hath two branches 1 Apply the Covenant truly 2 Apply it thorowly and surely Apply it truly 1 Apply the Covenant truly take heed of a misapplication see that there be not any material error in applying the Covenant Now I shall lay down some rules Directions give you some directions for a right application of the Covenant 1 You must have eyes to see what you take must not be ignorant of the Covenant
away the fear of Death from Believing Souls That he might deliver them Heb. 2.15 who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage Christ delivereth his from spiritual death in sin and from eternal death for sin and as for natural death the death of the body unto which God hath appointed them it is not now formidable the sting of it being plucked out by Christ it is that which Saints have desired which is welcome to Souls stedfast in the faith of the promises because death frees them from the power of sin and annoyance of corruption puts an end to their sinning which is grievous to a gracious heart Now comes that happy deliverance from the body of death which St. Paul so earnestly longed for and by death they have their passage to everlasting life 5. Regeneration and the sanctification of souls is the fruit of Christ's dying he of God is made to us sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 1 Pet. 2.24 he his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness he gave himself for us Tit. 2.14 that he might redeem us from all iniquitie and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works The mortification of sin in us and the vivification of grace the healing of our nature and the renewing of the image of God in us is a great benefit of Christ's death he merited this for the Elect obtaining at God's hand that the holy Spirit should be given to sanctifie them that the Spirit of his Son should be sent into their hearts 6. Christ by his Death hath purchased eternal life for Soules God gave his onely begotten Son â— John 3.16 that whosoever believeth in him shâ—uld nâ—t perish but haeve everlasting life 1 Joh. 5.11 God hath given us Eternal life and this life is in his Son Thus the full benefit of Christs Death is a full redemption from all evil to all good from sin Satan Wrath Death and Hell to Grace and Glory to the enjoyment of all good here and hereafter Now unless we know these things and except we know our selves to be interessed in Jesus Christ whose Death is of such exceeding great advantage to those for whom he died we can take no comfort in the notion of Christ his Death Therefore having counselled you to search out what the benefits of Christs Death are I should in the next place exhort you to make sure your share in them to labour to clear up to your selves your interest in Christ and in the advantages of his Death But this will be a special part of the application of that other point which is to be opened and improved therefore our second counsel now shall be this Did God give his Son to Death Counsel 2. to satisfie for us to reconcile us to God to obtain for us Remission of sins and Sanctification of the Spirit and life eternal then let pardon of sin and peace with God and the grace of Sanctification and the hope of Eternal life be valued by us according to the price that was paid for the purchase of them It was the Bloud of the Son of God which was of infinite value Therefore that which was purchased by it is more worth then all the World Carnal hearts have no such estimation of these things if they had they would look more after them and seek them diligently in the use of the means Buâ— alas how many poor souls are theâ—e that have no apprehension of the worth of these mercies Gold is of more account with them then Grace and the countenance of man is more lookt after then the favour of God but David can tell us that a comfortable apprehension of God's love is more worth then all worldly enjoyments and Solomon his judgmant is that Wisdom i. e. Grace is the most excellent thing that the most desirable things in the World are not to be compared with it Now therefore let Christians who by faith have laid hold on Christ and are intâ—rrâ—ssâ—d in the benefits of his death let them know what and an excellent portion they gottâ—n and let them judge of their priveledges by the price that was paid for the purchase of them and prize them accrdingly And let Worldlings consider the meanes by which Spiritual blessings soul-mercies the Christians Priviledges were procured and let them esteem them accordingly never resting till they come to be made pertakers of them Did God give his son to Die for sinner Counsel 3. then let us take heed of sinning against Christs Death Abel his blood cried for vengeance on them that shed it What will Christ his Bloud doe Certainly the Blod of the Son of God is very precious and they who sin against it draw horrible guilt upon themselves Now there are many waies by which souls sin against the Death of Christ 1. When men do denie the efficatious merit of Christ his Death and will piece it up with their own merits as Papists who teach and boast of humane satisfactions 2. They who râ—sist or despise the means of the application of Christ Crucified to themselves 3. They who have low thoughts of those things for the purchase whereof Christ died The priviledge of Justification and Sanctification and the Scriptures of God and a Gospel Ministrie and Gospel Ordinances and all Gospel priveledges and all true Gospellers in the Church are all the purchase of Christ his Bloud So that it is clearly a sinning against the Death of Christ to cry down or reproach or slight any of these 4. They who make much of sin which caused the Death of Christ and that allow in themselves and maintain the life of that for the destruction of which Christ died they sin against the Death of Christ And many other waies do people sin against Christ his Death Now let us take heed of this that we sin not against the Bloud of the Son of God which was given to be shed for us I may take a hint from the Doctrine to counsel you to mercifulness to your own sulles Counsel 4. Is God so merciful to us not be cruel to our selves Did Christ die to Redeem us and set us free then let us not enslave our selves let us not yeild our selves servants unto sin and Satan Did Christ die to Redeem us from destruction let us not be self destroyers I remember what Paul saith in the case of Scan al 's what a charge he giveth to shun giving of offence and upon what ground Do not for meats sake Rom. 14.15 destrom him for whom Christ died Oh do not for any Lusts sake destroy thy soule for which Christ died 5. This consideration is to be urged upon our selves Couns 5. as a motive to mercifulness towards others Hath God bin so merciful to us as to give his own Son for us let this stir up in us bowels of compassion toward our brethen and
God having given his Son cannot but with him also give other things for 1. An argument from the greater to the lesser concludeth probably in reason but the conclusion made by faith is necessary in this case if we look to Christ as heire of all things upon whom all is â—ntailed as I may say 2 This appear's more clearly if we look upon God's faithfulness in making good his promise and his Justice engaged by Christ his purchase Jesus Christ purchased all things for those for whom he gave himselfe therefore God is engaged to give all things together with Christ Now if Jesus Christ be such a comprehensive gift such a conveighing gift and such an engaging gift then he is the principa gift of God a gift above all other gifts I come to some improvement of the point by application Application I shall make a fourfold use of the doctrine Vse 1 1. If Christ be such a comprehensive good Information then we see the nearest way and indeed the only way to the enioyment of all needfull good things whether should we go for water but to the fountain when it is near now Jesus Christ is near he is brought home to us and there are free offers of Christ made to our Souls and he is a Fountainè that is alwaies full alwaies open and alwaies running therefore let us make out to Christ from whom and in whom we may have all supplies when all other comforts fail when riches flie away and when friends die away and when health is gone and life is going then Christ wil stand us instead and be All and more then all those things to us When the the leaking Cisterns will be found emptie then shall we find the fountain full and that will still yeld us as much as we need if we want not the Bucket of Faith to draw water out of this well 2. If Christ be the conveying gift of God then we must seek all good from God in and through Christ and give thanks to God by Christ for all the good that we receive God bestoweth in and through Jesus Christ all that he giveth graciously and in a way of love and so God receiveth all from us in the way of duty and service by the hand of Christ So that we must have mind upon Jesus Christ and take in the consideration of Christ in all our prayers and praises 3. If Christ be the engaging gift of God and if we reckon that God hath bestowed his son upon us and so as it were bound himself to give us all other needful good things then there is an engagement upon us to give our selves back unto God it is contrary to Religion and reason that we should think to be loose from God and yet to have him bound to us 4. We are informed hence who are the richest men and women surely they are believers such as enjoy Christ for though such may be sometimes in a poor outward condition yet they cannot want any thing that is necessary for their Spiritual and Eternal welfare and having Christ they have that which can supply all wants that which can satissie the Soule When Paul was come to Christ then he had learned in what soever estate he was therewith to be content 5. This speaketh the unspeakable happiness of those soules that enjoy Christ God giveth all things with him and all proced's from love There is a great difference betwixt Believers and Vnbelievers as in point of hope for the future so in respect of their present enjoyments 1. They are exceedingly distinguished in their hope Alas What hope hath a wicked man or a carnal worldling why he is full of vain hopes He hopes that he shall live and see many good dayes upon Earth he hopeth to encrease his estate he hopeth that his posterity shall prosper But what hope hath the Hipâ—crite Job 27.8 when God taketh away his soule Alas the confidences of vvorldly men shall be plucked up their hopes shall perish they build in the sands and building sinketh the house falleth it is the house built upon the Rock that standeth hope sixed on Jesus Christ will never fail will never make a man ashamed It is true that carnal worldly men such as are faithless and Christless do profess their â—opes of happiness hereafter Some bear themseves up upon their good meaning and honest lealingâ— civil honesty is the best soundation that their hope hath Others that have not this foundation that have no honesty nor civilitie yet say they hope well and they trust God will be merciful to them many souls are undone for ever by presuming upon the mercy of God turning the grace of God into wantonness Sottish drunkards and prophane sweaters and such as live viciously slatter themselves in their sins and even die with this in their mouths God is merciful but be not deuived saith the Apostle Neither Fornicators nor Idolaters â—â—r Adulterers 1 Cor. 6 9. nâ—r Thieveâ— nor Covetous nor Drunkards no such ungodly wicked persons shall inberit the Kingdom of God Let no man decive yâ—u wiâ—h vain words Eph. 5 6. for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience It appears from both these scripturs that there were divers who had such deceitful thou hâ—s as if livng and dying in such sins as are there mentioned they should yet go to heaven presuming upon Gods mercy but friends this is most certain that no man hath any reason to hope for salvation till by faith he hâ—th â—aid hold on Jesus Christ who is the only Saviour of souls God deals out mercies through Christ where he bestoweth Christ there he giveth grace glory and withhold's no good thing but without Christ and out of him there is no exibition of any thing to men and wâ—men in a gracious way nothing proceeding from loue Christ is the convâ—ighing gift of God who brought all good with him out of the bosom of his Father to those that enjoyhim now if other gifts of Gods good will lesser gifts be not bestowed but through Christ with Christ then surely he will not give Eternal life without him or out of him Therefore so long as soules are â—â—thout Christ strangerâ— to him 〈◊〉 they close with him by faith â—â—d take him as Lord and Jesus â—â—y have no ground to hope for â—â—lvation He that hath the Son â—â—blife 1 Ioh. 5 12 This is the will of him â—â—t sent me that every one which 〈◊〉 the Son and beleeveth on him Ioh 6.40 â—â—y have everlasting life The spirit of God speaketh exâ—â—sly 1 Ioh. 5.11 that eternal life is in Jesus â—â—ist and that he who hath not 〈◊〉 Son hath not life that people â—â—not have a confident expectaâ—â—â—n of any good from God out of â—â—rist But now it is as clear as the Sun â—â—t many who pretend hope of â—â—vation are without Christ and â—â—thout Faith for where Christ â—â—meth he worketh
a change â—â—ere Faith is it purifieth the â—â—rt and purgeth the conscience â—â—m dead works to serve the Liâ—â—ng God it acteth a man toward â—â—d it giveth up the Soul to Jesus â—â—rist it frameth people unto â—liness and new obedience Therefore all unholy and irreligious persons all workers of iniquitie being without Christ are without hope of happiness whatever they say Po. 14.32 But the Righteous hath hope in his Death He that by Faith hath laid hold on the Righteousness of Christ and is Sanctified by the Spirit of Christ to bring forth the fruits of righteousness in his life he hath hope through Christ Jesus that God who hath bestowed Christ upon him to Justifie anâ— Sanctifie him will together with him and through him give life Eternal Acts 28.10 1 Tim. 1.1 1 Cor 15.19 Christ is called the hope of Israel and the hope of Believers The Christians hope is in Christ If in this life only we have hope in Christ Beloved he that hath the Son hath everlasting life is saved by hope living and dying he is in certain expectation of Salvation by Christ Here is a main difference now betwâ—xt the Believer and the unbeliever between the true Christian and the worlding in this perticular And truly the condition of men and women in point of happiness is to be judged of not by what we see or what is now possessed but by what is hoped for hereafter upon good ground he is a poor man a wretched man that hath no hope in Christ As for your present outward enjoyments what an emptiness is in them and how uncertain are they these earthlie considences shall be plucked up they must perish If a man take up any serious thoughts of Eternitie what comfort can he take in his present enjoyments when he hath no hope of Heaven hereafter Now alas the Christless soule is a hopeless soule when the truth of the matter comes to be tried and therefore is a miserable soul inded But as for the Believer vvho possesseth Christ though he hath but little here of the World yet hath hope of an excceeding eternal vveight of glory hath hope of enjoying a Crown hereafter and this hope is the anchor of the soule sure and stedfast vvhich will not give vvay it entereth into that which is vvithin the Veile it is fastened on the Rock Christ Jesus so that it cannot be broken off there can be no disappointment of the Christian his hope he hath Christ that is the engaging and conveying gift of God and the rest must follow This is the great happines of 7 those that enjoy Christ such souls and such only have hope of eternal life Grant that the children of God do live here in a poor outvvard condition and are under Gods Rod in the School of affliction vvhile the ungodly flourish aboud in wealth have no changes allovv I say to vvicked men the greatest â—dds in this life Yet Believers have infinitely the advantage of them in regard of the hope that they have of another life vvhich is transcendently beyond this in the best condition of living here 2. There is a great difference between the Beleever and the Unbeleever betvveen the soul that possesseth Christ and the soule that hath not Christ in respect of present enjoyments There are many carnal men that have this worlds goods in a plentifull measure in great abundance but as long as they are without Christ if they seriously think upon it they have little reason to bless themselves they can take but little comfort in their enioyments for where Christ is not given nothing is given of God with a purpose of Grace so that the unbeliever hath reason to think that these things are given him in anger and in judgment to make him the more inexcusable to be a snare to him to fatten him against the day of slaughter to aggravate his sin and encrease his condemnation But now where God hath bestowed Christ and where the soul takes him up by faith other things coming in with him are gifts of God's will they are fruits and tokens of God his love whatsoever cometh from God together with Christ must needs come from love This is a sweet consideration indeed and surely all other enjoyments of Christians are as hath been hinted much sweetned to them and become much more valuable and profitable by their enjoyment of Christ he that hath not Christ hath nothing that is truly good to him nothing that will prove comfortable in the end but when I know that Christ is mine then I can look upon every thing that I enjoy and say This is the good gift of my God This is a gracious Dispensation this my Fathers love now let my Soul rejoyce in the God of my comforts 6. Infer 6. If Christ be such a gift of God the great all-comprehending gift then Christians should be satisfied with Christ though they possess not these outward things Christ makes up all If God hath given Christ to us he hath done enough for us though it is sure that with him he will give us all things and things needful and that which he sees to be good for us 2. If Jesus Christ be the great and principle gift of God Vse 2 Conviction then it is great folly in people to prefer any thing before Christ now surely many are they who may be convicted of folly upon this account for alass how few are they that make out after Christ People are content generally to be without him to be strangers to him some are Voluptuous some Covetuous some Ambitious Haec tria pro trino numine vul gus habere some for Pleasure some for Profit some for Honour these are the things that men look after but there is little looking after Christ he is held out to be the great gift of God the most comprehensive gift in whom there is a fullness of all good to give abundant satisfaction to the Soul that makes him its portion in him we shall find contentment which is not to be found in any thing beside him and he is such a conveying gift as brings along with him all things pertaining to life and godliness and this gift is held forth by God and offered to souls in the Ministry of the Gospel Come saith God take my Son and give your selves up to him you shall surely finde enough in him but oh how is Christ slighted as a thing of no value so that people will not be perswaded to seek an enjoyment of him Ah foolish worâ—dlings you will not be called off from your vain and sinful courses nor from the eager pursuit of the things of this world to look after â—hrist to get an interest in him Do you not in effect say rather let us enjoy the pleasures of sin rather let us have this Worlds goods we judge these things to be better then Christ Ah poor souls Why do you follow after lying vanities forsaking your own
and Sanctification and the Promise and hope of Glory and now all these Well-springs of comfort are carried in the Covenant which is confirmed to believers by the death of Christ Here now Christians is Wine and Milk here is Nâ—ctar and Ambrosia here are delicates indeed for those that have laid hold upon this Covenant of Gods love Eate O Children of Abraham drink yea drink abundantly O ye believing Souls Blessed Soul that can say Gods Covenant is mine God's Christ OUR'S Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things IN the former verse the Apostle boasts of his own and every Believer's security against all enemies and evils grounding this his triumph of Faith the upon unchangeable love of God towards Believers and the presence of his Grace with them And whereas the flesh is ready to cast many doubts and the weak Christian is apt to be discouraged by cross events and afflicting providences and by the consideration of the Devils malice and the Worlds enmity against believers the Apostle obviating such doubts and anticipating such objections answers and clears off all that faith may not be entangled with any of them The scope of the Text the Apostle h drift therein Scope is to take off from the children of God the fear of want assuring them of all needfull good things and for this purpose he useth an argument drawn from the consideration of what God hath done for us what he hath given he hath given us his own Son a gift more worth than ten thousand Worlds why then should we doubt but that he will give us other things undoubtedly the love of God which hath been commended to us in such a wonderful gift will not stick at small matters How shall he not with him also freely give us all things This interrogation hath the force of an affirmation with an asseveration Shurely God who for our sakes hath not spared the life of his own only dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ but hath delivered him up to death for us will together with him give us all things Though there be not much difficulty in the words yet it may not be amiss to give a little light to the termes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he who relates to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God The Apostle insisteth on the commendation of the love of God illustrating that and seeking to establish Souls upon it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his own Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth most strictly signifie propriety and a peculiar interest in a person or thing and it is one of those distinguishing notes whereby the natural Son of God is distinguished from the rest of his Sons who are not Sons by Nature but by Grace by Adoption and Regeneration Gods own Son is Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He spared not but delivered up The Apostle here amplifyeth the great love and rich grace of God he spared not but gave i. e. he sticked not to give he spared not the Life of his own Son his dearly beloved Son but delivered him up for us delivered him â—up â—o Death thus Rom. â— 2â— Christ wâ—s delivered for our offences i. e. He was by his Father delivered to death that there we must so understand it is clear from the opposite term raised and he was raised again for our justification was raised from the dead We have other Texts speaking this plainly For the suffering of Death Heb. 29. that he by the grace of God should taste of Death for all men 1 Peâ— 3.18 Christ also hath once suffered for sins being put to death in the flesh thus here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for us pro nobis i. e. vice nostri in our stead and propter nos or bono nostro for our benefit we sinners must have died if Christ had not died for us for Death is the wages of sin God therefore delivered up his Son to death for us that we might not dye And surely very many and great are the benefits and advantages that accrue to sinners from Christ his dying for them which may be all reduced to and sum'd up in this one word Redemption which is the great fruit and effect of Christ his Mediation and being taken in its full Latitude is all spiritual grace and blessing in this World and the World to come The whole work of Gods grace toward sinners in Christ Jesus is usually in Systems of Divinity called Redemption Pro nobis hec nostrae salutis causâ nostrâ vice ac loco nempe ut morte suâ peccatis nos tris expiatis a morte nos redimeret justitiam atque vitam amissam nohis repararet Par. Christ was delivered to death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for us in our stead suffering what we should have suffered that we might not suffer but might be set free and for us for our sakes to our behoof that he might obtain eternal Redemption for us as Heb. 9.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he doth not say for all but for us all for me and such as I am Elect and Beloved as afterwards ver 33.34 35 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect. It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed Who shall separate us from the love of Christ see here who they are for whom Christ dyed to clear them from accusation to set them above Condemnation they are Gods Elect they are those that have Christ his love so that here in the Text we have an universal Particle with a restriction upon it Vs is exclusive of some of many of all others according to that of our Saviour John 10.15 I lay down my life for the Sheep for them only And indeed the Scripture doth limit and appropriate the death of Christ the fruit and benefit of it to a certain sort of persons those for whom he undertook to be their Redeemer and doth not extend it to all He gave himself to dye for his Church his body Eph. 5.23 25. now the Church is not the World in the universality of Men and Women but Gods portion in the Woâ—â— contradistinguished to the World Jo. 17.9 those that are Redeemed unto God Rev. 5.9 by the bloud or Christ out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation he doth not say all Kindreds and People but some out of every kindred c. here is no holding forth of Universal Redemption Christ is said Jo. 10.11 15. to give his Life to lay it down for his sheep nâ—w not all men and women are the Sheep of Christ Mat. 25.32 we read of Goats as well as sheep Christ died for his People to Redeem them Mat. 1.21 to save them from their sins viz. for those that are in a special consideration the People of God Rom. 11. those whom he hath foreknown
the redemption of sâ—uls Answ 2. This may satissie us because so it pleased him it proceeded only from the free grace and good pleasure of God there was no other impâ—lsive or moving cause This is a part and a great act of God's special gracious providence toward his Elect which is a stupendious argument of the freeness and the riches of his grace to sinners God was not cruel to his own Son but merciful and most tenderly compassionate toward poor sinners wretched creatures that had undone themselves either we must dye eternally or the Son of God must dye for us must be under the power of death for a time Now guilty sinners are spared and the innocent Son of God the Son of his love is given to death for us that we might live This is grace indeed and as this proceeded from grace Eph. 1.5 6 7 so it was aimed by God at the glorifying of his grace to all eternity So much to the Doctrinal part of the Point I come now to Application APPLICATION First Vse 1 Information I shall draw up some inference for information 1. It follows hence that by nature we are all miserable captives and wretched slaves otherwise there needed not a Redeemer The Prophet tells us Iâ—a 61.1 what was the office of Christ and to what purpose he was sent to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those that are bound Paul tells us Rom. 7.14 that he was by nature sold under sin and though he was redeemed with the bloud of Christ and regenerated by the spirit of Christ yet sin did still hang about him he could not shake off his fetters nor get wholly clear from his bonds but he was still so clogged and fettered with corruption that he cries out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O wretched man that I am who shall delivâ—r me And as for unregenerate men 2 Tim. 2.26 they are said to be taken captive by Satan according to his will the Devils absolute slaves Ah woful is the condition of those souls to whom Jesus Christ is not a Redeemer And now by the way the worse the disâ—ase is the better is the remedy and the more to to be prized the more wretched the condition of poor souls is by nature the more is grace to be esteemed and adored that translateth us out of so bad an estate into so good a condition that from such a depth of misery raiseth us up unto such a height of happiness as souls are advanced to by Christ Jesus Surely the greater the viler our bondage is the more gracious the more glorious is the work of our redemption and the more precious should our Redeemer be to us 2. This informeth us of the vileness and cursedness of sin Infer 2. which brought us into such bondage and slavery unto Satan death and hell that the Son of God must dye to deliver us from it which when it took hold on Christ our surety took away his life as dear â—s he was to God if he undertake for sinners he must dye surely then those sinners must dye for whom he did not dye wo to those souls whose guilt is not transferred upon Christ that have no share in the redemption purchased with his bloud Let wicked persons that trample under foot the bloud of Christ that contemn the doctrine of Christ and wallow in the filth of their lusts refusing the grace of God which is offered to them and rejecting Christ the Redeemer let them consider what they are like to suffer for sin from the impartial justice of God Oh that sinners may be awakened to repentance that they may seek to make their pâ—aâ—e with God coming in and closing with Jesus Christ that in him they may have redemption through faith in his bloud Oh that our hearts may be wrought to a due hatred of sin considering that it brought the Son of God under the power of death when it was imputed to him 3. This informs us of or we may hence infer Infer 3. the exceeding worth or souls The Lord did set a great prize upon them or else â—e would not have given such a price for them he spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us if God had not valued the souls of men at a great rate he would not have laid out the life of his Son for them Ah what foolish creatures are Men and Women so to undervalue their own souls as to prostitute them to base lusts and to the Devil's pleasure and to sell them for toys Let us consider the worth of our souls and make more account of them and be more careful of them and watchful over them 4. We are hence to take notice of several attributes of God Infer 4. wonderful glorious in the redemption of sinners 1. His wisdome in finding out a way and such a way for the effecting of it 2. His power in thus confounding and overcoming Satan and sin and death and all the powers of darâ—ness opposing themselves against poor man 3. His justice in requiring such a satisfaction before he would remit the offence and release the sinner 4. The immense mercy of God is here to be admired who would rather that his own Son should suffer a most shameful and painful and accursed death then that Mankind should perish The sending of Jesus Christ into the world to be a Redeemer is a special evidence and a wonderful stupendious demonstration of the mercy of God 1 Jo 4.9 Herein was manifested the love of God toward us that he sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us this is the mercy of mercies It was not with gold or silver or any corruptible thing that we were redeemed but with the precous bloud of God's own dear Son and this is that which commendeth the exceeding riches of God's grace that he gave his son to die for sinners for enemies for rebels to reconcile them to God 2. Vse 2 Terrour Here is matter of terror to all wicked despisers of such Gospel-grace are not souls worthy to perish if when God sends his Son to save them they will not be saved God delivered his own Son up to death for the redemption of souls and Jesus Christ offers himself to you as a Redeemer and foolish creatures prefer bonds before liberty will still continue the servants of sin slaves to lusts the Devils vassels they care not for Christ his redemption Oh how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Christ will be one day terrible to them who now despise the Gospel-offers of his grace 3. Here is encouragement for poor sinners that feel themselves pinched Vse 3 and galled with the yoke of sin and groan by reason of their spiritual bondage that see in what a miserable case they are by nature and long
to be brought out of it why hear this God hath delivered his own Son to death for the redemption of poor creatures and he hath paid a sufficient price for the ransome of all therefore come to Jesus Christ and cast thy self upon him giving thy self up to him he can and will redeem thee from sin to God from death to life from the power of Satan into the glorious liberty of God's children 4. Was the Son of God himself delivered up to death for the redemption of souls Vse 4 here is abundant comfort for such as have by faith laid hold on Gospel-redemption they may be sure of their being thorowly redeemed it is a full redemption that is wrought by the Son of God God's work is perfect work the soul that cometh to Christ and by faith closeth with him is freed from the guilt of sin and the curse of the law and is certainly set above condemnation Though there be matter of condemnation in a believer that for which he deserves to be condemned yet actual condemnation there is none to him Christ hath taken it away he died for this purpose he was delivered to death for our offences and the dying of the Son of God cannot be in vain cannot fail of its end surely the satisfaction that Christ made to his Father was a very full satisfaction and his death was full of merit for those for whom he died For 1. The sufferings of Christ were infinite though not in respect of time yet in respect of the quantity and quality of them and in resâ—ect of the person suffering who was God as well as Man 2. Christ his death must needs be satisfactiory and meritorious on behalf of those for whom he died because it was that which God required the means of satisfaction and acquisition which he himself appointed it was according to the Covenant of redemption a performance of that Rom. 3.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hath fore-appointed Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation for sin through faith in his bloud This fore appointment of God must be referred not only to the person of the Redeemer as that God had appointed his Son to be the Mediator of Redemption but likewise to the manner and means of Redemption that Jesus Christ being made man should expiate the sins of men by the sacrifice of himself by shedding his bloud and that his death should be the meritorious procuring cause of righteousness and life and the favor of God and all blessing and happiness to those for whom he died So then here is that which may give satisfaction to Believers to cause them to rest in Christ's Redemption because he is God and because his Father from Eternity designed him to be our Redeemer and his Death to be the effectual means of a full Redemption Therefore when Satan tempteth and Conscience accuseth and the Law threatneth a Child of God and when Death and Hell would make him afraid let him turn his eye to Christ and let him fix meditation on the Death of Christ the Son of God it was to purpose the work which his Father gave him to do he did throughly he fully expiated Sin and so the Law is answered the Curse removed the Divel conquered the wrath of God appeased and righteousness and life restored to those for whom he died and the evil from which he hath redeemed them shall never return upon them and the good which he hath purchased for them shall never be lost from them 5. I shall now close with words of Counsel Vse 5 Exhort Did God give his Son to die for Sinners Then let us search out and consider what that good is which the death of Christ bringeth to souls that so we may take comfort in meditating on this great gift of God Certainly it was for special purpose that God gave his Son to die now we must know the advantage that hence redounds to souls or else we cannot taste the sweetness of such a mercy I shall instance in some fruits and benefits of Christ's death which comprehend all the the specialties of advantage by it amounting to a full redemption 1. Hereby full satisfaction is made to the justice of God for believers The word satisfaction indeed is not found in Scripture applied to the death of Christ but the thing is made out fully in other expressions as when it is said that he did bear the sins of many Isa 53.12 1 Pet. 2.24 and he bare our sins in his body on the tree the phrase importeth according to the signification of the original word the taking of the punishment of sin off from us upon himself and so intimates satisfaction Christ is said to be the propitiation for our sins 1 Jo. 2.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to expiate sin by making satisfaction to justice and so to render God propitious in what sense can Christ be said to be a propitiation for sin but by satisfying Gods offended justice and violated law The Apostle saith by the righteousness of one Rom 5 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the free gift came to the justification of life it may be read by one satisfaction Jesus Christ by death for sinners hath paid their debts hath not left one farthing upon the score hath satisfied for their sins not leaving one sin unsatisfied for so that they stand not liable to the justice of God which inflicteth everlasting punishment upon sinners as all poor souls will find who have not a part in Christ Christ hath made full satisfaction for all those who apply to themselves the fruits of his death so that they are acquited and justified by vertue of his death for the merit of his satisfaction 2. Gods justice being satisfied his anger is appeased he is reconciled to souls by this propitiatory sacrifice so that now God and they are friends there is amâ—ty betwixt them being enemies Rom. 9.10 We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son 2 Cor. 5.18 â—â—a 53.5 Modo Deo fiuamur propitio nihil metuendum a creaturis God hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ the chastisement of our peace was upon him Now as it is a fearful thing to have God to be our enemy so it is most sweet and comfortable to be in his favor for if God be for us who can be against us This reconciliation to God is a great priviledge indeed that which lets the soul into the injoyment of all other priviledges and blessings 3. The Divel that great Enemy of Souls is conquered the Serpents head is broken the Seed of the Woman hath broken it Jesus Christ the Son of God was made flesh that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death Heb. 2.14 that is the Divel 4. By Christ's dying 1 Cor. 15.54 2 Tim. 1.10 Death is swallowed up in victory Jesus Christ hath abolished Death and hath taken
to be sought Christ our Reconciliation taking away all enmity betwixt God and us Christ that becomes to us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption by whom we are enlightned iustified sanctified and glorified Christ in whom the promises of God are yea and amen to us who will be to us if we have him as a seale and an earnest to assure us that we shall enjoy all that good which is carried in them Christ that will support us in every temptation and trial and be a comfort to us in every condition hrist that will be the death of sin in us and will bring in the life of Grace into us that will bring such a happy liberty to us making us of Satans slaves to become the Lord's freemen Christ with whom other things are given and that graciously in love and good will Christ that will bring us into the bosome of God to live with him for ever in Glorie Is not this Christ I say worth the looking after wherfore let your aim be at Christ and above all things labour to get him to be possessed of him and to be assured that he is yours and you are his You invite friends to come to your houses and tell them that you shall be glad of their company and ready to give them the best entertainment that the house affords and heartio welcome though oft times with some persons this is but a complement Ah beloved do you in reality invite Christ to come to your soules entreat him to come and dwell with you in you Tell him that he shall have the command of every roome in thy heart the whole house of thy soule shall be at his disposing that all the faculties of thy soul and all the members of thy bodie shall be at his his service thus begg of him woe him to come and make his abode with thee and in the vse of Ordinances and in Duties wait for his comming to thee and when he shall come and knock be ready according to thy invitation to open the door of thy heart and receive him in with joy for surely he will prove a good Guest indeed that will feast thee with his love and vvill fill thee vvith delights and make even the worst condition on Earth to be a very heaven to thee Having urged these incentives to the seeking of Christ I thought not to have proceeded any further in pressing this Counsel but for as much as I am now dealing with people about a business that is of the greatest concernment to them and because I know that souls are not easily prevailed with in such a case I shall begg a little more of the Reader 's patience while I make an essay for the driving of sinners if they will not yet be dravvn unto Christ and I think that having a whip put into my hand by God I must make some use of it I shall therefore now urg some considerations about the vvant of Christ setting forth the miserie of being without him 1. If Christ be the life of the soul Gal. 2.20 1 Joh. 5.12 Col. 3.4 as he is certainly Christ liveth in me He that hath the Son hath life When Christ who is our life shall appear Christ is our life as in this respect that he made us and gave us being and life in the World and because he hath purchased Eternal life for us and will bring us to it and because he vvill in the last day put life into our dead bodies and raise them up So likewise he is our life because by his Spirit he quickeneth our souls vvhen he finds them dead in sins and trespasses I say now if Christ be our life then souls without Christ are dead soules and all their vvorks are dead workes there being nothing of the life of God put forth in any thing that they do Nil dat quod non habe 2. because there is nothing of this life in them Here is the misery of being without Christ the Soule is dead as lothsome in the eye of God and as stinking in his nostrils as a piece of carrion or a dead Corps that hath lien rotting a long time in the grave is offensive to us yea much more loathsome is such a soul unto God 2. Without Christ the soul is like the Would without a Sun so that there is no Light no Heat no fruit no Glory 1. Souls without Christ are in darkness Ye are in darkness faith Paul the believing Thessalonians 1 Thes 5.4 Now ye are not but you were before Christ came to you 1 Pet. 2.9 Col. â— 3. Ephes 5.8 Christ calleth soules out of darkness yea souls without Christ are under the power of darkness yea they are darkness it self Oh do but think what a sad condition we should be in if the sâ—ll should forsake our Horizon so that we should never any more see the light thereof much more sad and dolourous is the condition of a soul without Christ that hath not one glimps of true spiritual and heavenly light hath no saving apprehension of God or Jesus Christ or of any thing that concerns his own â—â—lvation that belongs to his 2. Where Christ is not there is â—o heavenly hâ—at men are hot spiâ—ited in pursuit of the profits and â—leasures of the World are carried with heat of affection to sin vaâ—ity but there is no fire of zeal for God or toward him no fervency of â—pirit in serving the Lord they are â—old spirited yea frozen hearted in â—espect of any affection to that which is good what an indifferent â—hing is it to them that are without Christ whether they do or leave â—â—ndon those duties which God requires of them I say they are not carried to any duty with any warmth of spirit upon any spiritual consideration or to any good â—â—d and so nothing that they do in the way of their dutie finds acceptance with God 3. Where Christ is not the soul is barren and fruitless altogether in respect of that which is good As the branch cannot bear fruit of it self unless it abide in the vine Jo. 15 4 5. no more can ye except ye abide in me be that abideth in me and I in him the same bringtch forth much fruit with me He that abideth in me I in him the same brengeth f rth much fruit without me ye can do nothing Unless Christ be in the soule it bringeth forth no fruit unto God nor is it or can it be profitable to it self And now what is the doom of the barren tree Cut it down why Combreth it the ground Ah the soule vvithout Christ Heb. 6.8 is like that earth vvhich beareth Thornes and Briars that is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burnt 4. Where Christ is not there is no glory nor beauty because no light because no Grace because no Righteousness because no Holiness In Christ Jesus the New man is created after God