we make a covenant with the Lord that we will become his people and continue his for ever 2 King 11.17 Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the King and the People that they should be the Lords People Sect. 3. Several grounds of Consolation against the troubles of Life and the fears and terrors of Death arising from an interest in Christ We have seen what is meant by an interest in Christ namely an actual right to and propriety in Christ himself as our Redeemer and a right to and propriety in all the saving benefits purchased by his Blood VVe have seen also how Christ becomes ours and how we become his Now let us consider what solid grounds of comfort we may have both against the fears and terrours of Death and the troubles of Life from our Redemption by Christ or from interest in Christ and those saving benefits which he hath purchased for us I. Jesus Christ hath fully perfectly and for ever reconciled unto God all that are his The elect as well as others were by nature the Children of wrath Eph. 2.3 But by the Death and sufferings of Christ they are redeemed from the wrath of God both for present and time to come Rom. 5.9 Being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him 1 Thes 1.10 Even Jesus which hath delivered us from wrath to come Our Lord Jesus Christ hath by his Death and sufferings fully reconciled all that are his unto God for ever Col. 1.19 20. Having made peace through the blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself c. All that are Christs whether they be such as are already in Heaven or such as are still upon the Earth were reconciled to God by that bloud that he shed upon the cross All that are Christs in all ages of the world and in all places of the world are reconciled to God by Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself And as Christ hath reconciled all that are his unto God so he hath fully and perfectly reconciled them to God and that for ever by his offering up himself a Sacrifice to God for them Heb. 10.14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified I shall open this fulness and perfection of this Reconciliation in three or four particulars 1. Jesus Christ by his Death hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that he is pacified towards them notwithstanding all their offences whether original or actual and will not impute any one of their offences to them 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them The nature of reconciliation lyeth in pacifying God for the offence our sins have caused and this pacification Christ our High Priest hath wrought for us Heb. 2.17 That he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people And this pacification is so full that it is a pacification for all offences Ezek. 16.63 I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord. 2. Jesus Christ hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that God hath laid aside all his wrath against them and retaineth no fury at all against them Psal 85.3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath thou hast turned thy self from the fierceness of thine anger Isa 27.4 Fury is not in me 3. Jesus Christ hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that the Lord hath sworn that he will be wroth with them no more Isa 54.9 17. This is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the Earth so I have sworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee This is the heritage of the Servants of the Lord. But some may say are not some of the Servants of Christ chastned very sorely and do they not complain that the wrath of God lyeth hard upon them as Heman Psal 88.7.16 How then is God true to his Oath that he will be wroth with them no more A. 1. The rebukes and chastnings of the Members of Christ do not come from wrath but love Rev. 3.19 Whom I love I rebuke and chasten 2. The people of God are subject to mistakes when they judge according to sence and not according to what is revealed in the word of God when they judge according to sence and feeling they may think many providences of God to be expressions of his wrath which they might understand to be all Mercy and to have no wrath in them if they did judge according to Faith and according to what they find in the word of God For there we read that All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Ps 25.10 3. When the Lord swears that he will not be wroth nor rebuke his Servants it is to be understood of Eternal wrath that he will not rebuke them so as to destroy for so rebuking is sometimes understood namely of eternal destruction Ps 9.5 Thou hast rebuked the Heathen thou hast destroyed the wicked thou hast put out their name for ever and ever For this is like the Oath of God concerning the waters that covered the Earth in Noah's time God hath sworn that the VVaters shall no more cover the Earth to destroy the Earth as it did in Noah's Floud yet notwithstanding this Oath God doth often chasten the Inhabitants of the Earth with unseasonable rain and flouds but not such as shall destroy the world So when the Lord swears that he will not be wrath with or rebuke his Servants it 's of eternal wrath of casting them away for ever yet he may and often doth chasten them with temporal chastisements 4. Jesus Christ hath so fully reconciled all that are his unto God that he hath not only pacified his Fathers Anger but he hath restored and brought them into the love and favour of God Rom. 5.1 2. By whom also we have access by Faith into this grace wherein we stand By grace here is meant the love and favour of God and by Christ we have not only peace with God but access into and continuance in the grace and favour of God By Christ we are brought into an higher degree of the love and favour of God than Adam did enjoy while he was in innocency For we are under a better Covenant and have better promises than Adam had Adam was in the favour of God yet so as he was capable of losing the favour of God and being a child of wrath And by his fall he did lose the love of God But they that are Christs are so confirmed in the love of God that Gods loving kindness shall never depart from them Isa 54.10 The Mountains shall depart and the Hills be
who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ interceedeth with his Father on the behalf of all those that are given to him that they may be with him where he is that is in the Kingdom of Heaven Joh. 17 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me And what Christ asked of his Father shall assuredly be granted Joh. 11.42 I know that thou hearest me always 3. God for Christs sake hath promised eternal life to all that are Christs that is to all persons that do or shall believe on Christ to the end of the World Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son this whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life 1 Joh. 2.25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us eternal life And the promise of God is a sure ground to hope for eternal life Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began 4. Our Lord Jesus Christ hath power over all flesh given to him by the Father that he may give eternal life to all that are given to him by the Father Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him And therefore they that are Christs may be assured that they shall have eternal life seeing Christ hath power to give eternal life to whom he will and this power over all flesh was given him purposely that he might give eternal life to all that were given him by the Father 5. God hath given us this record concerning his Son that eternal life is in his Son and that eternal life is his free gift and that he will give it to all that have his Son and if we do not believe this record that God hath given of his Son we should make God a Liar 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12. He that believeth not God hath made him a Liar because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son And this is the record that God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his Son he that hath the Son hath Life Eternal Life is in Christ and therefore if we believe the record that God hath given of his Son namely that God hath given us eternal life and that this life is in his Son we must then conclude it as a certain truth that he that hath the Son hath Life Now seeing such as have an interest in Christ have sure grounds to hope for eternal life it followeth hence that they have good grounds of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and also against the fears and terrors of Death For hope of eternal life will help us to rejoyce greatly in the midst of all our troubles Rom. 5.2 3 VVe rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and not only so but we glory in tribulations When we have good hope of the glory of God that is of enjoying the Kingdom of Heaven which is a most glorious Kingdom we may rejoyce and glory in the midst of our greatest tribulations 1 Pet. 1.3 4 6. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heariness through manifold temptations Here is joy great joy in the midst of manifold temptations that did cause heaviness and whence did this joy proceed from a lively hope of an heavenly inheritance VVherein ye greatly rejoyce That is in which hope or in hope of which inheritance So Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoyling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and more enduring substance The spoyling of our goods for which we have laboured many years is wont to cause sorrow and lamentation Jer. 9.19 A voice of wailing is heard out of Zion how are we spoyled yet the hope of a reward in Heaven will help us to take the spoiling of our goods joyfully The hope of eternal life will take away the fears and terrors of Death when a man hath good hope of his Salvation it will be no trouble no terror to such a man to dye but he may dye in peace Luk. 2.29 30. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation The hope of eternal life will so far take off the fear and terrors of death that it will make us desire and long for our dissolution that we may be with Christ in Heaven Phil. 1.23 Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better 2 Cor. 5.1 2. VVe know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven V. They that are Christs shall have the Lords presence with them under the troubles which they meet with while they live and also when they come to die Our sins made a separation between God and our Souls Isa 59.2 But the sufferings of Christ have made up this breach 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also suffered once for sins the just for the unjust that we might be brought unto God One of the names given to Christ was Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us Math. 1.23 Whereas by the fall of Adam God was against us and was separated from us through Christ he is reconciled to us and is become with us a God that will afford us his presence That such as are Christs shall have the presence of God and Christ with them under all their troubles yea at all times both while they live and when they dye See Heb. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee And what he hath said he will surely perform it If he will never leave nor forsake us then at no time of life nor at the hour of death Mat. 28.20 Lo I am with you always to the end of the world Here is a note of attention set before this promise that the Members of Christ may take notice of it for their comfort and encouragement Lo I am with you I that have all power in Heaven and in Earth given to me I am with you how long always to the end of the world not only with his Apostles and Disciples that lived in those days but with all his Ministers and Members to the end of the world and at all times And more especially in times
the promise and oath of God which are two immutable things to assure them that God in blessing will bless them For the oath and promise is to them as well as unto Abraham and what doth this imply Surely blessing I will bless thee A. Surely I will pardon all thy sins Rom. 4.7 8. And surely I will give thee eternal life Mat. 25.34 and 5.3 And surely I will pour out my Spirit upon thee Isa 44.3 Gal. 3.14 And surely I will turn thee from thine iniquities Acts 3.26 And surely I will give thee all good things Ps 21.3 And surely I will make thee a blessed man for ever 1 Chron. 17.27 8. These two immutable things the promise and the oath of God as sure as he liveth to bless for ever all that flee to Christ for eternal life this may give them strong consolation yea this may give them such strong consolation as no troubles nothing whatever shall make void their comfort which is the next head I am to speak to 5. The blessed estate and condition of such as have an interest in Christ is made so sure and so firmly setled upon them that no troubles of this life nor Death it self can make void their blessedness They are and continue blessed under all their afflictions and temptations as well as in their greatest prosperity Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastneth O Lord and teachest out of thy Law Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth Temptation for when he is tryed he shall recieve the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him They are and continue blessed when they dye as well as while they live Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Death is so far from making void the blessedness of those that are Christs that it puts them into the actual possession of the Blessings of Heaven which is far greater blessedness then they enjoyed whilst they were in this world Now the favour which God hath shewn to those that are Christs in bestowing all this blessedness upon them and in making them most blessed for ever is a ground of exceeding great joy Psal 21.6 Thou hast made him most blessed for ever thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance This blessedness which is confirmed to them that are Christs by two immutable things the oath and the promise of God is a ground of strong consolation in all estates and conditions of such strong Consolation as cannot be made void by any troubles or by death it self as hath been already shewed from Heb. 6.13 14 17 18. Sect. 3. More grounds of consolation against the troubles of the world to such as have an interest in Christ Seeing the way to Heaven lyeth through many tribulations and experience sheweth it is an hard matter for Christians to bear up chearfully under the manifold troubles they meet with in this world I shall add some more grounds of comfort for such as have an interest in Christ against all the troubles they are liable to in this world § The World is conquered by Christ what comfort ariseth hence 1. It is a great comfort to a Christian under the troubles of the world to consider that Christ hath overcome the World Joh. 16.32 In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the world By the world which Christ hath overcome we may understand all things that are in the world which hinder the peace Consolation and Salvation of the Members of Christ as the Prince of the World which is a Title given to Satan the Rulers of the world the men of the world the troubles of the world the temptations of the world the corruptions that are in the world through Lust All that is in the world which is contrary to us Christ hath overcome for us Now Christs overcoming the world is a ground of comfort against the troubles of the world on several accounts as 1. Jesus Christ having overcome the world the whole world with all things in the world is now at his disposal The Prince of the world and all the powers of the world and all the men of the world can do nothing in the world but by the permission of Christ He is Prince of the Kings of the earth and governs and over-rules all their counsels and designs Rev. 1.5 Jesus Christ the Prince of the Kings of the Earth The men of the world can do nothing against any of the Members of Christ though they be great men though Rulers but what he gives them power to do Joh. 19.11 Thou couldst have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above What Christ saith here of himself concerning Pilate is true of all his Members concerning all the Rulers of the world they can have no power at all against any of the Members of Christ except it be given them from above and this is a great quieting to the hearts of the People of God against the men and troubles of the world 2. Jesus Christ who overcame the World is the Captain of our Salvation Heb. 2.10 And he did not only overcome the world for himself but for us Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father By his Conquest he obtained our deliverance from this present evil world We may expect while we are in the world sharp Conflicts with the troubles of the world Heb. 10.32 Ye endured a great sight of Afflictions But this is our comfort we have to do with a Conquered Enemy an Enemy that may oppose us but shall not hurt us Luk. 10.19 Behold I give unto you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you Serpents are an embleme of subtle enemies Gen. 3.1 Now the Serpent was more subtle than any Beast of the Field Mat. 10.16 Be wise as Serpents And of cruel enemies that seek our destruction 1 Cor. 10.9 They were destroyed of Serpents The worst of men are compared to Scorpions Ezek. 2.6 And thou Son of man be not afraid of them neither be afraid of their words though Briars and Thorns be with thee and thou dost dwell among Scorpions Scorpions here signifies wicked men which spoke big words against the Prophet Now by the help of Christ we shall tread on those enemies that are like Serpents and Scorpions and all the power of the enemy so far as nothing shall by any means hurt us And there are three negatives in the Greek which is the more remarkable to assure us of the truth of what is spoken 3. Jesus Christ who hath overcome the World will enable us through Faith in him to overcome the world our selves 1 Joh. 5.4.5 Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory that overcometh the world even our Faith Who is
goat and confess over him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities into a Land not inhabited This did signifie Gods laying all our sins upon Christ Isa 53.6 And Christ making satisfaction for them all bearing them all away by his death 1 Pet. 2.24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body upon the tree The discharge that Christ by his death hath obtained for us is a full discharge VVhatever sin may be charged upon us by the Law by Conscience by Satan who is our accuser by the justice of God all is discharged and quitted and answered by the death of Christ Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect. It is God that justifieth It is Christ that dyed Out of respect to the Death of Christ God will forgive us all our trespasses how many or how great soever they have been Col. 2.13 Having forgiven you all trespasses Ps 103.3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities Ps 85.2 Thou hast forgiven all the iniquities of thy people thou hast covered all our sin And that we may be the more fully assured that the pardon which our Lord Jesus hath obtained for us is a full and general pardon of all offences the Lord hath obliged himself by many promises for Christs sake to pardon all and every one of our sins Jer. 33.8 I will cleanse them from all their Iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their Iniquities whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me Ezek. 36.25 From all your filthiness and all your Idols I will cleanse you 2. Our Lord Jesus hath obtained of God that this general pardon shall be for ever that all our sins should be forgiven for ever and never be remembred against us to Eternity Heb. 8.12 I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more And this is implyed in such promises as these Mich. 7.19 Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the Sea that is as Drusius observ's aeternâ oblivione delebit memoriam peccatorum nostrorum He will blot out the remembrance of our sins for ever Those things that are cast into the depths of the Sea are wholly and for ever taken out of our sight Psal 103.12 As far as the East is from the West so far hath he removed our transgressious from us That is so far as they shall never be laid to our charge any more For the East and VVest are at that great distance that they shall never come together Ezek. 33.16 None of the sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned to him 3. The Lord Jesus hath obtained a general and perpetual pardon of all offences upon terms of free grace without any respect to merit or worthiness in us that are partakers of it Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace It is from grace free-graces the riches of grace that we have pardon of our Sins through the blood of Christ It is not for our sakes but for his own sake and his Sons sake that the Lord pardons our sins Isa 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember tâ—y sin Eph. 4.32 God for Christs sake hath forgiven you 4. This free this everlasting this general pardon of all offences our Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased for all that are his that is for all that do and all that shall believe in him in all places and all ages of the world Act. 13.39 By him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Acts 10.43 To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Now this free this everlasting this full and general pardon which our Lord Jesus Christ hath obtained for all that are his by shedding his blood for them is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of life and all fears and terrours of death Rom. 5.1 3. Being therefore justified by Faith We glory in Tribulations Justified persons whose sins are remitted through the blood of Christ may glory not only when they are got out of their troubles but when they are in the midst of all their tribulations Isa 33.24 The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquities It is not said the Inhabitant shall be without sickness The greatest of Gods favourites are liable to sickness as well as other men Daniel was a man greatly beloved yet he was sick and faint many days Dan. 8.27 I Daniel fainted and was sick certain dayes And it is said of Lazarus John 11.3 Lord he whom thou lovest is sick Justified persons are oft times sick as well as other men but the pardon of sin doth so sweeten their affliction that they shall not say I am sick that is they shall not say by way of complaint and discontent Sin unpardoned makes afflictions like gall and wormwood that is exceeding bitter Lam. 3.5 15 42. He bath compassed me with gall He hath filled me with bitterness he hath made me drunken with worm wood We have transgressed and rebelled and thou hast not pardoned But pardon of sin doth so sweeten the bitterest afflictions that it takes away all causes of complaint under the rod of God The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick and why is it because there is no sickness No but because the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquitie VVhen a man is taken sick and his sickness for ought he knoweth may be his death sickness when he is so sick that he can't go or stand or set up but is confined to his Bed if his sins be forgiven him he may be of good cheer Math. 9.2 Son be of good cheer thy sins be forgiven thee Here is a sick man his sickness was very uncomfortable he was sick of the Palsie he was brought very low he kept his Bed there was no way for his recovery but a miracle yet before Christ gave him any intimation of his purpose to heal him he bid him be of good cheer and why because his sins were forgiven him This pardon of all our sins which is obtained for us by our Lord Jesus Christ may comfort us against all the fears and terrours of Death on several accounts 1. VVhen our sins are pardoned the sting of Death is taken away For the sting of Death is sin 1 Cor. 15.56 And when Sin is forgiven Death hath lost its sting and when the sting of Death is taken away we need not be afraid of Death
it can do us no harm 2. VVhen our sins are pardoned we may be assured our Souls shall be saved for God glorifieth all whom he justifieth Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he also glorified Tit. 3.7 That being justified by his grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of eternal life 3. Jesus Christ by his death and sufferings hath obtained for all that are his freedom from eternal condemnation and this is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death There is not any one person that belongeth to Christ that hath an interest in Christ that shall come into condemnation Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus That our Lord Jesus Christ hath redeemed all that are his from eternal condemnation is evident several wayes 1. Because Christ dyed for us Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed The Death of Christ is our security from Eternal Death He laid down his life on purpose to ransome us from Eternal condemnation Math. 20.28 The Son of man came to give his life a ransome for many out of respect to and for the sake of this ransome God will deliver all that are Christs from going down into the bottomless pit Job 33.24 Deliver him from going down into the pit for I have found a ransom 2. The ground and cause of our Condemnation is taken away by the Death of Christ which is sin For God condemneth no man but for sin and therefore Christ having by his Death taken away our sins hath taken away condemnation from us 3. God out of respect to the death and sufferings of Christ hath promised that none that believe in Christ shall come into condemnation Joh. 3.16 18. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but should have everlasting life He that believeth on him is not condemned Job 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from Death unto Life 4. The Keys of Hell are in the hands of Jesus Christ he hath power to cast into Hell and to keep out of Hell whom he pleaseth Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the Keys of Hell and of Death And if the Keys of Hell be in the hands of Christ then all they that are Christs are upon sure grounds that they shall not come into condemnation for he will not in any wife cast any of his Members into eternal torments Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out And seeing all they that are Christs are redeemed from eternal condemnation this may comfort them under all the troubles of this world and against the fears and terrors of Death It may scatter and dispel all our sorrows and fill our hearts with joy and gladness when we understand and believe that we are ransomed and delivered from eternal torments Isa 35.10 The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away This hath relation to the deliverance of the Jews out of the Babylonian Captivity which was a type of our deliverance from eternal misery when God brought them out of their captivity they were filled with joy and singing Psal 126.1 2. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing Now if there were such joy and singing by the ransomed of the Lord that were delivered from Babylon what joy and gladness may arise to the ransomed of the Lord from their deliverance from Hell torments Hell is a worse place than Babylon the captivity of Babylon was but for 70 years but Hell torments are for Eternity David speaks of his deliverance from Hell as an unexpressible Mercy and that he would praise God with all his heart and glorifie him for evermore for such a great mercy Psal 86.12 13. I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy name for evermore for great is thy mercy toward me and thou hast delivered my Soul from the lowest Hell And this his deliverance from the lowest Hell was a comfort to him when the proud rose up against him and the assemblies of violent men sought after his Soul ver 14.17 When we know and believe that we are freed from condemnation by the death of Christ this may cause us to triumph over death when we are killed all the day long and counted as Sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8.34 36 37. Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as Sheep for the slaughter Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us When we are freed from condemnation we may triumph over Death though we walk in danger of Death all the day long more than Conquerours triumph over their conquered enemies IV. They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to eternal life and that sure hope which they have of eternal life is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life It is not said he shall have Life but he hath Life that is he may be as sure of it as if he had it already He hath an undoubted right an unquestionable Title to eternal life He hath it in the purpose and decree of God he hath it in the promise of God And that by life here is meant eternal life is evident from the following words they that have Christ dwelling in their hearts by Faith have a sure ground and foundation for their hope of eternal glory Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory That all that are Christs have an undoubted right to and sure grounds to hope for eternal Life may be demonstrated several wayes 1. Our Lord Jesus Christ dyed on purpose that he might purchase and procure eternal life for all that should believe on him Joh. 3.14 15. As Moses listed up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life By the lifting up of the Son of man is meant his suffering death upon the Cross Joh. 12.32 33. And this death he suffered that he might purchase eternal life for all that should believe on him 1 Thes 5.9 10. God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
in him Gal. 3.8 In thee shall all Nations be blessed That is in thy seed that shall proceed out of thy loins that is the promised Messiah as appears from Act. 3.25 26. By all Nations being blessed in Christ we are to understand all persons in all Nations that believe on Christ as the following words shew ver 9. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham what Laban said concerning Jacob. Gen. 30.27 I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake That may they that are Christs say concerning Christ I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for Christs sake 2. They that are Christs are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus Eph 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Spiritual blessings are the best blessings now God hath not only blessed us with some with many but with all spiritual blessings and that not only all spiritual blessings which are enjoyed in this life but with all spiritual blessings which are reserved for us in heavenly places And we are blessed with all these spiritual blessings both pertaining to this life and to be enjoyed in heavenly places in the life to come in Christ Jesus Which is better than if we had them in our own hands For Adam had all blessings in his own hands and lost them but what is put into the hands of Christ he will keep safe for ever 3. That blessedness which we have in and by Jesus Christ is eternal blesledness Besides that blessedness which they that are Christs have in this life all the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven are prepared for them and shall be given to them for their inheritance Mat. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world His blessing is eternal life God hath blessed us in Christ with the highest blessings he had to give and we were capable to recieve and that for ever For through Christ he hath given himself unto us to be our God Ezek. 36.28 I will be your God And he hath promised to give us his Kingdom Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom And what greater blessings hath God to give than himself and his Kingdom And therefore what is said of David Psal 21.6 Thou hast made him most blessed for ever The same may be said of all that are Christs God hath not only made them blessed but hath made them most blessed for ever for they that come to Christ upon the call of the Gospel are made partakers of the sure mercies of David Isa 53.3 4. It is the immutable purpose and unalterable promise of God to make all the Members of Christ most blessed for ever and he hath confirmed the immutability of his counsel and promise with his oath which may give strong consolation to all that in the sense of their lost and undone condition have fled for refuge to Jesus Christ that by and in him they may obtain Life and Salvation Heb. 6.13 14 17.18 This portion of Scripture setting forth the great assurance which God hath given all that believe in Christ that he will make them blessed and happy for ever which is a foundation of strong consolation I shall observe several things out of it 1. God made a promise to Abraham that in blessing he would bless him that is that he would give him all things requisite to true blessedness that he would make him most happy and blessed for ever that he would never leave off blessing him but would bless him for ever This includes the promise of eternal life for no man is a blessed man but he that shall have eternal life all others are under Gods curse Mat. 25.34 41. The blessings of Heaven are the main part of our blessedness Mat. 5.3 2. God confirmed this promise of giving Abraham all things requisite to true blessedness with the greatest oath that he could swear For because he could swear by no greater he sware by himself saying surely blessing I will bless thee surely that is surely as I live as sure as I am God I will bless thee and make thee blessed for ever 3. This promise and this oath were not only made to Abraham but intended for the strengthning of the Faith and the consolation of all the heirs of promise to the end of the world Wherein that is in which promise God willing to shew to the heirs of promise 'T is not said to shew to Abraham but to shew to the heirs of promise confirmed it with an oath so that the promise and oath of God are intended for all the heirs of promise That we might have a strong consolation 'T is not said Abraham so that the oath and promise of God is as much for our comfort as Abrahams 4. Gods oath added to his promise sheweth that his counsel and decree for blessing Abraham and all the heirs of promise is immutable he will not alter his purpose or promise of blessing any of the heirs of promise 5. God is abundantly willing that the heirs of promise should know the immutability of his counsel of giving them all things requisite to true blessedness 6. Such as have fled to Christ for refuge to be saved from wrath to come and to give them eternal life may have strong consolation That we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us By fleeing for refuge we may understand fleeing to Christ that we may escape from wrath to come and may obtain eternal life and Salvation The Cities of refuge under the law whether the Man-slayer was to flee that he might be preserved from the avenger of Blood did typifie Christ to whom we are to flee for refuge that we may escape the wrath and vengeance of God which is due to us for our sins Eternal Life is the hope which is set before us to be laid hold upon Tit. 2.13 Looking for that blessed hope That is for eternal life Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life This hope is set before us in the Gospel Col. 1.5 For the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven whereof ye heard before in the word of the Truth of the Gospel And therefore it is called the hope of the Gospel ver 23. And be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel This is the hope we are to lay hold upon 1 Tim. 6.12 Lay hold upon Eternal Life So that our fleeing for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us is this our fleeing unto Jesus Christ that we may escape that wrath which is due to us for our sins and that we may in him and through him obtain Eternal Life and Salvation 7. They that have thus fled for refuge have