Ministers declare and preach the same thing and the Holy Ghost in Convictions represents the State of the Soul to be deplorable before effectual Calling There is it is evident a Relative Change passing on the Soul by the Spirit as well as a Real Change Consolation In the last place and to close with all I shall say What ground of Comfort and Consolation to Believers is here 1. Your Sins are fully and for ever expiated When he had by himself purged our Sins sate down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on high that is he hath removed the Guilt Stain and Punishment of Sin by his Satisfaction and Merits so as God may be Just as well as Gracious in Pardoning and Justifying of us that believe in Jesus 2. All Accusations of Sin the Law Satan and our own Consciences shall be silenced and answered by the Intercession of Christ He doth and will out-plead them all 3. All your Wants shall be richly supplied all your Graces strengthened and all your Enemies are and shall be Overcome Conquered and Vanquished for ever 4. You are brought to God and Reconciled to him in his own way in a sure way Comfort ye my People saith your God Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem And cry unto her that her Warfare is accomplished and her Iniquity is pardoned for she hath received of the Lord's Hands double for all her Sins War is for ever ceased betwixt God and you and as God has received by Christ double Satisfaction as it were For where Sin abounded Grace hath much more abounded So you have and shall receive hereby double at his Hands viz. not only a Discharge from Sin and Wrath in Hell but also Eternal Life and Glory in Heaven 5. All your Afflictions and whatsoever else shall work together for your good 6. You stand firmer and more sure in â—his Covenant than Adam stood in Paradice â—â—â—ore he fell 1. Your Peace is increasing The Path of the Just is as a shining Light that shines more and more to the perfect Day And not only your Personal Peace or Peace of your Souls but the Peace of all God's Israel also O how great will that Peace be in the latter Days when God delivers his People from all their external Enemies and Troubles and also unites them altogether to serve him with one consent 2. You shall have Peace not only while you live but also when you die Mark the Perfect Man behold the Vpright the latter End of that Man is Peace He shall enter into Peace they shall rest in their Beds c. 3. You shall be found in Peace at the Great Day when the Lord Jesus shall appear Be diligent that ye may he found of him in Peace without spot and blameless That is give diligence to make it evident to your own Consciences that you are in Christ or are sincere Christians that so the Peace of God may rule in your Hearts by the Holy Ghost 4. Lastly None can deprive you of this Peace and Joy or take it away from you Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you Let not your Hearts be troubled neither let it be afraid Your Hearts shall rejoyce and your Joy no Man taketh from you Therefore be of good chear for tho you have many things that trouble you and Satan may greatly disquiet your Minds yet lift up your Heads and Hearts My Brethren I shall conclude all with the words of the Apostle The God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your Feet shortly The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you Amen FINIS The Occasion of the Preaching on this subject 2 Kings 9 18.22 Things look as if this may be the last Year in which the Turks may be a Plague to the Antichristian state Ezek. 2.27 Rev. 17.16 17. The Text opened Who makes this Promise To whom this Promise is made What is contained in this Promise The Rise or Spring of the Promise Isa. 54.9 The Doctrine raised Explanatory Propositions 2 Tim. 1.9 Pro. 8.23 The Nature of the breach betwixt God and Man opened Eccl. 7.29 Gen. 3.9 10. Rom. 8.7 Eph. 4.18 Col. 1.21 The fearful state of Man by Nature Acts 7.51 Joh. 15.24 Rom. 1.30 Zech. 11.8 Ps. 10.13 Ps. 34.16 10.3 Psal. 7.11 12 13. Gal. 3.10 Eph. 2.2 Joh. 3.36 Joh. 3.18 The cause of the great Breach betwixt God and Man Gen. 2.17 Petto Answ. Rom. 2.14 15. 3.19 20. 4.13 14 15. 7.13 Heb. 7.16 8.7 8. 9.13 Gal. 3.19 Rom. 5.20 3.19 8.3 Gal. 3.24 No meer Man nor Angel could make our Peace Concerning God's sovereignty in the display of his Grace Dan. 4.22 cap. 5.19 Exod. 4.11 Rom. 9.17 18. Mat. 11.25 26. 2 Cor. 2.16 Rom. 9.16 chap. 9.11 11.5 6. Titus 3.5 Tho I inlarged on this Proposition when I preached this Sermon yet I shall refer it to another Head now Joh. 5.16 John 3.16 Zaâ—h 6.13 2 Tim. 1.9 Ez. 16.4 5 Mal. 3.1 Heb. 2.3 c. 8.2 6 10 Joh. 33.23 Mat 11.27 1 Joh. 1.18 Psa. 89.28 Acts 2.23 Zech. 6.13 Joh. 6.40 Heb. 10.9 Isa. 50.5 6 Ps. 25.14 Ark of the Pag. p. 11. Buxt Rab. Tal. p. 818. The Covenant made with Believers is only a free promise not upon mutual stipulation 2 Tim. 1.9 Titus 1.2 3 Christ consented to the Fathers proposals in the Covenant of Peace Isa. 42.6 7 Psa. 40.6.7 8. Heb. 10.5 6 7. Jo. 17.4 5 The Covenant of peace was made from all Eternity Christ is the only Mediator of the Covenant of peace â— Tim. 2.5 Isa. 42.6 The necessity of a Mediator of the Covenant of Peace and that Christ is he Rom. 3.25 Joh. 14.6 Heb. 9.22 Act. 4.12 The Requisites in Christ as a Mediator Christ is every way qualified to be Mediator of the Covenant Why Christ must be God Psal. 3 4. Mark 14.33 34. Hos. 13.14 Joh. 2.19 Eph. 2.1 2. Christ must be Man Exod. 34.7 Rom. 5.18 19. Dr. Manton 4 Vol. p. 1084. Levit. 25.23 26. Ver. 47.48 * The Dr. saith Adam Joh. 1.16 Gen. 27.14 Ark of the Covenant p. 76. Joh. 10.30 Job 9.33 The Work of Christ as Mediator 1 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 9.15 Christ called or authorized to be a Mediator Psal. 89.3 Isa. 42.1 6 Christ comply'd with the Father's Demands Joh. 10.18 Eph. 2.14 16. Col. 1.20 Christ as Mediator has interest in both Parties Christ a Well-wisher to Peace Isa. 9.6 Phil. 2.6 7 Heb. 5.7 Gal. 3.13 Christ as Mediator of a yield-and condescending Spirit Heb. 5.8 Joh. 7â— 8. Christ as Mediator cloathed with power 1 Cor. 1.24 Ps. 80.17 Isa. 63.1 Isa. 61.1 Dan. 7.24 Joh. 16.33 Rev. 2.21 Luke 4.18 John 5.25 Eph. 2.1 Ps. 110.3 Rom. 8.7 Hos. 13 14 1 Cor. 15 55. Jude 1. Christ as Mediator is to reconcile both Parties one to the other See Mr. Dan. Williams's Book Christ a patient Mediator Rom. 8.32
we say he will perform it He shall bring forth Judgment unto Victory 1. He will according to his Promise and Covenant strengthen our Faith and encrease it 2. Subdue our Iniquities He will subdue our Iniquities thou wilt cast all their Sins into the Depths of the Sea thou wilt perform thy Truth to Jacob. 3. To support and succour us under all Temptations thus he hath promised and he is Faithful therefore will do it 1. Cor. 10.13 No Temptation hath befallen you but such that is common to Men and God is Faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able c. 4. To comfort us in all our Sorrows I will not leave you Comfortless c. 5. To help us under all our Afflictions Reproaches Losses and Persecutions all these are Covenant Blessings and therefore promised to us 6. To enable us to perform acceptably all Holy Duties for without him we can do nothing 7. To make us Fruitful and so to abide unto the end I have chosen you and ordained you that you go and bring forth Fruit and that your Fruit should remain the Righteous shall flourish like a Palm-tree Those that are planted in the House of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts oâ— our God they shall still bring forth Fruit in Old Age they shall be fat and flourishing And all this God hath promised to us by vertue of Christ's undertaking as our Surety for us For the Grace by which all this is done was promised first to Christ he is filled full of Grace as our Head of Influence And he hath engaged to God for us to act and influence us with that Grace which he so received which he doth perform in what measure and manner he pleaseth through or by virtue of that Union we have with him and by the constant communication of fresh Supplies from himself Therefore it is added To shew that the Lord is Vpright and that there is no Vnrighteousness in him Brethren pray consider this well that all Grace and Spiritual Blessing whatsoever which we receive is all promised to us by God the Father and made good to us through Christ's Mediation and Undertakings as our Surety For all the Promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen unto the Glory of God the Father I say that that Mutual Covenant betwixt God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ makes all Covenant Blessings and Promises sure to us all Promises are from the Father through Christ by the Holy Spirit Christ received the Spirit without measure upon his Covenanting with the Father and he engaged to send the Spirit to be the Almighty Agent to do all things for us for as he purchased the Spirit for us so he hath asked it of the Father and still as our Surety and Advocate he intercedes with the Father for us that we may receive a Gracious Measure thereof I will pray the Father and he will give you another Comforter The Father upon Christ's Suretiship promised to him that his Spirit shall never depart from him nor his Seed As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my Words which I have put into thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy Mouth nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed nor out of the Mouth of thy Seeds Seed from henceforth and for ever 8. Christ hath engaged to confirm us to the end this he undertook as our Surety it was God's Promise to him He shall see his Seed This was promised to him upon what he was to do and suffer and Christ I say hath engaged as our Surety to confirm us Who shall confirm you to the end God is Faithful by whom ye were called unto the Fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus Christ by vertue of this Covenant was to have many Companions or fellow Heirs of Glory and God's calling us is the first Foundation Act in God of performance of this Covenant with Christ and to us in him The Father is as much bound and obliged to keep us as Christ is because of that Price he hath received for us by Christ which he accepted of in this Covenant of Peace 9. Christ was obliged as our Surety not to lose one of them which the Father gave him And this is the Father's Will that sent me That of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last Day This is as if our Lord should have said The Father's Will and Covenant made with me is That I should not lose one of his Elect. The Father as one observes promised three things to the Son in this Covenant upon what he was to do and suffer 1. His Assistance 2. That he should have a Seed which he should see 3. He promised Eternal Glory to him and to all them in him I. His Assistance The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of Wisdom and Vnderstanding the Spirit of Counsel and Might the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord. Behold my Servant that I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him Well and what hath Christ engaged to do He shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles A bruised Reed shall he not break and the smoaking Flax shall he not quench he shall bring forth Judgment unto Truth I the Lord have called thee in Righteousness and will uphold thine Hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles That is for the Surety of my Covenant To open Blind eyes c. He shall feed in the Strength of the Lord in the Majesty of the Name of the Lord his God Christ was to plead these Promises He shall cry unto me Thou art my Father my God and the Rock of my Salvation II. God promised him a Seed 1. A Numerous Seed As the Dew of the Morning in abundance upon the Flowers and Plants fear not for I am with thee I will bring thy Seed from the East and gather thee from the West I will say to the North Give up and to the South Keep not back Bring my Sons from afar and my Daughters from the Ends of the Earth 2. A Perpetual Seed or a Seed that shall endure for ever His Seed will I make to endure for ever and his Throne as the Days of Heaven My Covenant will I not break c. III. The Father promised him great Glory and an Eternal Kingdom Ask of me I will give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession behold my Servant he shall deal prudently he shall be exalted and extolled and made very high I will divide him a Portion with the Great and he shall divide the Spoil
or in some Publick place so is the Gospel publickly made known Wisdom cryeth without she uttereth her Voice in the Streets in the chief Place in the Concourse in the opening of the Gates in the City she uttereth her Voice see Prov. 8.1 It is and shall be made known to all Nations to their Joy and Comfort and for their Obedience of Faith But let me note here some Disparities 1. Proclamations are not put into a Book I say I think that is not usually done to be kept for after Times upon Record but the Gospel or good News to Sinners or this Proclamation is put into a Book for all succeeding Ages and Generations to know and understand 1. This Book Brethren is wholly by Inspiration given out to remain as a Witness of God's Eternal Love and Christ's Eternal Love and Favour 2. There is a Blessing pronounced to him that reads and that understands this Book 3. It is a Book ratified and confirmed by Miracles 4. A Book that all Holy and good Books point to Moses points to this Book the Prophets point to this Book and all Divine Writers point to this Book 5. It is a Book of all Truth and no Errors 6. A Book that all Good Books Holy Books were taken out of 7. A Book kept and preserved by Almighty Power in spight of Rome Hell and Devils But let me add one thing more here viz. That there were different ways of proclaiming this News of Peace by Jesus Christ. 1. It was first proclaimed to Adam upon his Fall by the Promise of the Seed of the Woman 2. To Abraham it was proclaimed in these Words i. e. In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be Blessed Thus Paul saith God Preached the Gospel to Abraham to Jacob by the coming of Shilo To Moses by a Prophet that God would raise up of their Brethren like unto him and by Types and Sacrifices To David by a Promise of a Son to Sit upon his Throne and by a Covenant made with him as a Type of Christ. To the Prophets many ways very clearly But in the New Testament Times more fully and clearer then ever before it was hid as it were but the Vision is now opened and hidden things things long kept secret are plainly revealed We behold with open Face Many Prophets and Kings desired to see and hear what we see and hear but saw and heard them not 3. A Proclamation doth not usually contain the Sum of all the Articles of Peace nor give an Account of all the Gifts Grants Blessings and Priviledges thereof But this Proclamation i. e. the Gospel doth publish and make known to all the World the Summ of all the Articles of this Covenant of Peace together with all the great Gifts Grants Blessings and Priviledges thereof In the Gospel we read of the Council Compact and Eternal Purpose of God concerning of all those Covenant Transactions that were betwixt the Father and the Son from Eternity which were hid or kept secret until this Proclamation came forth 4. A Proclamation of Peace doth not particularly give an account of all the horrid Crimes and Offenders that are by virtue thereof freely pardoned upon their coming in for such a Proclamation is rather put out by a Prince to reclaim Stubborn Rebbels in which their Names are inserted but this Proclamation i.e. the Gospel proclaims Free Pardon for all manner of Sins Iniquities and Transgressions and to all the vilest Traitors Enemies and Rebbels against the Eternal God as to all Swearers Lyars Drunkards Harlots Whoremongers or Adulterers Idolaters Effeminate Persons Abusers of themselves with Mankind Proud Persons Covetous Backsliders Thieves Extortioners Malicious Persons Murtherers Back-biters Blasphemers Sorcerers ye all manner of Sinners have Free Pardon offered to them upon their coming in and laying hold of Jesus Christ and none are excepted but such who have sinned against the Holy Ghost VSE 1. Bless God for the Gospel that ever this Proclamation came to your Ears Peace is proclaimed to you this Day to you Sinners What do you say Do you resolve to throw down your Arms and come in 'T is no matter what kind of Rebbels you have been Here 's a Pardon for all Sins and Blasphemy in this Proclamation committed against the Father and Son and but one sort of Sinners are excluded and but one Sin i. e. the Sin against the Holy Ghost Is not this Good News Do you believe it And is it in your Hearts to take hold of the Promises of the Gospel What Answer shall I return to him that sent me II. This informs us of the Necessity of Revealed Religion I mean of the Gospel for without this Proclamation had been published the way of Peace could not be known or without such a way of Revelation 1. For the Moral Law written in the two Tables reveals nothing of this Peace made by Jesus Christ. 2. The Law or Light within all Mankind reveals nothing of it tho that convicts of Sin yet it reveals nothing of a Saviour The Moral Law and Light in all discovers a God but no Christ no Mediator What doth the Pagan World know of this Covenant of Peace Or of this Mediator or of this Proclamation What will those Arch Hereticks say to this who Talk of the Light within and boldly affirm That they should have known by a Christ within as much as they do now if the Word had never been written But why then do not the poor Indians and Pagans know it who have the same Light in them And why can't they tell us What those other things are that Jesus Christ did that are not written Believe them not These things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ and that believing ye might have Life through his Name These Hereticks deny not only the Christ of God but the only Rule of our Faith and Practice also 3. Certainly here is good News to you Sinners who hear me this Day I am appointed by the Lord to proclaim Peace to you in this Place and do assure you in the Name of my Great Lord and Master Jesus Christ that if you come in and i. e. believe in him ye shall have Eternal Life tho you have been long Enemies to God ye Stout-hearted and far from Righteousness or tho never so Vile and Notorious Sinners Grace Pardon and Peace is offered freely to you this Day Without Money and without Price i. e. without any Previous Qualifications or any thing required of you 't is all freely tendered upon your Believing upon your Espousing of Jesus Christ all the Blessings of the Covenant of Peace are yours Whosoever will let him take the Water of Life freely SERMON VI. Wherein is shewed who are the Ambassadors of Peace or who are appointed to Proclaim or Preach the Gospel of Peace ISA. Liv. x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith
Night he prayed he feared he cryed with strong Crying and Tears the Pangs of Hell took hold of him no Man ever felt what he felt in his Soul he poured forth his Soul to Death or came under a Spiritual Death My God my God why hast thou forsaken me 2. Consider what an Ignominious Death he suffered to be hanged on a Tree was a Death which none but Slaves and notorious Malefactors endured the Lord of Heaven and Earth suffered the Punishment of a vile and cursed Offender and all this to make our Peace 3. Consider how painful this Death was â—y Brethren it was not only a shameful and igâ—ominious Death but also a very painful and â—ingering Death for from his Scourging by Pilot to his giving up the Ghost it is observed it was six Hours all which time he was in bitter Torture and Anguish both in Soul â—nd Body too he suffered from Heaven from Earth and from Hell 4. Consider it was also a cursed Death He was made a Curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree and all this to make our Peace 5. Consider when this was done even at such a time when Multitudes were come out of the Countries round about to Jerusalem to keep the Feast who no doubt had heard of the great Fame of Christ and of his mighty Miracles and longed it is like to see him and now for them to behold this Person thus Mocked Scourged and Hanged on a Tree as a Miserable Wretch must needs wound his tender Heart but all this he bore to make our Peace which abundantly proves he was inclined to Peace willing to make our Peace and appease God's Wrath. 6. Consider his most importutate Endeavours to bring poor Sinners to accept of that Peace which he hath made 1. What Arguments doth he use 2. How long he doth wait knocking at their Doors 3. And what Repulses doth he daily meeâ— withal and sustain and what abominable Affronts doth he suffer from Unbelieving and Hard-hearted Sinners O how much is he for Peace VI. A Mediator must be of a yielding and condescending Spirit one that can comply with each Party not Self-will'd nor seeking his own Honour c. Our Lord Jesus Christ condescended in every thing to do his Father's Will nevertheless Not my Will but thy Will be done tho he was a Son yet learned he Obedience by the things which he suffered He stuck at nothing I did not withhold my Face from Shame and Spitting No Mediator ever condescended as Christ did He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own Glory but he that seeketh his Glory that sent him the same is true and there is no Vnrighteousness in him All his whole design in his working about our Redemption and Reconciliation was to advance his Father's Glory and he complied to do whatsoever was requisite in order thereto VII A Mediator ought to be cloathed with Power I mean not only with a legal Authority for that I have spoken to already but to be one that hath Ability Wisdom and Discretion to make up the Breach that is between Parties at variance every one is not in a capacity to become a Mediator were they called to that Office for want of Ability Now our Lord Jesus Christ is mighty in Power He is mighty to save 1. He is every way capable to accomplish the Work of making Peace and Reconciliation with God He is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God He is called God's Arm and the Man of his Right Hand Let thy Hand be upon the Man of thy Right Hand upon the Son of Man whom thou madest strong for thy self Let thy Hand of Justice be upon him take Satisfaction in him Beloved whatever Justice required the Holiness of God required the Veracity of God required or the Law of God required in order to our Peace Christ is able to answer all I that speak in Righteousness mighty to Save 2. Moreover whatsoever our deplorable Condition and Necessities do require in order to our Peace and Restoration he is able to answer it fully also 1. He is able to encounter and overcome Satan and as he hath done this in his own Person for us so he also doth it in us for naturally we were in Satan's Chains even Captives to the Devil the strong Man armed held us fast but Christ being cloathed with greater Power hath delivered us out of Satan's Hands He was Anointed to set at Liberty those that were bound 2. He hath overcome Sin or destroyed that Enemy This was part of his Work i. e. To make an end of Sins and to make Reconciliation for Iniquity and to bring in everlasting Righteousness c. That is to make an end of Sin as to the Guilt Condemning Power and Punishment thereof and at last he will make an end of the very Being of Sin also in all his People 3. To overcome the World In the World yâ—â— shall have Tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the World As he overcame the World in all its Snares Temptations Flatteries and Frowns for us so through him we shall overcome the World also We overcome in him and shall by him or through his Aid and Assistance at last and so sit down with him on his Throne 4. He is able to open blind Eyes This he was also Anointed to do even not only to proclaim Liberty for the Captives But the recovering of Sight to the Blind for we by Nature were all born Blind and none but Christ can give us Sight or open the Eyes of our Understanding 5. He hath Power to raise the Dead The Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live You hath he quickned that were dead in Sins and Trespasses Not one Soul could receive any benefit by his Mediation unless he had been cloathed with power to raise dead Lazarus from the Grave I mean every elect Sinner dead in Sin 6. To change our Rebellious Hearts or bow and bend our stubborn Wills or to make the Unwilling Will willing which he doth in the Day of his Power And so to take away that Enmity that naturally was in our Hearts against God or remove all our Vitious Habits or that averseness that was in us to God and to the things of God or to Circumcise our Hearts to love the Lord our God which could not be done by any but by one cloathed with a creating Power for it is he that forms the Image of God again in us 7. To cloath the naked Soul by putting on the Robe of his own Righteousness upon it 8. To raise us up from the Dead at the last Day I will ransom them from the Power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy Plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction Moreover 9. He
Peace but by Christ's Undertaking are raised to great Honour And O what Grace Love and Divine Goodness is here VSE I Admiration What hath God done Christ done for us What Love is this 1. Christ knew before he became our Surety that the whole Payment would fall upon him and yet struck Hands 2. O! what Exemption and discharge have we hereby from the Law and Justice of God The Law as our Husband is dead and we dead to that that Cruel Husband has no more Power over us though as a Law or Rule of Righteousness it still commands us yet it cannot Kill us Curse us nor Condemn us to Eternal Burning 3. Bless God for Jesus Christ our Surety What a sweet Covenant is this that we are brought into How sure are all Covenant Mercies What Riches Glory and Power is in Christ the Mediator As thou hast given him Power over all Flesh that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him We are in Christ's Hand and none can pluck us out 4. We shall for ever abide in this Covenant our Surety hath engaged to keep us that we shall never break Covenant with God any more so as to lose our Inheritance 5. How easie hath God made the Terms of Peace as to us since Christ is obliged to work all our Works in us as well as for us II. What Good News is here for broken Sinners who lie Condemned by the Covenant of Works O sue out your Pardon by taking hold of Christ. III. Reproof How doth this again tend to reprove such that turn the Gospel-Covenant or Covenant of Peace into a Law with the Sanction of Rewards for Obedience and Threatnings for Disobedience denying that Christ stood in our Law-place to do and suffer for us or to keep the Law of perfect Righteousness in point of Justification and to die in our stead Why will Men stand upon their own Legs Proud Man would fain live of himself or have whereof to Glory but not before God or in Christ Jesus he would have God take his Copper and refuse his own most pure Gold Why will they seek Relief other ways than by the Surety and Mediator of the Covenant Can our Imperfect Righteousness or Sinful Duties Justifie us at God's Bar Will they dare to plead it at Death IV. Trial. Is Grace given to you Have you Union with Christ Have you a new Heart Do you truly and savingly know the Lord Then you are brought into the Bonds of the Covenant of Peace V. Consolation If you are once in Covenant you are for ever in Covenant and all Covenant-Blessing even all things that are therein promised to Christ as your Surety shall be given to you But no more at this time And with this I conclude the Second Thing under the Second General Head viz. That the Terms proposed in the Covenant of Peace betwixt the Father and the Son were agreed to and of Christ's Work as Mediator and Surety therein I have endeavoured to clear to the Weakest Capacity SERMON V. Containing the Ratification or Confirmation of the Covenant of Peace shewing how and by what and when it was confirmed also how proclaimed and what the Proclamation is ISA. Liv.x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Doct. THAT there is a Covenant made or agreed on and stands firm in the behalf of all God's Elect. I have shewed you First That in a Covenant of Peace there is a treating betwixt the Covenanting Parties about the Terms upon which it is made And accordingly in order to the making or bringing in of this Covenant you have heard that there was a treating between the Father and the Son before the World began Secondly That in such a Covenant the Terms proposed are agreed unto by both Parties so I have shewed you it was here and also that the Mediator of the Covenant of Peace is Jesus Christ who was also the Surety thereof whose Work both as he is Mediator and Surety we have opened Thirdly I shall now proceed to the next thing which is the Ratification or Confirmation of the Covenant My Brethren there was a twofold Confirmation of the Covenant I. It was confirmed by God in Christ and this was as I conceive in that Council of Peace that was held in Eternity betwixt them both True among Men this is called The Signing of the Articles of Peace but there was a full Confirmation of this Covenant when it was Agreed on and Signed and that by both Parties 1. The Father Confirmed it to Christ and to all the Elect in him by his Oath I have made a Covenant with my Chosen I have sworn unto David my Servant By David is meant Jesus Christ and I see no reason to doubt but that this Oath of God the Father to the Son as Mediator of our Peace passed to him before the World began Once have I sworn by my Holiness that I will not lye unto David My Brethren when God concluded this Covenant of Peace with Jesus Christ he made a Promise to him of performing all things which he agreed unto and evident it is that this was before the World began In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lye promised before the World began And as it was promised then to Christ as the Head and Representative of all the Elect on their behalf so there is the same Parity of Reason to believe that then the Oath of God passed to our Lord Jesus Christ and to us in him also and now this Promise and Oath of God to Christ gives not only Solemnity but also firm and sure Stability to this Covenant 1. He added his Oath to his Promise saith our late Annotator on the Holy Bible to make and prove it to be Immutable Hence Christ it is said was made a Priest by an Oath not after the Order of Aaron 2. But after the Order of Melchisâ—â—ck This Oath is said to be sworn once which Word and Phrase saith he implies the Compleatness Certainty and Irrevocableness of the thing 3. God swore by his Holiness What is more Sacred By which God is seldom known to speak or to swear therefore nothing can more fully confirm this Covenant to Christ and to us in him 4. Jesus Christ then confirmed also the Covenant on his part on our behalf by his putting his Hand in our stead and to stand in our Law-place for us as you have heard This my Brethren was more than a bare Signing and Sealing the Covenant of Peace But II. There is yet a farther Ratification and Confirmation of the Covenant of Peace as also there is among Men. 1. It was agreed betwixt God the Father and the Son as Mediator that this Covenant should come under another Acceptation i. e. as the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ True it was not only Christ's Will or Christ's
that are lost We being all naturally as vile and as bad as they nay perhaps there are some Sinners in Hell that were not so bad as some of us once were which he has magnified his Soveraign Grace and Favour unto III. The Covenant of Peace is alone of God's Free Grace because as our Peace was made without us not purchased by our Money nor by any thing done by us so the Promise of our having interest in the Blessings of this Peace or the Application of the Blood of Atonement are not Conditional Promises I say not on Conditional Promises depending upon the corrupt and depraved Will of Man to perform but they are alone free and absolute I will put my Law in their inward part and write it in their Heart and will be their God and they shall be my People they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest I will forgive their Iniquity and will remember their Sins no more I will sprinkle clean Water upon them I will give them a new Heart I will take away the Stone out of their Heart and will give them a Heart of Flesh Are these Promises made upon any Conditions to be performed by the Creature or on previous Qualifications to prepare us for Grace no they are all free Promises I will and they shall God it is that opens our Eyes that works Faith in us that makes us willing to accept of that Peace he has made for us By the Blood of thy Covenant I have sent out the Prisoners out of the Pit wherein there was no Water My Brethren the Covenant of Peace from hence appears to be the Covenant of Grace it was with Christ for us on hard Conditions but to us in him only by way of Free Promise IV. That this Covenant is the Covenant of Grace appears not only because it is wholly or alone of Grace that we are brought into the Covenant but also because by God's Free Grace we are kept in this Covenant or preserved in a State of Peace with God unto the end They shall not depart from me my Sheep hear my Voice and they follow me and I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish V. But to proceed 'T is the Covenant of Grace in opposition to the Law the Inheritance is not of the Law 1. For if they which are of the Law be Heirs Faith is made void and the Promise made of none effect Again saith Paul For if the Inheritance be of the Law it is no more of Promise but God gave it to Abraham by Promise What is the Inheritance but God himself in the Covenant c. and this is not by our Obedience to the Law but by Christ's Obedience thereto 'T is not my Brethren by our Obedience to any Law not to the Gospel as a Law for that would tend as much to make the Promise of God void as the other For had there been a Law given that could have given Life verily Righteousness should have been by the Law And then also Christ is dead in vain Gal. 2.21 2. In opposition to any after-Service which we could do in order to make God or Christ any Compensation or Return by way of Gratitude for making our Peace sometimes Men shew great Favour to the Poor in Distress and pay their Debts upon the Condition that they shall Work it out or make a Compensation that way but so it is not here for when we have done all we can do we are but unprofitable Servants Can Man profit God Whoever gave any thing unto him VI. The Covenant of Peace is wholly of Grace to us because we are Quickned Justified Called Pardoned Regenerated Adopted have Faith a new Heart Repentance Sanctification and all things else whatsoever by Vertue of this Covenant in a way of Free Grace or all is freely given to us of God Let me give you two or three Reasons of this 1. Because God will have all the Honour to himself of our Salvation he alone will have the Glory and abase the Creature 2. Because his Design herein is to Exalt and Magnifie his own Son our Lord Jesus Christ. 3. That Man might have no cause left him to boast nor Sacrifice to his own Drag But that he that glorieth should glory in the Lord. 4. Because God will have the Covenant of Peace to be sure to all the Seed i. e. to all his People but if it were not of Grace alone it would not be sure but an Uncertain and Mutable Covenant or on such Conditions that might or might not be performed Secondly I shall shew you that the Covenant of Peace is the Covenant of Grace as compared with or in opposition to the Covenant of Works My purpose herein is to shew you the vast difference betwixt the Covenant of Grace and the Covenant of Works I. The Covenant of Works was made with Man or betwixt God and the first Adam Adam was set up as the common Head or Representative of all his Seed and he was obliged to perform all the Conditions in his own Person in that Covenant But the Covenant of Grace primarily was made with our Lord Jesus Christ or betwixt God the Father and God the Son as Mediator in the Name and behalf of all God's Elect he being set up from Everlasting as their Covenanting Head II. The Covenant of Works was made with Man without a Surety Adam in his own Person for himself and for all his Seed being obliged to perform perfect Obedience or live and sin not yet had he none to engage to God or to undertake for him that he should thus do But the Covenant of Grace and Reconciliation was made solely upon the Vndertaking or Suretiship of our Lord Jesus Christ true he was obliged to perform perfect Obedience to the same Holy Law of God which Adam and we in him was required to do yet it is said That Christ was made a Surety of a better Covenant and that not only in respect of the Promises thereof which are better Promises but also in regard of the Oath of God which renders this Covenant firm together with Christ's Ability and Faithfulness to perform all the Conditions thereof and it being a full and free Covenant and also ratified by the Death of Christ. III. The Covenant of Works was a Conditional Covenant as made with Adam It was made upon mutual Restipulation between God and him and in the second Addition of the said Covenant to the whole House of Israel God promised them that upon their keeping this Covenant of perfect Obedience he would be their God and they should be his People Thou shalt have no other Gods before me and if thou keep my Laws and obey my Voice then thou shalt be a peculiar People unto me And this also they Undertook Promised and Covenanted to to do All that the Lord our God speak unto thee we will
II. A seasonable Covenant in respect of the Revelation or Manifestation of it even just as Adam had sinned and when Divine Justice was ready to lift up his direful Ax of Divine Vengeance How seasonable is it for a poor condemned Criminal to hear of a Pardon just when he is brought to the place of Execution and the Halter is put about his Neck or the Ax lifted up to Cut off his Head III. It is a seasonable Covenant in respect to the application of the blessings thereof to a poor Sinner 1. 'T is by the Spirit applyed when the sinner sees he is Condemned being under the sense of Sin Wrath and Condemnation beholding himself just dropping into Hell then this Covenant is opened and the blessing of free Justification and Pardon is applied 2. When the Soul and Conscience of a sinner is wounded and his wounds bleed then is the Balm of the Covenant applied to heal him 3. When the Sinner sees he is pursued by the Avenger of Blood and sees no way to escape then his Eyes are opened and he is directed to fly to the City of refuge the way being made plain and easie and the Holy Spirit directs the Soul to Christ and crys Refuge Refuge 4. When the Sinner sees he is so sick that he can't live even then the Physician provided in the Covenant comes immediately and pours in his Oyl and Wine When I passed by and saw thee polluted in thy Blood I said unto thee live Ye I sware unto thee and entred into Covenant with thee saith the Lord and thou becamest mine Eighthly It is a Sure Covenant Ordered in all things and sure Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your Souls shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David I. It is a sure Covenant because it is made with such a Surety as Jesus Christ is it is not made primarily with us but with Christ for us and with us in him the sure mercies of David That is our Lord Jesus Christ he is the true Antitipical David Sure because they are Mercies granted to us thro' Christ's suretiship and when a Sinner is brought into the bands of the Covenant God is said to make this Covenant with him i. e. he actually entering then thro' Christ into Covenant with God but our standing then in it is upon the account of Christ's Covenant with the Father for us II. It is a Sure Covenant because it stands upon the absolute purpose and unchangeable Decree and Councel of God My Mercy will I keep with him and my Covenant shall stand fast with him My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth Hence the absolute Decrees of God are compared to mountains of Brass Zach. 6.1 Denoting how unmovable stedy and unchangable his Councels are nay Tho' the Mountains should depart and the Hills be removed yet saith the Lord my loving kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed c. All Covenant-Mercys are according to God's Eternal purpose which be purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord The Covenant stands not only as the act of God's Eternal Wisdom but as his Eternal Decree and Purpose before all Worlds III. The Covenant of Peace is sure because it is confirmed by the witness of the Holy Ghost 1. The Spirit of God was a witness to the Covenant when it was made 2. Moreover it was confirmed in the promulgation of it by the Holy Ghost by wonderfull Miracles for what served all those Miracles more clearly for than to confirm the Authority of the Mediator and the verity and stability of the Gospel Covenant IV. Furthermore The Covenant was as you heard confirmed by the Blood of Jesus Christ therefore it is a sure Covenant V. The Covenant is sure because it is confirmed by the Promise and Oath of God Once have I sworn by my Holiness that I will not lye to David his Seed shall endure for ever and his Throne as the Sun before me This is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the Earth so have I sworn that I will not be wrath with thee nor rebuke thee compared with Heb. 6.13 16 17 18. VI. It is a Sure Covenant to all Gods Elect because the Execution of it is put into Christ's own hands he is the Executioner of his own Will and Testament for tho Christ was dead yet he is alive I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive forevermore Christ sees his last Will and Testament fully executed by his Spirit Ninethly It is a Covenant of Peace this is the Name that is given to it in my Text which also shews it is of an excellent and precious nature I. 'T is a Covenant of Peace with God God is hereby reconciled to us and we to him and that for ever II. Hereby we come also to have peace in our own Souls or peace of Conscience nor indeed can we ever have true peace any other ways For can your repentance give you peace of Conscience Can Tears of Blood apease Divine Wrath or satisfy Divine Justice Can Reformation of life give you Peace or your inherent Sanctification or pious and religious duties Do you fetch your peace from thence If you do your peace will be turned into trouble and anguish of Spirit or can your lively and spiritual Frame give you true and lasting peace I affirm 't is a false peace that is simply grounded on a lively and Spiritual Frame or disposition of Heart for there can be no true peace of Conscience but by Jesus Christ thro' the Blood of the everlasting Covenant He is our peace c. He will speak peace to his People Not as the World giveth give I unto you Dare a Man plead his Faith or good Duties to Justifie him and so from thence fetch his peace and comfort alas What unrighteousness cleaves to our righteousness what doubtings attend our Faith and what wandrings of heart attend us in our best Duties nay may we not find some Hypocrisie in us also tho in the main we are sincere our peace is only had in Christ. III. 'T is only by the peace made by Christ as is revealed in this Covenant that a poor wounded disparing and distressed Soul comes to have peace I once cited a passage out of Dr. Owen being pious Anselem's directions to a poor tempted Soul on a Death-Bed let me repeat it here once again Minister Dost thou believe thou canst not be saved but by the Death of Christ. ' Sick-man Yes I do so believe Minister Then let it be said unto thee go and whilest thy Soul abideth in thee and put all thy confidence in Christ's death alone place thy trust in no other thing commit thy self wholly to
Art thou deserted God is faithful he remembers his Covenant he will return again Dost fear thou shalt some time or another depart from God Read the Covenant Promises I will put my fear in their Hearts and they shall not depart from me Dost thou fear thou shalt suffer want yea want Bread See the Covenant He will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly If therefore there be any Consolation in Christ if any Comfort of Love if any Fellowship of the Spirit if any Bowels and Mercies 't is all in this Covenant Lastly It is an everlasting Covenant He hath made with me an everlasting Covenant As it was made from everlasting so it will abide to everlasting 't is compared to God's Covenant of the Day and Night Jer. 33 20. Thus saith the Lord If my Covenant of the Day and Night and that there should not be Day and Night then may also my Covenant be broken with David my Servant Covenant Love is everlasting Love Christ's Covenanting Obligation was an everlasting Obligation Covenant Espousals are everlasting Espousals I will betroath thee to me for ever Covenant Redemption is eternal Redemption and Covenant Salvation is an everlasting Salvation Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting Salvation But my Salvation shall be for ever SERMON XI Shewing what is contained in the Covenant of Grace or what the Gifts Grants and Priviledges which are Vouchsafed to all Comprehended therein ISA. Liv. x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Doct. THAT there is a Covenant of Peace made or agreed on and stands firm in the behalf of all God's Elect. My Brethren I shall now proceed to the next thing Fourthly The Fourth General Head proposed was to shew you what is contained in the Covenant of Grace I mean the Gifts Grants and Glorious Priviledges vouchsafed to all those Persons that are comprehended therein The First and chief Gift which is given in this Covenant is God himself and in speaking to this 1. I shall God assisting shew you how God comes to be our God in this Covenant 2. Shew you what this of having God to be our God doth import 3. I shall shew you what a wonderful Gift Grant and Priviledge this is I. My Brethren how Man had God to be his God at first in the Covenant of Works I shall not speak of here 't is evident that by breaking the first Covenant he lost God or that Blessed Covenant Relation he stood in to him but now we have a new Title God is ours again and on better and more sure Basis viz. upon the account of Christ's Mediation and Satisfaction I will be your God compared with Jer. 32.38 Cap. 24.7 and 30.31.33 Now that these Promises refer to the Covenant of Grace See Heb. 8.8 9 10. And finding fault with them he saith Behold the Days come saith the Loâ—d when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judeth ver 8. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the Day when I took them by the Hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt Because they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not v. 9. For this is the Covenant c. I will put my Laws in their Mind and write them in their Hearts and I will be to them a God c. This being as I said the great and chiefest Gift and Grant in the Covenant I shall proceed to shew how God comes in this Covenant to be our God 1. Originally and Primarily by vertue of that Covenant made with Christ as our Head and Representative thus he became our God I ascend to my Father and to your Father to my God and to your God 2. By his own free Donation through that Atonement Christ hath made God gives himself to us to be our God 3. Nay by what ways Soever we become God's People by the same ways he becomes our God as I shall have occasion to shew you afterwards Secondly What doth this import for God to be our God 1. Negatively not meerly our God by Creation for so he is the God of the Fallen-Angels and the God of all Vngodly Reprobates in the World they are his Creatures or were made by him 2. It doth not imply his being our God as he was the God of the whole House of Israel which was by vertue of a Legal and Typical Covenant for tho in that Covenant he was their God and an Husband to them yet for all that for their Disobedience he cast them off and utterly rejected them and now they are so no more his People that Covenant and Covenant Relation being quite dissolved and removed for ever Therefore it follows that was not the Covenant of Grace into which all the Natural Seed of Abraham as such were taken the Covenant of Grace can never be removed 3. Neither is he our God simply by an external or visible Profession or by vertue of our own external Personal Covenanting with him for many of these God will disown and be ashamed to be called their God 't is one thing to have the Christian Name and profess the Christian Religion and another thing to have a saving interest in God Men may in this sense be in Christ and yet as withered Branches be cut off and cast into the Fire But in the Affirmative I. God is our God in this Covenant by way of special interest it denotes our peculiar Relation to God 1. As a Father is related to his Children whom he either hath begotten or adopted even so God in this Covenant is our God and Father 2. Or as a Husband is related to that Woman whom he hath in his most indeared Affections Espoused and Married to himself 3. Or as an Heir is related to an Estate or an Inheritance which was purchased for him and made sure to him for ever 4. Or as a Redeemer hath an interest in such Persons whom he hath redeemed for himself and bought and purchased for his own Service and to be for him and not for another Thirdly I shall endeavour to shew you what an amazing Blessing this Grant or Gift in the Covenant of Peace is i. e. for God to be our God I. It is a choice and precious Blessing for God to give himself to us according to that Grant to Christ in the Covenant because it is a clear Demonstration of his Special Peculiar and Eternal Love and Election No Man can say he was beloved from everlasting till he is effectually called 't is not a Man's having great Riches Honours Pleasures Sweet Relations Wealth Health and Prosperity no but 't is his having Saving Grace To kiss the King's Hand is a great Favour but it is a far greater Token of Special Love to be made his Queen and Royal
that is that were not actually his People nor own'd and acknowledged so to be we lost this Relation to God by the Fall when God ceased to be our God by way of Special interest we ceased to be his People 5. They shall be my People this denotes the certainty of their Special Vocation and of our being his People for ever He shall see his Seed all that the Father hath given to me shall come unto me that is they shall believe in me c. Now in speaking unto this Promise Grant and Priviledge 1. I shall first shew you in what Respect or Consideration we may be said to be God's People 2. Shew you what kind of People God's Covenant People are I mean such that are actually owned to be his People 3. Shew you what a great Blessing this is 4. Apply both these great Priviledges together I shall wave several Acceptations by which a People may be called God's People that I may directly come to the Business in Hand 1. We may be said to be God's People and he our God decretively or by virtue of God's Eternal Election God chose Christ as our Head and all the Elect in him See our Lord's Words Other Sheep have I that are not of this Fold them I must bring He calls them his Sheep and yet then they were ungodly and unbelieving ones So he said to Paul I have much People in this City they were his People decretively tho not actually his at that time 2. The Elect were God's People Foederally or by virtue of that Holy Covenant made betwixt the Father and the Son as I hinted before and now that this Relation also arises from those Covenant Transactions is most evident for Jesus Christ struck Hands with the Father in behalf of all God's Elect to procure this Priviledge But a little further to open this pray consider that there is a Foederal Union and Relation as when the Father of a Young Man and the Father or Guardian of a Young Damsel shall mutually agree and Covenant that they two shall be Man and Wife even thus God the Father and God the Son Agreed and Covenanted in behalf of all the Elect Christ was as I may say their Guardian yea and also he Covenanted to Espouse and Marry them to himself for ever and God the Father gave the Elect to Christ in this Covenant Moreover herein he had the advantage of others for may be such a Young Man as before mentioned might not Love the Person his Father Covenanted with her Guardian to be his Wife or he might not be able to obtain her Affections but Christ's Love was set upon his intended Spouse from everlasting and also he knew how to gain our Love and unite our Hearts to himself and that by sheding his Love abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 The Love of Christ hath in it a Physical Operation And thus my Brethren by Covenant and the free donation of the Father we become God's People or in a remote sense were thus brought into this Blessed Relation to him Thine they were that is by Election and thou gavest them me Again he saith I pray not for the World but for them that thou hast given me for they are thine 4. The Elect are God's People by virtue of Christ's Purchase he bought them with his own Blood Ye are not your own for you are bought with a price c. and it was that they might be a peculiar People unto God Hence the Apostle saith Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of Good Works or a famous or principal People as the Greek Word renders it Without this Price had been laid down we had never been brought into this Relation unto God 5. They are God's People by Renovation or Regeneration Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth 6. By Conquest also Believers are brought into this Relation God hath subdued them unto himself he has by his Victorious Grace overcome them and this way they are made his Liege People and he becomes their God and Soveraign as having rescued them out of the Hands of Sin and Satan those cruel Tyrants whose Slaves Subjects and Servants they were before Christ has set them free or made them a free People indeed to and for himself 7. The Elect are actually the Lord's People by the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit or by virtue of their Mystical Vnion with Christ by the Spirit which is the Bond of this Union on Christ's part and by this means we come to chose Jesus Christ as the only Object of our Affection and Blessed Bridegroom of our Souls and also hereby we take God to be our God and thus we are actually and personally brought into this Relation to him in which sense and in respect of these and the two last things mentioned we were not his People before for notwithstanding the Covenant Agreement of Parents or a Marriage by Proxy betwixt great Persons yet they must after that actually and personally be Married together before they can injoy each other or properly be said to be Man and Wife And so my Brethren it is here for notwithstanding the Decree and Purpose of God and his eternal Compact and Donation and also notwithstanding the Purchase of Christ yet till by the Spirit we are united to Christ and do believe in him close in and imbrace him and enter into an actual Covenant with God in and by Jesus Christ we cannot be said to be properly God's People for before this we were the Children of Wrath and the Slaves of Sin and Satan But so much to the first thing proposed Secondly I shall endeavour to shew you what a kind of People these are that are thus brought into Covenant with God I. They that are God's peculiar People have renounced all other Lords from having any claim to them or interest in them 1. They have broke that Covenant which they had made with Sin that Union is dissolved their Love to Sin is gone for ever I do not say the Being of Sin in them is gone no Sin will be in their Hearts and in their Conversations too but it is not in their Affections they approve not of it they regard it not The Evil which I hate that do I saith Paul I have vain Thoughts saith David to love Sin is worse than to commit it and to hate Sin is better than to leave it a Good Man may commit Sin and yet loath it and a wicked Man may leave Sin and yet love it Ye that love the Lord hate Evil Ye do so or else you are none of God's People i. e. it is your Character and also your Duty 2. They have renounced the Love of this World they are dead nay Crucified to the World they that are God's peculiar People
Necessities but also to the making of us very Rich and Great 3. I mean by it God's Gracious Acceptance of our Persons Duties and all our Holy and Spiritual Performances or Services which is no small Favour and Blessing but one of the greatest we can partake of for this must always be premised that God will never accept of any Man's Duties till he first accepteth of his Person for thus he first accepts of Abel that is of his Person The Lord had a Respect unto Abel and to his Offering he offered his Offering in Faith he was a Believer and God accepted of his Person in Christ and so he doth of the Persons of all True Believers Wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved in whom we are united and made Members of his Body and it is in him that God looks upon us Secondly I shall endeavour to prove that this Trade or Blessing of free Access unto God is the Effects of the Peace made by Jesus Christ. 1. The Navigable River by which we Trade to Heaven by virtue of this Peace is opened viz. the Holy Spirit is poured forth This is that River that makes glad the City of God c. and this it doth not only in that it supplies God's People or his Holy City with Water to drink which is indeed Water of Life but also in that it is by it we Trade to Heaven all our Spiritual Trade and Traffick is in and through this River Our Trade my Brethren is a Trade of Merchandise For the Merchandise of it is better than the Merchandise of Silver and the Gain thereof than fine Gold Now this River proceeds from the Throne of God and the Lamb and that this River is opened by the Sacrifice of Christ or by that Peace he hath made See Acts 2.31 This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all Witnesses Therefore being by the Right Hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Vers. 32. Moreover Jesus Christ promised the Spirit to his Disciples upon his Ascention and this Promise he graciously made good Therefore saith the Apostle being Justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace c. Again he saith And came and Preached Peace to you that were a far off c. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father that is through the Mediator and Peace-maker who hath reconciled us to God We are now admitted or introduced into the presence of the Father and this with boldness In whom we have Boldness and Access with Confidence by the Faith of him And this not only in Prayer but also in all Holy Fellowship Commerce and Heavenly Communion Having therefore Brethren Boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus It was the Blood of Christ that opened this Trade or procured this Access to Heaven for us By a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the Veil that is to say his Flesh. Hence our Blessed Lord saith I am the Way no Man cometh to the Father but by me Except this River had been opened we could never have Traded to Heaven and that this is done by Jesus Christ or by the Peace which he hath made I have thus fully proved Thirdly I shall shew you that this is the best Trade or there is no Trade like unto it in all the World 1. Because the Word of God declares it so to be The Merchandise hereof is better than the Merchandise of Silver and the Gain thereof than fine Gold Now what Merchandise of this World do Men account to excel that of Silver and fine Gold But Spiritual Merchandise the great God declares is better than these or whatsoever else you can think or speak of Now this I shall further indeavour to make appear in this Method following 1. In respect of the Subject these Merchandises enrich 2. In respect of the Nature of the Things Traded in or for 3. In respect of that Blessed Correspondent who manages all our Affairs in Heaven and that makes us Returns of all we venture 4. In respect of the Terms upon which we Trade 5. I shall apply the whole I shall speak briefly to each of these First The Subject that these Merchandises inrich is the Soul the Precious and Immortal Soul of Man which all other Trades and Merchandise cannot in the least degree relieve the Wants of much less inrich but these Heavenly Merchandises doth this 1. It is hereby the Soul of a Believer or a Spiritual Merchant comes to have God again God to be his God yea a God in Covenant with him and to be his Portion for ever as you have heard 'T is through Jesus Christ or by the Peace he hath made that this Blessing is obtained God is hereby our Father and Christ is our Saviour and the Spirit is our Sanctifier whosoever will venture out by Faith and Trade in these Seas or on this Voyage shall obtain a sure Interest in Christ and in God through Jesus Christ for ever 2. Because this Trade answers all the Necessities of the Soul or all its Wants My God shall supply all your need according to his Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus Graciously nay Gloriously or according to his own Fulness or rich Mercy or Riches in Glory Nay 3. Not only supply the Needs of our Souls but these Merchandises tend to inrich the Soul with Grace yea with all Grace This Trade or this Merchandise puts a Crown better than that of Gold on its Head and Chains about its Neck They shall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head and Chains about thy Neck This my Brethren makes the Soul amiable and honourable in the sight of God and all good Men A meek and quiet Spirit is in the sight of God of great price No other Ornaments are of any worth in the esteem of God but are hateful to him when the Creature is lifted up with Pride thereby What are the Curled Locks and Chains of Gold and Glisâ—â—â—ing Robes in the sight of God Poor Lazarus was far more lovely before his Eyes 4. Because these Merchandises inrich the Soul with Choice and Blessed Experiences Hence David saith The Law of thy Mouth is better to me than Thousands of Gold and Silver And again he saith speaking of his Experiences Thou hast put Gladness into my Heart more than in the time when their Corn and Wine encreased One Day in thy Courts is better than a Thousand And from hence it is that he cries out Whom have I in Heaven but thee Neithâ—r is there any on Earth I desire besides thee Again saith he O taste and see how good the Lord is He is
our external Enemies yea against all Gods Enemies and our Enemies and fight for our Friends 6. 'T is such a Peace that reconciles a Man to himself Before a Man's Heart was divided one Faculty was set against another the Vnderstanding perhaps was inlightened and the Will opposed the Vnderstanding also Conscience perhaps terrified the Man because he sinned against the Light and Dictates thereof a Man's Judgment like Balaam's may declare for God and cry out How goodly are thy Tents O Jacob And thy Tabernacles O Israel But his Love and Affections may run out after the Wages of Vnrighteousness as Balaam's did A Man before Grace Wars against himself but Grace unites all the Faculties of the Soul and sets them all against Sin and on God's side all inward Tumults now cease nothing is a greater sign of true Conversion my Brethren than this i. e. when the whole Heart is united to God and Godliness 7. It is a wonderful or inconceivable Peace it passeth all Understanding The Peace of God that passeth all Vnderstanding shall keep your Hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus This may not simply refer to Peace of Conscience but to that Peace made with God by Jesus Christ we cannot conceive of the Excellent Nature thereof nay that which is received and inwardly injoyed is unexpressible at some times Nothing shall offend such who possess it It is called Joy unspeakable and full of Glory 8. It is perfect Peace Thou wilt keep him in perfect Peace whose Mind is stayed upon thee because he trusteth in thee It is the same as to its Nature with that Peace the Saints possess in Heaven it is Heavenly Peace 9. It is Peace joyned with Joy in the Holy Ghost It is thus when this Peace rules in the Heart or a Believer possesseth it in the highest Decree 10. It is a Peace that opens a Blessed Trade to Heaven Hereby as you have heard we have free access to the Father Heaven is opened by this Peace and Christ's Treasures of Grace and Glory are free to all Believers to all Spiritual Merchants and Holy Traders but you must set out with full Sails of Faith and with a sweet Gale of the Spirit and then you will return well freighted your Ship shall be loaden with the rich Merchandise of Heaven being filled with Peace Joy and Consolation 11. It is a Peace that opens the way to Communion with God Hereby we come to have the Honour to walk with God as Enoch did Three Hundred Years Can two walk together except they are agreed Can they friendly converse and have Communion together till then No surely Hereby we also come to dwell with God and Jesus Christ nay and to sit with Christ in Heavenly Places Christ and Believers daily visit one another yea and God opens hereby his Secrets to us and we have also the Sweet Kisses of Christ's Mouth and are Imbraced by him and lie as it were in his Bosom Moreover God is hereby become our Refuge our Defence our Protector our Guard and only Safety in the Day of Trouble 12. It is that great Legacy Christ bequeathed to all his Disciple My Peace I leave with you my Peace I give to you c. 'T is Peace the World knows not of can neither give it nor take it away 13. 'T is Everlasting Peace Peace like a River and it will abide to Eternal Ages nay and it will increase and be much greater but never cease read my Text. 14. To Sum up all All sorts of Peace are comprehended in this Peace 1. Peace with God 2. Peace of Conscience 3. Peace with Angels 4. Peace with your selves 5. Peace with Saints Jews and Gentiles by this Peace were made both one that is all the Elect among them 6. Congregational Peace Christ purchased this Peace and requires us to possess it Have Salt in your selves and be at Peace one with another And O how lovely a thing is this 7. Family Peace relative Peace before Grace may be the Husband and Wife lived in War with each other and the Parents and Children and Masters and Servants might quarel with one another but Grace reconciles all together in Love True Christ says He came not to bring Peace but a Sword that is he foresaw this would be the effect of his coming and where he is received and one is Converted and the other not the Unconverted raises oftentimes War but when that Person is changed and has Peace with God that War ceases also 8. National and External Peace is comprehended in this Peace likewise all Nations shall have Peace as the Effect of the Covenant of Peace yea and all the Saints shall be united together in Love and sweet Concord and tho this is not yet fulfilled yet Christ's Kingdom is at the Door and it will be a Peacable Kingdom the Church shall then have outward and inward Peace like a River He will also make Wars to cease to the Ends of the Earth Of his Government and Peace there shall be no end And they shall beat their Swords into Plow-shares and their Spears into Pruning Hooks Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more O be ready Look out for those happy Days are very nigh Read the Words after my Text Vers. 13 14 15. And all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the Peace of thy Children vers 13. In Righteousness shalt thou be established and thou shalt be far from Oppression thou shalt not fear and from Terror for it shall not come near thee vers 14 Compare this with Isa. 66.10 11 12 13. I will extend Peace to her like a River and the Glory of the Gentiles like a flowing Stream Brethren Babylon must fall before these Prophsies are fulfilled O cry therefore to God to hasten his Judgments upon that Bloody Whore that Sion's Glory and Peace may be manifested and all Sighings and Sorrow fly away And then these Words shall be fulfilled viz. And the Work of Righteousness shall be Peace and the Effects of Righteousness Quietness and Assurance for ever and my People shall dwell in a Peaceable Habitation and in sure Dwellings and in quiet resting Places Isa. 32.17 18. The General Application I. From hence we may infer that there is a great Mystery in Reconciliation yea and we may well stand and admire the Wisdom and Goodness of God in respect of that Peace we receive in and by Jesus Christ. II. We may infer also from hence that God the Father is the principal Author and Spring of this Reconciliation or way of our Peace he was the Contriver and first Mover in those Acts whereby the first Foundation-Stone was laid God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself All things are of God c. that is of God the Father and through Jesus Christ c. It is to raise his Glory as well