47. 4. Isa 57. 15. In this his beloved Son he is for ever well-pleased he rests in his love Behold his truth God who cannot lye hath promised eternal life and his faithfulnesse he cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2. 13. This Covenant is as the waters of Noah unto God more stable than the Mountains and Hills as sure as the Ordinances set with the heavens Gods holinesse is here pawned in this redemption it is most gloriously manifested Consider his holinesse who only is holy and therewith his height and loftinesse and never the like manifestations of lower condescensions then in this work of saving the poor humble sinner he is the holy one of Israel never the like manifestation of holiâ—esse as in this work though God be holy in all his works and of purer eyes than to behold iniquity with any liking here the glory of his wisdome is Rom. 16. 27. illustrious the only wise found out this way no Angel of light none of the 1 Cor. 2. 7. wise of the world could ever have thought of it It is the hid wisdome of God wisdome in a mystery the contrivance is such that when it is made known all the Eph. 3. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 12 Eph. 1. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Cor. 3. 19. Isa 44. 25 26. holy Angels admire it as the manifold wisdome of God and are never enough satisfied in the delightful viewiâ—g of it and prying into it the whole businesse is of deep mysterious wisdome all is according to fore-knowledge God knoweth them that are his he cannot be deceived none can go beyond him nothing can escape him he taketh the wise in their craftinesse and turneth them backwards and maketh diviners mad but confirmeth the word and counsel of his messengers to whom he gave the word of this salvation he dâ—spenseth full seasons for making Eph. 1. 10. known this mystery of his will in stupend wayes of wisdome he brings home his chosen both of Jews and Gentiles through Rom. 11. 32 33. investigable passages of Providence he so calleth and bringeth to glory that his foolishnesse is wiser than men and by foolish 1 Cor. 1. 25 27. things he confounds the wise world but above all behold God here gracious and just exactly infinitely just and yet mercy and grace exalted through justice and above justice This word GOD carrieth out or thoughts 4. To God as the faithful Creator the Maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible who hath engaged all Isa 42. 5 6. 41. 1 2. 44. 24. 45. 11 12 18. his glory as he is the Creator to fulfill this work of Redemption And as he layeth all that his glory at the stake to assure it so he layes out no lesse efficiency in the performing of this salvation in every part of it then what was put forth in the Creation Rom. 4. 17. Ps 51. 10. Isa 57. 19. He calls the things that are not as if they were he creates in them clean hearts he creates the fruits of the lips to be peace and so you must conceive of every piece of this salvation that appertains to the being or well-being and comfort of the saved ones all is done in the power of a Creation 5. To God his absolute Soveraignty and Royal Dominion who makes all for his own wills sake who is not bound to give account to any of any of his matters who is not bound to any who hath mercy because he will have mercy who as the Potter hath power over us his clay and makes some vessels to honour when for his own glory he might make all unto dishonour who makes one to honour and another to dishonour when he might shew his power in annihilating as well as his skill in making or if he will shew his skill might shew it in fashioning it another way to other uses or if he will shew his skill in such salvation might shew it upon one or on a few or upon those whom he passeth by and not on us In this work his Soveraignty is full of Regality God is Lord and King here Majesty and Righteousnesse shine in splendor The 2 Tim. 6. blessed and only Potentate Lord of Lords and King of Kings will in his time shew his Christ his will is with perfect justice and his justice to the utmost shewed to set off and make his mercy upon the vessels of mercy more Renowned And his Dominion is mighty holy wise good and reaching to every thing and action of all his creatures to bring about his intended salvation 6. To Gods eternal good pleasure within Ephes 1. 4 5 6. himself doing the whole work according to the counsel of his own will to the praise of the glory of his grace 7. For this word GOD carrieth our minds to God the Father God sent his own Sonne he hath a Son whom he sends therefore he is a Father this God is God the Father God must here be thought on as he is the God and Father of Jesus Christ in this glorious manifestation of himself is God to be beheld in this work of Redemption as he is the Father of his own only eternally begotten Sonne his beloved in whom he is well-pleased and not only as the Fountain of being he is to be beheld in his love and goodnesse not that of a Creator but that love of a Father of the Father of his only begotten Son the Son of his love the Son of his bosome the eternal delights of the eternal Father SECT 2. 2. What conclusions do issue from What conclusions flow from this ten hence is God the Author of this salvation then it followeth 1. Here is love as the Apostle saith 1 Joh. 4. 10. Not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Sonne c. God first loved us here is love 1 Joh. 4. 10 9 19. Joh. 3. 16. 1 Joh. 4. 11 Ver. 19. that is first love manifested love so as cannot be paralleld maâ—chless love love that is the perfect sampler of love love that is the fountain and former of all true love we love him because he first loved us The Laws voice to man is Thou shalt love God above all and thy neighbour as thy self The Gospels voice The voice of the Law and of the Gospel differ is to man hateful and hating God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life The Gospel excells the Law as much as Gods love excells mans it superexcells for it declares and proclaims Gods love to man void of the love to God which the Law commands 2. God is love to us in this way of 1 Joh. 4. 16 manifestation all love out of this way it is a terrible sight to look on God on sinne death the grave and hell upon the Law on any misery or affliction
5. â—1 4. 9. of the salvation of Gods people for 1. In this Son is our eternal life placed This is the Record the summe of Gods Testimony witnessed in the Bible that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Sonne God sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that we might live through him In this Sonne the beloved Pro. 8. 30. Mat. 3. 17. the Sonne of his bosome his eternal delights God the Father doth rest well-pleased for ever 2. This assure the absolute sufficiency of Christ Jesus for his Office he is the Mediatour who is the Son of God The Son is the Prophet he declares the Father Joh. 1. 18. Joh. 3. 32. 6. 68 96 Joh. 5. 25 28. Heb. 1. 8. Joh. 1. 49. 10 30. he testifies what he hath seen and heard he hath the words of eternal life his voice raiseth the dead the dead spiritually out of their sinnes the dead Corporally out of their graves The Sonne is the King greater than all who hath all Soveraignty authority and power The Sonne is the Priest who is consecrâ—â—ed Heb. 4. 14. 7. 28. for ever more who hath the heart and eare of the Father alwayes 3. This puts a value and worth of infinite price upon all that he hath done or 1 Joh. 1. 7. doth for us now in heaven into his sufferings and into his intercession The blood of Gods Sonne clerâ—seth us from all sinne the Sonne is consecrated for evermore 4. He can do all that we stand in need Joh. 1. 51. 3. 13. of because he is the Sonne of God He can create the heart anew and give the Holy Ghost He baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and with fire He opens heaven and brings in the Angels-service that they may minister unto us He seeth the truth of grace in our hearts He knoweth the workings beatings and breathings of our Joh. 1. 47 48. 10. 28 29 30. Joh. 5. 26 28. Heb. 12. 16 23. Psa 89. 27. Jer. 31. 8. Exod. 4. 22 Psa 89. 19. spirits and all our secret duties the guilelesse spirited Nathanaels their most retired meditations and prayers under the fig-tree He gives the power or priviledge to be Sonnes of God he makes free indeed he gives life to whom he will he preserveth the life spiritual given and gives eternal life he fetcheth out of the graves he makes us a Congregation of Gods first-born God hath laid help for us upon one that is mighty 5. There is no danger to adventure Jer. 17. 7. Joh. 3. 16. 36. Joh. 14. 9. here No feare of that curse Cursed be the man that trusteth in man for Jesus Christ is the Lord Jehovah It is no fault to believe on him to worship to serve to call upon to obey him There is no perishing to a believer There is nothing but wrath to him that believeth not on him Here is the only way to see the Father SECT 4. For the Application and Use Improve it The Use thus 1. By this Doctrine Inform thy self 1. Of Information First of the excellency of the word of Scripture which revealeth this truth and especially of the glory of the New Testament which is the Gospel of the Sonne of God Secondly of the honour conferred on sinful men called to the faith of Jesus Christ they are called to fellowship with the Sonne of God Thirdly 1 Cor. 1. 9. of the faithfulnesse of God in the wayes of his free and saving grace he failed not to send his own Sonne into the world according to his promise We may trust him to make good all that he hath spoken the heaven of heavens and blessed life and immortality there is not too much nor too good for believers It is not so good as his own Son 2. Be perswaded to dwell upon these 2. Of Exhortation Ephes 4. 13. Gal. 2. 20. meditations untill thy heart be winned and perswaded first to believe in the Sonne of God secondly to seek growth in the knowledge of the Sonne of God and then thirdly to live by faith of the Sonne of God and fourthly to digest this truth in the power of it that thou mayest triumph over all Brethren beloved look above all to this faith that Joh. 20. 31 1 Joh. 5. 12. you may receive and have the Sonne in you and that you may know you have him Let there be the hearing of faith the Confession of faith the emptyings of faith to reject all for him to forget all for him the application of faith that makes us apply our selves to him to draw near to the saving of the soul and not to Mark this distination of the applying act of faith draw back that applies him to our selves in desires of the hungry and thirsty and in high prizings of the poor in spirit and in the repoâ—e of the weary and laden and in the breathings and aspirings of the lowly and in the waitings of those that know no other door of mercy till we come to the applications of comfortable perswasions the obedience of faith the betrothed Mat. 22. 12 love which faith worketh and the wedding garment of all Gospel-dresse that may become the Espousals of such a Bridegroom 3. And why should we not delight our 3. Of Consolation Isa 8. 9 10 9 5 6. Psa 2. 1 2 5 6. 1 Joh. 5. 5. souls in this glorious principle of Christian Religion which leads us unto the holy One the mighty One of Israel for here we see and from hence we meditate and threaten terrour to the associations of all enemies We carry victories over the world's lusts and lyes errours and terrours vanities and violence We know the advancing and amplitude of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ We are confirmed Psa 2. 6 8. Ro. 8. 32. Heb. 2. 2 3 12. 25 26. 10. 29. Joh. â—7 26 1 Joh. 4. 9. Rom. 8. 31. 32 39. in the stability of all the promises and in the greatnesse of the sin and misery of all the disobedient and contemners of the Gospel We have the love of God manifested the love wherewith he loves his own Sonne reaching and clasping us A love that cannot but freely give us all things a love that assures God is for us a love from which nothing can separate us CHAP. VII Treateth of the fulnesse of salvation manifested in the way God taketh to save sinners by his Son SECT 1. 3. THe third truth demonstrating the 3. The way God took to condemn sin in the flesh of his Son and so to take it away provs the salvation full perfect fulnesse of salvation by Jesus Christ cometh now under consideration which is from the way and course God in his good pleasure took and held in saving sinners by his Sonne This is held out in these words Sending his own Sonne in the likenesse of sinful flesh and for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh which
of Gods appointing ordained for thee it is the righteousnesse of faith thine by believing not by working thou hast not a righteousnesse of works for thou art a sinner but here is a righteousnesse provided for a sinner believe and it is thine it is an everlasting righteousnesse live ever by believing and all thy sinnes are covered thou art clothed for ever The Sonne of God Jesus Christ is the Lord our righteousnesse 3. But man is yet a creature and though he be not under the curse and be acquitted of his sin yet is he bound to obedience and not the lesse bound but the more because God so loveth as to give Christ his own Son my bonds of obedience are greater and yet I sin daily my sin is the more aggravated because they are against such a gracious God and Father and against such a Lord Redeemer it is answered The Son of God is sent to fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law in us how may you say 1. By setting out to the world and to the heart of a sinner sinne more vile and the more condemned in and by the heart of the sinner which is one point of righteousness to hate judge sin And God most holy while most of love and most just while most of mercy now this heals us of profaness whilst it allures draws with cords of love whiles it fills with holy fear sin is hated and God loved the name of the Lord Christ is named with an heart departing with a blessed Apostasie from iniquity as love abounds just abomination of sin encreaseth with self-loathing and self-abhorrency 2. By shewing a crucified Christ which sight wounâ—s to the quick perswades to Zach. 12. 10. Joh. 12. 32 33. Joh. 3. 14 15 16. Gal. 2. 19 20. believe in God so loving as not to spare but to deliver up his own for us so faithful of his word performing in due time the greatest unlikeliest and ancientest promise he ever spake to believe in Christ so gracious to believe his promises threatnings commandments and all his words This sight crucifies us with Christ yeâ— causes to live to God and to live in and through crucifyings 3. By this faith the sinner is united to Christ not by a moral union as love uniteth but by a mystical receiving his Spirit not by a Physical or natural union but by a supernatural Christ of whom the Word the Spirit do therein testifie faith receiveth faith receiveth Christ in the Word justifieth and Christ is formed in the heart faith brings home the love of God in Christ as the Holy Ghost in the Word of the Gospel revealeth and by that Word reveals the Sonne in the sinners heart believing this faith works love this faith works by love which is the fulfilling of the Law 4. By this faith Christ is received not only as satisfying Gods justice punishing and commanding but as purchasing grace glory and all good things else yea as purchasing the blessing of the promise even the Holy Ghost who reneweth after Gal. 3. 12. the image of God and sets the heart on high in hope of the glory to come eternal life 5. Christ coming into the believer breaks down sinnes dominion and sets up his own government in the soul the Rom. 6. 14 authority of the Law-giver the spiritualnesse of the Law and his delight in all this 6. By his Spirit he creates us anew he confers all principles of obedience he comes and dwells there in the new creature he is in the seed abiding in them he enables he excites that ability he imparts to them the promises he puts life into the Word and Ordinances that they may be in power 7. By his exemplary life in holinesse both in doing and suffering he beats out before us the way of righteousnesse as our pattern which draws out imitation man being a creature prone to be led by examples and his imitating inclination in his new Creation sanctified now we would walk as Christ walked the heart is set on high and perfect patterns even on Gods holinesse and on Christs purity 8. Here is the image of God to be beheld in a mirrour in liberty and in great 1 Cor. 3. 17 18. glory the image of God lost but in Christ found again begetting in us the very same image we see and are transformed we see are assimilated made like unto it All this work is in true and powerful beginnings which tend to and are growing towards perfection and shall be perfect with perfection of degrees and fulnesse as here it is of parts and of uprightnesse SECT 2. This Doctrine is of singular use to wipe Uses 1. To vindicate the Gospel Gal. 2. 17 18 19. off all aspersion cast upon the Doctrine of justification of a sinner by faith in Jesus Christ without the works of the Law as if it were a Doctrine of loosnesse for see here Christ is not the minister of sin he destroyeth sinne in believers he by faith purifieth them to the very heart the preaching of this Gospel of forgivenesse of sinnes out of free-grace by faith in Jesus Christ destroyeth sin it makes the believer to live to God through a double death and the latter of them which this Gospel by faith puts the sinner unto is no less than crucifying yet a death to the believer most desirable because it is a crucifying of him with Christ And now this believer cannot but abhor the thought of being such a transgressor as to go about to build again that which by receiving and professing and preaching if he be a Minister this Gospel he destroyed was there ever the like effectual way of destroying sin and fulfilling the Law in a sinner as this here sin is made hateful in the heart of the sinner profanesse of heart healed the heart formerly alienated now drawn to God the old man crucified which Christ and the believer lives yet or rather Christ lives in him faith uniting to Christ and receiving Christ works by love love constraining to live to him that dyed for them the Holy Ghost is received the Son of God revealed in the soul Christs government is set up and sins dominion is broken down the heart is created anew and the sinner enabled to walk in Gods statutes to do his commandments with delight in the spiritualness and purity of the Law he would be holy as his heavenly Father is holy and pure as Christ is pure and walk he would as Christ walked by faith beholding God in Christ all of love he suffers a change from glory unto glory which shall be perfected in both body and soul in glory Was there ever such a fulfilling of the righteousness of the Law by weak sinful man as this which is wrought by faith in the Sonne of God sent into the world to take away sin by one offering and sacrifice once for ever Jesus Christ was a curse for sinne not a cloak for sinne he fulfilled
and floods according to the promise of the Old Testament this our Apostle is peremptory If any have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his There are three that bear Record in heaven Isa 44. 3. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Joh. 5. 7 8. and three that bear Record on earth unto the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ and the Spirit is one of each three The Spirit is the witnesse that testifieth of Christ and the Spirit is the witnesse that testifieth in the true Christian that he is the child of God the believer hath the witnesse in himself the word of Scripture is the Spirits Testimony in this word as in his Chariot the Spirit cometh into the heart by this word engraffed which is the Spirits work he dwells there and in and by this word which he quickneth he gives in his witnesse that we are the Children of God Now it is the compleatnesse of this work of the Spirit which is here to be considered And this will be manifest if we observe diligently the opening of these seven things 1. Who this Spirit is Seven things unfolded touching the Spirit 2. What is his saving work in and upon the elect of God and the Redeemed of Christ 3. That the Spirit is in Office to do that saving work and his faithfulnesse in this his Office 4. The peculiar works of the Spirit in order to this saving work 5. The Inhabitation of this Spirit where he is thus given 6. The time of his coming And lastly 7. The peculiarity and appropriation of this work to the elect of God the Father and to the Redeemed of Jesus Christ SECT 2. 1. Who this Spirit is This Spirit is the holy Ghost for so the Apostle in this Chapter maketh it cleare 1. Who is this Spirit when he calls him the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ ver 9. and the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead the Spirit that shall quicken our mortal bodies in ver 11. and in ver 16. he distinguisheth this Spirit from our spirits in the point of witnesse-bearing Therefore the Spirit is the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit as our Translators also render it in the Epistle to the Ephesians Ch. 1. 13. ch 4. 30. which is all one in sense the word Spirit being from the Latine and Ghost an old English word Now that we may know who the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit is note 2. He is God he is true and very God equal in power and glory with the Father and the Sonne the same God in essence though a distinct 1 Joh. 5. 7 person in the God-head and the third person for there are three and these three are one three persons the Father is not the Son nor the Holy Ghost the Son is not the Father nor the Holy Ghost the holy Ghost is not the Father nor the Son they are three yet these three are one God not three Gods one God in essence the God-head of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is but one Spirit here is taken personally and not essentially as when it is said God is a Spirit and these three are one in bearing Record one God in bearing Record yet three that bear Record three persons and one God and that he is God is manifest The Lord is that Spirit or that Spirit is the Lord. We are transformed into the 2 Cor. 3. 17. v. 18 Image of God in beholding in the glasse of the Gospel the glory of God and this transformation is wrought even as by the Spirit of the Lord that is it is such a work as none can do but the Spirit of the Lord and such wherein the Spirit of the Lord is plainly seen an expression like that concerning Christ Jesus We saw his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father as is not of similitude or likenesse for no like is the same but as of specification of the very things as the glory that is no other or lesse than the very glory of the only begotten of the Father So likewise here as by the Spirit of the Lord that is by no other worker and by no lesse than by the very Spirit of the Lord and it may also be read which I most approve as most agreeing to the whole Context going before especially in ver 17. as by the Lord the Spirit Again To tempt the Spirit is to tempt Act. 5. 3 4. Isa 6. 9. with Act. 28. 25. God as we find in the History of Ananias and Sapphira The Lord Jehovah spake by the Prophet Isaiah and Paul saith the holy Ghost spake those same words by Isaiah The name Jehovah is the name of the true God only this his name which is his alone he will never give to another but here it is the name of the Holy Ghost Jehovah is the Holy Ghost who spake by the Prophets and who is as the Nicene Creed professeth The Lord and giver of life The properties also of the God-head are given to the holy Ghost as eternity Heb. 9. 14. Psa 139. 7. called the eternal Spirit Omnipresence or to be present in all places at once as David sang whither shall I go from thy Spirit Omnipotence to be Almighty and this the works of the Spirit do manifest he doth the works of God the works which only God can do as the work of Creation by the Spirit of the Lord were the Psal 33. 6 Job 26. 13 Job 33. 4. 32. 8. Gen. 1. 2. with Deut. 32. 11. Isa 61. 1. 48. 16. 1 Cor. 12. 8 9 10 11. heavens made the Spirit garnished the heavens and made man as Elihu said The Spirit of God hath made me and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life The â—nspiration of the Almighty giveth men understanding Likewise the work of preservation the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters or was moving with an hatching virtue as the bird sitteth upon the eggs and hovereth over her young to cherish and preserve them his work is the sending and anointing of Jesus Christ the gifts of tongues and miracles and the like which he distributeth as he will These works declare the deity of the holy Ghost and they declare it above Suae libertatis arbiter omnia pro authoritate propriae voluntatis dividens Ambr. l 1. c 2. de spiritu sancto 2 Cor. 13. 14. Rev. 1. 4. the force and reach of all cavills of sophistical blasphemers and to the strong Consolation of all believers he it is that applies with saving efficacy the love of the Father and the grace of the Son Divine honour is also given to him as to be baptized into his Name to pray and blesse from him to call upon him And in the second to the Thessalonians Ch. 3. ver 5. the Apostle prayeth thus The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patient
were conceived and born with all the cursed brats thereof inward and outward in which actual transgressions she hath been and is prodigiously fruitful To be purifying the soul in obeying the truth unto more and more unfeignednesse in faith love meeknesse patience and in every other 1 Pet. 1. 22 Ezek. 36. 27. 2 Tim. 1. 14 grace to walk in Gods statutes to keep his judgments and to do them and to keep the faith committed to our trust as a thing deposited In all these the actions are ours the ability is the Spirits these are the works of the Spirit sanctifying us 3. Manuduction or leading by the Rom. 8. 14. hand the new born and sanctified are at first weak as children and ever after in this life stand in need of a guide such a guide as might inwardly act sweetly and powerfully draw graciously support and gently lead all this the Spirit doth for the children of God this work is accompanied with familiar sense of love and faithfulnesse taking and holding us by the right hand that our souls might follow hard after him these mighty dawnings Psal 63. 8. and sustentations the more they are felt the more are they prayed for that they might run after Christ and the more the soul is powerfully enabled in these pursuits the right hand and dexrous power of the Holy Ghost is put forth to uphold us so much the more and this work is expressed further with counsel as David Ps 73. 23 24. said thou wilt guide me with thy counsel and with inward prompting and whisprings as of a voyce behind them saying this is the way walk in it when ye turn to the Isa 30. 21. right hand and when ye turn to the left 4. Teachings as the anointing this teaching is with sweet and piercing efficacy as oyle that suppleth and entereth soakingly into flesh and bone and it is 1 â—oh 2. 20 27. with the perfume of the aromatical spicery of graces like the holy anointing oyle under the Law mentioned Exod. 30. 23 24 25. It is also with great establishment in our Royal Priest-hood and in the truth of the Gospel which we learn by this teaching therefore the Apostle John saith we have an unction from the holy one 2 Cor. 1. 21. we know all things the effect hereof is great peace of heart as it is said in prophecy concerning the true Church especially under the New Testament Ministry All thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy Isa 54. 13. children 5. Consolation he is the Comforter by leading into all truth by bringing all things unto our remembrance by filling Joh. 16. 13. 6. 14. 2 us with joy and peace in believing by making us to abound in hope of glory through his power for the work is of Rom. 13. 13. 8. 15 16. 1 Joh. 5. 6. Rom. 8. 26. 2 Cor. 1. 22. 5. 5. Eph. 1. 13. 4. 30. great and infinite power to set the heart of earthy man of sinful clay and keep it up stedfast so high as eternal life in the world to come and in the third heaven by being in us the Spirit of Adoption in his work upon the heart by witnesse-bearing by making intercession in us and for us by being the earnest in our bosomes and by sealing us up to the day of Redemption 6. Direction inward a most secret 2 Thes 3. 5. work which hath two branches or parts first the directing of the heart renewed and sanctified into every particular acting of every grace received especially of love and hope Secondly the directing of the heart into a very sensible taste and experience of comfort The words of the Apostle when he saith The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God this love of God may be understood actively of the love wherewith we love God or passively of the love wherewith God loveth us 7. Corroboration this renders the sanctifyed mighty in doing and in suffering enlarged to receive and hold the strong wine of Gospel mysteries and to walk at liberty in the wayes of Gods Commandments making their way through all impediments and oppositions confirmed in the truth and enabled to stand fight and overcome in the spiritual warfare This strengthens with might in the inner man the regenerate and no other have an inner man this is from the gracious free-gift of God as the Father of Christ according to riches of glory according to his Ephes 3. 14 16 20 19. Col. 1. 11. glorious power and from the energy the effectual working of the power of God working in us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think and this work is unto the dwelling of Christ in the heart by faith unto our rooting and grounding in love unto capacious comprehensions of the every way unmeasurable measures of the love of God and of Christ unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse in the profession of Christs name and Gospel and unto the filling with all the fulness of God even the fulnesse of his image 8. The giving of supplies which for the manner of the work is by influence from Phil. 1. 19 Eph. 4. 16. Col. 2. 19. Christ the head to believers as his members for measure it is in a proportion agreeable to the measure of every part for the things ministred grace and life spiritual and for the next end nourishment more firm knitting to the head and to every fellow-member and increase with the increase of God that is with a mighty increase an increase which beareth before it the work and blessing of no lesse nor of any other than of God himself 9. The shedding abroad of Gods love in Christ even the sense of that love in Rom. 5. 5. with the context from ver 1. to the 11. ver and upon the heart that lieth now next the heart nothing comes between this love and the heart it is plentifully poured on it this work strengtheneth hope patience experience joy in tribulations even unto glorying and holy humble boasting peace of conscience faith in Jesus Christ liberty of accesse into the favour and free-grace of God and standing in the same so that we joy in God against whom we have sinned this causeth all gladnesse more than that gladnesse of Psal 4. 7 8 corne and wine abounding more than all the comforts of this earthly Creation and it setleth the soul in holy safety and security 10. Assistance in persecutions this appears by special teachings of the Spirit to Mat. 10. 20 wisdome power and utterance which the Adversaries cannot gain-say or resist and by the resting of the Spirit on us as the Spirit of glory against the shame and as the Spirit of God against the pain of the Crosse by delivering also from the spirit of fear even a low pusillanimous slavish 1 Pet. 4. 14. base fearful perplexed selfish revengeful giddy turn-coat unsound
upon the Elect but it is common the world thus far feels the mighty power of Tit. 3. 4 5 6. Joh. 16. 13 14 15. the working of the Spirit in the Gospel but the work of the Spirit on the Church of the saved ones is conversion or regeneration as was said before in this work the light is the light of life the knowledge in renewing In this renewing there are two works of the Spirit the taking out of the sinner the heart of stone and the giving to them an heart of flesh the Spirit so applieth the love of God in Christ that it melts the flinty heart down to godly sorrow for sinne as against such a God so gracious it turns it quite about to God and centers it on God and Christ it cures the soul of three evils otherwise incurable alienations of minde and heart from Timor cultus culpa the life of God offence-taking at his Works and Word and Impenitency it puts into it the holy fear of reverence and to offend it raiseth high estimation of God in Christ as of our chief good with hungrings and thirstings out of poverty of spirit a meekned soul and contrite heart it raiseth appetite to the means sanctified of God and having the promise of the Spirit as after the Word the Sabbath the Ordinancâ—s of Ministery and Worship the Ordinances for fellowship and for the exercise of the power of the Keyes as to means of communion with God and Christ this making anew is with union and unction union to Christ and Christians by union with Christ they have union with the Father and this union is to Adoption and marriage-union and from this union cometh continual influences and for ever unction is to be Kings and Priests to God the Father of our Lord Jesus this first work of grace is wholly above the work of conviction and the Spirit worketh that and all the rest as an Agent within thus you have the seven things proposed for explication It is also profitable before we come to application of this Doctrine that we briefly shew thee why the grounds and reasons SECT 9. The Holy Ghost is the applier of salvation The reasons why the work of the Spirit is to apply 1. Because salvation is the work of God who is three in persons it is the work of the three persons in the manifestation of their distinct glory which is ad intra within the God-head mark that I say the manifestation of the distinct glory of each wherein each person being distinct and the works of each distinct the Father begets the Sonne the Sonne is begotten of the Father the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Sonne the glory of each distinctly is manifested as far as it can be communicable in this work of salvation the Father loves with the love wherewith he loves the Son and is Father to them in his Sonne this is the love of the Father the Sonne is the Mediator to bring them to the Father by redeeming them giving himself a ransome to his Fathers justice bringing in an everlasting righteousnesse to cloath them withall purchasing for them the Spirit and all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places wherewith his Father may blesse them this is the grace of the Sonne the Holy Ghost he communicates the love of the Father and the grace of the Sonne and is the Spirit of Regeneration the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of sanctification the Spirit of union and unction abiding in them for ever to their preservation in Christ Jesus and in the Father so that they are and continue in the Father and in the Sonne this is the communion of the Holy Ghost 2. Because this is the order of the working of the three persons in the God-head God the Father beginneth the work God the Son is the person through whom as his eternal wisdome he doth the work God the Holy Ghost is the person by whom as by the eternal power of the most High both the Father and the Sonne do compleat the work therefore in the work of salvation God willing and determining to imprint upon the saved ones the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost in their distinct glory to Mat. 28. 19 the uttermost according to the distinct manner of subsisting or existing distinctly that each of them might be experimentally known believed in and worshipped of them he will save the work of application is proper to God the Holy Ghost 3. God the Holy Ghost must be the Applier the Comforter or else none could be saved none partake of the comfort of this salvation for all men are dead in sinne lie among the dead none can quicken their own souls they are from beneath under the power of sin and Satan and the Law they are in a state of enmity alienation impenitency and unbelief invincible to any created power or means there is a Christ there is a Father and let this be told us a thousand times over and we left to our best abilities to receive this declared love and grace this is all we can do we can draw back but cannot draw near to the saving of the soul we can behold with our rational abilities and wonder but then we despise and so perish we can discern it but under carnal notions and count it foolishnesse we can but receive it in vain we can but turn his grace into wantonnesse we will be establishing our own righteousnesse by all that is delivered in the Gospel and so become more stout proud formal and secure and Christ crucified who should be precious and our only glory and rejoycing will be to us a stumbling block and a Rock of offence and under the form we will be the more stiffe though perhaps the more secret sometimes and ever among men the more plausible deniers of the power of godlinesse Oh let the holy Spirit of life and power come by the Gospel and bring it home with much power and much assurance or else all perish we all perish for ever with Christ in our ears in our mouths in our best natural understandings with the Gospel preached in our streets with high and low applauding of the mercies of God 4. God the Holy Ghost must be the applier that all the love of God the Father and the grace of the Sonne set forth in the Gospel may be thorough and effectual even to one awakened to see his sinne and cursednesse and that we once brought to faith in Christ might be for ever safe An awakened sinner how will he runne from God runne into the gulf of despair or gad about to change his way or catcht at straws to save from sinking but when Christ is proposed he cannot lift up himself to draw near to meet him in the wayes of his grace No the Spirit of truth must come as the Comforter as the Arme and right hand of the Lord to bring Christ and the soul together to comfoâ—t
First what man is since the fall of Adam Take him with all abilities in his best estate here out of Christ he is but weak frail mortal and sinful flesh mortal and sinful man he is flesh that is carnal sensual and wholly corrupted with sin he is utterly unable to keep the holy Law of God to fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law to make satisfaction to Gods justice for the least sin by all the righteousnesse he can by himself attain unto And therefore wholly unable to escape condemnation Secondly We may here learn that the flesh that is man consisting of body and soul though frail and mortal even weak dying flesh enfeebled in his abilities and operations both of body and mind is not in that regard sinful for then the Son of God who became flesh who took on him our nature a true humane soul and body and our nature infirme frail and mortal our very flesh and blood must needs have been defiled with sinne but he knew no sinne he was the Lamb without spot and blemish therefore the flesh or body of man is not evil as it is flesh and blood nor the desires appetite or weaknesse frailties and diseases that attend it no more than the minde the top of the soul the will and affections of the soul are in themselves evil God is the former of our bodies as well as the Father of our spirits and God is not the Author of sinne this is diligently to be heeded against the dreams of most Hereticks old and new against the general sayings of Philosophers and the common and usual conceits all men have of the flesh or body as if that were the evil sinning blame-worthy part in them but their souls their hearts their minds the spirit of the minde that they think to be good and holy and to receive its defilement from the body And therefore men place all Religion in some observations of abstinence bodily bodily exercises as Touch not this taste not that and handle not the other or in some neglecting of the body macerating and punishing it and denying satisfaction to the poor flesh in the natural desires thereof unto which weak body there is an honour due whereas all that defiles a man is from within from the heart and soul of man from these good hearts of ours comes all wickednesse as our Lord Jesus teacheth Thirdly here we are taught that there is something in man farre worse than death mortality frailty or any disease or pain even that which brought all this upon him and that is sinne which we make so light of sinne is the worst thing in the world sin is farre worse than affliction than all deaths Fourthly here may be seen how near the Lord Jesus Christ the Sonne of God came unto us he came so near that he took to himself in nearest union not only our souls which are spiritual substances but our very bodies he took to him our flesh and blood he took to him our whole nature and that in the condition which sinne had brought it unto the very likenesse of sinful flesh our infirme nature a soul subject to some kind of ignorance to affections of love anger and sorrow a body subject to hunger thirst nakedness cold wearinesse a frail mortal man he was but wholly without sinne yea tempted as we are like us in all things sin only excepted he became flesh He did not assume our nature as it was in our first Parents in their innocency but as it is now since the fall he came not into the world in the form of a King or some great Monarch or of an honourable person or rich and wealthy no nor of a free-man but of a servant he became Phil. 2. 7. poor and destitute of all naked flesh 2 Cor. 8. 9. Behold the grace the great love of the Lord Jesus Christ behold it till thy heart be loose from all that men here admire and doat upon and begin to draw towards this Lord the Son of the most High who disdained not to come so low to seek after and exalt thee 2. Here we have the persons distinct 2. Three distinct persons and works of those persons distinct in a sinners salvation with their distinct workings who are employed in the salvation of the Elect 1. God the Father he is sending his own Son he is condemning sin he is salving and keeping whole and untoucht the righteousnesse of the Law 2. Then the Sonne of God Jesus Christ he is incarnate he becomes flesh he payes the price of Redemption by suffering the damnatory sentence of the Law he fulfills the righteousness required in the commands of the Law And lastly The Spirit he unites to Christ that this might he in us through faith he applies and brings home with power all this that the Father and Son have done he thrusts out the flesh the power of corrupt nature and regenerates sanctifies and rules in them so mightily that they walk after the Spirit In us who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Who 2 Sam. 7. 23 Deut 33. 29 are like unto Gods chosen who are thus saved of the Lord whom God the Father and the Sonne and the Spirit thus redeeme for whom these three yet one God do thus go forth and work and are so employed to deliver from sinne and damnation Blessed and happy art thou O Israel of God whether Jew or Gentile thus saved of the Lord 3. We have also here the summary 3. The two wayes given to mankind in which everlasting life might be obtained comprehension of all the wayes that ever God gave to mankinde to obtaine life by that is the Law and the Gospel We have likewise the onely way by which mankinde fallen can possibly be delivered and obtaine everlasting life which is the Gospel And further how these two the Law and the Gospel mutually do work The Law comes but is found weak unable and the deliverance of a sinner thereby a thing impossible yet this Law takes off the sinner from his great confidence leaves him at a losse shuts him up to Christ and to faith in him when that shall come to help The Doctrine or Law of Faith in Christ Jesus that establsheth the Law every way and doth that for the sinner which the Law could not do By it Gods love and Christ Jesus the Sonne of God the Saviour God in Christ is made known the Spirit is given the flesh oâ— corruption of nature subdued righteousnesse fulfilled sinne condemned and the sinner saved And withal the words are so composed that the summe of the Gospel is briefly orderly plainly practically or as it may and must fall into practice and fully set down here to our edification and consolation abundantly SECT 4. Having thus farre unfolded the words here are four precious and important 4. grand truths truths three in the text and one in the context We have three most glorious and necessary truths
6. 39 40. again for his sheep 3. To be the Covenant of the people of the Jewes and raise them up and to be salvation to the ends of the earth 4. To see that no believer perish but that he raise every one of them to everlasting life at the last day and to give faith to all that the Father hath given him that the given of the Father may come unto him 5. To speak comfort to the weary soul 6. To bruise and Isa 50. 4. 61 1 2 3. Joh. 4. 34. 5. 30. Psal 2. 8 9. 3. His incarnation Heb. 10. 5. Heb. 2. 16. crush the enemies and to rule all for the good of the Elect. A gracious Commission 3. The third step is his Sonnes incarnation God sent his own Sonne in the likenesse of sinful flesh God fitted him a body the Sonne of God assumed not the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham he assumed flesh that is a true and very man consisting of an humane soul and an humane body he assumed flesh and blood not only a soul the more noble part of man but flesh even the beginning of our nature growing from infancy Heb. 2. â—4 Mat. 2. 1. to perfection of age and stature and not a full and perfect man grown at his full stature and ripe age when he first assumed our nature flesh weak dying flesh he assumed into the unity of his person the similitude of sinful flesh the similitude of the flesh of sinne such flesh as sinne hath now made it to be in us sinners not sinful flesh for he never knew sinne but such a soul and body as ours is now by sin and not such as Adams was in the state of innocency that had been great love and great condescension and abasement but how great humiliation to take part of the same flesh and blood of which we consist yet further he took to him the likenesse of sinful flesh in a low and abject condition having no form nor beauty Phil. 2. 6 7 in the form of a servant and not in the forme of the rich the honourable the potent not in the form of a King or of Gal. 4. 4. a Monarch he took flesh made of a woman made under the Law he who was the onely Law-giver and might have been a Law to himself is made of a woman of the seed of Abraham as well as of Adam a Jew under the Law of Moses circumcised and therefore a debtor to keep the whole Law thus made under the Law that he might redeem those that were under the Law See then the Sonne of God the Word who was God is incarnate God manifest in the flesh made flesh of the seed of woman a Virgin the Virgin Mary by conception and by birth by conception by the Holy Ghost by his over-shadowing power sanctifying and making her wombe fruitful In this conception there was the plasmation and forming of the childe Jesus 2. The assumption 3. And the personal union of the humane nature of Jesus Christ The Sonne of God became flesh also by birth born of a woman and brought forth into the world Although therefore he was sent in the similitude of sinful flesh true and very man in all things like one of us yet he was without sinne there was no sinne in his conception no sinne in his birth no sinne in him all his life 4. The fourth step is the work alotted to him by his Father he is sent not only 4. His work appointed to dwell among men which had been a great abasing businesse though it had been to dwell with the Saints on earth but he must dwell among beastly men among fat Bulls of Bashan and be with Mark 1. 13 men set on fire he must be with the Beasts of the Wildernesse farre from the estate of man in Paradise he is sent to fight with Divels the sorrows of death must take hold of him he must be compassed with the pains of hell And which is above and beyond all this he must be numbred with transgressours and bear the sinnes of many even of all the millions which shall be saved he that knew no sin is sent to be made sinne for them and he to bear them imputed to him laid on him on his own body as if he had been the sinner 5. The fifth and last step in this way of 5. Condemnation of sin in his flesh God is this The condemnation of sinne in the flesh of Gods own Sonne Now this hath four distinct things in it 1. The Lord layed on him the iniquities Foure things in that of all the Elect Isa 53. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Sinne indefinitely is charged on him sinne in all its evil came upon him in its condemning power even the curse due to sinne by the Law of God In its defiling power not defiling him but the imputation of the foulnesse and defiling nature of sinne came upon him he was made sinne In its weakning power weaknesses not culpable but miserable weaknesses attending mans nature since the fall but not such as attend particular persons took hold of him he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief 3. He who was the holy one and the just was made the sinne-offering 4. God condemned sinne in his flesh the Sonne of God bears our sinnes in his own body on the Tree for sinne the Son is condemned and crucified being made a curse for us sinne would have held down the sinner for ever in hell there sinne hath the mastery over the sinner there it is alive in its full poyson and strength but here sinne is destroyed and utterly abolished it is fully and for ever taken away and that in a legal and exact way of justice the sinner is saved and sinne condemned This is the way and the five steps in this way of God coming to us to save us SECT 2. 2. The effectualnesse and sufficiency of The effectualnesse of this way this way appears in two things principally First In the fitnesse of Christ Jesus for the work he is God to treat with and satisfie God and he is man to deal with man he is the Sonne of Gods love to make us sonnes and place us in Gods love and favour by whom we have access into and stand in his grace accepted in the beloved he is the image of the Father in whom we may see the Father and who repaires the image of God in us and to whom we are to be conformed he is the son of man our brother the second Adam in whom we partake of all that is Job 19. 25 in him our kins-man to whom the right to redeem doth belong Secondly In the sutablenesse of every thing to our distresse as for the distresse we were in here we have 1. Man the offendor 2. Sinne the sting of death 3. Flesh that is to say man made by sin weak miserable and mortal 4. Sinful flesh flesh of
sinne a body of death a body of sinne 5. The Law the strength of sinne 6. The Laws weaknesse to deliver the sinner 7. God offended these are the seven cords of man distresse answerably here is 1. The Sonne of God made man and so man punished sinne punished in the nature that sinned as God is holy he is an adversary to sinne as just he punisheth sinne as true his threatning before the fall could not be made void it must fall on man for to man was the Law given to man was death threatned to man as the first Adam on man must the punishment light now here is a man an Adam the Sonne of God taking to him mans nature of Adam though not by him hath somewhat to offer and God through his Christ the second Adam and through him crucified receiveth a sinner into favour remaineth holy just and true 2. The Sonne of God made man sent for sinne so that here is in this Christ in his low humiliation a propitiation a mercy-seat here is the Lamb of God in whose flesh sinne was damned the sufferings due to sinne he bears GOD suffers the Sonne of God doth all in the flesh for actions are of the person therefore here justice is satisfied sinne is taken away and death is unstinged 3. In the flesh the humane nature of the Sonne of God sinne is condemned and a perfect conformity to the Law in original and actual righteousnesse is performed and brought in before the Lord therefore here is the sinner justified and healed health and soundnesse restored by curing the disease in the very cause and the flesh is delivered and recovered thorowly Here are the Priestly Robes and the Royal change of rayment to cloath a poor naked sinner withal 4. In this Jesus Christ the flesh and sinne are separated Adams sinne and Adams nature divided and mans nature made a Fountain of holinesse and life wonderful high and heavenly things 5. Here is the Law answered in the Comminations and in the Commandments by Christs obedience passive and active 6. Here God by his Son doth that in weak flesh which the eternal Law could not ever be able to do 7. Here is â—od in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to himself God provides the Lamb God condemns sinne God prepares a righteousnesse fulfilling the Laws righteousnesse and if God be thus for us who can be against us if God justifie who shall condemn SECT 3. For the use of this 1. This precious truth in viteth us to behold Use 1 again the love of God to man Here To invite to contemplation 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. Tit. 3. 4. Eph. 2 4 7. Eph. 1. 7. Tit. 2. 11. is love here is love manifested here is bountifulnesse of love shining never the like love manifested never did God manifest the like love to this that appeared in redeeming in mankinde It is exceeding kindnesse Gods great love wherewith he who is rich in mercy loved us the riches of his grace the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse the glory of his grace abounding the grace of God that bringeth salvation Our blessed Saviour speaks of it with emphasis and admiration God so loved the world Paul speaks of it as alone peerlesse God commended Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 5. 8. love to us and John with an index in this was manifested the love of God herein is love All other manifestations of love are not comparable to this great was Gods love to man in the Creation to place him Lord of the visible world to indue him with a soul bearing on it his Gen. 1. 2. own image and likenesse to seat and plant him in a Paradise to provide him a Sabbath to give him Sacraments the Sacrament of life to establish him and of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil to warn him where his danger lay and to blesse him with conjugal society great is his love in his daily providence over him great in the Covenant made to all Nations in Noah great in the particular experiments Psal 36. Gen. 8. 21 22. Ps 107. 8 c. Psal 104. 27 34. men feel in sicknesse and health at Sea and Land great to all creatures his mercy reacheth to the heavens all wait on him for seasonable food David saith hereupon my meditation of him shall be sweet Great was his love to the Elect Angels whom he hath established about his Throne who alwayes behold his face but to whom gave he his own Son what nature did he ever unite so near to himself where or when did he ever such works for any as in earth to condemn in hell to dissolve all the Divels works in heaven to provide Mansions and all in by and through the flesh the flesh of his own Sonne the similitude of sinful flesh flesh indeed but like sinful flesh for a sinful childe of disobedient Adam justly a childe of wrath All creatures here below are for this ransomed captive sinners rightful new and pure use Angels that fell are reserved in chains of darknesse to the judgment Jude â— of the great day no Saviour afforded them but they are set forth to warn us to flee the wrath to come the blessed holy and elect Angels the innumerable company of them are made ministring spirits sent forth for the good of the heirs Heb. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 8. Rom. 8. 16 of this salvation the world to come is put in subjection to man in Christ we are joint heirs with him of all things This love decâ—ared is the powerful way to work on a sinner Hell and wrath the Law and sinne without this proposed do terrifie and vex but the heart flees God and loaths All other love of God is abused by the deceitful wicked hard heart but let this love be set forth and now sin and all the deserts of it wound stab and gore pierce and tear to pieces and yet the heart draws near and drawing near melts down dissolves desires pants after longs for Christ and God in Christ judges it self justifies God while he judges him trusts though God kill him cannot think or say any thing is ill that this God sayes or does This love is the fatnesse of Gods house the River of Gods pleasures the light the life better than life it self this love fills with love this love makes gracious zealous tender of heart noble of spirit and truly lovely this sweetens the crosses sanctifies afflictions and makes out blessings to be blessings 2. Hast thou informed thy judgment 2. To exhort and taken a view of Gods love in this way of salvation Now then let this doctrine come in the power of it to perswade exhort thee to believe to meditate with admiration and to ascend to fixed contemplation 1. Believe this truth this is the work Joh. 6. 29. of God the work that God requireth since we cannot work the righteousnesse of his holy Law that we believe there is no other
work sutable to Gods dealing with us he sends his Sonne we are to receive him whom God hath sent and believing is receiving he tells and testifies this unto the world we are to believe his Word and Testimony there is no other work left Christ hath done and suffered all for us believing is the acceptable work it gives glory to God and destroyes boasting utterly this faith doth all the work by faith Christ is revealed conceived formed born lives and dwells in the heart faith makes the sinner mourn pray wait at wisdomes gates confesse Christ contemn and overcome the world deny himself exalt God lay under the creature resist the Divel live holily and heavenly and dye in hope peace and joy faith purifieth the heart worketh by love circumciseth the heart to love God makes to fear the Lord and his goodnesse frames to the life of a pilgrim and stranger on earth and enables to do and suffer and labour and grow vigorous in the midst and strength of all that opposeth like men heaven-born born from above as men heaven-aspiring as bound for and tending to the Countrey above This is the will of God the Father that sent Jesus Christ his Sonne that every one that seeth Joh. 6. 40. Joh. 17. 3. the Sonne and believeth on him should have everlasting life This is Eternal life 2. Meditate Say with thy self Lord what is sinne what is man who art thou sinne it is the mischief that which destroyes the work of Gods own hand and that which ruines the choicest creature which no holy Law can abolish which no sacrifice but that of Gods own Sonne can expiate that which condemns the Sonne of God and can never be condemned in it self and in the heart of the sinner but by such a way and as for man what is he even dust and clay at his first and best raised out of the dust of the earth a very rebellious lump a masse of rebellion a lump of rebellious clay a leprous heap a putrified sore a hateful and hating enmity proud conceited brutish foolish sinful flesh that is not subject to the Law of God nor can be unlesse mortified crucified and created again but as for Thee O Lord God what is this name of Father what is this thy Sonne what is thy Sonnes name Oh that we could tell dost thou make thine own Sonne to be sin and condemn him as a sinner and condemn sin in his flesh is this the manner and Law of thy love to the sonnes of men to sinful man what manner of love is this Now stay make up what is wanting in thy conceiving of these things in admiration in the administration of faith which makes us draw near to God which transforms us into the image of Gods love 3. Fasten thy thoughts know thy self and God in Christ more behold his glory to make thee like him in this his love Take the Gospel glasse and while in the glasse of the Law thou seest thy self to just detestation and shame of face with open face behold the glory of God in his grace in Christ his Sonne crucified in that mitrour view it freely to transform thee into the image of this his love and grace from one degree of glory to another degree of glory Let Gods love work in thee such love to thy own soul first and then such love to the souls of others their salvation dearer to thee then thy own things temporal than thy temporal life A pure love sinne the enemy and the sinner the object of thy love sinnes against thee not hindering thee seeking of their good Love that is in deed and in truth love to die for the brethren love making willing to part with lay down lay out expose to the utmost of sufferings whatever is dearest willing to be counselled appointed and sent no envy no ambition nothing of self The greatest and lowest service proves the greatest love love bearing one anothers infirmities and temptations Behold this love to the espousing of thy soul to Christ for ever and adjure all not to disquiet him who is the love Cant. 2. 7. 3. To convince 3. Suffering the Word of exhortation Consider also how this doctrine is full of conviction It convinceth of the great sinne and misery of all men yea of all Christians that refuse Jesus Christ their refusal is of the onely remedy of a poor guilty sinner it 's the refusal of the Son manifesting the greatest love 't is the refusal of God the Father coming to undone man in a way of salvation as mysterious as salvifical as full of glory as of grace the more exalted in lofty height the more it is matchlesse in lowest condescensions of free grace their refusal is a Prov. 8. 36 degree of hatred of Christ and this hatred of the Sonne is the hatred of the Father they love death they love to be damned they love to go to hell they love that which will bring them thither they passe not for that which would deliver them thence they have not the Word nor the love of the Father abiding Joh. 5. 38 42. 8. 41 42. in them for then they would receive him whom the Father hath sent and all this hath the greater aggravation in that every one so knows his sicknesse and seels his wound that he will go out for some or other and any one that comes in his own name whom God the Father never sent nor sealed him he will receive every one will have his way of Religion but this way of God he will not own 4. This doctrine also giveth ground of 4. To humble deep humiliation even to the godly who do believe yet are guilty of much neglect of three things 1. Of the riches of assurance both of full assurance of understanding to the acknowledging of this mystery of God even Col. 2. 2. of the Father and of Christ and of the full assurance of faith that they might in God all day long and night glory in the Lord Christ alone and rejoyce in him for evermore 2. Of enjoying God in Christ in all other their enjoyments 3. Of the high valuations of Jesus Christ when you hear these reproofs say Is not this a part of that love in Christ to the Elect Vessels of mercy that God condemns my sinne but yet he condemns not me he condemns my sinne that he might save me 5. Lastly This ministers strong consolation to the humbled every one that 5. To comfort desires to be found in Christ that seeks his righteousnesse that owns his own want of all righteousnesse and takes his own sins as the detestable and deadly thing to thee is this Saviour sent for thee did he come into the world to thee doth God come in every step of this way to thee belongs this grace of God bringing salvation Go over the whole of this truth and put in thy self thy name thou art the man or woman for whom God took all
all righteousnesse but nulled no Law he fulfills the Law in us whiles he enables ro believe that he fulfilled it for us The Ministry of the Gospel is the Ministry of Rom. 3. 31 life of righteousnesse and of the Spirit we establish the Law by faith we magnifie it and make it honourable we bring to glorious liberty not to base licentiousnesse which is most absolute slavery We advance godlinesse while our Doctrine forms it in power and destroyes a powerlesse form of it we maintaine good workes while through the Gospel the sinner is called to come to God through Christ alone and God takes him into his own gracious and powerful hands and makes molds fashions him in his own workmanship in Christ Jesus created anew unto good Eph. 2. 10. works O ye Pontificians ye Papists and all others to whom the Gospel comes know ye The Law is not against the Promise The Promise ingraves the Law in the fleshly tables of the heart This Doctrine also tries and differenceth 2. To try Professors Believers and Believers Christians and Christians upon the Believer and Christian indeed the former three sentences are deeply fastened and the answers are experimentally and sweetly resented in the heart that closeth with them and receiveth the mould of them such a heart is truly believing and Christian and no other Go over them again and again in thy thoughts and try how it is with thee CHAP. IX Sheweth that the fulnesse of salvation shines in the Person who maketh saving application thereof dethâ—oning corruption of nature and ruling the whole man even the Spirit the Holy Ghost the Spirit of the Father and of the Sonne SECT 1. THe person applying and the manner of his application of the salvation by Christ is implied in these words who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit here the Spirit is the person that brings home this work with efficacy and power for here we have a double consideration of the Spirits work in the saved ones the first presupposed and implied namely that God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son do give to those that shall be saved the Spirit who applyeth savingly all the love of the Father and the grace of the Son who pulls the flesh or mans natural corruption out of the Throne and sets up himself to rule the man mention is made in these words of such a Spirit and who can be able to do such a work but the Spirit who is the power of the most High who will be willing but the Holy Spirit or as we usually speak the Holy Ghost likewise either sinners have this Spirit of themselves and so none have for if they had him in them by nature how is it that he ruled not how is it all by nature are under the power of the flesh living and walking in their sins or else he must be given and who can give him but God the Father and Christ his only Son this giving and working of the Spirit for the bringing home the Redemption which is in Jesus Christ is therefore necessarily implied in these words The second work of the Spirit is expressed in a Description of the Redeemed ones They walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit both these considerations are in the subject persons made partakers of that work of the Spirit two wayes commended in the words us who walk c. first that the Jews and the Gentiles the Apostles and all others that belong to God are all alike sharers in this mercy and work of the giving of the Spirit to them to apply savingâ—y this salvation and to reign in them and frame their conversation although they have not all alike this Spirit in the same measure and degree Us who walk saith the Apostle we Apostles we Jewes and you the believers at Rome to whom he wrote you that were sinners of the Gentiles us you as well as we who walk after the Spirit Secondly that neither the one nor the other of them have respect with God but in Christ No were he an Apostle not Paul himself nor do they look for part in this salvation upon lower or other termes but as they fall within this Description Hence therefore we have two things before us 1. The sixth branch of truth that proves the fulnesse of salvation in Christ 2. The third great doctrine which is The description of a true Christian The sixth branch is this The salvation of sinners by Christ is compleat Doct. 6. The Spirit of the as being savingly applied by the Spirit given of God the Father and of Christ Father and the Son applies the salvation by Christ dethroning corruption and ruling the whole man 1 Cor. 6. 11 his own Sonne to them that shall be saved In which application the Spirit dethrones the flesh and rules the whole man The sinners which are washed justified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus have this so great a change wrought by the Spirit of our God saith the Apostle God who sent the Redeemer hath covenanted that his Word and Spirit shall be in the seed and seeds seed of the Redeemer to whom the Father gave them that he should save them as the Prophet Isaiah sheweth saying The Redeemer shall Isa 59. 21. come to Zion As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is upon thee that is upon Christ the Redeemer and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed for whom the Redeemer gave his soul an offering for sin and went in travel with them on the Crosse nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth Isa 53. 10. Gal. 3. 14. 1 Joh. 4. 13. 3 24 and for ever Christ hath purchased it and the believer is possessed of it Hereby we know saith the Apostle that we dwell in God and God in us even by the Spirit which he hath given us This is that way in which he saveth even by the renewing Tit. 3. 3 5. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. 1 Thes 1. 3 4 5. of the Holy Ghost which he sheds on us abundantly through our Lord and Saviour and through this way even the sanctification of the Spirit God bringeth his chosen unto glory Hereby our election is known The Son of God the wisdome of the Father subdueth us by his Spirit poured out unto us by which he makes known his words to us This is called the Communion Pro. 1. 23. 2 Cor. 13. 14. Joh. 3. 3 5 of the holy Ghost And this is so absolutely necessary that unlesse a man be born from above of water and of the holy Ghost he can never see the Kingdome of God that is he cannot come into and enjoy eternal life in heaven he can never enter into it unlest he be born again of the holy Spirit now poured out as plentifully as water
waiting for Christ So Ambr. l. 3. de spir sancto c. 15 The same Father urgeth also that place in 1 Thes 3. 12 13. patrem dixit filium dixit quem ergo cumpatre filio praeter Spiritum junxit Mark 3. 29. Heb. 10. 29. Here are three distinct persons God to be beloved Christ to be waited for with patience and the Lord to whom the prayer is made that he would direct the hearts of believers into that love and patient waiting Now this Lord is the Lord the Spirit who directs the hearts of those whom he sanctifieth and enableth to believe Against the holy Ghost sinne may be committed and to great height and men may commit such sin against him as may become unpardonable because they wilfully and maliciously oppose and despight him in the manifestations of his presence and gracious workings in the Gospel for the Application of this salvation therefore he is very God he is the Spirit of grace 2. He is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son the Spirit of God and the Spirit Rom. 8. 9. Isa 61. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 11. Gal. 4. 6. of Christ He proceedeth * Joh. 15. 26. from the Father and the Sonne and according to this his existing about the work of saving application of Redemption he is sent forth of the Father as he is the Spirit of his Sonne into the hearts * Gal. 4. 6. of those that are priviledged with the Adoption of children God the Father sendeth him as he is the Comforter and the Son Jesus Christ sendeth him and therefore he is Joh. 15. 26 Alius non aliud Joh. 14. 16 another a distinct person not another thing he is another Comforter the Lord Jesus the Bridegroome he is one Comforter the holy Spirit in the Bridegroome and the Bride one and the same he is another Comforter he is the Spirit who knoweth the whole heart and the most hid councels and secrets of the Father and the Son these Gospel Mysteries the 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. secrets of this bosome-love into which no Angels of light could dive no more than a man can know what is in another man unlesse he reveale it This is he who works in us to bring home this salvation therefore it is done most effectually and most comfortably SECT 3. 2. What is his saving work In the Elect of God the Father and in The saving work of the Spirit made up of 14. works the Redeemed of Jesus Christ his Son the Redeemer The holy Ghost hath his saving work and it is made up of these several works following 1. Renovation or regeneration In which the holy Ghost by the word of Christ as water as a laver of water washing a sinner as floods of waters poured out upon the dry and barren heart doth clense and wash and in the washing change and make a new the sinner The word of the Gospel is as pure water and water fructifying The Lord Jesus Christ is a fountain opened for sin and uncleanenesse who came both by blood and water all sorts of clensings and washings are found in him and the holy Ghost in the work of his grace by the Record by making the sinner to know his own foulnesse and uncleanenesse by sin and the fulnesse of clensing away sin by a bathe of that water and by a Sacrifice in that blood which is in Jesus Christ the only Sonne of God crucified and by taking the basin of the Word which sets forth Christ into his own hands to sprinkle and rinse the sinner so enlightened and by taking hold also of such a sinner to put him into this laver and under this sprinkling he makes the heart to feel Christs love and the flinty rockinesse of it to melt and flow down before the Lord God and all the abilities of his soul to flow together and rise up towards the Lord Jesus with strong and fixed desires and then the holy Spirit is as water water that catrieth with it and in it the virtue of Christs blood set Joh. 3. 5 6 8. forth in the Gospel all to the washing and renewing and begetting again in such wise that this sinner is born from above Tit. 3. 5 6. born of the Spirit born of God and Christ is formed in him The party came into this laver a sinful man all leprous a dead man but he comes out of it a new man a living changed man quite another man than he was before Behold the laver of regeneration the renewing of the holy Ghost shed on a poor humbled sinner abundantly and richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour this work is of absolute necessity for old and young for learned and unlearned for Jew and Gentile And as that which is born of the flesh is carnal corrupt earthly low and weak so that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit spiritual pure heavenly high and powerful and discerning the holy Mysteries of the Gospel of the high and holy God 2. Sanctification the Apostle Peter describeth a true member of the Church a subject of grace and peace by the work of the three persons in the undivided Godhead about his salvation so that the Spirits work is that which singleth out the individual person from among all other the children of men and seateth the Fathers love and the Sonnes grace of Redemption upon him particularly This is the Description He is one Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ Sanctification is we see the saving work of the Spirit Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 1 Thes 2. 13 14. is the way through which God calling sinners thereunto by the Gospel ministred by the ministry of the New Testament doth bring those whom he hath chosen from the beginning to salvation unto the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ as this Apostle Paul teacheth in another place Now the sanctifying work of the Spirit is this 1. He illightens and this illumination is accompanied 1. With wisdome that knows things as they are and values them as they are worth that knows the worth of the things of God in Christ discovered according to their excelling nature and difference and prefers them above all other things and it is 2. With Râ—velation also bringing Ephes 1. 17 18. the things of Christ unto the mind in Gods own light in a light above the light of mans reason And it is thirdly with rectifying or rather making anew the Organe the eyes of our understandings which were covered with blindnesse and Mat. 16. 17 that blindnesse was in and from our birth so that we were born blind they are opened that we may know All this is beyond the illumination which is of common grace and which may be found in the best of hypocrites 2. He quickens he causeth the dead in sins and trespasses to
with wisdome irresistible to witnesse to the truth with courage undaunted yet attended with love meeknesse and soundnesse of mind and to suffer for the truth with patience invincible of which it may be said Here is tâ—e patience of the Saints These are victors Renowned Conquerors the Churches Heroes the Lords Worthies the noble Army of the Lamb. 4. Such works of the holy Ghost as respect the Ordinances as The Word In the Word the Spirit speaketh to the Churches he gave the Rev. 2. 7. 3. 22. 1 Tim. 4. 1 Act. 11. 2 Rev. 14. â—â— Word by breathing it at first into the holy men of God he by Covenant goeth along with it breaths and works in it speaks in it writes it in the fleshly Tables of the heart every part of the Word is the speaking of the Spirit even that wherein he warnes of seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils And he saith yea to Gospel sentences The Sacraments Baptisme and the 1 Cor. 12. Lords Supper The Spirit accompanieth both as the band of union he maketh the partakers to be one body together of one head By one Spirit are all believers Baptized into one body and in the Lords Supper they all drink into one Spirit All these mighty works the Holy Spirit doth in order to the work of saving application of the grace of the Son our Lord Jesus Christ and of the love of â—od the Father This is the fourth thing proposed for explication The fifth followeth which also doth greatly commend the saving work and that is SECT 6. 5. The Inhabitation of the Holy Ghost Where the Holy Ghost is given manifesting his presence in his saving working 5. The inhabitation of the Spirit where he is thus given Rom. 8. 9 11. 1 Joh. 4. 13 3. 24. there he inhabiteth or dwelleth in them the Apostle distinguishingly and searchingly putting all believers upon the trial of their estates saith Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you and this is so Characteristical that he adjoyneth now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his He that hath the Spirit hath him dwelling in him hereby also we know that God dwelleth in us and that we dwel in God and they that have the Spirit given and dwelling in them they know it 1 Cor. 3. 16 Know ye not that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you And for this condescension of exceeding grace how great is it for he dwelleth in them first as in his Temple his holy consecrated house and habitation he knowes no Temple or house on earth but the broken and contrite heart the poor in spirit and when he had a Temple at Jerusalem it was to signifie this and not owned of God but with respect to this Temple The regenerate Isa 57. 15. 66. 1 2 3. are his Temples the Holy Ghost makes himself an habitation and then dwels in the Temple which he hath made the glory of the work is heavenly and excellent for this Temple is an house not made with hands no nor of this building 1 Cor. 6. 19. of this kinde of make of which is this fabrick of soul and body in this visible creation although it be reared and set up in this building Again The very bodies of the regenerate are the Temples of the Holy Ghost though they be houses of clay and the leprosie of sin is not clean washed and scraped out while they live in this world Secondly he dwelleth in them as in the living members of Christs Rom. 8. 2. mystical body he is the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ their Head and from him as from their Head floweth into each of them Thirdly he dwelleth in them as he is the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus Rom. 8. 11 from the dead even in the exceeding greatnesse of that power according to the working of the might of that power which he wrought and put forth in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the above-heavenlies Ephes 1. 19 20 21 22 23. far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name of Renown that is named and Renowned not only in this world but also in that which is to come and put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all Fourthly he dwelleth in them as the Spirit of the Father and as the Spirit of the â—onne he who taketh them to be his Sonnes by Adoption he sends the Spirit of his Sonne into their Gal. 4. 6. 1 Joh. 4. 8 9 10 13. hearts God is love here is love God the Father sends his Sonne into the world God the Father and God the Sonne send the Spirit into the hearts of those that shall be saved God the holy Ghost given unto them sheds abroad upon their hearts this love he dwels in them doing this work and by him the Father and the Son dwell in them from hence they cannot but say with the beloved Disciple Here is love that God through Christ by his Spirit should dwell in them that by the Spirit through Christ they should have accesse unto the Father Fifthly he dwelleth in them in all the fâ—re-named eminent and peculiar works of saving application in the presence efficacy of all his glorious salvifical Epithetes and Appellations Names and Titles he is in them the Spirit of faith the Spirit of truth the Spirit of grace and prayer the comforted the anointing the earnest and so of the rest and in this glory the Spirit dwelleth in them the Holy Ghost delighteth to fill his house with his glory and to rest there this is his in-dwelling which raiseth and advanceth all which hath been hitherto delivered SECT 7. 6. The time of the coming of the Holy Ghost Now for this great work there is a season 6. The special season of his coming in which the Spirit hath his day for as the Son came down from heaven in the fulnesse of time sent of God the Father according to the promises in the Old Testament delivered and had his day with the Church of God on earth so the Holy Ghost he came down from heaven in his proper time according to promise sent of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ And although the Spirit of God was given and wrought by the Word savingly in the times of the Old Testament and from the first preaching of the Gospel to our fallen first Parents in Paradise and down-wards in the old world and from the flood till the giving of the Law by Moses yet in respect of the promised effusion or pourings out of the Spirit and in regard of the clearnesse eminency and ample largenesse of his presence and workings as such his giving
ought to strive and wrestle taking the Gospels part against the adversaries thereof and this we should do together with all the Saints and faithful especially with those with whom we live and with them let us stand fast in one Spirit The unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God in his Gospel which is but one and the same word of truth should unite us in love and bind us to the peace with lowlinesse and forbearance and with due respect to the variety of the gifts of the Spirit which are the Spirits rich embroidery the ornament of the Church no way of themselves hindering unity and orderly employed and improved are to the singular profit and benefit of all and every one of the members of Christs mystical body 4. Sow to the Spirit lay out your substance Gal. 6. 8. and your worldly goods to spiritual uses to the maintenance of Christs Ministery and Ordinances to the promoting of the Gospel the Church all grace and holinesse and the hopes of glory Seek first Gods Kingdome and righteousnesse Mat. 6. 33. buy the truth and sell it not say not I must provide estates for my children maintain my family raise my posterity God cannot be mocked if thou honour not the Lord with thy substance thou doest but sow to the flesh and of the flesh thou shalt reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Say not I have already done this and that good work hast thou an opportunity do still more with thy wealth and temporals be not weary of well-doing the reaping time will come in due season Faint not therefore neither flag in the sowing time there is now the seed time the harvest day is to come in another world 5. Lastly as it is in this Text Walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh this duty makes up the description of the spirituals of the true Christian the person whom God hath loved to life everlasting and for whom the Sonne of God came into the world and gave himself to the death This is the second Consideration of the words of the Apostle which now cometh to be perused and that as they give us the third Doctrine which is the more necessary the more excellent than the two former are and the more desirable the more searching and differencing the children of God from the men of the world CHAP. X. Treating of the third great truth The lively description of the persons that shall be saved and do partake of this salvation by Jesus Christ viz. They are such who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit SECT 1. Doctrin 3. The persons for whom God gave his Son and the Son came into the world and gave himself are those that walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit THe third great doctrine delivered by our Apostle in these verses this They that walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit these are they for whom God sent his own Sonne to become flesh in the likenesse of sinful flesh to be a sacrifice for their sinnes and whose sinnes God condemned in the flesh of his Son that in and for them the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled or take it thus Those in whom the Spirit dwels applying savingly the love of the Father and the grace of the Sonne in them he so mightily rules that they walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit That we may not be deceived in a matter of such importance as this is of let us 1. Understand the force of the words 2. Take them asunder in particular Opened in six particulars doctrines 3. And then Consider the Regency of the flesh 4. The Regency of the Spirit 5. The walk after the flesh 6. The walk after the Spirit And seventhly the uses of the whole First for the meaning of the words By flesh is meant the unregenerate part 1. The meaning and force of the words Col. 2. 18. Mat. 15. 19 20. in the sanctified believer the man as defiled with sinne the nature of man of man corrupted by sinne By flesh is not meant 1. Flesh in the substance of it the body opposed to the soul but both body and soul made flesh and carnal as carnal is opposed to spiritual there is the fleshly mind the soul as well as the body is defiled with sinne and depraved the soul defiles the body out of the heart cometh that which defiles the man by flesh therefore we must not understand the substance of flesh which is Gods Creature and therefore good and hath no cause of sinne in it for God is not the Author of sin neither may his workmanship be blamed without committing that great wickednesse of casting reproach upon our Maker This is to be held firm against the vile and pernicious opinions of all ancient Heretiques and our newly up-start erroneous spirits and against the received sayings of Philosophers and the dangerous tenets and expressions of some Divines as if the mind and soul were pure and receiveth its defilement from the body By flesh is not meant 2. Flesh in the natural desires of food sleep generation rayment recreation motion rest and if there be any thing else that accompanies the life of man in this world These are not evil in themselves it is inordinacy that makes them evil faulty and sinful Nor doth flesh note out 3. Humane wisdome and reason and the moral actings and projectings thereof All which kept within their own sphere and acting regularly are most useful to societies commendable among all and serviceable to the Kingdome of Jesus Christ Nor much lesse by flesh may be understood 4. The sparkles of the light that is born with us and in us or the reliques of Gods Image in body or soul or in the whole man Nor yet under the word flesh may we understand 5. The necessary helps of this present life as lands money friends with the like subsidiary ayds Nor 6. Natural diseases infirmities or defects of body or mind In this sense there is an honour due to the flesh and a lawful satisfying of its desires and needs and to deny them to it though Col. 2. 23. upon devout pretence is sinful and falls under that Commandment Thou shalt not kill But by flesh is meant the sinful disposition and this is called flesh not as if this sinfulnesse were first in the body for the soul the fairest part of it the top of it the mind is polluted we are strangers from God in our mindes the spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4. 23. Col. 1. 21. of the mind must be renewed ere ever it will be good Quest Why then may it be said Is corruption of nature which is first and most notably in the chiefest faculties of the soul called flesh Answ First Because the very soul is flesh that is it is defiled with sinne and tyed down to
These two the flesh and the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. are contrary one to another When the Spirit comes in and rules and the flesh or corruption of nature cannot rule more yet it will never yield it will ne're be good it is not subject to the Law of God nor can be the best that can be made of it is to mortifie it crucifie it fight it out against it therefore from these two contrary principles in one and the same man it is that in the godly there is a continual fight or deadly war and cursed be that that would make up a peace between these two therefore hence it is that he that is born again is born a Souldier lives by his spiritual sword and valour and dies in the Field and so never dies but is a Conquerour in his death 5. Where the Spirit is he rules and reignes he will not be underling he leads where he is all that is born of God overcometh the whole world And the Spirits rule is set up by pulling the flesh out of the Throne and subduing its Dominion therefore the least measure of true grace the least speak of this holy fire be it but as that in smoaking flax is Soveraign it is judgment which will come unto victory 6. The Regency of the Spirit appears in ordering the walks of every one in whom he is he renews and sanctifies throughout he makes a new creature a new man from the spirit of the minde to the outward members he creates a new heart and a new spirit that there may be a new walk 7. Those who walk after the flesh have not the Spirit at all and therefore they are not in Christ 8. By our lives and conversations we may infallibly know wâ—ether Christ were sent for us whether our sinnes were condemned in his flesh whether God the Father loved us so as to send his own Son for us to be our propitiation or the Son became flesh became sinne for us whether he be our righteousnesse our redemption or whether the Spirit of the Father and the Sonne hath taken possession of us to shed abroad the Fathers love into and sprinkles the Sonnes blood upon our hearts whether these be so or no may be known by the walks of our lives 9. So it is and so it hath ever been and it will for ever be so in this life that even among Christians who professe the true Religion there are two sorts some that walk after the flesh contrary to their profession and some that walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh SECT 3. Let us now therefore consider of the The Regency of the flesh discovered generally in ten things reign of the Spirit and the flesh that so these two sorts of Christians the carnal and the spiritual the true and false may know themselves and because the flesh is the elder brother in the world he shall have the honour to be spoken of in the first place The Regency of the flesh may be set forth more generally or more particularly in general the flesh's Regency consisteth 1. In its lonenesse if there be in us John 3. 6. Joh. 3. 3 5 nothing but flesh then be sure the flesh reigns we are first in the flesh conceived and born in sinne If there be nothing but nature and that which is natural the flesh is regnant for that which is of the flesh is flesh it can never arise higher than the compasse of its own principle it can never get up to things that are above there is nothing but flesh unlesse we be born of the Spirit there is nothing but flesh and nature where the Spirit by the Gospel hath had no changing work and where mans righteousnesse or the righteousnesse of works whether of our own works or of the works of the Law is still sought after and the sinner never yet so farre humbled that now Gal. 3. 10 12 18. Phil. 3. 3 6 7. he hath no confidence in the flesh any more 2. In the love of the lusts of the flesh these lusts are of three sorts the lust of â— Joh. 2. 16. the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life which do all of them spring from the love of the world this is the worlds trinity in unity which all men by nature do serve If the love of the world be in us the love of the Father cannot be in us 3. In the acknowledgment of the Edicts Rom. 6. 13 and Commands of the flesh sinne reigns where the lusts of it that is the motions of sinne in our members are obeyed obedience to it proves its Soveraignty it is an undeniable truth his servants we are to whom we obey The offering up of the members of our bodies to be weapons to fight for it and to be instruments to work for it shews that flesh is in the Throne 4. In making provision to fulâ—ill the Ro. 13. 14 lusts of the flesh there is a lawful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 24. 3. 1 Tim. 5. 8 Ro. 12. 17 providence and fore-cast for the discharge of the duties of our particular callings for making provision for ours and for those of our families for things honest in the sight of all men but none ought to be for the flesh or for our corrupt nature The providence which is lawful hath this character to take the seasons and to improve them with diligence thus the wisdome of God teacheth saying Go to the Pismire thou sluggard consider her wayes â—nd be wise which having no Prov. 6. 6 7 8. guide over-seer or ruler provideth her meat in the sâ—mmer and gathereth her food in the Hâ—rvest the sluggard is he that sleepeth out his Summer season and letteth slip the Harvest goeth forth in the dead of Winter to gather in the fruits of the earth the sinful providence hath two marks first to make it a businesse to project and lay out for the flesh secondly to aime at the satisfying of the lusts thereof when the flesh hath the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 providential projecting and fore-casting ability at command and at her service it is certain her supremacy is in the full It is the infallible signe of the renewing of the minde when the providential ability is sanctified and is ready under the command of the Word and Spirit 5. In sensuality when the senses beaâ— rule when what is pleasurable hath the Luk. 17. 27 Mat. 24. 38. Jude 19. 2 Tim. 3. 4 Phil. 3. 19. Job 31. 7. Jam. 3. 15 stroak with us and not what is honest righteous and holy when we are lovers of pleasure more than of God or those whose God is their belly that live to eat that minde earthly things those whose hearts walk after their eyes and their souls are tyed down to their senses who are meer animals whose wisdome is earthly and sensual their wisdome is also Divellish 6. In minding and savouring only fleshly things as
after the lusts of men to live the life of the Gentiles following and imitating their manners hunting after their favours this is the broad way where most go this is the way of the men of this world To live after the course of the world is to live seeking what the Gentiles seck Mat. 6. 32. after what we shall eat what we shall drink wherewith we shall be cloathed how we may rise grow rich and great how we may build plant purchase leave our names great on earth and leave our children so and thus eternize Psal 49. 1. our selves here as the men of this world do that minde and are addicted unto this present life seeking their good things and making up their portion in this world Ps 17. 14. how also they may do well to themselves fare deliciously wear gorgeous artire swim in vanity jollity and pleasure this is their way and their posterity like and applaud it and others that have neither power nor hopes to attain it count these the happiest under the Sunne and though the Spirit of God saith it is their folly and they shall never see light yet this the world doth as their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their eternity as if there were no other life nor other world Secondly After the lusts of the flesh 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. Gal. 5. 1â— that is in some manifest work of the flesh a manifest wickednesse either against piety or against charity or righteousnesse or chastity or temperance Thirdly after Satan as if joyned in 1 Tim. 5. 15. marriage with him so the Apostle expresseth it that is to live in love fidelity and obedience to the Divel loâ—ding it in lying vanities in darknesse of sinne in ignorance of God and in unbelief ruling he is the liar and the murtherer the father of lusts and of lies of all sorts the enemy and envious one the tempter the accuser of the brethren and the back-biter now when Satan may in his temptations play with us touch us with his love-touches in any of those wherein his works consist from which he hath those his former proper names and titles may bed with us and we with him when he may enter into us as he did into Judas Iscariot and fill our hearts as he did the heart of Ananias and Sapphira and take us Captives as fish that love the baiâ— at his own will when we keep open house for him by giving place to wrath revenge uncleanenesse covetousnesse idolatries lyes taught in hypocrisie hatred of the godly cavilling at the Word of truth or at the way of holinesse or the like or when we keep the house empty not stored with holy truths and graces the furniture of the mind and heart when our hearts are true to evil motions and lusts but false to Gods Commandments and Gospel and we passe not much that it is so then we live after Satan These are they in whom Satan works effectually and Eph. 2. 2 3. they fulfill the desires of the flesh and of the mind Fourthly In darknesse no discerning of men either of the godly to make their companions and to choose their portion and lot even the reproaches of Christ or of the wicked to avoid their company counsel way and chaire although they Psa 11. 1 2 1 Joh. 4. 1. can finde out the godly even the upright in heart to shoot privily at them no discerning of spirits of Ministers and Ministery nor of things and doctrines unlesse it be this to account the things of the Spirit foolishnesse no discerning of Joh. 10. 4 5. graces from moralities and civilities which they prefer before the feare of God and faith in Christ the love of the Saints and the patience of hope No discerning of wayes the way which is called holy from the way of the worldling prophane Luk. 12. â—6 2 Cor. 6. 2. Mat. 16. 3. Luk. 19. 44 or formal No discerning of the signes of the times the seasons of grace the day of salvation the day of their visitation Fifthly a life led in security no wonder if the dark and blind who see not their 1 Thes 5. 5 6 7. Deut. 29. 19. danger be altogether secure the night is for sleep they that sleep are of the night and of darknesse they that are of the night are sleepers No questions no cases of conscience the flesh blesseth them in their evil imaginations and flatters Psa 36. 1 2 them in their iniquities no serious enquiries about their spiritual estate or about their wayes about these two are all the main cases of conscience no watchfulnesse over the heart the mouth the eyes the feet and all their goings A man must be awake before he can watch Sixthly In vanity of mind and of conversation In vain principles reasonings thoughts and inventions they walk in emptinesse of the power of saving truths Ephes 4. 18 1 Pet. 1. 18. and graces the conversation vaine foolish unprofitable void of godlinesse in power the words idle unsavoury not good for the use of edifying and the works not directed in truth according to the doctrine which is after godlinesse this is upon them at the best and many times they break out to that which is vile and abominable Seventhly In hypocrisie with fleshly 2 Cor. 1. 12 Mat. 6. 1 2 23. wisdome hypocrisie either natural or pharisaical The natural hypocrisie may stand with a particular uprightnesse as in Abimelech of whom God testifieth that he did in the fact about Sara Abrahams Gen. 20. 5 6. wife that which he did in uprightnesse and it may stand with a general uprightnesse to the light of a natural self-deceived heart and to the light of the Law in a man that seeketh righteousnesse in his own works An uprightnesse legal Act. 23. 1. Phil. 3. 6 c. such as was in Paul before his conversion but not an uprightnesse Evangelical which consisteth in renouncing all confidence in our works and in the flesh or outward duties and priviledges or inward self-abilities in the life of faith in heart-purifyings and a Gospel conversation in rejoycing in Christ Jesus and our interest in him and in conformity to his death in hatred of all sinne we know in bearing respect to all Gods Commandments and in all these in humble strenuous pressings on to that which yet we have not attained but is before us with an heart and eye upon the prize of our high calling to which we are called in Christ Jesus by the Gospel 8. In natural Atheisme in alienations of heart from the life of God in impenitency and unbelief It is with them as with Israel back-slidden Israel of old they Hos 5. 4. cannot frame their doings to return they can do any thing but to order their ways to return they will not they have no heart and when urged to it and the threatnings of God applyed they say no there is no hope if nothing but a Gospel
worse than Heresie so back-sliding is worse than falling A fall is taken in stumbling and tripping in the way a back-sliding is a real change of the state of a man gone away backward God requires and the spiritual answer his call therein That they Jer. 3. 14 22. return that they acknowledge their transgressions how they have back-slidden that they pray earnestly for pardon and power and vow Thankfulnesse and Reformation Hos 14. 4 5 6 7. with ver 1. 2 3. Luk. 15. 20 22. to the end and this will be found upon them and then God of his free-free-love will heal back-slidings and bedew them to flourishing sightly sweet-smelling savoury fruitfulnesse and growth Oh the fatherly mercies of God to his returning prodigal son he is clad he is adorned he is feasted heaven earth is fill'd with musick and mirth Quest But may the godly who walk after the Spirit be guilty of relapses and may their back-slidings be repeated and if so shall not that prejudice their salvation Answ It is lamentable to tell but it may so be they may fall and fall again and again they may lapse and relapse Their relapses and back-slide and again back-slide It is not usual but so it may be and though it be pitiful to tell yet it must be told for the Scripture mentioneth it in Sampson and Solomon two of the Lords Worthies Both falls or relapses and back-slidings or relapses do waste the conscience and destroy comfort and joy of our salvation neverthelesse they ruine not utterly they shall not be to condemnation yet relapses go not without some notable testimonies of Gods wrath in this world and their Sunne â—etteth usually in a cloud as did Sampsons and Solomons O all you eminent in faith and grace nourish your fear and humility and your living by faith continually for they that have discovered the greatest acts of faith and have been the highest for wisdome and grace have fallen into the foulest sâ—nnes and dreadful relapses Humble thy self to walk with thy â—od the flesh even in the Saints is a mad beast a hellish monsâ—er a subtle fiend if it be suffered to be wanton and to play its pranks Be not high-minded but fear look to thy standing thou staâ—desâ— by faith Continue in Gods goodnesse and not in thine own not in thine own received in the regeneration and then shalt thou walk surely and thy steps shall not slide Abide in Christ and let his Word abide in thee so shalt thou bring forth much fruit severed from him the true Vine though a branch full Joh. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 of sap thou canst do nothing thou wilt dwingle anâ— fade anâ— wither without the continual influence of his Spirit the Spirit of life and power coming from him Phil. 1. 19 into thee with fresh supplies SECT 5. In the fourth place Obâ—erve the sins that attend thee in thy walk whiles yet 4. The sins of the upright should not hinder their comfortable walking uprightnesse is held in faith anâ— obedience with patience in the sight of God and in love without giving offence to men or when thy falls are recovered and thy back-slidings healed they ought not to hinder thy comfortable walking God said to Abraham I am God all-sufficâ—ent walk before Gen. 17. 1. me and be thou peâ—fect we are not self-sufficient nor all-sufficient much lesse to our selves after faith anâ— grace received but God is to us both these in his Covenant the alone sufficient anâ— all-sufficient for us here is the comfort of the upright in their holy walking When God saith to the Father of the faithful fâ—ar not he encourageth to comfortable chearful walking nothing should daunt or dismâ—y nothing stâ—gger or cloud his Spirit in his way of obedience why so he hâ—d his doubts his failings he had his dangers his enemies yet saith God to him fear not Abraham not because thou art able to defend thy self thou art able to blesse thy self no but because I am thy shield I am thy exceeding great Gen. 15. 1 reward Now then if it be so what should discourage in our obedience who have God the Almighty and All-sufficient for us who have God for our shield to defend who have God for our portioâ— our exceeding great reward to bless us That God is ours this carries in it all good even eternal life through and over death and the grave and notwithstanding our sinnes the Law the justice of God and the wrath to come from which we are delivered They that walk in the fear of the Lord should walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost To them is that exhortation given Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes and again I say Rejoyce Act. 9. 31 Phil. 4. 4. Phil. 4. 6. Instead of caring in any thing they should in every thing be praying and supplicating but still with thanksgiving such exhortation also is that in another place Rejoyce evermore pray without ceasing in every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning 1 Thes 5. 16 17 18 you the heart not kept in a thankful frame is not fit for prayer nor for any duty to God or man This is the description of the godly he that rejoyceth and Isa 64. 5. worketh righteousnesse and now under the New Testament they are the circumcision Phil. 3. 3. which worship God in the Spirit not in the Legal Ceremonies and Ordinances of the worldly Sanctuary and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh But they may say we have sinnes with Object us and if not burdensome and grievous to us they will be our ruine we live also in a troublesome world and these troubles of life do oft provoke our corruption we are sometimes afflicted of God scorned and persecuted of men assaulted by Satans temptations besides pain and mortality death and the grave must be passed through and how then can we walk comfortably for answer He that hath God the Father to be his Sol. God and Father and to him a Father of mercies and God of all consolations he that hath God the Sonne our Lord Jesus Christ the consolation of Israel to be his Comforter sent as the great Prophet who hath given to him the tongue of the learned that he should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary he that hath God the Holy Ghost another Comforter the name The Comforter given to signifie his office given to him and sent into his heatt to shed abroad upon it the love of God and to be and to abide in him for ever the Spirit of Adoption he may and ought to walk in comfort But the walkers after the Spirit have this God three persons and one God theirs in this presence and that by Covenant therefore they should walk comfortably To open this truth further understand Comfort consists in blessednesse blessednesse consists in the fruition and enjoying of