which I have committed to his care and custody to bring it forth a glorious Soâ—â—at that day and my vile Body that he may make it a glorious Body like his own This I have committed by Faith and Hope deposited with him This is the great Command of the Gospel that you give up your selves to Christ that you deposite your Souls and Bodies with him and trust him for the saving of both that he is able and willing to do it 2. Do what Christ would have you to do deny your selves to do Christ's will Let not his Commands be grievous to you Let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel in Holiness Meekness c. This some do conceive to be meant by the Wedding Garment a conversation becoming the Gospel The Gospel calls to a Feast it contains fulness of Blessings as Rom. 15.29 I shall come in fulness of the Blessing of the Gospel of Christ Blessings for Soul Body enough for both Eternity of both He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life He shall live and reign with Christ. This is the Feast that believers are called to Now 't is required in all that would be meet Guests that they be Holy Obedient in carriage As you know 't is an unseemly thing for a Man to come to the Marriage-Feast of a King's Son only to enjoy the pleasures of that solemn meeting without respect of decent apparel befitting such solemnity So you that would eat of the Feast of fat things contained in the Gospel must have decent apparel a Conversation beseeming a Christian Calling becoming the Gospel suitable to it in all holy conversation and godliness as you would lay hold on the promises and blessings of the Gospel so you must have a Gospel-garment a Gospel-frame of life herein many come short they do profess to believe in Christ and hope for Pardon and Mercy at that day but have no Wedding Garment no Gospel Garment no Conversation becoming the Gospel and to such Christ shall say How comest thou in hither out with him here 's one that lays claim to Promises and would not regard the Precepts he comes in his filthy Garments of sin now this is to be so doing Mat. 24.46 Blessed c. that so doing trusting in Christ and walking in Gospel ways endeavouring to honour the Lord Jesus as Lord and King this is Oyl in your Lamps a heart believing the Gospel subdued to Christ establish'd with Grace Oyl in the Lamp is Faith and Love a Lamp without it is an empty Profession and form of Godliness your hearing praying professing to believe in Christ that is your Lamp your Eaith Love Zeal for the Honour of Christ is your Oyl in the Lamp have not this to seek when you should come to meet Christ 3. Look for this day looking for the blessed hope Tit. 2.13 all the hope of a Christian is in that day of Christ If in this Life only they had hope then they were most miserable then more miserable than wicked Men they have pleasure and enjoy their good things and Saints for the most part in regard of their outward Condition have torments So look for that day and long after it be not overcharged wlth the cares of the World say not this is your rest look for rest for your portion and inheritance at the day of Christ's appearing to them that look for him he shall appear without Sin c. Christ hath so foretold it and before his coming he shall give evident signs that he may be looked for so look beyond Friends Estates beyond the end of the World beyond Life Death even to Christ's day be frequent and serious in your thoughts of it 't will disengage your thoughts from the World Enoch the seventh from Adam that lived in the beginning of the World his thoughts did reach to the end of it to Christ's appearing though the Vision be far of and a great while to come Judg. 14 Enoch prophecy'd The Lord shall come with ten thousands of his Saints how much more should we look after it upon whom the ends of the World are come now the time is so near that Christ is as it were at the door so watch and wait for him 2 Pet. 2.12 Looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God or hasting the coming going forth to meet Christ let your thoughts and desires be sent out to meet him Vse 3. Comfort for Saints here they find trouble c. but they shall find mercy at that day there shall sure right be done them and be avenged of the wicked as the Jews are wont to comfort themselves when they meet with any knotty place of Scripture in the old Testament that cannot understand Elias veniet et euodabit omnia So Christ will come and then wo to the wicked it shall be ill with them say to the Righteous it shall be well with him Isa 3.10 't is the day of the Saints Redemption and Adoption when they receive Inheritance as well as have right to it As Rom. 8.23 we wait for the Adoption even the Redemption of our Bodies FINIS
us a Child is born to us a Son is given c. or as the Wise Men or as Peter thou art the Son of God the Saviour of the World thou hast the Words of Eternal â—ife What Christ said was wanting in them that followed him because of the Loaves let that be in 〈◊〉 Joh 6.26 Ye follow me because ye eat of the Loaves not because of the Miracle of the Loaves thar is you do not follow me because I am the Son of God sent into the World to save Sinners which you should have been convinced off by the Miracle of the Loaves but you follow me for the advantage of eating the Loaves Thus you must know Christ not after the Flesh only not only as having Flesh and being Man not only as you pereceive something in him to satisfy your Carnal Desires of being filled with temporal good thingâ— or fâ—â—â—d from Temporal and Eternal Evilâ— but know him as the Son of God and Christ anointed of the Father to be the Saviour of the World You will never know Christ aright in his Glory you will never fully resign up your selves to him till you be convinced of this O therefore reâ—ieve this Truth that Christ whom we Preach is the Son of the Living God Then you know that he is able to save and you will believe in him then you know that he must be worshiped and served by you being the Great God so you will obey him then you will apprehend greatest love in Christ that being God he should die for you then you will love him and your love will constrain you to obey him and this is totum hominis the whole of a Man the whole of a Christian Man to believe in him as the Son of God and Saviour of Men and to be constrained by Love to Obey him This is the second means 3. Take heed of any conceits of a sufficiency of Knowledge Many think they know enough of Christ as much as they need and content themselves with what they have they hear not the Word they apply not their Hearts search not for more Knowledge If there be any of such an Opinion I shall leave two places for you to meditate on 1 Cor. 8.2 You that think you know enough know nothing as you ought c. You that dream of a sufficiency of Knowledge that you have are like the hungry Man that dreams he eats but waking he is empty You are most deficient 1 Cor. 3.18 Become a Fool. Though never so wise in regard of Worldly Wisdom yet know your selves to be Fools in respect of the Knowledge of Christ that you do want and this you must know that you may be wise Joh. 14.21 4. If you have attained any measure of knowledge you must follow on to know the Lord Hos 6.3 follow on in Study Prayer Hearing Meditating to get more Knowledge His going forth is prepared as the Morning Christ doth not reveal himself all at once but as at going forth of the morning-light 't is by degrees there is a dawning and twilight and then perfect light when the Sun goeth forth in its might so is the going forth of Christ and so you must follow on to know more still of Christ You are not capable of receiving perfect knowledge at once John 16.12 I have many things to say but you cannot bear them now Men are at first but Babes in Christ they we know encrease in understanding strength and stature by degrees what you cannot bear now you must learn another time you must go from strength to strength from one degree of knowledge to another you must follow on to know you must grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of Christ Use 3 Comfort to those that have gained the knowledge of Christ I shall shew 1. Some Signs whereby to know this 2. The grounds of comfort arising from thence 1. The Signs as 1. If you know Christ in such a manner as that your Souls are raised up to an esteem of him above any thing in the World thus it must be and this is the least of Christ that a true Christian can have he must love Christ more then these Esteem Christ more then Honours Riches c. in some degree otherwise he hath not the true Knowledge of Christ He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me The Young man being brought to the Trial which he loved most Christ or Riches left Christ hence it appears that he knew not Christ aright for there is no comparison betwixt Christ and Riches He that will nor forsake the World for Christ is ignorant of Christ he knows not the worth of Christ John 11.48 49. 2. If the word that hath been spoken unto you have been Spirit and Life if the Gospel hath been the Power of God to beget Faith in you to embrace it and lay hold on Christ revealed in it John 6.63 As when Christ said to Lazarus Come forth his words were Spirit and Life to Lazarus he cometh forth so if the words of Christ in the Gospel calling you to repent and to believe the Gospel have been life in this regard if that word Come forth from amongst them that are Sons of Belial have been life to you then have you gain'd this Knowledge When Christ said to his Disciples follow me they followed him O this hath Christ said to you often you have been called on many times have you left your Lusts to follow Christ left the practice of Sin to practice Holiness have Christ's words been Spirit and Life have they been as the Seed that is cast into good ground that lives and grows and brings forth Fruit Then may you comfortably assure your selves that you have gained the Knowledge of Christ 3. If you can rejoyce in the knowledge of perfect Holiness Righteousness and Justice of Christ as well as the Merit Grace and Loving kindness of Christ as well in this that he hath no sin and that he will not have sin to reign in his Members as in this that sin was imputed to him and that he imputes it not to his Members Many love the Knowledge of Grace to hear of satisfaction made c. but yet would continue in Sin They love to hear of a Pardon that might Priviledge them to commit Sin they would be freed from the malediction but not tyed to direction of the Law But if you know Christ aright you will rejoyce in him as pardoning Sin and purging Sin as in his freeing from the condemnation of Sin so in his condemning Sin in the Flesh as in pardoning and exercising Loving kindness towards humbled Sinners so in executing Judgment on impenitent and hardened Sinners Jer. 9.23 24. 4. If the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence Math. 11.12 that is since Christ Preached and men knew him there is a great slocking and concâ—â—â—se of People as if men would take Heaven by force the meaning is Men will strive to enter in at the
but broken Cisterns these are not worth the making sure but the Fountain of living waters is worth the making sure The Father who is the Father of Lights his Love is worth tho making sure Christ in whom is Righteousness Merits Glory in whom all fulness dwells The Spirit who shall be a Well of Water springing up to everlasting life who shall be in the heart as flowing Rivers of Grace Comforts Joy Fullness of Joy Pleasures for evermore these are worth the making sure Sect. 3. For the further clearing of this consider 1. What Salvation is 2. And what the Assurance of it is 1. Now Salvation is the restoring of an undone Creature from fulness of misery to fulness of Glory 1. Salvation begun in this life is a Translation of a Sinner from a state of Guilt Unrighteousness Condemnation to a state of Righteousness and Justificaâ—ion from Polution to Purity from Prophaness to Piety from Wrath to Grace from a state of Emptiness and Poverty into a state of Fulness in Christ from the Power of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ 2. Salvation perfected is the bringing of a Creature into the presence of God making it partaker of the Glory of Christ God shining to the Soul in all his Glory Christ in his infinite Excellency God shining on the Soul in perfect likeness and suitableness to him We shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 John 3.3 This is that which is worth the making sure II. What assurance of Salvation is Now that is when that is done in the heart which the Apostle speaks of 2 Cor. 4.6 God that commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our hearts giving the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ unto the Soul then the Soul is at rest God appearing in the Glory of his Love reconciled in Christ in the Glory of his All-sufficiency Power and Wisdom God appearing as your God to your Souls the seeing of your selves to be partakers of the Divine Nature with Christ that as Christ hath the Divine Nature so you partake with him in it this is assurance of Salvation Now is not this a Pearl worth the selling all to purchase it Sect. 4. Use 1. Fxhort To perswade you that amidst the multitude of your Affairs and Imployments in the World this may not be neglected but with the greatest diligence prosecuted the making your Salvation sure to your selves As Solomon says above all keeping keep the Heart so above all working work out your own Salvation make sure that which may be made sure and is indeed worth the making sure You are made for ever if once your Salvation be made sure and whatever you are you are most miserable if the Salvation of your Souls be not made sure Be not like Martha troubled about many things cumbred with much serving with serving your Lusts serving of Men serving of the Body Take heed of loosing your Lives in seeking to save your Lives Take heed of loosing your Souls in seeking the things appertaining to the Body of coming short of Heaven in your toiling in Earth but chuse with Mary that better part She sate at Jesus his Feet and heard his word Luke 10.39 Look on this as the one thing needful as the best part that you can choose to hear the word of Christ to search the Gospel of Christ to study that Salvation that is in Christ And wrought out in their hearts that come to Christ behold that life and immortality that is brought to light in him To provoke hereto consider 1. The Father makes it his great work to save Souls a greater work than the Creation of the World wherein more of his Glory is manifested the greatest of God's works next to the Incarnation of the Son of God Now as God makes it his great work so next to the glorifying of that God in Christ this should be your greatest work to get an assurance of your Salvation 2. Jesus Christ died to make Salvation sure to the Elect to the Children of Promise 't is so glorious a work that Christ valued it above his own Life he delighted not so much in his own Life as in the Salvation of Sinners The Son of God pleased not himself that he might do whatsoever pleased him He denied himself that might do what he pleased He humbled himself that was Lord of Glory that he might save poor lost Souls He put himself into the miserable condition of Sinners that they might be translated into his estate of Happiness and Glory so this is a most glorious work for to take Salvation from Christ or make Christ sure or the favour of God Eternal Life in him should be your great work and such a work as you should not leave though you may be reproached and persecuted in it we should be contented to loose Temporals to make sure of Eternals to loose Life to save Life If you were in a Ship at Sea that was full of Gold and in danger of drowning you would cast out all to save your Life so let all things stoop to this work of saving of your Souls yet it is not always so you may make Salvation sure and keep your Riches haply enjoy Peace and not endanger your temporal lives 3. Salvation assured shall be an Anchor sure and stedfast to your Souls you shall see Christ holding you fast and hereby you shall hold fast Christ. And hereby you shall have Hope and Joy in the greatest troubles there 's no Tempest of afflictions shall carry away your hearts from Peace Your Joy is sure Joy your Comforts sure Comforts if you have this sure and stedfast Anchor nay there 's no sin shall trip up your heels of Joy and Peace in Christ with the Father in Christ's Righteousness to cover your Sin in Christ's satisfaction for Sin it should work in you Godly sorrow for doing any thing repugnant to his Glory but it should not disturb a Believers Joy in God And hereby you shall be kept stedfast in the Faith and in the profession of Godliness and in following the Lord Jesus you shall be armed against all trials and oppositions Eph. 6.13 Take the whole Armour of God v. 14. Have on the Breast-plate of Righteousness make that sure and that shall be the Armour of proof on your hearts and nothing shall kill the heart of your Peace and Joy whilst you keep that as a Breast-plate v. 15. Have your Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace By Feet are understood also Legs It was a custom antiently to wear a kind of Brazen Boots on the Legs 1 Sam. 17. Goliah had such greaves of Brass on his Legs to defend him against darts c. And they that have such may walk on Thorns and Briars and not be hurt Now have your Feet shod that is walk in Gospel-ways have the Gospel of Peace in your hearts believe the Gospel Promises Gospel
your hearts c. the refusing to hearken will harden your hearts against Christ there is no other name given whereby you may be saved neither is there Salvation in any other Act. 4.12 look whether you will there is no Salvation you may look to the World you may look to your Riches Lands c. but there 's no Salvation in them so then say to your selves that its vain for me to say to my Soul sit down here in Christ alone is Salvation to be had then look to him say that it 's good to be here here I will dwell this shall be my rest for ever I 'll commit my Soul to him who is able to keep what I shall commit to him against that day Christ in you the hope of Glory Christ formed in you Christ revealed to you Christ appearing with his Blood in the heart as well as in Heaven Christ sheding abroad his Love Christ believed on Christ judged worthy of Glory c. most worthy of Love and Obedience Christ esteemed as the chiefest of Ten Thousands as altogether lovely Christ being thus in the Heart is the hope of Glory in that Heart and assurance of Salvation in that Heart when the Sun of Righteousness thus shines into your Hearts then you shall see Salvation sure 'T is not the performance of Duties praying with fervency hearing with delight and abstaining from this or that Sin that is a sure ground of assurance of Salvation any Duty and Grace if there be a beam of Christ that you see derived from Christ the Sun of Righteousness coming from him and tending to him may afford some light towards assurance but then is full assurance when Christ the Sun of Righteousness shines in the Soul God shines in the Face of Christ and sheds abroad his Love in the Heart by Jesus Christ 2. Consider the properties of true assurance of Salvation and the concomitants c. 1. The more assurance of Salvation there is the more Purity true assurance is purifying The more you dwell in the love of God the more will you labour to be like unto God and the more will you abhor impurity and the more will you follow after holiness Assurance will not make licentious dwelling in love and walking in your Lusts hopes of Glory and conforming to the courses of the World a looking for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein Righteousness dwells and not a putting off the old Conversation these will not consist together He that hath this Hope purifies himself even as he is pure 1 Joh. 3.3 Seeing we look for such things be diligent that we may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless 2. It makes fruitful in good works the abounding of the Love of God in the heart will cause an abounding in the work of the Lord it will constrain you to serve the Lord and to live to him 3. The more Assurance the more heavenly mindedness our conversation is in Heaven whence we look for a Saviour when Heaven is sure the mind will be most in Heaven If there is your hope there will be your hearts This will make you willing to leave all these things here below this will make you sojourners here in the World By Faith Abâ—aham sojourned â—n the Land of Promise as in a strange Land If you look for a City that hath Foundations then will you be strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth 4. An earnest desire of Christ's appearing Where there is true Assurance a Man shall say to be with Christ is much better Let my beloved be like a Roe on the Mountains of Spices let him make haste to come let him come quickly When there 's a taste of the Love of God the Soul would have it fully When God shines into the hearts in some beams of his Glory the heart would know him perfectly and enjoy him fully That heart that enjoys Assurance of everlasting Love would have an everlasting and uninterrupted sense of that Love That Soul that sees its self above danger of wrath and loss of Love would be above danger of the with-drawings of Love That Soul that is Assured of Eternity of Love would be in such a condition as not to be subject to any moments displeasure in regard of the hidings of God's face 3. Take heed you give not the Right Hand of fellowship to the Enemies of Assurance As 1. Do not love darkness and hate light there 's no greater Enemy to the Assurance of your Salvation then this This is thâ— most direct way you can take to make your reprobation your damnation sure This is the condemnation this makes condemnation sure that light is come into the World and men love darkness rather than light John 2.19 Do not shut your Eyes from beholding the things of your Peâ—ce How should you be assured of your Salvation if you now shut your eyes from Salvation that is spoken to you c. or if you refuse him in whom Salvation is to be found and no other Rom. 1.28 Because they liked not to retain God in their Knowledge God gave them up to a reprobate mind c. 2. Be not enslaved to the World to the Riches and to the Pleasures of it this will hinder you from desiring or seeking Salvation to be made sure The Love of Money is the Root of all Evil which while some have coveted after have erred concerning the Faith to deny the Faith to keep Richeâ— this is a great cause of Mens erring so dangerously concerning their Souls that they do not provide better for them that they study not the good of them because their Hearts are so much glued to the World 3. Let not Sin reign in your Mortal Bodies that you should obey it in the Lusts thereof so long as Sin â—â—igns you are in danger of Death for Sin reigned unto Death and you cannot say you are under Grace for that Spirit that speaks peace to a Sinner proclaims war against his Sin that Spirit that sheds abroad the love of God in the Heart will lust against the Flesh that Spirit that brings Chyist into the Heart as the hope of Glory will write the Law of Christ in the heart and cause a walking in newness of Life 4. Take heed of grieving and quenching the Spirit the Spirit strives in the preaching of the Gospel as with the men of the Old World Noah was a Preacher of the Righteousness of Faith Assurance is a Grace of the Spirit a Gift of the Spirit and if you resist the Spirit the Spirit will not witness with you that you are the Children of God but against you that you are Enemies to God 2. Be not Enemies to the dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ's Kingdom of Light Assurance is a Priviledge of his Kingdom and of those that belong to it When you can see your selves translated out of the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ then happy are you then you are past all danger of
of Satan's wrath against the Godly now they breath out threatnings but the comfort is their wrath shall turn to the praise of God because wicked Men's wrath shall work for the good of Saints therein the power and wisdom of God hath praise but the last day is a day of Christ's wrath against the wicked and 't is true this wrath shall turn to the praise of God but who is there to restrain his wrath To be under the wrath of Man or Satan is a most miserable conditon if there be none to restrain it but worse under Christ's wrath 2. All sinful works shall be remembred and brought in upon an inditement against them blessed is he at that day whose iniquity is forgiven and sin covered that hath Christ for his Righteousness and Faith to put him on But the wicked shall have nothing to do with this blessedness now they seek it not now 't is not esteemed by them so great a blessedness as it is now Men establish their own righteousness and will not submit to the Righteousness of God but at the last day when Wicked Men shall know the worth and want of Christ's Righteousness then there shall be no possibility of having it then the Books are opened and the sins of the ungodly discovered and as the Spirit Promised to the Godly to bring to remembrance what Christ said to open the mysteries of the Gospel c. So on the other side then the Spirit shall bring to remembrance all that the Wicked have done all idle words all oaths filthy communication all vain thoughts sinful affections so many times eating and drinking to excess c. All their sins shall dog them to the Judgment-seat of Christ Christ shall take notice of all the unkindness shewn to him those only are mention'd Math. 25.44 to shew they are great and most provoking sins but as under one great duty commanded all are implyed so under one great sin forbidden all others are forbidden And so under these great sins and injuries done to Christ all others are included I was hungry c. and these shall go away into everlasting punishment and in the upshot these were injuries done to the Members of Christ which he makes his own injuries by Compassion as the Head suffers when the Members suffer this you reckon a small matter to pass by a Member of Christ and not supply his wants and if so for not feeding Christ in his Members how much more for going about to starve Christ in his Members by taking away the Bread of Life from them if for not visiting when sick and in prison how much more for wounding of Saints in Name Body Estates and for casting of Saints into prison 3. No works of theirs which for matter are good shall be remembred and accepted of in that day every work being weighed in the Ballance like Belshazzar being found too light whatever proceeds not from Faith in Christ nor is done out of zeal to the Glory of God shall be found too light and for wicked Men's works as hearing the Word doing Justice giving Almes they shall not plead any thing for you your Holy things shall not plead against iniquity because there is iniquity in your holy things self-self-love seeking Men's praise no sincere love to the Lord Jesus no judging Christ worthy of obedience If you do a good turn to a Man for your own ends what thanks do you deserve For know whatever good you do if it proceed not from a pure heart a good Conscience towards God Faith in the Lord Jesus c. it shall be reckoned but among your sins Math. 7.21 Not every one that saith Lord Lord that in words will call Christ Lord but deny it in works shall enter into Heaven shall be judged meet for that Kingdom But he that doth the will of my Father 'T is not enough to do what is good but to do it as the will of the Father out of obedience to his command with an aim at his honour yet that 's not all but he that doth the will of my Father that obeys the will of the Father as he is Christ's Father knowing the Son as the Father doing the will of the Father for Christ's sake coming to the Father through the Son moved with love to Christ he shall enter Heaven Objection But is this necessary will some plead at the last day that the will of the Father of thy Father as thy Father must be done Is it for thy sake c. Why that we can plead Lord Lord have we not Prophecied in thy Name c. Then Christ shall say Depart from me I never knew you I never knew you Born again Converted made new Creatures I never saw you deny your selves out of sincere love to me and zeal of my honour I never saw you in my Kingdom of Grace so I will not now admit you to any fellowship or acquaintance with me Depart ye workers of Iniquity whatever you have done I look on you but as workers of iniquity your good works that you plead I reckon but amongst your sins How sad a time will it be then with Wicked Men who shall say is our Religion vain Shall none of our works and doings proffit Have we prayed and taken so much pains from time to time Sabbath after Sabbath and all in vain will God forget all what a miserable case are we then in Even so it shall be nothing remembred if you are not regenerated if not a new Creature if you have not true Faith in the Lord Jesus resting in him alone for Salvation 4. When their sinful works shall be set before them in order and imperfection of their good works shewn then the wicked shall be convinced of both in their own Consciences now Wicked Men will not be convinced of sin nor judge aright of their performances they are past feeling Eph. 4.19 The Greek word signifies them that having done any thing amiss can't grieve or take shame to themselves as Drunkards past feeling Swearers past feeling 1 Tim. 4.2 Having the Conscience seared with a hot Iron That is either professing themselves to be the people of God their Consciences are stigmatized with the works of many foul and enormous crimes a metaphor taken from Rogues who are burnt in the Hand or some other part of the body or Conscience so insensible of sin and their dangerous estate by it and of the fearful Judgments of God as dead and hard Flesh feared with a hot Iron Thus 't is for the most part with wicked Men here but when they are called to Judgment then their Conscience shall recover feeling then it shall do its office in accusing judging here wicked Men make God a liar they have beâ—ied the Lord and said no evil shall come on us then they shall set to their seal that God is true his word is true his threatnings are true then as Joshua said ye know that not one thing hath fail'd Chap 23.14 so
to pass 2. What are the present Consequences of God's smiting so many Shepherds such as scattering the litle Flocks growth of Ignorance Error Impiety Ruins of Temple work many disorders and distractions in the destitute Churches c. 3. What must be the Cure Its time to enquire For do we not see want of more able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 wise and faithful builders of God's House How weak are many shoulders on whom so great work is laid forcing an out-cry for a richer anointing with the Spirit of Grace i. e. of Love Wisdom Humility Zeal Self-denial Heavenliness which they had seen on others If this depart so much of our true Glory departs It cannot go well in Churches without fiâ—ed Pastors after God's own Heart entirely caring and watching for Souls feeding tâ—em with knowledge and understanding in the great Mysteries of Godliness Jer. 3.15 such was our Author known not mint anise filled his Tâ—oughts but the weighty things of Natural and Reveal'd Religion if he dwelt more than some do on sublimer Doctrines of Faith the Texts here treated are his Warrant together with Col. 1.24 to 29. 2.1 2 3. Nor did he treat them in a way of bold or curious speculation but as leading to Christian Practice upon the great things of the Gospel must Christians live if evâ—r they go further in Religion than a fruitless Form It 's in wrong to Christ and his Church if any Preachers do not jointly declare these with the moral Rules of good living I cannot see that Law and Gospel were set as variance in the Ministry of Christ and his Apostles Nor that the Honour of Christianity can be preserv'd or its ends attain'd without tutoring his Disciples great and small both in Principles of Christian Doctrine touching the glorious Person Offices Fulness and Benefits of Christ t eir only Head Lord and Saviour and touching subjection to his Soveraign Wisdom in his Laws They must be under the Law to Christ 1 Cor. 9.21 and that in vertue of his own Grace 1 Cor. 15.10 what kind of Evangilists must they be that think the great discoverys of the Gospel whereby the world was Christianiz'd are of little use in Preaching now Our Author was better taught as the Truth is in Jesus and finished his Course fighting the good fight and keeping the Faith once delivered to the Saints holding fast the Doctrine according to Godliness till of his beloved Master he obtain'd the Crown of Righteousness would to God that a like love to Divine Truth might prompt many others professing to embrace it to meditate and consult speedily how tâ—ey may best establish and propagate it It 's not witâ—out a Providence that of late we hear of so many sudden deaths of able useful Ministers and may it not prove a presage of other Calamitees to surprize us It 's tâ—y spiritual Profiting Reader that this work aims at and now look to thy self that thou receive not this Grace of God in vain T e Unsearchable Ricâ—es of Christ are surely the better part and being timely chosen and pursued may be thine chuse and inherit them study to know him whom to know is Life Eternal Improve that Ministry and word of Grace to day which is still the Power of God to Salvation to them that believe and enjoying this with other Helps work out thy Salvation with Fear and Trembling and God for Christ's sake will work in thee both to will and to do So shalt thou be counted worthy to stand before the Son of Man when he shall appear in Glory to doom this whole World to its Eternal State This is the Intent and Call of this Essay may the Lord of the Harvest so bless it Amen THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRST DISCOURSE Eph. 3.8 Of the Unsearchable Riches of Christ CHAP. 1. Some transient Notes on the Text. Page 1 Chap. 2. Why the things of Christ call'd Riches Page 4 Chap. 3. What are these Riches Page 6 1. Riches of Love which is Abounding Abiding Effectual c. Chap. 4.2 Riches of Christ's Righteousness as Mediator 1. In his works for Men. 2. In his works towards Men. Page 13 Chap. 5.3 Riches of Wisdom 1. Speculative Page 22 2. Practical As 1. in Ancient Providences and 2. About Man's Salvation Page 32 Chap. 6.4 Riches of Christ's Power Page 37 The Power of his Death Resurrect Intecession c. Power over all Mens Hearts and over all Creatures How exercised for us Page 40 Chap. 7.5 Riches of Glory Page 45 What Glory Christ hath and will appear in What Glory he received from the Father and shall receive from Creatures Page 50 Saints shall see and share in his Glory Page 56 Chap. 8. General Application of the whole Page 62 To those enriched by Christ and to all to seek a Portion in Christ's Riches Page 66 The Second Discourse 1 Cor. 2.2 Of Knowing Christ Crucified Page 72 The Text and Context explained to Page 77 Divers Notes thereupon As 1. That a Gospel Minister must resolve to go thorow with his work of Preaching Page 80 2. That he aim not at self-applause therein Page 81 3. That he must Preach Christ tho' he be counted a Fool for so doing Page 82 4. That he truly knows Christ when he labours to make others know Christ Page 83 5. He counts it a precious service to Preach Christ Page 85 6. Of all Divine Doctrines none more necessary to be Preached than Christ Crucified Page 87 Doct. 1. Knowledge of Christ is the most excellent Knowledge Page 88 1. Proved by considering 1. its object Christ in general Page 92 And in particular as his Natures Names Relations Offices to the Church Page 93 to 99 2. The Effects of this Kowledge as Justification Spiritual Transformation and Eternal Life Page 100 1. Use of Exhortation with motives Page 103 2. Means to get this Excellent Knowledge Page 113 3. Of Comfort to such as have attained it Page 119 Signs to Satisfy such as doubt Doct. 2. Our Principal study should be to know not only the History but Mystery of Christ Crucified Page 126 That Mystery is 1. Of Wisdom 2. Of Love And 3. of Vertue in his Blood Page 132 How the Vertue of Christ's Death is conveyed to us Page 138 Use 1. 1. Of reproof to the enemies of Christ's Cross 2. Of Exhortation to Believe in Confess and Suffer for Christ Page 134 Q. How may we so Suffer as to have Fellowship in Christ's Sufferings Page 145 Christ's Sufferings for us a ground of our worshipping him and how that must be Page 150 The Third Discourse 1 Thess 2.13 The Divine Authority of Scripture Page 157 D. The Word contain'd in Holy Scripture is in truth the Word of God Shewn Page 159 1. The Spirit in Scripture gives Testimony to it 2. Arg. from the word conv its Authority As 1. It s Power upon Sinners Page 160 2. It s Holiness 3. It s
told this in the City and they went out to see him but I can tell you greater things behold a Jesus that will save you if you come to him from all things that you have wickedly done will it not be worth your study and pains to know him If you should hear of a Physician able in cure you of all Diseases what flocking would there be to him would you not all desire acquaintance with him such an one is Christ he is able to cure you of your worst Diseases to heal all your Soul Infirmities and save you to the utmost certainly he is a Person worth the knowing 5. The Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23.6 with chap. 33.16 He that will be for a Wedding Garment to you he that spreads his Banner of love and casts the Mantle of his own Righteousness to cover your nakedness to hide your Deformities that so the Lord may not see Iniquity in Jacob that he may look on you as comely through his beauty put on you surely there can be nothing more precious to a Self-condemning Sinner than to know this Name The Lord my Righteousness that shelters me from wrath and tâ—at renders me accepted with God Isa 23.24 The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick they shall be forgiven their Iniquities their Righteousness is of me The knowledge therefore of this name of Christ cures the Soul of its Sicknesses of all its discomforts and sadness and fills it with consolation so is most precious 3. In Relation to his Church so he is Head thereof Col. 1.18 He is the head of the body such a head as the Husband is to the Wife Eph. 5.25 so he loveth his Church with his choicest and most tender love he nourisheth and cherisheth his Church v. 29. he takes care to provide for and preserve his Church This Relation is most sweetly set forth in the book of Cant. Chap. 4.9 Thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse c. thou hast taken away my heart Christ's Heart is wholly taken up with his Church none else have his heart and from these sweet Manifestations of the love of Christ and of the incomperable Excellencies of Christ which the Church contemplates on Chap. 5.10 c. She concludes at last v. 16. His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely thus she hence concludes as the Apostle Non Eximium duxi c. there is none whose Graces are so excellent whose Love is so burning whose Beauties are so shining whose Dignities so high none that hath all Power all Fulness as Christ therefore I determine not to knâ—w any thing among you save Jesus Christ c. Again such a head he is as the natural head in the body that is the Fountain of Sense and Motion there is the Understanding and Knowledge seated there is the light of the body by it all nourishment is conveyed into the body now such a head is Christ in him dwells all Fulness he hath the Spirit he hath Life in himself he hath Wisdom to inform and instruct to make us wise to Salvation he hath Righteousness to Justify Grace to Sanctify c. so all Spiritual Good Peace Life Grace is treasured up in him how excellent then must the knowledge of him be 4. Consider him in his Offices And so he is 1. A King all power is given him to save his Church and to subdue his Enemies he hath power to save and destroy to give Life and to take it away to raise up to Heaven and to cast down to Hell a King full of Might King of Kings that is able to cast down all Kings that do oppose him to bruise them with a Rod c. for he shall overthrow all the Kingdoms that will not set his Throne to be established amongst them full of Might to save his Members of weak he makes them mighty even him that is feeble mighty as David and the House of David as God as the Angel of the Lord before them thus Christ is a Glorious King Now of all the Persons in a Kingdom the People desires to know the King and Christ being the greatest King it must needs be the most excellent Knowledge to know him as such 2. As Prophet He is that Prophet the Inspirer of all other Prophets The Woman of Samaria apprehended a great deal of Excellency in this that Christ could tell all that she had done but he was a Prophet that knew and could make known far greater things he knew not only what Men had done and what was in their Hearts but what God had done all his works are open to him because what the Father wrought he wrought and all that was in the Fathers heart his eternal saving Purposes his Good Will towards Men his Righteous Decrees Christ knew all For he is in the bosom of the Father as Son of God and knows all things he is the word of God he is that Prophet to make known to Men the gracious Purposes of the Father Joh. 1.18 He is the Lord which teacheth to Profit and tells how Men may be saved he makes known the things belonging to our everlasting Peace is not he worth the knowing above all 3. As Priest humbling himself and becoming obedient to Death Offering himself without Spot to God to take away Sin by one Sacrifice of himself he bare our Griefs and received our Stripes He remains still a merciful high Priest that hath compassion on our Infirmities and knows how to succour them and all this out of meer Love and free Grace Now the Knowledge of Love that is most sweet the knowledge of the greatest Love is the best Knowledge 2. Consider the Effects of this Knowledge further to shew its Excellency And these are 1. Justification and Peace with God This Knowledge of Jesus Christ surpasseth all other Knowledge because this produceth that Peace which passeth all Understanding It begets Peace in the Understanding quiets it against all perplexing doubts that arisâ— from the knowledge of Sin and apprehension oâ— wrath it acquits from Self-condemnation and accusations It satisfies the will and begets a complacency it is well pleased upon the knowledge of Christ and closing in with him in whom God is well pleased It allays all Storms and Tempests of Fears Griefs c. raised by the Conscience that is awakned to see its Sinful and Cursed condition It saith to all diâ—quieting Affections Peace be still thus this Knowledge begets Peace in the Understanding and Will Affections a calmed Spirit a Peace 't is that satisfies nay 't is a Peace that more than satisfies it surpasseth Knowledge it exceeds thoughts it goes beyond desires it passes all and that because Christ is Prince of Peace that is that none hath power to Command to make Peace to give Peace to a Sinner He alone hath power of Life and Death of forgiving and Retaining Sin He makes Peace by the Blood of his Cross dies to make Peace that he might satisfy Divine
find out a way wherein Sinners should be saved by the Satisfaction of Justice and yet by Free Grace they could not have found any therefore the Angels desire to look into these things 1 Pet. 1.12 Christ died for our Offences the Son of God that was made Man so made compleat satisfaction we have a Righteousness by which we are Justified yet Justified freely by his Grace see this Eph. 1.7 and Rom. 3.24 and Psa 85.10 where is a Prophecy begun ver 9. of a Spiritual Restoration from the miserable condition a Man is in by reason of Sin unto a glorious Estate of Happiness of which the delivery from the Tyranny of Antiochus was a Type which the Prophet hath respect to as Interpreteâ—s conceive which is spoken of Dan. 8. â—4 Now in what way is it that Redemption is wrought out that the Psalmist shews ver 10. Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other 3. See the Party offended upon the Cross satisfying for those Offences which were committed against himself the great God that was wronged Righting himself him that was dishonoured repairing his own Honour This is a great Mystery behold him made Sin against whom Sin was commited see him that was the Just God to punish Sin and will not clear the guilty bearing the Griefs and carrying the Sorrows of Sinners him making his Soul an Offering for Sin whose Heart was vext and grieved by Sin As God equal with the Father he was the Party Offended As God and Man he was Mediator so he satisfies for the Offence 4. In that Men are Justified Redeemed and Saved by Christ's being Crucified on the Cross to which Crucifixion they set a helping hand this is a Mystery that Men should be saved by the Death of Christ which they were the cause of A Man could not have conceived this that those might be Eternally saved by Christ's Death that did help to put him to death and that that blood should take away all guilt the guilt whereof lies on Men. His Blood be on us said the Jews that is in the guilt of it which surely was a most horrible Crime yet by that Blood they may be saved there was a Vertue in that Blood to take away the guilt of that Blood and all other Sins from them Is not this an admirable Mystery See it Zach. 12.10 Revelat. 1.7 Act. 2.38 39. 5. In that all the Elect suffered punishment of their Sins and satisfied the Justice of God in Christ's being fastned to the Cross and so by Christ's once offering of himself are for ever perfected Christ was a common Person As in Adam all die all sinned so in Christ the second Adam all suffered the Sins of all the Elect were laid on him were imputed to him and he satisfied for them all And so the Elect may reckon themselves to have suffered and satisfied according to that of the Apostle Rom. 6.10.11 In that he dyed he dyed unto Sin once c. likewise reckon you your selves to be dead indeed unto Sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord that place is meant concerning mortification of Sin and is to comfort Believers in that the work of Mortification is yet imperfect This is true as if the Apostle had said if you look on your selves for the present in reality you are but imperfectly mortified but you may reckon your Selves to be perfectly mortified by being in Christ your head who was a common Person on the Cross and you all were reckoned to be in him and you may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reason or reckon your selves wholly dead in and through Christ Now as for Justification that you may truly reckon to be perfect and compleat your guilt is wholly taken off and you acquitted and discharged in Christ's dying 2. Here is a mystery of Love in the Crucifying of Christ Infinite Love appears 1. Of the Father as under the Cross of Christ is contained a Mystery of Infinite Wisdom of the Father which the Apostle speaks of Eph. 1.8 In Redemption by Christ he hath abounded towards us in all Wisdom and Prudence as you have heard so likewise under it is contained a Mystery of Infinite Love which in the next verse is called the Mystery of his Will according to his good Pleasure which he purposed in himself now this Mystery of his Will was the Infinite and Eternal Love of the Father which was the only ground of the gracious Purpose and Decree of his to give his Son to suffer Death to make satisfaction to pay the price of Redemption that so as it follows verse 10. In the dispensation of the sulness of time he might gather together in one all things in Christ c. that is that by Christ he might destroy the Enmity which was betwixt God and the Elect betwixt Good Angels and Sinful Men betwixt Innocent Creatures and Corrupt Man that so a perfect Reconciliation and Union might be made of Men Elect and of Holy Angels under one head Christ This Love of the Father we have mentioned Joh. 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life that is to suffer Death for the World of the Elect 1 Joh. 4.9 In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live by him that by his Death we might live Rom. 5.8 Herein God commended his Love as if he had said here is a Mystery indeed a glorious Mystery a most high commendation of Love in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us This is a most sweet thing to contemplate on in the Cross of Christ God gave him to die for Sinners yea for Enemies this is a Mystery worth the searching into and in considering Christ Crucified this you must labour to know 2. Here 's the Mystery of the Love of Christ 2 Cor. 5.14 the Apostle mentions the Love of Christ was a constraining Love to him which made him besides himself in the opinion of Men that is so zealous to magnify and set forth the Honour of Christ that he was accounted for this as a Mad-man But in what doth the love of Christ manifest it self In this that Christ died for those that were dead to raise them to life What death were they under A death of Sin Eph. 2.1 2. in which Estate they lived to themselves contrary to the will of God yet Christ died that they might live Eph. 2.6 raised with Christ and made to set together in Heavenly Places Well might this be a constraining love to the Apostle This see farther set forth Eph. 5.25 26. Husbands love your Wives as Christ loved his Church How did he love He gave himself for it that he might sanstify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the word by washing of Water that is in Baptism a Sign and Seal of washing
to the Cross of Christ. 4. And lastly Those that do in some sort prize the Blood of Christ but not according to its full value that come not up to account it precious in all its excellent Effects .. As such as prize it as crucifying wrath taking away guilt overcoming Death and Hell but not as purifying the Conscience not as washing from the Pollution of Sin not as destroying the reigning power of Sin You must know that if you prize it not according to its full value you do absolutely undervalue it you are Enemies to the Cross of Christ and if so I must declare what the Scripture says 1 Cor. 1.18 The Preaching of the Cross is to them that perish Foolishness If it be foolishness to you it will be your destruction You perish that do not prize it So for those that are Enemies to the Cross of Christ in practice of you the same Apostle says Phil. 3.19 Whose end is destruction Use 2. Exhort 1. Be not ashamed of Christ Crucified 1. To Believe in him This should be no stumbling to your Faith to hinder your believing but the greatest motive to believe This is the Formalis Ratio of justfying Faith Faith could not be justifying if it did not look on Christ as dying therefore be not ashamed of the Cross of Christ If Christ had not humbled himself and became obedient unto Death we could not have been exalted 't was by his Death alone that we could be freed from Death 2. Be not ashamed to profess Christ Crucified to fall down and worship Christ crucified The four Beasts and twenty four Elders Rev. 5.8 fell down before the Lamb they consider him as a Lamb that is as he was crucified and for this they account him worthy to receive Power Honour c. and ver 9 12. 3. And do you really manifest this by not being ashamed to suffer for Christ and to bear his Cross with him if Christ call you to suffer rejoyce with the Apostle Paul to fill up that which is behind of the Sufferings of Christ Col. 1 24. That is those Sufferings of Christ which he is to suffer in Corpâ—re Mystico not in Corpore proprio As there was a most glorious design which the Father had laid to bring to pass by Christ's Death so there is a most gracious Design which God hath to bring to pass by your Suffering for Christ Hereby Christ shall be magnified by a glorious Testimony that you shall give to him sealing the Dignity Honour Truth and Worth of Christ by your Suffering hereby others shall be won to Christ and incouraged to believe in him and to profess him your Sufferings will be a support to others Faith hereby your Selves shall be much benefited you have Fellowship with Christ in regard of the cause you suffer in an honourable cause as he did and in regard of the end c And to stir you up to suffer there can be no greater motive than love and the love of Christ is the greatest Love Paul Preached Christ Crucified among the Gentiles Chap. 3.1 which wrought so much upon them that their Hearts were extraordinarily inflamed with love to Paul Gal. 4.14 15. That they receive him as an Angel and were ready to have plucked out their Eyes c. how much more should our hearts be inflamed with love to Christ who was crucified who laid down his Life Be content to lay aside your Honour for Christ's sake he emptied himself Be contented to part with Riches he became poor c. Be content to lay down your lives he was that good Shepherd that laid down his Life c. and in washing his Disciples Feet he sa d I have given you an Example c. so we may say of his Death he gave an Example c. 1 Pet. 2.21 1 Joh. 3.16 Quest But how must we Suffer that we may have fellowship with Christ and follow him as our Example Answ 1. There are some things in Christ's Sufferings wherein we must not imitate him As he suffered to make satisfaction to God for the Offences of Men his Death was a propitiatory Sacrifice whereby the wrath of God towards Sinners was appeased You must not think that your Suffering for standing in the Defence of Religion and the Honour of God shall be available for such an end To suffer Martyrdom for Christ cannot take away the guilt of the least Sin your own blood-shed in the cause of God cannot wash you from any Sin this cannot free you from Eternal Punishment As the Apostle says concerning Charity 1 Cor. 13.3 Though I give my Body to be burned and have not Charity it profiteh me nothing so it profiteth nothing as touching the taking away of Sin freeing from Condemnation for Sin appeasing Wrath or satisfying Divine Justice that you suffer the loss of all things even of Life it self in standing for the Honour of God You must not think that this doth merit the least degree of Glory If there be different degrees of Glory that those that suffer most and do most for God have most Glory yet this is not because 't is merited but because God freely bestows more on one then on another however the thing is not certain but controverted so that in this Chris t is not to be imitated we must not make our Sufferings our Saviours Christ's Death cuts off such a Fellowship and this were a great injury done to Christ to think our Sufferings available to satisfy for our Sin or merit favour 2. Some things there are in his Sufferings imitable for us wherein we must have Fellowship c. 1. The Cause 2. Mind c. his willingness before his Sufferings and patience under Suffering 1. The Cause therein have Fellowship with him and herein I mean the Cause why the Jews did put him to death and not the reason and cause why God did deliver him to death for in that we have not fellowship with him the reasons why God gave his natural Son to suffer and why he calls his adopted Son to suffer are not the same for the main As Christ was given to be a surety for Sin not the Adopted c. but for the exercise of their Graces for the trial of Faith and Love c. for the purging of the filth of Sin out of the Nature not the guilt of Sin from the Person yet Christ died to give testimony to that great Truth that he was the Son of God and the Saviour of the World so the sufferings of the Saints are to give testimony to the Truth but when I say we must have fellowship with Christ in the Cause I mean in respect of Men that were the Instruments of his Death 't was because he did all things well he made both the Deaf to hear c. because he came to destroy the works of the Devil and laboured to turn Men from their Vanities c. because he Preached himfelf to be the Son of God c. and
him as Jacob by wrestling c. Isa 26.8 9. Hos 12.2 3 4 6. 5. When God gives Precepts and lays Commands on us know that the Holiness Majesty and Goodness of God deserves Obedience and sing as the 24 Elders Rev. 4. ult Thou art worthy O Lord to receive Honour c. you must see the greatest reason of yielding Obedience Now these qualifications make up that honest and good heart Luk. 8.15 That having heard the word keeps it c. by this try the honesty of your hearts many think they have honest hearts because they hate no man do no Injury but are upright in their dealings but here 's a way to try the honesty of your hearts indeed do you not hate some part of the word there is self-denial mortification of Lusts required heavenly mindedness a seeking the praise of God only and not of Men. Joh. 5.42 43 44. Rom. 2.29 Signs of true receiving the word of God 1. Holding fast the word undeâ— Persecutions Luk. 8.15 there are four sorts of Hearers only the last that believe the word aâ—ight and they grow by it and live on it and according to it and when Persecutions do arise for the word's sake a mock or scoff from Men is not so grievous as the word is precious As Christ endured the contradiction of Sinners so can they this is set forth as the highest of Christ's Sufferings Heb. 12.3 Consider him that endured Contradiction of Sinners c. and mockings are called Cruel they are hard to be born Heb. 11.36 these will try whether the word be received and blest so as to see Sin the greatest Evil. 2. If it work effectually to thorough Conviction and Conversion so that all high Imaginations stoop and the strong holds of Sin are demolished Agrippa was almost perswaded So the word did not work effectually in him The Jews did halt between two Opinions when the word works effectually then Men will pitch on Joshua's choice I will serve the Lord Josh 24.15 and the World will be despised for the word's sake You will go into Patmos for the word as John did Revelat. 1.9 rather than leave the word to escape Persecution This Discourse concluding so abruptly seems Imperfect but the Authors Notes proceed no further THE FOURTH DISCOURSE Of working out our Salvation PHILIPPIANS ij xij Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling ver 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good Pleasure THese words contain 1. An Exhortation work out Salvation 2. A Direction intimating tâ—e way and manner in which Salvation is to be wrought out which is with fear and trembling 3. An encouragement in this work for it is God which worketh c. or a reason the Apostle gives of his Direction 't is to be wrought with fear and trembling because it is God's work And the Soul of a Believer eyeing and beholding God going on in this work appearing in his glory ought to fear and tremble even at that glory â—â—â—ifested forth therein The Exhortation is to a duty of very great consequence there is no work that so nearly concerns us as this the Apostle here perswades us to set about work out c. so we should give diligent heed to this work Sect. 1. Explaining the sence of the Text. Take the meaning of the words thus work he means not either that Sinners in their natural state can by working raise themselves into a state of spiritual Life nor that Believers when they are spiritually quickned can or should so perform Duties as to think they shall merit Salvation thereby nor so work as the mercenary Pharisees did trusting in their own works Paul was no such Legalist but his meaning is consider the condition of your poor Souls that they are wretched and miserable c. look to the saving of them study the way of Life give not rest to your eyes till you have found it out search the Gospel wherein Salvation is revealed labour to be acquainted with the Mysteries of Christ work out Salvation this is meant two ways 1. Give Diligence to make Salvation sure to your Souls desire that it may be made out to your Spirits in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit Rejoyce in nothing but the assurance of Salvation that as it is wrought out in Christ so also in your Hearts 2. Work out that is Salvation being begun to be wrought desire the perfection and accomplishment of it Christ having begun to save you look to be saved to the utmost by him having received the first fruits of the Spirit groan for the adoption viz. the redemption of the body leaving the first principles of the Doctrine of Christ that is these being well laid go on o perfection Heb. 6.1 Labour to know more of Christ and to receive more from Christ till we attain to the measure of the stature of the fâ—lness of Christ Your own Salvation Your Hearts desire and endeavour must be that others also may be saved but especially look to the saving of your own Souls And indeed you cannot desire the Salvation of others unless the Spirit of God have first stirred up your hearts to desire the Salvation of your Selves With fear and trembling The Apostles meaning is not that you should have doubtful thoughts and perplexing fears about your Salvation like such as are under a Covenant of works whose condition the Apostle sets forth Rom. 10.5 6. Who shall ascend into Heaven c. who can tel whether we shall go to Heaven or Hell Fear and trembling is not opposed to Faith and full assurance but to highmindedness to glorying in the Flesh or to carnal Confidence Rom. 11.20 Be not high minded but fear Again with fear that is see God in Christ working your Salvation reconciling you to himself by his Spirit calling in your hearts and conforming you to himself and so fear and tremble at the glory of Wisdom Power and Love that shines forth from this work For it is God which worketh this is a reason why we should fear take notice of the work of God in Christ and the work of God in the Heart causing his Spirit to dwell in an unclean Soul to make it a holy and spiritual Temple for himself to dwell in let the discovery of God and his glorious approach to your hearts in this great work work fear and reverence in your Hearts this also is an encouragement to work out Salvation and look to be â—aved and to be assured of it because it is a work that God hath undertaken whatever difficulties there are in it God hath undertaken he will master them whatever is to be done by Men as they are to believe they are to repent they are to deny themselves and to take up their Cross and to follow Christ all this God will work in them To will and to do so work it out by Faith in the good pleasure and power of God for the perfecting of
Spirit dwells in Believers and whatsoever is required of Believers the Spirit hath undertaken to do in them I will put my Spirit in you and cause you to walk in my Statutes Ezek. 36.27 That Covenant which is confirmed unto you by immutable things hath this Promise in it He is a Spirit of Faith Love Meekness and of Light to lead into all Truth to make the heart willing to follow Christ as King to deny self This Spirit is the earnest of Heaven and perfect Glory The Father hath made a bargain confirmed by his Word and Oath and by giving earnest This bargain he Seals and the Seal is the Spirit Eph. 1.13 This is a Seal that is sufficient to confirm Believers that Glory shall be perfected because they have the Spirit of Grace That Spirit that dwells in them shall quicken their mortal bodies Rom. 8.11 2. As the Salvation of Believers is in it self most sure so it may be made sure to them 1. Some have attained it Job 19. I know that my Redeemer liveth c. David Paul Rom. 8.38 I am perswaded c. He includes himself and this was not a singular pâ—iviledge given to some Saints more eminent then others or an extraordinary gift But 2. That which ordinarily God was pleased to bestow on the Saints Rom. 8.15 Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby ye cry Abba Father This is true of all Believers and the Spirit beareth witness The Spirit where he is a Spirit of Adoption is usually a witnessing Spirit sealing up their hearts sealing up and treasuring Salvation in the heart The assurance of Salvation is a precious Jewel which ordinarily the Spirit doth treasure and seal up in the hearts of Believers giving the first Fruits of Heaven to their hearts And as Moses on Nebo had a view of the Land of Canaan so 't is not unusual for the Spirit to carry up the hearts of Believers above the World into the third Heavens and give a sight and taste of that most Excellent Glory 3. A way is shewn in the Gospel in which it may be attained Rom. 10.9 Say not who shall ascend into Heaven c. Do you doubt of Salvation Are you in fears about it Consider Christ hath been in the deep Christ is in Heaven Confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe with thine heart and thou shalt be saved As Christ coming into the Ship when tossed and almost full of water there was a great calm an end put to the Disciples feaâ—s So Christ coming into the heart rebuking fears revealing himself as dying rising and sitting at the Right hand of God there shall then be a great calm in the heart Christ the Peace Joy hope of Glory in the heart 3. Salvation ought to be made sure it is the Duty of all that look towards Heaven to make their Salvation sure this is that which should be in your aims and desires Rejoyce that your names are written in Heaven saith Christ Luke 10.20 This should be the matter of the Saints Joy this implies that we ought to seek after the assurance of this that our names are written in Heaven Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true heart that is ye that look on God as the Life of your heart God in Christ reconciled loving embracing us the Peace Joy Delight Contentment and Rest of the Heart A true heart is a heart that says concerning God as the Rich Man concerning Riches Soul take thine ease in God and with full assurance of favour and acceptation with God And then shews how it may be attained for the Gospel as it requires things to be done so it shews us the way how The Gospel requires not impossibilities but makes all its Precepts possible The Law did not thus it did not make its Precepts possible but the Gospel doth it leads to Christ by whom whatever is required is or shall be accomplished as to Believers Now look to Christ and so your hearts shall be sprinkled fear and guilt shall be purged out of the Conscience and Peace Joy and full Assurance brought in 2 Pet. 1.10 Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure And if Election then Salvation there is a Golden Chain mention'd Rom. 8.29 30. if you get hold of one link of it then you have hold of all this reaches from Eternity to Eternity from Eternity of Election to Eternity of Glorification Now our care should be to fasten on this Golden Chain this Golden Chain is fixed in Heaven let it also be fixed in your hearts so shall you have hope as an Anchor fixed in Heaven and so Heaven shall have fast hold in you and you shall have fast hold in Heaven Heaven shall not loose you nor you shall not loose Heaven 4. Nothing besides Salvation can be made sure The Life of your Bodies cannot be made sure the Life of your Souls may 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a Building of God an House nâ—t made with hands Eternal in the Heavens Earth cannot be made sure Heaven may be made sure So lay not up for your selves treasures on Earth but in Heaven The favour of Man cannot be made sure the favour of God may Riches on Earth cannot be made sure they will fly from you or you shall fly from them Riches of Glory may be made sure worldly prosperity and happiness cannot be made sure Earthly Men in their best estate of prosperity stand but in slippery places But everlasting happiness in Heaven may be made sure Honour amongst Men can't be made sure Honour with God may Creatures can't he made sure Christ may Comforts flowing from Creatures cannot be made sure Consolations abounding by Christ may be made sure So for other things those that have them should be as if they had them not Those that buy as if they possessed not those that have Wives should be as if they had none those that have Riches as though they had not and those that labour in the World as if they did not because nothing of them can be made sure So then take heed of spending your selves for them Salvation alone Christ Heaven the favour of God alone can be made sure so labour to make that sure and nothing else Judge the making Salvation sure the one thing that 's necessary because that alone can be made sure 5. Salvation and nothing besides Salvation is worth the making sure If you have Riches worldly prosperity and abundance if you have health and Houses to dwell in Children Men Servants Women Servants Sheep Oxen Shops full of Wares c Hearts full of contentment in enjoying of these things what shall all this avail you Riches cannot profit you in the day of wrath all these things can't redeem your Souls yet in bondage still going to condemnation What shall it profit you to gain the whole World and loose the Soul Math. 16.26 Creatures are
Grace Gospel Righteousness have a Gospel Spirit So you are well prepared and walk through troubles dangers and oppositions in the midst of Satan's fiery darts and the World's reproaches and still the life of your Peace and Joy in the Love of God in Christ be preserved v. 17. Take the Helmet of Salvation Salvation being made sure shall be an Helmet on your Heads whereby you shall receive the blows of Tongues c. and not be hurt this shall defend you against all the Curses of the Law 1 John 4.17 Herein is our Love or Love with us made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment When others shall fear the Wrath of the Lamb c. you shall have boldness and not be ashamed in this World c. when your Salvation is sure the Soul dwells in God in the Love of God All-sufficiency Power Wisdom c. 4. The more assurance you have of your Salvation the less earthly will your thoughts and hearts be this will raise your Spirits and carry them up to God in Christ So that 1. You shall dwell in Love you shall dwell in God and God in you He that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him 1 John 4.16 And this is a glorious habitation for a Soul to dwell in the Love of God in Christ The World will be but the habitation for your Bodies The fulness of the Lord Jesus the Love of God which hath length and breadth c. shall be the habitation of your Souls The want of this the not breathing after the Assurance of Salvation makes men so earthly that their Souls are still travelling in the Creature seeking Joy and Contentment in the World 2. You 'll dwell safely and secure who can hurt those that dwell in God God must be overcome before they can be destroyed God is a better habitation then the World so whilst you dwell in the World above all labour for the assurance of the Love of God 5. The more Assurance you have the greater abounding of Grace there is from Christ 2 Pet. 1.11 Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure so an entrance shall be administred aboundantly to you into his everlasting Kingdom then shall you expect the more and receive the more you shall come with the more boldness and receive the more Grace 6. Now is the day of Salvation the day wherein great Salvation is offered to you Behold now is the acceptable time now is the day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Now in my absence work out your own Salvation Now is the day to make Salvation sure now Salvation is offered to you and revealed Christ now calls on Sinners and beseeches them to be reconciled to God Now God lets down the coâ—ds of his love in Christ that you may take hold on them and live Now is the Righteousness of God revealed for Sinners to embrace that they may be justified Now is the day in which the Spirit is poured forth Now is the day in which Christ is working the works of God that is for calling of Sinners out of the World and gathering the Elect into his Kingdom by the preaching of the Gospel for the saving of Souls and reconciling them unto God And this day shall have a night And now is the day and season for you to work out your Salvation to make it sure A night shall come when none shall have the means and opportunity of working out their Salvation the Night of Death or day of Judgment which is a Night in this respect then 't is too late to work out Salvation if you neglect Salvation now you shall not escape wrath in that day Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at first begun to be spoken by the Lord 't is great Salvation Salvation from the greatest misery to the enjoyment of the greatest Glory to an exceeding eternal weight of Glory 't is great Salvation spoken to not hid from you but spoken to you that you might make it sure And if the Gospel be hid when spoken consider what the Apostle says 2 Cor. 4 3. If our Gospel be hid it is to them that are lost Section 5. Use 2. Direct 1. To Sinners Such as are yet strangers from Christ and from the Covenant of Promise that you may make Salvation sure To this end 1. Build on a sure Foundation let your hopes of Glory be founded on Christ Christ is a sure Foundation Isa 28 16. A foundation of Justification Sanctification and Life that will not fail You may be as sure of acceptance as Christ anâ—â—o continue in favour with God as sure of Glory as Christ and to remain in a state of Glory and as sure of Life as Christ as sure to live because I live ye shall lille also Joh. 14.19 Christ's Life is a sure foundation of a Believers Life Christ's Acceptance a sure foundation of his Christ's Glory a sure foundation of his Glory so then hearken to the Lord's call Isa 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth Sinners look to me who came to save you from your Sins know that there is death in Sin there is Damnation to all that are out of me your Lusts are hurtful Lusts if you follow them they will work out your ruin will bring everlastiâ—g hurt to your Body and Soul Fleshly Lusts war against the Soul they war against the Salvation Life and Peace of your Souls your Life consists not in the abundance of your Riches c. 'T is no profit to you to gain the World and loose your Souls in the Creature Neither is theâ—e any life in youâ— Dâ—tiâ—s These aâ—e no sure foundations to build youâ— Salâ—ation upon hopes of Salvation built only â—n them is like a House built on the Sand. So 〈◊〉 Christ to you look off from all those Behold me behold Life in my Death Peace in my Blood Righteousness in my Obedience Behold Love in me and Bâ—wels of Compassion with which you shall be received by me thus look to Christ and you shall â—e Salvation in him he that believes on him shall not be ashamèd for he shall be sure of Salvaâ—â—on You are all by nature of the World that lies in wickedness on which condemnation is coming apace Now prepare an Ark for the saving of your Souls Christ is this Ark as Noah in the Ark was safe and sure of being safe let the Waters rise as high as they would the Ark caâ—ried Noah still above them and when he was in the Ark God shut him in and then if any would have entred in none could Christ is the Ark prepared for the saving of Souls the Door of the Ark is not yet shut Christ calls you to come in unto him if you come not before God shuts the Door of this Ark there is no escaping of Condemnation O whilst it is to day if you will hear his voice harden not
it night with us if the Earth get betwixt our Hearts and God at any time they being overtaken with worldly Contentmentt this may intercept divine light and keep it from you so let your Souls dwell in God and not like Satan walk to and fro in the Earth and wander up and down in it The Apostle's Rule is an excellent one Let them that have Wives be as if they had none and those that be Rich as though they had no Riches 1 Cor. 7.29.30 and those that buy as if they possessed not that is let not your Hearts find rest in these things but let the love of God in Christ be your rest live above let your Souls dwell in God and God will dwell in your Souls 2. Give not way to Sin especially take heed of doing any thing against the light of your Conscience There is nothing more likely to cause a withdrawing of light than a walking contrary to light hereby light is rejected and stifled and when Believers will have Fellowship with Sin God may teach them to take heed of Sin by hiding himself and suffering of their Souls to be filled with terrors By Sin Believers may fall though not from the love of God in Christ yet from the light of his Countenance That is the Apostles triumph Rom. 8. Nothing shall be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ yet there may be a falling from the love of God in the Heart by Sin so then take heed of being over taken with it have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness but reprove them 3. Walk not in the light of your own fire and sparks of your own kindling the Children of Promise that are free are yet too much in bondage to the Covenant of Works looking to a Righteousness of their own to Duties Grounding their hopes of favour and acceptation hereupon God may suffer those to lye down in sorrow that look not higher for ground of Joy When the Wise men left following the guidance of the Star it left them they walked in their own light and they go to the High-Priests c. and enquire of them but when they returned then they saw the Star 4. Be well Principled in the Doctrine of the Gospel and labour to understand it aright As 1. That though the Sins of Believers have abounded yet Grace abounds much more that is there is Grace enough in God and to spare for the pardon of all Sins God hath an infinite and inexhaustible treasure of Grace What God's answer was to Paul may be applied to all Believers My Grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 Paul was the chief of Sinners and God had Grace sufficient for him 1 Tim. 1.16 He obtained Mercy that Jesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering for a pattern to them that should believe on him to everlasting life Believe the abundance of Mercy in God through Christ and you shall taste the fulness of it look on Sin and from Sin to Grace and there is Grace sufficient for you so you may have Peace in your heart 2. As their disobedience bath abounded so hath Christ's obedience much more As by one man's disobedience many were made Sinners Rom. 5.19 So by the obedience of one many shall be made Righteous There is more Power in Christ's obedience and Righteousness to Justify a Sinner than there is in Sin to Condemn him God is more honoured by Christ than dishonoured by Sin because Christ is an infinite Person equal to the Father he fulfilled the Law that was Lord of it It appears because sufficient to make a Sinner as Righteous as if he had never sinned sufficient to blot out all Sin that there 's no more remembrance of it Sufficient to recompence God c. And besides there is merit in it It 's a price sufficient to purchase Glory Life c. So that as â—here will be frequent acts of disobedience against these set the infinite obedience of the Lord Jesus abounding beyond them all as a Sacrifice sufficient to take away the evil of all 3. God had never suffered the Elect such as are ordain'd to life to have been in a state of Sin before Conversion c. or to do any act of Sin after Conversation but that he intended to glorify his Grace and Mercy in pardoning their Sin and saving them notwithstanding their Sin this was his design from all Eternity to magnify his Grace and Mercy towards the Vessels of Mercy That he might make known the Riches of his Glory Rom. 9.23 So he suffered them to Sin Rom. 5.24 The Law entred that the offence might abound that is that it might be known how far and how exceedingly it abounded Also by the entring of the Law Sin was irritated c. And this that Grace might be magnified towards the Elect in pardoning them and giving Christ to dye and saving them notwithstanding their Sin Now this may uphold the Soul in the apprehensiâ—n of Sin God never intended that Sin should hinder the Salvation of the Elect but to work good even out of sin and to take occasion from thence to magnify his Grace more abundantly so let us have recourse to Grace manifested in Christ But though God by his absolute power might suffer sin c. yet sin is never theless sinful and so we ought to withstand sin to the utmost and we must not do Evil that Good may come of it that is the note of Reprobates whose damnation is just Rom. 3.8 4. The sin of Believers may cause the hiding of love but no hatred they have not Indignation and Wrath but Compassion God looking on the reliques of sin as their infirmities that he will heal Now as Believers out of infirmity do sometimes sin so it is an infirmity to infer hatred in God towaâ—ds them for it for if so then the Grace of God is not sufficient for them and Christ died in vain for them c. 5. The sin of Believers may grieve the Spirit but does not make the Spirit an enâ—my to Believers Greive not the holy Spirit whâ—reby ye are sealed to the day of Redemption Eph 4.30 The sins of Persons sealed by the Spirit do greive the Spirit this is not to be understood properly because the Spirit is not subject to like Passions with us but he 's said to be greived 1. Because sin is contrary to the mind of the Spirit Rom. 8.27 We grieve at any thing that happens against our minds 2. Contrary to the motions of the Spirit 3. To the Graces and Comforts of the Spirit which call for an obedient walking and an holy Conversation 4 Contrary to the Office of the Spirit viz. to comfort the Spirit delights in comforting so it does as it were grieve the Spirit to be hindered from it 5. The sins of Persons sealed by the Spirit are said but to grieve the Spirit not to stir up Wrath and Indignation and a readiness to revenge 6. Consider
the Mark they put forward with all their might so do Christians with all their Souls and strength Heaven and nothing but Heaven should be lookt on as the place of rest looking unto Jesus Make Christ your pattern What was his great desire Father glorify thy Son that thy Son may glorify thee Glorify me with the Glory I had with thee before the World was There was Joy set before him so Christ is set before the Saints revealed to their Faith they should long to see him as he is Glory is set before them c. In the World is Vanity in themselves Corruption Crosses on all hands Shame Reproach c. Before and above all in Heaven is set everlasting Joy Pleasures for evermore Where this Joy is there Believers hearts should be the mind the will and affections of a Believer should still be travelling towards this Joy running a Race towards Heaven as 't is said of the Creature Rom. 8.21 The earnest expectation of the Creature waiteth c. The Creature is in Bondage to Corruption Slaves to Lusts this is contrary to the end for which the Creature was made they naturally make towards that end to be Servants to the Saints and to be instrumental towards the manifesting the Glory of the Creator and to be free of Bondage So should Saints desire perfect freedom from Bondage to enjoy the Liberty the Inheritance portion and perfection of the Sons of God in the presence of God This hath been the great desire of Believers Rom. 8.23 We which have received the first Fruit of the Spirit What is meant by these The beginnings of Grace Knowledge of Christ Faith Love Humility Heavenly Mindedness the Comfort and Consolations of the Spirit we that have received these groan within our selves We would receive the whole lump of the Spirit there are burdens we groan under Sin is a burden when the Spirit hath wrought Holiness earthly things are a burden they cannot be gotten but by the sweat of our brows when Salvation that is purchased by Christ is believed then mortal estates are a burden when immortality is brought to Light then to be out of Christ's presence is a burden where Glory and the fulness of Christ is revealed we groan waiting for Adoption c. There 's Adoption in making you Sons and there 's Adoption in bestowing the Inheritance Glory and Liberty which belongs to them as they are the Sons of God They that are Sons and have the Spirit of Sons crying to God Abba would fully enjoy all the Priviledges all the Glory and all the love which belongs to them as the Sons of God in Christ Phil. 1.23 To depart and to be with Christ is far better beyond all comparison better there 's Joy without Sorrow Holiness without Sin Knowledge without Ignorance Eternity of all So to be in Christ in the World is infinitely better then to be in the World enjoying the contentment of it without Christ And to be in Heaven with Christ is exceedingly much better then to enjoy Christ only in the World The state of a Christian in Heaven is exceedingly beyond the state of a Christian on Earth though the Body may dye and be laid in the Grave Phil. 3.13 14. I count not my self to have apprehended I have not Knowledge enough I have not Grace enough I have not enjoyment of Christ enough it was much he had yet not enough but this one thing I do this is my main business forgetting the things behind earthly things behind and Grace receiv'd behind so far as not to be satisfied there with I reach forward to the things before The heart reaches out Faith is the hand that reaches out after earnest desire carries the Soul out unto them I press towards the Mark as a Man in a throng c. through a throug of Lusts and Temptations c. For the price of the high calling that I might enjoy all that Glory and happiness that God hath provided in Christ 2 Pet. 3 12. Looking for and hastning to the coming of the day of God That day hastens and is coming be you hastening to it i. e. your Hearts and Souls by Faith and desire that it may come hasten to it Sect. 9. Use â— Information By this it appears that many there are that as yet are not in the way of Salvation Because they can't say as Paul this one thing I do Who 1. Such as have nothing before them but worldly things worldly profits and pleasures that have their hope only in this Life and not Hope as an Anchor fixed in Heaven but the love of the World fixed as an Anchor in the Earth whereby their Hearts and Souls are fastened to the World that with the two Tribes could be content to have their Portion on this side Jordan that their Houses Lands and Temporal Lives might continue for ever would desire no better Portion that see more gain in Life than in Death this is an evidence that they have not drunk of the Water that Christ gives their Souls have not been filled with the Glory of the World to come they are not acquainted with the Riches of Christ they know not the price of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus This is an inseperable property of a true Believer a desire to have his Salvation wrought out and finished where ever this work is begun the Heart would have it finished where Holiness is begun the desire of the Soul is to have it perfected There 's no greater burden than Sin to a Gracious Heart all the Contentments of the World cannot content a believing Soul nothing beneath Heaven nothing without the Presence of God nothing besides the Glory of Christ can make it perfectly Happy to be where Christ is that is best of all Faith will make us sojourn in the World when you are in the way of Salvation perfect Salvation is the mark which the Soul presses towards Now lay your Hearts to the bond of this undoubted Truth and do not conclude your selves to be in the way of Life if perfect Salvation be not the mark you press towards if it be not the presence of the Lord that you account the perfection of Happiness if you could be contented with worldly Felicity and your Desires are only towards the things of this Life then the root of all Evil is yet alive and growing in you 2. Such as dream of a present perfection that think they know as much as they need to know and do as much as is needful to be done He that thinks he knows enough knows nothing as he ought 1 Cor. 6.2 He that thinks he hath enough of Christ hath nothing of Christ Where there is true Knowledge of Christ begun the Soul is carried out with such earnest desires to know more that it accounts it self to know nothing I forget that which is behind Gal. 4.9 Now we know God or rather are known of God we are known perfectly but we do not
know perfectly Brethren I count not my self to have apprehended I follow after I do not sit down satisfied with that I have but I follow after that which I have not that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of God God apprehends the Elect in Love he apprehends by his Spirit to bring nigh to himself to make Vessels of Mercy and Glory and they desire to apprehend God and to be nigh him and to be filled brim full with Mercy and Glory they that are full already are most empty Luk. 1.53 Use 2. To stir up the Saints with more diligence to labour to work out their Salvation as Peter exhorts Believers 2 Pet. 1.5 Giving all diligence add to your Faith Vertue to Vertue Knowledge c. So to add Faith to Faith Vertue to Vertue Knowledge to Knowledge Holiness to Holiness Hos 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. You that know any thing of Christ should follow on to know more and you shall know more if you hear if you search the Scriptures if you ask more Wisdom and Knowledge 2 Pet. 3.18 Grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of the Lord. Grow in all Graces in Faith Humility Heavenly mindedness and as a great furtherance hereto grow in Knowledge That Salvation may be perfected Consider what it is The Apostle describes it by two parts 1. Wee shall see him as he is 2. We shall be like him To see Christ as the Express Image of the Fathers Person to know God in Christ and to enjoy him as your God and to bear the Image of Christ perfectly in your Soul and Body this is compleat Salvation To see him in whom all fulness dwels and to be like him that is the brightness of the Fathers Glory is Glory enough So these are two great things that ought to be your mark 1. Grow in the Knowledge of Christ Math. 13.11 To you it is given to know the Mystery of Christ To know the great Mystery of Godliness to you a Spirit is given to lead you into all Truth to you the Promises are made of being taught of God Desire Knowledge and believe this Promise so more and more still of the Fulness Excellency and Glory of Christ shall be revealed to you 2. Grow in a conformity to Christ Christ is perfectly Holy labour to be more like him in Holiness let the same mind be in you as in Christ the same Meekness Compassion Heavenly mindedness and Zeal for the Glory of the Father Fashion not your selves to the World but fashion your selves according to the Pattern of Christ and believe that your vile Bodies shall be fashioned like to his Glorious Body and let this Hope he your Happiness till you actually enjoy this Happiness Use 3. Direction about this great work of working out our Salvation 1. Propose right ends to your selves Intermediate and Mediate 1. Intermediate ends that you may have perfect Happiness perfect Redemption from all Evils and that an end may be put to Sin and Sorrow that there may be no more sinning nor no more sorrowing The desire of your own good is not unlawful if you desire Heaven as your Happiness Christ as your Life the presence of God as your best portion this you ought to desire as your happiness the enjoyment of God as your chief good and perfect likeness to Christ as the most perfection that you can be made partakers of Thus did Paul desire his own happiness and good 2 Cor. 6. We which are in this Tabernacle do groan c To be cloathed upon that immortality may be swallowed up of life that Vanitv may be swallowed up of fulness Earthly things of Heavenly Temporal of Eternal that is you must not make it your Business to be Rich Great Renowned and Happy in the World but to be Rich Glorious and Happy in Heaven Lay not up for your selves Treasure on Earth but in Heaven say not to your Souls there are Goods laid up on Earth but much Glory in Heaven Treasures which Moth and Rust cannot corrupt nor Thief break through and steal 2. Your own Happiness must not be your chief and ultimate end but the Glory of God Desire that perfection of Glory may be given you that God may have all that Glory which he expects from you Mark that Petition Father glorify thy Son that thy Son also may glorify thee Joh. 17.1 Desire your own Glory for the Glory of God Desire perfect Knowledge and perfect Holiness that you may do nothing besides Glorifying God that you may not come short of any degree of Glory that he expects from you It is the Everlasting Exercise of the Saints in Heaven to sing Hallelujahs 2. Lay aside every Weight As those that run in a Race will not load themselves with unnecessary weights and he that strives for Masteries is temperate in all things 1 Cor. 9.15 He will take heed of Surfeiting and Drunkeness so in running this Spiritual Race towards Heaven lay aside every weight whatever may be a clog to your hearts to slacken your diligence from endeavouring after the encrease of Heavenly perfections whatever may draw down your hearts from Heaven what may remit your desire of Christ's appearing and of being in his presence As 1. The Love of the World This will be a heavy weight on hearts to hinder their ascending to Heaven If the Mountains should fall upon your Bodies these would be such a weight that you would not be able to stir in the least motion under them the love of the World in the heart is as great weight upon the Spirit it suppresses breathings of Spirit after Heaven it quenches thirstings after Heavenly Glory Take heed of loading your hearts with this weight do not load your selves with thick clay So much immoderate love as there is to the World so much weight is in your Spirits pressing them down from Heaven 2. The cares of the World These are a weight they beget Heaviness in your Spirits and deadness unto Spiritual things Luke 20.34 Take heed of surfeiting and drunkeness and the cares of the World Provident cave is not forbidden but immoderate carâ—king cares take heed of being drunken with cares these cares are choaking things Spiritual desires joys motions and breathings are in danger to be choak'd by worldly cares This our Saviour shews in that parable of the Sower Some Seed shall fall among Thorns and the Thorns sprang up with it and choaked it Luke 8.7 By this is meant such hearers as hear the word and go forth and are choaked with the cares riches and pleasures of the World and bring no fruit to perfection ver 14. If you give up your selves to these this will hinder the bringing Fruit to perfection Worldly Men bar Fruit but not Fruits to perfection no Faith no Love Repentance Reformation so if Saints be overtaken with these this will hinder much their growing onwards to perfection in Knowledge in Grace 3. Worldly Sorrow
and proceeds from weakness of Faith Psa 23 24. 4. Eâ—ery Believer ought to say as David I will fear no Evil. But they may rejoyce in Love and expect good and count that all things shall work for good to them In Christ they are carried above all fears of Evil for their Hearts should not fall down in them so that fear of Evil is not the thing here required this is forbidden elsewhere as by Moses fear not so not enjoined here 2. Fear of Doubting and Distrust Trembling opposed to Confidence and full Assurance is not here meant Men in a natural condition out of Christ may well be under the tortures and rackings of this fear they may be in bondage through fear of Death They may be tossed with fear and doubting and say as Rom. 10.5 Who shall ascend into Heaven Who shall descend into the Deep Or who can tell whether we shall go to Heaven or Hell But for Believers that are in the way of Salvation they ought not thus to fear 't is for such that have no other Spirit but the Spirit of Bondage which Believers do not receive If they are in bondage 't is not the Spirit of God but the unbelief of their own Spirit is the cause of it We have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we may cry Abba Father They are Sons having the Spirit of Sons Now as Christ says the Servant abideth not in the House for ever Joh. 8.35 He may be cast forth and so is subject to fears So Men in a natural estate are in danger to be cast forth into outer darkness But the Son abideth ever he is beyond fear so Believers are Sons they are always in Lâ—ve The Apostle Exhorts Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith c. Heb. 10.22 Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace Now if he should exhort to fear and trembling because of doubtings of Salvation he should conclude it to himself and make void his other Exhortations Again Believers are exhorted to be in a constant frame of rejoycing Rejoyce in the Lord always Phil. 4.4 We rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God Rom. 5.1 But fear of doubting is directly contrary to this joy Of it the Apostle says 1 Joh. 4.18 Fear hath torment But against this that place may be objected Heb. 4.1 Let us fear lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest any of us should fall short Where he seems to exhort to fear of doubting of coming short of Heaven For answer Consider Because some there are that put their Hand to the Plow and look back again some that have Lamps and not Oyl a form and not the power of Godliness a Faith that is not saving but vain so they may seem to stand and walk in the way of Life but because they have no more not true Faith in Christ noâ— real Interest in nor Union with him they come short or come too late as 't is said of the foolish Virgins They came when the Door was shut So the Apostle Exhorts all to fear that is to look well to themselves and to be searching for Salvation and not content themselves with a form with shews and shadows so as to think that their Profession and the performance of some Duties is enough to bring Men to Heaven But they should labour to see themselves stated in Grace interested in Christ that so they may know that they shall not come short The ground of this Exhortation is the Examples of the Jews they had the Promises the Gospel was Preached unto them that is Promises of rest in Canaan But many came short Why They did not believe Now there are Promises of a rest a better rest in Heaven Heb. 10.34 We have in Heaven c. Now fear c. that is look well to your selves take heed you be not deceived lest your Hopes prove vain Believe the Gospel the promises of Life made in Christ and let the word of hearing be mixt with Faith Take heed of an evil heart of Unbelief if the Gospel be not mixt with Faith the Promises of the Gospel will not profit you Christ is of none effect to you if you believe not in him so that this is an Exhortation to those that have not yet received Christ in their Hearts and entertained the Gospel Promises and fear is to be taken for heed-fulness wariness and utmost Diligence If once they believe and are interested in Christ they may be sure then that they shall not come short 2. What is to be understood by Fear and trembling For this consider the Apostle is Exhorting you to work out your Salvation that is make it sure to your selves see God in Christ reconciling and saving and desire that it may be carried on to perfection Now amidst the beholding of God in Christ and desires of perfect enjoyment there being so much of God declared in this business in giving Christ and so much of his Glory shining forth you must fear i. e. admire and stand amaz'd at the love of God giving Christ himself to a wretched polluted Creature full of Enmity Tremble at the infinite greatness of Divine Love be humble and trust not to your own strength but to that infinite Grace and Love in which God comprehends poor Creatures for carrying on Salvation to perfection Sâ—ction 11. That this may be the better understood consider these particulars 1. The Salvation of Sinners is the work of the whole Trinity Of Father Son and Holy Ghost God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself God in Christ through his Spirit saves the Elect and will make them perfectly happy The Salvation of Sinners is the Father's work by ordination he predestinates them to be conform'd to the Image of his Son he chuses to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thess 2.13 'T is Christ's work by Mediation he makes their case his own they being under Sin under a Curse he represents their Persons in undergoing Punishment suffering Death Rising and Entring into Glory Believers in him died rose c. Rom. 6.3 to 11. It 's the Spirit 's work by renovation God will have a change of Carnal to Spiritual of Sinful to Holy of Enemies to be made Obedient to the Lord Jesus In a word to be conformed to the Image of Christ Christ's work is to make Peace and to reconcile to God The Spirit 's is to conform to Christ in Grace and Glory to fashion Soul and Body like to him Not that the three Persons are divided in their Operations that one doth what another doth not but this is to be understood by way of Appropriation The Scripture doth Appropriate to each Person one work The Salvation of Sinners is the Father's work by purpose Christ's work by price Redeeming out of Misery the Spirit 's work by performance shedding abroad God's Infinite Love in the Heart shewing God in Christ God giving Christ Christ giving himself to
suffer Death for them the Spirit works to will and to do to consent to be saved by Christ to take Christ for Saviour and Lord and to believe in him as the Author of and to follow him as the Câ—â—tain of Salvation 2. There 's a most glorious manifestation of God in this work All God's works are God's manifestations they are his visible appearances and out-goings The Creation was the first manifestation of God The Heavens declare his Glory and ths Firmament shew his handy work Psa 19 1. Rom. 1. His eternal Power and Godhead is seen by the things that are made as 't is said of Christ Joh. 2.11 This beginning of Miracles he did and manifested forth his Glory The most glorious manifestation of God is in Christ the Word being made Flesh the fulness of the Godhead in him being made Flesh made Lord and King He has Love Power and Wisdom to set up his Kingdom and to make his Enemies his Foot-stool This is the greatness of Gods works Godman being made by this work that is the Union of God and Man in one Person the effect of this work The second Glorious Manifestation next to this is in saving Sinners by Christ He shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that bâ—lieve A Manifestation of Power exceeding greatness of Power As great a work to save a Sinner as to raise Christ from the dead Of Wisdom in finding out a way to save Sinners so as that Justice might be satisfied and love be abundantly discovered an infinite Satisfaction an infinite Obedience and an infinite price to be paid Where should such be found Men were not able to give it Angels could not bring it The Son of God became Man and Mediator an infinite Person undertakes to lay â—down his Life and to yield Obedience and so an infinite Price is paid and infinite Obedience is yielded c. Here the Wisdom of God is most clearly seen And Lastly Here 's a most glorious discovery of Mercy and Grace he makes known the Riches of his Grace on the Vessels of Mercy When Sinners aâ—e Enemies and nothing lovely God loves the Elect so as to give Christ to taste Death for them and Christ loves not his Life to Death He that was in the form of God humbles himself and puts himself into the miserable condition of Sinners that he might translate them into his own Glorious Estate whom he will make like to himself and partakers with him of the Divine Nature and of all his Glorious Priviledges 3. This Glorious manifestation of God in the Soul cannot but work fear and trembling in it Fear will be the effect of the discoveries of God to the Creature There is so much Majesty Glory and Greatness in it that will awe the Heart of the Creature When God appears in the Glory of his Justice and Almighty Power Then the wicked shall fear The Kings and Captains c. shall cry to the Mountains to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. And the discovery of the infinite goodness of God will work fear in the Hearts of the Saints they shall fear the Lord and his Goodness because his goodness is the goodness of God that is infinite and exceeding great goodness to sinful nothing Creatures The apprehension of this should work fear Hos 3.5 Section 12. Now this fear consists 1. In admiration of this Glory reveal'd Such Wisdom and Grace that if it be apprehended will raise the Soul in holy admiration of God David said he was fearfully and wonderfully made Psa 139.14 In respect of the excellent frame of the Body such variety of parts and so fitly composed therein may be seen so much of the Wisdom and Power of God as may make the Heart wonder and fear that God that made him so Persons that are sav'd are fearfully and wonderfully sav'd if it be reveal'd in the Soul how this work is undertaken and carried by the Trinity The Father loving from Eternity Christ dying in the fulness of time and the Spirit living and acting in the Soul making it his own Habitation Sinners become the Apple of God's Eye precious c. Christ's Members Joynt Heirs with Christ Sinners having access to God and are partakers of the Divine Nature What a fearful and wonderful thing is this So much favour shewn by God to a Sinner when there is so vast a disproportion betwixt him and God may well beget admiration When Saul said he would give David his Daughter to Wife 1 Sam. 18.18 He replys What am I What is my Life or my Father's Family in Israel that I should be Son in Law to the King The apprehension of the great disproportion betwixt him and Saul was the cause of his so much admiring at the favour that was shewn him so there is the greatest disproportion betwixt God and Sinners As Men and as Sinners As Men they are not so much as a drop to the Ocean And as Sinners as great as is between Light and Darkness c. That such Creatures should be comprehended in love and brought near to God c. What am I and what is my Life that I should be brought hitherto Deut. 28.58 Thou shalt fear this great and dreadful name the Lord thy God God that is Infinite Thy God that art a poor and inconsiderable Creature God that is so holy thy God that art so unholy God that is Just and will not clear the Guilty thy God that hasâ— so much abounded with Sin clearing thee of Guilt that hast so much abounded with Guilt This Name This is dreadful this is a wonderful and dreadful Manifestation of God As the Psalmist says They that know thy Name they will put their trust in thee So they that know this Name The Lord thy God will fear and tremble They cannot but admire at such Infinite Grace when the Son of God was made Man the Word made Flesh and Crown'd c. This was a dreadful Manifestation of God! There 's cause to admire at the Grace that was shewn to the humane Nature of Christ whence as the Apostle says Heb. 2.6 One testifies What is Man that thou art mindful of him c. Thou Crownest him with Glory and Honour And Christ himself is said to fear as Man So as Man he is most deeply sensible of and affected with the Grace shewn to the humane nature So a Believer may say What am I that God should be so mindful of me That he should visit me with Salvation-love That I that am the lowest and worst of Creatures fit for Hell and to be a Companion for Devils should be Co-Heir with Christ and partaker with him of all his Glory 2. In Humility The discovery of such Grace and Goodness will bring down high Imaginations and beget lowliness of Mind it will convince the Creature of its own emptiness and nothingness This hath been the effect of the appearance of God both to Men and Angels Isa 6.2 The
S raphins had six Wings with twain they covered their Faces and with twain their Feet Shewing that beholding the Infinite Glory of God they were as it were ashamed of themselves of their own emptiness and the great disproportion betwixt God and themselves that they were far from high mindedness and boasting in any perfection they saw that what they had they had from God and that perfection they had came Infinitely short of God and so rejoyce in him and not in themselves And so many Saints Isaiah cried Woe is me I am unclean for mine Eyes have seen the King the Lord of Host c. And Peter said when the Glory of Christ's Godhead appeared in that Miracle Depart from me for I am a sinful Man O Lord. An Expression of Humility and of an opinion of his own unworthiness even so the Infinite Grace and Love of God in Christ's appearing this begets Humility this puls Pride out of the Throne and high mindedness Pride falls before the discoveries of God in the Soul This is that especially which is to be understood in this place by Fear and Trembling The Scripture uses this Expression sometimes and still it signifies Humility as Psa 2.11 Serve the Lord with Fear and rejoice with Trembling Be humble in your Service trust not to your own Strength be humble in your Rejoycings take not the Glory to your selves say that you are nothing rejoyce in God and give Glory to him Again 1 Cor. 2.3 I was with you in weakness and fear and much trembling that is I did not boast my self to be some body I was not with you in a proud and stately deportment I did not seek Glory with ostentation of Eloquence but I carried my self with humility amongst you Eph. 6.5 Servants be Obedient to your Masters with fear and trembling that is be humble and submissive not proud and stout against them so work out your Salvation with fear and trembling and be cloathed still with Humility both in Heart and Life be far from high mindedness and carnal Confidence think not to travel towards Heaven in your own strength Rom. 11.20 Be not high minded but fear So see the love of God let your Eye be fixed on Christ who died to reconcile and lives to save you Behold the Trinity carrying on the work the Father loving from all Eternity Christ mediating and rejoyce in the first fruits of the Spirit believe that the Spirit of Christ that 's dwelling in you shall renew and Sanctify you till Sin be wholy abolished and shall quicken your Mortal Bodies and make them like to Christ's glorious Body and know that you can do nothing of your selves and so you shall work out your Salvation with fear and trembling So that Fear and Trembling is to be taken here 1. As opposed to Hardness Stupidity and Insensibleness That when God manifests forth the Glory of his Infinite Goodness in Christ unto Sinners the Heart is no way affected or moved herewith a fearing and a trembling Heart that 's here meant is a Heart affected with the shining forth of God's Glory in Christ. God that commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts giving of the light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ Now when the Heart is affected herewith and raised in admiration then it fears and trembles 2. As opposed to high mindedness to high thoughts of a Man's self of his worth and goodness A fearing and trembling heart is a heart sensible of its weakness and nothingness 3. As opposed to Carnal Confidence to trusting in a Man 's own Righteousness and Power as if a Man could merit Heaven by his Righteousness or travel thither in his own strength Section 13. Use 1. Is of Information By this it appears that many there are to whom the way of Life and Salvation is not discovered All that think they are travelling to Heaven are not indeed going thither Many there be that think they are working out their Salvation but there be but few that work it with fear and trembling This is the temper of those that God hath brought into the way of Life their hearts are fearing and trembling hearts hearts admiring at the Riches of Divine Grace hearts that are humble and broken off from Carnal Confidence But how few among the multitude that would be thought to be travelling towards Heaven have these fearing and trembling Hearts Rom. 3.17 18. The way of Peace have they not known there 's no fear of God before their Eyes Christ is the way of Peace Life and Salvation is the woâ—k of the whole Trinity If the way of Peace be known and the Trinity be look'd on as engag'd in this work it will work fear but the fear of God is not before the Eyes of many and so the way of Peace have they not known As many as are without fear and Holy trembling I do not mean slavish fear but reverenâ—ial fear are yet ignorant of the way of Life 1. As many as have not their Hearts deeply affected with and sâ—nsible of the Glory of Divine Grace and Goodness in Christ to Sinners As many as do not fear the Lord and his Goodness as many as heaâ—ing yet do not taste that the Lord is gracious The Apostle speaks of some that counted the Blood of the Covenant as a common thing they not apprehending the price and value of it So many there are that look on the glad Tidings of the Gospel the discoveries of Divine Grace and of the Infinite Love of the Lord Jesus but as common things and are no way taken with the Glory of the Gospel and the Riches of Divine Grace therein discovered This insensibleness of Heart towards the precious things of the Gospel this unaffected Spirit bewrays their Ignorance of the way of Life and what a common thing it is for Persons to make light of the Gospel and to neglect their Salvation that is spoken therein nay to despise the Gospel and to discover enmity against it There 's nothing more contrary to fearing Goodness than the making light of and despising Goodness and there 's nothing more common than that And what greater Evidence can there be than this that Men are not in the way of Salvation Hos 8.12 I have written unto them the great things of my Law but they were counted a strange thing c. 2. As many as are full of high thoughts of themselves As the discovery of this that Salvation is the work of the Trinity the beholding of God in Christ will bring down high thoughts so where high Thoughts are in the Throne and an opinion of Righteousness in Men's selves this bewrays an Ignorance of the way of Life They do not fear and tremble c. 3. As many as work uncleaness with greediness as freely yield up themselves Servants to Lusts fearing and trembling doth not consist with such freedom in Sinning the fear of goodness will restrain
from wickedness A trembling at the Infinite Glory of Divine Grace will teach us to deny all Ungodliness So thought the Psalmist Psa 36.1 The Transgression of the wicked saith within mine Heart there is no fear of God before their Eyes There is no fear of God in them that delight so much in wickedness there 's no trembling at the Glory and Majesty of God where there is so much delight in walking contrary to God They have not learnt Christ as the way of Life that have not put off the old sinful Conversation 4. As many as do not fear an Oath Where there is the fear of that great and dreadful Name The Lord thy God where there is trembling in admiration of the Glory of God there can't but be fearing of an Oath Where Mouths are so full of Oaths Hearts are void of Fear They do not reverence the Name of God in their Hearts that do so abominably prophane it with their Tongues Vain swearing and fearing of God do not consist together Eccl. 9.2 A continued custom of prophaning the great and dreadful Name of God and working out Salvation with fear and trembling are things inconsistent He counts the Name of God but a common Name he hath very slight thoughts of God that takes his Name in vain Section 14. Use 2. Exhort To consider well this that the Apostle says Work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling Believers should have full assurance of their Salvation and great confidence that God will carry it on and yet fear and tremble This fear is not contrary to but the Fruit of Faith and Confidence The more is known of Divine Love and Grace the more we should fear This fear and trembling shall continue even when the Saints are made perfect and their Salvation accomplish'd The Seraphims fear and tremble in the beholding of Infinite Glory and Christ as Man fears and trembles at the Glory of the Godhead dwelling in him This is the best frame of Heart a fearing and trembling frame Reverencing Admiring and Adoring the Infinite Greatness and Goodness of God to poor Sinners Hereby God is acknowledged in his greatness and advanced and the Creature brought low and its nothingness is acknowledged amidst the boldness of access we have Fear and Trembling is planted in the hearts of Believers that the infinite distance and disproportion betwixt God and the Creatures might be acknowledged So endeavour to abound in this excellent grace of fear God is called the Fear of Isaac he was the God of Isaac So said God I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and Jacob and the fear of Isaac So God your God in Christ God appointing you to Salvation in Christ should be your fear Fear so as to adore his Glory admire his Grace and fear to do any thing contrary to his Glory Take heed of a senceless benummed Spirit unaffected with the glorious discoveries of the Divine goodness take heed of high-mindedness and of carnal confidence be like the Church that walked in the Fear of the Lord. So walk towards Heaven in fear run your Race in fear and trembling you are running towards God the presence of God to see him in Glory God hath given you some glimpses of Glory so fear the more you know of it and the nearer you â—raw to God fear the more still and be the more affected 1 Pet. 1.17 If ye call on the Father pass the time of your sojourning here in fear forasmuch as you are Redeemed with the precious blood of Christ There is a duty and the ground of it because you can call God Father God that is infinite in glory so infinitely distant can you call him your Father What fear and reverence doth this call for from you And how should you be affected with this unspeakable goodness And were you Redeem'd with precious blood How should this goodness be admir'd and ador'd So pass your time here in fear all God's works are God's manifestations and all God's manifestations are a ground of fear Rev. 14.7 Fear God and worship him that made Heaven and Earth the Sea and the Fountains of Waters So fear him that gave Christ to dye for you when you were Enemies that loves you when you are Sinners Here 's a greater work than making the Sea and Fountains of Waters the opening a Fountain for sin and uncleanness the Fountain of Christ'â— blood Fear so as not to sin Exod. 20.20 Let his fear be before your faces that you sin not Let the fear of God singly without any other considerations restrain you from sin As Levit. 19.14 Thou shalt not curse the Deaf that can't hear thee curse nor put a stumbling bl ck before the Blind but thou shalt fear thy God That is if you may sin and conceal it from men yet let the fear of God restrain thee from sin Fear so as to yield that glory service and obedience which the greatness grace and goodness of God calls for This is a most excellent grace The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom 'T is the most comely frame of the Creature that knows God as praise is comely for the upright so â—ear is comely God delights in this temper The proud he beholds afar off such as fear and tremble he dwells with Ps 34 8. O taste and see that God is gracious To give Christ to give Heaven what infinite goodness is this v. 9. O fear the Lord ye his Saints c. Sect. 15. Work out c. For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do c. The Apostles Exhortation work ouâ— c. doth not argue any free will in Man or power to save himself Man considered in his pure natural state is wholly dead to this work he hath no will to be saved and is without strength to work it out A will to be saved and of doing any thing in the way of Life is of God's working All are exhorted because 't is the duty of all to will to be saved and to walk in the way of Life and all in Adam had once power but as all sinned in him so in him they last the power As for the Elect God out of his meeâ— grace and love intending to make known the Riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy works in their hearts a will and consent to be saved by Christ and a walking in obedience to Christ who is the Author and Captain of Salvation which is here meant by willing and doing So these words contain the ground why Salvation is to be wrought out with fear and trembling Look on it as the sole proper work of God see God willing it and Christ working it out in himself and God working in the heart here 's infinite grace and power tremble at the manifestation of it Believe that your Salvation shall be wrought out and tremble at the glorious way in which it is wrought 'T is God that works so work it out
mind is Enmity against God 't is not subject neither indeed can be So there 's no free will to Spiritual good in a Natural Man the Carnal mind and Spiritual good are in opposition one to another Rom. 8.7 2. Man renewed and raised made Spiritual and having the Seed of God in him hath free will to Spiritual good As a Natural Man hath free will in Natural Actions he acts with deliberation and Election So Man renewed hath free will to Spiritual Actions This is implied God works to will so in a renewed estate a Man hath free will The Lord hath shewn what is good and what he requires and the Sâ—irit in them stirs them up to good God hath shined in the Heart and in the Face of Christ and hath appeared in his Glory shed abroad his Love and hath taken away the Heart of Stone in which there is no free will to God and given a Heart of Flesh in which there is a fâ—ee will to God a consent to be saved by Christ The Spirit acting by Light and Love convincing the Soul of the worth of Christ and stirring up to a following of the Lord Jesus that heart can reason out service Christ is worthy because a Lamb slain c. Rev. 5.9 And the heart chuses to serve Christ here 's free will to the doing of good When Christ is revealed in his Glory as most lovely and the Soul is brought into the treasures of good that are in Christ and sees a fulness in him and then embraces him here 's a free will in embracing of good a chusing of Christ above the World You are not sound Christians unless you have such a free will as this 3. That free will to Spiritual good which is in the renewed man is of God's working As the Apostle sais I live yet not I but Christ in me Gal. 2.20 So that a Believer hath free will and he acts freely in the ways of God he embraces what God shews to be good he châ—ses the things that please God yet not he but Christ in him Christ lives Christ wills and Christ works that which is good in him Without me ye can do nothing John 15.5 There 's no free will nor power to do good till Christ be in the heart I can do all things through Christ strenghtening me I can will as I ought and do as I ought through Christ Christ determines to good actions Christ stirs up to good actions Now this will further appear by considering the great design of God in saving Sinners As all God's works are God's manifestations so God intends in this work a glorious manifestation of himself 1. In his Power as in the first Creation his Eternal Power and Godhead is to be seen so in the second Creation Eph 1.19 The Apostle prays that the Ephesians might have the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation to know the exceeding greatness of his Power to them that believe God's design is not to make known the power of Nature and Free will but his own power in the exceeding greatness of it If the Conversion of a Sinner be but by Moral perswasion by holding forth of Spiritual objects to be embraced then how is it that the exceeding greatness of power is manifested to them that believe if Faith come forth from free will and power of Nature only excited and stirred up by Divine Grace c. So certain it is that Faith is made out of nothing there 's no disposition in us towards believing but 't is a work of Divine Power creating it in a Soul most empty of Spiritual good 2. In his Grace which he declares first in the freeness of it For it is by meer Grace that any are called and justified There 's nothing that that puts a difference betwixt one and another nor why one embraces the Gospel and another does not but meer Grace 1 Cor. 4 7. These things I write that no one be puffed up against another for who maketh thee to differ If Men have free will to good if that Will be not meerly of God's working whereby one Man doth embrace Christ and lay hold on the Promise of Life God doth not make him to differ but his own free will doth so and so this opinion directly opposes the design of the Gospel to commend Grace in its freeness Free will established in natural men makes void free Grace As the Apostle says If of works then not of grace else grace is no more grace Rom. 6.11 So likewise if of free will grace is no moâ—e grace and if of grace then nor of free will So when the Gospel is Preached to all and some lay hold on it and embrace Christ in their hearts and follow him and others refuse and go on in evil ways leading to destruction What makes the difference Divine Grace God works a will in one and not in another the one he brings out of darkness and the other he leaves in darkneâ—â— and so all grâ—â—nd of glorying in a Man'â—â—elf iâ— taken away that he that glorys may glory in the Lord. So that free wiâ—l to good is nor in nature but where 't is it is a fruit of free Grace God works to will Secondly in the sufficiency of it when the Creature is insufficient and can do nothing to procure pardon and to make his Peace Grace gave Christ. And when Christ is offered and there 's no power to embrace Christ then Grace gives to believe in Christ and works a consent in the will to take Christ. When there 's no power against Corruption and to do good Grace gives the Spirit to be a living conquering Law causing Obedience Objection Some may object against this truth for establishing of free will in the Natural Man from the general and Universal render of the Gospel Go preach the Gospel to every Creature God gave his Son that all that believe c. Rom. 12.17 Whosoever will let him take of the Water of Life freely To what purpose are these tenders if there be not free will and power in Man to embrace them Answ 1. These general tenders of Grace do not argue in Men a freedom of will to receive Grace or a power to believe but only a duty to Believe Men ought to believe so all are called on and unbelief is Men's sin and greatest sin 2. The Election only shall lay hold on the Grace of the Gospel Rom. 11.7 Israel hath not obtained but the Election that is such persons as were Elected hath obtain'd it and the rest were blinded Now because the Election is secret and hid the Gospel is preached to all alike 3. The Preaching of the Gospel the holding forth of the Promises of Life in Christ to Sinners is the ministration of the Spirit to those that are ordain'd to Life that 's the way in which the Spirit comes down into their Souls and is a Spirit of Faith and Love in them 2 Cor. 3. 4. Reprobates having the Gospel Preached and
this is the Storm falling on the Remnant of the Woman's seed during the time of the witnesses lying dead Rev. 11. and 12. being compared 't will appear that those keeping the Commandments of God and testimony of Jesus are Heirs of those Promises that are made of the Spirit of Life to enter into the witnesses which shall make them stand upon their Feet These shall ascend in a Cloud and be above the Earth-quake and so in this great Storm be preserved as seed of that Glory which shall follow to the Church 3. This is some ground to hope that God hath some special favour for England because the Sabbath hath been called the Holy of the Lord and Honourable more here than in any other Nation And so to strengâ—hen thiâ— Hope be the more zealous of a sâ—rict obsâ—rvâ—tion of it Here the Doctrine of the Sabbath hath been better taught and a strict of sâ—lvation of it hath been enjoyned couâ—tenanc'd and encouraged by Humane Laws and the prophanâ—tion of it hath been made punishâ—ble and although the best have come too far short of what is here required yet a generation haâ—h been here coming nearer to this pattern than other Churches abroad have done aâ—d God haâ—h said them that Honour me I will honour God will have a day to honour those that honour him on his day I will make thee to ride upon the High â—laces of the Earth 4. Make the Sabbath a delight and then God himself will be your dâ—light Delight your selves in the Lord's work delight your selves in the Law and so you shall in the Lord's favour in the Light of his Countenance if Grace be put in your Hearts so that you delight to Honour God then gladness shall be put in your Hearts more than when their Corn and Wine and Oyl increased Thus you may delight in him in trouble our rejoycing is the Testimony of our Conscience a good Conscience witnessing our Sincerity towaâ—ds God in worshipping him is a continual Feast Thus you shall delight in him in a state above troubles and shall go to God your exceeding Joy and shall enter into the Joy of the Lord and the Lord himself shall be your Joy 1. Then you shall delight in God more clearly manifesting himself and better known The Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord. And there shall be none to hurt you for endâ—avouring to know him The Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all Flesh shall see it Isa 40.5 i. e. His love betâ—er known As now 't is shed abroad in the heart so then it shall be shining upon the Person The Church at last shall be a Philadelphia Christ mentions not any thing that he had against that Church a Type haply it was of the Glorious Church in the day of Reformation Now what says Christ of that Rev. 3.9 I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan to come and worship before thy Feet and to know that I have loved thee and if they indeed then much more the Saints themselves shall know that they are beloved of God and so delight themselves in the Lord. 2. They shall delight themselves in the works and ways of God towards them The Providences of God shall be all delightsome Providences Not good dispensed in and by Evil but good apart from evil Aâ— Israel shall dwell alâ—ne so good shall come alone and not evil with it Then God's works shall be like his thoughts of good and not of evil to grant an expected end So his works are good and there 's no afflicting evil in them and God will give the Saints their expected end that is what from his word they did expect to be accomplish'd here in the World not the last and utmost end that is fulness of Joy in Heaven 1. The groaning Creature shall have its expected end the liberty of the Sons of God in which its Liberty is wrapt up Then upon all shall be written Holines to the Lord and not be then the Lusts of the Flesh tho Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life as all in the World is so now Men lust after Worldly Pleasures and satisfy their Lusts with them the Voluptuous Man doth so and the Glutton and Drunkard The Lusts of the Eye being coveted by an Evil Covetuousness The Covetous Man makes his Riches the Lusts of his Eye and the Pride of Life Men that have much are usually proud of it This is the Creature 's bondage and burden to be so but then the Sons of God that possess and use them well will honour God with their Substance their Fields are like those of Canaan Fields of Offerings they shall Consecrate their gain to the Lord c. when thus the Creature shall have its expected end 2. The groaning Saint and Servant of God shall have his expected end the Adoption the Redemption of his Body They shall sit under their Vines and none make them afraid and stand before the Lord c. and shall have Peace flowing in like a River and Grace flowing in abundantly I wil pour out a Spirit of Grace and Supplication Now 't is but dropt out upon the Saints then it shall be poured out As Christ was anointed with the Oyl of Gladness above his Fellows so the Saints shall be anointed with the Oyl of Gladness above their Fore-Fathers with the Oyl of Grace and Gladness above them 5. Thus shall they be fed with the Heritage of Jacob their Father What is that 1. God himself was Jacob's Heritage as he said to Abraham he would be his exceeding great Reward so Rev. 21.3 I will be with them and be their God for they shall be satisfied with favour 2. Canaan the Land flowing with Milk and Honey was Jacob's Heritage and what was Typed out hereby will be given to the Church and is meant Deut. 32.13 He made him ride on the High places of the Earth that he might Eat the encrease of the Field and he made him suck Honey out of the Rock c. Butter of Kine Milk of Sheep fat of Lambs the fat of Kidneys of Wheat Thou didst drink the pure Blood of the Grape these were a Type of Christ and that fulness of Grace and Glory that is in him There is Honey and Oyl out of this Rock Righteousness and Peace the Joys of the Holy Ghost the substance of that shadow fat of Lambs Kidneys of Wheat He is the Bread of Life and hâ— the pure Blood of the Grape Christ will feast them at his Table in his Kingdom Christ himself his Grace and Glory the blessings of his Kingdom Righteousness Peace and the Joys of the Holy Ghost is the Heritage of the Saints and this they shall be fed with Jacob had an Inheritance viz. Canaan but there were times when he was not fed with his Heritage as 1. when he fled from his Brother Esau who threatned to be avenged on him and to kill him then he was
agreeable to their actions whether good or bad 1. The Godly must be brought to an account Rom. 14.12 every one of us shall give account of himself to God how he hath behaved himself we must answer the Judge concerning our Persons Conversations c. our Thoughts Faith all shall be enquired into 2. Christ shall take notice of the sincere and holy works of Saints whatever proceeds from a pure Heart good Conscience and Faith unfeigned out of a desire to serve the Lord Jesus Math. 25.35 I was hungry and ye gave me Meat c. God is not unrighteous to forget your works of Faith and labour of Love Heb. 6.10 which ye have shewed towards his name Shew respect and reverence to the name of Christ c. 1 Cor. 3.13 every Man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire which is in part made good in this Life by the work of the Holy Ghost through the Preaching of the Gospel causing a discerning Light to shine to put a difference betwixt Truth and Error and this work shall be perfected at the day of Judgment when all Truths shall be made manifest by the revealing brightness of Christ and all errors discovered thereby Quest Whether the Sins of the Godly shall be at all mentioned or taken notice of in that great day Answ 1. The Sins of the Godly shall not appear against them for Condemnation for then they must appear against the Judge who took the guilt and punishment of their Sins upon himself but the Godly shall triumph over their Sins because they stand before him that died for them therefore no fear of Death 2. Nor to their shame all sorrow and so shame done away therefore if the Sins of the Godly be mentioned yet this shall not make them hang down their Heads with shame they shall not do as Adam hide themselves from their Judge these things are clear Now some hold that they shall not be at all brought to light because by Sentence of Justification they are covered and taken away To this may be answered that in the time of this Life Believers are absolved in God's gracious sentence towards them and in their own conscience more privately and secretly by the witness of the Spirit but at the day of Judgment they shall be absolved and acquitted of all Sins more publickly even in the sight of Angels and the whole World Now the Spirit speaks to the Heart and Conscience then Christ shall openly pronounce Sentence Come ye Blessed of my Father c. therefore it seems not contrary to the analogy of Faith to hold that the Sins of the Godly shall be brought to light Nay it seems very suitable to the great design of the Gospel which is to illustrate and commend in the highest manner the free Grace of God the great love of Christ the power of his Death and Infinite Vertue of his Sacrifice As that day is a day of Wrath to the Wicked c. so a day of Love to the Saints wherein the Love of Christ shall in the fulness of it be display'd and to commend it the more it seems not incongruous to affirm that the Sins of the Godly shall be brought to light even their secret Sins He shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that believe his great love to Saints shall cause great admiration that is they shall admire the love of Christ not only to themselves but other Saints and Angels shall admire Christ in the Saints now the knowledge of Sin and of free Grace rejoycing over it or of the love of Christ c. this shall be a meanes to heighten much their admiration and seâ— of the great love of Christ with the more lustre 3. If the Sins of the Godly be recorded and to be read 't is in the Book of Life 't is that they may have some advantage thereby c. and they are all so recorded Rev. 20. Ergo. 2. For the Sins of the wicked that is most clear they shall be all laid open to the view of Men and Angels at that great day there is a Book in which all Sins are written from an idle word to the highest Blasphemy Math. 12.36 all secret Sins are set in the sight of the Sun Rom. 2.16 He shall judge the Secrets of Men there 's nothing hid that shall not be manifested this day shall declare it Rev. 2.23 All the Churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the Hearts and Reins Rev. 20.12 the dead are judged out of those things that are written therein Whatever you now go about to conceal and hide shall not be ever hid all wickedness that lay hid under a form of godliness c. then the Vail shall be removed c. Eccles 12.14 God shall bring every work to Judgment with every secret thing Eccles 11.19 Rejoyce c. yet know that for all this God shall bring thee to Judgment Take notice of some particular Sins because the Scripture doth particularize them as Whoredom and Adultery Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Heb. 13.4 Neglect and abuse of the means of Grace this is one of the greatest Sins that Men shall be brought to Judgment for it shall bring a very heavy Punishment It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for this People if you live under the light of the Gospel and walk in darkness sit and hear the word yet are setled on the lees of Sin then at the last day this shall be brought in upon your account so many Sermons you have heard and never benefitted by them so many times Christ came to gather you and you would not so many times the Gospel came knocking at the door of your Hearts and you refused to open know that all is Recorded likewise hard speeches Jude 15. spoken against God or his People or the Commands ways and Administrations of God as to say his sayings his dealings are hard Christ endured and his Members endure the Contradiction of Sinners but you must look to be called to the Judgment-seat of Christ for Contradiction Christ shall give Sentence against those that did speak against him Yea not only hard speeches but Idle words the least Sins if you were guilty of no Sin but one idle word Christ might very justly cast you into Hell for it Some are mentioned to shew that all shall be remembred against you And there is no deluding or deceiving the Judge by your colourable pretences and excuses for he is most Wise and knoweth all things So there 's no covering your Sins for he is most Just and so no corrupting him with Gifts no overcoming with entreaties for then wicked Men shall try and call hard but he is most severe no appealing from this Bar for he is the Supreme Judge there shall be Verity in his Inquisition Impartiality in Sentencing Severity in Execution 4 Godly shall stand apart from the wicked