the World are there no Realities So the Assurance of the strongest Believer's may not be compleat perhaps but is it therefore not true Our Graces the Fruits of the Spirit are all imperfect but that does not make them false and feigned and Perfection in Comfort is above the standard of this Life as well as in Holiness II. Exhortation 1. Enquire into your own Adoption 'T is not a Priviledge common to all see whether you have just Cause to apprehend that 't is yours The World hath a mixt Multitude in it there are Sons of Belial and Children of the Devil as well as of God 1 John 3.10 There are Strangers and Dogs as well as Children And there be many who are called the Children of God and are not so indeed being such only by visible external Profession as they were Gen. 6.2 We deceive our selves if we are satisfied with this for this will be of no more Advantage to us than the National Adoption which once belong'd to the Jews is useful to them with Respect to which the Apostle positively says They which are the Children of the Flesh are not the Children of God Rom. 9.8 Think not that 't is enough to be Christians outwardly any more than to be Jews outwardly but look after a real Change of State 2. Apply your selves to God for this Benefit if yet destitute of it Consider what miserable helpless Creatures you are in your present Case like a wretched Infant that is cast out into the open Field in the Day that it is born Ezek. 16.5 Go and bemoan your Case at the Foot of God And as Abraham said to him Lord God what wilt thou give me seeing I go Childless Gen. 15.2 You may much better say what wilt thou give me seeing I go Fatherless What canst thou give that I can receive any Comfort in Tell him that you can never call your selves Happy till you can call him Father and that you desire nothing besides this in Comparison of it The Chief of Sinners may take Encouragement from that blessed Text Jer. 3.19 Justice seems to argue against it in the former Part of the verse and Mercy concludes for it in the latter 3. Take heed of grieving the Spirit you who have this Benefit that you may not lose the comfortable Sense of it This depends upon his sealing Work and therefore provoke and offend him not if you would keep the Impression clear Eph. 4.30 Two Things are especially grievous to the Spirit which we should beware of neglecting his Motions and opposing his Testimony 1. Neglecting his Motions When he stirs us up to seeking of God and any Act of Communion with him we should stir up our selves It is a part of the Character of God's Children to regard the Spirit 's Conduct Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit of God c. 2. Opposing his Testimony The indulging of unbelief in our own Hearts is a Contradiction to the Spirit 's Witness He is sent forth to cry Abba Father unbelief says nay God is not so unto me It will be helpful to Souls in such Temptations to look to God as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for this will bring them to Eye him as theirs also See John 20.17 Eph. 1.2 3. That Promise seems to concern both Christ and the Believer too Psalm 89.26 He shall cry unto me thou art my Father c. You may venture to say that after Christ which otherwise you could not 4. Evidence the Truth of your Sonship unto others Make it appear that there is indeed a substantial Difference between you and the Children of this World in every Thing that hath a respect to Sin and Duty If you do as others do they will have Reason to suspect that you are not what you pretend to be The Jews were not to disfigure themselves like other People because they were the Children of the Lord their God Deut. 14.1 Let your spot therefore be the spot of his Children let his Image be seen upon you as well as his Name that you may like them Judg. 8.18 Resemble the Children of such a King You must be Followers and Imitators of God Eph. 5.1 Or else you will give occasion to Men to think you a spurious Brood You must be blameless and harmless and without rebuke exemplary and inoffensive in the midst of a perverse Nation for so are the Sons of God Phil. 2.15 Disorderly Children are a shame and scandal to their Parents therefore Credit the Relation wherein you stand by a strict and regular Deportment Particularly 1. By a sober and thankful use of every Mercy Wanton Prodigals that wast their Substance and mispend their Portion are a dishonour to God's Family and deserve to be renounc't Your Father expects that all which is given by him should be improved for him Men reckon it barbarous and unnatural if their Children turn Rebels against them with the Estates which they bestow upon them 2. By a patient and humble bearing of every Affliction Not that a Fathers Anger is a Light thing and to be despis'd they must be very profligate that think so but all his Rebukes should be receiv'd with great Submission Nor must they drive us from him but make us come the nearer and cling the faster to him considering that God's Corrections endur'd in a right Manner are Proofs of our Legitimacy Heb. 12.6 7 8. 3. By a reconcileable and forgiving temper towards the worst of Men. Mat. 5.9 Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God So ver 44 45. Love your Enemies bless them that Curse you do good to them that Hate you c. That you may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven c. For this is to transcribe his Pattern and do as he does 4. By living in Love with all our Holy Brethren They do not walk worthy of such a Relation as this is that shew any Unchristian bitterness or unreasonable strangeness towards those that are of the same stock with themselves Let us check our selves in this Case with those Words of the Prophet Mal. 2.10 Have we not all one Father Why do we then deal treacherously every Man against his Brother To Conclude Brotherly Kindness is the necessary Duty of all God's Children and a necessary Token to convince all others that we are so SERMON XIX May 18. 1697. EPHES IV. vii But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ AS it is the Apostle's manner in his other Epistles to mingle Exhortations to Holiness with Explications of Faith so here having in the three former Chapters of this Epistle given some account of the Gospel Doctrine he does in the three latter stir up to suitable Practice In the beginning of this Chapter he presses worthy Walking with respect to those Instances of Humility Meekness and Christian Forbearance as things which have a special Influence in the furthering
Nature spoil the Reputation of the Works of Art Psalm 4.7 Thou hast put gladness in my Heart more than in the Time when their Corn and Wine increased If we had more spiritual Delight in God carnal Fruitions must needs be a less powerful bait 'T is in vain for the Devil to entice that Soul with a few drops of Pleasure that run through broken Cisterns which partakes of satisfying Refreshments from the Fountain of Life these Things are only suited to the Palates of those that never know the Joy of the Lord. Heaven's Favourites cannot fall in Love with Earths 't is natural for a Believer that 's cloathed with the Sun to have the Moon under his Feet Rev. 12.1 2. The Frowns of the World too often scare Men from their Obedience but a due Apprehension of the Love of God is a good Security against this Temptation also The belief of God's reconciled Heart and view of his pleased Countenance is enough to make us Triumph over the fiercest malignity of Men and Devils It Matters not who they be that are against us nor what they can do against us so long as we know that God is for us This will make us Glory in Infirmities Necessities Distresses and Afflictions of all sorts For he that can encourage himself with David 1 Sam. 30.6 In the Lord his God will not be dismayed by any of these Things Bitter Herbs will go down very well when a Man hath such delicious Meats which the World knows not of The Sense of our Father's Love is like Honey at the end of every Rod it turns Stones into bread and Water into Wine and the Valley 〈◊〉 Trouble into a Door of Hope it makes the biggest Evils seem as if they were none or better than none for it makes our Desarts like the Garden of the Lord and when we are upon the Cross for Christ as if we were in Paradice with Christ Who would quit his Duty for the sake of Suffering that hath such relief under it Who would not rather walk in Truth when he hath such a Cordial to support him than by the Conduct of fleshly Wisdom to take any indirect or irregular Methods for his own Deliverance 3. The Love of Life is a very frequent and pernicious Snare which a Sense of God's Love must deliver us from being entangled by What so desirable as Life if a Man have no Place in the Heart of God This is the greatest Temporal Blessing and nothing can out do it but the Favour of the God of our Life And this excels indeed Psalm 63.3 Thy Loving Kindness is better than Life What Comparison is there between the Breath in our Nostrils and the Favour of an Eternal God Any more than there is between an Everlasting Light and a poor vanishing Vapour compare Isa 60.19 with Jam. 4.14 Who would not therefore hate his own Life which hangs in doubt continually before him and of which he can have no Assurance when he knows that the Living God is his certain Portion Who would not freely yield up and part with Ten Thousand such Lives one after another if he had so many rather than the Wrath of God should be kindled but a little 4. The Fear of Death is a very usual and hurtful Snare too which can hardly be broken without a Sense of the Love of God Death which will rend and tear the Soul from the Body is the Lion in the way which discourages and affrights many from hazardous Duties thousands through sinful Cowardize have rather chosen to shipwrack their Faith and prostitute their Conscience then mingle their Blood with their Sacrifices But now they that have the Comforts of God to delight their Souls are more willingly brought to this King of Terrors if God cause his Face to shine what should hinder our chearful descent into the Valley of the shadow of Death Love is strong as Death and a great deal stronger one would dare to Dye for a good Man whose Love and Friendship hath endear'd him to us how much more for a God whose kindness hath been so exceeding This hath made so many Martyrs glorifie God in the midst of the Fires when they have been kill'd for Christ's sake all the day long and counted as Sheep for the slaughter they have been more than Conquerours through him that lov'd them and through the lively Impression of that Love upon them Rom. 8.36 37. 7. The New Nature is ingenuous and therefore will be wrought up to Obedience by the Love of God After we have tasted that the Lord is gracious we readily savour all the Things of God Humaue Nature indeed in our lapsed depraved State may Reward Evil for Good and Hatred for Love as David's Enemies did to him Psalm 109.5 before a saving Change is accomplish'd on the Soul but it neither is nor can be so when God gives Men another Heart as he does at their New-birth Then nothing eies us so fast to our Duty as those bands of Love nothing is so sweetly and yet so strongly attractive Jer. 31.3 With Loving Kindness have I drawn thee they that are only haled and drag'd by legal Terror will be striving to break away again and loose themselves from the Yoke of Christ but Love subdues all Things to it self it constrains to such Acts of Duty as make the mad World think us beside our selves 2 Cor. 5.13 14. The Soul is compell'd to come in to Christ and yet it walks at Liberty 't is so swayed by a Principle of Holy Gratitude as that it is always studying that Point What shall I render For this is a Principle that never fails to operate where the Root of thankfulness is the Fruit of Service cannot be wanting Therefore the Apostle beseeches by the Mercies of God that we present our Bodies c. Rom. 12.1 Love hath a mighty prevalency in the obtaining of all that is desir'd Herod would do any Thing at the Request of his beloved Herodias Esther chose that Time to perfer her Petition when she was expressing her Love to the King in a Banquet so when Christ is feasting a Believer with his Fat Things with his Love which is better than Wine the ravisht Believer can deny or grudge him nothing 8. That Love to God which a due Sense of the Love of God does produce in us is virtually all Obedience This Consideration consists of two Branches which to give it the greater Evidence and Force may be distincty open'd 1. A due Sense of the Love of God to us produces Love in us to God 1 John 4.19 We Love him because he first loved us Sic res accendunt lumina rebus Sanctified Affections are blown up in us by the believing Persuasions of Divine good Will towards us As there is something like an exchange of Souls between Bosom Friends so there are returns and reboundings of Love betwixt God and those whose Hearts are knit to him The Spouse of Christ proclaims their mutural
Superiour and honour'd accordingly and the more Kind and Indulgent he is the more Honour is due Any behaviour that betrays a slight esteem or a presumptuous Contempt of God is offensive to him and they that carry themselves so have Reason to try and condemn the Spirit which they are acted by He is our Father in Heaven and we his Children on Earth Eccles 5.2 He sits upon a Throne and we must remember that we Worship at his Footstool 7. The Spirit stirs up filial Affection to God in Prayer This makes it a delightful Exercise as indeed it should be Do Children count it a burdensome Task to go to a Father or are they not rather glad of the Opportunity of Converse with those that are so dear to them A Slave indeed hath an Aversion to the Presence of his Lord as the Bond-woman When Sarah dealt hardly with her fled from her Face Gen. 16.6 But when a Child hath to do with a tender Parent 't is quite contrary 't is sweet Employment to pour out the Soul into a Father's Bosom We set about it with Pleasure and a Pleasure which exceeds the Fruition of any Creatures whatsoever The Spirit of Adoption is a Spirit of Love and this Love breaths out it self in Holy Desires to him The Soul loves to commune with him for his own sake even though we could suppose that there were no pressing occasion for it it loves to visit him not only in Trouble when Necessity drives but at all other Times being drawn by internal Motives 8. The Spirit helps us to Pray with unwearied Fervency It behoves us so to do when we are dealing with a Father who will certainly be won and prevail'd upon how deaf or regardless soever he may seem to be for a Time Dull and stupid formality does not suit with the Relation wherein we stand where we look for cold Entertainment 't is apt to cool our Requests but Esau's Opinion of his Fathers Favour made him the more earnest for his Blessing Gen. 27.34 38. The Children of God are baptized with Fire their Hearts burn within them and it would be strange if their Words should freeze Theirs is not an Artificial Zeal which is quickly spent but a Zeal which holds out till the desire comes and by this means they are always Conquerors and as 't is said of I uther Iste vir potuit apud Deum quicquid voluit they can do what they will with God they will take no denial but wrestle and strive till they have obtain'd All this is done by the Assistance of the Spirit of our Father V. Vse I Information 1. The Love of God is to be seen and admir'd in our Adoption as much as in any Thing besides The Love of the Father in predestinating us to it the Love of the Son in procuring it for us and the Love of the Spirit in testifying it to us 'T is God's loving us as Children which is the Foundation and Root of all our Love to him as a Father for his Love descends before ours ascends 'T is marvellous that God should answer to any such Name when we call him by it and that he should give us any such Name himself the Apostle breaks forth into a kind of Ecstasie and Ravishment of Spirit when he consider'd it 1 John 3.1 Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God That in the Place where it was said to us Gentiles Ye are not my People it should be now said You are the Sons of the Living God Hos 1.10 Rom. 9.26 Are such vile Prodigals as we Worthy to be call'd his Sons Luke 15.21 That cannot be suppos'd nor is it for want of other Objects that he bestows this Favour upon us He hath an Eternal Son in whom his Soul delighteth whom he possest with Infinite Joy before all his Works of Old or this Favour might have been directed to fallen Angels but God hath preferr'd us Inferiour Creatures to that which they are excluded from 2. The Dignity of Believers excels all the Titles of Honour in the World 't is of a more glorious Nature and confirm'd by a greater Testimony By Faith Moses refused to be call'd the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter though Pharaoh was a mighty Prince Heb. 11.24 It pleased David to be Son-in-law to the King before he was so but he found little Comfort in it afterwards 1 Sam. 18.26 These Relations to the greatest of Men are poor trifling mean and empty Things in Comparison of Believer's Relation to God Magistrates are called Children of the most High because they bear some little faint Representation of God's Authority Psalm 82.6 But the least of Christ's little ones are God's Children in a sublimer Sense 'T is Ten Thousand Times more honourable to be a Child of God then Lord of the whole Earth 3. Walking after the Commandments of Men is a very ungrateful requital of God Certainly we owe most Duty where we receive the greatest Priviledge and what can Men do for us to be compar'd with what God hath done that we should pay any Homage to them in Opposition to him 'T is basely disingenuous for Children to regard what others say more than the Injunctions of their own Parents The Sense of this unspeakable Benefit of God's adopting us to himself is enough to restrain us from yielding Obedience to Men that is inconsistent with our Obedience to God This is the meaning and scope of that Caution given by Christ Mat. 23.9 Call no Man your Father upon Earth for one is your Father which is in Heaven That one God whose Children we are hath the only Supream Title to our Allegiance 4. The possibility of Assurance one would think should be without all Controversie To call it in Question is to give the lye to this very Text and to cast a blasphemous Reproach upon the Witness of the Spirit 'T is matter of rejoicing to have the single Testimony of our own Conscience for us 2 Cor. 1.12 For Conscience as one says is like a kind of Eccho which makes our spiritual Actions resound after they are past and gone from us but when we have the concurrent Testimony of the Spirit of God this makes our Joy a great deal more full Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth Witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God The Spirit is more present and conversant with the Soul than the Soul with it self and is better acquainted with its State He knows every Child of God by Name and therefore is best able to make us know if we are such if an Angel from Heaven were sent to tell us it would not be so sure The Spirit that beareth Witness of those things is Truth in the abstract 1 John 5.6 Some may be deluded by a lying Spirit instead of him but does it follow that there must be no Persuasion which comes of him that call us Because there are Counterfeits in
Judah is God known Psalm 76.1 Judah signifies Praise what Hearts should they have to Praise God that have Understandings given them to know him If God hath conferred this Blessedness upon you what a rebounding of Blessing should there be to him 2. Value no Knowledge in Comparison of this Remember the Words of Paul 1 Cor. 2.2 This exceeds all other Knowledge in many respects especially because it discriminates the Friends of God from Enemies 'T is a distinguishing Priviledge allow'd to none but the beloved of the Lord. Though you have no Reason to boast your selves against others whom God makes you to differ from yet you have abundant Reason to prefer and magnifie your own Lot Mat. 13.15 16. This People's Heart is waxed gross and their Ears are dull and their Eyes closed c. But blessed are your Eyes for they see c. 3. Walk as Children of Light Necessity is laid upon them That are Light in the Lord to do so Eph. 5.8 Give no occasion by disorderly steps for others to stumble and fall As is said in another Case Rom. 14.16 Let not your good be evil spoken of Expose not the Doctrine of Christ to reproach by any unholy Acts as if it were not a Doctrine according to Godliness Let all your Observers be witnesses that a renewed Mind will produce a reformed Conversation Else you will Cloud your own Light and thicken the Darkness of other Men. 4. Make Conscience of Praying for those whom you usually hear Petition the King on the behalf of his Embassadors and the more they have of his Presence the more are you like to get by their Labours The more they have of the guidance of the Spirit of Truth the more useful will their Teachings be to you The ablest Minister of the New Testament is insufficient to think any thing of himself 2 Cor. 3.5 6. Unwearied Studies will bring forth nothing but wind without a Divine Influence Pray therefore that they may have Moses's Advantage of God's being with their Mouth and Teaching them what they should say Exod. 4.12 5. Depend still upon God for continued discoveries Follow on the know the Lord and breath after further views of him God hath not yet shewed you all that he intends The Work of Illumination is yet going on The same anointing which hath taught you teacheth you of all Things 1 John 2.27 There are still the deep Things of God which the Spirit must search out for you Holy David long after his first enlightening beseeches God to Open his Eyes that he might behold wondrous things out of his Law Psalm 119.18 There are always fresh Wonders to be seen which a fresh Unction from God must help us to discern 6. Look for the perfecting of these discoveries in a State of Glory Say to God as the same David did Psalm 36.9 In thy Light shall we see Light 'T is but a kind of dim Twilight comparatively which we enjoy here in this World while we are hid in this Prison-house we can see but little but our Fathers House above is full of Light Then shall the Righteous shine forth as the Sun Mat. 13.43 If the Day-star be irs'n in your Hearts live in the pleasant and chearful Expectation of perfect Day For we can ascend but a little way into the Mysteries of the Kingdom as long as we are upon the Foot-stool and we shall know vastly and unconceivably more in the first Moment after we come to Heaven then we are capable of attaining here throughout all our Days SERMON III. July 16. 1695. PSLAM XXVI iii. For thy Loving Kindness is before mine Eyes And I have walked in thy Truth THE Time of composing this Psalm seems to be before David's coming to the Kingdom but after God had given him the right of Succession when he was maliciously persecuted by Saul and as unjustly defamed by his flattering Courtiers And this was the probable occasion of his solemn Appeal here to the Judgment of God who knew not only the Righteousness of his Cause in this particular Point but also of his general Course There are various Expressions to this Purpose ver 1 2. But the Reason and Ground of this Confidence is set forth in the Words of the Text For thy Loving Kindness is before mine Eyes c. Here are Four Things which need a little Explication 1. What we are to understand by the Loving Kindness of God The Word signifies the Benignity Mercy Grace of God and may be indisserently render'd by any of these Terms which do all amount to the same Thing But 1. This Loving Kindness may be taken either for an essential Perfection in God or some external Dispensation of good from God that which belongs to his Nature or that which he exercises towards his Creatures One is to be lookt upon as the Principle and the other as the Product one as the Original Cause and Spring the other as the Effect which Streams and Issues from it In the former Sense it may be understood Psalm 51.1 and in the latter Sense Psalm 42.8 And in both Senses here in this Place 2. The Loving Kindness of God displays and exerts it self in many Acts of Providence but most especially in Christ and the vouchsafement of spiritual and eternal Blessings by him Several of God's dealings with us in Temporals are Instances and Tokens of his Favour and if he were not as he is said to be Joel 2.13 Of great Kindness he would deal much other wise even in those Things but the Kindness and Love of God that which is most eminently and distinguishingly so appears in the Redeemer Tit. 3.4 All the rest is as nothing to this and therefore this is chiefly understood here 3. The Loving Kindness of God may be consider'd as respecting others or our selves as the Elect of God in general are the Objects of it or as he hath made us so more particularly Now though 't is true that the Favour which God bears to his People deserves our notice and remembrance yet we are mosT apt to be affected with that which he shews to us Paul speaks of Christ's loving his Church Eph. 5.25 But he Triumphs in Christ's loving him Gal. 2.20 So that when David says here Thy Loving Kindness he means Thy Loving Kindness to me 2. What it is for God's Loving Kindness to be before our Eyes 'T is a way of Expression which this Holy Man after God's Heart uses elsewhere Psalm 16.8 I have set the Lord always before me And it implies these Four Things in it 1. To have it before our Eyes is duely to apprehend it So David speaks of Vnderstanding the Loving Kindness of the Lord Psalm 107. ult If we have no Knowledge of it it can have no Influence upon us and that which is hid from our Eyes in the Scripture stile we are said not to know Luke 19.42 2. To believe it and be persuaded of it Insidelity makes Men hide their Faces from Christ Isa
Endearments in one Breath and also in the right Order Song 2.16 My Beloved is mine and I am his God is the Ocean from which Love first flows out and to which it always streams back Love when it hath descended from Heaven to Earth hath finished but half its Course but when it ascends from Earth to Heaven the Circle is compleated 2. This Love which is the Product of God's is virtually all Obedience both as it inclines and disposes unto all and as it comprehends all in it 1. It disposes and inclines to all Obedience When the Heart is melted by his Fire within 't is easily cast into the mould of any Precept whatsoever As it puts us upon keeping the Commandments of God so it keeps them from being grievous 1 John 5.3 Obedience can neither be partial nor burdensome where-ever this Love of God dwells but it fulsils the Charge which David gave to Solomon of serving God with a perfect Heart and a willing Mind 1 Chron. 28.9 2. It comprehends all Obedience in it self The end of the Commandment is Charity c. 1 Tim. 1.5 Both Tables are reduc'd by Christ to two Commandments and Love is the grand Inscription of them both Therefore Love is styled the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.10 All the Duty which we owe to God and to our Neighbour is included in Love to each And indeed we cannot walk in God's Truth unless we walk in Love to one another as well as to him Our Alienations from our Brethren speak our distance from Christ the Center of our Union The nearer any Lines in a Circle come to the Center the nearer they are one to another but the further they go from the Center the more they run out one from another III. To Apply this What are we to be inform'd of and exhorted to I. Vse Information 1. If our Obedience be excited by the Love of God then the Love of God prevents our Obedinence If we did first give to God he is able infinitely to recompence it again above what we can think but who is it that hath first given unto him Rom. 11.35 There is not one whose Heart God hath touched that will dare to pretend it We do not commend our selves to God but God manifests himself to us The Love of God was not purchas'd even by the Obedience of Christ much less by ours 1 John 4.10 Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins The sending of the Son was the Effect of the Father's Love and therefore the Son 's coming could not be the Cause of it How then can we procure what Christ did not His Love is not bestow'd upon us for our Service but is the incentive to it 2. 'T is blasphemy against the Love of God to reproach is with being the Parent or Nurse of carnal Security They that have the Kingdness of God in their Eye can take no Encouragement from thence to set any wicked Thing before them for Sin tends to Cloud that Light wherein we rejoyce If God be well pleased with us it lays the greater Engagement upon us to walk worthy of him How absurd is it to say that when God communicates his Thoughts of Peace the Soul is embolden'd to new Acts of Treason As if Men should lay aside the Fear of God because the Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him Psalm 25.14 Or as if the Spirit of Adoption took Men off from Obedience to God when they are call'd to be Followers of him as dear Children Eph. 5.1 3. They that by loose and disorderly Practices give any occasion to such Blasphemers have a great deal of Sin to answer for besides their own If any of us Cause this way of Truth to be evil spoken of we bring the guilt of those Calumnies upon our selves It will be an heavy load to a tender Conscience if sound Doctrine is arraign'd through our unmortified Corruption How do we wrong the Purity of the Gospel when we turn the Grace of our God into lasciviousness For the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation teacheth us the contrary Tis. 2.11 12. What is this but to change the Glory of God into an Image made like to unclean Spirits Wo to those Libertines by whom this offence cometh What Jealousie and Rage does that Adulteress deserve who impudently abuses her Husband's Love 4. The Grace of God in us is a comforting Evidence of his Love to us Though Holy Walking is no Foundation for Trust we may reflect upon it as a Token for good 'T is said of the way of Holiness that the redeemed shall walk there Isa 35.8 9. as Mary Magdalen's Pardon is concluded from her Affection so if God enables us to make straight Paths for our Feet 't is a sign that he hath set his Heart upon us As all Obedience issues from the Spirit so the Gift of that Spirit is a Testimony of peculiar Favour Ezek. 39.29 Neither will I hide my Face any more from them for I have poured out my Spirit c. 5. A denial of the possibility of Assurance is injurious to Holiness The first and best Christians were such as could say we have known and believed the Love which God hath to us 1 John 4.16 And they that have had the same Spirit of Faith have always approved themselves the greatest Saints in all succeeding Times but to say that this their belief was a Delusion is in effect to say that all their Religion was a Cheat too which in this more degenerate Age is hardly to be matcht To stake Men down to uncertain suspended waverings about their Interest in the Love of God is to destroy the most quickening Motive to Obedience 6. The Christian Life is as far from being uncomfortable as from being irregular What greater Pleasure can there be than to be constantly influenc'd by the Love of God to the Service of God A dull and sowre Complexion does not belong to real Christianity Psalm 97.11 Light is sown for the Righteous and Gladness for the upright in Heart Though Cain's Countenance fall Abel's Race may lift up their Heads If there be any Consolation in Christ they that are his have reason to rejoyce and what more sure than that there is all in him and none out of him He hath a Chariet of Gold paved with Love for the Daughters of Jerusalem Song 3.10 What so delightful as to go up and fit with him in that Chariot II. Exhortation 1. Think not only on the Love of God in general but on the most affecting Properties of it in Particular Such as 1. It s Antiquity God loved us from Eternity before we were and before the World was and there have been Early discoveries of it there is the Love of God to us in our Childhood Hos 11.1 And his Kindness in our Youth Jer. 2.2 Which are both Seasons of Vanity The Loving Kindnesses of God
are not of Yesterday but of very ancient Date They have been ever of Old Psalm 25.6 2. It s Freeness according to the Tenor of his Promise Hos 14.4 His Love is the Reason of it self He loves because he loves Deut. 7.7 8. And it must needs be so if we consider what unamiable Creatures we are God bids us to love our Enemies and he himself is the great Example of it He loves our Persons when he hates our Enmity 3. It s enlargedness He shews Loving Kindness to Thousands Jer. 32.18 And he Crowns every one of those Thousands with it Psalm 103.4 He hath many Objects to let it out unto and every one of these Objects stands in need of multiplied Acts yet the Fountain of Mercy overflows to all and remains still full 4. It s Stability 'T is unmovable and Everlasting Isa 54.8 No Creature can separate us from it The Anger of God is transient Isa 12.1 But his Love is permanent The Time will come when God will be Angry no more but the Time will never come when he will be favourable no more Let your Faith feed upon these Thing 2. Beware of renouncing your share in that Grace which God hath encourag'd you to claim Refusal of Divine Comforts is a Sin as well as Disobedience to Holy Motions ' T is almost a fundamental Mistake says Dr. Sibbes to think that God delights in slavish Fears 'T is a very unpleasing Thing to him to have his Kindness call'd into Question Mal. 1.2 I have loved you saith the Lord yet you say wherein hast thou loved us Therefore give not Place to the Devil nor the unbelieving Suggestions of your own Hearts 3. Attend to the Love-visits of Christ and thankfully receive them The Spouse smarted by grievous Dosertion fro delaying to open to Christ when he knockt at her Door Song 5.1 6. When our Beloved comes into his Garden we must not neglect the holding of converse with him We may lose him a great while if we put by such an Opportunity once 4. Avoid all Confidence in the Flesh as a fatal hinderance to spiritual Joy No wonder if we hear God say I have n delight in you when we have fond Conceits of our own Performances That House which stands upon the weak Foundation of a personal Righteousness must needs be shaken with perpetual Doubts and the fall of it at last will be great We might Fear every Day the Heart of God being turned to hate his People if their Hopes of abiding in Favour with him were built upon the best of their Duties 5. Take heed of spotting your Garments with the Flesh after God hath been spreading his Skirt over you Sinning against Love and Light at once is a double Aggravation It was a foul blot upon Solomon That his Heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel who had appeared unto him twice 1 Kings 11.9 'T is reasonable to expect that you should not defile your selves any more with your detestable Things Ezek. 37.23 If any part of your Walk be contrary to God 't is worse than if the whole Walk of other Men be so 6. As you desire an increase of Comfort make daily progress in a course of Obedience If you covet a greater fulness of Joy labour after an higher Exercise of Grace God required more exactness in the Services of the Jews when they were come to their rest in Canaan than when they were harrass'd in the Wilderness Deut. 12.8 9. So you who look for extraordinary Love tokens from God must remember that he calls for great Improvements from you An abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Christ is ministred to Believers in a way of unwearied Diligence 2 Pet. 1.11 with 5. The more ground we get and the further we advance the greater likelihood there is of meeting with more of God SERMON V. October 8. 1695. II CORINTH I. xx For all the Promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the Glory of God by us IT is observable that as none among the Apostles was more useful and serviceable than Paul to the Interest of Chrit and the Souls of Men so the Devil did especially labour to stain his Gredit and to blast his Minstry and and even little Things taht had nothing of Evil in them such as common Charity would have excus'd in any other Person were maliciously improv'd and perverted against him We need to go no further than this very Chapter for an instance there being an Imputation of Levity and falshood cast upon him because he had resolved to come to this Church at Corinth but did not This was aggravated so far as if he were one that said and unsaid one that took no Care about the keeping of his Word and that therefore no regard was to be had to any Thing that he delivered In Opposition to this foul and groundless Charge the Apostle makes an Apology and Defence for himself ver 17. Where he lets them know that he was no such fickle and unconstand Man as he was represented for his Intention of coming to them was real though he was providentially obstructed in performing it And on this occasion he also tells them that his whole Doctrine had been uniform and consistent with it self at all Times without any Variations or Contradictions ver 18. The course of his Preaching among them being like the great subject of it Jesus Christ the Son of God who is not Yea at one Time and Nay at another but fixedly and unchangeably the same for ever ver 19. Now as a convincing Proof of this he adds in the Words of the Text For all the Promises of God in him are Yea c. In which Words we may consider 1. The Things spoken of Promises 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is very much a kin to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Gospel strictly taken being indeed a Treasury of blessed Promises and Declarations of Grace 2. The large Extent in which these Things are spoken of All none excepted but as many soever as there are and of whatsoever kind they be as Solomon said 1 Kings 8.56 There hath not failed one good Word c. 3. The Author of them God This ought to be eyed by us because the Infinite Power and immutable faithfulness of God are grand Encouragements to our steady Expectation Rom. 4.21 Heb. 10.23 4. The Stability of them They are Yea and Amen here are two different Terms us'd to signifie the same Thing the former of these is a Greek Word and the latter Hebrew as Gal. 4.6 Abba Father the one is Hebrew and the other Greek intimating that both Jew and Gentile are concerned in these Things 5. The Foundation of this Stability in him i.e. in Christ and to give it the greater Emphasis and force the Expression is doubled which Repititions are not unusual in the Writings of this Apostle on the like occasions Eph. 1.10 All Things in Christ even in him Col. 1.20 By him to
engages for God that all which he hath Promised shall be made good to us he was that Angel of the Lord that appear'd to Moses in the burning Bush and said to him I am the God of thy Father the God of Abraham c. Exod. 3.6 He speaks in his Fathers Name and as a Person concern'd to see the Contract perform'd Now as this general Promise of God's being our God is the summ of the New Covenant so all particular Promises are included in this for if God be our God nothing cna be withheld by him nothing can be wanting to us And this new Covenant being Written as it were and Sealed with his Blood we are not more sure that that Blood was really shed then we are sure that this Covenant will be punctually kept 3. Jesus Christ is the Person to whom the Promises are primarily made As he is said to be the Heir of all Things Heb. 1.2 So is the first and chiefest Heir of Promise The Promises were made to Abraham's Seed which is Christ Gal. 3.16 Many understand that Text of Christ Mystical but I see not why Christ Personal should be shut out However other Scriptures evince the same Thing Tit. 1.2 In Hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot Lye hath Promised before the World began We did not then exist our selves therefore it must be promised to Christ on our behalf as the second Adam the Head of the Election of Grace for from him 't is convey'd to us and belongs to us no otherwise than as we are one with him Hence we read of the sure Mercies of David Isa 55.3 i.e. Of Christ as the Apostle applies it Acts 13.34 See likewise Psalm 89.3 4. where David is to be understood in the same Sense On this account he is said to receive of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost for us Acts 2.33 If God break Promise with us he must be false to his Son 4. Jesus Christ is the first and main Thing promised The most Ancient and Leading Promise had a direct Reference to him The Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents Head Gen. 3.15 And when the Apostle had drawn up a List of those famous Worthies that Lived and Dyed before Christ's Time he says of them These all having obtained a good Report through Faith receiv'd not the Promise Heb. 11.39 There were several Promises which they did receive and were possest of but the Appearance of Christ in his incarnate State which was the grand Promise they liv'd not to see but dyed in the belief of Therefore when he came into the World good Old Simeon was so chearfully willing to leave it Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace c. Luke 2.29 q. d. now I have seen the verifying of thy Word in this great Point I have enough 5. The Promise of Christ was a Pledge of the Performance of all other Promises In the Time of Ahaz one of the worst of King's Syria and Israel were Confederate against Judah and God bids them not to fer nor be faint hearted but rest satisfied that they should be deliver'd and for their Encouragement so as to put their promised Deliverance out all Doubt he gives them a Sign viz Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call his Name Emmanuel Isa 7.14 If your Faith can overcome this difficulty you cannot be tempted to call any thing else into Question God's Manifestation in Flesh and becoming Man is the greatest Thing that can be lookt for If this be done nothing can be left undone 'T is impossible that any Promise should be defeated if this be accomplisht as Rom. 8.32 How shall he not with him c. 6. The Execution of all Promises depends upon Christ's Purchase Whatever is promised by God is performed to us for Christ's sake as the meritorious Cause of its actual Conation Eph. 3.6 That the Gentiles should be Fellow-heirs and partakers of his Promise in Christ by the Gospel The Gospel is the means of our Participation of Divine Promises but Christ himself is the Procurer of all the good Things held forth in them We enjoy nothing but what his valuable Sufferings give us a Right and Title to 'T is hy his Death that they who are called receive the Promise of Eternal Inheritane Heb. 9.15 Terefore the Covenant is stiled a Testament which is of no Strength nor can any of the Things bequeathed in it be demanded except the Testator Dye ver 16.17 Though God be a free Promiser with respect to us yet all that is promised is deserved for us by Christ 7. All Promises issuing and proceeding from Love and Grace must needs be ratified in Christ and cannot without him Promises are Expressions of Favour as threatnings are Revelations of Wrath. Now all the Favour which God shews to us comes Streaming through Christ 't is the Love where with God hath loved him which is in us or exercis'd toward us John 17.26 He is the first Object of Divine Love the first begotten and the first Beloved The beloved Eph. 1.6 If God should look upon us out of him we must be the Objects of his Hatred and he could not speak peaceably unto us As Joseph solemnly protested to his Brethren concerning Benjamin Gen. 43.3 You shall not see my Face except your Brother be with you so we could not have one Smile or good Word or Intimation of any kindness from God unless we had Christ to recommend us SERMON VI. October 22. 1695. II CORINTH I. xx For all the Promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen unto the Glory of God by us IV. How do these Promises so confirmed in Christ tend to the glorifying of God This may be Opened two ways By considering the tendency of them on his part and on ours 1. They tend to the glorfying of God on his part who is the Author of them and this in four respects especially 1. As they tend to the glorifying of Christ the Mediator who is so much concern'd and employ'd in the making of them sure to us He is had in Honour the more by this means this renders him a precious Corner-Stone as he is called Isa 28.16 It heightens our Esteem of him as well as gives us encouragement to build upon him Now whatever is to the Glory of christ must needs conduce to the Glory of God for God is in Christ as he told the Israelites concerning the Angel whem he promised to send before them My Name is in him Exodus 23.21 Therefore the Exaltation of Christ is to the Glory of God the Father Phil. 2.11 And our Lord tells his Disciples when Judas was gone out with a purpose to betray him into the hands of his Murderers John 13.31 Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorfied in him The Glory of the Father and the Glory of the Son are indeed inseparable that which lifts up the express Image of his Person
would omit to mediate for them or that his Mediation was not to be eyed by them but the meaning is that the Father's Love does prevent as it were this Act of Christ and is the very ground which 't is built upon for Christ had never been appointed to this work if God had not lov'd us 2. That the Communication of the Spirit is altogether free and undeserved He is truly given and whatsoever is proper Gift is not bestowed as a recompence to any previous Endeavours but in a way of most gracious voluntary Disposal it might be withheld denied and kept back without the least shadow of unrighteousness or wrong to the Creature God is under no Obligation to give the Spirit to any but what by his own Promise he hath laid upon himself and there is no Promise but what Mercy is as much concern'd in the making as Truth in the keeping of God hath practised to give the Spirit to them that ask him and for our our Encouragement he is describ'd as more willing to give the Spirit upon our asking than the tenderest Parents are to give necessary Sustenance to their own Children Luke 11.13 But is this ever the less an Act of Grace because we are put to beg it And is not our very begging an effect of Grace receiv'd For we cannot ask the Spirit without the Spirit the Spirit of Supplication is poured out where Pleaded for 3. That when the Spirit of God is once communicated he is never totally recall'd God does not take away what he gives of this sort His saving Gists as the Gift of the Holy Ghost most certainly is are without Repentance Rom. 11.29 In them is Continuance as the Prophet speaks Isa 64.5 Their Duration runs Parallel with the being of the Giver They that are really made partakers of the Holy Ghost in his special sanctifying Operations cannot lose him He is given to abide with them for ever they are his Living Temples which shall be at no Time forsaken or left desolate There may be transient workings and long strivings of the Spirit with carnal Hypocrites but they are not indeed possest of him and therefore are sinally without him There was a notable Difference between the Anointing of Saul and David the former with a Vial 1 Sam. 10.1 The latter with an Horn of Oil Chap. 16.1 God's Ceremonies are very signisicant the Horn was a more solid the Glass a more brittle Substance to intimate the permanency of the Divine Presence with David and its sudden removal from Saul 4. That the Communication of the Spirit is an exceeding valuable Blessing When God is said to give the Holy Ghost it implies the Priviledge of those that receive him 'T is an instance of singular Favour on God's Part and a Matter of unspeakable Advantage on their Part both to themselves and others 1. 'T is the greatest Advantage to themselves There are many good and perfect Gifts of God but this Gift excells The Promise of Christ in the Old Testament and of the Spirit in the New contain all the Promises in Eminency There are some Things which God gives in Anger but he never gives the Spirit so There are some Things which God distributes promiscuously and some times to those whom he hates most plentifully but the Spirit is a Gift which the World cannot receive John 14.17 Other Things may be the lot of such as are reserved to the Day of Destruction but they that have the Spirit are sealed to the Day of Redemption 2. T is a great Advantage to others also 1 Cor. 12.7 The Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal No Persons in the World so useful in their Places as they that partake of this blessed Gift It was this which recommended Joseph to the Egyptians Gen. 41.38 Pharaoh said unto his Servants can we find such an one as this a Man in whom the Spirit of God is One fill'd with the Holy Ghost is worth a Thousand of common Men he is a capable Instrument of much more good in his Generation than all the Philosophers Criticks and Disputers of his World with their vast stores of unsanctified Learning II. Whom is this Spirit given to The Answer is in the Text to them that obey him For the clearing of this there are Three Things which should be a little enquir'd into Who is the Person here said to be obey'd What is meant by our obeying him And how we are to understand the Spirits being given unto such 1. Who is the Person here said to be obey'd To them that obey him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is indeed applicable to all the Three Persons Father Son and Spirit as they are all the just Objects of our Obedience God the Father is to be obey'd in the Commands which he gives forth God the Holy Ghost is to be obey'd in his inward Motions upon our own Hearts but I incline rather to their Judgment who Interpret this especially of God the Son Jesus Christ This seems the fairest Construction if we view the Words in the Original we are his Witnesses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. Christ's Witnesses Christ is the Person spoken of first and last the Verse begins and closes with him Now that Christ hath a right to our Obedience is undeniable 1. Because we were made by him and as his Creatures we are bound to be his Servants He that brought us into Being may upon that Account require the utmost Performance of Duty from us 2. As he is our Redeemer he is entitled to be our Ruler He may very well give Laws to us that hath restor'd our Lives to us as the impotent Man urg'd to the Jews when they censur'd him for carrying his Bed on the Sabbath-day John 5.11 He that made me whole the same said unto me take up thy Bed and Walk q.d. it becomes me to follow his Orders to whom I owe my Recovery Christ is Saviour and Lord to the same Persons and all that are ransom'd by him are thereby engag'd to be subject to him 2. What is meant by obeying him here Some render it by Believing and that this must be included if it be not principally intended I would offer these few Argumeuts to prove 1. Faith it self is the highest Act of Obedience We read of the Obedience of Faith Rom. 16.26 As the great End of the Gospels Publication and the very same Words are render'd Obedience to the Faith Chap. 1.5 If we should take Faith here for the Doctrine of Faith 't is evident that the receiving of this Doctrine is set forth by Obedience In believing we obey for this is his Commandment that we should Believe c. 1 John 3.23 Indeed 't is the most difficult Duty as they that are found in the Performance of it are able to declare from their own Experience Presumption is easie but the true Exercise of Faith is hard Work 2. Faith is the Foundation of all Evangelical Obedience Obedience
alive but not awake they are too drousie and sluggish in their Course of Duty But when fresh help is given in from Eternal Power what lively Acts do gracious Habits produce How nimbly do we move in our walk with God! As the Prophet says Hab. 3.19 The Lord God is my Strength and he will make my Feet like Hinds Feet i. e. swift and unwearied III. Why must the overcoming of the Difficulties of Salvation be thus resolv'd into the Power of God's Grace What Reason is there for the placing of all upon that one Bottom 1. The highest and most perfect Creatures have miscarried when they stood in their own Strength the Strength with which they were endow'd at their first Creation 1. The Angels the highest rank of Creatures and in a most perfect State fell from Heaven Though they excell'd in Strength yet we see it was not enough to bear them up without confirming Grace They that always beheld the Face of God lift up their Heels against him and wickedly revolted from him They that were the Top of the Creation are sunk into an horrible Pit they that were greater in Power and Might than any of the Things which God made besides have betrayed their dangerous weakness by a foul and sinal Apostacy 'T is the harder to explain and give an account of their Fall because they sinn'd without a Temper They had no Instigation to Evil from without themselves and yet we find the mutability of their Natures was enough to expose them because they were not like the Elect Angels their Companions and the rest of their Kind established in Christ 2. Adam who was also made upright after the Holy Image of God without the least Bent or Inclination in his Soul to Evil fell nevertheless That we the Posterity of the first Man whose Natures are already corrupted and strongly byass'd with indwelling Sin should run into all manner of Abominations unless God restrain us is no wonder but it seems strange that our pure and sinless Parents that had such a stock of Righteousness to live upon should so notoriously and so quickly offend How plainly does this shew that a Creature before a Sinner given to change cannot carry sufficient Preservatives from Sin within it self Was the Power of standing so soon lost by innocent Man and do any of his sinful Race expect to regain it and raise up themselves without being behold'n to God 2. The best and eminentest Saints have most manifestly felt and readily own'd their necessary Dependance upon the Power of the Grace of God It may be some young and raw Converts may be too rash and confident at first their Imaginations go a great deal beyond their Strength and they think they can do or suffer any thing for Chirst like foolish Children when they begin to use their Legs that venture further than they can with Safety but grow more wary afterwards So here Babes in Christ being transported by the heat of their first Love forget many Times how feeble and infirm they are till God by leaving them gives them some afflicting Proofs of it But the most solid well grown Christians that are judicious as well as affectionate that have tryed their Strength oftner and consider'd Things better that have really profited more in Religion and attained nearer to the Resurrection of the Dead these are always the most apprehensive of the Truth I am now upon God's eldest Children and that are of all others the fittest for Enjoyment of their glorious Inheritance do still perceive and are apt most freely to confess themselves uncapable of yielding Holy Obedience without Supplies of Power from the Spirit of Christ Paul gives us the Report in an Hour of Temptation though he had been caught up to Heaven above fourteen Years before yet when he came down again was like to be over-born by the buffettings of Satan if God had not held him up That Answer which Christ gave him was all his Support or else that chosen Vessel had been broken in Pieces 2 Cor. 12 9. He said to me My Grace is sufficient for thee my Strength is made perfect in weakness 3. If both the Desire and the Performance in all spiritual Cases be the Effects of God's mighty Operation then all must be resolved into his Power for the Desires and Performances take in all Phil. 2.13 It is God which worketh in you both to Will and to Do c. If he Works in us these two Things a fixed Inclination to good and actual Execution of it what is it that he does not Work 1. God Works the Will all Holy Desires are by his Operation Psalm 110.3 Thy People shall be willing in the Day of thy Power 'T is he that roots out our sinful Aversions and Reluctancies with his strong Hand The changing and turning and new moulding of the Heart is the sole Work of him that fashioned it at first None can prevail upon the Soul to chuse and affect what it naturally abhors and flies from but only he 2. God Works the Deed all Holy Performances are the proper Fruits of his efficacious Influence also This is undeniable for in whatsoever Case that influence is withdrawn though the Will continues the Deed is wanting Though he hath wrought in us to Will what we should do yet we cannot do what we should and would Is not Paul and every Believer in the World a clear Instance of this Rom. 7.18 To Will is present with me but how to perform c. I find not We desire to do a great deal better than we attain to do David took Pleasure in Duty and yet craves Ability for it as a further additional Gift Psalm 119.35 Make me to go in the Path c. for therein do I delight Though the Way be most delightful we must go in God's Strength 4. The Tenour of the New Covenant puts this Point out of Doubt that the Difficulties of Salvation are to be overcome by the Power of God's Grace only The Law which is our Rule of Duty and to be observ'd as such by those that are in Christ requires Things above our Strength but God in this Covenant of Grace Promises what he requires and undertakes for what he demands The Things which he enjoins us to do he says He will enable us to do which plainly implies that without his powerful help they could never be done for why should God vainly and needlesly engage to interpose in a Matter which might be done as well though he stood afar off and contributed nothing towards it Does God fear as Joab intimated to David concerning Rabbah when he fought against it 2 Sam. 12.28 lest we should take the City and so it should be called after our Name I mean does God-fear lest we should do all our selves and so run away with all the Honour No surely God's Glory may be wickedly snatcht and stolen from him but it can never be justly won or gotten by us and therefore God's gracious
the very top and uttermost point the head Stone and the full blown Flower of a Creature 's Felicity when you have said this you can go no higher now to assure us the more comfortably of our arrival to this at last we have the pledges and beginnings of it here but the way of our receiving them is to be consider'd 'T is by eating the Flesh and drinking the Blood of Christ by Faith in the Lamb slain in our Passover Sacrific'd for his Flesh could not have been eaten nor his Blood drunk if he had not died 'T is the death of Christ which we must lay hold upon for Life and Salvation the Kingdom which he appoints to us is founded here for as one says Christ hath purchased by his Death all the Legacies bequeath'd in his Testament which no other Testator does IV. Why did Jesus Christ make it his Work to restore what he took not away 1. It was a necessary work a work which must be done in order to his being a Saviour God will have restitution made one way or another his injur'd Name and Honour must be vindicated It became him c. in bringing many Sons unto glory yea it would have become him if he had brought but one to make the Captain of our Salvation perfect through sufferings Hebr. 2.10 It was agreeable to his Wisdom Purity Truth and Righteousness that Jesus Christ should make compensation by his Blood for the Iniquity of Mâ—â— It was not fit nor consistent with the Perfections of Gods Nature that such Indignities 〈…〉 had offer'd should be passed by 〈…〉 without any notice taken or 〈…〉 Mercy cannot be exercis'd to the dispuragement of any other Attribute he cannot exile one to the depressing of the rest In the business of Salvation there was something else to be done besides the magnifying of Grace God had said that be would magnisie the Law and make it honourable Isa 42.21 This Law had been trampled on by every Child of Disobedience and therefore to assert and recover the Reputation of it Christ must be made under it perform what it enjoin'd and suffer what it threatned 2. It was a work impossible for any meer Creature to do so that if Christ did not it could not have been done by any Person besides him The Scripture speaks of the wicked Oppressor that he shall vomit up what he swallows down and according to his substance shall the restitution be Job 20.18 He shall refund to those whom he hath drained by rapine and Violence as far as his Estate will go But what restitution can there be when all the substance is wasted This is our case we are wretchedly poor and insolvent and have nothing to pay being reduc'd by Sin to absolute Beggary we have stoln away as far as was in our power the Crown from God and we have â—ined and plander'd our selves encroach'd upon the Rights of Heaven and wrong'd our own Souls and are utterly uncapable of making the least attonement for all this We can take away but we cannot restore When the Servant that owed Ten thousand Talents to his Lord was brought before him and could not pay his Debt his Lord commanded him to be sold Matth. 18.25 but alas we are not worth so much as our Debt amounts to If Justice should seize us it must detain us for ever we must not only be cast into Prison but kept there and our lying in Hell for ever would not satisfy God as Christ's suffering once upon the Cross SERMON XVI December 15. 1696. PSALM LXIX iv last Clause Then I restored that which I took not away 3. JEsus Christ was ordained of God to this work and in that respect there was a necessity of his accomplishing it John 9.4 I must work the work of him that sent me c. This was the work of him that sent him and therefore he could not decline it Christ could not resist the Will of the Father any more than he could cease to love him John 14.31 That the World may know that I love the Father as the Father gave me commandment even so I do His Obedience was an Evidence of his Love to God as it is of ours though there be no proportion between his and ours for no Creatures love to God was ever so strong or ever so tried Cyrus was styled the Man that executed God's Counsel Isa 46.11 but he did it ignorantly for he knew not God but the Man Christ Jesus understood his Work and who gave it him to do and design'd the Execution of God's Counsel in it as an Expression of his matchless Affection to him It became our Lord Jesus in the quality of God's Commissioner To be faithful to him that appointed him Heb. 3.2 He was put in trust with this Business and he must shew his Fidelity in performing it There is such an exact Agreement between his and the Father's Will that when God pleas'd to require his Service he could not but say Lo I come 4. Christ had engag'd to take this Work upon him which is a sort of Engagement that the Scripture more than once expresses by striking Hands Job 17.3 Prov. 22.26 So our Lord Jesus had covenanted with the Father before all Time to do that which in the fulness of Time he actually came to do Now this Agreement which bears an Eternal Date could not be disanulled or made void again as God the Father had sworn with respect to Christ and could not repent Psalm 110.4 So Jesus Christ having enter'd into such a Bond it stood firm as the Ordinances of Heaven and he could not go back from the Execution or Performance of it If the Covenant of Redemption might have been broken the whole Design might have miscarried the Counsel of Peace had been overthrown and all the Thoughts of God to us-ward had come to nothing It was upon this unmoveable Foundation that the Salvation of all the Believers under the Old Testament was built as well as those under the New so that if Christ had not made good what he undertook they that were let into Heaven must have been cast out But the Considence that God reposed in his Son could not be so defeated He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not is the Character of a Citizen of Sion Psalm 15.4 But most eminently true of Christ 5. The Infinite Love of Christ to Sinners did sweetly incline him to this Work His Delights who was the Wisdom of God were with the Sons of Men Prov. 8.31 He delighted in Mercy and in them as the needy Objects of it who otherwise were altogether undelightful The Bowels of Jesus Christ were troubled for us he could not bear to see his whole reasonable Creation in this lower World made a Prey to the Devil without interposing for the effectual Rescue of a chosen peculiar Number Our Misery was the Motive to his Compassion that swayed him to Acts of Pity when our guilt would have provokt him to