pleasant Habitations after all your Wilderness Journeyings There 's a large dwelling-place here you are thrust into corners and may be have little conveniencies in your Houses Here you dwell in Strangers and perhaps Enemies Houses but there your dwelling shall be in your Father's House 'T is really so I do not flatter you with vain hopes or feed you with false reports if it were not so I would have told you Some might object here That there may be Houses in Heaven and yet they in Hell No says Christ I go to prepare a place for you when I come to Heaven I will bespeak a House for you it shall be your own your own proper Right every one of you and of all my People shall have a House of their own and it shall be Fee simple theirs to all Eternity But some may say How shall we be sure of this that when we dye we shall have a place in Glory Why saith Christ As sure as I go to Heaven shall you have a Mansion there for 't is one end of my going thither 't is part of my business there I go to prepare a place for you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word saith Grotius notes a Divine Appointment a place that God allots and appoints for you that you might not think it is procured by your own Merit and labours As if he should say you may be sure my People you shall not miss of a place in my Father's House because he hath given you a house in Heaven and I go to possess it for you and to make it sure My Father hath given it and I have purchased it and now I go to take it into my own hand for you yea to fit and sute your Lot in Heaven as may be most meet for you and as may bear a full proportion to all your Labours and Sufferings for me And thus the word likewise imports saith Dr. Preston to fit and fashion one as a Vessel is fashion'd and shap'd to its proper Use But Believers may urge Lord how shall we get thither the Journey is far the Way we know not many Dangers lye betwixt this and Heaven the Prince of the Air and all the Devils of Hell lye betwixt this and Glory and how shall we get safely through all these Dangers Why saith Christ I will come again and receive you when I have done your Work in Heaven when I have difpatched my gathering and compleating work on Earth when all my Saints are called and perfected then will I come again and receive you to my self I will come and unite your Souls and Bodies together and then will shew you the way to Heaven and lead you into your own habitations there and as surely put you into possession of Glory as I am going to possess it for my self and in the mean time I will take care of you in the way and send my Spirit to guide you and bear you thorow it and my Angels when you are at your Journeys end shall receive your Souls and bring them unto me that where I am you may be also Joh. 17. 24. Joh. 12. 26. What greater Love can there be than the Engagements of Christ's Heart to get all his Children brought home to Heaven that they may be ever with him and partake of his Glory 1 Cor. 15. 22 23. CHAP. X. Several Deductions drawn from the Love of Christ IF the Lord Jesus be so full of Love and tender Affection then First What reason have Sinners never to be quiet till the Lord Jesus become their Friend till they have an Interest in his special Love Alas poor Souls the common Love of Christ though now you fare the better for it will shortly be at an end His Philanthropy though procious yet is but like a Box of Ointment which may be wasted and consum'd Mark 14. 4. But his special Love is like the two Olive Trees Zach. 4. 12. always emptying out it self through the golden Pipes of his Ordinandes to his People Christ's common Love to Sinners is like a Land-flood that will be drained But his special Love is compar'd to a Fountain a Wood of Water that springeth up to Life Eternal O then labour after an Interest in this Love of Christ that brings Salvation Put away the Evil of thy doings hearken to Christ's counsel receive him into thy Heart by Faith obey his Voice take him to be thy Lord and God and thou shalt possess his love too Psal 45. 10. Secondly Then what an abominable thing is it to hate Christ how unexcusable will Sinners Enmity against him be when he comes to Judgment Jer. 2. 5. Prov. 8. 36. All they that hate me love Death Psal 21. 8 9. Psal 132. 18. Nah. 1. 2. 3dly Then why should Believers take up such hard thoughts of Christ Isa 40. 27. Why sayest thou O Jacob my way is hid from the Lord and my Judgment is passed over from my God that is my Condition my trouble my Soul is out of God's thoughts He takes no notice of nor cares what becomes of me And my Judgment that is God's judging my Cause his righting and helping my oppressed Soul is gone from me or he hath laid it aside he will not help me in my Affliction This was Sion's complaint and hard thoughts of God and this displeased him Why sayest thou O Jacob c As if he should say what cause hast thou O Israel my People to entertain such harsh conceptions of my Love what Iniquity hast thou found in me what wrong have I done thee Have I not born thee from the Womb and carried thee all the dayes of old Look back to the Red Sea and to the Wilderness who cared for thee there Call to mind the Manna and the Rock the Bread and Water on the Way I suffered none to do thee harm I delivered thee out of the hands of all thy Enemies and plagued them that injured thee Thus have I been thy help from thy Youth up and why sayest thou then my way is hid from the Lord O Jacob thou dost ill to censure me so severely Is this the requital of all my love and kindness to thee hitherto Repent of these injurious apprehensions and put more favourable constructions on my wayes Gracious Souls have no reason to prejudge the Heart of Christ and censure him of unkindness and negligence for 't is impossible he should forget his People Isa 49. 15. He hath paid too dear for them to do so They have cost his Blood Eternal Counsels many Troubles many Wonders and will he reject them after all O no. He hath engraven them on the Palms of his hands where he cannot but see and must secure their names Isa 49. 16. I cannot look upon my hands but I must remember thee I should forget my self should I forget thee thou art set as a Seal upon my Heart and thy Walls are continually before me that is though thy Protection be gone for a time and I
Kingdom at all is the reward of all such labours Sixthly 'T is work that will surely end in death Let men work never so hard yet they must dye and be damn'd at last for falling short and this is bondage-work indeed but the Children of God are freed from this work Rom. 7. 6. But now we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we are held that we should serve in newness of Spirit and not in oldness of the letter Again As they are freed from bondage-work so are they freed from bondage-wrath The wrath of God is upon all the Children of disobedience all Christless Souls are Children of wrath bound over to an Inheritance of wrath Eph. 5. 6. Chap. 2. 3. Because the Law worketh wrath Rom. 4. 15. It brings all its Servants under wrath under the curse and under death Rom. 6. 23. But from this also are all the Sons of God freed Heb. 2. 14. And destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil And not only from the Devil but from the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 8. Rom. 6. 14. Chap. 8. 2. Gal. 3. 13. Again they are free from all yokes of bondage laid on their Consciences by Men. Gal. 5. 1. 1 Cor. 7. 23. Ye are bought with a price be not ye the Servants of Men Do not give up your Faith and Conscience to their Commands obey not them contrary to the Command of Christ Gal. 1. 10 11. if I yet pleased men I should not be the Servant of Christ This is the first part of liberty the Children of God are brought into even a liberty from Servitude Secondly They have a liberty to service in the Worship of God Their service of God is free and ingenuous Service their offerings are free-will Offerings Psa 119. 108. Accept the free-will offerings of my mouth That is those offerings or vows which my mouth hath freely offered The Children of God are a willing people Psa 110. 3. They serve the Lord freely from the heart Rom. 6. 17. They obey from the heart that form of Doctrine deliver'd to them They delight in the Law of God after the inner Man Rom. 7. 22. The strictest Service of God is to them the most desired liberty the Commands of God are no wayes grievous to them that is to their inner Man indeed so far as flesh and Corruption get head they drag heavily to duty when the spring of their motions even their child-like love to God is abated and all the Indispositions of a child of God flow from decaies of love to God and some abatement of the Adoption-Spirit in him The Children of God are never in their Element or as they would be but when their hearts slow out after God and they can run the paths of his Commandements this they pray and labour for Psa 119. 32. I will run the way of thy Commandements when thou shalt enlarge my heart So ver 69. I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart Their hearts move naturally after God when in their right temper As the Waters run towards the Sea and the Sun runs his race Their service of God comes from a new Principle even from Faith that works by love and is directed to new and higher ends than all the services of Hypocrites The sense of divine love constrains them to duty that they cannot but chuse the things that please God further than they are bound back by Corruption and Temptation their works are wrought in God from a Principle of life raised and revived by grace They have no mercenary aimes in their Duties to attain any carnal selfish end below God but their Motives are high and heavenly pure and spiritual as the Love of God and care they have to please him They see a beauty in Holiness and a pleasantness in the ways of God and find a sutableness in their hearts to love these though under never sâ— great discouragements and disadvantages aâ— to flesh and blood hence 't is a Child of God cannot cast off God and his Worship though he see nothing of good or comfort coming in by them nor be perswaded to consent to any thing that is sinful though to save his purse person yea life it self All the threatnings of Men or visible dangers in his way can't bring his heart to comply with ungodliness or speak or do any thing against God his people or wayes 2 Cor. 13. 8. We can do nothing against the truth None but a Judas can come with a Band of men and Officers against Christ to apprehend him or his people for owning him Micaiah would speak nothing against the truth though to please a King 1 Kings 22. 17. Nor Jacobs Soul enter into the secret of the wicked in their sinful enterprise A fearful Peter may forsake the professing of Christ for a time but he will not be seen on the side of those that do oppose him no this is far from the true Spirit of Gods Children We read of the Christians in the primitive times that left their preferments rather than they would be seen against Christ people and the whole Legion chose rather to lay down their lives than to oppose their fellow Christians Such shufflings and Compliances are opposed to the Spirit of the true Children of God they can run after God in a Wilderness but cannot be drawn against God by all the World Secondly They have new Rights and Interests Believers being once entred into the Family of God by Christ are presently invested with new and Glorious Rights whicâ— they never had before nor any besides the Chilâ—ren of God have or can ever have which will appear in these fix things First They have a right to the special and blessed presence of God the Father Son and Spirit Psa 140. 13. The upright shall dwell in thy presence The upright that is the faithful the Children of God these shall dwell in thy presence in thy special presence for all Men and Devils are in the general presence of God but the Saints shall be in Gods special presence and not step into it only as strangers may but continue for ever as Sons Joh. 8. 35. The servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever Psa 26. 6. Secondly They have a right to the purchase of Christ to all the fruit of his Obedience and sufferings His blood is theirs with all the procurements of it Isa 53. 5. He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed whatever Christ dyed for according to the agreement betwixt the Father and him is the Right of his Children Joh. 17. 9. Thirdly They have right to the Promises 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises Whereby that is by the knowledge of him as ver 3. Or through Faith in him that is by Jesus Christ we come to have
He that gives a Kingdom at the Journeys end will not deny Bread and Water in the way He will provide for their Bodies and Souls for their Persons and Families Sixthly Correction is theirs Psal 89. 32. Heb. 12. 8. Correction is the Saints Priviledge and great advantage they have need of it 1 Pet. 1. 6. Though for a season if need be you are in heaviness c. And they have advantage by it Psa 119. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted Heb. 12. 10. But he for our profit Seventhly Protection is another priviledge of Children He will keep them as the Apple of his Eye Psa 17. 8. He will hide them in the secret of his Tabernacle Ps 31. 20. He will keep them Day and Night Isa 27. 3. He gives his Angels charge concerning them Psa 91. 11 12. Heb. 1. 14. Lastly The Kingdom is theirs O think what rest what joy what holiness what perfection what immutability and Eternity of Glory is in Heaven and say all this is my Estate by Adoption I shall one day be possessed of it here I am poor but there I shall be rich here I am empty and hungry there I shall be full here I am despised there I shall be honoured here I have not a house lay my head in there I shall have a Mansion to all Eternity here one and another says come sit at my Foot there shall I sit on a Throne and be a Crowned King for ever Here my Comforts go and my troubles stay worms breed in all my enjoyments but thereis no Rust nor Moth no Decay nor Death O blessed state indeed that Believers are Adopted to in Christ Fifthly The last considerable thing in Adoption is the Duties that flow from such a state and this is part of their priviledge also as being the Fruit of an Adoption-state and that which they are purchas'd as well as oblig'd unto by the blood of Christ all the filial duties of Believers are the fruits of Adoption-Grace Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts The Spirit of his Son to make you really such and to form in you the Nature and work you to the duty of Sons So that Adopted Souls are not only chosen of God to be heirs with Christ but are also begotten of God into the Nature and Image of Christ Rom. 8 29. Whom he did foreknow them he did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that as Christ carryed himself as a Son so should the Children of God in their measure and time and that by the same Spirit Now these duties which Gods Children are spirited and engaged to are First To love God as their Father even from a sense of his Fatherly love 1 Joh. 4. 19. We love him because he first loved us Deut. 6. 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy Soul and with all thy might The Lord thy God because he hath pleased to make thee his Son and to place thee in so near and high relation to himself Psa 31. 23. O love the Lord all ye his Saints You that are set apart for him and Sanctified by him O you of all Persons from the sense of this relation should love him This is a filial duty and so essential to Sons as that 't is put for the ground of all their Obedience Joh. 14. 13. If a man love me he will keep my word and my Father will love him that is manifest his love to him as a Father This is not a forced but a natural love to God arising from that new Nature and Spirit of Adoption in them so that a Child of God may as well cease to be a Child as cease to have a disposition to love him Indeed a gracious Soul may not alwayes actually love God but he hath a disposition to love him and can appeal to God that he knows he would love him and there is nothing in all the World he can value like him Secondly To obey him 1 Pet. 1. 14. As obedient Children not fashioning your selves according to former Lusts 'T is a great duty of Children to obey their Parents in all things lawful and so they that are Gods Children are much more oblig'd to obey God whose relation much more binds them being so far above all other relations whose love constrains them 2 Cor. 5. 14. whose Laws invite them they being holy just and good Rom. 7. 12. Whose rewards also encourageth them there is a reward in keeping them Psa 19. 11. and a reward upon those that keep them Rev. 2. 10. Now this Child-like obedience differs from all other obedience in that 1. 'T is the fruit of faith Joh. 8. 47. He that is of God heareth Gods word that is obeyeth Gods word but what an Obedience is this see the former ver It is an Obedience from faith ver 46. If I say the truth why do ye not believe me 2. 'T is the labour of love 1 Thes 1. 3. Remembring without ceasing your work of Faith and labour of love 3. 'T is delightful Obedience Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inner Man Thirdly A fear of offending him Hos 3. 5. And shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter daies This is a filial fear arising from their relation to God as their Father 1 Pet. 1. 17. And if you call on the Father c. pass the time of your sojourning here in fear This is a fear springing from and consisting with love there is a fear that love casteth out 1 Joh. 4. 18. perfect love casteth out fear that is slavish fear 'T is such a fear as keeps the Soul close to God and not drive him from him Jer. 34. 40. O how fearful is such a Soul of offending God Job 34. 31. He will do all he can to prevent sin Psa 119. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee Fourthly A zeal for Gods glory Psa 69. 9. The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up That is the zeal which I have for thy house or for thy pure Worship against them that would corrupt it hath like fire consumed me Zeal is the burning fire of love which will not bear any thing that dishonours God So Phinehas could not endure to see God dishonoured by the whoredomes of his People but in his zeal executes the Law upon one of the highest offenders Numb 25. 11. The want of the zeal made Laodicea in danger of being spued out of Gods mouth Rev. 3. 16. and therefore God calls her to Repentance and to this zealous Spirit in his Worship ver 19. Be zealous and Repent This zeal was that Child-like temper that God commended in Ephesus Rev. 2. 2. Thou canst not bear them that are evil A zealous Soul cannot suffer any reproach on Gods Name Psa 69. 20. Reproach hath broken my heart
God and one another Creature-affections are but streams deriv'd from this Ocean Candles lighted at this Sun We love him because he first loved us 1 John 4. 19. The ascending Love of Saints is a faint Reflection of the descending Love of Christ the same Waters that empty themselves into the Sea have their Birth from it Seventhly An active love Creature-affections are dull and sluggish and savour rankly of the Vessel they are in but Christ's are vigorous and laborious a parental Love that sets his Wisdom on designing his Faithfulness on securing and his Power on accomplishing the chiefest Concernments and highest good of his Children Lastly a fruitful Love full of good Works 't is commended love Rom. 5. 8. manifested love 1 John 4. 9. Not love in the Womb or abortive but love in the Birth I shall name some of it's Fruits to his People First the giving of himself for them Eph. 5. 25. Who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2. 20. This is the highest Testimony of his Love imaginable he could not have bestowed a better thing he that gives himself gives all He gave himself to procure a purchased Treasure to enrich them to destroy the partition Wall and fill up that bottomless Gulf that lay in their way to glory he gave himself to discharge their Debts remove their Guilt justifie their Persons fulfil all Righteousness and make good the new Covenant Secondly The opening of his heart to them John 15. 14 15. I have called you Friends for all that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you O! the wonderful Love and Kindness of Christ to his People that he communicates his Secrets and opens to them the Thoughts of his Heart from all Eternity he leads them into his retired Chambers and secret Recesses and feasts them liberally with hidden Manna and excellent Discoveries of the things freely given them of God Saints cannot ascend up into Heaven and see the Length Depth Breadth and Height of those glorious things God hath prepared for them but they have the Priviledge to wade deep into sanctuary Waters and the Spirit of Grace is freely given them to reveal the Depths of divine Love Thirdly The Communication of all good things to them He will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold Psa 84. 11. Psal 34. 10. O boundless Love indeed he may bestow some sublunar Portions on his Enemies but his Children only shall have the Inheritance they shall have his Wisdom to direct them his Goodness to supply them his Power to protect them and his Spirit to instruct them Joh. 16. 13. 14. And O what a wonderful Gift is the Spirit he will shew them their Duty reprove them for their Sin answer their Doubts clear up their Way and enlighten them in their Darkness he will open their Hearts enlarge their Souls regulate their Wills illuminate their Minds and sanctifie their Persons he will communicate Counsel reveal Christ discover their Inheritance and seal them up to the day of Redemption Fourthly His minding and pursuing all their Concerns in Heaven the Business Believers have in another Country where they cannot come is very weighty they need Receptions of more Grace every day Strength against Corruption Wisdom in their Difficulties Patience in their Sufferings and Faith in their Temptations now Christ doth agitate their Cause becomes their Factor and dispatches their Work Exod. 28. 29. Heb. 7. 25. Isa 49. 15. 16. Fifthly His gracious Presence with them Joh. 14. 18. I will not leave you comfortless Heb. 13. 5. Jer. 32. 40. 2 Cor. 6. 16 He may hide his face for sometime and suspend the gracious light of his Countenance he may stand behind the Wall and step behind the Curtain yet these are but momentary not continual and imaginary not real Sixthly His bearing with them and forbearing of them 1 Cor. 13. 7. Charity beareth all things it cannot easily be overloaded what gross Indignities and abusive Injuries doth Christ patiently receive from the hands of his People Amos 2. 13. Psal 95. 10. Seventhly His thinking often and well of them and his being a Friend to their Friends and an Enemy to their Enemies where a mans Affections are there will his Thoughts be also the Adulterers Thoughts are on his Uncleanness the wordly man 's on his Treasures and the Ambitious on his Honours but Christ's are on his People Isa 43. 4. They are his Hephzibah's the delight of his Soul his Jewels and Treasures Isa 62. 4. Mal. 3. 17. He esteems their Enemies as his Exod. 23. 29. and favours their Friends with peculiar Blessings Exod. 1. 20. Gen. 39. 5. Eighthly His being troubled with their Troubles and delighted with their Welfare Joh. 11. 33. 35 36. when the Lord Jesus came to raise Lazarus from the dead and saw Mary weeping and the Jews that were with her 't is said He groaned in Spirit and was troubled nay when he came to the place where Lazarus lay he wept whereupon the Jews said Behold how he loved him and his Heart is the same now in Heaven Isa 63. 9. True love will suffer in the Tryals of it's Friend Acts 9. 4. hence the Afflictions of Saints are call'd the Afflictions of Christ Col. 1. 24. what Hester said concerning her people may be more truly spoken by Christ Hester 8. 6. How can I endure to see the Evil that shall come upon my people He is grieved at the Evil of their Sins or Sufferings Mark 3. 5. Eph. 4. 13. and takes wonderful Pleasure in their Welfare Poov 8. 31. no tender parent can more earnestly desire the Happiness and rejoyce in the Advantages of his Children than Jesus Christ in his Psal 147. 11. If the Joy of his Ambassadors doth much depend upon the Prosperity of the Souls of their Auditors 3 Epist Joh. ver 4. Then surely himself is not altogether unconcern'd Lastly His preparing a Heaven for them John 14. 2 3. In my Fathers House are many Mansions I go to prepare a place for you c. The Lord Jesus knows that his departure from the World with the sad Consequences thereof would breed great Trouble in the Hearts of his Disciples therefore labours to prevent it by telling them of the occasion of his Departure that it was for their sakes and in their business and though the World would abuse them when he was gone and cast them out of their House and Country yet he tells them he had a Father in Heaven that would receive them and he was going thither to prepare a place for them and there was store of room for them in Heaven The word translated Mansion here signifies an abiding fixed place Here you dwell in Tabernacles but in Heaven are places for you out of which you shall never be turned more Don't expect much Happiness in the World but look to Heaven for all your satisfying Comforts There 's a Rest for you after all your wearying Duties and Troubles there are
have left thee to the Will of thine Enemies yet I will redeem and secure thee I will raise up thy Walls and re-establish thy State for thy Walls are before me though thou seest them not I can and will preserve them thou art Weak but I am strong I faint not though thou faintest I am never weary though thou art tyred and as sure as I have Strength I will give it thee they that wait on the Lord shall renew their Strength Isa 40. 28. Again you cannot see the way to get out of your Troubles your Wisdom is non-plust but mine is not so There is no searching of my Vnderstanding O then do not give up thy Hopes O Jacob or conclude I have forgotten thee He hath promised he will not cast off his People nor leave them comfortless 1 Sam. 12. 22. Joh. 14. 18. And he is not as a man that he should lye c. Numb 23. 19. He hath given them his Seal to it 2 Cor. 1. 22. Eph. 4. 30. Nothing can separate his love from them Rom. 8. 35. 38 39. Object But I am afraid I am none of Christs nor have the Spirit because of the Filthiness Obdurateness and Irregularity of my Heart Answer If ever thou hadst the Spirit thou hast it still John 4. 14. Isa 59. 21. Gracious Souls may sometimes seem to themselves to be carnal and sold under Sin Rom. 7. 14. They may not see any good thing dwell in them ver 18. but be like to the slain that lye in the Grave Psal 88. 5. So Heman thought himself one free among the dead whom the Lord would remember no more in the Winter there 's little visible difference between the living and the dead Tree neither is there betwixt a Saint and a Sinner in time of Desertion and Temptation God's Children may be led captive by Sin and brought into Bondage by their Lusts Rom. 7. 23. and then 't is hard to say how unlike they are to them that never knew God and therefore Christian judge not thy self by thy changeable Frames if thou dost not repent of thy Change thy leaving thy old Courses and chusing God and Grace a Corinth 7. 10. If thou dost not approve of any Sin or secretly love thy filthy ways Romans 7. 15. 20. If thy Heart be discontented with thy state of back-sliding and longeth after a return to thy resting place then thou art gracious Jer. 31. 18. Psal 14. 7. If thou dost find a War betwixt thy Members and thy Mind the Law of the Spirit of Life warring against the Law of Sin and Death thy state is good Rom. 7. 21 22 23. Gal. 5. 17. The Plesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary one to the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word notes a vehement and continued Desire a Desire which is still in Action and working till we have it accomplisht not a sudden Motion or momentary Passion Look how Corruption and Lust works against Grace so doth Grace against Corruption for these two are contrary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the one lays Seige against the other as a Souldier in a Trench against a Fort. Now if it be so with thy Soul that thou findest in it two parties as Twins in the Womb opposing each other and dost experience something in thy Will against Sin as well as for it and something in thy Affections an Enemy to thy Corruptions as well as a Friend if thou longest as much for Freedom from Sin as from Hell and thy Heart cannot be at peace whilst the Body of Sin remains in thee then lift up thy head O Soul Judgment shall be brought forth to Victory and the top stone shall in due time be laid with shouting Grace Grace to it Fourthly Then you that are Christ's take heed you abuse not his Love Rom. 6. 15. What then Shall we sin because we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid That is shall we yield our Souls to the Service of Sin as vers 16. or give a willing Consent to the Commission of it God forbid That is far be it from us noting it to be a vile and abominable thing to Sin under Grace and against Grace this is a most disingenuous thing to abuse love and requite Evil for Good it is most unjust to injure him that loveth you 't is a costly Sin and will have a bitter reckoning at last 't is a Spot notoriously like the Spot of Reprobation Jude v. 4. But if it may consist with Grace yet it will break your Bones and scourge you soundly e're God hath done what did David Solomon and Peter get by abusing divine Love Fifthly Admire Christ's love his love is admirable passing Knowledge you use to admire things that are strange and beyond your reach but what more miraculous and unparellel'd than this That the Lord of Glory who hath Angels at his Service should set his Affections on poor polluted Dust and Ashes on Fleas and Worms as Abraham and David acknowledged themselves to be that so illustrious a person as the Lord Jesus should fall in love with so deformed a piece as man in whom was neither Beauty nor Riches Vertue nor Honour and be enamoured of him so greatly as to take him into his Bosom and a conjugal Relation with himself 't is so stupendious a Miracle that 't is said he shall be admired of all that believe when he comes 2 Thes 1. 10. O Christians gather in all your Valuations from Creatures for your Creator and Redeemer Isa 63. 1. Sixthly Adventure on the Love of Christ swim on these deep Waters roll your selves on these divine Depths and confide in his new Covenant love for 't is unchangeable love to the end many waters cannot quench it Cant. 8. 7. Trust his Love I say in the way of Obedience Joh. 14. 21. 23. If his love be free then 't is not for your sake Deut. 7. 17. Not for your Beauty or Holiness but for his own good Pleasure Of his own Will begat he us Jam. 1. 18. He loves you Believers because you are his own Joh. 13. 1. And because it hath pleased him to make you his people 1 Sam. 12. 22. If he loves those that love him then surely he will kindly resent the Ardency of thy Affections to him O adventure on this Love Seaventhly love him who hath so loved you 1 Joh. 4. 19. Psal 31. 23. O love the Lord all ye his Saints The Reason is laid down from the 19. verse to this O how great is thy Goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee c. The greatness and Excellency of Christ's Love deserves yours O love him at all times and in all things with a free supream steady rational and expressed love Lastly Be full of love to others for Christ's sake Eph. 5. 2. Walk in Love as Christ also hath loved you 1 Joh. 4. 11. Love all men such a love is in God he
laid aside when there is no need of it True meekness may easily be discerned by its ends and grounds it must not proceed from a willingness to be aveng'd on others but to amend and reform them CHAP. XV. Wherein is demonstrated the infinite Bounty of Christ to all his Creatures with the manner of his giving THE next thing which discovers the sweetness of Christ's Disposition and greatness of his Personal Treasure is Sixthly His Liberality He is of a bountiful Disposition and this you know is of an endearing Nature Rom. 5. 7. Scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye Psal 13. 6. I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me Now this Liberality of Christ appears First To all his Creatures Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Psal 136. 25. Psal 145. 15. Whose heart is so large whose hand so wide as Christ's ver 16. He upholdeth all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. And by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. There is never a moment but he is laying out upon his Creatures and that must needs be a large Treasure that maintains the whole World Secondly To his Enemies He doth good to those that hate him He gives large portions of this World's goods to Esau's And uncharitable Dives's do many times fare deliciously and are cloathed gorgeously by his Bounty The wicked prosper Jer. 5. 28. Nay he doth not only give them the fat things of this Life but the great things of his Kingdome O the Privileges and Favours that Hypocrites enjoy as well as Saints He sends his Gospel to every Creature and causeth the very Dews of Sion to fall upon his Adversaris Thirdly Especially to his Children for to these he gives First Good things Whatever they have of him shall be good Jer. 32. 40. I will not turn away from them to do them good Their very Afflictions are for good their Wormwood and Gall is good Rebukes of God upon them stripping and humbling Providences nay their very Corruptions by this Bounty prove to their advantage Secondly All good things He gives Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84. 11. Psal 34. 10. All the good God sees fit for them and they are capable to receive shall be distributed to them Thirdly Great things Not Common but choice Mercies passing Knowledge Mysteries not onely to the World but to themselves Things unsearchable and things unutterable Things that cannot be known as they are nor valued as they deserve What one Nation saith David to God is like thy People whom God went to redeem for a People to himself to make him a Name and to do for them great things and terrible 2 Sam. 7. 23. Redemption-work brings forth great and terrible things for redeemed Souls O the great things that God doth and Christ gives to every ransom'd Soul Job 37. 5. Things which we cannot comprehend as you will see if you give but a general Survey on the Inventory of Christ's Gifts I shall instance in some of the most remarkable First That unvaluable Gift of Light He is the Light of the World Joh. 8. 12. How deformed is Darkness how beautiful is Light Eccles 11. 7. He is a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory c. Luke 2. 32. He is the bright Morning Star the Sun of Righteousness from whom the light of Life and all true Wisdom comes now this is a great and excellent thing Eccles 2. 13. Wisdom excelleth Folly as far as Light excelleth Darkness and this you know is very far Wisdom is preferred before Rubies and the most excellent things Prov. 8. from ver 10. to 20. That must needs be great which all the World cannot purchase but this is Wisdom now all true Wisdom comes by Jesus Christ he is the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 30. So who hath brought to light the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hidden things of God and that could by no ways be known but by Revelation No man hath known the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son shall reveal him Matth. 11. 27. He giveth Knowledge and Wisdom to whom he pleaseth that special Wisdom which none of the Princes of this World can attain unto 1 Cor. 2. 7. 8. Secondly Life He hath brought Life to Light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. and is not this a great gift All that a man hath will he give for his Life Job 2. 4. O! then what is Life from the dead to his people Eph. 2. 1. He is our Life Col. 3. 3. I am come that they may have Life and have it more abundantly Joh. 10. 10. Thirdly His Love all the World and Houses full of Treasures cannot be compar'd to Love Cant. 8. 7. Should Christ give all the World and withhold his Heart it were but a mean gift Favours are valuable by the love whence they come Isa 63. 9. In his Love and in his Pity he redeemed them Psal 63. 3. Deut. 33. 3. All Believers are set as a Seal upon his Heart Cant. 8. 6. He hath loved them with an everlasting Love they have his Heart and none else Fourthly Himself There being nothing greater than himself to demonstrate the Largeness of his Heart to his people he gave himself Eph. 5. 25. Who loved the Church and gave himself for it that is sold himself to purchase them gave himself to divine Justice to satisfie the Law and to taste of Death for them all that he had as Mediator he parted with for them and hath given himself to them also Heb. 8. 10. And I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People They have his person Hos 3. 3. Thou shalt not be for another so will I also be for thee All his Beauties and personal Perfections as described Cant. 5. ver 9. to the end all Believers have a Marriage right unto him by way of Gift again he hath given them his Purchase all that he hath bought with his Blood Math. 26. 28. This is my Blood of the New Testament shed for you Fifthly His Laws and Scepter to guide them through the World and to steer out their Course of Duty and Safety and this is a great thing Hos 8. 12. I have written to him the great things of my Law Rabab the excellent or honourable things of my Law for this word notes Quality as well as Quantity and if the things of God's Law are so great what are the Truths of the Gospel called so great Salvation Deut. 4. 8. And what Nation is so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so righteous Psal 147. 19. Sixthly His Spirit This he gives to all his People Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his 1 Cor. 12. 13 We are all by one
his Face from them when he speaks sharply to them and severely rebukes them Secondly To own his Friend in all places times and conditions so Jonathan owned David in his greatest Dangers when his Father sought his Life when it was dangerous to appear for him 1 Sam. 20. 28. 32. so Christ is not asham'd to own his People before God men Matth. 10. 32. Whosoever shall confess me before men him will I confess before my Father's Face 1 Cor. 16. 21. He reproved Kings for their sake saying touch not mine anointed c. Thirdly Pity Job 6. 14. Pity should be shewn from a Friend And in this is Christ faithful he hath compassion on the ignorant and those that are out of the way Heb. 5. 2. He cannot hide his Eyes from his own Flesh he is that good Samaritane Luke 10. 33. Fourthly Counsel Prov. 27. 9. Oyntment and Perfume rejoyce the Heart so doth the Sweetness of a man's Friend by hearty Counsel Christ is called the Counsellor Isaiah 9. 6. He will guide his People with his Eye and instruct them in the way they should go Psal 32. 8. Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them Neh. 9. 20. Fifthly Adherence Prov. 18. 24. There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a Brother 2 Sam. 16. 17. So the Lord Jesus he stands by his People in time of need Ps 50. 15. Ps 91. 15. Ps 44. 3. Sixthly Comfort So Joh's Friends Job 2. 11. Came to mourn with him and to comfort him the Lord Jesus is faithful in this also Joh. 14 18. I will not leave you comfortless Isa 61. 2. To comfort all that mouâ—â— Seventhly Communication of Secrets Judg. 16. 15. How canst thou say thou lovest me when thy Heart is not with me Now the Lord Jesus Christ is such a Friend he will open the very Secrets of his heart to his People Joh. 15. 15. I have called you Friends for all that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you Psal 25. 14. O the secret Mysteries of the Gospel he discloseth to his faithful People that walk much with him Joh. 14. 2 3. Lastly Supply of wants Prov. 17. 17. A Friend is born for Adversity So Paul tells the Thessalonians of his friendly respects to them 1 Thes 2. 8. A true friend is ready to impart any thing for his Friend so Jonathan stript himself to his Girdle and Bow and Sword for David 1 Sam. 18. 4. Christ is such a Friend as will supply all the Necessities of his people Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your need Such a Friend he was to Jacob Gen. 48. 15. The God which fed me all my Life long Secondly He is faithful as a Brother for in this Relation also doth he stand to his people Joh. 20. 17. Go to my Brethren and say to them that I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God Christ and Believers have all one Father though in a different way Christ the natural Believers the adopted Children of God Now as he stands to them in the Capacity and State of a Brother an elder Brother so his Fidelity consists in a faithful Discharge of the Duties of such a relation As First One Duty is Love All the Saints stand in the relation of Brethren one to another and so are obliged to mutual Love 1 Joh. 3. 10. Christ fulfills this duty to his people he loves them as himself Eph. 5. 25. perfectly with the same love with which the Father loves him Joh. 15. 9. Secondly Another brotherly duty is Pity 1 Pâ—t 3. 8. Having Compassion one of another love as Brethren be pityful So Christ can truly say as Esther did of her Kindred Esther 8. 6. Now can I endure to see the Evil that shall come unto my People or how can I endure to see the Destruction of my Kindred Thirdly Unity is the duty of Brethren Psal 133. 1. Behold how good and pleasant is it for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity so is the Lord Jesus one with his people This he dyed for Joh. 11. 52. This he prays for Joh. 17. 21. Fourthly Another brotherly duty is Peace Gen. 13. 18. Let there be no strife betwixt me and thee and betwixt my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren So Christ labours after peace for his people and with them Jo. 16. 33. Fifthly Acknowledgment is another duty of Brethren So Christ Heb. 2. 11. He is not asham'd to call them brethren Lastly visiting one another and taking hold of Opportunities to enquire the welfare of each other and communicate Refreshments Thus did Moses Acts 7. 23. He visited his Brethren and so doth Christ his People he gives them special Accesses by his Spirit he leaves them not comfortless but will come unto them Joh. 14. 18. Thirdly As a husband to his Spouse is Christ faithful to his People Isa 54. 5. Thy Maker is thy Husband 2 Cor. 11. 2. I have espoused you to one Husband Hos 2. 19. 20. I will betroth thee unto me in Righteousness loving Kindness and Faithfulness Now Christ performs all the Offices of a tender Husband to them First In loving them as himself Eph. 5. 25. Husbands love your Wives as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it Now I shall give you eight Proofs of Christ's great love as a husband to his People First His high Valuation of them he esteems them beyond all the World besides nay above Heaven it self he could leave the Heaven of Heavens to seek after and to save them and Mansions of Glory to come down and betroath them he despised all the offer'd Pleasures and Grandure of the world when proposed to divert his Love from them Matth. 4. He sets forth their excellencies by terms of greatest worth he calls them his Treasure Exod. 19. 15. A Kingdom of Priests vers 6. His Jewels Mal. 3. 17. Cant. 1. 10. Thy Cheeks are comely with Rows of Jewels thy Neck with Chains of Gold Cant. 2. 2. As the Lilly among Thorns so is my Love among the Daughters He terms them a Fountain of Gardens an Orchyard of Pomegranates Cant. 4. The only one of her Mother the choice one of her that bare her These high Characters the Lord Jesus gives his Spouse shews the wonderful account he makes of her Secondly His costly purchase of them he sold himself to redeem them Eph. 5. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. He parted with all his Glory Treasures Peace Pleasures Strength and Life to procure a people to himself had not his love been infinitely great to all his Seed he would never have bought them at so dear a rate 1 Cor. 6. 20. Thirdly His great Endurings for them Jacob tells us of some Hardships he underwent to gain Rachel Gen. 31. 40. 41. But these are nothing to Christ's Endurings for his Spouse he bore infinite Torments for her all the Wrath and Vengeance of a consuming Fire which all the Sins of Believers did
merit he bore temporal Troubles Wants Weariness Pains Shame Death it self with whatever the damned in Hell bear to all Eternity that did he endure to get a Spouse among the condemned Sons and Daughters of men Fourthly His amorous Treatments of them and endearing Converses with them see the Exuberancy of his Affection breathing out at his Lips to them Cant. 4. 1. to vers 6. Behold thou art fair my Love behold thou art fair thou hast Doves Eyes c. ver 7. Thou art all fair my Love there is no spot in thee Cant. 2. 10. Rise up my Love my fair one and come away chap. 4. 8. Come with me from Lebanon My Spouse from Lebanon vers 10. How fair is thy Love my Sister my Spouse how much better is thy love than Wine chap. 6. 4. 5. Thou art beautiful my Love as Tirzah turn away tâ—ine Eyes from me for they have overcome me Fifthly His large Gifts and dowry to them he gives himself his Spirit his Purchase his Laws his Promises his Love Life Light and his Kingdom as I have already shewed and this doth discover his large Affection to them Sixthly His impatient longing after them shews the Greatness of his conjugal love to them Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the Clifts of the Rock in secret places of the Stairs let me see thy Countenance and hear thy Voice Jer. 3. 14 Turn O back-sliding Children for I am marryed to you He stands at the door knocking with the dew of the night on his locks saying Open to me my Sister my Spouse my Love my Dove my Vndefiled Cant. 5. 2. He is troubled when he cannot see them and they will not come unto him that he might give them life Seventhly His wonderful Complacency in and rejoycing over them he is well pleased with he rests in his love over them Zeph. 3. 17. He takes them for his only Portion Seed and Travel of his Soul wherein he is satisfied And as a Bridegroom rejoyceth over his Bride so shall thy God rejoyce over thee Isa 62. 5. For the Lord delighteth in thee and thy Land shall be marryed ver 4. Lastly His utter Inability to part with them proves his great love to them Hos 11. 8. How shall I give thâ—e up O Ephraim Isa 49. 16. Behold I have graven thee upon the Palms of my hands and vers 15. A Woman may forget her sucking Child but I cannot forget thee Nay he sets them as a Seal upon his Heart Cant. 8. 6. You must pluck out his Heart before you can make him consent to let his Spouse go Joh. 10. 28. None shall pluck them out of my Hands That 's the first Testimony of his conjugal Faithfulness his Love to all his people 't is a constant Love Joh. 13. 1. Having loved his own that were in the World he loved them to the end Secondly His Cohabitation with them this is another part of the Husbands duty to his Spouse 1 Pet. 3. 7. Ye Husbands dwell with them according to Knowledge such is the Fidelity of Christ to his that he takes up his abode with them Joh. 14. 23. and walks with and dwells among them 2 Cor 6. 16. He doth not give them a transient Visit and look upon them now and then however he may sometimes appear a stranger and draw a Curtain over the light of his Countenance yet he doth not change his Habitation but takes up his rest in Sion and dwells there Psal 132. 13 14. Heb. 13. 5. He will never leave them nor forsake them Thirdly his affectionate and intimate Converses with them proves his conjugal Fidelity he keeps up Intercourse with them Christ in Heaven maintains correspondence with his people on Earth Exod. 25. 22. Theâ—e will I meet with thee and commune with thee above the Mercy Seat that is In my Ordinances and Appointments I will open my heart to thee tell thee my Love and impart to thee my Secrets 1 Joh. 1. 3. Our Fellowship is with the Father and his Son Christ Jesus and this Communion is maintained by the Spirit Joh. 16. 13. 14. When the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth c. For he will receive of mine and shew it unto you 'T is a notable Scripture and as much as if Christ had said I go to Heaven my personal Presence shall be in Mansions of Glory but I will send my Spirit and he shall reveal the deep things of God coâ—municate my mind unto you and concerning you Fourthly His tender Sympathy with them In all their Afflictions he is afflicted Isaiah 63. 9. He soon feels their Troubles he that toucheth them toucheth the Apple of his â—ye Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. and therefore the Sufferings of the Saints are called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the after Sufferings of Christ Col. 1. 24. What is done to them he reckons as done to himself And he doth not only feel their Afflictions but bear their Burdens for them Psal 55. 22. Cast thy burden on the Lord he will sustain thee yea he helps and relieves them under all their Afflictions Psal 50. 15. Fifthly His patience towards them shews his Fidelity as a husband 't is riches of patience and long-suffering that the Lord doth exercise towards his every day Rom. 2. 4. Sixthly His gracious Indulgence towards them covering their Imperfections and pardoning their Offences is another thing his conjugal Relation to his People obliges him to and this he is faithful in he puts Honour upon the uncomely parts and carriages of his People by cloathing them with the covering of his Righteousness Rev. 3. 18. He calls upon his people to put on their white Rayment that the shame of their Nakedness do not appear He puts up many a wrong for them and passeth by many a weakness in them concealing their Imperfections from the view of others and all because he loves them and they are his Hephzibah's Seaventhly His Care of them demonstrates his conjugal Fidelity to them 1 Pet. 5. 7. His Eyes are always upon them from one end of the year to the other Deut. 11. 12. Commit thy way to the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass Psal 37. 5. Upon him is the care of all the Churches and of every Saint yea of all their Concerns even their very hairs He cares for their Bodies their Souls their Families their names their Comfort and their Profit he will not leave them comfortless nor suffer them to be tempted above what they are able he will provide all things they stand in need of Isa 46. 3. 4. Psal 65. 9. and if he withholds these lower things from them here he prepares some better thing for them both here and hereafter Eighthly Protection of them from their Evils and Dangers this is a Husbands duty to be a covering for his Spouse and a Screen to her from Injury Gen. 20. 16. So Christ he carries his as
right to the promises for all the promises are in him Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. The promises of this Life and of that which is to come all are theirs 1 Tim. 4. 8. Fourthly They have Right to Communion with and to the blessing of the whole Family of Christ Being entred into Gods Family they have a Right to fellowship with all his people 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit are we baptised into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit The great design of the Apostle in this chap. is to shew that all Believers are brought into nearest Union with Christ and each other even into one body this he proves in this ver by the end of the Ordinances of Baptism and the Supper both which do signifie and seal up Believers into the nearest Union and Communion by reason of which they have equal right to one another and the whole body they have right to Communion with Angels and Saints All the Sons and Daughters of God have right to his House to his Church and all the priviledges of it Isa 56. 5. Ordinances and Ministers are theirs 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Yea they have right to the blessings of God on all Psalm 3. 8. Thy blessing is upon thy People Eph. 1. 3. Fifthly They have a right to all the good things of this Life Rev. 21. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things Even the good things of this Life Ps 37. 9. They that wait on the Lord shall inherit the Earth They are Heirs with Christ who is Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. They have through Christ a Right to all the good things of this world so far as God sees it best for them they have their right in the Second Adam who is Lord of all this is a New-Covenant-Right not over other mens rights to invade or break the civil properties of any but to those Creatures God gives them and to the good of all things even wants and enjoyments and have a sanctified use of them which none but the Children of God have Tit. 1. 15. Sixthly They have Right to the inheritance of Glory Tit. 3. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Heaven is the Country Home and Inheritance of all Saints Their Title is founded on the Purchase of Christ and Adoption of Grace not upon their Merit or Holiness and therefore 't is called on the account of Christ the purchased possession Eph. 1. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased Possession That is until we are actually redeemed from Corruption and put into the possession of purchased Glory yea their Reversion in Heaven is so freely procured for them without any of their money or price duties or obedience further than 't is the way to walk in to Glory that Eternal Life is said to be the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. Death comes by Man's merit but not Life and Salvation and is not this a glorious state and blessed condition to be made Heirs and Coheirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. And if Children then heirs and Joynt-heirs with Christ partakers of the same Rights with him Heirs of the Righteousness of Faith Heb. 11. 7. So was Abraham and so are are all Believers they have a right to Justification by believing and a right to the Kingdom of Glory Jam. 2. 5. Heirs of the Kingdom They have as good a Title to this by Grace and through the purchase of Christ as any man to an Inheritance here on Earth yea and far more sure of it for men may be turn'd out of their Rights and Properties here but Believers cannot be deprived of their Title and Inheritance through Christ Seventhly They have an interest in Gods love they are upon his Heart at all times Joh. 16. 27. For the Father himself loveth you He loves with an infinite Love a Love passing knowledge and transcending the love of all Creatures Isa 49. 15. A Mother may forget her Child but God cannot forget his He loves at all times Eternally and unchangeably He loves his Children ardently when they have but little love to him He loves them notwithstanding their unkindnesses and provocations Psal 89. 31 32 33. He loves them when he seems to be angry with them and is forced to correct them Heb. 12. 6. He always thinketh on them for good Jer. 29. 11. I know the thoughts I think towards you saith the Lord thoughts of Peace and not of Evil. He is very tender of them and hath the bowels of a Compassionate Father towards them Psal 103. 8 13. Mal. 3. 17. And I will spare them as a man spareth his Son that servâ—th him Eighthly They have a right to the Spirit of Grace the Spirit is put into their Hearts Gal. 4. 6. Not the spirit of Bondage but of Adoption Rom. 8. 15 16. They have union with the Spirit never to be seperated more v. 11. they have the Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zach. 12. 10. To quicken teach influence assist in Duty and make intercession for them Rom. 8. 26. O what a blessed priviledge is this to have the Spirit of the Son whereby they can go to God as a Father and to have the Spirit working in them the disposition and working for them the actions of Sons Thirdly They have holy and reverential boldness to come into the presence of God through his Son Ps 26. 6. I will wash my haâ—ds in innocency and so will I compass thine Alter Eph. 2. 18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father They can come to God at all times and behold his Face in Righteousness unless their sins do cause him to hide himself for a time Eph. 3. 12. And plead their cause through Christ with boldness Heb 10. 19 20. And they are not only free to come but sure to speed Joh. 16. 23 24. 1 Joh. 5. 14 15. Fourthly Instruction is another Priviledge of Sons They shall be taught of God Isa 54. 1â— He will teach instruct and shew them things they know not He will lead thâ—m into all truth Joh. 16. 16. The Spirit searcheth the deep things of God and revealeth them to the Saints 1 Cor. 2. 20. He wll teach them all things which they are able to bear They shall have the openings of Christs mind to steer their course whiles in this Wilderness of the World and shall receive the revelation of all truths necessary to Salvation Fifthly They have choice and delicate provisions and rich maintenance this is the duty of Parents to provide for their Obedient and indigent Children 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any man provide not for his own House he hath denyed the Faith He cares for his Children Mat. 6. 31 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. He that gives his Son how can he but with him freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your wants
vanquish all their Enemies for them Joh. 16. 33. Rev. 12. 11. To heal all their backslidings Hos 14. 4. To work all their works in them and for them Isa 26. 12. To give them Faith and to finish it Heb. 12. 2. To keep them faithful to the death 2 Thes 2. 3. And to secure the promised Fruit of all for them Rev. 22. 12. and therefore sufficiently able to make good Covenant-Promises to them and to fulfill Covenant-duties in them Sixthly Christs engagement to and for his people and his interest in them is another ground for the fulfilling of the Covenant Christ hath promised the Father that he will bring them all to Glory and hath undertaken all their work for them Heb. 10. 7. And he hath promised to them to make good his Covenant when he perswaded their hearts to him Heb. 8. 9 to 13. Isa 55. 11. Again his own interest in them is security enough All the fruit of his death and purchase lies in the fulfilling of the Covenant if that be broken he loseth all his hopes and Obedience he hath dyed in vain his blood and Intercession are to no purpose for herein lies all the travel of his Soul Isa 53. 10 11. In this is the enjoyment of all his delights if this Covenant be not sure then no Soul can be saved and Christ should lose those delights he had in the habitable parts of the Earth before the World was made Pro. 8. 31. Saved Souls are Christs Crown and Glory and how mangled and defective would Christs Crown be should any one Perish who are interested in this Covenant Upon this depends all Christs Mediatory Glory Joh. 17. 4 5. And should there be a failure here he would lose his expected Glory as Mediatour So that you see the fruit of his Purchase the delight of his Soul and his Eternal Glory with the Father are all wrapt up in the accomplishment of this Covenant Seventhly The Immutability of Gods Counsel and the certainty of his engagement confirmed by an Oath renders the new Covenant sure Heb. 6. 17 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew to the heirs of promise the immutability of his Counsel confirm'd it by an Oath These are two immutable things Gods purpose and his engagement and because these could admit of no variation therefore the things Promised must be fulfill'd indue time Heaven and Earth shall pass away but the Counsel of God that must stand 'T is laid upon Infinite Wisdom and all things in order to the fullfiling of it are made so sure that it cannot possibly be frustrated He wants not sufficient Power and faithfulness to reach his own designs and therefore what he hath determined must come to pass and upon this purpose of God is laid his promise He having first resolved upon it is engaged to it Lastly Another reason to prove the certainty of the new Covenant is taken from the nature of the promises they are absolute 't is true there are some conditional promises as the effects of the other but the fundamental promises and those which compleat the Covenant of grace are altogether absolute 't is true also faith is a necessary qualification to interest a Person in these promises but when the Soul comes to have a propriety in them the tenure of them then is absolute Jer. 31. 33 34. Heb. 8. 9. He will put his Spirit within them and will cause them to walk in his Statutes Ezek. 36. 25 to 28. I will be a God to them and they shall be my People Jer. 32. 40. And I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good But I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me In which you see the condition is undertaken and secured as well as the promise and things promised had it indeed depended upon conditional promises alone which doubting Souls have most in their eye then the failure of the condition would have forfeited the promises and then they had been null'd But you see the promises of the new Covenant are absolute and therefore sure to all the seed even to every one that believeth in Jesus Christ These are the grounds of hopes the believers have that the Covenant and every tittle of it shall be made good to them but that which doth meritoriously confirm it is the blood of Christ His death and suffering on which account it may be lookt on as the sealing and confirming of it and so believers may see to whom they are beholding and oblig'd for all their new-Covenant stability VSE From this grand and glorious truth The fulfilling and assurance of the new Covenant flows 1. Wonderful Comfort to all true Believers 2. Great Obligations on them to thankfulness and Obedience First This yeilds abundant Consolation to Believers on a double account 1. From the certainty 2. From the Excellency of this Covenant First From the certainty of this Covenant flows these streams of comfort First In that all occasions of Jealousie about the love of God are cut off for if the Covenant be sure then Gobs love is sure and secured from all mutability and cessation this being one great thing contained in it Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an Everlasting love Gods love to his People is Eternal therefore sure He doth rest in his love to them Zeph. 3. 17. The word is Jacharish he will be silent in his love Bucer renders it Silebit cum dilecta sua He shall be silent in his Beloved that is saith he He shall cease from contending with her being wholly delighted in her But Montanus renders it in the abstract he shall be silent by reason of his love Propter dilectionem suam But Cocceius and other Interpreters render the letter Beth In He shall be silent in his love or rest in his love alluding to the wonderful excess of affection in a Person that through exceeding amorousness cannot speak or express it for a time Cocceius takes it for the pardoning of their sin and ceasing from those former stroaks of his displeasure And this I suppose may be chiefly intended here to wit The greatness of his love noâ—ed by silence and exuberant Joy with a remove of all tokens of his anger and this to be fixt and perpetual so the Apostle assures Believers that the love of God in Christ is irremoveable Rom. 8. 35. All the World cannot withdraw Christs heart from his People where he once loves he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. This a believer may be assured of in the New Covenant that Gods love changeth not his heart is still towards his people however his dealings may be with them Secondly Then all the grounds of tormenting fear are now removed If the Covenant of grace be confirmed to believers then there 's no Just ground for them to entertain slavish fear Rom. 8. 15. For ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear
that thou should'st keep them from the Evil. This implies Christ's mind is his People should continue in the World till their Work be done that neither Sin nor Danger may cut them off till their full time be come but that they may be kept from Evil from the Evil of Temptation and the Evil of Persecution Secondly He intercedes for the Sanctification of his People and this is a glorious Priviledge indeed Jo. 17. 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy Word is truth By the word of thy Truth make them partakers of thy Holiness For their sakes I sanctifie my self ver 19. I set apart my self now on Earth as an High-Priest and Mediator And why so That they may be sanctified through the Truth It may be a poor tempted Soul hath beg'd for Grace but finds no answer as Paul prayed twice thrice many times without return but Jesus Christ intercedes who will prevail and because he prayes they shall obtain according to the measure of Christ and in his time Thirdly The Lord Jesus Christ pleads in Heaven for Believers Union with himself and with one another Jo. 17. 11 21 22 23. Holy Father keep through thy own Name those whom thou bast given me that they may be one as we are That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one This he died for to gather his People into one and this he will procure in due time Their Union with himself shall be inseparable their Communion may be interrupted but their Union can never be broken And it is a matter of Comfort to Believers that grieve for the sad Breaches amongst Saints how that Christ intercedes in Heaven for their Union who cannot be denied Fourthly The Lord Jesus Christ intercedes for his Peoples Succour and support under and deliverance from Temptation Luke 22. 32. I have prayed for thee that tby Faith fail not Ah Soul Art thou followed with new Temptations every day Doth the Devil vex thee casting in wicked vile thoughts that do make thee tremble pulling and haling thee Fear not sayes Christ the Devil shall not prevail O sayes a Soul What shall I do for Faith I cannot take hold of this and the other Promise Why Christ in Heaven pleads for Believers that their Faith shall not fail shall not sink away nor faint in the day of Temptation He will not suffer you to be tempted above measure 1 Cor. 10. 13. He will make a way to escape As sure as Christ himself hath escaped from Satan and Dangers unto Glory so sure shall Believers pass thither also O Soul thou canst not tell how to pray this and the other wicked thought hurries thee Faith and Hope all seem to be gone but O what a blessed thing is this that there is a Mediator in Heaven to pray for thee Fifthly Jesus Christ intercedes in Heaven for the Pardon of all the Sins of his People and for the enjoyment of his Fathers favour If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. That 's part of Christ's Work in Heaven to Advocate in regard of their Sins So Joh. 17. 26. That the Love with which thou lovest me may be in them I have purchased thy Favour for them and Peace with thee by my own Blood therefore Father O take not away thy loving kindness from them O do not be angry with them for ever O what a wonderful Priviledge is this Christ is not contented that his Father love them with an ordinary and a common Love but his Will is that the same Love with which the Father loved Christ as Mediator be bestowed upon them Sixthly The Lord Jesus Christ Advocates in Heaven for the supply of all the wants of his People Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your need according to the Riches of his Glory by Jesus Christ Observe the ground and meritorious cause of all the Supplies of the Saints Needs is the Riches of Christ in Heaven the Riches of Christs Intercession O! when the poor Believer goes mourning under a sense of this and the other Want Christ in Heaven is interceding for them O sayes one I want a soft Heart a Heart to love God I want more power over Corruptions and Temptations More Humility sayes another O my proud heart I want more Patience I am fill'd with the Fire of Hell I want more Purity unclean Thoughts lodge in my Soul but Christ in Heaven is interceding for them thus Father There 's a Child of mine wants a soft Heart I will that thou give it to him there 's another goes complaining for want of more power over Corruptions I will that thou grant it to him Another wants Bodily supplies he is in straits in the World and knows not what to do Father thou hast made me Heir of all things and I will that thou give him some of mine Inheritance O that Believers did know this when they are pining away in their straits that they would look to Jesus and by Faith see him interceding for them Seventhly Another thing Christ pleads in Heaven for is the subduing of all the Enemies of his People Whatever is like to endanger their well-being in thelr work of glorifying God and in their way to Glory with God Christ pleads that it may be removed Are the Snares of the World like to carry away one the Snare of Prosperity or vain Company like to ruin another Doth the Flesh lust against the Spirit and ready to reduce it into Bondage Christ pleads in Heaven for the destruction of these Leviathans and will in his own time bring down all the Enemies of his People Yea Gog and Magog and all the implacable Adversaries of Sion must be subdued because Christ intercedes for it and Reigns till he hath put down all Enemies under his Feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. Eighthly He intercedes for his Peoples Consolation He seems to be much concern'd in this that his People be of good cheer in the World Joh. 16. 33. Be of good cheer Pluck up your Spirits walk comfortably I have overcome the World for you I will not leave you comfortless I will not leave you in danger of overwhelming Christ takes care that his People be not overladen with trouble but that they have comfort in due time Ninthly The Lord Jesus Christ pleads for their thorough and compleat Salvation for their preservation in Grace and their sure and certain enjoyment of Glory Wherefore he is able to save to the utmost because he ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. Whatever their dangers straits and hazards be Christ intercedes in Heaven for their utmost saving thorough all and from all The gracious Soul miscarries sadly this and the other time in this and the other matter he falls dangerously and bruises his Bones but Christ pleads in Heaven that this might not prove
a mortal wound Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am to behold my Glory Joh. 17. 24. All his Glory that he hath purchased with his Blood is for his People As a Father if he gets a large Estate his Children shall fare the better for it he will leave it all to them so Christ in Heaven intercedes Father I will that my Children may share with me in my Glory may Reign and sit on Thrones and be crowned with Immortality with me Where I am there shall my Servant be Thus you see what Christ intercedes for in Heaven Fifthly Why doth the Lord Jesus Christ intercede in Heaven First Because he hath undertaken this Work for his People He is their Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. He is an Officer in Heaven for them and hath undertaken their Cases and being bound he will be faithful He is there as their Fore-runner and his Fidelity lies at stake to make their way plain to Glory If they come not after how can he be their Fore-runner Secondly Because of his Interest in them they are very near to him they are his own Having loved his own that were in the World Joh. 13. 1. Persons use to love their own The World loves its own therefore is Christ so concern'd in the welfare of his People because they are his Propriety They are his Friends Joh. 15. 14 15. Ye are my Friends I have called you Friends And will not a man concern himself about his Friends There 's never a man on Earth that hath a Friend so near his heart as the Saints are to the heart of Christ They are his Brethren He is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. 2. 11. He is their Elder Brother and they are younger Brethren and he cannot but have a tender heart towards them How full of Bowels was Joseph to his Brethren though they had sold him and injured him yet how affectionately did he discover himself to them he wept that the Egyptians heard him Gen. 45. It is a most affecting Story to shew what the heart of a Brother is or should be O how much is Jesus Christ concerned in the welfare of his People Again He is their Father He hath the Bowels of a Father He pleads in Heaven at the Right hand of God as a Father doth speak for his Children O! if a man had a Child or some Children condemn'd to dye how would a tender Father speak for them and weep for them that they might not dye with such Bowels doth Jesus Christ plead for his People in Heaven Again They are his Spouse his Love his Dove married to him Cant. 5. And can a tender affectionate Husband shut up his Bowels towards his own Flesh So Christ in Heaven accounts nothing too dear that might be for the welfare of his People because of their conjugal relation to him Thirdly Because of the great Love he bears to them therefore will he make Intercession for them Isa 63. 9. In his Love and pity he redeemed them Nor men nor Angels can tell the Height Depth Length and Breadth of the Love of Christ it is Love passing Knowledge Eph. 3. 18. Christ's Love to his people is unconceivable unchangeable many waters cannot quench it all their Unkindness cannot diminish it therefore he remembers their Concernments and pleads their Cause Fourthly Because of the Sympathy the Lord Jesus Christ hath with them he hath a fellow-feeling of all their Infirmities and Afflictions as he is their head he cannot but sympathize with all the Maladies and Distempers of every Member he is the high-priest and must have Compassion Heb. 4. 15. For we have not an High-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities He cannot be capable of Insensibility of the Cases Concerns and Conditions of his people Weaknesses Sins and Wants whatever becomes the Burden of his People it is near his Heart It is not his own Glory in Heaven can take off his Thoughts and Care of them He that abuseth the Saints offers Violence to Christ's Eye Zach. 2. 8. He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of his Eye While he was in Heaven in the Possession of the Fathers Glory no sooner did their Cry come up from Aegypt but presently it reached his Heart God tells Moses he could not stand still to hear the Complaint of his poor afflicted people God in Christ the second person the Angel of the Covenant resents the Miseries and Afflictions of his people Exod. 2. 23. 24. I have surely seen the Afflictions of my People which are in Aegypt and have heard their Cry and I am come down to deliver them Exod. 3. 7 8. And if he was so pityful as to be soon afflicted with the Afflictions of his people before he assumed the humane Nature upon him is he not as much now sith he hath taken our Nature upon him and stands in Heaven cloathed with our Body and Soul Heb. 5. 2. Christ carries no Weaknesses to Heaven with him he hath no kind of Wants Pains nor Sorrows but he is compassed with Infirmities that is a Sense of the Weaknesses and Remembrance of the Afflictions and Infirmities whilst he was here He knows the Heart of a Stranger he knows what it is to be under the Wrath of God therefore cannot but have a fellow-feeling of the Infirmities of his People No tender Mother can be more affected with the pain of a little sucking Child with the Fear of losing it than Christ is with the case of his people therefore he pleads for them Fifthly Jesus Christ cannot chuse but speak for his People in Heaven because he hath purchased them he hath bought them and paid for them he thought it fit to lay down a very great price for every believing Soul 1 Cor. 6. 19. You are bought with a price He was willing to have his Heart opened and his Side opened that he might let out his Blood for them and surely he cannot but be willing to intercede for them when he was willing to dye and bear divine Wrath for them he hath bought Grace and Glory for them and he must needs speak that they might have what he hath paid for It is true if God should deal upon the account of Creature-deservings they would soon be totally destitute but though unworthy in themselves Christ pleads his Worthyness Father I will that thou give out this and the other Mercy to them I have purchased it for them it is true they have abused the Gospel and sinn'd away the Light of thy Countenance but I will that thou speak comfortably to them for my sake for I have always obey'd thee and done thy Will Sixthly Because of his Promise to them he hath promised he will not leave them Jo. 14. 18. I go away says Christ but I will not leave you I go to Heaven but it is for you I carry your Names on my Heart that I might think upon you when I am
with God through this Intercession of Christ Eph. 1. 6. Who hath made us accepted in the Beloved All that glorious Chain of Mercy that is made over to and fastned upon the Believer hath its tye to Jesus Christ Predestination Adoption Justification Sanctification and Salvation are all laid upon Christ It is a piece of usual weakness in poor Believers or rather Doubting-souls to judge of their Acceptance with God or Non-acceptance according to their Deservings or ill-deservings and the nature and frame of their Spirits and Duties when they have been drawn out in Frames and wonderfully rais'd in Duties they think now they shall find Favour But it is not that which gives your Suits Entertainment in Heaven it is as God accepts the Soul in Christ notwithstanding all the Failings and Infirmities of Believers they are entertained with a well done good and faithful Servant upon the account of Christ Again They are sure to be secur'd against the prevailing Power of all their Enemies let Beelzebub with all his Train and Forces be united against them he must be broken to pieces for Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding for them Sin shall have no Dominion over them Rom. 6. 14. God will bruise Satan under their Feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. Hence it is they may be sure none of their Enemies shall prevail Luke 1. 74. Again They may be sure to receive more Grace and Life more abundantly God giveth more Grace James 5. 6. whilst Christ's Interest holds in Heaven whilst he hath a Fullness of Grace to bestow Believers may expect more Access to the Throne of Grace at all times in his Name is another procured Advantage of his Intercession it is by the Blood of Christ Believers come to God with Boldness Heb. 4. 14. 16. Heb. 10. 21. 22. Hence the Blood of Christ makes Peace and an open door for Believers to approach to God Eph. 3. 12. Because he is there at the Throne of Grace he will open his Door to his Children and let them in within the Veil what tender Mother would shut the door against her weeping Child Again They have not only Access to the Throne of Grace but Success they shall speed when they cry with all their Hearts Joh. 14. 13. 14. Whatsoever you shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son if you shall ask any thing in my Name I will do it Christ was leaving his Disciples and they might tremblingly dispond how shall we live when thou art gone the World will persecute us and Satan will devour us Why says Christ I will protect you then as well as now and hear your Requests you think it is only your Concernment to have your Prayers answered no it is the Concernment of my Father too his Glory lies at stake for it O! what bold Encouragement is this Rev. 8. 3 4 5. Prayers ascended up and presently comes down Thunders Noises Lightnings and Earth-quakes as a Symbol of God's Reception believe it Saints have still as great Potency with God on the Account of Christ as ever and their right Prayers shall surely find an answer at the Throne of Grace Again They shall certainly have Perseverance in Grace for the Certainty of a Believers Graces depend not upon his own Strength that it should dye if he cease to exercise it but is secured by the Intercession of Christ Luke 22. 32. Jer. 32. 40. Another Effect of Christ's Intercession is this The Saints have Oneness with and an Interest in the Love of God Jo. 17. 21. 22. And they shall be sure of Grace and of Glory they shall have a Mansion in Heaven Jo. 14. 3. Jo. 17. 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am to behold my Glory CHAP. VI. Shewing the Willingness of Christ that Sinners should be saved the Sin and Misery of such as refuse Christ with Reproof to several sorts of Persons WE have a little opened the Transcendent Glory of Christ as Mediator wherein so much of his vast Treasury lies we come now to make some Application of this glorious point First By way of Information First How wonderfully are poor Sinners indebted to the Lord for giving such a Mediator as Jesus Christ God-Man none else in Heaven or Earth could have procured the Salvation of lost Sinners had he been God only he had had neither Right or Capacity to suffer had he been only Man he could never have born up under the dreadful weight of these Sufferings Death would have had Dominion over him his Sufferings unsatisfactory his Intercession rejected and all the hopes of Sinners perished but now he is able to save all that come to God by him O admire at and rejoyce in this Love of God in giving Christ Jo. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Life and Liberty Health and Strength Peace and Plenty are excellent Mercies but the giving of Christ is transcendently super-eminent Can you bless the Lord for lower Springs O adore these upper ones this Grace that brings Salvation Secondly See the Willingness of Christ that Sinners should be saved he would never else have assum'd the work of a Mediatour nor have given himself for this very end that Sinners might be brought to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. He would never have undertaken the bloody way of Death nor drunk off such a bitter tremendous Cup that Sin had brewed for him he would not have interceded with God for Terms of Reconciliation nor undergone such direful unconceivable Torments had he not been willing Sinners should live hath Christ so carefully prepared the Ministration of Reconciliation and absolutely commanded the Promulgation of the Gospel to every Creature Mark 16. 15. Hath he laid such a Necessity on his Messengers and Ambassadors and oblig'd them by the Penalty of fearful Woes to preach the Gospel and he is not willing that Sinners should be saved 1 Cor. 9. 16. See how he charges his Servants to be instant in Season and out of Season to reprove rebuke and exhort with all Long-suffering and Kindness 2 Tim. 4. 1. To perswade and beseech men to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 11. 20. And will he reject them when they come He would not have griev'd and mourn'd so much at Sinners Unbelief and out-standing the day of Grace had he been unwilling they should have liv'd Joh. 5. 40. Luke 19. 41. 42. Behold how he waits till the last hour of the Day and treats his Enemies with an affectionate Kindness why will you dye O House of Israel He heaps up Coals of Fire on their Heads and draws them with Cords of Love and with the bands of a man Mat. 5. 45. Hos 11. 4. he offers Violence by his Spirit to unwilling Souls and attempts the most charming Persuasions to allure them to him he thunders and lightens as on Mount Sinai and threatens them terribly if they will
precious Graces and Endowments in him which will much illustrate the personal Riches of Christ and be of wonderful Encouragement both to Saints and Sinners to think better of him and to hasten after a Dependance on him Now the first thing we shall treat of is the goodness of his Nature He is Goodness it self Psal 34. 8. O tast and see that the Lord is good This Psalm was penn'd by David when he was driven from Achish and was in sore danger of his Life in this Condition he seeks the Lord and found help by reason of the Goodness of God that is God in Christ indeed there is Creation-Goodness and providential-Goodness but the choicest is his Redemption-goodness that Goodness which he lets out to poor Sinners in a Mediator Thus is Jesus Christ the Gift of his best Love and is qualified and disposed to commend the infinite Goodness of God to perishing Sinners his Goodness is great Zac. 9. 17. called the Riches of his Goodness Rom. 2. 4. Now this goodness of Christ appears First In it's Extensiveness he is good to all Mans goodness is contracted and narrow its greatest Proportion reacheth but a few none but Friends Relations and such as may oblige or requite them are usually Sharers in it but the goodness of Christ is immense it reacheth to all the work of his hands Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good to all by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. He upholdeth all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. The very vilest and most unworthy Grace-abusing Soul have some kind of share in Christs Goodness he upholds his very Enemies and maintains the Being and Enjoyment of such as oppose him Secondly In it's Invincibleness all the Provocations of his Enemies cannot impede it's designed current he is resolved they shall have a share in his Mercy though they oppose their own Mercies nay all the Unkindness of his people cannot conquer it nor many Waters quench it He maketh his Sun to shine upon the good and bad Math. 5. 45. It 's strange to think how rare a portion of Mercy the wicked have in their day he that cryed Father forgive them they know not what they do cries Father spare them to see what they will be Thirdly It 's Freeness 't is not extracted but flows out of it 's own Accord Isa 65. 24. Before they call I will answer c. It hath no Creature-merit to provoke it Exek 16. 6. I said unto thee when thou wast in thy Blood live when there was no Beauty to attract it no desires to draw it forth mans Worthyness is no ground for the Communication of Christs Goodness what Lovelyness had the Ephesians to deserve it's liberal Effusions Eph. 2. 1. Fourthly 't is unwearied enduring Goodness it hath not the Shallowness of a slender Vessel which is easily emptyed but the Unfathomableness of the Ocean that can never be exhausted the vast Expences and Communications of it from the Creation of the World to it 's final Destruction will not diminish it one Iota his Anger indeed hath but a momentary Continuance Psal 30. 5. But his Goodness endureth for ever Psal 52. 1. Fifthly 'T is Communicative goodness running over flowing down and liberally diffusing it self for the good of others so 't is defined to be a Vertue by which a person of his own accord is abundantly prone to acts of Benignity Christ's Goodness is manifestative distributive and it's Dispensations are as natural as the irradiating Beams of the Sun Secondly Another excellent Disposition in Christ is his Love not only his Phylanthropy or good Will he bears to all men and the Desire he hath of their Salvation Ezek. 33. 11. But his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his special Love from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 valde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acquiesco such an ardent Affection hath the heart of Christ for a person adhering to him that it greatly acquiesces in and is fully contented with him Eph. 2. 4. Such is the Sweetness of Christ's Nature that it is full of Love God is Love 1 John 4. 16. And as the Father hath loved me so have I loved you Joh. 15. 9. Now this Love of Christ to his people is First A supreme Love the chiefest Love he hath a love of Benevolence to all Mark 10. 21. He beheld the young man and loved him but the Love he bears his own is transcendent and exceeds the Love of men and Angels Joh. 15. 13. Secondly An infinite Love Love that passeth all Knowledge exceedeth all Dimensions Eph. 3. 18. Chist's Love saith one hath Length in it because he loved his Elect from Eternity to Eternity O unmeasurable Length that hath no end his Love hath Breadth in it because not the Jews only but the Gentiles also are sharers in it 't is extended to the whole World Math. 28. 19. It hath depth in it because it brought him down into the Deeps not only of the Earth but of unconceivable Sufferings It brought him as low as the Grave yea to the very Borders of Hell Isa 53. 3. It hath height in it because it ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all in all become our Advocate there prepare us for it and it for us and at last takes us up to himself that we may behold his Glory Thirdly An eternal Love Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting Love All Creature-affections have their Beginning and End their Risings and Settings but the Love of Christ is as himself everlasting Rev. 1. 13. The transiency of his peoples Love cannot injure its permanency for where he loves he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. Fourthly An unchangeable Love it hath no Ebbings and Flowings Waxings and Waneings Risings and Fallings but is th◠same Yesterday to Day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. It knows no Alteration Addition or Diminution the Heavens shall wax old as a Garment and be changed Heb. 1. 11. 12. But Christ and his Love is invariable Mal. 3. 6. 'T is true the Manifestations of his Love is mutable he may smile to day and frown to morrow but not the nature of it the Cisterns may be dry but not the Fountain Fifthly A free Love it hath no Consideration of Creature-merit fore-seen Faith or persevering Holiness Hos 14. 4. I will heal their Back-slidings and love them freely What reason can be given that of the same Lump should be made one Vessel of Honour and another of Dishonour nay that persons of the most exquisite Abilities natural Endowments unspotted Moralities and uncontroulable Sovereignty should be rejected and left to the hardness of their Heart and the righteous Judgment of God and that others of the meanest parts inconsiderable Qualifications prodigiously vitious Lives and miserable Penury should be elected to the highest Priviledges received into the most intimate Communion and made partaker of the highest Glory Sixthly The Spring and Fountain of all that Love that is in Believers to
Word in his own time way and measure Matth. 5. 18. Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or tittle of the Law till all be fulfilled All shall be fulfilled for Believers and in them and if Christ cannot permit one Jot of the Law to fall to the ground surely he will not suffer so choice a part of the Gospel as the Promises are to be unaccomplished Again as Christ will perform all the Promises so especially those great ones that concern the Grace and Glory of all that believe Psal 84. 11. He will give gracâ— and glory c. If the Lord Jesus upbraided the Pharisees for tything Mint and Cummin and omitting thâ— weightier matters of the Law surely he cannot neglect the greatest of his Gospel promises to his people Thirdly the Lord Jesus is faithful to the Trust committed to him thus was Moses He was faithful in all God's House Numb 12. 7. that is as a Steward he was just and honest in the discharge of that Trust committed to him concerning the Work and Interest of God so 't is taken Math. 25. 21. Well done thou good and faithful Servant Thou hast been faithful in thy Stewardship in the use of those things committed to thee in this Sense is Christ faithful also in a perfect Discharge of that Trust reposed in him and that both with respect to God his Father and with respect to his People First In respect of that Trust committed to him by the Father God the Father hath entrusted him with the great Concerns of Redemption Grace and Glory with that glorious Contrivance of saving fallen man and bringing about the Recovery of lost Sinners and therefore he calls him his Servant Isa 49. 5. And now saith the Lord that formed me from the Womb to be his Servant to bring Jacob again to him It sets forth Christ's Designation by the Father to his mediatorly Office wherein God the Father calls him to great work commits vast Concerns to him about the gathering in of lost Souls and undertaking their Attonement Sanctification and Salvation for the accomplishment of which the Father commits all to the Fidelity of Christ both as to Suffering and interceding work and in all this the Lord Jesus is faithful so the Spirit of God calls him a faithful High-priest in things pertaining unto God in making Reconciliation for the Sins of the People This the Lord Jesus undertook to the Father that he would satisfie his Wrath and remove his Displeasure from his People by bearing their Sins for and from them that God might again take them into his Favour as if they had never sinned and in this he was and is faithful nay in all things that God hath charged him with about the saving of Souls Heb. 3. 2. Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house So that whatever the Father laid on Christ in the behalf of his people to make Reconciliation for them and present them spotless in his Presence this he hath fully and faithfully discharged as I have already shewn on this Subject Secondly The Lord Jesus hath a Trust committed to him from his People They commit the keeping of their Souls to him as to a faithful Redeemer 1 Pet. 4. 19. Every believing Soul when he comes over to Christ first doth depute accept of chuse and entrust the Lord Jesus to be his Redeemer and he undertakes the preserving of him unto Glory he that comes to Christ aright takes him for his Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. For so is Christ given and tendred by the Father and so do Believers receive him and entrust him with their Souls that they may be made righteous before God have their Sins remov'd and be presented before the Father without Spot or Wrinkle Eph. 5. 25 26. They trust Christ for Sanctification to be made truly and in his time perfectly holy as holy as God is holy and as holy as God requires They trust Christ for Wisdom to be made Partakers of divine Light to be made wise unto Salvation to know all that God would have them and that their Natures are capable to understand and to have the Image of God perfected in them which consists in Knowledge as well as Righteousness They commit themselves to Christ to be redeemed from every Evil Sin or Danger or whatever hinders their compleat Salvation thus do Believers take Christ and surrender themselves up to him on these great and glorious ends and thus did he undertake when he gave himself by his Spirit to them and therefore is called the Surety of the Covenant as hath been already shewn Heb. 7. 22. therefore 't is said Eph. 5. 25. to 28. That Christ gave himself for the Church that he might wash it and cleanse it sanctifie it and present it to the Father without Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing This he undertook when he became a Mediator between God and them 1 Tim. 2. 5. Now he is faithful in this also to all his Seed Heb. 10. 23. He is faithful who hath promised 1 Joh. 1. 9. He is faithful and just to forgive them 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know whom I have believed and that he is able to keep that good thing I have committed to him against that day 1 Thes 5. 24. 1 Cor. 10. 13. O Souls you that have committed your selves to Christ in Truth know that he is faithful and will not fail you but will certainly accomplish and make good all your regular Hopes and Expectations he can loose nothing of all that the Father hath given him Joh. 17. 12. Be sure what Bargain soever he hath made with you what Mercies soever he hath promised you he will assuredly fulfil and keep touch to a tittle he is the faithful Steward and Advocate for his People Fourthly The Lord Jesus is faithful to all the Relations he stands in to his people Herein Fidelity appears in holding forth and living up to those Duties of Relation in which a person stands to others so Sylvanus is called a faithful Brother 1 Pet. 5. 12. and Tychicus a faithful Minister Eph. 6. 21. In this that they were true and just in holding forth all the Duties of their Relation Defectiveness in which discovers Falseness and Treachery but the Lord Jesus is faithful in all Relations to Believers he fills them up and answers the end of them now the Scripture sets forth the Union of Christ to Believers by several Relations First He is their Friend Isa 41. 8. The seed of Abraham my Friend Joh. 15. 14. 15. Ye are my Friends I have called you Friends Joh. 11. 11. Our Friend Lazarus sleepeth Now Christ is a faithful Friend to his people in holding forth all the Offices of true Friendship to them As First Love Prov. 17. 17. A friend loveth at all times such a Friend is Christ to all his many Waters cannot quench it he loves his People when he hides
pardoned as well as one And if the grace of God bring salvation then all must be forgiven or none And the same blood of Christ can as well pardon all as one For if the blood of Christ be the blood of God then 't is of an infinite value and can as easily blot out every sin as one sin and as well discharge Talents as Pence Ezek. 18. 22. Larga Dei pietas veniam non dimidiabit Aut nihil aut totum dabit Thirdly This pardon of sin is procured for repenting Believers and for all of them Acts 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Acts 13. 38. chap. 26. 18. Faith is necessary to pardon because it takes off all self-righteousness and all pretences of merit Faith carries the soul off to a dependance on another for righteâ—â—sness and salvation Faith is a self-denying Grace and expects all upon the account of the Promise Believers and every Believer have their sins pardoned and shall not perish Joh. 3. 16. Now lest some should pretend to believe who indeed do not the Seripture qualifies this Faith by certain Characters 'T is also to repenting souls that pardon is assured and therefore remission of sin is joined with repentance Acts 5. 31. Luke 24. 46 47. Ezek. 18. 30. But what is this repentance Doth it consist only in an external sorrow for sin and an audible begging of mercy No no Judas and Cain were thus troubled for sin and yet never arrived to sound repentance 'T is the mourning and returning believer to whom this Promise is made and to such and to every one of these is a full pardon procured Fourthly This pardon is procured by the blood of Christ and that satisfaction made to the Father by his suffering It is an Opinion sprung up of men of corrupt minds that pardon of Sin is the procurement of Inherent grace and external Righteousness but not the product of Christ's blood suffering and satisfaction which I shall now endeavour to disprove Math. 20. 28. To give his Life a Ransome for many Heb. 9. 26. But now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself chap. 9. 12. Col. 1. 14. Thus you see 't is the blood of Christ offer'd up to God that procureth peace and removeth the guilt of sin and indeed pardon of sin with respect to Gods Justice could be no otherway obtain'd For First God had past an irrevocable sentence that the Soul that sinneth should dye Gen. 2. 17. Now if this penalty was not inflicted upon Transgressing Adam how would there be a fulfilling of this threatning But some may enquire How comes Adams sin to be charg'd on his Posterity Answ Adams Transgression by the strict union there was betwixt him and all mankind he being their Head Root and Representee was most justly devolv'd on his Off-spring Rom. 5. 14 19. And therefore God would not have been true to his word had not this penalty been inflicted on the Debtor or his Surety But let God be true and every Man a lyar Secondly Fallen Man could not pay this debt and make this satisfaction for sin For the sin being of an infinite Guilt and the punishment being Death Eternal Rom. 6. 23. Man could never pay his ransom and set himself at liberty and therefore some other way must be found out which was only by the Lord Jesus God-Man whose God-head was able to support his humane Nature under suffering and render his endurings of an Infinite value Heb. 9. 14. Acts 20. 28. This is the second Fruit of Christ's Purchase the forgiveness of all the sins of penitent believers even past present and to come that nothing shall be laid to their charge Rom. 8. 1. Thirdly Acceptation of their Persons is another Fruit of Christ's purchase Eph. 1. 6. Where in he hath made us accepted in the beloved 'T is not enough to the compleating of Christs design in saving Souls that their sins be forgiven and the guilt and penalty removed and a discharge of all the Obligations to wrath by reason of sin procured All this a person may have and yet no interest in the full favour of God nor right to any saving blessing from him for 't is not sufficient to give a Man a Title to Glory that he be innocent or free from offending but he must come up to the terms of the first Covenant and do all things required of him and have a Positive as well as a Negative Righteousness There must be in order to an acceptance with God not only a not imputing of sin but a reckoning of Righteousness saith Dr. Owen he must be reputed fully Obedient also The Law requires a perfect and perpetual Obedience Gal. 3. 10. Should thy Soul be set free from all the charge of past sins yet thy defect of Righteousness would undo thee for ever They must be righteous that enter into Life Eternal Math. 25. 47. Even as Righteous as God is Righteous But this is impossible to be attain'd by lapsed man In many things we offend all Jam. 3. 2. There is none Righteous no not one Rom. 3. 10. And therefore there must be a Righteousness procured for and imputed to Believers and that is the Righteousness of Christ The Commutation of his Obedience for our Disobedience Rom. 5. 19. By the Obedience of one shall many be made Righteous This Righteousness is called a white Robe and fine Linnen Rev. 7. 9. Chap. 19. 8. The sweet smelling Garment of our Elder Brother wherein God takes infinite delight and pleasure Math. 3. 17. Isa 42. 1. The ground of all that pleasure that God taketh in his people is the Righteousness of his Son not any of their Services and duties And look what pleasure the Father takes in his Son as Mediatour the same he takes in every Soul that truly comes unto him John 17. 26. That the same love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them and I in them VSE If Believers are pardoned and accepted with God then hence it follows First That God never punishes them in wrath and displeasure All the stroaks of God on Believers are but fatherly chastisements Not Judicial acts Heb. 12. 6. He takes vengeance on their inventions but never on their persons Punishment always bears some proportion to the offence but the sufferings of Gods people are infinitely less then their deserts and therefore are the Fruit of Divine Faithfulness and Covenant Love Psal 119. 75. Psal 78. 30 to 34. Secondly God will accept of all their sincere desires and services though never so mean through Christ Isa 38. 14. Isa 63. 8. Exek 20. 40 41. Psal 51. 17. Thirdly They have access to God with boldness at all times Eph. 3. 12. chap. 2. 8. Fourthly They are entred into rest and have peace with God and with their own Consciences Math. 11. 28. Heb. 4. 9. Rom. 5. 1.
undeserving in themselves into a state and Relation of Sons and Heirs bringing them into a new Family and Condition And such is the Adoption of the Sons of God 't is a Translation of called and sanctified Souls out of the Family of Satan into the Family of God Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God 1 Joh. 3. 2. Now are we the Sons of God And this Adoption-Priviledge is the Fruit of the Death of Christ Gal. 4. 4 5. When the fullness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons For though this Adoption be an act of Grace in God to take Souls into Sonship with him yet 't is by Jesus Christ Eph. 1. 5. Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ That is To be redeemed and made fit for it by Jesus Christ Now in the Adoption of Sanctified Souls into the Family of God there are these five things A change 1. of Relation 2. Of Obligation 3. Of Disposition 4. Of Condition 5. Of Duty First There 's a change of Relation they were the Children of the Devil Joh. 8. 44. Heirs of Hell and under the Power of the God of this World Eph. 2. 2. Who rules in the Children of Disobedience They were of the kindred of Hell of that Family whose Head and Ruler is Satan This was their state when Redemption-grace found them Now Adoption alters this relation and being taken out of this Family by effectual calling they are by Adoption entred into a new Relation and made the Sons and Daughters of God Gal. 4. 4. Now they can call God their Father Christ their Husband the Saints their Brethren verse 5. Eph. 2. 19. Ye are no more Strangers and Forreigners but Fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Secondly A change of Obligation they were bound to the Law of Satan under the Law of Sin and Slavery of the World led Captive by Satan at his Will Col. 1. 13. But when Adoption-grace comes it delivers them from this Obligation and they are brought under the power of God and Scepter of his Kingdom Acts 26. 18. Rom. 6. 14 17 18. Heb. 1. 8. Thirdly a change of Disposition they have the Nature and Spirit of Children Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts c. They were by Nature Enemies but now are Children they have a disposition to love God to honour and obey him 't is their Meat and Drink to do his will Joh. 4. 34. Mal. 1. 6. To serve Christ before was burdensome but now delightful The Love of Christ constrains them 'T is as natural for them now to obey Christ as ever it was to rebel against him they are never satisfi'd but when God is well pleas'd Fourthly A change in their State and Condition they are brought into a state of Glorious Priviledges in respect of 1. Liberty 2. Rights and Interests 3. Boldness 4. Instruction 5. Correction 6. Provision 7. Protection 8. Inheritance And by these the state of an Adopted Soul appears to be a glorious state First They are brought into a state of Freedom Joh. 8. 36. If the Son shall make you free then are you free indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word Imports that Freedom that is opposed to Servitude as it appears also by the word ver 33. Christ tells them ver 32. The truth shall make them free And they answered him We be Abrahams seed and were never in bondage to any Man So that by freedom here Christ intends a delivering of them from that bondage they were in by reason of sin and Satan and he tells them that this is that freedom that comes by him all that are the Children of God are free Men and Women 1 Cor. 7. 22. 2 Cor. 3. 17. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty The Apostle tells them ver 8. That the Ministration of the Spirit is much more glorious than that of the Law or letter that is the Ministry of the Gospel is far more Excellent than that of the Law which he proves by several arguments And here he tells us that the Lord is that Spirit that is the Lord Jesus is the Author of that Spirit or Spritual Ministration under the Gospel and where that Spirit or Administration is or where the Soul is brought into this Gospel-state there is liberty Rom. 8. 21. Now this liberty that all the Children of God are brought into is a two-fold liberty 1. A liberty from Servitude 2. A liberty to service Or as a Reverend writer expresseth it A liberty from the Family of Satan and liberty in the Family of God There are some things which all Adopted Souls have a liberty from and some things they have a liberty in or to First All that are Adopted in Christ are set free from that slavery they were in under the Law Sin Satan and the World They are freed from Bondage under the Law from Bondage-work and Bondage-wrath All that are under the Law of Moses as all are who are out of Christ are oblig'd to Bondage-work to the work of slaves not of free Men. First they are bound to do work that is above their strength which they can never perform Rom. 8. 3. The Law was weak through the flesh that is there was an impotency in fallen Man ever to fulfil the Law or attain life by it The Law required perfect and perpetual Obedience but this could never be performed by sinful Man and therefore legal-work was hard work work never to be done by fallen Man and this is bondage-work Secondly Legal-work is mercenary work Do this and live Gal. 3. 12. The Man that doth them shall live in them Like a Servant if he doth his work he shall have his wages if not he must expect nothing and this is hard indeed that the poor weak Creature that is utterly destitute of all strength worth and ability must have no more than can deserve Thirdly 'T is rigorous work prest by arguments of severity threatnings of death and Hell to all the Transgressours of it Gal. 3. 10. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the Law to do them Fourthly 'T is fruitless work works that cannot make the comers thereunto perfect Heb. 9. 9. 'T is Labour in vain Heb. 10. 1. Fifthly 'T is work without Wages no reward at all could ever be received from it Gal. 3. 21 22. For had there been a Law which could have given Life verily Righteousness had been by the Law But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin c. There is no Life no Crown no
This Child-like zeal in Craesus dumb Son open'd his mouth when his Father was in danger to be slain Fifthly A fiducial dependence on his care and faithfulness Psa 23. 1. The Lord is my shepheard I shall not want Rom. 8. 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you This was the Child-like confidence of Job in his God Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him This dependence on the Fathers care quieted Musculus when he was forc'd to labour in the Town Ditch for his Maintenance Est deus in Coelis qui providus omnia curat Credentes nunquam deseruisse potest Mat. 6. 32. Your Heavenly Father knows you have need of all these things Sixthly Humble Submission to him Heb. 12. 9. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word notes an orderly subjection according to that order and place in which God hath set a Man that subjection that is in an Inferiour to a Superiour The same word is used of Christ Luke 2. 51. And he went down with them to Nazareth and was subject to them that is submitted himself to that place duty he owed to them as his Parents Seventhly A carefulness to please him Isa 56. 4. That chuse the things that please me to them will I give within my house a place and a Name better than of Sons and Daughters That is such will I own for my Family my Sons and Daughters that chuse the things that please me So did the Lord Jesus evidence his filial duty to his Father Joh. 8. 29. I do alway the things that please him 1 Joh. 3. 22. Eighthly An endeavour in all things imitable to resemble him 1 Pet. 1. 15. As he that called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Luke 6. 36. Be ye merciful as your Father in Heaven is merciful Mat. 5. 48. Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect that is In the grace of love to Enemies Eph. 5. 1. Be ye followers of of God as dear Children Ninthly A labouring to walk worthy of so high relation and nearness unto God 1 Thes 2. 12. That you walk would worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory Worthy of so high a Calling like the Children of a King like Gideons Brethren who all resembled the Children of a King Judges 8. 18. Your duty is to live above the Children of this World who only are wise in their generation Luke 16. 8. But be ye wise in the things of God evidencâ— your highest wisdom to be in keeping â—he Law of the Lord Deut. 4. 6. Live like them that are Adopted Heirs of a Kingdom even the Heavenly Kingdom that fadeth not away O live above the snares and fears of this world Lastly A maintaining a real Love to your Brethren and an endeavour to live peaceably with them 1 Pet. 3. 8. Love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous c. 1 Joh. 5. 1. Every one also that loves him that begetteth loveth him also that is begotten 1 Joh. 3. 11. Gen. 13. 8. Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee between my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren Chap. 45. 24. See that you fall not out by the way 2 Cor. 13. 11. VSE Thus you see what a glorious Treasure Adoption-grace is view over this Inventory Believer and tell me what thou thinkest of it Is it not a Treasure indeed which all the Gold of Ophiâ— cannot equallize Nor all the glory of the World worthy to be compared with And see all this procured by the Sweat and Blood the Obedience and Death of the Son of God and then say whether Christ be not precious indeed Look upon the Children of this World in all their Glory view their priviledges in their utmost latitude and extent and answer me whether a Believer in rags doth not far surpass them Christ speaks of Solomon that he in all his Glory was not to be compared to one Lilly in the Field So one Saint and Child of God infinitely excels the Great men of this World in all their Grandure and Advancements O then admire the Lord Jesus on this account also for procuring Adoption-grace 1. Quest But how may I know whether I have obtained this Adoption-grace Answ This is a point worth the enquiring into and satisfaction in so fundamental a point is very necessary But 't is the Office of Gods Spirit to seal us up to the day of Redemption and bear witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8. 16. Men may lay down marks but 't is God must determine the Quest yet notwithstanding for thy resolution Believer consider First Such are partakers of the Divine Nature and are really Sons as well as Relatively 2 Pet. 1. 4. They have the Image of God instampt upon their Souls They have the seed of Holiness Faith Love Hope Patience and Humility in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. Rom. 8. 29. And they have received of his fulness Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. Secondly Such prize nothing in all the world like to Relation to God Ps 73. 25. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the Sons of God Thirdly Christ is exceeding precious to such in whom they are chosen and by whom this Grace comes 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious None in Heaven or Earth that they value like to Christ they account all things but dross and dung in comparison of Christs excellency Phil. 3. 8. Fourthly Such will employ their greatest care to imitate God Eph. 5. 1. 1 Joh. 3. 22. Fifthly such have a Spirit of prayer and supplication Rom. 8. 15 16. Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Not Parts not Light not the gifts of Prayer only but such a Soul hath the Spirit of Prayer very strong strains of Faith and Love run through all his Duties He hath a Spirit of boldness whereby he comes to God as to a Father O how earnest and unwearied are his breathings after God what wrestlings with God in secret hath he what pourings out of strong cries to him as Christ did in the days of his Flesh Heb. 5. 7. O the struglings O the wrestlings O the ardent breathings of such for the pardon of their sins for the mortifying of their lusts and for the reviving of their graces Now where the Spirit of Adoption is there is the state Sixthly Such are enabled to bear and profit by affliction Heb. 12. 7. If you endure chastening God dealeth with you as with Sons Lastly Such have endeared affections to the people of God 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren 2. Quest What must
wounds it affords the sweetest Consolations Rom. 15. 4. That we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Ah! There 's no such pure Elixir drops to any as the Gospel drops 'T is the most reviving Spirits imaginable the water of Life that come through the Gospel O how reviving how chearing are these to drooping Souls The Gospel is the power of God to Salvation Rom. 1. 16. 'T is the arm of God to stay up the poor sinking Soul 'T is the Weapons of our Warfare which are mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds 2 Cor. 10. 4. O Souls what cause have you then to be much affected with the Love of God in giving the Gospel get your hearts warm'd with the sense of this mercy and more appreciative thoughts of these priviledges O I know not how to commend it to you O Souls prize the Gospel rate it in your esteem above the whole World Psa 119. 167. My Soul hath kept thy Testimonies and I love them exceedingly O rest not till you can say so I love the Gospel exceedingly I prize it above gold above tryed gold 'T is better than all treasures ver 72. Sweeter says David than Hony and the Hony Comb Psa 19. 10. If the Gospel be stuff'd with such Riches who would not prize the Gospel 'T is a rich Cabinet bespangled with beauty in every letter 'T is a discovery of the manifold Wisdom of God and should not you be affected with the Gospel O testifie your valuation of the Gospel by all possible demonstrations First Shew your valuation of the Gospel by blessing God for it O send Clouds of Incense to Heaven full of praises and Hosannahs to God for the Gospel Paul blesseth God that the Phillippians had the Gospel Phil. 1. 3 5. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now As much as to say that you have enjoy'd the Gospel a great while O from your whole hearts bless God for the Gospel 1 Thes 1. 2 5. O I am afraid Christians are not enough in this duty of praising God for the Gospel It deserves solemn days of Thanksgiving Secondly Testifie your valuation of the Gospel by doing all you can to keep it with you A person that prizeth a Jewel or piece of Gold in his hand will hold it fast O Christians if you prize the Gospel you will do all you can to keep the Gospel Pro. 23. 23. Buy the Truth and sell it not Lay out any thing to enjoy the Gospel part with your Lusts part with your Treasures let all go so you may keep the Gospel But then do not sell it O the Gospel is Treasure enough count nothing too dear for it Thirdly Testifie your valuation of the Gospel By your willingness to part with all or any thing if God call you to it for the Gospel Doth God bid you pluck out a right eye cut off a right hand let it go if God call for it Doth he call for your liberty your lives for the Gospels sake let them go Acts 21. 13. O Souls be not like the Gadarens to value your Swine above the Gospel and rather let the Gospel go than part with a little of your Estates Luke 8. 37. Fourthly Christians shew your high esteem of the Gospel by your readiness to attend it at all times To run at every call of the Gospel with Mary to sit at Christs feet though other things be out of order Luke 10. 39 40. Will not you part with a little of your business and let your Plow stand still awhile to attend upon the Ministry of the Gospel O Christians shew your prizings of the Gospel by your willingness to sit down under it at all times Fifthly Shew your high esteem of the Gospel by the greatest improvements of it while you have it Sirs you cannot tell how soon it may be taken from you or you from it you see what attempts are made against the Gospel you have reason then to make the most of it while you have it Christ gives this argument to his hearers to prize it Joh. 12. 35. Yet a little while is the light with you walk while you have the light lest darkness come upon you Be sure at the best 't is but a little time you shall have it if you live out all your time under the Gospel till your glass be run every dust 't is but a little while you shall sit under the dews of this Hermon hill the time of your life is but a little while the time of your digging in this Mine is but a little while Death will draw the Curtain and set you beyond the droppings of these dews and golden Oyls O then improve the Gospel while you have it make the most of it get all the good you can from it by way of illumination instruction Correction Faith and Consolation Christians get your heads and hearts fill'd with this precious substance what you can this will be your wisdom you will find it so when you come to reckoning O fill these Chambers of your Souls with precious treasures lay up those choice fruits that may last you in your Winter Days Get the kowledge of Christ and the unsearchable Riches of Christ more and more while you may come under the news of it O draw hard at these breasts that you may get much food and nourishment for your Souls that may serve you many a day Sixthly Shew your high valuation of the Gospel by your believing in it by your loving and obeying of it Joh. 12. 36. While you have the light believe in the light Those friends we value much we trust much Souls if you value the Gospel you will believe it The Gospel tells you He that hath the Son hath life he that hath not the Son hath not life It tells you he that lives after the flesh shall dye O believe it the Gospel saies If you forsake your evil ways you shall have mercy if you hold fast your sins you shall dye It tells you you cannot come at Salvation but in Salvations wayes O believe the Gospel they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee Psa 9. 10. If you did but know the worth and truth of it you would believe it you may hang all the weight of your Souls upon the Line of the Gospel you may adventure your immortal Souls upon the promises of the Gospel It will bear all your weights then love the Gospel Love the truth and peace Zach. 8. 19. Is the Gospel such a good Messenger that brings you such good news and will you not love it O Souls love the Ministrations of the Gospel And then obey the Gospel If you love Christ indeed you will keep his Commandements Joh. 14. 23. you will obey his voice This argues your esteem of the Gospel when you follow the instructions it gives you Doth God bid you forsake your
evil wayes Come and close with Christ O! obey those Counsels he gives you in his Gospel Lastly Shew your high valuation of the Gospel by holding forth a Conversation sutable to it Only let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1. 27. As if he should say chiefly this is the main and sum of all O! live worthy of the Gospel First Then is your Conversation as becometh the Gospel when you live as becomes the grace of God discover'd in the Gospel 'T is infinite grace is revealed in it you should walk so as to honour grace you should press after more grace in your Conversations there should be grace in every step of your lives Tit. 2. 1 12. Secondly Then you live sutable to the Gospel when you live up to those great and Glorious things held out in it When the Gospel is opened there are choice Jewels brought forth to sale O most excellent things produc'd by it and you should live up sutable to these There 's the manifold Wisdom of God held forth in the Gospel Eph. 3. 10. Treasures of wonderful wisdom are opened in the Gospel O live up to these mysteries O Christians let your lives be exact for you have curious eyes to look upon you labour to hold forth much wisdom and much light in your Conversations In the Gospel is held forth the mystery of Godliness 1 Tim. 3. 16. Great is the mystery of godliness O what mysteries are here God Manifested in the flesh God and yet cloath'd in flesh Condemn'd for sin and yet justified in the Spirit seen of Angels Preached to the Geutiles the worst of Sinners in the World Now live sutable to the mysteries of Godliness Again the Gospel opens the glorious priviledges of Saints of every saved Soul O wonderful priviledges That Enemies should be reconciled and strangers made nigh that Rebels should be adopted Sons and Daughters made the Children of God by Christ Rom. 8. 16 17. O what a glorious priviledge is this Believing Souls are brought into by the Gospel to a state of Adoption Gal. 4. 6. A state of glorious liberty Eph. 5. 1. Gal. 5. 1. O live up to these glorious priviledges You are Children of the light walk as Children of the light Eph. 5. 8. The Gospel shews you the the things freely given of God the infinite love of God the wonderful Salvation-Grace of God O then you live sutable to the Gospel when you live up to those great and glorious things held forth in it Thirdly Then are your lives according to the Gospel when they are suted to the Rules of the Gospel look what the Gospel commands and requires that you do Gal. 6. 16. Math. 28. 20. Now the Gospel requires not only Bodily but Spiritual worship to worship God in the Spirit It requires not only external duties but internal holiness It calls for Obedience flowing from love and labours springing from faith well principled duties when you endeavour the greatest strickness in your lives That 's sutable to the Gospel Fourthly Then is your Conversation as becomes the Gospel when it is Subordinate to the ends of it One end of the Gospel is to exalt the praise of the glory of grace Eph. 1. 12. To make you vessels of Mercy for the glory of Mercy O Christians live so as you may most advance the glory of grace live self-denyingly and humbly exclude boasting then you live as becomes the Gospel Another great end of the Gospel is the sanctification of saved Souls to make Souls holy 2. Cor. 7. 1. Then you live as becometh the Gospel when you carry on Gospel holiness inward Holiness outward Holiness 1 Thes 4. 3. The Salvation of Souls that 's another great end of the Gospel that the Promise may be sure to all the seed 2 Thes 2. 10. That he that believes in Christ may have Everlasting Life O then live as you may be saved you must tread upon the World you have so much doted upon you must account all things loss and dung for Christ if ever you be saved O Christians labour then to hold forth a Conversation sutable to the Gospel So much for the first Inference Secondly If such great and unsearchable treasures are opened and tendered to Sinners in the Gospel O then how great is their sin that oppose and persecute the Preaching of it O this is a black sin indeed this activity comes from the Spirit of darkness O 't is a dreadful thing to oppose resist and persecute the Ministery of the Gospel For such do all they can to hinder the tenders of unsearchable Riches to the World they labour to keep the World poor to hinder the Salvation of Souls And is not this sad work Again such as oppose and persecute the Gospel are of the cursed brood and off-spring of the Pharisees who do shut up the Kingdom of God and neither enter in themselves nor suffer them that are entring to go in So do those that do oppose and persecute the Gospel and would put out the light of the Gospel they are the Children of the Devil the first-born of Hell they do their Fathers work Joh. 8. 41 44. They that hate the light are the Children of the Devil their deeds are evil Joh. 3. 20. They carry the Devils mark upon their forehead wherever they go up and down to say there goes the Devils Children there goes an Heir of Hell Again They are Soul murtherers they do hunt Souls and shed the blood of Souls Ezek. 13. 30. As well as they that hinder the Gospel of Life as they that bring in false Doctrines and feed persons with Lies and occasion death They that starve mens Souls as well as they that poyson them both are Soul murtherers They sight against Christ in Heaven They go up and down with drawn Swords pointed against Christ in Heaven O bloody wretches that have murthered Christ on Earth and now would kill him in Heaven too Acts. 9. 4. Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me O Souls 't is a fearful thing to oppose and persecute the Ministery of the Gospel for all the blood of all the Saints from the beginning of the world to this day shall be upon their heads Math. 23. 35. O 't is a sad thing to lye under the blood of one person but to have all the blood of all the Saints in the world to lye upon the head of a poor Creature O what will that Soul do That Soul will go to Hell with a vengeance and lye tumbling under the wrath of God to all Eternity Thus much of the Second Inference CHAP. XXIV Shewing the poor and lamentable State of all Christless Souls IF there are such vast and unsearchable treasures in Christ tendered to sinners in the Gospel Hence see then the poor and lamentable state of all those Souls that are without Christ O they are very beggerly Souls that are Christless Souls As they that are far from the Sun must needs be far from
he feeds when he dreams but when he awakes he is emptie Riches feed nothing but the Eye hence Covetousness is call'd the lusts of the Eye 1 Joh. 2. 16. O'tis a vanity indeed to look after that which you can put in to your Eye it will not feed your affections it will not satiate the Soul it will not quiet the Conscienc O that men should adventure their all for that which will not satisfie Thirdly They are fading things in their Nature not only uncertain and liable to remove in the event but they are dying in their Nature Corruptible riches Your Houses Lands whatever your greedy Eye covets are but rotten things Your Garments are liable to the Moth and your Gold and Silver Subject to Rust J am 5. 2 3. Ah poor treasure indeed Which rust and Moth consume rest that strengthens other Creatures eats out these Houses Lands Gold and Jewels are subject to wearing away Tempus teret omnia Time will wear them out Hence Christ advises his Disciples to provide bags which wax not old a treasure in Heaven which faileth not Luk 12. 33. Implying that all the treasures of this world are not so If men lay them up in bags the bags will wax old and time will rot them Thieves can approach to these treasures and Moth and Rust can eat them out 'T is a pretty simile one hath of it who compares the Riches of the world to hailstones that when they fall upon a tyl'd House make a ratling noise for the present but by and by slâ—de down and melt away to nothing Fourthly The treasures of this world are ensiaving treasures they bring their owners into bondage as one says Ducendo vincimur vincendo ducimur By their cunning allurements they overcome us and overcoming us they lead us Captive They first allure the heart and then enthrall the heart They bring men into the worst bondage of any for they bring them into a willing bondage Earthly men are not only led Captive by the world at Satans will but are enslaved by their own will they consent to be bound Earthly men do with Esau swap a bargain for the things of the world they consent to let go their birth right for a mess of pottage they give up their birth right to their Inferiours and consent to become a slave to their own Servants That word of the Wiseman is never more true Eccl. 10. 7. then when men are led Captive by the love of this world I have seen Servants upon Horses and Princes walking as Servants upon the Earth Never did Israel do greater drudgery in Egypt then Carnal Earthly men do to the world It makes them rise early sit up late and eat the bread of sorrows and all for a few shaddows Ps 127. 2. Earthly men says one are like Beasts that are set to draw in the Devils Teams who draw sin with Cart-ropes and Iniquity with Cords of Vanity Isa 5. 1. Peccata facile veniunt sed fortiter ligant Fifthly The riches of this world are ensnaring too 1 Tâ—m 6. 9. They that will be rich fall into Temptations and Snares The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies such snares as persons use to take Birds and Beasts with and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fasten down to the ground as nets are that take beasts So Earthlyminded men the Devil stakes them down to the ground They are held fast in the cords of their own iniquity Pro. 5. 22. What a snare was Balack's Gold to Balaam's Covetous heart to draw him against his light convictions and a Divine charge The Bag prov'd a fatal charm to covetous Judas it lead him to the Halter The things of the world prov'd a sad snare to Demas and led him off from all his profession Earthly things are like twigs that are in Bird-lime that hold fast those silly Souls that come at them that they have no mind nor power â—o leave them O they are sad snares indeed Sixthly Earthly riches are defiling too The Apostle calls riches filthy lucre 1 Pet. 5. 2. Not for filthy lucre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Obscure gain as the word implies filthy unbecoming undecent O 't is dishonest gain indeed which ends in the loss of the Soul Such men are the greatest Couzeners in the world that cheat themselves and loose their Souls for sublunary treasures The Riches of this world defile the Consciences of those that love them the Apostle calls them the pollutions of the world 2 Pet. 2. 20. 'T is considerable that the Psalmist doth use the word Psa 52. 7. to fignifie both riches and unrighteousness Lo this is the man that made not God his strength but trusted in the abundance of his Riches and strengthened himself in his wickedness noting that riches prove occasions of much evil hurt and filthiness to them that have them Seventhly They are accountable Riches Talents that must be reckoned for Math. 25. 19. After a long time the Lord of that Servant cometh and reckoneth with him All Earthly interests are trusts committed to the fidelity of those that have them and they must give an account for them Luke 16. 2. Give an account of thy Stewardship for tbou must be no longer Steward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All thy undue pursuits of the World thy inordinate love to it thy unjust ingrossings of it to thy self thy penurious witholding it from those distributions God hath required must shortly be reckoned for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those things which Families use Eighthly They are afflicting riches They carry more trouble then comfort with them 1 Tim. 6. 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil which while Some coveted after pierce themselves through with many sorrows They run themselves through So Beza They stab themselves all over from Head to Foot with darts So the word imports O how great are those anxieties and troubles the riches of this world breed for those that have them they be troublesome things They cause a great deal of pains to get them a great deal of care to keep them a great deal of fear to loose them And a great deal of trouble when they are gone Christ compares the love of the world to Thorns Mat. 13. 7. Compar'd with ver 22. Because they prick and scratch the Consciences as well as choak the word O the many wounds they will see in them one day that love the world inordinately Whence Gregory hath this upon it Let rich men take heed how they handle Throns least they prick them Nintâ—ly They are damnifying riches and bring a great deal of loss with them A man can hardly come by much of the world without a sensible detriment They occasion the loss of a great deal of time that should be used about their precious Souls The loss of precious peace O what trouble what carking fretting rending cares have men about these Riches They loose
their natural peace many times and lose their Soul quietness The cares of this world breed a great deal of guilt Then there 's a loss of purity too they sully thy Soul dirt thy Conscience bespatter thy Affections Many a hopeful Soul is corrupted by them to fall from their seeming vertue and moral excellencies as the young man in the Gospel Judas Annanias and Demas Earthlimindedness like the Fâ—ie in a Box of Oyntment spoil mens natural and moral Vertues They occasion the loss of many priviledges the love of the world robs Souls of great advantages such cannot wait on God many times in secret duties family duties publick duties they have a Farm and Oxen and Merchandise to look after and therefore cannot come Nay they that will be rich deprive themselves of the profit of those priviledges they do enjoy The Love of the world takes off the good of the word whiles it is preached to them Math. 13. 22. The things of the world damp mens affections to Christ and heavenly things they stifle mens Consciences It duls and blunts the edge of the Sword of the Gospel and makes it rebound back again when it fals upon the rocky heart hardned with the love of the World O they are damnifiing things And at last they will set you hard but they will lose your Souls and then you have made a cursed bargain indeed when you have lost your Souls Lastly They are dangerous and too often damning things they are dangerous for they keep the Soul from Christ As the young man in the Gospel he came to the very last step and yet there he stayed he could not part withall for Christ that broke the bargain Mat. 19. 22. He went away sorrowful for he had great possessions The love of the World stood in the way of his receiving Christ Thorns are the shelter for Serpents and riches for many lusts that drown men in perdition and destruction 1. Tim. 6. 9. The word in the original signifies a plunging over head and ears in ruine sunk to the bottom as one that hath a great weight upon him One compares rich men to a Pine Tree of which it is said that if the bark be pluckt off it will last long but while that abides it rots riches are as a deep pit into which men easily get but hardly get out and therefore Christ saies it is easier for a Camell to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Math. 19. 24. The things of the World bar up the way to Heaven and open the way to Hell and hasten the Soul with a vengeance to destruction They are like the Devils sleep-drench that casts Souls into a deep trance and 'till they come to the end of their lives they never awake and then they awake with a vengeance That 's the first Consider what the things of the world are and they are fools indeed that pursue them with the neglect of Christ Secondly Consider the different terms on which they are to be had and it will appear to be folly for men to desert Heavenly things and chuse Earthly If you would have the World it will cost you a great deal of sorrow trouble and pains you must tug hard Adam being turn'd out of Paradise must work in the sweat of his brows for his bread Gen. 3. 10. But Heavenly Treasures is to be received by believing They come by gift It is but to come and take it and receive it Isa 55. 1 2. Thirdly Consider the casualty that attends the persuit of these Earthly things A great deal of casualty whether you may have them or no and a great deal of hazard that attends them The Marchant engages in dangerous voyages and after all is not sure to bring home any treasure Eccles. 5. 14. These Riches perish by evil travel Suppose they are obtained they sometimes are wasted assoon as won and he that thinks he hath enough for many years many times leaves nothing behind him Many toyl and tug eat out their bowels and spend their days for that which they cannot obtain how many labour to be rich and yet dye Poor Riches make themselves wings and flie away Pro. 23. 5 Fourthly Such as persue Earthly things with the neglect of Christ contract much guilt upon their own Souls they violate the whole Law of God for the whole Law contains supream love to God Love saies the Apostle is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13. 10. And upon this Commandement saies Christ hangs all the Law and the Prophets Math. 22. 40 Upon supream love to God and equal love to our neighbour as to our selves Therefore such as persue Earthly things and love the World more then God they break the whole Law of God 1 Joh. 2. 5. Yea they violate and break the commands of grace also It makes men false to all their engagments and promises and to all their civil trusts O what horrid wickedness will not the love of this World put men upon therefore such contract foul guilt upon their Souls And this shews their folly So much for the use of Information CHAP. XXVIII Containing an use of reprehension to several sorts of Persons with consolation to all sound Believers IF there be such vast and glorious Treasures in the Lord Jesus Christ opened and tendered in the Gospel Then this reprooves such as have or profess to have an interest in these vast and boundless Treasures and yet are so little affected with them and have a low estimation of them O sad indeed That the choicest substance that ever was boundless treasure should be esteemed no more then perishing trash 'T is a lamentable thing indeed to see how most Professors value perishing treasures so much and Jesus Christ so little Did persons prize those Heavenly Treasures they would have a lesse esteem of Earthly they would be more restless till they saw their Interest in them Pursue more after them be at more pains and cost to secure them Be more in the commendation of them and highly esteem those that have them Secondly It reproves those that have or seem to have a title to this glorious Treasure and yet are not contented with it O Souls will a few handfuls of dust please you and will not a Kingdom Crown and Glory Will a little Cottage in the world take up your delight and will not a Mansion and dwelling-place in Heaven satisfie you O Believer hath God made over himself Father Son and Spirit to be thine eternal Treasure and is not he rich enough to fill all thy heart and all thy desires sit down and consider how groundless are all thy mournings how unreasonable are all thy frettings and discontent who canst say of Heaven This is mine and of God and Christ He is mine Thirdly It reproves those that have or seem to have a Title to those treasures and yet look after others treasures and eagerly pursue a portion in this
lov'd the World Joh. 3. 16. and every Creature in it such a Philanthropy is in Christ he would have all men come to the Knowledge of the Truth that they might be saved 1 Tim. 2 4. Love your Enemies Mat. 5. 44. so did Christ he prayed Father forgive them Luke 23. 34. love his Friends 1 Joh. 5. 1. Eph. 6. 24. CHAP. XI The glorious Excellency of Christ's tender Pity opened and displayed in the several Acts of it both to Saints and Sinners ANother Discovery of the Sweetness of Christ's Disposition is Thirdly His Pity this is lookt upon as an excellent Qualification and that which renders a person lovely among men Rom. 5. 7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one dye yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye for a just man one that is strict and rigid in his Life and matters of Justice none will dye but for a good man that is for a bountiful liberal man for a Benefactor saith Beza for a Friend saith another some would even dare to dye Kindness and Compassion renders men lovely and amiable in the Sight of Heathens hence one calls a merciful man a precious thing and another makes him equal to God God himself prefers Mercy above Sacrifice Mat. 9. 13. This the Lord opened to Moses as part of his Glory Exod. 34. 6. The Lord God merciful and gracious c. And this mercifulness is placed in the Nature of Christ as Mediator and therefore must needs render him glorious and be part of his unsearchable Riches now that the Lord Jesus is so full of Pity and Mercy in his very Nature the Scripture is clear This was one Qualification necessary to his Priest-hood Heb. 2. 17. This was a special Requisite to the Priest under the Law that he should be one who might have Compassion on the Ignorant and them that are out of the way Heb. 5. 2. Therefore the high-priest must be a Man not an Angel that so he being subject to Infirmities to Sins and Weaknesses himself he might the better have Compassion upon others in the like ease The same Argument the Lord useth to Israel Deut. 10. 19. Love ye therefore the Stranger for ye were Strangers in the Land of Aegypt Experience of Affliction fits a person for pity to others and therefore our Lord took our Nature upon him that being compast with the same Infirmities Sin only excepted he might be able to have Compassion on others this is necessary in that Office for a person will never be active in such laborious work for Sinners as offering of Gifts and Sacrifices for Sin if he have not tender Bowels towards persons in Misery and therefore Jesus Christ must needs be such a one who can have Compassion c. The word is significant 't is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to have Compassion on others according to the Measure and Proportion of their Misery Paraeus renders it to have Compassion as much as is needful Beza to be affected according to the greatness of anothers Misery and such is the Compassion of Christ 't is suted to the Condition of his People were Christ's Pity but one Grain short of the Misery and Condition of Sinners he could never save them to the utmost for if he will save to the uttermost he must ever live to make Intercession there 's no one moment of time in which they don't want help and must have Gifts offer'd for them But this Christ will not do if he wants Compassion Jam. 5. 11. The Lord is said to be pitiful and of tender mercies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of many Bowels or as Piscator multum viscâ—ralis much bowelful all pitiful from inward deep Bowels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word is to pity with the Bowels of a Mother to be prone to compassion So Aestius He is rich in mercy Eph. 2. 4. Great in Quantity and Choice in Quality great Mercy and choice Mercy Psal 5. 1. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies The word Rab multitude signifies Quality as well as Quantity many Mercies or weighty Mercies Mercies Rachamim 'T is such love and pity as Mothers bear to the fruit of their Womb which is fervent and flaming The word hath no singular number because there are many works of Mercy saith Piscator Now this Compassion of Christ lies in these two things 1. In his sympathizing with his Creatures 2. In supplying and supporting them First Pity hath sympathy in it an inward Heart-affecting sense of another's Evils Psal 103. 13. Like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitietb them that fear him Judg. 10. 16. His Soul was grieved for the Children of Israel The word signifieth His Soul was short'ned or contracted in him by reason of grief 'T is spoken by an Anthropopathy according to the apprehensions of men As a man is filled with grief his Breast is straitned that he can scarcely breathe It denotes how much the Lord Jesus is affected with the miseries of his People Heb. 4. 15. He is said to be touched with the Fellow-feeling of our Infirmities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suffering with us Christ in Heaven hath such a fellow-feeling of the Evils of his People as that he resents their troubles as his own He is tender-hearted and every misery of theirs reacheth his Soul But this hath been somewhat treated of before Secondly Readiness to supply and support others in their Misery and this is eminently manifested in the Lord Jesus Isa 38. 20. The Lord was ready to save me Men sometimes have a hand but no heart they may help but will not they only say Go and be fed and be cloath'd c. Others have a heart but no hand they have not to supply the needs of others their Cruse of Oyl and Barrel of Meal will reach but a little way besides there may be some Cases in which Men or Angels cannot help Psal 142. 4. I looked on my right hand and behold there was no man would know me c. But there can be no Condition in which Omnipotency fails to help Heb. 7. 25. Jer. 32. 27. And Christ is as really willing as able to save He is an inexhausted Fountain of all good Sufficit omnibus saith Paraeus nec sufficit tantum sed dat liberalissime Dives est saith the same Author sufficientia affectu He is good and doth good He feeds gathers carries leads his poor infirm Flocks when they most stand in need of him Isa 40. 11. When they are ready to faint for want he opens a Well and fills their Bottles when they wander from their resting-place he sends his Dogs and gathers them to his Fold when they are weary and can go no further he takes them into his Arms and carries them when they are hungry he feeds them when they are naked he cloaths them when they are sick he visits them when they are in Prison he comes to them He giveth to his
looking up to Jesus and lifted up to him Sinners may be too rich for Christ in their own opinion but never too poor hence the Lord Jesus Christ tells us he came not to call the Righteous but sinners to Repentance Math. 9. 13. Not them that Judge themselves Righteous but them that feel themselves sinners The Rich he sends empty away those that are Rich in their own thoughts when the poor and hungry are fill'd with good things Men chuse empty vessels to put their liquors in and low rooms to cellar their wines so doth Jesus Christ chuse empty Souls for his good things He chooseth the Low plains for his walks when the high towring Mountains are rejected The high and lofty One comes to dwell in the low and contrite Spirit Isa 57. 15. Sinner thou must strip thy self of thy own Ornaments if thou intend to put on Jesus Christ Thou must throw down thy Crown at his feet if thou thinkest to wear his Crown on thy head O Soul thou must come as a poor wretch to Christ with thy empty sack as Jacobs Sons did to Egypt to buy corn and then thou shalt have Treasure too Thou must see thy self an undone sinner thou must come with Lazarus and throw thy self down at this Rich Kings Door if ever thou wilt be fed with his Crumbs nay rather feasted with his Dainties Secondly Thou must come to Christ as to a full and sufficient treasure able to save and satisfie thee to pay off thy debts and enrich thy Soul for ever Heb. 7. 25. Able to supply all thy wants and fill all thy emptiness Phil. 4. 19. We have shewn already that his treasures are bottomless boundless unfathomable unexhaustible never to be wasted or spent O Soul come to Christ as such a one Measure not Christ's gold by thy bushel nor his plenty by thy poverty think not thy debts too great for Christ to pay because thou knowest not where to get mony of thy own Think not thy straits too many for him to relieve He hath enough for thy Soul to live upon both here and to all Eternity O Sinner believe this and come to him as such a one suppose not the Fountain is empty because thy Cisterns are dry His Righteousness is like the great Mountains Psa 36. 6. It is in the Hebrew The Mountains of God And his grace is without measure Joh. 3. 34. Therefore thou must look to him as having a sufficient fulness for thy Soul Thirdly Thou must look to Christ with expectation as the poor Cripple did to Peter and John Acts. 3. 5. Now shall a poor Creature expect to receive some needful sutable good from a fellow Creature and will not thou expect some mercy from the Lord Jesus Christ thy Creator and Redeemer O sinner come with expectations to Christ believe that he is as willing as able to enrich all that come to him He hath past his word for it He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. He that believeth on him shall not perish Joh. 3. 16. The weary Soul that comes yea creeps to him shall have rest Math. 11. 28. The thirsty Soul shall be satisfied Joh. 7. 37. He goes up and down in the Ministery of the Gospel seeking to save that which is lost Luke 19. 10. And he is angry with them that will not come to him Joh. 5. 40. O sinner do not take up hard thoughts of Christ Such suspitious thoughts of Christ is some of the Devils seed that he doth sow in broken ground When Christ comes to break sinners hearts and make them sensible of their undoneness then the Devil casts in these tares and raises up ill thoughts of Christ It was this did so enervate the diligence of the unprofitable Servant some undue thoughts he took up of his Lords bounty I knew saies he thou wert an hard and austere Man Hence he puts up his Talent in a Napkin and his hand in his bosom Math. 25. 24 25. Jealousies of Christs good-will to sinners are very destructive to Salvation-work The Devil hath hindred many a Soul from coming to Christ by casting this block in his way O then come with expectations at least come to Christ with as great hopes as the Lepers came to the Tents of the Assyrians who were Enemies come to Christ the friend of Sinners 2 Kings 7. 4. They adventured with some hopes we may live and we can but dye they may kill us and they may save us alive But thy case is not so if thou come and adventure on Christ thou mayest be sure he will not kill thee O look to Jesus then with some hopes say who can tell but my Soul may live Fourthly Close first with Jesus Christ himself and afterwards with his Treasure I confess usually something from Christ draws the Sinner's first respects to him The savor of his oyntments some love-tokens kindnesses apprehension of necessity sense of undoneness may conduce to get the first glances of Sinners towards Christ But though these allure to Christ yet the first thing the Espoused Soul must eye in his Match with Christ is Christ himself though these things draw the Soul yet they do not center the Affections Christ's kindnesses are design'd as motives to beget an esteem of himself in sinners hearts The knowledge of what Jesus Christ hath for sinners an intimation of pardon peace and Salvation for all that come to him may be the Prodromus or fore-runner of Christs Person to sinners view but when they come to see him they must first pitch upon himself and till they come to this they cannot have a due and orderly close with Christ In all right and regular Matches the Person must be first regarded then the Portion A Soul is not fit to match with Christ till he comes to see infinitely more worth in him then in all his gifts and favours It was the excellency of Christ himself that drew Pauls highest regards to him with respect to relation Phil. 3. 8. The excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord Paul sets that fore-most And then to be made conformable to his Death and Resurrection The Spouse was more taken with Christ's Person then with his Gifts Cant. 1. 2 3. First himself was lovely then his fruits Cant. 2. 3. David counts nothing in Heaven or Earth like to God in Christ Psa 73. 25. 'T is sordid love and too unworthy of a conjugal State that values the Portion more then the Person that Soul is too unworthy of Christ who values any thing more then him Math. 10. 37 It must be Christ himself must sit in the upermost seat in thy Soul 'T is a saying of Calvin T is an unworthy thing not to perfer one Christ above all Those Matches never prove comfortable where the Estate is eyed more then the Person hence conjugal love is broken when the estate is gone but where true conjugal love is it is setled upon the Person Love
that is set upon some Gifts of Christ more then Christ himself when these are suspended the others will decay but love placed upon his Person will last Hence 't is many do so easily leave Christ when it comes to parting with other things because their love was set more upon these things then Christ himself O Soul be sure 't is Christ himself thou dost chuse and not another O be not guilty of that mistake as Jacob was to take Leah instead of Rachel Be sure it be not a false Idea of Christ in thy thoughts but that it be a real Christ thou takest and then thou wilt never look for another Be sure give Christ the preheminence The Father hath given him the preheminence and wilt not thou Phil. 2. 9. Col. 1. 18. Col. 2. 9. If Christ must take the best place in Heaven he hath reason to take the first place in thy heart Fifthly If thou wouldest come to Christ aright then bring thy all with thee to him and make a free and full surrender of thy self and thy all to him When God would have Israel out of Egypt they must not leave a hoof behind Exod. 10. 26. 2 Cor. 8. 5. They first gave their own selves to the Lord Be sure make over thy self first to Christ and then all thy interests and Capacities Come and subscribe to Christ Isa 44. 5. One shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord. Calvin hath a saying upon this A Person saies he can never have true faith in Christ till he comes to make this testification and confession of him In the espousing betwivt Christ and the Soul there is a mutual resignation of each to other with all they have Christ gives his Person and Purchase to Believers and the sincere Soul gives back himself and all to Christ To detain the least part from Christ is abominable fraud and lying against the Holy Ghost Acts 5. 3. If thou accountest any one thing too good for Christ He accounts all his too good for thee Lastly Be sure your acceptance of Christ be considerate and sincere sit down first and count the cost Luk. 14. 28. Thou must be no more thy own thou must take up thy Yoke and his Yoke Thy cross and his Cross Thou must denie thy self and follow him Weighty things are not to be undertaken rashly Diu deliber andum was an ancient Motto Hasty matches seldom prove well O Soul be not rash in thy taking Christ The Lord Jesus Christ Espouseth his in Judgment as well as in Faithfulness Hos 2. 19 20. in considerate bargains are oft-times broken or repented of You will never espouse Christ in Faithfulness till you espouse him in Judgment Weigh all things consider Marriage Articles what they are and whether you are willing to perform them Math. 16. 24. O Soul try can thy heart consent to this O the falseness of Souls pretended match to Christ hath undone many You must take whole Christ with the whole heart or else you will never match aright with Christ You must chuse him never to chuse again You must make him your only choice and let all your other choosings be by him Thou shalt choose our inheritance for us Psa 47. 4. Say then I will only chuse him I will chuse his Person his Laws his Honour and Glory but Christ shall chuse all for me Let Christ chuse my place and condition high or low Let Christ dispose of me where and how he will in the World I will dispose of Christ in my heart So much of this Fourth Inference That Jesus Christ is worth a looking after CHAP. XXVII Shewing the folly of such as pursue earthly things with neglect of Christ considering the Nature of those things the Terms on which they are to be enjoyed The casualty that attends them The guilt such contract IF there be such great and glorious treasures of Christ tendered to sinners in the Gospel Then see the folly of those that pursue earthly treasures with a neglect of Christ For Souls to turn their backs on Christ and court the World and periâ—hing things O folly indeed I shall give four Reasons to convince such persons of folly The 1. Taken from the things themselves they pursue with neglect of Christ 2. The different terms on which Christ and these are to be enjoyed 3. The casualâ—y that attends Souls attempts after Earthly things 4. The guilt that such contract who pursue Earthly treasures more than Christ First 'T is folly yea madness to pursue Earthly things and neglect Christ because the things themselves they chuse cannot be compar'd with Christ which will appear in several particulars First They are uncertain Riches There 's no dependance upon them 1 Tim. 6. 17. Nor trust in uncertain Riches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Riches that are not declared and manifested to be sure and certain for a dependance They are not a sure bottom for Souls to build so much hope and delight upon when it comes to a pinch indeed then iâ—â—ppears they are vain and will not profit in the day of wrath Like a broken Staff when you lean upon it then it breaks So the Riches of this world when Souls put some stress upon them then they fail They are uncertain sometimes you enjoy them and anon they are removed Pro. 23. 5. Wilt thou set thine Eyes upon that which is not for riches certainly make themselves wings they flye away as an Eagle towards Heaven They come slowlie but get off swiftlie when they come to men they have leaden feet and when they leave them Eagles Wings To day they flourish like the grass and to morrow burn like an Oven A man hath a beautiful house to day and to morrow an heap of Ashes O most uncertain Riches All the world runs in changes To day says one they arâ— for the Bosom and to morrow for the Beesom To day men take them into their bosoms to morrow vengeance sweeps them away Secondly They are empty things they cannot satisfie the Soul that feeds upon them The world is not filling meat to an immortal Soul let a person feed never so heartily yet he is hungry The whole world â—â—nnot fill one heart Alexander wept that there were no more worlds to conquer Nature puts bounds to the Sea and all Earthly beings have their end Psa 119. 96. but sin hath made carnal desires boundless It is with earthly minded men as Solomon says it is with the Grave and barren womb and the fire that say it is not enough Pro. 30. 15 16. Wherefore says the Prophet do you spend your money for that which is not Bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Isa 55. 2. One calls the whole Turkish Empire but a bone that is thrown to dogs very dry meat so are all the things of this world Riches are like meat in a dream An hungry man thinks