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
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
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
Poor Men are badly clad Job 31. 19. Sometimes they go in rags as Soloman saies Pro. 23. 21. Drowsiness will cloath a man in rags It notes the Poverty that slothful Persons are brought into when James would discribe a poor man he sets him forth as cloath'd in vile rayment Jam. 2. 2. And there come in a poor man in vile rayment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dirty base cloaths The same word that is rendred filthly garments Zach. 3. 3. Is the dress of poor men So Christless Souls are very poor they go in mean rayment they are naked the Spirit of God tells the Church of Laodicea so Rev. 3. 17 18. Till Souls be cloathed with the white rayment of Christ's Righteousness they be naked and their shame appears they have nothing to cover their nakedness from the sight of God Angels and Saints They go in poor rayment their garments are webs of their own weaving and their works are their covering They are cloath'd with shame and cover'd with Confusion as with a Mantle Psa 109. 29. O what sad rayment do Sinners go in Saints are cloathed with white Rayment and beautiful through Christs comeliness adorn'dwith his Graces bespangled in his Jewels they go up and down in rich Attire But sinners lye in sordid attire cloath'd with vile Rayment Fifthly Poor men usually have but bad Lodging They commonly live in mean Houses little Cottages They sometimes dwell in the dust Psa 113. 7. He raiseth the poor out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill So the Prophet Isaiah describes a poor man as one that is cast out Isa 58. 7. The poor that be cast out O their Loding is hard they do not spread themselves on Beds of lvory nor lye on Cloth of Tapestry The rich have their ceiled Houses fair dwellings The poor many times their Cottages are in a Wilderness and Houses that drop through So 't is with Christless Souls they have poor Lodgings when Saints Lodge in the bosom of Christ they lye in the Arms of Devils They lie upon Thorns yea Spears that will pierce them thorough They lye upon Stones the Earth is their Bed they are Earthy Souls and lodge in the very bosome of the world They dwell in habitations of cruelty they lye in Graves So the Prophet when he speaks of the Jews dead in sin before Coversion he describes them to be in their Graves Ezek. 37. 12. Dead sinners lye like Lazarus bound with a Napkin in their Graves Joh. 11. 44. O there 's your Bed Souls if out of Christ there you lye kept till the day of Judgment held Prisoners till a call comes to bring you to the Bar of Christ O your lodging is mean indeed Saints dwell in God Psa 91. 1 9. their habitation is in the City of God Eph. 2. 19. But all Christless sinners lye without amongst Devils they dwell on pinacles and live upon the borders of death every moment amongst Dogs amongst the unclean O see their habitation and the place where their honour dwelleth Rev. 22. 15. Without are dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murtherers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh alye These are the company Christless Souls lodge with they are turn'd out of doors O sad doleful state indeed Sixthly Another Character of a poor man is this Poor men are Friendless Pro. 19. 4 Wealth maketh many friends but the poor is separated from his Neighbour Every man seeketh the Rulers Favour every mans Cap and Hand and Knee and all is for them But the poor man his very Neighbour comes now to leave him who was his Friend whiles in prosperity When Rich men sit down in places of Honour poor men must stand at the Feet Jam. 2. 3. They are sure to find few Friends to own them to pity and help them So Christless Souls are friendless they have no true Friends in Heaven or Earth Those that seem to flatter them are not Friends but Foes they rather wound them and draw them into mischief whiles they lye in their blood there 's no eye to pity them to do any of these things for them Ezek. 16. 5 No hand to help them to wash salt and swaddle them ver 4. 5. If the Father of Bowels shut up his pity Creatures can extend but little whiles they reject the good Samaritane none that passeth by regards them If God will not withdraw his anger the proud helpers do stoop under him Job 9. 13. If God be angry who can befriend us O sinner If God frown what is the love of Creatures O thy case is doleful thou thou art a poor Soul indeed that art out of Christ if he wound none can heal Job 11. 10. If he cut off or shut up or gather together none can hinder him Christless Souls are like a Gangreen member in danger of being cut off if a sudden cure be not found and who then can befriend them where the Lord of hosts is a Friend Creatures are Friends And where he is an Enemy Creatures are Enemies too If God be in Covenant with a Soul the Creatures are in Covenant too And if God be against a Soul all his armies fight against that Soul too O sinners who can be friend you suppose you have Rich kindred great acquaintance what can they do at the Bar of God for you They will not go to the Judgment seat of Christ and speak for you there Seventhly A poor man is one that is lightly esteemed This David gives as a Testimony of a mean state when some were sent to treat with him about a match with Saul's daughter he modestly puts it off Who I says he I am a poor man and lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 18. 23. The word is contemptible of little little worth Rich men are sure of honour but the poor are little regarded Great persons are Courted when the poor are sleighted passed by little esteemed So 't is with Christless Souls They are lightly esteemed God hath a very low account of them The ungodly in Gods account are like the Chaff the Wind drives away Psa 1. 4. So are the wicked let them be what they will in greatest dignity here below they are glittering stars in the worlds Eye but falling Comets in God's account The mighty King of Babylon being a wicked man God accounts him but an abominable Branch Isa 14. 19. So Christ calls proud Herod a Fox Luk. 13. 32. God reckons them as broken Pitchers Wicked Coniah is as a broken Vessel in whom is no pleasure Jer. 22. 28. No more doth God reckon of wicked men though under all the grandure of the World Angels do not regard them They do not account them worth their company and attendance The Saints are guarded by Angels but wicked men are let alone Angels are Ministring Spirits to the Heirs of Salvation not to the Heirs of Hell they have no charge at all to watch over them but to fight against them They are set in battel array against
these several duties 1 Duty First Be exhorted to Thankfulness to the rich Grace of God for giving such a Treasure and Treasury as Christ is be continually offering up Praises and Thansgivings to God Flames of holy Affection be admiring the Grace of God as the Fountain and Spring of these waters of Life as the deep Mine of those glorious Treasures now to scrue up your Affections and wind up your Hearts to make way for holy Melody admiring triumphing and blessing God for giving Christ consider these following Particulars as motives to this choice duty First Consider what you were without Christ O! Christians look back and see what once you were Eph. 2. 11. Remembring that in times past you were Gentiles in the Flesh The worst of men an idolatrous sort of men Worshippers of Devils you were wild Olives Enemies to God in your minds Col. 1. 21. hateful and hateing one another Tit. 3. 3. Lying in your blood to the loathing of your persons Ezek. 16. 4 5 6. dead in Trespasses and Sins wretched miserable poor blind naked Rev. 3 17. Children of Wrath heirs of Hell born to Wrath Eph. 2. 1 2 3. under the Curse and Condemnation of the whole Law Gal. 3. 10. O lamentable state Obnoxious to Death liable to everlasting Destruction every moment no guard about you open to Devils liable to the pourings out of divine Fury and the openings of the deep Treasures of infinite Vengeance to have no security from the greatest Evils nor capacity ever to be deliver'd out of them obnoxious every minute to a fearful looking of a fiery Wrath and Indignation which shall devour the Adversary Heb. 10. 27. This was once your state Believers you were stubble ready for everlasting Burnings Fuel for that Fire that can never be quenched and Food for the Worm that never dyeth O! sad case indeed and was not freedom and deliverance from such a state a Mercy worth your highest Thanks Had you but lookt into the place of Torment and dipt your Finger into that lake of Fire and Brimstone you would have wonder'd at Redemption-mercy and adored that Grace of God that pluckt you out of it and is not your acknowledgment of preventing Grace as due now as it would have been to an actual deliverance out of these Miseries Secondly Consider what you are by Grace if you are related to Christ you are brands pluckt out of the Fire Zach. 3. 2. Bond-slaves redeemed from the Pit Zach. 9. 11. Condemned Wretches sav'd from Wrath to come 1 Thes 1. 10. Translated from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan into the Kindgdom of God Acts 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. Made Sons and Daughters to God called to his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thes 2. 12. Gal. 4. 6. Crown'd and invested with a Right to his Presence and most glorious Priviledges Eph. 2. 18. 19. Under the Eye of God under divine Care infinite Grace is an Undertaker for you 1 Pet. 5. 7. O glorious State Consider further how you lye upon the Heart of God as a Seal and Signet there Cant. 8. 6. Reckoned amongst his Jewels accounted his peculiar Treasure Exod. 19. 5. Mal. 3. 17. Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1. 12. Sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus made Vessels â—itted for Mercy fill'd with Mercy devoted to Mercy Rom. 9. 23. And Heirs of Glory Jam. 2. 5. O wonderful wonderful Grace this is matter of Praises to God to all Eternity Time would fail to read over your Inventory and to look through your Treasury 't is Work for an Eternity to do O believe what you cannot see and admire what you cannot know and study out what you yet understand not of your blessed state both privatively and positively consider'd and when you have found out a little of your Happiness then look on those beneath you put your Mercies into the scale with the World's Miseries rate your Redemption-interest with the lot of Christless Souls matter of the same Lump with you think on your Acquaintance Friends Relations Neighbours that have enjoyed the same Gospel-Priviledges with you and yet these are left to their Blindness to perish in the Error of their ways and must down into the deep for ever but you are exalted and lifted up to Glory O! What cause is here for Praises blessings Thansgivings and Hallejuahs to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for evermore Thirdly Consider the greatness of that Grace which hath made you to differ Ah! Believers Redemption-grace saw nothing more in you than in Judas Demas and those that perish you were of the same Lump cut out of the same piece there was not a Jot of Difference between you and the damned but only the good pleasure of Grace only divine Mercy laid it's hand upon you O that astonishing word because it pleased him to make you his people 1 Sam. 12. 22. It was only the free grace of God that chose Jacob and left Esau Rom. 9. 13. It was not for your sakes Christians that the Lot was cast so well for you No Be it known to you O house of Israel be ashamed and confounded for ever in your own Eyes Ezek. 36. 32. The moving Cause the Wheel within the Wheel that made you adopted and others rejected was only the good Pleasure of his Will Eph. 1. 5. 7. It was from hence God so loved the World out of this Womb sprung all your Mercies it was Height of Grace Length Breadth Depth Love passing Knowledge Eph. 3. 18. 19. O ye heirs of Glory be affected astonished ravished with the sense of this rich grace of God towards you in giving Christ not only for you but to you and revealing him in you and uniting him to you by the Spirit from the same Mass of fallen man to single out some for pardon and leave others for Punishment O wonderful The Sense of this made the Apostle break out in such a holy Extasie Rom. 11. 33. O the Depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God O the depth A note of Exclamation and silencing wonder O consider this Love of God to your Souls 't is free Love without any Influences from the Creature full Love without Circumference or Bounds eternal Love without Beginning and without end Fruitful Love abounding in the rich Gifts and Procurements of it O the Gifts and Tokens God sends to you now and O the large store he lays up for ever for you 't is sympathyzing Love full of Bowels delighting Love full of pleasure in you 't is resting Love He will rest over them in his Love 't is immutable Love without Changes giving Love forgiving Love caring Love securing Love returning Love overcoming Love O! where shall I make an end How can you come to the bottom of this Deep wade a little further till you have lost your selves in holy wonder Can you see your brave houses fine Cloaths comfortable Relations and have such high
thy Earthy Thoughts are legible Characters to his discerning look And should not the sense of this advise thy rational Soul to more watchfulness over thy treacherous Heart And surely were Christs All-seeing Eye more observed Persons Thoughts would be more weighed and their Insides more regarded O Reader whoever thou art Lodge this Truth in thy Heart and carry this Belief up and down with thee wherever thou goest The Eye of God is on thee He that must shortly be thy Judge is now thy Recorder and puts a Remark on all thy Thoughts Words and Wayes for which he will bring thee into Judgment Set a watch on all the rising motions of thy Heart stop thy hasty words at the door and examine what they are whence they come whither they go before thou let them pass and measure thy designed Actions by the Standard of the Sanctuary e're thou let them go under thy hand seeing he that is thy Judge comes with his measuring Line to take an Account of them and to render according to their nature and merit Thirdly Again As Christs Infiniteness exceeds all confines of Place so he passes beyond all terminations of Time being from Everlasting to Everlasting without Beginning without End Psal 90. 2. His Duration admits of no distinction of Time and therefore must needs be Eternal Time is the measure of Finite Beings which are capable of Priority and Succession but the Divine Essence hath no Beginning and so can have no End He is the Author of all other Beings and therefore cannot have a Beginning there being nothing before him to give him a Being God hath his Essence in and of himself and so must needs be Eternal Neither is he only Eternal saith Aquinas but he is his own Eternity because he is his own Essence subsisting in and of himself which Essence or Eternity of his is the very reason of Eternity and of all things contained therein for the Divine Essence subsisting of himself must needs be before all things that are made as the Cause is before the Effect and Eternity before Time seeing the things that are made are made by him Joh. 1. 3. His Unity also proves his Eternity being one uncompounded and undivided Being and so before all as Unity is before Multitude and whatever Beings are they are derived from Unity and without End for take off Unity and nothing remains The Scriptures bear full witness to the Eternity of Christ Before the Mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the Earth and the World from Everlasting to Everlasting thou art God Psal 90. 2. I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God Isa 44. 6. He is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the Ending which is which was and which is to come Rev. 1. 8. He is before all and by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. And though Christ be called the onely begotten Son of God Joh. 1. 14. and so implies the Father to be before the Son yet this priority is of Order not of Time Christ as God is Eternal with the Father and so before all Time Joh. 1. 1. and to Everlasting And this greatens the Believers Happiness beyond all conception that his Treasure is Eternal Time limits all the Comforts and Interests of Christless Souls let them seem never so amiable and great through the multiplying glass of mistaken Sense yet the shortness of their Duration narrows up their Felicity whereas the portion of Heaven-born Souls exceeds all Dimensions and Terminations The Moth of Time cannot consume their Treasure their Lease can never expire thousands of years that comprise the extent of Earthly Estates substracts nothing from that Eternity which gives duration to the Saints Treasure Rejoyce O Believer in the assured perpetuity of thy best Interests here thy most desired Mercies are but of short continuance Thy Priviledges are but Tabernacle-priviledges thy Enjoyments determinable thy Frames are transient thy Pleasures fading Hope Peace Love Grace endures but for a Season but thy Possessions beyond the Grave are eternal and as long as Christ lives shall thy Treasure last thy Holiness Happiness Pleasures and Perfections in the other World shall be coexistent with thy Soul and as far from expiring as the Love that gave them was from beginning And as thy Comforts here are short liv'd so are thy Troubles too Sorrow enduring for a Night light Afflictions and but for a moment 2 Cor. 4. 17. Tears contained within a Bottle Fears Wants Losses Dangers confin'd within this Span of time and expir'd with this short Vapor of Life but thy Consolations Gain Enjoyments Peace Safety shall be eternal no more liable to the Injury of time thy wet and weary Sowings are but for a Season thy weak and wasting Duties will be over but thy reaping thy resting shall know no end but endure while the Eternity and Omnipotency of Christ can make them good Fourthly The Divine Nature of Christ is immutable also above all Alteration and Change He is the same Yesterday to Day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. Immutable is his Nature being a most simple Essence free from parts or any Mixture that might render him capable of Corruption he is also the first Being and so free from the Influence and Dispose of a higher Power Change in any thing comes either from a Corruptibleness in its Nature or from the Will of a Superiour Power but God being the first and supreme Cause is above all and so unalterable in his Nature Isa 44. 6. I am the first and the last He is infinite too and so comprehends all Fullness of Perfection in himself and cannot meet with Alteration they are imperfect things that are subject to change old things that pass away but God is infinitely perfect and therefore cannot change or be moved from what he is by any external or internal Cause he cannot cease to be what he was or begin to be what he was not as to his Divine being indeed the Word the second Person in time assumes the humane Nature into a Union with himself but then he doth not cease to be what he was that is perfect God and so doth not change and though he alters his Laws and Administrations of Worship in the times of the Gospel yet he alters not his mind this Change was decreed from all Eternity God determined them to be mutable and therefore they must change or God would not be immutable And whereas it may be urged that God doth threaten to do what he doth not and promise to perform what he hath never fulfilled and therefore is mutable I answer that God never threatens and promises in his word absolutely but conditionally and the Condition failing the Act on which it depends fails but God doth not change his Mind neither was this Mutability in man accidental to God but foreseen and sure and so Gods Purposes thereabout are not alterable but eternal And whereas God is said now to be
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
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
and perfume them with my Incense not the Excellency of your Duties but the Worthiness of my Intercession shall procure your needed Mercies Secondly Here 's Comfort to troubled Believers such as are in the depth of Soul-misery and cast down with the sight of their Sins guilt of their Consciences and Fears of their Condition that go mourning all the day long forget to eat their Bread feed on Worm-wood and Gall refuse with Rachel to be comforted because their first born their Comforts first Love and Holiness are not Jer. 31. 15. This is the case of some poor Souls from day to day they meet with no Consolation eat Ashes in stead of Bread and mingle their Tears with their Drink they go from Ordinance to Ordinance and their Fear come and go with them they feel little Change by all they do or enjoy their Hearts are harâ— proud vain carnal unbelieving hence they fear they are Hypocrites and shall be cast away to all Eternity Now here 's Comfort to such from Christs Intercession in Heaven he is there pleading thy cause and pressing after thy cure thou hast provoked God but he is appeasing his Wrath 1 John 2. 1. 2. Thou art angring God every day but he is always pleasing him for thee thou art making Breaches upon the Law of God and he is there closing up those Breaches by his Blood and Intercession thou art busie making wounds upon the Glory of the Father and Christ is there presenting the deep Gashes and bloody Stroaks his Justice laid upon him for those very Sins when God is resolv'd to be aveng'd for thy Backslidings Christ is then discovering his constant Obedience and upright Faithfulness for thee he pleads with the Father thus Father shall thy Anger burn for ever and thy Vengeance always wax hot against this Soul My Child Remember what I have borne for him I have already suffered for his Sin and given a plenary Satisfaction to the Demands of Justice and wilt thou charge it on him Father let his Sins be on me as David 2 Sam. 24. 17. Let thy hand I pray thee be against me these Sheep what have they done 'T is I am their Surety and in thy Account the Offender I have answered for their Offences and discharged their Debts why wilt thou pursue them in thy Anger Holy Father in Justice spare these Offenders behold them in my Blood and cloathed with my Righteousness Obedience and Suffering 't is true their Natures are vile but mine is holy and they are Members of my Flesh and of my Bones they are diseased but I have undertaken their Cure and will present them to thee without Spot and Wrinkle And this Intercession of Christ shall certainly prevail with God for thee that thy Iniquities may be pardoned and thy Sins remembred no more Heb. 8. 12. All that is promis'd in the new Covenant Christ intercedes for in Heaven for he is the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. The Mediator of the new Covenant Heb. 9. 15. But the Forgiveness of Believers Sins is part of the new Covenant Jer. 31. 34. Mich. 7. 18. where God forgives one Sin he forgives them all Jer. 33. 8. I will cleanse them from all their Iniquities c. He will pardon not only Sins before but after Grace not only small but great Sins Psal 25. 11. Not only Sins that have been once but often committed Jer. 3. 22. Return ye back-sliding Children and I will heal your Back-slidings He doth not say once or twiee but let their Back-slidings be never so great and many upon their Return God will pardon them nay though they be as Scarlet and as red as Crimson Isa 1. 18. Object I did once hope that God had pardon'd all my Sins but now I fear it because I have back-sliden after Mercy and wallowed in Sin after washing and God threatens he will not forgive such Jer. 14. 10. chap. 5. 7. Sol. 1. The Reason why God would not pardon their Sin was not because they were too great for Pardon but because they would not return Jer. 15. 7. I will destroy my People because they return not from their Ways Jer. 23. 14. The Lord promiseth to such as have gone aside from his Ordinances even from their Youth that if they will return to him he will return to them Mal. 3. 7. Jer. 4. 1. Secondly If God will pardon all their Sins then he will pardon their Relapses after Mercy be they never so great upon their returning to him God speaks indefinitely I will cleanse them from all Iniquity Jer. 33. 8. Thirdly If God will pardon their Sins before Grace much more those after Grace if he will forgive them when Enemies then much more being reconciled the Apostle useth the same Argument Rom. 5. 8. 9. Fourthly If there be no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus then God will surely pardon all their Sins that ever they commit for there is never a Sin but will condemn the Soul if it be not pardoned but the Soul that is in Christ is never no not one Minute of time in a condemned State Rom. 8. 1. Fifthly If the Lord Jesus haâ—h satisfi'd for all the Sins of Believers then they shall furely be forgiven otherwise God would be argu'd of Injustice and Christ would shed his blood in vain but the Lord Jesus hath satisfied divine Justice to the full for the Sins of all his People Isa 53. 5. 6. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Ransome 1 Tim. 2. 6. paid by Christ was a full and sufficient price and therefore his Satisfaction is compleat for all their Sins if this were not so he could not have cleans'd them from all Sin but he cleanseth them from all Sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. Christ could not have saved them to the uttermost that come to God by him were his Satisfaction imperfect but this he doth Heb. 7. 25. Lastly If the Lord should not pardon all the Sins of his People he would be unjust and unfaithful 1 Joh. 1. 9. but that he cannot be Zeph. 3. 5 He will not do Iniquity he is the faithful one that cannot deceive or be deceiv'd Isa 45. 21. Let God be true and every man a Lyar. Thirdly Here 's Comfort to Believers that are dejected in the sense of their strong Corruptions and unsubdued Lusts The Body of Death in some doth make them doubt the truth of Grace and fills their Lives with Bitterness and Terrours The badness of their Hearts and vileness of their Natures makes some conclude their final Ruine But here 's Comfort to such Firstly In that it hath been and is the case of the dearest Children of God their Corruptions like the Sons of Zerviah have been too hard for them Abraham accounts himself Dust and Ashes Gen. 18. 27. Job cries out I am vile Job 40. 4. David says Mine Iniquities are gone over my head as a Burden too heavy to bear Psal 38. 4. Isaiah from a reflex View of God's Glory concludes he
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
they cannot sleep through trouble he will sit up with them when they are solitary and dejected he will come and see them Fifthly His comforting them in their Troubles He is the Father of Mercies and God of all Comfort who comforteth us in all our Tribulations Consolating is an act of pity to those that are in trouble 1 Thes 3. 2. So Job's Friends when they had heard of all the Evil that was come upon him they came every one from his place to mourn with him and to comfort him Herein lies much of Christ's pity to his People he would not have them swallowed up of overmuch grief 2 Cor. 2. 7. When they are cast down he charges his Messengers to speak comfortably to them Isa 40. 2. When he brings his People into the Wilderness he will speak comfortably to them Hos 2. 14. Isa 66. 13. chap. 57. 18. This is part of Christ's Intercession in Heaven that the Father would send the Comforter to them Joh. 14. 16. And part of his last counsel that he left with them was That they would be of good cheer Joh. 16. 33. Joh. 14. 1. He began his Sermon with a Use of Comfort Let not your hearts be troubled c. and here he closeth the same with a word of Comfort And indeed the whole of Christ's Fare-wel Sermon was Consolation to his People He would not have them be in Heaviness longer than need did require 1 Pet. 1. 6. but commands them to rejoyce evermore 1 Thes 5. 16. Sixthly His counselling them in all cases wherein they stand in need of his Advice Hence they have Line upon line and Precept upon Precept that they might be wise to Salvation and therefore he is called the wonderful Counsellor Isa 9. 6. Psal 16. 7. I bless the Lord who hath given me counsel Counsel saith Ainsworth about my Sufferings and the Glory that shall follow Job 36. 8 9 10. Adversity sometimes is God's University and Schola Crucis saith Luther is Schola Lucis Mysterious Truths many times spring out of Affliction-depths Seventhly His giving to them and forgiving of them Pity hath open hands and stretcht out arms Christ hath left a large witness of his liberality 1 Tim. 6. 17. Who giveth richly all things to enjoy Men give sparingly but Christ bountifully they with straitned hearts but he with open bowels they sometimes in Reversion but he in possession And he doth not only give but forgive Mic. 7. 18. Who is a God like unto thee that pardons iniquities c Exod. 34. 6. Psal 86. 5. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive Numb 14. 20. 1 Joh. 2. 1. They run into debt and he dischargeth them They do as it were write down their Iniquities and he blots them out Now Are not these admirable demonstrations of his Pity and affectionate compassions of his tender Bowels towards his People Secondly He hath infinite Pity for his Enemies Mercy and good will for Sinners Luke 6. 35. This appears First In his bearing with them and forbearing of them Rom. 9. 22. Endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction How doth the Lord suffer the vilest of men to live and that very long Lo I have come these three years looking for fruit Luke 13. 17. These forty years have I been grieved with this People Psal 95. 10. An hundred and twenty years did he bear with that high and uncurable wickedness of the first World and that after it was come to the full Gen. 6. 3. Four hundred years did God bear with the sins of the Amorites even after he had given Abraham their Land Gen. 15. 13 16. How long did the Lord bear with the Ten Tribes after their Apostasie from his pure Service even the space of two hundred and fifty years in which time there were Nineteen Kings and all wicked men walking in the steps of Jeroboam O! the slowness of God to Anger even against his Enemies that dare him to his very Face yea that trample his Glory under foot and that every day yea hour and yet God spares them to old Age many times Alas how soon are we angry at our Enemies and if but slighted a little ready with the Disciples to call for Fire from Heaven to consume those that receive us not Luke 9. 54. But the Lord Jesus is not so he waiteth that he may be gracious and his long-suffering leadeth to Salvation Secondly His maintaining of them and that sometimes at the highest rate giving them Honour and Riches Prosperity and Favour Pharoah must have a Kingdom and yet an Enemy to his People Nebuchadnezzar an Empire Ahasuerus an hundred twenty and seven Provinces Croesus vast riches and Sardanapalus delicate Pleasures All the Creatures are pressed at their Service the Air Earth and Sea are ransack't to satiate their Lusts Hos 11. 2 3 4. He feeds and cloaths helps and prospers his greatest Enemies and all to heap up Coals of Fire upon their heads Thirdly His affectionate seeking their Salvation This was his Errand into the World he came to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Lost Sinners Matth. 18. 11. Bloody Sinners Ezek. 16. 6. Blind Idolaters Acts 17. 23. Cruel Persecutors Acts 9. 4. Wicked Sorcerers Acts 8. 9. These the Lord Jesus seeks to save he sends his Gospel to invite them to come unto him Matth. 11. 28. Yea beseeches them 2 Cor. 5. 20. Makes large promises to them if they will return Isa 55. 7. Act. 3. 19. Yea how doth the Spirit strive with Sinners that they may be saved Reasons with them Why will you dye Come let us reason together Isa 1. 18. Why wilt thou not suffer me to save thy Soul and to make thee happy to all Eternity Poor Sinner I have a real mind to do thee good an affectionate kindness for thee I came from Heaven to save such as thee Behold my hands and my feet see how my heart bleeds for thee Behold how ready my purchase is yonder is thy fair Estate if thou wilt be mine Lift up thine eyes to those Mansions Crowns and Thrones all these shall then be thine See those beautiful Garments consent to me and thou shalt wear thy filthy Rags or lye in those pinching straits no longer thou shalt lodge no more in those stinking Kennels of thy Lusts O poor Sinner why wilt thou stand in thy own light and slight this offer which thou mayest never have made thee more Lo how my Bowels move towards thee see how my Arms are open'd to thee Be mine and I will be thine My Kingdom shall be thine my Friends will be thine my Servants shall be thine My Angels shall protect thee yea attend thee my Creatures shall maintain thee my Wisdom shall guide thee my Faithfulness shall keep thee my Power shall be laid out for thee my Love shall delight thee my Honour shall adorn thee and my Treasure shall enrich thee I will be a loving Husband to thee I will provide all good things for
thee I will rejoyce over thee I will forget the wrongs thou hast done me I will requite thy Vnkindness with Kindness and draw thee with cords of Love with cords saith one woven and spun out of my very Heart and Bowels O miserable Caitiff embrace my Counsels listen thine Ears to Heaven gate and hear the melodious Musick that is there made by refined Spirits why wilt thou rather lye with damned howling Devils than sing Hallelujah's and the Song of the Lamb with saved Souls Accept of me and unchangeable Glory unspeakable Priviledges and Rivers of Pleasures shall be thine Thus doth the Lord Jesus woo poor perishing Souls to be happy and is not this Pity indeed Fourthly His readiness to receive them when they come to him No sooner do they open the door but he comes in Rev. 3. 20. If any man open the door I will come in unto him No sooner doth the Prodigal return but his Father meets him yea runs to meet him as if he could never come soon enough at him Luke 15 20. Mercy is upon the wing when it comes to receive returning Sinners No sooner did Ephraim repent but God repented too As soon as he said Turn thou me God said He shall be turned when he cries Thou art the Lord my God presently God Answers Is he not a pleasant Child So willing is Christ to receive returning Sinners as that he promiseth he will in no wise cast them out Joh. 6. 37. Yea if they cannot come unto him he will go and fetch them and if they cannot go he will draw them Joh. 6. 44. Fifthly His great Joy when he hath obtain'd them The Father of the Prodigal keeps a Feast and makes merry when his lost Child is found Luke 15. 23 24. Psal 104. 31. The Lord shall rejoyce in his Works and this he doth when he hath finished them Heb. 4. 4. But there is nothing the Lord Jesus Christ takes more pleasure in than in the Redemption of Souls Prov. 8. 31. He delighted in the habitable parts of the Earth This you vvill find further amplified in the Parables of the lost sheep and lost piece of Silver Luke 15. from vers 4. to 11. CHAP. XII The Improvement of the Pity of Christ by way of Terrour Encouragement and Advice ARE there such deep and large Bowels of Pity in Jesus Christ not only towards his Friends but his very Enemies Then here is First Terrour to Impenitent Sinners Ah Souls hovv fearfully great is your Sin being a plain defiance to the Mercy and pity of Christ Every Transgression of yours is a kicking the very Bovvels of Mercy and a stab at the Heart of Divine Pity O! hovv vile are your Iniquities vvhilst vvithout Christ They are no less than a despising of the Riches of the Mercy and Goodness of God which would have led you to Repentance and a treasuring up of Wrath against the day of Wrath Rom. 2. 4 5. O Sinners you run on score in abusing of the highest Mercy that ever was you provoke your best Friend against you Alas Who can help you if Mercy it self becomes your Enemy The Bowels of Christ are your last Asylum if this door be shut against you Farewel Souls and can you hope that Mercy will plead for you when rejected by you or will not God hear the Complaint of despised Mercy think you Sinners the Compassion of Christ shall come forth at the last day and say I would have saved that Soul but it would not how often would I have gathered it but it resisted Mat. 23. 37. I offered to pay it's Debts and to get him an Acquittance in the Court of Heaven but he refused it I would have ransom'd him from Death to Life and adopted him to an Inheritance in Glory but he would not I would have stamp'd the divine Nature on him and brought him into the Likeness of the Lord of Glory but he would not I would have put down his Name in the book of Life and secur'd his Title to Heaven but he would not I called he would not answer I perswaded he refused I beseeched he despised I strived he resisted and now Justice into thy hands do I deliver these rebellious Souls to be dealt with according to the Threatnings of the Gospel and Severity of the Law that my Wrongs may be avenged O! what a terrible Complaint will this be Sinners tremble then at the Thoughts of your abusing divine Mâ—rcy Vse 2. Of Encouragement to dejected Souls If there be such tender pity in the Lord Jesus O then take Courage hence to hope for Mercy these Mercies of Christ are infinite boundless and bottomless O what a stock of Mercy is in him for troubled Souls to trade upon what unfathomed Deeps are there in divine Compassions enough to serve all thy Turns and Necessities have thy Sins been many The free Gift is of many Offences to Justification Rom. 5. 6. Of the Offences of many persons be they never so many or the many Offences of one person there is vertue enough in this free Gift of the Blood of Christ for the pardoning them all if such return he saith one that had love enough to give us Christ hath Bowels enough to give us pardon believing Souls shall never dye for Debt if the Bowels of Christ hath wherewithal to pay it O! what Shifts will tender Parents make to keep their indebted Children out of Prison They will beg and borrow of others pinch themselves and spare what they can rather than their Children shall be undone and surely the Mercy of Christ must needs make the most of his Blood and Obedience of his Intercession and Satisfaction for the Pardon of his People And therefore Daniel joyns Mercies and Forgiveness together Dan. 9. 9. Is thy Unworthiness great and deservest thou nothing but Wrath from God O bear up thy Sinking Spirit on the Arm of Mercy Mercy is in vain and signifies nothing if Justice only must take place hast thou abused Mercy and sinn'd away the Favour of thy God Thou hast lost his Gift but he hath not lost his giving the Child spils his Water and goes to the Well to fill his Pitcher again there is more Mercy O troubled Soul in the deep Wells of Salvation for those that seek it Obj. But I have provoked God to withhold Mercy Ans Let me tell thee O distressed Believer there are Forgivings as well as Givings in the Bowels of Christ and I know not which are greater Are thy Wants many Be of good chear Mercy hath enough to supply them all and is as free to give as able and take this for they Encouragement Mercy never gives where there are Deservings Are thy Griefs Labours Fears Troubles and Burdens great Yet comfort thy self Misery and Mercy are a Kin Mercy lives in the â—lymate of Misery and never thrives better than in Misery's Ground to do good to miserable Creatures is Meat and Drink to Mercy John 4. 32. I have Meat to eat
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
this Covenant O what manner of Love is this if duly weighed That the Son of God should come down and be made man take upon him the form of a Servant engage to the Service of the first Covenant to make good all the violated conditions thereof by his sufferings and all the precepts thereof by his Obedience That he should be made a Curse and taste of death and all to make this Covenant sure That he should shed his blood to make firm this Covenant in all the parts of it That he should come and melt himself to death that the seal might be put upon this new Covenant O what wonderful Love is this for nothing could make it sure but the Testatours blood and that he would shed his Blood to make it sure Now then there 's no greater constraints to duty than the sense of the Love of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 14. The Love of Christ constrains us Arguments of Love are irresistible it silences the Believing Soul in all his resistances When Arguments fetch'd from the Law do only drive the Soul to Duty nay sometimes bind back from duty That at such a time the sense of the Love of Christ doth draw yea post the Soul away to Obedience Draw me and we will run after thee Cant. 1. 4. that is Let out the potent influences of thy sweet Love upon me and then I will hasten after thee or further my Obedience of thee Secondly Another reason for Obedience is taken from the certain blessed Ends and Fruit of new-Covenant Obedience which is no less than Eternal Life Rom. 6. 22. All the blessings of the everlasting Covenant are ensured to such Ps 103. 17 18. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him to such as keep his Covenant to them that remember his Commandments to do them Mercies in the way mercy in the end are all ensured to them that fear him to them that Evangelically keep his Covenant Psa 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth unto such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies There 's great reward in the very keeping his Commandements and reward in the latter end O what promises are entail'd to Gospel-Obedience Nay you will not only have the Fruit of your own Graces but you will have the Fruit of Christs Grace the Fruit of his Obedience and his Righteousness too Therefore O what reason have such to obey seeing the Covenant is made sure they cannot miscarry their labour shall not be lost considering the Love of God that should engage them to Obedience and the blessed Issue of it Thus much of the sixth Branch and Item of Chist's Inventory and the Riches of his Purchase CHAP. XXI The Heavenly Inheritance is the Fruit of Christ's purchase WE shall briefly add one particular more of the Purchase of Christ that is The Consummation and compleating of all the Believers happiness and comprehension of his chiefest treasure which is the purchased possession of Glory Eph. 1. 14. Vntil the Redemption of the purchased Possession unto the praise of his Glory that is unil we come to inherit this glory purchased by Christ O what a blessing is this All that have been treated of already are but little parcels of this total sum of a Believers happiness O when the whole treasury of Christ shall be opened and set forth to the view and enjoyment of saved Souls When all Christ's personal Glory as Mediator shall be discovered to them and become their Glory when all his purchased Glory for them also shall then be entred on by them all that he hath received for himself and all he hath procured for them shall all be made over to them This will be a blessed Eternity indeed when their Crowns of Massy Glory shall be set upon their heads and when they also shall be set down upon Thrones of dignity honoured with the reflections of Christs Majesty and unconceivable grandure This is a mystery indeed but a real truth to all Believers O blessed purchase indeed who can tell over this sum when the Saints shall be so enriched with the Riches of Christ cloathed with the beautiful Garments of his praise O wonderful Glory indeed Deckt with the Jewels of the Graces of his Spirit and fill'd with his holiness brim full When they shall be satiated with his pleasures but never tyred sit down at the Well head and drink full draughts of pleasure Take in their fill of the highest consolations and unknown Sweetness Love and delight from Christ O this must needs be wonderful enriching when they be ever ever ever with the Lord where no clouds can darken their sights of their blessed mansion and their blessed God where no vail can intervene between them and their Beloved Where Rust Moth Worms Time and Death can never come to wear out their enjoyments O blessed Treasure indeed Where Eternity shall be the Date Immensity the Bounds and Immutability the fixation of their happiness But so it shall be with saved Souls in Heaven when they are got through the Sea of Christ's blood to Glory O Believers Do not your hearts leap within you What no kind of affection at all to these things Is all this as a dream to you Where are your Hearts O be affected at this wonderful blessedness Christ hath procured in Heaven for you O blessed blessed Eternity where saved Souls shall wear a Crown that fadeth not away where their Garlands shall be ever fresh and green their joys ever new and their enjoyments never wearing where all their sown seed of Spiritual-Duties and Gospel-sufferings shall spring up to Glory to a full crop of blessedness to an harvest of pleasure proportionable to all the Love of God to them to the utmost measures of their Graces and acts of their Faithfulness the large extent of divine promises yea suited to the infinite deservings of Christ for his saved ones Glory as much as can be claimed This will set forth the Treasures of Christ to be boundless bottomless endless without all circumference higher then all Altitude broader than all Latitude deeper then all profunditude O treasures indeed Saints and Angels may look into them but can never see the bottom In comparison of which Riches in Heaven all the warmest Apprehensions all the sweetest tastes all the highest enjoyments of Saints here are no more than a drop to the Ocean like one ear of Corn compar'd with all the fields in the world cloath'd with fruitfulness No more then a single Dust to all the Beds of Sand in the whole Sea O what is glory Christians are these Jewels so valuable that you can bear about with you here O what a Cabinet then is Heaven O what are the Treasures laid up there O wonderful large indeed Weigh the utmost pleasures and delighting ravishing consolations that all the Believers in the World can get by this side Heaven all the graces all the Joys of all the Saints in
will of God that those great and glorious Treasures of Christ in the Gospel should be opened and tendred to Sinners yea to the chiefest of Sinners This is as certain as choice a truth and precious news to sinners For the demonstration of which I shall 1. Prove 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by four arguments 2. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by four reasons First That it is really true that the Lord Jesus Christ is willing that all those unsearchable Treasures of his should be tendred to Sinners yea the chiefest of Sinners First Christ's willingness to shed his blood for Sinners shews he is willing his Treasures should be opened and tendered to them He that gives the cause gives the effect Causa Causae est Causa Causati Christs blood is the procuring cause of all those Treasures that are purchased for Believers and that which gives a right to his personal riches too Eph. 1. 7 11. Now if Christ be willing to give his blood for believers to procure those Treasures then surely he is willing to have them opened and tendered to them he that wills the means to the end wills the end too Should not Christ be willing that his riches should be opened and tenderd to Sinners it would lay a great reflection on his intentions in dying for Sinners and leave the charge of unfaithfulness on truth it self which how unjust it is let all that are rational judge but it is for sinners Christ hath shed his blood yea for the chiefest of sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Rom. 5. 6. In due time Christ dyed for the ungodly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is the same word the Apostle useth to express the people before the flood by 2 Pet. 2. 5. Now what these were Moses tells us Gen. 6. 5. Ignorance Prophaness Contempt of God and the vilest abominations were committed by those whom Christ came to redeem yet to these would he have the Gospel sent and his Treasures opened and tendred Secondly His appointing and sending a Ministry on purpose to Preach the Gospel to sinners proves it This was the first thing the Lord Jesus Christ did when he ascended on high he gave gifts to Men that of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers and why was this it was for the work of the Ministry Eph. 4. 10 11 12. And what is the work of the Ministery Why to open and Preach Christ Crucified to the World to discover reconciliation-mercy and all the Treasures of Christ concern'd therein 1 Cor. 5. 18 19. Joh. 20. 21. As my Father hath sent me so send I you Now if the Lord Jesus sets apart a Ministery on purpose to attend this work as Acts 6. 4. Then surely he is willing Sinners should have those riches opened and tender'd to them Thirdly The choice annointings he gives them to this end evidenceth his willingness the Gospel should be Preached and his Treasures opened to the World as the Father hath annointed him and given the Spirit without measure to him so hath he annointed his Messengers with measures of the Spirit for this work 1 Cor. 12. 7 11. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withal That is the gifts of the Spirit by a Metonymy of the effect and given to every one to whom it is given for this end to profit withal so Piscator The Apostle speaks here of gifted Persons in the Church of Corinth whether they were ordinary or extraordinary Teachers they had all choice gifts imparted to them by the Spirit to that end All whom Christ sends to Preach the Gospel have the annointings of his Spirit to fit them for that work Isa 50. 4. The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary The Prophet here saith Calvin doth personate all the Ministers of Christ in all ages And tells us that all those Christ sends to Preach the Gospel he doth give sutable endowments to them for that end he doth impart his truth to them by his Spirit that they might teach others This is the Reason Christ gives the Spirit of his Father Mat. 10. 20. He makes them teachable that they might teach others Hence Cyprian saith Non bonus est Doctor qui non est docilis Christ reveals those treasures of his to his Servants that they might open them to others Mat. 10. 8. Freely ye have received freely give Fourthly The charge he lays upon his Messengers demonstrates this truth he doth command them to go and preach the Gospel to every Creature Mark 16. 15. 'T is an Hyberbolical Synecdoche of the genus Every Creature put for all Nations saith Piscator The word of reconciliation is committed to them as to Ambassadours faithfully to impart it to those they are sent to There 's a necessity laid upon them to preach the Gospel and a wo if they do not 1 Cor. 9. 16. A necessity not of Coaction but Obligation and divine command saith Paraeus Secondly The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why Christ is so willing those Treasures should be tender'd to Sinners First That so he might give the world a proof of the greatness of his Love to perishing Sinners and of the largeness of his bowels to poor mankind Eph. 3. 9. To make all men see what is the Fellowship of the mystery c. Now what was the fellowship of this mystery The Apostle tells us ver 6. That the Gentiles should be Fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel This sets forth the wonderful love of God in Christ to fallen man that God is willing the mystery of Salvation should be opened to such vile Creatures as the Gentiles were worshippers of Idols and Devils such unclean and filthy Creatures the chiefest of sinners Tit. 3. 3. Eph. 2. 2 3. Such were all before Conversion they had fellowship with Devils 1 Cor. 10. 20. And this commends the love of God indeed that he should reveal Jesus Christ to the vilest sinners and tells the world it is by Grace any are saved Eph. 2. 8. and of the riches of mercy Tit. 3. 5 6. It lets sinners know that God is no respecter of persons he saves none for any worth in them but for his great love in Christ Eph. 3. 19. Secondly That the worst of sinners might be encouraged to come to Christ and none be exempted from Salvation but those that exclude themselves Joh. 7. 37. This is Christs design thereby to draw sinners to himself by the savour of his Oyntments Joh. 12. 32. O the precious discoveries of his excellencies are attractive the riches of Christ and the Glory of his Kingdom have a wonderful influence to perswade sinners to him Gal. 4. 15. A seen and believed blessedness in the ways of Christ will make the Soul part with all for him and come on any terms to the enjoyment of it Terrours contract the Souls affections to
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
your fellows He will make you Kings and Priests to God he will set you in Heavenly places he will seal your title to a Rich Joynture he will make sure your interest to all the Treasures of Heaven He will possesse you with grace and assure you of glory O sinners is not this argument enough to win your Souls and make you willing to accept of such a Majesty as Jesus Christ Eighthly Sinners think upon the greatness of that love tâ—e Lord Jesus Christ bears you He hath good-will towards Men towards sinners as sinners whiles in their blood he hath a love of pity for you 'T is true till you close with Christ he can have no love of acquiescense in you but he hath a love of good-will to your Souls he hath so much love for you as hath made him willing to shed his blood for you his love brought him down from the Fathers Glory made him willing to drink the dregs of a cup of wrath for you the love of Christ to Sinners hath set up a standing Ministery in the World sent forth multitudes to publish glad tidings O Sinners did you but believe this how attractive would it be upon your hearts to draw you to Christ But if none of these arguments will prevail let me adde one consideration more Lastly The effects of your refusing Jesus Christ will be dreadful if you will not accept of this proposal O think what a terrible answer Christ will send you Such shall not taste of his Supper Luke 14. 24. Not a crumb that fall from this Rich Table of Salvation-chear shall fall to the share of that wretched sinner If you will not have his Person you shall not have his purchase He hath sworn in his wrath these shall never enter into his Rest Heb. 3. 11. O sinner were there no other Hell but the loss of Heaven it were enough to break thy heart in pieces O think upon the sad Issue of thy final unbelief When thy sins get over thy head and thy guilt follows thee at thy heels When Death and Hell shall be at thy back and then to call and cry and knock at the door of mercy and not be heard O what a doleful thing will this be When armies of devils are round about thee ready to snatch thy Soul into everlasting burnings and none to relieve thee O fearful will the case of thy Soul be When thou shalt cry O for mercles sake Help Lord I am going to Hell for mercies sake help and then for the Ear of God to be deaf and thou not have one good word and the door be shut against thee O what a dolefull case will this be for tender mercy to cease is miserable But for mercy to become cruel to you O fearful case indeed when tender Bowels shall become Brass and Iron and there shall be no sounding at all in it towards thy Soul O sinner if thou wilt not accept of this Christ he will laugh at thy Calamity and mock when thy Fear cometh Pro. 1. 26. That 's terrible when God shall not only cease to pity but deride thy misery Be assur'd Soul as quiet as now thou art a day of Calamity will come there will come a time of Fears for thy poor Soul and then will mercy it self be turn'd into wrath and laugh at thy Calamity yet further sinner if thou wilt not accept of Christ then will incensed fury send forth its army of destroyers and ruine and cut off thy Soul for ever Mat. 22. 7. Then shalt thou be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and from the glory of his Power 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Then shall vengeance glut it self upon thy Soul and seize upon thee in flaming Fire O 't is a dreadful thing to lye at the mercy of vengeance O what will not enraged fury do to its adversaries when it hath them at its power But what will divine vengeance do O sinner when God shall arraign thee at the Bar of Judgment for kicking at the Bowels of mercy for Crowning the head of Christ with thorns and trampling his blood under feet what wilt thou do then O canst thou read this and not shake when thou shalt see Devils round about thee and flaming vengeance take hold of thee But thus it will be Then they that would not let Christ reign over them shall feel Devils rending of them Then they that fled from the Arms of mercy shall fall into the Jaws of fury Then they that shut their ears against the fervent wooings of Christ shall open their hearts to the fiery wrath of Christ Then they that would not get into the bosom of Christ shall lodge in the burnings of Hell Then the Furnace of Hell shall be heated seven times hotter for those whose hearts freezed under the warm beams of Christ's Love Oh dreadful will thy state be Sinner if thou refuse Christ Well sinner take the Counsel given thee kiss the Son Iest he be angry turn in turn in hither reach out thy arms come away to Christ say Lord Jesus I am willingly thine Sinners are you perswaded what answer shall we return to this Lord of Glory Will you be his Will you accept of this grace tendered to you before it breathe its last to you CHAP. XXVI Objections answered Counsels how to come to Christ I shall now endeavour to answer those Objections which are made by doubting Souls against their coming to Christ 1. Objection Says a Soul But will this blessed Potentate this glorious King of Kings stoop so low as to look upon such an obscure Creature such a worthless worm as I am Alas I am too mean to unloose the latchet of his shooes I am too unworthy to be the meanest Servant in his House To be a dog to his Flock And will he cast his skirt over me O do not flatter me into such vain hopes and fond dreams that such a King of Glory will look upon me I am too low for one aspect of his Eye Answ Abundant Testimony hath this Lord given of his condescending heart to sinners Dost thou think thou art too low for such a Majesty When he left his Fathers Kingdom and came down from his Eternal Glory with the Father he gave abundant proof of the humility of his heart when he did espouse thy nature sinner to himself and took upon him the form of a Servant he shewed his humble heart that he was far from contemning sinners He was the true Jacob who served a far harder bondage for thy Soul than ever Jacob did for his Rachâ—l this shews his humility His choosing such mean persons such notorious sinners for his companions in nearest Union and Communiwith himself Matthew the Publican Paul the Blasphemer Poor Fishermen of no regard upon Earth These did Christ personally chuse for his nearest Converses this shews his condescension And 't is not thy low state sinner can discourage Christ if thy heart be really willing 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
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
World O unexcusable Like Dinah they wander after the things of this World as she did after the people of the Land till they deflower their Souls O Christians have you chosen God and will you back to the World again Hath God deliver'd you from this present World and will you yield up your selves to it again Hath grace opened your Prison Doors and will you enter in again Have you tasted God to be gracious and yet long after the worldlings bottle to drink of these Waters of Marah O unreasonable Souls How unsutable is this to your state and condition if you are Saints indeed you are not of this World Joh. 15. 19. Are you the Citizens of Heaven Eph. 2. 19. And would Saints and Angels so dig after the World if they come down from Heaven 'T is contrary to your promises and engagements You go against your convictions and experiences and by your inordinate love to and pursuit of the World you are Enemies to God your own and others Souls Fourthly This reproves those of the People of God who have an interest in these vast Treasures of Christ and yet are miserably poor in their own Souls Many complain Times be hard Estates wast Trades decay but the greatest Poverty lies in Spirituals Faith Love Humility selfe denyal Mortifiedness to the World persons are destitute of these things chiefly little grace laid out little grace laid up Few workings of Spirit in duty and few works of grace in Mens lives this argues wonderful Poverty in mens Souls 'T is not Poverty in Spirit but poverty in Spirituals Professours are so guilty of this day few acts of Piety towards God few works of charity towards Men How lean and ilfavoured are most under the Gospel Many are learning and never come to the knowledge of the truth a strange vail lyes yet upon the minds of many Little right-kind of knowledge few know the meaning of the Spirit few are led into the mysteries of the Gospel Others profess themselves wise and to know God but by works deny him and their Poverty lies here They are ful of notions but empty of holiness Earthly and vain in their Spirit Most mens Religion this day lies in the head little-heart-godliness little life-holiness Little love to God and Saints Little fruits brought forth for God this shews the Poverty of the times we live in Again the difficultness of maintaining Spiritual life hard to get to a life of faith and love hard to keep up hope this comes from Soul Poverty Hard for Persons to live from one Ordinance to another Spiritual life decays wasts languishes 't is with too many Professours as it is with ancient weak Persons that are grown so cold Nature so decay'd that they can hardly keep themselves warm longer then by the fire So t is with many Christians no longer then under a warming Sermon but cold presently nay 't is not ordinary Sermons will heat them The richest feedings the choicest Cordials scarce keep up faith love and delight in God one moment and are not these poor men Corruptions grow a light vain Eearthy frothy Spirit abounds but meekness savouriness humility gravity livelyness decays Little strength for duty hard to hear pray or to manage one duty aright little Spirit and Truth in most duties and services Unable to conflict with temtations corruptions oppositions Hard to live up to light convictions resolutions How do Souls make shipwrack of faith and conscience How easily are they overcome by their hearts lust pride passion Earthyness presently carries them aside Unable to bear the least sufferings The very shaking of the rod will drive some from duty Persons cannot yet digest difficulties and endurings for the Gospels sake How soon are many worn out by the afflictions and persecutions of this day This deserves sharp reproof Lastly It reproves those who partake of those riches of Christ and yet are reserved to others O how unlike are these to Christ He opens his Treasures to you but you shut yours from others he hands out his bounty to you but you shut your eyes from others His streams make glad the City of God your narrow heartedness makes sad the Sons of men His bowels are enlarged yours sttaitned Milk and Honey are under his tongue emptiness and vanity under yours his steps drop fatness your hands cause leanness O Christians see your unsutableness to Christ and be ashamed of your straitned bowels and shut hands towards your poor Brethren whether as to outward or spiritual supplies How few are the better for you in soul or body whose lips bless God for your bounty Deut. 14. 13. A close-handed Professor is a Paradox in nature and differs from God and the whole Creation The Lord is good and doth good Jesus Christ ascended on high and gives gifts to men Eph. 4. 8. He is always doing good The Sun diffuseth freely of his light and heat The clouds drop fatness The Earth brings forth her increase the Trees yield their fruit and when fit for the use of man lets them fall into their bosomes the air communicates its refreshing the fire its heat the Sea its store only man is selfish and with the unprofitable Servant hides his talent in a Napkin Christians be humbled for your non-conformity to Christ and the little use you have made of your Talents and graces for the good of those you live with Note That this use of Reprehension was more fully and largely compos'd by the Author but the substance of it is contain'd in that excellent Treatise of the Author call'd The Heavenly Trade to which the Reader is refer'd Third Vse of Consolation If there be such unsearchable riches in Câ—rist for his people Then here 's wonderful Comfort to those that are in Christ such have cause to rejoyce and be exceeding glad For First In your interest in Christ lies your right to all those great and glorious treasures of Christ He that hath Christ all that is Christ's is his All things are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 21. Such are Joynt-Heirs with Christ put down in the same everlasting Covenant adopted to the same inheritance Rom. 8. 27. They have a Title to all that Christ hath as Mediatour and that by donation and purchase A title that cannot be forfeited nor wasted A Title to the whole inheritance of God Ah Believer if Christ be thine then 't is no presumtion to lay claim to any thing that is his All that have been treated of him as God-Man Mediatour his glorious endowments his personal dispositions and excellent perfections are all thine 1 Cor. 1. 30. Is not this comfort indeed to believers that have such a Beloved in Heaven that is altogether lovely 'T is wonderful reviving when a Person can see some excellency he is related to beyond what is in himself What comfort will a Mother take in a beautiful Child though her self be deformed What delight will the faithful Wife take in
the Spirit too for Christ is not divided He that hath Christ hath the Father and the Spirit for these three are one Now a Soul that hath the Spirit of Christ may know it by the effects of it The Spirit of Christ is a quickening Spirit it begets a principle of Life The Soul that was dead to God and holiness now hath a new life a heart to move after God it works from other motives even from love to God Dost thou find thy heart always dead to every act of Grace No heart to pray hear c. and is this habitual O then here 's no fruit of Christs Spirit The Spirit of Christ is a sin-opposing spirit always quarrelling with Lust always convincing troubling humbling the Soul for sin Gal. 5. 17. Tit. 2. 11 12. It gives no peaceable possession to it but always opposes it as fire doth water Where the Spirit of Christ is 't is a leading guiding Spirit Rom. 8. 14. Christians what is it leads you Is it your own Spirits if you have received the Spirit of God you may know it by those Scripture ways it takes to put you upon duty such a one is coâ—vinced by the word and perswaded and help'd by the word to this and the other duty Again The Spirit of Christ is a praying Spirit A Soul that is in Christ cannot live without prayer though no eye see it and no good come by it yet he cannot omit secret prayer Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 8. 15. 'T is not enlargement of affections parts abilities and expressions in prayer but the inditings of the Spirit inward breathings sighs and groans of the Spirit A man may pray like a Saint or an Angel and yet not have a jot of the Spirit of prayer but it is the encouragement of the Spirit to wrestle with God by Christ the inward suggestions of hope when a Soul can go to God as to a Father when the very heart goes out to God in prayer and when prayer is wing'd with Faith and Love These are the effects of a Spirit of prayer and the fruit of a Souls reception of Christ Thirdly They that have obtain'd an interest in Christ have crucified the flesh with the lusts there of Gal. 5. 24. They and only they that are in Christ have crucified the flesh that is the body of death original sin The general Nature of sin the universal extents of sin come under the workings of this Crucifixtion O try Souls â—ath the Axe been ever laid to the root of sin Have you ever found felling stroaks upon the bodie of your Corruptions are you baptiz'd into the death of Christ and as he died for sin so do you die to sin and by vertue of his death and wounds do you fetch power and strength from him to crucifie it There 's a difference between the curbing and the crucifying of sin sin may be chain'd up imprison'd and not crucified Hypocrites that are under a seeming change do restrain and confine sin yea they may punish sin but do not crucifie it The crucifying of sin is the giving it a deadly mortal wound fetch'd from the blood and death of Christ Faith fetches vertue from the Grave of Christ to destroy the power of sin nothing so mortally stabs this Leviathan as a believing reflection on our propriety in Christs Crucifixtion and a laying hold on promises by Faith in order to the application of the benefit of a crucified Christ Rom. 6. 4 6. Our old man is crucified with him The putting our lusts into the side wounds and grave of Christ A levelling the Ax to the body of sin doth strange work to the crucifying of it Trie then are your corruptions Pride Passions Earthliness as strong as ever deceive not your selves this will never assure your interest in Christ till sin be destroyed 't is true when the wound is given sin doth not immediately die but the bodie of sin is dying and the believing Soul finds his corruptions hath less strength every day as a man that loseth his blood weakens more and more so a Soul that crucifies Lust finds it to weaken day by day Fourthly Another effect of a Souls union with Christ is this There will be some resemblance of Christ 1 Joh. 4. 17. As he is so are we in this World As Christ was Crucified in the flesh so are his Crucified to the flesh And as Christ was risen and justified in the Spirit so are they sanctified by the Spirit and have the nature and Image of Christ Hence we are said to be made conformable to the Image of his Son Rom. 8. 29. They that are Christ's are in some measure of truth like him 1 Joh. 3. 3. They have something of Christ's Nature and Spirit Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2. 5. Christ's mind was off from and above the World and herein lies as great an evidence of interest in Christ as in any thing that Soul is dead to and wonderfully loose from the World Gal. 6. 14. Christ's mind was heavenly he favour'd the things above his meat and drink was to do his Fathers will If you are Christ's you will be of the same mind nothing in the World will so much delight you as to do something for God Christ's mind was heavenly to do his work and hasten home and if you are Christ's this will be your mind to dispatch your work and hasten home Christ was full of mercy humility meekness If you are interested in Christ so it will be with you Lastly They that are interested in Christ do interest Christ in themselves and in all that is theirs 2 Cor. 8. 5. They first gave themselves to the Lord Such do devote and make over themselves and all to Christ and glad they have any interest parts capacities that Christ will accept of they cannot keep back a part no were it a thousand times dearer Christ shall have all Can. 6. 3. I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine The keeping back of part lost Ananias and Saphira they were undone and damned for ever Act. 5. If Christ be yours you will entitle him to all you are and have And thus are we come to a Conclusion in this matter That Soul that can come to seal to those things is a happy Soul O blessed Soul indeed Then mayst thou boldly say The Lord is my helper God Christ the Spirit the Promises the Kingdom and glory is mine Thus much for the use of Examination CHAP. XXX Containing a Vse of Exhortion pressing Believers to several duties HAving already dispatch'd Motives Counsels and Directions to Sinners about their coming to this Christ I shall only apply this last use of Exhortation to those who are interested in this rich and glorious Jesus Christians you that are made happy in your Relation to Christ and invested with a Title to these glorious Treasures of all persons you are most obliged to duty Christians be you advis'd and exhorted to
Regards for these and no more for this Grace of God O wonder more at this Love Fourthly Consider how this is the great Design of God in this grace that you should be to his praise Eph. 1. 12. That is the end which God aimed at in Predistinating you to Glory that you might be to the Praise of his grace that his Grace might procure the Manifestation of his Praise 't is not for an Enlargement of his Revenue or Advancement of his Profit for man cannot be profitable to God Job 22. 22. or for any addition to his Honour being above all Praise but that he might receive the Tribute of his own Glory and the returns of his outgoing Goodness Now if this be the very end why God sets his love upon you Christians then you have reason to glorifie his Grace lest you endeavour to overturn the whole Projâ—cts of Salvation-kindness Fifthly Think how delightful Praise is to God Psal 69. 31. This also shall please the Lord better than an Oxe or a Bullock that hath Horns and Hoofs That is an Adult and full grown Beast which is more fit for Sacrifice as Rabbi D. Kimohy notes a Beast was not fit for Sacrifice under two years old so that Praise is preferred here above all Sacrifice as that which God takes most delight in of any thing because this doth most honour him to acknowledge him the Author of all Mercy and God of all Grace Psal 50. 23. Whoso offereth Praise glorifieth me That is He doth in a singular manner shew forth mine Honour and this is pleasing to him Sixthly This brings Profit to your own Souls Psal 50. 23. For 't is the means and way to obtain the Salvation of God Ponit viam aut praeparat viam saith one it opens the way for Salvation to go out to that Soul this duty of Praise will bring you Gain because it engageth God to give out more Mercy and it leaves Influences of spiritual Good on your own Souls it puts the heart into a good Frame to love God and delight in him and leaves more obligedness on the Soul to fear and serve God so David after that Psalm of Praise to God 2 Sam. 7. was wonderfully influenced to duty to God as you may see chap. 8. 11. and had his Spirit abundantly sweetned to men chap. 9. 1. Lastly Consider also how pleasant this duty of Praise is to the Soul it self it is wonderfully delightful and abundantly affects and ravishes the Heart to have the sense of divine Mercy in it Psal 147. 1. Praise ye the Lord for it is pleasam and Praise is comely O Believers let me effectually perswade you then to the highest Acknowledgments of Redemption-grace and to the utmost Praises for this rich Jesus who hath blessed you with all spiritual Blessings Eph. 1. 3. 2 Duty Secondly You that have an Interest in this glorious Redeemer labour to keep up a high valuation of him in your Hearts if he be so rich as the Gospel reports of him O then prize him acoording to his excellent worth Great men are highly esteemed the Cap the Knee the best Room the chiefest Seat are theirs Jam. 3. 3. And how much more worthy is Christ of your account 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifies an high Estimation of anothers Worth and Excellency ready to be attested by all possible and due Demonstrations four things should oblige Believers to a high Esteem of Christ First His own transcendent Excellency which singularly resides in him and eminently shines out from him ten thousand times brighter than the Beams of the Sun which in their own nature challenge the highest Adoration of men and Angels especially of saved Souls to whom he is most endeared and most nearly related As the Apple-tree excells the meanest and most useless Shrub infinitely more doth the Lord Jesus over top all the Glory of the world as Mediator Cant. 2. 3. He is the chiefest of ten thousands Cant. 5. 10. He is before all things Col. 1. 17. Both in dignity and time he precedes all Creatures he is the Fountain of all Excellencies his divine and personal Perfections make him the glory of Heaven the adoration of Angels the admiration of Saints and the object of all Observance and holy Wonder 2 Thes 1. 10. Secondly The high honour the Father puts upon him He is his Well-beloved Matth. 3. 17. The object of his Delight the Exaltation of his right-hand who hath put all things under his Feet Heb. 2. 8. Set over the works of his hands crowned with Glory and Honour vers 7. Worshipped by all the Angels by the Fathers Appointment and set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1. 3. 6. entrusted with all the Concerns and Interests of God in the World made his pleni-potentiary to compose all Differences betwixt himself and fall'n man now hath the Father such a high Valuation of Christ then surely 't is an unworthy thing in you to detract from his Honour 3dly The Lord Jesus Christ deserves your high Estimation because he is the Fountain of all those Streams that do make glad your Souls the Sun of all those Beams that warm your Hearts the Author of all those Mercies that do supply and delight you all your Excellencies and the things you mostly value are Derivations from his glory things are ratable as they come from Christ he turns your Water into Wine sweetens your bitter Cups and makes them to overflow all your graces come from his Fullness he is your Friend your best Friend your old Friend your none-such in Heaven and Earth Psal 73. 25. The Procurer of all your Mercies the sweetness of all your Comforts the crown of all your Glory and doth he not deserve your Estimation If he hide his Face all Light goes with him if he suspends the Communications of his Favour nothing is comfortable to you if he lock up his Treasures nothing bâ—t Poverty and wasting covers your Souls every thing without him is nothing and with him any little thing is enough Bread and Water is rich cheer with Christ Disgrace and Reproach is Honour with Christ Poverty is Riches with Christ O prize Christ then for he puts a worth upon all things that you can enjoy Fourthly Consider the wonderful value the Lord Jesus Christ puts upon you and let this perswade you to a due valuation of him Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me and gave himself for me Joh. 15. 16. O amazing wonderful sovereign Grace That the Son of God should set his highest Regards upon loathsome Dung swept out of door by divine Justice cast out into the open Field pityful loathsome undone Creatures that he should account you Believers as the Apple of his Eye who have been as Thorns in his side that he should account you as a Seal on his Heart who have been spears to pierce through his Bowels that he should value you as the travel
of his Soul the Jewels of his Crown the Inhabitants of his glorious Presence to all Eternity that he should account such spotty Worms as you worthy of his Love his Blood and his Mediation deserving his Bosom his Kingdom and his Throne O what strange astonishing Grace is this and will you prefer Creatures and place Relations in your Bosom and let Christ lye out of door O unworthy act indeed Surely he deserves your highest Estimation O prize Christ prize Christ value him First Above all things in Heaven and Earth count nothing like him much less above him set him in the uppermost Seat enthrone him in your Heart Let him ride in that Chariot of yours that is pav'd with Love Esteem his Person above all Persons his Purchase above all Purchase his Love above all Affections his help above all Assistance Value him above Father Mother Husband Wife Friends Pleasures Credit Riches or whatever is dearest to you Say as Moses did Who is like to thee Exod. 15. 11. Thy Name alone is excellent thy Glory above the Heavens Esteem his Precepts above all the Commands of men His Promises his Priviledges his Comforts his Ordinances his People above all Christ in conjunction with other things accounts himself slighted He must be Aut Caesar aut nullus Secondly Prize Christ in all in all Persons and things make him the Standard to measure the worth of all created Beings by Reckon things as they carry Christ in them when Satan or Corruption tempt you to a high esteem of any Ask them as Christ did whose Superscription and Image they bear Matth. 22. 20. As the Talent of the Temple was of greatest value so let thy Account be of those things that have the Temple stamp upon them in a Sacred Reflection of Jesus Christ Reckon not much of any thing that hath not Aliquid Christi something of Christ in it Thirdly Prize Christ at all times not only by fits and starts not when he brings thee Loaves and loads thee with his Favours onely but also when he hides his Face and holds his Hand when he seems to take no notice of thee Let Christ be thy Sun in the Day-time let him be thy Diamond in the Night when all other Lights are gone and shadows of Darkness are over thee let him be alwayes uppermost in thy Account Think meanly of him at no time let him lye between thy Breasts to satiate thee at all times Cant. 1. 13. 3. Duty Thirdly Believers Have all your expectations from Christ Psal 62. 5. My Soul waiteth only upon God for my expectation is from him If the Lord Jesus be so rich then he is able to maintain you and supply all your wants There 's Bread enough in his house to feed you Light enough in him to guide you Comfort enough to cheer you Blood enough to pardon you Righteousness enough to justifie you Grace enough to sanctifie you Strength enough to bear and support you Treasures enough to satisfie and requite you Hence 't is he calls his People to look to him and be saved Isa 45. 22. And on this Belief the Saints resolved to wait and look for him Isa 8. 17. O Christians expect all you need from Christ His sufficiency to help you and his willingness to supply you are Arguments enough for your Expectation why should you look to Creatures more than to the Creator to the Clay more than to the Potter to broken Pits more than to the Fountain to the Physician more than unto God Is there not a God in Israel why then are your eyes Christians after empty Cisterns and things that cannot profit you Have you chosen Christ to be your Rock your Fountain Life Sufficiency and Fulness to fill all in all and yet run to other things for your Relief as if he were not able to supply you O Souls fasten your eyes on Christ expect all you want from him as the impotent man did on John and Peter Acts 3. 5. Look not so much on Creatures and Relations Friends Riches and Wisdom c. lest you be ashamed but wait for the Vision for it will speak Hab. 2. 3. Expect all you need from Christ for the expectation of the poor shall not perish 4. Duty Fourthly Be contented with Christ alone whatever is wanting and truly 't is strange indeed that an infinite Portion cannot satisfie a finite Being and a whole Ocean fill a little Vessel Believer Thou hast the person of Christ who is the wonder of Angels the Satisfaction and the Heaven of glorified Saints the desire of all Nations the longed-for Joy of all that truly know and tast him and will not this content you Paul could leave all the World to go after Christ and art not thou satisfyed with Christ without the World This saith Agnes the Roman Martyr Even this is he I now confess that I do love I will make haste to meet him The naked presence of Christ hath been a Heaven to suffering Saints under the want of all things I have found a nest of Honey saith Algerius in the Entrals of a Lyon in a deep dark Dungeon I have found a paradise of Pleasure c. And if some glimpses of the presence some Illapses of the love of Christ were enough to these Sufferers in the want of all things O unreasonable Soul that thou shouldest complain and be dissatisfyed who hast an Interest in Christ and so much of other things too O Christian If Christ be thine let it content thee for all is thine his Heart is upon thee and will not that content thee He loves thee more than all the World he will not leave thee and will not this please thee Heb. 13. 5. He will care for thee 1 Pet. 5. 7. Thou shalt want no good thing he will make up the want of creatures with himself he will sweeten bitter cups 't is but a little while and he will take thee to himself where Wants Sufferings Shame Reproaches Griefs and Sin shall trouble thee no more O then be satisfyed with a single Christ in Heaven he must be thy alone Happiness there 's no House Land Husband Wife Parent Children to make up thy Fullness and Blessedness there God will be all in all and is not this God in Christ enough now 5 Duty Fifthly Take up your Delights in this rich and glorious Christ he is the Treasure and his should be the heart also Math. 6. 21. There is all that in Christ which thy Heart can desire stretch thy Longings to the utmost and he is infinitely beyond them and if he deserves to be the object of thy Desires then of thy Delight for what is Delight but Desire in Fruition He is the only adequate object of Delight other things are unsutable to a spiritual Heart and cannot please empty and cannot satisfie fading and cannot last cloying and soon become burdensome but God in Christ is an eternal Excellency those things that seem most delectable in Creatures are but
Derivations from his Excellency Drops of his Fullness Sips of his Sweetness the impress of his Fingers The precious Ordinances of Christ are but the Galleries in which he walks the Chariot in which he rides the Cabinet wherein his Jewels lye the Cisterns through which Waters of Life pass to saved ones and if these be so pleasant O what then is himself and should not Believers then delight themselves in him Quest But how shall I do to get my Heart to this delight in Christ I find my Affections cold and my Spirits dead that I cannot taste that Sweetness in Christ nor take that Pleasure in the Almighty as I would Answ First withdraw your Hearts from all other Delights this course doth the Lord set Israel to get up to a delight in himself Isa 58. 13 14. There is no greater Enemy to true delight in God than a persons own carnal Pleasure and delight in things below God Whoredom and new Wine take away the Heart Hos 4. 11. 'T is impossible a Soul can take pleasure in Christ and Sin together Mat. 6. 24. For carnal Pleasures withdraw the Affections from God Job 21. ver 12. to 15. 1 Joh. 2. 15. Secondly Rest not till you have cleared up your Interest in Christ and can upon good grounds apprehend him as your peculiar and chief Treasure better than all the World besides and appropiate it to your own Souls Cant. 2. 3. 5. This drew the Spouses Heart to so much longing after and solace in the Lord Jesus even the sight of his transcendent Worth beyond all others and her title to all those Excellencies 't is seen Interest in Christ that draws out the Heart after him Cant. 7. 10. Doubts of Relation to Christ and Fears of laying a claim to these precious Treasures damps the Soul pleasure in Christ Thirdly Be satisfy'd about Christ's special love to you and delight in you 1 Joh. 4. 19. Jealousies about an Interest in this love of God did so cool the Jews Hearts towards him Isa 49. 14. But Zion saith the Lord hath forsaken me and my God hath forgotten me From hence they began to slack their pace after God and cryed out behold what a weariness is it and snuffed at it Mal. 1. 13. chap. 3. 14. Suspition of Christs Heart towards you will straiten yours towards him think well of Christ's Heart to you cherish daily a good Opinion of his Nature Affection and Faithfulness Fourthly Beg hard for heart-affecting fights of Christ This so enamoured the Spouses Heart she saw the beauties of her beloved Cant. 2. 1. She beheld him to be the rose of Sharon and Lilly of the Vallies the powrings out of his Name drew her affections to him Cant. 1. 3. The Eye affects the Heart Lam. 3. 51. As with Sorrow so with Joy 'T was David's Sight of God in the outgoings of his Love and Glory that made his Soul thirst after him Psal 63. 1. 2. Fifthly Be much in the consideration of what Christ hath done for you and bestowed upon you this so engaged Hezekiah's Heart to God Isa 38. 17. and filled David's heart wiih such an Extasy of Joy in God 2 Sam. 7. 19 20. Psal 8. Sixthly Get a nature and Spirit sutable to Christ Similo Simili gaudet Psal 17. 15. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness This made the Image of Christ glorious in the Souls eye also when once it becomes changed into it's Likeness 2 Cor. 3. 18. Therefore did Paul delight in the Law of God after the inner man Rom. 7. 22. Because he had his inner parts changed into the Image of it what pleasure will wicked men take in a wicked Cause from the similitude it hath to their own Nature So will the Soul in Christ when once brought into a sutableness to him Lastly Be much in Communion with Christ and this will beget wonderful Joy in him Psal 119. 167. David's being much conversant in God's Laws begat and strengthen'd his delight in it So vers 14. 'T is Intimacy breeds Delight whereas Strangeness lessens all that Familiarity and Pleasure we else might take in Persons Psal 14. 10. A Stranger intermeddles not with his Joy Be not contented to keep to duty but press after Communion with Christ therein 6 Duty Sixthly Be not troubled at your Wants Losses and Sufferings you undergoe in this World Consider these four things First You can want no good thing the God of Glory stands bound for your Supplies Psal 34. 10. They that seek the Lord shall want no good thing Psal 23. 1. The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want It cannot be that those who are so much interested in the Heart Care Person and Treasure of the Lord Christ can be destitute what can you want who are entitled to all good things 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Who are Heirs of the Promises Promises that concern the Life that now is and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. You have a surer Title to your Supplies than they that have most of the World in their hands for God hath laid up in the hands of Jesus Christ a full Allowance for you how short soever he may seem to keep you for a while the Earth is your Lords and the Fullness thereof and the Cattel on a thousand Hills Psal 50. 10. 12. Psal 24. 1. Heaven and Earth and all things therein are made over in the everlasting Covenant for your use Secondly You shall want or suffer no more than infinite Wisdom and fatherly Love sees best for you 't is impossible that divine Purposes should be frustrated towards you he that will work will work and nothing shall let 't is not Men nor Devils nor the greatest injury of time can deprive you of your Fathers Allowance and that is upon infinite Wisdom and good Pleasure The Wings and Wheels of Gods Providence over his people and for them are full of Eyes within and without to shew the wise Care and Providence of God over his in the worst of times and hardest condition and these Wheels are moving for your Good Christians and God sees in the darkest Providence what is best for you all his Dealings with his people are the Fruits of everlasting Love Jer. 31. 3. God doth in infinite Wisdom manage all your Concerns 't is not by Chance or through any inadvertency any Crosses or Losses befall you but all is done in wise Counsel 3dly The less you have of Creatures the more will God give you of himself if you be looking to him and by Faith live upon him God will admit of no Vacuums towards his people they can want no good thing therefore if creature-supplies be remov'd Grace comes in the room as they say Water will ascend to prevent a Vacuum and Grace will descend to prevent Emptiness in Believers God comes in the room of creature-comforts when Job was stript of all he had more of the visions of God Job 42. 5. John had never more
is Gods high way to Mercy and Peace being under a Promise of Peace Grace and Peace are usually twins in gracious Souls 2 Pet. 1. 2. Grace can quiet you under Troubles strengthen you under Weakness guide you under Darkness cheer you under Sufferings enrich you under Losses and fill you under Wants again Gaace is the purest Treasure earthly Treasures are as those Cities Solomon gave to Hiram a mere Cabal and dirty things defiling the Souls of those that have them and use not them aright Grace is the most pleasant Treasure it doth not burthen those that have it as earthly things do with wasting Cares and tormenting Fears Further Grace is the best Treasure in that it will go with the Soul into the other World all the Riches of this World must be left behind Death puts the Owner and his Interest into a winding Sheet no man's Propriety to these out-lives himself the Grave buries all his Relation to these things but Grace never dies true Holiness goes with the Soul to glory Secondly Labour to be rich in Grace because if you have but little grace you will hardly prove the truth of grace though the least grace is grace as a drop of Watâ—r is Water yet a little grace doth not so capacitate a Soul to see it 2 Pet. 1. 9. He that wants this thriving Grace forgets that he was purged from his old Sins he cannot remember or make out his saving Change or putting off his old state little Grace is ever sceptical and subject to Doubtings Matth. 14. 31 O thou of little Faith wherefore didst thou doubt Thirdly Because little grace will hardly carry a Soul through the Temptations Duties and Sufferings of the day we live in these are some of the last times we are fall'n upon and the last times are perillous times 2 Tim. 3. 1. This is the Character of these times Abounding Iniquity and Decay of Love Matth. 24. 12. And therefore a little Grace will not carry a Soul through strong Corruptions where Sin abounds Grace must abound much more or else the Soul will loose ground Rom. 6. 1. What the Apostle speaks there of grace in God 't is as true of grace in Saints that must abound more than their Sin or else Sin will be too hard for them Judgment must be brought forth to Victory or else the bruised Reed will break Matth. 12. 20. For this end the Apostle adviseth the Ephesians in his time which were less liable to such Temptations they should put on the whole Armor of God and having done all to stand Eph. 6. 13. Fourthly Else you cannot answer the ends of grace and all the Cost of God about you the design of grace in all the means and helps to his people is to further their growth in grace and to make them abound to all well-pleasing before God Isa 5. 2. 4. Joh. 15. 2. Psal 92. 13 14. To whom much is given of them much is required Luke 12. 48. Fifthly That so you may be more like to God who is rich to all that call upon him Rom. 10. 12. He is rich in Mercy he hath abounded in the Riches of grace towards all his People Eph. 1. 7 8. Christians should be Epitomies of Christ and Resemblers of his Excellency holding forth his Vertues in the World 1 Pet. 2 9. There can be no greater glory to a Child of God in this World than to be like to Christ who is the glory of the Father but by being rich in Grace you will much manifest the Excellency of Christ in the World Sixthly By being rich in grace you will become more serviceable to God and others in your Generation you will be able to do more work for God than others Grace is a Talent and the more Talents you have the more Incomes hath God from you Matth. 25. 16 17. Rich men have larger Capacities to honour God in the World than others have they can do more and lay out more for God and be more serviceable for God than others they can feed the Hungry and cloath the Naked and take Out-casts into their houses they can do more to support the interest of God than the poor and have more Substance to honour God with so Souls rich in grace have larger Abilities to serve and honour God with the more Grace the more acceptably can they serve God Heb. 12. 28. The more spiritual Services are the more acceptable to God by Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. For such the Father chuseth to serve him who serve him in Spirit and Truth Joh. 4. 23. Psal 45. 12. And the Daughter of Tyre shall be there with a Gift even the rich among the People shall entreat thy Favour Tyre was a rich place as well as vitious and yet there would God have a People which should honour him with their gifts and large expences for him and the richer the People the greater will their gifts be The rich or richest for 't is the superlative in the Hebrew Shall bring Gifts and entreat thy Favour noting that those who are more spiritually rich are more serviceable for and potent with God through Christ these can do more with God as Noah Daniel and Job were mentioned above others for their Potency with God Ezek. 14. 14. And Moses and Samuel Jer. 15. 1. As men who had larger faith and grace and so greater Intimacy with God than others and such as could do more O Christians labour after more grace because hereby you may become more serviceable for God and others you may more prevail with God through Christ for Mercies for the Nation and can be more helpful for others to teach counsel and comfort them and have more Gold Myrrhe and Frankincense in your Treasures to offer to and for Christ Seaventhly The more rich you are in grace the more rich you will be in glory the more grace you improve for God the more glory shall you receive from God Luke 19. 17. 19. This is the rule of the Lords Procedure in the day of Judgment he will render to every man according to his work 2 Cor. 5. 10. Though glorified Souls receive not for their grace yet they shall have according to the Measure of their graces for grace widens the Vessels of Mercy for glory The more Liquor the Vessel hath the larger it is so the more grace the larger is that Soul and the more capable to take in glory when grace shall be turn'd into glory Quest But some may say How may we get more of this spiritual Treasure Answ First Get your Hearts more engaged to it Desires are the Souls Wings that carry it over all difficulties to it 's beloved Object this is one Character the Apostle gives of rich men 1 Tim. 6. 9. They are such as will be rich They have an earnest mind an ardent Desire to be rich 't is a Will and Purpose grounded on Counsel and Consideration Christians this will much further your obtaining these riches of
There 's no cause for such to fear 1. That God is their Enemy being once reconciled to them in his Son he can hate them no more 2. Their sins shall never Condemn them Rom. 8. 1. 3. God will never totally leave them Heb. 13. 5. 4. They shall not wholly fall from God Jer. 32. 40. 5. They have no cause to fear the wrath to come Rom. 5. 9. Much more being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Thus you see all the grounds of tormenting fears are gone 'T is true a Cautelous fear and circumspection may be maintained but the workings of a Bondage-Spirit are removed Thirdly Then dejecting Conclusions from self-impotency to fulfil this Covenant and all seeming difficulties in the way are wholly Insignificant if this Covenant be confirmed by Christ to and for Believers then no insufficiency in them to make good these Covenant-Duties can render it void Because First the Certainty of this Covenant depends not on the Creatures ability but on Gods Faithfulness 't is true if this new Covenant as the first did wholly depend upon the Integrity and Faithfulness of the Soul in Covenant then indeed the enjoyment of those mercies and promises comprehended in it would be very dubious but 't is not so for God himself hath undertaken the accomplishment of it 1 Cor. 1. 8 9. Who shall also confirm you to the end that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ God is faithful by whom ye are called to the fellowship of his Son Christ Jesus our Lord. So 1 Thes 5. 23 24. So that the Saints Confirmation in holiness and preservation to glory depends on the faithfulness of God in Christ who having perswaded their hearts to embrace his call will finish Salvation-work in and for them Secondly Strength sufficient to finish their work and to obtain Salvation is ensured to them 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee my strength is made perfect in weakness Grace in thee may fail but grace in God cannot Christ hath a stock sufficient for thee to carry thee through Temptations and to lift thee above thy Corruptions So Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes The Spirit is a Fountain that will fill up your empty vessels supply all your wants and engage your hearts to keep the way of his Commandements Fourthly Then none of the well-grounded hopes of believers shall be lost Psal 119. 49. Remember thy word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope God will never forget to fulfil those promises which he causeth us to confide in for he is faithful who hath promised Heb. 10. 23. Rom. 5. 6. And hopâ— maketh not ashamed That is by reason of a disappointment shame usually ariseth from some frustrations of expectation but this cannot befall well-grounded hopes because they have their dependence upon the firm word of God which cannot be disappointed Fifthly Then your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord if the Covenant be confirmed then you cannot run in vain or lose any part of that work you do for God 1 Cor. 15. 58. Gal. 6. 7 8. What a man soweth that shall he reap He that soweth to the Spirit shall reap life Everlasting O Souls all your sincere duties will appear again and bring their reward with them All your pains in serving God hardships in following him dangers in owning him and industrious labours to please him shall be fully and certainly recompenc'd with a far more and exceeding Massy Crown of Glory Sixthly Then all your warrantable desires shall be satisfied in due time For this is part of the Covenant-promise Psa 37. 4. Delight thy self also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart Psalm 145. 16 19. All the breathings of your Souls after God and unfeigned longings for more spotless holiness more perfect victory over sin for humble submission to divine pleasure more sincerity of heart and raised capacities for service shall certainly be satisfied first or last Seventhly If the Covenant of grace be sure then nothing can make the believers state miserable indeed he may seem to be in a bad condition when under the power of temptation and corruption and pressed grievously with severe and bitter Providences and stroaks of seeming vengeance but yet his state is good who could have past a favourable interpretation on the afflictions of Job when on a dunghil and on the tryals of David when pursued by Absalom yet we find there was hony in these Rods and David could notwithstanding lye down and sleep in peace Psa 3. 5. So Josiah in an evil day when wars and frowning providences did surround him all about yet dyed in peace 2 Kings 22. 20. Lastly Then a gracious Soul is a blessed Soul both here and to all Eternity because this Covenant takes care for the good things of this â—ife and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness hath the promise of this life and that which is to come Hence the Scripture doth so often pronounce the Godly Man to be a blessed Man Psa 119. 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way Psa 112. 2. Psa 141. 2. Thus we have now briefly toucht on some grounds of Comfort that Believers may derive from the certainty of this new Covenant we now come to consider Secondly The excellency of this Covenant which the blood of Christ so confirms to Believers this new Covenant is a choice and precious Covenant what David said of Goliah's Sword may be affirmed of this That there is none like it 1 Sam. 21. 9. This would abundantly apear could I with consistency to my design here run out at large in the demonstration of this great truth but to touch a little on some evidences of its excellency under these two general considerations 1. The things that are promised in this Covenant 2. The way appointed of God to attain them First The things stipulated in this Covenant are First Great and glorious things the products of infinite Grace and discoveries of unconceivable greatness such Promises as were never offered in any other Covenant In this Covenant God makes over himself to Believers to be their God their Sun and Shield their exceeding great reward all that he is and all that he hath to be theirs so far as they are capable to receive I will be to them a God that 's in the Covenant He whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain whom the Angels cannot define far above the searches of the most refined Spirits far beyond the knowledge of those that always dwell in his sight this invisible unknown God in this Covenant makes himself over to Believers He will be theirs for ever Heb. 8. 10. A God in the nearest Relations that Creatures are capable to approach to him in He will be a Father Husband Head to them and to every one of them in the Lord
Jesus Christ To love and delight in them to feed and cherish them to care and provide for them to dwell and abide with them to impart and Communicate of all his fullness and sweetness to them so far as it sutes with the measure of Christ and their best good Is not this a great thing indeed that God should make over himself to the Believer O glorious Covenant Again Another great and glorious thing engaged in this Covenant is That Believers shall be to him a people a peculiar people his own people his Jewel his Treasure Mal. 3. 17. They shall be the Apple of his Eye the delight of his Soul a Seal upon his Heart A people near to God Psa 148. 14. Nearer to him than all the world besides nearer than the Angels that never sinned What a wonderful thing is this They shall be dandled on his knee Lye in his Bosom sit at his Table here and sit down on Thrones in his Kingdom to all Eternity O what a wonderful Covenant is this This should fill the Believers heart brim full of Joy and Consolation Again He hath promised in this Covenant that he will write his Law in their Hearts and put his truth in their inward parts Jer. 31. 33. They shall be his Epistle known and read of all men 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. He will lead them into all truth Joh. 16. 13. He will shew them his Covenant Psa 25. 14. He will be merciful to their unrighteousnesses and remember their sins no more Heb. 8. 12. He will put his Spirit within them and cause them to walk in his ways Ezek. 36. 27. He will give them Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withold from them Psa 84. 11. He will admit them into his special presence at all times through the blood of his Son Heb. 10. 19 20. He will give them the Spirit of Adoption to cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. They shall be Kings and Priests to God cloathed with beautiful Garments a right noble seed all glorious within and advanc'd into intimate familiarity with God in Christ by the Spirit Rev. 1. 6. They shall be kept by his mighty power through Faith to Salvation 1 Pet. 4. 5. O are not these great things indeed for poor sinful Dust and Ashes mercy-abusing Creatures O we want Hearts to contain them and Tongues to express them Again As this Covenant is made up of great things so it contains in it all good things Jer. 32. 40. All Gods Thoughts and Resolves are to do them good all his dispensations are bringing them in good Rom. 8. 28. O what a Glorious thing is this Yea they are sutable things that are wrapt up in this Covenant Such as are sutable to their Natures sutable to their Spiritual desires sutable to their wants and sutable to their advantages The new Covenant carries nothing Hetrogeneous to the well-being of the Saints O what a wonderful thing is this Great things indeed are contain'd in this new-Covenant that tends to the infinite contentment pleasure and profit of saved Souls Surely this must needs fill Believers Joys and yield them merry days here and prepare for them Rivers of pleasure to all Eternity Secondly Consider the way which God hath appointed for the attaining those glorious things and this will advance the Believers comfort Persons may come at good things in a bad way and that would abate much of their consolation But these great and glorious things contain'd in the Covenant of Grace for Believers are gâ—ven out in a most excellent way For First It is in a way of Grace If God had given them to be bought and sold to be purchased by mans merit it would not have been so sweet But they are held out freely without money without price Isa 55. 1. It is by Grace you are saved not of your selves Eph. 2. 8. There 's nothing for man to glory in about his Salvation that is of his own Saved Souls are created to their mercies They are prepared for their mercies Rom. 9. 23. And their mercies are prepar'd for them 1 Cor. 2. 9. They are also prepar'd for their Duties in order to their mercies They are Vessels of mercy fitted and prepared for mercy and glory 2 Tim. 2. 21. Secondly It is in a self-humbling and abasing way The more the Creature is abased the more Divine Glory is exalted and the more God is all in all the more is the saved Souls Glory Comfort and Joy the more the loftiness of man is brought down the more God alone is exalted Isa 2. 17. And the more God is exalted the more Believers are pleased Now God gives out these new-Covenant mercies in such a way as may most abase self for he gives them out in a way of Believing and no Grace more cuts off self than Believing All boasting and Self-glorying is cut off by Believing Rom. 3. 27. Therefore God hath ordered such a way for Souls to come at new-Covenant Mercies as may cut off all Self glorying that so their comforts may rise to the greatest measure to be full Joy and Consolation to see the Creature abased and God exalted There 's nothing but Man's cursed self can indeed prove a real Enemy to his comforts A Child of God is never more filled with the pure Wine of Consolation than when he is emptied of all the Lees and Dregs of his own vain-glory Thirdly It is in a pure and clean way that God brings saved Souls to these new-Covenant mercies It is in a way of Holiness No uncircumcised shall pass therein It is in that way of Grace and Purity without which none shall see the Lord It is the upright pure in Heart the sincere Soul shall attain to these great and glorious things The clean Hands and the clean Heart Mat. 5. 8. Psa 140. 13. Psa 24. 4. Isa 35. 8. Fourthly It is in a sweet and pleasant way A delighful way for such are all the ways of Holiness to gracious Souls sweeter than Hony â—nd the Hony-comb They take wonderful â—leasure in Holiness Psa 119. 17. Prov. 3. 17. Legal ways were hard and troublesome ways The Yoke of the Law is a heavy Yoke Act. 15. 10. But the Yoke of Christ is an easie Yoke Mat. 11. 30. O that God should confirm such a Covenant as this that contains such glorious things and all these ensured to Believers and they led to them in such a choice way surely this must needs yield wonderful comfort and advance the Believers Joy Another improvement of this grand truth is by way of Duty There 's nothing more strengthens the Believvers Bond to Obedience than the consideration of the certainty of the new-Covenant Not to mention all those arguments that might be urged to engage Redeemed Souls to all manner of Holiness from the certainty of the Covenant I shall insist only on these two First The consideration of that Infinite Love of Christ that led him through such a costly way to make good