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
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
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
was undone because a man of unclean Lips Isa 6. 4 5. And the Church Isaiah 64. 6. profess they were as an unclean thing Paul an elect Vessel a man of singular Revelations yet laments that in him dwelt no good thing Rom. 7. 18. That he was carnal and sold under Sin ver 14. and when he would do good evil was present with him ver 21. Secondly Here 's Comfort that their Corruptions in them shall not break their Covenant Relation to God Psal 89. 30. to 35. There can be no Forfeiture of this Promise I will be their God and they shall be my People Thy Lye cannot make God untrue Rom. 3. 3. 4. Thy evil Eye cannot make his Eye evil too Matth. 20. 15. Thy wicked Thoughts cannot alter his gracious Thoughts Isa 55. 8. 9. Thy invincible Corruptions cannot overcome his Mercies nor the Enmity of thy Nature make God thy Enemy Thirdly Christ is employed in Heaven about this very Work of subduing thine Iniquities he intercedes ever and why That this People might be sanctified by the Truth Joh. 17. 17. That they might have more Grace and the Spirit given out to mortifie their Corruptions he reigns in Heaven on purpose to bring down his and their Enemies 1 Cor. 15. 25. He carries on the work of Redemption in Heaven and what is that but to set his People free indeed he hath an assured care now in Glory to fulfil his Promises one of which is that Iniquity shall be subdued Mic. 7. 18. Romans 6. 14. Fourthly Christ's promise to the Father is security for the Destruction of thy Sin he is engaged to present his people compleat to the Father Eph. 5. 27. and to keep them unblameable to his heavenly Kingdom 1 Thes 5. 23. Fifthly His Glory and Pleasure is concerned in the Death of thy Corruptions Isa 53. 10. The Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand What is this Pleasure of the Lord It is the Redemption of his People from the Tyranny of Sin and the Slavery of Satan into the glorious Liberty of the first born of Glory 2 Thes 1. 11 12. Lastly Grace is of a prevailing Nature and must destroy thy Lusts at last and the Spirit of Grace is in his people Mat. 12. 20. the Interest of Sin and Sinners cannot always stand before the Interest of God and his people Esther 6. 13. Fourthly Here 's Comfort to tempted Believers such as are always dogged with filthy and frighâ—ing Temptations restlessly haunted with vile and blasphemous Thoughts and miserably buffeted with dreadful and dangerous Suggestions if Christ be interceding in Heaven then surely he will one day or other put an end to all the Temptations and in the mean time over-rule them that they shall not prevail over thee 1 Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 2. 19. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour those that are tempted Christ is a merciful High-priest and wants neither Knowledge Bowels or Abiliiy which might render him capable to relieve the tempted he hath the tempting Serpent the roaring Lion in Chains and will mercifully say to that proud one come so far and no farther Fifthly Here 's Comfort to Gods people under their Afflictions and Sufferings in the World or by the World if Christ be interceding in Heaven for them then surely he will not leave them comfortless in their Sufferings for him Joh. 14. 8. chap. 16. 32. 33. Then Tribulation nor Persecution nor any thing else can separate them from the Love of God in Christ Rom. 8. 35. He that is for them is stronger than all that are against them â—ers 31. He will be with them in the Fire and in the Water Isa 43. 2. Christ is never sweeter than when the World is most bitter to a Child of God Afflictions can but file away the Rust and scoure away the Filth it cannot diminish the Grace nor injure the State of those that are interested in Christ's Mediation Christ's Cordials are never better than when his people are most faint and languishing Christ in Heaven laughs at the vain hopes of his Enemies and will dash all their Attempts against himself and Interest in pieces Psal 2. 4 9. He will strengthen his tyred distressed Servants under Sufferings Isa 42. 10. 2 Cor. 12. 9. His Arm is made bare his Power display'd and his Strength made perfect in their Weaknesses Psal 27. 14. This may be the Trouble and dejecting Fears of some how they shall hold out-in times of Tryal I am afraid says one I shall never bare Reproaches Hatred Bonds Loss of Goods and death for Christ with a magnanimous and Gospel Spirit Why Soul It shall be given thee in that hour not only to believe but to suffer for Christ Phil. 1. 29. The Fury of the Adversary shall not terrifie you nor their rampent Rage deject your Courage Isa 35. 4. Sixthly Here 's Comfort to such as are Mourners for Sion and grieve at the Afflictions of God's People That lament to see Christ's Interest on foot and the Wicked on horse-back Transgressors to prosper and the Godly afflicted that weep to behold Divine Providences thwarting his Promises The Lord hath promised that to Christ shall every Knee bow and every Tongue confess Men read of glorious things spoken of Sion but when they look to the Interest of God they see nothing but matter of trouble and grief They look to the Earth and behold Darkness and Confusions they look to the Church of Christ and lo Decayes and Dyings Now this breeds trouble to the Friends of Christ to see things run counter and cross to expectation and promise yet here is Comfort from the Intercession of Christ on this account For First The Lord Jesus sits at Helm he is upon the Throne and reigns as King for ever and this hath been the Faithful s Refuge and Support in the worst of Times Psal 10. 2. 4. 16. Psa 29. 10. The Lord Jesus hath the Government of Nations as well as of Sion on his shoulders Isa 9. 6. Eph. 1. 22. He rules over all Psal 103. 19. His Kingdom ruleth over all Men and Devils cannot wrest the Scepter out of his hands In spight of all he is King of Sion Psal 2. 6. and his Government is maintained in all the Confusions that are on the Earth and if so there is no cause for the People of Christ to be dejected Fear not said Caesar to his Mariners in a Storm Caesar is here Why are ye so fearful said Christ to his Disciples when trembling at their Dangers in a boysterous Storm O ye of little Faith Matth. 8. 26. That Vessel cannot miscarry that hath Christ at Helm and if it could said Luther mallem ruere cum Christo quam regnare cum Caesare I had rather perish with Christ than reign with Caesar Secondly His Paths are in the deep waters Psal 77. 19. Thy way is in the Sea thy paths are in the deep waters and thy foot-steps are not
precious Graces and Endowments in him which will much illustrate the personal Riches of Christ and be of wonderful Encouragement both to Saints and Sinners to think better of him and to hasten after a Dependance on him Now the first thing we shall treat of is the goodness of his Nature He is Goodness it self Psal 34. 8. O tast and see that the Lord is good This Psalm was penn'd by David when he was driven from Achish and was in sore danger of his Life in this Condition he seeks the Lord and found help by reason of the Goodness of God that is God in Christ indeed there is Creation-Goodness and providential-Goodness but the choicest is his Redemption-goodness that Goodness which he lets out to poor Sinners in a Mediator Thus is Jesus Christ the Gift of his best Love and is qualified and disposed to commend the infinite Goodness of God to perishing Sinners his Goodness is great Zac. 9. 17. called the Riches of his Goodness Rom. 2. 4. Now this goodness of Christ appears First In it's Extensiveness he is good to all Mans goodness is contracted and narrow its greatest Proportion reacheth but a few none but Friends Relations and such as may oblige or requite them are usually Sharers in it but the goodness of Christ is immense it reacheth to all the work of his hands Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good to all by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. He upholdeth all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. The very vilest and most unworthy Grace-abusing Soul have some kind of share in Christs Goodness he upholds his very Enemies and maintains the Being and Enjoyment of such as oppose him Secondly In it's Invincibleness all the Provocations of his Enemies cannot impede it's designed current he is resolved they shall have a share in his Mercy though they oppose their own Mercies nay all the Unkindness of his people cannot conquer it nor many Waters quench it He maketh his Sun to shine upon the good and bad Math. 5. 45. It 's strange to think how rare a portion of Mercy the wicked have in their day he that cryed Father forgive them they know not what they do cries Father spare them to see what they will be Thirdly It 's Freeness 't is not extracted but flows out of it 's own Accord Isa 65. 24. Before they call I will answer c. It hath no Creature-merit to provoke it Exek 16. 6. I said unto thee when thou wast in thy Blood live when there was no Beauty to attract it no desires to draw it forth mans Worthyness is no ground for the Communication of Christs Goodness what Lovelyness had the Ephesians to deserve it's liberal Effusions Eph. 2. 1. Fourthly 't is unwearied enduring Goodness it hath not the Shallowness of a slender Vessel which is easily emptyed but the Unfathomableness of the Ocean that can never be exhausted the vast Expences and Communications of it from the Creation of the World to it 's final Destruction will not diminish it one Iota his Anger indeed hath but a momentary Continuance Psal 30. 5. But his Goodness endureth for ever Psal 52. 1. Fifthly 'T is Communicative goodness running over flowing down and liberally diffusing it self for the good of others so 't is defined to be a Vertue by which a person of his own accord is abundantly prone to acts of Benignity Christ's Goodness is manifestative distributive and it's Dispensations are as natural as the irradiating Beams of the Sun Secondly Another excellent Disposition in Christ is his Love not only his Phylanthropy or good Will he bears to all men and the Desire he hath of their Salvation Ezek. 33. 11. But his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his special Love from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 valde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acquiesco such an ardent Affection hath the heart of Christ for a person adhering to him that it greatly acquiesces in and is fully contented with him Eph. 2. 4. Such is the Sweetness of Christ's Nature that it is full of Love God is Love 1 John 4. 16. And as the Father hath loved me so have I loved you Joh. 15. 9. Now this Love of Christ to his people is First A supreme Love the chiefest Love he hath a love of Benevolence to all Mark 10. 21. He beheld the young man and loved him but the Love he bears his own is transcendent and exceeds the Love of men and Angels Joh. 15. 13. Secondly An infinite Love Love that passeth all Knowledge exceedeth all Dimensions Eph. 3. 18. Chist's Love saith one hath Length in it because he loved his Elect from Eternity to Eternity O unmeasurable Length that hath no end his Love hath Breadth in it because not the Jews only but the Gentiles also are sharers in it 't is extended to the whole World Math. 28. 19. It hath depth in it because it brought him down into the Deeps not only of the Earth but of unconceivable Sufferings It brought him as low as the Grave yea to the very Borders of Hell Isa 53. 3. It hath height in it because it ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all in all become our Advocate there prepare us for it and it for us and at last takes us up to himself that we may behold his Glory Thirdly An eternal Love Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting Love All Creature-affections have their Beginning and End their Risings and Settings but the Love of Christ is as himself everlasting Rev. 1. 13. The transiency of his peoples Love cannot injure its permanency for where he loves he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. Fourthly An unchangeable Love it hath no Ebbings and Flowings Waxings and Waneings Risings and Fallings but is th◠same Yesterday to Day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. It knows no Alteration Addition or Diminution the Heavens shall wax old as a Garment and be changed Heb. 1. 11. 12. But Christ and his Love is invariable Mal. 3. 6. 'T is true the Manifestations of his Love is mutable he may smile to day and frown to morrow but not the nature of it the Cisterns may be dry but not the Fountain Fifthly A free Love it hath no Consideration of Creature-merit fore-seen Faith or persevering Holiness Hos 14. 4. I will heal their Back-slidings and love them freely What reason can be given that of the same Lump should be made one Vessel of Honour and another of Dishonour nay that persons of the most exquisite Abilities natural Endowments unspotted Moralities and uncontroulable Sovereignty should be rejected and left to the hardness of their Heart and the righteous Judgment of God and that others of the meanest parts inconsiderable Qualifications prodigiously vitious Lives and miserable Penury should be elected to the highest Priviledges received into the most intimate Communion and made partaker of the highest Glory Sixthly The Spring and Fountain of all that Love that is in Believers to
laid aside when there is no need of it True meekness may easily be discerned by its ends and grounds it must not proceed from a willingness to be aveng'd on others but to amend and reform them CHAP. XV. Wherein is demonstrated the infinite Bounty of Christ to all his Creatures with the manner of his giving THE next thing which discovers the sweetness of Christ's Disposition and greatness of his Personal Treasure is Sixthly His Liberality He is of a bountiful Disposition and this you know is of an endearing Nature Rom. 5. 7. Scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye Psal 13. 6. I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me Now this Liberality of Christ appears First To all his Creatures Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Psal 136. 25. Psal 145. 15. Whose heart is so large whose hand so wide as Christ's ver 16. He upholdeth all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. And by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. There is never a moment but he is laying out upon his Creatures and that must needs be a large Treasure that maintains the whole World Secondly To his Enemies He doth good to those that hate him He gives large portions of this World's goods to Esau's And uncharitable Dives's do many times fare deliciously and are cloathed gorgeously by his Bounty The wicked prosper Jer. 5. 28. Nay he doth not only give them the fat things of this Life but the great things of his Kingdome O the Privileges and Favours that Hypocrites enjoy as well as Saints He sends his Gospel to every Creature and causeth the very Dews of Sion to fall upon his Adversaris Thirdly Especially to his Children for to these he gives First Good things Whatever they have of him shall be good Jer. 32. 40. I will not turn away from them to do them good Their very Afflictions are for good their Wormwood and Gall is good Rebukes of God upon them stripping and humbling Providences nay their very Corruptions by this Bounty prove to their advantage Secondly All good things He gives Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84. 11. Psal 34. 10. All the good God sees fit for them and they are capable to receive shall be distributed to them Thirdly Great things Not Common but choice Mercies passing Knowledge Mysteries not onely to the World but to themselves Things unsearchable and things unutterable Things that cannot be known as they are nor valued as they deserve What one Nation saith David to God is like thy People whom God went to redeem for a People to himself to make him a Name and to do for them great things and terrible 2 Sam. 7. 23. Redemption-work brings forth great and terrible things for redeemed Souls O the great things that God doth and Christ gives to every ransom'd Soul Job 37. 5. Things which we cannot comprehend as you will see if you give but a general Survey on the Inventory of Christ's Gifts I shall instance in some of the most remarkable First That unvaluable Gift of Light He is the Light of the World Joh. 8. 12. How deformed is Darkness how beautiful is Light Eccles 11. 7. He is a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory c. Luke 2. 32. He is the bright Morning Star the Sun of Righteousness from whom the light of Life and all true Wisdom comes now this is a great and excellent thing Eccles 2. 13. Wisdom excelleth Folly as far as Light excelleth Darkness and this you know is very far Wisdom is preferred before Rubies and the most excellent things Prov. 8. from ver 10. to 20. That must needs be great which all the World cannot purchase but this is Wisdom now all true Wisdom comes by Jesus Christ he is the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 30. So who hath brought to light the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hidden things of God and that could by no ways be known but by Revelation No man hath known the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son shall reveal him Matth. 11. 27. He giveth Knowledge and Wisdom to whom he pleaseth that special Wisdom which none of the Princes of this World can attain unto 1 Cor. 2. 7. 8. Secondly Life He hath brought Life to Light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. and is not this a great gift All that a man hath will he give for his Life Job 2. 4. O! then what is Life from the dead to his people Eph. 2. 1. He is our Life Col. 3. 3. I am come that they may have Life and have it more abundantly Joh. 10. 10. Thirdly His Love all the World and Houses full of Treasures cannot be compar'd to Love Cant. 8. 7. Should Christ give all the World and withhold his Heart it were but a mean gift Favours are valuable by the love whence they come Isa 63. 9. In his Love and in his Pity he redeemed them Psal 63. 3. Deut. 33. 3. All Believers are set as a Seal upon his Heart Cant. 8. 6. He hath loved them with an everlasting Love they have his Heart and none else Fourthly Himself There being nothing greater than himself to demonstrate the Largeness of his Heart to his people he gave himself Eph. 5. 25. Who loved the Church and gave himself for it that is sold himself to purchase them gave himself to divine Justice to satisfie the Law and to taste of Death for them all that he had as Mediator he parted with for them and hath given himself to them also Heb. 8. 10. And I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People They have his person Hos 3. 3. Thou shalt not be for another so will I also be for thee All his Beauties and personal Perfections as described Cant. 5. ver 9. to the end all Believers have a Marriage right unto him by way of Gift again he hath given them his Purchase all that he hath bought with his Blood Math. 26. 28. This is my Blood of the New Testament shed for you Fifthly His Laws and Scepter to guide them through the World and to steer out their Course of Duty and Safety and this is a great thing Hos 8. 12. I have written to him the great things of my Law Rabab the excellent or honourable things of my Law for this word notes Quality as well as Quantity and if the things of God's Law are so great what are the Truths of the Gospel called so great Salvation Deut. 4. 8. And what Nation is so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so righteous Psal 147. 19. Sixthly His Spirit This he gives to all his People Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his 1 Cor. 12. 13 We are all by one
his Face from them when he speaks sharply to them and severely rebukes them Secondly To own his Friend in all places times and conditions so Jonathan owned David in his greatest Dangers when his Father sought his Life when it was dangerous to appear for him 1 Sam. 20. 28. 32. so Christ is not asham'd to own his People before God men Matth. 10. 32. Whosoever shall confess me before men him will I confess before my Father's Face 1 Cor. 16. 21. He reproved Kings for their sake saying touch not mine anointed c. Thirdly Pity Job 6. 14. Pity should be shewn from a Friend And in this is Christ faithful he hath compassion on the ignorant and those that are out of the way Heb. 5. 2. He cannot hide his Eyes from his own Flesh he is that good Samaritane Luke 10. 33. Fourthly Counsel Prov. 27. 9. Oyntment and Perfume rejoyce the Heart so doth the Sweetness of a man's Friend by hearty Counsel Christ is called the Counsellor Isaiah 9. 6. He will guide his People with his Eye and instruct them in the way they should go Psal 32. 8. Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them Neh. 9. 20. Fifthly Adherence Prov. 18. 24. There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a Brother 2 Sam. 16. 17. So the Lord Jesus he stands by his People in time of need Ps 50. 15. Ps 91. 15. Ps 44. 3. Sixthly Comfort So Joh's Friends Job 2. 11. Came to mourn with him and to comfort him the Lord Jesus is faithful in this also Joh. 14 18. I will not leave you comfortless Isa 61. 2. To comfort all that mouâ—â— Seventhly Communication of Secrets Judg. 16. 15. How canst thou say thou lovest me when thy Heart is not with me Now the Lord Jesus Christ is such a Friend he will open the very Secrets of his heart to his People Joh. 15. 15. I have called you Friends for all that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you Psal 25. 14. O the secret Mysteries of the Gospel he discloseth to his faithful People that walk much with him Joh. 14. 2 3. Lastly Supply of wants Prov. 17. 17. A Friend is born for Adversity So Paul tells the Thessalonians of his friendly respects to them 1 Thes 2. 8. A true friend is ready to impart any thing for his Friend so Jonathan stript himself to his Girdle and Bow and Sword for David 1 Sam. 18. 4. Christ is such a Friend as will supply all the Necessities of his people Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your need Such a Friend he was to Jacob Gen. 48. 15. The God which fed me all my Life long Secondly He is faithful as a Brother for in this Relation also doth he stand to his people Joh. 20. 17. Go to my Brethren and say to them that I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God Christ and Believers have all one Father though in a different way Christ the natural Believers the adopted Children of God Now as he stands to them in the Capacity and State of a Brother an elder Brother so his Fidelity consists in a faithful Discharge of the Duties of such a relation As First One Duty is Love All the Saints stand in the relation of Brethren one to another and so are obliged to mutual Love 1 Joh. 3. 10. Christ fulfills this duty to his people he loves them as himself Eph. 5. 25. perfectly with the same love with which the Father loves him Joh. 15. 9. Secondly Another brotherly duty is Pity 1 Pâ—t 3. 8. Having Compassion one of another love as Brethren be pityful So Christ can truly say as Esther did of her Kindred Esther 8. 6. Now can I endure to see the Evil that shall come unto my People or how can I endure to see the Destruction of my Kindred Thirdly Unity is the duty of Brethren Psal 133. 1. Behold how good and pleasant is it for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity so is the Lord Jesus one with his people This he dyed for Joh. 11. 52. This he prays for Joh. 17. 21. Fourthly Another brotherly duty is Peace Gen. 13. 18. Let there be no strife betwixt me and thee and betwixt my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren So Christ labours after peace for his people and with them Jo. 16. 33. Fifthly Acknowledgment is another duty of Brethren So Christ Heb. 2. 11. He is not asham'd to call them brethren Lastly visiting one another and taking hold of Opportunities to enquire the welfare of each other and communicate Refreshments Thus did Moses Acts 7. 23. He visited his Brethren and so doth Christ his People he gives them special Accesses by his Spirit he leaves them not comfortless but will come unto them Joh. 14. 18. Thirdly As a husband to his Spouse is Christ faithful to his People Isa 54. 5. Thy Maker is thy Husband 2 Cor. 11. 2. I have espoused you to one Husband Hos 2. 19. 20. I will betroth thee unto me in Righteousness loving Kindness and Faithfulness Now Christ performs all the Offices of a tender Husband to them First In loving them as himself Eph. 5. 25. Husbands love your Wives as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it Now I shall give you eight Proofs of Christ's great love as a husband to his People First His high Valuation of them he esteems them beyond all the World besides nay above Heaven it self he could leave the Heaven of Heavens to seek after and to save them and Mansions of Glory to come down and betroath them he despised all the offer'd Pleasures and Grandure of the world when proposed to divert his Love from them Matth. 4. He sets forth their excellencies by terms of greatest worth he calls them his Treasure Exod. 19. 15. A Kingdom of Priests vers 6. His Jewels Mal. 3. 17. Cant. 1. 10. Thy Cheeks are comely with Rows of Jewels thy Neck with Chains of Gold Cant. 2. 2. As the Lilly among Thorns so is my Love among the Daughters He terms them a Fountain of Gardens an Orchyard of Pomegranates Cant. 4. The only one of her Mother the choice one of her that bare her These high Characters the Lord Jesus gives his Spouse shews the wonderful account he makes of her Secondly His costly purchase of them he sold himself to redeem them Eph. 5. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. He parted with all his Glory Treasures Peace Pleasures Strength and Life to procure a people to himself had not his love been infinitely great to all his Seed he would never have bought them at so dear a rate 1 Cor. 6. 20. Thirdly His great Endurings for them Jacob tells us of some Hardships he underwent to gain Rachel Gen. 31. 40. 41. But these are nothing to Christ's Endurings for his Spouse he bore infinite Torments for her all the Wrath and Vengeance of a consuming Fire which all the Sins of Believers did
merit he bore temporal Troubles Wants Weariness Pains Shame Death it self with whatever the damned in Hell bear to all Eternity that did he endure to get a Spouse among the condemned Sons and Daughters of men Fourthly His amorous Treatments of them and endearing Converses with them see the Exuberancy of his Affection breathing out at his Lips to them Cant. 4. 1. to vers 6. Behold thou art fair my Love behold thou art fair thou hast Doves Eyes c. ver 7. Thou art all fair my Love there is no spot in thee Cant. 2. 10. Rise up my Love my fair one and come away chap. 4. 8. Come with me from Lebanon My Spouse from Lebanon vers 10. How fair is thy Love my Sister my Spouse how much better is thy love than Wine chap. 6. 4. 5. Thou art beautiful my Love as Tirzah turn away tâ—ine Eyes from me for they have overcome me Fifthly His large Gifts and dowry to them he gives himself his Spirit his Purchase his Laws his Promises his Love Life Light and his Kingdom as I have already shewed and this doth discover his large Affection to them Sixthly His impatient longing after them shews the Greatness of his conjugal love to them Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the Clifts of the Rock in secret places of the Stairs let me see thy Countenance and hear thy Voice Jer. 3. 14 Turn O back-sliding Children for I am marryed to you He stands at the door knocking with the dew of the night on his locks saying Open to me my Sister my Spouse my Love my Dove my Vndefiled Cant. 5. 2. He is troubled when he cannot see them and they will not come unto him that he might give them life Seventhly His wonderful Complacency in and rejoycing over them he is well pleased with he rests in his love over them Zeph. 3. 17. He takes them for his only Portion Seed and Travel of his Soul wherein he is satisfied And as a Bridegroom rejoyceth over his Bride so shall thy God rejoyce over thee Isa 62. 5. For the Lord delighteth in thee and thy Land shall be marryed ver 4. Lastly His utter Inability to part with them proves his great love to them Hos 11. 8. How shall I give thâ—e up O Ephraim Isa 49. 16. Behold I have graven thee upon the Palms of my hands and vers 15. A Woman may forget her sucking Child but I cannot forget thee Nay he sets them as a Seal upon his Heart Cant. 8. 6. You must pluck out his Heart before you can make him consent to let his Spouse go Joh. 10. 28. None shall pluck them out of my Hands That 's the first Testimony of his conjugal Faithfulness his Love to all his people 't is a constant Love Joh. 13. 1. Having loved his own that were in the World he loved them to the end Secondly His Cohabitation with them this is another part of the Husbands duty to his Spouse 1 Pet. 3. 7. Ye Husbands dwell with them according to Knowledge such is the Fidelity of Christ to his that he takes up his abode with them Joh. 14. 23. and walks with and dwells among them 2 Cor 6. 16. He doth not give them a transient Visit and look upon them now and then however he may sometimes appear a stranger and draw a Curtain over the light of his Countenance yet he doth not change his Habitation but takes up his rest in Sion and dwells there Psal 132. 13 14. Heb. 13. 5. He will never leave them nor forsake them Thirdly his affectionate and intimate Converses with them proves his conjugal Fidelity he keeps up Intercourse with them Christ in Heaven maintains correspondence with his people on Earth Exod. 25. 22. Theâ—e will I meet with thee and commune with thee above the Mercy Seat that is In my Ordinances and Appointments I will open my heart to thee tell thee my Love and impart to thee my Secrets 1 Joh. 1. 3. Our Fellowship is with the Father and his Son Christ Jesus and this Communion is maintained by the Spirit Joh. 16. 13. 14. When the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth c. For he will receive of mine and shew it unto you 'T is a notable Scripture and as much as if Christ had said I go to Heaven my personal Presence shall be in Mansions of Glory but I will send my Spirit and he shall reveal the deep things of God coâ—municate my mind unto you and concerning you Fourthly His tender Sympathy with them In all their Afflictions he is afflicted Isaiah 63. 9. He soon feels their Troubles he that toucheth them toucheth the Apple of his â—ye Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. and therefore the Sufferings of the Saints are called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the after Sufferings of Christ Col. 1. 24. What is done to them he reckons as done to himself And he doth not only feel their Afflictions but bear their Burdens for them Psal 55. 22. Cast thy burden on the Lord he will sustain thee yea he helps and relieves them under all their Afflictions Psal 50. 15. Fifthly His patience towards them shews his Fidelity as a husband 't is riches of patience and long-suffering that the Lord doth exercise towards his every day Rom. 2. 4. Sixthly His gracious Indulgence towards them covering their Imperfections and pardoning their Offences is another thing his conjugal Relation to his People obliges him to and this he is faithful in he puts Honour upon the uncomely parts and carriages of his People by cloathing them with the covering of his Righteousness Rev. 3. 18. He calls upon his people to put on their white Rayment that the shame of their Nakedness do not appear He puts up many a wrong for them and passeth by many a weakness in them concealing their Imperfections from the view of others and all because he loves them and they are his Hephzibah's Seaventhly His Care of them demonstrates his conjugal Fidelity to them 1 Pet. 5. 7. His Eyes are always upon them from one end of the year to the other Deut. 11. 12. Commit thy way to the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass Psal 37. 5. Upon him is the care of all the Churches and of every Saint yea of all their Concerns even their very hairs He cares for their Bodies their Souls their Families their names their Comfort and their Profit he will not leave them comfortless nor suffer them to be tempted above what they are able he will provide all things they stand in need of Isa 46. 3. 4. Psal 65. 9. and if he withholds these lower things from them here he prepares some better thing for them both here and hereafter Eighthly Protection of them from their Evils and Dangers this is a Husbands duty to be a covering for his Spouse and a Screen to her from Injury Gen. 20. 16. So Christ he carries his as
they are given usually but to a few So is Holiness the priviledge of the fewest and least number of men few there be that find it Mat. 7. 13. Riches can procure the greatest things procurable as one saith Money answereth all things that is all things that are saleable among men so Holiness though it cannot purchase Mercy yet it fits persons for the greatest Mercies and highest Services None more advanced than holy Souls they dwell in the presence of God Psal 140. 13. They are through Christ very potent with God they are fit for the highest work When Persons come to dye they see the excellency of holiness and would purchase it with a world This proves that Sanctification is a rare Treasure Again The purchas'd Holiness of Christ hath not only excellent worth but large quantity he hath purchas'd fullness of Grace Grace for Grace O Believer though thy heart be empty of grace yet Christ's Treasure is full he hath as much as ever thou canst need or crave to make thee as Holy as thou wouldest be and that to all Eternity VSE If Holiness be the Purchase of Christ then 't is not the Creatures procurement or by any ways or means obtained short of the merit of Christ what the Apostle says of Righteousness is true of Sanctification Gal. 2. 21. If Righteousness come by the Law then Christ is dead in vain So if holiness be the Fruit of Mens Purposes Labours and Duties then Christ died in vain 'T is too common an errour in many to charge Christ with too much in some things and too little in other things In justification some lay too much on Christ I mean by charging their sins on him for pardon which they were never throughly convinc'd or repented of and in sanctification charge him with too little expecting their holiness and meetness from their purposes duties and improvements As if holiness were to grow out of the Sepulchres of their Services and not out of the grave of Christ 'T is true indeed the Lord Jesus hath appointed means for the promoting of Holiness and given promises and Ordinances for the conveying and perfecting of it but the vertue of all depends upon his blessing 1 Cor. 3. 6 7. Rom. 9. 16. Secondly Then how unexcusable are perishing Sinners under the Gospel that will not come to Christ to be made holy You that lye in your blood and from the Crown of your head to the sole of your feet are full of filthy Ulcers and putrifying sores whose Consciences cannot but condemn you sometimes for uncleannesse and never being cleansed by the blood of Christ how will you appear before the Holy God a Consuming fire in your unpurged sins How unjustifiable is your filthynesse who might have been cleansed but would not What will you answer in the day of Indignation when all this tender'd but refused Grace shall come against you when you would willingly part with the whole World if you had it to get a clean heart and a purged Conscience How dreadful will that word be in the day of Inquisition Ezek. 22. 24. Thou art a Land Thou art a Soul that art not cleansed How cutting will the memory be of rejected Grace when God shall say I would have healed you but you are not healed Jer. 51. 9. You might have had your natures changed your Consciences cleansed and your hearts sanctified but you would not Now away thou prophane hard-hearted wretch Be gone thou secret Drunkard Swearer Thief Lyer take him Devil go and be filthy still wallow in thy blood there lye cursing in torment to all Eternity as long as I am God thy blood shall lye upon thee Thirdly Then the Holinesse of Believers is and shall be sure being grounded on the Purchase of Christ 'T is bought and paid for O Believer for thee purchas'd Sanctification is assuredly thine as thou art not thine own The truth continuance growth and perfection of Grace is procured for thee by a price A price agreed on betwixt the Father and the Son First God will not deny it Justice it self cannot with-hold thy purchas'd due As sure as Christ with-holds not one drop of his blood or penny of the price so sure will not God with-hold any part of this Purchase Rom. 3. 26. That he may be just and the justifier of them that believe in Jesus And if the justifier then sure the sanctifier Poor doubting Believer when thou seest nothing but unworthiness in thy self of the least Grace and peace from God then think 't was Christ not I that made this purchase he who did not can not make a forfeit of his right and whose blood must perish whose Honour and Interest must suffer if one of those for whom Christ dyed should dye and perish for want of Holinesse O no! this cannot be The Judge of all the Earth must do right Gen. 18. 23. Secondly Jesus Christ the believers Advocate cannot suffer to see his poor and needy deprived of their right He is the Mediatour betwixt God and his people The days-Man and Umpire to see truth Established in the Earth and every one to receive his due He will give wicked Men their due much more his Children And all Power in Heaven and Earth are in his hands Math. 28. 20. He is the Faithful Witnesse Holy and Just one and therefore will cause that believers shall have the distributions of the due Measures of his Purchas'd Grace Thirdly there is nothing in thee or without thee that can hinder the accomplishment of it Isa 43. 13. I will work and who shall let Let Earth and Hell Sin and self combine together they shall not keep back the Communications of grace one day beyond God's time Math. 12. 20. 'T is not the strength of thy lusts can prevail against the arm of God and forces of his eternal Spirit who is commissioned to bring down all thy Enemies and set thee free indeed Christ will Reign till he brings down all his Enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. The greatest part of which is the Corruptions of his people CHAP. XIX Adoption-Grace prov'd to be the Fruit of Christ's Purchase The excellency of this state opened in several particulars I Come now to a fifth Fruit of Christs Purchase and discovery of that glorious Redemption-Treasure procur'd by his death that is a state of Adoption those whom he sanctifies he adopts and brings into a new Relation to himself to God the Father Son and Spirit The work of Sanctification doth change their Nature Adoption changeth their state they are really alter'd by Sanctifying Grace and relatively by adoption-Adoption-love God now becomes their Father and they are his Sons and Daughters 2 Cor. 6. 17 18. Come out from amongst them and touch not the unclean thing Here 's a change in their Nature and Life And I will be your God and you shall be my Sons and Daughters there 's a change in their state Adoption is the taking of persons that are strangers and
This Child-like zeal in Craesus dumb Son open'd his mouth when his Father was in danger to be slain Fifthly A fiducial dependence on his care and faithfulness Psa 23. 1. The Lord is my shepheard I shall not want Rom. 8. 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you This was the Child-like confidence of Job in his God Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him This dependence on the Fathers care quieted Musculus when he was forc'd to labour in the Town Ditch for his Maintenance Est deus in Coelis qui providus omnia curat Credentes nunquam deseruisse potest Mat. 6. 32. Your Heavenly Father knows you have need of all these things Sixthly Humble Submission to him Heb. 12. 9. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word notes an orderly subjection according to that order and place in which God hath set a Man that subjection that is in an Inferiour to a Superiour The same word is used of Christ Luke 2. 51. And he went down with them to Nazareth and was subject to them that is submitted himself to that place duty he owed to them as his Parents Seventhly A carefulness to please him Isa 56. 4. That chuse the things that please me to them will I give within my house a place and a Name better than of Sons and Daughters That is such will I own for my Family my Sons and Daughters that chuse the things that please me So did the Lord Jesus evidence his filial duty to his Father Joh. 8. 29. I do alway the things that please him 1 Joh. 3. 22. Eighthly An endeavour in all things imitable to resemble him 1 Pet. 1. 15. As he that called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Luke 6. 36. Be ye merciful as your Father in Heaven is merciful Mat. 5. 48. Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect that is In the grace of love to Enemies Eph. 5. 1. Be ye followers of of God as dear Children Ninthly A labouring to walk worthy of so high relation and nearness unto God 1 Thes 2. 12. That you walk would worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory Worthy of so high a Calling like the Children of a King like Gideons Brethren who all resembled the Children of a King Judges 8. 18. Your duty is to live above the Children of this World who only are wise in their generation Luke 16. 8. But be ye wise in the things of God evidencâ— your highest wisdom to be in keeping â—he Law of the Lord Deut. 4. 6. Live like them that are Adopted Heirs of a Kingdom even the Heavenly Kingdom that fadeth not away O live above the snares and fears of this world Lastly A maintaining a real Love to your Brethren and an endeavour to live peaceably with them 1 Pet. 3. 8. Love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous c. 1 Joh. 5. 1. Every one also that loves him that begetteth loveth him also that is begotten 1 Joh. 3. 11. Gen. 13. 8. Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee between my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren Chap. 45. 24. See that you fall not out by the way 2 Cor. 13. 11. VSE Thus you see what a glorious Treasure Adoption-grace is view over this Inventory Believer and tell me what thou thinkest of it Is it not a Treasure indeed which all the Gold of Ophiâ— cannot equallize Nor all the glory of the World worthy to be compared with And see all this procured by the Sweat and Blood the Obedience and Death of the Son of God and then say whether Christ be not precious indeed Look upon the Children of this World in all their Glory view their priviledges in their utmost latitude and extent and answer me whether a Believer in rags doth not far surpass them Christ speaks of Solomon that he in all his Glory was not to be compared to one Lilly in the Field So one Saint and Child of God infinitely excels the Great men of this World in all their Grandure and Advancements O then admire the Lord Jesus on this account also for procuring Adoption-grace 1. Quest But how may I know whether I have obtained this Adoption-grace Answ This is a point worth the enquiring into and satisfaction in so fundamental a point is very necessary But 't is the Office of Gods Spirit to seal us up to the day of Redemption and bear witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8. 16. Men may lay down marks but 't is God must determine the Quest yet notwithstanding for thy resolution Believer consider First Such are partakers of the Divine Nature and are really Sons as well as Relatively 2 Pet. 1. 4. They have the Image of God instampt upon their Souls They have the seed of Holiness Faith Love Hope Patience and Humility in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. Rom. 8. 29. And they have received of his fulness Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. Secondly Such prize nothing in all the world like to Relation to God Ps 73. 25. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the Sons of God Thirdly Christ is exceeding precious to such in whom they are chosen and by whom this Grace comes 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious None in Heaven or Earth that they value like to Christ they account all things but dross and dung in comparison of Christs excellency Phil. 3. 8. Fourthly Such will employ their greatest care to imitate God Eph. 5. 1. 1 Joh. 3. 22. Fifthly such have a Spirit of prayer and supplication Rom. 8. 15 16. Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Not Parts not Light not the gifts of Prayer only but such a Soul hath the Spirit of Prayer very strong strains of Faith and Love run through all his Duties He hath a Spirit of boldness whereby he comes to God as to a Father O how earnest and unwearied are his breathings after God what wrestlings with God in secret hath he what pourings out of strong cries to him as Christ did in the days of his Flesh Heb. 5. 7. O the struglings O the wrestlings O the ardent breathings of such for the pardon of their sins for the mortifying of their lusts and for the reviving of their graces Now where the Spirit of Adoption is there is the state Sixthly Such are enabled to bear and profit by affliction Heb. 12. 7. If you endure chastening God dealeth with you as with Sons Lastly Such have endeared affections to the people of God 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren 2. Quest What must
vanquish all their Enemies for them Joh. 16. 33. Rev. 12. 11. To heal all their backslidings Hos 14. 4. To work all their works in them and for them Isa 26. 12. To give them Faith and to finish it Heb. 12. 2. To keep them faithful to the death 2 Thes 2. 3. And to secure the promised Fruit of all for them Rev. 22. 12. and therefore sufficiently able to make good Covenant-Promises to them and to fulfill Covenant-duties in them Sixthly Christs engagement to and for his people and his interest in them is another ground for the fulfilling of the Covenant Christ hath promised the Father that he will bring them all to Glory and hath undertaken all their work for them Heb. 10. 7. And he hath promised to them to make good his Covenant when he perswaded their hearts to him Heb. 8. 9 to 13. Isa 55. 11. Again his own interest in them is security enough All the fruit of his death and purchase lies in the fulfilling of the Covenant if that be broken he loseth all his hopes and Obedience he hath dyed in vain his blood and Intercession are to no purpose for herein lies all the travel of his Soul Isa 53. 10 11. In this is the enjoyment of all his delights if this Covenant be not sure then no Soul can be saved and Christ should lose those delights he had in the habitable parts of the Earth before the World was made Pro. 8. 31. Saved Souls are Christs Crown and Glory and how mangled and defective would Christs Crown be should any one Perish who are interested in this Covenant Upon this depends all Christs Mediatory Glory Joh. 17. 4 5. And should there be a failure here he would lose his expected Glory as Mediatour So that you see the fruit of his Purchase the delight of his Soul and his Eternal Glory with the Father are all wrapt up in the accomplishment of this Covenant Seventhly The Immutability of Gods Counsel and the certainty of his engagement confirmed by an Oath renders the new Covenant sure Heb. 6. 17 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew to the heirs of promise the immutability of his Counsel confirm'd it by an Oath These are two immutable things Gods purpose and his engagement and because these could admit of no variation therefore the things Promised must be fulfill'd indue time Heaven and Earth shall pass away but the Counsel of God that must stand 'T is laid upon Infinite Wisdom and all things in order to the fullfiling of it are made so sure that it cannot possibly be frustrated He wants not sufficient Power and faithfulness to reach his own designs and therefore what he hath determined must come to pass and upon this purpose of God is laid his promise He having first resolved upon it is engaged to it Lastly Another reason to prove the certainty of the new Covenant is taken from the nature of the promises they are absolute 't is true there are some conditional promises as the effects of the other but the fundamental promises and those which compleat the Covenant of grace are altogether absolute 't is true also faith is a necessary qualification to interest a Person in these promises but when the Soul comes to have a propriety in them the tenure of them then is absolute Jer. 31. 33 34. Heb. 8. 9. He will put his Spirit within them and will cause them to walk in his Statutes Ezek. 36. 25 to 28. I will be a God to them and they shall be my People Jer. 32. 40. And I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good But I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me In which you see the condition is undertaken and secured as well as the promise and things promised had it indeed depended upon conditional promises alone which doubting Souls have most in their eye then the failure of the condition would have forfeited the promises and then they had been null'd But you see the promises of the new Covenant are absolute and therefore sure to all the seed even to every one that believeth in Jesus Christ These are the grounds of hopes the believers have that the Covenant and every tittle of it shall be made good to them but that which doth meritoriously confirm it is the blood of Christ His death and suffering on which account it may be lookt on as the sealing and confirming of it and so believers may see to whom they are beholding and oblig'd for all their new-Covenant stability VSE From this grand and glorious truth The fulfilling and assurance of the new Covenant flows 1. Wonderful Comfort to all true Believers 2. Great Obligations on them to thankfulness and Obedience First This yeilds abundant Consolation to Believers on a double account 1. From the certainty 2. From the Excellency of this Covenant First From the certainty of this Covenant flows these streams of comfort First In that all occasions of Jealousie about the love of God are cut off for if the Covenant be sure then Gobs love is sure and secured from all mutability and cessation this being one great thing contained in it Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an Everlasting love Gods love to his People is Eternal therefore sure He doth rest in his love to them Zeph. 3. 17. The word is Jacharish he will be silent in his love Bucer renders it Silebit cum dilecta sua He shall be silent in his Beloved that is saith he He shall cease from contending with her being wholly delighted in her But Montanus renders it in the abstract he shall be silent by reason of his love Propter dilectionem suam But Cocceius and other Interpreters render the letter Beth In He shall be silent in his love or rest in his love alluding to the wonderful excess of affection in a Person that through exceeding amorousness cannot speak or express it for a time Cocceius takes it for the pardoning of their sin and ceasing from those former stroaks of his displeasure And this I suppose may be chiefly intended here to wit The greatness of his love noâ—ed by silence and exuberant Joy with a remove of all tokens of his anger and this to be fixt and perpetual so the Apostle assures Believers that the love of God in Christ is irremoveable Rom. 8. 35. All the World cannot withdraw Christs heart from his People where he once loves he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. This a believer may be assured of in the New Covenant that Gods love changeth not his heart is still towards his people however his dealings may be with them Secondly Then all the grounds of tormenting fear are now removed If the Covenant of grace be confirmed to believers then there 's no Just ground for them to entertain slavish fear Rom. 8. 15. For ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear
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
he feeds when he dreams but when he awakes he is emptie Riches feed nothing but the Eye hence Covetousness is call'd the lusts of the Eye 1 Joh. 2. 16. O'tis a vanity indeed to look after that which you can put in to your Eye it will not feed your affections it will not satiate the Soul it will not quiet the Conscienc O that men should adventure their all for that which will not satisfie Thirdly They are fading things in their Nature not only uncertain and liable to remove in the event but they are dying in their Nature Corruptible riches Your Houses Lands whatever your greedy Eye covets are but rotten things Your Garments are liable to the Moth and your Gold and Silver Subject to Rust J am 5. 2 3. Ah poor treasure indeed Which rust and Moth consume rest that strengthens other Creatures eats out these Houses Lands Gold and Jewels are subject to wearing away Tempus teret omnia Time will wear them out Hence Christ advises his Disciples to provide bags which wax not old a treasure in Heaven which faileth not Luk 12. 33. Implying that all the treasures of this world are not so If men lay them up in bags the bags will wax old and time will rot them Thieves can approach to these treasures and Moth and Rust can eat them out 'T is a pretty simile one hath of it who compares the Riches of the world to hailstones that when they fall upon a tyl'd House make a ratling noise for the present but by and by slâ—de down and melt away to nothing Fourthly The treasures of this world are ensiaving treasures they bring their owners into bondage as one says Ducendo vincimur vincendo ducimur By their cunning allurements they overcome us and overcoming us they lead us Captive They first allure the heart and then enthrall the heart They bring men into the worst bondage of any for they bring them into a willing bondage Earthly men are not only led Captive by the world at Satans will but are enslaved by their own will they consent to be bound Earthly men do with Esau swap a bargain for the things of the world they consent to let go their birth right for a mess of pottage they give up their birth right to their Inferiours and consent to become a slave to their own Servants That word of the Wiseman is never more true Eccl. 10. 7. then when men are led Captive by the love of this world I have seen Servants upon Horses and Princes walking as Servants upon the Earth Never did Israel do greater drudgery in Egypt then Carnal Earthly men do to the world It makes them rise early sit up late and eat the bread of sorrows and all for a few shaddows Ps 127. 2. Earthly men says one are like Beasts that are set to draw in the Devils Teams who draw sin with Cart-ropes and Iniquity with Cords of Vanity Isa 5. 1. Peccata facile veniunt sed fortiter ligant Fifthly The riches of this world are ensnaring too 1 Tâ—m 6. 9. They that will be rich fall into Temptations and Snares The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies such snares as persons use to take Birds and Beasts with and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fasten down to the ground as nets are that take beasts So Earthlyminded men the Devil stakes them down to the ground They are held fast in the cords of their own iniquity Pro. 5. 22. What a snare was Balack's Gold to Balaam's Covetous heart to draw him against his light convictions and a Divine charge The Bag prov'd a fatal charm to covetous Judas it lead him to the Halter The things of the world prov'd a sad snare to Demas and led him off from all his profession Earthly things are like twigs that are in Bird-lime that hold fast those silly Souls that come at them that they have no mind nor power â—o leave them O they are sad snares indeed Sixthly Earthly riches are defiling too The Apostle calls riches filthy lucre 1 Pet. 5. 2. Not for filthy lucre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Obscure gain as the word implies filthy unbecoming undecent O 't is dishonest gain indeed which ends in the loss of the Soul Such men are the greatest Couzeners in the world that cheat themselves and loose their Souls for sublunary treasures The Riches of this world defile the Consciences of those that love them the Apostle calls them the pollutions of the world 2 Pet. 2. 20. 'T is considerable that the Psalmist doth use the word Psa 52. 7. to fignifie both riches and unrighteousness Lo this is the man that made not God his strength but trusted in the abundance of his Riches and strengthened himself in his wickedness noting that riches prove occasions of much evil hurt and filthiness to them that have them Seventhly They are accountable Riches Talents that must be reckoned for Math. 25. 19. After a long time the Lord of that Servant cometh and reckoneth with him All Earthly interests are trusts committed to the fidelity of those that have them and they must give an account for them Luke 16. 2. Give an account of thy Stewardship for tbou must be no longer Steward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All thy undue pursuits of the World thy inordinate love to it thy unjust ingrossings of it to thy self thy penurious witholding it from those distributions God hath required must shortly be reckoned for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those things which Families use Eighthly They are afflicting riches They carry more trouble then comfort with them 1 Tim. 6. 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil which while Some coveted after pierce themselves through with many sorrows They run themselves through So Beza They stab themselves all over from Head to Foot with darts So the word imports O how great are those anxieties and troubles the riches of this world breed for those that have them they be troublesome things They cause a great deal of pains to get them a great deal of care to keep them a great deal of fear to loose them And a great deal of trouble when they are gone Christ compares the love of the world to Thorns Mat. 13. 7. Compar'd with ver 22. Because they prick and scratch the Consciences as well as choak the word O the many wounds they will see in them one day that love the world inordinately Whence Gregory hath this upon it Let rich men take heed how they handle Throns least they prick them Nintâ—ly They are damnifying riches and bring a great deal of loss with them A man can hardly come by much of the world without a sensible detriment They occasion the loss of a great deal of time that should be used about their precious Souls The loss of precious peace O what trouble what carking fretting rending cares have men about these Riches They loose
their natural peace many times and lose their Soul quietness The cares of this world breed a great deal of guilt Then there 's a loss of purity too they sully thy Soul dirt thy Conscience bespatter thy Affections Many a hopeful Soul is corrupted by them to fall from their seeming vertue and moral excellencies as the young man in the Gospel Judas Annanias and Demas Earthlimindedness like the Fâ—ie in a Box of Oyntment spoil mens natural and moral Vertues They occasion the loss of many priviledges the love of the world robs Souls of great advantages such cannot wait on God many times in secret duties family duties publick duties they have a Farm and Oxen and Merchandise to look after and therefore cannot come Nay they that will be rich deprive themselves of the profit of those priviledges they do enjoy The Love of the world takes off the good of the word whiles it is preached to them Math. 13. 22. The things of the world damp mens affections to Christ and heavenly things they stifle mens Consciences It duls and blunts the edge of the Sword of the Gospel and makes it rebound back again when it fals upon the rocky heart hardned with the love of the World O they are damnifiing things And at last they will set you hard but they will lose your Souls and then you have made a cursed bargain indeed when you have lost your Souls Lastly They are dangerous and too often damning things they are dangerous for they keep the Soul from Christ As the young man in the Gospel he came to the very last step and yet there he stayed he could not part withall for Christ that broke the bargain Mat. 19. 22. He went away sorrowful for he had great possessions The love of the World stood in the way of his receiving Christ Thorns are the shelter for Serpents and riches for many lusts that drown men in perdition and destruction 1. Tim. 6. 9. The word in the original signifies a plunging over head and ears in ruine sunk to the bottom as one that hath a great weight upon him One compares rich men to a Pine Tree of which it is said that if the bark be pluckt off it will last long but while that abides it rots riches are as a deep pit into which men easily get but hardly get out and therefore Christ saies it is easier for a Camell to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Math. 19. 24. The things of the World bar up the way to Heaven and open the way to Hell and hasten the Soul with a vengeance to destruction They are like the Devils sleep-drench that casts Souls into a deep trance and 'till they come to the end of their lives they never awake and then they awake with a vengeance That 's the first Consider what the things of the world are and they are fools indeed that pursue them with the neglect of Christ Secondly Consider the different terms on which they are to be had and it will appear to be folly for men to desert Heavenly things and chuse Earthly If you would have the World it will cost you a great deal of sorrow trouble and pains you must tug hard Adam being turn'd out of Paradise must work in the sweat of his brows for his bread Gen. 3. 10. But Heavenly Treasures is to be received by believing They come by gift It is but to come and take it and receive it Isa 55. 1 2. Thirdly Consider the casualty that attends the persuit of these Earthly things A great deal of casualty whether you may have them or no and a great deal of hazard that attends them The Marchant engages in dangerous voyages and after all is not sure to bring home any treasure Eccles. 5. 14. These Riches perish by evil travel Suppose they are obtained they sometimes are wasted assoon as won and he that thinks he hath enough for many years many times leaves nothing behind him Many toyl and tug eat out their bowels and spend their days for that which they cannot obtain how many labour to be rich and yet dye Poor Riches make themselves wings and flie away Pro. 23. 5 Fourthly Such as persue Earthly things with the neglect of Christ contract much guilt upon their own Souls they violate the whole Law of God for the whole Law contains supream love to God Love saies the Apostle is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13. 10. And upon this Commandement saies Christ hangs all the Law and the Prophets Math. 22. 40 Upon supream love to God and equal love to our neighbour as to our selves Therefore such as persue Earthly things and love the World more then God they break the whole Law of God 1 Joh. 2. 5. Yea they violate and break the commands of grace also It makes men false to all their engagments and promises and to all their civil trusts O what horrid wickedness will not the love of this World put men upon therefore such contract foul guilt upon their Souls And this shews their folly So much for the use of Information CHAP. XXVIII Containing an use of reprehension to several sorts of Persons with consolation to all sound Believers IF there be such vast and glorious Treasures in the Lord Jesus Christ opened and tendered in the Gospel Then this reprooves such as have or profess to have an interest in these vast and boundless Treasures and yet are so little affected with them and have a low estimation of them O sad indeed That the choicest substance that ever was boundless treasure should be esteemed no more then perishing trash 'T is a lamentable thing indeed to see how most Professors value perishing treasures so much and Jesus Christ so little Did persons prize those Heavenly Treasures they would have a lesse esteem of Earthly they would be more restless till they saw their Interest in them Pursue more after them be at more pains and cost to secure them Be more in the commendation of them and highly esteem those that have them Secondly It reproves those that have or seem to have a title to this glorious Treasure and yet are not contented with it O Souls will a few handfuls of dust please you and will not a Kingdom Crown and Glory Will a little Cottage in the world take up your delight and will not a Mansion and dwelling-place in Heaven satisfie you O Believer hath God made over himself Father Son and Spirit to be thine eternal Treasure and is not he rich enough to fill all thy heart and all thy desires sit down and consider how groundless are all thy mournings how unreasonable are all thy frettings and discontent who canst say of Heaven This is mine and of God and Christ He is mine Thirdly It reproves those that have or seem to have a Title to those treasures and yet look after others treasures and eagerly pursue a portion in this
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
lov'd the World Joh. 3. 16. and every Creature in it such a Philanthropy is in Christ he would have all men come to the Knowledge of the Truth that they might be saved 1 Tim. 2 4. Love your Enemies Mat. 5. 44. so did Christ he prayed Father forgive them Luke 23. 34. love his Friends 1 Joh. 5. 1. Eph. 6. 24. CHAP. XI The glorious Excellency of Christ's tender Pity opened and displayed in the several Acts of it both to Saints and Sinners ANother Discovery of the Sweetness of Christ's Disposition is Thirdly His Pity this is lookt upon as an excellent Qualification and that which renders a person lovely among men Rom. 5. 7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one dye yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye for a just man one that is strict and rigid in his Life and matters of Justice none will dye but for a good man that is for a bountiful liberal man for a Benefactor saith Beza for a Friend saith another some would even dare to dye Kindness and Compassion renders men lovely and amiable in the Sight of Heathens hence one calls a merciful man a precious thing and another makes him equal to God God himself prefers Mercy above Sacrifice Mat. 9. 13. This the Lord opened to Moses as part of his Glory Exod. 34. 6. The Lord God merciful and gracious c. And this mercifulness is placed in the Nature of Christ as Mediator and therefore must needs render him glorious and be part of his unsearchable Riches now that the Lord Jesus is so full of Pity and Mercy in his very Nature the Scripture is clear This was one Qualification necessary to his Priest-hood Heb. 2. 17. This was a special Requisite to the Priest under the Law that he should be one who might have Compassion on the Ignorant and them that are out of the way Heb. 5. 2. Therefore the high-priest must be a Man not an Angel that so he being subject to Infirmities to Sins and Weaknesses himself he might the better have Compassion upon others in the like ease The same Argument the Lord useth to Israel Deut. 10. 19. Love ye therefore the Stranger for ye were Strangers in the Land of Aegypt Experience of Affliction fits a person for pity to others and therefore our Lord took our Nature upon him that being compast with the same Infirmities Sin only excepted he might be able to have Compassion on others this is necessary in that Office for a person will never be active in such laborious work for Sinners as offering of Gifts and Sacrifices for Sin if he have not tender Bowels towards persons in Misery and therefore Jesus Christ must needs be such a one who can have Compassion c. The word is significant 't is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to have Compassion on others according to the Measure and Proportion of their Misery Paraeus renders it to have Compassion as much as is needful Beza to be affected according to the greatness of anothers Misery and such is the Compassion of Christ 't is suted to the Condition of his People were Christ's Pity but one Grain short of the Misery and Condition of Sinners he could never save them to the utmost for if he will save to the uttermost he must ever live to make Intercession there 's no one moment of time in which they don't want help and must have Gifts offer'd for them But this Christ will not do if he wants Compassion Jam. 5. 11. The Lord is said to be pitiful and of tender mercies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of many Bowels or as Piscator multum viscâ—ralis much bowelful all pitiful from inward deep Bowels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word is to pity with the Bowels of a Mother to be prone to compassion So Aestius He is rich in mercy Eph. 2. 4. Great in Quantity and Choice in Quality great Mercy and choice Mercy Psal 5. 1. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies The word Rab multitude signifies Quality as well as Quantity many Mercies or weighty Mercies Mercies Rachamim 'T is such love and pity as Mothers bear to the fruit of their Womb which is fervent and flaming The word hath no singular number because there are many works of Mercy saith Piscator Now this Compassion of Christ lies in these two things 1. In his sympathizing with his Creatures 2. In supplying and supporting them First Pity hath sympathy in it an inward Heart-affecting sense of another's Evils Psal 103. 13. Like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitietb them that fear him Judg. 10. 16. His Soul was grieved for the Children of Israel The word signifieth His Soul was short'ned or contracted in him by reason of grief 'T is spoken by an Anthropopathy according to the apprehensions of men As a man is filled with grief his Breast is straitned that he can scarcely breathe It denotes how much the Lord Jesus is affected with the miseries of his People Heb. 4. 15. He is said to be touched with the Fellow-feeling of our Infirmities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suffering with us Christ in Heaven hath such a fellow-feeling of the Evils of his People as that he resents their troubles as his own He is tender-hearted and every misery of theirs reacheth his Soul But this hath been somewhat treated of before Secondly Readiness to supply and support others in their Misery and this is eminently manifested in the Lord Jesus Isa 38. 20. The Lord was ready to save me Men sometimes have a hand but no heart they may help but will not they only say Go and be fed and be cloath'd c. Others have a heart but no hand they have not to supply the needs of others their Cruse of Oyl and Barrel of Meal will reach but a little way besides there may be some Cases in which Men or Angels cannot help Psal 142. 4. I looked on my right hand and behold there was no man would know me c. But there can be no Condition in which Omnipotency fails to help Heb. 7. 25. Jer. 32. 27. And Christ is as really willing as able to save He is an inexhausted Fountain of all good Sufficit omnibus saith Paraeus nec sufficit tantum sed dat liberalissime Dives est saith the same Author sufficientia affectu He is good and doth good He feeds gathers carries leads his poor infirm Flocks when they most stand in need of him Isa 40. 11. When they are ready to faint for want he opens a Well and fills their Bottles when they wander from their resting-place he sends his Dogs and gathers them to his Fold when they are weary and can go no further he takes them into his Arms and carries them when they are hungry he feeds them when they are naked he cloaths them when they are sick he visits them when they are in Prison he comes to them He giveth to his