and Son is chiefly managed and transacted 1 Iohn 16.14 15. and by whom it is manifested 1 Iohn 4.13 Thirdly be much in those duties frequent those Ordinances where God manifesteth and most communicateth himself to his own 4. Use Let Believers be exhorted to live walk act and work all their works in the strength of that grace that flows from this Communion First hence our victory over all dangers enemies difficulties 1 Iohn 4.4 Secondly hence your fruitfulness in Christ John 15.4 5. ROM 8.38 For I am Perswaded c. IN the first Point I opened the doctrine of Believers Communion with God The second is the bond of this Communion The Love of God Doct. The Love of God is a sweet a sacred bond of inseparable Communion between God and believers Though the love of God in Scripture somtimes signifies our love to God yet here it must needs signifie Gods love to us for not our love to God but his love to us is the only foundation on which a believer can build such high resolution strong confidence glorious joy triumphing faith as is in the text There is a threefold love of God to us First a general love a love of benevolence or good will common to all his creatures as they are the works of his hand so his mercy and love are over all his works the invisible things of his Wisdom and Power are seen in every creature Rom. 1.20 And what of God is in any creature is lovely and he loves every thing himself hath made Secondly a particular love a love of beneficence or bounty Thus he loves man above all his other creatures before his fall Pro. 8.31 After his fall Psal 8.45 Heb. 2.16 Tit. 3.4 Thirdly a more special and peculiar love a love of Communion and Complacency it is of such out of mankind whom God hath loved in Christ with an everlasting love these are believers according to Election Man is Partaker with other creatures of all that love of God that communicates to them yet hath a special love of God that communicates to him and no other creature hath part with him Believers partake of all that love of God that communicates it self to all other creatures and to all other men yet hath a special love of God in which no other creature and no other men partake with him Thus a believer is Heir of all that love that ever issued forth from God of this love of God the Text speaks First it is the bond of our Communion as being that which draws us into this Communion There is in every man by nature an unwillingness to come to God a drawing off from God and Communion with him Partly from sin and corruption which is in man which is a privation of our suitableness and likeness and conformity to God and is a positive contrariety and opposition to God both which are flatly repugnant to Communion and partly also from the apprehension of the wrath and displeasure of God and our obnoxiousness to his Iustice whom most unjustly and injuriously we have offended hence no man will come into Communion with God except drawn Iohn 6.44 But what then doth God compell men against their wills no this would destroy that natural principle of liberty God hath implanted in that faculty therfore in infinit wisdom he hath ordered to bring them in by a way of voluntariness and free obedience and the meanes by which the power of his grace shall produce effectually those effects in the hearts of men to which they shall freely and willingly consent to is a way of love Hos 11 4. Love is the cord that drawes men that drawes man into communion with God Ier 34.3 When God by his Spirit manifests his love to the soul whom no other meanes could perswade much less compel the soul is conquered by the secret ineffable potency and Tweetness of the operation of love love drawes and the soule comes yea runs into his armes yea into that bosom where love opens Cant. 1.1.4 Secondly it is the bond of our communion with God because it binds God fast to us and us fast to God First it binds God fast to us in this sacred communion First this it doth by bringing us into an everlasting Covenant with God Ezek. 16 8. 1 Sam. 18.3 No after-sins â—ack-slidings no temptations persecuâ—ions of the world nor chastise rents of God can break Covenant because founâ—ed on love Our Communion with God is foundâ—d on the Covenant the Covenant founâ—ed on love hence we call it a Covenant â—f grace or love It is exprest to be a Covenant of Conjugal love Hos 2.18 19 20. when God threatens to visit the sins of his people c. yet my loving kindness c. nor breaks my Covenant c. Isa 89 31.34 Secondly this is that doth dispense all the blessings of the Covenant to believers in this Communion This love of God is that which first gives forth Jesus Christ to them 1 Jo. 4.10 And with Christ all other graces and Priviledges of grace that concur to salvation T it 3.4 7. This love makes the first great change and alteration in mens estates and conditions v. 3. this love of God goes on to manifest it self to such in Christ in the Renovation of the Spirit in Justification in making us heirs of glory and eternal life So love the Fountain of all grace Eph. 2 4 5 6. see 2 Thes 2.16 17. the love whence flows all consolation as from the original is there expresly affirmed of God the Father Secondly it is the bond of this Communion as it binds us fast to God this it doth First by engaging us to believe in his Son Jesus Christ John 3.16 God o loved c. the love of God here is made matter of greatest encouragement to finners to believe against all doubts of strongest engagement to believe against all Pleas Pretences on the contrary God so loved c. So How so as we cannot tell so as the tongue of men and Angels cannot express so infinitely so ardently so in comprehensibly as exceeds our thoughts as far as heaven is above the earth Gods love with a So swallows up all our sins doubts fears difficulties wants weaknesses unworthinesses or whatever stands in the way of believing Secondly by enabling us to believe 1 John 4.10 We have known such whom no means no Prâ—misâ—s no Persuasions could prevail with to believe if God make known but a secret hint of his love forthwith it believes against all unbelief believes in hope against hope and gives glory to God Faith is called the Gift of God Eph. 2.8 and every gift springs from love Christ is the Gift of God love and faith is the gift of Gods love the love of God brings Christ and faith together and unites both together Thirdly by begeting in our hearts a love to God in some manner of Analogie like that of his to us Love begets love as fire begets fire and in this flame
the soul like Manoahs Angel ascends up to God in heaven it is a common proverb that love alwayes descends seldome ascends It is not so between God and beleivers 1 Jo. 4 19. and that love which ascends from us to God what is it but that which first descended from God to us A woman that hath no love no affection for such a person nor any thoughts of him it may be never saw him yet when such a person comes to make known his true love and affection to her it presently begets love in her bosom so Thus the Apostle doth describe it Eph 1.4 see how it begins in the love of God to us and ends in our love to him this is that the eternal love of God aimed at and works up every believer to God loves that he may be loved Where God loves he takes up his rest in that soul Zeph. 3.17 where the soul lovâ—s God it takes up its rest in God Psal 116.7 and values the love of God above richest enjoyments Psal 63.3 Now it cannot live but in the love of God Psal 30.5 Fourthly by actuating the whole foul in a way of service and sincere obedience to God What the Apostle saith of the love of Christ 2 Cor. 5.10 the same is true of the love of God it constrains it besiegeth it hemms us in it takes full possession of the soul brings it under the regency of divine love is wholly at the Command of love 1 John 5.3 This is the love of God Herein is Gods love manifested to be special love to us and herein is our love manifested to be sincere love to him This is the spirit in the wheels that moves all the faculties and affections of the soul to God in a way of duty and obedience In this way God manifests his Communion of love with us Jo. 14.23 and we manifest our Communion of love with God 1 John 1.7 To walk in the light is to walk in a way of holiness and holy obedience to God and whereas many failings and fallings short will be found in the best obedience yet there is a remedy provided the blood of Christ 1. Use This point leads us to the uppermost spring the highest original of grace and glory to believers and that is the love of God not the love of Christ as Mediator but the love of God whence Christ and all spiritual blessings with him originally flow to us In vain shall we seek for any other motive to God in his dispensations of grace to us besides his love Deut. 5.7 8. God hath predestinated you to the adoption called justified sanctified you and will glorifie you only because it pleased the Lord to love you 2. Use Is love the bond of our Communion with God First then it is a very near close intimate Communion Love is a transanimation one soul in another 1 Sam. 18.1 or with another it is a believer engraven in Gods heart appled in Gods eye carried up and down in Gods armes like a beloved disciple lying in Gods Bosom the Place the Seat the Center of love Secondly it is of love therefore a choice Communion Love singles out its object it looks upon many chuseth few the children of his love are a chosen generation 1 Pet. 2.9 God singles some out of all the world to have Communion with and they single God out of all the world to have Communion with him Psal 73.25 Thirdly it is of love therefore a strong Communion Love is strong as death invincible by any opposition conquering every thing that is against it The Love of God pardons all sin swallows up all distances The love of God in communion with the soul sweetens every bitter thing heals all lapses repairs all breaches ends all controversies between God and the soul Hos 145 5. Fourthly it is an everlasting communion because it is of love the love of God in the heart of a believer never faileth 1 Cor. 13.8 much less can the love of God fail in his own heart the love of God is one of the longest and most lasting things in God Psal 36.10 Continue in the Hebrew Draw out at lengthâ— as is the love so is the Communion 3. Use Is love the bond of our Communion with God take that exhortation Jude 21. Keep your selves in the love of God keep up your faith in Gods love keep the apprehensions and manifestations of Gods love warm in your hearts This will keep you in sweet Communion with God which is the life of ouâ— faith the soul of our Christianity thâ— joy of our salvation all joy and peace iâ— believing This is strong consolation Peace that passeth understanding Thiâ— is our stability in grace our security for glory 1 Iohn 4.16 we have known and believed God is love ROM 8.38.36 VVE are come to the third particular viz. the primary and principal subject in which the love ef God to us centred and that is Jesus Christ which is in Christ Jesus Doct. That love of God which is the bond of communion between himself and believers with all its gracious effects Blessings Priviledges is manifested and dispensed to us only in and through Jesus Christ Our life and salvation is first in God himself with whom is the fountain of life and who is the Father of lights in whom our life is said to be hid Coll. 3.3 and so in him it is ours by the eternal purpose of his love and grace in himself This love of God as it was the only moving cause to God of the eternal purpose of his grace concerning us so it is the chief Agent and principal Efficient of all grace in us as we declared in the last Point Yet we must consider the only Medium or means by which God doth manifest his love to us through which he doth dispence all the effects of his eternal love and grace to us is Jesus Christ who is appointed of God to be the only Executor of all his Decrees of love and grace and is ordained to come in as Mediatour in all things between God and us This I shall endeavour to demonstrate 1. Demonst Jesus Christ was anointed with all that love which God the Father had taken up in his own bosom to be laid out on all his elect ones and thus he became Son and Heir of all the love of God to his beloved Hence Christ is made known to us as the eminently beloved one of the Father Mat. 3.17 The beloved with an Amphasis in whom we are said to be accepted Eph. 1.6 his dear Son or the Son of his love into whose Kingdom we are said to be translated Col. 1.13 And from the love of God to him is the love of God derived to us John 17. ult 2. Dem. Jesus Christ alone is the great manifestation of Gods eternal love to us as being the first and most immediate effect of it 1 John 4.10 so as we cannot nor ever could come to the least measure of knowledge of
Gods eternal love to us but only in Iesus Christ 2 â—or 4.6 Knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ By the glory of God we are in a special manner to understand it of the glory of his eternal love and grace if with this we compare Eph. 1.6 and 12. every believers experience will bear witness to this truth 3. Dem. God did first accomplish all that grace in Christ which his eternal love had purposed to perform in us 2 Cor. 1.20 Hence Christ became the first-born Rom. 8.29 the first-fruits 1 Cor. 15.23 The Image Patern and Exemplar of all the grace and glory of God to us 2. Our salvation was founded on the eternal Election of God Christ was elected Isa 42.1 He was not only one chosen out of all Creatures Men and Angels but chosen out of all the three Persons in Trinity to be the Mediatour of our Peace by the Election of Christ ours is ratified and confirmed Secondly our salvation includes in it a Predestination to the Adoption We were ordained to be sons of God So Christ in our nature by its personal Union with the Divine was the Son of God Luke 1.45 Gal. 4.4 5. Thirdly our salvation is carried on by our Calling Iesus Christ had his Call of God to all the Offices that concerned him in the Work of our Redemption Heb. 5.4 5. Fourthly our salvation is carried by Iustification so Christ was first justified Isa 50 8. 1 Tim. 3.16 Fisthly our salvation is carried on unto a final victory over all our enemies for Christ Iesus he hath first overcome Rev. 3.21 Sixthly our salvation is perfected by the Resurrection from the dead and a possession of glory for Christ first rose from the dead and entred into his glory Eph. 4.5 6. So what faith hope love holiness patience humility obedience God should require of us was first performed by Christ who became a Pattern and Examplar of all grace unto obedience for us John 15.10 and our constant Growth and Increase in Grace is called a growing up in all things to Christ our Head Eph. 4 15. 4. Dem. All these treasures of salvation which God hath in his eternal love decreed to lay out on his Elect both in grace and glory are given into Christ Col 1.19 Col. 2.3 Christ Heir of all things by appointment Heb. 1.3 Here he is said to be made of God unto us whatever God intended to make our salvation compleat by viz. Wisdom 1 Cor. 1.30 Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption These four Ingredients are perfect and compleat salvation So that of Christs fulness we still receive grace for grace and glory for glory 2 Cor. 3.18 John 1.16 and our compleatness is in him Col. 2.9 10. Hence Christ is said to be not only given us for a Saviour but to be the salvation of God to us Luke 2.30 because he contains in himself the whole matter of our salvation every part and parcel that makes our salvation compleat 5. Dem. When God actually performs any of that grace his eternal love purposed and decreed for us he first makes us to be in Christ makes us one with Christ 1 Cor. 1.30 Of God are ye in Christ Iesus he gathers into one in Christ Eph. 1.10 he calls them into the fellowship of Christ 1 Cor. 1.9 whom he intends to save As we are said to be chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 so we are said to be made the sons of God in Christ Gal. 3.26 reconciled in Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 to be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. ult to be made new creatures in him 2 Cor. 1.17 to be made an habitation of God in him Eph. 2. ult to be sanctified preserved called in Iesus Christ Iude 1. hence we are called the Workmanship of God in Christ Eph. 2.10 The grounds of this truth why God should make out all the manifestations and dispensations of his love to us in Christ Iesus may be 1. Christ only is that among all three Persons in Trinity which God did ordain us to be viz. the Son of God The grace of our Adoption is the supreme Priviledge of all that grace we receive from Gods love 1 Iohn 3.1 and is our Right and Title to all other blessings if sons then heirs We must be sons before we can have right to any part of the Inheritance Now Christ having this Prerogative peculiar to himself to be the Son of God it was necessary that we should be made the sons of God in Christ Iesus Eph. 1.5 Secondly because Christ was as the only begotten Son of God so the only beloved of the Father sole Heir of all his Fathers love and his Fathers blessings both in grace and glory Therefore it behoved that the manifestations of the Fathers love and the dispensations of his love to us in the blessings of grace and glory should be made in Iesus Christ Thirdly that the glory of our salvation might not be communicated in any part to the creature but to God alone of whom through whom to whom are all things to whom be glory for ever It is God who of himself and in himself and by himself worketh all grace in us of himself as the Father in himself as the Son by himself as the holy Spirit The Uses of this Point are I. For Information First it informs us how miserable men are who are yet out of Christ they are in no capacity to receive one token of Gods saving love They may love themselves and do good to themselves the world may love friends may love them and shew them love but God will shew them no love out of Christ Secondly it informs us of that excellent order and method the Wisdom of God hath observed in stating our salvation The love of God which is the great spring of life and grace is first in God himself as the original Then it is in Christ as he to whom belongs the Birth-right and the blessings of it in whom all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen Then it is in us who are in Christ Iesus in whom we are made Partakers of the righteousness holiness and glory of God Thirdly that no natural goodness in our selves nothing we can do in conformity to the Law of God no external duties of Worship to God no moral Righteousness towards man can be the least part of that Righteousness that can bring us into a state of love and favour with God It must be what God doth bestow on us in Iesus Christ for no man is made that unto which the love of God hath predestinated him in himself and through himself but in and through Christ only Fourthly it informs us in what glass we may most clearly behold the love of God to us in all its effects it is Iesus Christ Would we know the love of God to us look upon his love to Christ or know the dignity of our Adoption look upon the Sonship of Christ or know the dignity
Apostle would hold forth the immediate way of Saints Communion with God in love without the least help or assistance of any creature concurring Even all the Angels had nothing to do in it And as no Angel could ever procure Gods love or bring a Saint into Communion with God so none shall be able to separate Secondly we are to consider how the good Angels may be supposed to endanger believers in their Communion with God 1. The good Angels by their continual Attendance and Watchfulness about Saints must needs be privy to all their open sins in words actions duties and cannot but conceive a holy indignation at the unworthy or unbeseeming carriages of believers as that text 1 Cor 11.10 shews Saints miscarriages and sins grieve offend the Angels and hereby may be supposed to endanger their state in Gods love when they sin against love Secondly the Angels in zeal to God glory are always in a readiness to revenge the injuries that are done against God Psal 104.4 and they have ofteâ— executed the righteous displeasure oâ— God against his own people 2 Sam. 2â— 16 17. When David saw the Angel hâ— cried out O Lord I have sinned Wheâ— Isaiah saw God on his Throne with hâ— Seraphims about him the Executioneâ— of his Justice upon the Transgression of his own people he cries out Wo me I am undone Isa 6.1 2 5. Thirdly the Angels are made servanâ— to believers Man in his first Creatioâ— was made a little lower then the Angels but in Christ he is now exalted to glory and honour above the Angels Christ hath not taken Heb. 2.16 our nature is exalted in the Person of Christ far above all Principalities Ephes 1.20 21. That Angels should be servants to them who by nature are inferiour to them is ground of a temptation to them had not grace over-powered nature to take all occasions against Saints to bring God out of love with them and to bring themselves again into the highest place of Gods favour Fourthly the Angels may be supposed to endanger Saints not industriously but occasionally by reason of the corruption that remains in our natures What through the excellency of their Natures their nearness to God and the many good services they perform to us Saints have been endangered to commit idolatry with them See Rev. 19.10 Rev. 22.8 hence that caution of the Apostle Col. 2.18 19. hereby some are in danger to quit Jesus Christ the Head Thirdly we are to shew that Angels shall not be able to separate I. They will not First in regard of their Office they are all ministring spirits sent forth Heb. 1. ult Secondly they will not be enemies to them but are in a readiness to execute the wrath of God upon all that offend them Mat. 18.10 Thirdly they have a charge to keep them in all their ways Psal 91.11 12. not to lead them out of Gods way II. They cannot if they would First their subjection to Christ they are under his dominion and sovereignty Heb. 1.6 7 8. Secondly their dependance upon Christ for the execution and performance of all they do The vision of Jacobs Ladder compared with Jo. 1. ult Angels attended Christ at his Birth in the Wilderness when tempted in the Garden at his Resurrection and Ascension Thirdly they can do nothing but what God commands them Psal 103.20 III. If they could they dare not First they have their establishment in Christ They were by nature as mutable as the rest that fell they are fetled in a state of love in God by Christ testified by the Cherubims on the Mercy-Seat Secondly they are by Christ brought into the same Fellowship and Communion with God as we Eph 1.10 see what the Angel himself declared Rev. 19.10 Rev. 22.9 and we are said to be brought into Communion with Angels Heb. 12.22.23 if they should endeavor to separate believers from Communion with God in his love they should also separate themselves 1. Vse This informs us that no creature ture in Heaven not the purest Angels can be any part of our essential blessedness These Angels may in case of disobedience actually instict the Tokens of Gods displeasure against us And occasionally through our own corruption prove snares and temptations to us such as may endanger our state in Gods love much less then caâ— any creature on earth the holiest the purest Saint the sweetest and dearest relation be part of our essential blessedness This alone consists in our Immediate Communion with God in love through Iesus Christ our Lord from which nothing can separate us 2. Use This serves to confirm the faith of believers in the assurance of their unchangeable state in Gods love there is an utter impossibility to separate them from it The Angels excel in strength Psal 103.20 if they cannot do it much less can inferiour creatures Men or Devils what is beyond the power of good Angels is an absolute impossibility to other creatures 3. Use By this we are informed that those things those Agents sometimes we greatly fear as enemies that may endanger us in our chiefest concernments are often our greatest friends and such as really design our greatest good good angels are but supposed enemies and are real friends beloâ—s of our Ioy and such as Endeavor to keep us fast in the love of God 4. Use This fully convinceth Popery to be Apostacy an Apostacy of such who were never truly or really in a state of Love and Communion with God through Christ For though not actively yet occasionally through good angels they are utterly fallen from that love of God that Communion with God in Christ they professed They are fallen into the worship of Angels which is flat Idolatry Rev. 22.9 and they hold not the head Col. 1.18 19. Had they real Communion with God in Love they had never been separated by the means of Angels from the love of God in Christ Iesus our Lord. ROM 8.38 39. I am Perswaded Nor Principalities BY Principalities I understand as I shewed in the Explication the Magistrates Princes Rulers of the Kingdoms of this world with their subjects Armies Associates whereby they become potent enemies to the Church which is the Kingdom of Christ Doct. None of the Princes or Principalities of the Kingdoms of this World shall be able to separate What great opposition the Princes and Principalities of the World have made at all times against the Church and how much persecution the Church hath suffered under them how much Saints have been endangered thereby to Apostacy and so to a separation from their Communion with God in love is upon record in Scripture How much the Church the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints under the Old Testament suffered from the Principalities of the Kingdoms of the World appears Psal 2.2 How often are Kings said to be assembled against Sion Psal 48.4 How oft did Christ put them to â—ight with their Armies Psal 68 1â—,14 destroy them Psal 136.17.18 No sooner did Christ appear under
daily Mat. 6.34 sufficient for Every day is in travel and bringâ— forth some new trouble every day Christ hath taught us to pray for deliverance from evil David complaineth of his grief and sorrow daily Psal 13.2 see Psal 73.14 Thirdly the present evils usually surprize us unawares he that expects thâ— evil yet is commonly surprized with the manner and kinde of it unexpectedly We often say of this or that present evil that befals us we never dreamt 〈◊〉 it as God is said to work deliverance and mercies for his people they looke not for Is 64.3 so often he sends trouble and afflictions they looked not for Jer. 8.15 Yet no present evils nor troubles shall separate 1. Because in all present troubles believers have God present with them a very present help Psal 46.1 yea in their most dismal and darkest troubles in which they cannot see him they may believe his Presence Psal 23.4 his Word and Spirit his Rod and Staffe He hath a Cordial in a readiness for every present dejection a Comfort in a readiness for every present tribulation 2 Cor. 1.3 4. Secondly because they are though sometimes they see not feel not continually with God Psal 73.23 and they who have complained of daily afflictions have blest God for daily mercies Psal 68.19 And they who have cied daily to God of their troubles Psal 86.3 have been able daily to praise him Psal 61.8 Thirdly because no present trouble can swallow up the joy that springs to believers from future glory Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17.18 1 Pet. 1.5.6 Fourthly against all present and pressing evils that Sâ—ints have that promise more precious then gold of Ophir 1 Cor. 10.13 O saith one I am under such trials and troubles that I have non-plust my faith but God is faithful O I am not able to bear or stand under them God saith he will lay no more then you are able to bear O I see no end no way of escape out God will make a way to escape Secondly as for things to come It is with the godly in this life as with Solomens old man the clouds return after rain present evils afflict him and future threaten him as it s said Rev. 11. One woe is past a second is and a third woe cometh quickly Evils to come may much endanger Saints in their Communion with God 1. Because Saints are very subject to this temptation about what may befal them for time to come as appears by that of Christ Mat. 6.34 who will not themfore allow his people one anxious thought about what shall fall out on the morrows This temptation hath two evils in it 1. It begets fear and that fear hath great torment 2. It takes away the relish and sweetness of the present mercies we enjoy while we take in a deeper apprehension of what troubles are yet to come upon us Secondly because God usually makes the troubles that are to come heavier then the present the waters of affliction like the waters of the Sanctuary rise by degrees higher and higher from the Ancles to the Knees Psal 42.7 Psal 69.1 â— No trial can be so great but God can make it greater no affliction so heavy but God can make it heavier God deals with his children as men do with theirs Fathers correct children first with a branch of Rosemary then a Rod afterward it may be with a Staffe that makes them as David cry out of their boâ—es calls them to bear burdens and do service according to their strength As they grow up in faith holiness huâ—â—lity patience spiritual strength so their trials temptations afflictions increase and their latter often become greater then their former Thirdly because the trials and troubles of the Church which are to come are certainly like to be the greatest Those which more immediately precede the coming of Christ very dangerous and great for sin 2 Tim. 3.1 5. and for judgement Luke 21.25 26. Yet no troubles to come shall be able to separate First because all things shall certainly work Rom. 8.28 we know there is no doubt hesitancy uncertainty in this knowledge that all things things present and things to come all things none excepted shall work all things that have any spirit power vertue activity in it that works to any end shall work together all Agents Instruments God shall make use of how various in their kinds how different in their operations how distinct in their intentions yet they shall all work together with God by whom they are guided ordered over-ruled in all their motions and actions and the same things which work for evil unto others are all made to work for good unto them Secondly from the immutability of Gods love it is everlasting Ier. 31.3 God is not as man that he should repent whom he loves he loves to the end He doth not love to day and hate tomorrow love at present and revoke in â—â—ture he hath loved and no sins of the creâ—ture could violate it he doth love therefore no present evils can interrupt it he will love therefore no future things shall prevail Thirdly from the nature and quality of that Covenant in which God hath taken them into Communion with himself to be their God in which the first Promise is I le â—e to them for a God the second is I le pardon their sins and remember their iniquities no more All the advantage things present or things to come can have against Saints for evil is sinne for nothing can separate between God and the soul but sâ—t Now the Act of Gods Pardoning Mercy is a compleat Act of Grace it cannot be said of a believer one moment that he stands under unpardoned guilt no more thâ—n it can be said he is an unjustified person If a believer may believe sins pardoned under all present evils he may believe sins pardoned under all future therefore as not things present so no things to come can separate 1. Use Terrour to the ungodly who have no Cemmunion with God in love through Christ Iesus they are yet in their sins without God and Christ in the World it may be things present are for thee Health Wealth Liberty Prosperity Plenty O but things to come are terrible and against you Son said Abraham to the rich man Remember thou in thâ— life-time badst thy good things and now nothing but torment and misery â—o thy present enjoyments thou sayst Soul take thine ease thou hast Goods laid up for and thinkest not thou art treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath thou dost rise up comfortably and walk delicately like Agag but O the bitterness of death is not past There is a wrath to come the Devils believe and tremble O come to Christ quickly he will not treat you so roughly as John Baptist did the Pharisees O generation of Vipers he will deal gently and mercifully with you 2. Use To the godly First by way of Instruction to turn security out of their hearts in reference to their
sight of their weaknesses corruptions imperfections Ezekiel 2 Chron. 32.22 24 26. The Peacock struts it self while it looks on its gay Plumes and is ashamed when it looks on its black feet when Paul was in danger of being up with his priviledges God turns his eye to look on his infirmities 2. Cor. 12.9 Thirdly there are heights in believers of carnal confidence when to spiritual priviledges of grace and comfort God shall adde temporal favours riches honours outward glory worldly prosperity Such a state of worldly felicity is call'd the height sublimity and exaltation of a person Ezek. 31.5 Such heights some understand to be meant in the text a state of worldly greatnesse and grandeur wealth power and authority which God sometimes vouchsafeth to some of his children to convince the world that he can do much more for his then the world for hers First this height may much endanger a believers Communion with God First it is aâ—â— to beget carnal security under present enjoyments and this provoketh God to hide his face and so theâ— Communion with God is much disturbed Psal 30.6 7. Secondly it affords matter for a great Temptation of the Devil the world and its glory the devil shewed Christ on a high Mountain Mat. 4.8 Thirdly these things have been great trials to Saints and made proof of their weakness in the midst of their highest enjoyments as in Hezekiah a Chron. 32.27 28 29 31. God left him to try him Secondly Yet shall not these heights be able to separate First because God will not suffer them long to rejoyce in these enjoyments but rather in an humble frame of spirit whereby they are enabled to manage such a condition to the glory of God and the comfort of others see Iam. 1.9 10 Secondly if worldly enjoyments seek to separate us from God he will quickly separate them from us If Hezekias Treasures lift up his heart they must go to Babylon Isa 39.6 When the disciples were over-ravisht with the external glory of that Transfiguration on the Mount Mat. 17. and said It is good to be here God brought a cloud over the glory presently and made them contented with their Communion with Christ alone Thirdly because whatever enjoyments all worldly felicity God vouchsafeth his people the comforts that flow in to them from these are weak narrow scanty full of insufficiency dissatisfaction God limits the comfort of outward things to his people more then to the men of the world The fulness the sufficiency of all spiritual comfort flows from their Communion with God 1 Iohn 1.3 4. Fourthly there is another height that is raised by the workings of carnal reason in thoughts opinions false judgments and conclusions which lift up themselves above the truths of God and somtimes above the ways and dealings of God this height you have 2 Cor. 10.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are ratiocinations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every high thing as in the text First this is that which much endangers a believer in his 1. It s said there to exalt it self against the knowledge of God Carnal reason humane wisdom secular Science is profest enemies to the simplicity of the Gospel which is in Christ Hence the poor are said to receive the Gospel and babes those things which are hid from the wise and prudent 2. It is a great enemy to faith as appears by that expression Gal. 1.15 16. Paul had never believed if he had consulted hence that Rom. 12.3 Let no man according to the measure of faith Thirdly it makes false Conclusions of Gods dark dispensations to his people Isa 40.27 Isa 49.14 It perswadeth God hath forsaken us when he hath not so sense and carnal reason judgeth Secondly yet this height shall not separate 1. Because Christ Jesus in whom we have the true saving knowledge and through whom we have Communion with God in love is the Wisdom of God and the Power 1 Cor. 1.24 Wisdom to silence Power to overcome all the strong Arguments oâ— the flesh that rise up against him Secondly because God hath magnified the thoughts of his mercy counsels of peace contrivances of love which are as high above Isa 55.8.9 1. Use For Information many here it may be are ready to say To what purpose are all these words It may be they never experimented such enemies such dangers such oppositions in their Profession of Christianity to such all these are but empty notions Do you think the Spirit of the Scripture speaketh these things in vain Is it not to be feared ye are strangers to this great Priviledge of believers Communion with God in love 2. Use Christians never look to put off your Armour till you come from Communion with God to the full enjoyment of God When you have conquered one enemy one temptation and difficulty look to encounter another nor are all your enemies before you some are above you some are heights altitudes sublimities 3. Use Here is your comfort Christians you have this day not only the dangers discover'd but your safety and security confirm'd inviolable immutable in your Communion with God Are the dangers enemies heights insuperable inconquerable in themselves yet they shall not be able ROM 8.39 Nor Depths Doct. AS not Heights so not Depths shall be able to I. I shall declare what I mean by Depths ' I understand principally those Depths and Dejections of soul that attend a state of darkness and spiritual desertion incident not only to Saints in lower but to Saints in their higher capacity of grace according to the good pleasure of Gods Will. This state hath a great Depth and Profundity in it that Psalm wholly expresseth such a state see Psal 120.1 and that Psal 88.6 in the Deeps This is such a Depth into which all other Deeps empty themselves as Rivers into the Ocean First into this Deep falls in the Depths of sin sin is a deep thing lies deep out of sight Saints seldom search to the bottom of it but in case of spiritual desertion nor can they then sound the Depth without Gods Plummet Iob Iob 13.23 24. In this state God doth usually search the sin of Saints to the bottom Job in this case was made to repossess the fins of his youth David was made to reckon for the sin he stood guilty of in the Womb Psal 31.5 in a state of spiritual desertion Saints have usually a discovery of the depth of guilt and blackness and ugly deformity in sin beyond what they had at first Conversion Secondly into this depth of spiritual desertion falls in the depth of Gods wrath his Judgements are called a Deep Psal 36.6 so deep that the damned in Hell are ever sinking into them and shall never come to the bottom In this state of spiritual desertion Saints take deep of the wrath of God Psal â—0 11 Homan Psal 88.7 16. As God maketh some to taste of the good love and Word of God and the Powers of that glory that is to come who