actions than our selves have he is at the Beginning and he is at the Middle and he is at the Latter end of every action Had the Lord Christ only given himself for us what a great mercy had it been but he hath given himself To us not only for as but to us he cometh and liveth in a Beleever he liveth more in a Beleever than a Beleever doth himself What Love Mercy and Grace is here You that are Beleevers do you know your own Priviledge what it is to have Christ living in you Only bear the word of Exhortation you that are made partakers of this great priviledge Christ living in you Christ in you the hope of glory Col. 1.27 labor now to hold forth the vertues of Jesus Christ in your lives And when ye have done all then walk Humbly walk Humbly with your God and say as Paul here of the true Beleever I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me I have been now at Prayer yet not I but Christ Prayed in me I have been now at Conference and spoke such and such good words yet not I but Christ worketh in me speaketh in me Upon this account let us all labor to walk Humbly with our God for it is Christ more than you Christ hath a greater stroke in all your actions than your selves have therefore now let every man say I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me THE Woman of Canaan A Sermonpreached at Christs-Church Octob. 26 1647. MATTHEW 15. beginning at the 21. vers Then Jesus went thence and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon 22. And behold a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts and cried unto him saying Have mercy on me O Lord thou Son of David my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil 23. But he answered her not a word And his Disciples came and besought him saying Send her away for she crieth after us 24. But he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel 25. Then came she and worshipped him saying Lord help me 26. But he answered and said It is not meet to take the childrens bread and cast it to dogs 27. And she said Truth Lord yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters table 28. Then Jesus answered and said unto her O woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt And her daughter was made whol from that very hour YE have in this Story a great Storehouse of Heavenly Comfort and Instruction I shall labor briefly to open it at this time unto ye The words tell us of a great Miracle wrought by our Savior Christ Casting out the Devil in one that was possessed Concerning which cure Two things considerable Where this cure was wrought And by what means it was wrought Wrought in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon And by means of a womans faith For our Savior said O woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt And her daughter was made whole The greatness of this womans faith is set out by Three great Temptations that she did meet withal when she came and besought our Savior for the cure of her child First He answered her not a word but was silent to all her misery and Prayer This was a great Temptation a great tryal Secondly He was not only silent but when the Disciples spake for her he seems to give her a flat denial I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel And this was a further and greater Temptation Thirdly When yet she prest in upon him he seems to give her the repulse and to call her Dog It is not meet to take the childrens bread and to cast it to Dogs Here was a great Temptation indeed But her faith wrought through all these Temptations And because as ye shall see and hear in the opening of the words that there is none of all these Temptations but one time or other may befall the best of Gods children it will be good for us to observe How this womans faith wrought through every Temptation that we may do the like in our Temptations But before we come unto that The holy Ghost here would have us take notice First From whence Christ came and upon what occasion Secondly Whither he came and how he was received First of all it is said here Then Jesus went thence He went from the Jews He had been as ye reade in the former part of the chapter disputing with them against their Traditions Ye have made the Commandement of God void through your Traditions verse 6. Whereupon they were much offended verse 12. Our Savior now then goes from them they were offended and rejected his words and he goes from them These were the Jews that dwelt at Jerusalem not the meanest neither The Scribes and Pharisees the Learned men of that time and those that were most in account for Holiness See what entertainment the Gospel finds in Christs own time among the Learned and those that were accounted the most Holy Scribes Learned men and the Pharisees the most precise and strict men of those times and yet here the Gospel is rejected by them Christ goes away Christ goes from thence upon this account Observ None more rigorous opposers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ than Learned men and such as go for Holy and Precise men being wedded to their own inventions So were these here Know ye therefore men wedded to their own inventions though never so Learned or never so strict in their lives little hope that the Gospel or the Lord Christ should find entertainment among them Be not offended though this fall out Jesus went from thence But whither went he The text saies He departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon How so Our Lord Savior Christ commanded his Disciples that they should not go into the way of the Gentiles but saies he Go and preach to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Mat. 10.5 6. but go not into the way of the Gentiles Will Christ forbid his Disciples and Apostles to go into the way of the Gentiles and will he himself go into the way of the Gentiles go into Tyre and Sidon how can this be Some answer it thus That the Law-giver was not bound unto the Law that he made himself Others answer it thus That our Lord and Savior did not go unto Tyre and Sidon for to preach but he went thither to be hid As in the 7. of Mark where ye have the same story From thence he arose and went to Tyre and Sidon and entred into an house and would have no man know it In this respect now he did not forbid his Disciples to go into the way of the Gentiles But the answer is clear both in the 15. of Matthew and that same of Mark He departed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto the coasts of Tyre and
THE WORKS OF WILLIAM BRIDGE Sometime Fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in CAMBRIDGE NOW Preacher of the Word of GOD at Yarmouth The third Volumn VIZ. 1. The Spiritual life and In-being of Christ in all Believers 2. The Woman of Canaan London Printed by Peter Cole at the sign of the Printing-Press in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange 1649. To the Reader I Thought good to give thee notice That these Sermons were taken from the Authors mouth when he preached them and so were those also that were lately published the several titles whereof you may see in the Margin of this Epistle The Titles of the several Pieces that are lately published of Mr. William Bridge The first Volumn 1. The great Gospel-Mystery of the Saints Comfort and Holiness opened and applyed from Christs Priestly Office 2. Satans power to tempt and Christs love to and care of his people under temptation 3. Thankfulness required in every condition The second Volumn 1. Grace for Grace or the overflowings of Christs fulness received by all Saints 2. The Spiritual actings of Faith through Natural Impossibilities 3. Evangelical repentance A word spoken is soon forgotten but what is written remains and may do you your children and childrens children good and this is the intent and desire of the Author When you view this mite of his you may see something of Christ in it let it be your care to see what you can finde of Christ in your selves Know ye not that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates This Work adviseth you not to rest upon Notions for then you do no other then feed your precious souls with fancies which is as unfitting and more dangerous food for your souls then the husks were for the Prodigals body 'T is a Real Christ not a Notional Christ must satisfie your souls We all know there is store of gold in the India's but we are never the richer for it unless we have it in possession neither is it our hearing of Christ nor our knowing there is a Christ but our having of Christ in possession that benefits our souls Hast thou a proud heart read this Book and it will teach thee humility Hast thou a despairing heart read this Book and it will teach thee to believe Hast thou a legal heart read this Book it will teach thee to be Evangelical Hast thou a secure heart read this Book it will teach thee to be Watchful Hast thou a froward heart read this Book it will teach thee to be meek If thou wouldst come to Christ with a Budget of duties upon thy shoulders old Adams proud principle then thou must not look here for he labors to empty thee of thy own righteousness and send thee naked to Iesus Christ who came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance If thou lookest for quaint speculations and eloquent expressions of humane wisdom which administer as little comfort to the Pastor as edification to the People in truth here 's nothing to please fantastical cars with whimseyr it was neither spoken nor written for any such intent the words were spoken for edification and were by the desire of friends written for the same intent If then thou levest plain dealing and to benefit thy soul read and this Book will teach thee to leave the success to God When Paul hath plantted and Apollo hath watred 't is God must give the increase Art thou a sinner here is mercy for thee here is Christ for thee Art thou a drunkard here 's water of life for thee which if thou drinkest thou shalt never thirst again Art thou covetous here 's riches for thee spiritual riches durable riches that will not sade Art thou prophane read this and it will teach thee to be holy Art thou a saint here is comfort for thee even the holy Spirit the comforter Art thou in darkness here is light for thee Jesus Christ the true light that lightens every one that comes into the World He shall be ten times more constant to thy soul then the sun in the Firmament Art thou weak in parts weak in Faith weak in grace read this Book and if the Lord be pleased to speak to thy soul here 's strength for thee even the mighty God Art thou poor El. Gibbor here 's Christ and the earth is his and the fulness thereof it is laid up in his hand for thee it is the purchase of his blood he hath bought it for thee 't is thy own and he doth but keep it for thee and thou mayest go boldly to him for it though thou art loath to borrow and ashamed to beg yet thou mayest go boldly for thy own This Book courteous Reader will teach thee to depend on God to wait on Christ for all He feeds the yong Ravens be tends the Sparrows he cloaths the Lillies therefore be sure he will not let his children want whatsoever storms be without Keep Christ and thou shalt have Peace yea the Prince of Peace within then thou shalt have peace when all the world is in trouble then thou shalt be kept safe in the hour of temptation which shall come to try all those that live upon the face of the earth Prepare a place for the Lord Jesus Christ in thy heart and he will provide a Mansion for thee in his Fathers house where thou shalt sin no more nor sorrow no more but God shall wipe away all tears from thy eyes Always remember thou hast here no abiding place but seekest one to come This courteous Reader is the course and aim of the Author in this Treatise for thy benefit he spends his spirits that thou mayest be happy that thou mayest grow up from strength to strength till thou comest to be a perfect man in Jesus Christ and this also is the earnest desire and prayers of him to Almighty God for thee who is and shall always remain Thine to love and serve in the Gospel VVilliam Greenhil READER THough there be other literal faults and some redundant its and there 's yet you will please to mend them with your own pen and consider the Authors absence from the Press Errata PAge 6. line 14. for them read it p. 9. l. 11. dele not p. 10. l. 2. for proxi r. proxim eni ' p. 22. l. 33. for and made alive r. and not made alive p 31. l. 25. for into the world r. into the other world p. 37. l. 29. dele me p. 44. dele quest Answ in the Margin l. 30 dele but. p. 51. l. 25. for prey r. praise p. 75. l. 5. dele so is Christ p. 76. l. 15. for but if r. for it is l. 16. for dwell r that dwelleth p. 77. l. 26. for smiles r. smiled and for in l. 29 33. r. into p. 81. l. 29. for their r. there p. 83. l. 20. after the words of Christ adde barely p. 101. l. 8. for Moses r. Ioshua p. 103. l. 34. for Legi r. Lege p. 105. l. 12.
consideration of your own unworthiness how to give an answer to those temptations ib. 7. Her victory Page 210 Question Why doth Christ rather commend her faith than her other graces Answer Faith commends Christ above all other graces ib. If the Lord Jesus commend faith so much then labor to strengthen faith ib. Observation The strength of faith doth not lie in the assurance of our salvation Page 211 How many have strong faith that think they have no faith at all ib. Lesson We ought to beleeve in the face of all discouragment Page 212 Objections Answered Page 213 THE CONTENTS OF CHRISTS COMING c. On MATTHEW 25.6 TEXT opened Page 2 Doctrine Christ comes at midnight Page 5 Explication 1 Christ will come again ib. 2. How it may appear that Christ will come at midnight 1. When he comes with converting grace he comes at midnight Page 7 2. When he comes with comforting mercy he comes at midnight Page 8 3. When he comes with outward deliverances he comes at midnight Page 9 4. At his last coming he will come at midnight ib. Reasons 1. Christ loves his people should watch for him Page 9 2. He would not have them be proud of mercies Page 10 3. He loves to come so as he may be most welcom ib. Application 1. This Doctrine looks wishly upon such 1. as Christ comes against Page 11 2. as Christ comes for Page 13 Duties flowing from this Doctrine 1. Trust in the Lord for ever Page 14 2. Why should those that are employed for Christ be unconstant because of opposition Page 15 3. Why should we not go meet him with some present of thankfulness Page 16 Application 2. Then his personal coming is not far off Page 19 Wakening observations 1. A most desperate sleep is to come upon all professors immediately before the great coming of Christ Page 20 Desperate because 1. Vniversal ib. 2. In the midst of trouble Page 21 2. They shall never wake again till Christ come ibid 3. There are two sorts of sleepers some keep their oyle Page 22 some spend their oyle Page 22 THE CONTENTS Of the SAINTS HIDING-PLACE c. On ZEPHANIAH 2.3 TEXT Opened Page 2 Doctrine 1 God hath his daies of Anger Page 5 Application 1 It is not unlawful to be angry Page 7 Applic. 2 How infinitly are our souls bound to Jesus Christ by whom we are delivered from the wrath to come Page 8 Applic. 3 What just cause there is why godly and faithful Preachers should be sent into all places of the Kingdom Page 9 Doct. 2 In the dayes of wrath God is exceeding willing to hide his own people Page 11 Object How is it so many of his dear servants have faln in these late wars Answered Page 12 Applic. Behold a shelter in time of a storm Page 13 Whom God hath by promise engaged to hide 1 Those that hide the Saints of God Page 14 2 Those that keep the word of Gods patience Page 15 3 Those that fear not the fears of men ibid 4 Those that are flourishing in Religion notwithstanding opposition Page 16 5 The meek of the earth ib. Doct. 3 Though God be willing to hide his people yet many times he leaves them at great uncertainties Page 17 Doct. 4 When Gods wrath is abroad and his people know not what will become of them then especially it is their duty to seek God Page 19 Object But the wrath of God is pacified towards us Answered I would it were Three Reasons why it is not 1 The plague is begun Page 20 2 We are so angry one with another ib. 3 The former sins God hath been punishing for all this while live stil amongst us Viz. 1 Idolatry and Superstition Page 21 2 Opposition to the Saints ib. 3 Oppression and Injustice ib. Question What shall we do in this case Answered 1 Seek the Lord Himself Page 24 2 Seek Righteousness 1 The Righteousness of Christ ib. 2 Righteousness in opposition to Oppression and Injustice Page 25 3 Righteousness in seeking the Truth Page 27 Only in seeking this part of Righteousness observe these Rules 1 Do not despise any Truth because 't is old nor neglect any Truth because it is new ib. 2 Be as plain and open-hearted as you can ib. 3 Rest not upon any means though never so great nor despise any means though never so smal Page 28 4 Look not for grapes among thorns ib. 5 Do not so hold the greater as to neglect the less and do not so seek the less as to forget the greater Page 29 3 Seek meekness Page 30 Doct. 5 If any man can do any good in the day of Gods Anger either for himself or others It is the meek of the earth Page 30 1 They have the promise ib. 2 They most honor Christ ib. 3 They leave their cause to God Page 31 4 They are most fit for Gods service ib Applic. How little is this Nation beholding to those that are of a frow ard and perverse spirit Page 31 Exhortation To meek ones go to God improve your interest Page 33 The Titles of the first and second Volumns of the Works of Mr. WILLIAM BRIDGE lately puplished I. The great Gospel-Mysterie of the Saints Comfort and Holiness opened and opplied from Christs Priestly-Office II. Satans power to Tempt and Christs love to and care of his people under Temptation III. Thankefulness required in every condition IV. Grace for Grace or The overflowings of Christs fulness received by all Saints V. The Spiritual actings of Faith through Natural Impossibilities VI. Evangelical Repentance THE Spirituall-Life AND IN-BEING of CHRIST In all BELEEVERS Preached at Stepney July 2. 1648. GALATIANS 2. part of the 20. vers Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me IN this Epistle the Apostle Paul does industriously prove That a man is justified by faith in Christ alone and not by the works of the law Which he plainly affirms at the 16. verse Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have beleeved in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified But if a man be not justified by the works of the law then a man may live as he lists may cease from working Not so saies the Apostle for so we our selves should be found sinner and Christ would be made the minister of sin which God forbid verse 17. yea and I should build again the things which I have destroyed and make my self a transgressor verse 18. But I through the law am dead unto the law that I might live unto God verse the 19. But if a man be justified by faith alone and so by the death of Christ then a man is crucified with Christ and if a man be crucified or if you be crucified with Christ how then do you
and live to God Had he now sought Justification in a away of works and by the Law could he have ever bin able to have answered to this temptation Ye may see what the Apostle saies in the 7. chap. of his Epistle to the Romans he gives you a Similitude thus As a woman so is the sould of every man So long as a woman is married unto one man she brings forth children unto him and not unto any other but is dead unto all others but when that man dies she is free to marry and she marries another and she brings forth children unto him Now saies the Apostle at the 4. verse Wherefore my brethren ye also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God So that so long as a man is married to the Law he can never bring forth fruit unto God Now then thus lies the Reason If that the Law and Justification thereby be no Friend but a real Enemy unto all our Holiness then contraries having contrarie consequences Justification by faith alone is a friend and no Enemy unto our Spiritual life and Holiness Seondly This also will appear if ye consider the paralel between the first and second Adam Christ is our second Adam Now saies the Apostle in the 5. of the Romans As by the sin of one death came upon all men to condemnation so by the Righteousness of one life comes unto many Well but how came condemnation upon all men by the sin of one The first Adam he was a common person he did stand for all mankind when he sinned all mankind sinned and therefore assoon as any one is born the sin of Adam being imputed to him judicially that imputation is the original of all the Unholiness that is among the children of men So our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ being our second Adam he is a Common person stands in the room of al the Elect he was obedient not for Himself but for Them Christus non meruit sibi Obeyed not for Himself and he died not for himself but for them righteous for them When therefore a man is born into the world is regenerate by faith then all that Righteousness of Christ the second Adam is imputed to him And this imputation of his Righteousness by faith is the original of all that Holiness that is in our lives thus As al the Unholiness and Wickedness that is in the world does flow from the imputation of the first Adams sin So al that grace and holiness that is in the world does flow from the imputation of the second Adams Righteousness Now by faith alone this Righteousnes is imputed and does become ours and therefore Justification by faith alone is the principle and original of all our grace and holiness Thirdly If free-remission of sin and the sence thereof be the cause of our Holiness then Justification by faith alone must needs be a friend unto it For these Two Free-remission of sin and justification by faith alone go together and are ordinarily taken for one And therefore in the 3. of the Romans The Apostle having said as the 24. verse Being justified freely by his grace he saies at the 28. ver That a man is justified by faith and saying That a man is justified by faith he saies That a man is justified freely by grace these are put together Now Free-remission of sin and the sence thereof is the Cause of al our Holiness Ye know what the Apostle saies Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God hath appeared unto all men teaching us to deny Vngodliness and worldly lusts and to live righteously and soberly in this present world All Holiness comes from thence The apparition of grace Free-remission of sin And ye know what it is that doth hatch the Chicken 't is not the fire that does hatch the Chicken nor is it the cold water that does hatch the Chicken but laying of the eggs under the warm feathers of the living Hen. Come to a man or woman that hath many eggs that are yet not Chickens within a month or two these are al become living Chickens Say you How comes it to pass that all these are now living Chickens What! did you lay these eggs unto the fire No for then they would have been roasted What! did you lay these eggs in the cold water No then they would have rotted but I laid them under the warm wings of the living Hen and so they are become chickens So you come to a living soul a living heart and you say Friend how came you to be thus enlivened and quickned a month or two ago I heard you complaining of your dead heart Oh! my heart is dead but how came you to be thus enlivened and to be thus quickned Did you go and lay your heart against the fire of the Law No that would have scorch'd me and tormented me What did you go and lay your heart in the cold world No that would have rotted me How then Truly after all my fears and after all my doubtings I went and laid my cold heart under the warm wings of divine-Divine-love and so it came to pass that I am thus enlivened and I am thus quickened as you see this day for the which I blesse the Lord for ever Three things there are that do make up a gracious Conversation Repentance for sin past Mortification of sin present and the Obedience of faith or Obedience Now as for Repentance look I pray what is said in the 7. Chapter of Luke and see what is the Cause of that You reade there a story of a great Sinner that became a great Penitent at the 37. verse Behold a woman in the City which was a great sinner and she came and stood behind Jesus at the 38. verse weeping and began to wash his feet with tears and did wipe them with the hairs of her head She wept much Why for saies the text at the latter end of the Chapter she loved much But why did she love much She loved much because much was forgiven her So then Remission is the Cause of Repentance And have ye not so much expresly in that 16. Chapter of Ezekiel and the last verse I will establish my Covenant with thee that thou maiest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done So that this shame and repentence comes from pacification And as for this matter Luther had so great a fight into it that saies he before I was justified by faith alone and saw into this matter of Free-remission I look't upon that word Repent as a terrible word I did even hate that word and I wish't that there had been no such word in all the book of God but after once that word justitia was opened the righteousnesse
of faith and after once I understood this Doctrine of Free-remission and Justification by faith alone then I loved Repentance As for the Mortification of sin Ye know what the Apostle saies Let not sin raign in your mortal bodies Rom. 6.12 14. or have dominion over you why for ye are not under the Law but under grace So then 't is being under grace that does mortifie sin And as for the matter of Obedience Ye know what the Psalmist saies There is mercy with thee O Lord Psal 130 4 that thou maiest be feared That is that thou maiest be Served that thou maiest be Obeyed So that Obedience also comes from the sight of mercy and of Free-remission Now if Free-remission and the sence thereof be the Cause of our Holinesse then surely Justification by faith alone can be no Enemy but must needs be a real friend unto all our spiritual life Object But by way of Objection it will be said In the Third place This Doctrine of Free-remission and Justification by faith alone seems to carry somwhat with it that is opposite unto Grace and Holiness for the more a man is bound unto the Law and takes himself to be so the more obedient he will be to the Law but now a man never takes himself more to be bound unto the Law than when he seeks to be justified by the works of the Law and so he will be most obedient Answ For Answer Ye must know that the word Law in the new Testament is taken Two waies Either it is taken for the Covenant of Works thus If you keep the Ten Commandements perfectly you shall live for ever this is the Covenant of Works Somtimes the Law is taken for the Ten Commandements the Rule of mans life In the first sence a Christian is dead vnto the Law and is freed from it but in the second sence a Beleever a Justified person is more bound to the Law to observe it as a Rule of life than ever he was Onely you must know there is a Twofold Bond There is the bond of Love and there is the bond of Fear as there is the Law of Love and the Law of Fear Love and the bond of Love is stronger than Fear and the bond of Fear for Fear is servant to Love Fear is the hand maid to Love for ye never Fear the losing of any good thing but what ye first Love Fear is the servant to Love and therefore Love is stronger than Fear and the bond of Love stronger than the bond of Fear Now though a Justified person be not bound unto the Law with the bond of a servile-Fear yet he is bound unto the Law with the bond of Love and so he is more obedient as the bond of Love is stronger than the bond of Fear A man must needs be obedient unto Christ that takes himself to be none of his own but Christs Therfore saies the Apostle 1 Cor. 6.20 Glorify Christ with your body because ye are bought with a price and because ye are Gods So long as a man seeks to be justified by works and by the Law so long he looks upon himself as his own but when a man sees that he is justified by faith alone then he looks upon himself as Christs that he is not his own and so he is more obedient unto Christ than ever be was before Object 2 Secondly If this be such a principle of Grace and Holiness How comes it to passe that men sin the more as they hear more of this Free-remission and Justification of a poor sinner by faith alone Oh! saies one God is merciful and gracious and therefore I will now live as I list and repent afterward If this Doctrine this truth and this Grace of God be the Principle of all our Holiness How comes it to passe that men sin more hereby Answ I pray How comes it to passe if that water do cleanse that it doth not cleanse the Blackmore and if fire do warm how comes it to passe that it doth not put heat into the Dead man and if the Sun do enlighten how comes it to passe it doth not enlighten those that are blind I may ask you the reason likewise But I wil tel you the reason the reason of this is Because men are contrary unto God and all that do make this use application of the Lords mercy and grace they are contrary unto God for God works good out of evil Now a wicked man being contrary unto God he works evil out of good God works the greatest good grace out of the greatest evil sin a wicked man he works the greatest evil sin out of the greatest good Gods love and grace Why because he is contrary to God But now take this Truth and this Grace of God as it is in it self and so it is a very real friend unto all our grace and holiness Quest 4 But in the Fourth place You will say then What is there in this Justification by faith alone or Free-remission that does advance our Holiness how comes it to passe what is there in this that hath such an influence upon our lives to make us the more holy the more heavenly Answ 1 First The more a man does forsake any good thing of his own for Christ the more Christ is engaged to give a man his good things There is no losing in losing for Jesus Christ what ye lose for Chirst ye shal gain by Christ And the greater and sweeter any blessing is that ye lose for Christ the greater blessing will Christ give unto ye in the room thereof Now what neerer thing is there to a man than his own Righteousness In Justification by faith alone a man laies down al his own Righteousness at the feet of Jesus Christ and therfore Christ is engaged to give him a better Righteousness the Righteousness of God Secondly God does never cause any man to passe under any Relation but he does write the Law of that Relation upon his heart For example If the Lord does cause a man to passe under the Relation of a Magistrate God wil write the Law of that Relation upon him and give him ability to it If God doe cause a man to passe under the Relation of a Minister God will write the Law of that Relation on him If God do cause a man to passe under the Relation of a Husband or a Father God will cause the Law of that Relation to be written upon his heart Now when a man is justified by faith alone then he becomes the Son of God To as many as receive him he gives power to be called the Sons of God even to as many as beleeve on his Name John 1.12 I say When a man is justified by faith alone he becomes the Son of God he passes under that Relation therefore then does the Lord write the Law of that Relation of a Son upon his heart and thereby he is made more Son-like by his
the world was Christ was one with the Father before the world was Therefore if he should pray that a Beleever might be one with him in regard of Equallity he should pray that a Beleever might be one with him in that respect which were impossible But he does not pray that a Beleever might be one with him by way of Equallitie as he is one with the Father by way of Equallitie but Similitude And yet divers Learned and Reverend men think the meaning of that place rather to be this That they may be one among themselves Christ prayes that they may be all one that is Lord I pray that they may love and agree together he prayes for Union among themselves But suppose it be taken the other way That the Lord Jesus Christ here does pray that Beleevers may be one with him as he is with the Father That is not in regard of Equallitie but in regard of Similitude that as Christ is one with the Father in a way sutable to him so Beleevers may be one with Christ in a way sutable unto them Quest But suppose then you will say that a Beleever is not one with Christ in this heighth of One-ness how may it appear by way of Scripture reason that Christ is really united unto each Beleever and that he is really in the soul of a Beleever by the Spirit not only in regard of infused Habits habits of grace grace inherent but that Christ Himself is really in a Beleever by his Spirit Answ 1 Ye know that we are united to Christ by Faith and look what Faith laies hold upon that it brings into the soul but now Faith does not lay hold upon the Graces of Christ but upon Christ himself and therefore Christ Himself by Faith is brought into the soul and is there really in the soul of a Beleever by his Spirit Secondly Christ is in a Beleever as a Beleever is in Christ Now a Beleever is not in Christ that is in his Graces When we say That we are in Christ we do not mean that we are in the Graces of Christ but a Beleever is in Christ Himself as in the common Head A Beleever is not in the Graces of Christ only but he is in Christ Himself So Christ is not in a Beleever only by his Graces but he is really there in the soul of a Beleever by his Spirit Thirdly If the Lord Christ were not really in the soul of a Beleever by his Spirit besides those Habits of grace Actings and Operations of the Spirit then how would there be Three that bear witness The Apostle tels us 1 John 5.8 There are Three that bear witness in Heaven and in our Hearts The Spirit Water and Blood Water what is that That is Sanctification a mans Sanctification does bear witness to him that he is the Child of God that is Water But now Sanctification consists either in the Habit of grace or in the Acting of grace if therefore the Spirit of Christ in a Beleever were nothing else but Grace inherent Grace then it were all one with the testimony of Water but there are Three that bear witnesse There 's the testimony of the Spirit there 's the testimonie of Blood and there 's the testimonie of Water If by the Spirit we are to understand only the Grace of Christ the Habit of grace in the soul then there would be but Two that bear witnesse namely Water and Blood because the other would be al one with Water Water being meant only Sanctification But now there are Three that do bear witnesse unto a soul that is in Christ The Spirit and Blood and Water and therefore Christ is really in a Beleever Christ really united unto all Beleevers by his Spirit Quest What is the Benefit of all this For suppose that we grant this That Christ in a Beleever is not only Grace and the Habits of grace in the soul but Christ Himself is really in the soul of a Beleever by his Spirit What Profit Benefit or Comfort will come unto a Beleever more this way than the other way Answ 1 Much every way First If Jesus Christ be really united to each beleever by his Spirit and really in him in this spiritual and mystical way Then a beleever shall have more blessed and glorious Communion with Christ than the other way For Union is the root of Communion The Husband the Wife are first Joyned together and United and then they have Communion with one another and Fellowship in their goods and estate Union is the ground of Communion And the nearer the Union the greater the Communion Now if Christ should be only in a beleever by the Habit of grace the Union would not be so great but if this be true That Christ is really in a beleever by his Spirit Christ really United to each beleever here the Union is nearer and therefore the Communion and Fellowship that a beleever shall have with Christ a great deal more and more blessed Secondly If Christ be really united unto a beleever unto all beleevers by his Spirit Then his love must needs be infinite towards beleevers If that his Graces only were in them he would love them because thereby they should be made like unto him but now if his own Spirit be in a beleever then his love must needs be infinite unto a beleever and a beleevers love infinite to him again in his way This is a great and glorious Priviledge Thirdly If Christ be really in a beleever really united to each beleever by his Spirit Then a beleever knowing this may say I have now somwhat more than any Hypocrite can attain unto Saies a poor soul many times If I had but that grace that no Hypocrite can attain unto then my soul would be quiet within me but now as for Gifts Graces there is no Hypocrite but may attain to them or something that is like to them What will ye instance in will ye instance in Faith 'T is said of Simon Magus Act. 8.13 Mat. 27.3 Heb. 12.17 Mat. 13.20 Heb. 6.5 6. That he beleeved Will ye instance in Repentance 'T is said of Judas That he also Repented and Esau that sought the birth-right with Tears Will ye instance in Hearing of the Word with Joy 'T is said So did the False ground Wil ye instance in the partakings of the Heavenly Gift and Powers of the world to come Men have a taste of these and yet fall away Will ye instance in Sanctification it self 'T is said of certain Wicked men in the 10. of the Hebrewes That they trample upon the blood of Christ wherewithal they are Sanctified So that even a wicked man in Scripture phrase is said to be Sanctified one that fals away and comes to naught But where do ye find in all the Scripture that the Lord Christ is said to be in an Hypocrite An Hypocrite is said to Repent to Beleeve to receive the Word with joy and to be
Sanctified in a large sence but where do ye find in al the Bible of any Hypocrite that Christ is said to be in him really united unto an Hypocrite No this is the great Priviledge of a beleever only Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory Fourthly If Jesus Christ be really united unto each beleever by his Spirit Then a beleever shal never die again spiritually die again I have read of a Woman that when her Husband was dead she would eat and drink the ashes of her Husband have his bodie burnt to ashes and so eat and drink the ashes of her husband and being asked the reason because saies she I mean to part with him no more I have parted with him once already when we were one but now I will be made one with him in another way and I will part no more with him So if Christ be in a Beleever really in a Beleever Christ really united unto each Beleever by his Spirit Then Christ and that Beleever shal never part again that Beleever shal die no more for the same Spirit that raised up Christ from the dead dwelling in a Beleever shal also raise up a poor beleever yea though he fal into the grave of sin he shal never die spiritually again upon this account Fiftly If Christ be really united unto al beleevers by his Spirit Then they may come with boldness unto the throne of grace and with unlimitted expectations of mercie from God the Father and from Christ Jesus The nearer ye are unto any Person the more boldness ye have towards him and the larger will your expectations be from him If a man marry his Servant whilst she was his maid she was not so bold nor could expect so much from him when she becomes the Wife then she is more bold and can expect more because now she is nearer A Child may have more boldnes and expect more from the Father than the servant and the servant that is within doors more than the servant that works in the field but the Wife that is nearest she is most bold comes with most boldness into the presence of the man and hath the largest expectations from him because she is nearest to him So the nearer that the soul of a beleever does get unto God the more boldness he may have when he comes to God and the largen expectations of mercy from him Now if Christ were in a beleever only by the Habit of grace and Christ in the soul were nothing else but the Habit of grace here were yet a great distance from Christ but now if Jesus Christ be really United unto each Beleever by his Spirit here is a close Union indeed And therefore upon this account every beleever may come with boldness now and with Unlimitted expectations of mercy from God the Father being brought thus neer that Christ Himself is really in the beleevers soul And what a Glorious and Blessed Condition is every beleever in now upon this account Applyca First Here I would stand admire and call upon you all to admire the Condescending Glorious and Unspeakable love of Christ It was infinite love in Christ to condescend so far as to come down into our Nature when he was incarnate but as if he were not neer enough to us then he comes down into the heart of a beleever by his Spirit When Christ was upon the Earth we were in him as in a common Person Now Christ is in Heaven he is in us by his Spirit What Glorious Condescending love is here If a Father Portion a Child set him up in a good Trade and the child decay through his own folly the Father will not Portion him again possibly he may help him but he will not give him ordinarily parents do not give so great a Portion to help him up again somewhat the parent will do but not so much as at the first The Lord of Heaven he put a great Portion into our hands at first and we decayed and broke and behold the Lord does not only give us as good a Portion as we had at the first but infinitely better for now the Lord Christ is United unto each Beleever now he comes and dwels in the soul of a beleever by his Spirit The Psalmist wondered and admired at the love of God to Man Psal 8.1 4. O LOrd saies the Psalmist how excellent is thy Name Lord what is man Why Lord what is man that thou visitest him He wondred at the love of God that would visit man But behold a greater love than so to visit poor man for Christ is come down into the soul of a beleever he is come into him by his Spirit not only come to visit him but Christ really United unto each beleever by his Spirit What Glorious and Condescending love is here Secondly Upon this account no Wicked man should dare to oppose any of the children of God Why because Christ is in them Christ not only in his Graces but Christ really in all beleevers by his Spirit And will a man dare to speak evil of him that is one with Christ or to defile the Temple of the Lord and the dwelling place of the Lord 1 Cor. 3.17 He that defiles the Temple of the Lord him will God destroy Take heed what you do if there be any opposers here Thirdly What abundance of Comfort is here unto all beleevers Christ is in you of a truth not only by the infusion of his Grace but Christ really in you by his Spirit It is some comfort to a sickly man that he hath a Physitian alwaies in the house with him and to a woman that is neer her time of travail that the Mid-wife is in the house with her What comfort is it then unto a poor soul that Christ is alwaies in him really in him by his Spirit You that are beleevers will not this content you He is too Covetous whom God cannot suffice He hath all things that hath him that hath all things Now every beleever hath Christ Christ really in a beleever by his Spirit not Notionally not by the Habit of grace only but Christ is really United unto each beleever by the Spirit Here is Comfort Comfort Comfort unto all those that are beleevers Object But I fear that Christ is not in me I do not find or perceive that Christ is in me and therefore I can have none of the comfort of this Doctrine were Christ really in me by the Spirit Christ would be working in me but I do not find these workings of Jesus Christ in me and were the Spirit in me it is quick lively and powerful I should do great things for God but alas I do nothing for him and therefore I fear that the Lord Christ is not in me of a truth Answ 1 First I grant That where Christ comes into the soul he does cause the soul to do great things for God greater than it could do before So it was with
up Jesus from the dead dwell in you Again you may observe here That Christ in a Beleever is not Habitual grace only for saith he If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you It was not Faith or Habitual grace that raised up Christ from the dead but the Spirit of God himself And saith he this Spirit dwelleth in you So that Christ in a Beleever is not only the Habit of grace but the Spirit of Christ And then Thirdly ye may observe this too That this Spirit is a living Spirit and dwelleth or abideth in a Beleever For it is said twice here That the Spirit dwelleth in you So that plainly then you see from the words Christ dwels in every Beleever Christ dwels in every Christian he liveth in him And if it were not so How should the absence of Jesus Christ be recompenced by the coming of the Spirit or of the Comforter When our Lord and Saviour Christ left the World and his Disciples he gave them a gracious Promise of sending his Spirit Ioh. 16.7 And if I go not saith he the Spirit or the Comforter will not come but if I go I will send the Comforter and he shall make up your losse of me Now if that the Spirit of Christ should not be in a Beleever and live in him how would the coming of the Holy Ghost and of the Spirit make up the losse of the personal presence of Jesus Christ Besides You know that friends love to be neer unto one another and the neerer they are the happier they count themselves they love not to be asunder the soul of the lover liveth where it loveth rather than where it liveth Now there is the greatest friendship between Christ and a Beleever and the Lord Jesus Christ hath a happinesse above all friends that he can make himself neerer and be more One with his friends than any friend in the world can And therefore upon those terms of Love and Friendship Christ by his Spirit liveth in all Beleevers Object It will be said If Christ liveth in all Beleevers really liveth in them by his Spirit then what need of Ordinances for Christ and the Spirit of Christ in me can live without Ordinances and if a man have attained once unto the Spirit Christ in him and Christ living in him and have attained unto the Spirit the Spirit of Christ really living in him what need of any Commandements without or Rules without for the Spirit will be a sufficient-Rule to lead him into all that is right what need therefore of any Commandements Rules or Ordinances without Answ Yes For we use the Ordinances not only for the enjoyment of God in them but as a testimony of our Obedience If that the enjoyment of God and Christ were the only reason of the Ordinances then in case that a man could without the Ordinances have the enjoyment of God and Christ he might lay by the Ordinances but seeing that we are for to use the Ordinances as an act of our Obedience although a man can enjoy Christ have the Spirit and Christ living in him yet notwithstanding he is still to bear up the Ordinances because there he is to expresse his Obedience unto God and Christ And now give me leave a little to fix here to take off this scruple and Objection if you look into the 27. of Numbers you shall find that Joshua had the Spirit and not in an ordinary way but in a more than ordinary way the Lord gave Joshua his Spirit and yet notwithstanding Joshua was to be under Commandements and under Ordinances at the 18. verse The Lord said unto Moses take thee Joshua the sun of Nun a man in whom is the Spirit and lay thine hand on him and set him before Eleazer the Priest and before all the Congregation and give him a charge in their sight Mark he was to come under a Command and under a charge although he had the Spirit And he shall stand before Eleazer the Priest who shal ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord. And so it was And Moses did as the Lord commanded him Now Moses doth not say What need I go to Eleazar or to the Priest what need I go and consult by Urim and Thummim for I have the Spirit that is able to leade me into all Truth No but he submits unto his Charge and he waits upon the Lord in this way of the Ordinances although it is said here that he had the Spirit So had not David the Spirit in a great measure and yet did he not use the Ordinances But look into the new Testament and there you find that the Apostles had the Spirit also Our Lord and Savior Christ he breathed upon them they waited for the coming of the Spirit and the holy Ghost fell upon them and yet notwithstanding they were under Commands for saith our Savior Christ to them Go Mat. 28.19 teach all Nations Baptizing and teaching them to do what ever I command you So that although they had the Spirit and the holy Ghost in a greater measure than any man for ought I know ever had since yet notwithstanding they were under Commandements Teaching them saith he to do whatsoever I command you And ye know what our Savior saies in that place I mentioned even now Joh. 7.38 39. He that beleeveth on me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water which he spake concerning the Spirit and the holy Ghost that should be given for he was not yet glorified A Promise made to Beleevers and the Churches in the times of the Apostles they had the Spirit by vertue of that Promise and yet notwithstanding they were under Ordinances and did use the Ordinances But that you may see how this Objection runs crosse both to the old and to the new Testament look upon one place more it is in the 30. chap. of Isaiah the 20. and 21. verses a Promise made concerning the times of the Gospel And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more but thine eyes shall see thy teachers Here are Ordinances here are Teachers Well now but where is the Spirit Verse the 21. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walk in it Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee Who speaks that word Look into the 1. chapter of the Revelation there you shall find it is the Spirit that speaks the word behind one at the 10. verse I was in the Spirit on the Lords day and heard behind me a great voice So that this voice behind is that of the Spirit When we do not expect the Spirit the Spirit cometh and speaketh to us So that thus now ye see Teaching and Ordinances and the Spirit of Christ in us and living in us may and do stand together Object
Sidon And in the 7. Mark 24. He arose and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon He went unto some place of Judea he did not go into the way of the Gentiles but he went unto some Town and place in Judea which was upon the coasts of Tyre and Sidon And here now he being A woman comes unto him Who is described at the 22. verse From her Country and from the Action which she did Behold a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts and cried unto him saying c. A Woman a woman of Canaan and Behold a woman of Canaan As if that the holy Ghost would have us take special notice of it Behold a woman of Canaan came unto him The Canaanites were of all others the most Wicked the Jews were for to cast them out of their Nation and not to converse with them in the Jews account they were Dogs And therefore our Savior saies afterward It is not lawful to cast childrens bread unto Dogs She was a Canaanite But now this Woman this Canaanite she Beleeves comes unto Christ and Beleeves greatly O woman great is thy faith Observ Pray let us observe the wonderful dispensation of God here The Jews that Christ was sent unto they rejected Christ a Canaanite that is called a Dog receives Christ Oh! the wonderful dispensation of Gods grace Mercy takes those in and Free-grace takes in those into Christ that are most unlikely The Jews they were called the Children of the Kingdom the children they turn Dogs Beware of the Concision Phil. 3.2 beware of Dogs Children turn Dogs and Dogs turn Children the Canaanite a Dog becomes a Child and beleeves and the Jews that were the Children of the Kingdom they turn Dogs and rend Christ Oh! what Free-grace and Love is here Who would rest upon any outward Priviledge though it be never so great Who would be discouraged in regard of any unworthinesse though it be never so much But what saies this woman Saies she Have mercy upon me O Lord thou Son of David my daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil Have mercy upon me O Lord thou son of David Why does she call him the son of David and not rather the son of Abraham and not rather the son of Adam and not rather the son of Man as Christ was often called why does she here call him the son of David We find in Scripture that Christ and David did often exchange Names And David your King shall reign over you Jer. 30.9 A Promise made to the Jews yet to be converted that is Christ David your King and not Abraham shall reign over you but David your King David was the King of the people of God and was to feed them and so Jesus Christ is King of the Church and feeds the people of God Abraham was not a King David a King and therefore thou son of David and not thou son of Abraham And then the Messiah ordinarily among the Jewes was called David And therefore this woman here saies O Lord thou son of David She does first of all acknowledge his Deity and therefore she cals him Lord O Lord Shee does acknowledge his Humanity and Incarnation and therefore she saies Thou son of David Her Faith was rightly planted here now ye have her Faith in the Musterd-seed look but down a few verses and you find it grown up into a great tree that the birds of the air and the Saints may come and build their nests in the branches of her Faith But here it is planted She had in her own countrey some that by Exorsisme did undertake for to cast out Devils she does not go to them she had her own gods in her own countrey she leaves them and she singles out Christ and she singles out that Name Title and Attribute of Christ wherein was most of the Covenant and most of the Promise and her faith now being thus rightly planted it rises up unto great perfection she comes on with boldness But stay O woman a little Thou art a great sinner thou art a Canaanite and so a Dog and what doest thou comming unto Jesus Christ I know what I do might she say I do not come to Peter I do not come to James I do not come to John but I come to Christ and I come to Mercy to Mercy it self I do not plead mine own Righteousness or mine own Patience or my Humility or Prayer or Perseverance in prayer but I plead Mercy Have mercy on me O Lord. Behold a Miracle in the midst of a Miracle saies Chrysostom The Angels in heaven cover their faces in beholding the glory of Jesus Christ and a poor Woman here on earth comes with boldness the Cherubims and Seraphims in heaven saies he fear before Christ fear above and faith below fear in Angels faith and boldness in a poor woman she comes with boldness Observ If faith be true and right it laies aside all one 's own righteousness and comes unto naked mercy passes by all other helps and means singles out Christ that Name and Title of Christ that hath most of the Covenant and of Gods love in it She does not only come with Boldness but she comes with Prayer Have mercy upon me c. She comes Praying for she came Beleeving Faith and Prayer well go together Prayer is the issue of Faith Faith is Prayer in the Coale and Prayer is Faith in the Flame she comes Praying And mark also She comes with Love and such Love as makes another bodies infirmity and weakness ones own For she does not say thus My Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil have mercy on my Daughter but have mercy on Me her daughters vexation is her own her infirmity is her own Faith wrought the Love here Oh! that Parents would imitate this woman and go unto Jesus Christ for their Children that are vexed with Devils If a child be sick in body a parent wil run to God and cry for help but childrens souls may be vexed with Devils every Lust and Sin is a Devil and they do not run to Christ and say Oh! Lord have mercy on me for my Daughter or my Son or my Child is vexed with an unclean Devil or a prophane Devil But this woman having planted her faith rightly her faith here it does work by Prayer and it works by Love and she saies thus Have mercy upon me O Lord thou son of David my daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil But what now is Christs answer to her He answered her not a word Now comes the Temptations the Three great Temptations Do not wonder that I call these Temptations It is true God tempteth no man and Christ tempteth no man but take Temptation for Tryal so Christ tempts so God tempteth Satan he tempts a man for to draw out his Sin but Christ tempts for to draw out our Faith Satans temptations are black within white and sweet without but Christs temptations are black
woman did pray to Christ he answered her not a word and yet she did hang upon him yet shee did beleeve and shee is commended for her beleeving Object You will say I am one that have been a great sinner an Unclean wretch even as a Dog surely there is no hope and no mercy for me Ans Did the Lord Jesus Christ ever Himself say to you as he said to this woman seeming to call her Dog yet she did hang upon him yet she did wait upon him yet she did beleeve and the Lord commended her for her faith Object I Pray indeed but it 's my Necessities makes me go unto God in Prayer and when I go unto God in Prayer my Necessities put me on Ans And was it not so with this woman Her daughter was grievously vexed with a Devil and thereupon her Necessity drave her unto Christ and yet poor woman she is welcome Object But I do not go unto Jesus Christ I go not unto Christ at all But Jesus Christ yet will come to you This woman did not come to Jerusalem Christ went down unto the coasts of Tyre and Sidon Christ came to her and yet she beleeved this stood with faith and Christ commended her faith Object I have no Assurance of Christs love and mercy towards me Answ Tell me Had this woman any assurance of the mercy that she prayed for She only brings in her wants propounds them to Jesus Christ laies them at his feet hangs upon him and this was her faith and she is commended for her faith and the greatness of her faith O woman great is thy faith So that do but now hang on Christ though thou hast not assurance of thy Salvation or of the love of God yet in the face of all Temptation and all Discouragment hang on Christ never away never be beaten off by any Discouragment hang on Christ wait on Christ and the Lord Christ will at last commend thee for thy faith and he will say unto thee Be it unto thee as thou wilt How shall people that go on in a continued way of Doubting and Unbelief ever look this poor woman in the face at the great day of Judgment this poor Canaanitish woman How will you be able you that go on in a continual way of Doubting and Unbelief to look the Lord Jesus Christ in the face Stir up your selves stir up your selves I beseech you to this great work of Beleeving I confess it 's a hard thing to Beleeve and harder to Beleeve than to keep all the Ten Commandements there is something in Nature to contribute towards the keeping of the Ten Commandements but there is nothing in Nature to contribute to thy Beleeving on the Lord Jesus Christ It is a very hard thing to Beleeve truly and those that make it an easie matter they do not know what it is to Beleeve But reade over this story and your hearts will be provoked to Beleeve to hang upon Jesus Christ do it and the Lord will commend your faith and own you and your faith FINIS AN EXACT ALPHABETICAL TABLE Of THE CHIEF MATTERS HANDLED In the Third VOLVMNE A Premonition to the READER COurteous Reader Be pleased to understand that the Two latter of these SERMONS being Preached the one before the House of Commons the other before the House of Lords we thought good to give thee notice that in this Alphabetical Table when thou seest the letter C. before the Page it directs thee to that Page in that Sermon preached before the House of Commons but when the letter L. then it directs thee to that Page in the Sermon preached before the House of Lords this if you be but heedful of you wil not er A ACTIONS see Godly Adam A paralel between the first Adam and the second Adam Page 31 Angels The preservation of the Saints is in the hands of Angels Page L. 13 Anger There is anger in God Page L. 4 How the word Anger is taken Page L. 5 How Anger is said to be in God Page L. 6 The extent of Gods Anger Page L 6 Gods Anger gives being to our Anger Page L 6 Anger see mercy Angry It is lawful for man to be angry and why Page L 8 B Beleeve How hard a thing it is to beleeve Page 62 Beleever Every true Beleever is an humble man Page 43 Beleevers need commandements and why Page 102 Christ lives more in a Beeleever than a Beleever himself doth proved Page 104 There are but few Beleevers in the world Page 107 Beleevers are in continual conflicts Page 107 Beleevers ought to be thankeful and why Page 113 Beleevers thinke meanly of themselves Page 208 Beleevers see Self-denying Christ Hypocrites Ordinances Meditations Benefit What benefit comes to the soule by the In-being of Christ Page 84 C Characters see Justification Carnal see Professors Children Children sometimes turn dogs Page 200 See Dogs Christ Christ is in all Beleevers Page 73 How many wayes Christ may be said to be in all beleevers Page 74 Christ is personally united to a beleever Page 75 How to know whether Christ be in a man or not Page 89 Duties flowing from the Inbeing of Christ in a soul Page 96 Christ lives in a beleever more than himself Page 98 That Christ lives in every beleever proved Page 98 The reason why Christ lives more in a beleever than himself Page 106 How to know whether Christ live more in a beleever than himself Page 108 The least of Christ is highly prized of beleevers Page 209 Christs coming is sudden Page C. 5 Christ coming how many wayes taken Page C. 6 How it may appear that Christs coming is sudden Page C. 7 Reasons why Christs coming is sudden Page C. 9 Christs coming is not far off reasons why Page C. 19 How infinitly we are beholden to Jesus Christ and why Page L. 8 See Humility In-being Benefit Love Beleever Christians see Moral Civility What morral Civility is good for Page 11 Coldnesse Difference between the coldnes of a beleever and the coldnesse of a wicked man Page 15 Conversion The Conversion of the Saints is sudden Page C. 8 Comfort The Comfort of the Saints is sudden Page C. 8 Comfort for the Saints Page 11 Comfort for Beleevers Page 88 D Dealing see Promise Death Death is the greatest evil Page 4 Deliverances Outward deliverances come to the Saints at unawares Page C. 9 Despair A caution against despair Page C. 13 Desperate A desperate sleep is now upon professors Page C. 20 Dispensation The wonderful dispensation of God shewed Page 200 Dog Dog how the word is taken in Scripture Page 207 Dogs often times turn children Page 200 See Children Duty see Spiritual Self-denial Christ E Election see Temptation Engagements Egagements for beleevers to come to duties Page 113 Example see Humility F Faith Man is Justified by faith and not by the works of the Law Page 1 Faith unites a man to God Page 4 Faith is an emptying grace Page 61
Faith laies aside all its own Righteousness Page 202 As temptations encrease so also shall faith encrease Page 206 Faith riseth above nature Page 209 Faith commends Christ above all other graces Page 210 The strength of faith doth not lie in the assurance of our salvation Page 212 See Justification Fall see Perfection Froward Froward spirits do little good in a common wealth Page L. 30 G Grace Growth in grace how it is known Page 17 Gracious The reason why men are no more gracious Page 39 The Saints should live gracious lives Page 114 See Quality God Gods willingnesse to hide his people in time of his anger Page L. 11 See Faith promise anger Godly Every godly man is a living man Page 3 Godly men reflect upon their own actions Page 8 Difference between wicked and godly men Page 112 Godly see Preachers Gospel How the Gospel causeth Self-denial Page 58 Gospel see Learned Growth see Grace H Heaven see Kingdom Hide Whom the Lord will hide in times of danger Page L. 14 Holy The reason why men are no more holy Page 39 Holiness see Original Justification House God hath 3. houses 1. A house of instruction Page L. 7 2. A house of Correction Page L. 7 3. A house of destruction Page L. 7 Humble see Beleever Humility Christ is an example of humility Page 60 Hypocrite What a Beleever hath more than an Hypocrite Page 85 Hypocrisie It is an evil thing to call Duties by the name of Hypocrisie Page 113 I In-Being What the In-being of Christ in a beleever is Page 76 The In-being of Christ in a beleever is hard to be understood Page 77 Limitations concerning the In-being of Christ in a beleever Page 78 In-being see Benefit Christ Incertainty Gods people must trust in him in incertainties Page L. 18 Injustice see Oppression Infinite The infinite love of Christ manifested Page 114 Justification The cause of our Justification Page 26 Justification by faith is a friend to Holiness Page 28 Justification by the works of the Law is an enemy to Holiness Page 29 How Justification by faith advanceth our holiness Page 36 Our Justification may be hidden from our sence Page 43 Visible Characters of Justification laid down Page 44 How a man may stand cleer to himself in Justification by faith alone Page 46 K Kingdom How the Kingdom of Heaven is taken in Scripture Page C. 1 L Law see Faith Justification Law how taken in Scripture Page 34 The preaching of the Law cannot make a man deny himself Page 52 Learned Learned men are most opposite to the Gospel Page 199 Living see Duty Life Life is the greatest good Page 4 How vegetative life is in Sants Page 5 How sensitive life is in Saints Page 6 How rational life is in Saints Page 7 Life see Spiritual Wicked Motion Little There is nothing little between God and man Page 41 Love The infinite love of Christ to man Page 87 Love see Infinite M Man see Godly Meditations Practical Meditations for beleevers Page 112 Meek Meek men do much good in the earth and why Page L. 30 Mercy Difference between Gods Mercy and his anger Page L. 5 Mercy see Temptation Mystery Mysteries that are in self-denial Page 57 Monument Monuments of praise erected and why Page C. 13 Morral Difference in self-denial between morral men and Christians Page 55 Mortification Whence mortification comes Page 33 Motion All motion comes from life Page 9 N Nation see Wrath Nature see Faith Natural see Perfection Notion Vnder what Notion the Lord looks vpon the sins of the Saints Page 13 O Obedience Obedience whence it comes Page 24 Objections against the smalness of obedience answered Page 42 Observations Waking observations for sleeping people Page C. 20 Oppression Oppression and injustice reign still in this kingdom Page L. 22 Ordinances How Ordinances are needful Page 100 Original What the Original of all our holiness is Page 28 P Papists How Papists deny themselves Page 55 People Why godly people are exposed to danger Page L. 12 Gods people are often left at great incertainties Page L. 16 Why Gods people are so often left at incertainties Page L. 18 Perfection There is some natural perfection still left in man from the fall Page 9 Pleasant The pleasant lives of the Saints Page 12 Prayers The Saints may have no present answer of their prayrs Page 204 The Saints duties when they have no present answer to their prayers Page 205 Prayer see Temptation Preachers Godly Preachers ought to be sent out and why Page L. 9 Preservation see Angel Present see Prayer Profession see Saints Promise Gods dealing sometimes seems to run cross to his promise Page 206 True faith finds out a promise in the refusal Page 208 Q Quallity The quallity of a gracious man Page 54 R Rational see Life Religion Men lose Religion by seeking after Religion Page L. 29 Repentance Repentance whenee it comes Page 33 Righteousness How Righteousness must be sought Page L. 24 Righteousness see Faith S Saints It is a desperate thing to oppose the Saints and why Page 112 Wherein Saints and carnal professors agree Page C. 2 Wherein Saints and carnal professors disagree Page C. 3 A shelter for Saints in the midst of a storm Page L. 13 Saints see Conversion Comfort Life Pleasure Self How self creeps into all actions Page 63 How self acts in man Page 10 Self-denial Self-denial what it is Page 50 Every beleever is a self-denying person Page 49 Tryal of self-denial Page 64 Self-denial is a hard duty Page 70 How self-denial may be attained Page 71 Self-denial see Beleever Law Moral Mystery Gospel Security A caution against Security Page C. 11 Sence see Justification Sensitive see Life Sleep see Desperate Sleepers Two sorts of sleepers their difference and events Page C. 21 Spirit The Spirit of Christ is in every beleever Page 98 The Spirit is the free gift of God Page 104 Spiritual What spiritual life is Page 3 Duties flowing from spiritual life Page 20 How to get spiritual life Page 23 Strength see faith Sudden see Christ T Temptations Temptations may rise higher after prayer Page 206 Temptations sometime come about Election Page 206 When Temptations come about Election the best way is to lay aside dispute and fly to prayer Page 206 Temptation see Faith Thankfulness An exhortation to thankfulness Page C. 16 Truth No truth to be dispised Page L. 27 U Vegitative see life Union Union of Christ with beleevers Page 75 Uncertainties What to do in uncertainties Page L. 24 W Wicked Wicked men are not in the state of life proved Page 8 Wicked see Godly Witness Three that bear witness in Heaven opened Page 85 Wonderful see Dispensation World The danger of the world Page 19 Wrath Gods wrath is not yet pacified towards this Nation Page L. 20 FINIS
not these perswasions yet wait on the Lord for our Savior Christ hath said Joh. 14.20 I will send the Comforter and in that day ye shall know that I am in you and you in me and therefore wait upon Christ for that day Quest Suppose this Doctrine be true That Christ liveth in all Beleevers that he hath a greater hand and stroke in the actions the Spiritual actions of Beleevers than themselves have What Conclusions or practical Meditations shall we draw from hence Answ I will name some and lay them before you carry them home with you First If these things be true Then may every one say Now I see that the In-being of Christ in the soul is not a meer fansie a meer notion but carries with it the greatest reallity in the world For when Christ is in a Beleever there he lives acts and works yea and he hath a greater stroke in the spiritual actions of Beleevers than themselves have Surely therefore this In-being of Christ in the soul is a work of power of almighty power the same power that raised up Christ from the dead Secondly If these things be true Then here may a man say I see a great and vast difference between a Godly and a Wicked man Take a Wicked man and though he be never so great or rich yet Satan is in him Satan liveth in him and ruleth in him the Prince of the air ruleth in him and he is taken captive by the Devil at his will But now take a Godly man and though he be never so poor and mean yet Christ is in him Christ liveth in him Christ hath a greater hand and stroke in his actions than himself hath Take a Wicked man of the highest form and though he do Pray Hear Reade Confer or speak of good things yet not Christ but Himself works and acts in him Self worketh and acteth him But take a Godly man and though he be never so weak Christ liveth in him and hath a greater hand in his actions than himself Who would not be Godly who would not get into Jesus Christ Thirdly If these things be true What desparate madness is it for any to oppose the Saints and Children of God Especially for the matter of their Religion and gracious Actions It is opposition done unto Christ himself Christ liveth in them and the Lord Christ doth so live in a gracious man a Beleever as he hath a greater stroke in all his Prayers and in all his Duties than himself hath Then for a man to stand and scorn scoff and jeer at the Prayers Duties and gracious actions of a Beleever what is it but to make opposition to Christ Himself If there be ever an Opposer a Scorner in this Congregation Poor soul where wilt thou appear in the great day Fourthly If all these things be true Then may every Beleever say Now I see what a great evil it is for any child of God to say That his Duties are nothing but Hypocrisie or the work of Christ Hypocrisie Do you look upon the work of Jesus Christ as so vile and base nothing more base in your eye than Hypocrisie If Christ be in me He liveth in me He hath a greater hand and stroke in all my spiritual actions than my self hath Therefore through the grace of God I will be for ever wary how I say of my own Duties again They are all nothing but vile Hypocrisie Fiftly If these things be true Then here now I see the reason why a Beleever is and ought to be thankful to God for all those things that he doth to God and for God Not only thankful for what he receiveth from God but thankful for what he himself doth offer unto God We reade of David that when he and his people had offered a great Offering he praiseth the Lord for his own willingness to offer unto the Lord. So a Beleever is not only to be thankful for what he receiveth from God but also for what he himself doth do to God and for God Why because it is not be that doth it but Christ living in him and the Lord Christ hath a greater stroke in that action which he doth to God or for God than himself hath Therefore infinite reason why we should not only be thankful for what we receive from God but for what we do to and for God Sixtly If all this be true Then here we see a mighty engagement for every poor Beleever to come unto Duty although his heart be dead dull heavie and indisposed unto it Because it is not He but Christ worketh in him in Duty Am I therefore dead dull heavy and indisposed to Prayer or any Duty yet will I go and offer my self unto God in Prayer Either Jesus Christ will come down upon my Prayer God will come down in my Duty or else he will not If the Lord do what a mercy shall it be unto me If the Lord do not come down while I am at Duty and work all my work for me it shal be my affliction and I wil mourn after God But whether the Lord does come down in my Duty or whether he does not it is as it pleaseth Him I wil wait upon the Lord for it is He that worketh in us mightily Oh! my soul therefore for ever wait upon God in Duty yea although my heart be hard dead dull and indisposed thereunto Seventhly If all this be true What gracious holy heavenly lives should all those lead that pretend to the word Beleever Some there are that do pretend to the word Beleever I am a Beleever and they say they have Faith But if I have Faith indeed then Christ liveth in me Not the World liveth in me but Christ liveth in me Not Malice liveth in me but Christ liveth in me Not Pride liveth in me but Christ liveth in me But how many are there poor souls that may say in truth Pride liveth in me and Malice liveth in me and the World liveth in me but Christ liveth not in me And will ye say then that ye have Faith Let us not be deceived But if this be true That Christ liveth in all Beleevers what gracious and holy conversations should the conversations of Beleevers be And whensoever you fail in any thing you should even say Yea but would Christ do so My soul thus and thus hast thou spoken but would Christ have spoken thus and thus If all this be true Why should we not al stand wonder and admire at the infinite love of Christ It was much love in Christ for to come down into our Nature it was yet more for to come down into our Hearts by his Spirit yet more for to live act and work there but the Lord Christ he is not only come down into our Nature come down into our Hearts for to live act and work there but the Lord Christ hath an eye upon all our actions the Lord Christ hath a greater stroke in al our Spiritual