in his sight 2 Sam. 15.25 26. He had the like submission when he was reproached railed at and had stones cast at him and was cursed by Shimei Let him Curse for the Lord hath said to him curse David who then shall say why hast thou done so let him alone for the Lord hath bid him it may be that the Lord will look on my Affliction and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day 2 Sam. 16.7 to 13. But what is all this to that entertainment the Lord of Glory Jesus Christ met with on Earth for our Sins who knew no sin who was buffeted and reviled after the most outragious manner and bore it with incredible Courage Patience and Meekness Who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet. 2.21 to 25. Holy Stephen suffered with that meekness of Spirit that he gave up the Ghost praying Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing Act. 7.59 60. The second Duty is resignation as submission is the patient acquiescing to the Will of God in all his dispensations without murmuring and a contentedness in every condition penury and want as well as in abundance so resignation is the chearful giving our selves up to God to be disposed of by him in every dispensation trials troubles losses and crosses under all the exigences of Life Christ would not use the Arm of Flesh to rescue himself from being Crucified but the Cup which the Father put in his hand even the bitter Cup of his Fathers Wrath he chearfully drank it out because it was his Fathers Will John 18.11 Holy Job was a Pattern of Patience and Resignation though thou wouldst slay me yet will I trust in thee The Couragious three Children who were not daunted with the Decree against them their Faith Courage and Resolution brought them to a holy resignation We know our God is able to deliver us and he will deliver us however be it known to thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the Image that thou hast set up Dan. 3.16 17 18. Thus should Christians in imitation of Christ not so much mind their present sufferings temptations and condition as the Duty of Faith and Resignation in giving themselves up to the Will of God in Obedience Faith and Patience and for their encouragement in this they have Gods Promise of deliverance from his own immediate hands if other helps appointed by him should fail I looked and there was none to help I wondred that there was none to uphold therefore mine own Arm brought Salvation unto me and my right hand it upheld me Isa 59.16 That other famous place in the Prophecies of Jeremiah is a great staff to Faith and Resignation under desertion of all helps even lovers relations and friends all thy lovers have forsaken thee they seek thee not for I have wounded thee with the wound of an Enemy with the Chastisement of a cruel one for the multitude of thine Iniquities because thy sins were increased therefore all that devour thee shall be devoured c. And all thy Adversaries shall go into Captivity and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil and all that Prey upon thee will I give for a Prey for I will restore health unto thee and heal thee of thy wounds saith the Lord Jer. 30.14 to 18. and that other famous place in Isaiah chap. 49.15 to end giveth great encouragement to Faith and Resignation under the greatest extremities as being forsaken of Friends Relations and much oppressed by Enemies All things which Christ did were holy and just he minded only things of a Heavenly and Spiritual Nature as his Kingdom was not of this World so all his people mind Heavenly things they are Strangers and Pilgrims here in this World and Travellers only with him to the new Jerusalem and as Pilgrims must not set their Hearts on things in the Way but on their Heavenly Treasures Lay up to your selves treasure in Heaven for where your Treasure is there will your Hearts be also Mat. 6.19 to 33. Love not the World nor the things of the World if any man love the World the love of the Father is not in him for all that is in the World the Lusts of the Flesh the Lusts of the Eye the Pride of Life is not of the Father but of the World and the World passeth away and the Lusts thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever 1 John 2.15 16 17. Hence we see as Christ minded only Heavenly things so he would raise his People to Heavenly mindedness and by his description of the World his purpose is to wean his Peoples affections from it Object But it may be objected that this Doctrine of the Contempt of the World seems contrary to the Doctrine and Duty of Charity and Christs new Commandment Love one another and love your Brethren as your selves and that to Believers is also allowed the comfortable use of the Creatures must not Parents love their Children Husbands their Wives and other Relations which in Scripture is commanded as a Duty like as Industry and Provision for Families how can this consist with the not loving of the World Answ For answer to this the Lord Jesus Christ who is that wonderful Counsellor the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Wisdom it self Prov. 8.1 in whom dwells the Godhead bodily love it self and Justice it self doth not teach inconsistent Doctrines neither that which is inconsistent with his Holy Nature of Justice Wisdom Love and Charity but all his Doctrines are Coherent and Harmonious therefore we must understand him in the Language of the Spirit The World may be taken up two ways First As in Gen. 1. and 31. And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good and God rested on the Seventh Day which was appointed a Sabbath and left off working and Abode not in the glory or beauty of his works which were all good but returned to himself in that glory with his Father Secondly The World may be taken up when for Mans sin it was Accursed Gen. 3.17 18 19. and was given into the Hands of the Dragon and the Prince of the Power of the Air was made Lord of it Eph. 2.2 Now in the first sense to love the World as God did when Man and all things were in Integrity and to behold and enjoy the World as God did resting into himself so admiring God in the Creature and resting in the Creator this loving and using the Creature or World is not inconsistent with the love of God but to use and delight in the Creature when under the Curse Power and Dominion of Satan and rest on it and not on God is inconsistent with the love of the Father Secondly By the words of the Evangelist If any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in
express Image of his Person whose Errand to the World was only to Reconcile God to Man knowing how Essential Holiness was to the Bargain he and all the Prophets and Apostles Preach up Holiness Holiness and Righteousness is the chief piece of the Saints Armour to fight the Battels of Christ Eph. 6.14 and is that Image of Christ to which Believers must be Conformed to Ephe. 4.24 and Colo. 3.10 and by which they are distinguished and known Holiness is that Cloathing of the Saints who sit with God on his Throne in his Kingdom these are the White Robes washed in the Blood of the Lamb and the Brides Wedding Garment spoken of in the Gospel for the clean Linnen is the Righteousness of the Saints Rev. 7.14 Object But to this it may be Objected that Christ is made to us of God Wisdom Righteousness Redemption Salvation and Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.13 so we need take no care for inherent Holiness in our selves but may sit down and rest on his imputed Righteousness and Rely on his Justification Answ To which may be answered thus That it is most certain that Christ is Sanctification and Redemption to Believers and that they are Cloathed with his imputed Righteousness in the Eyes and acceptance of God and by his Stripes they are healed and all that Saints could do would never make Attonement for Transgression and although Christ by his Death hath most sufficiently satisfied Justice for our Offences and that thereby the Father in him is well pleased nevertheless as he hath promised to Reconcile us to the Father and hath actually Reconciled such as believe in him and hath to them purchased Eternal Salvation by his Blood and having procured for them Heavenly Mansions to make them Companions with himself and his Father Angels and Saints there is a necessity for an Inherent Holiness with which they must be cloathed as that Wedding Garment and attire suitable to the Bride in such Heavenly Mansions where no unclean thing can enter in Rev. 21.27 and this cloathing and garment is the renewing the Children of God in their Nature all things are made new old things are done away 2 Cor. 5.17 We must forsake and crucify the World we must dye to sin and live to righteousness we must be planted in his Death that we may live in the likeness of his Resurrection Rom. 6. to 19. Gal. 3.27 Col. 2.10 to 14. We must put on the Nature of Christ in Spiritual Holiness Circumcised without hands putting off the Body of Sin and are quickned with Christ by his effectual working of Grace The Affections must be above the Creatures and the new Man renewed by Knowledge after the Image of him who created him Col. 3.10 The Saints live no more to the Flesh but are dead to it and live by Faith I am crucified to the World and the World to me nevertheless I live but not I but Christ that liveth in me and the Life that I live in the Flesh is by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2.20 God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ in whom the World is crucified to me and I to the World Gal. 6.14 Thus then inherent Righteousness and holiness of the Saints is that which qualifieth the Soul for union with God in Christ Jesus and this holiness though inherent to the persons of all Saints is not their own growth or product but is the gift of and special working of the Spirit of God he it is alone that gives the new Heart and creates in them a clean Spirit and takes from them the Heart of Stone and sits them for this union The Third branch of Saints Union with God is their being one with him and Christ in love I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in one and that the World may know that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me before the World began John 17.23 Love in its perfection is the Darling of all Christian Vertues and Graces and is such essential part of Holiness and Divine Nature that it cannot be without it as God is Holiness Wisdom Goodness and Righteousness so is he love it self Let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God and he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him 1 John 4.7 8 16. Love is Christs chief command and from his own example a new Commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved you by this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another John 13.34 35. Love as the Character and Mark of a Christian is not only a naked and bare profession of kindness and friendship but consists in these two First In a firm and constant sympathy of and with any in any afflicted state or condition Secondly In a constant chearful and ready supply of the wants of others as far as their abilities will reach First This love consists in a constant and tender sympathy in all troubles afflictions and distresses in Body Spirit or Estate like as Christ was In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and bore them all the days of old Isa 63.9 There is denounced a severe curse and wo against such as are at ease and unconcerned in the case of Gods afflicted People Wo to them that are at ease in Zion and forget the afflictions of Joseph Amos 6. to 7. Charity and Sympathy either to the Church of God in general or to any of the particular Members or Saints is the great badge ornament and character of Christians 1 Cor. 13 3 to 7. Love is to be in amity and unity and not in contention one with another love thy Brother as thy self But if ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another Gal. 4.14 15. Christians should consider the height depth and full extent of Gods love towards them which is a mystery passing knowledge that we may be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3.18 19. Christians in one anothers afflictions should incorporate themselves in that holy cement of love or mutual sympathy and assistance to comfort uphold assist and relieve one another under their several afflictions see the woful character of such as do not relieve and love his Brother If a Man say I love God and hateth his Brother the love of God is not in him he is a Liar for he loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen and how can he love God whom he hath not seen 1 John 4.20 And this command have we from him that he that loveth God loveth his Brother also and he that loveth not his Brother is a Murtherer and
no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him 1 Joh. 3.15 Secondly The second branch of Divine Love approved of God to make up the Union of the Saints with God is that laving out the Bowels of charitable assistance in the supply of the Saints necessities like the good Samaritan in the Gospel not only to see and pity his affliction and condition but to support it God is not only a bare Spectator of our misery and maladies but also a healer of all our wounds and is that only Physitian of Israel and hath and applies that balm of Gilead even the Balsom of his own Blood to cure us hereby know we the love of God for us because he laid down his Life for us and we ought to lay down our life for the Brethren 1 John 3.16 But whoso hath this Worlds good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his Bowels of compassion from him how doth the love of God dwell in him 1 John 4.9 If God so loved us we ought also so to love one another Greater Love hath no man than this that a Man lay down his Life for a Friend Joh. 15.13 to 18. The Duty of Christian charity is recommended and commanded as the evidence of Christian sincerity The blessing is to the liberal the liberal Soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered himself Pr. 11 24 25 26. See the exhortation from Christs own example But ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that tho' he was Rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his Poverty might be Rich and that famous exhortation consider them that are in bonds as being bound with them and such as are in adversity as being your selves in the Body Hebrews 13.3 See how the Apostle James challengeth a naked beholder of the poor naked and indigent If a Brother or Sister be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say depart in Peace and be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not these things which are needful what doth it profit Jam. 2.15 16. So that it is not bare profession which makes Love but the fulfilling of the Commandment love thy Neighbour as thy self as Christ loved his Church and laid down his Life for her so ought we also for whom Christ died Hence we see how great is the Priviledge of Believers for whom Christ both died and is risen again and taken possession of Heaven for them and that the Father will love them with the same love with which he loved his only Son before the World was so Believers should not be affraid for Love admits no fear There is no fear in Love for perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he that feareth is not made perfect in Love 1 John 4.18 What quiet and comfort therefore may Believers have who find that love of God constraining them to wait on him by Faith may with David say we will not fear what man can do unto us and with the Apostle if God be with us who can be against us be of good courage for God will strengthen your Hearts Fourthly As the Saints are one with God and Christ 1. In Spirit 2. In Holiness 3. In Love So 4. In Glory which is the highest priviledge imaginable and is clearly held out in the Text And the glory thou hast given me I have given them that they may be One even as we are One. Father I will that they also which thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me John 17.22 24. And as God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son to dye for Sinners so Christ continues his Love that he will have all for whom he died to share of the same glory with himself and this is the highest exaltation and expectation of the Saints contrived by the Wisdom of God and accomplished by the Death and Resurrection of Christ and his being set down at the right hand of Glory for us This superexcellent state of the Saints Glory and Eternal Happiness is branched out in a fivefold consideration First In their blessed Death Secondly Their Spiritual and Immortal Bodies Thirdly Their being admitted into the Presence of God and Host of Heaven Fourthly Their being continued in that state for ever Fifthly All Sorrow Tears and Mourning to be everlastingly done away First Man in his first Creation was made Lord of all Creatures and tho' after his Fall by the Wisdom of God and infinite Love of Jesus Christ was reconciled to God by a new Covenant of Peace nevertheless was continued in a Prison of Clay subjected not only to all Natural weakness sickness cold hunger thirst and other natural infirmities of the Flesh and uneasiness of Life but also while in the body obnoxious to the Temptations of Sin and grief of Soul through the weakness of the Spirit under the clog and coverture of the Flesh as the experience of all Men Witness that this Life is but Labour and Sorrow therefore the Wisdom and Goodness of God and love of Christ Jesus hath so contrived that the Soul a Prisoner to misery and infirmities should have the Chains of Mortality knocked off by Death and be let free to Eternal Life And this is the first step of Saints effectual Happiness The Holy Apostle clearly testifieth that whilst we are in the Body we are absent from the Lord and therefore not only we but the whole Creation groan under these Infirmities and long for the Liberty of the Sons of God even the Redemption of our Bodies and therefore it 's revealed that Death is as it were the opening of the Prison Door to the Prisoners of Hope to set them at liberty from all the miseries of Mortality and Temptations to sin and gives them a free Pass to the Land of Rest Blessed are the Dead thy dye in the Lord they cease from their Labours and their Works follow them Rev. 14.13 And this is a great Consolation to Believers for as Death is the end of all Fleshly pleasures it 's also the end of all sin and Misery so the way of Death and the Grave ought not to be loathsom or irksom to them for that Christ the Captain of our Salvation hath proved both ways and for us led Captivity Captive O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory and the last Enemy is Death who is led Captive by Jesus Christ he will swallow up Death into Victory he will Ransom them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes Hos 13.14 The Second instance of Eternal Happiness is to have Spiritual Bodies The glory of Heaven and presence of God which is Eternal Happiness being designed for the Saints therefore the Lord in his Eternal Wisdom hath
my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts Is 55.8 9. And while musing what the Spirit meant in these Expressions I was carryed back to review the fatal Record of mans Condemnatory Sentence for his Rebellion in which I found written And I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Gen. 3.15 And being yet more in the dark as to the meaning of that Scripture I was led to that of Gods Covenant with Abraham and I will Establish my Covenant between thee and me and thy Seed after thee in their Generations for an everlasting Covenant Gen. 17.7 8. and to that other Word of God to Moses I will raise them up a Prophet amongst their Brethren like unto thee and will put my words into his mouth and he shall speak unto them all the words which I have commanded him Deut. 18.18 And being led a little further to understand the meaning of this I met with that Word of the Lord to David by the Prophet Samuel And thine House and thy Kingdom shall be Established for ever before thee and thy Throne shall be Established for ever 2 Sam. 7.11 to 17. And that of David himself The Lord hath Sworn in Truth unto David he will not turn from it of the Fruit of thy Body will I set upon thy Throne Ps 132.11 And the Lord hath said to my Lord sit thou at my Right Hand until I make thine Enemies thy Foot-stool Ps 110.1 and that other place of the same Prophet David And thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell neither suffer thy Holy one to see Corruption Ps 16.10 And thus being led to the view of these Scriptures and being yet more Anxious to understand their meaning I was at last by the Blessing of God led to that of the second of the Acts verse 22 to 37. And that of the 7th of the Acts And to these words Of this mans Seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour Acts 13.15 to 42. By all which I found plainly laid open that before the Foundations of the Earth were laid 2 Tim. 1.9 God according to his own purpose had provided the means of mans Redemption and that all the foregoing Scriptures under the Old Testament were Prophetical of his Eternal purpose and good Will and that in the fulness of time he should send one even Jesus Christ to take upon him the Nature of man with whom God entred into an everlasting Covenant and that for Sin Sin should be Condemned in the flesh and that Everlasting Covenant with Abraham and the Prophets spoken of by Moses and Establishing of Davids Throne for ever are all meant of that Everlasting Covenant between God and Jesus Christ the Second Adam by which Covenant Christ was to come in the flesh and suffer death as he did and that he should obtain Eternal Life for all such as should believe in him Jo. 3.16 And thus being instructed that the manifold promises and priviledges spoken of in the Old and New Testament do belong to Believers and that as well Salvation as Faith to lay hold on Jesus Christ are freely of God as a gift Jam. 1.17 Hence I found the Truth of that of Gods Word My thoughts are not your thoughts our thoughts are narrow and run only after the lesser things and would de satisfied with the Restoration of man to his first Estate in the first Adam and considering this new and Second Covenant in the Second Adam not only of things Temporal but also of things Eternal and that this Second Covenant is Everlasting sure and not subject to the fatal Apostacy as was that in the first Adam And as in Contemplation of the Happy State of man in his First Creation the Heart was raised to rejoyce in God and magnifie his goodness and could not but take pleasure in so choice a Speculation and as on reflection upon the dismal and decayed condition of man upon his degeneracy the Soul must needs be dejected with melancholy and grievous thoughts how highly may the Soul be Elevated with Admiration of that infinite love of God to mankind in Christ Jesus who hath in him chosen of the Seed of Abraham before the Foundation of the World Eph. 1.4 5. having predestinated them unto the Adoption of Children to himself and properly apply that of the Holy Prophet Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man besides thee O Lord what good things he hath laid up for them who wait on him Is 64.4 Thus Christian Reader being led unto the meditation of these three material Concerns of mans everlasting condition I have Collected these ensuing Sheets in which I have first considered mans condition in the First Creation and Secondly under his Apostacy wherein I have examined that original Sin in Adam in the several Ingredients thereof and how far the Posterity are guilty and affected with the Evil Consequences of the same upon which are made some practical Inferences Thirdly I have considered the Covenant of grace in the Second Adam wherein I have touched on all the Duties incumbent on Believers under that Covenant and have met with all the emergent Cases of Affliction incident to Believers in the militant State such as spiritual desertion Afflictions by Sickness Imprisonment Poverty Reproach loss of and being forsaken by Friends and Relations and have collected and applyed the several promises to the respective cases and in the close have examined the Duty of Christian Patience and Perseverance with the promises suitable thereunto and lastly have drawn a large Series of Christian Duties and Truths in short Heads with the Scriptural Proofs thereof so as in two or three Pages the marrow of the whole is comprehended and as I dare averr in all Christian Sincerity these Sheets were only Collected for Private and Domestick use without any intention of sending them to publick view by which means they are in a more naked and rude dress without the Curiosity of Eloquence or Artificial patching and as by the importunity of some Friends I was induced to send them abroad I shall only desire thus much in Christian Charity that thou mayest believe that these are the effects of serious enquiry into the Holy Scriptures with Meditation and Prayer and narrowly searching into Truth with what strength I could obtain by grace and that neither in Ostentation or for secular ends they are sent abroad but in all Humility if it may be that others may find therein that Light and Establishment in the way of God which I hope I have and shall find and conceiving this to be a Duty according to that of the Holy Apostle Look not every Man on his own things but every Man also on the things of another Phil. 2.4 and that thou mayest have the Truths of grace Sealed on thy Soul and that
Christ may dwell in thy Heart by Faith and that being Rooted and Grounded in love thou canst be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge Eph. 3.17 18 19. and that thou mayst be filled with all the fulness of God In all sincerity is the earnest Prayer of thine in Christ Jesus our Lord. FINIS THE Anatomy of Man SInce Man's Woful Apostacy from God Sin is become so habitual that the Custom hath taken away the Conscience of it and Corruption is so condensed in mens hearts without the due sense thereof that unless upon gross out-breakings little remorse is expressed for Sin and Guilt for most part is only owned from actual Transgressions and men do not charge themselves with the guilt of Original Sin as supposing that forreign to them as coming from Adam's particular Act and Transgression and take themselves not to be accountable therefore as being the single Act of another and if any thing of that guilt be owned it is only by roate and as coming from education or the customary profession of Religion without the due sense or conscience of the guilt and in regard that Original sin hath more in it than one single act though that one act of disobedience was cause enough of all the misery that followed and that the consequence of that disobedience hath fallen upon and concerneth all the Posterity of Adam we shall therefore consider First What Original Sin was in Adam Secondly How far the Posterity of Adam are therein concerned or chargeable and affected with it Thirdly We shall make some practical Inferences and Uses from thence First If we consider Adam the first and root of all Mankind that he was of God created after the Likeness of God in his Image Gen. 1.26 27 28. and at his first Creation had power and command given him to increase and multiply and subdue and have dominion over the Fish of the Sea the Fowls of the Air and every thing that moveth on the Earth under restriction from eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil with a penalty upon eating thereof that he should surely dye Gen. 2.15 16 17. Thus Man made after the Likeness of God and in the Image of God let us examine what this Likeness and Image was The Holy Apostle Paul tells us that it was Righteousness and true Holiness Eph. 4.24 The same Apostle elsewhere informs us that it was in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created him Col. 3.10 By these words of Righteousness true Holiness and Knowledge we may understand that Adam in his first Creation was endowed with all suitable faculties of the Mind to understand the Nature of all Beasts Fowls Fishes creeping Things and Vegetatives how to use and apply them to his own use and govern them in order to their subjection to himself and congruity among themselves as we find by Gods bringing the Creatures to Adam to vest him with Soveraignty over them and that he might express his faculty of understanding by giving to them names Gen. 2.19 20. and as some naturalists observe he gave to them names significant or expressive of their nature which implied his Knowledge of their several Natures from that primitive Knowledge given to him in his first Creation By Righteousness rendred in the Latine Justice as it is the Likeness and Image of God we must understand all integrity of Mind leading to what is right and forbearing what is wrong By true Holiness we must understand all purity of Mind Will and Affections in Sincerity and Truth to affect only and desire what is just pure holy and good and to shun all Thoughts Affections Actions or Purposes to the contrary as God is of purer Eyes than can behold Iniquity And by that Knowledge of God according to the Image of him that created him we must understand effectual and sufficient knowledge not only of things natural but also of Spiritual Truths by which man was made effectually capable to understand and to do good to abstain from and resist evil Thus Man being composed in such excellent frame capable to understand all things as well of God himself as of the Creatures and that he had his Being of God and sufficiently understood the Terms under which he was confined to his Allegiance and Obedience to God and the consequence of his Disobedience and there being given to him entire Integrity not tainted by any pollution or disabled by infirmities in full possession of all secular enjoyments with the knowledge of the glorious soveraignty of God and Majesty in the Creation sufficient to delight himself in God and glorifie his Maker in the Station he had placed him If David after the Apostacy when for Sin the World was degenerated and brought under the Curse and Bondage did then admire Mans Excellency Power and Glory how much more when in Mans Integrity unity of the Creation without Enmity Jarring or Discord Emulation or Contention the Morning Stars sang together Job 38.7 and all the Sons of God shouted for Joy How had the first Man reason to cry out How excellent art thou Lord in all the Earth And what is Man that thou remembrest him or the Son of Man that thou art mindful of him And what reason had he And how much had it been his and the happiness of all Posterities to have sate down contentedly in admiration and obedience of God and in quiet possession of all created enjoyments and subjection of the Creatures to him Thus Man Created in Righteousness true Holiness and Knowledge after the Image of God made Lord of all the Creatures and in possession thereof having sufficient knowledge to understand his Duty and Interest and to know the advantage of Obedience and consequence of breach of Duty breaks the Chain of his Obedience and eats the forbidden fruit Gen. 3.6 Whereupon God in his Justice according to his Promise and Terms of Mans first Creation deprives Man of his Soveraignty over the Creatures puts Enmity between Man and the Creatures and accurseth Man and the Earth for his sake Gen. 3.14 to the end This being the Matter of fact in Mans Creation under the Penal Law and his Breach and Rebellion against God and the punishment of his disobedience we come next to examine the nature of this first and original sin and consider whether it consisted only in this single Act of eating of the Tree of Knowledge or what other sins were or are complicated in it If we consider Man as truly endowed by God with Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness and under the Prohibition of a Penal Law we shall find all the sins committed and discovered in after Ages under the growth of Corruption to have been in that transgression First That wilful breach of Gods Law and Sin cannot be palliate under the excuse of the sin of Ignorance for that mans knowledge was strong and sufficiently
his Church In all their Afflictions he was Afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his Love and in his Pity he redeemed them and carryed them all the days of old Isa 63.9 Secondly This Love is extensive to all wants and necessities or else it is empty and profiteth not Whoso hath this Worlds good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of Compassion how doth the Love of God dwell in him 1 Joh. 3.17 And the Apostle James is to the like purpose If a Brother or a Sister be naked and destitute of Daily food and one of you say to them depart in peace he ye warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not these things which are needful to the Body what doth it profit Jam. 15.16 Seventhly Is it so then of a lamentable truth that all men are concluded in Adams Apostacy and that there is a woful Degeneracy in the Soul of Man from that primitive Knowledge Righteousness and Holiness and that all men in Nature are dead in Sin and have their Conversation with the Lusts of the Flesh fulfilling the desires thereof and of the mind according to the Course of this World according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience and are by Nature the Children of Wrath. Eph. 2.1 2 3. And that there is even amongst the renewed a Law in the Members warring against the Law in the Mind Rom. 7.23 Ch. 8.1 And that by reason of Sin the Creature is Subject to Vanity and the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain for the Adoption and Redemption Rom. 8.20 22 23. And that in this degeneracy a mans life is his burden and there is no true pleasure under the Sun confirmed in Solomons experience Therefore I hated life because the work that is wrought under the Sun is grievous unto me for all is vanity and vexation of Spirit Eccles 2.17 all Seeing then this Earth is but a sojourning and no abiding place and that here is neither Pleasure Rest nor Happiness how much is it mortal mans concern anxiously restlesly and with a believing Impatience to pursue close after these two things First That as by one man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin so Death passed upon all men for that all men have sinned Rom. 5.12 And that as by the offence of one man Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to Justification of life Rom. 5.18 That man would seriously apply himself to the Throne of Grace that he may be found in the Faith that he may be intituled into Eternal Life in Jesus Christ that only mediator and for that the first Image of God in man was wilfully abolished or defaced by man that by the bounty of Free-grace he may be begotten again by the regeneration of the Spirit unto a lively Faith and that he may put on the new man of Righteousness and True Holiness Eph. 4. â—â— And may be renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created it Col. 3.10 And may be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life And that he may be spiritually enlightned not by the Spirit of the World but by the Spirit which is of God and that he may know the things freely given of God 1 Cor. 2.12 And that he may be spiritually minded that enmity of the Carnal mind may be removed so as he may no more mind the things of the Flesh but the things of the Spirit Rom 8.5 6 7. That being raised from the Death of Sin by the Spirit of Christ he may seek these things that are above where Christ is Col. 3.1 And may be accounted to be called a Child of God an heir and Joynt heir with Jesus Christ and may also be glorified with him Rom. 8 17. That he may be dead and crucified in Christ to Sin and may also live with him in Glory Rom. 6.8 Secondly Seeing the Earth was accursed for mans sake Gen. 3.17 18 19. And that the Creature was made Subject to Vanity not willingly but by reason of him who Subjected the same in hope Rom. 8.20 And that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together for redemption from the bondage of Corruption unto the glorious liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8.21 22 23. That he may watch and be always ready with Oyl in his Lamp for the coming of the Bridegroom who cometh as a Thief in the night Rev. 16.15 And may earnestly pray that the Bridegroom would hasten the coming of his Kingdom and the new Heavens and the new Earth and set the Sons of God at liberty from the Liberty of Sin and Corruption and that the glad Tydings of that Heavenly Proclamation may be heard Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and God shall dwell with them and they shall be his People and God himself shall be with them and be their God And God shall wipe away all tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more Death neither Sorrow nor Crying neither shall there be any more Pain For the former things are passed away Rev. 21. to 6. Having thus viewed Adam in his Primitive Integrity in Glory Honour Righteousness true Holiness and perfect Knowledge with absolute Soveraignty over the Creatures the Darling and Friend of God and all the Creation at Unity and Peace with him and in Subjection to him and in Amity amongst themselves And afterwards by Man's falling from God Man the declared Enemy of God and by a guard of Angels barred out of Paradise deprived of his Soveraignty and Enmity sowed between the Creatures and the Earth accursed and the Creation brought under Bondage and the Posterity of Adam once the apparent Heir of all Righteousness true Holiness Knowledge Honour Glory and Soveraignty over the Creatures disabled and cut off from that glorious succession and exposed unto all misery and under the servitude of Sin and Wrath Rom. 3.23 Eph. 2.3 And in place of that Unity of the Sons of God and shouting together for joy nothing to be seen or heard but Subjects rebelling against their Soveraign and the whole Creation Split in Enmity and Envy Malice Oppression and Unrighteousness to have filled the whole Earth where is that corner of the World where ambition for Dominion Covetousness for Wealth private or publick animosities have not drowned the sense of all comfortable enjoyments Man raging against the Creatures and they against him and each in contention devouring one another and nothing to be seen but a woful Convulsion and dismal complexion and the degenerate frame of that first and beautiful Fabrick of the Creation from its so late purity and glory This then being the Tragical Condition of all Mortals Subject to Sin and Misery as entailed on them from the Inherent Corruption of Nature Job 5.6 Who can
the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out for who hath known the Mind of the Lord or who hath been his Counsellor Rom. 11.33 34. And with the same Apostle That ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth and to know the love of Christ which passeth Knowledge that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3.17 18 19. And to admire Infinite Goodness with the Holy Prophet For since the beginning of the World Man hath not heard nor perceived by the Ear neither hath the Eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him Isa 64.4 And further of the mistery of this love read 1 Tim. 3.16 Psalm 139.17 18. Having thus viewed the first estate of Man in his Innocence and his estate of Apostacy from God and being informed of the mistery of Gods Love and eternal good Will to Man in Christ Jesus we come next to consider how in infinite Wisdom the Redemption of Man is contrived We have already discovered how God of his bounty made man in a happy and glorious estate after his own Image and upon the Condition and Covenant of obedience he was made Lord of all the sublunary Creatures and that God putting Mans Stock in his own hand and though he was sufficiently enabled to perform Obedience nevertheless through the Concupisence of his Heart he broke his Allegiance to God and incurred to himself and posterity the forfeiture of all the glorious Dignities and Priviledges given to him and he and his Posterity were concluded under Misery and Wrath because of Sin so that having no capacity in himself to be reconciled to God and retrieve his loss the Infinite Wisdom and Bounty of God from all Eternity as above is discovered did determine mans Restoration to a better and surer Estate and Condition than what he was in at his first Creation and that same Infinite Wisdom foreseeing that Man having corrupted his Way and Heart the Fountain of Actions And that the Thoughts and Imaginations of his Heart were evil and only evil continually Gen 6.5 And that his Heart was deceitful and desperately wicked Jer. 17.9 And though he intended Mans Restoration and Eternal Happiness yet because of the pravity of Mans Heart he was neither to be treated with upon his own Integrity nor fit to be trusted with a new Stock in his own strength and therefore Heavenly Wisdom appoints the only begotten Son of God and Second Person of the Holy Trinity to be a Mediator for Man and by him enters into an everlasting Covenant with Man which shall be demonstrated in the ensuing Discourse and that as well to satisfie Divine Justice for Mans Transgression as to secure to Man the future Stock of Gods bounty granted unto him by vertue of this New and Second Covenant and what this Covenant is and the terms of it shall be the next Subject of Discourse This Covenant commonly called the Covenant of Grace is mutual between God and Man through the Mediator Jesus Christ who in Scripture is called the Mediator of the New Covenant considering this Covenant we shall First Take notice of the freedom thereof Secondly Of the terms of it First As to the freedom It being apparent that God of his Free-Will and Goodness without any tye necessity or obligation upon him for his own Glory Created the World and Man in that glorious and stately Condition as we have heard and that Man by his Rebellion departing from God had incurred the execution of Justice upon himself and all after Posterity and that the Pravity of Mans Nature was such that it grieved and repented God that he had made Man Gen. 6.6 There lay no obligation upon God to restore lost Man but that God intending to make Bounty and Mercy as it were to triumph over Justice and magnifie his Infinite goodness by the Council of Heaven this mystery of Christs love is contrived by which Justice is satisfied and Man is not only relieved from the servitude of Sin and delivered from wrath to come and insured in a better estate than what he was in at first but also is made Heir to all the most excellent priviledges contained in this new Covenant which shall be branched forch in the ensuing Discourse The frequent testimonies of the Spirit in the New Testament witness the freedom of this Covenant Having Predestinated us to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his Will Eph. 1.5 But God who is rich in Mercy for his great love wherewith he hath loved us even when we were dead in sins hath he quickened us together in Christ by Grace ye are saved Eph. 2.4 5 11. And not by Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour that being Justified by his Grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of Eternal Life Titus 3.5 6 7. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood to declare his Righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God to declare his righteousness that he may be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus Rom. 3.21 to the end When we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us for if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life Rom 5.6 to 11. Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our Justification Rom. 4.25 and other innumerable places of Scripture as Rom. 9.11 15 16. Ezek. 16. to 15 and Ezek. 36.17 to 33. James 1.17 By all which we see the blessing of this Covenant coming freely of Grace by the Council of Heaven Christ undertaking for impotent helpless sinners and enemies and this undertaking approved and accepted of by the forbearance of God and the suffering of Christ coming as a propitiation and satisfaction to Justice for Mans offences who was in no capacity to help himself the freedom and excellency of this love of Christ in this new Covenant appears yet more particularly in these respects First As man was of himself incapable to make satisfaction to Justice and reconcile himself to God so he was not fit to be treated with by God in his own person because he had altogether defiled himself and was of no Integrity therefore Jesus Christ
on their Repentance and to check that heat of uncharitable judging or reviling which is freequently pressed in Scripture especially by the Holy Apostle Eph. 4. Throughout the whole chapter where he exhorteth to unity peace and love in particular instances and expresseth the same by many arguments First They are all of one body and one spirit one hope of our Faith verse 4. Secondly One Lord one Faith one Baptism ver 5. Thirdly One God and Father of all by which they are Brethren ver 6. Fourthly They have all several gifts and all useful and therefore none either to be despised or envied all being given for edifying of the body ver 7 to 16. Fifthly They are all joined and compact together in the unity of the Spirit as the Joints and Sinews unite the Body they are Members all of the same body ver 16. Sixthly They are all Members one of another ver 25. And therefore concludes with the Command of these Heavenly Duties be ye angry and sin not let not the Sun go down on your wrath neither give place to the Devil Let all bitterness and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put from you with all malice and be ye kind one to another tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you ver 26 to end And the same Apostle elsewhere let us not Judge one another any more but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling block before his Brother Rom. 14.23 Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of Mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness long suffering forbearing one another forgiving one another and above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness Col. 3.12 13 14. See how zealous this holy Apostle is to unite the People of God in Love throughout his whole writings Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves look not every man on his own things but every man on the things of others Phil. 2. to 9. The whole Scriptures run in this strain above all things have fervent Charity amongst your selves for Charity shall cover the multitude of sins 1 Pet. 4.8 and add to Godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness Charity 2 Pet. 1.7 And above all this we have the express command of our great Lord and Lawgiver Jesus Christ be ye therefore merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful Luk. 6.36 a new commandment I give you that you love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another John 13.34 To conclude this discourse it were desireable that all of the Profession of Christianity though of different methods and worship would seriously consider how much it is the incumbent duty of all Christians to study the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace how agreeable it is to the Command of Jesus Christ from his own Mouth as also by his Messengers as well in the old Testament as under the new Have we not all one Father hath not one God created us why do we deal treacherously every Man against his Brother Mal. 2.10 How much it would remove the stumbling of Heathens Idolaters Atheists and the Prophane who are much scandalized by the Divisions of Christians and more especially of the reformed Churches how much it would strengthen their hands against the Enemies of Truth and what great inducement it might be to invite the dissolute and prophane to join in a body or Church incorporated by love and serving of God with one consent what ease satisfaction comfort and delight it would create to each other when differences janglings and contention about lesser things were removed and the substantial part of Religion to wit holiness towards God Charity and Brotherly kindness with one another were more sincerely pursued How much it would adorn the pretious Gospel of Jesus Christ such unity would be like that pretious Ointment on the Head which run down to the Skirts of the Garment Psalm 133. and would give a most pleasant savour to all the beholders and to Christians themselves like the Churches Spikenard Myrrhe and Camphire Cant. 1.12 13 14. and being once experimentally found will constrain them to sit down under the shadow of God who is Love 1 John 3.16 and Wisdom Pro. 8.1 with great delight and would undoubtedly find his fruit pleasant to their taste Cant. 2.13 This also would be a special mean to entangle others into the Net of the Gospel From all which we plainly see the unexpressible freedom of this Grace and love of the second Covenant which as first founded in Free-grace is also accomplished unto us by the mystery of his love and to enquire into the Tenure and Condition of this Covenant cometh next in course This Covenant of Grace Mercy and Salvation is between God and Man by the Mediator Jesus Christ and the Conditions thereof are mutual on Gods part and Mans part The Justice of God being offended by Mans falling in disobedience and the Counsel of Heaven designing Mans Restoration by means above mans apprehension and capacity the bounty of Heaven makes a Proclamation â—f indemnity and free pardon and God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life Joh. 3.16 This is the great Magna Charta of Mans Restoration and Eternal Happiness and as it come of the good Will of God is free nevertheless for the honour of Justice and for the further security of Mans future happiness this Covenant is circumscribed with conditions First On Gods part a free Pardon and reward of Eternal life Secondly On Mans part believe But as we have already shewed that Man rendering himself incapable of doing any good much less to satisfy Divine Justice or in his own strength to manage a new stock of mercy the Wisdom and Infinite Goodness of God in the Counsel of Heaven before the World began hath setled this contrivance that Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God and Second Person of the Holy Trinity should become surety to Justice and undertake for poor lost Man and as Christ is responsable to Justice for Man so Man is tyed up also in the New Covenant to terms so that the Covenant stands also on Conditions between Christ and Man Christ performing to God for Man and procuring to Man the benefits of that new Covenant viz. absolution from Sin and Eternal Life Man performing new obedience to God The terms then of this Covenant on Christs part are that he becomes between God and Man a Prophet a Priest and a King First A Prophet the office of a Prophet is to teach instruct declare and reveal the mind of God to his People And that Christ is that only true Prophet the whole Scriptures concur in Testimony he is that Prophet foretold by whom that Everlasting Covenant was made with Abraham
bind them on thee as a Bride doth I will contend with them that contend with thee and I will save thy Children I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet Wine Isa 49.17 18 25 26. And in that famous place of the Holy Apostle There hath no temptation taken you but what is common to men but God who is faithful will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10.13 And in that other famous place Thus saith the Lord refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears for thy works shall be rewarded and they shall come again from the Land of the Enemy and there is hope in thine end that thy Children shall come again to their own border Jer. 31.16 17. And as he is King so is he that merciful High Priest subject to the like infirmities of his Brethren and Sympathiseth with them and succors them under their temptations Heb. 2.17 18. chap. 4.15 chap. 5.2 And is able to save them to the uttermost Chap. 7.24 25 26. and in fine is universally concerned in all their troubles and difficulties in all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and bare them all the days of old Isa 63.9 And this his power and protection is not only in general but in all particular Cases of Afflictions and Troubles as shall be more particularly expressed in handling of the Priviledges of the New Covenant The third Branch of Princely power over Subjects is expressed in the exercise or extent of his bounty towards them and no King or Prince ever exercised such bounty or goodness towards his Subjects as Christ hath done and still doth to all such as believe in him and that in two respects First By shewing his free pardon of all their transgressions and sins by a full and general act of oblivion entered into the Records of Heaven by the Blood of Jesus I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins Isa 43.25 I have blotted out as a thick Cloud thy transgressions and as a Cloud thy sins return unto me for I have redeemed thee Isa 44.22 And that famous record of free love bounty and absolution from sin And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath he quickned together with him having forgiven all trespasses blotting out the hand writing of Ordinances that was against us and contrary to us and took it away nailing it to his Cross Col. 2.13 14. And not only by the pardon of Sin and thereby delivering from wrath to come and eternal misery But Secondly By raising lost man from the miserable state by Nature and Sin Ez. 16. To the highest pitch of honour glory and eternal happiness in making them Heirs of eternal Life and joynt heirs with Christ in Glory as many as received him he gave power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name Joh. 1.12 13. and if Children then Heirs and Joint Heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one Joh. 17.22 What greater bounty can there be and what higher love can be expressed or can be equalled to that of Christ to Believers Greater love hath no man than this that a Man lay down his life for his friend but God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Rom. 5.6 to 11. All which is more particularly insisted on in the Doctrine of the New Covenant Thus when we see what a happy state is that of a Christian who can find themselves within that everlasting and sure Covenant of Peace and Eternal Happiness with Christ who is that infallible Prophet to teach his People and lead them in the way wherein they cannot err Isa 35.8 and that merciful High Priest who hath offered himself once for all a Sacrifice for Believers and is able to save to the uttermost and is that only Potentate and bountiful Prince rewards the Faith and Obedience of his People with Eternal glory from whence may be these clear uses and inferences of consolation to all such as believe in Jesus First Is Jesus Christ that infallible Prophet the Way the Truth and the Life John 14.6 to lead and instruct his people Is he wisdom himself Prov. 8.1 and all things are revealed unto him of the Father Is the Spirit given to him to bring glad tydings to his People even to the Prisoners of Hope Isa 61.1 2 3. doth he instruct and give Wisdom and Knowledge to all that asketh Jam. 1.5 Then what person can be so ignorant in any of the matters of God or between God and their own Souls but here they may have a promise of supply he who to Believers is all and in all is to them in the darkest circumstances their God and they are commanded to trust to him who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his Servant and walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God Isa 50.10 And he is to them Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Secondly Is Christ that glorious High Priest who once for all by his own blood hath entered into the holy place and obtained eternal Redemption for sinners Heb. 9.11 12. what reason is there for disquietude or doubting seeing he hath sacrificed himself for Believers even though the black Cloud of their Iniquities be as crimson and scarlet Isa 1.18 and though they may under temptation with Jacob and Israel say their way is hid from God and my Judgment is passed over from my God Isa 40.26 27 28. to end yet in him they ought to comfort themselves in this that the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the Earth fainteth not neither is weary there is no searching of his understanding he giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength Isa 40.28 29 30 31. And should under the Apostles consideration That we have not an High-Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are without sin comply with his exhortation let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.15 16. And with the same Apostle triumph in a holy rejoycing There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is
sort of communication or delight in sin with an abhorence as infectious can any touch Pitch and not be defiled with aversion as an infectious Plague jealous as of the Wiles of the Devil as Intanglements and Fetters Fourthly Zeal With great anxiety after a thorough discovery of every sin in its blackest dress in its Nature Root Branches and Tendencies zeal for full purging and washing not leaving Root or Branch of any Sin unmortified or subdued without any tampering or listning to new affinities or terms of reconâ—iliation or inticements hotly and warmly pursuing every Sin to utter death and destruction Fifthly Vehement desire Like one curious to paint to the Life the Nature Monstruous shape and mischievous quality of every sin as well in its offensiveness to and detestableness with God who is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity as in its perniciouâ—ness to Man exposing him to the wrath of God and barring him from entring into the Heavenly Jerusalem where â—o unclean thing can enter in Rev. 21.27 And as the only Enemy of Mans Eternal Happiness and blasting with a Curse all his temporal enjoyments and the disturber of the Peace of Mans Conscience in a Communion with God and diverts him from enjoying of God in place of Lust and Sin The Sixth qualification is Fear Watching and Praying lest we enter into temptation being always mindful that the subtile Enemy of our Salvation the Devil goeth about night and day like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour And therefore in watching put on the whole Armour of God Eph. 6.14 15 16. and watch over our Thoughts Words and Actions having a continual Eye on the Enemy without as a Sentry standing in view of the Enemies Camp day and night observing the voice of all Gods Providences and Dispensations not putting the evil day far from us but being on our watch with oyl in our Lamps and our Lamps burning knowing that the Bridegroom cometh as a Thief in the night not knowing what hour he will come and therefore to be always ready lest when he comes we sleep and that the door of Mercy may not be shut on us for ever Mat 24.14 The Seventh qualification of true Repentance is Revenge Holy revenge consisteth â—t a restless discovering of sin and not only giving up all society with it and entertainment of it and contradicting or implacable prejudice and hatred to it but also knowing that corruption and sin is such an infect and that of venomous Nature that every piece and crum will excite to a new Rebellion against God And therefore by a holy reâ—enge to give up every Sin and Lust though never so dear intirely to Divine Justice as well to appeale the Wrath of God and avoid his Dishonour as to secure our selves from falling into disobedience and new rebellion by tampering with the seditious deceit of Sin and Lust Cast out the Bondwoman and her Son Gen. 23.10 Be not again entangled with the Yâ—â—k of Bondage walk in the Spirit and ye shall not â—uâ—fiâ—l the Lusts of the Flesh for the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and they are contrary one to the other Rom. 5.1 16 17 24. The next Duty incumbent to Man in order to Eternal Life is to search the Promâ—â—es in Christ Jesus and believe them all men are anxious to have good Titles to their Estates and to know them how much more ought Christians to be solicitous for the knowledge of sacred Records to insure their Interest of something with Christ Christs Promises to his People are either for things Spiritual or Temporal first of things Spiritual which may be considered under these three First The free love of God in sending Christ a Ransom for Sin Secondly All suitable graces and spiritual blessings given by God to the called according to his promise Rom. 8.28 Thirdly Eternal Life and Salvation given to all who believe in Jesus Christ As to the first Scriptures are full of the Records of Gods free love in redeeming Man by Jesus Christ when Man was in no condition to make terms for himself and that early instance of Gods compassion on Man when he had so soon fallen from his Integrity I will put enmity between thy Seed and her Seed It shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel Gen. 3.15 Here is a clear promise of the Messiah of victory over Sin and Satan And when we were without strength in due time Christ died for us and when we were yet sinners And that compassion of God when Man was contemptible and without help and no Eye pitied thee to do these things to thee and when I passed by thy time was the time of Love and I said to thee live yea I said to thee live And that Evangelical Invitation Ho every one that thirsteth come to me drink of the Waters of Life buy wine and milk without money and without price come to me and I will make your Souls live and make an everlasting Covenant with you Let the wicked forsake his wickedness and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God and he will abundantly pardon him Isa 55. to 8. This strain constant current and Ocean of free Love flows upon free terms upon the most miserable and without any terms or expectation of any return from Man but freely without recompence I am found of them that sought me not I am sought of them that asked not for me Isa 65.1 2. From all which may be seen that great mystery of the Love of God to Sinners which passeth understanding The second thing in spiritual blessings is Gods furnishing Believers with all suitable Graces blessings and Indowments And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God who are called according to his purpose for whom he did foreknow them he also did Predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8.28 29 32. Eye hath not seen neither hath Ear heard nor hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive besides thee O Lord what great things he hath laid up for those who wait on him Isa 64.4 Ask and it shall be given seek and ye shall find whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name believe ye have them and they shall be given you Mat. 7.7 The last instance of divine bounty is Eternal Life To them who by patient continuance and well doing seeketh for glory and honour eternal Life Rom. 2.9 When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 God so loved the World that he sent his only Son that whosoever should believe in him should not perish but have eternal Life Joh. 3.16 And the glory that thou gavest me I have
new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the Stony Heart out of your Flesh and I will give you a Heart of Flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them Ezek. 36. all He that spared not his own Son but freely gave him up to death for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8 31. to the end I am persuaded that neither Death nor Life things present nor things to come nor Principalities nor Powers nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.31 to the end Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Mat. 7.9 Thou calledst in trouble and I delivered thee I answered thee in the secret place of Thunder I proved thee at the Waters of Meribah Exod. 17.6 The People of God are his Temple and he dwells amongst them therefore he assists comforts and protects them For ye are the Temple of the living God 2 Cor. 6.16 Know ye not your own selves how that Christ is in you except you be reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 And are built upon the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a Holy Temple in the Lord in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God thorough the Spirit Eph. 2.20 21 22. Christ is as a Sun over his House whose House we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing in the hope unto the end Heb. 3.6 Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard neither hath it entered into the Heart of Man to conceive besides thee O Lord what good he hath prepared for those that wait on him 1 Cor. 2.9 The great Physitian of Souls hath not only offered his temporal Mercies in general afflictions but also hath proportionate his Promises to the particular Cases and Conditions of his People in their afflictions which may be chiefly in these First Under Sickness Weakness or Infirmities of Old Age. Secondly In Poverty Want or Oppression Thirdly Under Captivity Restraint or Imprisonment Fourthly Under Revilings Reproaches or Slanders Fifthly Under unkindness or forsaking from Friends or Relations First In Sickness or Weakness As it is Christs own saying in another sense what hath a Man profited if he gain the whole World and loose his own Soul So it may be said what comfort can a Man have of Honour Friends Riches and all other enjoyments of the World when by Sickness Infirmity or natural Decay and Weakness he is not able to find a relish of these Enjoyments his Palate is so out of order that all are insipid and tastless to him And as it s said by Christ What shall a Man give in exchange for his Soul what will not the greatest Misers the Lovers of Honour or Wealth give to ease the gnawing pains of a lingering and loathsome Disease when by sickness or pain all the Channels of Comfort are stopt and a Man can have no breathing but is tortured and racked by fainting fits or tearing pains how cheap would he sell all his pretensions to breath freely and he eased of his Pains and Sickness which drain all the Faculties from the Sensor Use of any other enjoyments And how miserable is the richest wisest most honourable and best related when the Heart is stunned with faintings and the body with torturing pains nevertheless this is the Christians comfort that there is Balm in Gilead and a Physitian in Israel and one who not for filthy lucre but one who of free love hath not only promised to cure them but also never to leave nor forsake them Heb. 13.5 Am I a God at hand and not afar off he is present when trouble is near Jer. 23.23 Behold I will bring it health and cure I will cure them and will reveal unto them the abundance of Peace and Truth I will restore health unto thee I will heal thee of thy wounds because they call thee an outcast saying this is Zion whom no Man seeketh after Jer. 30.17 Which are born by me from the Belly which are carried from the Womb even to your old Age I am he even to your hoar hairs will I carry them I have made and I will bear even I will carry and I will deliver you Isa 46.3 He alone hath that universal Medicine who hath â—hte Keys of Hell and Death and none can rescue out of his Hands of this David in his Affliction and Decay of Strength being sensible applieth himself to the proper Physitian I am a Wonder unto many but thou art my strong refuge cast me not off in time of Old Age forsake me not when Strength faileth now when I am Old and Gray headed forsake me not Psal 71.7 18. I have seen his Ways I will heal him I will restore Comforters unto his Mourners I create the fruit of the Lips Peace Peace to him that is afar off and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heal him Isa 57.18 19. He maketh sore and bindeth up he woundeth and his Hands make whole Job 5.18 Come and let us return unto the Lord he hath torn and he will heal he hath smitten and he will bind us up after two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight Hos 6.1 2. Behold the Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him and hope in his Mercy to deliver the Soul from Death and keep them alive from famine Psal 33. â—8 19. The Lord will strengthen him upon the Bed of languishing thou wilt make all his Bed in Sickness Psal 41.3 They cry unto the Lord in their trouble he saved them out of their distresses he sent his Word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions Psal 107.19 20. Secondly In Imprisonment As all Afflictions for the time are grievous and not joyous Restraint or Imprisonment wants not its aggravations for that it restrains a Man from that freedom of Nature in converse which is most desirable by Man as the Philosopher defines him to be a sociable Creature It restrains him from the Comfort of such in whom he delights Relations Friends and Acquaintance It deprives him of the Improvement of his Talent for Religion or Vertue for God his own Family and Common-wealth It abridgeth his Comfort in other Enjoyments It lessens health creates sickness and oppresseth the vitals often to fatal effects and here in this House of Darkness the Lord appears to support his People by manifold Promises either of deliverance or his strength and presence to comfort and uphold them and often to
I am and none else besides me I shall not sit as a Widow neither shall I know the loss of Children but these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day the loss of Children and Widow-hood they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy Sorceries and great abundance of thy Enchantments Therefore all that devour thee shall be devoured and all that prey upon thee wi l I give for a prey for I will restore health unto thee and heal thee of thy Wounds though I make an end of all Nations whether I have scattered thee yet will I not make a full end of thee but will correct thee in measure and not leave thee altogether unpunished Jer. 30.7 11 to 18. And they shall dwell safely therein and build houses and plant vineyards yea they shall dwell with confidence when I shall have executed Judgment on all them that despise them round about and they shall know that I am their God Jer. 50.29 Ezek. 25.26 Thou shalt seek them but not find them that contended with thee they that War against thee shall be as nothing and as a thing of nought Isa 41.12 The Sons of them who afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and they that despised thee shall bow themselves and the soles of thy Feet Isa 64.12 14 15 Behold I have taken out of thy hand the Cup of trembling even the dregs of the Cup of my fury thou shalt no more drink it again but I will put it into the hands of those that afflicted thee which said to thy Soul bow down that we may go over and thou hast laid thy Body as the ground and as the street to them that went over Isa 51.21 22 23. They shall rob them that robbed them and spoil those that spoiled them read Ezekiel 20. all chapter 36. all chapter 39. all Fifthly The People of God in their afflictions have the comfortable presence of God with them but the wicked are wrackt and torn with anxiety and displeasure under Gods Judgmencs In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and bore them all the days of old Isa 63.9 He that dwelleth in the secrets of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty Psal 91. all When thou passest thorough the Waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thorough the Fire thou shalt not be burned neither shall the Flames come upon thee for I am the Lord thy God Fear not for I am with thee be not afraid for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will uphold thee with my right hand of my righteousness for I the Lord will uphold thy right hand saying fear not I will help thee saith thy Redeemer the holy one of Israel Isal 43.2 3. chap 44.10 13 14. The sixth thing God intends in chastising of his People is to teach them to distinguish between Spiritual and Temporal Eternal and Temporary Mercies this being one of the chiefest considerations and proper for Mans direction in his choice of things and useful for Man in his Conversation how to chuse things most desireable we shall consider things Temporal and things Spiritual and Eternal under their several qualities as they are contained in holy Scriptures the holy Evangelist St. John sums up all the things of the World in these three heads The Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and Pride of Life It being usual and natural to all men to seek and affect the enjoyment of what seems best to them wherefore the great point of discretion is to inform our Judgments what things are best which will appear by comparing of things Temporal with thoâ—e that are Eternal The several qualities of Temporal things may be briefly taken up from the foregoing Scripture in these heads First All things Temporal or of this Life are subject to changes and have no certainty or stability in them but things Spiritual or Eternal are parmanent Secondly All enjoyments of this Life are unperfect and cannot make any man happy while he hâ—th them but Spiritual and things Eternal are perfect and make the Possessors happy in tâ—em Thirdly All the excellencies of Creature enjoyments are short of the Eternal Inheritance of the Saints which is Christ and Eternal Life Fourthly All secular or temporary enjoyments leave a Man at his Grave but when this Life is ended then cometh the Saints Eternal rest and continues to all Eternity First Things of this Life are uncertain and changeable the great Saviour of the World Love and Wisdom it self being willing to inform the World and draw them off the uncertainties of perishing things in his great Sermon on the Mount adviseth to Seek Treasure in Heaven where the Moth consumeth not nor the Thief doth purloyn Mat. 6.19 to 34. See what account Solomon the greatest richest and most honourable of all Men giveth of all humane things All his days are sorrow his travel grief his Heart taketh no rest in the Night this also is vanity and vexation of Spirit continually see Eccles 1.2 See the uncertainty of humane things in Nebuchadnezzar Adonibezech Ahithophel Haman Herod and many others see Dan. 4.30 to end 2 Sam. 17. to 24. Esther 7. Act. 12.20 to 24 We find in daily experience a Man to day in Court like a green Bay Tree and next in Disgrace Prison or Misery The Wicked shall perish and the Enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of Lambs they shall consume into Smoak shall they consume away I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green Bay Tree yet he passed away and Lo he was not I sought him but he could not be found but the Lord knoweth the days of the Righteous and his Inheritance shall be for ever Psal 37. Secondly the enjoyments of this Life are all imperfect and cannot make happy The foregoing truth of uncertainty Demonstrate this truth of imperfection and daily experience confirm it the gathering and preserving of Riches acquiring and restlessness in upholding of Honour care to preserve and recover Health do so Cruciate and Oppress Men with such Anxiety that all their Labour and Travel is Sorrow and Trouble Psal 90.9 10. And they have no Pleasure much less Happiness in any Enjoyment the Rich Man in the Gospel went from Christ sorrowful for that he could not hold his Riches and have Life eternal the Scripture tells us we brought nothing into this World with us and it is certain we shall carry nothing out with us and having Food and Rayment let us be therewith content but they that will be Rich fall into Temptation and a Snare and into many foolish and hurtful Lusts which drown'd Men in Distruction and Perdition for the love of Money is the Root of all Evil which while some covered after they have
Heavens for us 1 Pet 1.3 4. This is that Treasure laid up where Moth consumeth not nor Thieves can purloyn this is a State where no change case or Circumstance of time or things can alter for I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.38 39. Thirdly this State is a State of Compleat Happiness we have formerly seen the emptiness of all Human and Temporary Enjoyments That therein Happiness cannot be expected from the uncertainty and vexatiousness even under the Enjoyments thereof but here in this State is fulness of Joy and â—â—easures for evermore he that spared not his own Son but freely gave him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8 32. Violence shall no more be heard in thy Land wasting nor destruction within thy Borders but thou shalt call thy Walls Salvation and thy Gates Praise the Sun shall no more be thy Light by Day neither for Darkness shall the Moon give the light but the Lord shall be to thee an Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory thy Sun shall no more go down nor thy Moon withdraw it self for the Lord shall be thy Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory Is 60.19 20. they shall Hunger no more neither Thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any heat and the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and lead them to living Fountains of Waters and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes Rev. 7.14 15 16 17. Chap. 2 3 4. We are come unto Mount-Sion the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Company of Angels and to the general Assembly of the First-Born which are written in the Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the Blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.22 23 24. Cbap. 3. The Seventh and great end Christ hath in Chastising his People is that which is the great end of the Gospel which is to raise Mens Hearts up to and fix their desires on that great prize of Salvation and Eternal Life as all Actions of Men have their Scope at which they chiefly Level this is the chief thing and ought principally to be driven at for these Reasons First this Great Salvation is for Gods Glory Secondly It is of all things most Profitable therefore most desirable Thirdly It hath the greatest Encouragements attending it Fourthly The Prize contended for is unvaluable First by Mans Salvation ariseth to God great Glory for as Christ is the Alpha and Omega and First-Born of his Brethren and though Originally perfect in himself and Glorious without Addition from Creatures being the express Image of his Person in whom the God-Head dwells bodily by whom all things were made and for him and to his own Glory and all things upheld by him his great goodness is such that he promotes Mans Happiness and sets it before him as his own Glory gave himself to Death for Man and made himself the Captain of that great Salvation by enduring all the Indignities of Human Contempt and his Fathers Wrath by personating Man and taking the Chastisements of his Sins upon him and this he proposeth as his Glory looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the Glory that was set before him endured the Cross dispising the shame and is set down at the Right Hand of God Heb. 12.2 As I live saith the Lord I desire not the Death of a Sinner but rather that he should Repent and live this being not only our Interest but Christs Glory how much and chiefly should we be concerned to promote it Secondly this is Mans most profitable concern all Men Level their Designs and Actions to the most Advantageous Interest and this of Eternal Life according to Christs Advice is most profitable What hath a Man profited if he gain the whole World thou Fool this Night thy Soul shall be taken from thee then whose shall these things be that thou hast wherefore do ye spend Money for that which is not Bread and Labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me and eat that which is good and let your Soul delight in Fatness Luke 12 16. to 21. Is 55.2 Thirdly As this is most Advantagious so it is that in which most encouragement of help and assistance is offered and promised The whole Book of the Holy Writ is full of the great promises of Encouragement and Assistance to the People of God in their pursuit of this great Salvation yea it is Christs great desire that all Men should be saved How often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathereth her Brood under her Wings Luke 13.34 Is it not and hath it not been the Coursâ— and Care of Christ all the Prophets and Apostles to gather and bring Men to the Kingdom of God Christ made a purchase of Sinners but on his own Expences he is that kind Samaritan who Helps Cures Supplies and Recovers when other helps fail when Priests Levites and others pass by without Compassion or Relief he it is who of his own good will brings Deliverance as we see in the often repeated Scriptures Luke 10.10 to 37. Eze. 16. to 9. When we were without strength yea Enemies and Sinners Christ dyed for us so great is Christs Love to Sinners that nothing can stop the Current of his Mercy from them Rom. 5. to 11. First the Multitude of Sins do it not I have blotted out as a Cloud thy Transgressions and as a thick Cloud thy Sins return unto me for I have Redeemed thee Isa 44.22 Secondly the greatness of Sins cannot hinder his Love though your Sins be as Scarlet I will make them white as Snow though they be red like Crimson I will make them as Wooll Is 1.18 Let the Wicked forsake his way and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly Pardon for as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my Thoughts higher than your Thoughts Is 55.7 8 9. Thirdly Cloudiness and Darkness of Condition cannot do it who is amongst you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the Voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and hath no Light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Is 50 10. Come my People enter into your Chambers shut the Doors about thee hide thy self for a Moment until the Indignation be over-past Isa 26.20 I will go and return to my place untill they acknowledge their offences and
seek my Face in their Afflictions they will seek me early Hosea 5.15 by all which we see the Lord in Mercy often clouds his Face from his People not in Anger but to rouse them up to enquire into the cause of his withdrawing and by Afflictions to set them more eagerly on returning to him by Repentance that he may return to them with a healing in his Wings Fourthly No Extremity of Condition can hinder the Love of God to his People he brings back the Captive he raiseth the Dead Bones and causeth them to take flesh and live he unites divided Brethren who are at Enmity and Cements them in Love for all which see Eze. 37. Isa 43.2 25. Ps 91. all Neither Death nor Life Heighth nor Depth things present nor things to come Principalities nor Powers Angels nor Men nor any other Creature can separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.35 to 39. Fourthly The greatness of the Prize to be contended for should raise our great pursuit of that Salvation to our Souls the Holy Scriptures are full in the Enumeration of the many excellencies that attend that great Interest that they are almost infinite and it may be well applyed to that which the Holy Prophet saith That Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive besides thee O Lord what good things The Lord hath laid up for them that fear him Is 64.4 However the great Salvation of Man may be in some measure considered under these Heads First It 's the restoring of lost Man from the deepest State of Misery without power in himself to a State of Happiness in Christ Jesus in the Day thou wast born thy Navel was not cut thou wast in thy Blood no Eye pittyed thee thou wast cast out to the loathing of thy Person but when I passed by it was the time of Love I said to thee â—ive in that often repeated place Eze. 16. to 15. and Rom. 5. to 10. wherein we have the perfect emblem of Mans Misery in Nature and by Sin and the lively Discription of the love of God to lost Man Secondly All in this State are intituled to and are made Heirs of all things and called to an Inheritance Incorruptible as in these foregoing Scriptures Rom. 8.32 and 1 Peter 1.3 and 4. Thirdly They are exempted from all manner of Evil are happy in their Death and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more Death Sorrow nor Crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away Rev. 7.14 to 18. ch 21 4. Fourthly they have all Compleat Happiness and Fulness of Glory are united to God in Christ Jesus and Crowned with his Crown of Glory and admitted into the Inseparable Fellowship of Christ Saints and Angels according to that great Scripture that they all may be one as thou O Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one I will that they may be with me where I am to behold my glory John 17.21 to 25. And for the Fellowship of the Saints with God Christ Jesus Angels and just Men made perfect in the New Jerusalem see that often repeated place Hebrews 12.22 23 24. Thus this great Prize should in the Apostles Exhortation raise our Encouragement to hasten our motion to the New Jerusalem where for being compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses let us lay aside every weight which hang down and the Sin that doth so easily beset us and with patience run the Race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the glory was set before him endured the Cross dispising the shame and is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God Consider him which endured such contradiction of Sinners least ye be wearyed and faint in your Minds Heb. 12.1 Thus as Salvation Eternal Happiness the Incorruptible and Undefiled Inheritance of all things the inseparable fellowship of the Holy Trinity Angels and Saints is the undeniable Prize at the end of our Race the Interest and valuableness thereof ought to raise our constant zealous and patient pursuit thereof for which besides what hath already been said we have these manifold and superexcellent Encouragements First our Salvation is freely of Gods pure Love in Christ Jesus Secondly Christ made and redeemed the World without Mans help Thirdly We have the examples and instances of Christs great humiliation and sufferings on Earth Forthly The different and sure estate of the Redeemed far more excellent and sure than Mans Estate in his first Creation Fifthly The great Priviledges and Excellencies of the Saints in Heaven First God being infinite in Power Wisdom and Holiness absolute and perfect in himself without the help or necessity of any humane Being being to accomplish his Soveraignty of himself of his own free Will and for his Glory he made the World and upholds it Who is the Image of the Invisible God the first born of every Creature by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in the Earth Visible and Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him and by him all things consist And to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 8.6 Secondly As Man The World and all things were freely made by Ood so Man and the World are freely Redeemed by Jesus Christ This of the Redemption of Man by Jesus Christ being one of the most incomprehensible mysteries of free love It may be branched out thus First That it is free without paction or condition of any retribution or satisfaction but meerly by love and good will Secondly That this Salvation is to such who are utterly incapable of helping themselves and in such circumstances as they are in most incapacities and disadvantages Thirdly That it brings with it all means of comfort and suitable supplies Fouthly That it is compleat and full and nothing can lessen the enjoyment or bar the sense of it except obstinate wilfulness and a refusing of the offer Fifthly The Method and Way by which this great Salvation is accomplished to wit by Christs taking on him the humane Nature and in the flesh suffered for Mans Transgressions do much heigthen the mistery of Redemption Sixthly That the Mediator when he hath compleated that great work makes the Redeemed sharers of his own and Fathers glory First That this Salvation is freely of love and good will without paction of any recompence from such as expect and receive the benefit of it appears from these
Scriptures for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom. 3.23 24 25. Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 8.29.30 I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and compassion on whom I will have compassion Rom. 9.15 16. So that it is not of him that wilâ—eth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Ephes 5.8 In hope of eternal Life which God that cannot Lye hath promised before the World began not by works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Tit. 3.5 6. Secondly This Salvation is to such as are incapable of helping themselves and under most miserable circumstances Christ is that charitable and kind Samaritan to the wounded man by the Thieves who brings help when the Levite and Priest whose Office preach charity passed by without giving any â—elief See that â—â—mous and often repeated place â—n instance of mercy and relief when Man was exposed to all imaginable misery in most contemptible and helpless condition where the bowels of mercy are liberally extended and relief is brought from meer love and pity Ezek. 16. to 9. And that other famous Scripture demonstrate the freedom and fulness of love when Man was in the worst of circumstances when we were without strength Christ died for the ungodly God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us for if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved throug his Life Rom. 5. to 12. Nothing can be a greater instance of love pity and compassion than the relieving of one in a helpless state so that Christs redeeming of Souls is unparallelled who relieved Enemies without their own help or capacity to relieve themselves and that famous Scripture of causing the Dead Bones to take flesh sinews and life and become a numerous host is a clear emblem of the Infinite and Free love of God and mans incapacity to relieve himself Ezek. 37. And in that famous place of Gods interposing for his People when all friends and relations are treacherous and helpless Micah 7.4 5 6. From all which we may see the eminent instances of Mans self incapacity and miserableness and of the fulness and freedom of Gods Love and early mercies for him Thirdly The third excellency and encouragement in this great Salvation is that it brings with it all suitable helps and supplies to assist us to promote that great Salvation we find the Apostle discovering to us Gods eternal purpose of Mans Redemption he resolved to bring Man to a conformity with his own Will and Image For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the first born among many Brethren Rom. 8.29 Whereby we find God purposed to have the ransomed and such as shall be saved by Christs Blood to be compleatly supplied with all things necessary to adorn and compleat that great Salvation and this is most manifest in the Scripture He that spared not his own Son but gave him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 He will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he with-hold from such as fear him seek first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof then all things else shall be added thereunto Mat. 6.33 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters and he that hath no money come come ye buy and eat without money and without price and let your Soul delight it self in fatness Isa 55.1 2. Here we find a full free and cheap Market of all supplies from whence may clearly be implyed Gods purpose to have his people whom he adopteth heirs of his Kingdom to be compleatly furnished with all things necessary thereunto Fourthly The fourth and sixth may be comprehended in one that this great salvation is compleat and full in that it hath the enjoyment of God in union of the Father by the Son in the Spirit and the Heirs of that Inheritance are made sharers of all Heavenly excellencies In thy presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore this is more particularly expressed by the manifold priviledges of the glorified Saints and their blessed Inheritance First As it is the restoring of Man from the deepest state of misery and exalting him to the highest pitch of happiness as hath been already shewed Secondly These of that estate are entituled to all things as hath been alreardy shewed Thirdly They shall be exempted from all manner of misery sorrow and grief They have compleat happiness and enjoyment of all things as being eternally united to God by Jesus Christ The fifth and last mystical excellency of this great Salvation is in the method taken by Heavenly Wisdom in the accomplishing of it to wit by Christ the Mediators taking upon him the humane nature and therein making an attonement for Sin in the Flesh This is so great a mystery that it merits all admiration that Jesus Christ though he was from the beginning and from all eternity cloathed with all Majesty and Glory and the first born of all the Creation the Heir of all things by whom the World was made and by whom it subsists who being the brightness of the Fathers glory and express Image of his Person and by himself upholding all things the only begotten Son of God whose Throne is in glory for ever more who laid the Foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the Workmanship of his Hands nevertheless according to the Counsel of his own Will he abased himself to enter into a Virgins Womb and came into the World and under the infirmities of humane Nature suffered the highesâ— indignities that the vilest wretches could have been exposed unto And at last though he knew no sin he gave himself unto Death to make satisfaction for our sins this is that mystery which was hid from the beginning of the World Ephes 3.9 This is the riches of the glorious mystery of love to the Gentiles Col. 1.25 26. Christ the hope of glory And oppositely it is said by the holy Prophet and Apostle Paul Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive besides thee O Lord what great things he hath treasured up for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.3 And though the Tongues of Angels and Men are not able sufficiently to express and unfold this great mystery nevertheless we may sincerely view it in these four heads First The unsearchable dimensions of the love of God to Sinners in his eternal purpose of redeeming the World by Jesus Christ before the World began To make all men see
held forth as a Duty with a promise then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord Hosea 6.3 David was almost tyred out and his Patience worn how long wilt thou forget me for ever how long wilt thou hide thy Face from me how long shall I take Counsel in my Soul having sorrow in my Heart how long shall mine Enemies be exalted over me but whilst he is continuing in his Application to God is strengthned and at last concludes but I have trusted in thy Mercies my Heart will rejoyce in thy Salvation I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me Ps 27.13 14. all This Holy Man continuing in Duty with God was supported by his Confidence in God I had fainted in mine Affliction unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living wait on the Lord and be of good Courage and he will strengthen thy Heart wait I say on the Lord Ps 27.13 14. When he had Experienced great Afflictions in his Family and a long continuance of it he could at last say sing unto the Lord O ye Saints of his and give Thanks at the Remembrance of his Holiness for his Anger endureth but for a Moment in his Favour is Life weeping may endure for a Night but Joy cometh in the Morning Ps 30.4 5. Though he was lashed with Shimei's Tongue yet he could say thou shalt hide him in the Secret of thy Presence from the Pride of Man thou shalt keep them secretly in thy Pavilion from the strife of Tongues Ps 31.21 Though he was forced to sculk and hide and said I shall one Day fall into the Hands of Saul then he could say thou art my hiding place thou shalt compass me about in trouble with Songs of Deliverance Ps 32.8 When this Holy Man takes Breath from his complaining and reflects on Gods Dispensations to him how sweetly doth he set forth the many Advantages and Priviledges of such as wait on God his Eyes are upon them and his Ears open to their Cry The Lord heareth them he delivereth them from all their Troubles he is near to the broken in Heart and loveth the Contrite Spirit he delivereth them out of all their Afflictions not one of their Bones are broken those that hate the Righteous shall be Desolate Ps 34.15 to end The Holy Apostles were never more Thriving and Couragious than under their greatest Sufferings we are troubled on every side yet not distressed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed knowing that he which raised the Lord Jesus shall also raise us and present us with you for which cause we faint not for though our outward Man perish yet our inward Man is renewed Day by Day for our light Afflictions which are but for a Moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and an Eternal Weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.8 to end Ch. 15. to 11. And again that same Apostle testifieth this truth I would have you to understand that the things which have fallen out to me are for the furtherance of the Gospel many of the Brethren in the Lord waxing confident in my Bonds are much more bold to speak the word without fear Phi. 1.12 to 21. and elsewhere he saith for which cause I also suffer these things Nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know in whom I have believed and he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that Day 2 Tim. 1.12 The whole Scriptures and other Histories make mention of the growth and chearfulness of the Saints now in Glory who with great Stability and Patience have run their Course and at the height of their Tragical Sufferings have shewed more Courage and Resolution than when they began their Race Daniel and the three Children Job Jeremiah and the Prophets grew stronger and stronger under their Duties of Continuing in well doing and the Martyr Stephen finished his Course with Joy praising of God and praying for his Enemies Acts 7.59 60. The third thing considerable in this Conflict of Regeneration and Saints Warfare is the Comfort the Saints have in a Sanctified use of all Dispensations and Enjoyments of what they meet with in their Tryals to have any thing and not enjoy it or to want the grace and liberty of right improving of it is a Curse and not a Blessing Experience teacheth that many Worldly Cormorants or Misers have much of the Worlds Wealth Riches and great possessions and yet their Hearts and Affections are so forfeited and glutted with the love and delight thereof that they are slaves to their fancy and delight therein so as they cannot allow to themselves the Comfortable use thereof but either hoard them up as the Idols of their phancy to such as come after them or on the other Hand glut and satiate themselves therewith and have not the Grace or Heart to Communicate them in Charity to the necessity of others as the Rich Glutton in the Gospel who belike did gratifie his Dogs rather than Lazarus in his wants Luke 16.19 to end Although the wise disposer of all things makes his Sun to shine on the Godly and the Wicked and most frequently gives more plentifully of the things of this Life to the Wicked than to the Godly nevertheless his Dispensations thereof is much different First They are given to the Wicked as Snares a Curse and their Portion and with them Eternal Wrath for their mis-improvement Secondly They are given to the Godly only as a means of Subsistance in their Journey Heaven-ward with Contentment and the Sanctified use thereof with a promise of Eternal Life in Jesus Christ as their Portion First It is most certain and Consequential in reason that where the things of this Life are given and the Heart and Delight is fixed on them as their full and sole Satisfaction these things are Curses Snares and Entangle the Soul in Misery and it is certain that such as place not their Content Delight Satisfaction and Happiness in Christ are Wicked and Eternally Accursed and therefore all their Enjoyments are Snares and Curses and they are miserable in the Enjoyment thereof and this is evidently proved First For that as it hath been already shewn that Mans Apostacy by sin hath brought that Curse on the Creature so as the love of the World is Enmity against God and the lawful use of the Creature is only procured by Christs Mediation to such as believe in him So that whatsoever love to the Creature and Enjoyments thereof is not for Christ and founded on him is a Curse and not a Blessing and this is further illustrated from Reason for that First where Contentment cannot be found there is no Happiness Secondly There is no satisfaction to be found in any thing without Christ The first is clear in reason and common opinion which place Happiness in Satisfaction of the Affections and Desires and whatsoever Enjoyment comes not
that length is short of Happiness and brings Anxiety and Discontent And this is clear from Common Experience for let a Man have Wealth if he have not Health Strength and Vigor let him have Riches and if he have not Honour let him have one hundred Enjoyments if any one thing be wanting which either some other hath or he shall please his fancy upon he is not content so not Happy because his Affections or fancy are not pleased and if we consult Solomon the greatest in Experience we may conclude that Happiness in Creature Enjoyments is not attainable The Second is also Demonstrate from Reason and Experience it being most consonant to Reason that no contentment can be found but in that which is permanent and perfect for that Mans Nature is for Novelties and cannot rest on any one thing when something else occurs which either excelleth the other or he doth fancy it doth and indeed it were beneath the Dignity of the Soul which is of a Divine Extract to bottom on any thing which is not of greatest value besides the Soul being a Spirit cannot place and confine its delight to what is only sensual unless it could give satisfaction to the Soul or Fancy and that no Satisfaction can be had in sensual Enjoyments is apparent from the Nature of all Created beings That Holy Apostle John Exhorting against the Love of the World saith Love not the World nor the things of the World for in the World there is the Lust of the Eyes the Lusts of the Flesh and the Pride of Life and these things perish in the using but he that doth the Will of God shall endure for ever Here the Apostle sets forth before us the Inventory or Scheme of the World in these three where by the Lusts he means the Objects and the delights taken in them That we may the better discover That nothing in this World can give satisfaction or is perfect or permanent we shall consider the World and all things in it in these three circumstances First By the Lusts of the Flesh must be meant all sensual Objects and the pleasure taken in them and that there is neither permanency nor perfection as it is proved from the Text so it is demonstrable from all the instances of sensual objects are Riches the object they take the Wings of the Wind and fly away a man may be found Rich to Day and a Begger next as was said of Craesus who was reputed the richest on Earth Irus est hodie qui modo Craesus eras they either torment a man in getting keeping or increasing of them the Apostle tells us they leave a man in this Life or at his Death and in the mean time load a Man with inexpressible cares snares and troubles so as their uncertainty is clear We brought nothing to this World with us and it is certain we shall carry nothing out of it the love of Money is the Root of all evil and they that will be rich fall into many temptations and snares and many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men into destruction and Perdition c. 1 Tim. 6. to 11. See Christs own Testimony of Riches and what clog it is to a Mans Soul whilest looking after better things It is as impossible for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven as for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle Luke 19.20 to 25. chap. 6.24 See his wo unto thee Rich for they have received their Consolation and how he adviseth to provide Bags that wax not old a Treasure in Heaven that faileth not where no Thief approacheth or Moth corrupteth for where your treasure is there will your Hearts be also Luke 12.34 Is thy Lust or desire placed in Friends or Relations how deceitful they be Abel Joseph and David and almost all the train of Saints and experience of all ages can testify trust not in a friend put no confidence in a guide keep the Door of thy Lips from the Wife that lieth thy Bosom for the Son dishonoureth the Father and the Daughter riseth up against the Mother and the Daughter in Law against the Mother in Law and a Mans Enemies are the Men of his own House Mic. 7.5 6. Jer. 9.4 5. note See Davids complaint of the treachery and unkindness of his Friends Psal 88.8 18. Psal 41.9 See what complaint the Church makes of the treachery and deceitfulness of friends and relations Lam. 1.19 And see how the Prophets hold forth the instability of humane friendship Isa 59.16 chap. 63.5 Jer. 30.13 14. The Lusts of the Eyes comprehend all that is taking or delightful to the Sight and what can that be but what is either the contemplation of our own beauty or outward excellencies or the glory of other Creatures our own may wither and Age and Sickness and other vicissitudes make it decay our Infirmities or thousands of accidents can soon make all without us tasteless and insipid to us besides as all Flesh is Grass and wither as the Green Herbs so as there is no permanency in any thing to raise felicity from the Eyes it is not long before these Glass Windows shall be shut the Silver threads be cut and the golden bowl be broken at the Well by Death and thereby the glory of the whole House be darkned Eccles 12. to 9. 〈◊〉 third thing which compleats this pittiful Inventory of the World is the Pride of Life and what is that but a shadow to the Lust of Humane Glory and vain Titles of Honour or Preferment in this World and how short this is of permanency and happiness experience tells us There is no stinting of Mans Ambition the Spirit of Pride rests not in one Title but Envies and Ambitions another and at best all these are but fanciful and have no intrinsick worth in them and are only valuable as Fancy esteems them How soon is all humane Glory extinguished by the least cross Providence from God How was the Glory and Pride of Nebuchadnezzar laid to the Ground when he was turned from under his glorious Canopy of State and rich embroidery and from wearing a Crown of pure Gold sent to feed and lodge amongst the Beasts until his Hair became like Birds Feathers and his Nails like Eaglés Claws and he forced to acknowledge his own nothingness and Gods Soveraignty All whose Works are Truth and his ways Judgment and those who walk in Pride he is able to abase Dan. 4.30 to end How eminently was the Gluttony Pride and Tyranny of Adonibezeck chastised who had threescore and ten Kings having their Thumbs and great Toes cut off gathered their meat under his Table who was forced to acknowledge the Soveraignty and Justice of God as I have done so God hath requited me Judges 1.7 How was the Blasphemous Pride and Ambition of Senacherib and Rabsecah against God and his People punished by Gods miraculous raising the Siege of Jerusalem by sending forth his Angel and
Knowledge and Understanding So to understand things as they are and not only under the dark shadows of humane appearance First of unity of Spirit As God is a Spirit pure holy and undefiled and of purer Eyes than can behold Iniquity and that he must have all his Companions and Citizens of that new Jerusalem like himself and as Christs promise is to prepare a place for his people in that promise Let not your Hearts be troubled in my Fathers House are many Mansions and I have prepared a place for you John 14.1 2 3. And will have them with him so will he have them to be like his Father and him holy as they are holy blessed are the pure in Spirit for they shall see God Mat. 5.8 The natural Man is so cloyed with the liquorish relish of carnal things that he cannot raise his affections to the true contemplation of the things of God and therefore the Children of God must be made spiritually minded The Natural man receiveth not the things of God for they are foolishness unto him neither indeed can he know them because they are spiritually descerned but he that is Spiritual judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.14 15 16. Christians are new Creatures and with them old things are passed away and all things become new they are the Temple of God God dwelleth in them who can have no fellowship with the flesh therefore they must be spirituallized for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit 2 Cor. 5.19 To be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be so then they that are after the flesh cannot please God 2 Cor. 6.15 16 17 18. Secondly Union of the Spirit is to be of one Spirit to mind the same things as God and Christ did before the World began they have and had one and the same purpose intention and mind to do the same things Peace and Unity of Spirit in Counsel and otherwise is the greatest Comfort and Strength of a Society and this is the Harmony of Heaven How doth David magnify this choice blessing How pleasant a thing is it for Brethren to dwell together in unity it is like the precious ointment upon the Head that ran down upon the Beard even Aarons Beard that went down to the Skirts of his Garments as the Dew of Hermon and as the Dew that Descended upon the Mountains of Zion for there the Lord commanded the Blessing even life for evermore Psal 133. all The Lord is a Spirit of Meekness and Peace and by Christs Doctrine the blessing is to the Meek and his Command is to resemble him in the Spirit of meekness I am meek humble and lowly in mind learn of me Mat. 11.28 29. He unites all the Hearts of his People to the unity of glorifying him to have their share of it in constant Hallelujah's see Gods Promise to Christ and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding the Spirit of Counsel and Might and of the fear of the Lord Isa 11. to 10. O the admiration of Gods free love and goodness to the Godly in their elevation to such a state of Glory that he makes them all join in such Elogies of his praises that they prompt one another to their perpetual ecchoings of his everlasting glory see what the Apostle adviseth in this case Keep the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace let the same mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus ye are all called to one hope in Christ Jesus Ephes 4. to 7. To be of the same mind with Christ Jesus is to have the same Will and Purpose which he had as well in doing as in suffering and to do and suffer to the same Ends and Purposes for which he did or suffered any thing Christ did and suffered all things by the joint advice and in obedience of his Father The Father worketh hitherto and I work Lo I come to do thy Will in the volume of thy Book it is written of me Psal 4.6 7 8. Heb. 10.5 In his sufferings and acting in the mystery of Man's Redemption he did all by the resolution of Heaven the Father and Son did agree and join in the Spirit God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Eternal Life Joh. 3.16 17. Here the Father sends and the Son obeys and cometh and both agree in one in the Spirit In the matter of his Passion on the Cross they concur in one Father if thou wilt let this cup pass over but not my Will but thy Will be done Mat. 26.39 42. The Fathers purpose was that Justice should be satisfied by the Death of the Son on the Cross and the Son humbly submits It is finished and yields up the Ghost John 19.30 Rom. 3.25 26. And so in all the course of his Life as well as at his Death all his steps are squared according to the Will and Counsel of the Father as we see in the History of the Gospel From hence in imitation of Christ are taught to us these two great Duties First Submission Secondly A resignation to the absolute Will of God First Submission In all Afflictions Chastisements and Sufferings in all cases we are to exercise the duty of Submission My Son despise not thou the chastning of the Lord nor faint when thou art rebuked Heb. 12.5 to 12. Chearfulness without murmuring and a Patient bearing up under every dispensation is the duty of submission and with the Apostle to glory in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ by whom the World is crucified to me and I to the World And with the Apostle James count it all joy when you fall into divers Temptations Jam. 1.2 The Holy Apostle Paul was a great Proficient in this learning of submission I know how to want and how to abound and in every condition therewith to be content Phil. 4.11 12. And this should be the course and care of all who resolve to follow Christ Jesus to frame their mind and will under all dispensations to submit and acquiesce to the Will of God This was Holy Davids practice under his so severe and great affliction when he had fled from before his Son Absolom who had usurped his Crown and when weeping barefoot and ashes on his head sent back from him the Ark of God the want of which was a great ingredient to his affliction If I shall find favour in the Eyes of the Lord he will shew me both it and his Salvation but if he say I have no pleasure in him lo here I am let him do to me what seemeth good
the elect as well of Soul as Body is changed into the likeness of Christ in Spirit and Body If any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature all things are made New and old things are done away 2 Cor. 5.5 17. That you put off the Old Man which is corrupt according to the Deceitful Lusts and that you put on the New Man which after God is Created in Righteousness and True Holiness Eph. 4.22 23 24. That such fashioning and change must be before the Elect can fully be admitted into the presence of God and enjoy him unchangeably may appear by these reasons First for that the Wisdom and Goodness of God intending to compleat Mans Happiness and to magnifie the Mistery of his love by their immediate enjoyment of himself in the Spiritual Clear and full presence of glory That they may be one with me see me and behold my glory Jo. 17.24 The Communication of Gods glory being so sublimely spiritual and not apprehendible but by these who are purely spiritual therefore our dark understanding must be made spiritual The Natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God neither indeed can do because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.14 15. and therefore in order to compleating of the Saints Happiness and to frame them for that he promiseth to put his spirit in them and give them a New Heart and renew a right spirit in them so as they may suitably enjoy God Eze. 36.25 26 27. Secondly Divine Wisdom knowing how Earthly mindedness runs after the Creature and being intangled therewith is clog'd from thirsting after God and things spiritual to be Carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace for that they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they who are after the spirit the things of the spirit because the Carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Ro. 5.5 6 7. And therefore to wean their Hearts from the World and to wind up the Affections of the elect to himself it behoveth their frame to be made spiritual The Lord Jesus Christ gives this as his Command to his Disciples to be spiritually minded and to mind Heavenly Treasures which are not Corruptible and useth this Argument for where your Treasure is there will your Hearts be also Mat. 6.19 20 21. And thus the Lord Jesus making his People of a Heavenly and Spiritual frame chiefly to mind Heaven and Spiritual things sets their Affections more earnestly on himself disengages them to Human Enjoyments Reconciles them to Afflictions and makes them more easie under the Cross If in Solomons experience that all the World is but Labour and Sorrow and Death is more to be desired than Life how much more easier will the Affections of the renewed be under all Disappointments of Carnal things when with the Apostle they look to Heaven and the inseparable and everlasting Communion of God will they not count all things but Dung and Loss in Compare with the Excellencies of Christ Ro. 8.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present Life are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us And in that other Famous Scripture for our Light Afflictions which are but for a Moment work for us a far more exceeding and an Eternal weight of glory whilst we look not after things which are seen but after things which are not seen for things which are seen are Temporal but things which are not seen Eternal 2 Cor. 4.17 Hence we see how great is the goodness and wisdom of God towards renewed Mortals intreating them with so great Mercy and Love in convincing them of the vanity of Earthly shadows and discovering to them that so High Deep Long and Broad Mistery of Love in Christ Jesus which passeth knowledge and the Riches of the glory of that Mistery which is Christ the hope of all glory made manifest in the Saints Eph. 3.9 18 19. Col. 2.26 27. And by their choice of these excellencies above the Creatures to make all things else to be esteemed of no value and in their Souls desire to Eccho forth none but Christ and having so spiritualized their minds that they can neither Touch Handle Smell or delight in any thing but him and what tends to his glory and their Enjoyment of him Thirdly In the framing of the Saints Bodies at the Resurrection in a Spiritual and Incorruptible Body for Christs designing not only Mans Redemption from wrath to come but also to make them Coheirs and participate with him of his own glory John 17.22 And in respect the frame of our Carnal and Corruptible Bodies is not capable to receive that glory nor to continue under the Enjoyment of it for that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of glory nor Corruption inherit Incorruption he therefore changeth that Corruption into Incorruption and makes Mortality put on Immortality and changeth our vile Bodies into the fashion of his glorious Body 2 Cor. 15.42 to 55. according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phi. 3.21 What then can or will be wanting to compleat the Eternal Happiness of the Saints seeing they have so sure a Covâ—â—ant with such ample Priviledges and that they are and shall be fitted as well in Body as Soul to receive these Rivers of Pleasures in the Enjoyment of God in whose presence is fulness of Joy and at whose Right Hand there are pleasures for ever-more Ps 16.11 What then remains for the Prisoners of Hope but to sit down admire the Heighth Depth Length and Breadth of that Incomprehensible Mistery of the Love of God in Christ Jesus Eph. 3.9 18 19. and by Faith Love and Patience to sit down under his shadow with great Delight Cant. 2.2 and against all Crosses Temptations and Difficulties to take Comfort in the Faith of Eternal Happiness there is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit if God be for us who can be against us who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that Justifieth who is he that Condemneth it is Christ that Dyed yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right Hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus From what hath been said we see Believers firmly stated to the Title of Joynt Heirs of glory with Jesus Christ and in a firm Covenant through him with the Father and having so fair an interest at stake their Duty is to pursue the same with Faith Courage and
Enemies and the last Enemy Death it self by taking away Sin the Sting of Death and as the great Trophy of his Victory hath Blotted out the Hand-writing of Ordinances which was against them and contrary to them and Nailed it to his own Cross and so hath compleated the Victory for Believers Col. 3.13 14 15. From hence may be seen the Truth of that great Mistery of Gods Love in Christ Jesus Eye hath not seen neither hath Ear heard c. Is 64.4 and how great Reason then have sinful Mortals to be much in the Admiration of all the Dimentions of that inexpressible Mistery of Christs Love which passeth knowledge Eph. 3.18 19. As the many Advantages from the Booty in this Conflict and Christs Example is an inducement for chearful fighting so is the Example of the chearful Companions of this Combate of which see a great Tribe of the Royal Combatants under this Banner of Christ fighting to Death with Immortal Glory set down before the Saints Banner is the Cross of Christ God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 In this Cross or Banner Christ carries in it as the Trophy of his Victory and Motto for the Comfort of Sinners that Hand-Writing of Ordinance above mentioned and this is the Magna Charta of Believers Col. 2.14 He that Believeth on him shall never perish but have Eternal Life John 3.14 to 18. Thirdly The third Encouragement for chearful fighting is Christs express Will and Command Let not your Hearts be Troubled you believe in God believe also in me c. Jo. 14. to 5. Rejoyce always yea I say rejoyce evermore Col. 3.16 17. The whole Scripture is full of Exhortations of the Godly's Rejoycing in God Let the Hearts of them that seek the Lord rejoyce again rejoyce in the Lord always I say again rejoyce in the Lord Ps 105. all Phi. 4.4 the Combatants under Christs Banner have peculiar Reasons of chearfulness beyond all others First For that their General was never defeated neither can be for how is it possible that Wisdom Power and Experience which Christ is in himself can be Defeated Secondly All other Souldiers fight in Hopes of Victory here the Victory is insured and already obtained Christ hath already fought the Battel and Christians are but to follow chearfully and receive the Prize He hath trod the Wine-press of his Fathers Wrath and none of the People were with him Is 63. to 5. He is that only High Priest and Sacrifice for Sinners and is the Blood of Sprinkling Heb. 12.4 Heb. 4.15 16. He is our Fore-runner and Harbinger to take possession for us within the Vail Heb. 6.20 He is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7.27 He is offered up once for all By his own Blood he obtained Redemption for Sinners to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 12.27 He is our Advocate to make intercession for us 1 Jo. 2.1 Thirdly All the Soldiers Wounded in this Conflict are Healed and Cured by the Balsom of his Blood He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and with his Stripes we are Healed Is 53.5 O Mistical Balm of Gilead doth any Generals Blood prove the Soldiers Balsom but that of Jesus Christ the lives of Millions of Soldiers are Sacrificed to the Life of their General but this General dyed to save the Lives of his Soldiers God commendeth his Love towards us for while we were yet Sinners Christ dyed for us Ro. 4 25. Ro. 5.9 10. Fourthly Those who fight under this Banner shall never be overcome even though they fight to Death they may be troubled but not destroyed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 1 Cor. 4.8 9 10. They may be killed all the day long and counted as Sheep for the Slaughter and yet in all this be more than Conquerors Ps 44.22 Ro. 8.36 37. He hath so Framed Fitted Fashioned and prepared them in a spiritual Building and Frame by putting his invincible Spirit in them Eze. 36.26 27. and so Armed and Disciplined them in a Spiritual Warfare that they are invincible they have on the whole Compleat Armor of God that though their fighting be against Principalities and Powers and spiritual wickednesses in high places they are secured against all assaults enabled to fight all Battels and though they should and must resist unto Blood and in this fight lose their Carnal Life yet shall they be gainers and victorious Eph. 6.12 to 19. He that saveth his Life shall lose it and he that loseth his Life shall find it Mat. 10.29 He that raiseth up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up and present us with him 2 Cor. 4.14 Fear not him that can kill the Body and do no more but fear him that can destroy both Soul and Body in Hell Mat. 10.28 Fifthly Christ's Soldiers are not straglers but are all chosen of God from the beginning of the World and before the World was Romans 9.8 11 16. Ro. 8.29 30. They are all Named Marked Listed and Entred in Christs Muster-Roll of his Saints they have the Mark of God The White Stone and New Name and on them the Name of God and the Name of the City of God Rev. 7.3 ch 14.14 ch 2.7 ch 3.8 12. so that they cannot be lost stolen or forced from their Colours having Gods Name and Mark on them Eze. 8.4 5. Sixthly They are all given of God to the General Christ Jesus and I have manifested thy Name unto the Men which thou gavest me out of the World thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy Word Jo. 17.6 12 15 24. They are peculiarly guarded and kept by Christ that they may not be lost but are preserved against all evil Ps 91. all Is 54.10 they are protected against all Poysonous or hurtful Weapons no Weapon framed against thee shall prosper and every Tongue which shall rise against thee in Judgment shalt thou Condemn this is the Heritage of the Lord and their Righteousness is of me saith the Lord Is 49.2 16. They are in Christs own keeping so that they are graven on the Palms of his Hands and are Eternally preserved to the enjoyment of God and to be set on his Throne and When he maketh up his Jewels they are spared Rev. 3.24 Mal. 3.17 Seventhly This one thing more is peculiar to Christs Army whereas in other Armies the Soldiers some are pressed others hired of divers Nations Languages Judgments Interests and Perswasions all Christs are Volunteers Thy People shall be a willing People in the Day of thy Power Ps 110.3 They are all of one Spirit with Christ he puts his Spirit within them Eze. 36.25 26. Jer. 32.39 They are all united to Christ and are of one mind and Will with him one in us as we are one John 17.21 They are all of one mind and unanimous amongst