14.31 and the Love both of God and of Christ to us 1 John 3.16 17. and 4.9 10. able to move our hearts to love him again 1 John 4.19 Yea both his Love to his Disciples John 14. and 15.9 10. as an example and motive to us to love them that are his Disciples and our Brethren John 13.34 35. and 15.12 And his Love to those who were ignorant of him lost and perishing as an example to us to love such and a motive as we our selves were such to love such also with a love of compassion yea such as are strangers from us Eph. 2.11 12 13.19 2 Cor. 8.9 Rom. 5.6 1 Tim. 1.15 1 John 3.16 17. Gal. 6 10. Yea his Love to his Enemies is an Example and Motive to us to love to our capacities our enemies also Rom. 5.10 Mat. 5.44 45. Ephes 5.2 1 Pet. 2.21 Yea in this lifting up this Son of man by his Spirit is also the Presence and Efficacy of his Spirit as a Spirit of love to infuse love into us and frame us to love 2 Tim. 1.7 8. Yea Case 13. Would we be furnished with any Virtue and framed to and directed in any good way Look hither and behold Christ Crucified for us and lifted up there-through for and to us and here we may find Motive Inducement and Spirit to inable and frame the heart thereto Yea in most things if not in all Pattern and Example thereof as to say In Bowels of Mercy behold his mercifulness to us Luke 6.37 and 10.37 In kindness Tit. 3.4 In humbleness of mind Phil. 2.5 6 7. In meekness and lowliness Mat. 11.29 In gentleness 2 Cor. 10.1 In long-suffering 2 Pet. 3.9 and 1 Pet. 2.21 22. In forbearance and forgiveness Col. 3.13.14 In patient putting up of wrongs 1 Pet. 2 21 22 23. In love and obedience to God Phil. 2.8 John 14.31 In submission to Superiours in the World Mat. 17.25 27. Isa 49.7 In giving place to wrath Mat. 12.14 15 16 18 19. Isa 42.2 For mens loving their Wives Ephes 5.25 26 c. And to say no more Case 14. In case of loss of our Friends Brethren Relations Husbands Children c. as we have him for a Pattern of Submission to his Fathers Will in taking out of his hand and drinking the Cup he gave him to propose to our selves and imitate in looking upon him John 18.11 So also looking upon him as lifted up for and before us we shall see cause to be submissive to God therein For was it not more for God to give his Son for us and expose him to such Sufferings and Death then to take away a Son or a Daughter a Wife or a Husband or a Friend from us Seeing also by his Sons death he hath made a way through Death to better injoyments and greater happiness then they could have here in this life and hath given to his Son through his death the Keys of hell and death to bring or keep out from Death as he pleases Yea He is the Resurrection and the Life so as the Dead in him shall Live again Yea they do in their spirits live in his Presence and have a fuller Injoyment of him then we have while here Phil. 1.21.23 Rev. 1.18 19. John 11.25 26. And he is the Lawful and Sovereign Lord of all and so of us and ours a Just Righteous Holy Merciful and Good Lord whose Work is perfect and all his Ways judgment Deut. 32.4 Psal 145.8 9. and therefore doth us no wrong in any thing yea aims at our good and profit in all things Heb. 10.8 9 10. And if we believe that Jesus Christ Died and Rose again so we believe that them who sleep in Jesus God will bring With him for the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the Voice of the Archangel and the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first and then we that are alive and remain shall be caught up together in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so we shall be for ever with the Lord These words minded and these things looked to will be for comfort to us 1 Thes 4.14.17 As also that in the mean time the Lord is nigh at hand to us to help us and this Son of man as a Child born to and for us and a Son given us is also an Everlasting Father the Wonderful the Counsellor the Mighty God the Prince of Peace And he will be a Counsellor a Comforter a Provider for and Protector of us and better to us then many Fathers or Mothers Sons or Daughters Friends or Relations Isa 9.6 Yea in a word 〈◊〉 The looking to him is the way to have our understandings inlightned into all Truth our minds renewed our hearts cleansed comforted healed filled with peace joy hope and every good fruit our Souls saved from all evil of sin both guilt filth snare and punishment and from the pollutions of the World and power of Satan and so from every evil thing and our whole Conversation rightly ordered In a word it s the way to be saved from perishing out of the way and much more from perishing in the end and to have and injoy Eternal life Oh therefore let us in all cases and at all times look to him and wistly behold and view him and to that purpose Oh let us with David make it the one thing desired by us That we may dwell in his house and be always beholding the fair Beauty of the Lord and inquiring in his holy Temple Psal 27.4 Seeing also Motive 3. There is nothing else that we can turn to or look upon that can or will do any of these things for and in us no Law or Doctrine if this be rejected and put away or that is beside or swarveth from this no work frame or device of our own or others no Plaister Medicine or Course we can take will heal us in any thing so as to better our conditions For sure if Moses Law will not do it which was given from God himself the exactest and best that ever was given beside then much less will any humane Laws or Injunctions Impositions Works Ceremonies Practices of our own or others but if we turn from this Object we must needs go after vain things and things that cannot profit us because they are vain And though we may kindle fires to our selves and compass our selves with sparks and walk in the light of our own fire yet we must perish and lie down in sorrow 1 Sam. 12.19 20 21. Isa 50.11 Yea though we set any Precepts or Ordinances of Christ before us to observe and practise yet if we observe and practise them without seeing and looking to him and so believing and depending on him for wisdom Strength and Blessing we shall deceive our selves and do like them that made the Word of the Lord to themselves Precept upon precept Precept upon precept Line upon line Line upon line here a little and
shall pluck my feet out of the Net Psal 25.15 And when he had in vain looked for refuge to other things and they failed him then he looked to the Lord for refuge who never fails them that seeks him Psal 142.4 5. and 9.10 For indeed in vain is Salvation either in Grace unto Glory or from Enemies as Sin Satan and their Instruments or Designs looked for from any thing else and therefore it 's good to look to the Lord in whom alone is our Salvation and to wait for him the God of Salvation as in Jer. 3.23 Mich. 7.7 Yea in a word 8. Look to him for all Grace and Blessing the Promises of this Life and of the Life to come For in him all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen to the Glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 And he is the God of all Grace all the fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in him the Fountain of Living Waters who gives freely and liberally and upbraids no man Look therefore for the Mercy of this our Lord Jesus Christ even for the blessed hope and his glorious appearance unto Eternal life Jude 21. Tit. 2.13 And look we to him for all this Secondly In all means As to say 1. In minding his Word and looking into that perfect Law of Liberty as it is called James 1.26 There he is exercising his Spiritual power and affording his help that being Spirit and Life Rom. 1.16 John 6.63 A Ministration of Spirit that quickens and gives Life Strength and Grace 2 Cor. 3.6.8 Ephes 3.16 Heb. 10.29 And gives Wisdom and makes wise the simple Psal 19.9 and 119 130. Yea as it is written The holy Scriptures are able to make a man wise to Salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 3.15 And he that hath the Doctrine of Christ in his heart so as to Believe Mind Love and Obey it hath Christ nay both Father and Son 2 John â— There he is Discovered Pourtraied or set forth so as there-through we may see what an One he is and behold his Grace and Glory with open face as in a Glass through the help of his Spirit as is signified Isa 52.15 Gal. 3.1 2 Cor. 3.18 Look upon him there therefore and there wait on and for him And with this 2. In meditating on him as there set forth musing on and pondering his words and on him as declared therein So it 's said Kings shall shut their mouths at him for what they had not been told shall they see and what they had not heard shall they consider Isa 52.15 They shall understand or mind with themselves namely as looking herein and considering them as Preached in the Gospel for unto that the Apostle applies it Rom. 15.21 Spiritual meditation being as it were an inward Contemplation and wister looking into the Law of Liberty and upon him as set forth therein My meditations of thee shall be sweet saith David Psal 104.34 3. In Praying to him and to God in and through him Then we lift up our faces to him Job 22.26 And therein a man may see his Face oft-times with joy lifting up pure hearts and hands to him Job 33.26 In Prayer we both look up to him and upon him fixing the eyes of our mind upon him we lift up our eyes unto and our eyes are upon the Lord our God till he have mercy on us Psal 123.1 2. There we are to take notice of and know his Name in calling upon it Psal 91.14 15. Exercising Faith which is the exercise of the eyes of the mind also to behold as well as of the hand to lay hold of him in him and his Name otherwise it 's not a Prayer of Faith as it should be and as it 's called Jam. 5.15 4. In his Sacraments or Ordinances of Communion together with him In Baptism we may behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world John 1.29 And in the Supper we have to do with his Body and Blood and his Death shewed forth therein it being a Communion of his Body and Blood held forth there to be taken notice of by us and received of us 1 Cor. 10.16 and 11.26 And for and in all these it 's good to look to him 5. In the Unity of the Spirit with his people and in Fellowship with them in his House his Church his Temple those that have his Name upon them and with them Many people shall say Come ye and let us go up to the Mountain of the House of the Lord to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his Ways c. Isa 2.3 And Oh how good is it for Brethren to dwell together in unity for there the Lord commandeth the Blessing even life for evermore Psal 133.1.4 Thirdly Look we to him and upon him at all times Hear in season and out of season for that 's implied in that the Word is to be Preached in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.2 for there is no Preaching but to some hearers meditate on him as set forth in it night and day Psal 1.2 whether literally understood for so David Seven times a day will I praise thee Psal 119.164 Consider my meditation in the morning will I direct it unto thee and will look Psal 5.1 3. And Mine eyes prevented the night watches that I might meditate in thy Word Psal 119.148 Or Metaphorically for times of Prosperity and Adversity when we are merry beholding his Goodness set forth in his Word or proved in his Works The Word of Christ dwelling in us will lead us to sing Psalms and when sad and heavy then considering in the day of Adversity him that is able to help us Pray Col 3.16 with James 5.13 Eccles 7.14 Yea that we may Bless him at all times and his praise be continually in our mouth it 's needful that the thought of Him and his Name and so the Consideration and Contemplation of him be always habitually in our hearts That out of the abundance of the heart the mouth may speak and we may out of the good treasure there bring forth good things Psal 34.1 2. and 145.1 2. Mat. 12.34 35. 4. With all earnestness and serious diligence even with the whole heart as Psal 119 10. Jer. 29.13 for this is not a matter of sport and divertisement only from some weightier matters but the main and chief thing of all our whole lives Matth. 6.33 The one thing needful or necessary Luc. 10.42 to be looking up to and upon the Lord Jesus therefore the one thing desired by David to dwell in his House that he might behold the fair beauty of the Lord as was noted before Psal 27.4 The things of greatest moment depending hereupon as to say 1. The deliverance of our Souls from the stings and venome of the old Serpent even from sin and death spiritual death and guilt and filth now and everlasting curse and misery hereafter And is this a thing to be trifled
to no godly edifying Or leading men to walk in a road of Practices Observations and Performances of External duties without the Root the great mystery of godliness the right understanding perception and receit of the grace of God in Christ so as to the renewing them in the Spirit of their mind about which there is in many both Teachers and Professors of Religion exceeding great blindness and thence incertainty and confusion in their apprehensions The labour of the foolish wearying every one of them because they know not the way into the City Eccles 10.15 Much zeal there is and may be about the outward form and time of Baptisme the manner and way of Praying receit of the Supper or Communion Hearing Fasting the times and places of Worship with its Formes and Ceremonies yea and about walking in divers Religious practices when yet inwardly pride and arrogancy confidence in our selves our own frames or works with unbelief and rejection of the Grace and Truth of God Despising Hating and even Persecuting men because differing in their modes and apprehensions Envy Malice Covetousness Fraud and such like things lurk and bear sway underneath And yet men are apt to think all is well with them and incourage themselves and one another to expect Gods Kingdom Crying Peace peace where God speaks not peace and healing the hurts slightly that should be made sound like those in Jeremiahs days that thought their having Gods Temple and Worship among them should secure them from Judgment though their hearts were uncircumcised and their ways and doings naught and unmended But it s good to take heed to sound Doctrine the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ and of his holy ones taught and instructed by him for they spake what they knew and testified what they see not stearing our course by the multitude for so we should be rejecters of the Truth For Christs Doctrine was not so crouded after as to be heartily imbraced by the most for then would he not have said We speak what we know and testifie what we have seen and no man receiveth our testimony wherein after signification of his own and his holy Servants fitness for teaching others and faithfulness in teaching he faults and complains of the too great want of credit to and receit of their faithful teachings by the generality of men which he yet signifyeth to be the more inexcusable because he spake but hitherto of things Earthly or done upon earth and therefore thence argues their greater unfitness and incapacity for Heavenly things more properly and in a fuller sense such If I have told you Earthly things and ye believe not how shall ye believe if I tell you of Heavenly v. 12. As implying also his fitness and ability for declaring the heavenly things the things done or to be done in Heaven also Yea and he further signifies his only fitness and sufficiency for declaring them in what he adds viz. when he saith ver 13. And no man hath ascended up into Heaven but he that came down from Heaven even the Son of Man who is in Heaven Signifying as his own descent from and yet being in Heaven so that none but He That Son of Man is fit or able to declare the things of Heaven because none else came down thence furnished with the Knowledge of them And whereas Nicodemus might still be more amazed at these intimations of his coming down from Heaven ascending up to Heaven and being in Heaven even while he see and heard him on the Earth speaking to him he adds the words of the Text. And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life Of which he gives the reason in the next verses For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life c. Whence we may note by the way that Christ did not for Regenerating Nicodemus Preach to him some particular love or special manifestation of it to him more than to others but generally love or grace even the love of God to the World As the Apostle Paul also tells us that that which saved him and others from their natural and sinful state was the appearance of the love and pity of God to mankind Tit. 3.3 4. He saith not it was some peculiar love to them more then to others that was made to appear as the object upon which their eyes and hearts were fastned but the love of God to man more indefinitely and generally And therefore they are not to be heard who rejecting the Testimony of Gods love and grace to mankind and to the World make it their first and main business to Preach special and particular love to some elect and chosen ones as the way to bring Souls in to God Let us follow the way our Saviour hath walked in before us Preach to men Gods good will and love as testifyed to all in general in the gift of Christ and leave it to God to bear testimony to the word of his grace and to work therewith opening their understandings and perswading their hearts to imbrace it and evidencing and bearing witness to them as he who knows their hearts sees good Act. 14.3 15.8 CHAP. II. The words of the Text considered its parts Four main points thence Observed The first point spoken to viz. The Type of the Brazen Serpent lifted up in some brief notes upon it LET us veiw the words themselves which I have chosen to treat on wherein we have 1. The main thing asserted viz. That the Son of Man must be lifted up 2. The manner of it proposed by way of similitude As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up 3. The end of it declared viz. That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have Eternal Life We may note from the words also these several notes or points 1. That Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness that 's supposed and implied 2. That the Son of Man must be lifted up that 's mainly asserted 3. That this latter must answer to the former The lifting up the Son of Man must answer to the lifting up the Serpent by Moses in the Wilderness As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up 4. That the end of the Son of Mans being so lifted up is That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life To the first Point which is the comparison or that by which the lifting up of the Son of Man is illustrated and set forth viz. Moses his lifting up the Serpent in the Wilderness I shall speak more briefly the other points being more principally intended And in speaking thereto I note 1. The thing set up A Serpent 2. The cause or reason of
this was one of his great businesses in the World to teach the People the knowledge of God and of his Kingdom and of the way thereto So we find him Preaching and Teaching the Word of God in the Synagogues and in the Temple and in the Houses and Ships and wheresoever the people resorted to him taking all occasions thereto Mat. 4.17 23. 5.1 2. 13.1 3 4. Mar. 1.14 15 21 38 39. 2.2 Mat. 26.58 Luk. 21.37 38. Joh. 18.20 And he spake and taught them as one having authority even the authority of God his Father and not as the Scribes Mat. 7.29 Job 7.16 17. Therein both declaring to men the love and goodness of God to the World Joh. 3.16 17. And his special love and goodness to them that believe on him Joh. 16.27 28. And his perfect hatred of evil Mar. 9 42 43 44 48. And in a Word both the name of the Father Joh. 17.6 And his Word Instructions or Commands ver 7.8 With Chap. 12.49 50. And so what was and is his will concerning us that we might be saved and live Joh. 5.24 6.29 c. And all things whatsoever we need to know believe and practice 2. By his walking works and doings exhibiting God and his Name and nature to the eyes of Men as it were as well as to their ears for he was God manifested in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 So as God even the invisible God might be seen in him as in his proper and most perfect Image 2 Cor. 4.4 Col. 1.15 Thence it is said by our Saviour He that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me and he that seeth me seeth him that sent me Joh. 12.44.45 And when Philip said to him Lord shew us the Father and it sufficeth Jesus reproving and instructing him made this answer Hast thou been so long time with me Philip and hast thou not known me he that hath seen me hath seen the Father and how sayst thou shew us the Father Joh. 14.8 9. Signifying to us that the invisible God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ was so made manifest in him that in perceiving and beholding his power wisdom and goodness love holiness meekness patience wrath c. The same Attributes of God might be discerned and known and so it might in him be seen how able and wise and willing God is to help save and succour his poor Creatures to forgive their sins to heal their diseases to succour them in their needs instruct their ignorances comfort them in their diseases How loving and good he is to all and yet how he hates their sins and sinfulness And how especially good and loving to the truly virtuous such as are subject to and followers of him c. So that here God afforded to man a sight of himself and of his excellencies in the Son of Man and in his demeanours and carriages doings and sufferings that we might know him love him believe in him obey and follow him and be saved by him and satisfied in and with him How great a benefit was this to the World to have God so represented and made manifest to them and especially to such in it as closed with and followed him out of their false Principles and ways learning of and obeying him who saw his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father John 1.14 So as it might in him be verified what is said in Psal 68.25 They have seen thy goings O God the goings of my God my King That is Christ in holiness or in the holy Place or Sanctuary Again 3. By his walking as man towards God and Man He hath by his example not only shewed us what God is and how he walks toward and among men but also how men ought to walk and please God in their demeaners of themselves towards God and men for as he was man the Son of man walking in God he hath given us a perfect pattern and example of what God requires of and likes in us men As it is said He hath left us an example that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2.21 And as himself said I have given you an example or pattern that as I have done to you so ye should do John 13.15 And so he hath shewed us in himself how we should obey the call and command of God his Father to us How we should perfectly love and trust in God and commit our selves and our ways to him doing all things commanded by him without murmuring and without disputing How we should patiently and quietly submit our selves to him in all tryals temptations and sufferings that he orders to us perfectly casting our selves upon him therein and trusting to him for his support and seasonable deliverance And so therein he hath shewed us a perfect pattern of Humility and Patience And so for walking towards men he hath set us an example of perfect Charity seeking the good of all and doing hurt to or seeking or desiring the harm of none and yet how when we seek to do them good we should not have fellowship with them in their sins but in meekness reprove them and where need is use sharpness therein that is where men are guileful and Hypocritical proud and conceited and there-through set themselves against Gods glory and the good of others under pretence of Religion and Piety towards him And such were the Scribes Pharisees Lawyers and the like so smartly reproved by our Lord. Mat. 23. Luk. 11. 13.14 15. So Christ also hath set forth himself as an example of subjection to the Magistrates and of paying wrongfully and to our own damage what they demand of us rather then give offence by contending with them and striving against them therein Mat. 17.24 25 26 27. As also of patient putting up and suffering injuries from them or others 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. And so of all Righteousness and goodness and of all tender care of and love to such as are good or desire so to be and to that purpose yeild themselves willing and ready to learn that they may know and obey the truth John 15.9 10. 10.15 13.34 c. And he that saith he abides in him ought even so to walk as he hath walked John 2.6 And surely this in every branch of it was a very great grace or gracious condescention of God to us men that he in the person of the Word should be made Flesh and therein give us an evidence of himself his name nature and will concerning us both by his vocal Doctrine and Ministry and by his own demeanour and walking in the Flesh both shewing us the way of Gods walking towards man and the way how man ought to walk towards both God and Men. But again 2. In his being the Son of Man that is very man he hath given us the greater ground of boldness and confidence in our dependance on him and approach to God by him as the Mediator of
according to the testimony of God by his Holy Spirit concerning him Psal 106.3 and accordingly in their hearts liking loving and desiring after the knowledge and enjoyment of him trusting in and cleaving to him with purpose of heart Psal 31.23 Cant. 1 2 3 4. 2.4 5. 5.7 8. 8.6 7. 1 Cor. 16.22 Isa 26.8 9. Phil. 3.7 8 9 10.1 John 3.23 Acts 11.23 24. 2. In their word speaking nothing but what is high holy and honourable concerning him Holding forth the word of life and blessing and speaking well of his name Psal 47.6 7. 98.1 4. 66.1 2 3. 100.1 2 4 5. 3. In their Life and Conversation for there also he may be lifted up and glorified and magnified of us yea both in life and in death Phil. 1.20 As therein also he may be blasphemed dishonoured and denied as is implied 1 Tim. 6.1 Tit. 2.5 1.16 But surely he ought not to be denied blasphemed or put to reproch by us or by occasion of us He hath not so deserved of any man but to be blessed and highly honoured And that is best done when to a high commendation of him in our words we add also such a conversation and carriage as speaks him excellent in our esteems and experiences of him When we shew that he is upright and that there is no unrighteousness in him Matth. 5.16 2 Thess 1.12 Psal 92.15 1 Pet. 2.9 11 12. Now though the lifting him up by his Father in the acts done to him in his personal body in his calling him to upholding and accepting him in raising him from and rewarding him for and after his Sufferings and the obedience and service done and performed by him for us be the main and most fundamental lifting him up absolutely necessary with respect to us and our Regeneration and Salvation Yet I apprehend That the lifting him up also as to manifestation and commendation of him to and in the eyes of others both by the Spirit of God and by men especially his holy Saints and Servants that desire and are set for his Glory and the good of others is here also with the former way and acts directly included and intended And indeed as to his being lifted up of God both Father Word and Spirit it must be so as we have partly said because it was so purposed and decreed of God It was his purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the world that is made manifest now by his appearance in what God hath wrought by and done to him for us 2 Tim. 1.9 10. And as for mans exalting him and lifting him up in his ministration and service in the Gospel and in heart and life it 's no more then God requires of us and his love and the excellency in and love of Christ to us obliges us to and challengeth of us And therefore so it must and ought to be also Psal 96.3 4. But because that must be lifted up the necessity of his being lifted up hath direct and main respect to the end whereto he is to be lifted up that is That whosoever believeth on him may not perish but have eternal life As also the necessity that he be so lifted up As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness hath reference thereto Therefore I shall not more fully speak to the necessity of his being lifted up and so lifted up till after the speaking to those two following Points The Son of Man must be lifted up that 's the second Point The other two follow in order The manner how and the end to which he must be and must be in such manner lifted up For I shall also leave the Use of all this till we have considered and viewed those Points also they both appertaining to the full view of this which is the main Point CHAP. VIII The third Point That the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness Where several Analogies and Agreements between them are considered Point 3 HOw the Son of Man is to be lifted is the next Point to be spoken to and that is As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness In which may be implied 1. As verily and certainly as that was done so must this be done also and indeed that lifting up of the Serpent being a type and figure preaching forth this lifting up of the Son of Man must not be made frustrate for then as a type it should have failed and been false Where the shadow goes before the body follows And where the type and figure was fore-ordained to instruct into the truth that was to be revealed there the truth also thereby signified must in its time take place and be accomplished all things written of him in the Law of Moses also whether Prophecy or Type and Figure must be fulfilled Luke 24.46 But not onely so but also 2. As so As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness So even after such a sort and manner must the Son of Man be lifted up There is agreeableness correspondency and answerableness between the one and the other as may be seen in many Particulars As 1. In the occasion of it There the people walking in the Wilderness were disobedient murmured against God despised his mercy bounty and goodness and provoked him in wrath to send fiery serpents among them to bite and kill them and as a remedy there against that Serpent was commanded to be and accordingly was lifted up And so here men in the wilderness of thâ—s world being ransomed by Christ out of that sentence of Condemnation that lay upon us all for our first Fathers Transgression and under a state of much mercy and bounty from God yet not without trials and temptations are found sinning against God and despising the Heavenly Manna Christ Jesus and the knowledge of God in him and discontent with Gods dealings through the temptations of sin and Satan and so fall under his power and are obnoxious to destruction This occasions a necessity of lifting up the Son of Man both in his exaltation by God and unto men for their healing Yea our first Parents and we all in them being tempted though in a Paradise listening to the Tempter and siding with him to a discontent with Gods allowance to us in the Creation because one Fruit was forbidden and to a desire of and coveting after what was unlawful and forbidden us fell under the power of the old Serpent the Devil and Satan So as by him to be stung and wounded to death even a death of our souls and spirits from the life and favour of God and of both body and soul to be exposed to and filled with misery and mischief to destruction and as a remedy against that Bite it was necessary Christ should be lifted up on the Cross and dye for us and be raised up again and exalted to a state of Power and Glory for raising us up and so he is
him and accept him heartily being discovered and Preached to us to which end also God added the Law for discovering of our sins that so we might look after accept and imbrace the Saviour whom he had fore-promised to us Gal. 3.19 22 24. Yea the very promise and declaration of that Saviour shews us to have been miserable Yea and yet if we neglect him to be in a most miserable condition for in that one died for all It 's most brightly testified that All were dead Yea and in that it 's such a one that died for us as Gods only Son it signifies and testifies yet more The greatness of our misery in our selves and of that death we were fallen into that put us into a need of such a ones dying for us 2 Cor. 5.14 But that will fall in in the third proposition or observation CHAP. X. The second Observation briefly spoken to and some Objections against it answered Obser 2 THe Second Observation is That God hath no pleasure in the death or perishing of men but that they rather should have eternal life And this is evident 1. By his own assertion under his oath that we might be the more confirmed in it as was noted above in Ezek. 33.11 Where he swears As he lives he hath no pleasure in the death of the Wicked but rather that he turn and live And sure if not in the wickeds in no mans death seeing it's the wicked that he every where threatens with Death As he saith to the wicked in the same Chapter Vers 8 Thou shalt surely die And The Soul that sinneth it shall die Chap. 18.3 20. And the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him ver 21. And yet he saith and sweareth that he hath no pleasure none neither secret nor revealed that the wicked should die 2. And his holy servants assert the same who have had his mind and grace in their hearts and declared it faithfully The Apostle Paul asserts That God wills all to be or that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2.4 And the Apostle Peter that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 And the Prophet Isaiah represents the Lord calling all the ends of the Earth to look to him and be saved Isa 45.22 3. The many addresses that God in and through Christ by his Word and Spirit makes unto sinners to call and bring them to Repentance that they might live and not die are so many evidences and convincing demonstrations of his love to Mankind and that he hath no desire or delight that they should perish but have everlasting life For we may not think such a wicked and impious thought of the Almighty who is love and charity truth and goodness it self as if he should pretend one thing and intend another That he signifies one thing to be his desire and will outwardly and desires and intends the contrary inwardly and so dissembles with his lips seeing he protests the contrary Viz. That the opening of his lips are right things That he speaks right things and wickedness is an abomination to his lips That his words are all right and that there is nothing froward or preverse in them Prov. 8.7 6 8. Isa 45.19 Far be it from us to think that he is like to the wicked whom his Soul abhorreth to cover hatred with deceit As is said Prov. 26.26 Now thinking holily of God and according to truth we shall perceive the desire he hath of mens welfare abundantly testified in his addresses to us diverse ways As 1. In his calls and counsells frequently given us As it s said Wisdom cries out she lifts up her voice in the streets crying how long ye simple turn at my reproofs c. Prov. 1.20.23 And doth not Wisdom cry and Understanding lift up her voice Can that be denied Is not that evident and that to men indefinitely yea and to the worst of them therefore it follows that she stands in the top of high places where and whence she may best be heard and cries To you O men I call and my voice is to the Sons of Men. O ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart Prov. 8.1 2 4 5. And so Turn ye turn ye why will ye die O house of Israel Ezek. 33.11 Yea this was one great end of our Saviours coming into the World in order to his saving the World Viz. To call sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 John 12.47 2. In his promising them great and glorious things upon their hearing and obeying his calls Turn ye at my reproofs behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words Prov. 1.23 So in Prov. 8.32 33. Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates waiting at the posts of my doors For whoso findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Aske and ye shall receive seek and ye shall find Mat. 7.7 8. And abundance the like 3. In his threatning sinners if they will take the course to perish and will not listen to his counsels As Because I have called and ye refused I stretched out my hands and no man regarded I also will laugh at your calamities I will mock when your fear cometh Prov. 1.24 26 c. O wicked man thou shalt surely die Ezek. 33.8 And many the like 4. In his reproving expostulating and reasoning the case with men that he might perswade them to their own good Why will ye die O house of Israel Ezek. 33.11 Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters and ye that have no money come buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Why will ye lay out money for that that is not bread and your labour for that that satisfieth not c. Isa 55.1 2 3. 5. In his chastening men also for their follies in neglecting and refusing their own mercy in order to their awakning to Repentance that they might live As he saith I smote them thus and thus yet they turned not to me saith the Lord. As implying that he smote them to that end they might turn Amos 4.6 7 11. All these things doth God twice and thrice with men that he might keep them from going down to the pit c. Job 33.29 6. In his exercising long patience and forbearance towards them with much bounty and goodness to the same end that is To lead them to repentance As is exprest Rom. 2.4.5 With 2 Pet. 3.9.15 Isa 30.18 Waiting that he may be gracious Yea 4. The next Observation is an evident confirmation of the truth of this Namely the gift of Gods only Son the Son of Man for if he gave his only begotten Son to be the Saviour of the World evident it is then that he loved the World and if he loved it he desired not that it should perish but rather be saved
and feelings of evil and makes Conquerours over the world and its frightfullest and sharpest Persecutions as it s said The Lord will give strength to his people the Lord will bless his people with peace Psal 29.11 And this is our victory whereby we overcome the world even our faith Who is he that overcometh the world even the frowns and malice of the world but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God 1 John 5.3 4. In this the Servants of God have been more then Conquerours over all adversities Neither tribulation or distress persecution famine peril nakedness or sword have been able to separate them from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus But for his sake they have been and have endured to be killed all the day long and to be accounted as sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8.35 36. By faith they have grappled with and overcome the greatest difficulties as it 's said Heb. 11.29 33 37. Through faith they went through the Red sea as on dry ground which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned Through faith they wrought righteousness subdued Kingdoms obtained promises stopped the mouths of lions quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the Sword waxed valiant in battel put to fâ—ight the Armies of the aliens Women received their dead raised to life again others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection Others had tryalls of cruel mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonments They were stoned sawn asunder tempted or as some render the word burnt with hot Irons They were slain with the sword they wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented of whom the World was not worthy they wandred about in deserts and mountains in dens and caves of the Earth c. Such great things both fears and tormenting afflictions have they been strengthned under and preserved from perishing from the way by through believing on the Son of Man Whereof also we might add many pleasing examples and instances of Christian fortitude namely through this faith if we would rifle the writings of Eusebius Socrates Sozomen Nicephorus and others of the constancy of the Christian Martyrs and confessors in all ages both under the Jewish Heathen and Antichristian persecutions but I shall not be so tedious 3. In case of sin fallen into through heedlesness or giving way to corruption through want of exercise of faith or through the discovery of and sight of the woful sinfulness of our natures and lives and the great appearing difficulties in the way of God the unlikeliness of ever getting victory over corruption or obtaining such renewedness of heart and life as might fit for the inheritance in case I say of such considerations causing discouragement through want of exercise of believing on Christ the Son of man some have perished out of the way and said There is no hope Jer. 18.12 As Cain Judas and others the Israelites in the Wilderness also Num. 14. were a Type of these But in believing on the Son of Man and exercisiing faith in him and his blood sacrifice mediation plenteousness of redemption in him fulness of Spirit his ingagement and promise to help and succour us every where and his power and faithfulness to perform it and the like Men have and shall be preserved from perishing from the way of the Lord and helped to hold on their way with chearfulness and confidence notwithstanding such discouragements As through faith not only Abraham the Father of the faithful against hope believed in hope according to what was said to him Rom. 4.18 But also Rahab the harlot perished not with them that believed not but though an harlot found favour and mercy a Type and pattern of sinners through believing on the Son of man finding forgiveness and heartned to walk on among Gods people to the injoyment of the heavenly Inheritance as David and Peter did after their falls And so Paul and others notwithstanding what they see and proved of the sinfulness of their natures which they often bewailed and complained of as in Psal 38.17 18 22. 51.1 5 15 16. Rom. 7.14 23 24 25. 4. On the other hand prosperity riches and fulness often prove occasions to turn men out of the way and cause them to perish from it while their hearts are lifted up thereby into a forgetfulness of God and into pride and high-mindedness or are over-charged with the caâ—es and encumbrances of the World or â—nsnared with the ease pleasures and friendship of it which their prosperity gives them opportunities and advantages for as is intimated in those warnings given in that case Deut 6.10 11 12. 8.7 8 12 c. And those predictions in Deut. 32.14 15 18. Which are confirmed also in the after event Hos 13.5 6. And so much our Saviour saith and signifies of those that receive the Word as Seed among the Thornes Who by the cares of the World deceitfulness of riches and love of other things are choked so as not to bring forth fruit to perfection Mat. 13.7 22. And against this our Saviour cautions his Disciples that their heart might not at any time be over-charged with surfetting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and that day come upon them unawares Luk. 21.34 35. The love of riches honours pleasures c. do often cause men to turn away from Christ to save them and preserve them like the young man who though very earnest in running to Christ to know of him what he might do to have everlasting life yet when he heard Sell all that thou hast and give it to the poor and follow me Rather forsook Christ to keep his riches then his riches to follow Christ and obtain everlasting life Math. 19.16 17 21 22. But now where the Son of Man is believed on prized come to depended and relied on and his counsels entertained with sure belief of them as right and good there a man is and will be helped to look upon better riches pleasures prosperity and honours and in compare of them to look upon these as empty and uncertain and to judge Christ worthy the parting with them all for him and trusting to him for his care and provision according to his promise will notwithstanding all threatnings of their loss follow after him and trusting to him for the better and more durable injoyments behave himself as a Pilgrim in all these injoyments here Thus we find that though Abraham Isaac and Jacob had great riches yet they perished not out of Gods way by occasion of them but by faith in Christ believing on him kept his way and charge and behaved themselves in the midst of their injoyments as strangers and Pilgrims in the Earth declaring that they sought another even an heavenly Countrey Gen. 13.2 6. 24.35 25.5 26.12 13 14. 30 43. 32.10 With Heb. 11.9 10 13 14 15 16. And Moses though brought up in
such purpose be led by some blind Zeal for some false way and against the Truth it self opposing it as Errour and Falshood Like the Councel at Jerusalem who forbad the Apostles to Preach in the Name of Christ and the Resurrection of the Dead being Sadduces themselves that denied the Resurrection and therefore also the more zealous against Christ and the Doctrine of his Resurrection that Establisheth it Putting them into Prison and Scourging them for their so Preaching Acts 4.18 and 5.28.40 Though such doing it in Ignorance of unbelief and upon convincement thereof repenting they may obtain Mercy as St. Paul did 1 Tim. 1.13 14. But doing it maliciously and against Light and Knowledg their case is exceeding sad and dangerous Or whether it be out of Will and Zeal to some fond Ceremonies Will-worships or devised and imposed Observances that they forbid the Preaching of the Truth except they will fall down and Worship them in submitting thereto like that in Rev. 13.16 17. Where the Beast and false Prophet cause all that will Buy or Sell that is Trade in Religious exercises to receive a Mark in their Right-hand or in their Fore-head or else they shall be prohibited there-from if not also either Bodily or Civilly killed the fear of falling under the guilt of receiving which Marks caused some that I know rather chuse to be as civilly Dead then to keep their Places and Liberty of Preaching therein upon the terms of Conformity proposed Whether they did well or ill therein God will judg but surely all Hinderrers and Letters of the Preaching of the Gospel are so far as guilty of it fighters against God and his Grand design and therefore in a way to misery and destruction And therefore it concerns all to beware of so doing lest by any Humour Faction Ambition or false Principles whatsoever or undue-standing upon needless disputable matters they incur the guilt thereof Infer 5. They that under any pretence or for any cause reject and put away the Gospel and the Preaching of Christ from them must needs run upon their own misery and destruction in so doing because they put away or neglect their own Salvation even that in which God is offering and bringing Salvation Life and his Kingdom which is Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost to them Whether it be that they only disregard and neglect it through mindfulness of other matters as those who being Bidden to the Wedding-Dinner turned away some in their Farms others to their Merchandize Or those in the Supper who prayed to be excused because they had bought Oxen hired a Farm or Married a Wife Mat. 22.5.7 Luke 14.18 19 20 23. Or whether out of unbelief of the Message or zeal against it or for some other false way deride abuse and persecute the Messengers and Preachers of it Mat. 22.6 7. Or whether they pretend to entertain it but yet denie the power of it and will not suffer it to unstrip them of their own rotten Rags their Carnal confidences hopes and rejoycings in themselves their own wisdom Righteousness Fleshly priviledges and conceits of Righteousness gathered up some other way as from some Applications of promises to themselves or practice and performance of Religious Duties And not from beholding and eyeing the Grace of God in Christ Crucified as also their Wills Purposes and sinful conversations that they might be clothed by and with Christ and his Virtues the true Wedding Garment in which God will accept us Like the man that came to the Feast but took not on the Wedding Garment Mat. 22.11 12. who therefore was taken away bound hand and foot and cast into the outer darkness vers 13. Yea which way soever it be or upon what account soever whether love of the World or fear of sufferings from men that men reject the Gospel and so the Son of man as lifted up therein they inevitably run themselves upon their own mischief both as not receiving the only Medicine prepared for them for their escape from death and destruction For How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2.3 As the wounded Israelites must needs die that neglected the Brazen Serpent and its lifting up it being Gods only Medicine And also as provoking God further against them for slighting his Goodness despising his Wisdom and its Design and Device setting light by his Son the choice Object and Evidence of his Love For if they that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three Witnesses of how much forer punishment shall he be thought worthy who hath trampled under foot the Son of God and counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith he was Sanctified an unholy or common thing and hath done despight to the spirit of grace for we know him that saith vengeance is mine and I will repay Heb. 10.28 29 30. Surely herein the reason and cause of mens destruction is evident and the greatness of it seen to be right and reasonable seeing they suffer not but by and for putting that away which would have made them safe and happy But of this more afterward Infer 6. Lastly Seeing the Gospel is such a glorious Doctrine and of such great good and advantage to men as its a great mercy to a Man or People when God sends it to them So it must needs be a heavy judgment and argue great displeasure against a People when God takes it away from them for is it not his taking away his grace and peace from them May not I-chabâ—d The Glory is departed be said in that case as when the Ark of God was taken from Israel for Salvation and Life and Gods Kingdome is gone then as our Saviour said to the Jews by way of threatning shewing the greatness of Gods wrath against them for their rejecting him and his servants and Gospel ministred by them Therefore I say unto you that the Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation that will bring forth the fruit of it Matth. 21.43 And is not the taking away Gods Kingdom a sad loss to a People seeing therein is contained all spiritual and eternal grace and blessing a sad and fearful judgment and that which above all here is to be deprecated and avoided as laying open to eternal destruction whether it be by sending strong delusions that men may believe a lye and they all be damned that received not the love of the truth that they might be saved 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. suffering those strong delusions to be so publickly imbraced and enjoyned as to justle and thrust out the Gospel as is most grosly and most grievously seen in the Mahumetan Countries and in the Papacy though God is not wholly leaving himself without witness to them or by suffering barbarous and wicked Enemies to over-run a Nation or Country or by taking away his Servants either to send them else-where as when the Apostles the Jews being left to their obstinacy were sent to the
of the living Creatures but Christ not only knoweth what is in them and in men also yea all men Joh. 2.24 25. but also he knows his own name and his Father and Fathers name which none else doth Joh. 7.29 Rev. 19.12 Matth. 11.27 Adam then had provision made for him that he might in standing live and been immortal a Garden planted furnished with all variety of Trees and Fruits pleasant to the sight and good for food and a River of Water running therein to water it and a Tree of Life in the midst of it And surely Christ as he had delight in God and fulness of glory and satisfaction in and with him before his Incarnation it being the same glory he had with him before the World was that now he hath Joh. 17.5 So now also he lives in God yea when in the flesh he lived by his Father as he that eats him lives by him Joh. 6.57 and it was and surely is his meat and drink to do his Fathers will Joh. 4.34 and He also hath planted a pleasant Garden and an Orchard of Pomegranates with pleasant Fruits Camphire Nard Spikenard Saffron and Calamus and Cinnamon and all the Trees of Frankincense Myrrh and Aloes with all the chief Spices and there is or rather he is the fountain of Gardens a Well of living waters and streams from Lebanon Cant. 4.15 And he exercises himself to dress this as the first Adam his and he eats of his pleasant fruits which it brings forth to him Gathers his Myrrh with his Spices eats his honey-comb with his honey The fruits brought forth by his spirit in his People are the joy of his heart and as his pleasant meat and he drinks his Wine with his milk even the love of his Spouse and of his Children to him which he hath begot in them by his spirit and the expressions of it Cant. 4.11 13 14. and 5.1 Joh. 15.11 And he is all this to us and for us Adam again had a Sabbath to rest in and surely Christ rested in the Father and in his love even before the foundations of the World and rests in his love to his People Zeph. 3.17 Yea and having offered one perfect Sacrifice now to God for us is set down and rests for ever from all his sufferings and toilsome work and service in his Priestly ministration at his Fathers right hand there expecting till all his foes be made his foot-stool Heb. 10.11 12 13. And is the Rest and Sabbath for us to rest in Heb. 4.3 4. Mat. 11.28 Adam was made in Gods Image and Christ is the Image of the invisible Majesty the brightness of his glory and express Character of his Person Col. 1.15 Heb. 1.3 Adam was Male and Female as Adam is the common name of both Gen. 5.1 and Christ takes on him both formes often He is the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 Yet sometime he is represented in the Feminine forme as Wisdom hath built her house and hewed out her seven Pillars Prov. 9.1 2. And as he is the everlasting Father that begets Children to himself and to his Father So he brings them forth too through the travail of his Soul Isa 9.6 and 53.10 Yet as God see it good for Adam not to be alone and therefore he made him an help-meet for him out of his side while he was cast by him into a deep sleep and so formed the woman for him and brought her to him that leaving Father and Mother Man might cleave to his Wife even so Christ also hath a Spouse formed out of his side out of his flesh and out of his bone through his sleeping in death which he hath left Father and Mother to cleave unto and in her is his delight Eph. 5.30 Isa 62.4 5. Adam and Eve were naked and were not ashamed in their innocent state or as the words may be read they behaved themselves prudently and did not shame themselves Gen. 2.25 and did not see themselves naked till they had sinned for till then they were comely through the beauty and glory of God upon them and their integrity and innocency and Gods favour and protection was their defence and cover from any thing that might harm them but after they had sinned and Christ was interposed to be their Saviour God clothed them with Coats So Christ also and his Spouse are represented as naked sometimes one to the other and there is no shame therein So Christ is nakedly represented in Cant. 5.12 16. and so we find the Spouse his Church set forth as exceeding comely lovely and beautiful without any Ornaments or clothing mentioned save upon her feet to keep her clean and safe in her walking with him Cant. 7.1 7. Yet at other times we find Christ represented as clothed not as having any thing of shame to be hid and covered but as Adam before he see himself naked was covered with the glorious Ornaments of his own virtues and the glory of God upon him So it is said The Lord reigneth he is clothed with Majesty the Lord is clothed with strength he hath girded himself c. Psal 93.1 and in Dan. 10. we find him clothed with linen his own innocency and purity as the high Priest that was to offer the atoneing Sacrifice and girded with the fine gold of Vphaz that is with his truth more precious then the finest gold as in Isa 11.5 Righteousness the girdle of his loynes and faithfulness the girdle of his reines in Rev. 1.12 we find him clothed with a Garment down to his Feet The Robe of Righteousness wherewith he covereth his whole Body the Church even to his lowest and meanest Members and girt about the paps with a golden girdle his heart girt with love and charity or strengthned therewith the bond of all perfection as it s called Col. 3.14 He hath as Princes use to have changes of Raiment in which is much preciousness We may find him sometimes among his People in Garments of Salvation and Praise Isa 61.10 And sometimes clothed with Garments of Vengeance against his and their Enemies So in Rev. 10.1 We find him clothed with a Cloud as threatning tryal to his Church or vengeance to his Enemies and with a Rain-bow about his head as mindful of his Covenant with them that fear him in Isa 59.17 He is clad as a Man of War having righteousness on as a Brest-plate and the Helmet of Salvation on his Head which he hath for his Body the Church also Eph. 6.14 15 and he put on the Garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal as a cloak And in Isa 63.1 2. He is represented red in his Aapparel and his Garments dyed and stained with blood because of the vengeance executed by him on his Enemies as also in Rev. 19.12 But when he is clad as a Bridegroom or Suitor to our Souls all his Garments smell of Myrrh Aloes and Cassia sweet healthful and purging Spices and Perfumes out of the Ivory
what He hath done for us and to us that He is the Son of God whom we neglect and trample under foot therein that He is the Lord that bought us whom we therein deny that it 's his precious blood the blood of the Covenant by which He procured a gracious Covenant of great and precious promises to be made for us and confirmed and ratified it and the blood wherewith we are sanctified and rendred meet to have liberty and access to and acceptance with God that is therein prophaned by us that its the spirit that discovers his grace and is of his great grace sent forth to call and cleanse us that is despited by us Heb. 10.29 2 Pet. 2.1 That they are his Members who is the Christ and his Temple who hath bought us with a great price for himself that are defiled by us 1 Cor. 6.18 19 20. Case 8. Would we see the emptiness of all our own righteousness that we do or could do for our selves for making our peace with God and obtaining his favour and acceptance Behold Christ crucified as set forth in the Gospel and that declares it and that it will not profit us Isa 57.12 for if righteousness be or could have been that way obtained then Christ died in vain but that may not be supposed therefore no other righteousness could avail us but He to be our righteousness through his Death and Sacrifice no Law could give life to us none but Christ crucified for us upon which account it was that the Apostle cryed out so of the folly and bewitchedness of the Galathians who having had Jesus Christ evidently set forth among them as crucified for them yet would turn to beggerly observations to seek to be justified by them Gal. 3.1 21. with 2.21 Case 9. Would we see our duties either to God or men what 's meet to be performed by us and how short we are in answering his engagements upon us Behold the Son of man and mind the teachings of his grace bringing salvation to us obtaining by his death and sufferings all the freedome from misery and curse and all the enjoyment of the good things vouchsafed to us and what is also for the future set in hope before us yea for ever and then we shall see our selves bound to live to him that dyed for us and rose again and to offer up to God our bodies a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable and that that 's a reasonable service to him that it behoves us to enquire and take notice of his will as our lawful Lord by vertue of his Death Resurrection and Reviving again for us and that we ought to glorify him both in body and spirit as being his purchase and so to use all freedomes mercies and enjoyments with all sobriety righteousness and godliness that we may in nothing dishonour or disserve him but glorify him in all things looking after and waiting for giving diligence that we may be found worthy of the blessed hope set before us and to be revealed at his appearance Tit. 2.11 12 13. 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Rom. 12.1 2. and 14.9 1 Cor. 6.18 19 20. and the looking upon and discerning the Lords body as crucified for us and given to be the Bread of Life to us is the best way to examine our selves and discern our defects and evils and to judge our selves accordingly for them that we may not be judged by Him 1 Cor. 11.28 29 30. Case 10. Would we be quickned up in our duties and way of seeking for and serving the Lord and not faint therein or be slothful or tired out through discouragements The way is to behold and look upon the Son of man lifted up for and before us that we may cast away every weight and the sin that so easily besets us and run with patience the race set before us look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of the Faith There we may see his Example and Pattern and also both Ingagement from his Love to us as the Author and hope of both success and of an infinite recompence of reward as the Finisher of the Faith set down on the Right-hand of Majesty that may make us gird up the loyns of our minds and run with Patience and Courage hoping perfectly for the Grace to be brought in at his appearance as obedient Children c. 1 Pet. 1.3 4 10 11 12 13 14. Heb. 12.1 2. Case 11. Would we be recovered from any Relapses and Decays to our former Strength and be helped to go forward in Christ Jesus Our way is to look upon the Son of man and therein to look to him for healing Virtue Thus the Apostles sets Christ Crucified and the Grace in him before the Galatians when he was in fear of them to recover them Gal. 3.13 14 16. and 4.4 5 6. and 5.1 And so Christ sets himself before the declining Angel of the Church of Ephesus wishing him to remember call to mind look back upon what he was fallen from Remember whence thou art fallen and repent Rev. 2.4 5. And so to the Angel of the Church of Sardis Dead while he had a Name to Live he presents himself as he that hath the seven Spirits of God and so Power to Revive him and as one that holds the seven Stars in his Right-hand signifying his love to and care of his Servants and yet power to do his pleasure with them and wishes him to remember or look back upon how he had received and heard and to hold fast Rev. 3.1 2 3. And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea grown Luke-warm and in danger to be spewed out of his mouth he presents himself as the Amen the faithful and true Witness to quicken up his zeal in minding the firmness of his Promises and truth of his Reproofs and that he is the beginning of the Creation of God to mind him of his Power and Ability to stablish him or give being as he pleases to him and after declaration of his misery sets before him and directs his Eye to behold his Riches Fulness and Freeness and to buy of him what he wanted and his Love and Patience in Rebuking Correcting and standing with patience at the door knocking and waiting for admission and his readiness to come in and Feast with men upon their hearing and opening to him And to him as to all the rest he presents his Love Power and Faithfulness to Reward them that overcome and the greatness of the Rewards he will give them to Cure or Incourage them Rev. 3.14 18 19 20 21. Case 12. Would we be directed to and quickened up in the Love of God and of one another or Charity to the World of Mankind yea or to our Enemies Our way is to behold the Son of man as lifted up for and to us for there we may see his love to God his Father laying down his Life on the Cross in obedience to him as a perfect pattern for our imitation Phil. 2.8 9. John
designs to do it hateth the light neither cometh to the light least his deeds should be reproved Joh. 3.19 20. and so we find the Scriptures every where assert that the cause of Mens destruction is their voluntary rejections of the remedy as in Psal 81.10 11 12 c. When God offered himself to Israel to be their God bidding them open their mouth wide and he would fill it their refusing him his advise and counsel not hearing his voice nor accepting him to be their helper but preferring others before him procured his leaving them to themselves and their Idols and then what but misery and destruction could befall them the like we see in Prov. 1.20 24 25. Wisdom addresses her self to all within and without the City or Church of God reproving their love of their simplicity scornfulness and folly and tendring her grace and spirit to them but they generally will not answer her calls and hear her counsels nor regard the stretching forth of her hands to relieve help or draw them in to her self but put away all her counsels and will none of her reproofs and therefore destruction comes upon them the like may be seen in Isa 66.3 4. Jer. 7.24 25 26. And the like we find our Saviour and his Apostles say of the cause and reason of mens perishing not to be any want of goodness or graciousness in God or want of provision in Christ or readiness in him to help them but mens own wilfulness in refusing and putting from them the grace and truth discovered of God in and by Christ to them for their salvation that they receive not the love of the truth that they may be saved believe not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. That they stop the ear close or wink with the eye least they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and he should heal them Matth. 13.14 15. Acts 28.20 27. Yea the very Heathens who had the least discoveries of God and his goodness and grace that through Christ he exerciseth towards and among men yet perish upon this account that they with-hold the truth in unrighteousness that when they know God they glorified him not as God nor were thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkned that they liked not to have God in their knowledge and the like Rom. 1.18 21 28. 2. As to the equitableness and justness hereof what more just and equitable then that men who will not be saved should perish that they who refuse the most excellent remedy and compleat Medicine and way of healing which the most wise and gracious God in his most perfect understanding and heighth of love and affection hath devised and prepared for them dye of their wounds which through their own default and wickedness they have brought upon themselves Yea when God hath been at a great cost and charge to provide man a Saviour and prepare them help and shewed forth his great goodness therein for their happiness when He hath not spared his own Son but delivered him as made man the Son of man for our offences and raised him again for our Justification and therein and thereby hath saved men from perishing in the first Death into which they were fallen in and through Adam and therein cured that deadly wound given them at first by the Serpent and hath glorified him and filled him with his own infinite fulness of power spirit and all spiritual grace and blessing therein both impowering him and appointing him to raise all men out of the first death which he also will not fail to do and also providing in him all things by which he is furnished for calling and drawing them in to believe and in believing on him to preserve them from the second Death and to make them to live for ever being furnished with authority and fitness to cure all such stings of the old Serpent as might and would otherwise sting them to that second Death and all this without their knowledge motion or desire Yea and through him also and by him making known to us what he hath done and calling and counselling us to come to him and accept of his grace and salvation in and through him through whom also we live and move and have our beings and are made capable of hearing and coming at his call to him in whom we are so compleatly provided for that there is no defect or want of any thing needful for our salvation and everlasting well-being yea and that we might have both the greatest ground of assurance of finding help in him and the greatest ingagements upon all accounts to hearken to and comply with his counsels and yield our selves subject to his will and commandements he hath set before men both his alsufficiency as being the Son of God and God and his having in him all the fulness of God and also the greatness of the love both of the Father in not sparing him but giving him forth and preparing him through so great sufferings to be our Saviour and of the Son in sustaining them for our sakes that there-through he might be so perfected for us how should he not be provoked to great displeasure and so to leave us to dye and perish of our wounds if they or any of us after and notwithstanding all this refuse his calls and will not submit to him to be saved and be made happy for ever by him What man of us and especially what Prince or Nobleman if he be at great cost and labour to prepare either a feast to entertain or a Medicine to heal his poor neighbours likely otherwise to perish through want or diseases could take it well if after that they scorn his love and make light of his provision and yet such is the case of Mankind towards God as the parables in Matth. 22.1 14. and Luc. 14.17 24. shew And surely the offence is so much the greater and the more inexcusable and unpardonable in us men and lays open to the greater and deserves the more severe punishment then any can be deserved from or inflicted by the greatest or mightiest man by how much God is greater than man and more uningaged to us than man and by how much his provision and love therein and the tenders and proffers thereof to men exceed all that can be found in or from men So that God will certainly be just in his proceedings against men in his condemning them and will be justified in the eyes and sight of all his Creatures both Angels and men yea the condemned ones themselves when he is judged as is said Rom. 3.4 And there will be nothing found by men to plead for themselves or condemn him when he enters into Judgment with them not so much for that his power and greatness will bear them down as because of the exceeding great equity and righteousness that will
the dust shall how before him every one shall confess and give an account of himself to Him see Isa 45.23 with Rom. 14.10 11 12. and Philip. 2.10 11 and none can keep alive his own Soul Psal 22.27 28 29. Yea all Nations that he hath made shall come and worship before him and shall glorify his Name because He is great and doth wondrous things He as all the fulness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily is God alone Psal 86.9 10. Yea and all Flesh shall worship him and bless his holy Name for ever and ever Psal 145.21 Isa 66.23 Then shall those Prayers and Prophecies be accomplished that we have in Psal 67.3 4 5 6 7. Let all the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee O let the Nations be glad and rejoyce or sing for joy for thou shalt judge the People righteously and govern the Nations upon Earth let the People praise thee O God yea let all the People praise thee then shall the Earth yield her increase for then shall all things be restored and made new new Heavens and new Earth in which shall dwell righteousness Isa 65.17 25. 2 Pet. 3.13 14. Rev. 21.1 5 6 and God even our God shall give us his blessing God shall bless us and all the ends of the Earth shall praise Him And then what our Lord directs his Disciples and Children to pray for daily shall be fully answered God's Name shall be so hallowed and his Kingdome come that his will shall be done on Earth as it is in Heaven as universally perfectly and perpetually for Sin and Satan and all that are wicked and love iniquity and would not let it go shall be thrust down into the Lake and shall have no place either in Heaven or Earth and those that believe on Christ being saved from perishing therein shall enjoy eternal life The sinners shall be consumed out of the Earth and the wicked shall be no more Bless thou the Lord O my soul praise ye the Lord Psal 104.35 CHAP. XXIX A brief Discovery of the True and False Church their distinct Manners and Priviledges And the Conclusion of the whole Treatise in a Brief Exhortation Use 9 HEre also we may take a brief View of the True Church of God who they be and what their Priviledges Many there be who greatly mistake that as well as their Fathers did mistake the Christ the Son of man the Lord and Head of it many cry up and lift up the Church instead of Christ crying the Church the Church the holy Catholick Church calling men as they think to it when they totally mistake themselves and it doing as those in Isa 48.1 2. who Sware by the Name of the Lord and made mention of the God of Israel but not in Truth nor in Righteousness though they called themselves of the holy City the holy Catholick Church and stayed themselves on the God of Israel the Lord of Hosts is his Name This that men usually magnifie as the Holy Church is but the outward Court that is without the Temple which the Beast and False-prophet the Antichrist or man of Sin sits in and sets up their Image in and which the Angel ordered the holy Man to cast out and not to measure as being prophane and no sufficient mark by which to know who is Holy and Accepted of God it being given unto the Gentiles even to those that are Uncircumcised in heart and life boasting in and knowing themselves by and after their flesh and fleshly Priviledges As their Birth Breeding Riches Learning Places Offices and the like and walking in and after the Flesh performing and rejoycing in a carnal fleshly Worship Religion Zeal Devotion and upon such accounts trampling under foot the holy City which they say they are of but Know Own or Love it not but do hate and Persecute it even the true holy Catholick Church indeed because it hath not nor approves and applauds but reproves and faults such carnal rejoycings and confidences as Adulteries and Treacheries against her Lord even the Lord Jesus That which they cry up in stead of it is the Whore that sits upon the many Waters or multitudes mounted stately upon the Beasts back riding him and upheld by him even by the Imperial power of the World Dressing her self partly with Christs Jewels his Scriptures and Ordinances mingled with and marred by her Adulterous additions her Inventions Orders and Impositions in Doctrine and Worship even the Church or Court of Rome and her Daughters that exercise her or a like power which is so far from being the holy Church that it is indeed a Nest and Cage of all unclean and impure Birds as is too evidently seen in the Lives and Practices of those that are of them too generally from the Pope to the Apparitor every where But leaving that filthy Whore with all her Members drunk with the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus the filthy Sink of sin and wickedness both Mother and Daughters we may note here That the true Church is indeed those and all those who through the Lifting up of the Son of man do believe on him obeying and following him and his holy Doctrine All that in their hearts perceiving his Excellency and Goodness do love and cleave to him receive his Commandments and keep them being Ruled and Governed by him and living in dependance on him These as united in and by one Spirit in and with him and so among themselves and one to another in the Faith and Love of him and love of one another for his sake are his holy Church his Body all of them together and Members of him in particular 1 Cor. 12.12 27. Rom. 12.5 And these need not to nor desire to Lift up Preach and commend themselves as the Whore the false Church and her Members do But they make it their business to lift up their Head and Husband the Son of man in whom they think themselves lifted up sufficiently This Church knowing her self to be his Body his Members his Beloved she judgeth that she hath enough in knowing his Worth Height Glory Excellency Power and Authority and that is the thing that She looks after yea looks upon and admires and cannot but talk and boast of to others She desires nothing but his Love and Fellowship to be admitted into the Knowledg of and Acquaintance with him and through him to have Access to and Acceptance with his Father who is through him her Father also and that she may Honour and Serve him and bring forth Children to him Let him have the Glory the Power the Riches the Wisdom the Strength the Honour and Blessing yea though she be Despised Dishonoured Impoverished and made conformable to him in her Use and Intertainment in the World she is well contented therewith for his sake She leans not upon the Power Riches and Authority of Princes and of the Nobles of the Earth though if God perswades any of