preaching the Gospel to the poor and calling the base things of this world and things that are not shews his lowly mind And his humility hath been abundantly prov'd already He will dwell with the Lowly Isa 57. 15. 2. Object But I have no portion for Christ I am exceeding poor and beggarly I have no Righteousness no Grace no good things dwell in me I can bring nothing to glorifie him I have no ability at all to serve him I cannot pray or do any thing that is good and will Christ accept of me Ans Christs design in these Gospel tenders of himself to sinners is not to get but to give Riches He wants no treasures for himself but he rather wants objects to give them to He wants no goods but like the Rich man in the Gospel he wants room to bestow his goods He is willing to impart his treasure to sinners 2 Cor. 8. 9. Of all persons in the world he is sure to hear the desires of the poor The rich shall be sent empty away but the poor that waiâ— on him shall be heard Psa 69. 33. Art â—â—ou a poor Soul in thy own eyes The Lord hatâ— special regard for such These are the persons he invites to him that have no money no price Isa 55. 1. The poor have the Gospel preached â—o them Math. 11. 5. Therefore sinners 't is â—ot thy poverty can break the match nor hinder â—y reception of Jesus Christ if thy heart be wâ—â—ling 3. Object But I am a deformed loveless Creature I have no beauty at all in me I am black with sin full of all uncleanness and abominations polluted in my blood wallowing in my Mire and Vomit scarce such a nauseous Object as I in all the world O what a filthy heart O what an unclean Soul O what vile affections bave I and will this holy one cast a glance of Love on such a Creature as I I dare not think he will endure the sight of me therefore I am afraid to look to him Answ Believing sinners though black in their own eye yet are comely in Christ's Eye Cant. 1. 5. Faith puts an amiableness on the believing sinner in Christs account This is one of those eyes that ravishes his heart Cant. 4. 9. He looks upon them as lovely that come to him though unlovely in themselves Affections spie no deformity in the beloved object Christs love is so great to fallen man as that nothing appears unlovely in him but an unwillingness to be hiâ— He sees no iniquity in Jacob though therâ—â—e a great deal The halt blind lame impâ—â—â—nt are no amorous Objects yet these Christ invites to his feast Luk. 14. 21. Others are not worthy says Christ but bring these they aâ—e companie for me if they will but come â— Let not thy deformity and the sense of thy uâ—worthiness keep thee from Christ because hâ— hath beauty enough for himself and thee He hath comeliness enough to cover thy nakedness 't is but for some of his beams to reflect on thy Soul and thou wilt be altogether glorious thy perfection lies in his and not thy own comeliness Christ can soon fill thee with amiableness see in Ezek. 16. what a change Grace makes upon deformed sinners The beautie of sinners is Christs beautie put upon them and Christs Holiness imparted to them and there 's enough of it for thee 3. Know that Christs blood is cleansing blood it doth not only cover spots and deformities but it takes away filthiness if thou come to him the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. 4. Object But I am a great sinner none like me therefore I cannot think the Lord Jesus will pass them by or have thoughts of favour for me Ans So was Davids and yet found pardon Psa 25. 11. for thy name sake O Lord pardon mine iniquities for they are great Manassch's sins were notorious and yet upon hiâ— Repentance found favour with God 2 Chro. 33. 3 4 5 6. He reared up Altars for Baalim worshipped all the host of Heaven and served them he built Altars in the House of the Lord and caused his Children to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom He also observed times and used Iâ—chantments and Witchcrafts and dealt with familiar Spirits and with â—izards and when God spake to him he would not hearken ver 10. O abominable sins One would think here was a man ripe for Hell yet upon his supplication when he was in affliction God heard him and pardon'd him ver 12 13. Paul was a flagitious sinner in his own eyes the greatest that ever was 1 Tim. 1. 15. A Blasphemer a persecutor injurious but obtained mercy ver 13. Therefore 't is not the greatness of thy sin can stand in the way of thy mercy if thou come over to Christ with all thy heart 5. Object But I have been an old sinner I have been rooted in sin and liv'd in sin all my days I have been a continual provocation to the Lord for many years through my whole Life sin hath touch'd sin and I cannot think Christ hath thoughts of Love for me Answ So did the Thief upon the Cross he sinn'd to the last hour of his Life and yet obtained mercy Luke 23. 40 41 42 43. So did some of those that were called in at the Eleventh hour yet embracing the call obtained mercy Math. 20. 9 12. it was not the length of their sinning time excluded the Efficacie of salvation-Salvation-mercy when they did come in at the call of it I mention not this for a Pillow to secure sinners but for a Cordial for desponding Souls Now the Gospel calls thee nner if thou come in this hour and embrace the calls of mercy 't is not the length of thy sinning time will make void the Grace of God 6. Object But saies the Soul I have sleighted many calls already I have quenched many motions of the Spirit I have despised the first call and may I have hopes to go to Christ Will he receive me Answ So did Manasseh he did reject many calls God did speak to him but he would not hearken and after his rejection of the first call yet mercie found him The Jews in the wilderness rejected many calls of God yet the Lord said while 't is called to day harden not your hearts Hâ—b 3. 7 8. Though thou hast been guiltie of despising many calls this is matter for thy humbling but not for thy despair 7. Object But I am never the better for all the means and mercy I have enjoyed though I had despised the first calls of mercy yet if I had been the better for after tenders of grace there were some hope But I am still the same notwithstanding all the Sermons I hear and precious overtures of Salvation my heart is hard and dead under all Answ So it was with the Impotent man a great while he was diseased thirty and eight years Joh. 5. 5. He lay at
the Pool's side near the means of cure but never the better ver 6. 7. And so continued till Christs time came to cure him So Israel were barren and unfruitful till the Lord became a dew to them Hos 14. 5. Therefore this is no discouragement if thou believe and come to Christ God will be a dew to thee and thou shalt quickly find a change 8. Object But saith one I am not only never the better for all the means of grace but I am worse than I was before when I was under first awakenings my heart was more tender but now my heart seems to be more brawny and hard I find more unbelief than ever more indisposition to go to Christ I am worse than I was Answ So was Sarah too as to the receiving the promised mercy more and more indisposed she complaines of the deadness of her womb she was past age to be the Mother of Children till the time of life came then Sarah's growing indisposition becomes no impediment at all to the fulfilling of the promise So was Israel they began to say for their part their hope was cut off and God had forsaken them when mercy was nearest to them So the woman that had a bloody issue twelve years and had spent all that she had on Physitians yet was nothing bettered but rather grew worse till Christ came and healed her Mark 5. 25 26. Persons are usually worst in their own eyes when mercy is nearest their doors Again Thy not comming to Christ is the cause of thy decaies and hardnings 't is thy unbelief that deadens thy heart and withers thy Soul Christ doth withdraw his influence from such and refuseth to do any mighty works in them because of unbelief O then Soul come away to Christ and this is the way to cure thee 9. Object But saies the Soul Christ seems to take no notice of me I call but he heareth me not I come to Ordinances but I cannot see him nay he seems to be angry with me every thing goes against me his word speaks bitter things to me methinks there 's never a threatning but belongs to me I am the Hypocrite and unclean person that God strikes at in every Sermon and his rod lies heavy on me too and in the way of his providence he writes bitter things against me Answ Soul is this thy case doth Christ take no notice of thee It is because thou takest so little of him when he unveils his beauty thou dost not believe in him when he makes a promise to thy Soul When he sends words of Counsel thou dost not obey him He hath called and thou hast not answered and therefore when thou callest he doth not answer Zach. 7. 13. Yet at such a time what follows doth God make an end of such sinners No see Chap. 8. 2 3. O Soul if the Lord Jesus Christ seems to take no notice of thee but to frown upon thee it is to frown thee from thy unbelief it is but to make thee sensible of thy slighting him If thou wilt this day accept of the Lord Jesus Christ his frowns will soon pass away as a dark Cloud doth when the Sun shines he will remember thy Iniquities no more 10. Object But may some Soul say I would fain come to Christ but I cannot I like the terms well but O my unbelieving heart O my impenitent hard heart I cannot sense Salvation-kindness Answ O Soul The afflicting sense of thy unbelief is a hopeful sign of thy faith If thou dost see thy unbelieving heart so as to be burdened under it and be weary of it the Lord reckons it for the beginnings of faith Mark 9. 24. This is the method of Salvation-Grace in begetting faith to convince thee of its impotency to believe Joh. 16. 9. Soul is this thy weariness that thou canst not come to Christ Wouldst thou have a wider heart for him Thou art the Soul he waits for that mournest over thy unbelief Mark 9. 24. But there 's one thing more may be as a discouragement to some Souls 11. Object O saies the Soul I fear the time is past and that God will be gracious no more I have had a day of grace but that is gone The Angel came troubling the Waters but I would not step in I bave had the dawnings of mercy but I resisted I fear I have outstood my Market That I have outstrived the Spirit so long that he will strive no more And this bows me down that I am afraid to look up Answ Sinner if this be thy case know that thy fears of losing the day of grace is a sign it is not lost The greatest symptome of departing grace is security and false peace 1 Thes 5. 3. So it was with the people before the flood Noah threatned judgments but they dreamt of peace Math. 24. 37. c. Security usher'd in the departure of grace from them But while the Spirit of grace strives with thy Soul the day of grace is not past from thee Doth God call upon thee now and plead with thy heart And dost thou find some movings and turnings of thy Bowels in thee crying out O that there might be mercy for me that this day of grace may not be past If so then sure the Spirit strives yet with thy Soul Therefore Soul if now thou wilt close with Christ none of these pleas can debar thy closing with him Well Sinners consider the Lord Jesus Christ invites you to come to him once more he demands your answer what say you will you be his or no Do your hearts accept of him Do you like his proposals will you heartily consent to be his upon all his terms If so I shall lay down some Counsels to direct you in your right comming to Christ First Sinner if thou will come to Christ thou must come as a poor needy empty undone Sinner stript of all beauty as having nothing at all that may deserve his favour 'T is the poor have the Gospel Preached to them Math. 11. 5. It signifies such as are brought to great necessities and extremities So Beza renders it Such as are brought very low Therefore some derive it from a word that signifies falling down at the rich Mens feet As some beggers will Ferus interprets it the poor in Spirit that acknowledge themselves mean and are low in their own eyes So Calvin takes it for them that are oppressed with the sense of their own wants such as feel their pinching necessities that lye down overwhelm'd with the apprehension of their emptiness The Treasures of the Gospel are design'd to such Persons that are poor and afflicted in their own Spirits There 's no greater obstacle in this Match betwen Christ and sinners than a sense of self worthyness This keeps many from seeing the beauty of Christ their own Righteousness hangs in their eye they are too heavy laden with their own thick clay I mean the sense of their own worthyness to be
unsearchable Riches 't is by the laying out of Grace to those that publish it To me who am less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given Grace great Grace to the least of Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lesser least or more little than the least an unusual Degradation of a man's self and the Character of an empty and unworthy Instrument in his own eye and so a Subject that needed much Grace to be meetned for such high Service and yet such a one did Christ use in this great Work laying out large Grace to prepare him for it Fourthly Another considerable part of the words are the Persons for whom this Grace is given and to whom these unsearchable Treasures are discovered and they were Subjects most unworthy of it to the Gentiles the chiefest of Sinners blind idolatrous Souls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Heathen Persons extremely wicked 1 Cor. 15. 32. called Beasts wild Beasts Strangers to God beyond the Line of Communication Eph. 2. 12. Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel Strangers from the Covenants of Promise yea Enemies to God in their minds to those did the Lord lay out these unsearchable Treasures To clear up my way to the main truth I intend to prosecute hence and to leave no difficulty in the words 't is necessary I speak to three things by way of Explication First In what sense Paul calls himself less than the least of all Saints seeing he was a Person so dignified by Grace to be a chosen Vessel to God an Apostle of Christ fill'd with the Graces of the Spirit and eminent Endowments for the Ministry beyond many taken into such high Communion with Christ let into the third Heavens to see things unutterable How then can Paul truly call himself less than the least of all Saints Does not Paul speak dissemblingly as the Pope does when he calls himself Servus Servorum the Servant of Servants and yet makes himself Lord over the Faith and Consciences of others I answer Paul doth not hyperbolically debase himself here but really and in the deep sense of his former Vileness before Conversion when he persecuted the Church and blasphemed Christ in the consideration of which he thought none like him never such a Wretch as he did God advance to so high Dignity to be an Apostle of Christ nor doth he think that any particular Saint was so guilty in that kind and degree of wickedness as he was one that kick'd against the pricks persecuted Christ in his Members haling Him to Prison seeking to draw out his very heart blood and to root out the profession of him Now for such a one as he to obtain this Grace to be put in trust with the Gospel and to have such Treasures of Grace imparted to him he thinks that Christ never did the like Favour to any so viâ—e a Creature as he was so base will a Child of God be in his own eyes when once the Lord sets his Sins in order before him Paul in another place calls himself the chiefest of Sinners greater than the greatest of Sinners but never less than the least of Sinners Indeed compar'd with the Pharisees his Sin seemed less than their Persecution and Blasphemy in the degree and nature of it his was ignorantly theirs was maliciously perpetrated and so the Sin against the Holy Ghost and in that respect his Sin was less than theirs but compar'd with any that were saved he thought himself really less than any of them in regard of his sinful Life before Conversion Secondly What is this Grace which Paul so admires and by which his Condition is so changed and he enabled to preach those Unsearchable Riches of Christ Answ First By Grace here is understood that infinite Favour and free Grace of God to him through Christ by which he was called out of the state of Sin and Death into the Knowledge and Kingdom of God that ever the Lord should pitch on such a vile Wretch as he and choose him to be a Vessel of Mercy revealing his Son with his Unsearchable Riches to so poor and unworthy a Creature pardoning his great Transgressions and pouring out his infinite Treasures on him Secondly By Grace in this place some understand his Apostleship which he obtained at the hand of Christ and the Ministry he received to preach to the Gentiles these Unsearchable Riches of Christ so is it rendred Rom. 1. 5. By whom we have received Grace and Apostleship Thirdly Hereby is meant also those excellent Gifts he had received for this end those choice anointings of the Spirit and Revelation of the Mystery to so poor and scandalous a Creature as Paul had been and one that was so ignorant of Christ and Salvation that God should make him such an able Minister of the New Testament and give him any door of utterance and Endowments fit for so glorious a Service This is that Grace by which these Treasures were opened to the Gentiles The third thing to be opened here is What are those Unsearchable Riches of Christ which Paul preached to the Gentiles and which are held out in the Gospel unto Saints and Sinners Answ First Those Riches which are in Christ as Mediatour with which he is enriched in himself those unspeakable Excellencies of his Person which though they reside and inhere in himself yet they contribute abundantly to the Riches of Believers Col. 2. 3. In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge subjectivè as his Treasures found in him All Treasures created and uncreated are not simply placed in him but hid so that they can be known by none but those to whom they are revealed Secondly Here are intended those Riches that came by Christ the Riches of his Purchase the vast Estate which he hath bought for all Believers for all that come unto him by Faith the Estate which he gives makes over and prepares for such and this is called Vnsearchable Riches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Riches that cannot be found or traced out A Metaphor taken from quick scented Hounds that are yet at a loss and can go no farther so the most illuminated Creature cannot follow home these Riches of Christ they are so mysterious that they cannot be discovered they leave no Footsteps for any to go after them the best are at a stand and can go no farther when they come to wade into this Deep so deep and hidden are these Riches of Christ Object If the Riches of Christ be so unsearchable and past finding out How then could Paul discover and preach them out to the Gentiles If they are not to be traced out then Ministers cannot open them nor Hearers understand them Answ First They are undiscoverable by any Humane Eye the most refined Light of Nature cannot discern them they are Treasures that no natural Abilities can reach the most profound Learning and deepest Studies of the wisest men on Earth can make nothing of them they are
entrance within the veil was typified out Heaven Glory As the High-Priest entred within the veil so Christ as an High-Priest is now in Heaven to carry on Redemption-work He is there to oppose all Designs against his People and secure them against all the Impleadings of their Enemies He ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. The word signifies to attain the Mark as an Archer doth or he that throws Darts hits the Mark so the Lord Jesus Christ intercedes so as to prevail Secondly How doth Christ intercede in Heaven Ans 1. Negatively Jesus Christ doth not intercede in Heaven Figuratively As if his Intercession were no more but the vertue of his Merit as Abel's Blood is said to speak Heb. 12. 24. But formally as one that takes upon him the Cause of his sinning suffering people Secondly he doth not intercede Charitatively by way of Courtesie and Kindness which he might do or leave undone as he pleaseth but officially by way of Office and Trust committed to him for so he is our Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. Thirdly Neither doth he intercede Precario in such an humble manner and Mode of Supplication of bowing the Knee and submissive Intreaties with Cries and Tears as the Saints do and as once he did whilst on Earth for this is inconsistent with that State of Majesty and Glory he is in at the right hand of God Heb. 1. 3. But Authoritatively by way of Right and Power as one that hath deposited a sufficient Price and now demands his Captives as one that hath made a Purchase and now requires the thing purchased as one that hath deserved what he moves for and hath Power as God to bestow Secondly Affirmatively and so First Christ's Intercession in Heaven is by his appearing there for us as our Mediator and Surety presenting his person God-man as our Agent and High-priest Heb. 9. 24. As the High-priest of old did appear in the holyest of all with the Names of the twelve Tribes on his Breast and Shoulders for a Memorial before the Lord Exod. 28. 9. to 22. to which says one the Church alludes Cant. 8. 6. Set me as a Seal on thy Heart as a a Seal upon thy Arm as a Manifestation of his Love so Christ's interceding is his appearing in the behalf of his People as their Advocate and Christ's sitting in Heaven in this Relation to his people may be calleâ— his interceding Secondly By presenting his Obedience and Sufferings before the Father on their behalf that they might have the Benefit of it and that God would in Justice communicate the Fruits of it to all his Seed 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. A type of this we might see in the High-priest's bringing the blood of the Sacrifice within the Veil and sprinkling it on the Mercy Seat Lev. 16. 11. to 17. First he killed the Sin-offering and then brought in the Blood before the Lord within the Veil without which his Act was not compleat Thus Christ first sheds his Blood on Earth for his People then enters into Heaven there to present his Blood for us Heb. 8. 4. Thirdly By declaring his Willingness that his People should have all that Mercy and Salvation which they need and that he purchases for them Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be where I am Father I will that my Children have their due 't is true they have sinned but I have suffered they have fallen short but I have fulfilled all Righteousness thou knowest I obeyed for them and dyed for them that all which thou hast promised might be made good to them and Father I will that Justice be done for them in Heaven and I will that this and the other Mercy be given out to them here according as their Necessities and Capacities require whilst Christ was on Earth he came to do his Fathers Will and now he is in Heaven he must in all things have his own Joh. 11. 42. Thus much may be understood by the manner of Christ's Intercession in Heaven Thirdly For whom doth Jesus Christ intercede in Heaven Answ For all that come to God by him Heb. 9. 27. For all that do believe in him Joh. 17. 20. Some desponding Sinners may be ready to say alas this is not for me I am unworthy of so choice a Mercy will Christ plead for such a grace-abusing wretch as I Why Sinner if thou art one that comest over to Jesus Christ and believest on the Son thou mayest lay claim to this Advocate in Heaven and confidently expect the Benefit of his Intercession Again The Lord Christ intercedes for all his People on Earth Joh. 17. 11. And now I am no more in the World but these are in the World holy Father keep through thy own Name those whom thou hast given me The Saints on Earth are the Subjects for whom he intercedes particularly for his sinning people he made Intercession for the Transgressors Isa 53. 12. Some trembling Soul may say Christ's Intercession is for them that are holy but I am vile but know O Soul Christ interceeds in Heaven for his people that sin against him 1 Joh. 2. 2. Again Christ intercedes in Heaven for his weak and impotent people that are compast about with Clouds of Infirmities he hath a special Respect to these as a tender Father hath to a weak Child Christ's grace was sufficient for Paul when his own fail'd under the horrible Buffetings of Satan 2 Cor. 12. 9. Such as are weak in themselves that know not how to pray or wait upon God in any holy Duty as they should these are the Persons Christ pleads for to help them such as are ready to be overcome by Temptations Simon Simon Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Luke 22. 31. 32. Poor tempted Souls hurryed up and down sometimes assaulted with blasphemous Thoughts then poysoned by ugly Temptations put upon this Sin and then the other Sin every day the Devil following them with new Temptations laying in new Batteries against them Now the Lord Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God interceding for these Again Christ intercedes in Heaven for his suffering People such as are in danger of being overcome by their Enemies and have no Might and none to intercede for them Isaiah 59. 16. Sore Judgments there were upon the People of God and that justly for their Transgressions no Righteousness of their own to plead for them nothing at all that could justly intervene between Wrath and them Now in this case Christ steps in and he intercedes and brings Salvation These are the persons Christ intercedes for in Heaven Fourthly What doth the Lord Jesus intercede for in the behalf of his People First One thing he pleads for is for their Preservation in the World and from the Evil of the World Joh. 17. 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the World but
with God through this Intercession of Christ Eph. 1. 6. Who hath made us accepted in the Beloved All that glorious Chain of Mercy that is made over to and fastned upon the Believer hath its tye to Jesus Christ Predestination Adoption Justification Sanctification and Salvation are all laid upon Christ It is a piece of usual weakness in poor Believers or rather Doubting-souls to judge of their Acceptance with God or Non-acceptance according to their Deservings or ill-deservings and the nature and frame of their Spirits and Duties when they have been drawn out in Frames and wonderfully rais'd in Duties they think now they shall find Favour But it is not that which gives your Suits Entertainment in Heaven it is as God accepts the Soul in Christ notwithstanding all the Failings and Infirmities of Believers they are entertained with a well done good and faithful Servant upon the account of Christ Again They are sure to be secur'd against the prevailing Power of all their Enemies let Beelzebub with all his Train and Forces be united against them he must be broken to pieces for Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding for them Sin shall have no Dominion over them Rom. 6. 14. God will bruise Satan under their Feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. Hence it is they may be sure none of their Enemies shall prevail Luke 1. 74. Again They may be sure to receive more Grace and Life more abundantly God giveth more Grace James 5. 6. whilst Christ's Interest holds in Heaven whilst he hath a Fullness of Grace to bestow Believers may expect more Access to the Throne of Grace at all times in his Name is another procured Advantage of his Intercession it is by the Blood of Christ Believers come to God with Boldness Heb. 4. 14. 16. Heb. 10. 21. 22. Hence the Blood of Christ makes Peace and an open door for Believers to approach to God Eph. 3. 12. Because he is there at the Throne of Grace he will open his Door to his Children and let them in within the Veil what tender Mother would shut the door against her weeping Child Again They have not only Access to the Throne of Grace but Success they shall speed when they cry with all their Hearts Joh. 14. 13. 14. Whatsoever you shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son if you shall ask any thing in my Name I will do it Christ was leaving his Disciples and they might tremblingly dispond how shall we live when thou art gone the World will persecute us and Satan will devour us Why says Christ I will protect you then as well as now and hear your Requests you think it is only your Concernment to have your Prayers answered no it is the Concernment of my Father too his Glory lies at stake for it O! what bold Encouragement is this Rev. 8. 3 4 5. Prayers ascended up and presently comes down Thunders Noises Lightnings and Earth-quakes as a Symbol of God's Reception believe it Saints have still as great Potency with God on the Account of Christ as ever and their right Prayers shall surely find an answer at the Throne of Grace Again They shall certainly have Perseverance in Grace for the Certainty of a Believers Graces depend not upon his own Strength that it should dye if he cease to exercise it but is secured by the Intercession of Christ Luke 22. 32. Jer. 32. 40. Another Effect of Christ's Intercession is this The Saints have Oneness with and an Interest in the Love of God Jo. 17. 21. 22. And they shall be sure of Grace and of Glory they shall have a Mansion in Heaven Jo. 14. 3. Jo. 17. 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am to behold my Glory CHAP. VI. Shewing the Willingness of Christ that Sinners should be saved the Sin and Misery of such as refuse Christ with Reproof to several sorts of Persons WE have a little opened the Transcendent Glory of Christ as Mediator wherein so much of his vast Treasury lies we come now to make some Application of this glorious point First By way of Information First How wonderfully are poor Sinners indebted to the Lord for giving such a Mediator as Jesus Christ God-Man none else in Heaven or Earth could have procured the Salvation of lost Sinners had he been God only he had had neither Right or Capacity to suffer had he been only Man he could never have born up under the dreadful weight of these Sufferings Death would have had Dominion over him his Sufferings unsatisfactory his Intercession rejected and all the hopes of Sinners perished but now he is able to save all that come to God by him O admire at and rejoyce in this Love of God in giving Christ Jo. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Life and Liberty Health and Strength Peace and Plenty are excellent Mercies but the giving of Christ is transcendently super-eminent Can you bless the Lord for lower Springs O adore these upper ones this Grace that brings Salvation Secondly See the Willingness of Christ that Sinners should be saved he would never else have assum'd the work of a Mediatour nor have given himself for this very end that Sinners might be brought to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. He would never have undertaken the bloody way of Death nor drunk off such a bitter tremendous Cup that Sin had brewed for him he would not have interceded with God for Terms of Reconciliation nor undergone such direful unconceivable Torments had he not been willing Sinners should live hath Christ so carefully prepared the Ministration of Reconciliation and absolutely commanded the Promulgation of the Gospel to every Creature Mark 16. 15. Hath he laid such a Necessity on his Messengers and Ambassadors and oblig'd them by the Penalty of fearful Woes to preach the Gospel and he is not willing that Sinners should be saved 1 Cor. 9. 16. See how he charges his Servants to be instant in Season and out of Season to reprove rebuke and exhort with all Long-suffering and Kindness 2 Tim. 4. 1. To perswade and beseech men to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 11. 20. And will he reject them when they come He would not have griev'd and mourn'd so much at Sinners Unbelief and out-standing the day of Grace had he been unwilling they should have liv'd Joh. 5. 40. Luke 19. 41. 42. Behold how he waits till the last hour of the Day and treats his Enemies with an affectionate Kindness why will you dye O House of Israel He heaps up Coals of Fire on their Heads and draws them with Cords of Love and with the bands of a man Mat. 5. 45. Hos 11. 4. he offers Violence by his Spirit to unwilling Souls and attempts the most charming Persuasions to allure them to him he thunders and lightens as on Mount Sinai and threatens them terribly if they will
they cannot sleep through trouble he will sit up with them when they are solitary and dejected he will come and see them Fifthly His comforting them in their Troubles He is the Father of Mercies and God of all Comfort who comforteth us in all our Tribulations Consolating is an act of pity to those that are in trouble 1 Thes 3. 2. So Job's Friends when they had heard of all the Evil that was come upon him they came every one from his place to mourn with him and to comfort him Herein lies much of Christ's pity to his People he would not have them swallowed up of overmuch grief 2 Cor. 2. 7. When they are cast down he charges his Messengers to speak comfortably to them Isa 40. 2. When he brings his People into the Wilderness he will speak comfortably to them Hos 2. 14. Isa 66. 13. chap. 57. 18. This is part of Christ's Intercession in Heaven that the Father would send the Comforter to them Joh. 14. 16. And part of his last counsel that he left with them was That they would be of good cheer Joh. 16. 33. Joh. 14. 1. He began his Sermon with a Use of Comfort Let not your hearts be troubled c. and here he closeth the same with a word of Comfort And indeed the whole of Christ's Fare-wel Sermon was Consolation to his People He would not have them be in Heaviness longer than need did require 1 Pet. 1. 6. but commands them to rejoyce evermore 1 Thes 5. 16. Sixthly His counselling them in all cases wherein they stand in need of his Advice Hence they have Line upon line and Precept upon Precept that they might be wise to Salvation and therefore he is called the wonderful Counsellor Isa 9. 6. Psal 16. 7. I bless the Lord who hath given me counsel Counsel saith Ainsworth about my Sufferings and the Glory that shall follow Job 36. 8 9 10. Adversity sometimes is God's University and Schola Crucis saith Luther is Schola Lucis Mysterious Truths many times spring out of Affliction-depths Seventhly His giving to them and forgiving of them Pity hath open hands and stretcht out arms Christ hath left a large witness of his liberality 1 Tim. 6. 17. Who giveth richly all things to enjoy Men give sparingly but Christ bountifully they with straitned hearts but he with open bowels they sometimes in Reversion but he in possession And he doth not only give but forgive Mic. 7. 18. Who is a God like unto thee that pardons iniquities c Exod. 34. 6. Psal 86. 5. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive Numb 14. 20. 1 Joh. 2. 1. They run into debt and he dischargeth them They do as it were write down their Iniquities and he blots them out Now Are not these admirable demonstrations of his Pity and affectionate compassions of his tender Bowels towards his People Secondly He hath infinite Pity for his Enemies Mercy and good will for Sinners Luke 6. 35. This appears First In his bearing with them and forbearing of them Rom. 9. 22. Endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction How doth the Lord suffer the vilest of men to live and that very long Lo I have come these three years looking for fruit Luke 13. 17. These forty years have I been grieved with this People Psal 95. 10. An hundred and twenty years did he bear with that high and uncurable wickedness of the first World and that after it was come to the full Gen. 6. 3. Four hundred years did God bear with the sins of the Amorites even after he had given Abraham their Land Gen. 15. 13 16. How long did the Lord bear with the Ten Tribes after their Apostasie from his pure Service even the space of two hundred and fifty years in which time there were Nineteen Kings and all wicked men walking in the steps of Jeroboam O! the slowness of God to Anger even against his Enemies that dare him to his very Face yea that trample his Glory under foot and that every day yea hour and yet God spares them to old Age many times Alas how soon are we angry at our Enemies and if but slighted a little ready with the Disciples to call for Fire from Heaven to consume those that receive us not Luke 9. 54. But the Lord Jesus is not so he waiteth that he may be gracious and his long-suffering leadeth to Salvation Secondly His maintaining of them and that sometimes at the highest rate giving them Honour and Riches Prosperity and Favour Pharoah must have a Kingdom and yet an Enemy to his People Nebuchadnezzar an Empire Ahasuerus an hundred twenty and seven Provinces Croesus vast riches and Sardanapalus delicate Pleasures All the Creatures are pressed at their Service the Air Earth and Sea are ransack't to satiate their Lusts Hos 11. 2 3 4. He feeds and cloaths helps and prospers his greatest Enemies and all to heap up Coals of Fire upon their heads Thirdly His affectionate seeking their Salvation This was his Errand into the World he came to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Lost Sinners Matth. 18. 11. Bloody Sinners Ezek. 16. 6. Blind Idolaters Acts 17. 23. Cruel Persecutors Acts 9. 4. Wicked Sorcerers Acts 8. 9. These the Lord Jesus seeks to save he sends his Gospel to invite them to come unto him Matth. 11. 28. Yea beseeches them 2 Cor. 5. 20. Makes large promises to them if they will return Isa 55. 7. Act. 3. 19. Yea how doth the Spirit strive with Sinners that they may be saved Reasons with them Why will you dye Come let us reason together Isa 1. 18. Why wilt thou not suffer me to save thy Soul and to make thee happy to all Eternity Poor Sinner I have a real mind to do thee good an affectionate kindness for thee I came from Heaven to save such as thee Behold my hands and my feet see how my heart bleeds for thee Behold how ready my purchase is yonder is thy fair Estate if thou wilt be mine Lift up thine eyes to those Mansions Crowns and Thrones all these shall then be thine See those beautiful Garments consent to me and thou shalt wear thy filthy Rags or lye in those pinching straits no longer thou shalt lodge no more in those stinking Kennels of thy Lusts O poor Sinner why wilt thou stand in thy own light and slight this offer which thou mayest never have made thee more Lo how my Bowels move towards thee see how my Arms are open'd to thee Be mine and I will be thine My Kingdom shall be thine my Friends will be thine my Servants shall be thine My Angels shall protect thee yea attend thee my Creatures shall maintain thee my Wisdom shall guide thee my Faithfulness shall keep thee my Power shall be laid out for thee my Love shall delight thee my Honour shall adorn thee and my Treasure shall enrich thee I will be a loving Husband to thee I will provide all good things for
thee I will rejoyce over thee I will forget the wrongs thou hast done me I will requite thy Vnkindness with Kindness and draw thee with cords of Love with cords saith one woven and spun out of my very Heart and Bowels O miserable Caitiff embrace my Counsels listen thine Ears to Heaven gate and hear the melodious Musick that is there made by refined Spirits why wilt thou rather lye with damned howling Devils than sing Hallelujah's and the Song of the Lamb with saved Souls Accept of me and unchangeable Glory unspeakable Priviledges and Rivers of Pleasures shall be thine Thus doth the Lord Jesus woo poor perishing Souls to be happy and is not this Pity indeed Fourthly His readiness to receive them when they come to him No sooner do they open the door but he comes in Rev. 3. 20. If any man open the door I will come in unto him No sooner doth the Prodigal return but his Father meets him yea runs to meet him as if he could never come soon enough at him Luke 15 20. Mercy is upon the wing when it comes to receive returning Sinners No sooner did Ephraim repent but God repented too As soon as he said Turn thou me God said He shall be turned when he cries Thou art the Lord my God presently God Answers Is he not a pleasant Child So willing is Christ to receive returning Sinners as that he promiseth he will in no wise cast them out Joh. 6. 37. Yea if they cannot come unto him he will go and fetch them and if they cannot go he will draw them Joh. 6. 44. Fifthly His great Joy when he hath obtain'd them The Father of the Prodigal keeps a Feast and makes merry when his lost Child is found Luke 15. 23 24. Psal 104. 31. The Lord shall rejoyce in his Works and this he doth when he hath finished them Heb. 4. 4. But there is nothing the Lord Jesus Christ takes more pleasure in than in the Redemption of Souls Prov. 8. 31. He delighted in the habitable parts of the Earth This you vvill find further amplified in the Parables of the lost sheep and lost piece of Silver Luke 15. from vers 4. to 11. CHAP. XII The Improvement of the Pity of Christ by way of Terrour Encouragement and Advice ARE there such deep and large Bowels of Pity in Jesus Christ not only towards his Friends but his very Enemies Then here is First Terrour to Impenitent Sinners Ah Souls hovv fearfully great is your Sin being a plain defiance to the Mercy and pity of Christ Every Transgression of yours is a kicking the very Bovvels of Mercy and a stab at the Heart of Divine Pity O! hovv vile are your Iniquities vvhilst vvithout Christ They are no less than a despising of the Riches of the Mercy and Goodness of God which would have led you to Repentance and a treasuring up of Wrath against the day of Wrath Rom. 2. 4 5. O Sinners you run on score in abusing of the highest Mercy that ever was you provoke your best Friend against you Alas Who can help you if Mercy it self becomes your Enemy The Bowels of Christ are your last Asylum if this door be shut against you Farewel Souls and can you hope that Mercy will plead for you when rejected by you or will not God hear the Complaint of despised Mercy think you Sinners the Compassion of Christ shall come forth at the last day and say I would have saved that Soul but it would not how often would I have gathered it but it resisted Mat. 23. 37. I offered to pay it's Debts and to get him an Acquittance in the Court of Heaven but he refused it I would have ransom'd him from Death to Life and adopted him to an Inheritance in Glory but he would not I would have stamp'd the divine Nature on him and brought him into the Likeness of the Lord of Glory but he would not I would have put down his Name in the book of Life and secur'd his Title to Heaven but he would not I called he would not answer I perswaded he refused I beseeched he despised I strived he resisted and now Justice into thy hands do I deliver these rebellious Souls to be dealt with according to the Threatnings of the Gospel and Severity of the Law that my Wrongs may be avenged O! what a terrible Complaint will this be Sinners tremble then at the Thoughts of your abusing divine Mâ—rcy Vse 2. Of Encouragement to dejected Souls If there be such tender pity in the Lord Jesus O then take Courage hence to hope for Mercy these Mercies of Christ are infinite boundless and bottomless O what a stock of Mercy is in him for troubled Souls to trade upon what unfathomed Deeps are there in divine Compassions enough to serve all thy Turns and Necessities have thy Sins been many The free Gift is of many Offences to Justification Rom. 5. 6. Of the Offences of many persons be they never so many or the many Offences of one person there is vertue enough in this free Gift of the Blood of Christ for the pardoning them all if such return he saith one that had love enough to give us Christ hath Bowels enough to give us pardon believing Souls shall never dye for Debt if the Bowels of Christ hath wherewithal to pay it O! what Shifts will tender Parents make to keep their indebted Children out of Prison They will beg and borrow of others pinch themselves and spare what they can rather than their Children shall be undone and surely the Mercy of Christ must needs make the most of his Blood and Obedience of his Intercession and Satisfaction for the Pardon of his People And therefore Daniel joyns Mercies and Forgiveness together Dan. 9. 9. Is thy Unworthiness great and deservest thou nothing but Wrath from God O bear up thy Sinking Spirit on the Arm of Mercy Mercy is in vain and signifies nothing if Justice only must take place hast thou abused Mercy and sinn'd away the Favour of thy God Thou hast lost his Gift but he hath not lost his giving the Child spils his Water and goes to the Well to fill his Pitcher again there is more Mercy O troubled Soul in the deep Wells of Salvation for those that seek it Obj. But I have provoked God to withhold Mercy Ans Let me tell thee O distressed Believer there are Forgivings as well as Givings in the Bowels of Christ and I know not which are greater Are thy Wants many Be of good chear Mercy hath enough to supply them all and is as free to give as able and take this for they Encouragement Mercy never gives where there are Deservings Are thy Griefs Labours Fears Troubles and Burdens great Yet comfort thy self Misery and Mercy are a Kin Mercy lives in the â—lymate of Misery and never thrives better than in Misery's Ground to do good to miserable Creatures is Meat and Drink to Mercy John 4. 32. I have Meat to eat
of Christ So that all what Christ hath purchased or the Father promised to Christ is due to his Seed so that Mercy Grace and Glory is as much the Believers due as Death and Vengeance is the Sinners on the score of his Sin 2 Thes 1. 6. 7. Therefore the Justice of Christ is laid to pawn for the pardon of Believers Sins upon their penitential Confession 1 John 1. 9. This is the great Error of troubled Souls that they make their Worthyness or Unworthyness the Standard and Measure of all their Expectations this is the Impotency the violated Law of God hath left on fallen man that they cannot get over Mount Sinai nor see the Righteousness of Christ and the Equity of Salvation upon his account for their Sins and Unrighteousnesses do so hang in their Eye that they cannot see themselves righteous in the Righteousness of another This Tang of a legal Spirit is a malady-Grace is long a curing in Saints themselves the want of which robs Christ of the Glory of his Grace and Righteousness But know O Believers the Lord Jesus would be unfaithful if he render not to those that live on him for Sanctification and Salvation all that he hath promised in the Gospel and hath dyed to purchase for them but this cannot be as you have heard abundantly that the Lord Jesus is faithful in acts of Remuneration he cannot keep back anothers due who would have all men to render to others their due But all that God hath made over in the new Covenant to Believers is their due and therefore will Christ render it in it's season And thus have I opened and proved this glorious Excellency of the Lord Jesus even his Faithfulness it remains now that we make some Improvement of it Vse 1. How great then is the Sin of all those that will not credit the Faithfulness of Christ there are none that perish under the Ministery of the Gospel but stumble at this stumbling block they do not judge God faithful nor believe the report given of Christ Isaiah 53. 1. Though Christ be manifestly held forth to be a perfect Saviour yet few will believe in him not one of a hundred says Calvin that hear Christ dayly will yet believe in him you know it Sinners you may safely adventure your Souls on Christ he cannot lye or fail you you have the whole word of God for your Assurance all the Scriptures testifie of him John 5. 39. Acts 18. 28. You have the Evidences of Christ's Faithfulness in his state of Humiliation he did and suffer'd all things written of him Luke 18. 31. He fulfill'd all Righteousness Matth. 3. 15. His Death Resurrection and Ascension prove him faithful in all things tending to purchase Salvation You have the Testimony of others who have found Christ faithful 1 John 1. 1 2. All the Saints on record are witnesses of Christ's Fidelity Nay you your selves have found him faithful hitherto how often hath he made good his Promises to you when you have called upon him and trusted in him for outward Mercies You trust other things that are unfaithful and yet will not believe in Christ You trust your own Hearts and they are deceitful Jer. 17. 9. You trust in men and yet they are a lye Rom. 3. 4. You trust in Creatures and yet they are vanity Eccles 1. 2. You know without Faith you must perish to all Eternity and yet will not believe in him Vse 2. Then this reproves the People of Christ for their injurious Thoughts of him Joh. 1. 11. He came unto his own and his own received him not This is an aggravation indeed that Christ's own People such as have professed him chosen him commended him and born witness of him and yet will not adventure their All upon him O this secret Jealousie of Christ is a fearful Sin This was that our Lord reproved in Thomas Joh. 20. 5. So Ioh. 14. 11. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else believe me for the Works sake O the Questions and Doubts that Souls have about the fulfilling of Promises how loth they are to trust Christ further than they see him Vse 3. This should humble Christians for their great unfaithfulness Alas how few are found faithful amongst the Saints this day How may we complain with the Psalmist Psal 12. 1. The godly man ceaseth and the faithful fail from among the children of men and Christ seems to Quere where he may find a faithful Steward Luk. 12. 42. And Paul says I know no man like minded to Timothy who so faithfully and naturally careth for your state O the falsness of Professors to the Lord Jesus and one another How rare is it to find one that makes Conscience of Promises and Profession one that is faithful to his Trust to his Word to his Relation-duties and in distributive Justice O Christians Mourn over your great unfaithfulness to God and men to those Souls you are concern'd in Your unfaithfulness to your Children Servants and Neighbours how little have you done for these to this day Some of you are Parents and Masters but where hath been your Industry in your Families in teaching reproving and labouring to save the Souls of those committed to you The Lord lay not the neglect of this to your Charge nor being in the Blood of your ignorant prophane perishing Families Children or Servants on your head I must tell you Friends it will be dreadfully heavy to bear the blood of Souls at the Judgment-seâ—t of Christ and yet I fear without Repentance is like to be the case of some that now hear me who have been unfaithful to the Souls of their Relations Husband Wife Children and Servants who have been too furious in reproving their Faults towards them but scarce ever reproved their Sin against God Who can hear their Children and Servants swear take God's Reverend Name in vain and see them prophane Sabbaths and spend Sacred time in Debauchery and Idleness and scarce ever check them that can suffer them to lye in Ignorance and ready to perish for want of Knowledge and never labour to catechize and instruct them in the knowledge of Salvation This is a lamentable case and will appear so when these Parents and Masters shall appear before God with their garments all gor'd and stain'd with the blood of their Families O cruel Masters and Parents that will be tender of a Horse or a Dog to feed them and secure them from want but can endure to see your children and Servants perish for want of knowledge Vse 4. Here 's Comfort to Believers Is the Lord Jesus Faithful then be of good cheer For First All the Promises of God shall be made good to you in due season He will not suffer a word to fall to the ground of all that good he hath spoken concerning you 1 Sam. 3. 19. Isa 55. 11. 2 Cor. 1. 20. Numb 23. 19. Then you cannot do too much for God you can't
your fellows He will make you Kings and Priests to God he will set you in Heavenly places he will seal your title to a Rich Joynture he will make sure your interest to all the Treasures of Heaven He will possesse you with grace and assure you of glory O sinners is not this argument enough to win your Souls and make you willing to accept of such a Majesty as Jesus Christ Eighthly Sinners think upon the greatness of that love tâ—e Lord Jesus Christ bears you He hath good-will towards Men towards sinners as sinners whiles in their blood he hath a love of pity for you 'T is true till you close with Christ he can have no love of acquiescense in you but he hath a love of good-will to your Souls he hath so much love for you as hath made him willing to shed his blood for you his love brought him down from the Fathers Glory made him willing to drink the dregs of a cup of wrath for you the love of Christ to Sinners hath set up a standing Ministery in the World sent forth multitudes to publish glad tidings O Sinners did you but believe this how attractive would it be upon your hearts to draw you to Christ But if none of these arguments will prevail let me adde one consideration more Lastly The effects of your refusing Jesus Christ will be dreadful if you will not accept of this proposal O think what a terrible answer Christ will send you Such shall not taste of his Supper Luke 14. 24. Not a crumb that fall from this Rich Table of Salvation-chear shall fall to the share of that wretched sinner If you will not have his Person you shall not have his purchase He hath sworn in his wrath these shall never enter into his Rest Heb. 3. 11. O sinner were there no other Hell but the loss of Heaven it were enough to break thy heart in pieces O think upon the sad Issue of thy final unbelief When thy sins get over thy head and thy guilt follows thee at thy heels When Death and Hell shall be at thy back and then to call and cry and knock at the door of mercy and not be heard O what a doleful thing will this be When armies of devils are round about thee ready to snatch thy Soul into everlasting burnings and none to relieve thee O fearful will the case of thy Soul be When thou shalt cry O for mercles sake Help Lord I am going to Hell for mercies sake help and then for the Ear of God to be deaf and thou not have one good word and the door be shut against thee O what a dolefull case will this be for tender mercy to cease is miserable But for mercy to become cruel to you O fearful case indeed when tender Bowels shall become Brass and Iron and there shall be no sounding at all in it towards thy Soul O sinner if thou wilt not accept of this Christ he will laugh at thy Calamity and mock when thy Fear cometh Pro. 1. 26. That 's terrible when God shall not only cease to pity but deride thy misery Be assur'd Soul as quiet as now thou art a day of Calamity will come there will come a time of Fears for thy poor Soul and then will mercy it self be turn'd into wrath and laugh at thy Calamity yet further sinner if thou wilt not accept of Christ then will incensed fury send forth its army of destroyers and ruine and cut off thy Soul for ever Mat. 22. 7. Then shalt thou be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and from the glory of his Power 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Then shall vengeance glut it self upon thy Soul and seize upon thee in flaming Fire O 't is a dreadful thing to lye at the mercy of vengeance O what will not enraged fury do to its adversaries when it hath them at its power But what will divine vengeance do O sinner when God shall arraign thee at the Bar of Judgment for kicking at the Bowels of mercy for Crowning the head of Christ with thorns and trampling his blood under feet what wilt thou do then O canst thou read this and not shake when thou shalt see Devils round about thee and flaming vengeance take hold of thee But thus it will be Then they that would not let Christ reign over them shall feel Devils rending of them Then they that fled from the Arms of mercy shall fall into the Jaws of fury Then they that shut their ears against the fervent wooings of Christ shall open their hearts to the fiery wrath of Christ Then they that would not get into the bosom of Christ shall lodge in the burnings of Hell Then the Furnace of Hell shall be heated seven times hotter for those whose hearts freezed under the warm beams of Christ's Love Oh dreadful will thy state be Sinner if thou refuse Christ Well sinner take the Counsel given thee kiss the Son Iest he be angry turn in turn in hither reach out thy arms come away to Christ say Lord Jesus I am willingly thine Sinners are you perswaded what answer shall we return to this Lord of Glory Will you be his Will you accept of this grace tendered to you before it breathe its last to you CHAP. XXVI Objections answered Counsels how to come to Christ I shall now endeavour to answer those Objections which are made by doubting Souls against their coming to Christ 1. Objection Says a Soul But will this blessed Potentate this glorious King of Kings stoop so low as to look upon such an obscure Creature such a worthless worm as I am Alas I am too mean to unloose the latchet of his shooes I am too unworthy to be the meanest Servant in his House To be a dog to his Flock And will he cast his skirt over me O do not flatter me into such vain hopes and fond dreams that such a King of Glory will look upon me I am too low for one aspect of his Eye Answ Abundant Testimony hath this Lord given of his condescending heart to sinners Dost thou think thou art too low for such a Majesty When he left his Fathers Kingdom and came down from his Eternal Glory with the Father he gave abundant proof of the humility of his heart when he did espouse thy nature sinner to himself and took upon him the form of a Servant he shewed his humble heart that he was far from contemning sinners He was the true Jacob who served a far harder bondage for thy Soul than ever Jacob did for his Rachâ—l this shews his humility His choosing such mean persons such notorious sinners for his companions in nearest Union and Communiwith himself Matthew the Publican Paul the Blasphemer Poor Fishermen of no regard upon Earth These did Christ personally chuse for his nearest Converses this shews his condescension And 't is not thy low state sinner can discourage Christ if thy heart be really willing His
looking up to Jesus and lifted up to him Sinners may be too rich for Christ in their own opinion but never too poor hence the Lord Jesus Christ tells us he came not to call the Righteous but sinners to Repentance Math. 9. 13. Not them that Judge themselves Righteous but them that feel themselves sinners The Rich he sends empty away those that are Rich in their own thoughts when the poor and hungry are fill'd with good things Men chuse empty vessels to put their liquors in and low rooms to cellar their wines so doth Jesus Christ chuse empty Souls for his good things He chooseth the Low plains for his walks when the high towring Mountains are rejected The high and lofty One comes to dwell in the low and contrite Spirit Isa 57. 15. Sinner thou must strip thy self of thy own Ornaments if thou intend to put on Jesus Christ Thou must throw down thy Crown at his feet if thou thinkest to wear his Crown on thy head O Soul thou must come as a poor wretch to Christ with thy empty sack as Jacobs Sons did to Egypt to buy corn and then thou shalt have Treasure too Thou must see thy self an undone sinner thou must come with Lazarus and throw thy self down at this Rich Kings Door if ever thou wilt be fed with his Crumbs nay rather feasted with his Dainties Secondly Thou must come to Christ as to a full and sufficient treasure able to save and satisfie thee to pay off thy debts and enrich thy Soul for ever Heb. 7. 25. Able to supply all thy wants and fill all thy emptiness Phil. 4. 19. We have shewn already that his treasures are bottomless boundless unfathomable unexhaustible never to be wasted or spent O Soul come to Christ as such a one Measure not Christ's gold by thy bushel nor his plenty by thy poverty think not thy debts too great for Christ to pay because thou knowest not where to get mony of thy own Think not thy straits too many for him to relieve He hath enough for thy Soul to live upon both here and to all Eternity O Sinner believe this and come to him as such a one suppose not the Fountain is empty because thy Cisterns are dry His Righteousness is like the great Mountains Psa 36. 6. It is in the Hebrew The Mountains of God And his grace is without measure Joh. 3. 34. Therefore thou must look to him as having a sufficient fulness for thy Soul Thirdly Thou must look to Christ with expectation as the poor Cripple did to Peter and John Acts. 3. 5. Now shall a poor Creature expect to receive some needful sutable good from a fellow Creature and will not thou expect some mercy from the Lord Jesus Christ thy Creator and Redeemer O sinner come with expectations to Christ believe that he is as willing as able to enrich all that come to him He hath past his word for it He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. He that believeth on him shall not perish Joh. 3. 16. The weary Soul that comes yea creeps to him shall have rest Math. 11. 28. The thirsty Soul shall be satisfied Joh. 7. 37. He goes up and down in the Ministery of the Gospel seeking to save that which is lost Luke 19. 10. And he is angry with them that will not come to him Joh. 5. 40. O sinner do not take up hard thoughts of Christ Such suspitious thoughts of Christ is some of the Devils seed that he doth sow in broken ground When Christ comes to break sinners hearts and make them sensible of their undoneness then the Devil casts in these tares and raises up ill thoughts of Christ It was this did so enervate the diligence of the unprofitable Servant some undue thoughts he took up of his Lords bounty I knew saies he thou wert an hard and austere Man Hence he puts up his Talent in a Napkin and his hand in his bosom Math. 25. 24 25. Jealousies of Christs good-will to sinners are very destructive to Salvation-work The Devil hath hindred many a Soul from coming to Christ by casting this block in his way O then come with expectations at least come to Christ with as great hopes as the Lepers came to the Tents of the Assyrians who were Enemies come to Christ the friend of Sinners 2 Kings 7. 4. They adventured with some hopes we may live and we can but dye they may kill us and they may save us alive But thy case is not so if thou come and adventure on Christ thou mayest be sure he will not kill thee O look to Jesus then with some hopes say who can tell but my Soul may live Fourthly Close first with Jesus Christ himself and afterwards with his Treasure I confess usually something from Christ draws the Sinner's first respects to him The savor of his oyntments some love-tokens kindnesses apprehension of necessity sense of undoneness may conduce to get the first glances of Sinners towards Christ But though these allure to Christ yet the first thing the Espoused Soul must eye in his Match with Christ is Christ himself though these things draw the Soul yet they do not center the Affections Christ's kindnesses are design'd as motives to beget an esteem of himself in sinners hearts The knowledge of what Jesus Christ hath for sinners an intimation of pardon peace and Salvation for all that come to him may be the Prodromus or fore-runner of Christs Person to sinners view but when they come to see him they must first pitch upon himself and till they come to this they cannot have a due and orderly close with Christ In all right and regular Matches the Person must be first regarded then the Portion A Soul is not fit to match with Christ till he comes to see infinitely more worth in him then in all his gifts and favours It was the excellency of Christ himself that drew Pauls highest regards to him with respect to relation Phil. 3. 8. The excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord Paul sets that fore-most And then to be made conformable to his Death and Resurrection The Spouse was more taken with Christ's Person then with his Gifts Cant. 1. 2 3. First himself was lovely then his fruits Cant. 2. 3. David counts nothing in Heaven or Earth like to God in Christ Psa 73. 25. 'T is sordid love and too unworthy of a conjugal State that values the Portion more then the Person that Soul is too unworthy of Christ who values any thing more then him Math. 10. 37 It must be Christ himself must sit in the upermost seat in thy Soul 'T is a saying of Calvin T is an unworthy thing not to perfer one Christ above all Those Matches never prove comfortable where the Estate is eyed more then the Person hence conjugal love is broken when the estate is gone but where true conjugal love is it is setled upon the Person Love
no way known but by Revelation and unveilings of the Spirit and in this sense are called Unsearchable Secondly As to the fulness of their Worth and Excellency they cannot be understood by any in this Life no mortal man no unglorified Soul can know them as they are to cast up the total value of these Treasures is beyond the Arithmetick of Saints themselves nay Men and Angels cannot understand the things that God hath prepared that Christ hath purchased for them that love him Here sayes the Apostle we know in part and we prophesie in part 1 Cor. 13. 9. We both you and I the most elevated Light by this side Glory know nothing of these lock't-up Mysteries as we ought and on this account also they are Unsearchable The Words being opened and the Cabinet unlock't I come to the main Subject and Treasure laid up in them which you may take in this general Doctrine and Proposition Doct. There are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ opened and tender'd to Sinners in the Gospel In this Doctrine lie three grand Assertions to be proved Assertion 1. That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ Assert 2. These vast and hidden Treasures of Christ are opened in and by the Gospel Assert 3. 'T is the Will of God that all these great and glorious Treasures which are in and come by Jesus Christ should be open'd and offer'd to Sinners yea the chiefest of Sinners I shall speak to each Assertion but more largely to the first That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ And here I shall first prove by Scripture That there are great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ Secondly Shew you according to the Grace given me what are those Unsearchable Riches of Christ First That there are such Riches in and come by Jesus Christ the whole Gospel attests which is a Revelation of the Excellency of Christ and those glorious things which come by him I shall give you three or four Scriptures to prove it Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory In the former verse the Apostle calls the Gospel a Mystery hid from former Ages the Excellency of which he opens in this verse and sets out in these two Epithetes 1. Rich. 2. Glorious First 'T is a rich Mystery in that it opens the glorious Riches of Christ which are better than the Gold of Ophir and all precious Substance the Riches of his Wisdom Grace Righteousness and Redemption which he calls tryed Gold and counsels poor Sinners to come to him for it Rev. 3. 17. Secondly 'T is a glorious Mystery called the Riches of his Glory Rom. 9. 23. That he might make known the Riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy Eph. 1. 18. The Riches of his Glory c. The Gospel is a glorious Mystery because it brings to light great and glorious things even the Treasures of unknown Glory and what these Treasures of Glory are he tells you in the close of the verse they are Christ in you the hope of Glory Christ Jesus applied by Faith and received into the Soul by the Spirit is this glorious Treasure in that he gives them in his Union with them an evident Right to Glory See Prov. 8. 18 19. Riches and Honour are ascribed to him Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness My Fruit is better than Gold yea than fine Gold and my Revenue than choice Silver This is spoken of Christ the true Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. Christ the Wisdom of God and Power of God who is the Subject of this Chapter And 't is said of him that Riches durable Riches are with him better Treasures than Gold than choice Silver Durable Treasures which Time cannot waste or alter Riches that last to all Eternity which Rust and Moth cannot consume And Righteousness i. e. Treasure justly gotten Riches of Wisdom and Grace given him by the Father and Riches of Righteousness bought by his Blood All this Treasure is in him and offer'd by him unto Sinners In Christ must needs be Unsearchable Riches for in him dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2. 9. that is the Divine Nature united to the Humane Nature perfect God as well as perfect Man the infinite Treasures of the Divine Nature are his He is the Heir of all things and therefore must needs be rich Heaven and Earth are his Jews and Gentiles all Persons and Things put under him in which Glory and Majesty set over all the Works of Gods hands he mounts his Throne having confirmed his Title by his Blood and gives Gifts to men and makes a tender of Grace and Glory of Thrones and Crowns to all that come unto him promising to his Servants that they also shall inherit all things Rev. 21. 7. and therefore he himself must needs be rich In him are Treasures of Mercy and Goodness of Wisdom and Knowledge Riches exceeding Riches of Grace Eph. 2. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Riches of Strength Honour Glory and Blessing So that the Scriptures give in full testimony to this Truth That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ And now I shall endeavour to shew Secondly What are those exceeding great and unsearchable Riches of Christ But alas this Well is deep and wherewith shall we draw these Treasures are out of sight who can find them out they are boundless bottomless numberless endless where shall we begin where can we make an end who can search them out to Perfection The best of men are but Learners the Angels are Enquirers the wisest men but Fools in these Searches we can know but in part nor prophesie but in part when the utmost is spoken you have not heard of one half of his Glory But according to the Revelation of Christ I shall open some of these Treasures of Christ to you under these two Heads His Riches Personal Purchased with some Applications and Improvements of them as we go through these Deeps CHAP. II. The Personal Riches of Christ opened in his Divine Nature manifested in his Attributes with the wonderful Advantages thereof to Believers PArt of these glorious Treasures of Christ lies in his Personal Riches that vast Worth and unknown Excellency that reside in himself which become the Believers Treasure also by their Relation to their Union with Contemplation of it with the communicated Fruits and Effects thereof Col. 1. 27. which is Christ in you the hope of glory i. e. which Treasure is Christ in you or Christ united to you by Faith and dwelling in you by his Spirit Christ his Personal as well as purchased Treasures are yours through your Union with your Relation to your Enjoyment of him and his glorious Communications to you Now these Personal Treasures of Christ are demonstrable in
in Righteousness and will hold thy hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles To open the blind eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison Here 's the result of Christs Mediation in the behalf of fall'n Sinners He doth treat with the Father that he would be pleased to shew pity to fall'n man and the Father returns this Answer That he will consent to the terms of Jesus Christ for the saving of Sinners that he shall be a Covenant for the People and give out Salvation to perishing Sinners So Isa 49. 5. to the 10 vers The Persons for whom the Lord Jesus Christ mediates are Jews and Gentiles and under these are comprised all the Elect of God And the Father treats and concludes with Christ about the saving of these two Parties In an acceptable time saith he have I heard thee and I will give thee for a Covenant of the People All the Elect of God both among the Jews and Gentiles shall be called and saved by this Mediation of Jesus Christ But what are the terms upon which the Father consents to the Mediation of Christ that there shall be Peace for all that come to him First One thing concluded upon between the Father and the Son is That the Lord Jesus Christ shall make up the Breach of the first Covenant There 's a Righteous Covenant of God broken by the Sin of Adam and upon the breach of this Covenant God is bound in Justice to lay Death upon Adam Condemnation upon all fall'n Mankind Now that this Blessing may be procured which Christ mediates for the Sentence of Death is to be reversed and this cannot be till the Punishment of the broken Covenant be borne Now the Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily undertakes to do this Heb. 10. 7. Then said I Lo I come All other ways were ineffectual to make satisfaction to the Justice of God for Adam's Sin Now when no way could make up this Breach then Christ comes and consents to pay the price himself to be a Sacrifice for Sinners Lo I come to do thy Will What is the Will of God Why that Mercy and Justice be reconciled Justice was all for Punishment Justice would not be satisfied till the Penalty was executed Now Christ must come in the Sinners room and undergo the Penalty of this broken Covenant Sayes God In the day thou breakest this Covenant thou shalt dye therefore Christ must come and dye This is one of the terms If the Lord Jesus Christ will be a Substitute in the room of the Offender and undergo the Punishment then he will take off the Condemnation Rom. 8. 3. For Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh that is in the Flesh of Christ Justice must be satisfied The Law could not do this God sends his Son and he must undergo the curse Gal. 3. 13. And this the Lord Jesus Christ did consent unto Secondly Another thing required is That the Lord Jesus Christ should obey the Precepts of this Covenant perfectly in his own Person in the behalf of all his Seed That God might have no Quarrel with the Children of the Covenant Christ must dye to make up the former Breach of this Covenant He must obey to fulfill the End of the Covenant he was not only to undergo Sufferings but he was to complete all active Righteousness and this the Lord Jesus Christ consented to Hence he saith It behoveth us to fulfil all Righteousness Mat 3. 15. God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law Gal. 4. 4. The Lord Jesus Christ as Mediator becomes obliged to the preceptive Law of God and must in his own Person fulfil all the parts of this Law and must work out a perfect Holiness and Obedience that the first Covenant might be fulfilled if Salvation be obtained Thirdly Another thing which the Father and Jesus Christ agree upon about this Work of Reconciliation is That the first Covenant to all its demands being fulfilled and there being nothing now to lay in against the Believer from this Covenant that Salvation may be sure he concludes to make a new Covenant which that it may be faultless Jesus Christ should now become the Surety of another and better Covenant The first Covenant God found fault with and therefore he thinks upon a second that may be effectual to all the ends of Salvation-grace Heb. 8. 7 8. For if that first Covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for the second for finding fault with them he saith Behold the dayes come when I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and Judah As if the Lord should say to his Son The first Covenant will never answer thy Proposals to save fallen Man and that thy Seed may be blessed therefore there shall be a new Covenant drawn that shall be effectual to the ends of Salvation and thou shalt be the Head and Mediator of this Covenant this was the agreement between the Father and the Son Now Jesus Christ becomes the Angel of this Conant God agrees with Jesus Christ for fallen man Jesus Christ covenants with the Father in the behalf of all his Seed that he will bring them to Life He promises to work in them and for them all that is required to Salvation and that they shall be saved to the uttermost Heb. 7. 22 25. By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better Testament wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost Thus he becomes an Engager to the Father in the behalf of all Believers O Friends this is a glorious Mystery I fear too few are insighted in the glorious Work of the Mediatorship of Christ The Lord Jesus Christ becomes a Surety not only to pay the Debt but to perform the Condition A Surety or a Sponsor is one that promises and undertakes in the behalf of another to fulfill what he was bound to do Tâ—us the Lord Jesus Christ hath performed this first Office of a Mediator by drawing up an Agreement between God and fallen Man by bringing the Father to terms of Reconciliation Secondly The terms being thus concluded upon the second part of this mediatory work of Christ is that he actually set about this Obedience and Suffering and make good the Agreement between the Father and himself and this he did in the fulness of time he comes and actually accomplishes all his Promises to the Father in point of Merit and Satisfaction There are two great things Jesus Christ is to do in order to the fulfilling of this Promise to the Father in behalf of his Seed First meritoriously procuring the things for them and Secondly efficaciously applying what he procures Heb. 9. 15. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of Death for the Redemption of the Transgressions that were under the first Covenant they which are called might receive the promise of eternal Inheritance
not come Joh. 3. 18. Ah troubled Souls you that tremble least he will no more have Mercy on you but reject your Selves and Duties shut up his Bowels and harden his Heart against your Cries Ah! do but consider and seriously reflect on what Christ hath already done and suffered for you think on his Carriage whilst on Earth and his tender Reception of all that came to him he debarred none surely then his Advancement in Heaven produces no Alteration in him it may enlarge his Capacity but cannot straiten his Bowels to perishing Sinners Honour doth not puff him up or make him unmindful of their Concernments think upon his Promises he will cast out none that come to him Joh. 6. 37. Let their Sins be as red as Scarlet he will make them as white as Wool Isa 1. 18. He knows the Heart of a Stranger Exod. 23. 29. He remembers what 't is to lye under the Pangs of a troubled Soul when he trode the Wine-press of his Fathers Wrath alone and therefore cannot but compassionate the Miserable and those that are consumed with the Terrors of the Almighty Cease Soul to lay thy Charge on Christ 't is thy own Unwillingness and Unbelief that impedes thy way to Life not his Thirdly How fearful then is the Sin and how dreadful will be the misery of all those that refuse this Mediator will not hearken to this Prophet nor consent to his Proposals for Salvation The Tongues of Men and Angels are not capable here to commit an Hyperbole nor can such themselves sufficiently conceive it till they feel it Ah Sinners Weigh a little these ensuing particulars and you will find it true First It is a most aggravated Sin and hath all the circumstances of Evil in it There 's no sin of so deep a Dye and foul a Guilt It is a sin against the highest Mercy and greatest Deeps of Divine Favour There were some Discoveries of Mercy that God expended on the Gentile World In the times of their Ignorance God did wink at them feed them and cloath them But the Treasures of Grace were reserved for the Fulness of Time the Gospel dayes O wretched Caitiff By refusing Christ thou kickest against the most sounding Bowels against rich Mercy Eph. 2. 4. Against tender Mercy Luke 1. 18. Against Free Mercy Eph. 2. 8. It is a Sin against and a forsaking of thy own Mercy Thou stabbest thy own Soul with the same Dagger thou flingest at Christ O wretched Sinner thou takest pains to shut thy self out of the door of Mercy and to argue thy self into the depth of Misery O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self Oh Sinner thou sheddest the blood of thy own Soul Hos 13. 9. It is a sin against the choicest and costliest Remedy that ever God prepared The Garment God made to cloath thy Soul is dip'd in Blood and this thou throwest from thee How justly will thy Soul rot in chains of Darkness to all Eternity that refusest such a chargeable Remedy laid out upon thee The Law was but leading to it Gal. 3. 24. Had you liv'd to see the Priests killing the Sheep and Lambs and cutting the throats of these poor Creatures to make an Atonement for Sin you would have said surely the Antitype must needs be bloody All those charges men were at in their daily Sacrifices could not take away one Sin the Blood of Christ must do it O expensive Mercy And this thy Soul despiseth O cursed Sin All other Dispensations could not make those that use them perfect Heb. 9. 9. Nor all the World if sold can pay the Debt of one Soul or the price of one sin It is a sin against the most glorious Majesty that ever was Phil. 2. 9. Thou spittest in that Face that is infinitely above all Spots and Stains that the Angels admire and adore one Smile of which maintains all the Life and Consolation of the Saints in Glory this Jesus thou despisest O unbelieving Sinner where wilt thou go to hide thy self from the wrath of the Lamb at the last day Lastly 'T is a rejection of thy own Duty a throwing Christ out of his own Vineyard and how will God deal with such He will miserably destroy these miserable men Matth. 21. 41. The Lord Jesus Chrst hath Right to rule thee and thou rejectest the Homage thou owest to him and despisest his lawful Right and Authority which is a most grievous Sin indeed Secondly 'T is a most unreasonable Sin there 's no Plea at all will bear in the Court of Reason for such a Sin thy own Reason will judge and condemn thy Soul O! that ever thou shouldest chuse Death rather than Life and take the Iron Rod of Satan over thee and despise the golden Scepter of Jesus Christ Ah! Sinner there 's cause why thou shouldst leave thy Lusts and wicked Companions and depart from the Chambers of Death in which thy Soul hath dwelt so long but none at all why thou should'st not come over to Christ what doth Christ propose to thee that thou can'st cavil at Is it to leave thy Lusts If not these will ruine thy Soul if thou had'st Fire in thy Bosom thou would'st think it reason to cast it out if Fetters upon thy Feet and Clogs about thy Body to shake them off if a Serpent in thy Bosom to cast him out O Sinner sit down and consult with the Principles of Reason never was a better Bargain offered thee Think on it What if the Gate seem straight it is not so to thy Soul but to thy Lusts thou can'st not shun Trouble but must meet with it either here or to all Eternity Thirdly 'T is a most condemning Sin Joh. 3. 19. This will justifie the severest Doom of God that they might have Life but would not Salvation came home to them but they turn'd it off O Sinner take heed how thou refusest him that speaks from Heaven despise not Christ Secondly As 't is the greatest Sin so 't is attended with the greatest Misery For first it opens the Windows of Vengeance and le ts down divine Wrath on thy Soul it takes off all Possibility of Salvation he that shuts up this door leavs none open to Life Acts 4. 12. Christ is the only Way the Truth and the Life no possibility of escaping Wrath to come if thou refuse the Lord Christ Heh 2. 3. Don't flatter thy self with Hopes of after Mercy if thou give Christ a final Denial all hopes of Mercy is gone when once Christ who is the Blessing is gone from thy Soul Secondly There 's no Acceptance of any of thy duties 't is his Righteousness and Intercession makes way for thy Acceptance Eph. 1. 6. All Acceptableness of the best Services of any is through him 1 Pet. 2. 5. None of thy Complaints or doleful Cries can ever enter into Gods Ears if they be not mixt with the Odours of his Incense Ah Sinner thou flatterest thy self with this that thou wilt pray cry and weep
lov'd the World Joh. 3. 16. and every Creature in it such a Philanthropy is in Christ he would have all men come to the Knowledge of the Truth that they might be saved 1 Tim. 2 4. Love your Enemies Mat. 5. 44. so did Christ he prayed Father forgive them Luke 23. 34. love his Friends 1 Joh. 5. 1. Eph. 6. 24. CHAP. XI The glorious Excellency of Christ's tender Pity opened and displayed in the several Acts of it both to Saints and Sinners ANother Discovery of the Sweetness of Christ's Disposition is Thirdly His Pity this is lookt upon as an excellent Qualification and that which renders a person lovely among men Rom. 5. 7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one dye yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye for a just man one that is strict and rigid in his Life and matters of Justice none will dye but for a good man that is for a bountiful liberal man for a Benefactor saith Beza for a Friend saith another some would even dare to dye Kindness and Compassion renders men lovely and amiable in the Sight of Heathens hence one calls a merciful man a precious thing and another makes him equal to God God himself prefers Mercy above Sacrifice Mat. 9. 13. This the Lord opened to Moses as part of his Glory Exod. 34. 6. The Lord God merciful and gracious c. And this mercifulness is placed in the Nature of Christ as Mediator and therefore must needs render him glorious and be part of his unsearchable Riches now that the Lord Jesus is so full of Pity and Mercy in his very Nature the Scripture is clear This was one Qualification necessary to his Priest-hood Heb. 2. 17. This was a special Requisite to the Priest under the Law that he should be one who might have Compassion on the Ignorant and them that are out of the way Heb. 5. 2. Therefore the high-priest must be a Man not an Angel that so he being subject to Infirmities to Sins and Weaknesses himself he might the better have Compassion upon others in the like ease The same Argument the Lord useth to Israel Deut. 10. 19. Love ye therefore the Stranger for ye were Strangers in the Land of Aegypt Experience of Affliction fits a person for pity to others and therefore our Lord took our Nature upon him that being compast with the same Infirmities Sin only excepted he might be able to have Compassion on others this is necessary in that Office for a person will never be active in such laborious work for Sinners as offering of Gifts and Sacrifices for Sin if he have not tender Bowels towards persons in Misery and therefore Jesus Christ must needs be such a one who can have Compassion c. The word is significant 't is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to have Compassion on others according to the Measure and Proportion of their Misery Paraeus renders it to have Compassion as much as is needful Beza to be affected according to the greatness of anothers Misery and such is the Compassion of Christ 't is suted to the Condition of his People were Christ's Pity but one Grain short of the Misery and Condition of Sinners he could never save them to the utmost for if he will save to the uttermost he must ever live to make Intercession there 's no one moment of time in which they don't want help and must have Gifts offer'd for them But this Christ will not do if he wants Compassion Jam. 5. 11. The Lord is said to be pitiful and of tender mercies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of many Bowels or as Piscator multum viscâ—ralis much bowelful all pitiful from inward deep Bowels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word is to pity with the Bowels of a Mother to be prone to compassion So Aestius He is rich in mercy Eph. 2. 4. Great in Quantity and Choice in Quality great Mercy and choice Mercy Psal 5. 1. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies The word Rab multitude signifies Quality as well as Quantity many Mercies or weighty Mercies Mercies Rachamim 'T is such love and pity as Mothers bear to the fruit of their Womb which is fervent and flaming The word hath no singular number because there are many works of Mercy saith Piscator Now this Compassion of Christ lies in these two things 1. In his sympathizing with his Creatures 2. In supplying and supporting them First Pity hath sympathy in it an inward Heart-affecting sense of another's Evils Psal 103. 13. Like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitietb them that fear him Judg. 10. 16. His Soul was grieved for the Children of Israel The word signifieth His Soul was short'ned or contracted in him by reason of grief 'T is spoken by an Anthropopathy according to the apprehensions of men As a man is filled with grief his Breast is straitned that he can scarcely breathe It denotes how much the Lord Jesus is affected with the miseries of his People Heb. 4. 15. He is said to be touched with the Fellow-feeling of our Infirmities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suffering with us Christ in Heaven hath such a fellow-feeling of the Evils of his People as that he resents their troubles as his own He is tender-hearted and every misery of theirs reacheth his Soul But this hath been somewhat treated of before Secondly Readiness to supply and support others in their Misery and this is eminently manifested in the Lord Jesus Isa 38. 20. The Lord was ready to save me Men sometimes have a hand but no heart they may help but will not they only say Go and be fed and be cloath'd c. Others have a heart but no hand they have not to supply the needs of others their Cruse of Oyl and Barrel of Meal will reach but a little way besides there may be some Cases in which Men or Angels cannot help Psal 142. 4. I looked on my right hand and behold there was no man would know me c. But there can be no Condition in which Omnipotency fails to help Heb. 7. 25. Jer. 32. 27. And Christ is as really willing as able to save He is an inexhausted Fountain of all good Sufficit omnibus saith Paraeus nec sufficit tantum sed dat liberalissime Dives est saith the same Author sufficientia affectu He is good and doth good He feeds gathers carries leads his poor infirm Flocks when they most stand in need of him Isa 40. 11. When they are ready to faint for want he opens a Well and fills their Bottles when they wander from their resting-place he sends his Dogs and gathers them to his Fold when they are weary and can go no further he takes them into his Arms and carries them when they are hungry he feeds them when they are naked he cloaths them when they are sick he visits them when they are in Prison he comes to them He giveth to his
that you know not of Vse 3. Of Exhortation First to perishing Sinners make use of the Mercy of Christ whilst you have it now is the acceptable time the day of Grace the Season of Visitation now the Sun shines not only in Sion but on Sodom nay it hath stood still on your Gibeon for a Season Josh 10. 12. 13. O let not Mercy go and leave you in your blood and let you lye in your Graves let not the Sun of the Gospel set on you and leave you in inner Darkness lest outer Darkness shortly seize upon you believe it Mercy seems to be near a Departure it looks as it were about to change Houses to go from Gentiles to Jews from West to East it seems near setting in England in these Western parts of the World Who knows how soon it may arise in the East O Sinners don't you lye a bed in your Security and let Mercy give you the slip O then you that are yet in your blood under Wrath in Danger of Judgment be advised to strike in with Mercy while 't is to be had Isa 55. 6. while divine Bowels yearn towards you weep over you and wait for you O turn in and close with Mercy whiles it's face is unveil'd to you it's Arms open'd to you and before it hath breath'd it's last Breath to you believe the Warnings and Treatnings of Mercy bow and stoop to the Convictions of Mercy receive the Tenders thereof obey it's Counsel and persevere it it's way be perswaded Sinners this day it may be the last time I may beseech you for Mercies sake to turn and live and Oh! how doleful will it be to out-live the day of Mercy and possibility of obtaining Salvation when the Angel of the Lord shall proclaim Time shall be no more Time was but now is past Secondly to all Souls both changed and unchanged if the Lord Jesus be so pityful to you O then be not cruel to your own Souls do not rob cheat and cozen your own Souls deprive them not of your own Mercies Jonah 2. 8. Don't consent to those ways that will rob you of all the Possibilities and Hopes of Salvation O! the sweet Comforts and Pleasures that now you loose for a few dirty Delights Prov. 3. 17. Think on the Substance the tryed Gold the rich Attire that you deprive your Souls of by refusing to hearken to the Counsel of Christ Rev. 3. 18. Don't starve your Souls by feeding on Husks while the bread of Life lies before you this is Cruelty to them indeed Luke 15. 16. 17. Do not wound rend and tare your Souls by cruel Lusts he that sins hateth his own Soul Prov. 15. 32. chap. 29. 24. Math. 16. 26. O the sad Bruises that Sin gives and the desperate Gashes it makes in the Sinners own Soul Isa 1. 6. Prov. 8. 36. Every Sin of thine O carnal wretch is a deadly blow on thy own Soul all thy carnal Pleasures thy merry jesting Words thy Swearing Lying Cheating Oppressing and Covetousness gives new Stabs to thy Heart it would be a barbarous sight to behold one unmercifully wounding another much more to see a person torturing his own Soul do not sell thy immortal Soul for a Lie for that which is not which will not profit in the day of Wrath Rom. 6. 21. Jer. 16. 19. Thus Elijah told Ahab 1 Kings 21. 20. That he sold himself to work Wickedness that is he gave himself wholly to the Service of Sin as a Servant that binds himself over to anothers Business Rom. 6. 16. Thirdly To the Children of Mercy whom the Lord Jesus hath loved and washed in his own Blood you that are chosen called justified sanctified and adopted unto Glory be exhorted First be not hard-hearted to Christ requite not his Pity with Cruelty grieve not his Spirit sadden not his Heart with your sinful and unsutable Walkings before him no Sins make greater Wounds on the Heart of Christ than the Sins of his own Children Eph. 4. 30. O be not cruel to him who is so tender of you do not feed him with Wormwood and Gall who hath feasted you with Joy and Gladness yea with his own Heart blood Secondly Put on Bowels of Pity towards others Col. 3. 12. They that are cruel to others shall find God cruel to them Jam. 2. 13. Thirdly Adventure for God in the way of Duty Psal 5. 7. Psal 23. 6. Psal 25. 10. Fourthly Then let the Consideration of Christ's Mercy comfort you under the World's Cruelty and your greatest Sufferings for Christ Psal 57. 3. Psal 32. 7. 10. Psal 59. 17. CHAP. XIII Wherein is opened the transcendent Humility of Christ ANother part of this total Sum of Christ's personal Treasure consisting in the Sweetness of his Disposition is Fourthly His Humility and Lowliness of mind This is an excellent Vertue and that which the very Heathens have esteemed at a high Rate 't is a rare thing saith Aretius and rare things are excellent Chrysostom calls it the chiefest Vertue the Salt that seasons all other Excellencies and the Beginning of all Good If any saith Austin should ask me what is the chiefest Vertue I should say Humility what is the next Humility what is the next Humility The humble Soul saith Manton is God's second Heaven Isa 57. 15 Of so great a worth is all true Humility in any especially in Persons of Height and Grandure for these to come down and humble themselves is exceeding high and noble O then what is Humility in the high and lofty one in the Lord of Glory and King of Kings and Lord of Lords yet this is part of Christ's Treasure Mat. 11. 29. Learn of me for I am meak and lowly He who best knew himself who is Truth it self and cannot lye hath declared that he is lowly and that not in Carriage and external Shew only but in Heart also O what stupendious wonder is this that so glorious a person as the only begotten Son of God should be lowly in Heart I speak not here of his divine Nature as God though in that respect he is lowly too Isa 57. 15. Though he inhabiteth the highest Heaven yet he dwelleth also in the lowest Heart yea 't is wonderful Condescension in God to behold the things that are in Heaven and Earth Psal 113. 5 6. But I treat here of Christ as Mediator God-man and so he is humble and lowly in Heart which will appear if we consider these particulars First His Humility whilst he was on Earth Secondly His Humility now he is in Heaven His Humility on Earth consists first in his Willingness being God over all and Maker of all to become man his Creature this is strange that the Son of God should be willing to be accounted yea to become the Son of man Heb. 2. 16. He did not take the Nature of Angels upon him but he took on him the Seed of Abraham so vers 14. Forasmuch then as the Children were Partakers of Flesh and
will of God that those great and glorious Treasures of Christ in the Gospel should be opened and tendred to Sinners yea to the chiefest of Sinners This is as certain as choice a truth and precious news to sinners For the demonstration of which I shall 1. Prove 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by four arguments 2. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by four reasons First That it is really true that the Lord Jesus Christ is willing that all those unsearchable Treasures of his should be tendred to Sinners yea the chiefest of Sinners First Christ's willingness to shed his blood for Sinners shews he is willing his Treasures should be opened and tendered to them He that gives the cause gives the effect Causa Causae est Causa Causati Christs blood is the procuring cause of all those Treasures that are purchased for Believers and that which gives a right to his personal riches too Eph. 1. 7 11. Now if Christ be willing to give his blood for believers to procure those Treasures then surely he is willing to have them opened and tendered to them he that wills the means to the end wills the end too Should not Christ be willing that his riches should be opened and tenderd to Sinners it would lay a great reflection on his intentions in dying for Sinners and leave the charge of unfaithfulness on truth it self which how unjust it is let all that are rational judge but it is for sinners Christ hath shed his blood yea for the chiefest of sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Rom. 5. 6. In due time Christ dyed for the ungodly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is the same word the Apostle useth to express the people before the flood by 2 Pet. 2. 5. Now what these were Moses tells us Gen. 6. 5. Ignorance Prophaness Contempt of God and the vilest abominations were committed by those whom Christ came to redeem yet to these would he have the Gospel sent and his Treasures opened and tendred Secondly His appointing and sending a Ministry on purpose to Preach the Gospel to sinners proves it This was the first thing the Lord Jesus Christ did when he ascended on high he gave gifts to Men that of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers and why was this it was for the work of the Ministry Eph. 4. 10 11 12. And what is the work of the Ministery Why to open and Preach Christ Crucified to the World to discover reconciliation-mercy and all the Treasures of Christ concern'd therein 1 Cor. 5. 18 19. Joh. 20. 21. As my Father hath sent me so send I you Now if the Lord Jesus sets apart a Ministery on purpose to attend this work as Acts 6. 4. Then surely he is willing Sinners should have those riches opened and tender'd to them Thirdly The choice annointings he gives them to this end evidenceth his willingness the Gospel should be Preached and his Treasures opened to the World as the Father hath annointed him and given the Spirit without measure to him so hath he annointed his Messengers with measures of the Spirit for this work 1 Cor. 12. 7 11. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withal That is the gifts of the Spirit by a Metonymy of the effect and given to every one to whom it is given for this end to profit withal so Piscator The Apostle speaks here of gifted Persons in the Church of Corinth whether they were ordinary or extraordinary Teachers they had all choice gifts imparted to them by the Spirit to that end All whom Christ sends to Preach the Gospel have the annointings of his Spirit to fit them for that work Isa 50. 4. The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary The Prophet here saith Calvin doth personate all the Ministers of Christ in all ages And tells us that all those Christ sends to Preach the Gospel he doth give sutable endowments to them for that end he doth impart his truth to them by his Spirit that they might teach others This is the Reason Christ gives the Spirit of his Father Mat. 10. 20. He makes them teachable that they might teach others Hence Cyprian saith Non bonus est Doctor qui non est docilis Christ reveals those treasures of his to his Servants that they might open them to others Mat. 10. 8. Freely ye have received freely give Fourthly The charge he lays upon his Messengers demonstrates this truth he doth command them to go and preach the Gospel to every Creature Mark 16. 15. 'T is an Hyberbolical Synecdoche of the genus Every Creature put for all Nations saith Piscator The word of reconciliation is committed to them as to Ambassadours faithfully to impart it to those they are sent to There 's a necessity laid upon them to preach the Gospel and a wo if they do not 1 Cor. 9. 16. A necessity not of Coaction but Obligation and divine command saith Paraeus Secondly The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why Christ is so willing those Treasures should be tender'd to Sinners First That so he might give the world a proof of the greatness of his Love to perishing Sinners and of the largeness of his bowels to poor mankind Eph. 3. 9. To make all men see what is the Fellowship of the mystery c. Now what was the fellowship of this mystery The Apostle tells us ver 6. That the Gentiles should be Fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel This sets forth the wonderful love of God in Christ to fallen man that God is willing the mystery of Salvation should be opened to such vile Creatures as the Gentiles were worshippers of Idols and Devils such unclean and filthy Creatures the chiefest of sinners Tit. 3. 3. Eph. 2. 2 3. Such were all before Conversion they had fellowship with Devils 1 Cor. 10. 20. And this commends the love of God indeed that he should reveal Jesus Christ to the vilest sinners and tells the world it is by Grace any are saved Eph. 2. 8. and of the riches of mercy Tit. 3. 5 6. It lets sinners know that God is no respecter of persons he saves none for any worth in them but for his great love in Christ Eph. 3. 19. Secondly That the worst of sinners might be encouraged to come to Christ and none be exempted from Salvation but those that exclude themselves Joh. 7. 37. This is Christs design thereby to draw sinners to himself by the savour of his Oyntments Joh. 12. 32. O the precious discoveries of his excellencies are attractive the riches of Christ and the Glory of his Kingdom have a wonderful influence to perswade sinners to him Gal. 4. 15. A seen and believed blessedness in the ways of Christ will make the Soul part with all for him and come on any terms to the enjoyment of it Terrours contract the Souls affections to
God but mercy and the excellency of Christ doth constrain them now Christ is willing that every lost sinner that sees and believes in him should be saved Thirdly That so all his Elect that lye among the perishing world might thereby be gathered in Joh. 10. 16. The Election must obtain though the rest be blinded Rom. 11. 7. The Lord Jesus Christ cannot lose one Soul the Father hath given him they must come in first or last and for their sakes as the evil-days are shortned Math. 24. 22. so shall the Gospel-days be continued till Christ hath gathered all his Elect into union with himself from the four winds even as many as are ordained to Life Now there 's no such way to fetch in Souls to Christ as by opening those Treasures Lastly That they who perish under the Gospel might be left without excuse Joh. 15. 22. They have nothing to plead against damnation who despise so great Salvation Heb. 2. 3. And turn their backs on such tendered blessedness To leave tryed Gold for Counters and Treasures for Trifles the portion of Saints for the pleasures of sin is utterly inexcusable and this is one reason of Christs opening his Treasures to the world 't is to justifie his severity against unbelievers that will not come to him that they may have life he will have every mouth stopped and the whole world of unbelieving sinners become guilty before him Rom. 3. 19. Thus have I dispatch'd the third Assertion I now come to make Application of the whole CHAP. XXIII Containing two Branches of Information What a great blessing the Gospel is The greatness of their sin that oppose the Gospel IF there are great Glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ If it be by the Gospel these Riches are brought forth opened and tendered to sinners O then what a mercy is it for Souls to enjoy the Gospel The Gospel is the field in which this treasure is hid The Ministery of the Gospel is the digging out and laying open this treasure The Gâ—spel is the Cabinet in which these Jewels lye lock'd up And the Ministery of the Gospel by the Spirit is the opening and unlocking this Treasury and Cabinet Jesus Christ is this treasure The Ministers of the Gospel are Messengers and Ambassadours of Christ sent into the world with news of this Treasure and impowered to treat with perishing Souls about making them Rich The Ministers of Christ are Stewards of this great Lord of Glory entrusted with the tendring and Ministerial disposings of these vast treasures according to his instructions This way God brings to light the hidden things of the Gospel 2 Cor. 4. 7. We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels As if the Apostle should say O Corinthians there is a treasure there are Riches in the Gospel and we have these Riches in Earthen Vessels The Lord commits them to us that we may open them and make a tender of them to perishing sinners according to his order Our business is to preach Christ and open the treasures of Christ with all his vast Inheritance to every Soul that receives him O then the singular happiness they have that have the word of this Grace sent to them Oh what a mercy is it to live within the day-spring from on high and under the joyful found To hear the good news of a Saviours being born and offer'd to perishing Souls To have the tydings of those Soul-enriching overtures O think upon the blind perishing world that live without the Line of Communication with whom Free-Grace holds no correspondence about Salvation those Indians and Pagans that live without the Gospel and then reflect upon the priviledges you enjoy and see what a mercy this is and then say who hath made you to differ O why should the Sun shine on your borders and the day spring from on high visit your coasts leaving others to perish without regarding O is it not Grace that God should visit you with the Gospel and suffer others to persecute it O these are the motions of Sovereign pleasure and the paths of distinguishing mercy O sinners how much are you indebted to this free unsearchable Grace that should pass by so many parts of the World and pitch on this little spot of ground O wonderful Mercy indeed That these swarms of Mellefluous dews and priviledges should light on your branches That the Cloud by day and a Pillar of Fire by night should come and stand over you O little do you know what it is to lye in darkness and in the Region and shadow of Death O! this should cause you to value the Gospel who can tell but they that feel it what it is to be shut up in the Region of death and be bound in chains of darkness to lye in a wast howling Wilderness where there is none to guide their feet in the way of peace O what a sad judgment is this O Souls If ever you live to see the light put out and the Ministery of the Gospel gone from England then you will know what doleful miseries are and will you not prize the Gospel then that is such a wonderful mercy beyond all your Estates and all the enjoyments of the whole world How will some men value those Sciences that feed their natural minds with knowledge and feast their Rational desires with discoveries of some unknown Notions And will not you love the Gospel that brings to light the glorious truths of Christ How will Tradesmen prize the Rules of their Arts that make them skilful How will the Worldlings hug those Counsels that help to make them rich And should not you prize the Gospel that comes to make you wise to Salvation Shall men prize instructions about the obtaining of perishing things And shall the Counsel God gives you about the Food that endureth be slighted O Souls what shall I say O labour to know the worth of the Gospel before you feel the want of the Gospel O prize it prize it indeed The Gospel is the best Treasure the best Comforter the best Friend that is in the World 'T is the best Counseller in all sinners difficulties it shews you the safest and best way out of all your Clouds and darkness Pro. 8. 14. Counsel is mine and sound Wisdom It is meant of Christ In his word is the best Counsel to make men wise to Salvation 1 Tim. 3. 15. There 's the best Counsel to make you happy Rev. 3. 18. 'T is the best Interpreter in all the World to resolve your dark cases and there 's no such way to get solution in all your doubts and greatest troubles The Psalmist found it so when he went into the Sanctuary Ps 73. 17. Christians the Gospel and Word of God tells you what you should do in all your difficulties Acts 9. 6. The Gospel is the chiefest comforter O what happy Messenger the ministery of the Gospel is it brings the best Balm to heal your wounds Balm of Gilead to heal your soul
His belly is as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires His tender Bowels and boundless affections to his people are wonderfully lovely and delighting they are pure firm and fixed in their nature and they are chearing and enriching in their effects O Christs love is not fleeting 't is firm as Ivory set with gold overlaid with Saphires O how rich are his affections what a Treasure to those that have him His legs are as Pillars of Marble set upon sockets of fine gold The gracious motions and efficacious workings of his Spirit are exceeding mighty and glorious full of strength He hath power to bear up all those that follow him His legs are strong he can carry his Lambs that are committed to his arms there 's no burden too heavy for Christ his loins are strong he can bear what is laid upon him the weight of all the Saints on Earth is nothing to him He can carry on all his intendments and interest in the World his legs are as Marble able to bear his Body quick in motion O what a lovely Christ is this display'd in the Gospel His countenance is as Labanon excellent as the Cedars Those discoveries the Lord Jesus Christ makes of himself in his word and works are wonderful taking exceeding enriching Christ's word is fruit fullizing O when he speaks to the hearts of his Children what a deal of vertue goes through his lips Grace is poured out of his lips Milk and hony is under his tongue His appearances carries excellency riches and glory with them His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely His discourses the openings of his mind is wonderful pleasing The word of Christ never cloys the spiritual part Thus you see what a Person Jesus Christ is O Sinners consider his beauty O how lovely an object is he what can you object against his Person why you will not espouse him Thirdly Consider his lovely dispositions O Sinners will you accept of him He is of an excellent Spirit of a very sweet nature full of grace and goodness His sweet dispositions have been largely opened already he is full of mercy and compassions meekness gentleness patience long-suffering slow to anger ready to forgive great in kindness free and bountiful of a generous Spirit true and faithful Sinners you may trust him with your secrets you may venture your Souls upon him He is harmless and inoffensive he doth wrong to no man his company is lovely and desirable His converses are pleasant and profitable O what a person is Christ O Sinners never was such a one offer'd you as Christ is why will you not come unto him Fourthly Consider his quality and high dignity he is no mean Person but a mighty Potentate 1 Tim. 6. 15. The sole and only superintendent of the whole World the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords He is not only a King but the King the only true Potentate from whom all ohters derive their glory a King not only of Men but of Saints not only of Saints but of Angels of Thrones Principalities and Powers Math. 26. 53. And can command them down now he is in Heaven for the service of his elect Heb 1. 14. Are they not all Ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation O Sinners shall this prevail with you to accept of him Fifthly Take notice of his potency He hath power as well as honour Math. 28. 18. All things are put under his feet Heb. 2. 8. All the Armies of Heaven and Earth are deliver'd over to him He is Lord of Hosts He hath the Keys of Heaven Death and Hell Rev. 1. 18. Who then can lock out Christ or exclude him from doing what he pleaseth seeing all things are at his beck He doth whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven and in Earth in the Seas and in all deep places Psa 135. 6. He sitteth in the Heavens and laughs the Counsels of the Potentates to scorn he makes no reckoning of their combinations but derides their ambitious attempts against him Psa 2. 4. He shall pass thorow and over-flow and break all their consederacies in pieces Isa 8. 8 9 10. Let all the subtleties of Hell be woven together to make a web to catch the interest of Christ in it shall all be as a spiders web that can soon be swept away O admire the Kingdom of Christ the glorious power of Christ nothing is too hard for him He hath an absolute unlimited and uncontroulable power He is the supream over all persons and all things in all places Lands and Countries O what power hath he not only Authority but likewise Might 2 Chro. 20. 6. In his hand there is power and might and none is able to withstand him O Sinners come away to Christ he can protect you and defend you from dangers Sixthly Observe his wisdom too this is taking with some to have a head that hath intellectuals in him and marry one that hath exquisite parts and eminency of knowledge Now all Treasures of wisdom are in him Col. 3. 3. His judgments are unsearchable and past finding out Rom. 11. 33. His judgments his acts in the World his Righteous deeds and the way he takes to accomplish his designs O how wonderful deep are they The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of wisdom and understanding the Spirit of Counsel and might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord Isa 11. 2. He is of quick understanding full of judgment called The wonderful Counsellour Isa 9. 6. The only wise God from whom all wisdom is fetch'd that fills Men and Angels all the World do light their Candles at his Torch He is the Sun that fills the whole Creation with beams There 's no searching of his understanding he can bring to light the hidden things of darkness 1 Cor. 4. 5. He hath eyes can reach where men cannot he can reveal the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. O Sinners what an excellent one is Christ O how worthy of your choice Seventhly Weigh the glorious and blessed effects of your closing with the Lord Jesus Christ Sinners the very day you marry Christ he will pay all your debts and they are many he will pardon all your sins blot out all your iniquities remember them no more He will free you from all your Bondages deliver you from all your fears secure you from all your dangers if you will but espouse him O the very day you marry Christ he will wipe off all your shame and remove your reproach He will heal all your wounds and sicknesses he will begin to heal them immediately and never leave till he hath perfectly cured your Souls He will strip off all your filthy garments and cloath you with broidered rayment he will advance you to highest dignity he will lift up your heads above
is Gods high way to Mercy and Peace being under a Promise of Peace Grace and Peace are usually twins in gracious Souls 2 Pet. 1. 2. Grace can quiet you under Troubles strengthen you under Weakness guide you under Darkness cheer you under Sufferings enrich you under Losses and fill you under Wants again Gaace is the purest Treasure earthly Treasures are as those Cities Solomon gave to Hiram a mere Cabal and dirty things defiling the Souls of those that have them and use not them aright Grace is the most pleasant Treasure it doth not burthen those that have it as earthly things do with wasting Cares and tormenting Fears Further Grace is the best Treasure in that it will go with the Soul into the other World all the Riches of this World must be left behind Death puts the Owner and his Interest into a winding Sheet no man's Propriety to these out-lives himself the Grave buries all his Relation to these things but Grace never dies true Holiness goes with the Soul to glory Secondly Labour to be rich in Grace because if you have but little grace you will hardly prove the truth of grace though the least grace is grace as a drop of Watâ—r is Water yet a little grace doth not so capacitate a Soul to see it 2 Pet. 1. 9. He that wants this thriving Grace forgets that he was purged from his old Sins he cannot remember or make out his saving Change or putting off his old state little Grace is ever sceptical and subject to Doubtings Matth. 14. 31 O thou of little Faith wherefore didst thou doubt Thirdly Because little grace will hardly carry a Soul through the Temptations Duties and Sufferings of the day we live in these are some of the last times we are fall'n upon and the last times are perillous times 2 Tim. 3. 1. This is the Character of these times Abounding Iniquity and Decay of Love Matth. 24. 12. And therefore a little Grace will not carry a Soul through strong Corruptions where Sin abounds Grace must abound much more or else the Soul will loose ground Rom. 6. 1. What the Apostle speaks there of grace in God 't is as true of grace in Saints that must abound more than their Sin or else Sin will be too hard for them Judgment must be brought forth to Victory or else the bruised Reed will break Matth. 12. 20. For this end the Apostle adviseth the Ephesians in his time which were less liable to such Temptations they should put on the whole Armor of God and having done all to stand Eph. 6. 13. Fourthly Else you cannot answer the ends of grace and all the Cost of God about you the design of grace in all the means and helps to his people is to further their growth in grace and to make them abound to all well-pleasing before God Isa 5. 2. 4. Joh. 15. 2. Psal 92. 13 14. To whom much is given of them much is required Luke 12. 48. Fifthly That so you may be more like to God who is rich to all that call upon him Rom. 10. 12. He is rich in Mercy he hath abounded in the Riches of grace towards all his People Eph. 1. 7 8. Christians should be Epitomies of Christ and Resemblers of his Excellency holding forth his Vertues in the World 1 Pet. 2 9. There can be no greater glory to a Child of God in this World than to be like to Christ who is the glory of the Father but by being rich in Grace you will much manifest the Excellency of Christ in the World Sixthly By being rich in grace you will become more serviceable to God and others in your Generation you will be able to do more work for God than others Grace is a Talent and the more Talents you have the more Incomes hath God from you Matth. 25. 16 17. Rich men have larger Capacities to honour God in the World than others have they can do more and lay out more for God and be more serviceable for God than others they can feed the Hungry and cloath the Naked and take Out-casts into their houses they can do more to support the interest of God than the poor and have more Substance to honour God with so Souls rich in grace have larger Abilities to serve and honour God with the more Grace the more acceptably can they serve God Heb. 12. 28. The more spiritual Services are the more acceptable to God by Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. For such the Father chuseth to serve him who serve him in Spirit and Truth Joh. 4. 23. Psal 45. 12. And the Daughter of Tyre shall be there with a Gift even the rich among the People shall entreat thy Favour Tyre was a rich place as well as vitious and yet there would God have a People which should honour him with their gifts and large expences for him and the richer the People the greater will their gifts be The rich or richest for 't is the superlative in the Hebrew Shall bring Gifts and entreat thy Favour noting that those who are more spiritually rich are more serviceable for and potent with God through Christ these can do more with God as Noah Daniel and Job were mentioned above others for their Potency with God Ezek. 14. 14. And Moses and Samuel Jer. 15. 1. As men who had larger faith and grace and so greater Intimacy with God than others and such as could do more O Christians labour after more grace because hereby you may become more serviceable for God and others you may more prevail with God through Christ for Mercies for the Nation and can be more helpful for others to teach counsel and comfort them and have more Gold Myrrhe and Frankincense in your Treasures to offer to and for Christ Seaventhly The more rich you are in grace the more rich you will be in glory the more grace you improve for God the more glory shall you receive from God Luke 19. 17. 19. This is the rule of the Lords Procedure in the day of Judgment he will render to every man according to his work 2 Cor. 5. 10. Though glorified Souls receive not for their grace yet they shall have according to the Measure of their graces for grace widens the Vessels of Mercy for glory The more Liquor the Vessel hath the larger it is so the more grace the larger is that Soul and the more capable to take in glory when grace shall be turn'd into glory Quest But some may say How may we get more of this spiritual Treasure Answ First Get your Hearts more engaged to it Desires are the Souls Wings that carry it over all difficulties to it 's beloved Object this is one Character the Apostle gives of rich men 1 Tim. 6. 9. They are such as will be rich They have an earnest mind an ardent Desire to be rich 't is a Will and Purpose grounded on Counsel and Consideration Christians this will much further your obtaining these riches of