Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood c. Fourthly How men are to reckon it theirs and that is upon the same terms which God doth offer it which is freely as they are worthless and undeserving Creatures as they are without all good and also unable to do any good This I say is the right way of applying the merits of Christ to thy Soul for they are freely given to thee a poor Sinner nor for any thing that is in thee or done by thee but freely as thou art a Sinner and so standest in absolute need thereof And Christian thou art not in this thing to follow thy sense and feeling but the very Word of God The thing that doth do the People of God the greatest injury it is their too little hearkning to what the Gospel saith and their too much giving credit to what the Law Sin the Devil and Conscience saith and upon this very ground to conclude that because there is the certainty of guilt upon the Soul therefore there is also for certain by Sin Damnation to be brought upon the Soul This is now to set the Word of God aside and to give credit to what is sormed by the contrary but thou must give more credit to one syllable of the written Word of the Gospel than thou must give to all the Saints and Angels in Heaven and Earth much more than to the Devil and thy own guilty Conscience Let me give you a Parable There was a certain man that had committed Treason against his King but for as much as the King had Compassion upon him he sent him by the hand of a faithful Messenger a Pardon under his own Hand and Seal but in the Countrey where this poor man dwelt there was also many that sought to trouble him by often putting of him in mind of his Treason and the Law that was to be executed on the Offender Now which way should this man so honour his King but as believing his Hand-writing which was the Pardon certainly he would honour him more by so doing than to regard all the Clamours of his Enemies continually against him Just thus it is here thou having committed Treason against the King of Heaven he through Compassion for Christs sake hath sent thee a Pardon but the Devil the Law and thy Conscience do continually seek to disturb thee by bringing thy Sins afresh into thy remembrance But now wouldest thou honour thy King why then He that believeth the RECORD that God hath given of his Son hath set to his SEAL that God is true And this is the Record that God hath given to US eternal Life and this Life is in his Son 1 Joh. 5. 11 12. And therefore my Brethren seeing God our Father hath sent us damnable Traitors a Pardon from Heaven even all the Promises of the Gospel and also hath sealed to the certainty of it with the heart-blood of his dear Son let us not be daunted though our Enemies with terrible Voices do bring our former life never so often into our Remembrance Object But saith the Soul how if after I have received a Pardon I should commit Treason again What should I do then Answ. Set the case thou hast committed abundance of Treason he hath by him abundance of Pardons Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Sometimes I my self have been in such a straight that I have been almost driven to my Wits ends with a sight and sense of the greatness of my sins but calling to mind that God was God in his Mercy Pitty and Love as well as in his Holiness Justice c. And again considering the ability of the satisfaction that was given to Holiness and Justice to the end there might be way made for Sinners to lay hold of this Mercy I say I considering this when tempted to doubt and despair I have answered in this manner Lord here is one of the greatest Sinners that ever the the ground bare A Sinner against the Law and a Sinner against the Gospel I have sinned against Light and I have sinned against Mercy and now Lord the guilt of them breaks my heart the Devil also he would have me despair telling of me that thou art so far from hearing my Prayers in this my distress that I cannot anger thee worse then to call upon thee for saith he thou art resolved for ever to damn and not to grant me the least of thy favour yet Lord. I would fain have forgiveness And thy word though much may be inferred from it against me yet it saith If I come unto thee thou wilt in no wise cast me out Lord shall I honour thee most by believing thou canst pardon my Sins or by believing thou canst not Shall I honour thee most by believing thou wilt pardon my Sins or by believing thou wilt not Shall I honour the Blood of thy Son also by despairing that the vertue thereof is not sufficient or by believing that it is sufficient to purge me from all my blood-red and crimson Sins surely thou that couldest find so much Mercy as to pardon Manasseh Mary Magdalen the three thousand Murderers persecuting Paul Murderous and Adulterous David and blaspheming Peter thou that offeredst Mercy to Simon Magus a Witch and didst receive the Astrologers and Conjurers in the nineteenth of Acts thou hast Mercy enough for one poor sinner Lord set the case my Sins were bigger than all these and I less deserved Mercy than any of these yet thou hast said in thy word that he that cometh to thee thou wilt in no wise cast out And God hath given comfort to my Soul even to such a Sinner as I am and I tell you there is no way so to honour God and to beat out the Devil as to stick to the truth of Gods Word and the merits of Christs Blood by believing When Abraham believed even against hope and reason he gave Glory to God Rom. 4. And this is our Victory even our Faith Believe and all things are possible to you He that believeth shall be saved He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life and shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my Fathers Hands 1. Joh. 5. 4. And if thou dost indeed believe this thou wilt not only confess him as the Quakers do That is that he was born at Bethlehem of Mary suffered on Mount Calvary under Pontius Pilate was Dead and Buried Rose again and Ascended 〈◊〉 For all this they confess and in the midst of their confession they do verily deny that his Death on that Mount Calvary did give satisfaction to God for the Sins of the World and that his Resurrection out of Josephs Sepulchre is the cause of our Justification in the sight
the false brethren spoken of Asts 15. Gal. the whole Epistle whose judgement was that unless such and such things were done they could not be saved As now a days we have also some that say unless your Infants be baptized they cannot be saved and others say unless you be rightly baptized you have no ground to be assured that you are believers or members of Churches which is so far off from being so good as a Legal Spirit that it is the Spirit of Blasphemy as is evident because they do reckon that the Spirit Righteousness and Faith of Jesus and the confession thereof is not sufficient to declare men to be members of the Lord Jesus when on the other side though they be rank hypocrites yet if they do yield an outward subjection to this or that they are counted presently communicable members which doth clearly discover that there is not so much honour given to the putting on the righteousness of the Son of God as there is given to that which a man may do and yet go to hell within an hour after nay in the very doing of it doth shut himself for ever from Jesus Christ. 2. Men may do things from a Legal or Old Covenant-Spirit when they content themselves with their doing of such and such a thing as prayers reading hearing baptism breaking of bread or the like I say when they can content themselves with the thing done and sit down at ease and content because the the thing is done As for instance some men they being persuaded that such and such a thing is their duty and that unless they do do it God will not be pleased with them nor suffer them to be heirs of his kingdom they from this spirit do rush into and do the thing which being done they are content as being persuaded that now they are without doubt in a happy condition because they have done such things like unto the Pharisee who because he had done this and the other thing said therefore in a bragging way Lord I thank thee that I am not as this Publican for I have done thus and thus when alas the Lord gives him never a good word for his labour but rather a reproof 3. That man doth act from a Legal Spirit who maketh the strictness of his walking the ground of his assurance for eternal life Some men all the ground they have to believe that they shall be saved it is because they walk not so loose as their neighbours they are not so bad as others are and therefore they question not but that they shall do well now this is a false ground and a thing that is verily Legal and savours only of some slight and shallow apprehensions of the Old Covenant I call them shallow apprehensions because they are not right and sound and are such as will do the Soul no good but beguile it in that the knowledge of the nature of this Covenant doth not appear to the Soul only some commanding power it hath on the Soul which the Soul endeavouring to give up it self unto it doth find some peace and content and especially if it find it self to be pretty willing to yield it self to its commands and is not this the very ground of thy hoping that God will save thee from the wrath to come If one should ask thee what ground thou hast to think thou shalt be saved wouldst thou not say truly because I have left my sins and because I am more inclinable to do good and to learn and get more knowledge I endeavour to walk in Church order as they call it and therefore I hope God hath done a good work for me and I hope will save my soul. Alas alas this is a very trick of the Devil to make Souls build the ground of their salvation upon this their strictness and abstaining from the wickedness of their former lives and because they desire to be stricter and stricter Now if you would know such a man or woman you shall find them in this frame namely when they think their hearts are good then they think also that Christ will have mercy upon them but when their corruptions work then they doubt and scruple untill again they have their hearts more ready to do the things contained in the Law and Ordinances of the Gospel Again such men do commonly chear up their hearts and encourage themselves still to hope all shall be well and that because they are not so bad as the rest but more inclinable than they saying I am glad I am not as this Publican but better than he more righteous than he Luke 18. 11. 4. That is a Legal and Old Covenant-Spirit that secretly persuades the Soul that if ever it will be saved by Christ it must first be â—itted for Christ by its getting of a good heart and good intentions to do this and that for Christ I say that the Soul when it comes to Christ may not be rejected or turned off when indeed and in truth this is the very way for the Soul to turn it self from Jesus Christ instead of turning to him for such a Soul looks upon Christ rather to be a painted Saviour or a Cipher then a very and real Saviour Friend if thou canst fit thy self what need hast thou of Christ If thou canst get qualifications to carry to Christ that thou mightest be accepted thou doest not look to be accepted in the beloved Shall I tell thee thou art as if a man should say I will make my self clean and then I will go to Christ that he may wash me or like to a man possessed that will first cast the Devils out of himself and then come to Christ for cure for him Thou must therefore if thou wilt so lay hold of Christ as not to be rejected by him I say thou must come to him as the basest in the world more fitter to be damned if thou hadst thy right then to have the least smile hope or comfort from him come with the fire of hell in thy conscience come with thy heart hard dead cold full of wickedness and madness against thy own Salvation come as renouncing all thy tears prayers watchings fastings come as a blood-red sinner do not stay from Christ till thou hast a greater sense of thy own misery nor of the reality of Gods mercy do not stay while thy heart is softer and thy spirit in a better frame but go against thy mind and against the mind of the Devil and Sin throw thy self down at the foot of Christ with a halter about thy neck and say Lord Jesus hear a sinner a hard-hearted sinner a sinner that deserveth to be damned to be cast to hell and resolve never to return or to give over crying unto him till thou do find that he hath washed thy Conscience from dead works with his blood vertually and clothed thee with his own righteousness and made thee compleat in himself this is the way to
continueth not in all things that continueth not in all things mark that which are written in the Book of the Law to do them but if a man do keep all the Law of God his whole life time only sin one time before he dies that one sin is a breach of the Law and he hath not continued in doing the things contained therein For for to continue according to the sense of this Scripture is to hold on without any failing either in thought word or deed therefore I say though a man do walk up to the Law all his life time but only at the very last sin one time before he die he is sure to perish for ever dying under that Covenant For my Friends you must understand that the Law of God is yea as well as the Gospel and as they that are under the Covenant of Grace shall surely be saved by it so even so they that are under the Covenant of Works and the Law they shall surely be damned by it if continuing there This is the Covenant of Works and the nature of it Namely not to bate any thing no not a mite to him that lives and dies under it I tell thee saith Christ thou shalt not depart thence that is from under the Curse till thou hast paid the very last mite Luke 12. 59. 5. Again you must consider that this Law doth only condemn words and actions as I said before but it hath authority to condemn the most secret thought of the heart being evil so that if thou do not speak any word that is evil as swearing lying jesting dissembling or any other word that tendeth to or savoureth of sin yet if there should chance to pass but one vain thought thorow thy heart but once in all thy life time the Law taketh hold of it accuseth and also will condemn thee for it You may see one instance for all in the fifth of Matthew at the 27 28. verses where Christ saith That though a man do not lie with a woman carnally yet if he do but look on her and in his heart lust after her he is counted by the Law being rightly expounded such a one that hath committed the sin and thereby hath laid himself under the condemnation of the Law And so likewise of all the rest of the commands if there be any thought that is evil do but pass thorow thy heart whether it be against God or against man in the least measure though possibly not discerned of thee or by thee yet the Law takes hold of thee therefore and doth by its authority both cast condemn and execute thee for thy so doing The thought of wickedness is sin Prov. 6. Again the Law is of that nature and severity that it doth not only enquire into the generallty of thy life as touching several things whether thou art upright there or no but the Law doth also follow thee into all thy holy duties and watcheth over thee there to see whether thou doest do all things aright there that is to say whether when thou doest pray thy heart hath no wandring thoughts in it whether thou do every holy duty thou doest perfectly without the least mixture of sin and if it do find thee to slip or in the least measure to fail in any holy duty that thou doest perform the Law taketh hold on that and findeth fault with that so as to render all the holy duties that ever thou didst unavailable because of that I say if when thou art a hearing there is out one vain thought or in praying but one vain thought or in any other thing whatsoever let it be civil or spiritual one vain thought once in all thy life time will cause the Law to take such hold on it that for that one thing it doth even set open all the Flood gates of Gods wrath against thee and 〈◊〉 â—â—â—bly by that Covenant it doth bring eternal vengeance upon thee So that I say look which ways thou wilt and fail wherein thou wilt and do it as seldom as ever thou caâ—sto either in civil or spiritual things as aforesaid that is either in the service of God or in thy employments in the world as thy trade or calling either in buying or selling any way in any thing whatsoever I say if in any particular it findeth thee tardy or in the least measure guilty it calleth thee an offender 〈◊〉 accuseth thee to God it puts a stop to all the promises thereof that are joyned to the Law and leaves thee there as a cursed transgressor against God and a destroyer of thy own soul. Here I would have thee by the way for to take notice that it is not my intent at this time to inlarge on the several Commands in particular for that would be very me to write and thee to read only thus much I would have thee to do at the reading hereof make a pause and sit still one quarter of an hour and muse a little in thy mind thus with thy self and say Did I ever break the Law yea or no had I ever in all my life time one sinful thought passed thorough my heart since I was born yea or no and if thou findest thy self guilty as I am sure thou canst not otherwise choose but do unless thou shut thy eyes against thy every days practice then I say conclude thy self guilty of the breach of the first Covenant And when that this is done be sure in the next place thou do not straightway forget it and put it out of thy mind that thou art condemned by the same Covenant and then do not content thy self until thou do find that God hath sent thee a pardon from Heaven through the Merits of our Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator of the second Covenant And if God shall but give thee a heart to take this my counsel I do make no question but these words spoken by me will prove an instrument for the directing of thy heart to the right remedy for the salvation of thy soul. Thus much now touching the Law and the severity of it upon the person that is found under it having offended or broken any particular of it either in thought word or action and now before I do proceed to the next thing I shall answer four objections that do he in my way and also such as do stumble most part of the world The first Objection And first but you will say methinks you speak very harsh it is enough to daunt a body set the case therefore that a man after he hath sinned and broken the Law repenteth of his wickedness and promiseth to do so no more Will not God have mercy then and save a poor sinner then 1. Answ. I told you before that the Covenant once broken will execute upon the offender that which it doth threaten to lay upon him and as for your supposing that your repenting and promising to do so no more may help well and put you
righteousness of faith that is by believing in Jesus Christ cannot please God Now the righteousness of the Law as a Covenant of works is not the righteousness of faith Therefore the righteousness of the Law as acted by us being under that Covenant cannot please God The first is proved in Heb. 1â— 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him mark it is impossible The second thus The Law is not of faith Gal. 3. 12. Rom. 10. 5 6. compared with Gal. 3. 11. But that no man is justified in the sight of the Lord by the Law it is evident for the just shall live by faith and the Law is not of faith But for the better understanding of those that are weak of apprehension I shall prove it thus First That soul that hath eternal life he must have it by right of purchase or redemption Heb. 9. 22. Eph. 1. 7. Secondly this purchase or redemption must be through the Blood of Christ. You have redemption through his Blood Without shedding of blood there is no remission Now the Law is not in a capacity to die and so to redeem sinners by the purchase of Blood which satisfaction justice calls for read the same Scriptures Heb. 9. 22. justice calls for satisfaction because thou hast transgressed and sinned against it and that must have satisfaction therefore all that ever thou canst do cannot bring in redemption though thou follow the Law up to the nail-head as I may say because all this is not shedding of blood for believe it and know it for certain that though thou hadst sinned but one sin before thou didst turn to the Law that one sin will murther thy soul if it be not washed away by blood even by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ that was shed when he did hang upon the Cross on Mount Calvary Object But you will say methinks that giving up you selves to live a righteous life should make God like better on us and so let us be saved by Christ because we are so willing to obey his Law Answ. The motive that moveth God to have mercy upon sinners is not because they are willing to follow the Law but because he is willing to save them Not for thy righteousness or for thy uprightness of heart doest thou possess the Land Deut. 9. 4 5 6. Now understand this if thy will to do righteousness was the first moving cause why God had mercy on thee through Christ then it must not be freely by grace I say freely but the Lord loves thee and saves thee upon free terms having nothing before-hand to make him accept of thy soul but only the Blood of Christ therefore to allow of such a principle it is to allow that grace is to be obtained by the works of the Law which is so gross darkness as lies in the darkest dungeon in Popery and is also directly opposite to Scripture For we are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ not through the good that is in our selves or done by us Rom. 3. 24 〈◊〉 No But by faith without mark that without the deeds of the Law verse 28. Again not of vvorks lest any man should boast Eph. 2. 9. No no saith he Not according to our vvorks or righteousness but according to his ovvn purpose mark according to his ovvn purpose and grace which was a free gift given us in Christ Jesus not lately but before the world began 2 Tim. 1. 9. Object But you will say then why did God give the Law if we cannot have salvation by following of it Answ. I told you before that the Law was given for these following reasons First That thou mightest be convinced by it of thy sins and that thy sins might indeed appear very sinful unto thee which is done by the Law these ways First By shewing of thee what a holy God he is that did give the Law and secondly By shewing thee thy vileness and wickedness in that thou contrary to this holy God hast transgressed against and broken this his holy Law therefore saith Paul The Law was added that the offence might abound Rom. 5. 20. that is by shewing the creature the holiness of God and also it s own vileness Secondly That thou mayest know that God will not damn thee for nothing in the Judgment day Thirdly Because he would have no quarrelling at his just condemning of them at that day Fourthly Because he will make thee to know that he is a holy God and pure Quest. But seeing you have spoken thus far I wish you would do so much as to shew in some particulars both what men have done and how far they have gone and what they have received being yet under this Covenant which you call the ministration of condemnation Ansvv. This is something a difficult question and had need be not only warily but also home and soundly answered The question consists of three particulars First What men have done Secondly How far men have gone Thirdly What they have received and yet to beunder the Law or Covenant of Works and so in a state of condemnation As for the first I have spoken something in general to that already but for thy better understanding I shall speak yet more particularly First a man hath and may be convinced and troubled for his sins and yet be under this Covenant and that in a very heavy and dreadful manner in so much that he may find the weight of them to be intollerable and too heavy for him to bear as it was with Cain Gen. 4. 13. My punishment saith he is greater than I can bear Secondly A man living thus under a sense of his sins may repent and be sorry for them and yet be under this Covenant and yet be in a damned state Mat. 27. 3. And when he Judas saw what was done he repeated Thirdly Men may not only be convinced and also repent for their sins but they may also desire the prayers of the Children of God for them too and yet be under this Covenant and Curse Exod. 10. 16 17. And Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said I have sinned intreat the Lord your God that he may take away from me these plagues Fourthly A man may also humble himself for his offences and disobedience against his God and yet be under this Covenant see 1 Kings 21. 24 25 26 27 28 29. Fifthly A man may make restitution unto men for the offence he hath done unto them and yet be under this Covenant Sixthly A man may do much work for God in his generation and yet be under this first Covenant as Jehu who did do that which God bid him 2 King 9 25 26. and yet God threatneth even Jehu because though he did do the thing that the Lord commanded him yet he did it not from a right principle for had he the Lord would not have said Yet a little while and I will aâ—enge the blood of Jezreel
nor in part Isa. 63. 1 2 3 4 5 6. So that he must not be only he with whom the Covenant was made but he must also become the bonds-man or surety thereof and so stand bound to see that all and every particular thing conditioned for should be both in manner and matter at the time and place according to the agreement duly and orderly fulfilled Is not this grace Now as touching the nature of a surety and his work in some things it is well known to most men therefore I shall be very brief upon it First You know a surety is at the bargains making and so was Christ. Then was I by him Prov. 8. 30. Secondly A surety must consent to the terms of the Agreement or Covenant and so did Christ Jesus Now that which he did ingage should be done for sinners according to the terms of the Covenant it was this First That there should be a compleat satisfaction given to God for the sins of the world for that was one great thing that was agreed upon when the Covenant was made Heb. 10. 5. Secondly That Jesus Christ should as aforesaid bring in an everlasting righteousness to cloath his body the Saints withal Dan. 9. 24 25. Here is grace Thirdly That he should take in charge to see all those forth coming without spot or wrinkle at the day of his glorious appearing from heaven to judgment and to quit them before the Judgment-seat Again Thirdly in the work of a surety there is required by the creditor that the surety should stand to what he is bound and on the sureties there is a consenting thereunto First The creditor looks that in case the debtor proves a bankrupt that then the surety should ingage the payment Is not this grace Secondly The creditor looks that the surety should be an able man now our surety was and is in this case every way suitable for he is heir of all things Thirdly The creditor appoints the day and also looks that the Covenant should be kept and the debt paid according to the time appointed and it is required of sureties as well as stewards that they be found faithful namely to pay the debt according to the bargain and therefore it is said When the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made under the Law to redeem them that are under the Law according to his suretiship Gal. 4. 4 5. thus comes grace to Saints Fourthly The creditor looks that his money should be brought into his house to his own habitation Jesus our surety in this also is faithful for by his own blood which was the payment he is entred into the holy place even into heaven it self which is Gods dwelling place to render the value and price that was agreed upon for the salvation of sinners but I shall speak more of this in another head therefore I pass it Again fourthly if the surety stands bound the debtor is at liberty and if the Lavv do issue out any process to take any it vvill be the surety and O! hovv wonderful true was this accomplished in that when Christ our surety came down from heaven Gods Law did so seize upon the Lord Jesus and so cruelly handle him and so exact upon him that it would never let him alone until it had accused him and condemned him executed him and scrued his very hearts blood out of his precious heart and side nay and more than this too as I shall shew hereafter But secondly in the next place after that Jesus Christ had stood bound and was become our surety in things pertaining to this Covenant his next office was to be the messenger of God touching his Mind and the tenour of the Covenant unto the poor world and this did the Prophet fore-see long before when he faith Behold I will send my messenger and he shall prepare thy way before thee speaking of John the Baptist And he shall prepare thy way before thee and then he speaketh of Christ to the people saying And the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple Who is he even the messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in that is Christ behold he shall come saith the Lord of hosts Mal. 3. 1. Now the Covenant being made before between the Father and the Son and Jesus Christ becoming bound to see all the conditions fulfilled this being done he comes down from Heaven to Earth to declare to the world what God the Father and He had concluded on before and what was the mind of the Father towards the world concerning the salvation of their souls and indeed who could better come of such an errand then he that stood by when the Covenant was made then he that shook hands with the Father in making of the Covenant then he that was become a surety in the behalf of poor Sinners according to the terms of this Covenant Now you know a messenger commonly when he cometh he doth bring some errand to them to whom he is sent either of what is done for them or what they would have them whom they send unto do for them or such like Now what a glorious message was that which our Lord Jesus Christ came down from Heaven withal to declare unto poor sinners and that from God his Father I say how glorious was it and how sweet is it to you that have seen your selves lost by nature and it will also appear a glorious one to you who are a seeking after Jesus Christ if you do but consider these follovving things about vvhat he vvas sent First Jesus Christ was sent from Heaven to declare unto the world from God the Father that he was wonderfully filled with love to poor sinners First In that he would forgive their sins Secondly In that he would save their souls Thirdly In that he would make them heirs of his glory For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved John 3. 15 16 18. Secondly God sent Jesus Christ to tell the poor world how that he would do this for poor sinners and yet be just and yet do his Justice no wrong and that was to be done by Jesus Christ his dying of a cursed death in the room of poor sinners to satisfie justice and make way for mercy to take away the stumbling-blocks and set open Heaven-gates to overcome Satan and break off from sinners his chains to set Luke 4. 18. open the prison doors and to let the prisoners go free Isa. 61. 1 2 3. And this was the message that Christ was to deliver to the world by commandment from his Father and this did he tell us when he came of his errand where he saith I lay down my life for my Sheep No man taketh it a way from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it
down and to take it up again and this commandment have I reecived of my Father John 10. 15 16 17 18. even this commandment hath my Father given me that I should both do this thing and also tell it unto you Thirdly He was not only sent as a Messenger to declare this hit Fathers love but also how dearly he himself loved sinners what a heart he had to do them good where he saith All that the Father hath given me shall come to me and let me tell you my heart too saith Christ He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out As my Father is willing to give you unto me even so am I as willing to receive you As my Father is willing to give you Heaven so am I willing to make you fit for it by washing you with my own blood I lay down my life that you might have life and this I was sent to tell you of my Father Fourthly His Message was further he came to tell them how and which way they should come to enjoy these glorious benefits also by laying down motives to stir them up to accept of the benefits The way is laid down in John 3. 14 15. where Christ saith As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up or caused to be hanged on the Cross and die the death That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life The way therefore that thou shalt have the benefit and comfort of that which my Father and I have covenanted for thee I am come down from heaven to earth on purpose to give thee intelligence and to certifie thee of it know therefore that as I have been born of a woman and have taken this body upon me it is on purpose that I might offer it up upon the Cross a Sacrifice to God to give him satisfaction for thy sins that his mercy may be extended to thy soul without any wrong done to justice and this thou art to believe and not in the notion but from thy very whole soul. Now the motives are many First If they do not leave their sins and come to Jesus Christ that their sins may be washed away by his blood they are sure to be damned in hell for the Law hath condemned them already John 3. 18 19. Secondly But if they do come they shall have the bosome of Christ to lye in the kingdom of Heaven to dwell in the Angels and Saints for their companions shall shine there like the Sun shall be there for ever shall sit upon the Thrones of Judgment c. Here is Grace Methinks if I had but time to speak fully to all things that I could speak to from these two heavenly Truths and to make application thereof surely with the blessing of God I think it might perswade some vile and abominable wretch to lay down his arms that he hath taken up in defiance against God and is marching hell-wards poste haste with the Devil I say methinks it should stop them and make them willing to look back and accept of salvation for their poor condemned fouls before Gods eternal vengeance is executed upon them O therefore you that are upon this march I beseech you consider a little What shall Christ become a drudge for you and will you be drudges for the Devil Shall Christ covenant with God for the salvation of sinners and shall sinners covenant with Hell Death and the Devil for the damnation of their souls Shall Christ come down from Heaven to Earth to declare this to sinners and shall sinners stop their ears against this good tidings Will you not hear the errand of Christ although he telleth you tidings of peace and salvation How if he had came having taken a command from his Father to damn you and to send you to the Devils in Hell Sinner hear his message he speaketh no harm his words are eternal life all men that give ear unto them they have eternal advantage by them Advantage I say that never hath an end Besides do but consider these two things 't is like they may have some sway upon thy soul. First When he came on his message he came with tears in his eyes and did even weepingly tender the terms of reconciliation to them I say with tears in his eyes And when he came near the City i. e. with his message of peace beholding the hardness of their hearts he wept over it and took up a lamentation over it because he saw they rejected his mercy which was tidings of peace I say wilt thou then slight a weeping Jesus one that so loveth thy soul that rather then he will lose thee he will with tears perswade with thee 2. Not only so but also when he came he came all on a goar blood to proffer mercy to thee to shew thee still how dearly he did love thee as if he had said sinner here is mercy for thee but behold my bloody sweat my bloody wounds my cursed death behold and see what danger I have gone through to come unto thy soul I am come indeed unto thee and do bring thee tidings of salvation but it cost me my heart blood before I could come at thee to give thee the fruits of my everlasting love But more of this anon Thus have I spoken something concerning Christ being the messenger of the New Covenant but because I am not willing to cut too short of what shall come after I shall pass by these things not half touched and come to the other which I promised even now which was to shew you that as there was Levitical Ceremonies in or belonging to the first Covenant so these Types or Levitical Ceremonies did represent the glorious things of the New Covenant In those Ceremonies you read of a Sacrifice of a Priest to offer up the Sacrifice the place where and the manner how he was to offer it of which I shall speak something First As touching the Sacrifice you find that it was not to be offered up of all kind of beasts as of Lions Bears Wolves Tigers Dragons Serpents or such like To signifie that not all kind of Creatures that had sinned as Devils the fallen Angels should be saved but the Sacrifice was to be taken out of some kind of Beasts and Birds to signifie that some of Gods Creatures that had sinned he would be pleased to reconcile them to himself again as poor fallen Man and Woman those miserable Creatures God the God of Heaven had a good look for after their fall but not for the cursed Devils though more noble Creatures by Creation than We. Here is grace Now though these Sacrifices were offered yet they were not offered to the end they should make the comers to or offerers thereof perfect but the things was to represent to the world what God had in after ages for to do which was even the salvation of his Creatures by that offering
sin-offering which is for the people and bring his blood within the vail and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy-seat verse 11 12 13 14 15. Now this was for the priest and the people all which doth signifie that Jesus Christ was after his death to go into heaven it self of which this holy place was a figure Heb. 9. and there to carry the sacrifice that he offered upon the Cross into the presence of God for to obtain mercy for the people in a way of justice And in that he is said to take his hands full of sweet incense it signifies that Jesus Christ was to offer up his sacrifice in the presence of his Father in a way of intercession and prayers I might have branched these things out into several particulars but I would be brief I say therefore the office of the Priests was to carry the blood into the holy place and there to present it before the mercy-seat with his heart full of intercessions for the people for whom he was a Priest Luke 1. 8 9 10 11. This is Jesus Christs work now in the kingdom of glory to plead his own blood the nature and vertue of it with a perpetual intercession to the God of mercy on the behalf of us poor miserable sinners Heb. 7. 24. Now in the intercession of this Jesus which is part of his priestly office there is these things to be considered for our comfort First There is a pleading of the vertue of his blood for them that are already come in that they may be kept from the evils of heresies delusions temptations pleasures profits or any thing of this world which may be too hard for them Father I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world saith Christ but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil John 17. 15. Secondly in case the devil should aspire up into the presence of God to acuse any of the poor Saints and to plead their back-slidings against them as he will do if he can then there is Jesus our Lord Jesus ready in the Court of Heaven at the right hand of God to plead the vertue of his blood not only for the great and general satisfaction that he did give when he was on the Cross but also the vertue that is in it now for the cleansing and fresh purging of his poor Saints under their several temptations and infirmities as saith the Apostle For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more then being reconciled we shall be saved by his life that is by his intercession Rom. 5. 10. Thirdly The maintaining of grace also is by Jesus Christs intercession being the second part of his Priestly Office O! had we not a Jesus at the right hand of God making intercession for us and to convey fresh supplies of Grace unto us through the vertue of his blood being pleaded at Gods right hand how soon would it be with us as it is with those for whom he prays not at all John 17. 9. But the reason why thou standest while others fall the reason why thou goest through the many temptations of the world and shakest them off from thee while others are ensnared and intangled therein it is because thou hast an interceding Jesus I have prayed saith he that thy saith fail not Luke 22. 3 2. Fourthly It is partly by the vertue of Christs intercession that the elect are brought in there is many that are to come to Christ which are not yet brought in to Christ and it is one part of his work to pray for their salvation too Neither pray I for these alone but for all those that shall believe though as yet they do not believe on me but that they may believe through their word John 17. 20. And let me tell thee soul for thy comfort who art a coming in to Christ panting and sighing as if thy heart would break I tell thee soul thou wouldest never have come to Christ if he had not first by the vertue of his blood and intercession sent into thy heart an earnest desire after Christ and let me tell thee also that it is his business to make intercession for thee not only that thou mightest come in but that thou mightest be preserved when thou art come in Compare Heb. 7. 25. with Rom. 8. 33 34 35 c. Fifthly It is by the intercession of Christ that the infirmities of the Saints in their holy duties are forgiven Alas if it was not for the priestly office of Christ Jesus the prayers alms and other duties of the Saints might be rejected because of the sin that is in them but Jesus being our high Priest he is ready to take away the iniquities of our holy things perfuming our prayers with the glory of his own perfections and therefore it is that there is an answer given to the Saints prayers and also acceptance of their holy duties Rev. 8. 3 4. But Christ being come an high Priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood he entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament or Covenant that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called notwithstanding all their sins might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Heb. 9. 11 12 13 14 15. The third thing now to be spoken to it is to shew where and how Jesus Christ out-went and goes beyond these priests in all their qualifications and offices for the comfort of poor Saints First They that were called to the priest-hood under the Law were but men but he is both God and Man Heb. 7. 28. 3. 2. Their qualifications were in them in a very scanty way but Jesus was every way qualified in an infinite and full way They were consecrated but for a time Heb. 7. 23. but he for ever more ver 24. 4. They were made without an oath ver 20 21. but he with an oath 5. They as servants but he as a Son Heb. 3. 6. 6. Their garments were but such as could be made with hands Ez. 28. but his the very righteousness of God Rom. 3. 22. 7. Their offerings were but the body and blood of beasts and such like Phil. 3. 8. but his offering was his own body and soul Heb.
for himself as soon as Christ had he been very God as Jesus Christ was For the reason why the posterity of Adam even so many of them as fall short of life must lye broyling in hell to all eternity is this They are not able to give the justice of Gods satisfaction they being not infinite as aforesaid But Christ that is God-man being come an high Priest that is to offer and give satisfaction of good things to comè by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his own mark you that but by his own blood he hath entered into the holy place having already obtained eternal redemption for us But how For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of an beifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purging of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit who through the power and vertue of his infinite Godhead offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God And for this cause that is for that he is God as well as man and so able to give justice an infinite satisfaction therefore he is the Mediator of the New Covenant that by the means of his death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Heb. 9. 11 12 13 14 15. as I said before Object This is much but is God contented with this Is he satisfied now in the behalf of sinners by this mans thus suffering If he is then how doth it appear Answ. It is evident yea wonderful evident that this hath pleased him to the full as appeareth by these following Demonstrations First In that God did admit him into his presence yea receive him with joy and musick even with the sound of a Trumpet at his ascension into Heaven Psal. 47. 5. and Christ makes it an argument to his Children that his righteousness was sufficient in that he went to his Father and they saw him no more John 16. 10. Of righteousness saith he because I go to my Father 〈◊〉 ye see me no more As if he had said My Spirit shall shew to the world that I have brought in a sufficient righteousness to justifie sinners withal in that when I go to appear in the presence of my Father on their behalf he shall give me entertainment and not throw me down from heaven because I did not do it sufficiently Again If you consider the high esteem that God the father doth set on the death of his Son you will find that he hath received good content thereby When the Lord Jesus by way of complaint told his Father that he and his merits were not valued to the worth his Father answered It is a light thing that I should give thee O my servant to bring Jacob again I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth Isa. 49. 1 2 3 4 5 6. As if the Lord had said My Son I do value thy death at a higher rate then that thou shouldest save the Tribes of Israel only behold the Gentiles the barbarous Heathens they also shall be brought in as the price of thy blood It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant only to bring or redeem the Tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth Again You may see it also by the carriage of God the Father to all the great sinners to whom mercy was proffered We do not find that God maketh any objection against them that come to him for the pardon of their sins because he did want a satisfaction suitable to the greatness of their sins There was Manasseth who was one that burnt his children in the fire to the devil 2 Chron. 33. from 1. to 12. that used witchcraft that used to worship the host of heaven that turned his back on the word that God sent unto him nay that did worse than the very heathen that God cast out before the children of Israel Also those that are spoken of Acts 19. 19. that did spend so much time in conjuration and the like Acts 8. for such I judge they were that when they came to burn their books they counted the price thereof to be fifty thousand pieces of Silver Simon Magus also that was a Sorcerer and bewitched the whole City yet he had mercy proffered to him once and again I say it was not the greatness of the sins of these sinners no nor of an innumerable company of others that made God at all to object against the salvation of their souls which justice would have constrained him to had he not had satisfaction sufficient by the blood of the Lord Jesus Nay further I do find that because God the Father would not have the merits of his Son to be undervalued I say he doth therefore freely by his consent let mercy be proffered to the greatest sinners in the first place for the Jews that were the worst of men in that day for blasphemy against the Gospel yet the Apostle proffered mercy to them in the first place It is necessary saith he that the word of God should first have been spoken unto you Acts 13. 46. Acts 3. 26. And Christ gave them commission so to do for saith he Let repentance and remission of sins be preached in my name among all nations and begin mark that begin at Jerusalem Luke 24. 47. Let them that but the other day had their hands up to the elbows in my heart blood have the first proffer of my mercy And saith Paul For this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them that should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting 1 Tim. 15 16. As the Apostle saith those sinners that were dead possessed with the devil and the children of wrath he hath quickned delivered and saved Ephes. 2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. that he might even in the very ages to come shew forth the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us and that through Jesus Christ. Secondly It is evident that that which this man did as a common person he did it compleatly and satisfactorily as appears by the openness as I may so call it which was in the heart of God to him at his resurrection and ascension Ask of me saith he and I will give thee the very heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Psal. 2. 8. And this was at his resurrection Acts 13. 33. Whereas though he had asked yet if he had not given a full and compleat
sins of Thousands and Thousands and all at once This also is one means to make souls tender of sin it is the burned child that feareth the fire to make them humble in a sense of their own vileness to make them count every thing that God giveth them a mercy to make much of the least glimpse of the love of God and to prize it above the whole world O sinners were you killed indeed then Heaven would be Heaven and Hell would be Hell indeed but because you are not wrought upon in this manner therefore you count the ways of God as bad as a good man counteth the ways of the devil and the ways of the devil and hell as good as a Saint doth count the ways of God Fourthly Again God is fain to go this way and all to make sinners make sure of Heaven So long as souls are senseless of sin and what a damnable state they are in by nature so long they will even dally with the Kingdom of Heaven and the Salvation of their own poor souls but when God cometh and sheweth them where they are and what is like to become of them if they miss of the Crucified Saviour Oh then saith the soul would I were sure of Jesus what shall I do to get assurance of Jesus And thus is God forced as I may say to whip souls to Jesus Christ they being so secure so senseless and so much their own enemies as not to look out after their own eternal advantage Fifthly A fifth reason why God doth deal thus with sinners it is because he would bring Christ and the Soul together in a right way Christ and Sinners would never come together in a beloved posture they would not so suitably suit each other if they were not brought together this way the sinner being killed O when the sinner is killed and indeed struck dead to every thing below a naked Jesus how suitably then doth the Soul and Christ suit one with another Then here is a naked sinner for a righteous Jesus a poor sinner to a rich Jesus a weak sinner to a strong Jesus a blind sinner to a seeing Jesus an ignorant careless sinner to a wise and careful Jesus O how wise is God in dealing thus with the sinner he strips him of his own knowledge that he may fill him with Christs he killeth him for taking pleasure in sin that he may take pleasure in Jesus Christ c. Sixthly But sixthly God goeth this way with sinners because he would have the glory of their salvation Should not men and women be killed to their own things they would do sacrifice unto them and instead of saying to the Lamb THOU ART WORTHY Rev. 5. 9. Job 40. 14. Rom. 3. 27. Ephes. 2. 8 9. Tit. 3. 5. they woul say their own arm their own right hand hath saved them but God will cut off boasting from ever entring within the borders of eternal glory for he is resolved to have the glory of the beginning the middle and the end of the contriving and saving and giving salvation to them that enter into the joys of everlasting glory That they may be called the trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord that he may be glorifyed Isa. 61. 3. I might have run thorow many things as to this but I shall pass them and proceed Now Secondly The soul being thus killed to it's self its sins its righteousness faith hope wisdom promises resolutions and the rest of its things which it trusted in by nature In the next place it hath also given unto it a most glorious perfect and never-fading life which is first a life imputed to it yet so really that the very thought of it in the soul hath so much operation and authority especially when the meditation of it is mixed with faith as to make it though condemned by the Law to triumph and to look its enemies in the face with comfort notwithstanding the greatness of the multitude the fierceness of their anger and the continuation of their malice be never so hot against it This imputed life for so it is is the obedience of the Son of God as his righteousness in his suffering arising ascending interceding and so consequently triumphing over all the enemies of the soul and given to me as being wrought on purpose for me So that is is there righteousness in Christ that is mine Is there perfection in that righteousness that is mine did he bleed for sin it was for mine Hath he overcome the Law the Devil and Hell the victory is mine and I am counted the Conqueror Nay more than a conqueror through him that hath loved me and I do count this a most glorious life for by this means it is that I am in the first place proclaimed both in Heaven and Earth guiltless and such a one who as I am in Christ am not a sinner and so not under the Law to be condemned but as holy and righteous as the Son of God himself because he himself is my holiness and righteousness and so likewise having by this all things taken out of the way that would condemn me Sometimes I bless the Lord my soul hath had the life that now I am speaking of not only imputed to me but the very glory of it upon my soul For upon a time when I was under many condemnings of heart and feared because of my sins my soul would miss of eternal glory methought I felt in my soul such a secret motion as this Thy righteousness is in Heaven together with the splendour and shining of the spirit of grace in my soul which gave me to see clearly that my righteousness by which I should be justified from all that could condemn was the Son of God himself in his own person now at the right hand of his Father representing me compleat before the mercy-seat in his own self so that I saw clearly that night and day where ever I was or what ever I was a doing still there was my righteousness just before the eys of divine glory so that the Father could never find fault with me for any insufficiency that was in my righteousness being it was compleat neither could he say where is it because it was continually at his right hand Also at another time having contracted guilt upon my soul and having some distemper of body upon me supposed that death might now so seize upon as to take me away from among men then thought I what shall I do now is all right with my soul have I the right work of God on my soul Answering my self No surely and that because there were so many weaknesses in me yea so many weaknesses in my best duties for thought I how can such a one as I find mercy whose heart is so ready to evil and so backward to that which is good so far as it is natural Thus musing being filled with fear to die these words came in upon my soul Being
them and so I think should we Answ. This comparison is wrongly applied if you bring it to shew us how we must do when we come to Christ. He that can make himself clean hath no need of Christ for the whole the clean and righteous have no need of Christ but those that are foul and sick Physicians you know if they love to be honoured they will not bid the Patients first make themselves whole and then come to them no but bid them come with their sores all running on them as the woman with her bloody issue Mark 5. And as Mary Magdalen with her Belly full of Devils and the Leppers all scabbed and that is the right coming to Jesus Christ. Reply Well I hope that Christ will save me for his promises and mercy is very large and as long as he hath promised to give us life I fear my state the less Answ. It is very true Christs promises are very large blessed be the Lord for ever and also so is his mercy but notwithstanding all that there is many go in at the broad gate and therefore I say your business is seriously to enquire whether you are under the first or second Covenant for unless you are under the second you will never be regarded of the Lord for as much as you are a sinner Heb. 89. And the rather because if God should be so good to you as to give you a share in the second you shall have all your sins pardoned and for certain have eternal life though you have been a great sinner But do not expect that thou shalt have any part or share in the large promises and mercy of God for the benefit and comfort of thy poor soul whilst thou art under the Old Covenant because so long thou art out of Christ through whom God conveyeth his mercy grace and love to sinners For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen Indeed his mercy grace and love is very great but it 's treasured up in him given forth in him through him But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us that he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace But which way In his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus But out of Christ thou shalt find God a just God a sin revenging God a God that will by no means spare the guilty and be sure that every one that is found out of Jesus Christ will be found guilty in the Judgment day upon whom the wrath of God shall smoke to their eternal ruine Now therefore consider of it and take the counsel of the Apostle in 2 Cor. 13. 5. Which is to examine thy self whether thou art in the faith and to prove thy own self whether thou hast received the Spirit of Christ inâ—â— thy soul whether thou hast been converted whether thou hast been born again and made a new creature whether thou hast had thy sins washed away in the blood of Christ whether thou hast been brought from under the Old Covenant into the New and do not make a slight examination for thou hast a precious soul either to be saved or damned And that thou mayest not be deceived consider that it is one thing to be convinced and another to be converted one thing to be wounded and another to be killed and so to be made alive by the faith of Jesus Christ. When men are killed they are killed to all things they lived to before both sin and righteousness as all their old faith and supposed grace that they thought they had Indeed the Old Covenant will shew thee that thou art a sinner and that a great one too but the Old Covenant the Law will not shew thee without the help of the spirit that thou art without all grace by nature no but in the midst of thy troubles thou wilt keep thy self from coming to Christ by perswading thy soul that thou art come already and hast some grace already O therefore be earnest in begging the spirit that thy soul may be enlightned and the wickedness of thy heart discovered that thou mayest see the miserable state that thou art in by reason of sin and unbelief which is the great condemning sin and so in a sight and sense of thy sad condition if God should deal with thee in severity according to thy deservings do thou cry to God for faith in a Crucified Christ that thou mayest have all thy sins washed away in his blood and such a right work of grace wrought in thy soul that may stand in the Judgment-day Again secondly In the next place you know I told you that a man might go a great way in a profession and have many excellent gifts so as to do many wondrous works and yet be but under the Law from hence you may learn not to judge your selves to be the children of God 1 Cor. 1. because you may have some gifts of knowledge or understanding more than others no for thou mayest be the knowingest man in all the Countrey as to head-knowledge and yet be but under the Law and so consequently under the â—urse notwithstanding that Now seeing it is so that men may have all this and yet perish then what will become of those that do no good at all and have no understanding neither of their own sadness nor of Christs mercy O sad Read with understanding Isa. 27. 11. Therefore he that made them will have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour See also 2 Thes. 1. 8 9. Now there is one thing which for want of most people do miscarry in a very sad manner and that is because they are not able to distinguish between the nature of the Law and the Gospel O people people your being blinded here as to the knowledge of this is one great cause of the ruining of many As Paul saith While Moses is read or while the Law is discovered the vail is over their hearts 2 Cor. 3. 15. that is the vail of ignorance is still upon their hearts so that they cannot discern either the nature of the Law or the nature of the Gospel they being so dark and blind in their minds as you may see if you compare it with Chap. 4. 3 4. And truly I am confident that were you but well examined I doubt many of you would be found so ignorant that you would not be able to give a word of right answer concerning either the Law or the Gospel Nay my Friends set the case one should ask you what time you spend what pains you take to the end you may understand the nature and difference of these two Covenants would you not say if you should speak the truth that you did not so much as regard whether there was two or more would you not say I did not think of Covenants or study the nature of them I thought that if I had lived honestly and did as well as
satisfaction justice would not have given him any thing for justice the justice of God is so pure that if it be not compleatly satisfied in every particular it giveth nothing but curses Gal. 3. 10. Thirdly It is yet far more evident that he hath indeed pleased God in the behalf of sinners in that God hath given him gifts to distribute to sinners yea the worst of sinners as a fruit of his satisfaction and that at his ascension Psal. 68. 18. Christ hath so satisfied God that he hath given him all the treasures both of heaven and earth to dispose of as he seeth good he hath so pleased God that he hath given him a Name above every Name a Scepter above every Scepter a Crown above every Crown a Kingdom above every Kingdom Phil. 29. Rev. 19. 16. he hath given him the highest placeâ—n heaven even his own right hand he hath given him all the power of heaven and earth and under the earth in his own hand to bind whom he pleaseth and to set free whom he thinks meet he hath in a word such an high esteem in the eyes of his Father that he hath put into his hand all things that are for the profit of his people both in this world and that which is to come and all this as the fruit of his faithfulness in doing of his work as the Mediator of the New Covenant Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led Captivity Captive thou hast received gifts mark thou hast received them for men even for the worst of men the rebellious also And hath sent forth some being furnished with these gifts some I say For the work of the ministry to the edifying of them that are already called and also for the calling in of all those for whom he covenanted with his Father Till all come in the unity of faith c. Eph. 4. 8 9 10 11 12 13. Fourthly It doth still appear far more evident For will you hear what the Father himself saith for the shewing of his well-pleasedness in these two particulars First In that he bids poor souls to hear and to do as Christ would have them Mat. 3. 17. Luke 9. 35. Secondly In that he resolves to make them that turn their backs upon him that dishonour him which is done in a very great measure by those that lay aside his merits done by himself for Justification I say he that resolved to make them his footstool where he saith Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Are they enemies to thee saith God I will be even with them Do they slight thy merits Do they slight thy groans thy tears thy blood thy death thy resurrection and intercession thy second coming again in heavenly glory I will tear them and rend them I 'll make them as mire in the streets I will make thy enemies thy footstool Psal. 110. 1. Mat. 22. 44. Heb. 1. 13. Chap. 10. 13. I saith he And thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Psal. 2. 9. look to it you that slight the merits of the blood of Christ. Fifthly Again further yet God will make all the world to know that he hath been and is well pleased in his Son in that God hath given and will make it appear he hath given the world to come into his hand Heb. 2. And that he shall raise the dead bring them before his judgment-seat execute judgment upon them which he pleaseth to execute judgment on to their damnation and to receive them to eternal life whom he doth favour even so many as shall be found to believe in his name and merits John 5. 26 27 28. For as the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself And he hath given him authority to execute judgment also because he is the Son of man For the hour is coming that all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation I and the worst enemy that Christ hath now shall come at that day with a pale face with a quaking heart and bended knees trembling before him confessing the glory of his merits and the vertue there was in them to save to the glory of God the Father Romans 14. 11. Phil. 2. 9 10 11. Much more might be added to discover the glorious perfection of this mans satisfaction but for you that desire to be further satisfied concerning this search the Scriptures and beg of God to give you faith and understanding therein and as for you that slight these things and continue so doing God hath another way to take with you even to dash you in pieces like a Potters vessel for this hath Christ received of his Father to do unto you Rev. 2. 27. Thus I have shewed you in particular that the Covenant of the grace of God is free and unchangeable to men that is in that it hath been obtained for men and that perfectly to the satisfying of justice and taking all things out of the way that were any ways an hinderance to our salvation Col. 2. 14. The second thing for the discovering of this freeness and constancy of the Covenant of the Grace of God it is manifest thus First Whatsoever any man hath of the grace of God he hath it as a free gift of God through Christ Jesus the Mediator of this Covenant even when they are in a state of enmity to him mark that Rom. 5. 8 9. Col. 1. 21 22. whether it be Christ as the foundation stone or faith to lay hold on him Eph. 2. 8. For by Grace you are saved through Faith and that not of your selves not for any thing in you or done by you for the purchasing of it but it is the free gift of God And that bestowed on you even when you were dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Nay if thou hast so much as one desire that is right it is the gift of God for of our selves saith the Apostle we are not able to speak a good word or think a good thought 2 Cor. 3. 5. Was not grace absolute grace that God made promise to Adam after transgression Gen. 3. 5. Was it not free grace in God to save such a wretch as Manasseh was who used enchantments witchcraft burnt his children in the fire and wrought much evil 2 Chron. 33. Was it not free grace to save such as those were that are spoken of in the 16 of Ezekiel which no eye pitied Was it not free grace for Christ to give Peter a loving look after he had cursed and swore and denied him Was it not free grace that met Paul when he was a going to Damascus to persecute which converted him and made him a vessel of mercy And what shall I say of such that are spoken
of in the 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. speaking there of fornicators idolators adulterers effeminates abusers of themselves with mankind thieves covetous revilers drunkards extortioners the basest of sinners in the world and yet were washed and yet were justified was it not freely by grace O Saints you that are in Heaven cry out We came hither by grace and you that are on earth I am sure you cry if ever we do go thither it must be freely by grace Secondly In the next place it appears to be unchangeable in this First Because Justice being once satisfied doth not use to call for the debt again No let never such a sinner come to Jesus Christ and so to God by him and Justice instead of speaking against the salvation of that sinner it will say I am just as well as faithful to forgive him his sins 1 John 1. 9. When Justice it self is pleased with a man and speaks on his side instead of speaking against him we may well cry out Who shall condemn 2. Because there is no Law to come in against the sinner that believes in Jesus Christ for he is not under that and that by right comes in against none but those that are under it But Believers are not under that that is not their Lord therefore that hath nothing to do with them and besides Christs blood hath not only taken away the curse thereof but also he hath in his own person compleatly fulfilled it as a publick person in our stead Rom. 8. 1 2 3 4. 3. The Devil that accused them is destroyed Heb. 2. 14 15. 4. Death and the Grave and Hell are overcome 1 Cor. 15. 55. Hâ—sea 13. 14. 5. Sin that great enemy of mans salvation that is washed away Rev. 1. 5. 6. The righteousness of God is put upon them that believe and given to them and they are found in it Phâ—l 3. 8 9 10. Rom. 3. 22. 7. Christ is always in heaven to plead for them and to prepare a place for them Heb. 7. 24. John 14 1 2 3 4. 8. He hath not only promised that he will not leave us nor forsake us but he hath also sworn to fulfill his promise O rich grace free grace Lord who desired thee to promise Who compelled thee to swear we use to take honest men upon their bare words But God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel hath confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things his promise and his oath in which it is impossible for God to lye or break either of them we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Heb. 6. 13 17 18. I 'll warrant you God will never break his Oath therefore we may well have good ground to hope from such a good Foundation as this that God will never leave us indeed Again thirdly Not only thus but first God hath begotten Believers again to himself to be his adopted and accepted Children in and through the Lord Jesus 1 Pet. 1. 3. Secondly God hath prepared a Kingdom for them before the Foundation of the world through Jesus Christ Mat. 25. Thirdly He hath given them an earnest of their happiness while they live here in this world Eph. 1. 13 14. After ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory and that through this Jesus Fourthly If his Children sin through weakness or by suddain temptation they confessing of it he willingly forgives and heals all their wounds reneweth his love towards them waits to do them good casteth their sins into the depths of the sea and all this freely without any work done by men as men Not for your sakes do I this O House of Israel be it known unto you saith the Lord Ezek. 36. 22 32. but wholly and alone by the blood of Jesus Fifthly In a word if you would see it altogether Gods love was the cause why Jesus Christ was sent to bleed for sinners Jesus Christs bleeding stops the cries of divine justice God looks upon them as compleat in him gives them to him as his by right of purchase Jesus ever lives to pray for them that are thus given unto him God sends his holy Spirit into them to reveal this to them sends his Angels to minister for them and all this by vertue of an everlasting Covenant between the Father and the Son Thrice happy are the people that are in such a case Nay further he hath made them Brethren with Jesus Christ members of his flesh and of his bones the Spouse of this Lord Jesus and all to shew you how dearly how really how constantly he loveth us who by the faith of his operation have laid hold upon him I shall now lay down a few arguments for the superabundant clearing of it and afterwards answer two or three objections as may be made against it and so I shall fall upon the next thing First God loves the Saints as he loves Jesus Christ. And God loves Jesus Christ with an eternal love therefore the Saints also with the same Thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me John 17. 23. Secondly That love which is God himself must needs be everlasting love And that is the love wherewith God hath loved his Saints in Christ Jesus therefore his love towards his children in Christ must needs be an everlasting love There is none dare say that the love of God is mixed with a created mixture if not then it must needs be himself 1 John 4. 16. Thirdly That love which is always pitched upon us in an object as holy as God must needs be an everlasting love Now the love of God was and is pitched upon us through an object as holy as God himself even our Lord Jesus Therefore it must needs be unchangeable Fourthly If he with whom the Covenant of Grace was made did in every thing and condition do even what the Lord could desire or require of him that his love might be extended to us and that for ever Then his love must needs be an everlasting love seeing every thing required of us was compleatly accomplished for us by him And all this hath our Lord Jesus done and that most gloriously even on our behalf therefore it must needs be a love that lasts for ever and ever Fifthly If God hath declared himself to be the God that changeth not and hath sworn to be immutable in his promise then surely he will be unchangeable And he hath done so therefore it is impossible for God to lie and so for his eternal love to be unchangeable Heb. 6. 13 14 17 18. Here is an argument of the Spirits own making who can contradict it If any object and say but still it is upon the condition of believing I answer the condition also is his