may pleade and parle with God and stand vpon interrogatories with him 1. Pet. 3.21 The interrogatory which a good conscience makes to God For the conscience beeing acquitted from the guilt of sinne by the sprinkling of the blood of Christ is made bold to question with God and to aske him what hee hath more to lay to our charge What more full and perfect satisfaction his Iustice can require then what Christ hath already made Isa 1.18 Come let vs reason together 2. Cor. 7.11 We can make our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and cleere our selues before God for whatsoeuer can be laid to our charge and cry Abba Father and poure out our hearts before him in all our afflictions and bemoane our selues to God and all our wrongs crosses indignities For Christ hauing stopped the mouth of the Law and of all iniquitie and of our crying sinnes which stopped our mouths as Rom. 3.19 Psal 107.42 thereby opens our mouth to God Dauid vpon the guilt of murther and adultery had his mouth stopped and gagged and euery man by the Law and spirit of bondage hath his mouth sealed vp let Christs spirit open it by the sprinkling and washing of the blood of Christ applyed by faith and then vpon experience of Gods free sauing grace and mercy pardoning and healing the guilt of his sin his mouth was opened that his lippes might set forth the praise of this his sauing grace loue mercy Christ is the Lyon of the tribe of Iuda and courage with God is his naturall peculiar vertue and which he dwelling in our hearts exerciseth in vs and especially as he is now risen from the dead and sits at the right hand of God making intercession for vs. For whatsoeuer Christ is in Heauen or doth for vs there he is the same in our hearts and the vertue and influence of it descends into vs and raiseth vs vp together Eph. 2.6 and makes vs sit together with him in the heauenly places Eph. 3.17 and Christ dwelles in vs vertually as he doth in heauen yea Christ risen from the dead and making intercession for vs in heauen and liuing there for vs is the same Christ in our hearts and in the temple of our soules and consciences as he is in heauen the same person exercising the same office and vertues in the inner holy place of our consciences before God whereinto he is entred by his blood and hath made way for himselfe to raigne in vs as King of Salem Prince of Peace as hee doth in heauen for vs. For God is in the Sanctuary of our consciences being purged by the blood of his Sonne as he is in heauen his holy place our soules beeing made and framed like to heauen to be Gods House and Temple The Fabricke of the Iewish Temple was not only a type of heauen but of our soules the Temples of God and therefore Christ is our High Priest and doth his office oâ— Priest-hood as well in our soules as in heauen and as A Minister of the true Tabernacle which God pitch and not man Heb. 8.2 As by his blood he entred as by a new and liuing way Heb. 10.20 into the Sanctuary oâ— heauen so doth he enter into our consciences and aâ— he makes intercession anâ— speakes for vs in heauen 〈◊〉 doth he in our hearts witâ— that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Pet 3.21 the Interrogatory which a good conscience makes to God by thâ— Resurrection of Iesus Chriâ—â— from the dead or Christ râ—sen vp in it with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that Spirit which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 makes request for the Saints Rom. 8.26 Christ was arraigned accused condemned for our sinnes and he satisfied and answered for all that we also in him might answer for our selues Vse Highly prize this benefit We that could not answer God for one of a thousand now can answer all inditements and obiections by Christ Wee that could not abide the least triall nor indure the least search can now abide the most seuere Iudgement and most exquisite triall being found in Christ Phil. 3.9 not hauing our owne righteousnesse but his righteousnesse Else if thou streightly marke what is done amisse who is able to abide it Psal 130.3 Let vs prooue our selues how Christ is in vs. How doth he open our mouthes to God If Christ be within in the heart hee opens the mouth as a Priest to God What new opening of thy mouth before sealeâ— and stopped vp by thâ— Law The guilt of sinne makes speechlesse dumb as Zachary Infidelity make dumbe but as soone as by faith we receiue Christ into our hearts he opens ouâ— mouthes to pray whicâ— before we could neuer doe Christ giues a new moutâ— and tongue not only tâ— speake to men but to God not only to pleade our euill righteousnesse in thâ— courts of men but in God courts and to stand vpoâ— interrogatories with him Rom. 4.1 If Abraham be iustified by workes he hath to glory but not with God He may stand and pleade his righteousnesse boldly in mens courts but not in Gods But we can pleade in heauen and make our Appeale to the Throne of Grace and there make our Apologie Hos 14.2 and Take to vs words and say Receiue vs graciously so will we render the calues of our lippes Ye are carefull saith Paul 2. Cor. 13.3 To prooue and try your Ministers yee will haue experience of Christ speaking in me It s well 2. Cor. 13 3.5 but withall prooue your selues whether Christ bee in you Know that the same Christ and so his spirit that speakes in me and opens my mouth to speake from God to you enters into your hearts and opens your mouthes freely to speake to God Hereby we may know if we heare the word sauingly and receiue Christ by Faith Therefore not only prooue and try your Ministers whether Christ speak and preach in them but also try your selues whether ye be in the Faith and receiue Christ to speake to God in prayer else ye are not fit nor able to iudge whether Christ speake in me Such a spirit of liberty and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as opens the Ministers mouth to speake from Christ to the people such a spirit enters into the people and Church by Faith in the word heard and opens the mouthes of the people to pray Prayer is a common gift of euery member of the Church Euery one must call on the Name of the Lord that will be saued See Rom. 10.13 14 15. though euery one must not preach First the Ministers mouth must be opened to preach before the peoples mouthes can be opened to pray To put downe a preaching Ministery vnder colour of setting vp a praying Ministery is by sinfull Hypocrisie to put downe both and to deuoure not only widdowes houses but the house of God vnder colour of long prayer as the Pharisees then did and Papists now doe EPHES. 3.12 In whom
can quicken and strengthen his heart with courage comfort and confidence inuincible and therefore chooseth no other foode but this and layes foorth his money Isa 55.2 and labour chiefely for this Iohn 6.27 being perswaded that all nourishing comforting and strengthning vertue to the heart is in Christes death blood and sufferings and that all other bread is but ashes Isa 44.20 and that a seduced heart deceiueth men that they cannot deliuer their soules from feeding on these vanities If wee beleeue that all comfort and confidence is in Christ crucified and goe to him for it we shall find him indeed that bread of life that will giue life comfort strength courage as he promiseth by his word and Sacraments In which Faith and sense of his feares deadnesse Dauid so often repaires to God praying Quicken mee O Lord Psal 119. according to thy promise Let vs likewise goe to Christ and say Lord Iesus thou hast promised that if wee come to thee thou wilt giue vs life if wearied with our pride infidelitie feares and doubtings wee lament the same and come to thee thou wilt ease and refresh vs with strength in our soules and not breake the bruised reed Lord Iesus renouncing all other meanes of easing resting and refreshing my soule and heart and of giuing mee comfort and confidence and to free me from my feares and cares sinfull troubles of minde I come onely to thee the Shepheard of my soule See Hos 14.3 who callest mee vnto thee as Matth. 11.28 and Psal When I am afraid I will trust in thee Therefore Lord ease and refresh my minde with confident rest and repose in thee from all feare doubting anxietie Thou hast promised to giue to the thirstie soule that faints with feare griefe and trouble of minde like the parched ground that gapes the water of life Lord Iesus thou wast weary and thirstie in body and soule askedst drinke both Spirituall See Heb. 4 15. 2.17 18. and bodily whereby thou perfitly knowest what it is to haue a wearie faint and thirstie soule full of feare griefe doubting and didst promise the water of life which I beleeue thou onely hast to giue and wilt giue and therefore I come to thee I know and beleeue that thou promisest no more then thou canst performe and that thy Spirit and righteousnesse can doe it and therefore I renounce all other meanes of refreshing and come to thee as thou callest mee crying in the last Ioh 7.37 and great day of the Feast promising to make a better Feast then that was or all the Feastes of the yeere euen a continuall Feast to all that are thirstie and come to thee to drinke to refresh and satisfie their hearts desires in thee onely as our Passeouer sacrificed for vs. 1. Cor. 5.7 8. Obiect But my feares and griefes and despaires are so great that I feele no faith at all but all faith and hope is swallowed vp Answere It is so to sense but not so indeed as with Ieremie Lament 3. My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. Secondly it s not a wilfull willing and obstinate despaire reiecting all counsell and meanes of confidence as in Ahaz Isa 7.12 but a desperation lamented and striuen against with subiection to any counsell and meanes for the cure desiring and prizing Faith aboue all things and therefore is not damnable Thirdly especially if thou canst thus doe which is my counsell to thee to labour to doe that is to goe to Christ though quaking and trembling and full of feare flie not from Christ to any creature for refuge and confidence 1 Sam. 12.20 for that is to goe after vaine things that cannot profit Though by feares and doubts wee sinne and offend Christ yet flie not from Christ the only medicine of sinne cure of doubts infidelitie especially he calling commanding thee to come vnto him Therefore obey his cōmandement hope aboue hope and beleeue aboue thy faith that his grace mercy wil pardon and heale thy infidelitie say I will not vtterly feare despaire but in despight of my feares distrustfull heart and Satans temptations I will goe to him because he commands me If I cannot goe by faith yet I will goe by obedience because he commands mee to come to him and not suffer my feares to keepe mee backe I will resolutely cast my selfe on him if I cannot doe it faithfully yet with a wilfull resolution to obey his cōmandement though I cannot doe it with heart and affection delight as I would and should doe it Euen despairing of all hope from him of any good yet wilfully and resolutely cast thy selfe on him saying if hee will let mee perish so let it bee I will goe to him though without all hope and commend my selfe to him and if I perish I perish Obiect Oh but I can doe nothing but feare Answere Yet goe and cast thy feare and infidelitie and all thy sinnes on him who hath satisfied for them all and must heale them all chiding thy selfe for thy feares and doubts Why art thou so cast downe my soule Psal 42. and disquieted within me waite on God Christ and in despight of despaire with a contrary desperate resolution aboue all reason sense or hope say as Ionas Ionas 2. yet will I looke towardes thy holy Temple though to all reason and sense I am vtterly cast out from thy presence for euer I will not yet giue ouer prayer I will yet fight the good fight of Faith I will cast my selfe on him As there is in some wicked men a desperate wilfulnesse of rushing into euill against all meanes of restraint both of promises threats mercies and blessings from God and examples prouocations from men and a desperate will in men to aduenture vpon desperate meanes as if they were mad vpon no ground of reason or hope but only their owne foolish credulitie beleeuing their owne conceit and following the hardnesse of their owne hearts and desperate wils so much will they attribute and sacrifice such honour to the Godhead of their conceit and will That honour doe thou giue to Christ by a desperate resolution of a holy will converted to God aboue all hope and against all feares of apparent euils and discouragements to all reason vpon a credence of Gods word and promise against all arguments of despaire cast thy selfe vpon Christ because hee bids thee As Peter at Christs commandement goes vpon the waters and at his commandement casts forth his net to make a draught against all doubts and arguments of despaire Such authority giues Faith to Christs commaundement and word and such is the obedience of Faith Obey not therefore thy owne feares and doubts to beleeue follow them but obey Christs commandement to beleeue against all reason and sense feares doubts and despaires This is the obedience of Faith simple and absolute without any reason why but onely because Christ commands
Thus we see that all sauing good things are sauing vertues in and from Christ Now how and by what meanes do we receiue and draw these vertues from Christ or inioy them in him Ans This is only by faith of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is by Faith receiuing or going to Christs person pitching on him alone as reuealed and offered in the Gospel By Faith of him Doct. Faith in Christs person Name is the only meanes of receiuing all sauing vertues from Christ Rom. 3.22 Act. 3.16 When we beleeue the Gospel and glad tidings offering vs Christs person with all his benefits and vertues and behold him to be such a one towards vs as the Gospel reueales and offers him to vs that is as 1. Cor. 1.30 our Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption our King Priest and Prophet then is he indeede become such a one towards vs and we are made such in him 2. Cor. 3.18 Beholding as in a looking glasse viz. the Gospel the glory of the Lord with open face we are changed from glory to glory For in the Gospel God sets forth Christ before our eyes Rom. 3.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Mercy-seate was exalted and lifted vp before the eyes of the people that all may looke vp to him as the only Propitiation through faith in his blood and so finde mercy and peace with God Faith lookes vp to this Propitiation or Mercy seate and to this brazen Serpent thus lifted vp in the preaching of the Gospel and so finds healing vertue It directs our thoughts and desires to Christ in the sense of all sinne and misery as offered in the Gospel for cure and so receiues remedie Isay 45.22 Looke vnto mee and yee shall be saued all the ends of the earth c. Looke not vnto lying vanities Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched your eyes that is corrupted your minds and iudgements and drawn away your thoughts and desires from Christ that ye should not looke vp to him who by the Gospel is so cleerely manifested and described before your eyes that yee should not obey the Truth beleeuing Christ to be such a one to you as the Gospel offers him to you but looke a squint to circumcision and workes and other meanes of saluation Beleeuing the Word of the Gospel offering vs Christ and embracing the same gladly we receiue Christs Person and all that is his and inioy them by this only meanes as fully as any creature can inioy any naturall good by any naturall meanes as trees inioy the earth and sap of it by their roots so by faith in the Gospel wee inioy Christs person and all the sappe of the Spirit of Life in him Coloss 2.6 7. As the members inioy the Life and Spirits of the Head by the bond and vnion of the nerues and arteries So we the members of Christ by this Faith receiue the spirit of life from Christ our Head Rom. 8.2 with Gal. 3.2 5 14. As meate is receiued and inioyed by eating light by looking on it So is Christ by Faith By Faith in the Gospel and promises we know Christ we taste him and feede on him 1. Pet. 2.3 Wee are rooted in him built on him Col. 2.6 vnited to him By it we receiue his Person and are begotten by him into his Nature and life Ioh. 1.12 13. By Faith we goe to his Person and receiue life Ioh. 5.40 Ye will not come vnto me that ye might haue life and wee are made liuing stones by comming to him this liuing Stone 1. Pet. 2.4 By this Faith we are built on him as on a Rocke and the gates of Hell cannot preuaile against vs Math. 16. By Faith we walke in him Col. 2.6 We eate his body and drinke his blood that is we inioy all the Diuine vertues of his Godhead and the merits of his Person in all his sufferings and that fulnesse of the Godhead as dwelling in him bodily that hee is Emanuel God with vs and we are filled with all fulnes of God and all this only by beleeuing the Gospel that there is no facultie or vertue of soule or body of man or any creature that can inioy any naturall good belonging to it more fully and surely then we may inioy Christ and his Person life merits vertues by Faith in the Gospel only and the promises Hereby we know him we taste him we are rooted in him built on him vnited to him married to him Such is the necessitie and vertue of Faith in the Gospel that by it the Sonne is ours we haue and possesse him for our owne euen his Person as our Husband and his vnsearchable riches See 1. Ioh. 5.9 10 11 12 13. Vse Would we then inioy Christ and his benefits there is no meanes but his Word and Gospel imbraced by Faith and this meanes is infallible and all-sufficient by Gods ordinance Therefore care to get nothing but Faith in the Gospel that the word of Christ may dwell plenteously in vs and then Christ himselfe with all his riches and sauing benefits are in vs Colos 3.16 Wee neede not take thought who shall ascend vp to heauen or who shall descend into the deepe if the word be neere vs in our mouth and in our Heart then Christ descending and ascending both abased and exalted crucified and glorified and all-sufficient to Saluation is ours and in vs as Rom. 10.4 6 7 10. Say not what may I doe to obtaine eternall life and as Iohn 6.29 to worke the workes of God to serue him that wee may earne the bread of life This is all the worke that God requires and meanes of obtaining all sauing good to beleeue in him whom hee hath sent first from Heauen to Earth by incarnation now to all of vs by the preaching of the Gospel Act. 3.26 Eph. 2.17 Eph. 3.6 receiuing the promise of Christ by the Gospel wee are made one body with him and the whole Church and inheritors of all the same sauing good Christ hath ordained and Sanctified this meanes only and infallibly to conuey himselfe into vs his spirit life righteousnesse merits and not the Lawe or any workes or merits of man or any creature Gal. 3.2 3 4. Obey Christ the Son Iohn 3. vlt. Stumble not at his word 1. Pet. 2.8 bee not offended at it Ioh. 6 60 61 67 68 69. heare Christ Matth. 17.5 this great Prophet Act. 3.22 23. and hee will giue the holy Ghost to them that obey him Actes 5.32 The reiecting of the Word is the reiecting of Christ the receiuing of it and his Ministers is the receiuing of Christ Iohn 14.21 and 13.20 2. Thessa 1.10 Vse Abandon Transubstantiation Crucifixes Relickes Oralem manducationem for by none of all these doe wee inioy Christ which Idoles the Deuill taking away the Word and Gospel hath substituted in the roome to hold Christ by sense and not by Faith Admit wee could receiue Christ by sense yea and fill all our senses with him
yet our soules could neuer bee saued by him nor inioy his sauing merites and vertues which can neuer come into the heart but by Faith and the riches of the full assurance of vnderstanding in comprehending the mysterie of God the Father and of Christ which made Pauls preaching so full of agony and difficultie Colos 2.1 2. which needed not if it were sufficient to saluation to communicate Christ to the senses internall or externall But Christ is inioyed of the soule vnto saluation onely of true beleeuers through Faith Ephes 3.17 who often haue least feeling and fruition of him by sense and hee is often most tasted of Hypocrites by sense and felt by outward comforts who least inioy him in their hearts by Faith of the Gospel and promises to saluation It was an easie thing for Paul to giue a tast of Christ to the senses but it was his agonie as hee saith Colos 2.1 and his child-bearing paines to forme Christ aright in their hearts as Gal. 4.19 and so to giue their hearts sound and sauing comfort indeed Colos 2.2 Hauing shewed that all sauing good things in vs are sauing vertues in and from Christ and how and by what meanes wee receiue draw these vertues from Christ or inioy them in him Now in the third place we come to consider these sauing vertues in particular whereof here are two specified the most sauing which respect God as their obiect and the state of iustification before God not so much our estate of sanctification before men and these are two first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a confident accesse to God or rather a Manuduction with confidence to God secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 boldnesse of open face with libertie of speach for so much doeth the signification of the word import as may appeare 2. Cor. 3.12 13. and as shall further appeare in a larger vnfolding of the text in the next Sermon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this word imports two things first accesse to God secondly the manner by leading or Manuduction whereof I will speake in the next Sermon This the priuiledge of Gods Saints and people they haue neere accesse vnto God and into God by Faith not onely to behold and contemplate of God a farre off but their hearts soules draw neere to that light which none can attaine vnto 1 Tim. 6.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore the phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely to beleeue God or beleeue that there is a God but by this faith to enter into God to dwel in the secret of the most High Psal 90.1 and to abide vnder the shadow of the Almighty to lodge in his bosome and hide our selues with him and vnder the shadow of his wings Psal 63. to dwell in God and God in vs 1. Iohn 3. that he keepes vs as the apple of his eye Psal 17. Mat. 23.37 and hee gathers vs as the Hen doeth her chickens vnder her wings Hee beares vs as his Lambes in his bosome the Name of the Lord is a strong tower Pro. 18.10 the righteous runne to it and into it and are exalted there is intimate cōmunion betweene God and vs in our hearts and soules For in Christ his nature is fatherly to vs not a consuming fire as to wicked men and vnregenerate He is the naturall element of a regenerate heart and soule wherein it liues mooues and workes all its workes in God Iohn 3.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euery parent giues free accesse to its birth to come to it and to hide its selfe in its bosome how much more God the Father of mercies This is our priuiledge by the Gospel In the olde Testament none could so much as see God and liue no man could warrant his heart to goe vnto God Vse Make this thy onely refuge in all dangers and troubles hauing such a Father to flie vnto Hos 14.3 Ashur shall not saue vs neither will we ride vpon horses neither will wee say any more to the workes of our hands Yee are our gods for in thee the fatherlesse findeth mercy Thus saith euery true beleeuing repentant soule and this is the worke of Faith and of true Repentance If wee can call God Father wee haue free accesse to him and into his bosome and vnder his armes wee may hide our selues with him Vse This is our happinesse that wee are not Orphans but wee haue an euerliuing Father to flie and to runne vnto and to hide our selues with him from all sinnes temptations dangers troubles enemies Wee need not flie from God but vnto God from all euills euen our sinnes to him whom by sinne we haue offended 1. Sam. 12.19 20 21 22. Count this thy onely happinesse and reioyce in it Vse How great is their misery that want this If God bee shut vp against vs all creatures are shut vp wee are as Cain runnagates vpon the face of the earth If wee haue no accesse to God whither shall we flie from his presence who is present in all places All our sinnes and all euils and miseries finde vs out whersoeuer wee hide vs if wee haue not him our Sanctuary and inward Holy place to hide vs as his secret ones to abide vnder the protection of the Almightie Wee haue in God alone a secret hiding place and Sanctuary to retire our selues vnto where no deuils sinnes enemies crosses though they make hue and crie and fierce pursuit after vs as blood-Houndes may bee able to finde vs. God hath such a secret bosome and hiding place for his children such a refuge and Sanctuary whither Christ himselfe is entred Heb. 6.18 19 20. euen Iesus our forerunner and is now safe aboue the reach of all deuils and men and hath raised vs vp together and made vs sit together with him in these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most High Heauenly places of refuge our life is hid with Christ in God our Father and neither famine perill sword Rom. 8.35.39 can separate vs from the loue of God in Christ Iesus Vse This is for our great comfort in all distresses dangers miseries when all creatures are shut vp against vs and all wayes and meanes of redemption escape and deliuerance from enemies and euils if wee haue this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 10.20 this new and liuing way made for vs wee are safe and contrary if all creatures opened their bosome to entertaine vs and the world loue vs as her owne and foster vs though nature should command all her children and forces to aide and entertaine vs so that wee could make our neastes in the starres yet if God bee against vs hee will plucke vs thence he will hunt vs with blood-Hounds and draw vs out with fishing hookes Therefore repaire to God and prepare thy place of refuge with him against the euill day acquaint thy selfe with his bosome and secret loue dayly that it may bee thy present helpe in time of trouble and open to thee