lifting up himself by his Spirit and rendring himself more precious then all the things of this world then all our injoyments relations attainments lives c. that so we might run with the feet of our Souls even with hot and fervent affections unto him from all other things Because of the Lord his God and for the holy one of Israel who hath glorified him Isa 55. 5. And that we might follow him whithersoever he goeth And laying aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us run with patience in induring afflictions and in a patient continuance in well-doing and patiently waiting for the Lord the race set before us looking off from all other things unto Jesus Heb. 12. 1 2 3. This is a needfull and usefull garment to be put on by us in and with Humility in putting on the new man and in being clad wherewith we shall be Instruments of good to others and provoke very many to seek and follow the Lord with us 2 Cor. 9. 2. and especially needfull for the Angels of the Churches that they may be ensamples to the flock and fervently seek their good Colos 4. 12 13. And abundant need and great cause have we now to buy this of Christ in these last and lukewarme times in which iniquity doth abound and the love of many wax Cold As was also soretold by our Saviour Math. 24. 12. And to that end that this Angel and Church might be zealous and repent change and forsake their evil and high thoughts of themselves therefore out of love and faithfulness the faithful and true witness did rebuke and chasten them Rev. 3. 19. Bowels of mercy kindness c. Are also to be put on by his Angels and Churches not only outward acts of mercy but bowels of mercy having an inward affection to men pitying and compassionating the ignorant and those that are out of the way and being kind also in heartily desiring the good of them that they may be saved Col. 3. 12. And these garments aptly follow and are joyned with zeal for when the love and loveliness of Christ is so known believed and considered by us as to inflame our hearts with love to him together herewith also his love is so infused and diffused into the heart by the holy Spirit as to fill us with love to all and so with bowels of mercy pity and compassion and with an hearty kindness to them and earnest desire and indeavour of their good This filleth with bowels towards all yearning toward them and breathing for their good that their eyes might be opened and that they might be turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God the love of Christ known and believed frameth and constraineth hereto And so it frameth us to be like-minded unto Christ and God in him to be merciful as our father which is in Heaven is merciful Luk. 6. 36. And especially his grace teacheth and strengthneth the believers in putting on the new man to put on as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy kindness c. one to another exercised in a desire and indeavour of their good especially avoiding what is contrary to bowels of mercy and kindness as judging one another condemning one another and in doing what springeth therefrom as forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any have a complaint against any even as Christ freely forgave them that they should do likewise Col. 3. 12 13. with Luk. 6. 36 37. And as we have opportunity doing good to all men especially to those that are of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. 1 Joh. 3. 16 17 18. Meekness is also to be put on by them as a garment Col. 3. 12. To this the believing women are instructed whose adorning saith the Apostle Peter Let it not be that outward But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which though it be despised and laught at by men yea by many that profess godliness yet is in the sight of God of great price for after this manner in the old time the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselves c. 1 Pet. 3. 1-5 And this is joyned with and put as the consequent of lowliness Ephes 4. 2. And of humbleness of mind Col. 3. 12. And meekness and lowliness of heart were conjoyned in our Saviour Matt. 11. 29. And unless we so receive the grace of Christ as to be clothed with humbleness of mind we cannot adorne our selves with this garment of a meek and quiet spirit for pride and high thoughts of our selves will cause us to be soon angry and fill us with contention strife envying confusion and every evil work Prov. 13. 10. Isa 16. 6. And this is to be exercised in subjection unto those that God hath set over us 1 Pet. 3. 3-5 And in quiet bearing injuries afflictions reproches and persecutions for the Gospel's sake and not indeavouring to resist the evil or leave our place of subjection Psal 37 7-11 In seeking the restoring of those that are overtaken with a fault Gal. 6. 1. In instructing those that oppose themselves 2 Tim. 2. 23 24. In giving a reason of the hope to him that asketh us 1 Pet. 3. 15. And in all our receiving the ingrafted word with the instructions thereof and the reproofes of its instruction which are the way of life Jam. 1. 21. And this is also a fruit of the spirit which he is effecting in those that believe in glorifying Christ and discovering his excellency and that excellent example he hath lest us that we should follow his steps It is the fruit of that wisdom that is from above even of Christ and is therefore called meekness of Wisdom Jam. 3. 13-17 Gal. 5. 22. And is with the former to be put on by us especially in those last days in which evil men and seducers are grown worse and worse deceiving and being deceived and especially the Angels are to be clothed herewith The Servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in meekness instructing them that oppose themselves c. 2 Tim. 2. 23 24. Charity also is to be put on Above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness Col. 3. 14. Above all things have fervent charity among your selves 1 Pet. 4. 8. Let all your things be done with charity 1 Cor. 16. 14. Charity is distinguished from brotherly kindness 2 Pet. 1. 7. Brotherly kindness hath for its motive and object somewhat lovely and amiable in the party loved but Charity is a free manner of love fastening on and flowing forth toward the party loved not because of any worth or worthiness in him yea notwithstanding great unworthiness and manisold evils be found in him Thus it is in God God so infinitely loved pityed and compassionated the world that he
agreeth that in the Prophet Zephany Where after God had pronounced great evil on them that swear by the Lord and that swear by Malcham that halted between two Opinions and were lukewarm ones not singly sincerely and fervently serving and glorifying the Lord that their goods should become a booty and their houses a desolation that he would send a day of wrath trouble and distress and their Silver and Gold should not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath yet before he dealeth with them according to his threatnings and their deservings he saith Gather your selves together yea gather together O nation not desired before the decree bring forth before the day pass as the chaff before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you Seek the Lord all ye meek of the earth which have wrought his judgments seek righteousness seek meekness it may be you may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger Zephan 1. 4 18. 2. 1 3. See also Jer. 36. 3. Hos 9. 14 17. 11. 7 8. with chap. 14. 1. 2. Joel 2. 1 3. So in the Epistles to other of these Churches when he threatneth to remove their Candlestick out of its place and to fight against them yet he expresly or intimately counselleth them to remember from whence they were fallen to repent to do their first works that there might be a turning away of the evil pronounced Rev. 2. 5 16. his end while it is called to day in threatning and lifting up his hand is not firstly to execute the judgment threatned for that is his work his strange work but to awaken us out of our sleep to make us afraid that we might run together unto him prepare to meet him and turn to him that smiteth and seek the Lord of hosts and therefore he giveth good counsel to such as have greatly provoked him and incensed him against them and deserve to be abhorred by him and it is out of his pity and compassion that he thus threatneth before he punisheth and lifteth up his hand before he striketh this is out of faithfulness and not out of hatred to us that we might consider our selves and ways and fall down before him and turn from our iniquities that we may understand his truth and it is good and profitable for us to take notice of this and set our hearts to it for many times when God reproveth us in his word when he heweth us by his Prophets and slayeth us by the words of his lips in setting our sins in order before us or when he layeth his hand upon us and his judgments are as the light that goeth forth we have such evil thoughts of him and are so jealous and distrustful of his love to us that we are ready to think and say there is no hope the case is desperate we have loved strangers and after them we will go he hath forgotten to be gracious he hath shut up his tender mercies in displeasure and will be no more fayourable to us But now his gracious end in threatning and childing of us being known and considered by us would be powerful to incourage us to look toward his holy Temple and come into his house in the multitude of his mercies when we say we are cast out of his sight and are in deepest affliction and he threatneth to cut us off as Jonah 2. 2 4 7. It was not out of ill will or hatred to this Church that he threatneth to spue them out of his mouth but out of love and compassion to them and therefore vers 19. he saith As many as I love I rebuke viz. sharply reprove when and as they need it and chasten be zealous therefore and repent Oh that we may so set our hearts to and diligently consider this that at such a time as this when he is pronouncing evil and threatning to break us in pieces and destroy his places of the assembly we may return to him from whom we have wandred with the whole heart and not feignedly and lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the Heavens who is gracious and merciful and ready to repent of the evil pronounced Oh that we may yet turn unto him from all our iniquities and idols that he might turn again and have compassion upon us and delight to do us good and make us glad according to the days where in he hath afflicted us and the years wherein we have seen evil 2. In that he saith Thou art poor and miserable and wretched and blind and naked I counsel thee to buy c. He giveth us to understand that thosE persons are truly and verily poor that are with out and distitute of this Gold that is to be bought of the faithful and true Witness they are naked indeed and in the account of God that have not this White raiment whatever they may have of this worlds goods treasure cloathing or accomodations these do not truly and indeed inrich and cloath a man Though a man had an house full of that Gold and Silver that cometh out of the Earth yet alas he may be miserable enough for all this it is Christ and those treasures in him that are the true riches the true Mammon which is substantial and durable Luke 16. 9 11. It is the Mammon of unrighteousness uncertain riches that which perisheth and deceiveth which our wisdom so highly esteemeth and leadeth us to set our hearts and affections on and covet after greedily all the day long these riches below are not real substance hence the Proverb saith Labour not to be rich cease from thine own wisdom wilt thou setthine eyes upon that which is not which hath no real being or sure continuance for richeâ— certainly make themselves wings they flee away as an Eagle towards Heaven Proy 23. 4 5. It is that wisdom only that is from above that causeth those that love her to inherit substance and she will fill their Treasures Prov. 8. 10 21. And so persons here may be blind and naked indeed that are without Christ though they have never so much of Philosophy of that Science which is falsely so called and though they are cloathed with never so costly Apparel and glorious array the wisdom which is from beneath which is natural and earthly will not open the eyes of our understandings to know Gods name or his Sons name this will not render us wise in the account of Christ for the Wisdom of this World is foolishness with God nor can we cover the shame of our nakedness in his sight Let us then not lift up our selves by these things Jer. 9. 23. 1 Cor. 1. 29 31. But this more properly appertaineth to what followeth 3. In that he councelleth these miserable ones to buy he intimateth to us that not only such as are sensible of their condition are counselled invited and called upon to come to Christ the fountain of
bring in and become righteousness for us God laid on him the iniqâ—ities of us all and he was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him he was made under the Law for us that were under it and God went to Law with him and executed the judgement of the World upon him Joh. 12. 31. And put him to death in the flesh for us and he by the Grace of God tasted death for every man that is to say he died the death of all and tasted death for every man in the room and stead of every man he died that death which was the due desert of every man which they should have died and which was the Wages of their sinning against God and this he did for every man even for the good and behoof of every man So that we thus judge saith the Apostle that if one died for all then were all dead all have died that first death not in their own persons but in the last Adam who undertook for and was the representative of all Mankind 2. Cor. 5. 14. And his death is as acceptable with the father and as virtuous and satisfactory as if all had died in their own persons and infinitely more comfortable to us for had that death been died by us we had perished in it for ever But now by his stripes we are healed in whom mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other Isa 53. 5. Psal 85. 10. He hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree that the blessing of Abraham viz. righteousness and life might be in Christ Jesus for the Nations Gal. 3. 13 14. And there was a necessity for Christ's so humbling himself and becoming obedient to death even the death of the Cross that righteousness might come by him both because God is a God of truth and his word cannot be broken and he is infinite in holiness and purity a God of such pure eyes that he cannot behold iniquity nor clear the guilty unless he take vengeance on our sins and until his justice be satisfied and truth fulfilled which is all now done in Christ in whose flesh God condemned our sin Rom. 8. 3. As well as also Christ must needs have suffered because there is no other person or thing that could redeem us No man could redeem his Brother nor give to God a ransom for his Soul the redemption of the Soul is so precious No Offering appointed by the Law could purge away our sin God took no pleasure in them to any such end thousands of Rammes and ten thousand Rivers of Oyl would not have made our peace Lebanon was not sufficient to burn nor the Beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt Offering All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him less then nothing and vanity Yea the Heavens were not clean in his sight to this purpose nor any of the Heavenly Spirits but Christ must be abased and dye or us or else there could be no righteousness for us Acts. 17. 3. Heb. 10. 4-12 Psal 40. 6. 8. Isa 40. 15-17 And that it was needful Christ should suffer is signified to us in that when he was in his great agony and distress and cried out Father if it be possible let this Cup pass c. Yet still it was continued to him and not removed from him doubtless to instruct us that it was impossible the Cup should pass from him and yet righteousness be prepared for us and mercy shewn to us Mat. 26. 39. This way then he hath prepared righteousness for us and herein God appeareth to be just and his righteousness is herein declared and shewn forth Rom. 3. 25. Aswell as also we may hereinsee the vanity and unprofitableness of all our works of righteousness and of all we could do to prepare a clothing and covering for our selves and the solly and ignorance of those that think to make a garment for the clothing themselves or to make their peace with God by any of their works sacrifices gifts sufferings Alass they are insufficient to this purpose In the cross o Christ pride is hidden from us and from all that no flesh might glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1. 29 â—0 31. And yet here also is a lifting up for all in that in which they are cast down and good cause and reason though not to glory in our selves yet to rejoyce and glory in the Lord who died for us that righteousness might come by him and in the Father who raised up righteousness from the east Isa 41. 2. And herein we may see the infinite grace of God in the abasing his Son and of Christ in so greatly humoling himself for us and be moved with thankfulnesS to lay aside our pride and stouâ—-heartedness and submit and humble our selves to receive and accept of this righteousness of God without the law prepared and compleated by Jesus who died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and who also rose again the third day according to the Scriptures And this leadeth us to a further consideration 2. He who died for our sins is also raised again as the publick man and is in our nature and for us justified in the Spirit even in the Spirits raising him from the dead acquitted from all our sins imputed to him and so he is raised for our justification acquittance and discharge Rom. 4. 25. 1 Tim 3. 16. And in this God hath evidenced and declared his righteousness in releasing him and taking him from prison and judgment who had died our death and paid our debt it was not possible he should be holden of death because he had fully satisfied his justice and fulfilled his truth and God hath therefore in raising him evidenced and manifested his righteousness and testified to all men that he is welpleased in and satisfied with his personal abasement and sufferings in that he hath raised him from the dead He hath declared him to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1 4. And Christ not by the blood of bulls and goats but by his own blood in the virtue whereof he is raised and hath offered himself his raised body a spotless sacrifice through the eternal spirit unto God which is an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto him entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption Heb. 9. 12-14 Ephes 1. 2. That is to say He hath finished the transgression to wit the transgression of the first publick man in which we all sinned and from whence we are necessarily polluted and made an end of sins of the necessary branches thereof he hath purged away the guilt of this sin and sinfulness from before the presence of God so as now the wrath