in the presence of God and of the Lamb for ever see Revel 21. and 22.1 5. Yea in a word the love of God in Christ Jesus is unspeakable towards them and passeth all understanding and conception But I shall say no more here of it but pass to the use of what is already said Vse This Truth thus opened and considered may be of good use to us divers ways as 1. To such as are yet unbelievers and unacquainted with Christ it serves to provoke them to give diligence to know and believe in him to let go all their Idols and lying refuges their false hopes and confidences that they are and shall be well enough because of some good birth of good Parents or priviledges works and worth of theirs that they think well of themselves for and all taking content in or earnest pursuit after the injoyments of the world and learn the knowledge of Christ and close with and submit to him that so they may be by him brought into the love and favour of God as to the special actings of it towards them that they would hear and mind the Gospel and therein the love of God testified towards them as and while yet sinners in having no pleasure in or desire to their destruction but providing in Christ for their escape from misery obtaining mercy to which also in his Gospel he is exhorting and inviting of them that so through the knowledge and belief of his general love toward them and all men in the ransome given for them they may be perswaded and overcome to believe in Christ and in God through him and submit themselves to his Heavenly Doctrine and Government that so they may receive the life in him the forgiveness of their sins and the inheritance with those that are sanctified by faith in him Who is also given for a Covenant to the people for a light to the Gentiles that he might be Gods salvation to the ends of the Earth That so whosoever listens to and obeys him might be by him made at one with God and be in Covenant with him To every one while yet the day of Grace lasteth it affords motive and incouragement to seek the Lord while he may be found and to call upon him while nigh at hand to let go their evil ways and false thoughts and imaginations as of being well enough without the hearty knowledge of and faith in Christ or as if they might not certainly obtain favour by closing with Christ or the like and to turn to God to hear believe what he saith to them by Christ in the Gospel and tells them there that he hath done for them in and by him that so they being in the mindfulness and belief of that his love and grace may be begotten ther through to trust in him and depend on him and so may find everlasting life Repent and believe the Gospel Hear instruction and refuse it not for blessed is he that hears the instructions of Wisdom watching at her gates and waiting at the posts of her doors using all he can appointed of God for seeking her for they that find her as all that heartily seek her attending to God in his ways shall find life and shall obtain favour of the Lord namely the choice mercy and love of the Lord which is the portion of the unfeigned believers the inheritance of the Saints and holy ones But who so sin against her wrong their own Souls all they that hate her and so slight and put away her instructions and refuse to turn at her reproofs love Death Prov. 8.32 33 34 35. Isa 55.6 7. Surely the favour of God is worth the most earnest seeking after for what like it can make us happy What else can so satisfie the Soul and make it safe If the light of the Kings countenance is so beneficial and comfortable that it 's compared to a Cloud of the latter rain sweetly refreshing and bringing forward the fruts of the earth and if in his favour is life as Prov. 16.11 12. Oh then how much more advantageous and comfortable and inriching is the favour of God if he be for us who is he that can be against us or that can harm us if he be our Shepheard what good thing that he sees good for us can be wanting to us in whose presence is fulness of joy and the delight of whose countenance is better than light it self Verily in what he hath done for All men in the death and resurrection of Christ he hath opened a way for us to look up to him and hope in him notwithstanding the guilt of that sin that excluded us from his presence the death curse therby sentenc'd upon us And in the glory given him at his right hand the power and Lordship over all things in Heaven Earth and power to mediate for us and obtain for us and obtain to give to us in the vertues of his Sacrifice the forgiveness of our sins yea even of sins committed by us in our persons against his Grace and goodness upon our hearty Repentance and turning to him there is great incouragement to betake our selves to his teaching and Government especially considering his great mercifulness unto sinners and promises to receive them that come him and faithfulness in his promises and to rely upon him for what ever may be for our welfare and happiness Who so desires then to be in the love and favour of God and to have him a sure defence and shelter from all evil and mischief and from everlasting destruction yea and a gracious Father to him to take care of him and afford his blessing to him for here and for hereafter let him let go all other ways of seeking rest or good to himself and betake himself to Christ to learn and embrace his heavenly Doctrine and walk therein So shall he be at peace with God and good shall assuredly be his portion 2. It is also very useful for reproof to those that slight the Doctrine of Christ and take no heed thereto or rest in an empty formall profession thereof not heartily embracing it and submitting themselves to it Surely it discovers them guilty of great folly and madness for what do they deprive themselves of how inestimable a treasure what unspeakable advantages and blessings even of no less than the special savour and love of God and so of his protection promises presence and of eternal life which stands in the knowledge and injoyment of him and of the light of his countenance And what is there that a man can set his heart upon and desire and endeavour after that is worthy to be compared with so great benefits much less to be preferred are not all other things infinitely below the favour of God either as to our safety or satisfaction Can we be any where so safe as in his custody and protectionâ— Or any where so well provided for as in his blessing The life and happiness of
are his in him by vertue of him known and owned by him as also in this that he allows not any in iniquity that name his Name though by vertue of Christ held forth in the Apostles Doctrine that also may secondarily be called the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles as in Ephes 2.20 Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone That Doctrine then or Christ himself as therein preached as the Son of God and Saviour of the World delivered up to death and crucified for our offences and raised again from the dead for our justification and glorified at ' Gods right hand for our salvation and that our faith and hope might be in God and so as appointed to be Lord and Christ the Judge of all who shall come again to judge both the quick and the dead is the faith here meant whereon Believers are to edifie and build up themselves and not their act acts or habit of believing which may be added to and builded up being imperfect upon this foundation so as this foundation cannot upon any thing else yea that Christ as so laid and held forth in the Cospel is the foundation to be built on is plain For 1. Christ was the first thing appointed or laid of God for fallen mankind as to his purpose and promise of him and he was the first thing preached to him in order to his return to God This was the Doctrine first preached in Paradise after our first Parents had sinned and were convicted thereof I will put enmity between thee the Serpent and the Woman and between thy seed and her seed He her Seed shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel Though Christ was not as then actually manifested in the flesh crucified dead buried and raised again yet all that was intimately preached from the beginning as a thing to be accomplished in its time and season 2. And as this was the first thing or Doctrine preached so it was the foundation and ground of all other dispensations of God after to fallen man It is upon that account of Christs having interposed between God and us as the bruiser of the Serpents head the destroyer of his work the taker away and abolisher of Death that God now deals mercifully and graciously with men is inviting and leading them to repentance by â—is goodness and forbearance and lades them with his benefits and sends forth his light and truth to men to call them back to himself and to his Kingdom to be under his government and protection from which they were banished for their iniquity and so it is the ground and foundation of his Ordinances witnessing of Christ and of himself in Christ unto men and appointed as mediums for mens approaching to him and seeking of him and of Gods raising up and judging all men according to their works hereafter for there would have been no resurrection from the first death to any new judgment much less to life if Christ had not come and dyed for all men and risen again 1 Cor. 15.12 17 18. Acts 10.42 and 17.30 31. The final rewards and recompencings of men then as also his present chastisements in mercy and measure now and accepting and justifying saving and honouring those that believe in him and serve him stand upon Christ and his death and sufferings for all men and rising again and being appointed Lord of all and Mediator of God and men the propitiation for our sins even for the sins of the whole world as their proper ground and foundation Yea 3. He as so set forth is the ground and foundation of all right repenting and turning to God from our our sins and of all right believing hoping and trusting in God for his mercy and blessing of all prayers and praises to be made to God and so of all true piety and religion in fallen men for had there not been such a Ransome found out and Sacrifice offered for us there could have been no approach for us to God or acquaintance with God God sent him that the world through him might be saved and raised him from the dead and gave him glory that our faith and hope might be in God John 3.17 1 Pet. 2.21 So that he and the Word of the Gospel as setting him forth is meant by the faith here on which Believers are built and to build up themselves and each other 2. Now this is called their faith not because it is of them of their invention broaching or preparing as a foundation for themselves or others but because it is owned received and confessed by them it is that that they have and believe in their hearts unto righteousness and with their mouths confess to the salvation of themselves and others as Paul sometimes calls the Gospel he preached his Gospel as in 2 Tim. 2.8 According to my Gospel And so Rom. 2.16 Not because it was of him found out or invented or set on foot by him as if he had preached any thing for Gospel that he had not received from God and Christ but because it was ministred and preached by him even so this faith after the same manner is called the Believers faith as elsewhere The faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1.2 because made known and delivered to his elected and chosen Servants such as he chose to be his Servants the holy Apostles and Prophets to be declared and published by them as accordingly it was published by them and as it is called The faith once delivered to the Saints in this Epistle of Jude ver 3. because it was delivered to them and preached by them it might be called their faith though otherwise it is the faith of God and Christ Yea and in calling it the faith of these believers the Apostle intimately distinguisheth it from the false saiths or false doctrines of the false Teachers and Seducers of whom he had been warning them as if he should say it is not their faith they have corrupted themselves and fallen away from it and have received or devised and broached another faith doctrine or foundation different from and repugnant to yours with which I would have you have nothing to do much less build your selves thereon for that would not render you an house or habitation for God and so objects of his favour but Synagogues of Satan and objects of Gods wrath and anger but build ye up your selves on your faith which he also the better to induce them thereto calls their most holy faith Which leads us to the third particular 3. Why it is called the most holy faith 1. It is holy that is it is pure faultless no falshood or corruption in it for so holiness is sometimes opposed to uncleanness or filthiness as We are not called to uncleanness but unto holiness 1 Thes 4.7 Cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord 2 Cor. 7.1 So this Doctrine delivered
render them acceptable to him making intercession for those that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 and 10.19 20 21 22 and 1â— 15. whence our prayers are to be in Christs Name as in John 14 13 14. and 16.23 26. though this may be more properly referred to the manner of praying here required the praying in the Holy Ghost Lastly I added the needs of or its desires for others to signifie that this praying required is not to be limited or confined to our selves and our own needs and wants and desires for our selves but extended to the praying for others also here being no limitation of the subject to our selves in the Text but it is only said praying in the Holy Ghost and it is praying as well when we pray for others as when we pray for our selves whether it be for all men as 1 Tim. 2.1 or for some sorts of men onely as for Kings and all in Authority ver 2. or for some particular Cities and people as Abraham prayed for the Sodomites or as Samuel prayed for Israel as Moses also and David and Solomon and others did Gen. 18.23 Exod. 32.11 12 13 14. 1 Sam. 12.23 2 Sam. 24.10 17. or for some particular persons as Moses prayed for Pharaoh Exod. 8.8 9 12 29 30. Elias for the widow of Sarephath and her child 1 King 17.20 21. the Church for Peter Act. 12.5 and the Churches for Paul Rom. 15.30 Eph. 6.19 Col. 4.3 or for enemies as Moses for Pharaoh and as Christ commands us in Mat. 5.44 or for brethren the Saints and Churches as Ephes 6.17 supplication for all Saints Such is prayer as more strictly taken for Petition and request unto God and so as it is distinguished from thanksgiving as oft they are distinctly mentiond as pray without ceasing in every thing give thanks 1 Thes 5.17 18. So by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God Philip. 4.6 And so distinctly taken it includes supplications prayers or petitions and intercessions in 1 Tim. 2.1 Supplications humble confessions of our sins and earnest deprecations of wrath and judgments prayers or petitions requests for favours blessings and good things intercessions interposings of our prayers for others standing between them and judgement and pleading humbly with God for them as Moses for Israel Abraham for the Sodomites c. but when thanksgiving is not distinctly mentioned the word prayer may include thanksgiving too and so sure the word praying here may include thanksgiving also and in such a large sense of the word to pray may take in somewhat more than in the description above given namely an exercise of the heart or of the man speaking unto God by way of request and supplication and by way of confession or thanksgiving in behalf of himself or others but this consideration of thanksgiving in prayer may also be taken in under the manner of praying here expressed viz. praying in the Holy Ghost of which next And so 2. To pray in the Holy Ghost or in the Holy Spirit the Spirit of God and Christ which is a Spirit of Holiness dwelling and resting fully on Christ and from him and God in him breathed forth in and with the most holy faith unto the heart of the believer or breathing forth witnessing and speaking of and glorifying Christ to the Soul taking the things of him and shewing them thereto and therewith guiding it into Christ and the truth of Christ sanctifying it to God and framing it to his minde in all things doth signifie 1. To pray or utter our desires and needs or the needs of others in the light direction or guidance of the Holy Spirit Not as our own natural hearts imaginations or affections would lead or as men by their wisdom and will might suggest unto us but as he the Holy Ghost instructs us and that both 1. As to the things to be prayed for not such as the flesh and the wisdom and affections of it affâ—ct and move after or the Spirit of this world such as be riches honours pleasures of the flesh fewel for our corruptions evil to our enemies c. as the Gentiles seek after and the carnal uncircumcised hearts of men delight in such as Solomon requested not 1 King 3. But 1. Such things as Gods Name and Glory are concerned in or that conduce to are necessary for the manifesting and magnifying thereof that the Gospel may have a free passage the word of God run and be glorified 2 Thes 3.1 that his way may be known upon the earth and his saving health amongst the Nations Psal 67.1 2 3. and to that purpose that God would send forth labourers into his harvest Matth. 9.38 and bless and prosper those he sends giving them utterance so to speak the word and mystery of Christ as they ought and deliverance from the hands of unreasonable and wicked men a Col. 4.3 4. Eph. 6.18 2 Thess 3.1 2. that he would bless and help his people and make them blessings in the world Joh. 17. Psa 67. and 28.10 and 132.8 9. giving them boldness and courage c. Act. 4.29 2. Such as the coming and Kingdom of Christ is and includes as Come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22.20 Thy Kingdom come Matth. 6.10 Oh that the salvation of Israel was come out of Sion Psal 14.8 Remember the Children of Edom O Lord c. Psal 137.7 and so for Babylons fall and ruine c. the hastening of the day of God performance of his promises that the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord and his will be done in earth as it is in Heaven Matth 6.10 11. 3. Such as the Kingdom of God and his righteousness â— now consists in to be granted to us or others as wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of God and Christ Prov. 2 1 2 3 4. If thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding Jam. 1.3 If any man want wisdom let him ask it of God c. So the forgiveness of sins Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us Matth. 6.12 Cleanse me from my secret sins Psal 19.12 Deliver me from all my transgressions and make me not a reproaâ—h to the foolish Psal 39.8 9. The Spirit of God as a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ the guide into all truth the Comforter strengthner and sanctifier of the Soul as Luc. 11.13 Ephes 1.17 18. John 14 15 16 17. Ephes 3.16 c. Mercy Grace and peace from God and our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 1.2 1 Tim. 1.2 and 2 Tim. 1.2 Psal 85 7 victory over and deliverance from corruption and from Sathan and his temptations Psal 19.13 Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins c. order my footsteps in thy word and let no iniquity have dominion over me Psal 119.133 Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Matth. 6.13 4. Such supplies for the necessities of
injoyable by us and as that which is the fountain well-spring of all blessing and happiness But here let us view 1. What is meant by this Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. What that phrase or term of Mercy to be waited for signifies and hints to us 1. To the first Mercy is either an affect in the heart or An effect in its work to take in both of them Mercy is properly an affection or frame of heart in which it pities and compassionates anothers misery and affliction leading to spare one where there is power to harm him and to succour him in necessities and indigencies where there is power to help him And this is attributed to God and Christ that he is merciful and full of compassion ready to forgive offences and relieve in wants and miseries and do what is good for the Creatures deliverance from evils and conferring safety and happiness as may be abundantly seen in the Scriptures Psal 103.8 The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Yea this his Name The Lord Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands c. Exod. 34.6 7. And so it is said of Christ that he is a merciful and faithful High-Priest in Hebr. 2.16 17. And indeed God and Christ have abundantly manifested their merciful heart toward poor sinful afflicted Creatures many ways As 1. God hath manifested himself merciful 1. In taking pity on mankinde when fallen from him into a state of exceeding great sin and misery in that he did not then cast him off and destroy him but on the contrary devised a way and means for his redemption and recovery yea such a way of recovery as the translating our sin and misery upon his own onely begotten Son appointing in due time sending him forth into the world to be the propitiation for our sins bearing them on his own body on the tree that through his stripes we might be healed both abasing him thereto and exalting him to the height of Glory and Majesty therethrough at his own right hand that he might by the vertues of the former and in the exercise of the latter upon that account bring us back again to God Herein he hath shewed himself loving and merciful to us beyond all question or expression as it is said Through the tender mercy of our God the day spring Christ the bright and the Morning-Star from on high hath visited us c. Luke 1.78 2. God hath also manifested himself merciful to us in freely justifying us mankinde by his Grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ not imputing to the world their trespasses but preaching peace to us by him and through his blood and opening his Kingdom for us and to us with gracious calls and counsels and invitations to enter thereinto and be made partakers of the blessed priviledges thereof unto everlasting life and in freely admitting and accepting all that obey his calls and counsels therein however otherwise and formerly sinful and unworthy as may be seen in Mary Magdalene the Publicans harlots and prodigals whom upon their coming to him he hath freely pardoned and accepted and made partakers of his righteousness and blessing as if they never had been so vile and wretched Rom. 3.23 24. 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. Eph. 2.15 17. Mat. 22.4 8 9. and 9.12 13 Luk. 7.37 47. 15.1 2 15 16 c. 1 Cor. 6 9 10 11. 3. God hath shewed himself merciful to us Gentiles and Heathens in calling us so wonderfully to the knowledg of his Son and of his Grace in him when as formerly we were so gross and grievous sinners against all former dispensations of his goodness and manifestations of himself in his works and providences It was his great mercy through the blood of his Son to make peace and atonement for us blotting out all former trespasses admitting us to fellowship with the Saints and so with himself through Christ Jesus as Ephes 2.4 5 11 12 17 19 20. as it is said that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his Mercy Rom. 15 9. and who had not in times past obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2.10 whence I beseech you by the Mercies of God offer up your body a living Sacrifice c. Rom. 12.1 and the like he will shew forth to the Jews in calling them again and receiving them to favour after all their unbelief and stubbornesses against him as it is said He hath shut them all up in unbelief that he might have mercy upon them all Rom. 11.32 4. God hath doth dayly shew himself merciful unto men in passing by iniquities and extending helpfulness to them in their afflictions which they procure to themselves by their great follies and rebellions as is also frequently testified in the Scriptures as in Psal 78.38 when Israel oft and much â—â—oked him in the wilderness so as he therefore 〈◊〉 them sometimes with his Judgments yet 〈◊〉 â—eing full of compassion forgave their iniquity 〈◊〉 â—estroyed them not yea many a time he turned his anger away and did not stir up all his wrath So in Neh. 9.16 17 18 19. 5. So also in his patience towards sinners not willing they should perish but rather come to repentance and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9.15 Rom 2.4.5 1 Tim. 2.5 and to say no more 6. His readiness to hear the cries and prayers of the poor and afflicted and not to despise their prayers but to hear and help them as in Psal 22.24 yea to hear the cries of other Creatures as the young Ravens and provide food for all flesh Psal 136.25 and 147.9 much more doth he fulfil the desires of them that fear him yea he also hears their cries and saves them Psal 145.15 17 18. 2. So also Christ hath abundantly shewed forth his mercy toward us 1. In that being in the form of God not thinking it robbery to be equal with God yet for our sakes at the will and appointment of the Father he abased himself laid aside his Glory humbled himself to the Death the Death of the Cross and therein bare our sins in his own body on the tree and was made a curse for us to redeem us from sin and curse that so he might in the vertues of his sufferings and Sacrifice bring us back again to God Ye know saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 8.9 the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that he being rich became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich He is merciful full of compassion and gracious Psal 145.8 2. In pitying poor miserable men in his personal converse with them and ministration to them while on the earth Going about and doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil curing their sicknesses and Diseases instructing their Souls in pity to them where ignorant and out of the way Mark 8.2 Act. 10.38 As also 3. In preaching peace by his
when brought to own him for out Lord and to subject our selves to his Government over us as in believing on him we do and especially if we therein exercise our selves to more knowledge of him and obedience to him as in building up our selves on our most Holy saith If justified by his Blood much more will be save us from wrath in his Mercy towards us Rom. 5.9 2. And yet more in that he is our Lord as the Lord of all generally in a more common sense and relation so the believers Lord in a special sense and relation as exercising his Lordship peculiarly over and for them as one owned as their Lord and depended on for the exercise of his power for their help yea he is so the Lord of the Believers as the Husband is Lord of his wife as he is often stiled in the Scripture language as in Psal 45.10 Hearken O Daughter and consider incline thine eare also and hear forget also thine own people and thy Fathers house so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty for he is thy Lord and worship thou him And surely he that is specially the Lord owner Head Husband and disposer of his people is both worthy to be waited on by them â—nd will be more especially merciful to them He that is good and a merciful bountiful Lord over all and to all his Creatures so as to open his hand and liberally to satisfie the desire of every living thing will especially be rich in mercy to all that call upon him that call upon him in truth that pray in the Holy Ghost He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him He also will hear their cry and he will save them Psal 145.18 19. 3. 〈◊〉 that he is our Lord Iesus that is so our Lord as also our Saviour our Lord and Saviour the Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 his name was therefore called Iesus because he was born into the woâ—ld and manifested to save his people from their sinâ— Matth. 1.21 and Believers in him who are brought to and built upon him are his people in a special sense his sheep his flock his Disciples yea his Body whereof he is both the Head and Saviour Ephes 5.23 and therefore he is both worthy their waiting on him for his mercy and they have good ground of incouragement to expect his Mercy in the pardon of their sins and saving and helping in out of all their sorrows afflictions and sufferings and supplying of their wants in their waiting for it from him especially seeing also 4. He is our Lord Iesus Christ that is our Lord that is anointed of God to be our Savior He is both appointed of God his Father thereto and furnished with the Holy Ghost and power to fit him thereto It is the will of the Father his designaâ—â—â—n choice and ordination of him that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him should have everlasting life and that he should raise him up at the last day namely to the injoyment of that everlasting life And therefoâ—e he being faithful in all things to him that appointed him as well as merciful and loving to us that believe in him they that flee to him for shelter and refuge may comfortably expect and wait for his Mercy even unto eternal life put all these together As he is Lord it implâ—s him to have power and authority to shew us Mercy as our Lord relatioâ— and ingagement to exercise his power and authority for our good as our Saviour mercy toward us in his heart and as Christ or anointed to save us an Office and designation of God his Father to shew us mercy according to his great power and goodness all speak ingagement upon us and incouragement to us to wait for his mercy for his mercy in all our present case yea mercy unto everlasting life which is the next thing considerable Vnto eternal life Which denotes either the tendencie and issue of his mercy or the term of our waiting for his Mercy 1. The Mercy to be waited for desired and to be sought after by us is not only Mercy in this life or the Mercies or benefits of this life though they are also in his hand and dispose and he is ready to impart them to us as he sees good for us but such Mercy as conduces to and ends in eternal life such as be the forgiveness of our sins the giving of his Spirit and Grace to us his supporting us in all trials and afflictions his sanctifying us and conforming us to himself in all holiness and goodness his receiving our Spirits in Death and raising us up from the dead to eternal life and glory and the possessing us of it at the day of his appearance all which are the fruits and effects of his Mercy and his Mercy stands appears and is acted sorth in the gift of them to us they being not the procurements of our goodness services or sufferings or to be looked upon as our merits things any way deserved by us but the procurement of his Mercy in his Death and sufferings for us and his Mercy and compassion and riches of his Grace and bounty towards us yea eternal life it self is the gift of God through Iesus our Lord as the effect and fruit of his Mercy to us and therefore 2. We are to wait for his Mercy unto or until we arrive at eternal life till we have and attain to the full of that which his Grace and Mercy hath procured for us and he as our Lord and anointed Saviour is designed to give unto us and confer upon us which is included and contained in eternal life 1 Iohn 2.24 25. This is the promise which he hath promised us even everlasting life which although it be given us even mankinde in Iesus Christ inasmuch as he is given of God to us that he might be received by us whether we receive him or not and he is that eternal life that was with God in the beginning and in these last days was manifested to us 1 Iohn 5.11 and 1.1 2. and he hath in him all that will produce in us being received by us eternal life or an everlasting happy state and condition as remission of sins the Holy Spirit of life and power the presence favour and fulness of God and of all Grace and blessing yea and though the Believer is said now to have everlasting life inasmuch as he hath Christ in whom it is and so hath it by way of right title and interest and some beginnings and first fruits of it in that he hath the forgiveness of his sins the Holy Spirit the favour of God and his blessing in which is life Psal 30 5. and 133.4 Prov. 8.34 yet that which is most properly eternal life is that full perfect and everlasting freedom from all sin sorrow and evil and that full perfect and perpetual injoyment of the glorious presence and blessing
not hear and obey him Mat. 28.18 19. with Mark 16.15 16. Acts 3.22 23. And so God hath a singular watchfulness over and care of his Name and Doctrine the Gospel of Christ preaching and declaring him as the foundation of God for men so as that he will not bear that it should be slighted rejected and disobeyed by men It shall be easier in the judgment for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those that so do Matth. 10.15 with John 12.48 49 50. His presence is in and with it and it is a ministration of life righteousness and spirit as in 2 Cor. 3.5 6 7 8 9 c. thus the Faith is holy But 2. It s also called the most Holy to signifie 1. The superlative holiness and more abundant excellency of it above other holy things as to say 1. There were many things or persons types of Christ holy to God under the Law and some of them more holy and more set apart than others as there was the whole people holy to God The holy people Dan. 12.7 and Deut. 7.6 The holy seed Ezra 9.2 The Levites were yet more holy as being chosen and taken out of the people to do the service of the Tabernacle in liew of the first-born which God hallowed and chose for himself to be peculiarly his above the after-births of them Exod. 13. â— with Numb 3.12 13. and yet the Priests were more holy than they as having liberty to the holy Place and to go into the Tabernacle and offer upon the Altar which the Levites might not do and yet the High-Priest was more holy than they as only having liberty to enter the Holy of Holies Levit. 21.2 6 8 10 11 c. But Jesus Christ is more holy then them all the most holy Person that appears where Aaron or none of them might even in the Heavens themselves and by the vertue of his own blood to make intercession for us none holy like him who is the Lord nor any Rock like our God 1 Sam. 2.2 3. Yea there were many things holy as the Land was the holy Land Zech. 2.12 and the portion of it set apart for the Sanctuary more holy Ezek. 45.1 The Chambers of the Priests holy Ezek 42.13 Their Garments holy Exod. 28.20 and 29.29 The Crown put upon Aaron was the holy Crown Levit. 8.9 The Altar was holy yea most holy and whatsoever touched it was holy Exod. 29.37 The Sanctuary and all the Vessels of it holy Levit. 16.33 1 Chron. 22 19. Yea the Trumpets and other Instruments Numb 31.6 The Oracle or inner-place of the Sanctuary and Temple was most holy and therefore called the Holy of Holies and the most holy place as the Ointment made to anoint and sanctifie them and the Priests was most holy but yet Christ was more holy than they or any of them the most holy One the truth of them all they were but types and figures of him and their holiness of his yea there were holy Prophets and holy Apostles but yet he more holy than they the most holy One none so pure spotless oâ— undefiled the holiest Places and Vessels contracted soil and dust and needed cleansing sometimes and were sometimes defiled with Idols and other pollutions and needed an atonement to be made for them and at last because of the pollutions wherewith they were polluted they were given up to spoil to fire and to Captivity none of which can befal the Son of God though he was once put to death for our sins which were charged upon him yet being raised he dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him in that he died once he died unto sin but in that he liveth he liveth now unto God holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners made higher than the Heavens who needeth not dayly as those other Priests to offer first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people for this he did once c. Heb. 7.26 27. The holiest Priests had their sins properly their own to offer for he never did sin nor was guile found in his mouth the holy Prophets and Apostles had their sins and failings Moses the meekest man on earth yet once spake unadvisedly with his lips in his anger and provoked God to deprive him of entring into the Land of Canaan Aaron the Saint of the Lord made a molten calf also at the instance of the people David the man after God's own heart yet fell very grievously So did Solomon the wisest yea none of the Patriarks but in offering Sacrifices for sins therein confessed themselves to stand in need of mercy and forgiveness The Apostles confessed sins in them and tell us if they had said there was no sin in them or that they had not sinned they should have deceived themselves and the truth had not been in them But Christ was the perfectly spotless One in whom is no sin Nay the very Angels vail their faces and cover their feet in his presence as appears by what Isaiah saith when he saw his Glory in a Vision and spake of him Isa 6.1 2.3.4 with John 12.40 41. so that he is absolutely the most Holy One and therefore also the most consecrated and devoted unto God the Levites might come neerer to the Sanctuary and so to God as dwelling in it than the generallity of the people and the Priests neerer than the Levites and the High Priest neerer than the rest of the Priests but Christ comes nearer than any For he is not entred into the Holy places made with hands as they did but into Heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 Yea neither Saint nor Angel is so devoted to God or admitted so neer to him as Christ they are about the Throne but Christ is in the midst of it yea and though the four Beasts figuring the Camp of the Saints or their Leaders be said also to be in the midst of the Throne as well as round about it yet the Lamb is in the midst of them as the most inmost amongst them Rev. 4.4 6. and 5.6 11. and therefore also the most Holy both as to his efficacie and vertue for conferring holiness upon others it being He only that is made to us of God wisdome righteousness holiness and redemption No man or Angel hath that honour with or besides him the holy and holy-making Spirit is fully and immeasurably only upon him and sent forth by and from in his name Saints and Angels have not that honour and power as he and therefore also as to Gods tender care of him or heighth of love to him they are below him For to which of the Angels said he at any time sit thou on my right hand or thy Throne O God endureth for ever c. So that in all respects none holy as he none else the foundation the holy foundation of God's holy building but he Other foundations can no man lay but him 1 Cor. 3.11 and so 2. In
Spirit in the Apostles and by their ministration both to the Jews that were near notwithstanding their rebellious great despites against him and to the Gentiles though so great sinners when far off after his ascension having made peace by the blood of his Cross for them Ephes 2.14 15 16 17. Heb. 5.1 2 3. forgiving great sinners as Paul c. And indeed the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to be waited for by believers is not simply an affection of mercy in him towards us but his evidencing and demonstrating that his affection of mercy in the acts and exercises of it but not in giving himself a ransome for us and dying for us for that is past and to be believed by us as a thing done and accomplished already and as the bottom ground and foundation of all expectation of further mercy nor will he die any more but it is for some acts or exercises of mercy for the future in the exercises of those glorious Offices which his Father hath designed him to at and from his right hand as to say 1. His passing by and pardoning our sins for his Names sake hiding covering and keeping them as it were from the eye of God so as that he mark them not against us to judge and punish us according to them as it is said If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquity who should stand but there is forgiveness with thee c. Psalm 130.4 which ver 6.7 is called Mercy And who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Mic. 7.18 And sure this is one main thing in which he is evidenced to be a merciful High Priest in that he maketh reconciliation for the sins of the people and is the standing propitiation for our sins that we might receive forgiveness of them Heb. 2.17 with 1 John 2.2 So Paul obtained mercy that is the forgiveness of his sins 1 Tim. 1.13 16. that's mercy 2. His sympathizing with us and succouring us in temptations afflictions and sufferings as is also asserted Heb. 2.18 and 4.15 16. In that he suffered being tempted he is able fit and meet to succour those also that are tempted For we have not such an High Priest as cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted even as we yet without sin Let us therefore goe boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain or take as it were at his hands mercy and finde Grace to help us in a time of need Whereas it is evident that mercy signifies something transient or passing from Christ to men and not onely a thing abiding in the heart of Christ so what should that be there but the fruits of his sympathizing with us in our infirmities and temptations obtained for us by his intercession for us as our High Priest namely succour in our needs support in our sorrows and sufferings and seasonable issues out of them even as the relieving the poor and afflicted in their poverty and straits is called the shewing mercy to the poor Psalm 109.12 16. Prov. 14 21 31. and Gods sparing Lots life and helping or hasting him out of Sodom Gen. 19.16 to that purpose was an evidence of his being merciful to him 3. His bestowing any benefit favour or blessing upon us may be called his shewing us mercy and the said benefit or blessing bestowed may be called his mercy as all the good God did to and bestowed on David is called his shewing him great mercy or kindness 1 King 3.6 and in that sense he is said to satisfie as well as to save with his mercy and to crown with loving kindnes and tender mercies Psal 90.19 and 103.4 and the earth is said to be full of the mercy of the Lord Psal 119.64 and so the Lord Jesus himself and all the benefits and blessings in him are called the sure mercies of David Isa 55.3 with Act. 13.34 and in that sense all the kindness favour and blessing dispensed to us by Jesus Christ both for sanctifying and saving the Soul and for supplying the outward man may be called his Mercy and may well be understood to be comprised and signified in this expression The Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ in as much as it is all the fruit and effect of his mercy and pity towards us and hath in it an abundant relief of our miseries Yea and 4. His glorious coming again to raise the Believer out of the dust and to put an end to all the sorrows sufferings and abasement of his poor Church and people may well be called the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ because an act of his mercy toward them in pitying their miseries and sufferings and fully redeeming them out of them all into the injoyment of the Glory prepared for them Which also may the rather be understood to be principally and ultimately here meant because the following words unto eternal life will best agree with it as the immediate issue and consequent thereof for that properly may be called the mercy of our Lord Jesus unto eternal life which is an act of his mercy freeing them from all that keeps them out of eternal life and brings them to the actual and perfect injoyment of eternal life though the exercise of his Mercy in all the three former as necessary to the fitting them for eternal life and keeping them to it may also be very well included as that which the Believer is also to wait for but principally his coming again and the mercy thereof as the furthest and main of all called therefore the blessed hope Tit. 2.13 Now 2. This phrase of the Mercy of our Lord implies something both with reference 1. To the Term Mercy And 2 Its Authors Title Our Lord Jesus Christ 1. With reference to the word Mercy therein is implied 1. That the Believers though upon the most holy faith the best and absolutely perfect foundation and though thereon edifying themselves and praying in the Holy Ghost yet have need of Mercy to be shewed them by Jesus Christ they are not yet so perfect and compleat in themselves or in any of their best and holiest actings or fullest enjoyments here but that they need yet mercy to be exercised toward them And that both 1. In respect of their sinfulness weaknesses and defilements cleaving to them and to all their actings and performances for there is not a just man on â—arth on this side the grave that doth good and sinneth not Eccles 7.20 even in his good doings If we though Apostles say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us says 1 Joh. 1.8 Thence we need him as the Propitiation for our sins to cover and hide them from the face of God and by his Intercession to make acceptable to his Father even our Spiritual Sacrifices 1 Pet. 2.5 and the