it up againe this Commandement have I received of my Father So now the time of his suffering being come hee was willing to lay downe his life for poore miserable fallen man-kinde he being nail'd upon the Crosse hee endured sore paines in his body and much more in his minde for the whole wrath of God lay upon him for all our sins for he was wounded for our transgressions both spirituall and temporall A man may bear the infirmities of his body but a wounded spirit who can beare They that hâ—â—â— beene wounded in spirit can tell that it i◠〈◊〉 very sore thing and heavy to be borne Hâ—â— much more sorer and heavier was it upâ—â— Christ when he was wounded for all the fâ—â— of all man-kinde it made him to cry out 〈◊〉 God my God why hast thou forsaken me Mar. 1â— 34. Is it nothing to you all ye that passe by 〈◊〉 hold and see if there be any sorrow like my sorrâ—â— which is done unto me wherewith the Lord hâ—â— afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger Lam. 〈◊〉 12. There was never affliction like this thâ—â— was done unto Christ his love was so grâ—â— to man-kind that there was not any thing tâ—â— deare to him but he was willing to for-go◠〈◊〉 for their sakes he shedde his heart-blood fâ—â— their sakes our sins could not be pardoneâ—â— without his blood being shed for withoâ—â— blood-shedding there is no remission Heb. 〈◊〉 12. And it is not possible that the blood â—â—buls and goats should take away sins wheâ—â—fore when hee commeth into the world hâ— saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me In burnt offâ—rings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleâ—sure Then said I loe I come to doe thy will 〈◊〉 God By the which will wee are sanctifâ—â—â— through the offering of the body of Christ Jesâ—â— once for all Heb. 10.4 5 6 7. It was not tâ—â— sacrifice of beasts that could take away sin or make satisfaction to God therefore he prepaâ—ed Christ a bodie and he was the only saâ—rifice that could and did make full satisfactiâ—n to God for the sins of the whole world 1 â—et 2.24 Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in â—is owne bodie on the tree that we being dead to â—â—nne should live unto righteousnesse by whose â—â—ipeâ— ye were healed Titus 2.14 Who gave himâ—â—lfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniâ—â—ity and purifie unto himselfe a peculiar people â—â—â—alous of good workes Col. 1.14 In whom wee â—ave redemption through his blood even the forâ—â—venesse of sins Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed â—â—s from the curse of the Law being made a curse â—or us For it is written cursed is every one that â—angeth on a tree So Christ was made perfect â—or us through suffering John 19.28 After â—â—is Jesus knowing that all things were now acâ—omplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled â—nd vers 30. He said it is finished and he howâ—â— his head and gave up the ghost I have now shewed you that the Father hath â—â—id all our sinnes upon Christ and hee hath â—ade full satisfaction to the Father for them All our sins being laid upon Christ they are â—ecome his they are not ours but his For â—e hath made him to be sin for us that knew no sin â—hat we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 And Christ redeemed us frâ—â— the curse of the law being made a curse for 〈◊〉 How was Christ made sin and a curse for 〈◊〉 If a man be bound to pay another mans deâ—â—â—â— he is become the debter and if the Creditoâ—â— follows the Law of him he must pay the debâ—â—â—â— and he paying the debt the other that owâ— the debt is freed there is nothing to be doâ—â—â— against him because the other hath satisfiâ—â— the Creditour So our sinnes being laid upon Christ anâ— he undertaking to pay a full satisfaction to 〈◊〉 Father for them he is become the debter oâ— sins are his and his Father lookes upon hâ—â— as the sinner not that himself had sinned 〈◊〉 bearing our sinnes and as he became the siâ—ner for us so hee became a curse for us Fâ—â— the Law saith Cursed is every one that continâ—eth not in all things which are written in the bâ—â—â— of the Law to doe them Gal. 3.10 So God hath required this debt of Christ 〈◊〉 be paid by him to the utmost farthing and 〈◊〉 hath done it for us there is nothing to bâ— done for the salvation of our soules but all 〈◊〉 done already for us by the sufferings of Chriâ—â— and God is fully satisfied and well pleasâ—â— This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleâ—sed Mat. 3.17 And he is as well pleased wiâ—â— us in his Sonne as he is with his Sonne aâ—â— he hath no more to say against us for our sins than hee hath against his Son And God doth â—ove us with the same love that he hath loved Christ withall John 17.23 CHAP. V. Now Christ is offered freely to all man-kind without any price or worthinesse of their owne GOd was pleased to make Christ a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world to reconcile â—he world unto himselfe not imputing their sinnes â—â—to them 2 Cor. 5.19 And God would have â—â—e world to know what Christ hath done for â—â—em he would not have his love and mercy â—nd great goodnesse to be hid from them but 〈◊〉 be made known to them that poore souls â—â—at are wounded with sinne may looke upon â—hrist that was crucified for their sinnes and 〈◊〉 him see God as well pleased with them as 〈◊〉 is with Christ There is nothing now to â—nder Gods love to us he loves us freely I â—ll heale their rebellions I will love them freely 〈◊〉 my anger is turned away from them Hos 14. 〈◊〉 Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I â—ll make a new covenant with the house of Israel 〈◊〉 with the house of Judah Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers wherâ— I tooke them by the hand to bring them out of thâ— land of AEgypt the which my Covenant they brake although I was an Husband unto them saith thâ— Lord. But this shall be the Covenant that I wiâ—â— make with the house of Israel After those dayâ— saith the Lord I will put my Law in their iâ— ward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people Fâ—â— I will forgive their iniquity and will remembâ—â— their sins no more Jer. 31.31 32 33 34. That old covenant that he made with theâ— was a covenant of workes and that covenanâ— they broke they were not able to keepe it bâ— now God hath made a new covenant with 〈◊〉 in Christ a better covenant than the other for God hath given Christ to us for a coâ—nant for him to undertake to make full satisfaction for our sinnes and to be a Mediâ—tor betwixt God and us There was
in the booke of the Law to them Gal. 3.10 Deut. 27.26 Exod. 20. 〈◊〉 the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting tâ—â— niquity of the Fathers upon the children unto third and fourth generation of them that hate And the Lord hath too pure an eye to behâ— iniquity there is not any thing that is anâ— my to God but the Devill and sin 1 Job He that committeth sin is of the Devill for Devill sinneth from the beginning And as lâ—â— as ye commit sinne the Devill is your Fat John 8.44 Ye are of your Father the Deâ—â— and the lusts of your father you will doe and thou art the servant to the Devill Rom. 6. Know ye not to whom ye yeild your selves servâ— to obey his servants ye are to whom you obey 〈◊〉 ther of sin unto death or of obedience unto riâ—â— â—esse And vers 20. When ye were the servants â—â—n ye were free from righteousnesse Vers 23. 〈◊〉 wages of sinne is death And if thou enterâ—e sinne in thy heart the Lord will not hear 〈◊〉 prayer The Lord is the searcher of hearts â—d hee knowes the wickednesse of thy heart â—d thou must give account for every idle â—ught therefore you must search and exaâ—â—e you throughly of all your sinnes and 〈◊〉 truly humbled for every sinne But many â—en God shewes them their sins it is too teâ—us to them they cannot beare it they â—uld fain have comfort administred to them â—t we have no such warrant from God till we 〈◊〉 you throughly humbled for your sins wee â—â—st not daube you up with untemper'd morâ—â— but doe to you as a skilfull Surgeon doth â—a dangerous wound search it to the quick â—â—d you must endanger it if you meane to be â—red For if we tell you of mercy before you â—e throughly humbled this will heale your â—unds without but they will ranckle withâ—â—â— and that is the reason your comforts so be and flow We are Christs Embassadours and we must â—e the message of Christ which is the deliâ—â—ring the Doctrine of Christ and ye shall find at we preached the Law and Judgement to â—ing them in to repent Mat. 11.21 22 23 24. Then hee began to upbraid the Cities wherâ— most of his mighty workes were done because 〈◊〉 repented not Woe unto thee Chorazin 〈◊〉 unto thee Bethsaida for if the mighty worâ— which have been done in you had been done in Tâ—â— and Sidon they would have repented long 〈◊〉 in sack-cloath and ashes But I say unto you shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at day of judgement than for you And thou 〈◊〉 pernaum which art exalted unto heaven shâ— be brought downe to hell For if the mighty worâ— which have beene done in thee had beene done Sodome it would have remained untill this dâ—â— But I say unto you that it shall be more toleraâ— for the land of Sodome in the day of judgemâ—â—â— than for thee Luke 13.3 Except yee repent 〈◊〉 shall all likewise perish And when you are thus throughly humble then there is mercie offered you Mat. 11.2 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy 〈◊〉 den and I will give you rest Take my yoke up you and learne of mee for I am meeke and loâ—â— in heart and ye shall find rest for your soules 〈◊〉 my yoke is easie and my burthen is light Jer. 2â— 11 12 13. For I know the thoughts that I thiâ— towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace aâ— not of evill to give you an expected end Thâ— shall ye call upon me and ye shall goe and pray unâ— me and I will hearken unto you And ye shâ—â— â—â—eke me and finde me when ye shall search for â—e with all your heart Jer. 33.8 And I will canse them from all their iniquity whereby they â—â—ve sinned against mee and whereby they have â—ansgressed against me Psalm 103.8 9. 111. 〈◊〉 13. The Lord is mercifull and gracious slow anger and plenteous in mercy He will not â—â—wayes chide neither will he keepe his anger for â—er He hath not dealt with us after our sinnes â—r rewarded us according to our iniquities For 〈◊〉 the heaven is high above the earth so great is â—s mercie to them that feare him As farre as the â—ast is from the West so far hath he removed our â—ansgressions from us Like as a Father pittieth 〈◊〉 children so the Lord pittieth them that feare â—im And vers 3. He forgiveth all thine iniquiâ—â—es hee healeth all thy diseases Amoâ— 5.4 Thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel Seeke 〈◊〉 me and ye shall live And many other plaâ—es of Scripture to this purpose might be cited â—ut these places are sufficient to shew you what sad condition you are in so long as you conâ—â—nue in your sins and how mercifull the Lord 〈◊〉 if you returne unto him with all your heart â—nd be truly humbled and walke in a new ourse of life Exod. 20.6 Shewing mercy unto â—housands of them that love me and keep my Comâ—andements Thus they are able to lay open thy wounds and make them bigger and in stead of pâ—ring in the precious balsome of the Church Christ which will cure thy wounds tâ— powre in brine to terrifie thee and they thee upon duties and tell thee thou must thus and thus qualified before thou commeâ— Christ but they will not nor cannot thee how thou must come to be thus qualifiâ—â— for they will tell thee all thy righteousnesse iâ— filthy rags When thou hearest these things thou aâ—â— great deal more troubled then ever thou waâ— thou art now at thy wits end and even reaâ—â— to despair thou canst see nothing but sin aâ—â— if thou couldst repent and walke in a nâ—â—â— course of life then there was hopes of merâ—â— but thou findest thou canst not doe it theâ—fore thou conciudest there is no mercy 〈◊〉 thee therefore thou art sore troubled aâ—â— knowst not what to doe Thou seest the Loâ—â— angry with thee for thy sins and thinkst thâ—â— all the afflictions that comes upon thee is 〈◊〉 judgement of the Lord for thy sinnes the thinkest thy selfe to be a damned reprobaâ—â—â— quite empty of all goodnesse and expectâ—â— daily some fearefull judgement to fall upâ—â— thee for thy sinnes Oh thinkst thou if 〈◊〉 wrath of God lay so heavy upon Christ thâ— made him to cry out My God my God why bâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 forsaken me and he having no sin Matth. 〈◊〉 46. For if they doe these things in a greene 〈◊〉 what shall be done in a dry tree Luke 23. And if the righteous scarcely be saved where all the sinner and ungodly appeare 1 Pet. 4.18 â—en thou thinkest I shall surely be damned â—â—en the Devill tempts thee to lay violent â—â—nds on thy selfe and many times thou art â—dy to doe it but that the Lord prevents it â—â—d the Ministers sees thee in such a despairing â—â—ndition they tell thee thou must believe â—â—at the Lord hath done these and these things 〈◊〉 thee And if thou wilt lay hold
on him by â—â—th hee will give thee grace to walke in a â—â—w course of life and yet still they offer thee â—hrist upon condition and thou art exceeâ—â—ngly terrified with hearing mercies because â—ou dost not see they belong to thee because â—ou canst not believe Thus thou seest beloved what a spirituall â—â—ndage thou art in with sinne and the Devill â—â—d false Teachers like the children of Israel 〈◊〉 Aegypt what sore bon dage they were in 〈◊〉 temporall things so ar t thou now in spiâ—â—â—uall And thou knowest not what to doe â—â—â—t cry unto the Lord as they did and the â—ord sent them word that they should be â—â—ought out of the Land of Aegypt and that â—ondage to serve him in another Land so he will doe by thee thou art in such a spiritâ— bondage in this spirituall Aegypt that thâ—â— canst not serve the Lord here therefore 〈◊〉 Lord comes to bring thee out which he dâ—â— by declaring unto thee that this is not 〈◊〉 way of God and hee would not have 〈◊〉 walke in it nor heare these false Teacherâ—ny more for thou art more and more woâ—ded by them Oh thinkst thou to thy selfe will goe hear them that they call Independeâ—â— I see they grow exceedingly in grace and hâ—â—â— aboundance of joy and walke very comâ—â—â—tably with God and Paul bids us try all thinâ— So I will see whether they can tell me tidiâ—â— of my Beloved So when thou art thus a â—â—â—ing out of this spirituall Aegypt then conâ—spirtuall Pharaoh the Devill with his Armie â—â—ter thee of reproaches and scandals and â—tream displeasure of those that are of near â—â—lation to thee for thy going in these stranâ—â— wayes as they say calling thee Heretiqâ—â— and threatning thee that if thou wilt not leaâ— off these wayes they will never doe any thâ—â— for thee but will doe thus and thus again thee then thou art in aboundance of slaw feares and the red sea of persecution befoâ—â— thee If the Clergie could but get power 〈◊〉 the Magistrate which they have done the good will to get it in the meane timethey wpersecute you in words and raile on you in heir pulpits and call you Hereticks and say â—is pitty you should live you are the disturâ—ers of the peace and if they let you alone â—ou will be the ruine of the Kingdome And â—his they doe against thee because thou wilt â—ot heare them any more for thou art so â—ounded with their Sermons that thou canst â—â—ot heare them any longer Yet they tell thee â—hou must wait upon them till the Lord make â—nown his mind to them and it is a question whether ever he will make known his minde â—o them or no Mat. 23.13 But woe unto you â—cribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of heaven against men for ye neither goe â—â—your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring â—o goe in But they are blind leaders of the blinde â—nd both shall fall into the pits Thus thou seest what a streight thou art in â—etwixt Pharoah's Armie and the red Sea and â—hou cryest to the Lord as the children of Israâ—â— did and what did Moses say which was a â—ype of Christ Exod. 14.13 14. Moses said â—nto the people feare ye not stand still and see â—e salvation of the Lord the Lord shall fight for â—â—u and you shall hold your peace First I shall shew you that yet thou hast â—ot seen the salvation of the Lord. Secondly Thou must stand still and thou shalt see the salvation of the Lord for thee 1. I will not deny but that thou art 〈◊〉 child of God for that good seed spoken of Mat. 13. is sowne in thee which seed is 〈◊〉 Word in vers 19. of this Chapter and 〈◊〉 Word is Christ John 1. Which seede is Chriâ—â—â— Gal. 3.16 Know ye not that Christ is in you â—â—cept you be reprobates but I trust you shall knâ—â—â— you are not reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5 6. For Gâ—â—â— hath made knowne to thee that this seed is thee for thou findest that there is a new woâ—â— wrought in thee for now thou hatest sintâ— and hast a desire after goodnesse and it is thâ—â— seede in thee which makes thee so For whâ—â— thou wast in thy naturall condition thâ—â— hadst no such inclination to good thouâ—â— sometimes thou art ready to deny this throuâ—â— the Devills temptation and thy owne corruâ—tions But yet thou dost not know the true way Jesus Christ The Sonne of righteousnesse not risen in thee to lighten thee in his truth as the truth is in Jesus Christ saith I am 〈◊〉 way the truth and the life no man commeth the Father but by me John 14.6 And while the Lord doth come and lighten thee in 〈◊〉 wayes thou canst not find it out but thou a in the darke and one that is in the dark caâ—â— not doe any thing well and is ready to stuâ—â— â—e at all things and yet would faine doe â—omething Thus thou goest along in thy own strength 〈◊〉 perform duties but all thy duties and righousnesse is as filthy rags and that the Devill â—ill tell thee and he will overcome thee with is temptations for all thy righteousnesse This not a sufficient armour to stand against him 〈◊〉 will wound thee for all this For except â—â—ur righteousnesse exceeds the righteousnesse of the â—ribes and Pharisees you shall in no wise enter to the Kingdome of heaven Which as yet thou â—â—mmest short of that righteousnesse of the â—ribes and Pharisees for they were wonderâ—â—ll strict in their wayes for they lookt to be â—stified by the workes of the Law They did â—â—t know any other way therefore they walâ—d in that way they were in the dark and 〈◊〉 they worked according So it is with thee â—ou lookest to be justified by the works of the â—â—aw for thou seest no other way nor hast â—en taught any other way although in words â—â—th thou and they that taught thee are ready 〈◊〉 deny it But doe you not say that except ye do thus â—â—d thus God will not doe thus and thus for â—â—ou What is this but to be justified by your â—â—wne righteousnesse but thou dost as the â—â—ouse did in Cant. 3.1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soule loved I sought him bâ— I found him not What was this night but the time of hâ— darke condition and what is darknesse but want of light And in this night on her beâ— what was this bed A bed is to take their nâ— upon which was her owne performances a righteousnesse But she sought him but she câ—â—not find him upon her bed for thy bed is tâ— short for thee to stretch thy self upon tâ— covering too narrow to wrap thy self withaâ— before the Lord had shewed her the light his owne selfe to leade her where shee shou finde him Shee looked for him upon her bâ—â— of her owne performances but it is too shoâ—â— to reach to heaven and this covering of hâ—
nothing in us that moved Goâ—â— to bestow his Sonne upon us to be crucisied fâ—â— us but it was his free love Herein is love 〈◊〉 that we loved God but that he loved us and seâ—â— his Son to be the propitiatin for our sins 1 Johâ— 4.10 Hereby perceive we the love of God becaâ—â— he laid downe his life for us 1 John 3.16 Aâ—â—â— while we were yet sinners Christ died for us eâ— when we were dead in sins Ephes 2.5 For so loved the world that hee gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved John 3.16 17. For I came not to judge the world but to save the world John 12.47 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay downe his life for his friend John 15.13 That is the greatest love that friends can shew one to another but Christ hath loved us with a greater love for while wee were his enemies he dyed for us to reconcile us to God and to make us his friend hee takes occasion by our sins to shew us merie The Lord complains of the spirituall Idolatry of his people in Hosea 2. which of all sins that is partly the greatest to forsake God and cleave to Idols and to give that to them that belongs only to God for they made their Idols their God gave honour and glory to them but the Lord saith I will not give my honour to another nor my glory to graven Images Hos 2.13 14. Shee decked her selfe with her ear-rings and her jewels and she followed her Lovers and forgate me saith the Lord. Therefore behold I will allure her and bring her into the wildernesse aad speake comfortably to her Hos 11.7 My people are bent to rebellion against me though they called them to the most High yet none at all would exalt him Yet this did not turne the love of the Lord from them for in the 8. and 9. verses he saith How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I delive thee Israel how shall I make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim Mine heart is turned within me my repentings are rouled together I will not execute the fiercenesse of my wrath I will not return to destroy Ephraim for I am God and not man the holy One in the midst of thee Ezek 20.44 And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have respect unto you for my Names sake and not after your wicked wayes nor according to your corrupt workes O ye house of Israel saith thâ—â— Lord Isa 43.25 I even I am hee that putteth away thine iniquities for mine owne sake and wilâ— not remember thy sins Isa 44.22 I have put away thy transgressions like a cloud and thy sinner as a mist turn unto me for I have redeemed thee Jer. 33.8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me I will pardon all their iniquities wherby they have sinned against me and whereby they have transgressed against me Jer. 50.20 And in those dayes and at that time saith the Lord the iniquitieâ— of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and for the sinnes of Judah and they shall not be found for I will be mercifull unto them Here is the free mercie of God and riches of his love belonging to all man-kinde that ever was is or shall be there is not any one excluded from his love for there is nothing can keep us from God but our sins and that Christ hath dyed for and hath made full satisfaction to his Father and hath obtained of his Father a full pardon for all the sinne of all man-kinde although they be never so great 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chiefe He was a persecuter and a blasphemer and an injurious person yee saith he I obtained mercy The Lord is no respecter of persons He shed his dearest heart-blood for all sinners as well for the chiefe of sinners as any other for without blood-shedding there can be no remission of any one sinne though never so small in our apprehension but by the blood of Christ being shed for us the greatest sins are pardoned as well as any For the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all unrighteousnesse And this gift of God in giving his Sonne is a free gift of God given to all to redeeme all from sinne hell and the Devill Hes 13.9 O Israel one hath destroyed thee but in me is thy helpe The Devill having overcome man by his tempting the woman and they yielding to him wee were all destroyed by the Devill but in Christ is our helpe against him Jer. 31.11 The Lorâ— hath redeemed Jacob and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he All man-kinde fell by and in the fall of Adam from that glorious condition that thâ—â— were in before they sinned So we all fell froâ— that glorious condition with him into a staâ—â— of condemnation sin and the wrath of Goâ— both spirituall and temporall and hell anâ— damnation and as we all fell in Adam so we are all raised by and in Christ not to thaâ— condition that Adam fell from but from thaâ— condition that he fell into and as we all dyeâ— in Adam so wee are all made alive in Chriâ—â— Adam was a publique person for man-kind so was Christ therefore he is called the seconâ— Adam Therefore as by the offences of one which was Adam judgement came upon all men to câ—â— demnation even so by the righteousnesse of ouâ— which is Christ the free gift came upon all mâ—â— unto justification of life For as by one mans disâ—â— bedience many were made sinners so by the obeâ—â—ence of one shall many be made righteous Rom. â—â— 18 19. All were made sinnners in Adam so all aâ—â— made righteous by Christ Quest How are all made righteous 〈◊〉 Christ Answ He being made a publique person so all man-kinde he undertook to make full satisfaction for our sins which he did comit so he redeemed us from that condemnation that came upon all the world by the fall of Adam so that for those sinnes wee shall never be condemned Hee hath redeemed the whole world from the Devill and sin to himselfe that we should serve him in all love so the Devill and sinne cannot keepe the world out of heaven they can doe us no harme yea those that are very great sinnes cannot nothing but unbeliefe can keepe us out There was nothing that kept the children of Israel out of the Land of Canaan but unbeliefe We see they could not enter in because of unbeliefe Heb. 3.19 They had committed many sins and those that were very great ones and God complained of their sins in
and we come to beleeve this 〈◊〉 the faith of Christ this faith is the eye to 〈◊〉 what Christ hath done for us so through thâ— faith we are justified by Christ and this is thâ— free gift of God and is not any thing of oâ—â— selves our faith is imperfect and therefore 〈◊〉 cannot justifie us I beleeve Lord help my unâ—â—liefe So that our faith cannot justifie us bâ—cause there is unbeliefe in it Lord help my 〈◊〉 beliefe but the faith of Christ is perfect aâ— that alone doth justifie every one that hathâ— and without this faith it is impossible to pleâ—â— God Heb. 11.6 and every thing which is 〈◊〉 of this faith is sinne and Christ is the authoâ—â— and finisher of this faith Heb. 12.2 And all long the 11. chapter of the Hebrewes the speakes what great things were done by tâ—â— faith and the Lord calls and invites all men come to him and eat freely of this spiritoâ— feast that he hath prepared for them he 〈◊〉 vites them by the outward preaching of 〈◊〉 word and inward movings of his Spirit Pâ—â— 1.20 21 22 23. Wisdome crieth without uttereth her voyce in the streets she crieth the chiefe place of concourse in the openiâ— of the gates in the citie she uttereth her words saying How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fooles hate knowledge turne you at my reproofe behold I will poure our my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you Here is the outward call and in Genesis 6.3 there is the inward And the Lord said My Spirit shall not always strive with man So it doth appeare that his Spirit doth strive with man to bring him to himself Iohn 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me Hosea 11.4 I drew them with cords of a man with bands of love and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jawes and I laid meat unto them Thus â—hrist drawes all both inward and outward with the bonds of love that he might take off that heavy yoke off their sinnes off them and see them laid upon Christ and see this spirituall meat which is laid before them and they to feed on it and doe appeale to every ones conscience whether they doe not find at one time or other an inward moving by the Spirit of God for to goe unto God and the Lord will receive them and they have some glimpse of the love of God to them to invite them to goe and there is nothing can move us to go to God but the Spirit of God therefore it is the Spirit of God that doth draw all CHAP. VII None can truly repent till they goe unto God anâ— when they do goe he will give them a true repentance THere is not any that can truly repent 〈◊〉 their sinnes till they doe see in some measure the love of God to them they may repent because their sinnes provoke Gods angeâ— against them and for feare of hell and the judgements of God and because they keep them out of heaven but this is not a true repentance a true repentance is such a repentance that they need not repent them of buâ— there requireth a repentance to repent of this repentance but it is the love of God made known to them that makes them to be humbled for their sinnes because they offend so loving a God and they were the cause that Christ was crucified and therefore they hate their sinnes because they are an enemy to God and keeps them from the communion of God O the love of God to thee constrains thee to love him againe and thou art ashamed of thy sinnes and hatest them because God hates them so it is the love of God to them that causeth true repentance When Christ looked upon Peter then he went out and wept bitterly Luk. 22.61 62. Ephraim shall say What have I to do any more w th Idols Hos 14.9 Ephraim was a great sinner he worshipped Idols yet when he saw the love of God to him it so overcame him that he cries out Whot have I to doe any more with Idols though I have had to doe with them yet now I hate them because God hates them Ierem. 31.18 19. I have heard Ephraim lamenting thus Thou hast corrected me and I was chastised as an untamed Colt convert thou me and I shall be converted for thou art the Lord my God Surely after that I converted I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth Ezek. 16.62 63. And I will establish my covenant with thee and thou shalt know that I am the Lord that thou mayst remember and be ashamed and never open thy mouth any mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord God Thus the love of God drawes all to repentance and it prevailes more with them to bring them to repentance than to heare of the wrath of God and judgements and this repentance is a true â—â—pentance to hate sinne and to be huâ—bled for it because it offends so loving a Goâ— and therefore to forsake them though neâ—â— so neer and deare to us and be affraid of coâ—mitting sinne for feare of offending God 〈◊〉 Joseph said How can I doe this and sinne agaiâ—â— God Gen. 39.9 Object If it be so that God doth draw 〈◊〉 men thus to himselfe what is the reason thâ— all doe not come unto him for wee see thâ— most keep from him and live in sin and wiâ—â—ednesse Answ The fault is in man O man thyâ—â—struction is of thy selfe For what coâ—â— I have done to my Vineyard that I have 〈◊〉 done it Isa 5.4 And though they goe aâ—â— from Christ yet hee will not leave themsâ—â—â— hee followes them 1 Cor. 10.4 They did 〈◊〉 drinke the same spirituall drinke for thâ— dranke of that spirituall rocke that followâ—â— them and that roche was Christ Hee followes them with his mercie and â—â—ving kindnesse to draw them to him but thâ— would not Ye would not come unto me thâ—â— might have life And if ye believe not that Iâ— he ye shall dye in your sinnes John 8.24 There is nothing that condemnes the woâ—â— but the rejecting and undervaluing of Jeâ—â— Christ and continue so doing and live and dye so He that believeth not is condemned already because hee hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Sonne of God And this is condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darknesse rather than light John 3.18 19. Christ is the light to lighten every one that comes into the world and hee invites all to come unto him and he will give them of his light that they might see to walke in his way and he would direct them what to doe and lead them in the
hast given mee bee with mee where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst mee before the foundation of the world His love is so great to us that he must have us with him wheresoever he is so he carrieth us in his bosome upon his heart and he is gone into heaven and we are there with him though we see it not and we are glorified with him And the glory which thou hast given mee I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thoâ— hast loved me John 17.22 23. There is not any thing that Christ thinke too deare or too good for us hee bestows alâ—â— his excellent things upon us hee loves us 〈◊〉 dearly he cannot keep them from us His lovâ— to us passeth the love of women to their chilâ—dren yea the greatest love that they can beâ—â— to them Isa 49.15 16. Can a woman forgâ—â—â—ber sucking childe that she should not have 〈◊〉 passion on the sonne of her womb yea they 〈◊〉 forget yet will I not forget thee Behold I haâ—â— graven thee upon the palms of my hands and thy wayes are continually before me He would have us to take notice of his love Behold I have graven thee upon the palmes of my hands he hath done it and wee must behold it and take good notice of it it is done already it is not to be done by us but God saith I have done it And there is not any thing in us that can hinder his love to us I have loved you with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawne thee These are expressions of God to us that we are set upon his heart and arme and hand is to shew us how neare we are to him and hee would have us to know it therefore he comes himself and declares it to us by his Spirit Fear not for I am with thee be not affraid for I am thy God Isa 41.10 Man naturally is affraid of God and it is because of our sins and ever since Adam fell wee have beene affraid of him some affraid of his anger and some affraid of punishment Gen. 3.9 10. And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou And be said I heard thy voyce in the garden and I was affraid because I was naked and I hid my selfe The righteousnesse of God which Adam had before his fall did cloath him he saw no nakednesse he was not ashamed of the nakednesse of his bodie that was nothing he could see nothing but what was of God and he was cloathed with him and there was a sweete communion betweene God and him hee was not affraid of God and there was no cause of fearing any thing else for all things below God were under Adam they had no power to doe him any harm But after Adam fell his falling stripped him of the righteousnesse of God and so he became naked and then hee was affraid of God And thus by nature wee are naked and are affraid of God and it is our nakednesse that causeth our feare and makes us affraid of every thing below God as well as of God and there is not any covering that can cover our nakednesse and so take away the cause of our fear for Adam did what he could to hide his nakednesse Gen. 3 7. And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons They saw but some part of their nakednesse and so far as they saw it they made a covering to hide it and it was of the leaves of a fig-tree faire great leaves and that tree grew in the Garden of Eden where Adam was put and that was the best covering they could get yet they were affraid and hid themselves from God for all that covering This Garden of Eden was a type of the â—hurch of God which is the Spouse of Christ â—â—â—t 4.12 15. and chap. 5.1 6.2 And this Garden in the midst of it is the tree â—life which is Christ Rev. 2.7 To him that â—â—reommeth will I give to eate of the tree of life â—â—ich is in the midst of the Paradise of God Joel 〈◊〉 27. And ye shall know that I am in the midst Israel and that I am the Lord your God and â—e else and my people shall never be ashamed â—â—d he is that water of life that runneth in the â—idst of the garden Revel 22.1 Whosoever â—â—nketh of the water that I shall give him shall â—â—er thirst But the water that I shall give him â—â—ll be in him a well of water springing up into eâ—lasting life John 4.14 Jesus stood and cryâ—â— saying If any man thirst let him come unto 〈◊〉 and drinke He that believeth on me as the â—â—ipture saith out of his belly shall flow rivers of â—â—ing water John 7.37 38. And this is that â—â—e of life that whosoever eates thereof they â—all live for ever And this the Saints feed upâ—â— but Adam did not eate of this And out of 〈◊〉 ground made the Lord God to grow every tree 〈◊〉 is pleasant to the sight and good for food â—â—en 2.9 So in the garden the Church of God out 〈◊〉 the ground of the love of God for he is the â—ound of all our happinesse hee causeth to grow every tree that is pleasant to the eâ—â— and good for food which is a comfortaâ—â— enjoyment of all temporall things and gooâ—nesse hath a promise of all things in this 〈◊〉 for temporall things so far as it is for Goâ— glory and for our good and for things come which is spirituall but the trees of 〈◊〉 ward mercies doe grow by the high way◠〈◊〉 all sorts of people to eate of as well as the châ—â—dren of God But this is but by the way 〈◊〉 shew you that wee have the enjoyment of oâ—â— ward things by the enjoyment of spiritual 〈◊〉 in the garden of God so farre as Christ 〈◊〉 peareth in it it brings forth good fruits sâ—â—ble to him for hee is a Spirit and the frâ—â— that grow in this garden are spirituall and have not this fruit by nature for except 〈◊〉 are in the Vine we cannot bring forth frâ—â— sutable to God and we by nature are nakeâ— and we seeing our selves naked and knowâ— there is no appearing before God so we taâ—â— of the broadest and fairest leaves of the shew godlinesse that we can get and sew them handsomely together as wee can and coâ—â— that part that we see naked but there is a gâ—â— deale of our nakednesse that we doe not 〈◊〉 and that wee cannot cover yet God sees our nakednesse both that as we cover 〈◊〉 as we doe not cover When God doth appâ—â—◠〈◊〉 we are affraid of his seeing us