of the flesh to be honoured of God or will of this or that man hath any thing to do in or makes any difference in All that are in Christ being born thereto and therein of God and reckoned after Christ in whom they are as Gal. 3.28 29. with John 1 13. signifies and then from and as a consequent to this 4. God so loves them as to give them the Spirit of the Son both his Spirit to open the knowledge of Christ his Son to them and the disposition liberty boldness towards and affection to and affiance in him in some measure The same Spirit that dwelt in and yet dwells in Christ and led him as man in the dayes of his flesh to have confidence in and boldness towards his Father and so to go to him upon all occasions as to his Father he gives also to the believer in him to let him know Gods Fatherly love to and care of him upon the account of Christ and to lead him in hope and confidence to depend on and call upon him as also to guide instruct comfort strengthen and help him on all occasions To this purpose is that in Gal. 4.5 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father and so many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God and the Spirit it self helps our infirmities c. Rom. 8.15 16 26 27. and this he gives both as a pledge of his love and acceptance and as an earnest of the Inheritance Ephes 1.13 14. 2 Cor. 1.22 5. Yea and as he gives them the priviledge of Sons and the Spirit of his Son so also the respect of Sons so as that as he heard and helped Christ his only begotten Son in the dayes of his flesh in all that he called upon him for and took care of him to provide for and protect him so doth he also to those that believe in his Son The eyes of the Lord are open upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cryes and his face is set against the wicked that hate and oppress them 1 Peter 3.12 13. He is nigh unto his people in all that they call upon him for as our Saviour also promises John 15.7 Abide in me and let my words abide in you and ask what ye will it shall be given you and that as a testimony of his great love to them in which he imbraceth them in Christ his beloved one in whom they are accepted Ephes 1.16 See also John 14.13 14. Psal 145.17 18 19. as our Saviour testifies John 16.27 saying In that day ye shall ask the Father in my Name namely when they had received the promise of the holy Spirit to be a Spirit of grace and supplication in them and I do not say that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God Yea 6. In his love he teacheth them by his holy Spirit and leads them into all truth as is good and needful for them John 14.17 26. Prov. 1.23 teacheth them how to walk and how to pray guides and leads them in the way that they should go makes known his words shews them his mind the Mysteries of his Kingdom c. So Psal 25 8 9 12 14. Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners the way the meek will he guide in judgment the meek will he teach his way i. e. those that being convinced of their own poverty and emptiness do meekly receive his words The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant And Matth. 13.11 To you sayes Christ to his Disciples it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God and I have called you not Servants but Friends for all things that I have heard of my Father have I made known to you He takes care of them that they may not wander out of the way of life and righteousness yea he shews them those delights and pleasures of his wayes and gives them a glimpse too of the glory of the end of it even of the glory of his Kingdom so as that they are thereby made to love his way and walk in it comfortably and with great delight Prov. 3.17 Psal 119 32 165. 7. In love also he nurtures them as his Children giving them chastisement as he sees needful and good for them not leaving them to their own counsels wayes and wills as he doth those that coutemn his counsels and submit not to him He is faithfully reproving and warning them and timely châ—stening them with his afflictions that he might teach them his Law and they might keep his Statutes Psal 94 12. and 119 67 71. as a Father that loves his Child and therefore spares not his Rod Prov. 13.24 for he knows that a Child left to himself comes to misery and shame nor yet doth he in afflicting smite them as he smites these that smite them and are his and their enemies but as a Father chastens the Son in whom he delighteth Prov. 3.11 12 Isai 27.7 8. that is he doth it in measure and judgment not in fury so as he sees they may bear and as may be for their profit Isai 27.8 9. Heb. 12.10 He is faithful and will not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able but with the temptation or tryal will give an issue that they may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10 12. For he pities them as a Father pities his Child knowing their mold and temper and that they are but dust and therefore doth not deal with them after their sins nor reward them according to their iniquities but punisheth them less than they deserve is slow to wrath toward them and abundant in goodness and truth and doth not chide them alwayes nor retain his anger for ever Psal 103.9 10 11 12 13. yea and with his chastisements affords his supports and consolations to refresh their hearts Psal 94.18 19 yea and turns again and hath compassion according to the multitude of his tender mercies Lam. 3.32 Yea 8. He takes pleasure in them in them that fear him and in them that hope in his mercy Psal â—47 11 The Lord takes pleasure in his people Psal 49.4 It 's his design and delight to make them happy and to beautifie them with his Salvation to make them as a Crown of Glory and as a royal Diadem in his hand therefore he calls them Hepâ—zibah that is my delight or pleasure is in her owning them together in Christ as his royal Spouse and Consort as Isai 54 5. with 62 2 3 4. it rejoyceth his heart to see them thrive and prosper for he hath pleasure in the prosperity of his Servants Psal 35.27 Yea and though they have their failings weaknesses and spots that might render them unlovely yet having given Christ to
this life support and help under or freedom and deliverance from the troubles of it and from the plots and malice of wicked men in the world against us as be necessary for us for our subsistence while here continued or for our serving and glorifying God and usefulness amongst men as Prov. 30.8 Feed me with food convenient for me Matth. 6.11 Give us this day our dayly bread O deliver me not into the will of mine enemies Psal 27.14 Deliver me O Lord from the evil man and preserve me from the wicked man which imagine michief in their hearts c. Psal 140.1 2. Pray that your flight be not in the winter nor on the Sabbath-day Matth 24.20 and the like for others as for our selves 2 Thess 3.1 2. 5. In particular wants exercises and temptations for such things as the Holy Spirit knows to be most profitable for us and others and most agreeable with Gods will in which we know not usually what to pray for but the Holy Spirit that God gives to his servants and worshippers doth and that helps their infirmities and makes intercession for them with groans that cannot be uttered Rom. 8.26 and leads his people in such cases to pray according to Gods will as Abraham for Ishmaels life O that Ishmael might live before thee Gen. 17.18 20. Isaac for children Gen. 25.21 Elijah for the life of the widow of Sarephaths child be restored 1 King 17. and so Elisha for the Shunamite 2 King 4 and many the like obvious in the Scriptures In a word the Holy Ghost shews what things are agreeable to the will and holiness of God and conduces to the promoting his Glory and our own and others good and directs us to pray for them as they be wanting and blesseâ— God for them as granted to us 2. As to the manner of praying both 1. As to the way of approaching to God that it be not in our own righteousness name or goodness as if we deserved any mercy of him to our selves or were worthy upon the account of our righteousness to obtain any thing but in the name and upon the account of Christ and so through and by him his Sacrifice and Priestly intercession for us the new and living way to God Heb. 10.19 20. and so in Gods goodness mercy and righteousness through him So David praying to God goes not in his goodness but in Gods Psal 5.7 As for me I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercies c. and in Psal 25.6 According to thy mercy think thou upon me for thy goodness-sake O Lord and Daniel Chap. 9.17 18. For the Lords sake and we do not present our supplications before thee for our own righteousness but for thy great mercies So the Holy Spirit instructs and directs us to come unto God by Christ as in Heb. 7.25 and in his Name to make our prayers and petitions John 14.12 13 14. and 16.23 27. 2. As to the expressions not studying quaint and elegant words and expressions as if God delighted in them but to utter our needs and desires in such words and expressions as the Holy Spirit leading us to minde the greatness and goodness of God the declarations of his â—inde and and will our own vileness and meanness and wants helps us with as knowing it is the faith and fervencie of the heart and the rightness of the frame of Spirit in our prayers that sounds best in Gods eare A braken or contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise He that studies quaint words to please men prays rather to men for their applause than to God for his Grace and blessing and so it leads not to use vain repetitions as placing holiness goodnes or the acceptableness of our prayers in such so often reiterated expressions or as thinking to be heard for or in our much speaking Mat. 6 7. though the Holy Spirit lets us see sometime ground and need for praying longer and sometime shorter as our cases may be as Christ was in prayer all night sometime Luc. 6.12 before he chose his Apostles and yet sometime was very short as when he raised up Lazarus John 11.41.42 3. As to the earnestness in praying The Holy Spirit leads to be chiefly earnest for those things that are of greatest concernment more earnest for what tends to promote Gods Kingdom and righteousness and to his Glory than for things in which our libâ—rty ease health or the like are onely concerned and to be most indifferent for those things in which Gods Name Kingdom or Glory are least concerned â— As to the incouragements and motives to pray To pray in the Holy Ghost is to pray in the incouragements motives and motions which the Holy Spirit giveth And they be such as the Gospel and Doctrine of Christ presents unto us as 1. The gracious goodness of God testified towards us in Christ Jesus in whom he hath declared and manifested himself a lover of us as his Creatures as mankinde yea though sinners and while so in that he was pleased to appoint and send him even his onely begotten Son into the world for us that we might live through him even through him as made and become the propitiation for our sins as in 1 John 4.9 10. Having not spared his Son but delivered him up to the Death for us all the Holy Spirit incourages us thereupon to hope and in that hope to expect that he will also with him freely give us all things and in such incouragement and upon such ground moves us to ask of him what is needful and good for us Rom. 8.26 27 28. 2. The compleatness of Christ as our Mediator and High Priest with God for obtaining Grace and mercy of him for us and to that purpose making intercession and of his Authority with God to dispense and hand unto us as well as of wisdom to discern and see whatever may be good and needful for us Heb. 4.14 Having such a great High Priest Jesus the Son of God passed into the Heavens for us let us go boldly to the Throne of Grace So Heb. 10.19 20 21 22 Seeing we have boldness or liberty to the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus that is by such a compleat full and perfect Sacrifice as that he hath offered for us such as infinitely goeth beyond all the Sacrifices under the Law as the foregoing part of that Chapter had largely shewed such as in which is perfection for the sanctified for ever ver 14. plenteousnes of Redemption forgivenes of sins and a powerful voice to speak for our acceptance Col. 1.14 Heb. 12.24 by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail his flesh and having an High Priest over the House of God such a one namely as Christ is who is holy harmless undefiled separated from sinners made higher than the Heavens a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck a King and Priest and that too the
Son of God himself consecrated by an Oath for ever and ever living to make intercession for us in all which respects he is infinitely better and greater than the Priests under the Law abler to make us and our prayers acceptable to God c. 7. as also having an High Priest so merciful to us and so faithful both to God and us in all that concerns us one that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities and can succour those that be tempted because he himself suffered and was tempted as Chapter 2.17 18. and 4.15 one that can pity and have compassion on those that are ignorant and â—ut of the way Heb. 5.1 2 3. Let us therefore draw near with true sincere hearts in full assurance of faith our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water In these incouragements the Holy Ghost moves and incourages us to draw nigh and to pray to God as also is shewed Rom. 8.34 in that Christ hath died for us yea rather is risen again who also is at Gods right hand and maketh intercession for us 3. The infinite power and alsufficiencie of God in Christ and of Christ in God to hear help save and satisfie us and to fulfil all our petitions that are according to his will power belongs unto God Psal 62.11 12. therefore trust in him at all times ye people pour out your hearts before him he is a refuge for us So in Job 5.8 9. I would seek to God to God would I commit my cause who doth great things c. I am God Almighty Gen. 17.1 this incouraged Christ in the days of his flesh to pour out strong cries and tears that his Father was able to save him all things were possible to him Heb 5.7 Mark 14.36 and this through the love he hath manifested in Christ and the greatness faithfulness and mercifulness of Christ as our High-Priest and the infinite virtuousness of his sacrifice for us for obtaining favour and acceptation for us with God is of great usefulness to incourage us also that he that so loves us and with whom we have such a Priest and Sacrifice to befriend us is able to help and save us as Psal 57.2 I will cry unto God most high unto God that performeth all things for me this incouragement the Holy Ghost propounded to and by Paul as a motive to pray to him That the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is be of whom all the family in Heaven and earth is named and that in him are riches of Glory and that he is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all we ask and think Ephes 3.15 16 20. indeed this without the other would be little incouragement but rather terrifie us from him but with and through it it gives exceeding much incouragement to consider that he is able both in respect of wisdom and knowledge to discern our wants and in respect of Power and Authority to supply them 4. His Covenant and promises made and confirmed in Christ for hearing and helping those that come to him by Christ and for perfecting all that concerns them both as to salvation from evil and satisfaction with good It s his Covenant in Christ to write his Law in the heart and to put his fear into them and their iniquities and sins to remember no more c. and so it is to hear their prayers and to save them So Psal 50.14 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal 91.14 15. He shall call upon me I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him and honor him with long life will I satisfie him shew him my salvation so by our Saviour Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name I will give it you John 16.23 Godliness hath the promise of this life and of that that is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 to which add 5. His infinite truth and faithfulness through Christ to keep his Covenant and mercy for ever this incouragement is also propounded and was often made use of by the servants of God as the Apostle to move the Believer to draw nigh to God uses this amongst others Faithful is he that promised therefore let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering which is done as wel by our persevering in prayer and continuing to draw nigh to God Heb. 10 23. this was made use of and pleaded by Nehemiah c. 1.5 The great terrible God that keepeth Covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments so by those good Levites mentioned in Neh. 9 4 5. in Verse 32. and by Daniel Dan. 9.4 as also it is propounded as an incouragement to call upon God and to seek him and seek his face Psal 105.1.4 8. He hath remembred his Coâ—ont for ever c. 6. The Relations that they stand in to God and God to them that the Holy Spirit also makes use of to encourage to pray and to call upon God So in Matth. 7.11 If ye that are evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him So again in Luke 11.13 and this also the holy men of God have been encouraged by to pray to him as Isa 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us c. Thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer thy name is from everlasting c. So Jer. 14.8 O the hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in time of trouble c. 〈◊〉 very often David makes use of this encouragement that God was his God and his King his Rock Refuge c. 7. The often proofs they have had of his Goodness and Power and Mercy in former times Call to mind says the Apostle amongst other motives and encouragements to draw nigh to God and to hold fast the Profession of the Faith the farmer days in which after ye were illuminated ye endured a great fight of afflictions And this is often made use of and found as an encouragement to the servants of God in former times as Psal 4.1 O God of my righteousness hear when I call Thou hast set me at liberty when I was in distress have mercy upon me and hear my prayer and in Psal 18 3. we have David resolving to call upon the Lord worthy to be praised and assuring himself that so he should be delivered from his enemies And see what encouraged him to that assured expectation and so to that holy resolution Verse 4 5 6. The sorrows of death compassed me c. In my distress I called upon the Lord and cryed unto my God he heard my voyce out of his Temple c. Like to which is that in Psal 116.1 2. I love the Lord because he hath heard my voyce and my supplication because he hath inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him
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
them to be their covering their righteousness and salvation they being in him he in him beholds them and through and in him rejoyces in his love toward them yea and will joy over or in behalf of them with singing Zeph. 3.17 though their goodness gives him not rest yet his love to them doth He shall rest in his love and in his love also he hath abundantly provided for their perfect cleansing and conforming to him that there may be no spot in them but they may be perfect and without blame before him Ephes â— 26 27. having appointed his only Son who is faithful to him in all things to wash and sanctifie them and conform them to his mind 9. Yea such is his love that he deals with them further as his Children in providing all things for them and taking care to supply all their wants to them and give them whatsoever he sees good for them through Jesus Christ both for the things of this life pertaining to their bodies and in the things of eternal life pertaining to their souls therefore also he would have them with carefulness as knowing that he takes care for them and as a Father knows and considers their needs both for food rayment and protection and so for gifts or comforts c. Your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things Matth. 6.32 33. and without covetousness as knowing and believing that he stands by them is at hand to help them and will never leave them nor forsake them so that we may boldly say The Lord is on our side or is our helper we will not fear what man can do unto us Heb. 13.5 6. He is a Sun and Shield and will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightlly with him Psal 84.11 10. Further yet He causeth all things to work together for their good Rom. 8.28 All his wayes are mercy and truth to them that love him and keep his Covenants and Testimonies and that think upon his Commandments to do them Psal 25.10 He is Lord of all things and rules in the Hosts of Heaven and Kingdoms of men and will and doth dispose of all Providences for the glory of his Son and so for the profit and advantage of all that are in him and do trust in and love him To this purpose it is that he sayes to Sion that he hath ingraven her upon the palmes of his hands and that her walls are continually before him as signifying that in all his works he hath respect to their commodity and advantage and his eyes are alwayes watching for them and spying out what may avail and profit them Isai 49.16 and that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 3.21 22. All things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or world or life or death things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods that Christ went away from his Disciples it was because it was expedient for them and that he takes away any outward comforts from us and orders any afflictions to us it is because he sees it good for us if we believe and walk with him John 16.7 Psal 119.71 For 11. They being in Christ they are his Elect in him his Elect and chosen One Chosen in him before the foundations of the world to be holy to him his holy Lot Portion Inheritance his Garden Vineyard c. Deut. 32 9. Jer. 10.16 Cant. 4 12. and 8.11 and to be blameless before him in love Ephes 1.4 they are his the people whom he hath fore-known in Christ that is fore-owned or purposed to own in all Ages and therefore also hath fore-ordained or predestinated to be confor med to the Image of his Son in sufferings and obedience to him therein and so in holiness and happiness and therefore orders all things so as may conduce to bring them thereto He hath fore-appointed them to sufferings but only so as may conduce to bring them into conformity with Christ to which therefore he calls them and therein justifies supports and owns them and will in due time glorifie them as he hath done to Christ and to those in all Ages that have believed in and loved him therefore they are pretious to him and honourable in his sight Isai 43.4 after the pattern and similitude of Christ the First born amongst many Brethren who is elect and pretious in the sight of God however rejected and despised of men 1 Pet. 2.4 yea and as he is the living Stone so are they in him and through him as he is the Priest the high Priest of God and his holy Foundation and Temple in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily A Priest after the order of Melchisedek who was both King and Priest so they also in him are built up a spiritual house an holy yea a royal or Kingly Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices to God acceptable to him by Jesus Christ in whom all they are built up an holy Temple an habitation for God by his Spirit 1 Pet. 3.5 9. Ephes 2.20 21. Yea and as God is delighted in Christ and tender over him so as whosoever is incensed against him shall be ashamed and those that rise up against him he will destroy so also they that believe in him are so dear to him that whose toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye and do provoke Gods sore wrath against them to their destruction Psal 2.3 4.11 12. and 89.21 22 23. Zech. 2 8. Isai 43.4 12. And to conclude they are so in the love of God and beloved of him that he hath prepared for them gives unto them and will if they abide possess them of an everlasting and most glorious Kingdom and Inheritance He gives himself to Abraham and his Seed and such are all that are Christs Gal. 3.29 to be their God their Shield and their exceeding great Reward Gen. 15.1 and 17.1.7 as they are his portion so he also is theirs Jer 10.16 and all his infinite power greatness goodness is for their defence and helpfulness in their obeying him 2 Cor. 6.17 and he hath prepared a City for them a City that hath foundations whereof he himself in a peculiar sence is the Builder and Maker Heb. 11 10 16. Whence that of our Saviour Fear not little Flock it is my Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 And I appoint unto you a Kingdom sâ— my Father hath appointed unto me c. for if Sons then Heirs Heirs of God joynt-Heirs with Christ if we suffer with him that we also may be glorified with him Rom. 8.17 the new and heavenly Jerusalem and therein to eat of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God and to drink of the River of the waters of Life pure and unmixed pleasures and to be free from all curse sorrows temptations cryings death and to be filled and satisfied with all fulness of Good
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
so long as I live 8. The experience of Gods goodness and mercy to other in former or present ages the cloud of witnesses that have gone before us and found God gracious to them in their crying to him as in Psal 22.4 5. Our father 's trusted in thee they trusted in thee and thou didst deliver them They cryed unto thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not confounded To that puâ—â—se also the examples of Gods goodness to others are propounded by him to move men to taste and see by their trusting in and calling upon God how gracious God is Psal 34.4 5 6. I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears they looked unto him and were inlightned and their faces were not ashamed This poor man cried and the Lord heard him c. Whatsoever things were written before-hand being written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 God being one and so the same for us in through his Son as he was for and to any others before us and there is no respect of persons with him He is rich to all that call upon him Rom. 10.12.13 Such the incouragements which the holy Ghost gives for praying he that prays in the holy Ghost prays not in the incouragement of his own parts wisdom works or the like but in such incouragements as these above-mentioned as to such purpose that fore-quoted from Dan. 9.18 is pertinent We doe not present our Supplications before for our righteousness but for thy great mercies So that in Psal 5.7 and 143.1 2. 4. To pray in the holy Ghost is to pray in the operation of the holy Ghost and so in such a frame and temper of Spirit as the holy Ghost being minded and yielded up to in his testimony frames the heart unto And so 1. Not in pride as the Pharisee despising his neighbour and lifâ—ing up himself in Gods presence 2. Nor in self-confidence and reliance on a mans own righteousness as he also did Luk. 18.10 11. 3. Nor in wrath and anger as the Disciples that would have called for fire from Heaven upon the Samaritanâ— that would not receive Christ pretending Elias for a warrant to them therein Luk. 9 54. for that was not in the holy Spirit of Christ for all that pretence for our Saviour tellâ— them They knew not what manner of Spirit they were of ver 55. 4. Nor in vain-glory as the Pharisees that prayed to be seen of men that they might have glory of them Matth 6.5 6. 5. Nor in ambition seeking great things to themselves and to be lifted up above their Brethren as the two Sons of Zebedee and their Mother did not knowing what they asked when they requested that they might sit the one at Christs right hand and the other at his left in his Kingdom Matth. 20 20 21 22. 6. Nor in strife and contention as those in Isa 58 2 3. who fasted and prayed for strife and debate ver 4. 7. Nor to establish to themselves a righteousness in their praying and so not submitting to the righteousness of God in Christ as the Jews that had a zeal of God and instantly served God day and night hoping by their works of that nature to attain the righteousness of the Law Act. 26 7. with Rom. 9.30 31. and 10.2 3. 8. Nor in Covetousness as they that howled upon their beds for corn and wine Hos 7.14 9. Nor in a doubtful distrustful frame of Spirit that is not fixed in Gods goodness and perswaded of his truth for such a man is like the wave of the Sea tossed to and fro double-minded and inconstant in all his ways and let not such an one think to receive any thing at Gods hands Jam. 1.6 7. 1 Tim. 2.8 10. Nor in an impatient unsubmmitted frame of Spirit to Gods Government frowardly hasting out of affliction such as Jonah was in when he having prophesied the destruction of Niniveh and God seeing their repentance spared it he was exceedingly displeased and very angry and prayed God to take away his life from him Jonas 4.1 2 3. 11. Nor in a flat cold formal temper of Spirit as they that draw nigh to God with their mouth and honor him with the lips but the heart is far away Isa 29 17. or the like but 1. In a believing frame of heart minding and giving credit to Gods word and testimony the Gospel of Christ and from the belief of that calling upon God and in that sense prayer in the Holy Ghost is the prayer of Faith Jam. 5.15 and prayer proceeding out of the belief of Gods sayings believing and not doubting about them as Jam. 1.6 But let him ask in faith nothing doubting speaking to God because they believe his word as in Psal 116.10 I believed therefore have I spoken which may have reference to speaking by prayer aswel as to speaking by preaching or confession thus David from a belief of Gods word to him by Nathan found it in his heart to pray unto him that prayer in 2 Sam. 7.18 27. for the holy Ghost is a Spirit of Faith as 2 Cor. 4.13 and therefore breaths faith into the heart where he hath the rule and makes it breath in faith yea in a full assurance of faith as believing verily the truth of God concerning Christ yea and Gods hearing and granting its petitions that he helps the Soul to breath forth Heb. 10.22 Mark 11.24 1 John 5. â—4 15. and a cleaving adhering frame of Spirit cleaving to and trusting in God for his hearing and helping it according to his will and the Souls needs as resolved and fixed to depend upon trust in and wait for God as Mic. 7.7 I will look to the Lord I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will hear me as Jacob of old wrestling with God and resolved not to leave him till he had blessed him Gen. 32.26 So our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted in thee and were delivered they cried to thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not confounded Psal 22.4 5. such a frame of Spirit the holy Ghost leads to pray in a believing trusting frame And 2. With a fervent desire and frame of heart the Holy Ghost is compared to fire He sat on the Apostles like cloven tongues of fire Thence Quench not the Spirit and therefore when men pray in it it puts heat and life into them an earnest desire after those things which it directs absolutely to seek of God Thence it is said The effectual or operative fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Jam. 5.16 They that onely say over prayers or pray luke-warmly coldly and formally pray not in the Holy Ghost though this fervour of Spirit in prayer stands not in the loud speaking and straining the voice or in much repetitions but in the earnestness of the Souls desires and ardencie of affection to the
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
of God and Christ and of his unspeakable glory and glorious joys and satisfactions that shall be injoyed by all that are counted worthy thereof in the world to come according to that distinction or distribution of rewards promised by Christ to those that forsake all to follow him Mark 10.30 he shall receive an hundred fold in this time houses Brethren and Sisters Mothers and Children and fields with persecution and in the world to come everlasting life that is the full and perfect injoyment of God and Christ and all happiness without persecution for ever till when they are to wait for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ therein This is the great hope of the Believers as in Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie hath promised and Chap. 3.7 That being justified by his Grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life and therefore the great things hoped for are included therein because therein is contained all the fulness of the injoyment of God and Christ and their favour and blessing and so all happiness yea it is the great thing promised in Christ as 1 Iohn 2.25 and therefore it is to be waited for by the Believer all his time till he attain the injoyment of it yea even the Souls of those that have suffered death for the testimony of Christ and that be under the Altar though they rest quiet from all further sufferings and persecutions from men or temptations and oppressions from Sathan or whatever here annoyed theâ— yet they also still wait for the full accomplishment of that great promise the full injoyment of life everlasting yea and the mercy of the Lord Iesus Christ is that that is exercised toward and over them even his free Grace goodness and compassion until that be attained by them Rev. 6.11 3. And as all his Mercy tends unto the Believer so this also being waited for shall be the certain and sure issue of his Mercy they shall not fail of it but shall have and injoy eternal life when fully built up and fiâ—ted for it As they have his love and favour toward them here in which is life so their patienâ— expectation of the utmost Salvation and full recompence of reward shall in it's time also namely in the World to come without fail be given them for 1. It was the end and design of God in giving his only begotten Son into the World that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life as also it was of his exalting and lifting him up both to the Cross in his Death and out of the Grave being dead for us unto his own right hand and in the Doctrine of the Gospel by his Holy Spirit commending and glorifying him unto the hearts and consciences of men that so he might be and be represented as a fit and compleat Object of faith and hope for them and that so many as should believe and hope in him might live for ever John 3.14 15 16. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that so 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 c. 2. It is the will and pleasure of God that Jesus Christ came down from Heaven to doe and is gone up to Heaven again to prosecute the thing to which he hath anointed and appointed him the work or pleasure of the Lord that lyes upon his hand to see done that whoso seeth and believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life John 6 40. And he is both alsufficient for accomplishing it having offered up himself a perfect and infinitely virtuous and precious Sacrifice and being filled with all the fulness of God and so able to doe all things and to subdue all things to himself and he is also faithful in all things to God who appointed him and therefore will not fail nor be discouraged till he bring forth judgment into victory and accomplish what he is ingaged in and hath undertaken to doe and accomplish Col. 2.9 10. Heb. 7.25 and 9.15 and 10.14 and 3.1 2. Isa 42.3 4. 3. It is the promise of God and his Covevenant made and ratified with mankinde in Jesus Christ that he will give eternal life to as many as do believe in and are subject to him 1 John 2.24 25 Tit. 1.2 and God that hath promised is true and faithful and cannot lye or break Covenant yea he hath also confirmed his promise and Covenant by an Oath that by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye they might have strong consolation who flee for refuge to Christ the hope set before them Heb. 6.18 19. 4. Yea whereas we are too prone to sin and break ouâ— Covenant with God or fail in what he requires of us to the injoyment of eternal life Christ hath undertaken as the surety and Mediator of it to see it performed to us and to that purpose to fit us for the performance of it to us taking away our sins imperfections and forfeitures by the vertue of his blood and Sacrifice pleaded with his Father for us so as with reference thereto God keeps Covenant and mercy with them that fear him and Christ effects in us by his Grace and Spirit what is required of us and necessary for us Writing the Law in our heart and putting his fear in our inward parts Heb. 2.17 18. and 7.22 25 and 8.2 3 9 10 11. and 9.15 and 10.15 16 17 18. 5. Yea Christ as the great King of Saints and Nations Shepheard and Bishop of the soul hath undertaken it to lead guide protect and keep his sheep or his Disciples that hear his voice and follow him to the injoyment of everlasting life and he hath the Presence and Oneness of the Father with him therein and so power wisdom and love to guide and keep them so as none can pluck them away from him as he saith John 10.27.28 29 30. My sheep hear my voice and I know or own them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand My Father that gave me them is greater than all and none can pull them ouâ— of my Fathers hand I and my Father are one So that the Believer hath the greatest certainty of eternal life that may be in believing and cleaving unto Christ and so in building up himself and being built up on that most holy faith and foundation and praying in the Holy Ghost and so keeping himself in the love of God and waiting for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ having God and Christ so ingaged for his having it given to him and conferred upon himâ— to which we may also yet add 6. The earnest helpfulness
who stood in need of his Sons coming and saving of them In that love as we noted in one sense all men are till any of them slighting it and rebelling against God as exercising his love to them are therefore blotted out of the Book of Life and reprobated and reckoned after Satan as incorporated into him that is all men as fallen were and are till then the objects of that love God would not that any man should perish but that all might come to repentance and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9 He would that all men be saved and come to the knowledge or acknowledgment of the truth for there is one God and one Mediator of God and men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all a testimony in due time 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Such Grace or Good will was in the heart of God toward the whole World or every one that there through Christ was sent forth for them and tasted death for every one Heb. 2.9 by which bearing upon himself the sin of the World therein he took it away John 1.29 obtained such a release of that judgment that was upon all for one offence to condemnation that there is justification to life and righteousness in him for all Rom. 3.22 and 5.18 He being risen again a Conquerour over sin and death for our justification and being as a reward and recompence of his services and sufferings taken up to the right hand of God He is by him made Lord and Christ Phil. 2.10 11. Acts 2.36 Lord of all both of the dead and living Acts 10.36 Rom. 14 9. And anointed and filled with the Holy Ghost and power that he might be the light to lighten the Gentiles and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth Isai 61.1 and 42.1 7 8. and 49.8 9. The great Prophet and Teacher of the Truth of God to men the Great High Priest who having offered up himself an acceptable Sacrifice to God is in the vertues thereof the Mediator of God and men the propitiation for the sins of the whole World 1 John 2.1 2. 1 Tim. 2.5 So as that mercy and goodness patience and forbearance is by him extended from God to the whole World in the day of his grace and patience to lead them to repentance Rom. 2.4 5. Psal 145.8 9 10. and there is in and through him a way of access for any of them to God and of acceptance with God in their repenting and coming to God by him Heb. 7.25 and 10.19 20. John 14.6 and 3.16 17. Who is also the Great King over all the Earth who are given him for his inheritance and possession Psal 47.7 Jer. 10.7 Psal 2.8 And in the exercise of these his glorious Offices He is the Saviour of all men and especially of them that believe and through him God his Father is so also 1 Tim. 4.10 All things are ready in him for men even a feast of fat things for all people Mat. 22 4. Isai 25.6 And both he and the Father in him is ready to entertain thereto all that come to him in the strength and vertue of his grace and gracious call preventing them which is therefore also extended to them generally by God and Christ in his works about them or words to them with his Spirit there through working to convince reprove and move them to seek after and turn to him Isai 55.1 2 3 6 7 8. and 45.22 Prov. 1.20 21 22 23 24. Psal 50.1 2. Prov. 8.1 5. and 9.1 6. John 6.37 Such love hath God to all generally and to those that believe he testified the same to draw them to believe and come to him they also being before their believing Children that is fit for and worthy of wrath even as others Ephes 2.3 Tit. 3.3 4 5. Yea and now that they believe having nor wholly put off the fruits of the sin of the first Adam but being as men still defiled with sin dwelling in them and mortallity and death upon them as such they are objects still of that love of pitty to mankind and stand in need of the exercise of it to their salvation they are not by believing passed out of that love much less blotted out but are yet continued in it though also advanced higher and so not only as all other men the objects of that love but also 2. As brought unto Christ they are in a further sense in that love too so as other men are not that is to say they are in the understanding belief and knowledge of that love of God to man that is they in some measure understand believe know it yea have it in their hearts so as they are also begotten to God and Christ thereby are born of it and have the foundation ground or beginning of their faith and hope in God in it for it is in the discovery and perception of that love of God to man that the heart is overcome and framed to trust in God and brought out of it self and out of its former false confidences into Christ not the sight of special love to it self above others but the sight and knowledge of Gods love to the World Therefore when our Saviour had preached to Nicodemus the necessity of regeneration to the entring into the Kingdom of God or seeing and injoying it he did not afterward for effecting that regeneration in him tell him of some peculiar electing love of God towards him in particular but of Gods love to the World in general John 3.3 5 15 16. Even as it was not the lifting up the Brazen-Serpent in some special fashion for this or that particular person of the Israelites stung with the fiery Serpents and their beholding it as in some such special fashion lifted up for them by vertue whereof this or that person of them was healed but by its being lifted up for all of them in general this or that man beholding it as so lifted up as a common Medicine for their healing received healing by it and perished not And as Moses lifted up that Serpent in the wilderness the only common Medicine for all that were stung so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life So the Apostle Paul saith Tit. 3.3 4. that it was the effect and product of the love and pity of God our Saviour towards man and not as towards themselves only or in some special manner that they were pull'd out of the state of the world saved While any man knows or takes heed to and minds the Name fame or Doctrine of God that sets him forth in his greatness power love mercy faithfulness c he will trust in him That Name known and minded though it be but one and the same in it self for and to all men as considered alike will beget and frame the hearts of such as know it to trust in him It is the sight understanding or perception of the General
love of and goodness of God to all even to sinners and enemies that overcomes any whiles sinners and enemies to turn to God trust and hope in him and in his mercy for their salvation The sight and perception of the goodness of God to believers as such may make a man to wish himself to be such and more diligently to listen to what may make him such that he may partake of that choice goodness and it is very useful also to be propounded in the hearing of others as our Saviour did propound the blessed state of his Disciples to them in the hearing of the multitude Matth. 5.1 2. with Luk 6.20 21 but it is the sight knowledge or perception of God's graciousness to sinners in his being upon the account of Christ and his sacrifice and mediation ready and willing to accept any poor sinner turning to him forgiving his sins and not retaining his trespasses against him to barr him out from his favour that draws and perswades a sinner and ungodly one to turn unto him and hope and believe in him yea and it is the flesh of Christ given for the life of the world that the believer also feeds on Now all men are not in this sense in the General love goodness and gratiousness of God they do not see perceive and believe it much less are their hearts taken with it and living in it sucking in vertue and power from it to trust in God and to renew them into his image and unto his obedience But the believers are in this sense in it too in the words and Doctrine of Christ John 8.31 32. feeding upon it even upon the flesh of Christ given for the life of the world John 6.51 Christ given to be the ransome for all and there-through the Saviour of the world is the root spring and foundation of their hope and faith towards God and then 2. They are also there-through in the special love of God The love wherewith he loves Christ comes upon them and they are in it included in it and inclosed with it because through the discovery of Christ and the Grace of God in him for all men they are brought into Christ Being baptized into him they have put him on as Gal. 3.26 27. and are lookt upon of God as in him as his Branches John 15.1 4 5 his Members Ephes 5.30 and so they are reckoned after him according to their new-Birth of and into him 2 Cor. 5.16 17 Being in Christ they are no more known after the flesh After what they were in Adam and derived from him to be disowned of God by reason thereof but they are new Creatures old things are passed away and all things are become new they are now in another a new State and condition from what other men are in out of Christ that from what themselves were in before they were in Christ or believed in him they were amongst others in the state and fellowship of the world Branches of the same Wild-Olive as it were with them ungodly sinners children of wrath such as deserved wrath and were obnoxious to it as well as the rest but now through the blood of Christ and by faith in him they are made partakers of Christ the second Adam the root of righteousness the plant of renown the Son of God and his dearly beloved One and so they are 1. Justified acquitted from all their former sins and trespasses none of them remain upon them as imputed to them there is not only righteousness in Christ for them as for all Rom. 3.22 but it is also come upon them so as they are in it By Christ all that believe are justified acquitted and set free from the charge and imputation of all things wherefrom they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Act. 13.38 39. even from such sins as the Law of Moses provided or allowed no Sacrifices for as Murther Adultery c. what ever they were before they are now justified sanctified washed or made clean therefrom in the sight of God in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. and they are now reputed and reckoned righteous in Christ and so stiled and spoken of by the Spirit of God in the Scriptures 2. They are now also owned and accepted of God into a nearer relation and station to him they are now in Christ become his not only his in a common sense as all the earth are but his in a more special and peculiar sense not only his because his Creatures in Adam and so he their Soveraign Lord to rule over and dispose of them as he pleases but also his because his new Creatures Created as his workmanship in Christ Jesus unto good works which he hath ordained for them to walk in his people his Subjects his purchased ones not only as generally ransomed from under the power and tyrannous jurisdiction of Sathan and Sentence of curse to be under Christs Lordship and dispose as all are but also as through his love therein testified and made known they are purchased and procured to a voluntary subjection of themselves to his Government to own him for their Lord and themselves to be his Subjects and and Servants and so are translated out of the Kingdom and jurisdiction of Sathan and the power of darkness as to their living therein and obeying thereofi nto the Kingdome and gracious Government of his Dear Son Exod. 19.5 6. Eph. 2.10 1 Pet. 2 9. Col. 1.11 12 13. Yea they are made of his family and houshold in the choice sense Fellow Citizens with the Saints of the Heavenly Jerusalem the City of God c. 3. Yea God so loves these that he adopts them to himself for Sons being in Christ his Son and made members of him whereas before were they others Servants servants of sin and heirs of death To them that received him he that is Christ gave this liberty freedome or dignity to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name being begotten and born thereto not of bloods or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man but of God whose work it is to bring a man to and make him in Christ by and through the word of truth declared to men and listened to by them John 1.12 13. Jam. 1.18 thence that also ye are all the Sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ for as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.26 27. It is a fruit and consequent of mens being in Christ a priviledge resulting from Christ the Son of God by nature and generation that any obtain this Grace and favour to be reputed and owned of God as his Children and therefore also it is common to all believers that are truly such without difference or respect of persons it is nothing that the carnal parentage or natural blood or birth of better or worse parents or that the desires
things prayed for begetting importunity in asking like that of Jacob in which was both faith and fervencie I will not let thee go unless thou bless me or that of the widow to the unjust Judge and the Elect crying day and night unto God Luc. 18.1 7. or of the Syrophaenician woman that followed after Christ against all discouragements till he granted her Petition Matth. 15 22 28. 3. With love and charity without wrath as well as without doubting 1 Tim. 2.8 the Holy Ghost being a Spirit of love 2 Tim. 1.7 and discovering the love of God in Christ to us and therefore not despising others as the Pharisee the Publicane in our Prayers nor being quick to take notice of mens offences to seek revenge for them or aggravate them to God against them but making intercession for the passing of them by yet exercising goodness and mercy towards them to overcome their evils and bring them to repent of them as Christ did even for his crucifiers Luc. 23.34 and Stephen for his persecutors Act. 7.60 praying for them that hate us and despiteâ—â—lly use us as our Saviour teaches in Matth. 5.44 45. yet especially exercising love in our prayers to those that are beloved of God and when other mens welfare cannot consist with their safety and welfare then praying for the peace of Jerusalem with confusion to their enemies yea preferring the welfare of the Church of God before our own private concernments yea and the good of the world before any advantages of ours in the world 4. In a holy pure heart and Spirit breathing after holiness and after those things conducing thereto rather than what conduces to the ease and liberty of the flesh not making provision for that in our prayers to fulfil the lusts thereof nor seeking any where or in dependance on any thing but only God and Christ making him and his Glory the end of what we ask all which may be included in that phrase Heb. 10.22 Let us draw nigh with a true heart not double or guileful in the object of our trust or running out from the designs of God and Christ and what may conduce to his Glory and praise nor with a heart set toward or for something besides God Christ so as to be set in competition with him The Spirit of God is the Holy Ghost an Holy breath in and from God discovering in the Gospel Gods perfect hatred and abhorrencie of sin and therefore breaths after and for God and what may be for Gods Glory and in an holy pure and chaste disposition of heart 5. In an humble lowly frame of spirit for the spirit of God is not proud nor lofty nor loves pride haughtiness It s one of the seven things that are an abomination to God Prov. 6 17. and 16.7 He resists the proud but gives Grace to the humble Pro. 3.32 therefore a proud haughty heart or frame of Spirit is not of him and they that pray therein vaunting themselves of their excellencies pray not in the holy Ghost The holy Ghost in glorifying Christ setting forth to us his great love towards us discovers the great humility of Christ yea and of God in Christ to humble himself to take notice of the things in Heaven and in earth to raise up the poor from the dust and the needy from the dung-hill to set them on the Throne with Princes Psal 113.5 6 7 8. especially as manifested in the person of Christ who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but emptied himself humbled himself and made himself of no reputation but took upon him the forme of a servant and was made in the likeness of man and being found in fashion as a man humbled himself to the death the death of the Cross in which he also discovered the great cause we have to be humbled low and little in our own eyes for in testifying the love of Christ to us that he died for all he testifies also of us all that we were dead dead at Law and such as deserved to have died and were thereto condemned so that had not Christ died for us we should have perished Our misery was such that no lesser price could ransome us therefrom no lesser Sacrifice could make an expiation for us He that prays in the mindefulness sense of these things will be abased and laid low in the presence of God as knowing not only the great disproportion between God and him as his creature dust ashes as Abraham had the sense of that with him in his speaking to God when he said Behold now I have taken upon me to speak to the Lord who am but dust ashes Gen. 18.27 but also the wretchednes and sinfulness of our natures and that what we are or have that is good we are and have it only and wholly of his Grace In us in our flesh there dwells no good thing nothing worthy of Gods acceptance yea that all our righteousnesses are but as filthy rags Isa 64.6 And so he that prays in the Holy Ghost prays in all lowliness of minde and such reverence of the outward man as becomes God's height and goodness and his own vileness confessing his own sins and sinfulness though yet with confidence in Gods mercy through Christ Jesus as above 6. Yea He that prays in the Holy Ghost prays in an acknowledgment of the Grace and goodness of God towards mankinde and towards himself in particular with thankfulness and so joyns thanksgiving for his mercies and benefits with his prayers and Petitions for further mercies that he wants and doth not so pore upon his wants and troubles and desire freedom from them as to set nothing by all Gods benefits before conferred So the Apostles as was also noted above exhort to joyn thanksgiving with our prayers as most clear to that purpose is that in Philip. 4 6 7. In nothing be careful but in all things by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God An unthankful murmuring complaining temper is not of the Holy Ghost 7. In a submissive frame of Spirit which also also is a fruit of humility before spoken of in which though the heart be filled with earnestness and confidence in God for what he sees needful and good for it self and others yet it resignes it self to Gods will as for time and way yea and in things not absolutely needful for Gods granting or withholding them even as Christ though earnest in praying that the Cup might pass from him yet submitted his will to his Fathers Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me yet not my will but thy will be done Matth. 26 39. to which we may also refers a patient tarrying the Lords leasure and not making haste or turning away from God or ceasing to pray to him if we have not presently granted the thing that we ask For as the Spirit of God is a spirit
of Faith so also of patient waiting that being a fruit of faith He that believeth maketh not haste Isa 28.16 Such is the praying in the holy Ghost not to mention any other particulars And that 's the second thing inquired 3. The third is what is implied in exhorting believers so to pray And that is divers things as 1. That believers are not able or sufficient of themselves as of themselves to keep themselves in the love of God or to that purpose to edifie or build up themselves on their most holy faith They need the help and furtherance of God and his Grace thereunto In all their minding his Grace exercise of their gifts walking in Charity c. they need to look to God for direction and guidance and for his strength and assistance they need him to build them up in their building up themselves and to keep watch over them in all keeping themselves and watching over themselves and one another Except the Lord build the house in this sense too they labour but in vain that build it And except the Lord watch over the City the watchman watcheth but in vain Psal 127.1 2. their strength being so small and their enemies so many and so great 2. That there is sufficient Grace in God and Christ for their helpfulness therein and that also communicable to them by him by which they may be built up and so be kept in his love all the oppositions from without them or from within them notwithstanding If they had sufficiencie in and of themselves or in what they have already received then need they not cry unto God continually for more from him or if there were none in him for them to be afforded to them than no ground or incouragement for their crying to him however much they might want but in willing them to pray in their building up themselves both are implied we need like the builders of the wall in Nehemiahs time to fight with one hand and to build with the other and the former by praying to and calling upon God for so shall we be saved from our enemies Psal 18.3 for we are not led to pray to a God that cannot save but to him who is mighty in power able to save us one that can perform all things for us as being Almighty able to doe all things and hath made ready in Christ all supplies of Grace and Blessing for us all things are ready that may conduce unto our protection and preservation in his Grace and the edifying our selves in our most holy faith as well as for bringing us at first thereunto 3. That yet God will be sought unto and depended on for the supplies of his Grace to us he will have us in that way exercise our faith in him in calling upon him though he could give us without our asking and doth give us and doe much for us before we ask to move and incourage us to look to him and ask of him for more yet he will have us accustome our selves in that exercise of prayer to him to that purpose are many passages in Scripture as Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal 50.15 so in Jer. 33.3 Call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not Ezek. 36 37. God having promised to do great things for Israel yet says For this he will yet be inquired of by them And our Saviour bids ask seek knock and so they should receive find and have it opened to them Matth. 7.7 8. And this God will have his people do 1. That they might therein exercise and shew forth their faith in him and dependance on him for his Grace while they goe to him for all things as a child to his Father or as a wife to her Husband Therefore it is noted in Scripture as a fruit and consequent of faith with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and then with the mouth confession is made to Salvation for whosoever calleth upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10.10 11 12 13. 2. That they may have more acquaintance and intercourse with God and not live as strangers from him but by calling often upon him and receiving answers of Grace from him have a holy familiarity and communion with him as persons dayly resorting to the Court and speaking to the King and presenting Petitions to him and receiving answers from him thereby get more knowledge of him and acquaintance with him and so are fitted the better for going out and publishing to others the manner of his entertainment of mens suits and the vertues and goodness they discern in him Children that scarce ever come and speak to their Father grow strange to him and so do men that make little use of this priviledge of coming nigh unto God whereas such as come dayly to him to ask favours of him gather good acquaintance and proof of his love and faithfulness to them David implies this in saying Oh taste and see that the Lord is good Psal 34.8 and Eliphaz in saying to Job Acquaint or accustome thy self now with God Job 22.21 3. To keep them in a more reverend awe of him lest they should offend him and so put a barr against their own petitions to him for as Children that have often occasion to come before their Parents will be more careful of dirtying or soyling their cloathes or tearing and renting them or of doing any thing unbecoming them if they know their parents cannot like to see them in such a case whereas they that seldome come into then sight grow more loose and careless dirtied and torn c. even so God foresees that if we did not come often to him we would be little careful of our conversation before him whereas seeing we call upon the Father who without respect of persons judgeth every man righteously according to his works therefore it behoves us to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear and take heed that we regard not iniquity in our hearts because that wil provoke God to hide himself from us not hear our prayers That he might make us therefore stand in awe of him and be perfect with him he makes us to be often waiting upon him in his presence and begging at his door for Grace and Mercy to help us in our needs 1 Pet. 1.17 Psal 66.18 4. To give us more experience of his care over us and notice taking of us and so of his love to us in that he hears our prayers and helps us Did we not pray unto him we should not have that experience that his eyes are open upon us and his eares attentive to our prayers we should look upon mercies as proceeding from some other causes be more obnoxious to atheistical principles whereas the experience of his nighness to us gives us a more full proof of his care over us and so of