the Lamb that was flain to enjoy it yet then gloriously of his fulness shall they receive and grace for grace They shall not then need those Mediums for their help that now they do whether they be Prophecies they shall fail whether there be tongues they shall cease whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away for we know in part c. 1 Cor. 13. 8 9. All those gifts of Apostles Prophets c. shall then cease for they are given from on high to continue till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4. 8 13. they shall not then â—each every man his neighbour and every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know him from the least to the greatest Jer. 31. 27 34. Heb. 8. 11. and it appears this perfect knowledge they shall have through the sight of him Now in looking to him they are lightned Psal 34. 5. But Oh! how shall they then be inlightned when they shall see him as he is Hence their knowing now and hereafter is put as the effect and consequent of their seeing 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known signifying that according to the sight of him whether darkly or clearly such is and will be our knowledge And from this sight and knowledge of him they shall be filled with love to him and God in him and with love and charity one to another for charity never faileth 1 Cor. 13. 8. their hearts shall then be ravished with him from that clear and open discovery of his love and loveliness their love now to him which is in part is begotten and increased through the understanding of his we love him because he first loved us every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God for God is love in this was manifested the love of God towards us because he sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him whom having not seen ye love 1 Pet. 1. 8. but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away and they shall compleatly love him and delight themselves in and be abundantly satisfied with his love 1 Joh. 4. 7 10 19. 1 Cor. 13. 10. and shall be filled with divine love one to another yea and with all heavenly vertues when they perfectly know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge even all discovery and manifestation of it vouchsafed for it is greater than is contained in any revelation of it and therefore it exceeds all our knowledge and perception of it they shall be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3. 19. and so they shall be like to the Angels that do his commandments hearkening to the voice of his word Luk. 20. 36. with Psal 103. 20. his will shall then be done on earth as it is in heaven Mat. 6. 10. And in seeing and beholding him they shall appear with him in glory then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their Father Mat. 13. 43. When Moses was in the Mount seeing and beholding the similitude of the Lord his face shone that the children of Israel were afraid Exod. 34. 29 30. with Numb 12. 8. yet he could not see his face or glorious appearance so no man hath seen him nor can see him but then they shall see his face and his name glory and dignity shall be upon their foreheads the Lord shall arise upon them and his glory shall be seen upon them Rev. 22. 4. Mat. 5. 8. Isa 60. 1 2. 35. 2. 6. In this glorious condition they shall then together keep an everlasting Sabbath in that rest or keeping of Sabbath which remains for the people of God Heb. 4. 9. and together shall they then sing for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion Isa 52. 8 9. they shall then sing Hallelujah salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God Rev. 19. 1 7. they shall sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb Rev. 15. 3. in which they shall with thankfulness and rejoycing remember the infinite grace of the Son and of the Father in him in what he hath done and is become in what he is now doing and in what he will then do all summed up in that new song of the four Beasts and four and twenty Elders mentioned in Rev. 5 9 10. to wit That the Lamb was not is slain and is raised again in that same body in which he bare our sins on the Tree and hath destroyed all our enemies by himself in the name and authority of the Father his own right hand and his holy arm hath gotten himself the victory he hath purged away our sins overcome and abolished death destroyed the devil and obtained all glory into himself in our nature and for us this is the song of Moses in the type The Lord hath triumphed gloriously thy right hand O Lord is become glorious in power thy right hand O Lord hath dashed the enemy in pieces Exod. 15. 1 12. God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a trumpet sing praises to our God sing praises sing praises to our King sing praises Psal 98. 1. 47. 1 6. and this the song of the Lamb that God hath brought him out of the horrible pit out of the miry clay and set his feet upon a rock c. And put a new song into his mouth praise to our God who hath so delivered him and made him triumph over all our enemies sin death hell Devil c. Psal 40. 1 3. 22. 19 25. This is the Psalm or song for the Sabbath day I hat God hath made Christ glad through his work in delivering him and us in him from all our enemies and exalting his horn like that of an Unicorn and anointing him with fresh oyl with the oyl of gladness above his fellows this is the day which the Lord hath made they shall then for ever be glad and rejoyce in and for it Psal 92. 1 4 10. 118. 21 24. And that he hath redeemed them unto God by his bloud in discovering the preciousness of it in his testimony and testimonies of his goodness out of every kindred and tongue and people and Nation when they were sometimes of them and so of the world children of wrath by nature even as others yet then God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved them when dead in sins quickned them together with Christ as Eph. 2. 1 5. for this they are now instructed to sing Allelujah Psal 135. 1 4. Praise ye the Lord c. for the
whom should a people seek but to their God The Lord liveth though the Fathers are gone and Prophets do not live for ever with him is no variableness nor shadow of turning And we have yet incouragement to look to him for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repenteth him of the evil Joel 2. 13. There is no God like unto him that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy M c. 7. 18. Let us then lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the highest with whom is forgiveness that he may be feared plenteousness of redemption that he may be hoped in by us for the Lord will not cast off for ever But though he cause grief he will have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies for he doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of men Lam. 3. 31 32 33. But in our turning to him let us search and try our hearts and wayes and turn from the things reproved and which he is discovering us to be guilty of and polluted with otherwise we shall but turn to him feignedly and not with the whole heart Jer. 3. 10. If we will return let us return to him and put away our abomixations out of his sight Jer. 4. 1. To this end it is that the Lord's voice is crying to the City O that we may be men of wisdom to see his Name and hear his Rod and who hath appointed it Mica 6. 9 13. O that that also may not be verified concerning us which the Prophet confesseth with shame they were guilty of that though all this evil is come upon us yet though we assemble together and seek him and pray to him yea seek him daily and take delight in approaching to him we have not made this our prayer unto God that we might turn from our iniquities and understand his truth Dan. 9. 13. all his debatings with us are to this end that our iniquity may be purged and this is all the fruit to take away our sin Isa 27. 8 9. And if we receive not this end of his we shall still provoke him to watch upon a further evil and bring it upon us Shall one take up a sâ—are from the earth and have taken nothing Amos 3. 5. Will he remove his judgments and cease smiting and take away his snares as it were while he hath effected nothing by them no surely But if we be not reformed by these things but will walk contrary to him he will also walk contrary to us and punish us yet seven times for our sins Lev. 26. 23 24. it will even provoke him at last to send a famine of hearing the words of the Lord to remove all left that are in any measure faithful in seeking the good of others and to deliver the residue to the multitude And this was that which was much dreaded and deprecated by our Brother a little before his being removed from amongst us and hath been since threatned in some measure once and again but hitherto in great mercy and in a great measure he hath withdrawn his hand and wrought wonderfully that his name might not be polluted Oh! that because sentence against our evil work is not speedily executed our hearts may not be set in us to do evil but that we may by his goodness be led to repentance and run together unto the Lord and with one another and in the acknowledging and for saking our iniquities cry mightily unto him whom mercy pleaseth that he may forgive our sins and heal our breaches and be merciful unto and spare the remnant of his heritage and make them blessings in those several parts of the field where the wise and gracious sower hath sowed them and that the commandment may be kept without spot unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 6. 12 14. The following Treatise hath been several moneths at the Press and met with manifold obstructions otherwise thou mightest sooner have seen it Possibly it hath stuck so long there that we who are so apt to forget the blow when the rod is taken off might be again awakened to some fresh remembrance and consideration of the sharpness and severity of it and the greater judgments threatned in it And very probably in some particular testimony of displeasure to him who undertook the work and was so altogether unmeet for it being of such an uncircumcised heart and lip I mean Thine unworthy servant in and for the Lord CHARLES PHELPES Lyn-Regis August 6. 1669. Turn us again Lord and to us return How long against us shall thine anger burn O pour not forth thy fury still like fire Mind not our sins for ever mark not in ire Against thy people their transgressions but Say 't is enough an end to such stroaks put Many indeed are our abominations Our close and our appearing provocations O we have sin'd and thou in all art just Righteous art thou O Lord yet since thou dost Excel in goodness there help us to trust In our sad banisht state when we were all Undone and lost none could recover our fall No man could help his brother thou didst then In love a Lamb provide for us poor men O now that grace remember and a seed Reserve to teach the world thy flock to feed C. P. Light in Darkness Acts 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sancitified THe Apostle in the foregoing part of the Chapter having sent for the Elders of the Church of Ephesus puts them in mind of his faithfulness and constancy in service and sufferings and tells them that they all should see his face no more this he knew it being as it may seem so revealed to him ver 25. and now appeals to them and takes them to witness that he was pure from the bloud of all men ver 26. and to evidence this that he was not guilty of the bloud of the souls of men as Jer. 2. 24 he saith For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsell of God ver 27. The thing he had declared it was all the counsell of God namely the Gospell of the grace of God ver 24. the kingdom of God ver 25 even the testimony of Christ as now revealed in which is shewn unto us Gods purpose and grace his counsells of old which are faithfulness and truth as Isay 25. 1. And out of the bowels whereof all the Counsells of God concerning mankind as fallen do issue and that in which God is giving us good counsell good doctrine as Prov. 4. 2. 6. To the end we might have his testimony and testimonies therein as the men of our Counsels Psal 119. 24. this was the Apostles rejoycing now
said and so he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding Joh. 14. 27. 16. 13. Dan. 2. 21. And by his thus giving the Spirit to them and opening the testimony of Jesus and therein glorifying Christ he is still and further baptizing them by this holy Spirit making them clean and washing them with the washing of water by the Word from the errors and pollutions of the world into Jesus Christ Joh. 15. 3. Mat. 3. 11. Eph 5. 25 26. 1 Cor. 6. 10 11. strengthening them there through to mortifie the deeds of the body Rom. 8. 13. giving this as a spirit of adoption into their hearts a spirit of grace and supplication Zech. 12. 10. a spirit of boldness and confidence to come unto God as their Father and cry Abba to draw nigh to him by the blood of Jesus through that new and living way consecrated through the veil the flesh of Christ he being also the great High Priest over the house of God and so to come with boldness to the throne of grace that they may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Heb. 10. 19 22. Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 6. Heb. 4. 16. and to teach them what to pray for as they ought both what things to desire and so what to pray for first and especially namely the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof and things more directly thereto appertaining and other things with submission to his will and upon what account and in what incouragement and to what end to seek them to wit in the name of Christ and that God in all things may be glorified Rom 8. 26 27. to fulfil in them the righteousness of the Law and fill them with the fruits of righteousness and so to conform them to Christ that their soul may be as a watered garden Rom. 8 4. Gal. 5. 16 22. Eph. 5. 9 10. Isa 58. 11. to teach them to answer adversaries and opposers and that they may contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints Luk. 12. 11 12. 21. 14 15. to anoint them and give grace to them even some gracious gift for the good of men and growth of the Church that they may grow up together by that which every joint supplieth Eph. 4. 7. 1 Cor. 12. 7. and so makes them a royal Priesthood to shew forth his praises 1 Pet. 2. 5 9. yea strengthens them through his Spirit to wait for the hope of his righteousness by faith in purging away their transgressions subduing their iniquities fighting their battels he being the Captain of their salvation perfecting all their works and even to look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus to eternal life Gal. 5. 5. Psal 138. 7 8. Isa 26. 12. He is their Advocate with the Father to plead their cause to receive their suits to make their spiritual sacrifices acceptable taking away the iniquity of their holy things that they may come with acceptance upon his Altar and so to give answers of peace and gracious returns He is the High Priest of their profession and so he is not of others their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God Rock Mediator High-Priest their drink-offerings of blood will he not offer but he offers their sacrifices that come to God by him and perfumes them with the vertues and odours of his sacrifice Psal 16. 4. Joh. 14. 13. 1 Pet. 2 5. 1 Joh. 2. 1. Rev. 8. 3 5. Heb. 13. 15 16. His eyes unto whom all things are naked and opened are alwayes upon them to preserve them from evil to preserve their souls 2 Thes 3. 3. they are always upon the righteous to order his providences as may be good and to deliver them from the will of their enemies and he is caring for them and will preserve them that none shall pluck them out of his hand Joh. 10. 27 28. Psal 33. 18. 1 Pet. 5. 5 6 7. Such is his grace to them that when need is he is chastening them for their profit that they may be more partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 9 11. The Lord tryeth the righteous out of love to them and faithfulness to Christ Jesus Psal 89. 28 33. But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth and therefore he is not so trying them Psal 11. 5. And oh that none of them whom he is so chastening may forget that consolation in Christ which speaks to them as to children that they may not despise his chastenings nor faint when rebuked of him Heb. 12. 5 8. Prov. 3 11 12. And in those chastenings they have a merciful and faithful High-Priest to consider who himself hath suffered being tempted and therefore is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. 17 18. 3. 1. 4. 15 16. one who pities them as a father pities his children and therefore chastens them as a man chasteneth his Son Psal 103. 13. Deut. 8. 5. with great tenderness and in measure he debateth with them and with the temptation will make a way of escape that they may be able to bear Isa 27. 8 9. 1 Cor. 10. 13. and though he cause grief he will have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies Lam. 3. 31 32. and cause all things to work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. and all these tempâ—ations and trials of their faith shall appear to praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 6 7 they shall see and acknowledge his grace and faithfulness in nurtuâ—ing them in this day to so gracious an end that they might not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. 32. Prov. 23. 14. yea now while walking in the light of the Lord they are acknowledging his faithfulness in correcting and giving thâ—nks to him because of his righteous judgments Psal 119. 62 68 75. Yea he will in their seeking first the kingdom of God and unto that add unto them all other things and so what they shall eat and what they shall drink and wherewith they shall be cloathed he will give unto them food and raiment such provision hath he made in his great and precious promises for their incauragement that their conversation may be without covetousness and carefulness and he is faithful who hath promised as is wonderfully manifested in the Cross of Christ Mat. 6. 33. Heb. 13. 5 6. Psal 34. 9 10. yea he is a Sun and a shield and will give grace and glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly and therefore O Lord of hosts blessed is the man that trusteth in thee Psal 84. 11 12. 3. This word of his grace discovers his grace to us in what he will do and that 1. To those righteous ones whom he gathers to himself now by death and before he appears 2. And to all of them hereafter when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven 1. To those righteous ones
was that they should betake themselves to God and this faithful word for and unto all things and not wander herefrom as a bird from her nest but even say with rejoycing as they Jer. 3. 22. Behold we come unto thee c. 3. In that he now commends them to God when he was to be taken from their head as it were as 2 King 2. 3 5. and when he had signified some jealousie concerning them or some of them as ver 30. he may signifie unto them that now it behoved them and they needed to commit themselves more immediately to God and the word of his grace then formerly and to take heed to themselves singly and jointly as ver 28. and not too much confide one in another lest both he that helpeth fall and they who are holpen fall and both fail together such an understanding may agree with other places of Scripture in which such causes of lamentation are presented so much I conceive is signified in that Psal 12. by that cry lifted up to God Help Lord for the godly man ceaseth for the faithful even such whose spirits were fixed and hearts united to proclaim God's goodness to the children of men Prov. 20. 6. these fail from among the children of men there were some of the congregation of God's poor and needy left who thus pour out their hearts but as persons sensible there were none of such usefulness and faithfulness left behind none in whom they could so safely trust or to whom they could so securely commit themselves as they could have done to those taken away they therefore more immediately apply themselves to the Lord and jointly intreat his mercy Arise O Lord for our helpfulness stand up for us for our faithful helpers are gone and we have none like them left behind And the Lord as moved with bowels toward them graciously answers and saith Now will I arise saith the Lord because of the sighing of the needy as intimating that while these faithful ones were preserved he had committed the care to them as it were and took his rest and even sate him down but now there were none like them he had taken away or like minded to them he would arise for their help and keep them in safety by his words from those that would insnare them as is before said ver 5. And the Prophet as it were filled with joy and resting saâ—isfied with God's gracious assurance replies ver 7. Thou shalt keep them O Lord thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever the poor commit themselves to thee and thou hast graciously said thou wilt arise and set them in safety and be thy self more immediately the helper of and guide to them and thou shalt have the keeping of them for they cannot so safely commit themselves to these surviving as they could have done to those taken away there is none to guide them that is of like usefulness and faithfulness like that bewailed and declared to be an heavy testimony of displeasure Isa 51. 17 18. There is none to guide Jerusalem among all the sons she hath brought forth she hath sous that are begotten of her of whom she is the mother but there is none that hath such skilfulness in the word of righteousness to guide her Psal 78. 72. nor any that taketh her by the hand to be a comfort to and leader of her in this day of her weakness languishing and darkness of all the sons she hath brought up To the same purpose also is the counsel of the Prophet Micah in such a day of calamity Wo is me saith he c. the good man is perished out of the earth c. Mic. 7. 1 2. Trust ye not in a friend who were friends to you and in whom in a sense you might trust while the good man was continued in the earth put no confidence in a guide there is none like the good man and faithful ones taken away and though they are guides and not to be despised in their prophecyings yet put no confidence in them namely such as you might have done in those removed they are not like the good man the merciful man they want mercies and kindness to pursue your good singly they are not so filled with bowels of mercies to pity you and strengthen you in your weaknesses and even to put their souls in your souls stead but may rather add grief to your sorrow you cannot so freely and safely pour out your hearts and complaints to them and acquaint them with your temptations and exercises as you might have done the merciful man Who was weak and he was not weak who was offended he burned not 2 Cor. 11. 29. Or they are not upright like those faithful ones who fail from among the children of men not so intirely loving Christ Caâ—t 1. 4. and cleaving to the Lord with full purpose not seeking the things of Christ with a neglect of their own things but either corrupting the word of God and mixing therewith the wisdom of this world either natural or artificial 1 Cor. 1. 17. 2 Cor. 2. 17. Or otherwise pursuing their own name and praise and esteem and instead of boasting in and of God boasting of themselves and their own mouths praising themselves proclaiming their own goodness kindness successfulness and what they have done for this and that person and how much they have exceeded others Prov. 20. 6. Or not faithful in their reprovings but have either omitted the rebuking of their brethren when need required and so hated them and suffered sin upon them Lev. 19. 17. Prov. 27. 6. Or else have done it in proud wrath and so the best of them like a bryar even scratching and breaking others to pieces with their words and even tearing them instead of healing them Job 19. 2. and so doing things out of strife Or not upright in their conversations outwardly that men seeing their good works might glorifie God in the day of visitation but rather causing the name of God and his doctrine to be evil spoken of and blasphemed by their receiving it in vain and so causing the Ministry to be blamed Or if they be more upright hearted than the generality yet you can put no such confidence in their openings and applyings of the testimony of Christ as you might have done in the good mans who is removed therefore saith the Prophet I will look to the Lord namely more immediately and incourageth himself with this assurance my God with hear me even now especially he will prepare his ear to hear me and be a light to me now the good man is perished like that before in Psal 12. and cryes feed thy flock especially now the good man is perished Mic. 7. 5 8 14. He hath promised and is faithful that hath promised that when the poor and needy seek water and there is none he the Lord will hear them he who is the God of Israel will not forsake them c. Isa
is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed Joh. 6. 40. Rom. 4. 16. and this alwayes excludes boasting and shâ—ws that this inheritance will be given to them of grace and that in Christ and not in themselves shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory Isa 45 25. What hath been said to this second branch of the further declaration of the excellency of the person and thing to which he commits them viz. which is able to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified may be useful to us 1. To shew unto us among whom this inheritance is to be injoyed and shall be possessed it is among all them that are sanctified even by saith in Christ and so 1. It is not to be inherited by such who are contentious against the truth and enemies to the testimony of God concerning Christ such as these shall inherit folly Prov. 14. 18. and shame shall be their promotion Prov. 3. 25. all that are incensed against Christ shall be ashamed Isa 45. 24. to such God will render indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish Rom. 2. 8 9. Whatever inheritances they may have here and how rich soever they are here yet then God will in flaming fire take vengeance on them that know not God Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord When he comes to be glorified in his Saints and sanctified ones 2 Thes 1. 8 10. 2. This inheritance shall not be injoyed by such as though they prosess to know God and believe his Gospel yet obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1. 8 10. Who though they receive the love of the truth yet receive it not in such manner and to such end as to be saved thereby but still hold fast deceit and refuse to return 2 Thes 2. 10 12. This is the will of God our sanctification that we should abstain from fornication from all filthiness of flesh and spirit He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God 1 Thes 4. 3 8. Oh let us not deceive our selves nor be deceived by others as if we should inherit though we receive his grace in vain and suffer it not to save us from our sins and idols or though we did run well yet are hindred from obeying the truth This ye knew that no whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man which is an idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Eph. 5. 5 6. they that do the works of the flesh shall not inherit the Kingdom of God â—al 5. 19 21. 6. 7. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. 3. Nor shall this inheritance be possessed by the children of the bondwoman who are born to the hope of and challenge the inheritance from some wisdom and strength of the flesh such as have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge who being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish a righteousness of their own submit not unto the righteousness of God Gal. 3. 16 18. 4. 22 30. such shall not inherit with the children of the promise who trust in themselves that they are righteous Joh. 1. 12 13. 2. Seeing there is such an inheritance prepared for the sanctified ones it may be of usefulness to those that are in Christ Jesus to walk after the Spirit and yield up to the saving efficacy of the grace of God and having such promises to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord And as he who hath called them is holy so to be holy separated from uncleanness and devoted to God in all manner of conversation 2 Cor. 7. 1. Col. 3. 1 5. Heb. 11. 13 15. 1 Pet. 1. 13 18. 1 Joh. 3. 2 3. And to chuse rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to injoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of this world having respect unto the recompence of the reward Heb. 10. 32 34. 11. 24 26. 13. 13 14. 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. 3. It shews the blessedness of the sanctified ones though they are generally the poor of this world and for Christ's sake killed all the day long and appointed as sheep for the slaughter yet they are rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which God hath prepared for them that love him Jam. 2. 5. 1. 12. 5. 11. Isa 54. 6 17. 4. In that the inheritance is among all them that are sanctified it may instruct them to live together according to knowledge and as heirs together of the grace of life that their prayers be not hindered 1 Pet. 3. 7. Eph. 4. 3 4. 5. Yea and it may strengthen them with strength in their souls not to fear for it is their fathers good pleasure to give them the Kingdom Luk. 12. 29 32. and therefore though now they walk in the midst of trouble he will revive them he will stretch forth his hand against the wrath of their enemies those grievous Wolves c. that spare not the flock and his right hand shall save them and though he hath removed eminent and faithful instruments yet the Lord will perfect by the word of his grace what concerns them his mercy indureth for ever he will not forsake the works of his own hands Psal 138. 7 8. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant make us perfect in every good work to do his will working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen THE END
vvas that vvhich they favv in the light and evidence of the Spirit and accordingly did testifie even as the sum of their testimony that the Father sent the Son the Saviour of the world 1 John 4. 14. 1 Tim. 2. 4 7. 4. In this Word is discovered to us his grace in what he hath through and by means of his death effected and obtained into himself for us and is become And so 1. That which he hath effected thereby is that he hath saved us mankind in himself from that so great a death in which otherwise we must have perished for ever for in Jesus Christ mercy and truth are met righteousness and peace have kissed he hath satisfied God's justice fulfilled his truth appeased his wrath paid that our debt answered the Law and this is manifested in that God hath raised him from the dead in that same body in which he was crucified and in which he bare our sins on the Tree and he hath brought him again from the dead through his blood so precious was it in the sight of the Lord Heb. 13. 20. That same Jesus whom the Jews crucified in that same personal body in which he dyed for our sins is raised again and this was of absolute necessity for if he be not taken from prison we must dye and abide in our sins for ever preaching is vain and faith vain c. But he is raised from the dead in that body which was pierced with a spear and with those hands and feet which were nailed to the Tree John 19. 34. with Chap. 20. 20 25 27. And unto his Apostles he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them fourty dayes Acts 1. 3. And as he is raised in that very body in which he suffered so also in that publick consideration being acquitted from all our sins that were imputed to him and having over come all our death and enemies that had led us captive He was declared and determined to be the Son of God in whom he is well pleased with power according to the spirit of holiness in the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 4. He is taken from prison and from judgment and as in him as in the publick man all have dyed and suffered the whole of the curse due to them for our first departure from God 2 Cor. 5. 14. So in him who is the last Adam they are acquitted For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Rom. 3. 23 24. 5. 18. He hath so purged away our sins from before the presence of God the guilt whereof was imputed to him as that now the Father judgeth no man according to the Law as they fell under it in the first publick man Heb. 1. 3. with Iohn 5. 22. that is to say no man is condemned or held out from God either because our first Father hath sinned and we in him or because as we come to receive our beings we come forth and are born in sin and so naturally and necessarily polluted and defiled for he hath made peace slain the enmity that was between God and mankind taken out of the way all that was in the way contrary to us broken down the middle wall of partition and is become the way to the Father and God hath committed all judgment to the Son that all men should honour the Son Eph. 2. 13 15. Col. 2. 13 14. Ioh. 5. 22 23. Gal. 3. 13. And he hath spoiled principalities and powers led captivity captive and destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil Col. 2. 15. Psal 68. 18. See how this began to be spoken by the Lord himself as to both these branches Iohn 12. 31 32. Now saith he is the judgment of this world to wit it was now executing upon him when his soul was troubled the guilt of the trespasses of the world which made it liable to the judgment of God being imputed to him he was called to the judgment-seat and made a curse for us and God in him took vengeance of our iniquities he judged and condemned sin in the flesh of Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 3. Isa 61. 1 2. He was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities c. Now shall the Prince of this world be castâ—out namely out of his principality and from being the Prince of this world as he was according to that judgment for we were fallen under his dominion necessarily and must have so remained for ever had not God devised this blessed means And I if I be lifted up from the earth namely crucified and hung on the Tree will draw all men unto me That is by means of his death who in the vertue thereof is discharged and acquitted he would draw all men unto him and now in the first sense hath drawn them unto himself from under the judgment of this world which was executed upon him from under that sentence of banishment according to which they were shut out from God and must have perished in their sins and from being under the necessary dominion of Satan who was become the Prince of this world from under both he hath drawn them unto himself to be under his judgment his gracious Government and Lordship for to this end Christ both dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Lord of all Rom. 14. 9. Acts 10. 36. And to a gracious end did he dye for all and is raised again and hath the sentence of banishment remitted to him and brought us under his kingdom viz. that he might bring us back to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 5. 15. And of both these it appears the Psalmist prophetically speaks in Psal 136. where he provokes to give thanks to the Lord for his mercy and that first because of his creating all things ver 5. 9. and then for his great goodness towards the house of Israel which he bestowed on them ver 10 22. to which he adds he remembred us in our low estate when we were brought low for our iniquities and were justly banished from his presence in the sentence of his Law for his mercy endureth for ever and redeemed us from our enemies for his mercy indureth for ever ver 23 24. I say it appears he speaks of this redemption of mankind in Christ generally and of his mercy to the Gentiles particularly in that it is distinguished from his work of creation his goodness to Israel and his providing for and giving food to all flesh And the like is also said Col. 2. 14 15. yea he hath so saved all mankind in himself as that no man shall perish for ever in that first death of which our Jesus tasted and which he overcame and hath abolished but be raised out of it for since by man death by man also the resurrection of the dead For as in Adam
spotless sacrifice unto God through the eternal spirit and is ascended â—ar-above all heavens into heaven it self that he may fill and fulfil all things he is gone up into heaven and is on the right hand of God and by means and by vertue of what he hath done there is peace in heaven Luke 19. 38. When man had sinned and brought themselves under the sentence of banishment God's love and pity was toward them but such was the holiness of God and his truth and justice that there was no mercy to be shewed forth to mankind until his justice was satisfied his truth fulfilled and his righteous Law answered For heaven and earth shall pass away but not one jot or title of the Law shall pass till all be fulfilled But now Jesus Christ becoming under the Law by the will of God he bare our sins and dyed our death and is raised again so as in him mercy and truth are met righteousness and peace have kissed truth is sprung out of the earth in his resurrection and righteousness looks down from heaven in all the streams of God's goodness and compassion to us and now there is cause to sing peace in heaven and glory in the highest he is ascended upon high and is set down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens Oh infinite love Oh unsearchable riches of grace 2. This word of his grace discovers his grace to us in what he is now doing to us from heaven in the name and authority of the Father and in the anointing of the holy Ghost And in what he is doing in heaven for us with the Father in both which he is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10. his end in both being that he might bring us to God his end in what he hath done for us in breaking down the middle wall of partition that was between God and us and between Jew and Gentile and having abolished in his flesh the enmity it was that he might reconcile both Jew and Gentile unto God in one body by the Cross Eph. 2. 14 16. His end in his having made peace was that he might reconcile all things and so all men as persons sometimes is included and meant in that expression 1 Cor. 3. 21 23. Col. 1. 20. And indeed that his end was to reconcile all men appears to be included in that expression in that he immediately adds And you who were sometimes enemies and alienated in your minds c. yet now hath he reconciled Col. 1. 20 21. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. and so his end in what God hath now appointed Christ to and in which he is faithful is the same not to condemn the world but that through him the world might be saved and the Apostle doth hereby demonstrate and prove the graciousness of God's heart towards all men by shewing what he hath appointed Christ unto in his present work and office God saith he will have all men to be saved ' and come to the knowledge of the truth To evidence that he saith For there is one God namely not only to distinguish him from all other who are called Gods but to denote to us that he is one not divided hath not a secret will contrary to his revealed but he is light and in him is no darkness at all and so he is the same he hath manifested himself to be in abasing his Son to dye for us and crowning him with glory and honour that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man And one Mediator namely as before not only to distinguish him from all others that are called so and so to signifie that he is the one and only Mediator appointed by the one God though that is true and may be principally intended but also to assure us that he is one the same Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. And so in what he is appointed to to day he is one and the same with what he was yesterday even the Saviour of the world the anointed Saviour of men while they are not wholly given up to and become one with Satan and reckoned fully of his seed and for such in that consideration he was never a Saviour and so he is one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus even he that had such infinite grace to all men that he gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. If God had not willed and desired that all men should be saved he would never have appointed such a gracious Mediator between him and them and such a faithful testimony Now then to this end that men might be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth in this day and this in order unto their eternal salvation 1. Jesus Christ is a testimony of God's graciousness to men in due time even to all men as they come to years of capacity that they might be reconciled and their hearts turned to the Lord the enmity that was in the state and condition of mankind Jesus Christ hath already slain and hath taken out of the way all that was in it contrary to us but yet still men while abiding in their natural state are enemies in their minds to God there is a secret enmity and contrariety in their hearts to God through that ignorance that is in them Now then that this may be purged out and their minds turned to the Lord Jesus Christ is seasonably by all means witnessing his and his Fathers pity and love to them and is by his goodness discovered moving to repentance for it is the goodness of God leadeth to repentance even those that are not led by it Rom. 2. 4 5. It is his love manifested and discerned that begets love to him again 1 Joh. 4. 7 10 19. Grace is poured into the lips of Jesus Christ Psal 45. 2. and he is in some measure giving some witnessings of God's mercifulness and goodness to all yea to those that had not the Word and Oracles committed to them as Israel after the flesh had He left not himself without witness of his propitiousness through a Mediator but gave them rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling their hearts with food and gladness Act. 14. 17. 17. 26 27. that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them for the invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead even his mercy goodness and wisdom c. That he is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him which whoever believes having no more clear discovery comes to God acceptably Rom. 1. 19 21. Psal 19. 1 6. 145. 8 10. Heb. 11. 6. The grace of God brings salvation to all men Tit. 2. 11. even some discovery of
the salvation Christ hath wrought and obtained in himself for them So it is said Wisdom 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ cryeth without without the pale of the professâ—â— Church without where are dogs Rev. 22. 15. She uttereth her voice in the streets she cryeth in the chief place of concourse in the opening of the gates in the City she uttereth her words namely speaks of excellent things to them and the opening of her lips are right things She declares good things to them the goodness and graciousness of God toward them and right true things also that which is faithful and worthy of all acceptation Prov. 1. 20 21. with Chap. 8. 1 4 6. And so it is said the Spirit of the Lord God is upon Jesus Christ because the Lord hath anointed him to preach the Gospel c. and so to preach it as to comfort all that mourn as distinguished from Zions mourners even all that mourn whatever be the occasion Isa 61. 1 2. and without controversie he is without sin herein he is faithful in what he is appointed to yea not only faithful from the ingagement and obligation of an appointment but his own gracious heart and cordial affection to all moves him so to be for he is the Son of the Father in love Hence that Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners in the way Psal 25. 8 9. He is not simply upright but good gracious and thence also upright therefore will he teach such as are out of the way even such as have missed the way and mark as distinguished from meek ones and fearers of the Lord. And in and with his witnessings of God's goodness he is also faithfully reproving and convincing men of the sinfulness of their sin and of the vanity of their idols he is shewing unto them the emptiness and unprofitableness of all those things in which naturally they are seeking rest So it is said Prov. 1. 21. Wisdom uttereth her words this is the first thing she doth namely speaks of excellent things as before and in and with this reproves How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge ver 22. He is making gracious proclamation and invitation to every one that thirsteth to come to the waters and he that hath no money no gracious frame or qualification and therewith reproving them for and convincing them of their folly and unreasonableness in spending their money for what is not bread and labouring for that which satisfieth not Isa 55. 1 3 41. 29. with Chap. 42. 1. Psal 4. 2 3. 62. 8 10. Prov. 8. 4 10 21 32 36. 9. 1 6. All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light The true light doth not simply reprove but makes all things manifest it discovers things in their right and proper colours that men might flee from the things reproved wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest that hast fellowship with men in their unfruitful works of darkness and arise from the dead both from dead persons and things forsake the foolish and Christ shall give thee light Eph. 5. 13 14. Prov. 9. 6. It is the work and office of the Holy Ghost to reprove and convince the world of sin because they believe not on Christ of righteousness and of judgment and this he doth by glorifying Christ and taking of his things and shewing unto men John 16. 8 14 15. And together with this discovery of God's goodness to all in due time vouchsafed and reproof of mens evils and discovery of the sinfulness of their sin and emptiness and unprofitableness of their objects of rest and satisfying in which in vain they seek what is not in them Jesus Christ is also preventing men in due time with some capacity to behold what he is commending to them and what he is condemning and faulting This is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Joh. 1. 9. God hath put his Spirit upon him and so furnished him and as so furnished he hath given him to be a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes Isa 42. 1 7. Hence that If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth liberally to all men and upbraids not Jam. 1. 5. The poor and deceitful man meet together the Lord lightneth both their eyes Prov. 29. 13. Jesus Christ is the light of the world the great manifestation of God's goodness to men and the giver of light to men Upon whom doth not his light arise Joh. 8. 12. Job 25. 3. He doth seasonably open mens eyes and unstop their ears that they might behold what he is presenting and hear what he is speaking and is also turning men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God even Jews and Gentiles that they might turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God and so by his Spirit preaching not to their outward ears only but to their spirits who still continued disobedient Act. 26. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 18 20. Not only bowing and moving them by a moral swasion as some speak but giving some supernatural light and power unto them as in his hand is power and might and strength so in his hand it is to give strength unto all and he is faithful hereto in due time 1 Chron. 29. 12. The bread of God is he that cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world unto the dead world who are dead in sins and trespâ—sses John 6. 33. and he so cometh down in such manner and to such end that a man any man may eat thereof and not dye ver 50. He is not only calling to men but also stretching forth his hand unto them in the means vouchsafed Prov. 1. 24. And indeed otherwise men could not come unto him No man can come to Christ except the Father who hath sent Christ draw him Joh. 6. 44. they have no sufficiency of themselves as of themselves to think any thing that is good they have no light in their understanding no freedom of will no inclination or affection to anything that is spiritually good in them as of them and from Adam dwelleth no good thing but now that they might come he is vouchsafing the cords of a man some demonstrations of his goodness through a Mediator and is drawing them with the cords of a man with the bands of love and is to them that refuse to return as he that taketh off the yoke on their jaws and layes meat unto them Hos 11. 3 5. Jesus Christ draws all men unto him even such as break his bands and cast away his cords from them and despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance c. Joh. 12. 31 32. Psal 2. 3. Jer. 5. 5. Rom. 2. 4 5. And it is mens refusing their own mercies for lying vanities and neglecting and abusing such capacities given
them that is their iniquity which is now imputed to them according to the rule of the glorious Gospel Men were not capable of adding rebellion to their sin if God were not thus preventing them with his goodness for this is that which renders them rebellious when they are disobedient to God who is stretching forth his hands to them that is who is even beseeching them to be reconciled and giving them some light and power of his Spirit that they might turn and when also they are gainsaying and contradicting and so rebelling against the light extended Compare Isa 65. 2. with Rom. 10. 21. Men are therefore said to be a rebellious people because they have eyes to see and see not and ears to hear and hear not Ezek. 12. 3. Jer. 5. 21 23. Mat. 13. 15. This is the condemnation viz. the cause of condemnation the condemning sin and that which makes all sins condemnable according to the rule of Gospel that light is come into the world some discovery and manifestation of God's goodness afforded and some capacity to behold it given and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil so discovered to be by the light Joh. 3. 17 19. And certainly no man shall be condemned to a second death but for refusing the grace of God that brings salvation to save them in due time and persisting therein As our Saviour saith to the Jews If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak or excuse for their sin Joh. 15. 22. And this is great consolation to us that Jesus Christ is appointed to be and is the light of the world for he is good and upright any man is unmeet for this though he were never so willing yet he is unable to speak to all men yea the spirit is not put upon them to give forth or dispense to others this glory he will not give to another besides Jesus Christ nor his praise to graven images Isa 42. 6 8. It is true they are instruments in his hand and though they have no sufficiency of themselves as of themselves to do any good yet their sufficiency is of God and Jesus Christ hath promised to be alwayes with his people in their faithful ministration even to the end of the world Mat. 28. 18 20. But however unable men are yet seeing God hath given him to be a light of the Gentiles that he should be for salvation to the ends of the earth he will not fail nor be discouraged and this grace of his and of the Father in him is discovered to us in this word of his grace 2. He is also the Mediator between God and men making intercession for transgressors Isa 53. 12. that is to say when men after some manifestation of God's goodness afforded leading to repentance and some capacity given to behold it and men strengthned to turn from darkness to light yet they are found rebelling against the light and grace of God vouchsafed and provoke new wrath now that men might not be presently cut off and bound over to the wrath to come according to their deserts he is appearing in heaven for them that God may be still patient toward them and not deal with them according to their sins It is generally found with men that they are sinning against the grace of God bringing salvation to them the Lord after means used and mercies afforded looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God They are all gone aside they are together become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14. 2 3. they are not believing God in what he is testifying to them of his goodness in and through Jesus Christ or however not in what he is therewith testifying of them their works wayes and idols And he that believeth not the Son is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God that is not so believed as to love the light more than darkness Joh. 3. 18 19. And this is generally the reason of mens refusing and rebelling against the light not simply because it discovers good of God and declares his graciousness and desire of mens good but because it testifies of the world that the works thereof are evil Joh. 7. 7. even their best works as well as their worst works He that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved and discovered Joh. 3. 20. Job 23. 13 17. and for this men are condemned they do deserve and are under the sentence of the wrath to come this is the sin of the world and for which it shall be condemned so persisting Now Jesus Christ in his present work is presenting himself in the vertues of his sacrifice once offered and alwayes acceptable before the Father for such as these during his good pleasure that judgment may not speedily be executed upon them but patience and forbearance may be exercised further means used and spirit sent forth in the means to open their eyes and to turn them from their disobedience to the wisdom of the just he is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world even their sin of unbelief for this is the sin of the world Joh. 1. 29. with Chap. 16. 8 9. that is he in his present Mediation so takes it away that God's wrath may not presently break forth to cut men off in their sins and so in a lower sense he procures forgiveness for them not such as they receive who come unto God by Christ for their sins are blotted out in heaven but the sins of these are retained in heaven against them while they conâ—inue in them and the wrath of God abides on them Joh. 3. 18 36. but he procures sparing and further space of repentance Luk. 13. 34. Rev. 2. 21. and is also giving unto them grace of repentance and to such an end he is said to be and is the propitiation not only for their sins who have him as their Advocate with the Father but also for the sins of the whole world who lye in wickednes 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. with Chap. 5. 19. Hence it is that God is so slow to anger and that he saith to men to day after so long a time if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts yea that he waits so long on such as love their simplicity delight in scorning and hate knowledge Prov. 1. 22. Isa 43. 14. 2 Pet. 3. 15. A type of whom was Moses who was the Mediator of the first Testament When that people had greatly sinned so as God threatned to destroyed them then Moses his chosen stood in the breach before him to turn away his wrath lest he should destroy them Psal 106. 23. Heb. 3. and so prevalent is he in his Mediation that God alwayes gives to him his