little stone grew to a mountaine Dan. 2. so we must bee content to grow from grace to grace there is a graduall proceeding in the new creature wee must not be presently in Canaan God will lead us through the wildernesse through temptations and crosses before wee come to Heaven many because they see they are farre short of others that are stronger Christians therefore they thinke they have no grace at all Therefore let those that are on the growing hand though they bee short of many that are before them let them not be discouraged with their over-little beginnings for it is Gods Ordinance course in this world to bring his children by little and little through many stations as they were led in the wildernesse from standing to standing and from place to place so God brings his children by many standings to Heaven and it is one part of a Christians meekenesse to subject to Gods wisedome in this kinde and not to murmure that they are not so perfect as they would be or as they shall be but rather to magnifie the mercy of God that there is any change in such defiled and polluted soules that hee hath vouchsafed any spirituall light of understanding any love of good things that the bent of their affections are turned to a contrary course then they were before that God hath vouchsafed any beginnings rather magnifie his mercy then quarrell with his dispensation that he doth not this all at once and indeed if we enter into our owne hearts it is our fault that wee are not more perfect but let us labour to be meeke and say Lord since thou hast ordained that I shall grow from glory to glory from one degree of grace to another let me have grace to magnifie thy mercy that thou hast given me any goodnesse rather then to murmure that I have no more and bee content in the use of meanes and indeavour to grow further though wee have not so much as others have Nay wee may not be discouraged because of the weaknesse of grace but we may not be discouraged with a seeming interruption in our spirituall growth God sometimes works by contraries hee makes men grow by their puttings backe and to stand by their falls sometimes when God wil have a man grow hee will suffer him to fall that by his fall he may grow in a deeper hatred of sinne and in jealousie over his owne heart and a nearer watchfulnesse over his owne wayes that he may grow more in love with God for pardoning of him and grow more strong in his resolution for the time to come that he may grow more in humility none growes so much as those that have their growth stopped for a time Let none be discouraged when they find a stop but consider that God is working grace in another kind the Spirit appeares in one grace when it doth not in another it grows in one grace when it doth not in another sometime the Spirit will have us grow in humility as the juyce of the herbes runnes to the roote in the Winter it is in the leaves in the Spring it is in the seede in Autumne as the life sometime appeares in the plant in one part and sometime in another so the Spirit of God appeares sometime in humility sometime in joy sometime in spiriâ—uall strength and courage Let none bee discouraged over much when they finde a stoppe for there is no interruption of spirit altogether and this little interruption is like a sickenesse that will make them grow and shoote up more afterwards it spends the humours that hinders growth there is such a mystery in the carrying of men from glory to glory that it makes men more glorious sometimes by base sinnes I would have no man discouraged therfore indeed God will worke so that hee shall wish he had not given him occasion to shew his strength in his weakenes his glory in his shame but God where hee hath begunne he will go through with the worke and will turne all to good And to incourage us here grace begunne hath the same name as grace perfect both are glory why doth God call them by one name To incourage Christians he tels them that if it be begunne it is glory not that it is so properly but if it be begunne it shall never end till it come in Heaven therefore God stiles grace in all the latitude from the highest to the very beginnings by the same name to incourage Christians if they be within the doore of the Temple though they be not so farre as those that are in high and glorious places yet they are going thither to incourage Christians to know that unavoydably and undefesably they shall come to perfection of glory if it be begunne and God lookes not on Christians as they are in their imperfections and beginnings but that that in time hee meanes to bring them to he intends to bring them to glory therfore he gives grace the stile of glory As in the creatures God looked not on the seedes of trees as such but he looked on them as seedes that he meant to make trees of and when God lookes upon his children he lookes not on them as they are children but as they shall be perfect men Doth the wisedome of God looke on the seedes of trees as he intends to make them trees and doth he not looke upon Christians that are babes in grace as he intends to make them men to come to the perfect stature of Christ he viewes us at once in our beginnings and perfections all is presented at once to him therefore he gives one name to the whole state of grace grace and glory all is glory I beseech you therefore if there be any goodnesse any blessed change in us let us be comforted for he that hath brought us to the beginnings of glory will never faile till hee hath brought us to perfect glory in heaven and there our change shall rest there is no further change there when we are once in our element For even as God when he made man he rested from all his worke upon the Sabboth man was his excellent peece so the Spirit of God will rest sanctifying and altering of us when we are once in Heaven in that eternall Sabboth then wee shall neede no changes from glory to glory wee shall for ever be filled with the fulnesse of God till which time there is no creature in the world so changable as a Christian. For first you see hee was made in Gods Image and likenesse in his state of standing After he fell there was a change to his second state of sinne After the state of fall there is a change to the state of grace After that from one degree of grace to another in this world till hee dye and Then the soule is more perfect and glorious but at the last when body and soule shall be united there shall bee no more change there
mercy and grace for his Philanthropia his love of man shall not we therefore even be in flamed with a desire of gratifying him who hath jâ—yned his glory with our salvation that accounts himselfe glorious in his mercy above all other attributes shall the Angels that have not that benefit by Christ as wee have shall they in our behalfe out of love to us and zeale to Gods glory sing from heaven Glory to God on high and shall wee be so dead and frozen hearted that reape the crope as not to acknowledge this glory of God breaking out in the Gospell the glory of his mercy and rich grace the Apostle is so full when he falls upon this Theame that hee cannot speake without words of amplification and enlargement one while he calls it rich grace another while hee stands in admiration Oh the depth of the Love of God What deserves admiration but glorious things the best testimony that can be given of glorious things is when wee admire them now if wee would admire is there any thing so admirable that wee can say oh the height and depth as we may of the love of God in Christ there are all the dimensions of unparalleld glory height and breadth and depth therefore I beseech you let us often even stand in admiration of the love of God to us in Christ So God loved the world the Scripture leads to this admiration by phrases that cannot have a podesis a redition backe againe So how we cannot tell how so as is beyond all expression the Scripture it selfe is at a stand for words Oh base nature that wee are dazled with any thing but that that wee should most admire How few of us spend our thoughts this way to consider Gods wonderfull and admirable mercy and grace in Christ when yet there is no object in the world so sweete and comfortable as this is that the very Angels pry into they desire to pry into the mystery of our Salvation by Christ they are students therein the Cherubins they were set upon the mercy seate having a counterview one upon another implying a kinde of admiration they pry into the secrets of Gods love in governing his people and bringing them to Heaven shall they doe it and shal not we study and admire these things that God may have the glory God made all for his glory beloved and the wicked for the day of wrath as Solomon saith and hath he not new made all for his glory is not the new creature more for his glory then the old creature therefore if we will make it good that wee are new creatures let us seeke to glorifie God every way not in word alone but in heart admiring him and in life conversing with him And that we may glorifie God in deed let us glory in Gods love for wee must glory in this glory nature beloved is glorious of it selfe and vaine-glorious but would you glory without vanity go out of your selves and see what you are in Christ in the grace and mercy and free love of God culling us out from the rest of mankinde and there you may glory safely over sin and death and hell for being justified freely from our sinnes you can thinke of death of the damnation of others of hell without feare God forbid saith Saint Paul that I should glory in any thing but in the crosse of Christ that is in the mercy of God appointing such a meanes for satisfaction Let not the wise man glory in his wisedome nor the strong man glory in his strength c. There is danger in such glorying it is subject to a curse but if a man will glory let him glory in the Lord. Vse 2 Againe if God account his mercy and love in Christ especially his glory shall wee thinke that God will admit of any partner with Christ in the matter of salvation If as the Psalmist saith He made us and not wee our selves shall wee thinke that wee have a hand in making our selves againe Will God suffer his glory to be touched upon by intercessions of Saints merits and satisfactions and free will grace is not glorious if we adde the least thing of our owne to it cannot wee make a haire of our head or the grasse that we trample upon but there must be a glory and power of God in it and can wee bring our selves to Heaven therefore away with that Hayle Mary full of grace Hayle Mary freely beloved is the right interpretation and they that attribute matter of power and grace and favour to her as in that Oh beseech thy Sonne c. they take away that wherein God and Christ will bee glorified and attribute it to his Mother and other creaturâ—s I doe but touch this to bring us into loathing and abomination of that Religion that sets somewhat of the creature against that wherein God will bee glorifyed above all Againe let us stay our selves when wee walke in darkenesse with the consideration of the gloriousnesse of Gods mercy in Iesus Christ here called The glory of the Lord. It is no lesse mercy then glorious mercy that will satisfie us when wee are in distresse of conscience and if this will not what will let Sathan aggravate our sinnes as much as may be and joyne with conscience in this businesse yâ— set this glorious mercy against all our sinnes make the most of them they are the sinnes of a finite creature but here is infinite mercy triumphing and rejoycing over justice having gotten the victory over it Oh beloved when the time of temptation comes and the houre of death and conflict with conscience and a confluence and concurrence of all that may discourage Sathan will bestirre himselfe and he is a cunning Rethoritian to set all the colours upon sinne especially in the time of despaire bee as cunning to set all colours upon mercy glorious mercy If God were glorious in all other attributes and not it mercy what would become of us The glory of other attributes without mercy tends to despaire glorious in wisedome to find us out glorious in justice to deale with us in rigour these affright but that that sweetneth all other attributes is his mercy What a comfort is this to sinfull man that in casting himself upon Christ and upon Gods mercy in Christ hee yeelds glory to God that God hath joyned his glory with our speciall good that here is a sweete concurrence betweene the Summus finis and the Summum Bonum of man The last end of man of all is the glory of God for that is as it were the point of the circle from which all came for he made all for his glory and in which all ends so is the chiefe good therefore by the way it is a vaine conceite for some to thinke Oh wee must not looke to our owne Salvation so much this is selfe-love It is true to severe the consideration of the glory of Gods mercy and goodnesse
glory of Gods mercy in Christ pardoning our sinnes for the righteousneffe and obedience of Christ and then that love warmes our hearts so that it changeth our hearts by the Spirit from one degree of grace to another there is a changing power that goes with the love of Christ and with the mercy of God in Christ this 〈◊〉 Doctrine the same Spirit that justifieth us by applying to us the obedience of Christ the same Spirit sanctifyeth us therefore their allegations and objections are to no purpose wee see here the Spirit of the Lord changeth us And so for your common Atheisticall professors that professe themselves Christians they partake of the name but not of the annoynting of Christ true Christians that are annoynted with the Spirit of Christ it will inforce a change Beloved we cannot behold the Sunne but wee must be enlightned we cannot behold the Sunne of righteousnesse but we shall be changed and enlightned The eye of faith though we thinke not of it though it looke upon Christ for justification and forgivenesse of sinnes yet notwithstanding at the same time incensibly there is an alteration of the soule if a man looke up for other ends yet at the same time there is an enlightning by the Sunne so at the same time that wee looke upon the mercy of God in Christ at the same time there is a glory shines upon us and wee are altred and changed though we thinke not of it at the very instant that we apprehend justification and forgivenesse of sinnes in the mercy of God in Christ at the same instant there is a glory put upon the soule we cannot have commerse with the God of glory but we shall be glorious Therefore there is no man that hath any thing to doe with God that hath not some glory put into his soule whatsoever he is Therefore let no man thinke hee hath any thing to doe in Religion till he finde the worke of the Spirit altering and changing him He hath the title of Holy Spirit from the blessed worke of sanctâ—â—ying anâ— changing he 〈…〉 And when hehath changed us he governes and guides us from glory to glory where the Holy Ghost is therfore he promotes the worke of grace begunne he doth not onely move us but promove he promotes the worke begunne therefore those that have the Spirit of God they rest in no degree of grace but grow from grace to grace from knowledge to knowledge from faith to faith till they come to that measure of perfection that God hath appointed them in Christ those therefore that set up their staffe and will goe no further that thinke all is well they have not the Spirit of God for the Spirit stirres up to grow from one degree of grace to another to adde grace to grace and to enter further and further into the Kingdome of grace and to come nearer to glory still For this end the holy Spirit dwels in us and guides us as it is Rom. 8. he is a Tutor to us where the holy Ghost is in any body it is as a counseller Guide mee by thy counsell till thou bring me to glory It is a Tutor as Noblemens children they have their Tutors so Gods children are nobly borne they have their Tutor and Counsellor as well as Angels to attend them they have the Spirit of God to tell them this doe and that doe and here you have done ill they have a voyce behind them to teach them in particular wherein they have done amisse they that have the Spirit finde such a sweete operation of the Spirit the Spirit is a teacher and a counsellour to them they that are acquainted wiâ—h the government of Gods Spirit they find i checking them presently when they doe ill 〈◊〉 grieves them when they grieve the Spirit so it teachâ—th them in particular â—usinesses doe this doe not that Thus wee may know if we have the Spirit if it guide and governe us from glory to glory till wee come to perâ—ection where the Spirit is all in all in heaven Another evidence is this the Spirit where it is it rests and abides because it doth not onely change us at the first but it leads us from glory to glory as Saint Augustine saith wicked men have the Spirit of God knocking and he would saine enter as the wickedest man when he heares holy truthes discovered the Spirit of God knockes at his heart and he findes sweete motions in his poysonfull rebellious nature but this is but the spirit knocking that would have entrance but Gods children have the spirit entering and dwelling and resting there The spirit of God resteth on Christ and it rests on Christs members how can it change them and having done so guide and governe them from glory to glory but hee must rest there hee must take up his lodging and residence a Christian is not an ordinary house but a Temple he is not an ordinary man but a King he is not an ordinary stone but a Pearle he is not an ordinary tree but a Cedar hee is an excellent person and therefore the Spirit of God delights to dwell in him As the excellency of the body is from the soule so the excellency of the soule is from the spirit dwelling in him However in particular operations the spirit suspends his acts of comforâ—ing and guiding to humble them for their presumption alway the Holy Ghost is in the heart though he be hid in a corner of the heart I will send you the Comforter and hee shall abide with you for ever saith Christ thus we see how we may try ourselves whether we have the Spirit of the Lord oâ— no If wee have not the Spirit we are none of his wee are none of Christs Rom. 8. 13. And then whose are we if wee bee none of Christs Doe but thinke of that therefore if wee would not be men not having the Spirit that is men dead lead with a worse spirit then our own let us labor to know whether we have the Spirit of Christ or no Let us see what change there is to the likenesse of Christ for the Spirit as it comes from the Lord so it makes us like the Lord and wee are changed by reasons from the Lord by reasons and considerations from Christ and from the love of God in Christ because the spirit takes from Christ whatsoever he hath Hee shall take of mine c. that is the comfort hee comforts the soule with hee fetches them from his death and blood-shed and the love of God in him that he takes of Christ so there is a change wrought is us by reasons fetched from the love of God in Christ those conforming reasons God hath given his Sonne and Christ hath given himselfe and wee feele the love of God by the Spirit if the Spirit worke any grace or comfort by considerations fetched from Christ this is the true Spirit the change and alteration that it workes in
nothing but earthly things wee are under the seale of Gods judgement he hath sealed us up to a darke state from darkenesse of judgement to the darkenesse of hell without repentance therefore let us take heed how we live in a dull and dead condition under the glorious Gospell or else how cursed shall we be the more wee are exalted and lifted up above other people in the blessings of God this way the more we shall bee cast downe Woe be to Châ—razin c. and Heb. 2. How shall wee escape of we â—â—glectâ— so great Salvation I beseech you let us take heed how we triâ—le away our time these precious times and blessed opportunities for if wee labour not to get out of the state of nature into the state of grace and so to be changed from glory to glory God in justice will curse the meanes we have that â—n hearing wee shall not heare and seeing we shall not see and he will secretâ—y and insensibly harden our hearts it is the curse of all curses when we are under plenty of meanes to grow worse and duller oh take heede of Spirituall judgements above all others tremble at them they belong to reprobates and cast-awayes Let us labour for hearts sencible of the mercies of God in Christ and labour to bee transformed and moulded into this Gospell every day more and more That that hath beene spoken shall bee sufficient for this time and for this whole Text. FINIS A comparison 〈…〉 the Law and the Gospell The Explication of the words 1. Christ hath the Spirit in himselfe Christ hath the Spiriâ— in greater measure than any other When the fullest manifestation of the spirit in Christ was 2 Christ giveth the Spirit 1. To all truths and Ordinances 2 To all persons that are spirituall Why Christ worketh all by the Spirit Christ communicateth the Spirit to uâ— divers wayes as 1. Of influence 2. By way of merit 3. By way of example Christ giveth the Spirit in greatest abundance after his Resurrection Ephes. 4. 10. Why the Ordinances of God are no more effectuall unto us Iohn 6. 63 Formality is the sin of this age Comfort that Christ hath â—ulnes of the Spirit Why Christians are so dark spirited Motives to stirre us up to get the Spirit Rom. 8. 13. The Spirit the soule of the soule How to know if we have the Spirit 1. It 's working The spirit compared to fire 1. It is active 2. It transformes things 3. It carries upwards 2. It is convincing Ioh. 16. To convince what 3. It makes us like Christ. Directions to get the Spirit 1. Labour to know Christ. Why there was so little spirit before Christs time Why so little spiâ—rit in Popery 1. The knowledge of Christ makes life and death comfortable 2. Not to trust to any performance without Christ. 3. Be careful in use of meanes The Spirit workes liberty Liberty desired of all men Liberty two fold 1. Christian. 2. Evangelicall We are in bondage without the Spirit The more liberty without Christ the more slavery Aug. de civit Dei Two kingdomes Sins bonds Liberty wrought by Christ applyed by the Spirit How the Spirit workes liberty By conviction By Faith By Love Christ redeemeth two wayes 1. By Price 2. By strong hand All that Christ redeemes he frees by his Spirit 1. Because we are saved as men 2. We are freed to be friends with God 3. We cannot love God â—lse 4. Because we must be fitted for heaven The Spirit sets us at liberty in all the course of salvation 1. In our first calling 1. The heart must answere Gods call Ioh. 9. 25. Psal. 27. 2. We must practise that we answere 2. Liberty in justification No benefit by Christ without union Double worke of faith The heart fuâ—l of fearâ—s without the Spirit Why men of great parts without grace are full of feares 3. In Sanctification Sanctification springs from justification Liberty of disposition Christians esteeme basely all things but Christ. Double principle in a Christian Liberty in in Sanctification to conflict not from it Comfort against the dulnesse of the flesh Double hindrance of good duties Rom. 8. 2. Christians Kings over their lusts Freedome from the consequents of sinne Freedome to good things Vse of the lâ—w before and after we be in Christ. Liberty of judgement and will Freedome of will Naturall 2. Ability to good Luther The Spirit puts a new life in us And then applies it to action The Spirit in conversion doth more then perswade The worke of the Spirit takes not away freedome The Spirit preserves the soule in its manner of working Rules concerning liberty 1. When it is done with advisment of reason All heate comes through light 2. A power to argue on both sides 3. There is a power to choose many things The Angels determined to that that is good Difference in the liberty of the two Adams Greatest liberty not to have liberty to sinne Imperfection to have power to good and evill Outward liberty 1. Of Preaching the Gospell 2. Of Discipliue Spirituall liberty comes by outward liberty Yeere of Iubile in preaching of the Gospell Enemies of the Gospell enemies to spirituall liberty Psal. 2. The Gospell the kingdome of God why A good signe of spiritual liberty Liberty of glory Rom. 8. To labour for the Spirit that sets us at liberty Attend upon the Ordinances of God The comfort of Spirituall liberty In outward restraint In sickenesse In death In all wants â—â—gnes of Spirituall liberty 1. Liberty from the dominion of any one sinne One sinne inthralls as well as many Simil. Simil. 2. Freedome to good duties Psal. 110. Christian annointed Forced duties without liberty Hypocrites have forraine motives 3. Courage against opposition The Spirit victorious Rom. 8. 4. Boldnesse with God Carnall men sinke in extreaminty Abba Father the voyce of Sonnes Proud Rebels die desperately Three degrees in the way to heaven Of Nature Vnder the Law State of liberty Mat. 11. 28. Difference of men in extremity Want of boldnesse shewes want of freedome 5. Freedome in regard of the creature Two sorts of wicked men 1. Such as Lord it over others 2. That respect their private gaine Reason an inferiour light to grace A Christian in dependant in respect of other men Why carnall men hate those that are Spirituall Christians the onely great men Where the Spirit is there is liberty not licentiousnesse A Christian a free man and a servant What carnall men judge liberty The tyranâ—â— of lusts Not to grieve the Spirit Cyprian The Spirit is grieved With uncleane courses Malice and canckor Pride Sinnes against conscience Hinder our liberty In Prayer It hinders boldnesse with men Goe to Christ to free us from corruption Avoyd â—ccasionâ— The office of Christ by his Spirit Difference betweene the Law and the Gospell In the number no envy in Spirituall things In the evidence Efficasie Foure excellencies in the covenant of grace since Christ. Freedome Clearnesse Intention Extention
its owne likenesse but now the Gospell which is the ministry of the Spirit it hath a transforming changing power into the likenesse of Christ whom it preacheth we are changed From glory to glory it is a graduall change not all at once but from glory to glory from one degree of grace to another for grace is here called glory we are changed from the state of grace till he come to heaven the state of glory And then the cause of all It is by the Spirit of the Lord The Spirit runnes through all it is by the Spirit of the Lord that we behold it is the Spirit of the Lord that takes away the vayle it is by the Spirit that we are changed from glory to glory Thus you see how many wayes the administration of the covenant of grace now is more excellent than the administration of the Covenant of grace was then In a word iâ— hath foure excellencies especially as First liberty and freedome from the bondage of ceremonies and of the law in a great part they had little Gospell and a great deale of Law mingled with it we have much Gospell and little Law wee have more freedome and liberty And thereupon we have more clearenesse wee see Christ more clearely with open face wee behold the glory of the Lord. And thirdly there is more intentiâ—n of grace the spirit workes more strongly now even to a change the ministery of the Gospell hath the Spirit with it whereby wee are changed from the hearâ—roote inwardly and thorowly And lâ—stly in the extension it is more large Wee all Gentiles as well as Iewes Behold c. Hence let us seriously and fruitfully consider in what excellent times the Lord hath cast us that we may answer it with thankfullnesse and obedience God hath reserved us to these glorious times better then ever our forefathers saw There are three mâ—ine parts of the Text our communion and fellowship with God in Christ wee all now in a glasse Behold the glory of the Lord. And then our conformity thereupon by beholding we are changed into the same Image The third is the cause of both the cause why wee bâ—hold the glory of God and why by beholding we are changed from glory to glory it is the Spirit of God This Text hath many theames of glory all is glorious in it there is the glorious mercy of God in Christ who is the Lord of glory the Gospel in which wee see the grace of God and of Christ The glorious Gospell the change by which wee are changed a glorious change from glory to glory and by a glorious power by the Spirit of 〈◊〉 Lord all here is glorious Therefore blessed be God and blessed be Christ and blessed be the Spirit and blessed be the Gospell and wee blessed that live in these blessed and glorious times but to come to the words But we all as in a glasse c. The happinesse of man consists especially in two things In Communion with In Conformity to God The meanes how to attaine them both are laid downe in this Verse I shall speake of them in order First of our communion with the chiefe good And then of the conformity wrâ—ught upon that communion And in the Communion first of Gods discovering of himselfe by his Spirit And then of our apprehension of him by beholding We all with open face behold the glory of the Lord c. In the glasse of the Gospell we see Christ and in Christ the glory of God shining especially of his mercy The point then here is that The grace and free mercy of God is his glory Now in our falne estate the glory of God is especially his mercy shining in Iesus Christ. What is glory Glory implyeth these things First excellency nothing is glorious but that that is excellent Secondly evidence and manifestation for nothing is glorious though it be excellent if it appeare not so therefore Light is said to bee glorious because the rayes of it appeare and runne into the eyes of all as it were and therefore we call things that are glorious by the name of Light illustrissimus and Clarissimus tearmes taken from light because where glory is there must be manifestation thus light it is a creature of God that manifests it selfe and other things Thirdly victoriousnesse in glory there is such a degree of excellency as is victorious and convincing that it is so indeed conquering the contrary that opposeth it Light causeth darkenesse to vanish presently when the Sunne which is a glorious creature appeares where are the Starres And where are meaner men in the appearance of a glorious Prince they are hid the meaner things are shaddowed by glory Againe usually glory hath with it the suffrage and approbation of others or else it hath not its right end that is why doth God create such glory in nature as Light and such like but that men may behold the Light and why are Kings and great men glorious at certaine times but that there bee beholders if there were no beholders there would bee no glory Now to apply this to the point in hand The glory of the Lord That is his attributes especially that of grace mercy and love in Christ that especially is his excellency And there is an evidence and manifestation of it it appeares to us in Christ The grace of God hath appeared Christ is called grace hee is the grace of God invested and cloathed with mans nature when Christ appeared the grace and mercy and love of God appeared Then againe it is victorious shining to victory over all that is contrary For alasse beloved what would become of us if there were not grace above sinne and mercy above misery and power in Christ Iesus above all the power in Sathan and death And then they have a testimony of all that belong to God for they have their eyes opened to behold this glory and by beholding are transformed from glory to glory as we shall see after So that whatsoever may be said of glory may bee said of this glory whence all other glory indeed is derived The glory of the Lord. By the glory of the Lord then is meant especially the glory of his mercy and love in Iesus Christ. The severall attributes of God shine upon severall occasions they have as it were severall theaters whereon to discover their glory In Creation there was power most of all in governing the world wise providence In hell justice in punishing sinners But now to man in a lapsed estate what attribute shines most and is most glorious Oh it is mercy and free grace If grace and mercy were hid our state being as it is since the fall what were all other attributes but matter of terrour to thinke of the wisedome and power and justice of God would adde aggravations hee is the more wise and powerfull to take revenge on us
in it but see both these wrapped and knit together indissolvable our Salvation and Gods glory wee hinder Gods glory if we beleeve not his mercy in Christ to us so at once we wrong our selves and him and wee wrong him not in a meane attribute but in his mercy and goodnesse wherein hee hath appointed to glorifie himselfe most of all and therefore I beseech you let us yeeld to him the glory of his mercy and let us thinke that when wee sinne wee cannot glorifie him more then to have recourse to his mercy when Sathan tempts us to runne from God and discourageth us as hee will doe at such times then have but this in your thoughts God hath set himselfe to bee glorious in mercy above all other attributes and this is the first moving attribute that stirres up all the rest and therfore God will account himselfe honoured if I have recourse to him let this thought therefore be as a City of refuge when the avenger of blood followes thee flee presently to this sanctuary thinke thus let not mee deny my selfe comfort and God glory at once Where sinne abounds grace abounds much more Though sinnes after conversion staine our profession more then sinnes before conversion yet notwithstanding goe to the glorious mercy of God still to seventy times seventy times there is yet mercy for these we beseech you bee reconciled saith Saint Paul to the Corinthians when they were in the state of grace and had their pardon before let us never be discouraged from going to Christ. Oh but I haue offended often and grievously What saith the Prophet My thoughts are not as your thoughts but as high as the Heavens are above the earth c. Therefore howsoever amongst men oft offences breed an eternall allyenation yet notwithstanding with God it is not so but so oft as we can have Spirit to goe to God for mercy and spread our sinnes before him with broken and humble hearts so often we may take out our pardon Compare Exod. 33. with Exod. 34. Moses in Chap. 33. had desired to see the face of God there was some little curiosity perhaps in it God told him that none could see him and live to see the face of God in himselfe must be reserved for heaven we are not proportioned for that sight But in the next Chapter there he shewes himselfe to Moses and how doth he shew himselfe and his glory to Moses The Lord the Lord gracious mercifull long suffering cloathed all in sweete attributes he will be knowne by those names now then if wee would know the name of God and see God as hee is pleased and delighted to discover himselfe to us let us know him by those names that he proclaimes there shewing that the glory of the Lord in the Gospell especially shines in mercy and as I said before it must bee glorious mercy that can satisfie a distressed conscience how soever in the time of ease and peace we thinke a little mercy will serve the turne but when conscience is once awaked it must be glorious and infinite mercy must allay it And therefore those that finde their consciences any thing wounded with any sinne stand not out any longer with God come and yeeld lay downe your weapons there is mercy ready the Lord is glorious in his mercy in Iesus Christ it is a victorious triumphing mercy over all sinne and unworthinesse whatsoever Looke upon God in the face of Iesus Christ as you have it in 2 Cor. 4. 6. God who commanded Light to shine out of darkenesse hath shined in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledg of God in the face of Iesus Christ. In the face of Christ God is lovely lovelinesse and excellency is in the face above all the parts of the body The Glory of God Wee are never in such a condition as we ought to be except grace be glory to us and when is grace glory to a sinner Oh when he feeles the weight and burthen of his sinne and languishing desires Oh that I might have a droppe of mercy then grace is glory not onely in Gods esteeme but in the eye of the sinner indeed we are never soundly humbled till grace in our esteeme be glory that is till it appeare excellent and victorious I beseech you remember it we may have use of it in the time of desertion How is this grace of God in Christ conveyed to us yet nearer By the Gospell As in a glasse The Gospell is the good Word of God Heb. 6. It reveales the good God to us and the good Christ it is a sweete word for Christ could doe us no good without the word if there were not an obligation a covenant made betweene God and us the foundation of which covenant is the satisfaction of Christ if there were not promises built upon the covenant of grace whereby God hath made himselfe a debtor what claime could a sinfull soule have to Christ and to Gods mercy but God hath bound himselfe in his word therefore the grace of God shines in Christ and all that is in Christ is conveyed to us by the word by the promise The Gospell then is a sweete word You know that breeding promise of all others Gen. 3. The seed of the woman that repealed and conveyed the mercy of God in Christ to Adam So the continuance of that and all the sweet and gracious promises bud from that all meete in Christ as in a cenâ—er all are made for him and in him he is the summe of all the promises all the good things wee have are parsels of Christ Christ he is the word of the Father that discovers all from the bosome of his Father therefore he is named the Word the Gospell is the word froÌ„ him Christ was discovered to the Apostles and from the Apostles to us to the end of the world by his Spirit accompanying the ordinance so the Myrrour wherein we see the glorious mercy of God is first Christ God shines in him and then there is another glasse wherein Christ is discovered the glasse of the Gospell thus it pleaseth God to condiscend to stoope to us poore sinners to reveale his glory the glory of his mercy fitly and sutable in a Saviour God-man God incarnate God our Brother God our Kinsman and to doe it all yet more familiarly to discover it in a word and then to ordaine a Ministery together with the Word to lay open the riches of Christ for it is not the Gospell considered nakedly but the Gospell unfolded by the Ministery Christ is he great Ordinance of God for our Salvation the Gospell is the great Ordinance of God to lay open the unsearchable riches of Christ the casket of this Iewell the treasury of his treasure the grace and love and mercy of God are treasured in Christ and Christ and all good things are treasured in the Gospell that is the rich Myne and the Ministery of
of faith that is the best picture and representation that can bee it is skarce worth spending so much time as to con fute that foolery to have any grace wrought in the heart by such abominable meanes as that is as they use it take it at the best it is but a bastardly helpe and bastardly meanes breed a bastardly devotion for will God worke grace in the heart by meanes of mans devising If pictures bee any teachers they are teachers of lyes saith the Prophet and in the Church of God till Pastors and Teachers became Idols Idols never became Teachers then came the Doctrine of Idols teaching of simple people when Idols became teachers a thousand yeares after Christ. So that the best picture to see Christ in is the Word and Sacraments and the best eye to see him with is the eye of Faith in the Word and Sacraments keepe that cleare and we need no crucifixes no such bastardly helpes of bastardâ— ly devotion devised by proud men that would not be beholding to God for his Ordinances But a touch is almost too much for such things that are so cleare to men that have spirituall eyes in Gal. 3. See what Saint Paul saith what his judgement was Oh foolish Galathians before whom Christ hath been painted and cruciâ—ied how was he painted nothing but by the preaching of Christ crucified in the Gospell and the riches of Christ in the Gospell and in the Sacraments laid open doe you thinke there were any other crucifixes in the world then With open face The manner of this beholding is with open face there must be a double vayle taken away before we can behold the glory of God the vayle of obscurity and the vayle of slavery the vayle of ignorance and infidelity within and the vayle of the things themselves these two vayles are both taken a way before we can with open face behold the glory of the Lord the inward vayle is taken away by the Spirit of God illuminating our understandings and giving us a Spirit of faith the outward vayle of the obscurity of the things is taken away by the teaching and ministery of the Gospell having that helpe to know the meaning of the Scriptures so that now in these glorious times of the Gospell both the vayles are taken away that we may behold without hinderance the glory of God shining in the Gospell for now we enjoy the ministery of the Spirit the Spirit is effectuall to shine in our hearts and then we have the gifts of men outward gifts whereby the vayle of ignorance is â—aken away in regard of the things themselves the things are unfolded If the things of themselves be darke or if they be lightsome and there be no sight within or if there be sight and that sight be vayled there can be no seeing but now to Gods elect he takes away all these vayles he shines in wardly and gives outward light in the helpe of meanes and yet not withstanding while we live here there is alwayes some obscurity and darknesse for the vayle of the Scriptures is not quite tooke away there is some darkenesse of the Scriptures and likewise the vayle of ignorance and infidelity is not altogether taken away there are some remainders of ignorance of infidelity and hardnesse of heart but yet in a great measure it is taken away here and shall by little and little tooke away till wee come to see God face to face in heaven With open face Coverings had two uses in the Iewish state They had a use of subjection therefore the Women had their vayles in token of subjection And they had a use likewise of obscurity to hinder the offensive lustre of that that is glorious therefore Moses put a vayle on his face when he came downe from the mount now in Christ Iesus in the Gospell both these vayles are taken away in some respects the vayle of subjection and slavery so farre as it is a slavery is taken away the Spirit of Christ workes liberty as I sayd before now wee serve God as Sonnes and not as servants any longer the vayle of subjection is taken away onely there is a spouse like filiall subjection the servile subjection we are freed from And then the vayle that hid the things is taken away too so now with open face we behold the glory of the Lord now the things themselves Christ and the gracious promises of grace and glory and comfort they are clearely layd open without any vayle how comes it then that we see them not there is a vayle over our hearts the more shame for us that when the things are unvayled wee should have a vayle upon our hearts of ignorance and unbeleefe therefore if any beleeve not it is because The god of this world hath blinded their eyes where the meanes of Salvation are and Christ layd open in the meanes if men doe not beleeve the fault is not in the things for they are unvayled they are discovered and layd open the fault is in us there is a vayle over the heaâ—t there is a cloud of ignorance and unbeleefe that keepes the heart from beholding the glory of the mercy of God in Christ. With open face We see the glory of God with boldnesse in the Gospell we goe boldly to God Christ takes us by the hand and leades us to his Father we have boldnesse and accesse to God through Christ by the Spirit as S. Paul teacheth in diverse places God is not terrible to us now in Christ Gods nature is Fatherly and sweete to us Christ in the Gospell is our head therefore wee goe boldly to God in Christ and Christ by his Spirit brings us to his Father we may boldly lay open our soules in prayer and all our complaints before him as to a Father we come not as malefactors to a judge as slaves to a Lord but as children to a father as a wife to her spouse with open face in the Gospell wee behold God that is with boldnesse we goe to him the Gospell by shining upon us takes away a Spirit of feare and bondage the more we see Christ the lesse feare the more love the lesse feare the more we see the grace of God in Christ it diminisheth a Spirit of feare and puts into us a Spirit of love and boldnesse for it presents to us in Christ full satisfaction to divine justice that when we offer Christ to the Father whom he hath sent and sealed for us God cannot refuse a Saviour of his owne sending and sealing and appointing to satisfie his justice therefore wee goe boldly to the throne of grace it is a mervailous priviledge that wee see God clearely in the Gospell with open face with a Spirit of boldnesse the vayle of ignorance being taken away for the sight of God to a conscience that is naturall and is not convinced of the mercy of God by the Spirit it is a terrible sight a guilty conscience