have everlasting life we may well give up our selves unto him and say Truly we are thy Servants we are thy Servants the Sons of thy Handmaid thy perpetual Servants Thou hast loosed our bonds offering up our Bodies a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable to him which is our reasonable service of him Psal 116.16 Rom. 12.1 Yea how doth it become us to accept this his grace with all acceptation and for ever to laud and magnify Him To enter his Gates with thanksgiving his Courts with praises being thankful to him and blessing his Name Lauding and praising him that He hath passed such a Decree as this that as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have everlasting life And as the Son himself our Lord the Son of man hath published and will publish the Decree saying I will proclaim the Decree The Lord hath said unto me thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the utmost ends of the Earth for thy possession thou shalt rule them with an Iron-Rod c. So let us make it our rejoycing and the business we mind to proclaim the same to all calling upon all to hear it and be glad of it to imbrace and submit to it for ever blessing him and calling upon all Creatures to bless him with us who hath so Decreed for us and is so Decreed of for us Let us lift up our voice and sing for the Majesty of the Lord and cry aloud from the Sea glorifying the Lord though in the fires of afflictions and sufferings even the Name of the Lord God of Israel the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all grace comfort and consolation from the Isls of the Sea Yea let us make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth serving the Lord with gladness and coming into his Presence with a Song Giving thanks unto him because he is good his mercy prepared for us and given to us in Christ Jesus everlasting and his truth enduring from generation to generation Calling upon all to take notice of his goodness herein unto all and to praise and laud and bless him with us Yea and upon all Creatures too as in Psal 148. especially the Saints and holy ones who believing on him have title to and interest in his promises of salvation and life everlasting Yea let us praise him every where and in all things chiefly in his Sanctuary or Holy Place and Holy Ordinances looking diligently unto Jesus that we fail not of the grace given us in him through any of the politick workings of Siâ— the World and Satan to that purpose against us but that we may be accounted worthy of it to life everlasting To whom â—e Glory and Dominion Honour and Praise now and in all Ages throughout all Places of his Dominions even for ever and ever Amen And Oh that my Soul may bless the Lord at all times and all that is within me may bless his holy Name and let every thing that hath life and breath praise Him till we all come to sing everlasting Hallelujahs in his glorious Kingdom Amen and Amen Laus Deo Christo suâ— in Eternâ—m c. FINIS THE CONTENTS Chap. 1. BRief Observations upon Nicodemus and our Saviours discourse with him p. 1. Chap. 2. The words of the Teâ—t considered its Parts four main Points then observed The first Point The Type of the Brazen Serpent lifted up spoken to in some brief Notes upon it p. 22. it should have been p. 14. Chap. 3. The Second Point in part considered viz. That the Son of man must be lifted up Who is the Son of man And three Reasons propounded why Christ is so called p. 23. alias 26. Chap. 4. Two other Reasons and they the principal ones of Christ calling himself the Son of man p. 48. alias 40. Chap. 5. A twofold Sense of the Phrase of lifting up viz. putting to Death and Glorifying or Advancing and what is implied in it in the latter Sense especially p. 65. alias 57. Chap. 6. A twofold way of Exalting the Son of man viz. either by Real Action upon his Person or by Demonstration of him and of his Worth and Excellency to others The former of these Enlarged upon p. 77. alias 69. Chap. 7. Of the second way of Lifting him up viz. By Demonstration of him and of his Glory unto men by whom that was and is to be performed and wherein p. 85. Chap. 8. The third point viz. That the Son of man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness and therein several Analogies and Agreement between them considered p. 109. Chap. 9. The fourth and last Point The end of the Son of mans being so lifted up viz. That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting Life Six Observations drawn from hence the first of which concerning mens danger of perishing opened p. 136. Chap. 10. The second Observation spoken to viz. That God hath no pleasure in mens death or perishing and some objections against it answered very briefly p. 147. Chap. 11. The third Observation briefly spoken to shewing Christ to be the only Medicine for our misery and Way to happiness appointed of God for us and what an inducement that consideration is to love God and accept of Christ p. 154. Chap. 12. The fourth Observation considered and therein the necessity and nature of believing on the Son of man unto Salvation with its desirableness and acceptableness to God p. 162 Chap. 13. The fifth Observation viz. That whosoever believeth on the Son of man shall not perish but have Eternal life having two Branches the former of them is here explicated What the perishing is from which the believer on the Son of man is preserved and how he is preserved from it p. 182. Chap. 14. Of the second Branch of the fifth Observation What Eternal life is and how the believer on Christ shall have it p. 202. Chap. 15. The Application of the two former viz. the 4th and 5th Observations in part in Exhortation to believe Reproof for not believing Incouragements to continue in believing on the Son of man and some Directions thereto p. 212. Chap. 16. Some further usefulness of the said Observations in Cautions and Instructions p. 225. Chap. 17. The sixth and last Observation viz. about the necessity of the Son of mans being lifted up spoken to in certain Conclusions the first of which in two Branches shews the necessity of Gods lifting up Christ in himself both as to mens believing on him and as to their being saved and living for ever by him p. 239. Chap. 18. Another Conclusion proving the necessity of his being lifted up by way of Demonstration to men both by God and men both unto mens
and despised knowledge brought to them by him to turn at his reproofs promising to pour out his Spirit to them and make known his words In which is implied that upon their turning he would forgive their former sleightings of him and sinnings against him which if they had not been to be forgiven and overlooked by him would have hindred them of such dispensations of his Grace and Spirit to them Prov. 1.22 23. As thence also the wicked are called upon to forsake their ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord and he will have mercy upon them and abundantly pardon them Isa 55.7 And Christ tells the unbelieving Jews that would not come to him that they might have life that he would not accuse them to his Father and that if any man heard his voice and believed not he judged them not now because he came not into the world to judge the world but to save the world John 5.40 45. 12.47 In which saying it 's evident that the world he came to save includes also the now unbelieving persons in it while it 's yet a day of Grace he is saving them Also by his Intercession for transgressours as the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world and by renewed dispensations of patience forbearance and further grace to them as appears 1 John 2.1 2. Isa 53.12 Luke 13.8 Yea he prayed for such as actually abused and crucified him and in the repenting of such afterward he actually pardoned and forgave them Luke 23.34 with Acts 2.37 38 39. 3.19 20. 2. As Moses lifted up the Serpent that whosoever were stung with the fiery Serpents might have advantage and opportunity there-through to look upon it he declaring and informing them that it was set up as a means of healing and that it was Gods mind for giving healing by it that they look up to it and that it would not give forth any healing-virtue to them if not beheld by them yea probably if not beheld till they were healed if they turn'd their eye from it before its virtue had its force in and upon them though the Serpent was the same whether beheld or not beheld Even so is and must the Son of Man be lifted up that men may have an advantage and opportunity of beholding him he being not to be beheld if not lifted up How can they believe on him of whom they have not heard And how can they hear without a Preacher Or how can they preach except they be sent For Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10.14 17. Which makes it needful that they that know him and are commissionated of God as every one that hears hath commission to say to others Come Rev. 22.17 do hold him forth commend and magnifie him to men It 's true that the Apostle there in Rom. 10.18 propounding that question Have they not all heard answers Yes doubtless their voice is gone into all the world and their words to the ends of the earth Alluding to Psal 19.2 3 4. Where the Holy Ghost speaks of the Heavens declaring the glory of God and the firmament shewing his handy-work And so of Gods Works and Providences setting him forth and uttering knowledge as elsewhere it 's said All his works shall praise him To which also they are often called upon Psal 145.8 9. 148. 150. And the Lord they commend and praise is doubtless the same of and to whom he saith Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens are the works of thine hands c. Psal 102.25 Which the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews applies to the Lord Jesus the Son of Man by whom the Lord hath spoken to us in these last days and by whom he made the worlds Heb. 1.1 2 10 11. And surely whosoever beholds him as there lifted up and praised so as to betake themselves to him for help they do and shall find mercy with him Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved In every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him Rom. 10.12 Acts 10.34 They that by nature or without verbal or vocal instruction do the things contained in the Law that love God and their neighbour though uncircumcised or not under the outward Regiment of Gods Kingdom and Ordinances their uncircumcision shall be accounted circumcision that is they shall be accepted and accounted of as Gods Church Rom. 2.25 26. And of those that by such means also are won in to God I understand in part what our Saviour saith That many shall come from the East and from the West even such as are not the children of the Kingdom and born under the distinct knowledge and Ordinances of God as the opposition to them in the following words do manifest wherein he adds and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac in the Kingdom of God when the children of the Kingdom such as are born and brought up in the professed Church and so are professedly under Gods Government or Ordinances shall be cast out Matth. 8.12 But I say notwithstanding whatever of this nature may be true however God in his lifting him up in his Providences and Works and the manifestations of him implicitely therein may do for the rendring him visible to men that they may behold him look to him and be saved by him Yet it concerns us as our duty and is that which God requires of us that we so lift up Christ in our distinct Preaching of him to men that men through our ministration may behold him in the distinct express declaration of him and be saved from their errours ignorances and iniquities which while they by their wisdom know him not in the wisdom of God as manifested in his works and providences they run into As to that purpose and for that cause it hath pleased God to appoint the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 It was not another light John bare witness to then that which enlighteneth every man coming into the world and that shined in the darkness before he bare witness to it It was not made another in or by his witness only more plainly declared and pointed to It was the same that was in the world though the world knew him not that came to his own and by his own was not received which whosoever received whether of the world or of his own were made the sons of God It was the same Word which was in the beginning with God that in due time was made flesh to bring us through his Sufferings in the flesh unto God in whom was the life and from whom the light came that always shined and in all the world But God to help men to discern him whom otherwise in his wisdom or more wise way to the view of the world as the way of his Creation and Providence is they usually overlook and
words as the Serpent did Evah from her obedience For many that way have been corrupted from the faith while they have been made to believe they could not be corrupted at least so as to a total and final falling therefrom Mat. 7.15 16 and 24 4 5.24 25. 2 Cor. 11.2 3. Col. 2.4.8.16.18 1 Joh. 2.18 19. 2 Joh. 7 8 9 10. 2 Tim. 2.18 5. Take heed of the World and of the love of it for that if loved will choke the seed of the word and steal out the love of God from the heart and lead us to fall away from Christ 1 Joh. 2.15 16 17. Matth. 13.22 Luke 21.34 35 36. 6. Take heed of indulging any corruption and walking after the flesh in any of it's lusts or affections For to be carnally minded is death and deads the heart to Christ and the things of Christ And therefore If believers walk after the flesh they will dye Rom. 8.6.13 7. Take heed of too earnest eying or looking upon discouragements as our sinfulness ignorance weakness witheredness unfruitfulnesse the troubles of this World Gods corrections and the like with a neglect of minding the help in Christ for us and the incouragements there-against But casting away every weight and the sin that easily besâ—ts let us run with patience the race set before us Looking off from other things unto Jesus and considering him who endured such contradictions of sinners least we be weary and faint in our minds Heb. 12.1 2.3 But for this see more in my Balaams Wish Pag. 89.90 91. And in the Penitent Prodigal or Gods Gracious Reproof Pag. 209. 210. And indeed that Universal Particle whosoever here used in the Text when he saith that Whosoever believeth might not perish but have eternal life is of singular usefulness to be considered against such discouragement and the temptations thence to withdraw from Christ and from dependance on and confidence in him for it takes away all respect of persons and signifies Christs impartiality and his irrespectiveness to any other thing than what is contained in the believing on him in his saving from perishing and giving life eternal Suitable to that saying of the Apostle Now perceive I of a truth that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him with which agrees Rom. 2.6.11 and 3.22 23 24 25. Gal. 3.27 28. God hath opened a door of life and righteousness in Christ for all men and all the earth are invited by him to enter it and whosoever duely enters it finds entertainment Psal 100.1.4 Ioh. 6.37 If any man who or whatsoever believe on that is accept of submit to and depend on Christ it 's no matter what he is otherwise in himself whether great or small old or young Jew or Gentle greater or lesser sinner before conversion to him Yea whether rich or poor wise or foolish in respect of natural parts or wordly and humanely acquired science whether exercised with more or fewer temptations more or less inclined naturally to any lust or corruption sinfull affection or passion more quick or dul of apprehension in a word what ever a man be in and of himself or after the flesh that is not considerable as causing or hindring his acceptance with God provided that he believe on Christ with such a believing or exercise of faith in him as in which he is kept in obedience to him so as not to walk after the flesh but after the spirit It 's not considerable here what a man was or what he did how he walked or lived before he came to and closed with Christ For neither for his better walking then is he more acceptable now his righteousness then being such as could not justifie him in whole or in part nor his worser walking then makes him less accepted now his former unrighteousness being not at all now mentioned against him For it is wholly forgiven and blotted out in his coming into Christ and heartily closing with and believing on him Nay no former failings or falls after the hearing of or believing on Christ though hindring and disturbing a mans rest and peace for the time and procuring chastisements yea depriving of much good to a mans self and usefulness to others while continued in yet being seen confessed repented of and turned from to the believing in and exercise of faith in Christ again shall hinder his salvation and the injoyment of eternall life by and through him it being the good will of God That whosoever believeth on him yea though sometimes he hath not believed or hath failed or turned aside out of the way of believing on him should not perish but have Eternal life To this agrees that of Samuel to Israel when they had many ways sinned against him after he had made them his people and had to all other their former sins added that sin of rejecting not only Samuel from being their Judge and Governour But God himself also from being their King Though saith he ye have done all this wickedness yet turn not aside from following the Lord For the Lord wil not forsake his people any that still own and follow after him seeking forgiveness mercy and blessing of him only for his great names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people 1 Sam. 12.19 20 21 22. To the same purpose also the Apostle John 1 John 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the just or righteous one who is the propitiation for our sins for the sins of the whole World 1 Ioh. 2.1 2. Not as incouraging any man to sin but as preventing mens sinning and the worst and most destructive way of their sinning namely in departing from Christ and from attenâ—ing to and believing on him for salvation because they find sin in them warring against them yea or because not duly watching and warring against it they have actually sinned and defiled themselves thereby and made their case such as that they stand in greater need of his mercy and salvation Remember we this then that it is the gracious end of God in sending Christ delivering him to death and raising him up again from the dead and exalting and glorifying him and the great undertaking and buisinesse of Christ The great end unto which he dyed and unto which he now ever lives that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life Look we not therefore upon our selves to see what we are as thinking to gather incouragement to hope from what we are in our selves out of him or without him or as discouraging our selves by poâ—ing upon our selves and the evils in us or befalling us but mind we only Jesus Christ in all conditions as the only needfull and perfect way and mean to all true rest and
also the glory of God even of the Father the God and Father of glory is gloriously and brightly displayed both as to his glorious power in supporting Christ under all his sufferings and in raising him from the dead and setting him at his right hand and in treading down in and by him the power and strength of the adversary and triumphing gloriously over him His glorious and most excellent wisdome in devising and bringing about this glorious work to the bafling of the wit and policy of Sathan yea the Gospel is the revelation oâ— the mystery of God wherein are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledg and whereinto the wisest and most intelligent Angels desire to pry manifesting God to be the only wise God Rom. 16.25 27.1 Pâ—t 1.12 Col. 2.2 3. Yea and his glorious Holiness too is discovered in his condemning our sin in the flesh of hâ—s Son so as not sparing him as being made a Sacrifice and Ransome for us though his only begotten and through him revealing his wrath from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men that withhold the truth in unrighteousness a most dreadful punishment and endless destruction being herein declared as appointed for the refusers of his blessed Son the glory also of his truth and righteousness in not failing to perform the promises made to the Fathers of his raising up such a Saviour for us and bringing in by him grace and blessing to us which rather than he would fail to make good He made his only Son to be flesh and blood yea sin and a curse for us The glory of his greatness that could not accept any sacrifice as satisfactory to his Justice though of all the Bullocks upon a thousand Mountains or whatever else might be proposed or offered less then the Sacrifice of his only begotten Son as able to make Peace and Atonement with Him for us as also in that such great and glorious things are there-through prepared of Him for us and preached to us even his glorious and everlasting Kingdom with all its glorious contents and enjoyments in all which his work appears wonderfully great honourable and glorious and in all this the wonderful glory of his grace mercy and love is manifested to us both the grace of the Father in his exceeding love and charity towards us in the gift of his Son for us when we were become so sinful and such enemies to him and so unworthy of love and mercy from him as cannot be expressed and of our Lord Jesus Christ in condescending to such a low abasement and such unspeakable sufferings for our sakes to keep us from perishing in our sins and miseries and that he might prepare us for and bring us to everlasting life and happiness whereof also a very great discovery is made to us in the Gospel though no words can express all that is therein comprehended and to be enjoyed by us A glorious Doctrine indeed that hath such glorious contents or discovers such glorious things and that too to such a glorious end as the bringing us back to God and so to his Eternal glory to which he herein calls us by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 5.10 2 Thes 2.14 and for the preparing us for and bringing us to which it is filled with such excellent vertue and gracious efficacy as renders it worthy to be called also the Gospel of the grace of God forasmuch as therewith the grace and spirit of God is ministred also as is shewed in the foregoing Conclusions and as is said in 2 Cor. 3.6 7 8. where the Apostle also asserts it to be far more glorious as well as far more gracious than the Law of Moses being such as by representing the great grace of God gives great liberty and boldness to all that entertain it yea and represents therein the glory of God after such a wonderful attractive manner as is able to change the beholders thereof into its likeness from glory to glory as by the spirit of his Majesty ver 16 17 18. Yea in a word as is foreshewed its gloriously powerful to draw the Soul to and keep it with Jesus Christ to believe on and love and cleave to him to the delivering it from sin and death and giving to it Eternal Life yea all things pertaining to life and godliness are administred to us through this knowledge 2 Pet. 1.3 4. as hath been already more largely evidenced and therefore we may further infer from hence divers things with reference to the excellency of this glorious Gospel as Infer 1. That its a great and wonderful mercy of God to any Person or People to bring this blessed Doctrine in the openness and plainness thereof to them and to lift up the Son of Man therein to and before them and to continue it with them a mercy to be received with all acceptation and thankfulness and with all diligence and care to be improved so as to render to God for it fruits suitable and answerable to it in all sobriety and humbleness of mind in our selves as being in and for all things infinitely indebted to his grace without which we are nothing nor could have done any thing to preserve us from perishing and in all righteousness toward men and holiness and godliness towards the Lord who hath shewed such light and mercy to us this is that mercy of which the Apostle speaks when He saith That the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy as it is written for this cause will I give thanks to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy Name Rom. 15.9 For when this Gospel comes and is given to a Person Family or People God is therein granting them repentance even of all former sins and disobediences against all former means and mercies unto life as St. Peter said to the Brethren of the Circumcision Act. 11.18 discovering good ground and reason for it and affording power and motive to it in the name of Christ yea and a door of Faith too is therein opened for their coming in to and actually and distinctly believing on Christ Acts 14.27 That thereby they may come and be made of the same Fold with other distinct Believers fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God A People no more at a remote distance from him but near to him even of the same Body with other Forebelievers and partakers of the promises in Christ even of the choicest Favours and Priviledges of the Saints promised to and covenanted with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the holy Ones Yea to be Built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets and to be joyned to the Saints by the same precious Corner Stone Jesus Christ and so to become in the Unity of the Spirit with them an holy Temple and an habitation for God by his Spirit Ephes 2.13 14 19 20 21 22. and 3.5 6. And so to be of the Royal Priesthood the Chosen or elect Generation the holy Nation the peculiar People
As implying that Christ to whom and of whom the Lord in the Prophecy speaks is given in and with the Gospel and that both as a Light to them that sit in darkness to discover the way of safety to them and how great a Mercy is that and also to be for their salvation Namely both to pull them out of Death and the power of Satan and to lead and keep them in the path of Peace and Righteousness that they might not perish but have Eternal life And what is tendred to men in the tender of Christ Or what do men receive in receiving him Is it not God in him Yea all the Promises of God and Fulness of the Godhead and his Grace and Blessing as he saith himself He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me Mat. 10.40 And the Apostle John 2 John 9. He that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son And in 1 John 2.24 25. If that which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you ye shall continue in the Father and in the Son and this is the Promise which he hath promised us Eternal life Well therefore might the Apostle call the giving of the Gospel to the Gentiles The riches of the Gentiles Rom. 11.11 12. Seeing as he there saith in its coming Salvation is come to them to provoke the Jews to jealousie Whereupon he adds If their Fall be the Riches of the World and their diminishing the Riches of the Gentiles what will their fulness be Wherein is the fall of the Jews the Worlds riches or their lessening the riches of the Gentiles but in that Salvation which is the Gospel with the Contents and Benefits of it the Blessing of Abraham as it is called Gal. 3.14 is thereby come to and abides with them Surely this is the greatest Riches or Treasure of any man or of any People that they have the Gospel seeing they therein have Salvation and Life Eternal life the Blessing of Abraham Christ yea and God himself in Christ In a word The Kingdom of God and of Heaven as the Gospel is also so called brought herein to them So as in receiving and retaining it all those inestimable Riches and Benefits are received and retained by men Well might Solomon say There is Gold and a multitude of Rubies but the Lips of Knowledg are a precious Jewel Prov. 20.15 as if he would say a more excellent Jewel then any of them all Oh then that we Gentiles did know the Mercy and Goodness of God and prize it accordingly That we did understand and mind wherein our greatest Interest and Happiness lies Surely not in having the Riches of this World or Trading for them nor in having Power Empire Dominion and Rule nor in Learning worldly Wisdom and Policy nor in any of those things which the other Nations were preferred in above Israel but in having the Portion of Jacob the knowledg of God and Christ his Doctrine Oracles and Mysteries brought to us and left with us And therefore that should be our great business not as it is to seek after Empire Rule Honour Riches and worldly Greatness nor to satisfie our Lusts and Appetites in the ways of the Heathen in Surfetting and Drunkenness Chambrings and Wantonness Strifs and Envyings But in minding and receiving the Lip of Knowledg the Word of God the Gospel of Christ Oh therefore that we may repent of our Vanities and believe the Gospel and give the obedience of Faith to it as to that end its Preached to and among all Nations Mark 1.15 Rom. 1.5 and 16.26 For Infer 2. They that receive and retain this blessed Doctrine in which Christ is lifted up so as they obey and walk therein are very happy and blessed Persons in an excellent State and Condition as our Saviour said to the Woman who admired the Womb that bare him and the Breasts which gave him suck that they were blessed Yea saith he rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God the Gospel of Christ or the Preaching of him wherein he is lifted up and keep it that is so as to mind and remember it as a thing they believe and prize and observe to practise to do and obey what it instructs to Luke 11.28 And needs they must be so as appears by what is already said seeing they therein receive and have the Salvation of God Life even Eternal life and therein the Riches the Blessing the Promises in Christ Jesus yea Christ and God himself Oh then how blessed are they that know understand own and experiment the joyful sound the Gospel of Christ the Preaching of Peace and of good things in his Name They shall walk O Lord in the Light of thy Countenance in thy Name they shall rejoyce all the day and in thy Righteousness shall they be exalted Psal 89.15 16. and well they may seeing they are actually of Gods houshold fellow Citizens with the Saints Yea Gods holy House and Temple in which through Christ he dwelleth his People his Children his Inheritance and God and Christ is theirs his Royal Priesthood his chosen Generation his holy Nation his Jewels and Treasure his Garden of Delight those in whom God and Christ take pleasure his pleasant Plant his Spouse and Darling the dearly Beloved of his Soul a People near and dear to him whose God in a choice sense he is And Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord those whom he hath chosen to himself for his Inheritance They be those who receive retain and obey the blessed Doctrine wherein Christ is Exalted and Lifted up These are in a First-fruits Regenerated and Saved and are in the way to enjoy Eternal life It s theirs already as to Title and Interest and holding fast what they have received they shall not fail of the full Injoyment of it For this is the Testimony that God beareth of his Son that God hath given us Eternal life and that this Life is in his Son so that he that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son 2 John 9. Whence the Apostle adds These things have I written to you that believe that ye may know that ye have Eternal life and that ye may believe that is go on believing on the Name of the Son of God 1 John 5.11 12 13. Knowing that ye have Eternal life that ye are in as good a State and Way as ye can be in here that ye may persevere therein There is no other thing that can better the Believers condition for in Christ he is compleat the letting his Doctrine go to seek any thing else to better him is the way to deprive himself of all his Welfare And by observing lying Vanities to forsake his own Mercies For He that transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 John 9. nor Life 1 John 5.12 Therefore
shall pluck my feet out of the Net Psal 25.15 And when he had in vain looked for refuge to other things and they failed him then he looked to the Lord for refuge who never fails them that seeks him Psal 142.4 5. and 9.10 For indeed in vain is Salvation either in Grace unto Glory or from Enemies as Sin Satan and their Instruments or Designs looked for from any thing else and therefore it 's good to look to the Lord in whom alone is our Salvation and to wait for him the God of Salvation as in Jer. 3.23 Mich. 7.7 Yea in a word 8. Look to him for all Grace and Blessing the Promises of this Life and of the Life to come For in him all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen to the Glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 And he is the God of all Grace all the fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in him the Fountain of Living Waters who gives freely and liberally and upbraids no man Look therefore for the Mercy of this our Lord Jesus Christ even for the blessed hope and his glorious appearance unto Eternal life Jude 21. Tit. 2.13 And look we to him for all this Secondly In all means As to say 1. In minding his Word and looking into that perfect Law of Liberty as it is called James 1.26 There he is exercising his Spiritual power and affording his help that being Spirit and Life Rom. 1.16 John 6.63 A Ministration of Spirit that quickens and gives Life Strength and Grace 2 Cor. 3.6.8 Ephes 3.16 Heb. 10.29 And gives Wisdom and makes wise the simple Psal 19.9 and 119 130. Yea as it is written The holy Scriptures are able to make a man wise to Salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 3.15 And he that hath the Doctrine of Christ in his heart so as to Believe Mind Love and Obey it hath Christ nay both Father and Son 2 John â— There he is Discovered Pourtraied or set forth so as there-through we may see what an One he is and behold his Grace and Glory with open face as in a Glass through the help of his Spirit as is signified Isa 52.15 Gal. 3.1 2 Cor. 3.18 Look upon him there therefore and there wait on and for him And with this 2. In meditating on him as there set forth musing on and pondering his words and on him as declared therein So it 's said Kings shall shut their mouths at him for what they had not been told shall they see and what they had not heard shall they consider Isa 52.15 They shall understand or mind with themselves namely as looking herein and considering them as Preached in the Gospel for unto that the Apostle applies it Rom. 15.21 Spiritual meditation being as it were an inward Contemplation and wister looking into the Law of Liberty and upon him as set forth therein My meditations of thee shall be sweet saith David Psal 104.34 3. In Praying to him and to God in and through him Then we lift up our faces to him Job 22.26 And therein a man may see his Face oft-times with joy lifting up pure hearts and hands to him Job 33.26 In Prayer we both look up to him and upon him fixing the eyes of our mind upon him we lift up our eyes unto and our eyes are upon the Lord our God till he have mercy on us Psal 123.1 2. There we are to take notice of and know his Name in calling upon it Psal 91.14 15. Exercising Faith which is the exercise of the eyes of the mind also to behold as well as of the hand to lay hold of him in him and his Name otherwise it 's not a Prayer of Faith as it should be and as it 's called Jam. 5.15 4. In his Sacraments or Ordinances of Communion together with him In Baptism we may behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world John 1.29 And in the Supper we have to do with his Body and Blood and his Death shewed forth therein it being a Communion of his Body and Blood held forth there to be taken notice of by us and received of us 1 Cor. 10.16 and 11.26 And for and in all these it 's good to look to him 5. In the Unity of the Spirit with his people and in Fellowship with them in his House his Church his Temple those that have his Name upon them and with them Many people shall say Come ye and let us go up to the Mountain of the House of the Lord to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his Ways c. Isa 2.3 And Oh how good is it for Brethren to dwell together in unity for there the Lord commandeth the Blessing even life for evermore Psal 133.1.4 Thirdly Look we to him and upon him at all times Hear in season and out of season for that 's implied in that the Word is to be Preached in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.2 for there is no Preaching but to some hearers meditate on him as set forth in it night and day Psal 1.2 whether literally understood for so David Seven times a day will I praise thee Psal 119.164 Consider my meditation in the morning will I direct it unto thee and will look Psal 5.1 3. And Mine eyes prevented the night watches that I might meditate in thy Word Psal 119.148 Or Metaphorically for times of Prosperity and Adversity when we are merry beholding his Goodness set forth in his Word or proved in his Works The Word of Christ dwelling in us will lead us to sing Psalms and when sad and heavy then considering in the day of Adversity him that is able to help us Pray Col 3.16 with James 5.13 Eccles 7.14 Yea that we may Bless him at all times and his praise be continually in our mouth it 's needful that the thought of Him and his Name and so the Consideration and Contemplation of him be always habitually in our hearts That out of the abundance of the heart the mouth may speak and we may out of the good treasure there bring forth good things Psal 34.1 2. and 145.1 2. Mat. 12.34 35. 4. With all earnestness and serious diligence even with the whole heart as Psal 119 10. Jer. 29.13 for this is not a matter of sport and divertisement only from some weightier matters but the main and chief thing of all our whole lives Matth. 6.33 The one thing needful or necessary Luc. 10.42 to be looking up to and upon the Lord Jesus therefore the one thing desired by David to dwell in his House that he might behold the fair beauty of the Lord as was noted before Psal 27.4 The things of greatest moment depending hereupon as to say 1. The deliverance of our Souls from the stings and venome of the old Serpent even from sin and death spiritual death and guilt and filth now and everlasting curse and misery hereafter And is this a thing to be trifled