thee I will rejoyce over thee I will forget the wrongs thou hast done me I will requite thy Vnkindness with Kindness and draw thee with cords of Love with cords saith one woven and spun out of my very Heart and Bowels O miserable Caitiff embrace my Counsels listen thine Ears to Heaven gate and hear the melodious Musick that is there made by refined Spirits why wilt thou rather lye with damned howling Devils than sing Hallelujah's and the Song of the Lamb with saved Souls Accept of me and unchangeable Glory unspeakable Priviledges and Rivers of Pleasures shall be thine Thus doth the Lord Jesus woo poor perishing Souls to be happy and is not this Pity indeed Fourthly His readiness to receive them when they come to him No sooner do they open the door but he comes in Rev. 3. 20. If any man open the door I will come in unto him No sooner doth the Prodigal return but his Father meets him yea runs to meet him as if he could never come soon enough at him Luke 15 20. Mercy is upon the wing when it comes to receive returning Sinners No sooner did Ephraim repent but God repented too As soon as he said Turn thou me God said He shall be turned when he cries Thou art the Lord my God presently God Answers Is he not a pleasant Child So willing is Christ to receive returning Sinners as that he promiseth he will in no wise cast them out Joh. 6. 37. Yea if they cannot come unto him he will go and fetch them and if they cannot go he will draw them Joh. 6. 44. Fifthly His great Joy when he hath obtain'd them The Father of the Prodigal keeps a Feast and makes merry when his lost Child is found Luke 15. 23 24. Psal 104. 31. The Lord shall rejoyce in his Works and this he doth when he hath finished them Heb. 4. 4. But there is nothing the Lord Jesus Christ takes more pleasure in than in the Redemption of Souls Prov. 8. 31. He delighted in the habitable parts of the Earth This you vvill find further amplified in the Parables of the lost sheep and lost piece of Silver Luke 15. from vers 4. to 11. CHAP. XII The Improvement of the Pity of Christ by way of Terrour Encouragement and Advice ARE there such deep and large Bowels of Pity in Jesus Christ not only towards his Friends but his very Enemies Then here is First Terrour to Impenitent Sinners Ah Souls hovv fearfully great is your Sin being a plain defiance to the Mercy and pity of Christ Every Transgression of yours is a kicking the very Bovvels of Mercy and a stab at the Heart of Divine Pity O! hovv vile are your Iniquities vvhilst vvithout Christ They are no less than a despising of the Riches of the Mercy and Goodness of God which would have led you to Repentance and a treasuring up of Wrath against the day of Wrath Rom. 2. 4 5. O Sinners you run on score in abusing of the highest Mercy that ever was you provoke your best Friend against you Alas Who can help you if Mercy it self becomes your Enemy The Bowels of Christ are your last Asylum if this door be shut against you Farewel Souls and can you hope that Mercy will plead for you when rejected by you or will not God hear the Complaint of despised Mercy think you Sinners the Compassion of Christ shall come forth at the last day and say I would have saved that Soul but it would not how often would I have gathered it but it resisted Mat. 23. 37. I offered to pay it's Debts and to get him an Acquittance in the Court of Heaven but he refused it I would have ransom'd him from Death to Life and adopted him to an Inheritance in Glory but he would not I would have stamp'd the divine Nature on him and brought him into the Likeness of the Lord of Glory but he would not I would have put down his Name in the book of Life and secur'd his Title to Heaven but he would not I called he would not answer I perswaded he refused I beseeched he despised I strived he resisted and now Justice into thy hands do I deliver these rebellious Souls to be dealt with according to the Threatnings of the Gospel and Severity of the Law that my Wrongs may be avenged O! what a terrible Complaint will this be Sinners tremble then at the Thoughts of your abusing divine Mâ—rcy Vse 2. Of Encouragement to dejected Souls If there be such tender pity in the Lord Jesus O then take Courage hence to hope for Mercy these Mercies of Christ are infinite boundless and bottomless O what a stock of Mercy is in him for troubled Souls to trade upon what unfathomed Deeps are there in divine Compassions enough to serve all thy Turns and Necessities have thy Sins been many The free Gift is of many Offences to Justification Rom. 5. 6. Of the Offences of many persons be they never so many or the many Offences of one person there is vertue enough in this free Gift of the Blood of Christ for the pardoning them all if such return he saith one that had love enough to give us Christ hath Bowels enough to give us pardon believing Souls shall never dye for Debt if the Bowels of Christ hath wherewithal to pay it O! what Shifts will tender Parents make to keep their indebted Children out of Prison They will beg and borrow of others pinch themselves and spare what they can rather than their Children shall be undone and surely the Mercy of Christ must needs make the most of his Blood and Obedience of his Intercession and Satisfaction for the Pardon of his People And therefore Daniel joyns Mercies and Forgiveness together Dan. 9. 9. Is thy Unworthiness great and deservest thou nothing but Wrath from God O bear up thy Sinking Spirit on the Arm of Mercy Mercy is in vain and signifies nothing if Justice only must take place hast thou abused Mercy and sinn'd away the Favour of thy God Thou hast lost his Gift but he hath not lost his giving the Child spils his Water and goes to the Well to fill his Pitcher again there is more Mercy O troubled Soul in the deep Wells of Salvation for those that seek it Obj. But I have provoked God to withhold Mercy Ans Let me tell thee O distressed Believer there are Forgivings as well as Givings in the Bowels of Christ and I know not which are greater Are thy Wants many Be of good chear Mercy hath enough to supply them all and is as free to give as able and take this for they Encouragement Mercy never gives where there are Deservings Are thy Griefs Labours Fears Troubles and Burdens great Yet comfort thy self Misery and Mercy are a Kin Mercy lives in the â—lymate of Misery and never thrives better than in Misery's Ground to do good to miserable Creatures is Meat and Drink to Mercy John 4. 32. I have Meat to eat
your fellows He will make you Kings and Priests to God he will set you in Heavenly places he will seal your title to a Rich Joynture he will make sure your interest to all the Treasures of Heaven He will possesse you with grace and assure you of glory O sinners is not this argument enough to win your Souls and make you willing to accept of such a Majesty as Jesus Christ Eighthly Sinners think upon the greatness of that love tâ—e Lord Jesus Christ bears you He hath good-will towards Men towards sinners as sinners whiles in their blood he hath a love of pity for you 'T is true till you close with Christ he can have no love of acquiescense in you but he hath a love of good-will to your Souls he hath so much love for you as hath made him willing to shed his blood for you his love brought him down from the Fathers Glory made him willing to drink the dregs of a cup of wrath for you the love of Christ to Sinners hath set up a standing Ministery in the World sent forth multitudes to publish glad tidings O Sinners did you but believe this how attractive would it be upon your hearts to draw you to Christ But if none of these arguments will prevail let me adde one consideration more Lastly The effects of your refusing Jesus Christ will be dreadful if you will not accept of this proposal O think what a terrible answer Christ will send you Such shall not taste of his Supper Luke 14. 24. Not a crumb that fall from this Rich Table of Salvation-chear shall fall to the share of that wretched sinner If you will not have his Person you shall not have his purchase He hath sworn in his wrath these shall never enter into his Rest Heb. 3. 11. O sinner were there no other Hell but the loss of Heaven it were enough to break thy heart in pieces O think upon the sad Issue of thy final unbelief When thy sins get over thy head and thy guilt follows thee at thy heels When Death and Hell shall be at thy back and then to call and cry and knock at the door of mercy and not be heard O what a doleful thing will this be When armies of devils are round about thee ready to snatch thy Soul into everlasting burnings and none to relieve thee O fearful will the case of thy Soul be When thou shalt cry O for mercles sake Help Lord I am going to Hell for mercies sake help and then for the Ear of God to be deaf and thou not have one good word and the door be shut against thee O what a dolefull case will this be for tender mercy to cease is miserable But for mercy to become cruel to you O fearful case indeed when tender Bowels shall become Brass and Iron and there shall be no sounding at all in it towards thy Soul O sinner if thou wilt not accept of this Christ he will laugh at thy Calamity and mock when thy Fear cometh Pro. 1. 26. That 's terrible when God shall not only cease to pity but deride thy misery Be assur'd Soul as quiet as now thou art a day of Calamity will come there will come a time of Fears for thy poor Soul and then will mercy it self be turn'd into wrath and laugh at thy Calamity yet further sinner if thou wilt not accept of Christ then will incensed fury send forth its army of destroyers and ruine and cut off thy Soul for ever Mat. 22. 7. Then shalt thou be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and from the glory of his Power 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Then shall vengeance glut it self upon thy Soul and seize upon thee in flaming Fire O 't is a dreadful thing to lye at the mercy of vengeance O what will not enraged fury do to its adversaries when it hath them at its power But what will divine vengeance do O sinner when God shall arraign thee at the Bar of Judgment for kicking at the Bowels of mercy for Crowning the head of Christ with thorns and trampling his blood under feet what wilt thou do then O canst thou read this and not shake when thou shalt see Devils round about thee and flaming vengeance take hold of thee But thus it will be Then they that would not let Christ reign over them shall feel Devils rending of them Then they that fled from the Arms of mercy shall fall into the Jaws of fury Then they that shut their ears against the fervent wooings of Christ shall open their hearts to the fiery wrath of Christ Then they that would not get into the bosom of Christ shall lodge in the burnings of Hell Then the Furnace of Hell shall be heated seven times hotter for those whose hearts freezed under the warm beams of Christ's Love Oh dreadful will thy state be Sinner if thou refuse Christ Well sinner take the Counsel given thee kiss the Son Iest he be angry turn in turn in hither reach out thy arms come away to Christ say Lord Jesus I am willingly thine Sinners are you perswaded what answer shall we return to this Lord of Glory Will you be his Will you accept of this grace tendered to you before it breathe its last to you CHAP. XXVI Objections answered Counsels how to come to Christ I shall now endeavour to answer those Objections which are made by doubting Souls against their coming to Christ 1. Objection Says a Soul But will this blessed Potentate this glorious King of Kings stoop so low as to look upon such an obscure Creature such a worthless worm as I am Alas I am too mean to unloose the latchet of his shooes I am too unworthy to be the meanest Servant in his House To be a dog to his Flock And will he cast his skirt over me O do not flatter me into such vain hopes and fond dreams that such a King of Glory will look upon me I am too low for one aspect of his Eye Answ Abundant Testimony hath this Lord given of his condescending heart to sinners Dost thou think thou art too low for such a Majesty When he left his Fathers Kingdom and came down from his Eternal Glory with the Father he gave abundant proof of the humility of his heart when he did espouse thy nature sinner to himself and took upon him the form of a Servant he shewed his humble heart that he was far from contemning sinners He was the true Jacob who served a far harder bondage for thy Soul than ever Jacob did for his Rachâ—l this shews his humility His choosing such mean persons such notorious sinners for his companions in nearest Union and Communiwith himself Matthew the Publican Paul the Blasphemer Poor Fishermen of no regard upon Earth These did Christ personally chuse for his nearest Converses this shews his condescension And 't is not thy low state sinner can discourage Christ if thy heart be really willing His
entrance within the veil was typified out Heaven Glory As the High-Priest entred within the veil so Christ as an High-Priest is now in Heaven to carry on Redemption-work He is there to oppose all Designs against his People and secure them against all the Impleadings of their Enemies He ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. The word signifies to attain the Mark as an Archer doth or he that throws Darts hits the Mark so the Lord Jesus Christ intercedes so as to prevail Secondly How doth Christ intercede in Heaven Ans 1. Negatively Jesus Christ doth not intercede in Heaven Figuratively As if his Intercession were no more but the vertue of his Merit as Abel's Blood is said to speak Heb. 12. 24. But formally as one that takes upon him the Cause of his sinning suffering people Secondly he doth not intercede Charitatively by way of Courtesie and Kindness which he might do or leave undone as he pleaseth but officially by way of Office and Trust committed to him for so he is our Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. Thirdly Neither doth he intercede Precario in such an humble manner and Mode of Supplication of bowing the Knee and submissive Intreaties with Cries and Tears as the Saints do and as once he did whilst on Earth for this is inconsistent with that State of Majesty and Glory he is in at the right hand of God Heb. 1. 3. But Authoritatively by way of Right and Power as one that hath deposited a sufficient Price and now demands his Captives as one that hath made a Purchase and now requires the thing purchased as one that hath deserved what he moves for and hath Power as God to bestow Secondly Affirmatively and so First Christ's Intercession in Heaven is by his appearing there for us as our Mediator and Surety presenting his person God-man as our Agent and High-priest Heb. 9. 24. As the High-priest of old did appear in the holyest of all with the Names of the twelve Tribes on his Breast and Shoulders for a Memorial before the Lord Exod. 28. 9. to 22. to which says one the Church alludes Cant. 8. 6. Set me as a Seal on thy Heart as a a Seal upon thy Arm as a Manifestation of his Love so Christ's interceding is his appearing in the behalf of his People as their Advocate and Christ's sitting in Heaven in this Relation to his people may be calleâ— his interceding Secondly By presenting his Obedience and Sufferings before the Father on their behalf that they might have the Benefit of it and that God would in Justice communicate the Fruits of it to all his Seed 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. A type of this we might see in the High-priest's bringing the blood of the Sacrifice within the Veil and sprinkling it on the Mercy Seat Lev. 16. 11. to 17. First he killed the Sin-offering and then brought in the Blood before the Lord within the Veil without which his Act was not compleat Thus Christ first sheds his Blood on Earth for his People then enters into Heaven there to present his Blood for us Heb. 8. 4. Thirdly By declaring his Willingness that his People should have all that Mercy and Salvation which they need and that he purchases for them Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be where I am Father I will that my Children have their due 't is true they have sinned but I have suffered they have fallen short but I have fulfilled all Righteousness thou knowest I obeyed for them and dyed for them that all which thou hast promised might be made good to them and Father I will that Justice be done for them in Heaven and I will that this and the other Mercy be given out to them here according as their Necessities and Capacities require whilst Christ was on Earth he came to do his Fathers Will and now he is in Heaven he must in all things have his own Joh. 11. 42. Thus much may be understood by the manner of Christ's Intercession in Heaven Thirdly For whom doth Jesus Christ intercede in Heaven Answ For all that come to God by him Heb. 9. 27. For all that do believe in him Joh. 17. 20. Some desponding Sinners may be ready to say alas this is not for me I am unworthy of so choice a Mercy will Christ plead for such a grace-abusing wretch as I Why Sinner if thou art one that comest over to Jesus Christ and believest on the Son thou mayest lay claim to this Advocate in Heaven and confidently expect the Benefit of his Intercession Again The Lord Christ intercedes for all his People on Earth Joh. 17. 11. And now I am no more in the World but these are in the World holy Father keep through thy own Name those whom thou hast given me The Saints on Earth are the Subjects for whom he intercedes particularly for his sinning people he made Intercession for the Transgressors Isa 53. 12. Some trembling Soul may say Christ's Intercession is for them that are holy but I am vile but know O Soul Christ interceeds in Heaven for his people that sin against him 1 Joh. 2. 2. Again Christ intercedes in Heaven for his weak and impotent people that are compast about with Clouds of Infirmities he hath a special Respect to these as a tender Father hath to a weak Child Christ's grace was sufficient for Paul when his own fail'd under the horrible Buffetings of Satan 2 Cor. 12. 9. Such as are weak in themselves that know not how to pray or wait upon God in any holy Duty as they should these are the Persons Christ pleads for to help them such as are ready to be overcome by Temptations Simon Simon Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Luke 22. 31. 32. Poor tempted Souls hurryed up and down sometimes assaulted with blasphemous Thoughts then poysoned by ugly Temptations put upon this Sin and then the other Sin every day the Devil following them with new Temptations laying in new Batteries against them Now the Lord Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God interceding for these Again Christ intercedes in Heaven for his suffering People such as are in danger of being overcome by their Enemies and have no Might and none to intercede for them Isaiah 59. 16. Sore Judgments there were upon the People of God and that justly for their Transgressions no Righteousness of their own to plead for them nothing at all that could justly intervene between Wrath and them Now in this case Christ steps in and he intercedes and brings Salvation These are the persons Christ intercedes for in Heaven Fourthly What doth the Lord Jesus intercede for in the behalf of his People First One thing he pleads for is for their Preservation in the World and from the Evil of the World Joh. 17. 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the World but
not come Joh. 3. 18. Ah troubled Souls you that tremble least he will no more have Mercy on you but reject your Selves and Duties shut up his Bowels and harden his Heart against your Cries Ah! do but consider and seriously reflect on what Christ hath already done and suffered for you think on his Carriage whilst on Earth and his tender Reception of all that came to him he debarred none surely then his Advancement in Heaven produces no Alteration in him it may enlarge his Capacity but cannot straiten his Bowels to perishing Sinners Honour doth not puff him up or make him unmindful of their Concernments think upon his Promises he will cast out none that come to him Joh. 6. 37. Let their Sins be as red as Scarlet he will make them as white as Wool Isa 1. 18. He knows the Heart of a Stranger Exod. 23. 29. He remembers what 't is to lye under the Pangs of a troubled Soul when he trode the Wine-press of his Fathers Wrath alone and therefore cannot but compassionate the Miserable and those that are consumed with the Terrors of the Almighty Cease Soul to lay thy Charge on Christ 't is thy own Unwillingness and Unbelief that impedes thy way to Life not his Thirdly How fearful then is the Sin and how dreadful will be the misery of all those that refuse this Mediator will not hearken to this Prophet nor consent to his Proposals for Salvation The Tongues of Men and Angels are not capable here to commit an Hyperbole nor can such themselves sufficiently conceive it till they feel it Ah Sinners Weigh a little these ensuing particulars and you will find it true First It is a most aggravated Sin and hath all the circumstances of Evil in it There 's no sin of so deep a Dye and foul a Guilt It is a sin against the highest Mercy and greatest Deeps of Divine Favour There were some Discoveries of Mercy that God expended on the Gentile World In the times of their Ignorance God did wink at them feed them and cloath them But the Treasures of Grace were reserved for the Fulness of Time the Gospel dayes O wretched Caitiff By refusing Christ thou kickest against the most sounding Bowels against rich Mercy Eph. 2. 4. Against tender Mercy Luke 1. 18. Against Free Mercy Eph. 2. 8. It is a Sin against and a forsaking of thy own Mercy Thou stabbest thy own Soul with the same Dagger thou flingest at Christ O wretched Sinner thou takest pains to shut thy self out of the door of Mercy and to argue thy self into the depth of Misery O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self Oh Sinner thou sheddest the blood of thy own Soul Hos 13. 9. It is a sin against the choicest and costliest Remedy that ever God prepared The Garment God made to cloath thy Soul is dip'd in Blood and this thou throwest from thee How justly will thy Soul rot in chains of Darkness to all Eternity that refusest such a chargeable Remedy laid out upon thee The Law was but leading to it Gal. 3. 24. Had you liv'd to see the Priests killing the Sheep and Lambs and cutting the throats of these poor Creatures to make an Atonement for Sin you would have said surely the Antitype must needs be bloody All those charges men were at in their daily Sacrifices could not take away one Sin the Blood of Christ must do it O expensive Mercy And this thy Soul despiseth O cursed Sin All other Dispensations could not make those that use them perfect Heb. 9. 9. Nor all the World if sold can pay the Debt of one Soul or the price of one sin It is a sin against the most glorious Majesty that ever was Phil. 2. 9. Thou spittest in that Face that is infinitely above all Spots and Stains that the Angels admire and adore one Smile of which maintains all the Life and Consolation of the Saints in Glory this Jesus thou despisest O unbelieving Sinner where wilt thou go to hide thy self from the wrath of the Lamb at the last day Lastly 'T is a rejection of thy own Duty a throwing Christ out of his own Vineyard and how will God deal with such He will miserably destroy these miserable men Matth. 21. 41. The Lord Jesus Chrst hath Right to rule thee and thou rejectest the Homage thou owest to him and despisest his lawful Right and Authority which is a most grievous Sin indeed Secondly 'T is a most unreasonable Sin there 's no Plea at all will bear in the Court of Reason for such a Sin thy own Reason will judge and condemn thy Soul O! that ever thou shouldest chuse Death rather than Life and take the Iron Rod of Satan over thee and despise the golden Scepter of Jesus Christ Ah! Sinner there 's cause why thou shouldst leave thy Lusts and wicked Companions and depart from the Chambers of Death in which thy Soul hath dwelt so long but none at all why thou should'st not come over to Christ what doth Christ propose to thee that thou can'st cavil at Is it to leave thy Lusts If not these will ruine thy Soul if thou had'st Fire in thy Bosom thou would'st think it reason to cast it out if Fetters upon thy Feet and Clogs about thy Body to shake them off if a Serpent in thy Bosom to cast him out O Sinner sit down and consult with the Principles of Reason never was a better Bargain offered thee Think on it What if the Gate seem straight it is not so to thy Soul but to thy Lusts thou can'st not shun Trouble but must meet with it either here or to all Eternity Thirdly 'T is a most condemning Sin Joh. 3. 19. This will justifie the severest Doom of God that they might have Life but would not Salvation came home to them but they turn'd it off O Sinner take heed how thou refusest him that speaks from Heaven despise not Christ Secondly As 't is the greatest Sin so 't is attended with the greatest Misery For first it opens the Windows of Vengeance and le ts down divine Wrath on thy Soul it takes off all Possibility of Salvation he that shuts up this door leavs none open to Life Acts 4. 12. Christ is the only Way the Truth and the Life no possibility of escaping Wrath to come if thou refuse the Lord Christ Heh 2. 3. Don't flatter thy self with Hopes of after Mercy if thou give Christ a final Denial all hopes of Mercy is gone when once Christ who is the Blessing is gone from thy Soul Secondly There 's no Acceptance of any of thy duties 't is his Righteousness and Intercession makes way for thy Acceptance Eph. 1. 6. All Acceptableness of the best Services of any is through him 1 Pet. 2. 5. None of thy Complaints or doleful Cries can ever enter into Gods Ears if they be not mixt with the Odours of his Incense Ah Sinner thou flatterest thy self with this that thou wilt pray cry and weep
that you know not of Vse 3. Of Exhortation First to perishing Sinners make use of the Mercy of Christ whilst you have it now is the acceptable time the day of Grace the Season of Visitation now the Sun shines not only in Sion but on Sodom nay it hath stood still on your Gibeon for a Season Josh 10. 12. 13. O let not Mercy go and leave you in your blood and let you lye in your Graves let not the Sun of the Gospel set on you and leave you in inner Darkness lest outer Darkness shortly seize upon you believe it Mercy seems to be near a Departure it looks as it were about to change Houses to go from Gentiles to Jews from West to East it seems near setting in England in these Western parts of the World Who knows how soon it may arise in the East O Sinners don't you lye a bed in your Security and let Mercy give you the slip O then you that are yet in your blood under Wrath in Danger of Judgment be advised to strike in with Mercy while 't is to be had Isa 55. 6. while divine Bowels yearn towards you weep over you and wait for you O turn in and close with Mercy whiles it's face is unveil'd to you it's Arms open'd to you and before it hath breath'd it's last Breath to you believe the Warnings and Treatnings of Mercy bow and stoop to the Convictions of Mercy receive the Tenders thereof obey it's Counsel and persevere it it's way be perswaded Sinners this day it may be the last time I may beseech you for Mercies sake to turn and live and Oh! how doleful will it be to out-live the day of Mercy and possibility of obtaining Salvation when the Angel of the Lord shall proclaim Time shall be no more Time was but now is past Secondly to all Souls both changed and unchanged if the Lord Jesus be so pityful to you O then be not cruel to your own Souls do not rob cheat and cozen your own Souls deprive them not of your own Mercies Jonah 2. 8. Don't consent to those ways that will rob you of all the Possibilities and Hopes of Salvation O! the sweet Comforts and Pleasures that now you loose for a few dirty Delights Prov. 3. 17. Think on the Substance the tryed Gold the rich Attire that you deprive your Souls of by refusing to hearken to the Counsel of Christ Rev. 3. 18. Don't starve your Souls by feeding on Husks while the bread of Life lies before you this is Cruelty to them indeed Luke 15. 16. 17. Do not wound rend and tare your Souls by cruel Lusts he that sins hateth his own Soul Prov. 15. 32. chap. 29. 24. Math. 16. 26. O the sad Bruises that Sin gives and the desperate Gashes it makes in the Sinners own Soul Isa 1. 6. Prov. 8. 36. Every Sin of thine O carnal wretch is a deadly blow on thy own Soul all thy carnal Pleasures thy merry jesting Words thy Swearing Lying Cheating Oppressing and Covetousness gives new Stabs to thy Heart it would be a barbarous sight to behold one unmercifully wounding another much more to see a person torturing his own Soul do not sell thy immortal Soul for a Lie for that which is not which will not profit in the day of Wrath Rom. 6. 21. Jer. 16. 19. Thus Elijah told Ahab 1 Kings 21. 20. That he sold himself to work Wickedness that is he gave himself wholly to the Service of Sin as a Servant that binds himself over to anothers Business Rom. 6. 16. Thirdly To the Children of Mercy whom the Lord Jesus hath loved and washed in his own Blood you that are chosen called justified sanctified and adopted unto Glory be exhorted First be not hard-hearted to Christ requite not his Pity with Cruelty grieve not his Spirit sadden not his Heart with your sinful and unsutable Walkings before him no Sins make greater Wounds on the Heart of Christ than the Sins of his own Children Eph. 4. 30. O be not cruel to him who is so tender of you do not feed him with Wormwood and Gall who hath feasted you with Joy and Gladness yea with his own Heart blood Secondly Put on Bowels of Pity towards others Col. 3. 12. They that are cruel to others shall find God cruel to them Jam. 2. 13. Thirdly Adventure for God in the way of Duty Psal 5. 7. Psal 23. 6. Psal 25. 10. Fourthly Then let the Consideration of Christ's Mercy comfort you under the World's Cruelty and your greatest Sufferings for Christ Psal 57. 3. Psal 32. 7. 10. Psal 59. 17. CHAP. XIII Wherein is opened the transcendent Humility of Christ ANother part of this total Sum of Christ's personal Treasure consisting in the Sweetness of his Disposition is Fourthly His Humility and Lowliness of mind This is an excellent Vertue and that which the very Heathens have esteemed at a high Rate 't is a rare thing saith Aretius and rare things are excellent Chrysostom calls it the chiefest Vertue the Salt that seasons all other Excellencies and the Beginning of all Good If any saith Austin should ask me what is the chiefest Vertue I should say Humility what is the next Humility what is the next Humility The humble Soul saith Manton is God's second Heaven Isa 57. 15 Of so great a worth is all true Humility in any especially in Persons of Height and Grandure for these to come down and humble themselves is exceeding high and noble O then what is Humility in the high and lofty one in the Lord of Glory and King of Kings and Lord of Lords yet this is part of Christ's Treasure Mat. 11. 29. Learn of me for I am meak and lowly He who best knew himself who is Truth it self and cannot lye hath declared that he is lowly and that not in Carriage and external Shew only but in Heart also O what stupendious wonder is this that so glorious a person as the only begotten Son of God should be lowly in Heart I speak not here of his divine Nature as God though in that respect he is lowly too Isa 57. 15. Though he inhabiteth the highest Heaven yet he dwelleth also in the lowest Heart yea 't is wonderful Condescension in God to behold the things that are in Heaven and Earth Psal 113. 5 6. But I treat here of Christ as Mediator God-man and so he is humble and lowly in Heart which will appear if we consider these particulars First His Humility whilst he was on Earth Secondly His Humility now he is in Heaven His Humility on Earth consists first in his Willingness being God over all and Maker of all to become man his Creature this is strange that the Son of God should be willing to be accounted yea to become the Son of man Heb. 2. 16. He did not take the Nature of Angels upon him but he took on him the Seed of Abraham so vers 14. Forasmuch then as the Children were Partakers of Flesh and
preaching the Gospel to the poor and calling the base things of this world and things that are not shews his lowly mind And his humility hath been abundantly prov'd already He will dwell with the Lowly Isa 57. 15. 2. Object But I have no portion for Christ I am exceeding poor and beggarly I have no Righteousness no Grace no good things dwell in me I can bring nothing to glorifie him I have no ability at all to serve him I cannot pray or do any thing that is good and will Christ accept of me Ans Christs design in these Gospel tenders of himself to sinners is not to get but to give Riches He wants no treasures for himself but he rather wants objects to give them to He wants no goods but like the Rich man in the Gospel he wants room to bestow his goods He is willing to impart his treasure to sinners 2 Cor. 8. 9. Of all persons in the world he is sure to hear the desires of the poor The rich shall be sent empty away but the poor that waiâ— on him shall be heard Psa 69. 33. Art â—â—ou a poor Soul in thy own eyes The Lord hatâ— special regard for such These are the persons he invites to him that have no money no price Isa 55. 1. The poor have the Gospel preached â—o them Math. 11. 5. Therefore sinners 't is â—ot thy poverty can break the match nor hinder â—y reception of Jesus Christ if thy heart be wâ—â—ling 3. Object But I am a deformed loveless Creature I have no beauty at all in me I am black with sin full of all uncleanness and abominations polluted in my blood wallowing in my Mire and Vomit scarce such a nauseous Object as I in all the world O what a filthy heart O what an unclean Soul O what vile affections bave I and will this holy one cast a glance of Love on such a Creature as I I dare not think he will endure the sight of me therefore I am afraid to look to him Answ Believing sinners though black in their own eye yet are comely in Christ's Eye Cant. 1. 5. Faith puts an amiableness on the believing sinner in Christs account This is one of those eyes that ravishes his heart Cant. 4. 9. He looks upon them as lovely that come to him though unlovely in themselves Affections spie no deformity in the beloved object Christs love is so great to fallen man as that nothing appears unlovely in him but an unwillingness to be hiâ— He sees no iniquity in Jacob though therâ—â—e a great deal The halt blind lame impâ—â—â—nt are no amorous Objects yet these Christ invites to his feast Luk. 14. 21. Others are not worthy says Christ but bring these they aâ—e companie for me if they will but come â— Let not thy deformity and the sense of thy uâ—worthiness keep thee from Christ because hâ— hath beauty enough for himself and thee He hath comeliness enough to cover thy nakedness 't is but for some of his beams to reflect on thy Soul and thou wilt be altogether glorious thy perfection lies in his and not thy own comeliness Christ can soon fill thee with amiableness see in Ezek. 16. what a change Grace makes upon deformed sinners The beautie of sinners is Christs beautie put upon them and Christs Holiness imparted to them and there 's enough of it for thee 3. Know that Christs blood is cleansing blood it doth not only cover spots and deformities but it takes away filthiness if thou come to him the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. 4. Object But I am a great sinner none like me therefore I cannot think the Lord Jesus will pass them by or have thoughts of favour for me Ans So was Davids and yet found pardon Psa 25. 11. for thy name sake O Lord pardon mine iniquities for they are great Manassch's sins were notorious and yet upon hiâ— Repentance found favour with God 2 Chro. 33. 3 4 5 6. He reared up Altars for Baalim worshipped all the host of Heaven and served them he built Altars in the House of the Lord and caused his Children to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom He also observed times and used Iâ—chantments and Witchcrafts and dealt with familiar Spirits and with â—izards and when God spake to him he would not hearken ver 10. O abominable sins One would think here was a man ripe for Hell yet upon his supplication when he was in affliction God heard him and pardon'd him ver 12 13. Paul was a flagitious sinner in his own eyes the greatest that ever was 1 Tim. 1. 15. A Blasphemer a persecutor injurious but obtained mercy ver 13. Therefore 't is not the greatness of thy sin can stand in the way of thy mercy if thou come over to Christ with all thy heart 5. Object But I have been an old sinner I have been rooted in sin and liv'd in sin all my days I have been a continual provocation to the Lord for many years through my whole Life sin hath touch'd sin and I cannot think Christ hath thoughts of Love for me Answ So did the Thief upon the Cross he sinn'd to the last hour of his Life and yet obtained mercy Luke 23. 40 41 42 43. So did some of those that were called in at the Eleventh hour yet embracing the call obtained mercy Math. 20. 9 12. it was not the length of their sinning time excluded the Efficacie of salvation-Salvation-mercy when they did come in at the call of it I mention not this for a Pillow to secure sinners but for a Cordial for desponding Souls Now the Gospel calls thee nner if thou come in this hour and embrace the calls of mercy 't is not the length of thy sinning time will make void the Grace of God 6. Object But saies the Soul I have sleighted many calls already I have quenched many motions of the Spirit I have despised the first call and may I have hopes to go to Christ Will he receive me Answ So did Manasseh he did reject many calls God did speak to him but he would not hearken and after his rejection of the first call yet mercie found him The Jews in the wilderness rejected many calls of God yet the Lord said while 't is called to day harden not your hearts Hâ—b 3. 7 8. Though thou hast been guiltie of despising many calls this is matter for thy humbling but not for thy despair 7. Object But I am never the better for all the means and mercy I have enjoyed though I had despised the first calls of mercy yet if I had been the better for after tenders of grace there were some hope But I am still the same notwithstanding all the Sermons I hear and precious overtures of Salvation my heart is hard and dead under all Answ So it was with the Impotent man a great while he was diseased thirty and eight years Joh. 5. 5. He lay at
unsearchable Riches 't is by the laying out of Grace to those that publish it To me who am less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given Grace great Grace to the least of Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lesser least or more little than the least an unusual Degradation of a man's self and the Character of an empty and unworthy Instrument in his own eye and so a Subject that needed much Grace to be meetned for such high Service and yet such a one did Christ use in this great Work laying out large Grace to prepare him for it Fourthly Another considerable part of the words are the Persons for whom this Grace is given and to whom these unsearchable Treasures are discovered and they were Subjects most unworthy of it to the Gentiles the chiefest of Sinners blind idolatrous Souls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Heathen Persons extremely wicked 1 Cor. 15. 32. called Beasts wild Beasts Strangers to God beyond the Line of Communication Eph. 2. 12. Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel Strangers from the Covenants of Promise yea Enemies to God in their minds to those did the Lord lay out these unsearchable Treasures To clear up my way to the main truth I intend to prosecute hence and to leave no difficulty in the words 't is necessary I speak to three things by way of Explication First In what sense Paul calls himself less than the least of all Saints seeing he was a Person so dignified by Grace to be a chosen Vessel to God an Apostle of Christ fill'd with the Graces of the Spirit and eminent Endowments for the Ministry beyond many taken into such high Communion with Christ let into the third Heavens to see things unutterable How then can Paul truly call himself less than the least of all Saints Does not Paul speak dissemblingly as the Pope does when he calls himself Servus Servorum the Servant of Servants and yet makes himself Lord over the Faith and Consciences of others I answer Paul doth not hyperbolically debase himself here but really and in the deep sense of his former Vileness before Conversion when he persecuted the Church and blasphemed Christ in the consideration of which he thought none like him never such a Wretch as he did God advance to so high Dignity to be an Apostle of Christ nor doth he think that any particular Saint was so guilty in that kind and degree of wickedness as he was one that kick'd against the pricks persecuted Christ in his Members haling Him to Prison seeking to draw out his very heart blood and to root out the profession of him Now for such a one as he to obtain this Grace to be put in trust with the Gospel and to have such Treasures of Grace imparted to him he thinks that Christ never did the like Favour to any so viâ—e a Creature as he was so base will a Child of God be in his own eyes when once the Lord sets his Sins in order before him Paul in another place calls himself the chiefest of Sinners greater than the greatest of Sinners but never less than the least of Sinners Indeed compar'd with the Pharisees his Sin seemed less than their Persecution and Blasphemy in the degree and nature of it his was ignorantly theirs was maliciously perpetrated and so the Sin against the Holy Ghost and in that respect his Sin was less than theirs but compar'd with any that were saved he thought himself really less than any of them in regard of his sinful Life before Conversion Secondly What is this Grace which Paul so admires and by which his Condition is so changed and he enabled to preach those Unsearchable Riches of Christ Answ First By Grace here is understood that infinite Favour and free Grace of God to him through Christ by which he was called out of the state of Sin and Death into the Knowledge and Kingdom of God that ever the Lord should pitch on such a vile Wretch as he and choose him to be a Vessel of Mercy revealing his Son with his Unsearchable Riches to so poor and unworthy a Creature pardoning his great Transgressions and pouring out his infinite Treasures on him Secondly By Grace in this place some understand his Apostleship which he obtained at the hand of Christ and the Ministry he received to preach to the Gentiles these Unsearchable Riches of Christ so is it rendred Rom. 1. 5. By whom we have received Grace and Apostleship Thirdly Hereby is meant also those excellent Gifts he had received for this end those choice anointings of the Spirit and Revelation of the Mystery to so poor and scandalous a Creature as Paul had been and one that was so ignorant of Christ and Salvation that God should make him such an able Minister of the New Testament and give him any door of utterance and Endowments fit for so glorious a Service This is that Grace by which these Treasures were opened to the Gentiles The third thing to be opened here is What are those Unsearchable Riches of Christ which Paul preached to the Gentiles and which are held out in the Gospel unto Saints and Sinners Answ First Those Riches which are in Christ as Mediatour with which he is enriched in himself those unspeakable Excellencies of his Person which though they reside and inhere in himself yet they contribute abundantly to the Riches of Believers Col. 2. 3. In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge subjectivè as his Treasures found in him All Treasures created and uncreated are not simply placed in him but hid so that they can be known by none but those to whom they are revealed Secondly Here are intended those Riches that came by Christ the Riches of his Purchase the vast Estate which he hath bought for all Believers for all that come unto him by Faith the Estate which he gives makes over and prepares for such and this is called Vnsearchable Riches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Riches that cannot be found or traced out A Metaphor taken from quick scented Hounds that are yet at a loss and can go no farther so the most illuminated Creature cannot follow home these Riches of Christ they are so mysterious that they cannot be discovered they leave no Footsteps for any to go after them the best are at a stand and can go no farther when they come to wade into this Deep so deep and hidden are these Riches of Christ Object If the Riches of Christ be so unsearchable and past finding out How then could Paul discover and preach them out to the Gentiles If they are not to be traced out then Ministers cannot open them nor Hearers understand them Answ First They are undiscoverable by any Humane Eye the most refined Light of Nature cannot discern them they are Treasures that no natural Abilities can reach the most profound Learning and deepest Studies of the wisest men on Earth can make nothing of them they are
the best of you your fair and specious Duties but he sees your inside and all your secret Rottenness when you sit before him as his People sit and seem devout in your Services he at the same time knows where your Thoughts are wandring and espies every vain Motion and sinful glance of your deceitful Eye when thou prayest with greatest Zeal his Eye is upon thy close Hypocrisie thy spiritual Pride thy base ends and those conceived Lusts which will break out when thy Duties are over O how should this abase thy proud Heart and prevent thy swelling Thoughts upon conceited Excellencies in thy self or supposed Worth in thy Duties seeing he knows what is in thee and how vain man would be wise This also should advise thy Soul to Sincerity in thy Profession Purposes Promises Duties because he beholds thee and weighs thy Paths searcheth thy Heart tries thy Reins and will shortly bring thy secret things to Judgment Lastly This counsels such as want Wisdom to be looking to Jesus and waiting at the Fountain and Spring-head for their Instruction Sixthly the Omnipotency of Christ is another of those glorious Properties of the divine nature which renders him so vast and unconceivable a Treasure to all that receive him He is the mighty God the everlasting Father Isa 9. 6. who hath infinite Strength to order and establish his Kingdom and to exert his Government in Sion and over Nations his Strength must needs be infinite because his Kingdom is eternal no created humane arm can sway the Scepter of the World and maintain an everlasting Rule over the Hearts and Conversations of all his People in all Ages and therefore he must be God and the mighty God to transact the whole Work that concerns him as Mediator and to answer the Appellations given him in Scripture Things are ascribed to Christ which cannot be performed by less than an infinite Power First His creating all things in Heaven and Earth Col. 1. 16. By him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him He is the eternal Word the Exemplar and efficient Cause of all created Beings The Heavens and Earth Angels and men the Inhabitants of the upper and nether World were all form'd by Jehovah Christ who gave Being to all his Creatures as pleased him and therefore his Power must needs be Almighty who is the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the Earth that fainteth not be that giveth Breath unto the People upon it and Spirit to them that walk therein Isa 40. 28. chap. 42. 5. What a potent Lord have Believers chosen who can supersede all their Difficulties by his Creation-help if his whole Store-house of Heaven and Earth be not full enough to supply their Wants he can soon set forth a new Edition of Mercies by his own immediate arm if their way to Glory lye through a waste howling Wilderness where no Foot-steps can be seen to guide them he can create a Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire by Night to conduct them If their Provisions fail to relieve them in their Journey he can rain a Shower of Manna from his secret Granary and open the Caverns of the Flinty Rock and put new Springs into the barren Wilderness to refresh them when they are invironed with Troops of Death he can in a Moment interpose his fiery Chariots and Horse-men and when all their Deliverers fail send from Heaven and save them when the Visibility of Religion ceases and the Heavens pass away as a Scrole when the Glory of the Lords House is dissolv'd into a Chaos when the Gold of the Sanctuary is become Dross and the Gospel-Church metamorphoz'd into the old World he can even then create a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness Is thy Heart Believer full of filthiness Thy Redeemer can create a clean Heart and if thy Tempest-tossed Soul can find no rest thy Lord can create the Fruit of the Lips Peace for thee What is too hard for a creating Arm to do Or what can undoe that People who have a faithful Creator to commit themselves and all their Concerns unto Secondly Another Proof of the Omnipotency of Christ is the upholding all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 1. 4. Who being the Brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power Here 's another Royalty of the divine Nature of Christ a new beaming out of his Glory as God even in the bearing up maintaining and Dispose of the whole Creation in the former ver the forming of the Universe and whole World was ascribed to Christ and here the Preservation of it also is laid upon him as a further Evidence of his oneness with the Father having begun his Work in the Creation he carries it on in his providential Sustentation thereof He is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. He is the Foundation that underprops the whole Fabrick of Heaven and Earth which would soon sink down into its first nothing if everlasting Arms were withdrawn from beneath it he that first gives Being to his Creatures must continue it Conservation is but a Continuation of the first act of Creation to preserve the World from Destruction to continue the Creatures in their peculiar Nature and Properties and to govern those Diversities in an united Subserviency to his Will and Glory and the Well-being of the whole is a work of infinite Power and needs the same Strength that first produced them And this is the work Christians of your Messiah that person who is God-Man who by his divine power and efficacious Providence animates actuates cherishes quickens and sweetly disposes of all Creatures Actions and Affairs in the World He is the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth that changes Times and Seasons whose hands are under his Wings and hath a wheel within the Wheels that turns about things as pleaseth him brings Light out of Darkness Order out of Confusion Good out of Evil who hath the Government on his Shoulders and absolute Power in his hand to dispose of all persons and things as may most further the Pleasure of his own Will the Advance of his Glory and the Good of them that fear him And is not this Security enough to those who have intrusted themselves and all their Concerns with this glorious Potentate and King of Kings who hath the Management of all things in Heaven and Earth that it shall be well at last with the righteous the momentous Affairs of the world and of Sion shall issue in the best Good of those that love his Name How should this calm the tumultuous Fears of the godly into a sweet Serenity of Spirit and still their tempestuous Thoughts in a quiet Relyance on the Arm Care and
in Righteousness and will hold thy hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles To open the blind eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison Here 's the result of Christs Mediation in the behalf of fall'n Sinners He doth treat with the Father that he would be pleased to shew pity to fall'n man and the Father returns this Answer That he will consent to the terms of Jesus Christ for the saving of Sinners that he shall be a Covenant for the People and give out Salvation to perishing Sinners So Isa 49. 5. to the 10 vers The Persons for whom the Lord Jesus Christ mediates are Jews and Gentiles and under these are comprised all the Elect of God And the Father treats and concludes with Christ about the saving of these two Parties In an acceptable time saith he have I heard thee and I will give thee for a Covenant of the People All the Elect of God both among the Jews and Gentiles shall be called and saved by this Mediation of Jesus Christ But what are the terms upon which the Father consents to the Mediation of Christ that there shall be Peace for all that come to him First One thing concluded upon between the Father and the Son is That the Lord Jesus Christ shall make up the Breach of the first Covenant There 's a Righteous Covenant of God broken by the Sin of Adam and upon the breach of this Covenant God is bound in Justice to lay Death upon Adam Condemnation upon all fall'n Mankind Now that this Blessing may be procured which Christ mediates for the Sentence of Death is to be reversed and this cannot be till the Punishment of the broken Covenant be borne Now the Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily undertakes to do this Heb. 10. 7. Then said I Lo I come All other ways were ineffectual to make satisfaction to the Justice of God for Adam's Sin Now when no way could make up this Breach then Christ comes and consents to pay the price himself to be a Sacrifice for Sinners Lo I come to do thy Will What is the Will of God Why that Mercy and Justice be reconciled Justice was all for Punishment Justice would not be satisfied till the Penalty was executed Now Christ must come in the Sinners room and undergo the Penalty of this broken Covenant Sayes God In the day thou breakest this Covenant thou shalt dye therefore Christ must come and dye This is one of the terms If the Lord Jesus Christ will be a Substitute in the room of the Offender and undergo the Punishment then he will take off the Condemnation Rom. 8. 3. For Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh that is in the Flesh of Christ Justice must be satisfied The Law could not do this God sends his Son and he must undergo the curse Gal. 3. 13. And this the Lord Jesus Christ did consent unto Secondly Another thing required is That the Lord Jesus Christ should obey the Precepts of this Covenant perfectly in his own Person in the behalf of all his Seed That God might have no Quarrel with the Children of the Covenant Christ must dye to make up the former Breach of this Covenant He must obey to fulfill the End of the Covenant he was not only to undergo Sufferings but he was to complete all active Righteousness and this the Lord Jesus Christ consented to Hence he saith It behoveth us to fulfil all Righteousness Mat 3. 15. God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law Gal. 4. 4. The Lord Jesus Christ as Mediator becomes obliged to the preceptive Law of God and must in his own Person fulfil all the parts of this Law and must work out a perfect Holiness and Obedience that the first Covenant might be fulfilled if Salvation be obtained Thirdly Another thing which the Father and Jesus Christ agree upon about this Work of Reconciliation is That the first Covenant to all its demands being fulfilled and there being nothing now to lay in against the Believer from this Covenant that Salvation may be sure he concludes to make a new Covenant which that it may be faultless Jesus Christ should now become the Surety of another and better Covenant The first Covenant God found fault with and therefore he thinks upon a second that may be effectual to all the ends of Salvation-grace Heb. 8. 7 8. For if that first Covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for the second for finding fault with them he saith Behold the dayes come when I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and Judah As if the Lord should say to his Son The first Covenant will never answer thy Proposals to save fallen Man and that thy Seed may be blessed therefore there shall be a new Covenant drawn that shall be effectual to the ends of Salvation and thou shalt be the Head and Mediator of this Covenant this was the agreement between the Father and the Son Now Jesus Christ becomes the Angel of this Conant God agrees with Jesus Christ for fallen man Jesus Christ covenants with the Father in the behalf of all his Seed that he will bring them to Life He promises to work in them and for them all that is required to Salvation and that they shall be saved to the uttermost Heb. 7. 22 25. By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better Testament wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost Thus he becomes an Engager to the Father in the behalf of all Believers O Friends this is a glorious Mystery I fear too few are insighted in the glorious Work of the Mediatorship of Christ The Lord Jesus Christ becomes a Surety not only to pay the Debt but to perform the Condition A Surety or a Sponsor is one that promises and undertakes in the behalf of another to fulfill what he was bound to do Tâ—us the Lord Jesus Christ hath performed this first Office of a Mediator by drawing up an Agreement between God and fallen Man by bringing the Father to terms of Reconciliation Secondly The terms being thus concluded upon the second part of this mediatory work of Christ is that he actually set about this Obedience and Suffering and make good the Agreement between the Father and himself and this he did in the fulness of time he comes and actually accomplishes all his Promises to the Father in point of Merit and Satisfaction There are two great things Jesus Christ is to do in order to the fulfilling of this Promise to the Father in behalf of his Seed First meritoriously procuring the things for them and Secondly efficaciously applying what he procures Heb. 9. 15. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of Death for the Redemption of the Transgressions that were under the first Covenant they which are called might receive the promise of eternal Inheritance
with God through this Intercession of Christ Eph. 1. 6. Who hath made us accepted in the Beloved All that glorious Chain of Mercy that is made over to and fastned upon the Believer hath its tye to Jesus Christ Predestination Adoption Justification Sanctification and Salvation are all laid upon Christ It is a piece of usual weakness in poor Believers or rather Doubting-souls to judge of their Acceptance with God or Non-acceptance according to their Deservings or ill-deservings and the nature and frame of their Spirits and Duties when they have been drawn out in Frames and wonderfully rais'd in Duties they think now they shall find Favour But it is not that which gives your Suits Entertainment in Heaven it is as God accepts the Soul in Christ notwithstanding all the Failings and Infirmities of Believers they are entertained with a well done good and faithful Servant upon the account of Christ Again They are sure to be secur'd against the prevailing Power of all their Enemies let Beelzebub with all his Train and Forces be united against them he must be broken to pieces for Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding for them Sin shall have no Dominion over them Rom. 6. 14. God will bruise Satan under their Feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. Hence it is they may be sure none of their Enemies shall prevail Luke 1. 74. Again They may be sure to receive more Grace and Life more abundantly God giveth more Grace James 5. 6. whilst Christ's Interest holds in Heaven whilst he hath a Fullness of Grace to bestow Believers may expect more Access to the Throne of Grace at all times in his Name is another procured Advantage of his Intercession it is by the Blood of Christ Believers come to God with Boldness Heb. 4. 14. 16. Heb. 10. 21. 22. Hence the Blood of Christ makes Peace and an open door for Believers to approach to God Eph. 3. 12. Because he is there at the Throne of Grace he will open his Door to his Children and let them in within the Veil what tender Mother would shut the door against her weeping Child Again They have not only Access to the Throne of Grace but Success they shall speed when they cry with all their Hearts Joh. 14. 13. 14. Whatsoever you shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son if you shall ask any thing in my Name I will do it Christ was leaving his Disciples and they might tremblingly dispond how shall we live when thou art gone the World will persecute us and Satan will devour us Why says Christ I will protect you then as well as now and hear your Requests you think it is only your Concernment to have your Prayers answered no it is the Concernment of my Father too his Glory lies at stake for it O! what bold Encouragement is this Rev. 8. 3 4 5. Prayers ascended up and presently comes down Thunders Noises Lightnings and Earth-quakes as a Symbol of God's Reception believe it Saints have still as great Potency with God on the Account of Christ as ever and their right Prayers shall surely find an answer at the Throne of Grace Again They shall certainly have Perseverance in Grace for the Certainty of a Believers Graces depend not upon his own Strength that it should dye if he cease to exercise it but is secured by the Intercession of Christ Luke 22. 32. Jer. 32. 40. Another Effect of Christ's Intercession is this The Saints have Oneness with and an Interest in the Love of God Jo. 17. 21. 22. And they shall be sure of Grace and of Glory they shall have a Mansion in Heaven Jo. 14. 3. Jo. 17. 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am to behold my Glory CHAP. VI. Shewing the Willingness of Christ that Sinners should be saved the Sin and Misery of such as refuse Christ with Reproof to several sorts of Persons WE have a little opened the Transcendent Glory of Christ as Mediator wherein so much of his vast Treasury lies we come now to make some Application of this glorious point First By way of Information First How wonderfully are poor Sinners indebted to the Lord for giving such a Mediator as Jesus Christ God-Man none else in Heaven or Earth could have procured the Salvation of lost Sinners had he been God only he had had neither Right or Capacity to suffer had he been only Man he could never have born up under the dreadful weight of these Sufferings Death would have had Dominion over him his Sufferings unsatisfactory his Intercession rejected and all the hopes of Sinners perished but now he is able to save all that come to God by him O admire at and rejoyce in this Love of God in giving Christ Jo. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Life and Liberty Health and Strength Peace and Plenty are excellent Mercies but the giving of Christ is transcendently super-eminent Can you bless the Lord for lower Springs O adore these upper ones this Grace that brings Salvation Secondly See the Willingness of Christ that Sinners should be saved he would never else have assum'd the work of a Mediatour nor have given himself for this very end that Sinners might be brought to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. He would never have undertaken the bloody way of Death nor drunk off such a bitter tremendous Cup that Sin had brewed for him he would not have interceded with God for Terms of Reconciliation nor undergone such direful unconceivable Torments had he not been willing Sinners should live hath Christ so carefully prepared the Ministration of Reconciliation and absolutely commanded the Promulgation of the Gospel to every Creature Mark 16. 15. Hath he laid such a Necessity on his Messengers and Ambassadors and oblig'd them by the Penalty of fearful Woes to preach the Gospel and he is not willing that Sinners should be saved 1 Cor. 9. 16. See how he charges his Servants to be instant in Season and out of Season to reprove rebuke and exhort with all Long-suffering and Kindness 2 Tim. 4. 1. To perswade and beseech men to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 11. 20. And will he reject them when they come He would not have griev'd and mourn'd so much at Sinners Unbelief and out-standing the day of Grace had he been unwilling they should have liv'd Joh. 5. 40. Luke 19. 41. 42. Behold how he waits till the last hour of the Day and treats his Enemies with an affectionate Kindness why will you dye O House of Israel He heaps up Coals of Fire on their Heads and draws them with Cords of Love and with the bands of a man Mat. 5. 45. Hos 11. 4. he offers Violence by his Spirit to unwilling Souls and attempts the most charming Persuasions to allure them to him he thunders and lightens as on Mount Sinai and threatens them terribly if they will
filthy heart cleansed thy covetous heart spiritualized and thy captivated Soul set free from the damning Power of Sin and Satan had'st thou but improv'd a Mediator in Heaven Know Soul if ever Life and Salvation be obtained it must be by a Mediator Thirdly Here 's a Reproof to such as make Mediators of their Duties that trust their Prayers more than Christ and lay all their hopes of obtaining on the act of seeking Indeed the Promise of having is made to asking Matth. 7. 7. but not for asking Thy Matters saith Luther do not depend on the worth of thy Self or Prayer but solely on the account of Christ Joh. 14. 13. It is Prayer in his Name And therefore saith Luther Nulla Oratio extra Christum There is no Prayer at all out of Christ 'T is the Altar that sanctifies the Gift Matt. 23. 19. Our very Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags Isa 64. 6. When you have done all you are unprofitable Servants Luke 17. 10. Not unto us O Lord not unto us but to thy Name give Glory Psal 115. 1. All acceptance with God is through Christ To trust to thy Prayers is to trample on the Blood of Christ accounting it an unholy thing and the most effectual course to provoke the Lord to a real abhorrency of thy Duties and to throw them back as Dung on thy Face CHAP. VII Shewing what Consolation flows to Believers from the Intercession of Christ IF the Lord Jesus Christ be the onely Mediator between God and Man then here 's Comfort for Believers in several Cases First To weak Believers such as need Mercy and are unable to beg it as they should Poor Soul Art thou sensible of thy urgent Necessities that thy Wants are more than can be numbred Knowest thou the Hardness Pride Filthiness and Ungratefulness of thy Heart understandest thou thy need of the Spirit of Grace and the Gifts of Grace but canst not pray for supplies so understandingly sensibly affectionately and believingly as thou oughtest and therefore fearest shalt never find an Answer or obtain any reviving comfort to thy Soul in the believing view of Christ's Intercession in Heaven Let me tell thee desponding Christian thou canst not be really poor and pray in Faith thou canst not perish for want and have a Jesus in Heaven interceding for thee Heb. 7. 25. Him the Father heareth alwayes Joh. 11. 42. If the matter depended upon thy own Oratory and Eloquence thy Case were sad but there is one in Heaven that is wise mighty merciful omniscient who minds thy case considers thy needs hears thy groans knows thy distresses and ever liveth to make Intercession for thee Object But sayes a Soul How shall I know that Christ intercedes for me who am not worthy to lye under his Table nor crawl at his Feet I fear he hath greater concernments upon his Heart than to remember me For Resolution in this look back to Chap. 4. where is shewn for whom Christ intercedes He prayes for all that believe in him Joh. 17. 15. Art thou one that believest in Christ Hast thou chosen him as thy Lord and Righteousness And is he precious to thy Soul Could'st thou be content to part with all for him Pleasures Profits and Worldly Grandeur are they nothing when they come in competition with him Canst thou not say O! None but Christ none but Christ Christ with Poverty with Disgrace with Bondage and misery is far more preferrable than Riches Repute Liberty and Mercies without him Dost thou consent to all his terms and art thou willing to take up his yoke and to learn of him to bear his Cross and follow him to leave all and come to him and that considerately and from thy whole Heart Dost thou cast and adventure thy Soul and thy All upon his Ability to save thee Believest thou all that the Scripture reporteth concerning him his Personal Excellencies and purchased Sufficiencies That he is able and willing to save all that come to God by him and will not cast out any that really come And in this hope art thou resolved to trust thy All upon him and if thou perish to perish at his Feet Then art thou that Soul for whom Christ intercedes in Heaven Luke 10. 42. Lam. 3. 24. Isa 44. 5. Esth 4. 16. Mark 9. 24. Object But I cannot pray as I ought according to the Will of God Alas how cold dead spiritless are my Prayers and will God hear me Sol. 'T is not for thy name thou art heard but for the Name of Christ as you have already heard Joh. 14. 13. Rom. 8. 26 27. We know not what to pray for as we ought Neither I Paul nor you believing Romans know how to pray as we ought If thou wantest words yet if thou hast sighs and groans thy Prayers are heard through Christ Again Thou sayest thou canst not pray according to the Will of God I Answ 1. If thy Prayers are for such things as God requires for things that concern his Glory and the good and Salvation of thy Soul and for these outward things as God sees needful for thee If thou prayest for these as God promiseth them for Spiritual blessings absolutely and for others with submission to his Wisdom and Will if thou seekest these onely in the Name of Christ and ultimately for the Glory of God with all thy Heart and with all thy Strength thou askest aright and God will grant thee Secondly God in his infinite Grace through Christ accounts those things in his People that are not as if they were Rom. 4. 17. He judges his People to be what they would be Rev. 2. 9. I know thy Works and Tribulation and Poverty but thou art rich The Lord judgeth of his People not so much by their Frames inherent Qualifications and external Performances but by their real Sincerity and unfeigned desires Psal 38. 9. Thou complainest thy Prayers be cold and dead heartless and lifeless but doth this please thee or trouble thee Is not this the burden of thy Soul that which thou mournest over prayest and strivest against Doth no Prayer content thee but what is spiritual and fervent affectionate and upright Why poor Soul chear up thy self God esteems thy Prayers such through Christ as if they were so Thirdly The Procurement of thy needed Mercies doth not depend upon thy Prayer-frames or the Modes and Measures of thy Holiness but on the Mediation of Jesus Christ Pray weigh that Scripture Joh. 14. 14 16. If you shall ask any thing in my Name I will do it And I will pray the Father Any thing that is any thing you absolutely need Any thing that is fit for you to ask and me to give I will do it He doth not say The Modes of your Prayers the measures of your Frames and Holiness shall do it but if ye ask though with broken Language and troubled Expressions Sighs and Groans I will do it You have but one Advocate with the Father I will word your Requests
known The Psalmist alludes to that Providence of God in leading Israel through the red Sea when Deaths were on every hand God walked on those Waters and made a way through them for his People So Nah. 1. 3. The Lord hath his way in the Whirlwind and in the Storm and the Clouds are the dust of his Feet Those ways that men cannot stand up in are Gods usual walks in which he leads on his Work and Interest His wayes are above our wayes and In the Mount will the Lord be seen Gen. 22. 14. His Providences Ezek. 1. 16. are like a Wheel in the middle of a wheel and a skain of Silk strangely entangled When Israel was come near the Borders of the promised Land they must be turned back again into the Wilderness and wander up and down forty years in the Desarts When Sion's Mercies were come to the Birth they prov'd Abortive Strange indeed is the Womb of Divine Providence and seemingly contradictory to Humane Reason Thirdly No cross Providences can hinder Christ's Work in the World He hath purposed and will perform it Combinations of men Psal 2. 1 2. the Gates of Hell Matth. 16. 18. and the Powers of this World can no more impede the Success of Christ's Work than the Barking of Dogs can hinder the Moon 's passage to its Journey end Isa 43. 13. I will work and who shall let it Who art thou O great Mountain before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain Zach. 4. 7. He taketh up the Isles as a very slender thing Isa 40. 15. The Lord brings in his mightiness here to comfort Israel under Discouragements by reason of Difficulties in the way of their Mercy Comfort ye my People saith the Lord ver 1. Tell her her warfare is accomplished ver 2. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed ver 5. O Jerusalem that bringest good tidings lift up thy voice with strength Be not afraid of Dangers preach my Word be undaunted in my Service Behold your God ver 9. He will come and his Reward with him ver 10. He will feed his Flock like a Shepherd v. 11. He will keep up his Word and Ordinances in spight of all opposition Obj. But our Enemiâ—s are many Ans Why he hath measured all the waters of opposition in the hollow of his hand vers 12. Obj. But all our wisdom cannot see how these great things should be brought about Ans Why who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord ver 13. He wants not wisdom to accomplish his Work Obj. But Nations and Islands combine against God's Israel Answ What if they do they are no more to God than the drop of a bucket and the dust of the Balance ver 15. Therefore fear not he will perform his Promises and fulfil his Designs Quest Why what hath he promised Answ He hath promised that the stone cut out of the Mountain without hands shall become a great Mountain and break in pieces the Image of the Beast Dan. 2. 35 45. and that he will set up the Kingdom of his Son in the World ver 44. Isa 2. 2. He hath promised Peaceful times to the Church of God when the Sword shall be turned into Plow-shares Isa 2. 4. Isa 55. 13. Great shall be the peace of thy Children None shall hurt or destroy in all God's holy Mountain Isa 65. 25. Ezek. 28. 24 Isa 16. 18. Psal 72. 9. He hath promised times of Light and Knowledge Isa 11. 9. chap. 52. 8. ch 54. 13. ch 60. 19 20. He hath promised times of Holiness Isa 60. 21. ch 4. 3. ch 35. 8. Zech. 14. 20 21. He hath promised times of Union Zech. 14. 9. Zeph. 3. 9. Ezek. 37. 19. He hath promised times of Joy and Comfort to his Interest Isa 65. 13 14. ch 35. 10. ch 25. 8. He hath promised Enlargement to the Church Isa 2. 2. ch 60. 8 9 13. He hath promised Stability and Settlement Isa 54. 14. ch 60. 20. He hath promised Activity and Liveliness Isa 26. 19. Fourthly As those great and glorious things are spoken of Sion so they shall certainly be accomplished in due time Isa 60. 22. Deut. 32. 35. The Vision is but for an appointed time Hab. 2. 3. As the Things are appointed so is the Time beyond which God will not go one moment Exod. 12. 41 42. The self-same day the Jewish Doctors say it was mid-day as soon as one hundred and thirty years was out to an hour God fulfill'd his Promise Lastly God takes usually the most unlikely time to fulfill his Promises As in Abraham when his Body was dead Gen. 18. 10 11. Abraham and Sarah were sensible of an utter inability and unfitness in themselves for such a Mercy yet then was the Promise fulfilled Gen. 22. 14. So Israel were brought out of Egypt when all things made against it their Oppressions increased Exod. 2. 23. chap. 5. 7 8 19. Pharaoh resolv'd not to let them go Exod. 10. 27. and Moses charg'd to see his face no more on pain of Death chap. 10. 28. When Gods time was come to bring Israel out of Babylon they were as dry Bones and said Our hope is lost we are cut off for our parts Ezek. 37. 11 12. Psal 126. 1. Deut. 32. 36. Mic. 4. 10. Thou shalt go into Babylon and there shalt thou be delivered Before that glorious Salvation of the Jews in Shushan under Ahasuerus they were brought under a Sentence of Death the Decree was seal'd and posted away the time appointed for their destruction and no possible hopes left of reversing it Esth 3. 12. to the end compar'd with Chap. 8. So much for the Use of Consolation CHAP. VIII Containing an Vse of Exhortation to Sinners and Saints IF the Lord Jesus Christ be such a Glorious Mediator then First Let perishing Sinners be perswaded to get an Interest in him And for Motive herein consider these four or five things First The Lord Jesus will Mediate for and save none but those that are his Many common Mercies Favours and Boons he bestows on his Enemies but Salvation-blessings are the priviledges only of his People Matth. 1. 21. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Luke 1. 68. Secondly Many will lay claim to Christ who have no Interest in him Luke 13. 25. High Pretenders may be shaken off Math. 7. 22. chap. 25. 12. Some that shall think themselves something may be found nothing some that shall be thought Saints by others may yet be cast away 1 Joh. 2. 19. As Hymenaeus and Alexander 1. Tim. 1. 20. The Galathians and scattered Saints Gal. 1. 6. chap. 3. 3. 2 Pet. 1. 20. Rev. 8. 12. Nay the very Elect shall find it hard to stand Matth. 24. 24. Thirdly There is but a time in which Christ may be found Isa 55. 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found intimating there is a time in which he will not when the door will be shut and Christ will speak knock and call no more There is but a day of Grace
an hour of Salvation O Sinner be not wise too late Fourthly It is a most dreadful tremendous thing to leave the World without an Interest in Christ to be summon'd to Judgment and have nothing to help them no Mediator to plead for them no Righteousness to cover them no Duties to accompany them no Eye to pity them Isa 57. 12. chap. 30. 13. Jer. 5. 5. This is sad indeed when all Bowels are gone and boundless Miseries to be undergone Fifthly Of all perishing Sinners such as perish under the Gospel have the most dreadful Miseries Matth. 11. 21. 22. The Heathens and Pagans Publicans and Harlots shall have a more tolerable place in Hell than such as refuse a tender'd Jesus How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2. 3. O miserable Sinners sleight not Salvation tenders despise not Gospel calls but hasten away to this Redeemer Secondly Let the People of God be exhorted first to bless God for this Mediator Eph. 1. 3. Christ is the Fountain of Blessings the Author of Salvation the Gift of God and have you no Hosanna's for the Enjoyment of so rich a person 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. Secondly Ply hard the Throne of Grace find Work for Christ Heb. 4. 15 16. Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace make known your Requests unto God Phil. 4. 6. Consider Soul You have always need of Mercy not a Moment but you want Supplies from God for Soul and Body your Corruptions are alwayes resisting the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. never at peace with Grace but as a Bow that is bent are still pressing after their former Liberty and as Waters penn'd back are striving to force their way therefore Christians you alwayes need the Spirit 's help and fresh Supplies of Grace your Guilt is always encreasing James 3. 2. The Righteous falleth seven times a day hence daily Sacrifices were appointed because of daily Sins Heb. 7. 27. Your Temptations are continually renewed 1 Pet. 5. 8. New Tryals are daily falling on you new Difficulties are frequently occurring your Life new Troubles and Afflictions are constantly betiding you This is God's appointed way in which he will give out Mercy Ezek. 36. 37. Matth. 7. 7. 'T is true sometimes God hears before we ask but yet preventing Mercy doth not excuse from Duty and we have no ground to expect Mercy out of the way of Duty You are invested with a holy Priest-hood on purpose that you may be much employed in this Work 1 Pet. 2. 5. Your Work and Offices lies in this to offer up daily Sacrifices to God by Christ The Lord Jesus waits in Heaven to receive your Prayers 't is his Business and work in Glory to pursue your Advantages and therefore he expects to hear from you 9. Heb. 24. As an Agent that expects to hear from his Clyent and receive Intimation about his Condition as a Friend in a forreign Country that is hearkning for Letters from his Friend Christ in Heaven desires to hear from his People on Earth not that he is ignorant of them or needs to be put in Remembrance but this way are his Graces in them exercised their Love and Duty maintain'd and himself glorified Isa 30. 18. Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious In the Original it is he longs and as it were greedily and enlargedly desires an Occasion to be gracious he waits in Heaven to be puâ— in Remembrance to do his People good This way is their blessed Intercourse maintained betwixt Christ in Heaven and Believers on Earth by this Christ hears from them on Earth and they from him in Heaven Cant. 2. 14. chap. 8. 13 14. Thou that dwellest in the Gardens the Companions hearken to thy Voice cause me to hear it 'T is in the Original Cause to hear me which occasions a twofold reading First Cause me to he heard they are Christs Words to his Spouse Let me be the Subject of thy Discourse to others Secondly Cause me to hear it that is let me be spoken to let me hear thy Voice in Prayer as a man desires to hear from his Wife when absent and in the next vers She eccho's back the same Request to Christ that he would hasten his Return to her that she might have his Company also by Prayer Christ and Believers have sweet Intercourse with each other Cant. 1. 7 8. chap. 2. 5. 8. The Lord Jesus is wonderfully delighted to hear from his People Cant. 2. 14. chap. 4. 11. chap. 6. 13. Return Return O Shulamite c. This word Shulamite comes either from Solomon and so her Husbands name is named on her or from Salem Peace which is Jerusalem shewing her Descent to be from Jerusalem above hence Christ desires her Company because it was pleasure to him to look upon her her Countenance was as two Armies it is in the Original Mahanaim the same word that Jacob puts on the place where God met him Gen. 32. 1. 2. As if Christ should say thy Sight is Angelical to me tho thou art impure in thy self yet thou art fair in mine Eye 'T is a mighty thriving way there 's no such course can be taken to grow rich apace in divine Treasures Prayer is the Key that opens Christ Treasury and fetches out the Riches of Heaven because such may have of God what they will Joh. 15. 7. God is always giving where gracious Souls are rightly asking God's readiness to give should be an Argument always to crave as Sir Walter Raleigh when Q. Eliz. ask'd him when he would leave off beging answered when your Majesty leaves off giving Thirdly Trust to an interceding Jesus expect all your Mercies from him Psal 5. 3. In the Morning I will direct my Prayer to thee and look up the Arabick and some other Versions have it I will prepare or stand before him and he will see me But this agrees not with the Original where 't is I will order or dispose my Prayer as a General doth his Army and will look out as a man that watches on a Tower to see what I can espy and what Answer he will give By a Metonomy it signifies to expect or look for some thing Matth. 22. 21. In his Name shall the Gentiles trust The Lord Jesus is the sure and certain Object of a Believers Trust O Christians is Christ entred into Heaven there to appear for his People O then depend upon his Intercession expect all your needed Mercies by him take up your Acquiescence in his Mediation for you rest satisfied Believers that your case is good and it shall be well with you in every Condition because Christ intercedeth for you Now to strengthen your Dependance on Christ Consider His Engagement to the Father to become your Advocate Heb. 10. 9. Joh. 6. 39. His Promise to Believers to pursue their Cause in Heaven Joh. 14. 16. And his full Accomplishments with whatever is needful to compleat this Work He is infinitely wise and knows how to
lov'd the World Joh. 3. 16. and every Creature in it such a Philanthropy is in Christ he would have all men come to the Knowledge of the Truth that they might be saved 1 Tim. 2 4. Love your Enemies Mat. 5. 44. so did Christ he prayed Father forgive them Luke 23. 34. love his Friends 1 Joh. 5. 1. Eph. 6. 24. CHAP. XI The glorious Excellency of Christ's tender Pity opened and displayed in the several Acts of it both to Saints and Sinners ANother Discovery of the Sweetness of Christ's Disposition is Thirdly His Pity this is lookt upon as an excellent Qualification and that which renders a person lovely among men Rom. 5. 7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one dye yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye for a just man one that is strict and rigid in his Life and matters of Justice none will dye but for a good man that is for a bountiful liberal man for a Benefactor saith Beza for a Friend saith another some would even dare to dye Kindness and Compassion renders men lovely and amiable in the Sight of Heathens hence one calls a merciful man a precious thing and another makes him equal to God God himself prefers Mercy above Sacrifice Mat. 9. 13. This the Lord opened to Moses as part of his Glory Exod. 34. 6. The Lord God merciful and gracious c. And this mercifulness is placed in the Nature of Christ as Mediator and therefore must needs render him glorious and be part of his unsearchable Riches now that the Lord Jesus is so full of Pity and Mercy in his very Nature the Scripture is clear This was one Qualification necessary to his Priest-hood Heb. 2. 17. This was a special Requisite to the Priest under the Law that he should be one who might have Compassion on the Ignorant and them that are out of the way Heb. 5. 2. Therefore the high-priest must be a Man not an Angel that so he being subject to Infirmities to Sins and Weaknesses himself he might the better have Compassion upon others in the like ease The same Argument the Lord useth to Israel Deut. 10. 19. Love ye therefore the Stranger for ye were Strangers in the Land of Aegypt Experience of Affliction fits a person for pity to others and therefore our Lord took our Nature upon him that being compast with the same Infirmities Sin only excepted he might be able to have Compassion on others this is necessary in that Office for a person will never be active in such laborious work for Sinners as offering of Gifts and Sacrifices for Sin if he have not tender Bowels towards persons in Misery and therefore Jesus Christ must needs be such a one who can have Compassion c. The word is significant 't is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to have Compassion on others according to the Measure and Proportion of their Misery Paraeus renders it to have Compassion as much as is needful Beza to be affected according to the greatness of anothers Misery and such is the Compassion of Christ 't is suted to the Condition of his People were Christ's Pity but one Grain short of the Misery and Condition of Sinners he could never save them to the utmost for if he will save to the uttermost he must ever live to make Intercession there 's no one moment of time in which they don't want help and must have Gifts offer'd for them But this Christ will not do if he wants Compassion Jam. 5. 11. The Lord is said to be pitiful and of tender mercies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of many Bowels or as Piscator multum viscâ—ralis much bowelful all pitiful from inward deep Bowels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word is to pity with the Bowels of a Mother to be prone to compassion So Aestius He is rich in mercy Eph. 2. 4. Great in Quantity and Choice in Quality great Mercy and choice Mercy Psal 5. 1. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies The word Rab multitude signifies Quality as well as Quantity many Mercies or weighty Mercies Mercies Rachamim 'T is such love and pity as Mothers bear to the fruit of their Womb which is fervent and flaming The word hath no singular number because there are many works of Mercy saith Piscator Now this Compassion of Christ lies in these two things 1. In his sympathizing with his Creatures 2. In supplying and supporting them First Pity hath sympathy in it an inward Heart-affecting sense of another's Evils Psal 103. 13. Like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitietb them that fear him Judg. 10. 16. His Soul was grieved for the Children of Israel The word signifieth His Soul was short'ned or contracted in him by reason of grief 'T is spoken by an Anthropopathy according to the apprehensions of men As a man is filled with grief his Breast is straitned that he can scarcely breathe It denotes how much the Lord Jesus is affected with the miseries of his People Heb. 4. 15. He is said to be touched with the Fellow-feeling of our Infirmities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suffering with us Christ in Heaven hath such a fellow-feeling of the Evils of his People as that he resents their troubles as his own He is tender-hearted and every misery of theirs reacheth his Soul But this hath been somewhat treated of before Secondly Readiness to supply and support others in their Misery and this is eminently manifested in the Lord Jesus Isa 38. 20. The Lord was ready to save me Men sometimes have a hand but no heart they may help but will not they only say Go and be fed and be cloath'd c. Others have a heart but no hand they have not to supply the needs of others their Cruse of Oyl and Barrel of Meal will reach but a little way besides there may be some Cases in which Men or Angels cannot help Psal 142. 4. I looked on my right hand and behold there was no man would know me c. But there can be no Condition in which Omnipotency fails to help Heb. 7. 25. Jer. 32. 27. And Christ is as really willing as able to save He is an inexhausted Fountain of all good Sufficit omnibus saith Paraeus nec sufficit tantum sed dat liberalissime Dives est saith the same Author sufficientia affectu He is good and doth good He feeds gathers carries leads his poor infirm Flocks when they most stand in need of him Isa 40. 11. When they are ready to faint for want he opens a Well and fills their Bottles when they wander from their resting-place he sends his Dogs and gathers them to his Fold when they are weary and can go no further he takes them into his Arms and carries them when they are hungry he feeds them when they are naked he cloaths them when they are sick he visits them when they are in Prison he comes to them He giveth to his
they cannot sleep through trouble he will sit up with them when they are solitary and dejected he will come and see them Fifthly His comforting them in their Troubles He is the Father of Mercies and God of all Comfort who comforteth us in all our Tribulations Consolating is an act of pity to those that are in trouble 1 Thes 3. 2. So Job's Friends when they had heard of all the Evil that was come upon him they came every one from his place to mourn with him and to comfort him Herein lies much of Christ's pity to his People he would not have them swallowed up of overmuch grief 2 Cor. 2. 7. When they are cast down he charges his Messengers to speak comfortably to them Isa 40. 2. When he brings his People into the Wilderness he will speak comfortably to them Hos 2. 14. Isa 66. 13. chap. 57. 18. This is part of Christ's Intercession in Heaven that the Father would send the Comforter to them Joh. 14. 16. And part of his last counsel that he left with them was That they would be of good cheer Joh. 16. 33. Joh. 14. 1. He began his Sermon with a Use of Comfort Let not your hearts be troubled c. and here he closeth the same with a word of Comfort And indeed the whole of Christ's Fare-wel Sermon was Consolation to his People He would not have them be in Heaviness longer than need did require 1 Pet. 1. 6. but commands them to rejoyce evermore 1 Thes 5. 16. Sixthly His counselling them in all cases wherein they stand in need of his Advice Hence they have Line upon line and Precept upon Precept that they might be wise to Salvation and therefore he is called the wonderful Counsellor Isa 9. 6. Psal 16. 7. I bless the Lord who hath given me counsel Counsel saith Ainsworth about my Sufferings and the Glory that shall follow Job 36. 8 9 10. Adversity sometimes is God's University and Schola Crucis saith Luther is Schola Lucis Mysterious Truths many times spring out of Affliction-depths Seventhly His giving to them and forgiving of them Pity hath open hands and stretcht out arms Christ hath left a large witness of his liberality 1 Tim. 6. 17. Who giveth richly all things to enjoy Men give sparingly but Christ bountifully they with straitned hearts but he with open bowels they sometimes in Reversion but he in possession And he doth not only give but forgive Mic. 7. 18. Who is a God like unto thee that pardons iniquities c Exod. 34. 6. Psal 86. 5. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive Numb 14. 20. 1 Joh. 2. 1. They run into debt and he dischargeth them They do as it were write down their Iniquities and he blots them out Now Are not these admirable demonstrations of his Pity and affectionate compassions of his tender Bowels towards his People Secondly He hath infinite Pity for his Enemies Mercy and good will for Sinners Luke 6. 35. This appears First In his bearing with them and forbearing of them Rom. 9. 22. Endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction How doth the Lord suffer the vilest of men to live and that very long Lo I have come these three years looking for fruit Luke 13. 17. These forty years have I been grieved with this People Psal 95. 10. An hundred and twenty years did he bear with that high and uncurable wickedness of the first World and that after it was come to the full Gen. 6. 3. Four hundred years did God bear with the sins of the Amorites even after he had given Abraham their Land Gen. 15. 13 16. How long did the Lord bear with the Ten Tribes after their Apostasie from his pure Service even the space of two hundred and fifty years in which time there were Nineteen Kings and all wicked men walking in the steps of Jeroboam O! the slowness of God to Anger even against his Enemies that dare him to his very Face yea that trample his Glory under foot and that every day yea hour and yet God spares them to old Age many times Alas how soon are we angry at our Enemies and if but slighted a little ready with the Disciples to call for Fire from Heaven to consume those that receive us not Luke 9. 54. But the Lord Jesus is not so he waiteth that he may be gracious and his long-suffering leadeth to Salvation Secondly His maintaining of them and that sometimes at the highest rate giving them Honour and Riches Prosperity and Favour Pharoah must have a Kingdom and yet an Enemy to his People Nebuchadnezzar an Empire Ahasuerus an hundred twenty and seven Provinces Croesus vast riches and Sardanapalus delicate Pleasures All the Creatures are pressed at their Service the Air Earth and Sea are ransack't to satiate their Lusts Hos 11. 2 3 4. He feeds and cloaths helps and prospers his greatest Enemies and all to heap up Coals of Fire upon their heads Thirdly His affectionate seeking their Salvation This was his Errand into the World he came to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Lost Sinners Matth. 18. 11. Bloody Sinners Ezek. 16. 6. Blind Idolaters Acts 17. 23. Cruel Persecutors Acts 9. 4. Wicked Sorcerers Acts 8. 9. These the Lord Jesus seeks to save he sends his Gospel to invite them to come unto him Matth. 11. 28. Yea beseeches them 2 Cor. 5. 20. Makes large promises to them if they will return Isa 55. 7. Act. 3. 19. Yea how doth the Spirit strive with Sinners that they may be saved Reasons with them Why will you dye Come let us reason together Isa 1. 18. Why wilt thou not suffer me to save thy Soul and to make thee happy to all Eternity Poor Sinner I have a real mind to do thee good an affectionate kindness for thee I came from Heaven to save such as thee Behold my hands and my feet see how my heart bleeds for thee Behold how ready my purchase is yonder is thy fair Estate if thou wilt be mine Lift up thine eyes to those Mansions Crowns and Thrones all these shall then be thine See those beautiful Garments consent to me and thou shalt wear thy filthy Rags or lye in those pinching straits no longer thou shalt lodge no more in those stinking Kennels of thy Lusts O poor Sinner why wilt thou stand in thy own light and slight this offer which thou mayest never have made thee more Lo how my Bowels move towards thee see how my Arms are open'd to thee Be mine and I will be thine My Kingdom shall be thine my Friends will be thine my Servants shall be thine My Angels shall protect thee yea attend thee my Creatures shall maintain thee my Wisdom shall guide thee my Faithfulness shall keep thee my Power shall be laid out for thee my Love shall delight thee my Honour shall adorn thee and my Treasure shall enrich thee I will be a loving Husband to thee I will provide all good things for
laid aside when there is no need of it True meekness may easily be discerned by its ends and grounds it must not proceed from a willingness to be aveng'd on others but to amend and reform them CHAP. XV. Wherein is demonstrated the infinite Bounty of Christ to all his Creatures with the manner of his giving THE next thing which discovers the sweetness of Christ's Disposition and greatness of his Personal Treasure is Sixthly His Liberality He is of a bountiful Disposition and this you know is of an endearing Nature Rom. 5. 7. Scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye Psal 13. 6. I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me Now this Liberality of Christ appears First To all his Creatures Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Psal 136. 25. Psal 145. 15. Whose heart is so large whose hand so wide as Christ's ver 16. He upholdeth all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. And by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. There is never a moment but he is laying out upon his Creatures and that must needs be a large Treasure that maintains the whole World Secondly To his Enemies He doth good to those that hate him He gives large portions of this World's goods to Esau's And uncharitable Dives's do many times fare deliciously and are cloathed gorgeously by his Bounty The wicked prosper Jer. 5. 28. Nay he doth not only give them the fat things of this Life but the great things of his Kingdome O the Privileges and Favours that Hypocrites enjoy as well as Saints He sends his Gospel to every Creature and causeth the very Dews of Sion to fall upon his Adversaris Thirdly Especially to his Children for to these he gives First Good things Whatever they have of him shall be good Jer. 32. 40. I will not turn away from them to do them good Their very Afflictions are for good their Wormwood and Gall is good Rebukes of God upon them stripping and humbling Providences nay their very Corruptions by this Bounty prove to their advantage Secondly All good things He gives Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84. 11. Psal 34. 10. All the good God sees fit for them and they are capable to receive shall be distributed to them Thirdly Great things Not Common but choice Mercies passing Knowledge Mysteries not onely to the World but to themselves Things unsearchable and things unutterable Things that cannot be known as they are nor valued as they deserve What one Nation saith David to God is like thy People whom God went to redeem for a People to himself to make him a Name and to do for them great things and terrible 2 Sam. 7. 23. Redemption-work brings forth great and terrible things for redeemed Souls O the great things that God doth and Christ gives to every ransom'd Soul Job 37. 5. Things which we cannot comprehend as you will see if you give but a general Survey on the Inventory of Christ's Gifts I shall instance in some of the most remarkable First That unvaluable Gift of Light He is the Light of the World Joh. 8. 12. How deformed is Darkness how beautiful is Light Eccles 11. 7. He is a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory c. Luke 2. 32. He is the bright Morning Star the Sun of Righteousness from whom the light of Life and all true Wisdom comes now this is a great and excellent thing Eccles 2. 13. Wisdom excelleth Folly as far as Light excelleth Darkness and this you know is very far Wisdom is preferred before Rubies and the most excellent things Prov. 8. from ver 10. to 20. That must needs be great which all the World cannot purchase but this is Wisdom now all true Wisdom comes by Jesus Christ he is the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 30. So who hath brought to light the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hidden things of God and that could by no ways be known but by Revelation No man hath known the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son shall reveal him Matth. 11. 27. He giveth Knowledge and Wisdom to whom he pleaseth that special Wisdom which none of the Princes of this World can attain unto 1 Cor. 2. 7. 8. Secondly Life He hath brought Life to Light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. and is not this a great gift All that a man hath will he give for his Life Job 2. 4. O! then what is Life from the dead to his people Eph. 2. 1. He is our Life Col. 3. 3. I am come that they may have Life and have it more abundantly Joh. 10. 10. Thirdly His Love all the World and Houses full of Treasures cannot be compar'd to Love Cant. 8. 7. Should Christ give all the World and withhold his Heart it were but a mean gift Favours are valuable by the love whence they come Isa 63. 9. In his Love and in his Pity he redeemed them Psal 63. 3. Deut. 33. 3. All Believers are set as a Seal upon his Heart Cant. 8. 6. He hath loved them with an everlasting Love they have his Heart and none else Fourthly Himself There being nothing greater than himself to demonstrate the Largeness of his Heart to his people he gave himself Eph. 5. 25. Who loved the Church and gave himself for it that is sold himself to purchase them gave himself to divine Justice to satisfie the Law and to taste of Death for them all that he had as Mediator he parted with for them and hath given himself to them also Heb. 8. 10. And I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People They have his person Hos 3. 3. Thou shalt not be for another so will I also be for thee All his Beauties and personal Perfections as described Cant. 5. ver 9. to the end all Believers have a Marriage right unto him by way of Gift again he hath given them his Purchase all that he hath bought with his Blood Math. 26. 28. This is my Blood of the New Testament shed for you Fifthly His Laws and Scepter to guide them through the World and to steer out their Course of Duty and Safety and this is a great thing Hos 8. 12. I have written to him the great things of my Law Rabab the excellent or honourable things of my Law for this word notes Quality as well as Quantity and if the things of God's Law are so great what are the Truths of the Gospel called so great Salvation Deut. 4. 8. And what Nation is so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so righteous Psal 147. 19. Sixthly His Spirit This he gives to all his People Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his 1 Cor. 12. 13 We are all by one
Honour and Power Job 12. 18. He looseth the bonds of Kings that is their Girdle by which he means their Power and Authority which he removes now instead of this Ensign of Honour which Kings did wear Christ shall be cloathed with Faithfulness and Righteousness this shall be his Ornament and Glory Heb. 2. 17. He is the faithful high-priest First He is faithful and just to all men even to his very Enemies he will not wrong them in the least he renders to every one his due Rom. 2. 6. The very Hypocrites shall have their Reward Matth. 6. 2. The Lord Jesus will not give cause to any to say at the last day that he is their Debtor or doth them Wrong Matth. 20. 13. The wicked shall have their Portion in this Life all that is coming to them as much as they can in Justice demand If Ahab repent he shall have Reprieve from his Punishment eternal Repentance shall obtain eternal Deliverance If Esau pray for the Blessings of this life with Tears God will give them to him he cannot be a Debtor to any his very Enemies shall have their due as much as their outward Duties or servile Labours amount to for the holy one of Israel cannot lye what Promise soever God makes to any outward Action or Vertue it shall certainly be fulfilled he cannot defraud any the Pharisees shall have their Honour Judas his bag Demas the World and Dives his Pleasures he that commands his People to render every one their due cannot possibly wrong any Secondly He is faithful to his People 1 Pet. 4. 19. Let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator That is Christ is able to keep you in Sufferings because he made you of nothing and he that gave you a being when you were nothing he can keep you now though all the World be set against you He can do it because he created you of nothing and he will do it because he is faithful and hath promised now this Faithfulness of Christ to his people lies First In his exact Accomplishment of all his Prophesies All things written concerning him are fulfilled in him Luke 18. 31. A tittle of God's word shall not fall to the ground all the Types and legal Figures as they shadowed out Christ to come namely the High-priest the Altar the scape Goat c. were perfectly accomplisht in him they were the Shadows he the Substance all Scripture Prophesies concerning divine Providence the Resurrection of Sion and the Destruction of Babylon shall be fulfilled to one Iota Luke 21. 22. Secondly in performing his Promises never an Engagement made by the Father to the Son or by him to his people but he will see it assuredly made good Rom. 15. 8. 1 Kings 8. 28. 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his Promises Tit. 1. 2. 2 Cor. 1. 20. All the Promises are in him yea and Amen Object Christ's Faithfulness in fulfilling his Promises pertains only to the Heirs of the Promises but I cannot call the Promises mine because of my unfaithfulness to God Answ The Promises of God are not made to the Doers of the Law or Goâ—pel but to Believers nor are they made for doing but upon believing 'T is true by Faithfulness and Obedience comes the thing promised but a Title to the Promises is procured by believing pray put a distinction between the Promises and the thing promised Gal. 3. 22. That the promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe Heb. 6. 17 18. The promise of Grace Healing and Salvation depends not upon the fidelity of the saved Soul but upon the faithfulness of God in Christ Obj. But I do not find the Promises made good to me God hath said He will never leave nor forsake his People but I doubt he hath forsaken me for I cannot see his out-goings in the Sanctuary He hath promised to hear the Prayers made in his Name to dispence Grace to give out his Spirit and to create a new heart but I find not the performance of these things in me Answ First If the Lord Jesus doth not fulfill his Promises 't is because thou art not fit for them God would have brought Israel into Canaan near forty years before he did but they were not fit for that mercy They were carnal lusting murmuring rebelling so that God sent them back again into the Wilderness Christ would have taught his People many glorious Truths but they were not able to bear them Joh. 16. 12. Food yea the choicest Dainties upon a distempered Stomach are cast away they feed nothing but the Disease If God accomplish not his Word to thee 't is because thou art uncapable for it Thy Iniquities it may be withhold good things from thee Isa 59. 1. Secondly Christ may be performing his Promises though thou dost not see it For First Christ doth fulfill his Promise though he doth not give the same thing he seems to promise If he give thee that which is equivalent in the room of it So if the Lord doth not give his People the Comforts of this Life yet if he gives them Contentment without them he fulfills his Promise So he dealt with Paul Phil. 4. 11. I have learned in every state to be contented and with David Psal 16. 6. The Disciples had nothing yet in the want of all they had all things 2 Cor. 6. 10. If in the want of Bread God gives Strength and Satisfaction he fulfills his Word The wicked in their Fulness are in Straits Joh 20. 22. But the Godly in their Straits have a Fulness Secondly Christ doth fulfill his Promise though he gives not the same thing if he gives a better thing If Christ withholds Earthly things and gives Spiritual As Saul found not his Asses but in the room of them met with a Kingdom The Disciples lost their Nets and Boats and found a Treasure in Christ They lost their taking of Fish and became Fishers of men Paul suffer'd a Shipwrack of all his own Excellencies and found the Excellencies of Christ Thirdly Christ fulfills his Promises though he do not give the same things his People would have yet if he gives them sutable things such as he sees best sutes and fits their present state So the Disciples expected a Temporal Kingdom but Christ gave them a Spiritual Kingdom It may be a little Mercy is more sutable for thee than a great deal Children must have their meat suted to their Health not their Stomach Paul could not bear much Vision of God and therefore must have a Thorn in the Flesh 2 Cor. 12. 7. Fourthly Christ doth fulfill his Promise though he doth not give thee what thou thinkest thou dost want if he give thee what he knows thou wantest Rom. 8. 26. Thou supposest thou wantest Comforts he withholds them and gives thee humblings Fifthly Christ fulfills his Promise though he doth
of Christ So that all what Christ hath purchased or the Father promised to Christ is due to his Seed so that Mercy Grace and Glory is as much the Believers due as Death and Vengeance is the Sinners on the score of his Sin 2 Thes 1. 6. 7. Therefore the Justice of Christ is laid to pawn for the pardon of Believers Sins upon their penitential Confession 1 John 1. 9. This is the great Error of troubled Souls that they make their Worthyness or Unworthyness the Standard and Measure of all their Expectations this is the Impotency the violated Law of God hath left on fallen man that they cannot get over Mount Sinai nor see the Righteousness of Christ and the Equity of Salvation upon his account for their Sins and Unrighteousnesses do so hang in their Eye that they cannot see themselves righteous in the Righteousness of another This Tang of a legal Spirit is a malady-Grace is long a curing in Saints themselves the want of which robs Christ of the Glory of his Grace and Righteousness But know O Believers the Lord Jesus would be unfaithful if he render not to those that live on him for Sanctification and Salvation all that he hath promised in the Gospel and hath dyed to purchase for them but this cannot be as you have heard abundantly that the Lord Jesus is faithful in acts of Remuneration he cannot keep back anothers due who would have all men to render to others their due But all that God hath made over in the new Covenant to Believers is their due and therefore will Christ render it in it's season And thus have I opened and proved this glorious Excellency of the Lord Jesus even his Faithfulness it remains now that we make some Improvement of it Vse 1. How great then is the Sin of all those that will not credit the Faithfulness of Christ there are none that perish under the Ministery of the Gospel but stumble at this stumbling block they do not judge God faithful nor believe the report given of Christ Isaiah 53. 1. Though Christ be manifestly held forth to be a perfect Saviour yet few will believe in him not one of a hundred says Calvin that hear Christ dayly will yet believe in him you know it Sinners you may safely adventure your Souls on Christ he cannot lye or fail you you have the whole word of God for your Assurance all the Scriptures testifie of him John 5. 39. Acts 18. 28. You have the Evidences of Christ's Faithfulness in his state of Humiliation he did and suffer'd all things written of him Luke 18. 31. He fulfill'd all Righteousness Matth. 3. 15. His Death Resurrection and Ascension prove him faithful in all things tending to purchase Salvation You have the Testimony of others who have found Christ faithful 1 John 1. 1 2. All the Saints on record are witnesses of Christ's Fidelity Nay you your selves have found him faithful hitherto how often hath he made good his Promises to you when you have called upon him and trusted in him for outward Mercies You trust other things that are unfaithful and yet will not believe in Christ You trust your own Hearts and they are deceitful Jer. 17. 9. You trust in men and yet they are a lye Rom. 3. 4. You trust in Creatures and yet they are vanity Eccles 1. 2. You know without Faith you must perish to all Eternity and yet will not believe in him Vse 2. Then this reproves the People of Christ for their injurious Thoughts of him Joh. 1. 11. He came unto his own and his own received him not This is an aggravation indeed that Christ's own People such as have professed him chosen him commended him and born witness of him and yet will not adventure their All upon him O this secret Jealousie of Christ is a fearful Sin This was that our Lord reproved in Thomas Joh. 20. 5. So Ioh. 14. 11. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else believe me for the Works sake O the Questions and Doubts that Souls have about the fulfilling of Promises how loth they are to trust Christ further than they see him Vse 3. This should humble Christians for their great unfaithfulness Alas how few are found faithful amongst the Saints this day How may we complain with the Psalmist Psal 12. 1. The godly man ceaseth and the faithful fail from among the children of men and Christ seems to Quere where he may find a faithful Steward Luk. 12. 42. And Paul says I know no man like minded to Timothy who so faithfully and naturally careth for your state O the falsness of Professors to the Lord Jesus and one another How rare is it to find one that makes Conscience of Promises and Profession one that is faithful to his Trust to his Word to his Relation-duties and in distributive Justice O Christians Mourn over your great unfaithfulness to God and men to those Souls you are concern'd in Your unfaithfulness to your Children Servants and Neighbours how little have you done for these to this day Some of you are Parents and Masters but where hath been your Industry in your Families in teaching reproving and labouring to save the Souls of those committed to you The Lord lay not the neglect of this to your Charge nor being in the Blood of your ignorant prophane perishing Families Children or Servants on your head I must tell you Friends it will be dreadfully heavy to bear the blood of Souls at the Judgment-seâ—t of Christ and yet I fear without Repentance is like to be the case of some that now hear me who have been unfaithful to the Souls of their Relations Husband Wife Children and Servants who have been too furious in reproving their Faults towards them but scarce ever reproved their Sin against God Who can hear their Children and Servants swear take God's Reverend Name in vain and see them prophane Sabbaths and spend Sacred time in Debauchery and Idleness and scarce ever check them that can suffer them to lye in Ignorance and ready to perish for want of Knowledge and never labour to catechize and instruct them in the knowledge of Salvation This is a lamentable case and will appear so when these Parents and Masters shall appear before God with their garments all gor'd and stain'd with the blood of their Families O cruel Masters and Parents that will be tender of a Horse or a Dog to feed them and secure them from want but can endure to see your children and Servants perish for want of knowledge Vse 4. Here 's Comfort to Believers Is the Lord Jesus Faithful then be of good cheer For First All the Promises of God shall be made good to you in due season He will not suffer a word to fall to the ground of all that good he hath spoken concerning you 1 Sam. 3. 19. Isa 55. 11. 2 Cor. 1. 20. Numb 23. 19. Then you cannot do too much for God you can't
this Covenant O what manner of Love is this if duly weighed That the Son of God should come down and be made man take upon him the form of a Servant engage to the Service of the first Covenant to make good all the violated conditions thereof by his sufferings and all the precepts thereof by his Obedience That he should be made a Curse and taste of death and all to make this Covenant sure That he should shed his blood to make firm this Covenant in all the parts of it That he should come and melt himself to death that the seal might be put upon this new Covenant O what wonderful Love is this for nothing could make it sure but the Testatours blood and that he would shed his Blood to make it sure Now then there 's no greater constraints to duty than the sense of the Love of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 14. The Love of Christ constrains us Arguments of Love are irresistible it silences the Believing Soul in all his resistances When Arguments fetch'd from the Law do only drive the Soul to Duty nay sometimes bind back from duty That at such a time the sense of the Love of Christ doth draw yea post the Soul away to Obedience Draw me and we will run after thee Cant. 1. 4. that is Let out the potent influences of thy sweet Love upon me and then I will hasten after thee or further my Obedience of thee Secondly Another reason for Obedience is taken from the certain blessed Ends and Fruit of new-Covenant Obedience which is no less than Eternal Life Rom. 6. 22. All the blessings of the everlasting Covenant are ensured to such Ps 103. 17 18. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him to such as keep his Covenant to them that remember his Commandments to do them Mercies in the way mercy in the end are all ensured to them that fear him to them that Evangelically keep his Covenant Psa 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth unto such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies There 's great reward in the very keeping his Commandements and reward in the latter end O what promises are entail'd to Gospel-Obedience Nay you will not only have the Fruit of your own Graces but you will have the Fruit of Christs Grace the Fruit of his Obedience and his Righteousness too Therefore O what reason have such to obey seeing the Covenant is made sure they cannot miscarry their labour shall not be lost considering the Love of God that should engage them to Obedience and the blessed Issue of it Thus much of the sixth Branch and Item of Chist's Inventory and the Riches of his Purchase CHAP. XXI The Heavenly Inheritance is the Fruit of Christ's purchase WE shall briefly add one particular more of the Purchase of Christ that is The Consummation and compleating of all the Believers happiness and comprehension of his chiefest treasure which is the purchased possession of Glory Eph. 1. 14. Vntil the Redemption of the purchased Possession unto the praise of his Glory that is unil we come to inherit this glory purchased by Christ O what a blessing is this All that have been treated of already are but little parcels of this total sum of a Believers happiness O when the whole treasury of Christ shall be opened and set forth to the view and enjoyment of saved Souls When all Christ's personal Glory as Mediator shall be discovered to them and become their Glory when all his purchased Glory for them also shall then be entred on by them all that he hath received for himself and all he hath procured for them shall all be made over to them This will be a blessed Eternity indeed when their Crowns of Massy Glory shall be set upon their heads and when they also shall be set down upon Thrones of dignity honoured with the reflections of Christs Majesty and unconceivable grandure This is a mystery indeed but a real truth to all Believers O blessed purchase indeed who can tell over this sum when the Saints shall be so enriched with the Riches of Christ cloathed with the beautiful Garments of his praise O wonderful Glory indeed Deckt with the Jewels of the Graces of his Spirit and fill'd with his holiness brim full When they shall be satiated with his pleasures but never tyred sit down at the Well head and drink full draughts of pleasure Take in their fill of the highest consolations and unknown Sweetness Love and delight from Christ O this must needs be wonderful enriching when they be ever ever ever with the Lord where no clouds can darken their sights of their blessed mansion and their blessed God where no vail can intervene between them and their Beloved Where Rust Moth Worms Time and Death can never come to wear out their enjoyments O blessed Treasure indeed Where Eternity shall be the Date Immensity the Bounds and Immutability the fixation of their happiness But so it shall be with saved Souls in Heaven when they are got through the Sea of Christ's blood to Glory O Believers Do not your hearts leap within you What no kind of affection at all to these things Is all this as a dream to you Where are your Hearts O be affected at this wonderful blessedness Christ hath procured in Heaven for you O blessed blessed Eternity where saved Souls shall wear a Crown that fadeth not away where their Garlands shall be ever fresh and green their joys ever new and their enjoyments never wearing where all their sown seed of Spiritual-Duties and Gospel-sufferings shall spring up to Glory to a full crop of blessedness to an harvest of pleasure proportionable to all the Love of God to them to the utmost measures of their Graces and acts of their Faithfulness the large extent of divine promises yea suited to the infinite deservings of Christ for his saved ones Glory as much as can be claimed This will set forth the Treasures of Christ to be boundless bottomless endless without all circumference higher then all Altitude broader than all Latitude deeper then all profunditude O treasures indeed Saints and Angels may look into them but can never see the bottom In comparison of which Riches in Heaven all the warmest Apprehensions all the sweetest tastes all the highest enjoyments of Saints here are no more than a drop to the Ocean like one ear of Corn compar'd with all the fields in the world cloath'd with fruitfulness No more then a single Dust to all the Beds of Sand in the whole Sea O what is glory Christians are these Jewels so valuable that you can bear about with you here O what a Cabinet then is Heaven O what are the Treasures laid up there O wonderful large indeed Weigh the utmost pleasures and delighting ravishing consolations that all the Believers in the World can get by this side Heaven all the graces all the Joys of all the Saints in
will of God that those great and glorious Treasures of Christ in the Gospel should be opened and tendred to Sinners yea to the chiefest of Sinners This is as certain as choice a truth and precious news to sinners For the demonstration of which I shall 1. Prove 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by four arguments 2. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by four reasons First That it is really true that the Lord Jesus Christ is willing that all those unsearchable Treasures of his should be tendred to Sinners yea the chiefest of Sinners First Christ's willingness to shed his blood for Sinners shews he is willing his Treasures should be opened and tendered to them He that gives the cause gives the effect Causa Causae est Causa Causati Christs blood is the procuring cause of all those Treasures that are purchased for Believers and that which gives a right to his personal riches too Eph. 1. 7 11. Now if Christ be willing to give his blood for believers to procure those Treasures then surely he is willing to have them opened and tendered to them he that wills the means to the end wills the end too Should not Christ be willing that his riches should be opened and tenderd to Sinners it would lay a great reflection on his intentions in dying for Sinners and leave the charge of unfaithfulness on truth it self which how unjust it is let all that are rational judge but it is for sinners Christ hath shed his blood yea for the chiefest of sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Rom. 5. 6. In due time Christ dyed for the ungodly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is the same word the Apostle useth to express the people before the flood by 2 Pet. 2. 5. Now what these were Moses tells us Gen. 6. 5. Ignorance Prophaness Contempt of God and the vilest abominations were committed by those whom Christ came to redeem yet to these would he have the Gospel sent and his Treasures opened and tendred Secondly His appointing and sending a Ministry on purpose to Preach the Gospel to sinners proves it This was the first thing the Lord Jesus Christ did when he ascended on high he gave gifts to Men that of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers and why was this it was for the work of the Ministry Eph. 4. 10 11 12. And what is the work of the Ministery Why to open and Preach Christ Crucified to the World to discover reconciliation-mercy and all the Treasures of Christ concern'd therein 1 Cor. 5. 18 19. Joh. 20. 21. As my Father hath sent me so send I you Now if the Lord Jesus sets apart a Ministery on purpose to attend this work as Acts 6. 4. Then surely he is willing Sinners should have those riches opened and tender'd to them Thirdly The choice annointings he gives them to this end evidenceth his willingness the Gospel should be Preached and his Treasures opened to the World as the Father hath annointed him and given the Spirit without measure to him so hath he annointed his Messengers with measures of the Spirit for this work 1 Cor. 12. 7 11. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withal That is the gifts of the Spirit by a Metonymy of the effect and given to every one to whom it is given for this end to profit withal so Piscator The Apostle speaks here of gifted Persons in the Church of Corinth whether they were ordinary or extraordinary Teachers they had all choice gifts imparted to them by the Spirit to that end All whom Christ sends to Preach the Gospel have the annointings of his Spirit to fit them for that work Isa 50. 4. The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary The Prophet here saith Calvin doth personate all the Ministers of Christ in all ages And tells us that all those Christ sends to Preach the Gospel he doth give sutable endowments to them for that end he doth impart his truth to them by his Spirit that they might teach others This is the Reason Christ gives the Spirit of his Father Mat. 10. 20. He makes them teachable that they might teach others Hence Cyprian saith Non bonus est Doctor qui non est docilis Christ reveals those treasures of his to his Servants that they might open them to others Mat. 10. 8. Freely ye have received freely give Fourthly The charge he lays upon his Messengers demonstrates this truth he doth command them to go and preach the Gospel to every Creature Mark 16. 15. 'T is an Hyberbolical Synecdoche of the genus Every Creature put for all Nations saith Piscator The word of reconciliation is committed to them as to Ambassadours faithfully to impart it to those they are sent to There 's a necessity laid upon them to preach the Gospel and a wo if they do not 1 Cor. 9. 16. A necessity not of Coaction but Obligation and divine command saith Paraeus Secondly The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why Christ is so willing those Treasures should be tender'd to Sinners First That so he might give the world a proof of the greatness of his Love to perishing Sinners and of the largeness of his bowels to poor mankind Eph. 3. 9. To make all men see what is the Fellowship of the mystery c. Now what was the fellowship of this mystery The Apostle tells us ver 6. That the Gentiles should be Fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel This sets forth the wonderful love of God in Christ to fallen man that God is willing the mystery of Salvation should be opened to such vile Creatures as the Gentiles were worshippers of Idols and Devils such unclean and filthy Creatures the chiefest of sinners Tit. 3. 3. Eph. 2. 2 3. Such were all before Conversion they had fellowship with Devils 1 Cor. 10. 20. And this commends the love of God indeed that he should reveal Jesus Christ to the vilest sinners and tells the world it is by Grace any are saved Eph. 2. 8. and of the riches of mercy Tit. 3. 5 6. It lets sinners know that God is no respecter of persons he saves none for any worth in them but for his great love in Christ Eph. 3. 19. Secondly That the worst of sinners might be encouraged to come to Christ and none be exempted from Salvation but those that exclude themselves Joh. 7. 37. This is Christs design thereby to draw sinners to himself by the savour of his Oyntments Joh. 12. 32. O the precious discoveries of his excellencies are attractive the riches of Christ and the Glory of his Kingdom have a wonderful influence to perswade sinners to him Gal. 4. 15. A seen and believed blessedness in the ways of Christ will make the Soul part with all for him and come on any terms to the enjoyment of it Terrours contract the Souls affections to
God but mercy and the excellency of Christ doth constrain them now Christ is willing that every lost sinner that sees and believes in him should be saved Thirdly That so all his Elect that lye among the perishing world might thereby be gathered in Joh. 10. 16. The Election must obtain though the rest be blinded Rom. 11. 7. The Lord Jesus Christ cannot lose one Soul the Father hath given him they must come in first or last and for their sakes as the evil-days are shortned Math. 24. 22. so shall the Gospel-days be continued till Christ hath gathered all his Elect into union with himself from the four winds even as many as are ordained to Life Now there 's no such way to fetch in Souls to Christ as by opening those Treasures Lastly That they who perish under the Gospel might be left without excuse Joh. 15. 22. They have nothing to plead against damnation who despise so great Salvation Heb. 2. 3. And turn their backs on such tendered blessedness To leave tryed Gold for Counters and Treasures for Trifles the portion of Saints for the pleasures of sin is utterly inexcusable and this is one reason of Christs opening his Treasures to the world 't is to justifie his severity against unbelievers that will not come to him that they may have life he will have every mouth stopped and the whole world of unbelieving sinners become guilty before him Rom. 3. 19. Thus have I dispatch'd the third Assertion I now come to make Application of the whole CHAP. XXIII Containing two Branches of Information What a great blessing the Gospel is The greatness of their sin that oppose the Gospel IF there are great Glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ If it be by the Gospel these Riches are brought forth opened and tendered to sinners O then what a mercy is it for Souls to enjoy the Gospel The Gospel is the field in which this treasure is hid The Ministery of the Gospel is the digging out and laying open this treasure The Gâ—spel is the Cabinet in which these Jewels lye lock'd up And the Ministery of the Gospel by the Spirit is the opening and unlocking this Treasury and Cabinet Jesus Christ is this treasure The Ministers of the Gospel are Messengers and Ambassadours of Christ sent into the world with news of this Treasure and impowered to treat with perishing Souls about making them Rich The Ministers of Christ are Stewards of this great Lord of Glory entrusted with the tendring and Ministerial disposings of these vast treasures according to his instructions This way God brings to light the hidden things of the Gospel 2 Cor. 4. 7. We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels As if the Apostle should say O Corinthians there is a treasure there are Riches in the Gospel and we have these Riches in Earthen Vessels The Lord commits them to us that we may open them and make a tender of them to perishing sinners according to his order Our business is to preach Christ and open the treasures of Christ with all his vast Inheritance to every Soul that receives him O then the singular happiness they have that have the word of this Grace sent to them Oh what a mercy is it to live within the day-spring from on high and under the joyful found To hear the good news of a Saviours being born and offer'd to perishing Souls To have the tydings of those Soul-enriching overtures O think upon the blind perishing world that live without the Line of Communication with whom Free-Grace holds no correspondence about Salvation those Indians and Pagans that live without the Gospel and then reflect upon the priviledges you enjoy and see what a mercy this is and then say who hath made you to differ O why should the Sun shine on your borders and the day spring from on high visit your coasts leaving others to perish without regarding O is it not Grace that God should visit you with the Gospel and suffer others to persecute it O these are the motions of Sovereign pleasure and the paths of distinguishing mercy O sinners how much are you indebted to this free unsearchable Grace that should pass by so many parts of the World and pitch on this little spot of ground O wonderful Mercy indeed That these swarms of Mellefluous dews and priviledges should light on your branches That the Cloud by day and a Pillar of Fire by night should come and stand over you O little do you know what it is to lye in darkness and in the Region and shadow of Death O! this should cause you to value the Gospel who can tell but they that feel it what it is to be shut up in the Region of death and be bound in chains of darkness to lye in a wast howling Wilderness where there is none to guide their feet in the way of peace O what a sad judgment is this O Souls If ever you live to see the light put out and the Ministery of the Gospel gone from England then you will know what doleful miseries are and will you not prize the Gospel then that is such a wonderful mercy beyond all your Estates and all the enjoyments of the whole world How will some men value those Sciences that feed their natural minds with knowledge and feast their Rational desires with discoveries of some unknown Notions And will not you love the Gospel that brings to light the glorious truths of Christ How will Tradesmen prize the Rules of their Arts that make them skilful How will the Worldlings hug those Counsels that help to make them rich And should not you prize the Gospel that comes to make you wise to Salvation Shall men prize instructions about the obtaining of perishing things And shall the Counsel God gives you about the Food that endureth be slighted O Souls what shall I say O labour to know the worth of the Gospel before you feel the want of the Gospel O prize it prize it indeed The Gospel is the best Treasure the best Comforter the best Friend that is in the World 'T is the best Counseller in all sinners difficulties it shews you the safest and best way out of all your Clouds and darkness Pro. 8. 14. Counsel is mine and sound Wisdom It is meant of Christ In his word is the best Counsel to make men wise to Salvation 1 Tim. 3. 15. There 's the best Counsel to make you happy Rev. 3. 18. 'T is the best Interpreter in all the World to resolve your dark cases and there 's no such way to get solution in all your doubts and greatest troubles The Psalmist found it so when he went into the Sanctuary Ps 73. 17. Christians the Gospel and Word of God tells you what you should do in all your difficulties Acts 9. 6. The Gospel is the chiefest comforter O what happy Messenger the ministery of the Gospel is it brings the best Balm to heal your wounds Balm of Gilead to heal your soul
His belly is as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires His tender Bowels and boundless affections to his people are wonderfully lovely and delighting they are pure firm and fixed in their nature and they are chearing and enriching in their effects O Christs love is not fleeting 't is firm as Ivory set with gold overlaid with Saphires O how rich are his affections what a Treasure to those that have him His legs are as Pillars of Marble set upon sockets of fine gold The gracious motions and efficacious workings of his Spirit are exceeding mighty and glorious full of strength He hath power to bear up all those that follow him His legs are strong he can carry his Lambs that are committed to his arms there 's no burden too heavy for Christ his loins are strong he can bear what is laid upon him the weight of all the Saints on Earth is nothing to him He can carry on all his intendments and interest in the World his legs are as Marble able to bear his Body quick in motion O what a lovely Christ is this display'd in the Gospel His countenance is as Labanon excellent as the Cedars Those discoveries the Lord Jesus Christ makes of himself in his word and works are wonderful taking exceeding enriching Christ's word is fruit fullizing O when he speaks to the hearts of his Children what a deal of vertue goes through his lips Grace is poured out of his lips Milk and hony is under his tongue His appearances carries excellency riches and glory with them His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely His discourses the openings of his mind is wonderful pleasing The word of Christ never cloys the spiritual part Thus you see what a Person Jesus Christ is O Sinners consider his beauty O how lovely an object is he what can you object against his Person why you will not espouse him Thirdly Consider his lovely dispositions O Sinners will you accept of him He is of an excellent Spirit of a very sweet nature full of grace and goodness His sweet dispositions have been largely opened already he is full of mercy and compassions meekness gentleness patience long-suffering slow to anger ready to forgive great in kindness free and bountiful of a generous Spirit true and faithful Sinners you may trust him with your secrets you may venture your Souls upon him He is harmless and inoffensive he doth wrong to no man his company is lovely and desirable His converses are pleasant and profitable O what a person is Christ O Sinners never was such a one offer'd you as Christ is why will you not come unto him Fourthly Consider his quality and high dignity he is no mean Person but a mighty Potentate 1 Tim. 6. 15. The sole and only superintendent of the whole World the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords He is not only a King but the King the only true Potentate from whom all ohters derive their glory a King not only of Men but of Saints not only of Saints but of Angels of Thrones Principalities and Powers Math. 26. 53. And can command them down now he is in Heaven for the service of his elect Heb 1. 14. Are they not all Ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation O Sinners shall this prevail with you to accept of him Fifthly Take notice of his potency He hath power as well as honour Math. 28. 18. All things are put under his feet Heb. 2. 8. All the Armies of Heaven and Earth are deliver'd over to him He is Lord of Hosts He hath the Keys of Heaven Death and Hell Rev. 1. 18. Who then can lock out Christ or exclude him from doing what he pleaseth seeing all things are at his beck He doth whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven and in Earth in the Seas and in all deep places Psa 135. 6. He sitteth in the Heavens and laughs the Counsels of the Potentates to scorn he makes no reckoning of their combinations but derides their ambitious attempts against him Psa 2. 4. He shall pass thorow and over-flow and break all their consederacies in pieces Isa 8. 8 9 10. Let all the subtleties of Hell be woven together to make a web to catch the interest of Christ in it shall all be as a spiders web that can soon be swept away O admire the Kingdom of Christ the glorious power of Christ nothing is too hard for him He hath an absolute unlimited and uncontroulable power He is the supream over all persons and all things in all places Lands and Countries O what power hath he not only Authority but likewise Might 2 Chro. 20. 6. In his hand there is power and might and none is able to withstand him O Sinners come away to Christ he can protect you and defend you from dangers Sixthly Observe his wisdom too this is taking with some to have a head that hath intellectuals in him and marry one that hath exquisite parts and eminency of knowledge Now all Treasures of wisdom are in him Col. 3. 3. His judgments are unsearchable and past finding out Rom. 11. 33. His judgments his acts in the World his Righteous deeds and the way he takes to accomplish his designs O how wonderful deep are they The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of wisdom and understanding the Spirit of Counsel and might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord Isa 11. 2. He is of quick understanding full of judgment called The wonderful Counsellour Isa 9. 6. The only wise God from whom all wisdom is fetch'd that fills Men and Angels all the World do light their Candles at his Torch He is the Sun that fills the whole Creation with beams There 's no searching of his understanding he can bring to light the hidden things of darkness 1 Cor. 4. 5. He hath eyes can reach where men cannot he can reveal the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. O Sinners what an excellent one is Christ O how worthy of your choice Seventhly Weigh the glorious and blessed effects of your closing with the Lord Jesus Christ Sinners the very day you marry Christ he will pay all your debts and they are many he will pardon all your sins blot out all your iniquities remember them no more He will free you from all your Bondages deliver you from all your fears secure you from all your dangers if you will but espouse him O the very day you marry Christ he will wipe off all your shame and remove your reproach He will heal all your wounds and sicknesses he will begin to heal them immediately and never leave till he hath perfectly cured your Souls He will strip off all your filthy garments and cloath you with broidered rayment he will advance you to highest dignity he will lift up your heads above
the Pool's side near the means of cure but never the better ver 6. 7. And so continued till Christs time came to cure him So Israel were barren and unfruitful till the Lord became a dew to them Hos 14. 5. Therefore this is no discouragement if thou believe and come to Christ God will be a dew to thee and thou shalt quickly find a change 8. Object But saith one I am not only never the better for all the means of grace but I am worse than I was before when I was under first awakenings my heart was more tender but now my heart seems to be more brawny and hard I find more unbelief than ever more indisposition to go to Christ I am worse than I was Answ So was Sarah too as to the receiving the promised mercy more and more indisposed she complaines of the deadness of her womb she was past age to be the Mother of Children till the time of life came then Sarah's growing indisposition becomes no impediment at all to the fulfilling of the promise So was Israel they began to say for their part their hope was cut off and God had forsaken them when mercy was nearest to them So the woman that had a bloody issue twelve years and had spent all that she had on Physitians yet was nothing bettered but rather grew worse till Christ came and healed her Mark 5. 25 26. Persons are usually worst in their own eyes when mercy is nearest their doors Again Thy not comming to Christ is the cause of thy decaies and hardnings 't is thy unbelief that deadens thy heart and withers thy Soul Christ doth withdraw his influence from such and refuseth to do any mighty works in them because of unbelief O then Soul come away to Christ and this is the way to cure thee 9. Object But saies the Soul Christ seems to take no notice of me I call but he heareth me not I come to Ordinances but I cannot see him nay he seems to be angry with me every thing goes against me his word speaks bitter things to me methinks there 's never a threatning but belongs to me I am the Hypocrite and unclean person that God strikes at in every Sermon and his rod lies heavy on me too and in the way of his providence he writes bitter things against me Answ Soul is this thy case doth Christ take no notice of thee It is because thou takest so little of him when he unveils his beauty thou dost not believe in him when he makes a promise to thy Soul When he sends words of Counsel thou dost not obey him He hath called and thou hast not answered and therefore when thou callest he doth not answer Zach. 7. 13. Yet at such a time what follows doth God make an end of such sinners No see Chap. 8. 2 3. O Soul if the Lord Jesus Christ seems to take no notice of thee but to frown upon thee it is to frown thee from thy unbelief it is but to make thee sensible of thy slighting him If thou wilt this day accept of the Lord Jesus Christ his frowns will soon pass away as a dark Cloud doth when the Sun shines he will remember thy Iniquities no more 10. Object But may some Soul say I would fain come to Christ but I cannot I like the terms well but O my unbelieving heart O my impenitent hard heart I cannot sense Salvation-kindness Answ O Soul The afflicting sense of thy unbelief is a hopeful sign of thy faith If thou dost see thy unbelieving heart so as to be burdened under it and be weary of it the Lord reckons it for the beginnings of faith Mark 9. 24. This is the method of Salvation-Grace in begetting faith to convince thee of its impotency to believe Joh. 16. 9. Soul is this thy weariness that thou canst not come to Christ Wouldst thou have a wider heart for him Thou art the Soul he waits for that mournest over thy unbelief Mark 9. 24. But there 's one thing more may be as a discouragement to some Souls 11. Object O saies the Soul I fear the time is past and that God will be gracious no more I have had a day of grace but that is gone The Angel came troubling the Waters but I would not step in I bave had the dawnings of mercy but I resisted I fear I have outstood my Market That I have outstrived the Spirit so long that he will strive no more And this bows me down that I am afraid to look up Answ Sinner if this be thy case know that thy fears of losing the day of grace is a sign it is not lost The greatest symptome of departing grace is security and false peace 1 Thes 5. 3. So it was with the people before the flood Noah threatned judgments but they dreamt of peace Math. 24. 37. c. Security usher'd in the departure of grace from them But while the Spirit of grace strives with thy Soul the day of grace is not past from thee Doth God call upon thee now and plead with thy heart And dost thou find some movings and turnings of thy Bowels in thee crying out O that there might be mercy for me that this day of grace may not be past If so then sure the Spirit strives yet with thy Soul Therefore Soul if now thou wilt close with Christ none of these pleas can debar thy closing with him Well Sinners consider the Lord Jesus Christ invites you to come to him once more he demands your answer what say you will you be his or no Do your hearts accept of him Do you like his proposals will you heartily consent to be his upon all his terms If so I shall lay down some Counsels to direct you in your right comming to Christ First Sinner if thou will come to Christ thou must come as a poor needy empty undone Sinner stript of all beauty as having nothing at all that may deserve his favour 'T is the poor have the Gospel Preached to them Math. 11. 5. It signifies such as are brought to great necessities and extremities So Beza renders it Such as are brought very low Therefore some derive it from a word that signifies falling down at the rich Mens feet As some beggers will Ferus interprets it the poor in Spirit that acknowledge themselves mean and are low in their own eyes So Calvin takes it for them that are oppressed with the sense of their own wants such as feel their pinching necessities that lye down overwhelm'd with the apprehension of their emptiness The Treasures of the Gospel are design'd to such Persons that are poor and afflicted in their own Spirits There 's no greater obstacle in this Match betwen Christ and sinners than a sense of self worthyness This keeps many from seeing the beauty of Christ their own Righteousness hangs in their eye they are too heavy laden with their own thick clay I mean the sense of their own worthyness to be
looking up to Jesus and lifted up to him Sinners may be too rich for Christ in their own opinion but never too poor hence the Lord Jesus Christ tells us he came not to call the Righteous but sinners to Repentance Math. 9. 13. Not them that Judge themselves Righteous but them that feel themselves sinners The Rich he sends empty away those that are Rich in their own thoughts when the poor and hungry are fill'd with good things Men chuse empty vessels to put their liquors in and low rooms to cellar their wines so doth Jesus Christ chuse empty Souls for his good things He chooseth the Low plains for his walks when the high towring Mountains are rejected The high and lofty One comes to dwell in the low and contrite Spirit Isa 57. 15. Sinner thou must strip thy self of thy own Ornaments if thou intend to put on Jesus Christ Thou must throw down thy Crown at his feet if thou thinkest to wear his Crown on thy head O Soul thou must come as a poor wretch to Christ with thy empty sack as Jacobs Sons did to Egypt to buy corn and then thou shalt have Treasure too Thou must see thy self an undone sinner thou must come with Lazarus and throw thy self down at this Rich Kings Door if ever thou wilt be fed with his Crumbs nay rather feasted with his Dainties Secondly Thou must come to Christ as to a full and sufficient treasure able to save and satisfie thee to pay off thy debts and enrich thy Soul for ever Heb. 7. 25. Able to supply all thy wants and fill all thy emptiness Phil. 4. 19. We have shewn already that his treasures are bottomless boundless unfathomable unexhaustible never to be wasted or spent O Soul come to Christ as such a one Measure not Christ's gold by thy bushel nor his plenty by thy poverty think not thy debts too great for Christ to pay because thou knowest not where to get mony of thy own Think not thy straits too many for him to relieve He hath enough for thy Soul to live upon both here and to all Eternity O Sinner believe this and come to him as such a one suppose not the Fountain is empty because thy Cisterns are dry His Righteousness is like the great Mountains Psa 36. 6. It is in the Hebrew The Mountains of God And his grace is without measure Joh. 3. 34. Therefore thou must look to him as having a sufficient fulness for thy Soul Thirdly Thou must look to Christ with expectation as the poor Cripple did to Peter and John Acts. 3. 5. Now shall a poor Creature expect to receive some needful sutable good from a fellow Creature and will not thou expect some mercy from the Lord Jesus Christ thy Creator and Redeemer O sinner come with expectations to Christ believe that he is as willing as able to enrich all that come to him He hath past his word for it He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. He that believeth on him shall not perish Joh. 3. 16. The weary Soul that comes yea creeps to him shall have rest Math. 11. 28. The thirsty Soul shall be satisfied Joh. 7. 37. He goes up and down in the Ministery of the Gospel seeking to save that which is lost Luke 19. 10. And he is angry with them that will not come to him Joh. 5. 40. O sinner do not take up hard thoughts of Christ Such suspitious thoughts of Christ is some of the Devils seed that he doth sow in broken ground When Christ comes to break sinners hearts and make them sensible of their undoneness then the Devil casts in these tares and raises up ill thoughts of Christ It was this did so enervate the diligence of the unprofitable Servant some undue thoughts he took up of his Lords bounty I knew saies he thou wert an hard and austere Man Hence he puts up his Talent in a Napkin and his hand in his bosom Math. 25. 24 25. Jealousies of Christs good-will to sinners are very destructive to Salvation-work The Devil hath hindred many a Soul from coming to Christ by casting this block in his way O then come with expectations at least come to Christ with as great hopes as the Lepers came to the Tents of the Assyrians who were Enemies come to Christ the friend of Sinners 2 Kings 7. 4. They adventured with some hopes we may live and we can but dye they may kill us and they may save us alive But thy case is not so if thou come and adventure on Christ thou mayest be sure he will not kill thee O look to Jesus then with some hopes say who can tell but my Soul may live Fourthly Close first with Jesus Christ himself and afterwards with his Treasure I confess usually something from Christ draws the Sinner's first respects to him The savor of his oyntments some love-tokens kindnesses apprehension of necessity sense of undoneness may conduce to get the first glances of Sinners towards Christ But though these allure to Christ yet the first thing the Espoused Soul must eye in his Match with Christ is Christ himself though these things draw the Soul yet they do not center the Affections Christ's kindnesses are design'd as motives to beget an esteem of himself in sinners hearts The knowledge of what Jesus Christ hath for sinners an intimation of pardon peace and Salvation for all that come to him may be the Prodromus or fore-runner of Christs Person to sinners view but when they come to see him they must first pitch upon himself and till they come to this they cannot have a due and orderly close with Christ In all right and regular Matches the Person must be first regarded then the Portion A Soul is not fit to match with Christ till he comes to see infinitely more worth in him then in all his gifts and favours It was the excellency of Christ himself that drew Pauls highest regards to him with respect to relation Phil. 3. 8. The excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord Paul sets that fore-most And then to be made conformable to his Death and Resurrection The Spouse was more taken with Christ's Person then with his Gifts Cant. 1. 2 3. First himself was lovely then his fruits Cant. 2. 3. David counts nothing in Heaven or Earth like to God in Christ Psa 73. 25. 'T is sordid love and too unworthy of a conjugal State that values the Portion more then the Person that Soul is too unworthy of Christ who values any thing more then him Math. 10. 37 It must be Christ himself must sit in the upermost seat in thy Soul 'T is a saying of Calvin T is an unworthy thing not to perfer one Christ above all Those Matches never prove comfortable where the Estate is eyed more then the Person hence conjugal love is broken when the estate is gone but where true conjugal love is it is setled upon the Person Love
Regards for these and no more for this Grace of God O wonder more at this Love Fourthly Consider how this is the great Design of God in this grace that you should be to his praise Eph. 1. 12. That is the end which God aimed at in Predistinating you to Glory that you might be to the Praise of his grace that his Grace might procure the Manifestation of his Praise 't is not for an Enlargement of his Revenue or Advancement of his Profit for man cannot be profitable to God Job 22. 22. or for any addition to his Honour being above all Praise but that he might receive the Tribute of his own Glory and the returns of his outgoing Goodness Now if this be the very end why God sets his love upon you Christians then you have reason to glorifie his Grace lest you endeavour to overturn the whole Projâ—cts of Salvation-kindness Fifthly Think how delightful Praise is to God Psal 69. 31. This also shall please the Lord better than an Oxe or a Bullock that hath Horns and Hoofs That is an Adult and full grown Beast which is more fit for Sacrifice as Rabbi D. Kimohy notes a Beast was not fit for Sacrifice under two years old so that Praise is preferred here above all Sacrifice as that which God takes most delight in of any thing because this doth most honour him to acknowledge him the Author of all Mercy and God of all Grace Psal 50. 23. Whoso offereth Praise glorifieth me That is He doth in a singular manner shew forth mine Honour and this is pleasing to him Sixthly This brings Profit to your own Souls Psal 50. 23. For 't is the means and way to obtain the Salvation of God Ponit viam aut praeparat viam saith one it opens the way for Salvation to go out to that Soul this duty of Praise will bring you Gain because it engageth God to give out more Mercy and it leaves Influences of spiritual Good on your own Souls it puts the heart into a good Frame to love God and delight in him and leaves more obligedness on the Soul to fear and serve God so David after that Psalm of Praise to God 2 Sam. 7. was wonderfully influenced to duty to God as you may see chap. 8. 11. and had his Spirit abundantly sweetned to men chap. 9. 1. Lastly Consider also how pleasant this duty of Praise is to the Soul it self it is wonderfully delightful and abundantly affects and ravishes the Heart to have the sense of divine Mercy in it Psal 147. 1. Praise ye the Lord for it is pleasam and Praise is comely O Believers let me effectually perswade you then to the highest Acknowledgments of Redemption-grace and to the utmost Praises for this rich Jesus who hath blessed you with all spiritual Blessings Eph. 1. 3. 2 Duty Secondly You that have an Interest in this glorious Redeemer labour to keep up a high valuation of him in your Hearts if he be so rich as the Gospel reports of him O then prize him acoording to his excellent worth Great men are highly esteemed the Cap the Knee the best Room the chiefest Seat are theirs Jam. 3. 3. And how much more worthy is Christ of your account 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifies an high Estimation of anothers Worth and Excellency ready to be attested by all possible and due Demonstrations four things should oblige Believers to a high Esteem of Christ First His own transcendent Excellency which singularly resides in him and eminently shines out from him ten thousand times brighter than the Beams of the Sun which in their own nature challenge the highest Adoration of men and Angels especially of saved Souls to whom he is most endeared and most nearly related As the Apple-tree excells the meanest and most useless Shrub infinitely more doth the Lord Jesus over top all the Glory of the world as Mediator Cant. 2. 3. He is the chiefest of ten thousands Cant. 5. 10. He is before all things Col. 1. 17. Both in dignity and time he precedes all Creatures he is the Fountain of all Excellencies his divine and personal Perfections make him the glory of Heaven the adoration of Angels the admiration of Saints and the object of all Observance and holy Wonder 2 Thes 1. 10. Secondly The high honour the Father puts upon him He is his Well-beloved Matth. 3. 17. The object of his Delight the Exaltation of his right-hand who hath put all things under his Feet Heb. 2. 8. Set over the works of his hands crowned with Glory and Honour vers 7. Worshipped by all the Angels by the Fathers Appointment and set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1. 3. 6. entrusted with all the Concerns and Interests of God in the World made his pleni-potentiary to compose all Differences betwixt himself and fall'n man now hath the Father such a high Valuation of Christ then surely 't is an unworthy thing in you to detract from his Honour 3dly The Lord Jesus Christ deserves your high Estimation because he is the Fountain of all those Streams that do make glad your Souls the Sun of all those Beams that warm your Hearts the Author of all those Mercies that do supply and delight you all your Excellencies and the things you mostly value are Derivations from his glory things are ratable as they come from Christ he turns your Water into Wine sweetens your bitter Cups and makes them to overflow all your graces come from his Fullness he is your Friend your best Friend your old Friend your none-such in Heaven and Earth Psal 73. 25. The Procurer of all your Mercies the sweetness of all your Comforts the crown of all your Glory and doth he not deserve your Estimation If he hide his Face all Light goes with him if he suspends the Communications of his Favour nothing is comfortable to you if he lock up his Treasures nothing bâ—t Poverty and wasting covers your Souls every thing without him is nothing and with him any little thing is enough Bread and Water is rich cheer with Christ Disgrace and Reproach is Honour with Christ Poverty is Riches with Christ O prize Christ then for he puts a worth upon all things that you can enjoy Fourthly Consider the wonderful value the Lord Jesus Christ puts upon you and let this perswade you to a due valuation of him Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me and gave himself for me Joh. 15. 16. O amazing wonderful sovereign Grace That the Son of God should set his highest Regards upon loathsome Dung swept out of door by divine Justice cast out into the open Field pityful loathsome undone Creatures that he should account you Believers as the Apple of his Eye who have been as Thorns in his side that he should account you as a Seal on his Heart who have been spears to pierce through his Bowels that he should value you as the travel
is Gods high way to Mercy and Peace being under a Promise of Peace Grace and Peace are usually twins in gracious Souls 2 Pet. 1. 2. Grace can quiet you under Troubles strengthen you under Weakness guide you under Darkness cheer you under Sufferings enrich you under Losses and fill you under Wants again Gaace is the purest Treasure earthly Treasures are as those Cities Solomon gave to Hiram a mere Cabal and dirty things defiling the Souls of those that have them and use not them aright Grace is the most pleasant Treasure it doth not burthen those that have it as earthly things do with wasting Cares and tormenting Fears Further Grace is the best Treasure in that it will go with the Soul into the other World all the Riches of this World must be left behind Death puts the Owner and his Interest into a winding Sheet no man's Propriety to these out-lives himself the Grave buries all his Relation to these things but Grace never dies true Holiness goes with the Soul to glory Secondly Labour to be rich in Grace because if you have but little grace you will hardly prove the truth of grace though the least grace is grace as a drop of Watâ—r is Water yet a little grace doth not so capacitate a Soul to see it 2 Pet. 1. 9. He that wants this thriving Grace forgets that he was purged from his old Sins he cannot remember or make out his saving Change or putting off his old state little Grace is ever sceptical and subject to Doubtings Matth. 14. 31 O thou of little Faith wherefore didst thou doubt Thirdly Because little grace will hardly carry a Soul through the Temptations Duties and Sufferings of the day we live in these are some of the last times we are fall'n upon and the last times are perillous times 2 Tim. 3. 1. This is the Character of these times Abounding Iniquity and Decay of Love Matth. 24. 12. And therefore a little Grace will not carry a Soul through strong Corruptions where Sin abounds Grace must abound much more or else the Soul will loose ground Rom. 6. 1. What the Apostle speaks there of grace in God 't is as true of grace in Saints that must abound more than their Sin or else Sin will be too hard for them Judgment must be brought forth to Victory or else the bruised Reed will break Matth. 12. 20. For this end the Apostle adviseth the Ephesians in his time which were less liable to such Temptations they should put on the whole Armor of God and having done all to stand Eph. 6. 13. Fourthly Else you cannot answer the ends of grace and all the Cost of God about you the design of grace in all the means and helps to his people is to further their growth in grace and to make them abound to all well-pleasing before God Isa 5. 2. 4. Joh. 15. 2. Psal 92. 13 14. To whom much is given of them much is required Luke 12. 48. Fifthly That so you may be more like to God who is rich to all that call upon him Rom. 10. 12. He is rich in Mercy he hath abounded in the Riches of grace towards all his People Eph. 1. 7 8. Christians should be Epitomies of Christ and Resemblers of his Excellency holding forth his Vertues in the World 1 Pet. 2 9. There can be no greater glory to a Child of God in this World than to be like to Christ who is the glory of the Father but by being rich in Grace you will much manifest the Excellency of Christ in the World Sixthly By being rich in grace you will become more serviceable to God and others in your Generation you will be able to do more work for God than others Grace is a Talent and the more Talents you have the more Incomes hath God from you Matth. 25. 16 17. Rich men have larger Capacities to honour God in the World than others have they can do more and lay out more for God and be more serviceable for God than others they can feed the Hungry and cloath the Naked and take Out-casts into their houses they can do more to support the interest of God than the poor and have more Substance to honour God with so Souls rich in grace have larger Abilities to serve and honour God with the more Grace the more acceptably can they serve God Heb. 12. 28. The more spiritual Services are the more acceptable to God by Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. For such the Father chuseth to serve him who serve him in Spirit and Truth Joh. 4. 23. Psal 45. 12. And the Daughter of Tyre shall be there with a Gift even the rich among the People shall entreat thy Favour Tyre was a rich place as well as vitious and yet there would God have a People which should honour him with their gifts and large expences for him and the richer the People the greater will their gifts be The rich or richest for 't is the superlative in the Hebrew Shall bring Gifts and entreat thy Favour noting that those who are more spiritually rich are more serviceable for and potent with God through Christ these can do more with God as Noah Daniel and Job were mentioned above others for their Potency with God Ezek. 14. 14. And Moses and Samuel Jer. 15. 1. As men who had larger faith and grace and so greater Intimacy with God than others and such as could do more O Christians labour after more grace because hereby you may become more serviceable for God and others you may more prevail with God through Christ for Mercies for the Nation and can be more helpful for others to teach counsel and comfort them and have more Gold Myrrhe and Frankincense in your Treasures to offer to and for Christ Seaventhly The more rich you are in grace the more rich you will be in glory the more grace you improve for God the more glory shall you receive from God Luke 19. 17. 19. This is the rule of the Lords Procedure in the day of Judgment he will render to every man according to his work 2 Cor. 5. 10. Though glorified Souls receive not for their grace yet they shall have according to the Measure of their graces for grace widens the Vessels of Mercy for glory The more Liquor the Vessel hath the larger it is so the more grace the larger is that Soul and the more capable to take in glory when grace shall be turn'd into glory Quest But some may say How may we get more of this spiritual Treasure Answ First Get your Hearts more engaged to it Desires are the Souls Wings that carry it over all difficulties to it 's beloved Object this is one Character the Apostle gives of rich men 1 Tim. 6. 9. They are such as will be rich They have an earnest mind an ardent Desire to be rich 't is a Will and Purpose grounded on Counsel and Consideration Christians this will much further your obtaining these riches of
grace if you once get your Hearts resolved for them Secondly Labour for a holy skill in managing Christianity to the greatest Advantage this makes men thrive when they have the Mystery of their Art and are their Crafts Masters and understand the Rules of their Trade unskillful persons are not like to thrive whatever their Employment be Prov. 4. 7 8. Prov. 3. 13. 14. Prov. 24. 3. Thirdly Be diligent in the use of all your helps and advantages to Soul-profit Prov. 10. 4. chap. 13. 4. 2 Pet. 1. 5. Take all Opportunities of waiting at the Pools side Isa 55. 1. They that will be rich in the World take all Opportunities of getting and ply Markets and Fairs and Seasons of Advantage for their Interest and so do Souls that thrive in Spirituals they are much in waiting on God they lose no Seasons that will bring them in some Soul-advantage Prov. 23. 23. Fourthly Be still getting in more and more grace from Christ 't is Christ's Treasures that enriches the Soul he that will be rich must buy tryed gold of Christ Rev. 3. 18. The graces of Christ are true gold they will bear the Fire and hold out in greatest Tryals counterfeit grace will be as reprobate Silver when it comes to melting it will be as Hay and Stubble that perish in the Fire but true grace will hold in time of Tryal 1 Pet. 1. 7. In this Gold differs from all other Mettals in that it loseth nothing by the Fire but comes forth the more pure so is the grace of Christ 't is as tryed Gold that doth not loose but get in the Fire of Affliction and Temptation Naturalists say that Gold is more warm in the night than in the day so true grace cheers the Heart more in the night of Tribulation than in the day of Prosperity O Christians if you will be rich get in grace from Christ every day for that is the true Cornucopia or the Souls plenty Joh. 1. 16. Of his Fullness have we received Grace for Grace Make some new Additions to your graces every day 2 Pet. 1. 5. What the Heathen said concerning Learning Nulla dies sine Linea Let the Christian say concerning Grace Nulla dies sine Gratia This would be a notable way to Soul-prosperity to be getting from Christ some more grace in every Approach to him as are your Receivings from Christ so will your Thrivings be put often the hand of Faith into Christs Treasury and grasp large Portions of Grace for thy Soul Faith is the only receiving grace Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God Joh. 7. 39. Therefore 't is called the Substance of things hoped for Heb. 11. 1. Faith appropriates to the Believer the Overtures and Promises of grace and by a secret magnetick Vertue derives in from the Fullness of grace needed Supplies Faith dips into the Fountain and fills the Soul with what it needs Fifthly They that will be rich in grace must be thrifty saving Souls choice of their time and careful that they do not wast their graces or loose the things that they have wrought 2 Joh. ve 8. So persons that are thriving in the World are saving of every thing that nothing be waste the same Care is needful to spiritual Enrichings Prodigality will soon consume great Estates he that is not saving will never be wealthy Christians do not consume your days as a Tale that is told Psal 90. 9. make the most of every hour do your proper work every day a wise and faithful Improvement of time would tend much to Soul-flourishings Eph. 5. 16. Spend no words in vain put Time and Talents to the greatest Advantage they got most for God and themselves who were most in the Improvement of their Talents hold fast also the Truths you have received Rev. 2. 25. That is keep and retain the Doctrine preserve and maintain the practice of those Truths you have received Sixthly Be much in begging grace be always asking some spiritual Blessing from God as Caleb's Daughter Achsah Judg. 1. 15. her Father had given her one Blessing and she asks another and 't is said he gave the upper and the nether Springs so be not content with what you have but still be craving for more grace like Princes Favourites who have their Lords Ear will be often begging now this place then that Preferment so Believers be suing hard for Grace ply the Throne of Grace daily loose no Opportunity wherein you may further your spiritual Interest by Supplication this is Gods appointed way to the obtaining of Mercy Ezek. 36. 37. Follow your Sutes till you obtain let your chiefest Requests be for Grace and be restless till you prevail like Jacob who would not let God go till he had blest him Isa 62. 7. Give him no rest till he establish and make Jerusalem the Praise of the Earth Never leave begging till the Lord Jesus hath left off giving and that will not be whilst he sits upon the Throne Eph. 4. 8. Lastly Maintain constant intimate and universal walks with God He is the most thriving Soul that keeps nearest to God as that is the fruitfullest ground that is nearest the warm Sun Isa 18. 4. Deut. 33. 14. so is it to keep near to God This was that which exalted Israel above all Nations they were a People near to God Psal 148. 14. This made Enoch so soon ripe for Heaven he was one that walkt with God Gen. 5. 24. Christians 't is not your sitting under God's shadow will make you thrive till there be a dew on your Souls Hos 14. 5. 7. Keep much in his presence with him is the Fountain of Life Psal 36. 9. Be also constant in thy walks with God not by sits and flashes but drive a steady Trade of godliness Let thy whole course of Life both in thy Civil and Religious Duties be as one constant Walk with God Gen. 17. 1. In your Callings Relation-Duties in every state change and undertaking keep close to God this is a notable way to spiritual prosperity Deut. 5. 33. 2 Chro. 17. from vers 3. to 7. Secondly Improve your Interest in Christ towards your inriching in good Works Labour to be rich towards God as well as in your own Souls Luke 12. 21. 1 Timothy 6. 18. Consider Christians the more you lay out for God the more are you like to God who giveth us richly all good things 1 Tim. 6. 17. And in being rich towards God you will inrich your own Souls also for he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 2 Cor. 9. 6. Acts of Mercy and Piety are as good Seed that shall not miscarry but shall bring forth a sure crop in glory Gal. 6. 8 9. 9. Duty Ninthly Live up to your Treasure Walk as becomes so high a Dignity and Relation to so rich a Jesus 2 Thes 2. 12. This is but reasonable if God hath changed your State that you should change