high consideration that Saints may not only have from Christ but expect to be what he is looke whatever God acted on the person of Christ that he did as in our behalfe and meanes to act the same on us was Christ crucified so are we as he rose againe so are we raised together with him and if he be taken up into glory so are we Oh how should faith stand and gaze on Jesus Christ now he is in glory not an ordinary and meane act of faith will come up into this mystery such a faith only as sets the soule in heaven and puts it in a condition of glorious triumph becomes this expression heaven is not only opened but possessed by Jesus Christ for us Faith goes to Christ as dying and rising againe and so beleeves its remission of sins and justification but yet faith is low while it doth not go within the vaile and see glory Saints should not rejoyce in present acts but live on future glory as it was with the Jews at that time when the high Priest went into the holy of holies whcih was very seldome yet then they ought to have higher joy in beleeving because they saw the utmost of their happinesse represented then when meerly they saw the bullock killed for sin So now that Christ is gone into glory the holy place not made with hands we should not only have a faith of justification but of glorification you may anticipate the condition of heaven it selfe and your actuall possession of that by beleeving when faith lookes down and sees Christ on the Crosse and his bloud running out to satisfie wrath it cannot choose but thinke that righteousnesse is procured especially when we see him rise againe but now when we looke up higher and see Christ taken into glory what can we have lesse than a glorious faith Use 2. And now seeing I am falne on this I cannot choose but bewaile our stupidity and reprove our folly how miserable do beleevers live Where is the spirit of glory that should be on them When Stephen saw Jesus at the right hand of God though but for a moment his face did shine like glory Acts 8. How many are there that never came up yet to act faith in Christ as a glorified Christ We are yet still in the lower forme can take in no more of Christ than what was done on the Crosse what some naturall and common resemblances of him can hold forth we seldome follow Christ into heaven to see what he is doing there for us many professe to live immediately on God and to be in glory already but we cannot see their faces shine their outward man scarce as glorious as common professors It were well if we could see Christ in his glory such a sight would be transforming of soules indeed we should live not only as men borne for glory but as in glory as these that have not only one foot in the grave but one foot in heaven heaven is not only let down to you in the frame and picture of it but you are taken into it in the person of the Lord Jesus you may not only dreame of heaven but enjoy it and you thar live below glory live below Christ who is received up into glory Vse 3. This cannot but heighten the joyes and enlarge the comforts of the Saints when they do but consider that Christ is received up into glory In beleeving this what can they find lesse than joy unspeakable and full of glory For First Now Jesus Christ is accepted of the Father for them and hath declared gloriously that his heart is at rest in the workes of his hands and that he is well pleased with you for in this condition he could never else have received Christ into heaven if there were any frownes left in Gods face you might be sure Christ should have them first he comming so nigh him and if any flawes were in your pardon or any exception against his satisfaction he had heard of it and would have been turned out of heaven untill he had made full payment thou needest not doubt acceptance at the throne of grace and to find a blessed welcome to God when Jesus Christ is accepted for thee and thou commest in such a relation Secondly Now he is in a capacity of acting out all his love and the Fathers desire in the most glorious way to thee Christ is gone into heaven to do something more for thee still he had some glorious piece to frame for the Saints and therefore left this world and went to his Father that he might act it in glory and now he is invested with all the riches of heaven he hath all the keys of heaven and hell he hath all power to command he hath received all the promise to himselfe and all that he hath to do is to empty himselfe againe on you he hath not only got his fathers heart for you but got all his riches to bestow on you he cares not as it were for his own advancement but only as it is the advantage to glorifie you and now he can do what he will when he came to heaven the Father bid him sit down at his right hand and take what he would he would have no more to do with the world but he should bestow what he had among his Saints this should be the reward of his death all judgement is committed to the Son the Father judges no man Joh. 10. he hath given away all his prerogatives unto Jesus Christ Thirdly As Christ is received up into glory to act for you and to bring you to glory so he sits in heaven to represent you he is there as a publike person and God sees you all in him he doth but occupy your place and imploy your stock before you come to yeares all you must be gathered into his fulnesse and received up into the same glory he cannot be contented with that glory he hath untill you be with him then he still praies the Father so earnestly that you may be with him where he is Joh. 17. that they may see that is enjoy my glory if Christ intended to resigne up his place and all his glory when once his Saints were come about him he is but as Feoffee in trust with your estate and how will Christ improve it for you who hath such an opportunity And which is more what kind of glory must that needs be which is the honour and the happinesse of Jesus Christ which is his highest advancement as Mediatour Therefore every Saint should expect every sight of Christ as glorious to wait on the Lord Jesus for glorious manifestations of himselfe and in the next place expect to see himselfe in glory do not only remember that you have a head in glory who can supply your wants but remember that you are there with him and that his Crown is as it were a burthen on his own head untill it be set on yours live according to
should be content to goe a begging to one we naturally hate for a man to deny his sense reason selfe righteousnesse lusts prejudices and submit to an unknowne Christ to be made nothing of live at the finding of another For this is the language of Faith I am nothing Christ is all I cannot live without him In a word there are the greatest paradoxes in the workings of Faith as any thing Nothing living as if it had all things unrighteousnesse making its selfe most righteous a soule at the greatest distance from God going most boldly to him one which hath most offended him most relying on him a soule which hath nothing but sin assured it shall have all grace in the midst of greatest unworthinesse triumphing in the compleatest righteousnesse The greatest enemy made submit to the hardest termes to his Nature with many such are found in the acting of Faith that you see what a mystery is in this expression beleeved on in the world and how it may be well rancked in the number of these great mysteries Us 1. If this be so then let shame cover our faces that ever this should be reckoned up as a mystery that we beleeve that God should manifest himselfe to us bring downe his owne glory to our eyes offer life and immortality to us and it should be a wonder for us to take it that God should act in so much love unto us and frame such a Fabrick of glory to take us into it may well be a mystery who can expresse it But that it should be a mystery for us to beleeve this and to take God on his owne word so faithfully spoken is our misery though in it selfe a mystery Must it be a wonder for hungry creatures to eat the bread set before them and for beggers to take the Almes offer'd them yet the Holy Ghost makes this a mystery that we beleeve on Jesus Christ What should shame us more then this that we have not a hand to take in our owne happinesse cannot swallow downe a drop of the water of life except it be poured in us What an aggravation must it be of our sin that we are harder to beleeve and take in what God hath done for us then for God to kill his owne Sonne and part with him out of his owne bowels We have nothing to doe but beleeve and yet it is a wonder we doe beleeve Oh strange creatures God manifested in flesh came in a sensible and demonstrative way of love and glory to wooe poor sinners and yet they will not beleeve Are you not yet ashamed what shall God present his owne heart in blood to you and yet you will not receive it Christ is come as justification and righteousnesse with peace and sweetnesse and yet men will not beleeve this is most unreasonable and wicked 2. Vse Have not slight thoughts of beleeving it is not an ordinary worke men thinke it is nothing to beleeve If a man doe but live under the Gospell and have a generall profession of it he thinks he is a beleever Oh know Faith is the highest worke of a Christian that which is the acting of a mystery if thou didst but know thy owne heart and see thy sinne thou wouldst wonder how ever thou camest to beleeve on Jesus Christ There is a common Faith indeed which the world hath but it is not worthy the name of Faith a Faith which is meerly historicall and traditionall but for the Faith here spoken of the Faith of God's Elect that is another manner of work thou wilt find it a mystery for thee to beleeve on Jesus Christ It is an easie matter for men to say they beleeve when they see neither sin nor Christ but hast thou ever had but an aspect into thy owne sinfull Nature and a right knowledge of thy wretched state then tell me whether Faith be a common or an easie thing it is that which many soules see it harder to act then remove Mountaines For a poor trembling soule who stands on the brink of Hell to leap into Christ's bosome and such a proud heart as thou hast to be willing to be at the disposing of Jesus Christ and make a totall resignation of selfe and all interest to Christ yea though thou mayest injoy them this is Faith and a great mysterie therefore deceive not thy own heart 3. Use Let us from hence see what is the great thing the Gospell requires of us it is to believe all is summed up in this all the mysteries of the Gospell are nothing to us without beleeving Though God be manifested in flesh and justified in spirit that is made redemption and justification for us yet if he be not beleeved on by the world it is nothing to us Faith brings downe the particular sweetnesse and comfort of all this unto us and puts us in actuall possession of it what ever God is to us before Faith yet we have no benefit really by it untill we beleeve Oh therefore make this your work admit of no exception against beleeving this is the great duty of the Gospell and the great way of God's revealing himselfe to us it is a taking hold of all that Christ doth and hath for us and gives us the actuall injoyment of it God requires no more of us but that we beleeve the work is done really for us in Christ's person and this is preached unto us and nothing else remaines but the putting to our seal by Faith that all is true The blood of Christ is drawn out and his graces run out in justification and sanctification nothing is behind but the laying of our mouths to his brests the stretching out of our hands to receive in that life and righteousnesse which is purchased for us Oh let not the work stick in you your beleeving doth as it were perfect the mystery of the Gospell According as God hath discovered himselfe so should we act Faith the mystery of God in Christ hath wrought exceeding strongly so should our Faith The mystery of your salvation is opened the materials of it made ready and brought downe to you to take only your worke is to beleeve lay hold on them by Faith God in flesh condemned and justified in spirit is preached to you that you may beleeve The blood of Christ is shed and fitly temper'd for to quiet your consciences only your mouth must be opened wide to receive it Faith is nothing else but the eying of what Christ hath done and taking it home to its selfe and living in the mystery as its owne Oh now God hath done all so well will not you set to your soule that it is true By beleeving you witnesse unto all the other mysteries The Apostle saith he that beleeveth not hath made God a lyer because he beleeveth not the record that God hath given of his Son 1 John 5.10 Unbeliefe belies God in all he hath done for us Let Faith have no stop nor stint in its actings
the Gentiles and beleeved on in the world and received up to glory now none will be so grossely ignorant as to attribute this to Saints Saints are not preached to the Gentiles nor believed on in the world nor yet all received up to glory 3. God as manifest in flesh did dye in that flesh was crucified to make atonement for sin for this was a manifestation in order unto reconciliation now who will say that the bodies of the Saints did dye and were offered up in sacrifice and did make our peace with God which they must be said to do if the meaning of the phrase be according to that interpretation We had need be wary in the letting out our thoughts on the Scripture and fastening interpretation of things seeing such strange consequences may follow And especially take heed of advancing Saints so as to lessen Christ he must have the preheminence above Saints and Angels and know that there is not only a distinction between Christ and Saints meerly as head and members but a distinction of them in regard of their persons for Christ is a head in regard of his person as the husband is the head of his wife and though they be one body yet he is a distinct person and hath those incommunicable prerogatives that cannot be appropriated either to Saints singly or as his body Gods manifestation to the flesh of Saints is at second hand thorough Christ of his fulnesse that is of that fulnesse which resides eminently and distinctly in his person they receive grace for grace Indeed God is said to dwell in us and we in God but how not as God dwels in Christ but because he dwels in us by his own nature and we by union with Christ partake of that fulnesse according to our measure God dwels in Christ immediately and as a God he dwels in us through Jesus Christ Christ letting out part of that fulnesse on our hearts And thus God was pleased that in him all fulnesse should dwell and by him to reconcile all things to himselfe that in all things he might have the preheminence and that his person might be distinctly admired above all Creatures The difference of Gods manifesting himselfe in flesh that is in Christs humane nature and ours lies in this that this manifestation was as in an ordinance of life and salvation making that person which had our nature the great conveyer of eternall peace and comfort through that flesh so the Apostle Col. 1.22 In the body of his flesh through death he is to present us blamelesse and spotlesse to his Father wherefore saith the Apostle againe Heb. 2.17 It became him in all things to be made like his brethren that he might be a mercifull high Priest c. that is that he might be fit to convey life and salvation to poore soules But Gods manifestation in the flesh or persons of the Saints is as into severall Cisternes which lye under the fountaine to receive their proportion God manifesting himselfe in Christs flesh is as of a fulnesse to fill all but in the person of the Saints it is but of severall degrees and measures in order to a fulnesse that we may come to the fulnesse of the measure God hath manifested himselfe in our nature that by that he might at length fill all our persons Thus is our nature joyned to the Godhead to be as a great pipe set at the mouth of some full spring that through that God might run out his love and glory by degrees on our heart first Christ receives it at once and then thorough his Spirit discovers it in us In a word Gods manifestation in Christs flesh was as a Saviour a Redeemer a Head yea as the Author of eternall Salvation to us And this is the mysterie of mysteries he which reads this may very well cease to wonder at any thing else This is the foundation of all Gods other actings to us the pole on which they all turne all the discoveries of God are wrapt up in this one this unlocks Gods own Cabinet wherein all his designes lye Election Redemption Glorification all is wrapt up in this and made cleare when we understand this one expression God manifested in flesh it is the being of light and immortality to light at once it opens heaven and earth 1. This is the foundation of our union with God and Sonship it is from hence that God is one with our nature God is manifested as a Father in our own flesh we are Sons because Christ is he was really and naturally the Son and wee through him receive the adoption of sons For he which sanctifieth and they which are sanctified are all one therefore he is not ashamed to call them brethren Heb. 2.11 So you have Gal. 4.4 5. God sent forth his Son in our flesh that we might receive the adoption of Sons God first takes our nature and marries it to his own Son that so we might be united to him in his nature This is the Antitype and modell of all relations God one with flesh here is Father and Son Husband and Wife all relations meet in this one 2. It is by this that we have communion with God we had never seen God had not he manifested himselfe thus familiarly in our own flesh communion is in things and betweene persons sutable There was no sutablenesse between God and us untill he appeared in our own likenesse but now he made himselfe as it were fit for converse with the unworthiest Creatures there is a sweet sympathy between Christ and us by reason that he dwels in the same house of clay as it were with us the devill himselfe when he comes to the Indians as their God to draw their hearts to worship him appeares in the forme of a man that so he might the better converse with them The blessed God was willing to manifest infinite goodnesse to the Creature and to converse with them and that all terrifying apparitions might be shunned he appears as a man that so we may have intimate fellowship and communion with him with what a holy boldnesse may soules draw nigh to God and delight to behold him and converse with him now he is in such a habit of love and sutablenesse unto our own sences Why art thou strange poore trembling soule and standest afar off as if it were death to draw nigh Of whom art thou afraid What vision of amazement dost thou behold Is God come down among men and thou canst not look on him lest thou dye and perish for ever Why cast one look more and be not discouraged It is true God is come down but not in flaming fire not in the armour of justice and everlasting burnings but cloathed with the garments of flesh and sweetly desires to converse with thee after thine owne forme Nothing can be a stronger motive to allure poore soules unto termes of peace and love as this that God is come down not to consume them with
carried up unto his Fathers glory and sat downe at the right hand of God It cleerly did shew he was accepted and freed by God from that which was laid on him Therefore Christ saith that this shall be one of the great things which the spirit shall convince the world of viz. Of righteousnesse because I go to my Father Ioh. 16. That is that there is a compleat righteousnesse obtained and justification or else I had never been admitted into my Fathers presence and all this acted by the spirit And as a further evidence of this as soon as ever he was ascended he powrs down the spirit as a flood on his Apostles and the Saints with them and to demonstrate that he was not only accepted in his owne person and he personally justified in him and now grace and life must necessarily run out upon them In all these acts Christ was justified in the the spirit for the comfort of beleevers Acts 2. 1 2 3 4 5. Now how may your soules triumph and rejoyce in your justification in the thoughts of this that Christ yea God was justified for you and how ever you are in your selves yet you may be justified in the spirit beleevers have nothing to doe but to take out the personall assurance of this to their owne soules at that time when Christ was justified you were vertually so and yet but out of the particular discharge by the spirit to your hearts and your justification is compleat The great complaint of soules is in this that they are not justified in God's eyes But now we are not only acquitted by the spirit in our own hearts but God himselfe is justified in our Nature for us there is none to offend but God and none to be justified but sinners But now when God shall satisfie himselfe and justifie himselfe in our persons or in our stead what strong consolation have we God will not lay the payment on us but himselfe and he will justifie himselfe for us It was more for Christ to be justified then for any one of us for he had more laid on him then can be laid on us he standing not under the charge of one persons sins or many but of all the Elect and when he was justified a full discharge was given for all that he represented This is a mystery indeed God is offended and God takes that on himselfe in our Nature which lay on us and is justified for us When Christ was justified there was a publick record of it and now when we believe we goe but to that Court and take out the particular discharge to our own soules Christ receiv'd the first act on himselfe in our Name and it was as authentique as if it were formally done on our persons But when we believe it is done personally to us So that now beleevers you have nothing else to doe but apply that righteousnesse which issued forth from Christs justification and lay hold on it as your owne Goe to the Court and see your owne names in the Indenture and get out the coppy of it in your owne heart for there is a necessity if Christ be justified that we should be discharged therefore get holy and glorious triumphs in your heart over sin and Death in that Christ is not only dead but alive and that you are justified in him get out the speciall assurance of it by the spirit to the hearts 3 Vse If Christ were justified in the spirit Let it be your care to justifie Christ in your spirits God hath discharged him so doe you Q. How can we justify Christ you wil say S. VVhy when you believe what he hath done for you Christ hath done all things for you satisfyed wrath fulfilled the Law God hath acquitted him pronounced him just saith he is contented he can desire no more why now doe you justifie Christ in this by saying Amen in your owne Consciences to this Hath Christ dyed believe that your sins shall die Is he justified beleeve that so are you VVhen the surety hath paid the debt the principall as well as the creditor ought to give an acquittance Oh how are we to be blamed for our unbeliefe what aspersions doth it cast on Christ he hath done all things well but we say by unbeliefe he hath done nothing Unbeliefe professeth Christ is not dead or at least not risen the Law is still in force justice is not satisfied there is no justification procured Every doubt in a Saint casts a scandall on Christ God saw cause enough to justifie Christ even by his own spirit and to declare him in our names to be a righteous one and we in him but we see not cause to believe our owne justification or the remission of our sins what is it but to thinke that Christ is held under the paines of death hath not done any thing to purpose that the wrath of God is as open to destroy us as ever it was You keep Christ as it were in a prison and under condemnation when you believe not Oh soules will not you justifie Christ in all these glorious things he hath done for you Then you justifie Christ when you acknowledge him to be what he is made of God to you wisdome and righteousnesse sanctification and redemption I might goe torough all his Offices and Acts for us as then we justifie him in regard of his death when our hearts are satisfied with the offering up of himselfe and that satisfaction he hath made So in his resurrection when we believe we are freed from our sins our surety being risen for our justification so in regard of the whole worke of salvation we justifie Christ when we goe to him as a full and compleat Saviour having our conscience quieted by his righteousnesse and our hearts triumphing thorough his fulnesse Oh it is sad to see how Christ is crucified againe in our hearts thorough unbeliefe arraigned as a malefactor for this is certaine if there be not enough laid in for the satisfying and inriching of soules then Christ is not righteous and he is under condemnation How should we rejoyce to witnesse to Christ faithfulnesse and righteousnesse When we goe boldly to God by Christ then we acknowledge Christ to be a Mediator when we find the sence of our justification in our owne hearts then we acquit Christ and declare he was justified from our sins SERMON VII 1 TIM 3.16 Seene of Angels c. GReat mysteries have great admirers according as things are in themselves so they are adored Godlinesse is the greatest mystery that ever was it being made up of various workings of the glory of God and it hath the greatest and most glorious Creatures for to study it even the Angels themselves This is one of the particulars whereby the Holy Ghost sets forth the greatnesse of this mystery that it was seen of Angels The two former expressions set forth this mystery in its nature and essence under a twofold consideration of God
of soules from Christ 3. It informes us to whom Christ must be preached unto sinners not only Saints but sinners unto Gentiles who were the worst of sinners Christ must be laid out before the eies of sinners offered to sinners as sinners in their lowest condition notwithstanding all their vilenesse But it may be some may stumble at this therefore I would cleer it up that sinnes are the proper subject to whom the Gospell must be preached without any qualification but beleeving and laying hold upon Jesus Christ Christ is to be first offered unto sinners under no other consideration but as sinners when it is said here that this mysterie was preached to the Gentiles what is the meaning of it but life and salvation was preached that is offered to them Christ must be preached according to the end and intent of his death and of his offices now Christ dyed for sinners for the ungodly he came on purpose to save sinners therefore he must be offered first to sinners as such as he suffered for He dyed not for such and such sinners so humbled so qualified but for sinners absolutely to take away their sin When we preach Christ what doe we declare but Christ as dead and risen againe for life to sinners And the truth is men are capable of the Gospell under no other notion but as sinners for it offers righteousness and free justification reconciliation and redemption which respects purely sinners none need Christ but only such a righteous Christ is for a sinfull creature When Jesus Christ comes to any soul he finds him ungodly and yet justifies him though still this is to be taken in though Christ be to be preached unto sinners yet none but such and such sinners doe receive him or beleeve upon him whose hearts he moves and makes see the need of him though Christ belongs to sinners and came into the world on purpose to save them yet these sinners which he doth save he convinceth and humbleth and makes beleeve yet we must preach Christ according to the true intent and proper end of Christs mission and commission which was to save sinners and if men beleeve not and are not sensible of their need and want of Christ we must shake off the dust of our feet 2. Use If this be so then let no sinne discourage thee from beleeving and going to Christ Christ is given to thee on no other termes then as thou art a sinner and he a Saviour let thy condition be what it will it cannot be worse then the Gentiles was what if thou hast lived long in sin hast been a stranger from God yea worshipâ— the very Devils as they did Christ and all the mysterie of the Gospell is to be preached to thee and if preached thou mayest beleeve Let all the world know that grace is not circumscribed that Christ is not daintie of his love We are commanded to proclaime peace even to those which are afar off even cursed Gentiles Oh except not your selves out of the termes of the Gospell when the worst of sinners may come and be welcome to the richest things of Jesus Christ yea to drinke of Christ's owne heart blood What a sad thing is this that thou shouldst be more shie of Christ then he of thee what is Christ but a Saviour for whom hath he done all for but for sinners such as thou art suppose but any righteousnesse in thy selfe or any thing but sinne and thou layest a ground worke of destroying the end of Christ's comming If thou hast no sinne God hath done nothing for thee if sinne hinder thee from Christ it is because thou knowest not what Christ is made for thee We can doe no more then preach Christ to the Gentiles offer him as a full and compleat Saviour for sinners and if you being sinners keep you from Christ it must be because you thinke not Christ to be a Saviour We have commission not to over-heat Christ's blood but give it to soules as they can take it and I here professe this day that if thou be a Gentile the veriest wretch that ever the world bore Christ is preached unto thee and thou art one who mayest have all the mysterie of the Gospell discovered to thee Stand not mincing of the Gospell make not criticall exceptions against Jesus Christ it is sufficient thou art a sinner thou needest adde no more sins and if thou be a sinner Christ is offered unto thee I this mystery is a design of free grace and knows no other objects to act upon but such as thou art Oh lye at Christs feet lay thy eare at the mouth of the Gospell it speakes nothing but mysteries of love and life to thee Lastly If it be so here is a new object for your admiration that God should contrive such a mysterie and manifest it unto us that we we wretched ones should be the subjects of such transactions what reason have we to blesse and admire the love of God to us Free grace hath no bounds It hath not only wrought in Gods heart but it breakes out to all the world stands up and cries grace grace to all the world how ought we to prize the preaching of the Gospell which is a revelation of the mystery of Christ to us God could have revealed all this immediately to his Elect and have made no more ado but he will have it preached this shall be the ordinary and common way of the manifestation of the great mysteries of the Gospell and those which cast off preaching renounce the way of God whereby he will open his hidden treasures Oh brethren thinke what cause you have to admire that Christ is preached to you his love manifested in such a way you have Christ taught in your streets the sweet sound of the Gospell in your eares what should take up your hearts but this What better newes unto sinners than to heare of a Saviour The Gospell speakes nothing but glad tidings to poore soules it gives out the spirits of life and immortality to refresh the soule You that were Gentiles Christ is preached to you beleeve and close in the Gospell lest it happen to you as to the Jews that Christ be preached no more to you when Christ declares such great things he lookes for attendance and woe to those soules that obey not such a Gospell SERMON VII 1 TIM 3.16 Beleeved on in the World c. THe mystery of Godlinesse is comprehended in two things Gods actings towards us and our actings towards God of the first you have heard in the former expressions how richly and sutably God hath discovered himselfe to the salvation of his poore creature man God himselfe personates us in our condition and so transacts our happinesse and that we might have the comfort of it proclaimes it by preaching even unto the Gentiles the most forlorne and contemptiblest soules and this is the right line in which the greatnesse of this mystery is conveyed for that it was
and not only is beleeving a denyall of the worst selfe sin and lust which yet is as a mans right eye yea as the Caule of a mans heart but he denies honest selfe and religious selfe selfe drest and adorn'd selfe righteousnesse and actings selfe adorned with the most glorious endowments and richest performances selfe naturall and acquired yea and a soul contrary to all its motions both rationall and seemingly godlie beleeves on Jesus Christ Take a raised and high spirit one who hath built his nest in the Starres in regard of speculation and one whom the world can say nothing in regard of converse unto for him to come and submit to a Christ to throw downe all that ever he hath studyed as dung and drosse to descend and come into the lower parts of the earth and looke on himselfe as the poorest despicablest and undonnest creature in the world one that knowes not the way to happinesse which he must doe if he beleeve why this is the mysterie Selfe is sometime so painted acted in so much state and so spirituallised as it were set out with such ornaments both of nature art and morally spirituall gifts that it would make any spirit in love with it yet when a soule comes to beleeve on Christ he must renounce all these as dung and drosse the worst of things in regard of saving his soule or in comparison of Jesus Christ This is death to a man Nature would as lieve be damned as entertaine such a proposition and cast it selfe out of such a priviledge that it looks on as its birth-right yet there was no soule that ever beleeved on Jesus Christ but did willingly doe this Paul when he begins to reckon up his priviledges both of his birth and education and the strictnesse of his life one would have thought he needed no more Phil. 3. and he thought so to selfe was so richly accomplished not only against the Law but the Gospell he was borne in the Church had the priviledges of a Saint was blamelesse in the Law yet when he came to beleeve he was glad to cast away all this as the off-scouring of the world he was alive once and thought himselfe a glorious one but he dyed to all these they were all as dead things to him For a man not only to deny his lusts that are his Nature and so deare as many venture the wrath of God for but his performances which he hath been in for a long time and throw down the glorious structure of duty he hath been building for 20 30 40 yeers together with all the curious paintings of formality You had better tell men of parting with God Christ Heaven yea of all the good of soule and body rather then of such a thing This selfe is the bottome and originall of all sinne it is that which is the very constitution of our Natures Selfe hath been borne and bred with us it lives in our bosomes hath been the old companion in all our actions and to be cast off at last and hated is very hard it is easier to change the course of the Sun and turne Heaven into Earth to place the Elements above and the Starres beneath to make the stream naturally run back from the same Fountaine it came yea to worke the greatest miracle in Nature then to make a man to deny himselfe especially selfe so ingratiated and clothed with gifts and honestie and righteousnesse of the Law Yet when a man beleeves this is the first thing done upon him selfe is turn'd against selfe Nature runs counter to its owne inclinations that darling and first borne of the soules delights and love is made the abomination of the heart and the soule most set against it Now let this be weighed which yet is but the first and rather implicite and supposed act of Faith then the Nature of it and you cannot but conclude that this is a great mysterie that Christ should be beleeved on in the world But 2. Which is yet farther for a soule to close in with Jesus Christ and fully to relye on him as his owne and expect all righteousnesse and grace in him alone and nothing from selfe first or last which is properly beleeving this sets it out yet farther For 1. It is a great venture for a soule to forsake selfe its dearest consort and leave all its strong ingagements to the flesh for that which yet he hath no particular assurance of but a bare tender and offer No man in reason will part with any thing in possession but upon a certainty of a better whereas the soule is still in doubt of what it may injoy though Christ be offered to all yet some goe without him and this may be the condition of the soule ' Yea 2. To close in with Christ against whom it hath naturally the greatest antipathy and whom it never saw to cast all the weight of its joy and comfort on Christ whom the heart hath offended and against whom it hath received such prejudices that his heart cannot indure him of any this is exceeding strange unto our apprehensions As Abram left all his owne Kindred and Fathers house and not knowing where he went binding up this reason and denying a present good only on the security of a generall and indeterminate promise was a miracle to all the world for this is the Nature of Faith on a bare word and promise to close in with Christ and venture its eternall comfort Faith comes by hearing and that of the word preached that is of the word of promise Now for a soule ingaged thus to sin and lust and selfe to leave all on a promise of a Christ which yet the soule is a stranger unto and is darke in the knowledge of this must needs be a mystery and that 3. If you consider that it is not only a bare taking of Christ as at a shift to make some present advantage of him to rid a man out of fears or preserve him from wrath which selfe may be willing unto out of its owne principles but it is a receiving Christ on his owne terms a submitting unto the tenure of all his commandements it is taking Christ nakedly with all his holinesse as well as his love yea with all his inconveniences unto flesh and blood even to take up a Crosse with him lye downe in the grave with him it is a giving up the soule unto Christ to be what he will and do what he will that a soule beleeves not only for peace and joy but for power and life and is led captive for ever unto the will of Christ therefore it is called the obedience of Faith by the Apostle this must needs be a mystery especially if you consider in the third place the difficulties and disadvantages the poor sinner meets withall in the way besides that naturall darkenesse and stupidity which lies on our hearts that we cannot judge of our own peace and that aversnesse from Faith in us
above any thing else There be these difficulties rise up for a soule to leap over 1. The greatnesse of sin which when it is once discovered to an inlightned soul is so great and vile that it cannot imagine how it can be pardon'd the Law pressing so hard for satisfaction and the soule can give none when it thinks of God he is so offended it thinks that he will never have mercy The sinner is now put to it in the full prospect of such a heart of such abominations to goe to Christ for salvation to beleeve all these sins though so amazing the soule and of such a damning Nature to be all done away and see more righteousnesse in Christ then sin in it this is a hard work But 2. That a soule should beleeve at such a time when yet among all the rest of its sins it hath such a root of unbeliefe within it springing from the power of selfe-love which keeps the soule under raiseth mists before the eyes of the souls selfe and it striving to evade all the arguments of the Gospell to elude and baffle the soule in all its apprehensions of Christ Unbeliefe saith there is no such thing as Christ it is but a mockery a delusion or else raiseth up a dust before the promise that the soule may not see it for him it tels the soule it is to no end to thinke of pardon thou art gone too farre to recover it is too late or else lessens the riches of mercy but multiplyes the misery of sin Thus unbeliefe like a strong man uncontrouled reignes in the heart But which is more 3. Sense and reason stand unsatisfied the soule can neither see cause why to beleeve nor find any ground in it selfe that if it believe it must goe beyond experience goe contrary to its own senses it feels nothing but the workings of deaths thorough sin sees nothing but hell before its eyes and a necessity of satisfying justice it hath nothing visibly held out to it but a generall promise of a Christ which unbeliefe evades it cannot see reason why God who hath been so highly displeased can ever passe by such affronts and take the soule into favour Now for a man to beleeve against his owne sense and reason as Abram beleeved against hope and above hope La mystery indeed To venture a mans eternall happinesse against his reason and sense on such generall termes as at first is presented to the soule is the great wonder of the world especially if we yet look further and consider 4. What prejudices and misprisions such a sinner hath of Christ The Devill presents him under cruell shapes to such a soule and unbeliefe is not backward to make hideous discoveries as that he is not so rich nor so mercifull one which hath but will not spare me which hath a stock but no heart either they thinke he cannot or will not give what the soule needs Christ lyes remote from the eye of the soule he is in Heaven and they see not his heart they must take things on trust receive him in the promises and that seems to be an uncertaine way of assurance That grosse ignorance of the Nature of the Gospell of the person of Christ is of it selfe invincible and oh what conceits are raised up in the heart against Jesus Christ The soule will run to this and that rather then Christ it will look to selfe if it can find any thing there which may give it but little a ease though it doe deceive it rather then goe to Christ it will court duties and performances Saints and ordinances if any of them will afford but a sparke of comfort to it that it may stay from Christ for selfe and sin cannot indure to heare a good word of Christ the Antipathy is in nothing stranger Lastly view the requisites to beleeving what is required to make one believe for it is above the power of Nature Why 1. There must a light from Heaven shine into our hearts All the light of Nature and reason can never shew what Christ is nor make a man capable of knowing any thing of this mystery The naturall man knowes not the things of God and it is impossible for him to discerne them 1 Cor. 2. Therefore Paul when he speaks of his conversion he describes it by a light that shin'd from Heaven above the light of the Sun He saith that Christ was revealed in him Acts 9. Gal. 1. Thus to make any soule beleeve he must have 〈◊〉 spirituall eye made on purpose and that eye inlightned immediately from God therefore you shall find beleeving and seeing all one in Scripture because Faith is a spirituall sight of the Lord Jesus But 2. All this will not doe but there must be an almighty power put forth even as in creation to make a soule beleeve so the Ap. saith Eph. 1. that the same power is put forth to make soules beleeve that was to raise up Christ from the dead the soule lyes in such darknesse and hath such an enmity to Christ that nothing can reconcile it or make a soule have good thoughts of Christ but to create a new heart in him there is no dealing with the old heart or working on it it will come to no termes of agreement at all for we are not only enemies but enmity it selfe there is not only in us an incapacity but an opposition Col. 1.21 So the Apostle expresseth it by the casting downe strong holds imaginations and every thing which exalteth it selfe against Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 10.4 There are such forts which unbeliefe hath raised in the soule such strong holds and mighty strange and yet strong imaginations against Jesus Christ that nothing but weapons made mighty thorough God can cast them downe These strong holds are such as will never yield take no quarter therefore they must be pull'd downe with a high hand and there are imaginations a thousand reasonings against Christ and the Gospell which can never be answered but they must be cast downe Christ must not only be fet out of Heaven in light and showne unto a poor soul but the power of the almighty God must come with him and cast downe all opposition against him if all the Angels should come else to perswade the soule nay if Christ himselfe should come in his owne person without this power he could not perswade the soule out of its Forts Therefore it is said None can come to Christ except the father draw him John 6. That is none can ever beleeve on Christ except God let out a mighty power which may bring him So Faith is called Faith of the operation of God because it is a worke peculiarly that goes thorough his hands it is beyond all other power to doe To summe up all then This must needs be a great mystery that Christ should be beleeved on in the world that darknesse should comprehend light enmity imbrace a union that such proud hearts as we have
suffer no contrary objections to believing as the riches and righteousnesse of God are laid out before you and demonstrated to your very senses so give faithfull witnesse to all by beleeving the more you beleeve the more you get the sweetnesse of call this fulnesse and you act in the mystery your selfe for not only Christ but your Faith on him is part of the great mystery of godlinesse SERMON X. 1 TIM 3.16 Received up into Glory WEE are now come to the last step of this long ascent at the top of which you have the full sight of all divine workings God seems to begin low takes flesh upon him and is condemned but then riseth higher and is justified in the spirit and admired by Angels preached in power to the Gentiles yea and beleeved on in the world and now received up into Glory This notes the highest advancement of our Nature in the Person of Jesus Christ The great subject of this mystery is Jesus Christ he is the centre in which all these lines end the great and common representative of all the Elect and he is set forth here as under diverse formes and conditions he past through and the severall wayes of his manifestation to the creature as condemned and justified as admired and preached and beleeved on in the world and now at last as received up into glory And it is no more then to set forth the 3 great acts which Christ did as Mediatour for us in transacting our salvation he was manifest in flesh to dye for our sins he rose againe for our justification he ascended up into Heaven to sit at Gods right hand for us This is put in opposition unto his lowest extremity of humiliation for us He that descended also ascended farre above the Heavens So that now we must view this mystery as in another world and follow it up to Heaven where it is acted in glory The greatest part is yet behind it seems now to be gone out of sight as the sun when it is gone from our Horison begins a new day in another part of the world So God having acted that part of the mystery which was for this world takes him up into Glory there to act the rest in a new and blessed way By glory is meant Heaven where Gods sets forth his glory most For the cleerer opening of this I shall propound these things 1. Who or what it is that is taken up into glory 2. What it doth import comprehend 3. The mystery which is in it For the first It is no other but Jesus Christ who was God manifest in flesh who after he had suffered entred into his glory having done his worke as the Apostle saith he entred into his rest Heb. 4. He came out of the lap of his Fathers love into a wide and miserable world to lead a contemptible and mean life in the form of a servant and having finished his course is againe taken up into that glory and high dignity from whence he came This was the prayer of Christ that when he had ended his worke in the world that God would restore him to that glory he had with him from the beginning of the world John 17. He left his place for a while seemed to be turned out of it as one not worthy of it untill he should purchase it by his owne blood He was let fall out of glory into a forme of misery and lost his station for a while and againe is restor'd to it with an addition of highest honour That this is meant properly of the person of Christ is cleer for the same is receiv'd up to glory who was God manifest in flesh and justified in spirit who died and rose againe that none of the Saints did neither can any other be said to be seen of Angels nor preached to poor sinners nor is any the object of Faith but Jesus Christ but yet this must be granted that mystically and representatively the Saints likewise are received up into glory with him as I shall shew anon and if you will that Jesus Christ that in the names of all the Elect was condemned and made a sacrifice for sin and justified in the Spirit in their stead that Christ is also received up into glory as in their stead But secondly what doth this hold forth that Christ is received up into glory You must look on this as containing a glorious designe and a great part in the salvation of soules 1. It implies a compleat finishing of that worke he had to do for us here that there was no more to be done in this world for us that the satisfactory worke to justice was finished and he and his sacrifice accepted before God Heb. 10. having by one offering perfected those which are sanctified he entred into the holiest place viz. heaven and there sate down at the right hand of God having no more to do justice being satisfied justification for sinners procured this was evident when he rose againe For if he had not paid the debt he had never come out of prison but much more evident seeing he is received up into heaven taken into the Fathers bosome many break prison and walke up and down securely as if all were paid but they dare not come in the face of the Court and behold the Judge or come nigh any of their Creditors this is the greatest ground of security that can be possible that sin is done away and that redemption is purchased because that Christ is received up into glory God would never have let Christ come so nigh him if he had any of the smell of his grave-cloaths on him had left any one sin unsatisfied for 2. It imports not only a bare satisfaction of justice but clearly demonstrateth how infinitely God is pleased with Jesus Christ and what he hath done that his heart is contented and he hath over and over pleased him many a broken debt may be paid by a third penny and composition and the Creditor pronounce satisfaction in Law But Christ did not agree so with God by way of composition but Christ paid the utmost farthing that justice could command and in such a way that God is infinitely taken with him and his Oblation and so delighted in him as that he thinkes him not fit to stay any longer in this world but takes him up to glory cannot be without him in heaven gives him a name above every name that he may aske what he will he hath the command of all Gods treasuries of all his riches When Christ went up and down the world and was but about the work he could not hold but must send the Spirit to proclaime to all the world This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased as if he had said Whatever he shall do I will accept But now how much more when he hath so faithfully acted out his will and is received up into his glory and is received up into his glory is God
seen of Angels is but collaterall to it to make up the glory of it ab extra from the admiration of such divine creatures when they did but look on it but yet this mystery goes on still in its greatnesse even in regard of our actings towards it and this is put in among the rest to fill it up that it was beleeved on in the world the receiving of Jesus Christ and beleeving on him as the Author of life and salvation and the righteousnesse and redemption of poor sinners is one part of the great mystery of godlinesse and that which is as much to be admired as any of the rest Let us first looke on it in relation to the other parts of this mysterie then consider it in it selfe First consider it as with the rest and it is one of the greatest parts of the mystery for the acting and contriving of this in God's owne heart he had no opposition all was done in light and glory but when it was acted on us there was the opposition light and darkenesse striving together yet one would think this should be no mystery at all for us to beleeve this which was so much for our own eternall good Who will wonder at a starved begger to take bread that is offered him or for a poor prisoner condemned to take a pardon all the wonder is that the man should be so bountifull as to part with the bread out of his own belly to give the beggar and that the K. should be so gracious as to grant the pardon to such a wretch yet the Holy Ghost sets this downe as an equall mystery with the rest that Christ should be beleeved on in the world which is no more but that sinners should receive and entertaine that glory which is let downe from Heaven to blesse them withall to lay hold on that Rock without which they are drowned for ever to accept of that grace which only can bring salvation to them to give up themselves to be saved by the infinite riches of love and glory yet this is a mysterie that ever this Christ should be thus beleeved on That God should be manifest in flesh to save such sinners as we are why his own infinite love prompted him to it he had a design of glory out of it he knew what he did it was an essay of acting out his wisdome and love and that he was seen of Angels such sagacious and spirituall creatures is not so much wonder for who was fit to behold such an object but such blessed spirits and that it should be preached to the Gentiles may yet be conceived For God to proclaime it to us and open his heart was exceeding glorious yet still this was God letting out his owne love to us but that sinners who lie in darkenesse know nothing of God should beleeve this this is yet a farther mysterie and as great as any of the others But to open it more fully that we may see wherein this mysterie lies in this expression I shall lay downe these particulars It will be a mystery if you consider 1. The condition which the world is in 2. The nature of beleeving 3. The difficulties and disadvantages to the worke of beleeving 4. The requisites to such an act For the first That Christ should be beleeved on in the world by the world is meant the Gentiles unto whom Christ was to be preached Now the whole world lay in wickednesse averse from God scorning the name of Christ the condition of the world was a condition of utter darkenesse they were given up to blindnesse and hardnesse of heart they walked in the vally of the shadow of death under the power of the Devill ruling in their hearts as children of disobedience dead in trespasses and sins 2 Eph. 1 2 3. What a wonder is it for blind men to see though it be the best thing which may doe them good for dead men to be sensible of a miserable condition or of any thing that lies upon them such were all the world running with full careere to sin and Hell and will not be stopt delighting in sin as their meat and drinke serving their lust and the Devill as their God men not only not sensible of their owne estate but having the name of that which may reforme them Now for such to receive and entertaine a Christ submit to the glory of the Gospell must needs be a mysterie how such blind soules can see the light of the glory of God such dead hearts entertaine joyfully a living Christ and be brought from death to life from the power of Satan to God be transformed into light and life be taken up into glory may well be put on the account of the mysterie of the Gospell and adde to its greatnesse But 2. What is meant by beleeving in generall here Faith is put for all graces and all the glorious workings of God in our hearts beleeving being the first and the choicest grace every grace in our hearts makes up a mysterie and beleeving here comprehends all the workings of our hearts in relation to the designe of God in the Gospell as the manifestation of God in flesh and his justification in spirit is put for all the worke of redemption and justification the foundation of it being surely laid in that so all the workings of it in our hearts is summed up in beleeving How our hearts should take in all this love and be turned into it and live in it this is a mysterie indeed but especially beleeving is to be taken properly for the Faith it selfe which is nothing else but a closing with a receiving of and laying hold on Jesus Christ now if you look into the nature of this Faith you will find it a mysterie that Christ should be beleeved on in the world 1. A renunciation of selfe 2. A reall and full closing with Jesus Christ 3. It is a receiving Christ on his own tearmes For the first That a man should renounce himselfe and be nothing it is the hardest strait that Nature is put to selfe being the principle and end of all mens actions by Nature and that which lies diametrically opposite to the mystery of godlinesse for a poor creature whose Nature and actings can comply with nothing but selfe to abjure it and cast away all yea abhorre and loth selfe as its misery what shall we thinke of this can it amount to lesse then a mystery to see Nature not only to be weakned but turn'd against it selfe and acting contrary to its owne principles As to see light thinks descend and heavy ascend and that against its nature Selfe is the predominant principle of the world it rules like the sole Monarch and there is no absolute Monarch but selfe it rules in the most noble naturall breasts and is that which is founded in the nature of things But now when a man beleeves he goes directly against naturall selfe he saith he is nothing nor can doe nothing