I have not appointed the Ordinances of Heaven and Earth then will I cast away the Seed of Jacob and David my Servant I will not take away any of his Seed to be Rulers over the Seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob for I will cause their Captivity to return and have mercy on them Heaven and Earth shall pass away but one Jot of my word shall not pass away Jer. 33.25 26. Thirdly The third and main point in this Covenant are the qualifications given by God to man to perform this Covenant for He it is that works all our works in us in him we live move and have our Being and without him we can do nothing These qualifications are principally Faith and Holiness Faith by the Apostle is defined The Evidence of things not seen the Substance of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 Faith by the same Apostle elsewhere is thus described If thou wilt confess with thy Mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe with thy Heart that God hath raised him up from the Dead thou shalt be saved for with the Heart man believeth unto Righteousness and with the Mouth Man's confession is made unto Salvation Rom. 10.9 So that Faith is the giving credit to the Word of God in all his Judgments Threatnings Promises and disengaging our affections to sin and lusts of the flesh and turning to God with all our Souls Hearts Minds and resting confidently and quietly on the Accomplishment of what is promised patiently waiting for the same and this grace of Faith is accomplished and wrought in the Hearts of his People by the Spirit of God by Grace you are saved not of Works lest any should boast but by Faith in Jesus Christ not of your selves it is the gift of God Eph. 2.7 8 9. and this Grace of Faith hath he promised in his New Covenant they shall be my People and I will be their God and I will give them one Heart and one way that they may fear me for ever for the good of them and their Children after them Jer. 32.38 39. this qualification also hath he promised to give his People in that often mentioned Scripture of the New Covenant A New Heart a New Spirit will I give them I will take away the Stony Heart and give you a Heart of Flesh and put my Spirit in you and cause you to walk in my ways and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them Eze. 26.25 to 29. of this grace and qualification of Faith we have spoken elâ—ewhere The Second qualification to those in this Covenant is Holiness for without Holiness it is impossible to please God of this grace and qualification of Godliness we have spoken elsewhere The Fourth excellency of this Covenant are the many Advantages attending it which may briefly be summed up in these four First To these within this Covenant belong an universal Inheritance of all things Secondly The certainty of that Inheritance Thirdly The excellencies of the Companions of that Covenant Fourthly The many Priviledges belonging to those within this Covenant Although the whole Scriptures are full of the great excellencies of the Heavenly Inheritance and that place herein is verified Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive besides thee O Lord what he hath prepared for those that wait on him Is 64.4 Ps 31.19 however they may be thus hinted at The first is it is an universal Inheritance He that spared not his own Son but freely gave him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Ro. 8.32 All Monarchs Princes and Propriators of the Earth have certain Confinements and limits to their Territories and some enjoy what others cannot pretend unto either in respect of the extent of their Countrys or Qualities or Wealth thereof but none can pretend in the right of their Inheritance or Possessions to that unlimitted Interest of fulness of right that the Partners of this Covenant may for in Christ Jesus all things are theirs and they are Heirs of all things and shall Inherit all things Rev. 21.5 6. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made to us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Let no Man glory in Man all things are yours whether Paul Apollos Cephas or the World Life or Death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3.21 to 24. Secondly this Covenant is certain all pretentions of right or possession of Earthly things are uncertain and ambulatory and in the experience of most admit of their Eclipse in this Life witness David Solomon Haman Mordecai Herod and all the great Heroes of this Life who had their ebbings and flowings and have not been exempted from the fate of changes and with Solomon have found all but vanity and vexation of Spirit and that often repeated place the 1 John 2.15 16 17. describes the uncertainty and perishing condition of the things of this Life and doth ascertain the Interest and certain condition of the fellows of this New Covenant as is more plainly expressed elsewhere and if they continue in this Life they leave a Man at best at his Grave For we brought nothing into the World with us and it is certain we shall carry nothing out 1 Tim. 6 7 17. Thirdly The third excellency of this New Covenant is in the Company Fellowship and Society the fellows of this Covenant have by vertue thereof Men may have Honour Wealth and all other Human Delicacies and all this may be marred and imbittered to them by the uneasiness unsuitableness and disagreeableness of their Companions or unavoidable Society but the Companions of this New Covenant are all desirable grateful acceptable and advantagious the Soul of Lot was vexed by the wickedness of Sodom Job in his Affliction was Tempted by his own Wife and heavily grieved by his three Friends David Sojourned in Mesech and dwelt in the Tents of Kedar and this marred and lessened their quiet and deprived them of that content they could have had in more agreeable Society but the Blessed Harmony of the Saints increased the Comfort of all their Enjoyments they are all so framed qualified and adorned with Holiness Righteousness Love and Unanimity as they all mind the same things and cannot jar or disagree and their joynt song is Holy Holy Lord God of Sabaoths the whole Earth is full of thy Praise for through him we both have an Access by one Spirit unto the Father now therefore ye are no more Strangers and Forraigners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and the House-hold of God and are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone in whom all the Building fitly framed together groweth into an Holy Temple in the Lord in whom also ye are built together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2.18 to
his Church In all their Afflictions he was Afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his Love and in his Pity he redeemed them and carryed them all the days of old Isa 63.9 Secondly This Love is extensive to all wants and necessities or else it is empty and profiteth not Whoso hath this Worlds good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of Compassion how doth the Love of God dwell in him 1 Joh. 3.17 And the Apostle James is to the like purpose If a Brother or a Sister be naked and destitute of Daily food and one of you say to them depart in peace he ye warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not these things which are needful to the Body what doth it profit Jam. 15.16 Seventhly Is it so then of a lamentable truth that all men are concluded in Adams Apostacy and that there is a woful Degeneracy in the Soul of Man from that primitive Knowledge Righteousness and Holiness and that all men in Nature are dead in Sin and have their Conversation with the Lusts of the Flesh fulfilling the desires thereof and of the mind according to the Course of this World according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience and are by Nature the Children of Wrath. Eph. 2.1 2 3. And that there is even amongst the renewed a Law in the Members warring against the Law in the Mind Rom. 7.23 Ch. 8.1 And that by reason of Sin the Creature is Subject to Vanity and the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain for the Adoption and Redemption Rom. 8.20 22 23. And that in this degeneracy a mans life is his burden and there is no true pleasure under the Sun confirmed in Solomons experience Therefore I hated life because the work that is wrought under the Sun is grievous unto me for all is vanity and vexation of Spirit Eccles 2.17 all Seeing then this Earth is but a sojourning and no abiding place and that here is neither Pleasure Rest nor Happiness how much is it mortal mans concern anxiously restlesly and with a believing Impatience to pursue close after these two things First That as by one man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin so Death passed upon all men for that all men have sinned Rom. 5.12 And that as by the offence of one man Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to Justification of life Rom. 5.18 That man would seriously apply himself to the Throne of Grace that he may be found in the Faith that he may be intituled into Eternal Life in Jesus Christ that only mediator and for that the first Image of God in man was wilfully abolished or defaced by man that by the bounty of Free-grace he may be begotten again by the regeneration of the Spirit unto a lively Faith and that he may put on the new man of Righteousness and True Holiness Eph. 4. â—â— And may be renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created it Col. 3.10 And may be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life And that he may be spiritually enlightned not by the Spirit of the World but by the Spirit which is of God and that he may know the things freely given of God 1 Cor. 2.12 And that he may be spiritually minded that enmity of the Carnal mind may be removed so as he may no more mind the things of the Flesh but the things of the Spirit Rom 8.5 6 7. That being raised from the Death of Sin by the Spirit of Christ he may seek these things that are above where Christ is Col. 3.1 And may be accounted to be called a Child of God an heir and Joynt heir with Jesus Christ and may also be glorified with him Rom. 8 17. That he may be dead and crucified in Christ to Sin and may also live with him in Glory Rom. 6.8 Secondly Seeing the Earth was accursed for mans sake Gen. 3.17 18 19. And that the Creature was made Subject to Vanity not willingly but by reason of him who Subjected the same in hope Rom. 8.20 And that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together for redemption from the bondage of Corruption unto the glorious liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8.21 22 23. That he may watch and be always ready with Oyl in his Lamp for the coming of the Bridegroom who cometh as a Thief in the night Rev. 16.15 And may earnestly pray that the Bridegroom would hasten the coming of his Kingdom and the new Heavens and the new Earth and set the Sons of God at liberty from the Liberty of Sin and Corruption and that the glad Tydings of that Heavenly Proclamation may be heard Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and God shall dwell with them and they shall be his People and God himself shall be with them and be their God And God shall wipe away all tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more Death neither Sorrow nor Crying neither shall there be any more Pain For the former things are passed away Rev. 21. to 6. Having thus viewed Adam in his Primitive Integrity in Glory Honour Righteousness true Holiness and perfect Knowledge with absolute Soveraignty over the Creatures the Darling and Friend of God and all the Creation at Unity and Peace with him and in Subjection to him and in Amity amongst themselves And afterwards by Man's falling from God Man the declared Enemy of God and by a guard of Angels barred out of Paradise deprived of his Soveraignty and Enmity sowed between the Creatures and the Earth accursed and the Creation brought under Bondage and the Posterity of Adam once the apparent Heir of all Righteousness true Holiness Knowledge Honour Glory and Soveraignty over the Creatures disabled and cut off from that glorious succession and exposed unto all misery and under the servitude of Sin and Wrath Rom. 3.23 Eph. 2.3 And in place of that Unity of the Sons of God and shouting together for joy nothing to be seen or heard but Subjects rebelling against their Soveraign and the whole Creation Split in Enmity and Envy Malice Oppression and Unrighteousness to have filled the whole Earth where is that corner of the World where ambition for Dominion Covetousness for Wealth private or publick animosities have not drowned the sense of all comfortable enjoyments Man raging against the Creatures and they against him and each in contention devouring one another and nothing to be seen but a woful Convulsion and dismal complexion and the degenerate frame of that first and beautiful Fabrick of the Creation from its so late purity and glory This then being the Tragical Condition of all Mortals Subject to Sin and Misery as entailed on them from the Inherent Corruption of Nature Job 5.6 Who can
reigning prevalent Lusts of the flesh to the Destruction of the Soul in both which Senses spiritual Mortification may be taken for as the Vine and other Fruit-Trees are oppressed by superfluous Wood so as the Sap is exhausted in feeding so many superfluous Bows which may bring forth Leaves weak Blossoms but little or at best bad Fruit because not sufficiently Nourished with Moisture from the Root but the Root being Disburthened from these excrescences or superfluous Boughs the Root is able to communicate moisture to the remaining part and the Tree produceth more and better Fruit even so when the affections and delight of the Soul are spent upon the Lusts and sensual Pleasures of the Flesh the Soul and Spiritual graces are starved and whether for want of suitab e Encouragement and therefore the Great and Wise Husband-Man and Shepherd of the Soul by his Chastisements lops of the superfluous delights and Lusts of the Carnal Heart either by blasting the Objects of our Lusts and Carnal Delights or assists his People in this great Duty to mortifie and wean their Affections from these Objects and be more fruitful to Eternal Life by fixing their Hearts on Christ Jesus Now as all Christians are Members of Christ and must be ingrafted in him John 15.1 they must be suited for that Ingraftment and as the Joyner frames his wood each piece to answer to another and cuts it till it fit and as the skilful Chyrurgeon by his powder or Incision cuts off the proud Flesh about the wound until it be clean and as the Gardner frames the Scyon for the stock even so must the Soul be ordered before it can be ingrafted into that spiritual Root Christ Jesus In this Spiritual Operation these three things are considerable First Wherein it consists Secondly The necessity of the Cure Thirdly The means whereby this Cure is wrought As it must be agreed unto that all Christians must be renewed Rooted and built in Christ Jesus being the chief corner Stone If any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 In this is first the cutting off what is superfluous Secondly The grafting the Soul into the New Root Christ Jesus As to the first it is the Custom of skilful Chyrurgeons in cutting any Ulcer or Ulcerated Member to make a full enquiry into the habit and disposition of the Patients Body and Symptoms of the Grievance and some times in his Operation purgeth and at other times he Ministers Cordials to prevent faintings and often times he renders the Patient insensible of the pain by sleep or otherwise and before he begins his Cure the better to be informed where the Malady lyeth if it be a Stone he useth some Instrument to search it if a Wound he cleanseth about the Wound and when he hath made these Preparations he makes Incision without regard of the Patients complaining of pain until he hath finished his Work so in this Work of Mortification a Christian must do these three things First He must make a full and impartial Examination of himself Secondly He must prepare the Soul for the Cure he must proceed and go on with the Work without partiality or Indulgence to any sin First Examination in which the Thoughts and the Objects thereof on which they are most exercised and wherein they most delight are to be inquired into for as the thoughts and affections are so is the whole Man therefore he must bring them to the line and to the plummet of Gods Law to the Law and to the Testimony if ye walk not according to this Rule it is because there is no light in you Is 8.20 To be Carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace and they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit do mind the things of the spirit for that the flesh is Enmity against God Ro. 8.5 6.7 8. So that here by the Word of God we are to examine and judge and in the Work of Mortification to take special care to get the thoughts and affections which are Carnal and Enmity against God by Nature to be weaned from the Carnal Objects and placed on Christ and the felicities in him for ye are dead and your Life is hid with Christ in God provide your selves bags with wax not old a Treasure in Heaven which faileth not for where your Treasures are there will your Hearts be also Luke 12.31 to 35. So the Christian being dead to this World and his Life hid with Christ in God like the Apostle Paul in whom I am Crucified to the World and the World to me nevertheless I live but not I but Christ that liveth in me and the life that I live in the flesh is by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2.20 his delight was in Heaven and not in the splendor or vanities of this Life so that the chief part of Mortification is to wean the affections from Carnal things and to raise elevate and place them on things above and as the thoughts and affections are to be looked unto even so are all the words and actions of a Man and if for every idle word and enormous action we must answer how much more are we concerned to search into and Mortifie the Corrupt Fountains from whence flow such Corrupt and sour Grapes This Examination must be very thorough and impartial into every word and every action with all the lightning Circumstances and Aggravations thereof This Examination also must be attended with a Godly sorrow and a hearty Repentance like that Repentance not to be repented of for godly sorrow worketh Repentance to Salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the World worketh death and our Repentance should be such as the Apostle Describes behold the self same thing that ye sorrow after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what Revenge and this is true Mortification never to think of old Sins and Corruptions but with Indignation and Abhorrence as is more fully explained under the particular Head of Repentance Secondly A second thing considerable in the work is a due preparation this being no easie task no less difficult than the divorcing Old Friends Lovers and Acquaintances and the breaking of Old inured Friendship therefore the Soul must have this preparative he must be under the Conviction of a necessity either of perishing eternally or be separate from the Lusts of the flesh If any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature Old things are done away I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husband-Man every Branch in me that beareth not Fruit he taketh away John 15.1 2. Now under this Conviction of the necessity of having Old Superfluous Lusts and Carnal desires to be cut off and purged away or
it is worth consideration to reflect on the great threatnings denounced against such vanity and superfluity by the Prophet Isaiah especially against the Pride of Women The Lord shall smite them with a scab and discover their secret parts and take away all their bravery and their round tires like the Moon the changeable suits of Aparrel the Mantles Wimples and Crisping Pins the Glasses fine Linnen Hoods and Vails instead of a sweet smell there shall be a stench instead of a girdle a rent instead of well set Hair Baldness instead of a Stomacher a Girdle of Sackcloath and burning instead of Beauty Is 3.16 to end This being one great Idol of the flesh and our shame let us see how this Lust of the flesh is compensed to the godly and glorified Believers First for that all their Sins and consequently their shame are taken away in Christ Jesus For as in Adam all died even so are all made alive in Christ 1 Cor. 15.22 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Eternal Life Joh. 3.16 Fear thou not for thou shalt not be ashamed neither shalt thou be confounded for thou shalt not be put to shame thou shalt forget the shame oâ— thy youth and shalt not remember the Reproach of thy Widow-hood any more for thy Maker is thy Husband Isa 54.4 The Saints of God have the rotten Garments exchanged with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ These are they which came out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes and have made themselves white in the Blood of the Lamb Rev. 7.14 Thus the Saints of God as Inhabitants of the New Jerusalem being Cloathed with the Righteousness of Christ are cleansed from all sin and shame and so have no necessity of Cloaths to cover sin or shame Secondly the Saints have no occasion for Cloaths to Comfort the weakness of their Bodies for that when raised from the Dead they shall not have Corrupt Bodies of Corruptible Elements but shall be Clothed with Spiritual and Incorruptible Bodies not subject to change nor tainted with infirmities of Nature Hunger or Cold Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption for this Corruptible must put on Incorruption and this Mortal must put on immortality 1 Cor. 15.50 52 53. So that they shall have no occasion of the Corruptible Rags of most Sumptuous Apparel how much then have the Saints translated into glory the Advantage over such whose Earthy and Crasy Corps must be Clothed with rotteâ— Garments to cover their shame sin and nakedness and defend their infirm Bodies from offence of Cold and Heat of which the Saints are not sensible Secondly Eating and Drinking being the second Branch of the Lusts of the Flesh it is so gross a predominant and necessity of Nature and weak Mortality that it is not only the peculiar Resemblance of Bruits beneath the Dignity of Mans Soul and as it is the necessity of Nature so it is the great burden of Nature to be under that necessity that some Sensualists of whom the Apostle saith whose God is their Belly whose glory is their shame who mind Earthly things and Human Experience tells us how far this Tyranny upon Man so prevails that their luxuriant Appetite never suffer them to be at ease but either after the quantity or variety of eating and drinking they are hurryed with further desire and thereby often miserably loaded with hurtful diseases thus delicate Mortals are plunged in misery by that they so much delight in this was the Case of the Rich Glutton in the Gospel but on the other hand the Saints in Heaven are not Afflicted with troublesom Appetites for they feed on the Manna in the midst of the Paradise of God for they shall Hunger no more nor Thirst any more for the Lamb shall feed them and lead them to living Fountains of Water Rev. 21.4 6. their feeding is their Eternal beholding God and the Lamb but the Wicked feeds on the Eternal Wrath of God if any Man Worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark on his Forehead or in his Hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out into the Cup of his Indignation and he shall be Tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb Rev. 14.9 10. Thirdly The third Branch of the Lusts of the Flesh is that insatiable Appetite the World hath after the Riches of this Life what hath already been said of the uncertainty emptiness and vanities of Human Riches in the foregoing case of the Rich Glutton and the many Instances of that Nature may give the Complexion of that State and what Christ saith of the Rich Man that it is hard for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and that the Rich have received their Consolation and Portion in this Life do all sufficiently illustrate the Contemptibleness and Misery of that Life if not rich towards God but on the other Hand Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God Mat. 5.3 Christians though never so poor in this World have all things in Christ They are Sons and Heirs of God and joynt Heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 32. all which shew how far the State of the Godly though Poor in this Life exceed the Condition of the wicked though rich as Craesus if not rich towards God Fourthly the fourth Branch of the Lusts of the Flesh is the pleasure Men in this World take in Relations Friends and Companions but what is said before of this what Christ saith who loveth Father Children Relations Life it self or any thing else better than him is not worthy of him and whosoever looseth any of these things for his sake shall have double in Heaven is sufficient to give us a Parallel of the State of the Godly and the Wicked who Lust after the Flesh but let us see what account the Apostle gives of a far better exchange the Saints have made of the choicest of Companions but we are come into Mount Sion the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem unto an innumerable Company of Angels into the general Assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the Blood of sprinkling Heb. 12.22 23 24. David was weary of the Society of wicked Men wo is me that I dwell in Mesheck and Sojourn in the Tents of Cedar so when the Saints are sure that he that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell with them they will freely part with the Company of Sinful Mortals Ps 120.5 The Lusts of the Eyes being the second part of the Worlds Inventory we shall examine it with the excellent discovery of the Saints Light
the elect as well of Soul as Body is changed into the likeness of Christ in Spirit and Body If any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature all things are made New and old things are done away 2 Cor. 5.5 17. That you put off the Old Man which is corrupt according to the Deceitful Lusts and that you put on the New Man which after God is Created in Righteousness and True Holiness Eph. 4.22 23 24. That such fashioning and change must be before the Elect can fully be admitted into the presence of God and enjoy him unchangeably may appear by these reasons First for that the Wisdom and Goodness of God intending to compleat Mans Happiness and to magnifie the Mistery of his love by their immediate enjoyment of himself in the Spiritual Clear and full presence of glory That they may be one with me see me and behold my glory Jo. 17.24 The Communication of Gods glory being so sublimely spiritual and not apprehendible but by these who are purely spiritual therefore our dark understanding must be made spiritual The Natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God neither indeed can do because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.14 15. and therefore in order to compleating of the Saints Happiness and to frame them for that he promiseth to put his spirit in them and give them a New Heart and renew a right spirit in them so as they may suitably enjoy God Eze. 36.25 26 27. Secondly Divine Wisdom knowing how Earthly mindedness runs after the Creature and being intangled therewith is clog'd from thirsting after God and things spiritual to be Carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace for that they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they who are after the spirit the things of the spirit because the Carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Ro. 5.5 6 7. And therefore to wean their Hearts from the World and to wind up the Affections of the elect to himself it behoveth their frame to be made spiritual The Lord Jesus Christ gives this as his Command to his Disciples to be spiritually minded and to mind Heavenly Treasures which are not Corruptible and useth this Argument for where your Treasure is there will your Hearts be also Mat. 6.19 20 21. And thus the Lord Jesus making his People of a Heavenly and Spiritual frame chiefly to mind Heaven and Spiritual things sets their Affections more earnestly on himself disengages them to Human Enjoyments Reconciles them to Afflictions and makes them more easie under the Cross If in Solomons experience that all the World is but Labour and Sorrow and Death is more to be desired than Life how much more easier will the Affections of the renewed be under all Disappointments of Carnal things when with the Apostle they look to Heaven and the inseparable and everlasting Communion of God will they not count all things but Dung and Loss in Compare with the Excellencies of Christ Ro. 8.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present Life are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us And in that other Famous Scripture for our Light Afflictions which are but for a Moment work for us a far more exceeding and an Eternal weight of glory whilst we look not after things which are seen but after things which are not seen for things which are seen are Temporal but things which are not seen Eternal 2 Cor. 4.17 Hence we see how great is the goodness and wisdom of God towards renewed Mortals intreating them with so great Mercy and Love in convincing them of the vanity of Earthly shadows and discovering to them that so High Deep Long and Broad Mistery of Love in Christ Jesus which passeth knowledge and the Riches of the glory of that Mistery which is Christ the hope of all glory made manifest in the Saints Eph. 3.9 18 19. Col. 2.26 27. And by their choice of these excellencies above the Creatures to make all things else to be esteemed of no value and in their Souls desire to Eccho forth none but Christ and having so spiritualized their minds that they can neither Touch Handle Smell or delight in any thing but him and what tends to his glory and their Enjoyment of him Thirdly In the framing of the Saints Bodies at the Resurrection in a Spiritual and Incorruptible Body for Christs designing not only Mans Redemption from wrath to come but also to make them Coheirs and participate with him of his own glory John 17.22 And in respect the frame of our Carnal and Corruptible Bodies is not capable to receive that glory nor to continue under the Enjoyment of it for that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of glory nor Corruption inherit Incorruption he therefore changeth that Corruption into Incorruption and makes Mortality put on Immortality and changeth our vile Bodies into the fashion of his glorious Body 2 Cor. 15.42 to 55. according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phi. 3.21 What then can or will be wanting to compleat the Eternal Happiness of the Saints seeing they have so sure a Covâ—â—ant with such ample Priviledges and that they are and shall be fitted as well in Body as Soul to receive these Rivers of Pleasures in the Enjoyment of God in whose presence is fulness of Joy and at whose Right Hand there are pleasures for ever-more Ps 16.11 What then remains for the Prisoners of Hope but to sit down admire the Heighth Depth Length and Breadth of that Incomprehensible Mistery of the Love of God in Christ Jesus Eph. 3.9 18 19. and by Faith Love and Patience to sit down under his shadow with great Delight Cant. 2.2 and against all Crosses Temptations and Difficulties to take Comfort in the Faith of Eternal Happiness there is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit if God be for us who can be against us who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that Justifieth who is he that Condemneth it is Christ that Dyed yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right Hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus From what hath been said we see Believers firmly stated to the Title of Joynt Heirs of glory with Jesus Christ and in a firm Covenant through him with the Father and having so fair an interest at stake their Duty is to pursue the same with Faith Courage and