lawful worldly joy as the wine of Christs own making in Cana Joh. 2. did far surpass the wine at the feast that grew by the industry of men 3. The meditation of the Cross of Christ will encourage and strengthen thee against all pain and shame of this present world in thy suffering for the name of Jesus when thou remembrest how thy Lord endured the Cross and despised the shame to satisfie for thy sins and to purchase unto thee eternal rest from all pain to preserve thee from everlasting confusion to bring thee unto everlasting glory 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you Therefore whensoever God calleth thee to suffering go not to shift it as a duty wherein others are more concerned than thy self When Octavius Augustus was desired by an old Souldier to speak unto the Roman Senat in his favours Octavius answered he should cause one speak to them in his behalf then did the Souldier open his breast and shewed the skars of the wounds he had received at the battel of Actium for his cause and that he had not interposed any other between his body and the enemy So Christ in his own body did suffer for thee 1 Pet. 2.24 and when he calleth thee to suffer for his name put not off that duty to others seing he himself suffered for thee as well as for others 4. The meditation on the Cross of Christ yeeldeth great comfort to us in all our fears from our spiritual enemies Col. 2.15 Having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in his cross In which words the Apostle alludeth to the custom of triumph after great victories over enemies when the Captives were openly dragged in chains after the Chariot of the Conquerour so our blessed Lord by his death on the Cross as his triumphing chariot hath led captivity captive And 1. spoiled Satan our Arch-enemy of all the Elect who through the corruption of nature are for a time led captive at his will Although now and then after their effectual calling and conversion he infest and molest the children of God by his temptations and infalls yet the Captain of their Salvation by the merit and power of his cross in end will give them the victory as he prayed for Peter Luke 22 30. And as he has promised Rom. 16.20 Augustine Tractat. 52. in Ioan. saith well Aliud est regnare intrinsecus aliud forinsecus oppugnare It is a diverse thing to reign within in the heart and to beseige from without Satan reigneth not in the children of God though he beset and beseige them with temptations from the World 2. The Captain of our Salvation triumphed over the World in his own person when for all the glory of the World he would not once stoop to the Tempter Matth. 4. When ever he pleased he restrained the malicious designes of men Joh. 7.46 Act. 16.10 Therefore be of good comfort in all thy fears from malicious and wicked men Joh. 16.33 In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the world 3. He triumphed over death 1 Cor. 15.56 O Death I will be thy death He hath taken the sting from death to the godly it is as the brazen Serpent in this wilderness it has not a sting but will cure us fully of all the stings we got here of the sting of temptation of the sting of a guilty conscience and of the sting of venemous tongues Thy death through Christ his victory on the Crosse shall be unto the as the valley of Achor an entrance to thy promised rest 4. He by the merit of his Cross overcame the the power of the grave and manifested his victory by his rising on the third day Hos 13.14 O grave I will be thy destruction 1 Cor. 15.21 22 For since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive Though thy body be turned into dust yet shall it not be annihilat nor turned into nothing but shall be kept in a chamber of repose Isa 57.2 They shall rest in their beds and shall be raised as a Bride adorned with Ornaments of glory conform to our blessed Lord his glorious body Phil 3.20 The vertue and efficacy of our blessed Lord his sufferings on the Cross is contained in these words I will draw all men unto me for understanding of this we would know 1. How Christ is said to draw seing the will cannot be forced and none are welcome to Christ but such as are willing 2. How is he said to draw all men for all men do not believe 3. What manner of drawing this is seing it is not only a drawing in some measure toward him but even unto him for an union with him for it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto me Ans to the first by drawing here is meant Christ his effectual calling of the Elect unto grace by the Gospel holding forth Christ crucified and by his Spirit working faith in the heart to go to Christ and embrace him willingly for the salvation of their souls In â—espect of this drawing the believing Romans are said to be the called of Jesus Christ Rom. 1.6 1. As in drawing the power attractive is from without us and is in him that draweth us so the power of believing by which we come to Christ is from God Joh. 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him Ephes 2.8 for by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves It is the gift of God 2. Drawing presupponeth life in him that is drawn for dead men are carried and not drawn on their own feet so actual faith and drawing near to Christ presupponeth the principle of grace and faith put first into the soul therefore Christ is called the author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 3. There is a drawing not only in the first beginning of our motion and conversion unto Christ but also after we are entred into the course of grace we are drawn and promoved therein by subsequent and assisting grace of which drawing the Spouse of Christ speaketh after her saving knowledge of Christ from the sweet smell of his graces Can. 1.3 4. draw me and we shall run after thee This drawing is as the continuance of a prosperous gale of wind for promoving the ship in her course To the second I answer by all men is meant sometimes all individuals 1 Tim. 4.10 He is the Saviour of all men that is all men who get any temporal salvation or delivery they have it from the living God In this sense all things are said to have been made by him Joh. 1.3 In this sense it cannot be taken here for all men are not outwardly called by the Gospel which is
and refreshed out of the fulness of the merit of his death Mat. 24.28 For wheresoever the carcase is there will the Eagles be gathered together Augustine in his Tractat. on this place â—aith It is a drawing as the shepherd going before draweth the sheep after him by holding forth a green branch in his hand so our blessed Lord worketh in the hearts of the elect that gracious disposition of his own sheep to hear and follow his voice and thereafter by the sweetness of the object propounded to them to wit Christ the Branch of Righteousness and by the inward operation and strong impulse of the Spirit he maketh them follow the outward call of the Word Joh. 10.4 When he putteth forth his own sheep he goeth before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice 5. It is an invincible and irresistable drawing it is not only by moral swasion of motives taken from benefit or prejudice to their souls but it is by a powerful perswading and efficacious inclining of the heart Gen. 9.27 God shall perswade Japheth and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem. Hos 2.14 Therefore behold I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak comfortably unto her or to her heart Although there is in all men a corrupt principle of resistance to the will of God yet when God is pleased to exert that exceeding greatness of his power toward them that believe Eph. 1.19 Actual resistance is overcome by the insuperable grace of God Jer. 17.14 Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed save me and I shall be saved Jer. 31.18 Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Augustine calleth the operation of grace in our conversion to the wayes of God victrix delectatio an overcoming delight like a sweet and strong smell overcoming and bearing down corrupt vapours and exhalations this grace of God in conversion is rejected by no hard heart because willingness to resist is taken away as Augustine speaketh well to this purpose Therefore humble penitents should look up by faith to Christ on the Cross as he is held forth to them in the Gospel The persons stung in the wilderness looked to the brazen serpent and were healed so whatever thy sins hath been and whatsoever be the sting of thy guilty conscience confess thy sins with purpose and active endeavours for amending thy wayes draw near by faith to Jesus Christ and thou shalt be healed Joh. 3.14 15. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life Although thy faith be weak yet if convinced of thy sins and mourning for them thou look to Christ alone for salvation thou shalt be saved Isai 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else which place speaketh expresly of Christ if we compare vers 23. with Phil. 2.11 All that looked to the brazen serpent in the wilderness were not alike quick-sighted yet all who looked were healed So all stung with sorrow in their hearts for their sins if they fix their eye and heart upon Christ crucified they shall be saved though faith be weak in the measure for our salvation doth not depend upon the strength of our faith but upon the strength and power of Christ in whom we believe And if thou be truly drawn by faith to Christ then Christ and his Cross will be great in thine eyes and estimation far above all things here below As a man lifted up to an high mountain esteems things below in the valley to be but small so a soul elevated by saith to Christ and to things that are above esteems little of all things on earth in comparison of Christ and his unsearchable and durable riches Phil. 3.8 I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ And the true believer glorieth most in the Cross of Christ who endured the Cross and despised the shame to save us poor souls from extreme and everlasting pain and shame Gal. 6.14 As we believe the merit of the Cross of Christ so let us labour to feel more and more of the power of his Cross crucifying sin in us and drawing our hearts from the vanities of this present world and quickening us to serve and honour him who spared not his life but gave it to the death of the Cross for us To him with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all praise c. Amen Soul-healing vertue in Christ to the broken in heart SERMON III. PSAL. 147.3 He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds THe holy Prophet stirreth up his own heart and the hearts of others from the consideration of the glorious attributes and works of the Lord to praise his great Name and amongst these works for the manifestation of his compassion and mercy toward poor mourning sinners because he healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds This our blessed Lord applyeth to himself as a work of mercy common to him with the Father Luk. 4.18 He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted As in healing the diseases and wounds of the body there be these three considerable 1. The Physician 2. The Patient 3. The Cure it self So it is in healing the diseases of the soul and wounds of the spirit of man We have all these three in these words 1. The Physician is the Lord himself Jehovah He. 2. The Patient The broken in heart and wounded in spirit 3. The Cure He healeth The Lord God is the soveraign Physician who according to his good pleasure healeth all distempers He healeth a distempered civil State by restoring civil Peace Psal 46.9 Psal 147.14 A distempered Church by restoring Unity Peace and Love Isa 30.26 Jer. 30.17 Jer. 32.39 He healeth breaches in families by restoring domestick Peace and Amity He healeth distempers through bodily diseases Ezod 15.25 2 Kings 20.5 He healeth Souls distempered through the guilt and sting of an evil conscience Psal 103.3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases Jer. 3.22 Return ye backsliding Children and I will heal your backslidings In all our distempers it is our wisdom and duty to go to God and to his Son Jesus Christ the Soveraign Physician for healing sick Souls Psal 61.2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher then I. Psa 60.2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble thou hast broken it heal all the breaches thereof for it shaketh especially when the soul is in an high fever and distemper of grief and fear through bypast sins Psal 41.4 I said Lord be merciful unto me heal my soul
sending him the love of the Son in coming into the world that by the merit of his death we may be justified and saved and the love of the Holy Ghost in anointing and qualifying him for these great effects as the Bee passeth thorow many flowrs in the Garden but stayeth longest on these where it getteth most hony so we should often meditate upon the mystery of Gods free love in Jesus Christ All the Scriptures are faithful sayings and worthy of all acceptation yet this saying is eminent above all 1 Tim. 1.15 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners We should turn away our eyes from looking to any thing as meritorius of justification and salvation but we should look unto Christ alone and his righteousness for the salvation of our souls because life eternal is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6.23 And we are saved by grace through Faith in him Eph. 2.8 This doctrine from the force of truth upon the Conscience and for quieting the heart in the remembrance of our own unrighteousness the learned and worthy reformed Divines have maintained according to the holy Scriptures and the learned Bishop Andrews in his Serm. on Jer. 23.6 saith piously and soundly That if men would set God before them in his justice and their own souls in their guiltiness they would interpose nothing between the revenging justice of God and their guilty souls but the alone righteousness of Jesus Christ yea some of the Roman Church have acknowledged that justification and salvation is to be sought only in the Lord Jesus Christ as was evident from that directory for visitation of the sick reprinted at Venice one thousand five hundred seventy six the priest is directed to propone this question to the sick person Believest thou that none can be saved by their own merits or any other way than by the merit of our Lord Jesus Christ And the Priest is directed to instruct the sick person that there is no other way of salvation but by Faith on Jesus Christ alone Bellarmin lib. 3. of Justif after a long debate he concludes It is safer for the uncertainty of our own righteousness and for shunning the danger of vain glory to put our confidence only in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ Ferus a learned and moderat Divine commenting upon the parable of the Labourers in the Vine-yard Mat. 20. speaketh to this purpose God promised freely and he rewardeth freely therefore if thou wouldest keep Gods favour toward thee make no mention of thy own merits for he will give all things out of his own mercy nevertheless thou must not be the slower to do good works yea rather thou shouldest be the more zealous of them seing we have so bountiful a Lord. Quest Is there no more required for justification but only Faith in Jesus Christ Is there no more required for inheriting eternal life but to receive him and to rely on him Answ Some of late even Divines of the reformed Church have spoken very rashly to say no worse of some eminent and Orthodox learned men of the Reformed Churches as if they did not require in the believer new obedience and sanctification It is true they require according to the Scriptures that by Faith alone in Christ and his righteousness they should look for justification but they require new obedience and sanctification in the believer as a necessary antecedent unto eternal life The Harmony of learned Divines of the reformed Church in the Doctrine of justification See in learned Hornbeck his Institut Theolog. Cap. 11. and they affiâ—m that as our sins were imputed to Christ the Surety and Mediator of the New Covenant so his Righteousness is imputed to believers for justification therefore it is not as some in their expressions complying with the Papists have spoken a fancy or Justitia Putativa a supposed righteousness but it is real of God the Father accompting his Sons Righteousness unto the sinner and by that accompting making it his to all effects as if the sinner himself had performed it as speaketh the learned and famous Arch. B. Vsher in his Sum of Christian Religion upâ—n this Subject Because saith he this Righteousness is in Christ not as in a person severed from us but as in the head of the Church the second Adam from whom therefore it is communicated unto all who being united as members unto him do lay claim thereunto and apply it unto themselves Rom. 5.19 Rom. 10.4 And though saith he it be not fit to measure heavenly things by the yard of reason yet it is not unreasonable that a man owing a thousand pound and not being able to pay it his Creditor may be satisfied by one of his â—riends And answering to that question how then doth the soul reach after Christ in the act of justifying Even as a man saith he fallen into a river and like to be drowned as he is carried down with the flood espyeth the bough of a tree hanging over the river which he catcheth at and clingeth unto with all his might to save him and seeing no other way of succour but that ventureth his life upon it This man so soon as he had fastned upon this bough is in a safe condition though all troubles fears and terrours are not presently out of his minde until he come to himself and seeth himself quit out of danger then he is sure he is safe but he was safe before he was sure Even so it is with a believer Faith is the espying of Christ as the only means to save and the reaching out of the heart to lay hold upon him God hath spoke the word and made the promise in his Son I believe him to be the only Saviour and remit my soul to him to be saved by his Mediation So soon as the soul can do this God imputeth the righteousness of his Son unto it and it is actually justified in the Court of heaven though it is not presently quieted and pacified in the court of conscience that is done afterwards in some sooner in some later by the fruits and effects of justification Quest Is there an infallible and inviolable connexion between true faith on Jesus Christ and salvation by him Ans Yea for it is said here That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life And it was said â—y the Apostle Paul unto the Jaylor Acts 16. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt he saved Christ is said to dwell in the heart by faith Eph. 3.17 As there is a local union between a man and the house wherein he dwells and resides so there is a spiritual and real union between Christ and a believer and there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ and to assure believers on Christ of the certainty of their salvation it is said in the present tense Joh. 3.36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life Believers are as sure
of it by their claim of faith on Christ as if they were already in present possession of it yea it is said in the preterit tense Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he also glorified Quest May not one have true justifying and saving faith in his heart and yet not know that he is justified Ans Yea he may have the direct act of faith whereby he is justified and yet not have the reflex act of faith whereby he knows and is assured of the gift of Faith freely given to him of God by which act he is Assured of his justification as an Infant has the truth of life natural in him though for want of ripeness in judgement he doth not by a reflex act of understanding know the same Yea a true and justified person may be so overwhelmed in spirit with the fears of his former great and many sins though he embrace Christ and rely on him wholly and only for salvation that yet he may so faint in his fears that at the time he doth not discern the truth of the life of grace and faith in his Soul as a person in the time of his bodily swouning and fainting doth not discern the truth of a natural life in his body Notwithstanding the true Believer in such times and cases cannot discern the truth of the life of faith in himself yet other godly discerning Christians perceiving his sincere desire after the means of Salvation and his appetite toward the Gospel which is the immortal seed of the new life do very rationally conclude that he has the truth though not the vigor of the life of grace and faith in his soul as these who look on and see an Infant greedily sucking the breast though the Infant it self has no knowledge to discern its own life yet they truely conclude from its natural appetit to the means of life that it has life because as new born babes they desire the sincere milk of the Word 1 Pet. 2.2 Quest What are the effects and signs whereby I may discern the truth of faith when we have not the vigor of it Ans We discern it by the effects 1. The true Believer has an high estimation of Christ and a low estimation of himself He is precious to Believers 1 Pet. 2.7 Paul had an high estimation of Christ that he came into the world to save sinners and a low estimation of himself as being the least of Saints and chief of sinners The true believer esteems highly of the Gospel whereby life and immortality is brought to light through Christ He accounteth all things but loss yea but dung and unsavory in camparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord Phil. 3.8 2. The true believer as he rejoices most in the cross of Christ so he mourns for his sins whereby he crucified the Lord of glory he looks upon him whom he pierced with his grievous sins and he mourneth as one mourneth for his only Son Zach. 12.10 3. True faith is a Magisterial grace and labours to quiet our unruly affections and passions as an awful Master by his presence quiets the unruly Scholars for faith receiving Christ in the heart to dwell there commandeth all the affections to be still and to do nothing that may disturb and grieve the Spirit of Christ the Spouse after shee has found her Beloved saith to her heart and affections I charge you O yee daughters of Jerusalem c. that ye stir not up nor awake my love till he please That ye neither interrupt his delight in me nor my delights in him Cant. 3.5 4. True faith purifieth the heart and labours daily to keep it clean by the bessom of repentance Act. 15.9 God put no difference between us and them purifying their hearts by faith The Lord is said to dwell in the heart by faith Ephes 3.17 And after the believer has received him he endeavours daily to keep the house clean where he dwells by faith the heart is espoused unto Christ as a chast virgin 2 Cor. 11.2 And when the believer is tempted to any vile lust he saith with Joseph how can I do this and sin against my Lord to whom I am espoused for ever in holiness and righteousness 5 True faith on Jesus Christ worketh by love Gal. 5.6 It commands us and in an holy violence constraineth us to love the Father who has forgiven us much to love the Son who shed his blood for the remission of sins anâ— to love the Holy Ghost who is the sealer and confirmer of our justification and remission Faith on Christ commands us and by a commanded act requires us to love one another 1 Joh. 3.23 This is his commandment that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another As lines drawn from the circumference the nearer they come to the Centre they are the nearer one unto another so believers the nearer they come by faith to Jesus Christ the Centre of our souls rest and happiness they are the more united one to another in love yea when by faith we look upon Christ as our great example faith doth command us to love even our enemies with the love of benevolence and beneficence when we perceive our blessed Lord both prayed for his enemies and also healed Malchus ear and in a special manner to love all saints with a love of complacency and delight as fellow-members of the mystical body of the Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour It is therefore the wisdom duty and comfort of believers to examine themselves that they be not only sound in the doctrine of faith but also sincere in the grace and work of faith that they may have rejoycing in themselves from the testimony of a good conscience Gal. 6.4 True and sincere justifying and saving faith receiveth Christ entirely to dwell in their hearts the sincere believer receiveth him in all his Offices as a Priest to bless the soul where he dwells with all spiritual blessings as a Prophet to teach him by the Word and as a King to rule him by his Law and holy Commandments As he receiveth him by faith so he intertains him by love as he receiveth Christ by faith so he gives up himself by love unto him as Christ dwells in him by faith so he dwells in Christ by love and delight he intertains him by obedience in the course of Sanctification as an honest Subject who sometime was a rebel to his Prince the more he rests upon the word of the Prince for his remission he is the more ready and active to obey him in all time coming for though faith rest on Christ alone and on no other for Justification and Salvation yet it rests not from the duties of obedience in the course of Sanctification the true believer in the preparation of his
me hear and your soul shall live Joh. 6 51 I am the living bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever When thou has beâ—n made partaker of the life of grace from Christ labour to preserve that life for he that is born of God keepeth himself 1 Joh. 5.18 Preserve the life of grace 1. By frequenting the Ordinances of Word and Sacraments for as by these means the Lord begets this new life in us so by the same means he preserves it in us 1 Pet. 2.1 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby As children who forsake their meat do decay daily so Christians who loath or neglect the Sacred Ordinances do decay in respect of the vigour of grace 2. Frequent good company as a good and wholsome air is very profitable for preserving life and health natural so good and gracious company is very profitable by their wholsome conference and admonitions to preserve the spiritual life of grace Prov. 27.17 Iron sharpeneth iron so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend But evil and ungodly company is like evil weeds that hinder the growth of good herbs they by their evil example and their mocking the work of Gods grace in others do discourage them and sometimes abate the vigour of the life of grace in them 3. Daily exercise is a mean to preserve natural life and health in some vigour because through want of exercise the body becometh lazy and the life less active so daily exercising of our selves to keep a good conscience void of offence toward God and men is a notable mean to preserve the life of grace in some vigour as Paul did Acts 24.16 4. When at any time thou perceivest a beginning of fainting in the life of grace then at the first go by prayer to Christ who is the life and wrought life in thee by his Spirit pray to him that according to the promise Isai 40.29 he would give power to thee who faintest and that he would increase strength It was the wisdom of the Shunamite to come unto Elisha that he might restore life to her child who had gotten life at first by the help of his prayers so it is the wisdom of believers when in their sense they seem to be dead and deprived of the life of grace that sometime they had at such a time to go to Christ and by prayer and faith to wrestle with him that he may come by his Spirit and revive their fainting soul It is their wisdom to do as Peter did Mat. 14.30 31. who beginning to sink immediatly he cried saying Lord save me and immediatly Jesus stretched forth his hand and saved him so although the Lord may suffer thee to sink and fail in spirit that thou may see and be humbled with the sight of thine own weakness yet if thou run to him by prayer he will not suffer thee to drown but will stretch forth his hand of power and revive thee and renew the vigour of thy faith that thou may praise him who is the Author the Preserver and the Perfecter of the life of grace in his Saints To him with the Father and the Holy Ghost be immortal praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen The Attractive Power of the Death and Cross of Christ SERMOM II. JOHN 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me OUr blessed Lord in the vers preceeding has spoken of his victory over Satan of casting him out of his spiritual possession of the elect and of their delivery from his power and bondage In this vers he speaketh of the procuring cause of their delivery to wit his own death on the Cross and also of the powerful and efficacious application of the vertue of his death by giving faith to the elect to believe in him and draw their hearts toward him Divis In the words we have these two things 1. The manner of our Lord his death And I if I be lifted up from the earth 2. The vertue and efficacy of his death I will draw all men unto me Whereas it is said If I be lifted up the meaning is when I shall be lifted up for the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here is taken for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when as it is taken also 1 Joh. 3.2 But we know that when he shall appear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for the manner of his death If I be lifted up from the earth There was a twofold lifting up of Christ one from the earth unto the Cross whereto his body was nailed at his death whereof here and Joh. 3.14 There was another lifting up after his death unto the Throne of glory in Heaven Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgivenness of sins By his lifting up upon the Cross and the merit of his death he procured the remission of our sins and by his lifting up after his death to the Fathers right hand he doth apply the remission of sins by his intercession Our blessed Lord gave himself willingly for his sheep Tit. 2.14 Joh. 10.17 18. for if he had been pleased to make use of his own Almighty power all the power of the world could not have taken his life from him he that with one word did cast his enemies to the ground who by his power even upon the Cross did rent the rocks he could easily have rent in pieces the tree whereto his body was nailed yet in his wisdom he was pleased to suffer death at the hands of his enemies though his death was simply voluntar yet in some respects it was necessar 1. There was a necessity of it in respect of the punishment threatned against man upon his disobedience The day thou eatest thou shalt die therefore there was a necessity of satisfaction to divine truth and justice by the death of Christ the Mediator and surety of the Covenant of Grace which was made in him Gal. 3.16 and ratified by him Heb. 7.22 2. There was a necessity in respect of Gods decree to send his Son that he might make satisfaction to Divine Justice in our nature therefore it is said by our Lord Joh. 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them to me They were the Fathers by election and given to the Son that he might satisfie for them reconcile them and in end bring them to the salvation appointed for them As a King resolving to release and give liberty to so many Rebels Prisoners giveth them over to his Son that he may pay their ransome and so obtain their liberty according to the Fathers decree For this cause our blessed Lord in respect of the decree of the Father to send him into the world that he might die and save his elect is called the Lamb fore-ordained
endure amputation and mortification of their sinful lusts which are as a gangren'd hand or foot therefore they are not healed but choose rather to pine away in their beloved lusts than to have them cut off and so to have their souls saved 2. Hardness of heart and stupid security without apprehension of the danger and vileness of their sins makes them carlesse to seek to the Lord for healing their souls Mat. 13.15 For this peoples heart is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their hearts and should be converted and I should heal them 3. Willfull rejecting of the counsel and direction of the great Physician of our souls given to us by his faithfull Ministers Jer. 51.9 We would have healed Babylon but she is not healed Mat. 23.37 38. O Jerusalem Jerusalem c. how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Behold your house is left unto you desolat c. 4. A false conceit and imagination of our own righteousness and soul-health is a great impediment to the healing of the soul as the Phrenetick man who thinks himself whole seeketh not the Physician for healing Matth. 9.12 They that be whole need not a Physician but they that are sick that is they that are sensible of their souls distemper through the malady of sin are sensible also of a necessity to be healed The outward means of Soul-healing are the Word specially the Gospel-promises Psal 107 20 He sent his Word and healed them Isai 57.15 Thus saith the high and lofty One c. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humhle and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isai 61.1 The Lord God hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted Psal 51.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is an outward mean for healing a broken heart because it is a visible sign and seal of our Communion of Christs Body broken for us and of his blood shed for us and his offering of his Body and our receiving of it by Faith is the special mean to heal the broken heart by the vertue of his Body broken for us Prayer is a mean blessed of God for healing a broken heart Moses Num. 12.13 cryed unto the Lord in behalf of his leprouse sister Miriam saying heal her now O God I beseech thee And 2. Chron. 30.18 19 20. Hezekiah prayed to the Lord for healing and forgivness to the People who had prepared their hearts to eat the Passeover but had not been punctually cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary conform to the Law cerimonial And it is said the Lord hearkned to Hezekiah and healed the people The inward means of healing the Soul are specially two 1. Repentance Jer. 3.20 Return ye backsliding Children and I will heal your backslidings Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved Repentance cleanseth the wound and leteth out the malignant humor 2. Faith is a special mean for Soul-healing it is as the hand that applieth the healing-plaister it applies the blood of Christ wherewith the Soul is cleansed Act. 16.31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved As the Haemoroise Woman when she touched Christ was healed by the healing vertue that came out of him so when a humble broken-hearted sinner doth lay hold on Christ and the promise made in him healing vertue comes from him whereby guilt and obligation to eternal punishment is taken away in our Justification and the fever of corruption is much abaited by the work and power of Sanctification The manner of Gods healing the broken-heart is 1. Freely without any merit in man procuring the same for Who hath first given to him and it shall be recompensed to him again Rom. 11.35 To this purpose saith the prophet Isai 43.25 I even I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake c. 2. He healeth powerfully so that when he puts to the hand of his invincible grace for healing no distemper of the will can resist him for he takes away willingness to resist and so he begins his healing in cureing the malignancy of the will Jer. 17.14 Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed Jer. 31.18 Turn thou me and I shall be turned This efficacy of Gods grace in healing Souls is called the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power It is a power exceeding and overcomming the power of our corruption at the time when God is pleased 〈◊〉 exert it 3. God heals the Soul gradually in â—espect of indwelling corruption although as is most probable God justifies a sinner at once from the guilt of all his sins actually forgiving him all his bypast sins and giving him a right and claim through Christ unto the remission of sins to come Yet the healing of the soul from the vilness of indweling corruption in the course of Sanctification is by degrees for so long as the children of God are on Earth there is in them grace and corruption and each of them lusteth one against another Gal. 5.17 4. He healeth perfectly and fully all his Patients at the end of their life from all stain of Sin and diâ—temper of Conscience through the stirring of inward corruption as the Jewish Women were fully purified after Child-birth before they were presented in the Temple so our blessed Lord and Physician after our new Birth and Regeneration doth purifie us in the course of Sanctification and at death having closed the course of our purification doth after death present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Jud. Epist 24. Obj. One possibly may say my heart is broken with sorrow for my sins and yet their is no healing of my soul nor peace and quietness in my Conscience I may say as Jer. 4.14 19. I looked for the time of healing and behold trouble Ans God is debtor to none for healing he healeth the broken in heart but not because their heart is broken The distemper is meerly from our selves but our healing is from his free Grace with some sinners he deals more roughly than with others according to his Wisdom and good Pleasure Isai 28.27 Paul is cast down to the ground but the heart of Lydia is gently opened some are sooner cured and comforted to preveen despair others are keept long under cure and exercise of Conscience to preveen pride and presumption Therefore wait upon the Lord thy Physician with all patience and submission 1. Because he hath promised to heal the broken
large as the hand of men grown up to ripe age the promise of salvation is universal to all true Believers whether stronger or weaker Joh. 3.16 Joh. 3.36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life The Church of Christ is compared to a flock of sheep Act. 20.28 And all the sheep are not alike strong yet the great Shepherd of our souls doth gather the Lambs with his arm and carrieth them in his bosom and doth gently lead those that are with young Isai 40.11 It is compared to a family Heb. 5.14 And all in the family are not alike strong so it is in the Church and yet our heavenly Father feedeth all by Jesus Christ the bread of life Therefore look unto him with the eye of Faith though weak and be ye saved Isai 45.22 It is not so with the eye of a believing soul as it is with the eye of the body in beholding this created Sun the more it looketh upon it the eye is the more dazled and weakned but the more a Believer looketh on Christ the Sun of righteousness he groweth the stronger in the grace of Faith because he seeth more and more of the power of Christ to save all who come to God by him who is the Son of God in whom the Father is alwayes well pleased he seeth the more of his willingness to accept of sinners he seeth him on the cross giveing pardon and promising Paradise to a notorious malefactor he heareth him praying for forgiveness to his enemies Therefore he concludes that he will not reject his soul that cometh unto him sincerely though weakly It is not said that the Son of man must be lifted up that all men may believe or that all men may have eternal liâ—e For if the Lord had intended that all men should believe or that all men should be saved then all men should believe and should be saved for who hath resisted his will and purpose Rom. 9.19 It is also repugnant to his wisdom to intend what he knows cannot come to pass to wit that all men should have Faith for Faith comes by hearing the Gospel and God intends not to send the Gospel to all men The bite of the Serpent in the wilderness was in it self deadly yet all who looked to the brazen Serpent were healed So all sin in it self is deadly for the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 But if we confess our sins with sorrow for them and a purpose to forsake them and if by faith we look to Christ crucified and rest on him we shall be saved 1 Joh. 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness We would consider well the covenant of Grace made in Christ to Believers It is a covenant well ordered sure and everlasting 2 Sam. 23.4 It is well ordered and adorned with rich and free promises of all things requisit for our eternal happiness as promises of mercy I will forgive them their sins of grace and sanctification I will put my Law in their inward parts and writ it in their hearts c. Jer. 31.33 34. It is a sure Covenant because grounded on two things immutable to wit Gods eternal Counsel and Decree manifested in the Gospel for blessing and saving all Believers in Jesus Christ Gal. 3.16 All the promises are Yea and Amen in him because made in a respect to his satisfaction and performed by him in the fulness of time The other ground of the sureness of the Covenant is the Oath of God Heb. 6.17 18. Gen. 22.16 It is made sure by the blood of our Surety and Mediator Jesus Christ who shed his blood both to purchase and to assure us of the remission of our sins It is ensured to us by the Seals of the holy Sacraments and although the Seals under the Old and New Testament be diverse yet the Covenant sealed is one and the same as the face is one and the same when vailed and unvailed It is an everlasting Covenant Jer. 32.40 I will make an everlasting Covenant with them c. It is put in the hand of our Surety to be kept for us and he by the power of his invincible Grace keepeth us for the possession of the heavenly Inheritance 1 Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation For farther clearing the Doctrine of believing in Jesus Christ for Justification or Remission of sins and for eternal Life we would answer some Questions Quest What is the Object of justifying and saving Faith Answ The Object of divine Faith is all the divine truths revealed in the holy Scripture but the Object of justifying and saving Faith is the Lord Jesus Christ he is the only Object whereunto we must look for justification and salvation Isa 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Act. 10.43 To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Act. 13.39 By him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses As these who were wounded by the firy serpents in the wilderness looked also to the pole whereupon it was set but they were healed only by looking to the brazen Serpent its self so though the whole Scripture is as a ring of gold precious and much to be esteemed yet the Lord Jesus Christ is as the precious stone in the midst of it and for obtaining justification and salvation is to be looked unto allanerly The Lord Jesus Christ and Gods rich and free love in sending him into the world is mostly among all divine Truths to be looked unto Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me Joh. 20.31 But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name So as he is the alone Object to which we should look as the meritorious cause of our justification and salvation so of all revealed divine Truths he is the principal Object of our Faith he is the end of the Law Cerimonial Gal. 3.24 He is the entire supplement of the Moral Law by his perfect righteousness and satisfaction to divine justice Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likness of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh And he is the Mediator and substance of all Gospel-promises 2 Cor. 1.20 All the promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen Therefore it is our duty to be conversant in all divine Truths revealed in holy Scripture but we should meditate most frequently upon this divine Truth of our justification and salvation by Jesus Christ wherein most eminently is manifested the Father's love in
heart is ready to every good work and commanded duty with the Apostle Paul Acts 9.6 saying Lord what wilt thou have me to do For the Doctrine of Justification by Faith obligeth believers the more strictly to the duties of Sanctification for knowing they are justified in the blood of Christ which is the price of our redemption therefore should they glorify God in their body and in their spirit which are God's not only by the right of creation and temporal preservation but also by the right of redemption and everlasting salvation 1 Cor. 6.20 Seing they have the promises of free grace ratified in the blood of Christ they should cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 See more 2 Cor. 5.15 Tit. 2.11 12 14. So that the Doctrine of Justification by faith in Jesus Christ doth not make void the Law but establisheth the Law Rom. 3.31 Though it make the Law void as to Justification by it Rom 8.3 yet it doth not make it void or cancell it from being a fixt rule for our direction Now to the Lord Jesus Christ the Author and Finisher of our faith with the Father and Holy Ghost be all praise c. Amen Spiritual Life and Spiritual Walking SERMON V. GAL. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit THe Apostle having spoken in vers 22 23 24. of the seveâ—al fruits of the Spirit in the soul wherein he hath planted the life of grace he inferreth this conclusion If we live in the Spirit c. that is if we be quickened by the Spirit of God and raised to a new life of grace let it be seen in the course and actions of our life Let us walk by the Spirit that is by the guidance and direction of the Spirit according to the Word of God which was inspired into the Prophets and Apostles by the Holy Spirit In the words we have 1. A benefit supposed If we live in the Spirit 2. A duty proposed Let us walk in the Spirit For clearing the benefit supposed we would know 1. The nature and condition of this life which we are said here to have by the Spirit what it is 2. We would know the necessity of this life 3. The excellent quality of it in excelling all other kinds of life 1. As for the nature of this life it hath three effects or operations 1. Our Justification whereby our sins are forgiven and we are absolved from the sentence of damnation through the perfect obedience and satisfaction of our Mediator the Lord Jesus Christ as a man sentenced to death for some hainous crime is called a dead man even before the execution of the sentence and when he is absolved he is said to be a living man so by nature through sin and guiltiness we are children of wrath and dead in sins and trespasses obnoxious to eternal death and damnation but being justified by faith in Jesus Christ we are said to live in Christ and have the hope to live with him for ever This life is purchased to us by the merit of the death of Christ and is applyed by the Holy Spirit working faith in us whereby we are united to Christ and receive in and through him remission of sins offered to us in the preaching of the Gospel and sâ—aled in the holy Sacraments 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 2. The act also and operation of the life of grace is our Sanctification wrought in us by the Holy Spirit mortifying in us the deeds of the body Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live to wit the life of glory in Heaven and it is a quickening of us to live here unto righteousness as a man pincing away in sickness is said to be a dead man in respect of his fast approaching unto death and when he is in the way of recovery he is said to be a living man because there are pregnant hopes of his better health and life This life of Sanctification purchased also by Christ is applyed and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 3. There is the life of comfort and spiritual chearfulness it 's said of old Jacob Gen. 44.30 His life is bound up in the lad's life because he was much comforted in his son Joseph When sin and judgement is set before us our heart is dead and comfortless like the heart of Nabal whose heart at the report of David's wrath against him died within him through fear 1 Sam. 25.37 But when the Spirit of the Lord in our fears and faintings doth revive us by the sweet and piercing smell of the cross of Christ received by faith into the soul then we live a comfortable life and our soul rejoyceth in God our Saviour 2 Cor. 4.11 For we which live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh that is that the life of comfort and inward strength from Christ might be manifested in our sufferings 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory This life of inward comfort and strength purchased also by the merit of the death of Christ is applyed and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit Eph. 3.14 15 16. I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ c. that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner-man This life is called our life in Christ Col. 3.3 4. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God It is purchased by him hid and preserved in him and with him as the life of the branches is preserved in the root Joh. 14.19 Because I live ye shall live also It is called the life of the Spirit or by the Spirit in this place because by the Holy Spirit we are united and joyned unto the Lord our Head and Saviour 1 Cor 6.17 He that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit and because we are renewed to a new life by the Holy Spirit Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God It is called the life of faith Gal. 2.20 because by faith we receive the life of Justification Sanctification and of inward comfort from Jesus Christ 2. This life of grace is absolutely necessar as a midst and necessar antecedent unto eternal life 1. As the natural life is a necessar foundation of natural actings and operations dead Trees grow not dead Animals walk not dead men discourse not so the life
man can work therefore before that night surprize you delay not to enter unto the work of sanctification which is begun salvation and work it out in fear and trembling that at death ye may rejoyce and say with Paul 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness c. Let them with old Simeon frequent the temple and make conscience of the holy ordinances both publick and privat in them waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ who will come to old expectants as he did to old Simeon and will put himself into the armes of their faith that they may say at death Mine eyes have seen thy salvation now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace The reason brought by the Apostle to press the whole complex duty is walking circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time is set down in these words because the dayes are evil no day or time is intrinsecally evil but good being created of God together with the creatures as the measure of the endurance of things created by God which were all good in the beginning but as man by the abuse of his own free-will made himself evil Eccles 7.29 So he himself maketh his time and dayes evil which are the measure of his evil actions The holy Scripture speaks of good dayes and happy times such as was the day of the birth of our blessed Lord Luk. 2.10 11. such as is the time of the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles 2 Cor. 6.2 such as will be to the godly the day of our Lords second coming which is called the day of refreshment of restoring all things Act. 3.19.21 and the day of full redemption Eph. 4.30 The Scripture speaketh also of evil dayes wherein sin and iniquity doth abound such were the dayes wherein Noah and Lot lived such were the dayes wherein Isaiah lived when he complains of the decay of truth of common honesty and of the abounding of violence Is 59.15 Yea truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey Such were the times wherein Jeremiah lived who complained heavily of them Jer. 9.2 O that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of way-faring men that I might leave my people and go from them for they be all adulterers an assembly of treacherous men full of falshood and dissimulation c. Such were the times whereof Peter foretold 2 Pet. 3. There shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts Men blasphemous and profane mocking at the promises of God and at the saith of the godly for trusting to these promises Evil dayes also are the dayes of sad and grievous calamities Gen. 47.9 Jacob said unto Pharaoh few and evil have the dayes of the years of my life been Such were the dayes of Jerusalem in their first destruction by the Babylonians and in their second destruction by the Romans In such evil dayes we should walk circumspectly for the Apostle urgeth this duty from this reason because the dayes are evil Consider 1. God observeth the godly in their walking at such a time especially wherein sin and iniquity doth abound he observed the uprightness of Noah in the midst of a crooked generation and the righteousness of Lot whose soul was vexed with the unclean conversation of that evil time he observed these few in the Church of Sardis who had not defiled their garments with the pollutions of that evil time wherein they lived Rev. 3.4 2 Evil dayes are critick dayes wherein we may discern and judge of the good or bad dispositions of men living in such times evil times are searching and trying times of the saith of the godly notwithstanding the prosperity of the wicked thus the Prophets saith was tryed Ps 73.28 But it is good for me to draw near to God Such times are trying times of the patience of the godly Heb. 10.36 Ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise In such evil times the stedfastness of the godly is tryed when many that were fair professors in a time of prosperity do make defection from the way of truth and righteousness as Joh. 6.68 when many that were sometimes disciples by profession went back and walked no more with Christ then the stedfastness of Peter and of such as were disciples indeed was tryed and manifested Peter said to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life 3. Evil times wherein sin and iniquity abounds are perilous times 2 Tim. 3.1 This know also that in the last dayes perilous times shall come They are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 times full of difficulty for the godly to preserve themselves from the contagion or from the violence of such times if they will not run to the same excess of riot with the wicked Preservatives against evil times are 1. Sound information from the Word of God that by the light thereof we may discover and shun the wayes of an evil time Ps 17.4 Concerning the works of men by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer Ps 119.104 By thy precepts I get understanding therefore I hate every false way 2. Give not consent to the beginnings of any evil course Prov. 1.10 My son if sinners entice thee consent thou not Because consent at first may justly provoke God in his justice to leave thee to thy own counsel and then thou mayest prove an active promoter and violent driver on of the course of iniquity Paul at first gave consent to the stoning of Stephen and afterward made cruel havock of the Christian Church The course of iniquity is called a backsliding Hos 4.16 Israel slideth back as a back-sliding hiefer And if once thou begin to slide thou cannot tell how far thine own corruption and the evil counsel and example of wicked men may carry thee as it did sometimes the people of Jerusalem Jer. 8.5 Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual back-sliding they hold fast deceit they refuse to return At first men are deceived by their own hearts and thereafter to excuse and strengthen themselves in their own sinful wayes they deceive and corrupt others by evil counsel and example for no man at first comes to the hight of iniquity according to the saying nemo repente fit pessimus but they grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 2 Tim. 3.13 3. In a time wherein piety and righteousness is mocked by profane and licentious men speaking all manner of evil against the godly and upright who will not run with them to the same excesse of riot 1 Pet. 4.4 labour thou the more to preserve thy self from pusilanimity and base fear of their revilings against any complying with their sinful wayes Ps 119.51 The proud have had me greatly in derision yet have I not declined from
gave suck although in old age they will not serve for that use yet they do still serve for the ornament and integrity of the body Herefrom is matter of great comfort to the godly who suffer hard things in the body here be of good courage ye are not to dwell for ever in that silly frail house at the term of removal by death ye know of a durable house now it is mouldering down daily like an house of clay after a great shower but in heaven ye will have a mansion and fixed station in your fathers house Joh. 14.2 Although possibly there be sensible weakness or visible deformity now in thy body yet be thou patient in the hope thy body will be raised in strength and beauty as the body of Lazarus without any sores It is true after the Resurrection of our blessed Lord the print of the nails remained in his hands and feet as also the hole of the wound in his side but that was for a short time out of his merciful condescension to cure Thomas his doubting as also his eating Joh. 21. was not to satisfie necessity for then his body was glorious and immortal but it was to feed and confirm their faith of the Resurrection of his body 3. Though now thou be weary in the body after much labour so was our blessed Lord in this like unto us as in all things except sin Joh. 4.6 But be of good comfort thou who exercisest thy self in well-doing shalt rise in the body as one refreshed in the morning after a sound and quiet sleep then shalt thou be like unto Angels in doing the will of thy Lord with all chearfulness without all possibility of weariness 4. Now in the body thou art sometimes troubled about a livelyhood and things necessar but after the Resurrection thou shalt be satisfied to the full both in soul and body with the fruition of our all-sufficient and unchangable God even with that hid Manna of the sweet full and unspeakable variety of delight both in the sense of the love of God toward thee and in the sense of thy love reflected on God Rev. 2.17 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna 5. Now thou art molested and fashed with the stirrings of inordinat concupiscence dwelling in the body as Sarah was grieved with Hagar dwelling in the same house with her but it is thy comfort after the Resurrection of the body as there will be perfect calmness in the affections without the least unruly motion so in all the members of the glorified body there will be perfect quietness as when the sea is calm there is no agitation in the Ship 6. Though now at the dissolution of the body and at the departure of its noble guest the immortal soul there may be and oft-times is much pain and agony like unto the grief Jacob had at parting with his dear Benjamin yet rejoyce thou in the hope of that joyful meeting again of thy soul and body as the joy was great when Jacob and Joseph met again together the glorified soul will bring glad tydings from heaven to the body like the faithful spyes Num. 14. for the encouragement of the body to go along with it to the third heaven this joy will be increased at their meeting with Christ accompanyed with millions of Angels and it will be perpetuated with him in the paradise of God for we shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4..71 Conclus 4. The assured knowledge believers have of that happy estate of soul and body in Heaven stirreth up in them an earnest desire after the fruition of it for it is said vers 1. We know c. and vers 2. In this we groan earnestly c. for the knowledge and perswasion of the truth of the good set before us doth stir up the heart to desire quickens us to diligence in using all lawful means for attaining the good desired and encourageth us against difficulties in the way The pleasantness and fertility of the land of Canaan seen and known to the faithful spyes Numb 14. stirred up in them an earnest desire of possessing the promised land it quickened them to diligence in the way and gave them courage against the sons of Anak who were to oppose them in their way to it Numb 14.9 The Apostle Paul knowing it was best to be with Christ did desire to be dissolved Phil. 1.23 This desire made him diligent and faithful in all the parts both of his Christian and Apostolick Calling it made him also couragious and resolute against all difficulties and discouragements Acts 21.13 2 Cor. 4.16 18. 1 Tim. 6.12 But gross ignorants who know or believe nothing concerning the compleat happiness of soul and body in Heaven have no true or well-grounded desire to remove out of the body and wicked obstinat sinners though they have some literal knowledge of it yet they have not that lively hope which purifieth the heart and therefore at death they are driven out of the body sore against their will as a Malefactor condemned is forced from his house to the prison Job 18.18 He shall be driven from light into darkness and chased out of the world As in his lifetime the wicked man rushed into sin like an horse into the battel without all fear of God so he shall be driven as a beast into that dark and bottomless prison he shall be chased and pursued with the fears and terrours of an evil conscience Psal 140.11 Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him Object But sometimes even the godly are unwilling to die as was Hezekiah Isai 38.10 and David Ps 39.13 What is the cause of this unwillingness in them who walked uprightly before the Lord Ans The causes are 1. An immoderat love sometimes in the godly toward some of their nearest and dearest relations it maketh them to linger in their desires and resolutions to die as Lot did linger in his departing out of Sodom Gen. 19.16 his great affection to his sons-in-law made him lingâ—r longer than he should but when death takes the godly by the heart as the Angel did Lot by the hand then they are willing to submit to the will of God and they say as our blessed Lord did at his death Father into thy hands I recommend my spirit 2. Their desire to do good in their station in the world is a cause of their unwillingness to remove for a time from that station and this I think made David and Hezekiah somewhat unwilling out of their great respect to the people of God over whom they were set this made Paul to hover and to be in a strait whether to depart or abide in the flesh even his great desire to benefit the Church of Christ by preaching the Gospel Phil. 1.23 These are truly pious desires and commendable purposes yet when the children of God perceive it is Gods peremptory will to remove them by death they commend their spirits to
that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him for we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Not as fools The Apostle speaketh more particularly of our Christian walk and that negatively that we walk not as fools 1. Not as the atheistical and profane fool who walketh without any serious thoughts of God in his heart Ps 14 1. The fool hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good Ezek. 8.12 They say the Lord seeth us not Psal 94 8 9. Vnderstand ye brutish among the people and ye fools when will ye be wise He that planted the ear c. Therefore be not profane and godless fools but fear God and depart from evil Prov. 3.7 2. Be not vain and arrogant fools walking in the imaginations of your own evil hearts Prov. 12.15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes 3. Walk not in the way of the licentious fool aâ—ter the lusts of uncleanness or drunkenness Prov. 7.7 The young man that followed the strange woman is said to be simple and void of understanding he is a mad fool running in the way of riot and uncleanness to his own destruction Walk not in the way of drunkenness and excess for the Scripture saith that drunkards are benummed and besotted fools Hos 4.11 Whoredome and wine take away the heart 4. Walk not in the way of worldly-minded and covetous men who set up their rest upon the things of this world and make no conscience of their purchase for the Scripture calleth such men fools Jer. 17.11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not so he that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his dayes and at his end shall be a fool Luk. 12.20 But God said unto him Thou fool c. 5. Walk not in the way of strise and contention for such men are in the Scripture-phrase fools Prov. 20.3 Every fool will be medling Prov. 26.17 He that passeth by and medleth with strife belonging not to him is like one that taketh a dog by the ears he doth at first rashly engage himself into the quarrel and is afraid how he shall come off fairly without prejudice to his credit or estate 6. Walk not in the way of malice for the Scripture calleth malicious and wrathful men fools Eccles 7.9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosome of fools 7. Walk not wilfully and obstinatly in any evil custom or way for such men the Scripture calleth fools who will not be reclaimed by the rods of God upon their backs Prov. 27.22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a morter among wheat with a pestel yet will not his foolishness depart from him Jer. 5.3 4. But they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder than a rock they have refused to return therefore I said surely these are poor they are foolish 8. Walk not in the way of malicious dissimulation though such dissemblers may be esteemed witts and active men in this present world yet in Gods account they are fools Prov. 10.18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips and he that uttereth slander is a fool 9. Walk not in the way of slothful men who delay from time to time to go about the great business and work of their own salvation such persons in holy Scripture are compared to the foolish Virgins Mat. 25. 10. Walk not in the way of bare formality resting upon the performance of some outward duties only because such men are compared to the foolish builder who built upon the sand such fools are these who rest on the hearing of the Word but prepare not themselves to do it Mat. 7.26 11. Walk not here and there departing from a known and received truth in the matter of Religion for such wavering and unconstant men are called fools Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you But as wise The Apostle 1 Cor. 3.18 speaketh of a twofold wisdom an heavenly wisdom when a man preferreth his duty to God unto all things worldly such was the wisdom of Paul Act. 20.23 24. The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city saying that bonds and afflictions abide me but none of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my self so that I might finish my course with joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God This wisdom is thought foolishness to the worldly man whose mind and heart is fixed on things earthly And there is a worldly wisdom when men in their practice and endeavours do prefer the good things of this life unto the best things of the life to come as Demas did this wisdom is foolishness in Gods account for what avails it a man to gain all the world and lose his own soul This Christian Heavenly wisdom standeth 1. In mens proposing to themselves a good and happy end of their actions when they propone to themselves as the great and supreme end of all their actions the glory of God of whom through whom and for whom are all things 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink do all to the glory of God when in the next place they propose to themselves that subordinat end to wit the salvation of their own souls Phil. 3.14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and when they propose to themselves the good of others by following their own example in well-doing Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 2. True Christian-wisdom stands in a serious deliberation and search out of Gods Word what are the fitest means for attaining these ends as by well-doing and suffering for well-doing to glorifie God 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified When we search and consider from the Word of God that true repentance lively faith and sincere obedience are the means whereby we attain salvation Acts 3.19 Acts 16.31 Rom. 2.6 7. 3. It stands in a careful and timous applying of the means necessary for these great ends So if ye be truly wise Christians ye will be diligent and active in using the means whereby God may be glorified and your souls saved Jam. 3.13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of
wisdom for God will have men to repent and turn that they may live in his sight Ezek. 33.11 As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live Ye must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for there is no salvation in any other neither is there any other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Act. 4.12 And ye must walk in obedience to his will because he became the Author of eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 4. True Christian wisdom standeth in foreseeing impediments stumbling-blocks and snares in the way wherein â—e are to walk toward eternal life Prov. 22.3 A prudent man foreseeth evil 5. As the truly wise Christian foreseeth the danger so he wisely preveeneth or removeth every impediment out of the way that would hinder him to walk or run his race with patience 1 Cor. 9.27 But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast-away Heb. 12.1 Let us lay aside every weight c. 6. The wise Christian walketh according to right reason in his worldly desires and not according to passion and sensual appetite which would be at the outmost point of his carnal desires for passions not guided and moderated by prudence and right reason do run into extremity of sinning as is spoken of Israel Jer. 3.5 Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest In so doing men become foolish to the destruction of their own souls like the Nightingale delighting so much sometimes in her own singing that she bursts 7. The truly wise Christian walketh wisely towards them that are without the Church and adversaries to the sacred truth Col. 4.5 Walk wisely toward them that are without 1 Cor. 10.32 Giving none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God because in so doing thou hinders so far as lyeth in thee the great end to wit Gods glory in their conversion to the faith and truth professed by thy self to this end the Apostle giveth sound advice to all who live in an outward civil society with others of a different perswasion in the matter of Religion 1 Tim. 6.1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke to wit of unbelieving masters count their own masters worthy of all honour that the Name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed 1 Pet. 3.1 2. Likewise ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives while they behold your chast conversation coupled with fear Worldly and contentious wisdom is directly opposite to true Christian wisdom as is evident from Jam. 3.15 This wisdom that hath with it bitter envying and strife descendeth not from above but is earthly sensual and devilish It is called earthly from the object of it because it is imployed chiefly about things earthly of such wisdom speaketh Jer. 4.22 They are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge wise to oppress others as Pharaoh Exod. 1.10 Let us deal wisely c. wise by wicked counsels to destroy the innocent such was the wisdom of Achithophel in his counsel against David It is a sensual wisdom to fulfill their own sinful lusts in taking the opportunities to do evil as the young man taking the opportunity of the twilight to go about the work of darkness and uncleanness Job 24.15 and the vile adulteresse taking the opportunity of her husbands absence for her shameful and sensual ends Pro. 7.19 It is the earthly wisdom of a covetous man by his speeches to deceive and defraud the simple Pro. 20.14 It is nought it is nought saith the buyer c. It is called a devilish wisdom from the Author of it the subtile old serpent and it is rather craftiness and subtile deceit than true wisdom The true signs and vive characters of the true Christian wisdom are 1. These given by the Apostle Jam. 3.17 It is pure without mixture of deceit peaceable without envy and malice gentle without desire of revenge full of mercy and charity without grudging to give unto them that are in distress and full of good fruits to wit of piety sobriety and righteousness 2. Where true heavenly wisdom is there will be teachableness and willingness to hear a word of reproof when we do amiss Pro. 1.5 A wise man will hear c. Pro. 9.8 Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee David loved Nathan and Gud the faithful Prophets who reproved him in the Name of the Lord. 3. A truly wise Christian will endeavour by his good example instruction and admonition to win others to God Prov 11.30 He that winneth souls is wise as a wise and faithful servant by his good example of diligence maketh other servants diligent and faithful in his Masters service 4. True Christian wisdom hath honest and harmless simplicity joyned with it Mat. 10 16. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves 5. The truly wise Christian like the wise Merchant preferreth Christ to all things and like the wise builder Mat. 7.24 he builds his comfort and confidence on Jesus Christ the rock of his salvation as Paul did Rom. 8.33 34 35. Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ 6. The truly wise Christian is an heavenly-minded man having his affections set upon things above Prov. 15.24 The way of life is above to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath The means and helps for attaining this heavenly wisdom are 1. Thou must be humble and denyed to thine own wisdom 1 Cor. 3.18 Let him become a fool that he may be wise Thou must captivat all thy thoughts and imaginations to the wisdom and will of God revealed in the holy Word 2 Cor. 10.4 5. 2. To this end thou must be well acquainted with the holy Scripture which only is able to make thee wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 3. Thou wouldst carefully observe the experiences thou has had of Gods mercies in time by-past this will make thee wise and resolute in times of new difficulties to depend on God and his help Ps 71.17 18. O God thou hast taught me from my youth c. Now also when I am old and gray-headed O God forsake me not for experience is the school-master of fools to make them wise thou wilt also observe the Lords chastisements upon thy self in the former time of thy deboarding and thou wilt be more wise in time coming Ps 119.71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes Thou wilt observe the uncertainty and vicissitude of all things worldly and there-from learn to be humble and wise not trusting or insolently glorying in things uncertain