them to be their covering their righteousness and salvation they being in him he in him beholds them and through and in him rejoyces in his love toward them yea and will joy over or in behalf of them with singing Zeph. 3.17 though their goodness gives him not rest yet his love to them doth He shall rest in his love and in his love also he hath abundantly provided for their perfect cleansing and conforming to him that there may be no spot in them but they may be perfect and without blame before him Ephes â— 26 27. having appointed his only Son who is faithful to him in all things to wash and sanctifie them and conform them to his mind 9. Yea such is his love that he deals with them further as his Children in providing all things for them and taking care to supply all their wants to them and give them whatsoever he sees good for them through Jesus Christ both for the things of this life pertaining to their bodies and in the things of eternal life pertaining to their souls therefore also he would have them with carefulness as knowing that he takes care for them and as a Father knows and considers their needs both for food rayment and protection and so for gifts or comforts c. Your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things Matth. 6.32 33. and without covetousness as knowing and believing that he stands by them is at hand to help them and will never leave them nor forsake them so that we may boldly say The Lord is on our side or is our helper we will not fear what man can do unto us Heb. 13.5 6. He is a Sun and Shield and will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightlly with him Psal 84.11 10. Further yet He causeth all things to work together for their good Rom. 8.28 All his wayes are mercy and truth to them that love him and keep his Covenants and Testimonies and that think upon his Commandments to do them Psal 25.10 He is Lord of all things and rules in the Hosts of Heaven and Kingdoms of men and will and doth dispose of all Providences for the glory of his Son and so for the profit and advantage of all that are in him and do trust in and love him To this purpose it is that he sayes to Sion that he hath ingraven her upon the palmes of his hands and that her walls are continually before him as signifying that in all his works he hath respect to their commodity and advantage and his eyes are alwayes watching for them and spying out what may avail and profit them Isai 49.16 and that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 3.21 22. All things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or world or life or death things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods that Christ went away from his Disciples it was because it was expedient for them and that he takes away any outward comforts from us and orders any afflictions to us it is because he sees it good for us if we believe and walk with him John 16.7 Psal 119.71 For 11. They being in Christ they are his Elect in him his Elect and chosen One Chosen in him before the foundations of the world to be holy to him his holy Lot Portion Inheritance his Garden Vineyard c. Deut. 32 9. Jer. 10.16 Cant. 4 12. and 8.11 and to be blameless before him in love Ephes 1.4 they are his the people whom he hath fore-known in Christ that is fore-owned or purposed to own in all Ages and therefore also hath fore-ordained or predestinated to be confor med to the Image of his Son in sufferings and obedience to him therein and so in holiness and happiness and therefore orders all things so as may conduce to bring them thereto He hath fore-appointed them to sufferings but only so as may conduce to bring them into conformity with Christ to which therefore he calls them and therein justifies supports and owns them and will in due time glorifie them as he hath done to Christ and to those in all Ages that have believed in and loved him therefore they are pretious to him and honourable in his sight Isai 43.4 after the pattern and similitude of Christ the First born amongst many Brethren who is elect and pretious in the sight of God however rejected and despised of men 1 Pet. 2.4 yea and as he is the living Stone so are they in him and through him as he is the Priest the high Priest of God and his holy Foundation and Temple in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily A Priest after the order of Melchisedek who was both King and Priest so they also in him are built up a spiritual house an holy yea a royal or Kingly Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices to God acceptable to him by Jesus Christ in whom all they are built up an holy Temple an habitation for God by his Spirit 1 Pet. 3.5 9. Ephes 2.20 21. Yea and as God is delighted in Christ and tender over him so as whosoever is incensed against him shall be ashamed and those that rise up against him he will destroy so also they that believe in him are so dear to him that whose toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye and do provoke Gods sore wrath against them to their destruction Psal 2.3 4.11 12. and 89.21 22 23. Zech. 2 8. Isai 43.4 12. And to conclude they are so in the love of God and beloved of him that he hath prepared for them gives unto them and will if they abide possess them of an everlasting and most glorious Kingdom and Inheritance He gives himself to Abraham and his Seed and such are all that are Christs Gal. 3.29 to be their God their Shield and their exceeding great Reward Gen. 15.1 and 17.1.7 as they are his portion so he also is theirs Jer 10.16 and all his infinite power greatness goodness is for their defence and helpfulness in their obeying him 2 Cor. 6.17 and he hath prepared a City for them a City that hath foundations whereof he himself in a peculiar sence is the Builder and Maker Heb. 11 10 16. Whence that of our Saviour Fear not little Flock it is my Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 And I appoint unto you a Kingdom sâ— my Father hath appointed unto me c. for if Sons then Heirs Heirs of God joynt-Heirs with Christ if we suffer with him that we also may be glorified with him Rom. 8.17 the new and heavenly Jerusalem and therein to eat of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God and to drink of the River of the waters of Life pure and unmixed pleasures and to be free from all curse sorrows temptations cryings death and to be filled and satisfied with all fulness of Good
devour yet God who loves us is stronger than he and none can pluck the sheep or followers of Christ out of his hand Yea Christ our Shepherd is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah and he hath spoiled Principallities and Powers and triumphed over them openly in his Cross He is stronger to defend us than Sathan to devour us and he was manifested on purpose to destroy his cursed works 1 Pet. 5.8 John 10.29 30. Col. 2.14.15 1 John 3.8 hold we fast by him and Sathan cannot harm us however much he malice us Christ both can and will surely defend and save us from his rage and malice Doth the world frown upon us hate reproach threaten and abuse us Be of good courage saith our Lord I have overcome the world and stronger is he that is in or amongst us than he that is in the world John 16.33.1 John 4.4 5. Nor can any hardship that may here befal us tribulation or distres persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword cause God and Christ to cease to love us Rom. 8.35 He is a sheild and sure defence against all these enemies His truth abides that in us shall be shield and Buckler to us so that what is therein Earth or Hell that may discourage or affright us Psal 91.3 He is such a place of defence to every one that uprightly cleaveth to him that nothing can pierce through him to annoy or harm him as in Isa 33 6â— He shall dwel on high so high as none can overtop him to storm him his place of defence shall be the munition of Rocks so that no undermining him or blowing him up oh but perhaps we may be starved or famished out for wants No not so for it follows bread shall be given him his waters shall not fail Ah but perhaps such a strong Castle and well victualled may be so close and scant of air or other delightful accommodations as to force a man to yeild to get breath or air No it follows that there is both pleasant sight fair prospects to delight for v. 17. thine eyes shall behold the King in his beauty and thou shalt see the Land that is very far off So then neither need we fear evil will befal us to harm us oâ— that good will be wanting to us to supply and satisfie us For if the Lord be our Shepheard how can we want any good thing He is a Sun sheild and will give Grace glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly with him Psal 84.11 and 23.1 He will supply our inward wants Give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him Luk 11.13 to lead them into his truth fill them with hope and peace and comfort them in all their troubles and afflictions teach them also to pray and therein and otherwise help their infirmities subdue their corruptions and sanctifie them throughout in Body Soul and Spirit c. John 16.13 Rom. 8.26 27. and 15.13 1 Thess 5.23 24. And he will supply all our outward wants so far as is good and needful for us Seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness all those things shall be added to us The Lyons shall lack and suffer hunger but they that fear the Lord are sure to want no good thing Matth. 6.33 Psal 34.9 10. He giveth food to them that fear him he will ever be mindful of his Covenant Psal 111.5 And he will every way do what is good for us till he have fitted us for and bring us to the eternal inheritance So that here we have everlasting consolation and good hope through Grace 2 Thes 2.16 2. It 's useful also by way of instruction and exhortation to diverse duties that this great grace and love of God towards us doth challenge of us and afford good ground for as 1. To love him again that hath so loved us and yet so loves us as Psal 31.23 Oh Love the Lord ye his Saintsâ— for he preserveth the faithful those that believe in him and are constant in cleaving to and serving him It is but a meet return to him love for love that we love him because he loved us first 1 John 4.19 to delight our selves in him whose delight is in his people and accepts us in his Beloved One and will give unto us in so doing the desire or satisfaction of our Souls Psal 37.4 we cannot set our loves and affections upon either a more deserving or a more lovely object None there is to whom we are so much ingaged or hath so much in it to content satisfie and save us we may be sure not to loose our loves by loving him for he is not only infinitely before hand with us but also keeps mercy and Covenant for ever to them that love him and keep his Commandments we may loose our loves in loving any thing else besides him but not in loving him 2. To hope and trust in him for seeing he loves us so who is so strong and mighty to save us a Great King above all Gods in whose hands are all the corners of the Earth and the strength of the hills is his also The Sea is his and so all troubles and afflictions and he hath made it and his hands have prepared the dry land a stable port and safe haven of refuge we may be confident that he will not suffer any harm to befal us if we stay upon him and his Grace to save us yea though he may correct and nurture us yet he will take care of us to support and save us Oh trust in him then at all times ye people especially ye his people and inheritance pour out your hearts to him he is a refuge for us Psal 62.8 Yea trust in him at all times for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Isa 26.4 especially too seeing in his great love he hath made great and precious promises to us both for this life the life that is to come hath confirmed them in the blood of the Lord Jesus his only begotten Son and appointed him to be the Mediator of them for us to take away the sin and unworthiness that might hinder us of them and to obtain a dispensation of them to us Surely we have in Christ great ground and cause of hopeing and trusting in God seeing God did therefore raise him from the dead and give him glory that our faith and hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1.21 and seeing through him his favour doth compass about the righteous as a shield from what might harm them Psalm 5.12 as it is also a Sun to give light and all refreshing influences to us even Grace and Glory and all good things to those that walk uprightly with him Psal 84.11 whence also that Counsel Philip. 4.6 7. In nothing be careful but in all things make known your requests to God by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving and the peace of God that passeth all understanding shall guard
the Soul stands in its having his love and favour towards it and its injoyment of his blessing therefore without that the Soul is without life and happiness and if that be lost the Soul is lost and what is that in the world whereabout men busie themselves so as therefore to neglect God and Christ and excuse themselves from their coming to and closing with or living up to Christ and his Doctrine that can give them any valuable compensation for the loss of the Soul Matth. 16.26 what a folly is it for a man to feed on husks or ashes when he might have good and wholesome bread and other chear to feed on or what a madness for a man to take a deal of pains and cost to hew out a Cistern to keep him some water in for his use which when it is hewed too will hold none because it is broken when as he might take as much as he will and that exceeding good for any use for which he needs it and at all times freely without cost or expence at a spring or fountain that is so hard at hand to him and yet such or rather far worse is our folly and madness when neglecting Christ and turning our back upon him and his Doctrine and refusing to walk in the faith and direction thereof we yet multiply either works and services of our own or other mens invention or prescription for attaining righteousness and peace otherwise or desire and endeavour after the riches honours and pleasures of the world or whatever we conceive may satisfie our lusts seeking peace and rest and content in them To such the Holy Ghost directs his Councel with reproof after this wise in Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth that lacketh desireth peace content and happines Come ye to the waters the Son of God and his Heavenly Doctrine John 7.37 38. yea he that hath no mony come and buy yea buy wine and milk without money and without price God requires nothing of gain profit or worth to be given to him by us as in exchange but only let go and part with what we have that harms us our evil thoughts and ways as ver 7. Why will ye lay out your money for that that is not bread and your labour for that that satisfieth not hearken unto me and eat that that is good that which Christ sets before us in his word and Doctrine even himself his flesh and blood his abasement sufferings for us as therein commended to our faith and as the great evidences of God's gratiousness to us procurers of our happiness and ingagements to obedience and let your Souls delight themselves in fatness See also reproofs of this nature in Psal 4.2 Jer. 2.13 John 5.40 c. Yea also 3. Hence we might note the equitableness of Gods wrath against judgments upon men that neglect to know and believe in Christ that it is a just thing with God to separate them from his presence and blessing unto everlasting curse and misery because they both slight and reject the good he hath done for them and Grace shewed them in Christ trample him the great gift and evidence of good will under their feet and do set at naught his love and favour toward them even himself in Christ who would be their portion protection matter not his promise nor the sweetness safety satisfaction that they might have his presence and in the light of his countenance preferring lying vanities before so great mercies as God tenders to them and despite that gracious Spirit that invites and allures them after him He that values not his favour how can he think himself injured if he feel his wrath and he that regards not his presence and blessing but rather chuses to listen to and walk after Sathan how can he complain of injustice if he therefore bid him depart from him and his presence to be tormented and destroyed with Sathan so that God will be justified in his sayings and be found just in his judging them that despise and set light by him and rebel against him But 4. It is also of great use to such as are in Christ that have fled for refuge to him embraced his Doctrine and yeilded up themselves to be Governed by him it affords singular matter of use to them and that 1. By way of comfort and incouragement against all that doth exercise afflict them for what are all things that stand against them or are grievous to them in comparison of the love and favour of God towards them If God be for us if he love and favour us if he accept and own us if he be our friend and Father and set himself to help us have who or what are they that are against us Is it the sins we have committed in times past which we are turned to God from and have repented of why they are pardoned and forgiven through Jesus Christ believed in by us For to him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whoever believe in him shall receive remission of their sins and by him all that believe are justified from which we could not be justified by the Law of Moses Act. 10.43 and 13.38 39. Is it sin yet remaining in us and warring against us and hindring us that we cannot serve God and live to him so as we would Why There is now no condemnation to them are in Christ Jesus no not from the fleshes or sins being in them to them that do not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit If wee walk in the light as he God is in the light is in his truth affording his presence and strength unto us then have we fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Rom. 8.1 1 John 1.7 And if God justifie as he doth them that are his Elect that is those that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Who then is he that condemneth or who shall lay any thing to their charge Doth the Law of God find us in many things faulty and failing so that according to its righteousness or rule for justifying which is to justifie all those that continue in it in all things to do it but otherwise upon any failing or sin to curse them Gal. 3.10 we are not able to stand in judgment but it condemns us Why but It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again and is on the right hand of God also maketh intercession for us and if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnes Rom. 8.33.34 1 John 1.9 Doth the Devil rage against us and roar upon us tempting us and assaying by his fiery darts to destroy us Why he is a conquered enemy and though he be for strength eagernes to harm us as a roaring Lion going about daily seeking whom to
your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus 3. To rejoyce in God and give thanks and praise unto him continually for his great love favour to us may they not well joy that are in so good a plight as to have so great a Friend so mighty a Father and Saviour as God is That have such a fountain to supply them with living water â— such a Castle and Fortress to defend them Yea upon this account it is that it is said Let them that love thy Name be joyful in thee for thou Lord wilt bless the Righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield Psal 5.11 12. and that exhortation of the Apostle is to the same purpose Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always and again I say rejoyce and so for thanksgiving they are put together Psal 97.11 Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness And so in 1 Thess 5.16 17 18. Rejoyce evermore pray without ceasing in all things give thanks for so is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus Joy in his love and bless him for it 4. To moderation in griefs fears cares and to contentation with what God gives us here and submission to what he lays upon us I put them together for brevity sake his love to us might perswade us also thereto For as Elkanah said to Hanna too eagerly desiring desiring after and too sadly bearing the want of Children Am not I better to thee than ten Sons 1 Sam. 1.8 So may God say to his servants and people Am not I better to you than all those things that you are so careful and sollicitous about so mournful after or covetous for Should they be covetous for the world that have God to inrich them Is not God a portion sufficient to content and satisfie our Souls Should we be covetous of the honors riches pleasures injoyments of the world if we have God at hand to give us better things than the world can and who loving us will not withhold from us any thing that is good for us in the world or delay us of any thing that he hath promised to us and is needful for us beyond the due season wherein it may be best for us to this purpose are those sayings Let your moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand In nothing be careful c. Philip. 4.5.6 And Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things either for maintenance or protection as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me Hebr. 13 5 6. As also the contrary to these sayings be reprovable hence as upon this ground David reproves checks his distrustful immoderately sorrowing thoughts Psal 42.5 Why art thou so cast down O my Soul and why art thou so disquieted within me hope still in God c. So our Saviour upon like ground checks the fears and distrusts of his Disciples about food and rayment Mat. 6.25 26 28 30 32. Take no thought for your life what ye shall eat or drink or for your body what ye shall put on Consider the fowls are ye not much better than they Consider the Lillies c. If God so cloath the grass will he not much more cloath you being your Heavenly Father O ye of little faith c. 5. To obedience to God for his love and favour to them and to a chearful yielding up themselves to serve him with all their Talents and abilities received from him as persons that owe themselves and utmost service to him so Rom. 12.1 I beseech you Brethren by the mercies of God in which namely he hath given his Son for you called you to his Son and justifies and owns you in his Son as the former Chapters had shewed Offer up your body a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service See the like Rom. 6.11 12 c. and 1 Cor. 6.18 19 20. Your bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which ye have of God and ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price therefore Glorifie God with your bodies and with your Spirits which are God's peculiarly owned and possessed by him as also in order to their retaining and abiding in the love of God and Christ towards them as in John 15.9.10 As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love If ye keep my Commandments ye shall continue in my love as I have kept my Fathers Commandments and continue in his love which is another thing it instructs too namely 6. To abide in Christ and so keep our selves in the love of God both in the views and injoyments of it seeing his love is so precious inriching and every way advantageous to the Soul seeing it is the portion of the believers in and cleavers to Christ it is folly to turn away from believing in and obeying Christ to forfeit God's love and favour and a point of greatest wisdome to abide in Christ that we may abide also in the love of God yea and as that was one great engine and trick of the Devil and his messengers for drawing men out of Christ or from the simplicity of him into some corruptions from the faith preached and urged by the true Apostles to insinuate to them that they were not in a justified estate with God not owned loved and approved of him by their believing in Christ but that to obtain that they must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses or receive some Traditions and Commandments of men worshipping of Angels or the like So it was the great motive and argument used by the true Apostles with them for preserving them in Christ and perswading them to abide in him namely that in him they were compleat were justified loved known and accepted of God and had everlasting life and that out of him or in departing adulterously from him in joyning some other ground of hope and trust in him they deprived themselves thereof as in Col. 2.2 3 8 9 10. Gal. 3.7 9 29. with 4.6 7 8 9 11 30. and 5.2 3 4. John 2.24 and 5.11.12 13. In Christ are bid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge this I say least any man should beguile you with inticing words And Let no man spoil you with Philosophy vain deceit for in Christ dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in him ye are compleat They they that are of the faith are blessed with faithful Abraham They that are baptized into Christ have put on Christ and are the Sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ and so heirs according to promise known of God c. But turning aside to the Law to be or seek to be justified thereby they are abolished from Christ and fallen from Grace that is
persons that set themselves to poyson mens meats and drinks that so while men think only to feed themselves with wholesome food they might instead of wholesome meat take down poyson then there may be greater need to admonish men to take heed what they eat or drink and for men to be cautelous what they eat or drink and from whom they receive their meat because then there is not only possibility but danger of it too it may too too easily happen else that they poyson themselves and so when of divers meats propounded to them and lying in their way divers of them are mixt with poyson The like may be said when there are crafty and naughty persons that set themselves on work to intoxicate men and make them drunk at unawares and then to lead them amongst Rocks and Precipices whence they may break their necks Now if it appears that there is danger of mens loosing or turning out from the love of God unless they be careful to keep themselves in it then it appears more dearly yet to be a principal business or work that men that are therein should bend themselves to to keep themselves therein otherwise not they need not set themselves to keep themselves from those things which are barely possible and of which though they be careless there is no great danger that they should befall them or come to pass I say though they be careless for indeed there is no danger of any Believers loosing or falling from the love of God if he be diligent and careful to take heed to the means and way of safety provided of God for his preservation therein The danger asserted is only in case of carelesness or presumption and so there is danger 1. In respect of the many enemies that lye in wait to subvert and withdraw us from Christ As First Satan who indeavours it what he can and Goes about as a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour And although he be a conquered enemy and Christ that is with the Believer is stronger to preserve the Believer from his wiles and assaults than he is to assault and hurt and Christ also is as well faithful as able yet his faithfulness is ingaged for the helpfulness of the Believer and for overcoming for him in the diligent use of the means the Believers putting on and exercising himself in the armour of God provided and afforded of which if he be careless and neglective and slothful in the use of means and so grow from slothfulness to deep sleep as Slothfulness doth cast into a deep sleep Prov. 19.15 then is not Christ in point of faithfulness ingaged to save him but as the Apostle implies in Eâ—â—s 6.13 14. 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Satan may prevail upon the unsober unwatchful sleepy and unarmed Soul to overthrow and devour it And that the Soul may very possibly be unsoâ— secure careless or presumptuous and so through slothfulness fall into a deep sleep of sencelesness either of the Grace and Goodness of God brought to it in Christ and the excellent advantages thereby afforded for its attainment of happiness or of the dangers that either others or it self is in of being led away by the deceitfulness of sin and so lye open to Satans malice and malicious enterprises the many exhortations to watchfulness and cautions against slothfulness and negligence propounded in the Scriptures to the Believers as well as the experience of the sleepy decaying tempers that have oft befallen Believers sufficiently testifie See the exhortations and warnings in these Scriptures Matth. 24.42 43 44 c. and 25.13 and 26.41 Mark 13.33 35 36.37 where it is said by our Saviour that what he there said was both to the Disciples who were generally real Believers and to all besides viz. Watch. So also in Luke 21.34 35 36. Ephes 6.11 12 13 14. 1 Cor. 16.13 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Heb. 3.12 13. and 6.12 and 12.15 16. Revel 3.2 3. and 16.15 Instances of sore decayes by heedlesness and thereby of great danger signified See in Revel 2 4â— 5. and 3.1 2 13 14 15 16. and the reason of it is partly from other enemies As 2. The flesh with its affections and lusts warring against the Soul and lusting against the â—pirit that endeavours the good of the Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 Galat. 5.17 18 19. it lusts after ease and pleasures riches honours and the injoyment of this present world the love of which cannot consist with the love of the Father but will by degrees choak it and eat it out of the heart No man being able to serve two Masters but that he must either love the one and hate the other or lean to the one and forsake the other and that it is very possible and easie for a Believer to walk after and mind the flesh as well as to mind and walk after the Spirit or at least if not so easie to the conscience and renewed mind yet easie enough in respect of the natural affections and desires is sufficiently proved by every one 's own experience and by all those serious watch-words counsels and provocations to watchfulness there against it and to deny it and not walk after it Not to love the world and the things of it the many falls of the Servants of God as David Peter c. and reproofs for their walking after it seeking to make themselves friends of the world c. as partly appears in the Scriptures before quoted under the former Head and further in these Scriptures Rom. 6.11 12 13 14 15 c. and 8 12.13 14. and 13.12 13 14. Galat. 5.13 14 25 26. Ephes 4.17 18 c. 1 Cor. 5. and 6. and 10. and 11.17 18 20 21 22. James 2. and 3. and 4.4 5 6 c. Revel 2.4 5 c. to which also add 3. The World both in the seeming good and desirable injoyments of it and in the persons of it pretending piety knowledge of God and friendship to Believers persons as also the examples and customs of it and of many Professors of the Gospel in it prove oftentimes very great baits and inticements to their lusts and put vigour and force into them while wistly lookt upon and considered by them with a carnal eye as appears in Prov. 2.12 13 15 16. and 5.3 4. c. and 6.25 26. and 7.10 11 18 21 22 23 26 27. and 23.20 21 26 27 28 31 c. Luk. 8.14 and 12.15 and 21.34 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16. Jam. 4.4 5. c. and also in the threats and frowns of the great and mighty persons of it the harsh and biâ—ter afflictions and sufferings they are oft exposed to in and from it which being viewed do affright and scare from the stedfastness of the faith and of the profession of it by believers as it is intimated in Thes 3.1 2 3 4. Matth. 13.20 21. Heb. 12.2 3 4. and therefore in both these cases we are exhorted by our Saviour to pluck out the right eye where
and Glory all those that submit to and serve him and everlastingly destroying all their enemies so as they never be able more to oppose or trouble theâ— A merciful High-Priest that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities and temptations while yet we are under the vexations of Enemies and one that will most faithfully see to us and accomplish all things for and about us that may conduce to our preservation and safety here while under tryals and to our eternal happiness when fully freed from them The considering and minding him and the testimony of God concerning him as also what it it says and testifies of us ouâ— vileness sinfulness helplesness and misery in our-selves and of our welfare and happiness in him as founded in him and what it testifies of the world of sin of righteousness life death c. with all the Heavenly instructions reproofs and consolations of it is one yea the chief way of edifying our selves on our most holy faith while we therein and therethrough draw vertue from Christ as the poor woman by touching his garments to the nourishing and strengthning our Soules to trust in him love him cleave to him and obey him and so to oppose and stand against the assaults of Sathan evils of the world lusts of the flesh or whatsoever might endeavour to allure or affright us from him yea and derive all Heavenly Grace and vertue from him to the inlarging our Souls towards him and fitting them for and filling them with every good thing Therefore the Holy Ghost in the Scripture is so frequent in commending to us and provoking us to the study mindfulness and meditation of the Law and Doctrine of the Lord the Gospel of our salvaâ—â—n pronouncing that man happy and blessed that delights himself therein and gives up himself thereto As also the minding others of it and of the instructions reproofs and consolations of it is the way to edifie them also both by removing the rubbish that hinders their close cleaving to Christ the foundation and more firmly cementing them to and uniting them with Christ through his love and goodness discovered to them and put to their mindes and more firmely joyning them through the same love one to another and furthering their hope in and conformity to God and Christ in which they are edified and built up for him And as furtherance also hereto a further means and way is 2. A diligent and faithful exercise of their spiritual gifts for the helpfulness of each other for the manifestation of the Spirit some useful gift or other in which the Holy Spirit manifests his presence and influence and whereby he fits each member of Christ for the good of the whole Body is given to every one namely of the Members of Christ to profit with 1 Cor. 12.7 that is to do good too and edifie the Church or body of Christ with as to one is given by the Spirit a word of wisdome for directing and counselling what is best in doubtful matters to another a word of knowledge to inform mens minds of the things of God and nature of his Creatures works Providences c. To another faith a gift of believing and trusting in God more eminently or of incouraging to faith and confidence or also of faithfulness in keeping secret things committed to them not divulging the temptations failings and miscarriages of others imparted to them To another the gifts of healings either of the inward wounds and distempers of the Spirit or of bodily diseases by a miraculous way To another the working of Miracles or operations and efficacies of powers or powerful things such as the inflicting diseases deaths or such sad punishments upon men as when the Apostle Peter inflicted death upon Ananias and Saphirah at his word Act. 5 and Paul blindness on Barâ—Jesus the Sorcerer in Act. 13.10 11. as also the casting out Devils or the like To another prophecie either the fore-telling things to come as Agabus did Acts 11.28 or the opening and unfolding Doctrine and speaking out of the Scriptures to exhortation edification and comfort 1 Cor. 14.3 To another the discerning of Spirits the discerning the Doctrines of men though never so craftily counterfaiting the truth or discerning mens tempers and dispositions whereby they are fit to admonish and warn their Brethren of what may harm them or of persons not safe for them to trust To another diversity of Tongues To another a gift of Interpreting Languages Divers gifts from one and the same spirit of Christ distributing to every one according as he pleases but all given for the helpfulness and profit of the Church and therefore also to be to that purpose exercised as the Apostles also instruct and teach as in 1 Pet. 4.10 every one as he hath received the gift so let him minister one towards another as good stewards of the manifold or various Graces of God So in Rom. 12.6 7. Having gifts differing according to the Grace that is given unto us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of saith or ministry let us wait on our ministry as Joshuah on his ministring to Moses Exod. 24.13 and John to Paul and Barnabas Act. 13.5 or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation c. surely in such exercising their spiritual gifts and imploying and improving their Talents they may be useful and helpful for edifying themselves and one another for while they are faithful in doing good with what they have received and are betrusted with God gives his blessing with them and increases them themselves the liberal Soul here shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself and he shall profit and edifie others also as the Apostle exhorting Timothy to take heed to himself and his ministry and to continue in them tells him so should be save himself and them that heard him adde 3. A walking in Charity for knowledge without that puffs up but Charity edifies 1 Cor 8.2 3. that's the most profitable way the Grace or vertue that will lead us to be most useful and edifying to others for that will lead us to be ready at all times to exercise our gifts and improve our Talents for the good of others and to mind their concernments and what may further their happiness and not to look on our own things onely Charity suffers long from others before it will be tired out or suffer him in whom it is to turn away from seeking their good and is kind in the mean time free to do good to others while it suffers great indignities and abuses long from them It envies not others good nor the imparting our gifts to others for their good Doth not vaunt it self nor is puffed up to the grieving and discouraging the neighbour or dispising his meaner condition and worth Doth not behave it self unseemly to offend and stumble the weak Brother and to turn him out from God Seeketh not her own but
the good of others Is not easily provoked against another or to leave off pursuing his good and benefit Thinks not or surmises not evil Nay if it discern evil it is willing to pass it by and not impute it to the withdrawing his good offices of love from his neighbour Rejoyceth not in iniquity harm evil or deceit ' but rejoyceth in the truth and therefore also endeavours the prosperity and spreading thereof that the mouth of iniquity might be stopped Beareth all things all burthens put upon it Believeth all things that God hath discovered and that he hath any ground to believe concerning the good of others Hope 's all things that may further their good and endures all things that it meets with for exercise of its patience 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7 this will lead us to deny our selves and our own things to do others good and so to use our liberties in things indifferent as may tend to the good and profit of others and forbear the use of it where it might prejudice them as S. Paul who would not eat flesh or drink wine till the world stood or do any thing whereby the Brother should be offended if he knew such things would offend him weaken him in or stumble him from the truth 1 Cor. 8.13 with Rom. 14.21 this will lead men to doe all things for edification and nothing for destruction to any this therefore is a most useful way of edifying and building up one another in the most holy faith 4. And in a word the walking as becomes the Gospel of Christ and so the shewing forth his vertues in our conversations in an innocent abstinence from all ungodlines fleshly worldly lusts walking soberly righteously and godlily in this present World and in a patient bearing and suffering and so overcoming with goodness all the injuries and abuses done to us especially for the Gospels sake for that also tends exceedingly to the furtherance of the Gospel and the confirming and strengthning one another in the belief and confession thereof Philip. 1.12 13 14 20 27. After such a sort are we to build up our selves and one another on our most Holy Faith Now such a building up our selves thereon tends to keep us in the love of God because 1. They that build up themselves thereon keep or abide thereon and are not waved or turned aside from that precious foundation to which the love special respect care and approbation of God are as it were intailed Christ is the first prime and immediate object of Gods delightful love so that a man being and abiding in him doth in through and by vertue of him abide also in his love Now a building up our selves on that foundation is a firming us more in and fastning us more upon him who is that foundation whereon his love is inseparably placed The foundation of God Jesus Christ as held forth in the Apostles Doctrine for other foundations can no man lay is a firm and sure foundation and standeth sure having this Seal or confirmation the Lord knoweth them that are his It is known of God as his and therefore cared for owned and loved by him and all that are his the foundations or Christs are therefore also known owned and accepted of God If Christs then Abrahams seed and heirs according to promise c. Gal. 3.29 2. The building up our selves on that foundation the most holy faith is the way to keep our selves untouched of the adversaries of it and 3. To do Gods Commandments using our gifts talents to those ends intents to which God hath given us them and as he hath given us Commandments and in this way he hath promised his presence and blessing with us and favour towards us If we have Christs Commandments and keep them as we doe in thus doing then are we lovers of Christ and God will love us and Christ will love us manifest his own self to us John 14.21 if we keep his Commandments we shall continue in his love John 15.10 If we do these things adde in our faith vertue c so edifie and build up our selves on our most holy faith we shall never fall for so an abundant entrance shall be administred to us into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.5 10 11. It is the idle Soul shall suffer hunger the barren and fruitless branch that the husband-man takes away not the diligent and fruitful in good works Joh 15.2 This therefore is the way for us to keep our selves in the love of God Not to be careless and secure and say in our hearts we cannot miscarry our standing depends not on our working and diligence and therefore we will do nothing but give up our selves to minde and walk after the flesh and do our own pleasures for we are sure of eternal life nothing can deprive us Christ will keep it for us and give it to us what ever we do having closed with him and believed on him no sin of ours can un son us nor no carelesness or neglect of ours provoke God to neglect us Take we heed of such abusive reasonings and actings and exercise we our selves to Godliness to build up our selves on our most holy faith for through slothfulness negligence tâ—e house may else drop through so will God be with us love us own and delight in us to dwell with and amongst us But then add we still the second way or means of keeping our selves in the love of God which is also to be practised all along together with the former and not after we have done with that for that is never to be done with while here but always to be practised and so is this second too namely 2. Praying in the Holy Ghost Where we have to consider 1. The exercise it self that is praying 2. The way or manner of it that is in the Holy Ghost In speaking unto which let us inquire into and consider 1. What it is to pray 2. What it is to pray in the Holy Ghost 3. What is implied in the exhorting Believers so to pray 4. How that conduces to the keeping themselves in the love of God 1. And first To pray is more than to say or read or frame a prayer for that may be as to the two former an exercise of the tongue and lips in which the heart may be altogether unexercised yea and it may be other mens desires or needs that we say or read over and not our own And as to the last expression the framing of a prayer it may be but an exercise of the brain parts not of the heart and Spirit of a man yea the Stage-Players have done all this in derision of prayer sometime whereas to pray is To exercise the heart in minding uttering or pouring out unto God through Jesus Christ its needs and desires or the needs of and its desires for others let us view the particulars
that he is able in calling us to him to inliven and quicken us from the dead make us hear his voice perceive the truth goodness of his instructions and close with him and his grace able and authorized as the great High Priest over the House of God and furnished with the Spirit of power and might all the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily to subdue all our enemies and save us confer upon us the blessings he obtains for us yea to keep off dangers and mischiefs from us support us under tryals and sufferings raise us out of troubles and death both bodily and spiritually and advance us to glory and happiness None of these things have we to do or prepare for our selves The foundation a sure and firm foundation is laid for â— to our hands no nor yet have we it put upon â— to bring our selves to and lay our selves upon that foundation that also is Gods work to make us in Christ Jesus and thaâ— he hath done inasmuch as he hath brought us to know and believe in him through his Gospel preached to us and by his Spirit effectually in some measure woâ—king in and upon us but onely to build up our selves on that foundation on which he hath in some measure laid us Yea and also 4. This we have to encourage us therein that he hath not onely in and through the most holy saith given us some furniture of gifts understanding c. for the edifying our selves and one another thereon but also stands ready in and through his blessed Son further to assist direct and help us and to carry on the building in and for us by his own grace and power supplied to us Which we may also have and receive from him according to our needs upon seeking it of him and calling upon him by prayer and supplication for it according as our Lord hath said Ask and ye shall receive seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened to you for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Matth. 7.7 8. And if ye that are evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11.13 5. Yea and whereas we are foolish and bruitish in and of our selves and not onely want ability to build up our selves of our selves but also skill to pray unto God for his help and holy Spirit as we ought he to help us there also in and through the foundation we are upon even the most holy faith gives us the Holy Ghost to help our infirmities and teach us how â—o pray yea and to make Intercessions in and for us according to the will of God with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered Rom. 8.26 27. So that as we have him in his gifts and operations and vertues in us to inable us to build up our selves on our most holy faith so we have him also to help us to look unto and call upon God for further Dispensations of him and his assistance and help by him for building up our selves thereon and for blessing strengthning and confirming what we build So that what remains but that we up and be doing building up our selves on our most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost and to keep our selves in the love of God To which the Apostle adds in the next place The manner how we are to do all this or the posture we are therein to stand in and that is waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life In a waiting posture for further mercy even the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life Where we have 1. The Posture it self Waiting 2. The Object to be waited for Mercy Which is further declared what it is by 1. The Author of it or Fountain of it whose and whence it is viz. The mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. The Tendency issue and end of it Vnto Eternal life 1. In that it is said Waiting it is implied and signified 1. That Believers so edifying themselves on their most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost may and should hope and look for the further grace mercy and helpfulness of Christ and God in Christ for waiting for a thing implies hoping for it as Rom. 8.24 25. If we hope for what we see not then do we with patience wait for it Believers are under the hope of good for Good is always the object of hope and waiting something that the soul looks upon as good for it and it is real good that the soul is instructed of God to look after and wait for Now hoping also implies 1. That what the soul waits for is not yet accomplished The soul hath not an enjoyment of all that is good for it though it be in the love of God the fountain of all good and mercy yet it hath not an actual enjoyment or possession of all the good that flows forth from that fountain Hope is of things future not yet seen or enjoyed for that that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for Rom. 8 15. The Believer though in the love of God and his favour yet is not fully built up as we see before and therefore is not possessed all that he is building up for or that is intended to him when built up We are saved now by hope not by actual sight and enjoyment The hope of further good is that that bears up the soul against and under the sight feeling of present evils The condition of the Believer here is not to be above or beyond hope but to be in hope a lively or living hope by or through the Resurrection of Christ as 1 Pet. 1.3 not a dead empty hope that puts no activity into the soul Hope is the anchor of the soul that enters into the Mercy-seat and Glory within the vail that stays the soul now up from sinking under any discouragements in the building time from enemies within or without that oppose and threaten it or from any tryals or pressures that may lie upon it 2. It implies an apprehension of some good ground of the expectation of the good that it yet hath not but waits for and so it believes that good will come to it that it yet hath not And indeed the most holy faith affords it good ground for such an expectation of good for faith is the evidence of things not seen and the ground of things hoped for Hebr. 11.1 Therefore being on that ground it must needs see reason and cause to hope For therein is discovered and declared 1. That God so loved and pitied them while in and of the world as that he sent his onely begotten Son and delivered him up to death for us all even while ungodly sinners and enemies against him to the end that believing in
him they should not perish but have everlasting life Job 3.16.17 And if he spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 Having when we were enemies reconciled us to himself by the death of his Son how much more shall we be saved by his life Chap. 5.10 2. That Jesus Christ according to the will of God his Father hath actually come forth and been manifested in a body of flesh and dyed for our sins suffering the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being made a curse that he might redeem us from the curse of the Law and from under the obligation too of seeking righteousness by the Law and so of living or dying according as we fulfilled or fell short of that that so we might receive the adoption of children that we might be taken into Gods house and into more near relation to him and be provided for of all things good for us freely by him And he that dyed for us to these ends to take away those evils that hindred and stopt up the passages of all good is risen again as a person that hath done and compleated his work he undertook to do by dying hath paid our debts satisfied for our sins and is therefore acquitted and justified of God and raised up again to prosecute and pursue our good further in the power of God and this that our hope might be in God as in 1 Pet. 1.21 Now seeing that he in Christs death hath removed what might hinder on his part good from us and hath raised up him that had such love to us as to die for us to remove what might hinder our good on our parts to be the Author of good to us the soul sees good ground thence of lively hope and is begotten to a lively hope of a glorious inheritance by the Resurrection of Christ from the dead 1 Pet. 1.3 wherein it was made manifest that Christ hath abolished the death and obtained life and righteousness for us Especially since 3. That Jesus Christ that dyed for us and rose again is now on the right hand of God Angels and Thrones and Principalities being made subject to him so as he hath supreme power over all things for our good yea and also liveth ever to make request or intercession with God for us even for such as come to God by him And that in the vertues of his most perfect and acceptable Sacrifice that prevails and prospers for whatsoever he asketh As also he shall come again in the power and glory of God to raise and judge all and give eternal life and an everlasting Kingdom to all that obey him 1 Pet. 3.21 Rom 8.34 Heb. 5.9 7.25 Matth. 25.31.36 Heb. 9.28 4. That God of his great mercy and in his goodness hath called the now Believer to the faith of his Son and brought him in some measure to know and believe on him and so hath taken him into his house and family to live upon his Son and his Grace in him Hath delivered him from the power of darkness and translated him into the kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.12 13. in whom there is the redemption forementioned and such fulness and sufficiency to save him and to perfect what concerns him hath already so loved as to suffer for him while a sinner and enemy as before And faithful is he that hath called to do what yet is needful further to be done for and in us 1 Thess 4.23 24. we being through his death reconciled how much more by his life shall we be saved Rom. 5.10 being brought upon that foundation that is most holy and that is laid strong and sure for the upholding and sanctifying to God all that is built upon it how shall he not for that foundation sake and by it confer upon us his further grace and blessing to prepare and fit us for his inhabiting us and filling us with glory Seeing also 5. That God now by vertue of this foundation or holy faith loves the Believer owning him as his imbraces him as his son and is become a Father to him and if God justifies who is he that shall charge or condemn If God be for us who is he that it against us That is considerable in comparison of him Rom. 8.31 38. To which add 6. That he hath made many gracious and precious promises in Christ to the believer in him abiding on that foundation and building up himself thereon and praying to him in the Holy Ghost yea promises for his administring grace to him for his abiding strengthning and building up as that he will be with them and bless them never leave them nor forsake them that he will be their God and they shall be his people He will be a Father to them and they shall be his sons and daughters yea godlines hath the promise of this life and that that is to come for the performance whereof both Christs Mediation with his Father and the faithfulnes of God are engaged both by his word and oath in which two it is impossible for him to lye in and through Christ are interested and faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it 1 Thess 5.24 Heb. 10.23 And Christ the great Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession is faithful in the performance of his undertaking for us also Hebr. 9.15 and 3.1 2. But besides that hoping 2. This waiting implies further a tarrying for the good hoped for a patient abiding and staying in the way to the enjoyment of what it expects In which also two things are contained 1. That God doth exercise the believer under a want and with a delay of what mercy and good he hath provided for him and promised to him He doth not presently possess the soul of all the good he intends it nor presently perform all that he hath promised Though he gives what ever he sees good and meet for its present case according to that method in which his wisdom hath ordered to lead it yet the great things he hath prepard for it he doth not presently confer The vision the mercy discover'd promis'd in the Gospel is for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak and not lie or fail though it tarry wait for it saith Hab. 2.3 because it will surely come viz. at the appointed time beyond which it will not tarry but it s for an appointed time till which it will tarry and not come or be accomplished And this God doth 1. To try and exercise the Believers faith to see and prove whether he doth believe in him or not and to draw his faith out into exercise while it grapples with delays and non appearances to sense and reason that so it will be as is said to it So the word of the Lord tried Joseph while it was not of a good time performed to him yea while it seemed
improbable to the eye of flesh and blood or carnal reason that ever it should be performed Psal 105.19 So God exercised and tried Abraham's faith concerning a childe making him wait 25 years after his coming into Canaan before he performed the promise thereof to him and so he tried David as pertaining to the Kingdom c. for that 's an evidence of the Souls believing God and trusting in him when it yet holds fast its confidence though he seems to forget his word and makes no haste to perform it to it 2. To try and exercise the love of the Creature to God and to the mercy promised whether it will yet wait upon him and stay for his promise or imbrace some other more present injoyment that is more at hand and in its power to attain it men love not God nor the mercy promised at some high rate they will let it go and not stay or tarry for it they will with Demas imbrace this present world but if they love him and his mercy they will wait and tarry for it how ever long it be that he delay it as Jacob that loved Rachel was willing to wait and tarry for her seven years rather than not enjoy her and counted it but a small time for the love he had to her Gen. 29.20 3. To draw out the desire and affection of the Soul more after him and his mercy that it might long for it and pray and be earnest with God for it that so it might not come before it be heartily welcome and acceptable to the Soul that so also the Soul may be more thankful for mercy and better prizesâ— use it when it comes what men come easily and suddenly by they often as little value or regard but what they long for and earnestly desire and seek after and yet do not presently finde that they more prize when they doe obtain Abraham and Sarah being long delayed before they obtained a childe when at length God gave one to them they called him Isaac because of the joy and laughter that then they had in him Gen. 21.6 And Hannah having obtained a Son after long seeking and waiting dedicated him to God in thankfulness to him 1 Sam. 1. and 2. 4. To humble and meeken them in their hearts and spirits that so they might not lift up themselves in the mercy injoyed as if they had it either by themselves or for some worthiness in themselves but know that they receive it of the Grace of God in his time and at his pleasure that so he might therein and therefore be glorified Should God give men favours and mercies so soon as they desire them they might be apt to be lifted up in and for them as if their worthiness was such that God gave them with respect thereto or as if their desires did fetch them down and so after a sort by their power they had obtained them but when God withholds his mercies for some time he gives his people in that time to see and prove the many weaknesses of their endeavours and the many distempers and frowardnesses in their hearts the murmurings and faintings that they are apt to fall into and how soon they are apt to tire and be weary if God did not in mercy pardon and quicken them by which means they prove that it is not for their own worthiness that they are at last supplied satisfied but out of the great goodness of God toward them Or also that it is not by the power of their endeavors or desires but by the power and good will of God that they are saved Thus Moses tells Israel from God that he had led them forty years in the wilderness to humble them and prove them that he might do them good in the later end that they might not attribute the Lords giving them the good land to their worthiness but to his goodness Deut. 8.2.3.16 and in Chapter 9. minds them of their many failings and great iniquities committed by them in that time of tryal that so they might not say when brought into the Land of Canaan that for their righteousness he had brought them into that Land Yea he goeth over it twice or thrice that not for their righteousness or the uprightness of their hearts they did go in to possess that Land but for the wickedness of that people God drave them out and to perform his words sworn to their Fathers c. which he demonstrates from the many proofs of their stubborness which they had given in that time of exercise and trial ordered to them Deut. 9.4 5 6 7 c. 5. In a word God doth thus to prepare his people for mercies and make them more meet and fit for the injoyment of them and more thankful for them while they see they are at his pleasure and in fittest time bestowed on them that patience having its perfect work in them they might be intire wanting no good thing James 1.3 4. for 2. There is also in this tarrying a patient bearing that delay or deferring of comforts and a still retaining their confidence that they shall be granted and a keeping the way in which they are directed to expect them even as he that waits for a man both goeth to the place in which he hath promised to meet with him and in the time of his not coming stays there for him till he come not turning and going again though at his first coming and for some time after he there finds him not yea and though he sustain some troubles by so staying He that believes makes not haste Isa 25.16 He casts not away his confidence as they that draw back to perdition but exercises patience till he have done the will of God therein and so through faith and patience inherits the promises Heb. 6.12 with 10.35 36 37 38. and both those things are joyned together in the Lamentations as answering to waiting for the Lord Lam. 3.25 26. for having said ver 25. The Lord is good to the man that waiteth for him to the Soul that seeketh him it follows by way of inference It is good for a man both to hope and quietly to wait or tarry for Gods Salvation v. 26. yea in waiting is further implied 3. An earnest desire and seeking after the mercy and salvation of God as from that â—ference now mentioned as the consequent from the assertion of Gods goodness to the soul that seeks him is implied And indeed the heart cannot tarry and wait in hope and expectation of any thing that it hath no desire to injoy or see However the outward man might be forced and constrainedly made to stay in a place till such a thing come yet the heart is gone from it in case it hath no desire after it An earnest desire then for and a seeking after this mercy and Grace of God is here also commended to us in this waiting posture exhorted to that our affections should be after and upon that eternal life
and guidance of the Holy Spirit given as a pledge or earnest of the full injoyment of the eternal inheritance and as the Guide Governour Leader Conductor and Keeper of his Servants that listen to him and harden not their hearts obstinately against him to the possession of it So Eph. 1.13 14. and 4.30 Believing in Christ saith the Apostle to those Believers ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance to the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his Glory and the like in 2 Cor. 1.21 22. He that establisheth us with you in Christ and anointeth us â—â— God who also hath sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts c. And he is a good holy powerful Spirit and will guide the Believer into all truth as he sees it good for him and will lead him into the land of uprightness Iohn 16.13 Psal 143.10 So that as the Believer in Christ hath great incouragement to wait for the Mercy of the Lord Iesus his Lord and Saviour as is fore-noted so also hath he good ground to expect and shall assuredly in waiting receive his mercy to everlasting life so as to the possession and actual injoyments thereof Unto which it is necessary and that also is here implied that he be raised up again from Death and all the consequents of it seeing those things also are allotted to believers and they die as certainly and oft more grievously in respect of their outward sufferings than other men and this Resurection of them Christ often asserts saying I will â—ise him up again at the last day Iohn 6.40 44 c. yea they shall be raised first and unto life 1 Thes 4.15 16. Iohn 5.29 even unto life eternal Matth. 25.46 In which they shall injoy 1. A total full and everlasting release of and discharge from all their sins both as to the guilt of them they shall be fully and for ever then blotted out of Gods remembrance Acts 3.19 so as they shall be remembred no more Hebr. 8.12 10.17 and therefore also as to all punishments chastisements or sufferings for them The inhabitant of Zion shall not then say I am sick for their sins shall be forgiven them Isa 33.24 2. A full and perfect deliverance from the inherency and defilement of sin in a full perfect and everlasting conformity unto Christ When we see him we shall be like him saith 1 John 3.2 for we shall see him as he is Then shall it be given to the Bride the Lambs wife to be cloathed in fine linnen white and clean Rev. 19.8 and to be presented by Christ to himself altogether glorious and holy not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing Ephes 5.26 27. 3. A full perfect and everlasting peace and freedom from all trouble sorrow crying pain temptations death either natural or violent For the bodies of the just being raised shall be raised incorruptible and immortal made like unto the glorious body of the Lord Jesus Death and Grave and all things pertaining or tending thereto being swallowed up into an everlasting victory 1 Cor. 15 53 54 55 56. Phil. 3.20 and all Enemies and Oppressors whether men or Devils being wholly subdued and thrust out so as they never more have power to molest or trouble There shall be no more any Canaanite in the house of the Lord of Hosts nor any wicked ones to pass through their land nor any to waste or destroy in all Gods mountain Zech. 14.21 Nah. 1.13 Isa 11.9 65.25 The Devil shall be shut up for ever in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone and all his Angels and followers the Instruments of his malice and mischief with him and shall be there in everlasting torments utterly and everlastingly deprived of all power to hurt or injury any of those that here have followed the Lamb. So that all inward causes as sin mortality and diseases and all outward causes of trouble as Satan and his Angels and all evil men and all curse and wrath from God being for ever removed there must of necessity be a perfect freedom therefrom No more death nor sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things shall be then wholly passed away Rev. 21.4.5 22.3 4. A full perfect and everlasting enjoyment of Christ and God in Christ evermore present with them as 1 Thess 4 16. We shall be all caught up together to meet the Lord in the ayr and then we shall be ever with the Lord Rev. 21.3 then shall the Tabernacle of God be with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them their God yea the throne of God and the Lamb shall be amongst them and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads openly and manifestly upon them and held forth by them Rev. 22 3 4. 5. Full perfect and everlasting sight and knowledge of God and of the whole mysterie of God They shall see as they are seen and know as they are known 1 Cor. 13.12 no night of ignorance and alienation from God no candle light no dim imperfect fading knowledge there no nor any mediate light or knowledge but an immediate clear and constant light and knowledge shall they have of and from God Rev. 22.5 6. Full perfect and everlasting joy and gladness in the presence knowledge and enjoyment of God and Christ for in his presence is fulness of joy and pleasures at his right hand for evermore Psal 16.11 then they shall enter into their Lords or Masters joy and that shall be perfectly fulfilled spoken of in Isa 35.10 51 11. They shall have everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away for they shall be then everlastingly and abundantly satisfied with the presence of God and Christ so as there shall be no want defect or mixture in their joys and rejoycings nor any thing to be added to them the want whereof should at any time abate them for ever 7. Full perfect and everlasting glory being Kings and Priests unto God and filled full with the glory of Christ and of God and reigning with him for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 their bodies all glorious like the glorious body of Christ and their spirits all glorious like the Soul or Spirit of Christ for they shall be like him enjoying even that eternal glory to which they are now called in and by the Gospel glory unutterable and beyond all conception 2 Thess 2.13 14. 1 Pet. 5.10 This is the portion and inheritance of those that are built up on the most holy faith and praying in the Holy Ghost keep themselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ thereunto a portion not merited by them as a due reward of their
deserts but as the fruit of the mercy of Jesus Christ in what he hath done for them in his death and in what he further doth to and for them in his life pitying pleading for and succouring them all along as the Captain of their salvation a merciful and faithful Priest bearing them in his bosom making reconciliation for their sins and sending them relief and comfort in their temptations till having led them through and fed them in the wilderness the state of exercise and living by faith here he bring them safely in the taking them hence as to their spirits and in the Resurrection of the just as to their bodies reunited with their spirits to the enjoyment of this eternal life and happiness which is so great and so glorious a condition and enjoyment as passes and exceeds all expressions and conception For no man knows nor can enter into the heart to conceive the things that God hath prepared for them that love him onely they are in some measure made understandable by the Revelation of the Holy Spirit 1 Cor. 2 9 10 11 12. Vse Now both the love of God and the abiding in it and this which is the great issue and advantage of it being all the fruit and profit of the most holy faith built upon and abidden in It doth exceedingly commend that most holy faith to us even the Son of God that loved us and gave himself for us as he is in the Gospel preached and declared to us And therefore it may serve to move and provoke all persons to love and imbrace and close with it repenting of their neglects and slightings of it and of their running in their hearts and ways after vain and empty words and things to believe and take heed unto the Gospel and Christ crucified as therein displayed that so they may therein discern and be found in the love of God and be made heirs and enjoyers of this unfathomable endless happiness eternal life Ho every one that thirsteth come to these waters of the knowledge and doctrine of Christ and he that hath no money let him come and buy wine and milk without money and without price Why do you lay out your money for that that is not bread and labour for that that will not satisfie you when in enclining the ear and coming hither to the most holy faith and so to Jesus Christ you may eat that which is good and let your souls delight themselves in fatness Isa 55.1 2. The Spirit and the Bride say Come and let every one that heareth say Come and let him that is a thirst Come and whosoever will let him take of the waters of life freely Rev. 22.17 even of the words of Christ whose words are the words of eternal life John 6.68 2. It shews the marvellous faultiness and wretched wickedness as of those that neglect so great a salvation such a most holy faith such a precious jewel and pearl of great price as the Gospel is such a feast as therein is declared and set before us to run after their Farms and Merchandize So much more of those that having embraced the Gospel and Christ as therein declared and having come to him and tasted of him and of his sweetness and graciousness do afterward turn away and fall off from him to some other way or doctrine or to some other object for delight stay or satisfaction crucifying him to themselves and making him and the grace in him of none effect They do most foolishly and madly for themselves putting away from them both the love and favour of God and that which is the product of it everlasting life and all that mercy and pity of Christ that leadeth thereunto and is necessary and was ready to be extended to them for their attainment thereof Oh foolish people and unwise that do not onely so badly requite God for all his love and mercy in Christ and grace extended to them by him but also reward evil to their own souls losing them for very vanities and trifles depriving them of such infinite mercy and happiness and plunging them into everlasting wo and miseries Who can express their folly and wretchedness to sell everlasting life and that after some good progress towards it for a mess of pottage It was a great folly in Esau so to â—ell his birth-right and in the Israelites when they were well on their way toward Canaan and in a great likelihood nay certainty of enjoying it in following Gods conduct yet then for a little meat to satisfie their lusts for leeks and cucumers c. for a little pleasure with the Moabitish daughters when arrived at the borders of it to forfeit their inheritance in and perish in the wilderness But no folly and madness like this of withdrawing from God and Christ to perdition after the tastes of his goodness and experience in some measure of the the powers of the world to come as Heb. 6.4 5 6. O therefore that we may receive admonition while it is yet called to day and avoid or break off from such practises as tend to such a loss and utter undoing for He that transgresses and abides not in the doctrine of Christ the most holy faith hath not God and he that hath not the Son hath not life 2 Jo. 9 11. Jo 5.12 3. It shews the infinite happiness of those that be and abide in Christ in the faith and obedience of Christ edifying themselves and one another on him praying in the Holy Ghost and so doe keep themselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life they have the love and favour of God now as a Sun and Shield unto them and they shall have in the world to come everlasting life they are in a happy and blessed state and condition whatever tryals and afflictions doe or may befal them Blessed are the people that are in such a case yea blessed and happy is he whose God is the Lord Psalm 33.12 and 144. last And therefore also 4. It may incourage and provoke all that do believe in Christ and are upon that precious and most excellent foundation to abide in him and beware of all those things that may indanger their falling and departure therefrom Looking diligently least they or any of them fail of the Grace of God and least any root of bitterness spring up and thereby many be defiled least there be any fornicator or prophane person as Esau Heb. 12.15 16 17. least there be found an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God least any false Prophet or Antichrist deceive any of us or the love of this world or of the things of it stealing in upon us withdraw us from Christ and from the love of the Father which cannot consist with it and so we be choked and all the Grace of God bestowed upon us prove ineffectual to us But on the contrary Exhort we one another while it is called to day least any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Considering one another to provoke to love and to good works so running that we may obtain Laying hold on eternal life and suffering no man or corruption or evil spirit to deceive us deprive us thereof But let that which we heard from the 〈…〉 in us and then we shall 〈…〉 â—â— the Father and in the Son and not fail of the promise of eternal life seeing he is faithful that hath promised and will perform it and perfect what concerns us Let us not be slothful then but followers of them that through faith and patience have inherited the promises Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering and not cast away our confidence in God by Jesus Christ which hath so great a recompence of reward only remember we have need of patience that we may bear and suffer injuries and temptations and not faint but yet hope in the Lord and quietly wait for his Salvation waiting for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ unto eternal life that so when we have done the will of God we may receive the promise which yet for a little while is deferred but will not fail to be performed to those that keep Gods waâ— â—nd therein wait for it He that shall come wâ—ll come and will not tarry Now the good Lord the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Iesus that Great Shepheard of the Sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant make us perfect with him in every good work to doe his will working in â—s that which is well-pleasing in his sight 〈…〉 Iesus Christ To whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen Amen March 26. 1664. FINIS