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
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
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
be easily abused circumvented and overthrown by our spiritual enemies in their attempts upon us to that purpose indeed as it is with Children â—hat have wise and able Parents or Guardians however weak they are of themselves yet if they will not listen to their subtle enemies in their â—rafty suggestions but first advise with their said Parents and Guardians that are wiser then they â—r if they will not venture to come near them but in their hands they are and may be safe enough notwithstanding the strength or subtlety of those that would either cheat or hurt them so it is here the weakest Believer calling upon God and cleaving to the instruction and counsel of Christ and his Spirit is safe enough and shall be preserved from falling but as the Child neglecting the Fathers hand and counsel may be undone so is it here whence Wisdom so frequently advises Hear O ye Children the instruction of a Father â—d attend to know understanding and keep my Commandement and live and my Law as the apple of thine eye and depart not from the words of my mouth and many the like Prov. 4.1 4 5.6 and 5.1 2 6. and 7.21 Whence we may further note that the Believers danger lyes not simply or so much in his own weakness as in his being liable to think himself wise or strong and so to be puffed up with pride and so to trust to and in himself and his own righteousness as in Ezek. 33.13 or beauty as Ezek. 16.17 or that he is Christs as in 2 Cor. 10.7 that he is rich and increased with goods and needs nothing and so grow luke-warm and carelesly indifferent whether he look to Christ or not yea neglect to buy of him what is necessary for him as Revel 3.14 18. or say he is now become a Lord himself an owner of much in himself to live upon and so matter not to come to Christ like them in Jeremiah 2.3 that said They were Lords they would come no more at God This this is that which mostly indangers those especially that are more abundantly gifted inlarged and exalted above others even as the Child that conceits its self strong while it is not so vâ—â—â—ring to go alone gets a fall and many presuming on their own sufficiency of wit and parts to neglect their Fathers and Friends advice are over reached by subtler heads Thence Solomon observes that there is more hope of a fool than of one that 's wise in his own conceit Prov. 26.12 Peter conceiting himself strong enough to follow Christ whithersoever he was to go and thereupon following him unwarrantably into the High Priests Hall got a sore fall in his denying him thrice Yea is most probably if not assuredly believed that â—â—e fallen Angels fell through reflecting upon their own created excellencies and lifting up themselves thereby above their places and from that subjection to God and dependance on him in which he set them but certain it is that the Church of Jerusalem this way fâ—ll to play the harlot from him that had espoused her to himself and provoked upon her self such judgments from him as the Law and usage of the Countries allot to Harlots Ezek. 16. so true it is that Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty mind before a fall Prov. 16.18 Whence the Wiseman adds that it is better to be of an humble spirit with the lowly with those that stand below that are mean in parts gifts esteem and are content with their low conditions then to divide the spoils do great exploits atchieve great victories and successes and get the honour and respect of men for their gifts graces actings c. with the proud verse 19. Now that Believers also may possibly be puffed up with pride not only the cautions given by Moses to Israel Deut. 6. and 8. and his fore-prophecy of him Deut. 32.15 and the Apostles warning Beleivers to take heed of it and not be high-minded but fear Rom. 11.22 and the Lords giving to Paul a thorn in the flesh a messenger of Satan to buffet him to prevent it in him 2 Cor. 12.8 9. but also the Instances above hinted in Jerem. 2. Ezek. 16. Revel 3. do plainly evince it Therefore blessed is he that fears alwayes with a fear opposed to high-mindedness Prov. 28.13 and good to say with good Jehosaphat We know not what to do O Lord but our eyes are up to thee for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us 2 Chron. 20.12 3. And then the holiness and severity of the Lord who resists the proud against those who neglect and withdraw from Christ compleats the danger for were our enemies never so many and mighty and we never so weak or through conceit and pride liable to fall yet if God would alwayes forgive and continue to own us there were yet no danger but the case is not so but as in the Son of God is life and as in abiding in him there is abiding and continuing favour from God unto everlasting happiness to be met with out of that infinite respect that God shews to him namely to Christ and the delight he hath in him so on the other side out of the same respect to and delight in him he will be provoked to wrath though slow to it and give up men to their own lusts and delusions for slighting and turning from him and there is no respect of persons with God The just now shall live by faith but if any man or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is in the Greek if he the just man draw back my soul sayâ—s God shall have no pleasure in him Heb. 10.39 If ye walk after the flesh says Paul Rom. 8.13 â—e dye but if by the Spirit ye mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Thence the Apostle couples in himself of whose right believing there can be no doubt and sayes How can we escape if we neglect so great salvation Heb. 2.3 And if we sin wilfully after the knowledge of the truth received there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation c. Heb. 10.26 27. And so generally the Gospel tells us as well of indignation and wrath towards men upon their departures from God as of his special favour and grace in their cleaving to him And as the Grace and Mercy of God is more abundant towards us under this clearest dispensation of the Gospel by the personal appearance and ministration of Christ than it was under the Law so also the terrors of God and his wrath is answerable to the Rejectors of it or Apostates from it to that purpose is that in Heb. 10.29 If they that despised Moses Law dyed without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy who hath trod under foot the Son of God and counted the blood wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done
people to keep them and bless them yea he hath confirm'd his promise too with his oath as we might have added I have sworn by my self saith God Surely in blessing I will thee Heb. 6.14.15 with Gen. 22.16 17. as also in Psal 89.3 4 35 36. And he is faithful that hath promised cannot will not lye nor alter the word that is gone out of his mouth He is the faithful God that keepeth Covenant and Mercy Deut. 7.9 His Word and Oath are two things in which it is impossible for him to lye Heb. 6.17 18. faithful is he that hath called you who also will do it namely will sanctifie the believer throughout and see that his whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ says 1 Thess 5.23 24. To which purpose also 6. He hath appointed his only begotten Son the Lord Jesus Christ in the vertues of his most precious blood and sacrifice and invested with the Authority Power and Glory of God to be as the Saviour of all men so especially and after a special sort of them that believe his Church his Body his Sheep to be their Shepheard husband and head to take care of them feed them guide protect and lead them and to keep them in the fat and fruitful pastures of Israel unto everlasting life This is the will saith he of him that sent me that he that seeth beholdeth the Son and believeth on him should have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day John 6.40 And again I am the good Shepheard and know that is take care of my sheep and am known approved of mine My Sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me c. John 10.14 27. the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls 1 Pet. 2.25 To which purpose that he might preserve those that follow him he is both furnished 1. As a Prophet with Authority power and Spirit to teach them and lead them safely in the way that they should go to make known to them his mind and the will of his Father and so to Guide the meek in judgment and to teach the meek his way yea and to reveal by his Spirit the mysteries of his Kingdom the secrets of the Lord and feed them with the choice comforts and consolations the fresh and fat pastures of Israel to make them like love and delight in the way he leads them in and to shew them their wandrings reprove them for them and recover them from them 2. As a Priest to mediate with God for them by way of intercession in the vertues of his perfect propitiatory Sacrifice thereby to obtain of God mercy to pass by and pardon their defects weaknesses and wandrings or in mercy and measure to judge and correct them for them and so pass over them and still bestow his grace and favour upon them and continue it to them in blessing them and giving such further dispensations to them of his Spirit and spiritual blessings as may be good for them and further their salvation And in respect of the perfection of his Sacrifice to God and Priesthood before God he is able to prevail with God for whatsoever he maketh request for to him and being an everlasting and ever-living Priest after the order of Melchisedeck he is able to save to the utmost from wrath and judgment and in the grace and favour of God them that come to God by him because He He so high and holy and undefiled an one ever liveth to make intercession for them Rom. 8.26 27 34. Heb. 7 24 25 26 27. And then also 3. As King and Lord over all he is able to protect and hide them and safely keep them from the power and malice of their enemies controuling their enterprises defeating their plots and overthrowing their power and confederacies and turning them about as he pleases sustaining and upholding all his Servants and followers under all their tryals and sufferings and giving issues and deliverances to them out of them as he sees good for them so as that no man can pluck them or take them by force out of his hands nor any sin of weakness and infirmity cause him to disown them And also as Christ who is thus appointed and furnished to save them So 7. He is faithful and merciful can pity and sympathize with them in their ignorances tryals sufferings and temptations and knows how to succour them having himself had experience of sufferings and temptations and will faithfully discharge the trust committed to him of his Father and the oversight he hath taken of them He is faithful in all things as Moses was yea and more because Moses was but faithful as a Servant but Christ as a Son over his own house or houshold Heb. 2.17 18. and 3.1 2 5 6. He will not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment truth and righteousness in the earth till he have accomplished the whole will of God committed to him He is the Author and Finisher of the Faith his hands have laid the foundation and his hands too shall finish the building Isai 42.1 3 4. and Zech. 4 7 9. So that all these put together make it appear that the love and grace of God or God and Christ in his favour and love to his people is a strong and sure refuge for them and defence to them so that they may in betaking themselves to him and abiding in their faith in him be surely kept in his love there is not only a possibility of it but an assured certainty also they may trust boldly in him at all times and contentedly sit down and solace themselves in his shadow and rejoyce in his love and sing with chearfulness The Lord is our refuge and defence a present help in time of trouble therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed and though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Seas The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Psal 46.1 2 6. Whence they be blessed that trust in him at all times or exercise faith in and relyance on him their dwelling is on high so as no enemy can overtop or storm them so as to get to them to harm or pull them out except they were greater then God and could overtop him and be above him in strength and power their defence is the munition of rocks so that no undermining them or digging through their defence by policy or industry unless they could outvye God in wisdom and strength and pluck away his everlasting armes from about them and strike through his sides as it were to pierce them bread shall be given them and their waters shall not fail so as there can be no starving of them out Other strong Holds may be either storm'd or undermined or batterd down or else they that be in them may for want of provision of bread and drink be forced to yield themselves to
so long as I live 8. The experience of Gods goodness and mercy to other in former or present ages the cloud of witnesses that have gone before us and found God gracious to them in their crying to him as in Psal 22.4 5. Our father 's trusted in thee they trusted in thee and thou didst deliver them They cryed unto thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not confounded To that puâ—â—se also the examples of Gods goodness to others are propounded by him to move men to taste and see by their trusting in and calling upon God how gracious God is Psal 34.4 5 6. I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears they looked unto him and were inlightned and their faces were not ashamed This poor man cried and the Lord heard him c. Whatsoever things were written before-hand being written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 God being one and so the same for us in through his Son as he was for and to any others before us and there is no respect of persons with him He is rich to all that call upon him Rom. 10.12.13 Such the incouragements which the holy Ghost gives for praying he that prays in the holy Ghost prays not in the incouragement of his own parts wisdom works or the like but in such incouragements as these above-mentioned as to such purpose that fore-quoted from Dan. 9.18 is pertinent We doe not present our Supplications before for our righteousness but for thy great mercies So that in Psal 5.7 and 143.1 2. 4. To pray in the holy Ghost is to pray in the operation of the holy Ghost and so in such a frame and temper of Spirit as the holy Ghost being minded and yielded up to in his testimony frames the heart unto And so 1. Not in pride as the Pharisee despising his neighbour and lifâ—ing up himself in Gods presence 2. Nor in self-confidence and reliance on a mans own righteousness as he also did Luk. 18.10 11. 3. Nor in wrath and anger as the Disciples that would have called for fire from Heaven upon the Samaritanâ— that would not receive Christ pretending Elias for a warrant to them therein Luk. 9 54. for that was not in the holy Spirit of Christ for all that pretence for our Saviour tellâ— them They knew not what manner of Spirit they were of ver 55. 4. Nor in vain-glory as the Pharisees that prayed to be seen of men that they might have glory of them Matth 6.5 6. 5. Nor in ambition seeking great things to themselves and to be lifted up above their Brethren as the two Sons of Zebedee and their Mother did not knowing what they asked when they requested that they might sit the one at Christs right hand and the other at his left in his Kingdom Matth. 20 20 21 22. 6. Nor in strife and contention as those in Isa 58 2 3. who fasted and prayed for strife and debate ver 4. 7. Nor to establish to themselves a righteousness in their praying and so not submitting to the righteousness of God in Christ as the Jews that had a zeal of God and instantly served God day and night hoping by their works of that nature to attain the righteousness of the Law Act. 26 7. with Rom. 9.30 31. and 10.2 3. 8. Nor in Covetousness as they that howled upon their beds for corn and wine Hos 7.14 9. Nor in a doubtful distrustful frame of Spirit that is not fixed in Gods goodness and perswaded of his truth for such a man is like the wave of the Sea tossed to and fro double-minded and inconstant in all his ways and let not such an one think to receive any thing at Gods hands Jam. 1.6 7. 1 Tim. 2.8 10. Nor in an impatient unsubmmitted frame of Spirit to Gods Government frowardly hasting out of affliction such as Jonah was in when he having prophesied the destruction of Niniveh and God seeing their repentance spared it he was exceedingly displeased and very angry and prayed God to take away his life from him Jonas 4.1 2 3. 11. Nor in a flat cold formal temper of Spirit as they that draw nigh to God with their mouth and honor him with the lips but the heart is far away Isa 29 17. or the like but 1. In a believing frame of heart minding and giving credit to Gods word and testimony the Gospel of Christ and from the belief of that calling upon God and in that sense prayer in the Holy Ghost is the prayer of Faith Jam. 5.15 and prayer proceeding out of the belief of Gods sayings believing and not doubting about them as Jam. 1.6 But let him ask in faith nothing doubting speaking to God because they believe his word as in Psal 116.10 I believed therefore have I spoken which may have reference to speaking by prayer aswel as to speaking by preaching or confession thus David from a belief of Gods word to him by Nathan found it in his heart to pray unto him that prayer in 2 Sam. 7.18 27. for the holy Ghost is a Spirit of Faith as 2 Cor. 4.13 and therefore breaths faith into the heart where he hath the rule and makes it breath in faith yea in a full assurance of faith as believing verily the truth of God concerning Christ yea and Gods hearing and granting its petitions that he helps the Soul to breath forth Heb. 10.22 Mark 11.24 1 John 5. â—4 15. and a cleaving adhering frame of Spirit cleaving to and trusting in God for his hearing and helping it according to his will and the Souls needs as resolved and fixed to depend upon trust in and wait for God as Mic. 7.7 I will look to the Lord I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will hear me as Jacob of old wrestling with God and resolved not to leave him till he had blessed him Gen. 32.26 So our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted in thee and were delivered they cried to thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not confounded Psal 22.4 5. such a frame of Spirit the holy Ghost leads to pray in a believing trusting frame And 2. With a fervent desire and frame of heart the Holy Ghost is compared to fire He sat on the Apostles like cloven tongues of fire Thence Quench not the Spirit and therefore when men pray in it it puts heat and life into them an earnest desire after those things which it directs absolutely to seek of God Thence it is said The effectual or operative fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Jam. 5.16 They that onely say over prayers or pray luke-warmly coldly and formally pray not in the Holy Ghost though this fervour of Spirit in prayer stands not in the loud speaking and straining the voice or in much repetitions but in the earnestness of the Souls desires and ardencie of affection to the
hypocrisie wrath or the like which are not prayings in the Holy Ghost but far of another nature such prayings be often reproved in the Scripture as Isa 1.12 15. Matth. 6.5 6. James 4 3. 4. It may reprove also those high thoughts and conceits we are apt to have of our selves cases conditions attainments c. as if we were rich and full and needed nothing more either as to the building us up on our most holy faith or as to experiments of Gods love and favour to us which is a great cause of that sloathfulness in building up our selves and in praying before reproved Laodicea's conceits of her self was the cause of her lukewarmness and not looking out to Christ and buying gold and white rayment of him The full soul loaths the honey comb a conceit of sufficiency of attainment or to attain what is wanting without our own care and diligence makes us negligent in seeking to grow or in looking to God in his Holy Spirit for what may make us grow and further build us up High conceits of our selves usually produce sloathfulness and sloathfulness casts into a deep sleep and then the building may soon decay and through idleness of the hands the house may drop thorow as Rev. 3.14 15 16. Prov. 19.15 Eccles 10.18 Again 5. It reproves the instability in the faith of the Gospel too much and too often found amongst the Professors thereof and an aptness thence to be building besides the holy faith which is indeed with the foolish woman to pull down the house instead of building it Prov. 14.1 And so the itching ear after new matters of faith besides and swarving from the Apostles Doctrine a fault prophesied of and reproved in 2 Tim. 4.3 4. and admonished of in Heb. 13.7 8 9. as if we did not judge the Doctrine of Christ most holy and therefore seek holiness and perfection some other ways as Gal. 3.2 3. Isa 66.17 6. It reproves those also that prohibit and hinder the Assemblies and Exercises of the fearers of God for building up and furthering themselves and one another in their most holy faith forbidding them to meet together speak to Contrary to Psal 111.1 Mal. 3.16 17. or exhort one another and tying them up only to forms of praying and to hear their Parish Ministers read Prayers and preach it may be things that tend not to their helpfulness they being in many places ignorant rude and enemies to the Holy Spirit and all that is truly spiritual and holy punishing men for seeking out for and using other and better means of edification than they afford them imitating therein the Jews and Pharisees opposers of Christ and of his Apostles and the Christians in their private Assemblies as in Acts 4. 5. 8. 9. 17. c. Such are faulty in so doing 7. It reproves too such as think there is no profit in praying to God no gain in godliness a vain thing to serve him and to keep his Ordinances as in Job 21.15 22.17 Mal. 3.14 15. as if he had said to the house of Isral and so to us Gentiles seek his face in vain This is an evil and impious thought in the places above cited taxed and reproved and the contrary abundantly shewed in the Scriptures and proved by the Saints and holy ones of God that there is no gain like to that of godliness which hath the promise of this life and of that to come 1 Tim. 4.8 to which purpose is that of Eliphaz in Job 22.21 Acquaint now thy self with God and be at peace so shall good come unto thee Receive I pray thee the Law from his mouth and lay up his words within thee that 's the way to acquaint our selves with him and be filled with his Spirit that we may pray in the Holy Ghost and then it follows If thou return to the Almighty thou shalt be built up thou shalt put away iniquity that is sorrow pain and evil as the fruits of iniquity far from thy tabernacle Here 's the way to be built up the turning to and so acquainting our selves with God in receiving the Law from his mouth and laying up his words the most holy faith in our hearts and then the profit that follows will be great Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust and the gold of Ophir even the gold tried with fire which Christ gives to those that wait upon him as the stones of the brook yea the Almighty shall be thy defence and thou shalt have plenty or enough of silver what 's good for thee here also Yea and that that 's more desireable than silver which will give content to our hearts and make us content too with that portion of outward goods or comforts that he is pleased to give us here be it more or less for Then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty and shalt lift up thy face unto God Thou shalt make thy prayer to him and he shall hear thee and thou shalt pay thy vows c. 8. It may also reprove those more abundantly that profess themselves Believers in and followers of Christ and frequent private Meetings of themselves together pretendedly to call upon God and edifie themselves on their most holy Faith but under such pretences do seditiously rebelliously plot mischief against Authorities and Powers over them because they put them upon some things cross to their desires and perhaps in some places do really discountenance better exercises in which case if any doe so they ought to exercise faith and patience and yet pray for those that hate and persecute them and not pray much less plot against them fretting themselves to doe evil and practise treason and sedition that 's not the way to edifie themselves or others on the most holy faith but an exceeding wicked abuse of their meetings and Liberties thereto by providence injoyed and a marvellous deviation from the most holy Faith which condemns all such practises and instructs to Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him till he order the hearts of Authorities to favour and protect them or break the yoke some way of his own gracious finding out from of their necks as followers imitators of the Lamb to fight only with his weapons and only against what he opposes that is the pride tyranny injustice prophaness and wickedness of men by spiritual weapons the blood of the Lamb the word of their testimony patient bearing of injuries not loving their lives unto Death not being overcome of evil to render evil for evil but to overcome evil with goodness this is the way Christ would have us to walk in in such cases and not in a way of rebellion to resist evil offending Authorities and putting a sword in their hands to slay those also that are better principled and minded and assemble together to better purposes Woe to the world because of such offences it cannot be but that offences come but woe to that man
by whom they come the Lord preserve and keep us that we be not of them in any thing but that in all our carriages and conversations we may be blameless and harmless the children of God in the midst of those amongst whom he sets us building to our selves on our most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost Vse 2. It may exhort and provoke us to take this course to keep our selves in the love and Grace of God where we are in it to build up our selves as hath been before shewed on our most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost to which what hath been noted affords both motive and incouragement 1 Motive From the consideration of the end of so building up our selves and the fruit and consequents of it 1. The end is that we may be habitations for God by his Spirit for that 's the end as hath been noted of Gods building and therefore the end both of his having laid such a foundation as the most holy Faith to be built upon and of his calling drawing and as it were laying the Souls of men to and upon it and of his bidding us to builâ— up one another and giving gifts and advantages to those purposes It is that we being built up he might dwell in us by his holy Spirit Ephes 2.21 22. and so fill us with his presence blessing and Glory as he did the Temple of old a Type hereof and the more we grow up into and are built up upon Christ the more he will inhabit and dwell in and with us by his Spirit and afford us his presence 2. A second and further end is our being kept in the love of God under his special care and protection for as God said of old of the Temple built up and dedicated to him the like will he say of and perform toward this his spiritual building yea and so much the more and the rather by how much he being a Spirit is more delighted in spiritual things than in bodily and carnal as that old Temple was whereas his people built upon Christ are a spiritual house 1 Pet. 2.5 with John 4.24 and by how much the truth and substance is beyond the type and figure or shadow Now he said of that material Temple in 2 Chron. 7.16 Now have I chosen and sanctified this house that my Name may be there for ever and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually and then 3. The fruits and consequents hereof must needs be excellent and glorious such as may move us to minde this work and business of self edification with cheerfulness and diligence as 1. Gods dwelling and delighting in a people will be their safety and defence so as no harm or mischief shall befal them from all that are enemies to them and seek to harm them for he is mighty to save and will surely be as good or better an inhabitant of his house than other men are or can be of theirs He will put forth his power and greatness for the defence of it thence that in Isai 12.6 Cry out and shout thou inhabitant of Sion for great is the Holy One in the midst of thee and that in Zeph. 3.14 15 16 17. Sing O Daughter of Sion shout O Israel be glad and rejoyce with all thy heart O Daughter of Jerusalem the Lord hath taken away thy Judgement he hath cast out thine enemy The King of Israel even the Lord is in the midst of thee thou shalt not see evil any more In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem fear thou not and to Zion let not thine hand be sâ—ack The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy c. It is true that those things are spoken of the Church and people of God when they shall be fully built up and gloriously inhabited of God in the last times or in the Kingdom of his Glory but yet there is a measure of it a first fruits now to be met within Gods dwelling by his Spirit in his people built up in a measure for him whence the like rejoycings or gloryings in his presence with his people now in the days of trial or rejoycings neare of him at least thereto in Psal 46.1.6 God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Seas though the waves thereof roar c. and then in vers 4 5. shewing the ground of this fearlesness he adds There is a River the streams whereof make glad the City of God the holy place of the Tabernacles of the most High God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and that right early and as a proof of his helpfulness he adds The Heathen raged the Kingdoms were moved he uttered his voice the earth melted The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Selah And Psal 48.3 God is known in her Palaces for a refuge speaking of Gods Church as his City as Gods people are called in the Scripture both his House and City as Ephes 2.19 20 21 22. His presence in his House and City is their safety nothing can harm them unless their defilements of his House or of their Hearts and Societies causing him to abhor and loath them as in the Type Psal 78.58 59 60 61 c. 2. Gods dwelling with and in his people as his house and delighting in them will afford them all fulness of supply and satisfaction his House and houshold for they are both Ephes 2.19 20. shall want nothing good and needful for them for their maintenance upholding and abundant rejoycing Whence David preferred the being in any the lowest place in Gods house though but at the threshold before the most settled dwelling he might have in the most sumptuous Palaces of the wicked called by him to signifie the flittingness of them the Tents of the ungodly because the Lord God is a Sun and shield and will give Grace and Glory and withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly with him Thence also partly it is that his City or dwelling place is called upon so much to rejoyce for his presence with it in the places above cited He makes a feast in his house and satisfactions to their desires 9.1 2 3. Psal 36.8 9 10. He will fill his house with all all materials and provisions good for it and 3. He will adorn and beautifiâ— his habitation that he loves as well as fill and satisfie those particular Souls that are therein He will beautifie the place of his Sanctuary and make the place of his feet glorious Isa 60.13 He will beautifie the meek with his Salvation because he takes pleasure in them Psal 149.4 He will have his House and habitation glorious answerable in some sort to his own glory and greatness that
in Christ and that mercy of Christ that is needful to bring us thereunto and so that we be not slothful nor take up content and satisfaction in what 's already attained as if we had enough and needed no more Laodicea-like but with our Souls be desiring after God and with our very spirits longing for him till he satisfie our souls with his goodness as was Davids posture of waiting for God expressed Psal 130.5 6. I wait for the Lord yea my Soul doth wait and in his word doe I hope My Soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning I say more than they that watch for the morning a waiting in which is also a watching for what is waited for yea a most diligent and desirous watching such as that is of those that being benighted and bewildred for want of light do long for the morning light And indeed such a waiting for Gods mercy becomes those that are building up themselves on their most holy faith and praying in the holy Ghost for men may pray formally or put their life and Religion in saying over prayers and yet have their hearts dead and void of any living desires of Gods presence and favour but the praying in the Holy Ghost cannot stand without it as may appear in what we have said thereabout yea this waiting may have in it further 4. A waiting upon God in Christ as well as a waiting for him or for something from him a patient attending to him and following after him whithersoever he goes and to be ordered and directed by him in what ever he requires as Psal 123.1 2. Vnto thee lift I up my eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens Behold as the eyes of servants are upon the hands of their Masters and the eye of the maiden unto the hand of her Mistress namely to be at their appointment and see and mind which way they direct them to run as well as to minde what they will give them so our eyes wait or are upon the Lord our God till he have mercy upon us in such a sense as that phrase in Prov. 27.18 He that waiteth upon his Master shall be honoured He that attends upon him to know his pleasure and to doe him service and this may be included also in this waiting for his mercy and in that seeking is therein implied though the other things seem to be more properly and directly signified 2. Now the Object to be waited for is expressed to be the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life Eternal life is the end but necessary thereto as the way to bring us to it is the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ Mercy But not any or every kind of mercy There are the tender mercies of the wicked that are cruel Prov. 12.10 and there is the mercy or kindness of men that are not wicked but the best of men are but servants to this Lord whose mercy is to be expected It is the mercy of the Lord whose mercy will reach to more profit than those of a servant but yet it s not the mercy of every Lord neither but of him who is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings the Lord Jesus Christ the anointed Saviour the only begotten Son of God whom he sent into the world for us made of a woman made under the Law that he might redeem us who were under the Law that we by the faith of him might receive the adoption of Sons who being anointed with the Holy Ghost and power went about doing good and obeyed his Father to the death the death of the Cross and therefore is again highly exalted and hath a Name an Authority and power given him far above every Name or power that at his Name every knee should bow both of things in Heaven and things in Earth c. and that every tongue should confess that he is Lord to the Glory of God the Father Philip 2.10 11. The Lord of all Act. 10 36. The Lord of men even of the dead and of the living by vertue of his Death Resurrection and living again Rom. 14.9 and the Lord of Angels for Angels and Principallities are made subject to him 1 Pet. 3.22 the Lord of Life and Glory Act. 3.15 1 Cor. 2.8 as having the Soveraign Power in and with his Father to quicken and give life to whom and as he pleases John 5.20 21 22. being upon the right hand of Majesty in the Highest filled with all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 the fulness the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost being resting and dwelling upon him and so anointing him and furnishing him with power and sufficiencie of wisdom understanding counsel strength c. for the managing the Government and Kingdom of God over men and over all Creatures so as in a way of saving mankinde from sin death devil and destruction being the Saviour of all men able willing and ready to save all of them upon submission to him yea and actually so saving them from manifold evils both within and without so that they are ingaged to and might submit to him but especially the Saviour of them that believe It is the mercy of this great Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ who being one with the Father and glorified with the Fathers own self upon the account of his obedience to his Father and love to and sufferings for us men is often joyned with the Father in the Object of the Apostles prayers foâ— and so in the dispensations of Grace and Mercy unto men as may be seen in the Salutations of the Churches in their Epistles to them Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 1.7 1 Cor. 1.3 2 Cor. 1.2 Gal. 1.3 Ephes 1.2 Philip. 1.2 Coll. 1.2 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.2 Philem. 1.3 or Grace mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord 1 Tim. 1.2 or Christ Iesus our Lord 2 Tim. 1.2 or the Lord Iesus Christ our Saviour Tit. 1.4 and surely his mercy must needs be of exceeding great concernement unto us above all things for it is the mercy of God so as that where he hath and exerciseth mercy God also even the Father exercises mercy in and by him And where he shews not mercy neither doth God the Father shew mercy nor can the pity and mercy of men be they never so great or mighty or many advantage a man any thing in comparison hereof the Sovereign power of life and death yea of everlasting life or death being in and with him So that whom he saves and blesses they are and shall be saved and blessed and whom he destroys or rejects from his mercy they shall perish everlastingly for his judgment is true and righteous and takes place and stands fast for ever His Mercy therefore is worthy the waiting for and most earnestly to be sought after as without which there is no salvation or happiness
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
injoyable by us and as that which is the fountain well-spring of all blessing and happiness But here let us view 1. What is meant by this Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. What that phrase or term of Mercy to be waited for signifies and hints to us 1. To the first Mercy is either an affect in the heart or An effect in its work to take in both of them Mercy is properly an affection or frame of heart in which it pities and compassionates anothers misery and affliction leading to spare one where there is power to harm him and to succour him in necessities and indigencies where there is power to help him And this is attributed to God and Christ that he is merciful and full of compassion ready to forgive offences and relieve in wants and miseries and do what is good for the Creatures deliverance from evils and conferring safety and happiness as may be abundantly seen in the Scriptures Psal 103.8 The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Yea this his Name The Lord Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands c. Exod. 34.6 7. And so it is said of Christ that he is a merciful and faithful High-Priest in Hebr. 2.16 17. And indeed God and Christ have abundantly manifested their merciful heart toward poor sinful afflicted Creatures many ways As 1. God hath manifested himself merciful 1. In taking pity on mankinde when fallen from him into a state of exceeding great sin and misery in that he did not then cast him off and destroy him but on the contrary devised a way and means for his redemption and recovery yea such a way of recovery as the translating our sin and misery upon his own onely begotten Son appointing in due time sending him forth into the world to be the propitiation for our sins bearing them on his own body on the tree that through his stripes we might be healed both abasing him thereto and exalting him to the height of Glory and Majesty therethrough at his own right hand that he might by the vertues of the former and in the exercise of the latter upon that account bring us back again to God Herein he hath shewed himself loving and merciful to us beyond all question or expression as it is said Through the tender mercy of our God the day spring Christ the bright and the Morning-Star from on high hath visited us c. Luke 1.78 2. God hath also manifested himself merciful to us in freely justifying us mankinde by his Grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ not imputing to the world their trespasses but preaching peace to us by him and through his blood and opening his Kingdom for us and to us with gracious calls and counsels and invitations to enter thereinto and be made partakers of the blessed priviledges thereof unto everlasting life and in freely admitting and accepting all that obey his calls and counsels therein however otherwise and formerly sinful and unworthy as may be seen in Mary Magdalene the Publicans harlots and prodigals whom upon their coming to him he hath freely pardoned and accepted and made partakers of his righteousness and blessing as if they never had been so vile and wretched Rom. 3.23 24. 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. Eph. 2.15 17. Mat. 22.4 8 9. and 9.12 13 Luk. 7.37 47. 15.1 2 15 16 c. 1 Cor. 6 9 10 11. 3. God hath shewed himself merciful to us Gentiles and Heathens in calling us so wonderfully to the knowledg of his Son and of his Grace in him when as formerly we were so gross and grievous sinners against all former dispensations of his goodness and manifestations of himself in his works and providences It was his great mercy through the blood of his Son to make peace and atonement for us blotting out all former trespasses admitting us to fellowship with the Saints and so with himself through Christ Jesus as Ephes 2.4 5 11 12 17 19 20. as it is said that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his Mercy Rom. 15 9. and who had not in times past obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2.10 whence I beseech you by the Mercies of God offer up your body a living Sacrifice c. Rom. 12.1 and the like he will shew forth to the Jews in calling them again and receiving them to favour after all their unbelief and stubbornesses against him as it is said He hath shut them all up in unbelief that he might have mercy upon them all Rom. 11.32 4. God hath doth dayly shew himself merciful unto men in passing by iniquities and extending helpfulness to them in their afflictions which they procure to themselves by their great follies and rebellions as is also frequently testified in the Scriptures as in Psal 78.38 when Israel oft and much â—â—oked him in the wilderness so as he therefore 〈◊〉 them sometimes with his Judgments yet 〈◊〉 â—eing full of compassion forgave their iniquity 〈◊〉 â—estroyed them not yea many a time he turned his anger away and did not stir up all his wrath So in Neh. 9.16 17 18 19. 5. So also in his patience towards sinners not willing they should perish but rather come to repentance and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9.15 Rom 2.4.5 1 Tim. 2.5 and to say no more 6. His readiness to hear the cries and prayers of the poor and afflicted and not to despise their prayers but to hear and help them as in Psal 22.24 yea to hear the cries of other Creatures as the young Ravens and provide food for all flesh Psal 136.25 and 147.9 much more doth he fulfil the desires of them that fear him yea he also hears their cries and saves them Psal 145.15 17 18. 2. So also Christ hath abundantly shewed forth his mercy toward us 1. In that being in the form of God not thinking it robbery to be equal with God yet for our sakes at the will and appointment of the Father he abased himself laid aside his Glory humbled himself to the Death the Death of the Cross and therein bare our sins in his own body on the tree and was made a curse for us to redeem us from sin and curse that so he might in the vertues of his sufferings and Sacrifice bring us back again to God Ye know saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 8.9 the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that he being rich became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich He is merciful full of compassion and gracious Psal 145.8 2. In pitying poor miserable men in his personal converse with them and ministration to them while on the earth Going about and doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil curing their sicknesses and Diseases instructing their Souls in pity to them where ignorant and out of the way Mark 8.2 Act. 10.38 As also 3. In preaching peace by his
Spirit in the Apostles and by their ministration both to the Jews that were near notwithstanding their rebellious great despites against him and to the Gentiles though so great sinners when far off after his ascension having made peace by the blood of his Cross for them Ephes 2.14 15 16 17. Heb. 5.1 2 3. forgiving great sinners as Paul c. And indeed the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to be waited for by believers is not simply an affection of mercy in him towards us but his evidencing and demonstrating that his affection of mercy in the acts and exercises of it but not in giving himself a ransome for us and dying for us for that is past and to be believed by us as a thing done and accomplished already and as the bottom ground and foundation of all expectation of further mercy nor will he die any more but it is for some acts or exercises of mercy for the future in the exercises of those glorious Offices which his Father hath designed him to at and from his right hand as to say 1. His passing by and pardoning our sins for his Names sake hiding covering and keeping them as it were from the eye of God so as that he mark them not against us to judge and punish us according to them as it is said If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquity who should stand but there is forgiveness with thee c. Psalm 130.4 which ver 6.7 is called Mercy And who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Mic. 7.18 And sure this is one main thing in which he is evidenced to be a merciful High Priest in that he maketh reconciliation for the sins of the people and is the standing propitiation for our sins that we might receive forgiveness of them Heb. 2.17 with 1 John 2.2 So Paul obtained mercy that is the forgiveness of his sins 1 Tim. 1.13 16. that's mercy 2. His sympathizing with us and succouring us in temptations afflictions and sufferings as is also asserted Heb. 2.18 and 4.15 16. In that he suffered being tempted he is able fit and meet to succour those also that are tempted For we have not such an High Priest as cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted even as we yet without sin Let us therefore goe boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain or take as it were at his hands mercy and finde Grace to help us in a time of need Whereas it is evident that mercy signifies something transient or passing from Christ to men and not onely a thing abiding in the heart of Christ so what should that be there but the fruits of his sympathizing with us in our infirmities and temptations obtained for us by his intercession for us as our High Priest namely succour in our needs support in our sorrows and sufferings and seasonable issues out of them even as the relieving the poor and afflicted in their poverty and straits is called the shewing mercy to the poor Psalm 109.12 16. Prov. 14 21 31. and Gods sparing Lots life and helping or hasting him out of Sodom Gen. 19.16 to that purpose was an evidence of his being merciful to him 3. His bestowing any benefit favour or blessing upon us may be called his shewing us mercy and the said benefit or blessing bestowed may be called his mercy as all the good God did to and bestowed on David is called his shewing him great mercy or kindness 1 King 3.6 and in that sense he is said to satisfie as well as to save with his mercy and to crown with loving kindnes and tender mercies Psal 90.19 and 103.4 and the earth is said to be full of the mercy of the Lord Psal 119.64 and so the Lord Jesus himself and all the benefits and blessings in him are called the sure mercies of David Isa 55.3 with Act. 13.34 and in that sense all the kindness favour and blessing dispensed to us by Jesus Christ both for sanctifying and saving the Soul and for supplying the outward man may be called his Mercy and may well be understood to be comprised and signified in this expression The Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ in as much as it is all the fruit and effect of his mercy and pity towards us and hath in it an abundant relief of our miseries Yea and 4. His glorious coming again to raise the Believer out of the dust and to put an end to all the sorrows sufferings and abasement of his poor Church and people may well be called the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ because an act of his mercy toward them in pitying their miseries and sufferings and fully redeeming them out of them all into the injoyment of the Glory prepared for them Which also may the rather be understood to be principally and ultimately here meant because the following words unto eternal life will best agree with it as the immediate issue and consequent thereof for that properly may be called the mercy of our Lord Jesus unto eternal life which is an act of his mercy freeing them from all that keeps them out of eternal life and brings them to the actual and perfect injoyment of eternal life though the exercise of his Mercy in all the three former as necessary to the fitting them for eternal life and keeping them to it may also be very well included as that which the Believer is also to wait for but principally his coming again and the mercy thereof as the furthest and main of all called therefore the blessed hope Tit. 2.13 Now 2. This phrase of the Mercy of our Lord implies something both with reference 1. To the Term Mercy And 2 Its Authors Title Our Lord Jesus Christ 1. With reference to the word Mercy therein is implied 1. That the Believers though upon the most holy faith the best and absolutely perfect foundation and though thereon edifying themselves and praying in the Holy Ghost yet have need of Mercy to be shewed them by Jesus Christ they are not yet so perfect and compleat in themselves or in any of their best and holiest actings or fullest enjoyments here but that they need yet mercy to be exercised toward them And that both 1. In respect of their sinfulness weaknesses and defilements cleaving to them and to all their actings and performances for there is not a just man on â—arth on this side the grave that doth good and sinneth not Eccles 7.20 even in his good doings If we though Apostles say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us says 1 Joh. 1.8 Thence we need him as the Propitiation for our sins to cover and hide them from the face of God and by his Intercession to make acceptable to his Father even our Spiritual Sacrifices 1 Pet. 2.5 and the