23. See the Marks Characters and Complexion of the Citizens of the New Jerusalem He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly and dispiseth the gain of oppression that shaketh his Hand from holding of Bribes that stoppeth his Ears from hearing of Blood that shutteth his Eyes from seeing of Evil he shall dwell on high his Habitation shall be the Munition of Rocks Is 33.15 Ps 15. These are they which came out of great Tribulation which have washed their Robes in the Blood of the Lamb no unclean thing can enter there without are Dogs and Swine Rev. 14.45 But we are come unto Mount Sion and to the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all things and to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and to the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the Blood of Sprinkling which speaketh better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.22 to 25. The fourth thing relating to this State are the Manifold Priviledges belonging unto them within it which may be thus expressed First They within this Covenant are all Marked Sealed and Recorded with God Secondly They are under an everlasting Covenant with God in Jesus Christ Thirdly To them belong universal promises both in Spirituals and Temporals and under every exigent Fourthly All are united to God in Jesus Christ First They are all Marked Sealed and Inrolled with God as God Marked Cain to keep him from Mans Fury and Rage for the Murther of his Brother Abel when Cain was accursed with Gods displeasure for that Horrid Villany so God of his Love to the Saints Marks them with his own Image to keep them from the Destruction of Satan and Inrolls them in the Book of Life to be called by Name in the Resurrection Hurt not the Earth nor the Sea until we have Sealed the Servants of God in their Foreheads Is 4.3 Rev. 7.3 The Lord takes that care of his People that as he commanded by the Pass-over the Door-Posts of the Israelites to be sprinkled with Blood as the sign of his Peoples Habitation so he puts his Mark of Holiness in the Hearts of his own to distinguish them from the wicked who in their Conversation and Hearts have Wickedness and Sin the Mark of the Beast and Worship his Image he Writes on his People his Name of Righteousness and gives them for a Mark The white Stone and in it a New Name Rev. 14.9 by which white Stone or Holiness they are Distinguished from the Wicked in their Conversation and the New Name is a Badge of Honour and ground of inward Consolation to themselves Secondly The second advantage of this State is that they are under an everlasting Covenant with God Thirdly To this Covenant do belong universal promises both in Spirituals and Temporals The fourth and great Priviledge of this State is that Mystical and never enough admired Union of the Saints to God in Christ Jesus That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the World may believe that thou hast sent me Jo. 14.20 Ch. 17.21 As Life Eternal is the reward of Faith and Patience and as this Life Eternal is the great Prize at the end of our Christian Race and as we ought to use all Diligence to work out our Salvation with fear and trembling there is no greater Encouragement can be imagined for our help in this than the faith and due consideration that Believers are mystically united to God in Christ Jesus Although all the Creatures and Man especially are parts of God as coming out of the Mass of Gods Omnipotence yet Man is no Natural or Physical part of God so to speak Though Man be Gods by Creation and Man in Adam having fallen from God by breach of the Divine Law given to him God of his Infinite Wisdom and Goodness hath provided a remedy and mean to restore and unite lost man to himself and this Union is by the renewing of Mans Nature and changing it unto a Spiritual frame When we were dead in sins hath he quickned us together in Christ Now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the Blood of Jesus for he is our peace who hath made both one and broken down the middle Wall of Partition between us having in his Flesh abolished the enmity in the Laws Commandments contained in Ordinances for to make to himself of twain one new Man so making peace that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Cross having slain the enmity thereby Eph. 1.5 13 14 15. read all Thus by grafting the Soul on Christ by Faith is made a Spiritual Union with God whereby they receive all Spiritual Blessings by a Heavenly Communication from Christ as the Graft receiveth Sap Substance and made fruitful from the Stock into which it is grafted this mystical union of Believers between God and them consists principally in these four First In Unity of Spirit with God in Christ Jesus Secondly In unity of holiness Thirdly In unity of Love Fourthly In unity of Glory Of all which Believers are partakers with God in Christ Jesus First To be one in Spirit is to be one in Wisdom Knowledge and Purity of understanding now God is a Spirit and must be Worshiped in Spirit and Truth and though God made Man consisting of a Soul and Body and did illuminate him with knowledge and understanding though under a vail of restriction and as ambition and the concupisence of his Heart did deprive him of the advantage of his first state and the Wisdom of God intending to restore Man and place him in a surer Relation to wit that everlasting Covenant of Peace through the vail of Christ's Cross He hath to the renewed bestowed all Spiritual Light and Knowledge yet because we have this Heavenly Treasure in Earthy Vessels and the heavy clogs of our Carnal Bodies and infirmities of the Flesh hinder mortals even though renewed to behold and apprehend these Heavenly excellencies communicable under that Spiritual Union and Christ intending to have the Saints made fully perfect and capable of union with himself he prays the Father that they may be one with the Father as the Father and he is one I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in one that is to be of one Spirit Wisdom and Understanding it cannot be supposed that Christs intention is that the Creature though first renewed and afterwards glorified should be elevated to that sublimity of perfection equal with the Father and himself but that their perfection should be in kind nature and purity of God and Christs perfection knowledge and wisdom especially in these three respects First In purity of Spirit and Spiritual mindedness Secondly In oneness and union of mind and will Thirdly In perfection of
the elect as well of Soul as Body is changed into the likeness of Christ in Spirit and Body If any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature all things are made New and old things are done away 2 Cor. 5.5 17. That you put off the Old Man which is corrupt according to the Deceitful Lusts and that you put on the New Man which after God is Created in Righteousness and True Holiness Eph. 4.22 23 24. That such fashioning and change must be before the Elect can fully be admitted into the presence of God and enjoy him unchangeably may appear by these reasons First for that the Wisdom and Goodness of God intending to compleat Mans Happiness and to magnifie the Mistery of his love by their immediate enjoyment of himself in the Spiritual Clear and full presence of glory That they may be one with me see me and behold my glory Jo. 17.24 The Communication of Gods glory being so sublimely spiritual and not apprehendible but by these who are purely spiritual therefore our dark understanding must be made spiritual The Natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God neither indeed can do because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.14 15. and therefore in order to compleating of the Saints Happiness and to frame them for that he promiseth to put his spirit in them and give them a New Heart and renew a right spirit in them so as they may suitably enjoy God Eze. 36.25 26 27. Secondly Divine Wisdom knowing how Earthly mindedness runs after the Creature and being intangled therewith is clog'd from thirsting after God and things spiritual to be Carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace for that they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they who are after the spirit the things of the spirit because the Carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Ro. 5.5 6 7. And therefore to wean their Hearts from the World and to wind up the Affections of the elect to himself it behoveth their frame to be made spiritual The Lord Jesus Christ gives this as his Command to his Disciples to be spiritually minded and to mind Heavenly Treasures which are not Corruptible and useth this Argument for where your Treasure is there will your Hearts be also Mat. 6.19 20 21. And thus the Lord Jesus making his People of a Heavenly and Spiritual frame chiefly to mind Heaven and Spiritual things sets their Affections more earnestly on himself disengages them to Human Enjoyments Reconciles them to Afflictions and makes them more easie under the Cross If in Solomons experience that all the World is but Labour and Sorrow and Death is more to be desired than Life how much more easier will the Affections of the renewed be under all Disappointments of Carnal things when with the Apostle they look to Heaven and the inseparable and everlasting Communion of God will they not count all things but Dung and Loss in Compare with the Excellencies of Christ Ro. 8.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present Life are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us And in that other Famous Scripture for our Light Afflictions which are but for a Moment work for us a far more exceeding and an Eternal weight of glory whilst we look not after things which are seen but after things which are not seen for things which are seen are Temporal but things which are not seen Eternal 2 Cor. 4.17 Hence we see how great is the goodness and wisdom of God towards renewed Mortals intreating them with so great Mercy and Love in convincing them of the vanity of Earthly shadows and discovering to them that so High Deep Long and Broad Mistery of Love in Christ Jesus which passeth knowledge and the Riches of the glory of that Mistery which is Christ the hope of all glory made manifest in the Saints Eph. 3.9 18 19. Col. 2.26 27. And by their choice of these excellencies above the Creatures to make all things else to be esteemed of no value and in their Souls desire to Eccho forth none but Christ and having so spiritualized their minds that they can neither Touch Handle Smell or delight in any thing but him and what tends to his glory and their Enjoyment of him Thirdly In the framing of the Saints Bodies at the Resurrection in a Spiritual and Incorruptible Body for Christs designing not only Mans Redemption from wrath to come but also to make them Coheirs and participate with him of his own glory John 17.22 And in respect the frame of our Carnal and Corruptible Bodies is not capable to receive that glory nor to continue under the Enjoyment of it for that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of glory nor Corruption inherit Incorruption he therefore changeth that Corruption into Incorruption and makes Mortality put on Immortality and changeth our vile Bodies into the fashion of his glorious Body 2 Cor. 15.42 to 55. according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phi. 3.21 What then can or will be wanting to compleat the Eternal Happiness of the Saints seeing they have so sure a Covâ—â—ant with such ample Priviledges and that they are and shall be fitted as well in Body as Soul to receive these Rivers of Pleasures in the Enjoyment of God in whose presence is fulness of Joy and at whose Right Hand there are pleasures for ever-more Ps 16.11 What then remains for the Prisoners of Hope but to sit down admire the Heighth Depth Length and Breadth of that Incomprehensible Mistery of the Love of God in Christ Jesus Eph. 3.9 18 19. and by Faith Love and Patience to sit down under his shadow with great Delight Cant. 2.2 and against all Crosses Temptations and Difficulties to take Comfort in the Faith of Eternal Happiness there is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit if God be for us who can be against us who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that Justifieth who is he that Condemneth it is Christ that Dyed yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right Hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus From what hath been said we see Believers firmly stated to the Title of Joynt Heirs of glory with Jesus Christ and in a firm Covenant through him with the Father and having so fair an interest at stake their Duty is to pursue the same with Faith Courage and
the Soul everlastingly to perish how should not the Soul be wise and condescend to the Divorce and say what have I any more to do with Idols doth not the great Physitian of Souls tell us it is better that one Member perish though never so dear or desirable to the flesh than that the whole Body and Soul should be cast into Hell which will follow inevitably if not divorced from Lust and be renewed in Christ Mat. 5.20 30. A Second preparation is to consider the great advantages will accrew by this Divorce of Lusts such who are thus Divorced shall be made Sons and Heirs of God with Christ John 17.22 23. and shall have all things Rev. 21.7 When lopt off from the World they shall be united unto God in Christ Jesus their short sufferings and parting with the Lusts of the World shall work for them an exceeding and an eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 18. They shall have treasure in Heaven instead of and in exchange of Earthly Riches Their Life shall be saved in losing of it and lost in saving of it Luke 9 23 24 25. Who then would not part with uncertain Riches for Heavenly Treasure with a rotten Member for a sound Body a paltry pleasure for Eternal happiness Thus the Patient being prepared of the necessity of an Incision to preserve Life and with Cordials of promises to prevent faintings he must go on couragiously to cut off all corrupt and festered members of what quality or whatsoever use and for this we have Christs express command if thy right Eye or thy right Hand offend thee cut it off If Father Mother or any of the dearest Relations come in competition all must be forsaken for him Luke 9.23 24 25 26. Thy life must not be preferred to him but a man must take up his Cross and follow Christ so that nothing however so choice or dear to us must stand in the way against or in ballance with Christ but in all these things a man must deny himself and lose all for Christ Mat. 5.29 30. If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are done away and all things are made new mortify therefore your members which are on Earth 2 Cor. 5.17 The fourth Spiritual advantage from Heavenly bounty is Regeneration It is not enough to cut off old withered branches or lop Trees to make them fruitful and propagate new Trees but plashing ingrafting or inoculation is necessary even so in the Christian Musbandry though cutting off the old luxuriant branches of Lust be absolutely necessary by mortification yet this is not all for the Christian must have a new life for that by the impurity of Sin and Concupiscence of our Natures since the Fall the whole Mass of Blood or Nature is corrupted And God saw that the wickedness of Man was great in the Earth and that every Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart was evil continually Gen. 6.5 Therefore he must be ingrafted into Christ the true and living Vine I am crucified to the World and the World to me nevertheless I live but not I but Christ that liveth in me and the Life that I live in the Flesh is by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2.20 That ye put off concerning their former conversation which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts and that ye be renewed in the Spirit of your minds and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in true holiness and righteousness Eph. 4.22 23 24. And be not conformed to this World but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect Will of God Rom. 12.2 Know ye not that Christ is in you except ye be reprobates now we are no more strangers nor forreigners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and with the houshold of God and are built upon the foundations of the Apostles and Prophets Christ Jesus being the chief Corner Stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Ephes 2.19 to end All which Scriptures teach us that the Christian is a new man hath a new â—ife and is built on Christ the foundation and nourisher of his Life and that Christ is the Vine wherein the barren Branches must be cut off and the fruitful nourished This holy Lord Jesus Christ convinceth the great lawyer Nichodemus of the necessity of Regeneration of being born again by the Spirit Unless a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God John 3.3 5. Now in this great concern we are to consider two things First To make a right discovery of the truth of this new Life by Regeneration Secondly We are to consider seriously of the means how this Conquest and new Life may be preserved First As this is the greatest concern to man to be well founded in his claim to Heaven so it is easy to the flesh to be deceived in this thing for as it often falls out among Women that they are deceived by false conceptions and travel long in expectation of the Birth when both they themselves and others are in hopes yet it proves at last a deceit oftentimes to the destruction of the person having nourished Diseases and Corruptions instead of a true Birth so no doubt many may seem to be under conception of this Heavenly Birth have some symptoms and appear to labour under pain to be delivered of the old corruption and bring forth the Spiritual Birth and yet Christ is not formed in them As the desire of issue makes many Women use many uneasy and expensive means so many men for the lucre of Heaven strain far and yet come short because their Hearts are not straight with God Simon Magus offered a large sum for the Holy Ghost the young rich Man in the Gospel kept all the Commandments Annanias and Saphira sold their possessions and brought the Money to be distributed amongst the Saints and yet all fell short of this new Birth and so of the Kingdom of God we are commanded to try the Spirits for every Spirit is not of God wherefore that we may find out the truth and reality of this new birth It is fit to reflect on the actions of the former Life and examine the new life in all its parts and find out whether the suitable effects of the change and new birth be produced for according to the effects of life so must we judge of the Life whether it be renewed or not for the Tree is known by its fruits The effects of life are chiefly three First The Thoughts earliest in the conception of the rational creatures Secondly The Affections Thirdly The Actions These three generally make up the whole Man and as we find these three concurring in the first degeneracy The Thoughts
no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him 1 Joh. 3.15 Secondly The second branch of Divine Love approved of God to make up the Union of the Saints with God is that laving out the Bowels of charitable assistance in the supply of the Saints necessities like the good Samaritan in the Gospel not only to see and pity his affliction and condition but to support it God is not only a bare Spectator of our misery and maladies but also a healer of all our wounds and is that only Physitian of Israel and hath and applies that balm of Gilead even the Balsom of his own Blood to cure us hereby know we the love of God for us because he laid down his Life for us and we ought to lay down our life for the Brethren 1 John 3.16 But whoso hath this Worlds good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his Bowels of compassion from him how doth the love of God dwell in him 1 John 4.9 If God so loved us we ought also so to love one another Greater Love hath no man than this that a Man lay down his Life for a Friend Joh. 15.13 to 18. The Duty of Christian charity is recommended and commanded as the evidence of Christian sincerity The blessing is to the liberal the liberal Soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered himself Pr. 11 24 25 26. See the exhortation from Christs own example But ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that tho' he was Rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his Poverty might be Rich and that famous exhortation consider them that are in bonds as being bound with them and such as are in adversity as being your selves in the Body Hebrews 13.3 See how the Apostle James challengeth a naked beholder of the poor naked and indigent If a Brother or Sister be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say depart in Peace and be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not these things which are needful what doth it profit Jam. 2.15 16. So that it is not bare profession which makes Love but the fulfilling of the Commandment love thy Neighbour as thy self as Christ loved his Church and laid down his Life for her so ought we also for whom Christ died Hence we see how great is the Priviledge of Believers for whom Christ both died and is risen again and taken possession of Heaven for them and that the Father will love them with the same love with which he loved his only Son before the World was so Believers should not be affraid for Love admits no fear There is no fear in Love for perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he that feareth is not made perfect in Love 1 John 4.18 What quiet and comfort therefore may Believers have who find that love of God constraining them to wait on him by Faith may with David say we will not fear what man can do unto us and with the Apostle if God be with us who can be against us be of good courage for God will strengthen your Hearts Fourthly As the Saints are one with God and Christ 1. In Spirit 2. In Holiness 3. In Love So 4. In Glory which is the highest priviledge imaginable and is clearly held out in the Text And the glory thou hast given me I have given them that they may be One even as we are One. Father I will that they also which thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me John 17.22 24. And as God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son to dye for Sinners so Christ continues his Love that he will have all for whom he died to share of the same glory with himself and this is the highest exaltation and expectation of the Saints contrived by the Wisdom of God and accomplished by the Death and Resurrection of Christ and his being set down at the right hand of Glory for us This superexcellent state of the Saints Glory and Eternal Happiness is branched out in a fivefold consideration First In their blessed Death Secondly Their Spiritual and Immortal Bodies Thirdly Their being admitted into the Presence of God and Host of Heaven Fourthly Their being continued in that state for ever Fifthly All Sorrow Tears and Mourning to be everlastingly done away First Man in his first Creation was made Lord of all Creatures and tho' after his Fall by the Wisdom of God and infinite Love of Jesus Christ was reconciled to God by a new Covenant of Peace nevertheless was continued in a Prison of Clay subjected not only to all Natural weakness sickness cold hunger thirst and other natural infirmities of the Flesh and uneasiness of Life but also while in the body obnoxious to the Temptations of Sin and grief of Soul through the weakness of the Spirit under the clog and coverture of the Flesh as the experience of all Men Witness that this Life is but Labour and Sorrow therefore the Wisdom and Goodness of God and love of Christ Jesus hath so contrived that the Soul a Prisoner to misery and infirmities should have the Chains of Mortality knocked off by Death and be let free to Eternal Life And this is the first step of Saints effectual Happiness The Holy Apostle clearly testifieth that whilst we are in the Body we are absent from the Lord and therefore not only we but the whole Creation groan under these Infirmities and long for the Liberty of the Sons of God even the Redemption of our Bodies and therefore it 's revealed that Death is as it were the opening of the Prison Door to the Prisoners of Hope to set them at liberty from all the miseries of Mortality and Temptations to sin and gives them a free Pass to the Land of Rest Blessed are the Dead thy dye in the Lord they cease from their Labours and their Works follow them Rev. 14.13 And this is a great Consolation to Believers for as Death is the end of all Fleshly pleasures it 's also the end of all sin and Misery so the way of Death and the Grave ought not to be loathsom or irksom to them for that Christ the Captain of our Salvation hath proved both ways and for us led Captivity Captive O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory and the last Enemy is Death who is led Captive by Jesus Christ he will swallow up Death into Victory he will Ransom them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes Hos 13.14 The Second instance of Eternal Happiness is to have Spiritual Bodies The glory of Heaven and presence of God which is Eternal Happiness being designed for the Saints therefore the Lord in his Eternal Wisdom hath
my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts Is 55.8 9. And while musing what the Spirit meant in these Expressions I was carryed back to review the fatal Record of mans Condemnatory Sentence for his Rebellion in which I found written And I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Gen. 3.15 And being yet more in the dark as to the meaning of that Scripture I was led to that of Gods Covenant with Abraham and I will Establish my Covenant between thee and me and thy Seed after thee in their Generations for an everlasting Covenant Gen. 17.7 8. and to that other Word of God to Moses I will raise them up a Prophet amongst their Brethren like unto thee and will put my words into his mouth and he shall speak unto them all the words which I have commanded him Deut. 18.18 And being led a little further to understand the meaning of this I met with that Word of the Lord to David by the Prophet Samuel And thine House and thy Kingdom shall be Established for ever before thee and thy Throne shall be Established for ever 2 Sam. 7.11 to 17. And that of David himself The Lord hath Sworn in Truth unto David he will not turn from it of the Fruit of thy Body will I set upon thy Throne Ps 132.11 And the Lord hath said to my Lord sit thou at my Right Hand until I make thine Enemies thy Foot-stool Ps 110.1 and that other place of the same Prophet David And thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell neither suffer thy Holy one to see Corruption Ps 16.10 And thus being led to the view of these Scriptures and being yet more Anxious to understand their meaning I was at last by the Blessing of God led to that of the second of the Acts verse 22 to 37. And that of the 7th of the Acts And to these words Of this mans Seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour Acts 13.15 to 42. By all which I found plainly laid open that before the Foundations of the Earth were laid 2 Tim. 1.9 God according to his own purpose had provided the means of mans Redemption and that all the foregoing Scriptures under the Old Testament were Prophetical of his Eternal purpose and good Will and that in the fulness of time he should send one even Jesus Christ to take upon him the Nature of man with whom God entred into an everlasting Covenant and that for Sin Sin should be Condemned in the flesh and that Everlasting Covenant with Abraham and the Prophets spoken of by Moses and Establishing of Davids Throne for ever are all meant of that Everlasting Covenant between God and Jesus Christ the Second Adam by which Covenant Christ was to come in the flesh and suffer death as he did and that he should obtain Eternal Life for all such as should believe in him Jo. 3.16 And thus being instructed that the manifold promises and priviledges spoken of in the Old and New Testament do belong to Believers and that as well Salvation as Faith to lay hold on Jesus Christ are freely of God as a gift Jam. 1.17 Hence I found the Truth of that of Gods Word My thoughts are not your thoughts our thoughts are narrow and run only after the lesser things and would de satisfied with the Restoration of man to his first Estate in the first Adam and considering this new and Second Covenant in the Second Adam not only of things Temporal but also of things Eternal and that this Second Covenant is Everlasting sure and not subject to the fatal Apostacy as was that in the first Adam And as in Contemplation of the Happy State of man in his First Creation the Heart was raised to rejoyce in God and magnifie his goodness and could not but take pleasure in so choice a Speculation and as on reflection upon the dismal and decayed condition of man upon his degeneracy the Soul must needs be dejected with melancholy and grievous thoughts how highly may the Soul be Elevated with Admiration of that infinite love of God to mankind in Christ Jesus who hath in him chosen of the Seed of Abraham before the Foundation of the World Eph. 1.4 5. having predestinated them unto the Adoption of Children to himself and properly apply that of the Holy Prophet Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man besides thee O Lord what good things he hath laid up for them who wait on him Is 64.4 Thus Christian Reader being led unto the meditation of these three material Concerns of mans everlasting condition I have Collected these ensuing Sheets in which I have first considered mans condition in the First Creation and Secondly under his Apostacy wherein I have examined that original Sin in Adam in the several Ingredients thereof and how far the Posterity are guilty and affected with the Evil Consequences of the same upon which are made some practical Inferences Thirdly I have considered the Covenant of grace in the Second Adam wherein I have touched on all the Duties incumbent on Believers under that Covenant and have met with all the emergent Cases of Affliction incident to Believers in the militant State such as spiritual desertion Afflictions by Sickness Imprisonment Poverty Reproach loss of and being forsaken by Friends and Relations and have collected and applyed the several promises to the respective cases and in the close have examined the Duty of Christian Patience and Perseverance with the promises suitable thereunto and lastly have drawn a large Series of Christian Duties and Truths in short Heads with the Scriptural Proofs thereof so as in two or three Pages the marrow of the whole is comprehended and as I dare averr in all Christian Sincerity these Sheets were only Collected for Private and Domestick use without any intention of sending them to publick view by which means they are in a more naked and rude dress without the Curiosity of Eloquence or Artificial patching and as by the importunity of some Friends I was induced to send them abroad I shall only desire thus much in Christian Charity that thou mayest believe that these are the effects of serious enquiry into the Holy Scriptures with Meditation and Prayer and narrowly searching into Truth with what strength I could obtain by grace and that neither in Ostentation or for secular ends they are sent abroad but in all Humility if it may be that others may find therein that Light and Establishment in the way of God which I hope I have and shall find and conceiving this to be a Duty according to that of the Holy Apostle Look not every Man on his own things but every Man also on the things of another Phil. 2.4 and that thou mayest have the Truths of grace Sealed on thy Soul and that
a man Math. 15.18 19 20. Seems to confirm this Doctrine that Sin principally consisteth not in the outward acts but in the inward Corruption and Disorder of the affections and mind for here in this Scripture he brings the words and actions of a man to charge the guilt upon the heart This is explained also by the Custom and Laws of Countries against Treason where Imagining and Conspiring to kill the King is made Treason and any act which discovers or proves that Intention is made Treason but the main guilt lieth in the malice and rebellious Inclinations of the heart in Conspiring the Kings Death and the act is but a proof of it so upon the whole matter we find this great transgression of Original Sin was the adulterate and disorderly frame of the Spirit of man let out in disobedience against God and having once listned to temptation the whole faculties were defiled and did not stop until man run into actual rebellion against God So that we must look on Man's corrupt Nature as having in it the Complication of all Lusts and Sins as the Principal cause of Gods Wrath and Curse and that the act of Disobedience served for Gods Evidence to prove the guilt of the heart and this Corrupt Fountain of Nature with the Curse for Rebellion have our first Parents sent down to all Posterity And thus we see man lately Righteous Holy Pure and Undefiled full of Knowledge Power Soveraignty over the Creatures giving Law to them and receiving Obedience from them living in Honour Glory Pomp Plenty and at Pleasure having all the Creatures in Subjection to him and none in Competition with him a Friend of and at Peace with God the Darling of the Creation having Glory without Envy Plenty without Toil Pleasure without Trouble Strength without Infirmities or Pain Degraded from Soveraignty Clouded with Darkness Pestred with Contention Oppressed with Toil Pinched with Difficulties Obnoxious to Destruction from such who lately were under Subjection to him an Outlaw to God and Banished from his Presence his Body a Mass of Infirmities and Soul a Cage of unclean Lusts The whole Head is Sick the whole Heart faint from the Sole of the Foot even unto the Head there is no soundness in it but Wounds and Bruises and putrifying Sores Isa 1.5 We are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousness are as filthy Rags and we do all fade as a Leaf and our Iniquities like the wind have taken us away c. Isa 64.5 And there is none that calleth upon thy name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee for thou hast hid thy self from us and hast consumed us because of our Iniquities Isa 64.7 Thus having viewed mans estate in his Creation and Integrity and considered his fall and steps thereof we come next to examine how far his Posterity is concerned in his guilt and punishment thereof Adam being freely Created of God and by him endowed with excellent Knowledge Righteousness and Holyness and made Lord over the Creation under the Covenant of Obedience and Penalty of Disobedience we must look on him in the Purpose of God as representing all mankind so as on his performance with God he should continue and hold all the Priviledges he was dignified with and send them down to his Posterity and if he should fail in the Conditions assigned to him he was to forfeit all these Priviledges as well for himself as Posterity this is but what was just with God who freely made Man what he was and might duely claim the disposal of his own gift upon his own terms this was only advantagious enough to Man having so fair a bargain gratis without price or any purchase except that of due Obedience which he was capable to perform had he not wilfully corrupted himself This is illustrated by the customary practice amongst Men for when any man lets Land to Lease for term of years reserving a Rent payable at a certain time if the Rent be not pay'd at the term assigned the property reverts and vests in the Leasser and the Tennant is devested of his term and of all benefit thereby but if the Leassee performs he holds for himself and assigns This also is clear in that case when a King or Overlord makes a Grant for Service to a Man and his Heirs if the Grantee performs he holds for himself and sends the right and benefit of the Grant to his Heirs but if he fail the Grant is Extinct by his Non-performance and the Heirs take nothing by succession to him for that his right in his own time was voided so could not he send it down to his Heirs In the Case of Treason the Ancestors blood is corrupted and he so dead in Law that the claim of Succession is cut off so as the Issue of his Body can make no claim through him and not only so but the Ancestors blood is so attainted by Act in Law that the Posterity is not only barred from succession to what the Ancestor held but the Crime of Rebellion or Treason is imputed to the Successors or Posterity that in all time coming their Succession is cut off unless by Act in Law the blood be restored although the Posterity should not be guilty of the Act of Rebellion or Treason on which the forefeit was declared or accrewed In this case two fatal Consequences have hapned to the Posterity of Adam First By his Act of Disobedience he hath so far corrupted Nature so as thereby the Nature of all Men by Natural Generation is Corrupted Secondly by breaking of the Command he in his own life time was dispossessed of the Rich Priviledges vested in him and thereby his Posterity were cut off from the claim of right thereunto First Adam by his transgression hath corrupted his Nature and thereby all men by Natural Generation are corrupted and as partakers of that degenerated Nature they are guilty of and chargeable with Adams transgression and have lodged in them inherent Corruption That Adam by the many enormous steps of his Disobedience above mentioned hath not only incurred the Wrath of God but also Corrupted his Nature doth thereby appear by what has been already said in the Concomitants or special steps of that Disobedience for it was simply impossible that so many irregularities could have concurred in any one Act as have appeared in this if the whole Nature had not been polluted the very Act in the Circumstances of it clearly prove it for that so many different Concomitants would have jarred and marred that Act if the chief propension of the Affections and Natural Dispositions had not joyned whereby we must agree that the whole Mass was Corrupted and in Conspiracy to rebellion against God If Adam by his Apostacy from God did defile his Nature from the first purity and that all men since are the seed of Adam we must infer that all men by Natural Generation are of a Corrupted race and naturally defiled and consequently
his Church In all their Afflictions he was Afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his Love and in his Pity he redeemed them and carryed them all the days of old Isa 63.9 Secondly This Love is extensive to all wants and necessities or else it is empty and profiteth not Whoso hath this Worlds good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of Compassion how doth the Love of God dwell in him 1 Joh. 3.17 And the Apostle James is to the like purpose If a Brother or a Sister be naked and destitute of Daily food and one of you say to them depart in peace he ye warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not these things which are needful to the Body what doth it profit Jam. 15.16 Seventhly Is it so then of a lamentable truth that all men are concluded in Adams Apostacy and that there is a woful Degeneracy in the Soul of Man from that primitive Knowledge Righteousness and Holiness and that all men in Nature are dead in Sin and have their Conversation with the Lusts of the Flesh fulfilling the desires thereof and of the mind according to the Course of this World according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience and are by Nature the Children of Wrath. Eph. 2.1 2 3. And that there is even amongst the renewed a Law in the Members warring against the Law in the Mind Rom. 7.23 Ch. 8.1 And that by reason of Sin the Creature is Subject to Vanity and the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain for the Adoption and Redemption Rom. 8.20 22 23. And that in this degeneracy a mans life is his burden and there is no true pleasure under the Sun confirmed in Solomons experience Therefore I hated life because the work that is wrought under the Sun is grievous unto me for all is vanity and vexation of Spirit Eccles 2.17 all Seeing then this Earth is but a sojourning and no abiding place and that here is neither Pleasure Rest nor Happiness how much is it mortal mans concern anxiously restlesly and with a believing Impatience to pursue close after these two things First That as by one man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin so Death passed upon all men for that all men have sinned Rom. 5.12 And that as by the offence of one man Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to Justification of life Rom. 5.18 That man would seriously apply himself to the Throne of Grace that he may be found in the Faith that he may be intituled into Eternal Life in Jesus Christ that only mediator and for that the first Image of God in man was wilfully abolished or defaced by man that by the bounty of Free-grace he may be begotten again by the regeneration of the Spirit unto a lively Faith and that he may put on the new man of Righteousness and True Holiness Eph. 4. â—â— And may be renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created it Col. 3.10 And may be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life And that he may be spiritually enlightned not by the Spirit of the World but by the Spirit which is of God and that he may know the things freely given of God 1 Cor. 2.12 And that he may be spiritually minded that enmity of the Carnal mind may be removed so as he may no more mind the things of the Flesh but the things of the Spirit Rom 8.5 6 7. That being raised from the Death of Sin by the Spirit of Christ he may seek these things that are above where Christ is Col. 3.1 And may be accounted to be called a Child of God an heir and Joynt heir with Jesus Christ and may also be glorified with him Rom. 8 17. That he may be dead and crucified in Christ to Sin and may also live with him in Glory Rom. 6.8 Secondly Seeing the Earth was accursed for mans sake Gen. 3.17 18 19. And that the Creature was made Subject to Vanity not willingly but by reason of him who Subjected the same in hope Rom. 8.20 And that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together for redemption from the bondage of Corruption unto the glorious liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8.21 22 23. That he may watch and be always ready with Oyl in his Lamp for the coming of the Bridegroom who cometh as a Thief in the night Rev. 16.15 And may earnestly pray that the Bridegroom would hasten the coming of his Kingdom and the new Heavens and the new Earth and set the Sons of God at liberty from the Liberty of Sin and Corruption and that the glad Tydings of that Heavenly Proclamation may be heard Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and God shall dwell with them and they shall be his People and God himself shall be with them and be their God And God shall wipe away all tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more Death neither Sorrow nor Crying neither shall there be any more Pain For the former things are passed away Rev. 21. to 6. Having thus viewed Adam in his Primitive Integrity in Glory Honour Righteousness true Holiness and perfect Knowledge with absolute Soveraignty over the Creatures the Darling and Friend of God and all the Creation at Unity and Peace with him and in Subjection to him and in Amity amongst themselves And afterwards by Man's falling from God Man the declared Enemy of God and by a guard of Angels barred out of Paradise deprived of his Soveraignty and Enmity sowed between the Creatures and the Earth accursed and the Creation brought under Bondage and the Posterity of Adam once the apparent Heir of all Righteousness true Holiness Knowledge Honour Glory and Soveraignty over the Creatures disabled and cut off from that glorious succession and exposed unto all misery and under the servitude of Sin and Wrath Rom. 3.23 Eph. 2.3 And in place of that Unity of the Sons of God and shouting together for joy nothing to be seen or heard but Subjects rebelling against their Soveraign and the whole Creation Split in Enmity and Envy Malice Oppression and Unrighteousness to have filled the whole Earth where is that corner of the World where ambition for Dominion Covetousness for Wealth private or publick animosities have not drowned the sense of all comfortable enjoyments Man raging against the Creatures and they against him and each in contention devouring one another and nothing to be seen but a woful Convulsion and dismal complexion and the degenerate frame of that first and beautiful Fabrick of the Creation from its so late purity and glory This then being the Tragical Condition of all Mortals Subject to Sin and Misery as entailed on them from the Inherent Corruption of Nature Job 5.6 Who can
of his Crown and defiling his Wives in the sight of the Sun when he and all the People went out of the City bare-foot weeping and ashes on their heads when they fled from Absolom If I shall find favour in his sight saith he he will bring me again and shew me both it meaning the Ark of God in which he much delighted and his Habitation but if he say I have no delight in thee lo here am I let him do with me what seemeth good in his sight 2 Sam. 15.25 26. With the like humility and patience he bore the cursings and revilings of Shimei and David said let him curse because the Lord hath said Curse David who then shall say why hast thou done it it may be the Lord will look upon mine affliction and that the Lord will require me good for his cursing this day 2 Sam. 16.7 to 13. How humbly did Hezekiah lay himself and Rabsecahs Railing and Blaspheming Letter before the Lord at the Siege of Samaria and see the event thereof by Gods wonderful delivering of the City by his own immediate hand 2 Kin. 19. How did Holy Job the mirrour of Patience and Innocence in his great affliction abase himself before the Lord when his Eyes were opened when he could justify himself to Man but not before God I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ear but now mine Eyes see thee wherefore I abhor my self in Dust and Ashes Job 42. to 7. How resolutely did the three Children with Faith and Patience submit to the fiery Furnace for the honour of God and his Truth Our God is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thy hand but if not be is known unto thâ—e O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the Image that thou hast set up Dan. 3.16 17 18. how couragiously did Daniel worship the Living God when forbid upon pain of being cast into the Lions Den and we see what glorious deliverance he had Dan. 6. Holy Stephen couragiously and patiently endured Martyrdom and kneeling down prayed for his Enemies Father forgive them they know not what they are doing Act. 7.60 The Holy Apostles were made spectacles of Men and Angels God hath set forth us the Apostles last as spectacles of Men and Angels and to the World 1 Cor. 4.9 The Cross of Christ was the glory of Paul and should be of all Men God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 See the instances of the Apostles sufferings we are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not to despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body for we which live are always delivered to death for Jesus sake that the Life of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh 2 Cor 4.8 9 10 11. See a farther instance of the Apostles suffering but in all things approving our selves as the Ministers of God in much patience in afflictions necessities in distresses in stripes in imprisonments in tumults in labour in watching in fastings in pureness of knowledge by long sufferings by kindness by the Holy Ghost by love unfeigned by honour and dishonour by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true as unknown yet well known as dying and yet behold we live as chastned and yet not killed as sorrowful yet always rejoying as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things 2 Corinthians 6.4 to 11. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one thrice was I beaten with Rods once was I stoned thrice I suffered Shipwrack a Night and a Day I have been in the Deep in peril by Water in perils by Robbers in peril by mine own Countrymen in perils by the Heathen in perils in the City in perils in the Country in danger in the Sea in perils by false Brethren often in weariness painfulness and watching often in hunger and thirst often in cold and nakedness 2 Cor 11.24 to 28. See the Instances of the Churches sufferings and great afflictions almost incredible and by Nature without Grace intollerable her sore runs in the night her friends not only left her but dealt treacherously with her and became her Enemies the Enemy spread his hand on all her pleasant things her people have given their pleasant things for Bread no sore like my sore desolate and faint delivered into their hands from whom she was not able to rise she was trodden as in a Wine press Priests and Elders gave up the Ghost for Famine Children and Sucklings swoun away in the Street and Women eat their Children of a Span long Enemies hiss and wag their Head and say we have swallowed her up this is the day we looked for and yet in all this she can with patience and submission say Why should the living Man complain man suffereth for his Sin all this is less than our iniquities do deserve Lam. 1. all chap. 2. all And thus justifieth the Lord and applieth to him by Prayer and Confession of Sin for Mercy the Holy Apostles also rejoyce in their afflictions that they are counted worthy to suffer for the testimony of Jesus and say in all this through Grace We are more than Conquerours and God forbid that we should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ Thirdly Promises of assistance as the greatest evils are alleviate and greatest extremities are lessened by hope and help of means and relief and as the most diseased persons in the most chronical and malignant Distempers are eased composed and half cured by the sight of a famous and approved Physitian and by his assurance or opinion that the Distemper they labour under is curable or that the Distemper which he can easily cure will not only work it self out but will also cure and cleanse the body of more gross and contagious humours which are more dangerous and infectious of the blood as Agues often cure Hectique and malignant Feavers which more invade and annoy the brain and endanger the Life so the blessed Lord Jesus Christ being the great Shepherd and Physitian of Souls in whom the Godhead dwelleth bodily not only knoweth as being omniscient but also has all power both in Heaven and Earth given to him hath not only the means in his own hand but by his Promises hath engaged himself by his faithfulness that he will heal help and deliver his People therefore faith in the Promises of God doth and should uphold his afflicted and discouraged People and these Promises are sure numerous and by Divine Wisdom and Love suited and proportioned to the exigence of his People in all cases either in Spiritual or Temporal maladies and these Promises answer to the twofold estate or condition of Man as he is
either under Spiritual or Temporal Diseases or Temptations And first a Spiritual and as the Soul is more excellent than the Body so the diseases of the Soul are more dangerous grievous and uneasy The Spirit of a Man can bear his Infirmities but a wounded Spirit who can bear as all the motions of the body are disordered by the distemper of the Spirit so greatest care should be taken to cure and remove the disorders thereof and this is the great consolation of the diseased in Spirit that their Physitian hath cures paramount to the cures of all others as being in himself omnipotent to whom alone is given the faculty of healing of Soul distempers The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted and to proclaim liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all that mourn to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion to give unto them Beauty for Ashes the oil of Joy for Mourning the Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness that they might be called Trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified Isa 61.1 2 3. And see hence what great encouragement the Saints have to wait on God for the accomplishments of his Promises who is faithful and cannot fail the Church and People of God say in the same Scripture I will rejoyce in the Lord my Soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation he hath covered â—e with the Robe of Righteousness as a Bridegroom decketh himself with Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with her Jewels Isa 61.10 By which we see his Promises are not only large but he makes them effectual in the Christians Improvement thereof to their own comfort these Promises may be branched forth answerable to the several Spiritual Distempers in these three Heads First Under Spiritual darkness and desertion Secondly Under anguish of Spirit for heinous Sins Thirdly For the multitude of Sins or under Relapses And as to these three states or conditions of Spiritual Distempers see the manifold particular and apposite Promises of God under these Distempers The second Disease to which Gods Promises are annexed is under Temporary afflictions and trials which though he could easie and instantly remove nevertheless as a wise and just Physitian judiciously consults the Patients Distemper and finds that one single Dose or Potion is not enough but that a course of Physick is absolutely necessary to cure the Distemper and as he studies neither to gratify the Patients present distempered Palat nor his uneasy humour but minds the most suitable Medicines proper method of Cure order of Diet and Exercise under the Cure he confines him to retirement and abstinence as well from the luxuriant eating and drinking and the too great liberty of former converse as the causes and rise of his distemper so that tender Physitian of Souls the Lord Jesus Christ takes the same method of curing and relieving his afflicted under their distempers by afflictions and as he knows the humours on which the Physick is to work that it must have liberty and time for operation and that the Patient must needs be sick and anxious for a Cordial as when a Chirurgeon hath bound up a wound and applied suitable Plaisters pinching and cauthorizing which necessarily in order to cure must annoy and disquiet the patient that he will importune the Doctor for a Cordial to abate his sickness and the Chirurgeon to remove the Plaister nevertheless they wisely considering that giving a Cordial or removing the Plaisters before its time hinders cure encreaseth more and grosser humours therefore gives no other compliance but advice of Patience and assurance of cure on the due operation of the means so this great Physitian of Souls though in all their afflictions he is afflicted he will take his own time and way for their relief and affords no other Cordial for the present but that of his universal promises which are extensive to all circumstances of their several cases and conditions which may be branched out in these heads First Sickness Secondly Imprisonments Thirdly Poverty Fourthly Desertion and forsaking of friends Fifthly Under Slanders and Reproaches in all which cases the Lords promises are not only full and numerous but also peculiarly apposite and especially calculated by him to all â—nd every of the particular cases which is more expresly set down before Fourthly The fourth encouragement for the People of God to bear afflictions patiently is that the Cross of Christ is the Path way that Christ hath appointed his People to walk to Heaven for if you be without chastisement whereof all are partakers then are you Bastards and no Sons Heb. 12.5 to 12. Wo is me for my hurt my wound is grievous but I said I must bear it Jer. 10.19 24. O Lord correct me not in thine anger but in judgment least thou bring me to nothing I am with thee saith the Lord to save thee though I make a full end of all Nations whether I have scattered thee I will not make a full end of thee but correct thee in measure and not leave thee altogether unpunished Jer. 30.11 And this is Christs Legacy to his followers Brothers shall deliver up Brothers to death the Fathers shall rise against the Children and Children against their Parents and cause them to be put to Death and ye shall be hated of all men for my sake Mat. 10.6 to 40. and if any man will be my Disciple he must deny himself lay down his Life take up his Cross daily and follow me if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God on this behalf for the time is come that Judgment must begin at the House of God and if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God if the Righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly appear wherefore let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator 1 Pet. 4.15 16 17 18. For if God spared not the natural branches take heed lest he also spair not thee behold therefore the goodness and severity of God to them that fell severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou shalt be cut off Rom. 11.21 22. Is it not the foretold Lot of Gods People that through tribulation and persecution they must enter into the Kingdom of God and the Disciple cannot expect better entertainment than the master if they have called the Master Beelzebub how much more they of his house-hold Mat. 10.24 25. Fifthly The furnace of affliction is the means by which
Nature at such a rate that there being a necessity for an Atonement and satisfaction to Gods Justice for Mans Sin And of a Mediator between God and Man to restore Man to the pure and unspotted Image of God and it being impossible for Men or Angels to make such Atonement or to procure a Mediator The free Love of God raiseth one up even Jesus Christ the Son of God and express Image of his Father to take upon him the shape of a Servant and though he knew no sin to become sin for us so that by taking upon him our Nature and in our shape and place submitting to the Justice of God on the Cross hath paid the Ransom for us and restored fallen man to the Image of God in Righteousness and True Holiness 1 Cor. 15.21 22 47 48. The first Man is of the Earth Earthy the Second Man is the Lord from Heaven and as is the Earthy so are they which are Earthy and as is the Heavenly so are they which are Heavenly and as we have born the Image of the Earthy we also shall bear the Image of the Heavenly and thus Christ having paid the Ransom for Sinners he offers to all Men the free Market of Salvation Pardon and Eternal Life for God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not Perish but have Eternal Life John 3.15 16 17. For when we were without strength Christ dyed for us when we were yet Sinners and Enemies Rom. 5.6 7 8. But it may be Objected that Christ had a Body and Mans Nature and the Resurrection from the Dead seems things under the Comprehension of Sense and Feeling Answer Although Christ had and took on him Mans Nature nevertheless the Mystery of his Incarnation Resurrection Ascension Communication of Garces and Eternal Life procured by him must be apprehended by Faith and can never be reached by Human Sense the Natural Man knoweth not the things of God neither indeed can do because they are spiritually Discerned The Second thing in the Treasury of Spiritual Mercies are the various gifts and graces spiritually bestowed by God to believers in Jesus Christ He that spared not his own Son but freely gave him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Ro. 8.32 These choice and spiritual Mercies may be classed up in these three First Such as are absolutely necessary to Salvation and the actual laying hold on Jesus Christ and applying him in his Merits Sufferings Resurrection and Glorification as the only Mediator between God and Man such is Faith for without Faith it is impossihle to please God Heb. 11.6 Faith is that Grace whereby Christ is owned and upon which Salvation is promised in the foregoing Scripture This is that grace that unites and incorporates Sinners to God for ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus this is that grace which gives Life Sap and being to Christians Now the Just shall live by Faith but if any Man draw back my Soul hath no Delight in him Heb. 10.38 This is the only operative and effectual grace where is boasting then â—t is excluded by what Law by Works Nay by the Law of Faitb therefore we conclude that Man is justified by Faith without the Deeds of the Law Rom. 3.23 Although this of Faith be the chief essential grace on which the being of a Christian depends this flows from the spirit of God from whom are all good and perfect gifts and by him are wrought in us for by grace are ye saved through Faith and not of your selves it iâ— the gift of God Eph. 2 8. The second grace is Holiness without which also it is impossible to please God be ye Holy as your Heavenly Father is Holy who is of purer Eyes than can behold Iniquity this grace qualifieth Sinners to resemble God in Purity Innocence and Righteousness Blessed are the pure in Spirit for they shall see God Math· 5.8 and thus it behoveth Christiaâ—s to be for that Christ having taken on him our Nature to purifie it from all the stains of sin he makes all his Children partakers of the Divine Nature and designing to assemble them in the New Jerusalem where no unclean thing can enter they must all be Holy and Clothed with Righteousness This essential Duty is Recommended and Commanded to us in Scriptures we are all his Workmanship Created in Christ to good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them and are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner Stone in whom all the Building fitly Framed together groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord Eph. 2.8 9 20 21. And that ye put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is Corrupt according to the Deceitful Lusts and that you put on the new Man Created according to Holiness Eph. 4.21 to end If ye be risen with Christ seek these things which are above where Christ sitteth at the Right Hand of God set your Affections on things above not on things on Earth for ye are Dead and your Life is hid with Christ in God when Christ who is your Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Mortifie therefore your Members which are on Earth and put on the New Man which is renewed in knowledge aften the Image of him who Created it Col. 3.1 2 3 4. They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit to be Carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the Carnal Man is emnity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be so these that are in the flesh cannot please God and if Christ be in you the Body is Dead because of Sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness for if ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if through the Spirit ye mortifie the Deeds of the flesh ye shall live for as many as are led by the Spirit are the Sons of God Rom. 8.5 7 10 13 14. and every one that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure 1 John 3.3 The third Special grace coming from this great Magazine of Heavenly Store is Mortification although there is such affinity and connexion amongst spiritual graces that they are not perfect nor compleat but when in one Chain and joyned together yet this grace hath some thing peculiar in it as being that special piece of Accomplishment which frames the Soul to an immediate closing with Christ Mortification is either the curbing or subduing superfluous excrescences or growth of superfluous Humours in the Body or like proud flesh about a wound under Cure or the total destroying of that which hath the Preheminence and may destroy a better Life as the
reigning prevalent Lusts of the flesh to the Destruction of the Soul in both which Senses spiritual Mortification may be taken for as the Vine and other Fruit-Trees are oppressed by superfluous Wood so as the Sap is exhausted in feeding so many superfluous Bows which may bring forth Leaves weak Blossoms but little or at best bad Fruit because not sufficiently Nourished with Moisture from the Root but the Root being Disburthened from these excrescences or superfluous Boughs the Root is able to communicate moisture to the remaining part and the Tree produceth more and better Fruit even so when the affections and delight of the Soul are spent upon the Lusts and sensual Pleasures of the Flesh the Soul and Spiritual graces are starved and whether for want of suitab e Encouragement and therefore the Great and Wise Husband-Man and Shepherd of the Soul by his Chastisements lops of the superfluous delights and Lusts of the Carnal Heart either by blasting the Objects of our Lusts and Carnal Delights or assists his People in this great Duty to mortifie and wean their Affections from these Objects and be more fruitful to Eternal Life by fixing their Hearts on Christ Jesus Now as all Christians are Members of Christ and must be ingrafted in him John 15.1 they must be suited for that Ingraftment and as the Joyner frames his wood each piece to answer to another and cuts it till it fit and as the skilful Chyrurgeon by his powder or Incision cuts off the proud Flesh about the wound until it be clean and as the Gardner frames the Scyon for the stock even so must the Soul be ordered before it can be ingrafted into that spiritual Root Christ Jesus In this Spiritual Operation these three things are considerable First Wherein it consists Secondly The necessity of the Cure Thirdly The means whereby this Cure is wrought As it must be agreed unto that all Christians must be renewed Rooted and built in Christ Jesus being the chief corner Stone If any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 In this is first the cutting off what is superfluous Secondly The grafting the Soul into the New Root Christ Jesus As to the first it is the Custom of skilful Chyrurgeons in cutting any Ulcer or Ulcerated Member to make a full enquiry into the habit and disposition of the Patients Body and Symptoms of the Grievance and some times in his Operation purgeth and at other times he Ministers Cordials to prevent faintings and often times he renders the Patient insensible of the pain by sleep or otherwise and before he begins his Cure the better to be informed where the Malady lyeth if it be a Stone he useth some Instrument to search it if a Wound he cleanseth about the Wound and when he hath made these Preparations he makes Incision without regard of the Patients complaining of pain until he hath finished his Work so in this Work of Mortification a Christian must do these three things First He must make a full and impartial Examination of himself Secondly He must prepare the Soul for the Cure he must proceed and go on with the Work without partiality or Indulgence to any sin First Examination in which the Thoughts and the Objects thereof on which they are most exercised and wherein they most delight are to be inquired into for as the thoughts and affections are so is the whole Man therefore he must bring them to the line and to the plummet of Gods Law to the Law and to the Testimony if ye walk not according to this Rule it is because there is no light in you Is 8.20 To be Carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace and they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit do mind the things of the spirit for that the flesh is Enmity against God Ro. 8.5 6.7 8. So that here by the Word of God we are to examine and judge and in the Work of Mortification to take special care to get the thoughts and affections which are Carnal and Enmity against God by Nature to be weaned from the Carnal Objects and placed on Christ and the felicities in him for ye are dead and your Life is hid with Christ in God provide your selves bags with wax not old a Treasure in Heaven which faileth not for where your Treasures are there will your Hearts be also Luke 12.31 to 35. So the Christian being dead to this World and his Life hid with Christ in God like the Apostle Paul in whom I am Crucified to the World and the World to me nevertheless I live but not I but Christ that liveth in me and the life that I live in the flesh is by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2.20 his delight was in Heaven and not in the splendor or vanities of this Life so that the chief part of Mortification is to wean the affections from Carnal things and to raise elevate and place them on things above and as the thoughts and affections are to be looked unto even so are all the words and actions of a Man and if for every idle word and enormous action we must answer how much more are we concerned to search into and Mortifie the Corrupt Fountains from whence flow such Corrupt and sour Grapes This Examination must be very thorough and impartial into every word and every action with all the lightning Circumstances and Aggravations thereof This Examination also must be attended with a Godly sorrow and a hearty Repentance like that Repentance not to be repented of for godly sorrow worketh Repentance to Salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the World worketh death and our Repentance should be such as the Apostle Describes behold the self same thing that ye sorrow after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what Revenge and this is true Mortification never to think of old Sins and Corruptions but with Indignation and Abhorrence as is more fully explained under the particular Head of Repentance Secondly A second thing considerable in the work is a due preparation this being no easie task no less difficult than the divorcing Old Friends Lovers and Acquaintances and the breaking of Old inured Friendship therefore the Soul must have this preparative he must be under the Conviction of a necessity either of perishing eternally or be separate from the Lusts of the flesh If any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature Old things are done away I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husband-Man every Branch in me that beareth not Fruit he taketh away John 15.1 2. Now under this Conviction of the necessity of having Old Superfluous Lusts and Carnal desires to be cut off and purged away or
that length is short of Happiness and brings Anxiety and Discontent And this is clear from Common Experience for let a Man have Wealth if he have not Health Strength and Vigor let him have Riches and if he have not Honour let him have one hundred Enjoyments if any one thing be wanting which either some other hath or he shall please his fancy upon he is not content so not Happy because his Affections or fancy are not pleased and if we consult Solomon the greatest in Experience we may conclude that Happiness in Creature Enjoyments is not attainable The Second is also Demonstrate from Reason and Experience it being most consonant to Reason that no contentment can be found but in that which is permanent and perfect for that Mans Nature is for Novelties and cannot rest on any one thing when something else occurs which either excelleth the other or he doth fancy it doth and indeed it were beneath the Dignity of the Soul which is of a Divine Extract to bottom on any thing which is not of greatest value besides the Soul being a Spirit cannot place and confine its delight to what is only sensual unless it could give satisfaction to the Soul or Fancy and that no Satisfaction can be had in sensual Enjoyments is apparent from the Nature of all Created beings That Holy Apostle John Exhorting against the Love of the World saith Love not the World nor the things of the World for in the World there is the Lust of the Eyes the Lusts of the Flesh and the Pride of Life and these things perish in the using but he that doth the Will of God shall endure for ever Here the Apostle sets forth before us the Inventory or Scheme of the World in these three where by the Lusts he means the Objects and the delights taken in them That we may the better discover That nothing in this World can give satisfaction or is perfect or permanent we shall consider the World and all things in it in these three circumstances First By the Lusts of the Flesh must be meant all sensual Objects and the pleasure taken in them and that there is neither permanency nor perfection as it is proved from the Text so it is demonstrable from all the instances of sensual objects are Riches the object they take the Wings of the Wind and fly away a man may be found Rich to Day and a Begger next as was said of Craesus who was reputed the richest on Earth Irus est hodie qui modo Craesus eras they either torment a man in getting keeping or increasing of them the Apostle tells us they leave a man in this Life or at his Death and in the mean time load a Man with inexpressible cares snares and troubles so as their uncertainty is clear We brought nothing to this World with us and it is certain we shall carry nothing out of it the love of Money is the Root of all evil and they that will be rich fall into many temptations and snares and many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men into destruction and Perdition c. 1 Tim. 6. to 11. See Christs own Testimony of Riches and what clog it is to a Mans Soul whilest looking after better things It is as impossible for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven as for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle Luke 19.20 to 25. chap. 6.24 See his wo unto thee Rich for they have received their Consolation and how he adviseth to provide Bags that wax not old a Treasure in Heaven that faileth not where no Thief approacheth or Moth corrupteth for where your treasure is there will your Hearts be also Luke 12.34 Is thy Lust or desire placed in Friends or Relations how deceitful they be Abel Joseph and David and almost all the train of Saints and experience of all ages can testify trust not in a friend put no confidence in a guide keep the Door of thy Lips from the Wife that lieth thy Bosom for the Son dishonoureth the Father and the Daughter riseth up against the Mother and the Daughter in Law against the Mother in Law and a Mans Enemies are the Men of his own House Mic. 7.5 6. Jer. 9.4 5. note See Davids complaint of the treachery and unkindness of his Friends Psal 88.8 18. Psal 41.9 See what complaint the Church makes of the treachery and deceitfulness of friends and relations Lam. 1.19 And see how the Prophets hold forth the instability of humane friendship Isa 59.16 chap. 63.5 Jer. 30.13 14. The Lusts of the Eyes comprehend all that is taking or delightful to the Sight and what can that be but what is either the contemplation of our own beauty or outward excellencies or the glory of other Creatures our own may wither and Age and Sickness and other vicissitudes make it decay our Infirmities or thousands of accidents can soon make all without us tasteless and insipid to us besides as all Flesh is Grass and wither as the Green Herbs so as there is no permanency in any thing to raise felicity from the Eyes it is not long before these Glass Windows shall be shut the Silver threads be cut and the golden bowl be broken at the Well by Death and thereby the glory of the whole House be darkned Eccles 12. to 9. 〈◊〉 third thing which compleats this pittiful Inventory of the World is the Pride of Life and what is that but a shadow to the Lust of Humane Glory and vain Titles of Honour or Preferment in this World and how short this is of permanency and happiness experience tells us There is no stinting of Mans Ambition the Spirit of Pride rests not in one Title but Envies and Ambitions another and at best all these are but fanciful and have no intrinsick worth in them and are only valuable as Fancy esteems them How soon is all humane Glory extinguished by the least cross Providence from God How was the Glory and Pride of Nebuchadnezzar laid to the Ground when he was turned from under his glorious Canopy of State and rich embroidery and from wearing a Crown of pure Gold sent to feed and lodge amongst the Beasts until his Hair became like Birds Feathers and his Nails like Eaglés Claws and he forced to acknowledge his own nothingness and Gods Soveraignty All whose Works are Truth and his ways Judgment and those who walk in Pride he is able to abase Dan. 4.30 to end How eminently was the Gluttony Pride and Tyranny of Adonibezeck chastised who had threescore and ten Kings having their Thumbs and great Toes cut off gathered their meat under his Table who was forced to acknowledge the Soveraignty and Justice of God as I have done so God hath requited me Judges 1.7 How was the Blasphemous Pride and Ambition of Senacherib and Rabsecah against God and his People punished by Gods miraculous raising the Siege of Jerusalem by sending forth his Angel and
Enemies and the last Enemy Death it self by taking away Sin the Sting of Death and as the great Trophy of his Victory hath Blotted out the Hand-writing of Ordinances which was against them and contrary to them and Nailed it to his own Cross and so hath compleated the Victory for Believers Col. 3.13 14 15. From hence may be seen the Truth of that great Mistery of Gods Love in Christ Jesus Eye hath not seen neither hath Ear heard c. Is 64.4 and how great Reason then have sinful Mortals to be much in the Admiration of all the Dimentions of that inexpressible Mistery of Christs Love which passeth knowledge Eph. 3.18 19. As the many Advantages from the Booty in this Conflict and Christs Example is an inducement for chearful fighting so is the Example of the chearful Companions of this Combate of which see a great Tribe of the Royal Combatants under this Banner of Christ fighting to Death with Immortal Glory set down before the Saints Banner is the Cross of Christ God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 In this Cross or Banner Christ carries in it as the Trophy of his Victory and Motto for the Comfort of Sinners that Hand-Writing of Ordinance above mentioned and this is the Magna Charta of Believers Col. 2.14 He that Believeth on him shall never perish but have Eternal Life John 3.14 to 18. Thirdly The third Encouragement for chearful fighting is Christs express Will and Command Let not your Hearts be Troubled you believe in God believe also in me c. Jo. 14. to 5. Rejoyce always yea I say rejoyce evermore Col. 3.16 17. The whole Scripture is full of Exhortations of the Godly's Rejoycing in God Let the Hearts of them that seek the Lord rejoyce again rejoyce in the Lord always I say again rejoyce in the Lord Ps 105. all Phi. 4.4 the Combatants under Christs Banner have peculiar Reasons of chearfulness beyond all others First For that their General was never defeated neither can be for how is it possible that Wisdom Power and Experience which Christ is in himself can be Defeated Secondly All other Souldiers fight in Hopes of Victory here the Victory is insured and already obtained Christ hath already fought the Battel and Christians are but to follow chearfully and receive the Prize He hath trod the Wine-press of his Fathers Wrath and none of the People were with him Is 63. to 5. He is that only High Priest and Sacrifice for Sinners and is the Blood of Sprinkling Heb. 12.4 Heb. 4.15 16. He is our Fore-runner and Harbinger to take possession for us within the Vail Heb. 6.20 He is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7.27 He is offered up once for all By his own Blood he obtained Redemption for Sinners to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 12.27 He is our Advocate to make intercession for us 1 Jo. 2.1 Thirdly All the Soldiers Wounded in this Conflict are Healed and Cured by the Balsom of his Blood He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and with his Stripes we are Healed Is 53.5 O Mistical Balm of Gilead doth any Generals Blood prove the Soldiers Balsom but that of Jesus Christ the lives of Millions of Soldiers are Sacrificed to the Life of their General but this General dyed to save the Lives of his Soldiers God commendeth his Love towards us for while we were yet Sinners Christ dyed for us Ro. 4 25. Ro. 5.9 10. Fourthly Those who fight under this Banner shall never be overcome even though they fight to Death they may be troubled but not destroyed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 1 Cor. 4.8 9 10. They may be killed all the day long and counted as Sheep for the Slaughter and yet in all this be more than Conquerors Ps 44.22 Ro. 8.36 37. He hath so Framed Fitted Fashioned and prepared them in a spiritual Building and Frame by putting his invincible Spirit in them Eze. 36.26 27. and so Armed and Disciplined them in a Spiritual Warfare that they are invincible they have on the whole Compleat Armor of God that though their fighting be against Principalities and Powers and spiritual wickednesses in high places they are secured against all assaults enabled to fight all Battels and though they should and must resist unto Blood and in this fight lose their Carnal Life yet shall they be gainers and victorious Eph. 6.12 to 19. He that saveth his Life shall lose it and he that loseth his Life shall find it Mat. 10.29 He that raiseth up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up and present us with him 2 Cor. 4.14 Fear not him that can kill the Body and do no more but fear him that can destroy both Soul and Body in Hell Mat. 10.28 Fifthly Christ's Soldiers are not straglers but are all chosen of God from the beginning of the World and before the World was Romans 9.8 11 16. Ro. 8.29 30. They are all Named Marked Listed and Entred in Christs Muster-Roll of his Saints they have the Mark of God The White Stone and New Name and on them the Name of God and the Name of the City of God Rev. 7.3 ch 14.14 ch 2.7 ch 3.8 12. so that they cannot be lost stolen or forced from their Colours having Gods Name and Mark on them Eze. 8.4 5. Sixthly They are all given of God to the General Christ Jesus and I have manifested thy Name unto the Men which thou gavest me out of the World thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy Word Jo. 17.6 12 15 24. They are peculiarly guarded and kept by Christ that they may not be lost but are preserved against all evil Ps 91. all Is 54.10 they are protected against all Poysonous or hurtful Weapons no Weapon framed against thee shall prosper and every Tongue which shall rise against thee in Judgment shalt thou Condemn this is the Heritage of the Lord and their Righteousness is of me saith the Lord Is 49.2 16. They are in Christs own keeping so that they are graven on the Palms of his Hands and are Eternally preserved to the enjoyment of God and to be set on his Throne and When he maketh up his Jewels they are spared Rev. 3.24 Mal. 3.17 Seventhly This one thing more is peculiar to Christs Army whereas in other Armies the Soldiers some are pressed others hired of divers Nations Languages Judgments Interests and Perswasions all Christs are Volunteers Thy People shall be a willing People in the Day of thy Power Ps 110.3 They are all of one Spirit with Christ he puts his Spirit within them Eze. 36.25 26. Jer. 32.39 They are all united to Christ and are of one mind and Will with him one in us as we are one John 17.21 They are all of one mind and unanimous amongst