be waited for till the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven but even now those that with the heart believe in him They are made by faith the righteousness of God in Christ Christ is made of God to them righteousness their sins are forgiven them for his name sake he loveth them and washeth them therefrom in his own Blood and they are made accepted in the beloved And he in the body of his flesh through death doth and will present them holy unblameable and unrebukeable in his sight they continuing in the faith grounded and setled and not being moved from the hope of the Gospel Col. 1. 22 23. Oh infinite Grace of God in Christ to sinners Oh blessed and everlasting righteousness How might this move his Angels and Churches to buy this White raiment this blessed covering here commended to us and set before us Isa 61. 10. And the fruits of this righteousness believed do cover the shame of our nakedness from men Hence that Behold I come as a Thief blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his Garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame Rev. 16. 15. 2. This White raiment is that also wherewith we may be clothed that is to say covered from the Rain and Storm of Gods wrath and from the evil of all adversities and afflictions This is one use of raiment as to cover our nakedness so also to be a covering from the Storms and Cold that otherwise would annoy and hurt us so it is here Jesus Christ who of God is made to the believers righteousness and who is become White raiment doth hide and secure them from the evil of all judgments wrath and afflictions c. So when the Psalmist had been saying Thou hast covered all the sins of thy people he addeth Thou hast taken away all thy wrath Psal 85. 2 3. Riches profit not in a day of wrath but righteousness delivereth from death The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness Prov. 10. 2. 11. 4-6-8 The Branch of the Lord and the fruit of the Earth is a place of refuge and a Covert from Storm and from Rain Isa 4. 2-5 This man is an hiding place from the wind and a Covert from the Storm a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is as a Storm against the Wall and shall appear gloriously so to be when he shall reign in righteousness Isa 25. 1-4 32. 1 2. Being justified by Faith we have by faith Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ even deliverance from his wrath and from the fears and terrours thereof Rom. 5. 2. 15. 13. Oh blessed priviledge the wrath of God abideth not on him who with the heart believeth unto righteousness so as to harm or hurt him but this White raiment covereth and clotheth him so that when Gods judgments are poured forth and they occasion trembling to the outward man Yet he can by Faith and in Spirit rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of his Salvation Habak 3. 16-18 And whatever fatherly chastisements God be ordering to such an one yet it is in love and faithfulness and to a gracious end even for his profit that he may be made more a partaker of his holiness Heb. 12. 6-11 And such also shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of all evil Prov. 1. 33. Psal 91. So as when in the World they have tribulation yet in Christ who hath overcome the World they shall have peace Joh. 16. 33. Philip. 4. 7. On this account Salvation and Righteousness may be so often put together as Psal 98. 2. Isa 45. 8. 46. 13. 51. 5-8 56. 1. 62. 1 c. Yea and Salvation and righteousness are put one for another as whereas in 2 Chron. 6. 41. It is thus voted and desired Let thy Priests be clothed with Salvation it is thus rendred Psal 132. 8 9. Let thy Priests be clothed with righteousness And again in answer to that Prayer and desire it is said I will cloth her Priests with Salvation Ver. 16. I say on this account Righteousness and Salvation may be so oft put together and one put for another to signifie that this Raiment will save and secure us as from our sins so from all storms tempests rain judgments afflictions c. I mean from the evil of them now and hereafter fully and gloriously from them all Upon the wicked God shall rain snares fire and brimstane and an horrible tempest this the portion of their Cup but it shall not be the portion of them that are clothed with this Raiment of righteousness For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness Psal 11. 6 7. This is armour on the right hand and on the left to defend them from evil that put it on 2 Cor. 6. 7. And such are instructed and strengthened not to fear the reproch of men nor be afraid of their revilings because they shall perish But this righteousness shall be for ever and this Salvation from generation to generation And the work of this righteousess â—â—all be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever Isa â—1 6 7 8. 32 17. Yea and this White raiment is not only proper and effectual to save and secure from Storms and Cold but also to warm and make not lukewarm ones to make them fervent in Spirit in seeking and serving the Lord and to cause them forgetting the things that are behind and reaching forth to the things that are before to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ Philip. 3. 6-9 14 15. 3. With this White raiment also his Angels and Churches may be clothed that is to say Adorned So Garments are used amongst men for Ornament and it is fully true of this White raiment it is an excellent Ornament and it doth greatly adorn and beautify those that put it on those Garments are wonderfully beautiful in themselves and give an Ornament of Grace to the head of those that buy them Prov. 1. 9. 4. 9. Isa 52. 1. This is that which doth beautify them in the eyes of God so as they are accepted of him and delighted in by him So the Church acknowledgeth That the Lord God had covered her with righteousness as a Bridegroom deâ—â—â—eth himself with Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with her Jewels Isa 61. 10. As intimating this is an excellent Ornament and Jewel So the Prophet saith The Lord himself shall be to them that come to Christ as the rest and foundation a Diadem of beauty and as a comely Ornament and adorning attire Isa 28. 5-12-16 Jer. 2. 31 32. This is that which maketh his Church all glorious within Psal 45. 13. This inward adorning is in the sight of God of great price 1 Pet. 3. 3. Yea this is a Kingly and Priestly Ornament and therefore it is called a Robe 't
their Hearts the Spirit of his Son Gal 4. 6. He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said saith Christ out of his belly shall flow Rivers of living Waters But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive Hence Christ's being in the believers and the Spirit 's being in them are used indifferently to signifie in having him we may and shall have the Spirit also for it is given to him without measure and put upon him and resteth on him to fit and furnish him for the work the father hath appointed him to do and to dispense to us according to our needs conditions and capacities John 7. 37 39. Rom. 8. 9 11. John 3. 34. Isa 42. 1. 61. 1. 11 1 3. And in being made Sons they have by virtue of their union with and relation to Christ right and title to and interest in that inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away If Sons then Heirs Heirs of God and Co heirs with Christ and if Christ's then are they Abraham's seed and Heirs according to Promise Rom. 8. 17. Gal. 3. 17. He that hath the Son hath life hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation 1 John 5. 11. John 3. 36. He that hath him is a Subject of God's peculiar Love and Grace loved with other manner of love then any of those without him are loved withall God will love him and Christ will love him and manifest himself unto him He that findeth him findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Prov. 8. 35. In having him we have the promises to Abraham and his Seed they were made not to seeds as of many but to one even Christ they were originally made to him and confirmed in him and established by his Blood for he is the Amen and secondarily in coming unto and believing in him to all believers In being Christ's they are Abraham's seed and so the Promises are theirs Gal. 3. 16 17 26 29 Those that are born of him are the Children of the Promise .. Rom 9. 7 8. Yea in receiving him in the Testimony they receive him also who sent him Mat. 10. 40. They have fellowship with Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1. 9. And so his father is their father his Spirit is their Spirit his Gospel their Gospel his promises their promises his inheritance their inheritance his servants their servants his Glory their Glory his Brethren and Companions their Brethren and Companions his receivers their receivers and his Enemies their Enemies Yea as all things are delivered to him of the father so by faith all things are theirs whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas whether those that had the Gospel of the Circumcision committed to them or the Gospel of the Uncircumcision or whether such who as wise Master-builders laid the foundation or such as built thereupon or the world the men and things of the world or life to be maintained and continued as and while it may be good for them or death all afflictions trials temptations necessities straits poverty persecutions yea death it self is gain to them or things present those things now acted done and enjoyed or things to come at the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ all is theirs and they are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 21 23. Even as in Earthly and natural Gold all the things of this world are summarily included and infolded as it were and are had in having it a man may have such Food Raiment Physick Habitation Honour Friendship as he desireth so and much more truly and compleatly may it be said of and applied to Jesus Christ as with respect to durable and Heavenly things In him God hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in Heavenly things yea he himself is said to be the things themselves which are in him because they are infolded in him and may be and shall be certainly had and partaken of in receiving and enjoying him As to instance a little particularly as in him is redemption so he is made of God to the believer redemption Eph. 1. 7. with 1 Cor 1. 30. As in him is life God hath given us Eternal life and this life is in his Son So he is our life he is the true God and Eternal life 1 John 5. 11. with Col. 3. 3 4. 1 John 5. 20. As in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom so he is made of God to them that are in him Wisdom Christ is the Wisdom of God Col. 2. 3. with 1 Cor. 1. 24. 30. As in him is righteousness so he is the righteousness of God And his name is Jehovah our righteousness Isa 45. 24. with Rom. 3. 21. Jer. 23. 6. As in him is Salvation Neither is there Salvation in any other so he is the Salvation of God which he hath prepared before the face of all people Acts 4. 12. with Luke 2. 30 31. As in him is Peace so he is our Peace This man shall be the Peace c. John 26. 33. with Ephes 2 14. Mica 5. 5. As in him there is Consolation so he is Consolation fit and proper to comfort any one in any tribulations and the Consolation of Israel Phil. 2. 1. with Luke 2. 25. Yea as in him is all fulness so he is all Col. 1. 19. with Chap. 3. 11. And hence the Spouse rejoyceth in this and declareth this to be the sum and compleatment of her blessedness and happiness My beloved is mine I am his Cant. 2. 16. 6. 3. And the Psalmist crieth out Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73 25. And the Prophet The Lord is my portion saith my soul therefore I will hope in him Lam. 3. 24. Yea this word of the Lord who in the last Ages was made flesh setteth this as compleat and satisfying consolation and incouragement before Abraham Fear not Abraham I am thy Shield and thy exceeding great reward Gen. 15. 1. And indeed this is the sum of all blessedness now and hereafter to have him to be ours Oh Blessed is every such an one who hath the Lord for his God For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield he will give Grace and Glory c. Psal 33. 12. 146. 5. 84. 10 11. Gen. 17. 7. 2 Cor. 6. 16 17. Rev. 21. 3 7. Yea in having him we shall not only have in and with him all things that are Spiritual and Heavenly but in seeking first his Kingdom and the righteousness thereof all other things shall be added to us which are good and needful thereto such meat drink and apparel such food and raiment and all accomodations as may conduce unto our seeking more to know him win him and be found in him Mat. 6. 33. Godliness even God who was manifested in the flesh justified in the Spirit who is the root and foundation of Godliness and
NEEDFUL COUNSEL FOR Lukewarm Christians BEING A CONSIDERATION OF Some part of the Message sent to the ANGEL OF THE CHURCH in LAODICEA By CHARLES PHELPES a Servant of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of the Grace of God to Mankind PROV 19. 20 21. Hear counsel and receive instruction that thou maiest be wise in thy latter end There are many devices in a mans heart nevertheless the counsel of the Lord that shall stand LONDON Printed for Benjamin Southwood at the Starr next to Sergeants-Inn in Chancery Lane 1672. TO THE READER THough this Epistle a part whereof is spoken to in the ensuing Treatise was directly and expresly sent to the Angel and Church in Laodicea yet it also as well as the rest of the Messages or Epistles was spoken by the holy Spirit unto the Churches in general and therefore every one that hath an ear is exhorted and called upon to hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Rev. 3. 22. And it is therefore of concernment for others for all that have received the Word of the beginning of Christ to mind and consider what is reproved and faulted in this Angel and Church what is threatned to them and the counsel given by the Amen to cure their distemper and prevent the judgement It is possible that other Angels and Churches and particular persons who have formerly been called to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and who have received the word of God as it is in truth the word of God may also suffer a decay of those things that have been wrought in them by the glorious Gospel and grow remiss heartless and indifferent as it fared with this Angel and Church and as our Saviour hath premonished that because iniquity should abound the love of many would wax cold Matt. 24. 12. And especially toward the time of the end he hath foretold us there would be a generall security in such as are of his Churches and people in such as profess to wait for and attend his coming as he signifieth in that parable of his mentioned Matt. 25. 1-5 In which he saith not as in many other Parables The kingdom of Heaven is like c. But Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened by those therein unto Ten Virgins which went forth to meet the Bridegroom And while the Bridegroom tarried they all slumbred and slept They did not with zeal and fervency hear Christ watching daily at at his Gates waiting at the posts of his doors that they might find him as his grace instructeth and is operating in those that have it and yield up themselves to it Prov. 8. 34. 35. But in too great a measure were grown slothful heartless and secure And surely this is written and recorded for our admonition and warning upon whom the ends of the world are come to the intent we might give such earnest and diligent heed to the things we have heard the word of Christ which is as a fire that our hearts might burn within us and be inflamed with love to him and filled with such an high prizing of him and the unsearchable riches of him as to sell and forgo all we have for the excellency of him and them that we may gain him and be found in him Luk. 24. 26 27 32. Jer. 23. 29. Seeing then that it is possible and may so come to pass that others yea any who have received the grace of God may become Lukewarm and neither hot nor cold and may go backward and not forward Jer. 7. 24. If they abid not in Christ Jesus as they have received him it is good and needful for us all to examine our selves in the light of the Lord and search our hearts and ways that we may see and discern what manner of persons we are and what discovery the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ maketh of us Let us not rest contented in any good thoughts we may have of our selves For not he that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10. 18. Nor let us conclude that we are in a good condition because others may think well and speak highly of us that are our brethren and companions for a man may have a name among the Churches that he liveth and yet be dead Rev. â— â— But let every man prove and approve his own work and then shall he have his rejoycing in himself alone and not in another not in another's good thought or opinion of him Gal. 6. 4. We may have run well in former times we may have run from all our own things unto Christ and followed him through good report and bad report and yet now be letted and hindered from that fervent demeanour and exercise our selves Gal. 5. 7 8. We may have been called unto Christ and called according to purpose and yet again be removed from him that called us into the grace of Christ Gal. 1. 6. We may have gone after him in the Wilderness as it were and yet now go far from him and walk after vanity and become vain and so grieve him and his good spirit by whom we have been called to the knowledge of the truth Jer. 2. 2-5 Let us not then be high minded but fear Let us noâ— say inâ—â—ur hearts our mountain is so setled that we can never be moved our hearts have been and are so upright with him and close cleaving to him that we cannot depart from him But let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall 1 Cor. 10. 12. And come we to the light that our selves and deeds may be made manifest and discovered Joh. 3. 20 21. That if this loathsome iniquity of Lukewarmness be with us we may cleanse our selves there-from lest we provoke him who is slow to anger to abhor us and to sp 〈…〉 out of his mouth And be we well assured of this that if once we entertain and retain such high and unsober thoughts of our selves and of our attainments and injoyments as to say We are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing and so shut the door upon and against Christ Jesus and suffer him to stand and knock thereas we shall but deceive our selves if we imagine we are free from this nauseous distemper we may then be confident that blindness hath happened to us in some yea in a great measure and may upon sure grounds judge and conclude our selves to be like to this Angel and Church and fear he will deal with us as he threatneth to do to these if we continue and persist in our high thoughts of our selves For Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty Spirit before a fall Prov. 16. 18. He will save the afflicted humbled people those who are poor in spirit who have nothing to glory in before God but the Lord Jesus Christ and him crucified But his eyes are upon the haughty that he may bring them down 2 Som. 22. 28. 1 Cor. 1. 29-31 Oh! Let
Idols and to fulfill in them the whole good pleasure of God's goodness and the work of faith with power And were the faith the word of faith believed with the heart it would work by love as from God's love as the motive of it so in the exercise of love toward Christ and God in him so as to part with all as loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ that they might win him and be found in him and towards men and brethren Galat. 5. 6. And truly he is one who knoweth mens works and without respect of persons judgeth according thereto 1 Pet. 1. 17. Men may appear to be somewhat when they are nothing and profess themselves to believe on the name of the onely begotten Son of God whise notwithstanding they love darkness their sins and vanities rather then light Joh. 3. 18 19. They may have a great many leaves upon them and make a fair face in the flesh while yet thier works may not be upright before him But these he taketh notice off as here he saith I know thy works But what did he observe in his taking notice of their works and pondering them Surely he saw that their works were not perfect before him and thence saith and observeth That thou art neither cold nor hot Not cold there was still some profession of the faith with them some seeking God waiting upon him and approching to him they had not wholly lest off all professed worshipping shipping of him and calling upon his name but still reckoned themselves Christians they might still read and hear and pray and speak one to another and have some use of the ordinances of Christ among them and have a form of godliness they had not wholly and professedly left off the thing that was good but there was some warmth with them still and they might and did surely assemble themselves together for they were yet reckoned by Christ a Church of his a Golden-candlestick that did in some measure receive and bear forth the light yea there might appear with them a great deal of fervency in their outward professions and behaviours of themselves They were not cold Nor hot Not zealous vers 19. Not fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Rom. 12. 11. Their hearts did not burn within them Luk. 24. 32. They were not inflamed with love to him and the things of his kingdome Or as considering the scope of the place they were not hot that is they did not so value Christ and the things above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God the things most excellent that durable riches and righteousness in Christ as to buy them with a relinquishing and selling all that they had they did not so highly value Jesus Christ that pearl of great price as to part with their sins and idols and to go on to count all but loss and dung that they might be made partakers of him to hate Father and Mother Wife and Children Brethren and Sisters yea and their own lives also for the sake of Christ Jesus and to take up their cross and follow him That this is here meant by hot appeareth by the counsel he giveth them I counsel thee to buy of me Gold c. And by the reason and end of his rebuking and chastening them that they might be zealous and that their zeal might be exercised and evidenced in receiving and obeying that counsel and so in buying vers 19. And by his call to them and desire of their attention behold I stand at the door and knock vers 20. He was not readily received it seemeth but the door was shut against him and somewhat else entertained in his room and stead and he was fain to knock for admission and entrance and to stand there till his head was filled with dew and his locks with the drops of the night as Cant. 5. 2. While they gave their love to others and took in others instead of their husband and imbraced the bosome of a Stranger This was the heat they were destitute of and in this sense they were not hot they did not forsake all things for Christ Jesus they were as silly doves without heart professedly waiting upon God but yet retaining sin in their hands or double mindedness in their hearts Hos 7. 11. Or they were seeking their own things their praise honour glory name or to establish a righteousness to themselves and though they might appear to be and might be zealous yet not in a good matter Gal. 4. 18. They were like to a man that hearing of an excellent commodity at such a Mart or Market goeth thereto he is not so cold as to stay at home but taketh so much pains as to go to the place where it may be had and looketh upon it and liketh it and heareth delightfully what is spoken in commendation of it and taketh delight in approching to it but yet he is not so hot as to come up to the price of it though he may bid somewhat and be willing to part with something yet he hath not such an high estimate of and affection to it as to preferr it before all other things and to purchase it how dear soever it be Truly such an one though he be not cold yet he is not hot such a man is hot that is resolved to have such a commodity whatever it cost him that spareth no pains or cost In such a sense they were not hot they were not so cold as wholly to desist from a professed waiting at Wisdom's postes but they might come and sit before God as his people and hear his words and it might be as a lovely and pleasant song to hear what was spoken in the praise and commendation of that Gold tried in the fire c. But still their hearts went after their covetousness or their pride and high thoughts of themselves they conceited themselves to be rich and encreased with goods and therefore did not forsake all that they had for Christ they did not so highly prize him nor so ardently affect him as to count and go on to count all other things as dung and dogs meat in comparison of him Ezek. 33. 31 32. Oh let us search and try our hearts in the light of God's testimony and see if we also be not such manner of persons such Lukewarm ones as these were to whom this counsel was given the testimony of Christ the perfect law of liberty is a faithful glass that giveth a true and impartial discovery of all things and persons it pierceth even to the dividing asunder of Soâ—l and Spirit and Joints and Marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. Therein let us examine our selves and not trust to our own hearts or lean to our own understandings for the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked above all things and he that trusteth therein is a fool Our wisdom and understanding will pervert us and make
us believe we are hot when indeed we are but lukewarm We may seem hot in hearing in praying in conferring in contending for the faith of the common Salvation in frequenting the assemblies of Gods people in speaking one to another and to others we may have a form of Knowledg and appear zealous in visiting other Societies of Gods people and take much pains and be at much cost yea we may lavish Gold out of the Bag and weigh Silver in the Ballance and as the Apostle saith in another case give all our goods to feed the poor and for pious uses and yet be but lukewarm still and set up the stumbling block of our iniquity before our eyes and do all this to deck our Idol with we may not be hot notwithstanding all this not willing to be redeemed from our iniquities or love to our Idols and though we may appear fervent yet not be so in seeking and serving the Lord but be seeking our own things our own name praise applause the life of our own hands we may be desirous of vain Glory or do these things to consume upon our lusts Oh let us come to the light of the Lord and therein view our selves our hearts and ways and as therein our Lukewarmness is discovered let us cleanse our selves therefrom in the light and strength of Gods Grace which bringeth Salvation to all men 2 Cor. 7. 1. This is the iniquity the provoking iniquity of those in Gods Church in his Vineyard that they are not Hot for though they cannot heat themselves but must be heated with a Cole from his Altar yet unto and in in their turning at his reproofs and letting go the things faulted and discovered to be evil and unprofitable He would pour out his Spirit to them and make known his words which are as fire and would even make their hearts burn within them Prov. 1. 23. with Jer. 23. 29. Luke 24. 32. The light of Israel would be as a fire unto them And this is that he expecteth from those in his Church not only that they be not Cold but that they be Hot not only that they hear pray assemble conferr approch to him and have a name among the Churches that they live which they may have while they are dead Rev. 3. 1. but that they have such an estimate of Christ and the things of him as to count all other things but vile and unprofitable in comparison of him and so that they be hot in buying the truth with selling all that they have such is the excellency of this blessed Treasure presented before them and commended to them and such advantages they have in the Church to see the Beauty and Glory of it and to hear of its preciousness in their assemblings together and such their fellowships together that they might have heat begotten preserved and increased among them Eccles 4. 11. and therefore he expecteth from them that they should be zealous he may say to them as to his Vineyard of old What could have been done more to my Churches that I have not done in them that they might have counted all things as loss for my sake even the things most gainful and been filled with zeal as hot as fire in seeking the knowledge and enjoyment of me and promoting the things of my Kingdom even with such zeal as would have consumed them and made them ready and willing to forsake and forget all for me and when notwithstanding all his goodness and graciousness to them they are still destitute of this heat and ardency of affection to him oh this incenseth him against them and provoketh him to anger who is slow thereto and so much is signified to us in what followeth I would thou wert cold or Hot. As if he should say I cannot away with this temper or distemper of thine as Ver. 16. it is very offensive and provoking to me and therefore I wish thou wert rid of thy loathsom temper and wert either Cold or Hot It is somewhat like to what Elijah saith to the Israelites why halt ye between two opinions if God be God follow him but if Baal then follow him 1 Kings 18. 21. Or like to the saying of Joshuah If it seem evil to you to serve the Lord in sincerity and truth with a putting away the Gods which your fathers served chuse you this day whom you will serve whether the the Gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood or the Gods of the Amorites in whose Lands ye dwell Josh 24. 14 15. As if he should say do not make a shew of serving the Lord while together therewith you do indeed serve your Idols But either be hot in serving him onely and sincerely and put away and renounce your Idols or else be Cold and leave off your professed waiting on him and follow such other Gods as you shall chuse this neutrality and indifferency is very displeasing and unbearable to him in his Church and Vineyard this Samaritanisme in which men fear the Lord and serve their own Gods and indeed it is reputed by him as not fearing him at all 2 Kings 17. 32 34. His Grace instructeth moveth and strengtheneth us to love and cleave to him with all our Heart Soul Mind and strength Mark 12. 29 30. but when the heart is divided then shall men befound faulty Hos 10. 12. But here we might for our usefulness propose these two Questions Question 1. Whether seeing this faithful Counsellor wisheth that they were either Cold or Hot it be alike to him which of them they were or whether it were all one to him whether they were Cold or Hot Answer No surely he is not indifferent herein he would rather they were Hot in buying the Truth and giving hearty entertainment to him and therefore he counselleth them To buy of him Gold tryed in the fire that they might be rich Ver. 18. And therefore be rebuketh them sharply reproveth them and chasteneth them that they might be zealous and repent Ver. 19. And therefore he standeth at the door and knocketh that they might open unto him receive him and entertain him heartily Ver. 20. Nor was it alike to the Prophet when he reproveth the Israelites for halting between two opinions whether they followed God or Baal for he earnestly desired that they might joyn to and heartily and sincerely follow the Lord God of Israel and to that end Prayeth Hear me O Lord hear me that this people may know that thou art the Lord God and that thou hast turned their heart back again 1 Kings 18. 37. And the like we may say of Joshuah Chap. 24. 15. Christ is in the bosome of the father and knoweth his heart and thoughts and hath revealed that God is not willing that any man should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3 9. and still he is more unwilling that any of those little ones that have tasted of his graciousness should perish
passeth all understanding and seeing what treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Christ oh what cause should we see to be abased and to bewail our dim-sightedness and shortness of understanding and comprehending these things and see cause to complain of and acknowledge our great incompleatness in our selves and in conformity unto him yea to cry out of our uncleanness unlovingness barrenness leanness and witheredness If the Apostle could confess of himself and his Brethren that they saw in part and knew in part and that their present knowledge was as far short of that attainable and hereafter to be enjoyed as a Child's knowledge of the understanding of a man what cause have we rather to humble our selves and hide us in the dust who are so far short of what they had attained to 1 Cor. 13 9 12. Surely his Grace is vouchsafed to us to lay us low and hide pride from us and break us off from our high thoughts of our selves and though the Spirit that dwelleth in us as of us lusteth to envy and leadeth us to lift up our selves yet he giveth more Grace Grace abounding and exceeding the corruption of our natural Spirit that our lofty looks may be humbled and our haughty hearts bowed down wherefore he saith God resisteth the proud but giveth Grace to the humble Jam. 4. 5 6. Humble we our selves therefore under the mighty hand of God and suffer we those high thoughts of our selves to be purged out of us and mortified or otherwise we shall never be servent in Spirit in seeking the Lord and yielding up our selves unto him The Apostle saw it needful and profitable to give this admonition to every one of the believers that they should not think more highly of themselves or of their parts gifts and attainments then they ought to think but to think soberly and this he giveth unto them through the Grace given to him and to that end he giveth it That they might present their bodies as moved and strengthened by the Mercies of God a living Sacrifice to him c. And not be conformed to this world but be transformed according to the renewing of their mind c. Rom. 12. 1 3. Implying that if they had unsober thoughts of themselves and did think of themselves above what was meet this would hinder them from an hearty yielding up themselves to the Lord as those alive from the dead and their members as instruments of righteousness unto holiness they would otherwise be apt to think and say They had need of nothing and so expose themselves to wrath as here Because thou sayst I am rich rich in knowledge and utterance the unsober taking notice hereof is very hurtful and pernicious and puffeth up men bloweth them up like a Bladder 1 Cor. 8. 1. And maketh them grow careless and negligent when opportunities are afforded to them for buying that Gold tryed in the fire and to despise and set light by those helps afforded them of God And increased with goods they intimate that time was when they were poor and had nothing but now they are inlarged and grown rich and their substance is increased Time was when they were in bondage to the Law or rudiments of this world and were without Christ and God in the world but now they are the Temple of the Lord the Church of Christ they are not like others or like to what sometimes they themselves were they have now excellent ornaments they have a great gift of prayer and can inlarge themselves therein they can speak freely and fluently for the truth they can plead and contend earnestly for the faith of the common Salvation and have so much to say for it and such strong and weighty Arguments that they can silence opposers and so stop their mouths that they have nothing material to say they have much mortified their corruptions subdued their lusts cleansed their ways escaped the pollutions of the world and have put on bowels of mercy kindness meekness long-suffering temperance sobriety c. They were become like those that trusted in and whose heart was lifted up because of their beauty and who made to themselves Images of God's fair lewels of his Gold and Silver which he gave them Ezek. 16. 4. 19. 28. 17 And have need of rothing or of no Man need of no Instruments though they did not leave off the assemblings of themselves together but seemed to take delight in approching to God yet they knew all already that could be said to them they needed nothing to be perfected in them for they had nothing lacking nothing to be healed for there was nothing lame in them they needed no teaching they were such knowing persons and had such great understanding they had need of no edification they had attained already they needed no reproof they were clean in their own eyes and free from those evils that others might charge them with and fault them for they were even saying Blessed be the Lord for we are rich God we thank thee we are not like other men we have all we desire to have we have need of nothing this was not only their thought but their Language they so said concerning themselves But what account did the faithful and true witness who will not lye give of them For it is not be that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10. 18. Did he confirm their saying and witness the same of them which they said of themselves No they were their own witnesses he giveth them to understand that they were greatly mistaken and deceived in that he saith and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked What a great mistake and error was here Do those that are so highly conceited of themselves think their case is so sad No these knew not their high and unsober thoughts of themselves blinded them and made them worse then fools Prov. 26. 12. And their blindness and ignorance was apparent and their shame and nakedness visible to such as had their eyes open they were blind and yet they thought and said they saw and truly ignorant persons usually are most highly conceited of themselves as the Apostle Paul signifieth when he saith I would not have you ignorant lest you be wise in your own conceits Rom. 11. 25. They thought themselves to be rich and full and see how empty and poor they were while they thought themselves to be something as men may do when they are nothing they deceived themselves Gal. 6. 3. And if any thinketh he knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8. 3. The fool regeth and is confident thinketh himself to be in a good and happy condition that he hath need of nothing is so secure that he can never be moved but the wise man seareth he is not high-minded but feareth he is always jealous of himself and departeth from evil Prov. 14. 16. with Rom. 11.
also in him we are compleat because he is the head of all principality and power Heb. 1. 4 14. Ephes 1. 20 22. Col. 2. 10. This man was counted worthy of more honour then Moses who was the Mediator of the first Testament inasmuch as he who buildeth the house hath more honour then the house Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a Servant But Christ not as a servant but as a Son not in only but over his own house He is the Lord of it and hath dominion over it and he only Ephes 4. 5 1 Cor. 8. 5 6. Heb. 3. 2 6. 10. 21. And he hath obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also he is the Mediatour of a better Testament established upon better promises Heb. 8. 6. He is a more excellent High Priest then was Aaron or any of the high Priests under the Law A more excellent person they the Sons of men he is Jesus the Son of God Heb. 4. 14. they had infirmity but he is holy harmless undefiled separate from Sinners and made higher then the Heavens Heb. 7. 26 28. they were made after the law of a carnal commandment but he after the power of an endless life Heb. 7. 16 17. they were made Priests without an oath but he with an oath Heb. 7. 20 21. They were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death But this man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood which passeth not from him to any other to no Vicar on earth wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him c. Heb. 7. 24 25. They ministred about a worldly sanctuary but he is the Minister of the sanctuary and true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man Heb. 9. 1. 8. 2. They offered up sacrifices which could never take away sin for it was not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats could take away sin But this man when he had offered up one sacrifice for sins for ever even himself his own body once for all sate down on the right hand of God from ever offering any more a propitiatory sacrifice he needeth not daily as the former High Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the peoples for this he did once when he offered up himself Heb. 10. 1 12. 7. 27. They entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but he into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us he is set on the right hand of the throne of majesty in the Heavens Heb. 8. 1. 9. 24. He is more excellent then all Kings and Prophets in former times he is anointed with the oyl of gladness above his fellows Heb. 1. 9. God hath set this King upon his holy hill of Zion and raised up him a Prophet whom all are to hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto them and whosoever will not hear this Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people Acts 3. 22 23. He is excellent in wisdom above all men for God hath not given the spirit by measure unto him yea he is greater therein then Solomon who was wiser then all men 1 King 4. 29 31. with Matt. 12. 42. He is more excellent then the mountains of Prey Psal 76. 4. This man is more precious then fine gold even this man then the golden wedge of Ophir Isa 13. 12. Man knoweth not the price of this excellent one this wisdom that is from above neither is it found in the land of the living it cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir with the precious onyx or the Saphire the gold and the crystal cannot equal it no mention shall be made of coral or of pearls for the price of wisdom is above rubies The Topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it neither shall it be valued with pure Gold Job 28. 13 19. He that came down and cometh down from above is above all above all other persons and things Wisdom is better then rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to him Job 3. 31. Prov. 8. 10 11. He is more excellent then all the priviledges of the flesh and then all our works of righteousness zeal devotions frames and qualifications and therefore the Apostle counted those things that were formerly gain to him and in which was his life confidence and consolation loss for Christ yea he went on to count all things as loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ that he might win him c. Phil. 3. 4. 9. Oh! happy is the man that findeth Wisdom For she is more precious then Rubies yea all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her Prov. 3. 13 15. There is none so excellent none so inriching as is this Spiritual and Heavenly Gold He doth more yea inexpressibly more exceed all other persons and things then natural Gold doth excell all other Metals whatsoever 3. He is called and compared to Gold because as Money answereth all things in having Gold tried Gold a man may have any thing here below Eccles 10. 19. So it is most fully and compleatly true here now by faith and in some spiritual first fruits and shall be hereafter in the Harvest and in a compleatly satisfying and glorious injoyment He that hath Christ hath all things in such a maner as he hath and enjoyeâ— him The father hath so loved the Son because he fell into the ground and died and rose again in that his own personal body that he hath given and delivered all things unto him and filled him with all fulness he is become a Fountain of Grace and Truth a Treasury of all forgiveness Wisdom Spirit and Life and in having and being made partakers of him those Treasures in him are also by faith received In him we have Redemption through his Blood even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of Gods Grace Eph. 1. 7. Col. 1. 14. To him give all the Prophets witness That through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive the forgiveness of sins Acts 10. 43. 13. 39. In this beloved one and in having him they are made accepted Ephes 1. 6. And have righteousness without works imputed to them they are made the righteousness of God in him So the Apostle signifieth that in winning Christ and being found in him He should have the righteousness which is through the saith of Christ Rom. 3. 22. 4 5 6. 10. 9 10. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Phil. 3. 8 9. To as many as receive him to them he giveth power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name John 1. 12. They are the Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus Gal. 3. 26. And because in having him they are Sons God hath given unto them and sent forth into
receiving and having him is profitable unto all things having the promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. with Chap. 3. 16. And this is great incouragement to seek him that we may be partakers of him For they that seek him shall not want any good thing Psal 84. 8 10. And this affordeth good cause to have our conversation without covetousness in him and in having him we have all things may do all things bear suffer indure part with all things as the Apostle saith I can do all things in Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. Oh! he is Gold indeed that answereth all things and therefore he may be first commended and commend himself to us under this expression of Gold in this place and elsewhere to instruct us that in having and buying this Gold we shall together herewith have all other things White raiment Eye-salve c. Job 28. 12-20 Prov. 3. 31-15 8. 10 11. 16. 16. Col. 2. 3. Mat. 13. 44-46 Length of days is in Wisdoms right hand which is so inriching and in her left hand riches and honour her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace she is a Tree of Life to all that lay hold on her and happy is every one that retaineth her Prov. 3. 15 18. She leadeth in the way of righteousness in the midst of the paths of judgment that she may cause those that love her to inherit substance and she will fill all their Treasures Prov. 8. 18-19 21. 4. He is called and compared to Gold because as Gold especially when tried is very delightful and desirable to the natural eye the eye of the body and that with which the heart is affected even so Jesus Christ is amiable to the inlightned eye of the understanding as he is displayed before us in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit the riches of this world and so Gold which is the most excellent part of it taketh the eye and delighteth the heart hence it is called The lust of the eye 1 John 2. 16. And the eye is said to flee upon this even as the Eagle or Hawk fleeth upon the prey as if the life did consist in the having and enjoying it though indeed it doth not Luke 12. 15. Prov. 23. 4 5. Thus Achan confesseth That when he saw two hundred shekels of Silver and a Wedge of Gold then be coveted them Josh 7. 21. It drew his affection to and desire after them Gold and the riches of this world are pleasing to the eye and affect hearts of men and cause them to love them trust in and glory in the enjoyment of them hence because of the vanity emptiness and uncertainty of them the Holy Ghost giveth such frequent admonitions Not to set the Eye upon them not to set the Heart upon them not to trust or glory in them c. Prov. 23 5. Psal 62. 10. 1 Tim. 6. 17. Jet 9. 23. And Holy men of God have prayed him to turn away their eyes from beholding this Object of covetousness Psal 119. 36 37. Which intimateth to us how desirable this is in itself and to us all naturally but behold a more excellent and pleasant Object We may say in this respect Jesus Christ may be called Gold because he is eminently and most fully desirable and taking to the Soul as he hath been tried in the first he is compleatly delightful and there is in him that which is powerful to draw the eye and attract the heart unto him and cause men to lust after him hence he is called The desire of all Nations because he is wholy and altogether desirable and is and hath in him eminently that which all Nations do desire and cover after viz. That which may give rest and satisfying to them though through their foolishness they are seeking it in wrong Objects even in that which is not Hag. 2. 7. Thus when the Spouse is describing the amiableness of her beloved the first account she giveth of him particularly is That his head is as the most sine Gold Cant. 5. 11. To intimate that in this respect he is very taking with and delightful to the Heart He is a wonderful enamouring Object as he is lifted up by the Spirit in the Testimony and which is very powerful to cause men to run unto him because of the Lord his God and for the Holy one of Israel for he hath glorified him hence we are so oftentimes called upon to be hold him So the father saith Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth Isa 42. 1-7 And Christ himself saith Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth Isa 45. 22. And again he saith Behold me behold me to a Nation that was not called by his name Isa 65. 1. And the Work of the Spirit is to glorifie Christ and to lift him up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness that men might look to him And that whosoever looketh to him and believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 16. 14. 3. 14. 15 And the work of the Spouse of all chaste ones is to discover his love and loveliness that men might come to Christ Thus when the Daughters of Jerusalem inquire of her What is thy beloved more then beloved O thou fairest among Women What is thy beloved more then beloved that thou dost so charge us She with much pleasure and contentment answereth My beloved is White and Ruddy the chiefest often thousands He is excellent as the Ceders his mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely this is my beloved and this is my friend O ye daughters of Jerusalem And this discovery of him was so taking with them that they also inquire whither he was gone that they might seek him with her her work and business is not to direct to her self and mainly to insist upon the commendation of her self as doth Mystery Babylon both Mother and Daughters who spend a great deal of time and use many Arguments to commend themselves and to prove themselves to be the true Catholick Church and that there is none like to them Oh what contentions are there amongst them on this account How greatly do they strive which shall be accounted the truest and chiefest Yea she is so far from this that she saith to the Daughters of Jerusalem Look not upon me but as she delighteth to behold and look upon her beloved so also to praise and commend him and make mention of his desirableness and praise-worthiness to others that they may enquire after and direct their Eyes unto this alluring Object and she is greatly pleased and in her Element as it were when she is speaking of and shewing forth his praises to others yea this is the end why they that believe are brought into and made of his Church and so greatly piviledged not that they might proclaim their
of God from him abideth not on any man on that account nor is any man held out from God because of his natural and necessary pollution simply The father henceforth judgeth no man otherwise then by Christ but hath committed all judgement to his Son Heb. 1. 3. Dan. 9. 24. Joh. 5. 22. And all that have sinned are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 3. 23 24. He once appeared in the end of the World to put away and abolish sin by the sacrifice of himself He was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin he hath not failed therein Heb. 9. 26. 1 Joh. 3. 5. Ezek. 18 2 3 4. He hath obtain'd also the forgiveness of our personal sins in which we sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression he hath obtained power to make reconciliation for the people Heb. 2. 17. Dan. 9. 24. he hath received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also Psal 68. 18. in him there is forgiveness and in his name it is preached unto all nations beginning at Jerusalem which was even the slaughter house of the Prophets and where our Lord was Crucified Luk. 24. 47. with chap. 13. 34. in him the Apostles had in their ministration to declare redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God's grace Ephes 1. 7. Col. 1. 14. This man when he had offered up one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God from ever offering up any new sacrifice or repeating or reiterating the former Heb. 10 10-12 7. 27. He hath also obtained a recovery of our loss all have sinned and come short of the glory of God in which and unto which they were created God made man in his image in a righteous and happy condition but man in seeking out many inventions thereby lost that image of God and Adam begat children in his own image Gen. 1. 26 27. Eccles 7. 29. Gen. 5. 3. But now Jesus Christ the second man hath restored that which he took not away he is the last Adam in whom mankind is again created in the image of God after a more glorious manner then in the first Adam He hath restored our nature in his person into the image of God into perfect innocency 1 Joh. 3. 5. 1 Pet. 1. 19. integrity righteousness immortality and eternal life Jam. 3. 9. 2 Tim. 1. 10. 1 Job 5. 10 11. Isa 45. 24. in him it hath pleased the father that all fulness should dwell and there is in him perfection for every man Col. 1. 18 19-28 2. 9 10. And he is become a quickening spirit and herein preferred before the first man Adam who was made a living Soul and abiding in that condition in which he was created might have conveighed life to his posterity but being fallen could not quicken dead ones neither himself nor any of his posterity But Christ is a quickening Spirit to quicken those that are dead in sins and trespasses 1 Cor. 15. 45. The living quickening bread that giveth life unto the dead world and they that eat him even they shall live by him John 6. 33-35-51-57 All things are here ready and prepared for all men in him he is made of God wisdom and righteousness c. And this righteousness he hath now openly shewed in the sight of the Heathen and hence all the Earth is called upon and exhorted to make a joyful noise unto the Lord to make a loud noise and rejoyce and sing Praise Psal 98. 1-5 Jesus Christ hath recovered all our loss into himself and is glorified in our nature with the Glory he had with the father before the World was John 17. 5. And he hath obtained the Inheritance of new Heavens and a new Earth of a better and more glorious Inheritance then the first man had in the first Creation and an excellent Dominion over the works of God's hand and so as with respect to these two last branches the Apostle sheweth to us that Christ who by the Grace of God tasted death for every man hath obtained that which the first Adam had and lost Compare Psal 8. 4-8 with Heb. 2. 6-9 And there shall be in due time a restitution of all things when God shall send us Jesus who now is preached to us Acts 3. 20 21. The whole Creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption iâ—to the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom 8. 19-21 And all this is that righteousness which Christ hath prepared for us and which they shall partake of that believe on him as the Scripture hath said In him there is the forgiveness of all our sins yea he is made of God to the believer redemption which non imputation or forgiveness of sins is righteousness without works whereby our sins are covered Rom. 4. 5 6 7. with Psal 32. 1 2. And a robe of righteousness in being cloathed upon wherewith they are made accepted in the beloâ—ed Ephes 1. 6. Those that buy this are righteous even as he is righteous 1 John 3. 7. And Christ doth present them in the body of his flesh in which he was raised again from the dead Holy and unblameable and unrebukeable in his sight Col. 1. 22. And as found in him they are all faiâ— and there is no spot in them Cant. 4. 7. Christ is become theirs and they are cloathed upon with him and reckoned after him being buried with him in baptism wherein also thâ—y are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised Christ from the dead Col 2. 12. Ephess 2. 5 6. And they are begotten to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undesiled and that fadeth not aâ—ay reserved in the Heavens 1 Pet. 1. 3. Christ is made of God to them righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30. And this the righteousness they have to appear before God in the best and first robe even Christ himself and the righteousness he hath wrought and obtained this the VVedding Garment Luke 15. 22. Mat. 22. 11. 2. By this VVhite raiment or those VVhite Garments are meant the fruits of this righteousness believed and believed in Jam. 3. 18. For this the Apostle prayeth for the Phllippians That their love might abound yet more and more in all knowledg That they might be sincere and without offence being filled with the fruits of righteousness which fruits are by Jesus Christ received and believed in unto the Glory and praise of God Philip. 1. 9-11 And of these fruits there are some more inward and some more outward 1. Those more inward and wrought in the Spirit of the mind by the Spirit in the Testimony in glorifying Christ and taking of his things and shewing unto us are Humility This is compared to a Garment Be ye all clothed with Humility 1 Pet. 5. 4. And this Garment these needed to buy of
lifting up himself by his Spirit and rendring himself more precious then all the things of this world then all our injoyments relations attainments lives c. that so we might run with the feet of our Souls even with hot and fervent affections unto him from all other things Because of the Lord his God and for the holy one of Israel who hath glorified him Isa 55. 5. And that we might follow him whithersoever he goeth And laying aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us run with patience in induring afflictions and in a patient continuance in well-doing and patiently waiting for the Lord the race set before us looking off from all other things unto Jesus Heb. 12. 1 2 3. This is a needfull and usefull garment to be put on by us in and with Humility in putting on the new man and in being clad wherewith we shall be Instruments of good to others and provoke very many to seek and follow the Lord with us 2 Cor. 9. 2. and especially needfull for the Angels of the Churches that they may be ensamples to the flock and fervently seek their good Colos 4. 12 13. And abundant need and great cause have we now to buy this of Christ in these last and lukewarme times in which iniquity doth abound and the love of many wax Cold As was also soretold by our Saviour Math. 24. 12. And to that end that this Angel and Church might be zealous and repent change and forsake their evil and high thoughts of themselves therefore out of love and faithfulness the faithful and true witness did rebuke and chasten them Rev. 3. 19. Bowels of mercy kindness c. Are also to be put on by his Angels and Churches not only outward acts of mercy but bowels of mercy having an inward affection to men pitying and compassionating the ignorant and those that are out of the way and being kind also in heartily desiring the good of them that they may be saved Col. 3. 12. And these garments aptly follow and are joyned with zeal for when the love and loveliness of Christ is so known believed and considered by us as to inflame our hearts with love to him together herewith also his love is so infused and diffused into the heart by the holy Spirit as to fill us with love to all and so with bowels of mercy pity and compassion and with an hearty kindness to them and earnest desire and indeavour of their good This filleth with bowels towards all yearning toward them and breathing for their good that their eyes might be opened and that they might be turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God the love of Christ known and believed frameth and constraineth hereto And so it frameth us to be like-minded unto Christ and God in him to be merciful as our father which is in Heaven is merciful Luk. 6. 36. And especially his grace teacheth and strengthneth the believers in putting on the new man to put on as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy kindness c. one to another exercised in a desire and indeavour of their good especially avoiding what is contrary to bowels of mercy and kindness as judging one another condemning one another and in doing what springeth therefrom as forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any have a complaint against any even as Christ freely forgave them that they should do likewise Col. 3. 12 13. with Luk. 6. 36 37. And as we have opportunity doing good to all men especially to those that are of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. 1 Joh. 3. 16 17 18. Meekness is also to be put on by them as a garment Col. 3. 12. To this the believing women are instructed whose adorning saith the Apostle Peter Let it not be that outward But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which though it be despised and laught at by men yea by many that profess godliness yet is in the sight of God of great price for after this manner in the old time the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselves c. 1 Pet. 3. 1-5 And this is joyned with and put as the consequent of lowliness Ephes 4. 2. And of humbleness of mind Col. 3. 12. And meekness and lowliness of heart were conjoyned in our Saviour Matt. 11. 29. And unless we so receive the grace of Christ as to be clothed with humbleness of mind we cannot adorne our selves with this garment of a meek and quiet spirit for pride and high thoughts of our selves will cause us to be soon angry and fill us with contention strife envying confusion and every evil work Prov. 13. 10. Isa 16. 6. And this is to be exercised in subjection unto those that God hath set over us 1 Pet. 3. 3-5 And in quiet bearing injuries afflictions reproches and persecutions for the Gospel's sake and not indeavouring to resist the evil or leave our place of subjection Psal 37 7-11 In seeking the restoring of those that are overtaken with a fault Gal. 6. 1. In instructing those that oppose themselves 2 Tim. 2. 23 24. In giving a reason of the hope to him that asketh us 1 Pet. 3. 15. And in all our receiving the ingrafted word with the instructions thereof and the reproofes of its instruction which are the way of life Jam. 1. 21. And this is also a fruit of the spirit which he is effecting in those that believe in glorifying Christ and discovering his excellency and that excellent example he hath lest us that we should follow his steps It is the fruit of that wisdom that is from above even of Christ and is therefore called meekness of Wisdom Jam. 3. 13-17 Gal. 5. 22. And is with the former to be put on by us especially in those last days in which evil men and seducers are grown worse and worse deceiving and being deceived and especially the Angels are to be clothed herewith The Servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in meekness instructing them that oppose themselves c. 2 Tim. 2. 23 24. Charity also is to be put on Above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness Col. 3. 14. Above all things have fervent charity among your selves 1 Pet. 4. 8. Let all your things be done with charity 1 Cor. 16. 14. Charity is distinguished from brotherly kindness 2 Pet. 1. 7. Brotherly kindness hath for its motive and object somewhat lovely and amiable in the party loved but Charity is a free manner of love fastening on and flowing forth toward the party loved not because of any worth or worthiness in him yea notwithstanding great unworthiness and manisold evils be found in him Thus it is in God God so infinitely loved pityed and compassionated the world that he
whom shine ye as lights c. Philip. 2. 13 14 15 16. To the same purpose the Apostle Peter beseecheth the believers as strangers and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the Soul and to have their conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against them as evil doers they may by the good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. Mat. 5. 15 16. 4. This Raiment is said to be white to signifie unto us that it is raiment of praise and beauty of rejoycing and gladness it betokeneth and occasioneth joy and rejoycing as opposed to that clothing and those garments werewith persons usually cover themselves when they are in heaviness affliction and sadness and when they have cause of sorrow and mourning This appeareth to be the meaning of the expression in Eccles 9. 7 8 9. Go thy way eat thy bread with joy and drink thy Wine with a merry heart for God hath already accepted thy work even those works wrought in God in Immanuel Joh. 3. 21 let thy Garments be always white as a token of joy and mirth and let thine head want no Oyntment live joyfully c. And so on the contrary when men are mournful they walk in black as Mal. 3. 14. What profit is it that we have walked mournfully or in black And indeed this raiment is beautiful and joyous and that which may cause putter on and wearer of it to rejoyce at all times especially in that plenteousness of redemption in Christ through his bloud even the forgiveness of sins and in that everlasting righteousness which he hath brought in and compleated and which he giveth to the buyer Yea when they are in heaviness through manifold temptations yet believing what Christ hath done and is become they rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 6-8 Rom. 15. 14. 14. 17. This the Garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness which Christ is appointed to give to them that mourn in Zion Isa 61. 1-3-10 The beautiful Garments which Zion is called upon to put on and therefore to awake awake instead of those dirty dusty dejected ones wherewith they were clothed in times of affliction and sadness and in this they may rejoyce continually in that righteousness of Christ which shall never be abolished but shall remain for ever and ever and most fully shall they do so when they are made compleatly partakers of it Isa 52. 1 2-7 with Chap. 51. 4-9 So much is imported in that vote and desire Let thy Priests be clothed with righteousness with white ralment and let thy Saints shout for joy that only joy inwardly but outwardly also express and testifie it Psal 132. 9-10 So when in our types the Levites were arayed in white linen their work was with joyfulness to praise and thank the Lord because he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 2. Chron. 5. 12 13. And surely they have not oâ— by faith and in usefulness this white and and rejoycing raâ—ment that lye under discouraging and disquâ—ering sadness and heaviness as if there were no forgiveness in Christ for them no robe of righteousness prepared to cover the shame of their nakedness and who are complaining and judging and speaking hardly of the God of our righteousness instead or praising him and making mention of his righteousness even or his onely 5. VVhite raiment signifieth that raiment where with those that overcome are clothed and which God giveth to them that run with patience the race set before them as a token of his approbation of them and Testimony of his well-pleasedness with them So he that hath the seven Spirits of God saith He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment Rev 3. 4 5. And it is said VVhite robes were given unto every one of them that were slaâ—n for the word of God and for the Testimony which they held Rev. 6. 9-11 And they also who came one of great tâ—â—butation who shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any heaâ— Chap. 7. 9-7 And this is the raiment which the Lambs Wile hath on for the consummation of the Marriage with the Lamb and with which his victorious Army shall be arayed Chap. 19. 7 8-11-14 And this is that White raiment this Church and Angel is instructed to buy And to seek glory honour and immortality by a patient continuance in well-doing Rom. 2. 7. To them who forsake all for Christs sake that they may win him and follow him in the regeneration God now giveth the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ and the raiment of victorers by faith 1 Cor. 15. 57. 1 John 5. 4 5. And will give it compleatly in Spirit to them who are faithful unto the death and in the first resurrection they shall have it gloriously in Soul and body re-united On such like accounts this raiment is said to be white and such manner of instructions are contained in the expression 2. We have in the next place to inquire into and consider the end why this Angel and Church is counselled to buy this white raiment which is also a Motive and Argument used to stir up to fervency in buying viz. that thou mayst be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear in which end is signified unto us 1. That those that have not this excellent and durable clothing here commended and counselled to even the righteousness of God by saith and the fruits thereof those that part not with and suffer not the loss of all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ that they may win him and be found in him they have a shameful nakedness upon them This is true generally as with respect to all mankind as they are and while they reman in their natural estate and condition God did indeed at first make man in his Image after his likeness and gave him dominion over the works of his hands in this lower part of his Creation Gen. 1. 26 27. God made man viz. Adam and all mankind in him upright Eccles 7. 29. He Created them in righteousness and holiness Ephes 4. 23 24. Col. 3. 10. He made him a little lower then the Angels and Crowned him with glory and honour the Glory of God was upon him in that righteousness holiness purity innocency and integrity that was upon him and in that dominion given to him Psal 8. 5. Rom. 3. 23. 1 Cor. 11. 7. The Law of God was in his heart and there was in him a natural bent and inclination to love and live to the Lord his God with all his Heart Soul mind and strength and to love his neighbour as himself And then while they were in honour and in this upright and honourable condition though they were naked as with respect to any clothing or covering from without there was no shame upon them and they
Col. 3. 1. Nor that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ And the reason of that blindness the Apostle speaketh of and of this our Saviour chargeth this Angel and Church with and reproveth them for may be one to wit the forgetting that they were purged from their old sins letting slip what they heard from the beginning to wit that Christ died for the sins of Jews and Gentiles and so of all men according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures Whereby Christ purged our old sins our first sin and sinfulness and through the knowledge whereof he washed our hearts from an evil conscience and spake peace to us and made us free Had they kept this in an hearty believing remembrance they had been saved and preserved from this blindness and they should have continued in the Son and in the Father But receiving and entertaining a forgetfulness of this purgation and of the means whereby it was effected this contracted blindness to them 2 Pet. 1. 3 4-8 9. 1 Cor. 1â— 1-4 1 Joh. 2. 24-27 2 Joh. 6. And this blindness of theirs appeared and was evident in two things and wherever these things are found doubtless they are in some measure blind and so in the condition of this Angel and Church That is to say 1. They were grown lukewarm as hath been said and did not so perceive the preciousness of Christ as to be zealous and servent in seeking after him that they might win him and be found in him In letting slip the word of the beginning of Christ the vision of all the God of this world had blinded their minds that they did not so discern the beauty and comeliness of Christ as to cry after the knowledge and injoyment of him and those spiritual and eternal blessing in him but they were grown remiss and indifferent Those that in seeing see and keep in their view the excellency of Christ are far from this distemper To them that believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2. 6. As new born babes desire the breast so they earnestly desire after more acquaintance with injoyment of and conformity unto him 1 Pet 2. 2-4 And they are even sick of love and restless in their spirits after him As the hart panteth after the water brooks so their souls pant after him they are even consumed with desire and nothing will satisfy them but him Whom have they in Heaven but he and there is none on earth they desire besides him Psal 42. 1 2. 84. 1 2. 63. 1 2. 73. 25. Cant. 2. 3-5 Their soul followeth hard after him and their zeal even consumeth them and leadeth them to long and inwardly breath after and earnestly lust for him who is the chiefest among Ten thousands Psal 63. 3-8 With their soul they desire him in the night yea with their spirits within them they seek him early Isa 26. 7-9 But contrarily it is a certain evidence of blindness when persons are grown so heartless and indifferent that they content themselves without him and deny or delay to give entertainment to him when he standeth at the door and knocketh for admission as it was with these Rev. 3. 20. When men by observing lying vanities forsake him and will none of him when they prefer their works riches righteousness lusts and vanities before him and those excellent treasures in him which only will truly inrich clothe satisfy and adorn them it appeareth evidently to him who knoweth all things and to those who have their understandings opened that ignorance and darkness hath blinded their eyes Isa 52. 13 14 15. So much the Apostle saith concerning the Galatians O foolish Galations saith he who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth c. Gal. 3. 1. It was evident that they were become foolish and blind and that some person or persons had cast a mist before their eyes in that they were removed from Christ and that grace in him and did seek righteousness and sanctification elsewhere and indeavoured to perfect by the flesh that which was begun by the spirit When Christ was first displayed before them he was then so excellent in their eyes that they turned unto him from their sins and idols they did run well for they did run unto him for all wisdom righteousness and strength because of the Lord his God and for the Holy one of Israel who had glorified him Oh then what blessedness did they meet with and speak of in Christ But afterwards letting slip the preaching of the Cross they turned again to weak and beggerly elements And on this account the Apostle calleth them foolish ones blind ones and bewitched persons it appeared evidently their eyes were blinded or otherwise they would have kept their first esteem and high prizing of Christ Gal. 3. 1-5 4. 8 9 13-15 5. 7. with Isa 55. 1-5 So also it was too much with this Angel and Church they were blind and it appeared that they were so in that they shut out Christ when he knocked for entrance and undervalued him And we may safely conclude as with respect to our selves and others that blindness hath happened to us in a great measure when our love to and zeal for Christ is gone and we are grown luke-warm 2. It appeared also and was evident that they were blind because together with their low esteem of Christ they had high thoughts and conceits of themselves and of the goodness of their condition without him and of their knowledge parts gifts righteousness and integrity They said they were rich and increased with goods and had need of nothing when as in truth it was far otherwise with them for they were wretched and miserable c. They conceited they knew and were ready to say they were wise and the Law of the Lord was with them when as indeed they were brutish and foolish Jer. 8. 7 8. This was an undoubted evidence of their blindness and is so of any man's when he beginneth to be so well thoughted and highly conceited of himself Truly those that walk in the light as God is in the light they are helped to see and bewail their shortness in every thing and while they hear songs even glory to the righteous they are ready to cry out our leanness our leanness woe unto us the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously with us yea the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously Isa 24. 16. They are ready with shame to complain that they are more brutish then man and that they have not the understanding of a man that they have neither learned wisdome nor have the knowledge of the holy Prov. 32 2 3. Job 26. 14. 1 Cor. 13. 19-12 They are ready to consess and acknowledge that they have not yet attained neither are already perfect as to attainment but they
of those men who tell us that what the Apostle speaketh of the believing Jews before the Gospel was received by them to wit that they were the children of wrath by nature even as others Ephes 2. 3. Is only meant and spoken of what they were in their own apprehension and imagination For they who are furthest off from the light do least of all know themselves And are most ready to be highly thoughted of themselves while yet they are most miserable Who were more confident of the goodness of their condition then were the Pharisees who yet generally were furthest off from the kingdom of God further off then were the Pulicans and Harlots Matt. 21. 31 32. chap. 23. Yea the Apostle Paul who includeth himself in the former saying as one who was by nature a Child of wrath even as others yet did not think so when he was foolish and while he was ignorant of God's righteousness but had confidence in the flesh and thought himself alive and in a good and safe condition Phil. 3. 4-7 Rom. 7. 9. And so it is more generally true Such as kill steal commit adultery swear falsly and burn incense to other Gods will yet cry the temple of the Lord are we until they are convinced by the light of Gods testimony Jer. 7. 4 10. Such can in words make their boast of God and call him father who are of their father the Devil and say they hope to be saved by Christ as well as any others And call their doing the works of the flesh their infirmities and weaknesses and that they are herein like to Paul when he saith the evil I would not that do I in which they lie and speak not the truth and yet thus they deceive themselves Rom. 2. 17-24 Joh. 8. 41-44 And as hath been said this Angel and Church were greatly deceived and did deceive themselves in thinking themselves to be something when they were nothing Gal. 6. 3. And it was therefore needful for them and is so for us also to know our selves and our estate and condition And this is made known to us and we may see it in and by this Eye-salve this testimony of Jesus in and by which all things are discovered and made manifest Ephes 5. 13 14. He that is an hearer of the word of truth and not a doer he hath this great advantage given him in hearing that he may see and behold himself He that is an hearer only is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass For he beholdeth himself and seeth what manner of person he is though he liketh not the discovery which is there given of him and therefore he goeth his way and then forgetteth what manner of person he was the which before he was inabled to see by that glass Jam. 1. 22-24 He that doth evil hath in and by the light while it is vouchsafed a discovery made of himself and of his works to the end he might continue beholding and so cleanse himself from what is reproved That he might turn from darkness to light and love light more then darkness but in going on to do evil to make a trade of it he hateth the light neither cometh he to the light lest his deeds should be reproved and discovered for he is convinced of the impartiality of the light in its discovery And for such folly he is condemned while he persisteth therein John 3. 19 20. In this light then let us behold our selves and with this Eye-salve let us anoint our eyes that we may know our selves This is a needful lesson to be learned by us to know our selves but not the first as many through mistake say But first it is needful to know Jesus Christ and him crucified as declared in the Gospel and therein and therewith we may know our selves 1 Cor. 15. 1-4 with chap. 12. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 14. We our selves saith the Apostle were sometimes foolish we did not know Christ nor God in him nor our selves nor any thing rightly but he saved us here-from by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Even by discovering to us and causing to appear before us his kindness and love in Christ to man-word Titus 3. 3-5 He that is an unbeliever and unlearned an ignorant person when he cometh amongst them that prophesy that plainly and to edification declare the Gospel he is convinced of all he is judged of all And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest and in this light he beholdeth himself so as he will fall down and report that God is in such declares of a truth 1 Cor. 14. 3 24 25. For the word of God the Gospel of Christ is quick and powerful and sharper then any two edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. Therein then let us see and know our selves and behold what condition we are in that if we be like this Angel and Church we may learn to be zealous and repent And this which hath been spoken shall suffice to the first inquiry here propounded to be considered to wit What should they anoint their eyes for that they might see And now we come to the second viz. 2. Why is it needful to our buying that we anoint our eyes with this Eye-salve that we may see To this in what we have said before we have spoken in some measure and shall therefore be the briefer in what we shall further speak to this Enquiry And so 1. It is needful to our buying that we anoint our eyes with this Eye-salve that we may see because the sight of those things that are before spoken to is very powerful to move and prevail with us to receive this blessed and needful counsel here given to us and to buy those heavenly commodities here proposed to and set before us The object and sight of the eye was occasionally the in let to our misery and calamity at first When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise she took of the fruit thereof c. Gen. 3. 6. So now also the objects of the eyes which are presented before us in the Gospel are forcible to perswade us and make us willing to come unto and close with Christ when the eye of the Soul is opened with this Eye-salve The eye affecteth the heart Lam. 3. 51. It inclineth the affection and maketh us willing to buy that which while we are in ignorance and blindness we care not for nor know how duely to prize and value As to say particularly While we anoint our eyes with this Eye-salve and see and continue looking upon the preciousness of the Bloud of Jesus Christ as it is discovered to us in this testimony and his beauty and glory by means thereof
While we behold this Gold this enriching Gold and see and consider how it hath been tried in the fire and how proper it is to make us truly rich and how certainly and infallibly it enricheth them that have it this is apt and powerful to draw the love and heart thereto and to cause us to covet after it As it is a powerful Cord to us naturally to draw our hearts to the riches of this world to behold and see them with our eyes As he confessed who said When I saw two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold then I coveted them and took them Josh 7. 21. 1 John 2. 15 16. So when we see in this Glass this excellent Gold the price whereof is above Rubies yea above all the riches of this world it is a forceable motive to engage our hearts to seek to be made partakers hereof If thou knewest the gift of God saith our Saviour and who it is that saith unto thee give me to drink thou wouldst ask c. John 4. 10. How did the knowledge and consideration of this better and enduring substance in Heaven make the Hebrews willing in the days of their first Illumination to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods and to endure reproch and shame and to be companions of them that were shamefully intreated Heb. 10. 32-34 What blessedness did the Galatians speak of And how did they turn from idols to God And how ready would they have been if it had been possible to have plucked out their eyes and given them unto them that were instruments of preaching Christ unto them when he was evidently set forth before their eyes in the testimony of Jesus They were willing then to part with all for his sake Gal. 3. 1. 4. 13-15 And was it not the excellency of the knowledge of Christ that made the Apostle willing to suffer the loss of all things even of those things also that formerly were gainful to him and to count them but dung that he might gain him and be found in him Phil. 3. 7-9 And to this very end That a nation he knew not and nations that knew not him might run unto him he saith Behold me behold me As intimating That the seeing and beholding him is very powerful and prevalent to overcome and perswade us to close with and embrace him Isa 55. 5. 65. 1. And so the beholding and seeing this White Raiment and the excellent and useful nature and property thereof is proper and powerful to incline us to seek that we may have it that we may be clothed therewith that so the shame of our nakedness may not appear Josh 7. 21. Phil. 3. 4-9 Doubtless the beholding with the eyes of the understanding that plenteousness of Redemption in him even the forgiveness of our sins those Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge hid in him that everlasting Righteousness brought in by and treasured in him that eternal Redemption obtained by his Bloud that fulness of Grace Truth Spirit and all things pertaining to life and godliness prepared in him that Eternal Life given us in him As these things are discovered to us in the testimony and his compleat and unparallell d comeliness and amiableness by means hereof it would enamour our hearts on him and inflame us with love to him and even make us sick of Love and unsatisfied in our desires till we more know him win him and be found in him yea till we see as we are seen and know as we are known and be ever with him Cant. 5. 10-16 2. 3 5. Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun Eccles 11. 7. But how much more pleasant and alluring is it to behold this Pearl of great price this Sun of Righteousness this Robe of Salvation this excellent one who is fairer then the children of men yea who is the true God and eternal life And how powerful is the sight of him to keep us from our sins and idols 1 John 5. 20 21 So also the seeing our sins and idols as discovered in his Cross and Testimony is very powerful to move us to cast them away and part with them as hath been also in part signified before There sin is rendred most abundantly sinful and our idols most evidently unprofitable and vain Hence the Apostle saith Whosoever abideth in Christ in the sight and knowledge of him as appeareth by the opposition sinneth not Though sin be in him and moving for service yet he doth not commit it He doth not willingly yield up his mind or members to the service thereof And on the other hand Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him nor known him He hath not anointed his eyes with this Eye-salve that he might see nor seen with his eyes as thus anointed He that doth evil hath not seen God 1 John 3. 6 8. 3 John 11. He that seeth and abideth in the sight of the end wherefore he was manifested to wit to take away our sins and of his faithfulness therein for in him is no sin he that beholdeth and considereth the bitter Cup Christ drank off and the shameful cruel accursed death he died for our sins who was the Son of God to the end he might redeem us from all iniquity and what a Fountain he is become in whom is all forgiveness righteousness rest refreshing washing and cleansing eternal life c. Such an one is preserved from sowing to and siding with that sin that dwelleth in him he getteth an escape and fleeth from the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 2. 20. So much the Apostle James also signifieth when he saith Whose looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth he being not a forgetful hearer of the word but a doer of the works this man shall be blessed in his deed The man that continueth looking in this Glass this Testimony of Jesus is a doer he layeth apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness as it is discovered and made to swim aloft Jam. 1. 21-25 This truth known maketh him free from the bondage and slavery of his sins John 8. 31-33 And he is made willing by these arguments contained in the Gospel to sell and part with his iniquities and abominations Rom. 6. 1-3 And so also in beholding Christ crucified and looking upon the Cross of Christ which he hath endured and overcome and the glory which there-thorow he hath received a man may be broken off from his idols The world the wisdom righteousness riches honour glory pomp and splendour favour and friendship customs and fashions of the world is crucified unto such an one as is thus exercised through the Cross of Christ Gal. 6. 14. So as he keepeth himself from those idols 1 John 5. 20 21. Thus when the Apostles preached Christ to men and he was received and beheld in his Gospel by them they then turned to God from
their idols and were washed and sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus c. 1 Thes 1. 5-9 and 2 13. 1 Cor. 6. 9-11 and 12. 2. with Chap. 15. 1 2 3 4. The seeing our sins and idols in this testimony will make us willing to sell them and part with them that we may have and enjoy this Gold and White Raiment In like manner the beholding and seeing in and with this Eye-salve what a sad condition we are in without Christ and without this durable riches and righteousness here presented to us this is a powerful argument to engage and move us to seek the Lord while he may be found that we may win him and be found in him and be made partakers of him in whom there is blessing prepared for all the kindreds of the earth Acts 3. 25. The seeing and considering that without him we are wretched and miserable and poor and naked and undone creatures and that abig ding such we shall be spued out of his mouth and become miserable for ever for nothing besides him will secure from evil and satisfie us with good This is a forcible motive and argument to move us to be hot and fervent in Spirit that we may buy of him those inestimable Treasures here counselled unto which only will render us blessed and happy in the enjoyment of them As it appeareth here in this place the scope of it being considered by us Rev. 3. 15-19 20. Acts 2. 37. 2. It is also needful for us to anoint our eyes with this Eye-salve that we may see because not onely are there such powerful arguments proposed to and set before us in this testimony of Christ to move us and make us willing to buy But also there is a mighty and supernatural power put forth in and with these arguments in this Gospel to convert us and to turn us from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God and so from our sins and idols unto the living and true God Acts 26. 18-23 The Gospel of Christ is the power of God his arm and power is put forth therein to effect in us what he requireth of us Rom. 1. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 18-23 24. His hand and mighty power is stretched forth herein all the day long to enable us to turn to him in and at his reproofs and to cast away our sins and abominations out of his sight Prov. 1. 20-24 Isa 65. 1-3 Rom. 10. 21. God hereby worketh in us both to will and to do of good pleasure Phil. 2. 12-15 Not onely is the Gospel the instrument he maketh use of to glorâ—â—â—e his Son in and by and to shew us the vileness and vanity of all other things but it is that also which he accompanieth with the power and presence of his Spirit So that he that rejecteth rejecteth not man simply but God who giveth of his Spirit in and with his word 1 Thes 4. 3 -8. And hence these weapons the arguments of the Gospel are mighty mighty through God to the pulling down strong holds c. For God is in them of a truth 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. In looking unto Christ beholding and minding what he hath done for us and is become and what is treasured up for us in him and therein seeing our sins and idols and in how sad a condition we are without him God is saving us from our iniquities and vanities and enabling us to run from them to Christ To this end his grace bringeth salvation in due time to all men saving strength and power Tit. 2. 11. Hence he saith Look unto me all the ends of the earth and be ye saved Not Save your selves But Be ye saved As intimating in our looking unto him to enable us whereto also he is preventing us with power God is saving us that we might be saved Isa 45. 22. To the same purpose also the Apostle saith We all not some of us onely but we all with openâ—face as in a glass beholding the glory of the Lord are changed not change our selves but we are transformed changed out of one form into another from the love and service of our sins and vanities and out of our miserable condition into his image even as by the Spirit of the Lord who is in and with this object as declared and discovered to us in this Glass 2 Cor. 3. 18. God in and by his Spirit is so present in and with this Gospel of Christ that he that receiveth that receiveth Christ and him who sent him Matth. 10. 40. And he that despiseth and resisteth that despiseth and resisteth God Christ and his Holy Spirit Luke 10. 16. Acts. 7. 51. The hand of the Lord is put forth in and present with the arguments of the glorious Gospel to convert and turn us from our evils and vanities unto Christ and to make us willing who naturally are without an heart and unwilling to gain and buy Christ and the unsearchable riches of him Acts 11. 20 21. 3. 13-19 It therefore evidently appeareth that it is very needful for us to anoint our eyes with this Eye-salve that we may see 3. And on the other hand it is needful for us to anoint our eyes with this Eye-salve that we may in seeing see the excellency of Christ and vileness and unprofitableness of all other things to the end we may part with them for him or otherwise we shall be and abide under the power of Satan as hath been also before said He hath his power in darkness and while men remain blind he can deceive them and lead them captive at his pleasure Col. 1. 13. Acts 26. 18. Hence it is said those evil principalities and powers are the rulers of the darkness of this world he ruleth and prevaileth over them who remain in blindness and darkness and serveth himself of them making them do his lusts and requirings Ephes 6. 12. He so blindeth the minds of them that believe not that anoint not their eyes with this Eye-salve that the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God may not shine unto them that they may not perceive his excellency and comeliness And together herewith also he commendeth and rendreth excellent needful and pleasurable the things which indeed are vile evil and abominable For he is the God of this world of such as are and remain in ignorance 2 Cor. 4. 4. 1 John 5. 19. He prevailingly perswadeth them that the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are most desireable and worthy to be earnestly sought after and affectionately embraced by us and that no fruit is so good and pleasant and worthy to be sed on by us as that which is forbidden us of God For as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty at first so he is also endeavouring to deceive us and to corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 11. 1-3
though they wash them with Nitre and take to them much Sope yet their iniquity is marked before the Lord. Jer. 2. 20-22 Isa 66. 17. Though they should wash themselves with Snow water and make themselves never so clean yet God will plunge them into the ditch again their own clothes will make them to be abhorred Their coverings will but make them more shameful Job 9. 30 31. He hath declared that our works and our righteousness shall not profit us our Webs shall not become Garments nor shall we be able to cover our selves with our own works Isa 57. 12. 59. 6. By the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God Rom. 3. 19 20. This covering will appear too narrow to wrap our selves in when the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim Isa 28. 13-15 20 21. We cannot make our Peace with God by any Sacrifices or works of our own nor establish to our selves such a righteousness as will render us acceptable before God but those that sought after righteousness as it were by the works of the Law they attained not righteousness they obtained not what they sought after Rom. 9. 31-33 10. 2 3. 11. 7. Hence saith the Apostle We who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles not so notoriously wicked as they knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Jesus Christ the word of faith heartily believed even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and noâ— by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified Gal. 2. 15 16. If righteousness could have come by the Law then Christ died in vain Gal. 2. 21. Nor can any hide their sin and shame by any outward professions and practices by their being hearers only of the word of truth and making a trade of hearing by their prophecyings in Christs name oâ— casting out Devils or doing many wonderful works in his name or by their eating and drinking in his presence and using and observing his ordinances Those that would cover themselves with those things will appear to be workers of iniquity notwithstanding such like clothings of themselves for they cover themselves with a covering but not of Gods Spirit and so even add sin to sin Mat. 7. 22-24 Luke 13. 24-27 Isa 30. 1. Oh! that we may all so consider the unprofitableness and insufficiency of all our own works of righteousness and of our coverings of our selves that we may cease from confiding and trusting in them and may seek the Lord and in him seek righteousness in whom God hath prepared it for us and for all And this leadeth us to the next thing viz. 3. This white raiment that is to be bought of this gracious and faithful Counsellor is that wherewith we may be clothed so as the shame of our nakedness may not appear We cannot cloth our selves nor cover the shame of our own nakedness as is before said But there is excellent raiment prepared for all men by him who gave himself an Offering and a Sacrifice for a sweet smelling Savour to God And so much might be typically signified by Gods covering and clothing our first parents when they had sinned and thought to have hid their shame with fig-leaves like whereto are all our coverings and hidings of our shameful nakedness Gen. 3. 7. The Lord God after he in denouncing the curse on the Serpent had promised That the seed of the woman should break the head of the Serpent And after Adam in closing therewith and belief thereof called his wives name Evah clothed the man and the woman with Coats of Skins probably with the Skins of the beasts that were offered by faith in Sacrifice to type out and point forth that our clothing and covering must be prepared and made by the Lamb of God which he prepared himself for a Burnt-Offering and by his Sacrifice who is sacrificed for us and thereby indeed is white raiment prepared for us and for all as is before shewn Gen. 3. 15-21 22. Now then in this instruction contained in the end proposed to move us to buy this White raiment viz. that thou mayst be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear is further signified unto us 1. That this raiment is proper and sufficient to cover the shame of our nakedness so as it appear not namely the righteousness which Christ hath brought in and compleated through his personal abasement and sufferings who in the virtue thereof is raised again and which he himself is become and it doth cover their shame that have it and put it on even from the face of the Lord viz. there is contained herein the forgiveness of our sins and blotting them out so as they shall no longer be remembred or retained in Heaven and giving unto and making them partakers of forgiveness by faith that believe on Christ for this is the blessedness the believers on his name do receive To Christ give all the Prophets witness as the sum and end of their Testimony that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive the forgiveness of their sins Acts. 10. 43. And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Acts 13. 39. If we in belief of his goodness and of the truth of his Testimony in reproving and discovering our vileness and sinfulness confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1. 7-9 And this forgiveness of sins as it is an imputing righteousness without works so it is expressed by covering sin even as David describeth the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousness without works saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered Rom. 4. 6 7 8. with Psal 32. 1 2-5 To the same purpose also the Psalmist speaketh when he acknowledgeth to the praise of Gods Grace and as a ground of incouragement to desire his further mercy Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people thou hast covered all their sins Psal 25. 2. And indeed the righteousness of Christ which he hath brought in and is become is to this end a compleat clothing and covering for all our shame inasmuch as there is contained therein both an acquittance and justification from the guilt of our first sin and sinfulness aswell as also plenteous redemption even the forgiveness of mens following and personal sins in which they sin after the likeness and similitude of Adams transgression yea and in him there is perfect innocency integrity immortality and eternal life which the believer is now receiving by faith and in some first-fruits of the Spirit but the adoption the redemption of the body and the Harvest of the Spirit is to