that it is such a righteousnesse as God expects and requires from us the receipt of this righteousnesse from Christ all believers are bound to acknowledge Jer 23.6 This is the name whereby he shall be called The Lord our righteousnesse This is the righteousnesse in which the saints so triumph I will greatly rejoyce c. Isaiah 61.10 yea if Christ be such a righteousnesse for us who can but rejoyce for then are we free from the malediction and curse of the law yea here is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an happy and blessed redemption from the bondage of the law from the captivity of sinne and Satan but likewise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 power to be called the sornes of God yea here is a blessed right and interest in the purchased possession The second is the life of holinesse he is not only wisdome righteousnesse redemption but sanctification too 1 Cor. 1.30 Christ doth not only cast our sins into the bottome of the sea passe an act of oblivion upon them but subdue them Micha 7.19 not only pardon sinne but heale infirmities Psal 103.3 not only free us from the power of sinne and of death but enable us to walk in the Spirit furnish us with all requisite graces put his Spirit in us and cause us to keep his commandements Ezek. 36.27 yea he that walks not with God in the way of holinesse knowes not Christ John 14.15 Thirdly of comfort and consolation Behold I bring you tidings of great joy c. where is joy great universal c why Christ is the ground of it This day there is a Saviour born c. yea as Christ is a Saviour so he that experimentally knowes him so to be cannot but rejoyce in him as in the instance of the virgin Mary My soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit hath c. yea hence is such a joy the stranger meddles not with a joy unspeakable and glorious 1 Pet. 1.8 such a joy as the saints cannot conteine within themselves They shall sing for joy of heart Isaiah 65.14 and therefore be glad O ye righteous and rejoyce in the Lord be joyful c. As it is a priviledge so a duty too now how doth Christ effect all this in the hearts of his people the meanes whereby he works the same are especially these two First the outward Ministery of the word and then the inward operation of his Spirit For the first consider that in John 5.25 The dead shall hear the voice of the Sonne of God and they that hear it shall live The dead who are they the Atheist the Infidel the drunkard the wanton c. are all dead Eph. 2.1 yea like loathsome carrions they are most odious and abominable in the eyes of God and man but what is there for them no possibility of life yes if they hear and receive the Gospel they shall live you see how hearing and living go together this should countenance and gaine credit to the word if thou wouldst live heare As for the second the Spirit quickens the immortal seed of the word unites unto Christ efformes to the image of God in holinesse replenishes the heart with good motions and therefore called a quickening Spirit John 6.63 the Spirit of life Rom. 8.2 and therefore as thou tenderest life take heed how thou quenchest grievest resistest the same how both these conjoyne and work together to the production of this spiritual life we may illustrate from the parable of the drie bones Ezek. 37. The parable properly and in the first place belongs to the house of Israel upon their return and restitution from the land of their captivity but by similitude and resemblance as some learned divines have led me in the way you may see the whole state of the Church prefigured in the same in Ezekiel you have the ministers of the gospel in the drie bones the sonnes of men all dry and barren and destitute of all spiritual goodnesse in his prophecying upon these drie bones the dispensation of the Gospel when those Embassadours of Christ go abroad in the world they know not whether such and such enormous sinners may live if any ask the question they would with Ezekiel referre it to God Lord thou knowest yet because God sends them they go and prophesie accordingly O ye drie bones heare the word of the Lord and then what follows behold in the first place a noise and a shaking trouble of conscience and perplexity of spirit from the sense of sinne and terrour of the Law as in St. Peters converts that were pricked in their hearts Acts 2.37 Then in the second place you have a meeting of bones bone unto his bone the understanding will memory affections c. that were formerly scattered and dispers't in the wayes of sinne all now unite and conspire together to be a new creature in Christ Jesus In the third place flesh and sinews grow upon them and the skin covers them flesh that may stand for softnesse of heart and tendernesse of conscience sinews for strength of resolution and the skin for boldnesse of profession And then for the perfection and consummation of the new creature the winde breaths upon it that is the holy Spirit that winde that blows where it listeth furnishes the same with saving gifts and graces and then it lives a spiritual life stands up upon his feet to runne the wayes of Gods commandements and becomes a very great army prepared and ready and enabled to fight the Lords battels from all which together ye may note in the first place that it is not impossible for the worst of sinners to be converted dry bones may live Secondly the energie and activity of Gods holy ordinances as they are from him and tend to the glory of his name so his power goes along with them they work wonders when his blessing is upon them Lastly what an alteration change Christianity and Religion makes where it is embraced it turns a valley of dry bones into an army of spiritual souldiers fighting under the banner of Christ the Captain of their salvation And thus we come to the last particular Life in its perfection the life of glory He that heareth my words and beleeveth in him that sent me hath everlasting life Iohn 5.24 The glory of this life transcends all humane apprehension all the powers and faculties of nature attain not the sublimity of it the eye in seeing eare in hearing heart in conceâ—ving extend farre but here they are all at a non-plus all poor deficient The thing which eye hath not seen ear not heard c. 1 Cor 2.9 and therefore to content our selves with a short glimps of it we may guesse at the perfection of it from these and the like grounds as first from the place where this life is led and that 's the Kingdome of God the paradise of God the house of God the Heaven of Heavens the city of the living God St. Iohn in the description
Apostle O death where is thy sting O hell where is thy victory such a life there is to be had in Christ and such a life my my text tenders He that findeth me findeth life The intent and scope of my text is to impresse upon us the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ the argument is from the utility and benefit of it that which brings an happy and blessed life the life of grace here and the life of glory hereafter such a life as my text speaks of deserves by all meanes possible with all intention and diligence to be sought after and inquired into but such is the Lord Jevus Christ In the words you have first the fountaine of our happinesse Me Secondly the benefit derived from the same and that 's Life Thirdly the imployment of a Christian about these blessed objects and that 's finding Lastly the party interessed in the same and that is set down indefinitely and without limitation who That is any one of what estate and condition soeve he be For the first Whoso findeth me Me who is it that makes us so happy and blessed if found by us The holy Spirit describes him by diverse characters and properties in the precedent verses as first by his name and title and that is wisdome the Hebrew word in Prov. 1.20 and Prov. 9.1 and so in some other places of this book is found in the plural number to note that this wisdome is the perfection of wisdome him in whom all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge are hid as the Apostle describes him Col. 2.3 Secondly by his zeal that he beares to the good of the sonnes of men this wisdome stands and calls and cryes and puts forth her voice there 's her importunity by the wayes places of the paths tops of the high places the gates entry into the city the coming in of the doores there 's her vigilancy circumspection laying hold of opportunities and why doth wisdome take all this paines the end she aimeth at is to make us spiritually wise because we are simple and foolish she would have us to understand wisdome and be of an understanding heart vers 1.2 3 4 5. Thirdly from the excellency of her doctrine Give eare and I will speak c. verse 6. There may be frowardnesse perversenesse wickednesse in the doctrine of men but there 's nothing but verity truth sincerity righteousnesse in the doctrine of Christ the doctrines of men may be vaine fruitlesse but this is of highest concernment do you tell of silver and gold c all things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her from the 6 verse to the 12. Fourthly from her effects and consequents where wisdome is there is prudence counsel strength exaltation preferment support of thrones decrees of justice righteousnesse holinesse riches durable riches honour from the 12. verse to the 22. Fifthly from he eternity before his works of old depths fountaines hills mountaines heavens clouds c. from verse 22. to the 30. Sixtly from Gods delight and complacency in her I was brought up with him c. verse 30. Lastly from the delight this wisdome takes amongst the sonnes of men verse 31. From all which in the union of them you may gather what Majesty resides in the words of my text here 's no lesse then perfection it selfe the uncreated wisdome of God the Lord Jesus Christ From when we may note the all-sufficiency of our blessed Saviour ¶ How the Lord Jesus the Lord of life whom we professe upon whom we depend for salvation is a Saviour every way furnisht for the accomplishment of our happinesse He that hath such wisdome zeal doctrine endowments eternity acceptance with God love to the sonnes of men must needs prevaile in what he undertakes How Christ is qualified for the salvation of his people you may gather by that in Col. 1.19 It pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fulnesse in the latitude of it to pardon sinne heal infirmities sanctifie corrupt natures infuse spiritual endowments justifie sinners conferre everlasting happinesse are high works the least of them argues of stock of infinite mercy infinite grace infinite holinesse infinite righteousnesse now for the accomplishment of all these here was all fulnesse here was no gift no grace no requisite abilities withheld from him no here was the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 yea what Christ was you see by the stile and titles the Prophet Isaiah gives Isaiah 9.6 wonderful counsellour mighty God everlasting Father c. are we lost in Adam he 's wonderful to restore us wonderful that is supra humanum captum above mans thought or apprehension of his power are we destitute of heavenly wisdome have we not the knowledge of holy things he 's the counsellour to advise are we infirme and weak to withstand the spiritual enemies of our soules he is the mighty God to save us are we poor and indigent he is an everlasting Father to provide for us are we liable to afflictions and troubles he is the Prince of peace to quiet us not only to speak peace but to command peace to our soules To this purpose how full and effectual is that description which the same Prophet makes of Christ as he stands in reference to the Church as the spiritual house and building of God Isaiah 8.16 Bebold I lay in Sion for a foundation a stone a tryed stone a precious corner-stone a sure foundation c. As for the meaning of the words in general the Prophet intimates and that from God himselfe what a blessing God had ordeined in Christ for the good of the Church what a good foundation is to the structure and building erect upon it such is Christ to the spiritual Sion so he supports her so upholds her so beares her up that the believer rightly founded upon him shall not make haste in a desperate comfortlesse way as if he were flying from the face of a pursuing prevailing destroying enemy where there were no help none to deliver so the Apostles render it He shall not be ashamed saith St. Paul Rom. 9. ult He shall not be confounded saith St. Peter 1 Pet. 2.6 And what a benefit this is the Prophet shews by the note of attention he sets upon it Behold I lay as if he should say This is no ordinary common worke but of highest consequence and concernment Now for the explication and better expression of this resemblance the Prophet delivers himselfe with variety of choice words adding one metaphorical terme to another for the deeper impression whereof it will not be lost labour I suppose especially considering they all tend to the point in hand to examine each particular by it self The first we meet with is a foundation-stone Behold I lay in Sion for a foundation a stone a stone in the holy Scripture is a frequent embleme of Christ and it implies many mysteries Daniel calls him a stone cut out of
and what better acceptance doth he finde amongst us Christians for the present we have had a day a faire outstretched day of grace wherein the Lord Jesus for a long time together hath stood knocking at the doores of our hearts proffering himselfe with all importunity but who hath opened to his entertainment no have not we opposed his government by the rebellion of our lusts his truth by the blindnesse of our errours his unity by the faction of our schismes his worship by the atheistical profanenesse of our indevotion his holinesse by the impurity of our lives and conversations yea may not God as justly complaine against us especially considering what clearer light what more effectuall meanes of grace we have enjoyed as ever against Israel of old as you have it Rom. 10. ult All the day long have I stretched out mine hand to a disobedient gain-saying people But now consider here for thine own particular in this thine aversenesse from him what a traitor art thou to thine own soul say art thou athirst he is an everflowing fountaine art thou hungry he is the bread of life art thou naked he 's the robe of righteousnesse art thou afflicted he 's a hiding place from the storme a refuge from the tempest art thou spiritually sick he 's the Physician of our soules art thou liable to the wrath to come he 's thine attonement in a word he is unto us all and in all Col 3.11 Oh therefore why art thou so cruel to thy self as to neglect so great salvation what is a broken cisterne to a fountain of living water the hungry prodigall desired huskes to the liberal plenty of his fathers house so what are weak empty fading creature-comforts to the full permanent soule-reviving refreshments of thy Saviour We count it weaknesse and folly in the poore Indians that they sell their gold pearle richest comodities for glasse knives iron inferiour trifles but oh that we were sensible of our own madnesse in exchanging like Esau's birth-right for a messe of pottage the inestimable treasures of our happinesse for the trash inconsiderable lying vanities of the world Secondly here 's a spring of abundant comfort and consolation to believers what feares what doubts what perplexities can now possesse thy soul or rather what boldnesse and confidence towards God canst thou want if Christ be so accomplisht for thine happinesse who then according to the triumphant challenge of the Apostle in Rom. 8. can be against us can condemn us can lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect can separate from his love To instance in particular what is that that doth perplex and trouble thee hast thou forgotten thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth and doth thine offended conscience now condemning write bitter things against thee why in the blood of Christ here 's a fountaine opened for sin and foruncleannesse Zach. 13.1 like leprous Naaman in Jordan could we here wash our polluted soules the leprosie of our sinnes how filthy and impure soever would be cured and done away or in the second place art thou dismayed in thy thoughts and apprehensions at the rigour of Gods justice doth thy flesh like Davids tremble because of him and art thou a fraid of his judgements Behold there is a reconciliation made in the blood of the Crosse such a reconciliation as shall make thee holy and unblameable and without fault in his sight Col. 1.22 It was an argument of comfort to Manoahs wife the mother of Sampson that God would not kill her nor her husband because he had received an offering from them Judg. 13.23 why God hath not only received an offering from thee a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to God Ephes 5.2 but likewise like the Ramme that was sacrificed for Isaac prepared it for thee and that from all eternity Or in the third place art thou afraid of poverty and want that God will straiten thee in his outward mercies the things of this life why if he have given thee Christ as the Apostle argues a majori ad minus Rom 8.32 what will he withhold from thee will he not with him give us all things also Or 4ly art thou afraid of alteration and change in thy condition lest the extremity and violence of afflictions troubles temptations should drive thee from God and consequently from thine expected happ nesse why Christ is a Rock if thou beest sounded on him he 'l hold thee up from falling so that neither windes nor raine nor floods no disturbing oppositions how malignant soever shall ever supplant thee overturn thee from thy station In a word if we be his he will be ours according to all the relations wherein we draw nigh unto him Are we his vineyard he will fence us about with the hedge and wall of his providence ordering us with all requisite husbandry for fertility and fruitfulnesse Esaiah 5.2 Are we his sheep he will be our shepherd to feed us and fold us in a good pasture upon the high mountaines of Israel by the rivers Ezeck 34.13 14. Are we his temple he will be graciously present with us even dwelling amongst us 2. Cor. 6.16 Are we his spouse he will take pleasure in our beauty Psal 45.11 Are we his body in an holy union with us to direct and guide us in our wayes to order our affaires for us to supply us with the influence of his spirit he is our head Col. 1.18 yea according to his proprieties in us he will accommodate himself to our several necessities and wants And to this purpose all his attributes are at work for us In his strength he will subdue our iniquities Micha 7.19 In his patience he will spare us as a man spareth his own sonne that serveth him Malach. 3.17 In his mercy and wisdome he will correct us in measure and not leave us altogether unpunished Jer. 30.11 In his pitty and compassion he will preach glad tidings to the poore binde up the broken-hearted Isaiah 61.1 Lastly in his free and deserved goodnesse his rich grace as the Apostle calls it Eph. 1.7 because this world is a Baca a valley of tears a sea of glasse mingled with fire he is gone to prepare a place for us John 14.2 even those eternal mansions in heaven Thirdly it shewes where to found and settle our hopes all our confidence all our expectation in the wayes of happinesse The Apostle tells the Ephesians that they were without hope that is solid and substantial hope and he gives the reason for it in the beginning of that verse Eph. 2.12 because that all that time they were without Christ Christus est omnium promissionum fundamentum spei says Calvin upon the place All the promises and consequently all hope is founded on Christ and therefore as they were without him so they must needs be without hope When the Emperour Nicephorus Phocas for his security had built a mighty wall about his palace it 's related how he heard in the night
propounded him to the Romane Senate with the priviledgcs of his own suffrage to be worshipped for a God they rejected him because according to his own rules he would be God alone But O foolish people and unwise do you so requite the Lord as Moses expostulated with the ungrateful Israelites Deut. 32.6 Is not he thy Father that bought thee hath not he made chee and established thee If he be all and all unto thee in this way of thine happinesse why shouldest thou not with an whole unshared incommunicable love devote thy selfe to him in the way of homage and subjection In a word whatsoever thy temptations thy discouragements be break thorow all difficulties and then it shall come to passe that when the fearfull and unbelieving c shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone thou shalt finde thy selfe in a state of happinesse yea he that overcometh shall inherit all things Rev. 21.7 Now for the third particular in my text the endeavour of a Christian about the attainment of the same Who so findeth The finding here spoken of is not accidental or casual but such a finding as presupposeth inquisition and search He that by harkening to this wisdome by hearing her instruction by watching daily at her gates by giving attendance at the posts of her doors by keeping her wayes as the holy Spirit enjoynes in the precedent verses he that shall thus seek her he shall finde her and he that findeth her findeth life Whence you may note ¶ That where there is a due and right seeking of the Lord Jesus Christ together with all these inestimable blessings imported in him there in due time shall be a comfortable and blessed finding of him This was the argument of Solomon to impresse upon us the study of wisdome Prov. 2.4 If thou seek for her c. In the words you see how a Christian should bestow himselfe that expects wisdome he must seek and search and that with all diligence as for things most precious and then the issue and event follows Then shalt thou finde c. So Rom. 2.7 To them that by continuance in well-doing seek c. So Lam. 3.25 The Lord is good to them that trust in him and to the soul that seeketh him And so it must needs be faithful seeking can never finde God defective in granting First because he is a gracious God and delights in the prosperity of his servants It 's the argument of our blessed Saviour If you that are evil can give good gifts c. Matth 7.11 evil in comparison of God who is infinitely and essentially good evil in the inclination of our hearts which in all their thoughts and imaginations are evil continually if you know how to give good gifts things requisite and necessary how much more c Secondly because his glory depends upon it if Gods people should waite upon him in the way of his ordinances and serve him as he in his word hath prescribed and then if God should not accommodate himselfe unto him in what they seek who would waite upon him any longer whose mouths would not be opened with those Atheists in Mal. 3. It 's in vaine to serve God c But now when God reveales the meanes of grace gives us hearts to apply our selves unto them and then gives his blessing upon the same this is an obligation to his praise Psal 22.26 They that seek after the Lord shall praise him Thirdly because it is the prescribed way for finding the meanes that God hath deputed must needs be effectual but this is Gods way Aske and ye shall have c. It shewes in the first place the vanity and emptinesse of their hopes that expect these inestimable treasures without any paines-taking in the wayes of God although they restreine prayer from the Almighty prophane the Sabbaths habitually neglect all holy duties yet they doubt not of Gods favour question not their future happinesse and salvation But were not he strangely conceited that should expect victory triumphs spoiles that was never in aâ—mes the depths of knowledge that never opened book the return of a good voyage that never put himselfe upon the adventure a plentiful harvest that affoarded no tillage to the soile No Dii laboribus omnia vendunt was a proverb amongst the heathen all the blessings we have are from God yet obteined only by labour and paines in the use of the meanes The sluggard saies Solomon shall be clothed with rags And he that will not worke must not eat saies the Apostle 2. Thes 3.10 so for spiritual things he that seekes not to God in the prescribed way of his worship can expect nothing but the rags and famine of spiritual poverty to betide him Secondly it shews the happy issue and event of all holy endeavours In the things of this world a man may seek with much diligence and never obteine a man may go to the Physician expecting health but finde death to the Lawyer for justice but finde oppression and wrong to his friend for acceptance like Joseph to his brethren but finde enmity and malice But the Lord is nigh unto them that call upon him all them that call upon him faithfully the gate of heaven ever stands open to such seekers they may go with boldnesse to the throne of grace Gods eare is never weary of hearing their suites like welcome favourites their petitions shall be granted And therefore in the third place let it be an encouragement to us as we desire to prosper in the things of God so to seek unto him for the same They that know thy name will put their trust in thee Psal 9 10. why Thou Lord never failest them that seek thee And thus we come to the last particular in my text that is the party interessed in this happiness and that is set down indefinitely and without limitation Whose findeth c. whence you may note ¶ The equality and indifferency of Gods acceptance to all sorts and conditions of people As it is not honours preferments greatnesse on the one side that commends us to Gods favour so on the other it is not afflictions wants necessities outward basenesse that makes us more despicable in his sight whether we be high or low rich or poore it matters not Jew or Gentile Scythian Barbarian bond and free are all one in Christ Jesus And therefore in the first place let not great men pride themselves in the things of this life these are but common blessings argue only Gods general goodnesse not his especial mercy It is not a man of quality quatenus talis because he is thus and thus endowed that findes these treasures but man precisely man barely considered without any respect had to these outward endowments And therefore Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome nor the rich man c. The consideration hereof in the second place may encourage poore men to seek after God and to devote themselves to his