2 Thes 1. 6 7. Psal 116. 7. Hâ—b 4. 3. Fifthly Sin shall never more have dominion over them Rom. 6. 14. Sixthly God will withhold no good thing from them Rom. 8. 32. No temporal blessing Math. 6. 33. No spiritual blessing 1 Tim. 4. 8. No instruction Jer. 31. 33. Isa 54. 13. Joh. 14. 26. No sanctified correction Heb. 10. 10 11. Rom. 5. 3 to 5. No consolation Isa 51. 3. 2 Cor. 1. 4. No edification and increase in Grace Eph. 4. 12 16. Nay all things shall work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. Lastly They can never forfeit their state of Grace and interest in the Favour of God Joh. 13. 1. 2 Cor. 7. 10. They shall be sure to be kept by the mighty power of God unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. There is not the least room left for a falling off from Grace Because First Salvation is purchased for them and if the end be purchased then all the means to the end and God in Justice is bound to make good Christs purchase and to deliver what he bought and paid for 2 Tim. 4. 8. Secondly Preservation in grace is ingaged to them Jer. 32. 40. 1 Thes 5. 23 24. The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blamelesse unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it Here we may see both Sanctification and Salvation is secured to all that are savingly called of God Salvation is the End and sanctification is the Means and both are sounded not on the will of Man or on his care and fidelity but as depending on the act and faithfulnesse of God not only the first Act of Sanctification but Preservation continuance and growth in Grace is the work of God and it's perseverance is laid upon divine preservation to which God hath bound himself by promise to every Soul that is truly sanctified and his Faithfulness is engag'd to make it good Thirdly They are put into the Hands of Christ on purpose to be secured in Grace to Glory Joh. 10. 28 29. They shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand They are engraven on the palms of his hands their walls are continually before him Isa 49. 16. Their Walls that is their safety This was spoken in a time when the Walls of Jerusalem were broken down Yet at that time God had Walls about them to secure them which they saw not Both Believers themselves their Graces and all the Promises are put into the hands of Christ hence they cannot fall away Fourthly True Grace is of an abiding nature 1 Joh. 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed abideth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not at constantiam penitissimam inhaesionem saith one 'T is an abiding and constant inhesion of Grace Some to evade the evidence of this Truth would pervert the sense of it taking it for the new Creature which is born of God whereas the Original is clear against it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Masculine Gender which notes a person not a thing Again it would be a Tautologie to add a reason why such a one cannot sin because he is born of God and his seed remaineth in him whereas the new Creature and the seed of God are all one but here they note two things First A Person Secondly The Regenerate part of the Person which is fully explain'd in the following ver where he that is born of God or the Child of God is opposed to the Child of the Devil which is meant of a distinct Person not a different Nature in the same Person and this seed of God is of an abiding nature wherever it comes it comes never wholly to depart more Isa 59. 21. Fifthly Because their Life is hid in Christ and therefore cannot be lost and perish at their pleasure Col. 3. 3 4. The Believers Grace is sure in the Root however it be in the Branch and therefore Christ engages to his people that they shall live because he lives Joh. 14. 19. Lastly They have an Inseparable union with the Spirit of Grace that dwells in them Rom. 8. 11. He that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Where the Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as one observes ever notes the Person of the Holy Ghost not his Graces so that the Saints have an abiding union with the Spirit of God the third Person and so cannot perish for want of Grace but are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation He can never want Water that may have access to the Fountain or Ocean nor can any Soul be destitute of Grace that is united to the Spirit of Grace The Graces of Saints are sure their Faith their Preservation is sure O what a glorious priviledge is this that flows to Believers from this purchase of Christ that their Salvation is sure and they may know it to be so CHAP. XVIII Sanctification and Holiness is purchas'd for Believers by the Death and Sufferings of Jesus Christ ANother part of Christs purchased Treasure for Believers is Fourthly The Sanctification of their Natures and Persons Here I shall shew 1. That the Lord Jesus hath Purchased Grace and Holiness 2. For whom this Holiness is purchased 3. What this Holiness is he hath purchased 4. That this is part of Christs Treasure First That the Lord Jesus hath purchased the sanctification of the Natures and Persons of his people This I shall prove by several Arguments First All the Types under the Law do imply so much and darkly open this great truth to Believers We find that Christ in the non-age and Infant state of his Church and People dealt with them in Figures and Shadows So the Laver and Sacrifices the Priests pure and white Robes and Vestments and the washing of their Garments when they were to approach the Divine Majesty were Typical of this Holiness which he was to procure for his people in the fullness of time so much the Apostle imports Col. 2. 17. Which are a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ The shadow goes before and the body follows These Types are precedaneous to the coming of Christ and his full accomplishment of the things intended and signified by them thus Christ is the Altar that sanctifies the gift In him we have those true and solid good things which were shadowed out in those Ceremonies under the Law saies Daven on the place Secondly The Names and Titles given to Christ import so much He is called Jesus because he shall save his People from their sins Mat. 1. 21. He is called a Redeemer to deliver them from their Bondages and hard Service He is termed the Sanctifier For he that Sanctifieth and they that
he was coming to a Village in Samaria and sent Messengers to provide for him but they refused to entertain him and take him in because his Face was as though he would go to Jerusalem Luke 9. 51. c. because he seemed to be of another way of Religion they could not endure him because he was for instituted Worship and seem'd to profess a stricter way than the Samaritanes He look'd like a Puritan saith Mr. Burroughs and therefore they shut him out of their Houses now this was no small abuse an ordinary Spirit would not bear to have a door shut against him and hereupon some of the Disciples James and John pleaded for Revenge and would have had Fire from Heaven to destroy them ver 54. Yet see the Meekness of Christ's Spirit under this Affront ver 55. He turned and rebuked them and said ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens Lives but to save them Secondly In his mild Answers to them how mildly did he answer the Jews who said he was a Samaritan and had a Devil John 8. 48. 49. All his Answer was I have not a Devil but I honour my Father and ye dishonour me see in that Chapter how contradictorily and crossly they behav'd themselves to him yet with what wonderful Gentleness he answers them when Judas came to betray him Matt 26. 49. with what Calmness doth he treat him verse 50 Friend wherefore art thou come Who could have given so gentle words to so vile a Traytor but the Mirror of Meekness Luke hath it thus Judas betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss Luke 22. 48. what thou Judas my Disciple who hast been so long with me known my Kindness and eat and drunk at my table what thou betray the Son of man and combine to take away thy Master's life canst thou find in thy heart to deal so treacherously with thy Lord How did he reprove Peter for smiting the High-priest's Servant that came to take him Matth. 26. 51. to 55. How scornfully did they treat him Matth. 26. 61. This Fellow saith I am able to destroy the Temple of God and to build it in three days but he held his Peace v. 63. The Jews mocked him blind-folded and smote him Luke 26. 63. Herod with his men of War set him at nought chap. 23. 11. The Rulers derided him saying others he saved let him save himself if he be the Christ the chosen of God ver 35. But lo how gently this patient Lamb revenges these high Indignities ver 34. Father forgive them for they know not what they do Thirdly In the Offices of Love he shews them he went about doing Good to his very Enemies heaping Coals of Fire on their Heads healing their sick feeding their hungry and preaching the Gospel to their poor Matth. 14. 14. chap. 11. 5. His pitying them shews his Meekness Luke 19. 41. He beheld the City and wept over it now this Meekness of Christ as it is excellent in it self so 't is eminent in degree 't is large and abundant Meekness weigh but these following Considerations and you will say the same First The Greatness of those Provocations he hath received from them Sinners under the Gospel make light of Christ Matth. 22. 5. They despise him Acts 13. 4. They reject him Joh. 12. 48. They rebel against him Isa 1. 20. They crucifie him Joh. 19. 15. They blaspheme his Name they belye his Truth abuse his Love undervalue his Blood trampling it under Foot deny his Right defraud and injure his Interest rob him of his Glory hate his People and seek to hinder his Kingdom and yet he mildly puts up these high Indignities Oppression will â—ake a wise man mad but cannot render Christ ungentle Secondly The Continuance of these Provocations All the day long have I stretched out my hand to a gain-saying people Isa 65. 2. every day Isa 52. 5. Three years Luke 13. 7. Forty years Heb. 3. 9. Continually Gen. 6. 5. And it is no small Provocation to have a Tryal lye on a persons back yet see the Lothness of Christ to destroy his very Enemies he waits that he may be gracious and beseeches them to turn and live Joh. 5. 40. Thirdly The greatness of his Person he is the Majesty on high King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He hath Right to Service and Worship from all his Creatures To him every Knee must bow and Tongue confess Phil. 2. 9. and yet that he should bear so meekly the Abuses Scorns and Contempts of the vilest men is wonderful great men are soon incensed when their Honour and Interest are invaded but the Lord Jesus is great and yet meek a King and yet lowly Psal 45. 3 4. Zach. 9. 9. Fourthly The Despicableness of the Persons that abuse him they are his Creatures made and mainrain'd by him inferiour Worms whom he can crush every Moment and strike dead with his Look Isaiah 1. 2. chap. 45. 9. Fifthly The great Kindness he hath for them he comes in their Errand to save their Souls he sheds his blood that they might live underwent the Law and bore his Fathers Wrath that they might enjoy his Favour and be sav'd to the uttermost if they believe and is not this a wonderful Discovery of his Meekness Secondly His Meekness to his People is exceeding great as I shall illustrate in a few particulars First In his bearing with them he did not only bear their Sins for them when on the Tree but many Provocations and Abuses from them now in Heaven so he bore with the Israelites Isa 3. 8. Though their Tongue and their Doings was against the Lord to provoke the Eyes of his Glory this was not the Carriage of Heathens but of his own People their Provocations was not a single Act from one part of them but the whole Body combine against him in Word and Deed these were not supposed Injuries but real not intermitted but continued not seldom but frequent How oft did they provoke him in the Wilderness and griev'd him in the Desart they tempted him limitted him and murmured against him for Water for Bread and for Flesh they rebell'd against him against his Institutions in Moses and Aaron against his Command about gathering Manna sanctifying the Sabbath and going against their Enemies They continually provok'd him to Anger even to his very Face Isaiah 65. 3. vexed and grieved his holy Spirit and yet he bears it in the Wilderness for forty years in the Land of Canaan eight hundred and sixty years before the Captivity after this five hundred ninety and six years before he cast them off O the admirable length of the Patience and Meekness of Christ towards that People in bearing with them considering the Kind and Length of their Provocations so under the Gospel he hath a people redeemed by his Blood such as avouch him for their Lord and tread in his Courts now
are Sanctifyed are all of one Heb. 2. 11. Thirdly For this end he was actually designed of God and made over to his People in the Everlasting Covenant decrees purposes and determinations of God 1. Cor. 1. 30. He is made of God unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption He is made of God Non in creatione sed in ordinatione saith Paraeus Not created so according to his Divine Essence as some Hereticks assert but ordained and given of God to this end to be Sanctification that is the Author of Sanctification and therefore he is said to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. which can never be accomplish'd without Holinesse For without holinesse no man can see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Fourthly For this work was the Lord Jesus promised by the Father to come unto Sion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Rom. 11. 26. This Scripture is quoted out of Isa 50. 10. from which the Apostle varies following the Septuagint Translation then in great use rather than the Hebr. seeing it retaines tâ—e sense though different in words In Isa 't is The Redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from Transgression The Apostle saies He shall come out of Sion and turn away ungodlinesse from Jacob To reconcile which Peter Martyr thinks the Septuagint might mistake Lashub To turn for Leshabe To them that turn But this is not likely that those Learned Doctors could be so mistaken in the Original and therefore 't is a far better answer that Beza and Grynaeus do give That the Prophet speaketh of the Effect of Christs coming which is a turning away from Sin And that the Apostle speaks of the Cause of their turning from Sin which is Christs taking away of Sin for none can turn from sin till Christ do remove Sin And this is the end of his coming into the World To this end he is promised Mal. 3. 2 3. He shall sit as refiners fire and purify the Sons of Levi. The Sons of Levi are Firstly meant of the Apostles Secondly I suppose of all the Saints But so much is clear that the Lord Jesus is promised to be a refiner to his People in Gospel times and to purge away their filth and dross and to make them Holy Fifthly For this end it was the Lord Jesus Christ gave himself up to Redemption-work Eph. 5. 25 26 27. As Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might Sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the word Here we have 1. One great end of Christs Obedience and Suffering 't is to make his People Holy 2. Here 's the efficient Cause of this Holinesse that is By the Spirit of Christ The blood of Christ purges away the guilt of sin Meritoriously and the Spirit of Christ purifies the filth of sin Efficiently signifyed by Water as 't is often us'd in Scripture Joh. 4. 10. 14. Chap. 7. 38 39. 3. Here 's the instrumental cause of this Holinesse the means by which it is wrought and carryed on and that is by the word the immortal seed of the Soul This he undertook and was intended to do in the Covenant of Redemption betwixt the Father and him Isa 42. 1 2 3 4. He shall not fail till he hath set Judgment in the Earth that is Holiness for so 't is taken Joh. 16. 8. And this work is the Lord Jesus here engag'd to do Some take the word Ethmoch I uphold passively for the Fathers dependence and Christs Faithfulnesse He leans or stays upon his undertaking this work and trusts to his performance of what he undertook to do Others take it actively for the Fathers upholding and carrying Christ through this great work of Redemption and Sanctification In both senses 't is true The Lord Jesus stands engaged to carry on Redemption-work and is throughly furnished with grace to accomplish it Heb. 10. 7. Christ readily consents to the fulfilling of the Fathers will and what that was you have Isa 42. 7. To open the blind eyes and to bring out the Prisoners out of the Prison which is meant of the work of Redemption and Regeneration and it was the will of God the Father that Christ should do this 1. Thes 4. 3. This is the will of God even your Sanctification And this he stood bound to do to promote and perfect the power of Holinesse in all his Children Now what Christ did undertake he finished Meritoriously whiles on Earth Joh. 17. 4. I have finished the work thou hast given me to do And for the application of it he is in Heaven to see it perform'd and this is the work of his Intercession Joh. 17. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth This Christ Intercedes for in Heaven and therefore 't is the fruit of his Purchase for he Intercedes for no more in Heaven than what he dyed for on Earth Sixthly His Authoritative sending the Spirit of Holinesse to his people shews his right to it by his Purchase Joh. 16. 7. I will send him to you That is after the finishing of his work and re-instalment in Glory Joh. 7. 39. For the Holy Ghost was not yet given because Christ was not yet glorifyed Lastly Were not holinesse purchased for saved Souls Christs Redemption-work would be imperfect neither could Souls ever answer the ends for which he dyed Without Holinesse were procured and compleated by Christ there could be no Salvation For First Man cannot Sanctify himself We are all as an unclean thing and our Righteousnesse as filthy rags Isa 64. 6. And who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean no not one Job 14. 4. Indeed the Scripture sometimes speaks after this manner Make you a clean heart Ezek. 18. 31. Make you a new heart So Isa 1. 16. Wash ye make ye celan But there is Mans Duty not his power It shews the subject not the Author or this holinesse and where you find such Exhortations they are to lead men to Christ for the getting of this Holiness wrought in them as 1 Pet. 2. 4. To whom come as as to a living stone c. Secondly Without this holiness be wrought in Believers they can never be capable of answering the ends of Redemption which are First To enjoy Union and Fellowship with God Joh. 11. 52. 1 Joh. 1. 3. Heb. 8. 10. Now without Holiness no Fellowship with God 2 Cor. 6. 14 15. 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. For his Person is Holy and his offerings and services are Holy Secondly To reconcile together in one all things in Heaven and Earth Col. 1. 20. But no Fellowship with Angels or Saints in Heaven without holiness for they are holy Creatures Thirdly To be brought into the nearest Union and Conformity to himself Rom. 6. 4 5. But without Holiness this cannot be Fourthly To be a Name and a praise unto God Eph. 1. 12. But without Holiness no glorifying of God Fifthly To bring Souls to the possession of the purchased
known The Psalmist alludes to that Providence of God in leading Israel through the red Sea when Deaths were on every hand God walked on those Waters and made a way through them for his People So Nah. 1. 3. The Lord hath his way in the Whirlwind and in the Storm and the Clouds are the dust of his Feet Those ways that men cannot stand up in are Gods usual walks in which he leads on his Work and Interest His wayes are above our wayes and In the Mount will the Lord be seen Gen. 22. 14. His Providences Ezek. 1. 16. are like a Wheel in the middle of a wheel and a skain of Silk strangely entangled When Israel was come near the Borders of the promised Land they must be turned back again into the Wilderness and wander up and down forty years in the Desarts When Sion's Mercies were come to the Birth they prov'd Abortive Strange indeed is the Womb of Divine Providence and seemingly contradictory to Humane Reason Thirdly No cross Providences can hinder Christ's Work in the World He hath purposed and will perform it Combinations of men Psal 2. 1 2. the Gates of Hell Matth. 16. 18. and the Powers of this World can no more impede the Success of Christ's Work than the Barking of Dogs can hinder the Moon 's passage to its Journey end Isa 43. 13. I will work and who shall let it Who art thou O great Mountain before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain Zach. 4. 7. He taketh up the Isles as a very slender thing Isa 40. 15. The Lord brings in his mightiness here to comfort Israel under Discouragements by reason of Difficulties in the way of their Mercy Comfort ye my People saith the Lord ver 1. Tell her her warfare is accomplished ver 2. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed ver 5. O Jerusalem that bringest good tidings lift up thy voice with strength Be not afraid of Dangers preach my Word be undaunted in my Service Behold your God ver 9. He will come and his Reward with him ver 10. He will feed his Flock like a Shepherd v. 11. He will keep up his Word and Ordinances in spight of all opposition Obj. But our Enemiâ—s are many Ans Why he hath measured all the waters of opposition in the hollow of his hand vers 12. Obj. But all our wisdom cannot see how these great things should be brought about Ans Why who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord ver 13. He wants not wisdom to accomplish his Work Obj. But Nations and Islands combine against God's Israel Answ What if they do they are no more to God than the drop of a bucket and the dust of the Balance ver 15. Therefore fear not he will perform his Promises and fulfil his Designs Quest Why what hath he promised Answ He hath promised that the stone cut out of the Mountain without hands shall become a great Mountain and break in pieces the Image of the Beast Dan. 2. 35 45. and that he will set up the Kingdom of his Son in the World ver 44. Isa 2. 2. He hath promised Peaceful times to the Church of God when the Sword shall be turned into Plow-shares Isa 2. 4. Isa 55. 13. Great shall be the peace of thy Children None shall hurt or destroy in all God's holy Mountain Isa 65. 25. Ezek. 28. 24 Isa 16. 18. Psal 72. 9. He hath promised times of Light and Knowledge Isa 11. 9. chap. 52. 8. ch 54. 13. ch 60. 19 20. He hath promised times of Holiness Isa 60. 21. ch 4. 3. ch 35. 8. Zech. 14. 20 21. He hath promised times of Union Zech. 14. 9. Zeph. 3. 9. Ezek. 37. 19. He hath promised times of Joy and Comfort to his Interest Isa 65. 13 14. ch 35. 10. ch 25. 8. He hath promised Enlargement to the Church Isa 2. 2. ch 60. 8 9 13. He hath promised Stability and Settlement Isa 54. 14. ch 60. 20. He hath promised Activity and Liveliness Isa 26. 19. Fourthly As those great and glorious things are spoken of Sion so they shall certainly be accomplished in due time Isa 60. 22. Deut. 32. 35. The Vision is but for an appointed time Hab. 2. 3. As the Things are appointed so is the Time beyond which God will not go one moment Exod. 12. 41 42. The self-same day the Jewish Doctors say it was mid-day as soon as one hundred and thirty years was out to an hour God fulfill'd his Promise Lastly God takes usually the most unlikely time to fulfill his Promises As in Abraham when his Body was dead Gen. 18. 10 11. Abraham and Sarah were sensible of an utter inability and unfitness in themselves for such a Mercy yet then was the Promise fulfilled Gen. 22. 14. So Israel were brought out of Egypt when all things made against it their Oppressions increased Exod. 2. 23. chap. 5. 7 8 19. Pharaoh resolv'd not to let them go Exod. 10. 27. and Moses charg'd to see his face no more on pain of Death chap. 10. 28. When Gods time was come to bring Israel out of Babylon they were as dry Bones and said Our hope is lost we are cut off for our parts Ezek. 37. 11 12. Psal 126. 1. Deut. 32. 36. Mic. 4. 10. Thou shalt go into Babylon and there shalt thou be delivered Before that glorious Salvation of the Jews in Shushan under Ahasuerus they were brought under a Sentence of Death the Decree was seal'd and posted away the time appointed for their destruction and no possible hopes left of reversing it Esth 3. 12. to the end compar'd with Chap. 8. So much for the Use of Consolation CHAP. VIII Containing an Vse of Exhortation to Sinners and Saints IF the Lord Jesus Christ be such a Glorious Mediator then First Let perishing Sinners be perswaded to get an Interest in him And for Motive herein consider these four or five things First The Lord Jesus will Mediate for and save none but those that are his Many common Mercies Favours and Boons he bestows on his Enemies but Salvation-blessings are the priviledges only of his People Matth. 1. 21. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Luke 1. 68. Secondly Many will lay claim to Christ who have no Interest in him Luke 13. 25. High Pretenders may be shaken off Math. 7. 22. chap. 25. 12. Some that shall think themselves something may be found nothing some that shall be thought Saints by others may yet be cast away 1 Joh. 2. 19. As Hymenaeus and Alexander 1. Tim. 1. 20. The Galathians and scattered Saints Gal. 1. 6. chap. 3. 3. 2 Pet. 1. 20. Rev. 8. 12. Nay the very Elect shall find it hard to stand Matth. 24. 24. Thirdly There is but a time in which Christ may be found Isa 55. 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found intimating there is a time in which he will not when the door will be shut and Christ will speak knock and call no more There is but a day of Grace
an hour of Salvation O Sinner be not wise too late Fourthly It is a most dreadful tremendous thing to leave the World without an Interest in Christ to be summon'd to Judgment and have nothing to help them no Mediator to plead for them no Righteousness to cover them no Duties to accompany them no Eye to pity them Isa 57. 12. chap. 30. 13. Jer. 5. 5. This is sad indeed when all Bowels are gone and boundless Miseries to be undergone Fifthly Of all perishing Sinners such as perish under the Gospel have the most dreadful Miseries Matth. 11. 21. 22. The Heathens and Pagans Publicans and Harlots shall have a more tolerable place in Hell than such as refuse a tender'd Jesus How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2. 3. O miserable Sinners sleight not Salvation tenders despise not Gospel calls but hasten away to this Redeemer Secondly Let the People of God be exhorted first to bless God for this Mediator Eph. 1. 3. Christ is the Fountain of Blessings the Author of Salvation the Gift of God and have you no Hosanna's for the Enjoyment of so rich a person 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. Secondly Ply hard the Throne of Grace find Work for Christ Heb. 4. 15 16. Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace make known your Requests unto God Phil. 4. 6. Consider Soul You have always need of Mercy not a Moment but you want Supplies from God for Soul and Body your Corruptions are alwayes resisting the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. never at peace with Grace but as a Bow that is bent are still pressing after their former Liberty and as Waters penn'd back are striving to force their way therefore Christians you alwayes need the Spirit 's help and fresh Supplies of Grace your Guilt is always encreasing James 3. 2. The Righteous falleth seven times a day hence daily Sacrifices were appointed because of daily Sins Heb. 7. 27. Your Temptations are continually renewed 1 Pet. 5. 8. New Tryals are daily falling on you new Difficulties are frequently occurring your Life new Troubles and Afflictions are constantly betiding you This is God's appointed way in which he will give out Mercy Ezek. 36. 37. Matth. 7. 7. 'T is true sometimes God hears before we ask but yet preventing Mercy doth not excuse from Duty and we have no ground to expect Mercy out of the way of Duty You are invested with a holy Priest-hood on purpose that you may be much employed in this Work 1 Pet. 2. 5. Your Work and Offices lies in this to offer up daily Sacrifices to God by Christ The Lord Jesus waits in Heaven to receive your Prayers 't is his Business and work in Glory to pursue your Advantages and therefore he expects to hear from you 9. Heb. 24. As an Agent that expects to hear from his Clyent and receive Intimation about his Condition as a Friend in a forreign Country that is hearkning for Letters from his Friend Christ in Heaven desires to hear from his People on Earth not that he is ignorant of them or needs to be put in Remembrance but this way are his Graces in them exercised their Love and Duty maintain'd and himself glorified Isa 30. 18. Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious In the Original it is he longs and as it were greedily and enlargedly desires an Occasion to be gracious he waits in Heaven to be puâ— in Remembrance to do his People good This way is their blessed Intercourse maintained betwixt Christ in Heaven and Believers on Earth by this Christ hears from them on Earth and they from him in Heaven Cant. 2. 14. chap. 8. 13 14. Thou that dwellest in the Gardens the Companions hearken to thy Voice cause me to hear it 'T is in the Original Cause to hear me which occasions a twofold reading First Cause me to he heard they are Christs Words to his Spouse Let me be the Subject of thy Discourse to others Secondly Cause me to hear it that is let me be spoken to let me hear thy Voice in Prayer as a man desires to hear from his Wife when absent and in the next vers She eccho's back the same Request to Christ that he would hasten his Return to her that she might have his Company also by Prayer Christ and Believers have sweet Intercourse with each other Cant. 1. 7 8. chap. 2. 5. 8. The Lord Jesus is wonderfully delighted to hear from his People Cant. 2. 14. chap. 4. 11. chap. 6. 13. Return Return O Shulamite c. This word Shulamite comes either from Solomon and so her Husbands name is named on her or from Salem Peace which is Jerusalem shewing her Descent to be from Jerusalem above hence Christ desires her Company because it was pleasure to him to look upon her her Countenance was as two Armies it is in the Original Mahanaim the same word that Jacob puts on the place where God met him Gen. 32. 1. 2. As if Christ should say thy Sight is Angelical to me tho thou art impure in thy self yet thou art fair in mine Eye 'T is a mighty thriving way there 's no such course can be taken to grow rich apace in divine Treasures Prayer is the Key that opens Christ Treasury and fetches out the Riches of Heaven because such may have of God what they will Joh. 15. 7. God is always giving where gracious Souls are rightly asking God's readiness to give should be an Argument always to crave as Sir Walter Raleigh when Q. Eliz. ask'd him when he would leave off beging answered when your Majesty leaves off giving Thirdly Trust to an interceding Jesus expect all your Mercies from him Psal 5. 3. In the Morning I will direct my Prayer to thee and look up the Arabick and some other Versions have it I will prepare or stand before him and he will see me But this agrees not with the Original where 't is I will order or dispose my Prayer as a General doth his Army and will look out as a man that watches on a Tower to see what I can espy and what Answer he will give By a Metonomy it signifies to expect or look for some thing Matth. 22. 21. In his Name shall the Gentiles trust The Lord Jesus is the sure and certain Object of a Believers Trust O Christians is Christ entred into Heaven there to appear for his People O then depend upon his Intercession expect all your needed Mercies by him take up your Acquiescence in his Mediation for you rest satisfied Believers that your case is good and it shall be well with you in every Condition because Christ intercedeth for you Now to strengthen your Dependance on Christ Consider His Engagement to the Father to become your Advocate Heb. 10. 9. Joh. 6. 39. His Promise to Believers to pursue their Cause in Heaven Joh. 14. 16. And his full Accomplishments with whatever is needful to compleat this Work He is infinitely wise and knows how to
manage your Concerns and prosper Col. 2. 3. He hath Skill and Counsel to finish his Affairs with Discretion he knows your Cases better than your selves and what Arguments to plead so as to prevail Psal 103. 14. Joh. 2. 24. 25. Psal 31. 7. Heb. 4. 13. Isa 40. 27. 28. He is active and laborious and quick at Work as well as in Wisdom Isa 11. 3. He is still unwearied in his Business and his Spirit never fails Isa 42. 4. His Eyes are always open he never slumbers or sleeps Psal 121. 4. 1 Kin. 8. 29. Isa 27 3. He loseth no time but takes the fittest Occasion to perfect his Designs 1 Pet. 5. 6. He is faithful in his Undertakings and one whom you may confide Heb. 2. 17. His name is faithful Rev. 19. 11. He is omnipotent and powerful to fulfil his Pleasure Heb. 7. 25. The Almighty one who can prevail with the Father and is one with him Joh. 11. 42. chap. 10. 30. Consider Christ's Interest in his people they are his own John 13. 1. They are his Seed Treasure Jewels Members and Sheep Joh. 10. 3. They are his Spouse and therefore he cannot forget or neglect their Concerns Ephesians 5. 29. Isa 58. 7. Think on his Concernments in all the Affairs of his Interest by vertue of that Union betwixt Christ and his People he becomes a sharer with them in all their Conditions their Mercies are his Delight Psal 35. 27. and their Afflictions are his Trouble Isa 63. 9. He sympathizeth with them as the head with the Members and the Husband with the Spouse their loss is his Loss and their Gain he reckons as his Interest Should Saints and their Concernments miscarry at last Christ himself would be a certain and eternal Looser he would loose his Blood and purchase his Obedience and Sufferings Lastly Consider Christ's Glory consists in the Good and Salvation of Believers 2 Thes 1. 12. His Glory is wrapt up in their Glory and his Life in their Life Joh. 14. 19. 2 Cor. 8. 23. Joh. 17. 10. Fourthly acknowledge the Intercession of Christ to be the procuring Cause of all your Mercies in every Reception of Mercy see an Interceding Jesus and say Lord 't is thy Mediation I owe these Enjoyments Priviledges and Prayer-returns unto Luke 22. 32. Psal 115. 1. Pro. 3. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him This is to pay Tribute to Christ in Heaven and advance the Glory of the blessed Mediator this is giving Christ his Due Rom. 13. 7. and a sacrificing to God and not to your Dreg as it is Christ in Belelievers is the Hope of Glory so it is Christ in Heaven is the Hope and Procurer of Mercy Fifthly If Christ be your Advocate in Heaven then follow his Instructions on Earth Matth. 17. 5. He that commits his Cause to another commits himself to his Counsel also to be guided by him in every thing that might conduce to his Success in it Christ's work in Heaven is to order and regulate his People on Earth and therefore he is the Law-giver and King as well as Saviour Isa 33. 22. Jam. 4. 12. and the Duty of all Christ's Clyents on Earth is to live by his Prescription and Order given them and therefore 't is said Numb 21. 18. The Princes digged the Well even the Nobles of the People digged it by the Direction of the Law-giver This is spoken of that famous Well Beer-Elim that is the Well of the mighty ones that God gave Israel in the Wilderness it was alone the Gift of God verse 16. I will give them Waters yet they must dig for it as here and that according to Prescription as Moses gave them from the Lord This well was a Figure of Christ as the Hebrews themselves in their Midrash Koheleth do acknowledge as say they The first Redeemer caused a Well to spring up so the last Redeemer shall cause Waters to spring up as 't is said Joel 3. 18. A Fountain shall come forth from the House of the Lord and shall water the Valley of Shittim which signified the Graces of the Spirit that Well of Water springing up to Life eternal Joh. 4. 14. Sixthly Become Advocates for Christ on Earth confess his name Rom. 14. 11. chap. 15. 9. Phil. 2. 11. Plead his cause before men Hos 2. 2. Plead with your Mother This is spoken to the pious in Israel as Jonathas Caldaeus Jerom and others conceive who are the men and the whole House of Israel their Mother and their pious Children must plead that is expostulate reason and contend with her for God to bring her to the Sense of her Sin and Danger the Lord Jesus underwent all dangers in owning your Cause so should you in his he always intercedes for you so should you for him in Word and Deed your Lives and Lips should plead for him He pleads effectually for you so should you labour to be as successful as you may for him Joh. 3. 29. and in order to the Discharge of this important Duty consider That the suitable Qualifications of an Advocate must be acquired you must get Wisdom to know Christ and the things of his Will Kingdom and Glory you are not likely to do much Service to Christs Interest if you are ignorant and unacquainted with his Laws and Concernments Mic. 6. 8. Col. 1. 9 10. 2 Pet. 3. 18. Matth. 10. 16. Phil. 1. 9. Eph. 1. 17. You must be active and vigorous for God Rom. 12. 11. Slothful Spirits are not like to be much serviceable Prov. 27. 15. Eccles 10. 18. chap. 9. 10. Heb. 6. 11 12. You must be faithful and have Truth in the inner parts Rev. 2. 10. 1 Cor. 4. 2. Luke 12. 42. You must labour after Potency and Mightiness through Christ that you may prevail for him Phil. 4. 13. 1 Chro. 22. 13. 1 Cor. 16. 13. Now the way to get this Strength for Christ is by Faith to live on him Eph. 6. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 1. You must make a thorough and open Profession of him and of all his Truth 1 Tim. 6. 12 13 14. Heb. 4. 14. 2 Cor. 9. 13. profess him at all times Matth. 10. 32. profess him openly plainly sincerely and boldly so did the Apostles You must patiently persevere under all Sufferings for him Acts 21. 13. 2 Tim. 2. 10. Heb. 10. 32. You must speak well for Christ at all times Mat. 11. 19. Cant. 5. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 9. You must live out his Glory Math. 5. 16. Phil. 2. 15. 2 Cor. 9. 13. Thus have we done with the Applicatory part of this Point and dispatch'd the wonderful Riches of Christ as to his personal Union CHAP. IX Opening somewhat of the sweet Dispositions of Christ viz. His Goodness Love and the Riches thereof as to the kind Fruits and Effects of it I Am now come to the third particular wherein we shall make a Discovery of the Riches of Christ as they consist in his excellent and sweet Dispositions as Mediator with those
God and one another Creature-affections are but streams deriv'd from this Ocean Candles lighted at this Sun We love him because he first loved us 1 John 4. 19. The ascending Love of Saints is a faint Reflection of the descending Love of Christ the same Waters that empty themselves into the Sea have their Birth from it Seventhly An active love Creature-affections are dull and sluggish and savour rankly of the Vessel they are in but Christ's are vigorous and laborious a parental Love that sets his Wisdom on designing his Faithfulness on securing and his Power on accomplishing the chiefest Concernments and highest good of his Children Lastly a fruitful Love full of good Works 't is commended love Rom. 5. 8. manifested love 1 John 4. 9. Not love in the Womb or abortive but love in the Birth I shall name some of it's Fruits to his People First the giving of himself for them Eph. 5. 25. Who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2. 20. This is the highest Testimony of his Love imaginable he could not have bestowed a better thing he that gives himself gives all He gave himself to procure a purchased Treasure to enrich them to destroy the partition Wall and fill up that bottomless Gulf that lay in their way to glory he gave himself to discharge their Debts remove their Guilt justifie their Persons fulfil all Righteousness and make good the new Covenant Secondly The opening of his heart to them John 15. 14 15. I have called you Friends for all that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you O! the wonderful Love and Kindness of Christ to his People that he communicates his Secrets and opens to them the Thoughts of his Heart from all Eternity he leads them into his retired Chambers and secret Recesses and feasts them liberally with hidden Manna and excellent Discoveries of the things freely given them of God Saints cannot ascend up into Heaven and see the Length Depth Breadth and Height of those glorious things God hath prepared for them but they have the Priviledge to wade deep into sanctuary Waters and the Spirit of Grace is freely given them to reveal the Depths of divine Love Thirdly The Communication of all good things to them He will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold Psa 84. 11. Psal 34. 10. O boundless Love indeed he may bestow some sublunar Portions on his Enemies but his Children only shall have the Inheritance they shall have his Wisdom to direct them his Goodness to supply them his Power to protect them and his Spirit to instruct them Joh. 16. 13. 14. And O what a wonderful Gift is the Spirit he will shew them their Duty reprove them for their Sin answer their Doubts clear up their Way and enlighten them in their Darkness he will open their Hearts enlarge their Souls regulate their Wills illuminate their Minds and sanctifie their Persons he will communicate Counsel reveal Christ discover their Inheritance and seal them up to the day of Redemption Fourthly His minding and pursuing all their Concerns in Heaven the Business Believers have in another Country where they cannot come is very weighty they need Receptions of more Grace every day Strength against Corruption Wisdom in their Difficulties Patience in their Sufferings and Faith in their Temptations now Christ doth agitate their Cause becomes their Factor and dispatches their Work Exod. 28. 29. Heb. 7. 25. Isa 49. 15. 16. Fifthly His gracious Presence with them Joh. 14. 18. I will not leave you comfortless Heb. 13. 5. Jer. 32. 40. 2 Cor. 6. 16 He may hide his face for sometime and suspend the gracious light of his Countenance he may stand behind the Wall and step behind the Curtain yet these are but momentary not continual and imaginary not real Sixthly His bearing with them and forbearing of them 1 Cor. 13. 7. Charity beareth all things it cannot easily be overloaded what gross Indignities and abusive Injuries doth Christ patiently receive from the hands of his People Amos 2. 13. Psal 95. 10. Seventhly His thinking often and well of them and his being a Friend to their Friends and an Enemy to their Enemies where a mans Affections are there will his Thoughts be also the Adulterers Thoughts are on his Uncleanness the wordly man 's on his Treasures and the Ambitious on his Honours but Christ's are on his People Isa 43. 4. They are his Hephzibah's the delight of his Soul his Jewels and Treasures Isa 62. 4. Mal. 3. 17. He esteems their Enemies as his Exod. 23. 29. and favours their Friends with peculiar Blessings Exod. 1. 20. Gen. 39. 5. Eighthly His being troubled with their Troubles and delighted with their Welfare Joh. 11. 33. 35 36. when the Lord Jesus came to raise Lazarus from the dead and saw Mary weeping and the Jews that were with her 't is said He groaned in Spirit and was troubled nay when he came to the place where Lazarus lay he wept whereupon the Jews said Behold how he loved him and his Heart is the same now in Heaven Isa 63. 9. True love will suffer in the Tryals of it's Friend Acts 9. 4. hence the Afflictions of Saints are call'd the Afflictions of Christ Col. 1. 24. what Hester said concerning her people may be more truly spoken by Christ Hester 8. 6. How can I endure to see the Evil that shall come upon my people He is grieved at the Evil of their Sins or Sufferings Mark 3. 5. Eph. 4. 13. and takes wonderful Pleasure in their Welfare Poov 8. 31. no tender parent can more earnestly desire the Happiness and rejoyce in the Advantages of his Children than Jesus Christ in his Psal 147. 11. If the Joy of his Ambassadors doth much depend upon the Prosperity of the Souls of their Auditors 3 Epist Joh. ver 4. Then surely himself is not altogether unconcern'd Lastly His preparing a Heaven for them John 14. 2 3. In my Fathers House are many Mansions I go to prepare a place for you c. The Lord Jesus knows that his departure from the World with the sad Consequences thereof would breed great Trouble in the Hearts of his Disciples therefore labours to prevent it by telling them of the occasion of his Departure that it was for their sakes and in their business and though the World would abuse them when he was gone and cast them out of their House and Country yet he tells them he had a Father in Heaven that would receive them and he was going thither to prepare a place for them and there was store of room for them in Heaven The word translated Mansion here signifies an abiding fixed place Here you dwell in Tabernacles but in Heaven are places for you out of which you shall never be turned more Don't expect much Happiness in the World but look to Heaven for all your satisfying Comforts There 's a Rest for you after all your wearying Duties and Troubles there are
the Pool's side near the means of cure but never the better ver 6. 7. And so continued till Christs time came to cure him So Israel were barren and unfruitful till the Lord became a dew to them Hos 14. 5. Therefore this is no discouragement if thou believe and come to Christ God will be a dew to thee and thou shalt quickly find a change 8. Object But saith one I am not only never the better for all the means of grace but I am worse than I was before when I was under first awakenings my heart was more tender but now my heart seems to be more brawny and hard I find more unbelief than ever more indisposition to go to Christ I am worse than I was Answ So was Sarah too as to the receiving the promised mercy more and more indisposed she complaines of the deadness of her womb she was past age to be the Mother of Children till the time of life came then Sarah's growing indisposition becomes no impediment at all to the fulfilling of the promise So was Israel they began to say for their part their hope was cut off and God had forsaken them when mercy was nearest to them So the woman that had a bloody issue twelve years and had spent all that she had on Physitians yet was nothing bettered but rather grew worse till Christ came and healed her Mark 5. 25 26. Persons are usually worst in their own eyes when mercy is nearest their doors Again Thy not comming to Christ is the cause of thy decaies and hardnings 't is thy unbelief that deadens thy heart and withers thy Soul Christ doth withdraw his influence from such and refuseth to do any mighty works in them because of unbelief O then Soul come away to Christ and this is the way to cure thee 9. Object But saies the Soul Christ seems to take no notice of me I call but he heareth me not I come to Ordinances but I cannot see him nay he seems to be angry with me every thing goes against me his word speaks bitter things to me methinks there 's never a threatning but belongs to me I am the Hypocrite and unclean person that God strikes at in every Sermon and his rod lies heavy on me too and in the way of his providence he writes bitter things against me Answ Soul is this thy case doth Christ take no notice of thee It is because thou takest so little of him when he unveils his beauty thou dost not believe in him when he makes a promise to thy Soul When he sends words of Counsel thou dost not obey him He hath called and thou hast not answered and therefore when thou callest he doth not answer Zach. 7. 13. Yet at such a time what follows doth God make an end of such sinners No see Chap. 8. 2 3. O Soul if the Lord Jesus Christ seems to take no notice of thee but to frown upon thee it is to frown thee from thy unbelief it is but to make thee sensible of thy slighting him If thou wilt this day accept of the Lord Jesus Christ his frowns will soon pass away as a dark Cloud doth when the Sun shines he will remember thy Iniquities no more 10. Object But may some Soul say I would fain come to Christ but I cannot I like the terms well but O my unbelieving heart O my impenitent hard heart I cannot sense Salvation-kindness Answ O Soul The afflicting sense of thy unbelief is a hopeful sign of thy faith If thou dost see thy unbelieving heart so as to be burdened under it and be weary of it the Lord reckons it for the beginnings of faith Mark 9. 24. This is the method of Salvation-Grace in begetting faith to convince thee of its impotency to believe Joh. 16. 9. Soul is this thy weariness that thou canst not come to Christ Wouldst thou have a wider heart for him Thou art the Soul he waits for that mournest over thy unbelief Mark 9. 24. But there 's one thing more may be as a discouragement to some Souls 11. Object O saies the Soul I fear the time is past and that God will be gracious no more I have had a day of grace but that is gone The Angel came troubling the Waters but I would not step in I bave had the dawnings of mercy but I resisted I fear I have outstood my Market That I have outstrived the Spirit so long that he will strive no more And this bows me down that I am afraid to look up Answ Sinner if this be thy case know that thy fears of losing the day of grace is a sign it is not lost The greatest symptome of departing grace is security and false peace 1 Thes 5. 3. So it was with the people before the flood Noah threatned judgments but they dreamt of peace Math. 24. 37. c. Security usher'd in the departure of grace from them But while the Spirit of grace strives with thy Soul the day of grace is not past from thee Doth God call upon thee now and plead with thy heart And dost thou find some movings and turnings of thy Bowels in thee crying out O that there might be mercy for me that this day of grace may not be past If so then sure the Spirit strives yet with thy Soul Therefore Soul if now thou wilt close with Christ none of these pleas can debar thy closing with him Well Sinners consider the Lord Jesus Christ invites you to come to him once more he demands your answer what say you will you be his or no Do your hearts accept of him Do you like his proposals will you heartily consent to be his upon all his terms If so I shall lay down some Counsels to direct you in your right comming to Christ First Sinner if thou will come to Christ thou must come as a poor needy empty undone Sinner stript of all beauty as having nothing at all that may deserve his favour 'T is the poor have the Gospel Preached to them Math. 11. 5. It signifies such as are brought to great necessities and extremities So Beza renders it Such as are brought very low Therefore some derive it from a word that signifies falling down at the rich Mens feet As some beggers will Ferus interprets it the poor in Spirit that acknowledge themselves mean and are low in their own eyes So Calvin takes it for them that are oppressed with the sense of their own wants such as feel their pinching necessities that lye down overwhelm'd with the apprehension of their emptiness The Treasures of the Gospel are design'd to such Persons that are poor and afflicted in their own Spirits There 's no greater obstacle in this Match betwen Christ and sinners than a sense of self worthyness This keeps many from seeing the beauty of Christ their own Righteousness hangs in their eye they are too heavy laden with their own thick clay I mean the sense of their own worthyness to be
the Spirit too for Christ is not divided He that hath Christ hath the Father and the Spirit for these three are one Now a Soul that hath the Spirit of Christ may know it by the effects of it The Spirit of Christ is a quickening Spirit it begets a principle of Life The Soul that was dead to God and holiness now hath a new life a heart to move after God it works from other motives even from love to God Dost thou find thy heart always dead to every act of Grace No heart to pray hear c. and is this habitual O then here 's no fruit of Christs Spirit The Spirit of Christ is a sin-opposing spirit always quarrelling with Lust always convincing troubling humbling the Soul for sin Gal. 5. 17. Tit. 2. 11 12. It gives no peaceable possession to it but always opposes it as fire doth water Where the Spirit of Christ is 't is a leading guiding Spirit Rom. 8. 14. Christians what is it leads you Is it your own Spirits if you have received the Spirit of God you may know it by those Scripture ways it takes to put you upon duty such a one is coâ—vinced by the word and perswaded and help'd by the word to this and the other duty Again The Spirit of Christ is a praying Spirit A Soul that is in Christ cannot live without prayer though no eye see it and no good come by it yet he cannot omit secret prayer Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 8. 15. 'T is not enlargement of affections parts abilities and expressions in prayer but the inditings of the Spirit inward breathings sighs and groans of the Spirit A man may pray like a Saint or an Angel and yet not have a jot of the Spirit of prayer but it is the encouragement of the Spirit to wrestle with God by Christ the inward suggestions of hope when a Soul can go to God as to a Father when the very heart goes out to God in prayer and when prayer is wing'd with Faith and Love These are the effects of a Spirit of prayer and the fruit of a Souls reception of Christ Thirdly They that have obtain'd an interest in Christ have crucified the flesh with the lusts there of Gal. 5. 24. They and only they that are in Christ have crucified the flesh that is the body of death original sin The general Nature of sin the universal extents of sin come under the workings of this Crucifixtion O try Souls â—ath the Axe been ever laid to the root of sin Have you ever found felling stroaks upon the bodie of your Corruptions are you baptiz'd into the death of Christ and as he died for sin so do you die to sin and by vertue of his death and wounds do you fetch power and strength from him to crucifie it There 's a difference between the curbing and the crucifying of sin sin may be chain'd up imprison'd and not crucified Hypocrites that are under a seeming change do restrain and confine sin yea they may punish sin but do not crucifie it The crucifying of sin is the giving it a deadly mortal wound fetch'd from the blood and death of Christ Faith fetches vertue from the Grave of Christ to destroy the power of sin nothing so mortally stabs this Leviathan as a believing reflection on our propriety in Christs Crucifixtion and a laying hold on promises by Faith in order to the application of the benefit of a crucified Christ Rom. 6. 4 6. Our old man is crucified with him The putting our lusts into the side wounds and grave of Christ A levelling the Ax to the body of sin doth strange work to the crucifying of it Trie then are your corruptions Pride Passions Earthliness as strong as ever deceive not your selves this will never assure your interest in Christ till sin be destroyed 't is true when the wound is given sin doth not immediately die but the bodie of sin is dying and the believing Soul finds his corruptions hath less strength every day as a man that loseth his blood weakens more and more so a Soul that crucifies Lust finds it to weaken day by day Fourthly Another effect of a Souls union with Christ is this There will be some resemblance of Christ 1 Joh. 4. 17. As he is so are we in this World As Christ was Crucified in the flesh so are his Crucified to the flesh And as Christ was risen and justified in the Spirit so are they sanctified by the Spirit and have the nature and Image of Christ Hence we are said to be made conformable to the Image of his Son Rom. 8. 29. They that are Christ's are in some measure of truth like him 1 Joh. 3. 3. They have something of Christ's Nature and Spirit Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2. 5. Christ's mind was off from and above the World and herein lies as great an evidence of interest in Christ as in any thing that Soul is dead to and wonderfully loose from the World Gal. 6. 14. Christ's mind was heavenly he favour'd the things above his meat and drink was to do his Fathers will If you are Christ's you will be of the same mind nothing in the World will so much delight you as to do something for God Christ's mind was heavenly to do his work and hasten home and if you are Christ's this will be your mind to dispatch your work and hasten home Christ was full of mercy humility meekness If you are interested in Christ so it will be with you Lastly They that are interested in Christ do interest Christ in themselves and in all that is theirs 2 Cor. 8. 5. They first gave themselves to the Lord Such do devote and make over themselves and all to Christ and glad they have any interest parts capacities that Christ will accept of they cannot keep back a part no were it a thousand times dearer Christ shall have all Can. 6. 3. I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine The keeping back of part lost Ananias and Saphira they were undone and damned for ever Act. 5. If Christ be yours you will entitle him to all you are and have And thus are we come to a Conclusion in this matter That Soul that can come to seal to those things is a happy Soul O blessed Soul indeed Then mayst thou boldly say The Lord is my helper God Christ the Spirit the Promises the Kingdom and glory is mine Thus much for the use of Examination CHAP. XXX Containing a Vse of Exhortion pressing Believers to several duties HAving already dispatch'd Motives Counsels and Directions to Sinners about their coming to this Christ I shall only apply this last use of Exhortation to those who are interested in this rich and glorious Jesus Christians you that are made happy in your Relation to Christ and invested with a Title to these glorious Treasures of all persons you are most obliged to duty Christians be you advis'd and exhorted to
Derivations from his Excellency Drops of his Fullness Sips of his Sweetness the impress of his Fingers The precious Ordinances of Christ are but the Galleries in which he walks the Chariot in which he rides the Cabinet wherein his Jewels lye the Cisterns through which Waters of Life pass to saved ones and if these be so pleasant O what then is himself and should not Believers then delight themselves in him Quest But how shall I do to get my Heart to this delight in Christ I find my Affections cold and my Spirits dead that I cannot taste that Sweetness in Christ nor take that Pleasure in the Almighty as I would Answ First withdraw your Hearts from all other Delights this course doth the Lord set Israel to get up to a delight in himself Isa 58. 13 14. There is no greater Enemy to true delight in God than a persons own carnal Pleasure and delight in things below God Whoredom and new Wine take away the Heart Hos 4. 11. 'T is impossible a Soul can take pleasure in Christ and Sin together Mat. 6. 24. For carnal Pleasures withdraw the Affections from God Job 21. ver 12. to 15. 1 Joh. 2. 15. Secondly Rest not till you have cleared up your Interest in Christ and can upon good grounds apprehend him as your peculiar and chief Treasure better than all the World besides and appropiate it to your own Souls Cant. 2. 3. 5. This drew the Spouses Heart to so much longing after and solace in the Lord Jesus even the sight of his transcendent Worth beyond all others and her title to all those Excellencies 't is seen Interest in Christ that draws out the Heart after him Cant. 7. 10. Doubts of Relation to Christ and Fears of laying a claim to these precious Treasures damps the Soul pleasure in Christ Thirdly Be satisfy'd about Christ's special love to you and delight in you 1 Joh. 4. 19. Jealousies about an Interest in this love of God did so cool the Jews Hearts towards him Isa 49. 14. But Zion saith the Lord hath forsaken me and my God hath forgotten me From hence they began to slack their pace after God and cryed out behold what a weariness is it and snuffed at it Mal. 1. 13. chap. 3. 14. Suspition of Christs Heart towards you will straiten yours towards him think well of Christ's Heart to you cherish daily a good Opinion of his Nature Affection and Faithfulness Fourthly Beg hard for heart-affecting fights of Christ This so enamoured the Spouses Heart she saw the beauties of her beloved Cant. 2. 1. She beheld him to be the rose of Sharon and Lilly of the Vallies the powrings out of his Name drew her affections to him Cant. 1. 3. The Eye affects the Heart Lam. 3. 51. As with Sorrow so with Joy 'T was David's Sight of God in the outgoings of his Love and Glory that made his Soul thirst after him Psal 63. 1. 2. Fifthly Be much in the consideration of what Christ hath done for you and bestowed upon you this so engaged Hezekiah's Heart to God Isa 38. 17. and filled David's heart wiih such an Extasy of Joy in God 2 Sam. 7. 19 20. Psal 8. Sixthly Get a nature and Spirit sutable to Christ Similo Simili gaudet Psal 17. 15. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness This made the Image of Christ glorious in the Souls eye also when once it becomes changed into it's Likeness 2 Cor. 3. 18. Therefore did Paul delight in the Law of God after the inner man Rom. 7. 22. Because he had his inner parts changed into the Image of it what pleasure will wicked men take in a wicked Cause from the similitude it hath to their own Nature So will the Soul in Christ when once brought into a sutableness to him Lastly Be much in Communion with Christ and this will beget wonderful Joy in him Psal 119. 167. David's being much conversant in God's Laws begat and strengthen'd his delight in it So vers 14. 'T is Intimacy breeds Delight whereas Strangeness lessens all that Familiarity and Pleasure we else might take in Persons Psal 14. 10. A Stranger intermeddles not with his Joy Be not contented to keep to duty but press after Communion with Christ therein 6 Duty Sixthly Be not troubled at your Wants Losses and Sufferings you undergoe in this World Consider these four things First You can want no good thing the God of Glory stands bound for your Supplies Psal 34. 10. They that seek the Lord shall want no good thing Psal 23. 1. The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want It cannot be that those who are so much interested in the Heart Care Person and Treasure of the Lord Christ can be destitute what can you want who are entitled to all good things 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Who are Heirs of the Promises Promises that concern the Life that now is and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. You have a surer Title to your Supplies than they that have most of the World in their hands for God hath laid up in the hands of Jesus Christ a full Allowance for you how short soever he may seem to keep you for a while the Earth is your Lords and the Fullness thereof and the Cattel on a thousand Hills Psal 50. 10. 12. Psal 24. 1. Heaven and Earth and all things therein are made over in the everlasting Covenant for your use Secondly You shall want or suffer no more than infinite Wisdom and fatherly Love sees best for you 't is impossible that divine Purposes should be frustrated towards you he that will work will work and nothing shall let 't is not Men nor Devils nor the greatest injury of time can deprive you of your Fathers Allowance and that is upon infinite Wisdom and good Pleasure The Wings and Wheels of Gods Providence over his people and for them are full of Eyes within and without to shew the wise Care and Providence of God over his in the worst of times and hardest condition and these Wheels are moving for your Good Christians and God sees in the darkest Providence what is best for you all his Dealings with his people are the Fruits of everlasting Love Jer. 31. 3. God doth in infinite Wisdom manage all your Concerns 't is not by Chance or through any inadvertency any Crosses or Losses befall you but all is done in wise Counsel 3dly The less you have of Creatures the more will God give you of himself if you be looking to him and by Faith live upon him God will admit of no Vacuums towards his people they can want no good thing therefore if creature-supplies be remov'd Grace comes in the room as they say Water will ascend to prevent a Vacuum and Grace will descend to prevent Emptiness in Believers God comes in the room of creature-comforts when Job was stript of all he had more of the visions of God Job 42. 5. John had never more