At the opening and discovery of Jesus Christ the kindness and pity and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared 3. Because this manifestation hath something in it of the removal of sin it is the voice of Christ unto such as are in sin Isa 65.1 Behold me the first step towards the remission of Sins is the beholding of Christ now we cannot behold him that will not come into view 1 John 3.5 and therefore saith the Apostle ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins 4. Because this manifestation hath something in it to the overthrowing of Satan for the while that Christ hid himself Satan blinded the minds of men but when once Christ the Image of God shone forth then Satan like Lightning fell down from Heaven 1 John 3.8 for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil 5. Because this manifestation tends to our believing in Christ and by consequence to our Salvation through Christ John 20.30 31. Many signs Christ did in the presence of his disciples which are not written but these are written saith John that ye might believe that Jesus is Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name Well but wherein was this first manifestation of Jesus I answer in those several witnesses that held him forth John 8.17 It is written in the Law saith Christ that the testimony of of two men is true but to manifest Christ were many witnesses As 1. From Heaven the Father is witness John 8.18 John 8.14 for see saith Christ the Father that sent me beareth witness of me and the Son is witness for so saith Christ I am one that bear witness of my self and though I bear record of my self yet my record is true for I know whence I came and whither I go Heb. 10.19 and the Holy Ghost is witness so faith Paul The Holy Ghost also is a witness to us and to that purpose he descended like a Dove and light upon him 2. On Earth John the Baptist is witness Mat. 3.16 John 5.33 John 1.7 for so saith Christ ye sent unto John and he bare witness unto the truth he came for a witness to bear witness of the Light that all men through Christ might believe No sooner was John confirmed by a sign from Heaven that Jesus was the Christ but he immediately manifests it to the Jews and first to the Priests and Levites sent in legation from the Sanhedrim he professed indefinitely in answer to their question that himself was not the Christ nor Elias nor that Prophet whom they by a special tradition expected to be revealed though they knew not when and secondly to all the People he professeth definitely wheresoever he saw Jesus Christ this is he yea he points him out with his finger John 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World Then he shews him to Andrew Simon Peter's Brother and then to another Disciple with him who both followed Jesus and abode with him all night John 1.39 Andrew brings his Brother Simon with him and Christ changes his Name from Simon to Peter or Cephas which signifies a Sone Ver. 42. Ver. 43. Ver. 44. Ver. 47. Then Jesus himself findes out Philip of Bethsaida and bade him follow him and Philip finds out Nathanael and bids him come and see for the Messiah was found when Nathanael came to Jesus Christ saw his heart and gave him a blessed Character Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile Thus we see no less than five Disciples found out at first which must be as so many witnesses of Jesus Christ And yet we find more witnesses The works saith Christ that I do in my Fathers name they bear witness of me These Works or Miracles of Christ were many John 10.25 but because we are speaking of his first manifestation I shall instance only in his first work which was at a Marriage in Cana of Galilee The power of Miracles had now ceased since their return out of Captivity the last Miracle that was done by man till this very time was Daniel's tying up the mouth of the Lions and now Christ begins He that made the first Marriage in Paradise bestows his first Miracle upon a Marriage-Feast O happy Feast where Christ is a Guest I believe this was no rich or sumptuous Bridal who ever found Christ at the magnificent Feasts or Triumphs of the great The state of a Servant in which state Christ was doth not well agree with the proud pomp of the World This poor needy Bridegroom wants drink for his Guests and assoon as the Holy Virgin hath notice of it she complains to her Son whether we want Bread or Water or Wine Necessaries or Comforts whether should we go but to Christ The Lord is my Shepherd and if that be so it wall surely follow I shall not want Psal 23.1 John 2.4 But Jesus answered her Woman what have I to do with thee mine hour is not yet come This shews that the work he was to do must not be done to satisfie her importunity but to prosecute the great work of divine designation In works spiritual and religious all outward relation ceaseth Matters of Miracle concerned the Godhead only and in this case O Woman what have I to do with thee We must not deny Love and Duty to Relations but in the things of God natural Endearments must pass into spiritual and like Stars in the presence of the Sun must not appear Paul could say Henceforth know we no man after the flesh yea though we have known Christ after the flesh 2 Cor. 5.16 yet now henceforth know we him no more At the Command of Jesus the water pots were filled with water and the water by his Divine Power is turned into Wine where the different dispensation of God and the world is highly observable Every man sets forth good Wine at first and then the worse But Christ not only turns water into Wine but into such Wine that at the last Draught is most pleasant the world presents us with fair hopes of pleasures honours and preferments but there 's bitterness in the end every sin smiles in the first address but when we have well drunk then comes that which is worse only Christ turns our water into Wine if we fill our water-pots with water if with David we water our Couch with our tears for sin Christ will come with the Wine of gladness sooner or latter and he will give the best wine at the last O how delicate is that new Wine which we shall one day drink with Christ in his Fathers Kingdom These were the first manifestations of Jesus you see he had several witnesses to set him forth some from Heaven and some on earth the Father Son and Holy Ghost witness from Heaven The Baptist Disciples and his works
lattice 3. Other Prophets spake only to the ears of men but Christ spake and still speaks to the heart Revel 3.7 He hath the Keyes of David that openeth and no man shutteth that shutteth and no man openeth it is a similitude taken from them that keep the Keyes of a City or Castle without whom none can open or shut no more can any man open the heart or break in upon the Spirit but Christ he only is able to open the eyes of the mind by the secret kindly and powerful working of his own Spirit 4. Other Prophets preached wisdom unto men but only Christ preacheth men wise other Prophets warned men by telling them of their sins and denouncing the judgments of God but Christ reclaimed them and turned them from sin hence it is said that he taught as one having Authority and not as the Scribes John 5.25 it came daily and coldly from them but it came from him as being full of conviction and reproof 1 Cor. 2.4 full of the evident demonstration of the Spirit and of power 5. Other Prophets might not preach themselves the Apostle inveighs against self-commenders We dare not saith he make our selves of the number 2 Cor. 10.12 or compare our selves with some that commend themselves Yea Christ himself relating to himself as a meer man saith that his witness is not true if he bear witness of himself John 5.31 But in another place relating to himself as Mediator he speaks clean contrary John 8.14 Though I do bear record of my self yet my record is true Here then is a wide difference betwixt other Prophets in respect of their Office and Christs they might not preach themselves but he bears witness of himself because he hath not a greater in the point of our Justification Sanctification and Salvation to bear witness of them himself And hence are those self-predications of his which we find in Scriptures as Look unto me Isa 45.22 Mat. 11.28 Luke 24.27 and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden And conferring with the two Disciples it is said that beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself Surely it commends to us the Prophesie of Christ that he might preach and commend himself without any blot of Arrogancy or taking too much upon him 6. Other Prophets had their Commission and Authority from him Eccles 12.11 The words of the wise are as goads and as nails fastened by the Masters of the Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd i.e. the words of the wise are divine and Heavenly instructions the Masters of Assemblies are Gospel-Ministers and Christ is that one Shepherd from whom these words are given and from whom these Masters have their Authority 2 Cor. 5.20 Ezek. 20.46 are they not called Embassadours for Christ and doth not Ezekiel tell us that he must drop his words towards the South Now what is the meaning of that dropping It is a phrase borrowed from rain as the clouds from whence the rain descends have not their water Originally and natively in themselves but from the Sea so have not the Prophets a spirit of Prophesie of themselves but all is drawn up out of Christ as out of a full Sea of all excellent Wisdom and knowledge In him are all the Treasures a Sea an Ocean of knowledge and from him all the Prophets derived whatsoever they had SECT IV. Of Christs Miracles 2. THe Miracles of Christ this year were many now what were these Miracles but a pursuance of the Doctrines delivered in Christs Sermons One calls them A verification of Christs Doctrine a signal of Christs Sermons If we observe we shall find him to work most of his Miracles in actions of mercy indeed once he turned water into wine and sometimes he walked upon the waters but all the rest were actions of relief according to the design of God who would have him manifest his power in shewing mercy and relief to men Amongst all his Miracles done this year now was it that at Cana where he wrought the first Miracle he does a second a certain Noble man or Courtier or little King as some would have it came to Jesus and besought him to come down to his house John 4.47 and to heal his Son who was at the point of Death We do not find Christ often attended with Nobility but here he is Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty 1 Cor. 1.26 not many noble are called yet God forbid but that some are and may be this noble Ruler listens after Christ in his necessity happy was it for him that his Son was sick for else he had not been so well acquainted with his Saviour O we are loth to come to Christ till we see a need a necessity for it and hence it is that Christ sends weakness sicknesses infirmities oppositions and many afflictions that he may be sought unto Come then are we afflicted whither should we go but to Cana to seek Christ whither should we go but to that Cana of Heaven where our water will be turned into wine where our Physitian lives that knows how to cure souls and bodies and all that we may once say It is good for me that I was afflicted The first answer Christ gives this Nobleman is a word of reproof John 4.48 Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe Incredulity was the common disease of the Jews which no receipt could cure but wonders A wicked and Adulterous generation seeks after signs the Doctrine of Christ and all the Divine words that he spake must be made up with Miracles or they will not believe it was a soul fault and a dangerous one Ye will not believe What is it that condemns the world but unbelief Here 's a Noble Capernaite that probably had heard many a Sermon of Jesus Christ and yet here is Taxed with unbelief if such as we that live under the clear Sun-shine of the Gospel shall not believe O what a sin is this Christs next answer to this Nobleman is a word of comfort Ver. 50. Go thy way thy Son liveth Oh the meekness and mercy of Jesus Christ when we would have looked that he should have punished this Suitor for not believing he condescends to him that he may believe as some tender mothers that give the breast to their unquiet children instead of the rod so usually deals Christ with our perversness Go thy way thy Son liveth with one word doth Christ heal two Patients the Son and the Father the Sons feaver and the Fathers unbelief we cannot but observe here the steps of Faith he that believed somewhat ere he came and more when he went he grew to more and more saith in the way and when he came home he enlarged his faith to all the skirts of his family And the
Wine without Money or Money-worth Isa 55.2 Rev. 22.17 come and drink of the Waters of Life freely 2. The extent of the Promise in this Covenant of Grace I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh hence the Gospel is compared to a Feast and God invites universally As many as you find Mat. 22.9 bid to the Marriage As persons are in estate so they invite and so they feast now Christ is a great King over all the Earth he hath one House that will hold all he hath one Table that will hold all yea he hath one Dish that will serve all and answerably he invites all Ho every one that thirsteth 3. The forwardness of Christ that gives to every one that asketh according to his Promise John 4.10 Hadst thou but asked said Christ to the Samaritan VVoman I would have given thee living water Mark here the occasion of Christ's words Christ being weary and thirsty by reason of his Journey he asked of the Woman a Cup of water to drink no great matter he asks but a Cup of water and the Woman stands at the Well-side where was water enough yet she gives not but stands wondering that he being a Jew should ask water of her that was a Samaritan well saith Christ thou deniest me a Cup of cold water being weary and thirsty but hadst thou asked of me I would have given thee water of Life Wonderful Christ is more ready to give water of Life the very Spirit of God to a poor sinnner than we are to give a cup of common water to a thirsty Soul Go then thou that hast denied the least mercy and kindness to Christ in any of his Members yet seek Grace from him O look up unto Jesus ask his Spirit intreat him to make thy heart new within thee plead the promise of his Covenant and wait in hope 2 We must praise 1. If we would have the blessing let us seek it with the same mind that God offers it i.e. with a purpose and desire to have Grace exalted thus Moses sought pardon to this very end that his mercy might appear If thou wilt pardon their sin thy mercy shall appear and we shall be thankful unto thee for it Exod. 32.32 so the words are made out by expositros which in the text are either passionately or modestly suspended These are prevailing requests with God when we plead for the Glorifying of his own Grace Father Glorifie thy Name said Christ and presently there comes a voice out of the Cloud I have Glorified it and I will Glorifie it again John 12.28 2. If we have the blessing already then be sure to ascribe the Glory unto him that hath made good his promise unto us who is a God like unto thee Micah 7 18. who passest by the transgressions of the remnant of thy Heritage We should make the praise of his grace to ring through the world that Heaven and Earth might take notice of it and wonder at the grace that hath been shewed us I will mention the loving kindness of the Lord Isa 63.7 and the Praises of the Lord according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us and the great goodness towards the House of Israel which he hath bestowed on them according to his Mercies and according to the multitude of his loving Kindnesses See how the Prophet mentions the kindnesses the loving kindnesses the multitude of his loving kindnesses the goodness and the great goodness of God he could hardly get off it he would have God and Grace to have all the Glory O my Soul hath God entered thee into a Covenant of Grace why then bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name Psal 103.1 But of this more anon SECT IX Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect 9 WE must conform to Jesus in reference to this Covenant of Grace We are changed by beholding into the same Image 2 Cor. 3.18 If we look unto Jesus in this respect this Look will have such an influence upon us that we shall conform to Jesus But wherein consists this Conformity I answer in these several perticulars 1. God in Christ offers his Covenant to us so we through Christ should embrace his Offer 2. God in Christ keeps Covenant with us so we through Christ should be careful to keep Covenant with him 3. God in Christ hath highly honoured us as we are his People so we through Christ should highly honour him as he is our God 1. God in Christ offers a Covenant of Grace to us so we through Christ should embrace this gracious Offer His Offers have appeared from first to last as 1. To Adam 2. To Abraham 3. To Moses 4. To David 5. To Israel and to Judah Take notice of it in that great promise of the Covenant I will be thy God q. d. Come Soul if thou wilt but have me I am thine here I offer my self my son my spirit Justification Sanctification Adoption Salvation whatsoever I am or whatsoever I have all is thine if thou wilt but accept of me Look over all this wide wide world and if there be any thing in it that can please thy soul and when thou hast gone through all the world then come and take a view of me and see me in my glory beauty and excellency view me in my Attributes and see if thou findest not enough in me worthy of thy acceptance all this and more than this nay more than eye can see or ear can hear or heart can conceive I offer to thee if thou wilt but have me Loe I will he thy God So Christians God is first with us he is the first mover he begins with us before we begin with him I will bring them saith God into the bond of the Covenant Now in this let us conform doth he offer O let us embrace the offer doth he lead the way O let us follow him step by step in that very way as he goes before us Let us not prescribe unto God let not us presume to appoint the Conditions of the Covenant let us not seek to wind about the Promise of Grace to our own Mind and Will let us not say We will have it thus thus and thus it shall be or else we will admit of no conditions of peace But O come take God and Christ upon his own Terms submit to that way of the Covenant and to those conditions of peace which the Lord prescribeth why this is to conform to his gracious offers There is much of this offer of Christ and conforming to Christ and therefore give me leave to enlarge As in the offer God usually scatters some little seeds of Faith in the hearts of those that he will bring to himself so it is worth the while to observe the work of Faith in receiving and accepting of this gracious offer only I shall not herein limit the Lord but I will shew what some
Jesus and he shall not bear his Name for nought believe in him and ye shall live with him in Glory O blessed news Men may talk what they will of this and that news every one gapes after it but there is no news so welcome to one even now ready to perish as to hear of a Saviour tell a man in his Sickness of one that will make him well again tell a man in Captivity of one that will rescue him and set him free again tell a man in Prison condemned to die of one with a pardon that will save his life and every one of these will say this is the best news that ever was heard O then if it be good tidings to hear of a Saviour where is only a matter of loss of life or of this Earth how much more when it comes to the loss of Heaven to the danger of Hell when our Souls are at stake and likely to be damned for evermore what glad tidings would that be to hear of one that could save our souls from that destroyer is not such a Saviour worth the hearkning after were not the birth of such a one good news O my soul ponder on these words as if an Angel seeing thee stand on the brim of Hell should speak to thee even to thy soul 2. Consider Jesus in his Conception no sooner the news heard but Christ is conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Virgins Womb this Conception is worthy our consideration what that the great God of Heaven should condescend so far as to take our Nature upon him and to take it in the same way and after the same manner as we do the Womb of the Virgin was surely no such place but he might well have abhorred it true but he meant by this to sanctifie our very Conceptions and to that purpose he is conceived in an holy manner even by the holy Ghost we must not be too curious to enquire after the manner of the holy Ghosts operation who therefore overshadowed the Virgin this is work for our hearts and not meerly for our heads humble Faith and not curious inquisition shall find the sweetness of this Mystery It was Davids Complaint Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me O my Soul this was thy case in thy very first being or beginning Psal 51.5 and hadst thou died in that condition the word is express that nothing defiled nor unclean shall enter into the City of Glory but here 's the remedy thy sinful Conception is sanctified by Christs holy Conception the holiness of thy Jesus serves as a Cover to hide thy Original pollutions from the eyes of God O consider this Jesus Christ was not conceived in vain he was not idle doing nothing whiles he was in his Mothers Womb he that from all eternity began he was then carrying on the great work of our salvation for us O consider this Conception thus till thou bring'st it near and close to thy soul till thou feelest some sweetness and power coming and flowing from Jesus in the Womb. 3. Consider the duplicity of Natures in Jesus Christ The Word was made Flesh John 1.14 no sooner was he conceived but he was God-Man Man-God he was perfectly framed and instantly united to the eternal Word God sent his Son there 's the Nature Divine made of a Woman there 's the Nature Humane Certainly great is this Mystery that the Word is made Flesh that the Son of God is made of a Woman Gal. 4.4 that a Star gives Light to the Sun that a Branch doth bear the Vine that a Creature gives being to the Creator that the Mother was younger than what she bear and a great deal lesser than what she contained Admire O my Soul at this but withal consider that all this was for us and our Salvation he was Man that he might die for us and he was God that his death might be sufficient to save us had he been Man alone not God he might have suffered but he could never have satisfied for sin he could not have been Jesus a Saviour of Souls and had he been God alone not Man he had not been of kin to our Nature offending and so he could not have satisfied the Justice of God in the same Nature wherein it was offended neither could he as God alone have died for Sin and the Decree was out that our Redeemer must die for Sin for without shedding of Blood there is no Remission and no shedding of Blood Heb. 9.22 no Passion could possibly befal the Godhead of Jesus Christ I shall not dispute the power of God whether he was able to lay down another kind of way of mans Redemption than by the Incarnation of the Son of God without controversie this was the Will of God and he appointed no other way because he would not O my Soul consider of this in relation to thy self he is God-man that he might suffer and satisfie for thy sins he is God-man that he might be able and fit most fully to finish the work of thy salvation as God he is able and as man he is fit to discharge the Office of Mediator as God he is able to bear the punishment of sin and as man he is fit to suffer for sin O the wisdom of God in this very way Mans Nature can suffer Death but not overcome it the Divine Nature can overcome death and all things but he cannot suffer it and hence there is a duplicity of natures in Jesus Christ O muse on this it is a matter worthy of thy serious consideration 4. Consider the real distinction of these two Natures in Christ As the unapproachable light of the God-head was put into the dim and dark Lanthorn of humane flesh so these two natures remained entire without any conversion commixion or confusion they were not as Wine and Water that become one by mixing there is no such blending the divine and humane nature they were not as Snow and Water that become one by dissolving of the Snow into the Water there is no such changing of the Humane Nature into the Divine or of the Divine Nature into the Humane Some say indeed that the God-head was more plentifully communicated with the Manhood after his Resurrection than now at his Conception but howsoever it did not then swallow up the Truth of his Manhood as a whole Sea would swallow up one drop of Oyl look as at first moment of his Conception he was God and man so these two Natures continued still distinct in substance properties and actions Why consider this O my soul in reference to thy self O ther 's comfort in this by this meanes thou hast now free access unto the Throne of Grace that thou mayest find help in thy necessities and as thou hast free access so thou mayest boldly draw near his Deity indeed confounds but his Humanity comforts faint and feeble Souls his Divine Nature amazeth but his
himself which Jesus knowing for he understood his thoughts as well as words first he makes her Appology and then his own the scope givign us to understand that Christ was not of the same superciliousness with the Pharisees but that repenting sinners should be welcome unto him Ver. 47. Ver. 48. Ver. 50. Vse and this welcome he publisheth first to Simon Her sins which are many are forgiven and then to the woman Thy sins are forgiven thee thy faith hath saved thee go in peace I have been long in the proof but a word of use and I have done What is Christ most willing to receive sinners O then be exhorted who would not come to Jesus Christ methinks now all sinners of all sorts should say though I have been a drunkard a swearer an unclean person yet now I hear Christ is willing to receive sinners and therefore I will go to Jesus Christ This is my exhortation O come unto Christ come unto Christ behold here in the name of the Lord I stand and make invitation to poor sinners O will ye not come how will ye answer it at the great day when it shall be said the Lord Jesus made a tender and offer of mercy to you and you would not accept of it Oh come to Christ and believe on Christ as Christ is willing to receive you so be you willing to give up your souls to him the motives to this I may lay down in these particulars 1. The Doctrine of Christ Come unto me and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out All the arguments of God and Christ of which you have heard the practice of Christ whiles he was upon earth and the heart of Christ now in Heaven lay these together and apply them to your own souls Oh what work will they make 2. The calls of God and Christ as they are frequent in Scriptures consider that Text Ho every one that thirsts come ye to the waters Isa 55.1 Ho he begins proclamation-wise we usually say vocations interjections speak very affectionate motion towards the distressed certainly Christ's love is a very affectionate love he layes his mouth to the ears of those that are spiritually deaf and cryes aloud Ho every one Christ invites all As many as ye shall find bid them to the Marriage Matth 22.9 As the Heavens are general in their influence not one grass on the ground but 't is bedewed so are Christs invitations to his feast not one man in the world but he is invited Ho every one that thirsteth so the Apostle Let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of Life freely Revel 22.17 A thirst and a will is one and the same it is your will that makes up the match if you will but sit down at God's Table if you will but have the honey-comb with the honey if you will but drink his Wine with his milk if you will drink yea drink abundantly of the flaggons of the new wine of his Kingdom why then come Come ye to the waters come unto me and drink Christs arms are spread abroad to receive sinners he calls and knocks and calls and waits and calls and beseeches every word here hath so much sweetness and dearness in it as it plainly speakes him free and willing to receive you if you will but come 3. The wooings of Christ to gain your hearts consider him bowing the Heavens and coming down and laying aside his Robes of Majesty and putting on your filthy garments consider him going about from place to place on no other errand but to gain your hearts and win your Souls and whoever spake such effectual words as Christ spake when he was upon the earth who ever gave such precious jewels to a Bride as Christ gave to his Spouse whoever put on such apparrel as Christ did when he wooed his Church the Prophet wonders at it Who is this that cometh from Edom with dyed garments from Bozrah Wherefore art thou red in thine apparrel Isa 63.1 2. and thy garments like him that treadeth in the Wine Fat Isa 63.1 2. Whoever gave such a love-token as Christ gave when he laid down his Life Oh consider him living or dying and say Never like Love to this Ah poor sinner see your Jesus hanging on the Cross dropping out his last blood breathing out his last breath stretching out his dying armes to incircle sinners and come Oh come and throw your selves into his bleeding armes away with all prejudicate opinions who shall say Christ is not willing to save him and not blaspheme eternal love speak truth corrupt hearts speak truth say not Christ is unwilling but you are unwilling I would but ye would not 4. The weepings of Christ if he cannot prevaile Thus we find him in the Gospel expressing himself Luke 19.41 not only in words but in tears And when he was come near Jerusalem he beheld the City and wept over it Luke 19.41 Christ coming to the City and seeing it and foreseeing the desolation that should come upon it his bowels yearned within him towards the People and he mourned secretly within himself q. d. O Jerusalem thou hast had many Priests to advise thee and many Prophets to instruct thee in the wayes of life but now those dayes are gone and past nay the great Prophet of the World is come to woo thee but yet thy heart is hardened and thou wilt not receive the things belonging to thy peace and therefore I will turn my preaching into mourning and sighing O that thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things belonging to thy peace and then his heart even breaks and he weeps again but now are they hid from thine eyes sinners suppose Christ should come and weep over you as he did over Jerusalem saying O ye sinful souls had but you known even you in this your day the things belonging to your peace and suppose that you should see one tear trickling down after another what Christ to weep for you over you Methinks if you had hearts of stone it should melt your hearts surely it is no light matter that makes Christ weep Children weep often but Wise-men seldome yet here the wisest of men weeps for them that would not weep for themselves O Jerusalem Jerusalem SECT IV. Of Christ's easie Yoak and light Burthen 3. FOr the easiness of Christs Yoak and the lightness of Christs burthen Christ delivers it in these words Take my Yoak upon you and learn of me for my Yoak is easie Mat. 11.29 30. and my Burthen is light See the actings of Christ this year in reference to our souls health 1. He commissionates his Apostles to call sinners in 2. He stands ready to receive them if they will but come in 3. He sweetens the way of Christianity to them when they are come in Many fears and jealousies are in the hearts of men of the difficulty austerity and severity
exceeding profitable Only concerning the manner of the indwelling of this spirit in us it is most difficult to conceive Certainly it dwells not in us as in Christ viz. bodily Col. 2.9 unmeasurably Joh. 3.34 Originally 2 Cor. 3.17 the spirit is in Christ as light in the sun but the spirit is in us as light in the air In Christo ut lux in sole in nobis ut lumen in aere Ezek. 36.27 37.14 neither dare I affirm that the spirit is in us more essentially than in any other men or creatures for the essence thereof is indivisible and omnipresent But this I say that the spirit is in the faithful above all others 1. In respect of Covenant the Saints have the spirit by God's free Grace and Covenant I will put my spirit within you saith God in the Covenant which is not only to be understood of the gifts and graces of the spirit but also of the spirit it self 2. In respect of intimate familiarity and near acquaintance the spirit is in the faithful like an inmate or coinhabitant comforting directing ruling strengthning and cherishing them in which respect they are said to be his houses and Temples in which he dwelleth whereas contrariwise worldlings and infidels to all these purposes are meer strangers unto him the world cannot receive him saith Christ because it seeth him not neither knoweth him John 14.17 but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you 3. In respect of vertue and efficacy the spirit works efficaciously in his Saints he chooseth them for his own people he possesseth them as of his own right he rules in their hearts as in the chief seat of his Kingdom he purgeth and purifieth them from their sins he replenisheth and filleth them with his saving graces he guides and directs them in the way of holiness and never leaves them till he brings them to his Kingdom 4. In respect of union it was an old errour of the heathens that the soul remaineth in the body after Death which opinion of theirs though false because it contradicts the Word yet the thing it self is possible and doth not contradict reason for the soul may have its local being in the body and yet not give life to the body for it is not the souls being in the body but its being united to the body which makes the body live so it is not the Spirits being locally with the soul but being mystically united to the soul that gives it spiritual life Now in all these respects the spirit is in the faithful above all others I know the objections As 1. If the Spirit be united to a believers soul and so made one with him then may a believer say I am the spirit or I am equal with God in respect of the spirit in me though not as Peter Thomas c. But I answer this follows not for though the spirit be really united to a believers spirit so that he may say with the Apostle 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit or hath one spirit yet first this union is a voluntary act and not a natural act and in that respect the Spirit may unite himself to the soul so far as he pleaseth and no further And certainly thus far he is not pleased to unite himself to a believer as that a believer should say properly I am the Spirit or I am equal with God in respect of the spirit for then a believer might be worshipped with Divine worship 2. This union is by way of application and not by way of mixture if an heap of Wheat and a stone should be joyned together there is an union they make both one heap but the Wheat cannot say I am a stone nor can the stone say I am wheat because this union is only by way of Application but if Wine and Water should be joyned together then every part may say I am Water and I am Wine because this union is not only by application but by way of mixture Certainly there is a great union betwixt the Spirit and a believers soul yet cannot the believer say properly I am the Spirit or I am equal with God because their union is only by way of application and not by way of mixture 2. Object No more was the union of Christ as God with our nature as man any union by way of mixture yeâ— could he say I am God and I am man But I answer Christ's union was not only spiritual or mystical but hypostatical or personal and in that respect though there was no mixture yet there was such an union as cannot be parallel'd in all the world Our souls union with the spirit of Christ goes very far and indeed so far as we cannot express it though we had the tongues and heads and hearts of men and Angels yet comes it short of that union betwixt the second person in the Trinity and the soul and body of Christ his union was personal but so is not ours a believer is a person before he is united to the spirit of Christ but now Christ's soul and body were not a person before united to the person of the Godhead Go we therefore as far as we can and I shall easily yeild that our union with the spirit is a true real essential substantial spiritual invisible mystical intimate union yet is it not a personal or hypostatical union the spirit doth not assume the soul or body of a believer as the second person assumed the soul and body of Christ Away away with these cavils and blasphemies wherewith too many unstable souls are now infected I have done with this Reason 4. That the holy Ghost might according to his Office endow men with gifts no sooner he bestows his person but immediatly he fills us with his train Now the gifts of the Spirit are of these two sorts some are common to good and bad others are proper to the Elect only Those gifts which are common are again two-fold for some of them are given but to certain men and at certain times as the gift of Miracles of Tongues of Prophesies and these were necessary for the Apostles and the Primitive Church when the Gospel was first to be dispersed others are given to all the members of the Church and at all times as the gifts of Interpretation Sciences Arts Prudence Learning Knowledg Eloquence and such like the former gifts we have not but these latter are now given to every member of the Church according to the measure of Christ's gift as the calling and vocation of every member needeth As for those gifts and saving graces which are proper to the godly I shall speak of them anon Now here is another reason of the spirits mission Eph. 4.8 that he might give gifts unto men if you ask what are those gifts the Apostle tells you in one place He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists v. 11. and