' Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/beoursOOwalk O F T H E Benefits of our Saviour, JESUS CHRIST TO M A N K/l N D. • • ■■ i Cor. 1.31, 32. £ Jefus Chrift ] is made unto us Wifdom, and T^ghteou^- n efs y and Sa n tlifi c a tio n y and T{edemp tio n . He that glorictb, let him dory in the Lord [ Tefus Chrift.] LLU At the T h e a t e r in O X F O R D. MDCLXXX. THE PREFACE 1 HE chief intention of publi/hing thefe difcourfes is, to fuggefl to devout per- fonsfome few fut copious, heads for their Meditation. To which purpofe it is not amifs to premife : That in meditating on any action or paffion of our Saviour ; confider his per f on doing or fuf fering it, not as man, but God and Man. Ei- ther of which will produce affections in you diver fe from the other ; both full of Benefit, When you con- fider him as Man; you will more admire and love, in human infirmity , hit innocence, and all his he- roical virtues, and merits; and companionate his indign fufferings ; and^ thefe being for you alfo^ in reprefenting to your felt fuch his human weakj^.h'i it will render them far more dearer unto you , and your gratitude much more to him. As he is man, you will have a more familiar confidence in his good- will toward you: more interefl your felf in, and indeavour to imitate, what he did and (uffered ; and more firmly believe, that itfijallbe done unto you ( // being like him ) what was done by God to him. But again, when you confider him as God; not a word. PREFACE, word? not an anfwer, not a cir cum/lance of any "a- ffion of his, pajfeth without your admiration, and deep reverence of it ; you mil be aftoni/bt that fuch MajeSly and power fpould fo low defcend for your fake ; and be infinitely more ready to fear, to praife,tolove, to admire, tofacrifice all you are, and have, unto him : and then grieve, comparing it with his, u e. Gods love toyou n that it is fo in- confederable : you will dif cover new wifdom in e- very parage of his fiory: and his fuferings, humi- lity, mildnefs.it will fiill grcaten to you as his per- fon doth.Tou will not only make your addrefles with more caution to him ; but alfo more expetl flrengt b and protection from him; and in every thought of him will bend your fouL to fall down, adore, re- verence, and fear fuch a divinity. And in this meditation will fay ; Lord depart from me for I am a finful man : as in the former ; Lord I will follow thee whither foever thougoefi. THE THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS- CHAF. I. Jefus Chrift a Prophet, Lawgiver, Apo- ftle, declaring all Gods will, &c. Pag. i. CHAP. II. Jefus Chrift the Exemplar and pattern in all obedience to Gods will, and the reward of that obedience. p. 18. CHAP. III. Jefus Chrift the Mediator of the new- Covenant, p. 16. CHAP. IV. Jefus Chrift the Sacrifice. p. 4/- CHAP. V. jefus Ghrift the Redeemer from fin, the law, death, and Satan. p. j 8 . CHAP. VI. Jefus Chrift the fecond Adam. p.71* CHAP. VII. Jefus Chrift the Melchizedechicai High Prieft. p. no. CHAP. VIII. Jefus Chrift the Lord and King. p. iyjr. CHAP. IX. The benefits of our Saviour common to all Generations ever lince the beginning of the worlds p. 17^ ■* (l) Mans Reftitution B Y J E S V S CHRIST. Jefm Chrijl fent by the Father a Prophet, Law- giver , Apoftle, declaring all Gods Wil^&c. O D, who in the begining, writ his Laws § , in the hearts of all men, [l{pm. 2. 14, JefachriB K, The Gentiles not having, the Law of the L tr f?> r Moles yctjhew the work^ of the Law writ- j tiwe ^ ten in their hearts, their thoughts accufing, &c. So J{pm.i. 21, 2f> 28, 52. Becaufe when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, v. 21. but changed the truth of God into a lie, v.zf. tho knowing that they, who commit fuch things, are worthy of death, v. 32. as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge , Jo God gave them over, Sec. ver. 28 ) made, belides this, from the begining, many exprefs revelati- ons by Prophets Jude 14. in many particulars concerning his fervice andworfliip, to the Church. Therefore find we much of the ceremonial Law praitiled before Mofes, Gen. 14, 20. 3/, 2. 8, 21. Exod. 24, 5-. Gen. ij, 10. compared with Lev. 1, 17. Gen. 9 , 4. dec. But here, much of thele Laws by fo ill a Regifter, and in fo long time being more and more defaced and worn out, ( for Mofes $ Law was added becaufe of the overflowing of tranfgreffions againft the Law natural, Gal. 3. 19. till Chrijl Jhould come : The efiefe of which Law Mofaical among the Jews, the rules of Philofophy (being only the Law of nature revived by the wifeft of other nations ) in A fome 2 The benefits' of our Saviour. fome inferior degree wrought among the Gentiles ) after more than 2000 years, when the Church ve- ry numerous was grown into a State, God publifh- ed them again unto the world with great folemni- tybyMofes; and writ them himfelt in Tables of ftone to laft the longer; and, doubtlefs, in thefe then , added many explications at leaft to thofe which formerly were pra&ifed, or enjoyned to A- dam, Gen. 4. 3, 4. or Noah, Gen. 9./. &C. But here again, his Laws being neither obeyed fo far as underftood ; nor underftood fo far as they obliged / after a long fpace of his tolerating the unbelief and imperfection of the veiled Jew 2 Cor. 3. 13, 74, 16. ) and his winking at the ignorance and idolatry of the Gentiles, and his fuffering them to go on in their oivn ways : Act. 17. So , 24, 16. and he having now fufficiently educated his Church in the pedagogifmof the Law and of Ceremonies, after about 2000 years more, in the full and due time Epb.i.xo. iTim. 2. 6* JHLeb. 11.40. and theworlds mature age Gal. 4. 3. ( therefore the firft words of s ?ntt our Saviours preaching are : The time is fulfilled Markj 1. if. -the Gofpel retaining much what the fame diftance from the covenant made with Abra- ham, wherein were included any Profelytes of the Gentiles, and die promulgation of the Laws as thefe were from the beginning of nature , for he doth all things in number, weight, meafure ) : He fent his Son Je/us Chrijt the greateft and laft Prophet, and the Holy one of God, yet more perfectly and fully to revele and declare to mankind his laft , and all, his will, Sec. Mat. 1 f. 24. Jo. 3. 34.-?. 5 8. And Him he then fent into the very middle and Navil,as it were,of the then known world,and there feated himnot atjerufa/em, but mGalilee -, half ( as it Chap. I. if were ) among!? the Gentiles; to whom the Church was now to be enlarged, and Salvation to be preach- ed as well to the Reives. Tho to the J ewes in the firft place fee Jo, 4. 40. Sent him at this time, £hd to this places From which time and place, that which he did and taught, might by the Teftimony of many ivitnefjes cbofen before of God. AU 10. 47. defcend conveniently to all other places and times. This thing being neceflarily to be effected in fome determinate age , in fome particular Nation, and Country * unlefs perchance the unreafonablenefs of our unbelief will have him for our fuller fatif- fa£tion to ac? over and over again that great work, in all places -, and in each of them too at all times ; And that we will not in this one thing allow to as firm relations, as pofterity is capable of, ( I mean the Gofpels ) that credit, which wee fo eafily yield to the Hiftories of all other famous actions andpaf- fages of the world. Which Relations of thefe four Eyangelifts, and three of them ocular witnefles,common and ufed in the beginnings of Chriftianity, are mewed to be molt true. 1. From the converfion of fo many thou- fands to. this Faith ( which thing cannot be denyed ) who lived in the time, when thefe Scriptures were writy and in the places, where thefe things were pretended to be aited,- where any ialficy might have been molt eafily discovered j efpecially in fo many famous and publick pafTages related in them, which few could be ignorant of. As s Herods mur- thering the Infants : the darknefs at the execution oije/us : John Baptifts preaching : many of our Sa- viours and the Apoftles miracles. See iCor. i?.6. ■2. From the prophefies of the old Teftament con- cerning the Meflias to thofe who allow thofe wri- A 2 tings ) 4 The benefits of our Saviour] tings ) exa&Iy agreeing with, and fulfilled in, the Hiitory of J ejus ( even as they were interpreted by the learned Jews before the coming of the Meffias ) in l'o many punctualities of his life and death ; and efpecially in the time of his coming ; which was to be under the fecond Temple, H&gg* -2.7,9. But this Temple was deftroyed by Titus ; And when the Scepter was departed firft from the Jewifh Na- tion (for this King was then to be lent when the others failed j ) But this happened firft in the time of Herod, the firft ftranger King, after both Davids and Levi's rule depofed -, and when alfo the Roman Empire, under whofe yoke the Jewes were now fain, was firft perfected and at its height in Augujius -, in 3. whofe times our Saviour came. 3. From the plain prophecies contained in thefe Relations , as Matt. 24. Sec. concerning the perfecution of the Chri- ftian profeffion j the deftru&ion of Jerufale?n and Temple -, and difperfion of the Jewes ; fet down in 4- them long before the event. 4. As like wife from thofe heavy curfes which the world hath leen to fall upon all the enemies of Chrift, and the primitive Chriftians; as, upon the Jewes (the defolation of which Nation beareth witnefs to this day in all Countries to the truth of the Gofpel ) ; upon Herod the Great; His fori Archelaiis ; Herod the Tetrarch, Archelauss brother that beheaded John ; Herod A- grippa (Act. 12, 23. ) that killed James ; it being obferved by Jofephus ( a ftranger to this caufe ) that ofHerodsvevy numerous race within 70 years none were left, but all extinguiflied in a molt miferable manner^ and upon the Roman Emperors, fo long as the perfecutions endured i. e. till Conjlantine s time, 1110ft of whom fuftered unhappy ends. $ From the. rhen, ( by the Heathen conreffed ) ceflatiou of ora- cles, Chap. I. cles, ( fee Plutarch's treatife of it ) and the mira- culous propagation of the Chriftian Dodtrine, tho fofevereand oppofite to flefh and blood, by fuch mean and unarmed inftruments , thro fuch fuffer- ings ; which fhews it to be a work of no lefs then a Divine power. And tho another Religion fince it, even that of the great Antichrift, Mahometanifm, hath alfo fprecad much in the world; yet firft both the manner of its growth fhews it not to Be of God : being both planted at firft and alio God in all Ages pre- ferveth a place of retreat for his Church, from the face of the Dragon and of the Beaft to whom he gives his power. Apoc. 12. 6> 14. compare iJ, 7. Dan. 7, 8. 3 Lafbly it never advanceth farther then the fword by violence carrieth it : whereas our Lord 1. by the power of the fpirit ,• 2. and the Teftimo- ny of miracles; and 3. by fufferings inftead of Arms, as in the beginning, fo ftillfhall continue to propagate his truth,- and goes on conquering and to conquer Nations remote, whom the fword can- not reach: in every age fome new people volun- tarily fubmitting to his Scepter. Allthde, and many more juftifie fufficiently the truth 2 S m The benefits 'of our Saviour. truth of thefe Relations. So that though our Savi-* our came but in one appointed time, yet all times, that did not fee it, notwithstanding want not the greateftreafon that can be had from the evidence of Hiftory to beleive it. And he that requires more would leave no place for the exercife and merit of Faith: which otherwife would have been as worth- lefs as that feeling one of St Thomas, which fuffer- ed a reprehenfion from our Saviour, But Gods pleaiure it is, as well for the trial of our inclinati- ons to heavenly things, as for his greater glorifica- tion in our fervice of him, and advancement of our future reward, to give grounds of belief i ufficient, not coa&ive and uncontradi&able ; and to make us walk only by Faith here, not by fight : that our adherence might be fo much more efteemed, by how much we had lefs evidence, tho all may have evidence enough. See Jo. 20. 29. 1 'Bet. 1. 8. Elfe , letusalfo require, that God fhould alio ihew his perfonal prefence amongft us -, and when he mini- iters to our neceffities, do it by Angels vifible -, and alwaies prefent to us a profped: of the Joyes of Heaven, as the Devil did to our Saviour the glories of this lower world; and then let him blame us if we do not reverence, truftin, and ferve, him. § 5. ■ Hither therefore at this time fent ; He, in whom were hid from all eternity all the treafures of wifdom ^minted. and knowledge, Col. 2. 3. was firft anointed(as Prophets anciently were, 1 Jtyng 19. 16. ) and fealed by the Father to this office Jo. C. 27. L&k*A+ 18, 2i.Efai. it. 2. Ail. 10.38. Acl. 4. 27. Anointed with the holy Ghoft and with power ; and that vifibly at his Baptifm , Jo. 1. 33. that all might know him to be fent ( fince none unfent may take fuch honour. Heb. r. 4. ) Yea-filled with the holy Ghoft . which never Chap. I. 7 never man was before him. ( For it pleafed the Fa- ther that in himjhould all fulnejs dwell. Col. i. 19. And God ga j e not the Spirit by me jure to him, Jo. 3. 34; but according to mdiire he gives it to all men elle Fph. 4. 7. ) fee Matt. 1.16. Lu^. 3. ?. Thus furnifhed for the many offices to which he §• & waspredeftmed by the Father, He was fent Firft ^J™ 1 ^'- as anew LegiJlato<-, being faithful as Mofes. Heb. For the law 3. 2. but yet more to be obferved, being Majter moral. of the houfe wherein Mofes was a fcrvant. ( v. 6. ) Therefore Mofes, when he fhould come, referred them wholly to him Dent. i#. 1?. And in this of- fice of his, firft a new Legiflator in fome refpe&s as to the law moral. Firft to recSifie the underftandingof the Law, l - formerly either falfifyed , or mutilated : he ex- ^ ounc pounding it in molt things more fully, and in fome things alio contrary to what had been faid of old. Ithathbeenfaidofoldfo, but I fay unto you^ Matt. 5, 6, 7, chapters. Jo. 1. 17, 18. -3. 2. -4. 2/. 2. Again, toexadtto this Law thus expounded 2. by him a more true, and inward, and full obedi- ^ e ^ h (f ence of all men that would be his Diiciples, then &tdien?e. ° ver had been performed before by the itritteft Sects of all the Law-zealots •, not to let a title of itpafs- away ( pafs away heaven and earth firft ) till all the Law be fulfilled. ( Matt. ?. 17, 18, ip, 20. 1 Cor. 7. 1 9. Gal. 2. 17' Jam. 2. 12. ) 3. To make to fuch obfervers of this Law more open and manifeft promiies of the Kingdome of Heaven Heb. #. 6. and againft the breakers of this Venouming Law, heretofore winked at, and fullered to walk hec in their own way, &c. to rcvele the wrath of God from Heaven ( as not the joyes of heaven, fo neither the. paines of Hell before his coming having been fo much me?;ts. 3 The benefits of our Saviour. much talked of ) Rom. i. 18. charging men every whereto repent Act. 17. 30. becauie a day is ap- pointed wherein he will judge the world, v. 31. Tit. 2. 11,12, 73. Therefore he came, faith the Baptift, with an axe on his fhoulder - 3 with a fan in his hand •> to cut down the fruitlefs trees ; to purge Gods floor of the chaff; and with afire made ready to burn them both. Matt. 3.10. Sec. He was laid a fione for fumbling -, and thefa/l,as well as the rifng again, of many in Ifrael. (Luj^. 2. 34, ) That every foul , that hears not this man, who the lajt fpeaj^s from Heaven ( Heb. 12. zf. )jhould be deflroyedfrom among the peo- ple. Ad. 3. 23- Ef.6. 9,10,11. compare with Matt. 13. 14. IL/aL 61. 2. and that none fhould have any- way to efcape that turneth away from him. He came for judgment, that they, who will not fee, might be made blind Jo. 9. 3 9. and the lalt ages, knowing by him Gods will and not obeying it, fhould be beaten ( as they are ) with more jlripes Luk. 12. 48. and their fin remain for ever. Jo. 9.41. 4. He was fent not only the molt perfect and exact ri7$Jr?£ Interpreter of the letter; that Gods law and will might be fully known, and an exa&or of the ob- fervanceof it in the ftridteft fenfes thereof, upon the moft grievous punifhments to the difobedient { which is all, hitherto, but afuller miniftration of condemnation and death,) But, as of the exacteft letter, lb he came the mimfler of the fpirit (2 Cor. 3. 6. Jo. 1.16,17. Gal. J. 14. Phil. 4. 13. Eph. 1. 23. 1 Cor. 1.8. AS. 3. 2d. ) that by the power of this fpi- rit, the Law, by them that beleived, might be ful- filled. ( See Rom. 8. 3,4); which was the miniftra- tion of the foul as it were of the law, and of righte- oufnefs and life unto us ( 2 Cor. 3.7,8. Gal. 2. 79. Ji*vl[j.*voy. 19. The time of his good will towards men ; to preach peace Acl.10.36. and falvation, and remiffion of fin ( for which Baptifm was then alfo inftituted ) : and the fulfilling of the promife of God to the few, that was made unto their fathers, but likewise of his new mercy to the Gentiles, that the Gentiles too Jhould glorife God for his mercy Rom. 1 y.8, 9. And all this to be per- formed to the world through himfelf that taught it : for, as he was the text and fubjed: that was preached of, fo alfo was he the preacher Pf 2.7.-40. o } 10. Jo. 14.6. and none could fee that light, but by the light of it: which though it much Humbled the Jews, that he fhould bear recordof himfelf -, and He as the truth preach himfelf as the life Jo. 8. 13. yet both the witnefsof John, befidesthatof all the Prophets, and of his Father from Heaven at his Baptifm, &c. and that of his miracles ; (all which lie quoted to them to juftify his Commiffion, ) were abundantly fatisfa£tory. And, asthisApoftle came to preach the Gofpel, fo received he power, to remit, and abfolve from fin Matt. 9. 2, 6, u. and that here on earth as man, fee v. 8. and, as Prieft Heb. 8. 6 ; tojuJHfy the ungod- ly 7{pm. 4. 5-. Acl. y. 31 ; and to makefons of God Jo. 1.12. and admit into the Church and the kingdom of Heaven,bv the new ceremony of Baptilm (which he did ordinarily by his Difciples Jo. 4. 2 ; but yet fome conjecture from the practice Ail. 1 9.?. Jo. 3.22. that C H A P. I. 13 thathe himfelf firftbaptized fome of his Difciples at lead; and fo accordingly afterward he mini- ftred the Euchanft).To admit I fay into the Church all thofe, who repented i. e. confefTed their fins, and promifed amendment of life. Matt. 3. 8- And who beleeved in him, that he was the Son of God Jtl. 8. $7. -1 9- 4. Jo. 3. 18. and in his word, that it was truth, and he the laft teacher fent from God, &c. and who rejected not the counfel of God fent to them by him Luh^ 7. 3o. Jo. 5-. 24. -8. 31} -12. 4^. Laftly to give the holy Ghoit Jo. 20. 22. Jt~l. 2. Sj, 38. Eph. 4. 7. 2 Cor. 3. 8. by which to leal, his con- verts unto glory. In which refpedl: alfo he is laid to give eternal life to as many as receive him Jo. 17. 3. and to have the J^ey of David, as the chief Oecono- mift and officer in that family, opening and Unit- ing as, and to whom, he plealed, l{ev. 3, 7. Efai. 22. .22. J^ev.i.is. andall judgment to be committedun- tohim. Jo. y. 22. Chrifius.ut homo, remittit peccata, dat fpiritum fanflum-, vitam tetcmam, dc. potejlate tantum communicata & delegata, fed modo excellen- tiori quam minijrris ejus concejpim ejl. Vt homo ad has attiones concurrit tantum injhumentaliter & me- ritorie, non efficienter ; fed tamen ut inflrumentum efjicicnti conjunllum & Jingulare -, non feparatum & commune \qualia funt in/f rumen t a Jpojioli y & Prophets. So the Schoolmen. And in all this at fir ft he be- came the Minifterof the Circumcifiononly, i. e. of the jews J{o?n. 1 y. 8. Jci. 10. 36. ( and, according to his own commiffion, for a certain time, he limited his Difciples Matt. 1 0. ? , 6.) and began there al- fo in Galilee amongft the meaner fort of the people, and remote from the chief Citty the leaft to provoke the envy of thole m power till the ap- pointed time or his paffion approached, and preached 14 The benefits of our Saviour'. preached here moftwhat in parables -, for fo it pleaf- edGod, that till his fufferings were accomplifned, the peoples ignorance mould not be quite difpel- led^ and that this light fliould rife upon the world by degrees, and not all at once Matt. 13.11. 1 Cor. 2. $. But when the time drew near of his offering up, Jo. 7. 8. He preached more frequently in Jeru- salem, and in the Temple ( tho ufually not lodging in the City Jo.%. 1. Lu. 2 1.37.) and thereat the Feafts of the greateft retort, and profeffed more clearly and openly who he was, and did his greateft Mira- cles Jo. 11. and accordingly multiplied exceeding- ly his Difciples and followers Jo. 12. 19. Upon which the rage of his enemies now heightned to ex- tremity, and after three years preaching i>. 13. 7. and the daiesof his Miaiftry accomplished, in the laft place he laid down his life, and died a Martyr for the Truth he had taught. 1 Tim. 6. i^.Tfev. 1. ?. -3. 14.. g {julfrvfo Tn&f. §• n- Now, after his refurre&ion from the Dead by the Divine power, in Juftification alfo of the truth of dodrrine, He being to return to God from whence he came, and the fame truth being neceffary to be preached, fins remitted, Sacraments adminiftred, the Holy Ghoft conferred, &c. to the end of the world, to one Country after another -, and, in them, Beforehisde-to one generation after another; the laft thing partureor- h e did. here on Earth was the ordaining fome thniy°~ others for thefe offices in his name, after he had now finifhed the work of our Redemption, which was to be the fubjed: of their preaching. Tor his former miffion of them was only preparatory Matt. 10. to tell men that the Kingdome of Hea- ven was near at hand, which now after his con- queft of Sathan, and of death by his death was ful- Chap. I. x; ly come, ere<5ted, and compleated Jo. 12. 31. Jo. ip.So. At which time alfo he was to receive, as he had before in his own perfon, fo now the promife of the Father fo long expected, the effufions of the Holy Spirit upon his feed, even the whole Church, but thele efpecially upon his Apoitles. A type of which was Mofess fpirit, taken part of it and put upon the 70 Elders, Num. 6. 11. which Apoitles were to minifterthis fpirit to others Gal. 3. 2, j. Thefolemnity of whole Ordination and Commif- fion we find Jo. 20. 21, 22, 2$. Matt. z#. 1 p, 20. Ma %. 16. if. Luj^.24.47. Therefore is our Lord named for the Author of adminiftrations and offices, as the Father of miracles, and the Holy Ghoft of gifts. 1 Cor. 12.4, $, 6. To thele , as his Vicegerents , he derived the Dodtrine, the Authority, the Spirit, the anoint- zyJ^fofL- ing himfelf had received of the Father. ( See Jo. his authority if- if- -17. 8, 18. Eph. 3. p, 10. 1 Cor. 2. 10, 13, Eph. 4. 7i 8. Acl.2.33. Phil. 4. 13. 2 Cor. 1.21.) Con- cerning whom alio he left this Teftimony to the world; as the Father had done of him, He that bearetb you, hearetbme (Matt. 10.40. Lu\. 10. 16. ISLatb. 17.5-. ) and as the Father fent me,fo I you. Jo. 20. 21.-17. 18. Hence alfo are his own attributes frequently communicated to them. They called foundations Matt. 16. 18. compared with 19. 24. Eph. 2. 20. Rev. 21.14. And they alio faid to fave men Jude23. Rom. 11. 14. 1 Tim. 4.. 16. Job. 3 3. 24. and at the laft day to fit on a Throne as He ; to judge men as he, Seejo. y. 22. Matt. 19.28. Lul^.22.30. 1 Cor. 6. 3. To thefehegave power to Baptize, i.e. admit into the Church thole they faw fit ; which implies their power alfo to refufe the unfit, ( fee Aft. 1 0.4.7, 48. the Apoftle ordering and others miniftring Ba- ptifm • to them 1 6 The benefits of our Saviour. ptifm). And this again infers power to exclude out of the Church the backfliding, and thofe not ob- ferving the conditions upon which they were ad- mitted. To thefe he gave power to preach, and to declare to the world all the counfel of God, which he had manifefted to them* and to be Ambafladors to men about their reconciliation to God for Chrift, andinhis ftead, 2 Cor, y. 18, 19, 20. Acl. 20. 27. 2 Cor. io. 8. Gal. 4. 14. Therefore they are faid to fpeal^in ChriJL 2 Cor. 2. 17. To be received as Angels of God, and as Chrift Jefus Gal. 4. 14. and in their mmiftry to be a /we et favour of Ch rift unto God 2 Cor. 1. 1 j. He Authorizing them to make Ec- clefiaftical Laws, and to order all the affairs of the Church. See 1 Cor. 1 1. 34. -14. chap. 1 Cor. i<5. 1. Acl. 15-. 1 Tim. ?. 14. 1 Cor. 4. 17. §• i). To thefe alfo he committed his keyes of the Kingdome of 'Heaven, to take confeffions and fub- miflionsito bind and abfolve; to remit fin or revenge it; and that by his power and in his perfon Matt. 18.18. i Cor. $• 4. 2 Cor. 2. 10. 2 Cor. 10.6. 2 Cor. 13.10. 2 Cor. 8.23. called the glory of Chrift, i.e. His reprefentcition and image, fee 1 Cor. n. 7. To con- tinue thedifpenfation of his facred Body and Blood to the worlds end 1 Cor. u. 26. which his Sacred hands firft adminiflred to them, to all the Faith- ful : and as to admit the worthy, fo to exclude the unworthy from that holy Communion 1 Cor. 5. 7, 8. fee 1 Cor. 10. 16. Ac}. 20. 11. Lu\. 22. 19. The [ Hoc facile ] having been alwaies underftood to have fpe- cial reference to the Apoltle's and their fucceflburs, confecrating, or bleiiing, breaking, and deliver- ing it, as well as to others receiving it. To inter- cede for the people and procure remiffion of their fins from God by their prayers Jam. j A 14, ij. 1 Jo. $. 16. C H A P. I. 17 f. 16. Job 42. 8. Gen.20.7. iTki.i, Andthepro- mifes of hearing their requefts Matt. 18. 19, 20. Jo. 16. 23. feem to be made to them not in gene- ral as Chriftians, but more efpccially as Gods Mi- nifters and Apoitles, and that both for binding ar d loofing the people from their fins. 5o fee the Pres- byters in the ddcription of the Church triumphant holding in their hands the prayers of the Saints J^ev. 5-. 8. to be offered up to him that fitteth on the Throne, as Incenfe is. TheieHeenlightned with the fpirit ( tho others § '*■ alfo, feejer. 31. 34. Jo. 6.4.?. ) yet them extraordi- narily, for knowledge of the truth. For I imagine thole expreffions Jo. 16. 13, 25. com p: with Jo. 15-. i(5 3 2o 3 2d,27. like to which are thofe. 1J0.2. 20, 27. to belong to the Apoftles fpecially as Chrifts minifters. Therefore the ftile of their whole Body in a Council runneth ; It feemed good to the Holy Ghoft and to us. See Ail. if. 28. -y. 3. -7. ? 1. 2 Cor. 6. 4, 6. As alfo thofe extraordinary gifts of the Spi- rit at or after Baptiim bellowed by laying on of the Apoftles hands were not onely for San- dtification of the per foil; fee Matt. 7. 22. 1 Cor.\$.i. but alfo for the publick benefit & further edification of the Church by them. JRom. 12. <5, 7. 1 Cor. 12. 7. And enabling them by it (that which all humane wifdom is too weak to effect fee 1 Cor. >-. 10, i2 r i3. -4. 19.) to convince mens confeiences ; convert their minds ; call down throughout the world ima- ginations and every high thing that exalteth it ielf againft the knowledge of God, and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Chrill : and with terrors of confidence, with Sathan him- felf to revenge all difobedience : and this by the power of Chnft who fpeaketh and að in them. C 2 Cor x 8 The benefits of our Saviour. *Cor. 13. 3. See 2 Cor. 10. 2, 3, 4, ?.&c. -13. 2, 4, /a. Jo. 16.$. 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25. Aft. 2. 37. Matt. 10.20. 1 Cor. 4. 21. 3 Jo. 10. 2 Jo. 10. Tit. 3. 11. iTim.1.20. 1 Cor. s. r. On the other fide to minifter the Holy fpirit to others by their preaching, by prayer, and laying on of their hands, as he had before to them. [ Th'e fame Ceremony being ufed alfo by Mofes to his Succeflbur under the Lav/. See Deut. i\.y.Num. 11. By Eh jab to Elijha in the Prophets. See 2 King. 2. iy. ] Gal. 3.2,;. zCor. 3. 6. Aft. %. is , 19. Sub- jecting evil fpirits unto them, and giving them fe- curity from, and power over, all the power of the enemy. SccLu^. 10. 18, 1 9, 20. Behold I give you pow- er over all the power of the enemy, where note that the miffion and Authority given to the Apoftles before or after our Saviours death are the fame,only fpoken of before as it were by Anticipation and promife which were compleated afterward. SecMatt.16. 19. comp. with Jo. 20. 23; Enabling them to do the fame Miracles, as he, for confirmation of their dodtrine; and, becaufe their commiffion was enlarged to all Nations, furnifhing them with the gift of Tongues. Laftly,as himfelf worketh in thefe his miflioners by the fpirit ,- fo alfo he cooperateth and worketh with them in others by the fame fpirits working by them 2 Cor. ?. 2o. and yet working together with them too. 2 Cor. 6. 1. By whofe power only their mini- ftry becomes efficacious over the world 1 Cor. 3. 7, 9. Marl^ 16. 20. 1 Tim. 1. 12. where they plant and water he giving increafe, 1 Cor. 3.9; where the fpi- rit from them pricks the heart Aft. 2. 37. the fame Spirit from him opening it. Aft. 16. 14. where they take the impotent by the hand, he making him to walk Aft. 4. 10. Mar\. 16. 20. fee §. 20. g. jg. And it is not to be paft by unobferved that our Saviour AJjifiing them from Heaven, Chap. I. io Saviour delegated this his Authority to others, not with a parity unto all, but with a fuperiority of fome above the reft ; who, as they gave licenle of ionie miniftrations to others found qualified for them, See Acl. 10. 48. fo they retained fome o- ther miniftrations to themfelves. For we find lay- ing on of hands, ("which is named, Heb.6.2. amongft the principles of the doctrine of Chriit, [ both that at, or after, Baptifm, ufed to all for receiving the more extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghoft, from whence the cuftome fince of Confirmation by the Bifliop, and that which was ufed in ordaining Pres- byters and fetting men apart for the Miniftry of the Gofpel. This impofition of hands being a more folemn interceffion for them, and a powerful re- commendation of them to the grace of God, for the work which they are called to, and are to ful- fil] See Acl. 1 3. 3. comp. with 14. 26. See St Paul himfelf receiving the firft Acl. 9.17. the fecond Acl. 13. 3. ) wee find I fay this inipolitioii of hands, or power of Ordination and Confirmation to be ap- propriated to the Apoftles and Apoftolical men, not common to all. See Acl. 6. 6. -8. 17 -19.6. -20. 28. -13. 3. Eph. 1. 1 3. 1 Tim. 5-. 22. Tit. 1. ?. Eor this caufe left 1 thee in Crete that thou jbouldejt ordain Presbyters, Sec. where doubtlefs were many other Presbyters, to whom the fame office was not per- mitted ; or not permitted to them alone, but as affiftants to Titus. See 1 Tim. 4. 14. comp. with 2 Tim. 1. 6 i as alfo a confent and approbation, or alfo nomination or election of perfons, whom they thought fitting, was permitted to the Chriftian AiTemblies and the whole Church. Acl. 6. 0. comp. with 6. 2 Cor. 8. 19. ( tho y^w^'ns implies not ne- ceffarily common votes, See Ail. iq. 41. -14. 23. ) C 2 the 20 The benefits of our Saviour. the people being prefent at the publique ad:s of the Clergy and affiiting them at lead with their pray- ers. See J%. 21. 22. -iy. 22. 2 Cor. 2.10. §. 19. Nor did this Apoftolical office of our Lord ex- Toofe ordain- pire with the Apoftles ( as fome may think that 'the °!nd rS f f °h t ^ iere was no ne ^d of continuing fuch a feledted Bo- wor/d. e dy of Teachers after Chriftianity planted, and four Gofpels, and fo many Epiftles written, yet what would not the fame men give for fuch an Apo- ftle at this day as could decide fo many con- troversies which are in Religion , whilft they fay they need them not > ) But he, who lives for ever and hath the keyes, &c. flev. 1 . 1 8 . and who afcend- ed from hence on high to receive thefe very gifts for, and to beftow then on, men Epb. 4. 7, 8. con- tinues for ever alfo this office of ordination , by his Servants laying on their hands , and his own breathing upon, and giving the fpirit unto them , to thofe that have fncceeded the Apoftles and that fhall fucceed to the end of the world. Therefore as he gave the Apoftles, fo 'tis faid alfo he gave the Paftors and Teachers ( according to the meafure of the gift he thought fit ) that were made by the Apo- ftles Epb. 4. 1/ ,8. J{()m. t 0. ly. zTim. 1.14. Matt. 23. 24. And AU. 20. 28. the Holy Ghoft ( defend- ing from Him) made the Overfeers of the Church of Epb ejus. And bow can they preach unlefs they be Jent ? J{pm. 1 0. 1 $.Jent 1. e. by God, Htb. f* 4. ( For this honour especially of miniftring the fpirit, re- mitting fins, &x. never any man might take to himfelf, but only give, what he firft received. If he do otherwife, he is in a worfe condition then <$*/- ■mon, who at lealt would have bought the giving it.) Sent by God I fay, elfeis their preaching to no pur- poie, the efta5t of which for ever conlifts, not in the Chap. I. ii the wifdomof men, which works contrary to it, as thought foolifhnefs j but in the power of God i Cor. 2. y. feci Cor. 12. 3. Matt. 16. 17- 1 Jo. 4. 2. Lu\. 18. 34. ^Sf. ftf. 14. Jam. 1. y, 17. -J. if, 17. £//;. J. y. Therefore St Paul calls his Apoltlcfhip a Grace 5 and thofe, whom the Apoftle, as well as whom our Sa- viour ordained, received in fuch Ordination a girt from our Lord, fee 1 Tim. 4. 14. 2 'Tim. 1. 6. And the fame form of Dodtrine was kept in the V| '„ * Apoftles fucceffours by the fame Holy Ghoft. 2 T?«. their Suwfi 1. 14. Neither is Chrifts afiiftancc promifed only to firs for ever. the Apoftles, but to their Succe flours to the end of the world Matt. 28. 20. Jo. 14. 16. **$***>&*? «V r *ft**, i.e. anaffiltant to you for ever. M*££ 18. 20. comp. fi?/. 2. f. The Church alwaies the pillar and ground where truth is to be found. 1 Tim. 3. 15-. 2 Tim. 2. 19. comp. 1^,17. Heb. 12. if. Tell the Church, faith our Lord, for whatfoever they fhall bind, &c. Matt. 18. 17,18 ; And the gates of Hell lhall never prevail againft thofe to whom I give the keyes, Sec. Matt. \6. 18, 19. Therefore our Saviour after all the Apoftles times, except Johns, is defcribed Rev. 1 . 13, \6. tho in glory, yet walking in the 111 id It of the golden Candlefticks; i. e. the Churches of Afia -, and holding the Stars i. e. the Angels of thofe Churches in his hands. And fee our Lord ftill acting Aft. 3. 2d. Aft. f. Si- Phil. 4. 15. Jo. if. f. Therefore alfo we find the Apoftles, being to go 5 2I away, by vertue of the perpetual continuation df a ljbdel°eg^ the affiftance and influence of the great Bifhop oitingtothem the Church, our Lord, transferring their Commif- tke authority r • 1 * 1 r , -^ j r-r- .1 received pom iion again to others ( as namely St Paul to Timothy Utm and Titus ) ; and this alfo as themfelves received it zTim. 1. 6. Giving them alfo the name of Apoftles 2 Cor. tf. 23, and Phil. 2. %f. Z&&fJ$ ^Ww.^/?. 14. 4,14. where 2i The benefits of our Saviour. ( where Barnabas } orda'med by the Church, is called an Apoftle ) inverting them with authority not on- ly of preaching and adminiftring the Sacraments; but of holding Ecclefiaftical Courts; receiving ac- cufations j and that againft Presbyters as well as others -, and providing more plentifully for the more induftrious amongft them. 1 Tim. y. 17, 1 9,21. 1 Cor. y.12 ,13. l^ev. 21. 2. agreeable with that of Matt. iS. 17- Of corre£Hng,and that publickly in the Court. iTim. ?. 20. Of filencing, and feparating the refrad:ory. 1 Tim. 1 .3. Tit. 1, y, 11. -3. 10. com- pare 2 Tim. 2. 21, 19. [from iniquity ] i. e. fuch error, comp. 17, 18, 20. 1 Tim. 6. y. 2 Tim. 3. y. 1 Tim. y. 11. Of abfolving and forgiving 2 Cor. 2.7,10. Above all, transmitting to them the charge ( tho no doubt the Church had then fome of the Gofpels at leait, and perhaps more of St Pauls Epiitles, which he took order might be made common, then now we, becaufe by thofe that remain we perceive fome are loft) of keeping the form of DocStrine they had learnt of them i and of preserving the Commande- ment that was committed unto them without fpot 1 Tim. 6. 14, 20. 2 Tim. 1. 13 , 14. John to the Angel oiSardis J{ev. 3. 3. l{e member therefore how thou haft received ' and heard and hold faff. And laftly the charge of ordaining others and giving them in charge the fame dodtrines till the coming of the Lord jefus. Tit. 1. ji iTim. y. 22. -1. 3. -6. 14. Such Ecclefiafti- cal government was then ordered by them in Epbc- fus and in Crete, &c. Therefore we may prefume the fame was eft ablifhed every where elfe ,• ftrft both be- caufe of the Apoftles fpecial endeavour of unifor- mity in Churches \Cor. 4. 17. -7. 17. -11. \6. Secondly, and becaufe we find in the Church-Hiftory the fame government de fatfo to have been in all the reft, C H A P. I. 25 reft 3 as it was in that oiEphefus, where Timothy refid- ecb & in Crete, where Titus,and alfo find every where the like Catalogues of their BilhopS;andfo 3 in thcl{e- vel.thc Angel oi Ephefus the C hurch,wherein Timothy was placed by Sc Paulino way differing from,or more finglethen, the reft of other Churches. Thirdly,and again becaufe we find fuch Government without the mention of any oppofition ,• ( which muft needs have been in the purity and frefh memory of thofe times, upon any innovation ,• efpecially fb univer- fal ; and in this cafe of fome mens ufurping pree- minence, fooner then in any other : ) without the mention I fay of any oppofition either of the infe- riour Clergy, or of the fuperior Apoftle ; St John, living fome time after the let dement of thefe Epi- fcopal Governments. The continuation of which Government fo uninterruptedly ever fince, as well in the moft adverfe, as the moft profperous, times of the Church, is the greateft argument that can be : that it hath our Lords protection ; and that it was his firft inftitution s and that it fliall continue yet longer, even till the end. Now the Authority of this our Lord's Legiflator- §• z }- fhip, and Apoftlefhip -, and the Truth of his Reve- Js™ from God ( a queftion the Jews often asked him ) : Firft by the Teftimony of the writings of the old Teftamentj thole oiMofes Jo. $-.4?, 46. and thofe scripture* of the Prophets T^om. 16.26. LuJ^. 2^.47. Matt. 22. J 2. And by the Teftimony of John the Baptift, who fucceeded thefe, and was more then a Prophet Jo. y. 32,33. 2ly, By an irrefiftible power ofthefpirit, ac- 7 companying him teaching, &c. He delivering this Go/pel with great authority, not h\e others, Matt. 7. 29 i *f Miracles. ,4- Death. The benefits of our Saviour. 29 ; never man /'peaking like Him. Jo. 7. 46 : £0 £/;* aftonijhment of all the people, crying out, what voif- domeis this, Mark 6. 2. and no man being able to an- fiver Him a word, Matt. 22. 46. 3dly, By miracles of all forts, Jo. ?. 36.-10. 38. Act. 2.22. Jo. 3. 2. 4IV, By undergoing all fufferingsj and at laft by laying down his life for the truth, and being mar- tyred rather then recant it; witneffing before Pi- late a good confejjion 1 Tim. 6.18. and telling the unjuft Judge that he came for this end into the world to bear witnefs ( to the uttermoft ) unto the truth Jo, 18. 17. and therefore called the faithful Martyr Ifev.,i. ? 9 Where note; that as our Lord ufed great filence as to the vindicating of his inno- cency before perfons felf-convinced , and ( as he told them, Lul^. 22. 68. ) that would upon no account abfolvehiirnyet no way to betray the Truth: Which upon all occafions he moft freely confefled, tho up- on this his Confeffion they grounded, and he fore- knew it, the taking away of his life. Thus., on Thurfday night in the Garden he went forth, and met thofe who fought for him Jo. 18.4. and freely told them who He was without their need of a Ju- das to difclofehim ; and, when they were ftartled and recoiled upon it, a fecond time he told them it. Jo.\ 8.8- Brought before the High Prieft and Coun- cil, and there examined concerning his Doctrine, he told them , he had ever publickly declared it in their Synagogues, in the Temple, and that they could not want witneffes enow, if any thing were condemnable therein. Jo. 18 . 20. When asked again more particularly ( not to inform their Faith, as he well knew LuJ^ 22. 6 8 . but^ as they ufed formerly, to intrap him for his life, ) whether he was the Meffias? Whether the Son of God ? Matt. 26.64. Marl^. Chap. I. Mar\. 14.61. He now referred them not to wit- neffes, nor asked them a counter-queftion, but an- fwered plainly ; lam Mar/^.14.62. and fore feeing that day of retribution, that would be fo terrible to them, when he lliould lit on the Throne, and they Hand trembling at his Barr, in great com pa f- iion adds further, that [ whatever he then appear- ed] neverthelcfs they lliould fee him here a iter fit- ting [as David had foretold Pfal. lop. 1. ] on the right hand of the power of God and Mixing in the Clouds of Heaven [to judge the world, and, among the reft, them, his Judges ; ] (hewing alio in this, that he retained a magnanimity iutable to his per- fon, and that he kept his eye fixed on the future glory in the miditof thefe his Humiliations. Upon this his conreflion, which they thought iurricient to difpatch him , being brought by them before Pi/at the Judge to receive his ienteuce ; and there, upon their accufation , asked again ; whether he was the King of the Jews ? which was a Title equi- valent to the Meflias, or Chnft, but iomewhat more odious, they conceived, to a Roman Governor : Here our Lord both freely profeifed to him, that he was lo : Matt. 27. n- and alio informed 1 lim, to prevent miftakcs,*ofwhat nature his kingdome was ; Pbfc that it contained nothing in it prejudicial to any terrene or temporal Monarchy ; as clearly ap- peared, in that he had no humane forces or Servants to fight for Him that he fhould not have been deli- vered into the hands of the Jews , 1. e. the chief Pricfts, Scribes and Pharifees. Jo.iS.56. Vet asked by him a fecond time ; whether, tho his Kingdom not of this world, yet he was a King? He again profcfTedit; and told him, that to this end he iras horn and for this caufc came into this world [ for this D end 2y 26 The benefits of our Saviour. end defcended from Heaven and was Incarnate, ~] to bear witnefs to the Truth. Jo. 17. 37. After which Pi/at 3 upon his wonderful filence and not pleading for Himfelf, nor vouchfafing further to acquaint him with his divine Originals Matt. 27. 14. Jo. 19.9. minding him before whom he flood and that he had the power in his hands to abfolve or condemn Him ( which fhews that our Lord flood before him in the midft of fuch heavy and falfe accufations, faying that he made a Sedition in Galilee ; forbad paying tribute to Cefar > faid he would deflroy the Temple made with hands, and raife another made without hands, &c. Lul>. 21. ?. Lu\. 23. 2. Mar\. 14. y 8. as one altogether unmov'd and as it were unconcerned therein) our Lord freely admonifh- ed him of the Original of his power, which indeed was Himfelf, that he could have no power againjt Him except what was given him from above, Jo. ip. 11. i. e. from Himfelf King of Kings, by whom, God his Fa- ther governeth the world ■, and therefore that their fin was the more intolerable, who had thus bound and delivered him up to be judged by thofe his Of- ficers, who from Him hold their power, and by whom they Rule. Ja. 19. 11. Thus ( as the Apoftle 1 Tim. 6. 15-. ) he witnefled before Pilat a good and free Confeffion, and that withfo much power and Majefty, as that the Governor feems to have been in fome manner perfwaded of the truth of what he faid; and became much affraidi Jo. 19. 8,9. and would have queflioned further with him concern- ing his Divine Original; but that this meek Lamb of God having faid what was fufficient, and intent upon his fufferings, thought fit to put no obftru&i- on thereto by a further declaration to thi*> Gentile of his Parentage. Jo. ip. p. But fo much was already faid 3 C H A P. I. 27 faid, as that the Governor both profeffed his Inno- cence, and w afhed his hands, Matt. 27. 24, 25-. and fought all means to releafeHim,yo. 19. 12. even by excrcifiing fome cruelties on hi in himfelf to have preferved him from greater, Jo. 19. 1,4. and after this when out of the furprifal of a contrary tear, he moft unworthily and cowardly pronounced fen- tence upon him, or rather yeilded him up to the fentence of the Jews : Matt. 27. 24. AIar( ry, 1?. Lu\. 2^.24. Yet He refolutely maintained his Ti- tle of a King, nor would upon any their felicitation change it. Anfwering them only QuodjcripJi,fcri- pfi. Jo. 19. 21. &c. And God the Father likewife confirmed both this §• *j. his Office and his Doctrine, firft by ( leveral times ) fpeakingfrom Heaven: thrice by Thunder; thefe voices coming for our (a^es. Jo. 12. 30. And by charg- ing the people immediately by himfelf to hearken unto him. This is, &c. Hear ye him Matt. ,17. f. Se- condly, byjuftifying his Innocence and Righteouf- nefs,and all that he had laid and done,by his railing Andarefur him again from the dead ( after he had been mur- re£iion > dered by injullice ) and giving him glory 1 Pet. 1.21. and by taking him up into Heaven, by this did God give ajfurance unto all men. A6t. 17. 3i. And declared him now to be his Son with power. J^om. 1. 4. By this re- fufcitation of him by the Spirit of the Father was He juftifled, againft all calumny of the world, to be the Son of God, and ever fince, in the world, be- leevedon / Tim. 3. 16 ; And by this his Afcention the Holy Ghoft now and for ever convinceth the world of his righteoufnefs. Jo. 16. 8 3 io. Amen. D 2 CHAP, ( *8 ) CHAP. II. mway ' JefutChrijl the Exemplar, and Pattern, in all obedience to the Divine will ; and in the reward of that obedience. quanta* tibigratias tenemur Domine referre, quod viam reel: am dignatus es ofiendere \ Niji tu nos preecejjiffes, quisfequi curaret ? Heu Qtianti longe retro manerent , nif tua prczclara exempla re- fpicerent. Ecce adbuc tepefcimus, &c. J\cmp. Imi- tate Chrijii lib. 3. cap. i 3 . § 1. 1 "% O T H the whole world being deficient in C 3e anEX ~ r^ former obedience, fee fym. 3. 9 . &c. And 1 in doing the B^ ff now ftridter obedience being exacted by -work, ** God, then formerly. Next, God fent his Son, afluming firft the fame infirm nature we bear, to become an example alfo of that perfection, he propofed -, to be, as the truth, fo the way -, to walk firft himfelf in thefe paths, wherein he directed o- thersi and to beat the ways, that we might follow him : to perform firft Himfelf clothed with our weak flefh, the hard tasks that he fetus: leaft he might feem,with the Pharif ee,to lay heavy burdens on other mens Jhoulders, and not to touch them with one of his own fingers. That this was a chief end of his coming, fee 1 Pet. 2.21. For even hereunto were we called, Cbrijt leaving us an example, that ye jhould follow his Jleps. 1 Jo. 2. 6. Hethatjaith, he abideth in him, ought himfelf alfo to wal\, even as he walked. Jo. 13. 12, 15-. Knowyewhat I have done to you, and, 1 have given you an example, that ye Jhould do as I lnalIo ^fj~ have done to you. Jo. 17.19. For their fakes Ifancli- 7omm°ande- fj m yf e lf> that they alfb ?n/gbt be fanfttfed, &c. Matt* mmts. 11. z$ t Learn of me [by my example] for I am Chap. II. 29 mee\j&c. Therefore, in all thofe ways of God lie Jointed out unto us, he never laid : Let him take up is Crofs and Go ; but follow Lukj 9. z3. And Jo. 10. This Shepheard followed not but led his Sheep. He danced firft after his own Pipe ; and for every rule gave his Scholars an Example; an example in himfelf, to all thofe harden: leifons in his Sermons. According to his Doctrine Matt. y. 18, kept all both the leaft and greateft Commandements, left Moral. not a title unfulfilled y for none could accufe him of Jin. Jo. 8.46. feeHeb.4. 15. According to his Do- <5trine Matt. y. 39. dc.HerefJtednot evil : fee 1 Pet. 2.23. who when he was reviled he reviled not again ; when hefufferedhe threatnednot. But when they J mote him on the right cheeky he turned to them the other alfo. Matt. 27.29. When they took^away his Coat he let them take away Cloak^ alfo, Jo. 19. 23. &c. tho he could have commanded Myriads of Angels for his affiftance yet, as a Lamb dumb before the Shearer, fo He opened not his mouth. Matt. 27. 14. According to Matt. y. 44. He fuftered death it felf for his ene- mies, that he might fliew the greateft love that could be to them ; He prayed for thofe that defpite- fully ujedhim. Father forgive them Luk. 23. 34. He returned good for evil continually ; and efpecially in that eminent example of reftoring his eare to the High Priefts Servant. According to Matt. 6. 3 . In fo often hiding his Miracles, he endeavoured,, that his left hand might not know, what his right hand did, fee Mar\}. 44. Matt. 17.9. Luk^.9.21. Mai\ 7. 16. So when he grew famous injudea, and prefer- red before the Baptift, either not to prejudice Johns Miniftry, or to avoid vain popular concourfe and applaufe, he removed prefently out of the Coun- try. See Jo. 4. / ; 3, According to Matt, 19. 21, 24. Lu{. 30 The benefits of our Saviour. LuJ^ ii. ii,33. Hemadeaneledhonofthe (late of poverty, leaving all his friends for the fervice of God \ travailing up and down the Country on ioot fecjo.4. 6. Receiving alms from others Luj^.8.3. and en-oyningthefame to his Difciples Matt. 10. 9. the Labourer being worthy of his meat from thofe he labours for, verf. 10. According to Matt. 6. 6. he hid his Devotions with Wildernefles, Mountains, Nights, LuJ^. s. 16. -6. 12. According to Matt. r.2p. Lu%. 14. 26. He forfook his reputed Father, and his Mother, and Kindred when they might have hun- dred him in his Service to God. See Lul^ 2.48. Matt. 12. 47, 48. According to his Doctrine Matt. 6. i$, &e. He laid up no treajure upon earth : tookjio thought for his life or for the morrow •> not fo much as for his next nights lodging, not having many times where to lay his head Matt. 8.20. But all thele things were by Gods providence, by fome that followed him, ordinarily, added unto him Luj^. 8. 3. According to his Do&rine Matt. 20. 26. He made himfelf infe- rior to the loweft of his inferiors, even to the Ser- vant that he then knew would betray his life ; even to the ftooping to wafli and wipe their feet. Jo. 13. 1 T y And did this for this very reafon ; to give them a good example. The chief among you let him be your fervant. Even as the Son of Man, &c. Matt. 20. 28, So in his very triumph when all faluted him King ,* and covered his way with garments, his lowlinefs made choice of an Afle to carry him, a little young AfTe Matt. 21. f. to fhew humility. According to his Do&xine Matt. 6. 33. He profecuted all Righte- oufnefs with fuch zeal and diligence that he fcarce allowed himfelf time to eat on the day time, for doing good to men. See Jo. 4. 3i, 34. Marl^ 6.1.31. or to lleep in the night, for following his Devoti- ons Chap.. II. 31 or. s to God Mar^. / . ir- LuJ^ 6.12. Laftly, as the A- poitle obierved, Chriit p leafed no t bimfelffym. iy.3. but fought the good of others s and this for our learning. Vcr, 4. And as for the Moral,fo for the Ceremonial law : §• i- very punctual he was in all obedience, tho ufelefs and non-fi^nificant in him, as it related to remifli- on of fin, &c. yet coining ( at beft ) in the likenefs of Jinfulflejh 7{om.8.3- he was circumcifed ; was ba- ptized with the Ceremony of the defcent of the HolyGholt; celebrated the PafTover, the Eucha- riftj tho alwaies full of the Holy Ghoft, and free from fin, he needed no cleanfings nor expiations fignified by the one ; nor had this Redeemer receiv- ed any redemption fignified by the other. Kept the folemn Feaits and the Sabbath ( whatever they falfely alledged againfthim) exactly, tho he was abfoluteLord of it Matt.12.8. was obedient to eve- ry human ordinance ; To John the Baptift won- dring at this his humility; to his Parents ; to his Go- vernors ; tho he the Creator of them, and Gover- nor at that very time of all things , to whom all things in Heaven and Earth ought to bow: paid tribute patiently , tho free , lealt the Handing on his right might be any way offenfive Matt. 17.27. Failed 40 days together ; thohisflefli was conftant- ly obedient to the fpirit, to Ihew to others that ex- cellent way of conquering temptation : fought by prayer, what he might command Lu\. 22. 32* prayed whole nights together, tho he knew his Fa- ther heard him alwaies Jo. 11.42 -, to teach us by his example the leflbn LuJ^ 18. 1. fuffered fuch anguifh and affliction for our fins in the Garden,, 'to teach us what we ought to pra&ife for them our felves m repentance. " For thus it became him to fulfil all 32 The benefits of our Saviour] all that, being our Leader, the doing of which was neceflary righteoufnefs and obedience in his fol- lowers Matt. 3. iy. i£ fhfuf Thus God fent his Son to be an Example to us, ferL"sfor and a forerunner in all holy obedience to his com- righi€4)ufnefs mands. God again decreeing that all that yeild this obedience /ball in this world juffer perfecution, 2 Tim. 5. 12. that they that receive good things here- after fliall now receive evil. LuJ^. 16. is. LuJ^. 6. 21 , 24. that they that fliall laugh hereafter (hall now mourn, as they alfo that laugh now fhall mourn hereafter. ('And indeed it cannot otherwile be, as long as there are more evil men then good, nor this to have more men evil be otherwile ; as long as men have free-will to evil, which is any deviation whe- ther in excels or defedt from good ; and therefore ( bonum being unum, and malum multiplex ) much eafier then good : nor again can this be o- therwife, i.e. that men fhould not have free will 5 unlefs we, wifer then God, would have the world new moulded without containing any free-will- agent in it, and what is this but having in it a great imperfection and defedt.j That there may be a viciffitude in all things, lent his Son to be a pattern to the reft of his Servants of all fufferings : For it be- came him, ( faith the Apoftle ) by whom, and for whom are all things, in his facred purpofe of bringing many Sons thro mortality and affliction unto glory , to ma\e alio the Captain of their Salvation perfeci thro fujferings. Heb.2. 10. That lb he alfo might firlt found the depths of human miferies; and being juftof our pitch, might wade before us thro them all, andfliew them eafily paffable ; that we might follow him with chccrfulnefs and courage, and not expoftulate with the Almighty, if here perchance he C if a p. 1 1. 33 he ufeth us no better ( yet whom doth he not fo > ) then he did his only Son -, his Son in whom he was al- waicsfo well pleafed Matt. 3. 17- that never finned againfthim. And thus in obedience to his Father firft clothed with all the ( innocent ) infirmities of our nature, and indulging himfelf none of the con- tents thereof: 'Hgm. z;. 3. But exercifing a perfedt abnegation of himfelf, and of his own will ( tho he had alio his natural affections after things agree- ing to it. See^Jo.y. 3o. Matt. ±6. 39. In all things made Heb. 2.17. and tempted Heb. 2. il.like unto bis Brethren ; undergoing temptations from Sathan more then once LuJ^. 4. / 3. and fo far as to be carri- ed up and down by him Matt. 4. y. and that un- clean fpirit the molt curled of all the creatures of God to be luffered to take his onely Son in his arms. From the world ; having all the glory of it prefented to him Matt. 4. 9. a Kingdom offered him Jo. 6. if. From the often neceffities and natu- ral inclinations of the fiefn ; as may be fufficiently difcovercd in that paflionate fad, blood-fweating, prayer, ( many times iterated ) to be freed from death which he fo refignedly concluded ; with not my will, but thine be done ) tor our example, as if himfelf would have learnt patience by the things nhichhefujfered. Heb. y. 8. He voluntarily became of no reputation Phil. 2. 7 ; A man of forrows Efai. s3-3. put himfelf in the worft condition of life ; that thofe in the worlt condition may neither com- plain, nor boalt, that their fuffe rings are gone be- low the Son of God -, as^l then ended it in the moit ignominious death s upon^ Gibbet j naked among theeves 5 a death inn 1 i<5ted on no free man ; parti- cularly cur fed by God. Gal. 3. 1 3. Deut. 21. 23. com- manded and executed under the Law only in the E . moft 54 77;£ benefits of our Saviour. moft horrid crimes, fas in the Ifraelites idolatry with Moab. The perjurd murthers of Saul: the Kings of the curfed Canaanites ) to appeafe Gods extraordinary wrath,where Famine or Plague broke out upon the people : therefore is it (tiled hanging them up before the Lord. And fo oathfome a fpedta- cle was enjoyned again to be taken down and bu- ried the fame day ( as our Saviour was ) as it were out of his fight. See Deut. zi. 22. Numb. 2?. 4. Jojb, io. 26. 2 Sam. 21. 6. This fuch a death he under- went ( defpjingthejhame Heb. 12.2.) that in the greateft ignominy of their end alfo, all his Sons might fee before them a Divine precedent. And fuf- fered being perfe&ly innocent that none hereafter might think much to fuffer for innocency, all be- ing fome other way perfonally guilty. For our ex- ample he became lowly and meek, and ftooped his neck unto the yoke that we might learn of him to be io too : Mat. 1 1. 29. and put his fhoulder under the heavieft crofs that ever man bare j that we might take up our lighter ones and follow him. Luj^. 9. And thus he fuffered, and thus he dyed not on- ly before us, but alfo for us, firft -, that his love, faith theApoftle, might conjirain us 2 Cor. r. 13. by his example fo to (uffer and to dv aga ; n, if need be, for him s or alfo for one another. iCor. 12. 17. and, that as he died for fin, lb we might dy to it. J{o?n. 6. 6. §. 4. 3. Thus our Saviour was made uuto us a pattern ) n In t l" e ™~ offufferings. Next God fent his Son, to be to us in Zir// his refurrediion from this death, and reception in- to glory ; a pattern of the reward promifed to obe- dience, life eternal. An example as of performing all the obedience a&ive and paflive, (iod by him required of us, foof receiving the reward, God by him Chap. II, is him promifed to us. That fo not only the promife of a greater rev/ard then was revealed to the world formerly ( at leail foexprefsly ) might more en- courage us to weldoiug ; but a!ib the feeing of that reward bellowed upon the obedient might yen ex- cite us more, then the promife, urbilft we being yet in the combate behold another, that uied only 'the fame weapons, againft the fame enemies, in the fame infirmities, crowned with victory; and look unto one, who running the fame race, tor the joy alfo that wasfet before him, enduring th: Crofs, anddefpifing the fhame, now for it is fee down at the right hand of the Throne of God ; whiilt, eon* Jidering him that endured fuch contradiction, &c. now for it exalted above all gainfaving, we may not he wearied nor faint in our minds Heh. i 2. 1, 2, 3. There- fore it was neceffary that the Prophet that taught a refurre&ion fliould dy to fhew us an example or deliverance from death ; And it was neceifary that God fliould raife again this juft perfon from the dead, and cauie him to reign to allure us by this example that whoever fujfers with , i. e. like, Him, jhallalfo reign together with him, J{om.8. 1 7. and that we profefling to be dead with him to fin , fliould now likewife wal/^y/ith him in newnefs of life J^om. 4. 6, For Chriits exaltation aifo was bellowed on him for his obedience. SeeHeb. 2. 9. Phi/.i. 8,9- Heh. 1.9. J^rv. 3. 21. -?. 12. And as the natural Son came thus to be a pattern to us, fo mud all the adopted Sons of God be a tranfeript and copy of him. As if we obey and fuffer as he , we fhall reign as he ; fo if we will reign as he, we muft fuffer and obey as he ; tho nor fo much as he, yet in fuch manner as he. For alfo neither fhall we reign in fuch eminence as He. It E 2 3 6 The benefits of our Saviour. is very well if the Servant be as his Lord Matt. 10. 2?. [ not above Him. ] And he that abideth in Chrift ought himfelf alfo to walkjven as he alfo walked, i Jo. 2.6. And that none may juftly pretend inability fo to walk, I mean to f'ome mealure of perfection, tho not to an equal with his ( for neither hath any had an equal meafure of the Spirit to his ) he hath pur- chafed from his Father the Derivation of the fame Spirit on us which inabled himfelf. Which holy Spirit is conferred, and from time to time renewed and increased by the Sacraments ( i. e. non ponenti- bus obicem,to the not wilfully aad obftinatly unwor- thy receivers thereof,) and which Spirit alwaies a- bideth in us ( unlefs by great fins, fuch as we are perpetually inabled to avoid, it happen to be expel- led) and who fo obeyeth the natural motions there- of, muft as neceffarily operate the work of Chrift, the fecond Adam as he that abides ftill in the for- mer ftate of the flefh muft needs do the works of the firft. For as what is born of Fief) is Flejh , fo what ts born of Spirit is Spirit : and the fame Spirit in the mznfefus and us, guided that man no othenvife than us,- and now doth guide us, as then Him» ( ; hap, ( 37 ) CHAP. Ill Jefus Chrift the Mediator of the New Covenant. neT9 ODS former Covenant of works with mankind made at the Creation and cal- chrtftMedi led the Law of Nature, and again fo'cwinant. lemnized at Mount Sinai to that Nation, to which he had confined his Church at the deli- very of the law of Mofes, who was then the Media- tor that pafled between God and man, fee Exod.i^. mentioned Heb. 8. p. being found unprofitable Heb. 8. 7, 1 3. Man not continuing in the promifed ob- fervance of it ; for indeed the promulgation of the law was effectual to make him more confcious of his fin , but not to make him more obfervant of his duty, fee 7{pm. 7. 6. yet ferved it well to other Gods purpofes intended by it. Gal. 1 p, 24. and ac- cordingly God not regarding the promifed prote- ction of him; As is plainlieit expreifed Heb. 8. p. And thus the two parties Handing at the greateft enmity, Man being alienated faith the Apoftle, and an enemy in bis mind by wicked works Col. 1. 2 / . and God again thus provoked, giving him up. l{p?n.i. 28. as a child of wrath to be a Have to lin, to death, to Sathan. Heb. 2. 1 4, 2f. Yet io infinite in his mercy was God -, fo loved be tbe world Jo. 3.16. whiljt it was yet without ftrength s jRom. f. 6. yet enemy verf. lo.yetjinner verf. 8. being net "willing that his creature Jhou Id thus perijh 2 Pet. 3- p. That he was pleafedonce more to reconcile it to himfclf; and to enter into a new, and the I a it, covenant with man 5 3 8 The benefits of our Saviour] man ; and fo growing (till upon the world were his mercies, that this covenant fliould be fo far better then the former, that in companion thereof the other is ftiled faulty, and not good, rration upon the Crofs when the fpirit left that fa- cred Temple of the body : forfaken , and yet not forfaking ; but committing it fell: into the hands of his Father. See Matt. 27.46. Lul^. 23. 46. Hc'u. S . 7. This anguifh of Soul - arf^ 14. is tran dated by the vulgar pavG • o tedi ?/?;, by us ama^dmjs and heavitiefs, of which the Prophet L^.w. 1.11. was the r e ever/arrow, and the Pialmift If 69. 20. I loof^ edforfome to take pitty but there . u, 12. ) the blood of which was carried and fprinkled before the Lord into the in- nermolt Sandtuary, upon the folemn day of Expia- tion once a year Levit. 16. cap. and into the outer Sandtuary at all other times Levit. 4.zn<\ $. cap. ( ac- cording to which His alfo is now prelented in the Heavenly Sandtuary Heb. 10. ip. -p. 12. -$. 2. of which the other place was but a ihaddow and type Heb. 8- f.) And of that other fcape-facrifice Levit. 16, 2/, 22. which, after the Prieft had laid his hands upon its Head, and confefTed over it all the iniqui- ties of himfelf, and of the people, was let go into the wildernefs ( the like to which was alfb done, in purifying of bodily uncleannefs, in a fcape-bird Lev. 14. 7. ) according to which He alfo is faid to be the Lamb of God, that tool^and carried away the fns of the world, after God had laid on him the iniqui- ties of us all. Efai. 53. 6. who died fo as that he alfo was delivered from death y and as he was refembled G 2 by fz tlie benefits of our Saviour. by the one fin-offering in his being flain 3 fo by the other in his being railed again. In which refpedt alio, leaven, and honey, ( which hath the lame na- ture with it) fuddenly fermenting, altering, and corrupting things were forbidden, and contrarily fait preferving things, commanded, to be ufed in all Sacrifices, being types doubtlefs of that which is faid of, and was fulfilled in the true facnfice Pfi. i(5.io. Thou ivilt not leave my foul, &c. which refur- redtionto life was a fign of Gods accepting this of- fering made for us 3 as the Angel afcending to Hea- ven in the flame of the Altar was unto JSlanoah (Judg. 13.2 0,2-3. ) of the acceptation of his. §. 6. 2. Again he was the J{eal } aniwering to the typi- z Torpur}/)- r #/ f acr ifi ce under the Law, the purify ins; of corpo- neffes, r ^l uncleanneis. See Lev. 14.. and 1 j.cap. Js the blood of Bulls, and the ajhes of an Heifer fiantlified to the purifying oftbeflejh 3 fo the fprin^ling of his blood of- fered without f pot to God, purging the confidence from dead worlds, &c. Heb. 9. /3, 74. fee Heb. y.21, 23. comp. with Eph. 7. / 0. Col. 1.20. with which blood alfb as with that other cleanfing compofition, there was running down from the Crofs, a mixture of water, Jo. 19. 34. He not fulfering the ordinary punifhment of other Malefactors : but as on one lide a bone of him was not broken ( which was ufual } to reprefent the pafchal Lamb 5 fo on the other fide his pericardium , and his very heart was pierced ( contrary to cuttome , ) that blood and water, the compound of our purification, might be drawn out of his iacred fide ,• one for the expiation or us from the guilt of punifhment, for our juftification in re- ipedt of fins paft ; and the other for wafhing out of ustheftainof fin, for ourfandtification from living in fin for the time to come. Blood fignifying our redemption Chap. IV. 5-3 redemption by the effufion of his life: and water fignifymg our regeneration by his effufion of the Holy Spirit Jel. 2. J3. Jo. 7. 3p. Matt. 3. u. There- fore this was he, faith the Apoftle ijo.y.6. that came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and blood : and he that faw them bare re- cord Jo. 1 9. 3y. And thefe alio bear record ; the two Sacraments ot the new Telia men t; water in Ba- ptifnii and blood in the Lords {upper ; by which Sacraments in vertue of his pailion, our fins are now alio remitted and cleanfed. See Jel. 2. $$: Matt. 26. 28. And thefe two together with the operations of the Spirit joyned with them fhall bear witnefs on earth, and leal the effects of this Sacrifice unto us, to the end of the world, ljob.y. 8. fee Eph. j. 2.6, 27. 3. He was the Real Holocaujl fulfilling the type §• 7. of the legal burnt-offering : In burnt -offerings and 3 H °locauft. facrifice for Jin thou hadji no pleafure ; then /aid I, Lo I come Heb. 10.4, y. His only facrifice being of a fweet fmelling Savor unto God, Eph. ?. 2. comp. with Lev. i p. Exod. 29.41. which the fin-offering a- lone was not ; Lev. ?. / 1 . Mumb. 5. if. and there- fore might have no Frankincenie nor Oil upon it. Lev. p. 11. Numb. j. i?. In which only the Father was well pleafed,* Matt. 3.17. -12.18. For as he, in our ttead, was made fin and an accurfed thins; ; and an offering that calling fin to remembrance, fuflered the extreme wrath of the Almighty due to fin; lo in himfelf ( and this for our lake too ) he was not only in his death, being a voluntary and a free will-offering fee Jo. 10. ij 3 77, /#. comp. with yo.19.30, 3i. the other living longer : for this my Father lovetb me, c'c. and io alio loveth us for whom it is offered, for his fake Eph. i.<$. but all his life an f4 The benefits of our Savior. an Holocaujt, confumed with the fire of love to- wards man, and zeal of the glory of his Father, in a perfed denotement and resignation of his whole felt to the will of God, and in his perfed obedience and fulfilling of all his Commandements. And then, when he had done working Jo. 17. 4. finish- ing this Holocaiift in luffering for the divine glory, for the truth ,• iuffering till he was all fpent, and confumed with the zeal ot his Fathers honor, laid upon which whole burnt-offering, all our imperfed facrifices of obedience and relignation, of fuffer- ings and martyrdom, of (pending and being fpent z Cor. 12. i? .Phil. 2. 17. 2 Tzm. 2. / 0. whereby God is made all in all, ( and we, nothing in our felves, and io one with him, ) do partake alio of the fweet favor of this facrifice, and all our praters and petit ons for our felves, or interceffions for others, are accepted of God, and the delcent of all good things fpiri- tuai. and temporal from him are procured. Gen. 8. 21. Jo. 14. is. Phil. i.i2. §• 8. 4. He was the grand YucharijHcal facrifice, and 3- Y* C p ari ft*~ peace-offering , anfwering to thole typical ones thank-offer- * under the Law. In which refped the memorial **£. which we now celebrate of his paffion is called the Eucharift i and in which relation we are made par- takers in the Communion, and admitted to eat of this facrifice, lee 1 Cor. 10. 1 6,20. of which as a burnt or fin-offering ( tho thefe it is alfo ) Heb. 1 3. 11, /2. we might not eat, for none might cat of his own fin-offering. Now the peace-offerings had many feveral ufcs ; in all which the facrifice of our Savior fulfilled them. §. 9. 1. They were a kind of federal oblation, after re- miffion of offences, procured by the fin-offering s which was ftill offered before, not after, the Peace- offerings Chap. IV. jr>~ offerings,by which the (inner was ( as it were) read- mitted into Gods favour ; and (whereas he might not eat of the fin-offering ) by eating part of which facrifice, being Gods bread Lev, 21. 6. -22. 2f. and partaking of thefe holy things, he was entertained at the table and accepted into the fellowfhip of God, &c. Only none that was unclean or any gran- ger upon peril of death might eat thereof. See Lev, 22. Secondly , they were offerings of thanksgiving for all the Creatures, all the bleffings and good things firft received from God : Gen. 1 . 29. -9. 3, Pf yo. 10, 11, 12. and continued by his word Gen. 1.22. Deut.8-3- Matt. 4. 4. of which therefore, ( both of men and bealts and fruits ) the choiceft and firft were offered and fandtified unto the Lord as his por- tion and tribute : Sanftijie unto me all the firft torn, both of Man, andofBsajr ( and fo alio it was for the firft Fruits. ) It is mine Exod, 1 3- fcjpj 2. And thefe accordingly they offered : ( thefe or their price ), both to fhew their gratitude and acknowledgment of Gods right as to thefe, fo to all the reft ; Deut. 8* 18. -28. 4, y, 8, 11, 12. -26. 2, 10. Lev. 25". 23. -19.24. and alfo to receive his benediction through what was offered to him, upon all the reft. E\eclr. 44. 30. Lev, 23. 11, 14. Pom. 11. id. Now according to this type Chrift, thefubftance, %- 5 in whom all things a>re fulfilled and accepted (for what careth God for Oxen or other Firftlings, or firft fruits ) not only the firft born of his Mother but of every Creature, and likewife the firft fruits Col. r. if, i#. P,om. 8. 29. 1 Cor. ij\ 20, 23. was not redeem- ed but offered in his own perfon ; offered unto God \ firft, by whom all others were redeemed from the like : And lecor dly by, and through which offer- ing only, all our praifesand thankfgivings are a. ■• cepte<$ ytS The benefits of our Saviour. cepted for all things: Epb. 1.6. -3.2\. Col. 3. 17. Heb. /i. /y. Phil. 1. it. and the right to, and law- ful ufe of, them procured unto us only by this of- fering. 7(om. 14. 74. Epb. 1. f. -4. /. 1 pet. 2. ?. J{om. 8.32. And again by it as a federal oblation is the Covenant of grace and our peace ratified ; To the eating and partaking ot which Sacrifice alfo, ( in the myltical Sacrament of his Body and blood ) we are admitted to the worlds end : 5.. I0> And 1. By the eating of which ( as the jews, and By eating of alfo Idolaters were to the eating of theirs, ) we are Xavt'Commu- acce P te d in partaking of this Table, to the unity, nion 1. with Communion and fellowship with God, fee 1 Cor. 10. G ^- 14.. &:c. to the 22. Only concerning which it is alio provided that no unclean perfon, or ftranger un- admitted by Baptilm, may approach to eat thereof 1 Cor. 1 1. 2S y 2p. Secondly, by eating and partaking of which facrifice excelling the other under the law, in as much as it is the Body and blood of the Son ot iWithhisSov, God, we are admitted to Communion with the **?******* Son, and myftically incorporated into him; made members of his body, fieih of his flefh, &c. And that not in a Metaphor, but in a great myficry faith the Apolile Epb. f. 32. And then from being partakers of the body, become alio partakers of the Spirit ot Chriil / Cor. 6. 17. And from partaking of his na- ture, the body and the fpirit of the Son of God, become alio Sons of God, and heirs of eternal life 1 Cor. 12. i£. -6. i3, iy, i7.&c.Epb. ?. 29.^0. 17*2,23. § T , By eating and partaking oi one and the iame 3 With the nourifliment of this one Sacrifice, of this one bread Saints,and l £ Qr 10> l7 we a [^ become one Bread j and have *bcirs? Communion with all the Saints of God as well thofe inHeaven, as thofe upon earth, partaking of all their glory, praiers, &c, Hcb.12.23, Epb»tiv$JEfhaz$* Col. C H A P.' IV. ff Col. i. 20. i Jo. ?. id. Job. 42.8. Gen. 20.7,17. 2 Cor.i.h. ?. And hence with reference to this Sacrifice, as §• n- alfo to the tree of life in Taradife ; and to the Man- ,-f v J%%% na, and water flowing out of the Rock in the Wil- fwlandbody dernefs, which were types of Chrift 1 Cor. 10.2,3,4. ****i'fi*t*r- -12. \3.Jo. 6. 32, 3?, 49. Our Saviour is laid to be tne bread of life, preferving him that eats the flefli of this Sacrifice io, that he fliall live for ever. And he that eateth him fliall live by him Jo. 6. 57. 6. Laftly he was the true Fafsover. Chrijl our Pafs- §. 15. over is Sacrificed for us 1 Cor. ?.7. He the true pafchal 4rf* ePa fi m Lamb fulfilling that typical one of the Jews -, In re- lation to which alfo when this Lamb was llain, it was taken care that a bone of him Jhould not be bro- ken s tho theirs that fufFered with him were. That the Scripture might be in all things fulfilled in him. And by the eating and the fprinkling of the blood of this, as of that ( fee Uxod. 12. ) Lamb,it is (but we muft do it with our ftaves in our hands, and our loins girt, as then -, i. e. prepared for another coun- try ) that we obtain the true and everlafting re- demption ( of which that other was but a type ) from Satan, the deftroying Angel -, and from all the plagues which are to fall upon the Spiritual E- gypt of the reprobate world, even upon all thofe who have no fliare in this Lamb ; who is worthy to receive power, and riches, &c. becaufehe was thus llain, and hath redeemed us with his blood l\ev. f. 9> 12. H CHAT. ji The benefits of our Saviour, 1 Sin. i The law CHAP. V. Jefus Chrift the Redeemer from Sin^ the Law, Death, Satan. kxJAa, , s * 7k f'AN made upright but under a Law,not *wans debt to, I m / 1 i j • r / r i i % • r andbondage \/ i on ly di (poled by the integrity or na- under, I f I ture, but enabled by fupernatural erace to keep it, upon his fall presently (Gods jufticefubftrad:ing his violated grace ) firft, became a iubje6t, and Have ever fince, to the dominion of carnal concupifcence and of 'fin, ftiled alio frequent- ly the flejh ; The old man ; to obey it in ail the lufts thereof, and to bring forth perpetual fruits of un- righteoufnefs. See this tyranny of fin and flavery ofman7^w. 7.7. expreffedfo far as that he is faid even to be, not only captivd, but jlain by it. Ver. n. foEpb. 2. i. Deadin trefpaftes, (3c. and J\om. 8. io. the body dead becaufe of fin ; and fin revivd and I dyed J{pm.7.p. feef o. 8. 34. comp. 32 , sj 9 $6 ,44. Man did not abide in the houfe and family of God, but loft his inheritance ; becaufe of a Son of God Lu\. 3. 38. he became a Servant to fin and a Son of the Devil. 2. Upon this he prefently incurred a fecond mi- ferable fervitude and bondage unto the law keep- ing him under asaftrid: Schoolmaft.r, and (till exa- iSling its task of him ; Debtor to the whole law GaL\. 3.-J". 3 ; and noway able now ( as before byfuper- natural grace ) to perform it -, and he not perform- ing it, It prefently wrought wrath againft him fym. 4. ly. pronouncing its curfe upon him, Gal. 3. 10. and fo committing him a child of wrath Eph. 2. 3. into the hands of Gods jufticc. 3. Now Chap. V. r? 3. Now the penalty of this law not obfervedwas §. 3. death -, and fo man became alfo Jubjecl unto bondage 3 Death, all tier eji of bis life, thro fear of death Heh. 2. if. The wages of bis fin J{pm. 6. 23. which alfo reigned over him l(om. f. 14. the enemy of mankind, and of all of" them the lalt fubdued 1 Cor. 1 y. 26. 4. Of this death Satan was to be the Executio- §^. ner. As the firft creature that was the object, fo + Sata». ever fince ( and that not unwillingly ) made the inftrumcnt, of Gods vengeance toward any other lAstheexe- creature 3 both comforting his own pains as it were q^T'^C with the fociety of their mifcry -, and fatistying his hate againft God in any mifchief upon his images And fo upon fin we were prefently ieized upon by this Jaylor; his Captives, and prifoners ; referved for deltruclion : upon whom he mil iCts alio for the prefent, all other mifenes here fuifered for fin. See 1 Cor. f. f. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Pf. 78. 4?. E.\W. 12. 23. j^ev. y. ir. 1 Cor. 10. 10, iChron. 21. 1. compared with 2. Sam. 24. 1. Lu\. 13. if, 16. And therefore all ve- nemousand noxious creatures to us, are called his injhuments LuJ^ 10. 19. But fecondly, we are not fubjed: to him only as an Executioner and an mtli- d:er of puniihment , but as the Prince, the God 2 Cor. 4. 4. of this lower world, that upon the depar-. 1 AsP ture of the good fpirit prefently po tie fled 113 as his °f t beft houfe, and lodging here below Matt. 12. \x. Col. 1. 13. the (pint that wor\eth mightily ( faith the Apoltle ) in the children of dij obedience 'Epb. 2. 2. and we are become of Gods, his, children Act. 13. 10. fo 8. 44. And the hfls of him cur Father now we do ; fo that as in innocency v. e did no good but by the alliftanceof the good /pint s fo fince the fall we hardly do any evil, but by the fuggeftion of the ill /pint. See Art. ?. 3. 1 Cor. 7. Ti I Chron, 21,1.1 Kfrg* H 2 22. 22. 6c The benefits of our Saviour. 22.22. iTim. ?. if- 2 Cor. 2. ii. Sec. So that as he hath power as Gods Sergeant to inflidt death at lafty fo he hath power, as Gods enemy in this his IQngdom of the Air, of Darknefs, of this world, to make us ferve him while we live ; power both regal, and paternal over us : yet without either the prote- ction of a Prince, or affection of a Father ; mak- ing us do that only, for which afterward he may punifhus. God indeed having put enmity between him and man from the beginning. Gen. 3. He being told that at laft he fhouldbe deftroyed by the wo- mans feed, and therefore rejoycing in nothing io much as to deftroy her feed, l^ev. 12. And into the hands of this his enemy was now man fain ; And him a very powerful and dreadful enemy Eph. 6. 12. For note 1. That as man hath not by his fall, fo neither the Devil by his, loft all the privi- ledges of his nature ; and being permitted ftill his being, is allowed alfo all the operations belonging to it: retaining power and fubtilty 2 Cor. 2. 11. Eph. 6. 11. according to the meafure of the fpiritual ftrength and knowledg of other Angels. 2. That thoas man finning was eje&ed out of Paradife ; io he out of the bleffed place of his frfi habitation Jude. 6. unto thefe lower and darker regions of the world i called Prince of them becaufe they are the place of his abode ;• yet here hath he not received the final reitraint and judgment for his fin ; which fhall be parTed upon him when upon others i. e. at the general day of doom as well for Angels, as men fee J^ev. 20. 10. 1 Cor. 6. 3. 2 Pet. 2. 4. 3- That mean while in this dejection , As God hath not taken away their natural power of hurting and feducing from wicked men, fo neither from the wicked ipirits: which power the Devil exercifeth as C H A P. V. 6i as a tempter toward the good, and as a Prince, o- ver the wicked in this his kingdom of the air. Only as God reftrains the power of wicked, by the op- podtion of good, men : fo of the wicked, by the op- poiition of good, Angels, of the Holy Spirit, of Chnft himfelf, King overall : and both evil men and angels by the lecret limitations of his provi- dence Job i. io. and reftrains thole io much more, who are lefs reliftable s and this more in refpedl of fome then of others : the children of God being more protected from his feducements, ( by a greater power of the Holy Spirit refuiing in them, &c. i Jo. 4. 4. Lu^. 22. Si. ) the children of dif obedience more aban- doned to his will and commands. 2 Tim. 2. 26. Epb. 2.3. Thus, man being in his lapled condition ; the §• *• Apoftle makes ( as it were,J four perfons ;fin 3 the law, and death , and Satan tyrannizing over him; and keeping him in an irremediable fubjed:ion,poi- fefled inftead of the free loving good fpirit of God, with the fpirit of bondage Rom. 8. t r . and of fear, and of this world. See Jin, ( which is called alfo the flejh, and the old man ), delcribed as a perlon Ro?n. 7.9,11. Jam. 1. 14, if. Gen. 4. 7. 2. The law. Rom. 7. 3,4. Gal. 3.23,24. 3. Death. 1 Cor. 1 f.z6, yi. Rom. y. 14. And they aflault him in this order. Sin Hayes him by the dart of the law 3 iorthejfrengtb of fin is the law : and death Hayes him by the fting of fin ; for the Jting of death is Jin 1 Cor. i/.j-tf. and Satan flayes him by the hand of death. As he who hath the pow- er of death from Gods juitice. Heb. 2. 14. Laftly (Sa- tan having no power but from God, ) the juitice of God committeth us into the hands of this officer, till we fliall pay the debt of fin, by the firft Cave nant due unto him. 6i The benefits of our Saviour. .§• 6 Man being in this deplorable condition -, the Son ^ e r e ^ e ° r Kr Rc ' °^' God in great pitty to his creature, came to re- deem him out of the hands of all thefe that hated him Efai. 61. i. Luj^ 4. i%.Col. 1. 13. and to make him a freeman again. Jo/;. #. 34. comp. 32, 35. G#/« iBypaymga^. 23. &c. G^/. r. i. And that meanwhile juftice Zm$om mi S ht be & ti5fied , and every one of the reit alfo debt. have his due 3 he put himfelf(in our ftead ) into their hands; and paid the full ranjom and price that was required, not fiver nor gold Pf. 49. 6, 7 , 8, 9. iTim. 2. 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19, 20. but life for life Matt. 20.28. 1. To deilvoy fin in the flejh, he came in the likenefs ofjinfulflejh I{om. 8-3- and after he had en- dured with the fame weak nature all its aflaults, Heb.2.1%. Matt.^.i. -16.23. tho he did not fin, yet was he made (in for us, i. e. liable to undergo the ill confequentsof fin, as if he had finned. 2. Cor. 5-. 21. 2. Tolatisfie the law, he was made under the lam alfo, both the moral : and the ceremonial, in par- ticular reference to the Jew that he might redeem them that were under the law Gal. 4. f\ moft exactly keeping it in Circumcifion and obfervation ot the Sabbath ( tho they falily accufed him of the breach thereof) and all other ordinances. Yet after all this we being under its curfe, he alio, ( tho obedi- ent in every thing to the law) for he became a curfe, 01 accurfedGal. 3.13. 3. Death requiring pof- leflion where fin had given it a.juit title, and 4. Sa- tan being not a-wanting to ufe his licenfed power in infli&ing it. LuJ^. 22. $3. He therefore being firft made fin and a curfe alfo underwent the af- faults ofthele two laft for us 5 underwent and tail- ed of ck a th for every finful man Heb. 2. 9. 1 Cor. $. 11. even the death of the crofs. And his going thus far, perchance might have ferved C H A P. V. 6$ ierved for the difcharge of a debt, had we been, lav- ing fome trefpaffes pait, in a perfect and entire con- dition for the future i but befides the fruit already- brought forth unto death, for which we owed it, we werealfo fubje&ed to the dominion of thefe ene- mies, to bring forth more ftill for the future. In refpecft of which no compleat redemption of us could be without a conqueit of them as well as a payment. And had our Redeemer not made a conqueft of them ; had he been either pierced by fin ; or broken any point of the Law ■■> how then in- deed could he have paid that death, a tan(omtoi^Byma&mga> us, which had been due for himfelf ? A^ain not c fV# ^ [~V£€ 77/:" US breaking thefe, had he yet been any way held by f rQm jiavery - death and Satan ; fince, thothe ranfom was paid for fins paft, yet their dominion would have re- mained ftill in us for producing more ; How could he deliver us from this dominion, from which he could not fave himfelf? In which terms the Devil once began to intuit over him on the Crois : thou thatfaveji others, &c. How could he refcue us from death, being himfelf detained in it; how by his fpiritinusdeitroy fin, if that fpirit could not raife him from the punifhment of fin ; for all our fpiriu and life is only from and in him. In whofe death all our hopes were alio dead, i Cor. ij. 14. There- fore faith the Apoftle 1 Cor. i?. 14, 17. IfChriJl be not rifen from death, yc are yet in your Jins. See T\Oin. 4. 2j\ 1 Tim. 3. id. Indeed we were not only priioners for debt to Satan , as an Officer of Gods jultice Matt. y. 2/, 26 ; but captives to him as Prince ot this world : and therefore our Savior was our Re- deemer alfoint fenfes : from debt ; and from jlavery : by paying a ranfom ; and by making a tonquejl : w hich he throughly did. For fin could not en' 6'f The benefits of our Saviour. enter into him ; nor the law could not accufe him in any point : nor could death , tho it had him in its arms, hold him Acl. 2. 24. and fo Satan alfo that had the power of death,yet in his reviving from death was overcome Heb. 2. 14. by the power of the holy fpint railing him again from it. See Rom. 1.4. 1 Tim. 3. id. Heb. 9. 14. Gal. 1. 4. And that he might be a pattern unto us in the way and of the victory of furierings ,• the manner he chofe to con- quer thefe enemies was by fubje&ing himlelf unto them, and by making himfelr capable of their af- laults, and by fullering from them, By comming in the liftenefs ofjinfulflejh he dejtroyedfin in theflejb : by dying killed and triumphed over death. ( In which Sampan Haying his enemies by his own being llain, and Eli ah railing the dead child by imitating the iamepoftures were types of him.) Deftroyed the Devils tempting, by being tempted by him, and in the hkenefs of the Serpent Numb. 21. p. Jo. 3. 14. being alio made a curfe like him cured the bitings of the Serpent, by fubmittingto and molt exa&ly keeping the law annulled it. Thus he for his obedi- ence being made Lord of the law Matt. 12.8. and changing the ordinances delivered by Mofesjo.4.21. Col. 2.13,14.. Rom. 7. 24,2^. Jo. 12. 3/ . Col, 1. 1 3, 14. and tranilating us out of the kingdom of darkjiefs, into bis kingdom. Tit. 2. 14. Redeemed us from ini- quity, for good ivories. 2 Tim. 1. 10. abolijhed death 1 Thejf.i. 10. Delivered us out of the hands of jujlice. Act. 1 3. 3 p. Eph. 2. 1 ?. out of the hands of Mofes's law. And he triumphing firft himlelf over them all, thus fet us alio at liberty. At liberty from them 2 Cor. 3. 1 7. Jo. 8. 52, 36. yet not for our lelves, to be now our own Matters, but redeemed us for his fer- vice for ever hereafter. See iCor. 6, 19, 20. Ro?n. Chap. V. Cs 14. 4, 7. Sec. flev. ?. 9. 2 Tor. j\ zy. That we might be now efpoufed, and appropriated, to him; and not yield our felves to any other -, whom he bought out of their hands with fo dear a price ; for whom he paid to Gods jufticefo rich a Dowry ("as it was the ancient cultome for the husband to pay, not to receive, a DoHflry fee Gen. 34. 12. Exod 22.16.) even himielf Eph. f. 2? . Tit. 2. 14. that henceforth we Ihould glorifie him in our bodies and in our fpirits, ivhichare his. Tho indeed this our fervice of him is our perfect freedom. Again at liberty from them, yet hitherto not ab- §-. S. folutely J^om. 23. as neither is our Saviors conqueft over them as yet perfedt in refpecft of his members : tho it be for himfelf. SteLuj^.21. 28. Eph. 4. So. iCor. 1. So. Rom. id. 20, Why is it not? Becaufe fo it Our Redem- feemed good to his wifdom, by, and for, and to, whom V™ mt J% are all things, as he made not perfect the world all fd at once, but fucceffively ; nor fent this Author of redemption before the latter end thereof, fo nei- their to make perfect our redemption all at once. For indeed had fin, and confequently the law, Al &JL and death, and Satan upon our Saviors refurred:i- 011 been utterly deftroyed, why fliould not all the Faithful that were before his coming , as well as we fince, have enjoyed the fame priviledg? Again thus the world muft have ended at our Saviors firit coming. 1 Cor. iy. 26. But the compleating of our redemption isreferved to his fecond, Luj^ 21. 28. Eph. 4. So. Eph. 7.74. and we fee not yet all things put under our Savior in this manner : For it pleat- ed God to make our Savior only the Captain, and we alfo ( but this wholly thro the ftrength of him, who is the Author andfinijher of our Salvation ) part- ners in this conqueft 5 giving us arms and ftrength I to 66 J%e benefits of. our Saviour. to fight them, but not vi&ory without our fighting too after the fame manner, as did our Savior. It pleafed him, that we fhould yet a while longer f uf- ier the aflaults of fin, but repel them •, overcome the Devil, but not without being tempted; and death but not without fuffering it ; and the law, but not without obedience to it ; Laftly, that in thefe things we fhould fuffer in fome fort for our Savior, i. e. for his honor, as he did for us, i. e. for our wickednefs ; that herein all virtues might more be exercifeds and Gods glory thro oppofition more exalted. §• r °- It remains then we enquire next, How much of #l°™ac!y U per- OLir ademption is performed already by this our firmed. Saviour ? Firft, tho fome fin is hitherto ftill inherent i in refpeti j n us y et we are re ftored to the fpirit of God loft by ^daamj^om.K. 23. and i. by it commanding now within us, freed from the dominion of fin for the future. In which refpedt we are faid to be dead to Jin. J{pm. 6. n. And 2. by the price that was paid upon the Crofs, freed from the guilt and imputati- on of fins paft in the time of fins former raign in us. §• 1 '. 2. 1 Tho we are ftill tyed to the obedience of the j, °/^^»>-l awmora i 3 yet we are freed from the law Ceremo- nial, it being only typical of the things which were fulfilled in Chrift. At his death when he cried con- fummatum e[t ( tho before he both obferved it him- felf, and commanded it aifo to others, fee Lul^ 2. 21. Matt. 10.?. -zy. 24. -#. 4 ) he freed us perfectly from this. 2 . Again, freed from the condemnation of the law Moral: both 1. By having our former debts to it difcharged by him; and fo this bond, that was kept againft us, cancelled and nayled thro upon the Crofs Eph. 2. is- Col. 2.14. 2. And freed by grace given us from that inability we had here- tofore to perform it , by being now enabled to obferve Chap. V. 67 obferve it in all the parts thereof ( tho not without fame defedts ). And there is now no fort of fin, how natural , how cuftomary foever ( uncleannefs , in- temperance, revenge, &c. ) but we have fufficient ability thro Chrift to mailer, conquer, triumph o- ver it, fo as never to commit any one more ( con- fummate ) a6t thereof, if we will but ufe thofe wea- pons the fpirit affords us,/>n3y*r,&c.Infoniuch,as that we lhall admire, upon tryal, the ftrange transform- ings of our felves, and the great goodneis and power of Chrift. 3. And in thofe deficiencies by being delivered alfo from the curfe of it thro Chrilt by repentance and faith in him Jcl. 1 J. 38, 39. Nay yet further ; freed not only from the condemning power, but from the commanding and directing power, of the law Mofaick ; not that we now are without law, / Cor. p. 21 . but that we have it, much fuller, then it was before in the Tables, written in our hearts 5 by which we walking in the fpirit, and being filled with love, do all things commanded in the law by the demonftration and power of the Spirit : fee thofe places much to be noted Gal. ?. 1 ft / Tim, 1. y, p. Gal. 3. 19. JRom.8-1?. And thus we are faid to be dead to the law, or it to us l^om. 7. 4. Gal. 2. i p. Dead to the former delivery of it, by the giving of which we were not able to perform it, as now we are when it is given us by the fpirit : for the law is given twice, at the firft by Mo/es written in Tables of Stone, fo a killing letter ; afterward by the fpirit written on the heart, and fo 'tis a quicken- ing fpirit, that now doth the work of the law, which law abides for ever. Matt. f.18. 2 Cor. 3.6. feeHeb. 10.11. 2 Cor. 5. 7, 8. the difference of the miniftra- ftration of the fpirit and the miniftration of Mo/es. fym. 8.2. I 2 3. Tho 4i The benefits of our Saviour. $• !i - 3. Thoweare ftill fubjed: to death, yet we are Of Death. f ree d already from the moft confiderable death, from that eternal ; and from the fear of the tem- porals yea we are now inviting and defiring it.as an entrance into our Saviors prefence , and eternal blifs. ( Nay further taking pride to conquer it the fame way our Lord did, and turning all the prepa- ratives thereof, difeafes, infirmities, Sec. by willing, patient, cheerful fuffering thereof, into matter of advantage and reward ;fo that we had been lefs hap- py in a greater prefent conqueft. ) Phil. 21, 23. A- gain freed (as our Savior was Heb. ?.7.) tho not from fuffering it ; yet, that we fhall not perifli in it, but after a while be recovered from it. Therefore harmlefs now it hath changed its name in the new Teftament Scriptures, and is called ajleep 1 Cor. 11. 3o. In which refped: we are faid already to be paf- fedfrom death to life. Jo. f. 24. §• i?- 4. Tho we are ftill fubjed: to the temptations of Of Satan. g at an, yet are we freed from his former power in and over us Acl.26.18. by the more powerful fpi- ritofGod, which is now greater in us then he that is in the world. 1 Jo. 4.4. And the ftrong man now caftout by aftronger then he ^0. 12.31.-16. 1 1. 1 Jo. 3. 8. LuJ^.io.vs y 1 p. Matt. 12. zi. Accordingly fince our Saviors coming wee fee the Devils former grofs religions and delufions, ("except infome out-skirts of the world America and China, Sec. ) utterly ruin- ed, and him abridged moft what of all his former inlpirations, ( for many of the lying Prophets were poflefTed and deceived ( themfelves ) by an evil fpi- rit fee Micah 2.11. 1 King. 22. 20. ) poifeffions, en- thufiafms,apparitions, dictating Oracles, by which he, being very frequent in thele, was taken to be the great power of God. See Aft, 8- \o. - i6. 16. comp. Chap. V. 6$ COinp 17* i Sam. 18. 10. 2 King. l. 2. / Cor. 12. 10. -14.29,32. 1^.4.1. and fultained by his frequent inanimations of them, that grofs worfliip of idols whi:h are fince grown contemptible according to the prophecies. J^ecb, 13 . 1, 2. EJai. 4.6. 1. comp. Efa 4f. 13, 16. Efai. 2. 18, 20. HoJ\ 2. 1?. So that now he is glad to ufe more fine and iiibtle arts ( for he is not yet utterly to be chained up. ) And the cheif religi- on abhors idols, and worfhips the true God that made Heaven and Earth 5 but only oppofeth the Savior thereof, and him too not altogether rejedt- eth, but diminifheth in comparifon of the Divels Prophet, Mahomet. And tho he is not yet quite chained up from feducingthe Nations, nor tempt- ing alfo the fervants of Chrift, yet inrefpe&of eve- ry one,as he is weaker or ftronger in grace^fo by him that fits now at the right hand of God, are his tem- ptations moderated and proportioned, none filter- ing above what they are able to repel. 1 Cor. 10. 13. And the weaker, as theyloofe the glory of a con- queft, fo have they the fecurity of not being aifault- ed : whereas tis much to be obferved that (for their greater reward ) our Savior permits Satan more li- berty as it were to try Mafteries with thofe that are ftronger ( even fometimes to vifible apparitions, as he afTaulted firft their Lord, and there want not examples of this done to many more,when eminent inholinefsj as he did to Holy Job, to the Apoftles : who by this difcovered more of Satans wiles, and moreeafily difccrn'd the fpiritual powers, that war againft Chriflians, and gave readier directions for the fight. See Lu\. 22.31. 2 £br. 12. 7. zCor.z.w. Epb. 6. 12, 16. Jam. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 5-. 8 , 9. Epb. 4. 27. But when our Redemption iscompleated, which c t * mult not be before our Saviors appearing and bis J\ingdotn 7% The benefits of our Savior. Kingdom iTim.^. i. then fhall we have, by vertue of this our Redeemers ranfom, and conqueft alrea- dy performed, and the full effe&s of which are al- ready enjoied, in his own perfon ; all freedom from them, that can be imagined. Firft , Concerning fin : That quite effaced, and we Glorious, Holy, and without blemifh, not having fpot, or wrinkle, or any fuch thing, butperfe&ly fand:ifiedand cleanf- ed, and fo as a pure virgin prefented and efpoufed unto the Son of God. Eph. ?. 26 , 27. 2 Cor. 11. 2, 2. Concerning the law : love perfected, and we ne- ceflitated to good in fuch a manner, that our acti- ons there fhali no more be capable of reward or pu- nifhment 5 and confequently that there fhall be no more place for a law. 3 . As for death it fhall be (wallowed up in viclory , and caft into Hell flev. 20. 14. 1 Cor. iy. 26. 7^^.22.2,3. 4. Satan alio who now goeth abroad to deceive the Nations > fhall then be c^/? into the lake of fire and hrimflone : and the Accufer of the Saints fhall then be judged by them s and condemned to thofe everlafiing tor- ments, which are prepared for him, and his Angels from the beginning, l^ev.zo. io. 1 Cor*6.3. Matt. 21.41. CHAP, ( 71 ) CHAP. VI. JefusChrift the fecond Adam, Author to Man-rheiife. kind of life \ as the Firji of Death. BY Gods good will and pleafure; as Adam the §. i. firft man from the Earth, was made a com- chr 'f^-^ mon perfbn ; by whofe difobedience and Cl fall all dyed. So there was to be a fecond Adam from Heaven* i Cor. is. 47. made alfo a Common perfon, by whofe obedience and merits mankind fhouldbe repaired, and have life. 1 Cor. IT- 22. And this was the Son of God of whofe Su- preme dignity and equality with the Father, ( as goT^f™ having the fame effence and perfection of nature, ther. and confequently the fame glory , power, and all other divine attributes) fez Phil. 2. 6. Jo. %. z#, 23. -10.29, 30.-17. f. Rev. 1.4. -4.6*. comp. with Rev. 4. 2. f. which means the Father,, and Rev. 1. 8, 17. this the Son. And 'tis not to be pafled by ; that whereas there have been feveral apparitions of the firft and fecond perfon of the Trinity ; they arc both defcribed much-what alike, feeEfai. 6. Rev. 1. 13. of the Son^a. 12. 3 1. com^.Rev.^. 2. Sec. of the Father as appears Rev.j. 7. and Ban. 7.9. comp. 13. according to which attributes no perfon is be- fore or after another. And omnia opera Tritiitatis tjjentialia, & ad extra i. e. ( fuch as have fome influ- ence into the creature, and where there is no rela- ting of one perfon to another ) muft needs be ivdz- vija i. e. if of one perfon, of all. Becaufe all are but one and the fame God : yet inrefpect of ads and agency 72 The benefits of our Saviourl Before his hi- agency perfonal even before the Incarnation -, whe- tarnation* t ] ier it be by vertue Q f eternal generation : [Or do fine fubordinatione , cam una tanUim ft effentia divina. MiJJio in divinis nonjuffonem y non imperium, fed pro- ceffionem unius per (once ab alia, cum novi ejfecius con- not atione,ftgn if cat. Bell. Judic. delib.Concordiae. ) So Pater dicitur major filio ratione principii, non ra- tione naturce. Notatur enim qucedam autboritas in eo, quod pater eft principiumf Hi & non contra, Ita Bafi- lius, Nazianz. Hilar. & multi veteres, &c. Bell, de Chriftol. i. c. 6. Oirneceffe eft f dJgnitate & or dine Jecundus eftfilius, tertins fpiritus , natura quoque ipfos fecundum & tertium ejje Bafil. fee Bell, de Chrifto 1.2. C 2y. In which fenfe Qiii communicat ejfentiam & naturam y communicat poteftatem, fcientiam y &c. ( as Aquin. ) & recognitione author it at is pater nee & do- nantis y ( as Hilary ) ; or whether it be by the parti- cular economy, and difpeniation of the Divine wif- dom in order to the Creation and the Redempti- on of the World ; even before the Incarnation^ I lay, as the Father doth nothing without, but all by , the Son, both in the Church and in the world ; and in thefe both in the creating, and in the ordering; and fuftaining thereof, ieejo. $. 17, 22. Heb. 1. 2, 3. Jo. 3. Jy. Col. 1. 16, 17. ( Therefore is the Son diftin- cftively from the Father called the Lord, becaufe of his immediate Dominion over all things Phil. 2. 1 1. iCor. 8. 6. Jc~l. 2. 36. 1 Cor, iy. 24. 7{om. 1. 7. Epb. 4. £ 6. ) So the Son every where acknowledged, all he hath ( life, knowledge, power) to the gift and Communication, and all he doth to the command and appointment and exemplar , of the Father ; Himfelr to live by him , to have life in him [elf as the Father hath, but from his gift: to be font by him y not only the man Chrift Jefus to be fenc to us, in the flefh C H A V. VI., 7} fiefh and human nature, but the fecond Perfbn in the Trinity, then the only begotten Son of God the Father -, fee 1J0. 4. p. comp. Jo. 3. i3, 17. Jo. 6. 38, 39.-17. ?. Heb. 1. 2,$. to be firft alio fent into the flefh, and to take human nature upon him ; for he that was fent, defcended from Heaven, and was made flefh, fee / Jo. 4. 2. Jo. id. 28. Heb. 2. 14, id. 1 Tim. 3. id. Jo. d. 38. Again to judge, do as he hears from him, as he is taught by him. Jo. 8. 28. as he hath feen him do ; the works bejhews him -, ope- rating, as it were, after his pattern, fee Jo. ?. 6- 7. 8- chapters. Jo. 14. 28. -17. 3. 1 Cor. if. 27. Jo. 10. 18. -?. 3o.-%. if. -20. 32. Matt. 20. 23. Many of which places ( if not all ) cannot be imderilood of his hu- man nature; Neither are thefe expreffions incon- gruenttothe fecond perfonof the Trinity, fince the like are granted to be ufed of the third, the Ho- ly Ghoft. See Jo. if. 26. -16. 13,14,1/. 2. Butfecondly ( which is more to our purpofe ) ^ in the myftery of the Incarnation ; here God the Mucbn Father only reprefents the whole Deity in its G\o- a f* erit ry and Majefty ; and God the Son then divefted, ftripped, and emptied Himfelf of that form of God, in which he was ; and fin refpe£t of the ufe and exercife of it, further then as the Father pleaf- edto difpenfeit unto him ) of all the Majefty and power of his Divinity -, In which thing our bleffed Lord was fore- typified by Sampfon : for thus was he for the love of an Harlot (we were no better) willing to part with,and to lay afide all his ftrength; to be bound by his own Nation, and delivered up to his enemies, Judv. i/.ii. to be blinded and made fport with, and to be put to death ; but by his death ( as Sampfon ) deftroying his enemies, and getting thevi&ory. Sszjudg. itf. K Thus more 74 The benefits of our Savior. .§•> Thus he became in fafhion only as a man; Lul. infirmities of l2, J" °- undertaking all the lmpertedtions ( that are human na- without fin ) of human nature, fuch a^ others have; ture - and receiving all the perfections of it from the gift of God the Father, fo as others do,&c. Suffering the imperfection, and infirmities not only of the body ; but thofe innocent ones of the Soul too ■> and thefe not only in the fenfitive and appetitive faculties, as fear, fbrrow, Afar^. 14.34. horror of death, &c. In fo much that he was capable of being ftrengthened by one of thofe Angels whom he had made Lu\. 22. 43- f not to name that treating with him by Am- baffadors from Heaven Lul^ p. 31. one from the law, and another from the Prophets, about his fuf- ferings. ) Befides thofe natural inclinations and velleities ( if I may fo fay ), that appeared in him of the lower faculties ; folliciting for things conve- nient to them ; tho alwaies ordered ( by reafon and the Spirit ) to conformity with the will of God : fee Jo. 6. 38. fiom. 15. 3. Matt. 26. $9. [Where we difcover natural propenfionsdiverfe from thofe of the Spirit, tho thefe propofing their own defires, not oppofing the others refolves.] But fome think, in the Intellectual part alio : either 1. The abfence of fome knowledge ( fupernatural to man & non debitce ineffe ) for fome time by the fufpenfion of the light of his Divinity from it ; as it is clear the Bea- tifical vifion was fuipended from it in the time of his fad and dolorous paflion. Which knowledg in- creafed in him according to the difpcnfation of the Father. See Lu\. 1. 80. -2. ?i. where Chrift is faid^a increafein wifdom and fpirit, &c. not in ap- pearance only, but with God as well as men : fee Mar\. 13. 32. comp. with J{ev. 1. 1. and this with %£ v * ?• T, 6> <3tc. where the Lamb # faid to be Wor- thy Chap. VI. 77 thy to, &c. to have prevailed, to open the bool^ (Of all future events ) and to look thereon, &c. and v. 12. To receive rvijdom (this being fignified verf. 6. by the 7 eyes -, as power by the 7 horns,) for that he was /lain, (3 c. and Mark* 6> 6. Matt. 8.10. where he is faid to wonder, asiffome thing happened unex- pected. Or; 2. The abfence of that experimental knowledg which he afterward acquired by fuffer- ings, fee Hcb. y. 8. -2. 17, 18. Or, 3. at leait fee Jo. 16. 30. -21. 17. fome reltraint of theefredts, and ex- ternal manifeftations of his knowledge ; till the time the Father had appointed for them to be o- pened. See del. 17. comp. with T{ev. 1. 1. and Mur\ 13. 32. Matt. 20. 23. Therefore he is faid in his youth to have heard the Doctors of the Law, and conferred with them : ( tho by this doubtlefs he learned not from, but imparted wifdom to, them. LuJ^. 2. 46, 47. ) Nor did he offer to teach till the age allowed for Dodtors to profefs. And not then, till after he had as it were prepared himfelf for ir, in fix Weeks folitude, lilence, watching, failing, prayer. ( For he who prayed whole nights, when all the day wearied with emploiments, certainly omitted it not in that long vacation.) And fo for the external operations of the Spirit it felf; tho he was by the Holy Ghoft conceived -, and had it not ltinted, and given by meafure as others Jo. 3.34. Col. 1 . 19 . ( who yet are laid alfo to be filled with the Holy Ghojt as the bleffed Virgin and St Stephen, and fome even from the womb, as St John Baptiji. See LuJ^ 1 . 1 7. del. 7.55. ) yet the more publick functions of it were reitrained till at 30 years of age that he was baptiz- ed^ that it, at the Iblemnity., vifibly defcended on him; and then he began in the ftrength of it, to preach,do MiracleSj&cXa^.i.J^.i 1.-4- f4- And lb K 2 his 7^. 4. 18. Act* 1 io.58. (for he did not anoint or glorifie himfelf Heb. f. 4, 5-. ) thatfealedhim Jo. 6.27. comp. Eph. 1. 13. that carried him into the Wilder nefs , Matt. 4. 1. Lu\. 4. 14. by which he fafted fo long, and did fo many Miracles , Jtl. 2. 22. Matt. 12.28. by which he was faid to be in the Father, and the Father in him, ( as he pray eth his Difciples alfo might be ) Jo. 1 7.21, 23.-8.29. and thefeonly by the Spirit could be fo. By which he \\ad power to lay down and take up his life when Chap, VL 77 when he pleafed in refpedt of mens power Jo. 10. i% . -2.19. andtojjztf* and to Communicate life to whom bepleafedy&c. ( for he received both this life, and thisCommandementtolay it down from the Fa- ther ^0. 10. 18. -2. 19. -5-. 26. ) By which be offered up bimfelf. Heb.y.i^. This is it that raifed him from the dead Rom. 1. 4.-6. 4. 2 Cor. 13.4. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Heb. 5-. ?. and that jufHfiedhxv^^ that he was all that he pretended to be. iTim.S.tf. (And the fi- nal juftification of all the Saints alfo, and declara- tion of them to be accepted by God, will be by the fame Spirit at their Refurre6tion glorifying them ) ; atlaftthat exalted bim to Heaven: For from the Father it was, that he received his glory and his Kingdom^?. 2. 23. Phil. 2. 8, y.Heb. 1. 9. -2.9. and the adminiftration thereof he fliall one day alfo a- gain give up unto the Father. 1 Cor. 1 ?. 28 . So God isfaidtobe/w bead, as he ours, 1 Cor. 3. 23. -n. 3. and dying into his hands he rejignedbis Spirit. Lu\. 23.46. As Stephen afterward his into our Saviors. Thus he received all things from the Fathers §. j. And from him, after the ordinary way of Prayers. Which he very often ufed, and thofe very long ones Lul^ 6. 12. as before the election of the Apoftles Matt. 14.23,25-. after difmiffing his Auditors LuJ^ 9.1. and likely for the fame purpofe he ufually re- tired out of the City at night to Mount Olivet, fee LuJ^.21. 37. Mar\. 11. i7> which cuftome of his was obferved by Judas. Prayer both for himfelf and for others fee Jo. 1 7. 1 5-. where he praies that his Father would deliver them from the evil, &c. Luj^ 22. 32. That Satan might not overthrow Peters faith : and Matt. 16. 17- where he imputed Peters confeffion to the Revelation of his Father. He praied to the Father for all things when wanted : and returned thanks 7$ The benefits of our Saviour. thanks for them when received (Jo.i 1.4 1. where his giving thanks that he was heard, implies he praied the Father about railing of Lazarus, tho this not fet down ) Matt. 11. 2?. fee Matt. 26. So.. In which praiers too tho the Father heard him alwaies Jo. n. 42. for all things he asked with a deliberate and plenary will 1 Jo. 5. 14. which was alwaies conform- ed to the Divine, yet not for all the velleities of his fenfe and Flumanity, looking on things limply ac- cording to the bare inclinations of nature -, As in the requeft of the Cup palling from him 1 And fome think 111 that petition of exemplary charity. Lu]^. §. tf. Thus much of our Savior, the eternal Son of God the Father, his ungoding himlelf as it were, and profefling man ( which the Apoftles fometimes ipeak lb Emphatically iTim.2.$. j4cl. 2. 22. and call the Father bis God as he is ours. See Eph. 1. 17. Pf.4?. 7. Jo. 20. 17. And fometimes diftinguilh him from God j i. e. either as he is man s or as God the Father is the fountain, as it were, of the blefled Trinity. See / Cor. #. we j he did, he endured, he received fo great things : therefore we fhould, and may do and luiFer by the fame fpirit the like s and if we do io lhall receive the like, \Joh. 3. 2, 3. fuch as that man now is, liJKH men may be, if fuch they now be as he was,- who was plealed to be in all things as thev are,faving the preeminences he hath from thehypoitatical union. Having fhewed how, and how far, he became §• 7 man,to pafs now from the form, to the virtue, of his ^^TzST manfhip; and tofhew how he was the fecond VB&VL^thefecondA- to repair with advantage all the mi (chiefs coming dam as -with to mankind by the firft -, being made fuch a com- lj^ n mon perfon to them, as none befides him but they^. firft man was; who in all things was a type and fi- gure of bim that was to come. T{pm. y. 74. And the parallel between them we may read at large Rom. c. y. from the 12. v. to the end. And / Cor. 15. 20. &c. 45. &c. to the ?oth. And fuch a Covenant as was made with Adam of Reward for obedience ; Re- ward, to him, and to his feed ; if ( being enabled by the fame fpirit J they fhould follow his fteps; (In whom we may gather all the world fhould have been blefled had he flood ; becaufe all were curfed in his fall, unlefs Godsjuftice be larger then his mercies : ) The fame Covenant, upon the firft mans mifcarriage, we find enter d into by the early pro- mifed feed of him that fell, Chrift ,• that, as by one man to us came death, fo by another might'co'me life, 2U- vmg his 8o The benefits of our Saviour". life; and that the fecond might conquer the Ser- pent, by which the firft was itung. I come 3 ( faith he ) to do thy will God which the Firft dilobeyed : Thy law is within my heart. Pf. 40. 8. Heb. 8. 10. Matt. 6.17- And accordingly he was made under the law y all the law that might be j both Moral and Ceremonial. And to him thus undertaking on the one part, the promife was made by God on the other : the promife not only for himfelf, which needs not to be doubted, fee Heb. 11. 6. but for his feed alfo. See Gal. 3.16, 19, 22. Namely that all the world fliould be bleffed in him, as in the firft they were curled 5 Bleffed , firft in receiving the promife of the fpirit, as the earneft and feal of the inheritance, Gal. 3. 14. AU. 2. 32. and then the in- heritance it feii , of eternal life , which pro- mifes he upon his obedience received firft himfelf, and then traduced to his pofterity. Of whom in- deed Abraham and afterward David ( for with him alfo was a Covenant made concerning his feed) were but types ,- the promife of being Father of the faithful and heir of the world jtym. 4. 13 being made to Abraham only in this feed, fee Heb. 1.2. Gal. 3.17. and fo faid to be fulfilled now in his Refurre- 6tion or rewardment. AB. 13. 32, 33. In which feed the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, were firft bleffed ( according to the promife ) Gal. 3. 8. §. 8. And fo only he the true Father of all the faithful He fulfils it. £[ e }j t 2 , {^ jj^j Efai.y. 6. of whom Abraham their Father was alfo a Son. And this fecond Adam com- ing to perform this obedience, and to obtain thefe promifes for undone man, that he might deftroy the former works both of the Devil, and of man by his inftigation 1 Jo. 3. • as not fomc few but all mankind were finners and perilhed m Adam, That the reftitution might be as Chap. V I. 8$ as large as the fall. This man upon the precious Crofs offered a price of mans redemption, not only fufficient for all the Sons of Adam, and yet limited by him to feme few i. e. the faved ; but alfo actual- ly tendered to God his Father indifferently without exception for them all. See 2. Cor, ?. 14, if. where the Apottle argues that all the fons of the firft A- dam were dead in Jin, becaufe the iecond Adam died for them all. See Heb. 2. g. 2 Pet. 2. /. I{o?n. i^.if. 1 Cor. $.11. 1 Jo. 2. 2. fym. f. 18. 1 Tim. 2. 6- So thofe that perifh Heb. to. zg. by apoftacy could not be faid to have troden under foot the Son of God, and the blood of the Covenant, if no way pertaining to them: and fo in the Holy Communion if not his body offered alfo for, and to, the \vicked,how could they be guilty of his body and blood > 1 Cor. 11. 27. That therefore this blood becomes not effectual and profiting to all ( in refped: of which that phrafe for many is ufed Matt. 26.28.) it is becaufe of the conditions to be performed on every mans part, that it may be beneficial unto him. Scejob.3.16,17. Or alfo ( to take the ftridteft opinion of predeilina- tion ) becaufe the Father hath fo pleafed to enable only fome of the feed of Adam to the performance of fuch conditions. But the Son in all things obe- dient and fubjedt to his Father chofe or picked out none, no not his twelve Dilciples, but took in- to his diligent prote&ion thofe, whom ever the Fa- ther pleafed to give him : and even amongtl the twelve in fubmiflion to his Fathers will chofe one of them, well foreknowing it Jo. 6. 70. to fhed his blood. See Jo. 17. 6, 9, 24. Jo. 6. 65. Ail. 13.48. -if. i}. Jo. 10. 26. Matt. 11. 2?.j^om. 11. 7. and with a Divine patience tolerated him,robbing him of his necelfary proviiions, before he betrayed his facred M perfon. 20 The benefits of our Savior. perfon. See ^0. 12.6. Nothing therefore is thereon the account of the univerfality of his pretious fa- crifice, why every fingle Son of Adam may not be faved by the plentiful effufion of that all-meritori- ous ftream of his blood ; which gufhed out from fo many Fountains made in his body ,• from his head, back, breait, hands, feet, nay ( in that Garden-ago- ny ) thro every pore. And thofe,who make them- felves uncapable of the benefit thereof, make, in as much as concerns them, the blood of the Son of God who loved them and gave himfclf for them GaL 2. 20. to be filed ( fo grievous a crime ) in vain ,* and this ( by the Apoftle ) is making themfelves guilty of his murther. Heb. 6. 6. 1 Cor. n. 27. Thus he by Gods promife becoming the fecond head of the body of mankind 1 Cor. h~ 3. whereof we by faith are members, by fuffering and dying for us and in our ftead, ( tajling death for every man, faith the Apoftle Heb. 2. p.)hc thus fatisfied Gods jufHce, and appeafed his wrath toward us ; as one member in the natural body oft fuffers the punifhment for the fault of fbme other. Shut Homo ( faith Aqui- nas ) per aliquod opus quod mamt exerceret, redimeret fe apeccato quod commifijfet cum pedibus. For by this Communication of head and members Adam brought in condemnation and death : and there- fore lhall not mercy be enlarged as far as juftice by the fame relation, that alfo they may be removed } For as, if one member fuffers 1 Cor. 12. 26. all the members f'uffer nith it-, fo all the members are count- ed to fuffer what any one doth , For all the mem- bers of one body, being many, ar cone body - y and fo is Chrift 1 for. 12. 12. [and we]. This is certain, the firft Adam hath brought no guilt or mifery on his members, which the Jccond hath not ; ( or fliall not in C H A P. VI. $£ in due feafon ) take away. Nay, faith the Apoftlc, he hath taken away far more then the firit brought; to wit all our own perional guilt too. For one only fin of the firft was enough to undo not only himfelf but all his poftenty, and to bring in death: but many millions of fins^befides that, could not hinder the iecond, to procure us ( notwithstanding them ) ialvation and eternal li£c.7{om. y. 16. Now lince all our benefit by him comes from our § **« ingrafting and incorporation into him, that lo his furlerings may be accounted for ours, the Sacra- ment or religious Ceremony inftituted to convey unto us this firft effed: of the fecond Adams dying Baptifm in- for us, ( and fo freeing us from the condemnation, ZZ^s'deaX and waffling us with his blood from the ftains of our former fins) isBaptifm. After which, tho the in- firmity of concupifcence ftill remain ( for the bene- fits of the fecond Adam are not fully perfected till this life is ended ) yet is both the ftrength thereof much abated ; and the reatus or guilt thereof to- tally removed ; i. e. that none mall be condemned for the folicitations and importunings thereof ( which will happen till our redemption is corn- pleated ) fo they be by him ( for which he is en- abled with fufficient grace ) mattered and fuppreit Therefore are we faid in the Scripture to be bapti%- The Sacra- edintoCbrijt; to put on ChriJL Gal. 3. 27. Horn. 6, zl™™tofpar- to be in Chrijt Rom. #. /;. Phil. 3. p. by one [pint to be u baptised into one body. 1 Cor. 12. \3. To be baptised into his death, to be co-planted in the lil^enefs of his death ; and to be buried with him in Baptifm fy?n. 6. 3,4. &c. 1 Pet.^.i.by baptifm to be faved from death and fin 1 Pet. $\ 20,21. Sec. and therefore as Baptifm is cMed our death, fo his death by him is called A Baptifm Matt. 20. 23, Lu\. 12. 70. What by him M 2 was yl The benefits of our Savior* was really performed, being by us too reprefented, and adted in Baptifm. For our Savior is fuppoied ( fee Jtym. 6. chap. ) to reprefent till his death, a fon oiAdam as we are ; and one that had took fin up- on him ; tho he had none in him -, and fo to fuf- fer the punifhment, and dy to it, as well as for it, that is, no more afterward to be charged with it, J{pm. 6. 10. and then to rife again a new man ; ac- cording to which we ( true finners ) in baptifm are fuppoied to dy with him to fin jftom. 6. 2. no more to live in it ; and then to be born again of him , to begin a new life, a life to holinefs; called alfo newnefs oflife'Rom. 6.4.. life ipiritual oppoled to the former carnal, fctGal. 6.1.1 Cor. 2. ly. J^om. 7.6. according to which v/e are faid to be already rifen rvithChrijf. Col. 3. 1. That is, from death in fin. Ba- ptifm fignifying 1. both our putting on , ( fome think fignified by the expreffion borrowed from the pulling of old clothes and putting on new ; a Cere- mony ufed at Baptifm in the Apoitles times, and after them in the primitive Church ) and being in- grafted into Chrift, fo that we have right to his iiifferings, &c. and 2. then, by virtue of his death our being cleanfed from fin, typified by the water wafhing us : and then 3. our putting to death, cru- cifying, and putting off the old man fym. 6. 6. the fon otAdam, and fo dying to fin 5 fignified by the ancient manner of immerfion of the body under water ( nothing of it to be feen ) and 4. then our pitting on the new man, and Chrift; our being born again of water and the fpir it, and being made anew creature ; reprefented in the emerfion and eleva- tion again out of the water. See Col. z. 12. -3. io* Jo.3.?> As if you flood by thofe curing waters of Bethefda, new ftirred by an Angel, and faw a fon of Chap. VI. v5 of the firft Adam confifting all of flefh, diving into thofe waters, all polluted with fin, and dying in them ( which thing one man in every ones ltead, did for us ) and then fpringing up a new child out of this old ftock j the Ion of the fecond Adam, con- fifting of fpirit Jo. 3. 6. 1 Cor. 6. 17. wallied clean and pure to live a new life in obedience. 2. After he hath thus Communicated unto us, §. 13. ( as many as are his members ) abfolution from lin, 2 As our head by his dying to it tor us ; and our implantation 111- r i g hteoufnefs to his death by baptifm j the fecond bleffing he or lifejphi- derives upon his feed is Righteoufnefs Rom. f. 1 7, 1 8 . Vf**** % s . 19. Lu\. 1.72, 7j". that by this we may attain lire eternal; as by deliverance from fin we efcaped death. And this righteoufnefs this fecond Adam conveighs unto us in two manners ; As Adam in like manner did fin to his pofterity . 1. For firit as we derived both from the example of Adams dil- obedience, and from the propagation of his flefli ( a natural foliciter even in mans innocence for its own delights, without regard of their lawfulnels Gen. 3. 6. but much more after the fall ) a pronity to evil, and by lols of the Spirit, inability to good : fo from the example of Chrilts obedience, and the 1 Enabling traduction of his fpirit, we receive a new ability, in- 7 ' f t0 P cr fo r ™ chnation, and pronity to good and averiion from evil. SezEph. 2. 10. Tit. 2.14./0. 8.39,41,44. Rom. Rom. 13. 14. Eph. 4. 23, 24. Rom. 11. 16. 2. Again, as his polterity, for Adams one fin and dilobedi- ence, was made finner ; and judgment and con- demnation came upon them, who finned not after the fimilitude of his tranfgreffion , for not their, but his, difobedience ,• and that alio one onely dii- obedienceof his -, Rom. 5. 12.&C to the 20th. The branches being holy or unholy as the root is j See 94. The benefits of our Saviour \ zComphatinr j^prn. it. 16, 28. Heb. 7. 9, io. So the pofterity of lTjZo$f s . Chrift, both when they yeild obedience, yet for his obedience and righteoufnefs, not theirs* is ac- cepted ; theirs, ( whether devotions, or good works, at leaft many of them ) being by reafon of the re- mains of the old manf as yet only crucified in pare ) weak and imperted:, but his compieat and exadt s for which therefore all the imperfections of theirs, ( by faith ) are pardoned. And when they dilbbey, ( their obedience likewiie being not conftant) their repentance ( if it be rightly performed s i. e. by now dying to their new fin fince baptifm in pennance, and mortifications *• and commemorating the Lords pallion in the Communion Matt, 16.1%. ijo. 2. 1, 2. ferving to the remiflion of fin -, as they died before to their old ones in Baptifm s and then by living afterward according to the fpirit ) for his fufferingsand obedience is alfo accepted for obedi- ence. So that we are made righteous in Chrift, feel{pm. 8. i. comp. Heb. 7. 9. 10. as well as from Chrift, in our felves, by his fpirit ; as alfo we were iinnersm Adam l{om. ?. 12. as well as from Adam> in our felves by theflefh derived from Him. See Rom. j. /y, 1 p. Phil. 3 . 9. Rom. g. 1. 2 Cor. y. 21. 1 Cor. i.3o. Eph.i.4,6. 1 Pet.2. ?.Eph. /±. 2^,Col. 3.17- 3 -Thus Jefus Chrift the righteous 1 Job. 2. 1. derives to all his members, righteoufnefs and life fpiritual , op- pofed to carnal. Next He for this righteoufnefs ad- vanced by God to Immortality, Kingdom, Glory, 5 As our head &c. derives upon his feed the reward ot Righteouf- (ommunhaus ne f s? lif e eternal ; oppofed to this natural they yet IZmalSour^f&i in bke manner as from the fail Adam they refurreBim. were heirs or death eternal. See the parallel be- tween them for life and death, 1 Cor. 1 ;. 20. and4f . &c. as for fin and righteoufnefs Rom. y. And C H A P. VI. 9^ And this life in its due time is to be communicat- h H* cd to all the members ofGhriftj r. both becaufe l^%„ e e rpL the head and members have all the fame fpirit, i. e. rit fy -which or the Father ; which therefore, if it have raifed his - one, muft needs alfo raife the other: As we fee in the living Creatures, and the wheels E\ecb. 2.21. when tbofe went, thefe went, and when tbof'e Jfood, thefe flood, for tbefpirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. Or, as we may imagine a man, of thofe large Dimensions, that his head were in Heaven, and his feet on Earth, ( and fuch is Chrilt and the Church £0/. 2. 19. and both called by one name of Chrift : 1 Cor. 12. 12. how eafily and inftantly fuch a one by the animal fpirits communicated from the Head would move here below, which way he pleaf- ed his inferior members. See Rom. #. n. 1 Cor. 6.14. Therefore thofe priviledges, which the Apoftle ap- plies to Chrilt Neb. 2. 6. the Pfalmift faith of man in general. Pf. 8* And again 'tis argued negatively from us to Chrift ; If no refurredtion of us, then is not Chrift rifen neither. 1 Cor. ly. 15. If not poffi- ble for the fpirit to raife our human nature then not his. And 2. becaufe the head ( as Chrift is to the 2 Effected I Church ) naturally gives the fenfe and motion to him. the members, Therefore, as 'tisfaid that the head and members are both raifed by the fame fpirit ; fo alfo, that the Head mall raife and quicken the members. See Jo. 6.39. 1 Cor. ly. ^y. zCor. 4.14. I fpeakofrefurre&ion to life ; Elfe , the wicked alfo fhall be raifed by him, by his voice Jo. y . 21 . as their Judge to be thrown into endlefs torments ; which is but a Gaol-delivery, and an haling them out of prifon to execution; an ad: of his power as God, not of his merits as a Savior, by their having any union to him, as the fecond Adam. And 9 6 Tlie benefits of our Savior. §• '?• And the proper Sacrament inftituted to conveigh i*wporaT?ng z ^ s ^* e unto us > by union with Jefus is the Eucha- ushnobis rift,- being the Communion, or Communication *'fi- untousofallhimlelf ; firft of his body and blood i Cor. io. \6. by which we are made, not in a Meta- phor, but in a My fiery, and that a great one, members The Sacra- of his body ^ of his flejh and of his bones . Eph. y. 30, 3 2. mentofuni- And 2. not only of hisbody but of his fpirit too i Cor. 12. 13. by which foveraign receit and incor- porating of him, who hath life in himfelf, our bo- dies aljo and fouls are ( according to the ancient form of the Church in the adminiitration of thefe myfteries ) prefervedunto everlafiing life -, a promile by our Savior annexed io often to this myftical par- taking of him Jo. 6. ?6, ?7- &c. therefore the confe- crated elements called Symbola refurretlionis, and formerly never negledted ( efpecially ) to be receiv- ed at the hour of death. For 'tis to be noted that tho both the Sacraments have all the lame effects ; Remiflionof fins, Matt. 26. 28- comp. with Jcl.2. 38. Union, 1 Cor. 10. \6. comp. with Gal. 3. 27, 28. all one in Chr if i Jefus. And Job. 3.5-. comp. with iCor. 12.13. And both Sacraments do intimate ob- ligation to fuffenng to the receivers : fee Matt. 20. 22, 23. where allulion doubtlefs is made to the two Sacraments as 1 Cor. 12. 13. (Tho our baptifm is not with blood as his -, nor our cup fo bitter : ) yet either of them have fome more eminently then others. Therefore Baptifm (to which we have more eafy accefs upon repentance Jet. 2.38. and faith of the truth of the Gofpel Jcl. 8.3 7- and the promife one- ly of a new life Matt. 3.6,%.\ is, more principally the Sacrament of re million of former fins Jet. 2.38. and of our profeffion of our death to fin - y and relin- quifliing the old Adam s and now putting on Chrift. And Chap. VI. 97 And then after this cleaning from fins paft by ba- ptifm, the Eucharift ( to which we are to bring not only faith and repentance , but landtification and holinefs ; therefore fuch examination required, iee JSIatt. 22. 12, fee 1 Cor. 1 1 .28. the end of 27. and 29. comp. with 1 Cor. 6. if, converted \_Jhall I then take the members of an harlot, and make them the mem- bers of Chrift ?] 1 Cor. ?. 1 1. converted [_No forni- cators pr efu me to eat, Sgfr. with the Saints'] ) is more Specially the Sacrament of our union to Chrift , and living by him who is the life, by the incorpo- rating of his body, and blood and ipirit into ours. 1 Cor. lo.id, 17. By which incorporation we contradt fuch an identity ( as it were ) with him; that fee what he is we are. Is he a Son of God ? fb are we. His heir > So are we l^om. 8.17. of the Kingdom, the Glory to come : only all this by and from him ; that in all thin irs he might have the preeminence s and a- mongjl many breihrcn be the firjl born. But we muft know, that, as all thefe effe&s of our §• 1*. Savior toward us depend on a iecond generation Beie^ttae- and being born again of God by the feed of the fpi- pendon eur ntjo.3.9. 2. Cor. 3- 18. Eph. 2. 22.-3. 16. which p^^^ingmade eth life 5 as the flelli from the firft Adam foweth cor- hs chtUren ' ruption, fee Gal. 6. 8. 2 Cor. 3. 6.fym. 8. 11.J0.4. 74. Eph. 4. 22. and on our thus being made the true children and of spring of Chrift, Heb. 2. 13. Efai.$3. io 3 11. So, that this our fecond birth is not com- pleated all at once: but this image or Chrift by lit- tle and little, at lait is perfectly formed in us. See Gal. 4. / p. 2 Cor. 11.2. 1 Pet. 2.2. As alio all other works of our Savior are not confummate till his fe- cond coming and the refurrecftion. Elfe , did we walk by fight and not by faith, how fhould we be tranfported with joy upon a vifion of that infinite N glory $8 The benefits of our Saviour. glory and nobility the poor Sons of Adam receive from this their fecond father ? to whom be all glory forever. And how Ihould we figh and groan till we were once poffeffed of it ? See 2 Cor.$. 2, 4. and Ro?n. 8. 23. §• 17- Toconfider therefore a little the manner and theprogrefs of our regeneration here in this life. Our Savior, as foon as he had died to fin as a fon of Adam, and lived again as a Son to God Rom. 6. 10. ^yttTerZ 6 Patently received this fpirit, ( by which he begets nation to us us ) promifed long before, and therefore frequent- ofhisnature. ly called the promife from the Father, to commu- j Wsspmt. n i cate to ] lis p ft er i t y^ f ee Luj^ 24> 49 . jcl % I# 4< _ 2< 3 3- Epb. 4. 10. Jo. 7. 3 9. by which fpirit derived from him to us ( thro whom we receive all things that we receive from God as it was from his Father to him ) and therefore called alfo his fpirit, of Chrift, of Je- fus, of the Son 5 tee Gal. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 1.11. Atl.16.7. vnlg.Jo. 16. 7, 14. we come to behisfons. Now this fpirit is not given promifcuouily to allthefons of theGrSi Adam s nor is all the feed of thefirft ( bv God the Fathers fecret will in the difpenfation here and there, of the miniftery of the Gofpel ; and by the default of fome of thole that hear it -, there- fore our Savior ufeth thofe limitations. Jo. 6.^\,6$. -17.9,11,12.) the feed alfo of the fecond. But there is fomething on mans part prerequired; ( for God having given us before in our firft Creation, fome- thing we may make ufe of in our fecond, and be- fides this the external miniftry of the Gofpel, where- we are called to grace, tho creavit tc fine te, non falvabit te fine te ) to the receiving of this fpirit ( I mean here in a more eminent degree of its ope- rations ) and of our falsification and union by n unto Chrift our Lord , and our incorporati- on taiue. C H A P. V I. 99 on and entrance into this heavenly linage. And thefe are Faith, iome degree of it 5 le.gfa4r G J^ j*^ ly receiving the word Ad. 2. 4/ . called alio obedience to u p™ F°i/b the word, lee Ad. 8. 12,1^57. comp. v. 15.17. Eph.i.iS. and Rep en- Jo. 17. 39. not rejecting the counf'elofGod Lu\. 7. Jo. - believing Gods juitiiication of the ungodly. l{otn. 4. f. and Repentance for fins pafl, intending to live no longer in them, ice Heb*. 6. 2. 1 Vet- 5.21. ( yet which alfo" both faith and repentancc,are the gift of God, fee Epb. 2. 8- 2 37/;/. 2. 2;. ^rf. 16. 14. tho the firft comech ordinarily by hearing ; where ( by Gods mercy ) the Gofpel is preached Rom. 10. 17. and the fecond by the firltjonab}. y. Upon which two C hrift hath appointed Baptifm to be admimftred by his fubftitutesi and the holy fpint at the fame time by himfelt conferred, fee Jo. 7-39- Bph* r - I 3- Gal. 3. 2 3 13, 22. Ad. 2. 38. -I9. 2. -f. 32. Lu{. II. 13. Firft then at our Baptifm, ( upon faith and re- Q pentanxe) Pf 4.?. 10. we begin to be horn again gfi birth a atout water and of the fpirit s but not ib , as prefently B*ptijm, quite cafhiering the image of the former yidann but as being now a compound of an old mail, and a new; or of a body and foul from Adam called t];e AW} ^ flefti, and of a fpirit from Chrift ; I mean not that /. 1. n. iCor. 12. 10. &c. the fpirit of man being the foul N 2 J 9 ioo The benefits of our Saviour. of a natural man : befides which the Apoftles had another fpirit iearching all things, &c. as Chrift alio is compounded of two natures ; the Human and Di- vine Ail. io. 38. yet is the one of thefe dying in us by degrees, as the other grows ; and we are putting off, mortifying, crucifying the one, and putting on and renewing the other day by day. T{om. 6. 6. Col. 3. j. Gal. 6. 14. xCor. 4. 16. Row. 12. 2. Eph, 4. 22. 23, 24. whilft there is a perpetual comhate between them ; The fpirit lufting againit the flefli ; and the flefh againft the fpirit Gal. y. 17. until we are perle- £ted, which is not attained in this life. Yet here the elder man is ferving the younger; provided that we do not wither , and fall away from grace ; and dy again to God. And by reafon of this double ( outward and inward ) man that is in us ; it is that the Apoitlcs, where they tell us that we are dead to fin, Sec. yet exhort us alfo to dy to fin, fee l{pm .6.2. comp. 12. 1 Pet. 4. 1. comp. 1 Pet. 2.1 1. and that the Saints where they give thanks, do alfo pray for a deliverance. §. 20. Now in this our renovation made by certain fteps By this pirlt anc [ degrees, this fpirit derived from Chrift operat- V.hriftpf eth andproduceth the image of Chrift firfl in our formed in the {o\A j and then afterward in our body. After the f oul - fame manner as it was in Chrift himfelf ; who firft had grace in his foul with paflibility in his body till he died ,■ after which that alfo was glorified by the fame fpirit. Here therefore it begins in this life by its mighty working Col. 1. 29. iCor. 9. 14, iy. to transform and renew us, J{om. 12.2. Eph. 4. \3. Gal. 2. 19,20. Eph. 3. ztf, 17. Phil. 1. 21. refiding here ( after faith and repentance which are certain pre- ludium'sand foregifts alfo ofit, See Matt. \6. 17. 1 Cor. 12.3, 1 Jo. 4. 2. and are increafed in us pro- portionably Chap. VI. ioi portionably as ic is,) bringing all its rich graces with it, mentioned i Cor. 12. 3, 8 . &c. / . IlJttmi- *** * \&*} , natingand lnipiring and renewing knowledge y^ r ou i f the like the underftanding, in vain ( without it ) fought by graces tot hofi us any other way; therefore called the fpirit oi mChri fi- truth, fee Jo. 16. 13. 1 Cor. 2. 10. &c. 2 Pet. 1. 21. 1 Jo. 2. 20, 27. and of prophecy. 7^.9.10.-12.17. 1 Jo. y. 10. 2 .Saw /tifying the will and affections ,- Therefore called the fpirit of holinefs s firlt quench- ing ( there ) all worldly defires s and fatiating the foul inftead of them, fee Jo. j\ 37> 39.-4- H- 2 - Be- gettingan ardent and unfatiable love of God, and fervency of praier and obedience to all his com- mands ( written by it in our hearts) out of love, fuch as was in Chriit. Matt. jr. 6. Pf. 40. 8 . Rom. 5.5. 2 Tim. 1. 7 . 2 Cor. ^.6,7. FyOm.%.26,27. 3. Produ- cing greater joy in and deiire of lufterings. ( In imi- tation of our Savior, ) for his, for Gods, for the truths fake ; which truth this fpirit feals unto us. 1 Thejf. 1. 6. fym. ?. 2. Heb. 10. 34. Jet. 7. 41. Phil. 1. 29. 2 Cor. 12. 10. Col. 1. n. 2 Cor. ti. 23. / more, his Minijier , &c. 2 Cor. ?. 14. Laftly , comforting al- waies by begetting a lively hope, by witneffing to us what we are and fealing what we (hall be,G#/.y.f. lPet. 1.3. Jo. \6.\7. Tfym. 8. 16. zTbeJf. 2. id. GaL 4.6. 1 Jo. 5. 24. Epb. 1. 13. All which graces now are the image of Chrift ftamped on the foul , called partaking of his hoiinels Heb. 12. 10. and being created after God in righteoufnefs. Epb. 4. 24. But yet this image of, or union with, our Savior in the H*t ****&** foul is not perfed: neither in this life : therefore cal- l^-ftf 7? 1 i r n r • i r 1 r • ■ i n n i i perfected 1,1 led, jirjtf, nits only of the fpirit, ana t aft of the bea- this life, venly gifts, and the powers of the world to come - y an earneit and feal of fomething to be had more- fully hereafter , a Fountain Springing up 3 and a fowing to 102 The benefits of our Saviour. to everlafting life, a progrefs from glory to glory, fee Rom. 8. 23. Heb. 6. 4, y. 2 Cor. 1. 22. -5-. r. Jfo. 4. 14. Gal. 6. 8.Eph.\. 13,14- According to which thole prophecies of the effufions of the fpirit, which are fulfilled in part upon our Saviors firft coming, yet feem not to ha^e their full accomplifliment till his fecond appearing, which in thole texts is joyned with the firft. See Jcl. 2.17,1,?. comp. 19,20. Joel 2. 28. dec. corny. Joel 3. 2. &c. Mai. 3. 1. &c. comp. Mai 4. i 3 f . Efaz 40.3, y, 10. And the plentiful flow- ing of thole waters of life ( our Saviors ordinary Metaphor in St Johns Gofpel for the Spirit ) which fhallbe from the Temple or the Throne of God, and the Lamb, mentioned J^ev. 22. 1.-21. 6. E%cc. 47. i, 3. ttc.Jcel 3. 1%. E\ec. 13. 1. -14. 8. Pf. -6. 8, 9. ( for all theft prophecies wonderfully accord -, and fpeak of the itate of the new world yet to come -, ex- preffing heavenly things by earthly, and the truths Umbramle- °^ tne Gofpel veild under the Ceremonies of the ge: imago in law ) in uft needs be underftood 01 the fuller Com- Evangelio : munications of the holy fpirit yet to come. Bleffed fcK££ be God for his On#akabl e gift! §. it. The next operation of this fpirit is upon our bo- iShallbe dy ? but upon this ( as upon our Saviors ) not till the dykereafter' kleffed R^furre<5tion,when we fhall begin tq bear the image of the heavenly Adam as we now bear the image of the earthly, 1 Cor. ij\ 49. and this vile body Jkall be changed, and made like to his glo nous body • like it, I mean not, as it appeared after his riling again, to hisDiiciples, with a wound to thruft ones hand in, eating and drinking, &:c. ( where to iTiew the truth of his ixMurredtion, "that it was the fame body that wascrnciriedjie was glad to veil the glory of it J But as it appeared to St. Paul in the way to Damafcus, which glory itruck him blind, Jet. 9. 3. comp- A\ 22. 14. Chap. VI. 103 22. 14. or as to Sz. Stephen the reflection of which made his face to fhine as an Angels, or as Mofess in the Mount: or to his Difciples Matt. 17.2. at his transfiguration: where God to qnalifie the fad re- lation of his fufferings gave them an anticipated fightof that glory, which in the apparitions after his Refurre&ion was necellary to be eclipfed : upon which moment of Beatifick. vifion, his tranfpoaed Difciples quae f :•: g-- ttmg ail former relations to the world would gladly have fet up there their perpe- tual abode. O as it appeared to St. Job?; , Rev.i. 13,17. at the light of whole Majeily that beloved Difdple fell at his Mailers feet as dead, &c. And after our bodv is thus made glorious as his in the re- surrection ; it fnall alio have an afcenfion juft li- e his. Our bodies caught up in the Clouds, &c. 1 'Theff. 4. 17. as his was. Jci. 1. 9. And when this perfedti- whi on is produced in the body as well as the loul, then ^/ it is that we are properly called the Sons and chil- q,2 '" dren of God s bei?ig the children of the referred ion, Lul^. 20. 3 6. as is alfo noted of our Savior. And as the An- gels from their Spirituality like God are called his Sons, Job. 1. 6. So, is at that time faid to be our ado- ption. fym.%.23. The regeneration; the reftitu- tiontothe ltate before fin ,• themanifeitationof the Sons of God, fee Matt. 19. 28. Atl. 3. 21. l{om.%. 19. comp. with 1. 4. J{ev. 21. 7. and mean while our life faid to be inCbriJf, to be hid with Chrijt in God. Col. J. 3,4. ijo.f.n. For this f fate was fuch alongingof the Apoftle to attain once the refurredtion; fuch a waiting of the Saints for the coming of the Lord; fuch a groaning and being burdened in this earthly Tabernacle, not to be fhut of it and have none ; but to be clothed upon it with another houfe from Hea- ven, fee Phil. 3. n. 1 Cor. 1. 7. 2 Pet. 3. 12. 2 Cor. io4 ^ je benefits of our Saviour. Itsmighti f' *• &c. 7{o?n. 8. 2 J. The fame individual this fhall -working in be ( which our Savior kept his wounds to fhew - y and f tkeMe%r P el *h a P 3 W1 ^ do for the honorable marks of his fuf- to that in J terings, fee l^ev. i. 7. Rev. 5.6. he appearing in Chrijt. glory with them ) but by the operation of the fpirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. 5. /8. ftrangely changed. For weforv not in the grave that body that /ball be, 1 Cor. 1 ?. 37- no more faith St. Paul then the feed we fow in the field is the flower, or plant that comes of it ( who can guefs at the beautiful colors of a Tulip,by looking on its feed?) therefore the Apoftle fpeaks of the body raifed as a fuperftrufture upon this, 2 Cor. y.4. as the feed is clothed upon by the flower or the tree s fow 11 then in fliame,it fhall come up glo- rious ; weak, come up in power : natural, come up Ipiritual. 1 Cor. iy.42. For there are bodies fpiri- tual, and we know not but the Angels are fuch : io ipiritual as that there fhall be no more belly, at leait as for meats, nor no more meats for it. / Cor. 6. 1 3. As Mo/es and Ellas here for the 40 daies they enjoy- ed Gods prefence, needed no food. There fhall be noflefh nor blood. / Cor. iy. 50. No heavinefs, 1 Thejf. 4. 77. nor grofnefs, Lu^.24. 31. Jo. 20. 1 p. and fo no fenfual pleafure fuiting to corruptible fubftan- ces ( of which for the molt part fome foregoing pain is the parent ) Lul^.20. 36. what then fhall we be? like Angels [3 nay like the Son of God the fecond Adam, our Father -, like him when he fhall appear in his greateft glory 1 Jo. 3. 2. but what this likenefs .fhall be we know not yets nor how far the fpirit fhall be united to us, in fimilitude of that unity which Chrifts human nature now hath with the dei- ty, but as in fome kind we are now partakers, fo much more then (hall we be, of the divine nature, 2 Vet. 1. 4. nay filled with all the fulnejs of God. Epb. Chap. VI. *<*y Epb. 3. 19. Glorious in body, Efai. 13. u. and en- riched with all knowledp, wifdom, holinefs, joy, fe- curity in foul, after the limilitude of that wiidom, and holinefs, and glory, which Chrifcs humanity hath received from the Deity 5 fome beams of that Sun being united to us, the body of which dwells in him. Col.. 2. 0. Jo. 17. zi 3 23. To whom be all pre- eminence and glory for ever by all the partakers of his glory ! feclix culpa (faid one ) qua talem meruit habere redemptionem. Adaliquid ?najns hum ana na- tura per duel a ejl per peecatum\ And God permitted that great evil of mans fall to raife him to afar greater honor: fini filing all bis works in goodnefs and mercy. Meanwhile as not we, fo neither is our Savior, §. u. compleat every way before our re furred: ion ; being; before the re- without us, a Head glorified without its body. J ^ e y ^ our Therefore is the Church called His fulnefs, Epb. 1. Headset 2S> and as his glory, fo his fufterings, in as much as CGV2 P leat - part of hers are yet behind, are faid not to be yet compleat. Col. 1. 24. And fo he is faid now to love the Church, to nourifh and cherijh her out ot the love he bears to himfelf ; for none ever hated bis own flejh. Epb. y. 28. Efpecially the head, in which are pla- ced the fenfes for the good and defence of the whole body, that is moil lenfibleof any thing that happens unto it, fee Act. p. 4. and more watchful in providing for it. Therefore is this his love to her noted to be greater, a more merciful, faithful, com- panionate love, from his being the fecond Adam, and undergoing the experience of like infirmity, then the blefled Angels ; or as he as God, was ( it Imayfo fay,) capable of. See Heb. 2.4,7, is. We being now the travail of his foul, V.f'ai. ?3. 11. for whom he endured the birth-throes ofdeatlv^/.- 2 .^. O and 106' The benefits of our Saviour* and therefore he, as a pained mother,the more loves us according to his fufferings for us. ; ^. 21 - Whofe ftrait and intimate connexion and tye rclatwZof unto u ? > * n refped: of this his fecond Adam-fhip, the chrifltousM Holy Ghoft in the Scriptures hath exprefled in all fecond Adam. tne neare ft an( j deareft relations, that can eafily be fancied, ftyling him and us, Vatherjcbil- In a new Creation or Regeneration, (where Cbrifl dren - is all in all. C0L3.11. as Adam in the former) Fa- ther and Children^ He being made after the perfect image of God, and we after his. He heir and Lord of all things,and we by him .who having loft our for- mer title to the Creatures by the fall of Adam, and upon this the ufe of many of them reftrained, have now a new right eftablilhed thro him. They be- ing fanftified, as it were, now again by a new word of God in this new Creation : as they were in the firfti and both throChrift; by which they are all free, all clean upon prayer, thankfgiving,and alms, to all his feed ; tho Hill unclean to all the reft 5 See 7{pm. 14. 14. iTim.^.7,. Tit. 1. if. 7{om. 4. 14. Heb. 2.y. Lu\. 11. 41. 1 Cor. 3. 21, 21.-7. 14. comp.7». 3./. SccCol. 1. 1?. I\ev. 3. 14. Fleb. 1. 2, 3. Heb. 2. 5. Gal. 6- iy. T^om. 8. 2 p. 2 Cor. $. 17. Eph. 2.10. Eph. 4.24. Col. 3. io. Efai. 9. 6. -s3. 10,11. Heb. 2. \3. Jo. 3. 3, 4. Pf.22. So. Husband, Husband and Spoufe. A priviledge and relation &%*• to the Son of God which we fliall have beyond the blefled Angels, a fimilitude of nature being only ca- pable of this. For where are the Angels c ailed the Bride, the Lambs wife t See J{cv. 21. 9. Eph. 5. 2?. &c. 1 Cor. 6. \3, if. &c. In which relation we are faid to be members of Chrifl, not only as the Hands or Feet are of the body natural, but as Eve was of A- dam, of his flejh and of his bones: and to be one (pint with C 11 A i\ VI. 107 with Chrift, as Adam and Eve were one flejlj. Of which efpoufal and union of the Church with Chrift, the inftitution of marriage was but a figure and type. And Jdims laying to new made Eve-, This is now made bone, &c. Gen. 2. 23. but a prophecy ; And her being made out oiJdams fide, but an allegory of the Churches fpringmg out of Chrifts fide,pierced on the Crofs, ( fo much obferved by St. John. Jo. 19. 34, 3?. 1 Jo. £. 8- That water and blood, which came from thence firft begetting, Jo. 3- f. and then nou- rifhmgyjo. 6. $f. the Church his Spoufe ). And mans being made head of the woman, but an emblem of Chrifts being Head of the man, 1 Cor. 11. 3. that is, of mankind his Ipoufe : whom, according to the an- cient cuftome or. not receiving a dowry with, but paying one for the Virgin Ge?i. 34. 1 3. Exod. 22.16. Chrift is faid to have bought with a dear price, 1 f ' . 6. 20. even by giving himfelf for her Eph. ?.2y. that hereafter flie ihould be wholly for him. But yet tho file is betrothed already by the pledge of the fpirit, yet the marriage is not confummate, nor to be ce- lebrated but in Paradife $ where the firft was. This fecond Eve being as yet but in the forming, as it were,out of a crooked Rib by the hand of God; Gen. 2.21,22. in cleanfmg, and puriiying, and making white, forgetting her own people and her Fathers bdufeK ff. 4?. 10. fo reproachful unto her future fplen- dors, &c. that fhe may be prejented, at that day not having [pot or wrinkle, or any jhch thing, a chaji Virgin, &c. See 2 Cor. u. 2. Epb. y. 27. in drefhng and putting on her wedding Garments, that (lie may not be found naked i as, upon her fall, lliewa.in Ta- radife. See 2 Cor. y. 3. Rev. 3. 1 3. Rev. 19. 7, 8. ~\6. f. Matt. 22. 11. Head and Members. This every where occurring. Head, . O 2 Root hrs. 108 The benefits of our Saviour. Root, Branch- ]{oot and Branches. The new ftock into which we are ingrafted and planted by Baptiim, fee Jo. ij.u &CC. l^om. 6. 3, 4, y. -n. 17. -1 /. 12. Foundation, Foundation and Building i built up a Temple, to building. , r \ ^i * r\ \ t* r be no more proraned and denied, 1 Pet. 2.4, 5. / Cor. 3.16,17. 1 Cant. 8. 9,10. J^ev. 21. p. 10. Eph. 2. 20, xi. andChriftthe Corner Jlone, in whom the two fide-walls of Jew and Gentile are joined. Epb.2J4,ij 9 EMer, young- "Elder andyounger Brethren, in refpedl or God our c r brethrm. COmmon Father. Jo. 20. 17. The honor of which we fhall the more value, when we confider fuch a a contemptible Prodigal, upon this relation only, fo royally entertained. Luh^tj. Called alfo the frji born conlecrated to God for the reft. Thefirjt fruits; which under the law reprefented the whole. J^om. ti. 16. t Cor. ty. 20. I^om- #. 2 p. Hence all thing done by him, from thefe relati- ons we have to him, are faid alfo to be done by us. received by him to be received by us, done to him, to be done to us s and done to us, to him. So we now dead to fin. Rom.6.1. To the law. T{om. 7.4. Col. 2. 20. To the world, the affe&ions to it, Gal. 6. 14. Now rifen, Col. 3. 1. now alcended and fitting in heavenly places. Eph. 2. 6. Sons of God, Heirs, Gal. 3. 27. See Matt. 2?. 40, 4?. Hence all Gods promifes are fulfilled unto him, firftin his human nature; and then defcend only from and thro him, to us. And all that we return, ( bleffings 5 prayer, &x. ) afcend and are acceptable only thro him, and for his fake, to God. Eph. z. 6.-1.21. Configuration But we mult know, in this our new Creation and * wrought h parentage, that ( we beine once created,) in all the lim, foto be f r r & J \ . & * , 1 1 • r advanced buiineis or our Salvation j as God worketh in us, io Hkewife by us. we work together with God ; that there is a conca- tenation and confpiring of Gods grace and our will. Chap. VI- 1Q 9 will. That as this new image of God is formed in us by his fpirit, fo by our endeavors ; and that there^ is a configuration as effed:ed by him, fo required of us. A Configuration to all his vertuous and holy life here ( many lingular patterns of which are fet down before ) a Configuration to his fufferings and death, . Phil. S.io. as it is, firft in our Baptifm, and for fins after Baptifm ought to be in the painful fruits of re- pentance, abftaining from worldly pleafurcs ,• ufing the body hardly, &c. which are therefore called mortifications. A Configuration to his refurre&ion and life after it -, In having our converfation in Heaven, Phil. 3. 20. living to God only, no more to afre&ions of this life s ever worfhipping, praifing, loving, admiring, glorifying, offering up, and de- dicating our felves to God. For fo Saints live that are dead. See 7{ev. 4.8. &c. -y. 9, 12.&C. -7. p. fifa. Quicquidgejium eft infepultura, refurrec~lione > &c. ita geftum eft ut confirruretur vita humana qua hie geritur. For our participation ofChnfts merits is only by being his members ( they can be communicated to none elfe ) ; and our being members nccefTarily im- plies conformity, ( in actions, filtering, Sec. ) to the Head. For that one fhould fuffer and not the other is quite contrary to the nature of members, / Cor.i 2. 2 6. and argues fchifm in the body. Should any mem- ber therefore fo prefume on the obedience or fuffer- ings of the head, as that himfelf now needs nor fuf- fer nor obeys fuch a one without bearing its part and proportion therein, Col. 1. 24. either never was, or is cealed to be, a true member. Chrift did no- thing for our falvation, which weare not for it, in fbmefenfe, to do alio our felves. Gal.6. 14.-9. 19,20. CHAP, no The benefits of our Saviour. S- i CHAP. VII. Jefus Chrift the Melchizedechical Holy Priefi , faffed into the Heavens, and making Inter cef- Jion isrc. for ever for m with God. C^ OD being of infinite Holinefs and purity, to fhew his hatred againft fin, would not "V admit die approach of finners into his - Sanctuary andpreience ; nor accept f im- mittm-tohis mediately) of their praiersand fervice offered to fervice the •, • / . ' , . < r r _ . , . t . r . . approach of ^ im : v/nich, it any, arter Dilcipline was iettlea , finners. fliould have prefumed to do, they were no lefs then to dy for it. See Lev. 3. 10. i Sam. 6./$. Numb. 4.1 /. -z 6. chap. Job 9. 3 1 . -42. 8. But yet being of infinite mercy too, not to thut out finners thus from all commerce with his goodnefs, he feledted ( from the beginning) fomefingular perfons, taken from the reit of men [ no man taking this honor to himfelf but Butoffome he that was called of God, Heb. r. *> 4.] and being firlt thofenand anointed, confecrated, and fa ndtified after an ex- **erfbnsL traordinary manner, and c'eanfed with great Ce- their behalf remony (after the more exprefs delivering oi his pleafure in the promulgation of the law, fee Exod. 29. chap. Lev. 8. 12.) who ihould be ordained for men in things pertaining to God, Heb. y. 1. -2. 17. who ihould have the admin ijlr at ion of holy things , and nearer accefs to Gods prefence j ihould bring unto the Lord the peoples gifts and offerings ; Heb.S'.i. make at tenement and reconciliation for their fins and errors, &c. Heb. 2.17. Heb. jr. 2. Amongft which minifters of the San&uary fome were kept at a greater Chap. VII. *n greater diftance s as the Lcvite : who had the some mini* charge of the Tabernacle and the veiTels thereof, fi J™f e ?di and was to minifter to the Prieft , but might not jtaBc&i tie come nigh the veflels of the Sanctuary or the Altar i Law*** [that they dy not. Numb. 18. 5.] Some approached nearer as the Prieft ; ( confined to Aaron and his feed ) who had the charge of the SanUuary and of the gomenearer , Altar ; who were to preferve themfelves continual- The Prieft ■> of lyundefiled,Z^.2/./.^. andamongft them, a lM™* j/ ' w fuch to be excluded from attendance, as had any ^^ corporal blemifn , tho but a fquint eye, or a flat nofe, or a dwarf. Lev, 21. 18. &c. ( The lame perfe- ction being required for the facrificer that was for the Sacrifice, Lev. 22. 20.) to whom only it belonged , to offer the daily morning and even Sacrifice, and all other the peoples offer- ings upon it , and to make attonements for them i to found with Trumpets ( which none elfe might ufe ) over the burnt and peace-offerings; [that they might be for a memorial to the people be- fore the Lord. Numb, lo.io.'] In fin-o fieri rigs to car- ry fome of the blood into the outer San&uary, and to fpnnkle part thereof before the Lord before the Veil, and to put alio of it on the horns of the Altar of Incenfe before the Lord : Morning and Evening at the time of the facrifice, to burn incenfe before the Veil upon the Altar of the Sandtuary; to drefs the Lamps morning and evening, and every Sab- bath to renew the ihew-bread before the Lord; to difcern between clean and unclean > holy and un- holy : At the coming out of the Sanctuary, lifting up their hands towards the people, and putting Gods name upon them folemnly in a fet form Numb. 6. $ t 24. Cr. 2 Chron. So. 27. Eccluf ? . y, 19. &c. 1 Chron. 2$. 13. to give the facerdotal benedi- ction ii2 The benefits of our Savior\ dtion ; And as folemnly to blefs, fo alfo to curfe. Deut.27. 14. This for the Prieft. §. 1# But the High Prieft approached yet nearer to the And nearer Lord, much diftinguifhed from the reft in his typi- PruJ 6 High c ^ garments, who once yearly, on the grand day HiiOffice, of Expiation, was to enter within the VeiL into the S anil urn Santlorum before the glory of the Lord, ap- pearing between the Cherubims ( he firft making a cloud of Incenfe, ) and there to prefent and fprin- kle with his finger 7 times upon the mercy-feat it felf, and feveti times on the floor before it. Lev. 16. 14. the blood of the facrifice made for the Prieft and the people before the Lord i and to make at- tonement with it for the Priefts, and for all the peo- ple ; and not only for them, but alfo for all the ho- ly things ; the Tabernacle, the Holy Sand:uary, the Altar it felf; to purge and refandtify, and ( as if God v/as alfo diipleafed with thefe for fin ) to re- concile them Lev. 16.20. with blood 3 to hallow them ffaith the l,ord)from the uncleanneffes and tranfgrejji- ons of the children of Ifrael in the midjl of whom they re- mained; Such a contagion is our fin to the whole creation. SzeLevit. 16. 16, 19. and when he went in, he was to bear the names of the children of Ifra- el engraven, and upon his two flioulders, and again engraven like the engraving of a Signet upon the breftplate of judgment upon his heart, [for a me- morial of them before the Lord continually . Exod.28. 2, 21, 29.] Pie was alfo to have engraven upon the front of his Miter in Gold, Holinefs unto the Lord, [ Andit /ball be upon Aarons forehead that he may bear the iniquity of the Holy things of the children of Ifrael. SeeNumb. 18. te; Lev. 16. 16. And it /ball be alway upon his forehead, that they may be accepted be- fore the Lord. Exod, 28. 3 8- ] And beiides thefe Vnm and Chap. VII. 113 and Thtimmim were likewife to be upon his heart; and in any thing doubtful the people w. re to repair unto him, and he by Vrim was to ask counfel for them before the Lord, and according to his word they were to do. Laftly, the benedi&ion of the people was in a fpecial manner conferred by him. See Lev. p. 22. Eccluf. yo, ?. tile. Therefore in this Ceremony twice ( viz. after the ending of the Sa- crifice, and again after his coming out of the Sa?i- ftum SanUorum ) He folemnly in Gods name blefTed the people. See Lev. 9. 21, 23* Upon Aarov.s firft fblemn bleffing them, fire came out from before the Lord to abide on the Altar for ever, verf. 24. Now what was faid before of the Levitical Sacri- §■ ?■ fice is here to be faid again of the legal Priefts.They ^Ifktod continuing finners as well after, as before, their imperfe£f,de- confecration s and offering for their own faults, as c *y in i> and . well as for the peoples, Heb.y. 3. (a finnerfor fin- Ta7ly)unferl' ners ) were in themfelves ineffectual InterceiTors vheabk. before God; and, as it was impoffible for thofefa- crifices to take away fins, fo for fuch Priefts ( being finners and daily conforting with finners, and free from, only fome, not all defilements ) to make any attonement; but only in relation to, and as types of, the other Prieft to come, who only was without blemifh, holy, undefiled, and feparate from finners. Heb. 7. 26. Add to this that the fervice they did in this office , was very incompleat ; For they were not Interceffors before the Lord for all Nations, but prefented only the names of the twelve Tribes ofHirael; and for them they knew not every ones diverfe confeffions and requefts -, nor were able to make particular recommendation ofthefe. Or if to recommend, yet had i_o ability to help fubnexed to their Interceffion for them: which (We fliall fhew) P is ^H The benefits of our Savior. is -a priviledge of the true Priefbood: which is al- waics joined with Royalty and power. They en- tred wtin die Divine prefencc but once a Year, and prefently canxe out again, did not abide, and wait, and fit down there, to be perpetual Advocates with God for the people. And then the place, they went into, was not the true Sanctuary which the Lord pitched Heb, 8. 2. who, tho he is every where in hiseffence, yet is he only in Heaven as his dwel- ling place. 1 IQ'ng.tf. 3 p. then bear thou in Heave?i thy dwelling place. The place of the appearance of his glory and Majeftyvof his Court and Atten- dants ; of his throne where he gives audience unto all his Creatures , is there. But their iandluary fer- ved only unto the example and fhadow of Heavenly things. Heh.S.y, And the glory in it was but a fha- dow of his glory. 2 Cor. 3. 1 0, 11 . Laftly,the Requefts, they made in it, were rather about temporal then eternal things, about prefent and corporal, not fu- ture and fpintuaL No new Canaans for us, no new Jerufalems -, no new eternal places of reft prepar- ed by them; no conferring alfo on all the people their Brethren, that 1 acerdotal Honor to wait for ever on God in his holy Temple, which is the com- plement of all our felicity. Thefe benefits were re- ferved to crown the interceffions of another High Prieft, of an higher Order. $• 4- In the fulnefs of time therefore came the fub- ExphedP ftance, of whom thefe were types - y 1. As a Sacrifice Jefus chrift withou t fpot, fo a f acrifice without fin ; pure, with- Vr% Ue Wgb out a ^ klemifh, not a b° ne °f him broken, unharm- able, undefiled, feparate from finners -, not after a while decaying, but continuing for ever, at this day, at this hour; The fame ye fier day and to day andforever, Heb, 7,2± } 26.-13. 8* 2. Tho thus per- fect Chap. V-H. n; fedt and perpetual ; yet (which is ftrange ) i s one of j»W* /; '* »*- ourfelves: a man as we; railed up from the midtl toHrsBre- of us; ofourbrethreti.Deut.i8-t?. tor this was &#• „ aturet together necefTary for fuch an office, in which he was to be the Reprefentative of Irs brethren. Therefore the legal High Prieft appeared before the Lord, not only in his perfon like unto them; but with all their names engraven upon his breft ; and this ( faith the Text ) for a memorial of them before the Lord continually, Exod. 28.12, 21. and therefore the Apoftle puts in the definition of an High Prieft, Heb.?. z. [Take n from amongfl men\ 2.Again,orre ilntkei*- he was that was to be compajfed with infirmity, ( for fl™!*fP awhile at lead); that ltanding before the Lord he might have all compaffion in him toward thofe, for whom he officiated ; might be the more earneft ; the more conftant, and diligent; and know how more tenderly to prefent to the Holy Majefty the temptations, the miferies himfelf had experienced ; and they alio might have more confidence to com- mend their fuits unto him, as being their brother ; and once, as they, itraitned. Therefore 'tis a Rule, Heb. 2. 11. [He that fan elifieth and thofe who are fanclifiedare all of one ] and therefore this Prieft, for as much as the children were partakers of flejh and blood, dtd alfo himfelf likewife take part cf the fame, v '. 14. not the nature of Angels but of man, v. 16. and was not ajhamed to call them Brethren, r.er. 11. and to be made like unto them -in all things, v. 17. and that for the forelaid ends; that he might be merciful, be faithful, unto them. Heb. 2. 17, /o. -?. *, 2.-4.1 r. Belides: Before Gods joffitf celiion fa be etfe^Liujl w :v but to the very belt, that of Melchifedec^, i. e. deck j. e. Re- a Priefthood everlafting and royal; and that had gal andE- power joyned with Interceffion ; and the honor of fitting down by him, to whom he officiated. For this man was counted worthy of more glory then any before, as being the. builder, and afterward, upon its ruin, rebuilder, of this houf'e over which God thus made him Lord. Heb. 3.3. §. ?. Thus made a Prieft ; now let us view the exa£t This Holy difcharge of his office in the feveral parts thereof ; tlefacriZ^^d firft the Priefts office ( for expiation of fin, &x. ) a fin-offering, being firft to offer the Sacrifice \ and then to carry the blood thereof into the Sanctuary, and there make an attonement and interceffion with it for the offenders. He therefore firft offered the facri- flce, a fin-offering upon the altar of the Crofs, fuch as never Prieft offered before him : neither for the worth of it; being all-fufficient, (never any more fin-o ifering required after it, nor never any benefi- cial before it, but only thro it ) : nor for the near- ncfs and dearneis of it to the Sacrifices Abraham , the C H A P. VII. 117 the rigidft example we have, only offering to offer his ion -, But this Prieft offered himfelf, and that voluntarily, and thai coming out of the bofom ot his Father, from the glory he had with liim Long before the world; i.e. coming out of the Sanaum SanBorumto doit: (as wanting fbmctlung when he was there before ( notwithstanding thole rivers of blood of Bulls and Goats that werefhed before) with which to appeafe his Fathers juftice ) out ot the infinite love he bare to finners. [_ Now once, faith the Apoftle, in the end of the world he appeared to put away Jin by thefacrifice of himfelf Heb. 9. 26. ~] and thatfacrifice of himfelf by himfelf offered. See Heb. 7.2.7. Eph. 5-. 2. Jo. 10. 17, 18. But his high, and that Melchifedechical i.e. eter- §. 6. nal, Prieflhood did not fo much confift in this tranfi- ^Zgint* toryactatthe Altar, which any Prieft might tx&r the San&um cute ; but in the fecond carrying and appearing Sa *T with the blood in the SanSlum Santlorum betore the Lord, Sec. only performed by the High Pr*>//.There- fore the Apoftle placeth upon him Priejtbood after 'Melchifedecks order; which could not be till he was King as well as Prieft; not till after he was firftri- fen from the dead, and made perfect ( at which time alfo he was made King and Lord) when ar fcended and made higher then the Heavens, he had now no more converfation with finners ; was harm- lefs, i. e- no more to be hurted ; undefiled, i. e. that needed not to intermit, for this at any time, his of- fice. See Heb. 7. 26. when, as before he had become weak., fuffered and dyed for us , fo now he lived for evermore ; and was f'et down on the Majejly on high, in the Sancluary which the Lord had pitched ; and there had received all power, to help, to proted: us - y all gifts to fhowre down upon us. We have fuck an High Priejk KXQTUn 1 1 8 The benefits of our Saviour. PricJI ( faith he ) : Such an High Priefl becomes' us. In this was his honor and glory above all Priefts before him : and in this the certainty of our Salvation ; when he is not only the meritorious caufe, but the efficient ; nor only the price, but Author of it. See Heb. ?. 4, f. comp. 9. Hob. ?. f. comp. Atl. 13.33. and Pf. 2. 7. comp. 8. afkjfme, &c. Heb. y. 9, 10. be- tug made perfect , called ^c. Heb. 6. 20. forerunner, made &c. Sec Heb.%.1,2,4. and 7.26. Pf. 110.4. comp. If- it /rout which Tr 1 n A f 1 • -n r 11 • r i r /-.-v #>* /w * ' 2.-Hea. 8. 6. inch a mmiftry following fuch a me- beenimper- diatorfhip. ) Our Saviors death perfected his Ob- Z e e %™f ine f~ lation indeed but not his office \ nor, our Salvation. Anditisfince that, that he daily procures, as we repent and believe, the application of the merito- rious iacrifice to us, which he then made for us* and we are laid no lefs to be laved by the fprinkling of his blood, which is done in the fandhiary now con- tinually ; then by the fhedding of it which was done on the Crofs. See Heb. 12, 24. / Pet. 1. 2. Heb. 9. 19, 23. -13. 12. The price ot our redemption was then laid down fufficient to fatisfiejuftice, but not yet carried in and accepted by grace : ( for tho the Ia- crifice was fufficient for all,yet it is effe&ual only to fome [ i.e. Believers ] ,• for whom as it was provided at firlt by meer grace, fo by mecr grace the fatisf a- £lion thereof ( being none ot theirs ) is to them ap- plied, Heb. 2.9. (from whence Gods free grace, notwithstanding our Saviors merits, is fo often put for the caufe of our Salvation, fee Rom. 4. 4,1 6.) be- fore the throne of which grace he now went to ap- pear with it. But then many things there are, be- iides the expiation of fins pafr, alio neceffary for the com pirating of our falvanon \ which we are faid to owe chiefly 10 our Saviors ir-terc effion: therefore, as we find our juftification and remiilion or our fins ( committed Chap. VII. 119 ( committed before our converfion ) ordinarily im- puted to Chrifts death and refurrection } fo. our fal- vation ; all the ftrengthning of us hi our new life ; that abundance of grace whereby we now ferve God j our confolation and protection in all affli- ctions, from all our enemies, in the iervice of him ; theremiffion of our tins, when after baptifm and converfion relapftng into any faults, &x. are afcnb- ed to our Saviors living evermore 1:1 this office ot interceffion, and to his fitting now at Gods right hand with all power. See 1 Jo.2.i.Ro7n.y.io.-%, 31. v 2 4- °f which fuperceleftial fan- \Tbrdefiri- dtuary both that which was pitched by Mofes, and Vf°f l ^\ hls ■ that built by Solomon were reprefentations; figures, examples, fhadows, //\oftbc Covenant ; upon the Chap. VII. *2i the top or covering of which was the Mercy-Scat, or propitiatory, or throne of grace. For the j4i\, Cherubims, &c. did alwaies represent a Throne or triumphant Charet ; which befides the Cherubims ( winged for Hying, and footed in fuch a manner for running), had wheels alio, for which fee (be- lides E^el^ 1. chap, in whofe vifions were oftentimes removals of this Charet or Throne from place to place, and Dan. 7.9.) 1 Chron. 23 . 18. where the Ark is called the Charet of the Cherubims. The Cherubims ; the 4 Beajts ( the fame with Ezekiels and Efaiahs ) by whom Gods Throne was (upported, of all Crea- tures his nearelt and molt vigilant l^ev. 4. 6. E%e\. 1. 10. attendants; who gave out Gods orders to the reft of the Angels T^ev. 1 ?. 7. of the Candlejlick^ with 7 Lamps of fire burning before the Throne s the re- prelentationof the Holy Ghoft as appears by l{ev.i. 4.-J-. 6. £^.4.2,10. comp. with 6. Atl. 1. 3. And, ( which never appeared in the former vifions of the oldTeftament) otzLamb that wasjlain before the Throne -, and about the Throne on cither fide of it of 24 Presbyters in a Semicircle, fitting on feats re- \ prefentingthe Church Triumphant : and the Seffion of the Trefident and the Elders in the Jewifh Syna- gogue or Confiiiory ; and afterward of the Bifliop and his Presbyters in the Chriftian Churches : theie encircled with a guard of millions of Angels 7\cv. 7. n.J\ev. p 11. Habited all like Priefts as alfo our Savior himfelf was in another viiion, J^ev. 1. 13. Ex- 0^.28.40. in linnen garments to the foot, white and refplendent ; and girt about the paps, Crowns on their heads. See Exod. 28 . 40. like thole of the Priefts for ornament and for glory : Bearing his name on their foreheads, 7%ev. 22. 4. (as the High Prieft did holi- nefs unto the Lord) Palms and Infer uments of Mu- cl. fib S22 The benefits of our Saviour. fic^ and Vials full of Incenfe in their hands , cele- brating divine fervice in this Temple ; praifincr God, and the Lamb; and offering to him (as the Clergy here do ) the praiers of the Saints; Praifing the Lamb for the redemption of themfelves, and of mankind. 7$ev. ?. 9, 10. comp. with 1. 6. Ready to comfort John about the power of the Lamb, fyv.f.y. and to inftrud: him concerning his fuffering Bre- thren. J{ev. 7. 13. fce7(p. 4. 4. -6. n. -7. 9. -iy. 6. ^ n %?- Having thus made a defcription of the place, (the fin entrfng' heavenly San&uary and the propiatory or throne of grace there, over the Ark compaffed with 4 Che- rubims, Sec. ) according as the Lord Jefus was pleaf- ed to reprefent it to St. John : Here firft now let us imagine to enter and prefent himfelf this great High Prieft foon after his work finifht upon the Al- tar of the Crofs s fuch as he is defcribed, Heb. 7.26. Holy, tmharmable, unde filed , feparate from firmer s , needing no wafhing firft, as the Legal did ; arrayed with all the truth and fubftance of thofe things, which were typified by the ornaments of the legal High Prieft, bearing our names upon his fhoulders. Efai. si- 6. -9. 6. Ejai. 63. 9. and again engraven as a Signet upon his heart, according to Cantzc. 8. 6. Hagg. 2. iS. for a memorial of us before the Lord con- tinually. Exod. 28. 12, 21. &V ; Having engraven up- on his Miter Holinefs [ pure and never ftained ] un- to the Lord, that fo his holinefs may bear the iniqui- ties of our holy things, and we in and by it may be accepted before the Lord ( he being made unto us roifdom and right eou fine fs andfanclification and redem- ption. Numb. 18.1* Exod. 28. 38. 1 Cor. 1. 3o. ]{om. f. 19.) appearing again a Prieft with thereftord V- rim and Thummim L\ra 2. 63. upon rm heart, light and perfe&ion 5 perfect wifdom and perfect righ- teoufneis 5 Chap. VII. 123 teoufnefs; opening the book of all Gods /ecret% and /hewing them, as he pleafeth,tohis Brethren, Jfev. y.y. -1. 1. Numb. 27. 21. by the Holy Ghojl, Jo. i6.i3 3 14. as it firit hears and receives from him. thus pafiing thro the outer Sandhiary of the heavens, Heb.9.11. whilit it is proclaim'd before him, Be- hold the Lamb of God^&c. my fervant whom I have chojen : my Beloved in whom my foul is re ell p leafed, Let us imagine him,l fay,in fuch equipage to appear in this SnuHu?n Sanchrum before that Mercy- Seat, that throne of grace, and to appear in the prefence of God there, not for himfelf but for us, faith the A- poftle, Ileb. 9. 24. -8. 1. forhimfelf had that glory there withhis Father before the world was, and came down out of his bofora for this purpofe ( for he that would afcend thus mult be fuch a one that defcend- ed firit) that he might return thither with thefe new engagements upon him, with a great many names befides his own, new relations and new kin- dred, entring in thither now for his poor Bre- thren. Thus entred, firft into this Sanctuary he carries §. 9 with him not only the blood, but the whole facri- c f rv y'*, fice, being reftored unto him, ( after lie had offer- ed it as an entire Holocauft, and poured out all the blood thereof at the foot of the Altar ) to offer it here a lecond time to the acceptation of his Father, See Heb. 8. 3. comp. 9. 7. carries it with all the wounds , and piercings made in it as honourable marks of his fufferings, and remembrances thereof to his Father, ( which 'tis probable that his glorifi- ed body ftill retains ) j appearing in his Father fight a Lamb as it had been llain. See 7{ev. y. 6. as alfo he appeared before for confirming the faith of his Difciples,y^. 20. 27. to which the Apoitle alludes, Q^J2 GaL thefacrifi m 'Tt r 1^4 T/je benefits of cur Saviour. Gal. 6. 17. and ( likely ) fhall appear at the laft day, to the everlafting reproach of his enemies. See T{ev. 1.7. In memory whereof alfo the very Altar ("the Crofs ) is imagined to be that, which is called the jign ofthefon of man, Matt. 24. 30. and which fhall appear in the heavens, and be carried before as his royal Enfign in his proceffion to the laft judgment. Which Sacrifice fince he appoints here ( in the con- fecrated elements ) to be lhewed forth by his Priefts in our Sandhiaries before God, in commemoration of him ,• how much more in that above is it folem- nized for us by himfelf our High Prieft r That as the boiv was fet in the Cloud, that God looking upon it might remember his Covenant, and forbear to bring a fecond deluge upon the earth, Gen. 9. 16. and the blood of the Pafchal Lamb was Jlricken on the doorpojls, that the Lord feeing it there might pafs over them with his plague -, So when he beholds thefe wounds, ( given our Savior for our fin ) di- fplaid before him, he may forbear to revenge fin any more upon his Brethren. And if Pilate Ihew- ing that our fuffering Savior with an Ecce Homo thought the beholding fuch a pitiful and cruel ipe- d:acle was enough to have melted the hardhearted Jews his malicious enemies into fome mercy and companion, fo as to profecute his death no further : How much more will fuch a pale and wanner fight, as was feen afterward upon the Crofs,of an only Son voluntarily undergoing all this for our fin, move a pitiful and merciful father no further to profecute the vengeance thereof upon his brethren, upon his own members ? A fecond Action there is fprinkling jindfpr'mk- of his blood upon, and before, the Mercy-Seat, not f e ffj t ^ ood 7, nor 71 times, but continually : and note that all Lord. blood-fhed, when it comes before the Lord, hath a loud Chap. VII. iay loud cry. See the blood of the Saints, l{ev. 6.10. And Abels. Gen. 4. 10. And the Apoille compares the fprinkling of our Saviors blood, for its fpeaking and crying, unto the fprinkling of Abel's, thoHis cried not the fame way s for it pleaded for mercy as the other for vengeance. For we receive a true attonc- ment, are fandtified, are purifyed ( as many of us as ferve the Lord ) by the fprinkling of the blood of Jefns. See 1 Pet. 1. 2. Heb. 12.24. -13. 12. [Not that our Savior there really fprinkled his blood for us, let none grofsly imagine this, for flefli and blood enter not into heaven, 1 Cor. iy. but that he now by it ( poured out by him on the Crofs, ) in the hea- venly Sanctuary procures all theeffed:s,obumbrated by the former iprinkling of the blood of the legal Sacrifices. ] Therefore tis obferved that the Apo- ftle faith he entred by it y not with it. Heb. 9. 12, 2 3. Who is therefore called, for this Celeftial ceremony before the propitiatory^* throne of grace,our ite*$f propitiation, ijfo. 2.2. and our facial &ov propitiatory. fym. 3 . 2 y. Thus he fprinkled his blood to make at- tonement for, and tofandtify, us; but, as we read that the legal High Prieft purified alfo the Sanctua- ry it felf, and reconciled the Holy place ( faid co be defiled by being in the midft of the peoples unclean- nefs. See Lev. 18. 2/, 28. ) the Apoftle makes this alio run parallel for our Savior, Heb. 9.2 3. by which, as is fignifyed the purifying of all the Creatures and particularly of all our imperfect holy fervices unto us, fo perhaps fbmething more may yet be gathered from, Col. 1. \6 y 20.-2, 10. Job. 15-. iy -4. 18. -2y> ?. uPet. 3. 7, 12. 7fom.8.22. well confidered : for all Principalities and Thrones, i. e. Angels, were made by him at firft, and for him: and by him they now confift; and of them alfo he is the head; and by him i2tf , The benefits of 'our Savior] him they are faid to be reconciled .,- thro him they are now confirm' d in grace, and perhaps at the lait day thro him (hall be advanced in glory j And per- haps the upper regions of the world may be faid in fome fenfe to be contaminated ( as the earth ) by mans, or the fain Angels fin : to which heavenly things alfo the vanity, bondage, groaning of the Creatures mentioned flow. 8. may extendi which alio are faid by Peter to be referved, and that they ihall be diffolved,and, as it were, purified by fire. But abfeondita Domino Deo nojlro, manifefla nobis. §• io. 3. After this appearing therewith this Sacrifice, fencffiol! 1 ' ailci *P rin kling of his blood, follows his Inter ceffion alfo there for us. Rom. #.34. Heb. 7.2?. Efai. f j. 12. -T9. 16. another office of the Prieft for the People, whofe making attonement was not without praier, iince this alfo is called making attonement. Exod.Si. 30. and fo where we traniiate making attonement the vulgar renders it praying for > &c. See Lev. 16. 7, 34* * 7. Quando Pontifex fancluarium ingreditur, ut rogetproje & pro univerfo costu Ifrael ; fee Job. 42. 8. Gen. 20. 7. which appears alfo by the continual pra- dtiie of the Priefts and Prophets praying fo; the people- Jcr. 7. 16. -27. 18. Ezja. 10. 4. Joel. 1. 13, 14. ii^/^-,. 2# 2Chron. 30.27. 1. And this firft in prefent- sn° his own . . . , . . i -i- i i: payers to the ln S continually his own praiers to the Pauier tor Father fir us. us; in which refpedt he is called alfo t £&x**l& our advocate with the Father 3 as well as the Holy Ghojt is called -^y^or the Advocate to the Father here on earth with, or in us : ( As the fpirit is alfo ftiled by his title of Inter ceffor, lure ; as he there, %om.%. 26,27.) and therefore what office in prayer, when any one fins or fuffers, this Advocate doth here on earth refiding with us, 1 Jo. ?. /, 8. fee Horn. 8. 26. the other Advocate doth the lame in heaven, refid- ing Chap. VII. 127 >„ ing with the Father and with the fame unexpreffi- ble zeal.The better to conceive which,imagine Aa- ron, Numb. 16. 47- when wrath was gone out from the Lord, /landing with his Cenfer in his hand between the living and the dead, and ftaying the plague : or Mofes, that great type of him, Deut. 18 . if. like unto me, his pathetical intercefiions, and deprecations io many times for the finning Israelites : continuing 40 daies at a time with the Lord in fupplication for them and for their Prieit, i'eeExod. 32. comp. with Deut.<). 18,20. Numb. 14. ij. &x. and proceeding even to wzjhing him/elfaccu fedm their ftead ( as al- io did St. Paul , but our Savior only was he that really became alfo a curje for others ) and then be fure our High Prieit now makes the fame; nay far greater; as much more concerned in our iafety, being Mafter over the houfe, in which Mofes, tho a faithful, yet was but, a fervant. The exadt matter and manner of who fe intercefiions above, tho it is notmanifefted unto us, yet what efteem of it and confidence in it may we not have ? [ therefore our Mother the Church thinks fit to finiih all her pray- ers in it ] if we confider,firft that infinite love where- with he now loveth us. ( How can it be filent ! ) Eph» 3.19. from which neither things prefent, nor things ta come, neither heights nor depths, Sec. can everfeparate 7is. J^om. 8.38, 3r. comp. with 34. 2. The promi- fes which he made in that laft comforting Sermon immcdiatly before his death and departure from hence ; the f iirnm of which is to aflure his Difciples, and confequently all believers, fee Jo. 17.20. of the great care he w otild take for them in heaven; where alfo he particularly promifeth to pray the Father for them, who was greater then he, [and therefore they might rejoyceriiey had fuch a friend with him, fee n8 The benefits of our Saviour] Jo. 14. i6, 28.-16. 7> 2d.] tho he allured them of his Fathers great affedtion to them for his fake, even in cafe himfelf fliould not pray for them. 3. His lono- ( many whole nights ) and affiduous pradhfes of prayer here on earth, ( doubtlefsfor them and us, ) tho importuned with fo much other bufinels. S. Pe- ters fuddain repentance and tears, Matt. z6. 7?. came from his interceflion, Lu\. 22. 32. 4. If we confider the matter of that ( one only long ) praier ofhis, that is fet down, Jo. 17. after his work was finifht here -, and he was to leave his Difciples here on earth to the cuftody of his Father. Ver. 12, 13. And, fome part ofhis Church now and till the end of the world having the fame neceffities \ Many fheep that were not of that fold, of whom he faith alfo that he mult bring them in, Jo. 10. 16. How can he not continue for them the fame petitions, till he be made com pleat alfo in the whole Church his body > Neither praied he then for his Apoflles a- lone 3 but for them aljo that Jhould believe on him thro their word) verf. 20. for our fa notification, verf 17. for our perfe&er union with him and the Father in this world, verf, n. 21. for our glorification with him in heaven, verf. 24. Perfe&ly knowing every ones infirmities. A particular Advocate as any one of his Servants Heb. $. 9. finneth, procuring remifli- 011, iJo.z.i. and infinitely pitying every ones con- dition. An Advocate as any one of his is tempted and afflicted, procuring fuccour, and watching that their fufrering may not be beyond their ability,//^. 2. 18. and pcrfe&ly forefeeing all their dangers. An Advocate begging deliverance from future evils ; as he did here on earth for Peter, when Satan would have fitted him f but I have praied for thee that thy faith fail not] Lu\. 22. z3. and going away ; for his 1 Chap. VII. 129 his Difciples left behind : [ Father Idefirc not to have them quite taken out of the worlds but l^eep thou them. in it from the evil, veri. if. from their powerful and invifible enemy, and from all thofe wolves among among whom I leave them. Think we then the Shepheard of Krael now fleepeth ? But we muft not let this pafs unnoted, That his Intercefjion who is al- waies heard, ( for he asketh according to the will of God, J{om. x. 27.) never asketh fuch things, as God hath decreed by nopraiersto be exorable in ; As to be capable of his mercies and favors, there are fome dilpofitions prerequifite in the perfon. See E\eJ^. 14. 3 3 y, 14. For fuch therefore, as want thefe, our Savior perfectly knowing his Fathers will can ask nothing abfolutely, that is againft it. Tho with a velleity ( if you will ) now, ( as when he praied in the Garden for himfelf, or for his enemies when on the Crofs, Lu\. 2$. 34.) he defires or wifheth mercy even for all, even for thofe who ihall never receive any. Velleity I fay, qua hoc vellet,fi aliud non obfijle- ret, but his interceffion with an abfolute will (which is alwaies conform to his Fathers, and fo alwaies fulfilled by his Father ) is not genera-1 and for all; ( fo we might think it fruftrated ) but for thofe that are, or will be rightly dilpofed, and are, or are to be, of his Church ; ( even as the High Prieft earned in before the Lord only the names of the twelve Tribes. ) I pray for them, faith he, J pray not for the -world, Jo. 17.9. not for thofe, who have the devil for their Father, 1^.3.8. not for the man of fin, and thofe perfecutors of his Church •> Againft whom we may imagine he now deprecates his Father in behalf of the Church, in that form, 7{ev. 6. 10. How iongLord, Sec. Pf. 44.9,17. and J^cch. 1. u. How Ionjr,&c. which Angel was the Son of God : and rc- R ceives 13° 'The benefits of our Saviour. ceives from him that anfwer in the Pfalmift. P/.iio.i. Sit thou on my right band, till I make, ?$c. whom he will at laft utterly deftroy at his coming s for there is a fin we may not, therefore neither doth he, pray for. i Jo. y. 16. And this much more indears his m- terceffions unto his, fince they are not common for all ; and let us take heed leajl there be in any of us an heart of unbelief Hcb. 3. 12. either not to enter at all, or to run out of, this folds either not to be ingrafted into, or to be cut off from, his body ; and fo be made uncapable and loofe our fhare of fiich dear interceffions and omnipotent praiers, by virtue of which 'tis not poffible for the eledt to mifcarry. Matt. 24. 24. §. ft. 2 . And as this our High Prieft intercedes and of- 2, inprefent- f e rs up his own praiers for us, fo he offers up all ours 7afers°a7d too \ For God > under the Gofpel, is ferved with oblations to spiritual facrifice, as under the law he was with car- the -Father, nal j both with Jin- offerings our Confeffions ; and peace-offering, our giving of thanks, ofpraife and J/Sms gkryui* to him; and Free-will-offerings , our re- ofchrifiians. ltraint of fome lawful liberty, when this any way conducing more to his fervice ; and whole burnt-of- ferings, our refignation and dedicating of all wc have and are to the promoting of his glory. So our praiers are called Incenfe, and the morning and even- ing Sacrifice. J^ev. 5. 8. Tf 141.2. Our praife the calves of our lips. SczHeb. i3.iy. comp. with Hof 14. 2. Pf. yo. 14, 1 s- preferred before all the Herds cm the Mountains > all our words and actions, even to our eating and drinking, required to have a fpe- cial dedication to God. Col. 3. 1 7. 1 Cor. 1 0. 3i. And as all our actions, that are by the font, fo all our paffions and fufterings, that are by the body, are fa- crifices too, and much more properly fuch, then the former ; Chap. VII. *S former; ib both thofe mortifications and crucify- ings ot the flefli by our felves, whether for the wip- ing away, or for the prevention of fin, and killing of our brutifhlults now inftead of flaying of beafts, or our patient and contented undergoing thofe fent from God for fin, are no mean facnfices : fee Pf ? i. 16,17. Thou delights not, &c. The facrifices of God are a broken jpirit j a broken and a contrite heart, &c. And thofe furferings in the flefli from others, ( for righteoufnefsfake, or for the glory of God, or for the benefit of our Brethren, ) when we inftead ot the blood of Beafts, ofrer up our own to Gods and undergo Martyrdom for his lake, this is the higheft facrifice of all, and fo St. Paul calls his. 2 Tim. 4.6. Phil. 2. 17. 2 Cor. 12. ly. And thefe fufFerings alfo our Savior prefents to God, as he doth thofe of his own body •> for we alfo are his body, and as he of- fers up him felf, fo us, to the Father. Tota congrega- tio focietafque fanilorum, univerfalefacrijicium ojjer- tur deo per facer dot em magnum. Aug. Civ. Dei 1. 10. Andasfpendingof our lives for God and our Bre- thren j lo the fpending of our Eftates j all our Alms, and charities are Evangelical Gifts, and C>blations, and Sacrifices ( therefore many times anciently made by Chnltiansat the Altar.) See Heb. \3. 16. Phil. 4. 18. [_Ihave received, (£c . the things that were fent from you an odour of ajweet [mell, a (acrijicc acce- ptable,&c.~] All our doings, then, and all our IulLt- ings ; our fouls and our bodies, J{pm. 1 2.1. the fpend- ing of our lives and of our eftates - y all thefe make up one compleat Ho loc a ujf, which we owe unto God under the Gofpel ; (of which thofe under the Ele- ments of the world were tvpes, and in which they are fulfilled -, ) after that our Savior had fir it begun to as 3 and facrificed , inftead of Beafts, himfelf. R 2 1 Pet. i^2 The benefits of our Savior. t Pet. 2. ?. Col. i. 24. Now thefe the peoples facri- fices under the Gofpel, as thofe under the Law , mult of neceflity have a Prieft to offer them for the reafoa mentioned : not only becaufe they are fo nothing worth, the belt we can bring of them j and fo unprofitable when we have done all we can ; and God fo felf all-fufficient without them s whofe offer- ings to him whatever are only his gifts to us 1 Chron. 29. 14. (allof us but our fins being his; ) but becaufe, by contagion of fin in us they are alfb all unclean ( for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? Job. 1 4. 4.) and he fo pure and foholy s that we are in the fame condition as V\\iah 2 Chron. 26. 18. or Nadab and Abihu, unlefs there be one to bear the in- iquity of our holy things, and thro whofe merits to- wards God, and Gods love unto him, they may be accepted. To whom, methink, God fpeaks as Mo- fes, Exod. 1 p. Do thou come up, &c. but let not the people, leaf I brea\forth upon them. And unto us as difguifed Jofeph did to his brethren ; fee not my face unlefs you bring your Brother with you. Or as God to to the Friends of Job. 42.C. #. v. Take with you a facrifce'andgo to my fervant Job, and my fervant Job fo all pray for you, for him I will accept -, or as to Abi- melech concerning Abraham.. Gen. 20. 7. He is a Prophet and hejhall pray for thee, and thou /halt live. For thefe intercelfors were fet down for types of this fupreme Mediator. § n. By our Savior therefore all thefe our Sacrifices muft be offered, or by us in his name, which is all one, Phil. 1. n. and that, not only our praiers and petitions, where we need and ask fomething , that they may be heard thro Jefus Chriit our Lord -, but our giving of thanks and glory to God; ( Alas what, glory can we give ? ) where we prefent fomething, that Chap. VII. 133 that they may be accepted. We then firft come to him j and he offers them for us : lb we are faid to praife, to give thanks, to give glory to God, by him. See Heb. 1 3. if. 7{om. z.#. Col. 3.17, 1 Pet. 2. 4, r. Therefore he ftiles himfelf the way to the Father. Jo. 14. 6. and the door Jo. 10. p. thro which we mult pafs. And to God be glory in the Church by Chrijr. Eph. 3.21. The tongue being, in the head, that fpeaks for the body. 3. But thirdly ,he not only prefents and delivers our 5. t?< petitions for us, &c. but he hath procured for us 3 hl P roc " r ' free admiflion to the Father, to deliver them our ZffiZtode- felves -, not in a body by prefence indeed as yet, liver them but by the fpirit; Eph. 2. 18. and fent us unto the **' fit™* Father to ask any thing in his name; fee Jo. id. 23, ^ 24, 26, 27. ( according to which the Church directs her praiers not to him ( as he faith verf. 25. ) but to the Father) telling us that the Father himfelf ion his fake, loveth us, verf. 27 . Eph. 1. 6. J\om. #.39. love of God which is in Chrijt Jefus our Lord. In this far outdoing the mediation under the law, where Mo- fes indeed went up, but the people were rail'd out, and trembling and quaking flood afar off: which preeminence of us the Apoitle often intimates in the Epiftles. Heb. 12. 17- By him therefore now we alio are faid to draw nigh unto Gods to have accefs to the Father s accefs with boldnef's ; to come boldly unto the throne of grace ; into the Floliejt, Heb. i 0. 1 9, 22. all our words and works to be accepted , ifdoneinhis name, &c. See Heb. 4.16. Eph.?. 20. Heb. 7. 19, 2 7. Eph. 2. 18 .-3. 12. Col. 3. 17. And for thefe caufes above-laid it is , that the Church fo of- ten in all Divine fervice repeats that holy dear name; and St. Paul ( 'tis noted ) in his Epiitles a- bove f 00 times 5 becaufe to, by, thro, and in Him and 134 The benefits of our Saviourl and his name are allthings,faidand done, and to be done, that are well and acceptably done. Which name be it bleffed for ever. §. 14. 4- After thefe ads of this High Priefts interceffi- The benefits on, let us now proceed to the fruits and benefits fefloJ ;iter ] thereof - Andfirft. As the legal High Prieft firft after he had offered the facrifice,and again after he had carried in the blood into the Holy e&,bleffed and put Gods name upon the people. Lev. 9. 22. &c. Numb. Vrocurhigus 6.27. So our Savior ( aniwerable to the firft ) be- lftfro°mth^^ ovc lle went into tlie San <9 :ii ary, Lu{. 24. yo, and at Father. other times blefled his people ; and ( anfwerable to the fecond ) alio doth it fince his going in ( bleffing us from it, becaule, by his everlafting Priefthood needing to make no more offerings, he is not to come out of it, till the confummation of all things ; when he will yet in a more tranfcendent manner give us his bleffing s ) See A£t. 3. 26. and what the bleffing, that he lent us, was, fee Ath. 2. 33. Upon whofe bleffing us from above, that fire Act. 2. 2. de- fcended upon the Apoftles, and confequently up- on his Church ever fince; of which that material r one which came out from before the Lord upon fngsfJrHLl^ amm ^* bleffing was a type, Lev. 9. 24. Imagine *md temporal. him thea f firft ) now fpeaking from Heaven, put- ting his Fathers name upon us, and pronouncing - that form, Numb. 6. 24. and then after it, all thole / fpiritual and temporal bleffingsand deliverances of his Church here, fliowreddown by him ; but a- bove all that fire of the Holy Spirit for ever burning upon the Altar of our hearts, and hallowing all our facrifices, and elevating them unto God j the ma- nifold gifts and graces of which are mentioned clfe- where. Only here take notice, 1. Of the time of their collation j and that was after his being a- fcended, Chap. VII. i3^ fcended, and entred into the San&uary and having interceded there. Sec Jo. 7. 5p.-itf. 7. Act. 2. 33. Eph. 4. 7, S. Jo. 14. 28, 29. So that we have and do receive far greater advantages by his abfence and fervice there, then we could by his corporal pre- ience here 3 ( BleiTed be God by whole wifdom all things ferve for our good ! ) as alfo appears in his Difciples ; far more expert in knowledg ; powerful in working, ( according to the promife Jo. 14. 20. ) Himfiy • im- after his departure. 2. Of the manner of their con- Jerri^gt^m veyance ( which will much advance our confidence, uponm. it we confider our near relation. ) For we receive them not by his procurement only from the Father, but even from his own hand. Every good and perfect gift cometh from the Bather, £#*. Jam. 1. 17. but thro, and by immediate donation of the Son -, and by the fame way as all our praiers and facrifices afcend, and enter in, bleffings come forth of, this Sanctu- ary. Upon his asking all things are given him, Tfal. 2.8. ( whom the Father alwaies hears ) and at his ownplcafure he difpenfeth them. Ad. 2. 33. Eph. i.3. And this, the having in his own power the gift of all things ( from whole hands we may be lure we mall want nothing ) belongs peculiarly to the te- nure of his Priefthood ; being Melchifedechial and joy ned with Kingfhip > Sacerdotium J^egale^ or $a- *g? mtT * cerdotale regnum., i.e. having royalty and powe*/W. joyned with it i as before the law thefe two were joyncd in the Princes of families, fo after the law they are united in Chritt, a King over all; but Him, whom, as a Prieft, he ferves. Therefore we find him fitting at the right hand ; and the promife of hav- ing his enemies made his footftool fo frequently joined with his Priefthood and interceffion j for to ihew the everlafting power of his Pnefthocxi See II 1 3 6 The benefits of our Saviorl Heb. 8. i.fym.8. 34- Pf no. i. comp. with 4. Act. 2.33. Pf. 2.8. Therefore fince be ever liveth to make inter cejjion, he is able tofave ( faith the Apoftle ) not willing only, Heb. 7. 2j m Abletofuccotir, Heb. 2. 18. fetjo. 17. 2, 24. Father I will that, &cc. Jo. 14.13,14. [ Ifyejhall asj^ any thinkjn my name ( his asking or our asking in his name is all to one effect, as is fhew- ed before ) I will do it ] where he fhews both his de- pendance on his Father as a Prieft, and power over all things elfe as a King. §• it- Befides this officiating as an IntercefTor ; in Hea- rrieft Inter- ven as a ^ndLu^ty, ( as he is High Prieft ; ) wherein cefTor 3 anpa>er- he is compared to Aaron j Our Savior, ( by the fame rngto Aaron. Apoftle in his treatife of his Priefthood ) is called the Captain of our Salvation bringing many fons of God unto glory. Heb. 2.10. Lord of the houjhold of God j and conduiterof them into a promifed place of reft, and forerunner entred before them into Hea- ven, as it is the land of promife -, and this as he is a So by hh royal regal High Prieft 9 wherein he is compared to Mo- Vrieflhood f d j » ua his lllccefl f or conduders of Ifrael Captain of \ J. J c- i Godspeople, towards Canaan. See Heb. 2.10. -3.1,2,6. -4.8,9, anfweringto 74. -6.20. COlllp. with Heb. 12. 1,2, 1.8;. 2.2, 2$. -II. Mojes. 1^16, We being in this world after our deliverance from Egypt, the dominion of Satan and fin -, and paffing thro the Red Sea of Baptifm, 1 Cor. 10. 2. yet, as in the Wildernefs; a dry and thirjty land ivhere no water is ( as the Pfalmilt fpiritually com- plains of it, {kePfat. 63.1.-39. 12.-119. 1 p. whoever take it for any thing elfe much miftake it ) now un- der Chrift (Ifpeak of him according to his man- hood ) our Conductor $ as they were under Mofes and Jojbtia ■ ) and all things that were done there were examples. 1 Cor. 10. 6 9 n. Firft therefore as Mofes, [when the mount of God burnt with fire, nothing Chap. VII. 137 nothing but blacknefs, and dark?iefs , and tempefl ; nothing but wrath and judgment towards as, and fear leait the fire of the Lord iliould break forth up- on us, having all iinned as Ifrael had, and none durft draw near to fpeak for us.] Behold him coming forth out of the miditof us ( the true Mediator ) and going for us into the Mount ; and there like Mofes, Exod. 32. 30. making an attonement for us. And tho there is yet to come another making or all things, making heaven and earth and all in pieces under this fecond Mofes, Heb. 12. 26. far more ter- rible then that under the firfts wherein he mail come in judgment to deftroy his enemies , from which then there mail be no Mediator to hinder him, as Exod. 32. io, n. yet then tothofe that obey him, this Mount Sinai fliall be changed into Mount Sion, and the city of the liv'171^ God, &x. fee Heb. 12. 22. dc. where are fuch andluch glorious company. And thither fliall he alfo carry up his Brethren after the remainder of the 40 daies , or 6 weeks of his abode there are expired. Meanwhile from thence, not from an higher place of the earth, but from the higheft heaven into which he is gone up, he con- tinually fpeaks unto us not with that terror as the Angels from Mount Sinai gave the law, but with the foft voice of his fpint, the miniftration of which by him is oppofed to that of the law by Mofes. 2 Cor. 3.8,9- And wo be to all them, that refufe to hear him far beyond thofe that refufed to hear Mofes. Heb. 1 2. 2?. -1 0. 29. 2. And then, as refembled by 2 Tojofiua. Jojhuaovjefiis, ( called fo as a type of him ) he is the Conductor alfo of the people of God into the true land of promife, Heb. 4.^. the place of reft ; the. reft of God. Heb. 4. y. Into which God hath fworn no unbelievers fliall enter. And into this our blefled S Savior 13 S The benefits of our Savior. Savior is entred already before us, and Jet down ( the pofture of refting ) at the right hand of God ,- entred not only as a forerunner Heb.6.20. or leader; to give an example,that we fhould follow him thither ; the Anchor or our hope being already caft within the veil, by the taking pofTeffion of this our fore- Andtbefore- ninnsr. Heb . 6. ip, 20. But alfo a forerunner or runner into Harbinger ( as Jojhua his type alio was ) to view the place of that good land as it were, and there to prepare a place torus, Jo. 24.2,3- inihztboufe where are ma- ny manfions ( the heavens that we fee, being but a center to it, from whence God looks down upon them as they upon the earth, Pf. 11 3.) not any therefore, but an honourable, a choice place there; fee 7{ev. 4. 4. where the Church-men were fitting on either fide of Gods Throne in the midft of all the glorious train of Heaven, and the Angels {land- ing in a circle about them, flev.f.ii. -7. 11.] Fa- ther I will, that thofe be with me where lam, to behold my Glory, &c. Jo. 1 7. 24.3 not in the fame region, but in the fame place of it where his glorious body is -> not in the Country only, but of the Court ; follow- ing and. waiting on the Lamb there where ever he go- eth 3 ] which is named as iome fpecial honour, J^ev. 16. 4. -7. /y. -3. 4. And from thence after this place prepared for us, and us for it, he hath promifed to come again and accompany us thither in perfon. (Thus is he a forerunner to all the faithful, in re- fpect of their bodies entring into that celeitial Ca- naan ; he being the firit-born from the dead : but again forerunner ( according to the opinion of an- tiquity ) of the fouls tTTo; entring into the hea- venly Sanctuary, in refped: of the fpirits not only of alls aints dying fince him (of this no queftion, ) but ofall thofe that deceafed before him from the beginning; Chap. VII. rj;> beginning ; the very firft into this Sandhiary ; as none ever entred ( for the cauie ) but by, and in re- lation to, him 3 io none ( for the time ) before him ; which opinion leems to be ftreng'thned from the ex- preffionsofour Savior concerning Lazarus. That He i.e. his foul. ( as Lu\. 21.43. this day ihalt thou i. e. thy foul J was carried by Angels into Abrahams bojom, as being Father of the faithful; a place of Mils doubtlefs, [ being oppofed to the other's place of torment,] wherein Lazarus received confolati- ons ; but now we are laid to be gathered unto Chriit after this life; we, and Abraham, and all into Chrifts bofom ours, and Abrahams, Father. See 2 Cor. ?. 1. 6c. BhiL 1. 21. Acl.7.?9. Eph. 1. 10. Again; as th laid in general. Heb. 9. 8. That the way into the ho- liejt was not made mamfeji under the oldTejtament ; fo in particular of the Saints of it, that they recei- ved not the promifcs before us. Which may be inter- preted not only of the promifes of the Meffias ; but alfoof thofe obtained thro him lpoken of, verf. 13, 14, id. that they without us were not made p erf eel, Heb. 1 1 .40. and perhaps in refpedtof this is the fame termufed, Heb. 12.23. oithefpiritsof]uji men [now] T?x{«r3&» made perfect i. e. admitted into the Holieit by idikty and with our Savior ; ( according to the hymn , having overcome death thou openedit the kingdom of heaven to alh) Therefore none of t e old Te frag- ment Celeftial viftons have any reprefentation of K any Church there s none of the new are without it. ' See 7^^.4.4. Heb. 12. 22,23. where letting down the Court ot Heaven he numbers the f'pirits of jujl men, and the **mmQt f probably ) the fame with thokprimztite. J^ev. 14. 4. To this purpofe fome ap* ply J^ech. 9. 11, 1 2. comp. 9! Jo. 14. 3. Matt. 25.6,10. Into which, notwithltanding the good tidiir;s S 2 this 14© The benefits of our Saviour. this Jofiuab hath told us of it, many fail to enter in, partly thro unbelief of the glory and riches of that place beyond this Egypt, or Wildernefs ; like thofe Numb. 14. chap, longing and lulling after denyed Onyons and Garlick, whilft they are fed with Man- na : and partly thro cowardlinefs of not fighting their carnal lulls, and withftanding the pleasures of this prefent life, the enemies and Gyants which hinder them from pofleffing this Holy land ; which, notwithflanding this Jojbua, and his faithful Souldi- ers have in many battails difcomfited before them. But, feeing there nmaineth a reft, Heb. 4. p. and fee- ing we have a great High Prieft that is paffed 3 Scc.v.i^.. let us lay afide every weight and run with patience, &c. looking unto jfefus, &c. who is fet down there. Heb. 12. 1,2. that at thelaftwe may be made partakers of of Chrift. Heb. 3. 14. §. 16. Thus much of our Saviors officiating in this per- tut fifths P etLial ° ffice of Prieft above - But - r; As God alfo Trieftinbis itill retains Sanctuaries on Earth, there are certain cwn(necefa- perfons fubftituted by him in the fame facred office, ZletteZth to do that in thefe earthly , which their Matter 1T0 prefhtt doth in the Heavenly Church. 1. By whom firft hisfacrijice. ^ f aC rifice of his body and blood is prefented here unto God for a remembrance of him unto the Fa- ther, in the confecrated elements, for all the fame purpofes, for which it is prefented by our great High Prieft there ; i. e. for all the purpofes for which he offered it firfb on the Crofs. See MaL 1.11. Gal. 3. 1. Itaque veteres in hoc myftico facrificio, non tamperablcefemelincruceoblationis, cujus hie memo- ria celebratur -, quam pcrpetui facerdotii & jugis fa- crificzi, ad quotidie in ccclis femp it emus facer dos ojfert, rationem habuerunt, cujus hie imago per folennes Mi- mjirorumpreces exprimitur. CafTand p. 16$. 2. By whom Chap. VII. x 4i whom is Interceffion made : both by preferring )J°TJ£j* their own praiers for the people ; and alfo the peo- t h e people. ' pies prayers to God ; throChrift. For God accept- eth no praiers but thro Chrift ; nor yet all thofe that are made in Chrills name i except either they come from perfons deputed by him, who is fo dear- ly loved 3 to which perfons God hath made extra- ordinary promifes, as thofe ( I conceive ) are Matt, 18. 18, 19. Jo. 15.23. dec. or from thofe that are holy and like unto him ; Tor finners God heareth not, till reformed. The emploiment of the Saints in heaven, as we have any notice of it, is praier and praifes. For firfr, fince the ipirits of Saints depart- ed hence are inparadife, Lu}^ 23. 4J. and rvith Chrijl Phil. 1. 23. are now faid to be made per feB, Heh. 12. 23. and clothed nith white garments, Rev. 6. n- that is advances in charity and purity greater then here s are defcribed in Prieits habits, having in their hands vials of incenfe ( doubtlefs to offer it ) which is interpreted by St. John to be praiers of the Saints, Rev. y. 8, -8. 3. haveazeal to Gods glory in mens falvation beyond ours, or their own whilft on earth ; and more charity , which grace is not decayed by death, but perfected. 1 Cor. 13. 8. 2. Since their interpellations there can prejudice our Saviors no more, then the Priefts interceffions here, 1 Tim. 2. 1. and if any ask what needs theirs, we may as juftly reply, what need thefe ; nay what need any praiers at all ; fee Matt. 6.%. Tho little concerning this their interpellation is revealed ; and thole Chriftians, who have implored it, feeming to have grounds partly on Miracles pretended to be done by them ■, But ( probably ) true ones done and that frequently at their memorials. See Aujlin. Chit. Dei lib. 22. cap. g, and partly on pretended apparitions o4 142 The benefits of our Saviour. of them, after deceafed ; yet in general it feemspi- ouily credible, that as Chrilts members on earth now luffer, as he did on earth ; fo his members in heaven intercede for thefe fufferers(at leaft in generaljas he doth there ,- and echo unto the King of Heaven the words of their Mafter,as the Angels do to the Church. J$gv,$.i 2. com p. with p. J{ev.7*i 1,12. comp. withp,z a. And that petition, T{ev. 6. 10. I cannot imagine fo circumfenbed to themfelves, that it did not repre- ient to God alfo the fad condition of their Brethren on earth mentioned, verf. 11. See 7{ev. ?. 9. where the Presbyters give praife for the falvation of others as well as of themfelves, for thofe of every tongue, kindred, people, and Nation. See J{ev. it. 17,18. Thus much of our Saviors officiating, in the hea- §• r 7- venly Sandtuary, and his Minifters, here : Now this MeflhZ° f difcourfe ( as the former ) muft be concluded with from Him to the communicating of this honour alfo unto us; becommimi- ^^ look whatever he is, that we alfo fliall be ; for % 6 Bremen, wc fliall be like him, / Jo. 3. 2. We are all there- fore one day to take holy orders ; to be made Priefts and Kings ; or Priefts Melchifedechical. In- deed we are already Priefts not only fome of us in %^;%_ rd ? ztto{ thereby ( which I have mentioned be- mmgmit fore ) who officiate for them in the publick aflem- here on emh. blies ; but even all the people of God in compari- son of the reft of the world; the Church being a chofen generation out of all the relt ; an holy Nation ; a Kingdom of Priefts; Gods peculiar treafure , the I/raetofGod, feparated and fan&ified for to ferve him. Sec Exod. 19. y, 6. Gal. 6. 16. 1 Pet. 2. f, 9. Rev. 1. 6. Every one of whom, not only by the Pried, ( in publique affemblies,) but by themfelves alfo, /in their hearts) may offer Sacrifices imme- diately to God the Father, acceptable thro Jefus J Chnft Chap. VII. 14J Chrift, Heb\ 7. 19. and hence are we alfo called, not only Priefts by whom, but Temples alio $ and that not our fouls only but our bodies ( inhabited by Gods fpirit 5 as that Ancient one was By his Glo- ry, ) in whom, fuch facrifice is offered; (as our Sa- viors body alfo ( more eminently,) was itiled a Tem- ple. See Jo. 2. 21. 1 Cor. 3. 16. -6. 19. Eph. 2. 22. ) But this Temple is yet but in building, as it were s we being here ^lo/Wp'^and hereafter more perfect- ly id&i Here Tabernacles, hereafter Temples : fee Eph. 2. 21, 22. But theie we (hall be made yet much more hereafter. 1. After the day or judgment. For then (hall every place become a Sanilum San- Borum, and every one a Prieft ; See J{ev. 21. 22, 23. Butjkallmore where the new Jerufalem, that after the final judg- c ^f ea ^ y da ment, l{ev. 20. 12. comes down from heaven ( where f judgment.' perhaps,as God exprefleth elfewhere earthly by hea- venly things, fo here heavenly by earthly ) hath no Temple at all in it j For that ( which indeed makes a Temple whereever it reddest the glory of God and of the Lamb being now fpread all over it ; ir- radiating and illuminating it throughout; ( in which relpedt there is fa id to be neither Sunfhine nor Night there; ) it is, all of it nothing but a Tem- ple, verl. 3. or God being the Temple, verf 22. all Being aU over it. Seethe fame thing prophecyed, Qf***4* f %^f-^ 3, 5. that every one Jhou Id be called holy ; and every n e% houfe and ajfembly in Sion have the fame glory upon 7t y ( cloud by day and fire by night ) that was on the Tabernacle. And in this Sanchim Santlorum Gods Servants (hall fee his face, ( without a cloud of In- cenfe betwixt ) and ftand before his glory ; with his name [ Holinef's unto the Lordl in their foreheads, „ ,,, . -n j 1 / ti ;; ^ i r « And crvm? f{ev. 22. 4. and there tbeyjhailjervehrm, verl. 3. See God for ever Efai. 61. 6. -66. 21. night and day in his Temple, Rev. inhisTemfU. 7. If* 14-f The benefits of our Savior. 7- if' before the Throne of Glory : in fi aging eter- nal glories and praifes to him , for there lhall be no more confeffion where no fin -, nor praier where no more want ; not infirmity, nor affliction, the na- tions being healed by the tree of life, J{ev. 22. 2. no xx-mva$ti{x* any curfe , or excommunication of any l^ev. 22. 3. there. And fecondly, As then Priefts and Servants to God the Creator -, lo are they alfo Kings or Lords over the Creation : fit down on thrones with Chrift, and J^ev. 3. 21. andreign for ever and ever, 22. f. reign on the earth, f. 10. over the Nations, 2. 26, 27. Judge Angels, Judge the 12 Tribes, be rulers over Cities, Lu^. 19. 17. iee Matt. zy. 21. -24. 47. Lu\. 16. 10. which expreffions, fo far as they have refe- rence to Chrifts kingdom after the final day of judgment, and not to that profperous condition of the Church which is promifed before it, are meta- phors exprefling the unintelligible things of the next, by the more acquainted things of this, world ; which cannot be, no more then thofe, E^eJ^. 43. c. &c. {peaking of the fame things litterally fulfilled. iTriefts alfi 2. Priefts alfo after Death before the great judg- infomefenfe ment day, in the better part of us, the foul; the %trvZil eitate of which > tho "* was Gods pleafure that it fliould not be fully revealed tons, yet we may not neglect to take notice of that which is fo. §. 1 8 Itfeems plain then : i. That tho there is no for- -Agiywpfe of ma j judgment, or fentence paffed upon any man at death "onditi- dte day of Deaths or final reward appointed, or o?i of the fouls any convention or appearance ot the foul before the tfthe Blefied. eterna l Judge, for why then have not other fpirits that are void of bodies as yet received that judg- ment ? fee i Cor. 6. 3. And tho the foul ( as well as the body) attain not, (as not extenfively, fo nei- ther intenfivcly ) its full beatitude , reward and crown, Chap. VII. 14^ crown 3 nor vifion and communication of God, and glory, nor a full fatisfying of its defires. PJ\ 16. iy. or punifhmcnt, pain, and torment, until the general day of judgment and retribution^ which is true not only of men, 2 Pet. 2.9. but devils, more great and more Ancient offenders, then men, Jude 6.) as may be gathered; from both our Saviors and the Apoltles frequent expreffions, command- ing us to depend and call our hope on the expecta- tion of the coming of Chrift in glory at the laft day; and deferring the receit of our falvation, of the reward, and of the crown of glory, &c. till that time. See LuJ^. 14.14. zTim. 4. 8. - / . 12, 16, 18. 1 Pet. i. fjt$. 2 Pet. 3. 11, 12. Acl. 3. t$\ 20, 21. Lul^. 2t. 27, 28. Phil. 2. 76. -3- 1 1. 1 Cor. 1.7, %.-ij. 19, 32. 2 Cor. y. t. &c. 2 Thejfi 1. 6 y 7. Heb. 9. 27^ 29. ]\ev. 22. 7, /2. Col 3. 3. comp. 4. i Jo. 3. 2. 2 Pet. 2. 9. Jo. 74.3. By which it appears that there is a place not to be entered before Chriits fecond coming, pre- pared by his Afcenfion ; but before this were many ibuls in Paradife. And this applied not only to the body, but the fpirit. 1 Cor. f. ?. From the pe- tition and expectation of thefe fouls. ]{ev. 6. 9, 10, 11. From the juft punifhments of other fpirits much worie, and that ftay for no bodies, yet defer d till that day. See Jude 6. Matt. 8.19. -25-. 42. 2 P^.2.4. Luh^ 8.31. comp. E'pb. 2. 2. Some at leait it feems dwelling in the Air,and not yet caft into the Abyffe: and likewife in this interval between death and judgment, tho 'tis molt probable that fbme iouls attain not fo much blifs, and glory, and priviledg as fome others. See 7^f f. 20. 4. comp. ?. -14. 4. Xor perhaps fo much fecurity ( I mean not in refpect of damnation ) but in refpect, of that fevere tryal, which fliall be at that dreadful day : and of the T mea- 24^ The benefits of our Saviour. meafure of their falvation, blifs, and reward. For iince fome fins fhall come into judgment and fcru- tiny at that day, which fliall not amount to the condemnation of ydm™ vrvfa, (by which our Savior exprefleth hell here, Matt. y. 22. as frequently elfe- where. See verf. 29. Matt. 2?. 33. ) fee Matt. 5. 22. comp. Matt. 12.3 6. And fince of thofe, who fliall be faved in that day : yet this falvation fliall be much more difficultly attained by fome then others. 1 Cor. 3. iy. It cannot be imagined that the ftate of all the fouls of thofe, who reft in peace, are alike blifsful iii the interval between death and judg- ment: or equally comforted, of fome of whom fuch a fevere examen is afterwards to be paifed. It cannot be, that fuch a difference of the falvandi be- ing to be in judgment, there Ihould be none before it 5 nor the fame foul fo much in blifs at one time as fome other, fee 7^.20.4. -14. 1. -7-4, 9, 14, if- comp. l^ev. 6. 10, 11. Yet it feems plain, I fay, that the foul in general, fevered from the body, doth af- terwards of it felffubfift: That, it isftill intelligent and hath ufe of its faculties : That it ( becaule o- ther fpirits are ) is capable of knowing things cor- poreal: That it t certain of falvation ; patfeth, (at leaft thofe of the more perfect ) ^carried thither by Angels, Lu\. 16.22. comp. Matt. 24, ii.LuJ^. 16.9. comp. Luk^ 12. 20. into a place of reft, confolation, inchoative blifs j or certain of its damnation ; of imprifonment, and inchoated pain, till the refur- recftion of the body. Secondly, That the fouls of the faithful ( fince his refurrecftion ) are gathered toChrift; and do, tho not all in the fame proxi- mity and degrees of confolations, then fee and be- hold him, and the blcfled Angels. See 2 Cor. ?. 7. comp. with 6. 8. for if St. Paul defires this change becaufe C H A I'. VII. 147 becaufe here we walk by faith, not by fight s there- fore we walk there by light, not by faith. See 1 Cor. 1 3. 12. comp. with 10. and Heb. 12. ij. So Caivin y who ipake very warily in this point ,« Aiumx piorum militia lab ore drfunthe in be at am quiet em c once aunt , ubi cum fell 'ci Icztitiafruitionem promifv gloria ex- pert ant : and again: Chrijhis ill is pra fens ejl, & eas recipit in paradifum % ut confolationem ' percipiant, &c. J^eproborum vero anima ( the fur theft removed from God and light ) cruciatus, quale s merit ce funt.patiun- tur : & vinclic catenis [ut etiam diaboli Juded.) te- ffcntur, donee ad fupphcium, cui addict a funt, trahan- tur. It is plain I fay from tliele texts well connder- ed. Matt. 10. 2$. Job 1. 8. 2 Cor. 12. 2, 4. Heb. 12. 23. Aft. 7. ^9. Z/^. 23. 43, 46. 1 Pet. 3. 19. Phil. 1.23. 2 Cor. r. i, 2, 3. comp. 6. and 8. LuJ{.i6. 22. -12. 20. l^ev. 19. 22. comp. 20.12. In iome of which, tho fome things are (aid of the perfon , yet they mull needs be underftood only of the foul ) ( Ann?, us cu- jufque ejt quifque. ) And indeed it were unreafon- able to deny to the foul initsftate of feparation, that converie with God, thofe favors, revelations, &c. from him i which we mult grant to it in an extafy ( wherein the body lies as it were dead and , unferviceable unto it; ) which St. Paul experienced / in his raptures, 2 for. 12.2. and to the Prophets in their dreams. Thefe things granted, to fee a little further ; whether any thing can be difcovered con- cerning the imployments, Sec. of the fouls of the BlefTed, that are with Chrift. Firft, we find the Court of Heaven ( as now it is, fince our Saviors AfcenfionJ defenbed by the Apoftle, Heb. 12.22. &c. to conliftofGod, Chrift, Angels ; a Church or general affembly of the firit-born ■, and ipiritsof jult men made perfect -, called by hirn in other T 2 places 148 The benefits of our Savior. places the Family in Heaven, Eph, $. ly. The Jerufa- lem above, our Mother-City. Gal. 4.26. Heb. 12. 22. In refpedt of which we are faid to have our -tjWt^^ in heaven. Phil. 3.20. And perhaps that text, Eph. 2. 6. where we are faid to be fet down with Chriji, may be meant of that part of the Church which now refides in Heaven. Again, in all St. Johns vifi- fions, we ( find befides all the ufual appearances of the old Teftamentj firft the reprefentation of a Church or Ecclefiaftical Senate now in heaven ( de- fcribed before, Heb. 12. 22. ) and thefe there prai- fing God /yr the Creation Rev. 4. 10, 11. then the Lamb, Rev. y. 8. for his mercy to the Church, and for his judgment upon its enemies ( for all the works of God are one of thefe two : ) for the reward they had received, Redemption of the whole Church out of every nation and people amongft which ftill this comes in, that they were made Priejts and IQngs s as we find it every where frequent, iztRev. 1. tf.-7.iy. -20. 6. and for that they fliould receive, reigning up- on earth, i. e. in the new Jerufalem defcending from Heaven, Rev. 21. 2. after the execution of Gods judgments upon their, the Churches, enemies. See Rev. y. 9, 10. -11. 16, 17,18- which praife in the 4. and 11. chap, the 24. Presbyters fingly perform: and tho ( in the yx\\ ) the Cherubims joyn with them, 'tis in the worfhiping, not in the fong, as drawn in that form ; for elfe the Angels every where glori- fy God, asfellow Servants, Rev. 19. 10. -22. 9. for his mercies to the Church. 2dly. Befides this Se- nate, we find mention of fouls; firft of the primitive Martyrs thokj/ainfor the witnefs of J c fits appear- ing tinder the Altar, ( where facrifices were llain, and the blood, which is the life or foul, Lev. 17. 14. poured out at foot thereof) and here crying out, Ho iv Chap. VII. How long before the time of vengeance \ 7$ev. 6. 10. not that they thirft after Revenge, but their re- ward ; ( yet this thirft void of impatience ) which it feems was not to be bellowed till the accomplijhment of the reji of their Brethren, ( yet under perfecution ) and the deftrudtion of their enemies, fee J^ev. 20. chap, as Gods reward and puniihments have their folemn and fet times i and are not of men (ingle, but of many together ; thus it is in the firft refurre- dtion, l^ev.zo. 4, ?. after deftrudhon of the Beait, &c. 7^^.19. 20. thole fooner and later martyred, crowned at once : and thus in the fecond Refurre- d:ion, 7{ev.2o. 12. At the deftru&ion of Satan and death, thofe long and lately dead railed at once. Meanwhile there are given them white J^obes , and reft: T^ev. 6. n. white robes implying both the righteoufnefs, mnocency , holinelsof thefe Saints, which they bring with them from the Earth, fee 7$e v. 19. 8. -7. 4. -i. 4. and the glory, and light, and beauty which is given to this innocency,from God : after this, upon their number accomplimedy and judgment ready to be executed upon thole who kil- led them. See %ev. 8. 7. &c. we find thefe fouls ( clothed with white robes and palms in their hands ) lfanding before the Throne, Sec. andprai/ing God and admitted to ferve him in his Temple, and to follow the Lamb, &c. J{ev. 7. p 3 if. &x. Next we find the fouls of thofe, who living in latter times had gotten the victory over the Beaft , firft with patience refting, and their good works, i.e. their white linnen, fol- lowing them, 7{ev. 14. 12, 13. then their number likewiie being accomplijhcd, and now judgment ga- in? forth againjt the Beajl, See. /landing likewife upon the fea ofglafs before the Throne with Harps ( as the -ierviceofthe Temple was celebrated withMufick, t0n *49 ijb Tlie benefits of our Saviour] i Cbron. 2 f. i. ) Harps of God, as i Theft. 4. 16. and Jinging Mo/ess triumphal/owg over the Egyptians : lecR^ev. if. 2, 3. -4. 6. To thefe two may be added thofe primitive of Ifrael, who firft upon earth, upon going forth of judgment, were fealed to be pre- ierved, Rev. 7. 3. and then are found Rev. 14. 3. praifing God on Mount Sion. Laitly, after judg- ment executed and finiflit as well upon the Beait, fa He prophet, Sec. jfiev.i9.20* as upon the perfecu- tors of the primitive Martyrs. Rev. 8. 7- &c. We find the promiled reward given to the fouls both of thofe who were beheaded for the witnefs of Jefus, Rev. 6.10. and thofe ( after ) who had not worjhjpped the Beaft, ( Rev. iy. 2. both joined Rev. 20. 4.) in the firft refurreclion ; being then made Priefts of God and ofChrijl. Rev. 20. 6. When alio Chrifthimfelf is faid in a more fpecial manner to be admitted to, and poffefled of, his Kindom : i. e. after his enemies de- itroyed ( in refped: of his members. ) See Rev. 19. 6. -1 1. 17. - iy. 4. Dan. /. 13, 14, 17. And is yet again to be advanced higher in it ; after the day of judg- ment 3 and death dejhoyed. For that giving up the kingdom to the Father, iCor. if. 24. and God being allinall,vzv{.2%. is not an annulling, (except for the manner of it only ) but perfecting of our Sa- viors kingdom. And all this is done before the lait general reiurre&ion of bodies, fet down. Rev. 20.12. Now this firft Refurredtion is either to be reftrain- ed to the Martyrs under the two great pcrfecutions, ftoried, the firft, Rev. 6. chapxhz 2d. Rev. 1 3. chap, as firft fruits ; and thofe, who are come out of great tri- bulation, Rev. 7. 14. -14. 4. and to fome others (per- haps ) of extraordinary fan£tity ; whofe other zea- lous fervice for God hath equalled the Martyrs furTerings 3 who fliall have fome extraordinary pri- vi ledge Chap. VII. viledge beyond the reft, either in a proper former refurrecStion of their bodies upon the deitru&ion or theBeait ; ( as the general reiurredtion follows that of Satan ). Which will not feem fo great a Paradox after one hath well confidered that fuch a refurre- dtionof bodies not of a few, but many old Tefta- ment Saints hath already been a ceo m pi i (lied ; namely at our Saviors rcfurredf ion, fee Matt. 27. yz 9 X3. who accompanied him a fee riding as the firft fruits of the Relurredtion of the reft by the fame Chrift to come. Nor will it be a ftranger thing then for fome before others to enjoy in their bodies celeftial blifs, then now it is that Enoch and Elite do lb. Or in a Metaphorical one of the foul ; ( Mar- tyres fruuntur ( ut loqtiuntur vetercs ) prcerogativa re- Jurreblionis : junt jam nunc \<4yyfr Q h Jicut alii futiiri funt pofi univerfalem rcfurreBionem. Grotius Annot. CaiTand. Art. 21. which as it is capable of the ex- preffionof a refurredtion to grace, jo. jr: if. C0L5.1. (according to that of the Schools, Mors animee fepa- ratioaDeo. So perhaps, it may be faid to have one, and as it were, a new life, when it is advanced to a far greater glory (according as Hereticks, that held no other refurredtion, applied this term only to it, 2 ( Tim. 2. 18. / Cor. ly. 12.) whilft the fouls of the wicked, that ftill lie in prifon till the great day, are laid not to live again till the day of judgment, and then to be condemned to a fecond death/See Matt. 10. 28 . and the fouls of other faithful only to be at reft. See 1 Cor. r. y. Or if the firft refurredtion be thus underftood, namely of fouls to greater glory, then may it be applied not only to the Martyrs, ( who are named by St. John living in times of perle- cution )'&Tgox*v only but to the fpirits of all the Saints that are deceafed before our Saviors 1000 year* iy 2 The benefits of our Saviour. years reign. Efpecially if we confider ; firft that St. John names fuch infinite numbers of them of all na- tions, See. J^ev. 7. 9. 2. The marriage of the Lamb, which ( likely ) excludes no Saints mentioned at this time. J^ev. 19. 9. 3. The fame reward of reign- ing, fecurity, of not being hurt by the fecond death, Sec. 7{ev. 2. 11,26,27. promifed not only to the Martyrs, but all repenting and doing good works : tho I allow them to the firft in a far higher mea- fure. l{ev. 2. and 3. chap. 4. Becaufe he no where makes mention of other Saints, not having the fame priviledges ; but of other dead. Where, his faying that blefjed and holy arc they that have part in the firft refurreSlio7i , for on fuch the feco?id death hath no power feems to imply , that the fecond death fhould have power overall the formerly de- ceafed that had not part in it. See Rev. 2.11. And thus much of our being admitted firft in foul, then alfb in body by Chrift, to the fame honor with him of Priefthood , and virion, and attendance, on God in the holyeft of all. Bleffed be fuch love to Aimers for evermore ! For what joy do we imagine would an Ifraelite have had, to have been introdu- ced within the veil,and to have beheld the glory be- tween the Cherubims, which yet the High Prieft might then fee only thro a cloud of incenfe ? How paflionately did enamoured Mofes beg for one fight of Gods face, ( which only the Gofpel admits us to; ) and was fuffered only to fee his bac\J and Elias on the Mount of God, after 40 daies fait, admitted only to hear his voice > But we all by this High Prieft are advanced in due time even to fee face to face. 1 Cor. 13.12. And this, it is that holy David infiam d and melted with Divine love every where fo much longs and fighs for, to dwell in Gods houfe forever; to Chap. VIL 1X3 to behold his beauty in his Temple: i.e. to live for ever in his presence : for as a Prince makes the Court, fo Gods prefence makes a Temple. See Pf 23.6. -84.1. «Scc. How amiable. My foul thirftetb. Bleffed are they that dwell. A day in thy Courts. Pf. 42. 1. &c. As the Hart pantcth. And fo his chief praier to God not to turn away his face s to caufe his face to Jhifie ; to lift up the light of his countenance upon him ■, never to be enjoyed but in his holy . place ; into which this oar great High Prieit firlt conducted him. The greatnefs of which Divine blifsofhis, and of all Samts, we may meafure ( but how infinitely doth the other exceed it, J by the joy we fhould take in the pofleffion of iome earthly thing with which we are defperately m love; and by the mourning we make for the iofs, i.e. in the abfence of it when delpaired. So the foul as foon as it hath once caft its eye on the beauty of God, the Original of all that is called fair, in that San- ctuary, is ftruck infinitely in love therewith, and enamoured cries out whom have I in heaven , Sec. Pf 73. 2y. the vehement longing after which, ( 'tis fuppofed ) drew thofe expreffions from the High Prieft himfelf, in this his exile from it. How am 1 Jiraitned } Luj^i2.yo. and with defire have I defer ed.Lul^. 22. if. and from his fervant St. Paul; [am in aftrait cupiens dijfolvi,&c. Phil. 1. 23. And then this love to the Deity of the Temple, will naturally produce the lervice of it ; In his 'Temple doth every man fpea^ of his glory, Pf 29. 9. eternal ringing of praife, and giving of glory unto him ,• even like thofe inflamed Cherubims, that reft not night nor day nor no more dotheSaints,7^^.7./r. crying one to another alter- nately Sanilus, Sauffus, Sanclus. J^ev. 4. 8. Efai. 6, 3. whofe imploiment we envy not, only becaufe we U love 77 ., #W r^^/> pearance to the people. 15-4 T/7£ benefits of our Savior. love not. God grant that we may not ilothfully, or heavily perform that duty here, which muft be our eternal imploiment hereafter 3 unlets we be e- ternally miferable. To conclude : the lalt adt of our Savior, as High Prieft,is coming again out of the Sandtuary. For as TaTdaJVr!-' ^ P eo P* e waited without, praying Lu\.\. until tum out of the Legal High Prieft having made a full attone- tkeSanaua- ment came forth again , and bleffed them from the Lord. Numb. 6. 23. Lev. y. 22. So, unto them that look for him, fhallChrift, who was once offered to bear the fins of many, appear a fecond time here without fin, (i. e. bringing us full remiflion hereof ) unto our final falvation. Heb. 9. 28. For tho before it was noted, how he ( ftaying there ) bleffed us from the Sandtuary 3 yet 'tis not a compleat bleffing, till his return ; when coming forth with his face fhine- ing, like Mo/es, from the glory of him before whom he Hands, he fhall alfo glorifie us ( not only in foul, but in body ) like himfelf : and take and carry us in with him into the Sanctuary to fee his glory and his Fathers glory,^. 1 z.^.and to be for ever with them. J Tbeff. 4. 7. Which coming forth, and glorious ap- pearance of the great God and our Savior therefore all the Saints (as the ifraelitesdid ok old ) are faid by the Apoltle to love, to look for, and patiently to wait for. 1 Cor. 1. 7. 2 Tim. 4. 8. 2 Tbeff. 3. f. Tit. 2.ii. Who yet a little while, and he that fhall come will come and will not tarry. Heb. 10. 17* Amen. CHAP. ( 1ST ) CHAP. VIII Jtfivs Chrift the Lord and King ; governing, prote&ing the Church. OD in the beginning made the world by §. r . his Son the fccond Feribn of the Trinity . Before our Jo. i. i.Heb.L^^o. ( 'God the Father,^;;;^ working by interior purpofe or decree i the Father ty the Sot?, in exterior production of the efred: j T/re h '™ cr f a y d > Holy Ghoji, by an internal vircue, refiding, as itglfj^/^ were, in the thing that is produced), God the ¥ a- whole world. therj in or thro the Son; doth all things by the lpirit. The Father refolves ; the Son commands, the Holy Ghoit works. The firft the Agent : the fe- cond the wifdom : the third the power. See i Cor. 12. 4, ?, 6. the three pcrfons. And by him iuftain- ed and confer ved it into its being, Heb . i. 3. Col.i.ij . And by him governed it in all its motions and changes. The divine eternal relations of the Son to the Father muft needs conclude this; iince he is the word, Jo. i. i. the roifdom, i Cor. 1.24. of the Fa- ther, without which none will fay the world was made or is governed. See Prov. 8. 22. But yet in a Andmore more fpecial manner by him in all ages governed ■Jl-jj !ar )' the the Church, of which God the Son was alwaies the Head, Eph. 1. 22. and the careful Conductor a- monglt all its enemies, even from the Creation; as it were in a preludium of its redemption by him. And the Holy Spirit that guided the Prophets (as now, (o then ) was lent from him, by which he al- waies preached the will of his Father unto men-. U 2 1 Pet. i-ftf The benefits of our Savior. i Pet. 3. 19. and he was alwaiesz/2 the world, tho */;£ •world knew him not, and alvvaies £/;£ //^/;£ of men, that enlightned every one coming into the world. See 1 Pet. 1.11. : P^. 1. 21. iP*£. 3.19. comp. 2 P fee Jo. 17. f. 2. Next out of the lingular honour he deftined for man, to carry up our nature, andfetit above al principalities and powers, &c. and to give us thofe near relations to God as no Creature befides is honored with, to be the Lambs wife ; to Jit down with him, and judge the nation, nay, Angels, &c. made lower then the Angels to be crowned in Him with majejly and Honor above them. Pf 8. Heb. 2. 3. Again out of compafiion to man, ^who at the beginning made in Gods image had a kingdom and immortality pro mi fed him, and by his folly loft it ) to give him a pattern, and fliew him the way how he might regain it. 4. Laftly, to exercife his kingdom, (which he al- waieshad over the Church) now with more ten- dernefs of love ( by contraiting new relations unto his fubjecls, and invelting their nature, and mak- ing it a dominion fraternal, ) and with ( if I may fo fay ) more pity and compafiion from his experi- rience, by tailing the fame infirmities with them, by which he might alfo much more ftrengthen their hope and confidence in him ; and fo advance their endeavors. For thefe and many more rea- fonsforefeen by this the wifdom of the Father, He emptied Himfelf of all his eternal glories ; forgat his Creation of all things ; laid afide his Crown, his right to any thing;fo rich, and having all things, be- came poor and having nothing. For which how lively doth he referable his type Abraham in his leaving his own Country, and Ins Fathers houje, and coming to fojourn, as it were, into a flrangc land. That lo he might be made like wife ( for the promife- to Abraham was chiefly performed to Chriit ) Heyr of the world and Lord of all Nations. Till God mould Chap. VIII. 15*9 mould rebeftow all thefe upon him as a reward to a Creature, of yielding obedience to his Commands, and exercifmg all finlefs patience in all temptations; according to thofe promifes of a kingdom upon the like patience and obedience made to man. For God from the beginning had deftined man §. 7 unto a kingdom ; Matt. 2?. 34. comp. 41. but ac- A k **$ dom i- 1 • 1 r\ till firomifedto cording, as his eternal wiidom had decreed, muta- manat the tability and variation in the things here below, and/'/' the building by degrees of perredtion out of imper- fection ; and the bringing torth of good out of the womb of evil, this kingdom and this glory was to be attained by man, thro free will, thro temptati- ons of the threefold enemy, and by a co-nqueft over them. Therefore the firft man alfo,to come to this happinefs, was firft to encounter the world, the flefh, and the devil. A tree let afore him in the ve- ry midjt of the Garden Handing by the tree of life. Gen. 3. 3. -2. 9. good for food , pica] ant for fight > fo- veraign for its virtue, being called the tree of kjwir- ledg, and defirable ( faith the text, to make one wife. Gen. 3. 6. A woman of the fame tielh with him, and Satan letting her on, &c And as he, if Handing thro all thefe, fo his poiterity ever fince, whofoever of them mall pafs thro thele temptations in all obe- dience and patience, are to have a kingdom, Sec. But fo it happened ; That the firft man created to this hope, yet weakly failed under thofe aflaults ; and lorfakmg Gods word, and believing the divels lyes, fought a kingdom indeed, but not by the way of humility, and obedience, and (hutting his eyes, which God had prefcribed > but by the ambition of wiidom, and having hiseyes open,andknowing good and evil,and being as Gods which the devil fugeeft- ed;and fo both he and his poiterity were -defeated of *' O 160 The benefits of our Saviour] §•4; Oar Savior therefore to repair this lofs became uLm^mln: man > to win a kingdom upon the fame promiies ; *nd t> y obedi- and this fecoiid Adam conquered,where thefirft was andfif- foiled; and tor this vi&ory was afterward crown- edttf S ^ a * ' e( i- To this end Cbriji both died, and rofe, and revrv- . ♦. . ed,that be might be Lord, &c. J\om. 14. p. tec Jo. ?. 27V- Becaufeox as he is, Phil. 2. 6, 7, 8. Sec. 1 'Tim. 3. 16. '.' jj Jo. 23. J. Lu\. 1. 32. Ejai. 9. 6. Heb. 2. p } 10, 14. Pfal. ' ■ - 4S. 7. Ad\ 2. 36,-io. 42. -17. 31. Matt. 28. 18. &c. to ihew to man the truth and performance of Gods promifesj and to be an example of the poflibility of attaining them , and being made perfedt , to f nd fih be a Jof'eph m the Court of heaven, and an Author damsfofteri- ol lalvation unto his Brethren ; who animated by ty 3 thatfol- his example^ a ffiftcd by his fpirit, and protected by low htm. j^j s p OWerj t i iro t l le fame way of obedience and fuf- fermgs, Ihall attain the fame reign and dominion, and kingdom, as the man Chriit Jefus hath. See Luh^ 12. 32. -22.3o. 7{ev. 2. 26,27. -3. 21. 1 Cor. 6. 2, 3. J(ez'. 20.4..-?. 10. Dan. 7. 22. And this by the e- verlaihng appointment of the Father Matt. 2y. 34. thro the Son. Lu\. 22. 2 p. §. y. And now to view the greatnefs and extent of this The power kingdom of the man Chfiif Jefus , bellowed up- VfChrifts on him for his perfect obedience, and willing fufter- km^om. ings, we find it as large as that of God the Father : who is for this universal dominion given him of the Father itiled ordinarily m icripture the Lord, as the Father, God. SccJ{pm. 1. 7. AH. 2. 36. Phil. 2. n.^ All power that can be named, over every name, that *c'< J ,GogJ!e- can be named, in Heaven, Earth, under earth. As over the evil Angels ; ( not only to quel them in all opposition 1 btrtalfo to imploy them in his fervicc, lee 1 Cor. s. 4, f. 1 Tim. 1,20. and to difpofe ofcthem m their motions. £&f Matf. h<3h3lif) io over all £.i I . /£. *] the Chap. VIII. i5i the good, (and that for his humiliations, Phil. 2. 9, io.comp. with 8. / Pet. 3. 22. ) whom he im- ploiesashis Miniftersand fervants in all affairs of his government. Sec Matt. 13.41. J{ev. 1. 1. called his Angels as well as , of God. Ad. 12. n. Jo. y.2$. comp! with 2 Thejf. 4. 16. whom they all adore. He/;. 1.6. And from whom, they not having naturally or originally all knowledg of the various wifdom of God and myiteries of his works j but being fuccef- fively in the due time increafed in it, according to the difpenfation of the Almighty, fee Eph. 3.10. / Pet. 1. 12. continually receive their greater illu- mination, and perfection of knowledg: he being the eternal wifdom of God - y and light of the whole world. Of whom he is head alfo, as he is of: the Church , therefore called the e/eel Jngcls, as men 1 Tim. 5-. 21. from whom 'tis conceived ( for doubt- lels they are conferved by, and in all things depend on, him, by whom they were created ) they pof- ieis their prefent confirmative grace, and illumina- tions, J{ev. 19. io. and mall hereafter receive at the end of the world a greater glory, fee Eph. 1. 1 0. Col. 2. 10. -1.2 0. As over the Church, fo over the ad- verfaries of it. Luk^ i ti> ra- the lad. tione eorum, qua circa homines operantur ( as the Schools ) the one fort here not doing more necefla- rilv good, then the other, evil ■, nor the other more rejoycinginour ftraying from God, then the other in our Conversions Lul^. ly. 10. which argues the diligence C H A P. VIII. l6S diligence of the one for our falvation; as of the o- thcrforour deltrudtion. Therefore I lay if thefe have not all their punilhmeat already -, (but Brail fuffer alfo for deceiving men, Jf^cv. 20. 10. and who knows whether this likewife in a juft proportion ) why fhould we imagine the other to have all their advancement ? Eipecially fince they are not yet freed from many charges and imployments about perfons in dignity much inferior unto them:and the Appoint* of perfection of bleflednefs ieems to confift in reft, and bn ([* "f the end of motion, which alwaies tends to fome- u thing yet deiired, not attained. But occulta Do- mino Deo nojh'o. Meanwhile how terrible this to thole who tread the blood of the Covenant under foot, to have their violated enemy their Judge. 2 Cor. 5-. n ! How comfortable this to thofe who obey him, to have their Brother to have Power as over men, t -Over all the fo much more over all the other Creatures ; Seas, Winds, and Heaven and Earth ! who as he made the old, ib hereafter fhall make a new, world; end- ing with a Creation of it, as he began ; by the fame Anew world power, by which here He ( to our aitomfhment ) or toUmadeby another in his name, i. e. by his power JM. 3. i<5. did create or repair an eye, or leg, or fome fmall piece thereof. He being the grand Liberator of the whole world atlaft; as well as of the Sons oi^s^enhave Cod, Rom. 8. 21. and Heaven and Earth being fa^£T/' V ~ Jus power, as well as all the power therein given him repaired, him. See He b. ?. f. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Rev. 21. 1. That we may know that there is nothing, nor prefent, nor to come, nor high, nor low from which he cannot defend us, out ot which he cannot deliver us, J^om. 8. 38,39. and over which we alio are not rulers and conquerors thro him that being flcfli of our Heih, lovethus, v. 37. X 2 But i<$4 The benefits of our Saviour. §• 6 - But amongit all thefe, over whom he hath pow- er, yet his care is now more* fpecial toward the Church his body. Eph. 1. 21. Heb. 3.6. fending a- broad Teachers, Eph. 4.. 7,1 i.&c. diftributing to leve- ral, feveral gifts of the fpirjt; Fffil. 4.13. commu- nicating a great par-jfbf his power to them: whatever they ask^domg it for them, &c* helping them in miferies, afflictions, thonot as yet keeping thefe from them ; delivering them from the mattery , . tho not as yet from the affaults. of their enemies. The manner ^ *, •>, , , / ■ i ofex&cifinr ior tao all power every where is given mm-, and this hi. Reg^l when any is executed 'tis executed by him ; and no fewer. p art a l mo j^ of this his univerfal power, but hath in 9 a fpecimen, for an eflay and teftimony "of it, been ■* executed byHim already, even to that hfrgheft one. of railing the DeW;' by him, and by others alfo by his power ; yet this power was not received to be, in every part, executed all at once ; but according to the difpenfation of the times appointed by the Father, who gave him this power. See Heb. 2. 8.> 9. 1. Cor. iy.. 23. &c. Matt. 20. 23. He governing all according to his Fathers will, who fe will yet is the fame with his own. Therefore is he, in relpect of fome acts of his power, defenbed fitting down at 'GoS, right hand , and retting and expecting Heb. 10. 13. till the time comes of doing every thing in that order that the Frophets have foretold it; i. e. that the Father hath fore-ordained it. A&. 3. 21. who hath/?/// the times andfeajons of every thing in his own power, as our Savior anfwered his Difciples, when they were inquifitive about his Kingdom,^?. 1. 7. as in other acts, going forth already conquering and to conquer. Neither are all his enemies to be . fubduedat once; but one after another; Firft Ari- tichrift s thea Satan j the latt death : See jf^f w-.19-.20. -20.JL0, Chap. VIII. it? -20.10,14. 1 Cor. 1 y.26. And fo are the fame enemies alio overcome by degrees. They firit hind red from conquering his elecl ( which power over them he received at the very firit J ; then hindred from af- faulting. For already by the power of his fpirit, neither the flefh, nor Satan are luftered to over- come us, except by our own default : but only per- mitted for the exercife of our virtues itill to aifail us; And that meanwhile many by these affaults pe- cifhj 'tis not from any defedt of the power, or good- nefs of this king : who is fo diligent that of all that his Father gives him, he calleth them all by thar names s go ?th before them, leadeth them out $ fleeth not from them when the wolf cometbj-oofeth not one,Jo. zo.i 3,1 2rr-17.12.2yi23.il and in heaven,?/* tbeprejence of the Angels, rejoyceth ("like the woman that had found her loft piece s and the fliepheard that had regain'd his itraying fnecp ) for the recovery of eve- ry finner. See Lul^, 1^.7,10. But from the eternal wifdom and law or the Father, ( which law his pow- er mult not tranfgrefs) not to take away free will from man , ( which done all further demerit and re- ward ceafetb, and by which left he muft itill have a poffibility to fin ) till the confummation of the world. But this only Free-will being continued to man, without which as vice, fo ail virtue expireth, and what is there that he could have done for his vine- yard that he hath not done ? for there is nothing in or without us, that can oppofe him concerning ns, if we our felves do not See Rom. n. 23. [ When we believe not, when we will not Matt. 25. 37. Mar\. 6.?. J^o?n. 11. 23. fo. 16. 12. ] Thefe are the bounds the Father, not to overthrow the nature of man,, hath let to the power of his Son; they arguing no impotency, nor unwillingnefsinhim, but incapa- bility 166 The benefits of our Saviour. bility in us. Elfe all things that can make man hap- py^ mall be accomplifhed by the omnipotent power ot this King of Saints in their proper lea foil. §. 7 . But to exprefs the manner of this kingdom yet more fully ; we are to know • that as God by our Saviors coming into the world, and firft appearance of the kingdom of God, removed away the weak elements and imperfections of the former times - y . . . . and by this light caufed all thofe (hadows to vanifli ; certain de- f° h e compleats not this kingdom neither all at grees advan- once,but makes it to grow like Elijah's cloud from the cwg. bignefs of a man s band, till it cover all the earth ; and like thofe waters, E^e\. 47. 3. &c. by which doubtlefs are meant the larger and larger effufions of the fpirit till the day of the Lord come. Ail. 2. 17, 18, co nip. 19, 20. Vmbra in Lege, Imago in Evan- gelio; Veritas in Ccclo. (S.AmbrofeJ andadvanccth it by gentle degrees to more and more perfection till the end come -, therefore compared to a muftard- feed, and a piece of leaven. LuJ^. 13.19,21. It was the Difciples error Atl. 1. to think that the King- dom of Chrifl , that w&s but then vagient in its in- fancy , JJiould prefently appear in its full ltrength without any intermediate growth : which had it then come to pals, and fo nothing have been ca- pable of any further perfection, the world mult al- io prefently have concluded: the fulnefs of all perfe- ction being only in the laft keneof the kit Ad* thereof. For there is no decreafe or revolution to imperfection, or itanding at a ftay in the work of God ('Man, his image cannot endure this in his petty contrivances, ) but increafmg alwaies and advancing to that juft height he hath determined for them^ A prognoitication of which governing the world lie hath left us in the 6 daies work of the Creation Chap. VIII. i6- Creation of it. And fo our Saviors kingdom h nor yet come to its period of perfection. See Dan. 7. 14, 9. Heb. 2. 8. J{ev. 11. 1 ?. -16. 17.-19.fj. LuJ^iy. ir. &c. 1 Cor. if. 2?, 26. Dan. 2.34,44. Acl. 5.21,23. but in a conitant progrefs toward it, both in refpedt of the lubdaingot his enemies i And the more and more enlarging of his dominion ; till a/l the Hea- then be his inheritance , and the uttcrmoji parts oj' the Earth his pojjejjion. And for the firit^'To repeat more largely what was §• 5. briefly laid before ) tho all power in heaven and earth be already give a unto Him, in refpedt of himfelf. Matt. 28.18. Tho God hath made him both Lord and , ln re r pe $ Chriji, Acl. 2. 36. and we fee him crowned already with offnbdum* glory and honor, Heb. 2. 9. yet all things are not as hisE7;i ' yet put under him in reference to his body : tho fit- ting at the right hand of God in his perfon, he is fullering ltill in his members, Col. t. 4. Saul , why perfecuteji t'.ou me } At his refuiTe&ionlong ago he then led r^m'/£y,(i.e.Sin,Satan,and hisinitruments, Death and its affociates, ) captive, fo as to fuffer no more at all from them in his own perfon \ nor to fuffer in his bod)' the Church fo far, as that it fliould be conquered by them, LuJ^ 22. 32. Matt. 16. 18. he then difarming them of their formerly mortal wea- pons, but yet not fo far, that it fliould by them be no more affaulted ; nay the ftronger affaults are now toward the latter end of the world ; as his members are more by him enabled to bear them. His fervants alfo conquering the fame way, as him- felf, they never fo much, as now, fince he fits on the Throne, being given up to martyrdom, and overcoming death by death. Chriftianity is yet on- ly under the condud: of their fpintual Mof'cs tra- vailing airelh in the wildernefs toward another fit* HO'' | . itf8 I Afitichrlfl. i Satan. 3 Death. Z In refpefi of enlarging his dominion. i To the few in part. The benefits of our Savior. naan ; expecting, not entred into, reft. Mofes was but a type of Chrift -, the ifraelites of the Church : Egypt, and Babylon, and Antiochus of Anti chrift ; that is to be revealed in the lait times : againfl whom Chrift comes firlt with aids of gracejbefore he comes with the glory of his prefence going forth conquering and to conquer, but by leveral degrees, and one ene- my after another : firft triumphing over the Beaft, and then over his image, and the fa/fe Prophet; firft by the conflancy , the rvitnefs , and blood of the Saints. 7{ev. 12. 11. Then by the fword of vengeance. T^v. 19.15-. Then over Satan, firft, fo far as to bind him from doing hurt : then carting him into deftru<5ti- on, l^ev.zo. 2, 10. and laft of all over Death, the lafi of all his enemies that Jhall be deflroyed. vcrf. 14. And as the fubduing of his Enemies, fo the enlarging of his dominion, is effected by certain degrees. He brought falvation to all people, but not therefore it tendered to all perfonsinall times ; but only to fome generations ( according to the good plealure of the Father to whom his kingdom isfibjecT:^ in every country, and again to fome Countries in eve- ry age. Matt, 24. 14. How narrow was the found of the promulgation of his kingdom at firft > [ Into any Village of the Samaritans enter ye not. ~\ How obfcure his Sermons ? [ And without a parable fpa\e he not unto them. ] How uncapable his Auditors ? [ Not able to bear his doctrines, Jo. 16. 12. Lul^ 24.21.] Great w orks were done when he was prefent here, but greater to be done after his departing hence. Jo. 14. 12. His perfonal prefence with his fervants, which was a great encouragement to them, being advan- ced into an affifting then} with his prefence with God in heaven, and his fpintual prefence not with, but in, them ; receiving there from the Father and giving Chap. VIII. 1*9 giving unto them the Holy Ghoft, by which them- ielves, ( ignorant whillt his body was with them J were euligbtued with all truth; and thoufands now at a time converted to the Truth. Therefore was it expedient for the promoting of his kingdom to go hence ; His Commillion before being only from the * To the Gen- Jews; [I am not fent,&c. Mast. iy. 24. ~\ but after * his afcent, receiving the promile for the Gentiles ■, £ when he asked of God and had given him the He a- then aljo for his inheritance. Tf. 2.8.] And fliedding the gift of all manner of tongues upon his Difciples for inftructing them. And ever iince hath he en- larged his borders, and advanced to a further per- fection towards his fulne s ; which is his body the Church, Eph. 1. 21. ftill bringing more ilieep into his fold, Jo. 10. 16. and gathering up the children of the kingdom, as his Father hath given them him, here, and there -, in this or in the next generation ; not loofing one of thofe be gives him, and fending his Laborers hither and thither according as his har- veft is ripe 1 Now forbidding his Apoltles to low their feed in one place, where he fees the ground is yet too ftubborn to receive it [ as in Jjia, Ad. 1 6. 6. and inBithynia, verf. 7. They ajfayed to go into Bi- thyma, but the/pirit ofjefus ( as many Copies ) fuf- fered them not and in [erulalem, ./Jit. 22. 1^,21. They in J eruialem will no t receive thy tejiimony con- cerning me : make halt, depart, I will fend thee to the Genti'es. ] Again guiding them, ('and that by ap- pearing himfelf in per lb 11) to other places, where he law he had [ by his Father given him] much peo* pie: as at Corinth, Antioch, Ephefus. See Act. 13. 48.-16. 10.-18.9, 10.-8.S9. Then (pake the Lord to Paul, Be not afraid for I have much people in this City : So, in places where they might do him more ler- Y vice, 170 The lenefits of our Savior. vice/ pricking them forward extraordinarily with thefecret inftigations of hisfpirit. See AEl. 17. 16. -i#. f % -1 p. 21. driving Paul without any reft to Je* rufalem, that he might convey him thence, by oc* cafion of a falfe accufation to fow the Gofpel at flome. See AH, 13.2. -#. 1,4, more fpreading the Gofpel, by a perfecution of the profeffors. [Gods work being not, good without evil; But, Good out of evil.] All this zeal toward the Gentile ; af- ter he had, ('out of his dear aftedtionto his own na- iTothefew tl0n ) ^ r ^ ma de tender of their miniftry to the ji^ftatized. Jew : where ( then refilled J yet in the time appoint- ed his ftandard (hall befetup; and they alio mall bow unto his Scepter, and unto Sion jhaflcome the deliverer. Itym. n. 16. comp.with£/W. 79. 20. and the light of the Gentiles mall alfobe the glory ofl/rael. Thus the Sun of righteoufnefs goeth on and pro- fpereth s and none are hid from the heat thereof; but alfoj as the Sun , he enlightneth not all this Sphere at once: Firft, rifing upon the Jew ; from them mining on the Gentile ; amongft thefe, firft vifiting the profelytes, and thofe who were before introdu&ed into the Jews religion ( for fuch were moftof thefirft Converts. A£t.\6. 14.-17.4,11,17. t£. 7. ) but from thefe by little and little fpreading to the reft of the Gentiles, thofe before abounding in all idolatry : and amongft thefe to the Eaftern and Aliatick people fooner ( the light of the Gofpel holding the fame courfe with that of the Sun, and night alfo fince having fucceeded the day in places where it firft fhined ) then to the European and the Weft ( thofe whom the Gofpel vifited later being re- compenfedin this that they have retained it longer.) But this fo, as the light 1$ ftill increaling ; and far $■ 9 more here added to the fold of that great Shep- heard, C h a p. VI1L 17 r heard, then have there apoftatized from it; and At Uftpn- ftill it proceeds, and hath palled over the broadfift^f/^^ Seas, to new difcovered kingdoms ; America ; and hers here on fo from them hath made the round to the f urtheft earth - Eafti China to the pofterity of Sem; (Vox by him was the Eaft generally peopled, as the North by Ja- phet, and the South by Cham ) and from them ftiall at laft return to the pofterity of Abraham, the body of the Jewifh nation from whence it let forth, Jtym.. 1 1 . with whom we hope that a remnant of Chains feed alio , out of which hath iprung that great enemy of Chriit, (hall be gathered to the Church, Pf. 72, 10, u. and then that wicked one, with thofe that obftinately follow him, be utterly deftroyed, and then Noahs curie fully accompliihed. And 'tis obfervable that, at the fame time the Gofpel began to decay in fome parts, it began to be planted in others. When the Eaftern and African Churches began to be overgrown with Apoftacy and Herefy ; the Northern nations, Germa?iy , Pole, Denmark^, Sweden, Norway, &c. began to be gathered into the Church. And after that the Weft ( again ) had been overrun with the grofleft fuperftitions, Se£b and Di v vifionsjthe Gofpel was haftily transferred to the Eaft and Weft-Indies. From Chriftian aflemblies it hath grown to Chriftian States ; and from thcie again ( as it has been of a long time generally belived ) (hall encreaie into a Chriftian, and the fitch and iaft, Empire : (not that all that live then fliall be Saints \ ("or that the world fliall be under one Mcmarch;ano- pinion made to ferve the ends of fedition and ty- ranny), but all or moft for their religion, Chri* ftians, ) neither fliall Antichnftianifm be univerfai either for place or time. Of thus 10 horns, tins E<- nemy fliall prevail but over three* Dan, 7*8. and. Y 2 as J 7£ The benefits of our Saviour. as he lhall be toward the end of the world ; lb fhall he not continue unto it fc nor have the honor, mundo fecum moriente, morij but thofe Kings at laft lhall make him defolate, who before gave their ftrength unto him. And our Saviour (hall conquer the world firft another way ; before, by letting it on fire. His fpirit, his word firft lhall prevail over it; over the hearts and fouls of men 5 and they fhall one day, before the laft, become iiibjedts, not only to his power, but to his truth: when Satan alfo himfelf, before the time that he fhall be utterly deftroyed, fhall firft have fhackles laid upon him, that he can- not walk about and feduce. After which conqueft firft over the miniiters and the temptations of Sa- tan y he lhall alfo deftroy Satan himfelf 3 and take his Saints alfo out of the hands of death : and raife them again by his power given him from the Fa- ther, and glorifie them. 5 10 His Kingdom, in refped: of his" members, feem- The three A- ing to have three degrees of its growth ; and his fientsofhis throne 3 fteps or afcents one much higher then an- other. The firft beginning at his refnrredtion , a kingdom of grace chiefly , when our Savior firft goes forth conquering and to conquer. 7{ev. 6. 2. The fecond beginning at the fall of Antichrilt, and reftraint of Satan. J{ev. 19. 20 . -20. 2. The entrance of our Savior into a kingdom of pow T er j a king- dom mixt of grace and of glory too • his kingdom onearth. See 7{ev. 19. 6. -20. 4. The third, which is the confummation of it, and the kingdom of abfo- lutc glory, his kingdom in heaven, beginning at the deftroying the laft enemy Death, and the ge- neral refnrredtion. J(ev. 20. ii- z'fim. 4.1. Matt. 2^.37. £7/^.19. 12. And then hcjhall give up this kingdom unto the Father, when God Jh all become all in G ii a p. VIII. J/3 in all, in him and in us. That is when this Vicege- > rent in a kingdom now fullofoppofition , (hall have gathered all Gods elect into iatety and felicity ; de- stroyed all enemies , and gathered out of it all tilings that offend, Matt. 13.41. finifhed his bufinels for which he reigned, i. e. our lalvation. Then (hall this General give up his Commiffion 5. M . (as we fay, there needs no government where no- T * e ?*£% thing can difobey ) and return with the leather, and '^Jj> h f^f t7 ll C0 7H- and the Holy Spirit, to govern after a new, and, in hers refpect of the manner of it ( if I may fo lay J after pleated, em i-i • ^inii • l-*-1r mtes conquer- an higher way ; 1. e. God lhall govern immediately ed ^ reflgning without any appropriated fervicc of Chnft, off An- up his Ke- gels, or men, his fubftitutes ; or life of external J"™* means, without the lealt contradiction or oppofiti- on of any thing in his kingdom, whereby his glo- ry now is, as it werc,violated and diminifhed ; him- felf offended and diipleafed. When God takes a- gaintohim, as it were, his great power, fee the ex- preffion J\ev.\\.\7. (for God the Father,by the wick- ednels of free will, now as it were, admits and un- dergoes fome diminution of his glory ) and governs with as entire and pure a glory as we may imagine he did before the world was, and when there was nothing but himfelf; and perfect and infinite glory reflected only from himfelf. Our Savior alfo having this kingdom refign d , (as he then had it ) with him- J0.17.r- So now, as then, above all, and thro all, and in all, Epb.^.,6. as all being nothing, but himfelf all.So that this refignment of our Saviors go- vernment ( fuch as now it is, ) isonly the traniitioa of it into a greater perfection, for it endures for e- ver and ever. LuJ^i.53. The more things multipli- ciousare united , and things diverie annihilated in- to God 5 the more they alio being perfected. Winch 174 I ';. The benefits of our Saviour. as it is true in all other creatures, fo alfo ( accord- ing to his humanity ) may be verified of our Savior, blefedfor evermore \ In refpedt of which confumma- tion of all things, that is yet to come, all the pre- fent things, which are confummations of the types of former times, are but types themlelves, and im- perfections 5 as alfo many of thofe prophecies that are already fulfilled in thefe are to have a fecond fuller accompliihment hereafter. Our Saviors firft coming but a type of the fecond s and the prophe- cies applyed to this, fee Mai. 3. 1. Matt. 3. 10,12. much more verified and fulfilled in that. Our Sab- baths but types of the reft to come ; the prefent communion of Chrifts body and blood, and the prefent inhabitation of his fpirit, but types and earneft-pence of a more intimate incorporation and union to him hereafter. When whatever he is we Jhall be lit^e htm, tho we cannot now imagine what ive jhall be: and our prefent knowledg and conceit of things, feeing them under the law, thro a veil > under the Gofpel, thro aglafs y fomewhat clearer, but not yet face to face ■, 2 Cor. 3. 14, 18. 1 tor. ii.12. iuch as Jhall hereafter vanijh away, 1 Cor. is. X,i2. but by improvements Stars varnfli in a great- er light. Meanwhile all things under this King of Saints go on apace to their perfection ; by whom all that is imperfect fjjall at laft be done away. And in his Majefty may he ride on profperoujly 5 and may Ins arrows be fl:arp in the heart of his enemies \ and. the people he fuhduedunto him-, and may he remember his poor iervants now he is in his kingdom, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Laltly, to conclude this chapter as the reft, what is faid of his Kingdom , is verifyed alfo of the Saints; By whole merits, after whofe example, un- der Chap. IX. i7T der whofe conduct, affifted by his fpirit, protected by his power, all thofe who depend on him jbalt alfo overcome , Jhall have a kingdom, thrones, reign on Earth, rale over the vntims^ judge men and An- gels^t. only laving to him the primogeniture, the preeminence, the right hand, Sec Rev. 2. chap.i. CHAP. IX. The Bern/its of our Savior common to all Gene- rations ever ftnee the Creation. LASTLY. As all thefe benefits come to §. 1. mankind by and thro Chrift ; to they came, ™'° /d wor / d 1 ii- 11 c bad not only alwaies, by him ; to all generations or men the ty ^ eh i ut ever fincc the Creation; And as well thde tie bemefujf before, as thofe fince, his coming in the flcfli ^c^tbefrowifes. tained falvation and were ble (Ted only by, in, and thro, him. God, ( perfecting, as all his other works, fo that of our redemption by degrees 5 and (till re- serving fome better thing behind, t,o fuper induce upon the former ; that the precedent, without the following, times might not be made perfect ,• Hch. 1 1. 40. ) appointed not the full-manifeilation of his Son, for taking away our fin, &c. nor, ("after the Sonreafcended, ) the vifible and more plenary de- fcenfion of the Holy Ghoft, for enabling our obe- dience, &c. till the laft times indeed: But yet he not only proraifed them, ( I mean to his Church, ) from the beginning, [where note; that in what manner the fending of the Meffias or the promi(ed feed > fo the fending of the fpirit, was only pro- mifed to former ages. See for this (which islefs taken notice of J Gal. 3. 14. Act. 2. 33, 39. Efiri* 52, iy. -44. 3. Jer. 51. 33.-^2. 40. Eip\* 11. 19* -36. 27. 176 llje benefits of our Saviour] Joel i. 29. J^ecb. 12. io.&cc. ] and raifed a continu- ed expectation and longing for them ; both in men, and Angels ; Mal.3.i. iPet.i.n. [ and therefore the faithful were, then, called the children of the promifes ; and the priviledges of the Jews ( the then Church of God) laid to be great, in that they had the promifes ; fee 7^0/??. 9.4. -3. 3. ./#/. 2. 39.] But he alfo exhibited them ; and this, not only in types, ( the figures and reprefentations of what was to come:) [As all former times were, almoft in all things, types of the latter, fee 1 Cor. 10. 6, 11. I{pm. ly. 4. Ecclef 1.9. that the whole world might know Godswaies, ( in his mercies, judgments, &c. ) what they are, and v/hat they will be, by what they al- waieshave been; and fo, in both kinds, might hope, and fear, the fame things to fall out to them; which have come from God formerly upon others , for their example] but in the virtue and benefit of them. Thro the grace of our Lord J efus Chrijt ( faith Hadjbe pre- St. Peter ) we /ball hefaved, even as they : i.e. the f^andco?i- Fathers, fee jtl. iy. n,comp. 10. nor only this 5 but of God* and * n tae pretence of them : Firft for the Son ; The go- iheprefence, veriiiiient of the Church of God under the old Te- and ajjifiame ftament was by this only begotten of God, 1 Cor. 10. of the Holy T1 , / . J ? Spirit. 9- Heb. 1 1. 26. tho not yet incarnate. •§. z. Humanity indeed was not afllimed till the ap- T$>eGovern- pointed time ; nor any of thole offices that necelTa- ™ldlaorldly r *fy depend on it ; nofacrifke, no fiifferings for us • the Sou. no obedience to the laws, which were enjoy ned us \ no interceffion as yet as High Prieft for men, his Brethren; as yet a Mediator, in refped: of man, to God he was not : being in all things ( till he empti- ed himfclf ) equal to God the Tather; yet the be- nefits of all thefe, tho not to be a&ed till their fea- loii were participated and equally communicated to Chap. IX. to all ages before thro faith in thofe to come ; as to ages fince thro faith of thefe paft. And thui the Lamb may be laid to be fiain from the beginning. But yet it feems plain ; that, ( by the divine Oeco- nomy, ) from the perfon of the Son of God ( which was alwaies), The firji as well as lajt, Alpha and 0- mega, Davids of spring or branch* and root, l{ev. i. u, 17. -22.i5. and all things as of the Father fo by the Son, 1 Cor. 8.6.70.1.4. As the firji begotten from the dead, l^cv. i.y.Col. 1. 18. fo the fir ft horn of every Creature. Col. 1,1;. comp. 17. From this perfon, I iay, as it were a Mediator from the Father to us, came in all times the enlightning and teaching j Jo. 1. 9. Ef'ai. 60. 1. comp. bph. f. 14. he was alwaies the light the condudl and protection ; Pf. 80.1. he was alwaies the Jhepheard Efai. 27. 3, 6. of the Church of God. From this perfon all bleflings de- rived upon Her ; She was ruled with his more ex- traordinary perfonalprefence and immediate pre- fidence, ( and not by fubordinate Angels 3 ) and this done with his great delight, Prov. 8. 30. with great companion, and affliction for their miferies, Judg. 10. 15. Exod. 19. 4. Dent. 1. 31. Ef'ai. 46. 3. -63. 7,9- and with great patience, grief, and 10-times -provocations from their fins. Numb. 14. 22, Pfyf.io. He often affuming an human figure, as a preamble to his incarnation, tho not yet a real and natural body: and appearing to, and difcouriing with, and fee 11 by, the Saints of old, before his coming in the flefh ; as he hath done to others fince, after his afcenfion, many times co one man (S:. Paul) that are mentioned, Jel.y.4. -18. 9. -22. 18. zTim. 4.17. All the promiies of Himfelf to come were from Himfelf, and. from his fpirit ; i?^..i.ii. and a- mongll the reft that gracious designation ( made to Z his 178 §• ? All judg- ments and §•+• "Executed by the fee on d p erfon of the Trinity. The benefits of our Savior. his Father) of his perfon to be emptied and to af- fume flefh [ Lo I come ] the Father again promifing, before the world was, all the bleflings that fhould come to mankind there from. See Tit. i. 2. comp. Gen. 1. 2d. and -J. 22. and -11. /. And as all mercies upon the Church and the God- ly ; fo all judgments upon the wicked and the ene- mies thereof were executed by the perfon of the Son, as well before, asfince, the incarnation, fee Jo. y. 22, 23. All judgments alfo being a proper ef- fed:ofthe word of God. See Rev. 19. 13, 17. Heb. 4. 12. All thofe judgments upon the old world were by him 3 being forerunning types of the world to be judged by him at that lail day. Therefore is he faid in the fame manner, fince his incarnation as before, to come often ( flill ) to execute judgments without any deicent of his humanity. See J{ev. 2. y. Matt. 16. 28. -24. 34, yo. fym. 11. 26. comp. Ffai. 3?. 4. -40. 10. And from Him all thefe as the fecond Perlbn in the Trinity, contradiftinguifhed from the Father. For tho opera trinitatis junt indivifa 3 and all ex- ternal works are of the whole Trinity, yet in the operation, the fame manner of concurrence can- not be attributed to the 3 perfons : we cannot lay that as the Father made the world by the Son ; fo that the Son, by the Father. Nor that as the Son became incarnate ; fo the Father : Nor becaufe our Saviours praiers were addrefled to the Father, there- fore they were to the Holy Ghoft, or to the Son i. e. himfelf. Now then to prove this, that we pretend, more fully • and here to pafs by that deduction (firm enough) of God the Fathers creating, up- holding, governing all things by his eternal Son, therefore governing the Church (his people Eled:, whofe Chap, IX. 179 vvhofeGod he more fpecially calls hjipifelf) thefe, I fay, more eipecially bv the lame perion his Son. 1. This feems to appear from two Lords, feveral Mention of times named 111 the old Teftament: fee Pfno. 1, two Lords, where the fecond Lord, whom D&vid calls bis Lcrd } is exprefsly by our Saviour expounded to be him (elf, Matt, 22. 44. and Himlelf, not as he was Davids So??, fince by his queition he implved that Chrift as Da- vids Son could not be his Lord -, but as Gods Son ; which the blind Jews imagined not. So of God and God Pfal.^y. 6. comp. 7. kc-Heb. i.ic,and 8. David making many adirefles unto God the Son, as ap- pears by the quotations in the new Teftament : fee Pfal 68. 24. comp. 18. and Eph. 4. 8, 9. After this confider Gen. 19.24. which diveriity of expreffion ieems to arife from that Lords being yet on earth, that difcourfed with Abraham. Gen.iZ. 1, j 5 2i. Add to thefe E^cJ^. 1 3. 7. comp. Matt. 16. Si. Ejai. y. 1. 2. From thofe many places s where the fame di- ,^^^ vine perfon is ( promiicuoufly ) called the Angel of having d> the Lord ( therefore not God the Lather ) andalfo Attributes. is himfelf named God ; The Lord ; The God oflfmel ; is delivering his meffage ( if I may fo call it ) in his own names receiving worfhip, dedication of Al- tars, Sacrifice, as God ; and ( feeing God and liv- ing ) with wonder applycd to him by thoie trem- bling mortals to whom he appeared i by all which joyned together ( tho to lome it may fecm the phrafe of thofe daiesto give any Angel the name oi God. See Judg. 13.21,22. And their opinion that the fight of an Angel was death to a mortal, fee Judg. 6. 2i. it is as evident that he was diftinguifh- edfrom all created Angels, See Gen 32. 1,2. no fuch ceremonies ufed. Therefore is this Angel in an efpecial manner called the Angel of Gods lace or Z 2 prefence, i g The benefits of our Saviour. presence, and Gods name faid to be in Hun. Exod. -23.21. Efai.63.9. which feems plainly applyed to our Saviour by the whole defcnption, and by 1 Cor. jo. 9. yet the fame is called alfo Gods face, Exod. 33. 14. and God hi mf elf, verf. 3. who refufing upon their idolatry to conduct them any longer ; yet af- terward condefcended unto it, upon the interceffi- onofMofes: fliewing in the firlt the malignity of fin; inthefecond the power of Chrifts interceflion for linners ; typified by that of Mofes. See xod. 3 3 . 14. -34. 10. Now for the coincidence of thefe two [God the Lord~] and \_The An^el^ Szc. keGen. 16. 7. comp. io, is, 14.Gen.22. j 1. comp. 12.-32. 34. comp. So. and Hof. 12.4,5. Gen. 4-8. 16. comp. ly. Gen. 3i. 1 1. comp. 13. Exod. 14. ip. comp. 24.- 3, 2. comp. 3, 4, 6, j, 14. Deut. 3 3. 16. and 2^ech. 1.1,2. where Jojhua appearing before the Angel, as a Judge,is ac- cufed by Satan, fee verf. 4. Mark. 12. 26. Acl. 7. 38, 3s. comp. ?3.Heb. 12.26. And many more places to this purpofe. Which intereft, agency, and ap- pearance of our Saviour in the old Teftament, thofe other places in the new feem to glance it. 1 Cor. ic. p. comp. Exod. 17. 2. Numb. 21. j. Heb. 1 1 . 26, \ Pet. 3.ip.-i.n. Matt. 23.37. where How oft would I, ^cc. feems to be meant alfo before his incarnation, by the Prophets, whom he alwaies fent ,• before, and fince. Neither doth that faying, 1J0. 4. 12. Jo. 1. 18. [ A 7 man hathfeen God at any time ] 1 Tim. 6. 16. [ nor can fee bim~] ( grounded on Gods words in Exvd. 33.20,22. ) thwart that, which hath been faid; or oppofe the virions and apparitions of God veil'd in created reprefentations and images ; but only thofe virions of him in his own nature and effence: or that more proper glory, wherein he fliall be feen by us in the next world, 1 Cor. \3. 12. which devouring fire and Chap. IX. andunacceflible light nothing mortal can behold without being melted and con! timed ; the image of which alio is fometimes reprefented fo glorious, as neither is it beholdable, fee Lev. 16. i 3. and moil- whatfo glorious, as not feen without great horror and trembling 5 the ordinary fymptomes in all ap- paritions •, even thofe not only of God, but of An- gels, And this invifibie glorv is called Gods face, Exod. 33. 20. Not but that Gods face alfo hath been feen, fee Gen. 32. 30. Judg. 6. 22. &c. But that face was only a vizard ( if I may (6 fay ) over his own face; and that glory but a fliadow of his own glory (^ therefore M^j- after a fight of thefe, Exod. 24. io 3 itf. Numb. 12. 8. Itill affectionately defired a fight of the other. Exod. 3 J. 18.) Sometimes made more, fometimes lefs. glorious -, as when in the form of a man he dined with Abraham. But yet except when the divine Majefty perfonated an ordinary man, feldom in any glorious apparition under the times ofthelawwas his figure, or at leaft his face, iccn - y this familiarity being r-fcrved, in the incarnation of God, for the times of the Gofpel. / Jo. 1. 1 .Jo. 1 . 14. The appearance to Abraham ( in a vifion or rea- lity it matters not for our purpofe ) Gen. iy. i7.comp. 12. was a blazing flame iffuing out of a Fornace en- vironed with darknefs. Exod. 24. i<5. The fight of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire to the people , and to the Elders who had more clear vifion, verf. 10. there is mention only of ( as it were) aSaphire-pavement under his feet : and remember ( faith Mofes ) Deut. 4. 1 y. that ye [am no manner of Jimilitude. Mofes his importunity afterward only faw his (houlders paflant,and was entertained chief- ly, as alfo Elijah, and as Adam in Paradife, Gen. 3. #,/. 7. 26, 27. the appearance of the loines of a man, and flames covering the upper and the lower parts. JLfaz.6.1. No defcription of his perfon, fave the poiture only fitting on a Throne j only a parti- cularizing of the Cherubims. Dan. 7. 9. A defcri- ption of his covering, his veltment, and his hair, but not of his perfon. 7\ev. 4. 3. no defcription of any figure, only the luftre like a Jafper or Sardin-ftone - y only ]^ev. 1. 12. In St. Johns vifion of our glorified Savior, there we find all the parts of his body pun- ctually deicribed, muchrdemblingZ)tf///>/j- of that glorious Angel, c. 10. $\ which fome alfo imagine to have been our Saviour. §• 6- 3. This appears in that fome of the apparitions jTmenflp' of God in the old Teftament mult be granted to be farhionsmufi of the fecond perfon -, as that vifion Ejai. 6. 1. which hegrantedto is interpreted exprelsly of Chrift Jo. 12. 41. comp. ™??Iplrfon. 49; quoted out oiE/ai. 6. where this vifion is relat- ed and this being the Lord, whofe glory refided in the Temple, and fate between the Cherubims. That vifion Ii^^. i.2<5. mult needs be of the fame Lord too y fee Pfal. 68- 24. comp. i3. now the fame Lord refiding 111 the Temple, and before, in, or upon the Tabernacle ; it follows that the Lord conduct- ing the Church m the wildernefs, was alfo the fe- Promtheft cond perfon. And from thefe.which mult be grant- grantedo- C£ j many other appearances in reafon cannot be de- foncannotbe H$ed to have been of the fame perfon. Llpecial- denyed, ly mo ft of them being acts of care, and providence, and mercies toward the Church. Amonglt which uisthoftto ( to name only fome of them ) that to Abraham *frah*m. jc(;rn , to ^ Qcn.iZ. where 'tis plain, that one of the C S a p. IX 183 the 3 celeftial perfbns was the Lord -, Abraham foeaking in the fingu!ar,and but calling one of them Lord, verf. i3, 17. And two ofthem only entring Sodom; whilft the third, which was the Lord, ltay- ed and difcovered the deftru&ion of the City, verf. 22,33. whom fee again, Gen. 19. 16,1 7. talking with Lot, and verf* 24. executing judgment on the wick- ed, after he had laved the Righteous : coming then with falvation and promifes in one hand for the good ; promifes ot himfelf to come : and thro him of the inheritance or heaven, typified in' Canaani and deliverance from Hell, typified in Lot ; and w ith judgments in the other hand upon the impi- ous ; judgment of fire and brim (tone, and being caltinto a bottomlefs lake in hell, typified in So- dom. And iince our Saviour faith when the Jews asked him Jo. 8- whether he hadjeen Abraham, that he was before Abraham, and that Abraham had feen his day and vo as glad : ( where it ieems plain by verf. 38, 23. that he was difcourfing of himfelf, as being the eternal Son of: God ; which the Jews fo much ltumbledat, and St. Johns relations every where fo much vindicate. And that the day, he fpeaks of, is that permanent one of eternity, which never ends ; and to which all time is but as one day, 2 Pet. 3 . 8~ why may he not exprefsly mean it of thefe vinous of Abraham? and the glad tidings he brought him m them of that coming, which the Jews then, yet without rejoycing as Abraham, beheld > And might not Abraham be laid thus to fee his glory ; as well as Efai (itmuft be granted) did? 2. And next the ToNo ^- delcent of the Lord in the times of Noah • how like is it to this in Abraham's time before the firing of Sodom ? And his conference with and complaint to Noah, fee Gen. 6. 3, z, 8 } i2 } 13, -7, /, 16. and his promifes The benefits of our Savior. promifes to him and Covenant with him, and his Seed y Gen. 6. i$. -p. p. &c. to thofe with Abraham. And his prefer ving of Noah with his family, and his lhutting them up in the Ark, Gen. 7. 16. to his de- livering of Lot and his leading him forth by the hands And his caufing it to rain thofe miraculous waters by opening the windows of heaven , and fprinvs of the deep, Gen. 7. 4> ll - to the fiery rain upon So- dom r and how well do thefe agree with that ex- preffion. 1 Pet, 3 . 1 p ? So that it feems without doubt thefe two of the firing of Sodom-, and of the floods and that 01 drowning the Egyptians in the Red fea, with the ialvation of Noah, Lot, and Ifrael being the 3 grand types to the world of the laft great judg- ment to come, fee 2 Pet. 2. y, 6. Jude ?. 7. that they were executed by the fame hand, fee 2 Pet. 2 . ?,6. Lu\. 17. 26, 28. that the other fhall be even the Son of God -, to whom the Father for ever hath committed all mercy and judgment. 3- The fame To JacoBy&c perfon it feems to be, that firft wreftled with, ( as he doth in affli&ions with all the pious ) and then bleffed, Jacob : Gen. 32. 24. That appeared to, and was adored by, Jojhuab. .Jojh. 5.13. 14, 15. comp. Exod. 3. >. To Gideon, Judg. 6. 22. To Manoah. Judg. 13. 1 ?.&c. all which may be gathered from the arguments forementioned. And 1 can call to mind in the facred itory only, 2 apparitions or vi- rions winch certainly appear to be of God the Fa- ther: That of the Ancient of dayes, Dan. 7. 9. corny. That toMofis 1 3. and I{ev. 4. 2. comp. c. ?. f. 4. Laftly, he was vn Mount si- the Angel that conducted the Church in the wilder nefs, :tbe r as is flie wed above ; and by coniequence that gave in the mi- them the law in Mount Sinai : for tho the law is fa id to be (riven by the dijpofition and promulgation r " m ' 1 ~ ofJngelsl Acl 7.f J. GaLl 19. Heb.2. 2. multitudes of C H A P. I X. 1 8; of whom appeared in the Mount, Deut. 33.2. FfaL 68- 17. by whom thofe voices were formed in the Air. Hcb. 2. 2. In which (peaking of the law to the people the Angels were Mediator?, as afterward in receiving from the Angel and carrying the law to them, Ivofeswas, Gal. gr. 19. [ which 15 taken no- tice of fevcral umes in the new Teitament, to mew the preeminence of the Gofpel : fiuce the law was delivered to men bv the intermediation of A; and Moles, Servants and Miniirers ; bimind&blpBi andfkak\ by the mediation of his only Son, m-.JefleP!i that H '^ ; -*** he might familiarly converie with man, ^hont^;^^j, thofe terrors that accompanied the law:] yet the the/. fupreme Legillator was God : Deut. J3. 2. i.xod.zo.i. Exterior loquela Avvelorum, interior Dei per Anre- lum ; and that the Son, the eternal word, and Vice- gerent of the Father; called the Angel Jci.7.^%. that lpoke with Mofes upon the Mount , from whom he received the law written with his finder : the fame Angel that appeared in the bufh, verify, that conducted them in the cloud. Which fovc- raign Legillator, for the glorifying of his Father and the laving of man, humbled himfelf afterward to become Himfelf the Mediator. The type of which mediation of his, Mofes then was; both in delivering the will of God to the people, coming down to them from the Holy place in the Mount ; and aifo afcending and interceding forty daies to God for the people. Deut. 9. 18, 25-, 26. As be fines hath both defcended in flefli from the boiom of the Father, to declare and reveal all his will tons, Jo. 1. 1 8 . who only/^n? his face, but JMojcs only his b ac Im- parts : and in whofe face the glory of the Go ihone, as of the law in Mofes his face, fee 2 Cor. 4.^. comp. 3. 7. and is afcended again to the Father to A a interce j86 The benefits of our Savior. intercede for us -, this Real Mofes remembring him, not of our righteoufnefs, &x. but of the promife he made to them of the blefled feed, D:ut. 9. 27. and of the triumph the fpiritual and temporal enemies of God would make over the deferted, tho molt worthy to be deferted, Church verf. 28. By whofe prayers and interceflions it now ftandeth, and {hall ftand for ever. Amen. Thedefimt oj Thus much, that the Government of the Church theHo'y of God alfo under the old Teftament was by the ^hfoi7 d 7(t Sou of God ' Next for tlie Holy Ghoft : Tlie °P e ~ mint. "' rat * ons a lfo of Holinefs in men under the old Teita- ment was by the fame fpirit. By it, then, Regene- ration, Gal. 4. 29. and our Saviour wondred at a Doclorinlfrael, Jo. 3. 10. that he was ignorant of it. Tho therefore Chrift not yet afcended, and this Holy Spirit not then received and poured out in fo full a meafure upon all Hefli; yet asof the Son the Author^ fo of the Holy Spirit the promife; of the Gofpel; there were made fome-predefcents in the old Teftament, Efai. 63. 10, 11. Ncbem. 9. 30, J^ech. 4.(5. fome fprinklings and drops of thofe large effufions which have been poured out in the latter daies; and of almoft all thole leveral kinds of its rich graces mentioned, iCor. 12. &c. fome firft- fruits, as it were, and famplars we find in the Anci- t™sflZf ent Church of God. The fpirit of wifdom eminent ellits gifts, in Solomon. 1 King. 3.12. and Exod. 31. 3. The power of miracles eminent in Moles , Elijahs Eli- Ihah; and in thefeafpecimen of almoft all iorts of them, that are exhibited in the new. Command over the waters, Exod. 14.21. 2 I\ing. 2. 8 . fire 2 l\/ng. 1 . 10. Dan. 3. 27. Air 1 I\ing. 1 S . 44. The Heavens, Jojh, 10. 12. The multiplying ofoyl, meal, bread, like that of our Saviours. / King.17.1^. 2 King. 4.0,43,44- The Chap. IX. 187 The J{efurrec7ion, 1 King. 17*21. 2 King. 4. 34. -8. 5. The Afcenfion, in Enoch and Elijah. Pentecoit, in the fpint defcending upon his Difciple Eliiha from alcending Elijah, the type of Chnft. Gi'ts of heal- z?ig, 2 K?vg* J> 1 0. -4. 41. -2. 1 9. Efai. S-8 1 2 1 . Prophe- cy, that called the proper feafon of the Prophets. Helps in Government ; lee the operations of the lhi- ritupon Jofliua j and the Judges of Ifrael , and the 70 Elders. Interpretation of tonguss \ and hearts too ; of dreams, &c. eminent in Joicph and Da- niel ; fee Dan. 5-. 12 3 2/. Only one, th : gift of tongues we find relerved as a property to the Go'pjl upon the enlarging of the Church from one before, at this time to all nations, and languages. We find this Holy Spirit alio reprelented of old ( both in the Tabernacle and the Temple, ) in thofe 7 lamps of the 7 branched candleftick ; as alfo in the firit de- fcent upon the Apoitles it appeared in a flame or tongue of fire : Act. 2. 1. fee Exod. 2?. 40. comp.?^. 4. y. and y. 6. and JZ^ech. 4. 10, 2. comp. 6. We find it then poured upon Mofes, in type oi Chrift ; and from him portionsof it derived upon the 70 Elders, Numb. 11. 18. &c. whofe fudden prophecying upon it became then alfo, as in the Adts, a wonder to the people, verf. 27.28. as it was from Chrift upon the Apoftles; and fo many thoufands ever fince, and fhall be on others to the end of the world. Jo. 1. 16. Eph. 4. 17. We find it then conferred upon the ex- Its won j er f lt r traordinary Captains of Gods people; QXGi$}i*g operations them to heroick actions: ]oW\\\a\\Nu?nb. 26. 16, I'g.thenmfime Gideon Judg. 6. 34. Jephtah fodg, u. 2p. Samfon^ Judg. 13. 2 j. Giving him corporal itrength, a type of that fpiritual, which it now beftows upon the Saints; as illuminating and fanclifying, fo ftrength- ning and giving courage and comfort in afflictions; A a 2 this 1 8 8 The benefits of our Saviour. this being a fpecial operation of this divine Agent. Therefore one attribute, Efai. n. 2. is fpirit of might i and in the new Teftament, Comforter : Upon Saul, and Davids prelently upon their anointings by which they were changed and became new men. 1 Sam. 10. 6. -16. T3. fee its infpirationof the holy writers ■, Mofes -, David 5 the Prophets : Matt. 22.43. • // Heb. 8. 9.-3. 7. Ma)\ 12. 36. Act. 7. ft* Lu\. 2. 26. mtkl^fbmof ^' *♦ l6 ' * C° r - 2 * I ^- Its wonderful operations up- the Prophets, on the Jons of the Prophets s whereby they were put at certain times into wonderful extafies and ra- ptures, (like thofe under the Gofpel. Acl. 10. 10. -22. 17. -9. 9. comp. 12. 2 Cor. 12. 2, 7. ) intoftrange and unufual actions and agitations of their bodies. 2 Sam. 6. 14. Pfal. 26. 6. 2 King. 4. 35-. -2. 16. -9. 11. 1 King. 18. 12. £^nz 3. 12,14. ( lee the like. Matt. 4. 1. Aft. 8. 39. -20. 22. -16. 7. -18. y. ) So violent that Saul, (in their fociety pofleffed with the lame ) is faid to have firipthimfelfofhis clothes, i. e. his up- per garment, and to have lain down all night un- clothed, being wearied withofe ftrange motions,&x. perhaps Pfal. 149.3. meant of this. They in thefe raptures not foretelling things to comz^King.-i.i,?. but conceiving, and on a fudden, after an unufual manner^di&ating^pfalnis, Jongs, the praifes of God, or explanation of fomemyftery, or former prophe- cy. See 1 Sam. 18. 10. 1 King. 18.29. iChron.2?. 3. comp. 1 Cor. n./. And the fpirit then as now did more ordinarily infpire perfons, firft by their profe- flion confecrated to God^ Jo: 11.5-1. prepared by ftudies and exercifes of devotion in Schools for this purpofe ; amongft which means was compofmg the fpirits by mufick. iSam. 10. 5-. -16. 16. P/. 43.4. 2 King. 3. 15-. Some of the fingers Prophets, Afaph, &c. There being many Colledges of them in feveral places y Chap. IX. 189 places; Naioth, Bethel, Hiericho , inhabited by- great numbers. See 2 A2 ;; c s* 2 - 3> ?* 7- "4- 3 8- fo the Levites, that were the lingers, were alfo fpiritual compofers of holy pfalms, 1 Chron: 25-. 2, y. 2 Chron. 29. Jo. And many of the Prophets were Priefts or Levites,Samuel,EzekieI, Jeremy. And now alfo that the miraculous graces of the fpirit are fomeway both procured and improved by induftry, ftudy , prayer, faith, expecting and defiring to receive them feems to appear from. 1 Cor. 12. 31. -14. 1. JRom. iz.6. 1 'Tim. 4. 13, 14. 2 Tim. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 11.10,11, 12. And this may ierve to {hew that the Ancient world were not unacquainted with the operations of the fpirit ,* and in fbme meafure pretatted this pro- mife of the latter daies ; which wrought in all times after the fame manner ; and came then alfo from the fame Author, the Lord Chrift : fee 1 Pet. 1. n. -3. 19.2 Pet. 1. 21. 1 Cor. 12. y. Only now its illumi- nations are greater under the Gofpel, Matt. 11. 11. Jo. 16. 1 3. and further extended 3 even to all flefli -, amonglt whom it continues all its rich gifts ^ For we muft not make the times of Chrift inferior to thofe of the law 5 nor the times of the making of the promifes, to be perfe&er then thofe of their ac- complifhment. Thus much of the energyes, and actings of the Holy Ghcft in men under the old Te- ftament as well as under the new. And according- ly, there hath been alwaies the fame Covenant of Grace : the fame faith in, and by, the Son and Holy Spirit, GaL 3.^, 17. &c. and the fame Sacraments 1 Cor. 10. 2, 3. from the beginning. To (hew which things fomewhat more punctually § ^. and particularly. Firft Gods prefcience, feeing mans TheiCovc- uieof his Free-will and his fall, forebiNtetaed ottt X£«£L Saviour before the foundation of the world, tho he tndtiifejted i^o The benefits of our Savior. mamfejled him not till the lajf times, i Pet. 1.20. And prefently after the tall, (out of overflowing mercy ) in the very curie, he delivered alio the cure of it j and condemned the feducer of man to be deftroyed by the^then rlrft promifed) feed of the wo- man, i.e. Chrift 3 who alio ( immediatly ) was the leed of the woman only, whom Satan firft feduced ; that he might be deftroyed alfo by the fame inftru- menti. e. woman, by which he thought to deftroy man. Upon the multiplying of this feed, we find accordingly, becauie the promife of God did not takeeffedtin all the feed, fee l{om. 9. 6. &x. Gal. 4. 26. &c. we find in that infancy of the world, the famedilt«nd:ion of men, as now, noted indeed by the Apoftle more expreisly of Abrahams double f; feed, Gal. 4.22. but as true of \ Adams, and of ail the One of works, times ilnce the beginning : as iikewife thofe other tke other of remarks that are made upon them, Gal. 4. 2 p. i\p 9 n. p. 12. [that the elder fhould rlrft perlecute, at la ft ferve, the you?ijrer,\ve find then one generation after the fiefli , another after the fpirit -, one of old Adam involved in no covenant but that of works, and by thole ("being evil Roofing the heavenly inheritance ; the other ot the promife, and attaining it by faith. And thefe we find called the ions of God, ( which none are but by Chrift. ) Gen. y. 2. The other font of men or in oppofition to the former/o/// of the ivicl^ edone the devil. 1 Jo. 3. 1 0, 12. In which rfefpedt the wicked Jews feem to be reckoned as the fpiritual race or iucceffion of Cam ; flnce Abels blood is re- quired of them, Matt. 23. ; ?, ;d. Jo. 8.44. (God and the Divel being the two ipiritual fathers of the progeny of man. Jo. 8. 42. &c. ) The one pilgrims on the earth, Heb. 11.13. The other men of this world; noted for their building of Cities as Cain, Gen. 4. 17. and Chap, IX, 191 and Nimrods Gen. to. £, 9, 10. not fo the others. The city and type of the one> Babylon, called con- fufion^and of the other, fartifalemjntimatmf* peace and unity. The one having a confufion of languages amongft them ; The other retaining ( as proper to them ) the firlt language of paradife ; called af- terward the Hebrew, trom Heber, ( in whofe time the earth was divided;; and afterward, amongft his multiplied pofterity, adhering only to Abra- hams race. And or the former of thefe there was a Church of God credited from the beginning ; which had Gods more fpecial prelence in the fame land where paradife was. Gen. 4. 16. Which Church feems ("from Matt. 19. 4, 8- comp. Gen. 6 . 1, 2. and 4. 19. dad Mai. 2. 1/. ) to have been then restrained both from polygamy, and marrying with the unbeliev- ers ; which matching with them afterwards was curfed with a gigantick, ( and confequently tyran- nous ) ofspring, like that of Cains, the wicked ge- neration, Gen. 6. 4. -4. 23, 24. and of which match- ing after the flood Abraham and the Patriachs had much abhorrence: doubtlefs becaufe the worfhip and fear of the true God was not among them. See Gen. 20. n. -24. 3. -27. 24. From which wicked Cain was excommunicated and banifhed , whofe mur- theringofhis brother may be gueffed [ by the way of Cazn~\ being joy tied with [_the gai?ifaying of Core ] fade 1 1. to hav : been, not only out of envy to him ; becaufe his facrifice was more accepted, but out of emulation; for his being fome way or other more fpecially preferred in the miniftration alfo of the divine worfhip : and his race proved like him, full of violence, murders, many wives, &c. Gen. 4.23,24. -6 . 11. fee Gen. 4. 3 , 12, 14, \6. Amongft thefc ions of God Abel was the firft, re- Sm g 9 corded Abe'* i^ z The benefits of our Saviour. corded in the Heb. c. it. declared there to be righ- teous ; or juftifyed and accepted of God by faith : and that faith was -, that God was a reivarder of all tbofe that diligently feehjnm, verf. 6. which is a faith in Gods promifes: and a faith of things not feen, verf. z. a faith therefore of promifes not yet at- tained ; and indeed why eife bis blood cry aiter death? verf. 4. how elfe did he and the reft dy in faith? verf. 1 3 . if not fomething hoped for after death? viz. the reftoring of that paradife which was lofti fee verf. 16, 26, 39. and the reftoring of life again to the innocent ; as well as future vengeance on the oppreiTor. Righteous Abel llain by him that was Sethi thefirfi bom ^ tl flef]l that God m i*h t jh ew in the Vat her of trie . n-Ai 11 1 r, i Holy Race, hilt Saint the lot of his Church here on earth ■, Seth is given in his Head the Father of: the holy race ; faid to be begotten ??i Adams image, as Adam was in the lil^enefsofGod; Gen. ?. 1,2, 3. which is not laid of the former iffoe, it may be, with reference to re- ftoring of man in Chriit,to the image in which God created Adam. Col. 3. 10. Eph. 2. 10. And born af- ter long expectation firft, ( as Abrah ms fon of pro- mife was ) Adam being 130 years old before he had Ems. this feed, that was appointed by God mitead of A- bel. Gen. y. 3. -4. ±j k After him Enos 9 who com- paring Gen. 4. 26, with 2 Pet. 2. y. was the firit more ^ publick preacher of righteoufnefs ; as Noah was the eighth. The fifth after him, Enoch 3 a Prophet ; Jade 14. and after a fingular manner pious ; who ferved God out of faith that he was a reivarder of the d/li- gcii! (cekcrs ofhim-, and accordingly received that reivardm an anticipated traniiation : that the times before the law might in him have a type of the ad- vancement of the promifed feed, and an example ofthepromifed reward to all bcicevcrs thro him; as Chap, IX. 193 as thofe under the law had in Elias; and thofe under the Gofpel law in the feed it felf. See Heb. 11. 5-, 6. 7l\\z eighth preacher of rigbteoufhefs was Noah ; And No ab. here ( in the tenth generation from Adam ) the world that then was, was to be ( as this fecond alio fhall be ) for its wickednefs defiroyed, but, after firit the preaching to them by Chiift, 1 Pet. 3. 19. i. e. by the fpirit of Chrilt, 1 Pet. 1.11. the lame Gofpel which is preached to us, viz. that as Chriit was ( in the appointed time) pat to death in the flejh, but quickned in the fpirit i lb they might be judged and be put to death or become dead in the flefh, accord- ing to the former will andluftsof men; and be quickned in the fpirit according to the will of God. See / Pet. 4. 6. comp. verf. 1, 2. and 1 Pet. 3. 18,1 p. 2 Pet. 8. p. At which time ( the world after this preaching of f t l' e f ove _ the Gofpel unto them and the long-furTering or God nant f : Grace 1 Pet. $• 20. for an 120 years, Gen. 6.3. ftill con-w^^^- tinning difobedient), and being to be deitroyed ^/|™' by water ( the type of the end of it to come by fire ) we find the firit exprefs mention of a Covenant s ejiabhjhed with Noah and bis feed, Gen. 6. 18. ( where [ my ] not [ a ] feems to me to imply the continua- tion, not the beginning of a Covenant ) in which God makes a promife to fave him in this ark of the Covenant, and to blefs the earth unto him ; which wascurfedfor fin; and then fliould have been de- stroyed. Gen. 6. 13. Which alfo his Father at his birth prophecyed of him, Gen. y. 29. and to regive to him and his feed the dominion of the world; which after the flood he gives him the pofleflion of: fee Gen. 9. t . Sec. And this promife we find made to NoahalmoH. in the fame terms, ( that we need not doubt of the fame thing intended by it ) as it was 13 b after- j 9^ The benefits of our Saviour. afterward to Abraham ( that he alfo Jhould he the heir of the world, Horn. 14. / $. &c. J fo alfo, of Noah as of Abraham, 'tis faid, that he became heir of the rijrbteoufnefs which is by faith, Heb. 11.7- that is heir otthe benefits thereof, promifed unto him. And the promife was one and the fame from the begin- ning, firft of the coming into the world of the pro- mifed feed, which is already fulfilled : and then of the reltoring of man, ( firft in, and then by the pro- mifed feed ) to the inheritance whiclrhe forfeited by Adams fall ^ which inheritance was, 1. aright both to the earth and the creatures therein, ( which fince Adams fall none have right to before God, but only thro Chrifl.) 2. And more fpecially to the hea- venly country and city, Heb. 11 . 16. called alfo en- tring into Gods reft, Heb. 4. 6.&c. that yet to come, verf. 7, 8, 9. In the prefignification of which reft to come the Sabbath was appointed from the begin- ning to be obferved with reft, &c. fee Heb. 4. 3>p> 1 0. after the 6 daies labour of this world, and after our deliverance from the perfecutions of Egypt, that is, all f whatever J the Churches enemies. For becaufe both thefe are the fame in the fubftance, therefore was it inftituted as a fymbole of both, fee Exod. 3 1. 17* ( Gods work in the creation, after which he is faid to be refrefhed, being a type of his work in the redemption of the world, and in theEled: ) from which alfo being perfected he fliall reft at the day of judgment : which city thefe holy men alfo look- ed after. Heb. 11. 10, 13, 39. comp. with Heb. 8. 2. -9. 11. And we alio yet exped: till the fecond com- ing of our Saviour. Of which promife that of the earth was a type to Noah-, as that of Canaan to A- brabam.Wh'ich promife is already made good to the feed ; and fliall be by him to Noah', and to Abraham ; and C H A P.. I X. 195- and to all thofe who are of the Covenant, and of faith s who (hall be bleiTed with faithful Abraham, Gal. 3. 9. thro the feed of Abraham -, .to whom the promifeis ( in the firft place J made, Gal. 2, id. be- ing heir of all things, Heb. 1.2. and in whom the Covenant is conformed to Abraham and the reib, Gal. 3. 1 7. to be fulfilled in its due timg ; As they were looking at the promiie of the feed to come a- far off, and not made perfedl in that without us, who have already feen it fulfilled ; fo we alio yet looking afar off at the promife of our inheritance ( by the feed ) yet to come y and neither they nor we made perfect in this till the end come. When the wicked fhall be finally deftroyed, and the righteous delivered and laved : of which eternal falvation the preferving of Noah and his family in the general deluge was an eminent type, fee 2 Pet, ?. y. comp. with 9. asalfo the faving of Lot and his family in the fecond fiery judgment of Sodom -, and the fa- ying of the Ifraelites, ( i.e. the Church of God, Acl. 7.3%.) in the t ird great day of judgment, in the flaying the firft- born, and drowning of the Egypti- ans. Of which Israelites afterward not believing \ only two, ( in theconfummg of all the reft in the wildernefsj entred Canaan. Where the faving alio io few in companion of the world that periibed ( becaufe men loved evil more then righteoufnels ; is a type of the paucity of the faved at the 1 ait day. See pom. 9. 27. And the manner of Noahs being faved was alfo a types His being laved by or upon the water was a figure of Baptij'm, by which we are Rece j v ;„ £t fa now faved, 1 Pet. 3. 21. asalfo was the palling of the type of Ba^ Ifraelites to their prefervation thro the Red lea. '- 1 Cor. 10. 1. And if we may lay the fame cf the Rain- bow the leal of the Covenant with Noah, as ofthe B b 2 cloud I 96 The benefits of our Savior. cloud that concluded the Ifraelites ; this alfo was the figure of Baptifm, i Cor. 10. 2. which is the feal now current of the Covenant of grace. And if they had then the feals, they had alfo the Covenant to which they belonged. Now for the other Sacra- OftheEu- ment of the Eucharift; the Euchanftical facri- €harift. g ces ^ w hich were from the beginning ) of the flefh of which the offerers did partake , were e- ver the types thereof. Nor may I pafs over , ( in fhewing the Gofpel of Noah ) the Covenant then that was made not only with Noah but alfo the Creatures, Gen. 9. 1©, 12. which, as they ( the earth, &c. ) were curfed for finning Adams fake, Gen. 3. 17. -4. 12. J^om. 8. 20. and with man were to be deftroyed , Gen. <5. 7, 12, 13. fo in the Co- venant of grace, by the promifed feed they alfo fhall be freed from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God, fym. 8. 20, 21. &c. of which, their deliverance with Noah was apreludium, Gen. y. 29. §. fi„ After Noah Shem for his filial Duty, Gen. 9. 24, Shem, wa s the heir of the Covenant of grace, and Father of the holy feed -, imagined by fome to be Melchi- fedeck, but the Father of Heber and the Hebrew's he was, Gen. 10.21. and as God vouchsafed after- wards to be called the God of Abraham, fo before him he was called the God of Shem ; Gen. 9. 26. And The Lord then alfo Noah prophecyed of the pofterity of Ja- G lI Ji/sk V^tt, the Gentiles, their being united alfo to the Church defcended from Shem ,■ which prediction was fulfilled upon the coming of the promifed feed. Gen. 9. 2(5,27. And 'tis noted, as of Noah, that he lived to fee the 9th generation, even till the ftfth year of Abraham ; foofShem, and Salah, and He- ber, that they all outliv'd Abraham : which long life Chap. IX. 19* life of thefe holy men was furely a great advantage for catechizing their children in the true fervice ot God. Yet many oi.Shems race in time fell away to idolatry. See Jojh. 24. 2, 14, if. Gen. 3. f). And therefore God 1 7 years after Noahs death and §• ' ' • I67 years afcer the flood called Abraham out of the ' houfe and country of his idolatrous Fathers, and opens the fame way of falvation, ( i. e. the Gofpel ) ®f the f°J? e ~ ce more clearly yet to him ( therefore he called the ^^^ttL Father of the faithful) Godpromifinv him* that he andthe Go- fhouldbeheir of the worlci, ( fym. 4. i>. ( that is ) ^ff^ his feed : and that feed, Chrijl Gal. 3. 16, i-.Chriit, ' the promife that was made both to him and to all the Fathers. See Acl. 13. 3z r , 33.2 Cor. 1. 20. Heb. 1 r. 1J.comp.J9. And they poffeft of their inheritance firft in his refurrecStion, AH. 13. 33. and not only that he Rom. 4. 23, 24. but that in all Nations thole who were the children of the faith of Abraham Rom. 4. i6.Lu\. 1 p. p. fhouldbe coheirs of the promife made to Abraham. And this the Apoftle calls the Gofpel that was preached to Abraham, Gal.$.%. and the Covenayit made with him in Chrijf veri. 1 7. Lu\. /. 72. comp. 6 8. And the adoption. Rom. p. 4. From which commonwealth o^ Abraham or Jfrael the Gentiles be- ing aliens, and having no title to the Fathers, Rom. 9. f. are there faid to have been formerly in the times of the old Teltament without Chrijl, jlr angers from the Covenants of promife ; having no hope, &c, Eph. 2. 12. Of which covenant ot Grace and the Gofpel and not of that of works ( for at the giving ot the law there was no fuch ceremony required or pra&ifed, Jo/b.y.2,7. tho miitaken perhaps to be ib by the children of works, fee Rom. 9. J2. Gat. 5". 3. oratleait it being apart of the antiquated ceremonies, ( the fame reafcm that ;they conceived) ;;', bound 1 ip g ^ )e benefits of our Savior, bound them to the obferving of it, binding them to the obfervance alfo of all the relt ) was arcumci- fion then a feal. See T^om. 4.11,13. Ail. 2.38, 3p. and the Antitype of our baptifm. God beginning now more ceremonioufly and folemnly to own his Church -, letting a corporeal mark upon it, where- by his people might be more fignally feparated and diftinguifhed from the reft of men -, as afterward ( they multiplying into a nation, ) in Mofes's time, he diftinguiihed them by peculiar laws. Fourteen generations after Abraham was the Gofpel yet David; more evidently preached to David (that his feed, his fon fliouldrule over all the whole world, Sec. ) which feedpromifed to David zl(o was Chrift, fee A3. i r j i The Came Co- 2 $* an ^ ^ s covenant again eftablifhed with him. venantre- SccPf.89. 3- i Chron. 1 7. u. Ail. 13. 23, 24. and Pf. newedto him. 7 2 . and 89. The fubjed: of whofe fongs is almoft no- thing elfe but Chrift ; as we fee from the expofiti- onsofthem in the new Teftament. And becaufe the promifes were made more fully to Abraham and to David-, therefore hath our Saviour more chiefly the title, off the feed of Abraham y and of the Son ofDavid~] then of others. Sec Matt. i.i. And Da- ThVbht ^ ; ^ was followed by the goodly felloivjhip of the Prfy QfGodsfre-pbets, whofe light Jhined brighter and brighter , 2 Pet. fuent renew- 1.19. in thofe former darker ages (io that fome of ™/tr" them are called rather Evangelifts then Prophets) grace te his till the open day of the Gofpel at laft afcended upon >ecj>!e by t } le Tfegfa in its full luftre and pcrfe&ion. T l% And let this be obferved to the glory of the mercies of God everlafting, certain, never-failing, ( neither by Satans polices, nor by mens fin ) ; how at a- xe of time, God alway mindhil i/f his covenant with his clecSt. (Yor though God is . . ,-s, Ail* 10. ifc Gal. i. 6.) for any external t hem. Chap. IX. 1^9 external conliderations of nation, 8cc. nor internal Andty ex- of properties and parts(for the reafon why any have r'^hlrscL- thefe better then others is purely becaufe he gave ftantly re- them) j yet he is an admitter or receiver of o\\ the r t r .- Church at cor' mans perion, not anothers 3 or one nation, not an- tain tnneSy other ; they being in all things equal ( or moftwhat when much he whom he receives fome way inferior ) ; to era- ^pliningfrom , r c , • 1 1 d- t " is true wor- tuitai ravors tor his own to us unknown pleaiure, Da jhip^andleafi way grounded upon anything in the perfon. He deferiwi 1 preaccepteth none in point of juitice, lo as to do wrong to any j or deny to any their merit and due, tho due only upon his promife, by which he hath tyedhimfelf to reward induftry, and our right ufe of his former gifts; Matt. 2^.29. fee Matt, 20. u, i4,ij-. But in point of liberality he doth, fo as to do more good to fome then others, without any caufe at all that is in the perfon : i\pm. 9. 11. -^. 3, -11.29. Ep**' 4 1 - 2 > 4- Nor is this faid, as if he did not ordinarily give more with refped;to fome former gifts of his ( either thofe of nature , or thofe of graces thofe acquifit by mans induftry, or iiifufed by Gods mercy ) that are in fuchorfuch a perfon, feeM^^.25'.i5',29.but that he hath not tyedhimfelf to give only where are former gifts^and many times dothothcrwife out of refpeclofthefuperabundance and overflowings of his mercies, and of his Church upon earth : \Uiich his everlafting purpofe had de- termined (notwithftanding mens frequent Apofta- ciesj to maintain from the beginning to the end of the world, J(om.3. 3, 4. -11. 29, id. even then when he had molt reafon of all to defert it ; after it had begun to decline to idolatry, Atheifm, Sec. fent new preachers of this Covenant, and renewed the true Religion by them. And how not in the beft of times, for a reward of obedience •, but in the word, 200 The benefits of our Saviour. ever outofa neceffity of repair - y not in the growth but the decadency of former piety ,• his eternal, pit- ty ft ill vifited the world with new light and new As by Enoch AmbaiTadors. Some <5oo years after the Creation, the world then full of ungodly linners both in words and deeds, Jude 74. Enoch was fent a Prophet -, who walked with God -, and in whom was fhewed to the world the reward of righteoulhefs ,• and who de- nounced the laft judgment day againlt the then Noah, wicked. Again at a certain diftance from Enoch, before the flood ; when now not only the reft of the world, but alfo the holy race was corrupt with op- preffion and violence from Gigantick people, Gen, 4. 2 3, 24. and illegal conjunctions upon multiplica- tion of women. Gen. 6.2. comp. 1,4, t3* Mai. 2.iy. God fent Noah, who walked alfo with God, and was a Preacher of right eoufnefs 367 years after the Hood. Idolatry alio now growing rife, and Shems holy race fallen away into it. Jo/b. 24.2,14. Gen. 3$. 3o, ?3. Abraham. God called Abraham -, who commanded his children to keep the way of the Lord, Gen. 18. 19. &c. 4.3 o years after this, Gal. 5.17. when the children of Ifrael were full of the Idols, whoredoms and abominations of Egypt •, facrificing unto Devils, &x. feejo/b.24. 14. -y. y.Lev. 17. 7. E^e^.20. 7, 8, 9, 14. -23 .3. (The reafon why they were io prone to it at Sinai : and upon every occafion fo ready to ftart from the Lord) God font Mofes, but not for any merit of theirs at all : therefore are they every where fo fre- quently told of it. See Deut. 9. 4, f, 6. &c. [ Not for thy righteoufnefs, nor for the uprightnefs of thine heart , for thou wert, &c. but to perform the word which the Lord J ware.'] And E^el^ 20. and E^ei^. 36. ai, 22, 3 1, i2. where God faith when they would not call away their abominations, &C, that he ncver- V thelefs C H A P. IX. 20 r thelefs wrought for bis name fake, andcaufed them to go forth, &c. fee verf. 8, 9,10,14. &c> fee the like (lory Pfal. 106. 8,4o,4T.comp. with the reft of the P(alm. Pf.7%.1,%- comp.^6, thereafonof his compailion not their goodneis, but their mortality: verf. 39. 6j. Jer. Jo. 8. &c. comp.iy. -31. 19. Nor were their chil- dren he carried into Canaan better then their fa- thers, E^eJ^ 20. 21. ( for which confider that ftrange paffage, Amos ?. 26 . ( of which the modefty of Mo- fes hath faid nothing in the ftory ) the fecret carry- ing along with them ( befides the Lords ) the effigies and Tabernacle which they made to themf elves of Alo- lech and Chiun, &V. ) Bat yet for his name faJ^e, &c. verf. 22. And fee verf. 3 7, 40, 41. How God promif- eth after the expiring of his punifhments and wea- rinefs of afflicting ( very frequent in the Prophets ) before any at leaft acceptable repentance of theirs, a reitorement of them to all his mercies and blef- lings ; upon which reftorement ( faith he ) ye /ball remember your waies, and loath your felves } when I have wrought with you for my na?nes fa^e, not accord- ing to your wicked waies, verf. 43, 44. fee E^el^ 16. ?p. &c. Not as it he did not require our repentance for to obtain the return of his favours, efpecially to challenge or expert it s which is fo effectual to ha- ftenhis mercies, and cut off the remains of juilice. See Lev. if. 39. E^ek^ 6. 8, 9. But if this be not : Mans impenitence or unbelief fliall not fruftrate for ever Gods faith, promife, glory -, Jfom. 5.3. But he will create new hearts in us rather; and we fliall repent after his mercies at leaft, when not before: and St. Paul lhall cry out ; the depth \ Who hathfirjl given unto him, 7{om. 1 1 . 3y . For he who hath tyed himfelf upon repentance to fhew mercy ; hath not tyed himfelf not to fliew it but only upon repen- C c tance 202 § IS. Mofes. Samuel a?td David. 7.erulbabet and Jofiuah. Tl)e benefits of our Saviour. ., tance. And indeed Gods judgments many times, ( particularly war ) making men worfe ; and his punifhments ( by our defperate malignity ) increa- sing fin ; whence could any reformation begin but from himfelf ? who is forced at laft, ( when our fin contends in duration with hisjuftice) becaufe his mercies endure for ever, to pardon us for nothing. Nay whenhis favours are built upon our repentance^ 'tis the fame, tho not fo fliort a way of pure mercy. We have no goodnefs but that fome grace prevents it. It only makes its own way ; 'tis only it, that in- vites it felf,- and prepares its own lodging; and if we would find out the beginning of Gods mercies we can go only from one to another in infinitum - y who makes firft that repentance, which he after- ward rewards •> and gives us firft to ask thofe favors, which he °ives us for asking. To return to the fubjed: in hand. Now in this time of greateft neceffity God fent Mofes : whofe law was given for a light to the feet of the fons of faith ; as for a letter of condemnation to the fons of Belial. About 400 years after, Aft. i3. 20. when the Ifraelites were quite declined from the pious ftepsof their forefathers; and the word of the Lord ( upon it ) for a longtime, had been rare and preci- ous, Seejudg. 2. 10. 1 Sam. 5. /. God fent Samuel , David, &x. 500. years after this; all relapfed into idolatry ; and in their captivity little amendment ; keEzra 9. i. ^ech. 7. jr. &c. juftwhen ten forede- creed Sabbaths of years for the land ("whole Sab- baths among other things by them were not obferv- cd) fee Lev. 26. 34. 2 Chron. 36. 21. were run out : God for his names fake fent a reftorement of their Church and government by J^erubbabe/and Jojbua. Near the end of 70 Sabbaths or weeks of years, i. c. 42° Chap. IX. 205 490 yearsDtftf. p. ^r. after this, when we know what a miserable condition the Church of God was in , from the wickednefs of the High Prieft ; the fuper- flition and hypocrifie, and falfe dodxines of the Pharifee, when there was now hoc digitus vindice no- dus-fiodfent his [on to reform all things//^. 9. 19. And WsmnSon. we may gather alfo from 7{om. 11.26,27,28,29. that the laft converfion of this nation, fliall be only for Gods promife , not their repentance. And indeed who fo confiders that from God proceeds all our reformation ; as well as his bleffings for, and upon it ; for all the effedts of mercy mult wholly ac- quiefce in him \ and acknowledg all things alwaies done for his own fake ; nothing for ours. Thefe fet and foremeafured times of performing thefe pur- pcfes of God the Evangelift hath otherwife obferv- edinthe 14 generations ; that were between thofe great Epochas of Abraham and Davids David and the Captivity ; Captivity and Chrift. Matt. 1. ij . And now what can hinder Gods goodneis; or de- §. i + cay the Church; fince 'tis plain that fin cannot? God for ever God preferving it not for its holinels, but his glory. cl^aTf/** To whofe power Satan is-fo far inferior ; that tho according to he is permitted to work much fin in the world % yet its P ef f e ^ er ' was he never, nor never fliall be, able to fruftrate by Tep^hut 'his fin any of the leaft of Gods defigns. And therefore own eternal that fuppofition is not pious/ of his aflifting th\&t u ,ffi ea * d Church fo tar as flie negledts not her duty : which is only promifing, that the Church fliall not ( if it doth not) fall away ; for fo doubtlefsit had been, long fince many times over, perifhed : And Gods enemy have had the univerfal Monarchy of this lower world. But as from him only it is that the Churches faith continues; fo his promife that fhe fliall not , is alfo that her faith fliall not, fail ; lee ZU£. 22. 3 2. C c 2 comp. zo4 The benefits of our Saviour. comp. with Matt. 16. 1 8 . And the motives of Gods protection of Her are now the fame as of okLf where- with his fervants, upon the riling of his indignati- on againft her, alwaies conjured him )$ i. e. not re- fpedt to her righteoufnefs ; but the care of his name : leajl it ( either the power or glory thereof )Jhould be polluted amongjl Chrijts fpiritual enemies 3 Satan and his Angels: and temporal, Antichrift and his wor- fliippers j whilft he feemed unable to protect her. [Hence the jealoufy of Gods and Chrills name , a- mongft the Mahometans now, no lefs then'amongft the Heathen before, fhall fecure Chriftianity.] See Numb. 14.16. Who is now alfo as jealous as ever of his honor -, and faith as of old, Pj\ 46.10. I will be exalted amongji the Heathen, &c. Or the truth and faithfulnefs thereof ihould be afperfed amongft his fervants; after fomany promiiesand oaths made ( for belides thofe latter of the new Teftament, even that old one to Abraham ( which was concerning his fpiritual feed ) is no way yet canceld or expired), if he fhould appear unready to prelerve her. See Exod. 32. 13. And in that great judgment Matt. 24. 2 1 . from which fome are fa ved, he faith not for the righteous,but/ir the elect tho e dates jh all bejbortned: 1. e. for his election of fome to whom he will fliew mercy: which ele&ion l^om. p. it. is of God cal- ling, not man working; who creates repentance, as well as fhews favor upon it •, and who of a fudden brings an holy generation out of a corrupt. Whofe om nipotency delights to exercife it felf in changing even curfes themfelves into bleffings. As we fee in the curfe of Adam -> Satans mifchiefs upon. Eve, be- ing the occafion ( in curling him ) of promifing the blelTedfeed. Gen. 3. 15-. In the curfe of Babel ; by it peopling the world, Gen. 11. 8.' 10. 2. &c. Ot Levi's race* Chap. IX. 20; race, Gen. 49. 7. whofe feathering in Ifracl became their preeminence in the imployment of the mini- ftry ofholy things. Numb. 16.9. Of Chrift, Gal. 3. 1 3. the killing of whom by Satans great plotting and malice, became the falvation of the world. The Babilonian Captivity, which ( 'tis obferved ) much advanced in the world the knowledg of the true God , and prudent laws. The profecuting or the death of Stephen, and deftrudtion of the Chrifti- ansjby which the Gofpel was fpread over the world. Act, 8. 4. Oncjimus his running away, Pbilem. ly. his convert on. Glory be unto his omni potency and wifdom out or weaknefs producing ftrength -, and good out of evil! Amen. And again whofe unfearch- able counfel doth not ty and reftrain it felt to pro- fper all good intentions and pious defigns of thofe, who are zealous for propagating his Church, ei- ther by converting Heathens to the chriftian faith 3 or Heretical Chriltians to the truth. And this on- ly becaufe his preappointed time of mercy to fiich a people is not 'jet come : who tor their fins are yet longer to fuffer the juft judgment of blindnefs and error •> And it is not for men to know the times and feafons which the Father hath put in his own power •> much lefs to take up the fvvord unbidden in his cauie ; being an Engine he hitherto hath not ufed, to promote religion. And perhaps therefore it hath been ( tho I am perfwaded fometimes drawn out ofpurezealto Gods honor) hitherto fo unfuccef- ful. Witnefs, thofe many unfortunate attempts up- pon the Mahometans in feveral parts, by Chriftian Princes in the Holy war: By Lewis 9th, by Charles j:th,&:LV Towards which enemy of Chriftian reli- gion ^fince he hath attained his juft bounds ) their defends have been wonderfully fuccefsfui; not fa tL: I 2o£ The benefits of our Saviour] their invasions. And fince the laft divifions in the Church iyoo. the many as unprofperous civil wars of Chriftians amongft themfelves. As on one fide the famous invafion of t\\o, Swedes, the attempts of the Reformed in the low-Countries j in France j On the other fide the invafion of 8 8 s The powder- confpiracy ; the late infurredion of the Romanifts in Ireland, &c. without any confiderable advantage to that fide ( which ever it be ) that is orthodox. , § x v Neither did Mofes, and the giving of the law fTommlgatilu an nul or weaken the covenant of grace ; being fe- vftbe Cove- niour to this promulgation of the law, ( as it was re- nant of Grace newec l t o Abraham ) yet being before him alfo, 4 3 o ±7o years fe- ^ i ^ • i i- 1 i ^ / i • Viourtothat years, Gal. 3, 17. neither yet did the Gofpel, i.e. of the law. the covenant of grace manifelted and accomplifht in the times of the Gofpel, annul or weaken the law. See Gal. 4. 2i.J^om. 3. 3 1. -3. 21. And therefore TheGorel tne Gofpel is faid, as to be preached to Abraham , preached to fo alio to them in the wildernefs -, tho many of them the fame peo- it profited not , ( as alfo now it doth notj, being not /Iwvm^ mixe d lv *th faith tn many of the hearers. Heb. 4. 2. And firft for the law Ceremonial j it was nothing but the Gofpel in fymbole and type ; and therefore is not abolifhed by the Gofpel when fully manifelt- ed, but only by being compleated and improved ; as the Gofpel infhadow by the Gofpel in fubftance, or a child is by becoming a man. Gal. 4. 3. -3. 24. ; Secondly, for the law moral • it now well confifis the Children with the Covenant of the Gofpel , not one title of offaithtconfi- it being expunged ,« but (rather) as fome think much ftent with.,' enlarged ; and a ftrid:er obfervance thereof then {* Ind^Tway by Mofes, required by our Saviour. See Ma ft. ?. 1 7, annulled by, iS-COUlp. 19, 20. 1(0771. 8. 4. I Cor . J. I 9. Aild it Was th J^ e e nmt included and preiuppofcd in the Covenant of grace °heG*/bel° r tranfaded with Abraham. Gen. 18. 19. Why then fliould Chap. IX. 207 ihould we think that the law given at Sinai did not well accord with the Golpel, that was then alio preached > Heb. 4. 2. Nay, that more perfed know- ledg of Gods will, the giving of the \nw to Jacob, &x. whilft other nations walking in darknels were notfo dealt with, Pf 147. 19. is quoted as a great priviledg and favour to that people by the Apoftle, Pom. J. 2. -2. /#. -p. 4. (where the Apoftle reckons among benefits not only the promifes, and one Co- venant, but the Covenants and the giving of the law ) and rejoyced in, as fuch every where by the Pfal- mid, Pf. 119.-147. 20. which rendred them (I mean the fons of faith not of works ) much more holy and lefsfinners, then generally the Gentiles were : ice Gal. 2. 1 f. being a lantern to the feet of the children of the fpirit 3 as a letter of: condemnation to thofe of the rlefli : and in that it is faid to brine nothing- to perfection, Heb. 7. 19. being intimated to have the power to advance men fome fteps toward it. For tho the law was not the Go f pel ; nor the ministrati- on of the letter the fame with that of the fpirit 3 nor that of Mofes with that of Chrift 3 yet one was fub- fervient and a precognitum unto the other. Audit was firft in order to receive the precept, to tell us what is to be performed , and then the fpirit to en- able us to perform it, (tho without the fpirit alio we never perfectly know it. ) Therefore the firft law-giving was to Adam as foon as created; and to it aniwered efpecially the divulging of the Gofpel to Abraham : again the law was let forth again, and as it were reprinted by Mofes at Sinai ; and to it an- iwered the manifeftation and laft edition of the Go- fpel by Chrift coming in the flelh. Yet tho thus the law is before the Gofpel in order of nature, yet not in time : for even Adam himfelf as he had an exter- r*a! 2oS The benefits ofourSavioi. nal command to obferve, f which was the letter of the law ) fo had he the fpirit to enable him for it ; and that the fame fpirit which is to us reftored by the Gofpel. §• l fj' The miniftration therefore of the law by Mofes childrenlf ( ta ken fingle and abffradtively by it felf, from the works akil- miniftration of the fpirit, which was alfo admini- hnghtter. jQ- rec J at t } ie f ame t i me f t } 10 not j n [ ts g reat loleni- nity ) to the children of the promife and of faith, tho not by Mofes J, was of nothing but the letter ; and that letter a hilling one ; impreffed in itone but not upon the heart ; the the miniftration of death, 2 Cor. 3, 7. a Covenant faulty, i. e. defective ; and no ialvation by it ; but the promife annexed was only He that doth, Jhall live, in them ; a fentence of con- demnation ( and fo it ( accidentally ) happened to be then, as now alfo, ) to thofe who were of works and not of faith, Gal 3. 9, 10. to thofe who had the adminiftration of the letter only, and not of the fpirit. In which fenfe taken, all things are faid in its difparagement ( the law ceremonial making no- thing perfeil , the moral all fuller of fin ) -, and all thole oppolitions of the law to the Gofpel : and of Mofes to Chrift. See Heb. 8. 9. Therefore where the Apoftle makes any fuch oppofition ; 'tis either of the more obfcure manifeftation of the Gofpel and promifes in the times under the law, in refped: of thofe after the incarnation of Chrift : Or of the law Ceremonial, fometimes alfo called the old Co- venant, in refpedt of its accomplifhment in Chrift; ( as this occurs often in the Epiftle to the Hebrews ) Or not of the book of the old Teftaraent, i.e. of Mofes and the Prophets, to the new Teftament, i.e. of the Gofpel of our Saviour, ( for thus the new Te- ftament is alfc contained in, and proved out of the old,) Chap. IX. 209 old,; but of the law moral confidered by it felt in the old Teltament, ( and abilradted there from all the promifes of Gods mercy and of grace, that are frequent in it, ) only as it rigidly commands all righteoufnefs ; forbids all fin ; promifeth rewards to thole that keep; denounceth pumfhments to thofe that tranfgrefs it ; and meanwhile changeth not, helpeth not at all mans natural pravity, and inability to obferve it. Yet thus alfo j as the letter only, it fervedwell, by (lie wing men their fins and inability to perform them, to drive them forward xetfervke- with the rod of this Scboolmajhr into the Covenant able to drive of grace, fee l{pm. 3. 19, 21. -9. 32. Gal. 3. 22, 24. l^J) ma f e and to make them look after a Redeemer, by fee- x - their i»aLli- inghow guilty they ftood before God; and after ty ) forward the fpirit promifed and procured by him, by fee- tn * tkeCvue- ing their former ieli-weakneis [ which lpirit and redeemer then alio offered themfelves to the chil- dren of faith. ) Tho many of the Ifraelites abufed this intention of the law, by ieeking juftification by it, rather then by faith : fym. 9. Si. whilifmean- while the miniftration of the lpirit, fee 2 Cor. 3. 6, 7, 8. Rom. 8- 2. Heb. 8. 10, 11 . writ it upon the hearts of the faithful ; by which fpirit as the juji lived; and had remiffion of former fins ( commit- ted agai nit this law) by faith. Pfal. 32. 1,2. Ifym. 4. 7, 8. So he was enabled ( for the future ) to walk in thole fame laws; fee LuJ^. 1. 6. 2{pm. 8.4. The law Handing (till in force as fubordinate unto grace, 1 Cor. 9. 21. for our works following faith and re- pentance ; ( tho not for thofe preceding them ) to which law we are alwaies to perform both fincere and univcrfal obedience. Thele two miniftrations therefore of the law and of the fpirit are oppofed, for their eftedt : one taken Angle, bv ltfelf without Dd * the 3io The benefits of our Savior* the other, ferving only for convi&ion and conde- mnation, &cc. and for the perfons by whom they earner one by Mofcs, the other by Chrift,- but not for the time, or for the time alfo ; but not as if in time ( Imeanfince yida?nsfa\\ ) the one preceded the other for their ablblute being, but only in re- fpedt ot the clearer manifeftation firit of the one, then of the other ; at leveral times. In the former times the law being more largely propounded ; the promifes feen a far off and darkly, as it were thro a cloud or veils 2 Cor. 3.13. The Meflias expected to appear in the flefh ; the gift of the fpint narrower for compafs, lefs in intention : But the latter times, from it now vifibly fent down from Heaven enjoy- ing clearer manifeftations of truth, larger efrufions of grace. 1 Cor- p. 10. To conclude. As we find be- fore the law from the beginning, a double genera- tion, one fons of Godj and the other of men : one righteous and the other wicked; and in Abrahams time one bom of the bond-woman, another of the free* -woman ; now thofe born of the free-woman are only fuch as are made free by Chrift, lee Gal. 4. 3 1. ->-. 1. one born after the flejh ; the other after the fpi- nt, or by promife. ( Now the fpirit is the promile of theGoipel, as well as the Meffias, and comes only by the Meffias ) one ex operibus, the other ex vocan- te, Rom. 9. /i. which two generations, ( from the beginning ) were alio fhewed in the oppofinon be- tween the elder and the younger ; ( as in Cain whofe race was gigantick in companiion of the o- ther. Gen. 6. 4. and Abel , or Seth : ifmael, Haac : Eiau, ]acob : Ham and Shem, &c. Which maybe obferved al(o in Reuben and Judah ; Zarah and Pharez; ManaiTes and Ephraim -, David and his brethren} Aaron and Moles ; ( And not only in perfons Chap, IX, 2 r 1 perfons, bat nations; ancienter and greater nati«> againlt that chofen for Gods people; llrael and the Egyptian: Ilrael and the Ganaanitcs : Ifraet and the Philiftine i Iirael and Babylon; Jew and Antio- chus; Jew and Gentile; then Gentile si 0pffe of God and the Jew Apoltate : laiiiy, the Church and Antichriit. The Elder perfecuri.ig the y< or the former born, the latter; bucyet tibial itill overcoming the former ; for that i^hioh t.r firji is natural. 1 Cor. iy. ~ft. Sounder the law alio wd find a twofold genera- £ tion 9 one of faith holding of Abraham j another ffieiwo of works of the law, holding of Moles, Gal. ^. 9i i K *f /^ o/ and two Covenants on foot; the one the Mount Mofe$ h and Sinai 5 and the other the ferufalem-Coveiiant. Gal: thefpirit by 4.25-. and two explanations upon them, to ^^Vjjfownot) men to which covenant they mould adhere; ifa&oppofed. one [ Cur fed is every one that continueth net in all things written in the law to do them; and He that doth Jh all live, in them. Tfom.io.y. Gal. 3. 12. quoting Dent. 1 7. 26. Levit. 18. r-] The other [_The jufijhall live by faith'] ; or Blcjjed is the manwhofe iniquities are forgiven. See Horn. 3. 3, 7, 8 . Gal. 5. 10, 12, 11. j\om. 4. 3.-9. 33. quoting Pfal. 32. /, 2. Habba\. 2. 4. hfai.28. 16. Gen. if. 6. Nay fee both thefe coming from the month of Mofes, who himfelf was a Son of faith. The one Levit. 18. y, the other Dent. 13. n, 12. explained by the Apoftle, Rom. 10. f\6\ 7. &c. The latter of which [The word is nigh thee, in thy heart, &c.~] that is, laith he, the word of faith ; and that fame faith which the Gofpel preacheth,verf. 8. And therefore as we are now referred for falvation to the preaching of Chrift and his Apoitles; fo A- braham then ( before thefe ) referred Dives his bre- thren for their falvation and efcaping of hell to the D d 2 preaching 212 The benefits of our Savior. preaching of Mofes and the Prophets. Lu\. 16. 29, 31. And both St. Paul and St. James, treating about the point of juftification, take their examples out of the old Teftament ; inftancing, hew it was 111 Abra- ham amongft the Hebrews , and Rahab amongft the Gentiles. See fym. 4. 1 . Sec. Jam. 2. 21 y 25. And as the other held of Adam and the law ; ib thefe latter in all ages held of Chrift and the Gofpei 1 and The Ancients / ^ we now ) had aiwaies the fame Saviour, their the fame iray King to conduct them ; the lame lpirit to lnipire offalvation and inform them s the fame Sacraments ( for fub- Zmes! atter fta » ce J to confirm them : Baptifm in the Red lea and in the Cloid, thro which (czExod. 14. 19, -13. 21. Matt. 3. 11. they paffed to Canaan : and the feu- charift ; the body of our Lord in the Manna, com- ing down from Heaven ; and his blood in the wa- ter, itreamingout of the rock. 1 Cor. 10. 1. &c. So Circumcifion was adminiftred, and their faenfices ufed by them, as Baptifm and the Eucharift by us : ( of which inftituted by the Lord Jelus theirs de- livered to the fathers were types) tor re mi ill on of lin,andconferring grace, forappeafing Gods wrath, and thanklgiving for mercies with reference to the fame blood of the new Teftament, and the onely true facrifice. So St. Auftin de nuptiis & concupi- fcentia. 1. 2. c. 11. faith Circumcifionem ad purgatio- nem originalls peccati valuiffe magiiis & parvis, quem- admodum nunc Baptifmus. And that threat Gen. 17. 14. That foul Jhall be cut off from his people is ordi- narily underftood , that he is cut oif as well for be- ing extra pablurn, as being pr vr cepti violati reus. And tho Circumcifion in Abraham ( who was before the receipt thereof juftified by faith ) was only a feal of that former jultification ; as alio the Sacrament of Baptifm was to Cornelius ( faith St. Aultin contra Dona- Chap. IX. 21$ Donatiftas. I.4.C.24J See Act. 10. 47. comp.44.and is to many other. Yet this hinders not ( faith Eftius 4. Sent. 1. d. fi'.fec.J-but that in parvulificut nunc Ba- pti/mus, ita olim Circumcifio non nudum effet Jignacu- turn jujtiiiG interior u 3 fed efficax atque operatorium. And St. Auitin ibid. Cur ergo eipraceptum eft utomnem demceps infantem octavo die circumcideret ; nifi quia & ipfum per jeipjum facr amentum mult um valebat} And for this purpofe alfo were their f acrifices ufed. See Lev. 4. 20, 26. and the Prieftjhall make an at- tonement for him as concerning his (in and it /hall be forgiven him. Vulgar ; J^ogabitque pro eo Sacerdos & pro peccato ejns y U dimittetur ei. See Lev. cap. f. cap. 17. and Numb. ij. cap. and Meb. y. 1. That he might offer facr if ccs for fins, fo Job C. 1. V. ?. offered facr i- ficefor the fins of his fons, and 42. cap. 8, and v. 9. he offered facrif/ce and prayed for the trefpajfes of his friends, and God accepted him. See the lame 2 Sam. 24. 2/. How like is that Lev. 4. 26. in the old Te- flament to Jam. $. 14, 1/. in the new, for remiffion of fin by the Prieits ufing facred ceremonies and praier ? and that Deut. 34. 9. to Acl. 8. 17. for con- ferring of the graces of the fpirit ? Therefore thus St. Auitin Quselt. 84. in Levit. Mojes fanHificabat vi- dbilibus facramentis per minijlerium fuum, Do minus invifibili gratia per fpiritumfuum. And Trad:. 26. in Johan. he faith Sacrament a Judaorum & nojlra fuiffe in [ignis diverfa i in re 3 qua figmficatur, paria : quot- ing 1 Cor. 10. 2, 5. Cmnes eandem ejcam fpiritua- lem manducaverant, fpiritualem utique eandem quam nos. jdliud Hit, aliud 110s, fed fpecie vifibili, quod ta- rn en hoc idem figivlharet virtute fpirituali. To which I will add two layings of Leo, theone Serm. 5. de Nativit. Domini. Non minus adept i qui in illud ma- gna pietatis facramcntum credidere promsffum, quam 2i^. The benefits of our Saviour. qui fufcepere donatu-m. The other Serm. i. in die Pentecoft. Cum in die Pentecoft es dif'cipulos Domini fpiritus functus imp levity non fuit inchoatio muneris ) fedadjeclio largitatis. Quoniam & Patriarchal Pro- phets? & Sacerdotes , omnefque Sancli 9 qui prioribus fuere temporibus y ejufdem funt fpiritus janili fancli- ficatione vegetati s & fine hac gratia nulla unquam in- fiitut a facr amenta y nulla funt celebrata myjteria, ut eadem femper fu erit virtus charifmatum, quamvis non eadem fuerit men fur a donor um. Indeed the Sacra- ments of the old Teftament considered in them- i'elves, as feparate from, or oppofite to, the merit of Chrift and the grace of the Gofpel, were of no pow- er for expiating fin, or conferring grace. We find the Sacrifices alfo inftituted in Levit. for leffer fins : thofe of ignorance -, thole offending againit fome legal rites, and ceremonies^ thofe damaging our neighbor in fome fmaller matters, joyned with re- ftitution ; but not for expiation of the great ones, murder, idolatry, blafphemy, or adultery ; and for thefe leffer lins we may not imagine them expiato- ry of the guilt,or fin in it felf ffave as they foreiigni- fied the merits of the Sacrifice on the Crofs, and thus ftrengthned the faith of the offerer in the pro- mifes to come : for which faith obeying Gods com- mand in offering to him thefe Types thereof, the merits of the Sacrifice of the Crofs was applied to him for remiffion of his fin, great, or little ) but on- ly of the legal immundicities, or lbme temporal penalties due thereto , which facrifices therefore were of themfelves quotidiana peccatorum accufatio, but notfblutio, as St. Chryfoitom in Heb. Horn. 17. Therefore alfo where we find difcourfe in the Pro- phets of re mi ffion of fin, asinf^/^W. 18. chap, the legal Sacrifices are not propofed as any remedy thereof 5 Cha P. IX. 21/ thereof; and many times fpoken of in the old Te- ltament as unprofitable thereunto. And what is faid here of the common, and ordinary Sacrifices, is tobefaidfor thofe more folemn ones, offered once a year, on the great day of expiation, which are extendible only to the lame ends, and purpofes, as the ordinary Sacrifices were. Again, thefe Sa- crifices alio for the expiation of the exteriour im- mundicity, and punifhment of the lefTer fins (for which they were ordained) in this came fhort ot that all-fufncient Sacrifice of our Lord: that they neither procured fuch indulgence from God for any future fin of the lame kind, but fo many fins as were committed, fo manyfeveral Sacrifices were to be ilain, and offered : nor procured from him any grace, or fpecial affiila nee of his Spirit for the prevention of iuch future fins. But left thole for whom they were offered as liable to the fame fins, as they were before, whereas our Lords one oblation made latisfa£tion for all future fins as well as paft i and alio procured from God the plentiful efrufioii of the Holy Spirit, and Grace tor preventing of a relapie into fin for the future. This then was the great weaknefs, and unprofitablenels of the Sacra- ments, and Sacrifices of the Law. Heb.7.1%. There- fore the Apoftle calls them but beggarly elements, Gal. 4. 9. and in the 9. and 10. chapter to the He- brews denies they could take aivav Jin, &"C. and in ma- ny places Ipeaks againft the unprofitablenels of cir- cumcifion, &c. ( as alio many things are laid in the old Teflament in difparagement of the facrifices under the law.) But as Eftius 4. Sent.i d . 28 s. me- thinks well notes. Qua ab Jlpojlolo (and lo 1 may lay of thofe things laid by the Prophets ) contra Ju- decos proprie diclafunt, auiChrijlum folum jujlificato- ■ . 2i6 The benefits of our Saviour. rem ignorantes Jignapro rebus ampleBebantur -, exiJH- mantes facrifici a & facr amenta veteris legis perfeipfa deo accepta & propitiatoria efie, ut Chrijh /anguine opus non ejfet. § ,g. And the fame thing may be faid of John Baptifts baptifm, which, tho certainly as relating to the blood of Chrift we cannot imagine that it was in- feriour, in its effects to the former Sacraments ad- miniftred before or under the law to thofe who died not having the opportunity of receiving our Savi- ours after it; yet firit confidered in it felf, and as the Jews looked upon it as an external wafhing only coming from John it was, as he told them, only a Baptifm of water, notofthefpirit. He adminiftring no more then the external lign only ; but Chrill, that came after him, the inward Grace, for that meafure thereof, that was in Johns Baptifm, as in other old-Teftament-Sacraments^received. Second- ly, Tho in his Baptifm, or other former Sacraments to the rightly prepared Grace might be and was re- ceived, yet was there no defcent of the Holy Ghoft, or donation of thofe higher gifts or Graces there- of ( which externally manifefted its internal pre- lence, and therefore wf ei'^ had the name of the Holy Ghoft, fee Aft. S.17. Aft. 1. #. -/ 0. 44. -1 p. 6. comp. 2, 3. of which doubtlefs the Baptilt Ipeaks, Matt. 3. 11. diftributed, fave extraordinarily, till the coming of our Lord and by his Miffioners ; the firfteffufion thereof being at Pentecoft, and fo con- tinuing ever fince more frequent in the Church as to feveral of thefe eminent gifts thereof, to and up- on io many, whole hearts, and converfation are very much purified from fin; for which therefore John was fent before our Lord to prepare the world by a due repentance and reformation, our Lord not Chap. IX. 217 not vouchfafing to put this new .wine fave into new veffels : for defect of which, even in thcfe latter times of the GoipelaHo, the donation or the Holy Ghoft taken in this ienfe is not io common. It temft be granted then that the former Sacraments alio, as they referred to Gbrift, yet were many waies in- feriour in the benefit received bv them, to thole 111- ihtuted by oar Saviour after the myitcrv of our ial- vation accompliilied. Veteribus jublatis ( faith S.Au- ftili) injiituta funt nova, virtute major a, utilitate mcliora , athi facihora , nurnero pauciora, and Leo (quoted hzfoxe)eadcm fuit virtus charifmatum, quam- vis non eadcmfuit men fur a donor urn, and this may be the re a foil of thofe 2 Canons in the Concil. Tri- dent. 7. Seflion. Siquis dixerzt novce legis facr amen- ta a (acramentis antique legis non differ re niji quia ce- remoni(2 Junt ahce, g alii ritus externi : Anathema (it. And again, Jiquis dixerit Baptifmumjoharmis babu- iffe eandem vim cum baptifmo Chrijh y Anathema Jit. Which was alio the Ancient dodfcrine of the Church againft the Donatifts pleading from it the lawful- nefs of the iteration ofChrifts baprifm. To whom St. Auftinreplyes contra litems Petiliani 1. 2.c. 37. Si cut aliudejt carnis circumcijio Judaorum, aliud au- tem quod oilavo die Bapti\ator : >m nos celebramus : d aliudeji Pafcha quodadhuc i/li He ore celebrant, aliud autem quod nos in corpore C jawniine Domini accipi- mus , jic alius fuit Baptifmus Johannis, alius ejl ba- ft 1 1/ m us Chrijh :■ Illis enimventura tjta prccnunaaban- tur, 1 . is completa ilia prccdicantur. Thus Calvin al- io In ftit. 1. 4. c. 14. 22. Quin uberior etiam ftiritus gratia bic ( i. e. in the Sacraments of the new Te- ilament ) je prof cr at, ji tempus cum tempore compa- res non dubium eft: Nam idpertinet adgloriam regni Chrijti, ficut ex plurimis loci's pnefertim ex 7 capite He Jonan. 2i 8 The benefits of our Savior. Johan. colligimus : Quo f'enfu accipere oportet Mud Pauli, umbras fuifjejub lege, Corpus fub Chrijlo. Ne- que enim con/Ilium ejt exina?iire fuo effeilu tejtimonia gratia in qui bus olim Patribus veracem Je probare dens voluit, fed comparative magni facer e quod nobis datum eft. And I think no Chriftian hath reafon to equal the benefits of their Manna or Pafchal Lamb to thole of the Eucharift mftituted by the Lord JefuSjWith annullation of the othenand a pre- face of Hoc eft corpus meum, which leems needlefs innovation, if as much might have been faid of the former Lamb. See Bifnop Forbes de Eucharift. 1. i. C. i. s. 26. Hauddubie prijci fideles ante Chrifti incar- nationem carnem Chrifti fpi ritual iter edebant in Man* na, & rebus aliis figuratam, & fufficienter pro ftatu ccco- nomice illius ad Jalutemi Cor. io. &c. fed nihil omimis per communicationem carnis Chrifti in Euchariftia multo altius G? folidius nos Chriftianos incorporari Chrijlo quam prifcos fideles , qui Chrijli incar natio- nem prceceferant : And again. Eadem fuit Jud#o- rum & Chrijlianorum ejca quoad fignificationem , non autem quoad rei fignificata & figuratce pra~ fentiam & exhibitionem. Haud abfurde ighur di- citur Agnum pafchalem, Mannam, pe ram dc. fuijfe Sacramenti Eucharijlice typos & figuras 3 &c. And if any one think to equal the benefit or the new Sa- craments with thofe old ones becaufe falvation was alfo had under them, Hemuft alio deny any profit thereof alfo now to people formerly penitent and beleevers : becaufe thefe alfo prevented of the actu- al reception of thefe Sacraments may attain eter- nal life. Thus 'tis confefled the former Sacraments to be in many degrees inferiour to the new inftitut- edbyChrift. The Schoolmen go yet further in de- preffing them. Non valuijfc (acrificia vctera } dead expia- Chap. IX. expiationem peccati quoad culp am <3 panam Gehenna , nifi quatemis pgna quadam erant protejiantia fidem in Chrifiium. Non jujtificajje vi jua ( as the new ones do ) fed ex fide & devotione fufciptent/s, qua fides nunc von efificit gratiamfacramcntalem, n c que da t cjficaci- amfiacramentu, fed folum tollit objtacula. Infiituta efifeprimo & per fie ad figmficat/onem fiut rorum ( ac- cording to that of St. Aiilim non dantiafalutem, fed promittentia falvatorem) non ad efificiendum aliquul mfii per acridens, quatenus in eorum fiufceptione erat protefiatio fidei, &c. Yet ( to conclude ) How ever be itperfe, or be itper accidens, 'tis granted by all that the fame effeds for remiffionof hn 3 and grace ne- ceflary to falvation according to the oeconomy of thofeimperfedrr times, were wrought in the re- ceiving of thofe Sacraments as fince in the new. So Aquin. part. 3. 62. q. 6. art. confefleth/w Circumci- fionem Gratiam fuifife collatam quantum ad nines gra- tia efifiettus , Jicut m B apt if mo non tamen ex virtute ipfius Circumcifioms Jicut per Baptifimum. And Bellar- mine. Meritum Cbrifii nobis applicatur per facra- menta, Hebrais autem per folum fidem : But he adds qua tamen fides requirebat facr amenta Vetera ut con- ditiones fine quibus non fides operabatur. Yet fi ce more abundance of grace and falvation comes by the new, more immediatly and properly inftituted by our Saviour for fuch an offinfir; Therefore were the new much defired by ( and we are not to doubt ) with much benefit adminifcrcd, to thole who had formerly received the other j which were alfo the types and figures of thefe. And Blcffed ever be God who hath made our times partakers of thefe his more excellent benefits and difpenfations. The fame way of lalvation ; fir It, by re million of fin paft, 6cc. If. 32. i 3 2. upon repentance. Second- E e 2 Ly, 21? §. 22o The benefits of our Saviour. The fame /*» ly 3 by obedience for the time to come: the chit* ^i^-^drenofTaith being guided by the fame Evangeli- cal precepts, regenerated by the fame fpirit ,• and this fpirit operating the fame purity and landtity in their hearts, under the old Teltament, as under the new. Neither may we think that the latter Saints more illuminated differed from the ancient more orefhadowed, in the perfection of any new parts of obedience , but only in the perfection of degrees. Nor ( for degrees ) was their illuminati- Thefame obe- on fo fmail ( and confequently their obedience fo diencet L e?i impure), in companfon of us as fome imagine; performed. Which thing, after firft having taken notice, that the two greater! Commandements which indeed contain all the reft whatsoever 7(0 /?z. 13.10. are quot- ed by our Saviour out of ehe law and Frophets. Deut. 6. ?. Lev. 19. 18. fee Matt. 22. 37.-7- 12. We may the better difcern by running over the ftridteft precepts of our Saviours Sermon, Matt 5. &c. and ieeing how far thofe of the Law and Prophets have advanced towards them, tho the lupine negligence or hypocrify of the Jewifli Dodtors took notice only of fome places ( for the outward expreffioii ) otlefs reftraint 5 as Thou (halt not kill, commit adultery, forfwear thy felf, &c. without conlidering others at all that were of greater. ^ ^ The parallel precepts given under the law, to TheParalhl thofe of our Saviour ; Matt. ?. verf.21 . fee Eccle(.7.$>. precept? m- Pfal. 3.7>8. Exod. 22. 28. Pfal. Ig.i. t Vet. 3. p. [ not dert'.elavjj rqilirwy\ confirming; it from Pfal. 34.. 13. and the to thofe under ■ »■ J ' n ' ,. _ J , T-- r ,. T , the Gofpe!. p'ttictiies or David, 2 Sa?n.i6.io. and or Moles Numb. 16.4. and the cenfure of Nabal for calling David a runaway. 1 Sam. 27. 14. And indeed the general precept of the law [ loving our neighbour as our felf] and doing only to him, what ire ivouldbejhouldto us ] fuffici- C H A P. IX. 22 r fufficiently involves the prohibition. To our Savi- ours, Matt. ?. 27. lee Prod. 6. 2?. Job. 31. i.Prov. y. 8. where advifed to turn another way. Jer. ?. 8. Is our Saviours itricter then Prov. 23. Ji, 33. And laftly the 10th Comraandcmeiit; from which we may argue -, If ( now ) the eye look, &x. without coveting, 'tis innocent: if with it, thenalfo this wasafin. To thole Matt. ?. 33. fee the third Com- mandement; and our Saviours reafon for not fwear- ing, Matt. ?. J 7. Which reafon f of its coining of evil'] argues that it was never lawful-; and ( confe- quently ) alwaies forbidden ; either by the pofitive, or the natural, divine law. Nowtho we find not in the pofitive law [/wear not at all~] ( which pre- cept is in no times to be underftood abfolntely ) s yet we find that we fhall only [wear by the Lords name Dcut. 6 . i5.-io.xo. ( for [wearing by him was his ho- nour, Efai. 65. 1 6. Jer. 2. 16.) and again that we /ball never take b'fc name in vain. Therefore they might not [wear at all ; unlels upon necelfary and juft caufes ; But fo alfo we may now fwear. And fee this in St. Paul not unfrequent. To that Matt. ?. 18. fee Prov, 20. 22.-24. 29. Lev. 19. 18. Tooth for tooth ( for pub- lique revenge ) is ltill lawful 5 but private never was. Sec Numb. 3y. 24. And lee Lam. 3. 30.' Ejai. 30. 6. anfweiing to viatt. y. 39. To Matt. y.^.3.&cc. See Exod. 23.4, /. and if his Oxe j then if a thing much dearer to him ; then alfo if Himlelf. See l^om. 12.20. quoting it out of the old Tellament. Pro.xy. 21,22. pfal. 7. 4. Job. 3 1. 29, 30. Lev. 19. 17. Prov. 24. 17, 18. Tho fome enemies there were devoted to de- ft ru6t ion , to whom they might fhew no mercy. Deut.7. t6. As alfo now fome enemies of God we may not pray for, 1 Jo. f. 16. and fome ads of cha- rity there were, in which they were obliged only to their 22,\ The benefits of our Saviour. their brethren. Deut. 15. 3.-23. 20. But fo alfo 'tis now, Gal. 6. 10. Now concerning thefe precepts a- bove quoted we may not think that they were un- known or unpiadifed till the time wherein we find them regilfred. For we find not only the morals of Mofes, but even many of the ceremonials, obferved before his times ; k$ paying tithes, Gen. 14. 20. P#- rifying,cleanfings y changing their garments. Gen. 3f ti 2. HolocauJis y G,en. 8. 21. Peace-offerings , fixod. 24.5. Clean and unclean beajls. Gen. 7. 2. The birds infacri- fice not divided* Gen. i?. 10. comp. Lev. 1.17. Not eating the blood, Gen. 9.4. Not marrying with unbe- leevers as may be gathered from Gen. 6. 2. comp. 1 . And fo Polygamy feenis then prohibited. See Mutt. 19.4,8. comp. Gen. 6. 2. and 4. 19. Raifing feed to their brother. Gen. 38. 8, 10. But they happened ra- ther to be regiiired and fet down by parts, what the Holy GhG.it al'w'aies on the fame manner dictat- ed to the faithful ; as thofe fins alfo were by them ftri&ly avoided. Elfe the holinefs of ancient No- ah and job would not have run parallel with that of Daniel, E^el^. 14. 14. which in the ioComman- dements were only redu&ively prohibited. This publication of the divine laws being ftili more and more perfect ; Mofcs more illultrating, and. com- menting, as if were, upon the former, patriarchal Traditions ; and the Prophets upon thofe of Mofes - y and Chriit again upon thofe of the Prophets -, he compleatiiig and fulfilling all things. § 2T 3. The fame way of falvation anciently, (as now) The fame was by fuffe rings. Self-denial, taking up the Crofs, fuffenngsiand m^i^a^nv, ^#tfl(ic|^ as they a/e the portion of ™m&Tre- c ^ gfi4iy under the new, fo were they under the qjrsd and old Telhunent : and the fame promifes of prote&i- wvdergmc. Ql ^ deliverance, temporal happincfs and profpe- nty, Chap. IX. 223 rity, that were to the righteous under the old, are alio to the Saints under the new, Andastheprc- fent Hate of the wicked is obferved to be prospe- rous (nice oar Saviours coming, but endlefs destru- ction after it 5 lo it was before. And they are Gods conltantwaies, from the beginning never chang- ed ; firft affliction, then deliverance ; fir It evil, then good to the godly : firft profperity, then ruin ; firft good, then evil, to the impious. But who Co will uni- verfally difcern thcfe paths of Cod by his experi- ence, muft firft perfectly fee the good lie fs and wick- ednefs of the heart (where their chief feat is ) to diftinguifh between the good and the bad ; and then mult fee the joyes and afflictions of the heart (where their chief feat is) to diftinguifh between the truly temporally happy, and the miferable. Be- fidesthefehe muft fee to what place the foul goes when it leaves the body s and to what place alfo the body goes when it leaves the grave : for t e rea- fons, Matt. 16.26. LuJ^. 12. 20. Rev. 18-7* And then for the better coniidenngof temporal judg- ments and mercies he muft live the time of j or 4 generations. Till which let his ignorance lay with the Wife man, Eccl.^.\. Horno hefcit utrum amove an odio digitus fit. Meanwhile to fee the unity of the docftrineof the two Teftaments concerning thefe. 1. And firft for felf-denial, mortifications, 6cc. Ge- nerally we learn from thole ancienter Saints, fack- cloth, duft, and allies, failing, lying on the ground, JdT^fiUe^ Sec. ( fee Davids humiliations, 2 Sam. 12. 16. ) fo fe£ mortificat** as fome that will hold only on the liberty of the new, reject thele as humiliations proper only to the old Teltament. The aufteritiesqf the Prophets were ve- ry great : the felf-denial of Abraham and Mofes, &c. not to be parall'd, ?, That temporal afflicti- ons 071$. Offingh per fori s god y. 224 T!)e benefits of our Savior. onswere the portion of piety under theoldTefta- ment 3 and that this book taught men fo; fee the witnefsthat the new bears to it, chufing rather to recite it as an old, then teach it, as a new credend. See Heb. 12. ?. quoting Prov. 3. n.fym: S.^.quot- Tewporalaf- ing Pfal. 44. 24. Jam. ?. 11. chufing an example of flimmsofthe f u tierings out of Job. And now for the hiftory of old times. Confider how that old-Teftament-Piety began in Abel; and how it ended in thofe men- tioned, Heb. 11. 3 s,. &c. How the children of pro mi fe were at (hit the fervants of their Brethren, as at laft their Mailers. So that as the Apoitle G&fc^X) . iaith, as then, fb it is now 5 we may lawfully convert it in faying.as now,fo it was then. See Abrahams leaving his country Jcl. 7. fe. the complaint. of- Jacob, Gen. 47- 9- Confider the affiidions of Mofes ( yet thofe chofen by him ) of David -, and thofe not lefs after, then before, his coronation. See Pfal. 39. 12. fee the fad complaint oiPfaL 44. notwithftanding verf. 17* laftly , confider the defign of holy Jobs hifto- ry divulged raoft early to leiTon all pofterity \ not to adjudge profperity only to the godly, nor affliction to the wicked. But it was fo with fingle perfons, but not fo with nations ; becaufe they had promifes of temporal happinefs then upon holi- nefs J firfc: and have they not fo ftill? Doth not God ftili temporally blefs both perfons and nations that fear and ferve him ? the preachers tell them fo. And for righteous men are there none now that may fay with David, pfal. 16. 6 ? Rut if temporal profperity be the promife of the law , and affliction the lot of the Gofpel -, then, as then we argue Ilrael Gods people, when profperous, we muft argue them foltill : becaule now moil diftreffed. Kay further, them then not to be Gods people, becaufe no nati- on Ofnations godly. Chap. IX. 22/ drifeems to have fuffe red more then the Ifraelites, ( not to a final extirpation of them, tor whom mer- cy is in the laft place referved , but for all manner of tyranny and opprefiion over them ) if we do but together with their ihorc felicities in Jofhua?, and Davids, and Solomons time, Sec. confider their condition in Egypt, after in the wildernefs ; in the time of the Judges; under the invalions of the kings of Syria, Babylon, Egypt, Antiochus, Romans. Tor as the temporal profperity of thofe, who are Gods people, depends only on the continuance of their holinefs ( God judging here thofe more, whom he will not judge hereafter ; and vifiting the fins of his fervants almoft alwaies with temporal afflidli- ons, tho he deals not fo with others, becaufe re- ferved for future and greater punifhments ) fo they never continuing long without offending God, it comes to pafs that they never long abide tempo- rally happy. And we fee the very life of holy men not unoften ending in the temporal punifhment of fome fin, as good ] ofiah's and Mofes's, and the Co- rinthians 1 Cor. 11. 30. comp. with J 2. Only the certain comfort to thefe whether men or nations, isj that Gods judgments alwaies end to them in mercies; mercies everlafling. AndGoJs proceed- ings with them are alwaies fiich as are defcribed, Pfdl. 89. 32. and Efai. 5-4. 7, 8- vet that moment contains their fufferings at this day as appears by v.p.&c. and fpeaking of their laft converfion.?.That profperity was obferved under the old Testament to be the ordinary inheritance and portion of the wicked, fee thofe many expoftulations we find eve- Temporal ry where in the ancient Scriptures. Sec Jer. 12, 1, 2. P; c fmty of J j , . n r .1 , J > ' the wicked, job. 21. 1. the juit God punifheth in this world thofe of his fervants, Sec. ( the reafon of this becaufe he punifheth them not hereafter : ) but ( according to the qualification inievted Mar \. 10. 30. ) interlined with afflictions,- and confifts more in protection in and deliverance from, then vacancy of, all crofTes ( yet which things make it to them infinitely more pleafant -, as war and conqueft is, then a conftant peace : and hun- ger and afeaft then conftant fatiety ) : and that it isahappinefs as fiicceeding evils; lb fucceeded by them, like the condition defcribed, Pfal. rod. but good and peace alwaies the laft. Pf. 37.17. 2. That when it is, it is morefecret, and within, and lefs difcerned ; whereas that of the wicked is more ex- ternal, and fpecious, and obvious to the eye. So that the world fees much more of the one and much lefs of the other then indeed there is. To con- clude this point from the premifes I think we may fafely pronounce. 1. That a conftant profperity ( excepting fome evils of no moment J hath lome- times happened to the wicked - 3 but never to any F f 2 good 227 228 § 22. 5 The fame rewards eter- nal then pro<- ?nifed. Punifhments eternal threatned. The common belief of all nations con- ferring thefe. The benefits of our Saviour. good man. 2. That conftant adverlity never hap- pened either to evil or good. Not to the evil,becaufe they purchafe evil to come only by the pleafures of fome prefent fins:nor to the good becaufe God deli- vers as he afflicts. 3 . That to the good, more worldly diflatisfadtion, then worldly content, either from his not having, or at leaft his not ufing and enjoy- ing, its good things, 1 Cor, 7.29. hath alwaies hap- pened. 4. That for the people and Church of God in general ; ever fince the beginning, the lat- ter afflictions thereof have been and fhall beftill greater ; greater therefore under the times of the Gofpel, then of the law; ice Matt. 10. 34. and greater ftill the deliverances; all Glory be to the infinite wifdom of our God ! Thus much of the fame obedience and fufferings, required alwaies of the children of faith, under the times of the law and Prophets; as fince under the times of Chrift ; even the lame from the beginning. Next , thefe required alwaies upon the lame re- wards promifed and punifhments denounced, i. e. eternal blifs, or torments : which that they were al- waies believed, hoped, feared by the moft of men ( for now alio fome there are who believe them not) we may learn from the ancient univerfality of this opinion (for fo much as concerns the foul ) e- ven amon^ft falfe religions -, which muft either be borrowed from the relations of it made to the Church, ( as all falfe religions were but feveral cor- ruptions of the true ) : or from the common light of nature ( as fuch a thing there is, Pp?n. 2. 14, ly.Jj For indeed how could at any time right reafon al- lowing only a Gods and reward and punifiiment ; for virtue and vice; as 'tis, Gen. 4.7. argue other- wife ? For they feeing the wicked many times here profpe- Chap. IX. 229 prosperous; and the righteous fuffer ; even the firit good man murdered by his own brother : and then holding after death no feconditate, there remains no pimifhment, Sec. for temporal death, pafling up- on all, can be no punifhment of any ones fin, ex- cept Adams, anymore, then it is of the fins of all. Now the light we findamongit the ancient Hea- thens we may not deny to have Ihined much more in the Church. But fecondly, That not only future Of the Ami- blifs and pains, but a refurre&ion alio was com- ^ e ^j - monly believed in the Church before our Saviours rcfurre£i%nof times, encouraging the good, aiinghting the wick- thc bodf. ed, fee zMaccab. 12. 44. Wijd. 4. 16, and ail the |th cap. 2 Maccab. 7. 9, 36. which tho not Canonical yet are convincing, to fhew the jews ancient opi- nion in this point ; and the laft place feems to be verified by the Apoftle, Heb. ir. 35-. fee Marthas ready aniwer, "jo. 11. 20. and the opprobrium of the Sadducesfor denying it. Matt. 22. 23, 29. Of whom note, that they were a Se<5t not numerous $ counted generally Hereticks among the people ( as the. Pha- rifees the Orthodox ) that, for the evidence of thefe truths therein they were forced to rejed the writ- ings of the Prophets, and were told alio by our Sa- viour that they underftood not the writings of the law. Matt. 22. 29. .And again that this belief a- mongft them was of no later date, fee Heb. 11. 12. &c. whence may be collected the quality of that faith mentioned verf. 6. which ( compared with the end of the 4th verf. and beginning of 13 . ) muft needs be believing God to be a rewarder after this life, or elfe is nothing worth, fee verf. 5^40. verf. 26. of 'the reward i. e. eternal -, elfe Egypt was to be preferred before the Wilciernefs. See^L^. 1, ^4, 73.' 7{o m. 3. 21 . -1, 2. Next let us confider the old Tefta- ment k 23^ The benefits of our Saviour* 'Mej^py perijhtng like the beafls ; their iniquity being upon their bones ,• being had no more in remem- brance i and being blotted out of the bool^ of the liv- ingt&c. fignify not (imply the common lot of the grave ( where the rightemr£ are faid to fleep, Efai: T7-^.comp. 1.) or only a fuddainer defcent thi- ther, by an untimely death ; ( for the righteous al- io many times have an early deceafe,) but the place of a prifon and torment. 2. That the frequent threats there of Gods coming to judgment, are of- ten not meant of fome particular temporal execu- tions of his wrath upon the living; but of that laft general, that fhall be upon all the world : called by the Baptift the xrath to come, Matt. 3.7. as appears by the quotations of them in the new Teftament, applyed to that day. See iPet.-$. J^ev. 20. 21, 22. chap, compared with the lait chapters of Efai. E%e/^ Gg J&k ^14 The benefits of our Savior \ ^ech. Sec. Efai. / 3. 9. comp. Matt. 24. 29, 3 . That the future miiery of the wicked, as it is exprefled in Tanadamni. * om c places by the pcena fenfus, fo not unoften by t\\epcena darnni ; only by privation of light, of life, i.e. future, of remembrance, &c. fee PfaL 73. 18, 20. [_aivakef] i.e. in the morning of the refurre- d:ion, as PfaL 39.14. and PfaL 17, 15-. comp. with -24.4. and with Job 21. i3. \in a moment, i.e. with- out fuch la ngui filing pains as job had ] 32. where they are intimated to dy without much pain , as well as live in much prosperity. If therefore after fuch pleafures their deftrudtion means only death ; death many times peaceable and eafy : what pree- minence over them at any time hath the Godly ? why may he not thenblefs himfelf ? and others al- io praife his providence ? PfaL 49.18. PfaL 49.14, 19,20. where by perijhing like beajls, and death gnaw- tng upon them ; and never again feeing light, is ex- prefled their pcena darnni, their condemnation to utter darknefs ; and non-reftorement to life eter- nal ; as appears comparing them with verf. 1 ?. and PfaL 16. 11. And fuch are thofe expreflions, PfaL 9. f, 17 , 7, 8. chiefly intending the laft day of judgment and vengeance. See PfaL 69. 27 , 28. comp. with Exod. 32. 3 3. and Phil. 4. 3. PfaL 17. ii. Efai. 25.14. comp. 19. But for their opinion of pana Tanafenfus. f en f us too . 5 ee t j le opinion of latter times, Wifd. 4. 20. comp. with 5. 1. -6. 6, 8. of the former ,- in the ancienteft tefhmony in the world, that of Enoch the Prophet. Jude 14, i f. He fpeakcth fo early of the laft judgment: frequently appeal'd to in the old Te- iiament tho miftaken,fee Pj .^^.compar d with J{ev. 2.27.-1 9. 1 ?. See Ffai. So. 33.-33. 14. comp. 16.-66. 24. Thefe compared with Job. 26. f, 6. where the Vulgar and Diodat [ Ecce g?ga?ites gemunt fub aquis & Chap. IX. 23X (3 qui habitant cum eis~] and 1 Pet.$. 19. and Efai. 74. 9, 12. fufcitavit tibi gigantes , 1 y, i8 3 19- Prov. 2.18. and 9. 1 8- The dead, the Giants as in the other i.e. the wicked of the old world; and condemna- tion to the place where thefe are, is the future pu- nifliment of theunchaft ; and fignifies not death or the grave ; but hell and torment. See the like ex- preffions, E^e^ 32. 18, 1 9. Szc. 28. 10.-31- 18. Prov. 7. 26, 27 '. Ejai. 10. 18. Pjal. 63.<)) 10. Thus in ail times the lame way of falvation ; the §. 2?. fame God never changing his counfels, the fame Conch fi on - Son of God Patron of the Church ; the fame Spirit illuminating and fanctifying it ; the fame Cove- nant of Grace ; the fame Gofpei ; the fame benefits; by looking forward fas of old) upon the feed pro- mifed; or looking backward fas in thefe latter times, ) upon the promife fulfilled. And as Heb. 8. 8. " flie ws that the Gofpei was a Covenant of the lat- ter daies, in refpect ofChrift exhibited; fo Gal. ?. itf, 17. fhews it was of the former, in refped: of Chrift promifed. And thofe places where we read of new and better Covenants , Heb. 8.9, 10. better promifes, Heb. 8. 6. better Hope, Heb. 7. 1 9. &c. are not fo to be underftood ; as if there were now pro- duced and made known fbme way of falvation to the world, when as there was none before ; or fome new way of falvation, when as there was another before; But are oppofed, either not to the former times in general ; i. e. inrefpecT: of all perfons, and of all Covenants made with, and promifes made to, them : but only to thofe times, in refped: of the co- venant of works ; which then by the errour of ma- ny of the Jews (the children of works) was gene- rally more looked after, then the Covenant of raith, which had then but tew followers : fee fy w.9.3 1,32. Gg 2 when 2. $6 The benefits of our Saviour, whenalfo the one Covenant was more largely and legibly drawn in great Characters ; the other put forth more obfcure, and in a lefTer Print, and a veil drawn over it, 2 Cor, 3.14. till the fulnej 'soft ime was come. Therefore alfo the former times had the de- nomination of the times of the law ; the latter of the Gofpel. And again, in refpedt of the literal promife ( under the law ) of felicity in the earthly Canaan. Therefore where the Apoftle faith \_eflablifhed on better promt fes"] underftand there thofe typical ones, of earthly Canaan, made to Ifrael at the promul- gation of the law. Or oppofed to thofe times in ge- neral : but this only ; firft, in refpe£t of the diverle adminiftrations of the former times with ■ many troublefome ceremonials and types to be afterward abolifned: and of the degrees of the greater mani- f citations, in the latter times, of the way of falva- tion ; being void of ihadows, types, and figures : all theie now being brought to perfection and accom- piifhment in the incarnation of the Son ; effufions of the Spirit; enlargement of the Church ; promulga- tion of an Heavenly country inftead of an Earthly Canaan ; and from thefe greater manifeltations many more of the children of works' becoming now the children of faith : And from its ftronger beams as well thofe illuminated, who before fate in darknefs, Luit^ 1. 7 p, and midnight ; as this light in- creafed to thofe, who had before fome dawnings thereof. And fecondly, in refped of the accom- plifhment of thofe promifesto the faithful of the former ages: which are made thro Chnit, f poke 11 of Heb.n. 13, 14, 16. In which they could not be com- pleated and perfected before the times of the Go- fpel : neither in refpedt of the body , they waiting for the reitorementofthat, till thole of the Gofpel are Chap. IX. 237 are glorified with them •, nor ( according to the re- verend opinion of Antiquity ) in refpedt of the foul, they not having the kingdom or heaven laid fully opened unto them till our Saviour was firft en- tred in thither. See Eph. 1. jo. Co/, i. 20. Heb. it. So, 40. -12.2 3. For indeed the performance and per- fection of the myitery of mans redemtion was a thing only received in the laft daies. And tho the virtue of Chrifts incarnation is communicated al- waiesto all men; yet not the latter times on the former, but the former depend on the latter, for the fubitance and ground of their hope and ialva- tion, Jefus Chrift come m the flefh. Thefe having the body, of which body coming toward them the o- ther had thejhadoiv ; Col. 2. 1 7. And in thefe refpects the times of the Gofpel are faid to have fo much advantage of thole of the law : we feeing in a clear glafs Gods glory, they thro