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 O R T H E 
 
 MARROW of ihe GOSPEL, 
 
 Evidently holden forth in L *xn Ser- 
 mons, on the whole 5$. Chapter dlfakb/ 
 
 WHEREIN 
 
 The Text is clearly and judicioufly opened up, and a great man 
 raoft appofite, profoundly fpirhual and very edifying points c 
 Doftrine, in a delectable variety drawn from it ^ With choice am 
 excellent pra&ical Improvements made of them* 
 
 Wherein alfo feveral Adverfaries of the Truth, as Socinitns, Arminisnt, Antinmitnt, &< 
 are fmartly, folidly and fuccinttly reafoned with, and refuted. 
 
 Wherein moreover, many Errors in Pra&ice incident to Prcf/Tor?, otherwife found an< 
 Orthodox in their Opinions, are discovered ; And not a few grave, deep and very con 
 cerning Cafes of Confcience, foberly and facisfyingly difcuiTcd. ' 
 
 By that able iVliniftcr of the New Teihmenr, Mr. JAMES DUKHAM, fomctim^Miniftet 
 ©fthe Gofpel ztGUfgow, and folemnly called to a publick Prcfcfsion of Divinity in th< 
 Univerficy there , and alfo Hit Majefliu Chaplain in Ordmai y , when He was hi 
 -S COTLAND. 
 
 "- — ' 
 
 1 Con 1. 2 r For I determined not 1 o know any thing among you, fava JtfusChrfi, and hhn crucified. 
 Gal- %. I, O foolijh Galatians who hath bewitched )0u, that ye jhoula not cbey iht truth, before whole 
 eyei Jeius Chnft hath been evidently fit forth, crucified among you} 
 
 1 Cor. i» 23. But we preach Chrift crucified, unto the Jews a Rumbling- b'ojck, and unto the Greeks 
 fiolifinejt; But unto them which art called, both Jews and Greeks, Chrift the piwcr of God, and the 
 wifdem of Cod. 
 
 2 Cor. 5. ai. For he hathmtde him ft be fin for us, who knew no fin ; that wt might be madt the 
 righteoufnefs of God in him 
 
 I Pet, 1. 14. Who his own felf 'bare our fins in kit own b)dy on the tret t that wt being dead tifin, 
 jhould live unto right eoufnefs : by wh^Je ftripet ye Wtre healed, 
 
 AuguHinut in Pfalm 129. Sacerdos n^fter anobis accepit, qur>d pro nobis offrrret; accepit* 
 nobis carnem ; in ipfa came victima pro nobis faftus eft, holocauftuiri faQus eft, facri. 
 / ficium fa&us eft. 
 
 The \d Edition Corre&cd according to the Errat* marked* by the Publifher thereof. 
 
 EDINBURGH, 
 Printed by the Heirs and SuccefTors of Andrew Andtrjon, Printer tot!:e Queens moft Excel. 
 lent M'jeflji Anno DOM 1702. 
 
 

 **•.- 
 
saa—i—a m m i rr , n „— M „ ,, - m . 
 
 Unto all afflicted and C r ofs bearing ferioits Chriliihts^ and mere particular!' 
 to the right Honour Mt And truly Nolle Lord W I L L I A M £*r/ ef 
 CRAWFORD. 
 
 IT is one of the greateft Pra&Ical Debates and Contefls betwixt Godi and His owa PespJeJ 
 priviledged with a fpecial intereft in Him, which they arc naturally inclined longeft to 
 keep up, and are loathed to let fall, viz. Whether He (hall guide and govern thtm, and 
 fhape out their Lot to them, while they fojoum here in rhe World, as He himfclf in his 
 own infinit wifdom (hall think fit, having a blank SubmifTicn put by them into His fi2nc?i 
 to be filled with what kind and quality, with what meafure and quantity, and with what con- 
 tinuance and duration of troubles, trials and afflictions Himfelf pleafah? Or, whether hcfhould, 
 as to fame things at leaft, confult their will and pleafure, and as it were take their advice, and 
 allow them a liberty to prefcribe to Him, how He fkould gu ; de and difpofe of them ? And in- 
 deed to be here denyed to their own will, and abfolutely fubmitted to the wiil of God, is One 
 of thehigheft and moft difficultly practicable points of felf-denyal ( to which notwithstanding 
 all the Difciples and followers ofChrift are exprefly called, and wherein He hath great delight 
 and complacency, as favouring ftrong of intire truft and confidence in Him ) Vet if we ccnh> 
 der thefe few things, it will be found that there is all the reafon in the World, why they mould 
 come in his will, and fweetly fubmit themfclves to it in all things, how crofs foever to their own 
 inclination, without any the leaft finful relu&ation or contradi&icn-; which is cur priviiedge, 
 and the Reftauration of our degenerated nature to its Divine and Primitive Integrity. 
 
 Ftrft, [{itbeconjidercd, That He hath moft Soveraign, Abfolute and IncontrolJible Dominicn 
 over you, as the Potter hath over the Clay , for ye are theClay, and he is the ror.tr - Nay, He hath 
 more abfolute Dominion over you than the Potter harh over the Clay, for the Potter rmketh noc 
 the Clay, both the Clay and the Potter being made by Him; But he hath made yen, andn:t ;%n )e ur 
 Jdves\Te are allthe work of hi; hands Pfal. loo. 3 lja. (a\. 8. He hath made ycu living Creatures, Ra- 
 tional Creatures, and new Creatures, If any wan be in Chnfl he is a ma Creature ( 2 Cor. 5, \j, ) 
 which is the very flower of the Creation : and y* are his work-marjhip created in Chrifl Jefus unit good 
 wer£/;Eph»2. io.If therefore it be unfuitable and incongruous for theCliy to fay to him that fajhw* 
 td it, Whatmakefl thou} Or for a mans work to fay to him that he hath no hands ; Ifai. 4$: 9. It's Aire 
 much more for you to fay to your great Potter and Fafluoner.Whatmakcft thou of us? Why d; 
 eft thou fo and lb with us ? Wo to him that ftrivsth with his Maker, let the potfheards ftrtve w.th 
 the potjheards of the earth, Hath not the potter power ever the clay ? And are you not in the hand of the L9rd t 
 as the clay is in the hand of the Potter ? Rom. 9. 1 1 Jer. IS- 6. He might have made you vtjfelt te difm 
 honour, njtffels of wrath, fitted for deflrutlion, without being juftly chargeable with any injury done to 
 you; And when he hath in the Sovereignity of his moft wonderful freeGrace,madeyou vejfels to hu 
 reur, and v effe Is ef mercy, which he hath a fare prepared unte glory, will ye dare to quarrel with him for 
 Ins difpofing in his own way of your external condition in this World, and of thefe moveables 
 and iccefTories that are wholly extrinfick, and nor at all eftential to your Salvation and true Hap- 
 pinefs ? C For, let all the Pleafures, Riches and Honours of the World, even all the delights cf 
 the fons of men in their very Extract, Spirits and Quinteftence, and when io a manner diftiUcd in a 
 Lembick, till they be made to evaporat the pureft perfumes of their outmoft perfections, be 
 heaped on the Chriftian j As rhey make him no better Chriftian, nor make any addition at all to 
 his true happinefs; So when he is deplumed and (Tripped naked of them all, every Bird is it were 
 of thefe earthly comforrs taking hick again from him it's ownFeather; He is made never a whit 
 the worfe Chriftian, nor his happinefs in the leaft impared. J It were certainly much more bt» 
 coming yo.i to fay, It is the Lord who can do us no wrong, and who hath undcfcrvedly done us 
 much good, let him do to us what fcemeth good in his light. 
 
 Seconal?, If it bi covftdtred, That he is of infinite wifdom, and knows much better what isg'od 
 for you, than you do your felves, who often miftake whit is good for you, through your cor- 
 
 A l rupt.on 
 
The Eptflle DttlicsUry. 
 ruptidh, i^m-anee, partiality or • prejudices But He by the mod abfolure perfection of his bleflffd 
 Nature ikinii ntciy removed from a) J poflibility of miftaking what is good initfelf, or good for 
 Hp it vou will adventure your Eftate and Lively-hood in the World on able and faithful 
 |fs\-whenye your ftlvcs art- much unacquainted with.tnd ignorant of Law, and are difpofed 
 hat thi Sue that is commenced againft you will ruine you, while they think otherwife; 
 if you will commit your health 2nd life to skilful and painful Phyficians or Chirurgions, 
 •ceire fromtheone many unpleafcnt and loathicme Potions and Pills, and fuffer from fhe 
 Other fuch painful Incifions and Inj ctions, fuch 5earchings, Lancings and Pancings, fuch Scari- 
 fications Cautenzings and Amputations: From ail which ye have fo great aR averfation, if not 
 •bhorrency, Will ye not much rather and much more confidently commit the conduct and care 
 of your felves, and of all that concerns you, to him ofwbofe under fan ding ihirt is no f arch, as to 
 what is good for his own People,ec whole faithfulnefs in his dealing wirh thcm,reacbetb to the very 
 clou is ,ani never failed} Pfal.3^.5. Pfjl.89.33. The skilfullcft of thefe may miftakenone of them be- 
 ing infallible, and the moll faithful of them may pofTibly at fometimes and in fome things be 
 found unfaithfully neglective, none of them being perfect i But it is (imply impoffible for him , 
 eirher to mtftake or to be unfaithful, for otherwife he fhould deny himfelf.and fo ceafe to beGod, 
 thereof once to admit thc.thought, is the higheft blafphemy > Let therefore your confident truft- 
 in^of m=n in their refpeAive Profeflions and Callings, make you blufh at, and be alhamed of 
 your diftrufHngs and jealoufings of God, and of youi quarrellings with Him, even when ye know- 
 not for the rime what He is doing with you, & when what is done would have b:en none of your 
 own choife, but dorh very muJi thwart and crofs your natural inclination.-^ it not enough that 
 He is infini ely wife inHimfJf.and for you? May you not therefore fafely truft in him ; and wjthun- 
 follicicous c nfidence, commit the conduct of your felves, and of all your concerns to Him ? As 
 knowing that he cannot htmfelf be m.'fled, nor mifgovcrn you ; May you not in Faith without 
 diltruflful and perplexing fear follow Him ? as faithful Abraham followed hm, not honing whither 
 hi.venft Heb. M 18. and caft all >our care on Him, who cartth for you, 1 Pet. 5. 7. and bath made 
 It your great care to be Careful j or nothing, Phil. 4. 6. and thus even fing care away. 
 
 Thirdly,- If it be considered, That ye have in your own experience, ( as the reft of the People of 
 God hive in theirs ) found, that in all his bypaft dealings with you, even thefe that for the time 
 were moft afflicting, his will aad your true welfare, have been unfeparably joyned togetl er, and 
 that but very feldom and rarely ycur own will and welfare have tryited together > So thatye have 
 been contained, when at your felves and in cold blood, toblefs him that you got not your will 
 in fuch an! fuch things, however for the time ye were difpleafcd with the want of it, and have 
 been made to think, that if ever ye had any good days or hours along your Pilgrimage, your 
 moft crfTedand afflicted ones, wherein God trok me-ft of his will, and gave you leaft of your 
 own, have been your beft d.iys and hours; Dare you fay upon ferious and jult reflections, that 
 it hath been otherwayes? Or that ye have riot reafon, as to all bygone crofs. providences, even 
 the moft apparently crufhing of them, fince the day that ye were firfr brought under the Bond 
 of his Covenant to this day , to fet up as it were your Stone, and to call it Eben-ezer, The /lone 
 •/ help, fa.'ing, Hitherto the Lord hath helped us} 1 Sam. 7. 12. May you not, and fhould you 
 not then humbly and confidently truft him, that ye mail through Grace have reafon as to pre- 
 fent and future oncs.hnw jsdly and furprizingly focver they are, or may be circumstantiated, to 
 foy , Jeh:vab-)ireh , the Lord will fee or provided Gen. 23. 14. O! but it be a fweet, pleafant, fpi- 
 z\t tfilly wholibme and rcfrrfhful Air that breaths in that walk, betwixt £^n-r*?rand Jehovah jireb, 
 wherein a few turn* takm by the moll affiifted t-hriftians in their ferious, compofed, fpiritual and 
 lively cnt^mplation , would through God's bltfling very much contribute quickly to reconcile 
 them to all their refpective CrofTes, how crofs foercr, and to the keeping of them in better, firmer 
 and more c ^nftant fpiritual health. 
 
 Fjurthly, If it be co >i /tiered, That by your pettifli, fretful, male-contented and unfubmiflive con- 
 tendings, Strivings and Struglings with Him, ye will not help your felves, ye may well make 
 your own Burden the mere uneafie, and your Chain the heavier; Should it be accord ng to your mind? 
 Job 54. 3}. f1>»U the earth b: forfaken for you ) or fh*U the rock be removed out of his place ?Job 18. 4. will 
 ye difannul his judgment? will ye condemn him, that ye may be righteous, Job 40. 8. will ye frive againft 
 vko giveth not account of any of his matters? Job 33. !?,. Will ye tax His Wtfdom, as if he did 
 Jic underftand what is convenient for ycu ? will y teach Ced knowledge? Job 21. 22. Is it fit that 
 lie flouid come down to your will, rather chop yc (hould come up to his ? lhall God change and 
 
 break 
 
The Epiflle T)tlic$U*i. 
 break all His wifely laid meafurcs and methods of Governing his People , and take n«w c^* 
 to gratifie your peevifh Humours ? He will not be diverted from his purpofe, vrhen kt it in one way, 
 vbn can turn kirn} rvhat his foul defireth thai he doth, for he performeththe thing that is appointed farytu :] b 
 23. 13, 14. He is more juft to Himfelf ( to fpeak fo ) and more merciful to you, than to degrade 
 as it were his infinite Wifdom fo far, as to fuffer himfelf to befwayed againft theDi&ats of it, by 
 fuch fhort- lighted and forwardTutors as youjthe greatPhyfician of Souls is more comp?ftionate and 
 wife than to permit his diftempered, & fc-metimes even in a manner diirrafrcd Patients,ro prefcribe 
 their own courfe of Phylick; but he will needs do, -what he thought fit and refolved ro do, whether 
 ye choofe-or whether ye refufe\ Job 34. 33. only he would ( to fay fo ) have ycur confent unto, and 
 your approbation of what he doth for the greater peace and tranquillity of your own minds ; Sure' 
 ly therefore it ismeet, meekly and fubmiflwely to bejaidto Go.i, whenever and however he chaftifeth, / 
 havt bornsh.iJli(eme?it, I will not offend any more, that which I know nst y teach thou me, if 1 kavt cone :mqui;y t 
 1 will do no more, Job 34. 31, 32. It is the fureft and fhorteft way to get our will, in fo far as may 
 be for our well, to allow Him to rake His own will and way with us: For lis hath a fp-.cialcom* 
 placency in this, and therein gives wondeiful vent to the bowels of his tender companion toward 
 his chalbfed and humbly fubmiHive Children ; Surely ( faith he) J have heard Ephraim bemoaning him- 
 felfthuf, Thou hail chaUifed me, and I was chafiftd, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke ; turn thou me, and 
 I (ball be turned^ for thou art the Lord my God: furell after that 1 was turned, I repented, And after that I ws* 
 inflruBed, ifmote upon my thigh, J was aframed, yea, even con founded % becaufe I did bear the reproach ef my 
 youth : Is Epbraimmy dear fon, 'is he apleafant child ? for fince I [pake againjl htm 1 I do earnestly remember 
 him flill, therefore my bowels are troubled for him i 1 will fur sly have mercy on him, faith the Lord, Jer. 3U 
 18, jq, 20. Thus wh?n ye come fubmiflively to his hand, he comes as it were fweeriy to yours, 
 and ye gain nothing by y^ur ftriving with him, fo ye lofe nothing, but gain much by your fofc 
 looping and filent fubmitting ro him ; If ye humble your [elves in the fight of the Lord, he {hall lift yeu 
 up, Jam. 4.10 Humble your f elves therefore under the migh'y hand of God, that he may exalt ^eu in dug 
 time. 1 Pet. S- 6. 
 
 Ffthly, If it be ajidertd, That ye ftand in need of all the Troubles and Amnions that ye meet 
 with ; whenever ye are in heavinrjs through one or moe, or manifold Tetr.p:atior.s, it is always, and on- 
 ly if need be: t Pet. i« 6. And if ye be well feen in the ftateand pofiure of your Soul iftairs,what 
 Graces of the Spirit are to be quickned and drawn forth into more lively and vigorous Exercife, 
 what of thefe precious fpices in ycurGardens are to be blown upon, nrr only by the mere gentle 
 and foft South winds of Confolations, but alio by the more fharp and nipping North-winds of 
 Afflictions, and to be beaten as it were in the Morterther«of, that they may fend forth their plea- 
 fant and fragrant fmell '•, whit ..Religious Duties are either much netle&ed or but very lifelefly, 
 coUly, formally, lazily, fuperflcially and heartlefly performed, and to what a higher pitch and 
 peg of Spirituality in the manner of performing them they are to be fcrued up; whatLtifts andCor- 
 fuprions are to be further mortified and fubdued How little your Hypocfilie, your Self-love and 
 Selffeeking, your Pride, PaiTion, Impatiency, Unplyablenefs and Unfubmirtcdn'fs to the will of 
 God, your Carnalnefs, Earthly-mindednefs, your Immoderate and Inordinate leve to the things 
 of the World, your murmuring, and fretting at, ycur difatisfa^tion and difcontent with your 
 prefent Lot ; how little tbefe and many orher Corruptions are crucified and brought at under; if, 
 I fay, ye be well feen and verfed in the knowledge ot your fpiritual condition, ye will upon feri- 
 ousand thorow reflexions find, that ye ftand in need of every Affliction ye meet with , as to all 
 the circumfrances thereof; or if ye do not, in Co fir ye are unacquainted with, 6V Hungers to your 
 fclves, and to the State and PoOure of your fpiritual Affjirs ; nay, ye will eafily find, that all, even 
 your heaviell CrofTes and Afflictions, have enough ad©e to work you up to what you mould beat; 
 and though fometimes ye may be difpofed to think, that ye cou'd hardly bear any more, yet yo 
 will upon due fearch find that ye could have wanted nothing of what ye meet with, without a 
 greater prejudice than the Crofs hath brought along with it : We are naturally frowaid and pee- 
 vifh, bentto frctfulnefs and difcontent, inclining rather to reftlefsendeavoui ing, to have our Lor 
 brought up to our Spirits, than to he at fuitable pains, to have our Spirits brought down to our 
 Lot, and therefore have much need to be tamed and calmed by the Crofsi This rugged and un* 
 eifie temper of Spirit, being the grearhinderer, yea oppofit of rhar flayed and fwcet coircntation 
 of Heart with and in every flare: which is the verV life of a Chiifrians life ' as the lord 
 
 faith ) not in tht abundance of the things which we pojfefs, Luk. \z. 1 $. but in our fatbfiednefs with, 
 them, whether aboundant oi not: To the attaining unto which bjeffed temper, the (hntcft cut 
 
 and 
 
the Lpittlt DictlCWTirj. 
 
 art mod compendious way, is, In the first piace to be well-pleafed and fatisfyed with God 
 
 and with a folidly fecured intertil: in him , and to endeavour in the next place, to be well- 
 
 In his fight, to be giscious in his tyes, to fhnd weiJ in his thoughts, even to do alwaw 
 
 afe him j Joh. 8. 19. to which defirable frame of Soul, it we were once through 
 
 Grace brought ( whereto' our bearing of the Yoke, and puting our (boulders ui dei rl e Ciofs is 
 
 not a little through Gods bleiling contnbutive ; ) O ! how good naiurcd then and eafie to pleafe 
 
 would we be found to be, and how ready to conftrue well of all that he doth to us ? feldom, out 
 
 of humour ( tofpeakfo. ) Now, if we fhnd in need of all the Afflictions we are tiyfted with, in 
 
 all their moll fad and forrowful circumftances ( as certainly we do, becaule God, who cannot lie 
 
 or miflake, hath/aid it. ) why ffeould we not fubmit our (c\ves to his will in meafuiir.g them out 
 
 to us ? cr what juft reajbn can th«re be to be disfnisfied witIi?or to complain of Gods giving to 
 
 and Ordering that for us whereof we ftand in need, and which we cannot want, without being 
 
 confiderably prejudged and worfted by the want? 
 
 sixthly, It it be confidertd. That in all your Chaftifements and Afflictions God is gracioufly driv* 
 ingthe bkflcd deiign of your fpiritual good and prtfit, making them all to work tcgether for that de- 
 finable end, cauling them turn to your falvation, through the help of the Prayers of others of his Peopfe, 
 andthe (uppty of the Spirij of Jefus Qhrid; Rom. 8. 28. Phil. 2. 19. Giving you afTurance by his faith- 
 ful word of Promife, that thereby your iniquity fhall he purged, and that this /ball be all the fruit ( O ! 
 Irrange and admirable condefcention of Grace, ^ the fruit Jto take away (in; li*. 27.9. and that he will 
 not chaftife you as parents according to thefiefh do their children ,to wit/or their own pleaJure',who, however 
 they may hav'G a general defign of good to theiiChildren in their chaftifing of them,yet throughare* 
 mainder of corruption in the beft of ttam, they are ofcen fubjected to fuch hurries and tranfports 
 of Paffion, when it carries to the aft of chaftifement, that they much forgetto confult the good and 
 advantage of the chaftifed Child, and too much gratify their own pleafurc and humour ; but that 
 he will chaftifc for your prtfit, that ye may be made partaker? of his holinefr.Heb. 12. Io. Now, if this be his 
 defign in chaftiiing, and if this be the promifed fruit of your chafrifements and Afflictions, why 
 mould ye not therein fubmit to his pleafure, which hath your ownprofite infeparably joyned with- 
 in it? If ye your felvcs do nor finfully lay obftructions in the way thereof, as otherwise , fo par- 
 ticularly by your being difplcafed with this his pleafure, which yet his Grace in his own People 
 fuffcrs not to be invincible nor final: I do not fay, that our Chaftifments and Afflictions do of 
 themfelves produce this Profite, and bring forth this Fruit j For alas! we may from doleful expe- 
 dience have ere now arrived at a lad perfwafion . that we are proof againft all applications, ex- 
 cepting that of Soveraign, efficacious and all*difticulty-conquiring free Grace, and that nothing 
 will do at us fave that alcne ; VVhatever'means be made ufe of, this only muil be the efficient pro- 
 ducer of our profit : It is a piece of God's royal and incommunicable prerogative, which he h3th 
 not given out of his own hand to any difpeniation, whether of Ordinances, never fo lively and 
 powerful in themfelves, or of Providences never fo crofs, loudly alarming and clearly fpeaking, 
 abfhactly from his own BlcfTing,. effectually to teach to profile ; Ifa. 48. 17. and therefore he doth 
 (as well he may ) claim it to himfelf alone, as his peculiar priviledge, while he faith, I am the 
 Lord thy God that teacheth thee to profite .* Since then this is his defign in all the chaftifements in- 
 flicted on his own People, and fince he only by his Grace can make it infruflrably rake effect, let 
 him have our hearty allowance and approbation, to carry it on vigoroufly and fuccesfully, and let 
 us pr3y more frequently and fervently, that by his effectually teaching cur profiting may be made 
 more and more to appear under our Chaftifements; and withall in the multitude of our fid thoughts 
 about them, let his efforts delight our fouls, and this comfort in particular, that in them allhegra- 
 cioufly defigns 2nd projects our prefit, even the making of us more and more to partake of his 
 holinefs. 
 
 Seventhly, If it be confidered, That all our Tryalsand Troubles are but of time-continuance, and 
 will period with it; they are but/#r afeafon, 1 Pet. I. 6 yea, but/or amoment* 2 Cor. 4. 17. He 
 vill not contend for ever, knowing well, if he fliould do fo, the Spirits would fail before him, and the 
 fouls which he hath made; Ifa. 57. 16. though they mould follow clofs on you, ard accompany 
 you to your very dying day,yet then they will leave, you, and take their hit good-night and cver- 
 lafting farewel of you ; forrow andfighing will then for ever/?/ away, and all tears on whatsoever act 
 compt/W/ then be wiped jrem your eyes-. Rev. 7. 17. and 21. 4. It is a great alleviation snd mitigati- 
 on of the moft grievous Affliction, and of the bittereit and molt extream iorrow, to think, that 
 not only it will have a term day and date of expiration, but it will quickly in a very fhort time, 
 even in a moment foe over and a: an end *, ( aj a holy Martyr faid to his Fellow-fufferer in the 
 
 Fire 
 
The Epiflle D^fcatory. 
 Fire With him, It is but winking, and obtain andjomw is all over ) and that there fhall be an eteuS 
 ial Tack of freedom from it, and that everlafting folace, fatisfa&ion and joy without any the Jear 
 fixture of forrow and fadnefs, fhal! fucceed to it, and come in the room thereof: It is but for 
 ;he little fpace of threefcore years and ten, or feurjcore ( Pfal. 90 10, ) which length moft men never 
 :ome ) that his People are fubje&ed to trouble, and what is that very fhoit moment and little point 
 >ftime, being compared with valt and incomprehenfibly long Eternity > in refpeft of which a 
 houfand years are tut a: one dajj eras a watch in the night, when it is pafi. Pfal. 50. 4. And no doubt 
 he little whiles trouble, fadnefs and forrovv of fojourning and militant Saints, is in the depth of 
 livine VVifdom, ordered fo, that it may the more commend and endear that blefTed calm and 
 ranquill'ity, that fulnefs of pureft joys, and thefe moft perfect pleafures at his right hand, that 
 riumphant Saints fhall for evermore enjoy. 
 
 Lightly, If it be conjidered, That all along the little moment tharyour Trials and Afflictions abide- 
 nth you, they are, even thefadeft and mod fevere of them, moderat, and through his grace por- 
 able and light ; In meajurg he dtbatethwith )ou, and flays his rough -aind in the day ofhiseaft wind, Ifa. 27. 
 . And whatever difficulty ye fometimes find under fore preflburs, to get it folidly and practically 
 elieved, yet God is faithful who hath promifed, and will not fuferyou to be tempted above that which ye art 
 ble, but will with the temptation' make away toejeape, that ye may be able tobcar it; 1 Cor. 10. 17. Us is 
 Cod of judgement, ( Ifa. 30. 18. ) and difcretion, thatfuits his Peoples burdensto theirbacks, and 
 'ifely proportions their fhaits to their fhength ; He puts not new wine into old bottles: Mat. 9. 17. 
 hither doth he break the bruifid reed ; Ifa, 42. 3* And even when he hides his face, and is wroth with his 
 nldren, andfmites them for their iniquity, Ifa. 41, 17, 18. It is only Fatherly wrath ; And however 
 readful that it may be and difficult to be born, yet there is nothing vindictive in it ; It is a Fat 
 lers anger, but contempered with a Fathers love, where alfo love predomines in the contempera-- 
 ire. And indeed the molt extream, and the very heavieft of all our Afflictions arc moderat, and 
 /en light being compared, Firft, with what your fins dtferve, exceedingly far beneath the de[ert 
 hereof ye are pumfljed, Ezra 9. 23. Even fo far, that ye may without al! complement meft truly fay, 
 'oat it isbecaufe his companions fail not, that ye are not confumed -, Lam 3. 22. That ye are kept out of 
 [ell, and free from everlafting burnings, to which your many, various and grievoufly aggraratV 
 I provocations,, have made you moil juftly Jyable: So that yehave reafon to thii k any Atfltflior) 
 tort of everlafting, deftru&ion from the pTefenceof God, to be a highly valued piece of modern 
 on, and to fay, Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the pumjbmtnt if tit Sin? Lam. 3. 30. 
 r e will bear the indignation of the Lord,becauf$ we have finned againft him. Mic. ?• 9. idlf. With what, 
 hers of the people of God have readily met with, for we have not refitted to the Heed ftri'vfng againft 
 n; Heb. 12, 4. We hare it may be all this while been but running with the f cot men, when they 
 ive been put to contend with htrfes, Jer. 12, e, jr>. With what our felves have fometimes dreaded 
 d b:en put to deprecat, when horrid guilt r)2th flared us in the face, and when God apprehend- 
 [ to be very angry, even threatning, to finite us with the wound of an enemy, and with the c'cnflifiment 
 aerttel one, to run upon us as' a Giant, to break all our bones '-, And again to jhew bimfelf marvellous upon us, 
 taking us by the neck and flaking us m Pieces. Jer. 30. 14 Job. i6> 14 and 12, Job 10. \6. 4/y. With 
 hat our blefTed Lord Jefus fufreredforhis People, who all the while hefojourned here on earth, 
 is a man of forrows and acquainted with grief, Ifa. 53.4. and might moil juftly have faid beyond all 
 en, / am the man that hath feen affliction by the rod of his wrath : Is there anyforro-v like nnto mine in the day 
 en thi Lord hath afflifted me} And 5/)', Being compared with that far nicre exceeding and eternal weight 
 glory, whichthey work for you. 2 Cor. 4. 14* Seing then that the fharpeft and foreft of your affli&i- 
 sare in thefe, and many other refpe6tsreiy moderat, gentle, eafie and light, is there not reafon 
 ly ye fhould in them, without grudging, fweetly fulmit your felves tohis will? heartfomely* 
 r ing, it might have been much worfe, this falls inlinitly fliort of what we have -deferved, blef- 
 l be God that it is only thus, and no worfe. 
 
 Ninthly, If it be ctnftdered, That off en when in any more than ordinary fpiritual and lively frame? 
 Soul, ye have in Prayer defired the Lord, that he would take any way . and make ufe of any 
 :ans he pleafed ( wherein your fin might not be ) to m«ke you more ferious in ^e exercije 
 Godlinefs , more effectually to mortiiie your Corruptions , and to further voir conformity 
 his Image in Holinefs ; And that ye fhould through his Grace be content, putting as irweie 
 lank in his band, to be filled upas himfelf in his own infinite Wifdom fhould think /it, de- 
 ring that ye were farisfied on the terms propofed by Jefus Chrifr, to be his Difc pi s, and to 
 tup aot only J Crofs,oxthe Croft in general, but,Mat. 16. 24. your Gnjs in panicular,thc Gfofithafc 
 
 Oloi 
 
The Epiftlt Dedicatory. 
 mould be fhapedout for you, however circumftantiatcd : And when under fome very fid afflicti- 
 on he on the matter befpeaks thus, I am now about to grant you your own defire, though it may 
 be in fuch a way, and by fuch a mean as either would have been none of your own chooiing, had 
 it been left Co your choife, or pofubly fuch as ye d d not think of; Will ye be difplcafed with me 
 or miftake my hearingof your Prayers, fulfilling of your Petitions, and granting >ou according 
 to your own hearts defue, becaufe I do it in my own way, and by means of )our own choifir.g 
 wherein ye left and allowed to me a latitude, and not in your way and by your means, which ye 
 then renounced, as not thinking your fclves competent Judges thereof ? Alas.' here we arc often 
 found at bed to border upona practical rewjng, retracting and lifting up again of the Blank-Sub- 
 million which we profeifed to lay down before him; and to fay by cur freting,repining,dJfTatisfacti- 
 on, immoderatheavinefs,c< defpondency of Spiiit,that we were fomewhat rafh,andnot fo well ad- 
 vifed when we Jubfcribed, and gave in fuch a Submiflion and Surrender of our felves to him i 
 That wc did not think he would have taken fuch advantage of us, or would have put us thus 
 fore to it ; and, that if we had thought he would have done fo, we would have been better advif- 
 ed, before we had thus fubmitted to him, and with our own confent put our felves in his rever- 
 ence ; and that if it had been any thing but this we could have born it, ( whereas he faith nothing* 
 but this > ) Whereby we do not only, not a little reflect upon him, as dealing unkindly, and doing • 
 what we would not have expected at his handjBut alfo mike a fad and humbling difcovery ofmucb 
 unfoundnefs in our felves, as to our offering up of fuch general defues , and as to our mak- 
 ing of fuch abfolute Submiffions to him j Let us therefore, in order to the juftifying of him i% 
 both righteous and kind, and to the vindicating of our felves, at lcift from allowing of any un- 
 foundnefs, diflimulation, or unfair and mcerly complemental-dealing with God, in our fubmitting 
 out felves to him in the general, without any, Bufs or // V, any ReJiricJions or Exception, hold at the 
 SubmifTion given; (harpiy cxpoftulaing with, and feyerely chiding our felves for this difcovered 
 practical contradiction and contravention, and we (hall find that he hath done nothing unworti y 
 of himfelf nor in the leaft prejudicial to us, but what is according to our own moft deliberate 
 deiires, and greatly to our advantage. 
 
 It were a very wide mifcake, if from what is difcourfed in this Conjideration, any fhould conclude 
 that we intend either to commend or allow Chriftians, praying directly and exprefly for CroiTes ari 
 Afflictions, let be for fuch and fuch Afflictions in particular: For, befide that we neither find ic 
 commanded in the Scriptures, nor allowedly ( if at all ) prcfidented or practized by the Saints re- 
 corded r here; And that it feems to be a linful limiting of theSoveiaign God to a particular mean:We 
 may eafily know from fad experience, with what difficulty, repining and fainting we often bearthefe 
 CrolTtS and Afflictions thit we are molt clearly called to rake on, and that are unavoidably laid up« 
 on us ; And how lamentably little for moft part we profit by them ; What hope or afTurance 
 could we then have that we ihould either carry Chriftianly under, or make fuitable improvement 
 of fuchCrofTes as we mould unwarrantably feek,and pray for to our felves? It's true, we find feme 
 of the Saint*, and thele, Stars of the firft Magnitude , as Mofes, Job, Elias , David and Jonat, m 
 their diftempered mal-content or fainting fits, pafTionatly, prepoftcroufly and precipitantly 
 praying, or rather wifhing for death ( for which they were not for the time in fo good cafe; ) But 
 that was not for death under the notion of affliction, but rather to prevent future and further affli- 
 cticns,or to have a period put to prefently incumbent ones. If it (hould here be faid, why may not 
 Saints pray for afflictions fince they feem to be promifed in the Covenant of Grace, as Pfal. $9. 30, 
 3 1, 32. Ho/. 2. 6, 7. and v» 14* And fince God hathgracioufly promifed to blcfTe all the afflictions 
 of his people, and to make them turn to their fpiritual good, profit and advantage, as Rom. 8. 28. 
 and Htb 12. 10. and elle where ? To the//// part of the Ob)t8i±n, it may be briefly Jujwcred^ that 
 thefe and other fuch are not properly and formally promifes of the Covenant of Grace, but rather 
 Covenant-threatnings ( for the Covenant of Grace hath ns own threarningsfuited to the nature 
 thereof, as well as the Covenant of Works hath it's ) though dipped ( to fay fo) in Covenant- 
 grace and Mercy : And to the otthtr part of it as briefly, that God hath promifed to blefle and to 
 caufe to profit by fuch afflictions and chaftifements as himfelf thinks fit to inflict and lay on, but 
 not thefe which wefeek and pray fortociw feives: Neither dcth that Scripture, Pfal. 1 19. v. 7$. 
 
 / know that tnfaithfulnefs tho-i haft affi tied me, fay any thing towards ftrengthning the Objction, 
 
 or invalidating the Anfwers given to it ; For the Pjalmift only there humbly and thankfully ac- 
 knowledgeth Gods faithfulnels in fulfilling his threatning, in afflicting him when he wentafrray; 
 and in performing his promife in blcfling his affliction to him for preventing his after- It ray in?, 
 
 and 
 
The Epiflle Dedicatory. 
 and making him learn better to keep his Commandments ; In both which he is ftithful. All the 
 is either expreft or meant in this Confideration , is, that the Saints often pray Gcd, that he would 
 take his own way, and ufe his own means to bring about thefc great ends mentioned ;\wherein 
 there is indeed at leaft a tacite infinuation, that if he in his wifdcm fee it meet to make ufe of the 
 rod and affliction in order thereto, thatth^y will not allow themfelves to decline the fame, nor to 
 milrake him In it ; But that rather they (hall through grace be fatisfied with, and bleffe him for 
 fulfilling their Petitions, and granting them according to their own hearts defires, though it be by 
 fuch means : Which is not praying for affliction, but a refolved and declared Submiflion to in- 
 finite Wifdoms love-choife of his own midfes to efFe&uat and bring to palTe the prayed for ends* 
 
 Tenthly, If it bacon/tiered, That it now neither grieveth nor troubleth any of all the glorified 
 triumphing and Palm-bearing Company before the Throne of God, and of the Lamb, that thev 
 wereexercifed withfo many, and fo great Trials and Tribulations, while they were here below* 
 It troubleth not John the Baptift that he was imprifoned, bafely murthered and beheaded 'here in a 
 hole, without having any accefsto give any publickTeftimony before his death; and at thede- 
 fire of a wanton dancing Damfcl, through the Inftigation of her Adulterous and Inceftuous Mo- 
 ther; Not Stephen ( commonly called the Proto-Martyr ) that he was Honed to death as a Bla^ 
 p^hemer for giving Teftimony to the mod precious and comfortable truth of Cfirifh being the MeK 
 fiah ; Nor Paul that he was thrice beaten with Rods, and received five times fourty (tripes fa ve one 
 that he was info many perils by Sea and Land, in the City, in the Countrey, and in the Wildei- 
 nefs, by the Heathen, by his own Countreymen, and by falfe Brethren; That he was ironed a 
 fuffered all thefe other things, whereof he gives us an Hiftorical Abridgment in his 2d. Etofllg to 
 the Corinthians , chap, ir . Nor doth it trouble any of all thefe Worthies, of whom the world was nit wor- 
 thy, that they were cruelly Mocked, Imprifoned^ Scourged, Tortured, or Tympanized and Rack- 
 ed, Stoned, Tormented, Sawn 2iTunder, Killed with the Sword, Tempted, driven to Dens "and 
 Caves of the Earth, and put to wander up and down in Sheep-Skir.s , and Goat-Skins, IVhofe 
 Marty.rology the Apoftle briefly compendetb, Heb. II. Nor doth it trouble any other of all the 
 Martyrs, Saints and Servants of Jcfus, who have in the feveral Ages of the Church furfered forranv 
 and fo great things while tbey were here in the World ; Nay, all thefe their Sufferings ao to make 
 up a considerable part of their Song of Praife in Heaven, ( where the HiGory of thefe°lVars cfand 
 for rhe Lord, will be very pleafant to them to read, however fore and bloody they were on earth-) 
 And not only fo, but thefe of them who have fuffered moft, wonder much that'they have fuffer- 
 ed fo little, and that they are come to fo excellently glorious a Kingdom, thorow fo little tribuJa* 
 tion in the way toit * Believe it there will be as much matter of thankfgiving and praife to God 
 found treafured up undrr the plyes and foldings ( to fay fo ) of the molt crofsand affirming pro-* 
 vidences, that ever the People of God met with here in the World, as under thefe that for the 
 time were morefmiling and fatisfying : Let us then, valuing all things we meet with, accord- 
 ing to the Afpe&they have on our fpiritual and eternal date, ( which is fure the jutted a; i fafeft 
 valuation of them ) heartily allow* Him, to take his own will and way in afflicting us. 
 
 Eleventhly, If it be cov/tdered, That as this Submiflion to the will of Grd-, in croi! ; n « 
 
 providences, is Chronicled in the Sacred Records to the perpetual commenc'srion of fa-era J of the 
 Saints: Namely of Aaron, of whom it is laid, when God had (bin his two Sons in a Orange and 
 ftupendious manner, even by Fire from Heaven for their prefumptuous offering of ftran°e fire 
 before him, that he held his peace, Levit. 10. 3. Of old Fit tt hen he icceived a fid mtiYagc, concern- 
 ing himfelf and his houfe by the hand of young San u:l, who <a : d, It is the L.rd, Ut kirn %'what f.emm 
 eth him good: I Sam. 1 18. Of Job, after, by four fcvcial Meflengers ( eaehvfthcm coming imme- 
 diately (5n the back of the other, fo that he fcarcely got leave r<> breath betwixt, or the former ra 
 fmifh his hm-nrable narration) the terribly allarming tidings were brought him, concerning the 
 plundering of his Oxen and Aftes by the Sabeans, and the killing of the Servants with the Sword - 
 Concerning the ccr/rming of his Sheep and Servants by the tn'e of Grd falling firm Heaven upon 
 them ; Concerning the carrying away of his Camels , and the killing of his Servants < y the Cal- 
 dcans, and concerning the fmothering to death of all his Sons and Daughters, while Feafrinp to*' 
 gether, by the falling of the Houfe upon them," who faid, The Lord ^ivcth, snn the Lord - 
 blcjjedbc the K.ime of Lord; In all this not firming, nor charging God J J fc !• Si, a 2 ( 
 
 • who in a croud of erodes, faith to Grd, / was dumb, Icptvtd not my mouth, b?;au[t the. 
 39' 9* 2 Sam. re. ac, 16. And who when forced to flee fiom J er*faL we by his 1 
 bellious Son Abjalom, and fending back the Ark thither, with adm. eetfloop-- 
 
The Eptflle Dedicatory. 
 inff of Soul, faid, // / /hall find favour in the eyes eft hi Lord, he will bring me ggJin, and jhtw me both 
 if and hie habitation* butifhefay rkut, 1 ksve n$ Might in thee, beheld, here am /, let him do with me as 
 jctmethgtodto him: Of Hutkiah, when that heavy Meflage was brought to him by the Prophet 
 Ilmieth concerning the Baby lonijh Captivity, wherein his Royal PoOcrity were to hare their deep 
 fh^re, who faid, Good it the Word of the Lord which thou hajljpoken, who laid moreover, // it not toed 
 if peace and truth be in my dayes ? 2 Kings so. 19. If rhe threatned doom and fentence frail be for a 
 
 while fufpended, and not prefently execute : And of thefe Chriftians, who, after they had with 
 much weeping earneftly intrcafed the Apoftle Paul, defcrvedly very dear to them, not to go up to 
 Jerttfaltm, where the Prophet Agabus had foretold he Ihould be apprehended, and put in Bonds,and 
 
 perceived that he was inflexibly refolvedat any rate of hazard to gothther, ceafed,and iu' miflive- 
 Jy faid, The will of the Lord be done: Afts 21. J 4 . As, Ifay, it is thus Chronicled to their commen- 
 dation, fo it is a pisce of mod beautiful and amiable conformity to the pra£Uc c of our blefTcd Lord 
 Jefus.of whom we ought,** be followers as dear children ( Ephef r 5. I.J in all thefe things, wherein he 
 is propofed as a pattern for our imitation.whoin a great and grievous Agony of troub]c ; and when 
 moft terribly aflaulted by a ftrong combination of crofs and affli&ing providences, and after con- 
 ditionat deprecating of that bittereft Cup and blacked Hour, pleafantly, fweetly and fubm.flively 
 Jubjoyned, and laid to his Father, Neverthelefs not my will, but thine be dene-. Not as I will, but as thou 
 wilt, Luk. 12. 42. Mat 26. 32. 
 
 Twelfthly and finally, If it be confidered, That when the whole contexture and web of Providences 
 and more efpecially about the Catholick,vifible, militant Church, and every individual Member 
 thereof fhall be wrought out, and in its full length and breadth ( as it were ) fpread fort! in the 
 midft of all the redeemed, perfected, glorified and triumphant company of Saints, {landing round 
 about,and with admiration beholding it; there-will not be found ( to fay fo) onemifplaced threed 
 nor one wrong fet colour in it all, but every thing will be found to have fallen in, in the fitteft 
 place, and in the moft beautiful feafon and order thereof: O ! fo rare, fo remarkable, fo renown- 
 ed and fo ravifhing a piece, as it will by them all unahimoufly, and withone voice be judged and 
 declared to be, even worthy of the moftexquifite Art and infinite Skill of the great Worker there- 
 of; the fevereft Crocks and moft difficultly fatisfieable of them all, while here below, about more 
 publick, and more particular Crofs»providences, will then fully, and to the height be fatisfied 
 and will all, withoutany theleaft heilfation or jarring, readily and cheerfully bear him, this con- 
 cordant Teftimony, that He hath done all things well, Mark 7. 37. every thing in particular, and all 
 things in general, though when he was a doing of them, they often prefumptuoufly took on them 
 rafhly to cenfure, and to offer their impertinent and crabbed Animidverfions on, and their Amem- 
 dati«nsand Alterations of feveral of them, and will moft cordially blefs him , that he wrought 
 on in his own way, about his Church, and each of themfelves, without confuting them, or fol- 
 lowing their way, which would have quite marred the beauty and darkned the luftre and fplen* 
 <!our of that moft clofs and curious divine contexture. 
 
 Every one of thefe Confiderations hath much reafon in it,to perfwade to this intire and abfo T ute 
 AnmifTion to God's will and pleafurc, in what is crofs to you, affli&ed and forrowful Chriftians ; 
 but O ! how much weight andftrength of found fpiritual reafon is there in them all united toge- 
 ther ( -befidc the many other excellent Confidcrations,difpeifed up & down thefe choife Sermons, 
 fluffed full with ftrongCordials,fitted both to recover & to preferve you from fainting.under your 
 many feveral Afflictions ) powerfully to perfwade and prevail with you, even the moft averfc, un- 
 toward, way-ward, and crofs- grained ( to fay fo ) of you all: without further debate, demur, or 
 delay, in thefe things that are moft afflifting to you,and do moft thwart your inclination, to come 
 in his will, and, pleafantly, without any the leaft allowed reJuftancy or gain faying to fubmit to 
 iiim ? How might you thus poilefs your Souls in patience, and howqui-t, calm, fedateand com- 
 pofed might ye be, more efpecially in troublcfome Times, amidft thefe things wherewith others 
 are kepr in a continual hurry, almoft to the hazard of being diftra&ed by them ? 
 
 Let them all, my Nt-ble Lord, prevail with your Lordfhip in particular, reverently to adore, 
 iilently to ftoop unto, and fweetly to acquiefce in, the Lord's foveraign, holy, and wife ordering 
 your many and various complicated Trials, and more efpecially his 1-te removing your excellent 
 L'.dy, the defire of your Eyes, the Chriftian and comfortable Companion of your Youth, by his 
 ftroak: As indeed all the tyes of neareft and deareft Relations , betwixt Husbands and Wives, 
 Parents and Children, Brothers and Sifters, &c. are capable of diftblution, and will all erelong 
 by Death <.b; actually diffoived ; there being but one tye and knot of Marriage. union berwi xt 
 
 preciout 
 
-The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 precbus 'Jefus Chrift and the Believer, that by divine Ordination is eternal J'y incapable of any 
 di/Tolufion, even by Death it fclf ; which, though it dilTolve the fbaifunion that is betwixt tnc 
 Soul and ehe Body, yet doth not at all loofc the ftraitcr Bond of Union that is betwixt him and 
 both of them, but it remains ftill inviolable ; and by vertue thereof the Believers vile "dead Bo» 
 dy, fhal be raifed again at the laft Day, conform to his own glorious Body, and be Re-united to 
 the' Perfe&ed-foulf which two oldintimats will then meet in far better caie than when they weir 
 parted and pulled afunder ', for He is an Husband that cannot grow old. fick cr weak, neither can 
 he die ; He is a Husband whofe Bride and Spoufe is never a Widow, neither hath he any Reliefs: 
 The drawing on of which matchlefs Match and marvelous Marriage, is one great defign of thef* 
 fweet Sermons, wherein pregnant reafons are adduced by this friend •/ the Bridgmm toperfwadet 
 Sinners to imbrace the offer thereof made to them in the Gofpel ; and to make them, who, by 
 his own gracious and powerful insinuations on their Hearts, have entertained his Prepofal, to- 
 ward miking up, and final clcfing of the Match, tobklTcthemielves in their choice, and to blefs 
 him, that ever he was pleafed to ftoep fo very Jow as to become afuitcr to them, with a perem- 
 tory refolution to admit of no rcfufa), but infruftrably to carry their Hearts confer to take him 
 for their Lord, Head and Husband, to be to them a Saviour, a Phjjlian and Treafure, even their jSll in 
 all, their All above all, which day of Efpoufals, as it was the d*y of the gladmfs <f his heart £o it will 
 never beany grief of heart to them. Let all mutinous thoughts about his dealings with you be 
 filenced with, It's the Mrd; let not too much dwelling on the thoughts of your Affliclicn, to the 
 filling of your heart ftill with forrow, incapacitate you for, nor divert you horn, humble asking 
 thcL">rd,what he aims at all by thefeDifpenl"ations,wli3t he would have ycu to Icain cut of them, 
 what hereprovethand contends for, what he would have you amending ycur h«nds in, and what 
 he would have you more weaned, felfdenied, and moitiiied in, arid what he wouTd have you a 
 further length, and a greater proficient in ; He hath told you the truth, that theft things are txf 
 entforyous fhidy to find them to be fo in your own experience. Sure he bath by them, writ* 
 in great, legible and capital Characters, yea, even as with aSun-beam, Vanity, £mptinefi , t/rjetr- 
 tainty, Mutability, Unfatisfa&orineis and Difappointmentupcn the forehead cf all CrearureX 
 forts, and with aloud voice called your Lordfhip, yet more lcrieuily than ever, to fee k affer lb- 
 lid Soul-fatisfa&ion in his own blelled and all fufiicient Self,where it is moft certainly to befound 
 without all peradventure or pc Ilibility ofmifgiving; make nafte, my Lord, yet to ccme by a mere 
 clofs confining of all yourdefirts and expectations of Happinefs and Satisfaction to ycur Soul, t» ■ 
 God only, contracting and gathering them in, fr< m the vait and wearifeme citcumfererce of 
 earthly Comforts, and concenterirg them all in himfelf as their point ; fluey through Grace. 
 fweet Soliloque, to befptak your Soul, thus. My Joul, wait thou toily uyn Ged, J:r ray t&e&qiivn tifrer* 
 him\ Pfal. 62. 5. O blclTed confinement of defiies and expectations of hVppjnefis and fathfa&jonfcb 
 theSoul ! where it is as imp iTible to meet with difappointment,as it is imp< iTible not to meet with 
 it from every Airrli whence it is looked for; AJas! Ic is the feathering of our expectations and de- 
 sire s of happinefs among other objects befide him, that breeds us all the difquier. anxiety and vex- 
 ation, whereas if wekepr our felves through Grace under a more clofs and confrant confinement 
 to him, when this and that, and the other Creature-comfort, whether Perfr n or Thing were t;k- 
 en from us, there would be no deduction made from; nor any diminution made of our true Hap- 
 pinefs ; none of th* r e, how dear and dcfirable foever, being eflenriaily ccriftitutive of it, nor lb 
 much as trenching thereupon i and he in whom only all our Happinefs lyes, being the fine yrfht* 
 day, to day, and for ever, without any variablenefs or jhadow of turn tig; There are feme whom He lovctrt 
 fo well, that he cannot ( to fpc.k fo ) find in his heart to fte them ti us to parcel out their Af- 
 fections, and ro dote upon any painred imaginary liappii efs in Cre.rt.ie e< mlcitJ hereforc 
 on defign, he doth cither very much blaft them, as to the expected fatitfaclipn iiom their; or 
 quite remove them, that by making Inch a vacuity, he may make v. ay lor I fiiJ ir. and 
 happily to necefllracc the Perfon, humbly, prayerfully, and belicvingly, ro pi.: 
 of it; and it is a great vicuity that he who fi 'lis heaven and earth cannc t lijl, a lit le of v 
 ousprefence andmamfefted fpecial Love, can go veiy for to fi'l up the room that is : by 
 the removal of the choiiefl and molt dcfirable of all Earthly- comforts a 1 J Ei joyment* : Ii 
 py they, who, when they lofe a near and dear Relation or Friend, or any Idol, tl 
 fond of, are helped of God to make Jefus Clnitr , as it were , fuceecd ro tie 
 Heir , by raking that lofs as a Summons, to tisnsfer snd fettle their win V I c ve ( n 11 > 
 the object incomparably molt worthy of ir, as bcimi ahrgttha lively, 01 I 
 
 'U 2 
 
J'U Kpiflle DeditatOry. \ 
 
 There is no EarthIy»eomfort, Perfon or Thing, but hath fomewhat in It that is not defitaVj^ and 
 that it would be the better to want, but there is nothing in him that is not truly deilrabh,' nor 
 •ny thing out of him that is worthy to be delited. 
 
 I am, my N)ble Lord, The more eafily prevailed with and encouraged, to addrefsthe Dedication 
 of thefe Sinnons to your Lordfhip more particularly, when I remember the unfeigned faith that firft 
 dwelt in y~ur Grandmother, as an other Lois: and in your Motheri as an other Eunice ; and more late- 
 ly, in your own choife Lady, who, as another beloved Perfs, laboured much in the Lord-, and though 
 fhe had but a very fliort Chrjftian race, ( in which me was much encouraged by coming into your 
 Noble Fathers Family, and her beholding, how hard your bleft Mother did run and profs toward 
 the Mark, even when in the hit. ftage, and turning in a manner the laft ftoop of her Chriftian 
 courfe , ) yet it was a very fwift one, wherein {he did quite out-run many that were in Chrift 
 long before her; ( all three Ladies of Honour, almoft ( if J need tofayalmoftj without paralels 
 in their times.in the ferious and diligent exercife of Godlinefs,&Paterns worthy to be imitared by 
 others, ) and ] truft in your Lordfhips felfalfo ; yea, and in feveral others of your elder and young- 
 er Noble Relations ( for Grace hath fuch a draught of Souls amongftyou,as it ufeth not often to have 
 in Societies of fo Noble Extra& (for not many noble are called; ) which, as it defervedly draweth re- 
 fpeft to fuch of you, as are thus priviledged, from the obfervers of it, fo itlayeth a mighty ftrong 
 obligation upon you, to be much for God, and in fervice to your Generation according to his will# 
 Further, when I obierveyour Lordfhips Chriftian andExamplary Carriage, underfuch a conjunct 
 ion and combination of fo very crofs, and almoft crufhing calamitous Providences, choofing rather 
 contentedly and fatisfiedly to be ( if it fo pleafe the Lord, and O ! that it may not ) the laft of 
 that Ancient and Honourable Family, than to be found endeavouring to keep it from finking by 
 anyfmful and unwarrantable courfe, particularly by defrauding juft Creditors ( rhough the Debt 
 Was not of your Lordfhips own contracting.) under what ever fpecious pretexts and advantages 
 of Law; whereof many make no bones, who, if they may keep up their fupperfluities , care not 
 to ruine their Friends ingaging in Suretyship for their Debt, and to live on the Subftance of ethers. 
 Moreover, when with great fatisfa&ion I notice how much your Lordfhip makes it your bufinefs 
 to follow your Noble Anceftors, info far as they were followers of Chrift; Which many great Men, 
 even in the Chriftian IVorld, alas , do not much mind ; Not confidering that it is true Nobility 
 where God is the Chief and Top of the Kin, and where Religion is at the Bottom? And what 
 nenowned K*uleigh faith, Hinc dillus Ntbilis quajipr£ aliis virtute notabilis ; And what another faith, 
 Qui abillujlrium major tint fflendi da virtute dtgenerarunt Nobilia prtenta funt. And finally ,when I confider, 
 that in your Lordfhips retirement and abftra&ion from wonted converfe and dealing in bufinefs, 
 you will have accefs at leafure to read them, whereby you may through God's bleflingbe fwect- 
 ly diverted from penfive and notfo profitable poring on your Affli&ion, and be much in(hu&cd, 
 convinced, reproved, directed, edified, ftrengthened and comforted. Read them then, my Lord, 
 carefully ( as I take it for granted you will ) ponder and digeft them well, and lam hopeful, that 
 they fhMl through Grace prove contributive to the bringing upon you a confiderable growth of 
 ftolfnefs, and to the making of your wayes and doings more than ever fuch, that others or hisPeople 
 obferving the fame, fhaU be comforted, and made U think, and fay, verily Gtd hath nrt done in vain all 
 that ht hath done to yonder Noble-man-, 
 
 That thefe Subftantial and Marrowy Gofpel-Sermons may come along to you all, nay to all 
 the Readers of them, and to your Lordfhip more particularly, with fhoweis of Gofpel-bleflingSj 
 is the earneft defire of> 
 
 Dearly beloved afflifod Chrijlians 
 
 and my very Noble Lird 
 
 in particular, 
 
 2J*ve™btr 15//;, 
 
 J<5 8i. J TtUr CMpamm in Tribulation, 4e* 
 
 Jims alfo t$ be, in the Kingdom 
 and Patience »f Jefus Qhrijf, 
 
 and your Servant in the 
 Gofptl fer hit fake, 
 
■ 
 
 Z)nftheRcade>s } a>ul more $ articular ly unto the Inhabitants ef the City ef 
 Glifgcw, cf all Ratikj. 
 
 T Hough the whole Field of the Sacred and infallibly infpired Scriptures, be very pleafanc 
 and beautiful (afpiritual cool and cleanfing, afru&ifying, frefh, refremful and wV.oIefomc 
 Air, breaching continually there J yet if we may compare fon.e parts thereof with-othcr*, 
 thofe wherein thetrtafure, precious jejus Chrift Fyeth moil obvious and open, are certainly 
 moft pleafant and beautiful ; And amongft thele, iuch as hold forth bis fufFerings, and himfelf as 
 crucified, moft evidently before mens eyes, have a peculiar and palling pleafantnefc and beauty in. 
 them: If fo, thenfure this fifty third Chapter of the Prcphefies of Ifaiab cannot but be lookt at as 
 a tranfeendently pleafant, beautiful, fweet-fmelling and fragrant piece of Divine Scripture- field, 
 wherein the Evangelick Prophet difcourferh of the fufferings o? Chrift, as particularly and fully/ 
 as plainly and pathetically, even to the very life, as if he himfelfhad been afpe&ator and eye- 
 witnefs of them. However, this fweeteft Chapter from beginning to end, as alfo the three laft 
 Verfesof theforegoing, be by the greatly learned Groti'mmeR milerably perverted, while he in* 
 duftriouily diverts it from the Mejpah, and by ftretching and curtailing thereof at his pleafure, (as 
 the cruel Tyrant M&zentius did the men he laid on his Bed, to make them of equal length with it,) 
 wholly applyes it to the Prophet Jeremiah in the firft place enly,noc denying that it hath accom- 
 modation to Ckrijl , of whom too he takes but little or no notice in all his Annotations 
 thereon: The impertinences and wreftings of which application, are cenvincingly holden forth 
 by famous Doftor Owen fwho looks on this portion of Scripture as the fnm of what is fpoken in 
 the Old Teftament, concerning the fatisfaftory death of Jefus Chrift J that MeJl of Sotinians, in his 
 yindicid Evangelic* again ft Bible and tntRacovianCatechifn? 8 who was a burning and Ihining light in the 
 Reformed Churches though now alas! to their great lofs lately extinguifhed : And indeed the deal- 
 ing of that very Learned man profefling himfelf to be a Chriftian, with this moft clear, and to all 
 true Chriftians moft comfortable Scripture, is the more ftrange and even ftupindious , confider- - 
 ing, i. That feveral pafTages in it, are in the New TV {lament exprefly applyed to Chrift, Mattb. 8. 17. 
 Mark 15. 28. Luk. 22. 27. Atls 8. 28. &c. 1 Pet. 2. 22. and 24. but not one fo much as alluded to, 
 in reference to Jeremiah. 2. That the ancient Jewijh Doctors and the ChaldeeParupbraft, ( as Dc&or 
 Owen in the forefaid learned and favoury Book,gives an account) do apply it to Him. 3. That a 
 late Doftor of great Note and Honour among the Jews, Abrabinel affirmeth, that in truth he fees 
 not how one Verfe of the whole Tfeveral of whichhe toucheth on ) can be expounded of Jeremiah; 
 and wonders greatly that any wife man can be fo foolifh as to commend, let be to be the Author of 
 fuoh an Expofition, ( as one Rabbi Gaon had been ) which is ( faith hej fo utterly alien, and not 
 in the Ieaft drawn from the Scripture. 4. That feveral Jews do profeis, that their Rabbins could 
 eafily have extricated thcmfelves from all other places of the Prophets, (a vain and groundlefsboaft^ 
 iflaiah in this place had but held his peace, as Hulfius ( very lately, if not prcfent ) Hebrew-Pro- 
 feflbr at Breda, declares, fome of them did to himfelf. j. That a Rabbi by his own confeflion was 
 converted from a Jew to a Chriftianby the reading of this £3. of Ifaiab, as the excellent Mr. BsyHn 
 his delicate Difcourfes on the ftile of the Holy Scriptures informs us ; yea that divers Jews have 
 been convinced and converted to the Chriftian Faith by the evidence of this Prophecy, as learned 
 and laborious Mr Po$l affirms in his lately publilhed Enghjh Annotations on this Scripture. 6. That 
 the Secmians themfclves have not dared to attempt the accommrddtion of the things here fpoken of, 
 to any other certain and particular Perfon than the MeJJiah, though, being fo much tortured there* 
 by, that they mewed good will enough to it. And 7, That himfelfhad before written a learned 
 Defence if tbe Catholick Faith concerning Chnfis jatisfailion againft Socinus, wherein alfo he improved to • 
 notable purpofe feveral Verfes of this fame Chapttr: But in thefe later Annotations, being altogether 
 filent as to any ufe*making of them that way, he as much as he can delivers that Differaio , and 
 his Difciples from one of the fharpeft Swords that lyes at the very throat of their caufe ( for if the 
 Chapter may be applyed to any other, as he applyes it whol'y to Jeremiah, no folid nor cogent Ar- 
 gument can be drawn from it for confirming Chriftsfatisja&ion ; ) and by his never Rc-inforcing 
 gf thit dtftnee o£ his,againft the aflault made upon it bylhcSofwan Crcllius Xthough he lived twenty 
 
 ye** 
 
 
years thereafter ) he feems for his part quite to have abandon&d and delivered it up lntb\he hinds 
 of thefe declared enemies of thrifts fat isfaclion, yea and of his God-bead, Ic's true indeed\[ u t the 
 learned Fofsius defends iliac defence againft the aifault of Ravenfpcrgtrus a Gromtg Divine, but it is 
 on a quite different account from that of Crellius-. By which Annotations of his, as by fcveral o- 
 thers on other Scr'ptures, how much ( on the matter at Jcait ) great Grotim hath by abufing his 
 prodigious Wit, and profound Learning, fubferved the curled caufe of blafphemots heutms ) and 
 further hardened the already, alas much and long hardened poor Jews ; And what bad feivice he 
 hath done to cur Glorious Redeemer, and to his Church fatisfied-for, and purchafed by his blood 
 by hisfadfufferings, and fore Soul travel, mod clearly and comfortably difcourled in thisthap- 
 ter, let the Lord himfelf, and all that love him insincerity Judge : I vvilh I could, and had rca- 
 fon to fay no worfe of this admirably learned Perfon here, than that, Quandoque dormitatllomcrvs. 
 Which veiy many and various, very great and mo ft gnevoLlly aggravated Sufferings, werein- 
 dured by him, not only in his Body, nor only in his Soul, by veitue of the fympatby it had with 
 his Body from the Intime and Unit Union betwixt them : But alfo» and mainly , in his blefTed 
 humane Soul immediately : fmce he redeemed, fatisfied for, and faveth his Peoples Souls as well 
 as their Bodies: and the Soul having piincipally finned, and being the fpring and fcurce of Sin ; 
 Sinn«rs withall deierving punifhment in their Souls as well as in their Bodies; and being withl 
 out the benefire of his Mediation, to be punifhed eternally both in their Souls and Bodies, and 
 mainly in their Souls ; there is no doubt, the fame cogent reaibn for the Mediator's fuffering in 
 both parts of the Humane Nature afTumed by him, that there is for that Natures fuffering wh eh 
 finned : Which, his fad complaints of the exceeding trouble of his Soul, putting him to fay thefe 
 ftrangeand ftupendious Words, What jhall I fay ? and of the great Sorrow and Heavineft thereof, even 
 to Death, his Amazcmint . Jirong Cryes and Tears, wiih his Agony and Sweat of Bloody Q John 1 2. 27. Mat. 
 3.6. 3?. Mark 14. 33. Luk. 22, 44. Heb. e. 7. J ( and that before any pain was caufed to his Bo-- 
 dy by men, ) and his conditional deprecating of that bitter Cup, put beyond all reach of rational 
 contradiction: And to think or fay, that only the fear of his bodily fufferings quickly approach- 
 ing him, did make thefe fad imprcilions upon him, and draw thefe ftrange expreffions from him, 
 would make him who is Lord and Maftcr to be of far greater abjecmef s of Spirit than many of his 
 fervants the Martyrs were, and to fall hudgely below that holily heroick and magnanimous cour- 
 age and refolution, wherewith they adventuied on extream Sufferings, and moft exquifite Tor- 
 ments ; which would be very unworthy of, and a mighty reflexion upon him, who is the valiant 
 ■Captain of salvation, rmdeperfeSi through buffering, who drank of the brook in the way, and therefore lifted up 
 the head-, Heb. 2. 10. Pfal, 1 10 7. But here is the great and true reafon of the difference betwixt 
 his fad and forrowful deportment under his Sufferings, and their folacious, cheerful and joyful 
 deportment under theirs j that they through his Sufferings and Satisfaction, were perfwaded and 
 made fenfibleof Gods being pacified towards them, and were mightily refrefhed by his gracious 
 comforting prefence with them amidft their Sufferings', while he on the contrary looked upon 
 himfelf as or.e legally obnoxious to punifhment, fifled before the terrible Tribunal of the Juftice 
 of God, highly provoked by, and very angry at the fins cf his People, who was in a moll: fignal 
 manner pouring out upon hisSoul the vials of hisWrath &Curfe,which made him lamentably and 
 aloud to cry out ofdefertion, though not in refpeft of the perfonal Union, as if that had been difc 
 folved, nor yet as to fecretly.fupporting, yetastofuch a meafure at leaft offeniibly comforting 
 and rejoycing prefence, My Godmy God, why haft thouforjaken wr ( here Faith was in its Meridian 
 though ic was dark Mid-night as tojoy : ) wherewith as fuch, his Body could not be immediately 
 arTe&ed, fpiritual defertion not falling under bodily fenfe- Whence we may fee how juftly the 
 Doctrine of Pnpifls is to be exploded, who deny all fuffering in his foul immediatly, to falve their 
 darling dream of his local dei'cent as to his Soul, while his Body was in the Grave, into Hell, and 
 to Limb us Pat rum , to bring up thence into Heaven the Souls of the Fathers* whom, without giv- 
 ing any reafon,or alleadging any fault on their part, they foolifhly fancy, after their death till then, 
 ta have been imptrfoned thtre,though quiet and under no punfhrnent of fenfe, yet deprived cf all 
 light and vifion of God,and fo under the punifhment of lofs,the greateft of punifhments, even by 
 rheconfenlonof fome of thcmfclves, whereby they put thefe holy and perfected Souls (Tor there 
 they fay there is no more purgation from fin, that b.-ing the proper work of their profitable Pwga- 
 ttry)\n, worfe'eafe all that length of time after their death, than they were when alive en the Earth, 
 where doubtlefs fhey had ofren much* Soulrefrefhing fcllowlhip with God, and the light of his 
 Countenance lifted up upon them. 
 
 Neither 
 
 .1 T 
 
To the Reader. 
 Neither were thefc his Sufferings in Soul and Body,onty to confirm the Doftrine taught by him. 
 (if that was at all defigned by him as an end of his Sufferings, fo much Humbled at in the time, 
 ( which yet I will not debate, let be peremptorily deny) his Doctrine being rather confirmed by 
 his Miracles and Refurre£Hon)and to leave us an example & pattern how we mould fuffer(ainon- 
 Chriftian Sc blafphemousS3c/»/*»r aver) which were mightily to depretiat,&difparage nay to enervat 
 & quite to evacuate h;sSuffcrings,by attributing no more to them than is attributable to the differ- 
 ings of his Servants and Martyrs ( it's true his Example was an infallible Directory, the Example 
 of all Examp1es,but theirs not fo: yet this doth not at all influence any alteration of the nature of 
 the end; but alfo and mainly by them undergone for his PeopIe,and in their room,and as fuitaining 
 their Perfons,vice and place,truly and properly by the Sacrifice ofhimfelfro fatisfic Divinejuftice 
 for their fins : And who I pray can put any other comment on thefe Scripture expreffions, 
 without manifeft perverting&wrefting of them; He made him to befinfor us who knew no fin.Chr'ifl hath 
 redeemed w from the curfe o c the law, being made a curfe for as . Who his own fclj bare our Jim in his own bod? 
 on the tree, 2 Cor. 5. 21. Gal. 3. 1 3. I Pet- a* 24- ( which is by the Apoftle fubjoynedas a fuperior 
 end of his f offerings to that of leaving us an example, d'feourfed by him immediatly before ) 4 He 
 ' was wounded for our tranfgreffionsi he wasbruifed for our iniquities,andfhechaitiiement of our 
 ' peace was upon him: The Lord laid upon him the iniquity of us all ; For the tranfgrcflion of 
 ' my people was he ftricken ; When thou {halt make his foul an effding for fin : He bare the fins 
 ' of many j In whom we have redemption through his blood; Who is the propitiation for our 
 fins. If a, J3- ^ 6, *» IO » ,2# *r*^« *- 7- c ^- r - H* 1 ? ^' 2 « 2 - anc * the like. 
 
 Nor did he undergo thefe fad fufferings for all men in the World, to farisfie Juftice for them, 
 and to reconcile them to God, but only for the Elect, and fuch as were given unto Him< 
 
 For Ftrft, The ebaflifement of their peace only, was laid on him, who are healed by his flripes, as it is, v. c. 
 of this 53. ofljaiah, For theiniquities of my people was he ftricken, faith the Lord, v. 8* The fame who 
 are called the Mediators People, Pfal. 1 10. 3. ( for faith bleffedjefus to his Father, John 17. 10. All 
 mine are thine, andthhie are mine, ) Wat flail, without all peradventure or poffibility of mifgiving, be 
 made willing in the day of his power: He only bare the iniquities oj thefe whom he juftifieth by hu knowledge,-?. 
 11. For other wife the Prophets reafoning would not be consequent ; He only bare the iniquities 6f 
 as many tranjgreflurs as he makes intereffun for . ver. 12. And that he doth not make intercefllon for 
 all,butfor thefe only who are given to him^that is,all the Elect,is undenyably manifeft from John 
 17. 9. where bimfelftxprefly faith, Ip v ay not for the world, but for thefe whom thou haft given me. Now 
 God's eternal, electing love, and hisgiving the Elect to the Mediator in the Covenant of Redempti- 
 on,^ be fatisfied for, and faved by him; and his intercefllon for them, are commenfurablcand of 
 equal extent, as is moil clear from Jehn 17. 6. Where he faith, Thine they were, ( to wit, by election ) 
 and thou gave ft them to w/,to wit, in and by the Covenant of Redemption ( Gods decree of Election 
 being in order of nature prior to this donation, or gift of the Elect in the Covenant of Redcmpti* 
 on ( compared with i>. 9. where he faith I pray forthemj pray not for the world, but jor them whom thiu 
 haft given me,for they arethine,h is obfei*rable,thathe faith twite over J pray for them, manifeltly and 
 emphatically reftrifting his Intercefllon tothem,and excluding all others from it : why then inould 
 not this facrifice ( the price of the Redemption of thefe elected and given ones, agreea upon in that 
 Covenant betwixt thefe two mighty Parties) be commenfurable with the former three? Efpecially 
 fince he faith, v. 19. For their fakes fanclifit Imy ftlf, or feparate my felf to be a facrihee. 2. Chriftsfa- 
 tisfaction and his intercefllon being the two parts of his Prieitly Office, and his Interctflion being 
 founded on his Satisfaction, as its clear, v. 12. of this 53. of Ifaiah: yea a very learned man affirms, 
 that Chrifts appearance in Heaven.and his Intercefllon are not properly Sacerdotal Acts, but in fo 
 far as theylean on the veitue of his perfected Sacntice ; What juft, relevant, or cogent Reafon can 
 there be to make a difjunction betwixt thefe parts of his Office, and to exrend the moft difficult, 
 operous and coftly part to all men,and to narrow the other, which is the moreeafrc part as that 
 whereby he only deals for the application of what he hath made a purchafe of by his Satisfaction, 
 which put him to much fad and fo*e Soul-tnve',-ind to lettrict it to the elect and gifted ones? 3. 
 Doth not theScripture hold forrh his death, an J tSe fhedding of his blood, as the great demon- 
 ftration of his fpecial love to his own elect people? As is clear die-where, fo particularly J«r; 1 
 13. Greater love than this huh m mm , that a m m lay down his life for h.s friends ; Nay, purc/.aicJ 
 reconciliation through the tieatn of Chrilr, is by the Ho 1 y Ghoft made a greater evidence of divine 
 love in fome refpcft,than the g!orifi:ation of rhe reconciled, according to what the Apoftle fj;tli, 
 Rim, 5. 10. [_' For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, 
 
 much 
 
To the Readers* 
 much more being reconciled, we fliall be faved by his life. 4, All the other gifts of God to fin- 
 riers, even the greateft fpiritual ones,fall hugely below the giving of Jefus Chrift himfelf, thatfrfe 
 of God by way of eminency f As the Apoftle reafoneth irrelragabiy, for the comfort of believers, 
 Row 8- 3 a- [ He that fpared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how ihall he not with 
 him alfo freely give us all things? ] Will he give the greateft gift,and not give the lefllr? Asjufti- 
 fication, Adoption, Sanctification and Glorification* Which, how great loever in themfelves, are yet 
 lefTer than the giving or Chrift himfelf to the death ; And ific be undeniablycertain that he givcth 
 notthefe to all which are the lelTcr and lower Gifts, why mould it be thought that he hath given 
 the higher and greater? c. Shall that grand cxpreflion of the fpecial love of God, be mace com- 
 monly extending it to all the World, the greateft Pronigats and Atheifts not excepted,no not PbeH 
 raohjnor Ahabj\ov Judas the traitor.nor Julian the Apoftat, nay, nor any of all the damned reprobat- 
 es, who were actually in Hell when he died and fhed his blood? 6, If he died thus for all,itfcems 
 that the new Song of the Redeemed, Rev. 5. would have run and founded better thus, thou haft: 
 redeemed us all ami every man^f every ^kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, to Gcd by thy 
 Blood, than as it there fbnds by infpiration of the Holy Ghoft, t_ Thou waft flam.and haft redeem- 
 ed ustoGod by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; ] But who 
 may prefume by fuch an univerfality to extend and ampliat what he hath fo reftricled, and to 
 make that common to all which Ciod hath peculiarized to a few favourites? But the Author 
 having much to better purpofe on this Head inthefe Sermons, I need add no more here. 
 
 I fliall only fuither fay of thefe aftonifhing, in a manner non-pluflirg and furpafling great fnffer- 
 lngs of blefled Jefus, that, as they were equivalent to what all the elect deferved by their fins, and 
 ihould have fuffcrcd in their own perfons throughout all eternity ,confiftently with the innocency 
 and excellency of his Perfon, and with the dignity of his Mediatory Office ; Therefore it is faid, 
 ver. 9. And he made bis irave with the nicked, and with the rich in bit death , or as it is in the Orginal, 
 in bts deaths, in the Pj'uralNumber,asif he had died the death of every one of the Elett,or as if there 
 had been a conjunction and combination of all their deaths in his one death; And v. 6. That [ the 
 Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all, ] or as the word is, [ made the iniquity of us all to meet 
 em him. there having beena folemn tryft,convocation and rendezvous ( as it were ) of all the ini- 
 quities of all the Elect more common and more peculiar.in all their various aggravating circum- 
 fhnces, not fo much as one committed fince Adams faR tranfgreflion, or to be committed to the 
 day of Judgment, being abfentin the puniihment of them upon his perfon : no wonder that fuch 
 a load of innumeftble thoufandsand millions of inquiries made him heavily to groan,and that the 
 conftderation thereof made great Luther hy, [ That Chrift was thegreateft firmer in all the world,] 
 to wit, by imputation of che guile of the fins of the Elect to him, and by his having had the pun- 
 iihment of them all laid upon his perfon: So we may from them be inftructed in thefe things, 
 
 Firft, Concerning che height of holy difplicence anddeteftation,that theMajefty of God hath at 
 fin the only thing in the whole world thac his foul hates,and which in the vile and abominable 
 nature of it, h.tth an irreconcilable antipathy with, and enmity againft his infinitely pure, holy, 
 and blelTed nature, and hath a tendency, could it poflibly be afTected,to feek after the deftruction 
 and annihilation of the veryBeeing of God,andis interpretatively DfiV/VtV;TheLanguage of it being, 
 [O that there were not a God ; J That he cannot behold it in his own finlefs, innocent, and dearly 
 beloved Son, though but by imputation ( for He^ was not made formally thefinner,as Antinomians 
 blafphemoufly aver, ) but he will needs in fo terrible a manner, teftify his great diflike of,and deep 
 difpleafure at it,and take fuch formidable vengeance on it,even in his Perfon; Ah! the nature of 
 fin, which God, who is of purer eyes, cannot, whercever it be, behold,without perfect abhorrency 
 of it,is bur little throwly underftoodand pondered; Would we otherwife dare to dally and fport 
 with it, or to take the latitudes in committing of it at the rates we £c? I have fometimes thought, 
 that it is an £rror in the firft concoction ( to fay fo ) of Religion in many Profeflbrs of ir.and pre- 
 tenders to it,that we have never framed fuitable appichenfionsof the moft hateful, vile and abomi- 
 nable nature of fin, ( which hath a great influence on the lupcrficiarinefs and overlinefs of alfiiu- 
 ties and practices of Religion ) and that many of us had need to be dealt with, as skilful School- 
 mafters ufe to deal with thair Schollarsthat are foundered in the firft Principles of Learninpjeft 
 they provebut fmatterers all their days; to bring them back again to thefe,evento be put to learn 
 this firft Leflbn in Religion better,andmore thorowly to underftand the jealoufie of God, at this 
 curfed thing Sin\ For which,thoughhe gracioufly for the fake of thefe {ufferings of Chrift, p3rdon 
 the euilt of it to his Pcople,and hear their praycis,yet will needs take vtn&ame in their inventions, 
 
 . 1 ■ 1 
 
7V the Reader;, 
 '( Pfd'99 * be they never Co ferioufiy hclily,and eminently ferviceable to nim and to their genera? 
 rion according to his will, whereof Afr/r/the Man of God is a memorable inftance:That Ancient con- 
 ceived rightly of the nature of fin,who faid, That if he behoved necejjanly, either so commit theleafl (in, or 
 
 (9 Hellto be tormented there eternally ,be would rat kir wish to defire t§ goto Hriljfheceuld bethtrc without fm. 
 
 Secondly, Concerning the feverity of Divine Juftice in punifhing fin, whereof itspumflimentinrhe 
 Perfon of the Son ©f God at fuch a rate, is one of the greateft, cleared and mcfl convincing evidences 
 imaginable,to w horn he would nor abate one fai thing of the Elecls debt but did with holy and fpot- 
 lefs feverity exaft the whole of iti And though he was the Fathers Fellow, ytt he would needs hive 
 him fmitten with the awaked Svord ( Zech. 13, 7. ) of fin-revenging JufticefcWrathrAs if all the exe- 
 cutions that had been done in the earth on men for fin, as on the oldWoild cf the ungodly ,crowned 
 by fti<Dcludge:On themi'creanf Inhabiunrs of Sodom and Gomorrah, and of thefe other Cities, upon 
 whomhefhowered down liquid flames of fire and brimftcne.even fomewhatof Hell in a manner out 
 of HaVcn(Ca>lut» pluebat Gebennaw) burning them quick,and frying them to death int heir own skins: 
 On Core, Dashan and Abiram, and their AfTociars.upon whom the earth opened and fwallowed them 
 Up in a moft ftupendious manner alive, the reft being confumed by fire lent down from Heaven:On 
 the one hundred eighty five thoufand men ©f Stnacheribs Army, allftain in one night by an Angel: 
 And on the Israelites, who,by many and various plagues were wafted and worn out to the number of 
 fix hundred thoufand fighting men in the fpace of fourty years* Rtflc&ions on which made Mefer, 
 a witnefs of all, with aftonifhmentto cry our, Who knows the powtr of 'thy anger ■? Pfal, 93. 1 i.As ifjfay, 
 all thefe terrible executions of Juftice, had been done by a Sword afleep,or in the Scabbard, in 
 comparifon of the execution it did on JcfusChrift the Elects Cautioner, againft whom \t awakened, 
 was unfheathed, forbifhed, and made to glitter : So that we may fay, had allthe Sons andPaugh- 
 ters of Adam, without the exception of fo much as one, been eternally deftroyed. it would noC 
 have been a greater demonftration of the feverity of the Juftice of God in punifhing fin. 
 
 Thirdly, Concerning rhe greatnefs, incomprehenfible vaftnefs, and unparalelablenefs of the love of 
 God to the Elett World, which he foloved(0 wonderful/o.'Eternity will butbefufficient to unfold 
 all that is infolded in that myfterious fo ; an onathn hath not an a s, an Urn that hath not zfout , ifi 
 that bath not an as, That he gave h* only begotten S#»(John}.i6 )t& fuffsr all thefe thingf,& Co be thus 
 dealt with for them; And of the Mediator who was content, though thinking it no robbery to be equal 
 with God. to empty hirnjdf, and be of no reputation, to take on him the fbape of a Jervanttfhilip. 2. 6, 7, t. to 
 be a man offorrows and acquainted with grief , to be chaftized,fmitten, wounded and bruifed for their iniqui- 
 ties; lfa. 53O, 5- To ftcp off the Throne ofhis declarative Glory, or of his Glory manifefted to the 
 Creatures, and in a manner to creep on the Foot-ftool thereof in the capacity of a Wotm.and to be- 
 tomt obedient even unto the deaththe fhameful and cuifed death oftheCrofs'. This is indeed matchlefs 
 and marvellous Jove, Greater than whichm man hath, to lay down hislife for his friend ; Job. » 5. 1 3. But 
 he being God-man, laid down his life for his enemies, that he might make them friends ? Rom 5 10. 
 C ! the height, and depth, the breadth, and length of the love ofChrift, ( Eph. 3.9, lo. (whereof, when all 
 that can be faid,isfaid, this muft needs belaid That it's a love that papth not on\y expreflion but**#j*»- 
 ledge,it's dimensions being altogether unmeafurable : So we may, ifitfeem good to the Lord, and 
 been compatible with his fpotlefs Juftice,and with hisinfinit Wifdom, as Supream Re&or and Go« 
 vernor of the World, giving a Law to his Creatures, to have pardoned the fins of the EUc"V in thl 
 abfolutenefs of his Dominion that knows no boundary, but what the other Divine Attributes fer to 
 it, wirhout any intervenient fatis£»£tion to his Juftice at all, ( which needs not to be debated here, 
 especially fince God hath determined, and in the Scriptures of truth made publication of his deter- 
 mination, that he will not pardon fin without afatisfaftion,and particularly without this fatisfa&i- 
 cn mad: by Jefus Chrifti ) It would not have been a greater and more glorious demonftration of the 
 freenefs and riches of his love than he hathgiven,in pardoning themthrough the intervention of fo 
 difficult and toilfome,of fo chargeable and coflly a faiijfacl.cn, as is the fad i~urTerings,& the fore foul- 
 travel of his own dear Son;Who yet is pleafed to account iinners coming to him, & getting gf od of 
 him,fatisfacYion for all that foul- travel: And indeed, which of thefe is the greateft wond«r,& demon* 
 ftration of his lovc,whetherthathe fhould have undergone fuch foul- travel for finners, or that he 
 fhuuld account their getting good ofit,fatisfa£tion for the fame.it is not eafie to determine, but fure 
 both i iconjun&ion together make a wonder pafling great.evcn a moft wonderful demonftrat ionof love 
 
 Fourthly, Concerning what dreadful meafurc all they may look for, who have heard of thefe furTer« 
 ings of Chrift,ind make not confidence in his own way to improve them, for their being reconciled 
 Xfi God (hereby, and whofc bond to Juftice will be found ftillftanding over cheii heads uncancelled 
 
 
To the Reader*. f r , , 
 
 • n their own nime.as proper debtcrs without a ^autionenWhenthe innocent Sonot God, wbihad 
 "ever done wring, and tnwhofe mouth no guilt was ever found, Ifa- S3 9 having bat become Surety tor 
 thcElefts debt, was thus hotly purfued,and hardly handled.and put ( thiough fad foul # trouble ) to 
 Cry iWk+t fbsll ifayljoh. 1 2 . 27, And falling a-groof on the ground with the teai in his eye,in muchlor- 
 r ow and heavinels even to death,and in a great agony, caufing a fwcai ot blood, though in a cold 
 night, and lying on the earth, conditionally to pray for the palling ot that Cup from him , and tor 
 his being faved from that hour; So foimidable was it to his holy Humane Nature.whicn had a im- 
 left averfation from , and an innocent horrour at whit threatned ruine and deltruttion to 
 it felf (imply confidered;And which, had it not been mightily fupported by the Power ot the Ood- 
 head united thereto in his pcrfon, would have quite fhrunkand fuccumbed under fuch an heavy bur. 
 den & been utterly i wallowed up by fuch a gulf of wrath: What then will finners.even all "Vejiyv- 
 our debtors,not having ferioufly fought after.nor being equally reached by the benetit ot his iu« 
 rety(hip,do,when they come to grapple with this Wrath of God,when he will fall upon them as a 
 Giant,breaking all their bones.and asa roaring \ion>tcari>:gtkim to pieces when there wik be none to aeliv- 
 rr?Pfal. Soni.Wil! their hands be firing, or their hearts be able toendure mtheday that he jhall deal withthem? 
 Ezek. 22. 14. then, O! thenar will be afraid, andfcarfulnefs will take hold of them, and make them lay, 
 who ean fland before the devouring fire , and xohocan dwell beftde the everlaflmg burnings': Ifa."} 3.14 and t9 *1 un ~ 
 ti the hills and mountains to fall on them, and hide them from the face of the Lamb,and of him that Jits on the 
 throne,f«rthcdayofhi?fi:newrathisco7»e t andwhoisabletoJland}Rev.6. 16, If. then it will be found 
 in a fpecial manner to be a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God: Heb. 10. 3 1. All fuch may 
 fee in the great fufferings of Chrift,a$ in the cleared glafs,whatthey arc to h ok foi,and molt certain- 
 ly to meet withjfor if it was thus done inthe green tree,wha\fhallbe done in the tk*yl Luk. a 3 . 3 1 - O - its 
 a fad, even one of the faded: fubjefts of thoughts, to think, that a rational Cieature fhall b e et f r " 
 nallyfupported,prefervedand perpetuated in its beeing.by the one hand of Gods Omnipotency.tnaC 
 it may be everlaftingly capable of terrible vengeance, tobeinfliftedby the other hand of bisjuitice. 
 Fifthly, Concerning the very great obligation that lyeth onBelievers to love Jefus Chrift who hath 
 thus commended his love to tbem,by undergoing all thefe fad fufferings for their fakesjeven out : ot 
 love to them to become a Curfe, to bleed out his preci»usi.ife ; & to pour out his foul to death tor 
 themjwhich to do he was und#r no n'.'Ceflity,nor in the leaft obliged by them,beingmnnitly rc ™ ov ' 
 ed from all pofTibility of being reached by any obligation from his creatures.whom he loved,and 
 for whem he defignedthis grand expreflion of his love,the laying down of his life for them,betore 
 they or the world had anyBecing:nay,being by their fins infinitly difobligedrAh ! that molt ot thelc 
 whom he loved fo much, mould love him (who is altogether lovely ) their duty , his friends and in- 
 teretlsfor his fake fo little; Even fo very little,that if it were poflible he could rue and repent ot 
 what he hath done and fuffered, to commend his love to them, they would tempt him to it; 
 And indeed there is nothing that morefpeaks forth the freenefs of his love than this.that he fhould 
 love them fo fervently, and continue thus to love thcm,even to the rw^.who are often fo very cool 
 in their love to him, Sure fuch when in any meafure at themfelves, cannot but love themfelves the 
 lefs,and loath themfelves the more,that they love him fo littlc,and earnefiiy long for thatdefireable 
 day.wherein he mall bcadmircdin and by all them thatbelieve, and when they (hall get him loved as 
 well as ever they defired to love him, and as well as he fhall will them to love him, and 
 when rhey fhall be in an eternal extafie and tranfport of admiration at his love. 
 
 Sixthly, Concerning the little reafon that Believers have to think much ot their (mall and petty 
 fufferings undergone for him : For what are they all even the greateft and moft grievous ofthem, 
 being compared with his fufferings for them ? They are but as little chips of the Crofs in compa* 
 rifbn of the ^reat and heavy end of it that lighted on him,and not worthy to be named in one day 
 with his : All the fad and forrowful dayes and nights that all the Saints on earth have had under 
 their many and vatious,and fadly circumftantiated croiTcs and fufferings, do not by thoufands of 
 degrees come near unto, let be to equal that one fad and forrowful night, which he had in Gtthfe* 
 mane ( b=fide all the forrowsand griefs he endured before that time ) where he was put to conflict 
 with the awakened Sword of fin.revengingjuftice,that did moft fiercely lay athim,without fpare- 
 ing him: Which terrible Combat lafted all that night,and the next day till three a clock in theaf er- 
 noon, when that fharpeft Sword,after many fore wounds given him, killed him outright at laft, and 
 left him dead upon the place (who yet, even then when feemingly vanquifhed and quite ruined,was 
 * great and glorious Conqueror, having ty death overcome and destroyed him that had the power of death ,th at 
 is thi d(vtl,and having fpoilid primipalhitt and powers, making a jbew of them tpen!y,and triumphing over them 
 
To the Readers, 
 in W; «r*/i,Heb»t; 14. Col. 1. 1 r. the fpoilsofwhich glorious riftory Believers new divide, and ihall enjoy to all eternity.} 
 Ah ; chat ever the fmall and inconfiderablefuff-rings of the Siims.fhould fo much as once be made mention oi by the6 t ' 
 irherehisftrangeandftupendious fufferings offer themfclvcs to be noticed. 
 
 1 Seventhly, Concerning the unfpeakably great obligation ihat lyerh on Believers, readily,pleafantly and chearfuMy.notonJy 
 to do,butaifotofuffer forChrift,as hefhallcall them to it, cventodo all that Iyeth in their Power foi him, and to fufrer til 
 that is in the power of any others to do againft (hem on his account, who did willingly, and with delight do and iuffer To mttch 
 for them ; rhey have dcubtlefs good reafon heartily to pledge him in the Cup ot his crefs.and to drink aftei him," there being 
 sfpecially fuch difference betwixt the cup that he drupk,ard that which they are put todtir.k; his cup was Hired thick with 
 the wrath wi God, having had the dregs thereof in a manner wrung out to him therein, fo that ic was no wonder that the vei f 
 fight of it made him conditionally to fupplieare for its departure from him,and that the drinking of it put him »n a moft giiev- 
 eusa^onyjand caff him in a rop-fweatof blood; yet faith he on the mattes, either they or Imuft drink it, they are net able to 
 drink'it for the drinking ©tit will diftraft them and put them mad, will poilon and kill them eternally; but I am able to 
 drink it,'and to work out rhe poifon and ver.om of i r, and though i t fliali kill roe, I can raife up and rcftoie mj fe If to life again; 
 therefore, Father .come a way with ;'t,and I will drink it tip and diir k itout, This to the everhfting welfare of rhefe dear foulsj 
 not my will, but thine be dene; for thus it was agreed beiwixt thee and me in the Covenant of Redemption; when as there is love 
 xrom bottom even to brim ( whatever mixture may fomerimestie of paternal and domeftick Juftice, proper and peculiar to 
 Gods own Family ,&which as the Head and Father thereof he exercifeththerein)not fo much isonegutorfcrupleof vindictive 
 wrath beineleft therein 3 Ah ! it's both a fin ar.d flmne, that there ihould be with fuch, even with, fo much fhynefs and fhrink- 
 ing to drink alter bim in thecopol hisCrofs, efpecially confidering that there is fuch ahigh degree ofhanourput upon the 
 fullering Believer for Ghrift, above and beyond what is puton tbefimple Believer inhim,fo that in the Sciipmre,<ccoinpr, 
 the fuffering Believer is not •»/ybuttf(/b. according to what the Apoftle faith, Philip, r. 10. Toyou it is given in the behalf 
 •fChrift, not only to believe, but alfo to fttffer for k.sfake. 
 
 Eightly, Cancerningwhat mighty obligation lyeih en Believers to mourn and weep, to be fadandforrowfolforfin, how 
 can they look on him whom they havethusbruifed, wounded and pierced by theit fins without the tear in their eye, without 
 mourning for bim, and being inbitternefs as a man is for his firitbern, and for his only begotten Son ? when they think ( as 
 all ofthem on feriousconfidelitionw/11 find realon to think) that if their fins kceped thetryft and rendezvous, when all the 
 fins ©fall theEU6t.fi id meet and were laid on him, then fine there came no greater company and m«re numerous troop of fins 
 to that folemn rendezvous from any of all the redeemed thap. came from theraj ana that hetud not a heavier l&ad and burden 
 of the fins of any than he had of theirs, whereby he was even prefled as a Cart is pre fled down under the (heaves, and was made 
 moft grievoufly fo groan, even with the groaningsof a deadly wounded man ; and that if he was wounded and pierced by their 
 iniquities, then furely he was more deeply wounded and pierced by the iniquities of none than by theirs; O ! what mourning 
 fhould this caufe to thtm? even fuch mourning as was at Uadadrimmon in the Valley of Mcggido, on theoccafion of the fad 
 {laughter and death of that good and defirable king Jefiah ? this is indeed one of the moft genuine and kindly, one of -he moll 
 powerful and prevalent, oneof the fweetefl and ftrongeft fprin^s of, and motives to, txue Gefpel-Repcmance, fonowand 
 mourning for fin. 
 
 Ninthly, Concerning the notable and non-fuch obligation that lyeth on Believers, to ftudy the crucifixion and mortificati- 
 on cf fin; Was it not their fins that crucified and killed precious JefusChrift, the prir.Ce of life ? was it not their fins that vi- 
 olently drove the Nails therow his blefTed hands and feet, and tbruft. the Spear thoiow his fide, to the bringing forth of water 
 aid blood ? fhall they not in their burning zeal ar.d love to him, and in the height of holy indignation at themfelves,be avenged 
 on that which brought luch vengeance on him? lhall ?hey 10: fen'ouily feek to be the death of that which brought him todeathi 
 and whereof, the death and deftru&ion, was one ef his great dtfigns therein, on which he was fo intenr,that in the profecution 
 ol'it, he did amidfl his dying pangs and agonies breath out his foul 10 ! let it never be heard for fliame, that ever any or them 
 lhall&ndthe leaftlweetnefs in that accurfed thing, that was fo bitter to him ; that ever any of them fliall be found to daily 
 with, «r Hug that ferpent and viper in their befom, that fo cruelly flung him to death, 
 
 B-.it this being the great Sal j:£fc or thefe following Sermons, wherein the Treacher being in a good meafure wife, hath fought 
 to find out aceep table words, (Ecclef. IZ. IO, XI.) and words /hope of uprightnefs and truth ; (O that they may be lo the Read- 
 ers as goads ana nails faftened by him, who is the great mafter of af semi-lies, ) 1 fliall irfift no further, only 1 may humbly fay, 
 that to*my knowledge, none have preached on thiswholeCA/rpfirr to better purpefe every wayjmany mayhave done vertuoufly, 
 but it's probable, he will be found loexcell them all : nay, iff fhould fay, that for any thing I know, this Book for fo much, is 
 arnongft the beft Books of this nature the World hath feen, I fuppofe hardjy will any judicious Chriftiar, thorowly exerciled to 
 GodlinelTe, after he hath read it all over, and pondered it, think that 1 have greatly, if at all, hyperbolized. 
 
 There are in thefe choice Sermons, depths as it were for Elephants to fwim in ( whereof his faprizing, fublimely fpiritual, 
 and very deep divine difcotrfes, concerning the Nature of Chrifts Intercefs. -on, ar.d the riyht improvemant of it, in the la ft fix 
 Sermon?, is a notable inftance ) and (hallows for Lambs to wade in, There is:n them rnilkftr babes i*Chrift t and ft rtngermeat 
 for fnch as are of full age, who hy reafon ofrnfe have their fenfes exereifed to difcem both good and evil ; Heb. r. 1 3, 14. 
 Nay, I may in a good meafure, fir or rhefe Sermons, gait's faidol the learned Diicou lies ot a late great man, -hat in thedoflri* 
 alpart offeveralofthem,ye will find the depth of Polemical Diiir.ity, and in his Utftrtnxttftvm thence, thefweetnefs of Practical; - 
 fome things that may exercife tbt profoundeft Schollar, andtthers that may cd:fii eh; vjeakeft Chnjtian; nothing leacily it more 
 nervous and ftrong than his Keafonings, and nothing mere frveetly and ftrifrfully aff tiling than his tSpplitations : there is in 
 themmach for Information of theJuJgn ent, tor warming ot the Affections, ana foi direction toward a GefpeJ becoming Con- 
 veihtionj there is much for clearing and expeding the douhs and difficulties ci more weak and darkened Chiiftum, and much 
 for edifying, confirmingandeftablifhing of more grown one:; there is much foaconvi&ibo, reproof, warning, humbling, foi 
 ftirringupand provoking to the ferious exercife of Godlinefs, and muchior the comforting and refreihing of fuch a j ft ird in 
 need, and are capable or Cor.folation ; there-is much fordifcovering, routing, awakning andallatming of carnal, fecure, un- 
 found. hollowshearted and hypocritical prefefiuurs oi Religion, and much for beating ind hammering down of the frideof 
 concei y , f etf j uftf ying Picieflbrs ; much for training u p of young beginners, and much for advancing and carrying on in their 
 ChrHluncourfefych as are entered ir.ro ir, and have mide any roller.ible profrefs therein; In a word, he doth in a great meafura 
 approve himfelfto Cod as awork-man that needs uot be ash.nv.ed, rightly dividing the word oftrnth t ( a Tim. a. I J, and ait skil- 
 ful and faithful Steward giving to every one his portion in due kind, me*fure and feaion. 
 
 ^Itmay be fome Readcrj will think, thatthcreaie in thefe Sermons, fc?cralcou.cidencic» of puipofesj ind repec/iious; To 
 
 which 
 
which I ftall but prefume to fty, that bcfide that there is a g i a 
 in this pieceof his PropheCus, if notaholy cc-inridcr.cy of them 
 
 amongft many of the purpofrs delivered by the Prophet 
 ,and a profitable repetition now and then of the fame thir.g 
 tnaiffirentexpreffions; As there is in fome other Scriptures, without any the ler.ft Impuration to them', as rhaitxuly noble 
 and renowned Gentleman Mr. BejVfheweth inhis elaborar -' 
 Serif tn'cs : Andi' 
 conhina different 
 affinity, any co-i 
 
 appofucly fuited to the Subject of his prefentDifcourfe, chit the Reader will not readily Raufear, r.oi thirjk wtaVTsTpclcenTri 
 its place, impertinent, fupcrfluous, or needled, though fomewha: like it hath b->cn 'aid by him in feme other place- O: if 
 there be any not only feeming, but real Repetitions of Purpofes and Fxprcffionj, as ihey haze not btcnvricxoHS ( Pni! 4 3. 1, V 
 to the Preacher, fo he with the A pofllePrfw/ judged t tern nczdful at thetime for the Heaters. 
 
 And now, asforyou, vunh Honoured, Ri^ht Worthy, di.mery dearly behved Inhabitants of the City of Ghf>ow, letme 
 tell ycu, that Ihivefomeumescf iaterru.ch coveted, to be put and kept in fume c-ap.iary. to do the Churches ol Chrift, ar.d 
 yoa in particular, this piec cf (etvice.input ing to the Pirfs thef IweecSermonsoa thischaife Sciipture before 1 die; And 
 indeed attei I had gone thorow a good number otthern, not without cpnfidetable toil, aad difficulty ( having all alcw eft, had 
 noNotesofhisown, bo: the Sermons as they were taken hjftily with a current Pen from his mouth, by one of his ordinary 
 Hearerf, noSchollar, who could not therefore f>thurowly and diflin&iy take up.feveralof the Purpofes handled by the 
 Preacher) ibeLoid was ple.f^d to ^ivemca flop, by along continued fharp afflftion, rot altogether without fome little 
 more remoteand gentle threatnings of deatu ;But he :o whom the iflueso; death do belong,graciouf]y condt feended to ffareme 
 a little, that I might gather fome ftrength to go rhorow the remainder of them. I hare much reafon to think, that ii poor / had 
 beenPreaching the Gafpel to you thefe twenty years paft, wherein we have been in holy providence fepara ted (which hath been 
 themore?rtli£tin.'. tome, that ye wereinmy hearctohavelived and died with you; and if if had /ofeemed good in theeyesof 
 ehe Lord, it would have be^n :o me one of the moft refrefhing aud joyful previdences I could hare been tryfted with in this 
 World, to have had fair zeeefs through his gcod hand upon me, and his gracious prefence with me, to have pleached the Gof- 
 pel to you a while before my going hence and being no more ) I would not by very, very far, have contributed fo much to you« 
 edification, as thefe few Seimous may, and/ hope through God's blefllng fhali ; Several of you heard them Preached 
 by him, when be was alive rmotijil you, and now when he is dead,he is in a manner Preaching them over again to you (O thac 
 iuch of you as then were not taken in ;h.- Preaching of them might be fo now in the ferious reading of then»,)5c by them fpeak- 
 iag to thefe of you that did not then hear them, who, as Ifuppofe, are now the far greateft part oi the City f /nhabitants ; You 
 will find your felfes in them agasn and again ranked ardciafled, according to your differenc fpiritoal eftates, ar.d the various 
 cafes and conditions of your fouls, and wonderful oifcoveries made of your f elves to yourfelves,that Ifome.hing do bt, if there 
 fee fomuchasonefuul amongft the feveral tnoufandt that arein GUfgow, bur will find it fell, by the reading of thefe Sermons, 
 fpoken to, fuitably to its Rate and cafe.as if particularly acquainted with the peifon and his fpiritual condition ( as indeed he 
 xnadeitacenfiderablepartofhis work, as the cbfervin^ Reader will quickly and eafily perceive, to be acquainted very tho« 
 
 tered and made to profite thereby; God and Angels, and your own Confoences, will witntfs,how often and how urgently 
 the Lord Jefuscal'ed to you by him, and ye would not hear ; and how inexcofable wijlyealfo be, that fhall difdain or neglect 
 to read theft Sermons (as I would fain hope none of you will ) that were fometime preached in that plaoe by that faithful fer- 
 vanrol Chrift, who was your own Minitter, which layethfomc peculiar obligation on you beyond others to read them; or if 
 ye flull read them, and make Confcience to improve them to you j fouls edification and advantage, which contain more'genu. 
 inc, pure, finceie, fol.de, and fubllactial Gofpel than many thoufands hare heard it may be in an age, though hearing preach- 
 ings much of the whi'e j even fo much, that if any ot you fhould be providentially deprived of the liberty of hearing the 
 Gofpel any more preached, orfhould have accefstoread noother Sermons or Comments on the Scriptures, theieSermoni 
 through Gods's blefling, will abundantly (lore and inricb you in the knowledge of the uneontravtrtably great myfteryofGod* 
 linefs, God manifefted in the flesh, i Tim. 3. i6. and according to the Scriptures mat\e you wife untofalvation through faith 
 »bieh is in Chrift ]efus, a Tim. 3. iy f much infifted on inchem : I would therefore humbly advif* (wherein I hope y« will 
 not miftake me, as if by this ad vice I were defigning fome advantage to my felf.for indeed I am not at »ll that way 'concerned 
 Snthefaleof them) that every one of you that can read, and is eafily able to doit ; would buy a Copy of thefe Sermons • at 
 Jeaft, that every Family that is able, whtiein there it any that can read, would purchafe one of them : I nothing doubt 
 butye will think that little money very wellbeflowed, and will find your old Minifter, deniable Durham delightful com* 
 pany to dilcourfe with you by his Sermons, now when he is dead, andyoican fee his face, and hear him foeak to yen by 
 •vive voice no mote; or rather the voice of Chrift by him, was, I know very fweet to many there now afleep, and to fome 
 of you yetaltve; who, I dare not doubt, never allow your felves, to expect with confidence and comfotc to look theLord 
 Jefus in the face, but as feriotifly and fincerely ye make it your bufineii, to be found in his Righteopfnefs , fo much 
 cleared and commended to yju, and :n the ftjdy of Holinefs in all miner of Conversion, fo powerfully ptefledupon 
 you, here. 
 
 That thefe fweet and favour y Gofpel -Sermons may come to you all, and more particularly to you, my dear fri»nd$ at 
 Gtafgow. with the fu hie fs of the blefsing of the C off el, ( Rem. if, x$. ) even of tht Kord of his grace, which is able 
 fo build yo» wp, mi to give yon an iuhtritamt fimin$ them that arcfanififed, ( A£ts 10. 31. ) is the feriou defile ol 
 
 TCwr Servant in the Gofpel, 
 ^ i tu 
 
 I a 
 
 :ermoj? 
 
r * j 
 
 SERMON I. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. I. 
 
 fffo hath believed our report ? And to whom is the arm if the Lord revegledl 
 
 WE hope it ftiall not be needful 
 to infift in opening the Scope 
 of this Chapter, or iu clearing 
 to you of whom the prophet 
 mtaneth, and isfpeaking: It 
 was once queftioned by the 
 Eunuch,^ 8. 32.when he was reading this Chap- 
 ter, Of whom doth the Prophet jpeat^ this, of himfctf, 
 er of 'fame other man ? And it's fo clearly aofwered 
 by Vhiiipy whojtrom thefe words,began and preach, 
 cd to him of Jefus Chrift, that there needs be no 
 doubt of it now : To Chriftians thefe two may put 
 it out ofqueftion, that Jefus Chrift and the Sub- 
 fiance of the Gofpel is compended and fummed up 
 here. i. If we compare the Letter of this Chapter 
 with what is in the four Evangeiifts, wewilJ fee it 
 fo fully, and often fo literally made out of Chrift, 
 that if any will but read this Chapter, and com- 
 pare it with them, they will find the Evangeiifts to 
 be Commentators on it, and fetting it out more 
 fully. 2. That there is no Scripture in the Old 
 Teftament fo often and fo convincingly applyed 
 to thrift as this is, there being fcarce one Vcrfe, 
 at leift not many, but are by the Evangeiifts or 
 Apoftlcs raadeufe of for holding out of Chrift. 
 
 If we look then to the fum of the words of this 
 Chapter, they take in the fum and fubftanceof the 
 Gofpel-, for they take in thefe two, i. Theright 
 defcription and raanifeftation of Jefus Chrift, And 
 2 . The unfolding and opening up of the Covenant 
 of Redemption. Where thefe two are, there the 
 fum of the Gofpel is ; but thetctwo are here,there- 
 fore the fum of the Gofpel is here. Firft, Jefus 
 Chrift is def:ribed, i. In his Pcrfon and Natures, 
 rs God being Eternal, as Man being under Suffer- 
 ing a. In all his Offices, as a Pricft offerine up 
 Himfelf as a Sacrifice to fatisfie Juftke : as a Pro- 
 phet venting his Knowledge to the juftifying of ma- 
 ny thereby : and as a King dividing thefpcil with 
 theftrong, ?. In His Humiliaton, in theCaufeof 
 ir, in the End of it, in the Subject of it, in the 
 Nature and Rife of all, G'od's good pleafurc. And 
 4. It His Exaltation, ard Out-gate prcmifed ni;n 
 on the back of all His Sufferings and Hurr .it ation. 
 
 2. The Covenanr of Redemption is here ddcri- 
 bed and fct out, 1. In the particular Parties of it, 
 God and the Mediator. 2. ? s co rhe Matter about 
 which it was, the Seed that was given to Chrift, 
 
 and all whofe Iniquities met on hira. 3, As to 
 the mutual Engagements on both fides, the Son un- 
 dertaking to make his Soul an offering for fin,and 
 the Father proraifing that the efficacy of that His 
 Satisfaction, fliall be imputed and applyed for the 
 ju.i!fi:ation of Sinners, and thetermson which,or 
 the way how this Imputation and Application is 
 brought about, to wit, B) His Knowledge \ 411 are 
 clearly held out here. 
 
 This is only a touch of the excellency of this 
 Scripture, and of the Materials (to fay fo) in it, as 
 comprehending the fubftancc and marrow of the 
 Gotpel ; we fluil not be particular in dividing the 
 Chapcer,confidering that thefe things we have hint- 
 ed at, are interwoven in ir 
 
 The firft pirfeis a ftiort Introduction to lead us 
 in to what follows. The Prophet hath in the for- 
 mer Chapter been fpeaking of Chrift as God's Ser- 
 vant, that fhould be extolled and made very high, 
 and before he proceed more particularly to unfold 
 this Myftcry of the Gofpel, he cryes out by way 
 of regrate,Mo h^th believed our report? Alas(would 
 he fay) for as good News as we have to carry, few 
 willtake there offour hand, fuch is Mens oncoa- 
 ccrnednefs, yea, malice and obftinacy, that they 
 reject them. And towhom is the arm of the Urd re- 
 vealed ? To point at thenecefticy of the Power of 
 God co accompany preaching, and even the mofl 
 lively Ordinances, to make them effectual •, how 
 few arc they, that the Power of God captivates to 
 the obedience of this Truth . ? 
 
 For the firft part of this Verfe, Whs hath believed 
 our report ? To open it a little, ye AuII take thefe 
 four or five Confiderations ere vsccome to the Do- 
 ctrines : 
 
 Confider r. The Matter of this Report in refe- 
 rence to its fcopc ; it's not erery report, bu» a re- 
 port of Chrift, and of the Covenant ot Redempti- 
 on and of grace .• In the Original it is, Who hath 
 believed cur bearing actively, that is. that which we 
 have prepofed to behesrd ; and the word is turn- 
 ed tydings, Van, 11.44. andrK7r;«r, Jer. $1. 4$. 
 It's the tydiogs and rumourofa f.ffering Media- 
 tor, interpofiHghirrfelfbetwixtGcd ana Sinners; 
 and it may be, hearing is mentioned, to \o\nt ou c 
 the confidence which the Prophet had in r port- 
 ing thefe News he firft heard them fro^ God 
 in that was pafEve, and then actively, he pr 
 
 M 
 
 m 
 
them to the People to be heard by them, a, Con- 
 fider that the Prophet fpcaketh of this Report,not 
 juin his own Perfon only, but rsin the Pcrfon of 
 all that ever preached, cr (hall preach this Go- 
 ipcl ; therefore this Report is not peculiar to Jf«i- 
 ah, but it's wr Keptrr, the Report of the Prophets 
 before, and of thefe after hina,acd of the Apoftles 
 and Miniftcrs of the Gofpel. 3 Confider that /- 
 /ir.iib fpcaketh of this Report, not only in refpeft 
 of what he met with in Irs own time, but as fore- 
 feeing what wcJd be the carriage of People in re- 
 ference to it in after-times, therefore John 12. 38. 
 and Rom. 10. 1$. this fame place is alkdged to 
 give a reafon of the Jews unbelief, becaufe Ifaiab 
 toretoli it long before. 4. Confider, that when 
 he complaincth of the want of Faith to the report 
 and tydr.gs of the Gofpel, it is not of the want of 
 hiftorical Faith, is if the People would not give 
 Chrift a hearing at all, but is of the want of faving 
 Faith, therefore Job. 12,37, 38. it is faid, though 
 he had done many mirae'es before them, yet they be- 
 tieveJ not on him ; and this prophetick Scripture is 
 fubjoyn'd as the reafon o ( it, that the facing o/Ifaias 
 might be filjilled, who faid, Lord, who hath beleved 
 tar report ? Applying the beUeving fpoken of here, 
 to that faving iaith whereby folk believe and reft 
 upon Jcfus Chrift, 5- Confider that though there 
 be no txprefs Party named to whom the Prophet 
 complaineth, yet no doubt, it is to God, there- 
 fore Job. 12. 38. zndRom. 10. i5. when this Scri- 
 pture is cited, itisfaid, l»rd, wht hath believed 
 osrreport ? fo it is the Prophet's complaint of the 
 little fruit himfelf had, and that the Miniftcrs of 
 the Gofpel fhould ha^ e in preaching of the Gofpel, 
 regrating and complaining of it to God as afore 
 matter, that it fhould come to fo many, and fo 
 few fhould get good of i-,fo few fhould be brought 
 to believe, and to be fared by it. 
 
 Though thefe words be few, yet they have four 
 great things in them, to which we fhali reduce 
 them, for fpeaking more clearly fothem. i.That 
 the great fubjett of Preaching, and Preachers 
 great errand b,to report concerning Jefus Chrift, 
 to bring tydings concerning Him. 2. That the 
 great duty of Hearers (implyed ) is, to believe 
 this Report, and by vertu-. of it, to be brought to 
 refland rely on Jefus Chrift. 3. That the £reaf, 
 though the ordinary fin of the generality cf the 
 Hearers of the 6ofpel, is unbelief, Wbt hath belie 
 veil that is, it's few that have believed*, its a rare 
 thingto fee a Believer of this Report. 4. That the 
 great complaut, weight and gref of an honeft 
 ■Miniftcrof the Gcfpel, is this, that his Mcffrgc it 
 not taken effhis hand, that Chrift is not received 
 believed io,& refted on* this is the great challenge 
 Miniftcrs have againft the generality of People, 
 
 **# r < Sctm. r; 
 
 and the ground of their complaint to God, that 
 whatever they report concerning Chrift, he is not 
 welcomed, his Kingdom thrives not. 
 
 That we may f, eak to thefirft, confidering the 
 words with refpeft to the Scope, we fhall draw 
 five or fix DoZlrines from them : The firft whereof 
 is more general, that the difcovery «f Chrift Jefus, 
 and the making him known, is thegreateftN ws, 
 the gladeft Ty d ings, and the raoft excellent Report, 
 that ever came, or can come to aPeop e, there is 
 no fuch thing can be to'd them, no fuch Tydings 
 can they hear ; thisis the Report that the Prophet 
 fpeaks of by way of eminency, a. Re port above, 
 and beyond ail other Reports ; thefe are News 
 worthy to be carried by Angels, Behold, faith one 
 of them, Lnke 2. 20, I bring you pod tydings cf great 
 joy, which (hall be U all people : And what are th. fe 
 Tydings fj prefaced to with a Behold? For unto yon 
 is born this day, in the city of David, a S41/W, 
 which is Chrifi the Lord : thefe are the good Ty- 
 dings that Jefus Chrift is come, and that he is the 
 Saviour by office. We fhall not infill on this, on- 
 ly 1. We will find a little view of thb Subjoin 
 the following words, which hold forth clearly 
 Chrift, God and Mjn in one Perfon, fo compl at- 
 1) qualified; and excellently furn fhed forHis Offi- 
 ces- 2. It's alfo clear, if we look to the excellent 
 effects that come by His being lo furniftied, as, 
 His fatisfyingof Juftice, His fett ng free of Ca- 
 ptives, His triumphing over Principalities and 
 Power?, His deflroy ng the wcrks of the Devil, 
 £r<\ there cannot be mo e excellent works or ef- 
 fects fpoken of. 3. It'sclear, if we look to Him 
 from whom this Report comcth, and in whofe 
 Sreaftthec News bred, (if we may fpeak f o J 
 tbey are the refultof the Counfclof the God-head; 
 and therefore, as the Report here is made in the 
 Lord's Name, fo He is complained to, when it is 
 not taken off the Prophet's hand. And 4. It's 
 clear, if we lock to the royftcrioufnefs ot thefe 
 Ncw e , Angels coiild never have conceived them, 
 had not this Report come; thefe things tell, that 
 they are great, glorious, and good News, glad 
 Tydings, <si: is in the end of th- former Chapter, 
 That which hath net been told them ft all they fie, and 
 that whnh they have nt heard fliaU they confider. 
 
 The fii ft Vfe is, To draw our heart* to be in loir* 
 with theGolpel, and to waken our estimation of it: 
 Peoples cars are itchiDgaftet Novelties, and ye are 
 mucii worn oui of conceit with thefe News; but is 
 there in any News fuch an advantage as in thefe, 
 w enGodfendeth news to Men, they rr.uft be great 
 News, and fucli indeed arc thefe. 
 
 Vfe 2. Therefore be afraid to entertain loath- 
 ing of the pla:nfubftanrial Truths of the Gofpel; If 
 ye had never heard thembe'ore, there would be- 
 like 
 
Sew. li . Ifaiab $$1 
 
 Jike, be Corns Athenian itching to hear and ipeak of 
 them, bat they fhould not be the Jefs thought of, 
 that they are often heard and fpoken of 
 
 Vje 5. Therefore think more of the Gofpel, fe- 
 ing it containeth the fubftancc of thefe good News 
 and ghd Tydings, "and think more of Gofpel 
 Ordinances, whereby thefe good Tydings arc fo 
 often published and made plain to you. 
 
 2. M:re particularly, Obferve, that JefusChrift, 
 and what concerneth Him, the glad and good 
 News cf a Saviour, and the reporting of them, is 
 the very proper work of a Minifier, and the great 
 Subject, of a Minifters preaching ; his proper work 
 is to make Him known } or take it thus, Chrift is 
 the native Subject on which all preaching fhould 
 run j this is the Report the Prophet fpeaketh of 
 here, aud in effect, it wasfo to John and the 0- 
 ther Apoftles, and fhould be fo to all Minifters ; 
 Chrift Jcfus and what concerns Him, inWisPcrfon, 
 Natures and Offices ', t« know, and make Him 
 known to be God aad Man •, to make Him known 
 in his Offices, to be Prieft, Prophet, and King; 
 to baa Prieft, in his fuffering and fatsfyin* Ju- 
 fticej to be a Prophet in revealing the Will of 
 God j to be a King, for fubduing folks Lufts and 
 Corruptions ; and to know, and make Him known, 
 in the way by which Sinners, both Preachers and 
 Hearers, may come to have Him to themfelves, ^s 
 follows in this Chapter. This, this is the Subject 
 of all preaching, and all preaching fh:uld be le- 
 velled at this Mark i ?aul is, 1 Co\ 2. 2 perem- 
 ptory in this, / dotermin d to ^now nothing .among 
 you y but )e[us Chrift and him crucified \ as it he had 
 faid, I will meddle with no other tiling but betake 
 my fetf-te this \ not only will he forbear to med- 
 dle with civil Employments, but he will lay afide 
 his Learning, Eloquence, and Humane Wldom, 
 and make the preaching of Chrift crucified his 
 great work and ftudy, thercafon of thij is,bccaufc 
 Chrift ftandeth in a fou fold relat on topreachingi 
 1. He is the Text, to fay fo, of preaching ; 
 all preaching is to explain Him, Ads 10. 43. To 
 hvn give all the ¥ro;hets w'ttnefs, and fo do the four 
 Evangels, and theApofiolick Epiftles, which are 
 asfo many preachings of Him \ and that preach ng 
 which ftandeth not in relation fo Him, isbehdc 
 the Text j and M^k 2. He is holden out as the 
 foundation and Ground- work of preaching, fo that 
 preaching without Him wants a Foundation; and 
 is the Building, as it were, of a Caft e in the 
 
 Air, l Cor. ^ 10 I have i.iid the fomia* 
 
 t':on y and anorh r buildeth thereon^ but let eve<y 
 man take heed how he luildeth, for eth.r foundation 
 can no rnn Uj than that which is Uid % which is 
 Jej's ChnQ ; importing, that all prea hing 
 fhould be fquaredto, and made to agree with this 
 
 ferf. u $ 
 
 Ground ftone. 3. He ftandeth as the great End 
 of preaching, not only that Hearers may have Him 
 known in their Judgments, but may have Him 
 high in their Hearts and. A ff-cY:ons, 2 Ccr. 2,. 4. 
 We preach not our )e Ives, that is not only do we 
 not preach our felves as the Subject, but we preatato 
 not our felves as the end of our preaching, our 
 fcope h not to br great, or rrueh thought of, but 
 our end in preaching is to make Chriit great. 4. 
 He ftandeth in relation to preaching, as He is the 
 Vower and Life of preaching, without whom, no 
 preaching can be effectual, no 5oul can be capti- 
 vate and brought in to Him ; hence 1 Cor. 1.25. 
 he faith, Wepre.xh chiijl crucified, to the Jews a 
 {tumbling blocl^ they cannot abide to hear him ; 
 and to the Greeks fooUflmefs ', but to them that are 
 faved, the power ofOodySni the wi/dom of QU. 
 
 Vfe 1. For Minifters, which we (hall forbear 
 infifting on ; only 1. Were Chrift the Subject 
 and Subftance of our Report, were we more in 
 holding out Him, it's like it might go better with 
 u-, a. There is need of warrinefs, that the Re- 
 port we make, fnit well the Foundation : And 
 3, The » eg left cf this may be the caufe of much 
 powerlefs preaching, becaufe Chrift is not fo 
 preached as the fu'.ject matter ar.d end of preach- 
 ing, many Truths are ( alas) fpoken without re- 
 fpecttothis end, or but with little refpect to it. 
 
 Vfes particular for you that are Hearers, arc 
 thefe, 1 . If this be the great Subject of Minifters 
 preaching, and that which ye fhcu.'d hear mod 
 gladly, and if this be moft profitable for you, we 
 may be pa-t'cular in fome few Directions to you, 
 which v ill be as fo many branches of the ufe. And 
 firft, of all Truths :hat People would welcome and 
 ftudy, they would welcome and ftudy ihefe that 
 concern Chrift, and the Covenant of Grace moft, 
 as Foundation Truths, and leek to have them 
 backed by the Spirit i we are afraid thee is a 
 fault among Chriftians, that moft plain and fub- 
 ftantiai Troths are notfo heeded, but tome things 
 that may further folk in their Ught,or tickle their 
 Affections, oranfwer a Cafe, are almoft cni? 
 fought after*, which things (it's true) are good, 
 but if the plain and fubftantial Truths of the Gofpel 
 were mo eftudicd, and made ufc of, they have in 
 them that which would anfwer ill Cafes : It's a 
 fore matter when tolksarc more taken up wit! 
 tions and Speculations, than with thefe Soul fa 
 ving Truths, as, that Chrift wasborc, that he ajs 
 a true Man that he was, and is K og. P, icft; and 
 Prophet of his Church, &c. and that other things 
 are heard with rno't grtedinefs; But,if ;hefe bethc 
 great fubjectof Miaiften p "caching, it mould be 
 your great ftudy to know Chrift, inhisPcrfon, U$ m 
 turcs / Offices, and Covenant, what Kc is to 
 B 2 
 
^ Jfaiah 
 
 and whit if your duty te Him,and how youlhodd 
 walk in Him and with Him ; this was Paul's aim, 
 / aunt ( faitli he ) all things hfs and dung fa the ex- 
 cellency tf the kj}9wledge ofCbrlj}, that I m*y know 
 kim t and the piw:r of his refin reflion, and the fellow- 
 fbip tf kis fuffcrings, &c. fhiL 3 8, 9, 10. It's 
 mydefign, ( asif he had faidj notonelyto make 
 Him known, but to know Him my fclf ; there is 
 little Faith inChrift,anddiftinftnefsinufe«making 
 of His Offices, and folks take but little pains to 
 know thefc things: Therefore, on the one fide, 
 let me exhort you, to make this more the fubjeft 
 of your enquiry ; and on the other fide, take it for 
 your reproof, that t ^ere is fuch a readinefs to fnuff 
 when plain Truths aie infilled on,or when they are 
 not followed tofome uncouth or ftrange way, which 
 lays, wc are exceeding unthankful to ©od for gi- 
 ving us the beft things to fpeak,hear, and think of. 
 *. Think much ot the Preaching of Chrift: and 
 to have Miniftersto preach of Him, He is the beft 
 News, and God hath fent Minifters on this errand 
 to make them known to you ; had He fent them 
 to tell you all the fecret things to come that are in 
 God's purpofe, and ail the hid works of Nature, it 
 nad not been comparable, to thefe News; what 
 would ye have been ? O what would Sabbath-days, 
 and Week-day?, your lying down and rifwg up, 
 your living and dying been, if thefe News had 
 pot been r ye fhould have had a fraful and fad 
 life, and a raoft comfortlefs and terrible death ; 
 therefore think this Gofpel a thing of more worth 
 then ye do, and count their feet beautiful on the 
 Mountains,that bring thefe Nevvsand g?ad Tydings, 
 as it is if a. $1. That good Report of making Peace 
 betwixt God and Goners fhould be much thought 
 of and prized, and counted a greater favour than 
 v\eufe to countit. 5. By thisye may know who 
 thrives and prcfites beft under the Gofpel, even 
 thefe that learn moft of Chrift, which confifts not 
 in telling over word?. But firft in actual impro- 
 ving of Him, as it is Epb. 3. to. Te have not ft 
 I earned Chrift, but fo asto improve what is in Him, 
 2. In an experimental finding of thefe effects in 
 us, that are fpokea of to come by Chrift, which 
 is, thatthe Apoftlemcaneth, PhiL 5. 10. That 1 
 may fyim him, and the power of his refitrre&itfo and 
 thefHowfmp of his fufferings, that I may be co-j&rma- 
 ble to his death ; I am afraid that of the many ih«t 
 hear this GofpeJ, there are but few that know 
 .Chrift th's way : But if he be the great thing 
 thatftiould be preached by us, and that ye mould 
 learn, 1. What is the reafon thatfo many mould 
 be ignorant of Him that the raoft p?rt look rather 
 like Tur^s and Pagans than like Chri,lians?God help 
 us, what fnall wefayof the ooadit on of the molt 
 part of people, when the preaching of the Gofpel 
 
 5$. V*rf. 1. S^rm; r. 
 
 has not gained this much ground on us,as to make 
 us know Chrft, inHisPerfon, Nature*, Offices, 
 our need of Him, andthe ufc we flu.nl a n ake of 
 Him ? Rut 2. It wewrJf try how he is imurovcn, 
 itis to he feared, there he far fewer that know hira 
 in this refpeft j do not many Men live, as if uey 
 had never heard tell of Mim; Though they hear 
 that pardon of Sm is to be gotten through him, 
 and that vertue to fubdueSia maftflow from Him, 
 yet they live as if no fuch thing were in Him ; 
 If your Confcic-ces were pofed, befides the evi- 
 dences that are in your praftce, this would be 
 found to be a fad truth. And <. If we will yet try 
 further, what experience folR have of Chrift, what 
 vertue they find Mowing from His Refurrcftion; 
 what fellowlhip there j« in His Suffcring5,what con- 
 formity to His Death, what bencfite redounds to 
 them from His dfices or King, Frieft, and Pro* 
 phet, to the flaying of Sin, and quickning to ho« 
 ly Duties, what bene fite of fruit from H:sDeath| 
 Alas .' no more with moft :hanif He had never di- 
 ed 5 what profiteor real influence as to auy Spiri- 
 tual change do any to count upon find 5 and think 
 ye all thefc things to be but words ; The* know 
 Him not that fed not fomethingof the efficacy of 
 His Death and Aefurrcftion in themfe/ves. 
 
 3. Ohfervc, That the Report concerning Chrift, 
 
 is the main fubjeft and errand that has been, and 
 
 is, and will be common to all the Minifters of the 
 
 Gofpel, to the end of the World } It"s<wr Repsrt, 
 
 it was the "Report of all the Prophets, Ail. 10. 4$. 
 
 To him bear all the Prophets witnrfs, that through his 
 
 Name, whtfoevet believetb on him, Jfmldbavc remif- 
 
 fin of fms; they all agree, and have a joy nt Tefti- 
 
 mony in thefe. 1. In one Subjedt, Chrift,and the 
 
 fame things concerning Him, as, that the pardon 
 
 of Sin is to be gotten in Him, and through Kaich in 
 
 Htm and no other way, &c. 2, In one Ccmmiffi- 
 
 on j they have all one Commifthn though thej be 
 
 not all equal j all are not Apoftles, yet a, I are t>m- 
 
 b.lTidours, there is the fame Authority r us to 
 
 report and you to receive the Cofpel, as if Jfaiah 
 
 or / aul were preaching ; the Authority depending 
 
 ontheCjrui'Hfthn.and not en the perfosofMen 
 
 who carry it. 5. In one common End which they 
 
 all ha\e, and in one common Objeft they are fent 
 
 to. 4, to tnis, th.it they ail hold of one common 
 
 Miftej, being Gifts of one and the fame Mediator, 
 
 Efh^ lr hen he afended on high y he led captivity 
 
 captive, and gave girts to t.cn, tofome Apples, &c. 
 
 The rirft kjl is, To teach )ou not to think the 
 
 left of the Te imonv, or matter teftified, becaufe 
 
 of thefe that teftihVto ycu ; \f jfaiah or Paul were 
 
 ttftifyifig to you, ye would get no other Tydingv 
 
 r.ou^a their Jiteaud way would bedfanother i-.t 
 
 and ftar^p than ours are ', alas! for the moft parr,. 
 
 we 
 
S«rm. ii . Ifauhe.%. 
 
 we are warranted as well as they to make Chrifl 
 known to you } therefore take heed of rejecting 
 the Teftimony of this Chrifl that we bear witnefs 
 unto j it is the fame Chrift that the Law and the 
 Prophets bear witnefs to, there is not another name 
 livenv.nitr heaven whercb) afinner cm befaved; it's 
 through Him, that whofotver believes on Him may 
 receive remiffton of fins -, in this ye have not ou!y 
 us but the Prophets and Apoftles to deal with, 
 yealelus Chrift,and God Hiafelfj and the reject- 
 ing of us, will be found to be the rejecting ofthemj 
 it's the fime Teftimony on the matter that it was 
 in tfa'ah his time ; and therefore, tremble and fear 
 all ye that flight the Gofpel, ye have not us for 
 your Party, but all the Prophets,and ifaiab among 
 the reft, and our Lord Jefus Chrift, who hath fad, 
 He that receivethyo* receivetb me, and he that defpi- 
 fetb you defpifeth me j there will be many aggravati- 
 ons of the guilt of an Uabelicver, and this will be 
 a main one, even the Teftimony of all the Prophets 
 that concur in this Truth which they have rejected* 
 take heed to this all ye Atheifts that know not 
 what it is to take with Sin, and all ye Hypoc.ites 
 that coin and counterfeit a Religion of your own, 
 and all ye legal Perfons thar lean to your own 
 righteoufnefs j what will ye fay when it mall be 
 found, that ye have rejected all thefe Teftimo- 
 
 Verf. u ' ■ $ 
 
 nics ; ye rnuft either fay, ye counted them falie 
 Witness, which ye will not dare to fay, or that 
 ye accounted them true, aod yet would not receive 
 their Teftrmony, and the beft of thefe will be 
 found fad enough ; for if ye counfed them true-, 
 why did ye not believe them/ this will be a very 
 pungent Dilemma. 
 
 Vfe 2. For comfort to poor Believer, they 
 have good ground to receive and reft upon jefus 
 Chrifl; there is never a Prophet, Apoftle, or 
 Preacherof the Gofpel but he hath feaied this Truth 
 concerning Ch»ift , what needs any (fmti fear 
 at Him or be fearful to clofe with Him? mil ye 
 give eredit to the Teftimony of ifalah and of Feter, 
 Ads 10.43. and of the reft of the Prophets and A« 
 poftlei ? Then receive thdr Report, and let your 
 felves to be among the number of Believers, that 
 their Teftimony mjy be refted on : We are per- 
 (waded there is one of two that will follow on this 
 Doftrice, either a ftrong encouragement to, and 
 confirmation of bePeving. and quietly refting on 
 Jefus Chrift for pardon of fin, or a great g-ound 
 of aggravation of, 2nd expcftulation with you for 
 your guilt who care not whether ye nceive this 
 Report or not. We (hall fay no more tor the time, 
 but God blefs this to you. 
 
 SERMON II. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. I. 
 Who hath believed cur report ? And to whom ii the arm of the Lord revealed f 
 
 THE Prophet Ifaiab, is very folicitous a- 
 boutthe fruit of his Preaching, when 
 he hath preached concerning Chr ft ; 
 as indeed it is not enough for Minifters 
 to preach, and for People to hear, ex- 
 cept fome fruit follow ; and now when he hath 
 been much in Preaching, and Iooketh to othtrs 
 that have been much in that work, he fadly re- 
 grates the little fruit it had, and would have among 
 them, to whom Chrift was and fhould be fpoken 
 of i a thing, that in the entry fhould put us to be 
 ferious,Ieft this complaint oi Ifaiab ftand on record 
 againft usj feing he complains of the Hearers of 
 the Gofpel, not only in his own time, but in our 
 timealfo. 
 
 We told you, there were four things in this firft 
 part of the Verfe. 1 The great errand that Mi- 
 nifters have to a People, it is to report concerning 
 Chr ft ; and beftdc what we cbferved from this 
 Head before, looking to the Scope-, we ftuli ob- 
 fervc further; 
 1, The end th4t Minifters fhould have before 
 
 them in preaching Chrift and thcGcfp.-I, is, That 
 tiie Hearers oi it may be gained to Jefus Chrift by 
 hearing, fo as they miy be brought to believe on 
 Him i it's in a word, to gain them to favtcg Faith 
 in Chrift. 
 
 2. ItisimpJyed, That jefus Chrift is only to be 
 propofcd as theObjeftof frY.th, to be re:»cd onb/ 
 the Hearers of ;hc Gcfpel j and is the only ground 
 of their Peace •• There is co name that can be men- 
 tioned for the falvation of Souls, but this Nan;e 
 only $ and there is no other Gcfpel can be propo* 
 fed but that which holdcth Him out to People. 
 
 a. Obferve, ( which is much the fame with the 
 fopi;er Obfervation, and to v\hich we would fpeak 
 a lirtie more part'cular y, ) That by preaching of 
 the Gofptl, jefus Chrift is laid before the Hearers 
 ot it, as the Objeftof th ir Faith, and propolcd 
 to be believed upon by them, cJft there would be 
 no ground of this complain igatl ft them •, but 
 where-cver this Gofpel is preacl^d, there Chrft 
 Is hid, as it were, at the foot or door of every 
 Soul that Iicareth it, to be believed and rtfted on \ 
 
 this 
 
6 tfMb $*. 
 
 this is the greit ana' of the Gofpe', to propofc 
 to People ]cfusChri(t, as the Object and Grcund 
 of Faith, to lay Him down to be retted on for that 
 very end ; when the Apoftle isfpeaking Ron 10. 
 8. of the Doftrineof Faith, he faith, It is not 
 vow, wboflull afanlinto hxaien, nor whs fi all ie- 
 fcend into the deep , but the word is nea- thee, even in 
 tlyn.oth aid n thy heart; what word is that? 
 the worio faith which we preach ; row faith he, 
 Cbriftbv the preaching of the Gofpd is brought 
 fa near folks, trut'ie is brought even to their 
 Heart?, and to their Mouths, to near, that f to 
 fpeak lb J People have no more to do but to ftoup 
 and take Hira up, or to roll th.n.felves over upon 
 Him ; yea it bringeth Him in to their very 
 Heart, that they have no more todo but to bring 
 up their Heart loeonfent toclofe the Bargain ar.d 
 wi:h the Mau:h to make confeiTion of it; and thefe 
 words arc the more confiderable, that -thej are 
 borrowed from Dent. ;c. where Mofes is fetting 
 Death and IJfc before the Pcop'e, and bidding 
 themeboofe, though he woud feem to fpeak of 
 tho Law,yet if weconfider thefcope, we will find 
 hira to be on the matter fpcaking ot Jefus Chrift,hol- 
 jen forth to that People under Ceremonial Ordi- 
 nances,and (hewing them that there was Life to be 
 had in Him that way, and according to Gods intent, 
 they had Life and Death put in their choice. 
 
 I know there are two things nccelTary to the act- 
 ing and cxerciflng o:' Faith. The i. is objective, 
 when the Ojjeft or Ground is propofed in the 
 preaching of the Gofpel. The 2. is fubjeftivc, 
 when there is an inward, fpiritual, and powerful 
 quickning, and framing of the Heart, to lay 
 hold on, and make ufe of the O jeft and offer •, 
 it is true, rhat all to whom the offer cometh are 
 notquickned, but the Doftrine faith, that, to 
 all to whom the Gofpel cometh, Chrift is propo* 
 fed, to be believed on by them, and brought near 
 unto them ; fo that we may fay, as Chrift. faid 
 to His Hearers, Tee lejngdom of God is corre near un- 
 to you j both Cbrifl and John brought, and laid 
 the Kingdom of Heaven near to the jews, and it is 
 laid as near to you in the preached Gofp-1 : This 
 is it then that thcDocl.inefa)s, 1. That the Go- 
 fpel h:ldeth out Chrift as a Sufficient ground of 
 Faith to reft upon. And 2. With a ftrffi ient war- 
 rand to thefe who hear it, to make ufc of Him,ac- 
 cording to the terms on which he is offered. And 
 2. It biings Him fopreffingly home, as He is laid 
 to the Doors and Hearts of Sinners who hear the 
 Gofpel ; that whoever hath the offer, he muft ne- 
 ceifarily either believe in, and receive thrift, or 
 ujett Him, and c;<ft at the Report ra:de of Him 
 in the Gofpel. - ^*| • 
 
 I ftall'firft a little confirm this Doftr ine, and 
 the fee n J !v make ufc of it, 
 
 Vcrf. 1. Serm. 2. 
 
 Firft, I fliall confirm it from thefe Ground*. 1. 
 From the plain offers which the lord makith in 
 His Word, and fro n the Warrand lie giv-.th His 
 Miniftcrs to make the fame offers j It's their Com- 
 miflion to pray them to whom they are fene to be 
 reconciled, to tell them, that Cod was in Chrift re. 
 cenMirgthsnorld to bimfc f, a- it is, 2 Cor. 5. 
 19, *o and in Chrift's ftead to rtcjucft them to 
 embrace tie offer ci Reconciliation : fotcJI them 
 that Chrift died for the Sinners that will embrace 
 Him, and that He will impute hisRighteoufrefs 
 unto them j and Chap. 6. 1. H'ebefeechyo.i (faith 
 l.e ) that ye receive not (bis grace in vain ; which is 
 rot meant of faving Grace, but of the gracious 
 offer of G ace and Reconciliation throcgh Kim -, 
 This is Mimfters work, to pray People not to be 
 idle Hearers of this Gofpel, f%r, faith he, 1 havl 
 heard thee in a time accepted, ard in a day of filva- 
 tienhave Ifuccouredthee ; lebttd t now is the ac- 
 cepted time; behold, now is the day $f falvation i 
 The force of the Argument is this, ifye will make 
 this Gofpel welcome, ye may get a Hearing for 
 now is the day of Salvation, therefore do not nc- 
 gleft it j So ?fal 81. 10, 11. (where God makeih 
 theoffercf Himfelf, and thatvery largely) Openthy 
 meuth wide and I will fill it 5 the Offer is of Him- 
 felf, asthewcrds following clear \ My people would 
 not hearken to my voice, and ifrael would none of me j 
 for they that refufe His Woid, refufe Himfe'f ; 
 and hence, If a. 6$. 1, he faith, J amfoun.i of them 
 that fought me not, I faid, Behold me, behold me, un- 
 to a nation that was n:t called by my name, and to the 
 'jews, I have Jl etched out my hards all day lon^ to a 
 rebellious people. 2 \\ e may clear a d confirm it' 
 from thefe futorfitudcj, by which the Offer J this 
 Gofpel is, as ic were, brought to the Doors of Peo- 
 ple, and trur: areicveral fimi.itudes made ufc of 
 to thispurpoie , I fhaJl name but four. 1. It'sfct 
 down under the expreffim of weeing, as 2 Cor. u. 
 2, / have efpoujed you as achaft virgin to chiift, tbS 
 is ordinary, and fnppofeth a Marriage, and a 
 Bridegroom, that is by his Friends wooing and 
 fuiting in Marriage ; fothat (a;, we flic w J where 
 ever the call of ti e fjofpcl coxes, it's a befpeak- 
 ingofS.xls to H m, r.Cant.8 What (hallwcd) 
 for our fitter in the da that flje frail be fpolten ) or /.It's 
 fet cut under the cxpremon ol inviting to a head, 
 and Hearers of tnc Gofpel are called to cume to 
 Chrift a Strangers, or Gucfls arc called to come 
 
 to a 
 
 Wedding fcall 
 
 Mat 2 '. 2, 2,, 4. All things 
 a cread), cvne totheweddi g Sec, Thus the Golpel 
 calleth ncttcan empty Bouf< t.»at wants meat, but 
 to a B nqucan^houfe whae Chiift is made ready 
 as the Cheer, and there wants no more but feaftmg 
 on Hun: fo u*s fet out u ider he hmilitodc of 
 Eating and Drinking John 6. 27. tie that cats 
 
 me 
 
under the exprefflon or ^itude ot t M ct, 
 where all the Wares are laid forth on the 3 i .as, 
 Ta «<! . *'> «W one A* rMr/t* ct«ef# *■« »* 
 f£ &c and leaft it fhould be Caid, or thcught, 
 that the Proclamation is only to the thirfty.and o 
 fuch as are To and fo qualified | yc may look to 
 whatfolioueth, let himthat hath no ™»V c °™>\ e «> 
 come, buy without money and without P«^ d l0 1 ^ 
 offer that is madetothofe of Laodicea, Rev I ; who 
 inappearance,were a hypocritica. and ^rmal peo- 
 pie, yet to them the Counfel and Cal comes forth 
 lome]buy of me cyefalveMgddtryedinthe £e fcc. 
 It fays, the Wares are even in their offer: or even 
 effltothem. 4. Itsfet out under the : fimt- 
 litudeof a (landing and Knocking at a Door, be- 
 caufe the Gofpel brings Chart a knocking and cal- 
 ling hard at Sinn-rs doors, Rev. 3. 20, Behold I 
 (land at the door and knock* tfanj wan mil hear my 
 voice, andipen the door, Iwiilcmein tohimandfup 
 withhim, andkewltb.mes SoCant. 5 U By the 
 fleepv Bride it is faid ; It is thexoue of my beloved 
 
 erved: Lift up your beads ye gates, andbelijt up ye 
 everlafting doors, that the king of glory may erne in 5 
 which is an earneft invitation to make way for 
 Chrift Jcfus, wanting nothing but an entry into 
 the heart i whereby we may fee how near Chrift 
 comes in the Gofpel, and island to fo Iks hand 3. 
 We may confirm it from the nature of Faith, and 
 of the obedience that is requ red to be given to 
 the command of Believing: Where ever this Go- 
 fpel comes, it tyeth and obligcth all the Hearers 
 to believe on Chrift, that is, to receive and wel- 
 come Him •, and there could be no receiving of 
 Him if He were not making an offer ofhimfelfi 
 thus'itsfaid, Joh.i. if, 12. He came unto his own, 
 buthisown received him not, tut as man/ as received 
 him, to them gave he porter to become the fons of God ; 
 He came to both thefe who received Him, and to 
 thefe who received Him not ; but He gave to Be- 
 lievers only this priviJedge of Son-lhip •' i« we 
 look toall the namesof Faith, as, coming teCtoiJt, 
 eating a-d drinking of him, receiv ng oj bin, rejtmg 
 en him &c. They all fupyofc thai Chnft is near 
 .tobecatched hold of, and within (peaking and 
 try-fling Terms to people that hear the GofpcU 4. 
 It may be confirmed fro.n the many fad complaints 
 that the Lord ha'h for not receiving Nirr, atdnot 
 b lievirtg his Word, and from the dresdtul deii&na 
 t;o»s,by which he holds out the fin oiUa e!:ef ,all 
 which, will make out thtt, that God 'ays Chnft at 
 Sinners door in his Word •, hence Job. 5 40- °" r 
 Lord fays Te will not come unto me } tb*t ye may get life: 
 ScMat 25 atihcclofe.O Tcruf*le<p,jeruf4lcm bo»of* 
 ten would 1 have gathered thee an.t ye would not ; This 
 was it that didaggravat their iin,that he would,and 
 
 Mi: v 
 
 they would no'; r o ?fd 3 i.M> people wwUno: h: A r 
 kfn to my voice, and Ifrael would none ofmeyta&L u^e 
 7-i s faid , the ScriSes and the Ph.rifees readied the 
 counfel of God againfl themfe:ves;md All. 1 3. 5 4.W hen 
 the Jews rejected Chrift, itsfiid, they judged them- 
 felves unworthy ofeverlafl ng life ; and therefore the 
 Apoftles fay that they wiii leave them fy turn to the 
 Gentiles 5 . We may confirm it from this,That in 
 refpeel of the Gofpel, and Offer made in it, Chrift 
 comes alike near to all that hear it^fcr if he be rear 
 to fomc,theii he is near to all, I n ean in regard of 
 an objective n. arnefs, there is the fa;re warrand to 
 fpeak and make the offer to all, before there be 
 fomedilcovery made for qualifying the Doctrine to 
 foments true,tbere is a difference in refpeft of the 
 pov7er that accompanieth theGofpel.but as it layeth 
 out the offer of Chrift, & Life through hiro,u comes 
 ahke near to ail the Hearers of it , the Invitaiion 
 comestoalJ,2ndin the fame terms,? them that res 
 fnfe.as well as to them that receive him, the fame 
 Gofpel is preached to both. A 6th. Co* formation is 
 from the nature of God's adrainiftration of his ex- 
 terna! Covenantjwhkh is fealed i.i Saptifm to both, 
 not one Covenant to one and another Covenant to 
 another,but the fame Covenant on condition of be- 
 lieving to bothiBchold then, inthepreaching of this 
 Gofpel that Chrift. comes near you, even to your 
 door,in refpeel of the mediat Ordinances : as near 
 as he did to Abraham^. David; Although God had 
 his extraordinary w ays of manifesting himfelf to 
 them,not common to others ; yea this day, the £0- 
 fpelis more clear obj.ctively to you than it was to 
 Abraham, who rejoyced tofeeChrift'sdayafar off, 
 when it was vailed ; yea, theGo'pel is asclearly 
 preached to you, as thofe who are now before the 
 Thn ne of God, had it preached to them, as to the 
 matter of it, though we will make no equality as 
 to the manner of it. 
 
 ufe 1. Advert to this, when ye come to hear the 
 Gofpel preached, and think hew ycu ?re I virgin 
 tryfting erms with God and how near Chrift comes 
 unto you \ the word of Faith lays Hirafo near, that 
 ye h jvc no more to do but to receive the Offer cf 
 Him, to believe and clofe with Him, and ftcp in 
 t pjn Him,as it were, tocomcailiving5tor.es to 
 bcbi.il: ttjpoo Hm as a fure Foundation. 
 But it will e.i:kcd,How conKithisGofpelfoneat? 
 How docs it brin^:n Chr.ft fo near to (Inner; ?/r 
 the c (ire flc^s,i./ sit makes the Report of Cl;r;lt,&: 
 brings the tydingsot fuch things, as, r r. at he isb;.rn, 
 & that hchatii fuffcre ,5c to fuch an end and that 
 we may pjrukecftu benefit of themon fuch term:; 
 It makes thelVociamaticn narrative!' ,3c tells what 
 he did, what good may be gotten of hi.n,& how we 
 may come by it, 2 Asitbrn;san cffcrofthcl^ 
 good things on the terms on wh'ch they are ro be 
 
 m 
 
ten, fo that it never tells that Chrift is come, but 
 it fays alfo, here is Life to be gotten in Him by 
 you, if ycwill take the way propofed to come by 
 it ; thcrefore,when the Proclamation comes forth, 
 that all things arc ready, the next word is, Come to 
 the Wedding ; And when in the one word, He fays, 
 lftandat the djor a*dkno.\, at the next He fays, If 
 
 Scrm. 
 
 any man will open the door, I mil come in to him, and 
 J »p with him, and he with me ; and when if a 2 8. It's 
 faid, Heis apretious comer-Hone, a fried Jtxndation 
 fionclaid in Zton ; the next word is, He that believes 
 on him (\) all not ma\e hafie y or a< the Apoftlc hath 
 it, (ijallnot be aframedor confounded', this makes the 
 Gofpel glad Tydings, becaufe it comes always 
 with an offer of Chrift and of Life in him. 3 . When 
 the offer is made, and the precious Wores are ex- 
 pofed to fale in this cryed Fair of3racc,a command 
 comes out, chooie Life, come buy the Wares, be- 
 lieve, receive the offer, as is clear in all the places 
 we named before ; Ic leaves not Folks indifferent 
 to receive or not, but chargeth them as they would 
 be obedient to a Command,to receive Hi.n, 1 Job. 
 23.?. This is his commandment, that ycfrould believe 
 on the nxme of his Son Jefus Ch ijl ; Thu is the great 
 Gofpel coramasd, and Miaificrs have not onJy the 
 telling of thefe News, and warrand to make the 
 i Offer, but a Commiftlon to command to receive it, 
 'and therefore the fitting ard fl ghting of the Of- 
 fer, is a Sin oppofite to the Command. 4. It 
 not only makes the Offer, and backs the Offer 
 with a Command to embrace it, but it fwectens 
 tl» Command vvih many gracious PromifeskBitto 
 it, as I fa. $5 Hear and jour foul frail live, and I 
 will m.ike an everlujling Covenant with you, even the 
 furc merctet of David: And whenevertheCommand 
 of Believing corresoutjit's always with a Promife j 
 as ?akl deals with the Jaylor, Aft. \6. Believe and 
 thou fralt be faved ; an-i Marl^ \6. towards the 
 doe, the Lord fays, The) that believe frail be faved, 
 to encourage to Faith in Him. $. It preffes the 
 Offer, and commands embracing of it with the 
 Fromife, with a certification j for the Offer is not 
 •conditional, but alternative, Mjr\x6* if ye be- 
 lieve not, ye frail be dunned; fo D?ut. 3© Dcaihand 
 Life are propoled, and they arc bidden chocfc: 
 If the Gofpel be not effectual in it's Commaads 
 and Promifes, it will be effectual in its Thr at- 
 nings , The Word of God will triumph one way or 
 the other, and nor return to Him void, as is very 
 clear, Ifa. $$. 11. and 2 Co'. 2. 15, 16.it triumphs 
 i n fome, while 'hey are brought by the Promife to 
 £\vc obedience to the command of Bt'ieving, and 
 to them it bcaomrs the favour of life unto lifej and 
 to others ic triumphs as to the execution of the 
 Threatn.ng on them for their Unbelief, and to 
 them it becomes the favour ot death unto death j 
 
 2 
 In a word, Chrift Jefus comes fo near'jPcoplc in 
 this Gofpel, that He muft either be chofen and Life 
 with Him,or refufed, to the definition and death 
 of the Rcfufcr ; ye have the fame Chrift, the fitne 
 Word, the fame Covenant, the fame Obligation 
 to believe, propofed to you, thai Believers from 
 the beginning of the World hid 9 and another ye 
 
 will not get, and what more can the Gofpel do, to 
 bring Ciuift near to you / when it brings Him fo 
 near, that ve have Him in your offer, and the Au- 
 thority of God and His Promifes interpofed, to 
 pcrfwadc you to accept of the Offer ; and Threat- 
 nings added, to certific you that if ye accept it 
 not, ye fliallperifh ; in which rcfpeQ, we may 
 fay as the Pr phet Ifaiah doth, chap. 5, what could 
 God do more to hi, vineyard which he bah not done* 
 as to the holding out of the Objcft of Faith, J c - 
 fus Chrift to be relied on by you. 
 
 But feme will, it may be, ob;cft here, t, Bat :f 
 there come not Life and Powei with the Offer, it 
 will not do the turn ; we c?nnot believ^ no/re- 
 ceive the Offer. Anfw Whole fault is this that 
 ye want abiht) I It's not G.d s fau/r, ve have n 
 fure ground to believe, His Word is a" Wan?nJ 
 good enough, the Promifes are free -rou^h, the 
 Metivesfweet enoueh j the great fault is a Heart 
 of unbelief in you,thjt ye will not believe in Chnlr, 
 nor open to Him when He is brought to your Door; 
 I doubt, yea, I put it out of doubt, when all that 
 ever heard the Gofpel fliali ftand before the Throne, 
 that there (hall be one found that flull dare to 
 make this exesfc, that they were not able to re- 
 ceive Chrift; theGo'pel brings Chrift fo near 
 them, that they muft either fay, yea or nay ; it 
 is not lo much,*! cannot, as, I will not believe, 
 and that will be found a willful and malicious re- 
 fufal. 
 
 2. It may be objected, But how can this Gofpel 
 cor.e to all alike, feing it cannot be, tha* thefe 
 that will never get good of the Gofpe/, hath it as 
 neartothe.ri, as thefe that get the faving hruit of 
 it? Anfw Not to fpeak of God's Parpole, or what 
 He intends to make of it, nor of the Power and 
 Fruit that accompanies it to fome, and not to all ; 
 it's certain the Gofpel and Chnft in its Offer,co res 
 alike near to all thac hearit : It objectively re eais. 
 the fame glad Tydings to all, with the condition- 
 al offerof Life, and with the fame command and 
 encouragement, and certifi ation in fhreatnings as 
 well as Pfomifesjln the(e refpefts Chrift is brought 
 alike near to all and when God cometh to reckon, 
 He will let Sincers know in that day, that the Go- 
 fpel came to their Door, aad was refufed ; yea, 
 it comes, and where it comes, will take hold of 
 fome, top'uck them out of the Snare, and be 
 ground of Faith tothem,and toothers it will bea 
 
 ground 
 
IfJsh & 
 
 ground of Challenge, and fo the &£»""«£ 
 unto death ; for though it take not efftft as to its 
 Promifcs id a I, nor in its Threatnings tc i a« f yet 
 as to cither Death or Lite, it will taKC cAM* in e- 
 veryonr, foas, it Life be refufed, Death ftcps in 
 
 ' Bu^may be asked, Why will God have Chrift 
 in the offer of the Gofpel brought fo near the 
 Hearers of it? Anfw. i. Becaufe it ferves to com- 
 mend the Grace and Love of God in Chrift Jefus, 
 when the In vitation is fo broad, that it is to all 5 
 it fpcaks out the royalty of the Feaft, «P° n ™ hi p c £ 
 ground 2 Cor. 6. i. it's called Grace, the Offer is 
 lo large and wide. 2. Becaufe it ferves for war- 
 randing and confirming the Eleft in the receiving 
 of this Offer, for none of theEleft could receive 
 Him it He were not even laid to their Door j It s 
 this which gives us warrand to receive tnat wtiicti 
 God offers; It's not becaufe we are elcfted or belo- 
 ved of God before time, or becaufe he purpofed to 
 do usgood,that we believe ; thee are not grounds 
 of Faith, being God's iecret Will •, but we believe, 
 becaufe Godcalleth and maketh the Offer, lnvi- 
 teth and promifeth, knowing that He is faithful, 
 and we may truft Him ; Hence David fays, I will 
 nevtr forget thy word, and, hGtd will I pratfe his 
 word; f^rthe Word in its Offer fpeak* alike to all, 
 and to none particularly ; Indeed when it comes 
 to the Application of k>romifes for Confclation, 
 that is to be made according to the qualifications 
 in the Perfons, but the Offer is to all. 3- Becaufe 
 by this means the Lord hath the fairer acces to 
 found His Quarrel and Contraverfy againft Unbe- 
 lievers, and to make their Ditty and Doom the 
 clearer in the day o^ the Lord, when its found that 
 they never received the Offer, My people wuldnot 
 hearken U mj voice, and Ifrael would none ofme t there- 
 pre I gave them up to their own hearts tufts, and they 
 walled in thel owncounjeh ; and this is an ap ro- 
 bation given to Jufticc here, it's well-wair'd, feing 
 they would not receive Thee, that they get worfc 
 
 in Thy room. . 
 
 Vfe a. Seing Chrift comes near you in this Go- 
 fpel, and this is one of the Mercatday, I intreat 
 you, while He is near, receive Him,call upon him 
 while he is near; or take it in the plain words of 
 the Apoftle, open to him, takehim in, give him 
 welcome while he bodes hirrfclf, to fay fo,on \ou* 
 there is not a Continence in any Man that hears 
 this Gofpel, but he will have this teftiraony from 
 him in it, that he came near them, was in their 
 ilght,and within their rcaeh and grips,as it were,if 
 they would have put out their hand toreceive him; 
 and feing it is fo, O receive this Gofpel, give him 
 room; while he is content to lup with you, take 
 him in, make furc jour union with him > this is 
 
 J 1 * «"f wh y this Report is made, and Chrift it 
 laid before yon, even that you may lay your fclvcs 
 over on him. 
 
 I would follow this Vfe a little, by way of Ex* 
 hortation and Expoftulation jointly, feing the Do* 
 ctnne will bear both, for when Chrift is brought 
 fo near even to rhe Mouth and to the Heart,it will 
 be great ground of reprooi and expoftuhtioa,if he 
 ihaJI be rejected. Be exhorted therefore to be in 
 earceft, feing i. It is a matter of fach concern- 
 ment to you j many Nations, Kings and Kingdoms 
 have not had Cnrifi fo near them as ye have,neglccl 
 notfuch an opportunity, do ye think that all that 
 is faid in the Gofpel concerning this,is for nought.* 
 Isitfornoufe thatfuch a Report is made, and 
 preaching continued fo long among you > And if 
 ic be for any ufe, is it not for this, that ye may rt- 
 ceive the Report, and may by doing fo, get your 
 fouls for a Prey? To what ufe will preaching be f 
 if this ufe and end of it be miffed i Will you: hear* 
 ing the Gofpel make your Peace with 6od,if Chrift 
 be not received? a. Confider the Advantages ye 
 may have by receiving the Gofpel that others have 
 not ; is it a little thing to becal ed to Sod's Feaft, 
 to be married to Chrift, to be made Friends wiNi 
 God, and to enjoy Him for ever ? The Day comes 
 when it will be thought an Advantage ', and arc 
 there Motives to perfwade to anything, likethofc 
 that are toinduce to that ? 3. Confider what it is 
 that we require of you, it's no Orange nor hard 
 thing, it's but believing, and this is nothing elfe, 
 but that the Report concerning Chrift be recei- 
 ved, yea, that He be received tor your own 
 good ; that is it that the Gofpel calls you to, even 
 to betake you to a Phyfician for Cure, to betake 
 you to a Cautioner for your Debt ; It you could 
 efcipe a Reckoning and Wrath another way, iC 
 werefomething; but when there is no o. her way 
 to obtain pardon of Sin and Peace, or to efcape 
 Wrarh and obtain favour and friendfhip with God, 
 but this j and when this way ( to ipeak fo ) is made 
 fo eafie, that its but coftoop down, and to take up 
 Chrift at your foot, as it wcre,orto roll your fches 
 on Him, how inexcufablc will ye Unbelicters be, 
 when yc fhall be arraigned before his Tribunal * 
 But 4. Look a little farther to what is coming 9 
 If ye were to live al wjys here, it were hard enough 
 to live at feud with God j but have ye faith of 4 
 Judgement after Dca h \ if fo, how will yc hold 
 up your Faces m that Day that now rciule Chrift ? 
 will not horrible confufion be the Portion of many 
 then, and will any ground of confufion be like thi f , 
 the flighting of Chrift ? when he (hall be fcen 
 coming to judge Slichters of him, what horrour 
 will then rife in Confcicnccs, when he (hall appear 
 and be avenged oa them that were not obedient 
 Q to 
 
s* 
 
 ' Jfaiah «•}, 
 
 to this Gof pel ? is is raofl clear, 2 Theff. 1, When 
 $*r Lord JcfusfhaU be revealed in fuming fire, with 
 his mvkiy Angels from Heaven, U tal^e vengeance en 
 rithatknmnotGodani obey not the Gfiel. s.Con- 
 fider, that Death and Life are now in your option, 
 in yoar hand as it were, choofe or refufc ; I (peak 
 not, nor plead here tor Free-will, but of your wil- 
 ling elcfting of that which ye have offered to you; 
 for one of two will be, either fliall yc willingly 
 choofe Life, which is a fruit of Grace, or refufc 
 Life and choofe Death, which will be found the 
 native fruit of your Corruption *, yc may have 
 Life by receiving Chrift who is laid to your Door ; 
 and if ye refufc him Death will follow it, as now 
 in hearing thisGofpel, ye carry in choofmg or re- 
 fufiag, fo will the Sentence pafs on you at the 
 great Day, and fo your Sentence, in a manner, is 
 written down with your own hand, as it's faid, AUs 
 13, 46. Te judge yur f: Ives unworthy of eternal life, 
 not out of humility, but malicioufly ; Now when 
 the matter is of fuch concernmcnt,bewarc of play- 
 ing the fool ; if ye will continue y rcfumptuous 
 and fecurei following your Idols, what will the 
 Lord fay, but let it b. fo, ye get no wrong when 
 ye get your own choice ; and he, but as it were, 
 ratifies the Sentence which ye have part ou your 
 felves. 6* I fhall add but this one word more, and 
 befcechyou that ye would fcrioufly lay this to 
 Heart, as a weighty thing, confidering the Certifi- 
 cation that follows on it ; it's not on'y Death, but 
 a horrible Death, Wrath, and Wrath with its ag- 
 
 Vcrf. r? Serrn. %. 
 
 gravation from this Ground ; like thato r Caper mum H^ 
 that was lifted up to Heaven in t is rclj ec\, having 
 Chrift brought fo near them ; to wi.om thisGofpel 
 is not the favour of <ifc unto Life, it mail be the 
 favour of Death ua.o Death, and think not this a 
 common Motive, though it be commonly ufed, it 
 will bring Wrath upon Wrath, and Vengeance up- 
 on Vengeance on the Hearers of this Gofpel, be- 
 yond that of Sodom, if ye be Hill fcejeclers of it : 
 fure, none of you would think it an cafic thing to 
 be punifhed as Stiom was, nor digeft well tht Curfe 
 that came on them j is there any of you but >e 
 would think it unconth and ftrange, yea ftupendi- 
 ous, to enter into their Judgment, and to have your 
 Lands turned in a (linking Loch, and your felves 
 eternally tormented with them ? but there is more 
 wrath and vengeance following on the fin of Un- 
 belief, and rejecting of Chrift, when he comes to 
 your Door in thisGofpel : To clofc up all, Confi- 
 der that Chrift is near you, and hath been long 
 near you, and wooing you, ye know not how ma- 
 ny Days or Years ye fliall have, how foon this 
 Gofpel may be taken from you, or ye from it,how 
 foon ye may be put in the Pit,where yc will gnafti 
 your Teeth, gnaw your Tongues, and blafpherac 
 God-, therefore be ferious while Chrift is in your 
 offer, and roll your felves over upon him while ye 
 have him fo near you, welcome this Hearing or 
 Report, while it founds in your Ears, that there 
 may be no juft ground of this Complaint againft 
 you, Lord, Woo hath believed our report ) 
 
 in. 
 
 Wbt hath btluvti w 
 
 SERMON 
 
 ISAIAH Lid. h 
 report ? And to whom u the arm of the Lord revealed > 
 
 THe moftpart of Men and Women think 
 not much of the preachrd Gofpel, yet 
 if it were con'idered, what is the Lord's 
 end in it, it would be the moft refrefh- 
 ful News that ever People hearl, to 
 hear the Report of a Saviour ; that is , and fhauld 
 be, great and glad Tydings of great J >y to allNi- 
 tions i and we (hou'd be focompofed to hear fuch 
 News from God, and concerning his Will and our 
 own well, as to be fuitably affrfted with them \ 
 It's a wonder that God ha'h lent fuch a Report to 
 Pe pie, and in it hath laid Chrift fo near thcm,that 
 he pats him ho.Tc to them, and lays him before 
 them, even at their Feet as it were j and as great 
 a wonder that when the Lord hath condefcended 
 togiveroch aS.viour, and brought him fo near, 
 that ah he callcth for is Faith, to believe the Re- 
 port, or rather Faith in him of whom the Report 
 is, which is the fecond thing in the w»rds» 
 
 Theiecond thing then, is, The Duty that lyes 
 on People to whom the Lord lends the Gofpel, or 
 this Report concerning Chrift, and ye rray take it 
 in this general j That it lyes on all that hear the 
 Gofpel to believe the Report that it brings con- 
 cerning Chrift, and by Faith to receive him, who 
 is holdcn out to them i 1 it ; this is clearly impJy- 
 ed, Jfaiah and all Mioifters are fenr fo report con* 
 cerniug him, and to bear witnefs of him, and its 
 the duty of all Hearers to believe it, and this is' 
 the ground of his and their complaint, when Peo- 
 ple do not believe it: By comparing this Text with 
 Rom. 10. 16. and John 11. 38. we (hew, that it is 
 faving Faith that is here to be underftood. 
 
 I fha'l take up this Doclrine in three Branches, 
 which we will find in the words, and which will 
 make way for the life. 1 . That a Pcop'e to whom 
 Chrift is offered ia the Gofpel, may warran- 
 
 Ubly 
 
tably accept of Chnrt; or, the offering of Chrift 
 in the Gofpel is warrand enough t© bcJicve in him; 
 other ways there had been no juft ground of expo- 
 stulation and complaint for not believing •, for 
 though the complaint will not infer that they had 
 ability to believe, yet it will infer they had a war- 
 rand to believe ; for the complaint is for the ne- 
 glect of the Duty they were called to. 2,That they 
 to whom Chrift is offered in the Gofpel arc called 
 to believe, it'sthcir Duty to doit ; thu«,believinp, 
 in all that hear this Gofpel isneceiTary, by necefli- 
 ty of command, even as Holinefs, Repentance,^, 
 are. 3. That faving Faith is the way and mean 
 by which thefe that have Chrift offered to them 
 in the Gofpel, come to get a Right to him, and 
 to obtain the Benefites that arc reported of to be 
 had from him ; thus believing is neceffary as a 
 midsto the end of getting Chrift, and all that Is 
 in him : Thisisalfo here implycd in the regrate 
 made of the want of Faith, which prejudgeth Men 
 of Chrift, and of the Benefites of the Gofpel. 
 
 We ftiallfhortly put by the firft of thefe, which 
 is, That all that hear the Gofpel preached, have 
 Warrand to believe and receive Chrift for their 
 eternal Peace, and for making up of the breach be- 
 twixt God and them 5 this preached Gofpel gives 
 you all Warrand to accept of Jefus Chrift, and ye 
 w®uld sot fcek after, nor call for another. I (hall 
 firft premit twodiftinclions to clear this, and then 
 fecondy confirm it. As for the fit ft of the two di- 
 ftinftions that fcrve to clear it, We may take up 
 the Gofpel more largely and complexly, in a Co- 
 venant form, holding out Chrift and his Benefits 
 on condition of believing ; or we may take it up 
 as it holds cut a Proraife w.thout particular men- 
 tioning of a Condition : Now, when we fay that 
 the Gofpel commands and warrands all that hear 
 it to accept the Offer, we do not mean the laft, 
 that all that hear the Gofpel have Warrand to ac- 
 cept the Promife without a Condition, but thefirft, 
 that i«, that all the Hearers of the Gofpel are com- 
 manded to accept of Chrift offered j there is by 
 the preaching of it, a Warrand to clofe with the 
 Reporr, and then to meddle with, and take hold 
 of the Prorr.ifes, andthethings promifed *, fothat 
 ii's the Gofpel conditionally propofed that gives 
 .warrand to believe, as believing rcftson Chrift 
 for obtaining Life in him. Thelccond Diftinction 
 is, That we would confider Faith, as it rcfts on 
 Chrift for obtaining Union with him, and Right 
 to the Promifes \ or, as it applys and makes ufc of 
 the Bemtfites to be^tten in and by Chrift j the 
 Offer of the Gofyd g\ YC s not to all a Warrand to 
 apply the Beneutes to l* gotten by Chrift inftant- 
 ly •, but it warrands them to clofc with him firft, 
 and then to apply hisBcncfites. 
 
 ; 1 
 
 Perf. u 1 1 
 
 Secondly, For confirmation of this Truth, That 
 the general preaching of the Cofpel is a Warrand 
 for believing and exercifing Faith 00 Jefus Chrift, 
 for making our Peace with God, it's clear from 
 thefe Grounds, 1. From the nature of the Gofpel, 
 it's the Word of God, as really inviting to do thai 
 which it calls for, as if6od were fpcaking from 
 Heaven \ it's the Word of God, and not the word 
 of Man, and hath as real Authority to call forO- 
 bedience, as if God fpake it immediatly from Hea- 
 ven ; and the Word of Promife is as really his 
 Word, as the Word of Command, and therefore 
 to be refted onandimproven, as well as we are 
 to endeavour Obedience to the Command ; and if 
 we think that God's Teftimony is tr ue,and if we lay 
 any juft weight on thefe three Witneffes teftifying 
 from Heaven, and on thefe other three teftifying 
 from Earth, 1 Jtbn $. 7. then we may reft on Je- 
 fus Chrift offered in this Gofpel, and believe, that 
 thefe whoreft on him (hall have Life j for it is as 
 wefaid, as really God's Word, asifhewcrefpeak- 
 ing it audibly from Heaven, a. It may be confirm- 
 ed from thefe folemn things, theirorS and Oath of 
 God, whereby he hath mightily confirmed iheex* 
 ternal Offer of the Gofpel, even the two immutable 
 things wherein it is impcflible for him to lie, that 
 rhefe who are fled for refuge, to lay hold on the 
 Fopefct before them, may have ftrong Confolati- 
 on, as iu%Heb. 6. 18. And God having thus faid 
 and fwornancnt this external Covenant, for this 
 very end, that the Hcarersof the Gofpel may know, 
 that they who receive Chrift offered therein, ftall 
 have Life, it is Warrand fufficient to believe on 
 him for Life: Ic'salfo fcr this end that he hath put 
 Seals to theCorenant, Circumcifion asd the Palfo« 
 vcr in the Old, and Eaptifm and the Lords Supper 
 in the New Teftaments •, which ire extended, not 
 only to the ElecT, butto Profcfibrsinthe vili'j.'c 
 Church, that every one who is baptized and ad- 
 mitted to the Communion, may have confirmation 
 of thi!, that the Offer that Gcd nukcth of Life 
 through Chrift, is a true and real Cffcr,and will tc 
 made good to the Perfonsihat mall receive ir,andfo 
 perform the Condition. 3. It may be cotrirrrcd 
 from the End for which Gcd hath appointed the 
 Word and Miniftry in his Church, even to make 
 the Offerof Chrift and Life through him, ?9kn 20, 
 3 1. Thtje things are wiitten % that je'm'uht belicvcth.it 
 Jefus Chrijiis t Ik Son of God , and th.\t be Hexing Jt 
 might have life ihrcu&k his Same \ the Word i both 
 written and preached for this very end 4 Andlaft- 
 ly. It's corfi med fio-n the exper ence of all the 
 Saints, and from the g cund on which they belie- 
 ved, which was the fame that we have \ ihcy had 
 no other ground but the fame Go pel and Wcrd 
 (hat we have-, it wjs not the fecret cpcr.tt- 
 C a on 
 
12 
 
 ob orinftinft of theSpirir, it's that indeed which 
 works Faich, but it wa* the Word which was the 
 ground of their Faith, tor there is bo warrand for 
 Faith but in the Word ; and a: many Believers as 
 have gone b fore us, are as fo many inflates and 
 experiences to confirm this Truth to us. 
 
 Vfe. It fervesfor good ufe tofirch as may fall to 
 doubt and difpute what warrand they have to be- 
 lieve, wcfay,yc have as good warrand as Abraham, 
 David, Paul, or any of the Godly that lived before 
 you had; ye have the fame Gofpel, Covenant and 
 Promifes, it was always God's Word preavhed 
 which was the ground of Faith ; and there needs 
 not be much difputing, what is Go >'s Purpofe, for 
 ivc are not called to look to that in the matrer of 
 Believing, more than in the matter of our Duty j 
 and as it were evil rcafoning to difpute what may 
 be God's Purpofe in the matter of our Duty when 
 we are called to it ; it's as badreafrning to difpute 
 His Purpofe in the matter of Faith : And therefore 
 we leave this Ufe with a word of Advertifement, 
 That this Gofpel as it lays Chrift befoie you, it 
 gives you Warrand to receive Hun, and reft upon 
 Him, and we may fay as Paul did, Ails 13. 3$, 39. 
 Be it lenown unto you therefore men and brethren, that 
 through this man is preached unto you for givenefs of fins, 
 *nd by him all that believe are juftifiedjrom all things; 
 from which ye could not be juflifiedbythelaw of Mojes; 
 There is the Way held out for obtaining pardon of 
 Sin, and Peace, the Lord hath made the Offer. 
 and laid a fair Bridge over the Gulf of Diftancc 
 betwixt God and fcirners, though ye fhould never 
 get good of it, and though ye fhould never fc. a 
 Foot on the Bridge ; none needs to fear to ftcp 
 forward, behold, our Lord Jefus hath hoi J en out 
 the Go'dcn Scepter, His Call may be Warrand e- 
 nough to come ; the Preaching of ths Gofpel flops 
 all Deputing, and banifheth debatiog of the Bu- 
 finefs ; it Callsallthe Hearers of it,and gives them 
 Warrand to come forwa d ; and it's fuch a War- 
 rand as they w 11 be found Slightcrs of the Great 
 Salvation offer d who had this Door opened to 
 them a ud did not fiep forward ; foras the Apoftle 
 fa\s. t Cor. 6. Behold, nov is the day of falv.it ion ; 
 behold mw is the accepted time; and Heb 22. If 
 the wordfpoken by Angels wat ftedfafl, and every 
 tranfereflion and difobedience received a juft reampenfe 
 (f reward, horvfiatl rveefcape if we negletl fo great 
 falvation > » huh at thejirji began to be J, o1(en by the 
 Lord, &c. It's the fame Goipel tnat from ihe 
 beginning hath been preich d to Sinners, and 
 this is the reafon why the G.fpcl is ca. ed Grace in 
 that 1 Cor. 6. 1. We befeech yo.i that ye teceive not 
 this grace of God n vain; and OaU 2 at thccJofe, 
 / do not frufirate the grace of God ; for many get the 
 Warned and PaG to come an^ recc ve Chrift, 
 who put it up id their Pocket as it were, and 
 
 Verf. r. Serm. 3. 
 
 make no ufe of it, as the Man that hid the Talent 
 inhsN-pkin ihe Bordsof Mirriag arcproclaim- 
 ed 5 and ti.e Warrand gi en forth, a. d yet they 
 halt and come not to the v\ edding. 
 
 Wc fhall add the fecond Branch, which is, that 
 this Gofpel where it comes and offers Jtfus Chrift 
 to Sinners, Men and Women arc not only war- 
 randed tocome, but required and commanded to 
 come, the great Duty that the Goipel calls for is 
 Believing 5 it leaves it not indiffeient to believe 
 or not, but peremptorily lays it on as a Command* 
 ye hear many Preachings and Chrift often fpoken 
 of j now this is the great thing called for trom > ou, 
 even believing in Chrif^cV while it is not perform- 
 ed, there is no Obedience given to the Gofpel* 
 
 We fhall firft confirm, and then make ufe ot this 
 Branch of the Doclnnc. 
 
 1. For Confirmation, take thefc Grounds, 1. 
 From the manner how the Gofpel propofech FaiJ., 
 it's by way of Command in the Imperative 
 Mood, Believe, lomeyethitare weary, See. Come U 
 the wedding, open,tkc wherein fomcwhai of the na- 
 ture ot FaLh is held out, all thefe beng the fame 
 with believing, a It's Bot only commanded, as 
 
 other things are,but peculiarly commanded,&:chere 
 is a greater weight laid on the obedience of this 
 Command, than on the doinjjof many other com- 
 manded Duties; I 'sthefumof all Chrift's Preach- 
 ing, Mar. i. Kepentand beievethe (jofpel; ii\ the 
 only Command which P**/p.opofcsto the Jaylor, 
 AUs 1 5. Believe in the Lord Jefus, &c 3. It's as it 
 were the peculiar Command that Jefus Chrift hath 
 left to his People, 1 John 4. 2a. This is his com" 
 mandment that we fhould believe on the Same of bis 
 Son jefuiChritt; and this Command of believing 
 on him, is the peculiar Command lett to, and laid 
 on Miniftew to prefs, 4. It will be clear, it wc 
 confiderthat the great Diiobedience that he quar- 
 rels for, is, when there is >ot believing, wl, en 6in» 
 D rs will not come to him, this i> his Quarrel, 
 ]obn 5. 40 Te will not come to me, that ye may h>ne 
 life; anci rur< who hath beutvedour report? fo Mat, 
 a^ I would have gathered yo ,and ye wo Id not, and 
 )ohn 12 ^7. T.jtxgh he did many >>i&hty worlej among 
 them, yet they elerednoton ,./*. >, Look to the 
 nature of the offer 11 ade b) Ciiii' 4 , and 10 tne 
 Eiid of it, and )e win .^nd that the gre.it thing 
 called for, is the receiving 01 ir, .winch is notl i g 
 cite but belie ing; and all our Preachings of 
 Chrift, and hisBcncfi.es are • fe'efs win, our it ; 
 without this he vvai.ts the fatiiiaction he ciiis tor, 
 fo the ira el ot his Sou! ; and without it the He- r- 
 ers of this Gofpel pr. fie nor, 1 Pet. 1 . © A evening 
 the end of yi~r faitb,the jalvation of your yW/,thc iuo- 
 ordinjte Lnd ot preaching o wi f , the alvatiouof 
 our^ouii, uuuvt bcaccaiucd nitiiout Faith, 
 
 ' The 
 
TZ 
 
 Jerm, %*• 
 The Vfes are three. 
 
 I'aiah $$. 
 I. It fervcth to be a ground 
 for ui topropofe the man Gofp 1 Duty to you, 
 tnd to teach you, what is the great and main thing 
 %e are called to, it js e?cn to beieve in Jefus 
 Chrift, to cxercife Faith on him ; it's cot only 
 that your Life (hould be civif, and formal ; that ye 
 fhouldRead, Prav, freq <eot Ordinances, learn the 
 Catcchifm, and fuch like ; but this is it, to believe 
 oa lefus Shrift for the obtaining of Life,and remif- 
 fion of Sins through him ; and it's not a thing in- 
 different to you, but commanded, and w.th this 
 certification, that if ye believe not, ye fhall never 
 get Life nor pardon of Sin 5 and therefore, as we 
 tell yon that remiftlon of Sins is p cached to 
 you through Chrift, fo we command and charge 
 you to believe on him, and receive this Gofpel, 
 wherein he is offered for the remiflion of Sins. 
 
 For clearing of thi- life, and that we may have 
 the more ready accefs to Application, We flialltpeak 
 a word to thefe three. Firft, To feveral kinds of 
 true Faith, three whereof are not faving; or to 
 the ordinary diftirctions of Faith. Secondly, To 
 the Scriprure-exprcflions that hold out the nature 
 of faving Faith. Thirdly, Tofome difference be- 
 twixt this favingFaith, and falfc and counterfeit 
 Faith, or thefe acts of true Faith more generally 
 tike , which yet are not faving. 
 
 For the fit ft of thefe, When we fpeak of Fai h, 
 we (hall draw it to thefe Lur kinds ordinarily fpo- 
 ken of, and flu 1 not alter nor add to the common 
 diftinfti >ns of Faitrv though there may be mce gi- 
 ven. The fir(l is Historical Faith, which may be 
 called true, being it whereb> we ailent to the 
 truth of a trvng, beraufc of his fuppofed fidelity 
 that telleth it i as when an Author writes a Hfto- 
 ry, we give i: credit upon report that he was an 
 honcft Man that wrote it .* So Hiftorjcal Faith is, 
 when Peop e hearing the Word preached or read, 
 they affent to the truth of it all ; and do not que- 
 ftio but that Chrift ca n e to the V\ orfd that he 
 was God and Mjn in one Perfon, tha he died ad 
 rofc the third day, and jf. -ended to Hea < n, that 
 they that believe m him fbalJ.be favtd, &c. and 
 taking the Word to be Go 's a ord they may 
 give to it a higher ailent than they give to any 
 Mans word, becaufe God is worthy, infinitely 
 worthy of more credi thjn any Man, yea thai aIi 
 Men, and Angels too : There may be, I fay, in 
 this Hiftotical Faith of Divine Truths, a higher or 
 grea" cr a.let* than there is in beievi g of an) Hu- 
 mane Hlftory, which mat be the reafoii why many 
 miftakeHidoricaV Fiith, and *et it is but<fthe 
 fame kind, a d a thing which many Repro a es 
 have, as ]*bn 2, at the clofe, it's fai J, Afany belie- 
 ved on him when the) ft* thetniracis which he did, 
 but Jefus M n^ commit himfelf untothem^hcy wcic 
 
 Verf. i. t| 
 
 brought to believe from the Signs which they faw, 
 that he was more than a mcer Man, and that it 
 was the Word of God whii h he fpokc, and yet it 
 was but aHiftorical Faith ; yea this Faith may be, 
 and is in Devils, whoarefaid James *• 9. t% be- 
 lieve and tremble; there arc many, who, if they 
 believe Chrift to be God and Man, and the Word 
 to be true, think it enough ; yet James having 
 to do with fuch, tells them, that the Devils be- 
 lieve as much'asthat, and more throwly than ma- 
 ny that have that Hiftoncal Fai.h , he knows God 
 to be true, and One that cannot lie, and he finds it 
 tohiscoft} heknoyvsthatiuchas believe cannot 
 Perifh, for he cannot get one of them to Hell ; 
 he knows that there is a time fet when Chrift will 
 come to judge the World, andhimfelf among the 
 reft, and therefore he fays often to htm, torment 
 me not before the time ; and as the Devil hath this 
 Faith, fo there are many in H.-li that have it too, 
 the rich Gluttcn hadit, therefore he bids go tell 
 his Brethren, that they come not to that place of 
 torment, and its told him, they have Mojes and 
 the Prophets &c. which fays that he then felt 
 the truth of many things he would not bcJicve be- 
 fore: This Ifpeak, thatye may know,that this Hi- 
 ftorical Faith is the firft ftep of Faith ; but it may 
 be in hell, and io in many in whom favipg Faith is 
 not i its really a wonder that Folks thatarecalled 
 Chrift'.am fliould own this to be faving Faith, and 
 think thev are well come to, when they arc only 
 ccme the Devils length in believing, yea, there 
 are many that never came this length, elfe they 
 would tremble more The fecond fort of Faith, is, 
 the Faith ot Mi acles, which is ottcn fpokenot in 
 the New Teftament as when the Lord faith, If ye 
 bad faith as a grain $fmuftard-feed t ye (bould fay to 
 this mountain be thou remrtedandcaft into the fea, 
 and it fhoul i be done ; there wasana&ive Faith to 
 work Miracles, and a pafTtve Faith, to receive 
 the particular eff. ft the M raclc did produce; 
 fomehad the Faith of Miracles to hca! r and others 
 to be healed ; this is an extraordinary thng, 
 and folks m ,y go to Heaven without i", and go to 
 Hell with it, though th y cannot go to Heaven 
 w thout H ftorical baith ; hence it's faid, Many 
 f)all come t% me in tha: day^ and {lull fay rve have 
 cajUn out devtl in thy Name, to whom he wi 1 fay, 
 depart from me )C *>i>(je s if iniquity : And the Apo- 
 ft.ciaitn, 1 (.or. 12 2. If I bad all faith, and ctuld 
 remove mountains \j f want ch. rity, it avails me- no- 
 thiag \ th s Faith ofMirac cs ava.leth not alone to 
 Saivafon becaufe it aCts not on Chrift holden out 
 iii the Hromiies, as a Saviour to fave trmiS:.i, 
 but on Cmift, as having power and abilir\ to 
 produce 1 uch an Etfcd \ which mav bj wh re 
 thcrcisnoquitingof a Man's own Rightc«u.ncfs, 
 
 and 
 
i4 j/w«* a 
 
 and if there be cot Grace in the prrfon that hath 
 it, it is an occafion of Pride : Wc call ycu then to 
 Hiftorical Faith, as necefTary, though not (uffici- 
 ent, butnotto this Faith of Miracles, it being nei- 
 ther necctfary nor fufficient. A third [on of Faith 
 is Temporary Faith, fpokea of Matth. 13. and fit 
 out under the Parable of the 5ecd fowen on ftony 
 Grourd, which foon fprings up, but withers j fo 
 fome Hearers of the Gc fpeJ receive the Word wi h 
 joy, and are affected with it, but endure not.* 
 The difference betwixt this acd Hiftorical Faith, 
 i«, that Hiftorical Faith as fuch, confifts in the 
 Judgement, and reaches not the Affections, at 
 beft it reaches not the A ffeftion of Joy, for though 
 the Devils tremble, yet they are never glad ; Tem- 
 porary Faith reaches the Affeftions, and will make 
 a man > as to tremble at the Threatnisgs, as Felix 
 did ; fo fome way to delight himfelf in the Pro- 
 mifesotthc GofptJ, and to (mack them, as it 
 were, from the apprthenfion of the fwcet tafte 
 and relifh he finds in them : It is even here ( as it 
 were ) told a whole Man, that a Phyfician is come 
 to Town, he is neither up nor down with it ; but 
 tell it to tfick Man,and he is fain, from an appre- 
 hended pofTibility of the Cure,yet the apprehended 
 
 W«j£j! Sem. 4 : 
 
 pofTibilifyofthe Cure,never fends him to the Phy- 
 fician, ncr puts him to apply the Cure. The fourth 
 fort is Saving Faith, which goeth beyond all the 
 reft and brings the fick Man to the Phyfician, and 
 to make ufc of the Cure ; there may be fome mea- 
 sure of true Saving Fai h, where there is not much 
 Temporary Faith, or moving of the Affcclicns; 
 and there may be a confutable meafure of Tem- 
 porary Faith, where there is no Saving Faith at 
 all, even as a Fallen-Star may feemto glance more 
 than a fixed one that is over-clcuded, yet it ruth 
 no folid Light. Know then, that Faith is called 
 for, but take not every fort of Faith for Saving 
 Faith ; it would make tender Hearts bleed, to fee 
 fomanyraiftaken in the matter of their Fa th; 
 there are forre who fay, they had Faith all their 
 days i O that ye were convinced of the lamentable 
 deceit and delufion that ye are under, and that ye 
 could diftinguifh betwixt Faith and Preemption, 
 betwixt Hiftorical ard Temporary Faith, and true 
 Sav ng Faith, though the two former be Hot Be- 
 luilons, but info far as ye reft on the fame, and 
 take them for Saving Faith, ye are deluded, for 
 Saving Faith puts you out of your fclvcs to reft on 
 JefusChtifh v * 
 
 IV. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. I, 
 
 Who bath believed our report * And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed*. 
 
 THE Gofpel is a fweet Meffage, and ought 
 to be glad News when it comes to a 
 People* andtherefore, when this Re- 
 port of our Lord Jefus Chrift is made 
 to Sinners, O ! but it's a fad Complaint 
 that follows on the refufal and not welcoming of it*, 
 there is no better Ne" ws a Minifter can carry, than 
 thefe brought to the Shepherds by the Augels, 
 Lul^.2. !•, 11. Fear not ', behold, we bring you glad 
 tydings of great joy to all people \ vnto you is born in the 
 city of David a. Saviour , which is Chrift the Lord, 
 but were it an Ifaiab, it will weight him when he 
 looks on afruitlefs Miniftry and defpifed Gofpel, 
 and will make hire complain, Who hath bclicvei our 
 report ? 0\ that we may experimentally know the 
 cheerfulnefs and gladnefs that follows the Gofpel 
 where it is embraced, and that we may not know 
 the forrow and fadnefs that will follow the chal- 
 lenge for defpifing of it; one of thefe two the 
 preached Gofpel will be, either it will be joyful 
 News to you, or a fad ground of complaint to God 
 againft you. 
 
 We entr cd to fpeak of the great Duty of a peo« 
 
 pic that hears the Gofpel, and the great mean 
 whereby thefe News become delightfomc, and that 
 is, by Faith to receive the Report of the Gofpel, 
 or to believe on Chrift reported of in it ? This is 
 dearly iraplyed, for the regrate which holds out 
 the fin, is, Wbi bath believed our report t and there- 
 fore the great Duty muft be, to believe, and by 
 Faith to receive the Report. We come row to 
 fpeak of the Vfe, and becaufe it's the great defign 
 of the whole Gofpel, yea, it's the defign of the 
 Law alfo, both of which level at this End and 
 Scope, even Faith in Chrift. It will be expedi- 
 ent, and no wa^s impertinent, that we irjfift a lit- 
 tle on this, efpecially when fomany thoufands are 
 utrcrly ignorant of Fa'tb, being Strangers to what 
 believing in Chrift i«, and fo great Strangers to the 
 native End of the Gcfje', and out of the way of 
 getting good by the preaching of it, fo that to this 
 day, they hare not learned thisone Ltffon,to wir, 
 concerning Faith in Chrift. and ether Leffons will 
 be to I'tt.'e or no r/urrcfe till thhbeJearrcd, 
 
 We fhall not infift to fpeak at large of the Do- 
 tfiinc of Faith, Vut ODly in a plaiii way,glacce at 
 
 what 
 
Scrra. 4. Vaidh §9. 
 
 what this great Duty is, (hat is required >. f the 
 Hearers of the Gofpel ; it's believing ia Chjrjft fa- 
 vingly, or Saving Faith, forao other thing will 
 hold off the Complaint agaiaft you;ye will be com- 
 plained of,though ye would believe with all other 
 Faith, therefore its this Faith that is here meaned. 
 That we may come the fooner to that which we 
 would beat, we (hall premittwo or three words. 
 Firfl, When we fpeak of believing here, we pre- 
 fuppofe thefe things that are neceifary for clear- 
 ing the Object of Faith and capacitating us to be- 
 lieve, though they be not Saving Faith ; As name- 
 ly, 1. That the Offer of the Gofpel muft come to 
 People, that the Obj:ct of Faith be held out to 
 them, that it be told them, that there is a way 
 for a Sinners Jafhfication through Chrift ]efus,and 
 that Sinners may be accepted before God on his ac- 
 couat, or through him. There muft a/fo, 2. Be 
 an underftanding of this, a conceiving in the Judg- 
 ment what it is ; Folks cannot believe except they 
 hear, and underftand what they hear, in fo far as 
 diftinfily to 6x their Faith on the thing known ; 
 they muft know and underftand the Mediators ful- 
 nefs, the Covenants freenefs, and the efficacy of 
 Fifth to make Chrift theirs. Yea, $ Its cecef- 
 fary there be fome acquaintance with our own 
 condition, as that we are naturally under Sin, that 
 we are loft, and under thcCurfc, tick, and utter- 
 ly unable, and even defperate to get our telves 
 recovered, by any thing that is in, or by any 
 thing that we can do of our feives, that we arc 
 forever undone, if we get not a Saviour, that our 
 mouth may be flopped. 4, Notonly.rr.uft we know 
 this, but its neccflary there be ar» H.ftorical Faith 
 of it, to believe that there is Fulnefs and Sufficien- 
 cy in Chrift, that he is able to cure, and take away 
 the guilt of Sin in all that reft on him ; thefe muft 
 be believed in general, ere ever Sinners can reft 
 on him for their own Salvation ; which fuppoles 
 that there may br an Hiftorical, where there isnot 
 a Saving Faith. Now when all this length isgone, 
 Savir.g Faith is that which the Gofpel callceh for, 
 and it is the Hearts acting according to what fo.nd 
 light and conviction it hath on JcfusChtift ashol- 
 den out in theP.omife, for ob awing of Life aad 
 falration through him ; fo that when the Soul is 
 lyinp ftill uader its conviction, and knows it 
 cinaot have Life but by refting on Chrift, and 
 hears that there isafufficiency in him for up ma- 
 king of all its wants, then the work of the spi* 
 rit prevails with the Sou , to cait it feif over 
 on him for obtaining of life, and of every other 
 thing needful ; it brings the Soul to embrace and 
 lay hold on him. not only as one able to fave Sins 
 ners, but to favc it felf in particular ; aad thisis 
 the native work of Faith that uaites the Soul to 
 
 Chrift and puts it over the bound road, or march 
 
 °JJl ESSft 8 5 it>S Uk < a fi *"fi M«n'«W?g to 
 catch hold f^ Roc, or Rope; it's the bringing 
 
 ota loft Sinner from the lerious apprchcnfion of 
 fiis own naughrinefs and undone Efta c, to caft 
 himfdf over on Jefus Chrift for the obtaining of 
 Life through him. 6 - 
 
 Secondly ,Whcn we fpeak of Faith, we would pre- 
 ffljt this, That even this true and Saving Faith, 
 which 1. not only in kind truc.that is, fuch as hath 
 ?ff?-J 3g ' but is Saving, may be confidercd in 
 its different act, or actiags, for its different needs 
 or neccflities : Though the Covenant be one, yet 
 
 J Z °l! iUh arc min y> VNC havifl g t0 ^0 with 
 Pardon of Sin, with Sauctifi:ation in its parts Vi- 
 vincation, and Mortification, with Peace, '& c - 
 Faith differently acts on Chrift and the Promifc 
 tor obtaining of thefe. Now, the Faith that we 
 would lafift on, is, the Faith that refts on Chrift 
 tor pardon of Sin, on which all the reft of the acts 
 or Faith depend ; it's that Faith whereby a Sinner 
 receives Chrift, and cafts himfelf over on him ; 
 that Faith whereby Union with Chiiftismadc 
 up. 
 
 Thi.dly, We would premir, That thoa-e is a great 
 difference betwixt Faith, and the Effect, of u, as 
 Peace, Joy, Afiurance of God's Love, and thefe 
 other Spiritual Privileges that follow believing • 
 Its one thi.g actually to believe, another 
 thing to have the Peace and Joy that follows upon, 
 and Mows from bcleving ; the one being as the put- 
 ting out of the h;nd to receive the Meat, and the 
 other as the feeding on it; its the firft of thefe we 
 rrean,a-.d intend to fpeak of.cv.nthat faith where- 
 by we grip Jcfu: Chrift himfelf, and get a Right to 
 all thefe Privi:edgcs in and through him. 
 
 Fourthly, We premit, that even f ,is Saving 
 taithharhitsdegees, a, ill other Faith hath; 
 fome have more weak Faith, tome ftronger ; fome 
 havethatiull AfTurancc fpoken of Htb. 10 or a 
 Plerophory,not only as to the O jject,that it's fuffi- 
 cicnt; but as to the apprehending and obtaining of 
 Life through that Obj.ct i fo that they are able to 
 Jay, neither hcigth, nor depth, nor any thing elfe, 
 thai! be able to leperate them from the Love of God 
 in Chrift Jefus ; we fay then,that Saving Faith hath 
 its degrees, thou-h the degree be not that which 
 wefp.ak of; but it's the kind of this Faith, whe- 
 ther weaker or more ftrong, whereby a loft Sinner 
 roils it felf over on Chrift, the Faith which puts 
 theSinneroffth: Ground itftood on, over oahim; 
 the Faith which brings the Soul from the Covenant 
 of W«rks to a new holding o Life by Chrift and 
 his Rightcoufnefs. We fhall then fpeak a little 
 ft To what we conceive this act Sx- 
 TJDg fraith is not, for prccavcating of ni/: 
 
 2. \\h ac 
 
 - 
 
2. What way the Scripfure exprcfles it ; when 
 then we fay that fuch a thing is not faving Faith, 
 ye would know thatthing is not it that ye mud 
 lippen to; and when we fay fuch a thing is faving 
 Fiith, yewoud labour to aft and excrcifc Faith 
 according to it. 
 
 Firfl, For what Siving Faith is not. I. It is not 
 the knowing that Chr ft is God and Man, that he 
 wasSorn, was Crucified, Deid, and Buried, 
 and Rofcacam ; Afk fome, what true Saving 
 Faith is? they will fay, it's a true Knowledge; Afk 
 them again, how long it is llice thVfbclicved > 
 They will fay, fincc ever they knew God by I.I, 
 ye would know, that apprehenfire or literal and 
 fpeculative Knowledge is . eedful,butit will not be 
 taken for Saving Faith 2. Its not a touch of 
 warmnefsorlibertyinthc Affertions in a natural 
 way, which may bcinunr generate Men, yea pof- 
 fibly in Pagans, as in a Fe7/*,who in the mean time, 
 have not fo much as Temporary F ith, becaufe it 
 rifes not from the Word, but from da* enfationsof 
 Providence, or from temporary things; and if it 
 rife from the promifes of the Word, if there be bo 
 more, its but temporary Faith. 3. It LnotCon- 
 ▼iclions, which many take for Faith, and take it 
 for granted, if they be convinced of Sin, they be- 
 lieve, and will fay, whom ftiould they believe on 
 but Chrift, and yet they never follow the Convi- 
 ftion, to put in practice what they are convinced 
 of. 4. Its not limply a Refolution to believe, as 0- 
 thers take Saving Faith to bc,who being convinced 
 that their own Righteoufnefs will not do their turn, 
 refolve to believe on Chrift for Righteoufnefs, buc 
 they will take a convenient time to do it ; and 
 many maintain their P ace with this, though it be 
 bo true rcace ; but a bare refolution to believe is 
 not Faith ; ycufetofay, there are many good 
 Wifhers in Hell. I remember the words of a dy- 
 ing Man in this place, who thought he believed 
 before, and btiig afked what difference he con- 
 ceived to be betwixt he Faith he had before, and 
 the Faith he now hid attain'd to ? he anfwered, 
 bef re, I thought or rcfolved to believe, but never 
 praeWcd it now I praft fe Believing: There is 
 fuch a fubtilty and deceit in the Heart, that if it 
 refolve to believe and if it obfervably thwart not 
 with Faith ; it will fiuown on that, as if ail were 
 done, therefore the Word is. To day if ye will 
 bear his voice y that is, t"> day if ye will bclieve,/;^r- 
 den not your heart : This refulving to believe, is like 
 a Man finking in the Warer, and having a Rope 
 cjft out to him, he refolvestogrip it, but does 
 it not; So m a ny think they have the Promife 
 bcfide them, ai»d relolveto make ufeof it, but do 
 not prefently make u c of it, and the Ship finks 
 down, and they perifti, while the Promife abides 
 
 Vcrf f 1, stxm. 4; 
 
 and fwims above, 5. it is not Prayer ; There arc 
 many they think they believe when who fome way 
 repent, pray, and put their Ha d to other Dj- 
 ties, and they know ho more tor believing but 
 fomething of that kind ; it is rr e indeed Trayer 
 may Melp to believe,yet it's not always with Faith; 
 it's not every one that faith, Lord, Ljrd, th.tbc- 
 lieveth ; many will feek to enter that lhall not be 
 able : Folks very often have thefc two miferable 
 miftake? about Prayer, either they put it in the 
 room of Chrift, or io the room and place of Fai.h, 
 not confi Jenng that they are different thing ; for 
 Faith exercifethitfeifon Chrift as Mediator, and 
 Prayer taketh him up as God, the true Gbj : ft of 
 Divine Worfliip; though if it be not founded on 
 Chrift as Mediator, it hath noaccefs , the afting 
 offavng Faith is properly on Chrift held forth in 
 the Word, and Prayer is a putting up of Suits ac« 
 cording to the Word: Tnereare many that know 
 no more what ufetomake of Chnft ; than f heh:d 
 Beyer been incarnate, nor had co.i c under that re- 
 lation of a Mediator, and make their Prayeri ferve 
 to make . p all; whereas Faith, not only refpefts 
 Chrift as God, out his Merits asMcdiaror and h 8 
 Offices. 6 t Nor is Faith only a believing this Word 
 ofGod to b- true, though we could w.fh many 
 were come that length; it wru d make a Man 
 tremble to hear the blafph'tnous m rds that fome 
 will have, when they are afked concerning their 
 believing the Truth of the Bible ; -but though ye 
 were that length, it were not enough, the Devils 
 believe and tremble ; the Faifh that we call you 
 to is more than Hiftorica), it's to refting on 
 Chrift. to cordial receiving of the MctTage which 
 he fends to you ; as, fuppofe a King fhould fend 
 an embafTage to a perfon to woo her to be his 
 Wife, it's one thing to know that there s fuch 
 a King, another thing to believe that he is real 
 in hiseffer, and that the Woman by confenting 
 to marry him may be, and wll be happy, and 
 ( which is yet more ) aftually to receive the Mel- 
 fage, and to confentto go and marry him ; it's 
 here as when Abrahams fervant is fent to R.eb \ah 9 
 Gen. 24. She and her FriendsbelievcaJJ the report 
 that the Servant made of his Mailer and of his Son, 
 that it was t ue, and then it's given to her option, 
 it (he will go with the Man, and (he cor.fents to 
 go, and aft ally goeth ; this is it ue prefs you to, 
 to go witTi us and clofc the Bargain, and to accept 
 of him and of Life though him; by the fame 
 fimilitude >e may know what Saving Kaith is, and 
 what is the difference betwixt it and Temporary 
 Faith ; when the great, rich, and brave offer 
 comes to be made to Rebe\ah, by a Man with ma- 
 ny Camels, Goli and Bracelets, when fhe believes 
 that its true, and that its made to her, Hie is fain, 
 
 and 
 
m& it may be over-fain, if not fome what vain 
 alfo, that is like Temporary Faith ; But when it 
 comes to the Articles of the Contract, k'sfaid to 
 Sinners,ye muft fubjeft to Chrift,and follow His 
 Will, and not your own, this, this cafts the Bar- 
 gain; Thus many when they hear there is a pofli- 
 bility of Life to be had in Chrift, and much more 
 when they hear it's to be had on good, eafie, and 
 free Terms, Ic will make them fmile, but when 
 it comes to that, Pfal. 4?. 10. Hearken, O dauglo- 
 ter, and confider, forfake thy fathers houfe, or the fa- 
 fliions of thy Fathers Houfe. It halts there, and 
 they fufpend and demur to clofe the Bargain, 
 but Saving Faith goes further on, and with Re* 
 bekah, finally clofes the Bargain. 
 
 Secondly, The next thing is, What is Saving 
 Faith, or what is it to believe in Chrift? And 
 would to God ye were ready to Believe, and as 
 ready to receive the Invitation as to ask the Que- 
 ftioD, and that in asking the Queftion ye were 
 in earned ; For by the way, many have as- 
 ksd the Pueftion. What fhall wddo to be faved? 
 Where, rf they had been in earneft, they might 
 have been foon refolved ; The anfwer is at hand, 
 Believe in the Lord Jefus Chrift and thou (halt be 
 faved • But to them that defire further clearnefs 
 or confirmation in this concerning Bufinefs, we 
 fliall fpeak a little, yet ye muft know, that it's 
 fuch a thing as is impoflible to be made plain to 
 a proud humoured or unhumbled Sinner, it's the 
 poor humbled Soul that will take it up, and to 
 fuch a Soul, half a word will help to take it up. 
 
 Theplaineft way to fet it out, as we conceive, 
 is, to name fome Scripture Expreflions, and Simi- 
 litudes, that hold it forth ; The firft whereof 
 is in that of Mat. it. 28. Come to me all ye that art 
 weary and heavy la'den ; And Job. 6. 3 5. He that 
 ameth to me jhall never hunger , and he that believeth 
 on mejball never thirji ; Readily thefe Expreflions 
 hold out thefe three. Firft, An Evil which Men 
 cleave to. Secondly, A Good that is offered to 
 them. Thirdly, A pafling from the Evil to the 
 Good,and fo.come to me implyes. 1. A hazard that 
 Folks are in by being at a diftance from Chrift. 
 a. That there is accefs to Jefus Chrift forremeid- 
 ing that evil, and removing of that hazard. 3. 
 A palling from the one to the other, a pafling 
 from our own righteoufnefs to Chrift's Righte* 
 oufnefs, a pafling from our natural condition to 
 Jefus Chrift, a real pafling from death in our 
 felves to Life in Him : Molt part think Faith to 
 be a conceit, a humour, oraguefling, that they 
 think they may have and never know how ; But 
 it's a real thing, a coming from our own Righte- 
 oufnefs, as I laid, to His, from a Covenant of 
 Works, to reft on Chrift and His Righteoufnefs, 
 held forth in the Covenant of Grace ; This is 
 
 Vtrf. 1. 
 
 fomewhat explained, Rtnt. 7. where two Hus- 
 bands ar fpoken of, a Woman cannot marry ano* 
 ther Afan till her firft Husband be dead ; So tilt a 
 Sinner be dead to the Law, he cannot marry 
 Chrift, there muft be a divorcing from the Law 
 and Covenant of Works, e're ye can dole with 
 Chrift. 
 
 The fecond Expreflion is, John. r. ia. Where 
 Faith is held forth as a receiving of Chrift, To at 
 many as received him, he gave them power to become 
 the Jons of God, even tc > as many as believed on his Name; 
 And it's well exprefs'd. in the Catechifm, to be * 
 receiving of Cbrift as He is offered in the Gofpel, 
 thisfuppOfes that Chrift is offered to us, and thac 
 we are naturally without him ; The Gofpel 
 cemes and fays, Why will ye die, O houfe of Id 
 rael ? Come and receive a Saviour ; And the aft 
 of Faith is a gripping to that Offer, a receiving 
 and imbracing of it, a being well content to take 
 afreee Difcharge through his Blood. 
 
 A third Expreflion is, Phil. 3. 1 2 . Where Faitfr 
 is fet out as an app-eheudmg of Chrift, and Heb- 6' 
 1 3 . It's called a laying hold on the Hope fet before 
 us, and if a. $6* 4. A taking hold of the Covenant; 
 All which fuppofe Folk to have a choice, as it 
 were, laid to them, and Chrift to be holden out 
 as a Cit y o f Refuge,and a fhelter from that which 
 we are in hazard of; Chrift is held out in the Go- 
 fpel as the City of Refuge, and the Exercife of 
 Faith is to run from the hazard to him, as a Child 
 that is chafed by an unknown and uncouth Bo- 
 dy, flees unto the Mother's Arms, or as the Man- 
 flayer fled from the Avenger of Blood to the Ci- 
 ty of Refuge ; And Faith having run to Him, 
 cafts itfelf on Him, orthruftsit felf (as it were) 
 into Him. 
 
 A fourth Expreflion is, rolling or caji'vg of our 
 felves over upon the Lord, as PJal. 5 j. 22. Caflthy 
 burden on the Lord, and Pfal. 37. y. Commit thy rv.iy 
 to the Lord, it's on the Margent, roll thy felf on the 
 Lord, or reft, as it's v. 7. and eafethy felf on the 
 Lord ; The Gofpel layes Chrift, as it were, at 
 Folk's feet, and Faith rolls them over on Him ; 
 It's even the Soul's finding it felf through the 
 work of the Spirit, unable to ftand under the 
 Burther.jRollingitfelfon Chrift.as a creaiie and 
 weakBody cafts it fclfcn a Down-bed for e ife:l"his 
 is a very emphatick,fignificant,and a&ive I 
 fion of Faith; fetting out a Man quiting his own 
 legs or feet, as unable to ftand on them, and lay- 
 ing himfelf over en Chrift; That isit that weca.'l 
 you to, even to quite your own feet, and to roll 
 your felves over on Cferift. 
 
 A fifth Expreflion is, A Where ii 
 
 led a fuumirtivj to the n'-j 
 
 held out in the Gofpel thus, as if a kpg \*Kt 
 proclaiming a Pardon to Rebels, and fa) inf ti 
 D 
 
t% t t lfa>'ah $1. 
 
 them, . for as many halnous crimes as ye have 
 committed, and are guilty of,if ye will take with 
 them, and betake your felves to my Grace and 
 Mercy,fincerely refolvingto be henceforth faith- 
 ful and dutiful Subjetts to me, I will freely par- 
 don you ; which gracious off-r they rnoft gladly 
 accept of, and fubmit themfelves to it : Submit- 
 ting is an acguiefcing in the terms of thcGofpel, 
 as it is propofed ; It's even as if ye^fhould fay, we 
 hold the Bargain, and are well content and fatis- 
 fied with it. In a word, Faith carves not to God 
 the way to Salvation but fwcetly fubmitteth to 
 the way he hath carved out. 
 
 A fixth Expreflion is, Hiding of our felves in God, 
 tr in Chrifl, fo the word Trujl in God, fignifies, to 
 hide our felves in Him as in a place of Refuge, 
 according to thut Prov. j8. The Name of the Lord is 
 m flrong Tower, the righteous run into it and are pre- 
 ferred, or hide, or, they flee to it as Doves do to 
 their windows ; And this is it the Apoftle hath, 
 Phi, 3. 9 That I may he found in him, not having my 
 own right eoufnefs, &c. fo that if ye ask, What is 
 FaithPlt's a Man's betaking himfelf toChrifr,that 
 when he fhall be called for, it may be anfwered, 
 Lord,I am in Chrifl not having mine ownRigh- 
 teoufnefs, &c it is not to be lippenning to the 
 Man's good Hopes, to his good Prayers, or to 
 his good Meaning, but to Chrift's Satisfaction, 
 and God's Promife ; By Faith, when rightly ex- 
 ercifed, the Sinner holds and hides himfelf in 
 Chrifl-, till (to fpeak fo) a bit of the Man cannot 
 be feen ; And this is well fet out by the Lord, 
 when He fays, If a. 23. 26. Come, my people, enter 
 rnto your chambers, fhut the doors about you. hide your 
 felves for a little while, Sec. come in under the Me- 
 diator's wings,lock in your felves byFaith there, 
 and Co make all fure. 
 
 A feventh Expreflion is, 2 Chron. 30; 8, Where 
 when Hezekiahis writing to the degenerate Tribes 
 to come home again, he bids them, yield them- 
 felves to the Lord, in the Original it is, give the 
 hand to the Lord, even as two men who have been 
 at odds and variance, or have broken the tyes 
 that were betwixt them, come to renew the 
 Friendfhip, they chop hands ; Now God is 
 brought in Aretching out his hands to you, if a. 
 65. 2. therefore come and clofe with Him, yield 
 to tfim, give Him the hand, or chop hands with 
 Him, and make the Bargain and Engagement 
 ficker for the time to come ? All thefe Similitudes 
 borrowed from Men, are partly to make the Na- 
 ture of Fairh obvious and clear,partly to ftrength- 
 en and confirm Believers Fairh. 
 
 An eighth Expreflion is that of opening to Chrifl, 
 Cavi. f. 2. Open to me my dove f $cc. Rev. 3 20. Be- 
 ho!d, I Hand at the door and knock, if any man open the 
 diorto m», &c Afis 16. it's faid, the Lord opened the 
 
 ^ er f e '• , Serm, 4. 
 
 heart o/Lydia : When the Word comes, Sinners 
 hearts are locked on God, Chrifl: comes by His 
 Word, and knocks hard to be in, bids open and 
 take in the Saviour,and Faith difcerns His Voice, 
 and gives Him entry ; It's the letting of the 
 Word fink, the making of Him welcome; it's not 
 only the crediting of the Word as true, but the 
 receiving of Him whom the Word offers, for the 
 End for which He is offered ; And this is, when 
 the work of the Spirit with the Word,wakens up 
 a ftichilling, or flightering (to fay fo) within, 
 and makes the Heart to open to take in Chrifl; 
 as one worded it well and fignificantly,my Heart 
 decked as aLintfeed-boll to Chrifl; And who- 
 ever Chrifl: hath a defign of Grace on the Soul, 
 and comes with Power, He continues knocking, 
 rapping, and calling hard and loud, till doors 
 and Gates be cafl open to Him. 
 
 A ninth Expreflion or Similitude under which 
 Faith is held forth, is that which is ordinary, of a 
 Marriage, or of Covtna?:tingov confenting, whether 
 in Marriage or otherwife, but more efpecially 
 in Marriage : When Chrift taketh on Him the 
 place of an wooer,Minifters areHisEmbafladors, 
 the word is their Jnftruttions, wherein He bids 
 them go tell finners, that all things are ready, and 
 to pray them to come to the Marriage, or to 
 marry and match with Him, and Faith is a com- 
 ing away to this Husband, a receiving of the 
 word of Invitation, a confenting to the Marri- 
 age : It's not fo much a local, as a qualitative 
 change or mutation,we change Fafliions,we fub- 
 fcrivethe Contract on the terms it is laid out to 
 us: In the Bargain of Grace, fomething is offer- 
 ed by God, and that is Chrifl and His Fulneft, 
 and there is fomething done on our fide, and 
 that is, accepting of Him by Faith ; And this is 
 notfo much a laying with the tongue, as it it is 
 a believing with the Heart; as it is Rom. 10. 10. 
 With the heart man believes unto righteon[nefs; It's the 
 Heartsprefent fubferiving the Marriage- contra ft, 
 and going away with Chrifl: to live and cohabit 
 with Him,though Confeflion will be readily with 
 the mouth alfo, as He calls for it. 
 
 A tenth Expreflion or Similitude, is that of 
 buying, Ho every one (cryeth the Prophet if a. % $. 1. 
 that thir/ls, come to the waters, and he that hath n§ 
 money, come, buy, Sec. fo Rev. 3. i8« Buy of?nc.cye 
 falve, Sec. It lays this much,that God intheGof- 
 pel fets forth as in a Mercat,to Sinners,rich and 
 rare Wares, and good cheap or at very low and 
 eafie Rates ; and that Believing is like buying up 
 of the Wares : Life eternal isholden out on con- 
 dition of believing on Chrifl, and the poor Sin- 
 ner thinks that a good Bargain, for it takes no 
 Money from him; Rev. 22. 17. This is called 
 willing, whofoever will, lot him come and take of the 
 
 water 
 
Serm. <- ? f a ' a ^ S3- 
 
 water of Life freely ; the Soul hath a good will to 
 the thing. It's held forth by feveral other Ex- 
 prefTions in the Scripture, it is called a cleaving 
 to the Lord, or flicking to him, Jojh. 23. 8. and A&s 
 11. 23. it is called hearing, hearkening, and enclining 
 of the ear, Ifa. $$• 1, 3. an attentive, concerned, 
 and holily greedy liftening to, and taking hold 
 of this Offer; it's a cleaving to the Lord,as Wood- 
 ben or Ivy cleaves to an Oak,becaufe its life de- 
 pends on it : And Dent. 30. and Jojh. 24 it's cal- 
 led a cbooftng of the Lord, and that upon deliberati- 
 on, as lyiowing that we have need of Him, that 
 He is a Saviour fuited compleatly to all the ne- 
 ceflities of our Souls, and that we are warrand- 
 ed to believe on him; It's the native aft and ex- 
 ercife of Faith to choofe Chrift among all the 
 wooers that are courting the Soul ; So likewife 
 it's fet out under tr lifting and committing, Pfal. 37. 
 Commit thy way to the Lord,tr.uftin Him-, I know faith 
 Paul, 2 Tim . 1. 12. He U able to keep that which I 
 have committed to kim-lt's to give Chrift the credit 
 of your Salvation; It's one thing to give a Man 
 the credit that he is true, and another thing to 
 concredit him with our greateft concerns ; we 
 will credit many whom we will not thus con- 
 credit our felves to^nor commit our concerns to; 
 the former (when thefe are applyed to God) is 
 hiftorical Faith, but this latter is Saving Faith, 
 when we dare truft and lippen our felves to Him, 
 and to His Word, and we think this Expreflion 
 holds forth as much of the nature of Saving Eaith 
 
 '9 
 
 Vtrfe r. 
 
 as any of the former, if we could take it up 
 when we dare concredit our felves to Him, be- 
 caufeHe hathfaid the word ; Thus alfo to aft 
 and exercife Faith on Him, for Temporal, or for 
 Spiritual things, it's to expeft the event from 
 God, but fo, as we expeft and look for it on this 
 ground,that Chrift hath purchafed it,and we have 
 accepted Him on His Ofrer,which gives us aright 
 to thefe things needful for us,and purchafed by 
 Him ; It's faid Matth, 12. 5. when the Invitation 
 comes,that fome made light of it; but Faith, on 
 the contrary ,is a laying weight on it,and a con- 
 crediting of our felves to God on that ground : 
 It's called, Rom. 6*. A delivering up of our fehes to 
 the Word, and to Him in it ; It's even to put a 
 Blank in Chrift'sHand,to be rilled up ashepleafes. 
 Ye fee then what ye are called to,it is to open 
 to Chrift, to come to Him, to marry Him, to roll 
 your felves on Him, to commit your felves to 
 Him, to give Him credit, &c. And is there any 
 of thefe unreafonable or prejudicial to you? ani 
 if they be very reafonable and advantageous, (as 
 indeed they are) we would exhort you to come 
 to Him,to receive Him, to apprehend Him.to flee 
 to Him/to take hold of Him, to marry Him, &c. 
 Believe on Him, and by believing, be united to 
 Him, and get a right to Him, and to all His Pur- 
 chafe; give Him the credit of faving your Soul*; 
 This we call for from you, and if ye do it nor, 
 the complaint in the Text will Hand againft 
 you, li'ioo hath believed our report ? 
 
 : 
 
 SERMON V. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. I. 
 
 Who hath believed our repcrt ? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? 
 
 IT's a great matter once to get the Gofpel 
 brought amongft a People, and fuch Mef- 
 fengers, as may make the favoury Report 
 of Jefus Chrift unto them ; Yet this is not 
 all, there is a greater work behind, and that 
 is, to. get Chrift believed on, and to get the Re- 
 port concerning Him received by the People to 
 whom it is made ; This being the greateft and 
 graved: work of the Prophets, and of the Mini- 
 fters of the Gofpel, and the moft eminent, not 
 fo much to get a word to fay, as to get the 
 word believed; and this is ifaiaiis complaint,that 
 though he himfelf brought the Report concern- 
 ing Chrift, and forefaw many moe would bring 
 it, yet, that the exercife of Faith in thefe who 
 Ihould hear it would be very rare. 
 
 We fpoke of the great thing called for from a 
 People to whom thisGofpel comes,& theReport 
 of Chrift is made,and that is to believe on Hjrrj;to 
 
 receive and reft on Him of whom the Report is 
 made ; Except this be, though there were never 
 fo many Preachers' 1 , and encouragements to 
 Preach, though you mould flock to the Ordinan- 
 ces every day the ground of complaint will ftili 
 remain, if there be not Saving faith in Jefus 
 Chrift, which is the SublUnce of the Gofpel. 
 
 After confirmation of this Point, we fliew 
 what Faith ^is from the feveral Names the Scrip- 
 ture giveth it, and wherein the exercife of Sav- 
 ing Faith is hoklen out, all which imply thefe 
 three. 1 . A great hazard and danger that the Hear- 
 ers of the Golpelare in, whether they be lenlible 
 of it in fuch a nuafure at leaft, or not, we fpeak not 
 now, yet they are fo really ; fo much 
 *% laying-bold, apprehending* &c in (inn ate. 2. A 
 fulnels and fulHciency in Chrift Jefus hoi Jen 
 forth to them, as the Ob j eft of their 1 
 D 2 
 
to Jfaiah 55. 
 
 as one that can deliver out of that danger,and can 
 right what ever is wrongs • An ac"t,wherein main- 
 ly the exercife of Faith is holden forth, and 'tis 
 the aft of the foul under that danger and diftrefs, 
 betaking it felf to Chrift's fulnefs for help : Its a 
 fleeing from the Curfe of the Law to Him, as to 
 the City of Refuge ; Co every name that Faith 
 gets,fetsout a Man acting and moving fome way 
 for Chrift's remeeding the evil, *rnd removing 
 the hazard he is in. 
 
 Having fpoken a little to this,that Faith is the 
 main duty that is called for, we may now follow 
 the Exhortation to prefs you to it, it being to no 
 purpofe to fpeak of Chrift, and of Faith in him, 
 except He be received ; This is the end of the 
 Word written and taught, John 20. at the clofe, 
 even to believe in the Name of the Son of God, 
 &by believing to receive Life in & throughHim. 
 
 And therefore, Secondly, Seing this is the main 
 Duty called for by the Gofpel, that by Faith ye 
 flioul d receive it, and Chrift offered in;it ;we ear- 
 neftly exhort you to it, It is not fo much to this 
 or that particular duty, though thefe be implied; 
 it's notfo much to attendance on Ordinances,nor 
 to fubmiflion to Difcipline and Cenfures, though 
 thefe alfo be Duties that we exhort you to ; but 
 it's to obedience to the great Command of Faith, 
 even to believe on him whom thel ather hath fent 
 and fealed;It is to receive this Gofpel, to fubmit 
 to the Righteoufnefs of Faith, to open to Him 
 that is knocking at the door,to yield to Him and 
 to give Him the Hand,that bygone Quarles may 
 be removed, and taken out of the way ; except 
 this be, we profefs to you in His Name, that ye 
 bring not forth the Fruit that this Gofpel calleth 
 for from you, and that no lefs will be acceptable 
 to God, nor taken off your Hand by Him. 
 
 And to add here the third Branch of the Doc- 
 trine, We fay, that no lefs will do your turn as 
 a neceflaiy mean for attaining the promife. and 
 that which is Frcmifed. i- Look to all the Prr- 
 mifes,wr.ether of Pardon of Sin, or of Peace with 
 God, of joy in the holy Ghoft, of ffolinefsand 
 Comformity to God ; there is noacceft to tee, 
 or to any of them. but by Faith, this is the very 
 proper condition of the Covenant of Grace, and 
 the Door whereby we ftep in to it ; and if ye 
 think Pardon of Sin, Peace with God, andHo'i- 
 nefs to be necelTary,then this great Gofpel Duty 
 of Believing isnolefsneceiTary;for theLordfaitrr, 
 J*hn 3 . ;6 H: that beiicxeth not if condemned already, 
 9 L*)ckto the performance of any Duty, or mor- 
 tification of any Luft or Idol, and Faith is necef- 
 iary to tr-at,l John 3 <? It is by Faith we obtain vitfo- 
 iy wer the world it was by Faith (Heb. 1 t ) that ail 
 the Wort 'lies fpoken of there, wrought Righte- 
 ouihefs, &(> 3. When any Duty is done,of what- 
 
 foever nature * be, there is no acceptation of it 
 without Faith ; It is not our Praying,or coming 
 to the Church,that will make Duty to be accep- 
 ted, but it's Faith, the word profited them not, faith 
 the Apoftle, Heb 4, a . becauje it was not mixta with 
 Faith : And that for making the Duty acceptable, 
 Faith is neceiTarly requihte, we may clearly fee, 
 Heb- 11. 6. where it is exprefly faid, that without 
 Faith it is impojjibletopleaje G^And how is it that 
 Abel offers a more excellent Sacrifice than C*/»,it 
 was nothing fure in Cains Sacrifice it felf that 
 made it be caftcrf, nor any thing in Abel's that 
 made itbe received or acceptable,lut Faith in the 
 MeJJiah to come,that was found to be in the one,cV 
 was a milling in the other ; Is there not reafon 
 then to prefs this duty on you?and to exhort ycu 
 not to think this a common & eafie thing,though 
 the moft part think it to befo ; if we look tothe 
 benefites of it to the difficulty of it,and to the ra- 
 rity of it in the World,there is no Duty had need 
 more to be prefs'd than this,even thatChriitJefus 
 mould get the Burthen of your Immortal Souls 
 caft on Him by this Saving Faith.I fhal rherefore 
 in the further profecution of thisFirft,Shew,\vhat 
 mainly you would efhew & avoid,as that where- 
 at Folk more ordinarly ftumble. Secondly,what 
 it is we would prefs you to,andon whatGrounds 
 Eor the fir (I, I know the deceits and miftakes 
 in Men about the Exercife of Faith are fo many, 
 that they are moe than can well or eafily be rec- 
 koned up, yet we frail in fome generals, fp< ken 
 of before, hint at a few of them ; for fo long as ye 
 continue in the fame Snares, they muft be ftill 
 pointed out to you,& endeavours ftill ufed to un- 
 deceive and extract you out of them ; and there- 
 fore, j. Beware of refting on a Doctrinal faith, 
 which before I caj.'ed Hiftorical ; We know it's 
 hard to convince fome that they want Faith. yet 
 we. would have you to consider, that it is not e- 
 very kind of Faith,biir Saving Faith,that will do 
 your turn ; it's the want of that which the Pro- 
 phet complain: of; And therefore, to open this 
 a little, ye would conflder, That there may be 
 real y fuch a Faith as is n afTenrto the tnuh of 
 the Word; in a natural Man.yeain a Reprobate, 
 but thar Faith will never unite to Cfuift, nor he 
 waited with the Pardon of Sm.fi'rjl, I do not (ay, 
 that eve: y one that is in the vifible Church hath 
 this Doftrin .1 ( aith,to believe a Heaven & aHell, 
 thatrheSctipture is the Word of God, and that 
 all that believe inChrift fhal getPardon ofSinand 
 Life ; the carriage alas.'of many teftifies that they 
 have not rhis much, whatever fleeting nations 
 they may have of thefe things ; or whatever efteem 
 they may feem to put on the Gofpel, and what- 
 ever profeflion they may make, that they believe 
 
 the 
 
Serm. 3. \ . f . , J - W *3- 
 
 the truth ofit, yet in their deeds they deny it ; 
 for if there were a fixednefs in the Dottrinal 
 Faith of the Gofpel in Men, they durft not for 
 their fouls live as they do. Neither yet Secondly, 
 Do we fay, that all they that have this Do&rinal 
 Faith of the Gofpel, or fomewhat of it, do be- 
 lieve every paffage in it alike, but often as they 
 pleafe them, they believe them : H. nee many 
 believe what the Word fpeaks of Mercy, and of 
 Pardon of Sin, and will not quefticn that; but 
 what it fpeaks of Holinefs, and of the fe verity 
 of God's reckoning with Men for Sin, they do 
 not fo credit that part of the Word ; it's true, 
 where the Faith of the one is, the Faith of the 
 other will fome way be ; but becaufe the one 
 agrees better with their Corruption than the o- 
 ther, therefore the one is not lb received as the 
 other ; and it's very frequent with fuch, to be 
 found diminilhing from one place, and adding 
 to another, of the Word of God. Nor Thirdly , 
 Do we fay, that all Men do in a like and equal 
 degree, believe the truth of the Word ; there is 
 in fome more Knowledge, in fome leis, in fome 
 more Convi&ions,in fome fewer; and though we 
 preach to you all, yet there are fome that believe 
 net this to be God's Ordinance, albeit there are 
 many who will not be faved,that takes thisWord 
 to be the Word of God, and believe what is the 
 meaning of it, becaufe the Word it felf fays it is | 
 f o : And thcreafonofthis is, 1. Eecaufe tnere is 
 nothing that is not Saving,but a NaturalMan may 
 have it ; now,this Do&rinal Faith is not Saving, 
 and fo a Natural Man may have it, yea, the De- 
 vils believe and tremble ; and James does notdi- 
 fpute with thefe to whom he writes on this ac- 
 count, that they believe notthis,but tells them, 
 thatHiftoricalFaith was not enough;and we think 
 a man in Nature may have a great perfwafion of 
 the truth of the Word of God, and that which it 
 f jys will come to pafv, and yet itil! continue but 
 a Natural Man. A fecond Reafon is, Becaufe the 
 Scripture fpeaks fo often of many forts of Faith 
 that are not Saving, as Exod 14. £t the clofe,it's 
 faid, the People believed the Lord, and Pfal. ioo\ 12. 
 then they believed His W%rd y and fang His praife- y and 
 John 2. 23 many believed on Chrifl to whom He did 
 not commit himfrff there was Faith in them,which 
 HisSigns and Miracles extorced from them,which 
 was not Saving;and hUtth. 13. Two or rhree fuch 
 acls of Faith are fpoken in the Parable of the 
 Sbwer,that were not Saving, however found they 
 might be in their own kind, and 1 Cor, 13, we 
 have fuch a Faith ip.kenof, as a man daie not 
 deny the tuthof the Word, though he mould 
 bring hisBodv to be burnt by his avouching of 
 the fame. A third Reafon is,Becaufe,as much cre- 
 dit may be given to theWoid as is given to any 
 other Hiftory that is creditably believed ; audit's 
 
 Verfe 1. • Xl 
 
 on this ground that we believe there was fuch 
 Men as C*/I*r, Po?npey t WaI/ace t Scc. and it being cer- 
 tain, that there maybe impreflionson the wonl- 
 ciences of Hearers, that this is God's Word, bac- 
 ked with fome common work of the Spirit, and 
 that it is generally received to be theWord ofGod 
 in the part of the World we live in;what wonder 
 is it thzt Folk believe thus and drink in this Hi- 
 ltorical or Doctrinal Faith of the Word,fo as they 
 may even dare to fuffcr to Death for it? and yet 
 in the mean time, they may want Saving Faith, 
 the Devils being as fure as any Natural Man is, 
 that God is true, and that his Word will he per- 
 formed,and therefore they fay to Chrift, Art thou 
 come to torment us before the time ? the Pangs of a na- 
 tural confeience inMen will afTurethem of a judg- 
 ment coming,thoughthey tremble to think on it. 
 And therefore ere we proceed further, take a 
 word of XJjt from this,and it may let you fee the 
 great and very general miftake of the molt part of 
 the Hearers of the Gofpel, in retting on this Doc- 
 trinal Faith; If ye tell them that they have no 
 Faith, they will not by any means take with that; 
 they believe there is a Saviourjand.'that he is God 
 and Man,and that fuch as believe on him fhal be 
 faved,& on this they refl: : It's fuch as thefe wh» 
 think they have believed all their days fince ever 
 they had any knowledge, becaufe the word was 
 always, or very long fince, received in the Place 
 where they lived, for the word of God and they 
 believe it to be fo alfo ; and know no difference 
 betwixt believing the Word and believing on 
 Chrifl: holden out in it; though alas many of you 
 believe not this much, for if ye were among the 
 Jews, ye might be foon brought to que/Hon the 
 truth of the Gofpel . But though yehad the real 
 Faith of the truth of the Word, take not that for 
 Saving Faith for as there is a real Sorrow that is 
 not the Saving Grace of Repentance unto Life,fo 
 there is a fort of real Faith that hath a rcalObje£r, 
 and a real being in the Judgment, which yet is 
 not a real doling with Chrift, and fo not Saving 
 Faith ; as fuppofe a Man purfued by his Enemy, 
 fhoulu fee a ftrong Caftlc-door (landing open, or 
 one in hazard at Sea mould fee dry Land if he 
 fhould ftandftill while the Enemy were purfuing 
 him, or abide ftill in the linking Veflel,the fignc 
 of the Caftle dooi open, nor of the dry L 
 would not five him; fo it's not the believing that 
 there is a Saviour come into the World to lave 
 Sinners, that wiU fave, except there be a retting 
 on Him as He is holden out i d of the 
 
 Gofpel, Hiltorical I airh is on'y (asitv\r. ) a 
 a looking on the Saviour. but laving Faith g 
 to Mini, and refts on Him ; Hiltorical 1 
 looks on Ghrift,but acts not on Him, v. 
 with Him ; and therefore fuch as have it 1 
 
it ifaiab 53. 
 
 and no more, fink and perifli without getting 
 good of Him : We would think it a great matter 
 to get many ofyou as far on in Relieving as the 
 Devil is, who believes and trembles ; the little 
 trembling that is, fhews that there is but little of 
 this Hiftorical Faith, yet, as I have often faid, 
 rhis is not all, ye may have this, and yet if ye 
 halt there, yc will certainiy peri(h,if ye were ne- 
 ver fo confident to be faved jthe Apoftle doth well 
 diftmguiih thefe,H<?£. 1 1 . 6. He that coir.eth to Ccd, 
 muji icl-cve that He is and that He is a revardcr of 
 them that diligently feek Him ; where thefe two are 
 prefupofed. Firfh Believing thit Gcd is,or hath 
 a Being ; And fecondly, Believing that His Pro- 
 mife is fure and ficker that He is Faithful that 
 hath promifed and will make His Word good. 
 And then thirdly , On both thefe follows a coming 
 to Him as aRewarder of diligent Seekers of Him. 
 The firft two take in Hiftorical Faith ; for to be- 
 lieve that God is, is Natural, and to believe that 
 GodisFaithfulinHis Promife,may be in Natural 
 Men ; but to come to Him,to get the hazard that 
 the Soul is in, removed through Jefus Chrift, is a 
 thing few do attain •• This then is the firft thing 
 we would be aware of,not aware to believe the 
 the truth of the Word,but to be aware of refting 
 on it as Saving Faith ; it's not enough to look on 
 Chrift, and to grant that it is He, but the Man 
 tnuft never be Satisfied till he get himfelf rolled ' 
 on Chrift, and the weight of his Salvation and 
 peace laid on Him in His own way. 
 
 Thefecond thing ye would beware of is,Some 
 common and quickly tranfient work on the Af- 
 fections, that may accompany Hiftorical Faith ; 
 Whether the Affection of Grief, or the Affecti- 
 on of Joy be ftirred thereby, borhareunfafeto be 
 refted on, when ye can't prove your refting on 
 Chrift, or where there is no relevant ground to 
 prove it by, though ye fhould tremble zsFel.'x did, 
 & be under atlaruming convictions ofConfciencc 
 and fears of your hazard, or though ye ihculd be 
 affected witl Joy, as the Temporary Believer may 
 fce and iometimes is, what will that profite you ? 
 it's a great miftake to take fome fmall work on 
 the Affections, which at the beft is butanrefrlct 
 of Hiftorical Faith, for a Saving work of the Spi- 
 rit.Or fecondly,If it be not an effect of Plifiorical 
 Faith, it's an effect of a Challenge of Confcience, 
 and fmiting of the Heart, as in Saul, who could 
 lay to DavidThiu art more righteous than 1, my fan 
 David. Or thirdly, It's fome common work 
 of the Spirit,fuch as was in Simon Magus y ot whom 
 it is faid, he believed, and who could fay, pray for 
 rue ; for Folks to conclude on this ground, that 
 they are brought out of Nature into a State of 
 Grace is to build upon a SandyFoundatiomThe 
 Apoftle fpeaketh z Cor. 7, io. of worldly Sorrow, 
 
 Vtr f- M Serm. f. 
 
 ai well as of a godly Sorrow,and as there may be 
 a worldly Sorrow, fo there may be a carnal joy, a 
 peiceoffainnefs,to fpeakfo,in Prayer or at hear- 
 ing of a Preaching,or at a Communion, which is 
 not Saving Faith; fome hear the Word withjoy, 
 Mat. 1 3 . who yet endure not ;an d John Bapti&s Hear- 
 ers rejoyced in his Light for a feafon ; even as a 
 fick Man,who hearing ( as we hinted before) that 
 a Phyfician who is skilful and able to cure him, 
 is come to Town, he grows fain in the contem- 
 plation of a Cure of his Difeafe ; but heie is the 
 Hit k, when the Phyfician tells the Man that he 
 muft befo andfoabftemicu5,and keep himfelf un- 
 der fuch a ft rift Diet, he dow not abide rhat,and 
 fo all his joy evaniihes : There is fomething like 
 this in temporary Faith, where fome remote ex- 
 pectation of Salvation willcaufe a carnal Joy and 
 Fainnefs; but when it comes to this,that a Man 
 is called to quite his Lufts,or his Eftate,or in the 
 World to .undergo Trouble and Perfecution for 
 the Gofpel, by and by he is offended, he thinks 
 ( to fay fo) a Fowl in his hand is worth two flee- 
 ing ; and therefore when the Storm blows in his 
 Teeth', he turns his Back and runs away; Efpeci- 
 ally we will find this to be withMen in Sicknefs, 
 they will have mints and ferioufnefs, and fomc- 
 times flafhes of Sorrow underConvictions orChal- 
 lenges,and fometimes flafhes of Joy that willeva- 
 nifh when they come to Health again: When we 
 fpcakof fome common work on the Affections, 
 we would take take in liberty, and fome warm- 
 nefs of Spirit in Prayer, which no queftion,even 
 unrenewedMen may find more at onetime than a* 
 nothcr, as when they are in fome great hazard or 
 ftrait, they will be more than ordinary ferious in 
 that Duty, and yet that may be but an effect of 
 Nature;This proves a great Stumbling and Necf:- 
 breaktomany, that they think they are well e- 
 nough,if now & thenthey get utterance inPraycr, 
 as fome times they will get words beyond what 
 they expected,and when upon reflecting,they find 
 that they have b?en in earneft, though it ruth 
 been but with Moral frrioufnefs.that blows them 
 up;in Prayer in the place of Saving Faith, & when 
 they Pray with warmnefs,they trow they Believe, 
 when in the mean time they never knew, what is 
 was in good tarneft to lay themfelves over en 
 Chrift Jefusj therefore whefr^tf invite ycutoBe- 
 lieve, this is another thing we would bid you be- 
 ware of, that ye put not a flafli of Senfe in the 
 room of Faith. 
 
 3. Thereisyet a more fubtile, though no lefs 
 dangerous Miftake, that ye would beware of and 
 that is,when Faith is confounded withObed. eric, 
 and is looked on injuftification as a piece of new 
 Obedience, with LoveRepentance,and other du- 
 ties 
 
Serm. j. , jfa^ <1 
 
 ties of holinefs ; To fome think they Beheve,be- 
 caufe they have fome Natural awe of God in 
 their Walk,and fome fear of Sin and do perfor n 
 fom duties of Religion,and wa kHoneftly,as they 
 think,according to the Rulc;which is to confoud 
 the Covenant of Works and of Grace,and to make 
 the Covennant of Works a Covenant of Grace,or 
 vo run the Covenant of Grace into a Covenant of 
 Works ; only with this difference, that though 
 their works be not perfect, but defective, yet 
 wherein they are defective they think there is 
 worth in their Faith to make up that want,and to 
 fupply that defettjand fo by Faith they think they 
 will obtain the acceptation of their works,and of 
 theirPerfons on account of their works;they look 
 upon their works as pleaflng to God,butbecaufe 
 they are not perfect,they will believe, or exercife 
 Faith,to make up their defects, to which the way 
 cf Grace is quite contrary, which makes the Tree 
 £rft good, and then the Fruit ; This way that 
 many takei is not to draw the evidences of Be- 
 lieving from works of Holinefsjwhichis warran- 
 table, but the founding of Faith,or their hope of 
 Heaven on worksrand the ufethey make of their 
 Faith,isto ward off Challenges for the imperfecti- 
 on of their works, and to make Faith procure ac- 
 ceptance ( as I juftnow faid) to their works, and 
 acceptance to their Perfon for their works fake. 
 4. Beware of that which ye ordinarily call a 
 certain afTurance, or Aire knowledge of yourSal- 
 vation,and that all the promifes are yours,where- 
 by ye think your felves in no hazard; a hope and 
 alfurance of Heaven that ye can give no ground 
 for, nor proof of, only ye thing ye are fure of 
 Pardon of Sin, and coming to Heaven, and that 
 ye are oblidged to maintain that groundlefs hope; 
 but that is not laving Faith, for itV a hope of 
 Heaven that can give you no right to Chrift ; 
 there muftfirfl: be a fleeing to Him, and doling 
 with Him, before ye can have any true and well 
 grounded hope of Heaven;but your hope & con- 
 fidence is, never to quell ion the matter, ye are 
 like Laodicea, who thought her felf rich, and to 
 ftand in need of nothing, when ihe was beggerly 
 Poor ; or likethefe Men, who, when God was 
 threatning them with Judgement, yet would 
 needs preiume to think that they leaned on the 
 Lord ; I think, among all the Perfons that God 
 hath indignation againft, it's in a fpecial manner 
 againfr thefe who have this fort of hope, and to 
 "whom God difcovereth the groundlefncfs of it, 
 and yet they will (rill ftoutly maintain, and Hand 
 fait bytheirhope;it'sto thefcHe fpeaks.Dc/// 26.16 
 who defpife andtufh at God's Threatnings, and 
 fay, IVejhall have peace, though we walk in the ima%i- 
 nition of our own hearts, and add drimkenne\s to tkirfj; 
 the Lord there pronounceth a Curie, and tc rhi 
 
 Vtrf. u 
 
 Curfe addeth an Oath, that He will) not We 
 fuch Perfons,but will fcparate them for Evilfand 
 caufe all the curfes of theLaw to overtake them: 
 judge ye now,what a condition this is for Perfons 
 to be m } to be believing that all the Promifes are 
 theirs, and yet in ftead of that, to be ( in the 
 mean time )Jyjblc to all the Curfes threatnedia 
 the Word of Ucd; lt s this that we call prefumftien, 
 and hep* of the Hypocrite that will pen % Job 8.i 3 .the 
 confidence of fuch mall be rejected andfweeped 
 away as a Speeders Web and fhall be rooted out • 
 of their 1 abernacles,and bring them to the King 
 ofTerrcurs; they think they Believe always, 
 when they are not troubled nor difquieted they 
 never want Faith, but have a great deal of it, 
 which yet: is but a guefling which cannot fupport 
 and uphold them when they come to a ftraitjwhen 
 they are more fecure they Believe very well,and 
 they think when they are more awaken'd and 
 difquiet d, theybelieve lefs,and their fanciedFaith 
 ebbeth quire on them;when they hear of any ex- 
 ercife ofMmd,or trouble of Confcience in others, 
 they wonder that they will not believe,& all this 
 work is to maintain their deep Security & ftrong 
 Delufion; this is then the f.urth thing ye would 
 beware of,for it's not the Faith that will turn a- 
 way the Complaint, who hath believed our report ? 
 and yet how many are there of this fort,who fay 
 they fhall have peace,and pleafe themfelves with 
 this their good Hope, fay the Word what it will; 
 O !^be perl waded, that this is nothing elfe but 
 wotul Unbelief and Prefumption;and we preach 
 to you Terrour and the Curfe of God, though 
 ye cry Peace to your feVes; the Lord complains 
 cf fuch perfons, Jer. jr. 12. faying, They have be 
 lyedthe Lord; He fentHis Prophets to denounce 
 Judgments in the days of Jpjifb, when there was 
 a fair profeflion of Religion and Reformation, 
 yet they would believe and hope that no evil 
 lhould overtake them. 
 
 ( That which we aim at in this part of the Ufc, 
 is to make way for what follows, even to give 
 you a cleanly ground for exercifingof Faith on 
 JelusChnfr, when all thefe Stumblings and Mi- 
 stakes are rolled out of the way : We therefore 
 exhort you, tohy your Hand to your Heart,apd 
 narrowly to try, if ye have caHed, or accounted 
 any of thefe to be Saving Faith;for there are hun- 
 dreds, nay rhouiands, that perifib under thefe 
 Pretexts, deceiving rbetafelves, and deluding c- 
 thcrs, with a Faith they were born and brought 
 up with, nul they have no bfiori but their groiind- 
 Icfs hope to prove their Faith by,& that ihey will 
 Hick by ir,bc faid to them v. hat vvi 1 ; but be not 
 deceived, for God will <j . u ; ye think* 
 
 ttrpng preemption is i> can by 
 
 fuchaFaith,dxinkinthe Pro II 
 
*4 , iftiab $3. 
 
 make you vomit them up, and ye fhall be declar- 
 ed to be void of Faith in the great Day ; There- 
 fore be more jealous over your Faith, and feek to 
 have your grips of Chrift fickered, which is done, 
 when from the belief of your hazard and andfelf- 
 emptinefs, and of Chrift's fulnefs, y* go to Him 
 and clofe with Him , to make up all ye want in 
 Him ; And this Faith is efpecially qualified by 
 the account on which we goto Him, and reft on 
 Him, even as a confciencious Duty is that which 
 flows from a Command, as Obedience to it, fo 
 one of the main things that qualifies this Faith, is 
 a receiving Chrift as Chrift, or as he is holden 
 out in theGofpel, which is therefore well put in 
 the defcription given of Faith in the Catechifin- 
 And it's called a believing on Him whom the Father 
 hath fait, which is not to believe on Chrift fimply, 
 but as He is holden out in the Word of the Go- 
 fpel ; Prefumprion may look on Chrift and His 
 Fulnefs,and fewer none will readily dare to give 
 Him a dire£c and down-right refufal, or to reject 
 him profefTedly and avowedly, when they hear 
 of fuch Happinefs that is to be had in him ; But 
 that which we fay qualifies Faith, is to deflre, re- 
 ceive and embrace Him according as He is 
 holden out in the Gofpel, for toif dom, right eoufnefs, 
 falsification , and redemption, 2 Cor. 1. 36. when He 
 it lippened to with an Eye to the Promife, and 
 when that which makes us reft on Him is the 
 Word of God, for though Chrift be the materi- 
 al Objeft of Faith, yet the Word is the formal 
 Objett, whereby we get a Right to Him, and 
 there is no gripping or getting hold of Chrift, 
 but in, and according to His Word ; And there- 
 fore the generality of People (who on the Mat- 
 ter, take the Antinomt anw ay) think they have no 
 more to do, but to apply Chrift, and to count 
 
 Vtrf. 1. Serm. 6. 
 
 Him their own at the vety firft; But thorow their 
 not exercifing Faith on the Word of Promife, 
 they mifs Him ; This is, as I have faid, a main 
 qualification of Saving Faith, even to reft on 
 Chrift as He is holden out in the Word, ar.d by 
 the Word to rake hold of Him, and reft upon 
 Him; Saving Faith doth not fimply reft on C. rift, 
 becaufe He is Merciful and hath allFulnefsin 
 Him, but itreftson Him and His Fulnefs, as re- 
 ceived in the Word, and offered by God in His 
 Word; Faith takes God's Faithfuinefs in I is 
 Word, and lays hold on Him by that : Chrift is 
 the thing that makes Happy, but Goa\> faithful 
 Promife is the Right by which we get a Title to 
 that thing ; we would never love nor like of that 
 Faith that knows not the Ufe of the Word, that 
 betakes itfelfto Chrift, or the thing in the Word, 
 but meddles not, nor hath any dealirg with the 
 Word that holds thesn out; when, as it is only 
 this Word that gives us warrand to expeft that 
 His Fulnefs fhall be made forthcoming for our 
 up-making, and for the fupply of all our need ; 
 Many defire, and expe£t good of God, but get it 
 not, becaufe their expectation is not founded on 
 His Word, and God's Faithfuinefs in his Word 
 is not clofed withall. In a word, I would have 
 you to think that Faith is neithei an eafie, nor an 
 infuperable difficult thing, but that it is eafie to 
 go wrong, and difficult to go Right, and that 
 without God's fpecial and powerful guiding, ye 
 cannot believe norexercife Faith, nor walk in the 
 way of believing in Him, and dependance on 
 Him, that- ye may be helped to make a Right 
 Ufc of Chrift, and to build upon Kim, that ye 
 may not flip nor ftumble,and fall on tke ftumbling 
 ftone laid in Zion, on which fo many fall every 
 day and break themfelves t^peices. 
 
 VI. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. I. 
 
 Wloo hath believed our report ? And to vhom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? 
 
 IF it were not recorded in the infallible Scrip- 
 tures of Truth, we would hardly believe, 
 that there could be fo much powerful and 
 fweet preaching of the moil excellent In- 
 ftruments that ever were imployed, and yet 
 that there fhould be fo little Fruit following en 
 it ; who would believe that Ifaiab, fo excellent, 
 fo fweer,^ndfo Evangelicka Prophet,fhould have 
 preached fo many pleafant, plain, and powerful 
 Sermons to a people from the Lord, and yet that 
 be fhould have fo many fad complaints as he hath? 
 ch. 6.a8,and 58. that he fhould be but to bring in 
 the Lord/faying, All the day Ung have I ftreuhedout 
 
 wy hands to a rebellions people, chap. c6\ and that 
 here himfelf fhould have it to fay, Who hath be- 
 lieved our report ? It's fcarce one Man here cy there 
 that hath Savingly believed onChrift, and this is 
 the third thing in the Words ; that now we would 
 fpeak to, and it's a very fad, though a very clear 
 Truth. 
 
 The Doctrine is this, That there may be much 
 powerful preaching of the Gofpel and yet Un- 
 belief generally among the Hearers of it ; Or 
 take it with dependance on the former two, 
 Namely, r. That the great work of the Mini- 
 ftry, is, to propofe and make Chrift known to a 
 
 People 
 
Scrm. 6. ft'** c .- Ver f e '• ij 
 
 Peep e. 2. That the great Duty of a People that *ho have gathered the [ummer fruits, as the grape 
 
 have Chrilt proposed to them; is, to Be ieve on gleanings oj l the vintage, thereis no clufter to eat, the 
 
 Him. Then this 3 Follows on the Back of thefe, good man is ferijhed but of the earth, and there is none 
 
 That a people may have Ghritr propofed to them upright among menfiLZ.it' s compleaned of by Hsjhea, 
 
 b 1 ought to their Heart and Moutb,and though it Chap. 1 r. 7. Though they called them to the mo(i High,, 
 
 be bue Believing that is called for from them,yet none at all would exalt him jthat is, none would giv* 
 
 that cannot be obtained from moll of them. Tnis Him thegloiy of His Grace in believing onhim; 
 
 Gofpel-duty of Believing is often flighted by the 
 Hearers of theGofpe!;this is clearly holdcn forth 
 ht:c,Wno'h»th believed our report ? we have called 
 for FaitHj but it's a rare thing among the multi- 
 tude of Hearers to get one that believethSavingly 
 To make t ut,and prove this a little further, we 
 would coniider this Complaint, with thefe Ag- 
 gravations of it, which will make it the more 
 clear, 8c fo the more to be wondred at,As.i Thefe 
 of whom theComplaint is made,it is notHtathens, 
 but God's own People, as the Lord complains, 
 Pfal 3 . 1 o . 1 1 . My people would not hearken to my 
 voice, and Ifrael would have none of me ; our Lord 
 Jefus Complaint o£jeruJalem,Matth 2 3, at the end, 
 O Je'ufalem Jcrufa!em, how oft en would I have ga- 
 thered thee, and thou wouldejl not ; that the Lord's 
 own profeifing Perple Qiould not believe nor re- 
 ceive the Report that is made of Him, high teas 
 the Complaint,ai.d aggravates their guilt exceed- 
 ingly- 2 It is not a Complaint as to one Sermon, 
 or as to one Time, but it's a Comprint frequent- 
 ly repeated, as to many fruitlefs Sermons, and as 
 to many Times,yea Generations; ifaiah preached 
 long in many Kings Reigns, and yet all along 
 his Prophecy he complains of it, as Chap. 6. 11. 
 Hjw long Lord {hall 'heir eyes be blind, and their ears 
 Heavy Sec and Chap. 28. 9. Whom jhall I teach 
 Doctrine? t him that are weaned from the milk, and 
 drawn from the breasls precept mujf be upon precept, and 
 line upon line, here a little and there a little ; and 
 Chap .6$. * • AH day long I have fir etched out my hands 
 to a rebellious people, and here again,W^o bath believ- 
 ed our report ? much and long, or many years 
 Preachin?.much plain and poweiful Preaching, 
 and yet lit le or no Fruit ; they are fnared a7id ta- 
 hn, and fall backward, for all that ; And this was 
 not in ifaiah's dayes only, but in Chrifts days, 
 'John 12. 37. 38. and in Paul's days, Rom. 10. 16. 
 where t'.e fame very words in the Text are repea- 
 ted ; nay, it runs down from the firfr fpreading 
 of theCofpel, even t-o t efe latter days wherein 
 we live, manv hear, but few receive the Report. 
 3. Confidti how m-ny they are that complain, 
 it's nor one or two, or a few, but all the Preach- 
 ers of the Gofpcl ; it's not. lord, who ruth be- 
 lieved my Report, but, who h>th believed our 
 Report'its complained of by Ijaiah here and in 
 fevc al other places named before;it's complained 
 of by Micah, Chap 7.1. Wo is me, for J am as they 
 
 Ah fad word ! as is that alio in Pfal. $ 1 .the Lord 
 calls Hear O my people, and I will teBifie to thee, open 
 thy moifth widt and I will fill it , but my pe'ple would 
 not hearken to my vice, and Ifrael would nnxe of me ; 
 and what Piophet is there almoil ( if I need fay 
 almoirjbut hath one way or other this Complaint 
 that though the Lord ftretched out His Hands a!l 
 day long, yet it was to a rebellious and gain-fay- 
 ing People . Look foreward, and fee what our 
 Lords fays of John Baptijf, and of H\mfe\i,W hereto 
 jhall I lik-.n this generation . it's life children fitting in 
 the market places faying on to another, we have piped 
 to you and ye have not danced, we have mournedto you, 
 and ye h Ave not lamented; that is, thereis much 
 Preaching of Men endowed with feveral Gifts 
 but none of them does the People much gcod ; 
 John preached with much holy aufterity, like one 
 Mourning ; the Son of Man molt fwectly, like 
 one Piping, yet neither the one nor the other 
 prevailed; there pre ibme Boanergs Jons of Thun- 
 der, allaruming and thundering Preachers; Tome 
 Barnabajfes, fonsof Conlblaticn, fwectly comfor- 
 ting Preachers, yet all gain but little on the 
 Hearers; our Lord fayeth,AArr 23. OJerufalem 
 Jerufalem, how often wculd I have gathered )o:t ? 
 this is the ordinary Complaint, yertonldnot, A ^th 
 Aggravation is, if we confider who they are that 
 meet with this Unbelief and Unfr ui rfulhefs in 
 them they preach to, if it were poor eoldrife 
 Preachers, iuehaswe, al?.s in a great meafure, 
 are, or fuch as the Scribes and the Phan'Jes were, 
 or if it were they who had Learning only, and 
 not Piety, it were not lb great matter to fee them 
 meet with Unbelief and Unfruitfulnefs in Then 
 Hearers; but it's even thefe whom the Lord lent 
 andiharpened. as Arrows out of His Quiver, as 
 this prophet was ; it's even his Preaching that is 
 fruitlefs in a g'eat meafure, and was there ever 
 a more fweet, plain, powerful, and delec 
 Preicher than Ijaiah was ? that even the very 
 reading of his Preachings may affect the Readers', 
 yet is there any that complains more, or fo mm h 
 as he dcerh in the Chapters before citcd ; it's like 
 ye will think, that if Ijaiah were Preaching now, 
 he would be as a S' one, that would not be moved 
 thereby, and yet his Preaching got the fame re- 
 turn and ertcrtainment that ours gets now ; and 
 Hofea called his Hearers to the moft High, 
 none at all would exalt Him ; it was their work 
 L to 
 

 t6 tf*i*b <*• 
 
 to ftreatch out their Handi all the day long, but 
 they hardened their Necks and refilled to return, 
 Jer. 8. and Zeth. 7. But jly. Confider all thefe 
 are Servants and Preachers under the Old Te- 
 {hment. and ycu may be difpofed to think that 
 under the Gofpel, when the vail is laid by, and 
 when Chrift Himfelf, their Lord and Mafter,nnd 
 His Apoftles come to Preach the Gofpel it mould 
 be otherwife ; yet John the Btptitt, who was 
 Chrifts Harbinger, who was a burning and 2 
 fhining Light,a (rayed and fixed Man,not a Reed 
 fhaken with the Wind, ( as many of us much 
 are ) a Prophet, yea, more than a Prophet, yet 
 when he preached,manyof his Hearers rejecledthe 
 Counjelof God aga.nft themfelvtsfjube J.John comes 
 preaching aufterely,and they fay he hath a Devil, 
 and if there was any rejoycing in his Light,itwas 
 but for a Seafon; and Paul that chofen VeiTel,how 
 often was he perfecuted ? and he hath the fame 
 Complaint, in the fame words that IJaiah hath 
 here of his Hearers, efpecially the Jews, Acts. 13 
 46 and 28. 28. and was conftrained to tell them, 
 that he and his Fellow-preachers behoved to 
 quite them, and betake themfelves to theGentiles; 
 and how doeth he complain of the Corinthians and 
 Calatians, and of their being bewitched , and fud- 
 denly feduced, and drawen away from the truth 
 & fimplicityof the Gofpel, by fome SeJffeeking 
 LownMinifters, coming with a glancing Coun- 
 terfit among them. We (hall clofe this with the 
 confideration of our Lordjefus, who was a none- 
 fuch Preacher, of whom it's {aid, Mat. 7. 29. that 
 He /pake with power y and not as the Scribes t anc\ Luke 
 4. when he is opening that fweet Text, if a. 61. 
 2, 2, 3. It's faid, They all wmdred at the gracious 
 yoords that proceeded out of his mouth • and the Offi- 
 cers that came to take Him, fay, that never wan 
 fpakeas He [poke ; and yet this fame is His Com- 
 plaint Malta' 2;. 37. Hovo often wouffl I have gathe- 
 red jou, and ye would not ; and John r. 1 r. it's faid, 
 He eaxnt to hit own y and his own received him not ; 
 Chorazj'n, Brthfaida and Capernaum were lifted up 
 to Heaven by the Lords preaching to them in 
 Pcrfon, and yet woe after woe is denounced a- 
 gainft them, becaufe they believed not, for all 
 His Preaching and Miracles; and it's a wonder, 
 if we look, thorow the Hiftory of the Gofpel, 
 how many a fweet Preaching He had, and with 
 what Weight and Power he fpoke,andfometimes 
 with Tears, and withall backed His Word with 
 Miracles,that made His Hearers acknowledge the 
 finger t)f God, and yet how few were brought to 
 Believe on Him ? fo that He was put to take up 
 this very Complaint of ifaiah here, John 12. 3 8. 
 Is it not a wonder, when He and His Apoftles 
 have preached fo much, and fo Jong, that the 
 
 Church is to little a Flock,and that BelicverVare 
 fo few in number,even after His AfcenfionPneed 
 weanyfurtherproof, that the Gofpel where it 
 comes gets but little welcome ? the Carriage 
 of many among pur felves is a fad proof of it 
 for we arc afraid that many of you,do not Believe 
 to this day, thoughthere hathbeen amongft you, 
 much long or many Years,and powerful preach i 
 
 Ifthisbenot enough to clear the Do£frine,i.Sec 
 how Chrift fpeaks of it, Mstth. 1 3. in the Parable 
 of thefoweroftheSeed, where there are three 
 forts of Ground that never bring forth goodFruit, 
 and there He fpeaks,not only of the time of His 
 own Perfonal Miniftry, but of all times, 2 Look 
 to the ordinary and dayly efTecl, or rather con- 
 fequent of this preached Gofpel,and it will prove 
 it; do not many perifh ? do not many croud 
 thick in the broad Way that leads to Deftruai- 
 on ? do not but very few Fruits of Faith appear? 
 is there not little, lamentably little, real Change 
 in the Way and Walk of moft to be feen ? To 
 Cl /J» r !£ yet furrner > Go thorow the feveral Ranks 
 of Perfons, that in God's account are Unbeliev- 
 ers and lay them by, O ! there will be exceed- 
 ing few Believers in Chrift found. Firft, Then lay 
 by the grofly Prophane, that are never fo much 
 as civilized. Secondly, The Ignorant, Stupid, 
 and Senfelefs, that never have mind they have 
 Souls, are never feared for Wrath, nor in the 
 leaft exercifed to make their Peace with God. 
 Thirdly, The Earthly-minded, that mind no o- 
 ther thing fave the Word. Fourthly, Thefe of 
 a Civil outward Carriage, that have fome good 
 Works, and as they think, good Days too, and 
 yet come not near Chrift to clofe wirh Him. 
 Fifthly, The Hypocrites : and that of all forts, 
 both the prefuming Hypocrites, that will thank 
 God they are better than their Neighbours, and 
 yet lippen not to Chrift, and free Grace through 
 Him,but feek to eftablifh their ownRighteoufnefs 
 grofs as it is ; and the legal Hypocrites,that never 
 denyed their own Righteoufnefs, nor fubmitted 
 to the Righteoufnefs of Chrift: Lay afide all thefe 
 I fay,and we leave it to your own Confciences to 
 judge, how few will be found to have Saving 
 Faith; and therefore lam perfw ad ed, if there 
 be any truth of God delivered to you,that this is 
 a truth,that though the Gofpel be preached to ma- 
 ny, yet there are but few Hearers of it, that do 
 actually believe in Jefus Chrift to the faving of 
 their Souls. 
 
 Ufe 1 .The firft Ufe of it is,To befeech you to let 
 this fink deep into your Minds as the Truth of 
 
 God, 
 
tyfmsh n- **'/• l 
 
 
 God for thefe Reafons. i .Becaufe it's a molt ufeful fought to reckon for that which ye have done 
 Truth, and if it were believed, it would make 
 Folks very watchful over themfelves, and to 
 tremble for fear, left they be found among the 
 multitude that Believe not, and put them to fe- 
 cure and ficker their intereft in God, and not to 
 reft on a Failnon and Form of Religion, without 
 obfervingwhat Fruit followeth ontheGofpel;a- 
 nv>ng the many Evils that undo not a Few, we 
 think this is not the leaft,that this Truth is never 
 thorowly fixed in them; they think there are ma- 
 ny Heathens and Turks without the Church, and 
 many grofs Swearers,Drunkards, and others fuch 
 within it, that will Perilh, but none others ,or at 
 leaft that they are but very few, who among a 
 profefling People Perilh; neither can they be in- 
 duced to think it's fuch a hard matter,to get one, 
 or a very few that are Believers in aCountrey- 
 fide, fo rhat lilfaiah were now alive to cry, Who 
 believes our report ? each of them would be ready 
 to anfwer,I believe. * Becaufe for as certain and 
 ufeful a Truth as this is, yet generally it's not 
 believed, Folks cannot think that io few Believe, 
 and that Believing is fo difficult and rare a thing: 
 I would ask you this Queftion, Was it ever a 
 .difficulty to any of you to Believe ? if not,what 
 is it that makes Believing fo rare ? what fhouJd 
 move the Prophet thus to complain : Who hath 
 believed our report < 1 (hall fliortly give you fome 
 •Evidences that many ofyou do not rea'ly believe 
 thisTiuth-The/rtf is,That fo few ofyou tremble 
 
 at the Word of God ; the Hiftorical Faith that 
 
 the Devils have, makes them tremble, but ye 
 
 have not that much;this is given as aProperty of 
 
 a fuitable Hearer of the Gofpel,to whomtheLord 
 
 will look. ifa. 66. I, 2. that he is one who trembles 
 
 at theWird; but the moftpart ofyou that hear 
 
 this Gofpel, are like thefe Pillars on which this 
 
 Houfe ftands, who are never fo much as once 
 
 moved at the Word ; ye either take not Faith 
 
 to be an abfolutely neceiTary thing, and that ye 
 
 cannot but Perilh without it,or ye think that the 
 
 Faith ye were Born with will do your turn;ye do 
 
 notBelieve that ye are naturally under the power 
 
 of the Devil, and led Captive by him at his will, 
 
 and that without Holinels, and a fpiritual gra- 
 cious Frame.and ftamponyour Heart and Way, 
 
 ye (hall never fee God ; what wonder then that 
 
 ye come not to reft on Chin' ,when the very Let- 
 ter of the Gofpelis not credited. A fecond Evi- 
 dence is, That there isfo little prepaiationmade 
 
 to prevent your eternal Hazard, it's faid of 
 
 'Noah, Heb. 1 1 . that Noah being warned of God, 
 
 prepared an Ark-^nd this is attributed to his Faith; 
 
 it's n t.pofliblcthat ye would live fo negligent- 
 
 1 
 
 ly and carelcfly, if ye believed that the Curfe 
 of God were purfuing you, and that ye will be 
 
 in the Body, and that ye will meet with God as 
 an Enemy ; If this were believed/ though your 
 Hearts were harder than they are, it would make 
 you tremble,and put you to other fort of thoughts 
 and fer ioufnefs. A third Evidence is, T hat there 
 is no Fruit of Faith among many ofyou; For 
 where it is,it will not be got altogether fmuther- 
 ed, but will ky th and mew it felf one way or o- 
 ther; And if ye willftilJ afTert your Faith, \ 
 would fay to you as James doeth to thefe to whom 
 he writes, Shew me your Faith by jour Works ; If ye 
 fhall fay, God knows ; I anfwcr,that ycfhall find 
 that to be a Truth that He knows, and He will 
 make you know that He does fo ; But alas ! that 
 poor Shift will net avail you when it comes to 
 the pufh, O try your Faith then by your Works; 
 See what Mortification of Lufts, what Repent- 
 ance from dead works, what grouth in Know- 
 ledge, what fhining of Holinefs in your Con- 
 vention, is attained to; Many ofyou, as to 
 your very Knowledge, are as if ye lived among 
 Heathens, many of whom have been as free of 
 vice, and more profitable to others, than many 
 ofyou are, and cared as little for the World as 
 many of you do ; How comes it to p*fc then 
 that ye have lived as if yecould have Faith, and 
 yet have, no Fruit? Ye muft either fay, that Faith 
 is not neceiTary, or that ye may have Faith with- 
 out Fiuit, for we are fure your Fruit is not the 
 Fruit of Faith -; To live honeftly as you call it, 
 what is that ? There are many Heathens who have? 
 gone beyond you in that, we will not fay, that 
 Moral honeftyis nothing,but fure it is not all;AH 
 the Fruits of meer Moral Honefty, are but fouc 
 Fruits, that will let your Teeth on edge: Neither 
 is it your hearing of the Word only, but your 
 Believing and Doing of it, that wnl profit you ; 
 It's very f a £, that meft plain obvious Duties are 
 not at all followed, as the ftudying cf Knowledge, 
 the exercifing of Repentance, one of the very 
 firft Duties, which is never feparated from Faith, 
 the humbling of the Soul before God. the loath- 
 ing ofyourfelves for all ye have done, the love 
 of God, &c. for thtre may be Challenges for 
 grofs Evils in Heathens • And Fenr is no* Repcn- 
 tance,butGodlySorrow thatcaullth Repent nee, 
 not to be repented of. A fourth Evidence is Tho 
 want of that Work of God's Spirit that accom- 
 panies Faith, Faith is a fpecial Wo.k of the 
 Spirit, and the gracious Gifr of God, it is 
 wrought by the exceeding mighty Power c{ 
 God, whereby lie railed Chrift horn the Dc.d, 
 and by that fame Powc: Heworketh in themth.'t 
 Believe; now,kncw ye ever what this work mt ail- 
 ed ? Found ye it ever to be a difficult wok to 
 li z Bel 
 
*8 # tfaiah Jj- 
 
 Believe ? kmw ye ever what it was to have the 
 Spirit of God conftraining yourHeartto Believe? 
 I fpeak not oi any extraordinary thing ; but cer- 
 tainly, Faith is not Natural, nor cometh from 
 pure Nature, and where-ever it is it manifefts 
 itfelfby Works, and evidenceth the Power of 
 the Spirit in the working thereof: There are 
 fome fadEvidences of;and bitter Fruits that fpring 
 from ths Root, to wit folks being Strangers to 
 the cxperimentalKnowledge of the Work of Faith 
 As, i. Whun Men know no more difficu'ty to 
 get Chrift, and to reft on Chrift, than to believe 
 a Story of Wallace or of 'Julius CeJar»i.Whcn Folks 
 fay rhatrhey believed all their Days, and believ- 
 ed always fince ever they knew Good by II]- and 
 though their Faith be no true Saving Faith,but a 
 guefling, yet they will not quite it, yea it's im- 
 poflible for Men to get them convinced that rbey 
 want Faith. 3. When Men never kntw what it is 
 to be without Faith ; it's one of the great Works 
 o£the Spiritjo^* 16. 8. to convince of the want 
 of Faith ; Folks will be eafily convinced, that 
 breach of the Sabbath,that Stea'ing,that bearing 
 falfe Witnefs,d/%are Sins,wherethe fpecialWork 
 of the Spirit is not ; but how many of you have 
 been convinced of the want of Faith ? we are 
 conftrained to fay this fad word when we look on 
 this Text, that it is lamentably fulfilled in your 
 Eyes, and in this our Congregation : think not 
 that we wrong fuch of you who have believed 
 our Report ; Ah it's few, even very few of you, 
 that Receive and Believe this Gofpel. 
 
 Uje a. The fecond Ufe is for Conviction, if it 
 be ordinary for the great part of the Hearers of 
 the Gofpel not to Believe, let it fink in your 
 Hearts that it is no extraordinary thing that hath 
 befallen you ; are ye not fuch Hearers as many 
 ofrhefewere, who heard ifaiah and Jef-u Chrift} 
 and if fo, will not this follow,that fliere are ma- 
 ny ,yea,even the thick and throng of the Hearers 
 of the Gofpel, that Believe not ? and who, if 
 Chrift were gathering Sinners by this preached 
 Gofpel, would not be gathered ; if where the 
 Gofpel comes many do not Believe, then here in 
 this City where the Gofpel is preached to a great 
 multitude of profeiTing Members of the vifible 
 Church, t':ere are readily many that do not Be- 
 lieve ; or let me ask of you a Reafon why ye do 
 except your felves, cither this Truth holds not 
 fo univerfally,or many of you muft fall under it, 
 or elfe give a Reafon why you fall not under it ; 
 the Truth which ifaiah preached, hath been 
 preached toyou, and yet ye remain Unbelieving; 
 and Defpifers of the Invitation to rhe Marriage of 
 the King's Son, as the Jews did ; we are not now 
 fpeaking of Jews, Turks , nor Heathws, nor of the 
 
 Verf. 1, . Serm. 6. 
 
 Churches in general,nor of other Congregations, 
 but of you in Glajgtw, that have this Gofpel 
 preachvd amongft you, and we fay cf you, that 
 there are few that believe our Report ; Think it 
 not our Word, the Application flows naively 
 from the Text, nor from neceflity of the th ng, 
 but from the ordinary courfe of Men Corruption, 
 are not the fame Evidences of the want of Faith, 
 which we fpoke of, among you ? how many are 
 there in their Lift Prophanc ? how many reft: on 
 Civility and Forma'utyris there not as little Re- 
 pentance now as was in Ij'matis time ? as Jitrle 
 denying of our own R g'i eoufnefs ; and making 
 ufe of ChrifVs; though the Woid be taught by 
 Line upon Line, hete a little and there a little? 
 It may be, though ye think that the Doctrine is 
 true in the general, ye will not, ye cannot digeft 
 the Appl cation, That among fo many of you 
 vifible Proffeilors of taith,rhee are but few real 
 Believers; therefore we fhal! follow the Ccnvitti- 
 on a little further, by giving you fome Confe- 
 derations to make it out, tha: wc have but too 
 juft ground to make Application of the Doftrine 
 toyou, efpeciaFy confidering the abounding of 
 Corruption that is amongft you, that ye may be 
 put to fear the Wrath that attends Sin,and to flee 
 ro Chrift for Refuge in time, 1. Confider of 
 whom it is that t'e Prophet isfpeaking, and of 
 what Time,Is it not the Times and Days ofthe 
 Gofpel ! had not the Spirit ( in diclating this 
 Text of Scripture ) an Lye on Scttland, and on 
 Glijgovo ! and do not our Lord Jelus Chrift and 
 Paul apply it in their Days ? and why then may 
 not we alfoin ours ? and when the Spirit fpeks 
 exprcfly of the lair Times, that they iha'l be 
 perilous, and of the falling away of many fhould 
 it not give us the hotter alarm 2 Do not all 
 things agree to us as to them? is not this Gofpel 
 the fame? is our Preaching any beter than theirs? 
 nay, had they not much more powerful Preach- 
 ing?and if that Preaching which was much more 
 powerful, had not efficacy as to many to work 
 Faith in them,what may we expect to do by our 
 PreachingParenot your Hearts as deceitful ? are 
 not yourCorruptions as ftrong ? areye not as bent 
 toBacMliding as they were ? what fort of Folk 
 were they that were unfruitful Hearers? were they 
 not Members of the vifible Church as ye are, 
 circumcifed under the Old Teframcnr, as ye are 
 baptized under the New? was it not thefe who 
 had Chrift and His Apoftles preaching to them? 
 yea,they were not among the more Ignorant fort, 
 who clid not Believe, but Scribes and Pbarifes, 
 and thefe not of the prophaneft fort only, but 
 fuch as c*me to Church, and attended on Ordi- 
 nances, 
 
Serm 7 ] ^ iah * 3 ' 
 
 nances as ve do, yea, were fuch as had Gifts, and 
 Xuf & and preached in Chrift'sName, 
 as you may fee, huh r 3 6 Now w,.en trure are 
 fo many, and of tuch Ranks, who get no good 
 of the Word, and of fuch, a great many that will 
 fcek to enter, and lha 1 not be able, to whom 
 Chrift will fay, depart, I know you not, ye work- 
 ers of Iniquity ; What can be the reafon that ma- 
 ny of you do fo confident y aiTert your Faith, 
 when there are fcarcely any charafters of Unbe- 
 lief but ye have them ? Or, what can be your 
 advantage in keeping your felves carnal y Secure, 
 when the ftiong Man in the m*n time is in the 
 Houfe ? And to fhut your Eyes, and make your 
 Necks friff,and to refolve, as it were, not only to 
 ly frill but to die in your Unbelief ; I perfwade 
 my felf, that many of you e're long, will be made 
 to wonder, that ever ye thought your felycs Be- 
 lievers, and will be galled \xhen ye think upon 
 it that whatever was faid to you, ye would needs 
 maintain your prefurnptuous Faith. When we 
 bid you iuffer the conviction to fink, let none 
 put it from themfelves to others but let every 
 one takeithometohimfelf; although we could 
 not have any of you catting loo'e what is indeed 
 made faft and well fecured, nor overturning a 
 lender and weak Building, though it were, to 
 fpeak fo but of two Stone height, if it be 
 founded on a right Foundation,on the Rock; but 
 we fpeak to you that cannot be brought to fu- 
 fbettyour felves, when ye hare juit reafon to do 
 fo; Sure, this challenge and chaige belongs to 
 fome, yea to many, and we would ask what 
 ground have ye to fhift it ? H w can ye prove 
 your Faith more than o hers that have none at 
 all?That ye hope ye have Faith,will not do your 
 turn, that's no folidpr-of; Ye cannot come to 
 Chrifr, except made fuitably fenfible of your di- 
 
 Verfe i« Serm. t» 
 
 ftancei and of that ye have never been convin- 
 ced as yet ; Do ye think to roll your lelves on 
 Chrift fleeping, and > e know not how ? Certain- 
 ly when the Pins of your Tabernacle come to be 
 a loofing ye fhall find that your fancied Faith 
 (hall not be able to keep out a chall nge ; Yc 
 could never endure to think your felves to be 
 ChrifVs Enemic, or that ye wanted Faith, but 
 when Death come, Confcience will awaken, anJ 
 the challenge will needs be in upon you, whe- 
 ther ye will or not; Many of you thnk that yc 
 get wrong, when your Faith is quefhoned or re- 
 proved, as if it were an odd and rare thing to be 
 gracelefs, or to be living as Members of the vi- 
 lible Church, and yet want Faith ; And it irri- 
 tats you to be export ulated with in private for 
 your lying in Unbelief; But fufrer this word 
 now to take hold of you, I befeech you, and if 
 ye could once be brought to fufpeft your felves, 
 and to think thus with your ftlv^s y What if I be 
 one of thofe many that believe not ? I fear I be 
 in hazard to be mifraken about my Faith, and 
 from that, put to follow on to fee how yc will 
 be able to ward off the challeng, and to prove 
 your believing to be found, we would think ye 
 were farr on? O jf ye had the Faith of this Truth, 
 that among the many Hearers ef the Gofpel, 
 there are but few that Believe, and were brought 
 thereby to examine and try your lelves ; There 
 is no Truth that Chrift innfrs more on than this, 
 that ft rait is the Gate, and narrow is the way to 
 Heaven,andthat but few find it 3 and that there are 
 few that Believe, and few that be Saved; If ye did 
 once in earned look on your felveN as in hazard, 
 and were brought to refleft on Matters betwixt 
 God and you, it might be the Lord would fol- 
 low the convittion, we defire him to do it, and 
 to #im be Piaife. 
 
 SERMON Vlf. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. I. 
 
 Who hath believed our report ? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revcahd ? 
 
 1 
 
 T's a fad matter, and much to be lamented, 
 when the carrying of luch good News, as 
 is the Report of Je!us Chrift in the Gofpel, 
 becomes unprofitable to them that hear it, 
 and thereby burdenfome to them that car- 
 ry it; Folk would think that fuch glad Tyd- 
 ings as make the Heavenly Kofi: of Angels to fing, 
 would be very joyful and welcome News to Sin- 
 ners, and alio moft heartfome to them that carry 
 them ; and where the former is, there the latter 
 willbcalib; where the Word becomes ufelcfs 
 
 and unprofitable to Hearers, it is burdenfome as 
 to the concomitant and effeft, to honeft Mini- 
 fters that fpeak it ; Though ifa.ah brought theft 
 News in a very plain, powerful, pleafant, and 
 fweet manner to the People be preached to, 
 and that frequently, yet in the midftof his iwcet 
 Prophefics, he breaks out with this Complaint. 
 Who hath believed our Rtport ? He is crying fid 
 Tydings,yet taking a look of the Unbelief of'his 
 Hearers now and then, he complains of it to 
 God in his own name, and in the name of all the 
 
 Minv 
 
lo Ifaiah 53. . 
 
 Miniftersof the GofpeJ, that mould come after 
 Him 
 
 We (hew, that it was a very ordinary thing 
 where the Gofpel comes in greareft Plenty and 
 Power, for the Hearers thereof to meet it with 
 much Unbelief, a Truth that was verified in Ifai- 
 ab his time, and that he forefaw would be veri- 
 fied in the days of the Gofpel ; and therefore it's 
 our Report, not only is it the Report of ifaiah, 
 but it is the Report of Chrift and of Paul, who 
 make the fame complaint, and cite the fame 
 words oi ifaiah, and need we doubt of the Truth 
 of it, when IJaiab in the Old, and Paul in the 
 New Testament, thus complain ? Not to fpeak 
 of their, and our Lord and Mafter, who came to 
 his own,and his own received him not, and of whom 
 when He came, they faid, This is the heir, corns, let 
 us kill him ; Need we, I fay, doubt of the Tiuth 
 of the Do&rine, or to think it ftrange to fee it 
 fo in our time, and that we have the fame com- 
 plaint,when the Means (at lead the InftrumentsX^ 
 are incomparably far below what they were then* 
 though it be (till the fame Gofpel? 
 
 The Prophet's fcopc is, to give Advertifement 
 and warning to the Hearers of the Gofpel for the 
 time to come,of this rife Evil, even the abound- 
 ing of Unbelief in them that hear it. i . T hat he 
 may prevent thefcandal of the*unfruitfulnefs of 
 the Word where it comes. 2. That he may add 
 a Spur of excitement to the Hearers of the Gof- 
 pel to endeavour to make ufe of it, and not to 
 reft upon Means, how powerful and lively foe- 
 ver they be, but to prefs foreward to the End 
 they aim and fhout at. 3. That he may put 
 Folks to. the Tryal,and that they may be brought 
 to look in upon themfelves, whether they be, or 
 not be, in this black roll of them that receive 
 not rhe Report ; and we think, if any thing put 
 Folks to be fufpicious of themfelves,and to com- 
 mune with their own Hearts about their Soul's 
 eftate, this mould do it ; ejpecially when they 
 confider how this Evil agrees to ail i times, and 
 yet more efpecially to the the Times of the Gof- 
 pel, and how it js an Evil that abounds, not only 
 among the Prophane, but among thefe who are 
 Civil & Zealous too for theRighteouihefs of the 
 Law,it mould make them put themfelves to the 
 Tryal. and not to take every thing to be Faith, 
 that they fancy to be Faith; for either this Do- 
 ctrine is not true, that where-everthe Gofpel 
 comes, it meets with unbelief in molt part of it's 
 
 wdto put them to fufpeci and try them- 
 I do not mean, thar any fhould call the 
 
 y**fc »• Serm. 7.' 
 
 a Pcrfon but will fay, he Believes," fo that the 
 generality of Men's hearts run quite contrary to 
 this Truth; and therefore we fay, it isthefcoce 
 of this Doctrine and the like, to give Folks the 
 alarm, an * 
 
 felves ; 1 uu ituL mean, 
 
 woik of Faith where it is indeed, for that is alfo 
 a part of our Unbelief, and ordinarily when Un- 
 belief falleth en the one fide, the Devil maketh 
 it up on the other, and makes tender Souls que- 
 stion their Faith when thsy begin to Believe, asif 
 they could m-.nd Unbelief with Unbelief; But 
 it is to fuch that we fp.ake, who cannot be 
 brought to liifpect theii Faith; certainly ye will 
 wonder one day, that ye mould have heard fuch 
 a plain Truth, and yet would not fo much as 
 ask your own hearts, whether there was icaibn 
 to fufpefr your want of Faith, as it's fai :, that 
 Chrift marvelled at their Unbelief who heaid Him, 
 fo may we at yours, and e're long ye ihall alfo 
 marvel at your felves on this account. 
 
 Before we profecute this Ufe, and the reft a- 
 ny further, we mall fpeake to another Doftnne, 
 and it is the laft that flows from thefe words, 
 tending to the lame feepe to make us fear at 
 Unbelief, which the Prophet makes luch a heavy 
 ground of Complaint. The Doctrine then is, 
 That if there were never fo many under Unbe- 
 lief, and never fo many who refufe to receive 
 JefusChrift, yet Unbelief is a Sin, and a moft /in- 
 fill Sin, which, though Folks had no mcfre, will 
 feclude them from Heaven; There were no 
 ground for this Complaint, if it it were not fo, 
 even as the Prophet would have had no ground 
 to complain v£ the Peoples unbelief, if there 
 were not many Unbelievers; fo Unbelief is a 
 very great Sin in whomfoever it is, and makes 
 them exceeding finful : Or, take the Doctrine 
 thus, is's a very great Sin for a People to whom 
 Chrift: is offered in this Gofpel, not to receive 
 Him, and reft upon Him for Salvation, as He is 
 offered to them therein ; And it arifeth from 
 this ground. That where Chrift is not received, 
 there the MiniftLrs of the Gofpel have ground of 
 Complaint, for it fuppofes a great defeft in their 
 duty, feing it is their duty to Believe ; Yea, the 
 gieat Gci'pel-duty on which all other Duties 
 hang,and which is called for by many tyes and 
 obligations, Vr.is is his Commandment, faith John in 
 his fir ft Epift'e, chap, 3. 13. that ie believe on the 
 Name of his Son Jefus Cljrift, therefore it muft be 
 
 a 
 
 Hearers, and cannot be applyed to this Genera- great Sin not to Believe, 
 tion ; Or, that there is much Faith in this Gene- There are fhortly three things comprehended 
 ration that we live in, that will not be counted in this Doctrine (fpeakir.g now of Unbelief, not 
 Saving Faith: If all of you were Believers, trure only as oppofiteto Hiftorical Faith, which we 
 were no ground for this Complaint^ if we will commonly call Infidelity, but as it's oppolite to 
 take Folks on their own word, we can hardly gee Swing Faith, which wefhew is.that which is cal- 
 led 
 
led for here: ) r. That Unbelief, or not receiv- 
 ing of Chrift, is a fin, or a thing in its own na- 
 ture finful : It's a fin as well as Adultery, Mur- 
 ther, Stealing, Lying, Sabbath-breaking, &c. are; 
 Yea, and in the Aggravations of it, a fin beyond 
 thefe ; It's as contrary to the Word and Will of 
 God, and is as contrary to the Divine Majefty, 
 as Drunkennefs, Murther, Adultery or any o- 
 ther fin is ; The pofitive command of Believing 
 being as peremptory, plain, and particular, as 
 thefe negative ones are, the breach ofitmuft be 
 as finful. 2. That there is fuch a kind of Sin as 
 Unbelief, befide other Sins, and fuch a diftinft 
 Duty asBelieving,that if Folks could do all other 
 Duties, if this Duty of Believing be wanting, 
 they will be frill finful, and there will be (till 
 ground of Complaint ; And if Faith be a particu- 
 lar Duty required, and diftinft from other Du- 
 ties and Graces, as it's clear it is, Gal. 5.21. then 
 Unbelief muft be a particular Sin, diftintt from 
 other Sins,though';it hath influence on other Sins, 
 as Faith hath on other Duties; So Rev. 21.8. It's 
 ranked among themoft abominable Sins,therea- 
 fon why we mark this, is, becaufe there may be 
 fome in whom fome grofs Sins, as Adultery, 
 Blood-flied, and the like, do reign, and they get 
 that name to be called Adulterers, Murtherers, &e. 
 others may poflibly be free of thefe, who yet 
 have Unbelief reigning in them, and therefore 
 they get that name to be called Unbelieving, and 
 are ranked with the groiTeft of Evil-doers. 3. 
 That even many, in the times wherein the Scrip- 
 tures were written, and in every Age fmce, are 
 found guilty of this Sin, and condemned for it, 
 who are as to feveral other things commended; 
 Hence it's faid, Rom. 10. 3. of the Jews, thatf^ 
 had a zeal of God, which in it felfis good, though 
 not according to knowledge, ^tx, it was their main lett 
 and obftru&ion in the way to Life, That being ig. 
 norant of Gods right eoufnefs, they went about to eftablifh 
 their own ; For as much Zeal as they had for the 
 Law of Mofes, feing they did not receive Jefus 
 Chrift & HisRightcoufnefs byl aith,it made any 
 other good thing they had unacceptable, and the 
 reafon why we markthis, is, that Folks may fee 
 that it is not only for grofs Sins, and with grofs 
 Sinners that the Gofpel complains and expoftu- 
 lats, but it's alfo for not fubmitting unto, and 
 not receiving the Righteoufnefs of Chrift, and 
 therefore ye are far miftaken, that think your 
 felves free from juft grounds of challenge, be- 
 caufe forfooth,ye are free of Murther, Adultery, 
 Drunkennefs, and the like ; Do ye notconfidcr 
 that Unbelievers are in the fame rank and roll with 
 abominable Whoremongers,Sorcerers, Idolaters, 
 and Dogs? And is not Unbelief contrary to the 
 Command of God; as well as Muther, Adultery- 
 
 Verfe j. 3I 
 
 and thefe other grofs Sins? And therefore Folks 
 think little of Unbelief, though it be very rife, 
 if they be free of other grofs Sins. 4. We fhall 
 add a fourth thing which the Doftrine implyes; 
 That Unbelief, though there were nootherSin, 
 is exceding finful, and is fir ft, The great ground 
 that makes God expoftulate with the Hearers of 
 the Gofpel, and that makes them come under the 
 Complaint, John 5.40. Ye will not come to me, that 
 ye may have Life ; and Matth. 23. 37. How often 
 would I have gathered you, and ye would not ; And 
 for fubftance, it's the Lord's great complaint of 
 moftofHisprofefling People, Pfal, 81. n, / am 
 the Lord thy God, open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it; 
 but my people would not hearken to my voice, *«</Ifrael 
 would none of me, and then follows, O that my people 
 had hearkened unto my voice** There is no Sin the 
 Lord complains more of than this, and it's the 
 great complaint of all His Servants. Secondly ', Be- 
 hold how the Lord threatens this Sin, and punifh- 
 es for it, fee Pfal 9^.7. and Heb 3, 7. and Heb. 4. 
 8. Where He fwears in His Wrath againft Unbe- 
 lievers, that they fhall not enter into His Reft; 
 Adultery and Murther do not more certainly 
 keep Men from Heaven than this Sin of Unbe- 
 lief doth, yea, they are claffed together, Rev.11. 
 8« fee alfo Luke 12. 46. where the fevereft Judge- 
 ment that is executed is upon Unbelievers; And 
 in the Man tc.at had the offer of Chrift, and did 
 not receive it, and put on the WeddingGarment, 
 Math. 22. i2, 13. fee it alfo in the words that are 
 pronounced againft Choraz,in, Bethfaida, and Caper* 
 naum, Mat. 1 1 . and our blelfed Lord Jefus loves 
 not (to fpeak fo) to pronounce woes, but toblefs 
 His People ; Yet when they have the oifer of Life 
 through Him, and will not receive it, He pro- 
 nounces woe after woe upon them, and of what 
 fort were they ? even beyond thefe that came u- 
 pon Tyrus and Sidon y upon Sodjtn and GomoraJ;; we 
 think fuch streamings as thefe fhould make Folks' 
 not to. think Unbelief a light, or little fin; Or, 
 that there is any ground of quietnefs, fo long as 
 they are in a Self-righteous condition, and have 
 not their peace made with God through Chrift. 
 Thirdly, Look further, to the greatnefs of this 111 
 the ftrange names that the Lord puts upon it, 1 
 John 5-. 11. He that bilieves not, hath madt God a li.jr; 
 And is there any Sin that hath a grofler name or 
 effettthan this? For it receives not the Report 
 which He hath given of His Son; Hettfif Folks 
 that Happinefs is to begotten in Him only, and 
 they think to be Happy though they take another 
 way ; they believe not the Report, for if they be- 
 lieved it, they would receive Chrift as their Life; 
 Sec further what names 1 re given toit,ffc£-6 6 and 
 Heb. io. 20. which though they- be there given, 
 
 with 
 
31 Ifsiah *}. 
 
 wirh other aggravations of finning willfully, with 
 dejpite, 6cc. with lefpect. to the unpardonable Sin, 
 yet who are they taatlivc unuci the uofpcl and 
 believe noc, but in a g eat me.- fine they will be 
 found capable or rnoft of them at Icait ? .It's cal- 
 led a crucifying of the Son Oj God a frejh, a putting 
 Him to open frame, &c. and *ho arc they that do 
 this, and on what ground ; It's Unbe 'ievers 
 through their unbelicr, they rhink not Chrift 
 woititthe having, and reject all obtt is fpoken 
 of Him, and ciy *vay with Hint, as the 'Jewti.id; 
 Andas to their paiticular Guilt, they ciucfie 
 Him, forth-y cannot lerufe Him, without af- 
 fionting him, and can there be fuch an affio. t- 
 ing of Him, as when he condefcends fo very 
 lo*r, to thing fo little of Him ? Fourthly Conii- 
 der the Exprertions under w hich He fctsoutHis 
 beirg affected (to fay fo.; wirh this Sin ; He was 
 fo affected with it, Uark. 3 5. that it's faid, He 
 was grieved for their Unbelief. He had many Sor- 
 rows and Griefs, and fufTered many things, but 
 this grieved Him fomeway mere than al] did ; 
 And it's faid, Mark 6. 6. Tnat He marvelled becaufe 
 •f their unbelief ; It's n't faid that he marvc led at 
 their Adulteries, ind their grofs fin?, but that 
 when he was taking inch a convincing way to 
 demonfrrattochemnisGcd-hcad.yet they would 
 not believe on him, He marvelled at rhat; So 
 Luk. 19 41: It's faid, that when he came near to 
 Jerufaletx, He weeped «vr it , and why ? the fol- 
 lowing words tell us, O that thou had kmwn in this 
 thy day, the things that belong to thy peace , That is, 
 O that thou hadft believed, and received the 
 Gofpel, at leaft in this thy day, ( though thou 
 did it not before) when thou wert, and art Co 
 plainly and powerfully called to this Duty; and 
 ye may know rhat it behoved to be fome great 
 thing rhat made Him to weep, when all that 
 the Lev il and Pontius Pilate, and the 'Jews could 
 do, made Him nor to weep i It's faid, Mat. ir> 
 that He upbraided thekCines that f/e had preach- 
 ed much in, on this ground ; Sure, when He 
 that gives liberally and upbraids none, does up- 
 braid for this Sin, it fhews how much He was 
 pieifed with it ; And L::k. (4. 2 1 it's faid of this 
 Sin, that it lingered Him, and He is not eafily 
 angered ; Sinners need not fear to anger Him hy 
 corning to Him, but when they come not, He is 
 angry- It's faid, Matth 22: 7. He was wroth at 
 this Sin, and it's on this ground, that Pfal 2. 
 12. we are bidden, Kift the Son, left He be angry, 
 that is, to exercife Faith in Him, for if we do it 
 not. He will be angry, and we will perifh. 
 Thee are other Aggravations of this Sin, which 
 we leave till we come to the Application 
 Vfe i.Is there not as much here, though Folks 
 
 had no more but their Unbelief, as may make 
 thum know, it's an evil and bitter thing, and as 
 may make them icar at it, and rlee frona.it, and 
 to icar, len they be found undei fche guilt of ir, 
 when called to a reckoning, clneciaJly when un- 
 belief is fo rife, that but tew U.JptetthemfeiVes 
 01 fear it; theie ishaidyany Ai but ye will foon- 
 er take uith it, than with rhis of Unbelief, and 
 there is no Duty nor Gracetrut ye more re'auily 
 think ye perform and have, than tnis of Faith, 
 jnd it is come to that height, that I oiks think 
 they believe always, and know not what it is ro 
 misbelieve ; do ye trunk that this prcfumptuous 
 and fancied Faith will be counted for Faith, or 
 that Chiilt who lifts Faith narrowly, will kt ic 
 pa s for Saving i aith ? no certainly. 
 
 Uje 2 Is her^not here ground of Advertifc- 
 ment, wakening, roufing, and alaruming to ma- 
 ny, rhat think themfelvcs free of ether challen- 
 ges; If the Spirit were coming powerfully to 
 convince of Sin, it would be of this, Became they 
 believe not, as it is John 16. 9 and we are per- 
 fwaded many of you had need of this Convicti- 
 on, that never once queuions your having of 
 Faith, or care not whet;.er ye have it or not; 
 Put thefe two Doctrines together, That Unbe- 
 lief is an abominable Sin, and that it is notwith- 
 standing a very rife lin, and let them link deep 
 into your Hearts, and they will put you ro other 
 thoughts of Heart, if this plain Truth of God 
 prevail noc wi h you, we know not what will 
 do it; But the time Cometh when ye fhall be 
 undenyably convinced of both, tha: Un'elief is 
 a great fin, and that it is a very rife Sin, and f 
 this alio, thit it is an abominable and loathfome 
 thing, and very prejudicial and hurtful to yow." 
 Uje 3 And therefore, a third Ufe, If it be fo, 
 let us ask this Queftion, How comes it to pafs, 
 that fo many in trying their State,and in ground- 
 ing of it, lay fo litt e weight on Faith, and th-'nk 
 fo little of Unbelief? I am fpeaking to the gene- 
 rality ofyou, and letnototherswrongthemfelves, 
 nor miirake the intent of this Scripture ; H w it 
 is, I fay, that the generality of you thath:ar 
 this Gofpel, come under this common and epi- 
 demick Temper, or rather Diflemper, ro main- 
 tain your Peace and Confidence, when ye can 
 ( in the mean time ) give fo ittle proof of it? 
 Think ye that Faith cannot be a milling, or mi- 
 ftaken,or that it is or inary and common, or that 
 it is indifferent,whether ye haveit or not?we are 
 perfwaded.that many ofyou fink.that if ye have 
 a good mind (as ye call it) and a fquare civil ho- 
 nelt walk, and keep ftill jour good Hope, trntall 
 will be we T l;ye never doubt,nor queftion whether 
 ye have received Chriil or not, but if Unbelief 
 
 Jy 
 
Serm. 7. Ijsiah. $3. 
 
 ly in your Bofom,( I mean not» doubting-defpe- 
 ration,or queftioningof theGodhead,but the not 
 receiving of Chrift, and His Righteoufnefs, ) 
 though ye had more than ordinary Hypocrites 
 have, ye will for this Sin of Unbelief find your 
 felves under the ftanding Curie of God, for our 
 Lord fays, Jthn 3.18. He that believes not is undent, 
 ntdalready, and <ver. 36. the wrsthofGtdabidctbon 
 hint. 
 
 In prefling of this Ufe,l (Lai fliew by a fewAg- 
 gravations of this Sin, why the Lord layeth To 
 much weight upon it,&that,notfo much as itop- 
 pofeth Faith, as it is a condition of the Covenant 
 of Grace, and a mean to unite us to Chrift, but 
 mainly as it is a Sin thwarting his Command : 
 And,r. It thwarteth with both the Law and the 
 Gofpel.it thwarteth with the Commands of the 
 firft Table,and fo is a greater Sin than Murther 
 or Adultery, nay than Sodomy, though thefe 
 be great, vile, and abominable Sins; which may 
 be thought ftrange, yet it's tiue, it makes the 
 Ferfon guilty of it, more vile before God, than 
 a Pagan-Sodomite ; the nature of the Sin being 
 more hainous. as being againft the firft Tabic of 
 the Law, in both the firft and fecondCommands 
 thereof, it being by Faith in God, that we make 
 God our God, and worfhip God inCiirift accep- 
 tably : Next,its not only a Sin againft the Law, 
 but a Sir againft the Gofpel, & the prime F.'ower 
 ( to fpeak fo ) of the Gofpel; it comes in conrra- 
 diction rothe very defign of the Gofpel, which 
 is to manifeft the glory of the Grace of God, in 
 bringing Sinners t"> believe; on Chrift, and to be 
 faved through Him ; but He can do no great 
 things of this fort amongft unbelieving People, 
 becaufe of their Unbelief; it bindeth up his 
 Hands, as it were, ( to fpe-ik fo with revert nc<J 
 that He cannot do them a good turn. 2. 1: ftrikes 
 more narrowly againft the Honour of God, and 
 of the Mediator, and doth more prejudice to 
 the Miniftry of the Gofpel, and caufeth greater 
 deftru&ion of Souls than any other Sin; irs pof- 
 fible, notwithftanding of other Sins; that Chrift 
 may have fatisfattion for the travel of His Soul, 
 and there may be a relation bound up betwixt 
 Him and Sinners notwithftanding of them; but 
 if this Sin of Unbelief were unverfal, Hefhou'd 
 never get aSoul ro Heaven ;the falvation of .Souls 
 is called, the fkajurs of the LorH.but this obftrutls 
 it, and clofeththe Door betwixt Sinners and ac« 
 
 Icefs to God ; it ftrikes alfo at the main Fruit of 
 the Miniftery, itmakes them complain to God, 
 that theWordis not taken off theirHand.it fru- 
 ftrates the very end of theMiniftry,and it comes 
 neareft thedeftru&ion of immortai Souls; we 
 need not fay,it brings on,but it holds and keeps 
 
 Verj.t. 33 
 
 on the Wrath of God on Sinners foi ever,J& that 
 believeth, ( as we fliew before from Jthn 3. ) is 
 condemned Mlresdy, *vd the ^rsth ofGtd * bidet h m 
 h.m, 3. More particularly, There is nothing in 
 God,( even that which is moft excellent in Him, 
 if we may fpeak fo t not excepted J but it ftrikes 
 againft it, It ftrikes againft His Grace, and fru- 
 firates that;*hen Chrift is not received,fome fort 
 and degree of defpite is done to the Spirit of 
 Gtace, Unbelievers thwart with Him in the way 
 of His Grace, and will have no fpiritual Good 
 from Him; it comes in oppefition to HisGood- 
 nefs, for where Unbelief reigns, He hath noac- 
 cefs, in a manner, to communicate it; it ftrikes 
 againft His Faithfulnefs, there is no weight laid 
 oil His promifes,it counts Him a Liarjin a word; 
 it ftrikes againft all His Attributes. 4. There 
 is no Sin that hath fuch a train of fadCcnfequen- 
 ces following on it; it's that which keeps all o«? 
 ther Sins lively, for none hath victory over any 
 Jin but the Believer, the Unbeliever lyes as a 
 bound Slave to every Sm % audit's impoiTible to 
 come r o the acceptable performance of anyDuty 
 without Faith,for none can comefuitably to any 
 Duty without a Promife, and can any but a Be- 
 liever comfort himfelfin ufe making of anyPro- 
 mife ? 
 
 We fhall clofe our Difcourfe, with fpeaking 
 a word to that which we hinted at before, even 
 to let you fee, not only the rifemfs of Unbe% 
 lief, but the greac hazard that flows from it, And 
 the exceeding great evil of it ; if we be only 
 convinced of the lifenefs of ir, it will not much 
 trouble us except we be alfo convinced, and 
 believe the hazard of it ; but if we were con« 
 vinced of both, through Gcd's blcfllng it might 
 afftt us more, and neccflitate us to make more 
 ufe of Chrift ; ye chat ftand yet at a diftance 
 from ChriftjCan ye endure to ly under this great 
 Guilt,and ground of Controverfie that isbet\vi*c 
 Him and you? do ye think little to hazard en His 
 Upbiaidim-s and Wots, even fuch Woes as are 
 beyond thelc that came on S^»w,thc heavy Curfe 
 and Malediction of God ? and yet we fay to you 
 who are moft civil, difcreer, formal, ard blan.e- 
 lefs in ycur Converfarkn, if there be nor a flee- 
 ing in earneft to Chrift, ard an cxerdfing of 
 Faith en Him, the Wrath of God not on T y waits 
 for you, but it abides en you ; tremble at 
 the thoughts of it, ic were better to have ycur 
 Head thruft in the fire, than your iculij and 
 Bodies to be under the Wrath and Curfe cf God 
 for ever; it's not only the Ignorant, Prophane, 
 Drunkard, Swearer, Adulterer, Whoremong ; . 
 that we have to complain of, and expcftulate 
 with, but it's the Unbeliever, who, though He 
 be life up to Heaven, fliall be call down to the 
 B Pic 
 
•34 tfaUh $3 
 
 PitofHclI: IfyeasV, what is all this that we 
 would be at? it's oniy this in a lvord,we would 
 have you receiving Chrift, if ye think that Un- 
 belief is an exceeding great Evil, and that its 
 an horribly hazardous thing to ly under it, then 
 
 ! rerje. i. Serm. I. 
 
 hafte you out of it to Chrift; O! hafte.hafte you 
 out of it to Chrift ; kifs the Son left he be angry, 
 embrace Him, yield to Him ; there is no other 
 poflible way to be free of the Evil, or to prevent 
 the hazard. 
 
 SERMON VIII. 
 
 ISAIAH Lfll. I. 
 
 Wee hath believed ottr rtprt ? And to whom is the arm of the Lord reverted } 
 
 IT's a great encouragment and delight to the 
 Minifters of the Gofpel, and it's comfort- 
 able & refrefliing toHearers,when the Mef- 
 fage of the Gofpel isreceived,and our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift is welcomed ; but on the contrary, 
 it's burdenfome and heavy, when there are few 
 or none that believe and receive theReport,when 
 their labour and ftrcngth is fpent in vain, and 
 when all the afTemblings of them together that 
 hear the Word of the Gofpel, is but a treading of 
 the Lord's Courts in vain ; if there were no 
 more to prove it, this Complaint of l(ki*h;Cptar 
 ing in his own name, and in name of all the Mi- 
 nifters of the Gofpel, is fufficient ; for as com- 
 fortable MeiTages as he carried, (and he carried 
 as comfortable MelTages as any that we hear of) 
 yet there was a general non-profiting bytheWord 
 of the Gofpel in his Mouth ; when we meet 
 with fuch words as thefe, our Hearts mould 
 tremble, when we confider, how general and 
 rife an evil f/nbelief, and the not receiving of 
 Chrift is, how horrible a Sin, how abominable 
 to God, and how hazardous and deftru&ive to 
 our felves it is, and how rare a thing it is to 
 fee, or find any Number believing and receiving 
 this Meflage of the Gofpel. 
 
 We fpoke from thefe words to thefe Detinues, 
 Firji. That where the Crofpel comes, it makes 
 offer of Jefus Chrift to all that hear it. Secondly, 
 That the great thing called for in the Hearers 
 of the Gofpel, is faith in him, Thirdly % 1 hat 
 yet notwithstanding, Unbelief is an exceeding 
 fifo Evil in the Hearers of the Gofpek Fourthly, 
 That it's a veryfinful, heavy and fad thing not 
 to receive Chrift, and believe in Him, all which 
 are implyed in this (hort, but fad Complaint, 
 Who hath believed our report ? • 
 
 We would now proiecute the Ufe-, and Scope 
 of this. The laft Ufe was an Ufe of Convittion 
 of, and ExpoftuJation with the Hearers of the 
 Gofpel, for their being fo Fruitlefs under it, 
 ferving todifcovera great Deceit among Hearers, 
 who think they Believe,and yet do it notjwhence 
 it is that fo many are miftaken about theirSouls 
 State> and mofi certainly the generality are mi- 
 
 ftaken, who live as if Believing were a thing 
 common to all ProfeiTors of Faith, while as it is 
 fo rare, and there are fo very few that Believe. 
 The next t/f*is,an Ufe of Exhortation to you, 
 That feing Unbelief is fo great an Evil,ye would 
 by all means efchewit ; and feing Faith is the 
 only way to receive Chrift, and to come at Life 
 through Him, ye would feck after it, to prevent 
 the Evil of Unbelief : Thi s is the fcopc of the 
 words, yea, and of all our Preaching, tnar when 
 Chrift, and RemiiTion of Sins through Him, is 
 preached to you, ye woHld by Faith receive 
 Him, and reft upon him for obtaining Right to 
 Him and to the Promifes, and for preventing of 
 the Threatnings and Curfes that abide Unbelie- 
 vers. We (hall not again repeat what FaMi is, 
 only in fhort it comes to this,That feing Chrift 
 hath fatisfiedjuftice for Sinners, andHis&tis- 
 faclion is offered in the Gofpel to all*that 
 will receive it, even to all the Hearers of 
 the Gofpel, that Sinners in the fight and 
 ft-nfe of their loft condition would flee into 
 Him, receive aad reft upon Him and His Satis- 
 faction, for Pardon of Sin, and making of their 
 Peace with God : is there need of Arguments to 
 perfwade you to this?ifyebe convinced of your 
 finfulnefs,3nd of your loft eftate without Chrift 
 and that there is a Judgment to come when Sin« 
 ners muft appear before Him, and be judged ac- 
 cording to that which they have done in theBo* 
 dy, and if ye have the Faith of this,that Sinners 
 that are not found in Chrift, cannot ftand; ( as 
 by the way, wo to that Man that is not found 
 in Him, if it were a Paul, for even he, he is 
 only happy by being found in Him,not having 
 his own Righteoufnefs, but Chrifts,) and with- * 
 all, that there is no other way to be found in 
 Him but by Faith, ( which is that which ?muI 
 hath for his main fcope, Phil. 3. 9, 10. ) Then 
 to be found in Him by Faith, (hould be you r 
 main work and ftudy ; this is it that we fhoulo. 
 defign and endeavour,and to this we have accefs 
 by the Gofpel ; and it is in fhort, to be denuded 
 of, and deny ed to our own Righteoufnefs, as to 
 
 any 
 
1 Strm. S. ' - l/f^ 
 
 any weight we lay upon it for our Juftihcation 
 before God,& to have no other thing butChrifts 
 Righteoufnefs offered in the Gofpel, and receiv- 
 ed by Faith to reft upon for Juftifl cation, and 
 making of our Peace with God: This is it that we 
 command you to flee to,and by all means to feek 
 an Intereft in, that when the Gofpel makes offer 
 of Chrift, and Righteoufnefs through His Satis- 
 faction, and commands you to Believe in Him, 
 when it lays Him to your Door, to your Mouth 
 and Heart, that ye would roll, and lay your 
 elves over on Him for the making of your Peace 
 and the bearing of you thorow in the day of your 
 icckoning^efore the Tribunal of God. 
 
 That we may fpeak the more clearly to this 
 Vfe, We mall fhortly fKew yon, i. What Ground 
 a loft Sinner hath to receive Chuff, and to lip- 
 fpento Him. a. What Wanands and Encourage- 
 ments a Sinner hath to lean and lippen to this 
 Ground. 3. We (hall remove a Doubt or two 
 that may ftand in the way of Sinners reftinJBJ 
 on this Ground, 4. We fhall give fome Direft3| 
 ons to further you to this. And 5. Wc fhallt 
 give you fome Characters of one that is tenderly 
 taking this way ofBelieving: And becaufe this 
 is the way of the Gofpel, and we are fure there 
 is not a word ye have more need of, or that 
 though God's blefling may be more ufeful, and 
 tnwe is not a word more uncontrovertible, which 
 all of you will afTent to thetruth,of, to wif,that 
 there is a great good in Believing? and a great 
 evil in Unbelief,we would exhort you the more 
 ferioufly to lay it to Heart;0!think not that our 
 coming to Speak and Hear, is for the Fafhion 
 but to Profite ; Caft your felves therefore o- 
 pen to the Exhortation, and lee the word of 
 Faith fink down into your Hearts, confidering 
 that there is nothing ye have more need ofthan 
 of Faith,and that ye will not find it fafe for you 
 to hazard your Souls on your own Righteouf- 
 nefs, or to appear before God without Chrift's 
 Righteoufnefs, and that the only way to come 
 by it is Faith ; This may Jet you fee the neceffity 
 ofBelieving, and that it is of your concernment 
 to try how it is with you as to that : and there- 
 fore again and again, we would exhort you in 
 the fear of God, that ye would not neglect lb 
 great a Salvation, which through Faith is to be 
 obtained, but lay it to Heart, as ye would not 
 have all the Servants of God, who have pleached 
 the Gofpel to you complaining of you; It is our 
 Bane that we fufpeft not our felves, and indeed 
 it is a wonder, that thefe who have immortal 
 Souls,and profefs Faith in Chrift, fhould ytt live 
 fo fecure, and under fo little care, and lu ly fo- 
 licitude to know, whether they have belitved 
 or nor, and fhottldwith lb little ferious concer- 
 
 nednefs, put the Matter to a tryal .• But wo 
 proceed to the Particulars we propofed to fpeat 
 to. 
 
 And firft to this, That ye have a good folid 
 Ground to Believe on ; for clearing of which we 
 would put tfeefe three together. 1. The fulnefs and 
 Sufficiency of the Mediatcrjefus Chrift.in whom 
 all the Riches of the Gofpel are treafured u«p, in 
 whom, and by whom our Happinefs comes and 
 who wants nothing that may fit him to be a Savi* 
 our, who is able tojave is the uttermift all that comk 
 unto God by him. it The well-orderednefj, free- 
 nefs,and fulnefs of theCo venant of Grace,wherein 
 it is tranfa&ed, that the fulnefs that is in the Me- 
 diator Chrift, fhall be made forthcoming to Be- 
 lievers in him, and by which loft Sinners that by 
 Faith flee unto him, have a folid Right to his fa- 
 tisfaftion, which will bear them out 6efore God; 
 by which rranfa&ion, Chrift's Satisfaction is 
 made as really theirs, when by Faith it is clofed 
 with, as if they had fatisfied and payed the Price 
 ■■(felves, 1 C»r. 5. ai. Hewhoknewno fid, was 
 miatft fin for us, that we nt'ght be made the righteouf- 
 nefs of God in Him ; and this Confideration of the 
 legality and order of the Covenant, ferves excee- 
 dingly to clear cur Faith as to the Ground of it, 
 becaufe by this Covenant it's tranfa&ed and a^ 
 greed upon, that Chrift fhall undergo the Penal- 
 ty, and that the Believer in Him fhall be recko- 
 ned the righteous Perfon; if there be a reality in 
 Chrift's Death and Satisfa&ion to Juftice, If he 
 hath undergone the Penalty & payed their Debt, 
 there is a reality in this Tranfa&ion, as to the 
 making over of what He hathDone and Suffered, 
 to Believers in Him ; and the Covenant being 
 fure and firm as to His part, He having confirm- 
 ed it by kiis Death, it is as fure and firm as to 
 the Benefite of it to the Believer in Him. 3. The 
 nature of the Offer of this Grace in the Gofpel, 
 and the nature of the Gofpel that mak?s the 
 Offer ofthe fulnefs that is in Chrift by venue of 
 the Covenant; It is the Word of God, and hath 
 His Authority when we preach it according to 
 His Command, as really as when He preached it 
 Hirr.fclfin Lc pertain, or any where t!fe, even 
 as the authority of a King is with his Ambaffa- 
 dor, according to that, 2 &r.$. penult verfjYt art 
 amafpaicurs for Chrift, as thtugb G:d did it 
 */, there is the Warrand nnd Name \v.m r ' 
 
 terpofed i and for the Sett's it fell* ws, U e 
 you in Chrifls Head be ye reconciled to Gomjjj* 
 add to this, the nature of rhe Offer, 
 terms of it, there is no condition required t ri* 
 our part, as the pieciu cend'tion 
 venant, but Believing i Now, when thefe arpi 
 conjoined, we put it toycur Confcience, if ye 
 have not a good Ground to lippen tr, and a 
 1 2 
 
3* ( $ri4 n : 
 
 Sufficient Foundation to build on ; and if fo, ic 
 ought to be an powerfully attractive Motive to 
 draw you to Believe in Him, anJ to bring you 
 to reft on Him by Believing. 
 
 Secondly, Wc have alfo many Warrands and 
 Encouragements to ftep forward, and when 
 Thrift in His FulneSs lays HimSelf before you, 
 to roll over your felveson Him, and to yield to 
 Him ; If we could Speak of them fuitabJy, they 
 are fuch as may remove all fcarring thit any 
 might have in coming to Him, and may ferve 
 to leave others in?xcuSable, and unanfwerably 
 to convince them that the main obftruclion was 
 in themfelves.and tli3t they would not come un- 
 to Him for Life, He called to them, but none 
 would exalt Him. I. Do ye not think that the 
 Offer of this Gofpel is a Sufficient Warrand,and 
 ground of Encouragement to Believe on Him ? 
 and if k be fo to others, ought it not to be a 
 Sufficient Warrand and Encouragement to you? 
 when He Says Pfal. 81. ie. Open thy mouth wide, 
 and J mil fit it : what excufecan ye have to fhift 
 or refufe the Offer ? if ye think Chrift real ia 
 His C >mmands,is He not as real in His Offers ? 
 2. He hath fo ordered the Adminiftrationofthis 
 Gofpel, as He hath purpofely prevented any 
 ground that Folks may have of Scarring to dole 
 with ChriSt ; He hath So qualified the Object of 
 this Grace in the Grfpel, that thefe in all the 
 World thatMen would think fhould be Secluded, 
 are taken into be Sharers of it, for it's Sinner s t l$f 
 Sinners, Self deftroyers, Ungodly, the Sheep that have 
 wandered, the Poor t the Needy, the Naked, the Cap- 
 tives, the Prifomrs , the Blind, &c. according to that 
 of If a 6 1. I, 2. The Spirit of the Lord Gid is upon 
 me, He hathjent me to preach glad ty dings tot he meek or 
 poor, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty 
 to the captives, the opining oftheprifon to them that 
 are bound, &o and ifa. 55. r. TheSe whoare in« 
 vited to come to the cryed Fair of Grace,are Such 
 as zrtthirfiy, and Such as want money, who among 
 Men ufe to be Secluded, but in Graces Mercat 
 they only are welcome, it's to them that Grace 
 fays, Ho, come, and Rev. 22. 17* Whifeever will, 
 let him come, and take of the water of life freely, it's 
 not only, to Say So with reverence, thefe whom 
 He willeth, butit's, whofocver w/tf?and fo ifthou 
 wilt come, Grace puts the Offer into thy Hand, 
 as it were, to carve on ; to let us know that he 
 allows ftrong Confohtion on Believers, and that 
 either the Hearers of this Gofpel mail Believe,or 
 be left without ill excufe ; He hath it to fay,as 
 it is, l r a. 5. W cat could I have done to my vineyard 
 that 1 have not dene • if ye had tjie Offer at your 
 pwn carving, what could ye put more in it ? it 
 cannot be more free than without money, it cannot 
 be more fejioufly preffed than with a Ho) and 
 
 Vir]t 1. serm. %. 
 
 Oyes, to come; Sometimes He complains, as 
 'John 5. 40. Te will mt tome to me that ye mi^ht have 
 I. ft ; andSometimes weeps and moans., becaufe 
 Sinners will not be gathered, as Luk. 19, 41,41. 
 and Matth: 23 j 2,7. can there be any gr. ater evi- 
 dencescf reality in any Offer? A thud Warrand 
 is from the manner and form of Chrift's AJmini- 
 ftration, He hathcondeScendid to make a Cove- 
 nant, and many PromiSes to draw Folks to Be- 
 lieve,to which He hath added His Oath,fweaiing 
 by HimSelf, when He had not a greater to fwear 
 by, for our Confirmation and Confolation,as it is 
 Heb. 6. 16. 17. And among Men, ye know, 
 that an Oath puts an end to all Controverfie, and 
 what would ye,or could ye Seek more ofGod,than 
 His Saying, Writing, and Swearing ? He hath 
 done all this, that the heirs cfPremife may have 
 flreng co?ijolation, who arefisdfor refuse to the hopefct 
 btforethem ; O! will ye not trow and credit God 
 when He Swears ? Among other Aggravations 
 of l/abelief this will be one, that by it ye make 
 6od not only a liar, but perjured, a heavy, hai- 
 nous, and horrid Guilt on the Score of alir/.obe- 
 lievers of this Gofpel. 4: To takeaway all Con- 
 troverfie, He hath interpoSedHisCommand,yta, 
 it's the great Command, and in a manner, the 
 one Command of the Gofpel, 1 John. 3. 23. This 
 is his commandment, that yi believe on the Name ofhjl 
 Son Jcfus Chrifl ; and therefore the Offer of tfre 
 Gofpel and Promulgation of it, cometh by way 
 of Command; Ho,come, believe, &c. whereby the 
 Lord would tell the Hearers of the Gofpel, that 
 it is not left to their own option, or as a thing 
 indifferent to thenyo Believe or not to Believe, 
 but it's laid on them by the neceffity of a Com- 
 mand to Believe, and if ye think ye may & fhould 
 Pray, fanftifie the Sabbath, or obey any other 
 Command,becaufe He bids you,there is the fame 
 Authority enjoyning and commanding you to 
 Believe, and as great neceiYi'y lyeth on you to 
 give obedience to this Command as to any other, 
 do nor therefore think it Humility not to doit, 
 for Obedience is better than Sacrifice. 
 
 For your further encouragement to believe, 1 
 would Say three words, which ye would alfo lork 
 upon as Warrands to Believe,and by them know 
 that it is a great Sin not to Believe. 1. Ye have 
 nolefs Ground or Warrand than ever any that 
 went before you had ; David, M.]cs,Paulfrc.h*d. 
 no better Warrand; my*meaniagis, ye have the 
 fame Covenant, the fame word and Promifes 
 Chtift and His Fulnefs, God and His Faithful- 
 nefs offered to you, the fame Warrand thatGod 
 harh given to all His People Since ever He had a 
 Church; and do ye not think but it will be a Sad 
 and grievous ground of Challenge againft you, 
 
 when 
 
Scrm. 8. , ff*M Sl> 
 
 when ye fliall fee others that believe on the 
 fame Grounds thit ye -have, fit down in the 
 Kingdom of Heaven, and your felves as proud 
 Rebels {hut out ? what ever difference there be 
 as to the main work of Grace, and of Gods Spi- 
 rit on the Heart in the working of Faith, yet 
 the Ground of Faith is the Word that all hear 
 who arc in the viable Church, and ye having 
 the fame Ground and Object of Faith in your 
 offer; there will be no excufe for you, if ye do 
 not believe. A fecond Encouragement is,That 
 the Ground of Faith is fo folid and good, that 
 it never difappoints any one that leans to it ; and 
 count the Gofpel a fecklefs and infignificant 
 thing who will, it fliall have this Teftimony, 
 which damned Unbelievers fliall carry to Hell 
 with them, that it was the fowtr of God to falva* 
 tion to them that believed, and that there was no- 
 thing in the Gofpel it felf that did prejudge 
 them of the good of it, but that they prejudged 
 themfelves who did not lippen to it : There^ 
 fore thc^ Word is called, Gold tryed in the fire ; all 
 the Promifes having a Being fromJ^w^Him- 
 felf,one jot or one title of them cannot fail nor 
 fall to the Ground. 3. If ye were to carve out 
 a Warrand to your felves, as I hinted before, 
 what more could ye defire! what mifs ye in 
 Chrift ? what CJaufe can ye defire to be infert in 
 the Covenant that is not in it ? It contains Par- 
 don of Sin. Healing of your Backflidings,and 
 whatnot ? and he hath faid, fealed, and fworn 
 it, and what more can ye requite*, Therefore 
 we would again exhort you in the Name of Je- 
 fus Chrift, and in his ftead, not to neglect fo 
 great a Salvation, O! recive the Grace of God, 
 and let it not be in vain. 
 
 In the third place; Let us fpeaka word or two 
 tofomeOlje&ionsor Scruples, which may be 
 moved in reference to what hath been faid. And 
 Firft, It may be fome will fay, that the Cove- 
 nant is~not broad enough, becaufe all are note- 
 le&ed, all are not redeemed nor appointed to be 
 Heirs of Salvation ? upnn which ground Tern* 
 ptation wiW fometime fo far prevail, as to waken 
 up a fecret enmity at the Gofpel: But, 1. How 
 abfurd is thisReafoning ? Is there any that can 
 rationally defire a Covenant fo broad, as to take 
 in all as neceflarily to be faved by it ? there is 
 much greater reafon to wonder that any fliouM 
 be Saved by if, than there is if all fliould Perifli; 
 beficfe, we are not now fpeaking to the ErTe&s, 
 but to the Nature of the Gofpel, fo that who- 
 ever Perifli, it is not becaufe they were rot e- 
 lefted, but becaufe they believed not i and the 
 Bargain is not of the lefs worth, nor the lefs fure, 
 becaufe fome will not Believe; and to fay, that 
 
 Verf r. 37 
 
 the Covenant is not good enough, becaufe fa 
 many Perifli, it's even as if ye ftiould fay, it's 
 not a good Bridge becaufe fome will not take 
 it, but adventure to go thorow the Water, and 
 fo drown themfelves. 2. I would ask, Would 
 ye overturn the whole Courfe of God's Adrnini- 
 ftration, and of the Covenant of His Grace? 
 did He ever a priori, or at firft hand, tell Folks 
 that they were elected ? who ever got their E- 
 leftion at the very firft revealed to them ? or, 
 who are now before the Throne that ever made 
 the keeping up of this fecret from them, a Bar 
 or impediment to their Believing ? GodsEter* 
 nal Purpofe or Decree is not the Rule of our 
 Duty, nor the Warrand of our Faith, but his 
 revealed Will in his Word ; let usfeek to come 
 to the knowledge of Gods Decree of Election * 
 $o(leriori y Qx by the Effects which is a fure way of 
 Knowledge; our thwarting with His wo*3 to 
 know His Decree, will not excufe, but make us 
 more guilty ; He hath fneroed thee, O Man, faith 
 Micah, chap, 6. 8. What is good, and what doth the 
 Lord require of thee, &c. and if any will fcruple 
 and demur on this ground toclofe the Bargain, 
 let them be aware that they provoke Him not 
 to bring upon them their own fears,by continu- 
 ing them under that fcrupling and demurring 
 condition ; Ye cannot pofljbly evite hazard by 
 looking on only, and not making ufe of Chrift ; 
 therefore do not bring on your own mine by 
 your fear, which may be by Grace prevented, 
 and by this way of Believing fliall be certainly 
 prevented. 
 
 But [ecmdly. Some may object and fay Jam in- 
 deed convinced that Believing is my Duty, but 
 that being a thing that I cannot do, why there- 
 fore fliould I fet about it ? Anfw. 1. This is a 
 moft unreafonable and abfurd way ofReafoning, 
 for if it be given way to, what Duty fliould we 
 do? we are not of our felves able to pray.Praife 
 keep the Lords Day, nor to do any other com- 
 manded Duty, fliall we therefore abftain from all 
 Duties ? Our ability or fitnefs for Duty, is not 
 the rule of our Duty, but Gods Command ; 
 and we are called to put our Hand to puty in 
 the fenfe of our own Infufficiency, acknowled- 
 ging GodsSufficiency, which if we did,we fliould 
 find it go better with us, and may not the fame 
 be expected in the matter of Believing as well 
 as in other Duties? a; None that ever heard 
 this Gofpel (hall in the Z)ay of Judgement have 
 this to Objett, none fliall have it to fay, rlnt 
 they would fain have believed, but their mecr 
 Infirmity, Weaknefs and Inability did imped 
 them ; for though it be our own Sin an4 
 Guile that wc arc unable,yet where che Gofpel 
 
 comes 
 
-8 W"«* *?• 
 
 comes thatisnot the controverfie:but thatFolks 
 would notcomc toChrift wouldnotbegathered,that 
 whenhewould,they would not;forwhere there isa 
 will,t© will and to do go together, But its En- 
 miry at the way of Believing, Security, Stupi. 
 dity, S^nfelefnefs and Carelefnefs, what become 
 of the Immortal Soul, that ruinesFolks ; for tht 
 Soul chat would fain be at Chrift, fliall 6e hel- 
 ped to believe, the realbn is, becaufe the nature 
 of the Covenant of Graee, and of the Mediator 
 thereof, is fuch,that all to whom he gives to 
 will, he gives them alio to perform, and His 
 Faitbfulnefs is engaged fo to do : It muft there- 
 fore return to one of thefe two, That either ye 
 will not receive him, or elfe ye are willing tho 
 weak ; and if ye be willing, Faithful is be that 
 bath called you, who al(o will do it ; but if it halt 
 at your Perverfnefs and wilful Refufal of the 
 Offer, there is good reafon that in Godsjuftice 
 ye mould never get good of the Gofpel ; nay 
 there is nevsr one to whom the Gofpel comes, 
 add who doth not believe.but formally; as it were 
 he pafTech Sentence on himftlf, as the word js. 
 jfftsi-}* 46, to judge your felves unworthy of 
 eternal life, which the Apoflle gathers from this 
 ground, that they did not, neither would accept 
 of Jefus Chrift offered to them in the Gofpel ; 
 as the event is that follows on the Offer, fo will 
 the Lord account of your receiving of it. 
 
 Fourthly, As for Directions to help and farther 
 you to believe, its not eafie, but vei y difficult to 
 give rhem, it being impoflible to fatisfie the cu- 
 riofity of Nature ; neither can any Directions be 
 preferibed that without the ipecial work of 
 Gods Spirit can effectuate the thing ; the renew- 
 ing of the will and the working of Faith being 
 Effects and Fruirs of omnipotent Grace : yet 
 becaufe foraething lyes upon all the Hearers of 
 the Gofpel as Duty, and it being more fuitable 
 and congruous, that in the ufe of Means, than 
 when Means are neglected. Believing fhould 
 be attained; and becaufe oftentimes thefe that 
 defire thisQueftion to be anfwered, to wit how 
 theymaywinat Believing ? are fuch as have 
 fome beginnings of the work of Grace and of 
 Faith, We fliall fpeak a few words to fuch as 
 would beat believing and exercillng of Faith on 
 Jefus Chrift ; And i. Folk had need to be clear 
 in the Common fundamental Truths of the Gof- 
 pel, they would know what their natural eftate 
 ?s,what their Sin and Mifery is, and they would 
 know the way how to win out of that State; 
 Ignorance often obftrucrs us in the way offie- 
 lieving, How jhall they believe on Him of whom they 
 have not heard ? Rom: 10. 14. when Folks believe 
 not, it is as if they had never heard- 2. When 
 ye have attained to the knowledge of the com- 
 mon Truths of the Gofpel, as of your Sin and 
 
 Mifery,the nature of the Covenant, the Mediator 
 and his Fulnef$ &c. Labour to fix well the Hi- 
 ftorical Faith of them, we are fure that many 
 never come this length to believe the Hiftory of 
 the Gofpel, and till that be they can advance no 
 further ; for as the word is, H<b, If. 6. He that 
 cemeth to God, muft keliive that he is and that he is 
 a rewarder oft hew that diligently J ce k Him ; I fay, 
 thefe common fimple Truths of the'Gofpel 
 would well be fixed by anHiftorical Faith >and 
 yet this would not be retted on, becaufe tho* 
 they be excellent Truths, ytt they may be 
 known and Hiflorically believed where faving 
 Faith and Salvation follow not. 3, Be much in 
 Thinking, Meditating and Pondering of, and 
 on thefe things, let them fink down into your 
 Hearts, that the Meditation of them may fix 
 the Faith of them, and that they may deeply af- 
 fe& us, we wou'd feck to have a morally feri- 
 ous feeling of them, as we have of the common 
 works of the Spirit » But there are many like the 
 Way.ftde.hearcrs, who as foon as they hjir the 
 Word, fome Devil like a Crow, comes arid picks 
 it up j therefore to prevent this, ye would fcek 
 to have the word of God duelling richly in you, 
 ye would meditate on it till ye be convinced of 
 your hazard, and get the Affections fome way 
 fiirred, according to the nature of the word ye 
 meditate upon, whether Threatnings or Pro- 
 mifes ; themoft part are affected with nothing 
 they know not what it is to tremble ataThreat- 
 ning, or fmile as it were, on a Promife,througri 
 their not dwelling on thethougJ ts of the Word 
 that it may produce fuch antffect. 4. When 
 this is done, Folks would endeavour a full up gi- 
 ving with the Law of Rightcoufnefs as to their 
 Jufiification, that if they cannot fo pofitively 
 and ftayedly win to reft on Jefus Chrift and his 
 Righteoufnefs, yet they may lay the weight of 
 their Peace with God on no cher thing, they 
 would lay it down for a certain concIufion,that 
 by the woiks of the Law they can never beju- 
 flfied, and would come with a flopped mouth 
 before God ; thus tender Chfiftians w,]i find it 
 fometimes eafier, to gi\w up with the Law, than 
 to clofe with the Gofpd, as to their diftinct ap- 
 prehenficn of the thing 5. When this is i 4 one 
 Go as itwe-e to the top of mount Nf^,and take 
 a look of the pleafaiu Land of Promifes, and of 
 Chrift held out in them, and let your S< ul fay 
 O! to have the Bargain well clofed, to havemy 
 heart ftirred up to love him, and to reft upon 
 him, O!to have Faith; and to difcern it in its 
 actings \ for when the Life of Faith is fo weak 
 that it cannot fpeak,yet it may breath, and tho 
 ye cannot exescife Faith as ye would, foas to 
 grip to and catch faft hold of the Object, yet ef- 
 fay ferioufly to do that far, as to efteem love 
 
 and 
 
5rem.8 
 
 and vehemently defire it 5 in this 
 will is faid to go before the deed,tho as to Gods 
 bVgetting of Faith there be a contem- 
 porarinefs of the Will and the Deed, yet 
 as to our fenfe the Will outruns the Deed 
 even as in another fenfe ( though it makes will 
 or this purpofe, ) the Apoftle fays, To will is 
 frefent with me y but how to perform that which is go$d 
 I know mt ; for we ought to have our Will run- 
 ning after Chrift, and Believing on Him wnen 
 we cannot attain to the diftinft a&ings of it. 
 
 But it may be here obje&ed and faid, Is not 
 this Prefumption ? Anfw If this were prefump* 
 tion, then all we have faid of the Warrand of 
 the Gofpel to believe, is to no purpofe ; Chrift 
 never counted it prefumption to defire and en- 
 deavour in his own way to believe on him for 
 attaining of Life through him ; To defire Hea- 
 ven and Peace with God, and to misken Chrift 
 andpafs him by, were indeed Prefumption, but 
 it is notfo to defire thefe through him. 6. When 
 ye have attained ro this Heart defire, if ye can- 
 not di ft inQfe to your fatisfa&ion aft Believing 
 on Chrifti^ would firmly refolve to believe and 
 efT(|$/t, and fay, This is the way I will and 
 mulFtake, and no other, as David fayeth, PJW. 
 1 6. 2. O my foul, thou haft faid into the Lord, thou 
 trtmyLord, Hence the exercife of Faith is called a 
 choofing of God, Dcut. 30. 19. a/fd Jofh. 24. and 
 ferioufly, fincerely and firmly to refolve, this is 
 our duty when we can win to do no morejand 
 and it is no little advancement in believing, when 
 fuch refolution to believe, is deliberatly and 
 foberly come under. 7 When this is done Folks 
 would not hold at a Refolution, for to refolve 
 and not tofet forward will be found to be but 
 an empty refolution ; therefore having refolved 
 ( though ftill looking on the refolution as his 
 gift) we would fet about to perform and believe 
 as we may, and when we cannot go, we would 
 creep, when we cannot fpeak words of Faith, 
 we would let Faith breath jwhen it can neither 
 fpeak nor breath diftinc~tly,we would let it pant; 
 In a word, to 6e efftying the exercife of Faith, 
 and often renewing our tfTays at it, which if we 
 did, we fhould come better fpeed in believing 
 than we do 1 thus though ye were walking un- 
 der a Conviction, that ye could do no more at 
 this than a Man whofe Arm is withered can 
 do' to ftretch it forth, yet as the Man with 
 thewitheredHandatChriftsword ofcommandef- 
 fayed CO ftretch it forth, and it went with him; 
 
 ifaiahtl* V*rfi r. 59 
 
 refpeft the or as the Difciples when they had toiled long, 
 even all the Night, and caught nothing, yet ac 
 Chrifts word let down the Net and incJofed a 
 multitude of Fifties ; fo, though ye have eflTay^ 
 ed to aft Fai r h often, and yet come no fpeed 
 yet efTaying it again on Chrifts calling to it, it 
 may, and wilj through Grace go with you. 8. 
 When yet ye come not fpeed as ye would, your 
 fhort-coming would be bemoaned and complai- 
 ned of to God, laying open to,and before Him 
 the Heart,who can change it, and ye would have 
 it for a piece of your weight and burden, that 
 your Heart comes not fo up to, and abides 
 not fo by Believing ; I would think it 
 it a good Frame of Spirit, when the not having 
 of the Heart ftanding fo fixed at Believing, is an 
 Exercife and a Burthen, 9. When all this is 
 done, in fome Meafure ye would wait on in 
 doing thus, and would continue in this way, 
 looking to him, who is the Author and Fini/her 
 of Faith, for his influence to make it go with 
 you, to look to Him to be helped, is the way to 
 be helped to Believe, or to pray to him to better 
 and amend Faith, is the way to have it bettered 
 and amended ; its faid Pfal. 34. c. They looked to 
 him and were light ntd, and their faces were not a. 
 fhamed : And if it be faid, How can one look 
 that fees not ? Its true, blind Folk cannot look, 
 yet they may eflay to look, and though there 
 be but a glimmering, as the looking nukes the 
 Faculty of Seeing the better and more ftrong, 
 fothe Exercife of Faith makes Faith toencreafe| 
 this is it that the Pfalmift hath. Pfal. 30. verje 
 last. Be of good courage, and he fhall flrtngthen your 
 heart, all ye that hope in the Lord ; that is, if ye 
 be weak, wait on, and he fhall ftreogthen you, 
 Believe, and give not over, though to your fcnfc 
 ye come not fpeed ; Beginners that are looking 
 confciencioufly to their way, though they have 
 but a glimmering weak fight of Chrift. and be 
 as the Man that at firft faw Men walking asTrees 
 yet if they wait on, rhey may attain to a more 
 diftinct feeing, and to a more clofe and firm 
 gripping of Chrift. 
 
 We clofe with this word of Advertifemenr, 
 That as we fpeak not of rhefe things as being 
 in Mans power to be performed, fo neither can 
 they be gone about to purpofe, but where there 
 is fome Faith andLove ; yet when they are at firfc 
 looked on, they are fome way more within our 
 reach than the diftinct Exercife of Faith, which 
 is a great Myftcry. The Lord Wefs his word 
 and make it ufeful to you. 
 
 SERMON 
 
jfalah 53, rcrft i. 
 
 Serm. 9* 
 
 SERMON IX. 
 
 IS A I A rl LIU I. 
 
 lYIrt hath believed our report ? and to whom is the Arm of the Lord 
 
 'tvesltd ? 
 
 IF Folks fobcrly and gravely considered of 
 what concernment it isro m;>ke ufe of the . 
 Go' pel, and what depends upon the profi- 
 tabie or unprofitable hearing of it, how 
 ferious would both Speakers and Hearers be ? 
 This fame pcor,meanand contempti*. k-like way 
 of Speaking or Preaching, is the ordinary way 
 that God hath chofen to fave Souls, even by 
 the foolifbncfscf Preaching, as the Apoftle hath it, 
 i Cor, i. 22. and where Minifters have been ten- 
 der, how near hath it lyen to their Hearts, wher 
 ther People profited or not: They that will read 
 IJaiah, how he refented and complained of it, 
 and how he was weighted with ir, willeafily be 
 induced to think that he was in earned and that 
 it was no little matter that made him thus cry 
 out, who hath Relieved our report ? 
 
 We die w thatfour things were comprehen 
 ded in the words, Firfl, That the great Errand 
 of Minidersis, to bring the glad Ty dings ofje- 
 fus Chrid the Saviour to Sinners. Secondly, That 
 it is the great Duty of People to belitve and 
 receive the Offer of JefusChrid in the Gofpel. 
 Thirdly, That it is the great lin of a People that 
 hear the Gofpel,not to believe and receive Jefus 
 Chrid when he is offered unto them. The fourth 
 and lad thing which now we are to fpeak of,(ha- 
 ving gone thorow theflrft three) is that the great 
 and heavy Complaint that a faithful A/.nifter 
 of the Gofpel hath, is, when thefe good News 
 are not received and welcomed, when they 
 have it to fay, Who hath believed our report} when 
 it is but here one and there one thatclofes with 
 Chrift. 
 
 Confiderlng thefe words, as they hold out the 
 Prophets Refentment and Complaint, we fhall 
 from them draw four Observations which we fhall 
 fpeak fhortly to, and releive the CJfe and Appli- 
 cation to the clofe of all. 
 
 Okfeiv. j. The flrft is, That its meet for, and 
 the Duty of a Minifrer of the Gofpel, to obferve 
 what Fruit and Succefs his Miniftry hath among 
 a People, and whether they believe or not : 
 ifaiahi peaks not here at randem, but from con- 
 sideration of the cafe of the People, and as obfer- 
 ving what fruit his Miniftry had among them, 
 we would not have Minifters too cuticus in 
 this, as to the ftate of particular Perfons, neither 
 would we have them felfy or anxious in fetking 
 any ground of boafting to themfelves, yet they 
 would feek to be fo far difcinft and clear anenc 
 
 their fplritual Cafe and Condition, as they may 
 know how to fpeak fuitably to ir, and how to 
 fpeak of it to God ; that they may fay as they 
 have ground for it, that infuch a place, among 
 fuch a People, a great door and rffetfunl -was opened 
 unto K/,astheApoftle faith, i Cor. \6. 8. And in 
 fuch another place, and among fuch a people, 
 Wh* hath believed our report ? as here the I'rophet 
 doth. Its faid Luk % io. 17. and Mark 6. 30. the 
 Difcipks returned, and with joy told Chrift all 
 that they had done, and how the Devils were 
 fubjett to them, they made account what fuccefs 
 they had in their Miniftry ; fo its nectftary that 
 a Minifter know what fuccefs he hath among a 
 people, that he may know, 1. How to carry be- 
 fore God in reference to them, what to praife 
 for what to lament for, and ^Riat to pray 
 for. 2. Itsneceflary as to the people, Wwt he 
 may carry right to them for the gaining of^ran* 
 gers to God, and helping foiwardthele who are 
 entered into the way, and that he may know 
 what report to make of them. 3. Its necefTary 
 for a Minifter himfelf, thcugh not /imply as to 
 his peace, for that depends on his faithful dif- 
 charge of his Office, ytt as to his Joy and Re- 
 joycing, to know when be labours in vain, and 
 when nor, among a people.^ 
 
 We would not then ( as a'pafling word o(UJe) 
 have you to think it curicfity,though fomething 
 be faid now and then, and asked at you, that 
 fome of you may pcfTibly think impertinent; 
 For it becomes a Phyfician to feek to know the 
 ftate and condition of thefe whem he hath under 
 his Hand and cure, and ye would not take it 
 ill/ though after observation we now and then 
 fpeak and tell you, what we conceive to be 
 your condition. 
 
 Oblerv. 2. The fecond Obft-rvation is, That 
 it is moft fad to a tender Al'niiter, and will 
 much affect him to fee and obferve Unbelief and 
 Unfiuitfulnefs among the people that He hath 
 preached the Gofpel to; This muft be a certain 
 and clear Truth, if we confider what it was that 
 putl/Wi&to this, even ro cry, Who hath belitved 
 our Report ? Thcugh a Minifier fliculd have rt- 
 ver fo great exercife cf Gifts, n.ver fo much 
 countenance and relpefr amorg a perple, if he 
 be tender, he will be more grieved and weighted 
 with their Unbelief and Unfiuitfulnefs than with 
 Stripes and Imphfcnsient, there will be no fuf« 
 
 fering 
 
Serm- 9. t #»«& H 
 
 will be no fuffering to this in his cfteeny 
 nothing fo fad a g'ound of C omplaint » This 
 makes the Prophet, Mic; 7. 1. to cry, alas and 
 j#» // w?> / «»» astbefe who have gathered the fum- 
 rner fruits , as the grape-gleanings after the vintage, 
 there is no clufler to eat, the good man is periled and 
 there is none upright ammg men ; and he infifts in 
 this Complaint. How often was our Lord Je- 
 fus, the moft excellent and tender Preacher that 
 ever preached, put to this Complaint ? 
 All the Affronts and Reproaches He 
 met with, grieved Him not fo much as 
 the Unbelief and Hardnefs of Heart that were 
 in the People ; Its laid, Mar, s.y. that He looked 
 round about on them with anger ,and was grieved for the 
 hardnefs of their Hearts ; And its fa id Mar* 6.6. that 
 He marvelled, becaufeof their unbelief ; yea, it fo 
 affe&ed Him, that (Lnk. 17. 42 ) its faid, that 
 when he came near the city he wept over it, fay* 
 ing, O that thou hadfl known in this thy day the things 
 that belongto thy peace. There is a fourfold Rea* 
 fon of rhis, that hath a fourfold Influence on 
 the fadning of a ferious and tender Minifter of 
 the Gofpel- 1. Refpect to Chrift Jefus his 
 Mafter, in whofe (lead he comes to befpeak 8c 
 woo Souls to ( hrift ; What would an Am- 
 balTadof think of peifonal Refpect and Honour, 
 if his Mafter were reproached, and his MefTage 
 rejected and defpifed ? and can an honeft and 
 faithful AmbafTad'>r of Chrift look on, and his 
 Heart not be wounded, to fee the Gofpel fruit- 
 lefs ; the Lords pleafure as it were Marred, and 
 the work of gathering in of Souls, O' ftru&ed 
 in his hand, and his Lord and Mafter Affronted 
 and Slighted. 2. The Refpect that a Faithful 
 Minifter hath to Peoples Souls, hath influence 
 on this; a tender Shepherd will watchfully care 
 for, and wifh the Sheep well, and be much af- 
 fe&ed when they are in an evil condition, and 
 where the relation is of a more fpiritual nature 
 and the Flock of far, very far grearer vvortfi <k 
 concernment what wonder the Shepherd be 
 more affected ? as VauI befpeaks thcG<il*tiant 3. 
 io'i My little children, of whom I travail again in 
 birth, till Chris! be formed hi you ; To be travail- 
 ling and bringing forth but Wind, cannot but 
 prick and wound an honeft Minifter of the 
 Gofpel at the veiy heart, fo 2 Or. 11. 29. Paul 
 faith, Who is offended, and 1 bum not ? The veiy 
 hazard of a Sou], will be like a I ire burni' g 
 the Heart that is tender and zealous of the ipi- 
 fitual good of Souls. 3. The refpefl that a 
 Faithful Minifter hath to the Duty in his hand, 
 hath influence on this ; for fuch a ore loves 
 to neat hs Duty, and togoneatly and lively a 
 bout ir, und the Unb^f and UnfruitfuliiJ* 
 
 Virfe I. 
 
 of the People clogs him in his Duty, and makes 
 him drive heavily ; hence its faid Mat. 13. 58 
 zndM*rk6. $. that our Lord could not do many 
 mighty works there, or among that People, buanfi 
 of their unbelief '; Unbelief ftraitens and fhutsthe 
 Door, and makes preaching become a very Bur- 
 then to a Faithful Minifter; therefore the Apo- 
 ftle exhorts, Htb. 13. 17 0% them that haveth 
 rule over you, and watch for your fouls that they may 6 
 do it with joy, and not with grief, for that is unprofi- 
 table for you; A neceffity lyes upon Minifters co 
 go about their Work, but when the Word does 
 no more but buff on them,fo to fpeak, it makes 
 them to cry, as this fame Prophet doth cha 6. 
 11. How long, Lord? And 4/7. This alfo hath influ- 
 ence on their being fo much weighted,even the 
 concern of honeftMinifters ownjoy andComfort- 
 Its true, as we hinted before,that neither a faith- 
 ful MimftersPeace,nor his reward ofGrace doth 
 depend on it fimply, I have Jpent my flrength in 
 vain, fays Ijaiah, Cha. 49. 4. yet my i abour h 9ith 
 the Lord, and my reward from my Qod ; As to that 
 there is no necefTary connectionond its of grace 
 it is {o ; yet as to a Minifters fatisfaction & joy 
 there is a connection, as we may fee Philip 2 
 16. where /W faith, That I may joy in the day of 
 Chrifl, that I have not rxn in vain, and laboured in 
 vain-, And from his sxpoflulation with the Gala* 
 tians chap. 4. 9 . ,0, If. / am afraid of you, left I 
 have bejtowed upon you labour in vain; 
 
 I (hall nor proftcute the Uje of this neither; 
 only fee here, that it is no marvel tho fome- 
 times we be neceflivaty to complain of you snd 
 to expoftuhte with you ; and conlidering the 
 Cafe of peopie generally, if ur hearts ivcrer 
 fuitablly render, it would even make us burft 
 
 r 0l 'r?n^ * a.* r° man >' flcepin S fcCUre ly ™d 
 fend lly in their fins, and in that pitiful pofture 
 poftmg to the Pit it God prevent not 
 
 Obfe'v.}. The third Obfervation 'is, That a 
 Minifter may, and iomctimes will be put to ic 
 to make report to Godof what fruit his Miniftry 
 hath, and fometrmesto complain to him of the 
 Unbclict and UnfruitfuJnefs of the ^ople a- 
 mrmg Whom he hath long preached the Go-pel i 
 JfMb (lure } is not earned to th s c mpla : nt out 
 of hatred to the people, neither from any plea- 
 sure he hath in n,nor any d light to.teJl/llfaJes 
 
 (tn fpeak (0 ) 0' them j The L rd needs nc in- 
 formation, yec he compli n 's, and that to the 
 Lord as we lhewr oni Rom. .0. ,6. Where it is 
 Uxd, Lord, who,. < I w report? So then Pr - 
 
 phets and Apolries complain of this; It's Ez'ki.l, 
 CoapkuiC no dou Jt roGod,as it was t 1 e Lords o 
 ? lm <" ■ \ ,. : **"Mfomboufi % midtbtywillm 
 rwj Acd Ifaish Ipcakshere in his bwrnmme ai d 
 
*a V'id 53- i. 
 
 Hi name of other Minifters of the Gofpel, that 
 they may joyn with him in this complaint; and 
 there isreafon for it if we confider.i.TheRelati* 
 on that aMiniftcr (lands in toGod, he ought to 
 give an account to him, who gives Obedience 
 and who nor, and what is done by his Embaf* 
 iage, there being no Talent given, but aRecko* 
 ning how it was imployed will be called for. 2. 
 The Subordination that a Minifler ftands in to 
 Chrift, wherein it is requifit he be keeped, as 
 knowing the Work is the Lords and not Ins, 
 pkads for this. 3. That a Minifter may be kee- 
 ped from Carnalnefs and Vanity pn the one 
 hand, and from Discouragement on the other, 
 he ought to be acquaint with, and to hold up 
 both the Fruitfulneis and Unfruitfulnefsof the 
 People to Godi 4. Its meet for the Good of 
 the People it be fo, not to irritate, but kindly 
 to afFeft the People, that when he complains to 
 God, they may be convinced that it is to get 
 the Evil corr plained of amended,if fo it may be. 
 
 This complaining will we fear be the refulc 
 ofmuch Preaching among you ; for either there 
 muft be more Faith and Fruits ,elfe ye will have 
 the more complainers, and the moe Complaints 
 againft you. 
 
 Oijerv.a,. The fourth obfervation is, That it 
 is and ought to be a very fad and weighty thing 
 to a Mmiller.and alfo to a People,when he is pu 
 to complain to God of their Unbelief amongft 
 whom he is labouring : It's theiaft thing he hath 
 to do, and he can do no more.and it's the great- 
 eft and higheftofWitnefs & Ditty againft them, 
 when a Minifter hath been Preaching long, and 
 obferving the Fruit of his Miniftry, and is out- 
 wearied with their Unfruitfulnefs, and forced to 
 cry ,Lord,there arencne,or but very few that have 
 believe! the Report that 1 have brought to them; 
 It's the heavieft & hardeft word that Chrift ruth 
 to fay to J erufat cm ,Mat. 21,1 y and Luk 19.3 1 when 
 He complains of their Unfruitful fteis,harder and 
 heavier than all the Woes heprunounced againft 
 the Scribes 3nd Vkari fees jon other accounts, and at 
 leaft equivalent to them pronounced on the fame 
 account; for the fame Woe and Wrarh follows 
 both; O .'faith he, that thou hadft known in this 
 thy day the things that belong to thy peace, but now they 
 are hid from thine eyes-, This comes as the lafr and 
 fadeft word. holding ■ utthe defperatenefs of their 
 Condition,when the powerful preaching of rhe 
 Gofpel hath no gracious Force.nor Saving Effect. 
 following it,whcn di ectiens prevail not,whenno 
 for: of Minifterial Girts do a Heople good, when 
 it comes to that, Mat. 11.16. Whereunto frail 1 liken 
 this generation, it is like children fitting in the market 
 place crying to their fellows, we have piped to yJ«, and 
 ye have no: danced \sos have mourned to you t and ye 
 1 • ■ -• ' ~c.u„ n hoth fk^fweet O^rsof 
 
 Qp/« 1. $ e rm 9. 
 
 Grace and the terrible Threatningsof the Law, 
 come forth to a people, and both are followed 
 for a longtime without Fruit, then comes out 
 thatwoid, Whereunto frail I liken this generating* 
 John came neither eatir.g HOT dr inking, and ye fay, 
 he hathaDtvil; hisauftere way of Living and 
 Preaching did you no good, ye could nor away 
 wnlutjhejonoj Man came eating and drinking, in a 
 familiar way, and ye fay behold a man gluttonous } a 
 roincbibbcr, a friend of Publicans and Sh.ncrs ; They 
 ftumble onbothunjufdy.arjd fo it 's ftilitven to 
 tins day, many ftumble atthe MtiTenger,caftat 
 theMeiiage,& then followeth the fad comprint. 
 Its meet that now we fpeak to a word of Ufe 
 but we profefs we know not well how to follow 
 it, there is fo much ground to con plain and we 
 are not ( alas! ) Foitably fenfible of our own 
 unfitnefs to follow the Complaint, which makes 
 us think that it would become another better ; 
 but what mall we fay ? Irs the word of the Lord 
 and it we; e needful that both ye and we (hould 
 forget and take our eyes off Men, and remem- 
 ber that it is the Lord God, and fome commit 
 iioned from him, that we have to do with, 
 that fo we may 2CCtpt of the MeiTage. i.Then 
 We may fay that it is no pleafure to us to be 
 hewing you, and fpeaking fadly to ycu, ( the 
 Lord knows ) would to God there were moe 
 that needed Healing Medicines, and tnat fewer 
 had need of Hewing arid Wounding ; bur the 
 truth js,CarnalSccuiity,SpiritualPride,Hypocrih"c 
 andFormality,are fo rife,anc! becomtfomuch the 
 phgue of thisGeneration ; trutPecpJc believe not 
 their hazard. Neither 2.1s t our deiire nor defign 
 to fpeak to all of you indifferently and without 
 Difcrimlnation, for as the Lord faith, Math. 11. 
 1 9. IVifdom is juftifi.d oj her children-, Though the 
 Generality defpife this word, ye: we are confi- 
 dent the Lord hsth fome that he allows not to 
 be grieved: and we (hall dt fire, that fuch may 
 not wrong themfclves, nor mar our freedom 
 in fpesking the Word of the Lord to ethers. 
 3ly. We ihali not defire to fpeak peremptory 
 as to the cafe of particular perfens, though «c 
 will nor deny nor corce^I our Fears and fad Ap- 
 prehcnfions as to many of you ; only uhat we 
 have to fay, ye would know and be aiTured that ^ 
 it is not fpoken at rand m by us, but as hav- ~ 
 ing fomeavquaintance with many of yrur con** 
 ditions, and we nny gather fr( m thefe what is 
 very probably the condition of others. 
 
 And now as to what we would fay to you. 
 Some have been preaching this Gofpel to you 
 who are flitted and removed to another part of 
 the Vineyard, other fome are gone to ai.o.her 
 World, and fome are yet continued Preachif g 
 to you, but v hat Fruit is brought forth by the 
 Mini**™ of all I if we were put to make a re-- 
 
Serm.f , lj*i*b Si- 
 
 port ofy3U,as we will be put toit,what could 
 we fay i 1 we are afraid to fpeak our apprehen- 
 sions; O! how little is this Gofpel, as to its 
 Fruit and fuccefs, upon the growing hand a 
 mortg you? We fhall therefore forbear to fpeak 
 of that which we think hath deeplmpre.ffions on 
 our felves concerning you, but we would have 
 you to look thorow Matters, how they ftand be- 
 twixt God and you, and if we may humbly lay 
 claim to anymeafure of the Judgment of De- 
 cerning ; may we hot esk,- where is there a 
 Manor Woman amongft moil of us, that hath 
 a Converfationfuitable to this Gofpel ? If we 
 begin at the great Folk that have the things of 
 the World in abundance,its their work for mo ft 
 part not to be Religious, but to gather and heap 
 up Riches, and to have fcmewhat of a Name, 
 or a piece of Credit in the World, this is the 
 fartheft that many of fuch defign : And if we 
 come and take a look of the way of the poorer 
 fort, they live as if they were not called to be 
 exercifed to Godlinefs ; and this is the condi- 
 tion of the Generality, to live as if God were not 
 to call them to a reckoning ; ye will fay, we 
 are poor ignorant Folks, and are not Book-lear- 
 ned, but have ye not Souls to be faved ? and 
 is there any other way tobe fayed than the roy- 
 al Way wherein Believers have walked ? But 
 if we mould yet look a little further through 
 ycu,how many are there that have not the very 
 form of Godlinefs, who never ftudiedtobe 
 Chriftians,either in your fellowfhip with others 
 nor when alone, or in your Families \ There are 
 fome> O! that I might not fay, many, who are 
 hearing me, that will not once in the Year bow 
 their Knee to God in their Families, many of 
 you fpend your time in TiplingJeafting,Loofe- 
 fpeaking, which are not convenient ; yea, I 
 dare fay, there are many that fpend more time 
 in Tipling, Jeafling and Idle-fpeaking, than in 
 the Duties of Religion either in publick or in 
 private, what report mall we make of you ? frial 
 we fay that fuch a man fpent three or -four 
 Hours every day in going up anddownthe 
 Streets, or in Tipling and Sparring, and would 
 not fpend half an Hour of the Day on God and 
 HisWorfhip ; and further how many are yet ig* 
 norant of the fir/1 principles ofRe i<;ion, a ft tilt 
 that is often complained of,andyetwe would oe 
 afliamed to have it heard of, that luch Ignorance 
 mould be underhalf ayearspreachingof theGofpel 
 that is in this phre under many Yens preaching 
 it,&even ?mongftthtfe who hoi dnheir Heads veiy 
 high, and aid above others, who can guide and 
 govern their own affairs, and give others a good 
 counfel in t! ings concerning tie Wor'd, y.t if 
 we come to fpeak with them of Reperi ance.or of 
 * -**-i.-. l Heiv-^ercife, of Convictions and Glial- 
 Cauie,the w^nt 
 
 langesfor S!n,of Communion wi:h^p< 
 working of Gods Spirit in the regenerate, or o! 
 the fruits of the Spirit, they have not a Mouth 
 to fpeak a word of thefe things ; and if they 
 fpeak any thing, O! but it locks werm taftelefs 
 and theivelefs like: Pur them to difcourfeof 
 Religion, it hath no gull, ( to fay f.> ) it re- 
 limes not, they have no nnderftanding of ir,at 
 leaf}, that is experimental ; doth this look )>ks 
 Folks that have heard and received the Gofptl ? 
 Jet me fay it, the Wifdom of this World,* and 
 the Knowledge of Chrift, are far different things 
 and if fome of you go that length as to get the 
 Queftions of the Catechijm, w hich is well done 
 in it felf ; if we pur you but to expiefs them in 
 other words, ye cannot,which fays plainly, that 
 ye are not Mailers of your Knowledge , And 
 what fhall we fay of others ? of whom we can- 
 not fay but we get refpeft enough from them, 
 yet how do Selfimnefs and Worldly mindednefs 
 abound in them ? and how Graceleis and Chrift- 
 UCs are they fcund to be, when put to the try- 
 al ? We would alfo fay to you, that there is 
 great difference betwixr Civility and Chriiliani- 
 iry ; Fair fafliions will never pafs in Chiifi's 
 account for thefuitable Fruits of the Gofpel, and 
 will never hinder us from having a jufl ground 
 of Complaint againd you ; How many have a 
 form of Religion and want the power of it? 
 who think themfelves fomethin£, when they 
 are indeed nothing, and their Profeffion is 10 
 thin and holled, to fper.kfo, tnat their Rctren- 
 nefs andHypcciific may be feen throw it. Tho' 
 thefe things be but general, yet they will com- 
 prehend a grest mary of you that are here in 
 this AfTembly ; and iffo.is there not juft grcund 
 of Complaint of, and Expostulation with you, 
 as a peopl- among whom this Word hath ro 
 fuitable Fiuit. And as for ycu that live pro- 
 phanely and Hypocritically, what fhall we fay 
 to you ? or how {hail we deal with ycu ? we 
 bring rhe Word ro you, but ye nvke no more 
 life c f it than if ye ha) i ever heard it: no more 
 Religion ihewcth it feif in you, than if ye lived 
 among Heathens ; Shall we fay to Gi 
 of the Gofpel is there ? Dare we be anfw< 
 to God. or can we be faithful to you, to flattcjr 
 yi.U over as if all were: well with y. u ? and 
 mull not our Comprint then rather be this 
 'Lord, tkey hnVinot ktlieVfd currtftrt ? tho Wt he 
 fecklefs, and tho there be ground o 'coi 
 cf as, yetthe WotJ is his word and w*»l 
 hoi J of you. / know that Folks do not n 
 
 I fuch Doftrine well, ami : r feme 
 
 think that few Minifters ire better dealt with, 
 than we arejbut we fay.thit Jinot oui romphtn 
 v.e cenfei's, if we look fro- 
 G i 
 
he World to this time, there will be few Mi- 
 nifies of the Gofpei, f und to have been bet- 
 ter dealt with as to outward a d civil things, 
 but alas ! fhould that ir-p our Mouth? yea ra 
 thci ought it not to be the more fad to us to be 
 fo dealt with, and to live in civil Love wi h 
 Men and Women who yet do not receive the 
 Gofpei, nor d.-al kindly with our Matter : Do 
 not think that we will take external refpeft to 
 us for the Fruit of the Goipel, as we have no 
 caufe to complain of other things, fo let us. not 
 be put to complain of this, but receive Chrifc 
 in your Heart, let him and his precious Wares 
 have Change and go offamongit you, make ufe 
 of him for Wifdom, Righteoufnefs, Sanftifica- 
 tion a. d Redemption,and go not for the fafhion 
 about the means that ihould bring you near 
 him, but be in good earnefc, and this would fa- 
 tisfie us much, and prevent Complaints. Laftly 
 I would a>k you, what will come of it, if we 
 fliall go on in preaching, and ye in hearing,and 
 yet continuing frill in Unbelief? will there 
 not bean account craved of us, and muft we 
 not make a repoit ? and if ye think we muft 
 report, can we report any other way than it is 
 with you ? Shall we or dare we fay, that iuch 
 a Man was a fine civil Man, and that therefore 
 he will not be reckoned with, tho he believe not 
 in Chrift ? No, no, but this muft be the report 
 that fuch a Man and iuch a kind of Men, though 
 Chrift was long wooing them, would not em- 
 brace I'um,tho he invited- them to the Wedding 
 yet they would not come, nay they mocked and 
 f jpurned at it, they trode the blood of the Cove- 
 rant under foot, and counted God a Liar in all 
 
 y-rfe i. ( Verm to. 
 
 his Offers, and Paid by their pracvife, tW they 
 fhould be happy i hough they took no\this 
 way : many of you who wou'd not take it vvjl 
 if <ve ibouid fpeak this to you in particular, will 
 find i' to be a Truth one day : And if ye (hall 
 fay, What would we be at? The anfwer is at 
 hand, 5 7/ ve in the Lordjefus Chrift and ye fhaV be fee 
 ved ; This is the end of the Go r pe',and the mean 
 of your happinefs. ; its the great and the main 
 thing that we call for, which if it be not ob- 
 tained the ground of the Complaint will con- 
 tinue : And do youthinkrhis any Orange, hard 
 or uncouth thing, that When we bring o you 
 the Offer of Chrift in the Gofpei, we bd yen 
 receive it, and flee in to him to hiie vou from 
 the Wrarh to come :and yet this is all we feek 
 of you ; its neither yom ihame iior your 
 Skaitii that we feek. but that ye imy t*ke wi h 
 your Sin, that ye may judge and co d''m.; your 
 felves, that your Mouth may be ftoped before 
 God, and that ye may fie? to Jefus Chrift in ear- 
 nefc, and clofe with him on his own Terms; as 
 therefore ye would prevent the greatly aggra- 
 vated Sin, to wit (inning againft the Gofpei 
 and the Complaint of the Mtnifter-s thereof a- 
 gainft you,awd Me terrible Veng anceof the Me- 
 diator ,£ fit the Scw,caft open the everlasting Doors 
 °f your hearts, and let rhe Gofpei , and Chrift 
 the King of Glory have accei's; We pray you 
 ft and not in the way of your own happinefs, 
 refufe not to do him that much pleafure and 
 fatisfaftion for all the travel of his Soul, as to 
 give him your Souls'ro be faved.Now God him- 
 {dfkcQ? you from this Folly and Soul-defrroy- 
 
 ing madnefs. 
 
 SERMO 
 
 ISAIAH 
 
 Who hath believed our report ? And to 
 
 *V *fflT TE havefpokenfomewhatthefe 
 * J\ I dayspaft, to fundry Do£t- 
 ^L / % / fines from this part of the 
 *fj \f verfe,and particularly of the 
 
 J T fad Complaint which Ijaiah 
 
 hath in his own Name, and in the name of all 
 the Miniflers of the Gofpei, that the favoury 
 Report concerninpjefus Chrift is not received, 
 and that though L-fe and Salvation through 
 . Him be offered to many, yet there are but few 
 - fcarce here one and there one that do embrace 
 it, this is the fad refult, Lord, who hath believed 
 cur Report ; Words, that being fpoken by fuch a 
 Prophet, and fo often mentioned in the new 
 Teftament, may and ihould as often as we fpeak 
 cir, or read them.put both Minifters and Peo« 
 pic to a holy demur,and.to lgc;k what becomes 
 
 N X. 
 
 Lin. I. , 
 
 whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? 
 
 of all our Preaching and Hearing.when this was 
 all the Fruit, even of ifaiahs Preaching, as to 
 the grea^eft part of his Hearers. 
 
 Ete we leave this .part of the Verfe, it will not 
 be unmeet that we fpeak a little to thefe three. 
 Firtt To what may be the Caufes why, when 
 the Gofpei is powerfully Preached, there are {o 
 few Believers Secondly, How it comes to pafs 
 feing fo fewBelieve,that generally fo many think 
 they Believe, and fofew fufpefttfceir ownFaich 
 And thirdly, To the necefliry that lyes on the 
 Hearers of the Gofpei, to enquire at,. and try 
 themfelves concerning their Faith, and to have 
 fome folid Satisfaction in it. 
 
 Although we mention no particularDoctrines 
 now, yec confidering the Doftriuto make a n 
 
 J 
 
S?rm. jo. t t if* : & SV- 
 
 to before thefe things Will net be unfuitaMe to^ 
 them, nor impertinent r oyou, 
 
 Fo; the Firtt. TheCanfes why Co few believe 
 the Gofpel, we cleared to you already. That ge- 
 nerally the powerful Preaching of the Goipe] 
 hath been with little Fruit, fo that Tja-ah hath 
 this fad Complaint, Lord, who hath believed our re~ 
 port ? and our Lord Jdus bath ir alio on the mat- 
 ter, Mat. II. 17. IVe have piped to you and ye have 
 not danced,we have mourned to you and ye have not la- 
 mented ; and in the fame exprefs words, John. 11. 
 38. And when it is fo with fweet Ij'aiah in 'he 
 Old TefUment,and with ourbleffcd Lord in the 
 New, that fpok- withfuch Power and Authori- 
 ty, ye may tee there is reafon for us to enquire 
 into the Caufes why it is that fo few BtlievePln 
 fpeaking to which. I. We intend not to touch 
 on all th* Reafons that may be gathered toge- 
 ther, of Pec pits not profiting under theGofpel, 
 but of thefe that ye have moft reafon to look to, 
 and that are moft oDftru&ive of Faith in you 2. 
 Though we might fpeak of Reafons on the fide of 
 them that fpeak to you f or who is fufficient for thefe 
 things ? and w.e (hall no" deny but we have culpa- 
 ble acctflion to your Unfruitfulnefs.ytt it were 
 no 1- much to your edifying to infiiton thefe. 3. 
 Neither will we fpeak to thefe Soveraign Caufes 
 on God's part, who in His Holy Juftice gives 
 up People to Unfruitfulnefs,when they receive 
 not the Truth in Love, Neither 4/y Shall we 
 infift ontheie Caufes that may arife from the De- 
 vil, who waits on wherever the Word is preach- 
 ed, to mar the Fruit of it, as we may fee Mat. 13. 
 19. the evi' Spirits, like as many Crows, when 
 the Seed of the Word is fown, waiting on to pick 
 it up, and ye would know, thatye never come 
 to hear the Word, but there are,as it were, Flocks 
 of Devils attending you ; Hence it isthatfome 
 are ro< ked and lulled aflcep, fome have their 
 Minds filled with world lyThoughts,fome forget 
 all 'hat fhey Hear ere they go out ofDoors,thus 
 it is with many Hearers of this Gofpel, their 
 Hearts are rrcde upon as theWay-fide by Devils 
 and Foul'Spints, that never a word takes impref- 
 fion on them, and thoigh ye may think fach ex* 
 prcflions uncourh-like and ftrange, yet they are 
 fad'y true; SatJn waited on when Chrift preach- 
 ed, and (ure he will fear no more to do fo at our 
 Pleaching than he did at His, if he flood at :fj- 
 fiua'b rig ; t Hand ro refill him, he will no doubt 
 be at OUr«;Bu» Wi lay we will not mfifr on th fc, 
 But $ly\ W llmll (pe k a li-t! t>) thefe < 
 that ar-- amnion in >ou, if ! 
 nigh know, if ye won- th m, and we 
 
 would exhort you to taV hem, when 
 
 w« ti m. 
 
 - this for a 
 c,the w^nt of feiioui o»ii itcon 1 
 
 Vtrfu r. 
 
 . cernment of the work of your Sal vat! on, arid that 
 this preached Go r pel is tne Word of thcLord 
 by which ye mutt be faved,Alas!tbough ye have 
 immortal Souls, and though t is Word be the 
 mean of your Salvation, yet there are Hundreds 
 of you that never lay it to Hearr,that your-Souls 
 are in hazard,and that th:s Word mu r i be it that 
 ye muft live by, and live upon;I appeal to your 
 ConfcienceSjifye think upon this ferioufly;war»C 
 of this Consideration fofters Security, breeds Laz> 
 nefs, and makes and keeps you Carelefc and Car- 
 nal ; I (hall inftance the want of it in three re- 
 fpefts. 1. Look how ye are affected towards this 
 Word, and your own edification by it before ye 
 come to hear it, How few are hungering and 
 thirfting, or preparing for benefit by it or pre- 
 paring to meet with God in it?in effect ye come 
 not with a defign to profit ; fo that if it were 
 known, it would be wondred at, wherefcre )e 
 come to hearthe Word, as Chriftfays of fome, 
 They came, not becauje they fxw the miracles, but be- 
 caufe they did eat of the Laves and were filled ; fo 
 may we fay of you that ye come nor to profire 
 by the Word, but on fome crooked carnal de- 
 fign. a. Look how ye carry when ye are come, 
 How many fleep a gre^t part of the Sermon? fo 
 that it'safhame to look on the face of ourMett* 
 ings, when in every comer fome j:c Sleeping, 
 whofe Confidences God will waken ere long, 
 and the Timber and Stones of the Houfe will 
 bear witnefs againft them ; Were you in any o- 
 ther Meeting about ordinary Bulinefs, there 
 would not be fuch Sleeping ; But wli n ye are 
 W.king, what is ycur Can:. iy be 
 
 waking, and your Hcait far away, or fall afleep r 
 how ieldom can ye give account of what is i'M? 
 though your Bodies be prefent, \ rts are 
 
 wandering; ye are like thefe fpoken of E^ek 3 3 . 
 3 1 . who fat before the Prcplut as {?oj s pcopU, but 
 their hearts went after their covitovfnejs; how often 
 while ye are fitting here is your heart away?fome 
 in their Thoughts running after their Trade, 
 fome afrer their Merchunuice, fome after one 
 thing.fome after anothtr.This is one lad in.! 
 of it, that ther,e are many of you who hav< 
 Preaching fourty or fifty Veils, that cm 1 
 tell one Note of it all, and 1 
 were not attentive in the Hearing of it. 3 Look 
 how ye carry after the Word is heard ; \ 
 unedifyir.g Difcourf: will ye be 1-1 ere 
 
 well at the D001 ? how carnally and care- 
 Icfiy do ma^y rufh unto, and go a way 
 ring of fh VVoid ! I ' 
 
 i with \ or Souls ( 
 Kneel with ir before God, defi 
 on it, and to keep it Wl -irate 
 
 upon it ? Now put thcl'c three : 
 
 Cu- 
 
Hm ijaiak. *?. 
 
 Carriage before, in n»e'time,ind aftci your Hea- 
 ring Uic Wox], yc will find that there is juft 
 cauletofay, thac the rnou pare rliar lieaf this 
 Gofpel arc not iciious, what won-itr then thac 
 it do them no good I In tin c d o '.'that Parable 
 of the Sowtr, Mtttb. .3. hijrk 4 and Luke b'.it's 
 laid by the Lord, Take heed h*W je tesr 9 for pUfi* 
 evtr hath to him jhail beg;v;n t &c. ir ye improve 
 well your Hearing, ye will get yet more.buc lb 
 Jong as )e take no hc*d hew yc hear, ye cannot 
 piofite, 
 
 Afecond Ground or Caufe Is this,That the mcfl 
 part of Hearers never come to look on this 
 Word as the Word of God, they come never al- 
 mofr Co have a HiUorical Faith ofit,it'sfaid Htb. 
 11.6. He that cometh to God mutt believe that He is, 
 and that He is a rewarder of them that feek Him dili* 
 gently ; But when Folk do not really believe that 
 God is, what wonder thty leek Him not, that 
 they fear neither Judgment nor Hell, and that 
 they ftudy not Holinefs rthey fay in their Hearts 
 they mail have Peace, though they walk in the 
 imagination of their own Hearts, and that the 
 way to Heaven is not lb narrow as Miniilers 
 fay it is,rhat God will not condemn poor chrift* 
 ned Bodies, this is the language of many Hearts 
 and offome Mouths; Need there any evidences 
 of it be given ? if ye believed that the way to 
 Heaven is lb ftrait,?nd that Holinefs is io exten- 
 iive, could ye poffibly with any ferioufnefs re- 
 flect on your Heart and Way and not be affrigh- 
 ted ? But the truth is, this Word gets not leave 
 to fink in you as the Word of God, therefore 
 fayethour Lord to His Diiciples, Luke 9.44 Let 
 theje Jayings jink into your ears ; There are thefe 
 things I fear ye do not Believe, and let me not 
 be thought to take on me to judge ycur Con- 
 fciences,when there are fo many thatprofefs they. 
 Iqiov God but in works they deny Him, as it is Tit, 
 1. 16. when we fee fuch things in your Carriage, 
 we know that there is a principle of unbelief 
 whence they fpring. 1, There are many ofyou 
 that really believe not there is a God, or that 
 He is fuch as His Word reveals Him to be, to 
 wit, Holy, Juir.Powerful,^. elle ye duritnot 
 live at feed with Him. The fool hath [aid in hit 
 heart, there is not a God, they are corrupt, 6Vc.your 
 practical Acheifm and Prophanity fay ye believe 
 not there is a God. 2. Ye never believed the 
 ill of your Nature, Do ye think (as James befpeaks 
 thefe h« writes to chap, jr. 5. ) tjffat the Scripture 
 faith in vain, tbefp'.rtt that is tujdu luils to-cnvj?Yc 
 do net think, that ycur Heart is deceitful and 
 defperatly wicked ? though we mould Preach 
 never fo much on this Subject, yet ye lay it not 
 to Heart,ye takaitnotto you in particular.3.We 
 are afraid that many ofyou believe not a Judg- 
 ment, and ycur particular and perfonal coming 
 
 w 
 
 Pri 1. Serm. * 
 
 to it, nay there ate among you, who ^ like to 
 thefe Mjckersfyukcnot' by Peter in his fecWl Em 
 pi flic. ch. 3. <p«r. 34. who fay, when is theprwifc 
 of his aming ? And as there were in PWs day s 
 fomc that denied the Refurrection, 1 Cor. 15. lb 
 ri:cre are frill, who do it on the matter at leaft ; 
 Ve have the fame corrupt Nature; We would 
 think that we had prevailed tofome purpofe, if 
 ye were brought really to believe, that there is a 
 God, a Life to come, and a Day of Judgement; 
 and if ye did fo, ye would be more ferious in 
 Duty,and would come more Hungry and Thir- 
 ty to the Word. 4 . The Mean and Mids of Sal- 
 vation is not believed, to wit, That the way to 
 Peace with God is Faith in Jefus Chrilr,and that 
 there is no way to Heaven, but the way 
 of Holinefs ; If all your thoughts were 
 fpoken out, it would be found that ye have 
 anothermidstlun Faith, and another way than 
 that of Holinefs ; And to make outthis,we need 
 go no further than to your Practice; we are fure 
 many of you live in Prophanity,and yet ye have 
 all a hope of FJeaven and what fays thispbut that 
 ye think not Faith and tfolinefs necelTary, but 
 that ye may come to Heaven another way, and 
 this is an old Fault and deceit,it was in Mojeshh 
 days, for leme are brought in ( De ut* 29. 19. ) 
 faying, Ijhal/ have peace though I walk in the imagi- 
 nation of my own heart, and add drunkennefs to thirjf; 
 though I tipple daily at my Four Hours,though 
 I follow my Lufts and Pleafures, and take my 
 fouth and fill of the World, we cannot be all 
 Saints, &c. The Lord will notjpare that man but His 
 anger and jealoufie (ball fmoke againjl him, and all the 
 curfes that are written in this iookfballly upon him,and 
 the Lord will blot out his name from under Heavenpnd 
 though this be not now believed; it fhall be 
 found verified; There are many when they come 
 to Judgment, that will know to their coir, the 
 truth of many things they never believed before 
 as we find in that rich Man, who fays to Abr'a* 
 ham, Send fome tottllmy brethrtn,that they come not 
 to this place of torment, it fays as much,as that He 
 in his life«time did not believe how terribly-tor- 
 menting a place Hell is, and it is even fo frill; 
 Though Men and Women have immortal Sculs, 
 ye: they go on following their finful way, and 
 believe not that any evil (hall befal them, till 
 God's Curfe and Vengeance overtake them. 
 
 A third Ground or Caufe is, That Folk never 
 think themfelvesin hazard, nor furTer their ha- 
 zard to affeft them, and therefore they feek not 
 after the Remedy, hence the Jews, Scribes, and 
 Pharifees reje&etfvChrift ; why ? they were righ- 
 teous Perfons, whole and needed not the PhyiT- 
 cian j And thus it iswiLhrnany ofyou, ye will 
 take with i; that ye are Sinneis, but not with 
 
 the 
 1 
 
Serm. lo. Ifaie&i 
 
 the gracelefnefs of your Natijffe, and this makes 
 it, th-t when Life and Reconciliation with God, 
 are offered, we have almofenon* t# T accept of it, 
 why fo ? ye are generally in y<0t*twn opinion, 
 good Friend^ with God already; none of you 
 almoft think that ye havi hatred at God, and fo 
 ye carelefly and unconcernedly 1st the opportu- 
 nity of making your Peace with Him flip over, 
 even like thefe lews fpoken of Joh.8. 44. 45, who 
 when Chrift faid to them, ye have (be devil to your 
 father, anfwered, he had a devil, and that they were 
 ame of Abraham,*^ were net born of fornication', So 
 it is with many of you, ye could neve r endure to 
 even your ftlves to Hell,nor to take with it that 
 ye were heirs of Wrath, as if ye had been born 
 with other Natures than the ordinary Race of 
 Mankind is,& this k^eps fo many of you that ye 
 get no good of this Gofpel, for it feeks Sinners 
 to pardon them, and Enemies to reconcile them, 
 and till the Feud be once taken with, the Friend- 
 fhip will never be fought after, nor will ir find 
 AIerchants,though when once the Enmity is ta- 
 ken with, the Gofpel hath many fweet, peace* 
 ful, and comfortable words to fpeak to the Man 
 afterwards. 
 
 A fourth Ground Is, The love of Money and 
 of the World which is the root ef all i'J, This is 
 given as a main C&ute.Matth. j 3 why the Word 
 profites not, The feed is faw en among thorns, and the 
 thorns faring up and check it, the cares of this life and 
 the decfttfulnejs ef riches chocked the Word-, This is 
 not opptcllion nor fiealing, but entanglement 
 with, and addi&ednefs to the things of this pre- 
 fent World,Folks allowing therr.felves too much 
 fatisfa&ion in their Riches and Pelf, counting 
 themfelves as if all were well if they have it,and 
 grieved if f hey wart it, as if there were nothing 
 but that to make H.ppy, being wholly taken 
 up about it, and leaving no room for the con- 
 cerns of their Souls, for Prayer and Seeking of 
 God, nor for Challenges to work on them, thev 
 are fo wholly t;ken up wkh their Callings 2nd 
 Bufine fs; for they lay it for a Ground that they 
 mud berich ; andthcn they give themfelves whol- 
 ly to all things that may contribute to that end, 
 and that chock? and fuffecats the Word that it 
 nevrr comes up. that nothing c mes to perfeiti- 
 ' on, therefore Chri ft fays,J<uke 21. 24. Take hetd 
 ye be not overcharged with fuffetiuig and drunkennfs, 
 and cares of this life ; I am aiaid that many moe 
 among you who are civil, and efteemed vertuous 
 and frugal, fhall perifh in this Pit of Worldly 
 mindednefs, than (hall perifh by Dr^ikennefs, 
 Gluttony, Fornication or the like,ajH yet there- 
 is nothing more Sequent in Scripture, than 
 words fpokcrjto fear F* Ik from Eanfrly mii.'d- 
 cdnefs, Huv hard is it ( fays Chrift) for a rich wtn 
 
 w 
 
 J. Krf F. 47 $ 
 
 to enter into the kingdom of tJeav:n> and fuch a Man 
 is he that is taken up with Rches, and places 
 fiisHappinefs andContentmentin thern,whether 
 he have more or lefs ofthem; We fpeak not this 
 to fofter Idlenefs in any, tut to prefs Moderati- 
 on in theufe of lawful thingsjYe chink it enough 
 if we cannot charge you with OppreiTion.Steal- 
 ing, Whoring and the like, but this Gcfpel 
 will charge you with the love of Money, and if 
 it find the love of the World in you, the love of 
 the Father will not be found in you. Doth not 
 your experience t:ll you, that it's not an eafie 
 ma:ter to be much taken up with the World, 
 and to win at afuitable difpofition for Duties of 
 Religion, and to be painful in them ? 
 
 A fifth Ground is, Folks little prizing of the 
 Gofpel and the Benefits that come by it ; they 
 look not upon it as thtirHappinefstahaveCom- 
 munion with God, they who are invited ro the 
 Marriage of the King's Son, Mat. 22. will not 
 come, and the reafon is given, they made light of 
 it ; the Offer of the Gofpel hath no weight, it 
 relifhes notjlfa Market of fine things at a cheap 
 Rate were proclaimed, ye would all run to it ; 
 but ye delight not in the Word of God, ye prize 
 not the Gofpel and the precious Wares that it 
 expofeth to file amongltyou ; And to evidence 
 and make out this, I would ask ycu thefe few 
 Qutftions, And 1. I would ask ycu how often, 
 or rather how feldom have ycu fltten down pur- 
 pcfly ,n j thanked God for fending the Gofpel to 
 ycu ? ye have given thanks for your Dinner, but 
 how often have ye givenHim thanks that ye have 
 the Gofpel, Sabbath days, and Weekdays 2 ? How 
 little do many of you wait on the Preaching of 
 it ? were there a MeiTage lent to you bur from 
 fome ordinary Man, let tef oma great Man.ye 
 would ftrait.n your fclves and your Bufinefs too 
 fomewhat thatye m : ght h:?.r it, and yet it's a 
 wonder to think how fome in this place except 
 on the Sabbath will hardly be feen in the Church 
 f>:m one end of the Year to the other. 3. Had 
 ye any Evident to draw of Houfe or Land, >e 
 would feck to have it drawn very well and fure, 
 but many of you never fought to have the Evi- 
 dents of Heaven made fure; ye know, how in- 
 t rruptiors of, and threatnings to remove the 
 preached Gofpel from you, never troubled you; 
 That bufinefsof the Tender gave a procf,tharif ye 
 might brock your eale and the things of the 
 World, ye cared not what became of the Gofpel, 
 arid ol the Liberties of Chrift's Kingdom among 
 you ; nay we may fay, the Gofpel was never 
 lefVfet by, never more reproached, defpiud, 
 andjftode npcn.thanin the time wherein we live, 
 ana who lays it to Heart ? If it were well tried, 
 
 theic 
 
4 8 #** 53- 
 
 there is more pains taken on fecklels particulars 
 in a Week, than ye take upon your Souls in a 
 Year, and which may be ipoken to the (ha me of 
 fome', more time taken up in Tipling,Drinking 
 and Debauching, than in Prayer, or any other 
 Religious Duty ; And is not that an undcnyable 
 evidence that > t make light of rhe Gofpel ? Tbcy 
 midelightofit, ant went their ways, &c. laying on 
 the matter, care for yonder invitation who will, 
 as for us, #t have fomevvhat elfeto do. 
 
 A Jixtb Ground or Caufe, though poflibly it 
 be not lb rife; is a fluffing of Convictions and 
 Challenges, a quenching of any begun Exercife 
 in the Confcience;Some of you have been made 
 fometimes to tremble as Felix did, but ye fluffed 
 it, and put itoffro another time, and went away 
 to fome Company or Recreation, that fo ye 
 might iUfle it, and drive it out of your thoughts ; 
 Is there any of you but in Sicknefs, or under 
 fome other fad Crofs, or at a Communion, ye 
 liavehad your own Convictions, Challenges,and 
 Frights about your Souls eflatt; and yet ye have 
 fmothered, extinguished, and put them out a* 
 gain. 
 
 AJsventh Ground or Caufe (which is as lar re 
 and comprehenfive as any ) is Folks refting and 
 fitting down, bef~re they have any folidGiound 
 to reft upon, taking a counterfite Work for a 
 real one,like thefe fpoken of HoJ'ea y.i6.oi whom 
 it's faid, They return, but not to the mofl High;Some 
 attain to a fort of out-fide Reformation, and they 
 trow that on that account they are well enough 
 and in good terms with God, and when fuch are 
 called to return, they fay asthefe do, Mai. 3. 7. 
 IV herein Jhall were turn? they think they are return 
 ned, and that their Peace is made already; They 
 cannot endure to be bidden Believe, or to lay a 
 new Foundation, for they think it's laid already: 
 In a word, as Lxodicea did, they think thewf elites 
 rich and encreafed in goods, when yet they are poor, 
 Hind, tniferable, wretched and naked, but they knew 
 not, and fo are well fatisfied with themfelves as 
 gracious Perfons, retting on thefe and tiie like 
 Grounds, As i- It may be they Pray and think 
 fomething of that. 2. They think they have 
 Faith enough, if they have a Hiftorical Faith. 3. 
 Ic may be they have had fome refolutions, and 
 fits of a fort of Tendernefs, and thefe they reft 
 upon: We {hall not infiftto (hew the rottennefs 
 of thefe Props,but fhal! only fay, it were in fome 
 refpect good for many of you,tbat yefud never 
 had the little pieces ofProfeflion ye have; There 
 'is a fort of civil, legal, formal,fairfafhi< ned Men 
 and Women among us, whofe Converfation and 
 Crmmunici'ion reiiihes to none but themfelves, 
 and fpeak the W< rd who will, they think that 
 they are without the reach of it ; I muft fay this 
 fad woid,that I think many of you have as much 
 
 &rf* !• , Serm. 10. 
 
 believing as keeps you from Faith in Chnft.that 
 is, ye have as much Pi efumption and Security as 
 makes you that ye are never ferious with the 
 Lord to amend it, and to bring you indeed to 
 Believe, fo that it's a greater difficulty, to beat 
 you off ftom your rotten Grounds, than it is to 
 get you right,thcugh both require the Omnipo- 
 tent Power of Gcd; ye think ye Believe always, 
 and ye have no Doubts about ir, and therefore' 
 ye think ye have Faith enough to do your turn ; 
 Ahlwhen will ye know that Security is no Faith' 
 and that there is great difference betwixt Pre- 
 emption and folid rcfting by Faith on Chrift ? 
 Eighthly, We think that this wrongs many of 
 you,becaule ye are not among the worft fort,and 
 others efteem well of you, ye think ye are well 
 enough, and this makes us, that as to many of 
 you we know not whether to be more familiar 
 with, or to ftandata diftai ce from you,becaufe 
 ye are ready to reft on fo very (lender Grounds ; 
 It is notthe commendation of Men, but the com- 
 mendation of Gou that ye mould feek mainly af- 
 ter, and yet if ye think good Men eftetm well 
 of you, ye apprehend ye are good enough;This 
 was it that made the feohjh Virgins fo fecure, be- 
 caufe the wife took them and retained them in 
 their Company, and this is rhe neck break of ma- 
 ny, efpecblly when they look about them and 
 obferveitme Sin in others which they have win 
 to abftain from ; As if it had been enough in 
 Htrod, and a fifficitnt proof of the reality of his 
 Religicn, That he heard Jchn gladly, and did many 
 things on the hearing of him. 
 
 A ninth Groui d is ( and it's a very poor one ) 
 Folks fitting down on the Means when they 
 have them,as if when they have gotten the Gof- 
 pel they were in no hazard, and could Believe 
 when they lift,I make no cjueftion,but where the 
 Gofpel is powerfully in ai.y meafure preached, 
 there are many more fecure and fearlefs than if 
 they had it not, and it's very probable fomewhat 
 of this is hinted at, Luke 13. 26. where fome are 
 brought in faying to Chnft, We have eaten and 
 drunken in thy presence, and thou hafi taught in our 
 (Ireets ; who when He boafts them away from 
 Him at thegreatDay,they will in a manner hard- 
 ly beieve that He is in earnell,and rhey give this « 
 for the reafonofit, that they have heard Him 
 Preach, and they have run out to the Fields af- 
 ter Him; It were gocd to fear while ye have the 
 Word, left ye mils the Fruit of it ; compare to 
 this purnofe Heb. 3. at the clofe, vithHeb. 4. 1. 
 and we will find this cemmended to us So we fee 
 fai'h theApoftle,ffof they could not enter in becauje of 
 unbelief let us therefore ftarleaft a promife being left ut . 
 of entenvg into his rejl, any of us jhould feem to come 
 Jhort of it ; it's much, yea the firft ftep to Faith,to 
 
5erm. *t. , , lf*i»h $3] 
 
 get Folks made fultably afraid to mifs the Fruit 
 and Bleffing of the Ordinances while they have 
 them ; it's good to be afraid, to come to the 
 Church and not to get good of the Preaching,or 
 to go and read a Chapter of the Bible and not 
 profit by ir, always to put a difference betwixt 
 the Ordinance and the Blefling of it.and to be 
 afraid in the ufe of the Ordinances to mifs the 
 Blefling of them. 
 
 There may be many other Caufes, and we 
 would not (tint and limit you to thefe, but fure 
 thefe are Caufes why this Gofpel profites not, 
 We may add thefe few, i. There are fome that 
 (tumble at the MefTenger, fome at the Mcflage; 
 Some thought Chrift a Friend of Publicans and 
 Sinners, and (aid He had a Devil,and fo they faid 
 of JohnBaptift% There are fome that can abide 
 neither free nor fair fpeaking,and they think its 
 not the Word, but the Speaker that they offend 
 at, but Prejudices againft the Carriers of the 
 
 9*r]f. I. 4 , 
 
 Word have never done good, but much illiand 
 ye would guard againft them. 2. Sometimes 
 there is a Rumbling at the Spiritual Truths of 
 the Gofpel and a fort of new fanglenefsin the 
 Hearers of it that lafts not ; Johns Hearers njtf. 
 eediuhis light for afeafon j fomething of it alfo 
 was in thrift's Hearers, but they foon turned the 
 Back on Him when He tells them of eating His 
 Flefb, and drinking His Blood, and of the ne» 
 eefllty of it,elfe they could have no Life in them 
 This (fay they ) is a bar d\aying and who can bear it* 
 if we would confider thefe things, we might fee 
 convincing Caufes of our little Thriving, and 
 they might alfo ( through God's Blefling ) be 
 made ufe of for directions to Thriving, and if 
 we could once bring you to be fingleand ferious 
 in Hearing, and fpiritually Thrifty, in making 
 ufe of every Sermon and Sabbath for edificatien, 
 we had gained a great point of you. 
 
 SERMON Xi. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. I. 
 
 Who hath btlitved our report ? And to vhom is thi arm •/ the Lord revealed ? 
 
 IF we would foberly confider the frame of 
 the mofr part of Men and Women that live 
 under the Gofpel, it would be hard to 
 know, whether it were more ftrange that 
 fo few fliould receive the Report, and be 
 brought to believe for all that can be faid ofjefus 
 Chrift; or whether that among the generality 
 of Hearers that do not receive the Report, there 
 are fo few that will let it light but that they Be- 
 lieve ; It's wonderful and ftrange to fee Unbelief 
 fo rife, and it's as ftrange and wonderful, that a- 
 mongthefemany Unbelievers there are fo few 
 that think they want Faiths 
 
 Ye remember the laft day, we propofed to an- 
 fwer this Doubt or queftion, What can be the 
 reafon, that when fo few Believe,all almoft think 
 they Bclievepandthen tofpeak a word to the lad 
 Ufe that rifes from the Matter that formerly we 
 have handled on thefe Words: We ftiew you,and 
 we think the Scripture is very clear for it, That 
 among the generality that hear the Gofpel.they 
 are very rare and thin fa wen that do believe it, 
 and yet go thorow them all, there will not one 
 among many be found, but will afTcrt they Bc- 
 lieve,and they will( to fpeak fo ) be crabbed and 
 picqucd, to tell them that they want Faith, and 
 fo the mod part of Hearers live and die in this 
 Delufior; a thing that Experience clears as well 
 as the Word of God, and a thing that doleful 
 Experience will clear at the great Day therefore 
 
 fome are brought in, faying, Luke. I), if. We 
 
 have eaten and drunken in thy pre feme, and thou haft 
 taught in our ilreets, to whom Chrift will fay, J 
 know yonnot, depart from me ; which doth import 
 this much, that fome will come ( as it were ) to 
 the very Gate of Heaven, having no doubt of 
 their Faith and Intercftin God,or of their entry 
 into ir, and will therefore in a manner plead 
 with Chrift to bein,and who would never once 
 doubt of it, nor put it hi queftion, but they 
 were Believers and in Fricndihip with Him;Al- 
 though there will be no fuch debate or difpute 
 after Dsath, or at the Day of Judgment, yet it 
 fays this, that many Hearers of the Gofpel have 
 drunken in this opinion which goes toDeath with 
 them, and no Preaching will beat them from it, 
 that they arc Believers, and in good terms with 
 God, till the intimation of the Sentence of Con- 
 demnation do it, and the Wrath and Curfe ofGod 
 meet them in the Face ; And O how terrible a 
 disappointment will fuch meet with in thatDay; 
 May it not then very reafonably and juftly be en- 
 quired, what can be the reafon and caufe, when 
 this is granted fo generally to be a truth, that 
 there arc few Believers, that yet itfhould be as 
 true, that few queftion or make any doubt of 
 their Faith,and how this comes to pats ? I fhall 
 give you fome reafons of it, which if ye would 
 think upon, and fuffer to fink down in your 
 H Heart*, 
 
Serm. if, lfaiah $3. 
 
 Hearts, ye would not marvel that Co many are 
 in this Miftake and Delufion, and it would put 
 many of you, to have quire other thoughts of 
 your own condition than ye have; We {hall on- 
 ly fpeak to fuch Reaf:ns as are finful,and culpa- 
 ble upo:: your part. 
 
 The Rcafons then are thefe. flrfi t The mod 
 part never ferioufly think on the matter,w/iether 
 they Believe or not, or they neverput theirFaith 
 fo a tryal.if the foolifh Virgin light heiLamp ; 6t 
 np\ whether there be Oyl in it, and rake 
 
 on a fair outward Profr (Hon of Religion, and ne« 
 ver look what is within ir,or how it is lined, to 
 fpeak lb, what wonder {he go up and down with 
 the Lamp in her hand, and never know whether 
 there be Oyl in her VefTel or not, fince fhe never 
 CON riders, nor puts the Matter to proof and try* 
 a! ? The People are expoftulared with ( Ifai. 44. 
 from ver. o ) for making of Images, Thar a Man 
 lhould cut down a Tree, and with one piece 
 of }t mould warm hmfelf, with another piece 
 cf it mould bake his Bread, and of a thiid piece 
 fhoufd make a g^d, and fall down and worflvp 
 it.and this is given for the ground of irvv.18.19. 
 They have not known and understood, and none confider- 
 tth in his h.' art t oi as the word is, feeth to his hearty 
 they confider not that rhat r cannor be a god;Fo.ks 
 would think that natural Reafon might eafily 
 difcover this folly : We areperfvvaded that lome 
 of you will think your Faith as great a Folly, 
 when rhere (hall be as clear evidences to prove 
 the rottennefs of your Faith and Hope,as there 
 were even n common fence, to prove the Image 
 made of a piece Tree, not to be God ; when it 
 ihall be found and declared, that though ye were 
 never convinced of Sin; nor or your Milery and 
 loft Condition, were never humbUd nor touch- 
 ed under the kindly fenfeofit, never fled toje- 
 ius Chriftin earneir, nor never Mad the exercife 
 of Grace, yet out over the want of all thefe, ye 
 would needs keep up a good opinion of your 
 Faith and Hope; Wefay,the reafon why ye en- 
 tertain this conceit & opinion is.becaufe V'e ne- 
 ver fit down ferioufly and foberly before G'~d to 
 confider the Matter; nor do ye put your felves 
 to Proof and TryaljLet me therefore pofeyour 
 Confciences,if ye who have this opinion of y< ur 
 Faith, durft aflcrt to Him, that this Faith of 
 yours is the refult of > our ferious Examination 
 and Tiyal ; is it not rjther a guefling or fanciful 
 opinion that ye Believe ? And do ye thii k that 
 fuch aFaith as that will abide the Tryal before 
 God, that never did abide your own Tryal r it 
 will doubrietfkbs a fore begulle> to go off the 
 
 7" ft I. yo 
 
 world with fuch an opinion ofFaith.and to have 
 the D. : 1 (hut in your very Teeth ; Alas ? there 
 will I eno amending or bettering of your Con- 
 s' >n after Death; The Day comes when many 
 of you, ifGcd gracioufly prevent not,fhallcurfe 
 your felves that ever ye {hould hive been fuch 
 Fool> as to have trufted your own Hearts, or to 
 have taken up this opinion of your Faith with* 
 out ground : We would therefore ferioufly re- 
 commend to you tl e pu'ting of yourFairh more 
 frequency tothetiyaJ, and that >e would often 
 read and think on that place, -iCor.i^.^. Examine 
 your felves whether yi be in the Faith f ftrcve your own 
 fclves&c. O! do rot think that a Matter of fuch 
 concernmenr fliould be left lying at conjecture 
 and utter uncertainty, who lofcth, when ye are 
 fo pa'pably acceflbry to your own Ruine.by not 
 endeavouring to put your fches to fo much as 
 a Tryal ? Do not fay here for excufe, We haven* 
 more Grace than God gives a/;when ye never endea- 
 voured to be fo much as at the form oftheDuty, 
 or to go the length ye might have gone in put- 
 ting your felves to the Tryal; The deceit then 
 being defperate and irredeemable, if continued 
 in, do rot, for the Lord's fake, after all that is 
 faid to you, continue beguiling your felves. 
 
 Afecond Reafon is, Fo'ks fetling themfclves on 
 unfound evidences and principles of Peace that 
 will not bear them thorow before God;I do not 
 tay that they have nothing to fay in word for 
 themfclves, butthat all they have to fay willbe 
 no gi<uiid to prove their Faith, or to I ear it 
 thorow before God that they do believe indeed; 
 It will be found at the bell to beLut a lie, as 
 it's laid of <hat Man, ifa. 44. 20. A derived heart 
 hath turned him afrde } he feeds on ajhes, he cannot deli- 
 v,r his joul, nor )ay . is t hi re not a lie in my right 
 hana? He nay have a lceming reafon for his 
 Faith, but it's no reafon indeed : If many of 
 you were going now to die, what reafen have 
 ye to prove your Believing by ? fome will fay, 
 God hath always b:en grod, kind, and gracious 
 to me, I was in many (baits and difficulties and 
 Ipia'ed md got many deliveries ; Thus ail the ' 
 ground of thy Faith is but Temporal Favours 
 or Deliveries, which is even as if Ifrael fh uld 
 have made their receiving of T^mpo» a Dclive.ies 
 and their acknowledging rftheni, and having 
 fomclort of Faith 1 f them,tobe gro« r.d enough 
 to prove their receiving ofJ< fu > Chrifr fav 1 gfy; 
 There is a doleful proof of he imfovridr els of 
 thisgroud /»/• 78 <4 JS 26 37 W.:enheflcT» 
 them, tbmthej fo"ght hint and returned and enquired 
 early after G9d t they remttnbrtd that God vas their 
 
 rotk. 
 
I 
 
 Serm. ir. Ifaiah. Jfs 
 
 rock, and the high God their redeemer • They looked 
 to God's by-gone Favouis for them when they 
 were in the Wildernefs, and at the Red Sea, and 
 they believed that he could do fo ftill ; But they 
 did flatter him with their mouth, and lied unto him 
 with their tongue, (or their hearts were not right with 
 kim t neither were thsy fledfafl in his Coawa»/;where- 
 upon he deftroyed them, and through their Un* 
 belief they did not enter into God's Reft ; It's 
 alfo faid a little before in that P/.o; 31. For all this 
 •they fsnned flill ; There may be many Temporal 
 Favours and Deliveries, and thefe acknowled- 
 ged too,and yet no receiving of Chrift for mak- 
 ing our Peace with God, for removing the Quar- 
 rel betwixt Him and us, and for making us ceafe 
 fromSin.' Confider if it will be a good ground 
 to plead with God upon, to fay to Him, Lord, 
 thou muft bring me to Heaven, becaufe I was in 
 Sicknefs and thou raifed me up. I was in this 
 and that ftrait.and under this and that Crcfs,and 
 thou carried me thorow and brought me outof 
 it ; The Lord will fay to fuch that have no 
 more to fay, ye had fo many evidences of my 
 Power, and yer ye finned ftill ; and yet this will 
 be all the Pleading and Reaibning that will be 
 found with many of you, and the fad Reply 
 you will meet with from God. 
 
 A third Reafon is, Folks giving an external 
 Countenance to Ordinances, and their formal 
 going about of them ; They trcw they have 
 Faith, becaufe they keep the Church, and are not 
 open Contemners and MiiYegarders of Ordinan- 
 ces, as fome others are, becaufe they Pray, Read 
 Hear, &c. Itfecmsitwas fomethljg like this, 
 that the perfwaiion of thefe fpoken ofLuk. 13.20'. 
 is built upon,LW ( fay they ) w: have heard thee 
 preach, and have eaten and drunken in thy preface ; 
 It's not fimply,that they heard Chrill Pieach,for 
 many heard Him Preach whoftoned Him, but 
 that when others ftoned £lim, they followed 
 Him and were not openly Prophane, nor pro- 
 fefTed Contemners of Him and of HisPreaching, 
 as thefeothers were ; fuch like words fill fome- 
 times from your Mouths . Ye will poifibly fay, 
 what would we have of you? ye are not Pro- 
 phane, ye wait on Preaching, and live like your 
 Neighbours, and ye content your fclves with 
 that; Alas! this is a poor, yea, a doleful Fruit 
 of Ordinances,and of y oui attendance on them ; 
 If there be more fecurity, prefumption, and de- 
 fperate hazarding on the Wrath of God, and 
 lefs taking with the Quarrel bctwixc Him and 
 you On that ground. 
 
 Verfe r. $r 
 
 A fourth Reafon is, Folks Hope, even fuch * 
 Hope, that contrair to the nature of Hope, will 
 make the moft part/ of you afhamed ; Ye trow 
 yeBelieve.becaufe ye hope ye Believe,and that ye 
 will get Mercy, becaufe ye think ye hope in 
 God's Mercy, and ye will not let any thing light 
 to the contrair, nor fo much as think that ye 
 may be deceived ; The opinion that Folk have 
 ofobtaining Mercy, that is maintained with- 
 out any ground but their V3in hope, is the rif- 
 eft, moft unreafonable, and prejudicial evil that 
 is among the PrcftiTors of this Gofpel : hence 
 if any ground and evidence of their Peace be 
 asked for, they will anfwer, that they Believe ; 
 if it be again asked, how know ye that ye Be- 
 lieve, they anfwer, we hope and believe it is 
 fo, and can give no ground for it: Many ar^ 
 like thefe fpeken of//*.s7.io. Thcu haftfound 
 the life of thine hand, therefore thou was noc 
 grieved ; They have a Faith and a Hope of their 
 own making, and this keeps them off, that the 
 Word cf God rakes no hold on them ; We 
 preach that ye are narurally at Feed with God, 
 and offer Peace and Reconciliation through Je- 
 fus Chrift, but ye are Deaf, for ye think your 
 Peace is made already ; and but very few come 
 fenfib!eofa Quarrel with God, to this Word 
 as to the Miniftry of Reconciliation ; This is 
 wondred at ( in a manner ) by the Lord Him- 
 ftlf, Micab 3, lj. where vc have a People 
 uhofe way i 5 very unl ki the Gofpel, The 
 heads judge for a reward, and the priefts teach 
 for hire, and the Prophcs divine for money, 
 yet will they lean upon the Lord and lay, is 
 not the Lord among us? none evil can ome 
 upon us ; Ic is not for real Believing that 
 they arec/ur^ed, but for their confident afleA- 
 t'ng rhciiBelieving when there was no ground 
 font ; So it is with many, they will fay, 
 they hope to efcape HA\, and to get their S:n 
 pirdrnd, and to win to Heaven, aid rhcy be- 
 lieve it will bt fo,when in the mean rime there 
 is no ground for it, but clear ground to the 
 contrary. 
 
 A fi]th Ground is, Fo'ksfpin'rual and practical 
 Ignorance of the Righteoufncfsof God ; wh re- 
 of (he Apoftle fpcaking, Rom 10. j. fiyeth.Br* 
 ing ignorant of the rigbtcounjs ofc, :uf 
 
 to cjlablijh thtir cww,6V:c.that which I mean is,I k< 
 being ignorant of their Nacural Condition, of 
 
 the 
 
 II 2 
 
5* tfalab, cj. 
 
 th* Spiritnitncr$ of God's Liw,what it requires, 
 and of the way of Faith, and ofthe command of 
 Believing, and the nature of it : It's from the 
 Ignorance of thefe three, to wit, oftheMifchief 
 that is in them by Nature of the Spiritualnefs of 
 the Law, and ofthe Spiritualnefs of Faitb.and of 
 the Exercife of it, that they fleep on in Secuii- 
 ty, and think they have Faith when they have it 
 not ; And though fometimes they will fa$ their 
 Faith is weak,yet they cannct be beaten from it 
 but that they believe ; and their Faith is up and 
 down, as their Security ftands or fills : This the 
 Apoftle makes clear from his own experience, 
 Rom. j. 9 where before hs Conversion he fays, 
 he was a living M in, but after his Conversion he 
 begins ro think hirafelf nothing but a dead and 
 gone Man, thereafonis, becaufe bcfbreConver- 
 fion he knew not himfelf, hi knew not the Law, 
 nor the nature ot the Covenant of Grace, Before 
 the Law came ( faith he)/ teas alive-, he knew not 
 the fpiiituil m:aning of it, and therefore he 
 thought he obferved ir, and 1< thought himfelf 
 fure of Heaven, and had no doubts nor difput- 
 ings conccrnig his Intereft in God j But ( faith 
 lie ) when thecommandmSnt came, Jin revived, and I 
 died; I faw my felf then to be loft and gone,and 
 in every thing guilty, tha^t which I thought had 
 been Humility, I faw it to b§ Pride, that which 
 I took for Faith,] found it to bePrefumption and 
 Unbelief, and my Holincfs, I found to be Hya 
 pocrifie ; not that his Sin grew more upon his 
 liand, but the Sin that before was vailed,was now 
 difcovered, and (tared him in the face ; This is 
 a fad truth, yet a moft real Truth ; The good 
 Believing (as many of you call itj and theFaith 
 that ye have is a furer ground of your ftrange. 
 nefs to God, and of your Unbelief, than any o- 
 ther thing ye have can be a ground whereupon 
 to conclude, ye have Faith and are goodFriends 
 with God ; ye are yet alive, Strangers to God, 
 Strangers to your Selves, Strangers to the fpirit- 
 ual meaning of the Law, and to the exercife of 
 Fairh ; If ye would fct your felves to ponder fe- 
 rioi fly this one Confideration, I think ye might 
 be fome what convinced of it i Do ye not iee 
 many that underftand moreof God than ye do, 
 and that are more tender in their walk than ye 
 •re, who yet are loather, more difficulted and a- 
 fraid to aifert their Faith and Confidence inGod 
 than ye are ? and they are oftner brangled and 
 put to qucflion their Faith, will ye then confi- 
 der what can be the reafon that ye have fo ftrong 
 a Faith,tha r ye never doubted, and they are trou- 
 bled with doubting fometimes,yea often,though 
 they Pray more,and are more diligent in the ufe 
 of all the Means, and holier in their Converfa- 
 tion than ye arc, and ye will { it may be ) fry. 
 
 Verf. 1. Serm. If. 
 
 well's them that are like fuch a Perfonjthis is the 
 leafon of it, they fee their Sin, and the fpiritual- 
 nefsof rhc Law, and the nature of Faith ; and 
 arc dead to the Liw :but ye are yet alive in your 
 conceit" ; Doye. pi can ye think, that muchPray- 
 ing, Read ng, Mcdit-ti' n, and Tenderncfs in 
 F'lks walk, will wea^n Faith cV occafion Doub- 
 ting? or is it not rather like, that Fai'h will be 
 more confirmed by thefe than by thenegle&of 
 theni?how is i f then that ye are fo ftrong in your 
 Faith, when they find themfelves fo weak and 
 doubring ? or have ye aninfufed Faith without 
 the MeansPor doethGod deal with you in a more 
 indulgent way than He ufes to ceal with His 
 People ? how is it then that thefe of whom ye 
 cannot fay but they are more tender than ye are, 
 cannot almoft name Faith, or alTcrt their conh> 
 dence in God, without trembling and fear that 
 they prefume ; and yet ye dare very confidently 
 take a mouthful ci it without any hink or hefi- 
 tation,and yet live carnally and without fearPDo 
 not many of you wonder what ails fome Folks, 
 what need they to be fo much troub!ed,and why 
 do they ftand in need of fome to Pay for them 
 and with them, and to anfwer their Doubts,and 
 ye ( mean while) need no fuch thing ; and all 
 your remedy is, that ye allure your felves yeBe- 
 licve.and think the queftioning of your fecurity 
 is the very undoing of your Faiih ; God help,) c 
 are in a woful taking. 
 
 Afixth Reafon is, That Folk drink in fome 
 Carnal Principles that have no warrand in the 
 Word of God, and accordingly fquare every 
 thing that comes in their way. 1. They lay it 
 for a Ground, that Folk fhould never doubt of 
 God's Mercy ; we do not fay that Folk mould 
 doubt of God's being moft real in His offer of 
 Mercy to Sinners in the Gofpel, but from that 
 it will not follow, that never one fhould doubt 
 of God*s love to them> or of their coming to 
 Heaven.wbether they clofc with the offer or not 
 Are there not many whom God cuifcth ? and 
 fhould not thefe doubt ? A fecondCarnal Prin- 
 ciple is,That there is no fuch reality in theThreaf 
 nings of God as there is in His Promifes, as if 
 he were utterly averfe from executing a Threat* 
 ning, and as if it were a rare thing to Him to 
 condemn any;andis there any thing more oppo- 
 fite to Scripture than this Principle is ? Hath he 
 not faid in the fame p ! ace, to wit, Ex. 34 where 
 he proclaims Himfelf tobegrMc'fuj, merciful y lorg~ 
 fuffering&c. That He is » God that will not clear the 
 guilty ; And hath not the Scripture faid, that**/ 
 but a remnant that arefaved, but (as it were) hera 
 one and there one,and that there are man/dam- 
 ocd for one that is Uvcd^But know it of a certain 
 
 thac 
 
Serm; IT. ifaish (3. 
 
 thar He will mike you one day vomir up thefe 
 Pri' ciplcs, with cxqi ifite rorment,^ hen ouc of 
 your own Mouth He will convince you of your 
 Mtftakt and Delufion. 3. When Folks want ma- 
 ny things, they fupply all with in honeft 
 Mind ; TMs fupp'rs your wane of Know- 
 ledge, your want of Fai-h and Repentance, 
 and of every thing wkereof ye are faiu to 
 be fhort; Though ye live and fhould die Carnal 
 and Uirenewfd yc ye think ftill ye have an ho- 
 neftM'ndor Heart for a 1 ! that, and whatjpray 
 is^yourhoneft Mindpbur a rotten and prcphane 
 Heart that vails your Hypocrifie with a pretext 
 ofHonefty ; Would ye think that Man honeft, 
 fpokeof//* 44. 19. who with one p*rt of the 
 Tree warmed himfelf, and with another part 
 made a god, and fell down and prayed to ir?and 
 yet in your Senft, he hath an honeft Mind, for 
 ht fol'oweth his light which is but darknefs.and 
 the deceit of his Heart carrying him away from 
 God,though he cannot fee it ; he difcerns not,*** 
 Cduje ht confiders not that there is a lie in his hand, and 
 that s deceived heart bath led him a(ide y Co it is with 
 you ; and if many of you faw.what is latent un- 
 der that honeft Mind and Heart,there would be 
 nothing that would make you loach your felves 
 more , a little time will convince you, that that 
 which ye looked for moftgood from, was your 
 greateft and mofr traiterou^ Enemy; He that truffs 
 in his own heart is a fiol, faith Solomon, Pre. 18.26*. 
 it fuppofes thatFolk are ready to lippen to their 
 Heartt and ^o hearken to the language of it con- 
 cerning their Spiritual Eftate,but it fays alfo,that 
 they are Fools that do fo,for it betrays them ; and 
 there if no folly comparab'e to that whereby a 
 Man betrays his own immortal Soul ; and that 
 he doth who trufts in his own Heart. 
 
 Afeventh Reafon is from thedcceitfulncfs of 
 our Hearr.and the natural Corruption that (licks 
 to us ; There is naturally in us, Pride and Self 
 conceit, we are difpofed and given to any thing 
 that is our own,though it be but a fhe w,is as good 
 as others reality ; to think our own Light and 
 knowledge, our own other Parts and Giftsto be 
 as good as thofe of any others, whofoever they 
 be ; And with Pride there is joined Self-love, we 
 dow not abide to think evil of our felves, or to 
 fufpeft out felves : Though this Self-love be in- 
 deed Self-hatred, and is but love to our Corrupt 
 tions, and makes us that when welive in hatred 
 of God, to think that we love Him, fo that we 
 Cannot be induced to thii k that we love Him 
 nor. for we know that love to God is good, and 
 we love our felves fo welKt 1 atweca nctendure 
 to think that we want it ; hence it's fid of fame 
 in the laffc Timw, 2 Tim. 3. 2, 3. That thy [koig 
 
 Verf 1. 
 
 be covetous, proud, hojlers, blafphemers, difobedien* 
 to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affec- 
 tion, truce*breakers, &c. honing a form of godlinefs^ 
 and denying the power of it, and the tountain of all 
 is Self love, for (faith he ) men /ball be lovers of their 
 ownjetves ; And as Self love is the fountain of 
 much Evil, fo it's the fountain ofSelf-de£eit;and 
 keeps out any thing that may makeMen queftion 
 their own Condition, fo that if a word come in 
 and fay, thou haft no ground for thy Faith, the 
 Heart will be ready to anfwer and fay, it cannos 
 be that /am a Self-deceiver, and SelHovc as 2 
 partial Judge will offer to vindicate the Man,and 
 fo makes him fhift the Challenge. Now when 
 all thefe are put together, you may fee how ma# 
 ny Grounds Folks have to go wrong upon, and 
 Men having Hearts difpofing and inclining them 
 to go wrong, andlitrle pains being taken to dis- 
 cover the deceit ©f them, is it any wonder that 
 they think they Believe, when indeed they Be- 
 lieve not, and be empty and toom-handed, hav- 
 ing little or r.othing to reft upon, while they 
 think they are Rich and want norhingjl hefe are 
 not fancied and far fetched things, but obvious, 
 and at Hand, and may eafily be gathered from 
 your daily Pi a&ice » In all which, it's our de- 
 fxgn and fcopeto bring you to try your long un- 
 queftioned Peace ; do not therefore think that it 
 is impoflible to be thus perfwadeJ, as many of 
 you are, and yet to be miftak'n, ( which isano- 
 tl:erGround of Folks deceir,forLW/VM was very 
 confident in thinking her felfto be rich and increafed 
 in goods, and to jland in need of nothing, when jhe was 
 in the mean time poor, blind, nifcrable, nretcbed, and 
 naked; and the Galatians, as we may fee chip.*. 8. 
 had a per fvsafin which wasnJt of God', As there may 
 be a perfwafion of a point of Doctrine as being 
 r»ght, which yet is an errour, fo there may be a 
 perfwafion of a Mans SpiritualState as being right, 
 and which he will ftoutly maintain to befo>while 
 in the mem time that perfwafion is not of God 
 that callcth him, but a flrong Delufionj Ifallthat 
 be Faith that ye call Faith, then certainly the 
 way to Heaven is much broader than the Scrip- 
 ture hath chalked ir our, and Minifters needed 
 not fay Who belnves ourrepOrtHor aH fhould thus 
 believe it: It will then, and muft then turn to 
 this, thar your peifwafion is not of Him that cal- 
 leth you ; and if a deceit may ly and lurk under 
 this perfwafion of yours, ye have certainly Co 
 much the more need to put the bufinefs to try- 
 al. 
 
 And this is the laft Ufe, which we cannrt now 
 infifton, That fcintf f<> many thii krhev Believe 
 who Believe not, and tint there are bur few that 
 believe the Rcpoit, and indeed icft onChrift for 
 
 their 
 
 ^ 
 
*>4 . f //*/'*£ 5:3 
 
 their Salvation, as He is offered to them in the 
 Gofpel, ir is of your concernment to endeavmr 
 to puryourfelves without the reach of thisCom* 
 pbint, and to make it fure that ye have believed 
 and received*lhe Report; Is there any thing of 
 concernment if this be not ? even to make your 
 Calling and Election fure ; and that cannot be 
 made lure as ro you, till your Faich be made fure; 
 If we could prevail this far with you, we would 
 count it a bleffed Fruit of this and of many other 
 Preachings, even that fome of you who have 
 never queftioned your Faith, might bs engag- 
 ed fir ft ferioutly to clofe with Chrifl, and then 
 to put your felves ro the tryal, that on diftinft 
 grounds ye might be able ro fty, I know in whem 
 I have Relieved, and that he is able to keep th.it which 
 I have Committed to hhn agxinfl that day ; There 
 are many of you that talk of Fa^th, and yer can- 
 not only not affcrc your Iiterefrin Chrift di- 
 ftin&Iy, but cannot fo much as give any folid 
 grounds of your Believing, and lhould not this, 
 think ye, put you to try it; Is there not a Day 
 coming Wherein ye will all be tried whether 
 your alledgt-d Faith was true Fairh, or but pre* 
 fumptuousrand wherein theConfcience which is 
 now qu^et, and which it may be never k-.'eped 
 you from an hours Sleep, (hall awake and put 
 forth its Sting, and fhall bireand gnaw, and' ye 
 
 ?irf> »• ■ , Serm. i»« 
 
 who (hall continue under the power of this Z)e- 
 lufion, will be put to gnaw your Tongues for 
 pain and horrour under the gnawings of your 
 Confcience; Ye that never knew all along your 
 life what the fe things meaned, had need to ftand 
 the more in awe, and to be afraid when ye come 
 near Death/Though it be a fad matter, that when 
 we mould be Preaching, and would fain preach 
 the Doftrine of Faith, it mould, by reafoa of 
 your Delufion, be the great part of our \vork 
 to be thus digging you out of your Prefumpri-~ 
 on, and overturning your carnal and ill ground- 
 ed Hope; yet we have the greater confidence and 
 the more peace ^tofpeak to, and infifr in thefe 
 Truths , becaufe ttay ly fo near to the great de- 
 fign of the Gofpel, an.dto your immorral Souls 
 Salvation ; and though we were able to preach 
 more plaufible and fweetf things to you, yet if 
 thefe Do&rines profite you not, thefe would not; 
 Seing therefore they are Co profitable, we fhould 
 not weaiy tofpeak, and ye fhould not weary to 
 hear them fpoken of; Would to God ye werefe- 
 rioufly and fincerely aiming to be clear and 
 through in the matter of Believing, and that ye 
 flood in need, and were more capable of more 
 pleafant Truths ; if fo, we might have more 
 comfortable, though we will not fay more pro« 
 Arable Do&rines to infill upon to you. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 ISAIAH LIII 
 
 Wl:o hath believed our repirt ? And to whom 
 
 XII. 
 I. 
 
 is the arm of the Lord revealed ? 
 
 WE have fpoken atfeveral occa- 
 fions to this firfl part of the 
 Verfe, and before we leave 
 it, there is one life feveral 
 times tinted at already, to 
 which there is good ground to fpeak,it being the 
 deflgnand purpofe of thefe words to hold forth 
 of what great concernment Believing is> and of 
 what great difficulty it is, and fo many being to 
 the ruine of their Souls miftaken about i&, there 
 is ground to draw thhufe of Exhoitationfromir, 
 to wit, That then all the He3rers of this Gofpel 
 would beexhorted to advert well to this, that 
 they makeFaith fure in it felf.and that they make 
 it fure to themfelves, feing,as I faid,fo many are 
 miftaken about it and beguile themfelves;The 
 more preilingly that the Gofpel calls for Fairh 
 in Chrift, and the more weightily the Lord ex- 
 potfulates with the Hearers of th« Gofpel, be- 
 caufe of their Unbelief, they are doubtlefs fo 
 much the more concerned to receive it in Its 
 Offer, andalfo to 109k wellrtuc they concent not 
 
 themfelves with guefling at Faith, and that they 
 never think that things arewell with them,ex* 
 cept they can give good proof and warrand that 
 they are fo, and that it is Saving Faith that they r 
 have, feing there are fo many thatfatisfie them- 
 felves as being Btlievers, when yet fo few are 
 Believers indeed ; The fad miftake and difap- 
 pointmentof many, fhould have fo much influ- 
 ence upon us as to put us to more watchfulnefs 
 and to a more narrow tryal of our own flare 
 and condition, that we may know how itiswith 
 us; All rhat we have fpoken to theDo&rines of 
 this firfl part of the Verfe, may be as fo many 
 Motives to Air you up to both thefe, and would 
 to God we could be perfwaded to this as the Uft 
 of fo manyPreachings,'once to admit and take 
 Jt for granted that it is the Truth of God ; that 
 thereisaneceflity, an abibluteneceffity for us to 
 be really rolled and caflen over upon JefusChrift 
 by Faith, for attaining of Life through him ? 
 Though this be a very commonD c&rint, and ye 
 would think a very common Ufeof ir, yet it is 
 the great, thing that God requires in the Gofpel, 
 
 and 
 
Serm. 12. , . rptiah ??. V&l r. $ ? 
 
 an t <e negletl ot it, or not receiving His Son, day may come when ye would be cortenttobuy 
 
 the very conteftand quarrel that God hath with an offer of the Gofpel at a dear rate, ard when 
 
 the Hearers of ir, and the caufc of the ruine of there (hall not be a Tryfter, ncr a Days-rran o 
 
 fo many Souls that perifli under the GofpeljWe be had between God and you. and rhefe days will 
 
 fhall therefore propofe to you fome confidera- then be remembered with horrour, which now 
 
 tions that may (fir you up to thi$,and briefly an- 
 fwer a queftion in each of thefe two branches of 
 the U(e, 
 
 And Firft, For ftirring-you up to this receiv- 
 ing of. ChriO by Faith, I. Confider if there be 
 rot a (landing Quarrel and Controverfie betwixt 
 God and you tor Sin ; and if there be, as no 
 doubt there is, confider how that controverfie is 
 to be removed, is there any otherpoflible way 
 but by Fairh in Chrift ? if we were preaching to 
 fuch as had never finned, and were never under 
 the hazard of the Wrath of God, there might 
 poftibly be a difficulty to perfwade to a receiv- 
 ing of Chrift ; but when ye have all this inyour 
 Confcience, that there is Sin, and a Curfe fol- 
 lowing Sin, and that there is no other way for 
 removing thatCurfe butby Jefus Chrift, is there 
 not reafon ro expect that ye fhould receive this 
 Truth ? will any ofyouthinkto ftand and hide 
 it out a^ainft ( Jod ? aid if not, then there is fure 
 a neceffiry of believirg in Jefus Chrift, or of ly- 
 ing under the Wrath of God for ever 
 
 2. Confider that this Gofpel and Word of Sal- 
 vation is preached to you in paiticu.hr : W ien 
 we fpeakof Salvation,we do not fay, that Chrift 
 was once preached to rhe Jem, or that in fuch a 
 far-off Nation there is a door opened forSalva- 
 ' tionin the Gofpel : but we would turn over the 
 words of the Apoftle ( Jtts 13 38.) to you and 
 fay to you in his words, Beit known to you there- 
 fore, men and brethren, that through this man (to wit 
 Jefus Chrift, ) 1: preached to yeurjmijfien of fins, &c. 
 and this brings the Gofpel near you,even to your 
 door : it laysbcfore you the way of acceiYto 
 God by Chrift, and puts it foclofs and home to 
 you, that Chrift muft either have a refufal, or a 
 welcome fr. m you ; The rlrft confiderarion of 
 you*- own Sinfulness end Mifery mighr put you 
 tofetk after a Saviour, though he were at a great 
 diftance,but this ether brings Him to yourHeart 
 ard M uth and isit fit ( thn k ye ) to ne< kef 
 fu h a fair occafnn ? and w. 11 ir be wiidom, 
 when Salvation f llov s y u, and crysaftei you, 
 and Wifdom lif?s up its vc ice in the Streets, fay- 
 ing, O ye fin pie ones hove lo> gxoiilyi hve fool-jhnejs? 
 &c to fti p your ear n r ro turn away fiomChr-iff, 
 and to run upon youi dcftruclicn ? Do ye think 
 that this Gofpel will be fihnt always, or that 
 your Conlicienct will be deaf and dumb ilways . 
 There are many Nation* that have not t' e Gof- 
 pel fo near tueni ; and it's hard to know, but the 
 
 ye fecurdy flip over, 
 
 3. Confider what will come of this if ye do not 
 believe the Gofpel ; Know ye not that many pe- 
 rifh that hear the Gofpel ; and that upon this 
 fame very ground, that they did not recciveChrift 
 and Salvath n through Him offered to them 
 therein, and whereof they are now depiiv e d?Are 
 there not many this day curfingin Hell, under 
 the Wrath of God, that they let flip and paffed 
 overfo many goldenOpporrunittes cfthtGofpel 
 without improvement? and know ye net thatic 
 will come to the fame fad pafs with you,if ye do 
 not receive it? Do Men live always? Is there noc 
 an appointed time for all Men upon Eaith ? If 
 before we have favingly exercifed Faith cnHim 
 for nuking Peace wit God, we be drawn to a 
 reckoning before ^'is Tribunal, what will come 
 of it ? and are not our precious Opportunities 
 apace and always fliping b>?and is nor the work 
 of Faith by delays (fill the more difficult ? are 
 not our Bends (fill rhe more ftrei g'hened ? and 
 doth not our indifpofition ftill grow the greater? 
 and is it nor very ordinary to fee rhele who 
 have flighted the woik of Faith in their Voi.rh, 
 to l.veftupid in their old Age, and die -Senf- 
 fefs? 
 
 4 N Conh*der wf at fort of Folk they are,ofwhom 
 the Scripture fpeaks as U.. believers, and whom 
 the Word of God holds for: h to be eternally in- 
 cluded f T,m the pre fence of Grd for the want of 
 Faith ; Many think that it's but thegrofl* Pro* 
 phane, or fuch as never h2d fo much as the form 
 of Religion, a d fuch as others wculd fcunner 
 and Joarh to hear them bur mentioned, that it T s 
 (I fay) only fuch that are accounted Unbelie- 
 vers; But the Scripture fpedksof fom . fo 
 enter in and {hill not be able \ that defue to be in 
 Haven, an * take fome pains to win in,and yec 
 are never admitted to enter into it, and wbtt is 
 the reafon, becaufe they to k nor the way of Be- 
 lieving for the obtaining > f Life and ccming to 
 Heaven ; they took rhe way of Works, they 
 took 'he way of Prayer, of Purpofes, P-omifes 
 and Rcfolutions to amend and grow bettei.quite 
 1 ve.lo king Ch> id and tr-e way of BcFeVirtg in 
 Him, and f took the way »-f Prefmnption, and 
 P o-nilcd rh mfelves Pea^e when there was rto 
 true Peace, noi any fblid ground forir. 
 
 <T. Confid-r ( which is of affinity with the for* 
 mei confide 1 aticn ) them that arc fccludcd from 
 
 the 
 
Scrm. iii Jfaiah^t 
 
 the prefence of God for the want of Faith, they 
 are even Men and Women as we are, that lived 
 in the fame Kingdom andCity with us,thar pray- 
 ed in the fame Companie with us, that thought 
 themfelves as fine of Heaven as many of us do, 
 tint were guilty of the fame or like fins that 
 we are guilty of, that hive heard many of 
 the fame Preachings thatwe have hcaid, and yet 
 they perifh for want of Faith, for not believing 
 in the Son of God. Why then mould we think 
 that impoflible as to us, that isfo c mmonand 
 frequent in others? 'Is not the fame Nature in 
 us tnats in others, and are not our Hearts na- 
 turally as deceitful and corrupt as thofe of o* 
 thers ? andfo may not w« be beguiled as well 
 as others? And is it not the fame rule that He 
 will walk by in judging of us, that he walked 
 by in judging ofothcrs ? What can be the rea- 
 fon that Folk will read and hear the Word,and 
 will promife to themfelves Heaven, when the 
 fame wcrd clears ic plainly, that Deftru£Hon is 
 that which they have to look for from the Lord. • 
 It is nothing tlfe but this confident and proud 
 Prcfumption th« many take for Faith. Let not 
 your precious opportunities flip away, and be- 
 guile not your felves in fuch a concerning mat- 
 ter as Faith is; ye will never get this lofs made 
 up afterwards if ye mifs Faith here. 
 
 Laftly, Confide r the great neccflity that the 
 Lord hath laid updliall Men and women, by a 
 peremptory Command and Charge, to believe 
 in the fon ofGod ;He hath not with greater pe- 
 remptorinefs reguired Piayer, nor dependance 
 upon him, nor any other Duty, than he hath 
 required this, I John}. 23- And this is his com- 
 mandment ,that vefhtuld bclievt on the Name of his 
 Son Jefus Chrift ; yea its fingled out as his main 
 Commandment: If that great Inquiry be made 
 What fiiall I do f be Javed ? This is the anfwer 
 Believe on Jefus Christ ; Do ye think that ourLord 
 ( who hath fo marked and fignalizedthis Com- 
 mand in fofpecial a manner, ) will never take 
 account for the (lighting of it ? or do ye think 
 to fatisfie hina by your other Duties without 
 minding this ? It cannot be; Suppofe yefhould 
 mourn all your Life time, and your Life were, 
 a patern to others, yet if ye want this one thing 
 Faith in Chrift, ye would be found Tranfgref- 
 forsas having negle&ed the main work. • 
 
 Now for the Queflion, ye will fay, what is 
 this we are bidding you do when we bid you 
 believe ? Anfto. IVhen we call you to Believe, 
 Wecallyou, 1. To be fuitably affeftcd with 
 the fenfe of your own Naughtinefs, Sinfulness, 
 and Hazard i till there be fomething of this, 
 Faith in our Lord Jefus hath no accefs.nor will 
 
 *1 
 
 of the ^ 
 
 yerfe 1. 
 
 ever get welcome; Deep apptehenfions 
 Wrath that is coming, and a Handing in awe at 
 the thoughts of our appearing before Him, con- 
 tribute much to it : I am nor preaching Defpera- 
 tion ro you, as fomc mutter, but we would prefs 
 upon you the Faith of the Word of God, that 
 tells you what we are, and livelinefs under that 
 impreflion,th2t ye may not be flopped Or letted, 
 till ye come to a thorow clofure with ChriftiThe' 
 moft part of Hearers come never this length, and 
 this is the reafon why many flumble in the very 
 Threfhold, and make never Progrefs. 1.W0 call 
 for and commend this to you,that ye would flu- 
 dy to be through and clear as to the Ufefulnefs 
 and Excellency of Jefus Chrift, as to the efficacy 
 of His Death, as to the terms of the Covenant 
 of Grace, whereby a Sinner comes to obtain 
 Right to Him > ro be fcnfible of Sin and Hazard 
 without this, is only the way to make a Man 
 defperate and mad, but when this is clear, it 
 makes an open door to the Sinner, that he may 
 fee whither to run from the Wrath to come ; 1 
 do not only mean that yt would get the Cate- 
 chifm, and be able to anfwer to all theQuefticns 
 concerning the Fundamentals of Religion con- 
 tained therein, but that ye would alio and main- 
 ly feek to have the Faith of thefe things in your 
 Hearts, and ro have Faith in God, that ye may 
 be perfwaded, thatHethat was and is G< d,d>cd 
 for Sinners, and that by the application of His 
 Satisfaction, Sinners may obtain Life, and that 
 there is a fuffiaent Warrand given ro a Sinner 
 to hazird himfelfupon Him- The firft of thefe 
 fpeaks the neceflity of fome Senfe, the fecond 
 holds out the neccflity of a general Faith accor- 
 ding to that word, Hcb. 11. He that umetb to'jfd, 
 mull Believe that He is, and that He is a rewardtr §f 
 them that diligently feck him \ We muft know that 
 there is a Warrant to come, and ground to ex- 
 pect Acceptance from God upon our coming,or 
 elfe we will never come to,nor believe inChrift. 
 The third thing thatwe call you to, when we 
 call you to Believe,is,that the S nner would actu- 
 ally flr etch out that Faith, as the Souls Hand for 
 the receiving of Chrift, and for the Application of 
 Him to himfelf, and would a&uaJJy caft himfclf 
 upon theSatisfaclion of Jefus Chi ifl for covering 
 that Sinfulnefsthat is in him, and would catch 
 hold of, and grip to Him that is ar ablt Saviour, 
 for keeping the Sinner from finking under the 
 weight of Sin that helyeth under:ThisistheEx- 
 ercife and Practice of Faith when it flows from 
 thegencralDottrineof the neceflity of believing 
 fuch things to be Truths in themfelves,& then 
 its extended and p«t forth in Practice, thar we 
 who are fo certainly and fcnfibJy lofi\muft needs 
 
 ihire 
 
Scrm. * 2. # ; , iifo'j* 5 
 
 fhare of that Salvation which we believe to be in 
 Jefus Chrift, and To for that, roll our felves on 
 Him ; The firft piece of SsnCe may be in a Repro* 
 bate, the fecond piece of Faith, that there is a 
 Sufficient Salvation in Chrift to be gotten by them 
 that believe yi him, may be in a Devil ; But this 
 third of aftual ufe-making of the Satisfaction of 
 Chrift. for paying our Debt,and rolling ourfelves 
 upon Him, that's the Faith and Exercife ofic 
 that is particular to a found Believer, and the 
 very thing thac conftitutesa Believer, and it is 
 that which we commend to you, that ye may not 
 fhnd and pleafe your felves with looking only u- 
 pon Chrift, but that ye may caft and roll your 
 felves over upon Him, that Chrift may get your 
 Weight, and that all your Burdens and Wants 
 may be upon Him, which to do ye muft bee* 
 nabled by the mighty Power of Grace, whereof 
 the next part of the Verfe. 
 
 The fecond Branch of the uje which follows 
 uponthis,is, That we would defire you not only 
 to follow this way of making your Peace with 
 God, but to follow the trying and proving of it 
 to your own Satisfaction >that ye may be warran* 
 fably confident that it isfoi There is a great dif- 
 ference betwixt thefe, to believe in Chrift, and 
 to be clear and certain that we do believe inHim; 
 As there is a neceflity of the firft, without 
 which there cannot be Peace with God, fo there 
 is a neceflity of the fecond, though not fimply, 
 as without which there can be no Peace with 
 God, yet upon this account, as without which 
 we cannot be fo comforted in God i And feing 
 there are fo many who do not Believe, who yet 
 think themielves to be Believers, and feing there 
 is nothing more common among the hearers of 
 the GofpeJ, than to reject Chrift offered in tf;& 
 to Misbelieve, ard yet nothing more common 
 than to be confident that they do Believe ; there 
 is Good ground here to exh-.rt you to put your 
 Faith to the Touch-flone, that yc may know whe- 
 ther ye can abide the Tryal, and whether ye may 
 confidently aflert your own Faith upon Good 
 ground, andabide by it : We would thi k if it 
 were remembred, and ferioufly conlidered, how 
 great a fcarcity there is of B .lievers, ard how 
 tare a thing it is to get any to receive Chrift, tint 
 Folk needed not be much preflcd to put their 
 Faith to the Tryal j and when there will not be 
 one among many fou'd who will pafs Bnderthe 
 account of a real Believer with JefusChrifr fh uld 
 not the mo (r part fufp-ft themfelves, feing tha 
 moft part that hear the G fpel are theobj ft of 
 this Complaint, IVho hath bdieved our npirt ? or 
 very few have believed it; ye would ftudyto 
 have fome well grounded confidence inth 
 
 J. Verfe. I. „ 
 
 ye are not guetiing and prefuming,and going u>». 
 pon grounds that will fail you at laft,but that yc 
 be in cafe to fay on folid grounds with the A- 
 poftle, I know whom 1 havt believed % Scc.There is 
 a Faith and Hope that will make many aftianwd; 
 and certainly, in the day of Judgement, when 
 Chrift fhall have to do with thefe Perfon?, that 
 never once thought to be thruft away from Him, 
 they cf all Men fhall be thruir away from Hirra 
 with greateft Shame ; O ! the confufion that will 
 fill 3nd overwhelm them who had a profefiion of 
 Chrift, and yet had never the root of the matter in 
 them,above and beyond many others: Dare many 
 of you upon ths confidence ye have,lookDeath in 
 the Face, It's no great matter to be confident in 
 the time of Health ; but wi'l ye then be able to 
 comfort your felves in the Promifes cf God ? do 
 not promife to your felves the things in the co« 
 venanr, except ye beenieavauring in God's way 
 to be fure ye are Believers indeed. Our Life de- 
 pends upon our Faith, but our Confolation de- 
 pends much upon our clearnefs that we have 
 Faith, and that we are in Chrift-, ar^d therefore 
 there is much need to prefsthis upon you;There 
 is no way to rid you of the Terrours of God, and 
 to make you comfortably fure ofyour particular 
 Intereftin the Promifescf God,but by making it 
 fure and clear that ye are Believers in Chrift In - 
 deed. 
 
 There are three or four Corts cf People to whom 
 wo would fpeak a little here- I. There are fome 
 who think that if they could do other Duties, 
 though they fhould never do this, to wir,tomaJcc 
 their Calling and Election lure, they wou'd be 
 and do weii enough ; Are there not many ofycu 
 that never fo much as iec ycur felves to try whe- 
 ther ycur Faith wculd abice God's tryal or not ? 
 Ah ! Ah ! an atheiftical Indiri'crer.cy, a ilightmjEj 
 of the Conizations of G<*d, aboundeth amonglt 
 many, lb thac thev ibink the Promifes and the 
 Confobuions that is to be gotten in the Piomifcs 
 are not fo much warth, as to be thereby pur to 
 take pains to try and fee, whether they belong to 
 them or not; but the day will come that many 
 of you will curfe your felves for your neglecting 
 and flighting of this A fecond foitare thefe 
 becaufc they were never fqre of Peace with God 
 themfflves, and became they were never fure of 
 their own Faith, neither. ey<i concernedly en* 
 deavrured to be/hcy think it's allbu r fancy that's 
 fpoken of aflur.ince of Faith, and of Peace 
 God, they think it's but gutiiius at the bri't i 
 There is fuch a fort of PerJbns, who think they 
 may be doing as they dow.and need not trouble 
 themfelves with fuch fancies, or nicethings,but 
 if ye asi: them what will come of them at Jaft ) 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 
5 1 V*i*h 
 
 they will tell you,they will lippen that to God: 
 Think ye it for nought, that God hath laid fo 
 many Commands on you to make your Calling 
 and Ele&ion fure ? and think ye it for nought 
 that he hath given fo many Marks to try it by ? 
 and that fomeofthe People of God do holily 
 and humbly glory and boaft fo much or their 
 Communion with God, of their aflurance of His 
 love to them, and of their fpecial Intereft in Him? 
 do not all thefe fay, that there is fuch a thing 
 as this to be had ? There is a third fort chat 
 pleafe themfelves with meer conjectures about 
 this Marter,and the grearer their Security be, they 
 perfwade themfelves the more that they have 
 Faith ; This is as fid as any of the former,when 
 they grant all, that Folks mould make their Cal- 
 ling and Election fure, and fliould endeavour to 
 be fure of their Faith,but in the mean time rake 
 Peace with the Devil, and Peace with their Lulls, 
 for Peace wirh God, and a Covenant wi'h Hell and 
 Death, for a real Bargain with God: This is as 
 true as this Word ot God is, that there are many 
 that put by all Challenges by this, and never fu- 
 fpz& their Faith; they hope that all fhal be well, 
 and they muft always Believe > as if that were 
 the whole Duty of Faith to keep down all Chal- 
 lenges. A fourth fort is, even of the generation 
 of them that have fome thing of God inthcm.who 
 fear in a manner to make all fure, and think it a 
 of Humility, and of holy and tender walk 
 
 piece 
 
 ingto maintain Doubting, even as others think 
 it Faith to maintain Prefuinption ; They are al- 
 ways complaining, as if all things were wrong, 
 and nothing right in their Cafe, and fo fofter and 
 cheriih Misbelief; There is fuch a thing as this, 
 that marreth even ferious Souls in their endea- 
 vours to make their Calling and Elettion fute, 
 and as long as this is, they cannot win to the 
 fuitable dilcovery of this excellent Grace that 
 Cod calls them to Exercife, even Faith in the 
 Lordjefus: Need we rmke ufe of Motives to prefs 
 you to this tryal of your Faith, and to this giv- 
 ing of all diligence to make it fure, who have e- 
 fpecially hitherto neglefted it ? If ye knew any 
 thing of the vexation (hat Unbelief hath with it, 
 and what horrour in Confcience from the fenfe 
 of diftance from God were, ye would think it a 
 great marter to be clear in this thing ; and :fit 
 were known and believed how this delufion and 
 unfickernefs ofFaith deftroys the moll: part of 
 Men in the World, even of the vifible Church, 
 Durft Men ly in their Security as mod do, with- 
 out all endeavours to make it fure on good 
 ground.that they do indeed Believe ? Durft they 
 
 H« Ftrfi r. Serm. 12. 
 
 fancy that it is otherways with them ? Durft 
 Men trcafure up Wrath to thcm.'clves, if they 
 thought not that the Hope they had were good 
 enough ? O ! but Prefumption beguiles and de- 
 ftroys many Souls ; an J particularly this fame 
 Prefumption of Folks thinking themfelves right 
 when they are wrong, hath deftroyed, and doth 
 deftroy, and will deftroy moe Members of the 
 vifible Church, than Prophanity, Drunktnnefs, 
 Whoredom, Theft, Defpcration, or any other 
 of thefe grofs.and much abhorred Evils do; This 
 is the thing that locks Folk up in their Sin, even 
 their Prefumption, when they fay on the matter, 
 We fhall have peace t t faugh we walk in the imagination 
 of our own heart? It's this that makes Men without 
 fear,Steal,and Lie.and commie Adultery, &c. that 
 they fay, // not the Lord among us ? Is not this the 
 thing that keeps many of you that ye never 
 tremble at the Word of God ? we have Faith in 
 God ( fay ye, ) we lippen and truft in Him ; 
 therefore feing Prefumption is fo rife, have ye 
 not need to try your Faith ? if there were fo 
 much counterfeit Money in the Countrcy, that 
 it were a rare thing to get one good and upright 
 piece of Money, ye would think your Ctlvcs 
 greatly concerned and obliged to try it well,left 
 ye were cheated with bafe and counterfeit Coyn; 
 Is there not need then, yea infinitely much mere 
 need for them that would be fo wife as not to 
 be beguiled ab^ut the Salvation of their Souls, 
 tofearch and try whether their Faith v\ ill abide 
 G d's tryal or not ? 
 
 Ye will readily move this Q*ri7r»,What then 
 are the Characters or Evidences of a folid and 
 ikkcr Faith that will abide the tryal, by which 
 the pretendedFaith that is among theMenofthis 
 Generation may be examined & put to juft tryal? 
 I fhall rirft name fume direct Scriptures hold- 
 ing out fomethings eifentially accompanying 
 Faith, and then fhali add others having more con- 
 defcending Chara£ters for the more particular 
 differencing of this, helping to ihe decifion of 
 this great Queftion, 
 
 The firft Mark whereby ye may try your Faith 
 is, The ground and rife of it, or that whereby 
 it is begotten and cherifhed ; Faith comes ( faith 
 the Apoftle.R0w.1o. id ) by hearing ; Doctrinal 
 Faith comes by the preaching of theGofpel,and 
 Saving Faith is wrought inftrumentally by the 
 fame word of God, it being the power of God to 
 falvatitn ; it being this Word thajt is the very 
 ground of our Faith ; I would ask you where- 
 trom your Faith comcS,and what hand the word 
 of God hath in it? There are many that have a 
 
 ly ftill under God's Curfe, if they thought them- fort of Faith noi only without; but contrary to 
 felves to be really under ic,and did notfoolifcly the Word of, God, whereby they believe that 
 
 ti;ey 
 
Stun. 12. , , #»** 53. ^/* r. *r 
 they will get Heaven, while in the mean time power of it, and this will be the defigo that he 
 the Word of God docs dire&ly exclude them, will fincerely drive, to get the Heart purified 
 Get yeyourFaith maintained without ever know- within, as well as the outward Man ; inward 
 ing the neceflity of a Promife for that effect ? Can Heart-abominations will be grievous and burden- 
 ye maintain your Peace and nor havefo much as foms to him as well as fcandalous out* break- 
 any foundation in the truth and faithfulnefs of ings. 
 
 God to build it upon? Love never that Faith Afecondplace is, Gal. 2. 20,21. I am crucified 
 
 that hungers not atterthe Word, that is fuppof- with Cbrift, neverthelefr I live, yet not I, but C-.rijl 
 
 fed to be lively without being eVer fed by the 
 Word, that cannot claim either its rife and origi« 
 nal, or its growth from the Word ; I will not 
 fay from this or that word in particulars at this 
 or at that time read or heard,but from the Word 
 
 livetb in me, and the life, 8cc. If ye would know 
 a companion of true Faith, here is one it hath a 
 life of Faith with it ; There is one life killed, 
 and another life is quickened, the life that is kil- 
 led is that whereby the Man fometime lived to 
 
 of God ; the Word is the very foundation that the Lwjam deadto the Law ( fays the Apoftle,) 
 
 Faith builds upon : If we look to what cither ac- 
 companied or followeth Faith, there are fome 
 plain Scriptures that will make that clear.as A3t 
 15. 9. and put no difference between us and them, 
 purifying their hearts by faith, ( then? was indeed 
 once a great difference between Jews and Gentiles, 
 but now when he hath brought both to believe 
 in Chrift, the difference is removed ) There is an 
 efficicy in it to circumcife the Heart, to purine 
 it, and to banilh Lufts out of it, for it doles and 
 unites with Chrift, and fo brings him home to 
 dwell in the Heart, and where Chrift dwells He 
 commands, and fo whatever oppofes Him is ba- 
 niied; Faith gives Chrift welcome,and will give 
 nothing welcome to dwell with Him that's op- 
 . pofite and difpleafing to Him. Faith improves 
 Chrift for the fubdutng of its Lufts and mortify- 
 ing its Corruptions; whereas before there might 
 be an fair outfide of a Profeilion,and fomething 
 clean out wardly,and much filthinefs and rotcen- 
 nefs within.but when Faith is exercifedonChrift, 
 it purifies from all filthinefs of the Spirit as well 
 as of theFlefti, it applys the Promiles for that 
 end, even to get the infide made clean as well as 
 the outfide ; yea, its main work is,tohave the in- 
 fide, the Heart purified, that being the fountain 
 of all the pollution that defiles the man,& brings 
 the other necelTarily along with it i never love 
 that Faith that leaves the Heart as a Swines-fly 
 to Lufts, that leaves itfwarming with unclean 
 and vain thoughts, or that leaves the Heart juft 
 as it was before ; or that Faith that only clean- 
 fcth the outfide and does no more ; fuch a Fairh, 
 however efteemed by the Man, will never be ac- 
 counted for true Saving Faith before God; I do 
 not, I dare notfay thatUelievcrs willalwaysdif- 
 cern this heart-purity or channels ; but this I 
 fay, that true Faith will fet the Man a work to 
 purify the Heart, and will be making ufe of Jhrift 
 for that end, not only to have the arm of the 
 dominion of Sin broken, but to have the Soul 
 more and mors delivered from the indwelling 
 
 a Man's good conceit of himfelf that once he had 
 is killed and taken away, he wonders how it 
 came that he thought himfelfholy, or a Believer, 
 or how he could promife to himfelf Heaven in 
 the condition he was in : There is another life 
 comes in the place of that, and it's a life that is 
 quickened and maintained by, and from nothing 
 in the Man himfelf but it's wholly from and by 
 Chrift; The Believer hath his holinefs 5c ftrength 
 for doing all called-for Duties, and his comfort 
 alfofrom Chrift, and he holds withall his very 
 NaturalLife his prefent Bang in the World from 
 Chrift, his all is in Chrift; his ftock of life, 
 ftrength and furniture is not in himfelf, but he 
 lives by a continual Traftick, as it were on Bills 
 of Exchange betwixt Chrift and him i when he 
 wants, he fends a Bill to Chrift, and it's anfwe- 
 redin every thing that heftandsin need of, and 
 that is good for him ; He is a deidMan,and he 
 is a living Man, and wherever true Faith is, there 
 the Man is dead and (here the Man is IivingjDo 
 not Ipraymiftake it, by thinking that true Faith 
 is but vented, puts forth it felf only in reference 
 to this or that particular, or at this or that par- 
 ticular time only, for Faith muft be exercifed 
 not only at ftarts, as when we are under Chal- 
 lenges for Sin, or at Prayer.but we muft dedgn 
 and endeavour to exercife Faith thorow all our 
 Life ; that is, we muft by Faith look for every 
 thing that is ufeful and needful tor us from 
 Chhlr,ind be always endeavouring to drive on » 
 common Trade of living this uray ; we muft b; 
 habituating our felves to leek after Peace, ftrengt* 
 and Confolation, and what elfe we .u-cj, our 
 of the fulnefs that is in Him ; This Life of Faith 
 is to fee the want of all things in our felves, and 
 yet to have all things by making ufe of Chuft 
 in all things j contenting and comforting our 
 felves that there is Strength in Him, though 
 we be weak in our felv:s,and tint he hath gotten 
 the victory over all His and our Enemies, and 
 clue we fhallat laft through Him, b- riftoriOtfl 
 I 1 i a 
 
Co 
 
 in our own Per Pons, contenting 
 
 cur felves rhat he hath compleit Rightcoufaefs, 
 
 though we be Eankrupt and hive none of our 
 
 own, and betaking our felves allenarly to that 
 
 Righteoufnefs forojr /unification before God ; 
 
 Thus making aLife to our felves in Himjleliv* 
 
 ing in us by HisSpirit,ancl we living in Him by 
 
 Faith ? O fwcetcV deftreable but myfteriousLife! 
 
 The third place is Gal.^.*. InChriiiJefusMejther 
 gvaititt anything, nor v.ncir*umcifun, but 
 ';.?/ wcrkethby Uve; He doth not limply fay 
 Faith, but fnitk that works by love i Fcr Faith is 
 an operative Grace, and tiiis is the main vent of 
 it,the thing by which it works,it works by Lovej 
 Faith is the hand of the new Creature, whereby 
 every thing is wrought,it having Life from Chrift 
 and we may fay that Lore is in a manner the 
 hand of F2ith, orrarherlike the fingers upon the 
 hand of Faith, whereby it handleth every thing 
 renderly, even out of love to God in Chrifr.and 
 to others for his fake '-> Faith works, and it works 
 by Love ; that's a found and good Fai r h that 
 warms the Heart with Love to Chrift, and the 
 nearer thatFaith brings the Believerto Him, it 
 "warms the Heart with more love toothers: And 
 therefore love to the People of God is given as an 
 evidence of onethat is born of God; J ph. 5.1. be- 
 caufe, wherever true Faith is, there cannot but 
 fce love to theChildren of God flowing from love 
 to Him that begets them; That Faith that's rot 
 affected withGod's difhonour out of love to Him, 
 and that can endure to look upon the Difficul- 
 ties, Sufferings and Afflictions of the Children cf 
 God, without fympathizing and being kindly af- 
 fected therewith, is not to be taken for a found 
 Faith, but to be fufpected for a Counterfeit. 
 
 The fourth place is Jamto 1. 14. Shew me thy 
 faith by thy works, &c. True Fairh hath always 
 iound Holinefs with it,in all manner of Conver- 
 sation in the defign and endeavour of the Belie- 
 ver, which is with all through Grace in fome 
 meafure attained ; What avails it for a Man to 
 fay that he loves another, when being naked or 
 deftitute,he bids him depart in Peace, be warmed, 
 Refilled, and yet in the mean time gives him 
 nothing that he frauds in need of, would not 
 fuch a poor Aian think himfelf but mccked ? E- 
 ven fo,wilI not God reckon you to be butA/ock- 
 Believers, or Mockers of Faith when ye profefs 
 your felves to be Believers in Chrift.whilein the 
 mean time ye have neither indeed Heart-purity, 
 nor Holinefs in your outfide Ccnverfation? that 
 is but fuch a Faith as Devils may have that will 
 never do you good ; Ye would believe this for 
 a truth,that there will never a Faith pafsfor Faith 
 in God's account, and fo there fhould never a 
 Faith pafsfor Faith in your account, but thac 
 
 \faiak ft'tttft '• Serm. 12 
 
 and fatisfying Faith that fets the Man a work to the ftudy of 
 Holinefs; that Faith t! at works by Love, that 
 Faith that purifies the Heart, and that Faith that 
 puts thePerfon in whom it is, to ftudy to have 
 Chrift living in him,and himfelf living in Chrift. 
 I promifed to name a few -Scriptures that fpeak 
 out fome more condefcendingCharaftei sofFaith 
 And i . I would think it a good token of Faith, 
 to have Folk feared for miffing and falling fhort 
 of the Promifes, which may be gathered from 
 tfc£.4.i.that ftout confidence that thinks it's im- 
 poflible to mifs the Promifes.is a fufpecH and dan- 
 gerous Faith, not to be loved ; it's a much ber> 
 ter Faith that fears, than that Faith that's more 
 ftout, except there be 9 fweet mixture of holy 
 ftoutnefs and fear together j It's faid H.b. n. 7. 
 that by Faith Noah being moved with fear, prepared 
 an Ark, b\z.^oah had the Fai:h of God's Promife, 
 that he fhould be keeped free from being drowned* 
 by the Deluge with the reft of the World, antl 
 yet he was mourning and trembling in preparing 
 the Ark; Ifthere were much Faith among you, 
 it would make many of you more holijy feared 
 than ye are ; Love not that Faith the worfethat 
 ye never hear a threatning but ye tremble at it, 
 and are touched by it in the quick. 2 It's a good 
 tcken of Saving Faith, when it hath a difcovery 
 and holy fufpition of Unbelief waiting on it, io 
 that the Ferfon dare not fo lippen and truft his 
 own Faith, as not to dread Unbelief, and to tell 
 Chrift of it \ There is a poor Man that comes to 
 Chrift, Mark. 9. 23,24. to whom the Lord faith, 
 if thou car. ft believe, or canft thou believe ? yts 
 Lord (fays he ) I believe, help thou mine unbelief \ 
 there was fome Faith in him, but there was alfo 
 Unbelief mixed with it; hisUnbelief was fo great 
 that it was almoft like to drown his Faith, but 
 he puts it inChrift's hand.and will neither deny 
 his Faith nor his Unbelief, but puts the matter 
 fincerely over upon Chrift, to ftrengthen his 
 Faith, and to amend and help his Unbelief; It's 
 a fufpett Faith that's at the top of Perfection at 
 the very firft, and ere ever ye wot ; There are 
 fome ferious Souls, that think becaufe they have 
 /ome Unbelief,that therefore they have no Faith 
 at all, but true Faith is fuch a Faith that is by 
 and befide fufpected and feared or (ecn Unbelief; 
 ThatFaith is fureft where Folk fear and fufpect 
 Unbelief.and fee it, and when they are weighted 
 with their Unbelief* and cry out under it, and 
 make their Unbelief an errand to Chrift, it's a 
 token that Faith is there. 3. The third Charac- 
 ter is, That it will have with it a flicking to 
 Chrift, and a fear to prefume in ftickingtoHim: 
 There will be two things ftiiving together, an 
 eagernefs to beat Him,andafear they be found 
 prefurnptuous in mcdling with him, and«n holy 
 
 trembling 
 
Scrml 12/ 
 
 trembling to think on it 
 
 it mufc and will be adventured upon; the Wo 
 man fpoken of Mark 5.28. lays this reckoning 
 with her felf, l/l can but touch his eloaths Ijhall be 
 whole', and flie not only believeth this to be truth 
 b»t crouds and thrimbles in to be at him, yet v. 
 33. when me comes before Chrift, fhe trembles 
 as if fhe had been taken in a f&ult, not having 
 dared to come openly to Him, but behind him,{hc 
 behoved to have a touch of him, but fhe durft 
 not in a manner own and avouch her doing of 
 it, till fhe be unavoidably put to it ; It's a fuf- 
 pect and unfound Faith that never trembled at 
 minting to Believe; there is reafon to be jealous 
 that Faith not to be of the right fcamp,that ne- 
 ver walked under the impreffion of the great dif- 
 tance between Chrift and the Perfon, the fenfe 
 whereof is the thing that makes the trembling, I 
 fay not defperation, nor any utter diftruft of 
 thrift's kindnefs, but trembling arifing from the 
 confideration of the great diftance |& difpropor- 
 tion that's betweenHim&thePerfonjFaith holds 
 the Sinner a going to Chrift, and the fenfe of 
 its own finfulnefs and worthlefnefs keeps him 
 under holy fear and in the exercife of Humility ? 
 iWonce thought himfelf a jolly man, (as we 
 may fee Rom.7.9.) but when he was brought to 
 believe in Chrifc, he fees that he was a dead and 
 undone man before: I give you thefe three marks 
 of a true Faich from that Chapter. 1. Itdifcovers 
 to a Man his former Sinfulnefs,and particularly 
 his former Self-conceit, Pride and Prefumption, 
 J was, faith Paul, dive without the Law onse&c. a 
 man living upon the thoughts of his ownHoli- 
 nefs, but when the Law came, I died; he fell quite 
 from thefe high thoughts, Afecond Mark is, A 
 greater reftlefnefs ofthe Body of Death, it beco- 
 ming in fome refpect worfeCompany,more fret- 
 ful, and fhugling more than ever it did before; 
 Sin revived, faith ?aul t though he had no more 
 Corruption in him than he had before, but it 
 wakened and beftirred it felf more ; I dare fay 
 that though there be not fo much Corruption in 
 a Believer as there is in a natural Man, yet it 
 ftrugleth much more, and is more painful and 
 difquieting to the Believer, and breeds him a 
 great dale moretroub!e,for fays the Apoftle on 
 the matter when God gracioufly poured Light 
 and Life into me,Sin took that occafion to grow 
 angry, and to be enraged that fuch a neighbour 
 was brought in befide it, it could not endure 
 that ; as an unruly and currifh Dog barks moft 
 bitterly when an honeft Gueft comes to the 
 
 Ifaiah n- Ktrf' t. tSi 
 
 yet notwithftanding Houfe, fo doth Corruption bark and makemor* 
 noife than it did before when Grace takes place 
 in the Soul ; There are fome that trow they have 
 the more Faith,becaufe they feel no Corruption 
 flir in them, and there are others that think they 
 have no Faith at all,becaufe they feel Corruption 
 ftrugling more, and growing more troublefome 
 to them ; but the ftirring and ftrugling of Cor- 
 ruption, if Folk be indeed burdened, and affected, 
 and affli&ed with it.will rather prove their having 
 of Faith than their wanting «f it ; Love thac 
 Faith well that puts and keeps Folk bickering 
 (to fay fo) in the Fight with the Body of Death ; 
 for though this be not good in it felf that Cor- 
 ruption ftirreth, yet Sin is of that finful nature, 
 that it flees always more in their face that look 
 God and Heavenwards, than of others that are 
 fleepingfecurely under its Dominion. A third 
 Mark is, When the Soul hath never Peace in a- 
 ny of its Conflicts or Combats with Corruption, 
 but when it refolves in Faith exercifedonjefus 
 Chrift, as it was with P*«/,in that Chapter after 
 his Converfion ; That is a found Faith that not 
 only makes Peace at firft by Chrift,butthat can- 
 not (to fay fo) fight one fair ftroke in the Spiri- 
 tual Warfare, nor look Corruption in the face, 
 nor promife to it felf an outgate from any afTault 
 ofthe Enemy, but by Faith in Jeius Chrift,as it 
 was with the Apoftle, who toward the end of 
 that Chapter, lamentably crys, O! wstckedman 
 that I am, who (hall deliver me from the body of this 
 death! yet immediately fubjoyns Faiths trium- 
 phing in Chrift, / thank God through Jcfus Chrift our 
 Lord; he belikt, before his Converfion thought 
 he could do well enough all alone, but it is not 
 fo now, when he can do nothing without Chrift, 
 efpecially in this fore War with his Corruption; 
 That is a found Faith that mak«s the Sinner to 
 make ufe of Chrift in every thing he is called to, 
 thatyoaks him ( I mean Chrift ) ro work on e- 
 very occafion, and particularly when it comes' 
 as it were to grapling and hand-blows with this 
 formidable Enemy the Body of Deatb,this Mon* 
 fter, whereof when one Head is cut off,anoth«i 
 as it were ftarts up in its place. 
 
 For a clofe of this Purpofe, I befeech and ob- 
 teft fuch of you as are ftrangers to Saving Faith 
 ( who are I fear far the greatefc part, ) to con- 
 fider ferioufly all I have fpoken of the nature 
 & native evidences of it,that you may be undecei- 
 ved of your Soul-ruining Miftakes about it,& let 
 fincere& found Believer>,from all, be mere clear- 
 ed, confirmed, and comforted in their Faith. 
 
 SERMON 
 
67 
 
 Sorm. ij, 
 
 S E R M O N XIII. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. I. 
 
 •And to vaom L the Arm if the Lird revealed ? 
 
 T Here are manvmlfhkesin the way of Re- 
 ligion, where* h the moft part are pof- 
 f ifed, and amongft lb rcfl there is one, thatge- 
 u ly the Heircrs of the Gofpel thiokit fo eafie 
 t© believe, that there is no difficulty in that by 
 any chtnfgi they thinkit hard to pray, to keep the 
 Sabbath, to be holy, but the moil part think there 
 is no o fficulty in believing ; and yet Unbelief 
 is fo rife, and Faith fo rare and Difficult, that 
 the Prophet Ifaiab here in his own name, and in 
 name of all the Minifters of the Gofpel cries 
 out, Lord who hath believed our report ? he com- 
 plains that he could get but verV few to 
 take the Word off his hand; and becaufe it 
 weighted him to find it fo, and becaufe he would 
 fain have it to take impreflionon his Hearers, he 
 doublesexpreffions to the fame purpofe. Ani 
 to whom U the Arm of the Lord revealed 7 which 
 in fum is, there is much preaching and many 
 Hearers of the Gofpel, but little believing of it, 
 few ia whofe Heart the work of Faith is 
 wrought ; It's but here one and there one that 
 this Gofpel hath efficacy upon.for uniting of them 
 to JefusC-hrift, and for working a work of Saving 
 Grace in them ; the effeaual working of God s 
 Grace reachesthe Hearts but of a few. 
 
 For opening the words, we (hall fpeak a little 
 to thefe three, i . To what is meant by the Arm of 
 the Lord. 2. To what is meant by the revealing or 
 the Arm of the Lord. 3. To the fcope and de- 
 pendance of thefe words on the former. 
 
 For the)Wr\ In general know, the Arm of the 
 Lord is not to be underftood J>roj>rr/y » the Lord be- 
 ing a Spirit, hath no Arms, Hands, nor Feet, as 
 Men have ; But it's to be underftood figuratively, 
 as holding out fome Property or Attribute of 
 God ; By the Arm of the Lord then we under- 
 Hand in general the Power of God, the Arm of 
 Man being that whereby He exerceth His power, 
 performeth Exploits, or doth any work ; So the 
 Arm of the Lord is his Power whereby he produ- 
 ceth His Mighty Aa$ ; as it's fard in the Plains 
 118. v. 15. The right hand of the Lord hath done vali- 
 atltly: 98.1/. 1. Hat hand and his arm hath gotten 
 him t'beviclory- and becaufe the Power of God is 
 taken either more generally for that which is ex* 
 ercedinthe Works of common Providence, or 
 more particularly *°* that which is put forth m 
 
 the Work of faring Grace : We take it here in 
 fhort to be the Grace of God exercing its power, 
 in and by the Gofpel, for the converting of Souls 
 and caufing them favingly to believe, fo Ro7n, 
 1 . 16. 1 am not ajh.\med of the Gofpd of Chrijl, for 
 it it the power of God to Salvation to every one that 
 believes ; not fimply as it confifts in fpeaking of 
 good, fweet and feafonable words, but as it Co- 
 meth backed by the irrefiftible power of the 
 Grace of God, as the word is, 1 Cor. r.23, 24. Wt 
 preach ChriQ, to the Jews a fumbling block ; and tt 
 the Greeks foolifonefs ; but unt$ them who are called 
 both Jews and Greeks, the power §f God and the wif- 
 dom of God ; and that it is fo t« be taken here, the 
 connexion of thefe words with the former will 
 make it clear, for fure he is not fpeaking of the 
 Power of God in the works of common Provi- 
 dence, but of his Power in the conversion of 
 Souls to Chrifti even of that Powei which works 
 Saving Faith in the EleS. 
 
 For the fecond, the revealing of the Arm of the 
 Lord : By this we do not underfhnd the revea- 
 ling of it obyclively as it's brought to light by 
 the preaching of the Gofpel, for thus it's revea- 
 led to all the hearers of the Gofpel, it's in this 
 refpe&not keeped hid, but brought forth clear* 
 ly to them in the Word : And therefore fecond* 
 ly, The revealing of this Arm or Power of the 
 Lord, is to be underftood of the Subjective in- 
 ward manifefting of it, with efficacy and life to 
 the Heart, by the effectual operation of the 
 Spirit of the Lord ; as it's faid of the great things 
 prepared for them that love God, iCor. 2.10. 
 But God hath revealed .them unto us by hit Spirit : it's 
 that which is called iCor. z.the dentonjiration of the 
 Spirit and of 'power , which make plain and power- 
 ful ta theSpirit of theHearer inwardly that which 
 the Word preachethgutwardly to the Ear, which 
 without this would ftrick only on the Ear, and 
 yet remain ftiil an hidden MyfWry ; This is the 
 revealing of the Lord's Arm that is here fpoken 
 of, becaufe it is that on which Believing depen- 
 deth, and ofthe want whereof the Prophet fadly 
 complaineth,even where there was much Preach- 
 ing. 
 
 For the third, to wit, the Scope, Dependance, 
 and connexion of thefe words with the former, 
 We conceive they come in, both for Confirma- 
 
 tion 
 
Serm. 13. Ifu'sb 
 
 tion an 1 for plication of the former words. 
 1. For Confirmation, there are ( as hath been faidj 
 but few that believe, for there are but few that 
 have this faving and effe&ual work of God's Grace 
 reaching their Heart ; ihough they have the word 
 preached to them, yet they have not the Arm of 
 the Power of God's Grace manifeftedto them, and 
 fo he confirms his former Do&rine concerning 
 the paucity of Believers under the preaching of 
 the Gofpe]. Firfl, by aflerting the fevvnefs of 
 them that are brought to believe, to be conver- 
 ted, and effectually called by the Gofpel ; which 
 comes to pafs through their own Unbelief: And 
 Secondly, by afTertirig their fewnefs in refpeft 
 of God's Sovereign applying of His Grace in the 
 Gofpel, which is but to few ; it's but few that 
 believe, for it's but few that He makes effi&ual 
 application of his Grace to. 2. Wefay it comesin 
 to clear and explicate the former words, whether 
 we take it by way of a Reafon, or of an anfwer 
 to an Objection ; For if it be faid, how can it 
 be that Ifaiah, Paul, yea, and our Lord Jefus Chrift 
 himfelf, fhould preach fo powerfully, and yet 
 that fo few fhould believe ? He anfwers : it's not 
 to be marvelled at, in refpett of God as if he 
 were fruftrate of his defign; no fuch matter: Irs 
 becaufe the power of Jefus Chrift is revealed but 
 to few;and we take this the rather to be the mea- 
 ning of thefe words; Becaufe when Chrift is 
 preaching, and many take offence and ftumble, 
 Joh t 6. 43, 44 he fays, Murmure not among your 
 f elves, no man can come to me, except tht Father which 
 hath fent me, draw him-, there muft be an effectual 
 work of the Grace of God put forth on the Heart, 
 elfe none will believe on me : So its faid, Joh* 
 1 a> 17» 38. that they believed not on him, that the 
 faying of Ifiias might be fulfilled which hejpoke, Lord, 
 who hath believed our report ? and to -whom- is the arm 
 »f the Lord revealed? therefore they could not believe, 
 becaufe that Ifaias (aid again, He hath blinded their 
 eyes, &c. he fpeaketh not fo, to apologize for, 
 or to excufe their Unbelief, but to fhew the con- 
 nexion that is betwixt thefe two, the not revea- 
 ling of the Arm of the Lord, and their not belie- 
 ving; even fo here, the Lord fhews the conne- 
 xion that is betwixt the efficacy of the work* of 
 Grace, and believing or turning to God, that 
 where the powerful and tffeftual work of His 
 Grace goeth not forth with the preached Gofpel, 
 there will be then no believing nor Converlion, 
 no faving change of the Pcrfon from Nature to 
 Grace. 
 
 That which we would fay from thefe words, 
 maybe drawn to three Doctrines, which I (hall 
 firft propofe, and then clear and apply them for 
 U r e. The firft is, that in the work of Converfion 
 and begetting of laving Faith, there is rcquifite 
 
 cj. verf t. £, 
 
 and necefTary, befide the preaching oi the Word, 
 a diftinft, inward, peculiar, real, immediate, ef- 
 ficacious, and powerful work of rhe Spirit ofthe 
 Lord on the Hearts of as many Headers as are con- 
 verted by this Gofpel. 2. That it is but few of 
 mai.y Hearers in whom the Lord t \u$ efficaci* 
 oufly and effectually works by hisSpirit and the 
 Power of his Grace, it's but here one and there 
 one, a very few who are thus wrought upon and 
 converted. 3. That there is a necefTary and infe- 
 parable connexion betwixt this inward and effi- 
 cacious woik ofthe Spirit, and Faith or Conversi- 
 on ; Where this work of Grace is not, there can- 
 not be Faith, and where it is, Faith necefTarily 
 muft be, otherways thefe two could not be com- 
 menfurable of equal extent and reciprocal, Wh» 
 hath believed our report ? and to whom it the arm of the 
 Lord revealed} He is not, neither can be a Believer 
 to whom it is not revealed ; and he is, and cannot 
 but be a Believer to whom he is revealed 
 
 Forthe/rfl, Wefay there is in the work of con- 
 version, and begetting of Faith, bolide the preach- 
 ing of the Gofpel, a difrinct, inward, peculiar, re- 
 al, immediate, efficacious and powerful woik of 
 the Spirit ofthe Lord requilite and neceffary for 
 Converfion and begetting of Faith, to convince 
 of Sin, and to humble for it, to enlighten the mind 
 in the knowledge of Chrift, to renew the Will 
 and Affections, and to perfwade and enable the 
 Soul of the Sinner to embrace and receive Jefus 
 Chrift, as he is offered in the Gofpel. We mall 
 firf take notice of, and clear fome words in the 
 Doctrine, and then confirm it. 
 
 Firft % For clearing of fome words in the Doctrine, 
 we fay, 1. It is a difiintt work of rhe Spirit, di- 
 ftinguifhed and feparable from rhe Word ; though 
 it goes along as he plcafeth with the Word, yet 
 it is not as if there were fome Power infufed in- 
 to the Word, and went always and necefTarily 
 along with the Word, which is the foolifh and 
 groundlefs conceit of fome ; for albeit it accompa- 
 ny the Word, yet it's from a dirt iact Agent, wor- 
 king, and a diftinct work, and is feparable ( as I 
 faid ) from the Word, though it be wrought on 
 the heart of theOme Sinner to whofcEartl c word 
 is preached. 2. It's an inward work ofthe Spi r it, 
 for befide rhe outward and external pre.iching 
 and calling by the word, there is an inward, po- 
 werful, effectual work and calling ofthe Spirit 
 in the converfion of a Sinner, which fpeak>to the 
 , Heart, as well as the Word fpcaks to the Ear; 
 fo that this work ofthe Spirit that goes along 
 in Converfion, is much more than any external 
 perfwafion of the preached Word can produce. 
 3. We fay it's a peculiar woik, to difference 
 it from what is comqion to the Hearers of 
 
64 *f* iah 
 
 Gofpcl, for it's a work that is peculiar to them 
 whom tile Lord converts,and is applied to none 
 other, but to thofe in whom He works Fairh, 
 and whom He effeaualiy ca-leih by His Grace ; 
 It's a peculiar wo:k then and not common, for 
 if it werecommon to all r eHeare: i of theGofpel, 
 and not peculiar to fomr,truie two could nor go 
 together and be commenturablc (aswefaid) Who 
 hath behind our report ? and to whim is the arm cftht 
 Lo*d revealed? 4. We fay it's a real work as well 
 as powerful ; A real Work off he Spirit, that is 
 not o:,ly able and powerful ro Produce the ef- 
 fect, and to convert the Sinner, but re4 and 
 powerful in producing and bringing of it about, 
 and to pafs by a real influence of the Spirit act- 
 uallyrenewing the Will, infilling and creating 
 the habits of Grace,Sc particularly the very habit 
 of Faith amongft others in the Soul ; which is 
 quite'another thing than the fuppoiing and faying 
 that a Man hath power to Believe and be Conver- 
 ted, that there is no more requifite to his Conver- 
 fion.butto perfwadehimtoputforth that Po^er 
 or ftrength which he hath into Exercife or Prac- 
 tice ; It's a real work of the Spirit, and a power- 
 ful bringing about of the conversion ofthe Sinner 
 in a phyfical way,as they fayin the School 5. We 
 fay it is an immediate work of the Spirit on the 
 Heart, to difference it from a mediate perfwa- 
 fion, Gr moral fwafion ( as it's called) as if there 
 were no more requifite in Converflon but God's 
 . enlightening of the Mind, and by thatperfwading 
 the Will to clofe with Jefus Chriff, without any 
 immediate work of the Spirit on the Will it felf; 
 In this D->&rine, we take in all thefe according 
 to the Scripture; in oppofition to the feveral Er- 
 rors vented by Men of corrupt Minds, anentthe 
 work of Converflon and of Saving Faith ; God's 
 Arm and Hand mult be revealed, the work and 
 power of iiis effic^ciousGrace muft be put forth, 
 for moving and enclining the Heart and Affecti- 
 ons, and for determining the Will it felf 
 
 We might further clear and confirm all thefe 
 from .that famous inltance of Lydia, Acf. 16. 14. 
 Where Paul preaching to fome Women, it's faid 
 of her, Wh [e heart Ikt Lord opened \that {he attended 
 to the things vehuh were fpoken of Paul ; where we 
 find theft things differenced. 1. The Lord's 
 powerful work on her heart from Vaul's preach- 
 ing to her Ear, the Lord opened her Heart. 2 It's 
 an inward work, frit's on the Hiart. 3. It's a 
 peculiar wo: k, it's not all who hear Faul preach 
 whofe Heats are opened, but it's the Heart of 
 cm Ljdia 4 It's in the nature of it a real work, 
 that.inkes a real i r 1 ward change on her. e. It's 
 an immediate work, for the Lord not only en? 
 
 53; f"/'. '• Sefm, 13 
 
 lightens her Judgement, but goes down to the 
 Heart and opens it, and worki a change in it 
 immediately \ Faul indeed by his preaching o- 
 pei s the way of Salvation to all that heard him, 
 from which, though many go away with their 
 Heats unopened. yt the Lo;d hath a fecref, 
 ruyftenous rtaUnward work < n herHeart,which 
 is evidenced by the eff\ct, for He not only en- 
 lightens her Mind, but makesher willingly yield 
 to the call of theGofpel. by opening of her Heart 
 I:i the fecondp ace,Tolpeak a little for confir- 
 mation of the Dott rine,we would confider thefe 
 four or five Grounds or Reafons, to fhew that 
 there is fuch a work of the fpirit wherever Faith 
 is begotten, and thit molt intelligibly in them 
 that are at Age. 1. It's clear from thefe places 
 of Scripture, where there is an exprefsdiffin&i- 
 on and difference put betwixt the outward Mini- 
 ftry of the Word, and this inward, powerful, 
 efficacious work of Grace on the Heart, and 
 wherein the great weight of Converflon is laid 
 on this inward work, and not on the outward 
 Minifhy of the Word; as Deut. 29. 4. where the 
 Lord by Mojes tells the People,how many things 
 they had Ceen and heard, and yet fays he, 
 The Lord hath not given you a heart to perceive, and 
 eyes to fee, and ears to hear, unto this day ; They had 
 the outward Means in plenty, when they wanted 
 in the mean time the inward Power ; The gifc 
 of a fpiritual Life, and the making them fpirit* 
 ually a&ive to exerce it, was with-holden, and 
 therefore they did not favingly perceive,fee nor 
 hear j Joh.6,4^. Murmure not a **Mg your f elves, n» 
 man can come to me except the Father which hath fent 
 me draw him ; I;V written in the Prophets, and they 
 {hall be all taught of God, every man there fere that hath 
 heard and learned of the Father comet h unto me', where 
 there is very clearly a diftin&ion put betwixt 
 the outward teaching and the Father's drawing, 
 betwixt the Minifters teaching and God's teach- 
 ing ; It was one thing to be taught outwardly 
 by Chrift as the Prophet of His Church,and ano- 
 ther thing to be drawn and taught inwardly of 
 the Father ; This inward teaching is called 
 drawings to fhew that it is not external Oratory 
 or Eloquence confilfing in Words, to perlwade, 
 that can tfFe& the bufinefs, but a powerful 
 draught of the Arm of the Lord reaching the 
 Heart : There are feveral other Scriptures full 
 and clear to this purpofe, as Ffal. 10}. 3. and 
 A8s\i. 21. A fecond Ground, of kin to the for- 
 mer, is from the many and various expreflions 
 that are ufed in the Scriptures for holding forth 
 this work of the Spirit of God in Converflon, 
 that point out, not only an hand working, and 
 
 an 
 
Scrm. 13. . . . , Ifaiah SI. Krfti0 - 
 
 an work wrought j but an inward powerful way is neceltarily called for, and the Lord addeth 
 
 it in converting tinners, elfe the work would 
 for ever ly behind ; and if Men be Spiritu- 
 ally dead in fins and TrefpaiTes, fas all Men 
 by Nature are ) as real a Power muft be exerced 
 in raifmg and quickening of them, as there is 
 exerced in raifing and quickening of the Dead. 
 4. It may alfo be cleared from fome in whom 
 this Power is exerced, as feme Chldren, fome 
 deafperfons, and others, whom we cannot de- 
 ny to be reached by the Grace of God, and yet 
 t.iere can be no other way how they are reach- 
 ed buj: by this effectual, efficacious, and imme- 
 diate powerful work of the Spirit, they not be- 
 ing capable of reafoning or perfwafion by force 
 of Agrumenr. 
 
 We ihall only add two reafons further, to 
 confirm, and fome way to clear, why it is that 
 the Lord works, and mutt work thus diirinctly, 
 inwardly, really, powerfully, and immediately 
 in working Faith, and converting of finners: 
 The firft is drawn from the exceeding great 
 Deadnefs, Indifpofition, Averfenefs, Perverfe- 
 
 of working and bringing about the work, as Jer. 
 31. $4. 1 wiU put my Law in their inward parts, and 
 write it in their Hearts: Ezek. 11.19. / voiS give them 
 one Heart, I will put a new fpirit within them, and will 
 take aw ay the ft ony heart out of their fiejh. Ezek. 36. 26", 
 27. Anew heart will I give unto you, and a new (pi* 
 rit willl put within you, &c. Jer. 31. 4©. J will put 
 my fear in their heart, that they Jhall not depart fi-jm 
 me ; It's calfd the Father's drawing, John 6. 44. 
 aslfhew. In the Saints Prayers ( as Pfal. fi. ) 
 It's called even as to further degrees of this work, 
 or rcftoring of loft degrees treating of a clean he*rt, 
 and renewing a right Spirit within ; And many moe 
 the like exprcflions there are,which (hew not cnly 
 Mans impotency and inability to convert or fa- 
 vingly to change himfelf ; but alfo that to his 
 Converfion there is necefTury, an inward real, pe- 
 culiar, efficacious, powerful work of the Spirit 
 of Grace. 3. It's clear, and maybe confirmed 
 from the Power of God which He purs forth and 
 applies in the begetting of Faith and in working 
 Conversion; It's not a mediate work whereby 
 
 he only perfwades congruoufly, as fome love to nefs, Impotency, Inability, and Impoffibility that 
 
 is in us naturally fur the exercing of Faith in 
 Chrift: If men naturally be dead in fins and Tref- 
 palTcs i if the mind be blind,; if the affections be 
 quice difordered, and if the Will be utterly cor- 
 rupted and perverted ;then that which converts, 
 and changes and renews them, muftbea real, in- 
 ward, peculiar, immediate, powerful wo.k of 
 the Spirit of God i there being no inward feed 
 of the Grace of God in them to be quickened, 
 that feed muft be communicate to them, & fown 
 in them ere they can believe, which can be done 
 by nolefsnor lower than the Power of God's 
 Grace ; its net Oratory, as I laid, nor excellen- 
 cy of Speech that will do it, its fuch-a woik as 
 begets the Man again, and actually renews him. 
 The fecond is drawn from God's end in the way 
 of giving Grace, communicating it ro fome and 
 not to others : If God's end in bein£ gracious ro 
 fome and not to 1 th?rs,be to commend his Grace 
 fole!y,and to make thtm alone in Graces com- 
 mon or debr,then the workof Grace inConverfion 
 muftbe peculiar ard in med ate, and wrought by 
 thepower of treSpnirotdod, leaving nothing to 
 Man's Free-will to d fFcier.ce hiror elf from ano- 
 ther, or on which fuchta eff ft Humid depend; 
 But if we lo k to Scripture, we will fin>', that 
 it's God's end in the whole way and Conducf of 
 His Grace, in flection, Redemption, Calling 
 Juftification, &c to commend his Grace folely. 
 and to (top all Mouths,and cut off all giound of 
 boaflingin the Creature, as iris, 1 0\ 4. -. I '.',.§ 
 makei thee to difttr frm amthc ? and what baftbom 
 K that 
 
 fpeak, but an immediate and efficacious work, 
 whereby with mighty Power he works Converfi. 
 on,/f is God (faith the Apoftle,P£//.2.i3-)f£*r- wor- 
 keth in you both to will and to do of his good pleafurg ; 
 and as he not only perfwadeth, but effectually 
 workcth, fo he not only works on the Judgement 
 to the enlightening of it, but on the Will, to 
 encline and determine it, by curing it of its 
 crookednefs and pervei fenefs,backwardnefs,obfti« 
 nacy, and rebellion ; and the Power whereby 
 He worketh his great work is faid, Eph. i. 19. 
 To be that lame mighty power which he wrought in 
 Chrift when he railed him from the Dead, that ye may 
 know, faith the Apnftle, what is the exceeding great* 
 nefs of his power to us ward who believe according to 
 the working of his mighty Power, which he wrought in 
 ChriB, whm he raifed him fi\m the dead, and fet 
 him at his own right hand, &c» It is fuch a power 
 that works Faith, and foexercifed in the working 
 of Faith, as it was in the raifing of Chrift from 
 the Dead; Now, couM there beufe for fuch a 
 Power, if there were no more requifite to i_on- 
 verfion but an objective fwafion, or a bare pro- 
 pofal of the Object with external perfwafion to 
 embace it, wherein the S ul is left to it felf to 
 choifc orrefufe as itpleafeth ? certainly if there 
 were no more, confidering our natural enmity 
 at God and his Grace, the Devil and Corruption 
 would have much more influence, and a far 
 greater ftroak upon the Heart toclofing up of 
 the fame in unbelief, than any outward perfwa- 
 fion would have as to the opening of the Heart, 
 and the begetting of Faith ; therefore his power, 
 
66 . Ifaiah 5 
 
 that thou b/tjl ntt received ? now if thou didji jreceive 
 it, why cfoji thou glory a* if thou didjl not receive ? 
 This being certain, that if the work of Grace in 
 Converfion, were not a diftinct, inward, peculi- 
 ar, real, immediate work, and did not pioduce 
 the effect of its felf by its own ftrength, and not 
 by vertueof any thing in Man, the Man would 
 ftill be fuppofed to have had fome Power for the 
 work in himfelf, and fomj way to have differen- 
 ced hicnfelf from another; but the Lord hath de- 
 figned the contrary, and therefore the woik of 
 Grace in Conversion muft be (uitableto his dc/ign. 
 
 Ufe 1. The firftUfe is for the refutation of fe ve- 
 ra] Errors, and for the confirmation of a great 
 Truth of the Gofpel which weprofefs. 
 
 Itferves I fay, Firft, For the refuration of er- 
 rors, which in fuch an Auditory we love not to 
 infill on ; yet we cannot here, the ground being 
 To clear, and the Call fo cogent, forbear to fay 
 fomewhat briefly this way, and the rather that the 
 Devil hath taken many ways,Sc driven many de- 
 signs, to weaken the eftimation of God's Grace 
 among Men, and to exalt proud Nature and that 
 there is here a collection and concatenation of 
 thofedefignsand ways againft the Truth, which 
 this Doctrine holds forth, vented by corrupt men. 
 As i. Thsy will have nothing to be ncceiTariJy 
 applied for the working of Conversion, but the 
 preaching of the Word ; taking it for granted, 
 that all men haveuniverfal or common Grace, 
 which God by his Sovereignty, fay they, was o- 
 bliged to give, elfe he could not reafonably re- 
 quire Faith of them ; and upon this comes in the 
 pleaded for Power of Free-will, and Mans abili- 
 ty to turn himfelf to God ; others by pleading 
 for this notion of a Light within Men, become to 
 be Patrons of proud and petulant corrupt Nature, 
 as if there were need of nothing to beget laving 
 Faith but that common Grace within, and Ora- 
 tory or fwafion of Mouth from without; Ar.d 
 hence they came to maintain the foulefr Errors, 
 which have not only been condemned by the 
 Church of God in all Ages,but have even by fome 
 Papiftsbeen abominated i and many of thefe fame 
 Errors are creeping in even in thefe times where* 
 in we live, the delign whereof is to tempt Folk 
 to turn loofe, vain, and proud, and to turn the 
 Grace of God into wantonnefs, as if they need- 
 ed not at all to depend on God and his Grace, ha- 
 vingafuflicicnt frock within themfelves on which 
 they can live well enough : And it's not only 
 the Errors ofP*/>//?', Pelagians , Sociniam y Arminiam 9 
 or errors in thejudgement that we have to do 
 with ; but offuch, as overturn the very foun- 
 dation of the work of Man's Salvation, and who, 
 though pretending to* higher notions, do yet go 
 beyond all rjieie; Bucif it be true, that in the 
 
 !• r«f'- »• Serm. rj. 
 
 work of Converfion, befide the preaching of the 
 Word, there is a diitinct, real, inward, peculiar, 
 immediate, effiaacious work of the Spirit, necef- 
 fary for bringing about fuch an effect; Then there 
 is no common or univerfal Grace that all the 
 Hearers of the Gofpel have, nor is there any Po- 
 wer or ability in Man to believe of himfelf; o- 
 therwife there were no-ncceflity offuch a work 
 as this for the converting of a Sinner, theProphct 
 need not to cry JVho hath believed our rtport? and t$ 
 rohem is the arm of the Lord revealed ? And Chrift 
 needed not fay, tfo nan can come to me except the Fa- 
 ther draw him ; For men might come without 
 drawing, and believe without the revelation of 
 God's Arm : But in oppofition to that, we fay, 
 and have made it clear, that the work of Convert 
 fion isbrought about by a diftinct peculiar,power- 
 ful, real and immediate work of theSpirit on the 
 Heart, whereby he not only enlightens the Mind 
 but renews the Will, and rectifies the Affections! 
 a. There is another Error that this refutes, which 
 feems to be more fubtile, for fome will giant a 
 neceffrry connexion betwixt the effect, and the 
 Grace of God, who yet fry that it is fwa/ion or 
 periwaiion ( for here we take thefe for the fame,} 
 fo and fo tiyfted to prevail withfome,that brings 
 about the erTccl or work of Converfion in them, 
 and not in others where that perfwafion is not 
 fo trylted ; but this Opinion lays not the weight 
 of Converfion on the Arm of the Lord, but on 
 fomecircumftances accompanyingthe work, and 
 leaves ftill fome ground of boafting in the Crea- 
 ture. 3. A third Error which this Doctrine re- 
 futes, is that of fome others, who will have Grace 
 neceffrrily to go alongs with the Word in the 
 working of Faith, but fo as it reacheth not the 
 Will, but that the Will neceffarily derei mines it 
 felf, as if the Will were not corrupt, eras if that 
 Corruption that is in the Will were indeed no 
 Corruption, as if that Ccnuption that is in the 
 Will could be any more removed from the Will 
 wirhout the immediate Work of the Spirit upon 
 it,thanDarknefs can be removed from thejudge- 
 ment without the Spirits immediate work on it : 
 But feing theWill is the prime feat of Man's per' 
 verfenefs while in Nature, and the principal part 
 to be renewed; its a (Irange thing to fry, that 
 in the work of Converfion, other faculties and 
 powers of the Soul mult be renewed, and yet that, 
 this which comes neareft" to the Life of the Soul 
 fhould be neglected, or notftand m need of renor 
 vation: But from this Text it is clear, that in. 
 Converfion the Arm of the Lord muft be revealed, 
 and that there is a powerful work of Grace that 
 not only prefents Rcafons from the word to move 
 the Will, but really regenerates and renews 
 the Will: Now what is for the refutation of thefe J 
 
 Frvor$ 
 
Scrm. 13. * , JfrfJ 
 
 Errors ferves alfo to confirm us in the Truth of 
 the Do&rine oppofite to thefe Errors. 
 
 2. It ferves to refute fomething in Folks Pra- 
 ctice, and that is,their little fenfc of the need of 
 Grace ; Moft part come and hear Preaching as if 
 they had the habit of Faith, and as if it were na- 
 tural to them, and pretend to the exercife of 
 Faith, never once fufpefting their want of Faith, 
 nor thinking that they ftand in need of fuch a 
 work of Grace to work it in them, as if it were 
 impoflible for them not to believe; hence many 
 think that they have Grace enough, and if they 
 Pray, us that they may do well, never minding 
 the corruption of Nature that is in them, and in- 
 deed it is no wonder that fuch perfonsfall readN 
 ly into Error, when their Practice fays plainly 
 they think they have Grace enough already. 
 
 Thefecond Definite is, Thatthis diftinft, real, 
 inward, efficacious, powerful work of the Grace 
 of God in Converfion, is not common to all the 
 Hearers of the Gofpel, but is a rare thing applied 
 but to few,it*s even as rare as Faith is: And what 
 we touched on to evidence the rarity of Faith, 
 will fcrve alfo to evidence the rarity of this work 
 of Grace in Converfion ; I.'s on as many as are 
 Believers, and are £\ved, that the wo:k of Grace 
 is revealed, and no moe, Jer. 3. 14. / mH take ont 
 •f a city, and two of a family, and bring youtoZion, 
 faith the Lord; It's two or three in the corner of 
 a Paroch, or in the end of a Town; to fpeak fo, 
 who are converted, and the reft are filtered to ly 
 in black Nature. If the Reafon hereof be enqui- 
 red after.tlusmightbefufficientto ftopallMoujhs, 
 which the Lord gives, Mat. ir. 28. Even fi Father, 
 forfo icfeemeth good in thy fight ;it is of theLord.who 
 is Debitor to none;andȣa,as it is Kom. ^i^.fhevt 
 mercy on whom he will, and whom he viH he hardens ; 
 and here we muft be filenr, and lay our hand on 
 our Mouth, and anfwer no more, all being found 
 guilty, he is juft in what he doth, in calling or not 
 calling effeaually, as he pleafeth ; and yet fecond- 
 ly, the Lord hath thought good to call few of 
 many, for holy and wife ends. As 1. To hold 
 forth his own Sovereignty, and that he is free, 
 and will walk freely in thedifpenfing of his own 
 Grace; Hence, he not only takes few but ordi- 
 narily thefe that are the mod mean, contemp- 
 tible, filly.and in a manner foolifb, of the multi* 
 tude of Hearers;// Unot many nikle,not manywi(e,a{. 
 eordtug to tbefleflj, not many rick, not many learn- d, that 
 He choofeth and converteth, very ordinarily he 
 hides his Grace from thefe ; it's but feldom that 
 he calls and takes the ftout and the valiant Man, 
 and the learned Schollar, but it's this and that 
 p jot mean Man the Weaver, the Shoomaker, the 
 firnple Plough-man, &c whom moft ordina- 
 rily he calls, when he fuffers others to continue 
 
 jj. verf r. 67 
 
 in their Sin. *. That he may make all the Hear- f 
 ers of the Gofpel walk in holy fear and awe o c 
 him, he reveals his Grace in few ; n's not the 
 multitude that believes, but hertone and there 
 one, that all that have the offer of Grace may fear 
 left they mifs it and receive it in vain, and may 
 be careful to tntertain and make right ufe of the 
 Means of Grace, an*may withal cherifli the Spi* 
 rit in his motions, and not grieve him. O f If ye 
 knew and believed what a rare thing the work of 
 the Spirit of Grace is, ye would be feared to 
 quench, extinguish, or put out any of his Moti- 
 ons. 3. As to the Godly, he does thus, to make 
 them admire, adore, andpraife his Grace, and the 
 Power of it fo much the more. 
 
 The Ufet are three. 1. It ferves to move all fo 
 reverence, adore and admire the Grace of God, 
 and his fovercign way in it ; prefume not to de- 
 bate or difpute with him, becaufe they are fe;v 
 that believe, and few that he hath determined his 
 Grace for, it's an evidence of his dread, a proof 
 of his fovereignry, in which he Ihculd befilent- 
 ly ftooped unto, and reverently adored, and net 
 difputed with; we ought to bound all our reafc- 
 ning within his good pleafuri, who might have 
 taken many, and left few, or taken none as plea- 
 fed him; and we fhould not think ftiange, nor 
 fret that the Gofpel is powerful but on few, hei« 
 is the Reafon of it that may quietus, the Lord 
 hirh determined effectually to call but few, and 
 yet he will not want one of his own; AS that 
 the Father hath given to ChriJijhaScomthe him,thou£h 
 none come but as they are drawn. A thing that 
 wc Ihould be fenfibleof, but yet calan and quiet 
 our Spirits, rather wondering that he hath cho- 
 fen and calleth none, than fret becaufe he hath 
 paft by many. 
 
 Ufe 2. The fecond ufe is to exhort you thaVt 
 are Hearers of the Gofpel, and have not had this 
 diftinft and powerful work of Grace begetting 
 Faith in you, to be perfwaded to this Truth, th» c 
 Faith and the woik of Grace isnocammon thng; 
 The moft part, alas ! think that they have Grace, 
 and that it is net one of many that want it, they 
 will readily fay, it's true I cannot believe of my 
 felf, but God hath given;me the Grace; But I 
 would ask you this queftion, Do you think that 
 Grace is fo common a thing that it comes to you, 
 and ye ncverknew how, or fo common that ne- 
 ver a body wants it ? if not, how comerh it them 
 to pafs that ye think and fpeak of Grace as yc 
 do ? we would tkink it a great length, if many 
 of you could be perfwaded of yourGracelefnefs ; 
 It'snot our part to point particularly at the nua 
 and Woman, though the deeds or many ofyoa 
 fay within our He in that there is no fcarofGoi 
 K. a before 
 
69 Ifaiah 53 
 
 before your Eyes, and that many of you think ye 
 have Grace who never had it ; And therefore we 
 would lay thefe three or four words to you. 
 1. Begin and lufpeft your felves that matters 
 are not right b-twixt God and you, we bid none 
 of you defpair, but we bid the moft part of you 
 be fufpicious of your Condition ; lufpecl, ray 
 be affined, that Hypocrifie is not G'ace, and that 
 your prtfumption is not Mtfc, for if but few 
 gcr Grace, then many mould fufpeft thtmfc'ves, 
 and feing Grace is io rare a thing, do not ye think 
 it common. 2. Neglect no means that may bring 
 you through Grace to believe, but be diligent 
 in the ufe cf them all, of the Word, Prayer, Sa- 
 craments, Meditation, &c. It's by thefe rhat the 
 Lord begets Grace,andby neglecting of them ye 
 may make your felves guilty of defheyingyour 
 own Souls. 3. Beware of quenching the Spirit 
 in any of his Operations or motions, of fmothc- 
 ring or putting out any challenges or Convicti- 
 ons ; if the Confcience beat any time touched, 
 or the Affections tickled, go not away as the tem- 
 porary Believer doth, Hiring down there without 
 going any further : Fear to ftrangle the begin- 
 nings of the Life of Grace, for Grace may begin 
 at little ; and if you quench any motion, Con- 
 viction f>r Challenge, ye know not if ever ye fhall 
 meet with the like again, becaufe when he knock* 
 ed hard at your Heart, ye held him cut and kee- 
 ped him at the Door ; and ye may be in hazard 
 of that terrible Charge, ARs 7. 31. Tt unarcumci- 
 fedin heart and cars, ye have always refiftedthe Holy 
 Ghofi ; as your Fathers did, Jo do ye. 4. Seing this 
 work is not common to all the Hearers of the 
 Gofpel, but peculiar to fome, labour to have it 
 madefure to your felves by putting it to proof 
 and trial in good earneft. 
 
 Ufe 1. The third ufe is for you that are Belie- 
 vers, (and would God there were many fuchj 
 to whom I would alio fpeakt« L reeor four words. 
 J. Learn from this to be humble. What hafi thou 
 Mtn but what thou h.*8 reccivea ? and if th»U hafi re 
 ceived it, why deft thou hafi, as if thou had ft rot re- 
 tsivedit? O ! bunt's linfilitabic :o believers who 
 are Free Graces-Debtr rs a.m Beggars ( whereof 
 yet none need to thi-.k fhame, ) to be proud and 
 forget themfclves; Thou haft nothing Believer 
 to boairof, butt hat he harJ. ihamed thee with his 
 Grace, and fhouldeft thou be proud of that, as if 
 thou had marie thy felf thus ? therefore guard 
 watchful 'y againft all puffing up, felf-conceit, 
 and high-mindednefs, and ftudy to be humble, 
 and to carry a low Sail, el- r e thou mayeft break 
 tut into fome fcandalous offence, and may be- 
 come a fhame and reproach to the Gofpel 5 We 
 vgmmend humility to you above many things, 
 
 V J rfe '• L . . l -. , , Scrm ' »|J 
 
 for we think that in thefe days, Folks pride is 
 
 like to break their necks ; for when once conceit 
 creeps in, they begin to think they are fo far ad- 
 vanced in Holinefs, that they muft not keep com- 
 pany with others, nor join in worfhip with them, 
 and from that they go to another thing, and from 
 rhar to a th-id, that it is hard to tell where they 
 will halt or end ; they prow fo giddy that they 
 are fcarcdy like to leave fo much ground as th^m- 
 f elves may itandupnn : O ! think fhame of Pride, 
 it's a meft intolerable thing to be proud of that 
 which God hath given, wherein ye have no more 
 hand, and whereof ye can no more boafr,than they 
 who never had it. 2. Be thankful and give God 
 the praife of that ye have gotten ; It becomes the 
 upright to be thankful ; it's no little matter to have 
 God's power manifefted in the woi king of faith 
 and conferring Grace ; the temporal Throne 
 and Kingdom, and great things in the World, 
 arc nothing to this, it's peculiar to the Lord's 
 own, and not common ; Many get their fijl of 
 the World, who never get, nor will get this ; the 
 World is of fo little value with the Lord, that 
 to (peak fo, he doth not much regard who get 
 it, though it be exactly difti ibutcd by his Pro- 
 vidence, but convert<ng and upbuilding Grace is 
 peculiarized to his Favourites ; being therefore 
 clear rhat he hath beOowed Grace on you, O how 
 fhould ye exult in blclTmg God (as David did,) 
 for giving you counfel to make choice of fuch 
 a portion, and foi his powerful determining of 
 your Heart by his Grace to embrace it, for which 
 ye have not your felves to thank but God. 3. Be 
 companionate and tender towards others, confl- 
 dering that it is only Grace that hath made the 
 difference betwixt you and them, and not any 
 goodnature in you, whicli was not in them as 
 fome foolimly fancy ; Be not puftup at the ftiuhs 
 and falh of any, but rather mourn for them as 
 well as for your own, and be the more bundle 
 when ye think of the difference that Grace harh" 
 made, left ye fall; and finct your ftanding is by 
 Grace, be not high-minded, but fear; of allper- 
 fons it worff becomes '.ouro lock lightly on, let 
 be to mock at the falls of others, confidering 
 who and what hath made the difference 4. If 
 it be fo peculiar a priviledge to be pai takers of 
 this powerful andfpecial Grace of God rhar is put 
 forth in the great work of Converfion ; Then fine 
 there is fomerhing peculiar called for in y ur 
 Converfation, even that it may in all rhings be 
 as it becometh the Gofpel, and anfwerabjc to this 
 Grace beftou ed on you, O ! what manner of per- 
 foils ought ye to be in all HoJy Converfarion 
 and Godlifitfs ? 
 
 SERMON 
 
Serm, 14. 
 
 SERMON. XIV. 
 
 ISAIAH. LIII. I. 
 
 — And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? 
 
 THE way of the Grace of God is a very dif- 
 culc Subjeft to be thought on or fpoken 
 of iuitably & as it becomes,Grace having aSove - 
 raign and unfearchable Channel of its own where- 
 in it runs ; yet no doubt it is very ufeful now 
 and then to confider it,if we knew how to make 
 ufeofit aright > yea even thefe fteps of Grace 
 that are moft crofs and contrary to carnal Rea- 
 fon, may not a little profitewhenduely ponde- 
 red i Thus when the Prophet hath been looking 
 on thefcarcity of Faith, and on the paucity of 
 true Believers, he looks a little further than on 
 the external preaching of the Gofpel, even in u- 
 pon the way of God's Grace, not out of any 
 curiofity, nor from a fretting humour, becaufe 
 of the unfuccefsfulnefs of his Miniftry,but that 
 he may thereby get himfelf flayed and com pofed, 
 and that he may bring both himfelf and others, 
 to reverence and adore the holy and foveraign 
 way of God therein ; To whom ( faith he ) is the 
 arm of the Lordrtveahd? It's a word like that which 
 Chrift had on the like occafion, Joh.6.44. Murmure 
 not among your [elver, no wan can come to me, except 
 the Father who hathfent me, draw him. 
 
 We opened up the meaning of the words the 
 laft day ; In (hort they come to this, as if he had 
 faid, how few are they that believe the Gofpel, 
 and who take the Word off the hand of His fent 
 Minifters? and how few are tney on whom the 
 Grace of God, that only can make men believe, 
 does effr&ually work ; the Prophet pointing at 
 a higher hand than that of the Minifters in the 
 fuccefs and fruitfulnefs of the Gofpel, and cou- 
 pling thefe two together, the Preaching of the 
 Word, and the Power ofGod'.s Grace, in the 
 working of Faith and Converfion in Singers. 
 
 We propofed thefe three Do&rines to be fpo- 
 ken to from the words. I. Thar in the work 
 of Converfion and begetting of Faith, befide the 
 preaching of the Word, there is a powrful, in- 
 ternal, immediate work of the Grace of God,exer- 
 cifed within Mens Hearts, as well as the Word 
 is preached ©utwardly to thcEar,wherever Faith 
 is begotren thefe two go together, the Word 
 without, and the Power of Grace within,theone 
 of which is diftinft from the other. 
 
 2. That this powerful,internal,and immediat 
 work of Grace within, is not common to all the 
 
 Hearers of the Gofpel, but a rare, and peculiar 
 thing to fome, to whom is the arm of the Lard re»- 
 vealed ? it's but one or few of many to whom it's 
 revealed ; Toth*:fe we have fpoken already. 
 
 3. The third is (which indeed holds out the 
 fcope of a 1, ) that there is an infeparable con- 
 nexion betwixt thefe two, the begetting of Faith 
 in. the Hearers of the Gofpel, and the application 
 of this powerful work of the Grace of God for 
 working of it, fo chat where this powerful work 
 of Grace is not,there is neither Faith nor Conver- 
 fion wrought, and where this powerful work of 
 Grace is,there is Faich,and Converfion; The Pro* 
 phet makes them reciprocal and commenfurable ; 
 who is the Believer ? he to whom the Arm of 
 the Lord is revealed ; and who is the Unbeliever? 
 he to whom the Arm of the Lord is not reveal- 
 ed ? Thefe two are lb conjoyned and knit toge- 
 ther, as they are never feparated, and fo they 
 muft ftand or fall together. 
 
 That we may be the more clear we {hall take 
 up the d^fti ne in two «ii(tin£t Branches, The 
 firit whereof is. That except the powerful work 
 of God's Grace concur,rhe moit powerful preach- 
 ing of ths Gofpel will never beget Faith in the 
 Hearts of the Hearers of it. The fecond is, That 
 wherever this powerful work of Grace goes a- 
 long with the preachingofthe Gofpel, or where* 
 ever the Lord applys His Grace with the Word 
 preiched.rhere Faith is begotten in the Heart* 
 and t at Sou! is effectually united to Chrift, and 
 favingly changed ; The one of the/e Branches 
 ferves to fhew the neccflity of God's Grace from 
 the confideration of our finfulnefs and impoten- 
 cy or inability, and of rheemptinefs and intffec- 
 tualnefs of all outward Means in themfelves,and 
 fo to flop all Mens Mouths as being utterly un* 
 able to contriubteany thing to their own fpirit- 
 ual Good or Converfion, that being the product 
 of the Grace of God. The other Branch ferves 
 mightily to commend the Grace of God,as being 
 the powerful Arm of the Lord that brings to 
 Believe, that calls and converts fuch and fuch 
 Perfons, according t« a prior engagement and 
 tranfa&ion berwixtthe Father and the Son. 
 
 As for the firft ot thefe, Ir will cafily be be- 
 lieved among A/en and Women that have any 
 true fenfc and fcclincr of the Corruption of their 
 K 3 N- ure„ 
 
, 7 a !l*i*b *3< 
 
 ' Nature, ind find dayly fomewhat of the Law of 
 thcMcmbers wtrring againft theLaw of the mind; 
 and we arc perfwaded, if til that ever received 
 Faith were brought to depone in this matter,they 
 would bear witnefs, that there is no mean that 
 without the efkclual Power of the Grace of God 
 can brin" a ftranger Sinner to clo!e with Chnft 
 andbcl'-'vcon Hun; and if all that are now be* 
 lore the Throne of God in Heaven, were called 
 tufpeak to thisgrcat Trurh.they wouldputtheir 
 feal to it, and fay, W»f unU us, but to thy &+»t • H 
 thegbry of our believing, »e hadnever believed, if it 
 had been left to the power of our own Free will, and if 
 the power of thy G-:ut had not wrought in us the very 
 will as veil Mi the Deed or Aft of believing. Yet bc- 
 caufe this Doftrine (aswefaid) fervcstodilco- 
 ver thefmfulnefs and Impotency of Nature, and 
 how little we are obliged to our felves in this 
 great work, and to hold forth the abfolute necei- 
 fity of the Grace ofGod, and how much we are 
 obliged to it in the work of Faith and Converfi- 
 on ; and to hold forth withal the emptmefsand 
 ineffeftualnefs of all outward means without this 
 Grace, and becaufe it wants not its own confide- 
 rable oppofition from the enemies of the Truth, 
 we mall give you fome Grounds for confirmation 
 of it. The firft whereof is drawn from thefe ex- 
 prefs inftances of Scripture wherein it is clear, 
 That there hath been much powerful Preaching, 
 and by the mo ft eminent Preachers, and yet the 
 generality of People have been fruitlefs under 
 it, and their fruitfulnefs hath been brought to 
 this very Ground.to wir, that the work or ood s 
 Grace and His out ftretehed Arm went not along 
 with it. The firft inftanceis D«if.a6.4.That iMefit 
 was asktled Preacher, who will deny? he being 
 faithful in all the Houfe of God,yet fays he,after 
 much and long Preaching and after many Signs 
 and Wonders wrought, the Lord hath not given you 
 an heart to perceive, nor eyes to fee, nor ears to hear 
 unto this day ; where he not only puts a difference 
 betwixt the preaching of the Word without, and 
 the work of Grace within, but mows the necef- 
 ilty of the concurrence of the work of Grace.and 
 lavs the great weight of the peoples profiting or 
 not profiting, on the wanting or having of that: 
 A fecond Initance is in this Prophet l\axah ; were 
 there any among all the Preachers before or fince, 
 that preached in a more Evangelick ftrain than 
 he did ? and yet when he hath complained of 
 the paucity of Believers, faying, IVho hath be- 
 lirved our report? he fixes and ftays on this as the 
 caufe, /• whom is the arm of the Lord revealed: And 
 Chap. 6. Q, 10. he gives an account of the iad 
 Commimon he had from the Lord, who faid to 
 
 Vtrfi »• Serm. j 4; 
 
 him, Go and tell the people, Hear ye indeed, bit un. 
 derfi.mdnot ', and fee ye indeed but perteive not, make 
 the heart of this people fat, &c. where there is alfo 
 a clear distinction made betwixt the inward woik- 
 ing of Grace, and the outward A/iniftry. A third 
 inftance, and one that is beyo:-d all exception, 
 is in our blefsM Lord Jefus, wkolp.ike as never m.in 
 Jpske, and preached with fuch power and life, 
 that even carnal Hearers wondered at the gracious 
 words which proceeded out of his mouth, for be preach* 
 edwith Authority, and not as the Scribes; and yet 
 jfoA.6.4.4. when they begin to murmure at Him, 
 what lays He? Murmure not at thefe things ,vor.e can 
 time to me, except the Father draw him - t none can 
 Believe,except the powerful Grace of God work 
 Fjith in him, there muft be a higher hand than 
 ought ye fee or hear, a more powerful work 
 than any external Preaching of mine as Prophet 
 of my Church, ere a Soul can believe on me ; 
 and though his Hearers were not free of the gui't 
 of this their Unbelief, but had their own finful 
 acceflton unto their continuing in it, yet our 
 Lord looks in on the Soveraign way and work 
 of Grace, and holds there, telling rhem that his 
 external Miniftry will not do the turn,but there 
 muft be an inward, powerful, immediate work 
 of Grace for the working of Faith. We add a 
 fourth inftance, and it is of that chofen VeiTel 
 Paul, who laboured more abundantly than all the 
 reft of the Apoftles.and yet when he is Preaching 
 jfsls 28.25. and fome believed, and others believed not, 
 before he difmifTes the multitude, he adds this 
 one word, Wtllfpake the Holy GhoB by Ifaiah the 
 Prophet unto our fathers, faying. Go unto this People", 
 and fay, Hearing ye fiall hear and jhall not underhand, 
 and feeing yc fhall fe and not perceive, &c. where 
 he exprefly diffcrenceth his external Preaching 
 from God's inward woiking, and tells, that Co 
 long as there was a judicial ltroke on the Hearts 
 of the People untaken away ; no external Preach* 
 ing could do the turn as to their Converfion and 
 bringing of them to Believe ; which he alio does 
 to guard againft any offence that might be taken 
 at the unfucceftfuJnefs of his Miniftry by any 
 who would be ready to fay, what aileth thefe 
 Folk that they will not receive the Gofpel ? r© 
 whom he anfwers, ifaiah long before told the 
 reafoncf it, to wir, that there is a Plague on 
 theirHearts and Minds which God muft remove 
 ere they can receive it. 
 
 a. To thefe plain and clear inftances we may 
 add two or three Grounds or Reafons, As 1. 
 The exceeding greatnefs of the work of Conver- 
 fion, O how great and difficult is it! There- 
 fore it's fet out by the fimilitudes and exprulions 
 
 of 
 
Scrm. 1 4- / ai * h S 
 
 of rafing the dead, creating s new heart, of runn- 
 ing the jiony heart, and the like, all rending to 
 fee out the neceffiy of an omnipotent Power or 
 a'powerful work ofGnce, in the begetting of 
 Souls toChrift* and if it be fo great a work,what 
 can the outwnd Miniftry do, if the Power of 
 God be not added ? or what can the Man him- 
 felf do here ? can a man quicken, raife, creat, or 
 beget himfelf? it's true, thefe comparifons are 
 not to be extended and applied in every refpeft, 
 yet they hold out that Man being naturally 
 dead, can no more contribute to his own quic- 
 kening and raifing, and to the begetting of fpi- 
 ritual life in himfelf, than a dead Man can con- 
 tribute to his own quickening and raifing to his 
 natural life ; for which caufe, the Holy Ghofl 
 hath made choice of thefe expreffiens, even to 
 hold out the exceeding greatnefs of the work. 2, 
 Confider the condition that Men are in when 
 this work is wrought, and we will fee they can 
 contribute nothing to it, that they have no apti- 
 tude for it, except that they arefubjefts capable 
 to be wrought upon, being as it is Eph. 2.1. dead 
 in fins and trefpafes : being as to their Souls cfrate, 
 and as to their Spiritual condition, like Adams 
 Body before the Lord breathed in it the Breath 
 of Life, and made him a living Soul ; as his Bo- 
 dy could not move,{tir, nor aft till then,no more 
 can the Natural Man ftir or aft in the ways of 
 God till a new principle of Spiritual Life be 
 put in him. To clear it further,we would con- 
 iider, that the Scripture fpeaks of thefe three 
 in the Natural Man. 1. Of an utter inability and 
 deadnefs as to that which is Good, Dead in Sms, 
 Eph m 2 % U we are not fujfeien: ( faith the Apoftlc, 2 
 Cor. 3. 5. ) of our (elves as efourfehes to think any 
 good tbing,not fo much as a good thought. ^.The 
 Scripture holds him out notonly as unable for 
 good, but perverfe and bent to every thing that 
 is evil," Coli 1.21. Alienated and enemies in our minds 
 by wicked works-, the carnal mind being enmity againfi 
 God, Rom.8»7. It s plainly oppofite to any thing 
 that is Good, and fo to the way of Faith. 3. 
 Man's mind is not only naturally perverfe and 
 fluffed with Enmity, but in an incapacity to be 
 healed while it remaineth fuch, Rom.S.j.It is not 
 fxbjectto the Law of God. neither indeed can is ; and 
 therefore in the work of Conversion, there is not 
 only an amending, but alfo a ' renewing of our 
 Nature called for; there is more requisite than 
 the rectifying of fomeching in the Man, even the 
 creating of newJHabits, and the infufing or the 
 Principles of Spiritual Life and Morion into rhc 
 Soul. It is true, in fome fenfe the whole Image 
 of God is not abfolutely removed, the faculties 
 of the rational Soul ilill remain, for Man hatk 
 
 3. Vtrfe T. t 7 ? 
 
 an Underftan ding and a Will, and fome fort of 
 Reafon, but without any tendency to Spiritual 
 Life, or to any aftion for God ; he hath an un- 
 derstanding, but it's wholly darkened ; he hath 
 a Will,but wholly perverfe, and not in the leaft 
 inclined toGocd ; he hath affections, but wholly 
 difordered and corrupted, and fet wholly upon 
 wrong objects: Co that it's with Man's Soul as 
 to Good, as it is with fpoiled Wine ; Wine 
 when whoIcfomff,1 ferves to cheer and refrefib, 
 but when it's fpoiled, it's quite another thing, 
 notonly not conducing to Health, but it's noi- 
 fome and hurtful : It's juft fo we fay with Man's 
 Soul, it's by the Fall quite fpoiled and corrupted 
 it is not indeed annihilated or made to be nothing 
 for it retains the fame faculties ft ill i it hath (to 
 fpeakfo ) the fame quantity ftilJ, but as to it's 
 qualities, it's utterly corrupted and carried clofs 
 contrary to God ; it's not fubject to the law of God, 
 neither indeed can be ; and renovation by Grace, 
 is the taking away of the corrupt qualities in part 
 in this Life, and wholly in the other Life, and 
 the bringing in of new qualities for recovering 
 the beauty of that Image of God which Man hath 
 loft. 4- Confider the end that God hath in the 
 adminiirration of His Grace, and the Glory that 
 He will needs have it getting in every gracious 
 work: and more efpecially in the work of Con** 
 verfion, and the filence, as to anyboafting that 
 He will have all put unto that fhalJ partake of 
 itj His end in the adminiftration of His Grace is 
 to bring down Pride, to flop all Mouths, and to 
 remove all grounds of boafting from the Crea- 
 ture,that He only may have the glory of Con ver- 
 fion ; that whenever that queftion is propofed, 
 What hafi thou O man, but what thou haft received ? 
 and if thou hajl{receivedit, why does! thoubcajl: who 
 mads thee to differ from another ? the Soul may anf- 
 wer, it was not external Preaching, nor my own 
 Free-will, nor any thing in me, but the power 
 of God's Grace, I have nothing but what I have 
 received: It is on this ground that the Apoftle 
 Phil 2.13,13. prefl'cth and encoL;rageth Christians 
 to their great work, work out ( faith he) your own 
 falvation in j ear and trembling f.r it's God that work' 
 eth myou both to will and to do of his gcod pleafure ; 
 the Lord lcaveth not to Man the working of the 
 Will in himfelf, and o f him, faith the fame A- 
 poltle,; 1 Cor. 1. 30, 31. are ye in Cbriftjefus, who w 
 made of God unto us, wifdom, rightteufntfs, forti- 
 fication and redemption, thnt he that glorietb }h K u!d 
 glory in the Lord, as he faid before/u.iQ. that nofic } b 
 fhouid glory in his presence ; there is one ground of 
 boafting that theLord will have removed in a lin- 
 nersJu(Hfication 6c obtaining thePardon of fin I y 
 the imputation of chcR.^htcoufncfi ofChriA, but 
 
 there 
 
ft ifaiah 
 
 there is another ground or matter of boaftmg, 
 that man might have, if he could reach out the 
 Hand to believe and receive that Righteoufnefs 
 and fo put difference betwixt himiclf and another 
 wh ch in Effectual Calling the Lord puts to (]• 
 lence and quite removes ; that man may have it 
 to fay. I have not only pardon of Sin.but Grace 
 to Believe,freely beftowed upon me » God made 
 me to differ, and He only ; He opened my heart 
 as he did the heart of Lydia; Thus the Lord will 
 nave all the weight of the whole work of our 
 Salvation lying on His Grace, that the Mouths 
 of all may be (topped, and that His Grace may 
 fhine glorioufly,that we may have it to fay with 
 the PJalmift, Pfal.$y.u It's the Lord that performs 
 all things for tne\ and with PW, 1 Tim. 1. r3, i 4 . 
 / obtained mercy, ana the Grace of God was exceeding 
 abundant towards me. 
 
 The Ufes are thefe. I. It writes to us in great 
 and legible Letters the great emptineis and fin- 
 fulnefs of all Fle(h, who not onJy do not good 
 but have finned themfelves out of a capacity to 
 do good ; all men and women have brought them- 
 felves thus lamentably low by fin. that now if 
 Heaven were to be had by a wifli fincereJy & fing- 
 ly brought forth, yet it is not in rheir power to 
 perform that condition ; and though it now 
 (tends upon the ftretching forth of the hand of 
 Faith to receive Jefus Chrifr, yet of themfelves 
 they cannot even do this » how ought then Sin* 
 ners to be deeply humbled, who have brought 
 themfelves to this woful pafs ? I am afraid that 
 many of you do not believe that ye are fuch as 
 cannot Believe, nor do any Good tillHis Grace 
 work effectually in you. 
 
 2. It teacheth you not to Idolize any inftru- 
 ment or mean of Grace, how precious and pro- 
 mising foever ; No preaching, if it were of a 
 Prophet, or an Apoftle, yea of an Angel, will 
 do the turn, without Grace come with it; there 
 is a neceffity of the revelation of God's Arm, and 
 of the afliftence of His Grace, not only to your 
 Converfion, but to every duty ye go about j Ye 
 fliould therefore fear and tremble when ye go a# 
 bout any Ordinance, left the Arm of the Lord 
 be nor put forth in it. 
 
 3. It (hould make you more ferious in dealing 
 with God for his effectulblefling to every mean 
 and Ordinance,feing without that no Ordinance 
 can profite you- 
 
 4. It ferves to reprove and reprefs Pride, and 
 to promove Humility in all fuch who have got- 
 ten good by the Gofpel ; Have ye Faith or any 
 meafure of Holinefs ? what have ye but what 
 ye have received ? from whence came your 
 Fdithand y. ur Holinefs; ye have them not of 
 your felves, thefe are not Fruits that grow upon 
 
 h- **'/' »• Serm. 14; 
 
 the Tree of Nature, or in its Garden i but on 
 the Tree, and in the Garden of Free-Grace, and 
 ye have not your felves to thank for them.' 
 
 5. The main Ufe of it is for confirming and e- 
 (hbliftiing you in the Faith of the Truth pro- 
 poned in the Doctrine, and for confuting and 
 overturning the contrary £rror, that, as it were, 
 in contempt of the Grace of God, exalts proud 
 Nature,and gives Man's Free-will fo great a hand 
 in the work of Converfion ; That the main thing 
 that makes the difference (hall not be attributed 
 to the Grace of God, but to the Free- will of the 
 Creature, which of it felf choifed the Grace of 
 God offered when another rejected it ; It may 
 indeed ieem ftrange that the Devil (hould fofar 
 have prevailed with Chriftians that profefs the 
 Faich of Original Sin, and of the ncceflryofa 
 Saviour, as to make them look at Grace as ufelcfs 
 in this prime Hep of Converfion and renewing 
 of a Smner, that when the Grace of God and 
 Man's free will come to be compared,man'sWill 
 mould have the perference and preeminence, 
 the higheft place and commendation in the work, 
 and that the great weight of it fliould ly there, 
 and that proud Nature (hould be thus bolftered 
 up, that it (hall (land in need of nothing for the 
 Man's Converfion, but the right ufe making of 
 what it hath in it felf ; And yet it's no wonder 
 that the Devil drive this defign vigoroufly, for 
 what fhorter cut can there be taken by him to 
 mine Souls, than to make them drink in this Er- 
 ror, that nature and Free-will will do their turn? 
 and fo take them off from all dependance on 
 Free-Grac?, and on Jefus Chrift, and give them 
 ground of boafting in themfelves ; for when it is 
 thus, of necedity they muft ruine and peri(h 5 
 this (hould fure, make you loath this £rror the 
 more ; and we are perfwaded, that the day is 
 coming, wherein the Truth oppofite to this Er- 
 ror, (hall be confirmed on the Souls and Coofci- 
 ences of all the Oppofers of it, and wherein the 
 maintaining of this Eiror (hall befound a con- 
 firmation of mans enmity at God's Giace,which 
 is not fubject to His Law, nor indeed can be. 
 
 But there are three Queftions that may be 
 moved here, to which we would lpeak a word. 
 1 If the Preaching of the Gofpel cannot beget 
 Faith, without the powerful wo«k ofGodsGrace, 
 what is the ufe of the Gofptl, or wherefore 
 ferves it? 1. If men cannot Believe without 
 the work of Grace, which the Lord Soveraignly 
 defpenfeth, why doth He yet fi d faultand ex- 
 pnftulate with men for their not believing? 3 If 
 Grace perform ail, and men can make no mean 
 effectual, nor do any good without it, what 1 hen 
 fliould men do to come by believing, and this 
 work of His Grace ? 
 
 For 
 
Serm. 14. „ , #"** 
 
 For thejfyf, We (hall not fay much unto it ; 
 only, feing the Lord hath made choice of the 
 Gofpelto be the ordinary external Mean of Grace, 
 and of the begetting of Faith, there is no reafon 
 to fay that it's ufclefs ; for though it be not the 
 main and only thing that turns the Sinner, but 
 the Lord hath referved it to himfelf as his own 
 Prerogative, to convert and change the Heart of 
 a Rebel-finner, yet he hath appointed it to be made 
 ufe of, as he hath appointed Baptifrn and the Lords 
 Supper, for many good and notable ends, ufes, 
 and advantages that are reached and come at by 
 the preaching of it. As, I. By it the Righteouf- 
 nefs of God is manifefted that before lay hid; Ye 
 may by the preaching of the Gofpelcome to the 
 knowledge of the Covenant of Redemption, and 
 of the great dcfign that the Lord hath laid down 
 for bringing about the Salvation of loft Sinners, 
 Rom. r. 17. Therein h the right eoufntfs of God revealed 
 from faith to faith, 2. By it the Lord revealeththe 
 Duty he calleth for from Men, as well as his will 
 concerning their Juftiflcation and Salvation > He 
 Jets them know what is wrong, what is right, 
 what difpleafeth him, and what pleafeth him* 
 Yea, 3. By the preaching of the Gofpel, he hol- 
 deth out what Mens ability is, or rather what is 
 their inability, and by his external Calling gives 
 them in it occalion to know their inability in not 
 giving obedience to his Call; and this is no fmall 
 advantage when by it they have occafion to know 
 the neceflity of a Mediator, and to feek after ano- 
 ther way of Juftiflcation than by their own works 
 for fo it proves a notable mean to humble Men, 
 to ftop their Mouths, and to make them plead 
 guilty before God. 4. It's profitable as theLord is 
 pleafed to make ufe of it, to call and gather info 
 many as he hath ordained to eternal Life i for 
 though in it felf it be not able to convert, having 
 the Power of God going alo ng with it, it is the 
 Inftrumenc of Ccnverfitm, and the Lord ordina- 
 rily makes ufe of it to the begetting of Faith in 
 them that Believe, as it is Rom. 10. 17. Faith comts 
 by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, preached, 
 and r Cor. 1. 24, it's called the power ofGodtofaU 
 nation ,& it hath pita fed God by the foilifttntft of preach, 
 ing tofavethem that believe ; for though God can 
 work without it, yet he hath thought good to 
 makeufeofit,to inform the Judgement, and to 
 ftir up the affections of Hearers, and fo it proves 
 intrumental to the begetting of Faith in them. 5. 
 If it do not promove the falvation of all the hea- 
 rers of it, yet it promoves it in all the Bleft, and 
 ferves to make others the more inexcufable, & in 
 this refpett it triumphs always, 2 Cor. 2.15,16. In 
 fome it is the favur of Life unto life, in others the 
 favour of death w.t* death, leaving them the more 
 inexcufable, and the more obnoxious to wrath 
 
 ver 
 
 ££ 
 
 by their rejecting of the Counfel of God againft 
 themfelves. 
 
 I know this will be excepted againft ; we come 
 therefore to confider the fecond queftion, which 
 is this, how can the Call ofche Gofpcl mike men 
 inexcufable, feing they cannot without the effe- 
 ctual Power of the Grace of God believe? as 
 Chrift faith, John 6. 44. No man can tome to me, that 
 is, no man can believe in me, except the father 
 who hathjent me draw him ; yea, why doth God find 
 fault with Men for their unbelief : For anfwer, it 
 hath been no new thing forMen to ftart Quefti- 
 onsand Obje&ionsagainft the Grace of God, and 
 to be always ftriving to rub affronts and difgrace 
 upon it, fee Row. 9. 13, 14, &c. where this fame 
 Obje&ion is ftarted, and anfvrered again and a- 
 gain ; for when the Apoftle hath faid vet ft 13. Ja- 
 cob have I loved, and Efau ksve I hated, the Ob- 
 jection is moved, // there unrightetufnt[s with God 
 then} Folks readily think that there is a fort of 
 unrighteoufnefs in God, when he takes one and 
 leaves another, efpecially confidering, that the 
 leaving of the other infers ( though it be not 
 any culpable caufe of ) the ruine of the Mans 
 Soul ; he anfwers jfi-y? with a God forbid, as if it 
 were an abfurd thing fo to afTert ; and then en- 
 deavours to anfwer it fromGod's Sovereignty, as 
 being Debtor to none, / will have mereyon whom 1 
 will have mercy ; and it's not in him that willeth, nor 
 in him that runneth, but in God that jhews mercy , In 
 Gods adminiftration of Grace, he is Debtor to 
 no Man, nor hath he any rule by which he \ ro- 
 ceedeth, but his own Sovereign Will ; and if it 
 fhallyetbe faid, if God doth walkbyHis oan So- 
 vereign Willjin giving Grace, Why dotbbt yet find 
 fault or condemn, fir who hath refitted bis wiUl Why 
 is God angry that Men will not Believe, fince 
 none can come to Chrift againft the will of God? 
 His Indignation riieth at this proud and petulant 
 Objection, and he anfwers, But who art thou Oman 
 that rtplieft againft God? JhaU the thing formed fay t9 
 him that fo>mtd it, why haft thou made me thus ? Iw.k 
 not the Potter power over the clay, to make of the fume 
 lump, one veffel to honour, and another tt dt [honour ) By 
 the Apoftle 's doubling of this anfwer, and his 
 not fetting of himfelf to fatisfie carnal Reafon 
 and curiofity, there is ground given to filence us 
 here ; It's the Lord, he is our Potter, and we the 
 Clay ; it's he in whofe hand we are, who can do 
 us no wrong, and this may fufficicnt'y ferveto 
 put a ftop to all reafoning and difputing againft 
 him; Yet we may add a word fuither, feing the 
 Apoftle proceeds to another Reafcn ; Therefore, 
 2. Confider whence it is that this inability to be- 
 lieve or turn to God doth come ; not from God 
 fure ; for if he had not made man perfect, there 
 might befomc ground foi the Objection ; but 
 L feing 
 
74 ifsUb 
 
 icing H< did malt man upright and he hath fought out 
 tnAHj inventions, who is to be blamed? hath the 
 Lord loft his righr to exact his Debt, becaufc man 
 hath p'ayedthc Bankrupt and debauched, and tur- 
 ned Dyvour, and unable to pay ; doth not this 
 very objecting, prove us guilty, and evidence that 
 we have loft that which uod tfave to us, and made 
 ■s with at the beginning ? When God made A* 
 dam, he had power to believe and give God credit 
 as to eveiy word revealed or to be revealed, and 
 that now afer the fall, he and his Pofterity want 
 tha r power, they have not this privation from 
 Gods creating of them, but from their Fall, they 
 by their Fall utterly incapacitating themfelves for 
 thefe Duties that they owe to God, and for this 
 among the reft. 3. If there were no more but 
 fimple inability among them that hear thisGolpel, 
 they might, have tome pretext or ground of ex- 
 cufc, though it were not any real not jufi excufe, 
 as hath been fhewed, but it never comes to this 
 as the only or main caufe of their not Believing ; 
 There is always fome malicioufnefs, perverfenefs, 
 ■nd privity in the Will ; it's not, 1 cannot, but / 
 vtli not, it's a wilful and fome way deliberate re- 
 jecting of the Gofpel, that is the ground ofFolks 
 not Believing ; and what excufe, 1 pray, can ye 
 have, who do not believe the Gofpel, when it ftiall 
 be found that ye malicioufly and deliberatly choo- 
 fed to rejeCt it ? To make this out, confider but 
 thefe few things. 1. Mens neglecting of the ve- 
 ry outward Means, that through Gods blefling 
 prove inftrumental in the begetting of Faith, as 
 of Hearing, Reading, Prayer, Meditation, Self- 
 fearching, ftirring up themfelves to Repentance, 
 &c. whereby the Lord ordinarily brings about and 
 furthers the work of Faith, 1. Confider the Car- 
 nal, carelefs, and lazy manner of Mens g^ing a- 
 bout thefe Means and Duties, which to their own 
 conviction are within the reach of that power 
 which they have ; ye might hear oftener and 
 more attentively, ye might pray more frequent- 
 ly and moreferioufly than of. en ye do, ye want 
 even much of that moral ferioufnefs in hearing, 
 Prayer.Reading, &c. that ye have in other things 
 of lefs concernment ; ye will hear a Proclamati- 
 on at the Crofs with more attention than a preach- 
 ing of the Gofpel, ye will hear a threatningfrom 
 Man with more fear than ye will hearaThreatning 
 from God's Word, ye will be more ferious in 
 feeking fomew hat from Man, than in asking Grace 
 from God ; the reafen is, becaule your Heart is 
 more to the one nor to the otherjean ye then ratio- 
 nally think that ye are excufable, when believing 
 is not * thing that is in your Heart, and that takes 
 you up» DUt yc go about the Means that lead to it 
 unconcernedly,carelefly,and negligently? 3. Con- 
 fider how often ye dowillingly.choofc fome other 
 
 H. Vtrftx. Serm. 14. 
 
 thing than Chrift, to fpend your time, and fet 
 your afFeftions upon, laying obftruCtions and bars 
 in the way of God's Grace, fetting up idols in the 
 Heart, and filling ChriiVs room before hand with 
 fuch things as arc inconfiftent with his Company, 
 and all tins is done willingly and deliberately ; 
 ye have laid in your Hearts as thefe did, Jer.%, »j. 
 We have loved ftrangcrs, and after them we will go : 
 and will ye, or dare ye make that an excuie why 
 ye could not come to Chrift, becaufc yxiur heartJ 
 were taken up with your Lufts and Idols? So then 
 the matter will not hold hert y that ye were un- 
 able, and had not power to believe, but it will 
 come to this, that your Confcience will have it 
 to fay, that ye willingly and deliberately choo- 
 fed to ly ftill in your unbelief, and that ye pre- 
 ferred your Idols to Chrift Jefus. 4. Confider,That 
 fometimes ye have met with fome moie than an 
 ordinary touch, morion, and work of the Spirit 
 that hath been born in upon you, which ye have 
 flighted and neglected, if not quenched and put 
 out, which is your great guilt before theLord: Is 
 thereany of you, but now and then at Preaching, 
 or when in fome great hazard, or under ficknefs 
 or fome other fad Crofs, ye have been under con- 
 victions of Sin, and have hadfome iittle gLnces of 
 the hazard ye werein of the Wrath of God, more 
 than'ordinarly ye had at orher times ? and I would 
 ask you, have thefe been entertained and cheri- 
 lhed, or rather have they not been flighted and 
 worn out by you ? and may ye not in this 'tefpeCr. 
 be charged with the guilt of rcfifting the Spirit of 
 God, and marring the work of your own Conver- 
 sion and Salvation ? Thefe things, and many 
 moe, which will cry loud in the Confciences of 
 Men and Women one day, will quite remove and 
 take away this Ob}eQisn,that ye could nor do better; 
 Ye might have done better than ye did, ye might 
 have abftaincd from n.any Evils that ye commit- 
 ted, and done many Duties that ye omitted, and 
 done them with more moral ferioufnefs than ye 
 did ;but ye were perverfe, and did willing^ and 
 deliberately choofe to confirm^ in your Natural 
 condition, rejeCtingChrift,and the Off-rof Salva- 
 tion through him.Thisalfo f rves to refute &: re- 
 move that prophane Prinpiple or Tenet thnmany 
 have in their Minds & Mouths, That they have no 
 more Grace than God hath given them'jxKW ye dare to 
 come beforeGod in the great day with any fuch 
 objeclion?no certainly.or if ye dare.God will ag* 
 gregeyour guilt by it, and beat it back again in- 
 to your Throat; then, O ! then all fuch Subter. 
 fuges will be no fhelter to you before Him, nor 
 in the leaft able to infeonce your Souls againft the 
 ftrong Batteries of the Wrath of God, that will 
 be as a Storm againft the Wall. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 
Scrm. is 
 
 S7 
 
 SERMON XV. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. I. 
 
 'And to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed ? 
 
 MInifttrs have not done with their work 
 when they have preached, and People 
 have not done with their work when they have 
 heard : That which is of greateft concernment 
 follows, which either hath, in the want of it in- 
 fluence on the fadning of both Minifters and 
 people, or in the obtaining of it, on their Confo. 
 lation:- This is the thing that we find //4*£upon 
 here, who having preached the Gofpel, looks 
 what fruit it hath, and it had in his own time, 
 and fhould have in our time, it weights him ex* 
 ceedingly ; and indeed it's very fad that Ifaiah 
 fhould be fo much weighted in forefeeing the 
 unfruitfulnefs of the Gofpel in our days, and that 
 we our felves fhould be fo little weighted with 
 it, and fo fenfelefs under it. 
 
 He cafts in this word, To whom is the Arm of the 
 Lord revealed ? partly to confirm the former word, 
 Who hath believed our Report ? and partly to help to 
 make the right ufe of it,* by drawing Men to 
 the difcovery of the Sovereign hand of God in the 
 matter, and of the neceffity of his Grace for ma. 
 king the Gofpel effectual in the Hearers of it 
 wherever it comes, Who, (faith he J hath belitvtd 
 our report} To whom is this prcachedGofpel maJe 
 effectual for Faith and Salvacion ? its but ro very 
 few, even to as many as have the Arm of the 
 Lord, the effectual power of his fpecial Grace re- 
 vealed to them, and no moe. 
 
 The laft DoBrine we propofed, and began to 
 fpeakof as the Scope, was, that believing and re- 
 ceiving of the Gofpel, and the Lord's exercing 
 a powerful work of his Grace with it, are ever 
 Hill knit together ; they are of equal exrenr, as 
 many believe as hg^ftretcheth out his hand of po- 
 wer with the word to wotk Fairh in them, and 
 as many ly (till in unbelief as his hand of power 
 if not revealed unto ; this is his fcope. 
 
 We took up this Doclrine in two Branches, F.'rft, 
 That the moft powerful Means cannot work nor 
 beget Faith in the Hearers of the Gofpel, except 
 there be an inward powerful woik of Gia:c on 
 their Hearts accompanying them; and this we 
 cleared, and '.'poke a little to two Qjcfliom in the 
 Uie> and left at a third, to wit, what the Hearers 
 of the Gofpel fhould do that have the Call and 
 offer of the Gofpel, feing without the effectual 
 work of the dace of God they cannot Believe ? 
 
 which wefhall forbear to fpeak to, till we open 
 the fecond Branch of the Doftrint, becaufe this 
 C^ueftion relates to both* 
 
 The fecond branch then ofthe DoBrine is, That 
 wherever the Lord applieth the powerful work 
 of his Grace, there neceffarily Faith and Convert 
 iion follow ; or the fhetching forth of God's 
 Arm in the work of his Grace, hath always the 
 work of Faith and Converfion, and the enga, 
 ging of the Soul unto Jefus Chrift following on 
 it ; and indeed if it be true that we cleared be- 
 fore, to wit, that there are as many Unbelievers 
 as there are Perfons on whom Grace doth not 
 thus powerfully woik, or that they are all fuch 
 that this work of Grace is not manifefted on, 
 then the work of Conversion and believing is as 
 broad as this work of Grace is, for the Prophet 
 maksth them of equal extent, who is he that be- 
 lieveth ? even he to whom the Arm ofthe Lord 
 is revealed, and on the contrary, who it ht that 
 believeth not ? even he to whom the Arm of 
 the Lord is notrevealed, and on whom this work 
 of Grace is not manifefted. By which we may 
 fee it to be very clear, that the Prophet hangs 
 the believing ofthe Gofpel on the Lords mani- 
 festing his Arm ; fo trfat where ic isnot manife- 
 fred, this work of Fa.th is not brought forth ; 
 and where it is manifefted, neccflaj iJy it is bjoughc 
 foith, 
 
 This being sDoftrint concerning theErficacy of 
 God's grace, which ought not to ly hid from the 
 Lords people, we fhall a little, tirir, clear it, and 
 then fccondly, confirm it to you. 
 
 Firfr, for clearing of it's Meaning, r. Ye would 
 not take up our meaning in it lb, as if we made 
 every common work that lively meanvmay have- 
 on rhe hearers of the Gofpel, to be Convcrliop ; 
 The pieaching ofthe word will fometimes m 
 Folks tremble, as we fee inft/itt, and will wak:n 
 Convictions and Terrors in t lem, and puc 
 them into an amazement, ; an.l ycr lei 
 them there ; for all chele Convictions in I 
 
 are often refilled, as to any fivi 
 which we conceive ro be that wh 
 at, A&t 7. 51. while he faith, Yt . 
 Uttircuma'ftd in heart and e*r; t ye dill i :i.$ 
 
 Holy Ghoji as yr.tr fsfbtrt d:d, Jo 
 and what he means by this is 1 . in 
 
 the words following, vbica if 
 L 2 
 
?6* ifaiah 53. 
 
 have not your fathers perfeeuted, 3cc, even their con- 
 tending with the word of the Lord in the 
 mouths of his Servants : Yea, in that fame place, 
 where it's faid, they gnafied upon him with their 
 teeth, it's infinuatcd that they came over thebel- 
 ]y of the cutting Conviction, which his preach- 
 ing had upon them ; Nor do we, 2. mean 
 That every common operation of the Spi- 
 rit, whether Illumination of the Mind, or a 
 •ouch on the affections ( fuch as maybe in Tem- 
 poraries and Apoftates, as is clear Afar. Ij. 20, 21. 
 Heb. 6.4. and downward ) is Converfion ; there 
 is a great difference betwixt a common work or 
 Gift of the Spirit ( which in a large fenfe uny 
 be called Grace becaufe freely given ) and the fa* 
 ving work of Grace, which before we called a 
 peculiar work : And ofc-times that common o- 
 peration of the Spirit is quenched and put out, 
 therefore the Apoftle, 1 Theff. 5-. 19. exhorteth 
 thus, Quench not the Spirit. 3. When we fpeak of an 
 •ffectual bringing forth of Faith by this Grace 
 of God, we would not have you thinking, that 
 we fuppofe no reluctancy to be in the Man in 
 fo* far as he is unrenewed, for though where 
 Grace effectually worketh, Faith follows necef. 
 farily, yet Corruption being in the Man, it's 
 difpofed and apt to thwart with, and to oppofe 
 Grace ; and the Will hath it's averfenefs to yield: 
 But the meaning of the Doctrine is this, that 
 though there be fuch a ftrong Power of Corrup- 
 tion in the Man to whom Grace comes, and on 
 whom ic is put forth, yet the power of Grace is 
 fuch, that it powerfully maftcrs and overcomes 
 Corruption, and wins the Heart to believe in, 
 and to engage with Chrift; though (to fpeak 
 fo) there be fomething within thatlbives to keep 
 the door fhut on Chrift ; yet when it comes to 
 that, Cant. 5. 3. Hi puts in hi* fi t: gtrs by the holl 
 tf thi lock, and makes the myrrht to drop j the 
 Heart is prevailed with fo, as it is effectual- 
 ly opened, as the Heart of Lydia was to receive 
 the Word that Paul preached : Thus, notwith- 
 ftanding of Corruptions oppofition, Grace gains 
 its point, and the Lord never applies his Grace of 
 purpofe to gain a Soul, but he prevails. 4 When 
 we fpeak of the power and effcctualnefs of Grace 
 in conquering and gaining the Heart and Will 
 of the Sinner to believe in Jefus Chrift, we do 
 not mean that there is any force or violence done 
 to the Will, or any exerting of a coactive power, 
 violenting the Willcontrary to it's eflential pro- 
 perty of freedom, to clofe with Chrift ; But this 
 we mean, that though Corruption bein the Heart, 
 yet Grace being infufed and acted by the 
 Spirit, the pravity in the Will is fweetly cured, 
 and the will is moved and made to will willing- 
 ly and upon choice, by the power of the Spirit 
 
 * r fi- f - Serm. 15- 
 
 of Grace taking in the ftrong hold ; This great 
 work is wrought by an Omnipotent fuavity, and 
 by a fweet Omnipotency ; and it needs not at 
 all feem ftrange ; for if man in Nature, be by the 
 power of habitual Corruption, made neceflarily 
 to will evil, fo that notwithftanding he doth free- 
 ly and willingly choofe Evil ; why mould it be 
 thought ftrange or abfurd to fay, That when a 
 principle of the Grace of God is infufed into the 
 Soul, and acted by the Spirit of God, it hath that 
 much influence, power and efficacy as to prevail 
 with the Will, itkeeping ftill its own freedom, to 
 make it willing to embrace Jefus Chrift, and yet 
 not at all thereby wrong that eflential property 
 of the Will ? fure, Grace is as powerful as Corrup- 
 tion, and the Lord is as dextrous a worker, and 
 can worlfas agreeably to the nature of the Crea- 
 ture in this gracious woik, as the Creature can 
 in its own finful actings. So then we fay, when 
 the Lord is pleated to apply the work of his Grace 
 to convert a Sinner, that work ii never fruftra- 
 ted, but it always hath neceflarily the work of 
 Faith Renovation, and Cenverfion following on 
 the back of it. 
 
 Secondly, We mail a little confirm the Do- 
 ctrine, and the grounds of Confirmation are thefe, 
 The 1. whereof is, Thgexprefs Scriptuies where- 
 in this Truth is alTerted, as John 6. 44, 45. It is 
 faid in the 44. Verfe, No man can come to me except 
 the Fa! her draw himj and on the contrary, it is as 
 exprefly fet down verf. 45. // is writttn in the Pro* 
 phets } they [hall be all taught of God, every man there- 
 fore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh 
 unto me ; and this being contradiftinguifhed to 
 external preaching, and being that which is 
 called drawing, 1/ 44. he knits believing to it, 
 and makes Believing, called coming, a ne- 
 cefTary effect of it, that to whomfoever God gives 
 that inward Leflbn, they fhallcome; which con- 
 firms the Doctrine, that whomfoever the Lord 
 teaches and fchools by his Grace, and calls effe- 
 ctually, they do neceflarily believe. Another 
 pafTage we have,P£/7.2. 12,1 3^Wcr£ out the work oj 
 your Salvation in fear and trembling ; for it is God that 
 worketh in you both to will and to doofh^goodpleafurei 
 where the Apoftle makes the work of grace not 
 only to work ability to will and to do,but to work 
 alfo to will and to do actually; rnd Grace never 
 worketh to will,&nd leaves the man unwilling, but 
 neceflarily fuppofeth the man's clofing willingly 
 with Chrift, with whom he worketh thus. A 
 2. ground of Confirmation is <lraan from 
 thefe Exprefllons whereby this work is fet 
 forth, and the promifes comprehending 
 it in God's Covenant, wherein it's called 
 the giving of a new keart t a heart of flcjh 
 
 the 
 
Serm IT. Ifaiah 53. Verfe 1. 77 
 
 the writing of 'the Law in the heart, the putting ef hit ftopped,but when that queftion fliould be liked. 
 Spirit within his people, and caufing them tt walk in who hath made thee to differ, and what haft thin, O 
 hisftatutes, &C. 7^.31*33 . Ezek.^6,26, 27. and ic man, hut what thou haft received ? (he Uiould ftill 
 is impoflible to conceive aright of the fulfilling havefomething to boaft of, and the work of his 
 of thcfe Promifes without the including of the Converfion, {hould at beft be halfed betwixt 
 effctt ; the giving of the new heart, is not only Grace and his own Free-will ; this would necef- 
 a perfwading to Believe, but the aftual giving 
 of the new Heart, whereof Faith is a fpecial part, 
 which promife is peculiar to th» Elec"t, though 
 the offer of it be more large, and be further ex- 
 tended ; and what can that promife of Gods wn« 
 ting the Law in the Hearc be, but an effeaual 
 inclining of the Heart rothe will of God? or in- 
 ward renovation contradiftinguifhed to the ex- 
 ternal Miniftry, that can only hold out His Will 
 in a Book, and fpeak it to the Ear. 3 . This may 
 be cleared and confirmed from the nature of the 
 work of Grace, which is fuch a mighty work 
 and fo powerful, as it is impofllble it can be 
 fruftrated, or difappointed i unlefs we could 
 fay that Grace in God, or the Grace of God 
 is not fo powerful as corruption in us, which 
 were Blafphemy ; to this purpofe the Apoftle 
 prayeth in behalf of the Chriftian Epheftans, Chap. 
 1. 19, 10. that they may know what t* the exceed- 
 ing greatnefs of hh power to wward who believe, accor- 
 ding to the working of his mighty power which he wrought 
 in Cbrift when he raifed him from the dead-, he fpeak- 
 eth fo in this high ftrain, to fet out both the 
 exceeding ftubbornnefs of our Nature that needs 
 fuch a work, and the exceeding great power of 
 the Grace of God that worketh lrrefiftably, not 
 only in the Converfion of the Eleft at firfr, but 
 in all the after aQs of Believing, fo Eph. 3. 7. the 
 
 fame Apoftle hath it, according to the gift of 
 
 the Grace oj God given unto me by the effectual work- 
 ing of his power ; and Col 1. 29. according to his work' 
 ing which worketh in me mightilj ? The power that 
 worketh in Believers is Gods omniporent power, 
 which worketh effectually and mightily ; and if 
 
 this Power be exercifed in the continuing and 
 
 promoving of Faith, as is faid before, it mud be 
 
 much more exercifed in the begetting of Faith > 
 
 yea, and what need is there that He ihould exer- 
 
 crfe it,if not for this end,that where he exercifeth 
 
 it, it may »lfo prevail? A 4th ground of Confir- 
 mation may be drawn from the Lords great end 
 
 which he hath before Him in this work.and that 
 
 is the gaining of glory to His Grace,and to have 
 
 the whole work of Converfion attributed to it ; 
 
 and if this be His end, He muft and will prevail 
 
 by His Grace in throughing the work in order 
 
 to this end; if it were left indifferent to Man to 
 
 yield or not to yield to God as he pleafeth, the 
 
 whole weight of (he work of Converfion fhould 
 
 notty upon Grace, Man's mouth Ihould not be 
 
 farily follow, if Grace did not through the work, 
 and fo God fhouldmifs of His end. A $th ground 
 of Confirmation is taken from the confideration 
 of Gods Decree, of the Covenant of Redempti- 
 on betwixt Jehovah and the Mediator, and of 
 the Power and Wifdom of God in carrying on 
 this work, which we put together for brevities 
 caufe > From all which, it will be clear, that 
 there is, and muft be a neceffary connexion be- 
 twixt the Work of Grace on Believers, and the 
 Effect, and that it is not in the power of Mans 
 Free-will to refift it, which indeed is not free- 
 dom, but bondage. 1. Then, We fay, That if 
 we confider the Decree of Election, we will find 
 that where Grace is applyed, Faith and Conver- 
 fion muft follow ; otherwife, if the work of 
 Grace were not effectual to convert, Gods De- 
 cree (hould befufpendedon the Creatures Free- 
 will, and be effectual, or not effectual according 
 as it pleafed, and is that any little matter to 
 make His Decree depend upon, and be effee 
 tual, or not according to Man's pleafure ? rhac 
 which fickereth HisDeeree, and makes itinfru- 
 ftrably to take effect, is, that he hath effectual 
 Means to bring about His Decree 2. If we con- 
 fider the Covenant of Redemption, betwixt Je- 
 hovah and the Mediator, we will find that upon 
 the one fide the Mediator particularly undertake- 
 eth for them that are given to Him, that He 
 fhall lofe none of them ; and upon the other 
 fide, we have (to fpeak with reverence of the 
 Majcfty cf God after the manner of Men ) the 
 Father's Obligation to make fuch Perfons in due 
 time Believers, thatChrift the Mediator may fee 
 of the travel of His Soul, and be fatisfied, ac- 
 cording to that Promife made to Him, Pfal. 1 10. 
 3. In the day of thy power thy people {hall be willing ; 
 and tlm other, /,*. 5 3 . 1 1 . He Jhall fee of the travel 
 of his foul, and be fat is fit d, by his knowledge jhall my 
 righteous fervant juflifie many, &o and according* 
 ly Himfelf faith, 'John 6. 37. All that the Father 
 hath given to me jhall come unto me ; where it is 
 clear, that thefe who are given muft n-cellanly 
 come : and he alfo faith, John 10 \6 0:hcr Jheep 
 have I, which are not of this fold, them alfo I muft 
 bring; and it cannot be (upp. fed witiuuir h 1- 
 rour and blafphemy, that this determinate, 
 folid, and lure transaction, having all it*sm idles 
 included in ir,and being, as to its cnJ,fo pemnp- 
 
 tciy, 
 
Ifaiah J3 
 
 tory, mail as to thefe midfes, .^^"d'but 
 as to their throughing,not be in Gods hand but 
 he hand of Mans Free-will ? if it were there, 
 O' howunfickcrand looie would the bargain, 
 and Gad's defign in begetting Faith,»nd in bring- 
 ing Souls through Grace to Glory be ! j.ll we 
 con'idcr the Lords Power, in beginning and pro- 
 moving, and His Wifdom in carrying on of 
 this work, H.s Power whereby he raiietn the 
 Dead and His Wifdom whereby He [leads from 
 Death to Life; is it poflible to conceive or ima- 
 gine thefe to be apply ed by the Lord in the con- 
 verfion of a Sinner, but this Doftrine mud needs 
 hold, thatthe work of His Grace powerfully ap. 
 plyed,hath always Faithiand Converfion follow- 
 ing on it, and that the Lord haveth it not to the 
 option of £led Souls.to believe, or not to believe 
 as theypleafe? He muft not,He cannot be fru- 
 ftrate of His end and defign, but he muft bring 
 them to a cordial cloture with Chrift by Faith in 
 order to their Salvation. 
 
 Ujt i. The firft ule ferves to fix you in the 
 Faith of this great Tiuth.and though we ufe not, 
 neither is it needful, to trouble you with long 
 Queftions and Debates; yec when the like of this 
 Doftrine comes in our way, efpecially in fuch 
 a time, wherein the pure Truths of God,and this 
 amon* the reft, are troubled and called in quel- 
 tion, It is requifite that a word be fpoken for 
 your confirmation and eftablifhment ; and we 
 would hence have you fixed in the Faith of thefe 
 two K Of the impotency of Nature in the be- 
 ginning or promoving ought of the work ofGrace 
 which belongs to the firft branch of the DocW. 
 a. Of the effeaualnefs and lrrefiftableneis ot 
 Grace; that wherever God begets and brings in 
 a Soul, He does it by His own powerful Grace, 
 and wherever He applys that work Faith and 
 Converfion neceftmly follow, which belongs to 
 the fecond branch of the Doftrine,and we would 
 the rather fpeak a little to this becaufe it is 
 queftioned by the Enemies of the Grace of God, 
 than which there is nothing they feithemfelves 
 more to dethrone and debate, and to exalt and 
 cry up Nature and Free- will, as it it did fit on 
 the Throne,and Grace behoved to come and im- 
 plicate it, and as if it m-ght accept or reject its 
 Bill at pleafure,as to the Converfion of a Sinner; 
 In oppofition to which,this Doctrine holds good, 
 that wherever the Lord applies His Grace, He 
 effectually th:oughs the work of I aitfa and Con- 
 verfion, and there is no Soul that can utterly re- 
 fift it; and wherevs^he Lord applies this Grace 
 •■he Grace that converts one cannot beiiultrated 
 by another ; Thefe things we hold in oppofiti- 
 on to the direct after tion of the Enemies of 
 
 . Vtrft i. Serm< ij. 
 
 Grace, whereby they make the work of Conver- 
 fion, not ultimatly to terminate on Grace, but 
 on A/an'sFree<will,andhow dangerous and dam- 
 nable this Error is, may eafily appear, For i. It 
 overturns and runs crofs to the whole ftrain of 
 the Gofpel, for if we loofe but this one Pin, in 
 making Faith and Converfion not to depend on 
 Grace, but on Free- will, then the whole Fabrick 
 ofGrace falls down nat;thenGodihould elect us, 
 becaufe we were to elect Him, contrary to the 
 Scripture, which tells us, that He elect* us,not 
 we Him ; and that our clcfing with Him by 
 Faith, depends on His electing of us: Itcverturnt 
 our free Juftificarion by Grace, for fuppofing 
 faith comes in Juftification, as it doth, none be- 
 ing juftifiedbut by Faith, and that Believing is 
 of ourfelves,and that it is in the power of Afan*s 
 Free-will to clofethe Bargain, all is nor here of 
 Grace, our Juftification is not free, but fome- 
 way depends on Free-will : It overturns the Per- 
 feverance ofthe Saints ; for if Believing depend 
 on Free-will, then our Perfeverance depends on 
 it alfo,for if the Mans free-will change, he may 
 fall back and break his neck in a manner, at the 
 very threfhold of Heaven ; whereas if it be the 
 work ofGrace (as indeed it is) that brings forth 
 Faith, and carries it on, and if this work of 
 Grace cannot be fruftrated or reftrained by the 
 malice and hardnefs of any Heart to which it is 
 applied becaufe it cures the hardnefs and removes 
 that malice ; then certainly this Error cannot 
 ftand ; and we are perfwaded when we plead 
 thus for Grace, we have the beft end of theDe- 
 bate, and the fureft Ground to go upon,moft for 
 God's Honour, and moftforthe comfort of Be- 
 lievers- i. This Error thwarts with the Glory 
 ofthe Grace of God ; for it is an Error that 
 {hikes at the richeft and moil radiant Diamond of 
 the Crown of the Glory of Chrift, it hangs £- 
 lection and the effe&ualnefs of God's Decree as 
 to effectual Calling, Faith, Juftification, and 
 Perfeverance on the Perfon himfelf, and makes 
 God and Chrift to be in Man's common debt,Sc 
 reverence, to make his Decree effectual \ whereas 
 it is the Glory ofGrace to have allFlefh allenir* 
 ly in its debt 5c common, as having loved frely, 
 elected, called, juftified, fanctified, and carried 
 on the work ofGrace till it end and be perfected 
 in Glory, freely , which is the Song of the re- 
 deemed, fcrv. i. 5, 6. XJ'if him who bath loved u:, 
 and wajhed Us from our pas in his own (flood, and hath 
 viade us kin^s and prieSs unto God and hisFathtr, to 
 him be glory and dominion ; if eternal love be free, 
 then the exprcflion or manifeftation of it in mak- 
 ing us Kings and Priefts unto God, is alfo free* 
 3. This Error is eic>;cding deftructive to the 
 
 con* 
 
Sertm te. Ifaiab 
 
 confolation of God's Peoplf ; Is it not a com- 
 fortlcfs Docrrinc that founds their Believing and 
 Perfeverance on their own Free-will ? if ye were 
 to make the bargain of Grace, whether would 
 
 1 ye think it more comfortable and fure, that the 
 effectualnefs of Believing and Perfeverance fhould 
 hang on the Grace of God,or on your own Free- 
 will? efpecially confidering the pravity of your 
 Will, doleful would your condition be.ifFrec- 
 will were the Bafe or Foundation, and God ufed 
 no more but external perfwafion ; how fpecious 
 foever this opinion feem to be, becaufe it puts 
 it in Mans option to believe, and convert him- 
 
 • felf, or not, as he pleafeth ; yet it overturns 
 the whole ftrain of the Gofpel, and quite eclip- 
 feth the Glory of Grace.and cuts the very throat 
 ofyour Confohtion, and is the great ground of 
 Pep<ry, Pelagtaxifm, and Arminianifm ; to which 
 ye would therefore fo much the more advert,and 
 we do the rather fpeak to it, that ye may be 
 guarded againft it.and that ye may be fettled in 
 the Truth, efpecially fince the fame Errors are 
 a-reviving in another fhape in thefe days, as is 
 manifeft in that foolry of Quakers, who talk of a 
 Light within them, and talkfo of that Light as 
 if it were of power fufHcient to converc and guide 
 them, if it be not refifted. As alfo that other 
 conceit of being above Ordinances, implys feme- 
 thing of the fame Error ; which ye would fet 
 your felves to abhor, as that which the Devil is 
 again labouring to fow the Seed of amongft us, 
 and labour to be confirmed in the Truth ; For 
 if there be my truth at allin Chriftianity, thefe 
 are two main Truths, the utter inability that is 
 in Mens Hearts by Nature to exereife Faith in 
 Chrift, and the effieaciom and irrefiftable power 
 of the Grace of God, in the begetting of Faith 
 where it is begotten ; which when we fhall all 
 appear before the Tribunal of God, will be found 
 to be fo, and none will have a Mouth opened 
 to oppofe them- And what abfurdity, I pray, is 
 there here, notwithftanding all the clamour »f 
 corrupt Afen ? that God hath referved this work 
 of converting Sinners by His Grace toHimfclf, 
 and hath not put it in the hand of thrir own 
 Free-will ; which fuppoferh Men to have a ftock 
 within rhemfelves, and hath many fearful effects 
 following it, tending to the depreciating of the 
 Grace of God, and to the drawing Men off from 
 dependance on Chrift ; and to the giving of 
 them ground of boaftmg in themfelves and of va- 
 nity and fecurity,all which this Doctrine of Gods 
 Grace overthrows, and ftops the Mourh of the 
 Creature from all vain boaiting, to the high ex- 
 altation of Gods free, foveraign, and efTicicious 
 Grace, and tp the great comfort of His People. 
 
 Tf 
 
 *J. Vtrft T. 
 
 Ufe 2. The fecond Ufe ferves to commend the 
 Grace of God to the Hearers of the Gofpel, and 
 efpecially t/> Believers i There cannot be a greater 
 commendation given to it than this, that it works 
 effectually, and indeed it could not be called 
 Grace, I mean, Saving Grace, if it (hould want 
 this effect, even to fave fuch as it isapplyed to; 
 but this highly commends Grace, that if there 
 be mighty Corruption in uj, there is a ftrong 
 arm ofGrace put forth by Him for perfecting that 
 which concerns u?, notwithftanding of this great 
 ftrength •£ Corruption, And if ye think 
 your felves not to be Believers, and think this 
 Doctrine to be hard, that ye cannot Believe with* 
 out this Grace, and yet would £inBelieve,con- 
 fider that as none can believe, neither can Belie- 
 vers ftand without Grace ; fo Grace can help 
 you to do that which ye cannot do, which is the 
 commendation ofGrace ?nd fhouM make it more 
 lovely to you ; this gives encouragement to any 
 poor Soul that is as it were in the place of the 
 breaking forth of Children, and layeth greater 
 ground of confidence that they fhall come /peed, 
 than if they had it in their own handioc ferves to 
 obviat that grand Objection of Souls that would 
 fain be at clofing with Chrift, and cannot come 
 to Him, here is a powerful Arm reached forth 
 to draw them. 
 
 Ufe 3. The third Ufe ferves to humble Belie- 
 vers who have any thing of the woik of Grace, 
 and fo to work th?m up to thankfulr.efs to Him 
 that hath communicate ought of it to them ; Is 
 there any of you tint have Grace, who hath made 
 you to differ from others ? it was not your felves 
 but free Grace, and therefore ye have reafen to 
 acknowledge it with thankfulnefs, and to fay, if 
 this fame Docrrine had not been true, I would 
 have been a ftrangir to God all my days ; *nd 
 remained under the dominion of Satan and Sin 
 with thefe that are in Nature ; and with Dafttii, 
 Pjal. \6 7. to fay, Ibltfs the Lord, roh* hath givm 
 mt count tl, my reins aljo inflruB tne in the yiigh: je*- 
 font ; This counfel was not the common advice 
 that all got from the Word preached, but the in- 
 ward counfel cfthe Spirit that made his reins 
 inftruct him, and imdc him inwardly to follow 
 tke advice that t.^e Word gave him outwardly ; 
 and it is this inward work ofthe Spirit thatkeeps 
 in the life of Grace, as well as begets it, as it is 
 Pfal. 73. 23, 14. Ncverthclefs I am continual- 
 ly with thee, thou haft holden me by my right 
 hand, thou fhalt guide me with thy counlel, 
 and afterward receive me to glory *, whom have 
 I in heaven but thee, &c. my fleih and my heart 
 failerh,but God is the ftrength of my heart, & my 
 portion for ever; the Pfa'miftgl^rkth intiii*,that 
 
 the 
 
80 7 f aia ^ 
 
 the work of his throw-bearing, did not depend 
 on his own flefh and heart, but on God,who was 
 the ftrength of his heart, and his portion for e- 
 ver , If Believers would confider what they were 
 in their natural condition, and how much they 
 are obliged to the Grace of God, that with pow- 
 er was applyed in their Converfion, it would 
 (top their Mouth as toboauing^ make them ad* 
 mire Grace, and found forth ic's praife : And 
 they would think Graces fweet way of prevail- 
 ing, to be no co-active forcing of their Will,but 
 the greateft part of their freedom : and fo far 
 would it be from being look'd on as a violating 
 or wronging of theirWill.that it would be eftee- 
 med their trueft and greateft liberty : We are 
 perfwaded that the Saints in heaven count it no 
 bondage that God hath fo fully freed them from 
 all Corruption, that they ferved Him with de- 
 light, and do fo neceiTarily ; and (hall any fo- 
 journing. Saints here below,ccunt it a wronging 
 of their Will, that God takes fuch pains on them, 
 to fubdue Corruption, and to bring them to 
 fime meafure of conformity to them who are 
 above ? God forbid. 
 
 Ufe 4 . The fourth Ufc of it is, To let us fee, 
 what great ground of encouragement there is 
 here for the Hearers of the Gofpel, to fet about 
 the work of Believing, and what ground there 
 if to make them all utterly inexcufable, who 
 ihall continue in their Unbelief; which may be 
 thought fomewhat orange, when we fay that no 
 means can be effectual for working of Faith, with- 
 out the effectual Grace of God be applied ; But 
 Jet thefe two be put together, 1. That though 
 we be infufneient of our felves, and though all 
 outward means be of themfelves ineffectual,that 
 yet there is a fufficiency in the Grace of God • 
 And 2. That this Grace mail be powerful to 
 work Faith in the Hearers of the Gofpel, if they 
 make not themfelves guilty of fruftrating this 
 Grace in the offer of it (3s they m*y do) Thefe 
 then who will not believe, will be found mod 
 
 *!• y «fi »• Serm. 16. 
 
 inexcufable. But to return to the main intent 
 of this Ufe, We fay, that the encouragemeut lies 
 here, that though we be unable,we have an able 
 Mediator, and Grace is powerful; and therefore 
 we mould with the greater encouragement fet 
 about the work of Believing, astheApoftJe rea- 
 fons, Phil. 2.12,13. W%rk out your own falvation with 
 fear and trembling, for it's God that worketh in you 
 both to will and to do of his good pleafure: Ye might 
 pofllbly think it had been more encouraging to 
 have faid, ye are able of your felves to will and 
 to do , but certainly, Grace is a more encoura- 
 ging motive than any thing in the Creature; fay 
 not then, ye cannot will nor do, for that excufe 
 is taken away by God's offering to work both 
 in you by his Grace •, But let me exhort all,both 
 thefe that are begun to be Believers, and thofe 
 that are to begin to be Bdievers,to be fo far from 
 difputing themfelves from it, as that they rather 
 encourage themfelves to work out the work of 
 their own Salvation with fear and trembling, be- 
 caufe God's Grace which ye have in your offer, 
 is fo powerful to work the work, and willadrait 
 of no utter oppofition from Corruption in you, 
 if ye receive not the Grace of God in vain that 
 is offered to you in the Gofpel ; If Grace were 
 fo weak as We might «aft it back at our pleafure, 
 and if it were but a helper in the work of Faith 
 and Converlion, as Anrnniam make it, what en- 
 couragement could we have from it ? and as to 
 Pra£iice,is not this doftrine as encouraging? what 
 advantage or comfort is it to undertake any 
 thing in our own ftrength, which is none at all? 
 is not this much more encouraging, to under- 
 take in the ftrength of God's Grace* knowing 
 that the fame work of Grace that begets Faith,is 
 as effectual to carry it on, and to make us to per" 
 fevere in it,tnd to enable us to every good word 
 and work; ht Grace work then,and take a proof 
 of it, and ye (hall find it powerful : The Lord 
 Himfelf give ycu wifdom fo to do for your Sal- 
 vation and Confohtion. 
 
 SERMON. XVI. 
 
 ISAIAH. LIII. I. 
 
 And to wh$m is the arm oftht Ltrd revealed ? 
 
 IT's much to walk evenly and ftedfauVy un- 
 der the pure Dottrine of Grac, and nei- 
 ther there-from to take occafion to give 
 way to loofnefs and carnal liberty, nor to 
 feecome faint and difcouraged, and fearful at the 
 way of God ; corrupt Nature is ready to abufe 
 the beft things : That word which we have 1 
 fet. 3. 16. That there are many that wreji and 
 
 pervert the Strictures to their own destruction, holds 
 true, not only ofdo&rinai Herefies, but it holds 
 alfo true in refpect of Afens Practice, or practical 
 Errours ; for fome hearing of the impotency of 
 Nature, and of the power and perfection of 
 Grace in bringing about its defigncd effect, are 
 ready tor.hink that they need to do nothing, al- 
 Icdging that if Grace undertake the work it will 
 
 be 
 
Serm. 16*. . til , #**»* H 
 
 be wrought, and if not, it will not be wrought; 
 and thus Acheifm and Prophanity fteal infecret- 
 ly upon the heart, and the fweet Doctrine of 
 Grace is abufcd, and perverted by fuch ; to their 
 own deftruction : There are others again, who 
 it may be will not darefo to top with God,who 
 yet have their own fainting and difcouragement 
 when they hear of this Doctrine, and think it 
 hard that they themfelvej can do nothing, and 
 fear that they will never win to believe, becaufe 
 they cannot do it ofthsmfelves, thefe alfo fail, 
 and make not the right ufe of Grace. 
 
 Ye remember, the Queftion which we propofed 
 tofpeak a little to on rhe la(r Doctrine, to wit, 
 That feing both thefe branches of it are true.That 
 except Grace concur, the moft powerful preach- 
 ing of the Jcfpel will not beget Faith , and that 
 wherever the work of Grace goes along with 
 the Gofpel,there Faith is begotten ; what is cal- 
 led for from the Hearers of the Gofpel as the Ufe 
 of this Doctrine ? 
 
 Before we come to anfwer this Que (lion more 
 particularly, we would i, Premit this word in 
 general, That none would account the Preach- 
 ing or Hearing of the Word of God to be ufelefs 
 or fruitlefs,albeit that without the work ofGrace, 
 Men cannot yield the Fruit which itcalleth for 
 from themjfor our bleftedLordJeJusJfaiah and/W 
 preached this Doctrine ofGrace,and the neceflity 
 of theLordsArm to be revealed in theConverfion 
 of Souls.and yet they taught theWord in feafon, 
 and out of feafon, & were gathering infome,and 
 to fome this Doctrine was made the favour of 
 life unto life,though to others (through their en- 
 mity and corruption ) it became the favour of 
 death unto death: To conclude therefore^the in 
 confiftency, or to deny the confiftency of thefe 
 two, to wir, Of the necefticy of Preaching the 
 Doctrine ofGrace andofthe preffing in Preach- 
 ing the practice of holy Duties, and the ufe of 
 ordinary appointed Means, would reach this 
 dreadful length, even to condemn the Prophets 
 of old, yea, and our blclTcd Lord Jcfus Himlclf, 
 who fays, John 6 44 a r ter he had preached long, 
 No tr.au can come to me exctft the Father who hath f tit 
 
 me draw him, and verfe 6$ Then fore I fad 
 
 uvto you ; that no man can come to Wi* t unLfs it be 
 givenhimofmy FAther. And will any think that 
 His H-a^ers, who accounted this with ome o- 
 thcrs, H.trdfayii.gt, -and from thst time vent back,and 
 walked no more with him, were cxcufabJc: In their. 
 doi: g fo ? or that his Preaching v\ is ufelcfs, 
 needlefs, or impertinent, as having a rend ncy 
 to tempt Men to abandone all ufe or M^a.)S,be» 
 caufe He preached this Doctrine of the impof- 
 fibility of believing in Uim, without this 
 
 Verfe r. j r 
 
 pull and draught of His Fathers Arm ? 
 
 Butfecondly, We fhall a little more particu- 
 larly, in anfwer to. the queition, fpe*k, Ffrft, To 
 what Ufes Folk would no; make of this Doc* 
 trine, or what things they Would abfhinfrom, 
 as tending to a wrong ufe of it- Secondly, To 
 fome C onilderations' for prelTr g this Doctrine, 
 and removing from it the conduction of harc- 
 nefs that we are ready to put upon it. Thirdly, 
 To what is the narive Ufe it calls for ; And £«/?- 
 //, to fome Confl ierations to prefs this. 
 
 For the fi-ft, When we fay to all that hears 
 this Gofpd, that there is a neceflity of a powers 
 ful work ofGrace ere this Wi rd can be profitable 
 ye would 1. Abftainfrom, and layaftdecuricfity, 
 in feeking fatisfying Anfwers to all thefe Objec- 
 tions that are moved againft it, and abfurdities 
 that it's loaded with by the Devil, and Mans 
 proud Nature, and learn to (loop to, and reve- 
 rence the Soveraign Dominion cfGcd, and His 
 deep and unfearchable Wifdom and Knowiedge, 
 in this Soveraign way of His Grace, as the A- 
 poftle doth, Rom % 11.33. O the depth of the riches 
 loth of the wifdem and knowledge. ofGid, how un* 
 f& arch able are his judgements, and his ways pafi find- 
 ing out ? ye would ailb confider that other word 
 Rojn.9. 2©. Who art thou that replyeH againji God ? 
 or expoftulateth with Him, Shall the thing formed, 
 [ay to him that formed it why haft thou mademtthus ? 
 It's good to enquire and to fetk to know (he ufe 
 the Lord calls for of this Doctrine with fobriety; 
 but there is an enquiring to fatisJle croioiity 
 which the Lord abhorreth as we may gather front 
 Exod. 19.21. where the Lord being to driver His 
 will, faith to Males. Godown, ehorg ':, (\ 
 
 word of peremptory command ) Ireok 
 
 tkorow unto the Lord to gaze, and man) oj tbtmpertjb: 
 ThcLord is not dilpleafed that His Pe( pleiliould 
 endeavour to behold, and take Him up aright, 
 but when their end is not good, bui to fatisfie 
 an itch of Curiofi;y, it difpleallth Him ; This 
 maybe ufeful in many cafes, and particu'ai 7 y in 
 this we have in hand to teach us fobriety in 
 feeking t© know the way of God's Grace, as the 
 Lord wou'd have His People, Ex J. 19. waiting 
 for .-s much of His Mind as He tl k to 
 
 acquaint them with, and to w, . rurp 
 
 Tabes of Stone, but He would not have them 
 breaking in over the Boundaiy 1 1 
 
 He did let to them, left He lhou' i b e 
 on them, and they (hould be m >ie to r* riftr, S > 
 \v uld lu have Men in theii 
 l;-dg^ of Hs Ways, §nd 
 qJ ills G- ace to keep I is M ifi 
 tain themfelves within t ; j!c:[i 
 
 to frt them. 2. Abftam from parua] I 
 
 M in J 
 
Si 
 
 Jfaiah n- Vtrfi I. 
 
 Serm. i6\ 
 
 and expoftttlating with the way of God,whethe.r 
 in the higheft degree of upbraiding Grace and 
 fnarlingar it, that ye fhould not have the flock 
 in your own hand j or in an inferior degree, hav- 
 ing a Heart inwardly difcontent, that ye are not 
 more able of your felves than ye are to believe, 
 which is the thing that the Apoftle oppofeth, 
 Rom.$.io,i 1. Should the thing formed fay to him that 
 firmed it, why ha!i thou made me thus}*' H*:h not 
 the potter power over the clay, &c. efpecially (ince 
 none can aniwer that que (Hon with any juft re- 
 flexion upon God; who is to be blamed for that 
 defect or inability ? or whence did thatinability 
 or defect in Mans nature proceed ? God was 
 gracious, free and liberal, in making Man per* 
 fett, and whofe Fault is it that it is otherways? 
 3. Ablhin from,and beware of drawing defperate 
 conclufions as to the giving over the ufe of the 
 Means, or of becoming more lazy and fecure 
 in the duties of Holinefs, and in the practice of 
 Piety, becaufe of the neceffity of this Grace; but 
 on the contrary, bs the more diligent and ferious, 
 that ye have fo much need of Grace, and thut of 
 your felves ye can do fo little,or rather nothing 
 that is truly good without it. 
 
 I know that prophane Hearts are very fertile 
 and broody of Arguments to plead this point of 
 neglect of Means, and will readily fay, what is 
 the fruit of diligence, and the prejudice oflazi- 
 nefs ? the one will do us no good, and the other 
 can do us no ill, feing it's Grace that doth all 
 the work: But 1. By your lozinefs ye mar your 
 own fruitfulnefs, and that through your own 
 fault, and make this addition to your guilt, that 
 ye not only continue gracelefs,but do fo through 
 your Sin willfully. *. Ye may draw on to your 
 natural impotency, habitual and judicial hard- 
 nefs of Heart, and blindneis of Mind ; it's on 
 this very ground that many Ears are made heavy, 
 many Eyes made blind, and many Hearts made 
 fat,andis that a little or light matter? 3. Though 
 ye may think this iittle,yet that which will bear 
 the weight of your fentence at the day of Judg- 
 ment, will not be your natural impotency, or 
 that Grace was not made efficacious to your 
 Converfion, but this will be it, that when Gcd 
 fentout his Word to win you, and offered His 
 Grace for inabling you to yield, ye did maliciouf- 
 3y and deliberatly reject it. So that if will never 
 be fuffcred to come to this, I was unable ; be- 
 caufe the word was willfully rejected before it 
 came to this. 
 
 But Secondly, Becaufe there are forae others 
 poflibly that have more ferioufnefs in the ufe of 
 Means, who, though they dare not quarrel with 
 Grace, ycC it weights and diicourages (hem be. 
 
 caufe they can do fo little, and they are made 
 heartlefs to efTay;and hopelefs to come fpeed,and 
 it may be, that this is in fome whom the Lord 
 allows not to draw any fuch conclufion, but 
 would rather have encouraged ; we would fay 
 to fuch, that they would beware of fainting or 
 being difcouraged, as if that were impoflible to 
 God and his Grace which is impoflible to them, 
 they would by all means beware of fitting up, 
 and flacking their hand in Duty, becaufe they 
 can do fo little : We know there arc fome that 
 need not much to be fpoken to for fatisfying of 
 them in this point, but there are others who are 
 weighted with this J}octrine,to whom the Lord 
 allows them more tender ufage, and would not 
 have them to faint, nor be difcouraged? you that 
 are fuch (ifanybe)may know that there is 
 ground for us to prefs this, and that we may re- 
 move the conftruction of hardnefs from the So- 
 veraign way of Gods Grace, wherein He hath 
 thought fit to draw Men unto an abfolute depen* 
 dance on Himfelf . In the difpeniing of it, we 
 (hall propofe thefe few Confiderations. I. That 
 (which was hinted at before) never a Man that 
 hath heard this Gofpel when he comes to count 
 with God, fhall have it to fay, that the reafon 
 why he did not receive and embrace it,was his 
 impotency and inability, but the real reafon 
 fhal be found to be his willful rejecting of 
 it ; and upon the contrary it fhall be found, 
 that there was never one that would in ear- 
 ned: have had ftrengrh to run the way of God's 
 Commandments, and Faith to grip to and em- 
 b-acejefus Chrift offered in this Gofpel, that 
 for want of ability came fhort > and if fo, what 
 reafon is there to complain ? if none want Faith, 
 but l'uch as would not have Him, and if none 
 that would have him complain of their want of 
 Him, upon thefe two we have great ground of 
 encouragement to them that have a fincere affec- 
 tion to be at him, and there is no ground for 
 Folk to fit up, or fall lazy in purfuing after uni- 
 on&communion with him id the ufe of Means: 
 None fhall have caufe to complain of their want 
 of him, but fuch as with their own conientgave 
 Him over; and any that would fain have had 
 Him, fhall not mifsHim ; for this real willing- 
 nefs to clofe with Chrift, being a work of the 
 Grace of God, and it being no left power that 
 works this will.than the power which doth effec- 
 tuate the work of Converfion, & bring it to per- 
 fection ; He that begins the work will per- 
 fect it ; and therefore in this C'fe, Folk 
 had more need to refleft upon their un- 
 willingnefs to have Chrift, ( and to clofe 
 
 with 
 
Serm. it. y . £ *f"'* h 
 
 with him on His own terms, than to difputc 
 their impotency and inability. 2. Confider what 
 they hare been whom the Lord hath brought 
 thorow,were they not fuch as had as much need 
 of Grace as ye have ? had they not the fame cor- 
 rupt Nature that ye have ? were they not as im- 
 potent and unable to do for themfelves? could any 
 of themfelves do more than ye can ? eonfider 
 them all that are before the Throne, was it not 
 this fame Grace of God,8c not their good nature, 
 nor their free- will that -did the work? and they 
 were not exprefly, or by name included in the 
 Promifes more than ye arc ; and ye are not ex- 
 p re fly excluded more than they were ; the Lord 
 brought forward the work of Grace in them that 
 fame way thathedealeth with youjby the preach- 
 ing of his Word,He brought them firft to know 
 their finfulnefs,impotency,and weaknefs,to know 
 that there was need of a Saviour, that their Sal- 
 vation was not of themfelves, neither was it in 
 themto make right ufe of the Saviour,and Salva- 
 tion offered, but in the power of His Grace,and 
 what if he be doing fo to thee ? and if that con- 
 dition be hard and hopelefs now, it had been a 
 hopelcfs and hard condition to thefe many that 
 are now before the Throne. 3. Confider, That 
 there is no queftion but Grace is effectual to car- 
 ry on the work, and to make it gothorow : all 
 the difficulty and difTatisfaction is, bicaufe God 
 keeps the application in his own Hand, which 
 the Mans Heart would have in its h3nd,&which 
 of them.do ye think is moft fure and encourag- 
 ing ? all your fainting and difcouragement re- 
 folveth in this, becaufe ye can do fo little ; if 
 ye be in good earned defirous to have Grace 
 through the work of Faith and Converfion,would 
 ye poflibly make choife of another,or better hand 
 than God's to put it in ? Is it not as fuitable and 
 fure, that his Wifdom (hould contrive and lay 
 down the way,as it is to hisPower to let it for- 
 ward, and to the freedom of His Grace to make 
 application of it, and all more fuitable and fure 
 than if it were in your own Hand? may ye nor 
 think flume to be difcouraged on this ground.be- 
 caufeany thing ye do ye mutt needs get it from 
 God, and tliac that mould be ai obftruction in 
 the way of Godlinefs, which is a main encou- 
 Msement to it P is theL'Ud an upbraidci? is there 
 any chat can quarrel Him as nigardly in difpen- 
 fin2 of his Grace ? Doth be wt give to all men libe- 
 rally a'tdufbraideth wo m*n ? and doth it not be- 
 come Hiaa well to have the conduct and guid- 
 ing of His own Grace ? 4. Confider how many 
 t h- Lord hath given Grace to already; and how 
 He hath given it freely, furprizingly, and unex- 
 pectedly* if ye could bring fonhany prooftlm 
 
 never one got good of God, ye might have a 
 pretext for your difcouragement and fcarring, 
 but when as many as are before the Throne are 
 proofs of His being gracious to Sinners, when fo 
 many have gotten good of God before you; and 
 when there are feveral,who to your own certain 
 knowledge, are dayly getting good of Himfen- 
 fibly, freely, and unexpectedly, who were as 
 undifpofed to believe as ye are, and as much fain- 
 ted, and difcouraged as ye are; and when he fays 
 that He is f%und of them that fought him not ; is it not 
 as likely that a poor Body that is longing for 
 His Grace fhall be fatisfied as well now as ever ? 
 according to that word Mat. 5. 6. Bhffed are they 
 that hunger and thirftfor righteoufneff, for they {halt 
 befitted; the Soul that fain would haveHolinefs 
 fhall get it : I know there will be a bufinefs made 
 here, and a new objection darted, whether this 
 longing or hunger be real or not ? but if your 
 longing and hunger be not real, it will not trou- 
 ble you much to want; it is not to encourage or 
 comfort fuch, that have no real longing, that: 
 all this is fpoken, we know there is more need 
 to make fome vomit up the conceit of their abi- 
 lity, than to encourage them ngainft any fcen 
 and felt inability ; Tnere are many alas! that 
 think little of the Grace of God; with whom the 
 error anent Univerfal Grace would agree well, 
 they having a prefumptuous conceit of Faith, 
 and that it is not fo difficult a thing to believe 
 as is alledged ; we mult profefs that we have not 
 much to fay to fuch for their encouragement", 
 only we would let them know, that there is a 
 time coming when God will refute and (ilence 
 them: But as for fuch as fee their inability, and 
 are put to any meafure of fuitable ferioufnefs 
 and ionging in earneft after Believing,the Lord 
 allows that they be ftrengthened and encourag- 
 ed ; and to fuch we would fay this, If their 
 milling of Jefus Chrift weight them, if it be their 
 burden, ciat th:y cannot Believe, and if their 
 longing, hunger, and thirft be fome pain »nl 
 piece ofexercife to them, fo as other things re- 
 lifh not with them ; they are fo taken uu with 
 that; and if they had their Souls choicest won 11 
 be this, even a fatisfying light of union an J com- 
 munion with him; their longing and hunger is 
 real, and we may turn over thac-juft now cited 
 word to them, Blcficfare th<y that hunger and 
 after right eoufnefs, for they fbsti l/t filled ; this hun- 
 ger and thirit was never begotten without fume 
 fpiritual Phyfick fiojn Chrilt the great Phyfici- 
 an, who hath provilion for fatisfying it ; and 
 as we uic to fay of the natural Lite, lie fent ne- 
 ver the Mouth but he fent the Mcjc with it ; fo 
 we may lay of this hunger^ He chit gives \\\\\ 
 M 2 finiicu.il 
 
*4 , 2 J*'* b 55 
 
 fpirltual Mouth, give always the Meat with it; 
 \v- 'Id to Uod there were many enlarged Appe- 
 tites to receive, cur Lord would no doubt be 
 found ready to iatisfie them all ; if the Mouth 
 we; >cneJ, the aff ftions enlarged, and 
 
 the Soul :kk under hunger and thir(r for Chrift 
 and H.'U d'sthatiickncl's ihould notbefoi.nd to 
 be unto LXath, bur to the gloiy of the Grace of 
 Him who is the gica: Healer. 
 
 Foi the third 'iung that we propped, to wir, 
 That fring thece are many Ways how Folk may 
 go wrong, and yet none fliould give ove hope, 
 what is the native ufc and exercife that this Doc- 
 trine calls for ? I (hall ipeakto this,firft in gene* 
 r?l,andfecondly,in fume few fteps or particular 
 directions. (• Then in general, ye would con« 
 ftder th.it place, Phil. 2.12,13 Workout the workof 
 your own fah.tt ion with fear and trembling, for it is 
 God that mrketh in you both to will and 10 do of his 
 I'od phafurt; where it is clear, that the exhor- 
 tation given to them, to wckout their Salvati- 
 on, is drawn from th-s fame Doctrine ofrheeffu 
 cacious wo kofGods Grace, woikiug in them 
 to will and to do as the great Motive ; God, 
 faith hc.wo.keth in you to will and ro do, there- 
 fore work ye our the work of your own Salvati- 
 on : Ther are in this general exhortation frmr 
 things im iyed, the firit is the very entry or be- 
 ginning of the work of Salvation, that is, the 
 exercifing of Faith in JefusChrift, it is of God, 
 tkerefore work at that woik,as if he had faid, Be- 
 lieve to the faving of your Souls, as the word 
 is, Hsb ,0. ult. For it's God that works thewillinyou. 
 The fecond is the work of Rep ntance, this is 
 alfo taken in here, for his bidding tfu-m work in 
 fear and trembling* refp^cts their iinfulnefs, and 
 aiecefTaily implyeth Repentance. The third is 
 their aiming at perfection in Holinefs,the putting 
 forth themfelvcs in improving of all Means, and 
 in the «xerciiing of all Duties for that end,woik 
 tut fays He. And fourthly, it looks to the man- 
 ner, that it be not carnally, or in carnal confi- 
 dence, but viib fear and tremblings and if itlhould 
 be asked, how doth that concluflon flow from 
 this Doctrine, i s God's wojk, or he works in 
 you to will apd to do,thcrefore work ye outyour 
 Salvation ? Folk would rather think that the 
 concluflon flioii d be, finceG«ddoth alithis,do 
 ye nothing: No, but the jug contrary concluu> 
 • on is drawniand it hangs on t ef~ t vo 1. On the 
 efficacy of Grace, it% G d that works to will and 
 to. do,it's H;s Grace that (hengrheneth you, and 
 where he works the will, He woi ks the deed, where 
 He begins a work He will alfo through and ef- 
 fectuate it. therefore take ye encouragemenr to 
 work ; as if He had faid, right well, for ye hav fi 
 
 Verft s. Serm 16** 
 
 a brave fecond, though it be not proper to call 
 Grace a fecond; fet your fefves to the exercife of 
 Holinefs in earneft.andGod will rcuke\ go with 
 you. 1 On the confideration of H £ * ta fc. 
 
 nefsin them,wHthihouId m-ke themworkin fear 
 & trembling,^ if He had faid.feing it is God, and 
 the efficacy of His Grace that dcththe work be 
 not ye vain and prcfumpruous; the fir ft part fays, 
 its God that woks and not yc, therefore be ye 
 the more hohly confident ; the fecond part fays, 
 it s not ye but God, and therefore do tV work 
 with fear and trembling; and both tend to this 
 that folk would be fcj ious in minding and prote- 
 cting the work of their Salvation from thefirft 
 ftep to the laft, in fear and trmbling, on this 
 ground, that though they have nothing in them- 
 ielves, yet there is enc ugh in God and in His 
 Grace to do their turn: How is it then,orwhat 
 can be the reafon.that we in our Hearts do draw 
 the juft contrary conclusion to that which the 
 Spirit ofGoa* draws hc(e from this ground- when * 
 we have the offer of Grace,«nd hear of the power 
 andefficay of it,it mould as to our part provoke 
 us to be more bufie, reafoning thus with our 
 felves, that though our Corruption will fcon 
 overcome us yet it will not.it cannot overcome 
 Grace* and though the exercife of Faith be above 
 out reach, yet it is not above the reach ofGrace- 
 though we be weak, yet Grace s flrong, and 
 therefore we will work it out. And upon the o- 
 ther fide, we ought to continue humble,and in 
 fear and trembling work it out, becaufc it's net 
 we bin Grace tha' doth the work : If Grace were 
 well confidered,thereis nothing that would more 
 Strengthen Folks hands to work • and upon the 
 other hand, there is nothing that would make 
 Folks more watchful, and to walk in holy fear 
 confideringthatwe are poor Beggars, and thol 
 row our unwatchfulneft.or conceit and preemp- 
 tion, may mar the outletrings of His Grace e- 
 fp-cially if we grow fecure,and ungrately f©rget 
 what we receive from Him. 
 
 a Icome now to fome fleps or particular di« 
 rections implied in this Ufe, becaufe i wilj be 
 asked, What then Should Folk do? And bef re I 
 touch on particulars; takethefe two Caveats in 
 the entry to them /. Tha we can piopofe no. 
 thing to be done by you, neither can y e vo any 
 th:ng of your Selves tbatis a graciousaQ or deed. 
 2 That we underftand not that any thing cai be 
 done by Men in their Natural State , thar d< th in- 
 fer or procure,and far Jefs deierve the giving of 
 Grace to any ; but feing God hath given dncfii- 
 on to us how to walk in der to the forking 
 cut of our Salvation, welay, ,. That itS fafe to 
 us to walk hi the way he hath directed us to wall 
 
 ii 
 
Serm. if. J f aia ^ H 
 
 in and in the ufc of the Meins he hath prefcri- 
 bcd, and much more fafe than to lay them afide. 
 a. That there is greater fuitablencfs betwixt rhe 
 ufe of the means, and the finding of Grace, than 
 there is betwixt the negl £r of Means and the 
 finding of it. v That it agrees well with Gods 
 way in bringing about the Converflon of Sin- 
 ners, to bring them piece and piece forward ; 
 fometimes bringing them to the ufe of external 
 Means, and to the performance of outward duties, 
 fometimes convincing them of fin, and le-ting 
 them f«e their need ef Chrift; fometimes difco- 
 ve'ring the worth that is inChrift ; aid bringing 
 them to fall in love with him ere they actually 
 clofe with him ; and making them in their pra- 
 ctice to follow any peep or glimmering of light 
 that islet out to them, and to go the length that 
 light difcovereth the way, and makes it plain 
 as to their duty. ( 
 
 Now for particular Directions, we would 
 V Bid you Ctudy to be fixed and eflablifhedin the 
 Faith of thefe general Truths that relate to mans 
 Sinfulnefs and Mifery, and infufficiency in him- 
 felf, that in us, that it, in our fltjb dwel/efh no good 
 thing ; that naturally we are dead in Sins and Tref- 
 paiTes, and cannot quicken our fslves; and in the 
 Fairh of the neceflity and powerfulncfs of Grace, 
 and that it's Chrift that muft give and work Faith, 
 and that Grace can do the turn r and prevail where 
 it is put on work ; ye would alfo confider, 
 and believe the great hazard of miffing Grace, 
 and the advantage that cometh by it, ye would 
 meditate on thefe things, and on the Scrip- 
 tures that hold them out; and on the ex- 
 periences of the Saints that confirm them, that 
 ye may not only have a glance and tranfient view 
 of them, but may be confirmed in the Faith 
 of the Truth of them. a. Content not your 
 felves with a general Faith of the Truth of this 
 Do&rine, but labour to be fuitably affiled 
 with thefe things that ye believe; and though 
 ev rv affeftednefs be not fpecial Grac . y et 1 
 fpeak to r hem that are ready t lay the blame and 
 fauir on the Grace of GoJ, and yet were never 
 affected with their owngr'acelefrteft: V- wotfd 
 ftudy to be affected wit th • gi cHefmfs of 
 your Nature, and l^t i pur y i; .o ' me fa nc ri- 
 fled diiquier and rroublf ,ti!l » oh Ephra m ye be 
 made to (mite ttpmjmr thigh, ai d t ; !' ye be pu t ■ 
 a holy deliberation and c n ultation about \ our 
 own condition; a Man t M \< utid I the h./ 
 of a civil penalty, will t ink on it again artAVa- 
 gain, it will affect him, and he will not be at 
 reft till he be without the reach i f it ; n uth 
 more QionJd yebe with the ; azaid 'hat you Souli 
 are in through Sii\ i l f e WC nor, e*cufablc, fo long 
 
 as ye come not this length. 3. Add to this Di- 
 ligence in the ufe of all outward Means and Du- 
 ties, whereby, and wherein the Lord uf«h to 
 commwnicate his Grace, abounding always- in, the 
 work of the Lord, as the Apoftle exhortetb, 1 Cor. 
 xc. 58. Be diligent in fecret Prayer, Reading, 
 Meditation, Conference , Self-examinatron', 
 Hearing, keeping good company, and the 
 like, which indeed Hypocrites may do, yet they 
 ceafe not for that to be Duties. 4. Be fincere 
 and ferious in the ufe and performance of thefe 
 Means and Duties, that which I mean, is a mo- 
 ral fincerity and ferioufnefs, fuch as a Man will 
 read:ly have in a civil caufe that he hath depen- 
 ding before a civil Judge, or in hearing of new v, 
 or the like, which is a thing that may be, and 
 is often found in Men that are void of a Princi- 
 ple of Grace, and yet Folk are very often defe- 
 ctive in this, and make themfclves exceeding 
 guilty before God, becaufc they come not this 
 length. 5. Take heed and beware of entertain- 
 ing any thing that holds and bars out Grace, or 
 of doing any thing that may mar or quench'the 
 working or moving of Grace, if ye cannot get 
 Chrift entertained in your Heart as ye mould, be 
 fure to give it to no other; if ye cannot get Cor- 
 ruption thiuftout, nor mortified, watch againft: 
 the rifing or harbouring of that which ye know 
 to be Corruption ; and againft the incoming or 
 rifing of fuch evils, as ye know will keep or p«c 
 away the Beloved ; guard alfo againft the regie- 
 Sing of fuch Means, as by the neglecl where- 
 of ye may grieve his Spirit. 6. Study and feck 
 after a compofed frame of Spirit in your or- 
 dinary walk, and efpecia'Jy in duties of WoruSip; 
 Carnal rrirth and Jollity, loofe Company, and* 
 fuffcring the Heart to go a whoring after the 
 things ofthe World,do not rnly provoke Chrift 
 as they are fins, but mdifpofe us for duty, and 
 mar the exercife of Grace where it is, and'keep 
 it back where iris not ; therefore the wife man 
 flith, Ecclef 7. 3. Jhdt firrow u better than 
 ter y for by the fsamp of the countenance the Htart it 
 tn. ide better ; carnal forrow is nor to be com- 
 
 ed, butfoberiadnrfs, or a grave am' 
 pofed frame of Spirit is better than a ligl t and 
 
 led frame, it being very hard, if n.>t im- 
 poflible to keep the Heart right evenwhe erhc(e 
 is Grace, but where there is Tome counter' 
 poife or wither- weight ; and if muft be fill 
 ioipoftible to keep ir right where the work of 
 Grace is nor, or but in rhe \e y lint begii nirfes 
 ofir, and though I do not call this comp 
 W fs of frame, Grsct, yet it keeps t 
 capacity, as it were to nee ive Grace: k*| 
 faid, Um. 3. 27, 28. Thai tVt gofdfora msu 
 
16 lf*i*b Sh V*fi '• c erm f.^ 
 
 he bear 4he yoke in bit youth, he fiteth alone andkte- where words of Faith are after fcrious exercife 
 ithfilence, becauft ht\hath born it upon him, he puts that exercife hath oft-times Faith going aloncs 
 is mouth in the duft, if fo be there may be hope ; for with ir, hence are thefe words Lam, 3. 30 jA 
 
 pit 
 
 k 
 
 though CiofTes are not always blclTed to Conver 
 fion, yet we may fee now and then that fad 
 times are the beginnings of better times, and e- 
 ven in Hypocrites their fad times ordinarily 
 are their beft times; I neither defire nor al- 
 low any to bring Crofles upon themfelves, 
 yet I would defire all to make the beft ufe of 
 any Crofs they are under, and to be acquain- 
 
 be tl*r,m v hb,fe : Pfal. „,. lnclimJimhJt,. 
 £77' T' *? In , d Luke »•«»■ »» *"* »<"•« 
 that a,k W,t s jood to pray f ot the efficacy of 
 Grace a„d to offer our (elves Subjects to be 
 wrought upon, and objefts to receive what Grace 
 otters to us. . 
 
 As we began thefe Directions with a word 
 
 *"> ^ u '» *- llc > dlt uHu«ii, «uu i"^^u.m- ^ . ucg«u i ncie directions with a word of 
 ting themfclves with their Sin 3nd Infirmities, Caution, fo we would clofe them • Do nnn-hnL- 
 
 any with their Hazard, and with fuch other things 
 as nuy weight andcompofe them without fofte* 
 ring difcouragement and anxiety ; and to love as 
 well to fpeak and hear fuch things fpoken of, as 
 may provoke to fighing and fadnefs, as thefe that 
 may provoke to laughter ; / [aid of laughtr 
 ( faith Solomon, Ecclef. 2.2.) It is mud, and of mirth, 
 what doth it} and Prov. 14. 13. Even in laughter 
 the heart is forrowful, and the end of that mirth is 
 heaviness : though oft times our Laughter may 
 not be fo finful, yet it readily more indifpo* 
 feth us for any fpiritual Duty than forrow 
 doth ; the Heart is like a Clock, whereof when 
 the inner wheels are let a reeling, it is not foon 
 righted and fettled. 7. I would propofe Ephra- 
 im's example to you, 7<r. 31. 18, 19. and defire 
 that ye would in the fight and fenfe ye have of 
 your llnfulnefs, weaknefs,andfeckleinefs, be be* 
 moaning your felves and your fad condition to 
 God, putting up that Prayer to him, Turn thou 
 me audljhall be turned- Thefe words flowing 
 from fuitable fenfe are good ; and then follows 
 after that I was turned, 1 repenttd; lis obfervable, 
 that in the very entry he is gracioufly taken no- 
 tice of by the Lord, \urely I hdve heard Ephraim 
 htmtaning himfelf thus ; fo it is with God's People 
 when they conllderhow great Grangers they have 
 been to God, how finful and ftubborn, and how 
 impofllble it is for them to mend themfelves of 
 themfeives, they retire themfelves into fomc cor- 
 ner, and there bemoan their «fe, and cry out, O! 
 what a finful nature is this, and when will it be 
 got amended ? I am a* a Bullock unaccuflomed tt the 
 yoke, fays Ephraim, and the Lord tells, he heard 
 and obferved it ; when poflibly he thought he 
 was fcarcely, if at all Praying, but rather figh- 
 ing out as it were a Ihort ejaculation to God, ■ 
 O! that I were amended ; the laft word of his 
 Prayer is. Turn thou me and I (hall be turned, or con- 
 vert thou me, and I (kail be converted ; he fits 
 that when all is done, he muft cleanfe his hands 
 and leave the matter to God, I cannot, but thou 
 can ft work the work, and it ends fweetly in 
 words of Faith, for thou art the Urd my God, and 
 
 that theie things in a Natural Man, following i 
 finfu courfe, will bring forth Grace ; neither 
 conclude, that where thefe things only are dif- 
 cerned and no more in fomc perfons, that there 
 Grace is wanting, it being to help fu C h forward 
 that we mainly fpeak to them : Only in Aim 1 
 Keep clean and clear the light ye have. 2 Im- 
 prove the ftrength beftowed. And 3. What ye 
 have nor put it over on God, and feekirom him, 
 who hath Grace to give for wotking that in you- 
 and it would feem that in reafonye mould refufi 
 none of thefe three. 1. We fay, Keep clean and 
 clear your Light, for if ye detain the Truth of 
 God in unnghtcoufnefs, and make as it were a 
 a Pnfoner of it, byfetting a guard of corrupt Af- 
 fections about it, ye may bring on blindnefs. 2 
 Improve what ftrength ye have, for ifye improve 
 not your ftrength, were it but in natural parts 
 and endowments, that makes you iaexcufable 
 when Spiritual and gracious qualifications are de- 
 nied to you, for ye have procured this to your 
 felves i are there not many things thatye thought 
 your felves able for, that ye never ferioufly once 
 eiTayed, much more might have been done as to 
 Repentance, Love to God, Charity toothers, and 
 the like ; and when ye have not ftretched your 
 felves to the yondmoft in thefe, there are fure 
 many things left undone that ye might have done 
 3. What ye dow not do, or find your felves una- 
 able to do, put it on God to do for you, ferioufly, 
 humbly, fingly, and felf deniedly ; for if y c come 
 not to God with that which ye are unequal and ' 
 unable for,ye are ftill on this fide your duty and 
 without excufe. Take thefe then together,Im- 
 prove any ftrength ye have according to any mea- 
 fure of lightGod hath given you,&coming toGod 
 throughJefusChrift,feek thatye want from him,& 
 leave the acceptation of your Perfons and of your 
 performances on him:Thisis the refultofall that 
 we have fpoken of thisDo&rine ofGrace, that ye 
 may not take occafion from the way of Gods dif- 
 penfingGrace,to continue gracelcfs,whichif ye do 
 it will be ground of a moft grievous challenge a* 
 
 gainft 
 
Serin. 17. 
 
 gainft you ; but that ye may fee an excellent con- 
 fiftency betwixt the Sovereignty of Grace, and 
 your going about the means appointed of God 
 in order to faith and Converfion, and the fhidy of 
 Holinefs ; and that ye may go on in the life of 
 thefe/ means, with an eye to Grace, in thefenfe of 
 your own infufficiency to think as ofyourfelves, 
 fo much as a good thought, leaving all your du- 
 
 ifaiah 53. verf. a, 3. 
 
 «7 
 ties at Chrift's feet, walking before him with a 
 flopped Mouth; when any thing is wanting, {lan- 
 ding at his Door and begging it from him ; and 
 when any thing is received, cleaning, to fay fo, 
 your own hands of it, and giving himall the 
 
 Thanki, Praife, and Glory of it. To him fee 
 
 Praife for ever. 
 
 Verfe 
 
 SERMON. XVIf. 
 
 ISAIAH. LIII. II, III. 
 
 I, For he fball grow up before him as a tender plane, and as a root out of a dry ground : he bath no form 
 
 nor contlinefs ; and when we {ball fee him, there is no beauty that wejhould dtfirehim. 
 Verfe 3. He is de/pifed and rejsfted of me*, a man of farrows, and acquainted with grief ': and we hid as it were 
 ' our faces from him ; he was deftifed, and we efieemed him not. 
 
 IN the former Verfe the Prophet hath afferted the 
 rarity and fcarcity of Believing the Gofpel, 
 and receiving ofjefus Chrift offered therein, Who 
 hath believed our report ? faith he, who hath made 
 Chrift welcom ? And to whom is the Arm of the Lord 
 revealed ? To whom hath rhis Gofpel been made 
 effe&ual by the Power of God for the engaging 
 of cheir Hearts to him ? 
 
 In thefe two Ve r fet he gives a reafon as it were 
 of this, which runs upon thefe two. 1. The low 
 appearance of ourLordJefusChrift in refpeft of his 
 outward condition, it hath no outward beauty, 
 fplendor nor greatnefs to commend it.but is atten- 
 ded with much meannefs,and with many affli&i' 
 ons.2.The itching humour of Men who are taken 
 up with worldly grandour, or greatnefs and glo- 
 ry, and mike little account of any thing that 
 wants that; as if he faid, it is no wonder that 
 thrift get few to believe on him, and that few 
 receive this Gofpel, for he will not come with 
 much worldly pomp and grandour, which the 
 Men of the World greatly affect and are much 
 taken up with. 
 
 To open the words a little, we Hull firft con- 
 sider the matter of this Reafon and then the con- 
 fequence of it; or what influence it hath on 
 Mens offending at Chrift, and continuing in 
 their unbelief: only we (hall prcmit two or three 
 words to both. 
 
 That which we premit firft is this, That the 
 He that is here fpoken of, is ourLordJefusChrift 
 who in the New Teftamcnt hath this Text ap- 
 plied to him, for albcir there be no He fo exprefly 
 mentioned in this Chapter before, yet in the i* 
 Vtrft of the firmer Chapter, to which this 
 relates, the He that is fpoken of hef%, is called 
 the Urds Servant ; and it is faid of bin that Ht 
 
 fhall be exalted and extolled, and made very high ; 
 and it is notunufual to fpeak of Chrift Angularly 
 by a relative without an antecedent, as Cant. 1. 2. 
 Ltt him kifs me with the kifses of his mouth; becaufe 
 Chrift to Believers is fo lingular an one, that 
 when ever he is fpoken of by way of eminency 
 and excellency, as here, they cannot miftake 
 him, or take another for him. Secondly, this 
 want of form and coml.nefs is not to be underftocd 
 of any perfonal defect in our LordsHuman Na- 
 ture, buc in refpett of, and with reference to 
 the tract of his Life, and what accompanied his 
 Humiliation, to wit, that it was low and mean, 
 without that external grandour, pomp and fplen- 
 dour of outward things,which the world efteem 
 to be Comlinefs and Beauty. 3. Where it is 
 faid, He [ball grow up before him, &c. It relates to 
 the hearers of the report of the Gofpel concer- 
 ning him, or to the man that believes not the re- 
 port fpoken of before ; and fo relates to the 
 words of the flrft Verje, who hath believed our re- 
 port ? which is certainly meant of the man that 
 hears of him, and to whom he feems nothing 
 worth, becaufe of his mean and low outward 
 Condition; for if we ihould apply it to God, 
 we cannot Us how it will fo well infer the 
 fcope, and be the Reafon of the Unbelief affer- 
 ted formerly, for which end it is brought in 
 here. 
 
 We come now to open the words a little, 
 and here we would know that Chrifts low 
 condition is two ways (ft down in thefe 
 two verfes. 1. In the 2. vtrf, In refpectofhis 
 want of the abundance of the tilings of this 
 world 2- In the 3. verf. In refpect of the accef- 
 fion of outwaid erodes and afflictions ; for not 
 only doth he wane Credit, Refpect and efteem, 
 
 b 
 
S8 *l*M 
 
 'but he hath contempt, defpight and reproach ; 
 Not only wants he great liches, but he hath po- 
 verty, and is in a poor and low condition. The 
 firft verlc exprefTcth him negatively, to be no 
 worldly great roan ; Thefecond w/eerpreffeth 
 him politivejy, to be a mean ani difpifed nun, 
 li Then thefe woidv. Hi (hall grow up §\ a plant 
 out of a dry ground, are expounded by the words 
 following, He hath no form nor comlinefs ', For as 
 Shrubs or Screws growing up out of diy ground 
 cryn and wither, when trees planted in a tat foil 
 arc frefh, fair and beautiful, So fhall it be with 
 Chrift whenhecometh foith ( faith the Prophet) 
 to the eyes of the world, he (hall. as it were,be 
 like a Scrab in a Moor-edge: Our Lord had per- 
 fonal and much divine comlinefs in him, as we 
 may feejf£n i-u. Where he laith that the IVtrd 
 was made ft (h, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his 
 glory, the gLry as of the only begotten 9fthe Father jail 
 ef grace and truth; But the comlinefs here fpoken 
 of, is that outward flare, pomp, and fplendour 
 which great men in the world ufe to have, which 
 Chrift wanted : This is confirmed by the follow- 
 ing words, And when we fhall fee him there is no 
 beauty that we Jhuld defire him ; There is in men 
 naturally a delight and complacency in that 
 which is beautiful to thenatural eye; But (faith 
 he ; there fhall be no fuch thing ieen in Jefus 
 Chrift when he cometh; and therefore no great 
 wonder that few believe on him. And that he 
 faith Pf*,it is either according ro the phrafc ufed 
 in Scripture, to makefome hard thing digeft and 
 go down the better with the hearers, whereof 
 thefpeakeris not guilty ; or it is his expreffing 
 what is the humour generally in all men natu- 
 rally ; as if he had faid, had even we who are 
 ele& and godly no more but carnal eyes we 
 would think no more of'Chrift than other folk do, 
 for we fhouldget nofatisfaftion to carnal reafon. 
 The fecond thing whereby his low condition 
 is fet out, is in thefe words, He is defpifed andrt- 
 je&edofmen, &c. Not only (hall he want that 
 which carnal hearts and eyes feekand look after, 
 but he fhall be fo very low, that men fhall fet 
 him at nought,mockand reject him : And what 
 wonder then that he be not believed on? A man 
 $f forrows; As for the tract of his life, it fhall 
 be fpent in forrows ; And acquainted with gr:ef; 
 He (hall not be a man that fhall b< a ftranger to 
 erodes, griefs, and heavinefs, but he fhali befa« 
 miliarly acquainted with them, and they with 
 him ; And we hid at it were our fates from kim ; 
 A confequent of the former ; As men will net 
 give their countenance to them whom they de% 
 f^>ife ; So, faith he, we fhall think fhame to fee 
 or look at him \ He fhall be the object of mens 
 
 U; Vtfft *,*. Serm. 17. 
 
 contempt and fcorn, and we fhall not fo much 
 as countenance him ; He fhall be defpifed and 
 fet at nought by Herod and the Roman Souldkrs: 
 A J we ejltctned him not 1 This is we the people 
 ofth-i Jews, who owe him more refpcct,eftcem- 
 ed him not ; And hence he concludes, that it is 
 no wonder that but few believe on him : And 
 foin the words following he goes on to defcrib^ 
 his Humiliation, and to remove the offence that 
 might be taken at it, Surely he hath born our griefs, 
 &c. as if he had faid, there is no fuch cau!e to 
 skar and ftumble at Chrift for his lownefs and 
 bale outward condition ; for it was not for him- 
 felf but for u*that he became fo low,and there- 
 fore it did nor become us to think fo little of 
 himi His griefs and forrows are humane infir- 
 mities that he fubjected himfelf to foi ou' fake i 
 For the wrath of God which he fuffered for us 
 is fpoken of afterwards. And beeaufe there it 
 great difference betwixt Chrifts bearing of infirr 
 mities, and our bearing of infirmities, He being 
 like to us in all things, except fin. I fhall for 
 clearing of this.name three diftinctions given by 
 Divines when they difcourfe of this purpofe. 
 
 I. They diftinguiih and put difference betwixt 
 the taking on r f infirmities, and the contraBingo'E 
 infirmities ; The taking on of infirmities, is the 
 alTuming of the effeft without the caufe, of the 
 infirmity without thefinful defeft: Contracting 
 of infirmity is the drawing on of the defeft, 
 with, and by the caufe ; Now, we draw on the 
 caufe with the erTeft, Chrift took on the effect, 
 but he had no finful defect in him to draw on 
 fuch infirmities ; He might have taken on the 
 nature of man without the infirmities, if he had 
 fo pleafcd, but he took on the nature and infir« 
 mities without the caufe. a. They diftinguilh 
 betwixt thefe infirmities which are (imply natu- 
 ral, fuch as man might have had though he had 
 never finned, and thefe infirmities which flow 
 from mans nature, as fallen and corrupted; The 
 firft fort may be called PaJJive, and look to fuffer- 
 ing, as to be hungry, thirfty, weary, fenfible of 
 that which hurts the body : The fecond fort 
 may be called Active & are finful,as flowing from 
 fin, aid tending to fin, as inclination to ill, and 
 indifpofition to good, dulnefs as to the uptaking 
 of God's mind, &e. Our Lord took on rhe 
 firft fort of infirmities that are fimply natural, 
 and may be without fin , Bur he was free of 
 the other that implyes corruption in the na- 
 ture ; Ht was in all points tempted like as we are, 
 yet without fin, faith the Apoftle, Heb. 4. ie. 
 3. They diftinguifh infirmities, in thefe that 
 are called^*^™/ and common to all men as men, 
 and thefe that are ptrjonal and squired, as 
 
 flow. 
 
Serm. 17. . #"'?* ** *W« 
 
 flowing from fome defect in generation, or are 
 drawn on by fome intemperance, grofnefs in the 
 life and converfarion ; As fome Families are 
 fubiectto Difcafes that come by Generation; O- 
 thers draw on Difeafesby Whoredom,Drunken- 
 nefs, and the like; Now our Lord was free of 
 thefelaft, bccaufe being conceived by the Holy 
 Ghoft in the womb of the Virgin, there was no 
 defect in His Generation ; And being blamelefs 
 in his life and convention, he could acquire 
 none of thofe infirmities; and therefore the in- 
 firmities which he bare are of the firfl fort: that 
 is fuch as are common to all men, and to men 
 as' men : And hence we think it probable which 
 fome fay, That as our Lord was not fick, fo he 
 was not capable of ficknefs, bsing fo perfect in 
 his conftitution or complexion ; which makes 
 for the Glory of Grace, and faith,That our Lord 
 behoved to die a violent death, there being- no 
 principle in him tending to a natural death,thoi?gh 
 notwithftanding he died moft willingly to fatistic 
 Juftice for finners.And this may fervc co explain 
 thefe words, That he wat a ntanef f$rr$m, and ac- 
 quainted with grief. 
 
 We come now to ibferve fome things from the 
 words. And l.From the condition our Lord is 
 defcribed to come to the world in ; Obfrve,Thtt 
 the M-Jpah tht Lords Servant that was to redeem 
 his pcopleiwas to become Man; This is here fup- 
 pofedand Prophefied cf, as Che firft ftep of his 
 Humiliation, He is called a Man \ And it is an 
 aggravation of it, that h$ was to be a man of fer- 
 rows ; Or taking cur Lord Mcfiah to be already 
 come, we may t.ke the Obdrvation thus ; That 
 the Lord J< fus Chi ill, the eternal Son of the 
 eternal Father is alio a true and real Man acom- 
 mon truth, ytt a truth fundamental to theGof- 
 fpel, whereof we are not to think the lefsorthe 
 worfe, becaufe it is a common truth: When the 
 fulnefs of time came (faith the Apoftle, Gal. 4. 4.) 
 God (nit forth his Son made of a Wman,made under the 
 Lav; Who, as it is, Phil 1. Thought it no rohbery 
 to be equal with God, yet took upon him the jhape of a 
 Servant, and was male in Mgnefs of men, and being 
 found in faljion as a man, he humbled himfdf, and 
 becare obedient, dec. So Heb. 2. 14. It's faid of 
 him, thitforafmcp as the cbiHrrn a<e partaken of 
 fle'b and blood, he alj) himfelf lil^wife f o*t part of 
 the fane, &c. A?rd verfn. Both he that fmilifieth 
 and they that are fun Hi Sed are all of one, fir Which 
 Caufe he is n t a'lomcd to' call them brethren; And 
 ver. i£. He tool^mt on him the, nature of Angels, but 
 he tool^on him the feed of Abraham: where f re in all 
 things it be boxed him to 'e made li^e unto his brethren; 
 He was made even like unto us in all things ex- 
 cept fin ; And if we lock to the way of Ciiace, 
 
 there wa$ good reafon for this,that the Redeem* 
 er of finners behoved to be Man. i» If we con- 
 fider the interpofed or adjeyned threatning to 
 the Covenant of Wo»ks,7£* day thou tats thou {halt 
 furely die \ There mult be a fatisfaction to juftice, 
 and the curfe threarned muft be born. a. The 
 curfe iTiUft be born by man; the nature that fin- 
 ed muft die, the Party offending muft fatisfie in 
 his own Perfon,or in a Cautioner, And 3. By our 
 Lord's beeomingMan,i.He came to have a right 
 as being nrtr of Kin to finners to redeem them. 
 And 2. By this the Law hath right to purfue 
 and exact the Debt of him: And 3. By this 
 Grace hath accefs to commend theRedeemer of 
 finners to finners, Heb. 2.17. 18. And 4. is, 16*. 
 Wherefore in all things it beheved him to be madt like 
 unto his brtthren that ht might be a merciful and 
 faithful Hgh Prieil, Sec. And that we have fuch 
 a Redeemer, it makes God, to fay fo, tryftable, 
 and Grace to have accefs, iT,m. 2. 5 There it me 
 God, and one Mediator between God and men,thc Man 
 Chrift Jefuj, -and this gives man accefs to ftep in 
 to God. 4. This makes the myftety of Godli- 
 nefs to mine the more radiantly, and the wif- 
 dom and love ofGod to fliine the more confpicu- 
 oufly thorow it, iTim 3.15. Without controver- 
 fie great is the myfiery of Gcdlintfs Gcdmani- 
 feftcd in the flefh ; and John u 14. The Word was 
 made flefh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld 
 his Glory, &c. 
 
 Uft 1. It ferves to be a prop and foundation to 
 our Faith; W e may fay of this tru-h, as the A- 
 poftle, fpeaking of the Refurrection. 1 Cer 1. k. 
 fayes, if Ch:ift be not rilen, then our Preaching 
 is vain, and your faith is vain : If Chrift were not 
 Man, our Preaching and your Hearing were in 
 vain* i. By this we have an evidence that our 
 Lord is the true Mjjiah who was to beccme man. 
 2. By this we fee a clear way how he was lyable 
 to our debt, and how hisfatisfactir n is commit* 
 nicjbleto us. And 3. In this alio we fee a main 
 and moft attractive Argument to draw finners in 
 to Ci rift for the actual application of his pur- 
 chafe: Our Lord Jefus is man, ourBrother,and 
 made of a Woman, made under the f,aw : O! 
 this puts a fweetnefs and lovclinefs on the Me- 
 diator, to commend him to iinners iot the in- 
 gaging of their hearts to him 
 
 And therefore as a fecrnd Ufe of ir/eing there 
 is a Man Mediator, 1. We pray you, Men lod 
 women, neglect not fuch a Salvation as is t fyt 
 had by his becoming Man. but let this Argument 
 prevail with you to make ufe of him, that he is 
 a true Man: And we may fay, when thi 
 of Man comes in the Clouds tojud«;e the \\ 
 it will be one of the greatcft aggravations of 
 N the 
 
the fin of unbelievers, that he came thus low as 
 to be a Man for the good of Men, and yet was 
 not made ufe of by them. 2. Sinners that would 
 be at 'him, may onthisgrounJ be confident and 
 cheerful ; The Steward of Grace is a friend, he 
 is a M-m, their Brother, and claims kindred 
 tothem, that honeftly aim to do the will of his 
 Father j IVaofoever jhall do the will of my Father, 
 faith he, Mat. 12. thejame is my Brother, Sifter and 
 Mother : Sinners wrong Ckrifr and themfelves 
 cft-times,when they fear at this cordial Conibh- 
 tion that by drifts becoming man is allowed on 
 them; Indeed if we were immediately to goto 
 God, who is a eonfuming fire, it were no wonder 
 that we ftccd at a diftance ; but when God 
 is in the Mediator Chrif>, God-Man to recon- 
 cile the World to himfelf, as the word is, 2Cir. 
 6- Let us, as the Apoftle faith, Hrb, 4. ult, come 
 boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mer. 
 <y, and find grace to help in time of need. O ! make 
 this ufe of it, becaufe he is a friend that fits on 
 the Throne. 
 
 s/y, Obferve, That our Lord Jefus did not only 
 become man, but a man in an exceeding low 
 and afflicted condition; It had been much to the 
 Son of God to have come in the fliape of a man, 
 though he had been Emperor of the whole 
 World, but he thought not that meet j for fince 
 at was his errand in his fir ft coming, not to 
 fudge, but to fave the World, he came not to be 
 miniftred unto, but to minifter ; and therefore 
 John 13. 12. He walheth the feet of his Difci- 
 ples : We may take both the branches of the 
 Doctrine together, our Lord Jefus not only be- 
 came Man, but he was a Man without all world- 
 ly Grandour and pomp, in a low and mean con- 
 dition; and not only did he want that grandour, 
 but he had much affliction, ihame and forrow in 
 the place of it. Need we to prove this? Any 
 who ate acquainted with the Hiftoryofthe Gof- 
 pel know it ; he was for the whole traft of his 
 life, not only in a low condition, but a man 
 of Sorrows, Griefs, and Affliftions ; under 
 muchPerfecution, Contempt and Reproath ; We 
 might inftance this, 1. In his Birth. 2. In 
 his Life. And 3. In his Death. The meannefsand 
 lowncfs of his Condition, and the afrli&ions he 
 met with appear clearly in all thefe, wherein ye 
 may behold the Glory of Grace and of Truth ; 
 For tkc more low he became, the more doth 
 the Glory of Grace fhine, and the more alfo 
 doth the Glory of Truth, in that he fulfilled all 
 Rightcoufnefs. 
 
 i. Then for his low condition, And that u In 
 bis Birth, he was not born of any of the greateft 
 Queens ', However, the Bircb of Mvj Waj No* 
 
 y g# a » * . Scrm. , 
 
 ble, yet the was in a mean condition, for tl 
 time elpoufed to a Carpenter ; He was not boi 
 in a great Palace, but in a common Inn, whic 
 too being taken up with Gucfts, his Moth* 
 was rhiult out or conftrained to betake h< 
 fclf to a Stable, where our Bletfed Lord 
 brought forth,and laid in a Manger, Crib, orStal 
 out of which the Beads eat their Meat for hi 
 Cradle J There the Lord and Heir of all things i 
 Jaid, and hath no other Cradle, neither was th 
 Koom hung with rich Hangings and Tapcftn 
 as the Rooms of great ones ufe to be. 2 In hi 
 life he was low : Fornofooner is he born but hi 
 Mother is forced to flee away with him to Ei )P t 
 He dare not be feen ; and when he returns, h 
 co-habits with, and ferves his fuppofed Fathe 
 and his Mother, was obedient to them rai 
 their Lrrands, and wrought their work ; There 
 fore he is called, Mark 6. the Car p enter: Ther 
 U no outwaid nor worldly pomp and gran 
 dour here ; and thus he was for the fpace of ?< 
 Years; And then when he came to his public! 
 Miniftry, he hath no great Folks for his follow 
 
 ers and Di(cipks,but a few poor Fifher men: ovei 
 
 and above whom he exalts not himfelf loftilv 
 
 but humbles himfelf to warn their feet aui 
 
 to ferve them: And to hold forth this a'littk 
 
 further, ye may t^ke notice of fomt Scripture 
 
 expreffions to that purpofe ; as namely that ol 
 
 Luke Chap. 9. 5 8. Foxes have holes y and the Birds of tht 
 
 sir bave netts, but the Son of man hath not where ti 
 
 lay his head; That of John Chap. r. 10, n. He w*\ 
 
 in the world, and the world was make by him, and tht 
 
 worldbiew him not ; he came unto his own, and his own 
 
 received km not ; Though he could have made a 
 
 Thoufand Worlds at a word ; yet folow was he 
 
 that he had not a foot of ground to Jay claim to' 
 
 or to lean his bleiTed head on ; And if we look to 
 
 Luke 8. we will find that he was provided for in 
 
 hisneceflity byfome few Women, fuch as Mary 
 
 Magdalen, Joanna, Sufanna and other, whomimjiredto 
 
 him oft heir fubflance ; he lived upon the Charity of 
 
 others; and yet 2Cor, 8. By hispoverty hemade many 
 
 rich: And when he went from place to place, his 
 
 diet was often a feeking, neither do we read of 
 
 any great cheer he had.but of fome Barley loaves 
 
 and Fifhes ; And often the Difciples were fent 
 
 to feekfor meat to him* And 3. when it comes 
 
 to his death, O ! How very low is he brought 
 
 there? When he is crucified, they hang him up 
 
 ^betwixt two Thieves, as the mod notorious Ma~ 
 
 ^factor ofthe three ; And he could hardly come 
 
 und«r greater reproach than was caft upon him! 
 
 at his death ; And as a dead man being really 
 
 dead, be U laid uuhe grave and Buried, as if death 
 
Serm. 17. 
 
 jfaiah th ^rfi 2 > 3 
 
 had gotten the vlctoryover him ; and fo he dies 
 a mod fhameful death, after he had lived a moll 
 mean and abject life. . . , - r 
 
 2. For bis afflicted condition, it is clear if we 
 confider, what troubles did accompany him in 
 his life and at his Death \ No fooner was he 
 born 'but ( as I faid ) he is perfecuted by 
 Herod fo that himfelf and his parents muft needs 
 flee down to Egypt and they being but poor folks, 
 6ehoved info long a Journey to meet with ma- 
 ny difficulties : That they were but poor, may 
 be fcen by Maries offering after her purification : 
 And when he came forth in this pubhckMimftry, 
 at his very entry to it, he was moft terribly 
 tempted of the Devil, taking occafion of his hun- 
 ger after long failing ; and all along the exercife 
 of it, what contradiction did he meet with from 
 the Scribes and Pharifets ? How did he travel on 
 his feet from place to place? Often fubject to 
 wearinefs and fainting ; fometimes men will not 
 fo much as give him lodging, which he fuffers 
 patiently, and rebukes his Difciples for their im- 
 patience and prepoflerous zeal, L«**o.Many ca- 
 lumnies and reproaches were call upon him, He 
 was called Beelzebub, a deceiver, a friend of Public 
 cans and Sinners ; How did fome of his friends ac- 
 cording to the flefh fnarl at him, and offer to 
 bind him as a mad man?,What plots and confpi- 
 racies were laid fc made to takeaway bit life? And 
 when it came to the upflnt of i\\ t Pettr fhamefully 
 deniedhim & all the orherDifciplesforfookhim,& 
 fledimany other things befell him,as may be feen in 
 theHiflo^yof hisSurTerings,written by theEvange- 
 lifts: We read that he wept thrice.to let us know 
 that it was hisTrequent & familiar exercife;and a 
 ittle before his death we read that he was in a 
 great agony, and did therein fweat Blood, and 
 offered Prayers with ftrong cries and tears, but 
 we read not that he did laugh, or that ever any 
 worldly mirth was found in him, which cleirly 
 makes out this Truth. That i he was a wan of for- 
 rows, and acquainted with grief. 
 
 For Ufe, it would take the Tongues of Men 
 and Angels to fpeakof it, it being the moft re- 
 markable and ibul-refrefhing Subject that ever 
 the world heard of, even that of which the An- 
 gels fmg, Luke 1. 10, II- Good tidings of great joy 
 which (hall be to all people, that unto you it born in the 
 City of David a Saviour f which is Chrifl the Lord. And 
 this fiallbe a figntayou, yejhallfrnd the Babe wrapped 
 infwadlingcloaths, lying in a Manger; Sure we fhould 
 not ting lefs, but more than Angels, Men being 
 more concerned than Angels in thefe things; And 
 hcrefore. 1. Behold, believe and wonder, that 
 
 re that VMS ritb became poor, that we through his po* 
 ■ 
 
 verty might be made rich ; that he thai was Lord of all 
 became jervant to all; That he that was the infinite 
 Ccd, the exprefs image if his Fathers perfon, and thought 
 it no robbery to be eyual with God, yet bumbled himf If 
 and became of no refutation ', and took on him the form 
 of a Jervant, &c. Behold ( we fay ) believe, and 
 wonder at this. 1. In refpect of the caufe it 
 came from, to wit, everlafting love, he did and 
 fuffered all this mofl willingly, there was no con- 
 ilraint on him, but as it is, Pfal. 40, He deligh- 
 ted to do his Fathers will ; he had power to lay down 
 his life and to take it up again. 2. In refpect of the 
 end, it was not to add to his own Glory; for as 
 God, his Glory being infinite.it was not, neither 
 iscapable ofdiminution or addition, but he be* 
 came*poorthat we~might be made rich, he was a 
 man of Sorrows, that we might be made to re- 
 joice, he wept that we might laugh, he wanted 
 that we might have : Is not this love {looping 
 thus low to be tvendered at ? Was there ever the 
 like heard of: That God the great Party offen- 
 ded mould come fo low to recover the deipicabl© 
 Parties offending ;and that even while they were 
 rank enemies to him ? God commendeth his love t* 
 ms, faith the Apoflle Rm. c. 8. thai while we were, 
 yet finer* Chrifl died for us ; and faith himfelf 
 John 15. Greater Uve hath no man than this, that * 
 man lay d9wn his life for his friends ; But when wt 
 were enemies Chrifl died for us ; Were it then an 
 unfuitable ufe of this Doctrine, to be behol* 
 ding, believing, and wondering at his Love, 
 and to be of en thinking and faying, What is 
 man that God fhiuld be fo mindful of him, as to fend: 
 the Heir of all things, his own Son into the 
 World, as his great Ambatfador and Commiffio-' 
 ner, to negotiate a peace betwixt himfelf and 
 rebel-finners, which he was to purchafe by be- 
 coming ib very low, and by frittering fo very 
 much i 
 
 2. See in this the great evil and hurt of fin 
 and the difficulty of making peace betwixt God* 
 and a (inner who hath provoked God ; U it a 
 little matter that made our Lord condefcend and 
 florp Co low ? O ! Iffo'k knew the evil of fin; 
 And that ere Juftice could be fatisfied, he Son 
 of GoJ behoved to become Man, and a deep- 
 ly humbled Man i The Sword of his avenging 
 J u ft ice, behoved to awake againft him, and 
 fmirc the man that was his fellow, rather than 
 that Cm lhould go unpunifhed, anJ Juftice 
 fhould want fausfa&ion : Beware lightly to 
 boaft ard brag of mercy, or to think it eafie to 
 hiake your pe^ce with God ; And remember 
 t h a fit it a fearful t king to fall ;;.*: ) the hands §f the /;'•■ 
 ving G:d. 
 
 N a 3l See 
 
02 t # Jf*i*b tV 
 
 3* See in this, much condefcending in our 
 BlcfTed Lord Jefus ; 2nd a motive as well as a 
 copy-of patience in him, who is content to be 
 made of a woman, made under the Law, who Tub- 
 mits himfelf unto the Law, and tskeson a mean 
 and ailli&ed (rare. of life in the world ; it's a won- 
 der that ChrifVs Members mould take fo ill with 
 a mean, fuffering and hard lot, feing their lot is 
 far, very far from the contempt, reproaches, for- 
 rows, weights and griefs that accompanied their 
 He.id and Lord ; and it's a fhame that Believers 
 minds and Hearts fhould be fet fo much on thefe 
 things, that he who was and is their Lord and,. 
 Mailer, and the Heir of all things, poiTdfed fo 
 little of; or that they fhould place their Hap- 
 pinefs in whole or in part in the enjoyment of 
 thefe things, or their mifery in the want of them; 
 more patience under the Crofs, under watchings, 
 wearinefs, reproaches &c. would become us 
 much better, our blefled Lord Jefus had a great 
 many moe. 
 
 4 . See this to be not on!y a motive to patience 
 in refpeft of outward things, but a ftepping 
 ftoneand ground of Encouragement to go fore- 
 ward to Chrift with every wantfpiiitual and tem- 
 poral ; It's much that our Lord became Man, but 
 it's more that he became a Man under griefs, 
 afflictions, fowows, and temptations, and was 
 fubjeft to Death it felf j and that he hath bowels 
 of fympathy from experience of thefe temptan- 
 ons, vexations, and forrows, as they are finlefs, 
 as is clear from Heb> 2. and 4. at the clofe ; he 
 knows what hunger, -thirft, poverty, contempt, 
 reproach, and perfecution are ; he knows what 
 it is to be fet upon with the violence of a temp- 
 
 tation, though there was no fin in him to comply 
 with it. r 
 
 5. See here a mod real Swiour, fine* he 'is a 
 fuffering Saviour ; why did our Lord become 
 thus low? But that be might come under the 
 curfe, in the ieveral degrees of it, for the fatisfy- 
 ing or Jufticcfor our fins ; and lie in every piece 
 of Chrift s fuffering a realiry of the grace and love 
 of God; a reality in the Covenant and bargain of 
 Redemption, a reality in ChruYsfatisfying fj u . 
 ihee, and performing his Ingagement according 
 to. the Tenor of that Tranfaftion : and fein« 
 there is a reality in this Saviour, and in his fut> 
 feringandfatisfyingof Divine Jufrice,and in the 
 price ttat he payed to the full ; Put notthisSa- 
 viour again to open frame, as the word is, Htb. 6. 
 6, Tread net the Son of God underfoot, neither acm 
 count the Blood of the Covenant an Unholy thing ; Do 
 not defpite to the Spirit »f Grace, as it is, Heb, 10' 3 q. 
 He hath fufftred enough already, let him not be 
 a fufferer again ; O ! grieve him not by your un- 
 belief, but give him credit by adventuring your 
 fouls on him upon his own Terms ; your ielves 
 will have the advantage and die the glory; This 
 is the purefimple Truth of the Gofpel ; Do not 
 only receiveit asaTruth, but receive him that it 
 holds forth, and let your Hearts clofe with him, 
 and your Faith feed upon him, -who became poor, 
 that ye through his poverty might be made rich ; hapl 
 py they for evermore who are made rich through 
 his poverty, and miferable are 'they, and much 
 more miferable eternally will rhey be, vvhofe pra- 
 ctice faith, that they think they have another way 
 to be happy than by his fuffering andfatisfacti- 
 on, and in difdain, and reject both him and it. 
 
 SERMON. XVIH. 
 
 ISAIAH. LIII. II, III. 
 
 Verfe 2, For he (ball grow up before him as a tender plant, and aa a root out of a dry ground ; he hath no form 
 nor comlinefs ; and when we Jhxll fee him, there is no beauty thi: we fhould dtfirehim. 
 
 Verfe 2,. tie ii de/pifedwd rejected of men, a man of forrows, and acquainted with grief : and we hid as it were 
 surfaces from him ; be was defpifed, and we efleexncdhim not. 
 
 IF our hearts were fuitably tender, the reading 
 of thefe words, knowing of whom they 2ie 
 ipoken, would feme way prick and wound them; 
 It's hard to determine, (though it may be we 
 fhould notmake theCompariibn) whether there is 
 more grace in our Lordscondefcendencc, or more 
 wickednefs and perverfenefsin the unkind and e- 
 vil meeting that he gets from finners ; But fure- 
 ly there is much Grace on the one fide in his co- 
 ming fo low, and much wickednefs and perverfet 
 nefs on the other fide ; For what meets he with, 
 even bkffcd Jefus, who is the glory and praifeof all 
 
 his Saint :, yea, tht bright nefs of his Fathers glory i 
 he is defpifed and rejecled, and we cfecmed hnn not *? 
 Even when he thus humbled himielf.and took en 
 our nature, and was and is profecuting the work 
 of our falvation? and evidencing his grace in an 
 inconceivable manner. 
 
 Thefe are the two things that are fpoken of 
 here, his condefcending to be a Man, and a mean 
 man, and which is yet more, a Man of forrows and 
 acquainted with grief; Which if we believed,> 
 and knew r eally what he were, that it was even 
 
 he 
 
Serm. 18. /'•.. ?J*f b : $3 
 
 he by whom all things were created \who is the begin* 
 ning of the Creation tf Goa, the fir ft born of every crea* 
 tttre yea, he for whoi.i all things Were created, for 
 whofe glory the Wcrld and all things in it were 
 made and continue, He for whom all things are 
 as their laft end, and through whom they are 
 preserved in their beting, and governed in their 
 operations,and fhallbe feen to tend to his glory 
 in theclofe ; we would certainly wonder more 
 at this his condefcendence, : And yet alas, it is 
 he that is defpifed and rejected, and that we hid as it 
 were our faces from, and would not give our coun* 
 tenance: It is he by whom the world was made 
 that is defpifed, and we efteemed him not: And 
 this is the fecond thing in the words which we are 
 now tofpeak to, even the abominably unfuitabl* 
 meeting that Men give to our Lord Jefus, who 
 hath fo far condefcended, as to leave fome w*y 
 his Fathers Glory, not to receive a Kingdom of 
 this World, but to be trode upon in it as a 
 Worm : He is defpifed and reje£ted,and we will 
 not entertain him, nor make him welcom when 
 he cometh ; We esleem him ntt. 
 
 Only take this advertisement for clearing of 
 the words, and for grounding of the Do&rine, 
 that this that is fpoken of Chrifts Humiliation, 
 and mans (tumbling at it, is not preciiely to be 
 reftri&ed to his Humiliation in his own Perfon 
 only, and mens (rumbling at that, for it is given 
 as the reafon of men their {tumbling and offend- 
 ing at Chrift in all times; But it is to be extend* 
 ed°to Chrift in his Gofpel& Ordinances through- 
 out all ages, and fo it comes iaas the reafon why 
 fo few believe on him. If ye ask the reafon why 
 men do not now believe and receive Chrift in the 
 offer of the Gofpel ? Here it is, for we ((ieemed 
 him not, for he (ball grow up before him as a tender 
 plant ; He {hall be mean and contemptible-like 
 to the men of the world,and in an afflicted con- 
 dition, therefore he is not efteemed, therefore 
 he is not believed on. 
 
 Thefe two are the main Doctrines tobe fpoken 
 ' to here, i. That Jefus Chrift who thus conde- 
 scends and humbles himfelf for the falvation of 
 loft Sinners is not efteemed of, but defpifed and 
 undervalued/which is implied in the words t whcn 
 we (hall fee him, there is no beauty that we jhmld de~ 
 fire him ; and is more clearly holden out in the 
 following words, Hi was defpifed, and we efteemed 
 him not. i. That this undervaluing and little e- 
 {teeming of Jefus Chrift, is the great ground 
 of folks unbelief, or the reafon why men do 
 not believe on him, even becaufe they think him 
 not worthy the receiving ; two very clear truths 
 in the words and in experience, though as fad 
 in their confequents. 
 
 I Vtrf 2, 3. 4 ( # 9 j 
 
 Asro the t; which is this, that our Lptd Jef- 
 us Chrift is ufually and ordinarly exceedingly 
 undervalued, and little efteemed of by the men 
 of the world, to whom heis offered in t lie Gof- 
 pel ; There are two things implied andluppof- 
 fed here in and about the Doc"trine 3 that wijj clear 
 it, and be as two reafons of it. 1. That he hath 
 no form nor comlinefs, and no beau*y where- 
 fore he fliould be defired ; which holdeth out 
 this, that men are ordinarly taken up with, and 
 feek after worldly grandour or greatncSs,Splend« 
 our and beauty, that's it that fiilcth mens eyes, 
 and is that which Chrift wanted : This we fay 
 is one reafon why Chrift is fo little thought of, 
 even becaufe he cometh not with external pemp, 
 obfervation and grandour,nor with great tempo- 
 ral gifrs to his followers ; That which mainly is 
 deSireable to natural men is that which hath 
 earthly beauty in ir, a very deceitful confidera- 
 ration and ground,thoughfuchanone as men are 
 often carried away with, and therefore they de- 
 fpife and reject the Saviour. 2. Which is ano- 
 ther reafon of the Dottrine, and alfo clearly im*. 
 plyed, that our Lord Jefus Chi ids Humiliation 
 and coming fo low for mans fak?, his very con- 
 defcending and ftooping for their good, is the 
 great ground of their {tumbling at/ him, and be- 
 caufe of that he is the lefs thought of; Even the 
 very height of his grace, and that great ftretch 
 thereof that the Son of God became thus low as 
 to become Man, a mean M3n,and 2 Man of Sor- 
 rows, is a greater ground of {rumbling to men 
 than if he had never become thus IoWjNow thefe 
 two being SuppoSed, and thus explained, the Do:- 
 trine is clear, to wit, thatjefus Chrift that be- 
 came Man, and performed the SatisSaction due 
 to the Jufticeof God for ouriins, is ufually and 
 ordinarily difefteemed and undervalued by them 
 to whom he is offered in theGcfpel; 1. It was 
 So under the Old Teilament, and is So likewitc 
 under the new ; What is almoft all the GoSpcl 
 Spent on ? But to hold out Chrift upon the 1 
 fide to be a man of Sorrows, and upo,i the ptj 
 Side to {hew that men efteemed him not. How- 
 was he undervalued at his birth, when his Mother 
 wasthruft out to a Stable, and he laid in a Man- 
 ger? And no Sooner doth he appear in the ex- 
 erciSe of his publick A/iniftry, but his friends of- 
 fend at him, and look on him as a diftracted 
 man, M*rk 3. His Countrey men contemn him, 
 and were offended at him, Mark 6. Is tot th:s(i.,y 
 they) the Carpenter theSon (J\\Urj\the brother ejj wit t 
 and Jojes? And how was he efteemed, or rather dif- 
 efteemed and undervalued at his death : So that 
 it is Said; ^.3. 14 They dtnjcd the holy an:. 
 &defired that a mur: hirer jhould be granted unto them 
 
 1 
 
 V 
 
Jjaiah. H.Vtri.t, J, 
 
 94 
 
 They rejected the Prince of Life, and choofed 
 Barabbat ; And judging him not worthy to live, 
 they cry away with him ; Hence our Lord faith, 
 Mat. 1 1 . Blrjfed is he that is not offended in me, which 
 infinuats that there were but very few to whom 
 his Humiliation proved rot a ftumbling-blcck. 
 3. If we confult experience we will find this to 
 be true, how little is he thought of among 
 Turks? amongft whom his precious Name is 
 blafphemed, though they pretend more refpecl 
 to him than nicer Heathens do : How little is he 
 thought of among the Jews,who call him a De- 
 cevier.Andif we come nearer,even to theCh'ri- 
 ftian Church, and to fuch as profefs their Faith 
 of his being the Eternal Son of God, equal with 
 the Father, that he is Judge of quick and dead, 
 and they that look for Salvation through him, 
 yet if it be put to a tryal, how few are they that 
 will be found to efteem of him aright? fmce 
 there are but few that believe the report that is 
 made of him, but few that receive him as he is 
 offered in the Gofpel, few that have but fuch 
 refpeft to him as to prefer him to their Idols, 
 and that gave him the firfr and chief feat in their 
 hearts : And if we confider how little eager pur- 
 fuing there is after him, that he may be enjoy 
 ed, and how indifferent folks are, whether they 
 have or want him; How many things men dote 
 upon and prefer to Jefus Chrift,as the Lord com- 
 plains, Jer. 2. 13. My people have committed two e- 
 vils, they have forfaken me the fountain of living 
 waters, and have digged to themfehes cifierns, even 
 broken eifltrns that can hold no water, the thing will 
 be clezr beyond all debate. ^ We may take in 
 another Branch of the Do&iine here> when he 
 faith, we esteemed him not ; and it is this, that 
 even Believers are in fo far as unrenewed, in- 
 clined, and not witkout culpable acceflion to 
 this fame fin of undervaluing of Jefus Chrift ; 
 It's indeed true that the Apoftle Peter faith in 
 his i EpiflleChap. 2. Verfe 7. To you that believe 
 he is precious ; Which place, though it confirm 
 the firft part of this Doftrine, that to them that 
 believe not he is not precious, but a ftone of 
 Humbling, and a rock of offence ; albeit that 
 Believers being compared withUnbelievers,have 
 fome precious efteem of JefusChrift,yet ifwe con- 
 fider the corrupt nature that in part cleaves to 
 them,the degree of their eftimation of him,and 
 that it's but very little&low ; in reflect of what it 
 fhould be, and the manylpeevifh fits too's and 
 fro's, up's and down's that they are fubject to, 
 with the many fufpicions and jealoufies they 
 fcave of him ; fo~ that though they were juft 
 now frefh and lively in the cxercUe of their Faith 
 
 Serm. if. 
 
 and of rheir eftimation of Chrift, yet within 
 little, even by and by, they give way again to 
 their jealoufies, the Doctrine will alfo hold true 
 of them, we e/ieemed him not. 
 
 Wtfhallgive the ficond DoBrine (and then 
 fpeak to the ufe of both joyntly ) which is this, 
 That there is nothing more culpably acceflbry 
 to the abounding of Unbelief, than the poor 
 thoughts and little eftimation that Men have of 
 Jefus Chrift; the undervaluing of him is the 
 great ground and reafon why they believe not 
 on him > and on the contrary, if the Hearers of 
 the Gofpel had higher thoughts,and a more pre* 
 cious efteem ofChrift,and valued him according 
 to his unvaluable worth, there would be more 
 believing in him than there is : When the Gof- 
 fpel comes to invite Men to the Wedding, Mat, 
 3 2. When Chrift is roofed and commended as to 
 what he is, what he hathpurchafed, and what he 
 freely offereth to Sinnersjit's faid, that theft who 
 were bidden made light of it, and went sway one to 
 his farm, another to his merchandicefrc. when Chrift 
 was fpoken of, and the offer of Life through 
 him,they'undervalued and defpifed it,and made 
 light of the offer, and therefore turned their 
 backs, for they thought more of the Houfe,of the 
 Oxen, of the Farm, and of the married Wife, 
 than they thought of him : A&s ij. when Paul 
 is preaching Chrift at Mens, the Philofophers 
 and Orators, thefe learned Heads, defpife and 
 difdain him as a fetter forth of fome ftrange and 
 uncouth god ; If we compare this with its con- 
 trary, it will be further clear, to wit,wherever 
 there is eftimation of Chrift, it proves a help to 
 Faith anda ground of it ; fo wherever Chrift is 
 lightlied, difefteemed and undervalued;it breeds 
 in Folk, and is a ground t# them of thefe three. 
 1. It cools or rather keeps cool their love and 
 affection to him ; where he is difefteemed and 
 undervalued, he cannot be loved, and People in 
 that cafe become like thefe that are brought in 
 Jer^+.ly. faying.// was better with us when we did 
 bake cakes to the queen of heaven ; the Lord is coun« 
 ted by them to be as awildernefs and land of dark* 
 nefs ; and they fay, as it is Jer.2.3 »• We arelords, 
 and will come no more unto thee ; and when Men e- 
 fteem not Chrift, they feek not after him,they 
 care not for an intereft in him, they truft not 
 to him i when a Man valuetha Pearl, he will 
 readily fell all that he hath that he may buy it, 
 but that which is not efteemed, there will he 
 no care to come by it. 2. It hath influence to 
 obftruft Folks giving him credit, which is of the 
 very effence of Faith, fo then, where he is not 
 efteemed of, he is not, he<cannot be believed on ; 
 
 the 
 
Serm. iS. f . VM S3- verf. a, 3. 9J 
 
 the former fays,that we will not many him,thi$ many whew he is preached of, which holds out 
 
 fays we will not trow him, nor truft the reality fomething of the nature of all men and Women; 
 
 of his offer : Where he isnotefteemedof, he is this defpifing, undervaluing,and thinking little 
 
 not taken up to be real in good earneft, and ofChrift, is a Sin that may for a long time 
 
 faithful in what he fays > His offers are looked cleave faft and clofe to the Hearers of the Gof- 
 
 upon as having neither folidity nor reality in them fpel, and doth fo tomany to their very dying 
 
 therefore Rev. 19. thefe two are put together.firft day, it may be ye will think this a ftrange and 
 
 it's faid. Blcfed are they that are called to the mar \ 
 ridge [upper of 'the Lamb ; and then it is fubjoined, 
 thefe are the true and faithful fayings of God ; fo that 
 when Chrift is not efteemed of.he is not thought 
 worth the crediting and lipening to ; And it's 
 ort this ground that the Lord founds his Contro- 
 verfie with his profefling People, Jer.2.5, What 
 iniquity have your fathers found in me y that they have 
 gone far from me, and have walked after vanity and 
 are become vain ? they undervalued his word, 
 they thought him not worthy credit.and there- 
 fore they turned the back on him ; the fame is 
 infinuated bythe Lord, Atfc.6.3.0 my people, what 
 have I done unto thee, and wherein have 1 wearied thee? 
 teflifie sgainfime. 3. This little efteemof Chrift 
 weakens hope or expectation of any good that 
 
 uncouth charge, and that whoever difefteem 
 him, ye do certainly efteem him much, but it 
 were better ye were ferioufly and humbly 
 faying with the Prophet here, Hewas defpifed,and 
 we efteemed him not ; There are many who never 
 oncefufpe&themfelvesas guilty of, or charge- 
 able with this evil : for whofe conviction, let 
 mi fpeakbut a few words, Is there not fuch a 
 bitter root in you ? If it be natural to all Men 
 and Women, how comes it to pafs that ye are 
 free of it ? Is there nothing of the feed of the 
 Serpent in you ? and if there be, will there not 
 be hatred at the feed of the woman in you? are 
 ye any other fort of Hearers than they were to 
 whom this is fpoken ? were they not Hearers of 
 the Gofpel as well as ye ? nay he fpeaks here of 
 
 Men may have from him ; when we eReem him Hearers of the Gofpel in all Ages,and yet ye will 
 
 not, there is no expectation of getting our need 
 fupplied, and our wants made up by him, nor 
 of attaining in him the happinefs that we would 
 be at, and therefore there aie no ferious addref* 
 fes made to him for the fame : Thefe three, 
 Love to Him, Truft in Him, Hope from and 
 through him, being the prime Graces in a Chri- 
 stian, when they are weakned, Unbelief moft 
 certainly in fo far prevaileth ; and it being 
 Chrift's worthinefs, and the eftimation thereof 
 that gives ground to all thefe ; then fure, when 
 he is not efteemed but undervalued, thefe rauft 
 alfo fail in their exercife, and be in utter, non- 
 entry, where he is altogether undervalued:N©w 
 laying all thefe together, there can hardly be 
 any thing more culpably accelTory to the aboun- 
 ding of Unbelief than the undervaluing of pre 
 cious Jefus Chrift ; it's impoflible that he can be 
 cordially welcomed where he is not at all efteem* 
 edof. 
 
 As for Ujes of thefe Do£trines,they are of large 
 extent, ferving to make manifeft a root of bit- 
 ternefs, and a great neck-break of multitudes of 
 Souls, and which men and women will not eafi- 
 lybe perfwaded to believe. Let this therefore 
 be the 1. UJe of it. To difcover a great fin that 
 is incident to the Hearers of this Gofpel, among 
 many other things that may be charged on them, 
 this is one and not thcleaft, even little eftimati* 
 en of Jefus Chrift : fo little that when he is 
 fpeaking, they count him fcarce worthy the hear- 
 ing i hen^e i$ tbe Hungering and flceping of ib 
 
 difdain to take with this Sin, and will account 
 it to be an uncouth, if not an unjuft charge and 
 imputation, to fay of you that ye are under- 
 values and defpilers ofChrift : but the reafon 
 of it is twofold, the firft whereof is, Secaufe 
 ye know not what Chrift's worth is, and there- 
 fore ye do neither efteem him, nor know that 
 ye dif efteem and undervalue him j whereas they 
 who have won to fome knowledge of his worth] 
 are always, or very often complaining that they 
 cannot get him fuitably thought of & efteemed* 
 The fecond Reafon is,Becauie ye know not your 
 felves, and therefore ye take felf-love and efti- 
 mation of your felves to be love to him and efti«% 
 mation of him ; ye think your felves Co wel],thac 
 ye cannot endure to think that ye want any 
 Grace or good thing; and eftimation of Chrift 
 being a good thing,and ye thinking that ye could 
 not hold up your face and own the reproaching 
 and defpifing of him,ye will not let it light that 
 ye want this Grace and good thing, a precious 
 efteem of him : But there is no greater evidence 
 that ye are lying under the power of the deceit 
 and delufion of your own Hearts, that your na- 
 tural diftemper and Feaver is not cooled and cal- 
 med, but that ye are ftill roaving in Nature - 
 and therefore, though ye be living in enmity at 
 God and Chrift, yet ye cannot be made fenfib/e 
 of it, we really think it fomewhat ftrange, that 
 Men and Women fhould live twenty, thirty, 
 fourty or fifty years under the Gofpel, 'and yet 
 never be brought Co groan under this enmity. 
 
 nor 
 
9 6 
 
 nor to lay to heart thre 
 
 Chrift : But if it be a truth that none naturally 
 
 do Idyc and efteem him, then certainly many of 
 
 you arc grofly miftaken, that think ye efteem 
 
 highly of him ; Ah! your fincied efteem of him 
 
 will be counted an undervaluing of him. 
 
 And if Ve ask, What is that to undervalue 
 Chuft, or when is he undervalued ? I anfwer^, 
 Me is undervalued. . r. When he is not marched 
 with or married, when the match with himfelf, 
 whereof he make- h offer, is not clofed with upon 
 his own terms; for what I pray can hinder the 
 ending of a Bargain, or finifhinga Marriage con- 
 tract, especially when it's fo full, free, and rich 
 on the Piopofer and Suiters part, bur eitlierthat 
 Folk think it h not fit for them, or that they 
 think nothing of it at all? and this is it that 
 hinders clofing with Chrift, M.ttth. 22. They matt 
 light of it and went away, &c. and Pfal. 8 1. Mypeoplt 
 would net hearken to my voice, and Ilrael would none of 
 me. 2. When any thing is made equal to Chnft, 
 much mere when any thing is preferred to him, 
 he is undervalued and not efteemedof ; when he 
 gets little or none of folks care and labour, little 
 oftheir time, little of their love and delight, few 
 or none of their thoughts, d^.buc they are quite 
 carried away after other things, for where the trea« 
 fure is, there the heart mil be alfo ; and were Chrift 
 our Treafure, and precious in our efteem, our 
 Hearts would be more ferpn him; but it's ftrange, 
 fad, z id even aftonifiiing to think, how little our 
 Spirits areexercifed with the thoughts of Chrift; 
 how little they are taken up with longing for him 
 and delighting in him, and yet we will think that 
 we efteem him. 3. Our Lord is undervalued 
 when he is not made ufe of, and imployed, and 
 lippehed to as an able and fufficient Saviour : If 
 there be a learned and skilful Phyfician in a City 
 i-i all or moft difeafes, or an able Lawyer to plead 
 all Caufes ; If Folk have Difeafes to;be cured, and 
 Caufes to be pleaded, and yet do net imploy fuch 
 a Phyfician or fuch a Lawyer, but go to fome c* 
 ther, though far UCs skilful and able, they un- 
 dervalue him ; It is even fo here, when Folks 
 have nuny Sins, and they feek not to him for par- 
 don, many, not only temporal wants, but alfo 
 and mainly, many Spiritual wants and do not 
 acknowledge Hm in them, neither feek to him 
 pply of them, many predominant Evils ; 
 *: d they feek not to him to mortifie them, many 
 Snares and Temptations, and tiny do not make 
 ufe of him to prevent and lead them by th.nvrd 
 many fpiritual Caufes to be pleaded before Gcd, 
 br.a't !nsBar,and they do not imploy him as Ad- 
 vocate toplead fcrthem. 4. He is undervalued 
 when folk think not themfdves tappy enough in 
 him, nor ficker enough in bargaining with him, 
 
 //*'** S3 Vtrfe 2, j. Sfirm l8< 
 
 fin of undervaluing of and when he doth not farisfie and fully content 
 
 them, as if he were yea and nay, and as 
 
 . if all the 
 primjes were not yea and amen in him ; when he is 
 not credited intircly, and refted upon, he is not 
 efteemed of, hence he complcans, Johny TewVl 
 not ctme tones that yt might have I ft: and M.itth. 
 23. How of tin would \ have gathered you and ycuovM 
 not ? he would, to fay Co with reverence, fain 
 do them a gord turn, but they will net l.'ppei to 
 him. O ! how much undervaluing of Chrift is 
 there even among believers, when they hold and 
 draw with him, entertain jealoulies and iulpiti- 
 ensofhim, fcarcely credit him, and when they 
 do at any time credit him, are in a manner ready 
 to take back their word again ; How- often are 
 Creature-comforts overvalued by them?And how 
 often aretheo-mfolationsofGodfmall with them? 
 Th fe and many other ways are they, even they, 
 infomeconfiderable meafure and degree guilty of 
 undervaluing of Chrift 
 
 Ufe 2. Take with this , Cm, acknowledge and 
 feek pardon for it ; it were a good token of fome 
 tender nefs, to be mourning for enmity againft 
 Chrift, and for undervaluing of him, as well as 
 for Drunkennefs, Fornication, Theft, or any 
 ether grofs Cm : And^ where that gracious and 
 right mourning that is fpoken of, Ztch. 12. lo. 
 comes, it will be in fpecialfor this undervaluing 
 of Chrift to the height of piercing of him : We 
 would ask any of you that think ye repent, if this 
 fin of flighting him hath pierced you as it did 
 thefe, Aft 2 ? It may be, fome think th^mfelves 
 fo cleanly and perfeft, that ye have nor many fins 
 to mourn for, O ! dreadful miftake ; But though 
 ye had no more, is not this enough that ever 
 there ftiouldhave been enmity in your bnfome at 
 Chrift? Andfhould not this prick you at the very 
 heart,thateverye(hould have Co undervalued bin,? 
 But readily they that fee feweft fins in themfelves, 
 will fee and take with leaft ofthis fin. 
 
 Ufe 3. It ferves to be a warning to all men in 
 nature, to confider what their condition is ; Do 
 ye that have this enmity, and are undervalues 
 of Chrift, know what is in your Hearts ? And do 
 ye confider what pofturc ye will be found in, 
 if Grace make not a change, in the day of Chrift? 
 ye will be found amongft thefe defpifers and ha- 
 ters that would not have him to reign over them; 
 How will ye dar to appear, or in wliatpofture 
 will ye appearbefore him, when he whom yede- 
 fpifed mail come in the glory of his Father with 
 all the holy Angels wi h him,andfhaJIfi? upon the 
 Tin one of his ^Jory ? And yet appear ye muft ; 
 How will the confeience then gnaw, and the 
 heart be affrighted ? How will challenges waken f 
 yea ftmg and prick you on this ground, that 
 
 :<tiM the 
 
Serm. 18. , fi^ S3- 
 
 the Son of Go J, the Heir of all things, the Lord 
 of Lords, and Kingiof Kings, who propofed mar- 
 riage to you, was undervalued, and Marnage 
 with him made light of.and that a thing of nought 
 was put in his room and place ? Will not this 
 be a horrible challenge in that day ? And if ye 
 would confider what will be their pofture that 
 mocked and buif^ed Him, and plucked off his 
 hair, that nodded wirhtheHead, and cried aha, 
 and bade him corns down from the Crofs, that 
 did fcourge him, and hang him up upon the Crofs 
 betwixt two Thieves ; fuch a pofture will 
 all of you be in who have defpifed and difeftec- 
 med him } ye will meet with that fame fad fen* 
 rence, B'ir.g out thefe mine enemies that would mt that 
 Ifhouid reign over them, and fay them before me ; O ! 
 what a ftrange punifhmenc fuppofe ye will that 
 be, when the Saviour of Sinners fhall fland by 
 and look on, till he fee vengeapce execute on 
 Turners that dcfpifed him ? Think on it, for 
 there' is fuch a day coming, when ye will all 
 appear before him, and -when your reckonings 
 will be caftup ; fuffer not your l'elves to be chea- 
 ted into an Opinion that it will be accounted a 
 little (in to be found under this guilt of defpi- 
 fing Chrift,and let not one of you put it off him- 
 felf, and over upon another i ihey will be found 
 defpifers of him that would never let it light, 
 nay even many that have preached hum, and that 
 would have been angry at prophanity in others, 
 as may be gathered from Mat. 7. 22. 
 
 The 4. UjVfervesto commend this to you as a 
 piece of your duty, to ftudy to know Chnfr, and 
 to have the fuitable impieflion of Chrift <md of 
 his worth, as the great mean conrributive to the 
 bringing you to credit him, a. id believe on him, 
 and to the removing a main cbftruftion that hin- 
 ders ycur Faith, and rhat is the undervaluing 
 of him ; For if undervaluing of him be the 
 great caufe of unbeli f. and that which nftarrtly 
 obftrufts Faith, then the efleeming r)f him 
 from a due impreflion of his worth, rr.uft be a 
 groat man of, and help to Faith ; and the more 
 he be eftremed of, the more will he be believed 
 on: It li th an a'tra&ive vcrtue to draw fin- 
 nersto love him, a fcrew'irg ve.tue to fere w up 
 the afrVSHons to a aids him ; and. withal a fixing 
 and efhbliihing vertue t nd (lay the 
 
 Soul upon him bv believing ; the IToul, that fom 
 the right imprcition ofhis woali eftetmsof him, 
 knows that it may lippen to him, for he isNioly 
 and true ; and hence it is, rh it th? great thing 
 that Believers take t"> ground their prajers u« 
 pon, is fome exce 1 ] ncy in God, fomeone or 
 ther of his Titles andAtrribut$s upon v Inch they 
 fix, to bear th- m up, under and againft any dif- 
 ficulty that prcfTcth haid upon them ; Th;: ii 
 
 Verfe a, 3. .- 
 
 alfo their hope and expectation of attaining of a - 
 ny good thing that they want through him: 
 And therefore upon the one fide we, would com- 
 mend to you the ftudy of Chrift's worth, and u- 
 pon the other, an high eftimation of him, as 
 that which will fix your faith, and Love, and 
 Hope on him; This we fee 10 be in a high de* 
 gree in Paul,Pbilip. 3. I account all things ( faith ht) 
 to be but hfs and dung for the excellency of the know ~ 
 ledge of him, and^ his c r»*nfcendent worth; ye 
 would not think it Io>ofiabour, to read and ftu- 
 dy thefe places of Scripture, that fhew wh t 
 our Lord Jefus is in his perfon, Natures and 
 Offices, that ye may have the Faith of his Grd- 
 head fixed, and may be clear as to the excelling 
 fulnefs that is in him; as namely that of Ija. 
 q. 6. To ut a Child ii bom, to us a Son it given, 
 the government fhall be upon his fhoulders, and hir 
 name fhall be called, Wonderful, CounfeHor, the Migbm 
 ty God, the Ever la fling Father, the Prince •{ Peace, 
 of vohoje Kingdom and Government there fhall be no end ; 
 And to ftudy his excellent Properties, his E- 
 ternity, Omnipotency, Faithfulnefs, Mercy, 
 eW. common to him with the Father and Holy 
 Ghoft ; and the excellent qualifications that as 
 Mediator he is replenifhed with ; being full of 
 Grace and Truth, and in all things having the 
 preheminency ; See Col. 1. John. 1. 14 and Heb. 
 i.2,3,C?"f. The reafon why wc prefs you to this, is 
 not oaly that ye mayhave more clearTheory and 
 Contemplation; but alfo and mail ly that your 
 affeftionsmay be delighted in him, and thatyour 
 Faith may without hink or hefitation come to 
 give him credit, Ignorance of Chrift breeds d.C 
 eftim »tion, and difcflimarion makes you not to 
 give him rredit, and thusye are kept it a diftance 
 firm him; There is no fluey more pleafant, 
 more precious, and more profitable ; There is 
 here then a Task for you rhat a^k what ye fhail 
 dc? even to read and ftu y the excellency of Jefcj 
 Chrift, and to labour to hare it well fixeu in rl e 
 Imagination ofthc Thoughts of -your hearts j It 
 will give you . otable dirc&l n wh^t to do even 
 that which te well- pleating tr> God, an i ma> be 
 very profirablc to you through his bkmV.g 
 
 Uft $. See here the great ne.ee Airy and con venl- 
 e -cy.\ f ftudy m .■ the difcllim tioivof Chrift that 
 is in us as well as of ftu. ying rhew'oj'b that is 
 in him, an I what he hath our or' Jove fnrFired for 
 us ; Thefe r\v ^rc put together in (he Text ; it 
 being needful for us to be is wjl acqu . 
 with the one as frith theorh-r. \V 
 you this ulV in two Oiort Doctrines; Th 
 k\y hereof is. That it is 1 neceiTary duty fi 
 heaiers of the GofpH to ftudy throug 
 
 convinced of, and clear in their d lef* 
 on of Chrift, as well as ofhis worth and exec 
 O 
 
$f lfaiah JJ. Vef U 
 
 Jen?v, becaufe it wakncth up repentnnce t and 
 h V fl >w, and thorowly humbleth the /In- 
 ner, when he fi ideth this ddperac wicked nefs 
 and pcrveHnelsto be in him'slf.and maketh him 
 kindly to loath and abhor himlelf ; and unlefs 
 thi> de'p-'ia e wickeJncfs be fccn and felt, that 
 great andbi ter mourning fpoken of, Zech.u. 10. 
 will never flow forth. 
 
 The 2. is That where folk have any jufl efti- 
 mation of Chrifr and o r \yf worth* and are Ccri" 
 fible of the evil of Unbt^f. there will alio be 
 fo me fenfe of the fin of 'undervaluing of him, 
 and t!'.e mote fenfe they have of the evil of un- 
 belief,they will be the more fenlible of their un- 
 dervaluing of him ; And will with the Prophet 
 here cry out, He was deJpt'Ud, and w, efleemed him 
 not : And from both thefe ye may fee the necefli- 
 ty of ftudying to find out this corruption ; the 
 fearch and difcovery whereof will infightyouin 
 the evil and perverlhefs of your nature, and fo 
 deeply humble you ; and alfo ferve highly to 
 coramendChrift and his Grace to you; and with- 
 out the difcovery of this corruption ; it'sim- 
 
 4> S- Serin. 1$. 
 
 polTible ever to be humble thorowly, or to have 
 right thoughts of Chrifr and of his Grace 
 
 life 6. Ic ferves to let us fee the necefliry of 
 believing inChiift,ani of the imployingof him; 
 becaule there is no other way ro be free of the 
 challenges ofmifprifmg and nor eftceming of him 
 but by receiving of him, aHd believing on him. 
 A pbUje may be added, and it's this, That 
 the moe there be that defpife Chrift 6c the greater 
 difficulty there be in believing on him, the more 
 reafon have they to be thankful that he graci- 
 oufly works any fuitable eftimation of himfelf 
 in, and brings them to believe on him : Thefe 
 who have gotten any gHmpfeofhisGlory which 
 hath lifted him high in their eflimarion to the 
 drawing forth of their faith and love after him 
 would praife him for it : It's he, and only he that 
 opened your eyes to fee him, and gave you that 
 eftimation of him, and circumcifed your hearts 
 to love him; let him therefore have all the praife 
 and glory of it : This is the Word of God, and 
 himlelf blefsic to you through Jefus ChriiV. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. 
 
 Verf 4. Surely he hath horn our griefs , and carried our forrows : 
 
 God, and afflicted. 
 
 Verf. 5. But he was wounded for our tranfgrejjhns, he was bruifed for our iniquities : the chaflifement ofou r 
 peace was upon him, and with his firipes we are healed. 
 
 XIX 
 
 iv, v. 
 
 yet we did efxeem him ftricken, [mitten of 
 
 THis is a moft wonderful Subjeftthat 
 the Prophet is here difcouillng of, 
 even that which concerneth the 
 fufferings ofour blended Lord Jefus, 
 by way of prediction fevera! hun- 
 dreds of years before his incarnation; It was 
 much that he was to be a man 0} farrows and acquain- 
 ted with grief ; But this was more, that he was de- 
 fpifed and we efteemid him not ; There is wonderful 
 grace upon the one fide, that our Lord became 
 fo very low, and wonderful contempt and enmi- 
 ty on the other fide, that we defpife d him, and 
 efteemedhim not, even becaufe of his lownefs. 
 In the words now read, and forward, the Pro- 
 phet fets bimfclfto remove the offence that men 
 rook at our Lords Humiliation, by (hewing them, 
 that although he becams fo low, yet he was not 
 to be the lefs efteemed of for that; And the 
 ground which he layes down to remove the of. 
 fence, is in the firft words of the Text, which in 
 fum is this, that there was nothing in himfelf 
 wherefore he mould have been hrought fo low, 
 there was no (in in him, neither was there any 
 guile found in his mouth, but he was gracioufly 
 p'eafed to take on him that which we fhould have 
 fcoro 5 and therefore men ought no: to (tumble, 
 
 &orTcnd at his (looping to bear that which would 
 with its weight have crulhed them eternally,and 
 thereby to make their peace with God: in the 
 6. ver, he (hews ho w it came to pafs that he (loop- 
 ed folow, All we (faith he) like flyeep have gone a- 
 flray, and turned every one of us to our own way, and 
 the Lord laid ; him the iniquity of us all ; We had 
 loft our felves, but God in the depth of hi? eter- 
 nal wifdorn, love,arxi good will,fcund the way 
 to faveus ', wherein ( to fpeak fo ) a Covenant 
 was tranfa&ed betwixt God and the Mediaror, 
 who becomes Cautioner for our Cms, which are 
 transferred on him , From the 7. ver. tothe 10. 
 ver, he goes on in (hewing the execution of th ; s 
 transacHon,and how the Cautioner performed all 
 according to his engigemcnt ; and from the ic. 
 ver, re the clofe, we have the Promifes made to 
 Him for his Satisfaction : The fc-pe is, as to re- 
 move the fcandal of tbe Crofs.fo to hold out cur 
 Lords purfuingthe woik of Satisfaction to the 
 Juftice of God for Eleft Sinners, and the good 
 iuccefs he had in it- 
 
 In the 4 and c. verfes we have three things 
 1. This ground a/Terred, Surely he hath bum our 
 griefs, and tarried our forrows. 2. Mens enmity ag. 
 
 gregej 
 
Serm. i9. #"'** fl« r<fr ^ 4 
 
 greged from this, yet we did ((Item hm ilricktn, them, 
 fmitten 0,' God, and afflifted; In the very mean time 
 that hi co:v e.cended toftoop fo low for us,and 
 to bear that which we fhould have born, ue ef- 
 teemed but little of Him, welookcd on him as a 
 plagued Man. 3. This is more fully explained, 
 vtr. f. But Joe was wounded for our tranjgreflions, 
 he wai bruifed for our iniquities ; He was 
 
 fo handled for our fins, and the chaflifemtnt of our 
 peace was on him, that which made our peace wirh 
 God was on him, By hi* pipes we are healed, the 
 ftripesthat wounded and killed him cured us. 
 
 We have here then rather as it were a fad nar- 
 ration, than a prophefie of the Gofpcl, holding 
 out a part of our Lords bufferings, yet a clear 
 foundation of the Confolation of the people of 
 God ; it being the ground of all our Faith of 
 the pardon of fin, of our peace with God, and 
 of our confident appearing before him, that our 
 Lord was content to be thus dealt with, and to 
 ' give. kisbat.k to thejrniters, and hu cheeks to them that 
 .'<: of the hair. 
 
 We fhall clear the words in thealTertion, which 
 will ferve to clear the words of the whole Chap- 
 ter, and alfo of the Doctrines to be drawn from 
 it, i. The thing that Chrift bare is called 
 Griefs and forrows, by which we underftand the 
 effects that Cm brings on men in the world, for 
 its the fame thatm the ^verj.is called his be- 
 ing wounded fr tur tranfgrejjijns, and bruifed for our 
 iniquity ; It's a wounding that Iniquity caufcth, 
 and ment^riouily piocureth ; It's not finitfelf, 
 but the effect of (in, to wit, thepumfhment, the 
 forrow and grief that (in bringeth with ir, called 
 grief and foroxos ; p^itly becaufe gr ef and lbr» 
 row is necefiarily joined with fin, partly to 
 lhew the extremity and exceeding greatnefs of 
 this grief and forrow, and the bitter fruits that 
 fin hata with it 2. How is it faid that Chrift 
 hath born and carried their griffs and for rows? By 
 this we underftand, not only ChfilVs removing 
 of them, as he removed fickneiTes and difeafes, 
 as it is faid, Matth. 8. 16, 17. But alfo, and main- 
 ly, his actual a:id real enduring of them, as the 
 phrafe is frequently ufedin the Scripture ; That 
 man fall bear his in quity, or he fhall bear his (in, 
 Ltvit f. and many other places; it lets out a 
 ical inflicting of the punilhment rhat (in de- 
 ferves, >n him. 3. That it is faid out Grids, and 
 cur forrows, it is not aeedlefly or fuperfluoufly 
 f:t down, bu to meet with the off.nce rhat men 
 take: at Chrifts humbiin; 
 
 he had faid what ailcth 
 
 himfclf lb low ,* As if 
 
 you to (tumble at 
 
 Chiifts coming f J l^w, and being fo afflicted tit 
 
 was not for his own fins, bjt for ours, that he 
 was fo handled ; and they arc called our griefs 
 and forrows, i. vcbyour lins procured 
 
 they were our defervirg, ?nd due tons, 
 the debt was ours, though he as cur fautiucr 
 took it on himfeif.a.Becauie, though theElect have 
 diftinct reckonings, and peculiar (ins, fome moe, 
 fome fewer, icme greater, feme IcfTer, yet they 
 are^ all put on Chrifts account j there is a combi- 
 nation of them, a gatherirg of them alien him, 
 as the word is, verf.6. He hath laid on him , or made 
 to meet on him, theiriqijities of us all. 
 
 The meaning then of the afTerticn is this; fure- 
 ly this is the caufe of Chrifts Humiliation, and 
 this makes hkn not enly to bcccmeMan, but to 
 be a mean poor Man, and have a comfortlefsand 
 afflicted life in the World, that he hath taken on 
 him that punilhment, Curfe and wrath that was 
 due to usfor our fins ; ar.d therefore he ought 
 not to be offended and Humbled at. 
 
 Now becaufe Socinians, the great enemies of 
 Chrifts fatisfaction, and of the comfort oihispeo* 
 pie, labour to elude this place, and to make 
 Chrift only an exemplary Saviour, and d*ny that 
 he really and actually did undergo thefe Griefs 
 and forrows for the fins of the Ekct; We fhall 
 a little clear and confnm the expofiuon we have 
 given » thequeftion is not abcut the taking away 
 of Sin, but about the manner of removing itjThey 
 fay that it is by Gods pardoning of it without a 
 farisfaction;we fay it is by Chrifts fatisfaction;fothe 
 difficulty in expounding the words,is, whether to 
 expound them ofChiifts removing our forrows &: 
 Griefs from us,or of his bearing of them for our 
 fins, and lb really taking it away : And that this 
 S\r pturemeansnotofa fimple removing of them, 
 as he did remove licknefs,iV*rS.i ;.butby a real ta- 
 king thcmonhimfelf, & beaiingof them in order 
 to the fatisfaction of the Juftice of Gcd for our 
 fins ; We lhall give thefe Reafons to confirm 
 it. 1. Becaufe thefe wordsareto be undeiftood 
 of fuch a bearing of forrows and Griefs, as made 
 Chrift to be contemptible and dei'pil'ed before o« 
 fliers ; This is clear from the fcope, for they are 
 given as a Rtalbn why Chrift was rtje&ed and 
 defpifed, as a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted 
 with Grief, and why Men fhould not (Kmblc at 
 him f jr all that, becaufe it was for thtm, Now, 
 if he had only removed ferxows frcm them ** f e 
 did ficknefs, it had not been a caufe of his Sor- 
 ard Grief, nor of any Mans Humbling at 
 h m, but had rather been a cauie of his exaltati- 
 on in mensefteem ? But its given here as a c-ule 
 of that which went before in th< 1 of the 
 
 3. verf. and alfo a uaibn why nun il.culd not 
 ftuinble at him, and withal .is an aggravation it 
 their guilt who d;d Humble at him : Now it's 
 clear that the ground of the Jews defpifing and 
 mocking of him, was 1 emoving of Sick- 
 
 nciTes and DiiVafes, Lut bis fecming to be given 
 U 2 over 
 
 /a 
 
I0O 
 
 over unto Deaths power 2. Becaufe that which 
 is calleJ here, bearing t f forrows and Griefs, is in 
 the words following called, zbtirg wounded fir our 
 which imports not only chat he 
 was wounded, but that our Iniquities were 
 the caufc of his being wounded, and rhac 
 thedefertof them was laid on him. 3. This 
 wounding is hoi Jen forth to be the fir pit 
 whereby we are healed ; tiid ail we like jhetp have 
 gene aftray, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniqui. 
 t.es of m all\ we did the wrong, but he made the 
 amends ; and it was fuch.a wounding as proves 
 a cure to us, and makes way for our pe.ee and 
 reconciliation with God ; and fuch, as with« 
 out it theie is no healing for us, for by hu flripcs 
 we are healed ; its by his fwallowing up of the 
 River and Torrent of Wrath that was incur way, 
 and would have drowned us eternally, had not 
 he intr.rpoled for us, that we efcape. 4. Con- 
 fider tiie parallel places to this in the New Te« 
 ftamenr, and we will find that this place holds 
 outChrifts real and aftual bearing of our forrows 
 and Griefs ; I fliall only name three, The firft 
 is that of the 2 Cor. 5. J I. He hath made him to be 
 fa for us, who knew no fin, that we might be made 
 the righteoufnefs of God in him '•, which can be no 
 other way exponed, but of Chrifts being made 
 an offering and Sacrifice for our fins; He not 
 being a Sinner himfelf, but becoming our Cau- 
 tioner, and engaging to pay our debt, and to 
 tell down the price for the fatisfattion of Divine 
 Juftice ; He is reckoned to be the Sinner, and 
 our fins are imputed to him, and he is dealt 
 with as a Sinner. A 2d. place is that of Gal. 
 3. 13, Cfoift bath redeemed us from the curfe of the 
 law by being made a curfe for w% as it is written, curfed 
 is tvery one that hangeth on a tree ; The forrows 
 and griefs that ifaiah fays here, he fhould bear, 
 are there exponed by the Apoftle, to be his being 
 made a Curfe, or his bearing of the Curfe that 
 we (hould have born ; it's not meant fimply of 
 His reraovingfthe Curfe from us, but (it alfo fets 
 out the manner how he removed it,to wit by his 
 own bearing of it himfelf, being nailed to the 
 Crofs, according to the threatning given out be- 
 fore. The Third place is that of 1 Pet. a. 24. 
 W»o, his ownfelf bare our fins in his own body on tip* 
 tree ; where there is a dirett reference to this 
 place of ifaiah, which is cited for confirmation 
 of what the Apoftle faith, and every word is full, 
 and hath a fpecial fignification and emphafis in 
 it, He his own felf ban\ the fame word that is 
 here, and tier fins and in his own Body, and on 
 the tree ; intimating the loweft ftep of his Hu- 
 miliarion,^ whoje fripes ye were healed, {ox ye were as 
 [hup going aftray &c.By his bearing ofourfins the 
 burden of fin was taken off us, and we ar«fet free. 
 
 Ifaiah Jj. ?"/< 4. 5- ; Serm. 19. 
 
 I know that place of Ua'.th. 8. 17. hath its own 
 difficulty, and therefore I fl.all freak a word for 
 clearing of it i he bath fpeken, verj. 16. of 
 Chrift's healing all that were fi,k, and then fubjoins 
 in the 17. wrj. That it might be fulfilled which was 
 
 jpoken by Ilaias the Puphit, fayirg, oimfelf ttck cur 
 irfirmities and bare our fiknef e s ■ whereupon thefe 
 enemies of Chnft would infer, that tl is place of 
 -Scripture hath no other, nor further meaning, 
 but of Chi ill's curing of fome fick folks, and 
 of the deputed or committed power which he 
 hath to pardon Sins; but we iuppofe thatihe 
 reafons which we have already given, makes it 
 clear, that this cannot bt the meaning of the place, 
 to which we ftaa!l add firft a Reafon or two, and 
 fecendly give y©u the true meaning of it. 
 
 The Reafon why this cannot be the meaning 
 of the place, are l. Becaufe jitls 8. 32. thisScrp- 
 ture is fpoken of as being daily a fulfilling by 
 Chrift, and therefore it could not be fulfilled in 
 thefe few days wherein he wasin the flefh upon 
 Earth. 2. Becaufe this bearing of our Griefs 
 and forrows is fuch a piece of Chrift's Humilia- 
 tion, as thereby he took on all the Griefs and 
 Sorrows of all the £le& at once, both of thefe 
 who lived in Ifaiah his time, and of thefe who 
 lived before, and fince his Time, and therefore 
 cannot be reftri&ed to the curing of Temporal 
 Difeafes in the days wherein he was on Earth, 
 nay, not to the pardoning of the fins of the E" 
 left then living, there being many Eltft before 
 and fince comprehended in this his Satisfaction 
 which was moft certainly a Satisfaction for the fins 
 of thcElect that were dead,and to be born, as well 
 as for the^fins of them that were thenliving. 
 
 2. For the meaning of the place, 1. We are 
 not to look on Chrift's curing cf SickntiTcs and 
 Difeafes, hUtth. 8. 16*. as a proper fulfilling of 
 this place, If*. 73. 4. but as many Scriptures are 
 fpoken by way ofalluficn to other Scriptures, fo 
 is this; there; is indeed fome fulfilling of the 
 one in the other, and feme refemblance betwixt 
 the one and the other, and the refemblance is 
 this, even to fliew Chrift's rendernefs to the cur- 
 ward condition of Folks bodies, whereby he evi- 
 denced hisTendernefs and refpect tothe inward 
 fad condition of their Immortal Souls, wherein- 
 to they were brought through rhtir fin ; the 
 great thing aimed at by the Prophet. 2. If we 
 conlider the Griefs and Sorrows thar Chrift bare 
 and fuffered complexly in their caufe and effects, 
 he in healing of theie Difeafes and ficknefiTes, bare 
 our Griefs, and carried cur forrows, becaufe 
 when he rook on our Debt, he took it on with all 
 theconf quences of it ; and fo, though Chrifr took 
 on no Dileale in his ownperfon, for we read not 
 that he was ever fick, yet in taking on the Debt 
 
 in 
 
Serm/ 19. 
 
 in common of the Elect, he 
 on all licknciTes and Difeafes, or wh3t they fuffc 
 red in the difeafes, or {liquid have fuffcred, he 
 took it on together ', and hereby he had a right, 
 to fpeak fo,to the carrying of all difeafes, 
 and in carrying of them he had refpect 
 to the caufe of them, to wit, Sin » therefore to 
 fuch as he cured, he fays very oftenJ&jK fms be fir- 
 given thee ; he ftudied to remove that in moft cf 
 them he did deal with; and fo looking on our 
 Lord as taking on our Sins complexly, with the 
 caufe, and as having a right to remove all the ef- 
 fects of Sin, evidencing it felfinthe removing of 
 thefe Difeales, whereof Sin was the caufe, thefe 
 words may be thus fulfilled,and fo they are clear, 
 and the Doctrine alfo,we have here no meer ex- 
 emplary Saviour that hath done no more but con- 
 firmed his Doctrine.and given us a copy how to 
 do and behave, but he hath really and actually 
 born out Sorrows andGriefs,& removed ourdebr, 
 by undergoing the punifhment due to usforSin. 
 Obferve here i.That Sm, in no Flefh, no not 
 in the E'ect themfelves, is without Sorrow and 
 Grief; Tribulation and Angu'ifti are knit to it, 
 or it hath thefe following on it ; or take the doc- 
 . trine thus. Wherever there is Sin, there is the 
 % caufe of much Sorrow and Grief; no moiccan 
 the native caufe be without the effect, than Sin 
 can be withoutSorrow and Grief, it's the plain 
 aflertion of Scripture,R«w. 2. 8,9. Indignation and 
 wrath, tribulation and anguijb upon every fet of man 
 that doth evil; which one place, putting the four 
 words together, fays, I. That there is forrow 
 moll certainly.and inseparably on every Soul that 
 hath finned And i.That this Sorrow is exceeding 
 great (which may alfo be the reafon why this 
 Sorrow is fet out in two words in the Text) 
 therefore four words are ufed by the Apoftle to 
 exprefs it : It's not our purpofe here to difpute, 
 
 Ifaiah 5-3. r» r fe 4> *• ici 
 
 virtually tcok Grief on a Sinner that walks contrary to Him 
 than there is in (hewing him Mercy ; and there' 
 is a greater fuitablenefs in his fhewing Alercy 
 to a humbled Sinner, that is aiming to walk 
 holily before Him 3. If we confider the reveal- 
 ed will of God in the Threatning, u ho hath faid 
 the day thou cate/t thou jbklt furely die, We may fay 
 there is,as they fpeak in the Schocla hypothetic k 
 necefiity of grief and forrow to follow on Sin, 
 and that there is a necefTary connexion betwixt 
 them ; and this may very well frand with the 
 Mediator his coming in, and interpofing to take 
 thatGrkf 2nd Sorrow from ofFus,and tolay it on 
 Himfelf; but it was once ouis becaufeof ourSin. 
 
 If it be "asked what Grief and frrrow tl 
 
 US IS : 
 
 We faid it's very great, and there is reafon for 
 it, for though cur aft of Sin. 1. As to the Sub- 
 ject that Sins, Man, And 2. As to the aft of Sin 
 it felf, a finful thought word or deed thatisfoon 
 gone, be fimt \ yet if we confider Sin, f. In 
 refpeft of the Object againft whem, the infinite 
 God. 2.I11 refpect of the abfolute purity of Gods 
 Law, a rule that bears out Gods image fet down 
 by infinite Wifdom and that may be feme way 
 called infinitely pure; and Sin as being againft 
 this pure rule, that infinite Wifdom hath fet 
 down > And 3. If we confider it in refpect of it's 
 nature,every fin being ofthisnature,rhat though 
 it cannot properly wrong the Majcfty of God, 
 yet as to the intention of the thing, and even 
 of t'.e finner.it wrongs him; Sin in thefe refpects 
 may be called infinite, and the wrong done to the 
 Majefty of God thereby, maybe called infinite; 
 as thefe u ho built Babel, their intention in that 
 work breathed forth infinite wrong to God, as 
 having a direct tendency to bring them efffrom 
 dependance on him ; and fo every Sir, if it had 
 its will and intent, would put God in fubordi- 
 nationto it, and fet it felf in His rocm,and therc- 
 whether God in his Jufticedoth by neceflity of fore Sin in fome refpect as to the wrongagaii.il 
 Nature punifh the Sinner ? Thefe three things God is infinite. 
 
 confidcred, will make out the Doctrine, which 2. ObJerve.Thit the real and very great Sorrow 
 is, Th;tthere is a neceflary connexion betwixt that the Jins of the £lect defcrved, urn Lord 
 Sin and forrow, and that this Sorrow muft needs Jefus did really and actually bear and ftiTer • as 
 be very great; 1. If we confider the exceeding we have exponed rhe won!* and cenfirmed the 
 
 unfuitab'enefs of Sin to the holy Law of God.and 
 how it is a direct contrariety to that molt pure 
 and perfect Law. 2. If we confider :he perfectly 
 holy Nature of God himfelf, The righteous Lord 
 faith the Pfalmift, Pjal. 1 1. y.loveth righteuujnefs ; 
 and the Prophet Hab.i 13. fays, He ts of purer eyes 
 than he can behold ivil, and he cannot look upon iniquim 
 ty j Awd though we need not to difyure Gods 
 Sovf raignity,)et it is clear that he is angry with 
 the wicked tvery «4y,Pfal,7.i i,.and ( he will by no means 
 clear the gvMty % Exod. 34* 7. and that there ira 
 greater fuicablenefs in this inflicting Sorrow and 
 
 expefition given of them, ye have a c!e;r confir- 
 mation of the Drctrine from them ; i.Griefi and 
 Sorrows in the plural Number, ilicw intenfnefs of 
 Sorrow and G:icf. 2. That they are called curs/iz 
 fhevvs our propriety in tlum, And 3. That it's 
 faid Chriftt'jr* them ; thefe concur to pioverhr 
 Doctrine; that the fame Sonou- which the fins 
 of the Elect defcrved, Chriir bare j It not only 
 fays, that our Lord bare forrows, bat the fame 
 /orrows, that by the fins of the Elect were due 
 to them, and fo there was a proporcionablciuf'; 
 
So 2 ''*'** 53 
 
 betwixt the Sotiows that he bare, and the Sor- 
 rows they mould have endured » he took up the 
 Cup of Wrath that was filled for us, and that we 
 would have been put to drink, and drank it out 
 himfclf; fuppofe that cur Lord had never died 
 ( asblefled be hi? Name, there is no ground to 
 make the fuppofition ; the Cup of for row that 
 the Ekft would nave drunken eternally, was the 
 fame cup thar he dra> k ou: for them : Iris true, 
 pre would dillinguilh betwixt thefe things that 
 are rjfentially due to fin as the punifliment of it, 
 and thefe things, that are only accidentally due to 
 it ; the former Chrift bare, but not the latter ; 
 To clear both in a word or two, i . Thefe things 
 efTentially due to Sin as neceffarly included in 
 the Threatning. The day tko:i eatcft thou jhalt Jurely 
 die ; and in the curie 'of the Law according to 
 that, Curfsd is every one that abides not in alt things 
 that are written in the book of the L%xo to do them, 
 are Death and the Curfe, thefe are efTentially the 
 defert of Sin ; in which refpeft it was not only 
 necelTary that Chrift ftiould become Man and fuf- 
 fer, but that he mould fuffer to death, or ihould 
 die; and not only fo, but that he Ihould die the 
 curfed death of the Crofs, as the threatning and 
 curfe put together hold out ; and as to all thefe 
 things that he underwent, and met with before, 
 and at his death, they were the accomplifhmenc 
 of the threatning due to us, and fulfilled in and 
 by him in our room ; fo that as he himfelf faith, 
 Luke 24. 16. O fools and JJoro of heart to believe all 
 that the Prophets have (poken, ought not Chrift to have 
 fufiered thefe things, and to have entered into his glory? 
 therefore he behoved to be in an Agony, and to 
 fweat great drops of Blood, to be crucified, and 
 die, and to be laid in the Grave. 2. Thefe things 
 which we call accidentally due to Sin, are 
 mainly two. r. That horrible defperation of 
 the damned in hell, where they gnaw their 
 Tongues for pain, and bhfpheme God ; This 
 We fay is not properly and eilentially the defert 
 of Cm, but only accidental. 1. In refpect of the 
 Creatures inability to bear the wrath that fin de- 
 fervech. and hence arifeth not only a finlefs hor- 
 rour which is natural, but a finful defperation. 
 2. AdJto this inability of the Creature, the en- 
 mity thereof, whereby it cemethto thwart with 
 a-id contradift the will of Gcd, hence the def- 
 peration notonly arifeth, but is increafed i Now, 
 ouiLordJcfus notbeing limply aCreature oraMan 
 but God a.:dMan inonePerfon,he wasabie to bear 
 the forrow & wrath due to theElett for thsir.Sin; 
 and there being no quarrel, norground of any 
 quarrel, betwixt God, & him on his own account, 
 though he had a natural and finlefs honour at 
 the Cup of his Fathers difpieafure, when put to 
 
 l **>/ : , farm. 19 
 
 his head; yet he had no finful defperation. The 
 id. thing accidentally due to Sin, is the eter- 
 nal duration of the wrath or of the curfe, becaufe 
 the Sinner being a meer crearure, cannot at One 
 ftiok-? meet with the infinite Wrath ofGod.antl 
 fatisfie Juftice at once, therefore the Lord hath 
 in his Wifdom and Juftice found out a way of 
 fupporting the Creature in its beeing, and con- 
 tinuing itfor ever under wrath, becaufe itcan- 
 nor, being finir, fatiifie infinit Juflice : But our 
 Lord being God and man, being of infinit worth 
 or value, and of infinite ftrcngth, was alfo to 
 fati<fie juftice, and bear at once, that which the 
 Elect could ntver have born ; yet he had the ef- 
 fentials of that which Sindcfcrved, to wir, death 
 and the curfe to meet with, a;;d did actually meet 
 with them, as the hiding of his Fathers face, and 
 the fufpending and keeping back of that confo- 
 lation, that by vertuc of the perfonal union 
 flowed from the God-head to the Man-head ; 
 And he alfo had the actual fenfe and feeling of. 
 the wrath of God, the awaked fword of thejuo 
 fticeofGcd actually fmiting him -, fo that Men 
 wondered how he could be dead fo foon. We 
 mail only add a word or two of reafons for clea- 
 ring and confirming the Doctrine; and for proof 
 of ir, thefe three things concur, 1. That Sins 
 defervingby God's appointment, is to have for- 
 row following on it. 2. That by God's appoint* 
 ment according to the Covenant of Redempti- 
 on 3 theSonof God undertook thatfame.very debt 
 that was due by the Elect. And 3. That it was 
 God's defign not to pafs one of their fins, with- 
 out fatisfattion made to Juftice, but to put at the 
 Cautioner for them all ; for the declaration of 
 the riches and glory of the free grace of God, 
 when the finner is liberate,and not put to pay ; 
 And for the declaration of the holy feverityancl 
 juftice ofGod, when not one farthing is owing, 
 but the Cautioner mult needs pay it, and that 
 both thefe meeting together, there may be to all 
 generations a Handing and fhining evidence of 
 the unfearchable riches both of Gods Grace and 
 of his Juftice. 
 
 This is a fweet Doctrine, and hath many maf* 
 fis fubftantial, and foul-refrefhing ufe<: Out of 
 this cater comes meat, and out of the ftrcng 
 comes fweer,This being the very Marrow of the 
 Gofpel, holding out notonly Chnfts fufFerings, 
 but that he fuffered not it random, or by 
 guefs, but that he fuiT.red the forrows and griefs 
 that we mould hive fuffered ; and though the e- 
 quivalent might have been received, yet he would 
 needs undergo the fame fufFerings in their 
 e I'ientials : Which mey exceedingly confirm 
 
 the 
 
 
Serm? ao. Ifaiah 53. Verfe 4, e. 
 
 the Faith and Hope of Believers in him,of their is a Jieaping up in (lore for you. 
 
 exemption and freedom from the wrath and curfe 
 
 of God, feing he fuffered the fame that they 
 
 e lame tnat 
 fhould have fuffered, had not he interpofed be 
 twist them and it, as their Cantioner and furety. 
 
 Ufe 1. Hereby we may know what an evil and 
 bitrer thing Sin is, that hath fuch tffects;Would 
 God we could once prevail this far with you, as 
 to make you take up and believe, that fin hath 
 forrow and grief infeparably knit to it, and that 
 the Sinner is miferable and liable to death, and 
 to the curfe of God, and there is no difference 
 but this, that Sinners are infenfible how mifera 
 b!e they are, and fo in greater capacity to b 
 made obnoxious to that mifery, Do ye mind 
 this, O finners, that God is angry with you every 
 day} Thar indignation and wrath, tribulation and 
 anguijl), is to every foul of man that does evil ? That 
 God will by no ?neans clear the guilty? Tremble to 
 think upon it ; Many of you pafs as gay honeft 
 folks who will be found in this Roll; And would 
 ye know your condition, and the hazard that 
 ye tun ? It's of wrath and the curfe of God 
 eternally with defperation and blafphemy ; And 
 if that be mifery,ftn is mifery,or brings it; And 
 the day comes when there fliall be a {form from 
 Heaven of Fire and Thunder, that will melt the 
 Elements above you, and not leave aftoneupon 
 (tone of rhefe (htely buildings on earth about 
 you i in which day finners will be confirmed in 
 the belief of this truth, That it is an evil and bit- 
 ter thing to -depart from the living God. 
 
 To prefsthis Ufe a little ; There are two forts 
 of finners, who, if they would foberly let the 
 truth of this Doctrine (ink in their minds, they 
 would fee their folly : The 1. fort are thefe who 
 ly quietly under bygone guilt unrepen'ed of, as 
 iFthe forrow were paft, becaufe the Act is fo, 
 but think not fo, will the juft God avenge fin on 
 hisSon, and wiil he let it pafs in you? Ye that 
 will grant ye are finners, and are under convic- 
 tions of fin, ye had need to take heed what is 
 following it ; As ye treafureup fin, ye are trea. 
 firing up wrath againfl the day of wrath ; O wrath 
 
 103 
 
 A 2 fort are 
 thefe that go on in fin whatever be laid to the 
 effects of it; and will confidently put theirhand 
 to it as if there were no fting in it at all, and 
 drink it ovet*as fo muchfweet liquor, but thefe 
 ftoln drinks ti at feem fweet in l'ecret, will be 
 vomited up again with pain, torment and for- 
 row: and either it fball be grief and forrow to 
 you in the way of repentance, or eternal grief 
 and forrow, when the cup of Gods wrath lhall 
 be put in your hand, and held to your head for 
 evermore. 
 
 Ufe 2.By this ye may fee a neceflity of making 
 s ufe of the Mediator Chrift Jefus ; It's Gcds great 
 mercy that he hath given a Mediator, and that 
 the Mediator is come, and that he hath taken on 
 our debt; What had been our eternal perilling 
 and wallowing in Hells torments with Devils, 
 to his fufferings ? Always this Doftrine faith, 
 that there is a neceffity of making ufe of him, 
 and receiving of him ; And therefore either re- 
 folve to meet with this forrow in your own 
 perfons, or betake you to him, that by his in- 
 terpofing it may be kept off you , Weigh thefe 
 two, that forrow, death, and the curfe necefTari- 
 ly follow fin ; And that Jefus Chrift hath died 
 and undergone that curfe for the ele& finners, and 
 then ye will fee a neceffity of being found in 
 him, that ye may be free of the curie ; Which 
 made Paa/make that choife, Pbil^.tf. J count all 
 things dung that I way win Cbrijt, and be found in 
 him. Oft times the allurements of the Gofpe 
 prevails not to bring Sinners to Chrifr,but if it's 
 allurements do not prevail, will not the confix 
 deration of the vengeance of God perfwadeyou? 
 However in thefe two Dottrines ye have in funi 
 this, the curfe of God following fm, and a free 
 and full Saviour hoiden out to you, by whom 
 ye may evite the curfe, ye are invited to make 
 him welcome j Choofe you, dearh and life are 
 fet before you, whsreby youare put to ir,whe- 
 ther ye will adventure to meet with the curfe, 
 or to make him welcome i Now God himfelf 
 make you wile to make the right choife- 
 
 SRMON. XX. 
 
 ISAIAH; UII. IV, V. 
 
 Veif. 4- Surely he hath horn our griejs t and carried our Jorrows : yet we did efleem him Srieken, ftmttsn (J 
 
 God, and affiled. 
 VerC 5. But he taas wounded for our tranJgre£ions,he was bruifed for our iniquities: the chaflifemtnt of our pare 
 
 was upon hint, and with his fir ipes we are healed, 
 
 IF we had the Faith of that which the Pro- ftonimment at the hearing of it ; That it's he 
 phet fpeaks here, and the through con- who is the Prince of life, that was bruii'cJ 
 vi&ion, who it is of whom he fpeaks, we would and wounded, and that thefc bruilc5, wour.Js 
 be in a holy uanfpojr, of admjr.au°a and *: u\& 
 
5- 4 ifaiab e 5 
 
 -ii and ftrlpes arc ours,were for us.and the 
 price and fatisfnction for our iniquities to Di- 
 vine Jutficc ; And yet that even he in the per- 
 forming of all tiiis,is vilipended and defpifed by 
 tho'e, whole good he is thus pursuing 2nd 
 jg after, oil how should it be wondered 
 at ! 
 
 Thefe words ( as we fhew ) hold forth thefe 
 three, l.The caufe or end of Ch rifts fuffenng 
 furelybe bath lorn our griefs, and carried our forrows-, 
 which is ro remove andtafce'away thefcandal chat 
 might arife fiom Chrift's H.imiliaticn, difcribrd 
 in the foregoing words; He was low inJeed,but 
 tfiere was no guile found in his mouth ; ic was 
 for no quarrel that God had at himfelf, but he 
 undertook oik debt, *and therefore carried our 
 ftrrows. 1. The aggravation of mensermity 
 and defperate wickednefs, that yet notwithstand- 
 ing of all this, We cfieemed him fmUttn of God, and 
 affiiSed.y.We have the expofition o! thefirft part 
 more clearly fet down, But he-was wounded for our 
 tranfgrtffions, he was brui'ed for our Iniquities, &C. 
 Where more fully he expounds what in the be- 
 ginning of the 4 v. he Dll=rted. 
 
 We exponded the firft part of the words, and 
 fhew thai thefe grbfs and fcrrows held forth 
 the due defert of fin, called ours, b^caufe they 
 are the due and particular defert of our fins, and 
 that which they procured, and thatChrifts bear- 
 ing of them, was not only meant of his taking 
 away, or removing from us of forrows and 
 griefs, as he did difeafes, but of his real under- 
 going cf that which we fhould have undergone, 
 even fuch a bearing as made ethers think him 
 fmitten andphgued of God, and fuch as woun- 
 ded and bruifed him, even fuch as made him be- 
 come ? curfe for us, and fuchas procured heal- 
 ing to us ; All which proves that it was a real 
 undergoing of forrow and grief. 
 
 We fpoke to two Docrrines from this part, 
 i» That fin hath forrow necelTarily knit ro it, and 
 never wanteth fonow following it. 1. That 
 Ch ift Jelus undertook the fame forrows and 
 really bare thefe fame briefs that fin procu- 
 red to the Elect, or that by fin were due to 
 them. 
 
 That we may proceed to obferve fomewhat 
 more, and for clearer accefsto the Doctrine, we 
 fhall fpeak a word to a Queftion that may be 
 moved here. 
 
 What is meant by t^efe words, our, we and 
 us? He hath bornavf gr'cfs, the Lord hath laid 
 on him the iniquity of -us all, by his ftripes we 
 ace healed? And tfee rather f would fp?ak to 
 this, becaufe throughout the Chapter we wifj 
 fmd thefe Pronouns very frequent. We know in 
 
 Km 4, ?• Serm. 50. 
 
 i'ripture our and us are fomerimes extended to 
 all mankind, fo we are all loir, in Adam, and fin 
 hath a dominion over :./ all ; And that part cf 
 the woids vtf. 6. All we lib (beep have gone aflray, 
 may well be extended to all mankind : Somd 
 t mes it is to be reftnettd to God's Elect, and 
 fo ^comprehends only fuch and all fuch; And 
 in this refptct cur, us and ve, and all, are con- 
 tradiftmguifhed from many others in theWorld, 
 and take net in all men, as G.i/. 4. 26 Jerufalem 
 which U above is fee % which is the mother of tu aO • 
 Which is fpoken in oppofitionto the bond wol 
 man and her children fpoken of before ; So that 
 thisowr, us and »rf, arc not to be extended to all 
 individual men in the World, a^ if Chrift: had 
 fatisfied the Juftice of God for all, but it is to 
 be applied to Gods Elect, feparate in his purpofe 
 from others, and in Godsdelign appointed to be 
 redeemed and fatisfied for by Chrift ; And the 
 words being thus expounded, they lead us to this 
 Docrrine,thatJefus Chrift in bearing the punifh- 
 menc of (in, had a particular and diftinct refpect 
 to fome definite finners . for confirmation of it, 
 we mall not go out of the Chapter, the fcope' 
 whereof we would clear a little \ And if we look 
 thorow the Chapter, we will find five grounds 
 to clear that thefe words are to be thus reftric* 
 ted. 
 
 For. 1. We are to expound this univerfal with 
 refpect to Gods purpofe and Covenant, theccn- 
 tnvance of the Elects Redemption, and to the 
 death of Chrift, the execution of it,and fo thefe 
 words our, us, we, all, are and muft.be reftricted 
 to thefe, and in them we are to find out, who 
 they are : Now whofe thefe are, we find clear, 
 John 6. 37, 39. In the 37. v. where he faith, All 
 that the Father hath given me jbail come untome,And 
 ^. -jo. This is the Fathers will which hath fent me ,t hat 
 of all which he hath given mi I foould lofe nothing*-, it's 
 in a word thefe whom the Father hath given to 
 Chrift, and as many as are given will Relieve : 
 And certainly thele that are given to Chrift to 
 be redeemed by him, are the fame whofe ini- 
 quties the Father makes to meet on him j And 
 thefe are diftinguifhed from thefe not given, 
 John 17. 6, 11. And are called his jheep, Joh. 10. 1 /+ 
 and 17. Therefore doth my Father love me, b'caufc I 
 lay down my life, to wit, for my fheep. And all 
 the ftrain of this Chapter being to fhew Gods 
 way of contriving and profecuring the woikof 
 Redemption, and Chrifts executing thereof, ac- 
 cording to the Covenant of Redemption ; All 
 tkis fpoken of Chrifts fufftring muff be expoun- 
 ded according to that injjagement; 2. Whereas 
 ic isfaid, V, 8. For the tranfyefftint of my people was 
 he fir liken-, \r is certain, th's our and w and we 
 
 for 
 
Serm. to.' A . . A V«' h *3- 
 
 for whom Chrift was ftncken, muft we be re- 
 {bitted to Gods people; That is his peculiar peo- 
 ple who are his by elefting love as Chrift faith, 
 loh 17 6. Poine they were, and thou 'gavefl 
 them to me ; They are not his, as all the world 
 ire his, but are contradiftinguifhed from the 
 world as his own peculiar, purpofed, defigned 
 people i Sure all the world are not Gods people 
 in this fenfe, therefore they are called his [beep f 
 and contradiftinguifhed from thefe who are not 
 his fheep, John 10. 17. And therefore we are to 
 look on thefe words, our, us, and we, as of equi- 
 valent extent with the peculiar people of 
 God *, He carried the punifhment of the fins of 
 all Gods people that are his peculiar Eieai- 
 on 3 So v. <o. When thou {halt make his foul 
 an of ring for fit, he jbuBfee his feed ; Hence we ga- 
 ther this th t thefe whole iniquities Chrift bare, 
 are Chrilb feed* a^d for thefe he purpofely laid 
 down his Life, as thefe whom he expeQed 
 fhould be faved for faiisfying of him for the tra- 
 vel of his Soul, and for no moe s and thefe cannot 
 certainly be'all the world.there being fuch con* 
 tradiftin&ion betwixt Chrift Myftical, or his 
 Seed comprehending the Eleft, and the Seed of 
 the Serpent comprehending the Reprobate and 
 Wicked, who are faid to be of their Father the 
 Devil ; Thefe are ChriftsSeed who are fpiritual- 
 ]y begotten of him, and thefe doubtlefsare not 
 all the World, and for thefe only he fuffered i 
 So that our fins here, are the fins of all the 
 Seed. 4. Look tot;. II. where it is faid, By his 
 knowledge [ball my righteous ftrv ant jafti fie many ; for 
 he frail bear their iniquities ; Where it is clear, 
 whofe fins they are that Chrift bears; its 
 theirs who are juftified by his knowledge, or 
 by faith in his blood, and juftification by faith 
 in his blood, and redemption by his blood, 
 are commenfurable, and of equal extent; Now, 
 it being certain as to the even*-, that not all the 
 World, nor all in the vifible Church, are jufti- 
 fied by' the faith cf Chrift, it muft alfo be cer- 
 tain, thatthe fins of others who are not, norfhall 
 not be juftified, were never purpofely born by 
 Chrift : And this ground, as all the reft, will be 
 the more clear, if weconfider that it is given as 
 an Argument why they muft be juftified.becaufc 
 he hath born their Iniquities. A 5. ground may 
 be gathered from the Jaft words of the Chapter, 
 He made intercept for the trjfifgrffirs ; Whence we 
 may reafon, that Chi ill's interceflion «nd his 
 fatisfa&ion, are of equal extern, he latis ; es for 
 no moe than he inteiceeds for; Now, it was 
 not for all the World, nor indefinitely and by 
 guefs for all in the vifible Church that Chrift did 
 interceed, but for them that the father had given 
 
 105 
 
 rcrjei, J. 
 
 him out of the world, John 17. m, 9. an( J v $ 
 Thine they were, and thou gave ft them me , And m\ 
 lo. M mine are thine, and thine are mine ; Chrift's 
 death being the ground of bis interceflion, and 
 it being by vertue of his death that heintercee- 
 ded, his death and intercefllon muft be of the 
 fame extent ; He interceeeds for fuch ard fuch 
 finners, becaufe he ruth payed a price for them, 
 that there may be a gcod account made of then* 
 at the laft day. 
 
 The 1. XJfe of it ferves ro clear a great and 
 precious truthconcerning Gods Covenant, and 
 difcriminating love, whereby he hath put diffe- 
 rence betwixt feme and others, a It ferves to frit 
 them up who are thus differeRced, to admire 
 at, and to commend his lore, who hath been 
 gracioufly mindful of thetn, when others are paft 
 by. 3 It ferves alfo to the clear other Scriptures, 
 & this fameChapter,and to teach us not to make 
 common to all, the privileges bellowed on 
 fome peculiar ones ; and to guard us againfl 
 the vilifying and prophaning of our Lords fuf» 
 ferings,as if he had no fpecialand peculiar defign 
 in them, or as if they might be fruftrated in 
 the defign of them, contrary to the promife made 
 to him of the Father, 
 
 And therefore here to obviate an Obje&iof* 
 which is made frcm the 6 verfe, All we like Jbtep 
 have gone aftray ; Whence fome would infer, that 
 it's all who like ftieep have ftrayed, whofe ini- 
 quities Chrift hath born ; We fay. That that 
 JU is not meant to comprehend them whofe 
 Iniquities Chrift hath born only, but to holJ 
 out the extent of ftraying ; or the meaning if 
 not, to (hew that his fuffering and fatisfying of 
 Juftice, extended to all that ftrayed ; but to fhew 
 that the Elecl for whom he fuffered, had all of 
 them ftrayed, as well as others ; And this is like 
 the reafoning which the Apoftle hath, 3 C.r. c. 
 14. // one died for sl/ t then were all dead ; the 
 meaning whereof is not, that Ghrift died for all 
 that were de?d, but this is the meaning, that all 
 for whom Chri£ iiied were once dead : lb here 
 while irs faid, 'M we like [hce? have {One aftr.iy ; It 
 is to fhew &*t the Elccl ftrayed "and eft eemed 
 him not as well as others, and had Geds curfe 
 lying on them as their due, till Chrift ir 
 fed and took it off them as well as others- The 
 point might have alfo UCc for Confirnutiui, but 
 wc do not follow thefe. 
 
 2. Surely he hath born our g'itfr, and tarried our 
 ftrrews. that is cur griefs and lbrrows who are his 
 Elefr, his people, his Seed, who flee m him 
 lor refuge, and are juftified by his know- 
 ledge, or by Faith in him, and for whom lie 
 cth intcrctflion ; Hence Obferve, the Belie- 
 P vers 
 
*ers would endeavour the firengthening of 
 themfelves in the Faith of this, that Jefus ChYift 
 hath born their griefs rind forrovvs, and hath fa" 
 tisfied Juttice for them in particular* they would 
 ftudy to be in cafe on good grounJ with the pro- 
 phet, to fay, Surely he hith far/i o-tr e,ri<fs, and car* 
 ried our Sorrows ; To make it fure that they are in 
 the Roll of Elcft Believers, and Jufnfitd Perfons; 
 To fay with rhe Apoftle Paul. Gal 3.' j. Ha tons 
 made a cwfe for us ; And with the fame Apoftle, 
 2 Cor. 5. «/:. to fay, He was made fin for us y that we 
 might be made the right ecufiir Is of God in him ; And 
 to fay wi'h the ApoftiePmr, 1 Pet. 1.24. Wloohis 
 cwnfelfbare our fins in bis own body on the tree ; they 
 fpeak alwayes by way of application ; So t-hefe 
 places wh?reby we confirmed the Dn£trine,that 
 Chrift really baret^ar punifhment of the fins of 
 the Eleft areexprefsin anapplicatory way: And 
 that notable place, G.W.2,20. Where,as if it Were 
 not enough ro fay, he loved us, and gave him- 
 felf for us ; he draws it nearer and more hcme,and 
 faith Who loved mt, and gave himj elf for me ; But 
 that ye may not mifrake the point, my meaning^ 
 is nor, that every body offhand mould make ap- 
 plication of (Thrifts death; O ! the prefumption 
 and defperate fecuriry thatdeftroys thoufands of 
 fouls here; as if there were no fuch diftinftion 
 as we held forth in the fir ft Doftrine, nor any 
 Barr to be put in the way of that fancied uni- 
 verfal application ofChrifts dying for all Tinners; 
 "whereas we (hew that it wjs for his iheep, and 
 thefe given to him of the Father only, that he 
 died, and for no moe; But this is my meaning, 
 that ( as it is, 1 Pet. 1. lo. ) ye wouldgive dili- 
 gence to make your calling and elecjion fure, and that 
 in an orderly way ye would fecure and ficker 
 your int^relt in Chrifts death ; Notto make this 
 the firft thing that ye apprehended for the foun- 
 dation of your Fai'h ; that he died for you in 
 particular, for that were to come to the top of 
 the Stairs, before ye beg ; n to Ctt foot on the 
 firft ftep ; But the orderly way is to make fure 
 your fleeing to Chrilt in the fenfe of fin, and 
 your clofing with him on his own terms, and 
 your having the Characters of his people ingra- 
 ven on you : And then from fuch nremifes,ye 
 may draw this ronclufion as the refuk thereof, 
 Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our ft now si 
 T" en ye may be fati<-iitdly confirm d in rfiif, 
 that when Chrift transaih d and bargained with 
 the Father about the Elect, when he prayed, 
 aiid took rhe Cup of his Fathers wrath ;.hd 
 drank it out for them, he minded your names. 
 and was n adeacurfe in your room: Thereafcn 
 is drawn from me advantage of fuch 1 Doctrine, 
 as having hanging on it the conflation, of all 
 
 kno 
 
 4» ?• C 
 
 the pmmifeSQf God ; for we can neve/cTmfoT- 
 tibly apply, nor be delighted in the promifes, 
 Come to make particular application of 
 S purpofe and pui chafe in the wo.k ofRe- 
 ckmp -ion : This is it that rids March's, and 
 draws a Line betwixt us and reprobate ungodly 
 men,and that keeps from the fear of eternal death 
 thir pmAics them ; And it gives fome ground 
 of hop. to lay hold on, and grip to as to our en- 
 joying of Chriftj purchafe, I know there is 
 nothing that f Ik had more need to befober and 
 warry in the fearch of,and in the fecuring them- 
 Hlves in, than this; yet by the fame Command 
 that lnjoyncth us to make our Covenant ftate. 
 our Calling and Election fure, we are bound to 
 make our Redemption fure: And having at 
 lome length fpoken of rhe way of making fure 
 our facJievmg , on the I. w.We may infift the 
 ^ on this, of making fure our Redemption by 
 Chrift. J 
 
 The 1. Ufe&rvcs for Information"; To let you 
 ■0 iv; That there are many profiling Chrifti- 
 ans, that account this a curious, nice, ,ndcon- 
 ceuy thing, to ftudy to be fure, and to make it 
 lure that Chnft in his death and fufFcrings 
 minded them in particuV ; Others may be think 
 itimpofiible; And all may think it a right hard 
 and difficult thing, and indeed fo it \s ; But yet 
 we would have you to confider, 1 That fimply 
 it is not impdfljbie, cKe welhould fay, that the 
 comfort of the people of God were impoffible.. 
 2. Thar it is no curious thing,for the Lord doth 
 not lay the obligation to curicfity on any , though 
 we would wiflithat many had a holy curiofity 
 to know God's mind towards them, that they 
 might not iive in the dark about fuch a concern- 
 ing bulinefs. " 5. That the fecret cf the Lord is with 
 them that fear him, Pfal.25.i4. And even thisfame 
 fecret concerning Redemption is with rhem,**^ 
 he will fh'wshtm his Covenant : And indeed it were 
 no fmall matter to have this manifefted. 
 
 And therefore asa i.XJJe ofthe point,We Would 
 commend to you the ftiidy of making thisfurei 
 for it hath many notabk advantages attending 
 it : it would provoke to humility,and fo thank- 
 ful it fs to him that loved us, and rtpfbed (is from our 
 Jins in his own £W;It would make a comfortable 
 and chearful Chriftian lif; ; It wou d warm the 
 heart wirh love toGod 6c toJefusChrift who hath 
 thus loved us as to give him '"elf for us : When 
 we commend this ro you,i \s no unccuth.nice, 
 nerdlefly curiom, tv unattainable thing nor 
 would we have ynu when ye cannot attain it, 
 to iir d"wn difcouraged: neither wculd w-e have 
 you take any extraordinary way to cor^e by h ; 
 
 nor 
 
Scrm. 10. • v ; . J*' 1 *l Vtrfi H?: 
 
 nor waiting for any new light but that Which is 
 in the Biblej nor would we have you re- 
 folvin<* to do no other thing till ye attam to 
 this : °Buc this we would have you to do, even 
 to make Faith in Chrift fure, by fleeing to him, 
 andcafting your burden on hip, by cordial re- 
 ceiving of him, and acquiefcing in him ; and 
 then ye make all fure; The committing ofyour 
 felves to him to bs faved by his price payed to 
 Divine Juftice, and refting on him as he is 
 holden out in the Gofpel, is the way %o read 
 your intereft in his Redemption : And this is 
 it that we have Gal 3, and 2. 19. Where it is 
 difputed at length,thatwe are Heirs of Abraham 
 by believing, and by the Law (faith the apoftle ) 
 / am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God ; / 
 am crucf.ed with Chrifl, nevtrthdefs 1 live, yet not /, 
 bat Chris! lives' in me, and the life which J live in the 
 pif) it by the Faith of the Son of God: Hence he con- 
 cludes, Who loved me, and gave himjelfjor me;And 
 this he proves in the laft words, / dt not fruslrate 
 
 the grace of God, I do not difappoint it, I mar it 
 not in its end and defign ; It is (as if he had 
 faid) feeking a loft finner to fave, and I give 
 ita'loft finner to be faved ; For though God's 
 Decree be the firft ftep to Salvation.Sc the work 
 ofRedemprion follows on it,and then believing 
 on bjth j yet to come to the knowledge of Gods 
 Decree of Election, and of our concern in the 
 Covenant of Redemption, we lock downward, 
 and feek firft to know,if we have a right to make 
 application of that which was thought .upon 
 long lince concerning us; and this we do by re- 
 flecting on the way we have come to believing : 
 
 1 of 
 
 th in new-obedience? Thefe two, 
 Faith and Bolinefs are the Pillars that bear up 
 the Houfe of AiTurance ; Working and not reft" 
 ing on it, believing and yet not growing vain 
 and light becaufe of it, but lb much the rather 
 fludying Holinefs : And to go on betwixt and 
 with thefe two, till we come to read God's mind 
 about our election 2nd Redemption ; For nei-- 
 ther Bslieving nor Halinefs can make any alte- 
 ration in the bargain of Redemption, yet it will 
 warrand our application of th; bargain, & clear 
 our inter eft in it : as the Apoftle Peter plainly 
 infmuats when he thus exhorts, Give diligence f 
 make your calling and eleBion fure ; How is that? 
 Will diligence make God altei his decree ofE- 
 le&icn, or make it any furer in it felf ? No, by* 
 no means, but it will affure us of it ; For by J'o 
 doing an entrance [hall bemimf.r:d unto us abundantly 
 into his everlajling Kingdom ; by giving all diligence 
 to add one grace to another,and one degree of 
 grace to another, there Ihall be a wide door ope* 
 red to us to go into Heaven by ; And there is 
 no Hazard in commending this Doftrine to you 
 all, even thaftftudy of Faith and Holinefs,tbere« 
 by to come jo the knowledge of Gods Secret 
 Council cofirerning ycu. 
 
 And the/efore as a third Ufe of this point,know 
 that all of you that prejudge your felves of this 
 comfort ofyour intereft in Chrifts purchafe, do 
 bring the blame cf it on your felves, If any 
 lhall proplunely tbject, ifGod hath purpofed, Co 
 many fhall get good of Chrifts iufFerings, and 
 no moe, what will my Faith and Holinefs do, 
 if I be not elected ? And what can my unbelief 
 
 If we have been convinced and made (enfible of and negligence prejudge me, if I beek&edrWe 
 
 fin, and of our loft condition by nature, if we 
 
 have not fmothercd that conviction but chsrifb- 
 
 ed it, if we have not run to this or that duty for 
 
 fatist'ying of Divine Juftice, and for making of 
 
 our peace thereby, but were neceflitate to b -take 
 
 our felves to Jefus Chrift made offer cf in the 
 
 Gofpel fo» the Salvation of Sinner?, and if we 
 
 have cloied with him as he was offered ". And 
 
 if we have done fo, we may thence con* 
 
 elude that he hath loved us, and given himfeli 
 
 to fave w : Becaufe he hath humbkd me for fin 
 
 ( may the fericus foul fay ) and given me this 
 
 faith to believe in him; arid this is his prom;fe 
 
 which 1 reft upon, that I fhall be faved.Or thou 
 
 mayeft try thy intereft in his Redemption thus ; 
 
 Whether am I one of Gods people or no ? 
 
 Whether do I walk like the in ? and fo go 
 thorovv the marks and ligns of holinefs, asking 
 thy (^^, What fincerity is there in me? What 
 Mortification? What Humility, Meeknefs, 
 Love r,o God and hi$ Children , p And whac 
 
 (hew in the fojmei U>, what Faith and Holinefs 
 will do ; and wet, ell you here, what yonr un- 
 belief and negligence will co, and it's this, it 
 will feclude ycu from all the bkflings of 
 Covenant, and bring you under thefentenceof 
 condemnation \ for as the conditional promile* 
 looks to the Believer and u»believer ; and fo it 
 is not Chrift s puichail*,nor the difference God 
 hath nude in his purpofe of election, that is the 
 caufe why yc «re damned and not jufrified; But 
 ye are damned, bee ufe ye tranfgreflfed ( 
 Law.Scwhen: .iv.rion waw jflcred to you through 
 Chrift, ye wcuU not ckle with the effer ; 
 And yc are net juftified, becaufe ye betook 
 not your felves to Inn-, for righxeQUlncJs, but 
 con r inued in your lin 2nd in itcking rigrueoilf- 
 nefs by the. Law : For b this uni 
 
 be not true, Tba: Chnft vitn\ yet this 
 
 Universalis truj 'mare ah hat by 
 
 iiwittjr 
 
 ? i J two 
 
.05 
 
 Jfaial 
 
 J t*^oare put together, Jok.9.%7. AU that the Ft- 
 thtr hath given mejhalltome unto me, and him that 
 cometh I will m no wi[e catt cut ; For I crnnt down 
 fronHeavtn t not to do my own will, but tht Fathers 
 -mill that lent me ; If itfhould be asked : what is 
 the Fathers will? He anfwers, This tithe Fit hers 
 -mill $fat fentmt, that of .1! I that he hath given me I 
 ng \ There are (a:, if he had faid ) 
 feme cc mmitttd ro ire to be redeemed by me, 
 and I will lofe none c ftnem : And 1ft it : 
 
 oljcSed, but I wet nor, if I be given to 
 Chi ill to be redeemed by him ; He i&ds t Andftit 
 is tht will of him 1b.1t fent n,e, that every one that ft* 
 t:h theSm, and believetb oh bim f may* have Cvtrfdfi* 
 irghfe: In which words, we have two wills, 
 to fay fo, both having the fame promife and ef- 
 fect* the firft relates to the lecre- paction of Re- 
 demption. r wf;'.3y- And the fee- nd is hisrevea 1 * 
 ed will pointing at cur duty, ver.^o. And foif 
 any fhould lay,f know net if I be given to Chrift, 
 I know not ir I be elected ; This ant wer is here 
 givcn.What isthatroth.ee ? It's not to be fe arch- 
 ed into at the firft hand, and broken in upon 
 per jaltum, and at the broad fide ; That is God's 
 fecret will, and (hat which is his revealed will 
 belongs to thee, and that is, to fee that thou be- 
 lieve, and if thcu bel ev-.ft, the fame promife 
 that is annexed to believing is annexed to electi* 
 en, and they fueetlytrylt together, and are of 
 equal extent, to wit, believing and to be given 
 to Chrift: And therefore let me commend it to 
 you,to hold y cu content with Gods revealed will 
 fcr it is not the ground of your Faith, I mean as 
 to ir/sfirft clofmg with Chrift,That of all given 
 to Chrift, he fhall lofe none ; But this is the 
 ground of it, That every one thatfeeth the Son, 
 and believeth on him, (hall have everlafting life; 
 And we may add this word 3s one motive amongft 
 others to Faith and Holinefs,that by your fludy- 
 ing of thefe ye may turn over the words of the 
 Prophet here to yourfelves, andfas purely he hath 
 born our griefs and carried cur fcrrows ; And that of 
 the Apoftle, Gal.2. Who loved me, and gave himfelf 
 for mo ; Alfo, that word of Peter cited before, Hit 
 
 •wnjtlfbart our fis inhs own btdf iff tht tree; And 
 O ! what confolation is there ? 
 
 The 4 uft of it is, to commend the practice 
 of this to die Believer that hath indeed fled to 
 JefLS Chrift; And tofhew the great priviledge 
 that they have who are fuch : The practice of it 
 is, that Believers mould leek to be eftablifoed 
 and confirmed in the particuiar application of 
 Chiifts Dtarh tothemfelves not only to know 
 thatheiuffered for the Elect and for belie vers, 
 but for them in paiticular, that as it is Hcb. 4. 
 16. They may come w.th boldnefs m the Throne of God, 
 and confidently aftert their mreaft; And as it is 
 Hcb. 6. They may grew up to the full a fur mice of 
 hope -unto the end. We fuppoie there are many be- 
 lieversthat dar not difclaim the covenant,& their 
 intereft in Chrift, who yet are fearful to make 
 this particular application, Jcftu Chrift hath loved 
 me, and given kmjdffor me ; But if they could 
 knit the effects, with the caufe frcm whence they 
 came, they might attain to it ; forcheman that 
 can fay I am fled to Chrift for refuge, he may 
 alfo fay, that hepurpofely laid down hislife to 
 pay my debt ; And he is warranded of Chrift to 
 make this application of his partieularintention 
 towards him : Upon the other fide, the more 
 confolaticn be in this to Believers, It fpeaks the 
 greater ground ofterrour to unbelievers.becaufe 
 of the prejudice they fuftain by the want of this; 
 And as many of y ou as make not Faith and Hoii- 
 nefs your ftudy, yely out of the reach of this 
 confolation thar flows from Chrifrs bearing the 
 griefs and forrows of his own ; And therefore 
 let the prophane fenflefs multitude tl at know not 
 what it is to die to the Law, or to live to Holi- 
 nefs, as ye would not commit Sacriledge, ftand 
 a back.and not dare to meddle with this Redemp- 
 tion, till ye ftoopand come in at this door of 
 Faith andHolinefs; And let as many asarein rhis 
 way admit of the confolation, for it's the Lords 
 allowance upon you ; But for others, if ye pre- 
 fume to take hold of it, the Lord wijl wring it 
 from you, and let you know to your coft that ye 
 had nothing to do with it. 
 
 . m SERMON XXI. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. IV, V. 
 Verf. 4. furely be bath born our griefs, and carried our Sorrows \ yet we did efeem him flricken, [mitten of 
 God, and a$i8ed. ' 
 
 Verf. 5. Put he was w.undedfor our tranfgrejjitns % he was bruifed for w iniquities : the chaftijement of our 
 peace was upon him % and with his ftripes we are bea'd. 
 
 Hefe words, and all this Chapter, ted at in them; We mew that this firft part of 
 look liker a piece of the Hiftory of the 4 Verfe holds forth the caufe of his fufferings, 
 the Gofpel than a Prophecy of the and it is applyed to our Lord, Idsttktw 8. 17; 
 Old Teftament; The fufferings iad xt$$,M#fa for the feconi part ofthtM"e 
 of the Mtfiib being fy directly polo* yp 
 
 peace w 
 
 T 
 
Serffl. 2r. 
 
 inthefe words, Ttt Witfemtd him [mitten of Goi, 
 firicken and afflicted i any who are acquainted wit!i 
 the Gofpel, cannot but know that it was fufilled 
 in him; and it is an aggravation of their fin who 
 did fo undervalue and defpife him,"hat though 
 he condefcended to come lb low for us, yet we 
 flighted him ; and even then when there was 
 greateft love let cut, we abufed it and made it the 
 rife of the greateft malice : and for the s.ver.it 
 is applied by Peter, i Pit 2.24. This whole Chap- 
 ter then being fo Gofpel-like, and having a di- 
 rect fulfilling in Chrift, we may diaw this gene* 
 ral DocVine from it. 
 
 That our Lord Jefus Chrift who was born of 
 the Virgin Mary, fuffered under Pontiffs Pilate,w&s 
 Crucified, died and was buried, and rofe again 
 the third day; is the very fame Mefflah that was 
 prophefied of in the OidTeftament,and was pro- 
 mifed to Abraham, ifaac and Jacob, whom the Fa- 
 thers befoie his coming in the Fle(h wete wait- 
 ing for : And though this may be looked on 
 as but a very common and ufelefs Do&rine, yec 
 it is the main ground and foundation of our 
 Faith; we take many things for granted,wherein 
 if we were well tried and put to it, we would 
 be found unficker, and in this among the reft : 
 Now for confirmation of it, this fame one argu- 
 ment will make it out, we (hall not follow it at 
 length, but in the profecuting of it (hall aftricl: 
 our felves to this Chapter ; the argument run- 
 neth thus, if in Chrift Jefus, that which was 
 prophefied of the Mefflah, and promifed to the 
 Fathers, have its fulfilling and accomplifhment; 
 then he muft be the fame Mefflahthdit was prophe- 
 fied of, and promifed to them ; for thefe things 
 fpoken of the one and alone Mefflah, can agree 
 to no other : But whatever was prophefied and 
 fpoken or promifed of the Mefflah to the Fathers, 
 to the leaft circumftance of it, was all fully ac- 
 complifhed and fulfilled in Chrift ^therefore the 
 conclusion laid down in the Do&rine folIows,to 
 wit that our blefled Lord Jefus is the fame Mef- 
 fah that was pn phefied of, promiied to the 
 Fathers,and whom they before his coming were 
 looking for : So that that queftion needs not 
 now to be propofed, Art thou he that fhiuld come, 
 $r do we look for another} Go fays drift, Mat.i 4, 
 5, 6. and tell John, the blind receive their fight, the 
 lame walk, and the lepers are cleanfed,the diaf hear, 
 and the dead areratfed, and the poor have the Gofpel 
 preached to them, and bleffed is he whomever [hall not be 
 ef ended in me\ BlefTedis he. who becaufe of my 
 Humiliation is not ftumbled : Now not to make 
 a rehearfal of the general Prophefies in *cripture, 
 all of which have their cxaft fulfilling in Chrill, 
 
 lfaiah J j. Vtrft 4, j. 
 
 109 
 
 we (hall only fpeak to two things here for mak- 
 ing out of the Argument propofed I. Thatthis 
 Chapter fpeaks ofthe Meffl*a, 2. That which is 
 fpoken in it, is literally fulfilled in Chrift. 
 
 i. Th2t this Chapter fpeaks of the Mefflah ; 
 Though of old the blinded Jews grnted ir, yet 
 now they fay that it fpeaks of lbfne other ; but 
 that it fpeaks of him, thefe thing? will make it 
 evident, 1. If we look to the 13. ver. of the 
 former Chapter, where it is faid, My fir* 
 vam jhalt deal prudently, he fhall be exalted and ex. 
 tolled, and be very high \ there our Lord Jefus is 
 fpoken of as the Fathers Servant or great Lord- 
 Deputy ; and the Jews themfelves grant that this 
 is mean'dof the Mefflah, and there is nothing 
 more clear than that what is fpoken in this Chap- 
 ter relates to him, who is called the Lirds Servant 
 in the former Chapter, as we (hew at our enter- 
 ing to fpeak of it. 2. If we look to the de- 
 fcription of his perfon, it can agree to no other, 
 for it's faid, There was no guile found in his mouth, 
 he was brought as a lamb to the JlaUghter, and as a* 
 jbeep before the [nearer it dumb, fo he opened not kit 
 mouth &c. he had no fin of his own, which can 
 be faid of no other, therefore this Chapter fpeaks 
 of him. $. If we confider the ends and effe&s 
 of his Sufferings, they do alfo clear it ; the end 
 of his Sufferings, for it's for the tranfgrefiions of 
 his People and as it is Dan. 6. 27. He a as to be cut 
 of, but not for himfelf ; the effefts, He [ball fee hit 
 feed,and by his knowledge ju(U^fie many: And the new 
 Teftament is full to this purpofe,there being no 
 Scripture in all theOldTeftament more madeufe 
 of, nor oftener applied to Chrift than this is. 
 
 2. Wha< is fpoken in this Chaptei is really and 
 literally fulfilled in Chrift, and wc may (hortly 
 draw what is in it to thefe Jive heads , all which 
 we will find clearly fulfilled in him. I. To his 
 Sufferings. :. To the ground of his Sufferings* 
 3. To mens account and eftimation of him. 4. 
 To the Promifes made to him. 5. To the ef^ 
 ftftsthat followed on his Sufferings. 1. For his 
 Sufferings it's faid, that he {hould be a man of form 
 rows and acquainted with grief, that he (hould be 
 dejpiltd and rejected of men, and not be eft timed, 
 rhat he (hould be looked on, as ftricken, fmitten 
 of^od and afflicted ; that he (hould bear our fr+ 
 rows and griefs ; and be wounded for our tranfm 
 grefflons, that he (hould be oppreffld and afflicted j 
 aid brought as a lamb to the /laughter ', th.it he 
 fhouhl be numbered amongft the tranfgnfftmrs ; 
 and that he (hould die, and be buried make 
 his grave with the wicked and with the rich in 
 his death \ all which are clearly fulfilled in him: 
 and the clearing of his- Sufferings, whereof we 
 
 fpok* 
 
jio 2 i** h - «. r*rl.4> 5- , . Scrm. 11. 
 
 fpoke before, clears this, that not only he fuffe- fay, truly Chrift is the Meffmh. 
 
 The lift is, To exhort you to acquaint your 
 fclves with tfcefc things that ferve to confirm 
 this truth i the book of the Acts of the Apeflles, 
 and the Epiflle to the Hebrews are much fpent upon 
 it, even to hold out, and to prove Chrift Jefus 
 MgHifefwnd in his mouth ; the greateft enemies ' to be the true M'tft.th, and Saviour of his People: 
 of our Lord could impute nothing to him; Pi/*f If this be not made lure andlicker, we have an 
 was forced to fry .that he found no fault in him; unliable ground for our Faith ; and though ic 
 all which ihew that it was fcrthe TranfgrefTions be lure in it felf, yet fo long as it is not fo to us, 
 
 red,but that he was brought fo low in Offering 
 2. Foi the ground of his Sufferings, it's faid to 
 be the fins of his own Elect, He bare cur griefs 
 and carried cur fonows ; he was wounded far our 
 
 tranjgrtfi-w, and iru J:d for our iniquities ; there was 
 
 of his People that he fuffered. 3. As for mens 
 little efteern of him, it is alio very clear, for lie 
 was defpifed and rejected of men; we hid as it 
 were our faces from him, He was defpifed and 
 we efteemed jiim not ; the World thought little 
 of him, and\ve that are eleft thought but little 
 of him, and what is more clear in the Gofpel 
 than this? where it istold,that he was reproach- 
 ed, buftV.ed* fpittedon, defpifed: tiny cryed, 
 away with him, crucifie hljni He trufled in 
 God, let him deliver him; but God hath forfaken 
 him. 4. As for the promifes made to Him, He 
 ftall fee his feed, he (hall prolong his days, and 
 the pleafure of the Lord (hall profper in his 
 hands , He ftiall fee of the travel of hisfoul.and 
 be fatisfred; and by his knowledge fhal many be 
 "juOificd, &c* what mean all thefe, but that he 
 (hall die, and rife again,and have many Converts, 
 that God's work flul thrive well in his rund,and 
 that he (hall have a glorious Kingdom and many 
 Sub/efts? which is called afterward his having 
 a portion with the great, and his dividing of the 
 fpoil with the ftrong : All this was accompli- 
 Ihed in Chiift, when after his Refurre&ion ma- 
 
 we want the confolation of it ; and there 1 
 twofold prejudice that cometh through Folks 
 want of thorow clearnefs in, and alTurance of 
 this truth. 1- To the generality of Hearers, 
 there is this prejudice, that they are fo carelefs 
 and little folicitous to reft on him: And as it 
 made thejews to reject him>who to this day {tum- 
 ble at him on this fame very ground, that they 
 know him not to be the A/^^tbeGhriftof God; 
 in whom is accomplifhed all that was fpoken 
 of the MeJJUh ; fo Chriftians not being through 
 in it, they do not reft on him nor clofe with him 
 as the^ true hhffiah. 2. There is a prejudice alfo 
 from it to Believers, who have only a glimring 
 light of Chrifts being the Mefliah % come fhort of 
 that confolation that they might have,if they were 
 through in the Faith of it; there is this great 
 evil among Chriftians, that they ftudy not to 
 be folidly clear and through in this point,fo that 
 if they were put to reafonand debate with ijev, 
 if there were not a witnefs within themfelvesof 
 if, the truth of the Faith of many would be ex- 
 ceedingly fhaken. 
 
 1 From this,That he never fpeaks of Chrifts 
 
 ny were won and brought in by the Gofpel to be- Sufferings, but he makes application of them, he 
 
 lieve on him: and though the Jan and Heathens 
 concurred and confpired to cut cffallChriftians, 
 yet his Kingdom fpread.and hath continued thefe 
 fixteen hundred years and above, c. As for the 
 effefts that followed on his Sufferings, or the in< 
 fluence they have on the elect People of God;as 
 many Converts as have been and are in the world 
 
 carried our Griefs, he was wounded for w Tranf** 
 grtffions, &c Obferve, That Believers would 
 lookonChiifts Sufferings as undergoneforthem, 
 and in their room and place ; We cleared be- 
 fore, 1. That Chrift fuffered for fome peculiar- 
 ly and not for all '•, and 2. That Believers 
 would indeavour the clearing of their own inre« 
 
 as many Witneffes are there, that he is the Mef~ J eft in his Sufferings, and that they have a right 
 fi*h ; every converted, pardoned and reconci'ed to them ; Now we fhortly add this 3d. of kin 
 
 Soulfeals this truth: Hence 1 John 57, 8. it is 
 faid, There are three that bear witnefs in heaven, 
 .the Father, the Word,ar.d the Holy Ghoft, and 
 thefe three are cnejand there are three that bear 
 witnefs on earth, the Spirit in his efficacy, the 
 r in the fanctifying vertue of it.in changing 
 & cleanling hisPeople,& theBlood inthefatisfy- 
 ingcV juftiiying vertue of it,& thefe three agree 
 concur in one, even this one, to wit, that Jefus 
 Chrift is the Son of God ; and t:ien \t follows, 
 He that believeth hath the witnefs in himfelf,be- 
 c*ufe he hath gotten Pardon through him, and 
 therefore can ht to bis feal to this truth, and 
 
 to the former, That Believers, and fuch as are 
 fled to Chrift for refuge, would look on his 
 Sufferings as come under for them , and thefe 
 fame Scriptures which we cited to confirm thefe 
 will confirm this: The reafon why we would 
 have you confirmed in this, is, Becaufe, r. It 
 is only this that will make you fuitably thank* 
 ful, it is this which is a notable ground of that 
 Song of Praife, Rev.i. 4. Tt him that hath loved 
 us and wrfbed us from our fins in his own blood, &c 
 2. This is a ground of true, folid, and ftrong 
 confolation, even to be comforted in ths ap- 
 plicative Faith of Chrifts purchase. 3. It is the 
 
 Lords 
 
Sermi at. *f* ub 6< Vtr ^ 4> *• Tri ^ 
 
 Lords allowance on hisPeople,which they fhould tereft in them. 3. For you that would fain have 
 
 reverently and thankfully make ufe of, even to a high efteem of Chriir, and yec are all your 
 
 look on Jefus Chnft, as wounded, pierced, and days cafting at this foundation, never think nor 
 
 lifted up on the Crofs for thtm ; and by doing expeft to win rightly to efteem of him, fo long 
 
 this according to his allowance, there is a paved as ye fear to make application of his purchafe -, 
 
 way made for application of all the benefits of And therefore that ye may love and pra.le him 
 
 his purchafe. anc * e ft eer n lightly of him, labour to come up to 
 
 * a From the fcope ( looking on the words as the making of this application on folid and ap- 
 
 fpoton to remove the fcandal ofthcCrofs(^wa) proved grounds. 
 
 which may be a reafon of the former ) that folk 4, More particularly from this part of the ag~ 
 
 will never take up Chrift rightly in his iuffer- gravation, Tet we tfteemed him flricken, Jmitten of 
 
 ;, excepc they" take him up as fuffeiing for 
 them, and in their room; This look of Chriir, 
 leads 1. To take up much of the glory of grace, 
 and condefcending love to fmners. 2. It leads to 
 
 God, and afflicted ; Wc have a fourfold confirma- 
 tion of truth, or four precious truths confitm^ 
 ed. 1. That our Lord Jefus in his fufferings 
 did really fuffer, and was really brought low in 
 
 take upChrifts faithfulnefs,that came to the world his fufferings.foas on-lookers thought him a moft 
 
 on finners errand, according to the ancient tranf- defpieable man, and one that was ftricken and 
 
 attion in the Covenant of Redemption, as he is fmitten of God, and afflicted : Of rhis wefpoke 
 
 brought in, faying P[»l 40. Lo,l comtju thevolume on the beginning of the 4. ver. 2. W e have here 
 
 of thy book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, an evidence of the exceeding great freenefs of 
 
 O God. 3- It leads to a flayed look of GodsHoli- grace, and of the love of Chrilt in his fufferings. 
 
 nefs, Juftice and Goodnefs, in exiting fatisfac- in fo far as he bare their forrows,and payed their 
 
 tion of his own Son, and in accepting of that debt that counted him fmitten ; There ww no 
 
 iatisfa&ion. 4. It gives a right view of the way good thing in us to deferve or procure his fnf- 
 
 of grace, and leads in to fee it to be a moft_real wrings, but moft freely he under- went thefe 
 
 his own debt fathfied by himfelf ; It fees him 
 undergoing the curfeand juftice inflifting it on 
 him, that the Believer may go free- 
 
 The Uje is, to {hew the neceflity of (tudying 
 the well grounded application of Chrifts Iuffer- 
 ings as for us ; much of the reafon why Chrilt 
 is not more piized lies here, that he is not look- 
 ed on as paying our debt; otherwife when chal- 
 lenges of the Law and of Juftice take hold on 
 the Soul if Chrilt were feen interpoling, and fay- 
 ing, Ahdy b»$ thou prepared unto me ; And if 
 JulHce were feci) exacting, Chrilt pcrfotming^nd 
 God accepting his l'atisfattion and that in lign 
 and token thatjuitice is larisfied,he is raifed from 
 the dead, juflihed in rhe Spirit and is enteied m 
 poiTeflion of Glory as Believers fore runner in 
 their name : it would afford precious and love- 
 ly thoughts of Jefus Chrilt, and humbling 
 thoughts of ourfclves , Therefore there is a ne- 
 ce(fiiy,if we woul ; coalidcr his fufferings aright, 
 and prize and efttejn him, mat weefldeavfchi to 
 rrtake particular application of chem to our 
 felves 01 good g'.ou.uls. 2. Upon the o her 
 hand*know, ye who have no giound to make 
 this application, that ye cannot citeet-n aright 
 of him or his fufferings, nor of. the grace that 
 ftuned in them, becaufe ye bave no title to, 
 nqi can, while fifth, h»v« any cleaincfs of in* 
 
 we were yet enemies, we were reconciled by the death ij 
 his Son : Can there be a greater p;oof of in finite 
 and free love than appears in cur Lords fuffer- 
 ings ? There was not only no merit on our fide; 
 but on the contrary, dejpifing, rejecting, being 
 aihamed of him, reproaching him, kick r.g a- 
 gainfr him, and rubbing of affronts on him; P*ut 
 and others having their hands hot in his 
 blood. 
 
 Ufe 1. Confider here, behold and wonder at 
 the free love of God, and rich condefcending 
 love of Chrifr, he ftands not at the Bar and 
 prays for them that were praying him to pray 
 for them ; But as it is in the end of the Chap- 
 ter, it was for tranfgreflburs ; it was even for 
 fomec-f thera that were fecking to take away the 
 life of the Prince ofLife,and for other tianigi el- 
 fours, 
 
 s. Know that in them to whom the hciufne 
 ofChrifts death is applied, there is r.o more 
 worth than there is In others who do 
 of the bencfite of it : Its the qpii 
 only of Hereticks, botfome way of 1 1 
 rant Profeflbri ; That rhefi for u hem ( . 
 were better thin others; But here we fee 1 pro< f 
 of the c- ntraiy; he dies for them that acc< 
 him fmitten of God • And this he doth foj 
 rcafons, 1. To flicw the riches & freedom i 
 
*« ., , W** a rH» 4, J: Scrm. *r. 
 
 Grace,that could overcome mans evil and malice, openly in his grace over that, and ill that Hood 
 
 and outreach the height of the dcfpcrate wicked- in his way. 
 
 nefs that is in man>and that ftands not (to fpeak 4- We have here a Confirmation of that truth 
 
 fo ) on ftepping.(tones,but comes over the great- that holds out mans malice and defpcrate wic- 
 
 eft guilt of fin and enmity in the creature. 2.T0 kednels i And can there be any thing that evi. 
 
 comfort and encourage his followers when in- 4enceth man's wicknefsandmaliee more? Than 
 
 gaged to him, againft and out over their grofleft 
 failings and greateft mifcarriages \ He that lov- 
 ed them when they were defpifingand rejecting 
 him, and fpitting in a manner in his very face, 
 Will he now give up with them when they have 
 feme love to him, for this or that Corruption 
 that ftirrethor breaketh forth in them? Thus the 
 Apoftle reafons, Rom. 5 .10.I/ when we were enemies 
 we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, 
 much more being reconciled wc jbull be favcd by hU life: 
 We were enemies when Chrift gave himlelf 
 for us, hut thorow grace wc are fomewhat bet- 
 ter now, Enmity and defpite inus was then at 
 an height, now it is weakned, reftrained, and 
 infome meafure mortified: And if while we 
 were at the height of enmity againft him, he 
 died for us to reconcile us to God, How much 
 more now being reconciled.may we etfpett peace 
 and fafety, and all ths benefits of his purchafe 
 thorow him ; Thus there is ? notable confola- 
 tion, from his bent of malice that wasfometime 
 in us, compared with the victory that grace hath 
 now gotten over it ; and the gradation is always 
 comfortable, to wit, that thefe lufts that once 
 did reign, and were without any gracious rp- 
 pofition made to them, or any proteftation ente- 
 red againft them,prevailingit may be publickly, 
 are now oppofed and protefted againft ; And 
 if Chrift ftood not on the greater, will he (land 
 on the lefTer ? And our Lord allows this fort 
 of reafoning fo much the more, that he may 
 thereby ftrongly engage the heart of the.believer 
 againft fin, and to the admiring of grace, and 
 withal to the ferious ftudy ofholinefs. 
 
 3. Itferves to let you khow how much ye 
 Believers are engaged and obliged to Grace,and 
 what thanks you owe to it« 1. Look to what 
 fatisfies for your debt, ye pay not one farthing 
 of it, our Lord Jefus payed all. 2. Look to the 
 moving caufe, it's to be attributed to nothing 
 in you, but altogether to free grace : Some poor 
 Dyvour may by his pleading prevail with an 
 able and pitiful- hearted mm to pay his debt j 
 But there was no fuch externally moving caufe 
 in you to procure this of him, but he freely and 
 willingly,& with delight payed your debt when 
 ye were in the height of malicious oppofition 
 to him,doing all that might fcarr him from it > 
 And had it been pofllble that man's malice,defpi- 
 fmg and defpite could have fcarred him, he had 
 never died for one Sinner, but he triumphed 
 
 1. To have enmity againft Chrift, 2. To have it 
 at*fuch an height as to defpifehim, and count 
 him fmitten and plagued of God. And 3. Tolbe 
 at the height of malice even then when he out 
 of love was condefcending fo low as tofurTerfc 
 fatisfie Juftice for him j ye may poflibly think 
 that it was not ye that had fuch malice at Chrift; 
 But faith not the Prophet, We efleemedHm finitl 
 ten oj God ? Taking in himfelf and all the Elect, 
 which might give us this ObJervation t Thzt there 
 is nothing more defperatly wicked, and filled 
 with more enmity againft Chrift in his conde- 
 fcending love, and againft God in the manifefta- 
 tion of his grace, than when even elect Souls 
 for whom he hath fuffered, defpife him,& count 
 him fmitten of God and afflicted : It's indeed 
 very fad, yet very profitable, to walk under the 
 deep apprehenfion, and foul»prcflbur .of heart- 
 enmity againft God and Chrift: Are there any 
 of you that think ye have fuch finful and wic- 
 ked natures that difpofe yc u to think little of 
 Chrift, to defpife and reject him and his grace? 
 Gods Elect have this enmity in their natures ; 
 And if fuch natuies be in the JSlect, what muft 
 be in the Reprobate who live and die in this en- 
 mity ? if this were ferioufly confidered and laid 
 to heart* O but folk would be hurnble,nothing 
 would affect the foul more, and ftound to the 
 very heart, than to think that Chrift fuffered for 
 me, through grace an Elect and a Believer, and 
 that yet notwithftanding I fhoyld have fo de- 
 fpifed and rejected him,and accounted him fmit- 
 ten of God and afflicted ; Let me exhort all of 
 you to look back on your former walk, and to 
 lay this enmity to heart, for the day is coming 
 when it will be found to be a biting,and confei- 
 ence-gnay-ing-fin to many. 4. In that he aggra- 
 vates their enmity from this* Obferve this truth 
 which is alio here confirmed, that there is no- 
 thing that gives fin a deeper Dye,than that it is 
 againft grace and condefeending love, that is, a 
 gainft Chrift when fuffering for us.and offered to 
 us: Ol that makesfin to be exceeding finfuJ, 
 and wonderfully abominable,andthus it is aggre- 
 ged, Heb.2. as greater than the contempt of Mo* 
 Jes his Law: And Heb.6.1t's accounted to be a cru- 
 cifying the fan if God afrejh t znd a putting him to an 
 open flame; AndHeb. 1 o.It'scalleda treading him under 
 /•"f,an accounting the blood of the Covenant to be an un- 
 holy thing, and a doing defpite to the Spirit of 
 
 Grace 3 
 
lftiah $3, rtfi 4. S' -.„,.. "V 
 
 Serm. if- ft s ; ptufe$ i 06 fe mainly over he is more afte&ed with that wrong than 
 
 ,iace; 1 Bel* s two i r Q fo as rf it had been don . [f) any other member of his 
 
 Nereis fcS*X« of th.t which is faid in them 
 to be found in all unbelievers .their defpifing 
 of Chrift ; It's a fin fomeway hateful, even to 
 the PubHcans and Sinners to hate them that love 
 us, to do ill to them that do good to us ; hew 
 much more finful and hateful is it to defp.feand 
 hate him who loved us, fo.asto give .himfelf 
 f us, .nd when he was giving h.mielf for us 
 There are many fins aga.nft the Law that will 
 draw deep, but this will draw deeper than they 
 all even finning againft Grace, and the Medi- 
 a oVTnterpofinf for fmners ; and mamfeft.ng 
 °e o them f And the reckoning will run 
 thus Chrift was manifefted to you in this Go- 
 fpelas the only remedy of fin and fee fort . » 
 crucified before your eyes, and made offer of to 
 you in the Grfpel, md yet ye defpifed htm, 
 and efteemed him not : And let me fay it to be- 
 lievers, that its the greateft aggravation of 
 their fin; It is true, in fome refpeft, that the 
 fins of Believeis are not fo great as the fins of 
 others, they not being committed with fuch de- 
 liberation *nd full benfilof w.11, nor from the 
 dominion of fin, yet in this refpeft they are g.ea 
 ter than the fins of others becauft committed 
 
 II 1L 11AU utwii uuiiw cw aiijr ums.1 ijjtriiiut.1 ur niS 
 
 body, or to other perions not at all, or not fo 
 nearly related to him : There is fomething of 
 this pointed ar, Zech* 12. \o. Theyfhall look upon hint 
 whom they have pierced, and mount for bim, as a man 
 doth for his only Son; as if he had faid, the ftroaks 
 they have given the head fhall theft be very hea- 
 vy and grievous to be born, and will be made 
 to their fueling to bleed afrefr*. j they thought 
 not much of thefe woundings and piercings o£ 
 him before, but fo foon as their intercft iuhim 
 is clear, or they come cordially to believe in 
 him, they are kindly affected with the wrongs 
 done to him. 
 
 The 17/* is, That it's a mark, to try if there 
 be indeed an intereft in Chriil,and if it be clctr ; 
 The man whofe intereft is cleartft. 1. His 
 wrongs done to Chrift will prick him moft, if 
 the wrongs be done by others they affect him ; 
 if by himfelf, they fomeway faint him ; whole* 
 nefs of heart under wronging of Chrift, is too 
 great an evidence that there is little or no ground 
 for application of his fatisfacrion, Jbttt its kindly 
 like, when wrongs done to Chrift affect moft. 
 1. When not only challenges for fin againft the 
 Law, but for fins againft Chrift and Grace offe- 
 
 ter than the fins of others became commiueu *- ^»vv» ^ -" • , ft -»-"—-—— 
 alv ft fpecial Grace and Love aftually commu- red m the Gofpel, do become a burden, and the 
 gainn ipcw" « . , , Reliever eon- greateft burden. 3. When the man is made to 
 
 nicated"; and therefore when the Believer eon 
 friers, that he hath requit Chrift thus, it will 
 .affeft him moft of anything, a there be <my fui- 
 talle tendernefs of frame. # 
 
 < From confidenng that it is the Prophet 
 that exprefTeth thisaggravation, we may obferve, 
 that the Believer that is moft tender, and hath 
 beft right to Jefus Chrift ; fatisfaftion, 
 
 and may upon beft ground a, ff it will be 
 moft fenfible of his enmity, and of the abomi- 
 nable guilt that is in defpifing smd wronging of 
 Tefus Chrift; therefore the Prophet brings in 
 himfelf as one of thofe that by Chrifis ftopes 
 were healed, taking with his gutit, *e defiijed 
 and rejefted him, wecfteemed him not, roe judg- 
 ed him (mitten of God ; Thereafonis becaule 
 intereft in Jefus Chrift makes the heart 
 tender ; and any wrong that's done to him to 
 affeft the fooner and the more deeply, the fcurf 
 that fometime was on the Heart being in a mea- 
 sure taken away ; and intercft in Chnft awake- 
 neth and raifcth an «fteem of him, and produceth 
 a holy fympathy with him in all the concerns of 
 bis glory, even as the members of the body have 
 a fellow-feeling with the head; Make a fuppo- 
 frion that a man in his madnefs fhould fmite 
 and wound his head, or wrong his Wife, his Fa- 
 ther, or his Brother i when that, fit of maduefj i$ 
 
 greateft burden. 3. When the man is made to 
 mind fecret enmityar Chrift, and is difpofed to 
 mufter up aggravations of his finfulnefs on 
 that account, and cannot get himfelf made vile 
 enough i when he hath an holy indignation at 
 himfelf, and with Paul counts himfelf the chiif 
 offaners ; Even though the evil was done in ig- 
 norance, much more if it hath been againft know- 
 ledge ; its no evil token when Souls arc made 
 to heap up aggravations of their guilt for wrongs 
 done to Chrift, and when they cannot get fuit- 
 able expreflions fufficiently to hold it out, as it 
 is an evil token to be foon fatisfieJ in this; 
 There are many that will take with no challenge 
 for their wronging Chrift, but behold here how 
 the Piophet infifts, both in the words befoie, in 
 thefe, aiid in the following aords, and he can 
 no more win effrhe thoughts cf it. than he can 
 win off the thoughts of Chiifts fufTerir^s. 
 
 6. While the Piophet faith, when Chrift was 
 fufferir.g for hi< own, and for the reft of his 
 peoples fins, We ejltef/icd him not, bu r judged him 
 jmitun of God j Otftrw briefly, becaufe we baften 
 to a clofe, that Jefus Chrift is often exceeding- 
 ly miftaken by men in his moft glorious and gra» 
 cious works, can there be a greater miftake than 
 this ? Chrift funding for our fins, and yet judged 
 fmiitcn and plagued of God by us; or more home, 
 Q even 
 
f T4 . r f*'*b ?3 
 
 even Chrift Jefus if often fliamefully miftaken in 
 the work of his Grace* and in the venting crfbb 
 3ove towards them whofd good he is procuring, 
 and wliofe iniquities he is bearing. 
 
 The Ujc of it ferves, i.To teach us when we 
 are leady to pafs cenfure on Chrift's work, to 
 ftand ftili, to animadvert on, and tocorre&our 
 felves, left wc uufuitabty conftruct of him ; He 
 gefs much wrong as to his pub:ick work, as if he 
 were cuel, when indeed he is merciful, as if he 
 had forgotten us,* hen indeed he remembers us 
 ftill : And as to his private work in particular 
 perfons as if he did ♦'"ail in hispromife when he 
 is moft faithful, and bringing it about in his own 
 way. And 2. (VVnich is of affinity tothe for- 
 
 • *** *• . Scrm. i 2 . 
 
 mer J its a warning to us, not to take up 
 bard conftruftionsofChriO; nortomifconftrudl: -' 
 hiswoik, which when mifconftru&ed, himfelf 
 is miftaken an J mifconftrutted: How many think 
 that he is b.esking when he is binding up, that 
 he is wounding when h- is healing, that he is 
 deftroying when he is fumbling ? Therefore 
 we would fufpend parting cenfure till h; come 
 to the end and dole of his work, and n it judge 
 of ir by halves, and then w e (hall fee there was 
 no fuch ground for mifconftructingof him, who 
 is every day holding on in his own way.and fled- 
 dily purfuing the fame end that he did from the 
 beginning ; and let him be doing fo : To him be 
 praiie for ever. 
 
 S E 
 
 R M O N XX II. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. V. 
 
 Verf, §. But be was wundedfor ourtranfreflims, he wasbruifed for cur iniquities : the chajlijement of our 
 pace was upm him y and with his flripes we are healed. J 
 
 IT's hard to tell whether the Subject of this 
 Verfe, and almoft of this whole Chapter, 
 be more fad or more fweet; it's indeed a 
 fad Subject to read and hear of the great 
 Sufferings of our blelTcd Lord Jefus, and of 
 the defpiteful ufage that he met with, and to fee 
 fuch a fpeat of Malice fpued and fpitted out on 
 that glorious face : fo that when he is bearing our 
 Griefs and carrying our forrows,we do even t^en 
 account him plagued, fmitten of God, and affli* 
 cted, and in a manner look upon it as well be- 
 ftowed . Yet it's a moft fweet fubject, if we ei- 
 ther confider the love it comes from, or the com- 
 fortable effects that follow it ; that hath been the- 
 rife, the caufe, and the occafion of rauchfinging 
 to man, here below, and is thecaufe and occafi- 
 on of fo much finging among the redeemed 
 that are this day before the Thr&ne of God j and 
 as the Grace of God hath overcome the ma- 
 lice of men, fo we are perfwaded this caufe of 
 rejoicing hatha fweetneJs in it beyond thefad- 
 
 ,neis, though often we mar our own Spiritual 
 Mirth, and know not how to dance when he 
 pipes unto us. 
 
 Thefc wo.ds are an explication of the +th verfe, 
 where it is afTerted that Chrifts fufTerings were 
 not for himfelt but for us, from, and by which 
 
 . the Prophet having aggreged Mens Malice, who 
 
 .Iiotwit >fbnding thereof efteemed him not, 
 yea judged him fmitten of God, he comes again 
 
 .lor furthering and carrying on of this fcope; 
 to fhew more particularly the ground, end, and 
 ejects- of Chrifts fuffcrings j where yc wpuld re- 
 
 member what we hinted before in general, that 
 Ffrlks will never think nor conceive of Chrifts 
 Sufferings rightly, till they conceive and take 
 him up asfufFering for them ; and when we con- 
 fider this, we think it no wonder, that the 
 moft part efteem but little of the Sufferings of 
 Chnft, bscaufe there arefo few that can take^him 
 up under this notion, as (landing in their room> 
 and paying their Debt, and as being put in 
 prifon for them when they are let go free. 
 
 In this 5th Verfe, we have thefe three, r. A 
 further expreffion of Chrifts fufferings. 2. The 
 caufe of them, or the end that he had before him 
 in them. 3 . Thq benefits and fruits or effects of 
 them. 
 
 There are in the words fourExpreilions which 
 I fh all clear, t.He was wounded, to fhew the rea- 
 lity that waj. in his fufferings, he was actually 
 pierced, or as the word is rendred in the Margin, 
 tormented, and the caufe is our tran]grt.JJi»ns ;*and 
 while it i<. laid, He was wounded for our tranfm 
 greffimt, he means, I. That our Tranfgreffi ns 
 procured his wounding. And 2. That his 
 wounding was to remove them, and to procure 
 pardon to us. 2. He was bruifed, that is prefltd is 
 Grapes in a wine Prefs, he underwent fuch a 
 woundtng as biuifed him; to fhew ;hegreat 
 defcrt of Sin, and the hcavinefs of wrath that 
 would have come on us for it, had not he inter- 
 pofed: and the caufe is our Iniquitios \ and thofe 
 two words tranfgnjfions and iniquities fhew the 
 exceeding abominablenefs of Sin; Trsx/grrffiovs-- 
 or errings pointing at our common fins, i*L I 
 
 fuities 
 
Serffl. *i» $**& *3- 
 
 Quities or Rebellions pointing at greater guilt. 3. 
 Tbt cbtfiiftmtnt, or as the words bear, the difci* 
 pline %f%*r peace was upon ffitn ; Ir fuppofes firfr, 
 That we by nature were at feud with, and ene- 
 mies to God. Secondly, That before our peace 
 could be procured, there behoved to bcafatif- 
 faction given to Juitice, the Mediator behoved 
 to come under Difcipline andChaitifement. 4. 
 And by his stripes wo are healed ; he was fo whip- 
 p^d^that to lay fo, the maiks of the Rod re- 
 mained behind; the firft uenefit looks to pardon 
 of fin, and peace with God in the fir ft three 
 exprefllons; the fecond in this laft expreiTI- 
 onlooks to our fanct-fication and purging from 
 the dominion and pollution of fin 5 By thrifts 
 becoming Cm for us, there is a way made to 
 waihusfrom all the guile of fin, and from all 
 the f.ul fpots and fhins that were on us by fin, 
 and he hath thus procured Holinefs to us; we 
 come eafily by it, but it coft Chrift: dear, yea 
 very dear. 
 
 Thefe very fad, but mofc f**eet, and foul fo- 
 lacing words, holdout a (hort fum ofthefub- 
 ftance and marrow of the Gofpel > and becaufe 
 they do fo, we fhall fpeak of them fummarily to- 
 gether ; and ye would the more ferioufly attend, 
 efpecially fuch as are more ignorant, that by the 
 reading and opening up of this Veife ye may be 
 brought and kept in mind of thefummof the 
 heads ofthe Gofpel; and to make thematterthe 
 more clear, I (ball endeavour to make the Do- 
 ctrines drawn from it, as fo many anfwers to 
 fix or feven queftions. As 1. What is mans con- 
 dition naturally, and what is the condition of all 
 them that get not benefit byChrifts death ? 2. 
 How is man redeemed and freed from that con- 
 dition? j. By whom is he-fred, or who makes 
 the fatisfaction P4, How doth he perform that 
 Satisfaction ? $. What ire the benefits that flow 
 from, and come to us by the Satisfaction perfor- 
 med ? 6. Who are the perfonsfor whom Chrift 
 hath performed the Satisfaction, and to whom 
 he hath procured thefe Benefits ? 7. What is the 
 way how thefe Benefits are transferred or derived 
 to thofe Perfons? and putting thefe feven toge- 
 ther, we may have a {hort Gatechifm in one 
 Verfe. 
 
 1. Then what is Mans condition by Nature. 
 1. He is und.r Traiifgreflions. 2. Under ini- 
 quities, $. At feud with God. And 4/;. Under 
 wounds and moft loathfome Difeafes of a finfi.1 
 Nature : in a word, Man by Nature is a (Inner, 
 guilty, greatly guilty under Gods Wrath and 
 Curfe; and at feud with God, of a moft finful 
 and abominable nature, even (ick of, and loath- 
 fome, becaufe of fin ; The firfcis implied in this 
 
 Pirfi f. 
 
 word, he wat wounded for our tranfgreflhr.s^tKk 
 our common Sins j The fecond is hol^en out 
 in the next word, He was bruifed fir iur niifuitttf, 
 or Rebellions, which holds out great gu\U. T^c 
 third in that word, The chafiijtment of ou: 
 was on him, which fuppons tha? we were once 
 withcut peace with God j The laft word, By 
 his sln'pes we are healed, fuppofe'h, that we con- 
 tinue in that condition filthy and polluted, and 
 polluting our felves more and more, gretdy 
 to drink in fin, and wounding andfickning our 
 ftlvcs by Cm. ; Now lay thefe four words roge« 
 ther, they clear this truth 10 our judgement, 
 and ferve to point out to us theneceltity of * 
 Mediator. Again, confider them in a fecond no- 
 tion, and'rhey cell us, that even the Elect them- 
 felve's, are by Nature in the fame finful and re- 
 bellious condition with others, at feud with, 
 and under the Curfe of God, and abominably 
 polluted before they be wafhed and healed, as 
 the Apoitle alTerts, EpheJ. a. We are by nature chil- 
 dren of wrath even as others , and here it is plain- 
 ly declared, He was wounded for our tranferefliont 9 
 he was bruifed for our iniquities, &c. Soma are rea- 
 dy to think (as was hinted before) that the 
 Elect by nature were better than others, or that 
 Godforefaw they would be better than others,ani 
 therefore he elected them i This piece of Jrnri- 
 nianijm is in all naturally; but this Text in down 
 right contradiction to fuch a groundlefs conceit, 
 anfwers and aiTerts that by nature they are ever* 
 like others, as the Apoftle faith, Rom. n. 32. 
 God hath concluded therm all under unbelief, that be 
 might have mercy on all; All the Elect as well as 
 others, are concluded under fin and wrath, 
 that the way of obtaining any Spiritual 
 good, might be by Mercy and Free*Gracc a- 
 lone. 
 
 2. How are folks freed from this finful and 
 miferable condition? An\'wit \. In general, be- 
 fore the quarrel can be taken away, and their 
 peace can be made, there mult be a fatisfaction, 
 which is implied in thefe words, the chaftij went 
 oj our peace was on him \ which fuppons th« necefc 
 fity of a Satisfaction made or to be made, irv 
 refpect of Gods decree an^ comminatio/ , who 
 fa id, the day thou fms . thon jh It die, and < 
 is every one that continues not in all tflj^H 
 written in the law to do thim. 2. An J more par* 
 ticu^arly, there mult be a faris .-action, becaufe 
 there is, I. Thejuftice ofGodth t harh a claim) 
 by a ItanJing Law. a- Tre holinefs of jod thac 
 mult be vindicate And 3 The faithfutfefi of ik-d 
 that mull caule be perfo-med arid conic tt p*fs. 
 what it hath impkdgcd it fclf for, as wcl! in .tie- 
 icncctotuc threading as to the promilcjfor thefe- 
 Q 2 words,- 
 
1 
 
 tfaiafs 55 ." 
 words, Hath he faid *ni will hi not do tt? rclace 
 to the one as well as to the other; there is a 
 great miitake in many, while they leap immedi- 
 ately to mercy, without minding the neceflity 
 of a fatisfaction to provocked Juftice, and on 
 this ground that God is merciful, which if it 
 were an argument good enough, it would fay, 
 that all, even the reprobate may get Mercy; but 
 we would confider the way that God hath laid 
 down for imners coming to Mercy,- and how 
 that before peace can be made, he will needs 
 have iatisfaction to his Juftice. 
 
 3. Who waketh the fatisfaction? The Text 
 fays, its He and Him ; He was wounded for our 
 Tranfgreffions, rhe chaftifement of our peace 
 was on Him ', and who is this He and Him ? It's in 
 general the Mffiah, who was then toeome.he 
 who was conceived by the Holy Ghoft, born of 
 the Virgin Mary; whofufferedand was crucified, 
 who died and was buried androfethe third day; 
 even he, who having the Nature of God and our 
 nature united in one Peribn, He his own J elf bare 
 our fins in hu boiy on the tree, as is faid 1 Pet. 2. 24. 
 and He who knew no fin , mas made fin for us, that 
 we might be mads the right eoufnejs of God in him, as 
 it is 2 Cor. 5. ult. even he of whom the Apo- 
 ftle hath been fpeaking here, while he fays, We 
 m Ambaffadors for Chriji, as though God did befeech 
 you by us, we pray you in Chnfls flead be ye reconcU 
 Ud unto God: And when we fay it is Chrift that 
 is mean'd of, we are to undeiftand it as well ne- 
 gatively and exclufively, excluding all others, as 
 p fitively including him; when we make him 
 to be the only faviour, we exclude all that Men 
 can do, with their penance, Prayers, good- 
 Works, and all that Angels can do, neither 
 Man nor Angel could fatisfie Divine Juftice, ard 
 make our peace with God, and therefore its faid, 
 jiels 4, 1 2. Neither is thtre fahation tn any othrr, for 
 there is no other name under Heaven given among mm 
 whereby we muft be faved, but the name ofjefw, 
 where its clear that all others are excluded, as 
 it is Pfal. 40. 6. Sacrifice and offering thou wouldcH 
 net, Sec, neither Penance,performanc<:S; nor any 
 Other thing will do it ; but it's, Lo, / come, in the ■ 
 volutte of thy Book, its written of me, J delight to do 
 thy will, O my God. Take this then as another 
 ground of faving knowledge, that it is our 
 bleiTcd Lord Jefus that farisfies Juftice, even he 
 who being Gcd, was content to become Man, 
 and is God and man in one Perfon, He, and 
 he only undertaking the Debt, iatisfk-s Ju- 
 llice. 
 ^ . 4 How does he fatisfie Juft.-ce ? A>fiw, He was 
 wounded for our tranfgreffior,< f hc was brmfedjor our inim 
 qutties, the thaflifemeut of our peace v>as on him, and 
 fy h# Stripes we art healed : In which worys, ob^ 
 
 ferve thefe three things. 1, In Chrifts fatisfa&i. 
 on for us there is an aftual undertaking, he be- 
 comes Cautioner, and enters himielf in our room; 
 when all other things are caften, Angels, Men 
 with their facrifices, thoufands of Rams, ten 
 thoufand Rivers of Oil, and the f.uit of the Body, 
 then our Lo.d Jefus comes in and undertakes, 
 PJ*l. 40. 7- Li, I come, he fatisfies for ourTranf- 
 grcflions; whicli fuppofes rhar Juftice could not 
 h.vefcught our Debt of him if he had not un- 
 dertaken it ; therefore Heb. 7. H . he is called 
 the Surety of a Better T.fiament, for he comes in our 
 room and place, and undertake to pay cur debt; 
 even as if a man under Debt were a c.rryirg o 
 prifon, and another able rich man fhould un- 
 dertake to pay the Debt, although the Debt 
 lhould ]y over for a wnile unpayed, yet the 
 Creditor will get a Decreet on the Cauri. ner for 
 payment of the Debt when he pleafes to put at 
 him; fo Jefus Chrift enters Cautioner for our 
 Debt, and- becomes liable to the payment of it. 
 
 2. Chnfts performance and payment of the Debt 
 according to his undertaking, implies a Cove- 
 nant and Tranfa&ion on which the application 
 is founded, which weihew w.s alfo implied in 
 the foregoing words, verf 4 . he hath born o..r griefs, 
 and carried our forrews : God the Father, Sm and 
 Holy Spirir, are the party wronged by Sin; Je- 
 fus Chiift confidered perfonally and as Media- 
 tor, is the party undertaking: The terms are, 
 That he (hall fuffer, and fatisfie Juftice for us, 
 and that we mail go Free, th.-t his paying mall 
 be cur freedom, that the Debt which he pays 
 for us fhall not be exacted off us our felves 
 2 Cor. c. u!t% He who knew no fin, was made fin for us 
 that we might be made the Righteoufnejs of God in 
 Him*, and hereof chafiifement^ffur peace was on 
 him ; it was transferred from us to him, that by 
 his ftripes we might be healed; by his ftripes and 
 blanes health was procured and brought to us; 
 
 3. Our Lord Jefus in fulfilling the bargain, and 
 fatisfylngjuftice, payed a dear price ; itwasata 
 very dear rare that he bought our freedom ; He 
 was wounded, bruifed, fuffered ftripes and pu- 
 Difhment ; So that ye may take the anfwer to the 
 queftion in fum to bethis, our Lord Jefus per- 
 formed and fatisfied for all that was due by us, 
 by undertaking our Debt,and paying a dear price 
 for dinners, according ro the Covenant of Re- 
 demption, he came under the Law, and the Law 
 ftruckathim as Cautioner, and he anfwered the 
 Laws demands, and fully and condignly fatisfi- 
 ed the Juftice of God for us. 
 
 As for that Queftion, Whether Chrift might 
 not by onedrpof his Bio d have fatisfied ? and 
 fuch like, we think tliem ycry nccdlcfs, too 
 
 curi* 
 
Semi. «- 
 
 curious, and little or not afe>ll edifying ; but if 
 it be askrd, why Chrift payed fo much ? we an- 
 fwer, i.I« behoved Chrift to pay a condign 
 price', to give a conJign fatisfaftion to Juftice. 
 2. Ic was meet that he fhould pay all that he pay- 
 ed. Firft we fay, it behoved to be a condign 
 fatisfaftion, For, I* If behoved to be a piice e- 
 quivaknt to all that the Eltft fhould have fuf- 
 f red, had not he interpofed. 2. It behoved to 
 be proportionable to the Juftice of God, for 
 God having laid down fuch a way of (hewing 
 Mercy, that his Juftice fhould be fa lvcd, there 
 behoved to be condign fatisfa&ion for the 
 vind cat on of Juftice ; which was done by 
 Chrifts ftffering to the full undoubtedly ; if we 
 confider, 1 The excellency of the perfon that 
 fuffered, God and Man in one Perfon. 2. If we 
 confider the nature of his fuffeiingsj that they 
 were exceeding gieat, heavy, and prefling. 
 And 3. It with all we confider the manner of 
 his fufferings. rharit was with much readinefs 
 and cheartuinefs of obedience to the Fathers 
 will : That fuch and fj excellent a Perfon fhould 
 fuffer, and fuffer fo much, and fuffer in fuch a 
 way, this fure makes condgn latisfaclion, and 
 fo Juftice is fully thereby fatisfied, and made as 
 glorious as if all the Elect had fuffered eternally: 
 therefore we fay, that his fufferings were a con- 
 dign and proportionable fatisfaction to Juftice 
 for them whofe debt he payed, by this Juftice is 
 compleatly and glorioufly fatisfied, Secondly, we 
 faid that it was meet that he fhould pay all that he 
 payed, and fo it is, if we confider, i.The excel- 
 lency of immcrtal Souls, a little price ( as all that 
 Men or Angels could have payed would h3 ve been 
 the fineft Gold, Silver, or precious Stones) couM 
 not have done 9t\ the redemption of the Soul k prea- 
 ouf t andceafethfor evir, to wit, amongft all the crea- 
 tures, Pjal. 49. 8. 2. The feverity of Juftice on 
 the juft account of Sin, called for flic' 1 a price. 3. 
 Godsend, which was to make bath his Grace and 
 Juftice gloiious, required, and made it meet that 
 our Lord fhculd fuffer condignly, and in his fuf- 
 ferings fuffer rnucii, even all that he did fuffer; & 
 in this ye have an anlVer to this queftion, why 
 Chrift fuffered fo much as the lofs ( to fpeak fo) 
 of his declarative glory fcr a time, outward fuf- 
 ferings and inward fufferings, even the br uifing 
 and iqueczing that his foul was under, which 
 made him to fay, that it was heavy unto death, and 
 weeding forrowful ; Let not tinners then think 
 it a little or a light thing to ger a Soul laved, the 
 redemption whereof ceafeth for ever as to us or 
 any creature: Behold herein the glory of Giacc 
 eminently (hineth forh, when there is fuc!i a 
 price payed for that which in fome *efpect is of 
 fo little worth j and aUo. the &loty of Juftice, 
 
 Ifaiah ej." VtiT. e 
 
 when fb great a price is demanded and payeS 
 down for its fatisfaction, by fo worthy and ex- 
 cellent a Perfon ; and let none think little of Cm, 
 the guilt whereof could not be otherways expi- 
 ated, the chaftifement of our peace behoved to 
 be on him. 
 
 c. What are the benefits that come by thefe 
 Sufferings ? Anfw. 1. The benefits are fuch, that 
 if he haa not fuffered for us, we fhould have fuf- 
 fered all that he fuffered ourfelves. 2«Morepar% 
 ticularly, we have 1. Peace and pardon of Sin. 
 2. Healing by his fuffering, fo that if it be asked 
 what procured Pardon of fin and peace with God? 
 We anfwer, it's Chrift's fufferings ; or if it be afi. 
 ked, what is the caufe ofGods juftifying finners? 
 We anfwer, it's ChrifVs fatisfaction or fuffering; 
 and it is (by the way) much to be regarded* 
 that fuch is the ignorance of fome, that if a que* 
 frion be proponed in divers words or expreffions 
 as if it mould be asked, wherefore are we par- 
 doned ? Wherefore are we juftined ? which is 
 one and the fame, they know not how t;o anfwer- 
 but here ye are called to remember, that Chrift 
 being wounded, and his bearing the chaftifement 
 due to you, is the caufe of your Pardon and Ju- 
 ftificarion. 2. Healing looks to fanctification, as 
 we hinted in the expofition, fothat if it be asked 
 how comes ir to pais that a finner is made holy ? 
 we have it here anfwered, that though efficiently 
 it comes by the Spirit, and be his woik yet me- 
 ritorioufly it comes by Chrifts fufferings, he 
 bought ir, by hit flripes we an healed: and under 
 thefe two words, pence and healing, we take in all 
 things needful or pertaining to Life and Godli* 
 nefs ; for by />-w,che feud and enmity is taken 
 away, and we are reconciled to God HE?b. 2. 14,. 
 he is faid to he our peace, and he who came to (peak 
 peace to all that are afar of andnearhand- and alfo 
 by peace we underftand all the effects of peace. I. 
 Pardon of fin, Juftification, Adoption, Commu- 
 nion with God here and hereafter, Peace with 
 our ownconfeience, and with the Clotures, e« 
 ternal Peace and Glory, and ali thefe gocd thinns 
 purchafedby Chrift's Death : For the Hebrews un* 
 dcr peace compiehended all good things: And 
 
 dcr healing we take in Sanctihcation ( ai d.irTw- 
 guifhed, th ugh not divided from thole other 
 things mentioned) dying to fin, and living fo 
 lighceoufnefs, with the ievcral degrees of their 
 advance and progrefs, and the making of us to be 
 without fpot and wrinkle, or an\ iuch thing ; 
 fo that folks have much advantage by*Cnrifts' 
 purchafe, and much prcjud.ee rhorow the vat 
 of it. Ik his death we are kept Qut ofHclJ, 
 admittcdto pea.e with God and every rhmg that 
 is gogdj We have liberty to pray foraJl ;V 
 
■■rJGIiTjrTP }. Serm. aa 
 
 Fought in his own way and time might go free ; he endured ftrlpe* that we might! 
 
 be healed : he got the. buffets and bare the bur. 
 
 mr-a 341,1110 'are 
 
 to the pofleflion of it; It's by the blood" offprint 
 liny; that we have a new and living way made 
 patent to us unto the moft holy, and holinefs in 
 the way whereof -we enter in thither. 
 
 6. To whom huh Ciirift procured all thefe 
 good tilings? Tlie Text faith, its our and toe, 
 the chaftiftment of our peace was on him, and 
 by his ftripes rvc are healed, to wit, the Eleft. 
 Whence Qbferve, I. That the benefits of Chrifts 
 purchafe redounds only to the Elect, there is a 
 certain feleft number to whom they are ap» 
 plyed, and not to all indifferently, it's only of as 
 many as are healed, whofe chaftifement he hath 
 born ; It's only they whom the Father ha'h gi- 
 ven him, to them he gives eternal life, and they 
 fhall never perifh, "John io. 28, The} a:eefr\.ctu«* 
 ally called, juftified and fanctified. 2. ObJ'erve 
 That what Ciirift Jefus hath purchased, and the 
 benefits of his purchife, redound, and are exten- 
 ded to them that are guilty of hainous fins ; to 
 them that are under tranfgreflions and iniqui- 
 ties, that are at feud with God, ard under many 
 pollutions, and moft loathfome fpiritual difca- 
 fes ; to them who contemned and defpifed Chrift, 
 and judged himfmittenarad plagued of Gcd, as 
 is clear from the foregoing words, and to them 
 which have gone ftraying Lke left fheep, as is 
 clear from the words following. 
 
 This points ae thefe two or three things very 
 ufeful, 1. That the Elect are by nature, and be- 
 fore Chrift do them good, no better than others, 
 a. It (hews the freedom of the Grace of God that 
 comes over that, and freely gives pardon, peace, 
 and healing to them : And 3/y, It ferves to 
 frrengthen a finners Faith, who is fenfible of his 
 enmity and finfulnefs, and to be a ground of en- 
 couragement to him, to (rep to, and lay hold 
 on Chrifts purchafe, becaufe it was for fuch that 
 he died ; he may humbly, yet confidently fay, 
 Chrift died even for fuch as me, for them that 
 Wounded and pierced him by their Tranfgrefli- 
 ons and iniquities, for them that were at enmity 
 with God, &c. and alas I am fuch, and will 
 therefore on the call of the Gofpel come to him, 
 and on his own terms endeavour to caft my felf 
 jon him. 
 
 7. How are thefe benefits, this Juftification, 
 Pardon of fin, Peace and healing, and all that is 
 comprehended under them, derived from Chrift 
 
 ,. to the tinner that by faith fleeth unto him for re- 
 iuge-? An\wer. Thefe two generals will clear it. 
 1 Theyf arc derived to us juftly and in a legal 
 way,; Ciirift fteps in in our room, that we may 
 
 *come in his room. i. They are derived to us 
 freely, lie was wounded and bruifed that we 
 
 - the bur<- 
 den, and we get the benefits, there is not a grain 
 weight of it laid on us as it is fatisfaclory to di- 
 vine Juftice. T© clear this a little more anent 
 the deriving the benefits of Chiifts purchafe to 
 us, there muft be a refpect had, 1. To the Co- 
 venant of Redemption, the ground of his fuffe- 
 nng for us. 2, To the Covenant of Grace and 
 Reconciliation wherein the offer of thefe fuffe. 
 rings, and the benefits purchafed by thtm to us 
 and the terms of Both is made. 
 
 1. I fay, that refpect muft be had to the Cove- 
 nant of Redemption, wherein it wis acted in" 
 the council of the God-head, that the Son of God 
 fhould become Man, and fuffer, and condignly 
 fatisfie Divine Juftice by paying the price due 
 by the Elect, and that that price being laid down, 
 it fhould#>e made forthcoming for them for 
 whom he payed it, and be reckoned theirs, and 
 they fet actually at liberty, when having recourfe 
 thereto by Faith; and here thereisa legal ground 
 for transferring Chrifts purchafe to and upon 
 us ; the Cautioner fatisfying, we the Debtors 
 are on that account abfolved in his own order 
 and method, and have a right to feek the appli- 
 cation of the price, and the benefits purchafed 
 by that price ; Chrift ftands in our room at the 
 bar, and fentence paflcd on him to pay our Debt; 
 he fatisfied according to his undertaking for us: 
 And upon the other hand, we are brought in, and 
 the fentence of Juftification paffed on us on that 
 account; Re faith the Apoftle, who knew no fin, 
 is made Cm for us, that in himwe may be ac- 
 counted righteous, and may be declared free ( as 
 we are ) by vertue of his Satisfaction. 
 
 But it may be objected here, What, are we 
 then abfolved from the very tinfe of Chrifts death 
 and foreward ? For anfwer, we would diftinguifh 
 betwixt a right to the thing, and a right in 
 the thing ( as we ufe to fpeak ; ) betwixt >/ ad 
 rem and jus in re • the Elect from Chrifts death 
 forward, and before too, have a right to the 
 thing, but not in the thing, as to the application 
 of it tothemfelves; an elect perfon by vertue of 
 Chrifts Satisfaction hath a legal Right to his pur- 
 chafe before believing, but when becomes to be> 
 lieve, the obftruction is taken away that hind ret! 
 his application, and then he hath a new right 
 not <nly?#, but in Chrifts purchafe; even as a 
 perfon that is Minor ox mad, may have a right to 
 a great poiTcflion, but by the law he isfecluded 
 from the u{c of it till he come to Majority, and 
 have the ufe of reafon ; and this diftinction we 
 have as one of the claufes of the Covenant, 'John 
 
 6*. 39, 40. 
 
Serm « ^ n 
 
 6 19, 40. Where r. in the 19 Verfe, Chrift 
 favs This is the Fathers mtt % that fnt me, that of all 
 that he hath given me, 1 Should lo(e nothing, but fatuld 
 raife it up again at the laft day ; It s the Fathers 
 will that Eternal Life be given to as many as are 
 given to Chrift on his latisfaction, and Chnft 
 hath purchafed it to them by his fatisfaction ab- 
 .folu'ely as to the event, and therefore they have 
 an accefliblencfs to it, a Right to it, and cannot 
 but partake of it; vet not /imply, but in the way 
 that he hath laid down: And therefore a/y. In 
 the 40* Verfe, he faith, This is the mil of him that 
 tent me thai evtry one that ftetb the Sou and bileveth 
 in him may have eternal life ; by believing they come 
 to rh? application of that to thcmiclves which 
 they had a legal right to before by Charts 
 
 death. . . « , „ r 
 
 a. Refpect muft be had to the Covenant ot 
 Grace, which is not quite an ether thing than 
 theCovenant of Redemption,but the making of- 
 fer of it, and the benefits contained in it in the 
 preached Gofpel, when Chrift fends out his Am- 
 baftadors to woo and invite Sinners to Chrift, and 
 to bring them to the application of his Purchafo 
 and it is by doling with, and receiving of Chrifts 
 offer that the actual Cure comes, and that by 
 Chrifts ftripes our fores are healed : Even as when 
 a Child that was Minor becomes Major, he comes 
 to have a Right to polTefs the fame Lands or 
 Sums of Money by the fame Law that gave him 
 a legal or ilmple Ri^ht to them before ; or he 
 comes to have a Right in that, which before he 
 had a Right ff: So elect Souls that have a Right 
 to Chrifts purchafe before believing, while they 
 are mad in nature, are under the curfe and wrath 
 threatned in the word of God for not believing; 
 but when they come to believe, they come to 
 get an cx*ra& from the fame word of their Right 
 in Chrifts purchafe, becaufe the word fays, He 
 that believts } is pa ft from death to life, and Jh.tH 
 not come into condannation; and fo the fame word 
 that d ; d condemn befcre believing, doth - now 
 abfolve upon a Sinners believing; nd we come 
 at this abfolution by receiving of Chrifts offer in 
 the Covenant of Grace: And /fit be asked, how 
 comes ir that the receiving of ; hrifts free offer 
 in the Covenant of Grace, gives a Right to 
 Chrifts purchafe ? we anf ■• er, It is by vertue of 
 . the Covenant of Redemption, wherein it is fo 
 traafafted betwixt G d and the Mediator; fo that 
 there is the "ffer of t'ic Covenant received, and 
 the Covenant it felf that c neur for making over 
 and deriving a compleatRi&ht to wretched Sin- 
 ners in Chrifts purchafe. 
 
 Let the 1. Ufi of this be for your inftruclion 
 «nd information; which is the end wherefore we 
 
 Verfe C. , ,, 
 
 have chofen in this way by this fhort view to 
 give you in a v.ry flort Sum, the marrow of the 
 Gofpel ; And if ye renumber thefe few Quefti- 
 ons, ye may be in a capaciry not only to anfwer 
 us, but through grace to exercife Faith on Chrift; 
 and we think ye will all readily gra-.'t, that thefe 
 who cannot at all anfwer th.-m, fhould not go 
 to the Communion : And therefore that ye may 
 take them with you, we fhail fhorrly refume 
 them. 1. What condition is man in by nature? 
 Anfwer, Under fin and mifery, even under the 
 curfe cf God; Or thus, every man is a finner, 
 and hath a finful nature, or, he is under tranf* 
 greffions and iniquities, is naturally loathfome, 
 wants peace with God, and hath need ofhea- 
 ling ; let this in the firft place fink in your 
 hearts, a. How is man freed from this fmfaU 
 nefs and mifery ? Anfwer, He cannot be free 
 from if, till there be a condign fatisfa&ion made 
 to Divine Juftice , wounding and bruifing muft 
 be to procure pardon, and ftripes muft be to pro- 
 cure healing, and chaftifement muft be to bring 
 about our peace ; That word, Exed. i+.Who 
 will by no means acquit the guilty, would always be 
 remembrcd, and faith would look to a Saviour 
 for farisfa&ion, 3. Who can fatisfie ? Anfwer, 
 Neither Man nor Angel can do it, no penances 
 no prayers nor performances of any meer crea- 
 ture will do it, but He only that was wounded 
 and bruifed, he who by nature is the Son of 
 God, the exprefs Image of the Fathers perfon, 
 and who in refpett of his humane Nature was 
 born of the Virgin Mary, like to us in all things 
 except fin , it's he that fatisfies Juftice, and it's 
 by no other way that we get pardon and peace 
 with God, and Holinefs. 4. Whatway doth 
 Chrift fatisfie Juftice, and make peace betwixt 
 God and Sinners ? Anfwer, He entered himfelf 
 in our room, and as Cautioner undertook our 
 debt, fuffered the condign punifbment that was 
 due for our Sins, and payed the pr<ce that we 
 flu uld have payed ; He in 1 manner left Heart n 
 aad became Man, had a mean life in the World, 
 drank the Cup of his Fathers Wutb, was woun- 
 ded, bru fed, chaftifed, and died a curled death, 
 whereof his hanging on the Crofs was bur a 
 fign. <r. What benefits come to us by his fuffl- 
 rin_s. ? Anfwer, Paidon cf fin, Pe ce' with God 
 and healing ; the Copfcience by hisJk'ood is 
 fprinkltd 'rom de djvoiks, the perfon ab olved, 
 reconciled to God, made uhcle and made 3t 
 laft to be wit' out fpot or wrinkle, or aiy ftich 
 thing; Andrlis is not as Pap.fis blafpem i.lly 
 fpeak, a putative effect, but a moft real one. 
 6. Who are made partakers of this pardon, 
 peace, and healing ? Anfwer, The Elc& have 
 
 right 
 
right to it, and by believing they make the Ap- 
 plication, therefore it's faid here, euf and »ei 
 And we may look upon the Prophet fpeaking m 
 the name of all the Elect, or in name of the 
 believing Elect, who on believing are actual- 
 ly healed ; The Elect then are healed, and the 
 way how, is by faith-making application of Je- 
 fus Chriir. 7. How in Juftice cati he be con- 
 demned that was free of fin, and how can we be 
 abfolved that were guilty ? Anfwcr, He in Ju- 
 ftice was condemned, becaufe as our Cautioner 
 he came in our Room, aad undertook to pay our 
 debt ; And on the fame ground we wretched 
 finners, may in his way make application of his 
 purchafe ; becaufe it was on rhele terms that he 
 undertook the Debt, that we might be fct free; 
 And it's on thefe terms that it is offered in tne 
 Gofpel, that feing he hath payed for Elect fin- 
 ners,they may upon the hearing of the offer, dole 
 with if- But how may the finner apply it? An- 
 fwer, Not only becaufe it's free, and freely offe- 
 red, but by gripping to it by Faith, astheProphet 
 doth here ; Ir's not only to apply it (imply, but 
 to ftep in and reft upon it in the terms it is made 
 offer of, fo that as on the one part Jefus Chrifc 
 became really liable to fuffering, and fatisfied for 
 our fins, when he faid, Lo, I come, inthe volume of 
 thy book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will ; 
 So upon the other part, the believing (inner comes 
 to apply the price payed, by imbracing the price, 
 and acquiefcing in the fatisfaction, and gripping 
 to it as his own, and by his being breughtto fay 
 in faith, let his wounding be my pardon, let his 
 chaftifement be my peace, and let his ftripes be 
 my healing: By this means as the Law had a 
 right to Chrift for his paying the Elects debt, 
 
 tot- Si. Serm. 25" 
 
 fo they by believing get a right to the promifej 
 of pardon and healing j For if the bargain wasl 
 ticker on the one fide to proem e wounding to 
 Chi iff, as if he had been the fmnei himlelf, lb on 
 the other fide, the bargain is as Aire ; the Belie- ' 
 ver is fct free, and may be as really comforted, ' 
 as if he had a righteoufnefs of his own, or had 
 never had finned. 
 
 Ufe 1. Therefore there is here wonderful mat- 
 ter of conlldatipn to Believers, that what was 
 Juitice to Chrift is Grace and Mercy to us, that 
 which was pain to him, is pleafure to us; His 
 forrow our comfort, his wounding our pardon, 
 his lciipes our healing, &c* 
 
 V\e 3. As ye would not prejudge your felves 
 of thefe Benefits which Chrift hath purchafed, 
 make your peace with God through Chrift , if 
 y out pardon and peace be not obtained this way, 
 ye will never get it, but ye fhall be made to pay 
 your ov n debe and be liable co wrath eternally, 
 becaufe of inability to pay your debt to the 
 full: Therefore ftep to, and make the offer wel- 
 come, how iintul and undone foever ye be i 
 the more fenfible ye be, yc are the more wel« 
 come ; this isthe particular ufc of the Doctrine; 
 O ! Let thefe things fink in y >ur hearts, that ye 
 arefinners, greatlinners, under wia:h,andat feud 
 with God ; that Jtfus Chrift is the Saviour of 
 loft finners, and that there is no way to pardon 
 and peace but by clofingwith him, and l<i>ing 
 hold on his fatisfaction ; That ye may be drawn 
 to caft yourfejves over on this eve rl airing Cove- 
 nant, for obtaining the benefits that Chrifc hath 
 purchafed , And himfelf blefs what hath been 
 fpoken for this end and ufe. 
 
 SERMON XXIIL 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. V. 
 
 Verf. J» But be was wounded for our tranfgreffons, he was bruifed for our iniquities: the chafiifevunt of cur peace 
 was upon f»m % and with bis ftripes we are healed. 
 
 IT were no fmall progrefs in Chrifdanity, to 
 kuw and believe the truths that arc im- 
 plied tW. contained in this fame verfe » the Lord 
 by the Prophet is giving a little compend 
 of the work of Redemption by his favingof fin« 
 ners from death, through, and by the woun- 
 ding of theMediator. We did a little open 
 the meaning of the words, and gaye a fum of 
 
 the Doctrines contained in them, at leaft of 
 fome of them which do contribute to this 
 fcope. 
 
 The Prophet is here fpeaking of Ch rift's fuffe- 
 rings, witharefpect to the caufe of them, and 
 the effect that followed them, and fhews how 
 this was indeed the miftake and bJafphcmous im- 
 putation that we had of, and were ready to put 
 
 on 
 
Serm. S3« , iftish ej* Vitrf. fi 
 
 fen him, even to judge him fmitten and plagued Covenant of Redemption : 
 
 of God for his own fins, whereas God hath ano- 
 ther defign y He was altogether without fin, but 
 he was wounded for tur tranfgrefllons, . he was 
 bruifed for our iniquities j Wo were at feud with 
 God, and he took on him the chaftifement of 
 §ur peace ; And this is the effect, to procure 
 healing to us. 
 
 We fliall now fpeak a word to three Dotfnttes 
 further befides what we fpoke to the laft day, 
 which are thefe, i. That there was an eternal 
 defign, plot, and tranfa&ion betwixt God and 
 the Mediator, as to Chrifts fuffering for the re- 
 deeming of elect finneis before he actually Cut* 
 fered; This the Prophet fpeaks of a thing con- 
 eluded ; Forthe caufe of his fufferings was con* 
 defcended on, and the end and fruit of them 
 was determined, which implyes an antecedaneous 
 tranfaftion betwixt the Father and him for put- 
 ting him in the room^of finners ; And by this 
 tranfaction Juftice hath accefs to exact the pay- 
 ment of this price; He interpofed, and the Fa- 
 ther exacts of him the Payment of theirDebt,and 
 feeks Satisfaction from him for all that he bargai- 
 ned for. *• That this tranfaction or defign con« 
 cerning the Redemption of elect finners, is in 
 refpect of Chrifts futTering and fatisfying of Ju- 
 ftice, fully and actually performed, he under- 
 took to be wounded and bruifed, and he was 
 accordingly actually wounded and bruifed : The 
 transaction as to the engagment in it,and efficacy 
 of it, took place in ifaiah's time, and before his 
 time; but as to the actual performance of what 
 the Mediator engaged himfelf to fuffer, it is 
 fpoken of prophetically by him as a thing done, 
 becaufe to be done ; and now it is done, and in* 
 deed longago. ?,« That the fatisfying of Juftice 
 by the Mediators Sufferings according to his en- 
 gagment, proves as effectual to abfolve, juftifie 
 and heal thefe, even the groiTeft Sinners, that 
 come under this Bargain and Tranfaction, as if 
 they had actually funered, and payed and fatisfi- 
 ed their own Debt themfelves; thefe Sins are 
 pardoned through his Sufferings, their deadly 
 Wounds are healed by his Stripes, as if they had 
 never had a wound ; their Compt isdafhedand 
 fcoredas clean out, as if they had never had any 
 Debt; they are acquited and fct free, as if they 
 had never been guilty. 
 
 Thefe three Dotfrines ly very near the life of the 
 Gofpel, and the Prophet in this Chapter, and 
 particularly in this Verfe, is often on them. Our 
 purpofe is only fhortly to explicate them to you, 
 as a Ihort fum and compend of the Tract of the 
 
 I2t 
 
 The frjl of them 
 fhews the rife of the work of Redemption. The 
 fecond fhews the mids by which it is executedi 
 The third holds out the effect and confequence, 
 and the end of all. 
 
 For the frft then, There is ( we fay ) an eter- 
 nal Tranfaction betwixt God and Jefus Chrift 
 the Mediator, concerning the Redemption of 
 Sinnets, His actual redeeming, by being woun- 
 ded and bruifed, fuppofeth this ; for the Son i* 
 no more lyable to fuffering ( not to fpeak of hi* 
 fuitablenefs ) than any other of the Perfons o* 
 the bleffed Godhead, had there not been an ante" 
 cedentTranfactiom there was no obligation no r 
 ty on him to be wounded, and to enter into tK e 
 room of Sinners as their Cautioner, for paymen c 
 of their Debt, if their had not been a prior en* 
 gagment; neither could his wounding andbrui* 
 fing have proven ufeful, or have brought heal* 
 ing to u?, if this prior engagment had not been: 
 And this is it which we call the Covenant of Re- 
 demption; which we would not extend fo as in 
 all things to ftretch it to the properties of thefe 
 Covenants and Bargains which are amongft Men, 
 it being in fome refpect an expreflion ufed to 
 make Grace more difcernable to us that can con- 
 ceive fo little of Graces way : This Tranfaction 
 • or Covenant of Redemption is fometimescalled 
 the Fathers will, and his law, as Pfal. 40. 8. I de- 
 light to do thy -will, O my God, yea t by law is with- 
 in my heart ; and John 6. 38. It is called fo, \camt 
 from heaven, not to do mine own will, hut the will of 
 him that fent me; fo alfo John 17. 14. it is called 
 the Fathers work in one refpecr, and the Sons 
 work in anorher refpec, I hav:finijbtdthe work thou 
 gavefl me to do ; which is the profecution of the 
 fame contrivance ufually called ^Covenant ; be- 
 caufe as to the eiTentials, it hath the nature of a 
 Covenant, to wit, two Parties agreeing, 2nd 
 terms whereupon they agree; and is well order- 
 ed in all things for profi&cuting and carrying on 
 the defign of faving loft finners : called Atls 2. 
 23 . the determinate counfel and fere -km wit dgi of Giifc 
 there was a plot and defign in Gods counlel con- 
 cerning Chrifts fufferings, whereof his fufferings 
 were the execution. 
 
 To clear it a little, we would confider thefe 
 five things in it. 1. The Parties^ 2. The /natter 
 about which it is. 3. The rife and occfion of 
 it/ 4; The terms wherein the form of itftand*. 
 or the midfes whereupon it is undertaken* 5. 
 Some properties of this Covenant 
 
 j. For the Parties upon the one C\ le is Goi ef. 
 fenrially considered, or all the three Perfons of 
 R 
 
 an. 
 
the glorious God-head, Father 
 Ghofr, who arc all concurring in this Covenant, 
 it being the Act of the determinate counfel of 
 Codiand in this refpect God is the Party to whom 
 the fatisfaction for loll Sinners is made, and he 
 is alfo the Party condefcending to accept of the 
 Fatisfaction : And upon the other fide, the Party 
 engaging to make fatisfaction,isJefus Chrift,the 
 fecond Perfon of the bleiTtd, dreadful, and ador- 
 able Trinity, perfonalJy confidered, now becom- 
 ing the Head of the Electithat he may have thtm 
 all with himfelf to be one myftical body; in the 
 firft refpect, all the three perfons, that fame one 
 fcleiTed God give the command or require a fa« 
 tisfaction as God, and concur as the infinitely 
 wife orderer of the Decree; and in the fecond 
 refpect,JefusChriftas Mediator, undertakes to 
 make fatisfaction Pfal. 4 o. 6, 7. Sacrifice and offer- 
 ing thou did(l not defire-, God as it were making the 
 offer, what can,or fhall be given to me for the re- 
 demption of finners? Sacrifice andOiFerings will 
 not pleafe, nor ire accepted by m:: then follows 
 the Mediators part, Lo, I come, inthevolum of thy 
 hook it it written of me, I delight to do thy will, O 
 tny God; for though in th>e firft refpeft, all the 
 Perfons in the Trinity be on the one fide, being 
 of one will, yet in the other refpect, Chrift Je- 
 fus as Mediator comes in on the other fide to 
 do his will. 
 
 a. As to the matter about which this Cove- 
 nant is» It's about the farisf>ing of Juftice, and 
 making of peace between God and loft finners; 
 it's that we might be pardoned, juftified, have 
 peace made with God, and be healed; It is true 
 there is an end above and beyond this, even the 
 glory of Gods rich Grace, and condefcending 
 Jove, that ftoups fo low to fa ve finners; but fin- 
 ners pardon, and peace with God : and rheir heal- 
 ing, is the immediate end: Or if we come near* 
 er> the matter about? which it is, is the redeem- 
 ing of the Elect, for thefe words in the Text, 
 We and Uf, are of equal extent with them that 
 are juftified and reconciled, and whom he actu- 
 ally healed by his Wounds and Stripes, fo that 
 whoever they be who are nerer juftified and 
 healed, they arc not comprehended in this 
 Bargain. 
 
 3. The rife and occafion of this Covenant 
 may be gathered from thefe three, f. There is 
 " the fuppofing of Mans .Sin and fall; for what- 
 ever Election doth, Redemption eioth moft cer- 
 tainly fuppofc Mm to be loft and under Sin. a. 
 There is Gods decree, not to pardon fin without 
 a Satisfaction. 3. There is Gods Election pre- 
 ceeding, or his purpofe to favc fome for the glo- 
 ry of his Grace, which are the Elect, who are 
 faid to be £ivsn to thrift > Thefe three are the rife 
 
 Ifaiah $). V«j.t. Scrmt 
 
 Son, and Holy and occafion of the Covenant of Redemption- 
 Man hath finned, thethreatning mu'r be txecu! 
 ted.arid Juftice fatisfled ; and yet God hath for 
 the glory of his Grace, elected t certain num- 
 ber to Life, and thatmuft needs ftand fi.miand 
 thefe three ieeming to thwart one of them with 
 another, gives the occafion and rife to the excel* 
 leat and admirable contrivance of this 
 
 way; 
 
 how the loft Sinner fc.Il be faved, yet fo asjul 
 ftice fhall be fatisficd, and not wronged in the 
 leaft, and Juftice fo fatisfled, that yet the De- 
 cree of Election by Grace (hall itand 
 
 4. As for the Terms (wherein the form of 
 the Covenant ftands, ) and themidfes by which 
 thefe ends may be brought abr-ut; to wir, how 
 the Redemption of loft Sinners may be attained 
 Juftice may be fatisfied, and the glory of Grace' 
 made to (bine ; and how any th.ng that makes 
 thefe feem to juftle and thwart might be guard- 
 ed againit;& that was it which (to ipeak fo with 
 ieverence) put God tothe confutation aboutit; 
 which mews the excellency of the Covenant of 
 Redemption, and the deep draughts that aiea* 
 bout it, for otherways and properly God needs 
 net confult or advice: They are fhoitly thefe 1. 
 Gods offer to redeem Man, if his Juftice may be 
 fatisfied, and if any refponfal Perron will become 
 Cautioner and undertake to pay the ElcctsDebr 
 3. The Sons accepting of the Offer, and under* 
 taking or engaging to pay their Debt, upon con-* 
 dition that his payment and fatisfaction fhall be 
 accounted the E ects, and accepted for them 
 3. The Fathers acceptation of this engagmenr" 
 and undertaking according to his offer ; and the* 
 Mediators accepting of it, and acquiefcing in 
 it, he holds the Bargain ( ro fpeak fo, ) and fo is 
 a clofed Covenant : The firft is comprehended in 
 thefe words, Sacrifices andoffermgs thoudidfi not de- 
 fire, Pfal.40. infinuating that ttod did defire fome- 
 thing; The fecond in thefe words, Mine earstbou 
 hafl opened, then J aid I, Lo, I come in the volumofthy 
 bjok, it's written of me t l delight to do thy will, which 
 implys the Fathers acceptation as well as CbrXts 
 undertaking; and it alfo points at the way how 
 the fatisfaction is made effectual; eipecially if 
 wecompare thefe words of the Pfalm with Heb. 
 10. 5, 6. we will find that they relate toChrifts 
 Humiliation in general, for it is in the P[elm, 
 Mine ear haft thou optned\ !>ut in Htb. lo. 5. ft is' 
 A body haft thou prepared me; and where it is find* 
 in the Pfalm, I ddtght to do thy will, the Apoftle 
 fays, By the which willwe are ftntt.fied. The Father 
 makes the offer on the terms of a fatisfaction to 
 Juftice,the Son as Mediator accepts the off tr ,and 
 undertakes for the Elect,htre am I, to do thy will 
 on the fame terms that the offer is made, and the 
 Father accepts of the Sous engagement, accor- 
 ding 
 
£erm. a$. V*ish J3 
 
 I dmg tothat word t Matth. 3. This is my btloved Son 
 *t\ whom I am well p leafed, he offers himfelf Surety 
 for Sinners, and the Father is content to accept 
 of him as their Surery: In the one refpect it's cal- 
 led the Fathers pie afure, Verfe 10. of this Chapter, 
 yet itpleafed the Lord to brufehim, &c, becaufcthe 
 the terms werefo propofed, and in the other re- 
 fpext.it's called theMediators pUafure,or latisfaSlion, 
 Vtr). \ 1. beeaufe the condition propofed isfatis- 
 fying to him, The pie afure of the Lord fball projptr in 
 bis haid: He undertakes to pay, and God accepts 
 of his undertaking.and obliges himfelf to abfove 
 the Believer: and the words following, He fhallfee 
 hi* feed, and of the travel of bis Joul, and btfatisfiid, 
 and by his knowledge Jhall my right sow fervant jufli- 
 fiemany. are Promifes made to him on fuppofiti* 
 on of his making fatisfaction : 2 Cor. <$.uh. the 
 firft part of the Tranfaction is, He hath made him 
 to be fin for usjhat knew no fin: and the oher part of 
 it is. That we might be made the rigkteoufnejs ofGod 
 through him-, he accepting of the Bargain, obtains 
 a right to ajuftifying and abfolving Sentence 
 by vertue of his fuff ring, for which caufe thefe 
 words are added,;/* him, or through him-.This fhews 
 the clearnefs of Gods Juftice in proceeding with 
 the Mediator, the ground of Sinners Juftifkari- 
 on through him.and gives dinners a wanand to 
 make ufe of Chrifs fari>factionas theirs, beeaufe 
 it was fo agreed upon in the counfel of the 
 God-head. 
 
 5. We come now to fpeak a little to fome pro- 
 perties of this Covenant, and fhall conttnt our 
 felves with three or f< ur of them that make for 
 the fcope, Asi. The juftice and equiry ofir« 2. 
 The faithfulnefs of it. 3. The freenefs of it. And 
 4 • The wifdom that mines in this Bargain ; paf- 
 fing by the reft. 
 
 1 The jufiice and equity of this Tranfa&ion may 
 appear in thefe reipe&s: 1. That the Father 
 fhould be fatisfie J, and that he that was wronged 
 lliould have his honour reftoredthat 'he threat- 
 ning given out in his Law fhould light and rake 
 effeft, that the Soul that fins mould in h ; s own, 
 or in the Sureries perfon alie: and that a fuitable 
 recompence fhould be rmde to Juftice before 
 the Sinner fhould be abfolved. 2. Jufiice appears 
 in this refpect, That when rh<* Son of God, the 
 Mediator, offers to become Man, and to endure 
 and fuffer all that l he Elect fhould have fuffcred, 
 his fufferings fhou'd be accepted as a fatisfaftion; 
 beeaufe the jufiice of God, yea tte holinefs pow- 
 er & greatnefs of God, are as "lonoufly mmifeft- 
 ed inChriftsfatisfattion.as if Man had fuff-red; 
 nay, there would not have been fuch an amends 
 and fatisfattion made to Juftice, as if all creatures 
 bad fuffeied Juftice bj this means hath more h- 
 
 rerf.^m _ 
 
 tisfa&ion than it Could have riad otherwtys;anT 
 hereby the holinefs of God,and the feverity of 
 his ju(Uce,as well as the condefcending love of 
 God, is the more manifefted,thathe himfelf fhould 
 condefcend to fatisfie ; therefore Rom. 3. 36. it's 
 iYid Jhat he might be jufi t and thejuftifitrof him that 
 bdieveth on Jefus; God is juft, in that he will not 
 only have fatisfa&ion, but an equivalent fatisfa- 
 ftion for the refroring of his Juftice to its decla- 
 rative glory wherein it fuffered by Mansfall. 3. 
 Juftice appears in this refpett, That the Media- 
 tor fatisfyingjuftice, thefe for whom he fuffered 
 fhould be accquitted, and have the Sentence of 
 ablblutionpaft in their favours; which the rather 
 we would rake notice of,that we may know the 
 Redemption purchafed and beftowed by the Me- 
 diators by an exact facisfying of Jufcice,and not 
 by removing of our fms,as he did ourdifeafes, 
 nor by pardoning of them by an authority com- 
 mitted to him; but, as I faid» by a real and actual 
 fatisfying of the Juftice of God for them; there- 
 fore Luke 24. it's faid,tfc? behoved f fuffer tbefethingr, 
 and then to enter into his glory, there was a neceflity 
 of it,becaufeof the juftice of this Covenant, for 
 theSon, not only to become Man,and be in a lowr 
 condition, but to become a Curfe, and to die 
 the curfed death of the Crofs. 
 
 A fecond property is faithfulnefs on all fides; 
 Faithfulnefs on the Fathers fide in his Word and 
 Promife to the Son, All that are given of the father 
 are made to come to hhn,and there is nothing loft, John 
 6. }7, 44, 4c. Faithfulnefs on the Sons fide, per- 
 forming all according to his undertaking, fulfil, 
 ing all righteoufnefs-.There fore whenin the one word 
 he fays, Deliver m: fr-m this hour; in the next word 
 he fayes, But for this caufe came I unte thU hour-, In 
 was my errand into the World, and now I am to> 
 go about it by and by, And 1 lay down my life for my 
 jheep myfelf no mantakethmy life from me, but 1 hav$ 
 power to lay it down t and power to take it up *g.ii»;liis 
 faithfulnefs alio appears in keeping all that are 
 commirrcd to his tru(>, None of thtm fball perifh, 
 but he fhall ruifstbem u% at the laft days Therefore 
 he is called the good or fairhful fhepherd. 
 
 3 I.'s a/r«« ( ovenant, it sjwtf, as betwixt God 
 and the Mediator* but as to the Elect, ir\s mod 
 free: By his wounjls we have pardon, and by bis 
 ftripes we have healing; Thechaftifmeyi: of*%r 
 was en him; There is not one grain weight or 
 worth to be fati -fied I y us: He was mad 1 fin for ur, 
 He was made the cm ft*, even rhe wrarN-pacify- 
 ing-facrifice and offering; That we mig'-t be m.i.ie 
 the righteoufnefs of God, nor through ought in our 
 felve 1 , but thrcuh him, 1 dr. 5. ult 
 
 4. It's a moft w;/f contrivance, for if rheSonhad 
 
 notbrccmeManandM-diator, how COlildJuftic^ 
 
 R i have 
 
Jfaiih $3. Vi 
 hive been fatisfied or the Elect pardoned and 
 healed ? They could not fatisfie for themelves, 
 and no creature could fatisfie for them, there- 
 fore theonJy wife God finds out a wife midsfcr 
 fuch an end, as is the faving « f the E.'ect, in a 
 way wherein Juftice and Mercy, or free Grace, 
 fweetly kifseach other, and wherein they both 
 dine forth confpicuoufly and radiently. 
 
 That which we would fay in fhort concern- 
 lag this Covenant, is this; t hat Jefus Chrift hath 
 undertaken to pay the Elects Debt, and hath 
 itepped in unto their room, and God hath im- 
 puted unto him their Cm } and accepted ot a fa- 
 tisfaction from him for them ; And all this 
 in a legal and juft way, fo as there is accefs be* 
 fore the Throne of God, for them to plead for 
 the application of his Righteoufnefs by vertue 
 of [his Covenant; That as really and faithfully 
 as Chrift performed his undertaking to God, 
 and his fatisfa&ion was accepted tor them, they 
 may as really and on good ground expeft the 
 application of it to them h For though all be of 
 Grace to us, yet it's a bargain on Jutland legal 
 terms bttwixt God and the Mediator ; There* 
 fore there is a Title and Right in Juftice for 
 the Elect when they come to Chrift, that his 
 fatisfaftion fhall ftand for them, as being Mem- 
 bers of his Body, and in whole room and place 
 he fatisfied i Hence it is faid, i John *. i. If any 
 man (in; we have an Mvjcat with the Father, Je- 
 fus Chrift the rightetus; And whereon is this right- 
 eoufnefs founded ? The next words tell us,H*tf 
 the propitiation for our fint;Hc hath payed the price 
 that was due by us, and we may feektheappli 
 cation of it to us according to the tranfattion 
 paft betwixt the Father and him, now perform- 
 ed ; which is the next point. 
 
 The a. Doctrine is, That this tranfa&ion and 
 defign concerning the Redemption of finners, 
 is now not only undertaken, butfully perform- 
 ed, as is clear, Aclt a. 23. Him being delivired by 
 the determinate counftl of God y ye have taken,andby 
 wicked hands have crucified and {lain ; The eternal 
 purpofe concerning this is now execute : As to 
 the efficacy of his fufFerings, He is indeed the 
 Lamb /lain front the beginning of the world; Becaufe 
 neither the Son's undertaking was queftioned by 
 the Father, nor the Fathers promife queftioned 
 by the Son : To fpeak fo with reverence of fuch 
 a myftery, the Father before his coming trufts 
 him upon his engagment with the Salvation of 
 fo many EIe& Smils as he had given him; And 
 tht Son confidered as Mediator, ttufts the Fa- 
 ther with the juftifying of them, according to 
 the promife made to him in the iii Verfe of 
 this Chapter j But tht a&ual performance of the 
 
 r J' *• Serm. ijJ 
 
 undertaking was not till Chrift ftff.red This 
 aftual performance of the Covenant compre- 
 hends thefe tlings fliortly ; 1. That as this ph t 
 and delign of Redemption was Ind down, fo it 
 hath the p rformanre by all the Parties Cove- 
 nanMng : It is aftu^Jy performed according to 
 the terms of it- 2. That it hath the real tfFefts 
 Covenanted for, actually and really broughj a- 
 bout? It hath with it a moft real and effectual 
 following to fpeak fo, whereof Chrifts actual 
 fuffering was a part, and a main part. 
 
 I fay it is performed by all parties according 
 to the terms, and hath its rral effect in thefe re- 
 fpects, 1, Chrift Jifus hath according to this 
 Covenant, lifted himftlf before theBar of Juftice, 
 and undertaken our Debt. 2. Juftice hathpur- 
 fued Chrift for our Debt, and hath exacted pay- 
 ment of it from him; The cup that belonged 
 to us was put in his hand, ami he was made to 
 drink it, in which refpect it is faid He was made 
 a eurfefor us. Gal. 3 . The Sword of Divinejuftiee 
 awaked againft him, and didfmite him. 3. Jefus 
 Chrift according to his undertaking, doth ac- 
 cept of the Claim, undergoes the Debt, and fa- 
 tisfies Juftice therefore when he ftands in our 
 Room ; as if he had been the guilty perfon, he 
 opens not his mouth to juftifie himfelf, he fays 
 not ; thefe are not my fins, but is as dumb, as 
 the fheep is before thefhearer, becaufe he was 
 our Cautioner; The everlafting Covenant, to 
 fay fo, ftood Regiftrat over his head, and he is 
 made to count for all that was due by, and to 
 us. 4. It's performed in this refpect, that the Fa- 
 ther purfues not the Elect on this account to be 
 fatisfied of them, who as foon as they accept of 
 theCovenant, are actually juftified and abfolved; 
 Indeed while they are in nature the fentence ftill 
 ftands; Gurfed is he that finneth and believeth 
 noti Yet by vertue of his performance, of the 
 Tranfaction they have a legal r ght to Juft i fie a ti- 
 on, and the promife to him ftands good, that 
 the Elect by hisknowledge fhall be juftified, and 
 it hath an actual performance in all them that 
 believe,they are really made free as he was made 
 the finner. 5. In refpect of the manner, 1. It's 
 performed exactly according to the Covenant", 
 even as it was agreed upon, that for fo many he 
 fhould fuffer and procure eternal life, and foil 
 is ; Eternal life is given to fo many according to 
 the condition of this Covenant and Bargain. 2* 
 As it was a Bargain wherein Juftice was to be fa.- 
 tisfied ; fo it was exactly fatisfied, Chrift Jefns 
 gets nothing down, not one farthingis remitted, 
 but fatisfies all, payes down the full price, he 
 drinks out ail the wrath contained in the Cup, 
 
 till 
 
Serm a?! 
 
 Ifaiah 53 ftrf, e. 
 
 till it come to thatfweet word, uttered by h rn 
 amongft his raft words on rha Crofs, h is fimfhd 
 The 3 . Dottrine is, That though Elect tinners 
 be as well Tinners by nature, and as grofs tin- 
 ners as others, yet by vertue of this Covenant, 
 and upon condition of their accepting of it,they 
 may obtain, and do actually obtain peace with 
 God, pardon and healing, as if they had never 
 finned, or as if they had Satisfied the Juftice of 
 God themfelves : This is the very end of this 
 tranfaction, He was wounded for our tranfgrejpons, 
 iruifed for our iniquities, the chaftifement of ourpeact 
 was upon him, and by his firipts we are healed ; His 
 wounds, bruifes and ftripes eff ctually procured 
 Juftification and healing to us ; And this is the 
 ground of that which we call imputed right eouf- 
 nefs, and fhews how it comes to pafs, that 
 we are made righteous by the righteoufnefs of 
 another, fcornfully a\kd putative righteoufnefs by 
 PapiRs: But confidering what is in the former 
 Doctrines, and in thisjwe will find it to be a 
 clear truth on which our Juftification, and the 
 whole weight of cur Salvation hangs; That the 
 believing finner doling withChrifts fatisfaction, 
 is as effectually abfolved from (in, as if he had ne- 
 ver finned; Chrift's fatisfaction becomes as really 
 his, as if he had payed the Debt himfelf : And 
 if we confider thefe three. I. The great defign 
 of the Covenant of Redemption betwixt God 
 and the Mediator, 2. The faithfulnefs of God 
 in this Covenant* in performing his part on the 
 terms on which the Mediator laid down a price 
 for the Elect, 3. The excellency and efficacy of 
 the price payed with refpectto the Covenant; 
 We will find that there is clear accefs inLaw,or 
 according to theDecree of God manifefted (the 
 Decree is called a Law % Thy Law is within my heart) 
 for thegrofTeft finners that come under thisban 
 gain&clofe with thisCovenanr/heir obtaining 
 Peace, Pardon Juftification,& Healing,as if they 
 hadnever finned,orhadfatisfied themfelves,&that 
 they may confidently expect it on this ground. 
 1. 1 fay, ifwe confider the great end and de- 
 fign of the Covenant betwixt God and the Me- 
 diator, we will find it to be the Juftification of 
 the Electa Chrift fuffcrcd not for any fin that 
 was inherently in himfelf ; he had no fin, there 
 was no guile found inhismou^; noquarrdbe- 
 twixtGod&: him on his owrvaccoimtbut h e was 
 wounded for our tranfgreflbns, the chaftifement 
 ofwr peace was on him; to m,ke peace betwixt 
 God and us by his wounJing, was the great de- 
 fign of the Covemnt of Redemption; And cm 
 thauefign hold, if his fatisfaction come not in 
 the room of ours, and ftanJ nor for our fatisfa. 
 ction and payment? Irj m*n's Law the Cautioner 
 
 paying the Debt proves valid for the Principal " 
 Debitor and when his isthedefignof God in the 
 Covenant of Redemption, how to get the Debt 
 of Dyvour finners payed, and themfelves fet at 
 liberty, and when this is found out as the raids* 
 A body haft thou prepared umontexhe Covenant mud 
 be as real on the one fide as it is on the other; 
 That is, as real and effectual to make rhe Believ* 
 er in Chi iff juft, as it was real and effctual to 
 make Chrift to be accounted the finner, and to 
 be dealt with as fuch- We may clear it furrhet 
 in thefe two. «. By looking to Chrift typified in 
 the offerings under the Law i When the fin- 
 ner came with his offering, he laid his hand on 
 the head of the Beaft, efpecially of theScape.geat, 
 to fhew that Jefus Chrift who was to come to be 
 bothPrieft andSacrifice,was to bear the fins of the 
 thatElect,as they were to be fet free;That he was 
 to lay his neck down to the Knife of Juftice that 
 the ftroak might be kept off our Throat. 2. We 
 are fo juftified by Chrift as Chrift was made fin 
 for us, now our fins became really Chrifts, not 
 that he was made the finner Inherently, that 
 were blafphemous to be thought or fpoken ©f ; 
 But he was reckoned the finner, and was fubfti- 
 tute in the room of finners,as if he had been the 
 finner, and was made to fatisfie for Original fin, 
 and for Actual fin; as if he hid been guilty of 
 them by committing them: Therefore 2 Cor. ?. 
 ult. He is faid to be made Jin for z*/,and Gal. 3. To 
 be made a curie for us- and 1 Pit. 2. 24. To bear our 
 fins in his own body on the tree ; And if hefuffered 
 for us, and if we partake of his righteoufnefs, as 
 as he did of cur fins; then our Juftification real- 
 ly follows, and we are abfolved and made righte- 
 ous through his fatisfaction clofed with bylaith, 
 as ifwe had never finned : The parallel is clear, 
 1 Cor. 5. ult He was made tin for us who knew no 
 fin; that we might be made rhe righteoufnefs of 
 God in hinr, So that Chrift was made fin, in the 
 fame manner we are made righteous; That as le- 
 gally as he who had no debt, was made lyable to 
 our Debt, foas legally we partake of his righte- 
 oufnefs, and are declared fiee; even as the Dy- ' 
 vour is legally frcd from rhe D.-bt which his 
 Cautioner hath payed, and c?nnor be lyable to it; 
 So theBeliever by Chi ills fatisfaction is freed from 
 the debt of (in, and abfolved and declared righte- 
 ous : And though this may feem ft range and ■ 
 wonder, to be a finner, and yet in fome refpect 
 free of fin, under guilt, and yet abfolved ; yet 
 Chrifts fatisfaction is as real and effectual as to 
 the Believer, as if he had farisfied himfelf, bc- 
 caufe his Cautioner hath fatisfied for him. 
 2. If we confider Gcdf fkithflilnefi iu th;'s 
 
 Covenant 
 
m 
 
 if at ah CJ. 
 
 Covenant in performing his part, according to 
 the Terms or* it, the matter is clear; For as the 
 Mediator hath performed his part according to 
 his engagement ; fo it is importable bu:God muft 
 perform his, and muft accept of the fatisfactjon 
 in name of the Elect, and upon their believing 
 juftifiesthemjFor as it was theFathefs will, that 
 he mould lay down his life for his fheep, fo it 
 was the will of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, 
 that Believers in him fliould through his fatis- 
 faction have eternal life, John 6. 39, 40. When 
 he hath faid before, / came not to do my oven will, but 
 the will of him thatjent me, he fubjoyns, This is the 
 Fathers will which Jent me, that of all that he 
 
 hath 
 given me Ijhould loft nothing, but jhould raije it up 
 again at the lafl day ; Where thefarisfactionthat 
 Chrift Ihould make is implyed, and it is a great 
 one; And what fatisfaction (hall he have for 
 that ? Even the Salvation of the Elect, This is 
 the will of him thatfent me, that every one that feet h 
 the Son, and believtthon him, may have everlasting 
 life, and 1 will raije him up at the lajl day, And 
 verf 10. of thisChapier, it's clear that he fhall 
 not want fatisfaction, for he fhall fee of the travailof 
 his fiuls and be facisfied; And what is the fatisfa- 
 ction? By his knowledge {hall my righteous ftrv ant 
 juftifi: many\hc mail be the cauie of the juftify- 
 in£ of many, and they (hall be actually abfolved 
 indue rimejAnd what is the ground of it? For ht 
 fhall bt*r their iniquities: Aud therefore as God is 
 faithful, he (hall get that which he merited and 
 purchafed for them, applyed unto them. 
 
 3 If we confider the excellent and equivalent 
 price that Jefus Chrift hath payed, and that with 
 refpecttothe Covenant, we have a clear ground 
 why the Believer may expect and be confident 
 to be abfolved and declared free; It is no mean 
 Price, Gold, Silver, or precious Stones, but the 
 Blood of Him that was and is 6od, which we 
 fay would be confidered not (imply, but with 
 refpect to the Covenant, and to the end where- 
 fore he fufferedand (tied his Blood ; For though 
 it be no comfort ro a finner firoply that Chrift 
 fuffcred, yet when he condders rhat it was for 
 this end, to wir, that Justice might be fatisfied, 
 and thatthefe for whom he larisfied might be 
 juftified, and made freej The believing (inner 
 may hence reafon. if there was a realirie inju- 
 ftice purfuing of him as my Cautioner, and a 
 reality and elficacy in his fatisfaction; and if it 
 was full and compleat,fo as juftice was fully fa- 
 tisfiea by it, when there was a reality of Mer- 
 cy, Pardon, Juftiiication, and Peace with God, 
 and of healing to and for me, their being made 
 forth coming to me upon the condition of be- 
 lieving ; And in this refpect, though it be grace 
 to pardon fin as to us, yet it is Juftice in God 
 
 **k 5- t Serm. 13! 
 
 to give Chrift the fatisfaction for the travel of 
 his Soul, as well as he gave God fatisfactioruo 
 his Juftice; And the equivalent of that which 
 the Elect ftiould have payed, being payed to 
 Juftice by Chrift their Cautioner, the Lord can- 
 not, nor will not (bun nor ftiift the pardoning 
 of a believing finner according to the Covenant. 
 The Ufts are five, 1. Of Inftruction, where, 
 by we may have a Map of Gods way of faving 
 finners; and of the way of doners coming to 
 get Salvation through Jefus Chrift. 
 
 J' To ftirus up ro admire the love of God 
 contriving fuch a defign for the Salvation of 
 loft finners;at the love of God that gave his Son; 
 and as the love of the Son that engaged to come' 
 and hath come and payed the Debt. 
 
 3» It gives a notable warrand to the Faith of 
 a finner to take hold of, and clofe with Chrift; 
 and to reft upon his fatisfaction for Juftificati- 
 on and healing; becaufe he hath God and the 
 Mediator Covenanting for this very end, the 
 Mediator engaging to fatisfie, and God engaging 
 to receive the fatisfaction, and re juftifie allthcie 
 who (hall accept of it, and reft upon it. 
 
 4. Its therefore a notable ground of encou- 
 ragement,and of exhortation to take hold ofje- 
 fus Chrift, and of his fatisfaction: Folk would 
 not skar at him, but lippen their Salvation to 
 him, and be Aire the bargain will not fail ; As it 
 is fure that the Mediator hath fati$6ed, it is as 
 fure that his fatisfaction fhall be made forth* 
 coming to Believers in him. 
 
 c. To reprove the neglecters and (lighters of 
 Jefus Chrift, and of this offered falvation through 
 himj when hs hath taken the threatning and 
 curfe of the Law on himfelf to make out the 
 Promife to them, it muft be a great aggravati- 
 on of folks guile to flight him. It ferves alfo to 
 comfort a poor finner that hath many fins and 
 challenges, and knows not how to be quit of 
 them: The Covenant fays our fins are tranib- 
 ted on the Mediator, tt at we might be fet free; 
 Chrift Jefus Covenanted on the terms of Juftice 
 to make way for us, to covenant on the terms of 
 Mercy, God Covenanted with him to purfue our 
 (in in him,and he Covenanted to impute that fa- 
 tisfaction fiedy to us: Hence is that never 
 enough noted faying, 2 Cor. ?. 19. God was in 
 Chrift reconciling the world to himjelf: It's Juftice on 
 his parr, he fatisfied for pardon of fin, and peace 
 to them: But on the Elects part it*s grace, God 
 is reconciled to them, not imputing their fin to 
 them, but it's for Ch rifts fatisfaction that he 
 freely forgives them their fin: fo that what coft 
 him dear comes moft fretly to us ; and this is 
 no fmal ground of comfort to a Confcience pref- 
 fed with fin. God fix thefe things in your 
 
Scrm. 24. 
 
 (M St Vtrf 
 
 «*7 
 
 SERMON XXIV. 
 
 ISAIAH LIIL V. 
 
 Vcrf. %\ But h$ wst Bounded for our tranfgrejjions , he vat brut fid for 
 of our peace vas upon him, and with bis Strifes we are healed. 
 
 iniquities: the cbajlifemnt of 
 
 IF there wetem uc deep conviction amongft 
 us of our natural deadnefs in fin, and of 
 chat fearful condition that naturally we ly 
 under by out lyablenefs to the Wrath and 
 Curfe of Cod, all M<:n and Women having 
 by nature Gods curfe,as the fentence of the Law 
 regiftrate againft them; the reading of fuch a 
 Text, wherein a way of Remedy is holden forth, 
 would be more welcome to us* and we are per- 
 fwaded that fuch athorow convi&ion would not 
 only make the Word more lovely and delight- 
 feme to us, but more plain and eafie to be un- 
 derftood by us, and to be fooner Taken up by us; 
 and one Preaching would thus be more profi- 
 table and effectual than many are to you while 
 in a fecure condition; when People are not un- 
 der the deep and due conviction of their fin 
 and mifery, they have no ferious thoughts, that 
 the word of the Gufpel concerns them in par* 
 ticular, and that their Sculs ftand in need of 
 that which is jpoken to them therein- 
 
 Ye may remember we fpokc fomewhatfrom 
 thefe words for clearing the way of making 
 Peace betwixt God and Sinners; and for holding 
 forth the way that God in his infinite wifdom 
 hath laid down for fetting of poor finners that 
 are lying under the Curfe, freejfor this end there 
 was an eternal Tranfaetion and Covenant ente- 
 red into by the Father and the Son, the Father 
 demanding, and the Son accepting, arid fatisfy- 
 ing as Mediator and Sinners Cautioner what 
 was due to Juftice for the fins of the Elect, as 
 was determined in the counfel of God; from 
 which bleiTd Bargain all our Salvation flows as 
 from theFountain,& runs down as a river to us. 
 That which now we are to fpeak a little to, 
 Is fome profitable Ufes which are the fcope of 
 all» and tend to lead you in to know theufe of 
 fuch Doctrine, and not only to know it, but 
 to engage you to make fuitable practical im* 
 provement of it. 
 
 There are fevcral forts of Ujes that flow from 
 thisVerfe whencs the prcceedingDoctrines have 
 been drawn. 
 
 The firjl fort is for Information; which ye who 
 are more ignorant, have not fo mucli light in 
 you as to difcovcr the way to Heaven, would 
 efpecially take heed to, though they be ufeful 
 to all And I. Ye would know and be informed 
 in this, that all Men and Women without ex- 
 cep:ion arc lying under Tianfgreffion and 
 
 Inquitie$,and lyable to be fmitten and curfed of 
 God till thefe be taken away; But this having 
 been fpoke of in the Forenoon, we need not 
 infill on it now ; but the truth is, neither Law 
 nor Gofpel hath gained this much ground on 
 the great part of you, as to bring you really 
 to know, that naturally ye are dead in fins and 
 trefpafTes, and till this be drunk in and digeft- 
 ed, other Truths cannot to any purpofe pro- 
 file you.. 
 
 2. Ye would know and confider the neceffity 
 of a fatisfaction to the Juftice of God before 
 Sinners can be fred from im, and from the curfe 
 and wrath of God that they are under and ly- 
 able to, by reafon of their original corruption 
 and actual tranfgreflions. Do ye think that Je- 
 fus Chrift did needlcfly enter into the Covenant 
 of Redemption, and engage to fatisfie, and ac- 
 tually and really did fuffer and fatisfie Juftice? 
 If men might come fo eafily to H-raven as many 
 fuppofe, it had been needlefs : Would God 
 ( think ye ) have wounded the Cautioner, his 
 own dear Son, if thofe who ly under Sin and 
 Wrath might have by another way fatisfied Ju- 
 ftice and reftored him to his Honour ? Nay, 
 Ere their Peace could be made this behoved to 
 be ; and yet I much doubt if any do think that 
 there is any fuch diftance betwixt God and them, 
 which a word of Prayer, or CmfefTion, or fome 
 Pennance cannot remove: This is, alas! the 
 woful Ignorance of many that live under the 
 Gofpel, but ye would know chat a Satisfaction 
 behoved to be, and fuch a Satisfaction as was 
 equivalent to the wrong done, and fuitable and 
 fatisfying to him that was wronged by fin, and 
 that among all the Creatures.-it could not be 
 found : Yea, ye may read from this the dread- 
 ful effects of fin, &what a horrible thing ir is to 
 have your Tranfgreflions to count for with God 
 your felves: If Cm brought fuch heavy things on 
 theCautioner, what will it bring on the Sinner? 
 who hath continued all his days in tops withGod, 
 to fpeak fo,and would net make peace with him 
 when he wasearneftly invited to it? Yea we may 
 from this know,what b that mod horrible,drcad« 
 .ful.and confounding Sentence which is abdng 
 all of you that ftandit our.and donotroak? 
 Peace with God through this Sat'ufaction of 1 ur 
 blefied Lord Jelus,whcn he fhal be made eternal- 
 ly to bear the wrath that i\i\ defcrves, which yet 
 is intollcrable. 3. Ye 
 
jiS if si alt j 3 
 
 3. Ye would hence know, and Rudy to be 
 clear and diftinctin your knowledge of this pte. 
 cious Truck, how a Sinner that by nature is un- 
 der Sin and Wrath, and hath ground every day 
 to look for it,may be freed from that Curfeand 
 Wrath* To Prevent which, the Lord hath made 
 a Covenant with the S>n who is appointed Me- 
 diator for making Peace betwixt Uodand Sin* 
 n?rs by fatisfying his Juftice for them, and by 
 paying the fame Debt that was due by them,fo 
 that this Wrath is prevented,and their Peace is 
 made by vertue of this Covenant of Redempti- 
 on; wherein thefe two claufes are agreed and 
 concluded upon betwixt thefe two infinitely re- 
 fponfal Parties I. That Chrift fhali become the 
 Sinner, and be handled as a Sinner; though there 
 was no fin in him- 2. That the Elect Sinner that 
 by nature was a child of wrath even as well as 
 others, fhall be fred from the Wrath to come by 
 vertue of his Satisfaction: Thefe are two Pillars 
 that our Salvation is built upon, and that our 
 Peace^ and Reconciliation with God flow from; 
 By his wounding and bruifing we are par- 
 doned, The chaliifemsnt of our peace was on him, and 
 by his jiripts we are healed. 
 
 To clear this a little ; This Covenant would 
 be confidered, r. As it looks to the parties and 
 their feveral actions, a. As it looks to the Exe- 
 cution thereof in all the fteps of it. 
 
 For the firft,There are three parties that con- 
 curin their own place, r. God is the Party of* 
 fended, and he is here bruifing and wounding 
 the Mediator: He isthe Judge, and Hands ready 
 to execute the Sentencethat Hands in his Law 
 againft Sinners* if he get not an equivalent Sa- 
 tisfaction. 2. Jefus Chrift the Mediator isthe 
 Parry wounded and bruifed: the Mediator's part 
 is to fatisfieJuftice,to pay the Price and perform 
 the fatisfaction refolved upon in the Counfelof 
 God,of fuiteable and fufficient value for the Re- 
 demption of the Elect, according to his Engag- 
 ment; and he is actually wounded and bruifed: 
 God determined what fhall fatisfie* Chrift Jefus 
 accepts of the Determination, engages to fatis- 
 He, and does actually fathfie for elect Sinners. 
 A 3d. Party is,WepoorSinners, He was wound, 
 ed for our Tranfgreflionsdn:. It's the elect Sin- 
 ner, or the Sinner, who being made in due 
 time fenfible of Sin , and afraid of Wrath, 
 and who being kindly touched with the Appre* 
 henfion of ir,and cleared anentthe firmnefsand 
 freenefs of the Covenant, and anent thefulnefs 
 ofChrifTs Satisfaction doth by Faith flee unto 
 Jefus Chrifr and fubmit to his Satisfaction, and 
 'betakes himfetf allennirly to that forRighteouf- 
 nefsj Chrift layej down the Price, and the be* 
 
 * c- 11/.* . . Scrf »: S4t| 
 
 li-vmg Sinner pl-ads for mtereft In it and foil 
 the Benefit of it, and by Faith gets Title to an 1 
 Abfolvitor from his Debt and Guilt: If it then 
 be ajked a hat is the thing whereby a Sinner U 
 pardoned and juftificd, reconciled to God, and 
 delivered from Wrath and healed? I anfwer it 
 is by Believing in Jefus Chrifl; If it be again 
 asked, Wh?.t is the ground or reafon, why the i 
 believing Sinner obtains that Favour? I anfwer \ 
 Beeaufe our Lord Jefus hath fufficiently fatisfi- J 
 ed for,& fully payed the Debt of fo many as are 
 brought to beheve on him: If it be idly asked 
 how comes it that Chrifts Satisfaction becomes I 
 a Ranfom, and is accepted for fuch and fuch a 
 Believer? I anfwerjt is by vertue of the Eternal 
 Covenant of Redemption, or Tranfaction made 
 betwixt the Father and the Son, wherein it was 
 agreed that his furTering and fatisfieing of Ju, 
 ftiee, mould be accepted for believing Sinners 
 as if themfelves had fatisfied; according to that 
 of Job. 6. 39, 40. This is the fathers will that Unt 
 me, that of all that he hath given me 1 Jhould hfi no-t 
 thing, and this is the will of him that fent me, that 
 whomever feeth the Son and believeth on him,maybav m 
 everlasling life: So our believing is the firft iml 
 mediate ftep, whereby we come to obtain par" 
 don of Sin and Peace with God; Chrift's Righ- 
 teoufnefs or Satisfaction^ that whereon our be* 
 lieving founds itfelf; yet fo as it hath a refpecc 
 to the eternal Covenant of Redemption, whence 
 both ChrilVs Satisfaction and our believing do • 
 flow,and without which we could have no War- 
 rand to expect Righteoufnefs through Ta Medi- 
 ator; for unlefs we know that Chrift hath fatis- 
 fied Juftice for Elect Sinners that mall believe 
 on him; we cannot reft on hirn-fc righteous ' 
 nefs; And unlefs we have aft eye to the Cove- 
 nant of Redemption, we cannotexpect that this 
 fatisfaction will be accepted for us.* And there- 
 fore if we will trace thefe Steps back agiin,the 
 firft rife of our Salvation is in the counfel of 
 God; the profecution of it is in Chrift's fatis-. 
 faction; And the application of his fatisfaction, 
 is by our fleeing to it, and accepting of it by 
 Faith; And therefore we would learn in our 
 looking and ftepping up to Heaven, to look to 
 thefe three in this order, we would firft begin 
 at Faith, and in believing we would confider 
 Ch rifts fatisfaction, and from that we would af« 
 cend to the rife of it, to wit, the Covenant of 
 Redemption, and the terms of it ; All which 
 put together, give a very clear ground ofexi 
 pecting righteoufnefs through Jefus Chrift: I 
 lhall illuftrat it by a Scripture-fimilitude.where* 
 in I fhall fliew you how all the three concur. yet 
 fo as there is a difference in their concurrence; Ye 
 
 know 
 
Serm. 24. 
 
 Ifs:*h 
 
 know that under the Law there were Citiss of re. 
 ^appointed, which were Types of Jeius Chrift, 
 
 i we find a fhelter ; in thefe Cities of 
 refuge, ccniider thefe three that concurred 
 for iav'ing the perfon that had committed man- 
 flaugtaer: 1. God's determination appointing 
 fuch a thing, and that the man-flayer bein^ with- 
 in fuch a City, flaould be fafe from the avenger 
 of Blocd, and this gave the rife to the other 
 two that follow. 2. The City it felf as a fhcl- 
 ter or refuge ro the Man-flayer. % The perfons 
 fleeing or running to hide themfelvesin .it: Now 
 the fafcty of the perfon of the Manflayer did 
 flow from all the three. 1. The Law, appoin- 
 ting fuch a City, was the ground. 2. The Ci- 
 ty was the flicker. }. The perionsaftual run- 
 ning to rhc City, gave him a claim and title to 
 the priviledge of the City ; For though the for- 
 mer two had been, if he had not fled to the Ci- 
 ty, he had not obtained the benefit of fafety : E- 
 venfa, the Believer that would be faved, is to 
 confidcr thefe three, I- Gods determining fuch a 
 way of Salvation to Elect finners by a Mediator. 
 2 The Mediator priviledged as the City of Re- 
 fuge for this end. And 3. The finners fleeing 
 to him, which is his believing on him, and his 
 fecking and pleading for the benefit of ChniYs 
 fatisfaction according to the terms of the Cove- 
 nant : Now, fuppofe a perfon to flee to the City 
 of Refuge, he is preferved in it, Juftice cannot 
 follow him further than the Gates, yet fo as he 
 hath the benefit by Gods determination and ap- 
 pointment of the City for fuch an end, and yet 
 fo as he muft flep into it ere he can plead for the 
 benefit of the City: So, fuppofe a finnertobe 
 fled to Jefus Chrift by Faith, he may plead for 
 exemption from Wrath, by God's determining 
 and appointing a Mediator for fuch an end > And 
 the Mediator Jefus Chrift hath this priviledge 
 conferr'd on him, that he that thus flees unto 
 him (hall be fafe , yet it is alfo fuppos'd that fuch 
 a finner hath fled to him, elfe he rould not expect 
 fafety through him, notwithstanding of Gods de- 
 termining theMediator for fafcty :Thus we would 
 have thefe three put together ; And yet (as we 
 faid ) they differ : for Gods determination is the 
 efficient caufe and fountain of all; Chrifts fa- 
 tisfiction is the meritorious caufe, and oui be- 
 lieving is the ground on which we have Right to 
 pica J for the benefit of his fatisfaction: even as 
 the man that fled to the City of Refuge, his fafe* 
 ty was not by any vertuc in his running, but by 
 God's determination, yet his running to the Ci- 
 ty was requifite as the mids, and except he run or 
 (led to it, he could not plead for the Benefit of 
 the City ; fo our believing gives us ground to 
 
 n- y£rf - fr 1*0 
 
 plead a right Zc title toChrift 2nd his fat'sfafKon, 
 without which we could not have that Right. 
 
 But ily. Becaufe one will t kc up this under 
 one notion, and another under another; To clear 
 it therefore a little further, we fhall again con- 
 fider in the Covenant thefe three fteps. 1. The 
 determination of it, as it is enacted in the Coun- 
 cil of the Godhead, which in fum is this, 
 that fuch an«i fuch perfons fhall be fatijfied for 
 by the Mediator, and his fatisfa&ion accepted 
 for them. 2. The execution of this Covenant, 
 where we take in all our Lords Sufferings ; all 
 the ftroaksand wounds that Juftice purfoed him 
 with, as Cautioner for the Eleft ; and God's ac- 
 ceptingand juftifying ofhim, and declaring his 
 accepting of him, and being well fatisfird with 
 what he did and fuffered by b* railing him frcm 
 
 the dead. 3. The application 'of his purchafe by 
 his accepted fatisfaction ; which confifts in thefe. 
 1. That thefe that were given to Chrift on this 
 condition, that his fatisfaction fbould (rand gcod 
 for them, ftiould be juftified and faved, that is, 
 that in due time application of his fatisfaction 
 (houldbc made to the perfons given him to be 
 faved by hirn; which takes inChriiVs making in- 
 tcrceffion, that renewing Grace, Faith, &e. 
 may be given to fuch perfons. 2. That the 
 work of the Spirit, who as the fanctifier, begets 
 Faith, and perfwades to imbrice Jefus Chrift, 
 fhall be given them. Then 3. Follows the Bc« 
 lievers actual coming to Chrift, being fweetly 
 and powerfully drawn to reft on him and his 
 fatisfaction ; whereupon follows the application 
 of the fentenceof Juftification and Abfolution 
 that refults from the former; So that whereas it 
 was before, Curfed it he that continues not in Mi 
 things written in the L*v ; Now it is, He that be* 
 licvttb on Jefsu Ghriji hath ettrtial lift, and JhaU m- 
 vtr come into condemnation ; AH thefe go and agree 
 well together- The Covenant as the ground, 
 Chrifts Satisfaction as the meritorious caufe, md 
 the application of his Satisfaction by Faith, 
 which entitles and gives the Believer a light 
 to it. 
 
 The Reafon why we have fo much infilled on 
 this is, That werruy teach you to join refpect 
 to the Covenant of Redemption, Chrift's fuffe- 
 ring, and your believing together; it wi.l not 
 be Faith that willjuftifie, that is without refpect 
 to the Covenant ; neither will the Covenant 
 and Chrifts fat-isfaction juftifie without Faith; 
 yet ye would fo put them together, as the Glo- 
 ry of Salvition through Grace may not ly on 
 I aith, but on God's cverlifting Love, and on 
 Chrift's Satisfaction; And indeed it is no little pra- 
 ctick for a Soul fcnfible of fin, in thecxercileof 
 S Faith 
 
I jo t ifaiai H.ftrf. 
 
 fo to lay the weight of its Salvation on Cbnft 
 and the Covenant, as it negle&s not running to 
 Chrift by fiith;& fotohy hold on Chrift by faith 
 as it lay not the weight on Faith, but on Chrift 
 and the Covenant; As in the comparifon before 
 ufed, fuppofe a man that had killed another un- 
 awares, had been taken before he wan to the Ci 
 ty of Refuge. God's determination was not the 
 caufc ofthat, but his not running, or his not 
 cowing at the City ; So it may be that fome are 
 apprehended by the Juftice of Gcd, that' are Jefs 
 finful than others ; yet the rcafon or caufc is not 
 10 God's Covenant, nor in Chrifts want of worth, 
 but in the perfons not running, or not fleeing 
 to Chiift "as to the City of Refuge, and there- 
 fore they are not heard to plead for immunity 
 by vcrtuc of thatXatisfattion before the Car of 
 God. 
 
 A id. fort of Ujesixt far exhorting and encou- 
 raging Sinners to come to Chrift ; There is here 
 then I. A clear ground to our Faith,anda plain 
 way opened toHeaven,and a mighty encourage* 
 menc to perfwade Sinners to hy hold on Chrift, 
 and to take this way for obtaining of life; This 
 Text opens as it were the Gates of the City of 
 Refuge, and points out the way how to efhew 
 the wrath which is to come ; There is a way 
 here laid down in the Wifdom, Juftice, Good- 
 nefs and Grace of God, which is made offer of 
 in theGofpel ; and fmce it is fo, we befeech you 
 that ye would not receive this Grace in vain, but 
 feing there is a Covenant well ordered and fure, 
 a Mediator and a Ranfom provided, and a way 
 laid down how to come to Chrift by Faith, let all 
 of you who come under the conviction of Sin and 
 apprchenfion of Wrath, ftep to and clofe with 
 him, and plead for Pardon by vertue of his 
 wounds, and for healing through his Stripes with 
 refpeft to the Covenant. 
 
 There arc thefe /oar things here that willferve 
 to give ground for this Application, if we confi- 
 tifer, I. The great ground of Faich that is here. 
 2.. The great reafon we have to make ufe of this 
 ground. 3. The great encouragement we have 
 fo to do. And 4/7. The great neceftity we have 
 to make this Application ; A Jitrle to each of 
 thefe ; But we (hall premitone word to all, and 
 it's this,that considering you are all in tryfting 
 terms with God, whether ye live at a diftance 
 from him, the Ufc will by way ofFxhortation 
 •each you ; or whether ye be brought to greater 
 nearnefs under tfie fenfe of Sin, and have fome 
 fericufnefs in feeking after God,, it will reach you 
 fbrconfoiation ; In a word, we would exhort all, 
 and it may convince fome, and comfort others=But 
 to the firft thing we propofed, We deciare and 
 proclaim this as a true and faithful faying, that 
 
 there is here an everlaftmg Covenant, wherein 
 thefalvationof the Elect is concluded through 
 Chrifts Satisfaction to Juftice for them, and a 
 way laid down for making Peace betwixt God 
 and all them that will thorowly renounce their 
 own nghteoufnefs, and lay hold on this Satisfa- 
 ction, cvenfuch a way as procures Juftification 
 and healing to them : And for ycur confirmation 
 confider in general, if it be poffible that this Co* 
 venant of Redemption, the luff.rings of the Me* 
 diatcr, and the promifes made to Believing can 
 be for nought ; did the Father purfue the Cau» 
 tioner fo hotly for nothing ? or did the Cautio, 
 ner pay fuch a Ranfom for nothing ? no certainly, 
 if it had not been tocommunicare Pardon and 
 Peace,wkh healing by his Wounds and Stripes to 
 them who were liable to Condemnation^ under 
 the dominion of Sin, neither of thefe would have 
 been ; And therefore for grounds of your Fairfi 
 more particularly, fee here, r. A full fatisfacti- 
 on, God hath made way to Sinners peace with 
 himfelf, by fatisfying himfelf fully in Chrift the 
 Mediator for the Sins of electBeli«vers,fo that a 
 Sinner that in the fenfe of Sin becikes himfelf to 
 him, needs not to fear any back accompts, be- 
 caufe whatever might make for our peace, was 
 fully laid on him, fo that we may with holy and 
 humble boldnefs fay, that we aremt ceme to the 
 mount that might not be touched, nor to blacknefs, and 
 darknefs and temp eft, and the found of a trumpet ; but 
 we are come into mount Sion t the City of 'the living G)d, 
 the heavenly Jerufalem, and to Jefus the Mediator of 
 the new Covenant, and t* the blood of Jpr inkling • Our 
 invitation therefore to you, is not to bid you 
 come and compt for your own Debt your felves, 
 but to come and accept of Chrifts payment of 
 it, and of his Satisfaction, whereby Juftice is 
 compleatly fatisfied. 2. See here as another 
 ground of Faith, the Juftice of God, not with 
 refpecc to us, but to the bargain betwixt the fa- 
 ther and the Son, who are the principal parties, 
 and we (tofpeakfo) but parties accidentally in 
 this Covenant, the Covenant being primarly and 
 mainly betwixt God and the Mediator ; The ju. 
 fticeof it appears in this, that it hath refpect to 
 a Covenant which is fulfilled on all fides, and 
 therefore the Elects believing and taking hold of 
 the Mediators facisfaction, cannot but be accep- 
 ted as if he had payed the Debt himfelf; the Fa- 
 ther ( to fpeak fo ) had the earving of the bar- 
 gain and what fatisfaction his juftice was to 
 receivei to his own mind; and as it was 
 juftice on the Sons Side to fatisfie accor- 
 ding to his undertaking, fo it's juftice on 
 the Fathers Side to pardon and be at peace 
 with the Sinner that by Faith flees unto Jefus 
 
 Chriil 
 
Serm. 14. tT***b 11 
 
 Chrift. 3. See in this bargain not only Juftice, 
 but mercy ; as it is juft, fo its a gracioufly free 
 bargain ; which is wonderful; and may feem 
 fomewhat ftrange, if not paradoxal, yet its no- 
 thing inconfiftent with the way of Grace ; 
 it's juft that the Cautioner fliould pay the Debt; 
 and yet that Debt is moft freely and frankly par- 
 doned as to us; its Juftice in the height as to 
 the Mediator,but freeGrace as to us in the height; 
 we come to it freely and without price though 
 itcofthim dear; And that it is one of the Me- 
 diators undertakings that it mould be free to 
 his Seed Joh. 6". 40, This is the viU of him that fent 
 me, that he whtfeeth theSon and believeth on him fhould 
 have eternal life. 4.Confider the reality & furentfs 
 of the bargain, it is fuch as it cannot fail.having 
 fuch Pillars to lean on, the faithfulncfs of God 
 engaged en juft and equal terms, and the glo- 
 ry of God as the end ; and having a moft necef- 
 fary and certain effect, to wit, healing to all to 
 whom the foverc ign Medicine is apply ed ; This 
 liability and furenefs of the Covenant flows fioni 
 Gods engaging to the Mtdtato', and the Medi- 
 ators engaging to God ; from the Mediators fa* 
 tisfying, and the Fathers accepting ofhisfatif- 
 fattion, which being confirmed by the Blood of 
 the Teftator, it becomes a Tejlament which can- 
 not be annulled nor altered or charged. And if 
 all this befo, let me put the quefrion, is there 
 not good ground here to exhort the Hearers of 
 the Gofpel to believe in Chrift, and on believing 
 to look for life through him ? and a moft folid 
 ground laid down whereupon to build the hopes 
 of eternal Life? and therefore feeing rbis is the 
 upfliot of all, that life is to be g tttn freely by 
 Faith in Jefus Chrift, irnpiove this way rf Salva- 
 tion for making your peace, under no lei's certi- 
 fication than this, even as ye would efhew recko- 
 ning with Divine Juftice in your own Perfons 
 fox the leaft Farthing of your Debt. 
 
 If it be Objtttfd hereby any, 1. We are at en- 
 mity with God, and cannot fatisfic- I anfwer, This 
 Text tells you that fatisfa&ion is not fought 
 from you, but from the Mediator who hath al- 
 ready given it, and the Father hath accepted it 
 for all fuch as (hall by Faith plead the benefit of 
 it. a. If ye (hall fay we know not how to win 
 at God, we arc fuch as cannot ftep on foot for- 
 ward, and fo very finful and miferable, that we 
 know no fuch Tranfgrcflbrs and wretches. / an. 
 fwer, was it not for fuch that the Mediator tranfr 
 acted, even for fuch as we,Tranrg«effors, Rebels, 
 Dcfpifers of him, and fuch as judg'd him to be 
 fmitten an 1 plagued of God? If he uad been Cau- 
 tion only for righteous Folk, there h-d been 
 fome realonfor fuch an Objection, but it is for 
 
 Verft e. 
 
 Sinners, for moft hainous Sinners : Nay, th> 
 way of reafoning and pleading fays on the mat- 
 ter, that Chrift needed not have laid down his 
 life. 3. If it be faid, We are fo finful and backfl i*. 
 ding, fo filthy and polIuted,that we think we arc 
 not within the reach of healing : I anfwer. This 
 reafoning would, if it held, turn in effect to this, 
 that ye are not within the reach of Gods Grace, 
 and.of Chrifts fa tis fact ion, which is not only in- 
 jurious, but even blafpemous to the Grace of 
 God, and to the fatisfa&ion of the Mediator; if 
 your Sin be ugly and horrible, he fufrered hor- 
 riblc Wrath ; he was wounded, bruifed, chafti- 
 fed, &c. 4. If it be faid further, we can do no- 
 thing for our felves, we cannot come to Chrift, 
 we know not what it is tfiar7\e, or if we 
 win to do any thing,alas alljfe. an d Jhefs is as the 
 morning Cloud and early Exit's M foon paiTeth 
 away. I snfwer, The Covenant is not tranfa* 
 fted betwixt God and you, bur betwixt God and 
 the Mediator, and the Ground of your peace.as 
 to the procuring caufe, depends on the Media- 
 tors performing his part cf the Covenant in your 
 Name : and further, as for your believing, it is 
 a piece of the Fathers engagement to the Medi- 
 ator, and muft certainly be made as effc&ual as 
 the Father muft keep his word to the Son, accor- 
 ding to thefe promifes o£ the Covenant, I will 
 put my L*v in their hearts, and wr:ti it in their mindt. 
 they frail all know me ; and they (h*H be all taught of 
 God ; And thy people Jhall be willing in the day if 
 thyptwer, and the like } all thefe promifes were 
 in the Covenant betwixt the Father and the 
 Son ; and the application of them is but their, 
 execution as to us ; and therefore feeing fuch a 
 City of Refuge is caft open to Man-flayers and 
 Tranfgrefjors, ftep humbly and boldly forward 
 and run into it. There is yet a fifth ObyBiou 
 which will poffibl) be fticking with fome, and 
 it is this, we know not whether we mall be- 
 lieve or not, for we know not if we be in the 
 Covenant or nor, I anfwer, Would ye have 
 thought that he who had committed Man. 
 (laughter would have reafoned well if he had 
 reasoned thus i I know n< t if that City of Re- 
 fuge was appointed or built for me, and when the 
 Gates or it were oft open (hould skar to enter 
 in it on this account? when it was to d himtl at 
 it was appointed for fuch : Juft fo it is I ere - 
 And fuppofc one fhould fay, 1 cannot believe, it 
 is asifiuch 1 'maii fhould fay, J cannot, 1 
 not run to the City , nay rarher though he had 
 been feeble, yet he would have crecped, chn- 
 Jhed and ciipltd to it as hemight: E\ t 
 in a word, a man mould notdi/put; whole 
 is in the Covenant, but fhould ftep forwai ro 
 
 5 2 til ; 
 
t c 
 
 wluie ch 
 a tl fays 
 
 h < 
 Apoftl 
 
 that by two immit 
 
 fiikfir God to lie, that we might have flrong confUu. 
 4* who h»ve Aid for refuge to lay hold on the hope jet 
 before m : Men in their Natural Condition ire 
 compared to the Man-flayer, lying under 
 the ftroak of the Law, or under the haz- 
 ard of being purfued by the Avenger of 
 blood ; Chrift is compared to the City of Re- 
 fuge ; and the heir of Promife being purfued, 
 what (hall he do ? will his election (imply fave 
 him? no, but he mu ft flee untojefus Chrift as 
 to his City of Refuge : And therefore, by all 
 means run a^ 4 fl *« to him, as having this fear, 
 leaft the Avr^ nea /f Blood purfue and overtake 
 you ; and il n *^atisf t run fo faft as you would, 
 yet run as ySH and ye have this Advantage; 
 that the City of refuge is not far off, it's near 
 you, even at your Door, as the Apoftlc fpeaks 
 Row.xo. The word is near thee, in thy mouth and in 
 fhine H<arf, the cripleft Body amongft you all 
 has Chrift at your door, that ye may enter into 
 him, «s into a City of Refuge, and that he may 
 come in and (up with you ; to that though yc 
 cannot lift your feet fo quickly in running to 
 him, if ye can but in good earneft roll yotir hives 
 over uponhim, ye flaall be fafe; Sting then that 
 this way of Salvation is fo ful, fo free, fo equal 
 and effectual, take heed left ye prejudge your 
 felves of it. 
 
 *Iy. To prefs this yet a little further, Consi- 
 der what good Reafon ye have to run ; Take 
 but this one w©rd, ye are Tinners lying under the 
 Curfe and wrath of God, and have ye any other 
 way of obtaining Pardon, or of making your 
 .peace ? And if ye believe that ye are (Inners and 
 under the Curfe, is there not need that ye fliould 
 run to a (belter from it ? If we were preaching 
 to Angels that had never finned, there might be 
 fume reafon for their flighting or laying little 
 weight upon fuch a word of exhortarion, but fe* 
 ing ye are Sinners, and liable to God's Curfe, why 
 do jc flight a Saviour, having fo much need of 
 him ? 
 
 ldly> Confider yet further, that yc have encou- 
 ragement ro run, and nothing to difcourageyouj 
 What prejudice is in believing ? There is no 
 prejudice at all in this way, but many advan- 
 tages; Doubtlcfs Salvation will not fail them 
 that believe: Yea, we may add from the words 
 of the Text, for encouraging to this, that the 
 man or woman that is fenfible of fin, and afraid of 
 wrath, hath the Covenant to look ro, for beget* 
 ring and throughing the work of Faith in them 
 
 may alf>]ay hold on theCovenant for furthering 
 ustothaterTct : I f »eik not this as if folkccuUl 
 of themielves act Faith on the Covenant, btforo 
 Faith be given them, But 1 1 peak it to encourage 
 young beginners, that think they have noFiith 
 at all that they may act what "they have, and 
 may lookmorcand more to the Covenant, to Be 
 inlightned, quickned ; and ftrengthned, and that 
 they may fay with the poor man in the G' fpel, 
 Lord, 1 believe, help my unbelief \ And with theSpoufc, 
 Cant. r. Draw me, and we will run after thee. 
 
 4. And finally, for prefling of this, confider 
 the abfolute neceflity that ye are under cf making 
 ufe of this way of Salvation, of^etting your peace 
 made by Chrifts fatisfacticn, and your wounds 
 healed by his ftripes; therein no mids but 
 ther ye muft hazard en a rckoning with God en 
 your own fcore, or accept of his fatisfaction ; 
 There was never a Covenant made by God with 
 man but two, a Covenant of work* for perfectly 
 righteous folks, by which Covenant no (inner 
 was ever able to come to life; And a Covenant 
 of Grace wherein Chrift is made fln for us, and 
 as many as flee by-Faith unto him, are made the 
 righteoufnefs of God through him j and there- 
 fore either betake your felves to this way, or re-' 
 folve tocompt with Gcd your Cclvcs without a 
 Mediator and Surety ; or if ye think it a {caful 
 thing to compc thus with God, and if it be cer- 
 tain, that many have been condemned for taking 
 the way of works; let me earneflly intrearyou 
 to welcome and mske more uie of Chrifts right«- 
 eoufnefs, for obtaining pardon of fin, and peace 
 with God ; This way will do your turn when the 
 orher will quite fail yr u ; But *s for them v. ho. 
 take this way, I will adventure to fay in his name, 
 that as certainly as Chr ft wasfmitren as certain- 
 ly'fhall pardon and healing come to tbem;Even to 
 as many as < reep in tobim, and by believing lay 
 hold on him : And onthe other fide, I fay in the 
 fameName to all of you who take not this way of 
 falvation, that ye. (hall mod certainly be brcught 
 to reckon with God your Mvcs without a Medi- 
 ator, and to undergo his curfe according to the 
 tenor of the Covenant of Works: Thus 1 his Text 
 fers before you life and death ; Gods bhffing and 
 Gods Curfe : Life and God's blefllng, if ye be* 
 take your felves to Chrift, as to y'our alone City 
 of Refuge; and death, and Gcd's fearful curfe, 
 if ye do it not : God himfclf make you wife to 
 make the right choife. 
 
 SERMON 
 
J? 
 
 SERMON XXV. 
 
 ISAIAH L1IL VI. 
 
 Verfe 6. All we like jbitp have gone aftray % _we have tuned every one to hU own w ay t 
 on hint the iniquity of ut all. 
 
 and the Lcrd hath 
 
 YE have in the former Verfes fomewhat 
 of our Lord's furTering, and of his 
 fuffering for finners, that he was 
 wounded and bruifed, &c. In this 
 Verfe the Prophet proceeds to clear 
 how this came topafs, thatChrift Jefus was made 
 to fuffer for the Eleft, the Seed that God had 
 given him ; whicn he doth by laying down the 
 Occafion & Fountaiu-caufe whence it proceeded, 
 i. The Occafion ofitinthefe words, M we like 
 fh'.ep have gone a/iray ; All the Eleft, as well as o* 
 thers, htve wandred, and every one of tu had turned 
 to our own way ; we had denuded our felves of all 
 right and Title to eternal life, and had. made 
 our felves liable to Gods curfe and wrath through 
 our finning. t. The Fountain- caufe is, Tr.c Ler.i 
 hath laid en him the iniquity ofut all ; When we had 
 all ftrayed, Jehovah took our Lord Jeius, as th« 
 Sacrifices under the Law were taken, and put 
 him in our room,andlaid on him the puniihment 
 due to us for our fins, and actually purfucd him 
 for our debt. 
 
 So the words ire an anfwer to that queftion. 
 How comes it to pafs that our Lord Jcius fufrs- 
 red thus for finners ? It's anfwered, the Elett had 
 made themfelves liable to the wrath and curfe of 
 God, through their ftiayiwg ; and to keep them 
 from that wrath, God defigned and provided his 
 Son Jcfus Chrift to be the Redeemer, and accor- 
 ding to the Covenant of Redemption laid on him 
 the puniihment due to them for their iniquities; 
 in a word their fin, and Gods appointing him 
 to be Cautioner, made him liable to fatisfie for 
 all their Debt. 
 
 The firft part of the words holds out our na- 
 tural difeafe;The 2. Part holds out Gods gracious 
 cure and remedy. 
 
 In the firft part we have thefe three, 1. The na- 
 tural (rare and condition of all Men and Women, 
 even of the Elect thcmielvcs (who are mainly 
 to be looked on here ) All we have gone aftray. 2. 
 This is illuftrate by a fimilitude, we have gone «• 
 firaylikt Jheep. 3. It is amplified, every one of us 
 hath turned to hn own way ; Several words being 
 pa'c together to fet out rrudefp rate fmful con- 
 dition, whe rinco the Elect as we;l asorhcrsbad 
 broaghcr' 
 
 1. Ou .*atu<al ilatc and condit on is fee down 
 
 in this* word fitly ivg ; Toftray, is to wander out 
 of the way, to go wrong, to be bc-wildered 
 for God hath fet a rule to men to walk by in the 
 way to life, the Rule and way of holiaefs, and 
 whoever walk not in that way, do go aitray, and 
 wanderout of the right way. 
 
 2. This is, as I fiid, iliw(W^ fay * fimilj! 
 of fheep, the comparing oitWs*rt, TV fiYeep 
 is nor at all to extenuate rJEjand ajfs of their 
 ftraying; though fometi^it's i^mnocency ot 
 that Creature in lome other cocBparifons is insi- 
 nuated ; But it is to hold out the witlefnefs, fpi- 
 ritual fillinefs and bruitilhnefs of their (rraying; 
 the Scripture ufualJy pointing out that 
 bead to be difpofed and given to wandring; 
 and both nature and experience tells us, rhatina 
 Wildernefs where there is greateft hazard, they 
 are readieft to run on the hazard ; fuch is their 
 fiily, and to fpeak fo, fcolifh inclination > Juft fo 
 are the Elect by Nature, 
 
 3. Ic's amplified by this, That every one hath tufm 
 ned to his own way ; before, it was collectively fet 
 down, /M we have g«neaft>-ay ; But now left any 
 fnouli excem himfelf, it is diftributirely fee 
 down, every one, even Ifaiah, Jeremiah, and others 
 fuch, not one excepted; This turning to our own 
 **•<»;, holds out two thing*, 1. It's called our 
 own way, to diftinguilh it frcm Go^s way, as 
 It is, Pfal.Si. j 1. He gave them rp to ehcir axn 
 biarts lulls, and th?y walked in their ovu Coutifels, 
 That is, in their own inventions, or iccording to 
 their own wilJ,humour and inclination, 2 While 
 it is laid, that every one turns to his own way, it's 
 to lhew this, that befidethe common way that 
 all finners have to turn away from God, difrin- 
 guifhed fcom God's way, every finner hath his 
 own particular and peculiar way, whereby in his 
 way he is diftinguiflied frcm another firmer; 
 There is but one way to Heaven, but many ways 
 to hell, and every one hath nis different way, 
 fornc have one predominant Iuft, fome another, 
 but they all met here, that every one turns 
 Gods way, and every one takes a wrong w . 
 
 his own. 
 
 ConfiJering the fcrpe. we (hall (hortly and 
 pallingly point at two general Okftrvstie**, where* 
 of rhc 1. is this, that it contributes 
 folk* conceiving and confide ing of C; 
 
ifaiah } j 
 
 folks conceiving and* confidering of Chrift's fuf- 
 ferings arighr, to be well acquainted with thcif 
 own finful nature and difpofition ; Men willne* % 
 ver look rightly on Chrifts fufferifigs, norfuitab* 
 ly eftcem of him, nor make him, and the Do- 
 ctrine that holds him and his ftffcrings foith cor* 
 dially welcome, except they have lomefenfe of 
 their finful nature and difpoiirion ; Hince it was 
 that many of the Phsriftes and Hypocrites of that 
 time, wherein the Lord exercifed his M«niftry a- 
 mongft the Jcw/,never welcomed !im w r prized 
 his fufferings, whereas among the Publicans and 
 jinners many were brought to get good of him. 
 
 Not to indffc in the Uje of this, only in a word, 
 fee here a main rcafon why Jefus Chrift is fo 
 rr'anly tho ught f qft and the repo>r ofhisfufte- 
 r La^* £° ^ t *ot heif B^ aft( * c^eemed, even be- 
 Citife fo ^ e ^ a |X ac icS er tne due ^ cn ^ c or ~ tms > 
 that like loft •' havegrne aftray. 
 
 The id. gtn&r**rO>Jtrv*tion from the fcope, 
 putting both parts of the Verfe together, is this, 
 that we mould never l«ok on Chi It's fufferings 
 but with refpeft to the Covenant of Redemptit 
 on, andGods tran{acting with him as ourCautio- 
 ner; Therefore the laft part comes in, The Lord 
 hath laid upon him the iniquity of w all ; For albeit 
 we know that Chiift hath frittered much, yet if 
 there be not an eye to, and fome acquaintance 
 with the Covenant, the life of his fufferings, 
 and God's hand and end in his fufferings, it 
 will be to no purpofe; therefore when Peter is 
 to fpeak of his fufferings. Ails 2. 23. He 
 premits thefe words, Hun being delivered by tht 
 determinate counfel and fore knowledge $f God, and 
 then fubjoins his being crucified: Looking on 
 Chrifts fufferings with refpeft to the Covenant. 
 1. It lets us know that Chrft's Sufferings comes 
 not by guefs but by the eternal counfel of 
 God, and by vertue of that transaction betwix; 
 the Father and the Son, and this takes away the 
 fcandal off them, which the Prophet fets himftlf 
 here to remove. 2. It gives faith accefs to make 
 ufc of his fufferings when we look to him as 
 purpofely defigned for this end, 3. I holds out 
 the lovcofGod, Father, Son, and Spirit, towards 
 Elect Sinners , That howfoever God 1< oked 
 angry like on the Mediator, as perfonating thctp, 
 and fuftaining their room ; yet that Jehovah had 
 the devifing and defigning of tbefe fufferings, 
 and that he lent his Son to fufterlhus, it holds 
 •Ut wonderful love. 
 
 3. And more particuJaily, from the firft part 
 of the words, which is the main thing to be 
 marked, Olferve, That all men, even the Elect 
 thcmfelves not excepted, are naturally in a moil 
 --nful and defperite (late and condition, forhat 
 • t - yc would k&ow what chey are by nature, this 
 
 si 
 
 
 
 Verfe 6. ^^ S er 
 
 is a defcnptlon ofthtir ftate, Wtfvc ¥^ 
 have gom *ftray t and every one katb turned Vo hu 
 »ay; And when its called our own way, V; err 
 needsno other Epithet to fet out the def, 
 nefs ofit ; That which I mean is this. 
 men are naturally under thefe two, j. The* 
 under guilt before God, Eph. 2 1, 2. Dead in Jim 
 and trrjpujj,s t children of wrath, and heirs of con. 
 demnation, liable to the cuife of God t y vertue 
 of the Covenant which Mam broke. 2 Which 
 is moftly aimed at here, there is in every oi;e a 
 finful nature, a fmfulnefs ox finning fin, an in- 
 clination to fin, every rne hath a (haying hu- 
 mor ; fothat although the fimilirudeoi fheep a* 
 gree not to them in that fenfe as fheep are inno- 
 cent creatures, yet ltaj/rees to them inthis fenfe 
 that they arefiliy foolifh Creaures& in this re- 
 fpeft rt is faid,G*w. 6.8.That all the imagination $f 
 thttbvu&ttoftke heart in man are only evil continually* 
 AndE t h*2.t.Thty are faid to be dead in /fo,not on- 
 ly in reip a f their being obnoxious to God's 
 curie, but in refpeft ©r' their natural deaxnefs 
 of their finfui nature, and want offpiritual Jifej 
 So Rvm. 3.9, 10. and forwards, the Apoftle de- 
 fcribes the finfu'nefs of man's nature at large, noi 
 only in refpeft of its guilt, but of its inclinati- 
 on to fin, and fay s, that their threat u an open fe- 
 pulchre ; infinuating thereby that men naturally 
 are like to a Tomb, and that the Corps within 
 the Tomb is death and fin, and that all that 
 comes from them favours of that j Their feet are 
 jwift to /bade blood \ with their tongueMhey uft deceit, 
 &c. Every member and part of the b< dy, and e- 
 very faculty of the foul is bent to that which is 
 evil. Thefe three may further confirm it, 1 If 
 we look in general to what the Scriptute fpeaks 
 of men by nature, Eph, 2. 1, 2, 3. Rot* 2,. & St 
 Chapters \ they being as it is ifaiah 57. penult. 
 As the raging Zed that cafls out dirt and wire continu- 
 ally-, It is always moving and working one way 
 or another, and more efpefially in a dorm, fo 
 that though at one tide ye mould fweep the Shore 
 never fo clean, it will be as foul and diity the 
 next tide that cometh ; So are thefe, hearts of 
 ours ( as Pettr fpeaks, 2. Epifl. t. And ]ude ver. 
 z].) foaming out their own fhamt} And James faith, 
 (hap. 4. y The (pirit that dwells in ut lujtctb to envy, 
 It hath as great eagernefs after, and ?s great de- 
 1'ghc in fin, as a Drunkard ^ath after, and in 
 drink. 2 Experience alfo confirms it, Go thorow 
 all the Men and IVomen that ever were in the 
 World ( our bleffed Lord Jefus being excepted, 
 as not defcending of Ad^n by the ordinary way 
 of Generation) and that will be found t:ue 
 uhich the Apoftle ha:h,R*w. 3. There u none that 
 dottbgotd, no not one j And that which is fpoken, 
 
 Gtn. 
 
Jfc •?: 
 
 Jf*/** 53. Pirji 6: m 
 
 £f. All ftefb hath corrupted their way ; And what us, and clcaveth clofe to us, md is that which 
 is the fpring of all the abominations that ire in we are born and bred and grow up with : And 
 the World, and the rife of thefe particular evils therefore ye would diftinguifh thefe fins, that 
 that are in Believers and Saint* mentioned in ye may know, that ye are not only guil- 
 Scripture, as in David, Pe(er } and others; But ty of Adam firft finful deed, but that yc 
 this fame corrupt n4rc, this body of death, as have a prefent finful and corrupt nature, though 
 it is called, Rem. 7. 14^ Ail * hichftrongly prove it be not always alike exercifing and acting it 
 a fire to be within, wfifen there is fuch a fmoak felf ; Others again look only upon their nature 
 without. 3. We may confirm it from well as inclined to evil, and look not on it as that 
 grounded reafon, for 1* cannot be otherwaysif which makes them liable to wrath, by reafon of 
 the roo; be of fuch a nature, caf\ the branches the firft fin ; but ye would put both together 
 
 be otherways ? Who can bring a clean thing out 
 of an unclern thing ? No, no one, Job. 14. 4. 
 When Adam fell, the tootwas corrupted, and 
 the branches cannot be frefh ; the fountain was 
 defiled, and theftream cannot be clean and clear: 
 Hence when Adam begot Seth, an Elect in whom 
 the Church was continued, it isfaid, ihztbtbt- 
 
 got a Son ajttr ha own hkenefs, Gtn. ?, He himfclf fets you on work to go w 
 
 was created after Gods Image, but begat Chil- 
 .dren after his own Image. 
 Though this be a commonly received Doctrine, 
 yet it is not without good reafon, nor for no 
 ufe infifted onfo much here and in other Scrip- 
 tures ; We (hall therefore fpeak a little to thefe 
 four Ufes of it. 
 
 The 1. Ufe of itferves for information ; and 
 we may make it a looking-glafs wherein we may 
 fee clearly our own mod finful ft ate and conditi- 
 on, Would ye know what ye are by nature ? 
 This Text tells you that not only all men have 
 ftrayed, but that each of us, or evry one of us 
 hath turned to hU own way ; But knowing how rea- 
 dy we are to Cbift the challenge, we would be 
 perfwaded that we are by nature liable to Gcds 
 curfe for Adam t fin, dead in fin, and inclined to 
 all evil, fheepare no readier to go the wrong 
 way,and will no more readily ftray if they want 
 aShepherd ihan we are inclined to doThere is a 
 common word in mar y of your mouths, that we 
 are all finners by nature, but when its fearched 
 into, we find that there is "much ignorance a- 
 mong you of what it means ; many count them- 
 ftlvesjto be finners, only becaufe of their being 
 guilty of the firft fin, and fo put no difference 
 betwixt the firft fin and original fin, which is 
 aneffeft thai" flows from, and follows upon the 
 firft fin ; The firft Cm was Aiam's deed, and is 
 legally ours, being imputed to us ; As it is Rom. 
 5. Death reigned over all, even over them that had net 
 finned After the fimilitu.de of Adams tranrgr,-JJton ,bc- 
 caufe Adam in his ftandine and falling ftood in 
 our room, reprefenting all mankind that was to 
 come to him; but Original f\n is inherent in 
 
 and know that though your finfulnefs doth not 
 
 confift only in an inclination to evil, tl 
 
 your finfulnefs lies mail 
 
 will not be long a goi 
 
 only your attual ftrayii 
 
 ye would take notice 
 
 of your finful nature thath^ 
 
 „ our filthy 
 
 corrupt Nature, the Body of Death, the fmell 
 and favour whereof, to fay Co, is the ky thing of 
 fome actual Sin ; We may clear it in a fimiiitude 
 or two : Wc are by this Original fin as young 
 Serpents before they can fting actually, or like 
 ravenous Birds before they come out of theNeft, 
 yet we call thefe Serpents and ravenous Birds, 
 becaufe they are come of fuch a kind ; In our 
 Swadling clouts we have the vencmous and ra« 
 venous nature, to wit, Original Sin in us ; 
 And in our a&ual finning we arc like Serpents 
 when they come to fting actually, or like rave- 
 rous Birds when they come to catch the Prey ; 
 And our actual Sin is a fruit of Original Sin : Or 
 take it in this lame fimilitudr in the Text, there 
 are many Sheep thar never aftually ftrayed ; yet 
 they are calkd ftraving witlefs Creatures, be- 
 caufe they are inclined to ftray, and ready to 
 (hay ; Or take it in this fimiiitude, there are 
 fome difeafesthat follow fuch a Hcufe and Fa- 
 mily, fome are inclined to a confumption, fome 
 to the Stone, fome to one difeafe, fome to ano- 
 ther, which is fiom fome defect of the Body, 
 evenfo it is here, thufrcm a defect of our Na- 
 ture, infected by Original fin, -Jl Actual fins 
 flow. 
 
 The :d Ufe is for Conviction and reproof, and 
 indeed we cannot well tell where we lhall begin 
 here. However, the firft thing that it reproves, 
 is our natural pride, though :his be rhe finful- 
 nefs of our very infancy, yet we ire ready tq 
 look upon our (elves as lomcthing j It's a true 
 faying, though much mifapplved, chat Job batfc 
 Cbap.n. 12. Vain wan would b x * 'ran ho 
 
 born as a wild Affa colt ; a Colt hith a wild bumor, 
 
 and 
 
 
i 3 * #»'** \\*Vi 
 
 and is the moftwitlefs of Creatures, and this 
 fame is it that is implied in that faying e>£ James 
 4. 5 D# ye think the Hripture faith in vain, the fri- 
 rit that ts in m lujittb to envy ; which faith this 
 much, that the moftpart never trow that t^cy" 
 have fuch a fpirit in them that's inclined xo all 
 evil', bent to hate God and every thing that is 
 good. a. It reproves the great fecurity that is 
 amongft the molt part; if this be a truth, that 
 Men and Women a:e thus born under the curfe 
 of God, and incl ; ned to every thing that is evil, 
 born enemies to God, and enclintd to aggrege 
 anjdjieighten the quarrel, how comes it then to 
 t flcep as foimdly and fe- 
 i*q so hazard ? If ye were 
 flj a< ,ow many of you can 
 'jixthatiatiso*, 6 / c ye arc reconciled, that 
 a'Jtft ye are changed and your 
 nature rentv -*' ^ 5Tne quarrel betwixt God and 
 you taken away* and yet if we lookup and down, 
 ye are generally asfecure and quiet as if ye were 
 born Friends With God ; Theie are but few ttf 
 king with a conviction and faying within them* 
 felves, is yonder Doctrine true of me ? as if the 
 Scripture had fpoken in vain whatever it fpeaks 
 of Originil fin: Ah ! fhall never this be amen- 
 ded ? will you never lay your finfulnefs to heart? 
 Hull ye (till think nothing of that which gives the 
 occalionil rife to the Covenant of Redemption, 
 and to drifts fatisfaction ? all the preaching that 
 ye hear daily, if it be not now laid to heart.it fhall 
 be moft terrible and dreadful to you one day , 
 and the peace that ye now have (hall end in red 
 War and great bitternefs. 3. It reproves Folks 
 exceeding great unwatchfulnefs, and their fru- 
 iting to their own Nature, and following their 
 own Counfel ; the wife man faith, Prov. 28. 16. 
 Ht that trujieth in his own hart it a fool , is it not 
 proof worthy for a ram to be as bniitifh as the 
 very beaft that perifheth ; as it is PjW. 49. and 
 yet to be as little watchful, and as much trufl- 
 ful, or to truft as much to a mans own guiding, 
 as if nothing of a mifguiding humor and difpo- 
 fition were in him ? we may more than allude to 
 thefe words of our Saviour here, // the blmi lead 
 the blind, jhsS not beth fall into the ditch ? many of 
 you think that ye are inftructed as Scribes in 
 the way to Heaven; and will be leady to fay, God 
 forbid we mould be ignorant of that, and what 
 have we been doing all our days if we be yet to 
 learn that leflbn r but we will tell you what ye 
 have been doing, ye have been like filly wic/efs 
 fheep (haying all your days: And we would 
 the rather fpcnk to this, becaufe it is fo necefla- 
 ry to be known and believed, and yet Co little 
 known arid credited > For, I. Ye will never be 
 
 rf : ft 1 li a Scrm \ 
 
 rightly humbled, nor make ufeof JefusCh r\ 
 
 nor walk watchfully and foberly ; in a word ye 
 will never believe and repent, till ye know, be 
 convinced of, and believe this to be vourna- 
 tural Inclination, and the finfulnefs of your na- 
 ture : And yet. 2. Tho this be fo neceiTary that 
 the want of it mars the f.uit of the word in you 
 and preaching doth but buff en you to fay 
 io; How many are there that are as little fenfible 
 of it as the very Oones of the wall that are before 
 us, or the boards that they lean upon as to their 
 own paiticular ftate and condition ? I would bm 
 ask you, Is it poflible that ye could live fo 
 fecurely, aivdfatMied with your own cafe, if Ve 
 believed indeed that ye had fuch a finful nature 
 and that ye were liabic to Gods Wrath and C U if c ? 
 or would ye give fuch way to ycur natural fin^ 
 ful humorsand inclinations, and fo contentedly 
 flight Jefus Chrift, and tfce offers of the Gofpel 
 as many ofyou do? and yet we fee among/} them" 
 with whom we converfe, men and women not 
 only as fecure, as if they had no fuch natures 
 bus even belfhing and foaming out their own 
 ihime : We would have you therefore to be 
 convinced and know, that not only ye are Mnners 
 in the general, but that every one of you is fuch 
 in particular. u 
 
 To make it the more clear, I fhall give vou 
 two or three Qualifications that are requifite to 
 a fuitable conviction of your finfulnefs / Jf •> 
 would be particular, 2. It would be fenfible ve 
 would not in bare words take with it that ye are 
 Sinners, but ye would fee and be convinced that 
 10 th,s and tbis ye have finned, and ye would be 
 kindly affected with it. 3. Ic w»uld be di 
 ftinct, not a gueffing, but a thing that from the 
 feeing and feeling of it ye would be clear in 
 It would have fuch influence on the moving of 
 your Auctions, and fuch an inward working 
 on your hearts, as that ye may loath your na- 
 ture, and your felf becaufe of it : We may fee 
 all thefe in Pmut^em. 7 . vtr f , , anti forward, 
 who though he was greatly renewed yet faith he 
 I fee a lav in my members rebelling againjl the law !f 
 my mind: he feels and is very fenfible of that 
 which leads him in captivity, and he cries out 
 who fhtll deliver me, Sec. his affections are mighti' 
 ly ftirred with it, What I do J allow net, Sec. o mi- 
 serable man that Ism, Sec. If ye believe this to be 
 a Truth, and that Paul lived in the faith and fee- 
 ling of it i then judge if there fee not juft ground 
 to cxpoftulate with molt part ofyou, as being 
 yet without the Faith and feeling of thismoft 
 concerning thing. 
 
 The 3d. Ufe ofit ferves wonderfully to fct forth I 
 the glonc of chc free and rich Grace of God, that 
 
 aJ! 
 
all this bufinefs is made and this tranfa&ion ente- 
 red into,that Chrift ccmes to fatisfie, and doth a- 
 ftually fatisfie Juftice for a number of fuch 
 wretches that had gone aftray like loft fheep ; 
 This comes in as the Scope ; we have ftrayed and 
 done tV wrong, but he hath payed the debt, and 
 fatisfied for the wrong done : and from comparing 
 this v. with the foregoing.we may take thefe/vf 
 Confiderations that ferve to heighten the glory of 
 Gods Grace and Free-love, and to (hame Belie- 
 vers, that are fo little in wondring at it. i.Who 
 is fmitten ? His own Son ; we finned, and he was 
 fmitten, even he who was and is the Fathers fel- 
 low, the Sovord awakes againft him, and .we go 
 free. 2. What did our Lordfuffer ? He was woun- 
 ded and buijed, the cbaftifement of our peace was mMm, 
 he laid on him the iniquity of u* »ll ; It was not a 
 complemented or fafhionalfuffcring, but he was 
 arraigned before the tribunal of Juftice, and did 
 really pay our debt, and fatisfie Juftice for our 
 Sins. 3. Who exacted this fatisfa&ion ? Who 
 did fmite him ? It's the Lord Jehovah, it's the fa- 
 ther; which makes the Glory of Grace fhine 
 the more; it's God the Father whofe heart was 
 tender to the Son of his love 'hat exa&s the full 
 price of him, fo that as he faid of Abraham, by 
 thai know that thou lovefl me, becauje thou hail not 
 with-held thy fonjhine only Ion Ifaizfrom rve; we may 
 fay, by this we know God's love to the Ele&, 
 when he hath not with-heid, nor fpared his own 
 Sun from them, but hath laid on him the ini- 
 quities of them all. 4. For whom did he fmite 
 him? for Sinners, for ftraying fheep, for Cove- 
 venant-breakcrs, for fuch as had gene a whoring 
 from God, and were bent to fin againft him, I 
 
 ifaiah Jf ?> Vef 6. 
 
 Sftmerr, and that yet herein was the lore of 
 commended, that he laid on his Son the In ; . 
 of us all, then is there not good ground t 
 with the Sin, and to make ufe of the remedy^ 
 to take with fin and to clofe with Chrift ? W<* 
 might take occafion here to exhort. i.Towatch- 
 fulnefs, and to walk foberly and humbly, front 
 this ground, that we have fuch a Nature. 2. Ta 
 exhort every one to Repentance, becaufe by na-' 
 ture ye are all in fuch a fmful ftate and condi- 
 tion ; it may be ground ofexercifing Rcpch- 
 
 mean the fclc&. 5. When was 
 red for them ? even when thai 
 
 tance, even long after your juftificttK 
 
 iftified, 
 
 with 
 „ Ic-re 
 
 Teart 
 
 Mid 
 
 igtit thai 
 
 that he luffe- 
 were ftraying, 
 rejecting, dcfpifing,nodding the head at hni, fpit- 
 ting in his face, and faying, aw»y with him, e- 
 ven then he is praying and dying for them: Now 
 put alii thefe together, that fuch a p.iccfhall be 
 cxaGed of fuch a Cautioner, and for fuch finners, 
 and at fuch a time, behold and fee therein how 
 God commends his leve to us, as the; Apoftle 
 fpeaks, Rom. J. 8. In that while we were yetjivwers 
 Chrift did for us ^when wewere in our fin, not pray- 
 ingto him, nor in a capacity to pray or give him 
 thanks for any thing that he did or fuffered, he 
 then died for us; Is there any thing here but free- 
 dom of Grace ? 8c does not this exceeding high'y 
 commend the love of God, that he exacts theDebt 
 due by us of his Son, and the powerful Love 
 of the Mei'-ator tnd Cautioner, that at fuch a 
 time and for fuch traalgrcilions he fhould pay 
 l^furh a price ? 
 * , Ufe 4. Scing this was our ftate that WC wetc 
 
 peace made with God who 
 whom itfhould be as w 
 But \ly. icing bynatur 
 and curfe, and in a 
 it mainly fenres to e 
 Chrift, and not to reft 
 taken away ; it might I 
 
 Folks would be foon and cafily induced to this 
 even to run unto Jefus Chrift, and to welcome 
 the Gofpcl with Good will, for preventing the 
 Curfe and Wrath due to them for fin, and for 
 fubduing of this finful nature and inclination to 
 ftray from God and his Way : Therefore ieiiig 
 there is a fountain opened to the houfe of David 
 for fin* and for uncleannefs, Cmcc there is a J?cif- 
 faction given to Juftice f»r removing the guilt of 
 fm } and fince the fpiritis purchafed for rr.ortify* 
 iog of fin, and making holy; let as many as think 
 that they have gone aftray, and have turned to 
 their own way, as they would not be fownd ftill 
 at this diftance with God, make ufe of Chrift for 
 making their friendmrp with God ; it's the word 
 that Piter ufeth, r Pet. i.ult. All we like Jbcephave 
 gone aftray, but we are now turned unto the fhtpheri 
 and bijhop of our fouls ; hold, O hold you near this 
 Shepherd, and make ufe of his Righteoufnefs for 
 making your Peace ; If we could rightly under- 
 stand the words, we would fee in them, r. A 
 Motive to put us on believ'ng in Chrift, and 
 can there be a greater motive than Netiflity / Wc 
 ruve finned and gone aftray, he is th-. only Sa- 
 viour, there is no other name given under Hea- 
 ven whereby finners can be faved. a. There is 
 alfo in them an Encouragement ro believing; It 
 was for finners, fuch as we are, that Jefus C ft rift 
 fjlffcred all that he iufFcred, which may be ground 
 of hope and encouragement to ftep for: 
 and if neither our need, norChritYs being a Sa- 
 viour willing tomakcSinnrrs weJcome will pre- 
 vail, we know not what will do it: Ic will 
 turn to this, and ye will be put to ir. whether 
 are ye finners ? and if Sinr.cu, whether is it 
 notadefpeiate thing to ly under (in ?nd Wrath? 
 If ye be not finners, we have no wan and to pro- 
 T po& 
 
 2 
 
pofc this Do&rlne to you, to invite or make you 
 welcome to a Saviour ; but if ye grant that ye 
 are (tuners, will ye contentedly ly under fin ? 
 will ye be able to bear it out againft God t or 
 think ye that ye will be well enough for all thar; 
 and if ye dare not refolve to ly under fin, I 
 would ask, what way will ye win from it ? think 
 ye iteafie to win from under it ? muft not the 
 juftice of God be fatisfiedPfome of you think that 
 ye can pray your felves out of„fin,but what need 
 was there of Chrifh fufTering* if a fatisfa&ion 
 might have been made to Juftice another way ? 
 
 fcW; 6* $ ctm 4 g 
 
 and if none butChrift can fa tisfie,fc turns to this 
 that by all means ye would make ufe of him, etfe 
 ye will moft certainly drown and die in your 
 fins ; And this is the thing that we would 
 commend to you, that under the fenfe of 
 fin.and in the faith of Gods condefcendinglove 
 ye would flee to Jefus Chrift, and give him em- 
 ploymentfor making your peace with God, and 
 taking away your fin and fancying of you- O 
 but this be fuitable to Tinners ; and if ye think 
 your felves Sinners prejudge not your ielves of 
 the benefit of a Saviour. 
 
 ofefo^^ 6c ^ k 
 
 Verfe 6. 
 
 on him th 
 
 SERMON XXVI. 
 
 ISAIAH till. VI. 
 
 have gone aflray, we have turned every one t§ hu •wn way, and the Lord hath laid 
 t all. 
 
 EVery expreflion that the Prophet ufeth 
 to f«t forth the grace of God in Jefus 
 Chrift to finncrs by, is more wonder- 
 ful than another.becaufc indeed every 
 thing that heexprefleth is more won- 
 derful than another ; And there is fo much grace 
 and infinite love in the way of the Gofpel, 
 that its hard to know where there is moft of 
 it, whether in its rife, or in its execution j 
 whether in the decree of God, or in Chrifts 
 fatisfa&ion 5 whether in the benefits that 
 we enjoy, or in the way by which we are 
 brought to enjoy them j Sure all together make 
 a wonder palling great, a molt wonderful won- 
 der, even a world of wonders : It is a wonder 
 that ( as it is, verf. $.) he mould he wounded fir 
 §ur tr an f griffons, bruifed for our iniquities, that the 
 thailijement of our peace fhould be on him, and that* 
 hy hit firipeswejhouldbe healed ; And when herehe 
 comes to explain this, and to (hew how it came 
 to pafs that Jefus Chrift fuffered fo much, he 
 holds out another new wonder. AS we Ukefheep 
 have tone affray, &o Asifhehad faid, would 
 ye know how it comes to pafs that the Mediator 
 behoved to fuffer, and fuffer fo much ? All we, 
 the Eleft people of God had gone aftray like fo 
 many wandring ftieep, as well as others, not one 
 excepted > and there was not another way to 
 recover and reclaim us but this, The Lord Jehovah 
 laid on him the iniquity of us all: To recover us 
 when wt were loft, Jefus Chrift was fubfticu- 
 ttd in our room by the eternal decree of God, 
 and the iniquities of all of us who are his Elect 
 people as to their punUhment we're laid upon 
 bim ; This then is the fcopevto fhew the rife of 
 Chillis fuSt iiflgs,aai bow it came tp pafs that 
 
 our Lord fufTered, and fuffcred fo much, the 
 occafion of it was the Elects fin, and theFoun* 
 tarn caufe, the Fathers laying of their fin on him 
 by an eternal decree, and making him to an*, 
 fwer for it according to that Decree, with hS 
 undertaking, which was the Covenant of Re- 
 demption, whereof Chrift's fuffering was the 
 execution : Thus we have the Fountain whence 
 our Lord's fufkrings flowed ; He is in the Co- 
 venant of Redemption fubftitute and judicially 
 enacted the Elects Cautioner, and takes on 
 their debt, and being fubftitute in their room 
 Juftice purfues the Claim, and Sentence paflcs 
 againft him for making him anfwerable and lia- 
 ble to the debt of their finsj Which fets out 
 as it were ajudge on the Throne, Jehovah, and 
 two parties at the Bar, W?and Hint ; We the prin- 
 cipal Debtors, and him the Cautioner, Jefus 
 Chrift in our Room and place ; the Law by 
 which the Judge proceeds is the Covenant of 
 Redemption ; and we the principal Debtors not 
 being Law-biding, he is made liable to the 
 Debt, and on this ground the fentence pafTes 
 againft him forfatisfyiig what we were owing, 
 and hereupon followed his fuffcringi; So then 
 the rife of his fufferings is that it was fo trair* 
 facted by the Wife, Juft, and Gracious God : 
 and thus this verje comes well in to explain and 
 further to clear what he aflertedin the former 
 verfe. Though the words be few, yet they are 
 a great compend andfum of the Gofpel; How 
 therefore fo fpeakof them, fo as to unfold rfiem 
 aright, is not cafic ; Aud becaufe the Devil 
 who fceks by all means to mar the beauty of the 
 Gofpel, doth moft fiercely afTault where moft 
 of its beauty ttinei, and hath therefore ftirred 
 
Serm. 26*. ' " a f**d fh 
 
 up fcvcral farts of enemies to wreft thefe words, 
 and to obfeure the beauty of Grace that maybe 
 clearly fecninthem; We mall a little open the 
 few words that are in this laft pirt of the verf. 
 And the Lord h*th laid on him the iniquity of us all ; 
 having fpoken to the former part of it the laft 
 day. 
 
 In thefe few words then, we have, 1. fome- 
 thing fpoken of iniquity, which three Parties 
 have fome acts about, to wit, 1. The Elect Ut 
 all, .a. Him, to wit, The Mediator. 3. The 
 Lord, to wit, Jehovah ; Then . we have the ex- 
 prefs act of the Lord, to wit, his laying on him 
 the Mediator, the Iniquity of us all. 1. As for 
 this word iniquity, by it is meant fometimes, I. 
 Sin formally taken as it hath a difconformity 
 to the Law of God, and fuppofeth a fpot and de? 
 feet, and fo it is commonly taken when we 
 pray for pardon of Sin ; and when David fays, 
 Pfsl. jj. My Jin it over before me ; And Pfal. 38. My 
 iniquity u gone over my head ; And fo it is the tranf- 
 greflion of the Law of God. 2. It is fometimes 
 taken for the effect that Sin procureth, and fo 
 k's in effect the puniihment of Sin, as Ltvit. 7. 
 roe 18, and 20. vtrfes being compared together ; 
 verfe 1 8. it's faid, He flail bear hi* iniquity, which 
 verjt 20, is, He (ball be cue off, and fo it is clearly 
 meant oft the punifhment of iniquity ; For to 
 bear his iniquity, and to be cut off, are the fame thing 
 there ; and that word of Cain. Gtn 4. 14. My 
 iniquity or puniihment is greater than I can bear, 
 hath a manifeft refpect to Gods curfe infected 
 on him for his Sin, and Is, as if he had (aid, I 
 will not get lived under the puniihment that 
 is inflicted upon me, for every one that finds 
 me will cut my throat ; and fometimes it istran- 
 flated p unifhment, as in that of Gen. 4. 13. The 
 Queftion then is, which of thefe two is under- 
 ftood here in this Text, whether iniquity or Sin 
 formally taken, 01 iniquity taken forjhe puniih- 
 ment thereof? Thefe who are called Antinomiar.s 
 pkad, that ii is to be underftood of Sin formally 
 taken: But though it be hard fo much as to men- 
 tion this, it being fo blafpemous-like to aifert, 
 that our blefTed Lord Jefus ihould be formally 
 a Sinner, and have the fpots and defilement of 
 Sin on him, which we wonder that any Chri- 
 { ftian fliould dare to aiTert or prefume to main- 
 tain i Yet becaufc this Scripture is alledgM for 
 it, we (hall clear, that iniquity is nothcre to be 
 taken for fin formally, but for fin in thepu- 
 Iniflmwnt ofit > And the I« reafon that we give, 
 jfhall be drawn from the plain fcope of the words 
 the Prophet having in the j verfe faid, thatfo 
 was wonndedfor our tranfgrtjfuns, snd bruifed for our 
 
 \hiquitiuj The fcope of this verfe is to Jhcw how 
 
 Ferjt 6, § Yft 
 
 it came to pafs that Chrift fufrcred, and fuffc- 
 red fo much ; which he doth by declaring that 
 it could not be otherwife, becaufe the punifb§ 
 merit of all the fins of the Elect was laid upon 
 him ; and that which was called wound.ng and 
 brnijing in the former verfe is here caUtd on the 
 matter a bearing of their iniquities, (for if they were 
 laid on him he did certainly bear them ) the Sins 
 of all the Elect tryfted on him as to their pu* 
 nifhment ; And this flitws how that Chrift be* 
 hoved not only to fuffer all that he fuffered ; 
 So in the 8. verfe it is faid, He wo* cut off out of 
 the land of the living, and fa^o^mtnjjgrjjioni of my 
 people was he ftricken ; Thyf^^^PKhcrr cailed 
 the bearing of iniquity, \%iB'* rt i *^~S««£ cut of 
 and Jfricken for the tranfM? *nd a rrMpfc ; and 
 this may be the fecortdlljt s '"^Jexpefition, 
 as we have given it ; becaihtfSwlfen iniquities 
 ire fpoken of, they are not called Chrifts, is in* 
 herent in him, but they are called his peoples 
 iinquities, they being formally theirs, but his 
 judicially and legally only: Even as the debt is 
 formally the Bankrupts, but legally the Cautio* 
 ners. A third reafon is drawn from comparing 
 this Text with other parallel places of Scripture, 
 that which is called bearing of iniquity here, is 
 called, Gal. 3. 13. His being made m curfe for m 9 
 fo that his bearing of our iniquity, is his being 
 made a curfe for our iniquity, and his bearing 
 the wrath of God due to us for our Sin : I (ball 
 illuftrate it by a comparifon, whence the fourth 
 Reafon will clearly iefult,our iniquities become 
 Chrifts as his righteoufnefs becomes ours > foe 
 thefe two are parallel, 1 Cor. 5. ult. He was msdtv 
 fin far hs who kn:xo no Jin, that we might be made the 
 right eoufnejs of God, in, or through him ; Where 
 1. it's clear, that Jefus Chrift is fo the Sinner in 
 our room, as we are righteous in his room ; and 
 contrarily we arc righteous in his room, as 
 he was the finner in our room. 2- That Righ- 
 teoufnefs is not fo deriyed to us that it is formal- 
 ly made ours, and to be inherently in us, buc 
 is ours only by imputation it felf, or thevertue 
 of it being imputed to us i And it is upon this 
 ground that Rom. 4. imputed Rigbrcoufnefs is often 
 mentioned, fh.it is, when God accounteth a man 
 to be righteous.though he be yet aSinner in him- 
 fclf: even lb our Sin is imputed to Chrift &: rec- 
 koned his, becaufe he became our .Surety : And 
 thoughvrtifiMMtof/have avain notion to elude this, 
 yet the Scripture is very c'ear.as holding forth* 
 legal procedure ; the debt is accounted his, be- 
 caufe of his obligation to be anfwerable for it, 
 and in Juftice and Law he is liable to it: And there 
 is no Other way thai we can rationally imagine, 
 T t how 
 
ifaiafj 53- 
 out MerTed Lord can bear our iniquities, 
 cannot Amd with his abfolute purity 
 rpotofCn, or to be formally the 
 bw -• »s itntcefTary that he fliould 
 , y that he il.ould pay the 
 s, it being the natutp oFCon- 
 lohg men, that where the Principal De- 
 bitor iuccumbs, the Cautioner comes in his 
 room, lb is it here. Yea, 3. Ifjcfus Chrift were 
 the firmer formally, it would incapacitate him 
 to be our Cautioner, to pay the penalty, or toia- 
 tisfie Juftice for the debt of our fins: We would 
 not have fpoken fo mu«h to this, were it not 
 that this fame.place isprefTcd in a mod faftidi- 
 ous manner by the abufcrs of the Grace of God to 
 maintainJfoJfheiFfr) fo then we take this in 
 fliort t CdLtha6-ficis»l n g oflhls P arr of tllc ™ rie * 
 that JefuJ^H a-* 3 " 1 the punifhment due to 
 us foe curfiT"' J ' 
 
 2/7, 'The three parties that have fome acts a- 
 r bour iniquity, are 1. us all, 2. Him. 3. The Lord 
 . ' :, «; all, and here we meet with the 
 mans, another party that abuferh and perver- 
 h this place, as if it were to be extended to 
 all men am} women that ever finned or went a- 
 fay they, it's the iniquity of all 
 them that is wrong that is laid on Chrift, and 
 • that is the Iniquity of all Men and Women in tke 
 World : But ( as we (hew before ) the fcope of 
 the words is not fo much to fliew the Univerfa- 
 lity of all pieii and womens finning, as to fhew 
 . that all'" the Elect as well as others went aftray, 
 and turned every one of them to their own way, 
 therefore its reftrictcd, All. we ; and the word 
 M 5s no broader than the word We, now the 
 IVe that is here meant, is tfre We who in the for- 
 mer words are healed by h'ufripes ; And that fure 
 is not all men and women that fin, but the E- 
 lect only •, And verfe 11. It's they that by ha 
 knowledge, that is, by Faith in him arejufrfied, It's 
 thefe All whofe iniquities he bare, and no mce : 
 So thatin fliort, us all is not all men fimply 
 confidered, but us all, that are Elect, and thus 
 it is ncceffarily to be reftrictcd to the Prophets 
 fcope. 
 
 The meaning of both parts of the verfe toge- 
 ther then is, we all, even the Elect as well 
 , as others vent aftray and tumid every one §fus to 
 hu owjijinffi nay, and the Lord Jehovah made 
 him to bear the punifhment of all our fins, and 
 it could not be but a mighty great punifhment, 
 and a moft hudgeand horrible fuffering,whenthe 
 Lord marie the inquiries of Us ally his Elect to 
 meet upon Chrift. 
 
 There is not much debate about the other two 
 parties, The r. whereof is Him, That is the Me. 
 tiiator Jefus Cffrft, mt eternal Son of the eter- 
 
 'Vft f- Serm. 16 
 
 mil Father, the bright fiefs of the Fathers Glory, ana 
 trfrefs Intake of hit ptrfon, who remaining Gcd, I 
 came Man, to perform and bring about the J 
 works of cur Redemption accoiding to his un4 
 deitakittg. 
 
 The ether Paityis the Lord J tkvah. the Judge 
 and the party offended ; as we are tke Party of- 
 fending, and Jefus Chrift the fathfier; And the 
 Lord is here qonfidered efTentially as Father, Son,, 
 and holy Ghoft, having one common EfTcnce 
 and Juftiee; and who being all three one Gcd, I 
 are to be fatisfied, He is Jehovah. 
 
 But how is this punifhment of our iniquities | 
 laid on Jefus Chrift ? And here Socinians make as 1 
 greata bufsle and bufinefs, the Devil intending! 
 (if he could effect it ) to blowup the very] 
 foundation of the Gofpel, bends all his Forces ; 
 againft fuch places as do . moft lively hold it] 
 forth; But the words are clear and moft fignifi- 1 
 cant as they are rendred according to the Hebrew ] 
 on the Ma» went, thus, The Lord hath made the /m-1 
 equity oj us all to meet on him- The Iniquities of the 
 Elect are as fo many Brooks and Rivolets, any 
 one of which is hard and difficult for them to 
 pafs over; B\# Oi when Chrift comes to fatisfie 
 for them, they are brought and gathered into a 
 great lake, or rather inte a vaft Sea or Ocean to- 
 gether they all collected and combined met on 
 him, and he did meet with them in" a mighty 
 fhock, and fure they could uoc but be great fuf- 
 feringsthat he endured when he had fuch a Sea 
 to pafs thorow ; or the fins of the Elect were 
 like fo many Companies or Regiments of 
 Men, any one whereof they aould never have 
 overcome, but when Chrift came to fatisfie Di- 
 vine Juftice lor them,, as the companies and Regi- 
 ments of fins ( fo tofjieaJi) Rendezvouzed, and 
 brought in one formidable Army together mer 
 on Chrift; The word is well rendred here were 
 laid on him, being the fame word in the Root that 
 Saul ufed y hen he commanded Dock, to fall upr n 
 the Lords Priefts, 1 Sam. it. 18. The word is, 
 Lay upon them, or lay at them ; As when one is an- 
 gry with another, he will cry, Lay upon him ; 
 and this fhews the exceeding greatnefs of Chrifls 
 fufferings, when all the fins of all the Elect met 
 together as a hudge and heavy Hoft, did fall and 
 do terrible execution upon cur bleffed Lord 
 jefus. This then being the meaning of the 
 words, the cjucftionis, Whether the Lord Jeho- 
 vah-did lay this punifhment really upon Chrift, 
 or whether, as Socinians fondly imagine, he only 
 interceeded for them ? But for Anjmer, 1. Whac 
 fort of meaning of the words would that be I 
 pray? The Lord made the iniquities cf us all 
 to interred on him, when the Text fays 
 
 plainly 
 
Sewn. 16. . 5»i • 
 
 plainly, that tit] vita hid on him and on the • 
 matter that he bate them.and exprefly &,wK 11. 
 Fwbe (hall bear their friquititrt Yea, 2^ Confl- 
 der theicope, and it coaies in as a reifon why 
 Cnrift fufF-red fo much, and would that, ( can 
 any think ) be a good reafon for fo great and 
 grievous fuffcrings undergone by Chrift, that 
 God made him to intercced for all the fins of 
 the Elect? But if you look upon the words 
 in their true meaning, they are a clear reafon 
 why he was 'wounded, and exceedingly bruifed 
 and chaften?J, and why he endured fo many 
 ftripes, even because all the fins of all his Eieet 
 met on him, becaufe he was made to bear the 
 punifhment of them all ; alfo the words follo- 
 wing clear it, He vas cut off out of the land of the 
 living, for the tranfgrejfw of my people xsas he (truck- 
 en j And Gal, 3. He was made a carfefor us. He fuf- 
 fcred, the jutf for tbeunjujl ; he actually and re- 
 ally fuffered that which we fhould have fuffe- 
 red: if it be asked, what is this, to lay iniquity en 
 Chriffi Or how is it faid, that the iniquity of 
 the Elect was laid on him ? Or in what refpect ? 
 I anfwer 1. in refpeet of Gods eternal Cove- 
 nant j the punishment due for our fins is laid 
 upon him hy ari eternal deliberate Counfel or 
 Consultation of the Perfons of the God head ; 
 Wherein ( is we fliew before J Chriit entets 
 furery for us, accepts of, and engages to 
 our debt. 2. In refpect of Gods actual purfuing 
 Chriit, having thus engaged himfelf, putting in 
 his hand the Cup, and making him drink, and 
 the Bill of our account, and making him coun- 
 table. 3 . In refpect of Gou;> acceptation of that 
 Satisfaction which Chrift performed 2nd payed 
 down for them. 
 
 This being the meaning of the words, we 
 come to point at fome things from them, and 
 the very opening of them may give us fome in- 
 figkt in the way of the Gcfpcl, and of a nota- 
 ble ground of footir g to our Faith, if we could 
 rightly apprehend God m king this tranfacti- 
 011 with tfie mediator, we might not only have 
 St ground to our Faith, but 3 great encouragement 
 to come to Chriit, and to 1 eft on him who hath 
 thus fitted himfelf in our ioom before the Tri- 
 bunal of Divirrejufrce, and it would waken and 
 warm Faith and Lo e towards him. 
 
 But obferveheie more particularly, 1. That 
 all the Elect people of Gad are lying under ini- 
 quity even as others. Tnis we lpoke to thclafc 
 day, and fliall not repeat what was then faid; 
 Its with refpect to iniquity in the Eiect that all 
 the bufinefs of Redemption istranlactcd,& fiom 
 Jience as the occafion, it hath its rife.even horn 
 Gods being ofcnde J, and from the neccflity of 
 
 53 r.rf 6. r , 
 
 a Mediator ; f?r this doth pre r up£bic our debt, ' 
 and a Handing fentencetgainft u:, till Chrittin* 
 terpofed for the removing of it. 
 
 2. From its being faiJ b fore; that, tvery ctiT 
 turned to kis own way, and here, fiittths Lt+dha-.b 
 laid on him the iniquity cf us all; Obj\rve y thwt every 
 one of the EkS. befide the common flate of fin 
 wherein all are, hath his own particular guilt 
 that is inhiso-wn w.iy ; t lis is clearly holdenout 
 here, while it is f.i ', that not only Itke'fieep w& 
 have g%ne affray., but thit every 9 ne hath turned t» 
 hit ovn way ; which as it holds forth a way in 
 thern^ all different from Gods way, fo alfo a 
 way in every one of them fomewhat different 
 from anothers way; And this is called a wel* 
 king in the counfel of our oxen heart, Yfal. 81. and a 
 mans i»n /m, 2 Chron. 6 29. and a mans own in/- 
 quity,Pfal. 1 &, 2 3 . Becaufe it's in a fpecial man- 
 ner his. To clear it a little, confider that fin if 
 peculiar to a Believer, Or may be called his ewn 
 f»ay y in thefeRfpetts; 1, In refpeft of hi* bel 
 ing more addicted to one Cm than another, which 
 is ufually called a mans predominant; Two men 
 may both be covetous ai:d paflionatc, but the 
 one of them, may be called a covetous man, 
 becaufe he is cfpecially given to that fin of Co- 
 veroufnefs, and the ether may be called a paf- 
 fionate man, becaufe he is efpecialJy given to 
 
 • paflion. 2. In refpeft of fome peculiar aggra- 
 vating circumftanccs ; Though we will no^ar 
 particularly to determine as to perfons.yet if we 
 look throw allMen and\Vcmen,it wiilbt readily 
 found that there is fome fin wbich in refpett of 
 iome or feyeral aggravations, is in fome a greater 
 iin than it is in others', And hereby Gtd hath gi- 
 ven ground of humiliation to all ; Thesis not 
 
 : a man ( as we jufr now hinted ) but readily he 
 hath an evil which is ar a greater height in hini 
 than in another ; As for infiance, one may be 
 given more to the fin of pruruVennefc, another 
 more to hypooriiie, another more ft 
 nefs, &c. I do not /pe.-.k. i'o much h^re tfthc 
 divers kinds of fin, as cf the 
 
 . virions of this or that Un rh ft e gi- 
 
 ven to ; fuch and fuch a man may have aggrava- 
 tions that will Jggrege fuch a ptedomin?,: 
 in him far b.-y. nd what it is in others: And 
 it is from this ground that a Believer nc 
 complementing wv.y , but moft resh 
 cerely doth call and' account frmfelf the* 
 (inner s ; becaufe there are fome aggravation 
 elevate his C\n al ovc the iin of others, or ... 
 that fame Cm in others ; 35 a we; 
 have fome one 
 meitdablc than it is in 
 the ftrongcr 1 
 
 • 
 
 i 
 
r 4 i *fa'*t n. 
 
 that in refpcG of its aggravations, may give him 
 ground to look on himfelf as beyond others in fin. 
 Ufe i , Ir ferves m.ch for our Humiliation, in 
 as far as this adds to our finfulnefs ; There are 
 none of us, but bcfide the common way of fin- 
 ning incident to all, we have fomething that is 
 peculiar to our felves.we have our own way, where- 
 w^tl) we are chargeable above and beyond others; 
 we will readily all grant that we arc finners,but 
 ^ho o£ us will take with our particular and pe- 
 culiar guilt chat doth more eafily befet us ? who 
 amonft many are as Doves of the Valleys on the 
 Mountains, every one mourning for his *wi inU 
 quityfov his own Plague andSore,that byweral 
 circumftances may be af greged as to its finful- 
 nefs beyond the fin of others t 
 
 U\e 2, The fecond Ufc which is the fcope, ferves 
 to {hew the exceeding greatnefs of Chrifts fuf- 
 fcrings ; O ! what a fhock he was in when he had 
 not only all the common fins of the Ele& to fa- 
 tisfie for, but when all their peculiar fins with 
 their refpe&ive aggravations, rendezvouzed and 
 tryfted on* him ? It ferves likewife to exalt the 
 free Grace of God, and the condefcendency of 
 our bleiTcd Lord Jcfus who took in all together 
 in his making fatisfa&ion for them when there 
 were fevcral forts of them, asif every one of the 
 Elect had been fet to invent anew Sin , what 
 great and forefuffering was here when he conde- 
 feended to drink the Cup, that had the wonder- 
 ful effects of all the fins of the elect wrung into 
 it? when not only in grofs he takes on the 
 Sins of the Elect, but this and that mans parti- 
 cular Sins, which were all reckoned and fum- 
 mc4 on Chrifts aceount, and for which he was 
 made tofatisfic; and wherein Juftice proceeded 
 etuiallyand equipollentlyjthis notably confirmed 
 the reality of Chrifts fatisfaction, by fufTering 
 what all the Elect mould havefuflfcred eternally, 
 or the equivalent of it ; for if there had not been 
 a proportional fatisfaction in his futTerings.whcre- 
 fore ferves fuch an enumeration of his fufterings. 
 Ufe$ The thirdUfc ferves to lead us into know 
 how much we are in Chrifts Debt, and what » 
 great encouragement we have to believe, and 
 witlwll, what notable ground of confolation Be- 
 lievers have : I fay, * . It Jhews how much wc art 
 in Chrifts Debt, when we take a view of all our 
 Sins,and confider that there was a particular view 
 taken of them in the Covenant of Redemption, 
 .not only all our common Sins, but even all the 
 particular and peculiar Sins of Believers were rec- 
 koned unto Chrift rhe Cautioner, and put on his 
 account, and he engaged to fatisfle for all, and 
 pay the whole Reckoning > doth it not lay a 
 Srcac obligation on us to yjm, who 99UQU4 for 
 
 Fat. 6> Sernfr... 
 
 the lenft farthing of our Debt ? We like **ac 
 or bankrupt Dyvours did take on the Dcbt/fn 
 thcAccompt was put in his hand, not only( aj 
 I juft now (aid ) of all our common Sips, but of 
 this and that particular fin, with alf^htir feve- 
 ral aggravations, and the finful circumftancesi 
 that did hightcn them j and he fatisfiedfor them 
 all .-And of this we would take fpecial notice, 
 for it may readily wronft us to lock upon the 
 Covenant of Redemption as a Bargain in grefs 
 there is a particularnefs in ir, to (hew not only 
 the fovereignty, but the exactnefs of Juftice, 
 and alfo the riches of God's Grace, and of the 
 great condefcendency of Chrifts love to elect Sin- 
 ners. 2. It's a great encouragement to believe, 
 for even thefc Sins that would fright and skar 
 feriousand exercifed Souls from coming forward 
 to Chrift, were all compted on ChriiVs fcore, 
 and were all fatisfied for by him. 3- It's a nota- 
 ble ground of conteiation to Believers when they 
 are difpofed and ready to think that their parti* j 
 cular Sins art inluffei able and unpardonable; they ' 
 think that courfe might be taken with all their 
 common evils, bur as for this moil finful and 
 fhameful unthankfulncfs, this defpifing of his, 
 Grace, this woful Unbelief, &t. it ftares them 
 in the face, and they know not well how that 
 will be got done away : But Believers in Chrift 
 who are forrowful and fadly perplexed on this ac- 
 count, is that your own way ? It's tranfacted on 
 Chrift's fcore with the reft : tvery one of us hath 
 turned to hit own way, and the Lord hath laid on him 
 the iniquity of us aB; O ! impregnable ground of 
 ftrong confolation, which is it good news front s 
 far Country, a non-fuch cordial to a fainting foul. 
 3. Objerve here, That a beliaving Elect, or an 
 elect Believer, will not only be fcnfible of Sin in 
 the general, but of his own particular and pe- 
 culiar finful way ; or thus, it's a , good token 
 when folk look not only on Sin in commoa, but 
 on their own peculiar finful way ; or thus, that 
 folk (hould confider their finfulnefs.not only in 
 common,but in particular with its fcveral aggra- 
 vations j The fcriptures which we cited before 
 rjo confirm this- as Ffal, J8. a*- I keyed my felf 
 jrm mine iniquity $ ?nd 3 Ckron 6, »o. where faith 
 Sohmon, when every one /M know hU own fort and his 
 awn grief; or as it is, i» Kingi 8. 38, Tho ptyutof 
 kit awn kftrti This implies thele two things, 
 1. A diftinct aggravating of Sin, when a man 
 not only looks on himfclfasa Sinner, but looks 
 on bis Sin by reafon of federal aggravating cir« 
 cumftances as being above and bevond the Sin 
 of others, andabhorcth and loatheth himlelf at 
 the chief of Sinners, as David doth when he faith, 
 P[*l, 51, d*6*i*ft thet, thet onh b*vc I firmed -, he is 
 
 not 
 
;r ?hcrc extenuating Ms Sin, as ifit were done 
 
 as the 
 
 M3 
 
 ,Iy againft God, but aggresing bis fin, 
 ordi following (hew, and / btvt done this evil 
 '.thyfabt, as if he had faid, thy concern in the 
 latter dorh moft affect and afflict me, Thou love? 
 uth or finceiity in th$ inward part,; bat I have 
 ten (alas) all this time jugling and greatly 
 laying the hypocrite, which m*kes It to be a 
 wonderful great evil* and Pjal. 6**. Iniquities 
 revail again? me>, and as P*ul doth, wlio calls 
 umfelf the thief of Jinners, I Tim. i* I*. *dly,rhat 
 Jeltevrs before converfion, yea and in reject 
 >f their natural inclination even after their con- 
 rerfion, are wofully inclined each ot them to a 
 inful way of their own, called tcdef. H, the way 
 f smansown heart: And of this Believers would 
 >e fenfible, net only of their finfulnefs in gene- 
 al, and of their particular acts of Sin, but of 
 ;heir peculiar (infill acts, and that for thefe ends 
 
 i It ferves deeply to humble, and to prels forth 
 f to fpeakfo ) Repentance; When we confider 
 Dur own way to be finful beyond others, and 
 thatfuch and fuch a man hath finned, but his 
 Pin hath not fuch aggravations as mine,this makes 
 the Soul to bluib, and to fay, as it is, P[aU 40. 
 [12. Innumerable evils have oompaffed me about, mine /- 
 m^uities have takjn hold upon me, fo that J am not a- 
 Me to look up, they an woe than the hairs of mine head, 
 therefore my heart faileth me ; he wonders at him- 
 felf how a man can be fo given to fin, and every 
 day to add one new finful ftep to another, and 
 lever to weary and give over ; this makes him 
 :o blufh and to be athamed, as it is £«*. 16.63. 
 he remembring of common fins, and of this 
 md that particular act of fin, will not fo effect 
 his ; but when a finner remembers, that fuch a 
 in hath been his own way that humbles and flops 
 us mouth exceedingly. 
 
 a. This adds a peculiarnefs to the Grace of 
 3©d in the Believers eftcem, and maketh it fo 
 nuch the more amiable and admirable to him, 
 
 Is it is with Paul when he faith, \Tim. 1. J3,&c. 
 was a blafp'-emer, and a per ft cuter, and injurious, ne- 
 itrtbilefs I obtained mercy, and the grace of God was 
 xcteding aboundant towards me Thi s is a faithful fay. 
 ng } a*d worthy of all acceptationjbat JefusChrifl came 
 nto the world tofave fwners, of whom lam the chief, 
 owbeit fort his caufe I obtained mercy, that in me he 
 light jhtw forth all Ung-fu firing, for apatern to them 
 bat fhould hereafter believe on him : I was, as if he 
 ad faid, fingular in finning, but Grace wis e- 
 
 V*M %%. Vert «. 
 
 ynnd ©thcrsffo nT jftakes them exalt Grace tha 
 more. 
 
 $. It ferves fomeway to difcriminate a (bund 
 Believer from a Hypociitc, and a righc-figgt of 
 Sin from that which is not fo; It is nocfornucfr 
 ro know that we are finners, for the l ; ght of a 
 natural Confcience will tell men that, efpecially 
 when their Lives are fo bad ; but its more to 
 know, and rightly to take up the peculiarnefs* 
 that is in our way of finning, to take up the ma- 
 ny windings and turnings of the deceitful heart 
 in following of fuch a Sin that it is addicted to ; 
 This makes a Believer think that there is no bo« 
 dies heart like his : We fee ordinarily that but 
 very few, if any natural men, willtake kindly 
 with the peculiarnefs of their way of finning, 
 and even when they will take with this, that 
 they are Sinners in general^ yet they fliun CO 
 take with it, that they are given to fuch a fin- 
 ful way of their own ; and witn the particular 
 turnings, windings, and travcrfings of their own 
 hearts to that way ; but few will grant that they 
 are giYfen to dcfpifing or flightingwof Chrifr, to 
 Hypocnfie, felf feeking, Lying, &c. I will not 
 be peremptory here, to fay that e^very bodymuft 
 know what is their own one peculiar finful way; 
 For fome fee fo many predominant fins in them- 
 felveSj that hardly can they pitch upon one bya- 
 nother;nor upon the other fide.will I pofitivelr 
 fay, that they are all gracious that fee one fin by 
 anotherto carry fway in them But rhis I fay.thac 
 this contributes much for the humbling of the 
 finner,and for the exalting office Grace; Anfl'that 
 the Believer will fee many windings and turnings 
 in and to their own way, that others who are not 
 Believers wifl not fee and will fee one predomi- 
 
 nant after another ; whereas a natural man, 
 though he complementing^ call himfelfffo 
 chief of finners, yet he dpth not really think him* 
 fclf to be fuch ; But rather if he be given to 
 Drunkennefs, to filthinefs, or the like, he will 
 readily caft up David and Lot, or fome others of 
 the faints to excufc orextenuar it, but the Belie- 
 ver can get none to compare h.mfelf with in the 
 point of finfulnefs, Iniquities prevail over me, faith- 
 Dayict in the fingular Number, but when he 
 fpeaks of the pardoning and purging away fin.he 
 fpeaksin the plural, afTociating others with him- 
 felf, As for our tranfgreffons thou (halt purge them a* 
 way, Pftl. 6c. verf. 3. 
 
 4, Considering our finful way as the occafirn 
 Of this tranfaftion, and of the laying of our ini- 
 lintnt and Angular in Slewing mercy, and hath quitiesuponChrift,as the refult of ir, we have this 
 aft a Copy thereof in me that is Angularly emi- fweet Obfervation, that the Elcft are confidcrcd in 
 lent ; The peculiarnefs of Believers Sin, as it the Covenant of Redemption asfoulJy and vilely 
 nakes them kiiQW the aggravation* of it be^ 
 
 fin- 
 
 
144 
 
 fiiifu!. and with all the *ggr?\ 
 and (infill Dfiys ; fo that th 
 ler and more vile 'n time than rhcy were c--.fi Je- 
 red to be when tney were given to Chrril to 
 be fitisticd for by him : H«W were t'icy then 
 confidered ? The Text tel's us even as fffjnfHg 
 fire? ; But that is not all, they are confldeied as 
 fuch who have had their own peculiar way of 
 fcraying from Gcd, and have turned ailde to, and 
 un on i:i their ovn futfu\way ; Thus the Lord 
 coxifidcccd the Eire! in the Covenant of Redemp- 
 tion, thus Jefus Chrift confidered them in the 
 undertaking for them, even with alt the feveral 
 aggravations of their finfulnefs, fo that they are 
 nor, nor cannot be worfe in time than they 
 we.cr confidered to be before time : This is fo 
 ordered by the Lord for thefe ends, i That 
 Juftici might be diftin&ly, exattly, and fully 
 htisiied, and that if might be known that it is 
 {o f he would neeas be refrored to his honour, 
 to his declarative, or manifefted honour and 
 glory, which fuffered by man's fall, and by the 
 many great and varioufly aggravated fins ofthe 
 Ele£t, and would have hisJufHce, as I fa id, ful- 
 ly fatisfied : Ahd^thereforeas there is a Volume 
 of a Book, wherein all the Eleftare written, for 
 whom Chrift mould fatisfie, io there is a Vo- 
 lume of what, and for what he mould fatisfie, 
 that there may be a proportional fatisfa&ion and 
 price toJd down to Juftice. 5. That Believers 
 may have a more full view 01 the way of Grace, 
 and of Chrifts undertaking for them j When Je- 
 fus Chrift undertook our debt, he had a full view 
 of the fum he was to pay, he knew what he had 
 to pay to the leaft farthing, and what his peoples 
 iins would coft him, and yet he skarred not to 
 rngage to fatisfie, but did fatisfie according to 
 hisingagement to the full, 4. It*S alfo ordered 
 fo for this end, even to confirm the Believers 
 Vaith, when he cometh to take hold of Chrift, 
 
 6*. c 
 
 ►1 the Covenant, and when this Objection 
 mutter* withm him, dare fuch a finful wretch 
 as I take hold of thrift, who have been thus &thus 
 polluted with fin?Yes faith thcText,for thefe fins 
 foandlo aggravated, were not unknown to the 
 lather, nor to the Mediator when thru was bar- 
 gained about; Nay, thefe fins with ti.ei, agara- 
 vations were exprdly confidered in the Covenant 
 of Redemption, and there is no fin already com- 
 mitted ; or to be committed . by rhee in time 
 that wasnot confidered before time : What was 
 your pofiure,Belicvers,whenGod pajftdh and cafr 
 the Up or skirt of bis Uve over you j Were'you not 
 cafiout intbeepenfold, wallowing in your ewn blood 
 with your navels umut, having no eye to pity you &c* 
 As it is, Ezek. '6* And wherefore I pray i's this 
 fet down ? But as to let you know that ye are no 
 worfein time than ye were confidered to be be- 
 fore ye had abeeing ; So, to aggrege the Love 
 and Grace of God in Chrift, and to draw you in 
 to him, thatfince God and Chrift the Mediator 
 in the tranfaftion about your Redemption, ftood 
 not on your finfulnefs, ye may not ftand on it 
 when feriouily taken with, but may fubrnit to 
 his Righteoufnefs, and fay, Be it fo, Lord, lam 
 content to take what thou freely offercft; And 
 the more finful and loft ye be in your felves 
 whenfuitably affected therewith, the more wonl 
 derfulis the grace of God in the plot of your 
 Redemption, the more ftrong is your confola* 
 tion, and the greater ground of believing have 
 ye ; your fins do not furprize God, nor the Me- 
 diator, the bargain was made before your fins 
 were committed, and therefore the price mill 
 reach them, even when they are all fummed up 
 together; He was content to accept of them fo 
 as to fatisfie for them.and bleflcd be he for ever- 
 more that accepted ofthe bargain, and payed the 
 price according to his undertaking. 
 
 SERMON XXViL 
 
 I ' , ISAIAH LIU. VI. 
 
 Verf. 6. All we like fheep have pm affray, we hay 1 turned every ene t»\hif ewn Way, and the Urd hath 
 laid 1 him the iniquity of us all. 
 
 IN the former verfe the Prophet hath after- 
 ted the moft wonderful truths, and very 
 concerning to the people of God, and yet 
 fuch truths as will not be eafie got dige- 
 fted by natural reafon. 1. Thar our Lord 
 Jefus was put to fore and fad fufferingi, He was 
 wonnded and brut fed, &c. 2. That thefe fad fuffc- 
 rings were for us the ElecC ; it was for our fins, 
 
 and what was due to the Elect, he was made to 
 bear them, He wot wounded ftr our tranjgrspns , be 
 was bruifed ftr tur Iniquities. 3 . The end of thefe 
 fufFerings, or the effect that followed on them to 
 us, pardon of fin, peace with God, and healing, 
 The (haslifemefi* of our pease was 00 him, andyby his 
 slrtpes we are healed. 
 And each of thefe being more wonderful than 
 
 another, 
 
serm. *7- !/**** 
 
 another, therefore the Proplictgoes on to clear 
 their rife, which is no lefs wonderful ; How it 
 came to pafs that he flittered, and fuffered fo 
 much, and that we have fuoh benefite by his 
 fufferings ; It could not( would he fay) beother- 
 wayes, but it behoved our Lord Jefus to fuffer, 
 and co fuffer fo much, and for us ; Neither was 
 it unreafonable that it (hould be for our bene- 
 fite, For we had all lib loft free? gone ajtray, andevery 
 one of as had turned fo hit own way: And there was 
 no way of relief for us, but by Chrift's ftepping 
 into our room, and interpoiing for us, and in- 
 gaging to pay our debt; and by vertue of that 
 incerpofition and bargain» The Lord hath laid on 
 him the iniquity of us all: And therefore, r. Would 
 ye have the reafon of Chrift's fo great fuffcr- 
 /ngs ? Here it is, the Elect had many fins, and 
 he interpofing for them, their compt wasfcored 
 out, and they were reckoned en his fcore. 2. If 
 the caufe and reafon be asked, How it came to 
 pafs that Chrift fuffered fo much for us ? Here 
 it is t he undercook to fatisfie for our iniquities, 
 and God imputed them to him; Even as if a 
 Dyvour were purfued, and one mould Hep in 
 and be Cautioner for him, and being enacted Su- 
 rety, ihould take on him, and become lyable for 
 the Debt; TheexaGing ic of him is che laying it 
 on him* But 3 1 If it be asked, how it comes to 
 pafs that his fufferings become ovr healing, and 
 bring peace to us? It is anfwered, it was fo 
 transacted and agreed upon; He was content to 
 pay all our debt, and the Father accepted of his 
 payment for ours 4 Our blefled Lord Jefus engag- 
 ing and fatisfying, the Ele&are fet free, andju- 
 fticc betaketh it fclf to him as the more refponfal 
 Party. This is the fcope of the words, which 
 though but few, yet exceeding full and fignifi- 
 cant, as holding out the fountain and funda- 
 mental grounds of the Gofpel: We (hall look 
 upon them in thefe three refpe&s, f. As they 
 imply a Covenant andTranfa&ion, whereby the 
 Elects fins are Transacted on Chrift, and his 
 Righteoufnefs is made application of to them ; 
 Chrift undertaking to pay their debt, and Jeho- 
 vah accepting thereof.and promifing that his fa- 
 cisfa&ion made for the behove of the Elect, fhall 
 be applycd to them. 2. In refpect of the effects, 
 which are two; Which though they fecm con» 
 trary, the one co the other, yet they ate well con- 
 fiftent together, and fubordinat the one of them 
 to the other; The 1. is Jufiice on Thrifts fide, 
 He fatisfies for the debt due by the Elect. The 
 a. is of Mercy and Grace ro the Elect, which is 
 alfo implyed; but comparing thefe words with 
 the former, it is veiy clear; He is wounded and 
 bruifed, and they ait healed, the chaftifcuicnt 
 
 SS.rerJ:*. -, 4f 
 
 of their peace was on h!m,the imputing of their 
 debt to him, makes that it is net imputed to 
 them. 3. In refpect of the influence t at the eter- 
 nal Covenant hath on thefe effects, it lays down 
 the way how thefe may be juftly brought *bour. 
 which is the fcope of all, even to fhew how Je- 
 fus Chrift being the innocent Son of Gcd, and 
 without fin, was made lyable to the debt of che 
 Elects fin; He became Cautioner for them ?rtd 
 is made lyable on chat account to fatisfie for 
 them ; It clears alfo how his fufferings ftood for 
 theirs; which may feem Co be unreaionab'e and 
 unjuft among men, chacthe fufferings of an in* 
 nocent party fhould ftandfor che guilty; ic was 
 fo articled in the Covenant of Redemption, that 
 the Son as Mediator incerpofirrg and under ak- 
 ing to pay the Elects debt, the Lord Jen. vah che 
 Creditor, mould not reckon it on cheir fcore, 
 button the Mediators, and chachefhou'd count 
 forit: The Prophecin chiso/fr/>almoft, isfhik- 
 ingon chefweec and pleafant ft(ing of this no- 
 ble plot and contrivance of iiod concerning che 
 Redemption of Elect finners, called iht Covenant 
 of Red6mption\ Which thefe words confidered 
 with refpeft co cheir fcope, do in all che parts of 
 ft clearly hold out; And therefore the clearing 
 of it, being the clearing of a main ground of 
 our Faith in reference to Chrifts fufferings and 
 to the way how they are made forthcoming tar 
 us,and wichal co che benefits chac come bythem 
 to us, we cannot fpeak fo much nor too often 
 of it, if we would fpeak of it fuitably to the 
 pafling excellency of the ma'ter. 
 
 The first DoBrine fuppofed here is, that there 
 is an eternal Covenant, and Tranfa&ion betwixt 
 the Lordjehovah and the Mediator, wherein the 
 whole bufinefs concerning the Redempcicnand 
 Salvacion of che Elect is concrived ; There is an 
 eternal Covenant paft betwixt God and the Me- 
 diator, wherein all that is executed, or will be, 
 concerning the Eleft till the day of Judgment, 
 was contrived ; There is noching relacing to tht 
 Elects Salvation, bucic was in this Tranfaction 
 exactly contrived and laid down, even as it is in 
 cimc execuced; And it's called a Covenant m 
 Scripcure,and we call it fo, not ftrictly andpro- 
 perly, as if all things in Covenants among men 
 were in it, but becaufe materially andfublfanri- 
 alJy it is fo.6c the refemblance will hold for the 
 moft part; The Lord having laid down in it the 
 plot of man's Salvacion in a legal way, fo as his 
 grace and mercy may be glorified, and his ju- 
 ftice fatisfied, harh pu:itin this form fo as it may 
 bear the name of a Covenant : Wherein we hate 
 r. Mutual Parties, the Lord Jebtvah, the Party 
 offended on the one fide, and the Lord Mediattr 
 U Him 
 
j 46 fit* S3. 
 
 him: the Party engaging to fatisfie on the other 
 tide; Which ihews the frcenefs of the Redempti- 
 on of the ElcS as to them, and thecenainty of 
 their Salvation', And withal, the immutability 
 of Gcds purpofe, for the Parties are not mutable 
 Crcatures,but on the one fide ]ehcvah t znd on the 
 other fide the Mtdittor, though confidered as to 
 be I .camat and the Head of theEleft; This 
 whole bufinefsbred there, to wit in the Counlel 
 of the God«head, for promoving of that great 
 end, the g^orifjing of the Grace and Jultice of 
 God in the Elects Salvation. 2. Whereabout is it? 
 It's about this matter, how to get the Elctt fa- 
 vedfrom the curfe, to which on their forcfeen 
 fall and finning they were made Jyable; Redem- 
 ption necsflarily prefuppofing mans fall and the 
 Covenant of Works, to which the certification 
 and threatning was added, The f$ul that Jtus jhMl 
 *7*, and the Elect prefuppofed as fallen as well as 
 cihers, ere lyable to the curfe, except a fatisfac- 
 tionfor them do interveen; So that the Ekct are 
 confidered as having fih, and as being in them- 
 lelves loft: And what is the Lord Jehovah and 
 rhe Mediator doing, what are they about in this 
 Covenant? Ic's how to get thepunifliment due 
 to the Elect for their fins removed from them : 
 And thefe perfons us all in the Text, are all the 
 E3cct,w herein there is implyed a particular con« 
 fideration of them that are defigncd to Life and 
 Salvation, and a particular confideration of all 
 their fins, and of their feveral aggravations, that 
 there may be a proportion betwixt the price and 
 the wrong that God hath gotten by their finnmg 
 againft him. 3. The occafion of this Covenant, 
 and :hi reafon why it behoved to be, is holdtn 
 forth in the firft words, All we like jhtep havegene 
 *ftray t & turned every ene e) us unto hisevn v*y:The 
 Elect as well as others had made themfelves 
 through their finning lyable to Gods wrath and 
 curfe, and they were uncapable of Life and Sal* 
 vation till the curfe was removed; And fo there 
 is a/lett & obftruction in theway of the execu- 
 tion of the Decree of Election ( which muft 
 fland for the Glorification of Gods Grace and 
 Mercy* primarily intended in all this work ) and 
 till this iett be rernovcdi the Glorification of 
 God's Grace is letted and obstructed ; For the 
 removal of which obftruction there is a neceflity 
 of a Redeemer, for the Elect are notable to pay 
 their own debt themfelves* Now that there may 
 be a Redeemer, and that a price of Redemption 
 may be laid down,there is alfo a neceflity ofaCo- 
 venajtf, otherwife the Redeemer cannot be, if a 
 Txanfaction do not Proceed, on which the Re- 
 deemer interpofine is founded. 4. What is the 
 price, what is tat ftipulation, or that which the 
 
 Pbrf. 6. Serm. 27- 
 
 Mediator is ingaged to, and that which provo- 
 ked Juftice required ? It is even fatisfaction for 
 all the wrongs that the fins of the E*ect did, or 
 were to do to the Majefty of God, Their firts 
 deierved wounding and limiting, and the Capi- 
 tulation runs on this, that JulYice (hall get that 
 of the Mediator, ;hat the Elect may be fpared', 
 And comparing this verfe with the former,upon 
 the one fide our Lord Jefus gives his back to 
 bear their burden, and engages to fatisfie for 
 their debt, and to undergo the punifhmenr due 
 to them; And upon the other fide, Jehovah ac- 
 cepts ot this offer and engagement, and lays over 
 the burden of their Debt on him; As the Medi- 
 ator inflates and inacts himfelf in their room 
 for payment of their debt, fo he lays it on hirn, 
 and accepts of it. c.The end of this great Tn,\ 
 action, to wit, of the undertaking on the Medi- 
 ators fide, and of the acceptation on the Fat 
 lide, is, that the Elect may have pardon and 
 peace, and that by his (tripes they may be heal- 
 ed; That Juftice may fpare them and purfue 
 him, and that the ^charge ofthedebtpurchaf- 
 ed by him, may be made forth«coming to them, 
 as if they had payed the debt themfelves, or had 
 never been owing any thing to Juftice. 
 
 Hence DeduBiont may be made holding forth 
 fe-veral points of Truth, As, r. Concerning the 
 determinatnefs of the number of the Elect. 2, 
 Concerning the vertue and efficacy of the price 
 which the Mediator hath payed, and thefulnefs 
 of his Satisfaction. 3. Concerning his imputed 
 Righteoufnefs, which is, or may be called the 
 laying of his Righteoufnefs on us, as our Iniqui- 
 ty was laid on him; he is counted the finner by 
 undertaking the Elects Debt, and the Elect by 
 receiving the offered Righteoufnefs in the Go£ 
 pel, are accounted righteous by vertue of his 
 fatisfying for their Debt. 4. Concerning the 
 ground and matter of wonderful Souh fatisfacti- 
 on and ravifliment that it is kere; thatGod mould 
 be thus minding the Salvation of the Elect, and 
 thus contriving and ordering the work of their 
 Redemption, that their Debt fhall be payed,and 
 yet nothing (to fpeak fo ) come out of their 
 Purfe; and that by fo excellent a mean «s is the 
 intervention of the Mediator, and that thisfnal 
 notwithftanding of the dear price payed by him, 
 be made freely forth-coming to the Elect. 
 
 UJe 1. O ! Look not on the falvation of Sin- 
 ners» and the bringing of a Sinner to Heaven, 
 as a little or a light bufinefs and work; it's the 
 greateft work and molt wonderful that cverw>s 
 heard tell of; yea it's in effect the end of all 
 things which God hath made, and of his pre- 
 ferring and guiding the World in the order 
 
 wherein 
 
Serm. 17' . f , #"** H. 
 
 wherein it is governed, even that he may have 
 a Church therein for the praife of the glory of 
 his Grace* we are exceeding far and iinfuUy 
 wrong in this, that we value not the work of 
 Redemption as becomes, and that we endeavour 
 not to pry into, and tike up the admirable and 
 deep wifdom of God, that go^ along andfhines 
 brightly in this whole contexture; who could 
 ever have found out this way ? when the Elect 
 were lying under Gods Curfe and Wrath, that 
 then the Son of God fhould undertake tofatisfie 
 for them, and that the Majefty of God mould 
 be fo far from all partiality and refpect of Per- 
 fons,that he will purfue his own dearSon for the 
 Elects Debt when he undertakes it; This is the 
 rife of our Salvation, and the channel wherein 
 it runs; O ! rare and ravilhing; O ! admirable & 
 imizole O ! beautiful and beneficial contrivance, 
 bleifed, cteraaHy Sleffed be the contriver. 
 
 Uk z. The fecond Ufe ferves to ftir us up to 
 fhidy to know fomewhat, and to know more of 
 the way of Salvaron underthis notion of God's 
 covenanting with the Med ; ; not thereby to 
 aftrictGod to mans law a lis, but for help- 
 
 ing us to the better a.id mo, . afie up-taking of 
 thefe great things", and that we may fee that 
 the falvation of the Elect is fure, forafmuch as 
 it is hid down by way of Bargain, Tranfac'ion 
 or Covenant betwixt Jehovah and theMediacor, 
 whom the Lcrd will no more fail in performing 
 the promife made to him, than he hath failed in 
 giving the fatisfaction required; Th's wou^d 
 help both to clear and confirm the Faith of Be- 
 lievers, and ftrengthen the hope of all who are 
 fled for refuge to take hold of him, in the cer- 
 tain expectation of tkefe thingsengaged for in 
 the Covenant; feing there is no lei's reafon to 
 think, that Jehovah will be forthcoming to the 
 Media'or, than there is to think that he hath 
 performed all that he engaged himfelf for. 
 
 The id ;hing here, is the native effect or fruit 
 of the Covenant, and that which the Prophet 
 aims at! even to fhow how it came to pais that 
 Chrift fufF~red fa much, becaufe it wasfo cove- 
 nanted,(tatute and ordained, becaufe he was by 
 a prior contrivance andcontiacc fubfiitutewith 
 his own hcirty confent in the room of the Elect, 
 who had many and great fins to compt for; 
 whence Objerve, Tiiar by vertuc of this eternal 
 Covenant that part betwixt God and the Medi- 
 ator,the compleat punishment that was due to all 
 theEclect for their fins in their greateitaggravati- 
 ions was laid uponjefus Chrifr : Jehovah UM upon 
 him t bt iniquities tf us */i*,this is frequently touch- 
 ed on in this C0*f>f«r,as particularly in thewords 
 
 Fitf. 6. 147 
 
 going before,#* curried our forrowsjee was wounded 
 for our tranfgrfjjitns, and kruijedfor our int quit ies ,&c . 
 and it'sfurficiently confirmed in the Sew Teslam 
 mint, as a Or. j. He who knew no Jin was mad? Jin 
 for us', he had no fin in himfelf, but by vertue 
 of this Covenant he was made the Sacrifice for 
 our fin.and made to bear the punilhrnect thereof, 
 and Gal, 3 . 1 3 . He hath redeemed us from the Uttrffo 
 the Law , he himfelf being made a curfe fir us. 
 
 There arc two words which we (hall a little 
 clear in this Doctrine; and fecondly, giveforne 
 reafonsofitj and then thirdly, we feall fpeak 
 to fome Ufes from isi 
 
 1. For the two words or things in the Doct- 
 rine to be cleared, they are thefe, Firft,What 
 we mean by this, when we fay, Iniquity js laid 
 uponChriP- ? The fecond is, How is it laid up- 
 on Chrift ? As to the firft, When we fay, iniqui- 
 ty is laid upon Chrift, we mean thefe things 
 (hortly, r. That our Lord Jefus is really made 
 comptable, and lyable tojufticefor thefe iniqui- 
 ties, as if they had been his own, by rertue of 
 this Covenant; in Gods Jufrice he having en- 
 gaged to pay the Elc£h Debt, his engagement 
 makes him lyable to it. a. We mean that not 
 only our Lord Jefus is made lyable to curDebt, 
 butre^ly he is made to fatisrie for it; In ihort 
 we have done the wrong,' but he makes the - 
 mends, as if he had done the wrong himfel: 
 juji fitisfies fir the Uwj*3; He in who^e mouth there 
 was no guile, was made to fatisfie for guilty Sin- 
 ners as if he had been the guilty peribn himfelfi 
 By the fins of the B!e& Gog's declarative Holi- 
 nefs fuffered ; Creatures malapertly brake hr's 
 Command, and his Juftice was wronged: Crea- 
 tures topped with it, to fay fo, & that even after 
 the Curfe was pronounced, and afrcr they had 
 believed the Devil more than Godrbut cur Lord 
 Jefus comes in and makes the amends and the 
 Holinefs of God is vindicate by h s obedience, 
 and his Juftice vindicate by his fufTerin£; the 
 Elect have deferved wounding, bur faysthe M - 
 diator, letthe wounds which 'hey ravedelerv..! 
 come on me, let them be mire* and thus he 
 makts reparation of the wrong and the amends, 
 becaufe though the ElcS he i pared, yet hereby 
 the Lord is known to be as really and at much a 
 hater of fin, and as juft in fulfilling his threat-* 
 nings, as if the Elect had beifl fmitten in thnt 
 own pexfans', becaufe he punilhed Sin in his own 
 Son; yea by this means he is C?zn fo 
 more to be holy, fevere, pure and fpotlefs, and 
 that the Son of God fweetly lubmits to his be- 
 coming Man, ani to thefe terrible Sufferings 
 U 1 
 
j 4* V*id S 
 
 for fatisfyingDivine Juftice; Here ? 0! here the 
 fpotlefneis and feverity of the Juftice of God, as 
 alfo the greatnefs of the glory of frecGrace and 
 Love fhinc forth confpicuouily.3. Itimplyesthis, 
 That really there was a converting and turning 
 of that Wrarh % and of theiefufferings proportio- 
 nablyonjcfus Chrift, which juftice was to have 
 inflicted on the Elect eternally, if he had not 
 interpofed for themi and that altogether in a 
 full Cup propined to him, aad put in his hand; 
 that which would hare been in fo many drops 
 an eternal Hell to ElectSinnets, is made to meet 
 on him in on great Sea; He gets it to dtink up 
 dregs and all; in which refpect, Gal. 9. 13. He 
 is faid to be made a curfe fir us: The Lord will 
 not pafs from one Farthing of what was due to 
 him, and will be fatisfied with no lefs than pro- 
 portionable fatisfaction to that which was due 
 tojuftice by theElect themfelves,though theSu- 
 rery was his own onlySon;Thereforc it behoved 
 Chrift to come under the Curfe, in which fenfc 
 be is faid te£* made a curfe for us, which fuppof- 
 cth that he endured the fame curfe and punifh* 
 ment due to the Elects fins in all the eflkntials 
 of it; He behoved to die, and to have his Soul 
 feparate from his Body for a timei and for a fea- 
 on to want in a great meafure the comfortable 
 manifestations of Gods favour and prefence, and 
 to have wrath purfuing him, and to have hor- 
 rour feizing upon him, though our bkfTed Lord 
 being fpotlcfs and without fin.and having a good 
 Confcience r was not capable of thefe fomeway 
 accidental circumftances, of Unbelief finful 
 Anxiety and Defperatioa,that finful finite Crea- 
 tures are lyable towhen they come under wrath. 
 The 2d. word or thing to be cleared in the 
 Doct ine,is, How are iniquiries laid upon Chrift 
 Jefus? In three refpecrs. 1. In refpect of the 
 eternal Tranfaction betwixt Jehovah and him as 
 Mediator, fuftaining the perfon of the Elect; 
 even as one man hath anothers Debt laid on 
 him, when by a Liw-fentence he is made lyable 
 to it> fo is Chrilt made lyable to the Elects ini- 
 quity, when their account is blotted out, and 
 the Debt as it were written down in his accompt 
 to be fa risked for. 1. In refpect of Juftice pur- 
 fuing him for it? When he becometh Cautioner 
 and full Debitor for the Elect, he is put to pay 
 th^irDebt to the leaft Farthing; the Lord mu- 
 fters up aj^.infr him his Terrors, a,nd com- 
 mand < his jvord to awake, and to \mitn the man that 
 it bis fdhw . But 3'y an^l mainly, In refpect of 
 his acual undergoing the Curfe and Suffering 
 that which the Elect (hould have fuffered; for 
 it is not the work of a Court to pjfs a fentence 
 only, but alfo to fee to the execution of the fen- 
 
 3. Vtrf. 6. 
 
 Scrm. 27. 
 
 tence ; not only are orders given to the fword 
 to awake and fmite, but the iword falls on and 
 fmites him actually ; and though from the ao 
 prehenfion of the anger of God, as Man, and 
 without the fenfible and comforting manifcfta 
 tion of his Fathers Love, and ttsfeerningly f or * 
 faking him for a time; He prayed, Father,,/ it bi 
 H^le, let >tby cup fsfi from me ; y et |Vw 'jfj noc ' 
 be, and he fubmits moftfweetjy to ir- and nor 
 only is the cup put in his hand, but the drees 
 of wrath are, as it were, wrung out into ir and 
 he muft needs drink it up all; which manifeftlvr 
 kythes in his agony in the garden, when he s 
 made to Jweat blood; and in his complaint ( if 
 we may lb call it ) My foul it exceeding Jomwful 
 and vhtt fhall I fay ? and in thefe ftrange words 
 uttered by him on the Crofs, My God my God 
 why ha(l thoujorfaken me ? all which tell us plain- 
 ly, that Rot only was he enacted Surety and 
 had the Sentence part on him, but that r'eally 
 he fatisfied and had the Sentence executed on 
 him: that in his Soul he was really pierced and 
 wounded, and that with far deeper wounds than 
 thefe were which the Souldiers by the fpearand 
 nails made in his Body, before the Elects Dif- 
 charge of their Debt could be procured andob. 
 tained : What it was more particularly that he 
 fuffered, the following words hold out: But 
 it's clear, that he fuffered really, and fuffered 
 much; that not only he undertook to pay but 
 that he was actually purfued, and made to lav 
 dowa the leaft Farthing whatever was due to 
 Juftice by the Elect : And this is the caufe why 
 thefe words are brought in as the reafon'whv 
 he fuffered fomuch, even becaufe fo many and 
 fo great Sins, with all their aggravations were 
 laid upon him} and if bis fufferings were not 
 great, and undergone for this end, to fatisfy for 
 the Elects Debt, that they might be fet free, the 
 Prophets fcope would not be reached, neither 
 would there be a fuitable connexion betwixt the 
 latter and the foregoing words. 
 
 As for the 2d. To wit fome Rtafont of the 
 Doctrine, we (hall fhortly give you thefe three 
 why the Elects fins were laid on Chrift, and put 
 on his account, and wky he was made to un- 
 derlythecompleatpunifhment of them, byver- 
 tue of the Covenant of Redemption. 1. Becaufe 
 it did much contribute to the gloiy of Gcd, for 
 he had defigncd in his eternal Council, that his 
 Grace mould be glorified in the Salvation of the 
 Eltcr:& that hisjuftice (hould alfo be glorified 
 in punifhing of fin, either in themfelvcs, or in 
 their Cautioner; and as free Grace and Mercy 
 muft be glorious in favingthe Elect, and Juftice 
 in being fatisfied for their fins, fo it's to that end 
 
 that 
 
Serm. *7« 
 
 that fince the Elect cannot pay their own D=b« 
 that their Cautioner pay it, and pay it fully, 
 that theLord fa exacting fatisfaction from him 
 in their name, may be known to be juft. a. This 
 way makes much for the confirmation of their 
 Faith, for what can Juftice demar.d that it hath 
 not gotten ? it is fully fatisfied: And then for 
 their confolation; fcing the Father put his own 
 Son to fuffer, and to fo great fullering tor them, 
 what is it that they may not confidently expect 
 from fuch a Fountain ? 3. This ferves to hold 
 out the wonderful great obligation of the Elect 
 to God, and to the Mediator ; for the greater 
 their fin was, the more he fuffered; the greater 
 their Debt was, the more he payed; and they 
 are the more in his common, and the greater 
 Debtors to him; and ought the more to love 
 ktm, and their duty for his fake; asit is faidof 
 the Womit\,Lukt'7.She loved muchfor much vat fir,', 
 given her; fo this way of paying the Elects D^bt, 
 calls and ftrongly pleads, and alfo makes way 
 for much warm and tender love in them to Je- 
 fus Chrift. 
 
 la the id. place, We come to the Ufes of the 
 D:ttrine: To which Hhall premit this word of 
 defire to you, That ye would not look on thefe 
 things as tajUlefs and unfavoury; for had we not 
 had thefe precious truths to open up to you, we 
 mould have had no meetings to this purpofe, 
 no ground to fpeak of life to you, nor any the 
 leaft hope or expectation of life; And indeed it 
 may befadly regrated, and thatamongfr amul* 
 titude of profefling Peoplcthefe fubftantial truths 
 of the Gofpel are fo werfh and little rending 
 to the moil part; which too evidently appearsin 
 the unconcerned, wearying, and gazing pofture 
 offome, and in the (lumbering and fleepingof 
 others in our publick AfTemblies, If our hearts 
 were in a right frame, half a word, to fay fo, to 
 this purpofe would be awakening and aliarum- 
 ing to us; However this »sa great priviledge in 
 icfelf; Heathens may, and do know fomething 
 of moral duties, but it's a priviledge which we 
 haveandthey want, that the fundamental truths 
 of the Gofpel are amongft us, and not amongft 
 them» 
 
 The I Ufi ferves to let us fee the brightnefs 
 of the Glory of Grace and Truth; of Mercy and 
 Juftice ftrining clearly here; Can there be any 
 greater mercy, and more pure mercy than this, 
 that the Lord Ihould be gracious to finners.and 
 to great finners, that had turned tvery one oj them 
 U thtir $»n»ay in providing aMedhtor and fuch 
 a Mediator* in providing fuch a help for them, 
 and Wing that kelp upon one tbst is mighty^ and 
 that he ihould have done this of his own head 
 
 Jftuih ej. Verf. 61 
 
 '49 
 
 ( fo to fpeak with reverence ) when the Elect 
 were intbei'r fins, and when there was nothing 
 to be the impulfive Or meritorious i m(k &**• 
 And that theFather mould have laid this weight 
 of puniQiment on Chrift, the Son of his love, 
 and purfued him at this rate of holy feverity for 
 finners debt ? O ! what grace and mercy mints 
 here ? And 2. The fpotleis Juftice of God doth 
 alio here wonderfully manifeft itfelf; O ! How 
 exact isjuftice, when it will not quite a farth- 
 ing even to the fecond Perfon of the God-head, 
 when he became Man, and man's Surety t But 
 fince he hath put himfelf in the room of Sinners, 
 TheLord maketh all their iniquities to meet on 6nff;This 
 is matter of Admiration to Mcnand Angels, to 
 confider how Juftice and Mercy run in one 
 Channel, and fhine in one Covenant, the one 
 of them not incf oaching upon the other. 
 
 Ujt 2. We may gather from this, fomeinfight 
 and elearnefsinthe very great furTerings of our 
 Lord Jclus Chrift; For thefe things are here put 
 together, U That he luffered for a'l the Eleft, 
 Us all. 2. For all the fins of the Ele£r, and for 
 all the fins of the Elect in their higheft and moft 
 aggravating circumftances, the particular rec- 
 koning of them all, is it were b.ingcaft up,they 
 are all putin one fcore. 3. All thefe meettoge** 
 ther in a great Sea, and fhoke upon him at one 
 time, as they came from fcveral Airts, likefo 
 many Rivers; Or they were like fo many Regi- 
 ments, or rather Armies ©f men, all meeting 
 together and Marfhalled to fall pellmell { to 
 fay fo ) on him; On Cm were enough to con- 
 demn, the many (ins of one is more, but all the 
 fins of all the Elect is much more* They defer- 
 ved to have lyen inHell eternally, but becom- 
 ing in their room, all their Cius met as the vio- 
 lent Jpreafs of Waters on him; What then be- 
 hoved hi $ futTerings to be, when he was lb put to 
 it for all the fins of all the Elect,and that at once? 
 ITye 3. We may gather heoce a juft account of 
 the truih of ChrifVs fatisfa&ion, and a ground 
 of refutation of the Soiimtn error, ablafphemy 
 which is moft abominable to be once mention- 
 ed, as if our Lord had fufrered all this only to 
 give us an example, & as if there had not been a 
 proportionable iatisfaction in his futTerings to 
 our Debt, nor an intention to fatisfie Juftice 
 thereby 1 Every vtr[g almoft, not to fay every 
 word, in IhisChapter refutes this; If he had not 
 fatisfied fbr our Cms, why is he faid to be here 
 on the matter put in our room ? And if his fuf- 
 ferings had not been very great, what needed 
 the Prophet to fhew the rcafonof his |jreat fuf- 
 ferings, in all the fins of the Elect their meeting 
 ob him? There was fure a particular refpect 
 

 
 I" 
 
 
 x ?• l\aiah ^ 
 
 refpect had to this, even to mew, that the meet- 
 ing ofallthcfe fins of all the Elect together 
 upon Chriit, did cauie and procure great and 
 excream Sufferings to him; Heiurrered the more 
 that they had )o many fins, feing their many 
 fins are given for the caufe of his fo much fui- 
 fcring- 
 
 Ufe 4. Here is great ground of confclation to 
 believing finners, Out of this eater comes meat, and 
 out of this ftrong antes fweet; The more (harp and 
 bitter thefe fufFerings were to Chrifr, the re- 
 port of them is in fome refpeft the more favory 
 and fwcet to the Believer, whofe effectual Cal- 
 ling difcovers his Election. And indeed I can- 
 not tell how many grounds of confoiation Be- 
 lievers have from this Doctrine; But 1. If they 
 have finned, there is here a Saviour provided for 
 -them. 2. This Saviour hath undertaken their 
 Debt. 3. He hath undertaken it with the Fa- 
 thers allowance, 4. As he hath undertaken it, fo 
 the Father hath laid on him all their iniquity. 
 S". All the Elect come in here together in one 
 Roll, and there is but ona Covenant, and one 
 Mediator for them all; The fin of the poor Bo- 
 dy, of theweakeft and meanelr, Js trani'acted on 
 him, as well as the fin of Abraham that great 
 Friend of God, and Father of the Faithful, and 
 the Salvation of the one is as lure as the Salvati- 
 on of theother; All Believers from the ftrong- 
 eft to the weakeft have but one Right or Char- 
 ter to Heaven, but one holding of the Inherit 
 tance. 6. The Lord hath laid en him all the in- 
 iquities of all the Elect with a particular refpect 
 to all their aggravations, and to all the feveral 
 ways that they have turned to fin. Their Ori- 
 ginal fin* and their actual tranfgreflions, with 
 their particular predominant* as to their punifti- 
 ment and there is reafon for it, becaufe the Elect 
 could not fatisfie for the Ieaftfin; And it is ne» 
 Cefiary for the glorifying of Grace, that the Glo- 
 ry of the work of their Salvation be not halfed, 
 but folely finglely afcribed and given to God, 
 and therefore the fatisfaction comes all on the 
 Mediators account, and none of it on theirs. 7. 
 All this is really done and performed by the 
 Mediator without any fuit or requeft of the 
 
 K'f. 6. 
 
 Serm. 
 
 27. 
 
 Elect, or of the BeKever, or it Jeaftasthe F 
 cuung caufe thereof : He buyes and purchafes 
 
 what is needful f.r them, and payes for their 
 dilchirsiei and they have no more to do, but 
 to call for an extract, and to take a fealed re- 
 million by his Blood, The Application where- 
 of, the Ufes that follow will give occafion to 
 fpeak to. 
 
 Ufe 5. Since it is fo, then none would think 
 little or fin; which check, the great preemption 
 that is Jnonsft men and women, who think 
 little and light of fin t and that it is an eafie mat- 
 ter to come by the pardon of it; They think 
 there is no more to do, but barely and bauchly 
 toconfefs, they have finned, and to fay, God is 
 merciful,and hence they conclude,that God will 
 not reckon with them: But did He reckon with 
 the Mediator, and that fo holily, rigidly and 
 feverly too, and will he, think ye, fpare yoiP If 
 he dealt fo with the green tree, what {hall become of the 
 dry ? Be not deceived, God will not be mocked 
 And therefore 6. As the clofeof all, fee here 
 the abfolute neceffity of fharing in Chrifrs fatis- 
 faction, and of having an intereft therein by 
 this Covenant derived unto you, elfe know that 
 ye muft count for your own fins; Andiffo,woe 
 eternally to you; Therefore either betake your 
 felves to the Mediator, that by his fiycfalve ye 
 may fee, that by his Gold ye may be enriched, 
 and by his Garments ye may be cloarhed, that 
 the fhame of your nakednefs do not appear: And 
 that ye may, by being juftifled by his know- 
 ledge, be free from the wrath to come,or other- 
 ways ye muft and {hill ly under it for ever. 
 
 Thus ye have the fulnefs of Gods Covenant 
 on the one fide, and the weightinefs and terri- 
 blenefs of Gods wrath on the other fide laid be- 
 fore you: If ye knew what a fearful thing his 
 wrath were, ye would be glad at your hearts to 
 hear of a Saviour, and every One would run 
 and make haircto be found in him, and to (hare 
 of his fatisfaction, and to be fure of a dif- 
 charge by vertue of his payment of the Debt, 
 and thty would give all diligence to make Aire 
 their Calling and Election, for that end; the 
 Lord himfelf powerfully perfwade you to do 
 fo. 
 
 
 SERMON XXVW. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. Vlf. 
 
 Veri*. 7. He was opprejfed, and he was affiled, yet he opened not his mouth ; He is bnught as a Lamb 
 to the (lighter, mi as a Sheep before her Jbearers is dumb, fo he opened nn his mouth. 
 
 Though 
 
 
Scrm. 28 , . $*'*& 
 
 T Hough the news of a Suffering Medi- 
 ator lecm to be a fad fubject , yet it 
 hath been, is, and will be, the great 
 fubject of the Gofpel, and oftheglaj' 
 eft tidings that ever linners heard; 
 This being the great thing that they ought in 
 a fpecial manner know, even Jefut Chnft and him 
 crucified ; The Prophet here takes a fpecial de- 
 light to infift on it, and in one verfe after ano- 
 Cher hath fome new thing of his fuffcrings. 
 
 Having in the former verfe fpoken to the oc. 
 ctfion, ground and rife of his fufferings, towir, 
 the Elects ftraying like Sheep, their wandring 
 and turning every one to his own way, and 
 the Lord's laying on him the iniquity of them 
 all; The Elect that were given to Chrift, being 
 naturally at an enmity with God, and having 
 run on in the courfe of their finful nature to the 
 provoking of God j And there being no way for 
 them to efcape the wrath which by their Cms 
 they had deferved, till the Lord found out this 
 mids,to wit, the fecond Perfon his interpofing 
 as their Mediator and Surety, and ingaging t© 
 pay their debt; On which followed the imput- 
 ing of all their iniquities to him, according to 
 the tranfaction made about them; Which trans- 
 action being laid down as we have heard, the 
 Prophet proceeds to fhewChrift's executing and 
 performing *of the Tranfaction; And becaufe 
 it might be thought that it was Co great a mat* 
 ter as could hare much fad and fore fuffering 
 following upon it, to take on all our iniquities; 
 he anfwers, that notwithstanding of all that, yet 
 he took them on> and that very willingly and 
 chearfully; or becaufe it might be thought, that 
 the former words look as if God had laid the 
 Punifhment of our iniquitie on him, and that 
 he had not taken it on himfelf, the Prophet tells 
 us that it is nothing fo, but that there was a mu- 
 rual Covenant betwixt God and the Mediator, 
 ind that the Mediator was as well content to 
 sear the iniquity of the Elect as the Father was 
 :ontent to lay it on him; And that though he 
 vas exaated upfvn, oppiefled, afflicted, and fuf- 
 tred fadftroaks, yet he rewed not the Bargain, 
 mt went on refolutely in paying the ranfom of 
 be Elect as fingly as ever a Iheep went to the 
 laughter, or as it is dumb befoft the fhesrtr, fi he 
 oened not hit mouth to fpeak againft it. 
 There are tbret things aflerted here that ferve 
 > make up the fcope, fuppofmg the tranfacli- 
 n to have gone before, r. The Fathers exacting 
 le Elects Debt of the Mediator, a. The Mc- 
 iators yielding and fatisfying. 3. The manner 
 •w he did it, willingly, readily and chearfully, 
 "e flull lii ft open the words • little, and then 
 
 " 
 
 5-. PW:li , ($t 
 
 ' fpeak to fome Do&rinesJ rom them, refierving 
 the Ufes tothe clofe of all. 
 
 1. Where it is faid, H* vat opprefed, the words 
 fignifle to exaft-, Ane\ we find it three ways ap- 
 piyed in Scripture, 1. To the exacting of Tri- 
 bute, 2s 2 KJti£: 33. 33- Where it ii faid, That 
 Pharaah-Neeho put the land to a tribute of an hundred 
 talent t of fiver, and a talent of gold , it's the fame 
 word that is here. 2.. Some times it's ao piyed 
 to the exaftir.g of debts-, As ahena man isputto 
 the Horn, and Caption and Imprisonment fol- 
 lows upon it; So Dtut. 15. 1. When the Lord 
 tells his people, the creditor fhall not txacl of his 
 neighbour, nor of kit bnther, in the year ofreleafc. 3. 
 It's applyed tothe exjfting of labour, aslfai. j£, 
 3. ye exact all your labour; And Exod, 1, n # Xhe 
 woid Tatk w after t comes from the fame root; 
 This being the ordinary fignification of the 
 word, it's turned here opprijjiag figuratively, be- 
 caufe fuch Exacters and Task-mafters in their 
 rigorous ufage of thefe whom they exact upon, 
 are often oppreflivej And there being no Ncun 
 prefixed to the words in the Original, they may 
 (land as well thus It vat exacted of him; That 
 which he was ingaged to pay, he was fully ex- 
 acted upon for it, to the leaft farthing; Or take 
 the words as they ftand here, he was oppreiTed, 
 that is, ( as we ufe to fpeak ) ilrefed or diflreffed 
 for curdebt; He wasnetonly ingaged, but ac- 
 cording to hisingagment he was put hard to it, 
 to fatisfic. 2. It is faid, He roat affii&td, which is 
 fometirnes rendered to anjveer: And thefe two 
 agree very well together, he was exacted upon, 
 and he anfwered the debt; As when a Bill of Ex- 
 change for fuch a fum is drawn upon a man.and 
 he anfwers itj And this Expofition runs well and 
 fmoothly wtth the words following, Tet he opened 
 not hit mouth, he ufed no defence to exclude or 
 lhift'the Debt : He faid not that is was not his, 
 but he anfwered it indeed, and in a word faid 
 nothing to the contrary ; Or taking the words 
 as here they ftand translated, tie u/at aff,uted,thty 
 flgnifie the effect that follows or. his being ex» 
 acted upon; Though it brake him not, yet i: 
 brought him very low, even to an afflicted con- 
 dition. The 3, thing is, that though he was 
 brought thus low, and though it was not foi 
 his own, but for other f>lks debrs ( which ufu« 
 ally troubles m«n moft ) Tetbt opened not histnm 
 to fliaw his wonderful condefcendcncy, and the 
 great love frcm which it flows, IlepAyedthe 
 Elects debt with as i;ood will, and as pleafantly. 
 as if it had been his own proper ^nd pcrfonal 
 debt; Though he was the Son of .;od, and God 
 equal with the Father, and mi^ brought 
 
 Legions of Angel*, to deftroyhiseneir.iejsyetrfj 
 Lamb brought ; 
 
I 
 
 
 152 lf***b S"3' 
 
 (her.rtr is dumb, fo he opened not hit mouth) And it 
 may be that there is not only here relation or 
 refpect had to the (heep as it is an innocent, 
 harmlefs, fimple tractable creature, and not un» 
 toward and refractory, as a Bull or ox ufeth to 
 be, but alfo reject had to it as it was made ufe 
 of in the Sacrifices; And fo the meaning is, he 
 yielded his life willingly when none could take 
 it from him, for performing the Indentor, ro 
 fay io, and fot iatisfying the Tranfaction paft 
 betwixt Jehovah and him. 
 
 So, having fhown you how it comes to paf<>» 
 that Chrift fuffered, and fuffered fo much, and 
 was brought fo lowunderfuffering; And having 
 told that he was ingaged to pay thr. Elects debt, 
 and that the Father had laid their iniquities on 
 hirai Left amy might think , that the Father 
 would have fpared hi? own Son, no, faith the 
 Prophet, He wo* efpretfid, and not only fo, but 
 affiled and humbled; And left it mould have 
 been thought that the Lord Jehovah had better 
 will to the Bargain than the Mediator had; It 
 is added, that he didfatisfie the dtbt as willing- 
 ly as the Father laid it on him, as thefe fimilitu- 
 des made ufe of plainly hold forth. 
 
 Take thefe Obfervations from the words, u 
 That our Lord Jefus having entered himfelfSu* 
 rety for Sinners, was really put at, and Juftice 
 exacted thedebtof himwhich he had undertaken 
 and engaged to pay : read the whole ftory of the 
 Gofpel, and it will make out this; It's faid by 
 himfelf, Luke 24. It behoved the Son of Man to fufl Vr 
 thefe things , and then to enter into his glory;Hc muft 
 needs go to Jerufalem and fuffer; and when the 
 Cup is in his hand, and hisHoly Humane nature, 
 having a finlefs fearing at it, makes him pray, 
 Father , ifitbeptjjible, ht this cup pafs from me, Yet 
 feing here was a neceflity, that either he mould 
 drink it, or that the Elect mould perifh; In the 
 very next words, he fweetly fubjoyns, Not nty 
 will, but thy will be done; And fo hotly and hard- 
 ly was he purfued by Juftice,that he muft needs 
 come to thecurfed death of the Crofs, and actu- 
 ally die; And as if death had gotten a piece of 
 dominion over the Lord of Life, he is laid in 
 the grave; So Zech. 13. the Lord faith, Awake, O 
 [word, againH my Jhepherd, and againft the man that 
 is my fellow, fmite the Jhepherd, Where we fee, 
 that when the good Shepherd and great Bifhop 
 of Souls, hath undertaken for the Elects Debt, 
 Juftice gives a Commiflion as it were to it's own 
 holy revenge, to purfue the man that is God's 
 fellow for that Debt: That which we defign to 
 confirm in the Doctrine, is not only, that our 
 Lardjefus fuffered, but that hisfuffering was by 
 Juftice it's exacting of him the debt of the Elects 
 
 r Fi ' r - 7 ' ,. , Serm. 1*, 
 
 fin, according to the engagement that he came 
 under to the Father; For the fcope is to fhew.not 
 only that he fuffered fo great things, as oppref. 
 led and brought him very low; But ajfo that he 
 wasputatbyjufticeinthefefad fuffcrings, to 
 pay the debt that he had taken on : For confirm* 
 ms ' nd ^! eann S °fthis a little ye may confider. - 
 I. The i itles *hich he gets in Scripture, He i$ 
 called the Cautioner or Surety of the better Te(lamen\ 
 or Covenant, lleb. 7. 22. And by that Title he 
 is lhewed to be inftatcd in our room, and an- 
 fwcrablc for our Debt ; And he is called the 
 Lamb that takes away the debt of Sin by the 
 jacrifice of htmj elf ;He ftepped in into cur place, 
 and kept offcheftroak of the Sword of Juftice 
 that would have lighted on us, had he not in- 
 terpofed. 2. Confider the Titles which his fuf- 
 fenngs and death gets, Heb. 9. 12. He is faid te 
 purchafe ( to wit by it ) eternal Redemption for us. 
 And Rom. 3. 2 *. we are faid to btjujiified through 
 the Redemption that is in Jejus ; We were flaves to 
 the Devil, fubject to the curfe, decerned and 
 adjudged to fuffer for the wrongs that we had 
 done to Juftice : And his fuffering is called Re* 
 dimption, becaufe as the man that redeems the 
 Captive, gives a ranfome for him fo he interpofc 
 ed and payed a ranfome for us; it's fo called a 
 propitiation, 1 John 2.2. He is the propitiation for our 
 fins, to wit, pleafmg to God, and accepted o! 
 him in the room of all the Elect; And this word 
 propitiation, as it fuppofeth God's being difpleaf- 
 ed with the Elect before Chrift's fatisfaction.fo 
 it plainly holds forth his being well plcafed with 
 them on the account of his fatisfaction. 3. Con- 
 fider thefe Scriptures that fpeak not only of 
 Chrift's fuffcrings, but of their end and fcope, 
 even the drawing of him down ( to fpeak fo ) 
 into the Elects room, as v. 5. of this Chapter, 
 He was wounded for our traujgrefm, &c He got 
 the ftroak, and we got the cure, 2 Cor. 5. 2 1. He 
 wss made fin for us who knew no fin, that we might 
 be made the right eoujnefs of God through him: We are ' 
 finncrs, and Chrift is to purchafe Righteoufnefs 
 to us; And the way how he doth if, is by ftep«i 
 ing in into our room, and becoming our Cauti- 
 oner, and he engages as Surety, the Law wins 
 at him on that ground; fo Gal. 3. 13. He hath re. 
 deemed us from the curje of the Law by being made A 
 curfe for us; we were under the Curfe and lyable 
 to be purfued by it, and our Lord Jefus becomes 
 a Curfe to deliver us from it : Considering then 
 the end of Gods Covenant* which is to glorifie 
 his Juftice and Grace,that iinners may know it is 
 an evil thing to (in and depart from God, and 
 that Grace is a very coftly thing, whereunto-. 
 he hath made accefs through the Vail, which 
 
 is 
 
Ssrtn. i3. lfaiab 
 
 is hisFJcftii^ndconfiJc.iing-Chrifl« undertak- 
 ing, without which they could not be fct free,' 
 it could not be otherways. This, is a truth that 
 hath in it much of the marrow of the GofpeJ, 
 and tends much to humble us, and is alfo very 
 much for our comfort : What was Juftice feek- 
 ing of Chrift when he fufFered and was in an 
 agony ? If thou beeft a Believer or an Elect Sin- 
 ner, it was even exacting thy Debt of him; and 
 would it not affect an ingenuous Debitor to fee 
 his Cautioner dragged, haled,and harried to Pri- 
 fon for his debt r Evenfo, if we could look on 
 Chrifts fufferingsas fo manySummons andPur- 
 fevants arrefting him for our debt, it could not 
 but affect us with much forrow for our fins,thac 
 brought him to this ; and with muchlove to him, 
 who was concent to be fo dealt wiih for them; 
 and no doubt this is one of the rcafons why he 
 will have bit death rtmiinbrtd till he come again ,even 
 that we may fee cur obligation to him, and be 
 fuitablyaffeaedwith it. 
 
 ilj Qbferve, That the Debt of the Elects (Ins 
 was feverely and with holy rigidity eXaQed of 
 Chrift to the very full wcrth or value: this pro- 
 ceeding was as to Chrift by way of Juftice, whe- 
 ther we look to the purchaie that he made, to 
 wit, the Elects Sculs, he laid down as good ia 
 their room, or whether we looktoaTranfaction 
 or Bargain going before, whatever was in the 
 irJpulation, he payed and fatisfied to tr.e full, 
 nothing, was remitted or given him down; or 
 whether we look to the Curfe due to the Elect, 
 that was inflicted on him, and he himielf was 
 made a Cttf ft for ns, looking on the Cuiiefimply 
 as penal, and what was bitter in it, which fhews 
 his coudcfccndcacy in his fufferings fo much 
 the moie. 
 
 lly Oi>l<rve, That our Lord Jefus was brr ught 
 exceeding low while the Debt of the Elect was 
 exacted of him ; He was put-to exceeding fore 
 arfliftion, much ftuitned and ftrefTed by the Ju- 
 ftice of God exacting of him the Debt due by 
 Elect Sinners. We fpoke to Tome words before, 
 which bare out this, as he was wounded, bruifed, 
 chajlifed, &c. and now we fee the effect here when 
 Juftice puts him to it;After he harhtaken on the 
 Debt, he is tried, {tripped as it were to the skin, 
 pinfhed and diftrdfed ere he get it payed: If we 
 confiderour Lordjefus asfcod, he is neither lefs 
 nor more pinflied, being fo considered, utterly 
 incapab!c of any fuch thing, But if we look on 
 him as Mediator, God-man, God much with* 
 drawing from him the ii.flu^nce of his comfort- 
 ing prclcnce, while he hath the cup of wrath in 
 his hand, fo he is brought exceeding low, and 
 fadly afticted; And :iicfe/i;oconiiderations(un- 
 der which we may fee him paying ourDcbr)may 
 
 5*. **rj. 7. ,.- If* 
 
 clear it, f. That he laid aHde the glory .whicfj 
 before the World was, he had with the lather, 
 for a rim?; which therefore that it may be re% 
 ftored to him again,heprayeth j^: i-. c. it hav- 
 ing been as to the manifeftation thereof in his 
 perfon eclipfed, interrupted, and darkened for 
 a feafon; henca the Apoftle fays, fbiUf. 2. that 
 he emptied himtelf, and became of m reputation, as if 
 his glory had not been difcernable for a time; 
 He that is Judge of Quick and Dead is himfelf 
 judged; He that created Heaven and Earth h«th 
 not whereon to lay his head ; Though ail the 
 kings of the Earth hold their Treafures ©f him, 
 yet he was fo poor that he lived upon the alms 
 of others, for women mir.ijired unto hint, 2. Not 
 only hath he a Being that is mean and low, but 
 he is exceedingly afflicted, he fuffered hunger; 
 he is purfued, as if he had been a thief or a rob~ 
 ber; a band of men comes and apprehends him 
 in the night, as if he had been a Malefactor or 
 Evil-doer, & drags him away to the civil Judge, 
 hi* back is fmitren, his face is fpitted on, his 
 head ratted and pricked with thorns, fentence 
 is palled upon him, he is condemned and fcourg- 
 ed;& when he dow not bear his own croft, ( his 
 body, being a true humane body, is fo fainted 
 and infeebled, ) it's accounted a favour that he 
 gets one Simon to help him to bear it, or to hear 
 it after him; which is not marked, to lhew 
 they did him any kindnefs or ecu: telle be 
 others, but to hold out the low and weak cori* 
 dition he was brought inro, that he wasnofabie 
 to bear it himidf, and not enly fo, but he mule 
 come to death, and to the ftiameful and curfeci 
 dcathof theCrofsjhedies wry quick'y.further to 
 point out his !owneis,wFich was fuch that death 
 overcame him fooner than the ethers, becaufe 
 he had no other things to wreftle with, 3 In his 
 name he fuffered, he was reproached, nodded at 
 with the head, resiled, mockedj fent about as a 
 fpectaele from Pilate to Herod, back again from 
 Hirod to Ptlate; He had a fcarlet rob pur on him 
 in derifion; the high Piiefts alfo derided him; 
 xht^ews wag the head at him, and count Ivttl 
 not at a'l woithy to live, and therefore prtfer 
 a Robler and Murderer to him; 4 Con (1 tier his 
 inward fuffcrinKS O ! rhefe were far morepier- 
 cingi Jullice laikJ claim to his SolI, the forrtws 
 rf hell compajfid hm\ his jotil is heavy unto the a ♦ 
 hi fweats blood, and txy^ifiti iitthw 
 
 wrathful cup vilg'r.: pafs p \ nd on the t 
 
 with a pitiful voice, my God, my Cod, why hail 
 thou jorjaken me? which, by the wav, is not an 
 expreflion of any quarrelling complaint or dif- 
 couragement, but df linWs nature, when beis 
 arraigned and made to ftand before t^e Tribunal 
 X 
 

 of God,ir?e£Url with the horrour of divinewrath, 
 and cannot ealily endure, that there fhould 6e 
 a Cloud betwixt God and him : But thefe Soul- 
 fufterings of his, will fall in to be fpoken to af- 
 tcrwards,only ^fe fee here.that he was afflicled; 
 and in luff-rings was greatly humbled and 
 brought very low: And indeed confidering that 
 all the Clefts (ins were laid upon him, and that 
 Juftice was exa&ing all their Debt of him, he 
 could not bt other ways, but behoved to be ex- 
 ceedingly afflifted and fore diftrcfled- 
 
 4/y Objerve, That for as much as our Lord 
 fuffered, yet he did mod willingly and cheir- 
 fully undergo it all i He thwarted not with it; 
 he repented not, he grudged not,hc flinched not 
 nor drew back j or, which is to the fame pur- 
 pofe our Lord Jcfus in his loweft humiliation 
 and affliction, and all alongft his deepeft fuffe* 
 ring fhewed exceeding great willingnefs, defir- 
 oufnefs and beartfomnefs ; That word was al- 
 ways true of him, / delight to do thy will, O my 
 Cod: and the Prophet holds out this as a great 
 wnnder.that though he was opprefTed and af- 
 flicted, yet he opened not his mouth: We fhall for 
 clearing of this, propofe thete Conflderations, 
 i» In his undertaking of the Bargain, his wil- 
 lingnefs appears, when Burnt offerings and Sa« 
 crifices would not do it, anJ wh;n there was no 
 obligation on hi n to do what he did , then 
 comes in his free offer and confent, and that 
 with delight. P'fal, 40. Then faid I, Lo 1 corns -.in 
 the volum of thy book, it's written of me, I delight to 
 do thy will,Qmy God; where we fee that there was 
 no extorting or throwing of a confent fromthe 
 Mediator againft his will , but a delightfome 
 offering of it; and that word ofhis Pnv. 8. is 
 very remarkable to this purpo'e, Rejoycingin the 
 habit able parti of the earth, and wj dthght was with 
 the fons of men-, The coat *mpli r ion andforefight 
 of his Incarnation an 1 Suffering for the Elect 
 was ( ro fpeak lb ) refreihiag to him, and made 
 him leap as it were for joy ere the World was 
 made,and before they lud a Being 2. Cvmfider 
 the great things that he undertook, nor only to 
 be Man, but a poor mean man ; It had been 
 much for him to ^a"e h mbl-d himfelf to be 
 Mona-chofrhe whnle World, as his vain arid 
 pnphanc pretended Vicar the Pope of Rome claims 
 Co be: yet he not only will not be f^ but«fl^'i- 
 tdhimflf, and becme swtrm in a manner, and 
 mman, aniutcafl of the people, O ! fucb a proof 
 ofhis love; A id when he took the Cup, that 
 bitter Gup, and faid, Father, if it bipiffible, let this 
 cup pafsfromme, left it mould feem athwa'ting 
 with the work of Redemption, and with his Fa- 
 thers will therein; He fays, let it come, Father, 
 mt mj will 3 but thine be dene. 3, Confider the 
 
 manner of his buffering, and we will fee a fur- 
 ther proof of his willingnefs; How little pains 
 takes he toefcape them, yea, when Peter labours 
 to difwade him M*t. ,6. fiom fuffering, he 
 dildams and rejects the fuggeft.on with a fevere 
 check, Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offence 
 untome,thoufavoureJl not the things that be of God .but 
 of mm; and when his Difciples faid to h m( re- 
 iolvmg to go up ag<in xojudea )Johnt t . 8 M*. 
 ft.r, the Jews of late fought to ftone thee, and wilt 
 thou go thith'.r again? He will needs go up aot- 
 withftanding; and when they were going up to 
 Jcrufalem, Mark 10, 32. He went before all the reft 
 to wit, at a fwift pace; and Luke 12. so. he fays', 
 / have a baptifm to be baptized with, and h.w am I 
 slraitned till it be accomplijhed? Never did men Jong 
 fo much for their Marriage day, and for the- 
 day of their triumph, as our Lord Jefus did to 
 get the Elects Debt payed, and their Difcharge 
 extracted and dra wen out. 4. Confider his call- 
 nefsand willingnefs to be taken; He goes forth, 
 John 18. to meet the band ofSauldtersthat came 
 with theTraitor to apprehend him, & asks thefti 
 again and again, whom feel ye } . and fays as often, 
 lam he: he will not fuffer his Difciples todraw 
 a fword in his defence, Matth. 26, but when P«- 
 frrdrew his fword, he bade him put it up again, 
 for he could hive commanded more than twelve le" 
 gions of 4nge Is-, but it behoved him now to fuf- 
 fer, he came for another end than to oppofe bis 
 fufferingsj and hence he fays John 10. No man 
 takes 7ny life from me, but 1 lay it down of my Jdf, 
 and have power to take it up again; it was neither 
 Judas nor Pilate that took Uis life againft his will, 
 but he willingly laid it down ; for either the 
 Elect behoved ro die, or he himfelf; and fince 
 it isfo, as if hefaid, then behold here is my life, 
 take it, and I will hy it down, that they, poor 
 things, may go free; and therefore does my F.nh*r 
 love ( fays he ) beCaufe I lay down my life for my 
 fhiep; not becaufe it's taken from me agunft my 
 will, but becaufe I willingly and of my felf lay 
 it down ; and when he is brought be lore PJate 
 and Herod, and they lay many things to his 
 charge, Mat. 16 6. and M»r£ 15. He hdd hx peace, 
 fo that it's faid, that Pilate marvelled Mat . 19. he 
 knew that he could not but have iruc to fay for 
 himfelf, as all men in fuch a cafe ufe to have, 
 but he anfwered nothing; or as it's in the Text, 
 yet he opened not his mouth ; the reafon was, be. 
 caufe he could not divert the courfe of Juftice, 
 nor mar the Lords defign in the work r f the 
 Elects Redemption through his death and fuf- 
 fcrings ; He came not into rhe world, to ac- 
 cufe Pilate or the Jews and to juftifie himfelf, 
 chough now and then for the conviction of ene* 
 
 mics, 
 
Serm. 28. ' . ^ ". (f«* 
 
 mics, aud for his own neceiiary clearing, he 
 did let a word fall, but being engaged for the 
 Elect, he will needs perform all that Juftice 
 called for i And in this willingnefs he hath a 
 refpeft to two things, 1. To the Fathers fatis- 
 fa&ion, for his willing fufFering is that which 
 makes it a Sacrifice acceptable and well pleafing 
 to him, 2. To the Elects Confolation, that 
 they may know they had a willing Saviour that 
 had no neceffity laid on him to iatisfie, but fa- 
 tisfied willingly; And from thefe two anfesa 
 third, even the glory of the Mediators farjsfa- 
 ction, for herein his love to the Elect mines 
 brightly,/ l*J down my life for my Jheep; this is the 
 heart-warming commendation of his fufFerings, 
 that with delight and pleafure he underwent 
 them, as if he had been purchafing a kingdom 
 to himfelf. . 
 
 Now, to come to the Uje of all thefe DiZlrines; 
 when they with the things contained in them 
 are laid together, we profefs we cannot tell 
 you what excellent Ufes they yield. Would to 
 God we were all in fuch a frame as the Eunuch 
 was in, when he read this Scripture ( as the di- 
 vine Hiftorian gives us an account Acls 8. ver. 
 yz. and forward, ) who when Philip had begun 
 to preach to him on this excellent fubject, was 
 fo taken, that before the Sermon or Diicourfc 
 was at an end , being holily impatient at any 
 longer delay; he fays to Philip, Here is water, what 
 hinders me U be baptized? I fay again, would to 
 God we were all in fuch a frame, and that this 
 were the fruit of fuch a Doctrine as this to ma- 
 ny of you, nay, to all of you. 
 
 Ufe 1. Wonder Believers attheexactnefs,and 
 infinitenefs of the G ace of God, and at the 
 Heart- affecting, and Soul-ravifhing love of the 
 Mediator ! at Grace in God that fpared the De* 
 bitor, and exacted payment from the Cautioner, 
 the Son of his love.act love in the Mediator that 
 payed fomuch, and fo willingly and chearfully: 
 If any fubject of thoughts be pertinent for us, 
 while we are about to celebrate the Sacrament 
 of the Lords Supper, ceitainly this were perti- 
 nent; concerning a crucified Chrift in ftating 
 himfelf in our Room, to pay our Debt, and do- 
 ing this of his own accord, without the folici- 
 tation or interpofing of any Creature, and doing 
 it withall, fo frankly and chearfully: was ever 
 the like of this love he.ird tell of, for one, and 
 more efpecally for fuch a one, to furTer fo much 
 and fo cheerfully, unrequired? we would 
 have you confirmed in the Faith of this great 
 andfweet Truth, that he had never better will, 
 nay, never fo good will to eat his Dinner, 
 than, and as he had cofuffcr, and latisfie Juftice 
 
 &Verf. 7- f ^ 5 
 
 for you, though at a dear fate j He fays, John 
 4. It was hU meat to do the Fathers will that fent 
 him, and to finifli bis work; Have ye fuitable 
 thoughts of his love when ye read the Gofpel? 
 have ye in the Word feen him lhndi^g before 
 Pilate in your rcom, not anfwering when he is 
 accufed, and Pilate marvelling at his fiknee ? 
 and did Pilate marvel, knowing, and bem fc con- 
 vinced of h's innoceny ? and have ye never mar- 
 velled, or marvelled but very little? lure, your 
 little marvelling at his filence, is the more fadly 
 marvellous, that the caufe of his filence, when 
 he was charged with your iniquities, with fuch 
 and fuch a piece of your mifcarriage, with fuch 
 a vain and roving heart j^ith fuch a wanton 
 look, with fuch a profane oridle word of yours 
 with the horrid fin of your having fo abafed, 
 flighted and neglected him, &c. That the caufe 
 I fayi of his filence at fudh a terrible iccufation, 
 and charge, and net vindicating of himfelf) or 
 faying, thefe faults, miicarriages, and trim%ref- 
 fions are not mine, as he might have donef was 
 pure love to you, O ! is not this ftrange , and 
 yet moll true; wonder then more at it. 
 
 Uje 2- Here is ftrong confolation to Belie- 
 vers,and wonderful wifdom in the rife and con- 
 voy of it, in uniting Juftice and Love; out of 
 which the confolarion fprings; Juftice exacting 
 upon, and diftrefiing the Son of God, and he 
 fatisfying Juftice fo fully, that though all the 
 Elect had fatisfied eternally in Hell, it had not 
 been made to fhinefofpl»ndidIy and glorioufly; 
 Juftice alfo on tht Mediatorsfide in yidding and 
 giving fatisfaction, though it fhould oppi tfsand 
 break Soul and Body : And yet Love, both on 
 the Fathers and Mediators fioej on the Fathers 
 fide, Love, in finding out this wsy of fatisfacti- 
 on to It is own Juftice, when theic was no cure, 
 but by the wounding of his ow n Son, and yet he 
 was content rather to wound him, rhan th«rthe 
 Elect fhould fuffcr, and be wounded ctemallyi 
 love on the Mediators fide, who willing] yields, 
 and undergoes their Debt, md will 1 ct hide 
 his face f 1 m ftiame and fpitting; what may not 
 the Believer expect from£od , when he fpared 
 not his own Son for him? and what may he 
 expect from Chrift, who fpared rot himfelf 
 for his fake ? and who is that good Shepherd, 
 that laid down his life for the Sheep, and held 
 his tongue, and quarrelled not with thofe that 
 fm'ote him, will he quarrel with a poor Sin* 
 ner coming to him, and pleading for the bene- 
 fite of fatisfaGtion ? no certainly j but as the 
 word is, Zfph 3. 17, He w\U reft in his levt, or as the 
 word fign lies, Hcwxllbe fdent or dumb in his lo-ue; 
 X J he 
 
i $6 ii*» 5y 
 
 he vviJI not upbraid ther ; nor caft up thy for- 
 mer mifcarriag'-y, he will not fay reproachfully 
 to thee, where was thou fo long playing the 
 Prodigal? he is better content \*ith thy recovery, 
 tlnn ever he was difcontenr, or ill pleafed with 
 all he wrong thcu didft unto him. 
 
 Uft 3. This word of Dottrine lays down the 
 >n a finner fenfible of fin may 
 
 ground wherenpo 
 
 cuild his expectation of peace with God ; The 
 
 Tranfaction concluded and agreed upon, is the wrong, and they willfcorn and"tuih aYi7- ^nr 
 
 ground of his coming, and the exacting of the what if Jefus Chrift had been of that temper ar ' 
 
 rtxf* 8' Serm 
 
 but fpoke not a word but one to theHighPricfr 
 notwithstanding all his provockiog cWcc 
 and a very meek one too, If I L«ve fpoktn wl 
 bear wltnejs of the evil, and if^eU, whyfmiUn th u 
 we?- Among other Copies then that. Chrift hath 
 caftcn, take this for one, make him a Copy and 
 Pattern for Patiencei It is to be regrated that 
 folks are {0 unlike to Chrift in this reftfecr 
 they think it adifdainful thing to pack up a 
 
 »rrnnr« in/1 »>(iov mill (%„ J-.n . _ « * 
 
 price according to theTranfaction, is the gtound difpofition ? ( if it be fit to make iuch a fup 
 cfhis expecrationof the benefits of Chrifts pur. fition ) ye had been without a Redeemer and* 
 chafciAnd there is Juflice for it, as the Apoftle had perilhed for ever; When he calls ycu'to be 
 intirnats, Rom. 8. 34, ?<• JVho flail lay any thing followers ot him, andtofuffer patiently as he 
 to the charge of Cods £/;-£? It if God that yijlificth; did, though moft unjuftly,as to men; for you to 
 why's he that tooo\tepmeob ? it is Chri[t that di<d,ye* think or fay that you fcorn ir,and that ye are not 
 tatctrthat is ti\en*%ain, &c> And upon this fol~ fo mean fpirited, what is it elie, but "tothink 
 lows the believing fouls triumph • O.' but there " J **» fc « ♦*- » 1 *- •— ■— - -"-- «-*» » - - 
 is much need to be throughly acquainted with 
 the mutual relations that are betwixt Chrift and 
 
 the believing tinner, with the ground of their 
 
 approaching to him, and with the good they 
 
 are to expect through him. 
 
 Ufe 4. This word is made cfe of, 1 Pet* 2. 
 
 31. To give us a notable and non-fuch pattern 
 
 of patience; Chrift aifo fuffired for us, leavingusan 
 
 tzjmp!:, that we fluid follow his flips', He did bear 
 
 all wrongs patiently, and packed them up qui- 
 etly ( to fay fi> ) and opened not his mouth. He 
 
 could have toldPilate&c Cajaphas what they were, 
 
 and to fay on the matter, that blefcd Jefus In 
 his patient and filent carriage under all the in 
 juries that he Oiffertd very unjuftly from men, 
 {hewed himfelf to be of a low and bafe fpi r j t an d 
 that ye difdain to follow his way ; O ! intoller* 
 able, i'aucy, and proudly blafphemous reflection 
 The many contefts, the many hifihrefentments 
 of wrongs, the great grudging,fretting and foa- 
 ming at them that there are in Chriftians, fay 
 plainly, that there is little of the meek and pa- 
 tient Spirit of Chrift in, and amongft 115: and 
 that many of us know no: what jpirit we art 
 
 *** 
 
 SERMON XXIX. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. VIII. 
 
 Vert 8. He was taker, from pr:fi?t f and from judgement, and who flail declare his generation} Fvr he was 
 Cht of out of the l*nd of the livings for the tranfgrtffiQn of my people was he Jiritken. 
 
 E need not tell you of whom the Pro> 
 phet is fpeaking here, every verfe } 
 and every word almoft do make it 
 
 W 
 
 mamfeft, that he fpeaks ofChrift the SavioUr,and 
 indeed it can be applyed to none other; It's the 
 fcflie verfe, Acts 8. 2,^?.from which Philip pro- 
 ceeds to preach Chrift to the Eunuch ; The Pro- 
 pher hath been largely holding forth Chrift's 
 fufferings in the former vtrfe, and we conceive 
 he tak-> a turn to fpeak ofChriiVs exaltation, 
 and out-gare from thefe fuffering<;; It's true (as 
 if he had faid) He was brought to Pr if on and Judge. 
 yr.gnt. He was indeed ftrairned and pinched,and 
 laid very low, but Prifon and Judgement did 
 nnt kiep him ; He was iaken, or as the word \s % 
 Hi was lifted up, from both; And for as defpi- 
 cabls as he was. in man's eyej, ycc he was not fo 
 
 in himfelf, for who flail detlare his genera! itn 
 There is a wonderfulnefs in him who fuffered 
 that cannot be reached, but muft be left with 
 admiration*, And a wonderful G'ory whereun- 
 to he was after his humiliation exalted ; and 
 there is a reafon of this given for preventing of 
 offence; if any mould fay, how then could he 
 fuffer, and be brought fo low in fuffering, if he 
 was fo glorious a perfon ? He anfwers.' It is 
 true,thaj He was caji off out of the land 0/ the living, 
 but for no offence in himfelf, but for the tranf- 
 greilion of God's Elect, was be Jincken, or the 
 word is, The jlroak was upon him; Yea, this ( as 
 we conceive ) is given as a reafon of his exaltati- 
 on. Becaule in the loweft fteps of his humil- 
 tion, he condefcended to fulfil his engagement 
 to the Father, infachfyingjufticeforthefinsof 
 
 the 
 
Serin. 29. v ifiuh m -\ 
 
 the Elect, according to that of John ro- ij.Tbtri* 
 fore doth my Father loin mtjuctmje I lay down my lift, 
 that 1 might takf'it fgav*; Becaufe, according to 
 his ingagemenr, he fuffsred for the (ins of his 
 Elect Pe >ple, therefore he could not but hare a 
 comfortable and glorious out-gate. 
 
 There are thefe three things in the words, f« 
 Somewhat afTerted concerning Chrift Jefus, He 
 was taken from Prifon, and ft om Judgement . 2. Some- 
 thing hinted at which cannot be expreiTed, Who 
 Jhall declare his generation ? 3. There is a reafon 
 given in reference to both, For he was cut of, Sec. 
 which we fhall expound when we come to it. 
 
 For the firir, Be was taken from Pri(on t and from 
 Judgement \ We conceive thefe words look both 
 to his humiliation, and to his out-gate from it, 
 the one being clearly fuppofed, that he was in 
 Prifon or Straits, and brought to Judgement, 
 and the other beingexpreiTedjthat he was brought 
 from Prifon and fromjudgement: r. Pr/*/o» here 
 may be taken generally for any ftrait, pinch or 
 preiTure that one may be brought into, which 
 we conceive both the Words, and the Prophets 
 fcope will clear r Chrift never having been pro- 
 perly in Prifon, at leaft for any confiderable 
 time, but ftraitned and pinched j And he was 
 taken fromthat, being in his humiliation, and 
 in his fufferings in the room of the Elect pur- 
 fued by the Law andjuftice of God, 2. Judge* 
 ■mtnt is taken paflively, for Judgements paft on 
 him, and it looks not only to the procedourof 
 Pilate^ of the Chief Pnefr,and ot the Scribes and 
 Pharifees, but to ajuuicial Procefs, which the 
 Juftice of God led againft him, in which refpect 
 he anfwered ( as the words after will clear ) for 
 the llns of God's People. The word,H* wastaken, 
 fometimes fignifies to deliver , as a Captive is 
 (delivered, when he is taken from him that took 
 •him Captive, as it is. ifaiah 49. 24. Shall theprey 
 bttahenjrom the mighty , or the lawful captive deliv- 
 ered} To which the Lord anfwcrs> It, or he fhall 
 be taken. 
 
 So then, the fcope and meaning of the words 
 is, that theProphet fubjoyns a narration ofChrifts 
 Exaltation upon thebackofhis Humiliation, as 
 it is ufual in the Scripture to put thefe together, 
 and in this order, as namely, Philip- ,2. 8, 9. He 
 humbled him]elf % and became obedient unto death ,ev:n 
 the death of the crofs, Wherefore God hath highly ex- 
 alted hint, and given him a name, Sec. He was ex- 
 ceedingly ftraitned and pinched for the Elects 
 fins, but death had no dominion over him, lie 
 had a glorious out-gate; He was taken out, and 
 fet free from the prifon, or (traits wheein he 
 was held, and from thefe Judgments that paft 
 uponhimiThe reafon of the Expoficon is drawn 
 
 V.rf. 8. 
 
 '57 
 
 from the plain meaning of the Words, which 
 muft run thus. He was taken from Judge meta, the 
 very fame which is in the following expref- 
 fion, H: was cut off out of the land of the living ,xhzt 
 being the ordinary Bonification of theprepofition 
 from, the meaning muft be this,thathe wastaken 
 out of the condition wherein he was: It agrees 
 alio beft with the fcope of the very next words, 
 Who fball declare his generation ? Wherein he prc- 
 pofeth ap admirableaggravation of this delivery. 
 The id thing hath a connexion with the for* 
 mer»and therefore take a word or two for clear- 
 ing of if; What to underfhnd by Generation here, 
 is ibmewhat difficult to determine, the word in 
 the Original having feveral meanings, yet ge- 
 nerally it looks to one or two, as it is app'yed 
 to Chrift, 1. Either to the time paft, and fb it's 
 ufed by many, toexprefs and hold forth ChrffTs 
 God*head, and fo the meaning is, though he was 
 brought very low, yet' he was, and is the eter- 
 nal Son of God: Or 2. (as commonly it is 
 taken) it looks to the time to come, and io the 
 meaning is, who fhall declare his duration, or 
 continuance ? Generation is often taken thus in 
 Scripture for the continuance of an Age, and of 
 one Age following another fucceflively, as Joflwa 
 2 2. This Altar fhall be a witnejs to the generations tQ 
 come\ So then, the meaning is, he was oice low, 
 but God exalted him, and brought him thorow, 
 and who'.fhall declare this duration, or continu- 
 ance of his exaltation? As it is, Phil. 2. 8, 9. He 
 humbled himftlf Sec. Therefore God hath highly ex- 
 alted hitn-y As his humiliation was low, fo his ex- 
 altation was ineffable, it cannot be declared/nor 
 adequatly conceived, the continuance of it be- 
 ing for ever; There is no inconfiftency betwixt 
 thefe two £xpofiticns*, His duration or cominu. 
 ance after his fufferings, neceiTarily prefupoilng 
 his God-head, brought in lure, partly to inew 
 the wonderfulnefsofhis fufrerirg, it being Cod 
 thatfufFered, for the mm thatfurfcred was God; 
 Partly to mew ChrhVs glory, whonotwithftand- 
 ing of his fuffcrini];, was brought thoiow, and 
 glorioufly exalted: And thefe reafons make it 
 evident, I. Whatever thefe words, Who fall de- 
 clare his age or generation, do fignifie, certainly 
 it is fomething that can be fpeken of no other, 
 but of Chrift, and that agreces to him fo, as it 
 agrees to no other?Nowif we look limply to the 
 erm;;'fy of hisduration or continuance, that a; 
 to all the Elect, and well ?grces to all men rr 
 theRefurrection;ThereforetheProphet muftlork 
 here to his continuance and duration as he \% 
 God. 2. Becaufe, Who jh.itl dejare hisgner. 
 is brought in here, to (hew the inrffabler.efs of 
 it, aud icto m-kchis fufferings the more won- 
 derful, 
 
«$8 ?f*ifh ?J. 
 
 deifu 1 , it was he who fufTered, whole comi- 
 nuance cannot bedeclared. 3. It's fuch a conti- 
 nuz. ce as is brought in to (hew a reafon why 
 death could not have dominion over him, nor 
 keep him,according totrut,Re»;. 1. 4. He was de< 
 d to In the Son of God with power % according to 
 the fpirit cfholincfs, by his refurrccliojifrom the dead; 
 And the reafcn fubjoyned to this will f ;me way 
 e'ear it, for he was cue off our of tin Und of the liv- 
 * 'St fi>' the tranfgrejjkn of ?ny people was he ffritken; 
 Thereby insinuating, that becaufe of the great 
 work which he had to do, there behoved to be 
 fomefingularnefs in theperfon thathadthe work 
 in hand, uho, r.otwithftanding of the £reatnels 
 and defficultnefs of it,came thoxow,& was here- 
 by exalted. However it be, the Prophets fcope 
 being to fet out Chrifc's Humiliation and Exal- 
 tation, his Humiliation before,and his Exaltati- 
 on after, which is. as wefaid, ordinary in Scrip- 
 ture; We conceive the meaning we have given 
 is fafe, and agreeable to the Prophets fcope. 
 • We may objerve three things from the firir part 
 of the words. I. That our Lord Jefus Chrift in 
 his performing the work of Redemption was ex- 
 ceedingly ilraitned or pinfhed, or held in, as the 
 word is elfe where rendered, bound up and 
 hemmed in, as men are who are in Prifon; and 
 by thefe flraitnings we mean not only, fuch as 
 lie was brought into by men, ( whereof we 
 fpoke before* ) but efpecially thefe that were 
 more inward; and thefe being amongft the laft 
 fteps of his Humiliation, more immediately pre- 
 cecding his Exaltation, and fpoken of as moll: 
 wonderful, we conceive they look to thefe pref» 
 fures that were upon his fpirit; and wefhall in- 
 ihnce feveral places of Scripture that ferve to 
 I10W them out; the firft is that of John 12. 317, 
 3.8. Nnw it my foul troubled>and what frail ifyy? Fa' 
 titer, fave me from this hour, here our blefTed Lord 
 is troubled in fpirir, and fo pinfhed and hedged 
 in as in a Prifon, that he is holily non-pluned 
 what to fay.The 2</Scripture is Matth. 26. y8.My 
 foul is exceeding frrowful even unto death f which is 
 like the expreflions ufed by theApoftle,iCor.i 1,8. 
 [We were prelTid above meafure.above ftrengtb, 
 in fo much as we defpaiied of lite, and we had 
 the fentence of death in our felves; ] there was 
 110 outgate obvious to humane fenfe and uptak* 
 ing; fo is it here; wherein we are not only to 
 consider his Saul-vexation, but that his Sou!* 
 vexation was very great, extreamly pinfhii g, 
 vexing, and in a manner imp.rifoning to him. 
 The 3^ Scripture is, Luke 22. 24, [ He being in 
 an agony prayed mere earneftly, and his fweat 
 
 ytrl 8. 
 
 Serm. 
 
 without him, but with inward preiTures on his 
 fpirit, that he is like one in a JSarrace, or Cock- 
 pit , or engaged in a Duel with a mighty 
 Combatant, fore put to it, very far beyond 
 ought that we can conceive of; fo that he Jwgte 
 great drops of Mood, and lays, Father, if thou be wit- 
 I h;g remove this cuffnmmt, ncvert/jelcjs, not my will 
 but thine be done-, it is in Matthew, if t t he poJJible t 
 and thereafter ,*/ if be not pojjible, which lays' 
 there was no winning out of the grips of the* 
 Law &Juftice till that they were fully i'atisfiedi 
 and thefe dreadful words uttered by him on 
 the Crofs, h'y God, my God, why hajl thou forfaken 
 me ? held out that from the iinlefs humane na- 
 ture of Chrift, the comfortable and joyful in- 
 fluence of the Gcd-head for a time was in a grc at 
 meafure fufpended, ( though the fuftaining 
 power thereof was exercifed mightily on him ) 
 fo that he looks on himlelf fome way as forfa- 
 ken and left in the hand of the Curfe. 
 
 To clear this a little we would confider thefe 
 preiTures that were on our Lords Spirit, r. 
 In refpett of their caufe. 2. In refpe& of their 
 effe&t. 
 
 I. In refpeft of their caufe; There is upon 
 the one fide his undertaking for the Ele£r as their 
 Surety, and Gods Juftice purfuing and holding 
 him in on the other fide, fo that he cannot de- 
 cline, being fitted at the Bar of Juftice, becaufe 
 as it- is verf. 6. the fins of all the Ele&met upon 
 bim; and he having, as it is verf. 7. the bitter 
 cup in his hand, which by his engagement he 
 was obliged to drink, he ftands there bytheDe- 
 cree of God and by the Covenant of Redemption, 
 tying him to fatisfie; and being purfued by 
 Wrath and Juftice, the words come out, Father, 
 
 mt, yet not 
 
 ij it be pojftble , let this cup depart from 
 my wiH, hut thine be dent; his engagement' hem- 
 ming him in, & wrath purfuing him, he ftands 
 betwixt thefe two as a prifoner; and upon thefe 
 two the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all,in& he 
 was cxafted upon and anfweredfortkemjfollows well 
 the third, that he was put in prifon; for in thefe 
 Verfes, the fteps of our Lords Humiliation are 
 followed out in a legal way as before the Bar of 
 Gods Tribunal. 
 
 zly. This being our Lords pofture, we fhall 
 ccniider the effccls of this preiTureoffpirit,which 
 we may draw to thefe four heads. 1. H e was 
 under the fenfe of great Soul-pain, forrowand 
 trouble; for the cup of the wrath of God being 
 bitter, which he was to drink, it could not bu: 
 deeply fting his holy humane i ature, w hicb was 
 the procuring caufe of his agony, and that which 
 
 was as it were great dropes of blood falling ^ rmde his foul forrowful, and brought out the 
 down to rhe ground » J there was fuch a ftrir • " bloody Jweat, 2. Befide his grief and dolor, there 
 ing, wrsftling and conflicting, not with tan was 
 
Scrm. ao, , . lltw, 
 
 was a holy horrour ; and confidenng the party 
 that he had todo with, it was impoflible it could 
 be otherways ; impartible for a finit, though a 
 finlefs creature, to look on an angry God and 
 on wrath poured forth into tijc cup which it 
 mud needs drink, and not have a honour at iti 
 it were not becoming the finlefs humane narure 
 of our bleffed Lord, not to be affe&ecl with a 
 holy and finlefs horrour at that molt bitter cup, 
 which brought out that fad cry, Father, let this 
 tup depart from mt: which did not proceed from 
 any diflike he had to fulfill his engagement, or 
 from any revving or unfuitab.'e refentment that 
 he had lb engaged himfejf,but from an appre- 
 hended finlefs difproportionaolenefs(to fpeakfo) 
 in his finit finlefs humane nature, to encounter 
 with ihe wrath of his Father* to which though 
 he moft willingly yielded, yet in itfelf it was 
 dreadful. 3. There was a pinching andftrait- 
 ning of holy fear, as if there trad been in him a 
 finlefs difpute or debate, [ what will become of 
 this? can a man win thorow this ? ( though he 
 was God as well as man ) how will this be 
 gotten ^orn ? This looks as if death would get 
 the victory; ] Thus it's faid, Heb. y. 7, [ In the 
 days ©fhisflefh he offered up Strong crys and 
 fupplications with tears, and was heard in that 
 which he 'feared, ] he put up ftrong crys to be 
 delivered, not from dying, but from the power 
 of death, and was heard in that which he feared, 
 to fhew a holy care to prevent death, could that 
 have been, and a finlefs fear of it, left it fhould 
 fwallow him up. 4 There was a pinching and 
 /rraitning from love to the Father, and to the 
 doing of his Will; and from love to the E!e£r, 
 ana to their Salvation, which puftied him for. 
 ward to perform and fulfill his engagement; ac- 
 cordingly Luke )i. 50. he fays, Q I have a bap- 
 tifm t be baptized with; and how am I flraitned 
 till itbeaccomplithed; } and hence it was that 
 thefe words were uttered by him, Faihtr, not my 
 will, but thine be done-, and therefore though he 
 had power to command twelve legions of An* 
 gels for his Fclief, yer, to fpeak fo, Jove lb binds 
 his hands that he will not ufe his power for his 
 own liberarion. Bur to guard this Doctrine from 
 miftakes,take a fourfold advertifement concerning 
 this inward Soul-pinching which will help to 
 clear fomewhat of his Soul fuffcring that fol- 
 loweth. And 1. Think not that there was any 
 finful or unsuitable confufion or pertuibationof 
 mind in our Lord, fuch as uftth to be in us, 
 there be'ng no dreg of corruption in his mind 
 to jumble or difcompofe Ins holy humane na- 
 ture, 2. Beware of thinking that there was any' 
 freting or anxietj in him, or anV difcontented- 
 nefs with the Bargain, hisexpiefiions Ihew forth 
 
 €5, Vtr{ 2 j i C c> 
 
 the contrary , for ( faith he ) / could com. 
 mand twelve legions of Angels, yet he would not 
 do it. 3. Think not that there was any jealoulie 
 in him of the Fathers love, though there wjs a 
 fufpenfion of the comfortable and joyfulfenfe of 
 it yet there was not the lead leufing of the 
 faith, of it, as is clear by his doubling ofrhefe 
 words, My God, my G<^,wfien in his faddell pinch 
 he cried out as being forfaken. 4. Ye would not 
 look on this, as holding out any diftruft as 
 to the event, 1 have ( faith he ) power to lay 
 down my life, and I have power to take it up 
 again; and I will rife again the third day > he 
 knew that the Covenant of Redemption betwixt 
 theFatner and him flood firm andfure: But it's 
 the consideration of God's now coming as his 
 Party to exaft the Elects debt of him, and his 
 (landing at the Bar to anfwer for it, which puts 
 him in this agony; and though confidering 
 Chrift as man perfonally-united to the God- 
 head ( whereby he waskeeped from finking. ) 
 he had no diltruft to be earned thorow; yet con- 
 fidering him as Man fuffering,and chat ( to J "peak 
 fo with reverence in fuch a divine fubject ) 
 there was an eclipfe of that fenfible joy thatprr- 
 ceeded from the two natures together, it's not 
 pofliblc to conceive of Chrift in this pofture,but 
 wra'h and anger behoved to be fomc * ay dread- 
 ful or terrible to him. 
 
 The Vfes are, 1. To evidence the truth of 
 what our Lord fuffered,and tr.w feverely he was 
 pinihed and fti aitneu*, It was nor rhe Scribes and 
 Fharifeespurfuing him, nor the Sou Id ier$ buffet- 
 ing and mocking of him, and carrying him to 
 the high Prieft's hall, and from Pilate to Herod 
 and back again, that fo much troubled him; tut 
 there wa* a higher Hand that he had to look to, 
 and a Judge and Court to which he was now ans- 
 wering, that was very far above theirs. 
 
 Ana therefore as a 2d. Ufe of the Doctrine, 
 Think it not fuch a light thing ( as many do ) 
 to fatisfie Juftice, or to give God a raniom for 
 Souls, ye fee how it pinlhcd the Cautioner, and 
 put him as inaPiifcn; unfpeakdbly deceit id 
 are they who think that t^o or tin ee formal 
 words will make their peace with God, and that 
 they will flip in to Heaven foj Be notcair-cd 
 away with this delufion, but corriiJer leriouily 
 what will become of ycu, if ye be put to anf- 
 wer for your own Debt, when be handled the 
 Cautioner his own Sonfo roughly; ye t' at will 
 fleep on,& fcorn to let any t ord pick it you cr 
 prick you, the Julrice of God ihall prick you ai d 
 put you to ffrajts»out of which ye will nor be 
 able to extricate your felves ; and lie lhall 
 appear like everlalting burning , when the 
 great day of his wrath comes, and when 
 
 it 
 
ii'aitA 
 
 i'tfo 
 
 it mall be fald by you, *>ho can (land \ 
 abide it? Ic were good that ye wco art i 
 athtiitictl, and who with a lore of triumph i\\ J 
 gallantry will needs deftroy your fclves, would 
 lay this to heart, and remember that rhc day 
 comes vftien ye will be brought to this Bar; and 
 gravely confider what a Hell this will be, 10 
 W*e the defepratenefs of the out»gatc fcaied up_ 
 in your Confciences; and thefe evidences of 
 Gods hatred, and thefe aggravations that our 
 Lords holy nature could, not admit of, in 
 your bofome; when Wrath tneets with .Corrup- 
 tion, and Corruption with Wiarh, aud when 
 thefe mingle.-how dreadful will your ctfc be. 
 
 
 Serm. 29. 
 
 for patient and pieafant btan 
 ' v is moAtr Tort of prifon thattfrrul 
 "rrhem: ye may I grant lament over' 
 t - t tciltnfibleprefcnce,it being fcind. 
 
 Jy to tut Believer to mils it. and to long for it 
 bur ye ihould not be heartlefs under the want of 
 it, nor complain as the Lords people do lament. 
 Is there any form* like unto myfirriwr butfubmif- 
 fively and contentedly bear it without fretting" 
 feing our Lord bare fo much for you. 
 
 iff. There is here a notable encouragement to 
 believe,and a notable ground for the Ueliever to 
 expect freedom from fin, and from the pinfhing 
 that it deferveth, becaufe Chrift payed 
 
 ftraits 
 
 to 'Chiift; CcntTder what he hath payed, anife 
 What the fatisfaccionof [ufticefor you cofthirri 
 Folks are ready to^think that itwasan eafie 
 thing to fat is lie Jufrke, and to drink of the brock 
 by the vHy\ but if dinners were fenfible of chal- 
 lenges for tin, and if they had the Arrows of the 
 Almighty drinking op their fpirits, they would 
 think othenvife of Chfifls drinking out the cup 
 of Wrath for them, u/)t leaving fo much as one 
 
 3/y. Lee Believers fee here wl at ye are obliged dear for it; wherefore was all this pinfliiftg but 
 
 1 to pay Believers Debt? but when we come to 
 fpeak of his out-gate, it will clear this more. 
 
 2. While it's Jaid, That he was brought from 
 judgement, which fuppofes and implyes, that he 
 was onceat,or under judgement,eventhe judger 
 mentof God, who is his great Party all along; 
 He Uid on kimtheini^uityofus all; and verf. io. It 
 pleafedthe Lord n bruife htm; He was the Creditor 
 that caufed take and arreft him; 0&/W,flThatin 
 drop of it> It's but the (horings or threatnjngs all the Soul-vexation, in all the pinming preft 
 with fome drops of it that any of you meet^-'ith fure offpirit that our Lord fuftained, he was* 
 in your Soul-exercifes; O! believing ^ Sinners, (landing judicially before the Bar of God, and 
 
 was judicially proceeded againft as the Elects 
 
 Cautioner and Surety ; there was no accefs to 
 
 bring thrift to Judgement, had he not engaged 
 
 to be Surety, and had not God laid on him our 
 
 iniquities, for it was for no Debt that he was 
 
 .owing himfelf, but for what by his engagement 
 
 as the Elects Surety he came under, and was 
 
 made lyable to: That which I mean by hisfoeing 
 
 brought to Judgement, is not only that he fuf- 
 
 fered & was occafionally condemned by a Court 
 
 of men, or by a humane Judicatory, which was 
 
 rather like a tumultuary Meeting, or a compaay 
 
 of men in an uproar, than indeed a Court; but 
 
 whatever was before men, there was a legal and 
 
 judicial procedure before God : For clearing 
 
 whereof ye wouJd confider, 1. The account 
 
 whereon he fuffered, and was brought before 
 
 Gods Court of Judgement, to fpeak fo; It was 
 
 not for any thing that the Scribes or Pharifees,or 
 
 Pilate had to lay to his charge; it was envy in 
 
 them, the former at leaft, that ftirred them in 
 
 what they didi but the next words tell us, what 
 
 it wzsjorthetranfgfejjim 0} ihj people was he flricksn\ 
 
 The Priefts and People had no mind of this, but 
 
 this was indeed the gtound of his judicial Chat* 
 
 hisDebt, is there; it's afhame for believing fin- lenge & Arraignment before God; theEIect were 
 
 are ye not then eternally obliged to Chrift who 
 diunk out this wrathful cup for you ? j 
 
 4/v. There is notable confolation here to poor 
 Souls that would fain makeufe of Chrift, As l„ 
 ThatChrift hath ftepped thorow this deepFoord, 
 or rather Sea before them; and if the Cup come 
 in their hand, it's empty ; Freedom from the 
 Wrath of God is a great confolation, and yet it*s 
 the confolation of them that are fled unto him 
 for refuge. 2. It's comfortable to them in their 
 comparatively petty ftraitsand drfficultie's,when 
 they wot not what to do, when the Law feizeth 
 and Juftice purfneth, and when the Confcience 
 challengeth : to confider that Chrift was a pri- 
 foner before them,though he had no challenge 
 for his own debt, yet he was challenged for 
 ours, that he might be a companionate high 
 Prieft, being made like to us, but without finj 
 Juftice purfued him, the Law arrefted him, 
 wrath feized on him: fo that when we are fet 
 upon by thefe, he will be tender of us, for he 
 knows our frame, & that we cannot bear much; 
 and therefore on this ground a believing finner 
 may go with bo)dntf» to the Throne of Grace, 
 becaufe Chrift the Cautioner who hath payed 
 
 ners to walk fo heartltfly, even under thefe 
 things that are teriible, as if Chrift had not gone 
 rhorow thtm before them and for them. 3. 
 There is confolation here when they -are under 
 any pinfhing crofsand difficulty: as there is alfo 
 
 in tbeir fin^jSche by the Covenant of Redempti 
 on ftcod lyable for their D;bt, became he i 
 undertaken for them as thSirCautioner and! 
 rety. 2. Confider who was his great party 
 
 ■■■Ml 
 
 i 
 
Strm. 19. t - f *Jf* S 
 
 his Sufferings ; it wis not Pilate and the Jew;, 
 be cared not fo much for them, but it is God, 
 and therefore he crys, My God, my God, why ha(t 
 thou forfaken me ? and therefore he makes his ad- 
 drefs to God, Father, if it be peffible, let tbit cup 
 pafs/rom me ; he cared not for anfwering them, 
 but looks to a higher hand, and upon himfelf as 
 Handing before another Tribunal* therefore it's 
 faid v. io. yet it pleafed the Lord to bruife him-, he 
 looked not to Pilate, but to the Lord purfuing 
 him. 3. Confider our Lords fubmiflion to his 
 being brought to Judgement.not only nor chief- 
 ly before men, but before God, therefore fays 
 he, John fa. 48. Father, fave me from this hour^but 
 for this caufe came I to this hmr; come then Father 
 and let us compt; he looks not only to the prt- 
 fent difpenfation,but alfo to the ground whence 
 it came, and to the e nd that God had in it; for 
 this caufe came 1 into this hour, even to have my 
 foul troubled, and to be put to anfwer for the 
 Debt of my Eleft people according to my en- 
 gagement; L?, / come ( faith he, in that often 
 cited 40 Pfalm ) in the volum of thy book, it is writ- 
 ten of^ne, 1 delight to do thy mill. Cenfider 4/y. 
 The effeftsof his bringing to Judgment; Afen- 
 tence pafles, 1 Tim. 3. ult. [ Great is the myfte- 
 ry of godlinefs , God manifefted in the flefli, 
 juftified in the fpirif, ] not before Pilate, but in 
 Gods Court, having fatisfied for theEleQs Debt 
 according to his undertaking, begets an abfol* 
 vitor, which reaches not only to himfelf, but 
 to all them whofe perfons hefuftained, as is clear 
 a Cor. $. ult. [ He was made fin for us who knew 
 no fin* that we might be made the righteouf- 
 nefs of God in him: and the Elefts obtaining 
 eternal Redemption & Abfolution by his death, 
 with the accrefing of his fatisfaclion to their 
 j unification, clears that he Hood there judicial- 
 ly at the Bar of God in their name to anfwer for 
 them.And there arefj&r*r(tepsof this his judicial 
 anfwer, l< He gets the Libel of the Ele&s Debt 
 put in his hand; though [ there was no guilt in 
 his mouth, yet it pleafed the Lord to bruife 
 him, he laid on him the iniquity of us all, W 
 for the iniquity of my people was he itricken,] 
 thefe are the perfons that he undertook for, and 
 for their Debt he anfwersj the verity of the fatt 
 is clear, for they are under guilt; theLiwsclaim 
 is clear, for it's broken, and upon this the Li- 
 bel is put in his hand; hence it's faid, [ He died 
 for usi He was made fin for us, and he died for 
 our fins. a. As the Lib:l is put in his hand, fo 
 a Sentence pafles accordingly, he is found Jya'le 
 to the Elects Debr, and muft anfwer for it, as 
 the former word is, C Ic was exacted on h\m>and 
 a Cor. c. ult. He was made fin for us, and Gal. 3. 
 J 3. He was made a curfe for us, ] that is, by 
 
 3. Vtrf. *. jt, 
 
 the Sentence of Juftice he is decerned to bea c 
 the curfe. 3. The Sentence is executed as it was 
 pad, the Cup is put in his hand, and not only 
 is he decerned and doomed to the curfe, bur 
 actually he is made a curfe, and all this as judi- 
 cially iuftaining the perfons of the Elect,, and as 
 their Cautioner and Surety. 
 
 Here we have fome fweet and profitable Vftt, 
 1. See here and take up the way of Redemption 
 contrived, fo as it runs on Mercy and Juftice, 
 Mercy to the Elect, and Juftice to the Cautio- 
 ner! their Debt being fully exacted of him. 
 
 2. Itlearnsushow to eftablifhour Faith, and 
 alfo gives us a ground of Believing: To make 
 it diftinct; Juftice behoved to be farisfied, with- 
 out vvhic%no Mercy could be fliewed to the 
 Sinner; and God hath laid down the way by the 
 Cautioners interpofing ; even as it is among 
 meT,the Cautioners being Imprifoned and faris- 
 fying; is the Debitors Liberation ; and as God 
 hath condefcended to deal with us by way of 
 Covenant, fo he condefcended in the Covenant 
 of Redemption to proceed legally and judicially 
 with Chrift, that we mi^ht have the clearer 
 way to make application of it. 
 
 3. Are there any here that look for Redempti- 
 on thorow Chrift, and hope that their fins were 
 in the Libel giren to him; O! how warming 
 would this be to your hearts ? and how fhould 
 it make^hemto melt in love and godly forrow, 
 to bcholdChrift (landing at Joftice Bar, and that 
 for you ? O ! what an afpect ifcould his furTcrings 
 have on us, if we were clearabout ourinttrreft 
 in him, and could^ftear him in our name, fay- 
 ing, [ Father, here am I, if thou take me, lee 
 rhefc go; thy will be done, for this caufe came 
 I here to anfwer for my Peoples Debr^to take 
 with the challenges given in againft theTjh and 
 to undergo thy Sentence for them; then fays Ju* 
 ftice, thou muft pay thtir Debt; Content, f'ys he, 
 Here am I» and fo he gives his back to rhe Emit- 
 ter, and his cheeks to them that plucked offthe 
 hair: and hid not his face from lhame and {pit- 
 ting. If we were clear that our fhare was there, 
 and that our iniquities came in among the reft 
 to make up the Libel, and if we could aright 
 difcern him fo pinflicd & firai'nedin fatisf>ing 
 for us, would we not think our lelves eternally 
 obliged to him, to hate tin, and to gLnfe himin 
 our bodtts and fpirits which are his ? as it is r Cor, 6, 
 ult. If indeed yebeChrifts ( as ye are all ready 
 to profefs your fclvcs tobejhepays dear for you, 
 
 and if lb, will not this ly upon you as a juft 
 Debt to him , to glorifie him in youi bodies, 
 and in your Ipirits? for both in body and fpi- 
 rit he payed for you. 
 
 Y 4 Its 
 
i$i Jfaiak 5 
 
 4. It's a notable ground of confolation to Be. 
 lievers againft defpondcncy and fear to appear 
 bcfoie the Throne of Gcdibecaufe our Lord Je- 
 fus Chrift hith been before us.and in our name, 
 and hath anfwered for us to the full, and hath fa- 
 tisficd all chatjuftice could crave of us: What 
 wakens rerror at Death, and makes the thoughts 
 of Chrift's appearing to be dreadful,but our look- 
 ing on our appearing at the Bar of God ? butic 
 is a comfort againft ir % that Chrift our Cautioner 
 was brought to Prifon and to Judgment, and 
 was alfo brought from bothi yea which is more, 
 and without which the confolation is but halv- 
 ed, he was brought to both for us, and he was 
 alfo brought from both as our Surety, as Surety 
 for al! them that betake themfelves by Faith to 
 him: He was carried to Prifon and to Judgment 
 as Cautioner for the Eleft, and he wa* purfued 
 as their Cautioner, and therefore his payment of 
 the Debt as Cautioner mud be accepted in name 
 of chem,for whom he payed the Debt : Our Lord 
 Jefus not only died and was laid in the Grave, 
 but he wem further in ( to fpeak fo, ) he was 
 even at the Bar of Juftice, libelled, exacted up- 
 en & fcntenced.and thefentence executed upon 
 hi-fi, elfe, wo had been unto us: on this ground 
 is that triumph, Rom- 8. Whofltll lay any thing to 
 
 3- yer f- •• . , Serm. 30. 
 
 the charge of Gods elt 8 ? in God that )ufiifie> : who 
 flail tondemn ? iVj Chrifl that died, yea rather who it 
 rijen again, 8cc. and it sfaid, Rom. 7. Tint we are 
 dtlivtred from the law, being dead to that wherein we 
 were held; the Law had us in Prifjn, and a lock on 
 the door, and had us under irons, but our Lord 
 came, and ( as Sampfon didm anorher caf c ; car- 
 ried the ports and barstothe hilltop, Hefpoiled 
 principalities and powers, and triumphed openly over 
 them on the crofs,Co that now the prince if this world 
 is judged-, Thefe are the true and faithful Jayings of 
 God : We have through Chrift accefs, and may 
 with boldnefs eome to the throne of Grace t hwng h'm 
 an highpruflwbo is touched with the feeling 0) our in- 
 firmities , and was in all things tempt edHtke as w: are; 
 he knew not only what it wasto be hungry and 
 thikfty and weary, to be pained, aid to die; but 
 what it was to come before the terrible Tribunal 
 of God.and to be libelled for fin, though not for 
 his own fin, and what it was to befentenced and 
 to meet with wrath; which gives to finners a 
 fafe and refrcfhful (heifer under him, as under 
 the (hadow of a great rock in aweary land: 
 This is the great defign nf the Gofpel, to make 
 proffer of the benefite'of thefe fuffering* ?o you 
 and to pray you in Chrifts Head to bereconcill 
 ed to God:NowGodhimfelfperfwade you to it. 
 
 
 SERMON XXX. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII VIII. 
 Vcrf 8. He was taken from pnfon, and from judgement, and who flail declare bit generation? For he was 
 tut off out tf the land of the living, for the tranfgrt(Jim of my people was he ftricken. 
 
 E>Very ftep of Ghtifts way to finners, and 
 every word whereby it is expreft, is won- 
 d derfulj And therefore it is no marvel that 
 the Prophet doth by way of admiration caft in 
 this word, And who flail declare his generation? 
 We fhe<vyou that we conceivethefe words to 
 be thefe that exprefs the Prophets turning of 
 himfelf fromChnfts Humiliation to his Exalta- 
 tion : He hath inlifted long in fetting out his 
 wonderful abafement, exinanition, and humili- 
 ation, which thefe words import, He was brought 
 from prifon and from iudgment;WhiCh look net only 
 to his external imprifonment, to bis coming to 
 judgment before men, but alfo, and mainly and 
 principally, to the pinches and ftraits that he 
 was brought into , and his arraignment before 
 G'>ds Tribunal, and fo to the caufe of hisfuf- 
 fering, to wit./*' the tranjgrtffun of his people, as 
 the words following hold out, which was not 
 the caufeof h s cenfure before men, but :he pro- 
 curing caufe of what he met with fiom,and be- 
 fore God. 
 
 But though h« was brought to prifon and to 
 judgment, to death and to the grave, yet they 
 diduwt, (bey cjjuld not detain him) Ht wutiktn 
 j^awmmmm 
 
 or as the word fignifies, he was lift up from pri- 
 fon and from judgment, being the fame word that 
 followeth, He was cut off out of the land of the living, 
 which fuppofes a turn and change from his Hu- 
 miliation to his Exalration, and thefe words, 
 Who flail declare his generation ? Set out the uncon- 
 ceivable and unexpreffible glory rhat Chrift is ex- I 
 alted unto, fo Atls 8. 33, 35;. Where thefe words 
 are cited, it's faid. In his Humiliation his judgment 
 was taken away, That is, inhisloweft ftep of his 
 Humiliation, his judgment, or that to which he 
 was adjudged,was taken from him, and he was 
 declared free; However, fince in thefe words 
 our Lord's Humiliation is implyed, and his Ex- 
 altation expreiTrd as following on it, we think 
 it fafeft to undcrftand it fo. The words put to« 
 gether hold out the high degree of Chrifts glo- 
 rious exaltation, io as his generation cannot 
 be declared ; He was taken from prifon and from 
 judgment, and glorioufly exalted in another man* 
 ner, and to another degree of glory than either 
 Angels or Believers are, or are capable to be; 
 For he that is exalted i<> God, whofe generation 
 cannot bo declared* Dftth b0vi%n* mm dominion 
 
 i 
 
S«rm. 50- t , If*** tt. 
 
 wet him, and he isving the ktyt if hell and ef death: 
 in a word, we take this, fVhofhall declare his gent' 
 ratien ? mod immediately to relate to ChritVs 
 Exaltation as Mediator, and to the glory where- 
 with he was inverted, and to the dominion that 
 he hath over all creatures : yet confidering that 
 the Prophets fcope is to fet out this as wonder- 
 ful, and confidering that the flrft ftep of his Ex- 
 altation is his Refurreftion, whereby (as the Apo- 
 ftle fpeaks. Rom, i. 4. ) he was declared to be the 
 fon of God with power; His Refurre&ion being lin- 
 gular* in this refpe£,that he rofe by his own pow- 
 er, and considering that Ms 8. 3 c. Philip began 
 to preach tfi the Eunuch J et'us (Thrift as the object 
 ot Faith; We think it reafonabJe to conceive, 
 that he preached Chrift to be God, from this 
 Text, fo as the Eunuch might have afolid foun' 
 dation for his Faith; And the fubferving the 
 icop?, which is to fet out the wondeifulnefsof 
 Chiifts love to Eleft Tinners who being God, yec 
 condefcended to come this low for faving of 
 therm We may take in his God-head medially 
 from which as tr e former fteps of his Humilia* 
 tion received worth and efficacy, fo he was there- 
 by fuftained and born up under all thefe fuffe* 
 lings whereby his people are faved. 
 
 From the firfl and fecond expreflions put toge- 
 ther, we fliall draw three Doilnnes relating to 
 three main Articles of Faith. 
 
 The j. whereof is this, That our Lord had 
 an out* gate from, and victory over the low eft 
 and moft pinching pieces ot His Humiliation 
 and SufTcrir g ; fo that though he was at prifon 
 and judgment, yet he was lift up from both, and 
 had a glorious out-g3te : This takes in three 
 things, wheh the fame grounds will confirm, 1. 
 That in nn 1 weft cftatt&fteps of Humiliation, 
 he wasfufialnedj&carried rhoiow,fo that all the 
 afliults which he was put to endure and encoun- 
 ter with from all his enemies, wicked Men and 
 Devils, did not overcome him. 2. That as he 
 in himfelf was born thorow and fuftained; So 
 in refpeft of God's Bar at which he was arraign- 
 ed, he was abfolvcd and fet free; He fo cane 
 thorow by payingof the debt, that he had a: Ab- 
 folviror, as it is, I. Tim 3 ult. Great is the my ft ry 
 ef godlinefs, God was mamjeft in the fltjh, juft ji^dm 
 thejfpiritj Our blefTcd Lord Jefus being lulrajned 
 by the power of his God-head was carried tho- 
 row in his fufferings, payed the Elects debt, and 
 received the I'entence of absolution, even as a 
 serfon (tofpeak with reverence in fuchafub- 
 ecl ) having payed the debt for which ke was 
 mprifoned, is abfolved and fet free. 3. It takes 
 nourLords ac"r.ualdclivcry,he not onlyreceivcd 
 he fentence of Ablblution, but was JCtually ftt 
 ree: fo that as he was pleafed to put himfelf in 
 lifgn and in ftraits for us,fo he was brought 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Virf. *i i$ t 
 
 from every ftep of his Humiliation, frm pr$f om 
 and frem judgment, from death and from the giave, 
 Hi nailed the handwriting which was againft us r» 
 his croft, ( as the Apaftle faith, Col. z. i+ t 1 5,) And 
 having fpoiled principalities and powers^ he made a 
 {hew of them openly, triumphing ever them in it; 
 And as it is, 1 Cor. 1 5. at the clofc,He took the 
 fting from death, difarmed it, and trode upon 
 it : And there was neceflity for this, even fuck 
 neceflity , that it was impofllblc it could be 
 otherwayes, as we have it, Acts 2. 24. It was n.c 
 pojjiblethat ke could beholden of death. This will be 
 clear if we confider thefe things, 1, The perfon 
 that fuffered, he was not an ordinary, nay, nor 
 a meer man, but God man; As is clear, Acts 2.27. 
 cited out ofPfal. i6\ where it is faid, [ Thou wile 
 not leave my foul in hell, neither wilt thou fuf- 
 fer thy Holy One to fee corruption] t. The end 
 ofChriftsfuffciings, which wastofatisfie for the 
 debt of his people,tnerc having been no reckon- 
 ing on his own fcore or account, he being ftill 
 in Gods favour, and his Hely One in whom his 
 Soul delighted all along his Sufferings; His fuf- 
 ferings being for the fins of his EteQt, and he 
 being to make application of his fatisfa&ion, 
 and of the purchafe made thereby to the Eleft 
 for whom he fuffered and purchafed thefe things, 
 by his interceifion ; There was a neceflity that 
 he (hould come thorow; otherwayes he (hould 
 net have been a perfect and compleat Saviour, 
 [ Able to lave to tha uttcrmoft thefe that come 
 unto God by him, as the Apoftlc fpeaks, Hcb. 7. 
 25. But fu:h a High Prieft became us, who is 
 holy, harmlefs, undeflled, feparate from fmners, 
 and made higher than the Heavens. ] 3, It's 
 clear alfo, if we confider the nature of the Co*- 
 venanr, and of the promifes made to him there- 
 in, upon his ingaging and undertaking for the 
 Elcft, is particularly ver). 10 of this Chapter, 
 [ He fliall fee his feed, and prolong his days, 
 his duration (hall be for ever, The plealure ot the 
 Lord (hall prefper in his hand, and I will div dc 
 him a portion with the great, and he ill a 1 1 di- 
 vide the fpoil with the ftrong : Our Lord's E. « 
 altarion and victory over death bcin£ on tl.e 
 Lord's fide conditioned to him the Mediator as 
 well as he ingaged to fuller, hence it's faid,P/fi 
 no. [ He (hall drink of the brook in the way, 
 therefore (hall he lift up the head. 
 
 The Ujej are two. The 1. whereof ferves for 
 clearing and confirming our Faith inafundt- 
 mcntal Article of Chnltianity, wihout which 
 it were need lefs for us to pi each, and needleftfor 
 you to hear or believe, and that is.that our Loid 
 Jefus luff. red, and alio got the victory ov'i fuller- 
 ing ,thif£e was rai\ei frcm the ti-ad, ircd to 
 be the Sm of G)d w.tb pon»,rj intimating, that 
 
 1 
 
J £4 ... J f aisi 
 
 Juftice had gotten full fatisfaction, in evidence 
 and teftimony whcicof he was declared free; 
 which is a main thing that Believers have to be- 
 lieve* even that we have an exalted Chrift, a raif- 
 ed up Saviour, who could not be detained by all 
 the Elects guilt in prifon. l.Ir fervesto be mat. 
 ter of ftrong confolation,it puts life in all Chrift's 
 Offices and Qualifications, and in all the Promi- 
 ies made to Believers; to wit, that our Lord Je- 
 fusis a living Chrift, over whom death bad no domi- 
 nion, and he overcame it,wn> to ditno more\ So that, 
 as it is, Hilf, 7. 25. [ He is able to fave to the 
 ■uttermoft thofe that come uato God by him, 
 ieing he ever liveth to make interceffion for 
 them : There is nothing that a Soul needs or 
 can defire, but it is to be had in him : And if 
 we would look to # particular inftauces, much 
 confolation will arife from this ground; For f« 
 Hatha believing (Inner to do with challenges at 
 the Bar of Juftce, is it not unfpeakable confola- 
 tion that their debt is payed? Hence it'sfaid, 
 Aom 8.$3-[Who fhall lay any thing to the charge 
 of Gods Elect ? It's God that juftifies; who fhall 
 condemn? It's Chrift that died, yea rather that 
 is rifen again ; ] It's that which gives proof of 
 compleat payment of the Elects debt,and defi- 
 ance to any challenges and Accufations to come 
 againfttheBeliever to his prejudice.becaufeChrift 
 hath not only died, but is aJfo rifen, Juftice be* 
 ing well pleafcd with his fatisfaction, he is 
 let out of the Prifon. 2, If the Believer hath 
 te do with corruption, with the Devil and with 
 many enemies; Is it not ftrong confolation that 
 our Lord is rifen and up, that the Prince of this 
 vwrld is judged, that Satan is troden under foot, 
 and that he jball and rvuji reign till all his enemies 
 be made his foot- slool? 3. Our Lord's Refurrecti- 
 on hath a twofold further confolation with it to 
 Believers. 1. It ferves to be a ground for the ex- 
 ercifing of Faith on him, that as he is rifen, fo 
 ( Rom. 6\ ) may we expect that being fpiritually 
 dead with him to fin, we mail be with him raifed 
 up to Jievtnefs 9fl\fe. 2^ It is a pledge of Believers 
 Exaltation and compleat victory over Death and 
 the Grave, and over all enemies; for Chrift be- 
 ing raifed as the common Head of all Believers 
 who are his Members they by vertue ofhisRe- 
 furrection.and by that fame efficacy fhall be raif- 
 ed* And it's impollible that they can ly under 
 corruprion^Thisis our great confolationwho are 
 Believers, and live under the Gofpel, that we 
 have not thefe things as a Prophefie of things to 
 come, but as a plain Hiftory of things in part 
 done, and by and by to be compleatly done. 4. 
 It hath alfo in it confolation in refpect of tem- 
 poral difficulties, what are they all, They are 
 not fure fuch as Chrift's were, and the day is 
 coming when Believers ihall haveaa outpace 
 
 53 • W. 8. Sttm^ 30. 
 
 from them all; And therefore fince our Lord 
 is up, let not Believers be afraid of any changes 
 whatsoever. 
 
 idly* Obfervt* That our Lord Jefus being raif- 
 ed up from his ftate of Humiliation, is inverted 
 and put in a moft excellent and glorious con- 
 dition, evenfuch as the Prophet cannot exprefs 
 [ Who can declare his generation ? ] faith he; 
 Who can declare how glorious he is now ? Take 
 two or three Scriptures to confirm this, 1. That 
 Epb. 1. jo. ti« [ He hath fet him at'his own 
 right hand in the heavenly places, far above all 
 principalities and powers, and might, and do- 
 minion, and every name that is named, not on- 
 ly in this world, but alfo in that which is to 
 come, and hath put all things under his feet 
 and gave him to be head over all things to the 
 Church i Our Lords Throne is exalted far above 
 Angels and Archangels, even out of fight. The 
 id. is Phil. 2. 9. Where having fpoken of his 
 Humiliation, it follows, [ Wheteforc God hath 
 highly exalted him, & given him a name which 
 is above every name, that at the Name of Jefus 
 every knee mould bow, 06 things in Heaven 
 and, &c. His Exaltation is fuch as hath a Domi- 
 nion and Supremacy with it over eyery name; 
 [ He having, as it is, Col. 1, 18 in all things the 
 preheminency. ] The 3^. place is, Heb. 8. 1. [Of 
 the things which we have fpoken, this is the 
 film, we have fuch an HighPrieft who is fet on- 
 the right hand of Majefty in the Heavens; ] 
 Where Chrift's Exaltation is fet out to be fuch 
 as hath exalted him to the right hand of the 
 Majefty on high. 
 
 Becaufe this is one of the great Articles of ' 
 our Faith, to wir, [ That Chrift rofe from death 
 the third day, and afcended into Heaven, and is' 
 fet down on the right hand of God ;jWc fhall 
 add a little more to clear it, and 1. We would 
 know that this Exaltation of cur Lord is not to 
 be underftood of his exaltation properly as he is 
 God, in which refpect there is no up nor down 
 in him, though his declarative glory waj vailed 
 for a time during his humiliation, yet in him* 
 felf as he wasGod,he wasftill glorious and blef- 
 fed over all. *. When we fpeak of Chrift's Ex- 
 alrarion as Mediator, and as Man, we do not 
 mean that hisHumane Nature hath loft the cf- 
 fential properties of a Creature, As if now when 
 exalted he were wholly or only God, or as if the 
 properties of the Humane Nature were fwallow- 
 ed up in the Godhead; That were inconfiftent 
 with his being true Man, and would marr and 
 obftruct our confolation exceedingly* But his 
 Exaltation confiftcth, 1. IntJiemanifeftation,and 
 declaration of thePrrfon that was humbled and 
 brought low, to be God Omnipotent, Omnipre- 
 fent, AFfufficient, infinidy Wife, Powerful Jutl 
 
 pre- 
 
 foe. 
 
serm. i#. • . #>'«* 
 
 drc. For though thefc properties agree not to 
 the Humane Nature, yet they agree to his 
 Perfon,& they are manifefted to be in him with- 
 out queftion. a. In the Exaltation of the Hu* 
 mane Nature of Chrift-man, to in unconceiv- 
 able height of gloiy,fuch as the Humane Nature 
 united to the Divine Nature is capable of, by 
 very many degrees beyond any thing that the 
 ElcQy whether Angels or Men are capable of; 
 Theperfonal union making him capable of far 
 more glory, and his excellent Offices calling for 
 it. 3 . This Exaltation confifts in his abfolute Do- 
 minion and Kingly Power, which is more ob- 
 fervably, dirc&ly and plainly manifefted in the 
 dayes of the Gofpel-adminiftration than it was 
 under the Law;So that now he is clearly known 
 in refpeft of his Kingly Office to be God in our 
 nature, cloathed with our flefh, and to btlmma- 
 wu*J,God with us, and that this lmm anuel hath 
 [ all power in Heaven and Earth committed to 
 himi He hath the keys of Hell and of death, and 
 is King of kings, and Lord of lords, is exalted 
 far above principalities and powcrs,and isgiven 
 to be head over all things to theChurch;]Inwhich 
 refpeft that is moft properly to be underftood 
 when it is faid, that he tsfeton the right hand of 
 God-, So that now Jefus Chrift, God and Man in 
 one Perfon is in higheft Glory, and inabfo- 
 luteft Dominion , ncareft unto God: far above 
 that which Angels or Saints are capable of; As 
 Kings ufe tofct their greateft Courtiers and Mi- 
 nions whom they would honour moft on their 
 right thand, and as Solomon fet his Mother 
 on his right hand; fo is uur Lord fet on the 
 right hand of God in higheft g!ory : It is true, 
 that as God he hath an absolutely Soveraignand 
 independent Kingdom , yet as Mediator God- 
 man he hath a difpeniatory Kingdom next unto 
 the Father in glory. 4. This Exaltation confifts 
 in Chrifts being furnilhed with qualifications 
 fuitable to that glorious condition wherein he 
 isinveftcd; And though thefe qualifications of 
 the Man*Chrift be not fimply infinite, yet they 
 arc far above what we can conceive; And the 
 qualifications of the PerfonticJaman are infinite, 
 in which refpe&he is Omnipotent, All feeing, 
 and infinitely wife, to provide every thing that 
 may be for the good of his Church and People, 
 and to prevent what may tend to their hurt ; 
 Omniprefent, &c 
 
 The Ufes are thret, 1. This would waken and 
 rouze our Spirits to high, holy, and reverend 
 efteem of Chrift; he is God above all gods, King 
 above all kings; he hath gotten aname above every 
 name, that at the namS^of Jefus every knee jhould bow t 
 not fuperftitioufly when he is named, but holily 
 and reverently to think of him,and to worfhip 
 and fcrve hirn;Wc conceive amopg many faults 
 
 5 3« For\. J. ^ l6s 
 
 and evils in Believers, this is a root-evil, even 
 low thoughts of glorious Chrift, fo that becaufe 
 he hath become low to lift us up, we are ready 
 to think the lefs of him, but O ! that we could 
 behold the glorious condition he is exalted un« 
 to, and could look upon him as ere long, com- 
 ing in the clouds with powir and great glory, in the git* 
 ryoj his Father, and all the holy angels with him, it 
 would furniih reverend thoughts of him, though 
 not to hurt faith and confidence, yet to breed 
 holy awe and reverence in us to him-wards. 
 
 The id* Ufefervcs to fliew what a formidable 
 party they engage to top with them, who flight 
 our Lord Jefus Chrift, what lofsthey are at who 
 lofe him, and what a great aggravation their fin 
 hath who fin againft him; ye that flight, refufc 
 and oppofc him, do ye know whom ye refufe, 
 and whofe dominion ye fpurn againft, and how- 
 hard it will be for you to kick againftthe pricks? 
 do ye know your Iofs who lofe him, and how 
 it will aggrege your guilt who defpifehim? the 
 more glorious Chrift be, the greater will the 
 Cm of the Unbeliever be; therefore beware what 
 ye are doing.ye havea mightygreat&ftrong party 
 to deal with ; and when the great day of his 
 wrath comes, and when he (hall appear in his 
 glory, how will you be able to abide the leaft 
 touch of it? it will aggrege your fin and heigh- 
 ten your mifery, that he whom the Father ex- 
 alted was undervalued by you, that ye fcorned 
 to take a direction fiom him, or to fubmit to a 
 cenfure drawn forth in his name, and faid, at 
 leaft by your practice, [ Let us break his bands 
 afur.der, andcift away his cords from m.b:it he 
 bath fet his king en lis holy hill of Zicn, for 
 allthtt, and he that (Irs in heaven will laugh, the 
 Lord will have you in derifion; think on it fe- 
 rioufly and know, that he is no mean perfon 
 whom ye flight and defpife*, and though this 
 may now fecm lefl than other fins, yet ic will 
 one day Jy heavy on your fcore and Conference, 
 above many, yea, above all other fins. 
 
 The id. Uje fcrves to be a motive and encou* 
 ragement to them that hear this Gofpel to re- 
 ceive Chrift, and for the confolation or Belicv* 
 ers, who have received him. /. It fervesro en- 
 courage you all to receive him; He is no mean 
 pei I on that wooes you, but K>*g of kings, and 
 Lordoj lords; and if ye think it a happinefs to be 
 for ever with him, then lerir move you toclofe 
 with him; if > e do fo, ye fhall be made glori- 
 ous as he is glorious, a due proportion betwi.se 
 the Head and the Members being kepr, ye fhall 
 fit en the fame throne with bint, and heboid his glory, 
 as he prayeth John 17. / will that thife wbc 
 haft given me maybe with me, 1 9 behold my g!.r)\ this 
 is cciciinly a great Birgainjif Chrift be glorious, 
 
 he 
 
166 
 
 who ha^c received him.yehaveanexccllcntMedi 
 aior a mod glorious Head and Husband, and a 
 mofc excellent Dowry, and ye (hall know it to 
 your fuperabundanr fatisfattion and joy in that 
 day, when ( as iris Pfal 45 jY= ftiall be brought 
 unto the king in raiment of needle work,W/W/ 
 enter into the kings palace, and (hare ofhisgtory, 
 Mnd fee him face to f*ce,and fit with him on his 
 throne, even as he hath overcome, & is fet down 
 with his Father on his throne ; labour to be 
 ftayed in the Faith and hope of this good, glori- 
 ous, and'deiirable day that is coming, when we 
 Hull not only fee, but partake of, and be fulJy 
 and for ever pofleffed in that which eye hath 
 not feen, ear hath not hcard.neither hath it en- 
 tered in the heart of man to conceive of. 
 
 3, From the words as we exponed them, O** 
 ftrve, That our Lord Jefus Chrift who iuffered, 
 and was in fuffering brought very low, is God; 
 We find ordinarly in Scripture, efpecially tho- 
 row the new Teftament,thele three going toge- 
 ther, li Chrifts Humiliation- a. His Exaltation 
 on the back of that: And }Jly. His God-head; 
 His Humiliation is not readily fpoken of with* 
 out his Exaltation, nor his Exaltation without 
 his God-head ; becaufe its impoflible to fe- 
 parat Chrifts Exalration from hisGod-headi his 
 Exaltation being the evidence of his God-head; 
 end the Prophet's fcope here being to fet out 
 Chrift's Exaltation, and Philip preaching of it to 
 thtEunucb from this Text, it's doubtlefs the con- 
 
 Jjaiah $%. Ferf. «. 5 
 
 he calleth you f fhare with him in the fame glo- and what is hi} He (hall be call'd, wonderful' 
 ry a. It ferves for the confobtion of Believers, Counfellour, the Mighty God, the Eveilaftina 
 
 Father, the Prince of Peace; of che inc.ea/e of his 
 government and peace there (hall be no end; 
 Here we have thefe three, H IS Humiliation, Ex* 
 altation and God head; hisHumiliation [ Untc 
 us a child is born, unto us a fon is civcn Hi 
 
 nation, E x « 
 o 
 
 Exaltation, Of the'incrcafe of "-m's JowS.2 
 and peace there fhall be no end, upon the throna 
 Q k D *?i* and - h [ s kingdom, to order ir „,d to 
 citabhlh it with judgment and with juftict- J 
 And his God-head is interjected and put in be 
 twixt thefe two, [ In the names and titles given 
 to him,Wonderful,CounfeUor, the Mighty God 
 
 the lame reafonC**;. 7. 4 Heis calleTjfrw*,* 
 
 el, God with us A id. pace is that of PL ■/. a 6* 
 Who being in the form of God, thought it no robb'ry (ht 
 did God no wrong ) [ to b equal with God, he 
 madelnmfelf of no reputation; and took on h m 
 the form of a fcrvant, &c. wheicfure God ajfo 
 hath highly exilted him,and given him a name 
 above every nime.^f. A 3 < place is that of Htb 
 1. 2, 3. [God whoatfundry times, and in divers 
 manners, fpoke in time pair unto the fathers by 
 the Prophets, hath in thefe laft days fpoken.un- 
 to us by his (on, whom he ruth appointed heir 
 of all things, by whom alfo he made the world 
 arid what is he by whom hefoahto us? who being the 
 brightnefs of his glory , and the exprefs image 
 of his perfon, and upholding all things by the 
 
 templation of Chrift's God-head thar occauoneth word of his pewer,when he had by himfcif pur 
 
 this" admiring exclamation, who flail declare his 
 generation ? which we apply, not fo much to the 
 ineffablenefs of his generation, as to its being an 
 evidence that he is God: There are three or four 
 ways whereby the Scripture confirms this, let me 
 defireyou by the way, not to look on this as a 
 little, momentuous or but a common Doctrine; 
 and fince there are many fo ignorant, that we 
 would be aihamed to tell, what we hear from 
 
 ged our fms,he fat down on the right hand of the 
 majefty on high; ] there is here much of Chrifts 
 excellency holden forth, he is the brightnefs of 
 the fathers glory, and the exprefs image of his 
 perfon; the beam of the Sun is not Jiker to the 
 Sunslighr, the impredion of the feal on the wax 
 is not hker to the feal, than the Son is to the Fa- 
 ther, ( nay, the livelier refemblances fall infini- 
 relv Ihortofa full and exaft refcmblanc ) (he 
 
 fome of you concerning the God-head of Jefus Father and he being the fame God, and he being 
 
 Chrifr, ye wauld take better heed to it,being a 
 main pillar of ChriftianReligion,without which 
 our preaching and your Faith arc vain, for he 
 is not believed on at all, if ye reft not on him as 
 God : But to profecute what we propofed, to 
 wit, thefe fe vera 1 ways whereby the Scripture 
 confirms this trutf\ and to this purpofe confider, 
 1. The, exprefs Titles and Names that are given 
 to him in Scripture and fome fcripture fayings 
 of him which hold it out; three whereof we (hall 
 inftance ', The firft is that of Jfaiah 9. 6, 7. 
 Where, whtn thrift is prophefied of, it's faid, 
 [ Unto us a child is born, unto us a fon is given 
 and the government frali be uponhts fhouidcrs, 
 
 compared widi the Father* nor fimply as God 
 eilentially taken, but as the fecond perfon ofthe 
 Trinity compared with him who is the firft per- 
 foni O deep and adorable myfterj ! 
 
 A id. way to clearand confirm ir. is to con- 
 fider his works, oft rimes joyned with Misname; 
 The works of Create \ t Providence, Redemptil 
 on,and guiding of his Church, fo we have UJoku 
 l . 1, In the beginning was the word, the fubfhntial 
 word of theFather,rh- Son of his loVe,called the 
 wordf'rthtr asexprrfl] g the Fathers innge, as a 
 mans word exprefTtth his mind, or becaufe as a 
 Prophet of the Church he hath revealed the Fa- 
 
 tuers 
 
Scrm. 30. Jfaiah yj 
 
 rhers will, It's faid that this word was not only 
 with God, but was God; and then follows in leve- 
 ral verfa together his Works the works of Cre- 
 ation, all things were made by him, Sec the works 
 of Providence art attributed to him, John 5.17. 
 My father worktth hitherto ani I work, and the woi k 
 of Redemption, and his glorious going thorow 
 with i>, declare him to be the Son of God ', for 
 none lut God couM redeem his Church. 
 
 3/7. For clearing andconfirniing of this truth, 
 we may take the «prefs confeffion of the Saints 
 in Scripture, whereon there is much weight laid 
 and I Qiall name but five or fix of their confefli- 
 ons which to this purpofe are xprcfly and ful- 
 ly recorded, The i- is that of Mattb. 16. s6.Whom 
 do men fay that I am ? Peter an/wored; thou aft the 
 Ion of the living God* ind Chrift fays. Blejfid art thou 
 Simon Barjona, ft Jh and blood hath notrevealedthat 
 unto thee, hut my F.ither which it in Heaven; to let 
 us know, t hat it is not fuch a litt'e thing to be- 
 lieve Chrifts G r d-head as many take it to bejand 
 then he calls himfelf the rock en which his Church 
 is built ; Chrifts God head is the foundation of 
 Chriftian ty A ad. is John I, 49. In Nathanaels 
 words; Chrift tells him. before Philip called thee, 
 when thou waft under the fig-tree, I faw thee, and he 
 having gotten this proof of Chrifts Omni- 
 fcience, piefently breaks rut, Rabbi, thou arc the 
 fin of God, thou art the king of If r «e ? ; and that is the 
 firft thing his faith evidenceth it felf in. A 3d. 
 place is John 6*. 67, 68 69. wherei when Chrift 
 is faying to the twelve, [ will ye alfo leave me ? 
 Simon anfwered.Lord, to whom {hall we go,thou 
 haft the wora's of eternal life, & we believe and 
 are fure, that thou art the Chrift, thefon of the 
 living God; ] there is much in thefc words, we 
 believe and are fure that it is fo. A 4th. place is 
 John 1 1. 27. and it is Martha her confeffion f yea, 
 Lord, I believe that thou art Chrift, the Ion of 
 God which fhould come into the world. They, 
 place is that of John ao. 28, where, when Chnll 
 bidsThomas, reach h thcr his hand and put it into 
 his iidc, his glory fhines fo full in his face, that 
 he crys out, My Lord, and my God, and hisfairh 
 is fummed up and compended inthn The laft 
 p'ace that we (hall name is that of Ail. 8.371 a "d 
 its the Zunuchs conftflion, I believe that Jefus 
 Chrift is 'he fort of God, which is the fum of 
 his Faith. 
 
 The ath. and laft way of confirmation of this 
 great truth, is drawn from the worlhip which is 
 due unto h m, and hath been given unto him; 
 He is the objeft of Faith, John 1 4. i 1. [ yc be- 
 lieve in <^od, believe alfo in me; ] He is theob- 
 jeft of Prayer, Acts 7 59 [ They (toned Stephen 
 
 I calling upon God,faying, Lord Jefus receive my 
 fpirit, ] and frequently clfc-wncre in Scripture 
 
 Verf 8. \6 7 
 
 ht is prayed unto, though thefetwo are not too 
 curioufly to be feparated. 
 
 Ufe i. The firft Ufeferves to ftrengthen your 
 Faith in this.thatour Lord Jefus Chrift who fuf- 
 fered for flnners,&is made offer of to them in the 
 Gofpel,is God equal with the Father.and fo he 
 is to be c'ofed with, and refted on as the bright- 
 ness of the Fathers glory; the reafon why we 
 would haveyou confirmed in the Faith of this,is 
 not fmalhfor itsamoft necefTary rhing,&without 
 the faith of it, all the work of our falvation will 
 h^ng loufe; neither can we have any claim to 
 Eternal Life; and therefore we defire you parti- 
 cularly who are ignorant Hearers.and who have 
 the name of Chrift often in your mouths,and yet 
 know not what he is, to know, remember and be- 
 lieve, that he that is the Son of Mary, is alfothe 
 eternal Son of God, being God before he was in* 
 carnate, and before the World was made, and 
 the Maker of all that was made. 
 
 Ul* 2.Thefecond Ufe fcivcs to let you know, 
 That though it be a mod necefTary thing to be 
 confirmed in the Faith of this Truth, that Chrift 
 is God,yec it's a greater difficulty to believe and 
 be perfwaded of it than the moft part take it to 
 be; many fad proofs whereof we have in Folks 
 words,and moe in their practice, Flejh and blood 
 ( faith Chrift, Mattb 16. ) hath not revealed this un- 
 to thee ; It's a wonder whence fo many Folk* 
 faith comes who never found any the leaft dif- 
 ficulty in this, and it's a wonder that fo few are 
 through in the faith of it, fo that if they were 
 called and put to it.they durft notfwear that he 
 is God; yea, if we would look on a little further, 
 we would find.thatthe faith of ch.s is but fcarcc 
 amongfr us, not to fpeakof the grofs ignorance 
 of many, who will fay when asked, that he is 
 not equal with the Father, or that he was made 
 God, and other fuch like exprcflions will they 
 have, that are abominable to be once named 
 amongft Chriftians; Folks through their igno- 
 rance falling into damnable Herefics on themu- 
 ter, and yet not knowing that they do fo; As 
 if our bleiFed Lord were a made god, and not 
 tht fame God with the Father; For the proving 
 of him to be God, proves him to be the fame 
 God, there being but one GoJ. 
 
 Ye would confidcr for convincing you that 
 it is thus with many of you, r. The little 
 fear that is in men and women of the Majefty 
 of Chrift as God; they durir n : t wa'k with Co 
 littJefear of him, if they belie\ ed indeed that he 
 we«e God; What made thcjtws with the Sciibes 
 and Pharilees to fpir upon him and defpifc him? 
 But becaulc they wanted the Faith of his God- 
 head i And have not yc the fame nature in you' 
 
 Yc 
 
168 tf**& S3 
 
 Y« live in a place where the Faith of Chnirs 
 God-head is profiled, and is not queftioned, but 
 your practice fays tobeholdcrs,thac ye bclieveit 
 no*,becaufe ye fear him not. 2: That your fouls 
 do fo little welcome the offer of the Gofpeljthat 
 tells that ye believe him not to be God. 3. That 
 ye do not place your happinefsin Believing on 
 him,and in the way of holinefs; ye fay in eft'eft, 
 wherefore ferves Chrift ? ye care not for him ; 
 Hence itis that fo many live contentedly with* 
 out him, and arc not folicitous about rhe enjoy, 
 ing of him. 4. Even in Believers there is much 
 unbelief of this Truth, which is fadly evidenced 
 by this, that they do not fo blefs themfelvcs in 
 him, and that they do not fo reckon themfelvcs 
 to have come well to, and to be made up in him, 
 as Daviddoth, Pfal. 16. Where he faith, and holi- 
 ly glorieth, The lines are fallen unto me inpleafant 
 places, &c. And by the frequent difcouragement 
 that is incident to Believers, as it Chrift had not 
 
 • Ver f- 8 - Serm 
 
 theguidingofthem,andofwhatconcernsthem' 
 or couldnot guide all well enough for rheir good'. 
 If he were believed to be God it woulH quak 
 temptations, banifh difouragemrnts, romforc 
 under croffes.fweeten every c ndition, induce 
 to holinefs, reftrain from fin; And in a word it 
 cannot be told what is in the bolome of this one 
 truth when iolidly believed; Forwha' canptf. 
 
 rXv V n l m f ?, th r B ? ! . ever in him th « « 
 God? He hath the ftllneftof the God-hcad tofup. 
 
 ply whatever they want, and fuftains therelati- 
 on of a Husband to the Believer tcmakeitfoith- 
 commg;And he is furnifhed with fuitable qualifi- 
 cations to make the application thereof; What 
 then could be wanting if this were thorowly be- 
 lieved that he is o J - Letm.efayit to you, the 
 Faith' of this would provoke to more holinefs 
 and to ftudy more the power than the profeflion 
 of Religion, and would help to live a more com- 
 fortable life in every condition* 
 
 SERMON XXXF. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. Vllf 
 
 Verf. 8. He mas taken from prifon, and from judgement , and who flail declare his generation} For he was 
 cut off out ef the land of the living, for the tranlgr.ffim of my people was he firicken- 
 
 THefe words are a proof of that which 
 we difcourfed in the Le£hire concern 
 ingChriib wonderful love to his people, 
 Than which, no man hath greater, that a man 
 fliould lay down his life for his friend} But he 
 hath commended his love to us, in that while 
 we were yet enemies he died for us; This is the 
 great commendation of Chrift s love, and what 
 will he refufe to his people, who in his love 
 hath come this length to them ? 
 
 In the former part of this verfe, we fliew, that 
 there was a hint given cf Chrifts Exaltation, of 
 the Exaltation and Glory of the Mcdator fol- 
 lowing on the back of his lowtft luffering; An 
 ineffable andinexprcflible Glory, which the Pro- 
 phet rather paileth with a fort of non-plufling 
 filencc than infifteth in the declaration of ir t 
 Who fnall declare his generation ? 
 
 We come now to the Jaft parr of the words, 
 Fjrhe wo* cut off $%t cf the land »f the living, for the 
 tranfgrejjiin of my people was he firicken They are ad* 
 ded as a reafon of the former, and rhe one part 
 of them is a rcafon of the other, he faid before, 
 Who fhaff declare his generation? Who can fufHci- 
 cntly declare and unfold.how glorioufly th« Me- 
 diator is exalted : And he gives this for therea- 
 fon of it.For he was cut off out of the land of the liv- 
 wg{Tht force of which is,that he humbles hirrj- 
 lelfthereforc God hath highly exalted him, as 
 the ApoftJe rtiCons, Phi!'P> .2. 9. So that this is 
 
 not added as being pofterior to his Exaltation 
 but as a reafon Ihewmg the connexion of his 
 Exaltation with his Humiliation; And left it 
 mould be a {tumbling to any, that this glorious 
 perfon fuffered death, he gives the rcafon of that 
 alfo, which ftrengthens the reafon of his Exalta- 
 tion, Far the tranfgrcJJijH of my people was he firicken, 
 or ( as the word is ) Thejiroak was on him, hefuf. 
 fercd not for any wrong in himfelf. but for the 
 fins of his own Elect people : The firft particu- 
 larly looks to Chrifts death, which was a Pro- 
 phcfie in ifaiah his time,but is now a Hiftorical 
 narration to us, we having the Gofpel as a Com- 
 mentary on it.Tobe cut ofloutef theland tf the living, 
 is to have an end put to the natural life, which 
 is ordinarily done by dea'h- But cutting off here 
 figriifics to be taken away, not in an ordinary, 
 burin an extraordinary way.jto be removed by 
 a violent death, by the ftroak*of Juftice. 
 
 We may fhortly take thefe two Obftrves here 
 for # the confirmation of two Articles of our 
 Fairh; Looking on it 1. As a Prophefie, we 
 may Obfrve, That our Lord Jefus behoved to 
 fuffer and die, it was Prophcfied of him» That fa 
 fhtuld be cut off tut of the land of the living; And 
 Dan. 9. »6. Itis plainly andcleaily afTerted.thai 
 the MfJJiahjhould be cut off] which being compared 
 with the Hiftory of the Gofpcl* we have it as 1 
 truth fulfilled, lor our Lord Jefus was cut off 
 
 anc 
 
Serm. 3F. 'if slab f $ 
 
 and as he himfelf fays, Luh 84. ft hehtvedbimtp 
 fuffer thefe things, and to enter into bit glory ; And 
 fuppofing the Eleft to be finners, and the curfe 
 to be added to the Covenant of Works, The day 
 thou eats thou jh.th furely die, fuppofing alfo the 
 Mediator to have ingagedi and undertaken to ft* 
 tisfie Juftice, and undergo that cuife for the E» 
 left » There was a necenity that he mould die, 
 as it is, G*l. 3. l}*Chrift hath redeemed us fieem the 
 eourfe of the law, being made a eurfe for us, which 
 curfe was evident in his death, for it is written 
 Curfe d is every one that bangeth on a tree. 
 
 2. Obferve, That our Lord Jefus behoved to 
 die a vio'ent death, and not an ordinary natural 
 one ; which rhis exprefllon, and that other Dan. 
 
 0. clearly holds forth ; And confidering his fin- 
 Jefs nature that was not liable to death, and that 
 he had not thefe principles of his dying in him, 
 difpofing him to die, that we finful miferable 
 mortals have in us j And confidering withal 
 that the Lord Jehovah, was Cto fpeak fo) pur- 
 fuing him as finners Cautioner at the Bar of Ju- 
 ftice, it wasmeeti yea necefTary that our blefled 
 Lord fhould not die an ordinary death as men 
 die ordinarly, through weaknefs or ficknefson 
 their beds, but a violent death. 
 
 Ufe It ferves to be a confirmation of this truth 
 that the Mefliah behoved thus to die, therefore 
 we fay in the Belief He fuffer ed under Pontius Pi- 
 late, teas crucified dead find buried : Which fhews, 
 
 1. The reality of his farisfattion, and the com- 
 pleat payment that he made to Juftice, when he 
 lays down that price which the {inner ought to 
 have laid down. 2. It mews the reality of our 
 Lords fufferings, and that they were not imagi- 
 nary! bur that as he was a real and true man, 
 fo his fnffeiings were molt real ; His foul was 
 feparate from his body, though the union be% 
 twixt both his body and foul and the Cod* 
 head continued ftill. 3. It holds forth a proof and 
 confirmation of our faith in this, that our Lord 
 
 efus is thzSicJJiib that wasprophefied of.and pro- 
 Ted, in whom all the fufferings in his foul and 
 ody that were fpofcn of, to go before his 
 death, were accomplifhed, and in whom this 
 was alfo accompliihed, xhizhiwas cut off out of 
 'he land of the living; So that if we look rightly 
 pn the Scriptures, our Lords fufferings will be, 
 o far from being matter of ftumbling iharthcy 
 krill rather be a clear convincing, and evident 
 iroof, that Jefus of Nazareth is the true MeJJiah 
 hd chat in him, all that was fpoken concerning 
 h« H'Jfsh is ful filed and came to pafs. 
 Its matter of great confohrion to believe* 
 ers, that our Lord Jefus, who is now exalted, 
 ied, and fo death is fpol'cd, and there needs 
 
 P«ft *. iff* 
 
 not be any greit fear for them to yoke with it ; 
 This land of the living is not their reft,within a 
 little they muft be gone hence ; Our Lord was 
 out off from it, and that by a Aiameful death, 
 for the behove and fake of others, and not for 
 himfelf, and therefore his death cannot but be 
 made forthcoming for them for whom he under- 
 wentit, andtheir petty fufferings need not much 
 toivexthemi Thefe plaineft truths that are moil 
 ordinary have in them moft of fpirirualfap juice 
 and life, to (trengthen Faith,and to furnilhcon- 
 folation to Believers ; And thty were rightly 
 underftood.and fed upon by Faith,0 how lively 
 might they be? And were there no more buc 
 thefe two words in theText,0 how much confo- 
 lation do they yield in life and in death? Our 
 Lord is gone before Believers, and they may be 
 greatly heartned to follow him. 
 
 The laft part of, or the laft thing in the words 
 feems to have feme more obfeuriry in it, and 
 therefore we {hall infift the more in opening up 
 of the fame. 
 
 For the tranfgrtfn n of my pCtple w he Stricken ; 
 Thefe words do not lock to the rcafon why Vilate 
 and the Priefts condemned him, for they had 
 no thoughts of the fins of Gods peopl?;Thougfi 
 Cajaphas itumbledasto himfelf by guefson aPro- 
 phefie of his dying for them, but they give a 
 reafon why he wis cut off cut of the land ef the 
 living ; And look to the Court and Tribunal of 
 God's Jufcice, before which he was franding by 
 which he was to be fentenccd to death, for the 
 tranfgreffions of Gcd s people, and alfo abfolvcd: 
 He was thus fcricken in refpect of God's pur- 
 pofe and defign. 
 
 For clearing of the words, it may be enquir. 
 ed, r« What is meant here by my people ? a. Whac 
 is it to befiricken or fmitten for them ? 
 
 For the 1. My people , it is a difcriminating or 
 
 differencing thing oifome from Other* : An J 
 
 therefore, by my people here is not meant, 1 All 
 
 the world, or all that ever lived and had a being 
 
 we find net any where in Scripture that thefe 
 
 are called my people or God' s people, tut wl en ever 
 
 my people is fpoken of, it is uled to rid Marches 
 
 betwixt his people. and other peopl > rhat are not 
 
 his,as Job. 10.26, 27 .Vt^tlieve not betauje y> are net 
 
 of my fkeep, my fhtep hear my viice, and I knov thtm 9 
 
 which fuppofeth that fonic are his and others 
 
 DDt fo his,and fo my people cannot be all the world 
 
 Neither 2. Canit b- meant of (he whole v'fib?e 
 
 Church: who in refpect of the txrtrnal admini. 
 
 ftrationof theCov- nant, are fometimes called 
 
 his people, as all IhaeUrc: There is a narrower 
 
 march orboundaiy dnwn, John 10. 26. Where 
 
 Z the 
 
i?° Jfaiah S 5 
 
 that were only externally in Covenant with him, 
 fiys, Te are n*t my [keep, to (hew that his recko- 
 ning there muft not go upon external profeffi- 
 on , and verj. 16\ fomc that were not for the 
 time profeffingthemfelves to be his people, ire 
 reckoned i Other Jheep I havt which are not of this 
 fold, themalfol muft bring in: Nor j» Can it be li- 
 mited to them that were actually converted and 
 Believers, for he fays ( as I juft now hinted ) 
 that/&f bath other jb>ep that are net yet brought in, and 
 he isfaid together together into one the children of 
 God that were [cattered abroad, John ir. 52. So 
 then by my people muft be underftood thefe who 
 in God's eternal purpofc are feparate by the de- 
 cree of Election to be his own, even thefe whom 
 he hath chofen to glorifie himfclf in and by 
 them. through his Grace, and to glorifie them 
 withhimfelf; Even thefe fpoken ot,Jobn 17, 6. 
 Thine they were, and thou gave ft them me ; They 
 are the people who were tranfaSed for in the 
 Covenant of Redemption, and that were given 
 by the Father to the Son, to be redeemed by 
 him ; It was for their fins, even for the fins 
 of the EIe& that our Lord Jefus was ftricken. 
 
 As for the id. What is it to be ftricken for their 
 trangrefnn? The meaning is, the meritorious 
 caufe of their ftroak was on Chrift, which inti- 
 mats to us, that his fufferings and death were 
 procured by the fins of the Ele&of God ; his 
 ftroak, or the ftroak that was upon him (as the 
 ward is) was the amends that Juftice got for 
 their fins; in a word, the ftroak that the Elects 
 fins procured and merited, Took him out of (or a- 
 way from ) the land of the living, brought him to 
 frifin and to judgement, and made his foul an offering 
 forjtn: Neither can this be otherways underftood; 
 For it is not faid that for their good, or for 
 their behoof only, or to be an example and pat- 
 tern of patience only to them, he was ftricken, 
 as fome grofly erronious and prophane men 
 txpound the words, but for their tranfgrejftonwas 
 he ftricken, That is, it was their guile, which 
 he having undertaken and engaged to fatisfie 
 for, which made him liable to this ftroak. 
 
 In this part of the words thus opened up, we 
 have tcro notable points concerning the Cove- 
 nant of Redemption, 1. The party for whom it 
 is contrived and intended, and that is the £lect 
 or God's people; It is not all the World, nor all 
 the vifible Church-members that God tranfacted 
 for in the bargain with the Mediator, but my 
 people, the Elect of God ; they were foconfidered 
 in the tranfaction and in the Execution. 2, The 
 great price that was fought oj required, that was 
 offered, and that was agreed upon for theRedemp- 
 tion of the Elect, to wit, the death of the Me- 
 diator, even his dying thecurfed death of the 
 
 ■ Vtr $' *- , Serm. "t 
 
 Crofs; This isthefum, for the tnnrgreflions of 
 God's people, the ftroak was upon him ; God's 
 defign being to glorifie his grace in the falvati. 
 onoffo many, fin having interveened to bring 
 them under the curfe ; There is upon the one 
 fide the Lord's giving of them to the Mediator 
 to be redeemed by him, and upon the other fide 
 the Mediator's accepting of them on the terms 
 propoied, he is content ro iari>fie for them to 
 take the ftroak on himfelf delervedby them, that 
 they may go free ; each c£tht£e may be confidercd 
 feveral ways for furnifhing of fwcet Doctrines 
 i-From the firft of thofe Obferve, that there 
 are fome differenced from others in refpect of 
 God's purpofe, fome chofen of God for his peo« 
 pie befide all the reft of the world J for fome are 
 here God's people ere they be born, and ere 
 Chrift die for them, John 17. i<5. thine they were 
 and thou gave ft them me ; They are fdppofed to be 
 God s people in fomc peculiar refpect, "ere they 
 be given to Chrift to be redeemed by him ; In 
 a word, the Lord hath an elect people or apeo-i 
 pie chofen to falvation in his eternal purpofe and 
 Decree, an elect people, or a people chofen out 
 of the world, which in this 1 refpect arc not his 
 pie, or are not elected. There are four qualifi. 
 cations or properties in this Doctrine, which will 
 fervc to clear it; 1. When wefay there is fuch 
 a Decree of Election, we fay that it is a difcrU 
 minating or d.ferencing decree, wherein or whereby 
 there is « taking of fome, and not all; a taking 
 of one, and leaving another ; a taking of ifaac, 
 and a leaving ofljhmael; a taking of Jacob, and a 
 leaving of Efau, as it is, Rom. 9. And this difcri- 
 mination or differencing, hath thefe four fteps, 
 j. Thereis a differencing in Gods purpofe, in re- 
 fpect of the end, while all men are alike before 
 him, fome are defigned to eternal life, others 
 not; therefore Mat. 2$. 34. It's faid, Come ye 
 bUffed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for 
 you from the foundation of the world ; an. in this re- 
 fpect the Book of Life is faid to be opened, Revel. 
 20. i2. 2. This differencing is in refpect of 
 God's offering and giving of them to the Medi- 
 ator in the Covenant of Redemption, wherein 
 fome, not all, are given to Chrift, John 17. 2. 
 That he fhould give eternal life to as many as thou ha ft 
 given htm out of the world ; where it is clear, that 
 fo many are given to him in reference to whom 
 he is to exercife his Offices 3. There is a dif- 
 ferencing in refpect ofChrift's undertaking and 
 executing his offices for them, he accepts of 
 them, John 17. p For their fakes 1 fanft:fr. 1 my fdf t 
 I have feparated my felf ro the Office of Media* 
 tor, and do offer my felf for them, that they aft 
 may befanftifitd j And I pray for them, I pray m 
 
Scrm. 3r. Ijaiah <$. 
 
 for the world ; its of them that he makcth that 
 iweet account, John 6. 39. Thin; the Fathers will 
 ■that fern me that of all that he hath given me I fhould 
 Ufe nothing, hut Jbouldraife it up again attkelaft day; 
 And of whom he faith, John 10. 28, 29. 1 give 
 Unto them eternal life, and they flaW never perifh neither 
 fhall any man p'.uck them out of my hand ; He anfwers 
 and is accountable for them, and for them only, 
 he will count for no other as being redeemed 
 by him, and to be made pirtakers of his glory. 
 4. Thil differencing is in refpect of the promifes 
 made upon Gods part to the Mediator in favours 
 of the £lecr, and of the benefits that flow to 
 them from the Covenant ; He hath not promifed 
 to juftifie all, nor to make all believe, but fome 
 only ; He, as it were, faith to the Mediator, 
 thefe I give thee to be redeemed by thee, and 
 on the laying down of thy Life, and fatisfying 
 for them, I promife to make them believe, and 
 that through faith in thee they fhall be jufcified, 
 therefore faith Cfirift, John 6. 44. Murmure not 
 among your felves ; no man can come unto me except 
 the Father who hath fent me draw him ; And who 
 are they that mall believe on him ? See v. 37. 
 Ail-that the Father hath given me fhall come unto me, 
 snd him that cometh J will in no wife caff him tut, 
 but will make him dearly welcome ; And verf. 
 45. Every one that hath hetrd and learned 9ft he Fa- 
 ther cometh unto me ; And John 17. ». Tnat he fhould 
 givs eternal life to at many as thou haft given him ; 
 Thus ye fee what was meant when we cill this 
 a differencing Decree. 2. We fay that it is a 
 dtf.niti Decree, both in refpeft of the number 
 numbered, that is, about fo many, and no more, 
 tnd not all ; and in refpect of the number that 
 numbers, fuch a man and fuch a woman in 
 particular, in fuch a place, and not fuch an o* 
 ther perfon ; They are all particularly defigned, 
 and are therefore faid to be written in the Lambs 
 Book ofL'fe ; It is not all who are forefeen to 
 believe who are elected, as if election did follow 
 believing, as the caufe of the Decree ; Cut its 
 fuch a number whom the Lord ingagech to the 
 Mediator to draw, to teach and make them be- 
 lievers. 3. We fay it is a Decree that it jree, as to 
 all merit in them whom it reacheth, and its free 
 inthefc three refpects, 1. In refpect of any 
 thing in the perfon or perfons elected, who are 
 fuppofed to be lying as the reft of the WorlJ, 
 ther^foreits faid of Jacob and Efau, Rom. 9. 1 1 . 
 The children being n:t yet* bom, neither banting dnt 
 good or evil, that the purpofe of God according t§ tle&i- 
 on might (land, &:. That is, God refpecttd not 
 the doing good or evil in his electing of rhc one, 
 and puffing by the ochcr. 2. In refpecr ofChnfts 
 fatisfaction aad redemption, whuhprcfuppofcth 
 
 rerj. *.- i?I 
 
 this Decree to be, and is the mids by which it 
 is accomplifhed > fo that we are redeemed be- 
 caufe we are elected ; The £lect were Goes 
 people whenChrift did underrake and engage for 
 them, and in this refpect election is a Fountain- 
 grace, and Chriits death is not the caufe of £le« 
 ction, though it be the caufe of all the benefits 
 that follow upon it. 3. Its free in refpect of 
 Gods abfolute Soveraignty, who acts herein ac- 
 cording to the purpofe of his own will,having 
 no reafon without himfelf,as it is cUir, cMattb.11. 
 Even fo Father, becaufe it feetned good in thy fight ; 
 And hph. 1 . 1 1 i Being predtflinate according ;• the 
 pnrpofe of him, who worketb all things according to tht 
 ctunfel of his own willi As the Potter hath power 
 over the Clay,and makes of the fame lump one 
 VefTel to honour, and another to difhonour as 
 he pleafeth; So the Lot d acrs moft Soveraignly in 
 the Decree of Election. 4, We fay that this De- 
 cree is abfolute and peremptory ; which is not fo to 
 be underffood as if it admitted ofnomidfesin 
 the execution of it i But this is the meaning, 
 that the performing and bringing about thereof 
 depends on nothing without God, neither can it 
 be poflibly fruftratcd j Thefe fheep can never^ bo 
 plucked out of his hand, neither can they ever 
 penfh, but mud needs all and every on« of them 
 actually enjoy that which is decreed for therm 
 by his Dectee,elfe they could net be called Gods 
 people, if they might not be his i Thus ye fee 
 w hat is the meaning of thefe words my people,thit 
 is, his £lect people in or by the Decree of Elec- 
 tion. 
 
 I /hall fliortly give you fome few grounds from 
 Scripture to clear and confirm this truth ; The 
 1. whereof is taken from the Names that the 
 people of God get, from the expreflions that are 
 ufed in making mention of them in Scripture, 
 which will infer all thst hath been faid, as name- 
 ly they are called myjhup, John 10. his Sheep 
 that he knows,as it were, by head-mark,by nine 
 and flrnamc, which cannot but be his ; they are 
 called the Election of Grace, Rom. n. y. at this 
 prefent time there is a remnant, according to the t'.tcli- 
 on of grace \ and verf. 7. the ele&Uuhath obtained, 
 and the reft were bln.ded ; it's impofiiblc but the 
 £lect mud obtain, there being an infeparable 
 connexion betwixt the decree an J the end there- 
 of; they art faid lobe written in the Lambs boik 
 of Life before the jonndrtion of the ll^rld, bctcrcr 
 there was any mention of themfclvcs, or con- 
 sideration of ought in thcmfclvcs, they are fji 
 to be loved and b«loved, and ordained to e] 
 nal Life, Ails 13. 48. A* many as were or/ 
 to eternal Lift, brluved, where b:l; 
 Z a 
 
 Ai 
 
 youv 
 
171 If**** ffilW! 8. 
 
 made a frulc and effect of this decre of election, 
 its fo far from being a caufe thereof; they are 
 called bleffd of the Fjthtr, Matth- 25. and thefc 
 whom he bleiTcth cannot but be bleffed ; they 
 are called fuch as are given to Chrift, holding 
 forth a peculiar differ encing of them from others 
 they are called the people, whom he foreknew and 
 fredeftinatedRom.S^y. whom he did foreknew, them 
 be did predeftinate &c, and Rom. 1 1 .1% God hath not 
 tafi away hit people whom he foreknew : every one 
 was not fo foreknown ; for Chrift; will fay to 
 many at the great day, depart from me-, I never 
 knew you ; Titles and names of this kind are fre ■ 
 quent in the Scripture, whereby God differenc- 
 cth fome from others, which hath its rife from 
 Gods purpofe and decree of election. A 2. ground 
 is taken from the oppofition which the Scrip- 
 lure maketh betwixt the Elect and others who 
 are not elected, which (hews clearly that elec- 
 tion cannot be underftood of all, as if there 
 were a general and conditional election; hence 
 it's faid, Jacob have J loved, and Efau have I bated, 
 the electing of the one is laid foregainft the re- 
 jecting of the other ; (ojohn. 10. the Lord fays 
 of fome, that they are his fheep, and of others, 
 they are not my fheep ; and Rem. 9. the Apoftle 
 fpeaks of fome vejfdi of mercy which are before 
 prepared for glory , and of fome vefils of wrath fitted 
 jor deftruBion : and a Tim. 2. 21 fome are faid 
 to be ve felt of honour, fome of difhmour 5 fome are 
 ordained to eternal life, ABs 1 3 . and fome are ordain- 
 id of old to that deftruBion, as J ttde fpeaketh; fome 
 are written in the Lamb: book of Life ; and fome not, 
 Rev.10. and wherefore is all this fpoken ? but to 
 let us know that God hath freely and fovcraign- 
 ly in his decree put a difference betwixt feme 
 and others* which as it began (to fpeak fo ) in 
 God's eternal purpofe, fo it will continue in 
 the event 1 • Which is a id ground of confirma* 
 tion ; and it will be clear, if we compare Gods 
 
 Serm. 
 
 Ji 
 
 tternal life and they Jhall never perijh ; there isRow. 
 8. 30. a concatination and lit king together of 
 things from Gods purpofe and decree of electi- 
 on, even to tternal glory, which is the refulcof 
 election : And it being very clear that fome 
 are admicted and owned by Chrift in the great 
 day, andorhcrsnot, thislsalfo clear,that rherc 
 was a differencing decree betwixc rhefe fo ad- 
 mitted ando*ned before the world was,and o« 
 thei s not fo owned and admitted ; efpecially 
 Confidering that this differencing at the great 
 day of Judgement is drawn from the decree of 
 election, Matth 25. Come ye bit fid of my Father 
 inherit the Kingdom prepared jor you before t be founda- 
 tion of the world was laid; as if the Lord had faid 
 there was a purpofe and defign of bringing you 
 to Heaven before the world was. A 4 th ground 
 is taken from the nature of Gods Covenant of 
 Redemption, which holds clearly forth the 
 truth of this Doctrine concerning election in all 
 the lteps of it. As, r. In Gods making the offer 
 and gift of (ome to the Mediator, it's only fome 
 that he gives and not all. 2. In Chrifts accepta- 
 tion of the offer and gift : He prays for fome, 
 he fanctifies himfelf for fome, and for fome he 
 compts, and not for all. 3 . There is not a pro- 
 mi fe in all the Covenant of Redemption, whe- 
 ther it be ofGraceorof Glory, but it is intend* 
 ed for the Eleft only, and not for all, Igiveunto 
 them tternal lift, and they jhall never per ijh Joh. Io. 
 Thy people Jhall be willing in the day of thy />oa*r,Pfal. 
 no. 3. Chrifts undertaking is for them onlv, 
 John lo. Other fheep I have, which are not of this 
 \%ld, them alfo I mufi bring in ; there is a necefli « 
 ty in the bringing in of them and of no others, 
 becaufe he undertook for them and for no others. 
 We the rather take notice of,and infift fo much 
 on this, becaufe it will much ferve to clear the 
 following Doctrine concerning the redemption 
 of the Elect; for if there be a differencing of 
 
 purpofe and decree with the event and effect;for them from others by the decree of Election then 
 
 as athingisinthe event and effect, fo God in 
 tended and purpofed in his decree it (hould be ; 
 thus the Lords final fentence at the day ofjudg- 
 ment, is but the refult of his eternal purpofe ; 
 the book of life containing the names of all the 
 Elect, was written, to fpeak fo, before the E- 
 lectexifted ; and as it's faid, ABti$. Known unto 
 God are all hit worhfrom the bcginning } Co in a fpecial 
 manner and peculiar way this great work oftbe 
 Redemption was, and they that were to be re» 
 deemed, particularly known and written down 
 in the book of God's decree of election? hence 
 it's faid Rom.u.j. Ifrael hatknot obtained that which 
 hefeekethfor y but the election hath obtained j and 
 Joh. 6 37. All that the Father hath given me, [hall 
 
 tioir#»r $}(? mi 3 and John jo, 28. / give, my fheep 
 
 diator, c». 
 
 there muft be a differencing of them from others 
 in Chrifts laying down of his life for them and 
 not for any others ; Election is the key of all ; 
 there is fuch a people, and they are the object 
 of the Covenanant of Redemption, whofegood 
 is fought after and agreed upon therein,and not 
 for any others. 
 
 Ufe 1. It ferves for the confirmation of a weigh- 
 ty truth, and we would have you not to think 
 little of any piece of truth. We ftiall not here fol* 
 low the fubtile cavillings of Adverfaries againft 
 thistruth.only we would have you confirmed in 
 the faith of it,For, 1 .ifye be not clear&cftablifhed 
 in the faith of this truth, ye will be in great 
 hajard, Dot only to make mudy, but to ob 
 
 ilruct- 
 
erm. j I. lfaiah. %% 
 
 ilruft and flop the whole current and trad of 
 Grace, io that Grace fhall be a common thing, 
 Heaven and Happinefs fhzlf go by guefs : Re- 
 demption fhal] be univerial, &c. but let this 
 truth be once well eftablifhed, that God hath 
 a peculiar peope tor whom the Mediatourtranf« 
 a&ed, and thefe errors fall to the ground and 
 evanifh ; for ir is the love of Ele&ionfrom which 
 all the reft of the benefits that come to the eleft 
 flow, and rhi* love is peculiar, therefore there 
 cannot be a common application of it ; its the 
 peculiarnefs of Grace that commends it to the 
 fouls of B:lievers; and makes it wonderful to 
 them ; That God fhould have taken notice of 
 them, that were by nature feparatc from God as 
 well as others; that their cafe being common, 
 his love mould be peculiar, is indeed juft and 
 great matter of wonder » hence comes in that 
 fong, Rev. c. 9. Thou haft redeemed us te Gedbythj 
 blood, tut of every kindred, and tongue, and people, 
 and nation ; not all of every nation, people, 
 tongue and kindred are redeemed, but fome 
 out of every one of thefe; let this then be taken 
 for a folid truth, that the Lord in his eternal 
 purpofe hath made a difference and feparation of 
 fome from others, which is the great ground of 
 :hc Title that God hath to thefe fome. 
 
 idly. Clearnefs in this truth, ferves to keep the 
 
 bearts of Gods people in aw of him, to lift him 
 
 jp very high in their efteem as Soveraign over 
 
 he Creature : And if any mould quarrel with 
 
 jodand fiy why did God {o ? that of the A- 
 
 iioftle comes well in for an anfwer, Who art thou, 
 
 Oman-, that replyeft againft God? it's his foveraign 
 
 jleafurc who is fuprem Potter and hath p over o~ 
 
 vtr the clay to make one vefftl to honour, and another 
 
 dijh.nour ; when the Soul doth thus take up 
 
 jod as having all mankind before him as a lump 
 
 fclay, and choofingout of it, and writing up 
 
 me man and not another.ic muft needs in a tran- 
 
 port of admiration fay, O ! what a great and ic- 
 
 eraign God muft he be, whr» did determine and 
 
 iirrite down the eternal condition of men before 
 
 ver the world was? 
 
 \ly This to the people of God, I. Preacheth 
 wonderful grace, when they, having gotten theit 
 ailing and election made fure, come in and read 
 heir names in Gods decree of election before 
 hey had a Being; And a. it is to them matter 
 i exceeding great confolation: r .1 fay it preach» 
 th wonderful grace that freely Choofcd them ; 
 ind that when thoufands of great Men, and 
 Noblemen were paflfed by, fuch a poor body 
 hat was half-a fool in compirifon with them, 
 iould be chofen j according to that 1 Ctr. t. 
 V#r many wife after the fie(b, not many mighty, not 
 W Mlt bath Qtd (glUd, but h$ bath (btftn thi 
 
 , Ytr\. 9: jj^ 
 
 fttlijh things #/flf world, Weak and is ft, and things 
 that are not, to make them Kings and prieftt un- 
 to God and his Father, a. It's matter of excee. 
 ding great Confolation to them that it's /re* and 
 Jure ; free, even fo free that it flops the mouth 
 of boafting ; for what I pray hath an elect more 
 to fpeak of as a ground of boafting than a 
 Pagan in America, or one in Hell ? Wht madt 
 thet tt differ, tr what haft thou, O man, that thou 
 haft ntt received ? it's election that make the dif- 
 ference ; and it's Jure, for their falvation is foun- 
 ded on Gods purpofe and decree, which is the 
 folid reft of a Believer ; kindnefs began not on 
 our fide, but on Gods, as Chrift fays, Tt have 
 ntt chfoenme, but I have chofenyou, John 1$. 1*. 
 
 4 iz fays this, That all of you had need to 
 make your calling and election fure, that is the 
 very hinge of Belie vers confolation,even to have 
 the proof of it in your Confcience, that ye are 
 inrolled here, to get out the extraft of this de* 
 cree, that ye may fee and read your names in 
 it: Hence many ftreams of confolation flow 
 out ; if it be fo with you,then ye were given to 
 Chrift: Chrift undertook to fatisfie Juftice for 
 you ; ye (hall get Faith and more Faith,ye fhall 
 get Repentance and Sanftification, and ye fhall 
 get Heaven and Glory at the end of your courfe. 
 If it be faid,tbis is mueh,how fhall ir be brought 
 about? we anfwer, it's not impoflible, and to 
 make it out,take but two words, that are both 
 directions and marks, the practice whereof will 
 give a folid proof of your inrolment in Gods 
 book, whence all thefe great and glorious things 
 have their rife. 1. Where there is a yielding to 
 Chrifts call in tSeGofpel, and a clofing with 
 him that evidenceth election, for it is certain 
 thatnone(hall, nor can come to Chrift 3nd be- 
 lieve in him but the Elect, and whoever aree* 
 leered muft and Oiall come, fooner or htct,7ob, 
 6 37. All that the Father ^tveth me jh all come unte 
 me, znd J okn 10. 4 .His fheepjollovo him, and kn$n> 
 his vtice ; they accept of and make welcome 
 Chrifts call in theGofpel, and they thataccept 
 of it are elect : fo that there is no need of any 
 new revelation about the matter, neither needs 
 there any tortuiinganxitty to know.how to come 
 by thy name in the roll of the elect, try it by 
 this, if thou haft given obedience to the call of 
 the Gofpel, if thou haft in the fenfe of thy need 
 of a Saviour fl d unto Jefus Chrift and on his 
 own terms clofed with him, by this thy tenure 
 or holding is fure : and by this thou haft an 
 evidence that thou art an elect : for his Sheep 
 come unto him and hear his voice : and is ma- 
 ny of you as foundly belic v eon him, and have 
 betaken your felves to him for life and lalvaticn 
 have the Seil md w unci's, in youi felves, that 
 
 your 
 
J7 + //«'** »« Ml 
 
 your namei were in Gods rollandBock before 
 the World was : But if this be nor, debate dif- 
 pute, and queftion as ye will about it, whaf 
 ever may be afcerwards, ye have no evidence 
 for the time of your election. 2. Where there 
 is real Holinefs, or a real ftudy and endeavour to 
 be holy and more holy, it is an evidence of 
 election, and of aperlons being inrolled in the 
 volum of the Book>f Gods decree i becaufe Ho- 
 linefs is a fruit of election, as is clear, Eph. .'.4. 
 swarding as he hath chojen us before the foundation of 
 the world, that we jhould be holy ; never a perfon is 
 really holy but fuch as God defigned lhould be 
 holy; to thispurpofe the Apoftle having iTim. 
 2 . 1 r. fpoken of election, The foundation of the Lord 
 {lands fure, having tbisfeal, the Lord knows who are 
 bis, and let every one that nimes the name ef Chrifi 
 depart from iniquity, hut in a great houfe are not only 
 Vijfels of gold, 8cc he fubjoyns, If* man therefore 
 
 *' , ,. , Serm. 3* 
 
 purge himfelf f rem tbeje, be jhall be a vtffel unte ho- 
 
 n.ar,faneJifitd,&c<:- not that election dependeth on 
 mans Holinefs, but by his holinefs he* (hail be 
 manifefted to be, andaccomptcd an deft vtffel, 
 and may warrantably conclude himfelf to be 
 fuch; fo that true holinefs brings folk to be ac- 
 quainted with the great fecret of Election, and | 
 gives them boldnefs to make theapplicition of it: 
 There is nothing that men readily defire more 
 to know than this,whether they be elected or nor, " | 
 here is a fure way to come by the knowledge of] 
 it, even to ftudy to believe, and to be holy, and I 
 then we may be confident that our names were 
 written in the Lambs book of Life, but ifwtJN 
 flight faith in Chrift and holinefs, whatever may J r 
 be inGodspurpofeaboutus,we have for prefent j| 
 no ground to conclude our election upon; God j ] ( 
 himfelf fix us in thefe things that have fuch IL 
 mighty confequents depending on them. 
 
 SERMON XXXII. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. VIII. 
 
 Verf. 8. He was taken from prifon and from judgment ,and who jhall declare his generation ? For he was cut 
 afout eft he land of the living, for thetran/grejjion ef my people was bejiricken. 
 
 THE Prophet hath been long in defcri- 
 bing Chrifts Sufferings, and hath 
 fliown what height they came to, e- 
 ven to prifon and to judgment, and to 
 death it felf, He was cut off out of the 
 Land ef the living ; now he cafts in a word to fhew 
 wherefore all this was, or what was the procur- 
 ing caufethat brought all this fuffering and for- 
 row on Chrift, which alfo was the end that he 
 had before him in it, in thefe words, for thetranf- 
 grfjfon of my people was he ttricken ; we fhew that 
 by my people here, was not meant all men and 
 women in the world, nay, not all men who are 
 externally called in the vifible Church, but his 
 Elect only, thefe whom be hath chofen to be his 
 People, and feparated from others by an eternal 
 decree of Election*, we fhew alfo that thefe words, 
 for the tfanfgr-jjim of my people was he tlrickcn, do 
 nnt contain only a reafon of Chrifts extream 
 fufferings, even of his being brought t§ prifon and 
 to judgment before men, but alfo and mainly of 
 his being brought fo before God, and of his be- 
 ing cut of; For the fins of Gods People are not 
 laid to his charge before men, but before God 
 they arc ; and fo it does imply an influence that 
 the fins of the Elect had upon Chrifts Sufferings, 
 and a refpect that his Sufferings had to their fins 
 
 the Elects fins procured thefe Sufferings to himJ 
 and his Sufferings were undergone by him fori 
 the fatisfyjng of Juftice for their fins, and for] 
 the removing ofthem. 
 
 I fhall not infift further in the expofition o£ 
 the words, having opened them up the laft dayJ 
 but fhall hint at a few Doctrines from them ; and 
 becaufe they are general and more doctrinal. I 
 fhall be the fhorterin fpeaking to them j though] 
 it may be ye think not fo much ofthem, yet 
 they are not a little for your edification ; and if 
 ye were fuitably fenfible of fin, and of your ha- 
 zard, there is no Doctrine concerning theCov 
 nantof Redemption, but it would be ufeful an 
 refrefhing to you. 
 
 There are feveral things implyed here cone© 
 ning the efficacy of the price of Chrifts Death, 
 and concerning the extent of it, as its laiddowti 
 as a price for the fins of the £!ect, which I fhal 
 firft paflingly touch upon, and then come 
 thefe Doctrines that are more directly heldfortl 
 in the words. 
 
 1. Then, it is implyed, that there is a peop 
 of God feparated from others,and chofen by h 
 on whom he infen J- d and purpoftd before ti 
 World was, to glorifie his grace ; The v 
 defignation that they get here cleats this ? 
 
Scrm. 32. If*i*h S3. 
 
 my people, not only of the Jevtt, nor my people 
 only of the Gentiles, but my people borh of 
 Je ws and Gentiles ; as Chrift fays, John ic Other 
 fkeep have I which art not of this fold, them I muff 
 bring in. 
 
 2. It isimplyedtbat this Decree of EIe£Hon 
 isantccedaneous to,andgoes before tlieCovcnant 
 of Redemptionin order of Nature, it flowsnot 
 from Chrifts death as the effctt of it, but is 
 prior to it ; for if Cuius death be the mean, or 
 price ( as indeed it is) whereby the fins of Gods 
 Ele& people are fatisfied for, then the Decree of 
 Eleftion muft preceed it ; Only we would be- 
 ware to afenbe to God any priority or pofterio- 
 rity in h>s Decrees in order of time, for he is 
 
 nfinite in wifdom and forefight, and able to 
 
 00k on all things with one blink of beholding, 
 
 Smd to decree things infinite in number at 
 
 mce, which we cannot conceive of, nor com- 
 
 arehend ; But this we fay, that considering the 
 
 )rder of things, the Decree of Ele&ionis not a 
 
 fruit or effect of Chrifts death, but prior to it, 
 
 nd Chrifts death follows as a mean to make ic 
 
 ffectual ; He i,s appointed to fave the Elect from 
 
 heir fins, and from that which their fins defer- 
 
 ., 'cd, Fir the tranfgrfjfiw of my people vo as he ftricken ', 
 
 They were Gods people by Election before 
 
 drifts ingagment to fuffer and fatisfiefor them, 
 
 nuch more before his actual fuffering, and fo 
 
 leir Election cannot be a fruit and effect of his 
 
 jffering. 
 
 l#r. It ferves to vindicate this truth from an 
 
 (rror and miftake of the Arminians, who, as they 
 
 iverthrow the defign of grace in the falvationof 
 
 mners, in other fteps thereof; So do they in 
 
 his, in making Chrifts death to preceed Elccti* 
 
 in, and flection to follow it ; But, aswehin- 
 
 pd before, the Decree of £lection is Soveraign, 
 
 ing an Act of Grace abfolutely free, the Lord 
 
 it having designed fome for manifefting the 
 
 ory of his grace upon them as the end, he hath 
 
 ken in Chrifts death and other midfes for the 
 
 omoving of it. 
 
 3. It isimplyed here, that even the Elect or 
 ods People are confidered as finful in the Co- 
 mat of Redemption, For the tranfgrfjjun of my 
 
 j oph xoas he ftricken ; they were confidered as 
 nful as well as others when they were bargain- 
 er : We need not difpute, whether they 
 ere confidered as finful in the Decree of Elec- 
 on, it not being neceflary in this place, nor 
 profitable for you, bucfure in Chrifts underta- 
 ng for rhem they are confidered as finful ;f r 
 od lent not C hrift, neither came he inro tl.e 
 o Id to purchafe life and falvanon to righteous 
 Iks, but he was lent and cams to lay down his 
 
 *7* 
 
 Vert. *. 
 
 life a-ranfimfor rttany, to wit finners, and therel 
 fore it is given as thereafon of his Name, Mattb. 
 
 1 . 2 1 . Thou fkalt call his Name Jefus, f$r hejhaSfavt 
 bis petple from their fins. 
 
 Ufe i . It ferves to humble the Elect greatly, 
 who when ever they come to get grace,they get 
 it moft freely, for they were no better by nature 
 than others whom God part by, as is clear, Eph. 
 
 2. 1. We were dead in trefrajfes andfms, and were by 
 nature children of math, even as others ; Peter and 
 Paul were by nature Children of wrath as well as 
 Judas ; And David was a Child of wrath by 
 nature is well as Saul, when this tranfaction 
 concerning the work of Redemption was agreed 
 upon and concluded betwixt thefe moft refpon* 
 fal Parties. 
 
 2. Ic ferves alfo much for the encouragement 
 of a Believer, who is fenfible of fin, and afraid 
 of wrath, and in that pofture betakes himfelfto 
 Chrift for refuge ; though his misbelief mould 
 make him fay with Peter, Depart from me, for J am 
 ajinfgl man, O Lord, yet this confideration may 
 hearten him to draw near, that Chrift was ftricken 
 for finners, for the tranfgreffions of his Elect 
 people ; yea, if there had not been fin, and if 
 the Covenant of Works had bolden foot, there 
 needed not to have been a Saviour, and therefore 
 finners have here a folid ground to lay hold upon 
 for life and falvation. 
 
 And therefore as a 3d. Ufe of it, it isanunfafe 
 alTertion, befidethe curiolity of it, that Antino- 
 mians maintin, which is, that though man had 
 never fallen,yet Chrift would have become Mani 
 For we fee here that Chrifts becoming Man, and 
 his being ftricken, flowed from his being Surety 
 for £lect finners ; and his being Surety flowed 
 from the Covenant of Redemption concerning 
 Elect finners : To be wife without, or befidc 
 and above what is written in the Scripture, it's 
 vanity, pride and folly. 
 
 4 It is impiyed here, that fin wherever it is 
 deferves ftroaks, even the fins of the £lect ; Yea 
 we may add this to it, that not onl^ do the fins 
 of the -Elect deferve ftroaks in themfelves, being 
 breaches of Gods Law, but tint there is an 
 actual curfe ftanding againft them till it be re- 
 moved ; Arid God« threatning The day thou eats 
 thou Jhalt furely die, infers a ncceflity offnoaks; 
 This we fay is clearly implyed here, beCMlif the 
 Mediator entring himitii iur ty forthe Elects 
 rJe r behoved to be fmitten, and when h* WIS (b 
 fmitten,fure fin mufcdefe;ve muchjWc (peak not 
 ofan abfolute neeeflity ,but God havk 
 to man />is duty, & ad edit rcatning,th»tinthe 
 day be fhould eat he Ihould Jie/lu-r- ^ a n. 
 in relpect of Godj tmth, iaithfulncfs, and un« 
 
 change- 
 
chingeiblcnefif, who had fpokeftthe word, chat feet, that cither there is no need of fttisfaaion 
 
 ftroaks fhould follow fin, for (in cannot be re- 
 moved rill the threatning be fatisfied- 
 
 Ufe. This may point out to us that fin is no 
 little nor light thing, neither is the obtaining 
 of pardon an cafie bufinefs, whatever men ge- 
 nerally think of them; There are many fad ftroaks 
 that follow (In, which will hotly purfue finners 
 who are not in Chrift ; O! do net then think 
 
 for fin, or that they can fatisfie for themfelves'. 
 6 It is implied here, that though ihe Elect 
 hav* finned, and cannot fatisfie for themfelves 
 yet it is r.eceffary that a fatisfa&ion be provil 
 ded for them ; I do not fay (Imply that whoe- 
 ver hath finned muft have a fatisfaftion made 
 for them *, For the Lord hath left Legions of An- 
 gels, and many thoufandsof reprobat M^nand 
 
 wiiu «iciiul in vj in in., -*~r . «w iivw uiwii uiiiia s ti3 » •u« *ii«njr mwuiauuj ui rcprooat AKiuna 
 lightly of fin, which is the fountain of fo much Women without hope of a Saviour, or of a (I- 
 
 mifery and woe to the Sinner; If ye knew how 
 exceedingly bitter wrath and the curfe is that 
 follows fin, ye would as foon put your head in 
 the fire as ye would meddle withit ;Jf ye be- 
 lieved that word to be true which is in Extd. 34. 
 He wiU by no means clear the guilt 7; And if ye be- 
 lieved God's faithfulnefs that is ingaged to 
 make good his threatnings. challenges for fin 
 would be more ftrong and flinging. 
 
 5. It is implied here, that though the Elects 
 fins deferve wrath, and that there muft be a fa- 
 tisfa&ion ere they can be removed, that yet the 
 Elect cannot fatisfie for themfelves S For thttranf- 
 grejjims of my people was he ftricken ; Chrift beho- 
 ved to befmitten ere their fin coald be remo- 
 ved; If the Elect could have done their own 
 bufinefs, they needed not to have been fo much 
 in Chrifts common and debt, nor to have given 
 him thanks for his undertaking ; But this is 
 brought in to hold forth the condefcendeney 
 of his love, that when no other thing could do 
 it, he interpofed as Surety ; The abominablenefs 
 
 tisfattion;Butconfidering Gods purpofeto bring 
 many Sons to Glory, and his Decree of Election 
 which muft needs ftand,and that the Elects names 
 are written in the Book of life; It is mpofllble 
 that they canly ftill under the curfe,butmuftbe 
 fatisfied for, and redeemed from it ; For the tranf. 
 greffion of my people Was hejirickeu; My people have 
 finned, and muft be redeemed ; Onfuppofition 
 of the Dcerec of Election our Lord undertook 
 that great work the Elect cannot perifh,fin can- 
 not draw them utterly .away from God; not only 
 fhall no externals, fuch as Devils or Men, Per- 
 fection, Tribulation,drc. be able to come be* 
 twixtthem and life, but not fin it felf that is 
 within them; His Decree being peremptory muft 
 ftand, as he fays, John 10. / have other fbeep which \ 
 are not of thi* {old, them alfo I muft bring in ; Gods 
 purpofe cannot be fruft rated nor altered,there- 
 fore ofneceffity their fins mud be fatisfied for. 
 7. It's implied here, that for this end, to wic, 
 that the Elect mi*ht be faved from fin,and thai 
 Gods decree of Election might Hand furc,Chrii 
 
 of fin was fo great, that the Majefty of God his Jefus became furety, and did undertake to fa 
 
 infinite Holinefs and his fpotlefs Juftice being 
 wronged, and the finite Creature, not being a. 
 ble to nuke amends for the wrong done, did re- 
 quire this ; For all mankind, yea all the holy 
 Angels could not fatiifie for the wrong done by 
 one man to the inrinit God, therefore he fays, 
 lam the Saviour, and there u noneelfe : He gives 
 defiance to all Saviours befide himfelf, None can 
 redeem his brothers \oul from death, ncr give a price 
 fuffcient for it, the redemption of it ceafeth for ever 
 among the Creatures. 
 
 Ufe. Study then to be fuitably fenfiblc of this; 
 ye may pofiibly think it to be but a common 
 iDoftrine, but alas ye walk not under the due 
 *nd deep conviction and fenfe of it, hence it 
 comes to pafs that fo few think themfelves in 
 Chrifts common, and that fo few make theii 
 addrefs to him : Askthemoft part how they 
 think they will win to Heaven ? They will rea- 
 dily name many things and ways ere they light 
 on Chrift and Faith in him; If they have done 
 a fault, they fay they will make amends,or they 
 will p*ay for pardon, and they think that 
 ivill do the turn:Such have this language incf- 
 
 fie for their fins ; otherways he could not have 
 been liable to be ftricken for them, it's he ha< 
 not become furety for them ; That he was fo 
 thetraMgrtflionof Gods people ftricken, fays 
 plainly that he was ingaged for them, as it is, 
 Heb. 7. ii. He was mtde Jurety >f a better T'ftament;* 
 And Pfal. 40. 7. Then fain I, Lo, 1 come ; in the vo* 
 lum of the book it is written of me: I delight to do thy- 
 will, O my God: Thefe things being fp. ken af- 
 ter the manner of, and borrowed from, the bar-, 
 gainings or tranfact ons « ha' ufe ro be amongft] 
 men, we may conceive rhe bufinefs thus, (hinted* 
 beforejthere is theFathers refuting of lbmeuha$ 
 Sacrifice and offer ingthou didft not d fire, Sc his >ropo- 
 fing of another thing, and rhat is, that f he Me- 
 diator would ingage for the Eiect ; And upon 1 
 the other fide,there is rhe Mediator suffer to un- 
 dertake, and his actual undertaking and accepi 
 ting of rhe Fathtfipropofa 1 ," hen Sacrifices and 
 offerings, when thousands of Rams.and ten tho» 1 
 fand Rivers of Oyl will not i.oit.Lo, /cwjairftf 
 he; And then for a conclusion of the Baigairv: 
 andTranfaction, there is the Fathers ac^ring 
 
 of 
 
Serm. 31. ti*i*k $3« 
 
 of his undertaking, he 1$ content to take his fuf. 
 ferings as the price for the Elects debt ; hence 
 Jthn 17, he faith, Thine they Wrt, and thou gave ft 
 thtm nte, that is, thine they were by Election, and 
 thou gaveft them me to be redeemed fw me ; 
 And Heb. 10. 10. it's faid, that it u by this will 
 that we arcfan&ifitd, that is, by the will of the 
 Father, that the Son mould be furety. 
 x Vfe, Look upon the work of Redemption as a 
 ■feat, gracious, and glorious work ; about the 
 Wefigning and contriving whereof,theFatrier,Scn, 
 and Holy Ghoft were occupied ( to fpeak fo 
 fyith reverence) before the world was ; he might 
 have made Worlds of Angels, and of ilnleis 
 men and Women at a word, and yet he ha'h 
 gracioully condef»ended to this way for redee- 
 ming of the poor Elect. We are alas finfully 
 difpofed to think littleof the Salvation and Re- 
 demption of a Soul, but it is a great matter in 
 God's account, the deepeft of whole confultati- 
 on (to fay fo ) is taken up about it, and in the 
 contrivance whereof the manifold wifdom of 
 God confpicuoufly fliineth forth ; and as mo- 
 ther things therein, fo in this, that there was an 
 I ancient undertaking and engaging by Jefus 
 I Chrift in the room of the Elect as their fure- 
 ty. 
 
 8. While it is faid,.F> the tranfgreflion ofmypteple 
 
 was he cut ojf and ftricktn, it implies that Chrift in 
 
 his undertaking for the Elect did oblige him- 
 
 felfto undergo all thefe futTerings that were 
 
 due to them, and even thefufferingsof a curfed 
 
 death, which was the curfe threatned jgainft 
 
 Jman for fin, The day thou eats thou jhalt furely 
 
 \die; And though Chrift becoming furety and 
 
 Cautioner, the party is altered, yet the price is 
 
 ftili continued to be the fame, as is clear, Gal. 
 
 I3. 11. He w as made aeurfefor us, that the hlefling 
 
 )f Abraham might come en us Gentiles ; Whereby 
 
 hejuftice of God is vindicate, and ht hath ac« 
 
 efs to (hew mercy to the Elect without any 
 
 he leaft imputation to it ; Nay, this way is 
 
 nore for the vindicating ot God's Juftice, and 
 
 or the making of his faithfulnefs to fhine, that 
 
 thrift became Man, and died for the Elect, 
 
 San if the curfehad lighted and layn on all the 
 
 lect themfelres, and it is a greateraw-band on 
 
 ners igainft fin : I fay again, that thereby the 
 
 re and fpotlsfs Jufticc of God is more vindica* 
 
 and his faithfulnefs more demonstrated, 
 
 hen he will needs fo feverely,and with fomuch 
 
 ly rigidity exact of the Cautioner the Elects 
 
 bt to the lead farthing, than if they hadfuf- 
 
 ed thcmlelves eternally ; it (hews forth alfo 
 
 th the manifold wifdom and riches of the 
 
 w €-grace of Gpd, there being a Decree of E- 
 
 rtrje B. 177 
 
 lection for faving of many, and for bringing, 
 them to Glory ; and they being under fin* 
 there is another decree and threatning that go« s 
 forth for curling the Sinner, and thefe two ice* 
 ming to be altogether irreconcilable^ the Que* 
 (lion comes in on the one hand, how is it pof" 
 fible that a Sinner under the curfecan be faved? 
 And upon the other hand, how is it poflible 
 that an elect of God can be damned? The wit 
 dom of God loofeth the knot j fpotlefs Juftice 
 is fatisfied by taking hold of, and falling onth« 
 Cautioner: Wonderful grace and Love venl 
 themfelvesin pardoning the Sinner, and accep- 
 ting of a ranfom for him ; and manifold wifdom 
 manifefts in (elf in knitting thele two together, 
 fo as ncne of them can want its effect ; but all 
 turns tothemanifeftation ofthe glory of grace 
 in the up-fhot;it cannot be that the Elect mail 
 be damned, yet here ftands the threatning of 
 a juft God, and his curfe ready to be execute, 
 but here is the reconciliation; The curfe is ex- 
 ecute on the Mediator, whereby God fhews 
 bimfelf to be a hater of fin, and an avenger 
 of the wrong done to his Juftice; and the E* 
 lect Sinner is pardoned, whereby God manife- 
 fteth the freedom of his grace, and his work; 
 derful condefcending love. 
 
 But now we come to a 6 th Docirine, which is 
 more directly held forth in the words, and ic 
 hath two Branches, that our Lord Jefus hij death 
 and fufrerii\gs is a proportionable price and fa- 
 tisfaction laid down for the Sins of the Elect, and 
 for thera only; this is in the exprefs words of 
 the Prophet, if the queftion be asked, Where- 
 fore fuffered Chrift all this ? He anfwers, he fuf- 
 fered ic as a price for tranfgreilion ; If it be asked 
 again for whom, or for whofe Tranfgreilion did 
 he fuffer ? He anfwers, not for all men and wo- 
 men in the World, but/#r the tranfgreffion •/ my 
 people was he ftricken, or the ftroak was on him 
 for their Tranf«r«?(Iions ; The firft branch of the 
 Doctrine is to this purpnfe, That Chrifts fuffe- 
 ringis intended tofathiic for the Tranfgreffion 
 of God's elecred perple, and witli refpectfo 
 fatisfying, for their S;ns did le fufFcr : And if 
 we take thefe to be Tiurhs that we maikcd be- 
 fore, as implied in the words, this will native- 
 ly. and necelfarily follow i if he engaged to be 
 Cautioner and furety for the Elects debt, then 
 his laying down his life muA be on the lame ac- 
 counr, and for the lame «nd: Now, when we 
 fpeak of Chrift's hying down a price to fatisfic 
 for thoc Tran fgiefiiuns ofthe Elect, ivc mean 
 not only this, that h;s furTeiings and death 
 a value in thcmfclves to farisfic foi 
 that they are lb intended by him in undergoing or 
 A a 
 
ijt ifmish J 3. 
 
 them, and that they are fo accepted of God ac- 
 cording co lit* purpofe, and according to the tran- 
 faction that paft betwixt Jehovah and the Me- 
 diator : They are not only ( as Sccwians fay ) 
 to be a confirmation of the Doctrine which he 
 preached, and to be a rule and example to us of 
 patient fuffering, and of giving obedience to the 
 desth, as he did ; But it's alio and mainly to 
 iatisfie the Juftice of God Tor our debc ; So 
 then this wicked Tenet of the Soeintans is excee- 
 ding derogatory to the fuffcrings of Chrift, and 
 to the matchlefs love that ftined in them, yea, 
 and even to the whole defign of Redemption; for 
 if Chrifts fufFerings be not a fatisfaction to Ju- 
 ftice, we are left wichour all juft plea and apolo- 
 gy for our fclves at God's Bar, and if we have 
 none, then that curfe looks the wakened Sinner 
 full in the face, The day thou eats thou Jhalt Jurely 
 die ; And however men in their fecurity may 
 pleafe themfelves with fuch dreams, and think 
 that a fatisfaction to Juftice is not needful, yet 
 if the confeience be once wakened, it will not 
 be quieted without one ; and if mens Faith give 
 not credit to God's threatnings, they can have 
 but little, or rather no comfort at all in his pro- 
 mifes; there is therefore a neceflity of a fatisfa- 
 ction, and if ChrifVs fufferings be not the fa- 
 tisfaction, there is not another, and fo the whole 
 work of Redemption is overturned ; fo then, 
 though Chrift in his fufferings hath felt us a Co- 
 py how we mould fuffer, yet that is not the on- 
 ly nor the principal end of them; but it is con- 
 trived in the Covenant of Redemption, and in- 
 tended by the Mediator, and withal accepted 
 by Jehovah, that they mould be the meritorious 
 caufe of par4on to the Elect, and the price of 
 their Redemption. 
 
 This may be further cleared and confirmed, 
 I. From the phrafe that is ordinarily made ufe 
 of in Scripture, He fuffered for the fits o£ his people; 
 And in the Tex r , For the tranfgrefkns of my people 
 was he flncken; Their Cms had a peculiar influ- 
 ence in bringing the ftroak on him ; And what 
 influence I pray could they have but as they pro- 
 cur d the ftroak to him : And if hisftroaks were 
 procured by our Cms, then the defert of them 
 was laid on him, and his fufferings behoved to 
 be the curfe that we elect Sinners fhould have 
 f differed ; So when he is called their Cautioner, 
 it tells that he undertook their debt, and his 
 laying down of his life is the performance and 
 fulfilling of his undertaking Surety-fhip and cau- 
 tionry ; And confidcring that their debt wa.s ex- 
 acted of him, and that he was arraigned before 
 Gods Tribunal as their furety in their room,and 
 that this could be for nothing elfe but to anfwer 
 
 Vtrf. 8. £ r 
 
 for them as being their Cautioner; Hi'Tuffe. 
 rings behoved to be intended as a f,risf 2C ticn 
 for thciff Sins ; For the E'ec s Sins were m t the 
 raufe why Pdate, thc , c of ,. j 
 
 the Scribes and Phanfe es pur ued him to drarh, 
 but f( four Sins he waslWttdlcforeG.es Tnbul 
 nal ard being cur Cautioner he was cllcd to 
 reckon tor them, and they were put upon his 
 account or , core, a. It's clear alio iJom thc 
 names that his fufferings get in the Scripture, 
 where they are called the price of our reie^oV, 
 a buying ;of us, a propitiation for our flns that pa- 
 cfied God, Rom. 3. 2 S . and 1 John 2. 2. A Sa- 
 crifice often, and RanUm Matth. ar> 28 The Son of 
 manege to give hu life mrmfim fir many, that is 
 for all his elect people, to relieve them f,om the 
 bondage they were under; Jfhico plainly (hews 
 the refpect that his fufferings had to our Sins 
 that they were a propitiation for them to God 
 3. Its dear, if wc conflder that Chrifls death 
 • as to its object is for the tranfgiefllons of all 
 Gods people of all the elect that lived before he 
 fuffered, whether they died in their infancy or 
 at age and for all that lived or fhall live and die 
 after his fuffering, to the end of the world: 
 Now, what benefit could redound to them that 
 died ere Chrift came in the flefh by his fuffe- 
 rings if it were as Sociniam fay ? for his death 
 could not fure be a patrern of patience and cbe- 
 dunce to them : JBut the efficacy of his death was 
 from the beginning ofrhc world; He was ftill 
 in that fenfe the Lamb (lain before his Incarna- 
 tion, as well as fince ; And if it be not merito. 
 nous in procuring Salvation to Elec"t Infant* 
 what influence or advantage can it have as to 
 them ; either they are not taken to Heaven at all 
 os they are taken to Heaven, and yet not in the 
 leaft obliged to Chrift for their being brought 
 thither, or if they be obliged to him, it is certain- 
 ly by vertue of the merit of his fuffcrings for ex- 
 piating the fins of his people. 4. It's clear from 
 this,that in this fame Chapter and throughout the 
 Gofpel, all the benefit that come to Gods people, 
 as namely Juftification and pardon of Sin, they, 
 are attributed to this as the caufe of them, as 
 verf. 11. By hit knowledge /hall my righteous fcrvant 
 jufiife many ; And if all the fpiritual benefits thai 
 come to us were procured by his death, then 
 muft necefXarily be vertue in it that procure 
 them, and it muft be a price and fatisfaction ii< 
 reference to the procuring and purchafing there, 
 of, that he hid down in his dying. 5. It iscfeai 
 from the end that God had before him in the 
 wo»k of redemption, and in Chrift's Sufferings; 
 which was to gleufie bis Juftice a$ well as his 
 
 Meicy, 
 
Scrm. 32. .-• „ - , f ff«*& J3- 
 
 Mercy, and that neither of them might be clou- 
 ded, or reflected upon ; now, by ChrifVs death, 
 God's Juftice is glorified, and he is feen to be 
 juft in executing his threatning againft fin, even 
 in the perfon of his own dearly beloved Son, 
 when he became furety for Sinners ; but if his 
 fufTerings had not a fatisfa&ion in them to Di- 
 vine JulHce, though there might be fome fhew 
 of (hewing Mercy, yet none at all of a fatisfa- 
 &ion tojuOice ; but faith the Apoftle, Rem. 3. 
 ay, 16. God hatb Jef him forth to be a propitiation 
 .through fa.th in his blood, to decUre hit r.'ghtetrifnefr, 
 and that he might be juft, and the juftifier of them which 
 believe in Jefus ? by this, God hath made it mani- 
 feft, that he is a juft God, that none may pre- 
 pofteroufly prefume upon Mercy, nor dare to 
 bourd with Sin, when it is purfued in the fure- 
 ty with fuch feverity. 
 
 For Ufe and Application. I. Do not think thefe 
 tru:hs to be of little concernment to you, as alas 
 they, and fuch like Truths of the Goipel are of* 
 ten thought of by many, and therefore they are 
 taftelefs to them, and it's a wearinefs to people 
 to hear them fpoken of; and yet notwithstanding, 
 this fame Truth that we are now upon, is a 
 great ground of our faith ; for if we believe not 
 this, that Chrift was a propitiation for Sin, we 
 can have no ground of Jippening to him, or be- 
 lieving on him ; but knowing and being confir- 
 med in the faith of this Truth, we have (cordially 
 clofingwith him) ground from it to expeftGods 
 favour, and to be freed from the curfe ; becaufe 
 Chrift is our furety, undertook, and accordingly 
 fatisfied for us ; which is the thing that makes his 
 death to be fweet ; that Chrift in his death (hould 
 dtmit himfclf to leave us an example, is much, 
 yet if we had no more by it, it would be but 
 cold comfort, except we had it as a fatisfa&ion 
 to Divinejuftice to reft upon : Though this may 
 be looked upon as do&rinal only, yet it comes 
 ; nearer to our practice than we are aware of; and 
 though we have no Socinians in opinion and pro- 
 ft (lion to deal with, yet we have two ibrrs thac 
 :are Socinians in heart amongft us. 1. Thefe that 
 fecurelyfm on ftill, and yet hope to get mercy, 
 and who will confefs that they arc finners, but 
 I that for making an amends, they will pray and 
 I mend their life, and they will-fpcak rf a num- 
 ber of things, but it may be, not one word of 
 Chrift or of his purchafe, or of their natural in 
 lination to prefume, and to flight Chr i 0, as if 
 ey had nothing yet to look to but a Covenant 
 works without a Saviour, or as if God had 
 removed or would remove the curfe threatned 
 wruhout a facisfa&ion, fo that Chrifts fatisfaccion 
 
 I CI 
 cli 
 th, 
 of 
 
 is not known nor refted on by the multitude of 
 Hypocrites that live in the vifible Church • and 
 this is eafily proven from this, that thrre are but 
 very few who make ufe of him, or (rand in awe 
 to fin;if it were believed,tharjufticc rtquired,and 
 will bavefatisfacticneitheroftheflnner himfclf, 
 or of a furety in his room, and that Chrift 
 is the only furety, folks uould either quite 
 their hopes of Heaven, or bemore in Chriftf 
 common ; and that fo many maintain the hope of 
 H«aven without a due confideration of a fatisfa- 
 ction to Juftice by Chrift,and without employing 
 of him, it declares plainly, that they are drun- 
 ken with this error. A ad. fort are thefe who 
 being wakened in Ccnfcience, and fenfiMe of fin, 
 yet are as heartlefs, hefitating, and hopelefs to 
 g f pe l Ce throu S h him > as if he had not fatisfi. 
 cd i what clfc dcesthe doubting and desponden- 
 cy of fuch fay, but that there is not a compleat 
 fatisfactionin ChrifVs death? and that therefore 
 they dare not truft to it, othcrwife they would 
 wonder that God hath provided fuch a remedy, 
 and yet adventure to reft upon it, fcing God is 
 as well pleafed with it as if they had not 
 provocked him at all, or had fatisfied his Juftice 
 themfelves. 
 
 a(y. It ferves to let us fee what we are in Gods 
 common and debt, and how much we arc obli« 
 gedtothe Mediator, when there was a necefli- 
 ty, thateitherhcfhould fuffer, o* that wc Oiould 
 penlh ; and thac though his fufTerings drew fo 
 deep as to bring him f prifon and to judgement ,and 
 to pot him to a holy finlefs anxiety and per* 
 plcxity, that yet he yielded to it, and underwent 
 aJ for our lakes ; this is our great ground of 
 confidence, ami the ftrong ftay of the mind of a 
 wakened Believer : And fliould make us won- 
 der at the lathers lr.ve thar gave theS\ : n,& at the 
 Sons love that was fo condescending, and ftiould 
 make our fouls warm towards him, who, when 
 we deferved nothing but to be hurried away to 
 the Pit, was content to tn:er himfclf as our fure- 
 ty, and to pay our Debt : It (hould alfo be a 
 motive to chafe fouls in to him, knowing that 
 U u L Sm is ' tI,cre a ^t'sficrion mull be 
 that there is thcrcfoie a nccelhty to ily to him, 
 and to be in him, becaufe ihere is no other wav 
 to get Juftice fatisfied; the through conviction 
 whereof is that which through Grace not cn\v 
 
 rk -a h thc6ouJ ro » hutengafcthinodofewiri 
 
 Chrift, and to reft upon bin), and to give him 
 the credit of its thcrou 'bearing, when ir is rea- 
 dy othcrwife to fink : Now the Lord h 
 teach you. to make this ufe of this Do- 
 ctrine. 
 
 A a a SERMON 
 

 its» 
 
 Scrm. 33, 
 
 ERMO 
 
 ISAIAH 
 
 N XXXIII. 
 
 LIU. VIII. 
 
 Verf. 8. He was taken frim prifon, and front judgement, and who {hill declare hit generation \ 
 cut iff out if the land tf the living, for the tranfgrejjion of mj people was bejirickent 
 
 Fur be 
 
 VtM 
 
 THere Is nothing that concerns us more 
 than to be well acquainted with the 
 Doctrine of Chrift Jefus, and his 
 Sufferings; The Prophet hath there- 
 fore been much in {hewing what 
 Chrift fuffered in the former words, and hath 
 largely defcribed his Humiliation to Judgement 
 and Death, for ( faith he) he was cut off out of the 
 Und of the living : In the words read he anfwers 
 two important queftions concerning his fuffe- 
 rings, i. To what end were all thefe fufferings? 
 he anfwers, That they were for Tranfgrcflions, 
 •ven to be a fatisfaction to Juftice for them. The 
 a. Queftion is, For whofefins were the fufferings 
 of Chrift to be a fatisfaction ? It is anfwered ex- 
 prcfly in the words, for the tranfgrejjion tf my people 
 was he ftricken, or the ftroak was upon him ; it 
 avas for the fins of the Ele£r, and of the EIe& 
 only, for this is the prophets fcope, who having 
 fpokenof Chrifb fufferings and death, holds forth 
 the meritorious and procuring caufe, and end 
 thereof i and this is the refulr, defign, and fum 
 of all, even to be a fatisfa&ion for Gods Elett 
 people j for ( as we (hew ) by God's people are 
 not meaned all men in the world, nor the Jews 
 only, for Chrift: hath many fneep bdide them ; 
 but it's* Gods peculiar people in opposition to 
 the multitude who are not his People. 
 
 The Do&rine, or rather the branch of the Do- 
 -Qrine we left at, was this ( and it's exclufive ) 
 that Chrift' s death is only intended to be a price 
 for the Sins of God's Elect People, and was laid 
 down with refpect to them, his death and fuf- 
 ferings are to be looked upon, and con/idered 
 only as a price and fatisfaction for their Sins, 
 and for the fins of none other; or thus Jefus 
 Chrift, in his fuffcring, and in the laying down 
 of his life; had a refpect to the Elect, and inten- 
 ded the removing of the Sins and Tranfgreflicns 
 oi God's elect People only, and of none other; 
 we know nothing that we can make of thefe 
 Words,nor of theProphets fcope in them, but this; 
 who,as he hath been defcribingChrifts fufferings 
 in all other refpects, fo doth he in this ; to wit, 
 in refpect of the perfonsfor whom he fuiFered, 
 and of the meritorious caufe, and end of his fuf- 
 ferings i for fays the Text, fir the tranfgnfjions of 
 i*l f">pU t that is of God's elect People gat ht 
 firjektm* 
 
 This branch of the Doctrine is of great weieht 
 and concernment in the whole ftrain of GnVe 
 for if this march-ftone be lifted, and removed 
 Grace becomes common, and as fome calls it' 
 umverfal, and fo to be in effect do grace at al •' 
 for Grace hath a peculiar channel of its own 
 wherein it runs towards a certain felect number' 
 and not towards all : I do not mean of gracl ta I 
 ken in a large fenfe, for fo all men, as they are 
 partakers of any mercy, or of common favours 
 may be faid to have Grace extended to them . 
 but I mean God's fpecial grace, favour and good 
 will which is extended only to the Elect for 
 whole fins Chrift fuffered ; thelright bounding of 
 which Doctrine fhews forth bothGods fovereign- 
 tyinthcdifpenfing of Grace, and the iree ne fs 
 thereof in communicating and manifefting of it 
 to whom he will, and which thus confidered, 
 is efpecially engaging of the hearts of them on 
 whom he pleafcth to manifeft it. 
 
 Ere I come to confirm this branch of the Do- 
 ctrine, take a word or two of advertifement in 
 the entry. r k That Chrifts death may be confide, 
 red two ways. i. In refpect of it felf, an d as ab- 
 ftractmg from the Covenant of Redemption 
 wherein it is contrived as to all the circumftances 
 of it ; in which fenfe as his death and fufferimrs 
 are of infinite value and worth, fo they are (f s 
 Divines ufe to fpeak ) of value to redeem the 
 whole world,if God in his defign and decree had 
 lo ordered,and thought meet to extend it a-We 
 are to confider his fufferings and death as a price 
 agreed upon in the Covenant, or bargain of Re- 
 demption, wherein thefe tuoor three things ccn- 
 cur. i.God s propofal. n.Chrifls acceptation, and 
 defign in laying down his life. 3 .The Fathers ac- 
 quiefcmg therein, and declaring himfelfwell 
 pleafed therewith ; we fpeak not here of Chrift's 
 death m the flrft refpect, that is as abftractine 
 from the Covenant, for in that refpcct,he might 
 have laid down his life for few or raoe for tome 
 or for all, if it had been fo intended; but we fpeak 
 of it in the fecond refpect, as its a price agreed 
 upon in God s purpofe, and Chrift's defign,and 
 in God s acceptation ; and thus we fay, that his, 
 death is oniy intended as a fatisfaction, and re- 
 compenfefor the Sins of the Elect, and was laid 
 down for them only- 
 
 afr. We 
 
 
 i 
 
Scrm. 13- , Ijaiah. 
 
 2ly. We may confider Chrift's fufferings and 
 death, in the fruits of it, either as they refpect 
 common favours, and mercies, common gifts, 
 and means ©f grace, which are not peculiar, and 
 iaving, but common to belifvers, with others, 
 being bellowed upon profefibrs in the vifible 
 Church} or as they are peculiar and faving,fuch as 
 Faith, Juftification, Adoption, &c. Now, when 
 we fay, thatChrift's fufferings and death arc a 
 price for the Sins of his people, we exclude not 
 theReprobate (imply from temporal and common 
 favours and mercies that come by his death, they 
 may have, and actually have common gifts and 
 works of the Spirit, the, means of grace, which 
 are fome way effects and fruits of :he fame Co- 
 venant, but we lay, that the Rtprobate partake 
 notoffaving mercy, and that Chrifts death is 
 a fatisfaction only for the Elect, and that none 
 others get pardon of Sin, Faith, Repentance, &c. 
 by it, but they only, it was intended for none 
 others, and this we clear and confirm from, and 
 by thefe following grounds and arguments, 
 which we fhall fhortly hint at. 
 
 The i. Argument is drawn from this fame 
 affertion of the Prophet, thus, If Chrifts death be 
 only a fatisfaction for the Sins of God's people, 
 then it is not a fatisfaction for the Sins of all ; 
 but it's a fatisfaction only for the Sins of Gods 
 people,therefore not for all; for his people are not 
 all men, or all men are not his people, but his 
 people are a peculiar people feparate from others, 
 in God's purpofe and decree, as we cleared be- 
 fore, from John 17. Thine they were, and thou gave fl 
 them me ; and the Text fjys, exprtfl /,/#>• the 
 tranjgrrjjions of my people woe he ftricken-,he reflected 
 the Sins of God's people, in accepting of the bar- 
 gain, and in laying down his Life, and for their 
 Sins only God accepted him; yea, the very men- 
 tioning of them thus here fecludes all others; 
 and we mud expone them exclufively as taking 
 in none others, and muft look upon the things 
 , fpoken of them, as agreeing to no other ; even as 
 ' its faid , H b. 4 there remains therefore a rtfi to the 
 1 People of God, which is certainly exclufive of all 
 • others ; and hence, when our Lord fpeaks of 
 :hem, John 17. he oppofeth them to, and confra- 
 ; liftinguifketh them frcm all others;//^ forthem, 
 A 'pray not for the world, but for them that thou haft 
 ■;[. ivunme out of the world • to Jet us know that the 
 if,) Kings prayed for to the one, are denied to the 
 ik ther, according to the (train of the Covenant. 
 A id ground is drawn from the (train and 
 i:ij -ameof the Covenant of Redemption, where 
 e findtwo things clear, 1. That as to the end 
 id convey of it, the Elect are the only Perfons 
 n whofegood, and behoof its intended i and 
 
 S*. rerj.8, lfr . 
 
 if it be the Elect for whom he entered in that 
 Covenant, then the advantage, good and benefit 
 of the Elect muft be eyed in this main Article of 
 the Covenant which relates toChrift's death and 
 fufferings; For, i. In the Covenant of Redemp- 
 tion the good of the Elect is propofed and de- 
 figned by the Father, a*is clear, John 6. 39, 40. 
 ThU is the Fathers will that fent me, that of all which 
 he hath given me, I fhould loft nothing ; and this is the 
 Fathers will that fent me, that every one which feeth 
 the Son, and believeth on him may have everJaffittg 
 life : which will be the more clear, if we confi* 
 derthe time when this is fpoken, it's at fuch a 
 time when many will not come to him,& believe 
 on him as vcrj. 36. 37. Ye alfohave feenme,audbtm 
 lieve not, all that the Father hath given me fhall tome 
 unto me, and him that cometb, I will in mwife caft 
 out ; for I came down from heaven, not to do mine *vn 
 will, but the will of him that fent me \ and then fol- 
 lows, ThU is the will of him that fent me, 6Vc- and 
 verf 43, 44 Murmur* not (faith he) among four 
 f elves, no man can come to me except the Father that 
 fentmt, draw him; this ye heard of from John 17. 
 2. at greater length. 2. Look on the Son's fide 
 of the Covenant, and it will alfo be clear, for 
 his undertaking muft be according to the fathers 
 propofing ; if the Father did not propofe all, but 
 fome only to be redeemed, then his undertaking 
 muft be for thefe fome, andnotfor all, conform 
 to the Fathers propofal, Pfal, 40. Then faid f, U,I 
 come to do thy will, O my God ; Now, the Fathers 
 will is, that he fhould undertake for thefe given 
 him, and it's not his will, that he fhcuIJ un- 
 dertake for others* therefore he did not undertake 
 for them. 3. Chrifts fufferings and death ate the 
 executions of the Fathers will, and thereforemuft 
 be the execut'on of his undertaking,according to 
 his engagement for the Elect, and given ones, 
 therefore thefe two are put together. Joh. 17. 9. 
 and 19. I pray for them, 1 prai not for the world, but 
 for them which thou hall givtn tae, and for their fakes 
 Ifanclifie my felf that is, for their fakes whom thou 
 hift given me and not for the world ; He fan- 
 ctifies himfelffor them, for whom he prays, for 
 them that are given him, and no more. 
 
 ily. This is clear In the Covenan r , that Chrifts 
 death is intended therein, as all other Mercies 
 covenanted, are; rjiar is to fay, to whom Faitk,. 
 Effectual Calling, Juftification, 8cc are covenan- 
 ted, for thefe isChrifts death covenanted, and for 
 none others; for the Covenant being mutual, the 
 re-promiflion on the Fathers part muft ba ofequal 
 extent with 'he Son's ftipulation,but all thefe are 
 only peculia 1 Iy applicable to the ElcCt.as benefiti 
 flowing from, and following upon Chrifts death, 
 
 which 
 
i 8 1 Jfaiah 
 
 which therefore mud be peculiarly intended for. 
 them, as being undergone for them ; hence 
 when Chrift fpeaks of Faith, and Effectual Cal- 
 ling, John 6. he fays, M that the Father hath given 
 Me flail come unto me, and none other will, nor 
 can come; fo Juftification, Pardon of Sin, &c. 
 are bought to the Elect, and to none others ; and 
 when the fmalleft of bltffings are covenanted, 
 and articled fer none other, but for the Elect, 
 fhill Jefus Chrift himfelf, That gift o/ God, or 
 his death, which is the chief thii.g articled in the 
 Covenant, be covenanted for, or applyed to any 
 others but to them ? 
 
 A -\<l. ground is drawn from Chrifts execu- 
 ting of his Offices ; for this piece or part of Chrifts 
 executing of his Offices, muft correfpond, and 
 be of equal extent with all the other parts, and 
 pieces of his Offices, fuch as his effe&ual teach- 
 ing, interceeciing fubduing to himfelf, &c. 
 which are no broader than the Elecl, for he ex- 
 ecutes no part of any cf his Offices for the be- 
 hoof and benefit of any but of the Elecl ; he fa« 
 vingly enlightens no others; he iubdues none 
 others to the Faith of the Gofpel; he interceeds 
 for none other } his interceffion is not for the 
 "world ; therefore hisdearh mull be for none o« 
 thers, all thefe being commenfurablc and of equal 
 extent; his interceffion being grounded on his 
 fufFerings; therefore Job 17. belays by the world 
 exprefly, as thefe for whom he will not pray.ar.d 
 looks back to the Covenant, as the ground of his 
 undertaking for the Elefr, given him ou- of the 
 world, and not for others; and if he will not 
 pray, nor interceedfor others, whatreafon can 
 be given for his dying for others? when he will 
 not do the lefs, which is to pray for them, it were 
 abfurd to think, or fay, that he will do the grea- 
 ter, which is to lay down his life for them. 
 
 A 4^. ground is this, Chri(Vs dearh is one of 
 the peculiar evidences of his deareft love, be- 
 yond which there is none greater,' and a main 
 proof and fruit thereof, and therefore is not com- 
 mon to ail, but is intended for them only,w horn 
 he peculiarly loves, and deflgns to bring through 
 to glory; which is clear, Eph. 5. 26. Husbands 
 love ) our wives, as Chrift loved his Chu Y tk, and gave 
 himself for if, &c. Rom. e. 5. God commends hit love 
 to us, in that while we were fit (inner s, Chrift died for 
 ia j John 15- » 3. Greater Uve hath no man than this, 
 that a nan flmld iay down hi* If e for hi* friends; there 
 is a world of Reprobats whomChrift never loved 
 with peculiar love, and fure for thefe he did not 
 die ; Jacob have I loved, but hfau have I hated, With 
 the Lord, Rom 9 13. which the Apoftle holdeth 
 forth, as a fort of copy of Gods dealing in repro- 
 bation, and election in reference to all Mankind; 
 
 33. 
 
 53. Vir\e 8. $ crm 
 
 and where the Lord himfelf hath fet bounds be- 
 twixt them whom he Jovcs and hates, it's too 
 great liberality, or rather too great preemption 
 for any, under whatever fpeci us pretences to 
 extend this his peculiar love to thefe whom he 
 difclaims. 
 
 A %th. ground is taken from the efre£t thus} 
 All for whom Chrift died are juftified, and fre- 
 ed from the guilt of their Sins in due time, 
 but Chnft Jefus hath not purchafed and aftually 
 procured freedom to all men from their fins , all 
 men are not juftified, therefore he laid not down 
 his life foraIl;For,i It cannot be faid,that he laid 
 down his life fr«r purchafingand buying of fuch 
 wares,c<yet that he ^ot not thatwhich heboughr 
 and feing the event tells plainly, that all are not 
 juftified, and brought to Heaven, it cannot be 
 that he laid down his life a ranfom for all, but 
 it muft be for the Elect only, that hedied, 'a.To 
 fay, that God exacts double payment of one and 
 the felf fame Debt, that he exacts from rsen o- 
 
 ver again that whichChrift payed already for them 
 reflects on thejuftice and Wjfdom of God ; and 
 to fay that perfon that goes toheilfhall be nolcfs 
 in his common than another that goes to Hea- 
 ven,is no lefs abfurd; for the Apoftle fays, Rom. 
 5. 10. If while we wire enemies, we were reconciled to 
 God by the death if his Son, much morf being reconciled, 
 we (hall befuvtdby his life ; where he plainly infi- 
 nuats, that if a perfon be bought by Chrifts dearh, 
 it cannot be that he can perifh ; for if the price 
 be payed by his death, and fo the greater thing 
 be done, much more will the lefTer, we (h*l/beja<* 
 ved by his life ; now this reafoning could have 
 no force, it Chrift died for any that mall perifb; 
 yea, vctf. if, of this Chapter, it's faid, By S> 
 knowledge (hall my righteous fer v ant ju ft 'ifie many, fer he 
 '{ball bear their iniquities-, where it's clear, thataj 
 many (and no moe ) whofe iniquities Chrift 
 hath taken on and born, Hull be juftified ; for 
 the one is given as a reafon of the other,' and 
 there mould be no confequence to his juftifying 
 of them, from his bearing of their Inquiries, if 
 he could by his death bear their iniquities,* 
 whom he never juftified. 
 
 A 6th. ground is taken from the end of the Co- 1 
 venant, which is to put a difference betwixt 
 fpecialGrace peculiar to fome, andfevcre Juftice 
 to others, and particularly and fpeciallyinChriftsJ 
 death, which makes out what we affirm ; for if(| 
 when Chrift died, many were actually damned, 
 it cannot be faid that he died for thefe, nor thai 
 it was with them, as with Believers before hii 
 death ; for it cannot be faid, that the intention 
 of his death, in the Covenant, could be beyond '- 
 what it was at his death, the one being the exe- 
 cution 
 
Jerm. 33. ifcab 
 
 cation of c'le other; And furc it could not be 
 intended at his death for the damned ; for it 
 would feem a very *bfurd thing to fay, that when 
 Ch rift wis to go and lay down hh 1 fe, that he 
 was going ro fufFcr for many, that we icfuffe ring 
 r or their own Sins in Hel], as many reprobate 
 inners were before he came in the flefh; Can 
 any imagine a poffibihty of fuch a thing ? Our 
 Lord was not to be fo indifferent in theAdmi- 
 niftration of Grace, as ro call it thus away ; and 
 c n any reafonably think, that at one and the 
 fame time, the fame punifhm nt fhall be exacted 
 from Chrift, and from the perfons themfelves, 
 for whom he fuffered? Is it poflible that this 
 could be intended in the Covenant of Redemp- 
 tion; Or is there free accefs to Jufticc to purfue 
 Chrift as Cautioner, when the principal debtor 
 is actually uezed up°n ? Indeed when the prin- 
 cipal is fet free, as the Elect wers before his 
 Death, there is accefs to purfue the Cautioner 
 for their Debt; But no fuch thing can be alled- 
 ged for others that were already damned ; But 
 their being taken hold of by Juftice,is a proof that 
 he anfwered not for them, nor payedtheir Debt. 
 7. Wc m\y argue thus, If Chrift died for all, 
 then either for all indifferently, and fo all were 
 alike obliged to Chrift \ Or for fome more ab- 
 folutely that muft be fatisfied for, and for others 
 Conditionally, on fuppofiricn that they mould 
 " elieve ; But this laft is abfurd j for 1. The icrip* 
 ure makes not two confiderations of Chrifts 
 eath. 2. It were abfurd to fay, that now it 
 innot be toJd, whether Chrift died for fuch an 
 ne or nor. 3. Either that condition is bought 
 them, or not : if it be bought, then it muft 
 e fulfilled > if it be not bought, then 1. That 
 erfon cannot be faid to be bought, becaufe all 
 eedful for his Rcderap r ion is not bought and 
 ayed for. 2. Either that condition can be ful- 
 led by themfelves or not ; if it may be by 
 cmfelves, then is free-will eftablilhed, and 
 eare abfolurely redeemed; If it cannot be 
 'filled by themfelves, and yet bought by him 
 them, they are determined for another end, 
 wit, not to get it, and what wifdom can there 
 in fuch a Redemption as this ? 
 he 1. Ufe ferves for clearing and confirming 
 Gofpel-truth of the Covenant of Rcdempti- 
 and for the refutation of a contrary error ; 
 e have fomewhat of many errors pra&ically 
 ur hearts, fo have we this amongft the reft, 
 Chrift died for all finners i which fo ft era 
 s fecurity, and their ^roundlefs hope of ad- 
 ton to Heaven ; but here we fee that our 
 ljefusfo laying down his life, intended the 
 
 5 3- r*fi *. ,8$ 
 
 fatisfa&ion of Divine Juftice, for none but for 
 his Eleft people ; and if fo, there are many for 
 whom he never intended the benefit of his death; 
 There are three particular Branches of the error 
 which this Do&rine confutes ; j. Their opini- 
 on wuich is more lax, and takes in the fins of 
 all men and women in the world, and giveth 
 them an equal (bare of Chrifts fufferings; as if 
 is his intention in laying down his life, and in 
 Gods purpofc he had fuffered and died for all, 
 for him that goes to Hell, as well as for him 
 that goes to Heaven ; But if Chrift ftand as 
 Cautioner for the Eleft only, then fure this o- 
 pinion cannot hold ; for all are not Gods Elett • 
 And therefore all are not indifferently redeemed' 
 And though it maybe that fome of you think 
 that this looks Lker grace, yet its not only ab- 
 furd, as being contrary to truth, but its abfurd 
 alfo, even with refpeft to Grace ; For 1. It makes 
 grace a common thing, a man that is in Hell to 
 be as much obliged to Chrift, as one that is in 
 Heaven ; and though it plaufibly pretends to 
 give Grace a broad andiarge extent, yet it takes 
 away the power of it ; for if grace be thus large- 
 ly extended, it's not grace that makes the appli- 
 cation of grace, but the free-will of the Creature- 
 for Grace according to this opinion, leaves men 
 to be faved or not as they pleafe,and leaves it felf 
 to be evercome by mans will, and therefore 
 thefe errors divide not, but go together hand 
 in hand ; For where grace is made fo large, 
 free- will is made to have a dominion over it and 
 thus the weight of grace and of eleaiori arc 
 laid upon it. 2.1t lefTeiu-rh rhe eftimaticnof Gods 
 Grace in the minds of people ; for thus, they 
 think little of Heaven, and fuppofethat it is an 
 eaOe matter to win at it, and it breeds in them 
 a fearl.isnefs of Hell, and of God's Wrath : 
 And if many of you had not drunken in this er- 
 ror practically, ye would not be fo confident of 
 it, nor fo obftinatly maintain your hope of Hea- 
 ven without ground > Hence alas ! it is, that ma- 
 ny will lay, God is merciful, and Chrift died 
 tor all Sin'iers, and for me, and fo fleep it out in 
 Iccunty lam perl waded, that much of the fe- 
 curity and prcfumption that abounds among car- 
 nal profcflbrs is from this ground, tharG.ace 
 isfincicdto be thus broad ard large: We grant 
 that as to the convey and nature of it, it's broad 
 but in.relp-.ct of the objects on whom it is bc- 
 ftowed its narrow, though it ccmcth from lai ^e 
 bowels, j. It exceedingly mars, and dimi- 
 nilhcth mans tlunktulncfs, for when a mercy is 
 judged to be common, P ho will praifc for it as 
 he would do, if it wcio ipccial and peculiar * 
 
 That 
 

 i8 4 JftiMh n- 
 
 That which is a great ground of thankfulnefs 
 for Election, Effectual calling, JufVification, &*. 
 is becaufe thefc mercies are peculiar ; even io 
 that which makes the redeemed thankful for re- 
 demption, is becaufe they are redeemed, and 
 bought when others are left, hence is that fong 
 of the redeemed company, Rev. fl 9. Thou art 
 worthy to open the Book, for thou waft/tain, anA hafi 
 redeemed m to God by thy Hood, out of every kindred, 
 and tongue, and people, and nation', It heightens not 
 their praife that all ofevery kindred and tongue, 
 and nation were redeemed, but this doth ir, 
 that when the Lord had the whole world before 
 him, he was gracioufly pleafed to purchafe, and 
 redeem them out of it, that as it is, John ir. 
 5«. He jhould gather together in one the children of God, 
 that were fattered abroad, They therefore, I fay, 
 blefs himi and wonder when they confider, that 
 they are pitched on, who are by nature the 
 fame with thefc that are part by : It were a 
 ftrange thing to affirm, that they who are in 
 Hell have as great ground of praife, and of fay- 
 ing, We thank thee, for thsu hajl redeemed u* by thy 
 blood, asthefethat are in Heaven have. 4* This 
 making of grace4b wide and large in it's extent 
 as to take in ail, doth leave the people of God 
 altogether comfortlefs. But it may be here faid, 
 How is it that it is more comfort to Believers, 
 that Grace is peculiar in faving, and that but a 
 few arc redeemed, in companion of others that 
 arc not redeemed, than ir we fhould extend iz 
 unto, and account it to be for all? Or how is 
 this more comfortlefs to them, that Grace is 
 made univerfal .^ Anfwer, j. Becaufe, if it were 
 univerfal , many whom Clirift died for, are now 
 in Hell, and what confolation can there be from 
 that ? A man may be redeemed, and yet perifh, 
 find go to Hell for all that? But its ftrong confo- 
 lation when this comes in, if when we were enemies, 
 we were recomiledby the death of his Son, mutb more 
 being reconciled, we (had be favedby his life. If he 
 died for us when we were enemies, willhenot 
 much more fave us being Fiiends ? 2. Suppofe 
 a perfon to be in black nature, what comfort 
 could he have by looking on redemption, as 
 univerfal ? He could not expect Heaven by it j 
 for many expeft Heaven on that ground who 
 will never get it ; But its a fort of confolation, 
 even to them that are withouf, to confider that 
 Redemption is peculiar to fome ; For though 
 all get not Heaven, yet they that believe get ir, 
 and fo upon their clofing with Chrifr, the con- 
 folation prefently flows out unto them ; Where- 
 as, if they fhould lay it for a ground that drifts 
 death were univerfal, they could never have 
 fjlid grcund of confolation by flying to him. 
 
 Virl *'. Scrm. n; 
 
 y. This error doth quite overturn and encrvat 
 the whole Covenant of Redemption and peculiar 
 ? Ve '/i '* Ic cnervats an <* r bfcures the wifdem 
 that fh, nes in ir, if Chrifr may buy and pur- 
 chafe many by his death, who fliall yet not* 
 wirhftainling perifh. 2. Itencrvats and obfeurcs 
 the love and Grace that fhinc in it j for it makes 1 
 Chnft to caft away the love ar]d grace of it to j 
 reprobats, and fo caft pearls to Swine, 3. It ob- 
 feurcs the freedom of it, which kyths in his ta- 
 king ofone, and refufing another, as it is, Rom. 
 
 ' 9' ", 1 2. The children not being jet Lorn, ai.a having 
 dene neither good nor evil, that the purpefe of God ac- 
 cording to elctJion wight {land, not of works, but of 
 him thatcaUcth, it was faid, the elder Jhalljerve the 
 younger, ( as it is written) Jacob have I loved, and 
 Efau have I hated. 4, It obfeures thejuftice of 
 it, if he fhould buy all, and yet get but feme- 
 for it being the deli^n of God to inflift 
 on Chrifr the curfe that was due to Sinners, 
 end to fparethem; if this fhouid be the refult 
 of it, that many for whom he died r and took on 
 him the curfe, fhould penfh, hefhould gctbut 
 fome of thefe whom he bought, and Juftice 
 fhould twice exact fatisfactfon for one and the 
 fame debt ; once of the fumy, and again of the- 
 principal Debtor that pcrifheth ; Whereas when! 
 p-rif} becomes furety they are let fiee for whom 
 he was furety, and it is Juftice that it fhould be 
 
 J We do the rather infift in the confutation | 
 of this error, becaufe this is a time wherein il 
 is one of the Devils great defigns which hi 
 drives, to trouble the clear Springs of the Gcfpcl 
 and to revive this error amongft the reft , Anc 
 there is fomethingofit in thefe poor fool bodies 
 who fpeak fo much of a light within, as if al 
 were alike, and had fomething which ifthej 
 ufe well, rhey may get life by ; this error al 
 ways leaves men to he Matters and Carvers 
 Gods Decree, and of Chrifls purpofe and deilj 
 in the work of Redemption, and fufpends rj 
 b nefit of his death mainly, if not only on 
 cenfent of mans Free-will. 
 
 A id Branch of the error which this Doctrii 
 refutes, is that which is vented by fome, wl 
 are not profe/Ted enemies, but in other thii 
 deferve well of the Church of Chrifr, whi( 
 therefore fhou'd be our grief to mention ; Aj 
 it is this, that though Chrifr hath not fimp\ 
 purchafed Redemption from fin to all men, tli 
 yet he hath taken away from allthe fins of that 
 Covenant of Woiks, as if there were ( as tl 
 fay) no fin for which men are nowcondemi 
 but the Sin of infidelity, or unbelief; but tj 
 is dangerous, for 1. If this be true that Chrif 
 death is only a price for the Sim of the Elect,th« 
 
 there 
 
 J 
 
,i-m. 33. (I'M 
 
 there aienofins of others reckoned on this 
 fcore 2. It halveth Chrifts purchafe, and hardly 
 will we nndChrift's death divided, which were 
 to fay, that he hath bought a man in part or half, 
 from wrath, and not wholly, fuch a dividing of 
 Chrift, and halving of his death, feems not con- 
 fident with the ftrain of theGofpel, for as there 
 is one Sacrifice ,fo there is one account on which 
 * it is offered. 3. It feems to infer a good and fafe 
 condition to all them that die without finning 
 againft the Gofpel, and fo to infants born out of 
 the Church, thac never finned againft the Cove- 
 nant of Grace, and it pleads much for them,that 
 never heard the Gofpel, yea poflibly for all, if 
 they be not obliged to believe the Gofpel, as 
 it's hard to fay they are, who never heard of it. 
 4. There are many in hell this day, who know 
 and feel this to bean untruth, being condemn- 
 ed for fins againft the Covenant of Works,there- 
 fo.e he undertook not their debt, nor payed for 
 them; And when the Books mail be call open, 
 there will be many other fins found to be reck- 
 oned for, than fins againft the Gofpel j Are not 
 Whoremongers, Adulterers, Murderers/Thieves, 
 &c. to reckon for thefe fins? It's very fad that 
 fuch things fhould take place with men other- 
 wayesufeful, but as in other things, fo in this 
 hurtful, which we fhould not fpeak of, were it 
 not rhat they are fpread abroad in Books where, 
 with many may be leavened. 
 
 A ^d. Branch of the errour which this Do- 
 Qrine refutes, is, that Chrift died conditionally 
 for all hearers of the GofpeI,to whom ru is con- 
 ditionally offered ; and this is alfo vented by the 
 fame Authors, who fay, thac though he hat:-, not 
 bought all men abfolutely, nor died to procure 
 life abfolutely toth^m, yet that he did lb condi- 
 tionally,and upon fuppofition that they fhould 
 frerward believe on him: But there can be no 
 :ond tional fatisfattbn intended here i for 1. If 
 r-efpeft be hid only to the fins of the Elect in 
 Chrifts undertaking , then none is had to the 
 nsofall. 2 If the Fathers acceptation of the 
 rice beabfolute, then there is no conditional 
 m ing. |. If ir be conditional then he fufpend- 
 dthe effect of his death, the fatisfaction for his 
 oul- travel on mans will; And if this condit • 
 n could not be fulfilled by man, then it is an 
 nwife bargain, and nothing of it may fall to 
 e fulfilled, and then believing is no fruit of 
 race. Again, he hath either bought Faith to 
 em as he hath done to rhe Elect, or not; If 
 e hath, then they rejecr it, and fo grace is not 
 Sficacious; if not; he hath bought the end with- 
 it the midfrs leading to it. Or thus, if it be 
 nditional, its cither on a condition (hat they 
 
 can fulfil or on a condition that they can- 
 not fulfil i If it be on a condition which thy 
 can fulfil, then it hangsGrace on mens free will, 
 and fufpends the Decree of Eleetion on their re- 
 ceiving of Chrift; If it be a condition that is 
 in their power to fulfil, then either Chrift hath 
 bought that condition to them, or not; to fay 
 that he hath not bought the condition of Faith, 
 it will infer a ftrange affertion that he hath 
 bought life, and not the condition, the end, and 
 not the midfe ; And if ic be faid that he hath 
 bought it, it cannot be faid that he hath done 
 fo abfolutely, becaufe they never get it* Or if 
 abfolute!y,then to theElectonly inwhomitmuft 
 be, and is in due time fulfilled; And fo in effect 
 it refolves in this* that Chrift' s purpofeis to be 
 bounded and confined ( to fay fo ) to the Elect 
 only. 
 
 There arefome difficulties and objections that 
 will readily here be moved, which we will not 
 enter upon, only for preventing ofmiftakes: It 
 ftands in the way of fometo hinder their believ- 
 ing as they fuppofe, that Chrift hath died for 
 fom*, and not for all, andthey know not if they 
 be of that fmall number; If we were to fpeak to 
 fuch, wewouldfay, 1. fcod hath not elected all, 
 and fowho knows if he hath elected themPAnd 
 he will not fave all, and who knows if he will 
 lave them? And fo the doubt will flick ftill; If 
 folks will thus break in upon Gods ftcret will 
 and purpofe, which belongs not to them, a.' 
 Chrifts death for you is rot the formal ground 
 nor warrand of your Faith, nor yet of the offer 
 of the Gofpel, but the Lords will warranding 
 yo.i to believe, and calling for it from you, and 
 his commanding you to reft upon Chiif for the 
 atraming of iighteoufnefs,as he is offered to us 
 in the Gofpel ; We arc invited by his command 
 and promiie, and we are not firft called to be- 
 lieve that Chrift died for us, but wc are called 
 firft to believe in him that is offered to us in the 
 GofpcL that is our duty ; And folks are not con- 
 demned, becaufe Chrift died not for them, but 
 becaufe when he offered the benefit of hisdearh 
 and fufTerings to them, they flighted and reject* 
 ed it; We are to look firft to whatChtift cal-'eth 
 to. and not to meddle with the other, to wir, 
 whom Chrift minded in his death till wehavc 
 done the fVft : The Word bid:, all bclkve, that 
 they may be faved, and fuch as neglect 
 command will be found difubedient. 3. Though 
 Chrift hath not died for all, yet all that fke urn. 
 to him by Faith, fhall be partakers of his death, 
 and from this ye fhould reafon, and rot from 
 his intention in dying ; If ye con e not to him 
 yc cannct have ground to think that h- died roi 
 13 b you 
 
1 84 *f*i*b $ 
 
 you, but if ye go to him by Faith, ye may ex- 
 pec! that he will pray for you, and own you for 
 Believers: Chrift carts in that word, John 17. 
 They have believed thy word, as well as that other, 
 Thine tkty were, and thou gave ft them me; And if 
 we put thefe two together , the one will be 
 found as fure a ground of conlblation as the 
 other; But it were but a poor comfort to fay, 
 that Chrift died for all, and yet that they, may 
 all, ormoft, or many of them periih for allthar. 
 fl The id. Ufe ferves to ftir them up to thank- 
 fulrlefs for whom Chrift hathfathfied, and who 
 are fled for refuge to him ; if there be any here 
 to whom Chrift hath manifefted fuch love,that 
 they can fay he hath loved me, and given him* 
 fclf for me; O! Ho w are ye obliged to wonder 
 and blcfs him ? Gj eater love than this cannot be; 
 and it fhould warm your hearts with love to 
 him the more, when ye rtfleft on Gods defign 
 upon you in particular in the Covenant of Re- 
 demption 
 
 Ufe id. If Chrift intended his Death and Of- 
 ferings only for behove of the Elett; Then, 
 as becaufe few come to Heaven, all mould be 
 the more diligent; fo becaufe Chrift died not 
 
 }. V*J- 8. Serm. g 4 , 
 
 for all, every ©ne ftiould aim in Gods own way, 
 to have it made fure to himlelf that Chrift died 
 for him, and mould be the more watchful and 
 diligent* to make his Calling and E'eclion fure, 
 becaufe as its not all that areele£ted,fo its not all 
 that are purchafed by (Thrifts death., Redempti- 
 on is fure in it fdf, and free Grace kyths con- 
 fpicuoufly in it, yet VYifdom and S venignity 
 do alfo appear in this, that its not of all, there- 
 fore ftudy ye to make it fure by fleeing to Chrift 
 by Faith, and by the ftudy of Holineisand Mor« 
 tiflcation in his Strength, and through the pow- 
 er of his Death, which w:ll be a proof of j our 
 Intereft in it: This were much more fuitable 
 than to be quarrelling with God's Decrees, as 
 fome are brought in R:m 9. 19. V/hy doth he find 
 fault} who hath refitted his vill? To whom the 
 ApofUe anfwers, Who art th»u that r.flyefi sgahft 
 God ? It becomes you not to difpuu * ich God, 
 but to feek with mo r e Sollicitude, and with ho- 
 Jy and humble carcfulnefs to make the matter 
 fure to your fclves; we may well raife ftorms 
 by our difputs, but ftia'l come to no peace by 
 them; this can only be come at by flying to the 
 hops fet before us. 
 
 SERMON XXXtV. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. IX. 
 
 Verf. 9. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death , becaufe he had 
 dent no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 
 
 EVery paitage of our Lords way in profe* 
 cuting the work of Redemption hath 
 fomewhat wonderful in it ; we heard of 
 feveral of them, especially in his Humiliation, 
 how very low the bleffed Cauticner condefecn- 
 ded to come for relief of the captivity ; how he 
 was put to wreftle and fight and what great 
 Strengths or ftrong Holds he wasput as it were 
 to take in: there is one ftrong Hold ( to fpeak 
 fo ) not fpoken of as yet, which muft alfo be 
 ftormed,and the fortiflcationi of it pulled down 
 by the Mediator, and that is the Grave; the Pro- 
 phet tells us, that as he declined not death, fo 
 neither did ho decline the Grave, but as he 
 was cutoff out of the land of the living, as a wicked 
 man in the account of men, fo in the account of 
 men he was tjken down from tjie Crofs with the 
 Thieves, 2nd buried in the Grave as one of them. 
 I flull not trouble you with diverfity of In- 
 terpjetations, butfhall only hint at two things 
 for your better underftanding of the words, in 
 •which the ..icjlty lyeth ; The 1 is this, 
 
 Wh«h«' -yth this relate to hi§ Humiliation en* 
 
 ly, or to his Exaltation, or to both? for it can 
 not be reafonsbly thought but his being buried 
 with the wickfd is a piece of his Humiliation } 
 to make it only an evidence of his Humiliation,, 
 feems rot to ftand with the next part of the] 
 words, becaufe he had done no viohnce, &c. which] 
 is a caufal rcafon of that which goeth before : 
 But we anlwer, that there may be here a refpc&j 
 unto both; the firft words refpect hisHumilia-j 
 tion, comparing them with the truth of the Hi-j 
 ftory, as ic is fet down Matth. chap. 2j. where itl 
 is clear, that he was deftinate in the account off 
 men, and by their appointment, to he buried 
 with wicked men : for they thought no more 
 him than if he had been a wicked man. The next 
 words, And with the rich in his death, look to hii 
 Exaltation, and the meaning of them is, tha 
 however he was in the account of men burie 
 with Thieves, and laid in the Grave as 1 
 Male r a&oror wicked Manjyet in God's account. 
 and by his appointment and overruling provi-' 
 dence it W*5 Otherways, for he put a difference 
 
 be;w' 
 
 
Scrm. 34., ± L . ... *"««* 
 
 betwixt him and others,and gave him a honour- 
 able burial with the rich;though he wasdefigned 
 by men to be buried withThicves;yet as we have 
 ilMttth* 17. $7. Jofeh of jtrimathe* went fPilatt, 
 and begged his body, and wrapped it m titan Imnen, 
 and laid it in anew tomb; wkich in God's provi- 
 dence w^sfo ordered, both to (hew a difference 
 betwixt him and thofe thieves, and alfoto de- 
 clare (hat he Mvasinnocent,asthe reafon fubjoyn- 
 ed tells, Bccaufe he had done no violence, neither was 
 any deceit in his xettth; and to make way for the 
 clearing jl his Refurrection, he being buried in 
 i*idi a remarkable place where never nwa had 
 I een buried before. 
 
 So then the fum of the words is this, he was 
 humbled in coming to the grave, and in mens 
 account and deftination was buried as a wicked 
 man, yet by God's Decree and Providence it 
 was \o ordered, that though he was poor all his 
 days he had a honourableBurial.fuch as richmen 
 ufe to '^ave, bccaufe he had done no 'violence, neither 
 •was there any deceit in his wjc«fA:Godwill not have it 
 going as mendefigned,but will have him honour- 
 ably buried and laid in the Grave, that thereby 
 there might be the greater evidence of kis inno. 
 cency,and a more full clearing and confirmation 
 of the truth of his RefurreaioD. 
 
 What is rendered death here in our Tranfliti- 
 on, is deaths in the plural number in the Hibrew; 
 tofhew the greatnefs and terriblenefs of the 
 death which he underwent, and the forefpiri* 
 tual as well as bodily exercife that he was put 
 Unto, at, and in his death, fo that it was a com- 
 plication of many deaths in on% and at once, 
 which he fuffered. 2 Where it's faid in our 
 Transition, that Hi ntade his grave', In the Ori- 
 ginal it is H<? gave his grave with the wicked; fo 
 hat the Pronoun Ih, miy be meaned, either of 
 he Father his giving, or ic may be nnderftood 
 f the Mediator himfelf his giving ; and fo the 
 eaning is, tlr.t ir came not to pal's by guefson 
 od's fide, but was by him well ordered; and 
 r pon the Mediators fide ir fets out his willing* 
 xfs to go to rhe C}rave, and his having an over- 
 uling hand, as God, in his own death and buri- 
 ili as hefairh. John 10. 18. Nj man takethmy life 
 -om me, but I lav it down of my felfy His death aid 
 urial were determined and well ordered as to 
 1 thccircumuances of both, by a divine decree 
 id by an ovcr-ruling hand of Providence; and 
 ,1s agrees well with the reafon fubjoyned, be- 
 mfe he willingly condefcended to die; God put 
 differenc" bcrwixc him and ot'iers, as is clear 
 i that of J»bn /o \y. Therefore doth my father itvt 
 |f f b:cauje 1 /.iy down my life for rr.y fa.tp, The vtrfi 
 ith two pa t 1, Som thing forcreld conccrn- 
 g t!-€ M-Jfiah, and that is, That be Jhall mtkc or 
 
 5*. P*rf. p. i| v 
 
 give his grave with the wicked, and with the rich *n 
 his death, a. There is a reafon fubjoyned, efpeci- 
 ally to the laft part, taken from his innoceny, 
 and fiom the difference that was in his life be- 
 twixt him and all men in the world, that there- 
 fore God put a difference betwixt him and them 
 in his death and burial. 
 
 Firft then, This point of DoBrine is implyed 
 here, that coming to the Grave is a thing com- 
 mon and certain to all men; I mean, that death, 
 or a ftate of death, and to be in the grave, in anL 
 ordinary way is common to all men; and who-' 
 ever wants the priviledge of burial, their con- 
 dition in that reipeft is rather worfe than bet- 
 ter; it's fupnoned here that wicked men come 
 to the grave t therefore our Lord is faid to make 
 his grave with them; and it is alfo fuppofed, that 
 rich men come to the grave, therefore it*sfaid, 
 and with the rich in his death; that which Solcmm 
 hath, Eulef 8. 8. of death, may well beapplyed 
 to the grave; f there is no man that hath power 
 over the fpirit to retain ir,ne;ther bath he power 
 in the day of death, and theie is no dilcharge 
 in that war, neither fliali wickednefs deliver 
 thefe that are given to it ; ] the mod powerful 
 wicked man cannot prevail over it, nor is he 
 able to refill and withftand it; tlnfe who co. - 
 quer moftof the World are conftrainedat length 
 to be content with fome few foots of ground, 
 and their Bodies turned in*o dufr : Job in the 
 3^. Chapter of his book, fpeaks of it as common 
 to all, to rich and pour, to high and low. to the 
 King and the Beggar, all are there in one Cate- 
 gory; If any were freed from it, it would readi- 
 ly be rich men, but as it is Pfal* 49 6 j- their 
 riches will not be aranfom for them; [They that: 
 trufr in their wealth, and boaft themfclves in 
 the multitude of their riches, none of thtm can 
 by any means redeem his brother, nor give jo 
 God aranfom for him, fo precious is the foul, 
 that the redemption of it ceafesfor ever.-Amongft 
 all Mortals there is none that can buy himiclf 
 from coming to the Church- yard, or from com- 
 ing to the grave; but were he never fo rich and 
 honourable, he muft be laid in a hell as well as 
 the poor mm; the braved and Left guilded 
 Tomb is but a grave; that fentence pafr by God 
 muft-ftii d and will ftand, Duflthc* art, ami f 
 dujl thou fhalt n turn; The Transition of tnocb 
 and Eliai who dd not fee death, da not alter 
 the common rule, though ic ihew the Sjve« 
 raignity and power of God what he c:n do. 
 
 Uje I. O! think more on Death and n I I 
 Cfave,thrfefuie would be muchmore ; 
 fubje&s of thoughts than m.-.i. 
 B b 1 
 
 j 
 
1 86 t lf*(*h j|. 
 
 thoughts run ordinarily on. [ lt f $ appointed 
 for men once to die, and thereafter comcth the 
 judgment: ] As we walk over and tread on the 
 Grav, of others now, fo fome will be walking 
 over and treadfrg on ours ere long; and 
 within a few years our bodies Will be tu.ncd 
 into duft, and our duft will not be known from 
 the duft of others that Jived before us; it were 
 good co have the faith of this more rooted, and 
 that we did meditate more frequently and feri- 
 oufl.' on it. 
 
 Ufe l. It reproves the pride of men and wo- 
 men, and t h * i r J Lilting after earthly vanities : 
 When death and ihe grave come, where will all 
 their brave Hnufes, and Coarhs, and welldreft 
 Beds be? And what will become ofyourSiN 
 ver and Gold ? Thefe things will not go to the 
 grave with you, f As ye brought norninginto 
 the world, Co it's certain that ye mail carry no- 
 thing out of it ; The confideration whereof 
 would be a reftraint. and aw band to mens exor- 
 bitant deilres ; The time is coming when fix or 
 feven foot in length, and two or three foot in 
 breadth of ground willferve the richeftand moll 
 honourable; And within a few years the Lord 
 ProvotVs duft will not be known from the duft 
 of the poor body that gor a fliare of the common 
 Contribution* the dufc of both will be alike; 
 drefs and pamper the body as ye will, that beau- 
 ty will not abide with you; Wherefore then 
 ferves all this pride, vanity and bravity ?■ Seing 
 avery little whiles time will lav it al! in - 
 duft, and when all our projects will take an ; 
 as Job faith Chap* \y. My purpofes are br>k 
 and what did break them off? The grave ( fairh 
 he) is waiting for me, Ihave'faid to corrupti* 
 on, to the rottennefs of the earth, thou art my 
 mother, and to the worms, ye'are my brother 
 and fifters; they and I muft Jy together; Thefe 
 that now cannot get their beds made fine and 
 foft enough, the worms and they will ly toge- 
 ther ere long in the grave, the Cheft or Coffin 
 will not be foclofs but they will win in, nay, 
 they wil b^eed in their own bodies, dowenot 
 fee this daily ? Were it not then good that when 
 ye are going to the buriaJ5& graves of others,ye 
 were thinking on your own Tying down in the 
 gra*!b? And what will beyour thoughts in that 
 day of all things in rh's world ? If dead Corp* 
 fes could fpeak out of rheir graves, they would 
 preach (harp warning to them that are alive,and 
 would fay to fuchasare carrying them thither, 
 Beware ofpu ting off thoughts of death, and of 
 the grave. Though this be a common point of 
 truth, yet few walkfuitabiy to it, but we are get 
 neraly in our practice, a* if it were not a 
 truth j no more milling death and the grave. 
 
 V "J' 9. Serm. 34, 
 
 than if we were eternally to live here 
 
 Uft 3. As this ftuuld make folksfober in pro- 
 fperity, foitlhould make them park rvt in ad« 
 verfity 1 A little time will make us all cq jaf, an d 
 what is the matter what our condition be, ifour 
 peace be ma>;e fure with God ? Hi at hens m y 
 ihame many of us that are profefling hriftians 
 who, bytheconliderationof death, have been 
 brought to be much more fober in their car- 
 riage, than alas many of us are. 
 
 idly. Obferve, That the Mejpah behoved to come 
 to the grave and be buried ; It was fo defined 
 fore told, &fore-propheficd of.he made his grave* 
 with the wicked, & with the rich in hi, death 
 Hence thcApoftle, Act. 2.30. citing?/*/. 16.8 ga- 
 thers that as there was a necefllry uf his being in 
 the grave, fo there was a ncccifiry of hisrefur* 
 lection out of it, brcaufe he fhould not fee cor. 
 ruption in it, Hu foul wasmt left in hell, or in the 
 grave, neither did his fit fhiee corruption; And in 
 al! the EvangeUfrs it's clear, that aftei death he 
 was remarkably laid in the grave, and very par- 
 ticular and fpecial notice is taken of it; Take 
 here thortly fome few reafons of this neceflity 
 according to the Lords appointment, and no fur. 
 ther: Tne r. whe^eofis thi>, that (he ujfftain- 
 ednefs.md purify of Divine Juftice may appear, 
 and that therefore the complcatnefsandpe.fecti* 
 on of his fatisfation as Mediator to the Juftice 
 ofGod,may beconfirmed; If he had not been 
 Buried it might have been queftioned, whe- 
 J ther that which folk fuffer after death be 
 arealiry or not ; But his three days lying 
 in the grave isagreater evidence of the un- 
 ftainednefs and purity of Ju(tice,and of its im- 
 partiality, than the irapruoning of many Crea- 
 tures for many thoufands of years would hive 
 been; This {hews him to be a juft God, when 
 finners Cautioner is nor only purfued rodeath, 
 but to the grave; And therefore this is alwayes 
 accounted theloweftpart or ftepofhisfufferings, 
 And in the OW his dtfctnding into htU'xs fpoken 
 of, which in our excellent Cktechifm is expound- 
 ed to be Wis continuing under the power of death jor 
 time. 2. It is much for the manifestation of 
 the great love of God, and of the rich conde-; 
 fcending grace of the Mediaror, w ho is not i.nJy 
 content to die, but to come to the grave, and 
 to fuffer dea-h to have a kind of dominion over 
 him for a time; So that as death had po 
 feparat his Soul from his Body, fo it*pror 
 that power during his bring in the grave 
 enemies, as it were, cry, Take him upnow,an^ 
 they ftal the flone 9 and Jet a watch 'o ke-p him ilfl 
 the grave. 3. It's for the confolation ofthetfei 
 liever, and fei vesmighr^y to ftrcrgth.n him 
 Igainft the fear of death and the grave* 
 
 So 
 
 on over 1 
 wer to J 
 DrrgatsJ 
 e; fid 
 
Serm. 34- . ] ^ ah **' v<r l 9 * **7 
 
 So that the Believer needs not be afraid of death, and hach furnifhed him with fuch a ground of 
 but may ly do*n quietly in the grave, becaufe confolation: Befide what is done for the fatisfy* 
 it was thrifts bed, warmed, ro fay fo, by him, ing of Juftice ( which is the great confolation) 
 he was there before him, and the grave is now there is here ground of confolation againft all 
 to the Believer no parr of the curfe, more than \rofTes, pain, ficknefs, death and the grave; 
 
 death is ; The grave will not fwallow him up 
 with a fort of dominion and right.as it doth the 
 reprobate. 4. It ferves to confirm the Truth of 
 the Refurreftion of Chrift, more than if he had 
 never been in the grave, as the Apoftle proves, 
 1 Cor, l$» from the beginning to the clofe, even 
 till he come tc that, O death ! when is thy fling ? 
 O gravt ! where is thy vift.ry* Our Lord by dy- 
 ing and being buried, hath delivered hispeople 
 from both; As neither a great Stone, nor a Seal 
 put on it could keephim in the grave, but that 
 herofe again the third day, fo nothing will be 
 able forever to keep Believers at under; and as 
 he died to difaim death, fo his entering in the 
 grave was to difarm the grave, and to open a 
 door for Believers to come thorow it by his 
 power who was dead and laid in the grave, but 
 now is rif^n and ilive for evermore. 
 
 The Ufet are 1. To fheW the full confornrty 
 and agreeabl-nefs thatis betwixt what was fore- 
 told of the Mjfiah and what is fulfilled; and fo 
 ferves to confirm our Faith in this, that he is the 
 true Mcjfiah, whs was crucified, dead and buried; 
 This is one of the Articles of our Faith foretold 
 by ifaiah, now fulfilled and, recorded to be fo 
 in the Gofpel. a. It (hews the fe/erity of Ju- 
 itice, that when any perfon is made lyable to 
 the lam of ir, were it but as Caurioncr, it will 
 cx^ftof him fatisfatti nto the uttermofr; There- 
 fore when Chiift enters himfelf our Cautioner, 
 it not only exa&s death, and purines him till he 
 give uptheGhoft, but 3fter death purfues him 
 to the g'avc; It will needs have the fatisfa&ion 
 of the -Mediator, *nJ he yields to ft fo as to lay 
 ihimfel'by as a dead man : O! what a revengful 
 thing isjuftice when a iinner muft anfwer to ir? 
 When 'he Mediator was ib purfued by it, what 
 willi; do to others who are out of him ? Here 
 we may apply that word? Daughters of Jtrufslem, 
 \wetp not ]ur me, but weep jor your JetvCs and yow tbiU 
 \dren; if it be aone fo to t hi green tree, what jha.l ke 
 hit* to the dry? Whtn rhe fire of the ver gcance 
 >f Godfhall kindle thit 1 ke tharburns with fire 
 ind brimltone, and when finners {hall becaft in* 
 ;j it as P> many pieces < f Wood, or as fomany 
 lieces of dry Kicks, what will be t f cir conditi- 
 m ? It were g-^-d in time to fear falling into the 
 wds of the living God, which ii indeed a moll 
 [ear ul thing, Heb 10. gl. 
 
 "It. Ir (he s the B lievers ob'igarion to God 
 r.hat natn fo fully provided a fau^aftion for him, 
 
 There is not aftep in the way to Heaven but 
 our Lord hathgone it before usjWe have not on- 
 ly aMediator that died, but that was buried;And 
 O .' but this is much when Believers come to 
 think on their going to the grave; Will it de- 
 vour them, or feed upon them for ever? No, he 
 hath muzled it to fay fo;They reftin their graves 
 as in a bed, their bodies being united to him.and 
 their duft muft be counted for; its true, the bo« 
 dies of the reprobate muft be raifed up, yetup* 
 on another account, and not by vertue of their 
 union with Chrift, and of Chrifts victory over 
 death in their ftead, as Believers are", In a word, 
 they have many advantages that have Chrift,and 
 they have a miferable life, a comfortlefs death, 
 and a hard lying in the grave that want him ; 
 Therefore as the fhortcut to have a happy life, 
 and a comfortable death and burial, and the grave 
 fan&ified ro ycu, feek to have your inrereft in 
 drift made fure, then all things are yours, and 
 particulaify death and the grave, which will be 
 as a Box to keep the particles of your duft till 
 it reftore them faithfully to Chrift, to whom ic 
 muft give an account; Cut as for you that fligrc 
 and misken Chrift, ye have a dreadful lot of it, 
 no intcreft in Chrift living, no union with him 
 in the grave, nor at the Refurrection- And if 
 ye did bntferioufl) confidertfcat ye will die, ye 
 would alio confide/ that it s good dying and be- 
 ing in the grave with Chrift- and that it's a 
 woful thing to be, and to bain it without him. 
 idly O&jerve, That a'l the fuffcrings of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrift, to the leaft j>arricularcircum- 
 ftance of them, were ordered of God, and b*- 
 foie*hand determined and concluded upon;nonc 
 of them came by guefs upon him: That he 
 fliould fufTer and die, and what fort of death he 
 fhould die, and that he fliould be laid in the 
 grave, all was before concluded and determi- 
 ned* When we iead thorow the Gofpel it were 
 good to take a lo« k of the Old Tcftament Pro- 
 prieties of the Covenant of Redemption, and of 
 the antient determinations concerning hrm, is . 
 Peter do h, yiBsi.i'] H'm being delivered by the 
 determinate counlel of God, j e have with wicked handt 
 crucified ; God's fo-c-knowlcdge and determi- 
 nation fixed the bounds, and laid down the 
 iuIc ( to fpeak fol to rhefc wicked hands in the 
 crucifying of him, without all tincture of 
 touch of culpable acceflion to their fin i and 
 in looking over his fuffcrings we wou'4 
 
 call 
 

 ifaiah <% 
 l8 ,? • j »w tU.i and this was the Lords 
 
 "" rff'Jnd that „ thefc fuffcrings , and in 
 ?. U . r ?. 0( !: "„J new of them, the Mediator is 
 
 CVery 'doVnWe.'ih.t he undertook to pay. 
 AH wldchdemonftrat. the verity of our Lords 
 
 telling down 
 All which dc 
 being the true Meffisb. 
 
 vy 
 
 anng the two parts of the 
 part of theverfe together, He made ht 
 vMwitb the mcM, as to the eftnttation of men, 
 ltd*?* the rich in Hit Heath, in reipect of Gods 
 
 Verf 9. '** '""-$ 
 
 fufions, and when matters are turned up fide 
 down to humane appearance, our bltflcd Lord 
 is not nonpluiTcd and at a ftand when we are, 
 he knows well what he is doing, and will make 
 all things moft certainly infaliibly,and infruftra- 
 bly to work for his own glory, and for the good 
 of his people, 
 
 Frcm its being raid, that Ht gtvt kit grave 
 with the wicked, as holding forth Quilt's willing-' 
 nefsto be buried, (ashefaichof hs death, J«h. 
 No man taketh away my life from me, but I 
 
 ordering ir Otjtrvi That often God bath one 10. 1 7^™ ^ . ( ^ ) ^^ J 
 defign, and^ men pother, ™*™ riiMv fofakfi tbe whoIe performance of the work of Redern 
 
 have his defign to ftand.and infru-ftrably to take 
 effect Whfn feme would defign ihame ; to 
 W iLtAe he will have them honoured. 
 
 Tie 1 Ue fares to comfort Gods People 
 when the/are in their lowed condition, and 
 when their enemies are m h-gheft power; 
 ;" Kr(1 : s driving on us defign, and mak- 
 Z fi and IC enfmies to fulfil */%""* 
 ihf Chief Priefts with the Scribes and Pharuees 
 are putting Chrift to death, the multitude are 
 crying , cL* **. » nd preferring a R,M«- to 
 h on: But in all this, they were fulfilling what 
 God had bef re determined to be done, which 
 we fay is matterof great chelation both as to 
 
 our own particular cafe and as toGod s general 
 
 °uiding of the World, and especially of his 
 
 Church -herein : There is nothing w here nth. 
 
 malice of men feemsto be mod prevalent, but 
 
 our Lord is dill gaining 
 
 by them; They are all 
 
 God's determination , 
 
 ruine 
 
 his point upon, and 
 the while executing 
 though to their own 
 
 , See here an exact eorrefpondency betwixt 
 all the circumdances of our Lords Sufferings 
 and God's determination, and a concurrenceof 
 all of them for the promoting of ,t,n theH.fto- 
 ry of theGofpel; Ai^rfbim « m, tnk e „, when 
 thebones of the two Thieves crucified with Jhirn 
 ,,^i S runath. m ,.nd d ^, 
 
 that A bone of 
 
 fierad, when they are not pierced', 
 
 jfe it waspropheficd of him, that A bony. 
 
 be broken, and they fbstU look upon hin. 
 
 pierced; and when it comes to his 
 
 Pilau wots not what he is doing, when 
 
 vet he is fuelling the Lords delign in giving his 
 
 _r_ i..^l«f 4rinnthea % when he 
 
 ed by him, 
 
 him jhall not 
 
 whom they haw pierced; and when 1 
 
 bods to a rich man J^j>A of Ar^t 
 ask* it fro-n him to be bun 
 
 ption even in the lowed and moll: flumeful fteps 
 of it,our Lord wasamoft willing condefcender, 
 He gave hit grave with the wicked; He was a moil 
 free and willing undertaker,when as it were,the 
 Qucftion was put, Who will fatisfle for Elect 
 finners ? He comes in and fayes ( as we have it, 
 Pjal. 40e) Lo,l come t in tbe volum of thy book it it 
 written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God; I 
 ana here, Father, as if he had faid, I offer my felf 
 and accept of the terms heartfomly and delight- 
 fomly ; / reioycedfmh ht,P.rov. 8, 28. in the habi. 
 table partt of the earth, before the foundation of tks 
 world was laid, my delight wat vith the font of men : 
 So it may be made evident, that in all the parts 
 of his fuffcrings, and in every ftep thereof, he 
 did moft exactly, and alfo moft willingly per- 
 form whatever was carved out to Mm He preach- 
 ed and wrought miracles, and did all with de- 
 light, as himfelf lays, John 4, 32. It is my meat 
 and my drink to do my Fathers will, and to fimfh hit 
 worktit refreftied him when h s bedy was hungry 
 and faint, to be carrying on the work of Re- 
 demption infpeaking to a poor (haying finner. 
 If we yet lock a little forward we will find that 
 he fo longed for the fadeft part of this ex^rcife, 
 that he is pained till it be accomplished Luke 
 12. 50. / have a baptlfm to bt baptized with, and how 
 am I (Iraitned till it be aCiOmptiJbed? His heart long- 
 ed fo much to be at it, that he woijld approve 
 nor admit of nothing that might ftand in the 
 way of it, therefore he rejected Petsrt advice with 
 holy deteftation, with zGet thee behind me Satan; 
 He knew well what was in Judas iwnd, and yet' 
 would not divert him, bur bid him do what he 
 was about,*«»V4/;;He went to the Gai den where 
 he was known to refort, and gave his enemies 
 opportuni f y to take him, and would not fuffer 
 
 whereby the Prophetic in J hc ^^jf/^>^ . to draw a fword to oppofe 
 
 The -ickcdwrsbfforn^ >&"fi^£§P When „/w« before Pilate hewoulcTnot *. hi 
 ofothers, and the ig noranc eoim any con curr when hewas ^ ^ ^^ 
 
 aH together, to make out the fime tooiy ino un tbf j£ ,„*■ his cheeks to him that plucked of th* 
 
 alterable defign and P« r P°; c ^ ou ' r flith herC| hair, and hid not his face from frame *»d /pitting. 
 
Scrm. 34. . J **** Sl> 
 
 and accordingly faith, Matth zo. ae. The Son of 
 Man came not to be jewed, but tofervr, and to give 
 his life a ranfom for many, When His HoJy Hu- 
 mane Nature fcarred ac the Cup, and when he 
 was thereby put to pray, Father, if it be pojjitte, 
 let this cMppafs from me, he {weetly lubjoyns, but 
 for this eaufe came I unto this hour-, And the near* 
 er it came to his death he vented his defire after 
 it the more, With defire have I deftred, faith he, 
 or with fpecial defire hive I defired, to eat this 
 Pafsover with you before I fufftn Even when he 
 was to eat the laft Pafsover, and to take his laft 
 good-night, and to be in readtnefs for what was 
 coming, What could have been the mean or 
 motive to bring itabout, if he had not been wil- 
 ling? It was this willingntfs chat Jehovah was 
 pleafed with,and that made his Sacrifice to fmcll 
 1 weetly to his Father> who loveth a c bear ful giver, 
 ?.nd it had never been fatisfactory if it had not 
 been willing but extorted, and therefore faith 
 he, Job. ip. No mantaketh my life fromme,but Ilaj 
 it down] And / delight to do thy -will, Pfal- 40. 
 
 Uft fi See here a great evidence of the love 
 •f God, and of the Mediator; Behold what man- 
 ner of love this is, that when it was not requir- 
 ed, he mould offer and freely give himfeif to 
 death, and to the grave, this is tlie love of a 
 friend, and beyond it, that he mould have fo 
 loved his Church as to give himfeif for her to 
 l,death, and to the grave; Well may he fay as he 
 doth, John 15. 15. Greater love hath no man than 
 this, Sec. 
 
 idly. Itfheweth whit great ground of confo- 
 ation and encouragement a finner hath that 
 
 ouldfainbc at Chrifr, to believe on him, and 
 expect Life and Salvation through him; Our 
 
 ord was moft willing to lay down his Life, 
 d to come to the gnve for that end, and is ic 
 
 oflible that he will refufe a finner that comes 
 
 nto him, and that would fain ftiarein the be- 
 
 Verf 0, ( f • 189 
 
 nefite of his fufferings, which was his great end 
 in fuffering ? This one thinr/, to wit, the wil- 
 lingnefs that he had to fufrer; and the delight 
 that he. had in fuffering, to purchafe Redempti"^ 
 on to finners, may bs as a ftrong cordial to 
 itrengthen the heart of a fwouning Sinner, and 
 a great motive and encouragement to come for- 
 ward to him. Thou wilt, it may be, fay, I wot 
 not if Chrift loves me; O ! Conlider thefe fweel 
 words, R9W. $. Jo. If he died for us while toe were 
 yet enemies, how much more fhall we be faved by his 
 life} I fhall dole this difcourfe with thefe two 
 wo ds the I. whereof is, for encouragement i 
 If there be any body here that would fain have 
 Chrifts love, and partake of his death : Take 
 courage, feing our Lord out of the great defire 
 he had to pibmovethe Salvation of Cinncrs,Gave 
 himfeif to de.it h and to the grave, will he not wil- 
 lingly make application of his purchafe to them 
 when they feek it ? That he was willing toun^ 
 dergo all this, is a far greater matter tfi2n to wel« 
 come a finner coming home to him; and if he 
 did all that he did for this very end, will he 
 (rand rn it when it comes to the application? 
 Thei^.word is,that this is^nd will be a ground 
 of conviction to all who think little of our Lord 
 Jefus, and of his love, and who will not part 
 with a bafe luft for him, and who will not make 
 choife of him, but will refufe, reject, under- 
 value and defpife him, with all that he hath 
 done and fu fie red; it will exceedingly aggravate 
 your condemnation, that when he was To wil« 
 ing to die for the good of finners, ye were not 
 willing to live for his fatisfactirn; Think on it, 
 O! think ferioufly on if, Thefe things are the 
 truth* of Gid, and the main truths of the Gof- 
 pel, that ly very near the irgaging o f hearts to 
 Chrifr; And if fuch truths do you no good, 
 none others readily will \ God give us the Faith 
 of them. 
 
 SERMON XXXV. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. IX. 
 
 erf. 9- And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rhh in his death, becaufe hi had done 
 1«» violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 
 
 His is a mod wonderful Subject that 
 
 we have to think and fpeak of, which 
 
 concerns the fufferings that our bleflsd 
 
 >id was pltafed to undergo for finners ; And 
 
 is m kes it to be the more wonderful, when 
 
 confidcr wtjat he was made, and what his 
 
 carriage was ; \ He was numbered with the 
 tranfgreflburs, and gave his grave with the wic- 
 ked; ] And yet he hath this T<*ft mony, that 
 l_ there was no violence in his h.mds, nor any 
 deceit in his mouthi He was a finlefs Mediator, 
 noton'y before m«n, but before God. 
 
 Thefe 
 

 iqo If**** 5 3 
 
 Thefc words confidered in themklves, hold 
 out a little fum and fhort compend of a holy 
 walk, moft perfectly and exactly fulfilled in the 
 conversion ©f Jefus Chrift; He bad done no vio< 
 lence\oi\ there was no violence in his hands.that 
 is, there was no finful deed contrary to the Law 
 of God in all his practice and v/dlk; And there was 
 no deceit , or guile in his mouth, that is, no finful 
 or deceitful exprefllon : In fum, neither indeed 
 nor in word was their Cm in him, He did wrong 
 to none by his deeds, and he deceived no body 
 by his words ; This guile or deceit, as it looks 
 to thefirft Table of the Law, imports, that there 
 was no falfhood nor corrupt Doctrine in his 
 Minifhy ; He did not beguile nor feduce the 
 fouls of any in leading them wrong; And it 
 looks to the fecond Table of the Law more im* 
 mediately, it imports that he was finccie and 
 upright, that there was no deceit no violence - 
 or dillembling ih his carriage; fo that whether 
 we look to him as Cods publick Servant in the 
 Minifhy, or to him in his privat wa k, he was 
 compleatly innocent and without all fin, as the 
 word is, I Pet. a. 22. Who did no Jin, neither was 
 guilt found in his mouth-, However men accounted 
 of him, he was an innocent and finlefs Saviour. 
 
 If we look on them as they depend on the 
 former words» they are a reaibn of that diffe- 
 rence which in his death and burialGod did put 
 betwixt him and others ; Though he was by 
 wicked men put to death as a wicked perfon,yet 
 God in his providence fo ordered the matter that 
 he was honourably buried with the rich; Why 
 fo ? This is the reafon of it, becauie though they 
 efteemed him a falfe Prophet, and a Deceiver, a 
 Wine-bibber, &c. Yet he had done no wrong 
 to any, neither by word nor by deed, and there 
 fore God would have that refpeft put on him 
 after his death in his burial, and fo a remarkable 
 difference to be made betwixt him and others. 
 
 Obferve hence, i« That our Lord Jefus, the 
 High Priesi of our p^ofeffion that laid down his life 
 for finners, is compleatly and perfectly holyjHe 
 hath that teftimony from the Prophet here,! hat 
 He did no violence, neither was there any deceit in his 
 mouth; He hath (h is teftimony from the Apoftles, 
 from Pettr, 1 Pit. 2. 22. He did no fin, neither w as 
 sny guile found in his mouth; From John I John 3.5. 
 He was manifefied to take away (in, and in him is no 
 Jin; And from Paul, Hb. 7. 27. He was holy and 
 harmlefs and undefiied, fep irate from [inner S; In this 
 refpeft there is a difference betwixt him and all 
 men in the worldi And it was necelTary and re- 
 quifite for Believers confolation, that ir mould 
 be fo, It became us, faith the Apoftls, tohavefuch 
 *n High Priesi, n If we confidcr the excellency 
 
 of his perfon, he could not be otherwifc, being 
 God and Man in one Perfon, and having the 
 fulnefs of the God-head duelling in him bodi- 
 ly. 2. It was necelTary, if wc confider tkeend 
 or his Offices.he being to offer up an acceptable 
 Sacrifice to G)d, behoved to be holy&harmlefs 
 orhcrwiie, neither the Pried nor the Sacrifict 
 could have been acceptable. 3. It was necefTary 
 if we confider the dignty of his Office; It be- 
 hoved him to differ from the former priefts un- 
 der the Law; And if he had not been without 
 fin, he fhould not have fo fuffered from them 
 4. It was necelTary for the perfons for whom he 
 undertook thefc Offices; Such a High Priefr be. 
 came them, and another could net have done 
 their turni All theft we will find to be put ro- 
 gether, H b, 7. 26, 27. Where the Apoitichav- 
 ing laid, vtrj. 25. That [ he is able to favetothe 
 mtcrmoft thefe that come unto God through 
 him./ubjoyns, For fuch an High Prieft became us 
 who is holy, harmlefs, undefiled, feparate from 
 finners,made higher than the heavens,whonecd« 
 eth not daily as thefe high Priefts to offer up l t . 
 enfices, firft for his own fins, and then for the 
 fms of the people;] The moft h< ly ofalj^he 
 Priefts had fins tor which they behoved to of- 
 fer Sacrifices, cVfo had the hoi eft ofthepeopl/ 
 but Chrift was holy and blamelcfs, and had no* 
 fin, and it behoved him to be fo* As I laid juft 
 now, his faenfice could never have been accept- 
 ed for others, if he had needed to offer up facri- 
 fices for himfelf. 
 
 The Ufes are thefe; Not to fpeak how it vin- 
 dicats our Lord Jefus Chrift from all thefc af- 
 perfions caft upon him by wicked men, who 
 called him a Glutton, zWine.bibbtr , a friend of Pu- 
 blicans and Sinmrs, a Deceivtr, &c. He was holy 
 and harmlefs \ and ere Jong he will glorioufly 
 appear to be holy, when thefe who pierced him 
 lhall fee him and be confounded, I fay, the Ufes 
 are thefe, in reference to the Church and People 
 of God: It fcrves 1. To (hew the condefcen- 
 dency of love, and the contrivance of infinite 
 wifdom for the behove of finners, Such a high 
 Prieft became us; Love condelcended and wif- 
 dom contrived, that he fhould become man and 
 fuffer, the )uft for the un\ufi> % Wi. dom fet on work 
 by grace provided for finners fuch a highPrieft 
 as they Irood in need oft And indeed finners 
 have no want here, for they have a High Prieft 
 becoming them , and this is an evidence of it, 
 that he is holy, harmlefs, unified feparate from Jim 
 ners, &c. 2. It ferves to ' e a great ground of en» 
 couragement to finners, toftepto, and make ufe 
 of Chrifts Sacrifice, our Lord had no fin, and 
 needed not to offer a Sacrifice for himfelf; 
 
 And 
 
Serm, %S 
 
 And if he offered Sacrifice for atonement, where- 
 foie did he fo? It was either for himfelf, and 
 that could not be, for he was holy, or for no- 
 thing, or for no end, and to fay fo were blaf- 
 phemy, or itmuft be for a real fatisfaction for 
 Elect finners, or fuch as fliould make ufe of him; 
 And thus Faith hath a fure ground to Jay hold 
 on. and namely that his fatisfac&on was real; 
 and that it was for this end, to be made forth* 
 coming for the behove of fuch as ihould believe 
 on him, And therefore look upon ChriiVs fuf- 
 fcring and upon his innocency who funVtd , 
 and ye will find that ye have a iuitable High 
 Prieit, and atonement made for >ou i O but 
 that is afweet woid, 2 Cor) 5 uh. [He huh 
 made h m to be fin for us who knew no fin.that 
 we mi&ht be made the rightcoufuefs of God in 
 
 him. ] '■'-'! r . . , 
 
 3 /y. Ic s ground of great conization to them 
 
 ifaiah S3. Krf. S> 
 
 tfl 
 
 thar betake themfelves 
 
 why ? our 
 
 to Chriit 
 Lords Sacrifice cannot but be accepted,for there 
 was i»i him no guile, nothing that might make 
 his Sacrifice uniavoury ; and as it commends 
 the way of Grace to a Tinner, fo ic is ground of 
 encouragement to a firmer to lonk to be accepted 
 through him, for if the temptation mould fay, 
 thou art a (inner, and fuch and fuch a great 
 finner; that is nothing to purpofe, for God hath 
 
 holy and harmfefs in his life. Obferve, That 
 however Holinefs may fuffer as Jong as holy 
 pcrfons live, yet at death and after death, there 
 is ever a Teftimony of the Lords refpeft put en 
 it> or thus, holy walkers are always feparitcd 
 and differenced from others at ti 11: utatrr, it's 
 ever other wife with them trun it h wuh others 
 when death comes, however it hath b^en uith 
 them in their life, [ He mnat his grjtve with the 
 wicked, and with the rich in his diafh t btcaufe hi had 
 done no violence, &c. This hath been coifirnied 
 in the expeiience of all that ever lived; The rid 
 glutton Luke is, hath the better lift as to externals, 
 &rd Lazarus hid a poor affl.&cd life, but when 
 dejyj»-comes, the rich glut ten goes to Hell and 
 Lazarus goes to the bofom tf Abraham: This is 
 Jaid down as a cettain truth, Ecclef. 8. 12, ij. 
 L Though a finner do evil an hundred timeStand 
 his days be prolonged, yet furely I know that it 
 fhall be well with him that fears God, but ic 
 ihall not be well with the wicked, ] there (hall 
 be a change at death; and it cannot be other- 
 wife, whether we look i; To the holy Nature 
 of God, who hach a complacency in Holinefs, 
 as it's faid Pfal. 11. ulf. [ The righrcous Lord 
 Jovethrighteoufneis, his countenance doth be- 
 hold the upright : ] Or whether 2. We Icok to 
 the Word of God .which /'rf 3. lo, if, bids fay 
 
 accepted of Ghrift and of his Sacrifice, and if to the righteous, [ It fliall be well with them, 
 thou make ufe of his Sacrifice, it cannot but be 
 accepted for thee ; here then is the confolation, 
 that we have fuch an High Prieft as became us, 
 who needed not to offer for himfelf, but only 
 for the fins of the People, and of his own People. 
 4/y. It ferves notably for our imitation: He 
 waskoly, and in his holy walking hath left us 
 • Copy to write after and to waik by: and there- 
 fore in your fpeaking of Chrifts Holinels or in 
 your reading of it, confider that he is thereby 
 caftinga copy to you, and biding you [ purifie 
 ourielves as he is pure, to beholy,as he who 
 ath called you is holy;lcarnof him to be meek 
 nd lowly in heart, ] to be humble and heaven- 
 •minded and in whatever refpeft his life and 
 alk ispropefed to us as a pattern, fet your ftlves 
 n hisown ftrcngth to imitate it, and be yc fob 
 overt of hi?n as dtar children; whenever ye read of 
 is oeedienee to the death, of his holinefs in all 
 anner of converfation, and of his fulfilling all 
 ighteoufntft, let it p ovoke you fingly and feri- 
 uily to drfign and endeavour conformity to 
 m therein in your practice. 
 idly- From the connexion of thefe two, That 
 e was accounted a finner before & at hisd<ntb, 
 od that aftei his death God did put that note 
 frefpeft upon him, that hewas buried with the 
 ob, hc0vfi b$ had dm 01 v^Um, fcc, but wa 
 
 for they Hull cat of the fruit of their doings, ] 
 ( for bUffed are the dead which die in the Lord, 
 they reft from theirlabours, and their woiks do 
 follow them, ) but wo unto the wicked, it fliall 
 be ill with hirn, for the reward of his hands 
 fliall be given him; ] the fame connexion that 
 was betwixt ChriiVs lift, though afufferir.glife, 
 and his death, fliall be betwixt the life of all his 
 Members, and their death, [ If we fiiffer wi h 
 him, we (ball alfo reign with him. 
 
 The Ufts are I. To let us fae what is the true 
 way to eternal well-being, when this liort life 
 (hail be at an end; and it is the way of iioU* 
 nefs; and fo it ferves to anfwer agieat quefti- 
 had on,who fliall be happy attbtir deatl ? even 
 they that are holy in their lifl; whole hands 
 have d» ne no violence, and whole nv uth h*rj| 
 had no guilc,to wit, with t u efull bent lo their 
 will, and without all gracious fe'uctanon, for 
 abfolutc freedom from thef in this li r e was 
 proper only to out Lord Jefus lince JaaixshV: 
 Such may expect the Lords countetfiftM when 
 death fcpara^s their foul and body ,rhe>cfoie 
 tike this as im.uk for trval, tbfer* e and fee 
 what is y>ur carriagr,and judge accordingly, & 
 feing the Lord hath joyned Holinefs and Hap- 
 pinels together inlcparably , picfumc not to 
 ft piiate tacm. 
 
 C c 
 

 IC2 tfnimh 53 
 
 tly Is It Co that Holinefs hath a good and 
 comfortable clofe of a man's Life, ( which is 
 the fubftancc of the Doctrine, ) it would com- 
 mend us to the ftudy of Holinefs as the moft 
 precious, advantagious, honourable, fickerand 
 fafe courfe that a man can follow; [ Say to the 
 tighteous, it fhall be well with him; it's not, 
 fay to the honourable man, nor fay to the rich 
 man, nor to the wife man, &c, God lnth not 
 chofetimany of thefe, as is clear, t Cor-, i. 26. 
 hut, fay to the righteous or holy man; it fhall 
 be well with him ; J and is there any thing that 
 ftould have fo much influence on men, and rake 
 them fo much up, as how to be well in the clofc? 
 £olk may have a fighting life of it here, and 
 may fuflfer much, and be under reproach for a 
 time, as Chrift was; bue if thou be holy, ere 
 thy Body be laid in the Grave, it fhall be well 
 with thy Soul: And as for all who have chofm 
 the way of Holinefs, we arc allowed to fay this 
 to you, that it fhall be well with you at death, 
 and after death at Judgment, and even for ever- 
 more; To them (, faith the Apoirle, Rom. 2. 9.) 
 who by patient continuance in well-doing, feek 
 for glory, and honoBr,and immortality, eternal 
 life; O bow many great and good things are 
 abiding all the honeft'hearted Students of Ho- 
 linefs ? Eye hath not feen, nor car heard, nor 
 heart conceived, what they are. 
 
 %ly. It's ground of expostulation with them 
 that neglect and flight holinefs* As it will be 
 well with the Righteous or Holy, fo they fhall 
 have amiferable and defperate lot of it, who 
 cither defpife or neglect Holinefs, [ Wo to the 
 wicked ( faith l\ai*h 3. 11.) it fhall be ill with 
 him; ] Some of you may think that ye are rich 
 and honourable, are well cloathed, fit in fine 
 Houfes, and have rich covered Tables, when 
 poor Bodies are kept at rhe door, and are defti- 
 tute of thefe things* and are ready to blcfs your 
 felves, as being wel', though ye care not for, 
 nor feek after Holinefs: but wo unto you, for 
 ye muft die, and g^ to the boctomlefs Pit, and 
 there ye will not get fo much as a drop of water 
 to cool your Tongues in. thefe tormenting 
 Flames* neither your Riches, nor Honours, nor 
 Pleasures, will hold offrhe heat and fury of the 
 vengeance of God, nor. in the leait eafe you in 
 your cxt cam pain: but as it is Rom. 1*9. In. 
 dignation and wrath, tribulation and anguifh 
 (four fore wo ds ) will be upon every foul of 
 man that do:h evil: O ! do yet not believe this? 
 it's the truth of God, and a very plain truth and 
 we are perfwaded none of you will dare down- 
 right to deny it: Holinefs will have afweef and 
 comforuble clofe, and the neglect of it will have 
 
 • r ' rr - 9- Serin. 3? 
 
 fearful effects following on it: what it the rea- 
 fon then that Holinefs is fo little thought of,and 
 followed? do ye believe that ye will die? and 
 think ye ever to come to Judgment, or to hear 
 that word, [ Come yeblefftd of my Father, in- 
 herit the kingdom prepared for you, for I was 
 hungry and ye fed mc.naked and ye cloathed 
 the &c. J Owhat will become of many of you, 
 when the Lord Jefus will be revealed fiomha- 
 ven,wich his mighty Angels, in flaming fire, to 
 render vengeance to ail them who kriow not 
 God, and obey not the Gofpel? and will fay 
 to you, [ Depart ye curfedinto everlafting fire, 
 prepared for the devil and his angels; for when 
 I was hungry, ye fed me not, &c ] This is, 2 
 grant, a general truth, yet if it be not received, 
 we know not what truth will be received, and 
 if it were received, the practice of Holinefs 
 weuld be more ftudied;there would be lefsSin, . 
 and more Prayer, Reading, Meditation, more 
 feeking after Knowledge, and more watchful- 
 nefs and rendernefs of Folks Converfation ; aK 
 ways in this the Lord mews the connexion that 
 is betwixt Holinefs and Happincfs, and here 
 ye have the coppy and pattern of an examplary 
 walk. 
 
 3/7. From this, that the holinefs and blame- 
 lefncfs of Chrift here fpoken of,is marked in him 
 as peculiar to him, for it fits him to be a High 
 Prieft , and proves that only he could be the 
 Prieft that fuited&became us,and that no other 
 could do our turn, as the Apoftle reafons, Htb. 
 7. 26, 27 2S. [ FortheLawmakcth men Pritfts 
 that have infirmity, but the word of the oath, 
 which was lince the Law, maketh the Son f who , 
 is confecrated for evermore; ] From this I fay, 
 Otftrve, That all men, even the moft holy, ex- 
 cept Chrift ( who was both God and Man ) are 
 finful, and notone of them finleft, while living 
 hereon earth, and the reafon is becaufe if any j 
 were finlefs, then this that is faid here would 
 not be peculiar to our tord Jefus Chiift, that He 
 did no violence, neither was there deceit in his 
 mouth; ] This being a fmgular character of cur 
 High Priefr,that none of his Types could claim 
 to, it exclufively agreeth to him, fo as it agreerh 
 to none other; The Scripture is full to this pur- 
 pole, in afTerting, that not only all men are din- 
 ners, as confidered in their natural condirion, 
 but that even Believers are fin ful in part: for the 
 fameApoftie 7^tha&faith,i Epift, 1. 3. J Truly. 
 ourfellowfhip is with the Father, and with his 
 Son Jefus thrift, \<t\th slfo verf. 8. If we fay we 
 have no fin.we deceive our felves,and the truth 
 is noc in us t *r,d verf. 101 If we fay that we have 
 
 not 
 
not finned, we make him aliar, and 
 is not in us; 
 
 if at ah ?}. Verf. 9. jC^ 
 
 his word luftings, or firft nfings and motions atleaftof 
 and 1 Kings 8. 46. *»</ Err/*/. 7. 20. the body of Death, are no fin . And a. Tbcir 
 There is no man that doth good and finneth exponir-g of the Law, To as it may fuit to their 
 not,] plainly insinuating, that all have need of cwn ajbprehenfion, and opinion, yet fo as they 
 an interceflbr: We fliall not inflft in this, only fay, that every Believer, or godly Pcrfonwins 
 fiom thefe words compared with the fcope,mak- not to this perfection to keep rhe Law wholly, 
 ing it peculiar to Chrift to be without fin, and but only fome of their Grandees : Thisthe Lord 
 implying, that none other are fo, we would con- hath mercifully banifhed out of the Reformed 
 
 Churches, asinconfifientwith the experienceof 
 the Saints, who jW a law in their numbers war* 
 ring a gain ft the lata of their mind, and leading them 
 captive to the law oj Jin that is in their number*} in- 
 confident with the Scriptures, which clear, that 
 none have attained, nor do attain perfection in 
 this life, but the contrary, that in many thrnge 
 we offend all; and inconfiftent with Grace, that 
 leaves finners ftill in Chrifts common and Debt, 
 as (landing in need of his imputed Righteouf- 
 
 fider the neceflity of its being fo. 1. For differ 
 
 encing and feparating ofjelus Chrift from all 
 
 others, by putting this dignity on him, of being 
 
 koly, harmlefs, undefiled, feparate from finners, this 
 
 is his prerogative, and badge of honour, a- 
 
 bove others, a. It's necefTaiy' for this end,to de- 
 
 munftrate the need that there is of offering him- 
 
 felf a Sacrifice for finners, and that it was not 
 
 for himfelf, but for finners that he offered up 
 
 himfelf, and that there is a continual neceflity 
 
 of making ufe of that Sacrifice, for if there were nefsj This perfection they place in inherent Ho- 
 
 not a continuance of fin in parr, while Believers 
 
 are out of Heaven, there would be no need of 
 
 this part of Chrifts Office; if we were holy and 
 
 harmlefs our felves, we needed not fuch an 
 
 High Prieft. 
 
 Ufe 1. To eftablifli us in the Faith of this 
 Truth, That among all men there is none that 
 
 were true men, except Chrift:, that is without 
 
 fin; fin is ftill abiding in them, while in this 
 
 wo'rld; of none of them all it can be faid, that 
 
 they have done no violence, neither is there any deceit 
 
 in their mouth; none of them could ever fay fince 
 
 Adam fell, the prince of this world Cometh, and hath 
 
 nothing 0} me; yea this is a fp^cial qualification 
 
 of Chrift Jefus, for his Prieft-hood; thath* was 
 
 without fin, and behoved to be fo; I am not 
 
 pleading, that finners mould take a liberty to 
 
 fin, becaufe there is no perfection to win at in 
 
 this life, God forbid; wo unto them that make 
 
 fuch an ufe of this Truth; nor do I fpeak of it 
 
 to allow any to difpence with, or to give way 
 
 to themfelves to fin; for we fhew before, that 
 
 Chrift is here propofed, as our Patern, and we 
 
 are biden purifie our pelves, as he is p\re : But this 
 
 we fay, that none living here on the earth are 
 
 without finithe moft perfeft men that are on this 
 
 hie Eternity, carry about with them 1 body of 
 
 death, called fire or fix times fin, Rom. 7, that 
 
 hath actual luftirgs, and a power, as a law of fin 
 
 to lead captive, and that makes the man guilty 
 
 before God. 
 U(e 2. For reproof to two forts of enemies to 
 
 this Truth. 1. Thefe inveterate enemies of the 
 Sacrifice of our Lord Jefus Chrift, to wit, the 
 Papitfs. that black train that follows Antichnft 
 who plead for a perfection according to the law' 
 as attainable in this life,1ayingdowi cw ) grounds 
 to prove this perfection. 1. That the inward 
 
 linefs, and habitual Grace, but we infift nor on 
 it. a/y. Anether fort of enemies reproved here, 
 are the old Familifis, who are owned by thefe 
 who are called Anttnomians, fcveral of which 
 miferable perfons are now going up and down 
 amongft us, who fay that the People of God have 
 no fin in them, wherein they are worfe than Pa- 
 fifts; for Papifls make it peculiar to fome only, 
 but they make it common to all Believers*, And 
 Papifts make their perfection to confift in inhere 
 cnt Holinefs, but they make the nature of fin to 
 be changed, and fay, that fin is no more fo in a 
 Believer, even though it be contrary to the Law 
 ofGod;We grant indeed, that the people ofGod 
 are free of fin in theie refpects, iilnthisre- 
 fpect, that no fin can condemn them, they are 
 not under the Law, but under Grace; in that re- 
 fpect, Rom, 8. 1. It's faid, thit There it no condem- 
 nation to them who are in Chrift. 2. In this respect, 
 that they cannot fall into that fin wh.eh is unt» 
 death, as is clear, ijohn y, 17, 18. And 3. in this 
 refpecr, that they cannot fo fin as to ly, or be 
 under the reign and dominion of fin, as is evi- 
 dent, Rom. 6. 14. The Believer delightsin the Law 
 of God according toths inner nun, Rom. 7. a:, and 
 is not in fin, neither doth commit fin, as the un- 
 believer doth, for the feed of God abidcth in 
 him, and is kept from being involved in that 
 which his corrupt nature inclines the Believer 
 to; So then, ^hat the Scripture fp*aki of Be- 
 lieversbeingfree offin.istobe underftood in one 
 of thefe refpects : But to fay 1 . That a Believer 
 cannot fin at. all, fad experience and practice of 
 the Saints is a proof of the contrary; O , 2. To 
 fay that fin in a Believer is no fin, becaufe of 
 his faith in Chrift, is as contrary toScrij 
 For rhe Law of God is the fame to the Believer, 
 and unbeliever, 3nd fin is the U\r>c to 
 
 C c 2 Adultery 
 
I9 4 &** a ^ Si* rer f- 9 
 
 Adultery is Adultery, and Murther isMurther 
 in David, as well as in any other man: Sure 
 when Chriftbade his Difciplcs pray for forgive- 
 nefsof fin daily, he taught them no fuch DocV 
 rine as to account their fins to be no fins; for 
 if fo, they fhould neither repent of fin, nor feck 
 the pardon of it, as fomearc not afliamed to fay 
 they fhould not. That which we aim at, is to 
 clear it to be Chrifts prerogative only to be free 
 of fin, none other in this life can claim it; And 
 to teach Believers to carry about with them dai- 
 ly, all along their mortal li£e y that which is for 
 their good, even the fenfe of fin: I know it is 
 now an upcaft from fome pretended perfc&ion- 
 ifts, to the people of God, that they think and 
 fay that they have fin, and are not perfett And 
 we are by thefe meiica]ted4ntichrifti*nPrie[ls&nd 
 Jefuites. becaufe we Preach that Doftiine; But 
 let it be fobw-rly confidered, whether it doch bet- 
 ter agree wi^h Paxils ind J efuittt to fay, that Be- 
 lievers are without Cm, or to fay that they have 
 fin? They who fay that Believers, or the Saints 
 nave no fin,<o agree in this with the Pap:Jis 9 who 
 maintain a pe-fe&icnof holinefs, or a conformi- 
 ty to the Law in fome i.i this lift, and who de- 
 ny the lutings of the body of death to be Cm ; 
 without w!\ich opinion, though mod grofs, they 
 would not, nor Could with the lea ft Thadow of 
 reafon, maintain their Doftrine of Juirification 
 by Works: And yet fome now among us will 
 needs call us Pop .jh, becaufe we fay that we have 
 fin, and that none ofGod's people ate without 
 fin in this life; This feems to be very lrrange; 
 But hat which hath been'the thought of fome 
 tfharp lighted and fagatious men, fince the be- 
 ginning of our confufior.s, to wit, that Popery 
 is a woj king, as an under- hand defignj is by this* 
 and other things made to be more and more api 
 parent: Is there any thing more Ike Popery 
 working in a myftery, yea more Pouim than to 
 fay, that the motions of corruption in Believers 
 are no Cmsi that a man or woman may attain to 
 perfection in holinefs here, and yet to carry on 
 this cvith that fubrility, as cnnfidentlyto averr, 
 that it's Popery to fay the contrary? Nay, 
 if the Scriptures they make ufe of in their Pa- 
 pers or Pamphlets be well confidered, we will 
 find that not only a perfection in Holinefs and 
 Good Works is pleaded for, but a poffibility of 
 fulfilling the Law, and Covenant of Works, as 
 namely, I Pet i. ry. i John 3. 3. and ?. 5. and 
 Maith. y. «/#. Will ye ( fay they) call your felves 
 Saints that are not purified even as he is pure ? 
 And will ye call your felves Believers, that have 
 not overcome the World, &c. As if all that is 
 commanded duty might be, or were perfectly 
 
 reached in this life, and as if no dlftinaio,. Hi 
 twixt begun, yea conlldcrably advanced holi* 
 nefs, and intire perfUtion were to be admitted- 
 That fo/ which I mark this, is to fhew that the' 
 defign af Popery feems to be on foot, the Devil 
 in fome cenfiderabic perfons ventnc thefe 
 things, when the great Matrons and Authors of 
 them ly darned and hid; And it is obfervable 
 which we have heard of late, that fome Ringl 
 leaders in this time have declared themfclves ex- 
 Prefly for Popery; Though we have reafen to 
 blefsGod that the People in this place are kept 
 tree of thefe things yet this truth is worthy 
 the vindicating, and the hazard and danger is to 
 be guarded againfr by all of us when this foul 
 Spirit is driving fo hard, and prevailing with 
 fome to publifh abroad this errour in Papers; 
 And fo fecking to draw people into the fnare • 
 Lay down but thefe two Principles both now 
 mentioned, that they that have Faith have no 
 fin, and that they that want Grace fhould not 
 pray^what would they turn to, and refolve in? 
 Satan's defign in thif, is doubtlefs to make all 
 untender, and it is both fad andfhange, that it 
 is not feen and riferved; What a terrour and tor- 
 ture would it be to an exerc*fed and tender Chri- 
 ftian, and how would it put his Conscience on 
 the wrack, to fay to him, What a Faith is this 
 of yours, that cannot keep you altogether from 
 fin, and that cannot quite overcome die World? 
 God be blelTrd, that iuth given poor Believers 
 other and better grounds in the GofptJ by 
 which to Judge of their Faith, fo that they 
 may own their Faith as found, though they 
 have a mixture of unbelief with it, and yet 
 unbelief is alwayes a fin, and may fay with that 
 poor man , Lord , 1 believe, help thou my «». 
 belief* 
 
 idty % Obfcvve, That to the making up of a per- 
 feft holy walk there is a neceffiry both of holi- 
 nefs in praftico, and of frundnefs in judgment 
 that m deceit or guile be in the mouth, and that 
 no violence b$ in the hands ; And this is needful to 
 be taken notice of, becaufe many have an apti- 
 tude to think, that Folks may be crudy holy-, 
 be of what opinion, judgement and periwafion 
 they will 5 As if God had lefr the mind of man 
 to be a bare empty Table or Board, r hat he might 
 Write on it, w atcver ht hkd or pleafed; But 
 our Lord is vindicated here, from the fcandai 
 of corrupt Poftrine, as well as from fcandals in 
 his practice; And therefore as we weuld fay on 
 the one har.d to yru, who are found in your* 
 judgement, and hate errour, that if ye be g to fs 
 and untender in your pra tice, rhefour.driefs'of 
 your judgement will notprpyeyou to ba holy; 
 
 So 
 
Serm. s*. 
 
 So upon the ather fide, we world fay, rhat 
 though it were poflibk, ) could be finlefs in 
 your practice, if you take a latitude ar-d liberty, 
 as r your judgement to be corrupt, and to vent 
 what ye pleafe, ye will never gee Gods appro- 
 
 Ifaiah n- Verf o. ; l0 c 
 
 ba'ion, as being holyperfons; therefore l't both 
 be joyned together, fouadnefs in Judgement, 
 and tendcrnefs in Practice: God give the right 
 ufc of thefe things, 
 
 S E 
 
 R M O N XXXVI. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII IX, X. 
 
 Verf. 9- And he made his grave with the wicked, and wttb the rich in his death, becaufe he had done 
 
 no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth, 
 Vetf lo Tet itpleafedthe herd to bruife him, He hath put him to grief: When, thou (hah make his Soul 
 an offering for fwfiefkaUfeo his feed % He jba 11 prolong his dayes, Andthe plea fur <e of the Lord jhaltprofper 
 in his hand, 
 
 WE were fpeaking fomewhat thelaft 
 day of our Lord Jefus His Inno- 
 cency* which is here compended, 
 and fummed up ia thefe two. i. 
 That there was no violence in hie hands, a. That 
 there was no decsit in his mouth ; however he was 
 . accounted of among Men, and by them numbred 
 * among tranfgrelTours, yet he was not fo in very 
 deed, and before God. 
 
 The Prophet proceeds, and anfwersan object- 
 ion, How came He then to Suffer, if he was fo 
 innocent ? efpecially His Sufferings being or- 
 ' tiered by God, Who is faid to give His Grave 
 with the wicked? He anfwers the Objection, and 
 removes the OfFence,by giving three Ground* 
 for this v. I o Tet it pleajei the Lord t§ bruife Him, 
 He hath put Htm to grief; This is the firft Rea- 
 fon, and it is taken frqm the Fountain whence 
 His Sufferings proceeded, Gods good pleafure 
 gracioufly ordered ir fo i It was the good plea- 
 .j'c of Jehovah, that fo it mould be. The fe- 
 cond Reafon, is taken from the Nature, or End 
 of His Sufferings, in thefe Words , when thou 
 \fh%lt make His Soul an offering for Jin; Thoug o he 
 | fufftred before Men as a (inner, yet before God 
 it was an Offering for fin: To fatisfie for, and 
 to remove the fins of His EIe£f. People; The 
 word m^ybe either, When thou, or, whm bejhtlt 
 make m His Soul an off ting for fin • But both come to 
 one thing which is this l.iat His Sufferings 
 were not iuch as befell other Men.nay, nor f«rh 
 as befe'l innocent Men, but they w re ordered 
 on a higher deiign, and for an high r E id, even 
 |to be i Wiifaction for Snners» and o make way 
 for th : it Freedom. A 3. Reafon is this aaHisfuf- 
 ferings flowed from God's Good Pltiuue, and 
 were 1 fatisfaction for the fins off! - Elect Peo- 
 ple fo it ha<"h nota.dc and noble eff cts. And 
 rhere are Three mentio el hese. r. H'Jhallfcehts 
 fad % He (hall have i numerou Off fpring, many 
 that fhall bold Eternal Life of Him; Men by 
 their fuff: ring of death are incapacitate to in- 
 creafe their offspring, but this is a quickning 
 
 SufTering, and Death that hah a numerous off- 
 spring. 2, He JbaS prolong His dayes, Which feems 
 to be another paradox » For Mens days arefhort- 
 ned by their Sufferings, and Death; But though 
 He be dead and buried, yet he fhall rife again, 
 and Afccnd, and fit down at the right hand of 
 the Father, and live for ever, to make Inter- 
 ceffion for His People. A %d. Effect, whichis 
 the up-fhot of all, The pleafure of the Lord fhall pro- 
 fper in His hands God hath defigned him for a 
 Work , which is the great Work ©f Ret 
 demption, even the bringing of many Sons to 
 gory \ This is the Will of Him that fent Him, 
 tr,at He mould give Eternal Life to as many 
 as iheuld believe 011 Him i And this is cal- 
 led God's good plealure , which lhall thrive and 
 profper in His hand; He fhall pull many Cap- 
 tives from the Devil, and fet many Prifoners 
 free; He fhall by His Sufferings overcome toe 
 Devil* Death and the Grave, and all Enemies; 
 and (hall gather the Sons of God together, from 
 the four Coiners of the Earth; and- that Work 
 fhall notmifgive» nor be fruftrared, but thrive 
 in His ha id: So then in this Text, we have 
 much of the Gofpcl compended in few Words, 
 
 We lhall fpeak a little to one Obferv at ion, more 
 from the Jofe of the 9. v. Where Chrift Jefus 
 Hi s Sinlefnef, and Inn cency is holden our, in 
 thefe two, There was m vieJtme in his hands ; no 
 finfull practice in H m And there was no deceit in 
 his mouth. Which looks not only to His Cmlefs 
 carriage bef r<? Men, and fo fayes th.it He was 
 no Liar noi D.iT mblerin His Dealing, and Con- 
 veife with them, but alfo to His Doctrine; And 
 fofaves, fhit thw*re was no Doctrinal deceit ia 
 Him; Which is, when Men lie of God ro Men, 
 which is a gofs fort of lying, and deceiving of 
 Souls, in mak ng them to take that for Truth 
 which is no Truth: And in derogating from 
 the Tru h,& m king them take that for Errour 
 which is Truth; As the Apoftle fpeaks of fii^h, 
 fat they fpeak lies in hypocrifo : Thefe words, 
 Therr was no deceit iu bis mouth , Look 
 
 / 
 
J 9$ lfaiah cj 
 
 Look toboth.efpecialJy to the Iaft,that is.thcDocl- 
 rinal deceic ot corrupt Teaching ( whereof he 
 was free altogether) I fay it looks efpecially to 
 that, becaufehe was callumniated,traduced,and 
 called s deceiver of the people t Thzth ( as ifthePro- 
 het had faid) moil untrue of him, there is no 
 deceitful uoid in all his Do£trine;though it was 
 imputed to Him, yet he was moll: free of it; 
 Thence Obferve That exact Holinefsand Blarae- 
 lefsencfr, takes inHolinefs in a Mans Converfa- 
 tion, in refpect of practice, and foundnefs in his 
 Judgement, in refpect of Doctrine* For if our 
 Lord be a Pattern of Holinefs , that which Was 
 in Him as our Pattern, is called for from us, 
 even to be pure as he is pure;/v« violence was tn his 
 bands, He was no Stealer, nor Robber, nor Op- 
 prciTor, ( to fpeakfo with reverence ) And there 
 was n$ deceit in his mouthy The Word and Wor- 
 fliipofGod was not wronged by him, and He is 
 holden forth for an Example to us in both. 
 
 That which w« would fay further on this, 
 fhall be in a word of Uje\ Where we may clear 
 both the Branches of the Doctrine,to mee; with 
 two exceeding prejudicial Tenets among Men. 
 
 1. There are fome who if they be not Erroni- 
 ous in their Opinions, and Sectaries, they think 
 they are well enough, and infut over the In% 
 firmities of poor Folk, that Tall into thefe Er- 
 rors; And they will, (like thefe fpoken of) 
 Whore, Drink, Steal, Lie, &c % And yet lean upon 
 the LorS, and fay, is not the Lord among us f no evil 
 fhtllcotne upon us t Suchhalfand divide Godlinefs, 
 they will i.ot be Papil~ls y Puritansf\Q\ Sectaries, hut 
 there is much unholinefs in their practice,much 
 Self-feeking, Pride, Hypocrifie, Formality, De- 
 ceiving, Coufening,Fal(hood,and they cover all 
 with this,that they are found as to theirProfeffi- 
 on; though only hearing, and not doing pro- 
 fefling and not practifing;But they would con- 
 fider, that Chrift fayeth not, BJcfled are they 
 rhat hear only, but Ueffed Are they tjiat do the will 
 of God; O! beware of this great deceit; it is a 
 piece of Chrift's Innoceacy and Holinefs, That 
 no violence is in his hands , There was no finful 
 thing in His practice, no finful word came from 
 His mouth ; Ye fhall never be accounted fol- 
 fowers of Chrift, though ye give your bodies to 
 be burnt for the Truth ( as it is to be feared few 
 of you would do, ) if your Converfation be not 
 fuitable, God fhall never accept of yourTefti- 
 mony, therefore divide not thefe things which 
 God hath put together; Let Holinefs bt in your 
 practice, otherwayes Papifts and Quakers ,yea, the 
 grortcft and moft abominable Hcreticks, and 
 y# will be utterly difclaimed. 
 
 **tf 9, 10 S erm . 35. 
 
 2, The other Branch of the Vjt is, That (up- 
 pofe there were never fo much apprehended 
 tendernefs in folks walk, though they were 
 much in Dury, and though they would quite 
 all they had to the Poor, yet if Deceit be in 
 their mouth, if they corrupt the Truth, and 
 teach others fo to do, there is a want of the half 
 of Holinefs, yea, in feme refpect, of the beft 
 and chief half of it; And the Keafon is, 1. Be- 
 caufe the Image of God confifts as much in the 
 Truth as in the Practice, nay if Practice be noc 
 conform to Truth, it is no true Holinefs, and 
 where Error is drunken in, there is in fo far an 
 utter unfuirablenefs to the Holinefs of Chrift 
 as well as where prophanity appears intheCon- 
 verfationj For there was no deceit in his mouth. 2. 
 Becaufe this Word of God prefcrives the Docrl 
 rineof Faith to be believed, as well as Duties to 
 be performed, and the right grounding of Faith 
 is a main, if not the main thing wherein the 
 Image of God confifts, to wit, in Knowledge; *hd 
 Error is as incontinent with Knowledge, a* Ig- 
 norance is, >ea, more, in fo far as it leaves a 
 contrary impreffion of untruth on the Soul 
 which is W( rfe than fimple Ignorance, 3. Be- 
 caufe, when a Perfon mifcarriech, by turning 
 afide from the Tiuth to Error, he alio mifcar- 
 rieth in his Practice- at leaft in fo far ; The 
 right conceiving ofTruth,being both the ground 
 of our Faith, and the Rule of our Practice : As 
 for inftance, let once the conceit and fancie 
 come in, of Folks being abovt Ordinances, no J 
 Conicience is thenceforth made of fanctifying 
 the Sabbath, or Lords day, nor of any other Du. | 
 ty of Worfhip, but Men become almoft, if not | 
 altogether Athieft. Yea, 4. The incoming of 
 Error begets a fort of prefumptuous confidence, I 
 therefore Chrift fayes. He that breaks one of thefe I 
 commandments, and teacheth nun fo to do, he fhall be I 
 called leaft in the kingdom of God He not only breaks I 
 the Command himfelf, but he fecks to engage 
 others to do fo likewife; fo that an Errorirom 
 the Truth, is a fin againft the firft Table, and fo 
 among the great Evils; And the teaching, and 
 propagating of Error, it is a fin againft the Se- 
 
 cond Table, becau(e it hazards the Soul of our 
 
 neighbour; whereas violence in the hands huits 
 only his perfon or Eftate. And $ly. If we look 
 to the rife of Error, or whence it comes, we will 
 find it to be * Fruit of the Flefh Gal. e. jp. 
 And that which flows from our corruption, and 
 is therefore ranked in wicn Witchcraft, Adultery, 
 Fornication, Idolatry, Hatred, Variance, &c. 6. If 
 we look to the Scriptures account of it, and of 
 the Propagators of it, Wc will find chat 2 Cor*. 
 
 » if; 
 
1 1 11 They are called falfi Apples, dectitfu/ 
 worker's, mim fiers offatan, nor common Cms, trans- 
 forming themfelves into the ministers of Chrifl, and no 
 marvel, for fat an him ft If is tram firmed Into an angel 
 •flight: For their work is to gather in Souls to 
 the Devil, to halt them as in a Net to him, to 
 be Difciples to him. Or, 7. f f w e look to the 
 Effects that follow upon Er- or, and upon pro- 
 pagation of it, we will find them to be dread- 
 ful • For as it is, 2 Pet. 2. 1, Thty draw upon 
 themfelves \w\ft deftruttion. And chap. 3 . 16. They 
 vrcft or pervert the Scriptures to their omi deJlrucJ- 
 ton 'in all thefe refpects, Error in Judgment is 
 as evil, (if not worfe ) than pr»phannefs in 
 practice. And if we look thorow the Chur- 
 ches of Chrift, we will find that there hath been 
 more oalpable havock, and deduction of Souls 
 fince 'Anticbrifl-trofe, by his grofs Errors, and 
 damnable Delufions, than hath readily been by 
 fin in Practice; which Men do not own and 
 avouch, as they do thefe Delufions: Think 
 therefore ferioufly on this ; whoever would be 
 pure as Chrift is pure, wou'd ftudy foundnefs 
 in Judgement, as well as tendernefs in Practice; 
 k And yet how many are readily miftaken in this? 
 Who, if they meet with fome that can fpeak 3 
 few good Words, and make pretences to a holy 
 Walk, though the Second Command be baffled 
 anddifgraccd by them, and the Name of God 
 torn? And though the Fourth Command be 
 made of none effect, or price by tfcem, it's 
 thought but little cf, all is covered with this, 
 that they are good Folks, and of a tender walk ; 
 But, O / can they b j good, who abufe that where- 
 in the Name and Image of God are moft ten- 
 derly concerned? and will God account that 
 to be Holinefs agreeable ro His Law, that flights, 
 depreciars, and vi ifi-is the heft part of his Law? 
 Let me therefore bifcech you to rake in, and to 
 daft Error with other fins, and to look upon 
 unfoundnefs in the Truths of God, as a Fruit 
 of the Fleih ; and withall to look upon un- 
 found knowledge in rhe IVLnd, and the form of 
 found words in the Mouth, as being a Duty, 
 that is cal).-d for from you, as well as other 
 Duties: We the rather take occalion to fpeak 
 to this, because the D*vil is fecking to turn 
 Men meer At!n Its, Gallio's as to rhe Truth of 
 God, to cart for none if theft things ; and as to 
 wear oat ie efteem of Truth, lb to make 
 people t> look ur>o:i Error, as if there were no 
 hurt by if, < r 's fad tha' there is not more fear- 
 ring at, a~id keeping diftance from roe compa* 
 ny of fuch, if t.'i^y cm but give a parcel of 
 good Words, and make (hews of refpsec to 
 
 3- Verf. 9, ioJ 107 
 
 Piety, in this lukewarm time, there is need 
 to guard againft this Temper, or rather Dif- 
 temper ; and to look well that we half not, 
 nor divide the Pattern and Copie which God in 
 his Word hath call to us, and fet before us; we 
 would ftudy Purity and Tendernefs in our 
 Walk, and Growth in found Knowledge ; and 
 would walk humbly under tlu impreflion of 
 our hazard ; It's fad when Folks are ill gird- 
 ed, and yet fcarcely difcern it : h feems to be 
 a winnOvving time, and fome are already taken 
 eff their feeti who thought not fome Monerh?, 
 or Years fince to have carried in reference to the 
 Truth,as they have done;Ic hath beenGods mcr- 
 cyto this place.that he hath hedged us about hi* 
 therto, at which the Devil ha:h raged nor a 
 little : Be humbled, and have an eye ro Him 
 that can keep his People, and can eftablifh them- 
 in the Truth, and make them unblameablc in 
 holiness ti'*l the coming of the Lord. 
 
 We come now to the 10. verfe ; and from the 
 firft pare of it, yet it pleafsd t hi Lord to bruifc him t 
 ht hath put him to grief. Thefe three things arife 
 cle;rly. 1. That though our Lord Jefus was 
 moft innocent in his own Perfon, yet He was 
 put to exceeding fore Tryals and lharp Suffer- 
 ings. For 1, Ht was fruifed, to wit, like Corn 
 betwixt the upper and nether Milftones, 01 
 like Grapes in the Wine prefs, which refpects 
 not f© much his outward fuflvrings, though 
 great (for a b%ne of him was not broke*. ) as His 
 inward SouMufferings, and the inward pref- 
 fures of Wrath that were on his Humane Soul, 
 a. Hi was put to grief was lore ftmitned and 
 pinched, and thefe exprcftions impoit fo much, 
 my Joul is exceeding fimwful, even unto death, my 
 foul is Jore troutic^, and what jh ill I jay? and 
 my God, my God, why haft thou forfaken me ? The 
 particulars of this griet was fpoken to be- 
 fore ; And we {hew in what refpect he was fo 
 humbled, and that he was moft finlefs , and 
 without any the leaft carnal mude or paflion, 
 under thefe cxpreflions, in which the fenfe of 
 grief vented it felf moft in Him i Only if it 
 be here asked, what is the reafon , why the 
 Prophet doth fo much inlift, in pointing ou: 
 Chrift's Sufferings, and the extremity of them, 
 that fcarce almoft is there one Verfe, but he 
 hath in it fome one or other new aggravation 
 of them? we conceive the reafon of it is, 1. 
 B^caufe there is nothing wherein the great/- 
 nefsofthc Love of God and rhe kindnefs 
 of the Mediators condefcending doth appear 
 more than in this \ for the more He Suf- 
 fered, the more the Love of God mined, aid 
 
 His 
 
His condefcendencv kvrhed the more, this be- carved out before, in the Eternal Counfel of 
 
 ingthc great inftance, and demonftrativc proof Godj and therefore Peterhys. ABs 2 11 fH;l 
 
 of the Love of God, [ Gi d >o loved the World 
 
 that he gave His onJy begutten Son, as it hjohn 
 
 3. 16. O ! manifold and vaftly comprchcnlivc 
 
 S3, what is unfolded in it, E'cn.ic^ will butfuf- 
 
 fice fully to unfold; and this being the great ir - 
 
 ftancc of the Mediators condcfc-r.dency,and of 
 
 His commending Hi* Love to tinners; Thar while 
 
 vee were yet enemies, he died fir us. As it is Rom, 
 
 5. The Lord loves to have this the ful^jecr. of 
 
 being delivered by the determinat counfel and 
 fore knowledge of God, ye have taken, and bv 
 wicked hands have crucified and flain, ] The 
 Lords hand was fupream in the bufineO, and wc 
 may gather the Supream and Soveraign Influence 
 ot the Lords hand, in thefe three refpefts in 
 Chnfts bufferings, 1. In refpect of his appoint, 
 ing them; It was concluded in the Counfel of 
 God,what He mould Suffer, what mould bethc 
 our thoughts, that we may be led thereby m to Price that Jehovah would have and the Sacrifice 
 
 the S >ul ravifliing, and fatisfying contemplati 
 on of the Love whence it came, 2. Becaufe there 
 is not any one thing that lyes nearer, or that is 
 readily of greater concern to Believers, than to 
 be well acquainted with Ch rift's Sufferings, 
 wherein the Lord would have his People fpiri- 
 tually peiqucir: and it is of their concernment 
 in a twofold refpeft, 1. As it is the ground of 
 their peace,therefore He is called ourPcace and a 
 PropitiationjFor by being acquaintedwithChrjft j 
 SufferingSiBelievcrshave a lb lid ground for their 
 Faith, whereby they difcover acc-fs to peace 
 with God, to pardon of fin,and Jufriflcation,rhe 
 Mediator having undergone thefe Sufferings for 
 this end. 2. As it is the giound of theh Con- 
 
 that he would accept of fnm His hand. 2. In 
 refpect of the Ordering and 0*er ruling of His 
 Sufferings, when it came to the execution of 
 His Ancient Decree ; He who governs all the 
 Counfcls, ThougHts.and Actions ofMtn, did in 
 afpecial manner, govern and Over rule the Suf, 
 fcrings of the Mediator, though wicked men 
 were following their own defign, and were (tin 
 red and acted by the Devil, who is faid to have 
 put it into the heart of Judas to be r ray Chrift- 
 yet God had the ordering of all, who fhould be- 
 tray him, what death he fhould die, how he 
 fhould be pierced, and yet not a brne of him 
 broken. 3. In refpect of his having had a hand 
 actively in themjand as he was the chief Partie 
 folation, confidering that they have a fuffering that purfued Chrifl; it was he rhat was exacting 
 Mediator, that hath payed the Price that was the Elects Debt of Him; therefore the Lord looks 
 due by themjeven fuch an One thar knows what ovcr Pik*' and Htrod to Him,and fayes to Pilate 
 it was to be bruifed with Wrath, & is Therefore 
 very tender of, and eompaflionat towards Souls, 
 
 thatare under challenges, and apprehenfionsof L Earner, taketms cup trom me; and, my Go> 
 Wrath; Thefe are fweet words, which we have m y God why haft thou forfaken me? He was' 
 
 purfued as {landing Cautioner in our room; 
 
 X over Pilate and Htrod to Hjm,and fayes to Pilate 
 
 c C fhou coudfl have no power ovcr me, except 
 
 t t it were given thte above i J and to his Father 
 
 f [ Father, take this cup from me; and, my God' 
 
 to this purpofe. ijohn 2. 1. [ If any man fin,we 
 have an advocat with the Father, Jeius Chrift 
 the righteous, who is the propitiation for our 
 fins, ] who was content to Suffer and Satisfie 
 for them : O \ confider then what ye are doing, 
 when ye read of His Sufferings, for the very 
 Marrow of the Gofpcl, and the Life of the Con- 
 folation of the people of God lyes here, j, From 
 thefe words, [ Yet it pleated the Lord to bruife 
 him, he hath put him to grief; ] Obferve, That 
 the Lord Jehovah had the main and principal 
 hand, in all theSuffetings of this Innocent Me- 
 diator: It was not the Jtws, nor the Scribes and 
 Phsrifees, nor Pilate ; but it pleafed the Lord to 
 bruife him, and to put him to gri^f. As is clear, 
 A&t 4. 27, 28. [ Herod and Pontius Pilate, the 
 Gentiles and people of Ifrael were gathered to- 
 gether,to do whatfoever thy hand and thy coun- 
 fel determined before to be done.] In all that 
 they did, they were but doing that which was 
 
 a$ »m>u<i> fi v>ui>vi(v.> U1VUI iuom 
 
 which refpect it is faid, Rom. 8. He that [pared not 
 his own Son; He fpared him not when he cryed 
 but would have him drinking out the Cup,and 
 Zech. 13.7 [ Awake, O fword, againft my fhep- 
 herd, and againft the man that is my fellow 
 fmite the fhepherd.] The MefTage comes from 
 Him, and He gives the Sword a charge, and or- 
 ders it to fmite Him : In all which fefpects 
 it's faid, [ The Lord bruifed him, and he hath 
 put him to grief. It was this,more than Sword, 
 or Nails, or Spear* or Whip, that made him 
 cry out ; another, and a higher hand brought 
 his finlefs Soul to more bitternefs, than all the 
 Sufferings He endured from Men. 
 
 Ufe. This leads us in to the vindicating of the 
 Soveraign and Holy Providence of God, in that 
 wherein Menhave a moft fmtul hand,& are moft j 
 unexcufablei though]**^; that becrayed,&P/7*?* 
 
 that 
 
 I 
 
c > jfaiah J j 
 
 thatVndemned the innocent Son of God, acted 
 rnoft finfully ; yet tU Lord himfelf bthana. 
 ttive over-ruling hand, in carrying on his own 
 d.ficm • and whar Judas and P//rf fc with other 
 wick-d Men did, was fo far from being by guefs, 
 that th-y were the executions of his ancient de- 
 crees • and he is moft pure and fpotlefs, in ven- 
 ting and manifefting Grace, holinefs and Juftice, 
 when men were venting their Corruptions* im- 
 piety and injuftice moft : Therefore the Holy 
 providence of Gcd mixeth no more as to any 
 iinlefs participation with mens fm, in their fin- 
 ful and wicked actings., than the Covenant of 
 Redemption mixed it felf with the fmfulnefs of 
 them that crucified Chrift : Nay, this tea pnn* 
 cipal Diamond in his Crown, that he cannot on- 
 ly govern all the natural fecond caufes that are 
 in the world, in their feveral courfes and A- 
 ctin<*s, and order them to his own glory, but e- 
 ven°Devils, and wicked Men, smd Hypocrites, 
 their moft corrupt and abominable actions, and 
 make them infruftrably iuhfervient to the pro- 
 moving of hisown ho'y ends and purpofes, and 
 yet be free of their fin, for which they fhall 
 count to him ; And as it was no excufe to Judas 
 nor to Pilat, that they did what before was de* 
 creed of God ; fo it fliall be no excufe to any 
 »an in a fmful courfe, that God harh a band in 
 every thing that comes topafs, who ytt is juft 
 and holy in all: It may alfo ftay our hearts when 
 the Devil and his Inftruments, as it were, are 
 running mad ; that they can do no more than 
 what God permits, ray Tome way commiffio- 
 jiateth them to do. The Devi could not fo 
 much as touch a tail of one of Jobs fheep, with- 
 out le^ve ask 'J and given t O the depth both of the 
 knowledge, andefthewtfdotnofGod'-, how unfearch*- 
 fiblt are bit ways, and h'u judgements p. r, (I finding out. 
 3. As we may fee here rrn concurrence of the 
 Perfonsof the blefled Trinity, Father, Son, and 
 holy Ghoft ; the concurrence of Jehovah with 
 the Mediator, for carrying on the fame deiign, 
 the woik of mans Red-mp ion, (for it pleuled 
 them all;) So taking the I ■• rd Jehovah eiTenti* 
 ally, as compiehendirg all the three perU ns, 
 we may obferve, that the Lord is well willed to, 
 and hath delight in procuring the woik of 
 Redempti n, though even to the bruifing of the 
 fecond perfon of the God- head, coi ildtietl as he 
 "became man and Mediaror, not that he de'igbtcd 
 in ihe fuffecings as fuch, of his innocent Son, 
 for he .tffl: tls m: xx illingly the ch: Lhen of men ; but 
 confidering the end, and the effects that were 
 to follow, to wit, the feed that he fh-;uld beget 
 to. eternal life, and the Captives whom he was 
 to redeem : In that refpect, ic was not only not 
 
 , 
 
 Vtrf. 9, ro. f \$$ 
 
 againft his will, but it pleafed him well, or as 
 the word is in the new Teftament, it vk: kit good 
 pleafure, alluding, as it is like tc this of the Pro* 
 phet ; Hence, when Chrift fpe;<fcs of the work of 
 Redemption : He calleth it the fathers wilt and 
 work ; the Fathers wiS, when he fays, / camemt 
 to do my own will, b::t the will of him that Cent mc ; 
 The Fathers work, while he fays, lkwe finijhed 
 the work thou gave ft me to do ; And here it is called 
 his pleafure ; for there ivas nothing without him- 
 felf to move him to it; when he might have 
 fuffered all fallen mankind to ly ftillin their 
 forlorn condition ; It pleafed him togive his Son 
 of his own goodwill, to redeem feveral of them* 
 Ufe If we put thefe Doctrines together, they 
 afford us wonderful matter of Coniblation. it 
 That we have an sole Saviour, that hath givc/t 
 a fufficient ranfoiu for u c , a price that canncc 
 be overvalued. 2. A willing Mediator, that gav€ 
 himfelf, no man took his 1'fe from him, but he 
 laid it down of himfelf, and took it up again. 
 3. A willing Jehovah, contriving and taking 
 pleafure in contriving the Redemption of ElecC 
 Sinners, through the death of his own Son : 
 Which reproves, and gives check to the won- 
 derful ftrange miftakes that are often found with 
 fome poor Souls concerning the way of Peace ; 
 as fome will be ready to fay, O ! if Chrift were 
 as willing to take me, as I am to take him ; as 
 willing to welccm me, as I ?mto come to him: 
 But is not this a proof of his willingnefs, thac 
 he was content to be bruifed, and put to grie€ 
 about the work cf our Redemption ? othershavc 
 a fecrtt apprehenfion, that ifGod were as willing 
 to receive and fave them, as Chrift is, they 
 would have more confidence ; but fays the pro* 
 pher here, that it pleafed the Father to brut ft hivt; 
 in whofe breaft ( to l'pcak fo ) bred the plot of 
 Sinners Redemption ; Jehovah thought it good* 
 He loved rhe falvation of finnersfo well, that he? 
 was content to feem in a manner regard lei's of 
 his own Sons cries and tears, for a time, to 
 make way for performing thac fatisfaction thac 
 was due to Jultice ; and he did this with good 
 will, and pleafantly ; We (hall not infift more 
 on particular Ufes ; But is there, or can there be 
 . iter ground of coniblation, than this ? oris 
 there any thins wanting here to compkat the 
 Confolation ? Is there not a well furnilhed Sa- 
 viour ccmmiflionate to give life to whom he 
 Will ? who hath purchafed it, rhat he may give 
 ir,and a well-willing, loving and condescending 
 God, willing to give his Son, and willing to 
 accept of his Death for a Ranfom, and whac 
 would ye have more? The Paity offended is 
 willing 10 be in fiiendlhip with the offending 
 D d Party, 
 
200 
 
 Party, 
 
 oi ; what car* Tentation fay, or what ground 
 is for Jealoufie to vent it felf here ? Hi that did 
 not fp art his own Son, but willingly and Freely 
 gav: him to death for us all, how }h ill he not with 
 him alfo freely giv* ut all things ? As it is, Rim. B. 
 And if we were reconciled to God by the death of his 
 Sin, wh*n w? were cntmies, jhillwe not mu:h more be 
 faved by his life ? as it is R"w. y 10. There is a 
 great difproporrion betwixt Chrift and other 
 Gifs, yea, and the gifc of Heaven it felf, and 
 Ihall a poor fmner have a fuffering Saviour gi" 
 
 17« 
 
 lUi'J* }^KrJt I*. S erm> 
 
 and to gjye and accept of the Satisfacti- ven, and may he not alfo expe& pardon of Sin, 
 
 Juftification, Faith, Repentance and Admiffiori 
 
 an 
 to the Kingdom ? There is here good and ftrong 
 ground of Corsfolation, to them that will build 
 on it, let the Father, andCh.ifts love to you be 
 welcome in its offers, that his end in bringing 
 many Sons to glory, be not fruftrated by any of 
 
 you, fo far as yeu can, though it ctnnoc indeed 
 be fruftrated ; For the pleafure of the Lord fball pro. 
 /per in hU hand, and he {hill fee the travail of hu foul, 
 andbefatisfied. 
 
 SERMON XXXVII. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. X. 
 
 Verf. 10. When thou /halt make hu foul an offering for fn, he [ball fee his feed, he jhall prolong hit dap, 
 
 and the pleafure of the Lord jhall projper in his hand* 
 
 CHrift and his Sufferings have beeni 
 mofl: delightfom fubjeft to be fpo- 
 ken and heard of,before ever he buf- 
 fered ; and they fhould be to us now 
 no lefs, but much more fo, even ve- 
 ry glad tidings to hear, that ever the Son of God 
 was made an Offering for lin. 
 
 This verfe, as we hinted the laft day, dorh 
 fet forth Chrifts fufferings, and in thefe three, 
 that thedefignof God in bruiting the innocent 
 Lamb of God might be the better taken up. I. 
 They are holden forth in the rife where they 
 bred, or in the fountain whence they flowed, 
 the good plea fi! re of God". // pleafed the Lord to 
 truije him, to put him to grief. Which the Pro- 
 phet marks, r. To fhew that all the good that 
 comes by Chrift to finners is bread in the 
 Lords own bofom: It was concluded, and con* 
 trived there, and that with delight, there being 
 no conftraint or necefluy on the Lord to give 
 his Son, or to provide him to be a cautioner 
 for dyvour finners, but it was his own good 
 pleafure to do fo. i. To fhew the concurrence 
 of all the perforts of the Trinity in promoving 
 theVVoikof Redemption of Sinners; which 
 was executed by the Son the Mediator, to fhew, 
 that the love of the Son in giving his Life, is 
 no greater than the Love of the Father, in con- 
 rriving and accepting of it for a Ranfom, there 
 being naturally in the hearts of theGofpel this 
 prejudice,that the Father il more rigid ; and Uis 
 lovipg than thcSon;but confidering,that it was 
 the Fat>ier,Son and Spirit that contrived Chrifts 
 Sufferingsjt'iat the Sons fufferings were thepro- 
 «u& & confident of this contrivance, it rcmo- 
 
 veththis corrupt imagination.and prejudice, and 
 flieweth,that there^is no place for iti It doth alfo 
 contribute notably to our ingagement to God, 
 to be throughly perfwaded of the Lords good 
 pleafure in the fufferings of the Mediator, as 
 well as in the willingnefs of the Mediator to 
 fuffer; He having performed the will of the 
 Father in the loweft fteps of his humiliation, 
 a. They are expreft, and holden forth in their 
 Nature and end, they were to be an offering for 
 Jin; and this follows well on the former verfe, 
 becaufe it might befaid, how could he, that had 
 no violence in his hands, nor guile in hi* mwth, be 
 brought fo low ? He hath anfwered in part, by 
 faying, It pleafed the Father to bruife him, and to 
 put him to grief-, But becaufe that does not fo ful- 
 ly obviate, and anfwer the Objection; He an- 
 fwers further, that there was a norably good 
 end for it; though he had no fin in himfelf, 
 nor are we to look on his fufferings, as for any 
 Wn. in him, yet we are to look upon them as a 
 Satisfaction tojufticefor the fins of others, e- 
 ven as the Bullocks, Lambs, and Ram% and 
 the fcape-goat, were not flain for their own 
 fins, for they were not capable of Sin, yet they 
 were fome way Typical ©firings, ana fatisfa- 
 ftions for fin, in the room of others for whom 
 they were offered ; foour Lord Jefus is the pre* 
 per offering, and Sacrifice for the Sinsof his Elcft 
 people: and his fufferings are fo to be looked on 
 by us, and this is the icope. But to clear the 
 words a little more fully, there are different 
 readings of them as they are fet down here in 
 :he Text, and on the Margent. Here it is, When 
 thw [halt make k'u foul an offering for fin ( On t^e 
 
 Marine 
 
Serai. 57. Jfai 
 
 Margent it is. when hit foul fhsll make an offering 
 for fin) Thereafon ofrhe diverfity is,becaufe the 
 fame word in the Original, which fignifies the 
 Second perfon Maiculine, thou, meaning the 
 Father, fignifies rhe third Perfon Foeminine, 
 his Soul {hill tnakt it felf \ but on the matter, whe- 
 ther we apply it to the Father, or to Chrift, 
 both comes to one thing j it feems to do as well 
 to apply it to Chrift; the former words having 
 fet out God's concurrence, and good pleafare to 
 the work 7 Thefe fet out the Mediators willing- 
 nefs; as in the laft verfe, it is faid, that He pow 
 red out his foul unto death, and properly Chrift is 
 the Prieft that offered up himfelf ; yen we fay 
 there is no difference on the matter, nor as to 
 the fc<-pe, the will of the Father, and of the 
 Mediator, in the work of Redemption being 
 both one ; though ( as we faid ) we incline to 
 look on them, as relating to Chrift. 2. Offe- 
 ring for fin in the Original fignifies y?» ; fo that 
 the words are, when thou jhalt make his foul Jin, 
 the word being ordinarly ufed in the OldTe- 
 ftament, and thence borrowed in the New Te- 
 ftament, to fignifie, a Sin- offering, as Exod. 29. 
 14. and Levit. 4. c. and 16. Chapters, where the 
 Sin-offering, is appointed, it is the fame word 
 that's here, intimating that the Sin-offering 
 was defignedto bear their m*r, They fh all lay their 
 hands on the Sm t or Sin-offering, becaufe the 
 Sacrificed be-aft was Typically to have the peo- 
 
 • pies fins imputed to it, though properly no 
 mans fin is imputed to any, but to Chrift. 
 This is alfo clear, if we compare, Pfal. 40. 6. 
 with H b. ro. 5, 6. That which in the Pfalm is 
 
 " rendred Sin offering, in the O-iginal is Sin, 
 but the /fi-ftle Heb 10. hath it faenfi.e for fin ; and 
 it srhefameword which hi hath 2 Cor, 5 ult. 
 He was made fin for w, that is, an Offering for 
 fin ; by which wc may fee the unwarrant^ble- 
 nefs of fome mens accounting Chrift to be for- 
 mally a Sinner, becaufe he is called fin, and be- 
 caufe our finis faid to be laid on him, which 
 in Scripture phrafe, is as much as his being 
 a Sacrifice fr fin in the Room of finners. 
 
 3. His foul may be taken either limply, for Hi 
 fhall bt an firing for fin , the Soul being often ta- 
 ken for the whole perfon ; or it may be taken 
 
 .more properly, 10 relate to his fufferings, ciUcd 
 rhe travel of his Soul , Vtrf. ri however it is the 
 Perfon, the man Chrift, Soul and body, that is 
 the Sacrifice, and more efpecially his Sail as the 
 Wrath of God was on it ; and when he fuffered, 
 
 f hisSaul did undergo that wrath, as wel, us his 
 
 1 Back was given ro the fmiter, and his Check I 
 -hem thac plucked off the hair, 
 Vrih 
 
 ah 53* r^erC. to. 201 
 
 4. There are two words further, which we 
 would hint at in the Expofition, for cleaiingof 
 Chrift's being called an offering; for fin. 1. We 
 would put a difference between the Offerings 
 and Sacrifices which were for fin under the Law, 
 and this Offering, which is applied to Chrift. 
 The Apoftle fays, Heb. 10. That it was iwp ffibU, 
 that the blood of bullocks, and of goats could take away 
 fin\ They were not properly fin-offerings, but 
 as they were types of tbac Offering which was 
 to come: and fo when Chrift is called an Offe- 
 ring, he is differenced fiom all the Offer ir gs 
 thac were offered before him, by Priefts on 
 earth ; In this, Thar his Offering, or Sacrifice 
 takes away fin, by vertue of it ielf, according 
 to the Covenant. But thefe Offerings of thole 
 Priefts that were under the Law, ( as is clear 
 Heb, 9. 13. ) Took not away fin by thcmfelves. 
 but only in fo far as Chrift who was Typified by 
 them was made ufe of, and from this we may fee 
 it clear. 1. That it wasby the blood of Chrift, 
 that the lathers under the Law had their fins 
 pardoned, and that the pardon cf lin was to 
 them an effect of this Offering, as well as un:o 
 us. a. That all thefe Sacrifices and Offerings 
 under the Law, were Types of this one offering, 
 and net the anniverfary fa edifice on'y, <vhicli 
 was offered once a Year by t!:e High Prieft, 
 which we the rather hint at, becaufe both thefe 
 are by Stfnw, that enemie of Chrift's fatisfa- 
 £tion contioveited, he aiming 'hereby to draw 
 Souls from leaning to ebb Offering! 3. 
 What we fpesk of Chrift's Sacrifice, relates to 
 that which he performed on earth, though I c he 
 yet a Prieft, and iivts jor ever to wake Vaterttfim 
 for us, yet this Offering reipc&s that which he 
 offered while he was here in the world, ard e« 
 fpeciafy that which he offered on the Croft, as 
 it is fa"d Epb. 5. 2. Be* h'ih Ic^ed us, avd given 
 bin fey for m,an 1 firing •udfaenfice t, God fir afwi4t 
 jmtllivgJAvoury and Hcb. 10. j2. Tit's man a;tir 
 he had offered one facrif.ee for fins, fonvcrjat 4ow?i tft 
 the right hand of God, and by his Saciifice or.ee 
 offered up before, He went into themeft h. 
 He hath per filed for ever them that are farSt ,. 
 whic^ is alfo a Truth controverted by 'bar hire 
 enemie Socinu*; the clearing of it fcives, not or, iy 
 to open up rhe meaning of this place, but to 
 us fee the efficacy of Chrifts fuffcrinos, and rhe 
 nature of them, that in them, efpecially Jlis 
 Offering, as it brings pardon of fin, a: d 
 Peace with God, docs confift ; fo then ih.- 
 meaning of ihe place i s in ftorr, Tl 
 though our Lord Jefas had r.o v 
 
 D d 2 ' JC 
 
Serm. 37. 
 And our Lord Jefus is as rh« 
 
 202 Jfa'ah fy. r * r ^ ,0 * 
 
 pleafcd God in his Counfel, to appoint him to takeaway his life 
 
 fuffer, and that his Sufferings fhould be an Offe* Ratn that was caug!. tin rhe thicket of Thorns 
 
 ring for the Sins cf others. 
 
 Aiore particularly, If it be iske J. win' is 
 
 meaned by this, an offering for fin, we fhalUlear it 
 from the Type ; and 1. Ic is here fuppofed, that 
 thtre is Sir on the perfon, and that wrath due 
 for Sin is to be removed. 2. It is fuppofed, 
 that there is an inability in the perfon to remove 
 the Sin, and yet ancccflity to have it removed, 
 or elfe he muft fuffer. 3. There is fuppofed 
 the interveening, or coming of fometainfj; in 
 the place of that perfon that is guilty of fin,and 
 liable to wrath. 4. Ttureis fuppofed the accep- 
 tation of that which interveeneth by G d, the 
 Party offended : and fj it prefuppofeth a Cove- 
 nant, whereby the Lord ruth conoefcended ro 
 accept of that offering. Take it in the fin-offe- 
 fing Goaf, the Scape Goat y Levit. icS.A viveType 
 of Chriff, when he is brought into the Congre- 
 gation, f. The Prieft muff put his hands u- 
 pon him, and confefs the Sins and tranfgrtflions 
 of the people over him, which fignified their ac- 
 knowledgement of their Sins, and a liablenefs 
 to fuffering, becaufe of them. 2, It fuppo- 
 fed their propoilng of that Goat, as a Sacrifice 
 to bear their lins, and to tjke them on him ; 
 Therefore it was faid, The Priejis jhail put theini- 
 
 wherebyE'ta Sinner are frcd. ard himfelf made 
 the Sacrifice that was provided in their room 
 and pi. tee : Thus in the name that our Lord 
 Jcfus gets, wehavehoJ'den out to us, the poflure 
 that all of us aie in by nature, if Chriff imer- 
 yeen not to take the ffro<k offuj or; himfelf 
 laying himfelf open to the liroak of Juffice for 
 Sin : To clear it, confider thefe three things, 
 which will hoJd out, uhar this (late and po- 
 fture cf ours is. I. The na ural finfulnels, and 
 guilt that Men are lying under, which nukes 
 them nak^d, and to be as that wretched Infanr, 
 (fprkenof, Eztk. \6 ) Lying in their Blood, 
 caff forth into the open field, to rhe loathing of 
 th-eir perfons. This makes Geo 1 and them to be 
 at f^ud, and lays them open to the ffroak tfju- 
 ffiee. 2. Confider the intervening cftheLaw 
 of God, that threatens the Curfe on fin wher- 
 ever it is, and pionounces this S ntence, that 
 the wages of Sin u death, and fay. to the Sinner, 
 as ins laid to Cain, If tkeufm.de ath lies at thy di»>- f 
 and in this fenfe, Sinners are not only like to 
 Malefrftors, taken and apprehended, but like 
 to fuch when fentenced to death *, Therefore 
 John 3. i8» He th/tt bslieves mt, it condnnncd al- 
 ready. 3. Confider that Men in their natural 
 
 quities of the people upon him. 3. Theonaof Rate, who have broken the Covenant of Works, 
 
 thefe Goats was to be fent away into the Wilder 
 nefis, and the other was to be killed ; and gene- 
 rally all the Sin-offerings were to be killed : So 
 that no remiflion of fins was without Blood, 
 and they came in the room of the Sinners, bea- 
 ring as ic were their fin, and their punifhment. 
 Aad 4.. Ic is to be an atonement.to wit, a Typical 
 Atonement ; by this means the people were to 
 have *cczf$ to Ecclefiaffical Priviledges ; but 
 they could not purine the Confcience, except 
 Chrnt were made ufe ef, who was the true ato- 
 nement then, as he is now, ffill for Cm, and by 
 vertue of his Sacrifice according to the Cove- 
 they wete to deal for the pardon of the 
 fifis born by him. 
 
 We ccrae now toO'i/trw fomethin^s from the 
 Words, ?.ntl i. It is fupponedhere, that even the 
 Elect a;*d conftqucntly all others, are by their 
 lln liable to God's Judgement, and obnoxious 
 to his wrath; there were no nead of a Sin Of- 
 fering, if this were not. The name that Chriff 
 gets lute, fuppofes that there was Sin, and that 
 there was wrath forSin lying at the door of all 
 Men, fincc man fell, and brake Gods Command; 
 -;I men are before God like ifaac, lying before 
 his Father* ready to be killed, his Father hiving 
 and ftrtt< :hed out with the knife, ready to 
 
 have Juffice fome way purfuing them, to the 
 executing of the Sentence, which God in his 
 Law hath pronounced againft them ; and they 
 are as thefe fhedders of blood before they be- 
 took themfclves in to the City of refuge, 
 having the avenger of Blood following hard at 
 their heels: in which fenfe, John 3. 36. It's faid, 
 Hs that believes not, the wrath tfGod abides on him • 
 There is an a&uaj appointment, or ordinati- 
 on of the Curfe added ro the Laws Sentence, 
 till by Chriff it be removed, and this is in fome 
 fort gripping him, and uking him as it were by 
 the throat: By the firft of thefe man is found 
 guilty, and liable tojudgement: by thefecond, 
 he isfentenced; but by the third, rhe fcutence 
 ffandsover his head, ready to be executed, and 
 befpeaks him thus, therefore thou art curfed, 
 therefore thou art a dead Man. 
 
 Soberly think upon rhis, and make thefe Ufes 
 of it, r. See here the condition of all Men by 
 nature, and your own in particular, a very ter- 
 rible and dreaaful condition, wherein they are 
 like men lying bound to be a Sacrifice to the 
 wrath of God, the Lords hand being ffretched 
 our. to Jay on the ffr.oak, and the wrath of 
 God abiding on them : do y« inded believe r- 1 -' 
 
Scrm. 37- , A , f1 **«*■ *£' 
 
 to be your flare and pofture, till application be 
 made of Chrifts Sacrifice, and till there b^ a lay- 
 ing of your Sin over on him by Fairh, that ever 
 till then ye are liable to the L^wsfentence, and 
 that the Curfe and wrath of God abideth on 
 you ? and yet this Is the Hate and pofture of 3II 
 the Children ofAdtm, that have not got Jefus 
 Chrift put in their room : It was Typical, if the 
 people did not bring an offering as was prefcri- 
 bed, their Sin remained in them ; but ic's real 
 here, sin and Wr2th remain, where Chrift is not 
 made ufe of byPaith. 
 
 The id. Uje is,for expoftulatton with many of 
 you, thr.t are ftill in Nature, (andl with there 
 were fewer of you in this cafe to be fpoken to ) 
 How comes it to pafs, when this is your condi- 
 tion by nature, that ye are fo fecure, and that 
 ye have few or no apprehenfions at all of the 
 Wrath of God, and of the hazard of your im- 
 mortal Souls? Ah! are there none fuch here, 
 that apprehend their hazard? were ye ever 
 under it ? and if fo, how have ye been delivered 
 out of it? or who is come in your room? do 
 ye think it nothing to be under Sin, and the 
 curfe of God, to have wrath abiding in you, yea 
 abiding on you? There are many of you who 
 are fleeping found now, and that difdain to no- 
 tice Challenge but as Solomon fpeaks of the man 
 that was fleeping on the top of aMaft.and com- 
 plaining of that, and of them that deceived him; 
 So (hall it be with you, that can ly ftill fecure- 
 ly fleeping in fin, and that put by one day after 
 another, and do not maki u(e of this Sacrifice: 
 All that the G^fpcl aims at is this,that ye would 
 fetk to change rooms with Chrift, that the feai 
 may be removed, and that the quarrel that is 
 betwixt God and you may not bs continued and 
 k^eped up ; efpecially, feing there is a way laid 
 down how to get yjur Debt facisfied for ; which 
 if yeneglect, what will ye do, when your day 
 is gone 1 are there not many dying daily, and 
 is there not a day of reckoning coming; when 
 the ftroak that is hanging, and hovering over 
 your head will light ? and feing it is fo, why do 
 ye ly ftill, and flight Jefus Chr ift ? If it were be* 
 lieved what dreadful wrath is abiding many 
 whereof your fecure fenflefnefs, and fenflefsfe- 
 curity is a part) and what a terror it will wa- 
 ken in your confeiences one day, ye would cer- 
 tainly think it good news to have the fufferings 
 of Chrift fpoken of, and the Benefit of them 
 offered to you now. 
 
 The 3d. Uje is, to ftir up Sinners tothankful- 
 nefs, efpecially fuch of you as arc bleft with ef- 
 fectual couilcl, to make the right ufe of this 
 
 Orifice i O ! Confider how much ye arc obli- 
 
 
 Vtr\. ro. 209 
 
 ged ro God, and to Chrift the Mediator; the 
 preaching of the Gofpel is now thought little of 
 and is ta'elefs ro many ; but did ye know what 
 is your fhteand pofture by nature, how near ye 
 are to Hell, and how near the curfe and wrath 
 are unto you, even ready to grafp at you, to tear 
 and devour you, the Mediators intcrpofing to 
 fatisfle for you, would make him more lovely 
 to you ; and ye that have gotten intereft in him 
 fecured, would think your felves much, un- 
 speakably much in his common, to fay fo, and 
 in the Debt of his Grace : this was the pofture 
 that Grace found you in, even liable to the 
 ftroak of Gods drawn fword of Juftice ; and our 
 Lord Jefus on the one lideftepped in, and faid, 
 hold, Lord ; let that be on me, and let them go 
 free; and upon the other fide, there was Gods 
 good pleafure, condefcending to accept of his 
 offer; and faying, Awake, Ojwordl snafmUtthe 
 (hepkerd, and Jpjre the jbgepj what obligation 
 mould this lay upon you, to love and be thank- 
 ful to God, and to the Mediator, who interpo- 
 fed to keep the ftroak off you ; I fay upon you 
 who are finners, and apprehenfive of Wrath ? 
 This is Chrifts offer, and if ye be fled to him 
 for refuge, he hath changed Rocms with you ; 
 ye are much ( as I faid; in his Debt, he hath 
 £ed you of your Debt, and purchafed an ablolu- 
 ticn to you-, anhhere it m condemnation to you, as ic 
 is, Rom. 8. 1. Whereas before ye were in a man- 
 ner condemned already ; But the truth is> our 
 Lord Jefus is undervalued, not only by them 
 that apprehend not their hazard, and io make 
 not ufvT of Irm, bu: alio in a great meafure by 
 tliem that do apprehend it; in fo far as they 
 give way to unbelief, and dare lc*rceiy truft to 
 his Sacrifice. 
 
 The 2d. and next tning implied here, is, That 
 though men be naturally under Cm, and obno- 
 xious to the wrath and cuife of God, bv reafon 
 of Sin, yet there is nothing that cji ::.k> away 
 that Sin, an^ frio them from \vr th, but Chrift 
 Jefus his offering up of himfelf a Sacrifice for 
 tin; therefore he is i'o made the Offering 
 for fin here, as it is excLJive of all ether thmgs; 
 no other thing could doit; As it is, Hib. ic, 
 1 4. Hi by tJic oferin* hath ferfccled for ever theje 
 vho are Jancl.fi: d. The Blood of Hulls and of 
 Goats cculd not take away Sin, neithir ts, as it 
 is, ( Ails 4. 12.) there any other name under heaytn 
 given to jinr.ers whereby thej c.tn be fav d, bat the 
 nam* •fjtfut : I fhall not fpeak here of the Na- 
 ture of Chrift's Offering and Sacrifice; burf-ir , 
 though all men be under Sin, and W-rarfa ly 
 Nature, there is no other way to remove 
 ic, except by this Sacrifice; Xhoufan r 
 
 Rac 
 
*°4 
 
 Rams, ( as it is Micah. 6. j.) and tefl thoufand 
 R vers ofOyl, the rirftborn of tne Body, will 
 n >c take away the fin of the Soul ; ChrtfFs offe- 
 ring upof himfelf, in Gods account is only the 
 fin offering, for the removing of fin, and wrath 
 from fmners.- Is it needful to prove this? we 
 wilh it were not, but the truth is, it's hardly be- 
 lieved by men, and Women ; Confider there- 
 fore fhortly thefe three things, and ye will 
 find it true, I. The Certification and peremp- 
 torinefs of the Curfe that follows Cm, as we may 
 fee, Gal. 5.10. Curfed is every one thai continueth 
 not in all things written in the book of the Law te do 
 them\ whatever maybe laid of God's abfolure 
 Sovereignty, whereof we will not now fpeak, 
 God hath lb ordered his Covenant, and revea* 
 led his Will in His word, that the foul that fins 
 (hall die, if a Sacrifice be not put in it's Room, 
 2. Confidcr the ineff-ftualnefs of allotherthings 
 to farisne Juftice, though we would multiply 
 Offerings, what cares God for thefe ? All the 
 heafls on the mountains are his, he delights not in the 
 hi, 9 J. of bulls and e i o at s, as it is, Pfalm 50. Thoufands 
 of Rams, and ten thoufand Rivers of Oyl are 
 rejected ; whether we look to pennances, (where- 
 of fome foolifhly talk, ) what can thefe do to 
 God ? or whether we look to mens External 
 Performances, of Holy duties, or to their in- 
 ward Convictions, Challenges, and Mournings 
 for Sin, there is no fuitable value in thefe things, 
 to intei pofe betwixt them, and God's vVrath ; 
 fuppone that man afcer tfle Fall could perform 
 duties without Cm : therefore the Apoftle, Hek f 
 J o- fays that it wss impojjible that the blood of buL 
 locks, and of goats could take away fin ; There is no 
 fuitablenefs nor proportionablenefs betwixt 
 the blood of a Beaft, and the Soul of a finner ; 
 farlefs betwixt it and the majefty of God that 
 is wronged by liir; wherefore, when the fuffc* 
 rings of a (inner are lengthened to twenty thou- 
 fand Millions of years in Hell, the Juih'ce of 
 God is never fatisfied, nor never will be to the 
 full ; what then can other things do? 3. There 
 is no other thing that hath a promife made, or 
 annexed to it, nor is there any o her msan laid 
 down, for the removal of fin and wrath, but 
 Chrift offering himfelf up a fin-offering ; I 
 know fo.ne are ready to think, that though 
 there be no worth in the thing, or duty, yet 
 God of his free Grace will accept of it ; but is 
 there a promife of God's accepting any other 
 thing for afatisfaftion for lin, or fo« the removal 
 of Wra'h, but Ch 1 ills faenfice alone ? And will 
 Folks expect that for which they have no 
 
 ifaiah J j. Vtr\e 10. 
 
 Serm. 
 
 ?7. 
 
 or can 
 
 promife \ The Scripture is pla ; n and perempto- 
 ry m this, as namely '4gt -\. r 4 There is.?:. 
 
 name under heaven, whereby a finner can he faved, but 
 by the name ofjefus ; He is the Door, John 10. the 
 way, the Truth, and the Life; John 14. The pro- 
 mifes art yea, and amen in him, 1 Cor. i, There 
 is greater neceflity to be through in rhis, though 
 a common Truth, than lolks think of; And 
 for Uje, it aims at thefe two, 1. Upon the one 
 fide, to cry down all befide, that pretends to fa- 
 tisfie God, or to make a finner acceptable to 
 Him ; Prayer is no Sin offering ; Repen- 
 tance, Convictions, a blamelefs life, &c. are 
 no iin offerings ; thefe things are empty, and 
 inlignificant, as to rhe Justification of a Sinner, 
 or the obtaining of his Pardon. i< Upon the 
 other Cide, it points rut the abfolute neceflity of 
 making ufe of Chnft's Sacrifice, and of the 
 betaking of our felves to it; for the fatisfying of 
 • Gods jurtice,if there be a neceflity of the pardon 
 - of Sin, and of the removing of Wrath, there 
 is then fure a neceflity of clofmg with Chrift, 
 and His Sacrifice. 
 
 The 1. ot thefe Ufes fpeaks to two forts of Per- 
 fons, with whom the Word of God hath no 
 weight t and who, in erTecl think to fatisfic God 
 with nothing. I. a prophane,gracelefs, fecure 
 Company, who, becaufe God keeps filence, aje 
 difpoied to think that He is like themfelves,and 
 that He will never purfue a. quarrel againfl 
 them ; much Ike to that Mm fpoken of Deut. 
 29. 18, 19. Who [ays in hu heart, he jhall have peace , 
 though he walk in the imagination of his own heart, adm 
 ding drunkennejs to thirfi. We have a Gen ration 
 of this fort among us, who tufli at all threat- 
 nings, ( alas for them. O! that God would be 
 gracioufly pleafed to make a change on them, 
 or if that may not be, that He would rid us of 
 them, ) Who will needs live fenfuilly, and as 
 they lift, who will needs fpeak, anJ do as they 
 pleafe, and will no* be contiolled ; and yet at 
 thefirft hand, will boldly and co.ifiJently 'ffert 
 their hope or Heaven, as if they had bever been 
 Sinners ; whence comes this ? even from their 
 fuppofing, that there is another way to Heaven 
 than God hath calked out ; they triink they 
 may be f?ved, though they never betake them- 
 felves to Chrift for Union with Him; but whe- 
 ther fhall their Sentence or God's (land ? There 
 is a day coming, when ye fhall know ; ye fay, 
 ye fhall have peace ; but God fayes, N ,W ly 
 Co ? Hecaufeye never knew what it was to make 
 ufe of Chrift ; ye had never fo much as a Form, 
 nor any the leaft guft of Religion, bu* were. and 
 are (till as fenflefs as the ltones in rhe Wall ; 
 what do ye think will become of this ? God 
 urges as it were, re offers of Chrift upon you -V 
 and yeftiilfltght Him ; He ul>s you ; that ther/1 
 
Scrm. 58. 
 
 is a ncceffity of Union with Him » elfe ye fhall 
 never fee Heaven > and ye ly frill at a difhnce 
 from Him, and yet will needs hope for Hea- 
 ven ; but alas ! I? will not be fo with you; ei- 
 ther thhk on the right way, which is by put- 
 ting Chrift in your Room, and laying of Religi- 
 on to the heart in fad earnefr ; or dream not 
 of coming to Heaven. A 2d. Sort are they, 
 who are not altogether fo profane as the others 
 but will condemn them, ( a< indeed the prac- 
 tice of many is loathfome ) ihey will, it may 
 be Pray in their Families,and will not be drunk, 
 neither wili they Swear, nor Lye, and they 
 will walk blamelefly ; and upon thefe grounds, 
 t-hey pronufe Heaven to themfelves very confi* 
 dentlyjand yet they come not through the fcnfe 
 of their fmful and curfed State, by Nature, to 
 
 lfaiah J 3- Hrf. Io. 
 
 aoy 
 clofe with Chrift by Faith, and to make ufc of 
 His Sacrifice ; fuch err on the other hand .On! 
 when fhail we be at this, not to neglect the 
 fhidy of Holinefs, and yet not to reft on ir, to 
 th^prejudice of this one Offering : This were 
 a pra&tce fuitable to, and worthy of Profeflbrs 
 of the Gofpel ; to be ferioufly aiming at all Du- 
 ties of Holinefs that are called for ; and yet to 
 be building all tlrir expectation of any good 
 from God, on the Sacrifice of Chrift: alone; 
 never coming to God without bringing it along 
 wirhthem, and looking through it to be ac- 
 cepted before Him ; there needs no more, and 
 no other thing that we can bring will do cur 
 turn, nor be taken ©ff our hand, if this be 
 negle&ed. The Lord Himfelf teach us this 
 way. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 Verf. io.c* 
 
 When tUu [halt make his Soul an offering for fin, He [ball fee his Jeed, He [hall profag 
 
 his days, and the pie afure of the Lord [hall proffer in his hand. 
 
 W~ - ■ "'-' 
 
 World think of it, it is 
 not an eaiie matter to get 
 the jufticeofGodfatisfied 
 for fin, and to get the 
 Wrath and Curfethitmen, 
 by Sin have drawn on themfelves removed ; 
 Offerings of Bullocks, and Goats, thoufands of 
 Rams, and ten thoufand Rivers of Oyl, will not 
 do it ; The Redemption of the Sou! is fo preci* 
 ous, that it ceafcth for ever that way, and by 
 all fuch Means ; Therefore the Lord in His 
 wifdom hath found out the Means, and in His 
 Grace and Love hath Condefcended, that His 
 own dear. Son, His Fellow,flall as a Lamb with- 
 out Spot, be a Sin-offering, to t^ke away the 
 Sins of His Eleft World i and this is the great 
 I Confederation under which we fiVuld Wltc up 
 I the Death of Chrift, as making Himfejf there* 
 2n.an Offering for fin; and interp'Hng HimfeJf 
 wto fatisfie Divine [uftice.that forgvtnwefs might 
 be made forthcoming ro us. 
 
 The Doftrme which we propofed to be fpoken 
 
 to, the lair day was this, Thar Ufus Clvift is 
 
 the only Sin-offering, by which Sin can be taken 
 
 away, and God fofatisficd, as to forbear the 
 
 Punifliment of the Sinner* and ro *dmit h * 
 
 Peace, and Friendlhip with Him? If we would 
 
 -- all things imaginable, and Invent 
 
 US w thour numbei tq remove 
 
 ^ersPeacc with God there 
 
 As 
 
 we have it Htb. 1 Chrift Jefus by his once offer, 
 ing up ofbir/iftlf, perfects [or ever the(e who are [am- 
 tffied ; and Ails 4. There is no other name given 
 . Under heaven, whereby finntrs Can be befaved, but the 
 atof Jefus. 
 The Ufe is, To commend, and to demonftrat 
 to us all, thenectfliy of the Ufe-making oftl is 
 one Offering of Chrift ; if He be the one offering 
 to take away S-n, and if no other will be ac- 
 cepted, then there is a neceffity, that He in His 
 Offering of himfelf be made life of : If all be 
 under fin, and if by the Law, Sin and Death, be 
 knit infeparably together ( as it is fcd,the Wages 
 of fin is death)and if Freedom from i'm and Wrath, 
 and Peace with God, be ntceffary*, then there 
 is anectflity, that Sinners Leferious in this mat- 
 ter, to get a Title to, and Intereft in this one 
 Offering, andS.ciifice of Chrift. 
 
 In the profecuting of the Uje, we fliall fpfnk 
 a litrle ro thefe fuur things, 1. To fome Grounds, 
 or Reafrns, to fliew tiie necefliry of Sinners ufc- 
 making of Chrift's Saciifice or Offering. 2, To 
 this»what it is ro make ufe ofrhis Offering.-, We 
 fh:«ll Hi y C a Word of Advcrrifement, as to lb me 
 miftakesthat are about it. 4. We fhall yivelbme 
 Differencing Clurafters, or Evidence/, o fa Per- 
 fem that is making right Ufe of this () - 
 for obtaining cf Pardon, and tor nuking ofthis 
 
 Peace with God. 
 
 To, 
 
.106 tf*'** $ 3« 
 
 For the Rrft, That is, The Reafons to evince 
 the neceflity of it # The fir ft of rhem is, that 
 which we hinted at juft now, If men were 
 not lying under Sin, and obnoxious to wrath, 
 and if there were any other Sin offering, or any 
 o:her way, or rne^n toefcape thecurfe and wrath 
 of God due for Sin, there were no fuck nectffi. 
 ty : But leing that 2II men are under Sin, and 
 under the curie of God and his Wrarh, becaufe 
 cf it, and feing there is no oiher thing that can 
 take away Sin ; then there is anabfolute necef- 
 lity, ferioufly to make ufe of, and to have an in- 
 tereft in this Sin-offering, a. Confider, that the 
 great part of Men in the World, and even of 
 them that he3r this Gofpel, do not indeed make 
 ufe of this Offering, though they be fome way 
 under the conviction that they are Sinners, and 
 that this is the only Sin-offering to take away 
 fin, and we fuppofe, if ye were all put to it, ye 
 could not deny, but ye are finners, and that no- 
 thing can take away fin, but Chrifts offeiingup 
 of himfelf as a Sacrifice to fatisfie Juftice ; 
 Though fome 6e that grofly ignorant, that 
 they will fpeak of fome other thing, yet gene- 
 rally thefe that own and maintain the Truth of 
 the Gofpel, are under a Conviftion that no o- 
 ther thing cm take away Sin ; and yet even a- 
 mongft thefe, there are many that never make 
 ufe ofChrift, and of his Sacrifice to take away 
 their fins, to remove Wrath, and make their 
 peace with God : There were many Jem, who 
 by the daily Sacrifices, which typed forth this 
 one Offering of Ch rift, were taught that there 
 was no other way to come by Pardon, and Peace 
 with God, but their ufe making of it; and yet 
 the moft part of them, in going about thefe Sa- 
 crifices, were (lighters of this one Sacrifice ; 
 Therefore the Apoftle fays of them, Row, 10. 
 13. That being ignorant of Gods right toufnefs, they went 
 about to eftablijh their *wn righteoufnefs, and Aid not 
 fuhmit themfehes unto the righteoufnefs of God ; it is 
 as certain, that many that hear this Gofpel, 
 and profefs Chrift to be the only Sin-offering, 
 will be difowned of him on this account ; 
 Therefore many are brought in, faying, Luke 
 13. did we not hear thee f reach in our Jtreets, have 
 we not eaten and drunken in thy prefence, to whom 
 He fhall fay, depart film me, I never knew you, 
 ye workers oj iniquity ; Becaufe (as if He had 
 faid ) what ever ye prefeffed, ye never made 
 peace with God, through and by me; and 
 what is the reafon, I pray, that fo many perifh 
 under the Gofpel, who in word acknowledge this 
 one offering, and that it is it only which takes 
 away Sin, bur becaufe that notwithstanding of 
 thac ConvkUon, and acknowledgement, they 
 
 v ' rl - IO * t . m Serm. - 8 . 
 
 are never brought actually to make u'e of Chrift 
 and of this his Sacrifice, and Offering; and* 
 it ye think and acknowledge, that there are 
 many that go to Hell, that have the Knowledge 
 and Ccnviftion of this Truth ye ruuft alfo 
 grmt, that it is becaufe they make not Confer* 
 ence to make ufe of it. 3. Confider, that though 
 there be many or the hearers of the Gofpel, who 
 do not reft on Chrift, yet it is very hard to con- 
 v,nce any of them, that they are ready to flight 
 Limit s Sacrifice : I am fure that both the for* 
 meru ill be granted 1. That nothing but 
 Limits Sacrifice can fatisfie Juftice ', 2 That 
 many do rot reft on it, and fo perifh, butif we 
 come to the 3. Scarcely fhall we find one thac 
 will grant ( except it be a tender body, ) that 
 they make not ufe of him; they will eafijy be 
 convinced.that Adultery is a Sin, and that thtr 
 are guilty of it, if r hey befo indeed, that drun, 
 kennefs, and Sabbath-breaking are Sins ; yea 
 prflibly, (which is more; that vaging of the 
 Mind in Duties of Worfhip is a Sin, and that 
 they are guilty of it; but it is not fo eafie to 
 convince them, that they are guilty of the fin of 
 not making ufe ofChrift, and of his Sacrifi e; 
 nay, they are fo puft up with agcod opinion of 
 themfclves, that thry will laugh at fucha Chal- 
 lenge ; And hence it is, that fo few make ufe of 
 Chrifts Sacrifice, and of his Righteoufnafs, bt- 
 caufefo few are convinced, that they believe not 
 on him; Therefore, when the Spirit comes, 
 John 16/Itis faid, thzt he fh.*U Convince the world 
 *ffin\ not becaute they did whdie, drink, fwear 
 &c. Though Crnvi&ions fo. thefe Sins will not 
 be wantirg ; but becauje they beHcved not in Chri{i : 
 And lunce it is. Luke 13. ac. That thefe will 
 not r^ke ChrifVs firft anfwer, / k?ow you not- 
 what (as if they faid) know* tnou not us? 
 we have eat m and drunken in thy prefence, We have 
 profctfed F..itn in thee, and our hope t« gee 
 Heaven by thy rigrre^ufnefs i and yet ht fhall 
 infwer th^rn again peremptorily, depart from mt 
 I know you not t not that there will be much to. 
 do, or any great difficulty to convince folk id 
 that day, or any room left to debate the bufiJ 
 nefs: but he would tell us by th's, that many- 
 die in this Delufion: And if it be a thing 
 that foiks are fo hardly convinced of, had they 
 not need to be ferioiifly folicitous, that they be 
 not deceived, and difappointed ? 4. Confider 
 how fad the difappointment will be to finners 
 one day, when they fhall be brought to acknow- 
 ledge, that they knew that there was no other 
 name given wheieby Sinners could be favtd, I ut 
 the Name of Jefus, and yet that th/'y/V,./ gfr 
 and rejected him ,• ye that «ff|5£tto therJl 
 
sdcompting and reckoning with God, do ye 
 think on thisjand that the paffing of the Sentence 
 will be upon this ground, to wit, whether ye 
 have fled to J^-fus Chrift, and made ufe of his Sa- 
 crifice, or not ? will it not be a fad difappoinr> 
 ment/to meet with a doleful deptrt fnm me, on 
 this ground, becaufe though there was fome con- 
 viction, that this was the only Sacrifice, and 
 Sin-offering that takes away fin ; that yet it was 
 not made ufe of, nor made the ground of your 
 peace with God ? 
 
 But to the 2. What is it then to make ufe of 
 this Offering ? ilcnow no better way than to ex* 
 plain it from the Typical Sacrifices, that were 
 un ier the Law ; and we may take it up in thefe 
 three. I. It implies a through conviction of Folks 
 lyabienefs to the Juftice ot God for Sin, and an 
 utter inability in our felves, and utter emptinefs 
 and impotencie in all other means to fatisfie for 
 Sin; Tnus they that brought the Sacrifice to the 
 Pricft, laid their hind on the head of the Bead, 
 by which they acknowledge, that death was due 
 unto them. So then to have the lively fenfe 
 of the due deferr of fin ; that is, to have the 
 fentence of death carried about in our Bofom,to 
 have the through conviction of the emptinefsof 
 all o:her means of relief, is requifitto the right 
 ufe making of Chrift' s Offering. 2. It implyeth 
 this, that there be a look had to the Infiitution; 
 and Ordinance of God, appointing this Sacrifice 
 to be th? mean of the Redemption of Sinners ; 
 Therefore in thofe facrfices that were offered 
 for Sin, there was a refpect had to Gods Cove- 
 nant ; wh?;ein were not only promifes relating 
 to External cleanfing, and toAdmifliontoChurch 
 privi'edges; but promifes alfo, relating to in* 
 ward e'eanfing, and to the pardon cf Sin, which 
 was the great end of thefe facrifices ; anJ the 
 looking to rhe Inftitucion of this lacrifice, is 
 the-Jj ound that leads us in to take up the end 
 of Chnfts Sufferings, and is a warrand for our 
 Faith, in the ul'e making thereof ; being the on- 
 ly Saci ifice that expiats fin, and holds off Wrath; 
 and -f thefe two things be not carriid along in 
 the ufe maki ig of T his Sacrifice, to wit, the 
 conviction 'f S.n, and the lyabienefs to Wrarh; 
 ad Gods Iuftitution and appointment of this 
 Sacrifice, to fake away fin, and to avert Wrath: 
 our ufe making of it is but Will-worfiiip. 3 It 
 implyes this, tha when the dinner is walking 
 uu > 'i t e fenl'e of his fin, a. d the emptinefs.and 
 ineffec-u lnefs of a 1 other things, to remove Sin 
 and W.a h (as Dw/ihath it, Pjsl. $1. 16. Thtu 
 jtfinjlnttjtcrifitt^udtligkteft jm in burnt ofttring; t ) 
 
 vtijt i«, 207 
 
 Theremufr be a looking to the Worth of Chrift, 
 
 arid ofhisSacrifice,that is appointed to take away, 
 fin, and hold efi Wrath; and the Soul's aQual 
 applying of his Offering to it felf; as we may 
 fee, in the 4. e, 6. and 16. Chapters of Ltviticut y 
 where there are feveral facrifices appointed to be 
 offered, for feveral fins, and particularly that of 
 the Scaft-Gtfit, on the head whereof, the Prieft 
 for the people was to lay his hands: in which 
 was implyed, not only their acknowledgement 
 of fin, and of their deferving Death ; and c£ 
 Gods appointment of that to be a Typical offe- 
 ring for the Typical taking away of fin j but 
 thefe two things furder were implied. 1 . That 
 they did take the Burden of their fins, which 
 neither they themfelves, nor any other could 
 bear, and laid it on Chrift ; when Joftice did put 
 at them for their debt, ( to fpeak fo ) they drew 
 a Bill on Chrift, as their Cautioner, ^to anfwer 
 it ; and as they did put the debt in his hand, to 
 be payed by him ; fo they lippencd andTrufted 
 the weight of their Souls to him, and to no o- 
 ther : So that when God was purfuing them for 
 their debt ; faying, as it were, I will have pay- 
 ment of you, or elfe you muft die ; they brought 
 the facrifice to the Prieft, to pleafe Gcd Typi- 
 cally with an eye to Chrift, Typified thereby ; 
 Even fo for Sinners, to make ufe of ChrifVs fd£- 
 ferings, is in the thorow convi&ion of fin. and 
 of delctved Wrath, to flie unto Jefus Chrift, 
 and to put him in their room; being content 
 6c deflrouSjthathe be theirCautioner, and under- 
 take for them, and fatUfie for their debt; yea, 
 putting him actually to it, to pay their debt, Co 
 that they have no ether anfwer to any challenge 
 for fin but this, the Cautioner that I have be- 
 taken my felf to, and put in my room, will pay 
 this debt and anfwer for it : The 2. Act of Faith, 
 is this, when they have betaken ^hemfelves to 
 him, and to his Sacrifice, they acquiefcein,and 
 reft upon it alone, for obtaining of the fen- 
 tence of Abfolution; which was alfo implyed 
 in the people their laying their hands by tha 
 Prieft, on the head of the facrifice ; For as it is 
 implyed* their acknowledging, that they could 
 not pleafe, nor fathfic God of themfelves. ror 
 by any other way or mean ; fo it imp'yed.rhac 
 according t God's Covenant, t'.ey expected h % 
 Ahfol ing fthem, becau e of thatfacrifice; and 
 thar, though they were defperate by ihcmfclves 
 to Utisfi-, yet rhey h d Faith in Gods Co- 
 venant , tha r the faci ifice they offered, 
 would Typically fatisfis him ; Even fo 
 Che Believer draws the Conclusion fr m 
 £ c ChiiLU 
 
n 
 
 l'oS lJ*i** ft. 
 
 Chrifh facrinxe, according to the terms of the 
 Covenant, that he hath abfolution ; and refts on, 
 and acquiefces in it ; and this is called Trufting 
 or Confiding in Chrifti when not only he cafteth 
 himfelf on him, but hath confidence, that the 
 Iiili which he hath drawn on him will beanfwe- 
 red by him, which is founded on the Covenant ; 
 In which its faid, of all that come unto me, I 
 willpuc none away ; As it is, Jobf 6 37. Him 
 that cometh to me, I will in no ways aft out ; and 
 Z*cb. i 3 . There is a fountain opened in the houfi of D*- 
 vidforfin, and ftr uncle annefs ; On which ground 
 Believers expert the benefit of Warning, on their 
 performing of the condition of the Covenant : 
 And when David, Pfal. 51.7. Prays, Vurge me, 
 It holds out the aft of Faith, drawing the Bill on 
 Chrift; And when he fays, I Jhall be clean, and 
 white as [now. It holds out his confident refting 
 on andacquiefcing in Chrift, for cleanfing; And 
 this is the reafon, why fome exprefs Fairh, by 
 cleaving to Chrift j others, B; confident retting on him, 
 or by.ailurancc ; and there may be atruth in both; 
 becaufe the one looks on Faith according to 
 the firft act of cleaving to him ; and the 
 other takes up Faith according to the other 
 Aft of afjured refting on him, or confiding tn 
 him, and on, or in his facrifice offered up once 
 for all : in a word, to make ufe of this once of- 
 fering for (in, is fo to make ufe of him, as to put 
 him in our room, and our felves fome way in his 
 room; Not to dare to compt, and reckon with 
 Juftica; nay, not to dare as it were, to compt 
 with Chrift ; but leaving Chrift in the ftour ( to 
 fpeak fo, ) and running away from reckoning 
 with Juftice, to hideout felves under him, who 
 can count to the utmoft Farthing ; even as when 
 God commandcdAbraham to offer up his Son Jjatc, 
 and when he was lifting his hand to flay him, 
 there came a voice from Heaven, Abraham hold, 
 thy hand, and a Rim is provided, and ifaac is loo- 
 fed, and taken down from offthe Altar, and the 
 Ram is put in his ftead and place ; So there is 
 here a changing of Rooms with Chrift, accor- 
 ding to that fweeteft word, 2 Cor. 5. ult. He was 
 made finforus % who knew no fin, that we who had no 
 Righteoufnefs, might be made the right eoujnefs of God 
 in him. 
 
 3. If it be fo very difficult, and yet fo abfo- 
 lurely neceffary to make ufe of Chrift ; and efpe- 
 ciaUy in his offering up of himfelf, for the fins 
 of his People; there is ground here for Warning, 
 and Ad vertifemen t, to walk tenderly in this mat- 
 ter, that this Sacrifice be not (lighted, that this 
 -one Offering be not neglected, as we would no: 
 
 y<rf. 10. ztfifi *& 
 
 have fin lying at our Door. And here we fhall 
 point at three iorts of perl -ns, who may he cmiri. 
 ted (lighters and neglectcrs . f this Offering The 
 1 Sort are thefc, who think to ma c their peace 
 with Gqd, withe ut mind ng the neceffity of the 
 intervening of any thing let \ ixt him and [hem- 
 and thefe g... on feveral grounds, or are of feve- 
 ral forts. 1. Some are utterly carelefs how their 
 Feacebcmaue, or whether it be mad. ornrt, 
 they hope for it, and think to come at it, but 
 cannot give an account whether they will come 
 at it or not \ and they are carel«ft to know the 
 
 T-t y ' u- ?o C T \ , g ° Up ° n thcir P'^rnption; 
 I hey think God loves them, becaufe they ] ve 
 themfelves; and though they know they have 
 fin, yet they think God will not be fo ill, as to 
 reckon with them ; they think they art furethat 
 God loves them, but they cannot give a ground 
 font. 3. Others think, God is merciful, and 
 therefore they conclude that they will be pardo- 
 ned i They cannot conceive God to be like man 
 in his mercy, but to be far beyond him ( as in- 
 deed he is infinitly in fome refpeO) and there- 
 fore, becaufe when man is merciful, he fome- 
 time feeks no fatisfaction ; fo neither will God, 
 think they; not confidering, that though God 
 be merciful, that yet he will not ftiew mercy to 
 the prejudice of hisjuftice; but will needs have 
 itfatisfied; fuch think on the matter at leaft 
 that they would have gotten mercy, though 
 Chrift had never died; It is true, if God had 
 not been merciful, never a finner had gotten mer- 
 cy : yet that is not the ground of his (hewing 
 mercy, otherways all the World might expect 
 mercy : For he is, and ever was gracious and 
 merciful in himfelf: and therefore there muft be 
 fome other ground and way for obtaining of Par- 
 don ; elfe it cannot be expected, becaufe of the 
 alone fimple and abftract consideration, of his 
 Mercy: And yet many will needs expect it on 
 this ground, without refpect to the Mediators 
 purchafe. A 2. Sort, are they that take the le- 
 gal way, for making their peace with God : Not, 
 as if they thought to appear before God without j 
 fin, and holy, as the Covenant of works requi- 
 leth: But if they fin, they will make amends ; • 
 and its eitherfomething negative, rhat they have' 
 not done, or fomething pofirive, that they have 
 done : or fomelnternaj Qualifications, that they ' 
 reft upon. 1. Something negative, they have 
 not been fo ill as other folks, and if they 
 go to Hell, they think few will go to hea- 
 ven : they have done wiong to none : and 
 
 ■ & if 
 
Serm. 3 *» .. . '..*.- J P l * h 
 
 if they were about to die, they think, and it may 
 be fay, that they will leave a good Name behind 
 them, 'on rhe account of their harmlefs walk: 
 like tbat Pharifee, they can fay, Lord, I thank thee, 
 1 am not like other men, nor like this Publican: They 
 are not Drunkards, no OppreiTors, they neither 
 curfenor fwear; and when they fee any prophane 
 perfons, they are puft up with • good Opinion 
 of rhcmfelves, becaufe they are not as prophane 
 as they. Or 2. They willcomc a furder Jergth, 
 and pofltively do many Dutys upon which they 
 reft, and whereof they are ready to boaft, with 
 that fame Pharifa, who vaunted, 1 faft twice * 
 week, I give tithes of all 1 f*JJe(s • If any duty be 
 'performed, or any good be done by them : their 
 Fingers are ready ( to fay fo ) to (tick to it : But 
 3. and cfpecially, if there* be any inward work, 
 as if there beany liberty, or motion of theaffe* 
 ctions in Prayer, if there be at ^hearing the 
 Word, fome Convictions Harper atone time than 
 at another, if there be any fort of Repentance, 
 Ruing, and fadnefsfor fin, &c. Thefethey think, 
 will do their turn : It js moll certain, and might 
 be cleared, both from the word of God/and from 
 experience, that many hundreds of ProfeiTors 
 Dafh, and perifh on this Stumbling Block, 
 Ifaiah 48 i. a. Where the Lord is fpeaking of a 
 People, tha- made mention of his name, and fware by 
 him, but not in truth, nor in righteoufnefs * of whom 
 hefrys, th3t they call rn 1 count themfelvcs of the 
 holy cicie, and slay them j:ives upon the God of lfrael : 
 and the ground^of it is, their refting on external 
 Durys, of failing and prayer, and the like : ex- 
 pectation of happnefs grounded on fomsfecklefs 
 performances, cut 'he Threats of many civil and 
 Difcreet Men, that are not grrfly prcphane. A 
 3. Sort, do not altogether flight and neglect 
 CSr'ft himfe'f, but rhey flight and neglect his 
 Offering; asifthey would ina manner make ufe 
 of himfelf, but not of bis facrificc, as Matth. 19. 
 and Mark :o. There is a man fpoken of, that 
 comes ro Chrift, would fain be at Heaven ; and 
 *iksgud Mafier, what [ball I do that I may inherit e- 
 \jternal life ? and y*t he was going on the grounds 
 of kU own Righteoufnefs: this is exceeding fub, 
 tile and deceitful : And therefore ye would take 
 the better notice of it, and how it is fallen into. 
 A man may come to Chrift, as God for pardon 
 of fin : ( and fome think, though mod igno- 
 ran-ly, and erronioufly, that Chrift the Son is 
 more compaflionat and ready to pardon than the 
 Farher ) and may feek pardon f.om him : but 
 not for his f<ke, or on his account : for there is 
 a difference betwixt miking Chrift the object of 
 
 Sl-Krfeio, :«j 
 
 our Worfhlp : and making ufe of him as Media* 
 tor : There are many that have prayed to Chrjft 
 as God, and fought pardon of fin from h-m : 
 who never prayed to obtain pardon, by vettueof 
 his offering •' Folk may alio defire help from 
 Chiiil, to inable them to do duties, that they 
 may thereby work out the work of their own fal- 
 vation : and be helped this way to make their 
 . peace witivGod : who do not ground the ma» 
 king of their peace with God on his offering a- 
 lone ; Thefe things are exceeding frequent in 
 peoples practice: who will pray to Chrift for 
 fuch and fuch things, and yet not found their 
 expectation of them upon his Offering, or his 
 Righteoufnefs: If we would make ufe of Chrifts 
 Offering, fingly and rightly, we would efchew 
 thefe, and all other wrong ways. 
 
 4. It may be asked then, what are the Eviden- 
 ces that may give a perfon fome clearnefs, that 
 he is making ufe of Chrifts Righteoufnefs arighr, 
 and that it is not his own Righteoufnefs, nor the 
 making ufe of Chrift only as he is God thatfu- 
 ftains him, I anfwer, that this is indeed a Myfte- 
 ry: and will require fearching, and watching to 
 obferve our own condition: And moe things 
 concur than one or two, to make a full difcovery 
 of it: In fpeaking to this, as we defire to ftrength- 
 en the preemption of none, fo we fha II labour 
 to (hun the weakning of the Faith of any found 
 Believer. There are then thefe fix or [even Diffe- 
 rencing Evidences, or Characters of a perfon, 
 that is rightly making ufe of Chrifts Offering 
 which difference him from others; And i. One 
 that truely makes ufe of Chrifts offering hath not 
 only been brought to fee his need of it : but 
 his Natural propenfion, andreadinefs to misken 
 it, and reft upon other things befide it, for the 
 making of his peace : whereas another man, u ho 
 does not rightly ma£e ufe of it, though he rn.ay 
 fee his fin, and fo his need of it: yet he fees not, 
 neither will take with the tendency, propenfet 
 nefs and Inclination of his heart, to reft upen 
 fome other thing befide it : See this difference 
 in Paul, before and after converfion, phtl t j. 
 Before he was converted, he ftuoied as ae 
 thought, all the Righteoufnefs of the Law: and 
 no doubt offered faciirices, which implyedthe 
 acknowledgement of (in; and he thought thac 
 all was well with him : ..Therefore he fays, 
 ttuchirgthe Right eoujntfs of the Law, he was blame- 
 lefs: and verie 6. Theft thugs that w.re gain [ome % 
 Or thefe things that I placed my Righteoufnefs 
 in, I thought the moe lagriiices that I offered, I 
 had no. more to buy my -peace b) : he Cccs, 
 fc e 2 thac 
 
are Ifsiah j;. 
 
 that in his ftudying of Holineft, he was fceking 
 to make a Stock in himfclf : But after his con* 
 vcrfion, he c»fts all thefe, as to leaning tothem, 
 or m.king them any ground of his Peace with 
 God, or of Ins Juftification before him ; he be- 
 takes himfelf <nly to Chrifts Righteoufnefs, and 
 funtstbem t§ hi bxt lofs ; I wou'd think it a good 
 evi fence for folks, not only to fee the Jooinefs 
 ofrheir hearts in Duty, and that to be a fin; 
 but r o fee when ought went well wirh rhem, the 
 inclinarion of their hearts ready to account that 
 to be Gain, and to reft upon it; There is fuch 
 an Hum' ur ani natural Inclination in all ; and it 
 is a '^ood Token, when itisdifecvered, and be- 
 comes a Burden, and the ground of a challenge* 
 not only tha' they have finned, in this and that, 
 . and the other Duty, but that they have gone a 
 whoring after their fe< k'efs performances, to the 
 prejudice of their cfteem of Chrift, and of his 
 Rghteoufnefs ; Btfore the Law came (faith P*ul) 
 Rom 7, 1 was alive, I thought I Had a Stock to do 
 my own turn; but when the tommandment came, 
 fin revived, and I died. There are many that will 
 be convinced of fin in their performances, that 
 will not be convinced of this finful Inclination, 
 to put theie in thrift's Room. A 2d. diffeience 
 or evidence is this; One that aims tomakeufe 
 of Chrift's Offering and Righteoufnefs, not only 
 their finswill be an cxercife to them, how to win 
 over them to Chrift, but it will be their exercife 
 alfo, how to win over their Graces, and Duties 
 to him ; It will be an exercife tothem, not only 
 to faavefuch a fin in their Duty taken away, but 
 how to win over the Duty itfelf,that they {rum- 
 ble not oft it, to the prejudice of their trufting 
 to Chrift; whereas another Man, when his Du- 
 ties go well with him, it is eafie to him to win 
 over them as he thinks.becaufe he refts fatisfled 
 with them. iW, Phil, i„$eas not only while 
 he was in Nature, that he counted fomerhing 
 Gain befide Chrift, but after convcrfion, he finds 
 an Inclination to it; and therefore in oppofit: on 
 to this Inclination, he doth with a dwbtlefs cry 
 down all things, and count them but Dung and 
 Lofs for the Excellency ef the Knowledge of 
 Chrift; Taking in his gracious Actions, as well 
 as others « For the words in the Text, and Con- 
 text tells us, that he is fpeaking of Duties per- 
 formed by him, even after converfion, and that 
 he found a necefiity to caft away the good as 
 Well as the bad, in the points of Juftification ; 
 as a man that is in a ftorm at Sea, harh a greater 
 reiu&ancy to caft over board Silks, Sitints, Vel- 
 
 Krf. 10. j 
 
 vers, and ether fuch fine things than toiTu -h£h 
 is more bale, and of left worth ; fo he wj ;, 
 more d fficult, and was put to fome hide" ex 
 erc-fe, tobe quiteof hi Doties.thai thev f»L M 
 not ftick to him, than to be rid Sfcffftfl 
 there any fuch <xercif c >,this«mongi1 folks 5 , 
 be puttow,eftingw;tfi their Du.ies, not as 
 being angry at them as fuch. but how to e * 
 themasit wrrecaftove bomidy to be jealous of 
 any good in them or done by them, ii„ ," prc l 
 judge not their efteen. cf Chrift; to be bu/iVin 
 well doing all the day, ,„ d in fcj **£« »» 
 count all their doing bu Uf S; and r G renunce 
 11 : urerly,- as to any p.-ffing 1 p by ir, 0r as ^ 
 the rrakmg of their peace « ith God hereby A 
 ?y d tvide.ee 1 schis One that is /ingle in mak- 
 ing ufe 1 f Chrift s Sacrifice, will be exerci'ed 
 and dilquKted, when hisdury i s d. ne. ti'» there 
 be for acceptance a (Lying and reftmg en Cbrifrj 
 Righteoufnefs; There are two forts thir ut- 
 terly fail, and fall fhorr here, , , Somt that are 
 content with fin, and makes lyes their refuge 
 2. Others that are fatisfied wirh dutie if it co 
 well with them, and promife rhemleives Ac- 
 ceptance on that alone account. neo] t Ff )na 
 Chrift , but the Be W harh ( a's fg?^ 
 faid) one exercife of Fa. to, how to be quite of 
 fin ; and another new exercife of it, how to be 
 fred from rcftmg On Duty, and how to be finely 
 engaged unto, and to reft upon Chrift; hism,nd 
 is not quiet m all his Duties till he Come hi- 
 ther, even to be found in Chrift, not having his 
 own righteoufneft, bur His; It's a good token 
 when toJks are not only exercifed to have fin 
 mortified, and duties with them, but alfo to 
 havetbeir peace with God grounded on Chrift. 
 and not on Duty ; Hence it is, that a Chrifri- 
 an will fometimes be taken up a whole day in 
 Duty, and yet have but little, or no peace be- 
 oufe he would be over, and 'hrough all duties 
 to rrfting on Chrift, which ha wins not ar to 
 his fatisfaction. 4/y, One that is finale in ufe 
 making of Chrift, and of his Offering, hath a 
 fear of miftakiug this Offering of C .lift, an d 
 thatfome other thing be put in his Room, and 
 he miskent, or neglected; There will not be 
 only a fear, left he fin, and come fhort in the 
 fuitable performance of fuch a duty, and left 
 he fall under Wrarh, but alfo Fear and Jea- 
 loufie, left in his Unbelief, and 5elfiftinefs he be 
 going wrong in the ufe making of Chrift, and 
 of his facrificc ; as is impjyed in the word, h<h. 
 
 4. 
 
erm. 
 
 Ifaiah 
 
 <3. 
 
 4. 1. Where the Apoft!e having fpoken of many 
 of the Jfr a elites their U belief in rhe former 
 chapter, Ayes; in the beginning of this ; Let us 
 therefore fear, left a promife being left us of tntrmg into 
 bis rtji, any of usfhouldfem to iomefhort of it> to wit, 
 through Unbelief; Be holily Jealous (a$ if he had 
 faid ) U.t# as it is chap. 3 2, 13 There be in any 
 of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the 
 living Gods In a word, he will be fu'peSIng the 
 cxercife of his Faith, as much as any thing; a 
 iNatural man will fom?cimes, it may be, liifpeft 
 his Duties, but hardly will he be brought to 
 fufpect his Faith, otherwayes he could not have 
 the peace that he hath, fuch as it is: This may 
 alfo be confirmed from that poor mans prayer 
 to Chrift, Mark 9. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. 
 He dare not well trull his own Faith, $ly They 
 that are fingle in their ufe- making of Cnrift's 
 Offering, not only fee themfelves Sinners, but 
 the carry along with them the difcovery of the 
 naught'nefs of every thing that is beft in them; 
 when 'hey fee that to which others lippen to fo 
 much fo very unfuirable, and that they are far 
 fhortof that which they mould be at, they dare 
 not own, nor look on it to boaftof it, but it*s a 
 burden to thenvo fee fo much Cm in i r >It's no* 
 .thing to fee fm in fome outward A&ions, and 
 in that which is dire&ly contrary to Gods Law; 
 but it's much to fee fin in our beft things, as in 
 our Faith in God. in our Love ro him, and in 
 our ends in holy Duties ; a legal Min willcon- 
 fefsitmay be readily, that he fins in every thing, 
 but he covers all with this, that he hath a good 
 heart to God, or a good end: The Believer on 
 the contrary fees all his good fo naughty, that 
 it is taftelefsto him ; he never gets any thing to 
 reft on, or that can bear his weight to confide 
 in, till he come to Chrifts Sacrifice. 
 _ 6ly. Such as are aiming rightly to make ufe 
 ofChrift's Offering and fcriflce, efteem 
 and think exceeding much of it* Therefore 
 they adventure Heaven, and their Eternal falva- 
 tion on itjlt's rh:.t which cheei$& delights them 
 moft,trntChrift h-th ftepped in and ingadged to 
 do that for them, which neither themielves nor 
 any other Perfon.or thing could doyThe ////(faith 
 the Apoftle, Gal. 2. ) That Inow live in the Fltfk, 
 ithy the Fa.tboftheSsH of God, who lovedme, and 
 fav: himfdf for me, And J. Tim 1. ,$ r This is a 
 faithful faying, and worthy of all aeration, that 
 Jef*s < hr.ft came to the world to favefnners, of whom 
 J am the chief. And John heartfomly, Rev. •. 7 
 To hm that loved us, and wafted us in his own blood 
 
 Verf. to. «ff 
 
 &c. But they that endeavour not, neither aim - 
 rightly to make ufe of Chrifts facrifice, think 
 little or nothing of it ; They are not made glad, 
 nor are their hearts lifted up with fpiritual Joy, 
 becaufe of it : The good and glad news of a flam 
 Saviour, are not the chief ground of their con- 
 fo!ation, as they are to the Believer: This evi- 
 dence is fomewhat general, yet furcas well' as 
 the former, O! butit's matter of much wonder, 
 to 'h- Believer, when he thinks how that when 
 the ftroak of Juftice was ready ro come on him, 
 Chrift mould have interpofed betwixt him ancf 
 that Fatal, and deadly Blow; But othersefteem ' 
 not of it, and therefore cannot make ufe of ic 
 7/7. They that are rightly making ufe of ChrilVs 
 facrifice, find it to be a difficult thing, and that 
 which will coft them wreftling, to git it made 
 ufe of aright : they breath after it, and yet win 
 not to that which they would be at in it; O ! as 
 David cryes, Pjal. 51. purge me with hyfop, and I 
 fballbt clean, wafh me, and I jh all be whits as fnow, 
 They know not well what way to make ufe of 
 it to their fa tisfaction, they would' make fo 
 much ufe of it, or how to vent and exercife 
 their Faith on it ; and when it comes to Attual 
 Believing, and to the acling of their Faith, they 
 find it to be like a fmooth and ilippery ftone, 
 that they cannot eafily hold their Feet on. So 
 P*«Zfayes, Pfifo j, 1 count all things but dung, that 
 I may win Chrift, and that I may be found in him He 
 cared not what he caft over board, that he might 
 win to that Land, even to Chrift and his Righ- 
 teoufnefs ; Like Sea-men in great hazard, who 
 caf; all over board, to win the Show, It's even 
 fo wi-h the Believer, he fees that there is fuch 
 hazard to go wrong, and that ir/s fo difficult to 
 be right even to make the heart fubmit to the 
 way of Faith, and to abide by it fingly, that he 
 is content to frffcr the Ms of all things, jf he 
 may be right there; But on the contrary a 
 man that refts on his own Righteoufnefs be a 
 difficulty what will to him, Faith is no difficulty 
 to h>m : He may have fear to come Ihort of 
 H.aven fomenmes, but he thinks that he is al- 
 ways exercifing his Faith : In a word, the Be- 
 l.everordmarly believes belt/ when he hath the 
 de.pefc and moft kindly Impreflion of his fin; 
 astor the legal man, he can believe well, as he 
 thinks when he hath no challenge for Cm, but 
 wh en h c 1S challenged for fin, his Faith faili 
 him. Now from all that hath been faid, ye 
 may fee the rieceffiry of making ufe nf this Sa. 
 cnfice : And how wanly,and cauticufl, it ihoi »a 
 
 bt 
 
212 
 
 § lfaiah n- V»fi ro. c:. rm . J 
 
 be done; that ye may fleer a ftraight Courie be- Pilot, that ye by his skilful conduft may ftemoti 
 Iween grofs Proplunity, and Prcfumption, ei- the Port, and hold off thefe Rock; on whm 
 ther of which will mine and deftroy the Soul : thoufancL of Souls fpiit, and make Ihlp-wrack 
 The Lord Jeius himfclf be your Steeif-man, and 
 
 SERMON XXXIX. 
 
 ISAIAH liii. x. 
 
 Verf. 10, »-Whm thou Jhah make his Soul an offering for Jin, He JhaS fee hit feed, He ' fhatt proton* J, U daxs 
 and thtpleafure of the LordjhaU projpir in his hand. J 
 
 Sin was eafily brought into the World, a 
 little bufin^fs brought in Sin, and the 
 Curie and wrath of Gcd with it ; and 
 and without any great difficulty, Men 
 can continue in fin, and ly under Gods 
 wrath and curfe ; but the taking away of fin, 
 and the fatisfying of the Juftice of God for it, 
 is no eafie matter, that ( if we may fo fpeak, ) 
 did put Heaven and Earth both to it ; There was 
 fucha contrivance of this way, and fqch a mean 
 chofen, and made ufe of, that Cm might* be remo- 
 ved, and the Curfe taken away, as the like was 
 never heard of. 
 
 The Intimation and Manifeftation of this way, 
 is in the firft part of this Verfe, Tet it pleafed the 
 Lord tobruije him ; In Gods Council, and by his 
 pleafure it was contrived, and the way found 
 out ; and the Mean is fet down in thefe words, 
 When thou jhak make his foul an offering for Jin j The 
 Mediator, even he who was the fpotlefs Lamb 
 of God, in whofe Mouth was found no guile, 
 was bruifed, and put to fad Suffering, to get 
 this £ffe£fcuat; That the Curfe might be remo- 
 ved from Sinners, He was made the Shv offe- 
 ring. 
 
 We mew that'efus Chart is the only Sin-offe- 
 ring, by which fin is taken away, and that it is 
 implyed here; So that it is denyed to all other 
 Things, or means to have any Efficacy, vertue 
 or merit in them, as to the removing of fin, and 
 the Curfe brought on by it > this is, I fay, fo pe- 
 culiarly applyed toChriirs Offering, that it is de- 
 nyed to every thing elfe ; which (hews. i.H.'w 
 much finners are obliged to Chrift, who, when 
 no other thing could do it, interpofed himfelf. 
 a. The necefiity of making ufe of this one Offe- 
 ring, without which never Soul can be perfected 
 or laved : He is the alone Foundation of finners 
 peaces and of all the Confolation thft they can 
 have in the promifes ofGod. 
 
 Now to proceed, and to hint at fome few 
 tilings more from the Words, wherein the end, 
 a nd Nature of ChruYs fufferings arc fet forth ; 
 
 Hemhisfufferings, and offering up of himfelf 
 did ftep into the Room of toe finful £le£r, thai 
 by Juftice exacting of him the Debt that wis due 
 by them, they might efcape, and be fet free • 
 Hence Obferve. I. That when there was no-o- 
 ther thing, nor mean, that could fufficiently fa. 
 tisne Divine Juftice, or be a facrifke for Cm, Oui 
 Lord flapped to, and undertook, and became the 
 Sacrifice to take away fin ; according to that of- 
 ten cited. Pjal.+o. 7,8. Sacrifice, and offering thou 
 didtt not defire, in burnt offering thou hadil no pUa\ure> 
 He is not fpeaking of what God required in the 
 Law, as Typical; for he required Sac.ifices and 
 Offering in that refpeft, but not to be a propitia- 
 tion for the fins of the Eleft world, becaufc they 
 could not do it ; and then follows ; Lo I come or 
 I am here: mine tar hail thou bored, it is, Hib! io t 
 A bod) hafi thou given unto me ; which fets out his* 
 being put in a capacity ro be a Sacrifice i I delight 
 to do thy will, O my Got. Here there are thefe foui 
 things implyed, 1. A liablenefs in the £lec\ to 
 the Juftice of God for fin, and as to alJ other 
 means and ways of relief, byt by this one Sacri- 
 fice, a defperatnefsand impoflibiLty ; and confi- 
 dering rhe fentence, which God ha J pronounced 
 the day thou eats thou jhalt lardy die : A d curfed is 
 every one that continues not U all things written in the 
 Lav, to do them ; No facrifke can be accepted"but 
 this only; thoufmdsof Rams, and ten thoufands 
 of Rivers of Oyl have no accefs ; He did no- in 
 that refpeft require thefe, neither would he ca« 
 pitulate on thefe terms. 2. That when no other 
 facrifke could do the turn, Chrift Jefus came in 
 and was c.ntent to interpofe, and to be the fa- 
 crifke for fin, Lo, faith he, / come, I am here rea- 
 dy to fatisfie for my Eleft people ; For this is an 
 old defign, and he haa undertaken from Eterni- 
 ty to cany ir on. 3. There i* implyed here a 
 great willingnefs, a deJightibm, and heartfom 
 condefcencing in the Mediator, to be the facri. 
 fice, he fteps in affe&ionatly, in the room of 
 the Eleft, as the facrifke for them, to receive the 
 
 ftroak 
 
iroak of Juftice, that they may efcape and go 
 :Yee, / <&//gfo « "'<> ^r *" Y/ > Q rn-jQod: Thls 1S 
 aods Willi as to the workof Redemption, as it 
 s, >&/i 6. 38. / came down 'from heaven, not to di 
 nine own will* but the will of him that fiuf me. And 
 Hhn 17.4. * havefinified the'work thou gavejf me to 
 !o ; That will and this work is ail one, And Heb. 
 o' Irs laid by which ( or by this ) will we an 
 anttifi'J. 4. The Fathers admitting and accep- 
 ingofhim, to interpofc in the room of them, 
 or whom he offered himfelf, is implyed here i 
 or ptherways his offering up of himfelf, couid 
 lot have bten a facrifice fatisfaftory to Juftice, 
 f the Lord Jehovah had not been content fo 'ar, 
 b relaxe his. threatning, and Curfe, in reference 
 othe party offending, as to admit of a Cautio- 
 ler, in the Room of the Dyvour finners, to fa. 
 isfie for them, of which fatisfa&ion he accep. 
 ed*: All thefe things put together, make Chrifts 
 nterpofing h'unfelf as a facrifice, and furety com- 
 )leat. 1 delight to do thy will, fuppofes not only 
 jods pleafure, that he mould interpofe, but his 
 ccepting of his interpofing i and this is ( to 
 pcakfo) the Flooring, and Foundation of the 
 vork of Redemption ; Thefentence ftands over 
 heEletts head, Curfed arc the guilty, Chrift 
 bomes in and interpofes Cheerfully to take on the 
 Debt, and fays, here I am, Let the Curfe fall on 
 ne, and letfatisfaftion be taken from Me ; And 
 :his being offered according to Gods Will, it is 
 accepted, and Chrifts farjsfa&ion becomes an Of. 
 fering in their room. 
 
 Ufe. See here a defperate Condition, wherein 
 by nature we arc all lying ; it fets us well, in 
 fpeaking of Grace, to take a view of what we 
 were : And it (hews how much finners are in 
 Chrifts Debt and Common, that interpofed for us 
 in this condition. Could we fuiubly make in» 
 quiry what cafe we were in, und*r the hard of 
 Juftice, aid its ftroak ready to light on us? And 
 could we behold our Lord Jefus Chrift interpo- 
 fing for us. and the fword of Juftice awaking 
 againft him, and fmiting him for us ; and the 
 Lord Jehovah accepring of his interpofing, and 
 making his foul an Offering for fin ; And him 
 willingly, and delighcfomly offering up himfelf 
 in our Room ? we would fee our obligation to 
 God, who was pleafed co contrive, admit, and 
 accept of this Way, and mean of our Redempti- 
 on ; And could we confidtr, what advantages we 
 have by this Redemption ; and what it coft 
 Chrift to obtain it ? we would fee our fclves 
 much, unfpe.kably much in his Debt , The day 
 is coming, when it will be thougbc a favolii, 
 
 Vert To. 213 
 
 and when the fweet effe£h of it fhall be made ful- 
 ly forthcoming to them, that, now cordially 
 clofe with it ; And when the fruit of defpifing 
 it, fhall be found to be bitter like Gall and worm- 
 wood. 
 
 2. From it's being C&\d,when thou fcalt make- i Or J 
 when his foul fhall make it felf, or he himfelf 
 fhail make himfelf an offering j or fin ; 0!ijcrve % 
 That as Chrift undertook, and by undertaking 
 interpofed to come in finners room, to fatisne 
 for their (ins ; fo his death and fufferingFare rc« 
 ally the performing of that undertaking; And 
 his Death and fufferings are fo to be looked on, 
 and confidered by us as an Offering for fin , or 
 thus, Chrifts Death is the Sin-offering that fa» 
 tisfied the Juftice of God, in the room of Elect 
 finners, This is thefum, or compendof all that 
 is fpoken of his fufferings : If then it be asked, 
 what meaned they a'l? Here it is ; He was made a 
 fin»offering: we fhall clear it a iittle in thefe 
 three or four parts, or branches. 1. Chrift is 
 properly a fin-offering, or a facrifice for fin, he 
 is properly the Propitiatory Sacrifice for fin that 
 fatisfiesthe Juftice of God for the fins of the E- 
 lect. This facrifice was efpecially offered by 
 him, in his death, 2nd fufferings, its his fuffe- 
 ring, and humiliation that is moft properly this 
 facrifice, for its that which is related here. 3. 
 That by Chrifts offering up of himfelf, he was 
 not only outwardly pinched, but his foul <vas 
 deeply affected, and troubled ; in fatisfying the 
 fin-reVenging Juftice of God both his foul and 
 Body were ftraitned, and ftrelTed. 4, By his 
 fuffering, there is a fufficient fatisfaction given 
 tojuflice for the fins of his people, a propitiati- 
 on,or propitiatory facrifice, that makes God pro- 
 pitious to Elect finners : as in fatisfying the Ju* 
 fticeofGod for fin, all other things are denyed 
 to have a hand, fo there is a fufficient Efficacy, 
 and worth in his facrifice to do the turn, and by 
 God it is accepted as fuch : and fo there is a fair 
 way made to them, for whom he offers this fa* 
 crifice to efcape fin, and the wrath and curfe of 
 God, and to be fctfrce. 
 
 As for the firSt of thefe, to wit, That our 
 Lord Jefus, in his dying, and fuffering, was 
 properly the propitiatory facrifice ; or is proper- 
 ly a propitiatory facrifice for the taking away of 
 fin : To clear it a little, we would confider. 1. 
 Thatfaciifices are fundry ways taken in fcrip- 
 ture. 1 Sometimes they are taken improperly 
 for duties; as Alms, Prayers, Praifes, & c . Pfal. 
 ci. The facrifice »f a brok_n heart thou wilt not dtf) 
 So alfo Hew. 13. 15, 16. a- They are tuken 
 
 mcic 
 
Serm. 39 Jf«'* S%i 
 
 more properly for fucfi facrlficejas were offered 
 under the Law ; as of Bullocks* Lambs, Rams, 
 and Goats; yet none of thefe was the true pro- 
 pitiatory facrifice, as is clear, Heb. 10. 4. If was 
 imfojpbh that the blood of bulls , and goats could take 
 away fin. But ChriiVs Sacrifice is properly the 
 propitiatory Sacrifice, it being by this facrifice, 
 chat Believers under the Old Teftament became 
 partakers of Redemption; and obtained Remif- 
 Jion of litis, as well as Believers do n6w under 
 the New; If it bechen asked* What is neceiTary 
 to a facrifice properly fo taken? I anfwer thefe 
 four things, ( all which we find to be in Chrifts 
 Sacrifice. ) 1. That there be fome thing, or mat- 
 ter fet apart to be offered to God, in the Room 
 offome other thing, as it was in the Typical fa- 
 crifices. 2. That there be fome appointed to 
 offer the facrifice, that there be fome fet apart 
 for that very thing. 3. That there be a killing 
 or deftroying of the thing that is offered in a 
 facrifice, which cfpecially in the Sin-offering was 
 neceffary; to wit, that it (hould be killed, or 
 deftroyed ; as we fee in Etcid. 29. and Livititus 
 frequentIy;This had afignification,and theLord 
 would therebypointoutmans great guilt,and the 
 neceflity of a Mediator, in order to the obtaining 
 of pardon ; for there could be no Remiflion, or 
 Pardon of Sin without Blood; as it is, Heb. 9. 
 2.2. Therefore the Sinner behoved either to die 
 himfelf, or to have another to die for him, and 
 in his Room. 4. The facrifice behoved to be of. 
 fered according to the manner prefcribed by 
 God,as to all the Rites and Ceremonies injoyned. 
 Now we may fee all thefe in Chrift's Sacrifice, 
 For I. He himfelf is the facr ; fice,H*£. 7. 26. Heb. 
 9.16. Heb. 10. 10. And frequently elfewhere, 
 in that Epiftle, and 1 Pet. 2. 24, mo hisownfelf 
 hare our fins , in his own body on the tree ; And when 
 lie had offered up himfelf as a facrifice, he fat down 
 on the right hand of tht Mayfly on high-, he is the 
 alone facrifice, t«at comes properly in the room 
 of Eleft Sinners. 2. As there be >ovrd to be 
 One, to offer the facrifice, fo Chrift Jtfus is t ! e 
 Priefr, that offered up the facrifice of himfdf : 
 He is not only the facrifice, bur the Ppett : And 
 in this he differed from other Priefts, Heb. 7. a 6*. 
 Such an high Pried became us, who is holy, harmbfs, 
 feparatfrom Sinners ,a*d made higher than the hcavns; 
 and then follows, who needs not daily, as (loth hitfh 
 pnetls, to offer up ftenfices \fi'(tfor their own fin, atd 
 then for the fins of 1 toe people ; )or this he did once, 
 when he offered «p hiwfilj. Tuere arc three things 
 
 Verf 10. nJ 
 
 ordinarly attributed to Chrift, as to his facrifice! 
 to wit, That he was the Sacrifice, the Altar, and 
 the Prie/l ; 1, He was the Sacrifice, in rrfptft oft 
 his humane Nature, which we are not lo to look 
 upon, as abftra&ing, and dividing it frcm his 
 Divine Nature; For though he fuffered in the 
 Flefh,yet it was thefamePcrfon,that wasGod chat 
 Suffered. J. He was the At.*, by which his 
 Sacrifice received a fpecial Efficacy, Vertue r 
 Value, and Commendation ; as ir's faid, Tht 
 Alter \anclifies the offering : So Cbrift Jefus, accor- 
 ding to his (/od-head was the Altar, which cid 
 put an ipecial excellency on his Sufferings, and 
 inade them to be of fuch Worth and Value a 
 Therefore Heb. 9. 14. It is (aid, that he througm 
 the eternal jprit offered up himfelf without Jpot Uht9 
 God; It was the lufferirg of the Perfon that was 4 
 God, that made the Sacrifice to be accepted.' 
 
 3. He was the Prieft, and that according to bmhi 
 his Natures, each Nature concurring, and that 
 joyntly, as in one Perfon, to the making of th« 
 Sacrifice offered. up to God acceptable. 3. We! 
 have in him a realde(rrLc"tion,but do normifrake 
 the Word ; Ir is not fo 10 be underftcod, as if 
 he were annihilated, or had betn utrerly de- 
 frroyed, and undone; bur the meaning is this* 
 That he waj» killed, or put to dcarh, and^is; 
 Soul feparare from his Body: In uhich refptcc 
 he ceafed to be what he was before for a time: 
 having been really flain, dead and buried. Arid 
 
 4. All this was according to Gods Prefcrii tionj 
 and Appointment in the Covenant of Redemp- 
 tion ; This Commandment ( faith He, John 10. ,8} 
 have 1 received cf my Father, to wit, that I jboulcf 
 lay down my life for myjbeep; and molt emphati- 
 cally, he fays, John 14. 13. as my Father gave ma. 
 commandment, even ft ( mark, even fo, moft exactly/ 
 in conformity to the Commandment) do I: Ic 
 was all, as to every circumftmce ordered accor- 
 ding ro the good pleafure of God, who was 
 plc*frd thus to biuife him, and to put him to 
 Grief. 
 
 The 1. Ufe of it ferves, To teach os, how to 
 conceive, and confider of Chrifts Death, and 
 Sufferings right y, to wit, even as a Sacrifice dc" 
 figned byGo -',tocome in the room of EiectSin4 
 r»er>, ,-nd how ro look upon his Death; not >■ 
 the ordinary dcarh ^f ordinary or meer men; 
 who by nee (Tit y of Nature di«; but to look on 
 it, as being appointed of God, to be a Sacrifice, 
 pr perly fo tiken, for the fins of His People. 
 
 a//. Tbi$ fcivos to cl«ar forae Trutns, concer- 
 ning 
 
Serm. 39. rf*i*b tt' 
 
 ning our Lord Jefus His Sacrifice: For we inuft 
 confider it, asfatisfying tojuftice, arid Merito- 
 rioufly procuring the efcaping from Wrath,and 
 Salvation of them for whom He interpofed : It 
 is from the grofs Ignorance, or from the wick* 
 ed denyal of this ground, that the damnable 
 dcnyersof Chrift's Satisfaction, do alfo deny the 
 Propriety of His Sacrifice on Earth, and bound 
 it to Hearen ; whereas, it is bounded to His 
 Death ; though by vertue of this one Offering, 
 He continues tointercced for us in Heaven. 
 
 3/7. It teaches Sinners what is the native Ufe 
 which they mould make of this Sacrifice; They 
 fhould look upon it, as the only Sacrifice to pre- 
 vent Eternal Death, and the Curfe of God; and 
 fo it demonftrats to us, that either Jefus Chrifr. 
 muf} be received by Faith, and His Sacrifice 
 reffed on, or we mud refolve to meet with 
 Wrath, and the Curfe of God ourfelves in our 
 own Pcrfons. 
 
 4-ly, It ferves to clear us anent the Way and 
 
 Tract of Grace ; to wit, how it came to pafs; 
 
 that our Lord, who was innocent, and without 
 
 Sin, was Co bruifed, and put to grief : He came 
 
 to be a Propitiation forthe Sins of His People, 
 
 and fifted Himfelf in our Room, as our Cauri- 
 
 I oner, as a Sin- offering for us : It would doubt" 
 
 lefs quafh many Quftions, and Doubts, that a- 
 
 j rife in the Hearts of Believers, if it were well 
 
 I underftood : They may fay,we fhould have been 
 
 J infuch and fuch a fad conuition, this and that 
 
 terrible thing would have come onus,ifHehad 
 
 not interpofed ; never enough can thefe words 
 
 be fpoken and thought of, that we have a Cor. 
 
 J. ult. He xoas made fin ior US, toh'i knew nofin,tka: 
 
 we might be made the rightcoufnefs of God in 
 
 him. 
 
 Sly. It ferves for norab;e Confolation toBelie- 
 vers, who have betaken themfelves to Chrifr, 
 and have manyChallenges forSin to buckle with, 
 that His Death was to be pvt pcrly a Sacrifice for 
 Sin ; and was fo accepted of God in their Room: 
 So that ye fee the ri^ht up-taking of Chrifts 
 Death, is a matter of no little moment ; Chrifi 
 crucified being the very Subfhnce of the Gofpel, 
 It helps much to keep alive the impreftion of 
 our finfulnefs, and of the Goodnefs of God,and 
 gives us direction how to efcapc Wuth, by 
 putting him in our room ; There is nothing 
 wherein folks more readily roifcarry, in making 
 of their peace with God, than in not making 
 the right ufe of ChriiT, and of his Sacrifice, 
 and Death: Some praying for pardon of fin 
 from him, and not for him.or for his fake, when 
 they know not what they are faying, as we 
 hinted at before i Some praying for ftrength 
 
 Vtrf. 10. Iij 
 
 from him for Duty,that they may do for them- 
 felves, not confidering that we are juitified by 
 his interpofing in our room, and by Faith's clo- 
 fing with him, under that confideiaricn, as fill- 
 ing himfelf at the Bar of Juftice; and the Lord 
 accepting of him in the room of Eleft Sinners : 
 This fccing well confidered,gives toFaith much 
 clearnefs how to take him up, when the Soul 
 honeftly aims to partake of -the benefit of his fuf- 
 terings. '* 
 
 aly. For clearing this a little further, we 
 would know,that there are (as Divines obferve} 
 Four or fiv* ways, how the death of Chrift is 
 to be confidered ; or hew Chrifi, in procuring 
 by his death Redemption, Peace, and Pardon 
 to Sinners is holden forth in Scripture : r.He 
 purchafes Redemption, and Pardon of Sin Me* 
 rittrioufly, or he Merits it by his death ; this re- 
 fpects the value of Chrift's fufTcrings and faris- 
 faction ; So that if we conliderChrift in himfelf, 
 and the EIe£ in themfelves; .His death, and thefe 
 fufF^rings are more, than if all the Eleft had 
 fufFcred eternally in Hell 2. His death is con- 
 fidered, as a Satisfaction ; And this locks to the 
 wrong that men by fin have done toGod^That 
 the finite and fecklefs Creature durft be fo ma- 
 lapert as to bre?k God's Command. It required 
 a fatisfaftion equivalent to the wrong done, 
 though the Word Satisfaction be not in Scrip- 
 ture, yet the thing is, Chrifr Jefus, for the re- 
 flonng of Gid to his Honour, that was, as the 
 maniietiation ofir, wronged by mans fin,comes 
 in to perform the will of God, and to fatisfie 
 for the wrong done him by man, that it may be 
 made known thacGodis holy and jutr,who will 
 needs avenge fin on his own Sen, the holy and 
 innocent Cautioner; when he interpofes in the 
 room of the finner, which vindicats the fpot- 
 lefs Juffice and Sovereignity of God as much, 
 as, if not more, than ir he had exacted the fa- 
 tisfaftion offthe linnets themfelves ; As it is, 
 Rom. 3.16. To declare his right sou[nefs, that he might 
 be juft, and the j'-*flfier of him that bdieveth in Je- 
 fus. 3. ChriiT s death is con/idered as a Redcmpm 
 tion of Man from oin, the Law, and the Curfe, 
 becaufe lyable to aDebt which he cannot of him 
 felf pay ; and his death was in this refpeft a pay- 
 ing of the debt that man was owing, and loo- 
 ting of the Captive and Imprifoned Sinner ; c- 
 ven as when a piece of Land is morgaged, and 
 a perfon comes in, and paves that for which 
 it was Morgaged : So Jefus Chrift comes in, 
 and as it were, asks what are thefe men owing? 
 and what is due to them ? It's anfwered, they 
 are Sinners; Death, and the Curfe are due to 
 3 F them 
 
f 1 6 IjMtht^, 
 
 them; well, faith he, I will take their Debt on 
 my fclf, I will pay their Ranfom.by undergoing 
 all that was due to them. He hath redeemed us 
 from the curfe §f the L*w, ( faith the ApoftieXG*/. 
 3. 13. ) being made a curfe for us, that the mffing 
 •/Abraham might come onus Gtntilcs : And fo 
 Cluift's death in this refpefr, is to belooked^n, 
 asa laying down of the fame price tharjuftice 
 would have exacted of Men : His Death is the 
 paying of our Ranfcm, and fatisfying ofthe ac- 
 count that was over our head. 4. His death is 
 confidered, as irfuithered the work of the Re 
 demption of Electfmners, by a powerful annuUir.g 
 of the obligation that was againll us, and by a 
 powerful overcoming of all enemies that kept us 
 captive : He grapled and yoked with the Devil, 
 and that wherein he fctmed to be itrongefr,and 
 overcame him ; He tore the Obligation that 
 frood over finners heads, as it is Col. 3. 14, jc. 
 JBlotcingout the hand-writing of ordinances that 
 -was againft us, and that was contrary to us ; 
 he took it out ofthe way, nailing it to his crofs, 
 and having fpoilcd principalities and powers, 
 lie made a ihew of them openly, triumphing o- 
 verthtminit: In thisrefpect, though his death 
 be one or the loweft ftepsof his Humiliation;yet 
 coniiJering him, as in it, prevailing over the 
 Devil, and other enemies, he is to be looked on 
 as powerfully working,and efficacioufly perfect- 
 ing our Salvation: In the former refpect.he pays 
 God the Debt that was due by finners ; in the 
 latter Refpect, confidering the Devil, and Spi- 
 ritual Enemies, as fo many Jay Iors,keeping Sin- 
 ners Prifoners, he, by his death, wrings, as it 
 were the Keys out of his hands, and fets the 
 Prifoners Free. 5. Chrifts Death is confidered 
 ( as it in the Text ) as an offering and (acrifici for 
 fm;1n this refpect, it looks to God asdifpleafed 
 with AT an ; and our Lord Jefus interpofes to 
 pacifie Him, and to make Him well pleafed,and 
 that by thejneans of his death, God's Peace, 
 Favour andFriendfliip may be recovered to poor 
 iinful Men : All thefe Considerations of the 
 Death of ChriiT, are but one and the famr upon 
 the matter ; Yet thus diverfified, they ferve to 
 fliew, how unexprefiibly much Sinners are obli- 
 ged to Chrifr ; what great advantages they have 
 by Him, And what a defperate condition they 
 are in, who are without Him ; having aothing 
 to farisfie Juftice, not to pay their debt with. 
 
 2ly We faid, that this Sacrifice was efpeci* 
 ally offered by him, in his death ; Therefore he 
 is faid to Offer this Sacrifice on the Crofs. lie 
 iiimfelf as Pittr hath it, I. 2.34. bare our fins 
 in his body, on the tree ; Htb* 9, at (he clofe : 
 
 P' r fi to. Serm. 39. 
 
 And Heb. io« 14. It is faid, that he once offered 
 up himfelf to bear the fins of manjf. and hy his 
 dnce offering he hath perfected for ever, thefe 
 who arc fanclificd 1 So that this Offering is to 
 beapplyed tothatwhieh he fuffered on earth, 
 before he afcended; and it is in this refpe£t,that 
 he is a Propitiatory Sacrifice : rhough, as I faid, 
 thevertue thereof is frill communicated by him, 
 now when he is in Heaven; 
 
 Uje. This ferves to remove two Errors, about 
 Guilts .Sacrifice, The 1. is.that which bounds 
 and limits Chrift's offering and Prieft-hood ro 
 his going to Heaven, thereby to enervat theEf- 
 ficacy of his Sufferings and Deat^ quite con- 
 trary to this Scripture, wherein the Prophet ex- 
 plicating his fufYrrings on earth, calleth them 
 an offering f^r fin. The 2. is that blafphemous 
 conceit and fancy of the Papisls, who account 
 their abominable Msfs a Propitiatory Sacrifice, 
 for raking away the fins ofthe quick and of the 
 dead ; which as it is moft horrid blafphemy, fo 
 it is molt exprcfly againir this Text:for if Chrifts 
 Sacrifice, for the taking away of fin, be peculi- 
 arly applyed to his Humiliation, and Deajtfj, 
 which brought with it fuch a change, as made 
 him not to be for a time, what he w3s before : 
 Then certainly there can be nothing of that 
 name ; there being no ojher thing,to which the 
 properties ofa real Sacrifice can agree, but this 
 only. 3. I faid. that Chrift's offering up ofhim- 
 felf in a Sacrifice, was in his Soul as well as in 
 his Body ; and that he was therein obnoxious 
 to the wrath <xf God : That is, as he frood Cau- 
 tioner for the Eleft, and had the Cup of Wrath 
 put in his hand, he fuffered not only in his Co- 
 dy, but alio and mainly in his Soul, which the 
 Jens cculd not reach ; and he is here holden out, 
 as a Sin-offering in his Soul, yea, confidering 
 that it was the Wrath of God, and hisCurfe due 
 to the Elecl, that he had to deal with, his Soul 
 was more capable to be affe&ed with it than his 
 Body ; Hence he fays, when no hand of man 
 t uched him, Job. 12.27, Nov is my foul trou* 
 bled, an.i what {hall I Jay? and Matt h. 26. }8.and 
 LH^. 22. 44. Nov is my foul exceedingforrowful, even 
 unto death-, and being in an agony he prayed&c.Thit 
 which iooked like fhong Armies muttered, and 
 drawn up againft him, was not the Souldiers 
 that came to take him, nor the Bodily Death, 
 which was quickly to follow, but it was the 
 Fathers coming with his awakened Sword, to * 
 exa£rx)f4iim the Debt due by the Ele&, and to , 
 be avenged on him far their wrongs, and his 
 being to ftep in into their room, and to be fmit- 
 ten with (bat awaked, and furbifhed Sword, 
 
 and 
 
and to offer himfelf the Sacrifice, as he had long 
 before cngaged:Here, 0! here was the heat ?nd 
 ftrength of tbe Battel. 
 
 Uje. This mews, 1. What a dear price Chriit 
 payed for Sinners, a. The feverity of thejuftice 
 of God, in exacting the Elefts Debt off the Cau- 
 tioner- 3. How much we are obliged to the 
 Cautioner, who fo willingly undertook thcD^br, 
 and was lb ready to pay ir, though it coft him 
 not only external and bodily fufferings,butfoul- 
 fuffering, and put him to encounter with Gods 
 Curfe and Wrath : We are perfwaded, could we 
 conceive, and fpeak aright of thefe fufferings, 
 that there is a great myftery here : And really 
 it is a wonder that we are not more affected 
 with it, even to confider, that fuch miferable 
 Creatures fhould be purfuedbyjuftice, that can 
 do nothing to avert the ftrcak of it > And that 
 fuch a great and glorious Perfon, as the Son of 
 God, fliould interpofe himfelf; And that theFa- 
 ther fhould fpare the poor finful Enemies, and 
 make a way for them to efcape, by the diverting 
 ofhisjuftice from purfuing them, and by ma- 
 king it take hold of (he 5on of his Bofom, exact- 
 ing the debt feverely from him, O what a won- 
 der is this ! That the Lord fhould pafs by the 
 Enemy, and fatisfie himfelf of hisown Sm;Yea, 
 that God fhould take on himfelf the place of a 
 Mid-man, and fatisfie himfelf: That God fliould 
 be in Chtift reconciling the world to himfelf. 
 This, this is the wonder : Herein infinit Wif» 
 dom, pure and fpotlcfs Juftice, Holinefs and 
 Faithfulnefs, Grace and Mercy, -to the admira- 
 tion of Men and Angels appear, and fhine foith 
 
 Peffeio, tir 
 
 mod radiantly ,' It can hardly be known, m 
 which of thefe the Glory of God fhines moftyn 
 this Great and Glorious woik of Redemption : 
 But oi them all, we may fay to you Elect, and 
 believing finneis, what could our Lord Jefus 
 d<> mqjre for your Salvation ? I fay, what could 
 hddo more, thin to effex up himfelf a Propiti- 
 atory Sacrifice for your fins ? In" the Gofpel,He 
 calleth upon you to make ufe of it> that by ver- 
 tue of his Sacrifice, your peace may be made 
 with God i as it is, i Job. t. 1, t. If any man 
 fin, roe have an Advocat with the Father, Jefus Qhrifi 
 the righteous, and then follows, Heisthe propitiati- 
 en for our fins : This may give aboundant ground 
 to finners to go upon, in their application to 
 God, for Pardon and Peace, even this, that he 
 hath made himfclf a Sacrifice forfeiting of them 
 free, or whom he offered himfelf a Sacrifice : 
 O ! Sinners, admire him, employ, and make 
 ufe of his MoyCn, and Court in Heaven ; Im* 
 prove, and Welcome thefe glad Tidings, and 
 let it never be faid, nor heard of, that he was 
 offered up a Sacrifice, and that ye would notad- 
 mit of the benefit of it ; that ye would not ac- 
 cept of him, to be a Days man, and Tryftcr be- 
 twixt God and you, to remove all grounds of 
 quarrel ; O ! for ClirUTs fake, and as ye love 
 your Souls, ftep to, and feek Grace to make the, 
 right ufe of his Sacrifice, in order to rhe obtain- 
 ing of the pardon of your fin, and the making 
 of your peace with God : Let himfclf power- 
 fully perfwade you to, and prevail with you, in 
 this incomparably greateft cf all concerns. 
 
 SERMON XL. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. X 
 
 Verf. .10. When thou (halt make his Soul an offmvg for fin t He [had fee his feed, He {hill prolong 
 
 and the pleafure of the Lard {hall pnjpcr in his hand. 
 
 WHere there is any Light tnd 
 Knowledge of a God-head 
 amongft Men, there is this 
 impreflion on them, that 
 it is a dreadful thing to 
 have aControveifie lying o- 
 # vcr betwixt God and them unremoved ; And u- 
 "pon this ground it is, that as naturally the Con- 
 science doth challenge,for the provoking ofGod, 
 fo Men, according to the Light they have, are 
 fet on, to feck afterthis, and that, and the other 
 Mean and Way to get God appeafed, and the 
 Conference quieted ; and it's like chit elm hxtii 
 
 defcended to Men from Noah, that the moft part 
 of them have thought on the Mean of Sacri- 
 fices, by them to make their peace with G< d ; 
 So the Lord taught the Family of Adam, afcer 
 the Fall j and Koab rent wed ir, after his com* 
 ing out of the Ark ; snd it is probable ( i% I 
 faid ) fomtwhat of this hath abiden with, and 
 fruck to men, even when they degenerated 
 and apofratized from God, and offered Sacri- 
 fices to Devils, though not intentionally, but 
 unto God in their account : And indeed it h no 
 
 ivur- 
 1 f = 
 
1 1 8 fa* 1 *, n- 
 
 marvel thatFlelh and Blood be here at a (rand, 
 andrriiJe to fay, wherewithal fhalJ we come before 
 Godl But we have this advantage by the Gof- 
 pcl ; That in if, the Lord hath fhewcd to us, 
 Avhat it is that f-tisfieth Juftice, and takes away 
 Sin, and thcCurft ; and that it is even this in 
 rhe Text : Thcujhalt make his foul an offering for 
 fin : There is no other thing that a finner can 
 bring with him, that can be accepted, or that 
 can make him to be accepted of God. 
 
 Wc have hinted at lbme things from the 
 Words already, andihew, that Chrift'sSacriflce 
 is called an offering for fin, as excluding all others 
 and as exprefling the Nature and Ends of it : 
 IVe (hall now fpeak to one thing more, which 
 is the +th implyed in this exprefllon ; And 
 it is this, That though Atonement and Satis- 
 faction to God can be made by no otherSacrifice, 
 or Offering, yet there is an Atonement and Sa- 
 tisfaction, that may be made by Chrift's Offer- 
 ing : Hence He is called an offering fir fit : not 
 onJy becaufe it excludes all others, but alfo be- 
 cause he is accepted for trnt every end.as a Pro* 
 pitiation for the Sins of them, for whom He 
 Suffered, and offered Himfelfin a Sacrifice; as 
 this is denyed to all oth^r things ( as we jufr 
 now faid ) fo it is Applyed, and Appropriated 
 to Him, and His Offering, as, Heb. ro. v. 10. 
 By the which will we are fanctified, through 
 the offering of the body of Jefus Chrift, once 
 for all. v. 11. This man 3fter he had offered 
 one facrifice for (ins, for ever fat down on the 
 right hand of God. And v. 14. For by one of- 
 fering he hath perfected for ever, them that are 
 fan&jfied : This is the greit thing that the A- 
 poftleaims at, in that Difpute, not only to caft 
 the Levitical Offerings, as to the removing of 
 Sin and the Curfe, and making of Sinners Peace 
 with God, but to commend th is oneo firing, as able 
 to five to the uttefmifi, allth.it cotr.e unto Gsdthrongb 
 it : And according to this, we have that great 
 Queftion anf^vered topoonSinners; wheren-ithall 
 fhallwecomc be fin the Lord, and bow our [elves before 
 themoft high God? Hi bath fh'.wcd then O man] what 
 is meet, and what the Lord rcq*ircth of thee. That 
 there is nothing but this one Sacrifice of Chrift, 
 that will do the turn ', and this will do itmoft 
 infallibly, and mod fully as to the procuring of 
 Pardon of Sin, and the making of their Peace 
 with God; So that by the right making ufe of 
 this Sacrifice, a Sinner may mod really cxpeQ 
 Remiflion of Sins, and Peace with God, and his 
 Friendfhip, as if Sin had nerer been; Forother- 
 ways Chrift could not be called the Sin offering 
 or an offering for fin ; If He were not aceeptcd 
 in Room of the Sinner (hat comes, to Him. 
 
 Vtrf. 10. Serm. 40. 
 
 To clear it a little, There are Four things, in 
 and about this Sacrifice, to make out this, and 
 to prove, That a Sinner, that makes ufe of this 
 Sacrifice, mayexpeft thePardon of Sin, and Peace 
 with G-d. The 1. is the excellency of his offe- 
 ring. He offered himfelf, As it is, Heb. 7. 27, and 
 Hebi ic. 10, 12, 14, The offering up of himfelf, 
 and of his Bleffed Body on the Tree, was ano* 
 ther fort of Sacrifice than allthefe Bulls, Rams, 
 and Goats, ottered under the Law, that were but 
 Types of him. The a.Isthe excellency of the 
 Perfon, that offered up this Off-ting which is in 
 effect the excdkn.y^of the Prieft- As the Sacri- 
 fice was excellent beyond all other Sacrifices, fo 
 alfo is rhe Prieft above all other Priefts, Heb. 7. 
 16. Such an high Prieft became w, who is holy, karv:- 
 tefs, undefiled, feparate from ftnners : A Prieft,who 
 is the Son, and is Cct over the houfe, as the heir; 
 and though the Humane Nacure was the Sacri- 
 fice, yet ( as was faid before) nor as abft^fted 
 from the Divine Nature, the Pction being but 
 One, and fo the Prieft offering commends tha 
 Sacrifice offered, and makes, that it cannot but' 
 be accepted. The %d. is, His willing conde- 
 scending to be theSinoffering,to interpofe him- 
 felf, and to become, this Sacrifice, outofrefprci 
 to the h-moufof God, that his Juftice might be 
 vindicated and fatisfied : And that thereby ac« 
 csfs might be made, for (hewing Mercy to the 
 Heirs ofSaivation; which exceedingly commends 
 this Sacrifice ; according to that of John io. 17. 
 Therefore doth my Father love me, becaufe I lay down 
 my life, that I might take it again, No man takethrny 
 life from me, but I lay it down of my ftlf, and take it 
 again \ I: commends his Sacrifice, that he was 
 not coiftrained to it, but did it moil willingly, 
 and with delight: It's true, if we look to Him, 
 ns the eternal Son of God, and the fecond Per- 
 fon of the Bleffed Trinity, He could nor but be 
 loved of the Father, as well before his Incarna- 
 tion, as affeT ; but that he fays, Thertfore doth 
 my Father love me, It is to be underftood, on ac« 
 count of his voluntary condescending, as Me- 
 diator, to do His Fathers will ; and out of Re- 
 fpe£t to His Honour ingaging, and according to 
 His ingagement, fatisfying his Juftice for the 
 Elett ; And this cannot but commend his Offe- 
 ring, That fuch a glorious Perfon, who was ho- 
 ly, Harmlefs, and undefileJ, fhould out of ten- 
 dernefs to the honour of God, and that the 
 wrong done to it by Sinners might be repaired; 
 and out of love to the Eleft, fhould condefcend 
 to ftoopfo low, as to make himfelf a Sin'Offe- 
 ring: This regard for the honour of God, and 
 willing condeicendency to fuffer for the Re- 
 pairing of ic, is abundantly valuable and 
 
 i though 
 
Jerm. 40. ifnUh ST 3 - 
 
 ( though it be a great word ) above the difrefpeft 
 thit Tinners evidenced to the honour of God, by 
 their finning; The 4^ is the Covenant, which 
 is the ground of chis Offering, and thu whereby 
 it is regulated, and the Terms of i*: Ic was not 
 an undertaking, as a price of Will-worfhlp, but 
 according to the Jeliberate Counfel, and Fore 
 knowledge of God; wherein it was determined, 
 tha'th-Son Ihould I ecome Cautioner, and be 
 mane lable for the debt of the Ele£t, and be an 
 Off-rin. for their fins, by which Freedom from 
 fin and Wrath fhould accrefce to Elect ilnners ; 
 and all this being concludedjn the Covenant of 
 Redemption. His Offering could not but be ac- 
 cepted for us : The Lord having condefcended 
 on the Articles of that Covenant for this very 
 end 
 
 This Doftrinc is of mighty great and notable 
 concernment to finders, and were there any fuch 
 Wakening and Roufing amongft us, that fouls 
 were put to fay, a;^d cry, What jball we do to be 
 faved} The opening up of this, truth, to wit, 
 That Chrift is a Sin offering for finners, and that 
 by his Offering the Atonement is made, would 
 be much more accceprable and refrefhful ; And 
 therefore let this be the firft Ufe, That though 
 there be nothing imaginable, that can be brought 
 before God, which will be acceptable to Him, 
 as a fatisfa&ion to his Juftice ; yet here there 
 is a Ranfom found by the offering whereof to 
 God, a Soul that is lying under challenges for 
 fin, and apprehenflons of Wrath may expeft ab- 
 folution ; This is in effect, that which Uihu 
 fays, 'job 33. If there be an interpreter, one of a thou* 
 fand to jhero unto man kit righteoufnefs, then he isgra- 
 cions mto him, and faith, deliver him from going down 
 t$ the pit y I have found a ranfom; here is the Ran- 
 fom, our Lord Jefus Chrift ftepping in in fin- 
 ners room, and offering Himfelf up a Sacrifice 
 tofatisfie rhc Juftice of God ; fo that a (inner in 
 making ufe of that*, may come to be in good 
 terms with God ; and are not thefe glad Tidings 
 of ^reat Joy, that an offering is provided, a Ran- 
 fom paved, and a way found* our, how finners 
 liable ro the Curfe, may expect Freedom; It's 
 •no fmall matter, that God hath given this fub- 
 jeft to us to fpeak of, and ro you to hear of; that 
 the Torturing Anxiety oft Toul driven almoft to 
 defpair, may have this for an anfwer ; even the 
 blood ofjefus, that blood of fpr inkling th.it purges 
 the cmfcitnce from dead -works: which as it fatisfles 
 Juftice, fo it quiets the Confcience of the finner, 
 that flies unto it, and makes right ufe cf it ; it 
 woulJ become finners well, to think more of 
 thefe glad Tidirgs, and to ftudy to have them 
 always Frcfh: There arc many parts of the 
 
 Verf. 10. 1 19 
 
 World, wherein Men are Sacrificing Beafts, 
 forr.e Lambs, fome Rams, feme other Bc-aftc ; 
 and fome it may be, the Fi? ft- born of their 
 Bodies, for the Sin of their Souls ; (and 
 which is lamentable, Sacrificing thefe things 
 to the Devil, on the matter at le2if, and 
 not to Grd)and yet all that does not their turn*, 
 And not having heard of th ; s Offering, they 
 cannot make ufe of it, neither can their Confci- 
 ence ever be quiet: But our Lord. Jefus hath 
 fent thefe bldfed News to us, and hath mewed. 
 us what is the Sin-offering, the Atonement,and 
 Propitiatory Sacrifice ; We need net fend our 
 Children through the fire, ncr bring any other 
 Offering to God, to appeafe His Wrath ; He 
 hath given us His Son, tsd hath accepted Him 
 for a Sin-offering, and hath told us, that this 
 fhall be as fufficieot and fatisfying, as if we had 
 made the fatisfa&ion our felves ; here, Olhere 
 is the wonder, even a wonder of wonders. 
 
 Ufe 2. See here the way how we come to Life 
 by Chrift ; It's imported in this Doctrine to be 
 by Chrift's being made an Offering for us ; It's 
 not our Praying to Him as God, nor by ourHo- 
 ly Living, nor by His working Holinefs in us; 
 ( though thefe ought, and will be in fome mea- 
 sure, where He is made ufe of aright, ) but by 
 HisOffering up Himfelf in a Sacrifice for us, and 
 by Gods imputing it to us" and confidering that 
 Chrift jefus is the Offering in our Room, and 
 that thereby God is pacified, and Sin and Wrath 
 removed, there can no other way be conceived, 
 how we are made partakers of it, but by Impu- 
 tation: This will be the more clear, if we con- 
 fiderthat the fame way, that our Sins became 
 Chrift's, the fame way His Righteoufnefs be- 
 comes curs; or the fame way that Juftice h:'J 
 Claim to Him for our Debt, the fame way lay 
 we Claim to His Righteoufnefs -. Now it is 
 Blafphemous to think, that our Sin became His 
 any other way, but that Legally he entring 
 Himfelf as our Cautioner, our Sin was reckon- 
 ed on His Score ; even fo His Righteoufnefs be- 
 comes ours, by being imputed to us : So the 
 ApoftJe fays, 2 C r r. 5. uh. H- was made fin for us, 
 who knew no fin, that we might t. ::o::(- 
 
 nefs-of God in bint, and have His Righreoufncft 
 derived ro us : It were gocd rhat we would 
 learn how to win to this R'ghteoufnefs, tven 
 by prefenting Him tojuflicc, as Cautioner for 
 our Debt \ and by taking hold ofHis Righteouf- 
 nefs to ground our pLa upon, when v o me 
 to reckon with Gcd for our Sins; And we rhirik 
 that there is here a clear ground, for refuting 
 of that way ofjuftification by any thing inherent 
 
 in 
 

 ??o If.tiah. 53 
 
 in our fclves : For if ir be by His Offering, that 
 we are Juftified, then it is by nothing in our 
 Je'ves. Now tliis Name that (Thrift's Sufferings 
 g>', bens our, that it's that which fatisfiesGod, 
 and abfolves us, as the alone Meritorious and 
 Procuring Caufe ; and therefore there is no o* 
 thcr thing, that we can derive our Juftificati* 
 on from, but His ftightecuTnefs only. 
 
 Uft 3 Semg by.Ch;ift's Offering there is a 
 Ranlbm and Atonement to be had, and leing it 
 is offered i i the Gofpel, we pray you, in the 
 name of the Lord,take hold of and Improve this 
 Offering ; let every Body that hears tell that 
 Chrift is the Si'woJfIr/%, endeavour to get him 
 to be their Sin-offering ; There are none that 
 know, and find that t*ey have Sinned, but they 
 would think of an amends ; and here it is, and 
 there is ground to exhort you to make ufe of it, 
 and to encourage you to it, becaufe this is the 
 very End of His Suffering, and He is fully fur- 
 niihed compleatly to accomplifh itjlf there were 
 no accefs to Life by this Offering, He would 
 not be called a Sin-offering, in oppofition to all o. 
 ther Offerings ; There is ground therefore to 
 declate this to you, that by Chrift Jefus, Life 
 and Reconciliation is attainable, and that it is 
 actually attained by accepting of this Offdring: 
 Such as accept of it, and reft upon it, mall find 
 Acceptation with God, and Freedom from Sin 
 and Wrath, by vertue ther-of ; It's a common 
 Queftion, What (hall we do?wedoall wedow, 
 or may ; but if we were ftudying a Jong time 
 to tell you, this is if, even to make ufe of 
 thrift's Offering, This, and this only will do 
 your turn compleatly, and no other thing will 
 doit. 
 
 The 4.tb ufe, Is of ftrong confolarion to all 
 who betake themfelves to Chrift, He is the Sin- 
 offcring.tlnt procures the taking away of Sin and 
 Wrath, and that procures Friend/hip withGod; 
 and there is no imputation of fin, nor condemna- 
 tion to them who are in him, Rom- 8. i. And hence 
 is that triumph v. 34. who foall lay any thing to 
 the charge of Gods elect ? It is God that Juftifieth, 
 who is he that will condemn rlt is Chrijl that died.ycd 
 rtthtr that is rifen ag*in % &c. If Juftice were com- 
 jng to execute the Sentence, what can it fay 
 to the Believer ? Jefus Chrift hath ftepped in be- 
 twixt Wrath and Him ; and as to Gods accep- 
 tation, He alone is counted the Sin*offenng ; and 
 as thefe who under the Law offered the Typi- 
 cal Sacrifices, had accefs to the Ordinances,and 
 werefar.ttiried,as ro the purifying of theFlefb;fo 
 much more is this Offering able to purifie the 
 Conscience, and to purge it from dead works, 
 
 V * r U 10. ; Serfn.40. 
 
 and to give a fair accefs to the Promifes of Life, 
 and to theFavour of God, to all them who make 
 ufe of it, as if they had never finned. I know 
 much of the weight of this Confolation will ly 
 on this whether Chiift's Offering be .made ufe 
 of? And fome will fay ; How (hall we make I 
 ufe of Chrift's Offering ? And orhers will ask, 
 how (hall w<i know, if we have made ri^htufe I 
 of it ? And would ro God, that Souls were bea- I 
 ten off from their Pride and fecurity, and 
 brought under the conviction ofanectflity of*] 
 ufe*makmg of Chrift,He would difcovcr both co 
 them : But before we anfwer the<^ueftion,there 
 are two" things we would prcfuppofe. 1. We 
 prefuppofe that the Soul is made ienfible ofit's 
 need ol Chrift's Sacrifice, from the apprehenfion 
 it hath of a Quarrel betwixt God and it r and 
 from the fear of his Wrath becaufe of Sin ; 
 elfe the asking of fuch a Queftion is to no pur* 
 pofe ; For as we hinted before, the Offering of 
 a Sacrifice implyesthe Confeflion of Guilt, fo 
 the making ufe of Chrift's Sacrifice prefuppofes 
 fenfeofSin; Ere a Soul can make ufe of His 
 Offering, itmi'ft know, it's due was utter Con- 
 fumption- 2 We prefuppofe. That the Soul 
 is defirous to be at God, and ro have peace with 
 Him, to which End Chrift is the Midfe; and 
 there will be no refpeft had to the Midfe, except 
 there be a Tcfpeft had to the End, as it is, Heb. 
 11. 6. He that comes to God, muft believe that 
 he is, and that he is a rewarder ofthem thatfeek 
 him diligently i where there is implyed in the 
 Comer, a defircto v beat God, and an expecta- 
 tion of fome Benefite, to be had from Him, or 
 as the Word is, Heb. 7. 27. He is able to fave to the 
 uttermoft, all that come to God by him; Which 
 implyes the Sinners being fenfible of his loft con- 
 dition, his defire to be at Godjand then Chrift's 
 Offering comes in, as the Midfe,to bring about, 
 and to come by that End. But thefe being ptc- 
 fuppofed, The great thing wherein the Anfwer 
 of the Queftion lyes,H,w to make ufe of Chrifts 
 Offering for the attaining of that End, of Pardon 
 of Sin, and Peace with God, fecms to be holden 
 out in that word, Heb. 7. 2j. He is able tof*ve to 
 theuttermoji, th:m that come un'.o God by him ; And 
 therein we may confider Sinners defire to be at 
 God, and the ufe-making of Chrift, in reference 
 to that £nd in thefe three. 1 .To have the Breach 
 made up with God, in refpeft of their State. 
 2. For quieting the Confcience, in refpeft of 
 Particular Challenges. 3. For the making up of 
 their defefts in Grace, as well as for the remov- 
 ing of Sin And as ufe-making of Chrift in thefe 
 Thice, points out the way of a Sinners coming 
 
 to 
 
ISerm. 40. , , J l atab *3< 
 
 'to Chrift, i So a Sinners going on in this way, c- 
 videnceth his right life- making of Him ; which 
 will ferve to Anfwer both theQueftions.to wit, 
 how to make ufe of Chrift's Offering ? and how 
 to know that we are making ufe of it aright? 
 
 For the F/'r/J, to wir,4.-£oing to God by Chrift. 
 1. h is oppofed to ftepping in to God, at the 
 firfl hand- a. It is oppofed to the ufe-making 
 of any other thing in our coming to God, for 
 making up the Breach. 3. ItimplystheSinners 
 betaking of himfelfto Chrift, as the toid-man t 
 by whom he expetts to come toFriendfhip with 
 God ; There, are fome Scriptural Similitudes, 
 whereof, if we could rightly conceive, and ap- 
 ply them to this Purpofe,rhey might ferve much 
 to clear it : There is a Diffance, which, 1 ke a 
 Gulf is fixed betwixt God and man, a Soul then 
 comes to God by Chrift, as one goes over aGulf 
 byaBridge; Hinted at by the Apoftle, Heh. \o, 
 19, 20. Having therefore boldnefs to enter into 
 the holieft, by the blood of Jefus, by a new and 
 [iliving way which he hath confecrated to us 
 jthiough the vail, which is his flefb ; We take 
 the force of the Similitude to ly in this, That as 
 one that hath a Vail betwixt him and another, 
 whom he defires to approach to,muft go through 
 the Vail ere he win to that other;So here Chrifts 
 flefh being the Vail, He by His Death hath rent 
 lit, that Sinners might ftep through that Rent, 
 or Breach to God * That is, when all was be- 
 fore fhut up, and clofs betwixt God andSinners, 
 Chrift was content, that aRentfhould be made 
 in His Body, through which they might come 
 to God ; Coming to God by Chrift in this 
 Senfe, is to walk, as it were, on Chrift's Suf- 
 ferings as a Bridge, and to have no other Place, 
 or .Ground to ftand, or Walk on to God, but 
 [this: Again, John 10. Chrift calls Himfelf the 
 Door, I am the door, and John J 4. To the fame pur- 
 pofe, He is called the »j> : To tell us, That as 
 none can come in to a Houfe, but by the Door, 
 nor can come to the end of their journey, but by 
 the way that leads to it ; So Heaven being fliut 
 up, and clofed upon Sinners, any that would 
 have entry into it, muft betake themfelves to 
 Chrift by Faith ; For by Faith in Him, the 
 Eoor is opened, and the Way paved to Hea- 
 ven ; It is a good token, when the way toHea- 
 ven looks on the Sinner, as a hard Wall,orlike 
 a finking Mofs or Boge ; and Faith in Chrift 
 gives him fome little hold, whereby he wins 
 over the Wall, and leads him to fome little HiU 
 Jocks, or hard Bits, or Spots of Ground, where- 
 by he fteps thorow the Mofs, or Boge to Chrift; 
 Of»when the Sinner lays his Reckoning to make 
 
 Vtrf. 10. f }t 
 
 ufe of Chrift's Satisfaction, for payment of his 
 Debt : So that if he were to appear at the Bar 
 of Juftice, his anfwer would net be ; that if he 
 'had dene a Fault, he had made, or would make 
 a Mends ; nor that he Prayed, and Repented, 
 and fought Mercy : but this, that he took with 
 hi*' Guile, and made ufe of Chrift's Sacrifice ; 
 So raid i peaking, when renewed, in oppofttiori 
 to what lie was, while a Pkarifee, fayj t Pbdtp. 
 3. That he counts all things to be but loft and dung, 
 for the excellency of the knowledge of Chrift, that fa 
 may Ire found in him, not having bu oxonr ghteoufnefs, 
 •which is according to the law, but that vo/.ich is through 
 the faith of Qhrisl . When h£, even he thinks oil 
 the Zhy of Judgment, and where he will-hide 
 himfelf in that Day, when it mall be asked, (and 
 every other fhall be asked the Queftion) Where 
 art thou? his Defire, and Rcfolution is, to give 
 this Anfwer ; I am in Chrift, Lord, I have no- 
 Righteoufnefs of my own to lippen, or to trufc 
 to ; I "ill nevermake mention of my painful- 
 nefs in my Miniftry, of the tendernefs of my 
 Walk, nor of any thing elfe of that kind ; but 
 I will betake myjj/elf to Chrift's Righteoufnefs, 
 and will fay, Lord, here is much Debt on my 
 Score, but there is a Righteoufnefs to which I 
 am fled by Faith, and on this I will ground all 
 my Anfwers : This Righteoufnefs is in Chrift, 
 as the purchafer thereof, and it is ours b) Fairh, 
 when we betake our fclves to it, to make it the 
 ground of cur Claim ; even as if a number of 
 men were purfued for debt before a Judge, andt 
 one mould come in, and fay, I have payed fo 
 much ; and another fliould fay, give me down 
 a parr, and I will pay the reft ; And a third 
 fhould fay give me a day and time, and I will 
 fatisfie h And a fourth poor body mould come 
 in, and fay, I have indeed nothing my fe!f to 
 pay my Debt with, bur I betake my (elf to the 
 refponfal Cautioner,who hath payed all for fuch 
 as betake themfelves to Him . This is Faith's 
 Anfwering, and Arguing, It will never fhift the 
 Debt, nor yet admit of the final Sentence of 
 Condemnation, though readily acknowledged 
 to be deferved:But it interpofes Chrift's Satis- 
 faction, as that which will be acceptable, though 
 the Sinner can do nothing of himfelf; in a 
 word, this way of pleading is upon the one fide. 
 an utter denying of the mans fclf ; And of all 
 that is, or can be in him, for attaining of Righ- 
 teoufnefs ; and upon the other fide a credit*, 
 ing of himfelf to Chrift, for the attaining of that 
 which he hath not in himfelf; Irs not only 
 Faith ( ific werepofliblcto fcparat iheft two ) 
 
 to 
 
11 J ifaisb 5 3 j 
 
 to deny our own Righteoufnefs, but by the ex 
 crcife of ir, there muft be a ftepping over on 
 Chrift, and on His Righteoufnefs unto God. 
 
 The 2^- thing wherein the exercife of Faith, 
 in the ufe making of ChrifVs Sacrifice confifts ; 
 is, in reference to particular challenges ; For 
 even when a Soul hath fled to Chrift, and made 
 life of His Sacrifice for pardon of Sin, and for 
 peace with God, it'will not be free from chal- 
 lenges, and from newaccompts ; and therefore 
 the exercife of Faith is to be continued in the 
 ufe making cf this Offering, in reference tothefe 
 particulars, as well as in reference to the mak- 
 ing of our pcice with God at firft ; in which 
 relpea, Faith is called a Skield f Epb. 6.i6\When 
 hew guilt is contrafted, and drawn on, and 
 then Tentation fays to the Believer, is this the 
 Goodnefs of your Puipofes, and Resolutions, 
 ■which have been like Flax before the Fire ? 
 No (boner was thou Effayed, and Aflaulted, 
 but thou didft greatly fubcumb, and waft much 
 foiled, and prevailed over : The Soul runs to 
 the fame Targe, Buckler, or Shield ; and though 
 every one of thefc challenges belike a fiery Dart 
 that would fet the Confcienceon a flame ; yet 
 by Faith the Dart is kept off, or the Venom of 
 it fuckt fo out, that ir burns nor, and it makes 
 the Soul to fay, though I cannot fatisfie for the 
 Debt, yet there is in ChrifVs Righteoufnefs, 
 whereto I betake my felf, which candoitjAnd 
 if we look to that, which intertains tormenting 
 exercifes, that fpeak evil of the Grace of God 
 ( for humbling exercifes are called for, and are 
 profitable,) we will find it to be this ; to wit, 
 When Souls come to difpute, and debate with 
 Challenges, and do not interpofe the Targe or 
 Shield of Faith, taking hold of ChrifVs Righte- 
 oufnefs betwixt them and thefe challenges ; for 
 ibmetimes a Soul will betake it felf to ChrifVs. 
 Righteoufnefs for peace at firft, and will look u- 
 pon it felf. as bound to keep, and maintain it's 
 own I'eace ; and will, on the matter,think that 
 it'sbut a fort of baffling,or prophaningofChrifts 
 Righteoufnefs, ( to fay fo ) to be nuking d?y- 
 ly ufe of ir, for anfwering of new Challenges $ 
 And fuch will be ready to fay , mould not a 
 Believer be holy ? and we fay, that he mould, 
 and that it were to abufc the Spiritual Armour, 
 to take one piece of it, and not another,yea,nor 
 all the reft ; but this we fiy Lkewife that when 
 one makes ufe ofthejwordofthe Spirit, h- may 
 warrantably make ufe of the Shield of faith alfo ; 
 Faillmg in this, that is, when ChrifVs Righte- 
 oufnefs is not made ufe of, inre'erence topar* 
 ticulat challenges, mightily indifpofech many 
 
 V**i* f ° Serm. 40J 
 
 fenous poor fouls, for ufe-nuking of the reft of 
 the Weapons of their Spiritual Warfare ; And 
 therefor©, as ye would exercifcFaith in general, 
 for reconciling you to God, as to your ftate,fo 
 ye would exercife faith on thrift's offering for 
 doing away of particular Quarrels ; and forfil 
 lencing of particular Challenges, which is to be 
 dayly warning at the Fountain. In ftiorr, as 
 to the other Queftion, This may be a mark of 
 a perfon, that is making right ufe of Chnft's 
 Offering for his peace, if he be dayly making 
 ufe of ChrifVs Offering for his peace, if he be 
 dayly making ufe of His Offering, for quench- 
 ing and filencing of particular Challenges. 
 
 The id. Thing, wherein this exercife ofFaith 
 in the ufe-making of ChrifVs Sacrifice confifts, 
 is, in reference to the defects of our Grace ; 
 we have indeed much need of Chrift, and He 
 hath much forthcoming in Him, for the help- 
 ing of Grace, for the amending of weak Faith, 
 and Love, and other Graces, as well as for ob- 
 taining pardon of Sin, and of peace with God, 
 and for anfwering of Challenges; Ar.d yet oft- 
 times, thefe who are making ufe of Chrift in 
 the former two refpefts, are in hazard,and rea- 
 dy to think, that th?y ihould believe more> 
 Jove more and exercife other Graces more, 
 of themfelves, but we are to make ufe of 
 Flim, for helping dcfe&s cf Grace, as well as 
 for rhefe other things : By this, I mean nor on- 
 ly the ufe making of Chrift meritoiioully : and 
 fo that we fliould look on Faith, Love, Repent* 
 ance, and every other Grace, as purchafed by 
 Him, as well as peace with God ; and that we 
 fliould make ufe of Chrift s Off rij.g, for attaina 
 ing of thefe ; But I alfo mean, that we fliould 
 make ufe of Chrift, as a Pr.eft, to make His own 
 Offering effectual, for attaining all the benefits 
 of His Purchafe ; Confidering, That he is able 
 to faveto theuttermoft, all thefe that come unto 
 God by him: The Apoftle goeth on this ground 
 Heb. 1 0.1 9,20. Seing we kavtfuch an High- Pn elf, and 
 and fuch an Offering Let us draw near with full 
 tjjurance of faith, &c. And if ye ask, what 
 this is ? It is of largely extended ufe ; If is e- 
 ven to make ufe of Chrift, as a Prieft, not only 
 as the objeft ofFaith, and as the procurer 
 and worker ofFaith, but alfo for the confirm- 
 ing of weak Faith ; It's a looking to Him,toget 
 the weak Faith, that we dare fcarcely lippen to, 
 made ftrong, and a lippening, or trufting ofour 
 weak Faith to Him, to carry us through, when 
 we dare not well lean to it ; In the firft re% 
 fpeft we do by Faith lippen, and truft toChrift's 
 
 Rjghte- 
 
ISerm. 40. f . f r f ¥ J { aiah '*■ 
 
 Righteoufnefs; in this laft refpect, we lippen. 
 or truft our Faith to Him ; and look to Hm* 
 not only for Pardon, but we lippen to Him for 
 I miking Fairh, to keep it's grips oi Him ; and 
 as it was with that poor man fpoken of, Mark 9. 
 Who, upon the one fide, betakes himfelf to 
 . Chrift, if thou canft do any thing, have companion on 
 us, end help us: And on the other fide, being ho- 
 lily impatient, finding his Faith like to fail and 
 mifgive„ w hen Chrift fayes to him, If thou canst 
 bflieve, all things are fojjible to htm that believes-, he 
 cryes out. in that his holy impatiencie , Lord 1 
 ' Believe, help thou my unbelief: he acknowledges 
 his unbelief, as well as his Faith; and trufls 
 Chrift with the mending of his Faith, and hold- 
 ing together the fheards of it(fo to fpeak ) when 
 it was like to crack, and fall afunder; our doing 
 thus, evidenccth a more full denying of our 
 felves, when we dare not truftour own believ- 
 ing, but as it is committed to Chrift, and when 
 there is a Crediting of him,and Leaning to him, 
 both for the benefit we expeft, and for the Ap- 
 plication of it* That word of the Apoftle, Phil. 
 3.12. Is appofire, ?nd excellent to this purpofe, 
 That I may apprehend that for which I cm apprehmdid 
 oj Chrift Jefus. As is a.lfo that of Pet. j Epift. 
 n Chap v. 10. IVho are kecped through faith by the 
 < power of God. So then inanfwer to botji the Que- 
 ftions. 1. How to make ufcof Chrift's Sacrifice? 
 j And 2. How to know, if we have made, or do 
 : make ufeofit aright? We fay in fhort, as to 
 the Firfi , That there mutt fi-ft bs a leaning to His 
 merit,for the buying, or procuring of oui Peace, 
 and betaking of our felves to it for that end. 1. 
 When Tentation > recur, and when new ChaW 
 Jenges arife, there mutt be a conftant dayly be» 
 taking of our felves to Faith, in his Sacrifice, as 
 to a Shield, or as to a Store honfe ; whi h He 
 Himfelf calleth an abiding it. him John «f. 3. There 
 mu't be an ufe-making of Chrift as a Piicft.not 
 
 Verf. 10. ^ 22; 
 
 onfy to remove dayly contracted Guiltinefs 
 alfo to heal the infirmity and weaknefs of cur 
 Graces, efpecially of Faith and Love , giving 
 Him credit to bring cur Faith and Love to per- 
 fection; It is a fweet Word which we have, Pfal. 
 103. He healeth all thy difeafss. As to the 2*'.Que- 
 ftion. wefay, that Perfon may look on him- 
 felf, as making right ufc of Chrifts Righteouf- 
 nefs, that i*, dayly making ufe of Him ; in thefe 
 fore- named refpe&s, who, if he were to appear 
 before God, it is ChriiVs Righteoufnefs only that 
 he would build on» He is alfo dayly making 
 ufc of Him, to anfwer Challenges as they recur, 
 and dare not lippen to his own Faith, but as it 
 is committed to Him: confidering, that as Faith 
 is in himfelf, it is dayly in hazard to be extin- 
 guiihed ; and we may add* that he fo makes ufe 
 of Chrift, as that he dare not go to God without 
 Him; as the word is, H*b. 7.25. Them that corns 
 to Gad by him, he comes unto God by Chrift, in 
 Prayer, in praifes, and in every other Duty of 
 worlhip: The Apoftle to this purpofe, fayes* 
 Htb. 13. 1 c. By him therefor e t lei us offer the facrifice 
 ofpraife to God. The believing foul is never 
 right till its alibi put in his hand: Though all 
 thefe be notdiftinc"t,and explicit in the petions 
 ufe-making of Chrift's Sacrifice; yet he expe&s 
 that the application of the benefits which Chrift 
 hath purchafed to him, (hall be made forth- 
 comingto him, by vertue of that fame purchafei 
 and that he who is the Author, will alfo be the 
 fim'Jhtr of his fabS • The fum and up-lhot of all, 
 is, to fhew that as we have much gooJ, by and 
 in Chrift, if we could make ufe of it; So lie cal- 
 leth us to be cheerful], and comforted in tfce 
 ufe m?king of it, and not to rmniih our own 
 t consolation, when he hath condefcended graci- 
 ouily thus to extend, and inlarge it, with fo rich- 
 ly liberal and bountiful a hand. 
 
 S E K M O N XLI. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII X. 
 
 — He f)*U fee his feed, He jlall prolong hit 4*y t Andtbtfhafun of the Urd . 
 
 Vetf. 10 
 
 in his hand, 
 
 IT may be thougju, anJ that veiy juft'y, 
 that there muft he fome greas and glorious 
 Dcfign driven in the coritrJva ice of the 
 Woik of Redemption , tint was executed 
 by fuch a mean, as the Suffering of the Son of 
 God; And that there muft be f; me noble and 
 notable thing following pn it, that moved the 
 Father to fend his Son, and the Son to come for 
 this Woik. Ti'.is part of the Text anfwers, and 
 
 tel'sus, what is the Defign, Hi'fl 
 hi jh-ill pro!:;;g his dayn , &c. He (hall communi- 
 cat Life to many that were Dead, and ihjll be* 
 get a Generation, that fli^l have Life derived 
 horn Him, asaSeed have from their Parems : 
 And fo this is a third Anfwer, for removing ef 
 that (tumbling Objection, propoied in t: 
 ginning ofthe Verfc : to wit, How itc'arneto 
 pafs, that the Innocent Son ofGoJ, wit hsd 
 G g 
 
2«4~ jfaiah S3- V tY y »£ 
 
 <W m /btolence, and who bad m guile in his mouk, Lord came to death, and to 
 was put tofuch Sufferings? We ihcw thar there 
 were three grounds laid down, in anfwer to this, 
 It ple.ifed the Lord te fauije him, I: was clie I 
 
 I. It p!e.ijcd the Lord to pr^ije torn, 1 - was cue ra 
 triors good plealuie. The *d. Is, ficm the na- 
 ture of h»s Surfings, which were to be a SfWr 
 offering, or an offering fir fin t nor for His own, 
 bur for the Sim >f the Elccl. The yd. Is, That 
 His Sufferings ihould have notable Frtiits and 
 Effects following them, fee down in three ex- 
 preflions, which are partly Prophefies; telling 
 whadhould be theEffe&s of theSufferirgsof the 
 Mediator, partly Promifes made to the Medi- 
 ator, tilling what mould bs His reward and 
 hyre ( to fpeak lo ) for hit SufFcrirgs. <i. He 
 fhatt fee his feed, that is, many (hall get good of 
 His Sufferings; a. Hi [hall prolong his days; That 
 is, He (hall out- live thefe His Troubles and fuf» 
 ferings, and fhall have a glorious Out-gate and 
 Reign. 3. The pleafure of she Lord jhill profp-.r in 
 his band, That is, The Work that was given him 
 ro do, and to finifh, mail thrive well, and no 
 part of it fhall fail, or mifcarry- In the firft 
 Promife made to Him, or in the fir ft Effecl that 
 mould follow on His Sufferings, in thefe words, 
 He ; W/> his feed j We have thefe Three. 1 . A 
 relation implyed betwixt Chrift and Believers; 
 They are Wsfeed, fucli as in the next verfeare 
 faid to be j'tfiified by him; It is in fhort, many 
 fhall get pardon of Sin, and Juft.'fication by His 
 Death; in rhis refpeel it's faid, Pfal- 45. penult 
 verfe. In Head of thy fathers, [hall be thy children, 
 whom ikon raajeft make princes in all the earth, 2* A 
 Prophefie, and foretelling of the event, that 
 Ihould fellow Chrift's Sufferings, and fo it holds 
 out this, That our Lord Jefus mould not only 
 have a Seed, but a numerous Seed, that mould . tual being, defcend from Him; and hold their 
 
 5erm. 4!.'' 
 he grave, yet He* 
 lhould not only luve a numerous Seed , and 
 nuny Children, but He fhculd live and fee tl.e.n; 
 and tjitf not only for three, or four, or ten Ge- 
 nerations: but forvery many Generations And 
 his d>ing mould neither mar his begetting, nOr* 
 the feeing of thcml And this feeing of kit fad 
 isoppofed tofuch Parents as are deed; and who,' 
 though their Childien,andPufterity be in want' 
 yet they know it not. From the Ftrft of theft' 
 Objerve, That Believers are our Lord Jefus His 
 Seed, tiny are. come of Him; whatever their 
 meannefs and lownefs be in theWoild r and 
 though they could not claim kindred to any of 
 externally honefl Rank, or Quality, yet they are 
 His Seed : To this purpofe the Apoftle befpeaks 
 the believing Corinthians, 1 dr. 1. 27, 2S. Ufe* 
 your calling; brethren how that not many mighty ^ot' 
 many wife mm, after the fiefh, not many noble are caU 
 hdybut God hath chofen the foolijb things of this world, 
 to confound thewije, &C. that no fiejh Should ghrie in 
 his prefence 1 Though ye be not of any high Rank 
 or Quality in the World,yet of him ar e yeinChrifi 
 Jefus, who of God is niade to us, wifdom, rigbteoufnefs, 
 fanftifieation, and redemption : bit his refpett Chrift 
 is called the everlattwg father, I\a. 9. 6. For he 
 is the Father of all Believers, that ever had, or 
 mail have Life; who are, Pfal, 45; penult \tife 
 called his Children. 
 
 To clear this a little, ye fhall take it in thefe 
 four or five refpe&s, or confideratirns, in which 
 Believers are faid to be Chrijl's Seed,or to be dc- 
 fcend*d of Him. I. In this refpec>, that as Be- 
 lievers, they have their being of Him, as Chil- 
 dren defcended from off their Parents,asto their 
 natural being; So Believers, as they haveSpiri- 
 
 be made furc to him; and it feems to be in al 
 lu.lcrnto that which is fpoksn of Abraham, and 
 of others in the Old Tcftament, of whom it's 
 faid, they mould have Seed; that is, That many 
 mould defcend of them, but there is more here; 
 For, whereas Oibers, while they are Living, or 
 in their Lifetime beget a Seed, which beget- 
 ting is interrupted by Di3thj the Death of our 
 Lord Jefus begets His Sied, or His Seed are be- 
 gotten by His Death. 3. Confidering the Words 
 as a Promise, they hold out this, Thar though 
 our Lord Jefus fuffer,and di?, yet He fhall not 
 only have a Seed, but he fhall fee his Seed, -He 
 IhilJ Out-live His Sufferings and Death, and 
 fhall be delighted in feeing of them, who fhall 
 get the go-d of His Sufferings", As it's faid of 
 .Job, that he Jaw his tbildrCfo\ or feed of the third and 
 fourth generation; Tint is, he lived long, andfaw 
 many that came, of him; even fo though our 
 
 being of Him, without whom they had never 
 been Believers : And in this refpeft they zxehis 
 Seed. 1. Becaufe He meritorieufiy purchafed Life 
 to them; which is the thing here mainly un*..* 
 derrtood, as following immediatly upon the 
 back cf his Sufferings. 2. Becaufe they have life 
 from Him, efficiently, as he woiks it in them, 
 and by theGolpe] brgets them; therefore lie is 
 faid, 1 Tim. i . 10 To have brought lijeani ;>- 
 tahty to light by the gjfpfl, which was net known 
 in many parts of the World till Chrift brought 
 it forth; in this refpecl, Believers are Chris's 
 Seed; we are not Believers born of our Parents 
 nor have the Faith which we have, of the Or* 
 dinances, nor of Minifters, as efficient caufes 
 thereof; But it is from our Lord Jefus, who 
 is Believers Father. Thus Believers have an 
 affinity, and riear Relation to Chrift, even to 
 
 be 
 
Ifaiab $\. Pcrf. 10j 2:? 
 
 And that they would lay fayes, that Parents provide for their Children; 
 
 it's indeed eminently fo here, Believers come 
 
 Jerm. 4.1. 
 be His Children : 
 
 Claim ro Faith, or Spiritual Lite, would fee 
 well, that it be this way kindly, ( and as weufe 
 to dy ) leill come, from Jefus Chrift, and that 
 they be in his Debt, and common for it. aVy. 
 They are His Seed, in refpeel of the likenefs that 
 is betwixt him and them, or in fefpett of the 
 qualifications- that arc in them ; as they are faid, 
 2 Pet. r. 4, By the exeeeditig great and precious pro* 
 mifer, to be made partakers of the divine nature\Thcy 
 have of the fame Spirit, for the kind that he, as 
 Mediator, hath in him, And it is in this refpect, 
 that Can. 7. i. The Believer is called the Princefs 
 daughter, which efpecially looksto thefpiritual, 
 generous, and noble qualifications, that are de- 
 ryved from ChrilT, to the Believer; Hence Be- 
 lievers are faid to have the Spirit of Sons, when 
 all ethers, though rhey be the greateft in t. H e 
 World, b^ve but the Sp'rit of fervants, and their 
 generofity is nothing to tha*ofBelievers,whoare 
 m-ulr partakers of the divine nature; We have not, 
 ■ fives the Apdtyk, received the fpfrit of fear, but 
 tf faith ani love, and of a found mind ; Ah.' there 
 are miny that claim kindred and relation to 
 Chrifr, thatare very unl keHim. 3//. They are 
 called ChrilVs Seed, in refpfft of the care that 
 he hath of them, never Mother was more tender 
 of the fucking Child, than he is of his Believ- 
 ing Children; Therefore, fayeth the Lord, Ifaiab 
 49. 1 j. Amoiher may forget her fucking ihild, b::t I 
 will not forget thee : Hence, is that Phrafe, even 
 as to vifib'e prefeffors of the Church, who it- 
 fufe to ltften to the call of the Gofpe^ which 
 is much more eminently verified in Believers, 
 Matth. 23- How often would I have gathered 
 thee as a hen doth her chickens under her 
 wings ? So tender and refpeftive is he to his 
 Children, as the Mother is tender of the Suck- 
 ing Child, or the hen is of her newly hatched, 
 and young chickens; for they are, in. feme 
 refpect come out of his own bowels; his blocd 
 was fhed to purchafe them; So it's faid, Ija. 40. 
 in ( He gathered the lambs with his arm he 
 carries them in his bofom , and gently leads 
 thofe that are with young. And,0! whatMaf- 
 jie Confohrion have fuch Words as tliefe m 
 them j And what confidence may believing fin- 
 ners have to ome to this Mediator , that is a 
 Mother, a Father, a Brother, and aPjrciu, that 
 
 h; and in 
 h.th as a 
 
 hath begotrcn us out of his own bow 
 
 fome refpeft ( as we arc Belli b'trs ) 
 
 •Mother conceived u$ ir 
 
 They are called h:s Seed in refpeel of ".he Port 
 
 his own Womb 4/7. 
 
 under his care, overfigbr, and mtory; And as 
 a man provides far his houfhold, hisChildre* 
 and fervants meat in due fcafon ( And the A- 
 pottle fays, [ He is worfe than, an infidel, that 
 provides not for them of his own houfe ] ever*. 
 fo our Lord Jefus, as he gives believers their 
 fpiritual life, ib He entertains that life, provide? 
 for them, and trains them up, and on, till lie 
 enter them into the PoiTttfion of Eternal Life; 
 they are made by him Princes, Pjal. 45. 16* In- 
 tituled to a Kingdom; yea, all his Children are 
 Kjngt, and (it with him on his Throne, Rev. 2, 
 laft Verfe, and are made partakers of His Glo- 
 ry; and ( to fpeak fo ) they fair as He fairs, they 
 dwell as He dwells, and behold His Glory; O! 
 is not this much, that the poor dyvour^ that 
 hath not a*Pennylcft him, nor to leave to ano- 
 ther, fhouldbe thus dignified, as to have a clam? 
 to ChrilVs Kingdom, to be an Heir, and a joync 
 Heir with Him, who is the Heir of all things; 
 For fo we come to be re toured, ( to fpeak fo > 
 and to be fervrdlleirs te all things; as it isiRev 
 2i. 7. fife that ovxmmeth jhiU in 
 And it goes on this ground, H.b 
 Mediator is appointed heir of al 
 whom, being jojnpbeirt, we are Heirs too, and 
 made to inherit all things - ! v. They are cal- 
 led His Scp.d, becuife of the manner of their 
 coming to tr.e PdTeffion of that, which through 
 Him they have a claim to; fort'iey have a claim 
 to* nothing, but by being Heirs to, and with 
 Him; And by believing in Him: they are Heirs 
 of the Prermfe, in fome refpect, as ifaac was : So 
 then briefly to recapituht all theie, would ye 
 know the way that Believers -re Chrift's Sted.- 
 !• Hebegetsthem, and they have their Spiritual 
 Life of Him. 2. He is tender of them» as of 
 His own Children- 3. They are furniihed with 
 Qualifications, and Difpofitions fuirable to Him. 
 4. They have a rich Pc rticn from Him, and are 
 well provided for. 5. What good they get is 
 for His fake, who is their Father: here we may 
 allude to that Word, Rom. if. The) are beloved 
 for the Fathers fake, by a Right and Title to Him- 
 thcycometo have a good 3ml £oc\dIy Poition, 
 they c'aim not ro their Portion , becaufe 
 of this or that thing i n themlelves , buc 
 by their being ferved Heirs to Chrift, being 
 come of Him 
 what is His. 
 
 ent all t lungs - 
 K 1. That the 
 things; With 
 
 they come to get 
 
 a Right 
 
 ro 
 
 on which they get from him ; tic Apoftlc 
 
 g J 
 
 
2a6* - lffilah 
 
 Ufi As all Relations betwixt thrift and Se- 
 Severs fpeak out much Confohtion.facoih this, 
 if we weie in c&fe to apply ifj this one word 
 bath in k, and holds forth a good condition, 
 and is a very broad Charcot. 
 
 See here then, i. What we are hi €hri iVs 
 Common and Debt, who are Believers j Its 
 much to be made a Friend, to be freu from the 
 curfe of God, and to have all cur Debts payed; 
 But this is more, to bzHh Seed, to be his own 
 Children, to have our Life of Him, to have our 
 Provillon and Portion from Him, It's jeally a 
 wonder, that we wonder not more at this, and 
 other Relations, that are betwixt Him. and Be- 
 lievers ; as namely, He is the Believer* Father, 
 and takes them to be His Sons and Daughters; He 
 is the Believers BiOther, and is not ajhamed to call 
 them Bre'.krcn: He is the Believers Husband, and 
 they are His Spcujef He is their Bridegroom, and 
 they are Hit Bridi, Such Relations as thefe are 
 pitched upon, 3nd made choifc of, to fill ( if I 
 may fpeak Co ) the Faith of the Bcliev-r, and 
 that the Believer may feed fweetly and delicatly 
 on them, till time come that the vail of Simili- 
 tudes be taken away; and they be brought to fee 
 Him as He is, even face toface; and that there- 
 by they may be helped to win to read their ad<r 
 vantages and priviledges, which they have in 
 Him : What can be the reafon then, that fo ftw 
 think, and efteem fuitabJy of the excellent and 
 deflrable condition of Believers, and that words 
 of this kind relifhnot? Here is the leafon, He 
 of whe-m they hold all thefe Priviledgcs, and by 
 whom they are put into this notable, and non- 
 fuch condition, is not fuitably efteemed of, and 
 accounted Precious* Therefore Be,ieversin Him, 
 are thought the lefs of. Our hearts !hr uM melt 
 in love to Him, and in forrow fo* (ffending 
 Him, at the reading and hearing of fuch expref 
 fions, whereof the Scriptures of God are fluffed 
 full, 
 
 zly. Are there ?ny that would have a good 
 •appy condition famine d up, and ccmpcr;d- 
 cd ? Here it is, even no have cur Lord Jefus to 
 be a Father, and to be His Seed, to come in as 
 Sons 'and Daughters to Him : I appeal to ycu 
 A), if any condition can be rutin the Ballancc 
 with rhi<; Is there any Honour arid Dignity like 
 it, or comparable with it ? Who can clai/n to 
 be come of fuch a Parent as is He, Wh» :s King 
 if tings, ar.i Lord cf lords f the Priu:e of the kings if 
 tbtt*rtl>\ the Father of Glory, Hiselu-fl. end on- 
 ly begotten Son, by an crernal and unfpcakabTe 
 Gt nerat ion, who, in all things hath the prthe- 
 y ; what is your Pedejgric, who will fay, 
 . that year? of iu;a a L?.i;j*s and 
 
 ft. *ȣ io. Serm. 4 r. 
 
 Lord s Houfe, and of fuch an ancient Family 
 and Stock; yea, though ye were of Blood Rcy- 
 a 1 , what is it to this? What will become cf 
 mens Gentility or Nrbiliry or Birth, yea cf 
 Royahty ofBi.th, in that Day, when Ch'rift 
 mall let His Throne in the Clotds ? To have 
 this Relation to thrift, u ill be more valuable 
 and Honouiable in that Day, than to have been 
 great Commanders, Lairds, Lcrds, Marumfle« 
 Dukes, Princes, and King's who will all in that 
 Day frand upon that Level, with the pooreft 
 Peafants, and when all Honours and Dignities, 
 which are now fo much thought of, and (hirft- 
 ed after, will be laid in the Dufr. 7 hcrefore 
 learn to think of this, as the- Nobltft Birth and 
 defcent, which is through Faith in (Thrift jefus; 
 and cove^fcabe holily ambitious, to have the 
 qualifications of His Children : Look to the qua- 
 lifications, parts, indowments, and ac omplifhr- 
 ments that ufe to accompany, or follow any 
 Houfes of natural Men ; Are there any of them 
 comparable to the qualifications of Believers > 
 Is there a Stock or Raxe of People in all the 
 World, fo truly Generous and Noble as Btl cv- 
 ers are, who are 'come of GhriTr, and are made 
 valiant, through the exercife of Flithin Him, 
 againfl all occuring difficulties ; regardlefs of 
 worldly things, and token up with, aitd buGed 
 about high and noble projects and defignsjeven 
 to have Heaven and Glory, and»Gocl Himfelf- 
 who undervalue, and holily difdain the things' 
 of the World, which earthly worms fo much 
 feek after, their qualifications kyth efpecially in 
 this, that their dcligns are Heavenly, their 
 minds elevated to, and fet on the bell things 
 and that they have a truly magnanimous and a 
 valorous way of profecur ing them, by ftudying 
 the mortification of fin, and confotmity to God", 
 when others cannot endure to caft out with and' 
 abandon a LufH They holily fcorn,. and account 
 it below them'to have their Peace ftanding, cr 
 falling with the ebbing and flowing of Creature- 
 Comforts, which the Men of the World place 
 their happinefs in; their ftudy is to b? Pure as 
 Chrift is Pure; O! is theie any Porticn like 
 theirs ? many of you think but little of it now, 
 but ye will think more of it in that Day, when 
 the Earth, and all things in it ihall be burnt up 
 with Fire; What will tr.c Earth-portion fioni- 
 fie then ? Ye that now have your variety ofline 
 and delicaiej Meats, with your Ale and Wine 
 at every Meal, who fr^ll be found out ofChrift, 
 Hull not get a drop of cold Water to cool your 
 Tongue, under your exquifite and hellifh Toi- 
 ments, when the poor Body that believed, and 
 
 had 
 
crm 41. if at ah 
 
 ,ad a" hard life of it here, (hall be in Abrahams 
 Itofcm, and with Chrift: at his Table, yea, and 
 m His Throne with Him 5 and it is upon the 
 ccount of their having a tittle to Chrift, that 
 hey corns to all that Glory and Happinefs: 
 O' is there any right and title like the Believ- 
 es which is founded on ChrilVs Right and 
 Title, which is, or may be called the Original 
 Kith of the Believer, who U keeped by the power 
 if God. through faith unto [ahation. If thefe be 
 the true and faithful fayingsof Gcd, what is the 
 reafon that Men think fo little of them ? Why 
 is an Intereft in Chrift fo undervalued? Believe 
 ye that fuch and fo much good is to b* gotten 
 by'being Chrift's Seed and Children ; if ye fay 
 that ye believe ir, how comes it to pafs that fr 
 few have it for their Design, jflUftt your De- 
 figns are fo much for this and that in a prefenc 
 World; and that this is fo much flighted, and 
 that there isfo much Bo'afting and Glorying in 
 other things, and fo little holy Boafting and 
 Glorying in this? # 
 
 There are two or thr^ie Marks which we may 
 gather from t he *Vords, that may help tofhew 
 When this Claim is warrantably made,and which 
 may evidence the groundlefnefs of the Claim of 
 many. And 1. Chrift's Seed hath another Ori- 
 ginal than that which they bring with them into 
 the World; there is in them a change of the 
 ground of their hope , and that on a new ac- 
 count i Folk comes into the World finful, Chil- 
 dren of finful Parents; but when they come to 
 be Believers, they get anew Life, which Men 
 cannot give, and this new Life hath new Act- 
 ings and Fruits; Ah! how many dream of a 
 Right to Chrift, who know no o*h:r Birth 
 or Being, but that which is Natural ? a. They 
 who are Chrift's Seed carry along with tlumthe 
 imprcflion ©f an obligation to, and an acknow- 
 ledgment of 'Him, in whatever good they have 
 gotten; they think themfelvesmuch obliged to 
 Chrift, and they acknowledge Him for their 
 Life, as it'll MriwAi r. if 1 be a father, white it 
 my honour ? and If a m^hr, where is my fear ? a fon 
 honours his father, &c. A natively and genuinly 
 difpofed Child acknowledged his Father as his 
 Father, and reveienceth and leveth his Father 
 as his Father, but there are many that pretend 
 to a Being from Chrift, who thii k not them- 
 fe Ives in His Debt and Comm n for it, and 
 who know not what it is to wajk under the Co J - 
 viction of their Obligation to Chrift for tfieir 
 fuppofed fpiritual Life and Being. 3 They 
 who are ChriiVs Sced } have in them a likened to 
 
 5?. Verf ro, _ 227 
 
 Him, as they did once W the ivsageoftht tank' 
 ly, fo oow they bear the image of the heavenly Adam, 
 not that they come up in all things to be ex- 
 actly like to the Pattern,but it is their aim, and 
 other things that difconform them to Him, ace 
 deformed, Ioathfom, and ugly in their fight; 
 their old Inclination is burdenfome to them, 
 and is the continual ground of an inward Con* 
 teft and Wreftling; and in a manner, they are 
 troubled at the very heart, how to keep down 
 what is oppofite to Chriftj And when theirCor- 
 ruptfon over-mafters them, they are the more 
 difcompofed, & difquietedi They difcern fome- 
 thing in them, that is not like to Chrift, and 
 they abhor that, though it be never fo near and 
 dear to them, their very Self, they fee fome- 
 thing alfo like to Chrift in them, and they che- 
 rifh and make much of itj they would fain 
 be at more of it, and to have His Image more 
 deeply imprefTed on their Spirit*,, which they 
 reckon their greateft, yea, their only beauty. 
 
 The 3. Ufe is for Direction to Believers; if ye 
 be Chrift's Seed, ye muft be other fort of Folks 
 in your Deligns, and in your Deportment and 
 Carriage; King's Children ought not to carry'' 
 as others, it would be highly unfuitable, yea, 
 even abominable to fee rhem walk fo trivially, 
 and lightly a> every Bafe, Ill-bred tfeggers Child 
 doth, It's no ItCs Incongruous, andUnbecom» 
 ing, that Believers fhould be taken with this and 
 that Vanity, tlm meer Worldlings are taken 
 with, and hunt after. 
 
 The $th Ufe fptaks a Word of Confolation to 
 Believers, and holds forth the grcatntfs of the 
 Priviledge ot being QkrifFs Seed > It will be much 
 to perl wade a Poor Sinner, duely fcnfibleof Sin, 
 to relieve this and that the Lord is in earnsft, 
 when He fp.-aks thus; That fuch an one, who 
 hath betaken himfelf to Chrift for Life, and 
 humbly Claims Right to nor hing, but by vertuc 
 of ChnuVs Right ( the main thing , that our 
 Union with Him is b tromed upon) who is 
 content to be in Chrift's common fcr Life, and 
 goes not about to cftabUlh his own Righreouf- 
 nefs, but leans to his Rightorufntfs, for Life, 
 and Salvation, fnouU b. 7 , and have all 
 
 the Privi ledges of Sons derived to Him ; And 
 yet it is the Lord's faithful Word, neither hath 
 Eye feen, nor Bar heard, nor hath it entered 
 into the Hrartcf Mar. to conceive, what good 
 things are laid up for fuch a Perfon, -ind that are 
 fluffed up in thefc Exprcflions: of cur ReUti«n 
 to Chrift Jefuf. 
 
 f&t* 
 
2i8 Ifsiab ej 
 
 Ufe c. Ic may be alfo a quieting and comfort- 
 ing Word to fomc Believers, who are in Afflic- 
 tion, Poverty, and Straits in the World ; That 
 our Lord Jefus is a Kindly Affectionac Parent, 
 m re Kindly and tender hearted, than the ten- 
 dered Father cr Motliei; and indecdit may fuf- 
 ficiently quiet them, that they have fuch a kind- 
 Jy Overfeer, and Provifor, who is alfo a Cor- 
 dial Sympathizer with them, what ever their 
 Condition be, tfe will not deny His Off-fpring, 
 and Seed, whom lie laid down His Life to 
 Purchafe. 
 
 The 6th life May be for Incitement and Pro* 
 vocation to all that would be Happy, to place 
 it here; Intereft in Chi id Jefus, by Believingon 
 Him, brings us to havclntereftjn the enjoying 
 of Him, and all that is His; and can there be 
 any more fought alter, or wifhed for? Are 
 there any, but would think it a good Life, to 
 be here? and vv!*o are they, of whom He fpeaks 
 fo? It is not of fcmie iort of Grange and un- 
 couth Folk, that were once in the World, biiC 
 are now all out of it, and of whom there are 
 none now in it; It is not fuch as want S';n, and 
 derive their Life from their own Works, but it 
 is fuch as are, I. As conddered in themfclves 
 dead in Sins and TrefpalTes, and without Spi- 
 ritual Life and Being; And who know that all 
 the pains that they can take, will not acquireit, 
 And who it may be, are quite Dead to their 
 own appreheniion and fenfc oftentimes, and 
 who have Judged themfelves, and have the Sen* 
 tence of Death in themklves. 2. It's fuch as 
 look to Him for the obtaining of Life, and who 
 acknowledge Him for any Life, or Livelinefs 
 they have: And who expect it, and bruike it, 
 by vertne of His Purchafe; which is, that en 
 which all their Plea for Life is founded. 
 
 Now I know, that all this will not readily 
 clear fome , There are fo many things that look 
 countcrfit like, but lam now fpeaking to them, 
 who have fome fticklings of Spiritual Life, 
 which yet ate not fo Lively, as they can dif- 
 cern them to be the Stirrings and Sticklings of 
 Life', And they have a Body of Dearh in them, 
 which is ready to extinguifh that Life, and of- 
 ten they think thar it is extinjju iTied already, 
 they have Convictions of their own Dsadnefs, 
 and that things are v^rong in their Condition, 
 and are quite out * f all Hopes of Righreoufnefv, 
 from and by themfelves, or from any thing that 
 they have done, or can do, and they have i'omc 
 confufed lo oks to Chrift, but they cannot Rid 
 their Feet in the Matter of their Faith, and Du- 
 ties go n^t fo with them as they expected, and 
 would have than. To fuch I lhall fpeak g 
 
 r ' r f- t0 < Scrm. 
 
 Word or two,and clofe. 1. Iwould a>k,whe L 
 comes thar Stickling of Life, or Feeling oft 
 Bodie of Death? What is the Original c f h 
 Will Nature dilcover thcConiiption of Natu 
 and bring Folks to be out ei' Love with G 
 rupt Nature ? Certainly, where this is, it'sru 
 like Nature, but js the Life of Chrift; cfpeci J 
 Jy, whtn it puts Folk to difcern, and take un 
 their own £><adncfs, to quit their own Rj'oJue, 
 oufnefs, and to be content tc lay their Mouth 
 in the Duft, and to betake themfelves to the 
 Righreoufnefs of Chrift, if they could win to 
 be diftinct in it, This looks to be from ChriflS 
 whofe Spirit convinces the (Vsrld efjiv, and of thd 
 fin of unbelief in particular; and of right -eoufntfr 
 as being only to be had in Chriftj and of Wr e J 
 went, that is of the reafonablenefs, that He 
 mould have a Dominion over them, and that 
 they fhould walk in Holinefs: Yet, notwirh- 
 Handing of all this, they are hanging in a kind 
 of Sufpence and hover, and know not whether 
 to look on themfelves as Believers or not? They 
 wot well that it is not right with them, tine 
 they are loft in themfelves, and that no ether 
 way will do their turn,' urFairh in the Righte- 
 oufnefs ofaMediator; The thing whereat they 
 flick and halt, is, that they know not how to 
 through, & maintain the confent that they have 
 given; and they cannot think, that their Faith 
 is true Faith, becaufe they know not how to 
 follow forth the exercii'e of it; though they 
 have renounced their own Righteoufnefs, and 
 laid their Reckoning, to be in thrift's Debt and 
 Common, for Righteoufnefs and Life, if ever 
 they come by them; All their difficulty , is 
 how to through their Believing. Now it is'noc 
 to the founding of Life; that we arc heTefp.ak- 
 ing, but to the exercife of Life, and to the find- 
 ing out of Life* And we fay that fuch an exer- 
 cife fuppons Life to be, though it be not dif- 
 cernable in its exercife , to the Soul it felf. 
 There are many Poor Creatures born & brought 
 foith into the Wor'd, that can neither talk nor 
 walk, lutmuftbe carried and keeped tenderly, 
 at d that are fome W3y, as if they were brought 
 out of the Womb:So is it with manv Believers 
 and it were good to be in Chrift's Common, as for 
 Life, fo for bringing Life to exercife, and by 
 diligence and waiting on Him, in the ufe of His 
 own appointed Means, to fe k to come to fomc 
 D:it:nctnefs inNezting, and Exerrifmg of any 
 Life, that He hath given. And it is no fmalLn- 
 couragement to this that C rift jhlife hitfccd % 
 That he muft ha e S,in r s a d Believers in Hi x\ 
 which fhould make poor Souls, that have no* 
 
 Life 
 
rm. *v '$*\ah ?3 
 
 fein rberofelves, *'ith the more confidence 
 
 C0IB1 d estoHim, upon this very 
 
 ound, that the Father hath ingaged toChrift, 
 
 : have many fuch for His Seed; The 
 
 nife is performed to Him, in the ga- 
 
 i m of Poor confufed, and Mind perplex* 
 
 .is to be in His Debt, for Life and to 
 
 )d their Life of Him for ever. It will fure 
 
 no fmall part of the ground of Saints praife 
 
 Heaven, that He not only bought Life for 
 
 em, but that He made Application of Life 
 
 . Verf. jo. a2y 
 
 to them, and trained them on, till He had got; 
 them fitted to fpeak to His Praife; Wherein the 
 Body of Death makes many a fad ftop, and 
 makes poor Believers to ftammer, as it were, 
 while they are here. But it's gc®d News that 
 Jefus Cbrift hath bought Life, and brought it 
 to Light, and that by this Gofpel, He is making 
 application of id and declaring that He is con- 
 tent to beftow it freely, on all them that will 
 be in His Common for it. 
 
 SERMON XLII. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. X. 
 
 , f r IO . He fall fa his feed, He {ball prolong his days, And the pkafure of the Lord fall prof p 
 
 in his hand. 
 
 ir 
 
 r T was once a Riddle, how out of theftrong 
 could come forth Meat, and how, out of 
 the Eater could come forth Sweet i Its 
 h here moft clearly Unridled, and that in a 
 oft Wonderful and comfortable Manner; Oar 
 >rd Jefus, the Strong Lyon of the Tribe of J«- 
 h, i'iput to grief and bruifed, and bis feu! is madi 
 ejering for fin ; and heie is the Sweet Meat 
 at comes out of it, He fall fee his jeed, he fall 
 long his days, Sec. The fubftance cf the Words 
 That by His-Death many mall be brought to 
 fe i It's the fame Death that hath given us the 
 pe we have of Life, atid a-ll the ground that 
 : have to fp^ak ofitcoyou; which had never 
 en, had He not been bruifed and put to grief. 
 we Ihew, that there is holden forth the Lord's 
 eat defign in the Contrivance of the Work of 
 demptun, and that thefe Words are a further 
 fwtf to the ftumbling Objection propofed he- 
 re., to wit, How the Innocent Son of God 
 uld Suftvr? It f>leajcd the Father to bruife hit*, 
 ,en he fa'l make his foul an offering fir (in, &c. 
 'Inch Jnftifies God, in that proceeding, and 
 •vfs to wipe away that Reproach, thar might 
 :m to (rick to Him; In fum, it is tms It u e 
 nfider the n table and noble Fruits, and com- 
 rtaMe EfTc&s, that followed on HisSuffVrings, 
 J D-ath; there is no ground toftumble at 
 ?d*s Riving his Sin-, or ar the Sons conde- 
 mding as Mediator, to Suffer, to be del'piled, 
 d put to death, and this is the fir ft Fruit, and 
 feft thereof, that He fall fee his feed ; Where- 
 is meaned, that by His Death the Elett who 
 t given to Him, do by Faith in Hun receive 
 lew Life fr m Him, and are taken in, under a 
 oft fw:et and kindly Relation to him, by their 
 ing begotten again, to a lively hopt, through 
 s Refurre&kn fiom the DcaJ. 
 
 We fpoke to this Point, That Bclieveis are 
 Chrifrs Seed; which (hews the great Piiviledge ; 
 that they are admitted to, and their great Obli- 
 gation toChrift on that account, they are oblig- 
 ed to him for their Spiritual Life and Beeing;as 
 Children are obliged to their Natural Parents, 
 for their Natural L'fc and Beeing; and Infinite* 
 ly moregbliged, in as much, as the one L:ie;s 
 Infinitely preferable to the other. 
 
 There are three things more to be Obfervcd 
 from the Words, i. Considering them as they 
 ftand in dependence on the former > That God's 
 Defign, in lending his Son into tie World, and 
 the Mediators Delign, in coming fo low, is to 
 have a Seed begotten to the hope of Eternal 
 Life; and to have poor Souls dead in them- 
 felves, fharing of life in and through hiir, 
 even to have many partaking of Life through 
 his Death, z. Ccnfidering r: e Words, as i\rc* 
 telling the event of (.hull's Death, and Suffer- 
 ings, We have thh Osjirvathn from therr,That 
 Our Lord's Death ihall cettainly procure Life 
 to rainy; Or thus, it cannot be, but his Dsr.rh 
 muft have Frurf, to the laving of Jouls from 
 Death, and to c-e making of them partakers of 
 Life. 3. Looking on the Words, as a Promiie 
 made to the Mediator; \Vc Otfcrvt from them, 
 That the Seeing of a Seed, is exceeding much 
 thought of, !, y Jefus Unift, it pleaied hrm 
 wondrous well; Therefor* this Promife of a 
 Seed is made to him, to encourage him to lay 
 d wn 1 is Life. 
 
 We Hull fpeak a Word fo eich of thefe, rnl 
 flialMeave the confidetotitm of the Words as 
 they h< Id out, not Only our Lord's outgiv- 
 ing HiS Sufferings, L-ul il:s fcing a Seed on the 
 
 X 
 
i 3 o . l\aiah n* 
 
 back of them, to the fecond EfYcft that follows, 
 
 H; fhall prohng his days. 
 
 1'or the Firft Dittnnt, we fuppofe, It will be 
 dear, It we confiaer how the leehg of his fcedis 
 Subjoyned to, and dspenderh upon tbe former 
 Words, anent his making His foul an offering for 
 fii, which holds out this, That the great Ddign 
 of God, and of Chrift the Mediator in his Suf- 
 ferings, i?, to beget a People to eternal Life,and 
 to make way , that Sinners Naturally Dead in 
 S n, may partake of Spiritual and Heavenly Life, 
 and miy be gotcen to the Hope of Eternal Life, 
 through him. And what other ddign, I pr3y, 
 could there be than this ? For the Lord had no- 
 thing to procure to Himfelf; To fpeak limply, 
 there could be no addition made to the Glory 
 of God thereby j Therefore it's Paid, John 6. $9> 
 40. This is tbe Fathers will that hath'Jem me, th.ttef 
 all that he hitk giv.mmt, I Jlwdd lift nothing, but 
 Pallid ratfe it up at the lafi day ; And this is the 
 ■will of him thai jent m ;, that ever) one whofeeth the 
 Son t and belicveth on him may have everlasting life, 
 and J will ra.fehim up at the hfl day I. Tim. U 
 15. This is a faithful faying, ani worthy of all accept- 
 ations and what is it? Taatjefus ChriSf came into 
 the world to fave finners: and that John io. lo. / 
 came that they might have life, and that they might 
 have it more abundantly* +* 
 
 There are two things that we would fpeak a 
 word to, for clearing of the Doctrine, and then 
 make Ufe ©fit, The 1. is, How this can be 
 God's Defign in Chrifh Humiliation, to beget 
 many Sons to Life? a. How Chrift's Death con- 
 tributes to this Defign ? For the Firft. When 
 we fpeak of God's Ddign here we mean not his 
 laft and ultimate Defign, but his immediat De- 
 fign in the Gofpel, which isfubfervient to that 
 His laft and (ultimate Defign; to wit, The Glo« 
 rifying of His Grace andjuftice, in giving the 
 Mediator, to fatisfie Jufticefor Dyvour Sinners, 
 who are notable tofitisfie for themfelvcsj and 
 he having chofen this as the Midfc,to that high- 
 eft end, we may well fay, that this is His im 
 mediat Defign in the Gofpel, that thereby the 
 Glory of His Grace and Jufticc might be mani- 
 fefted. For the 2d. Which is, how thrift's Suf- 
 ferings contribute to this end? Ic may be foon 
 cleared if we confider that there is a twofold Let 
 in the wjy of Sinners partaking <'f Life, which 
 Chrift's Sufferings do remove. The 1 Let, is a 
 (landing Quarrel betwixt God and the Elect, 
 they having finned, and having nothing t« pay 
 their Debt, this our Lord Jefus by HisDVath 
 removes) h~ payes the Debt, and 'ears the Obli- 
 gation* called the hand- writing that wis againSt 
 the?n t nailing it to hi: Crojs, Col. *. And in this 
 
 V<rf. 
 
 10. 
 
 Serm. 
 
 tefoeft, H,s Death is <tfTed a ranfiJfZt *!l 
 
 And in the Words before, U,hj3?Jfi& 
 
 w,t, That the Principal Debitor m 1K'£| 
 
 free. The 2d Let, is Mjnc »»„ c X let J 
 
 away, vet they have no Life hur r r i?, » n 'l 
 His beach hath laid dow^'^f^Vi 
 ner may be reconciled to Go and ml * C J?1 
 of Grace here, and to be i„ 'cafe , ?%&"'$, 
 Gcd, even while ibjourning i, tl = wi ,7^ 
 feme B ,od mealbre and of the Lift Z/r >' '" 
 hereafter , HisSufierings are not on v '. 1 0> r "* 
 for their Debt, butalfo°a Bridge ftoVnW'^ 
 to ftep over the Gulf of the diftnee t^l 3 
 tw.xt God and them, unto Giory, wh tVe r He 
 «s the Forerunner is gone before 4?™? . 
 fenf,,we»have our Graces, as the Frnfen, ■ v* 
 Sufferings , the Life ofGrace Fair" r n' 1 S 
 feverance, &c. We have ahb pfo ^'4 p^T '' 
 vation. and Guiding in the way , %?£ f ?" 
 
 r °,S ht i hr0Ugh tott ««»lLife: Asth, Word 
 as >te o ; 9 4 o. cited before, T^ofaZllt 
 
 the Firft refpeft Chrift is furety for cur Debt • 
 In the Seco id refpeft, He is CuterVe* n f 
 
 ty , In the Firft Lfpeft, "e . t a'dnntte"/ T 
 Covenant with God ; % the Second, we teen" 
 
 if He had not born f, but He tonHcLu- ' 
 ftlf. that ye might be rrfedfrom i" Tbtk 
 flood w,th you, ye deferved to be ftut out for 
 ever from God, to have the S.-ord of hA„. 
 ft.ee awakened againft yo„: And %gZ.Z*fe 
 
 a-r k *U * aS , COnte . n< \!*™ theSwotd of It 
 ft.ee (hould awake againft Him.and fmiteHim 
 that He might by hi. ftripes hea] you, andZ' 
 his Death procu.e Life to you; Yea, 'it ftoo 
 thus with you and ,t could not be otiierwaye 
 TV Juft.ce ot God being pro»ccked, and Vl, 
 Elea : being under the Cu.fe, as it is, Gal , , D 
 Cmjid u mm we tht ciumuth m , in aU thin, 
 mtttenmtht Law ttdttbm-. Ei.k. -8. 4 ju e f° 
 thm finsM «.. Either they behold to & 
 or the Cautioner; and oui Lord was content't.i 
 bt tSifjjtrmg thereby to fet Sinncis free • 7 
 b-Uftd up on the Cr,f, „. tl he m: g kt draw , 
 tjtn-htm, t p. iy thei, Debt, wi.ich all t!eC -ai 
 lures cou'd never have payed: And the!.. ,", 
 
leim 42. T ^ iah ?3 
 
 we would askyou,if yethinkHeavcnand Glory 
 |o be of Worth, and if yc think it to be of great 
 hcrcy, to be free of the Wrath to come, and 
 •rotn the damned State and Condition of the 
 leprobate Angels, and of Reprobate Men and 
 tVomen in Hell, and to be admitted to enter 
 with Abrtksm, l/aas and Jafb into the Kmg- 
 lom of God, and into thefe Heavenly Manh- 
 ons- Are ye not much in Chrift'sDebt that pro- 
 cured this fof you,& at fuch a Rate, that there' 
 by Life might be communicated to you, who 
 were Naturally Dead in Trefpafles and Sins ? 
 whatever the reft of the World think of it, if 
 any of you be born again, as you ought, in a 
 fpecial manner.to think much of it,fo ye will do 
 in fome meafurejfor ye are muchinthriiVsCom, 
 mon as all that is worth, who was content, that 
 Poor Sinners fhould partake of Him; and of the 
 Life that is in Him, to tafte of death Himfelf, 
 and who hath faid, Bectuft I live, yejhtlllive */- 
 [9 ; in a moll wonderful way, His Death is the 
 Price, by which Life is Communicated to Us; 
 And it would become Believers well, to be of- 
 ten reckoning, what toey arc in His Dibt It's 
 one of God's great Ends in the Work of Re. 
 dc^ption, even to have Sinners efteeming high- 
 ly oF, and much ravifhed with his Grace, and 
 with his Love brightly mining in the way 
 thereof? yet lefs Conference is made of this, 
 than of mirly other Duties, by Believers; We 
 will lend an Ear to a practical Poinrof Doctrine, 
 and wiil fome way aim to mind it; If we be 
 bidden pray, we will pray; If we be command- 
 ed to Mortifie Sin, we will endeavour ir, and 
 fo inotrur Duties : But who minds this as a 
 Dur'C, when we are called of God, to Admire, 
 a ^d Prai'e His Grace and Love, and Humbly to 
 Gl«;ry in Him, foas fcriouft- tofetour felvcs to 
 fall about it ? And yet this were a mo ft Native, 
 Proper, and Kindly Exercife for Believers, even 
 like the Work of thoiV, who fay, Salvation to our 
 Git', thut fits upon the thine, and unt9 the Limb, 
 R<v. 7, io To h m who loved us, *nd vtafiid us from 
 our fins in his own blvod, 8co Rev. ■. 5. To be 
 tak n up with fuch f\eet Soli : ocjuies in our 
 felvcs about t l )is Subj.ft , a :d wi*h fuch So ig 5 
 of Pfraifc 'o Him, who ha h g ; ven us fo rtyGle a 
 Si and Life, which is convoyed to us (i y 
 Hi> Blood, is fare a fuitable Vit of this Ponr, 
 for if oui Lift be of much Wo.r , He rrtuft be 
 of I ft* »itl much more Wort* ;, i Himfelf, and 
 i t be fo to us, who purchafed i<- at iuch a 
 dear Price. 
 
 1 The id Ufc, is to exhort you, whom we 
 ftppofe to be renewed, C as fome of you now 
 
 Pirf. 10. * ij t 
 
 hearing me are,& O ! that all of you wete) that 
 whenever yc think of enjoyingcf Heaven, and 
 Glory, ye would think a!fo> whence it came to 
 be thus with you ; O-' chink on that Rock, ou^ 
 of which ye are hewen, as ye are Believers, and 
 arc intitled to Life; and this will lay the Nat 
 tural Pride, which, Alas ! too often Believers 
 have going along with their Hope of Life, ?s 
 if they were fomething better by Nature than 
 others, becaufe they have hope to come to Hea« 
 ven: but think this alfo with your felves, that 
 there are no thanks to you, but to Him, Wr.9 
 leved you, snd wajhedyou from your Jms % hi his own 
 blood; which mould make you walk fofcly, and 
 with a flopped mouth; and in this Cafe, every 
 thought of your Title unto, and of your hope 
 of Heaven, would be both Angularly pleafant, 
 and proiitable to you. 
 
 Uie 3. See here, that which maketh the glad 
 Tydings of ChriftVs Death wonderfully Com- 
 fortable; It's much that Chrift came, and fuffer- 
 ed: tut if ye add this, that His Defign in Suf- 
 fering was to beget Sinners to a New and Spi- 
 ritual Life, to raife and quicken them that were? 
 dead in fms and Trefpafles, to pay their Debr, 
 and to Cancel their Obligation, it makes it to 
 be much more wonderful ; Alas we have great 
 want of SJfrYitual ArFe&ions, tKat are not more 
 afFefted with this, even with this, that the Fa- 
 ther mould fend his Son, & that the Son fhouli 
 come into the World, and wherefore ? That he 
 might have a Seed, that poor Bodies that were 
 Dead, and without Life might be quickned, and 
 that fuch as had no hope of Heaven might have 
 it ; That in fuch a way an entry into Heaven 
 fiiould be made to Sinners, this is the wender: 
 do ye Believers indeed believe this, that the 
 Lord's Defign, in aU the Work of Redemption, 
 was to bring dead Sinners to Life ? This is ic 
 that makt Chrift gets ti.e Name of a Saviour, 
 That the Shepherd being fmiUtn. God might turn hi* 
 hand on the Utile Ones. And therefore , as a +th 
 Ufc, See here a good ground* whereupon to 
 Preach ro you by the Death of Chrift, the cfTec 
 of Life, and the. Remiilipn oi'Sin,as the ApoOIe 
 hath it, Acts 13 39,4c. Be ir haven therefore to 
 you. nun snd brethren t tbst through this man is 
 u^thtforriVi-nnefsiffim, and I 1 
 *H tk '• arc juft fi , frtm 
 
 which ye mild not bt \ufiified by tkt Uv> j 
 
 is nevei a Text, that fpeaks of tlje 
 end i Chrift*s SuffiingSt but readily it I 
 way Uyes J ground, how a Sinner m 
 And i: is, as if it were a Pioclamatio"n to S>n* 
 II h nets: 
 
ncrs, to make the right ufe of what is offered rK -" fl,««u .-/i— j 
 
 to them : If our Lord Jsfus had not luffered 
 there had not been a warrand for us to fpeak of 
 Life to you; There had been no Treaty with 
 Snners, no Door opened for accefs to H,aven, 
 no ground for any to call God, Fathtr: But on 
 the Contnre, Chrift having fuffcrcd, and fatis- 
 fied Juftice, it gives us Ground to make this 
 J'lOclamatiQn to you: Beit known unfoyau, that 
 through this man is pr sacked unto you for giv.nmf so f fins'. 
 And thefe two put together, i. That tnere is 
 a fufficient Price laid down, for the fatisfying 
 of the Juftice of God, for the Debt of EledT: Sin- 
 ners, 2. That this is the Lord>Dtign, in lay- 
 ing of the Price down, even to Procure, and to 
 Communicat Life to them, according to that of 
 John 3. io'. God fo loved the veorldy that he gave 
 only begotten fon, that whojoever btluveth on k 
 fbould not perifl), but have everlafiing life. And that 
 of John 12. 32. And if I be lifted up, 1 will draw U 
 wen after me: This demonftrats, that there is a 
 fufficient warrand, to make ufe of Chrift, for 
 pardon of Sin and for obtaining of Life,through 
 Hm, For readily the Exception is One ofTwoj 
 Either r. That the Price will not do the Turn* 
 and that cannot be faid , for the Death of 
 Chrift is a Price fuffie'ent : or, 2. That Sinners 
 know not what is the Lord's PurpoflTin it, this 
 Text holds out that, and tells us, it is, that he 
 may have a Seed, This is the Sum of the Cove* 
 nam of Redemption J fayeth the Father, Son if 
 thou wilt lay down thy Life, Thou fkalt fee a feed, 
 that mall have Life, through thy Sufferings* 
 and the Lord would never have given His Son 
 to die, if he had not minded the Salvation of 
 Singers, and to beget, and promove Life in 
 them, through His Sufferings; And to what end 
 is the Gofpel preached, by which Life and ima 
 mortality are brought to light, but that what He 
 hith bought, may be applyed to Sinners? 
 
 And therefore, as a $th Ufe, We befeechyou 
 to concur with Chrift, in the Dafign of His lay- 
 ing down His Life: Is it not, think ye, great 
 Ingratitude to Him, and great Cruelty to your 
 fclves, that when the Lord hath defigncd fuch a 
 thing^yjrhe laying down of His Life; That ye 
 ihoulu, as far as ye can, (rand in the way of it ? 
 Now His defign is, to have many in His Com- 
 mon for Life, that He may have a Seed, and to 
 have Poor Sinners, that are Dead and Lifelefs 
 in themfelres, taking with their Sin, and com- 
 ing to H;m, to get Juftice fatisfied, and a Right 
 to Life, by his Offering: and is this aprejudU 
 sia! Defign, cr Unprofitable to Sinners ? Why 
 
 jo. 
 
 then Oiould ye (land in the way of thatV'when 
 Out Lord hath defigncd Sinn..- 5 good, and hath 
 been conten. to Jay dow, U Life -o make fe 
 
 poffible te you, wiienalll., in „ 
 
 is, to have Sinnersiaveo by tlwi. &* 
 
 feves to Him, and t:.at by their I 
 fclvcs to Urn, tht Second Adam, they may g ct . 
 Right to Life transferred to them ? I 
 Folly andMadnels for Sinners 
 they can this His D.-fign? 
 ufe of this Argument. 2 
 
 i it not 
 
 to obftn.tr uh aC 
 
 The Apoftl* 
 
 C'.r. 5. ,f 
 
 makes 
 C He- 
 
 hath given us the word of reconciliation, 
 
 God was m Chrift reconciling the World to 
 
 nimlelf, not imputing their trefpaffcs unto 
 
 tnern * we therefore, as ambaftadorsfor Chrift 
 
 of « though God did befeech } ou by us we nrav 
 
 his you m Chrifts ftead, be ye reconciled 'to God 1 
 
 im, And what is the reafon ? For he was made fin for 
 
 us, who knew no fin : And for this end, Th*t we 
 
 wight be made the righteoufnefs of God in hm • And 
 
 is not this the fame Argument that is in the 
 
 Text? Our Lord was made a Sin-of ir ing, that 
 
 He might fee a Seed; And if Co, then we woulj 
 
 £2f?JP!!? > f J hcbI 5cding bowels of -Chrift can 
 
 have any weight with you, and if you would 
 do Him apleafure, not to marr His defi Cn as 
 v<t S l CC \ n { f ° r x He Wil1 infruftrably accom! 
 phfh His defign,) And that is, to have Souls 
 brought in, to make Sinners peace with God 
 and that^they may make ufe of His Suffering! 
 d ; Need we ufe Arguments, to per 
 to this, which is fo much for youi 
 nd welfare, even to fave yourSoulv 
 
 for that End 
 
 fwade you 
 
 own good an 
 
 To come, and to be 
 
 our 
 
 *»»Uli» 
 
 Keconciled to God to 
 make ufe ef Chrift for Life, to prevent 'the 
 Wrath that is to come , and to make Heaven 
 fure for your felves ; which is impoffible for 
 you, honeftly to aim at but God ihall have tha 
 Glory of His Grace and Wifdomfrom you- And 
 if this be not your aim and endeavour' God 
 will not have the Glory of His Grace in you 
 though paflively He Hall have the Glory cf 
 His Juftice in punifhing you Eternally in HelJ- 
 but this is not His great, and Proper Defign' 
 in fending of His Son; For He could have 
 had His Glory that way, though He had never 
 fent Him into the World : And therefore in 
 His Name , and in his ftead, we do again and 
 again ferioufly befeech, and folcmnly obteft 
 you, to give our Lordjefus fatisfaftion in this 
 particular ; ye that are going to Hell, or are 
 in hazard of it,come to Chrift Jefus, the Prince 
 of Life, the Purchafer, and Giver of Life, and 
 get Life from Him ; Come as dead Sinners in 
 
 your 
 
 4 
 
Serm 4*. Jfaiah 
 
 your' fclves, and by the Law, to get a new Gift 
 of Life, by His Right; And we propofe this 
 Suit and Requeft in His Name, who tells us, 
 that'Hc laid down His Life, to get a Seed ; This 
 Gofpel comes to every one of your Doors, 
 and fayes to you, will ye be obliged to Chrift 
 for Life ? will ye be His Children ? If the heart 
 be honeft, and ye can fmcerely fay, content, 
 Lord, and will creep in under His Wings,that 
 ye may be found in Him, and may be covered 
 with HisRighreoufnefs,there is good ground to 
 expert a clofcd Bargain : For our Lord purpo- 
 fly died, that He might have a Seed, and is cal- 
 ling upon you for this very End,6c Will not go 
 back of His Word, if ye be content to Bargain 
 with Him , And therefore I would again fay 
 unto you, Ihift not His call ; It is His defign, 
 to have a Seed, and it mould be yours to feek 
 to be of that Seed : O ! let Him have His Er. 
 rand among you; the Offer comes ( as I juft 
 now faid ) to every one of your D^?ors, 
 and your anfwer will be , and muft be, 
 either yea, or nay, either that ye are content to 
 be His Children, that His Grace may be glori- 
 fied in you ; ot that ye are not content, and that 
 ye will not come to him, that ye may have life; as it 
 is, John 5. That ve fcovn to be His Seed , and 
 and Children ; But ah ! the day comes, when ye 
 would be ghd of fuch an offer, and will not 
 get it; 
 
 But to come a little nearer in the Appli- 
 cation of this Ufe, i. Are there not many of 
 you without life, yea, hundreds of you ? not 
 one among many is renewed ; if ye think your 
 felves to be dead, this Word of Life, and Sal- 
 vation is fent unto you, and fure you have need 
 of it. a. There is life in Chrift to be had, a 
 fair puichafe made, and a way laid down, to 
 bring finners to have a Right to Life j and are 
 not trvfYcwo, think ye, well met and tryfted? 
 on what ground then is it bott imed ? upon ens 
 ofthefe two, or rather on both of tiKm, imply* 
 ed in this phrafe, cf being Chris's Seed. i. Jc 
 implyes, Tha: there be a coming to Chrift, as 
 void of Life; and an actual tiuuing to Him, 
 for the attaining of life, that finners pricked 
 with fear, or feeling of the wrath of God, ac- 
 knowledge Chrift, as the Father of their Life, 
 and credit Him with the application of LifV to 
 them- 2. It implyes, not only the credit ng 
 Him with the Application of Lift, but thai 
 we commit our felvts to be alone in His Debt 
 and Common for it, which is implyed in ihat 
 W<>rd, John <;, Te mil tot ctmt utile >*r, flat ye 
 might have life ; The unmaking cf Chrift, for 
 
 53. VerJ. ioJ j f \-- 4 
 
 the attaining of Life, is implyed in the Word 
 coming and that is for (lain and dead Souls to 
 go to Chrift, for Abfolution and Life, called, 
 Hch. 7»i$. A tenting te God by Ckriji ; . and again, 
 It is not, ye will not come unto me , that y* 
 may buy or procure Lite, ox Werk it to your felves; 
 but ye will not come to me, that ye may have 
 it, ye will not be in my common for it •' The 
 firft word expreffes , where we get our Life, 
 and that is in Chrift's Sufferings; The fecond 
 Word, how we get it, even as the Child gets 
 lite from the Parent, we get it fully and freely 
 conferred on us by \ilm : So that the limilitude 
 fays this much, come to Chrift, who hath pro» 
 cured your life; and truft your getting of life 
 to Him, on the Terms of Grace : and fince this 
 is all thatChrift feeks of you, not to make your 
 performances the ground of your pleading for 
 Life, but His Purchafej and that having need 
 on your fide, and fullnefs on His fide, ye mould 
 come and have ; What hinders your clcfing of 
 a Bargain? This is the very thing your Salva- 
 tion will ftand or fall on ; even on your yield* 
 ing to come to Him, and to be in His com- 
 mon for life,and on your leaning to His Righte- 
 oufnefs, or not j and according as ye aft Faith, 
 or not on Him, on this refpett, fo will the 
 Sentence of your Abfolution, or Condemnati- 
 on pafs in the great Day : And therefore, let 
 me befeech you yet again above any thing to 
 make this fure; and when I fpeak of making it 
 fure , it is not only to have a glance of the 
 thing in your minds, as many may have, to 
 whofe door Chrift comes, when yet they will 
 not go out of doors to Him : Nor is it only to 
 have a Conviction in your Judgment and Con* 
 fcience, of the realbnablenefs of it, as many of 
 you have fo many convictions of Sin, and of 
 the neccflity of Faith in your Judgment, as will 
 make you inexcufable ; ye are convinced,tbat 
 fuch a thing fhould be, and there it holds ; the 
 Lord draws you by his Word , to give aftenc 
 to the reafonablcnefs of the offer ; tut ye 
 fmuthcr the conviction, ye come ^rippa his 
 length, in affenting to the Truth, but come no 
 further i ye laid your account, it may be, that 
 ye could not fave your felves, and tliar your 
 Salvation was only in Chrift, and ye took that 
 for Faith : But believe me, there muft be ibme- 
 rhing more than that, even a laying of your 
 felves over on Him, and a making application 
 to him, to ajl the empty room in the heart ; I 
 rmieinber of a dying perfon , that lud a 
 good word to this purpofe , who, when ic 
 11 a 2 was 
 
r# , , , fi lah \r 
 
 was asked at Mm, how his Faith did now 
 differ from that which he had in his health? 
 anfwered, when I was in health, I was con- 
 vinced that I fhould believe, but now my Soul 
 a&ually calls it felf on Chrift. The many con- 
 victions that men have.that they fhould believe, 
 will ftick to them, and go with them to Hell, 
 and make them the more incxcufable, that they 
 held there, and went no further. 
 
 67/. And hilly, It ferves to be a ground of 
 Expostulation, with many hearers of the Gof- 
 pel, who have heard of this noble defign, and 
 ytt m«ke no ufe of irj O ! Hypocrites, Forma- 
 Jifts, andProphane Perfons, what a reckoning 
 will ye have to make, when this lhall be found 
 on your fcore, ye were dead in fin, and the 
 Lord contrived a defign tofave loft finners, in 
 fending His Son to be *« offering for fin, and the 
 Son came and laid down his Lifcj and ye are 
 called and invited to come to Him, and to have 
 ■ Life in Himi the glad Tydings of Redemption 
 were preached, and made offer of to you; and 
 ye would not be content to cft-fe with Chrift, 
 but would, fofar as ye could, thwart with Him 
 in His defign, though it coft him his Heart- 
 blood to bring it about: What will come of 
 -this ? Or what will ye anfwer Him for it ? ye 
 will fay, it may be, that ye were content to con- 
 cur with Chrift, and flood not in the way of it, 
 but it will be replyed, why then did ye live 
 and die in your fin, and bring your Soul to this 
 dreadful hazard and lofs ? your Confcienceand 
 God will bear it in upon you, and ye will not 
 get it ihifted , that your deilru&ion was of 
 
 Vtrf. io. Serm. 42 . 
 
 your felves, becaufe ye would not be favedj2nd 
 will that, think ye, be atfuitable and fatisfying 
 anfwer ? That the ugh Chrift would have fived 
 my Soul, I would not be laved by Him, and 
 then to go to Hell for rhac? What a tormenting 
 thing will it be in the Conlclence, that life was 
 offered to me. on condition of believing in 
 Chrift, but I refufecT, or fcorncd to take it on 
 that condition? Tnink en it, what ye will 
 to be fent to Hell, b: caufe ve would not be far- 
 ed freely by Chrift, aadto p-r.ih, becaufc ye 
 would not be Chr ill's Sad; became ye would not 
 take with your gu Jt, that ye might have life 
 fiomHim;lVhat,do yeajl think taatyehave life, 
 are there none fenfible of their need of life frrm 
 Chrift ? Alas ! that we fhou'd be put fo often to 
 repeat theie words, we nuy almoft fpeak to 
 ftoneswith as great hope otiuccefs, as to many 
 Consciences among you, thatare habitually ob- 
 dured, and blinded wich prefumption, by the 
 god of this World, who hath £ut out youi Eyes; 
 but the day comes, when ye will find your felves 
 greatly miftaken; I lhall infift no further only, 
 feing that ye are naturally dead in fins and tref- 
 pafles, and feing that ChrilVs defign in dying 
 is, to have a Seed, as ye would not prejudge your 
 felves of life, as ye would not be found to be 
 defpifcrs of His fufferings, and fuch as have 
 trode the Blood of the Covenant under foot, 
 ftudy to make fure eternal life to your felves, 
 by betaking your felves to Him for it; or lay 
 your reckoning to be reputed guilty of this 
 horrid crime, with all the aggravations of it* 
 
 SERMON 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 Verfe io.«— 
 in his kind. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. X. 
 
 Htjhall fit his fit J, bt jball frtlong hi: dtp, and tbt phaJuU tftbt Lord {hall prefer 
 
 T 
 
 Here is not one reading of thefe Words, 
 but it might put us to this wonder- 
 ing queftioni For what is it that this 
 great ddign of all Chiift's fwrferings 
 hath been driven, and what hath been 
 the great end of this Covenant of Redemption, 
 that hath fuch (harp, fore and fad fufferings fol- 
 lowing thereon to the Mediator, who ingaged 
 in it ? This World was made with little noiie> 
 ( to fay fo ) there was no ingadgment on God, 
 tor bringing about that Work , though very 
 great, as there is in bringing about this ; This 
 then certainly mud be a quite other thing,rhat 
 hath an Offering, aad fuch an Offering, a> had 
 
 in it the bruifing and dying of the Perfon, that 
 was the Son of God, interpofed for the obtain- 
 ing of it. But this anfwers the queltion, He 
 Jhall fit his fitd, &<\ Which, in fum is this, His 
 Life fliall procure Life to many dead finners, 
 and they fliall get it certainly applyed to them; 
 and the Work of the Miniftry ( to fpeak io) 
 and of the Mediatory Office of Chrift fhaJl thrive 
 well in His hand; fo that there is not one Soul 
 that is defigned to Life and Glory, but it {hall 
 be brought to the pt-lftflion of it in due time. 
 
 There are two things which we hm'ed at rfie 
 Uftd*y, that wcfcall ng W fpeak a Word to, and 
 
 the 
 
Serm. 43. , . , . 
 
 the finl of them 1$ this, Tn« it 
 upon, and a concluded Article in the Covenant 
 of Redemption, that our Lord Jcfus fcal], and 
 mufthave a W: This -is a moft certain and in- 
 fallible Truth s It is antfFc& laid duwnbtre.as 
 a neceflary confequent of His <?#>,»£ up »f his 
 foulforjtrr: It's a deter mined thing, if we look 
 1. To the certainty of the event; Oar Lord 
 Jcfus Chrift muft have a Seed, to wit, Believers 
 in Him; That is concluded on, and proniifed 
 to Him. ii If we lo k to thei^thatHe (hill 
 have; They are particularly determined upon, 
 to wit, how many Children he (bail have; and 
 who they (hail be: That was both a promif in 
 the Covenant, and a Prophefie, as we have ir, 
 .pjtl. 22.Where the Pfalnrft, ipeakJng before of 
 Chrift, fayes, verft 30. A feed /hail (ervehim, it 
 jha'li be accounted to tht Lara for sgeneratL-n : And 
 this is laia down as a iblid concmfion, John 6. 
 37. All * '- & the Father hath gimtn me, {hall come an. 
 tome, Wfrch fuppones, both a det^rminat num- 
 ber given, and the" certainty of their coming: 
 Become of the reft of the World, what may, they 
 (hall undoubtedly come: And indeed, if we 
 lo k to the nature of tfcisTranfa&ion, we will 
 find it ti' be a promife, it. -id a promife of God to ' 
 the Mediator, that can 'neitherbe altered, nor 
 unaccompliflicd; yea, it's aCovenanted promife, 
 made on a condition, to wit, the laying down 
 .of His Life, as the ftipulation on His fide; And 
 that which He hath for fo doing from the Father 
 on His fide, is this, That Hi jhall fee hit Je e d ; 
 And when this is, not only a promife, butfuch 
 a promife as is grounded on a Tranfa&ion, bear- 
 ing a Gondition,which the Son hath performed; 
 As He bimfelf faith, John l-j . 4. / have jmijkd 
 the werk which thou giv'ft- me to do ; There is a 
 Juftice and Faithful-., is 111 the performance of 
 hi- promife on the Fathecs lide to Him, that he 
 (bit I have a feed. 3. I c's clear al fo, if we con- 
 fider the end of this Tranfact.on, which is, to 
 glcrific the Grace o f God by Chiift's Purchafe, 
 in the Salvation of Eleft Sinners; in refpect of 
 this end it cannot fail, but Chrift muft have a 
 Sted, that the End may be attained : So then 
 our Lord Jel'us muft have, and certainly mall 
 have, many- that Iball pait3ke of Eternal Life 
 by Him. 
 
 e 1. Ule of it ferves to let us fee the un- 
 tvarraor?blenefs of 'hat Doctrine.that leaves the 
 Fruit of ChriiVs Death, as to the feeing of a fed, 
 to an unccrtiinty, laying the weight of it on 
 mans Free-will, a thing that is very taking with 
 natural Men, and with conceity Carnal Reafnnl 
 But if it weie left to KUns op ion, ro receive 
 Chrift or nut, then the execution of the Wcrk 
 
 lfaiali 53. Vgrl 'O. ^ 135 
 
 is aa agreed of Redemption,&the performance of fuchaPro- 
 miie,as this is,behoved to have the certainty of 
 it fubjected to Mans will, 8c fhould be made ef- 
 fectual.or noc,as He pleafesjBut it\ God's great 
 mercy to us, that we know it is not fo ; And 
 that there is an equity here, { tofpeak with ie- 
 verence of the rVfajefty of God ) that feing our 
 Lot a Jcfus hath doneHis parr,the promife mould 
 be made effectual to Him, and He fhould have 
 s Seed* 
 
 UJe 2. It layeth a. ground, ferving greatly 
 to quietus in the Reeling of Times, when the 
 World is going through other, and turned up- 
 fide down, and when we are difpofed to won- 
 der, what will become of the Church that is 
 now forely aflaulted, and made toftagger, what 
 by the old Enemy Ami.Chrift, whoisbeftirring 
 himfe If mightily, what through abounding Se- 
 curity, and Formality, whereby Satan is feeking 
 to draw away many fome toErrour, and fome 
 to Prophanity: but though Anti-Chrift, andthe 
 Devil, with all their EmifTaries, and Agents, 
 hadfaid the contrarie, our Lord Jefus fhall have 
 a Seed; It may be they are net the Plurality of 
 a Kingdom, or Nation, of a City or of a Con- 
 gregation, but fhall be fo many, as fhall ferveto 
 the making out of the Promife; Out Lordmskes 
 ule of this; John 6. 2,7. and 44. Where* when a 
 number are turning away from Him> Hefayesj 
 Mtrmur not at this, Ni man can come to me, except the 
 Father that fent me, drav him, aid all that th& Fa- 
 ther hath given me r fhall come to me-, I will get as 
 many( as if He had laid ) as are appointed to re- 
 ceive my Word from my felfj or from my 
 Servants fpeaking in my Name; as for others, I 
 look not for them : It's true, we would beware 
 of having any iinful acccflion to rke marring 
 of the progrefs of the Gofpel, and be fuitabiy 
 affected with any luch thing in others; but 
 withall we would reverence the Loru's Sove- 
 reignity, who knows bow to have a care of His 
 Church in the worft of times; And let this quiet 
 our hcarts,amidft all the Reelings andCoufuli- 
 lions of thefc times, that our Lcrd fhall have a 
 Sted, and that He (hall not want any of thefc 
 that are given Him of Il:s Father,* but ihall 
 raife them up at rhe hit day. 
 
 UJe 3. Seing this is the Lord's defign ; Ic 
 would commend to the hearers of the Gofpel, .1 
 ftudy to concur in this dcli^n, ( if wc may 
 fpeak fo ) in thefc puhlick and private ftatious, 
 in reference to tiemlclves , and in reference 
 to others i As it is ths L id\ defign , that 
 Chrift flu 11 h*vc a Seed, fo we would make it 
 ours. Wc may null Ui'dy fyje , and ftnek 
 
 in 
 
1]6 If'iab fji 
 
 in here with the Father, Soft, and HoJy Ghoft, 
 whofe defign luns on this ; ( and to (peak i'o ) 
 they have, muft have , and fhall have a poor 
 and cold Game of it, who thwarts with the 
 Lord in his defign, whoever they be, and in 
 whatever ftation or capacity , publick, or pri- 
 vate ; As it is no Wildom , fo it will be no 
 advantage to rtrugle, or ftrive with God: But 
 here is matter of great encouragement, to any 
 that would have the Gofpel profpering, Reli^ 
 gion countenanced, Error fupprefled, the power 
 ofGodlinefs promoted, and prophanity born 
 down ; That our Lord Jefus Chrift does concur 
 with them in the fame defign ; I know not any 
 other defign that a man can (trick in with, 
 without fear, to come fhort in it, but in this ? 
 and whofoever ftricks in with this, it mail not 
 mifgive them, for Chrift fhall have a Seed; and 
 though we cannot, nor ought not abfolutcJy 
 and peremptorily, to defign particular Pcrfons j 
 yet in the General, we ought to concur, to have 
 the premife made toChritt,ofa Seed performed to 
 Him; And indeed it is no fmall priviledge, 
 and prerogative, that we are admitted by Pray, 
 er, or any otherwayes to concur with Him, in 
 the defign ; according to that memorable Word 
 of promife, concerning this matter, Pfal. yi< 
 1 c. Prayer [hall be made for hi?n continually t and 
 daily (hall he be praifed. 
 
 UJe 4. There is here great incouragement to 
 Sinners, that are in their own apprehenfion 
 void of life, and have fome fenfe of their dead* 
 nefs, and would fain be at Chrift for life, and 
 have him for their Father : fuch I fay, are by 
 this Doftrine, encouraged to ftepto; For it's a 
 thing determined and promifed i and fince it is 
 fo, we, may and ought elTay, and endeavour, 
 that he may have a Seed , and may be fure, it 
 will not difplcafe Him, that we endeavour to 
 offer our felves to be of His Seed •* It's foolifh 
 and yet often a pulling and perplexing doubt, 
 that comes in the way of ferious Souls, when 
 they offer to come to Chrift, that they know 
 not, but that they maybe prefuming ; if there 
 be any Acquaintance with God, and Cnrift's 
 defign, manifeftcd in the Gofpel; There is no 
 ground for fuch a doubt, and fuch a Soul may 
 as well queftion, Whether will God and the 
 Mediator be pleafed, that the promife made to 
 Him of aSeedbe performed ? Certainly it will 
 be difpleifingto neither of them. but well pleaf- 
 ing to both ; And therefore the Sinner would 
 be ftrengthened on this ground, and take it for 
 granted in it's adJrefles to God, that fuch a 
 thing i« defigned ; to wit, that Chrift fliall 
 have a Sud. 
 
 ^'tt?* r « . *erm. 4tt< 
 
 Ufe c. It mews whaf muft be the condition! 
 thar others Hand in, who do not come and make" 
 effer of themfelves to be Chritts Seed', They do 
 in fo far as they can, thwart with Gcd-'s de.' 
 !i? n; .^ ™is w ill come on their Account.- 
 lhat it Chrift ihould never have a Seed they 
 would not for. their parts betake themfelves to 
 Him nor be of His Seed , but as far as they 
 could, would ftand in the way of performance 
 of this promile to Him : And this will be the 
 ground of a fad challenge from God ; I defign^ 
 ed that Chrift my Son lhould have a Seed and I 
 engaged by promife to give it to Him, and ye 
 icorned and difdaiaed ( to fpeak fo with reve- 
 rence, in luch afubject ) to farisfie God that 
 far, as to yield to Chrift, to be of Hi, Seed, thac 
 that promife might have it's accomplifhmene 
 in you. 
 
 i. From the words complexly cenfidered Ob- 
 Jerve, that ChriiVs having and obtaining of a 
 Seed, His getting of Souls to believe in Him, is 
 a thing moft welcome, and acceptable, both to 
 Jehovah, that makes the promife, and to the 
 Mediator, to whom it is promifedi There i$ 
 nothing that pleafes God , and the Mediator 
 better, tfean for loft Sinners to betake them- 
 felves to Chrift, and His Righteoufnefs, for 
 Life ; It's the fatisfa&ion that He hath for the 
 travel of His Soul 9 It's the Rccompence here 
 promifed to Him; It's ( to fpeak after the man- 
 ner of Men ) as if the Son were faying, what 
 fhall I get, if I lay down my Life for Sinners? 
 Here the Father promifeth , Thou (halt fee thy 
 feed, That is, many fhall believe, and bejuftifi- 
 ed through thy death ; and this is fo acceptable 
 to the Mediator, That He fayes, Lo t I ceme, in 
 the volume of thy book tt is written of me, I dei'ght 
 to do thy will, O my God ; and Heb. 10. T/k- A- 
 pofth fa yes, By this will we are fanttifi d ; He 
 fought no more but this, for all His Si-ffe' rings 
 and Soul-travel i and rhat it is no lefs ace pt« 
 a ^le to Jehovah, that makes the promife, is as 
 clear » Therefore, in the laft part of the vcrfe % 
 It is fald, T'-c picture ( the Will or the Delight) 
 of the LordJhaU projper in his hand ; That is, the 
 ingoing of Souis to believe, ( which i> Gods 
 delight, asweliistbe Mediators ) fhall Thrive, 
 Succeed and Profper well, It's this that John \j. 
 Chrift calls the frfh'jjg of she work which the Ei- 
 ther gave him to dt>, Wh<t is trnr, thine icty 
 w.re , and thou gaveji the*t tn* , It's ev\n His 
 ftepping in betwixt Juftice a d them, t-i make 
 way for Reconciliation through UU blood, and 
 this is very delightsome and ivell pkafing to 
 Jch.vah. It is true, this deligfadbmencfs is°r,oc 
 
 to 
 
Sertn 4 V lf*i*h i 
 
 to be fo undcrftood,iSif there were fuch afFcfti- 
 ons, and paflions in the Lord.as there ire m us; 
 But it is attributed to Him in thefe re!pe&s : i. 
 It's called pleating and df ghtfom to Him, as 
 it agrees wirhHis revealed Will and Command; 
 and fo it cannot be conceived buc to be plea- 
 fing to God, as that which He commandeth, 
 calleth for and approveth ; in which refpeel, 
 the holinefs of them that will never be holy, 
 and the Faith of them that will never believe, 
 is, or may be called pleating to God. a. It is 
 called, pUafwg to the Lord, la refpeft ofthe 
 e d and as it is a midfe to the glorifying of 
 His Grace, and the performance of his Promile 
 to the Mediator ; For by this his Grace comes 
 to b- gloriricd, and He hath accefs to perform 
 what He hath promifed to the Mediator. 3. 
 It's pieplant to Him, becaufe in this the Lord 
 hathafpecial complacency, and hath e. denced 
 in His Word comparatively a greater dehghem 
 finnersciofing w.th Chrift, and in their accept- 
 ing of L ; fc through Him, than in many other 
 things: Therefore it is, that He calleth for this 
 fo prelTingly ; and when Chrift is not thus 
 made ufe of, He declares Himfelf to be gnev- 
 rd, and that there is a fort of defpire done to 
 Him; whereas upon the other fide, He takes it 
 (dare I fpeak it with reverence ) as acour- 
 tefie, and honour, put upon Him , when a 
 Soul gives up it felf to Him, and dare hazard 
 the weight of it's immortal Soul on His Word; 
 in this refpeft, Abraham is faid, Rom. 4. To give 
 glory to God; When he trufted himfelf, his Soul, 
 and til his Concerns to Him; and we find, that 
 believing is accounted to be a honouring of the 
 Father, and of the Son, if we compare the 24.. 
 and 2$. frits of John 5. together. 
 
 The 1. Uje ferves to let you fee, That not 
 only do the Father and our Lord Jefus Chrift 
 call Sinners to believe, do warrand them to be* 
 lieve, and lay down grounds, whereupon they 
 may found their Faith ; but they alfo declare, 
 that it is well-pleafing to them, and that they 
 (hall be very welcome that come ; The carriage 
 of the Father of the Prodigal, Luke 15. Is but a 
 little fliadsw of that welcome, that a finnerin 
 returning to God, by Faith in Jefus Chrift, may 
 expeft ; though indeed that Parable mews plain- 
 ly, how hearty a welcome returning Sinners 
 may expeft. It was meet ( faith he) that wejhould 
 make merry, and be glad, jor this thy Brother w .is 
 dead, and is alive t and was UJl, but is found a- 
 gain. 
 
 Ufe. 2. It ferves to banjfh away that un- 
 
 3. Verf. io. 217 
 
 worthy apprehenfion, that Is in the minds of 
 too many, that there is greater Rigidity and 
 Aufttrity in God the Father, than there is in 
 the Mediator towards poor finners; If we look 
 to God as God, His Grace abounds in the Per* 
 fon of the Father, as it dorh in the Perfon of 
 the Son ; And if we look to the Son as God, 
 He is the fame juft God, that will not acquit 
 the guilty, more than the Father will do ; fo 
 that there is no ground for this apprehenfion, 
 which foliers a fort of blafphentous Concepti- 
 ons of the bleffed Trinity, as if they were of 
 different Natures and Difpolitions, moft unbe- 
 comingChriuians : Hen e is it that many who 
 are ignorant of God will fpeak of Chrift, asbe- 
 ing eaiier to be dealt withall than the Father 
 is ; a moft derogatory conceit to the Divine Ma- 
 jelly, and unworthy of Chriftians ; Indead, if 
 we abftratt God from the Mediator, there is no 
 dealing with Him ; but if we look on God, and 
 come to Him in the Mediator , there we find 
 Him eafie to be dealt with ; Therefore , that 
 which is called the Satisfaction of the Mediator, 
 verf. 11. Is called here, the pleafure of the Lord} 
 Becaufe he delights in the performing of his 
 Promife to the Mediator , in reference to His 
 having of a Seed : It is from this alfo, that fome 
 folks will pray to Chrift, as if he were a differ- 
 ent thing, or Becing from God; and they would 
 firft make their peace with Chrift , and then by 
 his Moyen, bring themfelves in good Terms 
 with God ; the Mediator indeed considered as 
 Mediator, is different from God, who, without 
 Him, c r out of Him, is a Consuming Fire ; But 
 confidcred as God, Fte-hathrhe fame Properties, 
 and gives Pardon on the fame Terms; and in 
 this refpeft, we are to make ufe of His own 
 Righteoufnefs, for oltaining of Pardon from 
 Himfelf, there being but one God : There is 
 occafion too frequently to meet with this Er- 
 ror,and I know not how many inconveniencies 
 it hath following upon if, Some think that 
 they are alwayes lure of Chrift's friendmip, but 
 they doubt of Gods, as if the Father had not 
 the fame delight to fave finncrs, that Chrift the 
 Son hath : And another abufe follows on the 
 former, that there is no mere ufe made ofChrift 
 but by a Word of Praytr to Him, without ex- 
 crcifing faith on His God head ; Jf there were 
 ne more tore&ifie this grolsmiftake, this alone 
 Text might do it,if yemake ufe of Chrift'sRighte- 
 oufnefs,ye may expeft ftiendfhip from the Fa- 
 ther, and from the Son ; and it ye do it n^t, 
 
a , 8 g l\*i*b n 
 
 ye hava no ground to expect Friendfhip from 
 cither of them. _, ,. 
 
 rjf« i. There is here ground of glad Ty dings 
 to Sinners, and that which makes the Cove- 
 nant of Redemption to be defervedly called the 
 GofpeU and that made the Angels to iing, Glory 
 btti God in the hghefl, peace on earth and goodwill 
 r»*f»; That there is iuch a Covenant laid down, 
 for bringing Life to dead Sinners, and that the 
 Father, and the Mediator are delighted, com- 
 forted, ( to fay fo ) fatisficd and well pleafcd 
 with Sinners, making life of the Mediator for 
 Life: Is there then any Sinner here, whole 
 Confcience layes optn to him his hazard, ap- 
 plyesthe curfe to him, and pafles Sentence on 
 iiimfelf, and hath fome defire to be at Chiift, 
 and yet wots not if He will hold out the Gold^ 
 en Scepter ? Behold this Text doth hold it out 
 to fitch, and bids them come in boldly , for 
 Chrift makes them welcome*, yea the Lord 
 Jehovah makes them welcome : It's the Fathers, 
 and Chrift's delight that thou come forward. 
 If there be a Doctrine in all the Scripture 1 weet, 
 it's this: and without this, no preaching, nor 
 point of Truth would be fweet : I fay, without 
 this, to wit, That God hath not only provided 
 a price, and makes offer of it, but is well con- 
 tent, that it be made ufeof : vea, and is delight- 
 ed, that a Sinner dead in himfelf,Trult and Con- 
 credit himfelf to the Mediator, for obtaining of 
 Life through Him : And can there be any que- 
 ftion of this?. For, I. If it had not been the 
 Lord Jehovah his delight, why thendid he make 
 fuch a Covenant? Why didHe(asit were) part 
 and i under with the Son of His Love? Why 
 did He accept of a Cautioner? And why trans- 
 ferred he on His own Son, and exafted of Him 
 the Debt that was due by Eleft Sinners; and 
 made the Swcrd of His Jufticeto awake againft 
 Iiim ? if he had not had a great delight m the 
 Salvation of Sinners, would he have taken that 
 way, to fmite the only Son of his Love , to 
 fpare them ? And if it had not been the Sons 
 pleafure, would He with fuch delight have mv 
 dertaken, and done the Fathers will, in R kt- 
 ence to their Salvation, Lo, Itonu ( faith he ) f 
 d* thy will, O my G*a\ It was rhe Fathers will,and 
 he had a delight in it; And it Wis the Sons will 
 and delight, and he came, and according to his 
 undertaking, laid down His life. t. Wherefore 
 elfe are all the Promtfcs, and encouragements 
 that are given to Sinners* ■■ that of 
 
 Mattb i i. 28 Com". un;c me ail y thai Ubour, and 
 *r> beavj loadtn, &C. tod that, a Cor. r <<y. 
 Whew bothai* put togethei, We are amv.ijj^rs 
 
 V<rf. io. Serm. 43 .1 
 
 for Chrift, at t tough God d'd b: fetch yeu by ut, wA 
 pray you in Cbriflh ilea ij>t yc reconciled to God- Af i J 
 niftrrs prefs you in the Name of Gcd, and by ' 
 vertue of a Warrand from Him, to be reconcil- 
 ed, and they have Chrift's Warrand, in a more 
 peculiar manner, as the great Prophet of Hisl 
 Church, to tell you, it's a thmg that the Lord 
 Jehovah, and the Mediator have pleafure in 
 even in this, that ye mould be reconciled. 3! 
 Wherefore are the many expoftulations with 
 Sinners, that they will not come to Chnjl for Lift 
 that they will not be gathered, that when bt fir etches 
 out his hand all the day long % they will not behold him\ 
 &o Do not all thefe confirm tbis Truth, that 
 there is nothing He is better pleafed with, than 
 with a Sinners coming to Chriil for Life? Let 
 me therefore befeech you, by the love that ye 
 pretend to jefus Chrift, and in His Name, and 
 in the Name ofjehovah obtcft you, be ye recon. 
 ciled to God in Chrift, let Him have fatisfactu 
 on* Let this pleafure be done to the Lord,cven 
 to receive Life from Him ; This is no hard, nor 
 hurtful, no unreafonable , nor rigid requeft, I 
 am fure > all that he requires of you, is, that ye 
 would come to Him, and get Life: O! if ye 
 could but fuitably apprehend this, to be rhac 
 which the Lord aims at, in this Preached Gof- 
 pel, that we might, ( to fpeak lb with Rever- 
 ence ) put an obligation on the Majefty of God, 
 in making fure in this His own way, the Salva- 
 tion of our Souls; and that we could not do Him 
 a better turn: ( But I pray take the Expreffions 
 Right, for we cannot fet forth His Love, but in 
 our own Language, which comts infinitely fa? 
 fhort of the thing > we could not find in our 
 hearts, to refufe to grant fuch a loving, and 
 h'gbly rational a reqieft \ As it is fure then 
 upon the one fide, that we cannot do that which 
 will' pleafe Him better, fo it's as fure on rhe 
 other lide, that we cannot do that which will 
 difpleafc Him more, than to flight His Counfell 
 in this. Though we would give our Bodies 
 to be burnt, and all our Goods to rhe Poor, fie 
 will not count it pleafure done Him, if this be 
 not done i We would lo k upon this, as low 
 Condefcendency, and great Grace in the Lord, 
 that He feeks no more of las, but th; miking 
 fure Eternal L'fe to our felves, as tSat which 
 will be moft plcafing to H.m j It's even fuch 
 as if a Son fliould lay to his Father, Father, 
 what will pleafe rhee ? An J as the F.-ther 
 ftiould fay to h : s S m, $n t have a cie <-£ 
 thy felf. and thar will pleafe me; Becaufc, by 
 our fo doing, He reasfceth His guac End ; 
 
 to 
 
Scrm. 44. , #*J H- 
 
 to wit, the glorifing of His Grace and Love, 
 which Sinners, by their unbelief, do what in 
 them Jyech to snarr and obftruft : If we could 
 fpe.k ferioufly to you in this matter, it might 
 be a Text to fpeak on every day : Always, fe- 
 ing He hath purchafed Redemption to Sinners 
 at a dear Rate, and all that He requires of you, 
 is to clofe with Him, and to ftek after the Ap- 
 plication of His Purchafe ; We again earneftJy 
 pray you, be ye reconciled to God, and cake 
 heed that ye receive not hisGrace in vainjWhat 
 can ye do that will be pleallng to God, or profi- 
 table to your felves without this? Or vvhatfruic 
 of the Gofpcl can be brought forth, when this 
 
 Fruit is not Drought forth, ifjefos ChriiVin his 
 Offices get not imployment, and if his Offering 
 be not fled to for making of your Peace ; We 
 may, in confederation of this great and grave 
 SubjeG go from the Congregation pjitly refreih- 
 cd, that there is fuch a jDo&rine to be fpoken 
 of, though we cannot, Alas ! fpeak of it iuir ab- 
 ly, and partly afraid, Ieaft we be found, as far 
 as we can, thwarting with, and running crofs 
 unto God's good will, and Deiign in it, not* 
 withfranding, all the Favour and Grace hehatfi 
 madeOfTer of to us*, Ic were good that we carri- 
 ed feriousMeditaticn on this Subject along with 
 us. 
 
 SERMON XLIV. 
 
 ISAIAH UII. XI. 
 Verfe M.H? Jhall fee of the travel of his Joul, and jhallbefatisfied : by his knowledge fjuU my righteous fir* 
 vant jufiifie many : for he [ball bear their iniquities* 
 
 THis is a great Work that the Media- 
 tor hath to do j a great Price that 
 He hath to lay down for the fatisfi- 
 ing of Divine Juftice, and for re- 
 deeming of the loft Eleft : Now 
 what mall He h-vefor all the travel of HisScuI; 
 Here it is anfwered, and the Terms of the Co- 
 venant of Redemption again compended; as for 
 the Effects and Fiuit of His Death, fpoken of 
 in the clofe of the former Vcife, He fix II prolong 
 hit days, That being'fpoken to, en the mattei 
 from verfe 8. And the pleafure of the Lord fkall prof- 
 per in his hand. Being fpoken to, by another late- 
 ly in your hearing, from John 17. 4. and in part 
 by us, from verfe 10. now read over again ; we 
 fliall foibear fur: her fp;aking to them,and t come 
 to that which follows in the 1 1 verje. 
 
 In this Verfe then there are thefe three. i.An 
 offer and promife made to the Mediator; That 
 if He will accept of the propoial, and lay down 
 His Life for Redeeming of the loft Elett; itftial 
 not be fruitiefs, He (hall fee of the travel of his joul, 
 and fall be fathfied. 2. The way how that fatis- 
 faftionftia'lbe brought about ; By his knowledge 
 Jlalimyrigh'.ecuf fervantjuSifitmany. That is, by 
 Faith in Him, His purshafe Dull be anplyed to 
 all theft- for whom He fhou'd furTcr,v ho there- 
 by fhoiiU be juftirW. 3. The ground of this, 
 which alfo ihrws the way, how he fhould ju- 
 (lifieminy ; For he (ball bear (heir hi ttuti ; T j: 
 is, ! y His undertaking, and paying of their Deb: 
 He Ihouid meritorioufly procure their Abfolu- 
 tion, and the letting f them free. In the hi ft 
 part, we have chcie three thmgb imply cd. i. A 
 
 fuppofed condition, or rcltipuht'on on the Me- 
 diator's fide; That his Soul fhallb- put tetravgl 
 which expreffes both theNature of his Sufferings 
 that they mail not only be Bodily, butaifo,and 
 mainly, Soul-fufferings, and Conflicts with the 
 Wrach of God ; wnich the Elects fins deferved, 
 as the main and principal thing Articled and 
 that wherein the Price of their Redemption lay; 
 And thcGreatneis and Extremity of his Suit..* 
 ings, here ca: led travel, from tlje fim'JituCe of 
 a Woman in Travel, and theTrjivel of 
 This being the way foretold, how C ild 
 
 be ufed ; He fhould travel in his Sufferings, to 
 procure Life r o his People: 1. A promife made 
 to Him, That i u the travel tf bis foulfthtt 
 
 is, He lb 11 not bring forth wind, but fhail have 
 a large Off-fpring, which in the id. par et:lic 
 Vfrf, is called a ]i*fti!yingo: ; 
 
 Tnis is the Fro it He fliall have of his Soul-tra- 
 vel. 3- The extent of this, which is bis being 
 Satnfiid,- and quiet ; which locks to two things. 
 1. To the certain snJ infallible fuccefs of I 
 SufFcringsjnot one of the Lkft iliall be amifllng &/^ 
 None thac He bath bought Life to 11. it. 
 
 He (hall get as many J 1 
 
 conditioned for. 2. To the great dc'i'.l.t, to;' 
 complacency that our Lord hath, inperformT., 
 the Work of Redemption, and in f:;incrs gc 
 the benefit of it ; Ha (1 all think aii well be!. 
 ed.when they ccnie to get theApplication I • 
 of, and by Faith in him t - Juftified. I; 1 
 the fir ft of rhek -tor, 
 
 in performing the \\ orkof Redemptii 
 iatiifying thejuftice cf God, for the Debt of 
 I i ,t 
 
Mo 1 fat ah 53. 
 
 E..& dinners, was not only put to External and 
 JR dily. bur alfo, and plainly, to Inward, Spi- 
 rl u.tl -na S oul»fuf£urings ; Or, the Redeeming 
 of loft Sinner. 1 " off our Lord Jefus much Soul- 
 travel and Suffering ; we have ?»inred at His fuf- 
 feriugs often before, but this place efptcially 
 fp ak* out His Soul fuffe rings-, and the Inward 
 anguifli, and agony tha r He was brought under; 
 We (hiil therefore fpeak a little to this, it being 
 -mojr ufeful, and extenfive in the fruits and be- 
 nefites of it to the People of God ; And mall 
 1. Co*. firm it by fome places in the Gofpel, where 
 we have the fulfilling of this Prcphefie clearly 
 holden our to us ; And idly. By a fourfold Rea- 
 fon : Only take this for an advertifement, that 
 when we fpeak of the Soul«fufTering< of OurLord 
 we do not mean of any Sufferings after Deathfas 
 Papifts falfly calumniat us ) but of thefe SufFe- 
 rings, efpecially that were about the time of His 
 Pafllon, when he got the full Cup oftheFathers 
 Wrath put in his hand towards his approaching 
 to the Ciofs, and when he was upon it, when 
 he wasarraigned.ard when he was exacted upon 
 for the Elects Dtbt. The firft paflTage to con- 
 firm 't, is that ofjohi \i, '7. Now is my foul trou- 
 bled, an.t what jhall J jay ? Father, fave me from this 
 lour; Here his Soul iuffcrings begin clearly to 
 ihevv them Pelves when there is no Crofsmor Suf- 
 fering in his Body, yet he is put to fuch a pinch, 
 Con fi 'e:ed as Man, that he is, in a manner, no»- 
 fluffed, and pur to fay, what Jlall I jay ? the hor- 
 ror of that which was be^un, and was further 
 coming on him being beyond all expreffion, 
 whereupon follows that prayer, Father, fave me 
 from this hour ; Hisfinlefshumane nature fcarring 
 fome way to enter on it The id pafiageisthat 
 of John \\. 11. where it's faid, That He began to 
 be troubled in fpirit, and testified, &c But let us 
 come forward, and put Matthew, Mark and Luke 
 together, and we fhall fee an inCxpieiTible and 
 unconceivable height and heap of forcows, his 
 Soul-trouble and travel will amoun* to; Matthew 
 fayes, Ch. 16. 37, 38 Thn He began to be forr aw- 
 ful, and very heavy; And in the next words, my 
 foul is exceeeding (onowful, even unto death ; and 
 what made him fo foirowful ? The next words, 
 Father if it be pojjible, let this cuppafs from me, (hew 
 that it was the Cup of His Fathers Wratafull 
 Juftice put in his hand ; Mark fayes, Ch. 14. ^3. 
 That when he came to the Garden. He began to 
 before amazed, and very heavy : A wonderful ex- 
 prefllon to be ufed of the Son of God; that the 
 Perfon that was God mould be amazed, yet be* 
 ing confidered as Man, he was Co ; Luke fayes, 
 Chap.zi.a Tha; being in an a&ny, be prayed more 
 
 VtrU 
 
 t ir. 
 
 ,—. . Serm. ail 
 
 tsmeBlyi There is a fore exercife, and fad SouN 
 travel indeed, when the Sword or God's Juftice 
 awaked againfi the Man thar was bodtfellow^nd 
 when he hath the Curie that was due to all 
 'heElcft, to encounter and mee* with ; This 
 . asfu.-h a Cc mbat, the like wlereof was never 
 mtheWorid, a; d the effect of ir is ; His fw eat 
 as great drops of blood falling down to the gr,und;\vhen 
 there is no hand of Man ftirring Him nor any 
 man to trouble him, by him; but God, as 1 fe- 
 vere, andhoii'y ri*?id exaftor, putting him to 
 pay the debt, which he had undertaken to pay, 
 according to His Obligation; The inward pref- 
 fure of his foul prefl d great drops of Blood 
 from His Body ; And if we will yet look a 
 little forward to Mattb. 37. 46. we will find 
 him brought to that extremity on rhcCrofs,that 
 hecryes^MyGcaf, my God, why haft thou frjakm 
 me? Which though it fay, that there was ilill 
 Faith in the A/cdiator, in adhering to the Father 
 as his God j yet ir fets out that greit horrour 
 which he ha i inwardly ro wreftje uith, when 
 there was fome rtftraint on the fenfible com r ort- 
 ^ing influence of the God head ; Now tvhen all 
 *_the Evange'ifts concur fomaffiy, emphatically, 
 and figniricant'y *o exprefs this, wealing out,and 
 pitching upon fuch weighty words to fet it 
 forth by ; We may fee it to be defgnedly hol- 
 den forth, as afpecial Truth, that the Faich of 
 the People of God may be fhongly confirmed 
 therein. 
 
 To confirm it yet further, put thrfe four to- 
 gether. 1. The eftate that the Elcft are narural- 
 ly lying in, for whom Chrifl: undertake^, they 
 are naturally under Sin ; lyabletothe curfe of 
 God, for the tranfgteiling of His Law, which 
 had faid, The foulthar fins fhall die,and Curfed 
 as ever$ one that ccntinucth not in all things 
 written in the book of the law to do them. 2: And 
 to this the fuppofirion of Chrift's undertaking to 
 be ;he Elects Cautioner, and to fatisfic for their 
 Debt, whereby he ftepsinto their room, takes 
 on their Debt ; And ( and as the word is, 1 Cor, 
 c. ult. Buomes Jin for them. ) Is content to be 
 lyableto, and to be purfued byjuftice for rhert 
 Debr, and though here th.qre be a idaxaticn in 
 refpeftofthcPerfonsof th$ Elcft, forwh.m the* 
 Cautioner ftands good, Vrt in refpeef of the 
 Curfe and Death due to tnem, there is no relax- 
 ation ; but the fame thingdue to tshem is laid on 
 Him; as it is, Gal 3. 13. He harh redeemed 
 us from the curfe of the l^w, being made a cuife 
 for us. In every thing he was put to pay the e- 
 quivalent, for making up the Satisfaction due to 
 7uflice, and thefe two being put together, that 
 
 E.'tcl: 
 
Scrm. 44. If"** fr 
 
 Elect Sinners were obnoxious to Wrath,and that 
 our Lord came in their Room, He behoved to be 
 put to fad and fore Soul-fufFering. 3. confider 
 God's end in theWork of Redemption, which is 
 to point out the inconceivablenefs of his wo^ 
 derfully condefcending Grace and Mercy, . I 
 exacting of fatisfaftion from the Cautioner, and 
 in fetting the Sinner free, that His Grace may 
 be fo glorified, as there fhallbe a proof given of 
 his Juftice, and Soveraignity going along with 
 it» and infinit Wifdom being fet on work to 
 glorifie infinic Grace and Juftice, there is a ne- 
 celfry for the promoving of this end, that the 
 Me^iaror \ba-> thus fatisiie, and the more full 
 the fatisfaclion be, the more confpicuoufly do 
 the Grace and Juftice of God (hine forth, and 
 are glorified, according to that woid, Rom 3. 
 26 To declare his righteoufnefs, that.h?/might 
 be juft,and the juftificr of him that fhall believe 
 in Jcfus : This is the end of ChriiVs being made 
 a propitiation, tha* God may be manifc:ted to 
 bf fpotlcfs & pure inHis Juftice, as well as free 
 & rich )n Hs Mercy and Grace. who,having gi- 
 ven a Law toMan, will nor acquit the tranfgref- 
 fion thereof, without a condign Satisfaction. 4. 
 Confider, that it is indeed a great thing to fatis- 
 * fie Juftice for one Sin ; that it's more to fatisfie 
 Juftice for all the Sins ofoneperfon, which all 
 the Angels in Heaven, and Men on Earth can- 
 not do ; and therefore the punifhment of the 
 damned in hell is drawn out tcErernities length 
 and yet there is never a compleat equivalent fa- 
 tisfaction made to Juftice ; but it is moft of all 
 to fatisfie Juftice,for all the fins of all the Elect; 
 who, though thty be few in comparifon of the 
 Reprobat World- yet fimply confidered they are 
 many ; yea, even innumerable, And our Lord 
 having taken all theirSins on Him 3 He is peremp* 
 torly required to fati^fie for them alii and if this 
 wirhall be added, that He is to fatisfie for all the 
 (ins of all the Elect at once, in a very fhort time, 
 and hath the Curfe and Wrath of Gcd due to 
 them, muftcied and matfiialed in batallion a- 
 gainft H m, and as it were in a great Body, in a 
 moft foimidable manner marching up towards 
 Him, and furirufly charging Him; and all the 
 Wiath which thc> fhould have drunken, thrcijgh 
 all eternity ( which yet would never have been 
 drunk out, ror n ade (he lels ) put in one Cup, 
 2nd propined to Him ; as t! e word is, Pfal.wo. 
 7. He flail drink of the brcck in the v*y \ The 
 Wrath of God running like an impetuous Ri- 
 ver, muft be drunk up at once ar d made dry by 
 Him: Thefe being put together, do clearly .and 
 convincingly lluw, rpat it couldgnot be but an 
 wcxprcfliblc and in- conceivable Soul/traveland 
 
 rirf.it. 241 
 
 Suffering, that our Lord Jefus was put to, 
 
 The Ufe of thi* Doctrine is large, and the 1. 
 Ufe is this, That ye would tak; it for a moft cer- 
 tain Truth, w hich the Scnp.urcs doth fo fre« 
 quently ano fignificantly hold forth; That our 
 Lordjefus, in performing theWork of Redemp- 
 tion, had much fau Soul-travel and forrow; the 
 Faith of this is very ufeful to demonftrat the 
 gr-ar love of God; and of the Mediator ; For 
 doub icfs the more Suffering be undergone by 
 the Mediator, the more Love kythes therein to 
 the Elect. 2. Itfervestoholdeut the Soveraig- 
 nity and Juftice of God, and the hombleneis of 
 Sin. 3- In refpect of God's People, it'sufeful, 
 that they may be through, and clear in the reali- 
 ty and worth of Chrift's Satisfaction ; He hav- 
 ing no other end in it, but to fatisfie Juftice 
 for their Sin. 4. It's ufeiul to Ihtw the vainty 
 and emprinefs of Mens fuppofed, and fancied 
 Merits, and oi any thing that can be 3lleadgei 
 to be in Mans Suffering, or doing for the fatis- 
 fying of Divine Juftice, feingir dcew lb deep on 
 Chnit the Cautioner ; And here two Qio^Errourt 
 come to be Refuted, and Reprobaed ; One of 
 the SQtinianty whofeek quite to overturn Chrift's 
 Satisfaction ; and another of the Papifts, that mi- 
 nifti His Satisfaction, and extenuat and derogat 
 from the great pnviledges of the pardon of Sin, 
 as if any thing could procure it, but this SatiV 
 faction of Chrift b> His Soul-travel } both which 
 are abundantly refuted by this Text. 
 
 Bit to fpeak a word more particularly to the 
 Firft, For clearing of which ye will ask, What 
 could there be to affect the holy humane Soul 
 of our LcrdrOr what was that wherein Hi'SouI- 
 fufterings did confift ? But before we fpeak to 
 this, we would premit this Word of Adveitile- 
 mer t in the entry, That 'here art two forts of 
 pumflimer.ts, or penal effect:* of Sin . The 1. 
 Scit, aie fuch as are fimp'y penal and fatisf) ii g, 
 as proceeding from feme extrinfick caufe. The 
 2d U rt are finful ; one Sin in the righteous 
 Judgtmcnr of God drawing rn another ; And 
 this prrcteds not limply from the nature of Ju- 
 ftice, but fion. the rnrure ofa meer finful Crea- 
 ture, and fo from an intrinfick caufc of a Sinful 
 Principle in the Creature; Now when we fpeak 
 cf the Scul iuficrnosot Chrift, which He was 
 put to, in fat'sfying for the Sins cfthe EJoct; 
 We mean of the orrcr, that is, Sufferings that 
 are limply Penal . Fci there u as no latrinCok 
 Principle of Corrupt Nature, nor groi.nd of 
 Challenge in Him. as there is in finful Crew res; 
 And thtreu'icwc arc to conceive of His tool- 
 f offerings, as of lometh ng inflicted ficm with- 
 I i 2 out; 
 
a 4 2 Ifiiab. 55. 
 
 our ; and arc not to conceive of them as we do 
 of finful Creatures, or that have Sin in them, 
 whereof he was altogethci free. 
 
 Having premitted this, we fliall fpeak a little 
 to thefe two, 1. To that wherein tbisScul- 
 fuffering did notconful. 2. To that wherein 
 it did confift. For the former wherein it was 
 not. 1. We are not to fuppofe,or imagine any 
 *&u*\ feoaration betwixt bis God head, and his 
 J, as if t^ere had been an interruption 
 oft;.. Perfbnal Un'on ; no: fo, for the Union 
 ofthe two NatUi ss in one Perfon remains ftill, 
 H( 1 '''!', though (as was bin* 
 
 fed before} tic e wis a JuJpcnlion of fuchaMea 
 i rr, ?t lead 0! the fenfible comforting influ- 
 ence of the DivineNru'e from the Human, as 
 had wont to be let out rheterojAnd yet there 
 was even then a fuftaining power flowing from 
 the Goi-head, thatfupported Him, fo, that he 
 was not fw allowed up of that, which would have 
 cjuite and for ever fwallowed up all Creatu 
 
 s evident in his crying. My God, My God why 
 luttf thou forjtken me ? Which mews, that though 
 the Union and Relation flood firm, yet a com- 
 fortable Influence was much retrained. 2. There 
 was no finful Fretting, no Impatiencie, nor car- 
 nal Anxiety in our Lord ; all along hisSufFerings; 
 for he did moft wilFngly undergo them t and 
 had a kindly lubmiflion in them all; As is evi- 
 dent by thefe Words, But for this caufe came I'm* 
 to this hour; and not vr.y will, but thy will be done t 
 5. There was not in him any diftrufl: of God's 
 Love, nor any unbelief of his Approbation be- 
 fore God, neither any the lead Diffidence, as to 
 the Out-gate ; For in the Sadeft and Sharpeftcf 
 all his Conflicts, he was clear abeut his Fathers 
 Love to him ; that the Relation flood firm, and 
 tha'; there would be a comfortable Out-gate, as 
 his Prayer before fhews, wherein he flyles God, 
 Father- And thefe hardeft Jike Words uttered 
 by Him on the Crofs, My God % my God, why hail 
 tkou forfaken Me ? do alio flicvv, wherein twice 
 over He confidently aflerts his Intereft, My God, 
 my God ; Though he was moft terribly afftulted 
 yet the Tentation did not prevail over him, 
 4 Neither are we to conceive, that there was 
 any inward Confufion, Challenge, or Gnawing 
 of Confcience in him, fuch as is in defperat Sin- 
 ners caft under the Wrath of God,becaufe tfcere 
 was no inward caufe of it, nor any thing that 
 could breed it ; yea, even in thst wherein he 
 was Cautioner, he was clear, that he was doing 
 the Farhers will, and fimfhing the Work that 
 was committed to him ; and that even under 
 the greateft apprehenflons of Wrath; Therefore 
 all fuch things are to be guarded agajnft,in our 
 
 *»fi »*? Serm. 44. 
 
 Thoughts, leafl rtherwavswe refleft upon our 
 Innocent and Spotlefs Mediator. But 2. To 
 fpeak a Word to that wherein it doth confift ? 
 i« It did confift ( as we hinted before ) in the 
 God- head's fufpending it's Comfortable Influ* 
 ence for a time fi om the humaneNaturejThough 
 our Lord had no Culpable Anxiety, yet he had 
 a tinlefs Fear coofidering him as Man; and that 
 the infinitG^d was rn_,ry, and Execuving An* 
 giily the Scnrenc- or the Law againft him, 
 ( Though be wis not angry at him conii Jcred as 
 in himfeir\ bur as he flood in the room of the 
 E!e&, as their Cautioner, of w^om he was to 
 exa£r. the Payment or their Dcbr) he could not 
 but be in .i wonderful amazment, as the Word 
 is, Mark '4. 35 he was jre amazed. And Hb. 
 5 7 It's faid what he bad off] red v.pfrayers^and (up* 
 plications wi'.hftrorg cryes and lean, unto him that 
 was abh to fave him from death ,he was heard in that 
 which he feared, W ic^i looks to his wreuling in 
 the Garden. 1 PL- had an inexpreflible fenfe 
 of grief ; not only from the petty outward af- 
 flictions that he was under ; ( which may be 
 called petty comparatively, though they were 
 very great in themfelves) but alfo from theTor- 
 rent of Wrath flowing in, on his Soul ; That 
 Cup behoved to have a moft bitter Relilh, and 
 an inconceivable Anguifh with it, when he. 
 was a drinking of it, as appeared in his Agony, 
 O ! as he was Pained and Pinched in his Soul : 
 The Soul being efpecially fenfible of the Wrath 
 of God, 3. It conlifted in a fort of wonderful 
 horrour, which no queftion, the marching up 
 ( to fay fo ) of fo many mightySquadrons of the 
 highly peovecked Wrath of God ; and making 
 fo Furious and Formidable an AlTault on the 
 Innocent humane Nature of Chrift ( th;t con- 
 fidered Amply in it'sfelf, was a finit Creature) 
 behoved necefTarily to be attended with; Hence 
 he prays, F*thsr t tflt bepoflible, let this cup depart 
 from me; Intimating, that there was a Sinlefs 
 Loathnefs, and a holy Abhorrence to meddle 
 with it, and to adventure upon it. Though 
 we have not hearts rightly to conceive, nor 
 Tongues fuitably to exprefs thefe moft exquifite 
 Sufferings, yet thefe things fhew, that our Lord 
 Jefus was exceedingly put to it in his holy hu- 
 mane Soul. 
 
 The 2. Ufe Serves to flir us up to wonder at 
 the Love of God the Father, that gave his own 
 Son, and exafted the ElecVs Debt offhim ; and 
 made the Sword of his juftice to awake againft 
 him, and to wonder at the Love of the Son, 
 that ingadged to be furetyfor themi And hum- 
 bled himfelffoLow to life them up;lt was won- 
 derful, tha; he ihould (roup to become Aim, and 
 
 to 
 
Sermi 44. f*lsb H- 
 
 to be a poor Man, and to die ; but more that he 
 (hould come this length, as to be in an Agony 
 of Soul, and to be fo toffed with a Temped: of 
 Terrible Wrath, though he was no? capable of 
 Tofli.ig as meer Ci^aturesare : This being well 
 con!idered,would highten exceedingly thepraife 
 of Grace in the Church, and very much warm 
 the Hearts of Sinners 10 Him: And for prefling 
 this Ufe a little, and for provoking to Holy 
 Wondering at this Jove ; confider thefe Four.i. 
 Who it was that fuffered thus ? Even he that 
 was without guile, he that was God's di light, His 
 Fathers Fdiow, the exprefs image of his p'erfon, He 
 that made all things, and who will one Day be 
 Judge of all ; It's even He that thus Suffered. 2. 
 What he fuffered, even the Wrath of God, and 
 the Wrath of God in fuch a Degree and Mea- 
 fure, as was equivalent to all that the Elect 
 ihouldhave SurTVied Eternally in Hell; which 
 preffeth forth from Him thefe Expredions which 
 we hinted at before. 3. For whom all this was, 
 which mkes it appear to be yet more wonden 
 full ; It was for a number ofloft ftraying flieep, 
 That mere turned every one to his own way, as it is V< 
 6\For Dyvours and debauched Brankrupts,that 
 were Enemies to, and in Tops with him; Some 
 of them Spitting in his Face, fome of them u- 
 pon the Confutation of taking away His Life, 
 as may be gathered from Alls 2. Yea, take the 
 beft of them, for whom he fuffered; even thofe 
 whom He took to the Garden with him, to be 
 Witneflesof his Agony ; and we will find them 
 fleeping, when he is in the hight of it, and is 
 thereby ca ft into a Top Sweat offilood ; and 
 out of Cafe to Watch, and bear Burden with 
 Him, but for one hour ; It had been much for 
 Him to have Suffered for Righteous Perfonsibut 
 as it is, Rom. y. God commends his love to us in this, 
 that while we were yet (inner s, Ckrijl died for us. 
 4» % The manner how He fuffered, to wit, moft 
 Willingly and Patiently;though he eafily could 
 have commanded more than twehat legions of An. 
 gels to refcue Him, yet He would not, but 
 tyould needs be apprehended by a number of 
 poor Worms ; that will with many moe, one 
 day crawl at his Foot-fiool; That being the O- 
 ver-word of every Article of the Covenant of Re- 
 demption on the Mediators part, both as ro the 
 Undertaking, and the performance, / delight to 
 do thy will, O my God • And now, for what End 
 are all thefe thingsfpoken ? Is it think ye only, 
 that we mould fpeak, and that yefliould hear of 
 them, and no more? Surely no, It's a wonder 
 that this which concerns us fo nearly, is not 
 more affefting to us : Are there any here that 
 
 Verf. ii. > 2 4 j 
 
 have any hope of benefite from ChrilTs Suffe- 
 rings; or that have win comfortably to apply 
 them ? do not ye behold a depth of Love here, 
 that cannot be founded? Is it fui table, thickye, 
 that Sinners, who have the hope of Heaven 
 through ChriiVs Sufferings, fliould be fo little 
 moved at the Hearing and Reading cf themr He 
 fuffers much by Sinners, when His Love fhin« 
 ing forth in His fufferingsis not.tak'.n notice of; 
 I would pofeyou, when was your heart fuitabiy 
 affc&ed with thinking en them? Or, when did 
 ye make it an Errand to God, purpoiely to blels 
 Him for this, that He fent His Son to fVrTcr,and 
 that the Mediator came and fuffered fuch things 
 for ycu Sinners? This is a Part, and a conft- 
 derable Part of your Duty; And Gratitude fliould 
 conftrain to it, and you fhould not Minch, 
 nor Dercgat from the Juft EO.eem of His Love, 
 though, through your own Fault, ye be not 
 fure of your Intereft in it, yet His condefcer.* 
 ding Grace is not the lefs. 
 
 Ufe 3. Behold here* as upon the one fide, the 
 exceeding fe verity of Juftice,and terriblenefsof 
 Wrath ; So upon the other fide, the exceeding 
 Abominablenefs, and Defperarnefs of SimWould 
 ye know what Sin is, what W 7 rath is, how JuH: 
 and Severe the Law is ? Read all thefe herejeven 
 in what is exacted by Juftice off the tautioner, 
 for the Elect's Sins; the moft part of Men and 
 Women, alas ! do not believe how evil and bit- 
 ter a thing Sin is, and therefore they Dally and 
 Play with it "» They know not what Wrath is, 
 and therefore they dar hazard on it ; they know 
 not how ftrict the Law is, and therefore they 
 promife themfelves Peace, Though they walk in the 
 imagination cf their own hearts ; and etdddrunktimejs 
 to thirfl ; But, O! fecure Sinners, what meanye? 
 Have ye, or can ye have any hope,that God will 
 deal more gently with you, than He dealt with 
 his own Son, when he was but Cautioner, and 
 the Sinner only by imputation ; Ye are finic 
 Creatures, and drink in Sin as the Ox drinks 
 water, and have an inward finful Principle, and 
 an evilConfcience, filled with juft grounds of ma- 
 ny Challcnges,conlider with yourfelves, what a 
 defprat condition, under inevitable&intollcrab!« 
 Wrath ye have to look for> who have no ground 
 to look otherwaysonGod than as anEnemv; when 
 Wrath was fo horrible to Innocent JcfusChnTr, 
 who had no Sin, no Challenge, no Doubt of an 
 Interefr in God, what wiU it be to yoy ? Cer- 
 tainly the Day is coming, when many of you 
 will think ye have greatly beguiled and cheated 
 your klves in thinking, that Ji.ftice would be 
 ro taiily iitiJicd as ye did : 6 ! then ye will be r 
 
 1 * ' &#**«*% 
 
246** lfahk&i* 
 
 made ro know to your cod theNature of Wrath 
 andjuftice, and the Nature a^vq, who would 
 never fufreij tKefe tilings to L'ght before : The 
 Cafe of the Rich Glutton in Hell may perfwade 
 many, tn.it the Law isftrick and that Sin i r an 
 ill and bitter thing, and that VVuthis lore to 
 bide : Therefore let me intreat you, as ye would 
 efchew the WrarhofGod, and the L.aih of His 
 revenging Juftice, beware r-fSin, dally not with 
 it, 2s ye would not have it aggravated by this 
 Circumftance, above many, to t ye hazarded 
 to commit if, upon the confiderat on of Gcd r s 
 Goodnefs, that in Reafon (hould have led you 
 to Repentance* 
 
 Ufe 4. Sec here the abfolure necefTity that 
 lyes on Sinners, who hear this Gofpel, to re- 
 ceive Chrift by Faith, and to improve His Satif» 
 faftion for obtaining of Life through Him; For 
 one of theft two muft be refolved on, either to 
 come to this Reckoning with Juftice your felves 
 or to endavour the removal of Wrath by the 
 satisfaction of Chrift ; there being no other way 
 to come to freedom from Guilt, and from the 
 Wrath that Guilt draws on: That Chrifl Jelus 
 Suffered thus, as Sinners Cautioner, it fays, that 
 wheie-everSin is, God willexaclfat'sfafTionjand 
 where He exacts, He does it Severely, though 
 mod Juftly » and if He exa& it Severely off the 
 Cautioner, what will He do with the Dyvour 
 Debtor, cfpecially when He hath flighted the 
 Cautioner,8c defpifed the Grace offered through 
 Him ? And therefore not only, in refpett of the 
 Command, but of the Confequent that will fol- 
 low the Difobedience of it, be exhorted, if ye 
 mind not to take your hazard of Wrath, to en- 
 deavour,^ God's way to get your Intereft in this 
 Satisfaction which the Cautioner hath made well 
 fecured; There is here a lblid ground for Faith, 
 to expert that this Sarisfa&ior. will do the turn 
 
 y^rfe ir. Scrm. 4?. 
 
 of all them who will make ufe of it ; And a 
 meft prefling Motive to engage them that are 
 lying under Sin, to imbrace, to dole with, and 
 to reft upon this offered Satisfaction, that this 
 Grace be not received in viin ; Is there not a 
 Teftimony in your Confciences of the Former, 
 and why do ye not make ufe of the LatterrWill 
 ye but once be prevailed with.to put your felves 
 to it thus, What if I be made to Reckon for my 
 own Sins? What honid Wrath will I meet with 
 when the Mediator had fuch fore Soul travel ; 
 even when there was a Covenant-relation (lan- 
 ding ftill, not doubted ef, betwixt the Father 
 and Himj when formidable Wrath fhall be fcen 
 palpably purfuing me the Sinner, having no Co- 
 venant-relation to fuppcrt me ? We would no$ 
 put it to your choice ; Whether ye will count 
 or not ; for that muft be, and fhall be, whether 
 ye Choofe or Refufe ; Ir's appointed for all men 
 once to die, and afrer to come to judgment ; 
 And we muft all appear b-foie the judgment feat 
 ofChriftj But that which we would put to your 
 Cl oke, is the way of coming ro rhrjudgmentj 
 and Reckoning, and there are but two ways;ei- 
 ther ye muft ftep to at your own hand, or ye 
 muft berake you to Chrift's Righteoufnefs, as 
 being rh roughly convinced of the necefTity of it, 
 and hat it will Co your turn .' The Day cf the 
 Lrrd wi 1 difcover, that many have fpoken of 
 their Faith, and Repentance, that never really 
 exercifed the fame. I fhall now fay no mo:e» 
 only remember, that it's a fearful th.vg to fall /«- 
 to the hands of the living God; who, when His 
 Wrath is kindled but a little, can caufe the 
 ftouteft and proudeftof His Enemies to perifli, 
 in hemidftof all their Defigns and Projects > 
 They will all then be found to be happy wki 
 have put their trujl in Him. 
 
 SERMON XLV. 
 
 ISAIAH LHI. XL 
 Verf. 11. He [hall fee of the travel tf his foul, and jlaU be Jatisfcd: by hit knovledgf fhall my righteous fervant 
 juilifie many ; for he jhall btar their iniquities. 
 
 ALL Scripture is given by infpiration of God % 
 and is profitable *or doctrine , for reproof, 
 for correction, for inflruftion in righteouf- 
 nefs, that the man of God may te made 
 perfecl. throughly furni {be ■> unto all good 
 norkt, and that His People may be made wife unto 
 fahation ; Yet thefc Scriptures ivhcrei \ ourLord 
 Jefus is holden forth more clearly, are eminent- fingularly fo ; that being the very Lite ot tn« 
 Jy ufeful; He being the Foundation and Ground Covenant, and the very Door, by, and ih ™£g* 
 
 of all, to whom the Law and the Prophets bear 
 witnefs; and they arc only profitable ro us, in 
 the Eftate wherein we are, in fo far as they ' re- 
 late to Him, and point Him < ut to us ; And 
 we may further fay, that thefeScripturcs,where-. 
 in Hi* Sufferings and Death are holden forth, 
 in the Richnefs and Fruitfulnefs of them, are 
 
which, weftep from Death to Life; and what- 
 ever they be to others, futc they have a fpecial 
 Swectnefs in them to knfible Sinners ; And 
 therefore the Sum cfrhe Gofptl, and ot Saving 
 Knowledge, is by the Apo.'k, 2 Or. a- 2x0m- 
 ptndedinr^ knowledge of Qhrifi, And of him cru- 
 cified which unfolds His very Hcait and Bowels 
 to us. . . ,. . 
 
 The Prophet hath been pointing out this in 
 feveral Ftrjts, and hath hinted at the effects of 
 His Sufferings in the former verfe : And now in 
 thefe Words, he puts a new Title on them, cal- 
 ling them the travel of 'Chnjl's foul ; Not only to 
 fetout the exceeding greatnelsofthem,'- -lit with 
 refpect to rhe forego-ng Words; wherein it's 
 faid, Hefhall fee his feed-, Which is repeated here, 
 when it's laid, Hefosllbefatisfed; So that as a 
 Mo. her is in Travel, for bunging forth of a 
 Child ; So fays he, (hall Chrifl be put to Soul- 
 travel, for bringing Life and Immortality to the 
 Seed given to Him, to be faved by Him ; And 
 feing He is put to Travel, He mull needs bring 
 for h, and/ff his feed: Here we may allude to 
 that of I aiak 66 9 Shall I bnvg to the birth, and 
 not caufc to bring forth ? faith the Lord ; fball I caufe 
 U bung forth, and fhut the womb ? faith thy God. 
 
 We have fpokencfthe Natuie and Greatnefs 
 of thefe Sufferings : Now ere we proceed to 
 anv moe Obje mat ions, we would fpeak a Word 
 further to the Ufe of this ; it being indeed an 
 Eater,out of which comes Meat ; and a Stn ng, 
 out of which comes Sweet i thefe Pangs hav- 
 ing calmed and quieted the P-nus ind Miowres 
 (to fpeak fo ) of many Traveling Souls, and 
 brought forth a Birhat Iaft. 
 
 And therefore, befide what I fp:ike to in the 
 Ufe the laft day, I would add this, That we 
 would enJeavoui to have rhe folid Faith, not 
 Dnly ofhis Suff-ri"us imprinted citcply on cur 
 hearts ; That ( I fay ) the Sufferings ofa D, ing, 
 B]ood«fwe*tingCiuiil,Wr<;fUirg and Strugling, 
 cv • n 'o his t*cing in an Agony, it the Wia h 
 af God, hi putting up ftrong Cryes wi^hTears, 
 Bfeiy be bom in < n om heaitsi and thatwemay 
 rhr ughly he pcrfwaded ot rhe gita nefs of the 
 tVoik ofR-Jcmpri^n, and that i: was a moil 
 Z*ear arulCoftl Bargain to Chrifl: ; lor it was 
 not Gold noi Si ver,'it wa' net Kingdoms nor 
 pfibJe IVorlds, nor Angelsthat weie g v^n as a 
 Price for E'cct Sinners ; bi t ir was th . precious 
 Blood o r the Son of God , Nay, it was the bit- 
 tr and fhaip Sou 'travel, Sadnefs Sorrow, and 
 fVgony of cur Loid Jefus ; w ;ich ( to fpeak 
 gmparativdy,) was bey nd the fhedJing ofl lis 
 Blood: And wfrar a Pi ice doyc think th stobc? 
 Hiac he that made all, and prcferved ail iatheir 
 
 Being, and was before all things, mould come 
 thus low, as to be a Man, and a mean forrow- 
 ful fuffering and dying Man, yea to be a curfed 
 Man, and to go out of this Life, as being un- 
 der a Curfe, yet being always the beloved Son 
 of the Father; And being even then, when at 
 his lowed, the Prince of the l^vgs of the earth, and- 
 fhining forrh glorioully, in the Power, and 
 Jlic^es, and Frcenefsof His Love and Grace ; 
 Sure this wonderful low ftooping,and humbling 
 of Himfelf, Preacheth out the Love that ftr?it- 
 ned and conftrained him to run upon that which 
 was his own De.ith, there being no hands that 
 could have taken away His Life, had henot wil- 
 lingly ldid it down, which he did with delight; 
 Could we make ufe of this, there is much here 
 to be faid for our ufe. 
 
 We {hall draw what we would fay on it, to 
 thefe four Heads. 1 To fomethingfor Indu- 
 ction. 2. To fomething for Contention. 3. To 
 fomething for Exhortation. 4. To ibmething 
 for Reproof, and Kxpoftulation. 
 
 I fay, 1. Itferves for Inflruftion^nd ye would 
 from it be inftrucledin feveral things- 1 How 
 to think aright of the giear Severity of the 
 Juftice of God, and of the horrour of Wrath, 
 and of the -dreadful confeq'Jents of Sin, which 
 it will mod: certainly have following onit;May 
 it net make your Souls to tremble, to think 
 upon, and conlider, that our Lord Jefus was 
 brought ro fuch a pafs, as to be in inch an A- 
 &ny, to be fo exceeding fornwful, and even maii 
 ed : To be fo troubled in Soul, th.t t-e was 
 thereby n ade to fwejt great drops of Blood, and 
 to be wrefrl ng v irh fome^har. rhar his holy 
 humane Natuic ha a barring at. O! tii defer! 
 and wagers of Sin is d'cad'ul, when the Law 
 puriues it's Conttoverfie, and when ju)H e ex- 
 acts what a broken Covenant deierves : Alas ! 
 The m^ft of men believe not this, but it's here 
 that may convince us, what an evil tiling Sin 
 is, and what a dreadful thing it is to fall into the 
 hands 1 fan angry God: O! thatye would think 
 upon it,that ye may beware of Sin, by all means, 
 and may always be minding that Word which 
 ou Savioui hath, // thefe things be done in the 
 green tree, what /?jt// be dme in the dry} If it 
 W2S fo d ne with H m, who in the Action ( rfl 
 may fo call ir) was performing Hil lathers all, 
 and giving an admirable proof of his refpect 
 to the Honoui of God \ Wh.it will He do to 
 the dry fttcks, the damned Reprobar, who have 
 flighted the offer ofhisGrace, dcfpifedtheSuA 
 ferin^s of a Mediator, and difdained t^ be re- 
 claimed? Hcax ir,2nd tumble, and be ped'waded, 
 
 that 
 
EU6 ifaith $3; 
 
 tfct the horror that Sin (hall bring upon the Sin- 
 ner, when God comes to reckon with him, is 
 inexpieflible. 2. Be inftru&ed,and fee here, how 
 great the difficulrieis of mating peace with God, 
 when once His Law is broken; A thing that 
 is little believed by mod, who are difpofed to 
 think that they will get God fooner pleafed and 
 picihed, than rhey will get their Ne'ghbour, or 
 Alifrei pacified and pleafed ; which fayes, that 
 either thty think nothing, or but very little of 
 Us Wrath, or that they will foon get it put 
 by, that a .word will do that ; Hence it is, that 
 they think, thit an equivalent Price is nn ne- 
 ceffary for fatisfying tfc< Juftice of God, and for 
 preventing of His Wrarh ; but: if it be fo eafie a 
 thing to pacify God, and to farisfie His Juftice, 
 Why did Our Lord undertake the Debt ? Why 
 did he beer me fo low, and pay fo dear aPrice, 
 to prccuiea difchsrge of ii ? Why was his Soul 
 put to fuch travel, when no Iham^nor reproach 
 ror Pain of His bkfTed Body could do it, but 
 his Soul in the fore travel thereof, behoved to 
 be made a Suffice for Sin ? Sinners grofly ig- 
 norant mi ftake.s of the Juftice of God, appear 
 palpably in this ; There was never aPerfon that 
 was called to it, and did undertake to remove 
 God's Wrath from others, but our Lordjefus; 
 And ye fee here what it coft Him ; And what 
 do ye imagine will be the lot of others, who 
 fhallly under ir eternally. 3. See here the worth 
 and weight of a Soul, and the great moment of 
 the Salvacion of a Soul, immortal Souls are of 
 muchwonh, and though Men often fell them 
 at an cheap and eiile rare, yet our Lord bought 
 Souls dear; it's very true, Souls conlldered in 
 tbxmfelv,es,aYe pot worthy of the price laid down 
 for riicm ; But being confidered with refpecr to 
 the end for which they are deflgned ; to wit, 
 the glorifying of the Riches of the Grace and 
 Mercy of God, and thcii enj ying if him, they 
 are of much worth ; Ah ! that men fhould fell 
 their Sods !o very cheap,when our Lord bought 
 foals fo very dear. 4 See here, the folidity, 
 fulnef^ a d iatisfa&onnefs of the Price that Je- 
 fus Chrift: gave to Juftice, for the Souls of His 
 People ? It cannot fure but be a fully fatisfy in jj 
 Price, that fuch a Perfon fhculd fuffer and fuf- 
 for fo much, even to be put to Soul travel, for 
 which there could be no reafon, neither could 
 it have any other end, tut the fatisfy ing of Di- 
 vinejuftice, for the Jins of the ble&.j and con- 
 iidep.ng thefe His Sufferings in the degree of 
 them, which was fo very high ; and in (he rife 
 of them, which was Gods purpofc and decree; 
 and in the end of them,which was to fatisfy the 
 Juftice of God, and to make His Grace Glori- 
 
 *tf* Ir - Sctm. 4 < 
 
 ous, it cannotbmbea moftfolld, full, 2nd fa- 
 tisfy ing Price ; So that a Soul may have here a 
 fufficientgiound to build its Solvation upon j 
 & the more low that the Mediator was brought 
 by His Suff>iing , the more folid and ficker is- 
 the ground of ou: Taith, yet, this is the end 
 why He came fo low. 5. See here, how great- 
 ly we are in thrift's Debt, that when Juftice 
 was provocked,ai d Singers had lofed themtclves 
 and when nothing elfe could be admitted, but 
 all other Sacrifice^ were rejecVd, he was graci- 
 oufly pleafed to yield himfelf to be the Sacri- 
 fice, by his extream and moft exquifite Suffer- 
 ings, moft pleafant'y and heartfomly, faying, 
 Lo, I come t in thcvolurn of thy book, it ii written of 
 me, I delight to do thy will, O my God ; by the which 
 rvill, fayeth the Apoftle, Hb- 10. we arc fantlificd. 
 And by it wt haveaccefsto EternaiLife; /thad 
 been much, if he had made a icw World for 
 Believers to dwell in, ncy it had been much, if 
 he had provided Angels to mollify and mitigate 
 their Sufferings, and to give them drops of wa- 
 teT to cool their Tongues in Hell, bur that he 
 his own biefftd felf ih uld decline noScul-tra- 
 vel befidt Bodily SLfferirgs, to redeem them 
 from the Curfc ; how much, how unfpeakabJy 
 much are they cblid*ged to Jefus Chrift ? If we 
 werefuitabiy fenfible of oui haz:rd f and clear 
 as to our intereft in thefe Sufferings,it could not 
 be, but our Souls would leap fome way within 
 us, as th* Babe did in Elizabeths womb, on this 
 confideration, that a Cautioner and Saviour hath 
 come, and payed the Price that was due by us, 
 to the Juftice of God ; This is a greater obli- 
 gation than his making of the World, for an 
 habitation to Sinners; nay a greater obligation 
 than his giving of Heaven to us, if abftracled 
 from Chrift : O .' So well as it would become 
 us, in reading of thefe Words to ftardand paufe 
 and to fay, is it fo indeed. that Chnfr gave him- 
 felf thus for Sinners. and for mt?This is it which 
 opens the door of accefs ro God, and makes a 
 Bridge over the Gulf, that is b twixt God and 
 Sinners ; He was fmitten, that by his Stroaks,) 
 and Stripes health might be brought to us, he] 
 was content to undergo fore Soul-travel, that' 
 thereby Life might be brought to us. 
 
 That which we mainly aim at in this Branch 
 of the U/V, is, That ye would look to theMer- 
 cy purchr.fed by this Soul travel, as your great 
 obligation, and at what a rateynu have the offer 
 ofGrace,and accefs to Heaven ; When He mad<J 
 the World, H.aven and Earth, Sun, Moon, 
 Stars. &c. He fpake (he Word, and it was donej 
 there needed no more, but let fuch a thing be, and 
 it was, but the Work of Redemption was of ar,o- 
 
 thei 
 
Serm. 4^ 
 
 Ifaiah. 
 
 ther fort, and brought about at a high and dear- 
 Therefore among all the things which 
 
 Price on 
 
 errate , 
 
 the Gofpel holds out, put a fpecial 
 thefe things that are the fruits of Chrilt s Soul* 
 travel ; and confider what a flightit willbe.and 
 what guilt it will involve you in,that He lhould 
 purchafe Redemption fo dear, and make offer 
 ofitfr freely, and ye fhould care little or no- 
 thing for it. 6. Beinfiruftcdanenttheabfolute 
 neceflity of being in Chrifts Debf, for the Ufe- 
 making and Application of His purchafc;is there 
 any man that can merit it, or render him a re- 
 compenceforit? if nor, and if there beanecef- 
 fity of Heaven and Salvation ; then fure there is a 
 neceflity of being in Chrift's Debt,and of making 
 ufe of his purchafe, for the attaining of that 
 which he harh purchafed ; and men arc not 
 hardly dealt with, nor ill come to, when this 
 blefTed neceflity is impofed upon them, not to 
 fati.fiefor themfelves ( for what can they bring 
 that will be an eqniva enc Price? ) but to ac- 
 quiefce in his fatisfaft on made to Juftice for 
 them, and the rather,thatthey cannot bind him 
 to make application of it : Folks are very rea* 
 dily given to one of thefe two, either to mif- 
 ken, and pafs by r>e Mediator, and fo to pre- 
 fume to make a new ^a'gain for their Peace, by 
 offering to drink the ^fclvrs fo* themfelvts, of 
 that Cup which Chrift dta k of, for that only 
 was the price of S u'sOr if they efteem ofChrifts 
 Satisfaction, they think to oblige him, and to 
 procure from him the application of his Pur- 
 chafe, by their prayers and good living : but 
 [what is there in this.more than is in the former? 
 what Price is there that can be given to him, 
 that is equivalent to his SufferingsPlt muft there- 
 fore of neceflity come to this, That as it was 
 freely purchafed, fo it is freely applyed > and it 
 were very fuitablefrr Sinners to carry the Faith 
 of thii along with them in their bofom ; if He 
 procured Heaven to us, by His Soul fuffering 
 and Travel, we cannot procure it to our fclves 
 and therefore a necefliry lyes on all that would 
 be at Heaven, to be in Chrift's common for it ; 
 and this is the up-fhot of all, that dyvour Sin- 
 ners may know, that they are in his common: 
 As for his purchafefo for the application of it. 
 Ufe. a. This Do&rine yields much confola- 
 tion, and it is the fountain and rife of it, His 
 Soul-travel boughr it all, and makes way to the 
 bringing of us to the pofTefllon of it • And in 
 many refpe&s, our Confolation depends on it ; 
 «re fhalllook upon itas the life thereof more 
 generally, in thefe refpefts. f. That toa poor 
 Sinner lying under the Curfe, there is a pofli- 
 bility of getting it put by, and kept off, that 
 Heaven is not defperat, and that the fcai of 
 
 53. Verfe if. ; *4? 
 
 coming before the Tribunal of Juftice is not ab- 
 solute ; for our L«t<1 kafh fatisried Juftice ; the 
 Price that he laid down was not for nought,buc 
 ' levelled at this very Scope, as the Apoftle hath 
 it, a Cor. 5. ult. He war made Jin for us, that kntw 
 no Jin, that we Sinners might be made the righteouf" 
 nejsof God in y orthrough him ? and what ftrong 
 Confolation is this, for a Sinner under theCurfe 
 of God,to have this word fpoken to him,though 
 thou cannot fatisfie Juftice for thy felf.yet tiierc 
 is a way laid down to fatisfie it for thee ? the 
 Mediator having the Price that was required, 
 propofedtohim, did not ftick at the Terms,buC 
 held the Bargain, and hath accordingly i&ually 
 performed it. a. It is a Confolation in this re- 
 fpeft, That not only is there a compleat Satis- 
 faction given tojuftice, but a willing Saviour* 
 ready to make that Satisfaction forthcoming, 
 and to make it forthcoming freely ; can there be 
 a greater proof of our Lord Jefus His Love to 
 Sinners than this ? That when they were confr> 
 dered with all their Debt lying on their heads, 
 He undertook this Soul-travel for them, topro- 
 cure them Salvation from Wrath and Juftice ; 
 This is more than His giving them H s Word 
 for it, though that had been enough i it's more 
 than the giving them His Oath,thus to commend 
 his love, As it is, Johnt$. 13. Greater live b*tk 
 no man than this, that a man fheuld lay down his life 
 for his friend ; but fayes the Apoftle, Rom. 5. 8, 
 10. God sommeuds hi; live to us, that tthiltwe were 
 jet ftnners, yea enemies, Chrift died for us; This good 
 Shepherd laid down His Life for His Sheep. 3. 
 It's a Confolation in this refpect, That there is 
 alfo a willingnefs in the Lord Jehovah, the pro- 
 voked Party, to accept of this Satisfaction, and 
 to abfolvethe Elect, on account of this Satisfac- 
 tion; For what I pray was all this Soul-travel 
 that the Lord underwent?But Jehovah his frank 
 ferring or the Debt of the Elect on'him, accor- 
 ding to the tranfaction that had pad in the Co- 
 venant of Redemption, he would never have 
 made the Sword of His Juftice fo awake againft 
 the man that was his Fellow, if he had not becri 
 content to accept of hisfatisfaccion for them that 
 fhould make ufe ofit ; for we have not on'y the? 
 Mediator, and his SatisfaHfn to look upon in 
 this Soul-travel, but alio the contrivance of the 
 Covenanr,called in the former words,?** • pleafura 
 efthe Lord, wjio; while we were enemies gave 
 his Son,and was content to want him for a rime 
 ( to fpeak fo ) and to be a diftinct party to pur- 
 fue him, is not this then a good Bargain, when) 
 we have a willing Mediator, and Merchant, 
 content to give the Price and Satisfaction, and 
 a gracious and willing God, content to accept 
 Kk of 
 
248 ^ Jfaiah CI, 
 
 of this Satisfaction, and born nfthcm wmcnt tu 
 make the Application of it to us freely ; As it 
 is, Reytl> 3. 18. Here is matter of ftrong Con- 
 folation, the ground whereof will not fail, to 
 wit, the Mediators Soul-travel, and the Lord 
 Jehovah wiJl not caft the Bargain, when the poor 
 finnerfayes, I have nothing to pay, but there 
 is a Price in ChrilVs fatisfa&ion offered in the 
 Gcfpel, and the Judge fays, admits it for the 
 Sinner that lay claim to it, as if the Sinner had 
 never finned, or had aftually payed the Price 
 himfelf. 
 
 But 4. Look a little further, and we .villfind 
 more Confolation, though this be much, confi- 
 der a Sinner in a ttmpted condition, and under 
 fad Soul exercife,that wots not what to do with 
 unbelief, with the devil, and with the wrath 
 of God, all which are like to overwhelm and 
 fwallow him up, and rhe heart is like to fink, 
 here is the native and kindly fountain for fuah 
 a Soul to drink at ; That our Lordjefus differ- 
 ed more, and that it was another fort cf Cup 
 chat He drank of, and drank out, and for thefe 
 ends. 1. To take away the fting and bitternefs 
 of thy Cup. a. To procure, and meritoriouf- 
 ly to purchafe a freedom and out gare from thefe 
 Temptations to thee. 3. Alto, that He might 
 be made a fmypathizing High Prieft, and the 
 more crmpaflionat towards the perfoa that 
 fhould be fo tempted, according to that, Htb. 
 a. ult. For that he himfelf hath fuffertd; being temp- 
 ted t he is able to juccour theje that are tempted ; Ht 
 was tempred, that he might have kindly fympa- 
 thy with tempted Souls,and therefore when fuch 
 are ready to fall a fwoon, he dates and dandles 
 them, as it were on his knee, and when they are 
 in hazard to turn their back on the conflict, he 
 comes up with frefh (trength.and recruits them ; 
 So Htb. 4. 1 5. We have not an high pries! which canm 
 not be touched with the feeling a/ our infirmities , but 
 was in all points tempted likt as we are, yet without 
 fin ; We have fuch an High Prieft, as was not 
 .only mocked, and fcorned of Men, and fome 
 way deferted ofGod> but who was tempted, 
 though not from Sin within, ( for He was with* 
 out Sin) yet to Sin, for He was aflaulted by 
 the Devil, and tempted to unbelief, and Other 
 grofsSins, as is dear Matth. 4. though ( as he 
 fayeth himfelf) The prince of this world had no- 
 thing in him ; And he was not only tempted to 
 Sin, but as if he had actually finned,he met with 
 Wrath from all,there is a fweet and ftrong Sym- 
 pathy flawing from fuch bowels, as one Brother 
 hath towards another, yea, inconceivably be- 
 yond the tendered Bowels,that the molt warm- 
 ly loving B rethren in all the World have one to- 
 wards another ; And therefore he knows well 
 
 Vtr h "• Serm. 4 c. 
 
 vrliai Apprcficnffous, Temptations riding thick 
 ( to fptak Jo, ) will attempt to beat in upon poor 
 Souls.and can from experience Sympathize with 
 them ; it is not fo to be underfrood, as if there 
 were any additionalDegree made to hisKndnefL 
 Skill, and Grace, as He is God, thefe being in-* 
 finite in him, as fo confidered, yet he being 
 Man as well as God, or having a humane Na- 
 ture, he hath from his Perfonal experience a 
 Sympathy, and that in a Humane way, though 
 infinitly above what we can conceive, with his 
 own, under their Temptations, and fad Soul' 
 exer-ifes : And feing the Scripture holds out 
 fuch a thing as this, That our high Prieft is a 
 Man that hath bowels of Sympathy, it may fuf- 
 ficiently wan and a Believer to expeft much, 
 good, this and other ways from Chrift, he hav- 
 ing Grace infinit in him, as God, and a tender 
 heart as Man to befriend them, and to commu- 
 nicat, and lee out of that Grace unto them: Ant 
 this is great ground of Confolation to Believers 
 under any Crofs and piece of hard exercife, to 
 know that we have a Mediator, who knows in 
 expsrience.thoHgh not the finfulnefs that accom- 
 panies thefe hard exercifesin us, yet what thefe 
 fears are, of being fhut out from God, and how- 
 dreadful a thing it is to be at controverfie with 
 Him; and is like to thefe, who having come the- 
 row afadTryaJ, and Piece of Exercife them* 
 felves, are thereby the more ready to Sympa- 
 thize with others under it. y. and laftly, The 
 confideration of this may comfort Believers even 
 in their outward affli&ions; it had been another 
 fort of Crofles that they would have been madej 
 to meet with, if he had not taken this Cup of 
 Wrath and drunken it for them ; and therefore 
 they would be comforted, and blefs God, who 
 hath taken this Soul travel from off them, and 
 made way for a Retreat and Sheltcrfor them in 
 him ; and it mould even fhame Believers wl o 
 are leady to think fo much of any little Bit of 
 inward exercife, or of outward Affltftion, feing 
 our blefled Lord Jefus endured fo much, not on- 
 ly outward, and Bodily Affliction, but alfo fo 
 much inward Trouble and Soul-travel, that" 
 thereby their Burden might be made light, and 
 their yoke eafie. 
 
 Ufe 3. For Exhortation, feing our Lordjefus 
 was put to fuch fore Soul-travel, fureit layes a 
 great obligation on them, for whom he Suffer. 
 ed, to endeavour to make fome Suitable and 
 Grateful Returnjfeing therefore we are fo muck 
 in his Common and Debt, we fhould give him 
 a friendly meeting in thefe Four, which this calls 
 for, 1. It calleth for Love to him, that vented 
 fuch Love to us. a. It calleth (or Faith, That 
 
 feing 
 
Serm. 4?. *f*i* b H« 
 
 feing he gave fuch a Price for us, we mould truft 
 our Souls to Him. ^.Iccallethfor Holinefsand 
 Obedience, even living to him,and to the glo- 
 rifying of Him that hath bought us ; This Ar- 
 gument will lure weigh with you, who on fo- 
 lid grounds lay claim to His Purchafe. 4. It 
 calleth for Thankfulnefs, and Praiie, in magni- 
 fying His Gra:e and Love,that hath fo Loved us; 
 And are not all thefe very fuitable and becom- 
 ing, that Sinners fhould Love Him, and that 
 thefe who Love Him not, fhould be Anathema 
 Maranatha, accurfed to the coming of the Lord; 
 that Sinners fhould believe on Him, and be obe* 
 dient to Him, and thankful? 
 
 If ye believe this Truth, this Comfortaole,and 
 Soul ravifhing Truth, let me exhort you, and 
 be exhorted and prevailed with, to love Our 
 Lord Jefus Chrift, and to give Him that anfwer- 
 able refpeft,meeting and welcome that becomes; 
 If we may plead for anything from you, fure we 
 may plead for this ; If it be true that He ingad- 
 ged in fuch a Bargain, in which, if He had not 
 ingadged Himfelf, we had inevitably gone to 
 the pit; and if He hath actually payed the Price 
 which He undertook to pay, Jet your Confci- 
 encesfpeak, if it fhould not melt the hearts of 
 fuch, to whom the benefit of this is offered, 
 with Love to Him? And if ye have the Faith of 
 the Doftrine, can ye deny, but this obligation 
 lyeth upon you ? Look in on your Consciences 
 and hearts, and fee if ye be able to fliift it ; and 
 if ye hadfuirable Palaces for intertaining Him 
 in, if$e be not bound to open to him, and give 
 him patent entry to them, ar**! if your Eyes were 
 .Fountains of Tears; if it would not become you 
 to wafh His Feet with them, and to wipe them 
 With the Hair of your heads ? Would to God 
 that you were under the fuitable impreffion of 
 this, and that ye were by the Gofpel, and the 
 Priviledges ye have by it conftrained to lovethe 
 Lord Jefus Chrift ; It may befome of you think, 
 ^"J'soean that is called for, he fhall not Ivanc 
 it, We afture you it is called for. My Son ( faith 
 lie; give me thine heart ; But we are afraid that 
 though ye will confefs, that this is your Duty, 
 and that ye fhould have Love to him, yet the 
 molt part of you w?nc it: For when we fpeak 
 of Love to Chrift, it is not a Pretext or Appre- 
 hension of Love, that will be taken for Love, 
 J^-nJ 1 Loveas hath thefe Qualifications. i.If 
 LnriU be loved, he will be efteemed of, as the 
 moftexceilent Thing, or Perfon, the moft ex- 
 cellent Bargain, the moft Kind Friend, the moft 
 Loving Husband, and as the moft Full, Com- 
 pleat andabfolure Sufficiency ,or Sufficient One; 
 Ashe isfpoken ofand efteemed of by theSpoufc 
 
 Verf. 1 j, 849 
 
 Can. 5. His countenance is like Lebanon, excellent as 
 the Cedars, his mouth is moft fveet, he it altogether 
 lovely ; The heart is brought to efteem of 
 Him, and to prefer Him beyond all that it can 
 fet the eye upon ; It were indeed fomewhat, if 
 ye were brought under Convi&ion.and through 
 Perfwafion of this,that Jefus Chrift is the incom- 
 parable beft thing that a Sinner can have a Title 
 to jBut alas! He is defpifed.and rejected of Men, 
 though Hebe the chief eft often tboufands ; And 
 Men play the fool egregioufly, in preferring o- 
 tJier things to Him, who is infinitely worthy 
 of the Preference unto, and of the Preheminen- 
 cy above them all. A id* Evidence of Love 
 is, the hearts longing and panting after the in- 
 joyment of Him, and after the injoyment of 
 Him, as the moft excellent Object, quite fur- \ 
 parting all other Objects i And when the thirft \ 
 and longing of the Soul is fo carried out after 
 Him, as it cannot be fatisfied without Him, 
 which is to be Sick of love for Him, as it is Can. 2. 
 5. and 5. v. 8. To be in a manner fwooning 
 and fainting becaufe of His abfence, and even 
 greening ( to fpeak fo ) for His prefence, to 
 have the bent of the Souls Dcfigns, and Defires 
 towards making of that gloriousConqueft,where» 
 of the Apoftle fpeaks, Philip. 3 . Even to count all 
 things to be but lofs and dung and to caft all 
 things as it were over Board, to win to him,ani 
 to be found in him ; To count of Him as the pearl 
 of price f and as the trfafure hid in tbefidd ; For 
 the fake of which, ye would ftrip your felves 
 to the Skin, and fell all that ye haye to buy it. 
 3. This Love to Chrift Jefus hath in it a fatis- 
 fying Delight in Him, and the Souls bleffingof 
 it felf in Him,its contenting it felf with Him ; 
 and its rejoycing in that fweetnefs which it fin- 
 deth to be in Him, as being the only attractive 
 Objea,that hath fuch a Lovelinefs in ir,as breeds 
 SansfaOion ; Which Satisfaaion begets aKind- 
 1y Warmnefs in the Heart to Him again, even 
 till the Soul be put; in a Holy Low, or Flame 
 of Love to Him;more of this Love would make 
 Chrift and the Gofpel much more Sweet, and 
 would nuke every one of thefe words, that ex- 
 preiTeth His Love in his Sufferings to be like 
 Marrow and Fatnefs, and would alfo make the 
 Promifes to be like Breafts full of Confolation,!t 
 would withall caufe, that there would not be 
 fuch mjftakes of Chrift, nor fuch giddings and 
 whoreings from Him, and fuch preferring of I- 
 dolstoHim, as alas! there arcAVfjere this Love 
 is nor, there can be no other thing that will be 
 acceptable; We fhall fay no more for the time, 
 but only this, That we do appeal to your Con- 
 fciences, if there be not here an excellent 
 K k 2 and 
 
2 5° Ifaiah. $3. 
 
 and non fuch Obje£t of Love, and if there be 
 not here much reafon to be in Love with that 
 Objcft? Avery Heathen will return Love for 
 
 Hrf- **. Sermi 46. 
 
 Love, and fliould not we much more do fo in 
 this cafe? God Himfelf kindle this Love in us,Sc 
 make us know more the great advantages of it J 
 
 SERMON XLVi. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. XI. 
 
 Verfe W.He fnall fee of the travel of his Jottl, and (hall be fatisfied : by his knowledge fh*li my righteous feu 
 want jufl: fie many : for he jhallbear their iniquities* 
 
 
 THe Work of Redemption is a bufi- 
 nefs trnt was veiy gravely and very 
 ferioufly contrived and profecuted, 
 inrefpeft of God, and of the Medi- 
 ator ; there was much earneftnefs 
 snit as to them,and yet notwithftanding(whicIi 
 is a wander ) Men whom it concerns fo much, 
 whofe Salvation depends on ir,and to whom the 
 benefit of it redounds, are but very little ferious 
 in their thoughts of it; Our Lord Jefus was in 
 Travel, Soul-travel, fore Soul-travel to bring a- 
 bout this Work, and that the Gofpel might be 
 preached to Sinners,that they might have there- 
 by a ground to their Faith, to expeft Life and 
 Remiflion of Sins through Him ; Is it not then 
 fad that we mould fpeak and hear of it, and be in 
 a manner, like the ftone in the wall, no more, 
 or little more affefted with it, than if it were a 
 matter that did not at all concern us ? The Rea- 
 ding and Hearing of thefe Werds will doubtlefs 
 be a great Conviction to fecure Sinners, that 
 our Lord Jefus was at fuch pains, and put to 
 fuch fore Soul-travel andSufferingi and that yet 
 fuch Sinners were never ftirred, nor made feri- 
 ous, to have the Application of this purchafed 
 Redemption made to them. 
 
 The Scope of thefe Words is to fhew the great 
 inward Soul-travels, Conflicts, and Straits that 
 our bleiTed Lord Jefus had and was put to, in 
 throughing of the Woik of Redemption, and in 
 paying the Price due to the Jtftice of God, for 
 the Sins of the Ele& ; It's a wonder that ever we 
 fliould have it to fpeak of, and that ye fhould 
 hear of this Subjeft, which is the very 
 Text, ( to fay fo ) and Sum ofthe Gofpel; And 
 therefore, before we leave it, we fhall fpeak as 
 little more to the Ufe of it; and truly if we make 
 not ufe of this Do&rine, we will make ufe of 
 none ; though I confefs it is a great praftique, 
 how to draw it to U(e,and to confor m our felve 
 in our pra&ice to the Ufe of it. 
 
 We propofed fomethingsthe laft day which 
 we could not then profecute ; As I. fomething 
 for Exhortation. 1. Something for Reproof and 
 Expoftulation, which rifing clearly from the 
 Doftf ine drawn from the Words, we may now 
 infift a little in them. 
 
 r. For Exhortation,Confidering Chrift's Suf- 
 ferings and the extremity of chem.and that they 
 were undergone for Sinners, we would exhort 
 you to love Him as ye ought j There is ground 
 and warrand here to require it of you, feing that 
 Love in His bofomcame to fuch an hcight,that 
 he wasconrentto lay down his Life, yea, feing 
 he was in fuch a hot flame of Love, thattheCup 
 of Wrath did not quench it,but his Love drank 
 and dryed it up, Greater love than this hath no man ; 
 It is a moft wonderful Love considered with all 
 the circumftances,whereby it is hightned i And 
 there is ground here to excite and ftir you up, 
 to give Him a kindly meeting, and to welcome 
 his Love with Love i It will fure be a great fhame, 
 if our Lord's Love flood at nothing, fo that he 
 might do the Fathers will, and finifh the Work 
 committed to him, which was the perfecting of 
 the Work of Sinners Redemption, the Redeem- 
 ing of his loft fheep; If every triffle or any trif* 
 fle fhall quench Love in our hearts to him ; O ! 
 What a ihame will it be in the Day of Judgment 
 to many, when this Man fhall be brought forth 
 loving thisldol, and another Man loving that I« 
 dol more than Chrift, this Man loving his Lufh 
 that Man his Eafe, and another Man hisWealth 
 or honour, and preferring them to Chrift, and 
 when it fhall be found,that they would not quit 
 nor part with tbeir right Eye, nor their right 
 Hand (which are not worth the name o£ Members, 
 being called fo, becaufethey are Members ofthe 
 Body of Death ) out of Love to Him .-Think 
 Folks what they will, that native impref- 
 fion of the obligation that lyes upon them tO.i 
 love Chrift, is wanting, and that Divine and 
 Soul-rnvilhing Influence, that his Love fhculd 
 have on hearts|, It is true, ye all think, that ye 
 love him,unlefs it be fome of them who indeed 
 love Him; but if ye could reflect upon your 
 fejves, ye would find that ye have little or no 
 love at all to Him indeed : And therefore, for 
 undeceiving of you, befide what wefaid thelaft 
 day,take two or three Characters of kindly love 
 to Chrift, 1. This Love is never fatisfied with 
 any degree, or meafure that it hath atcaincd,fo 
 
 a* 
 
Serm. 46". ifaiah n- 
 
 as to fit down on it ; It hath thefe two things in 
 it, A defire to be further on in Love,, and a 
 wcightednefs that it cannot win at growth in 
 him ; The loving Soul is difpofed to chink,that 
 I: its Love to Chrift is not worthy to be called. 
 1 Love, and it breaths 2frer it, even to haveitfelf 
 ' warmed therewith to Him, and to be brought 
 to a further nearnefs to Him; as we may fee 
 through the Song of Solomon, And particularly 
 Chap. 7, at the clofe. There will J give thee my loves 
 (And Chap, 8. O that thou xoert as my brother that 
 fucked the breasts of my mother ; Kindly Love to 
 Him puts the -Soul to long for an opportunity to 
 rent its Love towards Him. *• Where this Love 
 is, the Soul will be ferious in praying for it,that 
 it may attain it, as if it wanted it, and it will be 
 as much affected for the want of the lively ex- 
 crcife of it, and will be as much challenged for 
 coming fhort in it, as it will be for any other 
 Sin; There is no benefit that it feeks more after, 
 than to have the heart circumcifed to loveHim, 
 and O ! but it will be accounted a great benefit, 
 to get love toChrift;And as it's one of the things 
 that it feeks in Prayer, fo it's one of the things 
 that it eyeth in Repentance ; It's much affe&ed 
 •with the want of it, confeiTes it to Him,aggred- 
 ges the Sin thereof againft it felf, from this 
 ground, that it loves not Chrift as it fhould : I 
 know not if there be much of this among us, 
 many will be forryif they fall in drunkenefs } or 
 in any other grofs Sin, butO ! how few repent 
 of their want of Love to Chrift,jmd that he gets 
 not his own room in the heart. 3. Where this 
 Love is, it is ever Sufpicious and Jealous, left 
 the heart cliv-r and cleave to fome other thing, 
 and give it room to the prejudice of Chrift ; 
 It's a fad thing, when folks let their affections 
 go out at random, and are not afraid, left they 
 out-fhoot themfelves in loving the World, 
 their Pleafures, their Credit, &c> But rather 
 they are like the whore in the Proverbs, who 
 fayes, Come, and let us take our fill of loves. Love to 
 Chrift hath a Weanednefs from thefe things, 
 and a Jealoufy left they ufurp a room in the 
 Wart, that is not due to them; Becaufe, as John 
 fayes.There is not a confiftency betwixt the love 
 of God, and the love of the world in the heart ; 
 and therefore it's the watchful care efa poor 
 Believer, to keep out inordinat love of the 
 World, and of thefe things that the heart is gi- 
 ven to go a whoreing after; hence David prayes, 
 Pjal. 1 19. Incline my heart to thy law, and not to co- 
 n/etoufne{s, and Turn away mine eyes from beholding 
 vanity ; There is in too many a fort of rooted 
 confidence, that they love Chrift, and they ne- 
 vw fufpeft themfelves of the comrarc, when 
 
 'Verf. 11. 2$ i 
 
 yet fome other thing hath his room, 
 
 idly, There is ground here to exhort you to 
 believe on him, as the prince of Life, and a Sa- 
 viour that is well fitted and qualified to give Re- 
 pentance, and Remifficn ofSms ; and this is the 
 very native Ufe that flows from this Do&rine, c- 
 ven to lay a folid ground of Faith to a Soul ly- 
 ing under the fenfe of Sin, to ftep forward to 
 God's Bar, with confidence, confidering Jefus 
 Chrift crucified, and put to Soul- travel for Elect 
 Sinners, who fhould betake themfelves to Him; 
 Which if it had not been, there had not been 
 any ground for Faith; And the lower he came 
 in his Sufferings, we have the more native and 
 broad ground of Faith, and the ftronger motive 
 to draw us to take hold of him; and to found 
 & fix ourFaith on his Satisfaction.To clear this 
 Branch of the Ufe a little. 1. Confider heie a 
 ground for Faith, in a fourfold refpect, And 
 a. The force of the motives that arife from thefe 
 grounds, preffing a fenfible Sinner to exercife 
 Faith on them, or on him by them; And 3. The 
 neceffity that we are under, foto do. 
 
 For the Fir ft, | ; In general there is ground 
 here to bring the heart to be through in the Hi- 
 ftorical Faith of what is fpoken concerning the 
 Truths of the Covenant; For, doth not this 
 Soul-travel of our Lord fay, that Men are lying 
 Naturally in afinful Condition, and obnoxious 
 to Wrath ? That there is a Covenant paft be- 
 twixt the Father and the Son, for delivering of 
 Elect Sinners out of that Condition, and that by 
 the Sufferings of the Mediator; And that by our 
 betaking of our felves to him, we may be fred 
 from Sin and Wrath ? Otherways, why did the 
 Mediator come thus low,exceptit had been true 
 that man was under a Debt that he could net 
 pay ; And why did the Father fend His Son, 
 except ha had been really minded,that he fhould 
 offer himfelf up a propitiatory Sacrifice to God 
 for Mans Sin '< And his accepting of the Satis- 
 faction tells plainly, that he uas content, 
 that the Cautioners Payment fhould frand 
 for the Principal Debtors; All this fupa 
 pofeth a Covenant, which is as real, as if we 
 had feen, and had been Ear-witnelTes of the rea- 
 ding over of the Covenant in all the Articles of 
 it ; we wiih that many were come this length, 
 as to be confirmed in the historical Faith of the 
 Geneial Truths of the Gofpel, fummed up in 
 Chrift's fufferings; And there cannot be any fe- 
 rious reading, or hearing of Chrift's Sufferings, 
 but there muft alfo be fome confidering of their 
 Rife and End ; if it be otheruife, we do but Su- 
 perficially run overthem. a. As this ftiews the 
 Lords ferioufnefs in preffing the offer ofRedemp- 
 
 tion 
 
 J 
 
Ifu'ah <r 3 , 
 fioa on Sinners fo It calleth you to be ferious 
 in accepting of it.According to that in John \ 2. 
 When lam lifted up, I will dra-v all men after me ; 
 Where Chrift's lilting up is made an Attractive 
 to draw loft Sinners after him, And can there 
 be a greater ground of Faith, or a ftronger mo« 
 live to perfwade aSinner to be reconciled toGod, 
 and to reft upon Chrift's Snisfaftion, in order 
 to that, than this.rhat Jefus Chrift hath purpof- 
 ly laid down his life, and undergone Suffering, 
 even to fuch an extremity, to bring it about. 3. 
 When we fay that Chrift's Soul-travel calls for 
 Faith ; It requires this, and gives ground for if, 
 That they that betake themfelves to Chrift for 
 Juftification before God, may confidently com- 
 mit themfelves rrHis guiding in all other things; 
 For will He not be tender of them in thefe,when 
 outof refpeft to them, when there was not a 
 Covenant betwixt Him and;hem ( though they 
 "were mentioned in the Covenant of Redempti- 
 on,) He laid down His Life, and fuffered fuch 
 things for them? May we not from this Reafon, 
 as the Apoftle doeth, Rom. 8. He that [fared nat 
 his iwnfonjbut gave him to the death for us, how 
 fhall he not with him alfo freely give us all.thing;?Caii 
 there be a greater ground for Sinners that fe*r 
 to give Him credit, to truft Him with all things 
 that concern them than this ? That He fuffer- 
 ed fo much for them. 4. Having betaken our 
 felves ro Him, it ferves to confirm our Faith, 
 and to bring us to the quieting of our ftves in 
 refting on Him, and acquiefcingin Him ; For 
 what more could we require for our fettlemenC 
 and quieting than this, that He hath come fo 
 low, and condefcendedfo far for the behove of 
 poor Sinners ? Therefore in all thefe refpecls, 
 let me exhort you, and in His Name, Who was 
 made fin for us> thatwemight be made the righteouf- 
 nefs of Gtdin him, Obteft you, not to keep atdi- 
 (rance from Him, but take with your Sini by 
 Faith to flee unto Him, and to the efficacy of 
 His blood ; O .' Yield youi felves by Faith to 
 Him for ufeemaking of Him for your Juftifica- 
 tion: And a little more particularly,let me here 
 fpeak a word to two forts ofPerfons. 1.T0 them 
 that are yet ftrangers to God 2 . To them that 
 are looking towards Chrift; And r.For you that 
 areftrangers to God, whole hearts were never 
 yet affected with the Conviction of theneceflity 
 of believing, who can Iy down and rife up with' 
 out ferious thoughts of your Souls eftate, or of 
 the neceflity of making fare your Peace with 
 God; I befeech you, lay to heart your Condi- 
 tion, and beware of trampling the Blood of the 
 Covenant under yourFeetJet not the Grace that 
 is offered to you in this Gofpcl be heard and re- 
 
 ™fi 11. Serm. 46*. 
 
 ccived in vain, but by the acknowledgment of 
 Sin, and 01 God's Juftice to which yearelyable 
 for the fame, timo^lly betake your felves tq 
 Chrift s SifTcrings for a defter fixm tbeWratM 
 of God, that will be as a Storm againft the Wall 
 This weprefs as the great Ufe of this Doctrine u- 
 pon you, that ye improve the Cup of Wrath 
 that the Mediator hath Diunken, - for your ex- 
 empting from the Curfe that is due to you, and 
 that Cup that ye deferved to have Diur.kenEter- 
 naiJy. 2. For you, who under the Conviction 
 of Sin, are looking towards Chrift, let me in* 
 treat you not to ftay on this fide of the City of 
 refuge, but ftep forward, and improve this Soul- 
 travel of the Lord for your Spiritual Eafe, Set- 
 tlement, Quiet and Comfort, as well as frcm 
 keeping you fromWrath,otherways it will bring 
 bitternefs in the End ; If ye make not ufe of 
 Chrift's Sufferings, if ye betake not your felves 
 to him, and do not truft Him for Juftification 
 and Life; ye will make your felvesguilty of his 
 Bloud,cc will be found treaders of it under foot; 
 And therefore, let me here fpeak a Word to 
 the Second tiling propofed-Thatis, the Grounds, 
 or Reafons, or Motives* that fhould prefs you 
 to make ufe of thefe Sufferings, and of the 
 grounds of Faith, that they hold out unto you. 
 And I. In general, let me ask,Is there not need 
 that ye mould do fo ? Is there not Guilt, and 
 hazard of Wrath, becaufe of Guilt ? and if fo. 
 Why ftand ye at a diftance from the Saviour ? 
 If it were CmUfs Saints and Angels that were 
 exhorted to make ufe of Him, it would be the 
 lefs wonder, that there were fo little thinking of 
 a Mediator, but when it is Sinners that are cal- 
 led upon, and finners in fuch eminent hazard, 
 it's indeed a wonder that there is not greater 
 flocking unto Him, and prefling on Him;ff there 
 had not been need, would the Father have fo 
 purfued the Son ? Or do ye think that it was for 
 a Complement that he laid down his Lifc?which 
 fuie He would not have done,if Salvation could 
 have been had another way.a^/y.And more par- 
 ticularly, as ye would confider the marvelous 
 Grounds thatHe hath laid down forFaith to reflj 
 upon, fo ye would confider the many Motives 
 that ye have to prefs you to reft on thefe 
 Grounds, which we fhall draw to thefe four. 1.' 
 The Fulnefs and fufliciency of the Ground that 4 
 is given to Faith in Chrifts 5uffcrings,which the 
 deeper they draw on rtis Soul, Fa|tb hath thd 
 fuller and better Ground to make ufe of them! 
 1. The power and ability that are confpicuoufljTj 
 in Him, to makt Application of His Purchafc ; 
 HehathencounteredWrath,and hath overcome; 
 He is Abfolvcd and Juftified before God, and is 
 
 exalted 
 
Serin. 4*. . */«**n- 
 
 txalted to fa a ?rin:e and a" Saviour t to give fipentanco 
 to ifraelandremxffon of fins ; and having fatisficd 
 Jufticc, and defeated the Devil, and being thus 
 exalted, He can bring through, and land fare, 
 ., fuch fmners as betake themfelves to Him ; And 
 J thefe two, to wit, a furncient price payed for 
 , the Debt oftheEleft ; and a fufficicnt Prince 
 |j andSaviour,able to fave to the uttermoft all that 
 J come unto God through Him, and who is exalt- 
 ed, and (Itteth at God's Right hand, to make 
 interceflion for us, as they are a folid ground 
 for Faith to reft on, fo,a ftrong Motive to prefs 
 believing. 3. The great Faithfulnefs of God, 
 that brightly mines, and wonderfully appears 
 here, who, according to the Covenant, fends 
 His Son, and purfues the quarrel againft Him, 
 and in fo doing keeps the promife made to Ab. 
 raham; and the great Faithfulnefs of the Media- 
 tor, in coming and performing all that He un- 
 dertook for the Elect ; both of them are faithful 
 in performing all that wasCovenanted to the leaft 
 
 I 1 iota thereof.as is evident by what our Lord lays, 
 Ihavtftmjhed the vcor^ which thou gsveft m? to do ; 
 Seing therefore there is fuch exaft Faithfulnefs in 
 keeping, and fulfilling of all that paiTeth in the 
 Covenant of Redemption, and of all that was 
 ipromifed to the Fatherland fcing the Mediator 
 J hath faid, That of all that come unto him, he will 
 caft out none, nor put them away ; is there not 
 here a ftrong Motive to Believing? Will not the 
 Lord Jefus be as faithful, in keeping the Promife 
 made to Comers unto Him, as the Father and he 
 have been in performing of what was Covenan- 
 ted concerning their Redemption ? The +th. Is' 
 the great Love of God and of the Mediator, that 
 eminently mine here, in their willingnefs to 
 make the Application ; as He is Faithful, fo is 
 He willing to be imployed, and what greater e- 
 vidence of Love would we have than this, that 
 our Lord Jefus hath delighted fo much in the 
 Salvation of Sinners,that He laid down His Life, 
 and ensured much fore Soul-travel for this very 
 end ? We beheld ( fays John, ch. I. 14, ) his glory, 
 tbt ghry as of the only begotten Son of the Father, full 
 of grate and truth ; In his Humiliation, He was 
 Glorious in both thefe, Glorious in his Truth, 
 snaking his Faithfulnefs to fh'ne, in exaft keep- 
 ing of what was agreed upon and promifed:Gic- 
 rious in His Grace to poor finners, in making 
 application of His Purchafe, Freely and fully ; 
 yea, the ra&re that He was obfeured by his Hu- 
 miliation, the more did his Gi ace Ihine forth ; 
 how much more Glorious will He be in thefe 
 when He is now exalted? }dly. If thefe two per- 
 fwade you not to believe on Him, to wit, The 
 
 Vtrf.'ll 2 *$ 
 
 Grounds that He hath given for bt\L Ur *> 7 be ' 
 the powerful prefTing Motives to maK, "1™ 
 thefe Grounds ; confider the abfolute nev.f. ^ 
 that ye ly under of making ufe of thefcGroul n S 
 without which ye will never be able to fhift the 
 Wrath of God ; Is there any that can give God 
 a recompence ? The rcaemftioM of thefoul ts precious, 
 and ceajes for ever, as to ycu ; or, if any could 
 have been able, Why did the Mediator ccme 
 thus low? And where fhould have been theGlc* 
 ry of Grace and Truth, that hath fhined fo ra- 
 diantly in his Sufferings ? And therefore from 
 all thefe be exhorted, to give him the credit of 
 your Salvation, by making ufe of his Righte- 
 oufnefs, and by founding ycur Plea beforeGod 
 on his Sufferings, as ever ye would have your 
 Souls faved : otherways ye can expeft nothing, 
 but to fell under the rigour of Juftice, and to 
 be made tofatisfle for your own Debt, to the 
 uttermoft farthing, and when will that be?Dare 
 the moft innocent amongft you ftep in tofatisfle 
 Jufticefor themfelves? if not, is there not ane- 
 ceflity to make ufe of his Sufferings for that end? 
 which he hath made attainable by His tearing 
 offthe Vail of His own Flefh, that finners may 
 ftep in with humble boldnefs to the Holy of 
 Holies; This is the end of allour Preaching.and 
 of your Hearing, which, when it is not finely 
 aimed at, and endeavoured to be ieachcd,wcarc 
 ufelefs in both. 
 
 And therefore, idly. May we not expoftulat 
 With you, that are hearers of this Gofpel, that can 
 hear of his .Sufferings, and of his having been in 
 Agony for this very end,that finners might have 
 a warrand to their Faith, and yet have never to 
 this very hour a&ually fled unto him to find 
 lhelter ? I know that many will not take with 
 this, and therefore in more clofe application of 
 this Ufe( feing here lyeth the great Treafure of 
 the Gofpel, which, if it be not, what can be 
 improven to any purpofe ; ) We fhall fpeak a 
 Word to the generality of hearers, who 
 are ^ ftrangers to the right ufc-making of 
 Chrifrs righteoufnefs ; and though yemay think 
 this to be a hard Charge, and cannot well endure 
 to be expoflulated with as Unbelievers: yet let 
 me ask you, 1 Do you think that all of you 
 will go to heaven ? If not. but that it is a Truth, 
 That the moft part cf the hearers of the Gofpei 
 will perifh ; then, fure all are not Believers » 
 for all Believers will go to heaven, and not one 
 of them fhall perifh, and though ye will not 
 now believe this, the day is coming, when 
 ye fhall, if trace prevent not, fee and flr.d 
 it i When Believers will be taken in with 
 
 Chnft> 
 
* 51 
 
 rion onSi»'< 
 in acccp-' 6 5' 
 When '£ £^ 
 
 w 
 
 not nu«-. 
 fatisfying 
 not but it 
 
 hut out ; Many of you may 
 
 .'trine is ncedlefs, the more 
 
 | ofyou think it to be, itisfo 
 
 edful , and ufeful to be infilled 
 
 f ye fay, ye have Faith^ I a&k 
 
 e it, and how got you it ? I 
 
 u will fay, we believed always 
 
 erftanding to know good by ill; 
 
 ; put to tell what it is?ye know 
 
 ^>er, nor can ye give the leaft 
 
 account of it ; and yet ye qucftion 
 
 will be well with you, and never 
 
 once feared to go to Hell j and is that Faith 
 think ye ? alas no, It's a plain counterflt and a 
 very Cheat: Others are ready to fay,we believed 
 not always, yet we believe fometimes, to wit, 
 when we do fome Duties.and abftain from grofs 
 evils ; but when Challenges come from the ne- 
 glect of Duties, and for thecommiflion of fins, 
 wewantit, and have nothing of it ; and when 
 Death comes, fuch are forced to fay, we fear we 
 have been beguiling our felves; Whence comes 
 this? but even from this Ground, that they 
 would never fuffer it to light, but they had 
 Faith ; which yet will never be accounted to 
 be Faith, becaufeit hath not Chvift's RighteouG. 
 nefs for the Ground of it; and therefore, when 
 any Challenge is awakened, it's a feeking and 
 "quite gone ; whereas true Faith will in fome 
 meafure ftand it out againft a Challenge, and 
 will abide thetiyal of a Challenge,onthe account 
 of ChriiVs Righteoufnefs fled to. 3. We ask 
 you thisqueftion, are ye fure of your FaithPYe 
 will fay, we hope fo, and believe fo, and this is 
 all ye can fay, which in effect comes to this, we 
 groundlefly prefumed fo ; and it's obfervable, 
 that if ye be put to a fecond queftion,whar ground 
 nave ye for your Faith ? ye have none at all;if ye 
 be asked, whether ye be certain that ye are Belie- 
 vers ? ye will anfwer, no body is certain, God 
 knows that ; is not this ftrangt? and hath it not 
 in it an utter inconfiftency, that men and wo. " 
 men fhould confidently a(lert,and maintain their 
 Faith, and yet when they are put to prove it, 
 they will tell you, that they are uncertain, 
 that none can be certain of it ? Therefore think 
 it not ftrange that we expoftulat with you, that 
 ye have been fo long hearing of Chrift>and that 
 yet ye have little,or rather no Faith at all in the 
 ufe-roaking of His Righteoufnefs, But to make 
 this the more convincingly clear, we (hall give 
 you four Characters, whereby true Faith may 
 be tryed and known, which will ferve alfo to 
 difcover the unfoundnefs of the Faith of many. 
 i.It may be tryed by the Ground that it leaneth 
 upon ; folid Faith hath for the Ground of it 
 
 Chnft s Righteoufnefs and SarisfacHpp,HisSufc. 
 fcrings, the price that He payed to Juftice for 
 Sinners Debt ; That H< who knew no fin , might be~> 
 come fin for us , as it is, 2 Cor. c. u lt. Ye that fay J 
 ye hope to come to Heaven, and will after* 
 ftrongly that ye believe, try it, I befeech you? 
 by this,What is it that warrands you to believe 
 or, whereon is yout faith foundedrls itChrift's 
 Righteoufnefs that gives your Faith a Ground ? 
 ye will fay, yes, and who do otherwife?are there 
 any, but they expect Life through Chrift ? But 
 deceive not your ftlves,there are many that have 
 fome fort of refpect to Chrift, who do not at all - 
 righrly refpect His Sufferings; many will look 
 upon Chrift as a Soveraign,and as one that can 
 pardon them their fins, and will pray to Him 
 for pardon of them, who yet never ferioufly lay 
 the weight of their obtaining Pardon on His 
 Death, but expect Pardon immediatly, without 
 an interveening Satisfaction ; yea, they ne- 
 ver look upon that as needful : Others again 
 look only to ChriiVs ability to faVe, and will 
 pray to Him as to an able Saviour; and here alfo 
 by fuch, His Righteoufnefs and Merit is (hut/ 
 out, as ifitwerefuperfluous and unneceflary. A 
 third fort look to His Mercy, and think that 
 He is very kind 6c gracious, and that asone man 
 forgives another,, fo will he forgive them ; and 
 do not refpeft His R ighteoufnefs,nor found their 
 Faith and expectation of Pardon upon Him, as 
 upon one that hath fatisfied Juftice by the tra« 
 vel of his Soul, that pardon might come to them 
 who come to Him : But where true Faith is, 
 the Soul begins to look on it felf, as arraigned 
 before the Tribunal 
 as unable to pay its own 
 and hath not only fome 
 
 fred from a Challenge ( which is all the Faith 
 that many have ) but hath ferious exercile, how 
 to have the Challenge anfwered, by betaking it 
 felf to ChriiVs Satisfaction, from thefe grounds, 
 that a Satisfaction is given, that this Satisfaction 
 is made offer of in the Gofpel, and that the 
 Soul is content to make ufe of it, it draws the, 
 Conclufion anent Pardon: It hath interveening- 
 betwixt the confideration of its guilt, and its 
 application of Pardon, both the Covenant q£ 
 Redemption on God's fide, and the Covonant 
 of Reconciliation on the finners fide^ which 
 the Soul doth eye, as that which gives it 
 warrand to lay hold on Ghrift's Suffejjflgs, which 
 the other who prefumes, doth not ; The be- 
 lieving foul fays, if this fatisfaftion had not 
 been, I could nevei have cxpe&ed mercy. 2. 
 In the folid Faith of a Believer, there is, 
 an ufe-making of Chrift crucified allcnarly, 
 
 as 
 
 I 
 
Sernv 46*. 
 as the me 
 
 lfaiah VcrJ. 11. 275 
 
 iouscaufeofjuftification and Life, 9- i'o cry, and fometimes with tear;, Lord, 1 be~ 
 
 lieve, help thou my unbelief; he darenottruft much 
 
 eC^ApOUS cauic uijuiuiitouuii auu.i_.uc, 
 
 fo he isexWcifed in this, to be ailenarly fettled 
 
 on Kim asfuch;as for prefumptuou* Souls, as 
 they find it eafie to believe, fo they find it eafie 
 to believe, and to reft on Him only; but as the 
 true Believer hath it for one piece of exercife to 
 him, how to win to Chrift, fo it's a fecond piece 
 of exercife to Him, to get Him reftedon only, 
 and zo get Him as Crucified, made the ground 
 of his Faith, as the Apoftle infmuates, when he 
 fays, 1 COr. 2. 2. 1 determined to know nothing Among 
 you, but Jefus Chrift , and him crucified, where we 
 have three grounds of faving Faith, or Know- 
 ledge. i.Jefus Chrift. 2. Him as Crucified, And 
 3. A determining to know no other thing, but 
 Him to reft upon for Life and Salvation, it's in 
 this refpeft that the Apoftle, Philip. 3. Doth 
 count all things but lofs and dung, and caft, as 
 it were, all over beard, that he may win Chrift, 
 and be found in him : Many find it no difficult 
 bufinefs to reft on Chrift only, and to keep out 
 other things from being joyncd with Him, and 
 never once fufpeft themfelves in this by any 
 thing; but the Believer, ( as I juft now faid ) 
 hath here an exercife and difficulty togetChrift 
 alone refted on, fo that- nothing clfe be in the 
 leaft refted on, becaufe he knows nothing clfe 
 to be a t'ure Foundation, and becaufe he knows 
 that it's natural to him to reft on other things 
 befide Chrift. g. The true- Be^ever is taken 
 Dp, n r ft only to have a fure Ground to build on, 
 but alfo to hive his own gripping at, and build- 
 ing on that Ground made furc ; it's his exercife 
 to hav.- it out of queftion, that his Faith is true 
 Faith, andn'>t prefumption or guefting; to have 
 the grace of Faith actually & really taking hold 
 of, or apprehending Chrift ; whereas another 
 that prefumeth s and hath only an opinion," or 
 conjecture in p 1 ace of Faith ; as he is in his own 
 Opinion eafily brought to Chrift, fo he finds it 
 eafie to exercife believing on Him; he will, it 
 may be, grant that hs cannot fan£t;he the Sab- 
 bath-day, and yet he can believe, as it believing 
 Were Ids difficult than to fan£r.ih*e the S'abbarh ; 
 To many will grant, that they cannot Pray, and 
 therefore do decline the worfliipping of God in 
 their Families, who will yet confidently fay 
 tkey can believe, and that rhey do brlieve al« 
 ways', as if believing were lefs difficult, than to 
 Pray for a quarter, or half a quarter oi an hour; 
 but where folid Fairh is, the exercif- r f it is a 
 difficult ihi*g, and the perfon that hath it, hath 
 a holy jealoufie nf it, and theexp^rience of miny 
 others, and of himlclf. fometime telling him, 
 that he may be miftaken, he is often trying ir, 
 and doth nor, nay, he darenot truft much to if, 
 and is put often with that man fpoken of, Mark 
 
 to his own grip, and therefore hath recourfe tu 
 Chrift to get it fickercd,and to have Him taking 
 and keeping the grip of his grip, as it was with 
 the Apoftle, Phil. 3. 1 2, 4, When Believers have 
 betaken themfelves to Chrift, they have a new 
 exercife, to know that it is fo indeed ; it's not 
 only an exercife to them how to ground their 
 Faith right, how to quite all other things, and 
 to betake themfelves to Chrift only, and to caft 
 their burden on Him;but it's'an exercife to them 
 to be clear, that it's Chrift indeed that they reft: 
 on, or to be clear that they have refted on Him : 
 It's no good token, when folks are foon fatisficd 
 with their believing, & never put it to the tryal; 
 and this is it that m?kes many go on guc fling, 
 till they come to-deatu, which makes a divorce 
 betwixt them &their fancied Faith,and difcevers 
 it to be but adelufion^whereas it is but Bel'ev- 
 ers work, to try whether they have, Sc to know 
 that they have belicved,which thy win not foon 
 to know; and the reafon is, becaufe the fenfc of 
 fin, the apprehenfion of wrath, and their I veto 
 God.andtoChrift the Mediator,witn theirdefire 
 to enjoy Him, fuffer them not to be quiet till 
 they be ficker: we may fee all the four together, 
 Philip^. 7, 8, 0, to. where the Apoftle fpeaking 
 of his cafe, when he was ^converted Chriftian, in 
 oppolition to what he was when he was a Pharijee, 
 and thought himfelftobe very well, and a ftrong 
 Believer, fayeth, what things were gain to me, I 
 counted hfs for iarift,yea,dQubtleJs I counted ail things 
 to be but lofs , for the excellency of the knowledge of Je* 
 fus C/;n(? my Lord, for whom 1 have fuffer ed the Ufs of 
 all things, and do count them bat dung that I may win 
 Chrift, and be found in him, not having mine own right e- 
 tufntls, &c. The o^jecl: rhey would be ar,is Ckrlft- 
 rh* manner how, is, Not having mine own rigbte- 
 cufnefs; the mean through which, is Faith irt 
 Him; this is it that brings him n Union with 
 Htm; and then he would know experimentally, 
 that he would know Him favingly, as a Believer 
 in H.m,by finding the pyser of bis rtjjirri&iotl' by 
 hiving fellovfoipin bis Jufteiingt, and by being made 
 conformable ti his death; Whereby he woud prove, 
 and make out.tohis own quieting and cor folati- 
 on,thathe is indeed a Believer: The Believer 'S 
 never righttill he be in Chrift, & it's his exercife 
 to be quite rid of all Other things, and to itft up- 
 on him alon_ ; neither dorh he refl here, lit .'^e % 
 muft be clear that he is in Him, and that he hatlt 
 fellowship in H\s fufFerings and coiiformiry ro 
 His death: This we would recommend to y 
 your main ftudv.as ever ye would enrnforrably 
 evidence to your feJves.your believing in H u. 
 L 1 SERMON 
 
1*6- 
 
 Ifaiah 53. Verf. 1 1 
 
 Serm. 
 
 47 
 
 SERMON XLVII 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XI. 
 
 Verf. Ir. H»JhiBfitoftbe travel of b;s foul, and fhxll be fatisfisd 
 out flrvunt jnslifij many ; for he jhall bear thtir iniquities, 
 
 THE Bargain of Redemption is a 
 great Baigain, and we may fay 
 that it is a ^ood Bargain, therein 
 the greatelr things that ever were 
 imagined are traufacted : The turn 
 whereof is in thefe two 1. What fhall be the 
 fatisfaftion that muft be given to the infinic 
 juflicc of God, or *hat fhall be the amends that 
 mu ft be maJf to God for che fatisfymg of His 
 jult.ee, fei rhc fins of all the Elect? and that 
 is c< intend d in thefe woids, The travel of Chriji's 
 Joul. That is the condition, or thefe arc the 
 Term- on which on'y the Lord Jehovah will 
 Trylr, ( to fpeak fo ) anJ he will Try ft 01 i o 
 other Terms. 2. What fhall be the Satisfaction 
 that the Mediator fhall have for all His Suffer- 
 ings, and Soul-travelf Aid this is fummed up in 
 thefe woi ds , He Jhall fee of the travel of his fault 
 *ndfh*ll be f*ti:fied, Upon which two ftands the 
 
 Covenant of Redemption \ and hence it is, that 
 all things relating to thefalvation of the Elect, 
 are fo ficker and iirm, that there is no poflibility 
 of the mifgiving, or failing of whatever is here 
 
 tranfa&ed upon. 
 
 We have fpoken fomewhatofthe price,which 
 
 the Sun, the Mediator was to give, and of the 
 
 Soul travel which He under-went in the paying 
 
 of it: We fhall now fpeak of the words as they 
 
 hold out the Promifes made to the Mediator, 
 
 and it's two fold. 1. Hcfhill fee oj the travel of his 
 
 fouls Which words being an Explication of tne 
 
 former, and lo king alfo to thefe which foilow, 
 
 triers is a word to be fupplifd, which will take 
 
 in bo r h r and it is fruit, H fh til fee the fruit of the 
 
 travel of h:s foul; That is, He cannot but have a 
 
 Seed; and a numerous Offfpring, becaufe of 
 
 His Soul-trarel, in bringing them forth > and 
 
 fo the Prrmifein this refpeft mews the certain- 
 ty of the effeft, rha: is, that He mall moft cer- 
 tainly bring forth in His Traveling. The a. 
 
 Promife is, That He fhall fe the Fruit of His 
 
 Soul-travel, or His Seed ; It's much to have a 
 
 Seed, but it's moreto fee it i it's not only this, 
 
 that Chriftihall have anumerous Ufue, but that 
 
 He fhall out-live Death, to fee and over.fce,and 
 
 be a Tutor to them, though by His Death He 
 purchaie Life to them. 
 
 We fhall from the firft Promife take two Ob. 
 Jirvations-, The I. is this, That our Lord Jeius 
 
 by his knowledge fhall my rights 
 
 by His fuffring and Soul travel, fhall certainlj 
 attain the Fru.t He aims at in it; Uis Dcatr 
 and Stiff-Mings fharl not be Fiuitlcls, but lhaf 
 certainl) have the intended Fruit, Whatever id 
 take the Fruit to be, whether we take ic out of 
 the former Words, it's a Seed that he fhall fe, 01 
 have* or whether we rake it out of the follow- 
 ing Words, its the judifying of many, both thefe 
 come to the fame thing and it fhall certainly 
 CO&e to pals, and be made effcaual in the up- 
 fhot of it j as the Lord Himfelf faycth, John 12, 
 24 Except a com of wheat fall into the gromna and 
 dit % it abidah alone, but if it die, it bring, th forth 
 much fruit where He compares His own Death 
 to the lowing of Seed, which, when fowq doth 
 rot; and then fprmgs up, and hath Fruit fo 
 (as if He hadfaid) my Deat4i fhall be a Seed, 
 or Seed time, u hereon abundant Fruit fhall foil 
 low for the good and Salvation of manv : This 
 Doctrine fuppofes i. Tiat our Lord Jcfus had 
 a refpett in the laying down of His Life, to the 
 Salvation of His own Eleft per pie; or thus, 
 Tha^our Lord Jefus in the laying down of His 
 Life, md a de/ign and purpofetofave the El c c> 
 as often He faith, I lay down my life for myjbcepl 
 and here, they are called a Setd, and Fruit, and 
 fuchasare/Vy?/jWinduetimc. 2. Thatthispur- 
 pofe (hould by His Sufferings be certain)} made 
 effr&ual, this being the Fathers promife to Him, 
 He fhalXfee his feed, or the travel if his Joul, and 
 (ball be (atisfiedi It cannot be frufi rated; and we 
 may further confirm it from thefe grrunds 1. 
 Becaufe it is a Covenanted and Tranlafttd hufi- 
 nefs betwix* the Father and the Son, and is here 
 promifed i If therefore there cannot be a failing 
 of the Tranfa&ion and Bargain, it muft certain* 
 ly have the full effeft. 2. Becaufe the Mediator 
 hath taithfully fulfilled his part of the Covenant;- 
 and if He hah been fo faithful on his flue, then 
 
 Jehovah on the other (ide of the Covenant, who 
 hath in it promifed faiisfaction to him, for tl"e 
 Travel of 'his Soul, cannot but perform his pare 
 alfo; the Mediator performed his parr, even till 
 it came fo thefe fweet Words, uttered by him 
 on rhe CroCs,Itis finifhed; and therefore, as I faid, 
 the other part, That be fhall fee the fruit of his 
 Soul'travel, muft alfo be performed* 3. It's alfo 
 clear from the End and Dciign of the Covenant 
 of Redemption, betwixt the Father and the Soa, 
 
 and 
 
Serm t 47. . . $* iah H' 
 
 and of Chrifts laying down His Life, which was 
 to bring about Lite unto, and to make it forth- 
 comiag for all them that the Father had given 
 Him, and toy and for no more, nor to, and for 
 no fewer; Therefore he faith, All that tbt Fa- 
 ther hath given me, {ball come unto me, And, lgive 
 them eternal life, and will raife' them tip at (he latt 
 day; Now, this being the end of the Covenant, 
 and of Chrift's Death, and the mean whereby 
 the Glory of Grace is manifefted , that Life 
 might not only be purchafed to the Ele&, but 
 alio attually conferred on them, according to 
 the Fathers and Mediators defign in the Cove, 
 nant i Chrift Jefus cannot but have the promife 
 made good unto Him, there being an engage- 
 ment of,and on the God-head (to fpeak after the 
 manner of men ) as to the reality, certainty 
 and fuccefs of the performance, and for mak- 
 ing out this Promife to the Mediator. 
 
 The t. Ufe ferves for Inftru&ingand Clear- 
 ing" of us, in feveral things controverted by un- 
 l found men; for if this be a Truth, that our 
 i Lord's Sufferings and Soul-travel cannot but 
 have Fruit, and the Fruit that He aimed at 
 therein : Then it There is a definit, particular 
 and certain number Eletted, to partake of the 
 benefit of Chrift's Suffering; becaufe there is 
 only fuch a particular number that is given to 
 Chrift to be Redeemed by Him, and that do 
 aftually partake of the benefit of His Sufferings, 
 which cannot fail. 2. That Chrift's Sufferings 
 are not intended as a Price and Satisfaction for 
 the fins of all and every one ; for fo He mould 
 not fee the Fruits of the Travel of .His Soul, 
 but mould in a great part mils and V)fe it, if 
 He had intended that the Travel of His Soul 
 fhould have been undergone hi Judas, as well 
 as for Peter. 3. There is here aground for the 
 certainty and efficacy of the Urace of God in 
 converting Eleft Sinners, for Chrift Jefus can- 
 not lofe thele who are committed to Him to be 
 Redeemed, more thanHe can lofe the Fruit of 
 His Sufferings, then fure Faith is not left pen- 
 dulous on mans freewill, but is put outofque- 
 ftion, as to all His own, through His under' 
 taking, as'He fairh, That no man can come to me, 
 except the Father draw bi?n, fo He faith, Thifethat 
 are given *e, frail and muft come tome, there is a 
 Put, orapoweiful draught (f the Spirit of God, 
 which is nothing elfe but the Efficacy of His 
 Grace, by which this is made infruftrably fure, 
 and not left contingent 4. Sec here the truth 
 of the perfeverance of the Elect and Regenerat 
 Saints, who are appointed to be the Fruit of 
 His Soulvtravel , and a Satisfaction to Him 
 for the fame; for if they mould fail, and not 
 
 V* r f> ir. 1$? 
 
 perfevereto the end, the Promife made to the 
 Mediator mould be caft loofe , and not be ne- 
 cefTarily performed and fulfilled. c : See here 
 how the Salvation of Eleft Sinners depends on 
 the ingagment betwixt God and the Mediator; 
 their Redemption depends on His paying of the 
 Price, and their attaining the benefit of if, de- 
 pends on God's Ingagment to the Mediator i 
 therefore we are faid, l Pet, 1.T0 be keeped by the 
 power of God through faith unto fahation : It ferves 
 wlchall to clear the Soveraignity of God, and 
 the freenefs of His Grace, when finners cannof 
 pretend to have any hand in the Work, fo mar 
 the beauty and efficacy cf Grace that mine 
 therein. 
 
 Ufe 2. There is here it Something for the 
 incouragement of fpch as would fain believe in 
 Chrift. And 2- Somewhat for Comfort to, and 
 for Comfirmation of them, who have betaken 
 themselves by Faith to Chrift. 3. It ferves with- 
 all to incouragethem who would be at believ- 
 ing, and find difficulty in the way, while they 
 are breathing after Him : It's certainly promis- 
 ed that He jhall have a feed, and /ball fee of the 
 fruit of the travel of his foul ; fuch therefore may 
 expeft that they fhal) come fpeed, who would 
 fain be at that which is the fulfilling of Gods 
 Ingagment to rhe Mediator; for it was Tranf- 
 a&ed in the Covenant of Redemption, that His 
 Sufferings ihould be for the, good of Eltftsin- 
 ners, and that the Father ftVuld make applica* 
 tion of His Purchafe made thereby to them; I 
 fry, it ferves to Comfort, Incourage and Con- 
 firm fuch as are fled to Chrift, and find their 
 own difficulty how to win through , for they 
 have a good Cautioner to make eut their Faith, 
 and what concerns their Salvation ; God's Pro- 
 mife to the Mediator fliall not be for nought, 
 nor in vain, but mall have it's accomplifhment; 
 if poor finners were left t© their own guiding, 
 the bargain mould never take <ffe&, nor be 
 made out; but it may incourage and comfort 
 the poor Believer, though it flmu!d allbhumb'e 
 him, that the bulinefs is rut in another and 
 better hand than his own; this hath ftrengthe- 
 ned the wavering hearts of many Beliei*^ be- 
 fore, that both fides of the Covenant, a< to flier 
 forthcoming and performance, depend on the 
 Father, and en the Mediator ", the Mediator 
 undertaking the piyment of their Debt, and 
 the Lord Jehovah undertaking to draw them 
 in to the Mediator, and by His Power to bent 
 them through, till fhey get all t'.at the Medi- 
 ator hath purchafed for them, confe: red Onthero, 
 
 idly, Obftrve, That all the benefits and advan- 
 tages that any havt ever gorten, or Hull get, that 
 L 1 a Jcad 
 
*5$ If*'** <3« 
 
 lead to life eternal, and which concur co pro- 
 move the Work of their Salvation,are the Fruits 
 of Chilli's Purchafe, by His Soul travel ; is a 
 Sinner brought to Believe - t It's a Fruit of His 
 Suffering; Is a Sinner glorified? It's the Fruit 
 of the fame : And therefore, When in the one 
 word ir is faid, He fall fee his feed; It's faid in the 
 next words, Hejhallfeofthcjru'tofthc travel of 
 /, to Ikew that a Souls ingagmg to Chriir 
 by Faith, whereby the Perfon becomes one cf 
 H-s Seed, flows from his Sufferings , and is a 
 Fruit of the Travel of His Soul, as it is, l Cor. 
 5. ult. He was made fin for us, who kr.ew no Jin, that 
 rre might become the righteoufnefs of God through him, 
 or in Him; Where our right eoufm fs , and what 
 conduces to our Juftification, is derived from 
 HisbcingmadeSin, or * 'Sin Offering for us, And 
 Gal. 3 13 It's faid, that Chrift hath redeemed us 
 from the cur ft the law, being made a curfe for us, 
 that the biffing of Abraham might come on us Gentiles; 
 Whatever is comprehended under that Blef- 
 fing, as taking in borh the end and means by 
 which we come by inflows from his being* car/* 
 for us, and from His being brought under fad 
 fufFerings, and fore Soul-travel for us: In this 
 DoBrine ye would confidcr fomething for clear- 
 ing of ir, or rather take the Doctrine it felf fe- 
 vtral wayes, and it will helpto clear it felf. 1. 
 Then when we fpeak of the Fruit of Chrift *s 
 Sufferings, we mean, not only that our Juftifi% 
 cation, the Pardon of our Sins, and our entry 
 into Heaven, arc Fruits cf it; But that our Be- 
 lieving; Repentance, Holinefs, and everything 
 that leads thereunto,areFruits of it alfo; There- 
 fore it's promifed to Chrift, Pfal. iio. 3. Thy 
 people fall be a willing people in the day of 'thy power: 
 And that thefe that are given to Chriit fhall 
 come, is a Promife, as well as it's a Promife,that 
 theft that come fhall be Juftified, and the one 
 .follows upon Chi i;\*s Ingaging, and performing 
 of the Inijagement as well as the other. 2. If we 
 take the £)j£bine thus, That there is nothing 
 that a Sinner gets that leads to Life and Salva- 
 tion, but it's a Fruit of Chrift's purchafe*, we 
 get neither Repentar.ce , nor Faith, nor Holi- 
 nefs, nor any other fuch thing, but on the ac- 
 count of Chrift's Satisfaction. Or 3/y. Take it 
 thus, Whatever is needful for compleating 
 of them that are Chrift's Seed, whom He hath 
 purchafed, whatever they wapt or ftand in need 
 of, whether Righteoufnefs, Holinefs , Repen- 
 tance, Faith,. Hope, &c. All arepurchafed by 
 Him, and are the Fruits of His Death and Soul- 
 travel; This riftth clearly from thefe Words, 
 He fhall fee of the Fruit of the travel ef his foul, That 
 is, He fhall fee Sinners believing oa him, and 
 
 r & fI „ Serm. 47 
 
 repenting for fin , as well as He fhall fee them 
 glorified: Which will be clear, if we confidcr 
 thefe two Reafons. 1. The nature of the Cove- 
 nant wherein all the Prcmifcs concerning fin- 
 ned Salvation are comprehended, thr«re being 
 but one Covenant of Redemption, and that be- 
 ing a Promife of this Covenant, to ctrcumtife the 
 heart to love God, and to write his law in it, as well 
 as to pardon fin; andall the Promife of the Co- 
 venant depending en Chrifts ftipulation, and 
 thefe things in the Prcmifcs flowing from the 
 Covenant betwixt God and the Mediator, fin- 
 ners can have no right to any thing that isPrr- 
 mifed, but by a Covenant, neither can they 
 have any accefs to them, but through Chrift's 
 Suffering. 2. Its clear from the -End of the Co- 
 venant, that whatever finners ftand in need of 
 they mull be in Chrift's common for it i now if 
 we h-d I aith,or Repentance, or any other Grace 
 from our felves,or on ourownaccount,wefhould 
 not be in His Debt and common for all that we 
 need, as indeed we are, according to that, i.Cor. 
 30.31. He is made of God unto us, wifdom, to be our 
 Guide and Teacher ; Right eoujnefs , to be our 
 Juib'fier, and the meritorious caufe of it; Santli- 
 f.tation, ro be the Worker and the Procurer cf it; 
 and in a word, compleat Redemption, and this 
 is ifubjoyned as the reafon of all, That he that 
 glories, or re Joyces, may glory, or re Joyce in the 
 Lords That is, whether there be a looking to 
 Faith, or Repentance, or any other Grace, there 
 may be no caufe to be vain or proud of it, but 
 that knowing thefe to befrom Chrift, and Fruits 
 of His Purchafe, all the praife of them may be 
 to Him alone. 
 
 The Ufe of this is large, it fpeaks fomething 
 more generally to them that are flrangers to 
 Chrift, and who think that they would be at 
 Him, and fomething to them that are in Him, 
 and fomething to both: And the l. thing that 
 it fpeaks is this ( which we have often heard of, 
 tut cannot hear of it too often, ) even the great 
 and glad Tydings and very good News, which 
 we have to fpeak of through Jefus Chrift, that' 
 Redemption is purchafed by t Him to poor fin- 
 ners, and that through Him there is accefs to 
 Life, and Peace, and Reconciliation with God, 
 from which through fin we have fallen, and run 
 Our felves, under a forfeiture of, and from 
 which we had been barred up eternally, except 
 He had fuffered ; There was a wall of Reparati- 
 on and partition ftanding betwixt God and us 
 which by His fufFerings was demolifhed and 
 broken down, and thereby a door of accefs to 
 God (truck up, even through the vail of his fi.fh • 
 
 Thefe 
 
Serm. 47- 
 
 ., Ha.'ah c 
 Thefe mould be refreshing and frefli News to 
 us every day, as indeed tnty would fee, if we 
 rightly knew, and believed the ben. fie of Gods 
 f Friendfhip, and what were cur hazard in l>ing 
 itill in nature, and what was the price that 
 Chrift laid down, to purchafe- for finners friend- 
 fhip with God, and delivery from His Curfe ; 
 that it behoved to coft Him fore Soul travel, 
 ere any fpecwl grace cculd be beftowed on fin. 
 aers . and rhat this fameGofpel that is Preached 
 to you, is a Fruit of cheTravel of His Soul,and 
 that in making the Covenant of Redemption, 
 this fime was a pait of the Indenture ( to fpeak 
 fo ) That thefe good News might be pubJimed 
 in this fame place, ;nd thefe glad Ty dings fpo- 
 ken of among -you : And therefore, a. Put a 
 a great price on the means that may furrher 
 your Salvation , on Repentance, Faith, Holi- 
 nefs, Peace with God, &e. For they are the 
 Fruits of avery dear purchafe, and the Refults 
 ©f a great and fore Conflict, which the Media- 
 tor had with the Juftice of God, ere there could 
 be accefs for a (inner to any of t'iem> There 
 was not fo much payed to get the World Creat- 
 ed, as waspiycd to buyFakh, Repentance, Ac- 
 cefs to God, and an Entry to Heaven, to run- 
 away-finners.-Nothing was payed for theone,but 
 a mighty great price for the other: And therefore 
 3. We would expoftulate with many of you, 
 how it comes to pafs, that ye think fo little of 
 thcfe things that thrift hath purchafed, and that 
 ye think fo little of Faith in Him; and that fo 
 manyof you take a counrerfit for it, try not if 
 you have it, trouble not your fclves if ye want 
 it; and that other things of little value are much 
 efteemed of, and overvalued by you. Is there 
 any thing comparable to that, which Chrift hath 
 put fuch a price on, that He gave His own L£c 
 for it, and that God hath put fuch a price on, 
 that He promifed it toChri(r,as a part of the Sa- 
 tisfaction for the Travel of His Soul? And yec 
 it's lightly valued by many, yea, by moft men 
 and women; The day will come, when ye will 
 think Faith to be of more value, and will think 
 the pardon of fin, and an intereft in ChriiVs 
 Blood, to be valuable above the whole World, 
 though ye had it, when ye (hall be brought to 
 reckon with God for the (lighting thereof. And 
 therefore, 4/y. Seing this is a Truch, that every 
 thing that leads to Life Eternal, is a Fruit of 
 ChriiVs Purchafe ; take the right w.\y to attain 
 it; The Exhortation impiyes thefe two: 1. 
 That ye make aright choice of, and putajuft 
 value on thefe things, that ye mould choofe 
 and value- 1. That ye take the right way for 
 attaining of thefe things, i. Then would ye 
 
 3. Kif. If. - v r 9 
 
 k.iow what is to be valued and cliofen ? it a 
 certainly thefe things that God and the Media* 
 tor efteem of, and that the Congregation ofthe 
 Firff. born efteem of; The thing that Chrift 
 hath purchafed, and which are theFruits ofthe 
 Travel of His Soul are moft excellent; and 
 therefore, mind , fcudy , and feek after thefe 
 things, that ye may lead ycur Souls in to Life 
 eternal, feek after Faith , and Repentance, to 
 have your peace made with Gcd, to have the 
 Heart purified, to be of ameekand quiet Spirit, 
 which in the fight of G01 arc 0/ great price, as the 
 Apoft'e Peter fpeaks, to have pardon of Cm ,and 
 holinefs, for adorning the Gofpel cf God, and 
 to have Glory, that ye may fee God and enjoy 
 Him; thefe things are the beft things, this is 
 Uf-doubtedly the better part which will never be ts* 
 kenjnm them, whofe choife through Grace it is; 
 God will give great Efcates, Countries and King- 
 doms in the World, to men whom he will not 
 give fo much Faith as is like a grain of muftard 
 feed, nor a dram of jrue holinefs, becaufe he 
 thinks much lefs ofthe one than ofthe other, 
 and becaufe the one is notfo like God, nor will 
 it have fuch abiding fruit as the other. 
 
 idly. What way may folk win to make this 
 choice, and to attain thefe beft and moft valu- 
 able things? no other way, but that which this 
 Doctrine holds out, if all things that lead to 
 Life and Salvation beFruits of ChriiVs purchafe, 
 then fure it is by vertue of ChriiVs purchafe 
 alone, that ye mufr come by them, pardon of 
 Sin comes by the blood of fprinkling , peace 
 with God, grace, and more grace, the exercife 
 of Grace, and growth in Holineff, Faith in all 
 it •> ex^rcifes and advantages and every other 
 Grace, comes by his Sufferings as alfo doth 
 glory, becaufe he hath purchafed thefe graces 
 of the Spirit, as well as pardon of fin, and Hea- 
 ven : often Chrift is miskent, and pafied by here; 
 many think that they fhall cb:ain pardon of Sin, 
 and go to Heaven without him ; others, though 
 they will not own that, yet fall in the fecond, 
 and would make ufe of him for pardon of Sin, 
 and for paying of their Debt, if they could re- 
 pent and believe m him ; but till they find thefe 
 in themfelves, they fcarr to come unto him; 
 whereas the Sinner that is convinced of Sin, 
 a d of his hazard, would lay down this as the 
 fird ftep of his way in coming to Chrill, any 
 repentance and believing, and the making of 
 the heart willing, to clole with, and to cleave 
 to him, is the I ruit of ChriiVs Purchafe, and 
 I mud be in his common for it, for there is no 
 other poflible way to get it ; The fnft airth 
 
 (to 
 
2fjo ifaiah ^3. 
 
 ( ro fpeak Co ) that a waVened and fcnfihlc Sin- 
 ner fliould look unto, for pardon and peace, for 
 repentance, faith and aU things, would be to 
 Chrifl, and His fuffcrings, whence all tlufe 
 come ; Sinners at firft are difp >fed to take too 
 far a look, and fo nrftake in the orc^er of all 
 things; therefore, when the fenfe of Sin pinch* 
 fs them and they fet about to believe, and find 
 that their hearts are very averfe from believing, 
 and can hardly be brought to it, then they are 
 fainted, when they conlider, and find that, if 
 it flood but rn this, even to content to Chrifl, 
 they cannot do it, but then and in that cafe, the 
 Lord minds that they fliou'd be much in His 
 common, for Faith, and Repentance, and fora 
 foft and tender heart, and that they fliould feck 
 thefe from Him, as well as pardon of Sin, con- 
 sidering that all this is Chrift's purchafe; and 
 that there is a pofTibility to win to it this way, 
 when they can win to no other way ; if ye 
 would take this way, even to eye and look to 
 Chrifl as the author and finifher of Faith, and 
 be in His common for it, through His Grace it 
 fhould go better with you; This is it which the 
 Apoflle hath, tith* 12. Where he calls, to Lay 
 afide every weight, and the fin that eafily begets us, and 
 to run the race xvi'.h patience that is Jet before us-, and 
 it itihould befaid, how fhall that be done ? even 
 by Looking Unto J ejus the author and finifher of our 
 faith-, and then follows, who, for the joy that root 
 fet before him % endured the crojs, and defpifed the 
 fhams; Thus leading folk into His Sufferings, as 
 the folid foundation of their Faith. 
 
 XJ\e 1, See here ground for the quafhing the 
 natural pride that is amongft men and womeni 
 as to fpiritual things; Howfo? Where is the 
 ground for this ? here it is, becaufe all is Chrift's 
 purchafe, which may alio give a check tothefe, 
 who, becaufe they have nothing in themfelves, 
 think not that th*y fhall come (peed upon this 
 ground; as it doth to thefe others, who have 
 gotten fomething , and are proud of it : To 
 clear it a little, we would confider, that there 
 is a pride in folk, ere they come to Chrifl, they 
 cannot well endure to be in Chrift's Debt for 
 every thing; they will take pardon of fin from 
 Him, but they would have Faith and Repen* 
 tance of themfelves, as forne money in t K eir 
 purfe to bring with them to Him, r hat they 
 may buy it'; but where will you, I pray, get 
 Faith, or Repentance , if not from Him ? are 
 they not His gifts, and fruit of Fits purchafe ? 
 which, if it were well confrdered, there would 
 be no accefs to the proud reafonings, of unbe- 
 lief; dare ye fay but thefe things are the fruits 
 
 Vcr}. if, 
 
 Serm. 47? 
 
 of C.hnfts Suffe.ings, and His gifts ? and it fo 
 mult ye not be in His common for them? And 
 as itliienceth the reafonirgs of unbelief, fo it 
 flaps the mouth of the Sinner and humbles him 
 much more than if he had thefe things in, or 
 from himfeJf, and were only to be in his com- 
 mon forRighfeoufnefsandJuflification. 2. We 
 would coniider, That there is often fome 
 pnde, and conceit in them that have Faith, dif- 
 pofing them to think themfelves to be better 
 than other folks, but, if ye have Faith, whence- 
 is it? or who hath made you to differ ? Is it not 
 a fruit of Chrifls purchafe ? and will ye be vain, 
 or conceity of that which is the purchafe of 
 another? This is a fpiritual poor pride, that 
 Itinks in the noflrils of the holy Lord , fo to 
 abule His goodnefs, as to be proud, becaufe he. 
 hath bought and beflowed that which ye could 
 never have procured, nor attained your felves; 
 if then folks have nothing,irs-good to mind this, 
 that Chrifl hath purchafed, what Sinners fland 
 in need of, and that it may be had in and 
 from Him; and if folks have any thing, they 
 fh6u'd not be proud, or conceity of it, but 
 mind that what they have, is a fruit of Chrift's 
 purchafe, and that therefore, there is no ground 
 to be proud of it. 
 
 The 3. Ufe Serves to fhew,'what great obli- 
 gation lyes on finners,that get any fpecial good 
 from God, it's Chrifl that hath purchafed aH . 
 and therefore they ought to improve all that' 
 they have gotten for Him who hath bought all; 
 As it is, 1 Cor. 6. 10. Te are not your ort>n> ye art 
 bought with a price, and therefore glerifie God in your 
 bodies, and in your fpirits which are Gods ; What- 
 ever ye have ©f Faith, of Repentance, ofHoli- 
 nefs, or of ability to ferve and honour God in 
 yourflaticn, it's bought wifh a price, and a dear 
 price, and therefore g]orifie God in the right 
 Ufe-making, and managing of it: We would 
 think it no little progrefs, and advancement in 
 Religion, if ye were brought to walk under the 
 fuitableimpreflionof you r ingagementto Chrifl, 
 as holding all that ye have, and all that ferves . 
 for yrur through>bearing of Him; For, whafij 
 do we, or can we do, It's Chrifl that buys all, * 
 and that confers all ; we can do nothing of our 
 felves but abufe His purchafe, and were it not, 
 that our fickernefs and {lability of our Covenant- 
 ing depends on the firft Covenant, even the 
 Covenant of Redemption, Tranfa&ed betwixt 
 thefe two Refponfal Parties, Jehovah and the 
 Mediator, we would quite me^and break all the 
 Bargain betwixt God and us, and caft all Joofe 
 every day, if not every moment* 
 
 The 
 
Scrm. 48. ! f Mtlh H 
 
 The other Promlfe is, Tint Ht full Jet his 
 feed, and as we hinted before, it** one Cung to 
 have a feed, and another thing to fee a feed; The 
 former Promife looks to His having of aSotd, 
 and this to His feeing o{ that Seed ; Whence O*. 
 ferve, That not only is there a S^promifed to 
 Chrilt, but alfo the Jteing of a Sad, not only 
 Fruits] but the imp oving and managing of 
 thefe Fruits; Or thus, That not only is there a 
 Seed promifed to Chrift, but the overfeeing of 
 that Seed is alfo promifed; He fhall- have no 
 other Tutor ( to fpeak fo ) to leave His Chil- 
 dren to but to Himfelf, He fhall die, and fhall 
 by His death beget a Seed,and yet by His death 
 He (hall become theoverfeei of that fame Seed, 
 that by His Death is begotten : There is much 
 of the dignity of ChrifVs Office, and of rhe 
 Comfort of Believers here, that Jefus Chrift is 
 not only the procurer of our Life, but theover- 
 feei of itihence is that conclusion of theApoftle, 
 Heb* 7.25 IVherejore he it able to fave to the utter, 
 moji all that Come nuto God by him, forasmuch' an he 
 lives for ever to make interccjjion for them ; He hath 
 not only purchafed Life, and many good fhirigs 
 for Believers, but He is living to make the Ap- 
 plication of His purchafe to them ; and there- 
 fore is able to fave to the uttermoft , all that 
 come unto God. by Him: Indeed, if He had 
 been prevailed over by Death, there might have 
 
 . Vtrf. If. ao-I 
 
 been great hazard and doubt, if not utter dtf- 
 pair of ever attaining His purchafe, and a great 
 crack ( to fay fo ) or breach in our Confolation, 
 but when He is Executor of His own Tcfta- 
 menr, and by His Spirit makes rhe Application, 
 what is, ot can be wanting ? We mall fay no 
 more, but here it is clear, that we have a living 
 Mediator, as Himfelf fays, Revel. I. 18, 1 -was 
 dead, and am alive, and live for evermore; Ai.d 
 therefore Sinners itep forward to His Sufferings, 
 and fcek the Application of His purchafe, fince 
 He lives to make it, it will no coubt be great 
 ground of challenge againft you, who flighr His 
 Sufferings, and keep at a diftance from Him, 
 fince He is alive, and fmce what is accounted 
 of by Him, even rhe fruit of His Sufferings, is 
 by you fet at nought, who negleft, refufe, or 
 defpife Him, and the benefit of His Sufferings* 
 O! what an aggravation of your guilt will this 
 bi? when He is looking on, to fee what comes 
 of the Fruit of His Sufferings, and Soul-trave], 
 to be found thus to fight, and in a manner to 
 affront Him, He knows, and takes notice of the 
 breathings of Faith, where they are, and is well 
 pleafed with them, and with trie. Jean niintings 
 of it; He knows alfo, who defpife Him, and 
 refute to brlieve in Him, and harh all put 
 on record: Gcd give us wifdom, to make the 
 right choife. 
 
 S £ 
 
 R M O N XLVIII. 
 ISAIAH LIII. XL 
 
 Vcrfe IT. Hejhall fee of the travel of his foul, ar.ci jhall be fatufied : by his knowledge jhall my righteous 
 fervant 'jit/Hfo many : for he fnall bear their iniquities. 
 
 Soul, the fad and forely pinching ftraits, and prefc 
 fures that He was put to, and brought under, 
 not only in His Body, but alfo in His Soul, 2. 
 The promife made to Him upon His undertak- 
 ing, and pay i: g of the Price, He jhall fee of the 
 travel of his foul, That is, the fruits and effects of 
 
 S it is a molr wonderful work that 
 -our Lord Jefus hath in hand, and a 
 mighty great Bargain, that colt Him 
 the Travel of His Soul, So it may be 
 thought", that it muft be a very great 
 price that our Lord ]e r us hath to expect, as His 
 Satisfaction for all that fore Labour and Travel ; 
 This is ir that theTeXt holds forth, He Jhall fee of 
 the travel ( his Jtul ; Which in fum is this. He 
 (bail fee poor Jinneis getting good ofHim,Juiti- 
 ficd >y His Grace, and admitted to friendfhip 
 with God, and tint to His Satisfaction, as the 
 words fol'owing ckar, He [hall be fattsfied, to wit, 
 3s to that Fruit, and fhall acquiefecin it, as His 
 Satisfaction for all the travel of His Soul. 
 
 We told you, that there were three things 
 in tiiefe words, n The Price that is called for 
 from the Mediitor , in performing the Work 
 of Redemption and making reconciliation be« 
 twixt God and Sinners, to wit, The travel of his 
 
 His Soul travel; it mail cot be for nought, but 
 fhall certainly have fruit, He fhall have a nume» 
 rous Iifue. 3- Thtre is heie holden foith rhe 
 Mediators acquiefcence in the Baigain fo pro- 
 pofed, that He undertaking the condition of lay* 
 ing down His Life, on rhe Lme Terms, that he 
 fhall fee a feed, He requires no other farisfacrion, 
 *nd therefore He accepts of it, and acquiefces in 
 it, as therelult of this defign.W (halibe (mitftdx 
 Having fpoken of the former tvo,Wc come u nv 
 to fpeak of the thitdJSc we way confider it in thefe 
 three refpetts. I. As it locks to Chrifi's defign, 
 who is like to one that is tunning a race, and 
 hath the prize before him , and in his eye ; 
 
 and 
 
2-6*2 Tfaiah 53 
 
 and this Is implyed here , that lie hath ionic* 
 thing before llim, in laying down of His Life, 
 which He ihall not mifs, but lhall reacii and be 
 fatisfied in it 5 Co many are given Him, for 
 whom He enters Cautioner, on condition, that 
 His Righteoufnefs ihall be made forth-coming 
 to them, and that none of them mail be with- 
 out, or want it. 2. As it looks both to the num- 
 ber, and certainty of rhe Effefts and Fruits, in 
 Tefpect of them that are given to Him ; He jhall 
 bejat'vfied, He mail have, though not all Men 
 and Women, yet afufficient number, even as 
 many as (hall fatisfie and content Him, and 
 whatever was intended by Him , in the laying 
 down of His Life, He fhall want nothing of it, 
 but fhall be fatisfied in it ; and thus the Words 
 are to be actively underftood, to wit, of God's 
 actual performing of that which fhall be fatis- 
 fying to rhe Mediator. 3. It may be looked on 
 as the effect and confequent following upon 
 the former promife ; andfo it is to be under- 
 ftood paflively, for the delight that He takes in 
 the Fruit of His Sufferings, and in the feeing 
 of Sinners getting the good of them; and fothe 
 meaning is, That He lhall be fully contented, 
 and throughly well fatisfied with, yea, even de- 
 lighted, and ( to fpeak fo ) comforted in this, 
 for all the Travel of His Soul, when many fhall 
 be brought to believe in Him, and to get good 
 of Him; 
 
 To clear it further, We may take the Words 
 as alluding to feveralfimilitudes, As I. Tothat 
 of hungry and thirfty perfons, who are faid to 
 be fatisfied, when their hunger and thirft are 
 removed, by meat and drink, which implyes, 
 that Jefus Chrift in His purfuing and perform- 
 ing the Work of Redemption, had a Holy Hun- 
 ger and Thirft, and this His Hunger and Thirft 
 is fatisfied in their Salvation, and what leadeth 
 to it ; as Himfelf faith, John 4 3 1. ( Where he 
 makes ufe of this fame fimilitude ) / have meat 
 to eat that ye know not of, 1. Ic may allude to a 
 Man's taking pains in planting of an Vine-yard, 
 or Orchard, to whom it is a Satisfaction when 
 all the Trees grow, thrive well and bear Fruit; 
 and fo the meaning is, that our Lord Jefus fhall 
 be at vaft expsnee, and great labour and pains, 
 in making Sinners to become Trees of righteoufnefs, 
 but = 'that all thefe for whom He Suffered, and 
 was at all this expenccand pain fhall hold fo 
 well, and be fo fruitful at length, that fie ihill 
 be fully fatisfied in them, and think all well be- 
 ftowed; Or, 3. We may take it in allufion to 
 a Woman in Travel, who is faid, John 16. 21. 
 To have\orry#, while her p^ins are up»n htr t but fo 
 Joan as (hi is ddivirtd % Jhi nt more remtmfars her for* 
 
 ■ V*l ir. Serm. 4; 
 
 rew, for yy that a man-child is bom j And th 
 Simitude is here efpecial.'y alluded unto, then 
 fore our Lord's Sufferings are called Travel b 
 caufe rf the pains that I ie was put unto in then 
 and becaufe the end of (htm was to bring fort 
 Children, before called His Seed ; as if the Pr< 
 phet had faid, our Loid Jefus fha il be put t 
 great Sorrow in Suffering, but He fhall brin 
 forth, and as a Woman hath joy in the Mar 
 child brought forth, fo fhall He have more con 
 fort and uelight in the bringing forth of JB C 
 lievers, than he had forrow in the pj-c curin 
 of Life to them, though that was very great. 
 
 From the Words thus cpnfidered, and ex 
 
 plained, take thefe t wo Qb\trvations, 1. Th?t ou 
 
 Lord Jefus is exceedingly delighted, fatisfied 
 
 and well pleafed with poor Sinners making u f, 
 
 and getting good of His Sufferings; It's a thin; 
 
 mod fatisfying, and well pleafing to Him. a 
 
 That feing our Lord Jefus is fo well pleafed witl 
 
 Sinners making ufe of Him, there is all equin 
 
 and reafon for it, that He fhould have this Sa 
 
 tisfa&ion ; And this follows not only on tin 
 
 former, but clearly rifcth from the Words; foi 
 
 this Satisfaction is allowed Him for His 5oul 
 
 travel; and as it's juft, that they that Laboui 
 
 fhould partake of their Labour, and that th< 
 
 Hireling fhould have his Hire, fo it's not onh 
 
 fatisfying to Chrift, that Sinners get good oi 
 
 Him, but it's juft, He having purchafed it at fo 
 
 dear a rate. 
 
 For the firft of thefe, That our Lord Jefus is 
 exceedingly delighted and fatisfyed withSinners 
 making ufe, and getting good of Him ; if there 
 were no other Scripture to confirm it, this fame 
 is fufficient ; Would ye then know what Chrift 
 aims at in Hs Sufferings, what will content and 
 fatisfie Him, as a recompence for all His Soul- 
 travel ? ItVeven this, To fee the fruit of the travel 
 of his foul To have Sinners getting good of 
 Him, and faved by Him, and there is nothing 
 but this that will fatisfie him ; it were a great 
 matter to have the faith of this fettled and root- 
 ed in our hearts; if we could rightly take up 
 what He hath fuffered, how low he hath conde- 
 fce^ded to come, even to be a Man, and a Man 
 of forrows, and acquainted with grief, To be re- 
 proached and mocked, to rake on him theCurfe, 
 and to be in Pain and Soul«travel ; and then if 
 we could rightly take up what He aimed at, 
 and defigned in all this, and what He account- 
 ed to be a recompence to Him for all; even 
 this- That when His Gofpelis preached, fuch 
 and fuch poor Sinners, undei hazard of wrath, 
 and challenges for Sin, fhould, through clofing. 
 with Him, be brought to anfwer all their chal- 
 lenge! 
 
Serm. 48. J f*i*b *5 
 
 lenges by this ; our Lord Jefus hath fatisfied 
 Jultice for Sinners: and when poor Sinners arc 
 under the feufe of a hard heart, that they mould 
 caft their eye on the fame ground for a remedy 
 of that fpiritual malady, and plague, even hjs 
 fuffcrings, which have purchafed the mollifying 
 of the heart, as well as Juftification, and par- 
 don of Sin ; and when a Sinner is difconfolat 
 and dejected, bscaufeof Sin anddiviac difplea- 
 fure, that He fhould be cheered and comforted 
 in His Sufferings; This, even this is refrelhing, 
 and is delightfom to Him: We fay , it were 
 much to get this throughly believed; that Sin- 
 ners are not half fo fain to come in under His 
 Sufferings for flielter and refrelhing , as our 
 Lord Jefus is ( to fpejk with reverence ) to fee 
 them flickered, -refrefhed and thriving ; the 
 /cry mentioning of this ought to be*/ marrow 
 to the benes. 
 
 But for further clearing of it, we would fpeak 
 1 Word 1. To what this Delight and Satisfac- 
 ton is, a. To fome grounds , to confirm the 
 truth of if, that our Lord Jeius is indeed de- 
 lighted to fee poor Sinners coming to tf.m, and 
 getting good of Him. 
 
 For the Firft, of t de, We did, when we was 
 fpeaking of thefe Words, v. io % The piejjure of 
 the L^rJjhtllprofpcr in his bsrt.t,Shew how it was 
 a delightfom thing to Jehovvh ; And now 
 rp:aking of it fiom this n*v. in reference to 
 the Mediator, we mail take it up in thefe par- 
 ticulars 1. Th.re is in our Lord Jefus, not 
 anly a delight in Sinners getting gocd of //im, 
 is it is ath'ng He. calls for, and is agreeable to 
 His revalcd uill, and as being required of them 
 is their Duty, in which refpccl it's acceptable 
 ;o God, and cannot be but acceptable ana welU. 
 pleating unto Him; neither 2.1s this delight 
 Dnly in re'peft of the IinJ of his Sufferings, 
 which we r e undergone to make a way for, and 
 to fttkkopen a Door to the Throne of Grace, 
 through the Vail* which is His Flefh: that poor 
 Sinners might come to a fountain and u-afli, 
 ind hav- accefs to God rhiougn Him; which 
 jeing the End He had before him in His Death, 
 rannoc but be acceptable to God, bccaule it wis 
 lis End in giving cf his Son to die ; and lb it's 
 1 lightfom to the Mediator i but alfo idly, Ic 
 8 fo in thefe two refpects further, Sinners com- 
 ng to him.refting on h.m, and gerting good of 
 aim, is his dcligh r . •• In reflect of the honour 
 :hat is done unto him \ when a Sinner believes 
 3h him, he counts it the putting of the Crown 
 an his head, as ic is Can, 3. 1 1. fee alio to this 
 purpofe, Joh?i 5. 23,24. And though there c^uld 
 bavc been a potfibiJity of honouring God before, 
 
 V*rf 11. 16% 
 
 yet there is no honouring of the Mediator, tili 
 Folk make ufeof his Sufferings by Faith i And 
 it is on this ground that Chrift complains when 
 he is not made ufeof; and therefore, when Sin- 
 ners give him credit, by committing the faying 
 of their Souls to him , and by making ufe of 
 his Offices for that End, md for his performing 
 in them that wherefore they were appointed, it 
 cannot but be acceptable and well-pleafing to 
 him. 2. la refpect of that Sympathy that our 
 Lord Jefus hath with his own ..Members ; For 
 though the Mediator be now glorified in Hca% 
 ven, yet he hath a humane heait, and affection 
 ftill, though inconceivably glorious, and fo a 
 kindly Sympathie with them, and is feme way 
 affected with their good and their ill; And con- 
 /idering Him thus , He hath a delight in the 
 good and well-fare of His People ; and their b«« 
 ing delighted in, and fatisfied with Him, proa 
 Yes a Delight and Satisfaction to Him. 
 
 Fcr the next thing, to wit, the clearing and 
 confirming of it i it might bt cleared and con- 
 firmed from many Grounds, but we (hall only 
 touch on fome, that may make it out mod con- 
 vincingly, that it's moil delightfom to Jefus 
 Chrift, to fee Sinners making ufe of him, and 
 getting good of his Sufferings ; A"d this his 
 delight may be drawn from Eternity, and 
 carried on to Eternity. 1. In the making of 
 the Covenant of Redemption, it was delight- 
 fom to Him to enter in it, as is clear Pfal. 40. 
 I delight to do thy will , O viy Q.d\ The bargain 
 was no fooner propofed ( if we may fpeak to to 
 rhat which is Eternal ) But heartily it was clofed 
 with by him ; and this is confirmed, Prov. 8. 
 3,0, 21. Where the fubftantial Wifdom of the 
 Father is brought in, faying, Then 1 was by him 
 as one b' ought up with him \ and I was d*dy his de^ 
 Ight, rejtycir.g in the h bitabli p %rts of his earth, and 
 wry delights were with the Sons of men ; Our Lord 
 Jefus before the World began, was delig'ted 
 in the fore-thought that fuch a thing was 
 a corning , that in fuch and fuch parts of 
 the World, fi.ch and fuch poor Sinner- fhould 
 be called by his Grace,ard get good ofilis Suf- 
 ferings; As a M*n in a long J umey, or Voy- 
 age, may b? delighted in the Forefight or tl e 
 End of it, bef ic he cr me at t« 2 L ok fore. 
 ward to his executing of his Office f Mediator, 
 and to his going 3 out the work of Redempri- 
 on, and we will find that he does ic with dc- , 
 light; Therefore, John 4. When he is fitting on 
 the well fide, and is weary with his Jomncy, 
 agd hath neither to eat nor to drink, hefallerii 
 a prcachingto apo:r linful \V9a1an, and when 
 * M m thj 
 
a6 *4 . ft*** 53, 
 
 the DifcJples would fain have refreftied Him 
 with that wh:ch they had bought, hefayes to 
 them, / have meat to eat that ye know not of; And 
 When they be^iu ro wonder what that could be, 
 he fayes fu: ti-rr to tlienWf is mj meat, to do mj Fa- 
 thers »//', mi :o fin.fb his work; And what was that? a 
 poor whorilh Worr.an is (V ken to by him, and 
 brought by his fp.akingto ackncwledge him to 
 be the M (Ji t \zr.d to accept of him as iuch;And 
 by that blcilcd Work.his hunger & thirft were fa* 
 ris/ied : So Luke 22. 15. He faith to his Dilciples, 
 with dejire have 1 dijtredto cat this pajfover xoulm you, 
 before I faff er : And Luke 12, 50, I have a baptijm 
 to be baptized with, and how aw I fhaitned till it be 
 aiccomphfhed 3. Though the drinking of that Cup 
 was terrible to him, and though mockings and 
 reproaches were not pleafant in :hemfelve<>, yet 
 • the love that He had to Sinners good, mattered 
 all the bitternefs that was in thefc, and madc : . 
 them fweet. 3 /There is nothing that He more 
 comp'ains of, nothing angers and grieves Him 
 more, than when He is not made ufc of, Tewill 
 not ( fai th Be. John 5. ) come unto me, that ye may 
 have life; To (hew that the bell intertainment 
 that they could give Him, was to come aid get 
 Life from Him ; And it's told us, that He was 
 ang*y and grieved for the peoples unbelief and hardnefs 
 tf heart ; Yea, Hi weeps over them becaufe of this, 
 Luke 19. All which prove the great delight that 
 he had, and hath ftilJ, in Sinners getting good 
 of him ; And frequently in the Song, as Chap, 3. 
 and 9. He is jatd to feed among the Ullies ; There is 
 all His Intertainment that he gets in the World, 
 He Feafts on the Fruits of His own Spirit in 
 themtha r . welcome Him: I (hall name but one 
 place more, and that is, Pfal. 147. 10, 11. He 
 delights not in the ftrength of a horfe, nor in the legs of 
 a man, but in ihem that fear him ; The following 
 Words clear it more, what it is that delights 
 Him, In them that hope in his mercy, that is, in 
 them hat draw into Him by believing, He dc- 
 ligh's in thofe btyond all the World. 
 
 Ufi 1. It were a defirable thing tQ be believ- 
 ing this , Are there any fo prophane. but are 
 ready to think , that if they knew what would 
 pleafe God, or Chrift, they would do it ? The 
 Queftionis here anfwered, that this is p'eafing, 
 and only pleafing to Him ; If this be wanting, 
 there is nothing that will pleafe Him, even that 
 ye make ui'e of ChriiVs Sufferings, and imploy 
 Him in His Offices, for getting the good that 
 may be had by them; This is itthat ye are called 
 to, and which delighteth Him; and if this be 
 not, though ye wouid give Him tkufands of rams, 
 and ten thoufands of rivers of ey\, yea, the fir ft born 
 tfytur body fir the fin of ym fwpj it will not fatis- 
 
 Vtrf. it.' £ ffrm 
 
 fie Him, nor be accepted ; becaufe this alone i,' 
 Travel! ' "' *' ilJ HaVC f ° f Hi » S* 
 
 I (hall a little explain this.and then procure 
 W^i* wiil ask then, What is the F^ 
 of ChnftsJouJ.travel that fatirfes Him'Ianfw 
 er.That we take ln under it.noc only,. T h ac * 
 frould aim to be at Heaven; neither , J J 
 That ye l*feriou,in the D^ZfHoUnc}^ 
 if thefc were well-pleaiW to God lill ' S 
 
 ing and Improving of Chnft's Suffering f ™, 
 taming of tnefe , When Folk by thYs n M(l I 
 this New and Living Way ftep Cw.rd to ^ 
 Ven andfeck to be ferious in the ftudy of H^ 
 lir.cis; vhzn they that could net walking 
 way of Holinels, do not waV.n ,7 " thc 
 
 <W Moved, and'nudy to ^&ft^ 
 This ,s it mainly wherein h, Dcligh t an" S £ 
 faftion d.«h !y. even when a poor W I 
 brought to make Ule of him for Peace and P^ 
 conciliation with God, for throuah.L • • ' 
 all Callcd.for Duties, ^sCc^h t ^ S *i 
 for his Adm ffion to Heaven in thtcloT'A^ 
 therefore they do not only fail here who d 
 Prophane, living fecurely, 'ever m indinJ° H ^ 
 ven, their Peace with God, nor th* fl£ 1 * 
 Holinefs: Neitheronly thefc, who «ft S, e / ° f 
 and its reproofs behind their back frLfr"* 
 loathfome to God and Jefus ChriftJ^ by ^ 
 Thefc are alfo reproved, that do nor .ml Y I s ' 
 Sufferings of Chrift for Peace and Rec^ndlLV^ 
 with God, for R.ghteoufnefs, .nSS 
 for Comfort and encouragement and S ft| 
 not in His mercy; The R C af on T, W , hoho I ) « 
 though it were p'offible the T co" d make « 5 
 grefstn Holinefs, and attain to Wo rC ^d" 
 Peace that way, yet it would not be rW \u 
 Fruit of the Travel of Chrift s SouJ He L' 
 paft by, and fo could not be fatiVaQ ^ f o S" g 
 But where a poor finner Cs tba- h f a ^ B r h ft ,m i 
 to God of himfelf cannot make hU pT„?r 
 can He walk in the way of Holinef// ' " 
 pleafe God and fo flies Jo SZVf^Z 
 make ufe of His purcbafe : there Kerh Chi a- 
 delight, to fee foci,, flnncr'come a£ ^hid. , * 
 Off under the ftadow of his foffe r "n g s a T' 
 this refpeft, the more hardly a finneris n " 
 it is the more fatisfaQion to Him that Kw-' 
 Death and fofterings be madeuftof becaufcS" 
 way, the finnets Life is more intirelv the h 
 fit of his fuffcrings; and thwfucS ^ Pe fo nh "V 
 anyftrength Comfort or Peace and £ admitted 
 to HeavcHi It ,, allenarly through the Tuvdrf' 
 Jus foul, which it his gre« fatisfiwtion. 
 
 And 
 
Scrm. 48. If*i*h J3 
 
 And therefore we would idly commend to 
 you, That as you would do Chrift a favour, ( to 
 fpeak To with reverence ; AndO! what a motive 
 is this for vile flnners , the duft of his Feet, to 
 be put in a capacity to do him a pleafure ) En- 
 deavour this especially, that as to you, Chrift 
 may fee the Fruit of the Travel of his Soul* and 
 be fatisfied, and that all his kindnefs offered to 
 you may not be Fruitlefs ; This is the great 
 hirge or the Gofpcl as to that which is prefsed 
 upon you, and this is the wonderful mo- 
 tive that is given to prefs it, That it's delight- 
 fom toChrif? and therefore ye mould believe 
 on him : It were incouragement enough that it's 
 profitable to your felves ; Bat if ye had hearts 
 of Hone, this mould move you to it, That our 
 Lordjefus fetks no more Satisfaction from you 
 for all his $ou>travel, but that ye make ufe of 
 his Sufferings, that ye do not receive this Offer 
 of his Grace in vain, nor be Fruitlefs under it. 
 In a word, we have here laid before us, ( and 
 think upon it, ) the moft Wonderful, Incon- 
 ceivable, and Inexpredible Sute and Re'queft of 
 Him who is the Crea' or, to us poor finfuJ Crea- 
 tures, and what is ic ? I have been ( faves he on 
 the matter ) in fore Travel and Pain for you, 
 now I pray you let it not he for nought, let me 
 fee the Fruit of it 1 And ( to fpeak it with reve- . 
 rence oftheMajefty of God ) It would fay this 
 to you, let not our Lord Jefus rue of His Suffer- 
 ings : for as many as hear of ti is Offer, and do 
 not credit him with their Souls, they do what 
 they can, to make him repent that ever he be* 
 came Man, and funrered ib much, when he is 
 thus fhifted , and unkindly requited by them, 
 to whom he makes the Offer i and this is very 
 home and urgent, prefTing of the neceflity of 
 making ufe of him, when luch an Argument is 
 made ufe of, for thus it Hands with you , and 
 his Offer fpcaks this; Ei her make ufe or Chrift 
 and of his Soul'travel, for faving of yru; fruls 
 that fo he may be fatisfied j or, if ye fight him, 
 ye not ->nly deftroy, and caufe to p-rifh your 
 own Souls, but ye refufe to fatiffie Thrift for 
 hi. S u) travel, and Ho what in you lyts to 
 marr and defeat the End an . D-'fig-i of his fuf- 
 fcrings; and is not this a great and ftrongly 
 pufhing Dilemma ? The remit of your receiving; 
 or rtje&ing of Chrift will b* this, if ye receive 
 him, ye fatisfie him ; if ye reject him ye fiy, 
 ye are nor content that he fhould be fatisfied ; 
 and whac canbe expeclrd to comi of it, when 
 Clirift fuffered fo much, and when all that was 
 craved of you, was to nuke ufe of H ; m, and 
 when it was told that that would fatisfie Him, 
 and yec that was refufei ? What a horrrble 
 
 . Verf ir. 36V 
 
 challenge will this be in the Great Day ? And 
 therefore to prefs this Ufe a little, wcfhall fhew 
 you here, f« What it is that we exhort you to; 
 And 2. What is the force of this Motive, 1. 
 We would commend to you in general, that ye 
 would endeavour the Salvation of your own 
 Souls; Thit is it Hecryes to you, Prov. i« 22. 
 How long Je Jimple ones will ye love Jimplicity, and 
 ye fcorners delight in [coming ? turn at my reproof, 
 &c. He aims at this, that ye (hould get your 
 fouls faved from Wrath, and this mould not be 
 prejudicial, nor at the long run unfatisfying to 
 your felves, and it will be very fatisfying to 
 Himt 2_ It is not only to aim at Salvation limp- 
 ly, but to aim at it by Him, to aim at Pardon 
 of Sin, and Juftification through His Rightc* 
 oufnefs and Satisfa&ion; And that ye wculd 
 bring no other Argument before God to plead 
 upon, for your Peace with^Him ; but this} and 
 thar ye would aim at Holinefs, as a Fruit of H*s 
 DearhjHtf having pur chafed a peculiar people to bimft If, 
 to be zealous of good works, as it is Tit. 2. 14. And 
 that ye would aim to do holy Duties , by His 
 ftrengthning of you; and that ye wculd live by 
 Faith in Him, which is your vi ft »ry over thi wo>ld % 
 and the very Soul of the pra&ice of all holy Du- 
 ties ; And 3, That ye aim to have a Comfortable, 
 Refrefhfull, andChearfull Life in Him, and by 
 what is in Him, as if it were your own, it be. 
 ing legally yours by Faith in Him ; To be flop- 
 ping your own mouth, as having nothing in 
 your felves to bcall of, and (as I juft now Caid ) 
 to be clearing and delighting your felves from 
 that which is in Him, And as it is Pfal. '47 Even 
 to be hoping in his mrcy, In a word , It is to be 
 fludying peace with Gcd through Him, to be 
 ttudying HoHnefs in Hi> flrengtb, and to be 
 fludying a Comlo table and Chearfull walk 
 through the grounds rf joy that are given you 
 in Him, which is very rea<ondblejwould ye th-ii 
 do Him a favour, and have him Delighted and 
 Satisfied, do but this, give him your Souls ta 
 befavrdby H ; m. in his own way ; ccme to Ir'm 
 fenfibte f Sin, and founding \ cm Peace on h m, 
 tho wc.<k in y* Ur felves, yet flron^in him, On 
 whom as the nighty one God hath laid help \ Ad 
 fludying holinefs in his Arengrh, drav mg ver- 
 tue fr< m him, only to mortify your Lulls; That 
 ir may be Known that Chiift hath di-d, and is 
 rifen ajjain becaufe Grace fhines : n fuchaPer* 
 fonj and bee- mforted in Him, Ht that gl*rietfr t 
 let him glorie in the Lord, haying given up with 
 Creature-comforts , ar d Cor.fidcncrs , with 
 your own Gifts, PaitsDnties &c. Ana having 
 betaken your felves to the Peace, Strength 
 and Conlblation that are in a Mediator , 
 M m 2 and 
 
*66 
 
 lfaiah ?3- **'/• i J > 
 
 and which run through the Covenant of Grace, 
 and flow forth from Him, as the Fountain from 
 whom all the Graces and Com r orts that come 
 to us are derived, a*V For the force cf the 
 Motive, corifidfer ferioufly, if this be not a pinch- 
 ing ftrait that v e are put to ; if this be it where- 
 in our Lord's Sarfsflftion lyes and wherein the 
 Salvation and Edification of your own Souls 
 confifts; we poH: >ou, -f it beany great difficult 
 ty, or unreaiouable thing, that is called for 
 from you? and <ftne Motive whereon it is prefl: 
 be not mod juft and i eafonable ? that thefc who 
 have, or profefs to have the Faith of this, that 
 it will be Satisfaction to Him for all His S ul- 
 travel, that Sinners m?kc ufe of Him, mould 
 yield it to Him ; And whether in the Day of 
 the Lord, it will not be amoft hafnous, fhame- 
 jfull and abominable Guilt, that when the bufi- 
 neis of your own Salvation ftcod on this, even 
 on your fatisfying of Thrift by yielding, ye re- 
 ufed, difdained and fcorned it, and would not 
 
 Scrm. 49. 
 
 make ufe of Him for your Peace , and would 
 not in His ftrength ftudy Holinefs, though your 
 own Souls mould never be faved, nor He fatis- 
 ficd for His Soul-travel i This.of all other Chal- 
 lenges will be the fharpeft and moft bireing; 
 and upon the other hand, it may be mod com- 
 forting to a poor bodic tint is fenfible of Sin, 
 and afraid of Wrath ; is there, or can there be 
 hazard to do Chrift a pleafure by believing on 
 Him? It's a thing de'Jightforn to Him , and 
 therefore, let this be one great Motive to preft 
 believing in Chrift , among tr\p reft, which 
 though it^e crofs, and thwarting to the unbe- 
 lieving heart, and may look like prefumptim to 
 look a Promife in the Face, and to offer to make 
 application of it to poor Sinners felf; Yetfeing 
 it's a thing fo pleafingto Chrift, that itfarisfies 
 Him for all His Slffcrings, tftay it upr n thi* 
 very account, remembring always, that/ft jfr- 
 lights in them that hope in his mercy ; and to him be 
 pratfe, for ever. 
 
 SERMON XLIX. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XI. 
 
 Verf ir. He faS fee of the travel of bis foul , and fall be Jatisfsd 
 ous fervant jaflifie many ; fr he fall bear their iniquities. 
 
 ]'■ Ts a great Work that Our Lord Jefus hath 
 undeTtaken,in fatisfying the Juftice of God 
 for the Sinsofthe Elect, and He hath at a 
 » dear Rate, and with great Expence, and 
 Travel performed it ; Mow it is but reafon that 
 He flioald again be fatisiied, that fo Jehovah's 
 Satisfaction , and the Mediator's Satisfacti- 
 on may go together, and that is the thing that 
 is promifed here in thefe Words ; What this 
 
 by hit knowledge fall my rightt 
 
 faftion, for all the Sout travel, and Sufferings 
 that He endured ; He fall lee of the Fruit §f the 
 Travel of his foul, and fall be fatisfied , I (hall in- 
 fift no further in clearing and confirming this" 
 butcomeclofeto the Ufe of it; And if any Point 
 of Doctrine have Ufe, this may have, and hath 
 it, to the glading and making Joyfull and fain 
 the Hearts of loft Sinners, That our Lord Jefus 
 fhould fuffer fo much, and feek no more Satis- 
 
 theWork of Redemption,It's alfo let down here 
 Hijbaljee of the fruit tf the travel of his foul \atia 'fall 
 be fatisfed t W hich in a Word is this,He (hall fee 
 many who had perifhed, if He had not Suffered, 
 gctcing good of hisSufferings,& to be benefited 
 by them • Who, by His taking onHim the Curfe, 
 and by His undertaking His Soul-travel, fhallbe 
 fred from the Curfe, and made to partake of the 
 Benefits, Priviledgesand Comforts that He hath 
 bought by fo great and precious a Price. 
 
 them getting Life by His Death, and the blef- 
 fmg of His bearing of the Curfe, and yet this 
 is it that this Doctrine bears forth. 
 
 We may draw the r, Ufe to thefc /to, from 
 and by which we may learn, and know in fome 
 meafure, how to anfwer this Queftion; feing 
 v/e have heard fo much of Chrift's Sufferingand 
 Soul-travel, what mall we give to Chrift for all 
 that ? how fhall we fatisfie Him ? If there were 
 any affected fuitably with thankfulnefs from the 
 
 We propofed this, as the main DoBrine from hearing of ChriftVbeing brought follow"* by 
 
 Satis- His fad Sufferings, this would be, and could 
 
 the Words the laft day, That it is great 
 faction to our Lord Jefus, to fee Sinners mak« 
 ing ufe of , and getting good of His Suffer- 
 ings ; Or thus, That Sinners making ufe of 
 Chaffs Sufferings for their good, is His Satis- 
 
 not but be their Quftion: Here is an Anfwer to 
 it, That our Lord Jefus feeks no more as a fatis- 
 faction for all His Sufferings, but that ye im- 
 prove them for your good ; This will Delight 
 
 and 
 
Serm. 49« 
 
 1 TV 
 
 and Satisfie Him, ye cannot do Him a greater 
 pleafure, nothing- will be more acceptable, nay 
 nothing wili be acceptable to Him, not t<?ken 
 offyour hand but this, even to fee you coming 
 to Him, and making ufe of His Sufferings for 
 your own good, That as to your particular, 
 His Suffering may not be in vain, and for 
 nought, but that ye improve them, and fo im« 
 prove them, as that ye may not Live and Die 
 in the Cafe that ye would have been in for ever, 
 had He not fuffered, That is, under thedomN 
 nion of Sin and Sathan, under the Wrath and 
 Curfe of God in an anxious heartlefs Life, with- 
 out God and without Hope in the World? It 
 is even this in a word, That hearing of His fad 
 Sufferings, and of the Defign of them, yemay 
 betake >ourfelves to Him for Pardon of Sin, for 
 Sanctification in both the Parts of it, and for 
 Confolation, and that in the end, ye may get 
 your Souls faved, on the account of His Suffer- 
 ings, and by vertue there3f : i. then, yewould 
 feek to be reconciled to God , as the Apoftle, 
 a Cor. 5. ao, il. exhorts,^ as ambajfadors for 
 thrift, and in his slead, bejeech you to be reeonciled to 
 God ; And the Argument whereby ft is pre/Ted, 
 is the fame that the Doctrine holds forth, Fur he 
 was made (in for us who knew no Jin, that we might be 
 made the righteeufnefs of God in himj Hence it fol- 
 lows alfo, Chap, 6. I. We befeech you , receive not 
 this grace of God in vain: Are "there any of you 
 who are convinced, that Chrifr mould be Satis, 
 fied, and that he mould not be at all this travel 
 and Pains for nought? And that think ye would 
 fain fatisfie Him, if it were in your power? Be- 
 hold, our Lord hath told you what will fatis- 
 fie Him; It is not thoufands of Rams, norten 
 thoufand Rivers of Oyl, but that His Sufferings 
 be fo improven by you, as the native Fruits of 
 them may follow and be found in you ; That, 
 confi^ering the wofull cafe ye are in by Nature, 
 ye may mike ufe of His Satisfaction to Divine 
 Juftice, as the alone Atonement , and may by 
 Faith take ho'd of it as the Ground of your 
 Peace j if this be not, Chrift will be to you as 
 if He had never fuffered. idly. It calls for Holi- 
 nefs and Mortification of fin, This is much pref- 
 fed. Rom. 6. from v> a. to 14 And by this fame 
 Argument , to wit, That feing Chrifr died for 
 Believers, we mould die withHm. That being 
 it wherein the Power of His Death kythes, even 
 in the Mortification of our Lulls, which He 
 came to deftroy : But when Folks live as they 
 had wont to do in their Prophamty and Loof- 
 nefs, there is nothing of the Fruit of the Travel 
 of His Soul to be feen in them. 3. Chrift Trave- 
 led for the Confolation of His People : And 
 this is another Fiuic of His Death and fufferings, 
 
 H.V< r r . 16-7 
 
 thatthefe win have betaken themfel/es toChnft, 
 may comfort themfelves on this Ground, That 
 once, and that ere long, they will get the Ma- 
 ftery over abory of Death, and will gtr 
 Sathan anditbruifed under their Feet through 
 him ; Who was delivered for our offences, ar.d rojg 
 again for o'^r justification, and, who hath blotted o-t 
 the hand writing of ordinances that was again [i us, 
 nailing it to his croji , And that through the vail t 
 whhki-shis flefh, their might a way be made Patent 
 to us, unto themosi holy, and that with confidence 
 we might approach to God, and in Hisiuffei« 
 ings drown all our Challenges : And indeed Be- 
 lievers are behind and greatly at a lofe, who 
 have betaken thtmfelves to Chrift, and yet live 
 as Anxicufly and Uncomfortably, as if they had 
 not a fiain Mediator to comfort themfelves in t . 
 who, by His Sufferings, Soul-travel and Death, 
 hath made aPurchaic of fo great things for 
 them. And in a Word, theup fhot of his Suffer. 
 ings, is, to get theSouls of Believers in him, car- 
 ried unto heaven and keeped there perfect, till 
 the Body be raifed ; and in a perfect Hate be Re-* 
 united to the Soul, at the Great Day, according 
 to that of the Apoftle, Eph. 5. 16, 27. He gave 
 himself for his church, that he might fancltfie and 
 cleanfe it, andprefent her to himfelf a glorious church 
 without fptt or wnnkie,or any (uch thing ; And when 
 Souls are not taking the right way to heaven, 
 he hath nothing of the Travel of his Soul from 
 fuch, more than if he had not undergone it, or 
 not fuffered at all. 
 
 Uje 2. If this be Chrift's Satisfaction for all 
 the Travel of his Soul, that he fee Sinners get- 
 ting good of his Sufferings, then if any Motive 
 be weighty to move People to give him their 
 Souls to fave, this mull fure have weight with 
 them, even that theieby he may have Sarisfact* 
 ion for his Soul-travel; And therefore we would 
 exhort you on this ground, to give him your 
 Souls to be faved by him, in. order to his Satis- 
 faction : And what is fpoken in common, take it 
 as fpoken to every one of ycu in particular, 
 Men and Women, Old and Young, Rich and 
 Poor; if ye would do Chrift a favour and plea- 
 fure, give him imployment for Pardon of Sin, 
 for Peace with God, for Sanctification, for Con- 
 folation and for Accefs to Heaven ; Or, if yc 
 would know whitmorive we would ufe topcr- 
 fwade you to make Ufe of this Gofpel for all 
 thefe, take this for one, and a main one, That ic 
 will fatisfie, and even ( to fpeak withRevereOce) 
 comfort Chriftfor all theTravefof his foul, and 
 for all thehardLabour that he enduredjeven asic 
 fatisfies a wooer for all his Pains and Patience, 
 in waiting on after many rcfufals and flights 
 
 when 
 
2(55 ifaiah 
 
 when he gaim the Womms Confent, and when 
 the March is made up: *o it will fatisfie Him, 
 u. hen h c fees Souls, b> vertue of hi? b-jfferings, 
 brought to believe on him, and to I ly tKt weight 
 of their Salvation upon him; for then he fees it 
 was not for nought mat he Uid down his Li e ; 
 A id truly if this Motive prevail not, I know 
 not w'h at Motive will prevail 
 
 But to nuke it the more clear and convinc* 
 ing, confider theft things, i. what It is that 
 thrift feeks, when he feeks fatisfa&ion for the 
 Travel or' his Soul, he even fecks your benefit 
 and good; If he had fought that which would 
 have been painfull to you, ye would, I fuppofe, 
 have judged youi fclves oblige J readily to have 
 gtmc about it, had it been ( as we ufe to fpeakj 
 to have gone through the fire for him ; fiut now, 
 when this is all that he leeks, that by making 
 ufe of his Sufferings ye iruy be Juftilied, made 
 hol^, comforted in your Life, and brought to 
 Heaven at your Death.lhould it not much more 
 # engage you to give him thisSatisfa£tio/j?2.Who 
 feeks this Satisfaction, and to whom is it to be 
 given ? Is it not to our Kordjefus Chrift ? There 
 is very great weight in this Part of the Argu- 
 ♦ ment, that by believing on Him, and making 
 V, -ufe of his Sufferings, we not only fatisfie and 
 fave our felves, but make glad the heart of our 
 Lofdjefus Chrift, who being confidered as God, 
 needs no Satisfaction, neither is capable of any 
 additional Satisfaction from Creatures, He be- 
 ing infinitly happy, and fully Satisfied in the 
 Injoyment of His own All-fufficient felf; No- 
 thing from without can be added unto him ; 
 yet he having condefcended to become Man, 
 and Mediator betwixt God and Man, to recon- 
 cile loft Sinners to God, He is gracioufly pleaf- 
 ed to account it Satisfaction to Him for all His 
 Soul-travel, to have Sinners making ufe of him 
 for their Good j and if there beany weight in 
 the Satisfaction of one thatis Great and Good, 
 and good to us, this hath weight in it, that our 
 doing fo will fatisfie Him, that is Matchlefly 
 Great and Good, and fuperlatively fo to Sin- 
 ners. 3. Confider the Oround on which this 
 Satisfaction is pleaded for, and it will add yet 
 more weight !o this Argument; It's Satisfacti- 
 on to Him furHis Soul-travel; And can any find 
 in their hearts to think, but He fhould be fatis- 
 fiedonthis account? Is there not reafon for it? 
 Wha( as the Apoftle iVyes, l Cor. 0. 7. ) goeth a 
 Ttt>;ir:*fjre on his axon charges ? who plants a vineyard, 
 . a?i<i eats no: of the fruit thereof? or who feedith afljck, 
 and eateth not of the milk of the fink ? Ah ! (hould 
 cur Lord Jefus beftow all this labour and pains 
 for norh'ng? And further, & Whofe Satisfaai- 
 on is it that is fought? ( This confideration is 
 
 jj» n*f. u 
 
 r erm. 49. 
 
 r it. • cnn. *y« 
 
 fomewhat diverged from the £ and would not 
 therefore be locked on as any Tautology. ) is it 
 net his who is Lord of all, and will one day be 
 Judge? When, if we had all the World, we 
 would g.vcit to pkafe Him, and who will pro- \ 
 nunce theiueeteft cr fcdeft fa. tcr.ee upon us, 
 accordingas we have fatisfied Him, in this,cr 
 not ; C onficermg that it is U who dcfires this 
 Satisfaction from us, fhould there not be an holy 
 diligence, eagcrntfs, ar.d zeal to get that per. 
 formed, that will pleafe and fatisfie him: Lfpe- I 
 cially when the improving of His Suffering! i 
 ^y don? But S ly. Fr-m whom requires he I 
 this batisfachon ? Is it not from them, who like I 
 m«ep have gone aftray ? From thefe who have 
 many iniquities lying on them, and are lying 
 under the curfe of God by Nature? From thefe 
 who muft either be healed by his ftripes, or elfe 
 they will nevar be healed, but will die of their 
 Wounds ? may not this make the Argument yet 
 the more ftrong, that he is not Ceeking this fa-, 
 tisfachon of ftrangers, but oPHis own People, 
 nor of Righteous Folk, but of Sinners, who are 
 lying under the Curfe, and whofe happinefs Ives 
 in giving hjmchis Satisfaftion ? And when ins 
 thus with you, that either your Sins muft be 
 taken aw^y by Him, or ejfe ye muft ly under 
 them for ever; That either He muft bear the 
 
 'fur ^° U ' ° r ye muft bcar ic >' our fclv ' es » 
 it thefe things be obvious, as indeed they are, 
 
 O! give Him the Satisfaction that He calls for, 
 and let Him not be put to fry, as it is, Ifai. 49. 
 4. / have laboured in vain> and f pent my flnngthfor 
 nought, and in vain. 
 
 idly. To prefs this yet a little more ( AI- 
 though it fhould be fad to us, that there fhould 
 be need to pr c fs that fo much onus, which is fo 
 profitable to us, and Satisfying to Him, ) even 
 that we would make ufe of H.m for our fpirit- 
 ual Good and Advanrage ; Thefe confutations 
 will add weight to the Argument. 1. What 
 efteem Chrift hath of it; He thinks it asit were 
 to be payment, and a f >rt of Compenfation for 
 all His Labour and Sufferings; The price was 1 
 not Gold nor Silver, nor any fuch thing, which 
 He gave for Sinners, but it was His precious 
 Blood, His own Life, who was the Prince of 
 Life, and the Prince of the kings of the Earth; 
 AnJ O ! what a vaft and lnfinit difpmporticn is 
 there betwixt his Life, and all our Lives ; and 
 yet He accounts it a fufficient Reward, if we 
 will but give Him our Souls to be faved by Him, 
 in Hs own way, and will make ufe of his Death 
 and Sufferings for tint end', and if it were pof- 
 fible, that we could think little of our own Sol- 
 vation, and much of Chrift' s Satisfaction for His 
 
 Soul- 
 
rm 40. ' ti* iab n ' 
 
 ul crave*, ought we not to think much of our 
 ,« n Salvation, in reference to his i Satisfaction |j 
 and now, when he hath joyned thefe together, fo 
 that we cannot pleafe nor fatisfic him, except 
 we give him our Souls to five, and cannot (atis- 
 fie him but that in doing fo, oiuSmiIs fhall be 
 i faved, mould it not induce us to make ufe of 
 him for that end ? If he had commanded us to 
 run here and there, and to undergo lome Jong 
 | and very toilfome Voyage, or fome hard piece 
 of L hour, or to bellow of our Means and Sub- 
 fiance, yea, all of it to pleale him it had been 
 very reasonable on his part to have demanded it, 
 and moil unreafonable on ours to haverefufed 
 It but our Lord layes weight on none cf thefe 
 things, as feparated from the laying the weight 
 of our Souls on His Righteoufnefs The realon 
 is becaufc the making ufe of his Righteoufnefs, 
 and the Improving of his Sufferings for our Ju- 
 ftification and Salvation, fhews that he in his fuf- 
 ferings isefteemed of, and Hefeeksno more but 
 that 2. Confider how good reafon ye have to 
 fatisfie Chrift, and yield to Him, and to im- 
 prove his Sufferings for your own Salvation; Is 
 there any that dar fay the contrary ? Will not 
 Hiftorical Faith fay, that there is good reafon 
 for it? If there be any love to him, or to your 
 own fouls, will it not plead for this ? If ever ye 
 think to be pardoned, is there any' other name 
 given thereby ye can expeft ir? Is there any 
 Holinefs, or Comfort but from him, any hope 
 of Heaven but through him ? and will not this 
 bind the Confcience of any, that is not defperat, 
 to judge, that He from whom all this comes 
 fhould be fatisfied? ?. Confider at what a Rate 
 he hath purchafed thefe benefits of the pardon 
 of fin, of peace with God, of fanttificarion, and 
 of the hope of Heaven, &c And how he bath 
 brought them afcout i did he not ingage in the 
 Covenant of Redemption, and hath he not per 
 ormed all that he Ingaged for ? in taking on 
 our Nature, in being in an Agony, in fweating 
 drops of Blood, in being Buffeted, Mocked, Re- 
 proached, and in Dying, to piocuie Life and 
 Peace to finners ? If we could rightly difcern h.s 
 fufferings,.& the benefits that we have by them, 
 it would lay, that there is good reafon, that he 
 fliould have a kindly meeting, who hath done 
 and fuff-red ^o much to obtain thefe to us. 4. 
 Confider the cheerfull way of his fufferings.and 
 of his laying down of the Price,how wclJ-pkaf- 
 ed he was ro undergo all for his People, fo i hat 
 he fayeth, John 10. Noman takelhmy Uje from me y 
 but I lay it down of my [If, and take it up <*gatr.',Pfat. 
 40. Idil'ght to do thj wi//,0 my God; And Luki 12./ 
 have a bapt .fn to b: b.ipuzed with, and bow am I 
 tr aimed till it bt a.comf I jhed? And; Lake 22. With 
 
 VitJ. 11. ad? 
 
 depre have I defred to eat thispajfiver before I fuftr: 
 He. opened not hismouib, in order to his delivery, 
 fo well did he love the falvation of Sinners; 
 Now. what if a meer and ordinary Man had 
 done fomething to the hazard ^>f his life for 
 yon, would it not plead with the molt carnal 
 pcrfons, having the lead meafure of natural, or 
 moral Ingenuity to give him a meeting; very 
 Heathens will love thefe that love them, much 
 more cug l it ye to fatisfie him in what he requi- 
 res, who hVh done fo much for finners. 5. Con- 
 fider, what he fecks as a fadsfa&ion ? ( hinted at 
 before ) If it were a^reac matter, or which were 
 to your prejudice, there might be fome fhadow 
 of aground to rfefufe, but when it is no more 
 but to make ufe of his Sufferings, for your own 
 good, how can it be refufedr^ It's in this cafe, as 
 if the Patients health would fatisfie the Phyfi- 
 cian, as if a poor mans receiving of a Sum of 
 Money would fatisfie the Rich Friend, who is 
 peafed to beftow it; Or, as if one that is naked 
 would fatisfie another, by putingon the cloaths 
 laid to his hand by him ; what reafon is there to 
 refufe fuch Offers ? And yet this that Chrift 
 call: for, is, even as if the Phyfician fhould fay 
 to his dying Patient, 1 will be fatisfied greatly, 
 if thou wilt take this Potion that is for thy re*/ 
 covery, health and cure, and I will not be con- 
 tent, if thou take it not, though the Ingredierirs 
 (land my felf very dear; befides that, it is for 
 thy good, and will recover thee; Or,as if the Fa* 
 ther fhould fay to the Child, I will not be con- 
 tent, if thou put not on fuch a fine fuit, that 
 flood me fo much money;in a word, That which 
 makes the dyvour finner happy, is that which 
 fatisfieshim. 6. Confider, if Jefus Chrift get not 
 this Satisfa&ion, what will become of it, if ye 
 pleafe him not in this, he will be highly dif- 
 plea-fed, no other thing will fatisfie him, though 
 ye fhould pray and weep an hundred years and 
 do many good Works, if he get not this Fruit 
 of his Soul lufftrings, to wit, that ye improve 
 them for your Souls good and Salvation, he will* 
 be continually difpUafcd ; Therefore it's faid, 
 Pfal. a. Kijs the Son, leaf he bt angry; And this is 
 nothing elfe, but to make ufe or him in his Of- 
 fices ; and it fayes, that there is no way to pleafe 
 him, and to efiiew his anger but this; And in* 
 deed, if ye anger him, ye anger him that can be 
 your belt Friend , and your greateft Foe. 7. Con- 
 fider further, how our Lord Jefus fecks, and prcf- 
 fes for this fatisfeclion from yoiijhe fends forth 
 his Friend* 6c AmbaffadoiS.to wore in hisName, 
 and to befeech you ro be rtconcileJ,and told you, 
 tiia' it w 11 not be thcufinds of Rarr.j,, n:r 
 yourfirft born.that will do the bufinefs, but that 
 ye muft humble your lclves^nd walk withGod, 
 
 uhi \ 
 
* 7 o !&**• *3 
 
 which necefTarly fuppofeth the Ufc-makinR of 
 Chrift : If there had been no pleading with you 
 in his Name, there had not been fuch Sin, in 
 not Improving his fatisfaQion , but when He 
 pleads lb mucfi, and fo often for this, and in- 
 treats every one in particular to fatisnc Him, 
 faying, as it were, lee me fee of the Travel of 
 my SouJ, let me have this much fatisfa&ionfor 
 all my Sufferings, that ye will make ufe of my 
 Righteoufnefsi and when he is fo very fenous, 
 in befceching and Intreating, it ftv uld , no 
 doubt, make us more willing to grant Him 
 what He feeks. 8. Ye would look upon this, 
 not only as a difcourfe in the general to Sir.ncrs, 
 but ye would alio look on it, as addreff d to 
 every one of you in particular; and therefore 
 remember, that ye will all be called to give an 
 account of this matter, and it will be asked ycu, 
 What became of fuch and fuch an offer of Grace, 
 and whether ye gave Him the Satisfaction that 
 He called for, or no? according to that Word, 
 Acl. 17. 31. He hath appointed a day, wherein he 
 will judge the world in right eoufmfs,by that tnanvohem 
 he hath ordained, whereof he hath given ajfuranct 
 to all men, in that he hath raifed him from the dead; 
 He would have judged the World though Chrift 
 had not come ; but he will have a day wherein 
 he will call all the hearers of the Gofpel to an 
 account, efpecially as to this, to wit, What 
 welcome they have given to Chrift : And feing 
 fuch a day is coming, when folk will be called 
 to an account, what ufe they made of Him,with 
 what face will many come before Him, when 
 it (hall be told them, that he craved no more 
 Satisfaction from them, for all that he fufTered, 
 but that they would have improved his Suffer- 
 ings for their cwn good , and that yet they 
 would not give him that much ? Doth not this 
 fay, that there is need, that we fhould look well 
 what Fruit there is of His Sufferings that there 
 may be more than if he had not Suffered at all. 
 9. C 'nfider the great weight that will be laid 
 on this Sin, of refuting to believe, and to fatis- 
 fie Him in this, to wit, in improving of his fuf- 
 f-rings, above all other Sins i This is a Sin that 
 xv ill be found to be againft equity, thankfulnefs 
 and ingenuity, that when he had dene, and luf- 
 fered lb much, he was fo ill requited ; ^ea, it 
 will be found to be a wilfull and malicious Sin, 
 Th.it, when your good and His fatisfaQion 
 were joyned together, ye would rather choife 
 t) deftrcryyour ielv's, thin to latisfieHim, in 
 fivinjr your.felves, through your Ufe making 
 of His Sufferings : There ar~* two remarkable 
 W jrdsto his purpofc, tkb. 6. ro. In the 6Chap. 
 Iti .aid rfXttCh, T i\it they crurfcto tbemfchlK the 
 
 VtrJ. 11. Sernv 49: 
 
 Son of God afrjh,and pu' him to an epenfhamei That 
 is, they do dii'plcafe ahd anger Him , and do 
 what in them lyes to caft icpioach upon Him, 
 a> if he were no Saviour at all, or an L.fuffici- 
 ent Saviour, to put him to fuffcr over again, 
 in his wanting of Satisftdton for his Sufferings; 
 As it is a great pain for a Mother to be in Tra- 
 vel, but Jt is another, and in fome iefpec~t, a 
 greater pain, if the Uiild die in the bunging 
 torth: In the 10. Chap. v. 28. It's called, A tread- 
 ing un-itr foot the Hon of God, and an acctunting the 
 blood of the covenant to be an unholy thing, And in 
 the 16. v before it's faid, There remains no more 
 Jacrifi:es for ftn, but a certain J earful looking for of 
 judgement, And it*s ; upon this very account; 
 ( As we did at another occafion, make ufe of 
 tfiefe two Scriptures to a like purpofe, and did 
 thus caution our app!i:ation of them againft 
 miftakes ) For what grearer Indignity could be 
 put on Him, than, when His Satisfaction de- 
 pends on the Improving of His Sufferings, yet' 
 people will not do it? As nothing p'eafes him 
 better than to improve his Sufferings, fo on the 
 contrary, there is no Sin that doth difpleafe him 
 more, than wh«n they are not impioven : And 
 if ye will not now believe this to be a Truth, 
 yet. when the Lord (hall call you to account 
 for it, ye will find it to" be a moft certain and 
 fad Trut'i ; That "he called you to believe, and 
 that ye would lyftill in your unbelief, ignorance 
 and prophanity ; That ye deftroyed your own 
 Souls, and made his Sufferings as ufelefs, as to 
 you, as if there had never a door been opened 
 to Sinners to Heaven, by them. Is there any 
 of you that will be able to anfwer this chal- 
 lenge ? If not, then let him have this fatisfa&i- 
 on, by improving of his Sufferings, tharhemay 
 find ( to fay fo ) that; his death hath not been 
 fornoughr, as to you: ftudy to^iave him great 
 in your cfteem, and to have your Souls faved by 
 the vertue and efficacy of his Sufferings, other- 
 wayes the challenge will be unanfwerable; con- 
 fidering, that he declared, that this would fatis- 
 fie him, and ye knew that this wou'd have pleaf- 
 ed him, and removed the quarrel and faved 
 your felves; and that withall, by this means, 
 a comfortable ientence at Judgment might have 
 been procured to you, and that yet yedifdain- 
 ed to do it: And therefore fince it ftands fowith 
 you, be intreated to make earneft, and a greater 
 earneft of believing, and of th^ great work in get- 
 ting y ©ur own fouls faved,which he hath thought 
 lo much of, elfe it had been better for yru, that 
 ye had never had a delightfomhour in the Worldj 
 and fad will the encounter be, that ye will have 
 with him,and with your own Confcieoce,in that 
 
 da y 
 
Sernv so.* tf"*k *}• 
 
 jay, when it fl^ll have this to tell you, thatye 
 cannoc now expe& any good, or favour from 
 _he Judge ; becaufe, when He would have faved 
 you, ye would not have it lb, but would needs 
 run on your own Damnation ; and therefore 
 , we fay again, either give him fatisfa&ion, by 
 I Improving of his Sufferings , and by making 
 i earneft of the bufinefs of your Salvation, or, 
 refolve to meet with a moft terrible Purfuer of 
 the quarrel againft you > the wrath of God is 
 dreadfull, but much more the Vengeance of the 
 Mediator, who, becaufeye would not give him 
 his will in your Salvation, he mall have it in 
 your Ruine and Deftruction. 
 
 4. There is here afweet Word ofConfolati- 
 on to poor Souls, that fain would have Sin taken 
 away, and are afraid to prefume ; our Lord will 
 never be angry, that ye make ufe of his Suffer- 
 ings for your own Good ; nay, he accounts it a 
 
 P*rf. IT. 17 1 
 
 fatisfaction to him, that ye improve thtm ; that 
 when ye find ycur felves arretted for Sin, ye put 
 it on nis fcore, and draw a Bill on him to pay 
 your Debt ; that when you find your Mre$ un- 
 der that, which to you, looks like the domini- 
 on of Sm, ye look to his Crofs» for vertue, to 
 crucifie, kill and iubdue it; if therefore < as I 
 have often faid ) ye would do him a favour or 
 pleafure, make ufe of him; be allured, that the 
 more weight ye lay on him , ye do him the 
 greater pkafure; and this is all the amends that 
 he feeks, for all the wrongs ye have done to 
 him, and all the Satisfaction that he fc-ks, for 
 all the good turns he hath dane to you, that 
 ye come to Inm, thus to make ufe cf him; and 
 it is good reafon , even all the reason in the 
 world, that he get this amends made him, and 
 this Satisfaction granted to him. 
 
 SERMON L. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XI. 
 
 Verfe 1 r. He {hall fee of the travel of his foul, and fhall be Jatisfitd : by his knowledge fhall my rigktttu) 
 fervant juftifie many : for he {ball bear their iniquities. 
 
 THere are two things of great con- 
 cernment for men to know , for 
 finfull men to know ( if any thing 
 be of concernH>ent ) The one is, 
 how the Juftice of God that is pro- 
 
 I Vocked maybefatisfied, or what it is, by which 
 provoked Juftice is fatisfied: And the other is, 
 
 : What the way is, how we come to get that fa- 
 tisfattion appiyed to us? or, what is the way 
 to get the benefit of it made ours? And both 
 of them are anfwered in this v. clearly and 
 fhortly i The firft is holdtn out in the firft part 
 of the v. To be the travel of thrifts *oul, which 
 hath afpeciallook to 'he Coven nt of Redempti* 
 on, and to the Condition on which it is accom- 
 plifti d and performed, That is, His Soul-ttavel, 
 under which all His Sufferings are compiehen- 
 ded ; The o r her is, in the Latter part of the 
 yerfe ; By hi; knowledge flail my righteous fervant 
 
 \* juftifie many, for hi full bear their iniquities ; This 
 
 t holds forth infliort theGofpel; nay. how a Sin- 
 ner may be brought to get the ben. fit of ChrifVs 
 Satisfaction; Thefr two being the Sum of the 
 Gofpel, To wit, ChrifVs Purchale, and the Ap- 
 plication of it to Sinners. 
 
 In this hft part of the verfe, We have thefe 
 Five things to be ccr.fidered, which exprefs this, 
 ^ The great benefit that fl )ws from ChrifVs 
 Sufferings, and it is Jufifoation, which in a word 
 is this much, To be Abiblved, Acquitted and 
 fet Free from the Guile of Sin, and from the 
 
 Curfe of God, Juflifying here being oppefed to 
 Condemning ; So that when it's faid, They {ball be 
 juflified ; The meaning is, that thefe that were 
 before obnoxious to the Curfe, and that were by 
 the Law to be condemned ( according to that 
 Word, Gal. 3 . 10. Curfed is every one that abides not 
 in all thing* written in the law to do them* ) fhall 
 now through the benefit of Chiift's Sufferings, 
 be declared free, and fet at liberry , even as a 
 Debtor by the interveening cf a refponfal Cau« 
 tioner. it The Parties nude partakers of the 
 benefit, and they are called, many; th ugh they 
 are few, be ng compared with t' e W^ 1 Id >et 
 in them'elves, they are many ; Th^y jbalUowe, or 
 many fhall com?, From the eafl and from the wcft 9 
 and from thefouth, and from the north, and fhsllfit 
 down with Abraham, ifiac andJ.iCob iu the kingdom 
 oj heaven; And compjring this Word with thf 
 lrtft Words of the v. h ftytj That they are as 
 nuny as thefe are whofe Iniquities He bare, and 
 the pay merit of whofe Debt He undertook. It is 
 not to be ttkeri Univedally f ?• ill,but foi fome 
 lingular feinted Perfons, whole i iquities He 
 bare. 3. The Fountain from which, or from 
 whom this benefit fl ws to many; It's the Lords 
 righteous fervant, he jhall juftifie many, where the 
 effect is attributed alone to him. 4 The way 
 how Chrift Jufrifies; it's not limply, by forgiv- 
 ing ( as He indeed lmh power ro forgive Sins,) 
 but merit or ioufly , to wit, by His Satisfying fqr 
 N n them 
 
137 
 
 
 
 
 tiicm > Therefore it is added.F^ he {hall bear their 
 iniouitifs; He (hall take on their Sins, and pay 
 their D br ; And therefore , when they come 
 before the Tribunal of God, the Guile of their 
 Sins is taken off them through His Merit. 5. 
 The great Midfe, or Mean, by which this Be- 
 rc is derived to thefc many, it isby his know 
 Udgf, which is not to be taken Suby&ively, for 
 the Knowledge that He hath, but Objetfi<vely t 
 that is, He, by nvk'.ng Himfelf known by bo 
 Jieving ; Or, it's by his knowledge not dcti-utly, 
 but P'jjively taken ; not His Knowledge, where- 
 by He doth Know, bu: that whereby He is 
 Known; Its in a wo r d, by Faith, according to 
 that, Philip. 3 8, 9, 10. I accjunt all things (faith 
 the Apoftlethere ) loft for the excellency ef the know- 
 ledge of Chrift Jejus my Lord, Sec. And he expones 
 what that is in the next Word t>,Th*t I may b t found 
 tn him, not having my own right eoufnefs % which is ac- 
 cording to the law, bu' the right eouftujs of God f which 
 h by the f*itb of him \ Thefe may afterwards be 
 more fully cleared, as we come to f peak of 
 them more particularly. 
 
 Tnere is here then a brief Compend of the 
 Gofpelt and of the way of Sinners Reconciliati- 
 rn with God j So that if ye would knew, 1. 
 How a Sinner is Juftificd, Of wherein it con- 
 fids ? here it is It confifts not in the infufing of 
 Grace, nor in the Sanctifying, or making of a 
 prophane psrfon holy, though that doth ac* 
 company a.w^ys and follow Justification ; But 
 Sn the abfolving of a Sinner from the Guilt of 
 Sin, or in acquiring the Guilty, i. Would ye 
 know the ground on which thisgoeth, or how 
 it c m s co pafs, that the j lift God canjuftifle 
 an ungodly Sinner ? It is becaufe of ChrifVs 
 Rijjhteoufnefs? and of His fatisfying Juftice, 
 or paying of the Sinners Debt. 3. Would ye 
 know, how it comes, that this Man and notan- 
 other comes to get Chrift's Satisfaction made 
 his and hath his Debt thereby taken off? It is 
 by His knowledge, and by Faith in Him, ( cal- 
 led knowledge here, Becaufe it necefTirily pre- 
 fuppofes the Knowledge of Him; ) It is by ac- 
 knowledging of Him in His Offices, and by 
 fubmitting and betaking of our felves to Him 
 by Faith; Becaufe it is articled in- the Covenant 
 of Redemption, That His Righteoufnefs mail ; 
 be made forthcoming to all them that by Fait^ 
 betake themfelves to Him for fhelter; So that 
 hereby the ungodly are declared Righteous, be- 
 caufe, through the Cautioners Payment and Sa- 
 tisfaction, their Sin is not imputed to them, and 
 they are declared Free, becaufe of his paying of 
 their Den for them 4. Would ye know the 
 Reafon of this, how it comes, that Faith Jufti« 
 
 lf«*h fh *rf. jr. 5 ' 
 
 fi« in itU reding on Chrift ? It is riot becmS 
 of any worth in it felf, nor becpufe of . nv "? 
 count that 1$ made of its Worth, but becanfefr 
 reOsonChnfts Righteoufnefs, and take old 
 of the Benefit of Chrift's Purchafe; thVrtiSA 
 
 it is added *,„/, kfJ i,ii b(ar th£lr *™g| 
 
 becaufe by Faith they take hold of His St ftCrfnS 
 and Satisfaftion, whereby their Sin ic !l l 
 way, and God becomes well p ea fed with >T 1 
 for =Hbf*.- 4 Thisthen isa KK^ffli 
 
 of Scripture, and we had need i n entering 
 on it, to have an Eye to this Riehtnls i P ' 
 that He would be ^leafed £*feftrf 
 of it known to us, and to give us thenahi g 
 demanding of thi's great MyiW ^ H 
 Ftrjl, In general Obfirve here, in what Eftare 
 Men are Naturally, &as drafted from ChM 
 They are unified, and lying under God* 
 Curie, obnoxious to His Wrath This i< £« 
 poied,conGderMco then in their N.tnr,!EftS" 
 A r ltt r Th ?l m CVen ob n^ious to the Wr/th 
 and Curfe-of God, which is ready to feize unon 
 them, for their breach of God's Covenant S3 
 for provoking of him by Sin; if Men thouSt 
 fenoufly on this, how could they fl 2 , p orhlvl 
 peace; not knowing when they may be arreted 
 and put in Prifon, till they pay the utter™* 
 Farthing.which will never be; Of t^yl^ 
 and believed this, who are ready to dene anv 
 that will eft -to charge you with" one g^f 
 Debt, and frho walk up and down without all 
 fear of your hazard i Lay your Natural Eftate to 
 heart, and ye will have quite other thoughts of 
 your felves. "fcuiaor 
 
 idly Otyrve, The way how freedom frnm 
 this Debt of Sin, and lyaolenefs to the TurfeT, 
 derived; And to this, many things concur! 
 each of which hath its own place 1 Ti,. u, 
 di.tor.nd hisSatisfaftion, This 'is the Ground 
 
 ni L/X T' % Th % Covcna "t adempti- 
 on, and the Promife made to the MediVor in Tir 
 "<MJ«»>J<;d &c. HeSHallfceofthetLYof 
 hsjoul and fbmll be fitesfa*, B y his knowledge (hall 
 ™y>'jffi\*cc -Wherein it is Arficied 
 that thefe for whom He fuffered mall be Pardol 
 ncd and fet free; And it is this that gives Sin- 
 ners accefs to expect the Benefit of Chrift j Suf- 
 ferings; otherwayes, though Chrift had Suffer- 
 ed, they had not been the better of His Sufer. 
 ings, if this Covenant had not been, which gives 
 them warrand to lay hold onthefame; ere Faith 
 can Act on Ch rifts Sufferings, it muft have this 
 Ground laid down, That it hath a warrand by 
 Vertue of this Covenant to lay hold on them a 
 The knowledge and offer of this Myfkrious 
 Contrivance of Grace, is alfoneceflary, and doth 
 
 con- 
 
:oncur to bring about the Freedom ; This muft 
 Ljrunifefted,that there is fuci a Saviour, fuch 
 i~Satisfact.ion,and fuch a Covenant, wherein the 
 Ground is laid down, and a Warrand given, oy 
 Veftue of this Covenant to mak-Uleor Chrift's 
 Satisfaction, and to come by the Benefit rf it. 
 This is implyed in that Word, Hit knowledge; So 
 &?m. 10. It's laid, Hiw [halt they believe in him of 
 wham they have not fcard? which fayes plainly, 
 That there cannot be Faith, excepr knowledge 
 preceedi Iobferve this the rather, becauTemany 
 rhink to come to Heaven without knowledge, 
 laud lo continue ftill in their Ignorance; But 
 Ere there can be found Faith, there muft neccf- 
 farly be fome meaiure of Knowledge of thefe 
 things, that ire neceifary to be known ; As, 
 :hat we are Sinners, and that we are loft in our 
 felve*, thatjefus Chiift is thealane Propitiation 
 for Sin, and that according to the Covenant of 
 Grace, they that believe on Him fhall be Ao- 
 folved and fet Free. 4. There is a concuring of 
 Faith, for taking hold of this Benefit of tiffe- 
 rcu-fa'vation thioughChrifi; howFaith concur- 
 tes wich Chrifts Satisfaction, in 1 rder to the ma- 
 king of our Peace witn Gol, We (hall not now 
 ftand tofpeak particularly ; only in general, it 
 is by His Kno^lec'ge that it Juftuics ; For, 
 though He hive fufficient R'ghtcoufnefs, and 
 though the Covenant give warrand to take hold 
 of if, yet, if there be not an actual taking hoid 
 jf it, It will not profit us: Therefore, Kom- 3. 
 ii. and 9. 30 It is ca led, The fight eoujnefs which 
 > by faith in him i And Rom. 4. 5. The Apoitle 
 r aith, To htm that worketbnot, but beleveth on him 
 \hat jujlifiith the ungodly, h.s faith it counted to h.m 
 'or righteoujnefs. It is not Faith without it's Ob- 
 e&Chrift, nor the Objecl Chrift withoutFaith; 
 But it is Faith taking hold of Him as its Ob' 
 eft, by which we fuve accefs to plead for Ab- 
 blutnn; without Chrift our Faith will do us 
 10 good,and without FaithChrift will not profit 
 is;For withoutFai.il we have no Title to Chrift: 
 \nd each of thefe would be put in their own 
 loom and Place; Chrift in his Room, andFairh 
 n its Room, as the condition on which His 
 ?urchafc is imde offer of to us. 
 
 More particularly, Let me, Fir ft confider the 
 Htle thai Ciinft geti in thefe Words, He is 
 :allcdthc Lords Servant } &Qd H '.isRigbseau Servant. 
 I. As fyr Servant, h I'joks to Him as Media 
 »r, as this whole Chapter with Chapters 42. 1 and 
 3. '3. do abundantly clear; Chnft Jefus then 
 s Mediator, is the Loids Servant, or He, in 
 lerforming the OiFice of Mediator, is his Fathers 
 >ervant,to the Lord calls him, Pfal 89. 19-VVhcn 
 ie fays, / have laid , : ;:lp u?w one that it mighty, / 
 
 53. Vtrf IN 273 
 
 hanjt found David my ferv ant , SC; For he is there 
 ipeaking ofjefus Chrift, with whom the Cove- 
 nant of Grace, as with the head of the confede- 
 rated Party, is principally made : It imports 
 thefe Fur } which may te as fo many Reafons of 
 this Designation. 1. An humiliation, and Infe- 
 riority in refpeft of God, as it's faid, Phil. 1. He 
 humbled hmftlfand became ofnt reputation-J.il which 
 refpeft, he himfclf fays, that the Father is greater 
 than he i And that He isjent, That he came not te 
 do his twn will, but the vill ef him that Cent hirn^ 
 This holds forth a great Wonder, in the dif- 
 penlation of Grace, That the Fathers fellow and 
 Equal, he that was Lord and Mafter of all,fhould 
 become aServant in the Wcrk of Redemption, 
 for the faving of Souls; this muft fure be a great 
 Work, wherein the Son becomes aServant. As 
 it muft be a great wonder, that Grace fo far con- 
 defcended, as to make Him, who is the Prince 
 of Life, t3 become aServant; and we vvou d 
 look at it as a much greater, and far more mo- 
 mentuous bufinefs, than we ufc to do, to get a 
 Soul faved. 2. It imports Hi> Preroga-ivs, as 
 being fi-gularly and cnvnertly Gods Servant; 
 He is called, H<b 13. 20. The great jh pherd. So may 
 Hebe called the great Steward, and Deputy over 
 the Lord's Houic ; So then, He is a Singular, 
 Cho:fe, and Non-fuch Servant; Behold, faye> Je- 
 hovah, lfaiah 42*' I. my fervar.t whom I uphold* 
 mir.e elect m whom my foul delight etb ; Though all 
 be Gods Servants, yet in this refpeft, He is lin- 
 guhrly,and folly a Servant, as He is great Lord 
 Deputy ,made head over all things to the Church, 
 who was befjre all things, and is pr*ferred to 
 allthin^sj This is very Comfortable to Believ- 
 ers, to confider, that though our Lord Jefus 
 be a Servant, yet He is a Choice and Sirgtlar 
 Servant* Adminiftrator, and Steward for their 
 gcod, it beinS for them that He becomes a Ser- 
 vant. 3. It import theparticularTask, or Work 
 that is laid on Him, and the Commiflion that 
 He hath gotten, to follow forth, and piofecutc 
 that Work, which is the main rcafon of this de- 
 signation, of a Servant, beca ufc He is intrufted 
 with earring on the Great W^rkof the Redem- 
 ption of £le£t Sinners; Therefore He fayes, / 
 came v.otto dj m\ own w U, bu: the will of I: m thaw, 
 Jent me, and tofinijh bis work; And / have fir. jh. 
 work which thou gavett rm u do ; Bccaufe h- is par- 
 ticularly intruded with the bringing about of 
 that Work, He hath gotten lb many given Him? 
 roredeemand five, to whom He >s appointed a 
 Shepherd. a Head, and Overl"eei or Biihop;There- 
 fore. He calls H mfdf the giodjhepberd: And is cal- 
 led by the Apoitle ; the Shepherd an* B 
 - N n 2 ( 
 
 or 
 
ifaiah 
 ( 2 o? Overf er ) of Souls; And of all thac arc 
 given Him He lcicth none, but maketh account 
 Z( them all : And this is yet more comfoitable, 
 when tfl confidcr thttiGhrift if not a Servant 
 firoply, but a Servant Commiflu nat to gather in 
 Soals.to bring heme the loft Sheep of the 
 Houfc of IJrae: ; This is His Office, and Service, 
 even to Cm fie for the Sins of fuch, to deftroy 
 the power that the devil hath over them, and 
 to fubdue Sin in them. 4* It imports this, that 
 the Woik which He pcrfoims in the redeeming 
 of Souls it fo acceptable to God , and doth (o 
 mightily concur and Co-operat, to the promov- 
 ing or' His defign, that the Lord owns every 
 thing that He performs, as performed by His 
 Great AmbaiTadour; and by him, who hath the 
 Truft of all the affairs of his houfe committed 
 to him, fo that our Lord Jefus, in performing 
 the Work of Redemption, cannotbut be accept- 
 able to Jehovah, becaufe it is a piifcrming of 
 that with which he hath intruftcu him; There- 
 fore, John 4. He fayes, that it is his meat f de his 
 fathers will, and to fi ifh his work, and to this 
 purpofe, he fayes to his fuppofed Father, and to 
 his Mother, Luke 2 . 49- «>/# ye tut that I mujl be 
 about my fathers bufmef? Its his bufmefs, becaufe 
 it is foon the matter, it's fo accounted of, and 
 comes to befo in the end; and therefore, in the 
 10 v. of this Chap it is faid, The pleafure of the 
 Lord {hall proffer in his band* 
 
 2. As for his being the Lord's righ'tousjervanf, 
 He is not only a Servant, but an excellent Ser- 
 vant > not Righteous fimply.as he is God only; 
 nor Righteous fimply, as he is Man; but Right, 
 eous in the Adminiftration of his Offices, and 
 in the Difcharge of the great Truft committed 
 to Him. Whence Qbferve, That our Lord Jefus 
 in performing of the Office, and Work of Medi- 
 ation and Redemption^ moftTrufty and Faith, 
 ful : Th*re is not any the leaft hult or failing 
 in His performing of it; He is the Lord s Ser- 
 vant, that never wronged His Mafter, who ne- 
 ver mifcarried in His Commiffion , nor Mif- 
 managed it in the leaft; SaithrHe, / have faijbei 
 the work which thou gaveil me to do: If we look a 
 little to the qualifications, that ftiine eminently 
 in the Adminiftration of His Office, they will 
 make out this i for he adminiftrats them. i, 
 wonderfully wifely. 2. Very tenderly 3, Moft 
 diligently and effectually^- With all faithful- 
 nefs: Thus doth He intirely and holily, with- 
 out the leaft touch of unrighteoufnefs perform 
 a 1 the Truft commuted to Him, and that both 
 towards God, and towards the Sheep; So as He 
 is eminently, by the Lord's own Teftimony, 
 Hit righteous fervant, with whom he is well plea- 
 
 5?- M". If. Serm. co. 
 
 fed, andcannotbut be well pleafed : It will not 
 be needful to feparatthefc qualifications « f Hit 
 Service, in the Adminiftration or HL Offices: in 
 ip'-aking to them, we (hall o.Jy defire you to \ 
 takenoticeof leme few places of Soiptuic that 
 holds thtm out ; The hat whereof is th^t //«/. j 
 40, ir. He jhaltfet-d kisflck like a fbipktrd, be fHa\ 
 gather the Umbi wirh his arms, and c:>rty tht m in his 
 befom, and gently lead thofe that are mtkywvg. Nc m 
 ver fhepherd was fo careful of his Ihck , for heij 
 feeds them, and in feeding them waits diligent-*; 
 ly on them, and takes them 1 o thefe places wherefj 
 it is beft for them to feed; He thinks fit no\¥t 
 and then, it's true, that the Dogs be hunded at: 
 them, ytt he is lo warm to, t <nd tender of them,' 
 that he garheis them with his arms, and he is fo 
 dexterous and skilfull in conducting them, that 
 he gently leads them that are with young ;that 
 is, fuch of them as are in Pangs of the New-birth, 
 he will by no means Over drive: To fp^ak it 
 with reverence, He is as a skilfull Mid-wife, to 
 make thofe that are with Child fafely fo bring 
 . forth;- well then may he get this Name, of the 
 Lord's r.ghtews fervant. The next place is, lfai, 
 41. 1, 2, 3,4 Behold, my Jet want whom J up': old t 
 my elect in whom my foul deligbteth, 1 have \ut mi 
 Jpirit upon him, ht Jhall brivg forth Judgment to the Gen« 
 tiles, he jhall not cry, nor lift up, nor cauCe his voice 
 to be heard in the flreet. A bruifed reed Jhall he not 
 break and the fmoakingjljx Jhall he not quench, he 
 jhall bring forth judgment unto truth, &£. Is there 
 not here a wonderfull commendation that the 
 Father gives to the Son, and that the gracious 
 Mafter gives to the Righteous Servant in his Of- 
 fices. He is his Elefts choife Servant, in whom 
 his Soul delights, he docs not cry, nor lift up 
 his voice > He is bufter about his work, than in 
 making any din about it; there is no froward" 
 nefs in his way, but he is tender of Souls that 
 are like to a bruifed Reed, and fmoaking Flaxi 
 He will not break the one,nor put out the other? 
 where a Soul is weak, or wounded, he will not 
 break or bruife it, by a rough touch, or word: 
 and where there are the leaft breathings of fin* 
 cere defires after him, he will not quench, nor 
 ftiffle them, though the Task be great that he 
 hath in hand, he fails not in going through with 
 it, He fits not up, nor is he difcouraged under 
 it, notwithftanding of all the Wrath he hath to 
 meet with in his way ; Therefore when the 
 Cup is in his hand, at which his holy humane 
 nature fome way fhrunk and fcarred , yet he 
 takes it pleafantly, faying, But for this cauftcame 
 I unto this hour : and proiecuted his work cou» 
 ragioufly- and conftantly, till he bring forth 
 Judgment to Viftory, ind till he gain hispt>int; 
 
 This 
 
Serm. <o. 
 
 This mews him to b 
 
 full Servant. A 3d, Place is ifa. ?2. i $. Baoold, 
 my Jervant jb*ll did prudently, &C h cannot be 
 imagined, what a Spiritual, Cannie and Dxrer- 
 ous way he hath in the favmg of Souls, and 
 how wifely & prudent'y he punues that Woik: 
 Thereisa 4th place, P/«/. ^9 '9. *°- I have laid 
 help upon one that is tmghty, I have exalted one chojen 
 tut of the people, I have ound Divid my \ervant. 
 The enemy Jhall mt ixa& ufon him, &jC. He .is fo 
 dexterous and pnve.rul, that the Devil null 
 gam no ground of him, buthe fliallgain ground 
 of him, and aefeat him ; fo that we come after 
 1 only to gather the Spoil. He is able to lave to the 
 uttermoji, ( as it is, Heb. 7. 26. )all that come unto 
 God through hira; And near the clofe of that Chap. 
 It is faid Such an high pri'fi became us, who is holy, 
 harmlef, fepar at from [tuners, made higher than the 
 heavens, . Thefe are his qualifications, He is an 
 holy and harmlefs high Prieft, a fweet ( and to 
 fay fo ) illefs Mediator, by whom there was ne- 
 ver any hurt ; his ill was never heard of, in the 
 place where be was* he is undefiled, pure and 
 fpotlefs, in the management of all the Truft 
 commirted to him.* there was never any thing 
 done by him, of which it cou'd be faid, that it 
 might have been done better; He is feparat from 
 Sinners, and fo another kind of h'gh Prieft than 
 thofe who were before him; and ail this, both 
 as to God, fo av he could fay, and go to Death 
 with it, // is finijhsd; and as to them that were 
 intruded to him, fo as he could fay, Of all that 
 thou haft given me, 1 have hjl none ; he makes a full 
 and faithfull account of all committed to him« 
 This is a plain, and yet a moft ufefull Truth: 
 For life of it. Behold here, and wonder at the 
 way of Grace, that not only gives a Mediator, 
 butfuch a Mediator, who ( as it is Hek* 3. ) it 
 faithfull over the houfe ojGod: This is the very 
 Life of our confolation, that we have an able 
 Mediator, a good Shepherd, a wife, prudent, 
 tender One, and Faithfull ; and indeed it would 
 Well become us to wonder more, that the Lord 
 in the way 01 his Grace huh thus condefcended; 
 and" irfhould cxceedinglyprovoke us to be thank* 
 full on this account, tha: not only there is a way 
 of Grace, but fuch a way of Grace found out 
 and eftabli(hed, whereby we have fuch an high 
 Pried, that manages all fo well, and fo dexter* 
 Oufly. O have ye ever fuitably prized this, that 
 God hath given fuch a righteous and faithfull 
 Mediator, and Servant? I fear many fuffcr this 
 moft obfcrvable difpenfetion to pafs without 
 due obfervation, though the Lord Jehovah 
 fpeaks not of Him, without commending Him* 
 
 If a: ah 5 ?• Krf. ir. 2 7) - 
 
 a moft choife and faith- yet wretched and ungrate we, can, Alas i fpeak 
 
 of Him, and hear Him fpoken cf, with hearts 
 
 very little affe&ed : Believers may be amamed 
 of this, we think lamentably lirtJe of Him, we 
 eftcem not fuirably of Him ; when wefee Him, 
 there is fcarce any Form or Beauty feenin Him, 
 wherefore we mould defire Him, we do in a 
 great meafure undervalue this way of Graces 
 adminiftration, that mould be in a fpecial man- 
 ner ravifliing ro us, that weaiethtreoy brought 
 under fuch aTutory. 
 
 The id. Uje Is for Believers comfort and in- 
 couragemtnt ; O .' but they are happy, that 
 have committed themfelvcs to Him, as to a 
 faithfull Shepherd and Overfcer: They may b<* 
 fure that he is a notable and non-fuch Overfeer, 
 as might be more fully cleared, if we would 
 defcend to the particulars of Believers need ; 
 have they little Grace ? Is it fcarce fmoaking ? 
 He is not a rigd Task«mafrer, like to the Eg)pti~ 
 ans; nay, nor like to the Law, He quenches not 
 the fmoaking Flax. Are they ftaggering, be« 
 caufe of apprehended or real weaknels, and their 
 hearts making as the Trees in the Wood, or 
 rather like fo many Straes? They may with 
 comfort give Him the Over-fight of them He 
 will not break the bruifed Reed, He will bear 
 the heavieft end of his own Yoke. Have they a 
 frraying difpofuion ? Are they like young wan- 
 ton Lambs leaping out from the reft? He will 
 gather them with His Arms ; and when He 
 takes a rougher way,yet Grace fhines (till in it; 
 Are they fainting and fwooning? He will take 
 them into His bofom ; He will lead the Blind, 
 He bears the Weak, He hath a way offupport- 
 ing His own that is moft tender. My grace (fayes 
 He to Pnul ) is fujficient for thee', my ftrtngth is 
 made ptrftl in weaknefs. Are there any of them 
 with Child, ( to fpeak fo ) or is their bringing 
 forth quick and lively ? He gently leads thofe 
 that are with young, and will not fuffer them 
 to mifcarry , in the bringing forrh * He 
 will not put new wine into old bottles, he will not 
 cau e to travel, and not make to bring forth ; The 
 Lord hath given Bel evers fuch a Servant as 
 they flood in need of, even aRighreoiis Ser» 
 vant, fuited every way to their condition, who 
 will not be behind, nor wanting, in looking to 
 the lcaft wiigling,^ to fpeak fo ) under His Care 
 and Ovei-fi-ht. 
 
 It fei ves therefore, in the 3^, p?ace to re« 
 prove the fufpitions and jealoufies thar Believ- 
 ers hav c often c f Chrift, who are dflpofed tofay 
 With the Pfalmift, Pfal. 77. / laid, wy hope and 
 tny Jlrevgth is perijhed frtm the Lord, will the Urdcafi 
 
 •f 
 
276* ifaiah $i. 
 
 ojf'far ever? will he bt javcurabte t.o wore? is 
 mercy clean gone jor ever ? ctoth his fromife fail fir 
 ev wore ? hath hefirgotten to be gracioki? Sec. Nay, 
 tac Jcalr.-uiie and Alif belief of Come ferious 
 Souls, will fometimes talk at this Rate, I may- 
 give it over, this woik will never go with mc; 
 Reward befeech you of this, for the language 
 of it is, tliJt our Lord ;s not a righteous Ser- 
 vant i let therefore your Spirits be calmed, a:.d 
 pray the Lcrd to command a calm in them 
 which are committed to Him. Befpeak your 
 Souls, as David cid his, PfaU 42. Why art thou 
 catt down % O my foul } . And why art thou dijquieted 
 
 5'. 
 
 can- 
 
 in me ? Truftin Gjd ; for He is faithfull ( as if he 
 had faid, > that hath the overfight of me. And 
 eifay with Paul, to be in Cafe tofay, I know whom 
 I have believed; and fo (hall not be afhamed ; / 
 am ptrfwaded that he is able to keep that which I have 
 committed to him; aga'nift' th.it day. I know that 
 He is fuch a hnfr, that I commit my felf to, 
 who is fo skilfull, dexterous, tender, and faith- 
 ful, in keeping that which is given Him. And 
 is not this molt comfortable, & a notable ground 
 of quietnefs, that our Mediator is fuch as can- 
 not rnifcarry; and may it net lhame Believers, 
 when either they adventure upon any thing their 
 alone without Him; or, when they cemmit 
 themfelves to Him, and yet do not fo intirely 
 truftHim, but entertain fufpitions and jealoufies 
 of Him, and think, becaufe their Spark is not a 
 Fire, or a Flame, but Smoaks only, that there- 
 fore it will die out, and be utterly quenched, as 
 if He could not keep it in, andincreafe it, and 
 becaufe they cannot guide themfelves, think 
 that they will utterly rnifcarry as if He had noc 
 Armes to cany them; indeed Prefumption is to 
 be abhorred, but fuch as are fled into Him, 
 would truft in Him fo far as to keep up their 
 hearts in Him, and would ftudy to be cheerfull 
 in Him, & to walk up and down in His ftrength; 
 this is certainly called for from you; therefore 
 
 J*/ ''* Serm 
 
 his be content to be born by Him, where you 
 not go your alone. 
 
 U.e 4. h He fuch a righteous Servant ? Then 
 let me fay arc there any of you that need to 
 tear, or to have the kaft hink, or hditation to 
 commit your fclves- to Him? And mould it 
 not be a Motive to prefs you to give Him cre- 
 dit? For He fayes \okn 6 39, 40. That it's his 
 Commflinand Service te keep them, which 
 
 a L eC ,T mUted t0 him > a/ld t0 "ifcthemupat 
 the bft Day , and to give them Erernal Life ; and 
 H; is Righteous and Faithfull in Performing of 
 it j If lo, then credit the Salvation of your fouls 
 to this Righteous Servant; Commit your foul* m 
 well-doing to him, as una a faithful creator j Never 
 be at peace, nor at cafe, till ye be under His 
 Charge and Keeping, and though ye beaslittle 
 Lambdas weak Wriglings,or heavy with Young, 
 it s the lefs matter, if ye be of His Flock, y c 
 fhall be preferved : Is it poflible that ye can be 
 right if ye be from under hisCare andCuftody ? 
 Nay, it's utterly impoflible, that ye can be fel 
 cure, but under His Care; And it's as impof- 
 fible, but that ye mult be fafe, if ye be under 
 His Care and Overfight. And therefore endea- 
 vour to be within the reach of it, and to count 
 your felves happy, when ye do (Incercly give 
 him credit? and to believe that ye are in great- 
 eft hazard, when ye take mod on your felves. 
 What a fhame will it be to many, who have' 
 heard t^at Chrift was fuch a Servant, and yet 
 they would not take his Service to bring them 
 through to Heaven ? Thus it ftands with you, 
 to w horn he is fpoken of in the Gofpel, ye mail 
 be found either to have accepted or rejected 
 him, according *s by Faith ye yield your fclves 
 to him, or by unbelief ye refufe to clofe witfc 
 him : Let not this word flip, as many have 
 done. And the Lord himfelf make you wife, to 
 make choife in time of the Service of this 
 Righteous Servant, for your Juftification and 
 Salvation. 
 
 
 SERMON LI. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XI. 
 
 Verf. II. By his knowledge flu 11 my righteous fervant juftifie many, &c. 
 
 IF we had fuch thoughts of the Salvation 
 of our own Souls, as the Lord had, and 
 (till hath of the Salvation of Souls , we 
 could not but be more f.rioufly concerned 
 about them, and more tak^n up, how to get 
 them faved • This Woik of the Salvation of 
 Sinners did before the World was ( to fpeak fo 
 With reverence) take up the Perfons of the 
 glorious Godhead ; and was fmgled out, and 
 made choife of, as an imployment worthy of the 
 
 Son of God, who was chofen fer this very Work? 
 that by him many might be Juftified and Saved; 
 For the accomplishment of which, he became a 
 Servant : Muft it not then be an excellent Work, 
 that none but he cou'd be truftcd with, who is 
 Heir of all things, and by whom the World 
 was made ? 
 
 We {hew you the meaning of tjiefe words the 
 
 laft Day, and Obfirved two things from this De- 
 
 . fignation, 
 
Serm, ft 
 
 If at ah $}. 
 fignaVion* that our Lord g«t« here. »• That our 
 Lord lefts in the Work of Mediation and of 
 the Redemption of Sinners, was Gods Servant, 
 not fo much ta denote h.s being infcriour, as 
 Mediator to the Father : as to hold forth his be- 
 incr Commiflianared for this Service, and the 
 Lordacceptingothimin it. 2. J>tour Lord 
 Jcius did excellently dilcharge this Trull com- 
 mitted to him. Therefore he is not only called 
 a Servant, but my righteous Servant, as having molt 
 Faithfully accquitted himfelf,and as being fully 
 approven, and accepted in theTruft ccmimutcd 
 to him When the Lord fpeaks fo of Chrift, it 
 ought mightily to ingage us tc .be much in love 
 with God, who hath given fuch a Faithfull Me- 
 diator and Servant, and with Jefus Chnft, that 
 condefcended to take the Trutt of poor Sinners 
 Salvation, and that doth fo kindly dncharge it. 
 There are fomechings here, that may be paf- 
 fingly hinted at, and then we mail come more 
 clofel? and particularly to the Words. 
 
 1. Then Objervi, That it is a Pnviledge and 
 Prerogative to be Gods Servant i Therefore 
 it's mentioned here as a piece of the Medi- 
 ators Priviledge i It's true, he was lingular!/ and 
 eminently a Servant, even the Lords Choice Ser- 
 vant, in whom his Soul delighted, and does de. 
 light, above what any other can be capable of ; 
 yet to be a Servant to God,to taki direction from 
 him.to do his Will, to fcek his honoured give 
 obedience to him, in what he calleth tor, is cer- 
 tainly a Priviledge, and a great one ; yea,it is fpo- 
 ken of as a Priviledge of glorified Saints in hea- 
 ven, Revel. 22. 3. H-sfervtnts jball jirvi him ; and 
 if it b; a Priviledge in heaven, we would think 
 it fo here onEarth;& yet if the Language of our 
 hearts were known there would be foond afe- 
 cret difdaining of, and repyning at fervsce to 
 God, and a faying on the matter ? Let us break his 
 bonds afunder , and cap avaf his cords from us But 
 know ye what ye are doing? Even difclaiming 
 and defpifing that which is your greatPreviledge; 
 all thefe that are in heaven , and all thofe who 
 are in aright frame on Earth, count it their 
 priviledge to be h ; s Servants-, and we are com- 
 manded t0 pray; Tbj will be done en Earth as it is 
 done in Heaven : Or, be th >u ferved on Earth, 
 as thou art in heaven : Therefore it ought to 
 be accounted of, as a Priviledge, ai a great 
 and glorious Priviledge to be his Servants. 
 
 2. Obfervc, That the Lord can tell exa&ly an J 
 infallibly, how every Servant carries himfelf;who 
 are ill an ■ floarhfull, & who are good and fairh- 
 full Servants ; Who are righteous Servants ac» 
 Cording to tneir meaiure, and who not Will he 
 take norice how Chrift carries himfclf in his 
 fervice and Truft, and will he not take notice 
 of others? Mod ceruiuly he will; and there- 
 
 Verf. II. 277 
 
 fore, Matth. i$. 2nd Luke 19, he calls the fcrvaflfs 
 
 to a Reckoning, to whom the Talents aregivtn, 
 and as they have mads ufe of them,and improved 
 thcm,ornot; fo doth Heccmmendand reward 
 them, or not: There are none of us, but have got- 
 ten lbmeone Talent and Truft or another, and 
 no doubt, there will be much to reckon forjl am 
 afraid, that when He calls us all to an accompt, 
 though there will be fome to whom it will be 
 faid, WtU dm? goo. i and faithfull (ervant; There will 
 be many of whom it will be faid, Thou evil and 
 fli at kfuU fervant ; and the Sloathful fervant will be 
 found to be the III Servant, and amongft other 
 aggravations of his guilt, this will be one, that 
 he was unlike to Chrift the Righteous Servant. 
 
 3. Obferve, That the right improvement and 
 difchargc of the Truft committed to us, and of 
 our fervice to God, is a commendable and ho- 
 nourable thing. It is Recorded here to Chrift s 
 commendation, that He was a Righteous Servant, 
 even Faithfull ov«r the Houfe of God, in all 
 things i and proportionably is the cemmenda- 
 rion of the ordinary under-fcrvants, when they, 
 in their Places and Stations perfo m their Ser- 
 vice honeftly and faithfully, lb as they may be 
 accepted of God on His account: The day is 
 coming, when every mans work will be reward- 
 ed; andaswefow, lb fhall we Reap;In that Day, 
 if we had all the World, we would give it, to 
 hear thatWord frrm Chrifts mouth WAl done thou 
 good and faithfull fervant: But few will get that 
 Teftimony : ye think it much now,to get a name 
 of Fidelity amongft Men, &to be efteemedfuch 
 as keep your word, and will not breakyour Pro- 
 mife,nor Parrol ( and it's good in fo far, that it 
 be fo ) but many fuch will be found to have 
 broken many a word to God, and falfrfiedmany 
 a Promife; think upon ir, & Jay it to heart,that 
 it will be better to have a Word of Teftimony 
 from God in that Day, and to have it faid to 
 you by Him, Faithfull Servant thou improved 
 well the little that 1 gave thee, it was laid out,, 
 and expended not fo much to buy,and to put on 
 brave Cloaths. nor to buy or build fine Houfes, 
 as it was for Me, and for My Honour: Whate- 
 ver Place. Station. Capacity, or Imployment thou 
 was in, thouindeavoured to do good in it .' and 
 when thou couldeft not do for my Work,for my 
 Pcople,and for my Honour.thou was praying for 
 rhem.-jnd when thou had an opportunity to hear 
 my Word, thou didft not llight, nor let that ftp.' 
 This I fay .will uc better than a great Name, and 
 Teftimony from,3nd amongft Membut alas, we 
 fear that it fliall be faid of many, ye had many 
 opportunities of getting, and doing good, but 
 What ufe mad*; ye of them ? I: had been bitter 
 that ye had never had them, it had been better 
 
 that 
 
. i? 8 lfaiah 
 
 tluc ye lud never had a Groat or two Pence, 
 th n to have had a!l thefe Riches, and to ftavfc 
 had none rather than to have had uchand fuch 
 a Lucrative, or gainfull Place and Imployment 
 which ye improved not for Grd-' It » a lore 
 matter, that we mould Preach, and ye fhould 
 hear thefe gemralTruths of th:Gofpel,frcm day 
 to day, and that yet they do not li.k into your 
 hearts. Ye will not readily deny, that there is 
 a day of Reckoning coming ; and that it will 
 be a great favour to be recommended of Him 
 • n that day, and yet how few do by their Pra« 
 ctice evidence, that they lay weight on it? It's 
 very fad that Religion mould be fo triffled in, 
 Many of you will come to the Church, and 
 feem there, and in your other carriage, as if ye 
 were going toHeaven,when inthe mean time,ye 
 have few fcrious thoughts, either of Heaven or 
 ofHelljBut in aDay wherein ye (hall ftand trem- 
 bling before His Tribunal, and fhall there re- 
 ceive the Sentence of an evil, and iloathfull Ser- 
 vant, ye will find to your coft, That there was 
 weight in thefe Truths, that now ye take but 
 little notice of. 
 
 *Jy. In General Ohferve , That it's fingufar, 
 Proper and Peculiar, to our Lord Jefus to be 
 Gods Approven Servant, foasto be withoutall 
 ground of Challenge, in the Difcharge cf His 
 Duty and Truft; and indeed there is no Right- 
 eous Servant, in this fenfe, but He only, who, 
 according to the very Rigor of the Law, was 
 fuch; the Law could not cha r ge Him with any 
 the leall: violation of it, or want of Conformi- 
 ty unto it, for He fulfilled all right eoujnejs. ^ We 
 fpake to this on v. o. and (hall not now infift 
 on it; Only it's afore matter, that this Truth 
 Jhould be called in^queftion, and called an un- 
 truth in thefe dayes, and that Men mould fay, 
 that this Djftgnation and Title is not proper to 
 Chiift, but that it's common to all true Chrifti- 
 ans, as if they were all free of Sin ; and that 
 not by the imputation of Chrifts Righteouf- 
 Refs to them, but by their own doing of Righ- 
 teoulhefs : Lord, fave us, what a high injury is 
 this to i he S->n of Go.] ?- And what grots igno- 
 rance is here of the corruprion of Mans Nature, 
 wh ch is the bed and holieft of meerMen is ne- 
 ver in this L>fe finally expelled, as the Scrip- 
 tares of the Old and New Teflamertt moft con- 
 vincingly clear ; and what a wronging is this 
 of the T urh of uo.l, which hoi's ior'h our 
 Lord Jefus, as fuigltdout to be, and \vho isde- 
 flgned by this Name, The Lords righteous {(want ; 
 Now if there were any moe properly fo called, 
 we would not fay that it were meant of Him. 
 Bit it's not very profitable to infift in fpeaking 
 ofthsfe Dottages and Foolries. 
 
 H. r<if. if. Serm. ci. 
 
 But to come more particularly to the benefits 
 that flow from, and come by this Rightnus Sa- 
 vant, and from the fervice intruded to Him; 
 audio faithfully managedSc difcharged by Him, 
 hbts kwvledgebiith J-.tiOvzh)be jHaB juftific m»ty>. 
 That is,His Service is toabloive Smners,and let 
 them f.ee from the guilt of Sru,&fiom theCurfe 
 that Naturally they are under and lyable to. 
 Looking on thefcVVords in the Connexion with 
 the former, we mall OblerVe Three or Four things, 
 ere we come to the m>reclofsa*d particular 
 Confideration of the Word* in themlelves. 
 
 The I, of which is this: That rhe Juftify. 
 ingof many Sinners, even of all the Ele6t, istue 
 fpeciall Trurt committed by Jehovah, to the 
 Mediator, It is in this efpecialJy wherein His 
 Service coniifts : Would ye then know, what is 
 the imployment of this Righteous Servant? it is 
 even this, Hejhall jufttfie?nany. He fhall procure 
 their Abfolution from the Guilt of Sin.and from 
 the Curfe of God, and fhall fet them free from 
 the Judgement whichthe Law hath againft them, 
 whereby they are obliged to the Curfe , for 
 difobedience thereunto: This we may confides 
 i. As it relates to God; and Co it imports, that 
 the Juitification of Sinners is very acceptable to 
 Him; for it is that for which he hath given a 
 Commiifion to the Mediator; and what He hath 
 CommifTioned Him in, the performance of it 
 muft needs be acceptable to Him: Therefore 
 that which is here called the Lards (twice, is called 
 the Lords pleafure, v. lo. To wit, to fee a poor 
 Sinner brought in by the Mediator, and on the 
 accompt ofHisSatisfaftionJuftified, He is pleai 
 fed with, and takes.it well 1< It may be confi- 
 dered as it looks to the Mediator; And fo it \ 
 fpeaks out the Mediators Defign and Work; it's 
 that^ wherein He is imployed, and with which 
 He is taken up,even to getelcft Sinners brought 
 from under the Curfe of God, and freely Jufti- 
 fied through Himfejf/, So that if ye would know 
 what is the Sum, and Effcft of Cbrifts Errand, 
 and Work in the World, here it is, He camet§ 
 fave fmmrs -, as it is, I Tm. r. r?. He came to Jctk 
 and to fave that which vaslofl; To I ring home rhe 
 loft fheep on His moulder \ to f ek ai:d to find 
 the loir Groat, and to reclaim Piodigals ; As it 
 is Luke 15. This is His Meat and liis Drink, 
 His Work and Bufinefs ; as Himfelf (ayes, 
 'John 4. 34. My meat is to do the wAl tf him thit 
 f.tit me, and to fi>.ijh his work. And Luke 2. 
 Know ye not that 1 mu(f be about my Fathers * 
 bufoejs? Which is to refcue poor finnersfrcnV 
 the Devil, and to ingage them to God, that 
 their Sins may be pardoned. 3. It imports 
 the Mediators Meetncfs for this Service, 
 
 that 
 
>crm. el, !f' i0i ? 3- 
 
 rhatHe isFurnifhed, Fitted and Qualified for, 
 is well as taken up with thejuftif^ing of Sinners 
 ind letting tbem free before the Throne ofGod; 
 He hath a full Furle ( to fpeak fo ) to pay their 
 Debt i Therefore, Revel. \i$. He bids Sinners 
 tone ttnd buy of him eye-f*!ve, gold, and white ray- 
 merit; He hath Eye-falve for the Blind, Gold to 
 lunch the Poor, Garments for the Naked ; and 
 in a Word, every thing that is needfull for Sin- 
 ners. Ic is comfortable to hear tfm Crhift is 
 a fervant ; But to hear that this is His Ser» 
 vice, to Jufrifie Sinners, and that He isfo well 
 fitted for ir, makes itfo much the morecomfor- 
 :able •. And were wefuitably fenfible of Sin, and 
 did we throughly believe this Truth, our hearts 
 would Laugh within us, as Abraham's once did, 
 to know that this was given toChrift inCommif- 
 fion, to Jufrifie Sinners, and that be is fo well 
 fitted for this Bufinefs, that He is Commiflioned 
 ibout, and imploycd in; efpecially now, when 
 he is fo bufie about his Work and Imployment; 
 for though he be afcended on high, yet He hath 
 received gifts for, and given them to men, even ft 
 the rebellious, that God the Lord might dwell among 
 them; As it is, Pfal. 68 compared with, Ephef. 
 4 This is the End of the Miniitry and Ordinan- 
 ces, even to further this Work of the Juftifica- 
 tion of Sinners, that by acknowledging, and 
 making ufe of Chrift,this Workmay be brought 
 about, and this Effeft made to follow ; thi: is 
 the End of Fafb andCcmmunions,even to arreft 
 periming Sinners a while, to Try ft and Treac 
 with.Him, about the concerns of" their Souls ; 
 thefe are fpocial feafons for putting him to ex- 
 erce His Office in Justifying of them; and this 
 day this Scripture is fulfilled in your ears,and ye 
 mould let it fink in yoi-r hearts, that our Lord 
 Jefus is purfuing His CcmmifTion. and perform- 
 ing his Service, k^cpi-g up the Treaty, and in- 
 viting and perfwading Sinners to come to Him, 
 that the ple.ifurc oftheLord may profper in his 
 hand. And therefore know aiTuiedly that this 
 is it, that Ch'ift isimpluyed in* and taken up 
 with, even to ger fi\ners fred from the Guiitof 
 Sin, and from Wrath by His Righteoufnefs ; It 
 is nor on'y, nor mainly to fcet them brought 
 to the Church, and to his Supper, or to get 
 them made ibima\and to abftam from Curling, 
 Sveari.-ig, ami Prophanity, ( though thefe will 
 follow cr' wlj ) but it is to get them brought in 
 to Himfclf and JuOififd And we have thefe 
 tvvo Words fo fay to you rurrfier in this matter. 
 l.T -e is fu-r-e good piound of encouragement 
 to a pooi Soul, chit would fain mike ufc of 
 Cbril) "or Pa don f Sin ; This is even ir that 
 Chrft is n:i .l: t d with ; (r :s for this end that 
 nc lg Legrtcd and Commiiftoncd ot ihc Father; 
 
 Veife ri. 27$- 
 
 And will He not, thinks thou, do that which 
 He isintrufted with, and for which He is main- 
 ly fent ? This is, faith He-fjokn 6". 39, .the will ej 'hint 
 that fent me, that every one that feeth the Son, and be- 
 litveth $n him fhould have evnlafimg life, and that I 
 Should raife him up at the 1*8 day. Which is in 
 Sum, That by his knowledge many frail be juflijied And 
 its added, For he [hall bear their iniquities, To an- 
 ticipat and anfweran objection : For a fenfiblc 
 Sinner might fay, how carl 1 be juftified, that 
 have ib many Sins ? Jlere is a Solution of that 
 doubt. He [hall Jeltisfii for thtm. AH thefe words 
 are, ( as it were ) big with" Child of Ccnfola* 
 tion. being the very Heart and Life of the Got* 
 pel, as any thing that comes fo near to Chrift's 
 Commiffion, and unfolds fo much of ir, is. A 
 id. Word is this, That ye miftake Chrifts Er- 
 rand Work and Service very far, who think to 
 content Him, and put Him off with this; who 
 would give him the Name of a Saviour, and yet 
 would be at the faving of your felves without 
 him, who would complement him, as it were 
 with fair generals, but will have ncne of his 
 phyfick, or of his cures,nor will renounce your 
 own Righteoufnefs, and make ufe of his, for 
 yourjuftification : This fays one of thefe Four, 
 either chat he is not commiffionated,and trufted 
 for this end,or that he is not meet for thatTruft; 
 or, that he is not faithful in it; or elfe that ye 
 can do your own turn wirhout him, and that 
 there is no need of his Office ; and which of all 
 thefe can abide -the tiyal before God ? And yet 
 itthallbe upon one of thefe that ye flnll be 
 found to have call: at Chrift, and to have refuf- 
 ed to permit himi ( fo far as ye could hinder,and 
 obftruct) to do his Fathers bufinefs ; and if ye 
 juft not accompts with him, there will be a moft 
 dreadful reckoning betwixt God and you. 
 
 2dly.0bf.rve, That this particular truft anent 
 the juftifying of Sinners our Lord Jefus doth 
 mod righte* ufly, diligently, dexteroufly, ten- 
 derly and faithfully difcharge.lt was his Fa- hers 
 will, that he fhou'd be Baptized, and fulfill all 
 righteoufnefs ; and more especially, that he 
 mould juftifie many ; in this he is very >kiJfuJ, 
 and faithfull, and it is on this account he is cal- 
 led, The good Jhipb.rd, and 'har He is laid, to Liy 
 down kisl.fe for his jhep ; That he is c*\Ud,j faith- 
 full high fri'ft ; and >s faid to be one that is able t§ 
 fave to the uttermojl thefe that cowe uti'o God through 
 him ;and that he is holy Jjar miffs, and feparat from 
 fwners \ fit to make peace bet^ ixt God and Sin- 
 ners, another fore ofrrieft than Aaron was, or any 
 that <vcie before him ; He is rn a word. Juib an 
 highPritft as became us, and as we floi'd in ne«d 
 of, who nteded not fo offer Sacrifice for his own 
 O o Sins, 
 
x8o lfaiah ej. 
 
 Sins, he had no more to do, but to fatisfic for 
 Us. The Prophet Ijaias, Chap. 40. 11. Tells 
 how render he is in bringing Souls to Heaven ; 
 He gathers the lambs with his arms y he curries them 
 in his bof$m, and gently leads thofe that are with y«ung. 
 And Chap 42. 3. That a irHifcd reed he will not 
 break, and the freaking flax he wHl wo-' quench. And 
 it is laid, 1 John 2. If any man Jin, we have an ad" 
 vocat with the Father, and who is lie ? Jefus Chr:J1 
 the righteous. Righteous in the faithful manag 
 ingof his frufr, by making Sinners peace with 
 God. Would yeknow then, in what refpe&s, 
 or, on wr>ataccoun:it is, thatChrift is call-d a 
 Rtghtco,s Str-j an:? We anfwer, in thefc refpefts. 
 I. Though we havefailled and broken theLaw, 
 yet he hith noti aod God will not look down on 
 him. 2. In this refpetf, That he pleads for no 
 Sinners pardon, but he can fully pay their debt 
 and hath done it ; if he feek one thingfromGod 
 He yields in another, and according to the Co- 
 venant of Redemption exactly proceeds; for he 
 is a propitiation, he feeks nothing but he pays 
 for it,and wrongs not him in the leaft who hath 
 trufted him; the Lord Jehovah is not a lofer, 
 but hath his honour reftored by him- 3. In re- 
 fpeft of his keeping faith to the perfons that 
 hath need of him,for whom he hath undertaken; 
 he is not only faithful to the Matter, but to the 
 Children, and Servants ; he owns and acknow- 
 ledges them, when they come to him under 
 eheir neceflities, and is forthcoming to them ; 
 every way fuitable and anfwerable to his place 
 and truft , in doing good to Sinners. 
 
 Ujt. Had we fenfible Sinners to fpeak to, Sin- 
 ners groaning under a Body of death,with pric- 
 ked hearts crying out, Whacfhall we do for the 
 wrongs that we have done to God? Sinners un- 
 der holy fear, to fpoil and mar the Bargain, 
 and to hazard their own Souls, had we, (I fay) 
 tuch Sinners to fpeak to? There are good news 
 here to them, the Truft of faving Souls is com- 
 mited to a faithful Shepherd, it is not commit- 
 ted to your fclves i for fo it had been a doleful 
 Truft, but it is committed to Him,that hath got- 
 ten the Sheep by Name given to Him,to be kept 
 fry Him, and he will not fuffer them to mifcar- 
 ry, nor to go quite wrong ; and what more 
 would ye have ? A falvation, and a Price is 
 much, but it is more to have a Saviour, to make 
 the Application of his purchafe , a Bifhop of 
 Souls to juftifie, and carry Sinners through, to 
 snike it fu re before God, and to make it out ; 
 the Sinner may deep found, which in the fenfe 
 of Sin hath betaken himfelf to him, to bejufti* 
 ied by His Righteo»fhefs, and to be in his 
 
 W "•_ , Serm. er. 
 
 debt, and common for obtaining of pardon,and 
 for making the application of what by his fuffe- 
 rings he hath purchafed : We can fay but little 
 to this purpofc to you, who care not for your 
 Souls, and are not fenfible of your Sin, for he 
 came to lave fmners, and if any fiich ^io truft 
 him with the Salvation of their Souls, He is 
 faithful and will not fuffer them to p<.rifli. 
 
 3*7j\ From comparing theft wcrus, By his 
 knowledge he fhal' juftifie many, with the for- 
 mer, He fliall fee of the travel of his foul, and 
 fhall be fatisfi-.-d ; We Obferve, That our Lord 
 Jefus is never Satisfied withfinners, nor content, 
 till He be imployed by th^m in this piece offer- 
 vice, even to juft.fie them by His knowledge, 
 or by Faith in him, He gets not fatisfa&ion f c r 1 
 the Travel of His Soul till this be, and this is it 
 which fatisfies Him ; He cares not for comple- 
 ments, great profeiTions of refpecl; to Religion, 
 fc/ft/^wn^withoutthisHc wept over Jerufalem, 
 nctwithfrand'ng of thefe,becaule of the want of 
 this ; He cares not for Martha*s cumberfome 
 fervice, but is content of Maries fitting down to 
 hear and receive His Word » if he get not rhis 
 imployment, no other thing will content Him 
 as we may fee in thefe three parables, Luke 1 c. 
 When the loft fheep is amifTing, He is not 
 fatisfied till it be brought home. The mak- 
 ing the houfe clean will not pleafc Him, if the 
 loft piece of Money be not found; the finding 
 whereof brings out that, Come and rejoyce with 
 me. And when the Prodigal returns, then, and 
 n©ttill then, are uttered thefe joyful words, 
 This my fon was dead, and is alive, he was loft 
 and is found ; Then comes the mirth, and all 
 the Miniftrels are yoked. Would ye lay the • 
 hair of your head under Chrift's feet, would 
 ye give him thoufands of Rams, and Rivers of 
 Oyl, and the firft born of your bodies for the 
 fin of your Sculs; all thefe will not pleafc him 
 if ye get not your felves to be juft 
 knowledge, nothing will content 
 Him but trut : TheReafons are 
 He gets not His We> k inff rufted to Him,car- 
 ryed on orhcrways ; ( if I may fpeak fo ) for 
 as the Father delights to fee the work which 
 He hath trufted H>m with, profpeiing, fodoth> 
 He. 2. Becaufe He gets not the native Credit' 
 and honour of His Office, till He get this hut. 
 counts himfelf to be ike to an Ambafladour, 
 who comes to woo a Wife for the King his Ma- 
 fter, who is well rreat and intertained, but get* 
 a refufal of what he came for : It was the D»f- 
 ciples commendation, Jehmy. That they re- 
 ceived His Word; though all other things could: 
 
 beg 
 • 
 
 t pleafc him, 
 hfied by His 
 and fatisfie» 
 1. Becaufe 
 
Strm ? i Ifsumh* 
 
 be, if this be nor, he never t>ets kindly refpeft. 
 3. Becaufe without this, Fo-k can never love 
 Chnft; for it's this benefit of juirification and 
 pardon of fin, that much ingagesto love and 
 praife him: Beeauje (fay and fingths Redeemed ; 
 R.vtl. 59.) Ten hajl redeemed us to God by thy 
 blood tb'u art w or thy t$ revive all praije, dominim, 
 fewer, *nd glory • It's impoffible that they can 
 fuitablyefteemof Him, and love Him, who are 
 notjuftified by H.m ; and therefore they that 
 believe not on Him to juftification,are called.^ 
 fifers of him, andtread'rs of che blood of the Covenant 
 o*r ; and they fall under that fad complaint 
 which is made, Joh 1. H. Ht came unto his twn t 
 and his own received him not ; ht was m thi world, 
 and thi world was made by him, and the wor/d knew 
 him t.oi There is then a neceiEty laid upon 
 you, either to give Him imployment in this, or 
 toly under his difpleafure.and to be made coun- 
 table for (landing in the way, fo fir as ye could, 
 of his fatisfa&ion. The Lord hath fo moulded 
 the way of his Grace, that not only doth he in- 
 ▼ite and allure finners but alfo He lays ftrong 
 bonds on them for their good, and leaves it not 
 indifferent to them,tomake ufe of Chrift,ornor, 
 tor their j unification; but they muft cither take 
 this way, 01 have God and the Mediator to be 
 their enemies, in thegreateft mea 'lire and in the 
 higheft degree ; choole you then, whether ye 
 wili farisfie Chrifc Jefus or not ? How fhall he be 
 faiisfied ? will ye fay, even by your betaking 
 ofyourfelves to him, and by improving his 
 Rghtcoufnefs, for your peace with God, and 
 for your juftification before him ; humbly pita- 
 ding guilty at the Bar of Juftice, and begging 
 pardon, and acceptance on the account of his 
 fatisfa&ion, and by Faith extracting your Dif- 
 chirgtand Abfolution, rhac fo the application 
 of his Pmchafc being obtained, the Confidence 
 may be quieted on thar ground. And do ye think 
 this a matter to cai't out wichChnfc abourrTnat 
 he would have you Jnftified, and that ye will 
 not j That he would have you waihen in his 
 blood from your fins, and t.,at ye had rather Iy 
 ftill in rhem : Think ye this reasonable ? And 
 yet thus it ftands w-th you, and we dechre itto 
 you in his Name, That Chrit't and ye ihall no* 
 ver be Fiiends ; except on thefe Terms ; thatye 
 take with your fins and natural enmiry aganfc 
 God, and welcome heartily the news of a Me. 
 diator, andimbr^ce his Rig '■■teoufnef>,tramplirg 
 your own under your feet, as to all expectation 
 of juftification by ft , thar in a word yedoby 
 Faith taki hold of tire ©forof Salvation through 
 him in the Gofpel, rcfigniug ygur feives ablb- 
 
 5$. Verfe if. 2*1 
 
 lutly to him, and founding your humble Plea 
 before God thereupon. This is the fhield of 
 Faith that quenches the fiery darts of che Devi!, 
 and that wnich gives wings to the Soul, to flee 
 to Heaven upon ; and we wote well this is no 
 unfriendly MciTage, nor evil Bargain, and yc 
 may have it of him ; he is indeed a dexterous - 
 and skilful handler of Souls, that commit them* 
 fclves unto Him. Why do you not then inHis 
 own way, hazard your Souls on Him ? Were 
 finners hazard known, and what folid confi- 
 dence they may have, in putting their Souls in 
 ChrifVs hand, they would be thronging in upon 
 Him, to get hold laid on His Offer, which is 
 like a Banner difplayed, andfpread out in this 
 Word of the Goipel, to which every on may 
 Put his hand ; This is the very fum of the Goi- 
 pel, to pray you to be reconciled toGod,to admit 
 of theMediator, and to give Him a Commiflion 
 (to fpeak fo with reverence)or rather tointreac 
 Him to make your peace, that is,togiveHimthe 
 credit of faving you, that if Juftice wero pur- 
 fuing you, ye might be found in Him, not hav- 
 ing your own Righteoufnefs, but His, and in 
 Him have one anfwer to all challenges 5 not think- 
 ing your fclves the lefs ficker and furt, that ye 
 have given up with your own Righteoufnefs, 
 and betaken your felves to His, who knows but 
 Souls might be getting good at fuch a time, i£ 
 this were made ufe of, and believed ? O ! Co 
 faithful as He is, He dare give His Word and 
 Seal, that He will keep to you, and this is His 
 end in Word and Sacrament, that fmnersmighc 
 be brought totruft in Him, in giving Him the 
 imploymentto jufttfie them ; Thatthey being 
 in themfelves blind, may come to Him for gold 
 to enrich thtm; being nakcd,may come toHira 
 for garments to cloath them ; being ungodly, 
 may come to Himthat he may juuifie thcm:But 
 alas, people are for the moft part fenfeleis and 
 regardlefs of their fin and mifery, and therefore 
 He gets no imployment from them ; many lie 
 very brave and fine here, and have no kgal 6ar 
 on them to keep them from r hcCummunioii,who 
 yet have fleepy and fen lei's Sou!s, and are luin- 
 ing and deftroying ti cmfelves ; "Th s we allure 
 you. is thecondirion of many of you who never 
 knew to mike ufe of Chrifr, and of his Riuhte- 
 oufnefs, and >et will boaft of your Faith, and 
 of your go^ d heart to G d ; away with your old 
 prefump'uous Faith, r:kc wth your unbelief 
 and prelumption ; fay not ignorantly, thar ye 
 fhall do as ye can, though yc cannot do as ye 
 would; ycarc unfound at the heart, inif-akcn 
 O 2 about 
 
afci frith $3- 
 
 about your fpiritual rtate, and know that the 
 Divilby a deceitful heatt is fpeakingout of you 
 fuch language , for it's enemies we are Com- 
 rniflionared to reconcile, and it'sloft finnersthat 
 Chrift came to fcek and fave ; and ye fee not 
 your felves to be fuch, and therefore ye care 
 
 ?*>'}<• II. Serm. s^ 
 
 not for fuch offers of Grace ; but ah ! many of 
 you, if Grace prevent not, will get a cold wel. 
 come from thrift at that Day, and will be made 
 fadly to fmart, for the ft gluing of many pre* 
 cious opportunities, which God did put in your 
 hand, and whereof to make ufe ye had no heart. 
 
 SERMON LI I. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. XT. 
 
 Verfe i ! . — by his knowledge Jhall my righteous Jn vant juflijie warty, for h jhall btar their iniquities. 
 
 THere hath been much fpoken from 
 this f^eet Scripture of our Lordje- 
 fus His fufferings, and fomewhat 
 alfo or the Promifes made to Him, 
 that his Sufferings mould not be 
 for nought ; in thefe words, we have a compen- 
 dious Explication of the EfY.cts that flow from 
 them, by which He (hall be farisfied for them 
 all; which ye may take up in thefe four. i. The 
 great benefit it felf, that is holdcn our here,and 
 that is Juftification. 2. Thefe to whom it fh«ll 
 come, it is many, fo that his having a Seed, 
 fpoken of, v. 10. Is cxponed here by this,that 
 many Jhall be juflfr.d. 3. The way how this is 
 derived to them, by his knowledge, which we (hew 
 is to be underftood of Faith in Him. 4. The 
 ground from which this flows, and on which it 
 is built, and that confirms it ; For he jhall bear 
 their iniquities ; and as it's in the following v. Hi 
 bare the fin of many, and therefore they mull be 
 juftified ; it being but reafon, that th fe many, 
 whofe iniquities He bears, and whofe Debt of 
 fin He pays, fhould be juftified* 
 
 We may fpeak more particularly to the Ex- 
 plication of each cf thefe as we come to them ; 
 We mall then firftexpone and give the meaning 
 of this Word Juftification, or to Jufi.fie^ ere we 
 come to the Doftrine, becaufe it will ferve to 
 clear it, and will make way for it, and fo much 
 the rather as it is the very hinge of the Gofpel, 
 and that on which ourSalvation depends,though 
 yet but very little, and very ill underftood, 
 there being many that cannot tell what it is, 
 though there be not many words more frequent- 
 ly mentioned in the Scripture, and though it 
 be that whereby a perfon is tranflated from the 
 State of enmity, in the ftate of friendlhip with 
 God. 
 
 As for this Word, To Jufitfie, or Juftification 
 then, there are three Senfes given of it i Two 
 whereof are Erroneous, and the laftonly is ac- 
 cording to the mind of the Spirit of Gid.fpea- 
 king in the Scripcure, which we {hall clear and 
 confirm, 
 
 r. Some take this Word ?hyjically,as if it were 
 to make Juft, by the infufing of habitualGrace, 
 1 r by a Phytic al, and real change ; and fo taken, 
 it is the fame with r hat which we call Sanctifi- 
 cation, but in all the Scripture, we know not 
 on^ place, where neceflarly the Word is fo to 
 be underftood. Although this acceptation of 
 the Word, is the great rife of the Popijh Error, 
 in that Controverfie concerning Justification* 
 idly, Others take it for Gods revealing, mani« 
 fefting, or declaring the way, how a guilty per- 
 fon cms to be Juft ; and fo tojuftifie, is for 
 Minifters to teach the way to People, how they 
 may live holily ; As it is faid, Dan. 12. 3 They 
 that turn many to Right eou[neJs, &c. By which 
 fenfe, fome wickedly and blafphemcuHy detract 
 from Chrifts Satisfadtion, as if His Juftifying 
 were nomore,but a teaching of Sinners rheway 
 how to be Juftified, to wit, by living holily and 
 juftly. But the Word that follows in fheText; 
 For he (hall bear their iniquities, cuts the Throat 
 of that Exposition ; for it is by Chrifts bearing 
 of thepunifhmenr of the Elects iniquities, and 
 for paying of their Debt, that they come 
 to be juftified ; therefore the one is given for 
 a reafon of the other. idly. Confidering the 
 Word according to the meoning of it in Scrip- 
 ture, we rake it for a Legal, forevjick, or Court 
 Word, borrowed from mens Courts, wherein 
 a perfo.i atraigned for fuch a Crime is either con- 
 demned, or abfolved \ and when he is tbfohtd,* 
 anddeclared to be ac.quirted or made freefiom 
 that which is laid to his charge, he is faid to 
 be Juftified ; fo is it before God, and in His 
 Court: Juftification is the freei: g of a Sinner, 
 from the Charge that the Law givtth in againft 
 Him, and the abfolving and declaring of him 
 to be free fiom the guilt of Sin, and from the 
 punifiimenc thereof, which by the Sentence of 
 the Law is due to Him. The former two 
 fenfesrun to the making of a man to be inhe- 
 rently holy, or without a fault, which is, as if 
 a guilty Man, or a Criminal, being filled before 
 
torn. y a . , &» h 1* 
 
 i civil Court of Judicature, were declared to be 
 nnocent ; but this true meaning of the Woras 
 etsout a man arraigned before Gnds Tribunal, 
 Scchargtd w;thGuilt,and found faulty,butabfoI- 
 /ed,and acquitted, -.ot becauie he wants Sin,but 
 Decaufe his Debt is payed, and his Sins fatished 
 r oT by 2 Caut.oner ; Even as a Man that is cal- 
 ed before a Civil Court, for fuch a Sum of Mo- 
 ley, and is found lyable to the Debt, but his 
 Cautioner coming in, and paying 'he Debt for 
 lim. there ii both in Reason and Law jufb 
 [round, why that Man (hould bt abfolved, and 
 leclated free of tie Debt : So i ? it here,Chrill 
 efus taking on and ia isfying for the Debt of 
 ht Elect,- and procuring abfolution for them, 
 or whom he ha h p y^d the Price; there is 
 Icafon, and ground in Law, that they fliould 
 •eJuuSfkd andab-olved : All thefe Opinions 
 grec in thefe twe. i. That Men naturally 
 lave Sin, an^ that theymuft compt for it. 2. 
 rhat this JuJfrficaion, whatever it be, where 
 t is dot:\ fully abiolve and acquit the Sinner, 
 nd makes him free of Sin, as to the Guilt, the 
 lunrhment and confequents of it, D^arh and 
 fie Cu-fe, as if he had never had Sin : But 
 kt difference lyeth here, char this laft accepti* 
 m of the Word, abfolves a M^n, though he 
 iarc fin in himfeif, by the intsrpoiing of aSu- 
 cty, and Cautioner, who payes his Debt, and 
 rocurcs the Sentence of Abfolution to him ; 
 ^nd in vhisSenlc, Justification U, as if a Man 
 /ere (landing at the B^r of Gods Tribunal 
 uilty.and having a wirneisof his Guilr in him- 
 =lf, and God, out of refpeft to the Mediator 
 lis Sitisfa&ion,anJ Payment of his Debt, which 
 e hath laiu hold upon by Faith, docs pronounce 
 hat linfull Perlon to be Free, Abfolved, 
 nd Acqu;tt'd from the Guile and Puniflimcnt 
 f Sin ; and dorh accordingly Abiolve him 
 pon that accompt. So then juftirication is not 
 d be confidcred, as Gods cresting, and infu« 
 ng bf gracious habits in us, bt the declaring 
 fus to hi free, and acquitted from the Guile 
 f&in, upon the account of Chrilts fatisfying 
 3r our Debt. 
 This wc will find to be very clear, if we con- 
 der how the Word israken, both in the Old 
 Oil new Tcftament, as namely, jfaiah 5. 23 ffO 
 ttto thtm that jujlijie the wicked for a reward, and 
 ike away the r.'ghttiufrujs of the righteous {rem him. 
 Lnd Prv. 17. 15. He that juslifath thewuluH,and 
 e that .ondemnethtbe jujl, even they b,th are §lumU 
 wtUntothe Lord Where the plain meaning of 
 he Word can bt no other than this, that w\cn 
 Judge pronounces a m^n to bejuft, although 
 •e be unjuir, it is a wicked thug winch the 
 
 Verf. ii. 283 
 
 Lord abhores; And fo, Pfal. $r. 4. That then 
 mighteft be juflsjied when thou fpeakeft. That is, that 
 thou mighteit be declared to befo. And,Mat:h. 
 Ii. 19. Wfiomisjuftifitdofber children. 2. We 
 will find this meaning of the Word to be clear, 
 if we conliderJuft\fication,as diftinguifhed from" 
 San&ification ; For in that Pop i(h fenfe, t/hey are 
 both made one and the fame ; but they are 
 diftinguiftied in Scripture. As • C.r. 6. 1 1 Such 
 were {ome of you, but ye are wafted, but ye are fan* 
 Btfedybut ye anjufif. d. Where he looks on thefe 
 two Benches ot Juftifcarion and San&ifieation 
 as diftinft, and eiftinguiiheth the one of them 
 from from the other i now San&ification being 
 the Grace that renews our nature, and makes 
 an inward fpiritual change, JufHfication muft 
 needs be that aft of Gods Grace, that takes a- 
 way the Guilt of Sin, and makes the Sinnersto 
 be friends with God, through Chrifts Righre- 
 oufnefs ; and fo is a relative change of their 
 flare. 3. Itwill be clear,if we confider to what 
 it is oppofed in Scripture, it is not oppofed 
 to finning, as Sanftifkation is, but to thefe 
 two. 1. To the charging of a Sinner with 
 fomewhat unto Condemnation. And 2. To the 
 A& of Condemning ; Now the oppoiit to Con- 
 demnation is Abfolution, as is clear, Rom. 8. 
 33 . Who jhalllay anything » the charge of Gods elctl} 
 his God thar f«/? fas ,whojha!l condemn ? &C. Gods 
 Juftifying i put in as oppoiit to the charging 
 and lybdling of the Licit, and to the condem- 
 ning cf them, therefoie none of thefe can be ; 
 and Jbjuftifkation there looks both to the part of 
 an Advocat pleading, and declaring a man to 
 bt free, and to the part of a Judge pronouncing 
 him to be abfolved and Juitiiied , which well 
 agrees to our Lord jei'us, who juftifies his Pec- 
 pie both ways, 4. It may alfo be cleared from 
 paralle ; Scriptures, whtre Juliifying is called 
 Reconciling ; As 2 Cor. 5. 18,19, 20. God was 
 inChrift reconciling the world to himjelf, not imputing 
 their trejpn£)s uft$ : hem, and hath committed to us, 
 &c. And how that comes to pafs, is told in the 
 Jail ver. For he made him to be fin for us, who knetv 
 no fin, thii we m.ght be made t'dt right eoufnefs of God 
 in him, So tiiat to be nude the Righteoufr.cfs 
 of God, is to b; jultificd, and to be juftiiicd, is 
 to be made friends with, or to be reconciled to 
 God; and that nor by woi king a moral change, 
 but ui on rhe account of ChnlVs Satisfaction, . 
 bring ng us into fricndlhip with Gi d. So,Ephef> 
 1.6 Where to b? ^uHifad is exponed.tobemade 
 aJHpttdtnt . And what eife is thit.buc 
 
 to be in good cerm«j with God, to have him pal- 
 ling by all quarrels, as h.iving nothing ro fay a- 
 gainfi us, but accepting us through ChriJ> as 
 
 rlgbicojj 
 
*8 4 
 
 rignteous ? So, Acts 1338,39 
 y»u,that through this man is preached unto yuu forgiven- 
 nefs rf fins, and by bim all that believe are jufiifed 
 from All things, from which ye could not bejufiified by 
 the law ofMojes. A place that clearly holds torch 
 that all the Elctt arc naturally chargable by the 
 Law, as being guilty of the breach thereof, and 
 that they cannot be abfolved from it by ought 
 in themfelvcs ; fo they are through faith in Je- 
 fus Chrift freed from it ; As if the Lord had faid 
 ye are fred from the Sentence of the Law, be- 
 caufe, through Chrift is preached unto you re« 
 miifion ofSins,and ttiere is a way laid down for 
 your abfolution, who believe, from the guilt of 
 Sin, and from all the confequents of it. }ly It's 
 clear from the Text, becauie it's luch a Justify- 
 ing, as hath in it Chrifts being fentenced in our 
 room, as the caufeofit ; now He wss fentenctd 
 in our room, not by having Sin infilled in Him, 
 which were blafphemous to think, but by hav- 
 ing our Sin imputed to Him, ai d therefore our 
 Juftification muft be our Abfolution, by having 
 His Righteoufnefs imputed to us, as is clear 
 throughout this Chapter ; Therefore it's faid./fc 
 hath carried our firrows, and born our grief; He was 
 wounded for our tranlgrpjjions he was brutjtdfor ourini* 
 tjuities by his Jlnpes we are healed, he laid on him the 
 iniquities of us all, and in thefe words, By bis 
 knowledge fhall my righteous f truant juftifie many, for 
 he frail bear their iniquities \ It's a Juftification 
 that comes to us by Chrift's taking on ouiDebt; 
 and this we cannot imagine to be otherwayes, 
 but by a Legal Change, or by a Change of Law- 
 rooms, He coming as a Surety in our room, and 
 we having abfolution, by veitue of His Satis- 
 faction, fo thatthe meaning of the Words in 
 fhort is, as if the Prophet had faid, would yc 
 know what ye have by Chrift's Sufferings? even 
 this, to wit, That many as many as whofe ini- 
 quities He bore, and fitisfied for, fhall be ac* 
 cjuited,and abfolved from the guilt and punifh- 
 ment of their Sin, through His Satisfa£tion,they 
 fhall be frcd from the Sentence and Curfeof the 
 Law, which they deferved^and (hall be declared 
 Righteous through the righteoufnefs of their 
 Cautioner, which they have laid hold upon by 
 Faith, 
 
 Hence, Obferve, '.That all Men and Women, 
 even the E ; c& themfeives, are by nature ly able 
 to an arraignment before thejuftice-featofcod; 
 that they are Juftifi-rd fuppofes a bringing of 
 them, as it were, b*.fore HisTribunal, ere they 
 can be Juftified, and have the Sentence of ?b- 
 folution pad in their favoursjThe Apoftle takes 
 this for granted, Kont 14. ;o. Wt fhall ail (land 
 b-fors the judgment J eat ofchnil; And. tf;£.Q.>Q.i/'/ 
 
 ifaiab JJ' Verf. it. 
 
 Be it\nownunto appointed for all men once to die, and after mat ct 
 
 the judgment-, Theic is a Solemn Decree p^n,t 
 
 all men fhall die, ft> eveiy m2n fhall be b.ou 
 
 to a Reckoning and Judgment ; And Acis 
 
 $J. He hath appointed a day in whuh be (hull jt> 
 
 the n orldin r.'ghteoujnejt, Sec. And that cannot 
 
 ranverfed : See, 2 Cor j 10. For we mufl all 
 
 pear be f re the judgment feat if Chrift;Wc mufl, th 
 
 is an inavoidabie nectfllty of it. For furt 
 
 clearing and confirming of this,ye would knt 
 
 that there are Three Courts, that efpecialJy t 
 
 hearers of theGofpel are lyablc unto, which 
 
 would make our felves for ; they are all put 
 
 gether, Rom. i. it, is, j6. There is, I. I 
 
 Court of the Woid, wherein God keeps a % 
 
 ftic^f-at, or Tribunal, condemning the Wi" 
 
 ed, andabfohirg the Righteous." As Chi 
 
 fayes, John 12, The w.rd which I fpeak (ball jh 
 
 you in the I aft day ; And this is it that the Apof 
 
 hath in that forecited place, Row. 2. 12. As % 
 
 ny as have finned in the law (hall be judged by the U 
 
 A 2d. Court is the Court of the Confcienc 
 
 and this is more broad and extenfive, reachi 
 
 all Men without, as well as within theChurc 
 
 wherein God hath His own way of lybeliiri 
 
 and accufing of and pafling Sentence upon Si 
 
 ners ; As v. 14, 15 When the Gentiles who ha 
 
 not the law, do by nature the things contained m 1 
 
 law, thefe having not a law, are a law unto themj 
 
 ves t which fhew the work of the l*w written in ih 
 
 hearts, their confeience alfo bearing witnt\s, and th 
 
 thoughts the mean while accuftvg, or elje excufirg t 
 
 another. A 3<*V Court or Judgment feat is th 
 
 which is more difccrnable, diftin&and terribl 
 
 and that is the Judpment-feat of God, when* 
 
 (hall conveen all and every one before Hknf< 
 
 immediatly, and fhall Judge and pafs Senten 
 
 upon them ; whether this be done to a parric 
 
 Jar perfon, or to the whole World, as verf. 1 
 
 In that day when (jod fhall jud^e the fcreti of men, 
 
 Jcfus Chrift, accordi g^my Gofpel. 
 
 Ufe, We would hive you confirmed in the fait 
 of this Tinth, Tha- there are none of us, bi 
 we ate 1) able to all thefe Courts ; and therefoi 
 ye wou d live fo, as ye may be in 2 pofturc f 
 for this appearing ; many of us, alas, live as 
 we were never tobe called r o an account. An 
 as if there were no Tribunal that we were 1 
 appear befr-ie. 
 
 idly. Obferve, That all Men and Women.eve' 
 theElcft th mlelve^ are naiurally.and as m then 
 felvrs obnoxious to Condemnation, and lyabi 
 to the Sentence of ir before Gods Tribunal ; f< 
 Jefus Chrift his Jultifying of tl^em, aiU procu 
 ing their abfolution imply es this much, th; 
 
 the 
 
3 cy as confidered in themfelve* ire lyable to, 
 Sd c»nnot receive another Sentence than that of 
 i.'ondcmnation ; It fays that not only they have 
 nned, bur that becaufe of their Sin, they are 
 yable and obnoxious to Condemnation ; that 
 br their Sin God^ Curfe is due to them, John 3. 
 8.36. Ht that believes not is condemned already ; 
 Vnd be that believetb not {hall not fee life, but the 
 I trath ofGodabideth on him: The Sentence is flan" 
 ling againft him unrepealed, even thatSentence 
 vhich we have, Gal. 3, lo Curfed is every one that 
 entinutth not in all things wntttn in the book^ of the 
 aw to do them ; The Sinner comes no fooner to 
 bok to the Court of the World,nor to rheCourt 
 >f his own Confcience, but that Sentence is laid 
 lefore him, and when he comes before God, he 
 l an expeft no other thing, the Lord proceeding 
 ccording to the Rule of the Word;SoRom.3.iQ. 
 Ve know that whatever thing the law faith jt faith to 
 hem who are under the law, that every mvtth may 
 e flopped, and all the world may become guilty before 
 \ftd, Which fuppons a lyablenefs to His Curfe, 
 lind a fubje&ion to the Judgment of God, as the 
 Word is rendered on the Margent ; there are 
 none, as confidered in their natural condition, 
 who have a word to fay againfr it : To clear i a 
 little, ye would confider two things in theLaw, 
 lis it is a Covenant of Woikf, under which all« 
 men are by Nature, 1 The Directive, or Com- 
 manding part of it, that carves out Mans Duty, 
 'and ib is the Rule of Righteoufnefs to Men and 
 Women, and what is not conform to the Com- 
 mands, and Directions of it, is Sin, and hath a 
 Guilt with it;This is moil certain^ that the Law 
 even as to Believers, is a Rule of Righteouf- 
 nefs, according to which they are to walk. 2. 
 riiere «s in it the Sentence of a Curfe, whereby 
 the Perfon that Sins, is not only declared to be 
 Guilty, but hab'e to Gods Wrath and Curfe; 
 rhis may hefeparared frcm the formerjTheLatv 
 ivas no dc ubr, a Law of Righteoufnefs to Man 
 in his innocency, and is fo to rhe Believer uil', 
 ivho is abfolvedfrom the curfe ofit; but yet 
 :he Believer, asconfidered in his natural condi- 
 tion, Is not only guilty, but ftated und^r the 
 Curfe; and this is the meaning of the Doftrine, 
 that naturally not only are allMenSmfuV'Ut they 
 ire thted under the curfe of God ; rhe Liw fays 
 frn the matter, Man and Woman thou haft not 
 ibiden in what is written, and therefore thou 
 aiuft die, thou art lyable to the Cu;fe, which 
 tfill litfhr, if it be not prevented: If there were 
 my need ofreafo.-.s to pmve this, they are not 
 vantn^;; It is fo 1. Thar rhcLord ma> humble 
 ill flefh, as tiic Apoftlcs fays, Rem* 3. 19. That 
 
 rerf. u. 28s 
 
 every mouth may be (lopped, and that all the world may 
 become guilty before God. It is fo ordered that his 
 Grace may mine the more confpicuoufty; when 
 the Perfon is found Guilty, and obnoxious to 
 theCurfe by the Law, Grace (hews itfelfto be 
 wonderful, in pulling the Sinner from under 
 the lafh of the Law : As lfaac was fet free, and a 
 Sjcrifice was accepted in his Room ; So the Sin- 
 ner is fee free, and the Mediator in his Satisfa- 
 ction, is accepted in his Room ; To this pur- 
 pofe itisfaid, Rom, Ii. 3*. God hath concluded 
 them all in unbelief] that he might have mercy on all; 
 Not chat He fhews mercy on all that are in un- 
 belief, but this is the meani/ g, that it mifihtbe 
 mercy to all thar fhould get good of the Media- 
 tor, and alone mercy to the Eleft, botli of Jews 
 zndGentiles, It's on this ground, tbit Ephef 3:3. 
 the Apoftle not only faith, Te were dead in fins 
 and trefpajps ; But alfo turning it over on him- 
 himfelf, he adds, /ind we are all the children of 
 wrath even as others, lyable by Sin to the curie 
 of God, if it had not been gracioufly preven- 
 ted, 
 
 Ufe, 1. Let all of us take a view here of our 
 Natural Condition, and indeed it were the bet- 
 ter for us that we were more frequently view- 
 ing it; what is it, will ye fay ? It \s even this, 
 ye are all lyable to appearing before Cod's Ju- 
 iHce-feat ; ye are all guilty, and by the Sentence 
 of the Law, under Gods curfe, and condem- 
 ned already ; becaufe God hath faid, H*' that 
 fms JhaU die ; We are, I fay, all thus by Na- 
 ture. 
 
 Ufe, 1. It gives a great commendation to the 
 grace of God in Chrift Jefus, it makes Grace 
 wonderfully Glorious, that takes the Sinner at 
 this nick, and in this p?nch;We fhal not difpute 
 here, nor is it needful, nor edifying; whether 
 God might have forgiven Sin freely, without 
 any intervenient fatisfaftion to His Juftice,feing 
 he huh declarrd his mind, concerning that in 
 His Word, ExoH 23. 7. I will not juHifie the 
 wicked ; An-"' Chap 34. 7. That will by m meant 
 char the guilty : AnJ Gen. 3. The day tfou eats or 
 Sins, thou jhih purely die'. This is it that puts a 
 Man as confidered, in his natural condition. to 
 be as it were in Hell, while he is en Earth, and 
 puts Him in fuch a near capacity to the wrath 
 of God, if we may fo fpeak, and to the a&ual 
 undergoing ofit, that there neei*s no mere but 
 the blowing out of the breath to put him in the 
 pit; yea, while he is living, he is a Prifoner in 
 Chains, till the day of Ex-cu^on come.if Grace 
 reprive him not ; ye would think much of 
 Grace. O ! how very much ! if yc were fcri- 
 
 cuity 
 
a 8 6* Jf.uah. 53. 
 
 ouily comparing thefe two together, to be lb 
 near Hell, and yet as it were, to have a Ladder 
 let up for you to aicend to Heaven by, and in 
 iuch a way, as by Chrift's becoming a Curfe : 
 They will certainly never think much of the 
 Grace of God, and of f he love of Chrift, they 
 will never think much of their own hazard, nor 
 will they ever in earned make ufe of Chrifts 
 Kighteoufnefs, who have not feme quick aud 
 lively imprcifnn, and fenfe of this their 
 condition by nature i and therefore, whenever 
 ye go to read, to hear, to pray, tomeditat,take 
 up your felves, as naturally arrefted before the 
 Court of God, and obnoxious to His Wrath ; 
 this would lay your pride, and make Chrifts of- 
 fers in the Gofpel lovely to you. 
 
 Ufe. 3. This thews, That chefe who get any 
 good of Chrifr, are much in Chrifts debt asd 
 common, and have in themfdves no caufe to 
 boaft of it ; if this be true, even of the Elect, 
 that they are all once under the Sentence of 
 condemnation, elfe they could not be Juftified, 
 and abfoVed by Chrift; ye that think your feh'es 
 to be fomething, what have ye to boaft of ? Who 
 h.uh made y:uto diffrf, and what have ye, but what 
 ye have received ? It fets you well therefore 
 to be humble, and to put a Price upon Chrift, 
 as the Apoftle doth on the fame confidrration, 
 Gal, 2. 10. When hefayes, Who lov.d me, and 
 gave hitnfclffor w^jThat makes Him relifh ft eet- 
 ly to the Believer ; and this is the groun : of 
 His triumph, Rom. 8. 33, 34. Who flj all lay any 
 thing to the charge of Gods El eft ? It is Gid that Jufli- 
 fi(th t who is he that condemned} ? It is Chrift th.n di- 
 ed, yea, rather that is rijen again, &o This way rf 
 Juftirication makes Chrifts death wonderous 
 lovely, and it is on this that the Song of the Re- 
 . deemed is founded, Rev. 1. 5. unto him that A>v- 
 td us, and wafted us from our fins, in his own bhod, 
 find hath made us kings and prietfs unto God, and his 
 Father , to him hi gl'ry, and dimniinfr ever and t- 
 v:r, amen ; A d of that new Song, Rijtvtl. $• 9, 
 jo- Thou art worthy to take the bock, and to open the 
 Seals thereof ,fr thou waft (lain anikajl red'emidus to 
 (Sod by thy blood, &c. It is an evil token, when 
 folks can talk at a high rate of their hope of be- 
 ing Juftified, when i-i the mean time, they have 
 fo little eftimation cf Chrifr, and their heaits 
 are fo little warmed with love to Him, who is 
 fo lovely to Believers ; And when th-y c^n fo 
 confidently mak? application of His purchafe 
 to themfelves, and yet cannot tell, when r iir 
 hearts was ever in the lcaft meafure raviflied 
 with the confidcration of Ckrifts 1 ;ve, neither 
 did it ever relilh, co them, nor were tlicii hearts 
 
 Ver l ' T - 5erm. 51. 
 
 ever >n theleaft ingaged to Him, on that con- 
 fiderat:on. 
 
 Ufe. 4. All of you, who are lying in this 
 nnrural condition, and knew not what is your 
 hazard, who are living in your prophanity, or 
 at beft, inyour hypocrilit, civility, formality, 
 not regenerar, or born again, but have ftill the 
 fame Faith, and Love that ye were born with, 
 and no other, what is your poftufc ? yearenot* 
 in Chnft, but lying naked, obnoxious to the* 
 Wrath and Curfe of God, condemned already % 
 and what if your breath go out in this doleful' 
 condition? What if a palfie, orappopltxie over-' 
 take you fucidenly? What if a Srone fall upon 
 you, ere ye go home out of this place ? There is 
 even but that much betwixt you and Hell, ye 
 are lyable to be arretted befi ie the Court of 
 Gods Juftice, and how will it be with you, when 
 ye come there ? And when it fliall be faid.thae' 
 iuch a perfonhath broken the La w,and therefore 
 Gods Curfe is due to him, and therefore away 
 With him ; For hejudgeth according to mms works j 
 are there none cf > ou afraid of this? Do ye be- 
 lieve it to be a Truth? O .' that ye did, who' 
 are lying contentedly, and fecure in your natua 
 ral condition, and it does not tro* ble you ; will 
 ye yet Jy ftill contentedly ; n tnis 5r< adtul ftate? 
 h it poftible that ye car be well in rhs condi-* 
 tion ? though ye would heap up RicBes as the 
 Sand, ye car. not lock into fhe Bible, n.-r into 
 you own heart.but it curfes you ye cannot lot k 
 to die Car of GodsJufiice,but theStntencc meet* 
 you. Depart from mtyccur\ed', This -s thetru-h 
 of Goj.and f ye thi::k'here beany here lying^ 
 fti'l in black nature ( and we are nor fure all 1 " 
 renewed ) rhif.kthen upon you* cafe, O ! that 
 ye fa a- your P i'ure;The Hand-m riting coming 
 forth on the Wall did not fo afright Be ] fijzzar t 
 as the Curfe uould afright you, if it were be- 
 lieved ; And a/j. Ifths be your natural condi- 
 tion, and if ye believe it to ne truly fo,we would 
 expoftulat with you, and even wonder, '. Hovr 
 comes it to pafs, that fo maRy of yoi: )y ftill in 
 your Namral Condition, and endeavour not a 
 change of your State ; it prill be v* ondeied at by 
 Angel:., and by all the Ekfr ; yea, a; d c > e". bi 
 the Reproba?, that never heaid of Chr 
 fo many heard the Gofpel, and had he 
 Ch ift.and yctdid not I'irup themf-lves'o make 
 ule of Him: Is it nor awrndcrhat Folk can 
 fleep 5'ecure, under the Curfe of God, and ble ft 
 tlnmfelvts, till their iniautti ' s be found to br ha:-ful> 
 To be in this COndi ; ori.& t^fletp quietly Ufti er 
 it, will have a doleful wakening ittty Hew jjjj 
 it that fofew take pains to try how it is wit»| 
 
 th-.m ? 
 
 even by* 
 
 il, tat 
 offer of 
 
them' If any of you were lying under a De- 
 creet of an hundred poundSct;/, ye would not 
 be fr fecurc, till ye knew th*t ye were fred of 
 it: and if it be true, that this is your Condition 
 by Nature, to be under the {landing Sentence 
 of the Law, and the Curfe of God, how is it, 
 ye never try if ye be come out of that Condi- 
 tion ? I ask the molt prophane men among you, 
 were ye never under this Sentence? if ye fay, 
 nor, the word of God willftandup againftyou, 
 and fay to you, that ye lie falfly : and if ye be 
 under it, is it not hazardous to be fo ? But I 
 . fear, that many of you dream, that the Curfe 
 of God wears away as ye grow up. idly. Think 
 ye never of coming to Judgment, and of Gods 
 proceeding in Judgment againft you? Think 
 ye never that ye will die, and after death come 
 to Judgment, according to the general appoint- 
 ment pail upon all Men ? How cometh it, that 
 ye are not thinking on it, and what may be the 
 Judges procedour towards you ? He will Judge 
 you according to this Word, and all that are 
 out of Chrift, and notjuftined by Him, will be 
 caft into the pit of HeJ] : there is no new Sen- 
 tence to be paft, or to be executed upon you, 
 but that which was (randing over your head be- 
 fore Vy. Know ye how long He may treat with 
 you, or hjow long ye may be in a capacity to 
 get your ftate changed? Are there not many 
 ; tak?n fuddenly away, of whofe ftate we fhall 
 not Judge, but may it not be fo with you ? 
 why are ye then fo fecure, and why decline ye 
 the Word, and refufe to let it fearch you,while 
 
 Verf. 11. ■ a&7 
 
 ye know not whether the Curfe be removed, 
 and whether the Sentence be changed, or recal- 
 led? Same of you perhaps will fay, the Lord 
 knows that, it is not for us to know ; And that 
 fays , that ye do never fo much as efTay to 
 know, and to win to clearnefs about your llatej 
 Others of you will, it may be, fay, that ye hope 
 all will be well, and yet that at the befb is but 
 a guefllng, and ye would be loath to fpeak of a 
 Decreet that were pad againft you, aboutaSumr 
 of Money, in any poor Court of Judicature on 
 Earth; and will ye fuffer this terrible Sentence 
 to (land over your head, in the Court of Gods 
 Juftice, and not ftudy Co be diftincT, and at a 
 point upon (olid and good grounds, that it is re- 
 pealed ? If ye did really believe that it was once 
 fo with you, and that yet ye are in hazard of 
 this Sentence, ye would not, ye could not, I 
 am fure, ye mould not be at reft, till ye knew that 
 it were removed ; It would put you to make 
 ufe of Chrift in good earneft for your peace, and 
 to feek after an extract of the repealed Sentence 
 and of your Abfolution, fealed up in yourbo* 
 fom : And this is the thing that we aim at in 
 all this, even that as ye would not have a ter- 
 rible meeting with God before the Bar of his 
 Juftice, that ye would feek to have the Curfe 
 that ye are naturally lying under, removed, and 
 to have your peace made with God, and to have 
 fome well grounded clearnefs about it that ye 
 might live comfortably, and die with folid con- 
 fidence and Chriftian Courage, without which 
 ye can do neither. 
 
 SERMON LII I. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XL 
 
 Verfe I T. Hefyall fee of the travel of his foul, and fhall be fatisjied : by his knowledge JbaJi ?ny righteous 
 fervant juftifie many : for he (hail bear their iniquities. 
 
 THe way of abfolving a Guilty Sin- 
 ner in the Juftice of God , is the 
 great Sum and Scope of the Gofpslj 
 even to ftiew how aloft Sinner, ob- 
 noxious to the Sentence of a tranf- 
 creft Law, may, without prejudice to the Ju- 
 liice of God come to be juftifled ; we are per** 
 fwaded,that there is nothing of greater concern- 
 ment to Sinners; and if we knew our Debt, and 
 our Hazard, we would think, that there is no- 
 thing of greater concernment to us in particular; 
 , The Sum of the Covenant of Kedemption runs 
 j on this, and it is the great thing aimed at in all 
 .this Chapter, wherein the Prophet lets us fee. I. 
 L What is the great thing that fatisfies Juftice ; 
 V.And for this end much hath been fpeken of 
 
 Chrifts Sufferings, and SouUiravtl, a. He lets us 
 fee, what is the benefi: that comes to us, by 
 Chrifts Sufferings, and that is J unification, or Ab- 
 lolution fom the guilt of Sin, and from the 
 Curfe which it deserves. 3. He lets us fee the 
 way how this benefi" is derived, and it is, by 
 hs knowledge ; This, faith he, fhall be the great 
 Refult or Chrift's Sufferings, Many fhall be 
 fed; And this fhall be the way how it fhall b; 
 derived to thefe many, and that is, ly his know- 
 ledge, or by Faith in Him, refting on hisRght- 
 eoufnefs and Satisfaction. 
 
 We opened up tic ncanirg of the Words the 
 
 Jaft day, and poinded ar two Dotlnnes from them 
 
 I. Tint all Men aud Women have 1 Judgment 
 
 P p to 
 
 
u Jfaiah H 
 
 to abide before God, an Arraignment an£ In- 
 diament -here, to which they mull ^ w , 
 They mufl all come to get . Se nten cc from 
 God. a T at all Men naturallyare lyabie ro 
 the S are ce , f Condemnation; Th;s iifuppof. 
 Id be e fur in as far as Sinners are only by 
 Faith in C^f Juftrfied m as far the Sentence 
 of the Law, and of the Covenant of Works $ 
 fending again* them,. and over their heads 
 who a. e no? by Faith united to Chrilt Jefus, and 
 Juftificd by his Righteoufnefs * 
 
 The uDKtriut (which is almoft the very 
 words of the Text ) that now we intend to 
 fpeak to, is this, That though all M« wturelly 
 be obnoxious to the Sentence of the Law, and 
 to the Curfc of God, yet there is a way laid 
 d)wn how a Sinner fo obnoxious, maybe mlti 
 ficd, and frcd from that Sentence, and this is by 
 Faith injefni Chrifronly: If any Joanne be 
 of concernment for Us to know, and to be well 
 and experimentally acquainted with , this « 
 of concernment tons; By his kno^ ejh all my 
 righteous fervant iu(l fie many. There are 2brU 
 things in this Doftrine implyed, whichby one, 
 and the fame labour will be proven, and there- 
 fore we fhall put them together. .«* T ^ tal 
 though all Men be naturally ^ nox k ,ou ? l ? ^ 
 Wrath a, d Curfe of God, yet he hath appointed 
 away how guilty Sinners may be Juft hed and 
 Abfelved. 2. That the way of attaining to this 
 benefit of Juftification, and freedom from the 
 Curie, is by Faith in ChiilVs Righteoufntfs.it s 
 bybts knowledge , faith the Text- 1 That there 
 is no other way by which aSmner obnoxious 
 to the Curfe, can be juftificd, but by r Faith in 
 Chri.t's Righteoufnefs allenarll) : This lait 
 branch of rhe Doclrine fayes not only.rhat there 
 is no other mean to fatisne Jultice, but Chnit s 
 Merit and Satisfaction; but that there is no other 
 way, but the way of Faiih to win to the Ap- 
 plication of His Satisfaftion; whereby many 
 Queftions may re Anfwered, and many Errors 
 in Doftrine and Praftice confuted; but our pur- 
 pofe is to mew, how a guilty Sinner may be 
 
 Juflified. 
 
 And therefore we flial!, I> Give you a gene- 
 ral view of the Truth of the Doftrine > by con- 
 firming it frcm Scripture, in all the parts of if 
 n. We {hall fpeak more particularly to the ie^ 
 vera) branches of it. And jfc To the way of 
 attaining Juftification , in the feveral Caules 
 of it, as it is here holden forth. 
 
 For Confirmation of the General DocW^e 
 fliall, i. Look upon fome Scriptures, and a. lo 
 fome Grounds of Reafon- . 
 
 As for the Confirmation of it by Scripture, if 
 
 Vtrf. ir. ^ Serm. c-; 
 
 we look through the Gofpel,it is our Lord Jefus 
 Cl i 11 his own Dextrine, wh : ch He preached, 
 ard ihe way which he laid down therein, forju- 
 ftifying an«i faving I Sinner ; So John 3. Where 
 it is thiee or four times repeated, As v. ic*» God 
 fo Lvcd the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, 
 that vhofoeier believtthon him, fhoula not per'fh. but 
 have eternal life j v 18. He that believeih on him, 
 is not condemned, but he that beheveth not is con* 
 d<mned already % baarfe he beheveth not in the nameof 
 the only begotten Son of God-, v. 36. He that beheveth 
 on the Son kath tverlafl t ng hfe, sr.d he that beliivetb 
 not the Son fh*U not fee life but the wrath of God a- 
 bideth onhim\ And v. 14 15 As Mofes lifted up the 
 Jerfent in the wildernefs, fa musl the (on of man be lift* 
 ed up, that whofocverbflieveib on him Jhu'U not per- 
 if>, but have eternal life-, And this is all o e as to 
 fay, he that believes fhall be Juft fied; Mark 16. 
 16. He that bslieveth, and is baptised fhall be fated, 
 but he that bdieveth not fb.illbe damned; Thefe are 
 the teims on which the Apoftles are by Chriii 
 warranted to preach the Gofpe), and to make 
 the offer of Life to every Creature; and there- 
 fore if we l< ok forward to their preaching, we 
 will find it to run on the fame drain, As Acts 
 13. 38, 39. Be it known unto you there fere, men and 
 brethren, that through this man is preached unto you, 
 theforgivennefs •/ fins, and that by him, all that be* 
 lieve are justified from all things, from which ye could 
 not be juflified by the law of Mofes ; Where, whilo 
 /Wis fumming up the whole MefTage that he 
 had to deliver, he goes upon the fame ground; 
 and wherein we have thefe three clearly holden 
 forth, I. That all men are Jyable, as m their 
 natural Eftate, ro God's Curfe, and by the Law 
 cannot be juftified. 2. That there is a way laid 
 down, through Jefus Chrift, to com- by Jufti- 
 fication and Remiflion of Sms- 3. That the way- 
 how Sinners ccme by this, is Faith in Chrift; 
 All that believe are juflified: Look to the Epiflles,, 
 efpecially thefe written to the fam.ins a: d Gala- 
 items, where this queftion abcut Juftification is 
 exprefly, and of purpefe handled, and we will 
 find, that it is the fum of both ; As Rom. 5 % 
 Where having faid- v. 23. That all have finned, 
 and come jhort of the glory ofGod^nd fo,th-t all arc 
 lyabie to Gods Judgment, he futjoyns v. 24. 
 B:Ug juft fi'd freely by his grace, through the Tedtrr.pt U 
 on that is in jefus Chrift; where is the great mean 
 of our Juftification; and then he adds, v. 2$. 
 W..om God hath ft forth to be apnp.ttation through 
 faith in his bhod j Where we have the mean of 
 Application, to wit, Faith; and Chap. 4. *• ?• 
 him that workeih not, but betievtth on hint that j /?;'«« 
 fi h (he ungodly his frith is counted for righteoufnefs ;. 
 Which pUcc demonftrates this, That an un- 
 godly 
 
Serm. <$< 
 
 If 01 ah sh V e rt. it. 
 
 godly perfom taking hold by Fa?t> of Chrift s 
 R.ghteoufnefs , may be , and is Juttified and 
 Abiblvcd, andfied from the guilt of Sin, as if 
 he had never Sinned ; So Gal. a. 15, i6\ We who 
 are Jews by nature ^id not (inners of the Gentiles } ot 
 not without the Covenants they are, Knowing 
 that a man is not \uflified by tbt mrks of the Law, 
 but by the faith of Jejus Chrijl ; even we have be- 
 lieved in jejus Chrlji,th*t we might be jufi-.fiid by the 
 faith of Chrijl, and not by the works of the law, for 
 by the works of the law {hall no flejh be jufified; 
 Which place mews not only this, that through 
 Faith in Chnft, is Juftification and Life to be 
 had,- but it alf> excludes all other ways of Ju- 
 ftification , Knowing that a man is not \us7ified 
 by the works of the law, but by faith ; But that which 
 we are now fpc k.«:g to, i> only the pofitve 
 part of the Doctrine, to mew that a guilty Sin- 
 ner, obnoxious to the Curfe, may by Faith come 
 to be juftified, and made free from the guilt of 
 
 , Sin, and from the Curfe, as if he had never Sin- 
 
 1 ned, nor been under the Curfe. 
 
 For further Confirmation of the Do&rine, ye 
 would confider thefe four Grounds, and ye will 
 fee from them good reafonforit ; Only remem- 
 ber this.that Juftification looks al way to ajudi- 
 cial Procedour ( as we hinted before ) where* 
 in the Lord is, as it were on the Throne, and 
 the Guilry Sinner at the Bar, pleading through 
 ChrifVs Righteoufnefs and Satisfaction to be ab- 
 solved ; which iseven is if a Debtor arretted for 
 Debt, mould plead for a Liberation, not becaufe 
 he is not owing the Debt, neither becaufe he 
 hath piyed. the Debt, but becaufe his Cau- 
 tioner hath payed it for him} This being fup- 
 pofed, and remembred , ye would ( we fay ) 
 confider trefe Grounds, or Reafons,for confirm- 
 ing the Doftrine. i. The Sufferings that Chrift, 
 hath endured, and the Satisfaction that he hath 
 made,in the room of Sinners, as the next Words 
 hold out, For he jhall bear their iniquities; and v. 
 ult. He Jhall bear the fins of many ; Nay, this is the 
 grest fcope of the Chap:er; Therefore it's faid, 
 That he hath born our griefs, and cirritd our forrows, 
 and that the Lird hath laid on him the iniquity of 
 us all - y This makes a Ground of Confirmation. 
 2. Confider, How that there is not only afuf- 
 ficient price payed, bur there is a Covenant of 
 Redemption warrandingHim to pay it, and ac- 
 cepting it off His hand, as compleat payment, 
 and Satisfaction for the Elefts Debt; And ex- 
 
 | cept there be a look had to thh Covenant, Faith 
 hath not a fufncient ground to reft on for Ju- 
 stification through Jcfus His Satisfaction , be- 
 
 = 89 
 
 caufe otherways we fee not a reafon, why his 
 Sufferings can be accepted for us;. For, fup* 
 pofe, ( if fuch a fuppofition may warranrably 
 be mide ) Chrift to have fuffertd, yet it was 
 free for God to have accepted that as a Satis- 
 faction for our Debt, error; but the conflde- 
 ration of the Covenant of Redemption removes 
 that Doubr, and g-ves Faith agtound to lay 
 hold on Chrift's Sufferings, as fat sfactcry to 
 the Juftice of God j becaufe, in the Covenant 
 of Redemption , it's fo tranfarted, and agreed 
 upon, betwixt God and the Mediator; There- 
 fore the Apoftle fpeaking, Hb ro. 8, 9. and 
 forward, from Pfah 40. of this - oven ant, (hews, 
 That when Sac<ifice§ and Offerings, will not 
 do the turn, drift comes in,faying, Lo t Jcome r 
 in the volume of thy book it is written of m' 9 I delight 
 to do thy will, O [ my God ; By which will, ( faitrt 
 the Ap <ftle ) we are fanBified-, And had there not 
 been fuch a Will, His Sufferings had not been 
 ufeful to us. 3-. Confider the Offer that is 
 made in the Gofpel to Sinners, which is the 
 object of our Faith, for the Covenant of Re- 
 demption is not the ground, and object of our 
 Faith y though it clears the ground and reafon 
 of our Faith, but it's Gods offer in the Gofpel, 
 according to that pkee, Mark 16. 15, 6. Go ye 
 and preach the gofpel to every creature , he that be- 
 lieveth, and is baptized /ball be javed ; He war- 
 rands them to go, and make it known to all 
 to whom they lhall Preach, that there is remif- 
 fion of Sins to be had through Faith in Chrift; 
 and this is a Ground to Faith, when God makes 
 offer of Chrift's Satisfaction in the Gofpel, on 
 condition , that we believe , and accept of 
 Him ; when we by Faith clofe with the offer, 
 it gives us, as it were, an Afllgnaticn to Chrift's 
 purchafe ; The Gofpel fayes, as Paul doth t ji£ts 
 13. 38. Be it known to you, that through this man 
 is preached to yoUrgtwJJhn of fins, and by him all that 
 believe are jujlifisd ; and Faith confents to that, 
 as giving Goi credit, and accordingly clofes 
 with*, and refts upon it, as the ground of it's 
 Plea before God \ So that when the Quefti- 
 on comes to be asked, Wha f have yetoanfwer 
 the Law, and to pay your Debt with? Faith, 
 or the believing Sinner anfwers, I have nothing 
 of my own, but there is a Satisfaction in Chrift, 
 according to the Covenant of Redemption, 
 which is holden out,and madeeffer of torre in 
 the Gcfpel, and is given, and allowed to me,foc 
 Defence, againfc what the Law, or/ufticc can 
 fay; and I betake me to that ; And this is the 
 native and kindly Act of Faith in Juftification, 
 P p 2 when 
 
29© lf aia ^ S3 
 
 when it makes ufecf this Defence, and Trurts 
 to it alone : This is even it that Paul hath, Phi- 
 lip. 3. 9. compared with v. 8. I count all thing* 
 lojt, that I may win Chrift, and be found in him ; 
 That when it was asked , Paul where art thou? 
 I may have it to fay, I am here, Lord, even in 
 Chrijt, and in His Righteoufnefs, This is the 
 ground of his Plea , having given up with his 
 cwn Righteoufnefs, as to his Juftification before 
 Gcd. and he will have no other defence but 
 that. 4. Confider the end of all thefe, to wit, 
 of Chrifts Suffering, of the Covenant cf Rt* 
 
 Vvrf. 11 
 
 Serm# 
 
 to think of corning to Heaven ; Which isi na 
 Word, that a dinner through retting on Cbrifts 
 Righteoufnefs, according to the Covenant of 
 Grace, may come to be abfolved, andfred from 
 the guilt of Sin and from the C Ur fc 3 as if £ 
 
 1 
 
 And 3. What are the C au[e s~ { this Juftific 
 on fpoken of in the Text. .. Byjdifi2£« 
 this place, is not to be underftot-d the making 
 of a perfon perfeftly holy, nor to have Grace irT 
 
 dempnon, and of the efferof the Gofpel ; Its fufed into him, for that is Sanftification • Bnr 
 
 the Pnife of the Glory of His Grace, that God it is to be abfolved, and declared free ir 
 
 may make it known, that he is Gracious, and fpett of the guilt of Sin, and of theCurfe \l% 
 
 freely Gracious., without refpett to any thing in 
 
 the Sinner; This end is not only let out in thefe 
 
 two places put together, one is, Rom. 3, 26. To 
 
 declare, I fay, his right toubf ft, that he might bejufl, 
 
 andthejuftifisrofbim which believeth in J*/w/,That 
 
 he might be J«/J, that is, one that will fulfill 
 
 his Threatnings, and therefore He hath pio- 
 
 vided One to fatisfie His Juftice, and One that 
 
 is Faithfull in keeping His Promifes, and there- 
 fore He is the Juftifer of them that believe in 
 
 Jefusj The other place is, Ephef. 1.6. Where, 
 
 when the ApofHehath lpoken of Election, Pre- 
 destination, and Adoption , he fets down the 
 
 end of all, to wit, To the fraife and glory of hit 
 
 grace, wherein he hath made ut accepted in the belo* 
 
 ved; And this is a Ground that makes all fure ; 
 
 for God cannot fail to Juftifie the Sinner that 
 
 believeth in Chrift, as He is offered in the Gof- 
 pel, becaufe that is the very end of His Juftify- 
 
 ing Sinners, the praife of the glory of Grace, 
 
 which He will not mifs, but mult certainly and 
 
 inirufhably come by. 
 
 TheUfes are 4. In general, The 1. whereof 
 
 is, for Information, and it's fuch a LeiTon of In- 
 formation, as without ir, all the preaching of 
 
 the Gofpel is to no purpole ; and the hope of 
 
 Eternal Life were utterly defperat, if fuch a 
 
 Do&r ine were not in the Gofpel, that through 
 
 Faith in Chrift a dinner may bejuftified, would 
 
 any know then how they may be abfolved? 
 
 This anfwers the Queftion, and tells us that it is 
 
 through Faith in Chrift's Righteoufnefs, and no 
 
 other way; And if we digeftedly believed the 
 
 former two Doctrines. 1. That we mult all 
 
 come before the Tribunal of God : And 2. That 
 
 we are all obnoxious to the Cuffe of G&d, we 
 
 would think this were a very concerning Que- 
 
 ftion to be put, how fuch a guilty Sinner may 
 
 be Abfolved a-nd Juftified ? And indeed, if it be 
 
 not clear in this point, it's, as to any Fruit, in 
 
 .vain for us to preach, and for you to hear, or 
 
 a Man had never Sinned; As it's faidf '^w? x 
 6.^ Wherein he hath made us acceptable m the ItloveJ' 
 It's an aft of Gods free Grace, whereby ourSins' 
 are pardoned, and we accepted as righteous in 
 His fight, &c ( as our Catechifm hath it ) as if 
 our Sin had never been. 2. When we fpeak of 
 Faith, we mean not a general hiftorical Faith 
 that Devils, or reprobat Men may have and 
 whereby an affent of the Judgment is given to 
 the Trurnsof the Word, though indeed Jufti* 
 fymgFnth doth prefuppoie thatjneither by Fairh 
 do we mean fuch a Faith whereby a man doth 
 at the very firft believe, that he is pardoned and 
 which puts away all doubting, and lifts him up 
 in his own conceit, to the height of aiTuran-e 
 about the obtaining of the thing; It's the Antim 
 mmian prefumption, to believe at firft hand 
 that lamjuiriried and Pardoned; But it's fuch 
 a Faith, that takes hold of Chrifts Righteouf* 
 
 Itcvedm Jefut Chrift that we might be juHifitd by 
 
 th L f * lt r°J< C Vi l \ S an a£hjaI clofi "S <*ith the 
 offer of Chrifts Righteoufnefs, and a ibbmittine 
 to the terms of it, for Juftification : The Scull 
 founding of all it's defence before God on 
 Chrift s Righteoufnefs, and Purchafe offered to 
 it in the Gofpel, and refting on it t for Life and 
 Salvation ; As fuppofe there were a multitude 
 of Rebels, to whom pardon were by PrccJama- ( 
 tion ofFered, on condition, that atfuch a time 
 they fliould lay down their Arms , and come 
 in, and if one of them were challenged and 
 called to a reckoning after his coming in for J 
 his Rebellion ; The ground of his Plea wculd 
 not be, that he never was out in Rebellion, but v 
 that fuch an offer was made, and that he did 
 hazard his life on it ; So it is here, a Sinner is a 
 Rebel againft God by Nature, and being in Re- 
 bellion, 
 
* m -«; ifaiah $y 
 
 bellion hath the offer of pardon, and life made 
 to him' on condition that he clofe by Faith with 
 thrift* s Righteoufnefs, and the Sinner doth by 
 Faith giveGod credit,&hazards hisSoulon that; 
 Whereas unbelief (to fellow the fimiJitudeJ is, 
 as if a Rebel hearing of fuch a Pardon offered, 
 would not think that a fure way to come off, 
 but would cither plead innocent,or take him to 
 fome otherfhift;This then is theFaith thatlmean 
 of which actually clofes with and makes ufe of 
 Gods Offer of Chrifts Righteoufnefs for Abfolu- 
 tion. idly. Confider the Caufes of Juftification ; 
 And there are Three in the Words. I. The Hern 
 torious Caufethat hath procured, and bought this 
 Benefit, is Chrifts Satisfa&ion ; His bearing their 
 iniquities ; He jballjuftifitmany, for he jb^U bear their 
 iniquities. a. The Inffrumental Caufe, Condition, 
 or Mean, or Way, how that Benefit is derived 
 to us, \$ Faith called here His knowledge ; It's the 
 Faith we fpoke of juft now i Faith taking hold 
 of fuch aPromife, and refting on Gods Faith- 
 lulnefs for the making out of it; It's this which 
 gives the Soul a Tide to Chrifts Righteoufnefs, 
 which formerly it had not, and makes Chrifts 
 Purchafe of due to belong to it, by vertueof 
 Gods Offer, and confequently the benefit of Ju- 
 ftification is derived to it, by its uking hold of 
 the Offer, which otherwayes it could not par- 
 take of. j. The formal Caufe, wherein Juftifi- 
 cation properly confifts, is this, even God's ab- 
 folving or Judicial pronouncing of the Sinner 
 to be free, and his accounting of Him as righte- 
 ous, on account of Chrifts Righteoufnefs im- 
 puted to Him, and taken hold of by His Faith; 
 where rhe Sentence is paft, we need not curi- 
 oufly inquire; It's like, as the Sentence ofCon- 
 demnarion ftands in the Word, while the Sin- 
 ner is in unbelief ; So by believing in Chrift,He 
 hath Abfolution in the Word, zsjohn 3. 18. He 
 that belitvith in him, is not condemned; And this 
 Sentence of the Word, is as effectual, for abfolv* 
 ing of the Sinner as if the Sentence were pro- 
 nounced inanimmediat way, or with an audi- 
 ble voice from Heaven, by^ God, with the Sin- 
 ners name, and firname in it; And therefore let 
 me commend this, with the other places I nam- 
 ed before to you, that from them ye may learn 
 to take ep the way, how a Sinner is A^folved 
 andjuftificd; It's ChritYs Satisfaction that makes 
 the amends.and is the Meritorious Caufe ,Ir is 
 Gods Word that makes the Offer of that fan's- 
 faction ; and it's our Faith begotten, and quick* 
 ned by Gods Spirit, that taketh hold of it; and 
 Juftificaiion it feJf is Gods abfolving, and ac« 
 cepting of the Perfon, as righteous in His fight, 
 
 Verf. If. 29r 
 
 who is fled to Chrift's Righteoufnefs; And thus 
 though Gods Grace and Mercy be the £#&.«** 
 Caufethat admits of the ranfom, yet neimer is 
 Grace in us the Formal Caufe , nor is Grace in 
 God the Meritorious Caufe, but it's that which 
 layes down the way how a Satisfaction ftiall be 
 provided, and accepts of it, when provided, 
 and of the Sinner on account cjfiti when by 
 Faith he betakes himfelf to it. 
 
 Ufe 2. Seing there is fuch a way of Juftifica- 
 tion provided, and by the Gofpel brought to 
 light, revealed and made manifeft, as the Word 
 is, Rim, 1. 17. and 3. *i. Since I fay, that My* 
 ftery, which before was hid, is difclofed, and 
 Life and Immortality brought to Light by the 
 Gofpel , let me earneftly IntTeat you, that ye 
 would make ufe of this Mean and way of Jufti- 
 fication, for the obtaining of abfolution before: 
 God; The end of Preaching { as we faid) is to 
 reveal this Righteoufnefs, and the end of the 
 revealing of it is, to ingage Sinners to make ufe 
 of it; Of which, though we fhould preach tct 
 you from the one end of the year to the ether* 
 if ye do not betake your fclves to it, fo as to 
 clofe with it, and heartily to fubmit unto it, it 
 will all be to no purpofe- 
 
 For prefling .of this Ufe alitrle further, con- 
 fider the great concern , and moment of this 
 Application, and what may induce you,ferioufly 
 to mind it; And to this purpofe,!. I would pofo 
 and put you to it, if ye believe that by Nature 
 ye are lyable to Gods Curfe, and that ye muft 
 compear before His Judgment-feat, andifyebe 
 found in Nature when ye compear, that will be 
 a Woful, and Dreadfull Sentence , that ye will 
 meet with from God. and if wrthall ye believe 
 this, that by Juftification, ye may have Sin Par- 
 doned, be Reconciled ro Gcd, and have the Curfe 
 removed from you, and be put in fuch a Stare, 
 as if ye had never Sinned; If, I fay, ye believe 
 thefe things to Be the Truths of God: is not- 
 this of yourConcernment?wherher >'e be made 
 Friends with God, and have yourSins Pardoned, 
 or not? whether ye (hall be Eternally Happy, 
 or Eternally Miferable, whether ye fliall gee 
 Gods blcfting, or ly tor ever under His Curfe? 
 If this, I fay, be of your concernment , then 
 furely Obedience rothis Exhortation, is of your 
 Concernment, becaufe there is no other way to 
 win to Abfolution but this. 2, Confider, That 
 it's the very defign of the Gofpel, and of this 
 benefit that is maae Offer of to you therein, 
 which all the Nations that have not the Gofpel 
 want, the priviledge being deriyed to them : 
 God makes Offer of a way to you, how ye may 
 
 be 
 
apt Jfaiah 5?, 
 
 Lc Judificd ; and ye profefsyour defire to karn 
 ir, and to get it pracTiGally made ufc of, and 
 improven, and (as Paul hath k, Philip. 3. 8,9,10.) 
 That yc may know Chrift\tlnt ye may win Him, 
 and be found in Him > And it is the Sum ofche 
 Gofpel, as we have it, Ads ra,. 38, Beit known 
 unto you, men and brethren, that through this man is 
 frtaehtd uv.to )ou remijjion o\fins, and by him all that 
 hlievi an JtjUfied ; This \s even the time that 
 the lord is making this Proclamation, that was 
 before prophefied of, and publimed by IJaiah t 
 By his knowledge jhall my righteous fervant juftifie many, 
 This is it rhat is even now Revealed, Declared, 
 and made Manifeft to you, that by Chrlft Jcfus 
 alone Righteoufnefs is to be attained ; And if it 
 be of fuch concernment, that for this very end, 
 God hath fent His Sen to die, and hath feut this 
 Gofpel to declare, and make offer of this benefit 
 of His Death unto you ; It's no doubt, ^rea:ly 
 of your concernment, to nukeufe of i r , when 
 it ccmes to you. 3. Confider, That if rhe LorJs 
 Proclamation of it, have not that effccl, to in- 
 gage you to Chrift Jcfus, for the obtaining of 
 Rtghteoufnefs through Him, it will leave you 
 in a worfe condition than it found you in ; It's 
 not now, whether ye will peiilh or not? though 
 that be a great matter ( themoft Barbarous Hea- 
 thens will readily think, that Gods Juftice is ter- 
 rible to meet with ) but it layeth thefe two in 
 the Ballanccj It's either a moft inconceivable 
 condemnation, beyond what others who have 
 not heard the Gotpel, will come under, if the 
 Offer be flighted ; or Eternal Salvation, if it be 
 imbraced : Wo to thee Chorazin,wo to thee Bethfatda 
 ( faith the Lord. Matth* 11. if, 22. ) For if the 
 y*ghty works which are done in thee , had been done in 
 Tyre and Si don, they would have repent id long ago ; 
 jind it jhili be more tolerable f>r Sodom in the day of 
 judgemsnt, thai for Ciparnaum, who, becaufe they 
 were lifted up to heaven, in re:pe£c of a glorious 
 Difpenfation of Gofpel- ordinances, and improved 
 them not, (hall bt cajl down to hell ; and whereon 
 is this dreadful denunciation founded ? Even on 
 this ground, juftnow hinted at, the Gofpel was 
 more plainly and powerfully preached to them, 
 than it was ToTyre and Sidon, to Sodom and Gomor- 
 rah, who had Lois Teftimony, but Chrift's and 
 His Apoftles Tcftimony, in a manner, fwallow- 
 ed up that, which Tcftimony they flighted : 
 Now pofe yourfclves, whether this Gofpel hath 
 not founded loud in ypur ears ? have ye not heard 
 it .' yes verily \ We may here allude to that word, 
 Rom. 10. io\ Doubtlefsye hive heard, the found 
 thereof is come to you, and ye mall never have 
 that to object, that ye heard it not. This Text, 
 aad this fame Sermon on it, and othcis, will 
 
 ^r. rr. Scrm. cfl 
 
 bear witnefs, that through Jefus Cnrift, yc had' 
 a way laid down to you, for rcmilTten of fins 
 and tor Juftification, and what will follow ? 
 either ye muft betake your fclves to Chrifts 
 Righteoufnefs for Juftification, and itudy to b.e 
 Holy, or elfe ye will bring upon your fclves a 
 more rerrible Condemnation then came upon 
 the inhabitants ofSodora and Gtmorrah, who wera 
 confumed and burnt quick, by fire and brim- 
 ftonc from Heaven; And therefore there i$? 
 ground here for all to look well ab ur us, what 
 ufewe make of this benefit offered to us,that wc 
 mifcirry noj, and make not our felves moft inex- 
 cufable, for flighringof it. 
 
 I mail here fpeak a little to fome forts of per- 
 fons, that ought mainly to lay this to heart. 
 1. To fome that are fo utrerly carclefsaud in- 
 different, in making their Peace with Cod, that 
 to this day, all warnings threatnings, and dif« 
 penfations that they have met with, Could never 
 prevail with them, once to make them that far 
 feri'.us, as to ask that Queftion, what they fhou'd 
 do to be faved ? to whom much preaching [$ 
 but a beating in the Air, to whom fuch preach- 
 ing is Fruitlcfs, and Chrift ufelcis; It's of thefe 
 that He fpe?,ks, Matth. 22, Who being invited 
 to the Wedding, They made light of it, and went 
 away, one to his farm, another to his merchandize ; 
 There is a Generation of fuch pcrfons amongft 
 us, to this day, who never thought ferioufly of 
 the Gofpel, nor of this Doctrine, which is the 
 Subfrance and Life of the Gofpel, and without 
 which we can enjoy no M;rcy,nor Benefit hoi-, 
 den forth and made offer of in the Words ; but 
 flfght Pardon of Sin; and think litt'e of Juftifi- 
 carion who will, the day is coming, when it 
 will be much thought of, and when many of 
 you, ifGod prevent not, wculd give all the 
 World for an Offer of it, and would be glad to 
 be burnt with rhe World, or covered with, and 
 fmothered under a Hill, or Mountain, rather than 
 to come, and receive your fearful Doom, and 
 Sentence from the Judge, becaufe ye had this 
 fjvour in your Offer, and made not ufeofit. A 
 ai. Sort are a Prophane Company, who, if their 
 carriage be looked on, it fays plainly, nay, it 
 openly Proclaims, rhat fuch Men believe nor, 
 that there is a Judgment convng > otherwayes 
 they durftnotfora World, live as they do: Is 
 this Chink ye, the way to be Juftified, to be 
 Laughing,Sporting,Gaming,Tipling,andTrifling 
 away your time ? in fpendmg it in Decking, and 
 DrelTngofyour bodies, in beftowing of more 
 time, in one day on the Body than ye do in eight, 
 or many more days on ti:e Soul? To be g'u ting 
 in the World, to be following the defires of 
 
 your 
 
£erm c». ] f als ^ 
 
 your "hearts, and the fight of your eyes? Pro- 
 phane as ye are, think upon it, for we declare 
 -ven unte you, that there is a way how the un- 
 godly may bejuftified, he'd forth, and offered 
 in'tinsGofpel} and if ye contemn it,Godfliall 
 vindicate His dace, and your trampling on it 
 (hall return on your own head. A id. Sort, are 
 fuch as hive never taken with their *in, nor 
 with the feud betwixt God and them ; We in- 
 vite the filth'* to come and wifh, Sinners to 
 come and get' Pardon, the Ungodly to come 
 and be J u (rified; but, alas, we cannot get Sin- 
 ners that walk under the due fenfe of their Sin 
 to preach to ; I dar (ay, that to many of you,the 
 Doarine of Juftiricatien is in fome refpefrneed- 
 left, I am fure tor the time ufekfs, for ye were 
 never convinced of your Sin, nor of your haw 
 Lard, but thought rhat ye were always fure < f 
 your Juftification ; ye never evened your fclves- 
 ( to-fpeak fo ) ro Hell, God always, ye think 
 loved you, and perifh who will, ye will not 
 perifli i Thefe, and fuch as thefe, have been 
 your thoughts of yur iclves, and of ycur Iratcj 
 And we have more niffkulty to get you prevail- 
 ed with.tothinkferioufly of making your Pca;er 
 with God, than we woud readily have in this, 
 to prevail with Pag*ns, or with Adulterers and 
 Murderers, whole Natural Confcience would 
 fooner be aw kened than yours. Juftification is 
 nor aferious matter to many of you, ye think 
 to flip through Gods Judgment ; ifyc be asked, 
 whether or no ye be abfo ved ? yes, rhat we are, 
 will ye fay, long fmce ; But, ah ! how c-meye 
 to be abfolved ? was ye ever chaf d, and did ye 
 ever flee for refuge to the Hope fer before you? 
 was ye ever pulfued by the Law to Chnft, and 
 were ye ever made cordi Jly t,» clofc with Him, 
 and to found youi Plea on HisRighteoufncis ? 
 It will be ftrange, if io many (hall flip in ro 
 Heaven and never know how ', we g-ant there 
 may be feme brought in,, who have not diftincl'y 
 dif:emed the manner h> w ; but that almoft 
 whole Congregations.and Count' ey-ftdes (houM 
 be made briends with God, and never k.ow, 
 or at lead never kindly take with the Feud, we 
 profefs, we fc« not through it, it's to us an un- 
 intelligible Riddle and a Paradox . Therefore 
 be intreated to Reckon over again ; Though 
 there be a Juftirication, through the Blood of 
 C'.iift, to begotten, yctolTine youi felvts, that 
 ye are not in the way to it, while yc continue 
 fenflefs of your Sin, and of youi hazard. A 4. 
 So t are rh fe,who think t J at they have nothing 
 to d«> with t ,is Dott ine, th y a<e Rich thej 
 aie Wife, they arc cfhoneft Rink, and have a 
 
 $3. Verf. jr. ^ 29 j 
 
 Name and Commendation in the Place wheie 
 they Live, and they have, may be fome School- 
 craft, and Learning, and therefore they are per- 
 fwaded, that they cannot mifs Juftification j and 
 where is there one perfon amonglt many, if it 
 be not fome poor Body, even it may be poor in 
 the World, that ever thinks that the Severity of 
 the Law, or the Fhreatnings thereof concern 
 them ? But are there any moe ways to Heaven, 
 but one ? Or is there onefor the Rich, and ano- 
 ther fcr the poor ? D? not all come in at this 
 Door ? is not this the way, even to take with 
 your Sin, and to flee toChrift for Life ? And 
 yet are there not fome amongft you, that cannot 
 endure to think of Hell, to dread it, ( or as we 
 ufe to fneak ) so even your fclves to it ? becaulc 
 ye are thought fomcthing of, able to do your 
 turn, and have fome paits, and abilities ; but 
 there are many more Rich more Wife, and Lear- 
 ned folk than you are, in Hell, that were never 
 abfolved before God, nor never fliall; yet there 
 is a propenfneis in great Men, in Rich Men, and 
 in Men of Parts to flight this Do&rine; But 
 fuch have in fome refpc&more need to give all 
 diligence, to make your cilling and election fure, 
 than many others, and yet ye go not fo fir as 
 they do, who yet go not the juft length. A 
 5th. Sort, are fuch as never knew any inward 
 Work,or exercifeof the Spirit of God upon thejr 
 Confciences, but have lived with a fort of 
 wholenefs of heartall their days; If any be called 
 to t;ke notice of this DocVine, they are called 
 to take notice of it - 9 Ti:cre it a generation, (ayeth 
 SoUmtm, Prov. 30. 12. vohitk are pure in their own 
 eyes, emd^tt are not wajh> dfrom thetrfikklntft ; They 
 conclude they are abfolved, but never look in- 
 ward, to fee ,f there be ground to bear that con- 
 clufiou« 6ly. And laftjy, There are a fort that 
 are Formal, and Hypocritical, they were never 
 grcfl/ Pro/hane, but they were as little truly 
 and ferioufly Religious ye had need therefore* 
 to take heed whereon ye found your Peace, and 
 beware that ye ake not the Form of Godlinefs 
 for the P wer of it, efpecia'ly when the Form 
 is come to fo great a height ; And leing th s 
 way of fuftificai i n is h ^Idtnouttoyou through 
 Chrift, we exh it and befecch yr u all, and efpe- 
 cially thofe offurh forts as we have namer 1 , ro 
 look well ih't this Grace be not received in 
 vain : In a Word, thefe two forts W< u!d rske 
 ipecia! heed to rhis Dodtrine. I. Some rhat 
 n<ind not RJigion at all, 2. Others, who' 
 if they mnd it, mind it not in the way of 
 Grace, but as it were by t~e Wotk^ of rre 
 Law ; We declare to you, that Juftificati- 
 on 
 
<4» 
 
 >.m§\ 
 
 394 ifaiah J3, Verf. if] Setm 
 
 on is by Faith In Jcfus Chrift, and by refting never win to Heaven, for There is m other nam', 
 on His Righteoulhefs; as many as take that given, whereby a Sinner can be Javed, hut the namt 
 way, they maybe allured to come fpeed ; and of Jefu's only, He is the way, the truth, and the Ufa 
 they that misken, and do flight that way, {hall and no wan covet h to thi Father but by him, 
 
 S E 
 
 T 
 
 R M O N LIV. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU XI. 
 
 Verf. 1 1.— — By his kmwledge Jhall my righteous firvant jusJifii many. 
 "^Hcre is ( as I faid lately ) nothing of 
 
 greater Concernment^to a Sinner to 
 
 know, than thefe two. I. What it is 
 
 thatfatisfiesjuftice, and makes aSin- 
 
 ner acceptable before God? a. To 
 know how that may be attained, or wh»t way it 
 is to be applyed? And this vtrji. fhortly, but 
 very clearly anfwers both. 1. That which fa- 
 tisfics Juftice, /'/ the travel of Chrifts Soul, or His 
 Sufferings. 2. The way how this is Applyed, 
 Derived, or Communicat, is fet down in the 
 latter part of the verje, By his knowledge jhsll my 
 righteous fervant juftifie many, for he Jhall bear their 
 iniquities: This is the effe& of ChniVs Suffer* 
 ings ; that many by them (hall be abfolvedfrom 
 the Guilt of Sin, and from the Curie : And this 
 is the way, how thefe many come to be thus 
 abfolved ; it is by believing on Him , for 
 thus His Satisfaction is accounted theirs, as if 
 they themfelves had fatisfied. Wepropofed the 
 laft day, this Doctrine to be fpoken to from the 
 Words; That there is a way through Faith in 
 Chrifr, and refting on His Sufferings, by which 
 a Sinner, obnoxious to GodsCurfe, may attaia 
 to be Juftified , and declared free before the 
 Throne of God; This Dottrine implyes thefe 
 Tm things in general. 1. That there is fuch a 
 thing poflibty attainable by a Guilty Sinner, as 
 Juftification. 2. That Juftification is to be at- 
 tained allenarlly by Fairh in Jefus Chrift, reft- 
 ing on His Righteoufnefs. By his knowledge fall 
 be juftifie many \ As there is aneceflity to be ab- 
 folved, fo there is a necuTity to take this way 
 for abfolution; becaufe this, and this only is 
 holden out to be the way, how Juftification is at- 
 tained; It's by Chrifts knowledge, which in fhort 
 is by Faith in Him. 
 
 We difcourfed fomewhat of the politive part 
 of this Truth the other day; Which is of great 
 Concernment ; the underftanding thereof, be* 
 ing the very hinge of the Gofpe',and that where- 
 in, in. a fpecial manner the Gofpel, and Cove* 
 nant of G< ace differs from the Law, and Cove- 
 nant of Works, and pointing out a way for com* 
 ing by Rghreoufnefs, and Life through Chrifr; 
 in of pofition to theLaw.as aCovenant of Works, 
 that holds our a way to R ghteoufaefs and Life, 
 through our own performances. 
 
 We touched alfo at fome Ufes of the D clr'ne^ 
 for direfting of you to the believing ufe-mak. 
 ing of Chrift, for coming at peace with God; 
 it would follow now, that we fhculd fpeak a 
 little to th*:UJeo£ Refutation,that flows native- 
 ly frojn this Doftrine; For if this be the wayj- 
 and the only way of the Juftification ofaSinner 
 
 £l°!£ G o°V° VK h y> or trough Faith id 
 Chrifts R.ghteoufnefs: Then ail thefe way Ji 
 that lead not fmners ro refting on Ch rift's Right- 4 
 eoufnefs alone, for Juftification and Peace, mull 
 be inconfiftent with the Gofpel, and fo 10 be re* 1 
 jetted, and abhorrtd, whether V ey be in Do- 
 ttrine, or in Praaice ; and we choofe the rather 
 to fpeak a word ro this, oecaufe it will clear the 
 Do&une of Juftification by Faith the more, 
 wh.n we come to fee and conflder thefe cor- 
 rupr.ons, and errors that are foifted in by He- 
 terodox Men, in this great Truth of God,t the 
 perverting and corrupting thereof; and it will 
 tl.e more provoke us to thankfulnefs to God, 
 who harh gracioufly delivered us from thefe' 
 fnaies, errors and corruptions ; an error and miff 
 take here, about the Subftance of this Truth J 
 being fuch, as the ugh we held all other Tiuths 
 incorrupred, will ruine us. 
 
 There are, we fuppofe, Four forts of Errors 
 efpecially, that contradict this grand Truth, 
 anent Juftification by Faith in Chrifts Righte- 
 oufnefs, to which we ihalJ fpeak a HttJe. The 
 ». is, That old rooted Error of PapiJIs, who, in 
 this Point, enervat, and overturn the whole way 
 of the Gofpel ; and becaufethis is it that a great 
 part of the Chriftian World hath been deluded 
 with, thoughitbeinthofe days, little thought 
 of by many,and becaufe it is not one fingle 
 Error, but as it were a Chain of very M^men- 
 tuous, and Fundamental Errors; We fhall in- 
 lift a little, in laying it out before you, and ye 
 would not fo much lookon it, as a controverfal, 1 
 or meerly fpeculative, as a grofly praftical Er- 
 ror, and fuch :«s is naturally rooted in all Men; 
 ye would alfo look upon it, with holy fear, 
 and Jealoufie over yourfelves, left inadvertant- 
 ly ye Aide inrcit; and withal], ye would look 
 on ir, and make ufe cf ir, as a Motive, to pro- 
 voke you to Jove the Truth the more, and to 
 be, as I faid, the mor* thankful to Cod, who 
 
 hath 
 
Serm. J4- m . . . . ***** **• 
 
 hath frcd you from that dark, heavy and com- 
 fortless way of Juftificatien by Works , which 
 is now impoflible, ^ -'..*■.••. 
 
 It may be tbat this Error of Papijts will not 
 bs thought much of by fome, when they hear 
 that they fpeak uf Juftification by Chrift, and by 
 His merits, ar.d by Faith, as v/eil as we Protejt* 
 ants do; But it*s the more dangerous, that thsy 
 do €o; And therefore, ere I ihew their way of 
 Juftification , and the fnconfifkncy of it with 
 the Gofpel, I would have you to advert to thefe 
 Three things. I. That in this matter of Juftiii- 
 cation, though Papiflt acknowledge the name, 
 yet they do not acknowledge the thing itfelf j 
 and fo upon the matter, the Controverfie is not 
 fo much, -.vhat Juftificacion is, as whether there 
 befucha ihing as Justification at all, taking it to 
 be a thing diflinS from Salification, and Re- 
 generation, which they in tffetl deny i For if ' 
 the Form ennftitute Juftifkation, and if to them, 
 the form of JufHfication, bs the infilling of ha- 
 bitual Grace in the Soul, then it's nothing dif- 
 ferent from Regeneration and Sanctification, 
 and therefore when they fpeak of /uftificacion, 
 they fpeak of it in this fenfe ', For a jufcified 
 Perfon to them, is a Man renewed , and made 
 Holy, even as to califie, or to heat water, is to 
 make that hot which before was cold ; fo Jufti- 
 fication to them, is to make a finful Perfon jufc, 
 becaufe of inherent Righteoufnefs in himfelf. i. 
 When they fpeak of /unification, they make a 
 two fold /uftification. The i. whereof is, that 
 which they call the /uftifkation of a wicked 
 perfon, or of an un-renewed man, when Grace 
 is at firft infufeJ into him, which they grant a 
 man cannot of himfelf condignly merit: The id % 
 is of a mans growing, or increasing in Grace, 
 whm he attains to more Grace, and to more 
 GI®ry;Grace ScGlory being of the fame Nature, 
 (wherein they and we do not d rTerJAnd to this 
 Second Juftification, they make neceffary a Mans 
 proper merit of works; for they fay, t hit the 
 Si fc -ufcilication will no: do a mans turn, who 
 is come to age,though to a Clildic be fufiicienr; 
 becaufe their attaining of Glory, who tie at 
 Age, is t\\i proper hire of their Woris, which 
 fuppofes Hoiinsfs ; and therefore, when tiiey 
 fry, that Ch.ifts m-rit procures /unification, 
 their meaning is, tint it procures the Firft /uni- 
 fication, but not the Seroni; That is in civ ctto 
 fay, tliar it buyes habitual Gr.-ce, asaSrock to 
 a Man, wherewith he may Trade, but when 
 tf^ycome to fpsak of Ht.uV< .-: and Glory, which 
 is obtained ( as they fay ) hy th~ Secon (Jufti* 
 ficaci;;n, that is ccme at by the ^-nsown, d« 
 irg with that Stock of habitual Grace ; ^od lb 
 the Mans Trading , or Traffiquing with this 
 
 Verf. if. # %9$ 
 
 Stock comes in, as that whicb procures, wins, 
 and merits the Prize, j. Though they ufethe 
 fame names that we ufe, as of Faith, and Psrdon, 
 or Remiffttn of Sin , yet there is very great dif- 
 ference betwixt them and us, as to the thing; 
 for they count nothing to be Faith, but Hifto- 
 ricaj Faith ; which the Devils have; and for Re- 
 rrnuion of Sin, they divide and diftinguifh be- 
 twixt the removing, or remifllon of the blot of 
 Sin; and the iemov:ng, and remiffion of the pu- 
 riimment cf Sin; and tht.y fay, that in the Firfi 
 Justification, the blot of Sin is expelled, by the 
 Infilling of habitual Grace, even as darknefs is 
 expelled by the coming in of light; but as to 
 the pu.uiflim-.nt of Sin, they leave a Man tofa- 
 tisfic in pa;t for himfelf , after his JufHficati- 
 on. 
 
 Now, ( as wc faid ) becaufe there is not one 
 Error o? tv/o here,but a Ccncatination,or Chain 
 of many Errors; Therefore, for further clear» 
 ing of tae Truth, and difcovering of thef^Er- 
 ron ; ye would con'ider, that when the quefti- 
 on is propofed , this is the great (rate of it ; 
 what that is on which a Sinner may ground his 
 Peace before the Tribunal of Godsjuftice, as a 
 folid defence, to anfwer all the Challenges of 
 the Law . and whereupon he may expect to be 
 abfolved, and admitted to Heaven? They fay, 
 that it's inherent holinefs , wherewith a Mans 
 Soul is fanefcified , renewed and made conform 
 to the Image of God , which ( fay they ) is of 
 that nature, that it cannot but make the Perfon 
 acceptable to God; fo that in coming before 
 Gods Tribunal of JufHce, he hath in himfelf 
 wherewith to anfwer all his Challenges, or all 
 the Challenges that the Law can bring againft 
 his inward, and habitual Grace, and Sanctiii:a- 
 tion ; It is true, they grant, that God works this 
 Grace in them, and that Men are not naturally 
 born with it, and that Chrift's merit procures 
 the beftowing of this Grace; but yet lb y ,, 
 though a Man do rot merit tins fir' 
 yet he mult difpofe himfelf for ir. by eh -- 
 ercife of his Frte Will, Faith, A T rhs-de< , 
 arid the Jike ; And fo he makes himfelf c i - 
 gruouliy meet for, and capable ofSanetific ti- 
 on , and habitual Grace , wither which G d 
 decs rot be flow it : And, if ive look 1 1 
 Intlruwt .tM Canfe, r hey rake in theSacaraenti 
 of Baptifm , Pennine?; and extream I 
 as means whereby God) worketh that C nee, 
 ( and thai*, as they fay, by t! 
 wrought ) if hi b: a Mj:i come to A t 
 
 if" there be not opportunity of gttcinj I 
 cramcrt, l«e hat!, it in 1 is Vow. whi 
 in phce of the Sacr.inu.nt,' Ly which mci 
 
 Q q chiya 
 
§0 s #"** **• 
 
 they have thefe 7** effects. The Firji is apo« 
 fitive bringing in of Grace into the Soul ; The 
 Stand, is privative, whereby the Blot or Spot 
 of Sin is expelled, as Heat expells<cold or 
 Lent expells Darknefs ; and this they call re- 
 miflion of Sin, when Grace (huts, and drives it 
 out, fo that the Soul is not polluted with it : 
 And becaufe all this takes in but the guilt of 
 Sin , which they fay is removed in the Firfi J u- 
 Aification ; They have a Second Juftification, 
 whereby they fay that the punifhment of Sin 
 is removed, and whereby they merit Glory 5 
 and here come in their Dotations, Fapngsy PtU 
 grimegts, Pengnnations, &(,. Whereby they make 
 amends to God; and becaufe they cannot win 
 to make a full amends here , they have their 
 Purgatory, and SouLmafis ; And fo they have 
 not only God to fatisfie, for the wrongs which, 
 they have done to Him , but Heaven to pro. 
 cure by ther own merits : for they lay down 
 this as a ground, that Glory in it s full being 
 is the proper reward of Merir, which, fay they, 
 is not founded on GodsPromife, for that were 
 to merit Congruoujly only, and not Condign ally : 
 nor is it founded on ChrilYs merit , for that 
 were to reward His merit, which to them is 
 abfurd, though they grant an intrinfick worth 
 to be in both : But it's merit in ftrict Juftice, 
 on, and by, which, they expect Heaven, and 
 Glory: and having Heaven ( as we fay ) to 
 procure by their own merit, becaufe they can* 
 not thus Merit it , ' efpecially if Mans Nature 
 bs looked on as corrupted; they invent two 
 things, or forge two devices for that. I. To 
 deny Concupifcence to be Sin; And 2. xo 
 difbnguilVi betwixt Mortal and venial Sins ; 
 and Venial Sins they make to be confident with 
 Merit , in which they take in a world of things 
 as not deadly ; And if a Man have not Merit 
 enough of his own , they have a Treafure of 
 Merits of many Saints , who have fatisfied for 
 more than their own Guilt amounted to,&fiave 
 merited mote than Heaven to themfelves ; And 
 the Pope being by them fuppofed to have a 
 right, and power to difpenfe thefe Merits, he 
 gives to them that want, a right to fuch and 
 fuch a Saints Merits : And when all is done , 
 theyconfefs that this way of Juftification is 
 not certain , that it cannot give Peace , that 
 it may be loft , and that being loft , it can- 
 not be recovered , but by a new Grace got- 
 ten by the Sacrament of Pennance ; the very 
 rehearfing of which things may let you fee, 
 hew unlike their Juftification is to the Gofpe], 
 ' and to the way of Juftification that it layes 
 down ; and what ground of thankfulnefs we 
 have to God , who hath not only contrived > 
 
 Vtrf. it. Serm, e 4 ? 
 
 but revealed unto you , a more folid and com- 
 fortable way of Juftification : I* Though their 
 way hath much Pains » and Labour and Toil 
 in it , yet ye fee what it amounts to, and how 
 much Uncertainty, Anxiety , and Horror do 
 accompany it ; neither do they ever attain to 
 Juftification before God by it. And this is the 
 id. thing we would fpeak a word to , even to 
 Ihew that this way of Juftification is inconfift- 
 ent with the Gofpel , and that wherein a Soul 
 can neither have folid Peace nor Comfort , 
 and we fhall fpeak a little to this , 1. In ge- 
 neral , and then 2. more particularly. 1. In 
 general , their way of Juftification is the re- 
 eftjiblifhin^ of the Covenant of Works', for ic 
 fuppofeth , that God hath conditioned Life 
 to none, but on condition of their Works, 
 which in their value are Meritorious ; It is 
 true , they Firft allow to Chrift's Merit this 
 much , that He hath thereby procured this 
 Merit to their Works. And 2. that He hath 
 procured to them habitual Grace , to work 
 thefe works ; though ( as we faid before, ) 
 they muft difpofe themfelves for that Grace , 
 but that doth not alter the nature of a Cove- 
 nant of Works , feeing the terms arc ftill the 
 fame . For confide r Adam before the fall, he 
 was to expect Life , according to the terms of 
 the Covenant , Do this And Uve j and here the 
 Terms of the Covenant are the fame, though 
 their ufe be different j and if the Scriptures 
 do oppofe thefe two , that if it be of grace, it 
 is no more of works-, and conrrarily,then lure this 
 way ofJuftification,thatpurs aMan to the fame 
 Terms of the Covenant that Adam had to ex- 
 pect Life by , muft necdTirily be confident 
 with the Gofpel ; This will be the more clear, 
 if we confider, how they themfelves iliuftrat 
 their Meriting by the works of the Saints, 
 by Adam his meriting of Life while he ftond ; 
 the which Meriting flows from an intrinfick 
 worth in the Works themfelves , without re« 
 fpeft to thrift's Merits; And if the Cove- 
 nant of Works hath thefe fame Terms , then 
 their Juftification, no doubt, muft be a 
 Re-eflabliftung of that Covenant. a. The 
 Scripture fpeaks of our obtaining Juftification 
 and Righteoufnefs alwayes in thisfenfe, to wir, 
 by Gods imputing the Rigateoufnefs of Chriir, 
 to us , not only for coming at the firft Grace, 
 but for attaining Heaven and Glory; It's that 
 which Paul leans to , when he comes before 
 God, PbiL ?. That I may be found in him, not 
 having mine own righteoufnefs, which is by the Lav, 
 but: the rigbteoufnls which is through the faith of 
 Chrifl ; He layes by the one, and betakes him- 
 felf co the other , as his only defence, and that 
 
 whereon 
 
Serm. <4< 
 
 whereon he doth ground his Pea before God i 
 Now this being the Scripture way of Juftifica- 
 tion i and their way being quite contrare ro it; 
 (forif they were asked, how thinkye to anfwer 
 before God? they behoved to fay,by the merits 
 of our good Works ) It muft needs be inconfift- 
 cnt with the Grace of the Gofpd , and that 
 which Pju 1 - would by no means hazard his peace 
 opon : We will find nothing more frequently 
 mentioned in Scripture, for the making of our 
 peace with God, than Covenanting with God, 
 the imputation of Chrift's Righteoufnefs , and 
 Juftification by Faith ; But all thefe Three are 
 here in their way of Juftification, fhut out and 
 excluded j For they have no fuch thing as 
 Covenanting, they fcorn the imputation of 
 Chrift's Righteoufnefs , as but a putative and 
 imaginary thing and they cannot endure Ju- 
 ftification by Faith. 
 
 But idly, and more particularly, Behold and 
 and confider, how univerfally it coirupts, and 
 even deftroyes the Doctrine oftheGofpel : 1. 
 It corrupts and deftroyes the nature of Grace ; 
 for it hangeth it on Wans free will , he muft; 
 difpofe himfelf for it, and gives him liberty to 
 choofe, or rejeft it asheplealethi and it makes 
 that flow from man himfeJf that farisfies Gods 
 Juftice , as if Remifllon of Sins were not free; 
 And in the Second, Juftification and admiflion 
 to Heaven and Glory ; It utterly excludes 
 Grace, and takes in Merit, and makes Heaven 
 the proper reward of Mans own Merit idly. 
 It eneivats the Merit of Chrift, and His Pur" 
 chafe, though it feem in words to acknowledge 
 it , Becaufe it neither admits of the Merit of 
 Chrift, as rhe Satisfaction to Juftice , by which 
 the puniflnnent is taken away; nor to be that 
 by which Life is procured; but it takes in 
 Works, Satisfaction by Pennance, Whippings, 
 Pilgrimage , &c And all that it leaveth to 
 Charts- Death is the procuring of a new Cove- 
 nant of Werks, and the buying of a Stock of 
 habitual Grace to Man to fend for hirnfelf, but 
 it layes not the removing of the punifhment, 
 on thrift as our Cautioner, in our name fatis- 
 fying the Juftice of God for our Sins, but it 
 leaves it on our felvcs, and on our keeping the 
 Covenant of Works ; as that whereto the Prr- 
 mife is made. ^ity k It overturns the nature of 
 GocU Covenant, for either it makes no Cove- 
 nant at all, or it transforms the Covenant of 
 Grace into aCovcnantof Works; putting i*s ro 
 expett Life through the Merits of Works j 
 they will have no Promife of Life to be . 
 on conditio .1 of Chrifts Merit, laid hold upoQ 
 by Faith, but oa condition of our own woik % 
 
 Jfaish ?$. Ftrf. li) 
 
 alone ; for though they pretend that it may "to 
 called Chrift s Merit, becaufe, fay they, He hath 
 procured Grace to work thefe Works ; yet in 
 effect their way of Juftification, is to reftore us 
 to that Covenant which Adam had, and to abili- 
 ty to keep the fame Terms, though, as we faid, 
 the rife be different. 4/7. It's inconfiftent with 
 our natural State, for it fuppones Man befort 
 Converfion to have a free will to good, and abi- 
 lity to difpofe himfelf to receive Grace , and 
 gives him a hand in turning himfelf to God, as 
 if he were not dead in Sins and TrefpafTes ; and 
 fo the Soveraignity of God is bounded andl. mi- 
 ted to wait en a Man fo difpofed, and fo dip 
 pofing himfelf. $fy. It deftroys the nature of 
 Gods Law, as it were confident with His holy 
 Law, to have fuch and fuch Lufts abounding 
 within, and did not ex aft a reckoning for fuch 
 branches of it, as they call Venial Sins. 6ly. Ic 
 overturns the Scripture Doctrine concerning 
 Sin, for it makes many Sins to be in effeft nu> 
 Sins. 7. It corrupts and deftroyes the nature 
 cfall the Sactaments. and makes new Sacra- 
 ments , that God never appointed , and gives 
 them power to work that which God never gave 
 them; as if the very works wrought did confer 
 Grace. 8/y. It is inconfiftent with the Juftice 
 of God ; as if forfooth, fuch poor Trifles, and 
 Toyes as thefe which they invent were latis- 
 fattion enough to his Juftice; yea, asif'fome 
 men could more than latisfic Juftice, andc 
 not only merit Heaven to themfclves, but alio 
 help to merit Heaven ro others ; and as if 
 God were bound in proper Juftice to the Crea- 
 ture ; and that not only on the account of this 
 Promife, but alfo , if not mainly on the ac- 
 count cf Merit of Condigoity: All thefe 
 things are involved in this Pop'tjh wav ofjufti. 
 ficarion, and inconfiftent with the Tiu;h of 
 the Gofpcl ; And we have touch- d on them, to 
 let you fee, that it is not one Error that is here, 
 but a complication of Errors ; And tin! 
 there be 11 t an abhorrency of Pep try t becau 
 this grofs Error of Juftification, s buz 
 
 little 1 that men will k.. 
 
 fuit.it> ce from it in other things. 
 
 And therefore, from u h.;t hath been (aid take 
 a few ; if your 1 1 aren 
 
 tender, it migrr ; J then to gec 
 
 a Itt'e view offucfl I c the 
 
 neccflity of being more di 
 wayofjufl pticcisi 
 
 ixt Him and a S I I c:i \vc 
 
 many Enors folio. 
 Erroi i and uu*;» v< 
 
 Q 
 
and Jtjuto, are moving , fnd how this pm 
 Error, which hath fo many Errors with it, is 
 ftealing in, ya had much need to be well ac- 
 quainted with the Truth, and to be guarding 
 your felvesaftainft Error, efpecially whenlome 
 lay to little weigbt on it , that they call it a 
 ftriv.ng about words , which fayetk, that theie 
 is but little abhorrence of the thing ; I am 
 apt to think , that the mod part of .hem that 
 are called ChrifHans, could not well tell how 
 to oppofe Poprry , Arminiani[m , or Anttnomian- 
 ifrn, if they were tempted to imbrace them, 
 or any other Error or Herefy ; And when with- 
 all we confider how naturally we arc inclined 
 to fhuffle by the Covenant of Grace , and to 
 Cleave to the way of Works , or to turn the 
 Cov nant cf Grace into a Covenant of Woiks, 
 we would try well , what we incline to in 
 this Pomf, whether in our Judgment^ or in 
 our Practice, left we fall fiom that which is 
 right, in Praftice at Jeaft, if not in Opinion 
 alio : I intreat you to ftudy this , as a main 
 point of Chriftian Religion , even that ye may 
 know, and {?e char in your knowledge or the 
 way,how God accepts of and juftifies a Sinner. 
 idly. Know that this Error of Popery in parti. 
 cular, is not of fo little Concernment as many 
 think it to be ; It's a wonder that Men fcould 
 think, differences about matters of Religion to 
 be fo light, and fo litrle a matter , as if it 
 were but the change of outward Ceremonies, 
 or of words' Hence it comes to pafs , that 
 there is fo little Care and Zeal to prevent the 
 rife, and fpreading of Errors : We fhall only 
 commend to you Three things for guarding you 
 in reference to this Error, i- Sift your felves 
 often before the Tribunal of Gods Juftice, till 
 your Hearts be brought under fuitable Im« 
 preiTuns of Gods H-linefs, and Juftice, of the 
 feverity and ftriftnsfs cf his Law, and of the 
 neceflity of your anfwering to it in your ew n 
 Perfuns, o* in the Perfon of a Cautioner ; And 
 then confider, what will be your Defenee in 
 fuch a pofture. idly. Carry alwayes alongft 
 with you the impreflion of your Original Sim 
 and Natural Corruptioa, and of the finfulnefs 
 of your Practices ; This will make you loath. 
 fome, and abominable in yeur own eyes, and 
 Chrift precious, and fuch a Soul will not be in 
 fuch hazard of pucting his own merits in the 
 room of Chrift's. 3. Think upon that which 
 in Gods offer is prefented to you, as the way 
 of making your Peace ; Though ye would ftu- 
 dy Holiness, in order to that end, when ye arc 
 
 j. VtrJ. 11. ■ ^ Serm, c 4 ; 
 
 fo finfu] t and when Divine Juftice is fo fevere» 
 it looks not J.ke the way to Peace; But when 
 we confider Gods offer in this Gofpel, as it is 
 held forth, ABs 13. 38, 39. Be it known unto you 
 men and brethren, that through this man if preask* 
 td unto you forgivennefs of fins, and by him, all that 
 believe are justified from all things from which they 
 could not be jufttfad by the law of Mofes ; And 
 the Invitation that is given, lf*4. 55. to them 
 that have no money to come and buy freely, with* 
 out movet, and without price ; And fee God tab- 
 ling His call on another ground than your Ho- 
 linefs, and putting in your Offer Jefus Chrift, 
 and His Righteoufnefs ; It's a raifing and rou- 
 ting up of the Soul, to expect Abfolut'cn bo» 
 fore the Throne of God, on a more folid foun- 
 dation that will bear it's weight: We would 
 be waie of taking that way of Juftirlcation , and 
 of making our Peace with God, that feems to 
 be moft rational like to our corrupt nature ; 
 for as many fay, to be forty for Sin, to ftudy 
 to make an.ends , and to do what they dow, 
 feems to be the moft reafonable way, and a* 
 grees beft with our corrupt nature ; but that 
 is not it which will do your turn , bur; the 
 way which God hath holden out ; and that is, 
 by His Knowledge, by Faith in the Righte- 
 ous Servant, idly. See here, how much we are 
 obliged to God , for holding out to us the right 
 way to Life ; If ye look to many Nations 
 abroad , the way to Life is holden out to them 
 on this ground, even their own inherent Ho- 
 lineis , their own Good Works, their giving 
 of confiderabJe parts cf their Eftates, their Pen- 
 nances, &c. Which yet can never quiet the 
 Confcience , nor fatisfie Gods Juftice ; Yea 
 our own PredecelTours in this Nation were 
 drowned in the fame Errors ; and we were as 
 foolifhly, and fenflefly fuperftitious, as the 
 Inhabitants of any other Nations, before the 
 Light of the Gofpel brake up among us ; ac- 
 counting fuch and fuch Sins to be no Sins, 
 leaning to their Merits, to the Merits of Saints, 
 to Indulgences , to Soul-mafles, Whippings, 
 and a number of things of that kind, And now 
 that God hath mercifully fred us of thefe fool- 
 ries, how much are we obliged to him ? Hath 
 ever Seotland been thankful as it becometh lor 
 this mercy ? We do , by our unthankfulneis, 
 darken and obfeure the freedom of Grace, 
 that by this Gofpel is preached unto us, 
 And there needs no other evidence of it 
 but this, that many are to this day as ig- 
 norant of the way of Judication of Sinners, 
 
 and 
 
Serin. H~. n 2 J aiah M- ^ r / ".' 
 
 md as abftraafrom,aild [as great Grangers co the they leaned to their own Merits, and made no? 
 
 right way of making ufe ot Chrift s Rightcouf- uie of Chrift ; and many of *s ihaJl o c cond.m 
 
 nefs a* if it had never beenrevealed unto them j ned, becaufe though we profefTed an indignatiai 
 
 Errors, yet we made no more ufe of 
 
 \ 
 
 or if they know, and can fpeak any thing of it, 
 all the ufe that they make of it,is to turn the Grace 
 of God into wantonnefs ; And becaufe Holinefs 
 is not the ground of making their Peace with 
 God, to rake the more Liberty to Loufnefs : Thefe 
 are not Fruits of theGofpel, other Fruits mull 
 be brought forth i orelfeye will repent it, when 
 ye cannot mend it : Let it therefore affect you, 
 that God is lb ill requite for His gcodnefs, and 
 (tudy to be more thankful to Him, that we may 
 fpeak of thefe Truths, and difcover thefe Errors, 
 and that we are not judicially blinded as many 
 other People and Nations are. 4//. Pity them 
 that are lying under darknefs of their Deluflons 
 and Errors,and pray for them ; It'sa fore matter, 
 that the mod part ofthe Chriitian World mould 
 have the Name of Christians, and yet Ihould 
 maintain fuch Doctrine, and lay down, and hold 
 fuch a way, as kcepeth from benefit by Chrift 
 Jefus; yea, asdenyes on the matter, that He is 
 come; For this is indeed the Spirit ofAntichrift, 
 and ofthe Man of Sin, rbat takes Souls off from 
 Chrift; and yet how few make confcicnce to 
 pray for thefe poor people, and that God would 
 purfue the whore, and breakup, and skale that 
 Market fpoken of, Revel. «8. and would difcover 
 Hi* Truth» and make His Gofpel to be purely 
 preached to them, that are fitting in the Region 
 of Darknefs, and in rhelhadowof Dcath;ye would 
 pity bound up and imprifonTd - s ouls in this Er« 
 
 at thefe errors, yec we 
 
 Chnft than thefe. who by their Do'Srincexdudc j 
 
 Him ; If our predecefTors could fpeak, what could 
 they fay ? Would it not be this, it is juft that ye 
 perifh, for ye had Chrift, and His Righteoufnefs 
 clearly preached to you, which wchadnot, and 
 yet ye flighted Him j Therefore rake hold of,and 
 improve the opportunity, God hath clearly re- 
 vealed this Truth to the Land, and to this Place 
 walk in the Light while ye have ir, elle your 
 condemnation will be the greater, as it is, John 
 3.IQ- 6ly. ScingGodhathgivcnusrhisfinguIar 
 mercy, even the clear Revelation ofthe way of 
 Juftification by Chrifh Righteoufnefs, and Me- 
 rits; Let us not, through our evil converfarion 
 make the Truth of God to be evil fpoken of) 
 turn not the Grace of God into wantonnefs i It 
 was an evil that foon arofe in the Primitive 
 Church, and which the Apollle difputs againir 
 Rom. 2. 3, and 6. Becaufe He preachedjuftifica- 
 tion by Grace, and not by the Works of the Law, 
 force were ready toabufe that fweet Doctrine' 
 and to fay, Let us fin, that grace may abound, and Itt 
 us do evil that good may come of it, whofe damnation, 
 lays he, h juft ; And he follows out thefe Obje- 
 etions, and inlifts in anfwering of them; And, 
 O! but this is damnable, from ihc abounding of 
 Gcdsgrace,to take the more liberty to bin i and 
 yet what other language have the Lives of many, 
 this ? Becaufe Juftification and Happinefi 
 
 ror, and pray for their reclaiming, and that God are not builded on our Works.thcreforc v.Vmay 
 would keep this Landfr m it_; It's an old feated live as we lift, defpitefulJy and prcfumpriiouflv 
 
 and rooted Error, and the reft are but fooliies, 
 in comparifon of it ; This is the Devils great in- 
 gine and army, others arc but vapours, tofay fo, 
 which may tell us, thatfpeaktng, and hearing of 
 fuch a bufinefs is not altogether ufelefs : What 
 ifthe day fhould come, that all our Bibles, and 
 every Englifh Book that ferves to holdout Truth) 
 and to difcover Error fhould be taken from you, 
 and ordered to be burned, and that Bo. ks fluffed 
 with their Errors fhould come in th<-ir room ? 
 Many of you think little, nx nothing now ofthe 
 Light and Liberty ofthe Gofpel which ye enjoy, 
 but iflleaven be fo much worth, this Gofpel is 
 of much worth to you, and this Truth of ir in 
 particular. 5/y. Lc: notthis Gofpel be preached 
 for nought ; O .' receive not this Grace in 1 
 that is, this Grace offered to you in the Gofpel, 
 and the clearing of fuchTruthsto you. OIU hat 
 a challenge, and aggravation of our Guilt will 
 it be, when we come before the Throp? ? when 
 many other Nations will be condemned, becaufe 
 
 reflecting on the way of Juftification by Faith, 
 and on God who hath contrived it ; But if any 
 of you will abrjfe Gods Grace, and fin the more, 
 God fhall charge it on your own heads, this' 
 Gofpsl (hall never do you good, God will re- 
 quire it of you ; your fins arc multiplied, and 
 yourPi'agues (hall be multiplied above any that 
 have lived under black Popery ■ I dare lay, many 
 of you would probably have had a greater ic- 
 ftraint on you from Sin, and would have I ccn 
 more Charirable, and forward in many externa] 
 good Works, if ye hid been profeA Paptjls, than 
 now ye arc, being profeft PrUt/Ums t a judicial 
 ftroak on you, for the abulin^ of Grace i And is 
 this the lruit of the Gofpel ! No certainlv, 
 Grace was nevci -prcjchcii.tlu: Ml Q fl Ottld 
 cold and indifferent in t. e pi I 
 
 r.batthac through the laying bold on( hurts 
 Riehteoufnefs, rrn y might hi \ 
 and that through tbi ftuuy ofHoliai 
 
 ight 
 
joo - -«« 7 ^ ; ^ H. ^^. H. Scrm. 5 
 
 might be Glorified ; Therefore ftudy the exer- Grace *, and put thefe two together, which are 
 cife of Faith To, as<ye feclude not Holinefs; and the Compend of the GofpcJ, when fuitably 
 fludy Holinefs fo, as ye mar not the freedom of prattifed. 
 
 SERMON LV. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XI. 
 
 VerC 
 
 fr» ' By hit knowledge Jhall my righteous fervant jkslifie many, 
 
 THIS bleffcd Death and SouLtravcl 
 of our Lord Jefus, hath been good 
 newstomany: and it isthe ground 
 of all the hope of Life thatarifcth 
 from the Word to a Sinner ; It 
 ihould neve 
 
 &c. 
 
 :r be tafrelefs, nor dif« 
 relifliing to us, in mentioning, reading, or think- 
 ing of it, but it fhould in reafon make Sinners 
 glad, that ever there was fuch a fubjeft to be 
 ipoken of and to be confidered ; It behoved 
 certainly to be a great bufincfs, that brought the 
 Son of God to die ; the Salvation of Sinners is a 
 great iVork, though many of us think but very 
 little of it. 
 
 The Sum and Scope of Chrifts Sufferings and 
 Death, are briefly holden forth in thefe Words, 
 By bis knowledge [ball my right tout fervant jufHfiemany. 
 Where we have, I. The great Benefite that 
 comes by His Death » which is Jnfiificatioji, ov the 
 abfolvingof Sinners from the Guilt of Sin, and 
 from the Curfe of God, due to them for Sin, by 
 Chrift's interpofing Himlelfto become a Sin- 
 fuffering, there is a way laid down, how Sinners 
 may be relieved. *. The parties made partakers 
 of this benefit, and they are called many. 3, The 
 way how it is derived to thefe many, it is byhis 
 knowledge ; That is by* or through Faith in 
 Him. 
 
 We have fpoken fomewhat of the benefite it 
 felf, Juftfication ; which is the thing aimed at, for 
 the molt part in Preaching, and in all other Or- 
 dinances, that God may by the Rightcoufnefsof 
 His Son in the Gofpel, carry on the Jultificati- 
 on of Sinners, through their knowledgeofHim, 
 or by caufing them to reft upon His Righteouf- 
 nefs by Faith, in order to their Salvation i It's 
 fad, that in this point, which is of fo great con- 
 cernment, fo many fhould go fo far wrong, and 
 miftake lb grofly ; that it is no great matter in 
 fome refpeS, whether they be called Chriftians, 
 or not ; This being the advantage of a Chriflian, 
 that He hath a way to Juftification, and abfoluti- 
 on from Sin, and Wrath before God, revealed to 
 Him, which others have not; who, if he come 
 fhort of this, or fall in grofs Errors about it, he 
 bath little or no advantage beyond Heat new, who 
 
 may have more of the Fat of the Earth, and 
 the things of the WorId,than thefe who are with- 
 in the vifible Church have ; But in this, in a fpe- 
 cial manner, thtChnJlian exCels,and goes beyond 
 the Pagan, or Heathen ; That he hath a way lai, 
 down to him, how he may come to beicconcile 
 to God, and fred from Wrath, and from His 
 Curfe due for Sin ; which we have fhewed to be 
 by fleeing to Chrifr, and by Faith refting on Hi 
 Righteoulhefs, and Satisfaction ; ForChrift th 
 Cautioner having payed the Debt,by laying dow 
 a price fully fatisfa&ory to Divine Juftice ; an 
 this Satisfaaion being offered in the Gofpel, 
 upon the condition of receiving him ; a Sinner 
 giving his confent to Gods < ffer, andclofing 
 therewith, may confidently expect, according 
 to that offer to be Juftified, and no other 
 ways. 
 
 We fhew you one particular, great and grofs 
 Error, wherewith thefe who are under the dark- 
 nefsof Popery, are wofully carried away, which 
 we did the rather touch upon becaufe though it 
 be a Doctrinal Error in refp.ft of them, and difc 
 puted for by them ; Yet in refpedl of the praftice 
 of many Proteflan* Chriflians, ifs very rife and or- 
 dinary ; that is, to Miftake, Err, or go wrong 
 in the way of making of their peace with G'd : 
 And there are Three forts efpecially, who do ex* 
 ceedingly Miftake, Err and go wrong here 5 
 T>hefe of whom I mean, and am how fpeaJe'ng, 
 are not fuch as are maintaining, Difputing, or 
 Writing for fuch Errors, but fuch as count them- 
 fw-lves to be found Proteftant Chriftians, and' 
 haters of the grofs Popifh Error i That we fpake 
 fomewhat to the laft day : The 1. Sortarethefe 
 who, to this hour never laid down any folid 
 reckoning how to make their Peace with God, ; 
 or what way to come at abfolution before Him- 
 thefe Perfons do in practice deny, what ever may 
 be theirprofefiions, that there is any fuch thing 
 asaReckoningtobemadebetwixtGod and them- 
 or that there is a neceflity of Juftification, for 
 preventing of their eternal ruine and deducti- 
 on j They live from their birth, with a hope 
 of coming to Heaven, without looking how they 
 may pals this great ftep of Judication before- 
 
 God 
 
 
God they never faW nor laid to heart their need 
 of it'- arc there not many hearing me to day,that 
 are of this number ? who will needs keep up 
 confidently their fancied hope of Heaven, and 
 xet n-ver knew what it was to anfwer a challenge 
 for Sin or a threatning of the Curfe, for the 
 breach of GodsLaw from Chrifts Righteoufnefs, 
 nor did they ever fift, and arraign themfelves 
 before 6ods Tribunal, as guilty, nor did they 
 ever think ferioufly of their charge, noroftheir 
 Summons, nor of the way of making their Peace 
 Lrith God, by taking hold of Chrifts Righteouf- 
 nefs : A id. Sort are the generality of Legal 
 Profeflbursi I do not fay, that they are Legal in 
 their Practice ; that is, that they make it their 
 bufinefs to keep the Law, for they are as little 
 concerned, or careful in that as any ; but they 
 are Legal in this refpeft, that when it comes to 
 the making of their Peace with God, they know 
 nothing but the Law to deal with, as that man 
 fpoken of, Mttth. 2$. That got the one Talent, 
 and was utterly carelefs to improve it ; yet when 
 it comes to a Reckoning, he ftands and flicks to 
 the rigor of the Law, Matter, faith he, Lo, here 
 thuhafl that which is thm ; juftfo, fuch will be 
 ready to fay, we have no more Grace than God 
 hvh given us, we have a good heart to God, we 
 arc: doing what we dow or can ; Here come in 
 (Prophanc Men, meer Civil Men, and Hypo* 
 crites, and more efpecially the meer Civil Men, 
 who do much in the duties of the Second Table 
 of the Law, and they will profefs that they do 
 mindjudgmentand a Reckoning, but as ifchey 
 had been bred and brought up in a Popijb School, 
 they foift in a Legal Righteoufnefs inftead of 
 Chrifts, as the ground of their Juftification be- 
 fore the Tribunal of God '- ye may take thefe 
 inftances of this fort of Perfons, which are very 
 common, and who in their Practice almoft in 
 every thing agree with the Pyifk Do&rine. The 
 1. lnfcance is offuch Perfonsthat know nothing 
 of the imputation of Chrifts Righteoufnefs, yet if 
 we fpeak of it, they will tall out in fuch expref- 
 fionsasthefe, we can^ do nothing of our felves, 
 there is no goodnefsin us, It's Gods gr.*cethat 
 snuft do our turn ; yet in the mean time it is not 
 Chrifts Righteoufnefs, they lay down to them- 
 felves as the ground of their Juftification, but 
 the good which they have done, as theyfuppefe 
 in Chrifts ftrength ; and the Grace whichis given 
 them to work, and do that good by ; which is 
 the fame thing with the Popilh way of Juftificati- 
 on ; as if Chrift had procured an ability to us 
 to keep the Law our felves, in order io our be- 
 ing Juftifi-'d thereby ; hence they will Believe, 
 Poy, Hear the Woid, Piaife,and go about other 
 
 l[ai*h jj. Vtrftlx. 
 
 £3. rirjt ir. 301 
 
 Duties, and will profefs that they acknowledge 
 Chrift in thefe ; and that they have the Grace 
 from him to perform them ; He furnifhes the 
 Stock, and they Trade with it, and fo for the 
 attaining of Life, they are obliged to their own 
 Trading; which is in Words to pretend Grace, 
 but really to put our own Works and Righ- 
 teoufnefs in the Room of Chrifts Righteoufnefs, 
 as the ground, or meritorious caufe of Juftifi- 
 cation ; for the Grace given to us, inabling us 
 to work, is not Chrifts Righteoufnefs, but our 
 own, becaufe given to us, and working in us; 
 and fo it is always our felves, and our own 
 Righteoufnefs, not Chrift, and His Righteouf- 
 nefs that we reft upon. A 2d. Inftance offome 
 Folk, that {peak of Chrift, and of attaining 
 Life through Him, yet it is not in refpeft of 
 His Merit, but in refpeft of His Strength ; for 
 fuch will fay, we hope through Chrifts Strength 
 to come to Heaven ; their meaning wherein is, 
 that He will halpthem fo to repent and believe, 
 fo to be Holy, and refill Temptations, as they 
 fliall come to Heaven thereby, as the defeiving 
 caufe of their coming thither ; It's true, there 
 isXomething right here, when in its own place, 
 if whole Chrift were reficd upon, Juftification 
 being put in the firft place, and His Merit 
 refted upon for that, it were good that His 
 ftrength were leaned to, and made ufe of, for 
 performing the Duties of Santtification i but 
 when His Strength is refted upon, as the alone 
 thing, and when we look not to Chrifts Pur- 
 chafe and Merit, as the ground of our accepta- 
 tion, but to Chrift as enabling us to do Duties, 
 to the end that we may give God a reccmp:nce 
 thereby ; at the beft it is but He and we toge- 
 ther, this certainly is wrong > for nothing is 
 propofed as a Satisfaction to Gods Juftice here, 
 but what is immediately our own. A ^d. Sort 
 are fomewhat wifer, who, it may be, think that 
 any thing that is in themfelves, is not worth 
 the naming ; but partly through Chrifts Merit, 
 and partly through what they have, and can do 
 themfelves ; or by thefe joyned together, they 
 hope to befaved. This was the Doctrinal Error 
 of the Gahtiansy who attributed Juftification to 
 Chrift, and to the Works of the Law joyntly: 
 This way afcribes to Chrifts Righteoufnefs this 
 muchjthat it makes our own Righteoufnefs to be 
 accepted, as the ground of our Juftification be- 
 fore God, which in fome refpeft is worlc than the 
 Covenant of Woiks ; for the Covenant of 
 Woiks fought a perfect Righteoufnefs, but 
 tip's way offers 211 imprrfe£fc Righteoufnefs, 
 and to amend, and to eke out our imperftft 
 R'ghteoufiF.fs, 1: takes in the Righteoufnefs 
 
 of 
 
3ol tfsiab n- V*£ ". , 
 
 of Chrift; but there Js no fiich Covenant, or way comes in, 
 of Juftification in Scripture : for God made but 
 two Covcnmts for Men to attain Life by, one 
 of Works, which is now impolible; The other 
 of Grace, by which only it is potTible to attain 
 Juftification and Life : This makes a third Co- 
 
 Sernv yj. 
 is the condition, but that which I 
 mean is, that He died, that their Juftification 
 might actually, and certainly follow as a fruit 
 of His Furchafe, in a word, His Death and 
 Sufferings were,not to make [unification poftlble 
 to all, but that fo maRy as He bargained for 
 
 
 vennnr, or Contrivance by a mixture partly of might be abfolutely Juft-fied j cr that many ^hut 
 
 is, all the E!e& might be actually Juftified, be- 
 caufe Hcjhali bear their iniquities, therefore by Hij 
 knowledge they (hall bejuftified. 
 
 yjcobftrveit for thefe Ends, or Ufes t i. Td 
 g've an anfwer to that Qucftion, What 
 native refult of Chrifts Death to His Peep] 
 wefay, Ic is their abfolute and atiuaijufy 
 on: Thefe that would extend the Gracec 
 and the Death of Chrift fo broad end wridc, 2sto 
 leave out none, fay in eff.G, that tU dei. ; gn 
 thereof was to lay down fuch a way, as nukes it 
 pcflible to all to bejuftified, andytMuch away 
 as makes it pcflible that rone at ail frail b* juftto 
 fied ; for it hangs Juftification on the free will 
 of the Creature,and fo in driving to make Grace 
 broader than God allows, they ccmc to make it 
 none at all, by leaving it on Alans freewill, 
 whether it fhali be effectual or not ; But bfeffed 
 be God. the Covenant of God was not on thefe 
 terms ; for it is faid here, That by his knowledge 
 he JhaH juflifit many. 2. Jt gives us thefe two 
 practical Ujes. I. It fhews, what ihould beour 
 intendment, in our Uf.- making of Chrifts Death, 
 and that is, that we may bejuftified and Ab« 
 folved by it, even to nukeufe of it, for attain* 
 ing to Parc'on of Sin, and Peace with Gcd ; If 
 this be oveilcoktd andnegletlfd,all orher Fruits 
 of it are ufelefs, it will avail but little to be a 
 Member cf the vitible Church, to be Baptized, 
 and to be admitted to the Lords Supper, to ha/e 
 Literal knowledge rfthe principl-s of Religion, 
 to have a Gift of Preaching, cr of Prayer, fyc. 
 thefe will nor Jvi\i>l? ; The peculiar 'hing > 
 aimed arin Chrifts Death, and that which His 
 Pe: pie aim at, an.1 have ro rejoyce in, isjujiifr 
 cat oil thrtugh his knowledge, which is always to be 
 undernVod without prejudice to the ftudy of 
 Holinefs. 
 
 2. It «ives vs this Ufe, whoever would have 
 A f Nation before God, would know that this 
 was the very thing in gaged for to Chrift, and 
 His inrt-ndment in Hi> Oc;th ; That Sinners 
 
 fome Works in us, and paitly ofibmc Grace in 
 Chrifr,to make up whac is inhking in our Works; 
 and yec this way is very pl«2fing to our Nature, 
 and that to which we are much inclined for 
 Juftification ; for Men are naturally difpofed 
 to think that they give Chrift enoug!i,whtn they 
 allow His Righteoufnefs, to make up what is 
 defective in their own; Ic's true indeed, that 
 Chrifts Merits do wafh our Duties, bur our put 
 ties come never up to be the ground of our 
 Juftification in whole, or in part ; which isevi- 
 dentfrom this, that ere Chrift make our Du*ies, 
 or Performances acceptable He makes our Fer- 
 fons firft to be accepred ; and that once being, 
 then any thing performed by us. in^ ChrilVs 
 (rrengch according to the will cf God, is accep- 
 table ajfo. 
 
 Cut now we proceed further in the Wsrds 
 of the Text ; and before we come to the 
 caufes of our Juftification, we {hall briefly Ob- 
 Jcrvs two orthiee things that ly obvioufly in our 
 way ; The 1. whereof is this, That the Abfol* 
 ving of a Sinner, through the imputation of 
 Chrifts Righteoufnefs, is the proper and native 
 refulc of Chrifts Purchafe and the great intend- 
 ment of it, His Sufferings and Soul-travel were 
 undergone, to procure Juftification to many; So 
 thit if we would know what is the Fruit of Jirifts 
 Soul- travel ? here it is, By his knowledge jhaU many 
 bejuftified; Therefore, Rom. 5.9, It's attributed 
 to his Blood, Being justified by his blood, we- f) a/2 be 
 faved fr:m wrath , and a Cor. $.ult. He was made 
 Jin for us, -who knew no fin t that we might be wade the 
 rightciujuefs of God through him j That which I 
 mean is this, Thit Chrifts intendment in His 
 dying was to redeem, and really and a&ual!y to 
 procure Abfo'ution, and Juftification before the 
 Throne of God to fo many as fhould believe on 
 Him s Or we may rake she DocVine thefe two 
 ways, which yet come both tc the fam-r account. 
 I« Thuv, that the thing which Gl rift intended 
 in Hi* Death, was not a mcer poflibility, that 
 Sinners might bejuftified, n -r to lay down a 
 conditional way ©f their Juftification, whereby 
 they might come, r\- not come to it, and fo to 
 mike it pofllble.but that which He intended was, 
 tliat their Juftificanon might follow abfolutly , 
 I do not mean inftantly, and without the inter 
 v&camg ot a condition j For here His knowledge 
 
 
 believing on Him, n light be Ablolitely and 
 A&uilJy Juftified by Him; it was not limply 
 to pro-oi'c Juftification in tiem, bu^ that 
 abfrlutely they might be Abfolved from the 
 Cm/- of G< d due to them for "Sin : And 
 now may I not * '' whether this ii more 
 encouraging to Sinners, to have Chrift 
 
 procuring 
 
>Vm. ce. 
 
 Ifdiah 53 
 - Justification only conditionally to 
 em, or°co have the thing ablblutely conferred 
 pon them 
 
 This is a ground whereupon be 
 ieving Sinners life up their heads confidently, 
 nd expaftJuiUfication through His Righteouf- 
 lefs : It is this that was promifed to Chrift, and 
 t is this that is the native fruit of His Death, 
 ithout which it will be fruidefs ; And this 
 ay remove the great obftruction that readily a 
 er, when he is ferious, teesh lying in his 
 ]r to wit, the want of Righteoufnefs, and the 
 _r of not being abfolved, the want of inherent 
 ighceoufnefs in himfelf, which makes him Jy- 
 ble to the Curfe of the Law, when he feeth 
 pon what terms Chrift died, Firfl, To pro- 
 _ure a Righteoufnefs to them that wanted Righ- 
 ! :eonfnefs. And a. Upon thefe terms, that Sin- 
 . iers through Faith in Him might be Juftified, 
 .' ind fred from the Guilt of Sin, as if they never 
 lad finned themfelves ; Considering this to be 
 lis intendment", according to the terms of the 
 Covenant of Grace, what have they, or what 
 can they have toskar or fright them from expe- 
 cting the fulfilling of this Promife? Becaufe the 
 CDntryvance ofthe Covenant of Redemption, is 
 to buyjuififtcation abfolutely, and not the pofli- 
 bility of itonly,not to buyGraceto us,whereby 
 tojuitifie our felves, but Juftifkition it felf, fo 
 as we may be beholden to Him alone for it. 
 
 Again, 2^7* When we fay that the Juftificati- 
 on of a Sinner, is the proper refult of Chrifts 
 Death, it may be thus underftood ; That the 
 Righteoufnefs whereby a Sinner is Juftified, is 
 immediately Chrifts Death and Purchafe,as to the 
 
 [meritorious caufe thereof; fo that if we look to 
 what Juftifies a Sinner, as to the meritorious 
 caufe of it > the knitting of thefe two together, 
 Hifh*Ufet of the travel of his fcul, and jhall be fatis* 
 fied; and By his knowledge jhai/ my righteous fervant 
 mflifie many, doth hold it forth, to be Chrifrs 
 Death and Puc chafe ; The cravd of His Soul is, 
 ml oiuft be the ground on which a left Sinner ' 
 isjufnri:d before the Throne ofGod ; This both 
 :onfi;ms what we formerly promoted concerning 
 cnis DMrine, and alfo fliews that rhejuftifkation 
 of a Sinner is not by inherent Holincfs ; whence 
 comes it, I pray that nukrs a Sinner acceptab'e 
 before God? It is not from habitual, nor actual, 
 inherent Grace, but from Chrifc's Rii;hteouf- 
 neft, laid hold on b/ Faith, tfnr grippeth and 
 adher-cth o ir ; Bu^ from the latter parq of the 
 Words, wd- will have more particular occafion 
 tofpeakto this., where thefe two are knit to- 
 gether ; By his knovaltdgi fh.ill my righteous fcr« 
 vara iuiltfie m°ny t fir h: Jhall b{>ir thttr iniquity \ 
 therefore we do now pals it. 
 
 Vtrf. 11. 30* 
 
 The Objt& of this benefit is nilny J n**y or- 
 dinarily in Scripture implyes thefe two things. 
 1. A great number, and fo it fliews the extent 
 of the Obje& ; that is, that Chrift fhtll purchafe 
 and redeem many , or by His Death procure 
 Juftification to many. a. A restriction, and 
 thus many is oppofed to #//, and fo the meaning 
 is ; There lhall many be Juftified by Chrift** 
 Death, but not all ; and therefore as none cart 
 from thefe Words plead for an univerfalrty in 
 Juftification, fo neither can they in RedemptH 
 on, for he only bare their iniquities, whom by 
 His knowledge He Juftifies. 
 
 Looking on thefe manf, in. this twofold con- 
 sideration ; wc may take thefe O&fervatitns from 
 it. 1. Taking it extenfively, Obferve. 1. That 
 the Righteoufnefs of thrift is of it felf able to 
 /uftjfie many ; It's a Righccournefs that can fa> 
 tisfie for the Sins of many ; or thus , That in 
 the Covenant of Redemption, there is an in- 
 tended Application of Chrift's Rightcoufnefsj 
 and Purchafe to many. 2. That there are many, 
 who lhall indeed partake of Chrifts Righteouf- 
 nefs, and be Juftified by it: It's not one, or 
 two, or a thoufand : but as it was intended to 
 juftifie many,, fo it lhall be actually applycd f» 
 many, for their Juftification. 3. Comparing the 
 former Words, He (ball fee of the travel of his/out, 
 andjhall be fa:isfied; with thefe Words* By bit 
 knowledge jhall my righteous Jervant juftifie many^ 
 Obfcrve, That Chrift is not fatisficd for the 
 Travel of His SquI, except ,many be Juftified 
 by it; or thus, it is Chrift's Satisfaction, how 
 many there be that make ufe of Him, and that 
 by making ufe of Him, come to be Juftified by 
 Him ; as afterward we will fee ; Thefe many, 
 arc all thefe that believe, alf thefe that have this 
 true and faving knowledge of Him, and do 
 rightly acknowledge Him- 
 
 The making out of one of thefe Do&rines 
 will make them all out; That Chrift's Righte- 
 oufnefs is able to Juftifie many, that many lhall 
 be Juftified by it, and that it is His Satisfacti- 
 on and Delight, that many n-,.-»y be Juftified,. 
 and get this goodof it? It'sfiiJ, Matih 10 28. 
 That hi came to lay down his life ara^i* for mam , 
 And Rom, 5, 5. That the gift of grace which is by 
 one man Jefus Chrifl hath unto »any t ani 
 
 v. 19. As by one m*ns dijabeaunu many vtremaic 
 (inner/, Jo by the obedience of ot:e jhall m>i»y be madt 
 righteous ; Let but thefe Four things be put toge- * 
 ther and c'onlidered, and if it be found, that 
 there is no juft ground to quarrel thefe Doft. 
 rincs. I. The narive worrh , and intrinllck 
 value that is in the Satisfaction of Chrift \ 
 h'sthc Moid of God, of the Perfbn that is God ; 
 R r h $ 
 
worth of Chrift, i, 1( f of the allowance* of Grat' 
 
 \h' i ren iS e t0 the Mtiwon of Sinner^ 
 through Him, which fhould make us ftand 
 paufe, and wonder: It had been much, if Grace 
 had laved but one, more if it had faved a t' ouf- 
 and or twenty thoufand ; Cut O ! what ground, 
 ot admiration is ir.when many are faved by it i 
 I his is the native end, why it is pL t in here • 
 
 even to fhew, that it is not fo 
 
 304 ifaiah JJ. Verf. if. • 
 
 It's an Offering that flows from a willing and to let us fee the hrrjenefs of the extent 
 cheerful Giver, which makesit the more accept* 
 able, He was content with delight to pay the 
 Price,there cannot be a limiting or bounding of 
 this Worth or Value, becaufe there cannot be 
 any bounding, or limiting of the Pcrfon that 
 gives the Value to it, if it be confidered in ic 
 lelf. 2. Confider thefreenefs of the Offer,which 
 takes in many, our Lord communicats very free- 
 ly, what He hath bought very dear: and it's 
 done withrefpeft to His taking in of many, to 
 take away all exceptions from the poor & needy, 
 and from them that want money, 3. As the 
 terms are free, fo the Offer is very broad, and 
 comprehenfive, as we fee, l\aiah 55. I. Ho every 
 one that thirtfs tome tt the waters; and Revel. 22. 
 Wl)ofoever will, let him c$me, and take of the water 
 ef life freely i And wc find thefe expreflions, all 
 that believe, and, whofocver believes,to be frequent- 
 ly ufed in the Scriptures; which takes in all that 
 will yield themfelves to Him en the terms of 
 the Covenant, to clofe the bargain with Him. 
 4. Conlider God's end in the purification of 
 
 I 
 
 ptu in nere 
 
 Om died, it (hall be a^fling £ m»yf &J| 
 it, becaufe though die prefumptuous th: u-hts 
 of many lead them to extend the Merits" of 
 Chrift to all in the vif.ble Church ; yet ic may 
 be that in orhers there are too narrow limiting 
 thoughts of the extent of His Merits, and of the 
 allowance of Grace, as to the number of the 
 Eleft, that mail be faved: It being certain that 
 as we are in hazard, and ready to abufe any 
 thing ; fo this, if ic be faid, that they are many 
 
 ,A V? ] u^i y V '? re ^y t0 cxc,ude "one; 
 and if it be faid, that they are few, we are ready 
 to make Grace as it were a nigard and Churl 
 
 Sinners, which is to make His Grace to mine, and to ccn:ra£t,and narrow too much the annl, 
 
 and to triumph, and to make its victory over cation of it. "ppn- 
 
 mans Sins confpicuous and Glorious, by being The 2d. Uft of it (Which fs aSecond Reafon 
 
 beyond iti not in refpeft of the number of why this Word many, i 5 put in here ) may fcrve 
 
 Perfons. but in this refpeft ; that as Adams one for encouragement to Sinner?. anA^ k*..lZ- 
 
 Sin brought Death on many, lothe Death of 
 
 Chrift hath brought Juftification to many ; as it 
 
 is Rom. 5. The judgement was by one to condemnation, 
 
 but the free gift is of many offences untojuftificatioN; 
 
 Whereas Adims one Offence brought Death to 
 
 many ; here the relieving of one Sinner is the 
 
 procuring of freedom to many, becaufe in that 
 
 refpeft Chrift is a Satisfaction for many Offences. 
 
 But ic may be Okjcfted here ; Is it not faid, that 
 
 the way to Heaven isjlrait, and few there be that 
 
 enter in thereat ? They are rhin fown, to fay fo, 
 
 that are Heirs of this Inheritance. / anfwer, by 
 
 a diftincYion: Though they be comparatively 
 
 few, yet confidered in themfelves abfolutely 
 
 they are many; or they are fimply many,though 
 
 comparatively but few: Conlider and Compare 
 
 them with the multitude of reprobatsthac are 
 
 even in the vifible Church, they are few, yet if 
 
 encouragement to Sinners, and to hearten 
 them to aflay to get this benefit ef Juftification 
 made their own : many trow ( and in fome re- 
 ipeftic is atiuthj that it's a lingular and odd 
 thing to come by Juftification ; and hence thevr 
 conclude, that they will never get it ; and in- 
 deed if the thought of it's Singularity and Rare- 
 nefs made them careful to win at the thing i c 
 were an profitable ufe of it ; but when it makes 
 them heartlefs, to attain the thing ; it's a wrong 
 and prejudicial ufe of it; But Sinners, there is < 
 here ground of Encouragement, Provocation 
 and up-ftirrmg to you to feek after Juftificati- 
 on through Jcfus Chrift, becaufe there nemanr 
 
 th ^, ar . e A th . C °& c ^ s of it: Thc K'ghteoufnefs 
 of Chrift, is a Righteoufnefs that will fave ma* 
 ny; It's an Article of the Covenant of Redemn- 
 tion, that Chrift thaJlgetawy; the Promife will 
 give Title and Right to many, He will not be 
 
 ye will confider them in themfelves, they are G ontent,if He get not many; now putting thefe 
 
 many: and it's moft true that isfpoken, Revel 7. together, it cannot but be very great encourage 
 
 9 / faw a number which no man could number: if we ment to feek. and a ftrom? around i-n - ^xT 
 
 look fincc the beginning of the World, how 
 fome are taken in this Age, and fome in that, 
 fome of this Nation, and fome of another, they 
 will be found to be but few, when all Nations 
 are put together, yet in themfelves they are ma- 
 ny: There are thefe threeUfes of it, which may 
 be Reafons why it is put in here, The i. is, 
 
 ftrong ground to expeft 
 Juftification on this account, becaufe r. That 
 which a believing Sinner gets, is Juftification, 
 Pardon of Sin both Original and Aftual and 
 it's compleataftualjuftificarioa, not only the 
 
 P r°- CUr i n U hC ^ ° f ,; C \ but t? " c A PP^ation 
 of it, Jvflification from all things, from which we 
 
 could not kejufiififd by the law of Mojes, and Juftifi- 
 
 cation 
 
*erm. $$. ... 2 f aiaJt **• 
 
 cation never toiss reverfed/ a. This Juftificati- 
 on is defigned for , and allowed to many, the 
 (ftepping in of feme before others doth not 
 iwrong them ; and there needs not be difputs 
 about Eleaion ; for the Text fayes, that the al- 
 lowance of Grace is to many. 3»It s ChrifYs fatis- 
 ft&ion that He gets many to be Juftified, and 
 themoe that ftep to, to lay hold on this benefit, 
 He hath as it were the more Satisfaction: And 
 if the Sinner fhould fay, I know not if I be in- 
 cluded in that number ; the terms of ths Cove* 
 jiant run to all that believe : if there be a fly- 
 ing to Chrift by Faith for refuge, there needs 
 i not be anxious difputing, whether the Sinner 
 will come fpeed ; but there fhould be aftepping 
 forward, many have gotten good, and many will 
 get good, and there is room fufficient for as 
 many as will yield themfelves up to Chrift,and 
 reft upon HisRighteoufnefs, It's a large mantle 
 that covers thoufands, and the Lord will have 
 thoufands to be hidden under it, and Juftified 
 by it. 
 
 3*7/. It ferves to be a mod terrible ground 
 of inexcufablenefs to thefe , to whom Chart's 
 Righreoufnefs is fpoken of, and offered in the 
 Gofpel, who yet negleft to makeufe of it, that 
 He was content to lay down His Life, and 
 that as a ranfom for many : none needs to 
 fay, I knew net if I would be welcome, Hefaid, 
 it was for many ; and though He faid not, it was 
 for all, yet it's for all that will believe in Him; 
 And therefore it is not, nor fhall not, lecaufe 
 he hath CJifined the benefit to few, that ye are, 
 or mail be excluded; but becaufe, though He 
 extended the benefit to many, yetye excluded 
 your felves;and none of you, who hear this Gof- 
 pel, fhall have it to fay, I betook my felf to 
 Chrift by Faith, but He refufed to admit of me, 
 and He would have no moe than He had , there 
 are many who pleafe themfelves with iuch a 
 Word as this, when they hear that many will 
 be faved i But it will be the deareft bought 
 Do&rine that ever ye In'ard, it had been in fome 
 refpect better, that ye had heard that it was but 
 two or three that will come to Heaven ; becaufe 
 the hearing of many 't coming thither will great- 
 ly aggravat your guilt, who negleft fo great a 
 Salvation. 
 
 Therefore take two or three Caveats of this 
 Doctrine, And i, Beware of being fecure,becaufe 
 there are many that fhall be Juftified, there arc 
 many moe that fhall perifh; compare thefe that 
 peritn with thele that will be faved, and it will 
 be found, that they are but a handful that will 
 be faved, and that Smarms and Multitudes will 
 go to Hell ; Therefore, when ye hear that che 
 
 door is opened to many, let It enecli.-age yon 
 to enter in ; but remember this, that moe will 
 be excluded, and perifh, than will enter in and 
 be faved * The Scripture fays, Many are called, 
 but few are chofen, even in refpeft of the called 
 within the vifible Church. a» Confider thit 
 Grace is inlarging of this benefit, to take in 
 many will be your greateft challenge and aggra* 
 vation that fhall mifs , and come fhort of it. 
 Therefore let us ( as it is, Utb % 4. ) fear, left having 
 apromije left us of entering into bis reft, any cf us 
 fhould feem to come Jhort of it ; When this door is 
 opened to us, we would by all means fear com- 
 ing fhort, or not entring through unbelief ; for 
 it "will be worfe with us than if the door had 
 never been opened > Folks ordinarily think 
 not fo much to mifs, or come fhort of a Privi- 
 ledge, which but one or two have but accefs to, 
 but when it isfuch a Priviledgc as is made at* 
 tainable by many, the milling of it galleth and 
 tormenteth the more; and when many fhall come 
 from the Eaft,Weft, South and North, and fhall 
 fit down with Abraham, lfaac and Jacob in the 
 Kingdom of Heaven, what weeping and gnafh- 
 irig of teeth will it caufe to them, who fhall be 
 fechided? And therefore, idly. Beware of think- 
 ing that there is the lefs diligence, or fear requir- 
 ed, becaufe we fay, that mam will be Juftified; 
 for though there be many that are Redeemed, 
 and many that (hall be Juftified, yet all thefe 
 come to be Juftified through ChrifVs knowledge: 
 And therefore fuch as are ignorant and pro* 
 phane can but take little, or no comfort henc« 
 while they continue to be fuch ; Though there 
 be many that arejuftified, yet none but Belie„ 
 vers are Juftified; and none can warrantably 
 look on themfelves to be Believers, but fuch as 
 are fincere ftudents of Holintfs; I would not 
 therefore have you laying weight, either on 
 many, or few' V being Juftified, except by way of 
 motive, but on the way that ye take to comeby 
 the end, though a great many moe were faved 
 than will be i if ye take not the way of Faith 
 and Holinefs, to come to Salvation, ye will not 
 get your fclves fhrouded in the croud, but 
 though there were never fo few damned, ye fhall 
 make up thenumbeii In a word, it's ground cf 
 encouragement to a poor Sinner , that would 
 fain be Juftified in God's own way ; it is alfo 
 ground of fhame & confufion of Face to the un- 
 believer/hatreftrainsthe benefit of Chrift's Pur^ 
 chafe,&fliutshimfelfout,whenGrace doth make 
 ufe of fuch cxprtfHons to bring him ini 6V it will 
 be ground of conviction to all that have fo wide » 
 door opened to them,&: do not ftrivc to enter in: 
 
 R 1 * It 
 
Serm: 5* 
 
 Ifaiah 53. y t rf. n. 
 
 If may b'.'many of you think little of this now, xn earneft in this one thing, there were a great 
 
 tut in ft* day when w*w fliall be taken into point gained on the beams of the GofpeL and 
 
 the Kingdom of Heaven, and otheis fhut out, it till it be fcrioufly minded , there is nothing 
 
 will be known to be a matter of greateft con-- that w* can do in RtjiHton, that will be to as y 
 
 eernmettts if once we could.be induced to be purpofe. -' 
 
 Verfe t% 
 
 SERMON LV I. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. XL 
 
 > By his knowledge jbsll my righteous Jervant^ jufifie many, &ci 
 
 
 
 JT's a great matter to have the folid im* 
 preflion of Chrift'sfulnefs on our Spirits, 
 •: and to be throughly peffwaded; thit 
 there is a Righteoufnefs to be had in 
 Him; yet the Confolation is not lull, unlefs 
 there be a ckatnefs in the way, how this Right- 
 eoufnefs is applyed, and come by, and a kindly 
 yeelding to follow that way ; For though we 
 know that Chrift died, and that there is a Right* 
 eoufnefs purchafed, yet there are many that are 
 never Juftified , and that mall never be faved 
 by it 5 And therefore it would not be fo much, 
 to know that there is fuch a thing, it he had 
 not laid down a way how we may be partakers 
 01 it i which way can no more fail and mifgive, 
 than Chrifts Righteoufnefs can; & thefe Words 
 kold out the way, By his kmwltdge jhall my right- 
 sou; fevant jufifie many : That is, through Faith 
 in Chrift many {hall be made Righteous; His 
 Satisfaction fliall be accounted the believers, 
 whereby it (hall come to pafs, that they fliall 
 be as really Juftified, as if they had born thett 
 own Iniquities , becaufc His bearing of them 
 (hall be accounted theirs* 
 
 We fpealc, 1. of this general, that there is 
 fuch a thing as Juftification, or God's absolving 
 of a Sinner, who by his own iniquity islyable 
 to the Curfe. ». That this Juftification is the 
 proper effeft of Chrift's Death. 3. From the Ob- 
 te& of it ; That they are many, yet not all, who 
 arc Juftified, many being put as a mids betwixt 
 two extrcams, neither including all, nor only 
 taking in a very few ; having put by thefe more 
 f eneral DoBrinss, we would now fpeak a little 
 to this great benefit of Juilifitatitn, in reference 
 to the particular Caufa that eoncur t© the at- 
 taining of it, which will lead us to a moredif- 
 tinct uptakmg of it; there is ground for them 
 all in the T:*t ; and therefore we fliall put them 
 together, that we may have a fhort view of this 
 .great benefit complexly. 
 
 There are common]) fix eattfes afligned to, or 
 made necefiVy to concur inJuftification,though 
 we fcaow net well how to exprefs them, fo as 
 
 ye may take them up, becaufc of the ignorance 
 of many of you. 1.- There is the Efficient ctufe, 
 and that is God, the party that doth JuftPfie. 2. 
 The End, cr Final Caufc, and that is His own 
 Glory, 5. The Meritorious Caufc, or that which ; 
 procures it, or the ground on which God Ju- 
 ttifies, and that is Chrift's Merit, 4. The inward \ 
 
 Jnjirumental Caufe, by which we get a title to, 
 
 reft in C" 
 ! cfo, c. The Formal Caufe, or that 
 
 and an intereft in Chrift's Merit, and 
 
 tie to, 
 that is 
 'herein 
 
 Juftification confifts, and that is Imputation of 
 Chrift's Righteoufnefs to the Sinner upon H s 
 acceptation of it, and the abfolving of the Sin- 
 ner by vertue of His Righteoufnefs. 6*. The 
 External Instrumental Caufe, and that is the Word 
 of God, by which thisjuftification is revealed, 
 and whereinGod declares and pafTes the Sentence. 
 For the Firftt ye would for clearing of it re* 
 member what we-fpake in our entring on this 
 DaQrine ; That this Word Juftification is a Le- 
 gal, Forenfick, or Judicial Word; and we are 
 to conceive of God, who is the party offended, 
 as the Judge ; and of the Sinner arraigned, and 
 brought before His Tribunal to be Judged, as a 
 delinquent; the Law gives in the Lybel.or In- 
 diternent, founds the Challenge, or Accufation: 
 the Sinners ConfcieriCe,and Aftions are fo many 
 Witnefles , proving the breaking of the Law, 
 and him to be obnoxious to the Curfe on that 
 account ; In this we fay that God is the efficient 
 Caufe, snd fo we may take the Words, By his 
 knowledge jball my righteous fervant juftifie many ; 
 Actively and efficiently to look to Chrift,as hav- 
 ing this Power, as He is God : which is proper 
 to God alone, as is clear, Rom 8 S+. It is God 
 that juflifits : 1. Cor. 4. 4: Though J know nothing by 
 myjilf , yet I am not hereby \ufofied , but he that 
 \udgeth me is the Lord; And this is a reafon of 
 the former*, to wit, thzt no other can absolve 
 but God, the paity offended, who is Judge. 
 
 We mark it for this practical life, which the 
 Apoftle makes of it, which is to bid us lay !efs 
 weight upon others, thinking well of us, or 
 abfolf ing us & on our own abfolving our felves*, 
 
 the 
 
[the Lord chargeth fome thus, Luke 16, 
 ire they which ju^ifis yrnir fives before men, but God 
 imwsyour hearts : Paul will not juftifie himfelf, 
 >rrfntis Gods place and prerogative ; How 
 my. arc there* who take ajriotherperTons tefti- 
 
 Jfaiah jj, VerJ. 1 1. * y 
 
 5. 7* putation,either to His Juftice, or to His Mercy, 
 
 and Grace ; and fo He (hews himfelf to beinfi- 
 
 nitly Juft, Gracious, Wife and Holy , in the 
 
 Juftification of Sinners ; Thefc we may fee, Rom* 
 
 3 . 24, 25, 26. Being jnfltfied frtely by his grace, 
 
 jnony far Gods, rfnd think, that' fince others love, through the redemption that is in Jejus Ckritl. There 
 
 refpecVand commend them, they are in a good 
 condition, and well enough *, but, alas, is that 
 perfon God ? Except mens Teftimony be foun- 
 d on the grounds that are held forth in the 
 ord- ( and if fo, then it's Gods Teftimeny ) 
 will not do the bufinefs, nor avail you any 
 ...ing, except there be a Sentence of Abfolution 
 pronounced and paft by Him, their Sentence, 
 or yours will be recalled ; though many of you 
 do not down right profefs this,yet many of you 
 practically fall into it; alwayes remember that 
 it is God that Juft ifies, and that His Abfoluti- 
 on isdiffercnt from mens, and from your own; 
 many have good thoughts of you, and fo may 
 ye of your felves, when God may have pone. 
 
 For the ai. To wit, theF»*/Caure,it is clear 
 here alio, by comparing the former verfe with 
 the word going before, in this fame verfe} and 
 ye may take it in this Obj\rvaiitny That the Glo- 
 iy of God, and of the Mediator, is the end that 
 God hath before Him, in thejuftifying of Sin* 
 ners ; Therefore it is called the Lordsp/«*/«r*,or 
 delight, and the Mediatorsy*f/V/«#:>»; becaufe 
 He hath purpofed to Himfelf therein the Glory 
 of His Grace, efpecially, and alfo of others of 
 His Attributes, as His end, and fo hath a kind 
 of longing defire, and thirft after; for the Lord 
 being absolutely Glorious cannot but love His 
 own Glory, and being the infinitely Pure, alfuf- 
 ficicnt Good, He cannot but love Himfelf, and 
 His own Glory ; and therefore, for attaining of 
 this end, He Juftifies and Abfol ves poor Sinners: 
 Now God is glorified here two wayes. I. He 
 gets the Glory of His Grace, that is exceeding- 
 ly magnified thereby, as is clear, Ephef i.e. 
 Having predeftinated us to the adoption of children by 
 Jejus Chrift to himfelf according to the good pleafure 
 $f bis mil, to the praife of the glory of his grace ; 
 It's the Lords pleafure, to glorifie His Grace, 
 and this proves to be the Glory of His Grace, 
 when a Sinner lyable to wrath is fully Juftified, 
 and Intitled to Heaven. 2 He gets thereby the 
 Glory of His Juftice, andRighteoufncfs, which 
 takes in the glorifying of God's H"'inefs and 
 Wildom ; He is feen here to be a Holy God, 
 who will needs teftifie H-i, diflikeat Sin, where- 
 «ver it is : a juft Go I; that *vill r-teds punilh it, 
 a gracious God that will pardon; and fuch a 
 wife God, as finds out the way, how both to 
 punilh and pardon, without any the leaft im- 
 
 Juftice and Grace fhine clearly , Juftification is 
 fr?e, yet there is a Price laid down, end a Satis- 
 faction made tojuftice; and the 26. verfe fhews 
 the end, to wit, To declare his righteoufnefs , that he 
 'might be juft, and the jujlifitr of them who believe in 
 fffis-, He hath indeed taken away, how to 
 pardon Sin, but fo as it is through a Redempti- 
 on, or by the exacting of a Price, that He may 
 be feen to be Juft, who will pardon Sin with* 
 out a Satisfaction j Juftice kythes in this, that 
 Chrift is put to pay a great Price ; and that He 
 may be feen to be Gracious, He hath laid down 
 a way, how the Price that was to be payed by 
 Chrift, might be imputed to, or reckoned, on 
 the account of the guilty Sinner , and that He 
 might thereby be abfolved ' And thus Juftice 
 and Grace may kifs each other, in this admirable 
 contrivance : And although none almoftexeepc 
 Socinians deny the Juftice of God, in the Jufti- 
 fication of Sinners, yet as they do Dottrinally, 
 in Subftance deny it: fo many of us, who pro- 
 fefs to abhorc their Doftrine, do practically de- 
 ny it alfo. 
 
 And therefore, as the 1. XJft of it, let me 
 fpeak a little to unbelievers, and ask you, what 
 think ye will become of you ? ye muft either 
 betake your felves to Chrifts Satisfaction , or ye 
 muft refolve to fatisfie for your felves : Secure 
 Hypocrites think of nothing but of Grace, and 
 that God will alwayes be gracious, and never 
 fufFer themfelves to think of the nectffity of a 
 fatisfa&ion to be made to His Juftice : and thus 
 they flight, and on the matter deny His Jufticet 
 as if He were not to be glorified in that Attri- 
 bute, as well as in His Grace and Mercy: where- 
 as there is no other way to declareGod to bejfuft, 
 in the Juftification of themthat believcbut this, 
 which brings them to Chrifts Satisfaction. 
 
 Uj'e 2. Its ground of notable Confolation, and 
 Encouragement to a poor exercifed Soul, fen- 
 fible of Sin, whereupon to expect Juftification: 
 It's Godsend in juftifying Sinners, to fet out the 
 glory of His Grace: and is it not much that Gcd 
 lhould contrive fuch a way for glorifying of 
 Himfelf, as fhould carry along with it good to 
 us, yea,fuch a way as fhould refolve in our good, 
 which comes in asa fubordinat end, to the glori- 
 fying of His Grace, as the ultimat end: may not 
 this bean encouragment to them, to feck after 
 Juftification on theicterms,and for this tnd ? 
 
 Ufe 
 
Ufe i. It flie«f$, That as many as fubmit not 
 to the way of this Righteoufnefs, and of Jufti* 
 fication by Grace, are thwarting with God's 
 End; they let themfelves to hinder and obftruft 
 it, even that He flu uld not be g'orifiedin His 
 Jurticc and M:rcy: they do what they can, that 
 God fliould neither be Juft nor Gracious: but 
 He fhall bs Juft in condemning them, whether 
 they will or not, though He be not glorified 
 in His Grace, as to them, they fctting them- 
 felves, what they can to let it, yet in His Ju- 
 (tice He fhall moft certainly be glorified. O ! 
 that Men and Women believed how deep their 
 guilt draws, who are (landing in the way of 
 the glorifying of God's Grace: It will be fcund 
 in fome refpeft, to draw deeper than the Guilt 
 of thefe abominable Sins of Adultery and Mur- 
 der, in the day of the Lord; and yet many of 
 you will be found to have done this, and to 
 have ccme fhert of Righteoufnefs. 
 
 For the 3. That is the hUritorious Caufe: Take 
 it in this DoBrim, that the meritorious Caufe, 
 that procures ourjuftification, and withrefpett 
 to which, God Juftifies a Sinner, is the alone 
 Merit and Satisfaction of Ch rift Jefus: And this 
 arifes from the Text, on thefe two Confiderati- 
 ons. 1. Becaufe thisjuftification is laid down, as 
 an effeft of Chrift's Soul- travel, and Suffering: 
 if Juftification be the proper and immediat effect 
 of Chrifts Sufferings, then His Soul-fufferings 
 mutt be the Meritorious Caufe of it, we can- 
 not imagine another: He purpofeth by his 
 Sufferings , for the Elect , that they fhall 
 by His Knowledge be Juftified , therefore 
 they muft be Abfolved, and Juftified, by His 
 interpofmgto take on our Debt, and fo His Suf- 
 ferings muft be the Procuring Caufe of it. 
 The 2. Confide ration is taken from the words 
 following , Hjhzlljufiijie many, for he flail bear 
 their iniquities : If Chrifts bearing of our iniqui- 
 ties be the ground of our Justification, or that 
 by which it is procured, then His Sufferings 
 muft be the Meritorious Caufe of our Justifica- 
 tion, or that on account whereof we are Juftifi- 
 ed: becaufe His bearing of our iniquities can 
 no other wayes be the caufe of ourjuttification, 
 but by Hisinrerpofing to Merit the fame to us 
 by His Sufferings: Would ye know, as if the 
 Prophet had faid, how Chrifts Sufferings fliallbe 
 the caufe of our juftification, here it is, He fhall 
 bear our iniquities, and therefore our Ju* 
 ftification flows therefrom: the Lord, by the 
 Prophet, hath fo knit thefe two together, 
 that His Sufferings, both go before , and 
 are fubjoyned to His Jufli fling of many, That 
 it may be put out of queftion, that the Media- 
 tors Sufferings, is the alor.e Meritorious Catic 
 
 Vert. if. j Crm - 
 
 of His pronouncing the Sentence of Juftificati- 
 on , and of accepting and accounting u$ a $ 
 righteous before Him, 
 
 This is not in fo many words profefTedly con- 
 troverted , or denyed by the Papifls , with 
 whom we here deal: For they grant that Chrift 
 by His Sufferings procures Grace, and Gods ac. 
 ceptation of our good Works, in fo far as they 
 arc rewarded beyond their condignity: But to 
 make the difference betwixt them and us the 
 more clear, we fhall put in Four Words in the 
 Doctrine and fpeak a little to them; We fay 
 then, that Chrifts Satisfaction is not only the 
 Meritorious Caufe of Nullification, but alio 1, 
 It is the neareft and moft immediat Caufe. 2. 
 The alone Meritorious Caufe. 3. TheMeritori* 
 ousCaufe, ascontradiftinguifhed from, and op- 
 pofed to our Works, and inherent Righteouf- 
 nefs. 4. It is the Meritorious Caufe, as inherent 
 in Him, and as imputed to us: Thefe Fmr are 
 clear in the Text, and may very well be put in 
 the Do&rine. 
 
 I. Then, we fay, it's not only the Meritori- 
 ous^ Caufe, but the next immediat Caufe caufa 
 propinqua (as weufe to fpeak in Schools) of our 
 Juftification ; So that if it be asked, what is the 
 Caufe or Ground on which God abfolves a Sin- 
 ner, or the next immediat thing, that He hath 
 a refpeft to His Juftifying of Him? It's Chrifts 
 Merit, His Soul travel and Suffering; Papifls 
 deny this, andmakethe next immediat Caufe to 
 be the Grace infufed in us, that which is called 
 gratia gratum factens : But if ye ask the Prophetj 
 what is the Ground, I mean the next immediat 
 Caufe.on whichjuftification is derived to many? 
 He tells us, that it is not the inherent Rightcl 
 oufnefs of thefe who are Juftified: but that it's 
 Chrifts Soul travel, and His bearing of our iniquities- 
 Hence, 1 Cor. r. 30. Chrift is called our Riehte ' 
 oufnefs, He k ( faith the Apoftle ) made of GU 
 unto us, wifdom, righteoufnefs, Sec. Not only by 
 Chrift: have we a Righteoufnefs, that makes us 
 acceptable to God, but His Righteoufnefs isours 
 and Gods refpecling of us, in , or through it 
 making us acceptable. 
 
 t idly. Not only is His Righteoufnefs the Me- 
 ritorious Caufe, but it's the only Meritorious 
 or the alone Meritorious Caufe; and herein 
 Papifls and we differ : They grant that Chrift's 
 Satisfaction is the Meritorious Caufe; but re- 
 motely only, as it procures inward or inherent 
 Grace, by which we Merit } but they will not 
 have it to be the only Meritorious Caufe, but 
 will needs have cur own Works to merit alfo, 
 and that properly; whereas the Prophet fpeaks 
 of Juftification, as the effect of Chrifts Soul. 
 
 travel 
 
 I 
 
c6*. ifaiah S3. 
 
 tftvei only ; and if fo, then tTiere can be no 
 Dther thing admitted , for there cannot be 
 »wo focial or joynt Meritorious Caufes; There- 
 -ore throughout the Scripture, when the Me* 
 it of Juftification is attributed to Chnlt , it 
 excludes all other things and is oppofed to our 
 own works : which is the Th rd thing. 
 D 2 V Then we fay, That Chrift's Righteouf- 
 nefs is the Meritorious Caufe of ourjuftificati* 
 on as Contra-diftinguifhed from, and oppo- 
 fed to our own inherent Righteoufnefs , or 
 Works ; and herein alfo Papifls and we dif- 
 fer i they grant indeed a Mertionous Influence 
 to Chrift's Righteoufnefs ; but that is ( fay they) 
 is it makes our own Righteoufnefs Meritorious, 
 hot as Contra-diftinguiftied from, and oppofed 
 to our own Righteoufnefs, but as having in- 
 fluence on it. Now thefe are direftly oppofed in 
 ScriptuteJ (hall only name that one clear place, 
 Phil. 3, 9. That 1 may be found in him, not having 
 mine own right confab, which is of the law, but that 
 which is by the faith of Chrifl ; Where Paul con- 
 futing and refolving what he will take himlelf 
 to, as his Defence at the Bar of God; We fee, 
 1. That it is His Scope and defign, that in the 
 day of Judgment , he may be found in fuch a 
 cafe and pofture, that he may be able to abide 
 the try al. And 2. That he fpeaks of Two Righ- 
 teoufnelTes, the One is his own, that is the mhe- 
 rentGrace which he hath gotten, andtheWorks 
 which he hath done ; The Other is, the Right- 
 eouGiefs of Chrift without him , which is by 
 Faith; Now when he layes his reckoning, he 
 is fo far f.om joyning thefe two together, as 
 
 Sm-caufes, or iocialCaulcs of hisjultification, 
 at heoppofes them; lhat I may be found in him, 
 tut having mine own righteoufnefs, in him, without 
 my own, or, not having my own, Sec. in him , as 
 having given up with,denyed and renounced 
 my own Righteoufnefs i he will not admit of 
 that on any Terms, in lefs or in more; lb clear- 
 ly deth he, as to his J unification before God, 
 fcclude his own Righteoufnefs, and betake 
 himfelf to Chrift's Righteoufnefs alone, as con- 
 tradiftinguifhed to his own- 
 
 4ty* We L*Jy,That Chrift's Righteoufnefs as it 
 is in Him, and imputed to us, or made ours 
 by imputation, is the alone Meritorious Caufe 
 of our Juftification and Salvation ; fo as that 
 which He hathpurchakd is reckoned, and ac- 
 counted the Sinners, as if ic were His own in- 
 herently and perfonally ; ThisI alfo gather from 
 the Words, By his knowledge fhall my righteous fer» 
 v»ut jujlifie mmy, for he fball be tr their iniquities ; 
 Would ye know, as if the Prophet had faid, 
 how Chrift is the Meritorious Caufe of Juftifi- 
 cation ? Thus it is, became He ftiall bear their 
 
 
 Verfi 1 1. 3 ©9 
 
 iniquities, if He hath taken on the burden of 
 their Sins, and had their Sins imputed to Him, 
 then it will follow by proportion, that they 
 are Juftified by the imputation of His Righte- 
 oufnefs to them; and there is nothing that the 
 Scripture doth more inculcat than this, that we 
 are juft'fied by the Righteoufnefs of Chrifr, 
 without us, and imputed to us, or reckoned 
 ours, we by Faith laying hold upon it, and Gods 
 accepting of it for us, makes it become ours ; 
 and yet there is nothing that we do more 
 practically erre in, and which Pafifts do mor© 
 fcorn and flout at, wholly enervating the way, 
 and contrivance of Grace, by excluding and 
 fhouldering out the Righteoufnefs of Chrift, cal- 
 ling it inderifion, a Putative, or meerly fancied, 
 and imaginary Righteoufnefs, (as if there were 
 no reality in it ) and by bringing in, and efta- 
 blifhing their own Righteoufnefs ; though it be 
 very clear from this, and many other Scriptures, 
 that Chrifts Righteoufnefs mud be ours by im- 
 putation, becaufe He bare our iniquities; He 
 became our Righteoufnefs , by paying of our 
 Debt, as cur Cautioner, and no other ways ; 
 the Scripture never fpeaks of His being our 
 Righteoufnefs , by procuring ability to us, to 
 pay our own Debt. 
 
 I fhall clear this 4^ Branch a little further, 
 becaufe it will ferve to clear the reft, that is, 
 That Chrift's Righteoufnefs, as it is in Him, and 
 imputed to us, is the only Meritorious Caufe of 
 our Juftification; And if we confider. I< The 
 way of Juftification that is ufed among men, 
 this will be the more plain ; There being two 
 Covenants, by the one of which Life was once 
 attainable, and by the other of which it is now 
 attainable ; 1. 1 he Covenant of Works, which 
 abfolves a man that never brake it, which is, as 
 when one among men, or bcfoie mens Court, is 
 declared to be free, becaufe he was never ow- 
 ingthe Debt. a. The Covenant of Grace, that 
 provides a Cautioner to pay the Sinners Debt, 
 upon whofc payment thereof had recourfe to 
 by Faith, there is scce*fs in Law, to the Sinner 
 to call for abfolution 5 even as it is in mens 
 Courts, though the principal Debitor hath no- 
 thing to pay, }et if the Cautioner pay the Debt, 
 it is the principal Debitors clearing: a;id if lie 
 (hould be again charged to pay theDcbr,his im« 
 mediat Defence would be, (hat the Cautioner 
 had payed it already : So is it here, the Lord 
 hath borrowed, and made ufe of this way, that 
 is ufed among men, to mk~ the Myftery ofju* 
 ftification, which pafleth in the Courr of God, the 
 moreclcarto us;it is as if onelhould allradgcr! at 
 fuch a pcrfon is owing fo much,& he ihould fay, 
 
I cannot be charged with it, and upon what 
 ground? No, becaufe I am not owing the Debr, 
 but becaufe luch a one has payed it for mc ; to 
 fayes the Apoftle , Rtm. 8 34. Who jhall lay any 
 thing to the charge of Gods eltdi, it is Gid that jujli* 
 fittb, who jhall condemn ? it is Chrijl that died, &C. 
 
 ffaiah 53. ?erf. ir. Serm. cid 
 
 Domination once to fpe*k of His condcmnati- 
 on, and if His Righteoufnefs become ours, as 
 our Sin became His, then cerrain'y His Righte* 
 oufncfs is tf e caule of our Juftification, as it i$ 
 in Him inherently , and in us by imputation 
 only, The blafphemy of Antimmiavs u moft de* 
 
 God, is Chrift dying, and that is as much as he 
 hath payed the Price , or Debt, who then can 
 charge it on the . principal Debitor ? And the 
 frame and con textu;e of the words (hews, That 
 it is a judicial procedour ; for they fuppofe a 
 charge, orlybe), and a fentence, and the Meri- 
 torious Caule of the. fentence of abfoluticn if t 
 that Chrijl hath die i. 
 
 i'y. If we confider the nature of the two Co- 
 venants, and compare them together,, it will be 
 clear, the Papifls confound the two Covenants ; 
 For works to them is the condition of both Cot 
 venants , making ufe of that place* Matth. \q. 
 17. il. Keep the coynmands ; if thou wilt be perfect, 
 fill all thou haft, and give to the fo:r ; quite con- 
 trary to the fcope of it ; for therein C hrift is 
 putting the man to a thing impotfible to himfeJf, 
 to bring him to fee the nectflity of a Mediator, 
 and difcover his unfoundnt fs, when he will not 
 forgo his great pofleflions for him ; but the Scrip- 
 ture doth clearly difference the Covenant of 
 Grace, and the Covenant of Works, that they 
 are oppofed ; For the Covenant of Works fay- 
 eth, do this and live ; and the Covenant of Grace 
 fayeth, If thoujbalt believe with thy heart in the 
 Lord Jejut, and confejs with thy mouth, thou jhalt be 
 faved; And therefore the account of ones being 
 Jurtified in the Covenant of Grace mutV be dif- 
 ferent, from the account whereon one isjufti- 
 fied in the Covenant of Works, otherw ayes they 
 could not be oppofit ; The Covenant of Works 
 rsfpeSs the inherent Righteoufnefs, as the con- 
 dition ; The Covenant of Grace refpe&s Faith 
 taking hold of the R/ghteoufnefsof Chrift; and 
 therefore His Righteoufnefs muft Juftifie , as 
 being in Him without us, and as imputed to us, 
 it cannot be our Righteoufnefs within thaju- 
 ftifies i for fo> it fhould be the fame with the 
 Covenant of Works; for though Chrift did pro- 
 cure inherent Righteoufnefs to us, it makes no 
 difference in the condition itfelf,wbich is works. 
 $\). It will be clear, if we confider how the 
 Scripture fpeaks of Chrift's Righteoufnefs he- 
 coining ours, even as our Sins became Chrift Y, 
 and was the caufe ( if we may fo fp'eak ) of His 
 condemnation ; that is, as He became lyable to 
 the Curfe, that as He flood a legal psrfon in our 
 room, He became guilty, and lya.le to the 
 payment of our Deb: ; for oUejvvayes it i$ a- 
 
 The defence propofed before the Tribunal of teftable, and not at all pleaded for, even by p*. 
 
 pifls, and therefore we ftand not on it here ; Now 
 our Sin became Chrift's by imputation, 'there** 
 fore His Righreoufnefs muft be ours the fames 
 way i If it then were aiked, how we arejufti*' 
 fied 7 The Text anfwc ,, He Jhall jujl,fi e mjff}Y . 
 becaufe he jhaBbear their iniquities ; The Prophec 
 makes his Suiferings to be the antecedent 
 whereof our Juftificauon is the confequent, for 
 His beating of our iniquities isgiven as the'rea- 
 fon of our Juftification; this is alfo dear. 20^ 
 5. ult. fie was made fin fir us who knew no fin, ' tlcap 
 wetxigfo be made thtrighteiujmjs of God in him ; In. 
 which words the Spirit of the Lcrd doth fo'exv 
 plain, bound, and inculcat this, that there can 
 be no rational exception againft it, not evafion-; 
 from it ; He was made fin, that is, a Sin-offering" 
 or an Offering for our Sin , though there was 
 no guile found in His mouth* though He had n 
 no Sin, neither was capable ofSin;yct He was 
 made a Sacrifice for cur Sin : as He wasmadeGn ' 
 fo are we made the right coufnrfs of God in him • If 1 
 any mould ask, what is it tobe made righteous'' 
 the ApoftJc anfwers, even as Chrift was made 
 Sin,the feme way are we made righteous; & that 
 is, by imputation ofChrifts Righteoufnefs to 
 us,and net by our own merit;we have no more 
 merit than He had Sin : but as He was account- 
 ed to be the Sinner, though free of Sin in His 
 own Perfon; fo a kelieving Sinner is account- 
 ed righteous, though without any merit in him- ■ 
 felf, becaufe Gcd hath ingaged in His Cove. 
 pact, to make Chrift's Righteoufnefs fortli.coro- 
 ing to the Believer ; Though that were enough- • 
 yet the Spirit of the Lord addeth a further 
 Word, in h;m,xo arnwer that queftion, whether* 
 Chrift hath procured inherent holinefs to us, 
 that thereby we may be Juftified ? no fayeth he' 
 that is not the way ; Our righteoufnefs is in him] 
 and not inherent in us, even as the fin imputed 
 to Chrift is inherently in us; fo the Righteouf- 
 nefs whereby we are Juftified, is inherently in 
 Him. 
 
 4(7. It may be clear from this, That frequent- * 
 ly v: is called a Righteoulneis that is attained " 
 by Faith, and that it is oppofed to our own i 
 Righteoufnefs and working ; now it cannot be n 
 conceived, how we can get a Righteoufnefs by 
 Faun, but by pleading that His Righteoufnefs 
 
 may 
 
I arm. 56. fy* h S3- 
 
 nay be imputed unto us; Rom. 3. 22. Itiscal. 
 cd the righteoufnefs which is by faith, and v. 25. 
 1 Horn God bath Jet forth for a propitiation through 
 Mth in hit blood; and chap. 4- v. j. Tt him that 
 1 p^ri^>& not, but believeth on him nhat juflifieth the 
 ivgedly, his faith is runted for righteoufnefs ; Faith 
 L aking hold of His Righteoufnefs offered toSin- 
 l icrs in the Gofpel, His Righteoufnefs fo taken 
 lold of, becomes a propitiation to pacific God 
 f 1 owards the Sinner, as if He had fatisfied in his 
 :>wn Perfon : Even as if a company of men had 
 3een out in Rebellion, and a Proclamation of 
 Pardon comes forth from the King, becaufe he 
 Is fatisfied by a great Friend, who hath payed 
 heirRanfom: Which Proclamation of Pardon 
 uns on thefe Terms, who ever will lay down 
 Arms, and come in, and accept of the Kings 
 Pardon, that is procured, and made offer of, 
 lall be acquitted of the guile of Rebellion,and 
 received into favour ; Who, ^ when ever they 
 ire challenged, will p'ead their abfolution on 
 hat friends procurement, and offered on fuch 
 erms in theProclamarion : Now fuppofe ( as 
 h nted before, not long ago ) that when<hefe 
 ebellf hive yielded themfelves, and accepted 
 I the Terms, if a' y of them mould be called 
 to anfwer at the Bar, or the Kings Bench, as 
 ing challeng d for Ins Rebellion ; his anfwer 
 and defence v. ou^dbe, that fuch a Proclamati* 
 on was made to us, and I laid down my Arms, 
 and accepted of the Pardon ; this in Juftice 
 would be admitted, and fuflained as Relevant, 
 becaufe that procurement or procured Pardon 
 becomes the Pcrfons, according to the Terms 
 of the Proclamation : It is even fo here, we 
 are Rebels to God, Chrift Jefus (reps in, as 'he 
 great friend of Sinners, and fatisfied Juftice ; 
 and thereupon the Proclamation comes out, as 
 it is, ABs 13. 38, 39. Be it known unto y:u, mm 
 And brethren, that through this man is preached unto 
 you the forgivenefs of Sins ; and by him all that believe 
 arc juilif d from all things, from which ye could not 
 be juflifisd by the law of M fes ; When the Sinner 
 is arraigned before the Tribunal of God, he hith 
 two A&s of his Faith ; One that fubmits to 
 God, and to His way of abfolving Sinners, and 
 another that pleads for abfolution, not on the 
 Terms of his own innocency, but on the Terms 
 on which Chrifts S3tisfi6iion is made offer to 
 him; andf » Faith Juftifies, as it takes hold of 
 the Meritorious Caufe, and builds its defence at 
 at Gods Bar, on Chrifts Righteoufnefs alone ♦ 
 It's the procurement of the Mediator that it 
 pleads upon, and in this fenfe the imputed 
 Righteoufnefs of Chrift, and the Righteoufnefs 
 of Faith are one and the fame, becaufe Faith 
 
 Verf. if. 3 of 
 
 takes hold of the Righteoufnefs without us, 
 which can be no other but the Righteoufnefs of 
 Chrift. 
 
 $!y. It's clear from the plain and direft ex. 
 preillonsof Sciipturc to this purpofe ; Take but 
 thefefew, as Rom. 4. 3. and 22. compared witfcs 
 Gen. 1$; 6. Abraham believed Cod t and it was 
 counted to bim for righteoufnefs; he had the promife 
 of Chriftfocome, and received and refted on 
 it ; it was not his Faith, but the promife of the 
 Mefliah retted on by Faith, that was imputed to 
 him for Righteoufnefs ; and ver. 6. Even as Da* 
 vid de\cribeth the blfjfedne/s of the man to whom God 
 imputeth righteoufnefs without works ; It is not,blef- 
 fed is the man who is holy (though fuch a man 
 is ferioufly ftudying to be holy, albeit not in 
 order to His Justification thereby ) but bhjfcd is 
 he t§ whom righteoufnefs is imputed without works ; 
 and he confirms it from, Pfal. 32. Blejfed is he 
 whofe tranfgrejfton is forgiven, and wbeje fin is cover* 
 eds blejfed is the man to whom the tflrd imputeth not 
 iniquity Blehed is the man to whom the Lord 
 imputsRightepufnefc, though he hare it net in 
 himfdf,and to whom he imputs not Sin, though 
 he have it in himfelf ; So, 2 Or. c. 19. God 
 was in Chrifl reconciling the world unto himfelf, not 
 imputing their trefpajfe* unto them. Jefus Chrift is 
 the reconciler of the World to God by His 
 own Merit ; being God and man in onePerfcn 
 the efficacy of His Sufferings reconcileth the 
 World of the EIe&, and how is this purchafed 
 Reconciliation applyed ? By not imputing their 
 trefpaffit unto them ; That which here is called 
 ]ujlifcation % is there called riot imputing cftranf* 
 grejjion, through that Righteoufnefs which Chrift 
 hath purchafed, or through offering tip of him- 
 felf in a Sacrifice to God> to fatisfie His Juftice. 
 6ly. We might fay, That this way of Juftifi- 
 cation through the imputation of ChrifYs Righ- 
 teoufnefs, ought to be admitted according to 
 Papijfs own giounds; For, 1 They grant that 
 young Children, whocarnot Merit, are juftifi- 
 ed and admitted toGloiy by ChrifVs Merit, as 
 the immediat, and proxime caufe of their JufTi* 
 fication, and why not alfo of thofe that are at 
 age ? Is He not the common Cauft? whatabfur- 
 dity is in the one more than in the other? Is not 
 the Justification of both alike free? though 
 there be difference in the manner of A, plication 
 yet in the Meritorious Caufe, there is no diffe- 
 rence ; and feing to Children, Chrift is the Me- 
 ritorious Caufe of their Juftification, why not 
 alfo to thefe come to Age? 2. They will grant 
 an imputation of the Righteoufnefs, and Aleiits 
 of other Saints to them that want of tl cir own, 
 as to the removal of temporal plagues, and the 
 S f taking 
 
$19 t ?f*iah 5 J. 
 
 taking them out of Purgatory; and if they grant 
 that there may be an imputation of the Merits 
 of Saints, why deny they the imputation of the 
 Merits of thrift, as to the removal of eternal 
 Wrath ? isthereany probability, that there can 
 be any imputation of the one, and not an impu- 
 tation of the other? j. They allow an impu- 
 tation of Chrifts Merits, as to the procuring of 
 the firft Grace without all Faith apprehending 
 Him; and if, by their own Doctrine, it be not 
 abfurd to fpeak of Chrift's Merit, as to the infil- 
 ling of Grace at firft.why fhall it be thought ab- 
 furd to fpeak of Chrift's Merit, as to the procu- 
 ring of Glory ? 4- They grant, tnat there is 
 an impntation of Chrifls Righteoufnefs, as to 
 the procuring of Glory» in a higher degree 
 ( though they fay, that it is a far better Life, 
 which comes by our own works j and why 
 not, as to the procuring of Glory in a lower 
 degree, yea, both of Grace and Glory, and of 
 every good thing ? We have iniifted on this 
 the more. 1 . Becaufe it's the main foundation 
 of our Faith, and the end of it, and the great 
 fcope oft eGofpel. a. Becaufe there are fo many 
 miftukes about this, and a grolTe miftake in this 
 is remedileifc, when we come beforeGod, even 
 before the Tribunal of men, if we make a wrong 
 dcfence,it hazards our caufe ; So is it here, for 
 to have a hiding place in Chrift, and under the 
 covert of His RighteoufneiTe, is our only de- 
 fence before the dreadful Tribunal of God. 3. 
 Becaufe it ferves much to clear this Truth, for 
 we would have you knowing, that it's not e- 
 nough to fpeak of Chrift's Meiit, as the caufe 
 ofour frienufhip with God; a Pap'tft will do chat 
 who yet leanethnot to Chrifts Merits alone,but 
 to his own, at leaft in part, and in conjunction 
 with Chrift's ; and therefore we would now and 
 then fpeak of this, becaufe there is fuch horrible 
 ignorance of it, though a fundamental Truth ; 
 How many gay honeft folks (as they are called 
 and accounted ) are there among us, that can- 
 not tell how they came to be juftified, or what 
 is the ground which they have to reft on, if 
 they were going to die ? Is it not abfurd, that 
 men fhouldbe called Prot eft ants ,and live fo long 
 under the clear light of the Gofpel, and yet be 
 ignorant of this main point of thcProteftant Re« 
 ligion ? 
 
 Therefore 1. make this Uje of it to inform 
 yourfclves in the caufesof your Juftification; 
 •nd to turn them over into Queftions and An- 
 fwers to your felves ;fo that if ye ask what is the 
 efficient caufe of Juftification Pit's God the par- 
 ty offended. What is the final caufe of it ? It's 
 His Glory. What is the Meritorius Gaufe ? It is 
 Chrift's Merits, or His Righteoufnefs imputed 
 
 Wrje. It. Jerm. co* 
 
 tous, What is the inward inftrumental Caufe? 
 It's Faith, &c. According to the folid anfwer 
 given in our Catechifm, to that.Queftion, what 
 is Juftification?/* is an AB ofGt(sfree grace, where. ' 
 in he farcUneth all our fins, andacctpteth us as right, 
 tout in hts fight, only ftr therixhteoujneis j Chrift in* 
 puted to us, and received by faith alone ; .Where the 
 efficient caufe is Gods free Grace. Chrift's Right- 
 eoufnefs the only Meritorious Cauf Cj and the on- I 
 ly inward inftrumental Caufe, Faith alone ;The 
 formal Caufe, Gods pardoning our Sin, and ac- i 
 cepting of us as Righteous ; Remember well 
 that it is not thrift's Righteoufnefs, as having 1 
 Merit in it, to procure inherent Righteoufnefs, 
 but as it is imputed unto us, and accounted ours I 
 that Juftifies us ; Thus ye will remember the 3 
 difference betwixt drift's RighteoufnefTe and 
 ourown&asfor the external inftrumentalCaufc 1 
 it is holden out in thefe words ofour Catechifm > 
 in the defcripticn of Faith, as he is fired to us in 
 the Gofpel ; All thefe Caufes muft "in ordinary 
 difpenfation concur to our Juftification, and the 
 pardoning ofour Sins. 
 
 The ld.Ufe. Serves to teach us to be on cur 
 guard againft the Popijb Error of Juftification by 
 Works : though we are here mercifully keeped 
 free, yet the Land is tempted in feveral corners 
 of it, to fhuffleby Chrifls Righteoufnefs, and to 
 bring to mens own Righteoufnefs or holinefs,as 
 the ground of their accepiation before God r 1 
 There arefome fpottings of it within a few! 
 myles to this place : and fince this Error draws 
 Souls away from that wheh is their right, and 
 only defence before God, that is Chrift's Right- 
 eoufnefs.it cannot but ruintrh m: which ftiould 
 make you all to 1' ok well a' out you, and upon 
 this account to abhor it : Its one of the great 
 Delufions of the man of Sin, which being ence 
 admitted, will with your own confent,brii,g you 
 again in bondage to a Covenant of Woiks. 
 
 Ufe, 3. Follow this way in your practice la- 
 yout feeking after Juftification, renunceyour 
 own Righteoufnefs, and lean to Chrift's Right- 
 eoufnefs alone;Whatbetter are many of us in our 
 Practice than Papijls? If ye ask many, what is it 
 that fatisfics rhe Jufticc of God ? Some will an- 
 fwer 1. Their good Prayers or their good woiksr 
 and if they have done a fault, they flnll make! 
 amends, a.O thers will fay that they baveagood] 
 heart to God, and they mind weU, rrnugh it's! 
 but little they dow do. Others will thank God, 
 thatthsy have been kteped fiomgroiV ils,.md 
 that he hath helped them to pray, and to wait! 
 on ordinances and though they have no R ght- 
 eouihels of their own, yet God haih helped 
 than to do many good things, and thus all that 
 
 they 
 
Serm. *;. J***- 
 
 they lean to is ftlll within them. 4- Others 
 will fay, we warrand you,we can merit nothing 
 but we hope through Chrift's Righteoufnefs,our 
 HolineJsand Prayers will be accepted ; not as 
 Duties, or Fiuiu of Faith, but they think to 
 make thefe two concur, as the ground cf their 
 Juftification ; to wit,ChrifVs Righteoufnefs,and 
 Cfccir own perform?nces together ; And what 
 is all this but black and abominable Pofery: And 
 yet, if wc go through the generality of Pre 
 feiTours, great Folk, and mean Folk, we will 
 find few, but by one or other cf thefe ways, 
 they delude themfelves ; and that but rery tew 
 have Chrifls R^hrcoufnefs, as the immediat 
 ground of their Juftirkation *nd Defence before 
 God ; Be afliamed therefore, that ye are fo ig- 
 norant of this point, and be exhorted to ftudy 
 it, as the main thing, if ever ye chink to (land 
 before God's Trituna!,and tocanie your caufej 
 be exhorted, I fay, to be clear in this Defence, 
 wMch only will be found relevant b. fore God, 
 and nothing but thi?, to wir, theS:tisfaftic«of 
 Chrift taken hold of, and relied on by Faith. 
 
 The +th. Ufe t Serves for notable Confolation 
 to a poor Sinner, thath?th no Righteoufnefs of 
 His own, a. -id who without this would never 
 have peace, what would any of you think, or 
 fay, if ye had your Prayers and good Works to 
 hold up to Cod, for the ground of your Jufti* 
 ficarionPB ut here is a way for the mod prophane 
 and graceiefs, to be Juflified, which wedo noc 
 
 J3. Vtrft If. ... * Tr 
 
 mention to fofler prophamty.or an indirTercncy, 
 as to the having or wanting of inherent Grace 
 and Holinefs, God forbid we fhould ; but to 
 hold out the excellency of this way ofjuftifica- 
 tion by Grace, whereto, if ye kindly fubmicye 
 may come to be Juftified ; It's not your own 
 Righteoufnefs, whether ye have lefs or more o£ 
 it, that Juftifies you ; for to that ye mud be 
 denyed, and endeavour to make this fure and 
 ficker : Thtreforelet not this Grace be offered 
 to you in vain ; if ye flight it, it will be a fear- 
 ful challenge, and will make you one day (land 
 with a filent mouth, and an empty hand, when 
 ye fhall be charged,becauf* ye have not laid hold 
 on this Righteoufnefs, which only can anfwer 
 all challenges ; and ye (ball fland naked before 
 God, becaufc ye had this Robe of ChriiVs im- 
 puted Righteoufnefs, for covering of your na- 
 kednefs in ycur offer, and would not put it on : 
 This is it that bare through David, Abraham and 
 Paul, and all other Believers ; yea, that which 
 ( to fay fo ) bare through our Lord Jelus, who 
 WM/juJI:fiid in the spirittts He flood in the Room 
 of Ele& Sinners; and Believers in Him may be 
 fully alTured of their Juftification through his 
 imputed Righteoufnefs, not that which is His 
 Eifential, but Cautionary Righteoufnef$,therefore 
 throng in to makeufe of it; and let God himfelf 
 b!efs through Chi ill what hath been fa. id Co you 
 to this purpofe. 
 
 Verfe 
 
 ir. 
 
 SERMON L V I I. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XI. 
 
 by hit knowledge JbaU my tightens jervant jufttfa many % firhi jhaUbear their iniquities. 
 
 THefe Words fhew the great Scope 
 and Detign of the Covenant of Re- 
 demption, and of Chiift's Sufferings 
 agreed upon therein; which have 
 been fo much infilled on in the 
 former vtrfts, and that's in a Word, that there 
 may be a ground laid down, how a Sinner may 
 be Juflified ; therefore there is the greater need, 
 that this point be well fiuiied, in all thecaufes 
 of it. 
 
 It follows now that we coafider this put cf 
 the Words, which holds out thftmean.by which 
 this benefit is made ours, and that is, by kit know- 
 ledge, which holds out the Inflrumental Caufe of 
 ourjuitificaticn; It'sordinarly fo called, and 
 we fee no cogent reafon inducing us to a change 
 of the Do/ignition; Faith here iscalledi&row/ d&e t 
 not as if it were a bsrc fpeculativc notion, iuch 
 *i Devils may have, but becaufe Knowledge is 
 
 a notable antecedent to Faith, and Faith is con- 
 fcquent to, and fuppofes preceedi.gKnowledge; 
 as we may fee, Rom. io- H wlhall they believe 
 in him of whom they have not heard ? Thus, 
 Faith is exprefl by Knowledge, John 17. 3. 
 This is life eternal, to knowrhee, the only true 
 God, and JcfusChrifl, &c. Now it cannot be 
 eternal life, to know 6y a meer notional or fpe- 
 culative Knowledge, far feveril rcprob-t men 
 exceed many Believers in this ; bur ir's to know 
 fo, as to believe in God, and to reft on the Me- 
 diator for Life through Him ; as it is 2 Pet, 1* 
 3. He* bath given una us all tbivgs tha' frtain f 
 lift and godlinefs, through tbi knovele* ge of hint. &C 
 M. er fpeculativc knowledge cannot be the con- 
 dition of the Promifes. for they are nude to 
 the M*n that believes, which believing t:kcsia 
 not only the A& of ti>c mind knowing *ni 
 S f 2 ailciit 
 
312- Ifaiah^i 
 
 afifenting, but of the willconfenting andclofing 
 with the objeft known, and this will be the 
 more clear from thefc two. I. That by know- 
 ledge here ismeaned, that by which Juftificati- 
 en is made ours, or applyed to us, and that 
 which intitlesus to it ; now meer fpeculative 
 knowledge doth not rhat, butit's Faith embrac- 
 ing Him, who is made known, a. If we com* 
 paie that which is attributted to knowledge here 
 with that which ij attributed to Faith elfe* 
 where, Rom. 5. i. Bei?,g \u 1} 1 fie dby faith, we have 
 peace with God; and Raw. 3. 25: He is the juflificr 
 of 'him wktcfbclUvtth in Jefus } We will find, that 
 what is called knowledge here, is called Faith there; 
 So thtt we may, without hetitation take the 
 meaning of the Words thus, My righteous fervant 
 fhail by faith, in him juftifit wavy, who, by his bea- 
 ring. of their iniquities (hall beabfclved,and fet 
 free; Therefore what is fpoken of knowledge 
 in the Do&rine, we may lock on it as agreeing 
 to, and meant of Faith. 
 
 We mall here infill a little on this Doctrine, 
 which is implyed in the Words, that Juftificao 
 tion through Faith, or the obtaining of the Par- 
 don of Sin; through Chrifts Righteoufnefs, ta« 
 ksn hold of by Faith, doth neceffarily prefup- 
 j>ofe knowledge, in the perfon that may' expect 
 it ; Or thus, Faith where it is Saving, andfuch 
 as Juftifiss, hath alwaysKnowledgegoing along 
 with ir, otherwiys Faith could not be called 
 Knowledge , Therf may. be Knowledge without 
 Faith, but there can be no Faith without Know- 
 ledge, and fo confequently a Sinner cannot ex* 
 peftjuftiricatron without Knowledge ; For ma- 
 king out of this, ye may confider thefc things. 
 1. Faith is of itfelf nothing but as it layeshold 
 on fome Objett, How can Faith lay hold on an 
 Object except it know it ? as the Word, is f Rom. 
 jo. How can they believe except they hear} Can any 
 perfon reft on an unknown Mediator ? thatfurc 
 were not Fai:h but a blind gueffing > It's juft, 
 as if ye fhould fay that ye believe fucha thing, 
 when yet ye cannot at all tell what it is, which 
 is not Faith, but as I faid, blind gueffing, and 
 prefumption. a. Faith as 7uftifying is always 
 hole: 1 forth, as making ufe of, and giving cre- 
 dit to that which is revealed in theWord;hence 
 we that hear the Gofpel, have that revealed to 
 us therein, binding us to the belief of it, that 
 Heathens have not, as it is, Rom. 1. 17. I am 
 »ot afhamed of the gofpel ofChritt; for therein is the 
 righteoufnefs of God revealed from faith to faith. W 'here 
 it is necefTarly prefuppofed, that the revealing 
 of the Righteoufnefs of the Gofpel, ( which here 
 comprehends the knowing of it ) mud go betore 
 Faith, and as a Perfon graws io Faith, be grows 
 
 * r fi i'. Serm. 57. 
 
 in the knowledge of it ; hence ilfo they are *j 
 faid to be ftrong in Faith, who are ftrong in 
 knowledge; and they are faid to be weak m, 
 Knowledge, who are weak in Faith, Rom. 14. i. 
 and 15. 1 Becaufe they knew net that the ce.] 
 remonial Law was taken away, and particular* 
 ly the difference of Meats,and foduift not h'z^ 
 ard on fome things, which theirChriftianLibcrty 
 gave thern accefs to. 3. Confider, that in /u- 
 fiification, God would have a Sinner to pioceed 
 as a man doth, who tables his defence before an] 
 earthly Tribunal of jfuftice ; who, if he plead 
 well, a*nd on relevant grounds, he comes 
 the better to; And as it isdangerous,in a weigh- 
 ty caufe depending, to have an ignorant Advo- 
 cat. who puts in a wrong defence ; fo is it herej 
 and in this cafe to be ignorant ; hence, Rem. 10. 
 It's given as the reafon of the Jews mifcarriage 
 in the point of Justification, but being ignorant of 1 
 the righteoufnefs of God, they went about to eftablifh 
 their own righteoufnefs ; That i*, being ignorant 
 to that which God would accept for Righteouf- 
 nefs, they thoughtto patch up one of their own; 
 and Ibis it ftill ; For fome hope to ccme fpeed 
 by their Prayers, others think to come fpeed by 
 their good Heart to God, a third fort puts in 
 their good Works ; if not inexprefs Words,yet 
 pra&ically; all which may Ictus fee the necefl 
 fity of Knowledge to Juftification. 4 Confider, 
 that there muft be Repentance, ere a Sinner can 
 bejuftified, which fuppofeth Knowledge; For 
 he muft needs know his Sin, and that his own 
 Righteoufnefs will not do his turn; and folong 
 as he is ignorant,hc cannot Repent, nor renunce 
 his own Righteoufnefs ; For while hcisio, he 
 cannot know what is Sin, and what is not Sin ; 
 what is Faith, and what is prefumption, unlefs 
 it be by guefs ; and folk will never be fuitably 
 affecled with Sin by guefs ; The Apoftle Paul 
 ( as it is Rom, 7. 9. ) Before the Law camej I was 
 alive; that is.before it came to him in the know- 
 ledge of its fpiritual meaning, and broad extent 
 of it ; while he was a Pharifee, he was alive in 
 his own efteem J But when the commandment came, 
 Jin revived, and hi died; He then faw need of a- 
 nother Righteoufnefs than his own: We preach 
 to you fometimes the neccflity of Repentance; 
 and of your being humbled, and that ye fhould 
 deny your own Righteoufnefs, and betake you 
 to Chrifts ; but except there be knowledge of 
 your un righteoufnefs, it*s as if we fhould bid 
 you wafh where there is no fpot feen. 5. Look 
 forward to the Duties of Holinefs, which are ne- 
 ceffary, though not to Juftifie you, yet that ye 
 may live as it becomes juftifiedPerfons.though 
 rwt to make your peace, yet to glorifie God, 
 
 and 
 
Scrm. 
 
 Ijaiah 53 
 
 
 ■nd to keep up friendship with Him, Now can 
 any know, or do Duties, who arc ignorant, 
 hence it comes to pals that fome hazard on 
 Sin, taking it to be Duty, and icir iometimes 
 tDuty, as if it were Sin. 6ly. Cor-lidcr your 
 vwn peace, and in order to ir, there is ante U 
 fity of Knowlcdge.elfe there will be ftill a d( ubt- 
 ing, whether ye are right or *rong ; hence it s 
 faid, Rm. 14. H, that doubt th, *r doth doubting- 
 ly t is damned \ ~ or he hath a Sentence in his own 
 Confcience againft himfelf, though he may be 
 doing that which on the matter is right, ily. 
 In a word, Ignoiance puts us out of cafe, to 
 make ufe of many notable opportunities and 
 priviledges ; we know not what ufe to make of 
 the Word, of the Sacraments, or ofCnrift;How 
 many hare Jived a confiderable number of years 
 {bangers to the advantages that are to be gotten 
 by him, through their want of Knowledge ? 
 Therefore John 4. Chrift fays to the Samaritan 
 Woman, ifthw hadft known whit is that asked it 
 if thee, thou veouldefi have given him drink, and be 
 Jbould hwe given thee living water; where he infl- 
 nuats, that her ignorance was a great caufe why 
 flie keeped at fuch a diftance from Him ; Ic's 
 hardly poflible, that To many poor Souls, would 
 abide at fuch a diftance from Chrift, if 'hey knew 
 Him ; There is no defire after that which is un- 
 known ; and therefore many do live at fuch a 
 diftance from Chrift, becaufe they have not {o 
 much as the literal Knowledge, or Hiftorical 
 Faith of His worth. 
 
 The Ufa are Thee; 1. Take it for granted, i£ 
 ever ye would fee the face of God, that there is 
 a necefHty cf Knowledge; For Knowledge is a 
 piece of God's Image, as well as Holinefs, and 
 Knowledge is commanded as well as Holinefs ; 
 Knowledge was placed in the firft Man Adam, 
 as well as Holinefs ; and when we are renewed 
 after the Image of God, in conformity to the 
 fecond Adam, we are renewed in knowledge-. And 
 not only fo,but Knowledge is a mean of the cx- 
 ercife of Faith, of Repentance, and of Holinefs; 
 and if fuch a thing be needful, by theneceffity 
 of a mids, in order to an end ; if obedience to 
 a command ; or, ifthe thing it felfthat is to be 
 known, be needful, then Knowledge muft be 
 needful; It's true, wt would beware of extre- 
 mities here ; as either to fay on the one hand, 
 that there muft be fuch a high degree of Know- 
 ledge ; for in the fpeculative part of Know- 
 ledge, ( to fpeak fo ) Reprobatsmay go beyond 
 Believers ; Or upon the other hand, to think 
 that Knowledge is enough, and that there needs 
 no more but knowledge, as alas many do reft u- 
 pon their Knowledge, and therefore wc would 
 
 beware of feparatlng of thefe two, Knowledge 
 and Faith. 
 
 If it be asked here, what Knowledge is requi- 
 fite to Juftification ? I would fpeak a woid to 
 this Quefricn, not fo much for Satisfying of cu- 
 riofiry, but for your Inftru&ion, who are more 
 Ignoranr; and to {hew the necefllty of the thing 
 and to giveyouafhort view ofthefe things thac 
 are neccfTary to be known about thismatter;and 
 therefore. 1, Ye muft know God that juftifies 
 you, ere ye can be juftified ; as it is, John j 7.3. 
 This is life eternal, to know thie the only true God, and 
 h;m whom thou ha^itnt, Jefts Christ ; If ever ye 
 be abfolved before fuch a Judicatory, ye muft 
 know your Judge ', That there is one God, thac 
 He is one in his Eflence, and that there are 
 three Perfons, yet fo, as the Trinity ofPerfor.s 
 doth not hinder or obftruct theUnityorOnenefs 
 of the God- head, 1 John 5. 7. There are three that 
 hear record in heaven, the Father, the Word; and the 
 htly Ghift,- and thefe three are one ; Study then to 
 know God, who is your Judge, not fo much 
 out cf curiofity, feeking to know how the Per- 
 fons differ, as to their manner offubfifting, as 
 how to be fixed in the Faith of the thing. 1. Ye 
 would know your felves,and what maybe charg- 
 ed on you before God ; Can men carry rightly 
 before a Judge, or before a Judicatory, if they 
 know not how it ftands with them : And this 
 will lead to know the State and Cafe wherein ye 
 were made at firft, and the Covenant of Works, 
 which God made with Man at the beginning, 
 when He gave to Him the promife of Life, upon 
 condition of Obedience, and that ye are lyable 
 to the Curfe, due for the breach of that Law and 
 Covenant, elfe ye will never know your hazard; 
 and knowing the breach of the Law, and Cove» 
 nant of Works, it will make ycu,through God's 
 blefll ig, to feck afterjuftification.which other- 
 wayes ye will never do; And foyeare to know, 
 that the firft Covenant was broken by Adam,znd 
 that this made him and all his pofterity lyable 
 to the Curfe,as being guilty of histranfgreflion; 
 and this takes in the knowledge of Original Sin, 
 even of thefinful Eftate wherein ye were born, 
 and of your Actual Sins. 3. Ye muft know, how 
 a Sinner, lying in fuch a State, and Cafe under 
 Sin and Wrath may come to be abfolved ; And 
 this leads you in to know, that there is a New 
 Covenant made through a Mediator, in which 
 there is aPromife ot Life and Salvation, through 
 believing in Him, which. Row. lo. iscaUedr/;* 
 law offaith,wh\ch gives a Sinner ground ofhope 
 to be Juftified by the Righteoufnefs of a Cauti- 
 oner, and leads him in to know the Defence 
 that he may, and ought to plead upon befor • 
 
 Co c 
 d 
 
3H Ifaiah n- 
 
 =G->d ; And there k here prefuppofed, as a ne- 
 xeflry of knowing your (elves, Jo a neceitityof 
 knowing the Law, and Covenant c.f Warksljor 
 if we plead innocent in any one Sin, whereof 
 we aiegui'ty, ir may hazard our eternal ruine ) 
 •nd,a ticcemty of knowing Jefus Chrifr, who is 
 the Mcritoiious Cauleof our Juftification; that 
 He became man, and did take to Himfclf a true 
 Humane Jiody, and a reafonable Soul ; that by 
 the Union of His two Natures, He might be 
 God and Man in one Pcrfon, in reference to 
 which He mud needs be knownjfor if we know 
 Him not to be Man, we cannot underftand how 
 Divine JuO ice is Satisfied 1 and if we know him 
 not to b God, we cannot underfhnd how the 
 Humane Nature can be fufUined, and fupported 
 and carried through in Satisfying the Juiticeof 
 Cod ; and withal, a neceffiry of knawng how 
 the Mediator procures this Juftiiication : and 
 this leads us in to know his Offices howHe w as 
 t Prictr, and incerpofed betwixt God and Sin- 
 ners, and made Himiclf an Offering for our Sin, 
 and maketh inrerceiTion for us ; how He was a 
 Prophet, 2nd how, when the thing was unknown 
 to wir, how a Sinner might have peace with 
 God, He revealed it of Old by His Prophets, in 
 the Old Teftament, and by His Apofrles and 
 IVIinifters in the New Teftament, and doth by 
 His Spirit enlighten the Soul, to take up the 
 difference, betwixt Juftification by Faith and 
 Judication by Works \ how He is a King to 
 fubdue Sin in us, to morrifie our Corrupt Na- 
 ture, that will ftill boaft till it be fubducd, to 
 guide us in His way, to fight our Spiritual bat- 
 tels in us, and for us; and to take courfe with 
 all His, and our Enemies; O. her ways, if we 
 know not this, though we were ju&ified jwft 
 now, we would be led captive by Sin and 5aran 
 to our ruine within an hour, but knowing H.m 
 to be King, it gives Faith footing to expeCt 
 Through bearing and Vi&ory. 4 Aswcmuft 
 know what Chrifr is, fo we muft know what is 
 in Chrifr, and what is communicated and apply. 
 cd to Sinners by Him, and fo the condition of 
 the Covenant of Grace, which is'Faith, where- 
 by we corns to be united to Chrifr; and that this 
 Faith is not a bare afTei.ting to the Truth, but 
 a doling with, and a reeling on Him, for we 
 can never believe, except we know what Faith 
 is. 5. It is needful, that we knejw whatDutie is 
 called for, from ajuftified Pcrfon; to wit, Re- 
 pentance and Holinefs, becaufe though He Ju- 
 stifies nonef-r Repentance,yet He Jutrifies none 
 but Penitents, and He requires Repentance 
 from all whom He Juftirics; Exceptjc rep<nt, faith 
 Cfuifr, yt ft*!/ *ll liktvifi pcrtjb ; For the Curie 
 
 Vir f* if. Serm. r 
 
 lyes at the door, and We arc fo to repcnt.as tha 
 with grief, and hatred of Sin, we turn from it 
 unto God, with full purpi ie of heart, and ende 
 vourafternewObedier.ee. 6. There is alfo 
 ncceflity of the Knowledge ofChrifhOrdinance, 
 ( though not abfolutely in order to JuOificatil 
 on, ) to know the Sacraments, and how they 
 reprefentChrift, and the benefits that come by 
 Him ; and how they do Ratifie andConfirm the 
 Believers Right to Him, and thefe good thingi 
 promifed through Him : Let me inrreat you 
 Believers, and as many as look for Juftificationl 
 to ftudy throughly to know, that thefe things'* 
 are nectary to be known ; even to know God, 
 and your felves,and what ye may be juftly char- 
 ged with before Him, that your mouths may 
 be Hooped ; to know Jefus Chrift, and His Of- 
 fices, (for ye can never upon ground expe& Ju- 
 stification, except ye know who hath procured 
 it) to know what God requires of thefe who arc 
 Jullificd , in a w ord,ftud> fo much as may bring 
 you to know your loft eftate, and the remedy 
 thereof, and how to found your Defence.whtn 
 ye come before God, &c. Andifyc would ftu- 
 dy thus to know God ; and know your fclves, 
 and ycur Natural Condition, andjfrfus Chrift, 
 and the way howyeccme tobeJuftiHcd tin: ugh 
 Him, and your Duty to Him, and fo nuke a 
 Catechifm io your lei ves cut of thefe few heads 
 »t were a fliort andfure *ay to come to know 
 
 The so". Ufc Serves for Reproof and Convifit- 
 on to them that ly ftill ia gnorance, which is 
 a moft Sinfull anJ Dangerous Condition; for if 
 knowledge bea D?ty. ar.d i* Ignorance be aS'in, 
 and f ich a Sin as hazards the Soul, then what a 
 wofulcafe are many of you in, who now hear 
 me ? Lay afide all other Sins, I would bcaftnm* 
 ed to fpeak of the great Ignorance tint is a- 
 mong you ; How nnny of you are there that 
 cannot give any tolerable account of yourCate- 
 Cajfm? who know not your natural State and 
 Condition, nor the way how to come at peace 
 wiihGod, nor any ground for your Faith to reft 
 upon, nor Chrifr, nor His Offices ? and.alas, if 
 it be fo, what better are ye than Heathens?Sure 
 ye are much v'. orfc, becaufe ye hava drfpifed 
 knowledge ; Can the Gofpel give you Faith, to 
 whom it never gave knowledge. There are fe« 
 vcral forts of Perfons, to whom 1 would htTc 
 fpeak a word. 1. There are fome that never 
 la$ the neceflity of knowledge to heart, betwixt 
 whom and Turk/ and Pagans the<e is in this re- ; 
 fpe&, but little difference, and yet filch will bei 
 ready to fay, we live.anddo as well as we may ; ; 
 that there may not be a quarrel, or con*raverfie 
 
 betwixt 
 

 J7. 
 
 iftiah JTJ- 
 Iwixt God and u J ; But ii it poflible but there 
 ,.uft be a quarrel, if it were but on this alone 
 ccount, that ye think there is none ? O ! that 
 m would ccnfider,w hat a Sin ignorance isjwhen 
 he Devil appeared in the World, he made it a 
 reat part of his firft Work, to extinguifh, and 
 ut out the light of Knowledge, and by this 
 leans he labours ft'tll to keep folk in ignorance; 
 enccthe Apoftlc fays. a. Cor. 3. If our gtfpel 
 e hid t it is hid to thtm who are lofl, wbofe eyes the 
 of this world hath blinded; Prophanity and Er- 
 are great Baits and Snares, but Ignorance car- 
 ies moe to hell than both thefe do ; for igno- 
 ance foftereth and cherifheth, if it do not alfo 
 _get, Prophanity and E<ror ; as the Apoftle 
 eter inflnuats, when he fays, that the Ignorant 
 or Unlearned, WreH, or pervert the Scriptures unto 
 their own defkruBton ; much Ignorance, and Con- 
 ceit of Knowledge, will foon and eafily fhake 
 people loofe, and make them a Prey to Error, 
 Mid alfo Co Prophanity: muft not Ignorance then 
 :; be an evil thing, when it leads the way to fo 
 \ many other Sins, and at laft to Hell, and De- 
 . ' ftruftion? hence it is, at leaf! in part, that the 
 ? Kingdom of Satan is called the kingdom of dark* 
 (I mfi • and furc they are very proper Subjetts of 
 f his Kingdom, who are Ignorant ; and is it pof- 
 '} fible, think ye, that people can think of God, or 
 J of their Duty anght,or have any folid peace,who 
 r '< are in that Condition ? They are juft like to o.:e 
 fleepingon the top of a Mall, in great hazard, 
 and yet utterly fenflefs of it •. Look bur to two r 
 three Words, that hold outthc dreadful darp r, 
 and hazard of your Condition, who are Igno- 
 rant ; The Firfl v, that, 1. Theft* 1 . Ghiji w. 7 ame 
 inflaming fire, to render vengeance to ail them that 
 know not God, and obty not the Qofpel; Tuc id. is, 
 Hof 4. My people perijh for want of knowledge The 
 3d. is Ha 27. This is a people of no underflandir,g t 
 therefore he that m* le th/m, will kave no mtrcy upon 
 thtm ; Think not then little of Ignorance, nei- 
 ther r hink your fehesto be well, lb long as ye 
 live in it. A 2d. Sort will readily grant, that 
 Ignorance is an evil thing, and that Knowledge 
 is good and defirable ; but yet they take no 
 pains to have their Ignorance cured, and remov- 
 ed, or to attain Knowledge : They are fecure 
 and confident, though poor, blind aiid wretch'* 
 ed and make their ignorance a cloak of excufe 
 for thvir other Sins ; Hence fome will fay, we 
 have been poor ignorant bodies, and wc hope 
 thit G d will not lay Sin to our charge : O ! 
 what d lufi m and defpent danger is here : If it 
 be asked, ( and it weird become us well to in- 
 quire in it) What can be 'he reafon of this hor- 
 ribly grofs ignorance that is among us ? which 
 
 ire al 
 
 Vtrf. if. 3 T f 
 
 is fuch that w^ire almoft hopelefs of many or 
 you, if fome extraordinary work ol God's Spi- 
 rit fall not in on your minds and hearts : very 
 readily thefe go together, the moft ignorant 
 are the moft fenflefs, and the moft ignorant are 
 the moft confident . The cauies of this may 
 be feveral, as, 1. Folks undervaluing rhe pra- 
 ctice of Religion, let the moft ignorantPerfons 
 be in earneft in the practice of Religion, and 
 they will readily through Gods blefling, asTeek 
 after, fo come at fome meafure of Knowledge i. 
 This is a fountain of your ignorance, that ye 
 are not in earneft in Religion ; Then fhall ye 
 know, ( faith the Prophet Hofea, Chap. 6 ) if 
 ye follow on to know the Lord : Excufe not 
 your ignorance, and want of Knowledge, by 
 your not being Book-learned, by your wane 
 of time and laifuse, and by other fuch fliifts : If 
 ye were in good earneft, and ferious in feeking 
 after the knowledge or the things of Religion,)' e 
 would foon in fome meafure underftand, and 
 take them up : But ye come and hear, and fit 
 for an hour, and take r.o heed what is fpoken : 
 ye will net read th' Catech.'fm, nor ask aquefti- 
 on about what ye are ignorant cf, nor will take 
 hee, ro what isfaid, when others are examined 
 There arc none of you, but if ye were in ear 
 neft, ye might come to fome good meafure o 
 Km 'a- ledge ; becaule they were fometime as ig 
 norant as y are, and as incapable, who yet hav 
 come to Knowledge, and thefe will be witntiTe 
 againft you, wh had the fame Gofpe},t^e lam 
 feafonsand means of Kno-v ledge, and yet con 
 tinned (till inyoi I norancc. i. Ai-.-yofya 
 deuoi pen kifulnejfs and hazard r.f Ig 
 
 norance; For ye continue as fee- it, as if Go- 
 would never lay it to your charge, ye would no- 
 r<.adily lv in the Sin ofdrunkennefs, oj <-ffwea 
 ring, or of a r y ofer fuch things withour/achai 
 huge, but ye canly frill in your ignorance, and 
 intheSi'j of not profi :ing by. the mta ns wh.'ch 
 ye arc under, and yet difpenfe with your (elves 
 therein ; at d ye ftcrctly fay within your ft Ives, 
 if we be well othe* ways, we hope Knowledge, 
 will not be required of us; But will not, think 
 ye, Gods Im.ge be required to te in yen ? 
 are not Faith, Repentance and Holinefs rcqui* 
 red ? and can any of thele, I pi ay, be without 
 Knowledge ? do ye fee a y touched with the 
 imprtflion of their Sin and Guilt, but as fcon 
 th-y fall to t':e frudy of Knowfedgf ? and who 
 continue to be Ignorant, but fturn'd bodies, 
 that never fa w their hazaid? which is an ordina- 
 ry ompanionand sttefldant c{ ignorance. A 3^. 
 Caul'c is N= pJitfence and flotnfulncfs j The w ; fc 
 man (ays, The band of the diligtnt makttb rkk f 
 
 and 
 
3i(5 ifaiah. 53. 
 
 and florhfnlncfs brings on poverty ; in every 
 thing, if ye compare Folks together, ye will 
 fr d rhac wherever any are foberly and feriouf- 
 ly diligent, God bleflesit > So that we may ga- 
 ther, and conclude their diligence from their 
 Knowledge ; There are many here, who,Ifup- 
 pofe are very Ignorant,but lee me askyou.what 
 rime and pains have ye ever beftowed on the 
 ftudy of Knowledge ? ye heir the preaching, 
 and ye read aChapter oftue Bible now and then 
 but that's not enough, for ye may be prefent 
 here, and yet not fiear to any purpofe ; How 
 many come to hear the preaching of the Word, 
 from whom, through their own fault, Devils 
 come, as fo many Crows on new fown Land, 
 and fnatch away the Word that is fewn ? and 
 it's never known, that fuch feed was fown ; for 
 mod part, ye either hear negligently, or ye 
 quickly forget all that ye hear ; ye never fpeak 
 of it in your Families, neither take ye any time 
 for reading, and pondering the Catechifmjhow 
 many of you did ever fet any days, or hours a- 
 part to ftudy Knowledge ? Ye will cry out a- 
 gainft pretended Enthufiafms and Infpirations, 
 as Delufions, and there is good reafon for ir;But 
 how mall ye get Knowledge, if ye wilJ be at no 
 pains for it ? your practice fays, ye expett it 
 mould come by immediatinfpiration, without 
 all ufe of ordinary and appointed means. 4. O- 
 thers will fay, that they would fain know, but 
 they are very dull and incapable ; and it's often 
 true, that they are fo ; but are fuch in earneft, 
 out of love to Knowledge, ftudying to come by 
 it? It's faidof fome, 1 Theft. 2. Becaufe they re 
 ceived not the truth in love, God gave them up t$ 
 Jirong delv. c .ons, to believe a lie. There are many, 
 who ftudy Knowledge, but not from a right 
 principle, nor from a right motive ; it may be, 
 that they may get their Token to come to the 
 Lord's Supper, to efhew (bame when they are 
 examined, or that they may be able to talk; It's 
 ]u(t with God to let fuch want Knowledge. 5. 
 Folks go not about the ufe of ordinary means, 
 as having therein need of Gods bhfling, and 
 of His Spirit to help them rightly to take up 
 his Myfteries, they pray not for Knowledge as 
 Gods gift, how many of you, when ye take up 
 the Catechifm to read, fall down on your knees 
 ro feek God's blefllng on your reading thereof .' 
 When John is fpeakiig of the benefits that come 
 by Chrift ; this is by him put in among the reft-, 
 And hath given us an under Handing, that we may know 
 him that it true, j John 5. 20. If therefore ye 
 would know God aright, feek his blefling in 
 the ufe of his own appointed means ; ye ftudy 
 the Knowledge of God, even as if ye were to 
 
 Ver f- rT - Serm. <7 
 
 read a common humane Hiftory ; if ye feek a ' 
 Blefling to your Meat, why feck yenot a blefling 
 on the means of Knowledge ? which is as net 
 cefTary to the Soul, as Meat is to the Belly :How 
 often hath Dawd fuch a fait to God, when he 
 fays, Pfal 1 19. Open mine eyes, that 1 may Jet the 
 wondrous things of thy law ; teach me thy f stuffs, &c. 
 He thought no fhame to pray for knowledge « 
 fure if we prayed more for it, we would thrive 
 better in it ; Other reifons may fall in, in the 
 Directions anent the ftudy of Knowledge which 
 we fhall give you* 
 
 The \A Ufe, Serves to exhort you to, and to 
 commend the ftudy of Knowledge to you, as a 
 neceffiry, commendable, and profitable Duty; 
 can we hope to prevail with you in any thing' 
 if we prevail not with you in this, even to lay 
 the neceffiry of Knowledge to heart ? will not 
 the excellency of the Objeft, the Authority of 
 God commanding it, the advantages that come* 
 by it, with the prejudices that attend and foV 
 low the want of it, commend it to you? will ye 
 ever be perfwaded to feek after faith and Ho- 
 linefs, that will not be perfwaded to ftudy 
 Knowledge ? it's a wonder how many of you 
 can have the confidence to fay,that ye keep your 
 hearts to God, when ye are fo void of the very 
 form of Religion, which muchconfifts in know- 
 ledge ; For it's that wherein it's keeped, and 
 whereby through Grace it'sfuitably exercifed ; 
 Sure ye can never have the power of Religion, 
 who want the form of it ; therefore let me ex- 
 hort you all, efpeciallyfuch of you,ashavefome 
 eminency above others to ftudy Knowledge, let 
 the more aged ftudy it, and lee thefe that are 
 younger ftudy it, If the time of youth go over 
 withoutit, it s one to many if ever the lofs be 
 recovered and made up again ; and ye that can 
 read, and have time and parts, ftudy the know- 
 ledge of God; many of you will be very fad 
 and dreadful fpe&acles in the great day, when 
 ye (hall be charged with this, that ye never Jud- 
 ged precious Jcfus Chrift to be of that much 
 worth, as once to put you ferioufly to the ftu- 
 dy to know Him ; this is no Fable nor Fiction,- 
 but a fad truth, when Men value and efteem any 
 thing,be it Science or Art, they will be at pains 
 and give diligence to know it,becaufe they prize 
 it. Therefore, for helping you to the ftudy of 
 Knowledge, take thefe few Directions, and 9. Ca- 
 veat or two in the clofe I. Let none put them- 
 felves without the reach of this exhortation, let 
 none fay, we are too old to learn, if ever ye 
 think to be Juftified by Chrift, knowledge con- 
 cerns you greatly;It were a commendable thing 
 to fee aged Men and Women carefully,and con- 
 
 fcientioufly 
 
Serm <7. Iftiab 53. 
 
 fcientioufly reading the Catechrfm ; and could 
 we once but get you under the impreflion, and 
 conviftion of this, as a Duty, we would think 
 that much were gained. 2. Spend fome time 
 about this in privat weekly ; It may be,it were 
 fit that fome of you did fo dayly, ye fpend 
 much time more idly ; If ye knew the hazard of 
 Ignorance, ye would even take fome fet time to 
 ftudy knowledge, and this would not need to 
 be counted any wronging of, or incroaching u- 
 pon your Chriftian Liberty ; as ye ftint fome- 
 thing for Prayer, may ye not (tint fomethingto 
 read the Catechifm, or to go to fome Family, 
 where ye that cannot read your felves,may have 
 one to read it to you ; And to feveral, I may 
 add for a help tothis,that ye would take a part 
 of that time, which ye fpend oatipling ; Is it 
 not obvious, that the perfon that is oftcft in 
 the Hoftler houfe, or in the Tavern, is ordinar- 
 ly the moft ftupidly Ignorant ; Tell me whe- 
 ther it is better fpent time ro take an hour, in 
 two or three days, and beftow it in Reading of 
 the Scriptures, or of fome good and edifying 
 Bock, whereby you may come to Knowledge; 
 and to grow in ir,than to take feveral hours e- 
 very day almoft, in an Ale houfe, or Tavern, 
 many of you, as it is well known, will fit down 
 in fuch places, at four or five a Clock in the af- 
 ter-noon, and continue till eight or nine at 
 night; how much ye drink, I fpeak not of that 
 butfure ye mifpend much precious time, and 
 much debauch your own Spirits: What if by 
 fuch doings, ye be laying a ground for this chal- 
 lenge : Sir,you lived in fuch a place,under fuch 
 means and you fpent your time fo and fo, you 
 might have been fred from the guilt of mifpen- 
 ding of your time, and of your ignorance, had 
 you taken a part, or the whole time, and fpent 
 it in theftudy of Knowledge; would not this be 
 better for your Families, betrer for your Souls, 
 and better for your BodiesPwould it not prevent 
 much Sin, and much Reproach? And therefore, 
 if ye lay weight on the good of Soul andBodie, 
 beftow more time in the ftudy of Knowledge j 
 that Sin of tipling brings alongfr with ir many 
 other Sins and were it not well dene to put fome 
 Duty, and even this Duty in particular, in the 
 place of it ? Others of you, tharDrinkandTipIe 
 not away fo much of your time, ye know what 
 time ye fpend walking on the Plain-ftones, and 
 inpratling and talking of idle and unedifying 
 fubjetts, in Drolling and Jetting, or in fitting 
 over the Fire ; (as we nfe ro fpeak ) in your 
 houfes, doing nothing; when will ye rakef«ime 
 of that time, in feeking after Knowledge ? Ci- 
 thers of you, t' at follow your Callings, will ye 
 
 Verfe it. 317 
 
 leave your Work a little fooner than ye ufe to 
 do, on the Saturnday evening, or take the 
 Sabbath afternoon foi tbis Work ; fome of you 
 may ftudy Knowledge in your Shops, others 
 may do it in your Houfes, if ye would but give 
 over to walk up and down the Streets, when yc 
 are not ac all called to do fo. 3. Make Confer- 
 ence to improve the means of Knowledge which 
 ye have ; read efpecially the Bible, andalfothe 
 grounds of Religion, compendioufly fummedin 
 the Catechifms, leiTer and larger ; ye have fre- 
 quent Preaching and Catechifing at every Dyet, 
 iludy to get fomething, and put every days lef- 
 fon to another, and this would, through Gods 
 blefling, increafe your KnowledgeiForinftance, 
 take this LefTon to day ; that nothing can Ju- 
 ftifie but the Righteoufnefs of Chrift, laid hold 
 on by Faith; take another with you the next day 
 and let not one days LciTon moulder out ano- 
 ther; Let the Husband and the Wife, the Chil- 
 dren, and Servants, compare their Notes, or 
 what they remember of Sermons together ; be 
 often fpeaking of what ye hear in yourFamilies, 
 ye have, it may be, fome Neighbours, who 
 would be content that ye ccme in to them; or, 
 it may be they haveChildren who can help you, 
 make ufe of fuch means and perfons, and that 
 would both help your Knowledge, and evidence 
 your Love ( when fincerely g^ne about ) to the 
 Communion of Saints, 4- Be about the ufe of 
 the Means, with an eye to God for His blefling 
 on them, pray to Him for opened eyes, and that 
 He would give you an undemanding to know 
 Him; There is a ftupidity in many of you, 
 that makes all that ye hear to go by you, and as 
 it tvere, to flyde off you ; So that if it were 
 kno*n, fome would wonder how there could 
 be fuch ignorance amongft them that frequent- 
 ly hear the Gofpel 5. Any light of Knowledge 
 that ye have, be tender of it in yourpra&ice ; 
 God ordinarly refufeth to give more, where that 
 which He hath g'ven is not uled well ; where 
 Alen do not like to retain God in their knowledge* or 
 where the truth is detained in tin nghteoujniJs,\: pro* 
 vocketh God to give up to a reprobat mind? -s 
 the Apoftle tells us, Rctn 1. If ye continue in my 
 word ( fays Chrifr, JsbnS.n, 32. ) then are ye my 
 d'Sciples indeed, and ye jhall kr.ow the truth, ar. d the 
 truth jh.tll ft )\ufr;e I And, Join 7. 17. If ar,y 
 ■man will d) his will, . /;/ jhall b:ow of the (ItSrpH 
 ther it be of God, or whether I fpeak of my J elf. He 
 that goeth confeientioufly and constantly about 
 toe Duties ofHolinefs rhat he knou.s, (fat he 
 muft make ccnlcienceof all, elfe In wi' thrive 
 in none ) he (hall increafe in Knowledge. 
 There are alfoffcj-e things that more gcr, 
 
3 IS lfai»h$%i 
 
 Jy conduce to Knowledge, as that, Magiftiats, 
 Minifters , Elders, Parenrs , Matters , of 
 Schools, and Matters of Families do their re- 
 fpe&ive Duties, i. Then let me defire you to 
 fee to the Education of the youth ; I mean of 
 the Children of the meaneftand worft.to bring 
 them up at Schools ; It*s fad to confider, how 
 many young Ones of gracelefs* carelcfs, and ig- 
 norant Parents* are brought up to the Devil, it 
 were no great bufinefs to help them that cannot 
 entertain them at School ; O.' that we were all 
 willing to contribute forfucha work, it might 
 help them to know fomcthing of God, or to be 
 civil at leaft, it would alio remove the excufe, 
 that we frequently meet with from many,to wit, 
 that they cannot read j And if Parents will not 
 beferioufly concerned in this themfelves, God 
 requires us to take fome courfe to bring up their 
 young Ones in the Knowledge of God ; and 
 trucly, if this external eafie mean be neglected, 
 we can expeft little of other means; if this were 
 minded, it might be an ornament to the City, 
 an J the burden would not be lb very great, if it 
 were once put to the tryal ; will ye that are Pa- 
 rents, andable,be inducid to put yourChildren 
 to the School* if ye be not able, make it known 
 I know there are fome who will drink more in 
 one day fometimes, than would keep their Chil- 
 dren at the School for many days; and I fup- 
 pofe, that there are but few who can fay, that it 
 is meer neccflity t :at kt> them, are there any of 
 you that can fay, ye would fain bring up your 
 Children at School, and ye fpake to Magilrrats, 
 or ro Chuich-fefiinn for help, and that it was re- 
 futed you ? It's your part to feck for help, that 
 are realty unable, and it lyeth on you, to fee to 
 it your felves who are able ; And while ye nei- 
 ther do your felves, nor leek help from others, 
 ye are utterly in-txcuf.ible. H I would com- 
 mend to you the neceility ofufing privat means 
 and that ye would not lay all the weight ofyour 
 profiting on your being in the Church, and on 
 your coming to be Careclnkd,or to hear others 
 Carechifedi but give diligence in pr vat to come 
 to Knowledge, elfc it will be long ere ye thrive 
 and profit, ye that are in one Family, when ye 
 come home from Sermon, confer together now 
 and then, and befpeaking ot whatye hear on the 
 Sabbath, betwixt Sabbath-days, and when ye 
 
 Vtyft if. Serm. 57. 
 
 can get any to anfwer a Doubt, or Queition to 
 you, make ufe of the opportunity, though we 
 could go through you all twice a year inExami- 
 nation and Catechifing.it will not do ytur turn 
 if this be neglecled ; But as ye would be care- 
 ful to keep your Children atSchool,fo ye would 
 be bufie in your Iramilies, at ail Familic Duties; 
 This was wont to be the old way of Gods Peo- 
 ple, and it would make hearingof Sermonspro- 
 ritabJe. 3. I would commend you to careful 
 attendance on, and confeiencious ufe-makingof 
 the Miniftry of the Word, the great ordinary 
 mean of Knowledge, and that ye who are moft 
 concerned would be thinking of the great con- 
 veniency, if not necefliry, ofmoc Labourers ; 
 if it were known how numerous a People we arc 
 how many hundereds every me who labours a« 
 mong you, hath under his charge, how little 
 time we have to go through you all particular- 
 ly, and what abounding ignorance there is in 
 the greateft part of the People ; I fuppofe it 
 would be thought, that the charge of any one of 
 us might require two to difcharge it fuitably, 
 which we do notprefs to fpare our own labour 
 and pains, but to (fir you up to a necelTary Du- 
 tie, the effecting of the thing is not impoflible, 
 and it is a work and dutie well becoming you, 
 and worthy of you; the Lord Himfelf perl wade 
 you to mind it. I mail clofe up all with a Ca- 
 veat, or two. r. Beware ofplacing overmuch 
 Religion in Knowledge! or of being puft up 
 with your Knowledge, when ye attain to any 
 meafu«eofit. 2. Beware of counting meer 
 Knowledge to be Faith, but when ye come to 
 know and difcern the Objeft, be fure that ye 
 take hold of, and reft upon that which the eye 
 of Faith difcerns ; the Land is to fay fo afar off, 
 and within the Vail, caft therefore rhe Anchor 
 of Hoperhere. 3. Beware of thinking, that ye 
 meerly ofyour felves can acquire any found 
 and faving Knowledge, or pump it out ofyour 
 UWts; we bid you not ftudy the Knowledge 
 of God as ye ftudy other common things, there 
 art here requifite humility, fear, Teverence,love 
 to the Truth dependence on God, prayer to 
 Him, and acknowledgment of Him : Let me a- 
 ga.nferioufly ermmend this ftudy to you, and 
 through it let me commend CHrift unto you, 
 whom to know is lift sternal, to Him be praifc for 
 ever. 
 
 ..- 
 
 SERMON 
 
 J* 7 
 
SERMON LVIIL 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XL 
 
 Verfe g r.— ty £/; knowledge JbaB my righteous Jew am jufiifa many, fir ht JhaS Uar their iniquitiet. 
 
 V9 
 
 IF anything fliould be ftudied with dih« 
 gence,fure this fliould be, even to be clear 
 how we may come to be at peace withGod 
 how we may be abfolved and juttified, 
 when we come to reckon before Him; It 
 is no curiofity, fiogly and diligently to make 
 inquiry here ; although the unfaitbfulnefs, and 
 pride of fome unhappy men, have made the fhi- 
 dy ofitunpleafant, by corrupting, and making 
 crooked Gods plain and ftraight way of nuking 
 of our peace with Him, and of our being Jufti- 
 fied before Him. 
 
 We entered to fpeak of the great mids, or 
 mean by which thisRighteoufnefs, that Juftifies 
 a Sinner before God is derived, or,by which we 
 come to have a Title to, and an interelt in it : 
 And as we have great need to be clear in that 
 RIghteoufnefs.wbich will be a relevant defence 
 before the Tribunal of God's Juftice, that we 
 propofe not one that will be caften,and rejected; 
 So we have as great need to be clear in the way, 
 how that Righteoufnefs may be made ours,feing 
 many are, and will be condemned, notwithftan- 
 ding of ChrifVs Righteoufnefs, becaufe there is 
 no application of >t made by them to themfelves. 
 We Ihew you that by Knowledge here is mean- 
 ed Faith, as the Scriptures in the New Tefta- 
 raent ( which hold out Justification to be by 
 Faith ) make clear : It being evident, that no 
 meerlyfpeculative Knowledge can intitle to this 
 Juftification ; yet it's called Knowledge, i Be- 
 caufe Faith neceflarily prefuppofes Knowledge; 
 If it be not a part of it, yet certainly it's a necef- 
 iary antecedent of it. 2. Becaufe, though there 
 be not an evidence to reafon in all the things 
 which we believe, yet there is a certainty; and 
 Faith gets this Name, becaufe it makes men cer- 
 tain of thefe things which it takes up, as if it 
 were a Science or Knowledge. 3. To diftin- 
 guifh it from all other forts of Knowledge, and 
 10 bound and include ir, moftly at leaft within 
 this Object, Chrifl t to fpeak fo j Therefore it's 
 faid, by his knowledge, or as the Word is better 
 rendered, by the knowledge of him Jhall my righteous 
 (ervant juflifie many ; Which fhews, that it's not 
 knowledge taken largely that he means of, but 
 knowledge with refpect to Chrifr, the great Ob- 
 ject of it; asitis, 1 Ccr. 2. a. I detiniiined to 
 know nothing among you, but Jefus Chrifi, and bin* 
 crucified; And faith Paul, Philip, j. 8. / count 
 ad things to be but lojs, fr (he txcelltncy oj the know. 
 
 ledge of Jefus Chrifi my Lord. Ye will ask then, 
 how doch Knowledge and Faith differ, feing 
 wherever there Is Faith there is Knowledge, 
 though not contrary ways, wherever there is 
 Knowledge there is Faith ? We (hall not ftand 
 upon this, but (bortly we conceive, thatKnow- 
 ledge difcoveisthe Object, and Faith takes hold 
 of the Object, and reits upon it ; Knowledge is 
 the Eye of the New Creature, discovering fuch 
 a thing;and Faith is the hand that caccheth hold 
 of, and grips that thing that is difcovered, Or 
 thus, Knowledge is like to the Head, that takes 
 up fuch a thing in a Notion, and Faith is as the 
 Heart that clofes with it ; Therefore, Rom. 10. 
 It's faid, With the heart man believes unto righteouf- 
 nefs, and with the mouth confejfon is made unto Salva- 
 tion: I know many take Knowledge for Faith, 
 which at the belt is but Hittoiical Faith ; and 
 it's as if a man who is a drowning, mould fee 
 another calling in a Rop to him ; and he fees, 
 and knows fuch a thing, but takes no hold of it, 
 and therefore perifhes ; or, as a Sea minsdifco- 
 veringgood ground tocaft Anchor on, but not 
 cafting forth his Anchor thereon, is expofed to 
 the violence of the Storm, and fo Ship-wrack* 
 ed ; Knowledge difeover the ground, but Faith 
 cafts the Anchor onit-' It's much to get you 
 brought up to know, but much more to get you 
 brought to know the difference that is betwixt 
 Faich and Knowledge ; Hence it is, that many 
 fay, that they believed ever fince they knew 
 good by ill;becaufe they never locked onFaith, 
 but as the knowing, profefling and declaring 
 fuch a thing to be true ; but it's one thing to 
 know a Phyfician, and another thing toimploy 
 him, and to make ufe of his Phyfick. 
 
 We fpakcofthis general Doftriue,that know- 
 ledge is a neceflary thing, as being prefuppofed 
 to Faith, and particularly rhe Knowledge of 
 Jefus Chrifr ; Therefore it's called, The know- 
 ledge of him ; Becaufe it's Chrifr Jefus which is 
 the Object of Faith ; Therefore our ftudy of 
 Knowledge would especially be wirh reference 
 to him ; There are Two forts of Perfons, who are 
 not utterly ignorant, and yet are defective 
 here. 1. There are forhe that 'ove and fludy to 
 be Schollars but (.hriit isnot the Object of'rfiejf 
 Knowledge ; it's not the knowledge J>> ken < f- 
 here>to be well skilled inPhilofophy inTongue's 
 ia Maihcrnaticks, &e Which we difcommem* 
 T t z noc 
 
not ; nor is it to be able, fpeculatively to 
 difput and difcourfe of Divinity, but it's the 
 Knowledge of Chrift's Righteoufnefs, and to 
 ftudy experimentally, and practically to make 
 life of it, and to be cloathed with it i as one 
 fays well i if we k>iow him we fytoiw all, and if we 
 know not him, though we know all, we know nothing ; 
 Therefore though Paul wis a very learned man, 
 and a great Schollar, yet fayes he, l Cor. 2. 2. 
 I determined to know nothing among you, but Chrift 
 Jefus, tmi him crucified. A id. Sort, are fuch as 
 want not aff ction to Truth, nor love to Piety, 
 yet to them the iludying of this Doftrine, that 
 concerns Chrift, and His Offices, is fome- 
 what tafttlefs, and wearifome ; they would be 
 at hearing of Duties, Cafes, and Queftions fpo- 
 ken • f; though we may in fome refpeft fay, that 
 none of thefe are Objects of Faith properly, at 
 leaf! as it is Juftifying ; but means and midfes to 
 guide you to make ufe ofj and to carry fuitab- 
 ly to the priviledges that are in the Covenant - ; 
 Hence many have good affection, that are very 
 fh-llow in t'eir Knowledge of Chrift, and think 
 but 'ittle f preaching, and Books that hold 
 Out the Doctiine concerning Chrift, becaufe 
 they come not in fo clofs to practical Things 
 and Cafes, whereas if they were better fettled in 
 the knowledge of Chrift, it would anfwer all 
 their Cafes, and loufe all their Queftions and 
 Doubts, let therefore thefe be well lorked to, 
 and this by no means be naufeated, or flighted; 
 Though knowledge of the Truths of God be ne- 
 ceiTary, yet it's efpecially the knowledge of 
 Chrift that is nectflary. 
 
 There is another thing fuppofed here, that 
 ferves to clear the Doctrine of Juftiflcation, 
 which we fliall Okfervt, ere we fpeak of Faith it 
 felfparticularly, becaufe it's antecedent to it, 
 and it's this, That the Gofpel is a necefTary ex- 
 ternal mean, for promoving ofour Juftification; 
 for Faith as we havefhewed, prefuppofes Know- 
 ledge, and Knowledge prefuppofes the Revela- 
 tion of Gods mind in the Gofpel, and if know- 
 ledge be necelTary to Faith, then the Gofpel mud 
 be neceflary ; for it's faid, Rom. f. 17. That 
 by it the righteoufnefs of God is revealed from faith to 
 faith; There is great need to obferve all the fteps 
 of this Doctrine well, and this among the reft ; 
 The Gofpel is not a thing that bred in natures 
 breaft, or a thing that men by nature have the 
 Knowledge of; Nay,it's fooliihnefs to the wife 
 Men of the Wond, as we may fee, 1 Cor, 1. 
 roe ( fays the Apo([]e) preach Chrift crucified, to the 
 Jews a Humbling block and to the Greeks foolijhnefs ; 
 Faith comes by hearing, as it is, R f m. 10. 17. and 
 hearing by the word of God - } and in the fame Chap, 
 
 Wit. Serm. c&. 
 
 •v. 1 4, 15, How fhall they believe in him of whom 
 
 they have not heard? and h.w fhall they hear without 
 a preacher ? and how jhali they preach except they be 
 fevt ? Where the Apoftle clearly, and convince 
 ingly infers the neceflity of a lawfully called 
 Miniftry for preaching of the Gofpel, and for 
 carrying on the Work ofjuftifying and Saving 
 Faith : The reafonis, becaufe, if there be a ne- 
 ceflity of Faith, and if no Faith can be without 
 knowledge, then there muft neflarily be fome- 
 thingto reveal it; I fpeak here of the ordinary 
 way" of Gods revealing Himfelf what He may 
 do extraordinarly, towards Dumb and Deaf per- 
 fons, to Idiots and young Children, I medle not 
 with that, but leave it to Himfelf as a Secret, 
 which Fie thinketh not fit to impart to us: I call 
 the Gofpel the external mean of promoving our 
 Juftification, in Four refpects.^ 1. fiscaufe it 
 lays before us the Object ofour Faith, for in 
 it, ( as it is, Rom. 1. 17. ) is the righteoufnefs of 
 God revealed, &c. and Rom, 3.21, 22. Its faid, 
 Now the righteoufnefs of God without the law is manL 
 fefted, Sec. We would never know the way how 
 a Sinner comes to be at peace with Cod. and to 
 bejuftified without the Gofpel. 2. Becaufe it 
 not only reveals the Objcftof Faith,butit makes 
 offer of it; and hereby a Sinner that hears the 
 Gofpel, hathwarrand to imbrace and make ufe 
 of Jefus Chrift's Righteoufnefs, and to reft u» 
 pon it ; and therefore if tentation fhould fay to 
 the Sinner, though Chrift died, what is that for 
 thee ? Faith hath this to reply, the Gofpel calls 
 me, and that warrands me to come to Him, and 
 to make ufe of his Death ; the Promife, as it is, 
 A8. 2 . Is, to as many as the Lord our God fhall call ; 
 And in this refpect, the Promife is our Right 
 and Evident, whereby we come to have a claim 
 to Chrift. 3. Becaufe God makes ufe of the 
 Word preached, for ingaging ofiinners to Chrift 
 and for making them to take hold of Him ; it's 
 true, that it is not powerful of it felf, and with- 
 out the Spirit, yet it's the ordinary mean that 
 God makes ufe of; Therefore fayeth the Apo- 
 ftle, 2 Cor. 10. 4. The weapons of our warfare are 
 not carnal\ though they be weak in themfelves, 
 yet they are mighty through God, to the p tilling down 
 of Strong holds: And in this refpect the Gofpel not 
 only offers Life, but through Gods blefling, as 
 3 mean begets Life; and by the Spirit accomp- 
 anying ir, Sinners are ingaged to take hold of 
 Chrift, and to reft on Him for Salvation. 4/y. Be- 
 caufe this Word being taken hold of, and elofed 
 with, contains the pronouncing of the Sinners 
 Jbfohitur, or of His abfolving Sentence, when he 
 fayes, If thoubelievefl, thou (halt b* juftifi'.d andja* 
 ved % upon fuppofitioa ©f believing, the Sentence 
 
 (lands 
 
Serm; 53. . Jfaiah ^. 
 
 ftands good to the Believer, TVou art pail from 
 death to life j There being no condemnation tt them 
 wh* are in Chriji Jtfus. 
 
 The I. Ufe Serves to clear that which we hin- 
 ted at before, in naming this for a caufe of Ju- 
 {tification, though it be the external inflrumental 
 caufe, yet it is a caufe. 
 
 The 2. Ufe Serves co teach you to put a Price 
 ontheGofpel; It's the bane both of prophane 
 fecure Sinners, and of a fort of vain and giddy 
 People among us. that they prize not the preach- 
 ing of the Gofpel, as the external inflrumental 
 Caufe, that concurred in the Justification of Sin- 
 ners ; but if ever ye be abfoived, ye will be be- 
 holden to this preached Gofpel ; I will not fay 
 always to the preaching, but fure to the Gofpel 
 that is preached . This on the one hand reproves 
 thefe who will be ready to fay, that they have 
 Faith, who yet never knew the Gofpel to do 
 them good, and fuch alio who feldom come to 
 hear, and who never care for preaching; and 
 upon the other hand, it reproves thefe, who, 
 when they fall a tottering.reelingand wavering 
 and begin to incline to error, c<<ft at the preach- 
 ing of the Gofpel, having, it may be, flighted 
 it before in their hearts ; whither when Satan 
 once gets them, he tofks them in a great Mea- 
 fure, as he pleafes,*nd makes themfo giddy,by 
 frequent turning about, that they fcarcely leave 
 to themfelves a foot-broad of Scripture-ground 
 to ftand upon : But as ye refpett the glory of 
 Chrift, the good of your Souls, and yourabfolu* 
 tion before God, efteem much of the Gofpel ; 
 For it's the power of God tofalvation ; And if ever 
 ye come to Heaven, it will be by this Gofpel,as 
 the external mean ; Thefe Nations that never 
 heard it will think you to b- moft defperatly 
 wicked and miferable, who have had it, and yet 
 fo unworthily flighted it. 
 
 For pi effing of this ufe, a little, Take Two or 
 Three D.nclons in reference to it. I. Walk under 
 the Conviction of the necefTity of the Gofpel, 
 for there is no abfolution without it ; It is true, 
 God might have taken another way, but on the 
 fuppjfition, that Fie hath appointed Faith to be 
 a mids tojuftification, and that Faith fuppofes 
 Knowlcdge,tben certainly Knowledge dothfup- 
 pofe a necertity of hearing the Gofpel ; ye will 
 never value preaching, nor any other Ordinance 
 ofChrift, if ye fee not a neceflity of them, and 
 know them not to be for your good 2, Study 
 to know what is the main End and Dcfif{n of, 
 and what is the advantage that is to be had by 
 the Ordinances ; many come to the preach- 
 ing of the Gofpel, to hear and learn fome LdTon 
 for informing their Judgment ; fome ccme to 
 
 Verf. |t. ( 
 
 get Directions, in reference to fome particular 
 Dutie, fome to get a doubt loofed, none of 
 which are to be difTallowed in themfelves, but 
 rather info fartobe commended, but how few 
 come to it, as to a mean to carry on, and bring 
 about their Juftificarion ; and to bring them out 
 of black Nature, into a (Tare of Grace ? It's the 
 fum of Pauls preaching, and the end of it as the 
 Divine Hiftorian fhews, ASb. 26". 18. ft open blind 
 eyes, to turn them from darkntfs to light .and from 
 the power of tatan unto God, th.it they mny receive form 
 givmefs of fins, and an inheritance among them that 
 are fantiified by faith that is in him. 3 . Aim in y our 
 practice co carry on this Defign, even to put a 
 clofe to the Treaty anent Juftificarion betwixt 
 God and you ; when ye come to the Preaching, 
 and hear us declare in the name of the Lord, 
 that a believing Sinner hath accefs to have his 
 Sin taken away, and to be Juftified through the 
 imputation of Chrifts Righteoufnefs ; ye would 
 ftep to, hearing this Proclamation made of the 
 pardon of Sin, by one of Chrifts Ambaffadors 
 in His Name, and accept of, embrace and cor- 
 dially clofe with it, if it were juft now, at this 
 very occalion. 4. This would be the great defign 
 both of Preachers and Hearers ; ofPreachers to 
 follow that way of pnac'i'ng moft, that layes 
 openthe my fiery of Faith in Chriili and of Hea- 
 rers to love that way of preaching beft , not 
 fo much that which fills the head with Notions 
 as that which ferves to help to clofe a Bargain be- 
 twixt God and you ; This was Pauls great defign 
 in preaching, as we fee, 1 Cor. 2. 2. and 1. Cor. 
 1.23, 24. He no doubt taught other things,but 
 he compended all in this, or levelled all at this, 
 as the fcop, and this was his main defign in his 
 preaching, and prefling ofother things. 
 
 The 3d ufe. Serves to make a fad difcovery of 
 many of you ; is this Gofpel the eternal mean 
 ofjultification ? Then fee if ye ever knew any 
 benefit ye got by it ; ye will be like to fay, that 
 ye are in friendfhip with God : but how I pray 
 you came ye by it ? There is little change to the 
 better in your Knowledge, and as little edds in 
 your Practice, ye are as much given to Cove- 
 toufnefs,Tipling,Lying,S wearing. Pride, Vanity, 
 &c» as ever; and arc thefe, think ye, the fruits 
 of Jufrificition ? do ye thinktbat to bejuftirica- 
 tion, which is neither from the word, nor con- 
 form to it ? If God would commend this to your 
 hearts, I think it might alarm you to more fe- 
 rious thoughtsr f yourComlirion ; I put it to 
 your Conference, if ye can conceive any differ* 
 ence betwixt you, and thefe tint r.cvcr heard 
 the Gofpel ? ye are baptized, and hear pre ;chlng 
 &l But, alas, it's no»j: of thcic that Juftiiics;thcy 
 
 are 
 
331 tfsiah $} 
 
 are only ufeful as they lead you forward to the 
 ufe-mak : ng of Jefus Chrift : Again, let me ask 
 you, what cffctt hath preaching upon you?Hath 
 it convinced you of Sin ? no, how then can it 
 convince you of Righteoufnefs? Therefore, if 
 ye would make fure Juftification indeed, try it 
 by rhs Word. I. What was it that put you to 
 feek after Righteoufnefs, and Juftification? was 
 ye ever convinced of che need of it ? and if ye 
 have b^en convinced, was it by preaching of the 
 Word ? 2. If ye have been convinced of your 
 Sin and Mifery; where fought ye for a remedy? 
 was ye led in through the Word, to feek aPlai- 
 frer to heal that wound of Convi&ion? 3. What 
 was it that warranted you to take hold of tnat 
 Word, or that gave you a right to it? I know 
 that ye will fay, that it was Chrift holden out 
 in the Word, that ye did betake your felvesto, 
 but what weight laid ye on Gods call in the 
 Gofpel, Wrtrranding you to lay hold on the Pro- 
 mife of Righteoufnefs,and pardon of ^in through 
 Chrift ? I know there are many, who though 
 there had not been a call from God, would have 
 confidently ftepped forward to the Promife; but 
 were ys ever like to Peters hearers, pnekedin your 
 hearts, and made to fay,»»?w and brethren what fbaB 
 we do ? Or, being fome way pricked, was it 
 Gods call holding out the Promife, to you, and 
 to your children, and to as many as our God fhall call, 
 that brought you to reft on the Promife ? God 
 hath defigned preaching for this end; and ye 
 would try, if ever ye was put to it, to look to 
 Gods call, that gave you warrand to believe; 
 for there is nothing more certain than this,that 
 wherever Faith is ficker and well built, its 
 grounded on Gods call, and doth take His Faith- 
 fulnefs for it's Back-bond ( to lay fo) and War* 
 rand. 
 
 More particularly, we come to fpeak of this 
 Word, as it refpefts t\\c inward mean } or the i'w- 
 rt>nrd niftrumental caufe, of Juftification, which is 
 Faftb; for there is this order and method. i.The 
 Sinner is convinced, and madefenfible of Sin, 
 and brought to reckon for it, in his own Con- 
 fer nee before God, a. There is thrifts being 
 holden forrh interpofir.g himfelf to take on the 
 .Sinners Debt, and fatisfying the Juftice of God 
 for it, which is the meritorious Caufe. %dly. 
 There is Gods oifer in the Gofpel, holding out 
 Thrifts Righteoufnefs to loft Sinners, and cal- 
 ling them to make ufe of it. 4/y. Upon this 
 there is Fairh's receiving of the Offer, and reft- 
 ing upon Chrift, and his Righ-eoufnefs foiLife, 
 which ( to fpe:k fo) is the inward inftrumental 
 Cnufe taking hold of rhe external, and as I Hid ' 
 of Chrift in it. 5. And laftly follows Gods in> 
 
 Ptrfc »ri Jerm. jt« 
 
 puting the Righteoufnefs of Chrift to the Sin%^ 
 ner, and abfolving him, by vertue of thatRigfu 
 teoufnefs from the guilt of bis Sin, as if he hac 
 never finned. 
 
 In fpeaking of this inward inftrumentalCaufeJ 
 Five things would be cleared, which we fuppofe 
 are implyed in the Words. i.Theneccflity of 
 Faith, holden out, as the Mean* by which Ju- 
 ftification iscomc by. 2. Theimmcdiat Object 
 ofjuftifying Faith, and that isChrifts bufferings 
 or Jefus Chrift, as Suffering, traveling in Soul, 
 and paying our Debt* 3. TheAcl of this Faith, 
 on this Object, which is not a bare fpecuhtive 
 Knowledge,or ameer Hiftorical Faith, but fome- 
 thing that realiy a&s en Chrift, withrefpeft to 
 His Sufferings. 4. The effect of this Faith ta- 
 king hold on Chrift, and His Sufferings, and that 
 is J unification, which is not the making a Sin- 
 ner to be Juft, by inherent Righteoufnefs, but 
 the actual abfolving of feim from the Gu.lt of 
 Sin, and from God's Curfe,the changing of this 
 State, and the bringing him from under the 
 Curfe,into good terms with God. 5. The manner 
 how Faith concurres in producing, or bringing 
 about rhis effect; wherein we have this genera), 
 that Faith harh a peculiar influence in the Jufti- 
 fication of a Sinner, that no good work nor any 
 other Grace h^th ; There is none of all thefe 
 things but it is in this miferably declined gene- 
 ration ( wherein the D^vil fets himfelf mightily 
 to obfeure Truth, as the Lord by the Gofpel 
 doth clear it ) controverted, I fhall only endea- 
 vour to clear the pofitive part, and let you fee 
 what is Truth in thefe thingsj whereby ye may 
 6e brought to difcover,and abhor the errors that 
 are contrary thereto. 
 
 The 1. DoBtine then is this ; That before a 
 man can be Juftified and Ab'olved from theCurfe 
 of God due to him for Sin, there is a ncctffity of 
 Faith in our Lord Jefus Chrift; This is clear 
 from the Words, and from what hath heen faid 
 in the opening of them up ; If it be by kis know- 
 ledge or the knowledge of him, that many are )uftified, 
 t'. en it cannot be that they are Juftified before 
 they come to the Knowledge of Him, or f om 
 Eternity ; only in palling, take two or three 
 words of Adverifement,and thtn we fhall con* 
 firm the Doctrine, r. When we fpeak of Ju- 
 ftification, it's in refpectof our being abfolved 
 and fred,not from the pollution ofSin,butfrom 
 the guilt of it, as it makes us obnoxious to the 
 Curie, the clearing of the effect will clear this 
 more. 2. When we fpeak of Faith, it's not to 
 he underftood as it were a Declaration, or Ma- 
 nifeftation of our Juftification ; Or, itisnotto 
 be underftcod of Faitu in thehighc of full alTu- 
 
 rance, 
 
Serm. jt. ,. f . t *** fj« 
 
 *ance,and and a$ it 1$ a plerophory,but of Fa:th, 
 «s ic is a hying hold upon Cnrift. 3. When we 
 fpeak of the neceflity of Faith, in order tojufti- 
 fication, we mean hot, as if there were fuch an 
 ab'folure neceflity of it in it felf, that God could 
 not dootherways, or Juftifie without it; but 
 we mean a neceflity, in refpeft of the order 
 which God hath laid down, and held forth in 
 the Gofpel, which is by the Knowledge of his 
 Son to Juftifie many; And from thefe confidera- 
 tions many Arguments of our Adverfaries are 
 made very little regardable, yea utterly void. 
 
 For Confirmation of the Doctrine then, 1 .Con- 
 sider thefe Scriptures that exprcfly limit,€onfine 
 and bound Juftincation,and pardon of Sin to the 
 Perfon that doth believe ; So Rom. 1: 17. The 
 righteoafvefs of God is revealed from f*uh to faith % as 
 it is written^ the juft fhall live by faith. Rom. 3. 
 24, 3 j. Being juftified freely by his grace, through the 
 redemption that is in Chrifl Jefus, whom God hath fet 
 forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, 
 &C Col 3. 22. God hath concluded all under fin, 
 that the promife by faith of Jefus Chrifl might be gi- 
 ven to them that believe. Aft. 13. 38,19 Through 
 this man is preached unto you theforgivenejs oj fins, and 
 by him, all that believe are juftifie d fr em all things, 
 from which they could not be juftified by the law of 
 Mofes : Confult the Scriptures, and ye will find, 
 that Paul clears both thefe Queftions. 1. Who 
 are Juftified ? All that believe. 2. When are 
 they juftified? Whe/i they believe. 2/y. Con- 
 sider thefe Scriptures, that place all men before 
 believing into a ftate of Wrath, and they will 
 furnifh a fecond ground for this, as John 3. 18. 
 He that believethon him, is not condemned: buthethat 
 believeth not, is condemned already, ht lyes under 
 the Covenant or Works, and is condemned, as 
 confidered in himfelf, though God may have a 
 jpurpofe to make a change of his ftate ; So, Eph. 
 
 2. I, 2, 3 Tou hath he quickened* who were dead 
 in trefpajfts and fins , wherein in rime pafi ye walked ', 
 and were children of wrath even as "thers, &C and 
 V. 1 2, 13s Wc were fometimes without Chrifl, being 
 aliens from the common-wealth r f ifrael, and (I rangers 
 from the Covenant of promife , without hope, and with, 
 out God in the world ; but now in Chrifl Jefus, ye who 
 Jometimes were far off. are made near by the blood of 
 Chrift ; and v. 8 By grace arc ye laved, through 
 faith, and that not of ) our felves, it is the gift of God, 
 not of workr, left any manjhuld boa ft It's Faith 
 thar givt-s the Title, which we had nor before. 
 
 3. Confider, That the Scriprure* do exprcfly 
 make b lieving to proceed Justification, and 
 make Justification to be an t ffrft, or ratfier a 
 Confequent of Faith, to which Faith necefl\rly 
 concuics, is'all thefe places, which .fcty that 
 
 .eve 
 
 Verf if. 3*3 
 
 we are Juftified by Faith in Cb rift, do clear, as 
 Rom. 5* 1. Being juftified by Faitb,we have peace 
 with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrifl \ which 
 place looks on Faiths concurring in Juft ification 
 with a kind of caufality, Ro?n. 3. 22, 25- Tke 
 right eoufnefs of God, which is by faith of Jefus Chrifl 
 unto all, and upon all them that believe &c- Ephef 
 a. 8. By grace are ye faved, through faith; See more 
 fully to this purpofe, Gal. 2. 16. where the A- 
 poftJe delignedly, as itwere,fets~ himfelf to con- 
 firm this Truth ; for fpeaking of the way, how 
 Sinners come to be Juftified, and as it were,en- 
 tring in the Debate, he fays ; Knowing that a man 
 is not juftified hy the works ef the law, but by tj^e faith 
 ofjejus Chrifl, even as we have believed in Jefus Chrifl, 
 that we might be juftified by the faith of Chrifl ; In 
 Which place we have three things confideiable, 
 to make out the point, 1. Hecompares the con- 
 curring of Faith, tojuftification, in the Cove- 
 nant of Grace, to the concurring of Works to 
 Juftification, or to the obtaining of Life, in the 
 Covenant of Works; as Works did Juftifie, in 
 the Covenant ofWoiks, fo does Faith in tru Co- 
 venant of Grace; Now certainly the performing 
 of Works, in the Covenant of Works, behoved 
 to go before Juftification that way, therefore th? 
 want of Works made Adam ro come fhort of 
 Juftification by Works. 2 He looks on Faith, 
 and fpeaks of it, as concurring tojuftification, 
 with a refpe&to Chrift, and never looks on it 
 in this matter, as a Grace considered in, and by 
 it felf, but as acting onChrift in a peculiar man- 
 ner. 3 In exprefs words, he fays, We have be* 
 Vteved in Chrifl Jefus, that we might be yuflified ; 
 which clearly implyes, that they could not be 
 Juftified before they believed, and we may well 
 and eafily gather,that thejuftincation here meant 
 is that which is real and actual, and not the de- 
 claring of a man to be juftified to Mimfelf elfe 
 Works might declare a man to be juftifit J to 
 himfelf, as well as Fjith ; but he contra«diftin- 
 guifhes Faith and Works here, andoppofes the 
 one to the other. 
 
 The 1. Ufe Serves frr clearing of this Truth, 
 That there is a neceflity of Faith's taking hold 
 of, and reftingon Chrift, ere we can be abfol- 
 ved and juftified, and fo both tb.tfe Liters of 
 Aminomians fall to the ground. 1. That by which 
 they ailert, that thefe uho are Juft ilied, 
 were juflified from Eternity, and were never 
 under God's Curie ; And :- That Faith is not 
 nectflary to the atta ning of Juftificatim, but 
 only ro a Perfon* know ledgcthat he is juirihVd; 
 and fo they fay, that Faith enters us not in t' e 
 
 Coven an r, 
 

 3H t !f*i*h. n- 
 
 Covenant, which is falfe, it being the terms, or 
 condition, on which God propofeth, and pro- 
 mifeth pardon in his Covenant; as is clear John 
 3. 18. Whoever believes jhall not be condemjud, but 
 jhall haie everlajfi?ig life; and M* s k 16. 16. He 
 that believes j and is baptized, Jhall be Javed* with 
 this opposition, He that bclievcth not jhall be dam. 
 ned', Faith being it which enters us in the Co- 
 venant; For either Sinners are Juftified before 
 they can be in Covenant with God, which isan 
 abfurdity, and inconfiftent with Gods Covenant, 
 or it's by Faith that they entered in the Cove- 
 venant : There is here alio a clear difcovery, 
 and confutation of a 3^ Error of Antinomians, 
 concerning the nature of Faith, that it is Perfons 
 believing, that they are Juftified, No, not fo, 
 For as the Apoftle fays, Gal. 2.16. We have 
 believed that we might be juftified, We believe, in 
 
 Mrf, it. Serm. S9* 
 
 order to Justification; and to fay, isAntinomians 
 do, would do much to infer univeifality of Ju- 
 stification, as well as ofRedemption ; It's Gods 
 Mercy, that this Error is difcovered, and that 
 we have His Truth pointing out to us, that Ju- 
 stification mud have Faith going before it, and 
 alongft with it. 
 
 The UUfe Serves to demonftratethe abfolute 
 neccflity of believing and taking hold of Chrift; 
 If Abfolution andjuitification be necefTary,Faitrt 
 muft be neceffary ; And therefore, if Chrift be 
 preached to you, and if by Him all that believe 
 arejuftified, take hold then, I befeech you of the 
 Offer, receive, embrace, clofe, with it, and let 
 your very hearts open to it, without which ye 
 can never expect to be Juftified, before the Tri- 
 bunal of God, Now let God Himfelf blefs this 
 fame Word to you through Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Verf. 
 
 SERMON LIX. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. XI. 
 
 •By his knowledge (hall my righteous fcrv ant juslifie many, for he jhall bear their iniquities 
 
 SOoie further and more ferious apprehen- 
 sions of our Sin and hazard would make 
 the reading ofthefcWords to be refrefh- 
 ful, and welcome to us; The ftayed 
 thoughts of an Arreftment laid upon 
 us, to appear bcforeGod's Tribunal,and to reck- 
 on for our Debt, would make us think much of 
 a Cautioner ; The wait whereof make the glad 
 tydings of the Gofpel to be taftlefs, and without 
 relifh ; This is the great fcopeof thefe Words, 
 to fhew how a Summoned Sinner anaigned.at 
 Gods Bar, maybe Juftified, and fred from the 
 charge that he is lyable fo ; For, fays the Pro* 
 phet, By his knowledge, who is the furety of the 
 Covenant, jhall many be jftficd. That which we 
 hfcleftat was this, that Faith in Chrift, receiv- 
 ing and refring on Flim, is neceffary for the at- 
 taining of Juftific?tion ; fo that in Gods way, 
 thefe are fo linked and knit together, that never 
 one fhall hejuftified but a Believer ; Though 
 there be a Righteoufnefs in Chrift, yet it (hall be 
 derived, and communicated to none come to 
 Age, but to thefe, who by Faith betake them- 
 felves to- Chrift: what way the Lord takes with 
 Infants, E!e£t Infjnts, I mean, is net that which 
 the Piophet aimes to fpeak of j though it be 
 Chrifts Righteoufnefs that is communicated to 
 them, as well as it is to rhem who are at Age, 
 yec a? to the manner cf communicating it, Gcd 
 hath His own way vhUh we know net' 
 
 Now that we may learn, infpeakingto thefe 
 Truths, not only to get fome Light for inform- 
 ing of our Judgment, but alfo fome help for 
 our practice ; take two or three Ufes, ere we 
 proceed any further. 
 
 Tic 1. Ufe then is, To let you fee the abfo- 
 lute neceiTity of believing in Chrift Jefus, and 
 th^t it is as necciTary for the attaining cf our 
 Justification, as Chrifts dyingis; For our Jufti- 
 fication isan effccl flowing from feveral Caufes, 
 and the want of any of them will mar iti There 
 muft neceiTarily be a concurrence of them all, 
 to bring it about, and therefore though there be 
 an excellent worth in Chrifts Righteoufnefs, yet 
 there is a neceflity of Faith, to lay hold uprn it, 
 and to make it ours » Gods order in the Cove- 
 nant bears this our, wherein he hath knit the 
 Promiie of Pardon of Sin, and ofjuftificationto 
 Faith, and refting on Chrift ; and there is good 
 reafon for it, As, 1. The Lord will have a Sin- 
 ner to know what he h obliged toChrift,which 
 Faith contributes much unto; for Faith Stands 
 not in the way of rhe freedom of Justification, 
 but rather commends it ; for the Lord would 
 have us know, that we hold our Life of Him ; 
 and not to receive Him by Faith, is an evidence 
 of higheSt preemption ; Therefore it's faid, 
 Rom. 4. 1 6. It is by faith that it might be of grace j 
 Grd hath chofen this way, that the freenefs of 
 His Gi.xfl, in pardoning of Sin rn^y be teen. 
 
 1 
 
Serm. 59. , „ lf*[* h *3« 
 
 t. The Lord by this lets the unbeliever know, 
 that the reafon of his own ruine is of himfelf ; 
 there fhall not be one unbeliever found, that 
 {lull have it to fay, that the blame Jay on God, 
 or on Chrift,becaufe the offer was made to them 
 on condition of receiving it by. Faith, and they 
 not performing the condition, their Guilt isag- 
 greged by their flighting of the offer : It's true, 
 that we are not now dealing with them, who 
 down right deny the Truth of this Do&nne ; 
 but, alas, what better are they, who do in their 
 practice deny it, and live fenflcfly and fecurely 
 under theGofpel ? We conceive that there are 
 ■Three forts ofPerfons, that have need of a Word 
 to be fpokento them here. 1. Such as live care- 
 lefly, and fecurely ( as we juft now faid ) as if 
 God required nothing of them at all j as they 
 were born, they know not how, fo they live, 
 they know not how ; and when they are preiTed 
 to*a change of their ftatc and way, they make 
 «xcufes,partly from the finfulnefs of their Na- 
 ture , that they can do nothing , partly 
 fiom the abundant Grace of God , that He 
 mufr do all ; But it will never excufe you, 
 that ye wanted Grace, and had a Sinful Na- 
 ture, for whom, I pray, can ye blame for it ? 
 ye that make a bachel of his mercy, it* $e con* 
 tinue to do fo, fhall never get good of it ; For 
 He hath faid that He will Juuifle and fave none 
 but tne Believer; there is none otiier that hath 
 the prpmife of Pardon, it is not made to any 
 thing that is to be broughtforth 5 ordone by your 
 own ftrength,* or by the ftrength of Nature, or 
 of free will; But God hath laid down this order 
 and method, and made it known that ye fhould 
 believe, and receive the offer ofChrift in the 
 Gofpel; renounce your own Righreoufnefs,and 
 betake you to ChriftsRighteoufnefs, otherways 
 ye cannot on good ground expefl: to be Juili- 
 fied. 2. Others will let about many things that 
 are good ; but the Works of believing they can 
 never be brought to mind or owne, they will 
 make a fort of Confcience of Prayer, of keeping 
 the Church, of reading the Scriptures, eK\ But 
 to give obedience to the Command of Believing, 
 they mind it not, they can live and die with- 
 out it ; This was the woful and Soul-ruining 
 prattice cfthe Jtwt of old, as we are told, Rom. 
 9. They took much pains to come byRightcouf- 
 nefs, but they attained it not, bee aufe they fought if 
 not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law, for 
 they flumbled at that stumbling {lone-, when they had 
 gone part of the way, as it were, and come to 
 the Stone of believing there tiiey fell and brake 
 th*|r necks; Hence there are many who pro" 
 mife Heaven t<> themfelves and think that they 
 have done fometbing for it> who yet never laid' 
 
 M- '*• , its 
 
 hold on Chriit. for their Juftiflcatien ; but let 
 me tell you, that though you ccu;d go the 
 greateft: length inHolinefs that ever any did fince 
 Mams fall, it will not avail you, if ye neglect 
 Faith in Chrift; I fay not this to diffwade you 
 from the Duties of Holinefs, Gcd forbid; buc 
 to divert you fromfeekingjuitification by themj 
 ftudy the Duties of Holinefs, but feek always 
 by any means to be found in Chriit, and in His 
 Righreoufnefs, and not in the Righreoufnefs of 
 your Duties, as to your Juftification ; It is true 
 none that have any tollwable meafureof Know- 
 ledge, will profefs down right, that they lean 
 to holy Duties, yet many are fo ignorant, that 
 they cannot diftinguifh, betwixt Faith and 
 Works , and there are not a few, who have 
 a hope of Heaven, fuch. as it is, who never knew 
 any thing of the exercife of believing. A ^d t 
 Sort are thefe who becaufe of fome common 
 favours that they have received, as evidences of 
 Gods care and kindnefs, conclude their Jufti- 
 flcation ; It may be fome have had now and 
 then deep convi&ions, or have win to Tears in 
 Prayer, or at a Sermon: Others it may be, 
 have had fome joy now and then, at hearing 
 the Word } Others will it may be dream of 
 fuch and fuch Heavenly things, and have, as 
 they fuppofe a vificn of them in their fleep.and 
 fome joy will follow on it, when they are awa- 
 ked ; Others may have met with many delive- 
 ries by Sea and Land, and God hath dealt well 
 with them, and their Children, in external 
 things, but alas, thefe things may befall unbe- 
 lievers , not one of them, nor all of them to% 
 gether, if there be no more, will Juftifle ; ye 
 would rather try thefe things whether the> be 
 found, and evidences of fpecial Love or not. by 
 your believing; if they have Faith in Chrifr car- 
 ried along with them, It's well ; If ye can Uy, 
 that after ye believed, ye were felled with the 
 (pint of proim fe, and that your joy followed upon 
 your clofmg with, and reding upon Chriit, ye 
 haveno reafon to queilion it; but where iucfi 
 talks goes before, and are without believing, 
 it's fufpect like ; there are many of yoii that 
 have multitudes of things, that ye lean to, be- 
 fide Chrift, and ntver lcrioLlly put ycur ielves 
 to the tryal, whether ye be indeed fled toHim. 
 2, Ufe, We would commend this to you, as a 
 ground of Tryal of your felvcs,if ye bejuftihed 
 if ye have ferioufly taken with your fin, and cm- 
 bracedGod l s offer of thcR'gheoulhcfs ofChrifr,& 
 refted on it ; mike this once fure,rhatyc hive 
 been fenfible of S'n, tlut ye have been bcaun 
 from youY own Righreoufnefs, that ye hive flett 
 to Jefus Chi ill, un 1 cl ->kd with liis RighteouP 
 U u ne/f 
 
3*S ^ !f*i*h 53 
 
 iicfs offered in the Gofpel ; then this will na- 
 tively follow, tHatby His Knowledge thou art 
 Juftified; His Word (peaks ir cur plain to thee: 
 It may be that fonie think this to be a broad 
 mark, and rhat ot'icrs will think it narrow; 
 Ydtit's a folid mark, and no other thing is or 
 can be a mark, but as ic implyes this; though 
 lbme m3y prefumptuoufly gather from it a broad 
 ccnclufion, yet ic wjII be found to he as ftrait- 
 ning and learcbing a mark, when well confider- 
 ed, as other marks and evidences are, that w.e 
 cannot at firft foeafily lay hold upon; and there- 
 fore we would fay, that it's not every one that 
 thinks he believes, but it's fuch as really believe, 
 uho have this evidence » and for preventing cf 
 miftakes, we (hall follow this evidence of Justifi- 
 cation, to wit, Fa^th, to the very rife of it. I. 
 It fuppofes a Charge and Summons as it were gi« 
 ven to the Pei fens, to appear before God. a. 
 There is a Sentence difcovered, landing againft 
 them, and over their heads, by the Covenant of 
 Works, now what can ye fay to thefc Taw? where 
 I defire you not fo much to fpeak your light, as 
 your practice and experience; what a Charge,or 
 Summons was put in your hands? Have ye read 
 the Lybel of your Sins ? And have ye feen the 
 breaches of the Law, and your lyablenefs to the 
 Curfe of God for the fame ? If fo, then what 
 means the good opinion that many of you have 
 of yourfelves? This is even the thing that the 
 Apoftlefayeth of himfelf before his converfion, 
 Rom. 7. 9. Before the law came, I was alive, but 
 when the commandetr.ent came, Jin revived, and I died: 
 That is, before the charge was put in my hand, 
 and I fummoned to appear before Gods Ear, I 
 had a good opinion of my felf, and I thought 
 that all was well ; but when I came to rake up 
 the Law in the Spiritual Meaning, and broad ex- 
 tent of if, I faw my felf loft and gone, and that 
 conceit fell ; Thefe Three then ufualJy preceed 
 Faith. 1. That a perfon hath had a good opini- 
 en of himfclfv a. That this perfon isSummon- 
 «d or Charged to anfwer at Gods Bar. 3 . That 
 the perfon is mide to pafs Sentence on himfelf, 
 *6 loft and undone, by rcafon of the Laws Sen* 
 •ence, and Curfe ftanding over his head unre- 
 pealed ; Now how hath it been with ycu as to 
 thefe? Themoft part are quire of another dif* 
 pofiticn than Paul was, they think they are well 
 enough,becaufc rhey never difcovered thtir rot- 
 ten condition; bur try well how it is with you, 
 30 in and fee if ever ye difcovered in your 
 fdves. 1. An inclinatiou to eftablifb your own 
 Rightecufnefs. a. Was ye ever under a work 
 of the Law humbling you ? and 3- Was ye ever 
 m your own af prchcnfion loft ?. If fo, then ye arc. 
 
 *ft* 11 Jerm. *o. 
 
 fuch as Chrift came to call ilf. In the next room 
 confider what ye betook your fehesto, for an- 
 fwering that Charge, and for a remedy of that 
 loft condition, there is no iemedy, but the offer 
 of Chrift's Rightecufnefs in the Gofpcl ; Seme 
 being charged with Guilr, betakes themfelvea 
 to Prayer, and that is well done info far ; but 
 if ye hold there, and go no further, it's not 
 right ; It's here, as it was with thefe, who Iiv« 
 ed under the Law, who, when they had Sinned 
 made ufc of Sacrifices,and the greatefl parr h Id 
 there, and went no further ; whereas rhe belie- 
 ver looked through the Sacrifices to Chrift ; So, 
 if ye hold at Prayer, and other Duties, and go 
 no further, thefe will not profit you; but know 
 ye what it is to go to Prayer, and in Prayer to 
 go to Chrift, and reft on his Sacrifice for your 
 acceptance? I fear there be great ignorance here; 
 The moft part know not what they have done, 
 when they were charged; or, if they did any 
 thing, they prayed ; or, if they went any fur- 
 ther on; they looked to the promife of Gods 
 mercy, but that is net far enough gone ; How 
 many fuch are there.who have made their Pray- 
 er their only intercefTour, and have presumed 
 to ftep in on God's mercy, without a Media* 
 tor. 3.Suppone that ye have betaken you? felves 
 to Chrift, as to the remedy ; come on, and try 
 how your union hath been made up with him, 
 where did ye feek and find him-? Chrift Jefus is 
 to be found in the Gofpel, in the Miniftry of 
 the Word ; Therefore that is put in on goofj 
 reafon in the definition of Faith given to us in 
 the Catechifrc, That it 1 : arefting on him, as he is 
 offtredinthe Gofpel; but I fear and fuppofe that 
 many have another Chrift ( to fpeak lb ) whom 
 they have gotten without knowing, or making 
 any ufe of the Wi.rd, or offer of the Gofpel, 
 which is the power cf God ferfslvation to them that be- 
 lieve. 4. Wherewith did ye take hold on him? 
 or how did ye act on him ? was it by Faith or 
 not ? There are many, who aft on him as they 
 think by Prayer, not as the meritorious Caufe, 
 but as the efficient ciufe of Justification, pray- 
 ing for pity and pardon from Him, but this is 
 not to take hold of Chrills Righteoufnefs by- 
 Faith; Others think, that if they can love and- 
 ferve Hun, and pleafe Him with Duties, they 
 will ingage Him to "give them pardon; and 
 in this they have ( to fpeak fo ) an underhand 
 Covenant of Works ; They will do fomething 
 to pleafe the Mediator, and wherein they ccme- 
 fhorr, they expeft that lie will make it up, and 
 this is very ordinary in practice; Ifyeaskfome,- 
 what hope have ye of Juftification ? They will 
 anfwer, through Chrifts Righteoufnefs,arKl tnat< 
 
 is 
 
Serm. eo. . f 7 /*">- 
 
 is good in To far ; but ask them agam.how they 
 will get it? they will anfwer, that they will do 
 whatfthey dow or may, and they hope that He 
 will pity them ; ye would look in upon your 
 own hearts, and fee whether it be not fecretly 
 making fomething of this kind the ground of 
 your title to Chrift, and of your Justification i 
 And yet all this may be, and often is in them 
 that will not ftoop to the way of Grace,nor fub- 
 mic themfelves to the Righteoufnefs of God : 
 They will fpeak of Chrifts Righteoufnefs, and 
 yet they will needs give Him fome compenfati- 
 on, and fo come never really to renounce their 
 own Righteoufnefs, and to flee unto His, and 
 to hold it up as their defence before God ; Take 
 but an impartial view ofthefe fteps* and many 
 of you, who fuppofe that ye are believers, will 
 not be found to be fo, nor Juftified before God ; 
 becaufe ye lay not claim to it by Faith, but as it 
 were by the works of the Law. 
 
 Uje 3. There is here ground for all that negleft 
 Cbrift, and do not by Faith take hold of Him, 
 to look for a moft dreadful Sentencejand ground 
 for others, who feek Righteoufnefs through 
 Faith, to look for a moil comfortable Sen- 
 tence ; 1. Then, is this a Truth, that Jufti- 
 fication is through Faith in Chrift ? then many 
 of you are not Juftified;And if the Lord prevent 
 it not, ye will never be Juftified; Iffo, then it 
 muft be a moft dreadful thing not to believe ; If 
 ye would know what is your condition, ye may 
 read it, John 3. iS, 16. He that believetb not is 
 condemned already, and he jballnot ft e life, but the 
 Wrath of God abidnh on him *, and Gal. 2. 10. Js 
 many as are of the wtrks of the lav, are under the 
 curfe ; For it is written, curjed is every one that con- 
 tinues not in. all things -written in the book of the law to 
 do them . If ye really believed this, many of you 
 would be under horror,to hear what a fad con- 
 dition ye are in, even condemned already & having 
 the Wrath and Curfe of God abiding on you ; be- 
 caufe the Wor4 curfeth and condemneth all that 
 are not in Chrift by Faith : This, I fear.belongs 
 to very many, who are altogether fecure and care. 
 lefs, and yet are in reputation amongft us; And 
 is it not very fad to be profefling fair, to have 
 the offer of life, and to be treating with God 
 about yourpeace, and yet to be ftill in thcState 
 of enmity with HimjSoihat if death were with- 
 in twenty four hours march to you, ye could 
 have nothing to cxpeft, but the ratifying ofthis 
 Sentence of Gods curfe upon you; Wearefure 
 there is as much in this as might in reafon put 
 
 I you by all means tc$ftudy. j. To be Belie- 
 
 Cj. VerUll. ;i? 
 
 borders of Gods curfe, winch miy lay a chafe 
 to you, and put you to the neccitity of fleeing 
 to Chrift for refuge. 2. To take feme pains to 
 try, whether ye be in the Faith, as the Apoftle 
 exhorts. 2 Cor, ij. 5. Examine your felvet ■, whether 
 ye be in the faith, prove your ftlves, knew ye not ytvr 
 own fives, how that Chrift is in f on, except ye be re- 
 frobats ? His meaning is, know ye not,that this 
 is a truth, that ye are in a reprobat, orunapro- 
 ven condition, except Chrjft be in you ; ini 
 Chrift is in none, but in the Believer; If 
 fb, ought ye not to try your fclves, if ye be ia 
 the Faith, if ye be Believers » There is no ordi- 
 nary way to win to the fure and comfortable 
 Knowledge of it but by tiyal ; and if ye be noe 
 Believers, is there not reafon, and is it not of 
 your concernment, to endeavour by tryal to 
 come to the Knowledge of it.As this is ground 
 of terror to the unbeliever, fo it's ground of 
 notable confolation to the believer, who, if he 
 were even put to the reckoning with Paul, lwa< 
 ablafphemer, a perfecuter, injurious, ytt here is hopr 
 for him, that he fhall be found in Chrift, noc 
 having his own Righteoufnefs, but Chrifts; be- 
 lieving in Chrift willobtainjuftification to fuch 
 a perfon ; His Righteoufnefs taken hold of,and 
 put on by Faith, is as pleafing and acceptable 
 to God, as the unrighreoufnefs of the Sinner is 
 difpleafing to him ; This was it that made Da- 
 vid to fing fweetly, Pfal, 12. Bliffd is be xehofc 
 tranfgrfflim is forgiven, who fe Jin is covered, blejfed 
 is the man to whom the Lord imputeth no iniquity ; to 
 wit, through the Imputation of Chrifts Righte* 
 oufnefs ; as the Apoftle clears , Rom. 4- As the 
 firft branch of the Ufe fhews the neceflity of 
 Faith, for chafing Sinners to Chrift, fo this 
 branch is a fweet motive to draw them to Him; 
 and if there were moe fenfible Sinners amongft 
 us, whofe own Righteoufnefs mifgives them, 
 and who are brought to that pafs, that the Jay- 
 lor and Peters hearers were in, crying cut, what 
 jhallwe do to be favtd ? This word, bdiiw. in the 
 Lordjefus, and ye jhall be 'aved, would m<ke tnem 
 come in cheerful, as he did, from the brink, not 
 only of Temporal, bu'- of Eternal Dearh ; It's 
 this Faith, by which we have accefs to ftand be- 
 fore God ; ye would therefore be earneftly in- 
 treated to betake your fclves to it, and'to Jefus 
 Chiift by it, for your pardon, and peace, even 
 for yuur Juftification before God; 
 
 idly Conlider tnefe Words, as they hold out 
 the Objeftof Juftifyin.cFaith, which isthe great 
 thing in rhem,even to defcribe Juftifyir g 1 aitb, 
 as to it's ObjeG, and Effeft, and in its concur- 
 ring to produce this EfTcft ; and here there 
 are miftakes, and errrors, both in the do&iinal 
 U u 2 and 
 
3i8 * Ifaiah $3. 
 
 and pra&icalpart of all thefe. 1. The Objeft 
 of it then is llim, JefusChtifl, the knowledge of 
 him, or the Faith of Him, or Faith in Him, as 
 other Scriptures have it: Or,looking more near- 
 ly to the Words, it's Faith in Him, as Suffer- 
 ing, as Satisfying for Sin, as in Soul-travel,, 
 bearing our iniquities ; Hence Obferve, That 
 Chriftjefus His Righteoufnefs holden forth in 
 Gods promife of free Grace, is the native and 
 properObjecl, that Having and juftifying Faith 
 takes hold of, and refts upon ; cr to the f>me 
 purpofe, the faving Grace ofFaith thatjuftifies, 
 is that faith, thar does peculiarly apply and left 
 upon Chrift Jefus, holden forth in Gods promife 
 in the Gofpel, as theRighteoufnefs of a Sirxner 
 that believes on him; hence the Prophet calleth 
 it here, Not Knowledge more generally taken, 
 but the knowledge of him , and that as He is hol- 
 den out in this Chapter, to wit, asfurety forSin- 
 ners, and fuffcring for their Debt : Tfrs will 
 be clear, if we confider all thefe Scriptures,that 
 make offer of the pardon of Sin ; for it's offered 
 not in the condition ofFaith, in a more general 
 Notion of it, but on condition ofFaith in kim ; 
 So % Rom. $'. 22, 24, 2$. The right eoufnejs of God, 
 -which is by fai:h of Jefus Christ, unto all, and upon ail 
 them that believe : being jufttfied freely by his grace ; 
 through the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift, whom 
 God hath fet forth to be a propitiation through faith in 
 hisblood. Rom, 5. j. Being ]uftifed by Faith, we 
 have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. 
 John 1. 12. To as many as received him,he gave power 
 to beccmethe Sons of God, even to as many as believe 
 in his name ; Where the Faith that hath the Pro- 
 mife ofjuftificaticn, and the priviledge of A- 
 doption annexed to it, is called the receiving of 
 thrift, and belitving on his name. 
 
 It may alfo be cleared, and confirmed by good 
 reafon. I. Faith docs not Juftifie as it's confix 
 dered in it felf as an Act, but as it relates to,and 
 unites with Chrift, as the merito-ious caufeof 
 Juftification. 2. Neither does Faith Juftifie as 
 it looks to every Object which the Word holds 
 forth, but as it refpefts Chrift, offered in the 
 Gofpel, whom it receiveth; becaufe there is no 
 other thing that can bear the Souls weight and 
 burden ; Therefore he as offered in the Gofpel 
 mufr be the Object of Faith, as it's faving and 
 juftifying. 3. The terms of the Covenant,and 
 Gods offer clears it alfo ; for Gods eff^r of Ju- 
 ftification is not on thefe terms,thataSinnerfhal 
 believe his Word in the general, but that he 
 believe on His Son whom He hath fent, and 
 receive Him, as thefe Scriptures cited before, to 
 wit, John 3. 16*, 18. and Mark i6" \6. fhew, 
 vhere the terms are fct down, whereon God 
 
 WjJ tu Serm. 59. 
 
 t>0rs Life to Sinners. 4. If we Could imagine 
 a man to have all Knowledge, and all Faith, if 
 Faith act not on Chrift as Redeemer,Cautioner, 
 and Surety for fuch as come to Him, it will not 
 avail us,nor be counted to us for Righteoufnefs, 
 which may alfo confirm this truth. 
 
 The Ujcsof this Dscirine are fuch as ferve both 
 to clear the nature ofFaith, and to direct us in 
 our practife. 
 
 The 1. Ufe then ferves, to clear the Truth ; 
 as the Papift s corrupt many Truths, fo they cor-, 
 rupt this Truth, concerning the nature ofjufti- 
 fying and Saving Faith, in thefe Three, 1 Inthe 
 Obj-cL 2. In the Subject. 3. In the /IB of it : 
 As for the Object of this Faith, they make it to 
 be every thing that God reveals, and femetimes 
 they take in their own Traditions : the reifon . is 
 becaufe they give not Faith a Caufality in Jufli-' 
 fication, nor the capacity and place of a thing, 
 acting on Chrift peculiarly, but take it in as a 
 common Grace, or at the beft, as a Grace that 
 is radical, and gives Life to other Graces, but 
 never as taking hold of Chrift's Righteoufnefs, 
 which quite overturns the w^y of Juftification 
 through Faith in Him ; for Faith that layeth 
 not hold on His Righteoufnefs cannot Juftifie; 
 and their making the Object of Faith to be fo 
 broad, doth cnervat both the immediat merit of 
 Chrifts Righteoufnefs, and the exercife ofFaith 
 on it. 1. Then we grant that there is a Hiftor 
 rfcal Faith requi(it,as to the wholeWord of God; 
 yet we fay that the Faith that Ju (rifles, is pro- 
 perly that Faith that fingles out the Righteouf* 
 nefs of Chrift, and takes hold of it; So that it's 
 notour believing, that the World was made, 
 that there will be a day of Judgment, nor our 
 believing that a Saviour of Sinners is come into 
 the World, and hath fuffered, &c. that Jufti- 
 fies ; but it's a clofing with, a receiving of, and 
 rcfting on that Saviour, a fingling out of the 
 Promife that makes offer of him;( as for inftance 
 where it's faid, If thou believe on the Lord Jejusthiu 
 foalt befaved) and pitching onthat, and refting 
 on him holden out in the Promife ; Faith gives 
 the Soul footing here, whereas before, its cafe 
 was very defperat. 0.: We may clear what we 
 are to look to, as the object of Juftifying andSa- 
 ving Faith, by our putting in thefe Three Words, 
 orExpreflions in the Doctrine, to wit, Christ Jefus- 
 his Righteoufnefs hoi din forth in the promife of Gods free 
 grace in the Gofpel ; and which are needful to be 
 taken in, though it be npt always neceffary, that 
 we be explicit in the uptaking of them, f.l here 
 is need of taking in Chrifis Righteoufnefs, becaufe 
 it's our defence at the Bar of Gods Jufticejevcn 
 as a debitor whofe De^t the Cautioner hath 
 
 payed, 
 
 
payed, hath that to anfwer when he is charged 
 for it, that his Cautioner hath payed it. a .There 
 - is need to take in this, Holden forth m Gods promife 
 in tbegofpsl, becaufe though Chrift betheObjeft 
 of Justifying Faith, and His Righteoufnefs be 
 the ground of the Souls defence before God,yet 
 Gods Promife muft be looked on by Faith, for 
 the ufe making of Chrift, and His Righteouf- 
 nefs, and as a warrand to reft on Him, and to 
 expc'ft ./unification through Him, and thus Faith 
 hath Chrifts fulnefs, or His full and compleat 
 Satisfaction for Righteoufnefs, and Gods Faith- 
 fulnefs impledged," that the Believer fhall be ac- 
 cepted through it; And it's on this ground^that 
 Faith fometimes looks on God as ^/«,fometimcs 
 as Faithful; Therefore it's faid, Heb. 7. 25. He 
 isabletofave to the uttermoil ; and Jfc£. Ii. Sarah 
 judged h:m faithful who had promijed : whereupon 
 there is a doling with the offer in the Promife, 
 and a looking to obrain that which is promifed 
 as if they had a Righteoufnefs of their own; and 
 this the Apoftle calls the law of faith; Rom. 3.27. 
 Becaufe tojuftification there is bcfide the pay- 
 ment ofthe Debt, a Law, declaring the man to 
 be abfolved, requifit; and the Sinner having 
 Gods offer and Promife, that upon his accepting 
 of Chrifts Righteoufnefs, he ft all be Jufh'fied, 
 inftru&s that his Debt is payed by his Caution- 
 er, and that therefore heoughtto be, and isac« 
 cordingly abfolved ; and though Gods Promife 
 be not fo properly a Law, yet the Apoftle callerh 
 it Co, and ir is a folid defence to the Soul that is 
 fled to Chrift, who may thus reafon, I have no 
 Righteoufnefs of my own,but Chrifts Righteouf- 
 n?is byProclamation is ofrered to me intheGof- 
 pel, & I have heartily received it,& God is faith- 
 ful to make good His Promife tome; and this 
 looks to Chrift as He is revealed in the Gofpel, 
 3'. There is need to putin this word, The promife 
 of Gods free grace ; becaufe hereby the Sinner is 
 made to fee whence the promife came, and of 
 what nature it is, and gives ground to take hold 
 ofthe promife. and of that which is made offer 
 of in it ; the Promife is of free Grace, therefore 
 it's always called the Covenant of Grace ; So 
 Rom. 4. 16* It's of faith, that it might If e by grace , 
 to the end the promife might be fure to all the feed: For 
 if it were not of Grace, the Sinner would never 
 think himfelf'ure, nor would he know if fuch 
 a Sinner m'ght take hold of fnch a Promife; but 
 confidering that the Promife; is of Grace, and 
 His -acceptation is of Grace, as is often repeat- 
 ed, Epk. I- *• and 3. Chapters; Thefe Three are 
 the great warrand that a Sinner hath to roll him* 
 
 Verf it. 329 
 
 - felf over on a compie^tMediator; a faithful God 
 promifing to anfwerall grounds of Fears, Doubts 
 2ndJealoufies; and free Grace which anfwers all 
 Challenges that may come in to hinder Jiis do- 
 Zing with, and his reftingon the Promife ; for 
 if it fhould be faid, How dareft thou Jay hold 
 upon the Promife / The anfwer is, it's free, 
 ic s not the mount that may not be touched, but it's 
 Jefus the mediator of the new covenant . &c. It's 
 Grace that is the Rife, the End, and the Condi- 
 tion of it: Thefe are the Three on which Fai'h 
 yields it felf to Chrift, and which are the Obje& 
 cfit, on which it dare hazard, end on v hich it 
 does hazard ; and thefe Three are revealed in the 
 Gofpel ofthe Grace of Him that is Faithful, and 
 cannot deny Himfelf : May we not then fay. 
 O ! Sinners, if ye will believe that ye have a 
 good refting place, a jure foundation^ tryed corner- 
 flone; as it is Ijaiah 28. cited Rc>m. 9. Where the 
 Apoftle hath it. He that believes on him frail never 
 be afbamed, There is a fufEcient furety,a full Me- 
 diator,there is a faithful God that will keep His 
 Word, and there is a free Covenant andPromife, 
 fofrer for a bruifed Soul to roll it felf over 11- 
 pon, than any bed ofthe flneft downs is for a 
 wearie and crafie body ; this is a chariot paved 
 with love for the daughters ofjerujaltm ; fingle out 
 Chrift from all that is in the Word without 
 flighting any part of it, and believe in Him, 
 and lipp.n to Him *, let Him have another 
 weight. and lift of you than ye give to any other 
 thing, he is able to bear it, and God will never 
 quarrel you for fo doing, but will keep His 
 word to you that do bttake yourfelves, or that 
 have betaken your felves to Him;H< that believes 
 (ball never perifh nor come into condtmnati>n\ O! 
 know what a ground ye have to reft upon, it's 
 even the fubftance and marrow of all the Word 
 of God, ye have Chrift and His Fulnefs, God 
 and His Faithfulnefs, Grace and its Freenefs : 
 and are there fuch Three things befide? or is ic 
 imaginable, or poftible that there can be any he- 
 guile, or failure here ? fpare not then to lay the 
 weight of your Souls upon it, let it be the foun- 
 dation ofyour peace, and let it anfwerall chal- 
 lenges that may be, whether for many, or for 
 great and grievoufly aggravated Sins: only by 
 Faith take hold of this Righteoufnefs, and reft 
 upon Gods Faithfulnefs, and free Prcmife, to 
 make it forthcoming to you ; but upon the o» 
 ther fide s O ! how great will it Iggrege \< ur 
 guilt, that had fuch a remedy in your o fife r, fuch 
 a tryed corner' Hone, eleft *ttd precuns, to reft upon, 
 and yet made no ufe of it, Let me exhort, be fetch, 
 and even obteftyou, That je receive ntt this . 
 
 iit 
 
%)9 , ... Ifaishn'i 
 
 in t/*/«; but IS Chrift is Ui&fir s fure foundation 
 fo come to Him, and build upon him, that yc 
 may not be aflmmed in the day of the Lord, when 
 all that believe not>how preiumptuoufly fo ever 
 
 y<rfeti. Serm. So. 
 
 thttymay hold up their heads now, fhal I {asham- 
 ed and confounded, World without end \ O ! happy t 
 thrice happy will they all be found to be then' 
 who bMVt-tr lifted in him. 
 
 SERMON L X. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XI. 
 
 Verfe i r . — by his knowledge fh*£ my righteous Jervant jnj}fie many, for hi jhali btar their iniquities. 
 
 THe Knowledge of Chrift was wont 
 to be much thpught of by the Pco* 
 pie of God, and to be in high efti« 
 mation among them ; and we 
 may fay, we wote well it was de- 
 fervedly fo, confidering that it is by His 
 Knowledge, that Juftificaron was derived to 
 them, and is derived to us ; This is that which 
 the Lord is clearing by the Prophet here ; to wit, 
 how the benefice of Chrifrs Sufferings and Pur- 
 <;hafe may be derived, and communicate unto a 
 Sinner ; Which thefe words ( though but few ) 
 as purpofly madeufe of, ro clear, even that his 
 Sufferings mould not be in vain, but that He 
 ihould fee a Seed, and though that Seed mould 
 rot be all Men, yet they mould be many ; and 
 the way how thefe many mould come by the be- 
 nrfite of His Sufferings is alfo held forth ; and 
 that is, By his knowledge, who is the Righteous 
 Servant: We (hew you, that this doth upon the 
 matter look toFaith, and is meant of it;and con- 
 firmed it by other parallel Sc«ipture?,which fay, 
 that through faith in him, all that believe art justifi- 
 ed : we came alfo to fpeak of this Faith which 
 Juftifies, and did propofeftw things to befpo- 
 ken of concerning it, ( and indeed if any thing 
 be of concernment, this is: if a right to Chrift 
 and his purchafe be of concernment* then fure 
 it mufc be of concernment to know, how we 
 come by that Right ) i. The neceffity of it. 
 2. The object of it. ■?. The aft of it. 4. The 
 effeftsthat flow from it. 5. The manner ©fits 
 concuringin the attaining of Juftification ; We 
 fpoke of the £r/?,towit,of the neceflity of Faith, 
 and fhew, that though there be a fullSatisfa&i- 
 on laid down to merit and procure Juftification, 
 yet it's applyed to none, but to Believers, and 
 not till they believe. 
 
 *. We fpoke alfo to this, That Faith, asitju- 
 ftifies, looks not to 3 II the Word of God, as it s 
 Object, but mainly and principally to Chrift, 
 and to the Word only, in fo far as it holds out 
 Chrift in the Promifes andOffersof Gods Grace, 
 as it's here called the Knowledge of Him, -or 
 Faith in Him. 
 
 We now proceed to hint a Word for clearing 
 of a Queftton, and it's a new and very late one, 
 to wit, whether Justifying Faith layeshold on 
 Chrift as a Saviour and Prieftonly, or whether 
 it layeshold on Him not only, as a Prieft to 
 fave but alfo as a King to command? though this 
 doth not look at firft blufli to be of any great 
 moment, and that fuch an inconfiderable like 
 difference is not to be flood upon ; yet we will 
 find thattbis laft wants not its own influence on* 
 altering the common and ordinary, and ( as we 
 conceive ) the folid received Do&rine, concer- 
 ning the way of Juftification, if we fhould ad- 
 mit it : And therefore we anfwer the Qutflion 
 from the Text ; That Chrift confidercd as fuffc- 
 ring, and bearing our Sins, and fo as offering 
 himfelfin a Sacrifice, is the Objeft that juftify- 
 ing Faith, as fuch takes hold of ; therefore the 
 connexion of thefe two is.clear in this verfe, He 
 [ball fee of the travel of hisjoul and bt Satisfied ; and 
 by his knowledge [hall many be jufttfitd ; and 'again 
 itisfubjoyned, as thereafon why many (hall by 
 Faith in Him be juftined>fc*w/i befall bear their 
 iniquities, By the Knowledge of Him that offe- 
 red Himfelfin a Sacrifice, many are JufKfied ; 
 and many are Juftificd, becaufe He bears their 
 iniquities ; which will infer this,^ that Faith 
 confiders Him as fatisfying for the iniquities of 
 His People, in its a&ing on Him for juft'ficati* 
 on, and Pardon of Sin; it is true Chrifts Offices 
 are not divided, and it is not truefaith, if it 
 take not hold nf Him, and make notufc of him 
 in all His Offices; but as there are feveral evils 
 in us, which His Offices do meet with, and are 
 fuited unto, fo mould Faith take hold of them, 
 andmakeufoofthem for curing and removing 
 of thefe evils ; He is King, Prieft, and Prophet, 
 and Faith taks !\old of Him, asaKing,to com- 
 mand, and fubdueus toHimfelf ; as a Frophet 
 to illuminat us, and cure our blindneis ; and as 
 a Prieft to fatisfie Divine Juitice, and to pro- 
 cure the pardon of Sin \ ds we ar.e not to feparat 
 fo we are not to confound thefe ; we ufe not to 
 fay that Chrift as a Prophet dothjuftifie us, nor 
 thac as a Prieft He dovh illuminat us, no more 
 
 ttould 
 
Strm -tfo. lf"* h ft' 
 
 fhould we,nor can we well fay, that as a Kng he 
 farisfied Juftice for us ; The fame Hefted God is 
 Wife,Rjghtcous, Holy, Faithful, Juft, Merci- 
 ful,^. Vet He is diverfly confidered in refpeft 
 of our conceiving and ufe making, according to 
 our need; fo is it here. For clearing whereof 
 take- thefe grounds. I. The Scripture (peaks of, 
 and points Chrift out in His Sufferings, as the 
 Objea of Juftifying Faith, Rom. 3. 25. Whom 
 Cod hath fef forth for a propitiation through faith in 
 his blood: where the Blood of Chrift, and He as 
 Suffering is propofed as Faiths Object ; fo 1 Cor. 
 I. We preach chrift crucified, l John 2. We have an 
 advocat with the Father, Jejus ChriH the right cut, 
 and he is the propitiation for our fins ; where He is 
 holden forth in His Sufferings? as the propitiati- 
 on that Faith layeth hold on, John 3. 14. As Mj- 
 (es lifted up theferpent in the wildernefs, fo must the 
 Son of man be lifted up, that whofocver believeth on 
 him, &c Where Chrift lifted up, and as dying 
 on the Crofs, is made the Objctt of Juftifying 
 Faith ; even as the brazen Serpent lifted up was 
 the Object that they looked to, when they were 
 flung and cured. 2. It's alio clear from the 
 Laws lybelling and charging us for the Debt of 
 our Sin, that makes us lyable to condemnation, 
 and Faith being the mean of our Juftification, 
 and abfolution from the Debt, it mud needs 
 look to the Cautioners paying of our Debt, and 
 jfo anfwering the Charge, which was done in 
 His Death; for He payed our Debt) Satisfyed 
 the Penalty of the Law, and came under the 
 Curfe- infuffcring Peath ; as is clear Gal. 3. the 
 Jo. v. being compared with v. 13; So, Rom. 8. 
 34. Who fball lay any thing to the Charge of Gods e- 
 Ucl ? it is God that juft'fi^s, who ft) all condemn ? it is 
 Chrift that died ; which is brought in at Faiths 
 anfvver to the charge; The charge cannot be de- 
 nyed, for we are guilty of fo many Sins, and 
 therefore lyable to condemnation ; But faith 
 Faith, Chrift hath died : It propofes Him dying 
 as a Satisfaction for anfaeiipg the charge, and 
 for obtaining of* abfolution. 3. Chrift as Suffer- 
 ing and Satisfying Juftice is our Righteoufnefs 
 and therefore mult be the object ofFai-h, as it's 
 Juftifying, whereupon it pleads an abfolution 
 before the Throne of God 4 So that when we 
 come to plead and found our Defence before 
 Gods Throne, it is not on this,. that Chrift is a 
 
 W* IF- 33 t 
 
 crofs ; It's Chrift as Suffering that is the ground 
 of our Peace, and. therefore Faith as Juftifying 
 muft fo confider Him : Though we defire to 
 move nothing needhfly, yet laying k once for 
 a ground, that Juftifying Faith layes hold on 
 Chrift as a Kmg, this will follow as a confe- 
 quence, and as we fuppofe, as a reafon, that our 
 obedience to Chrift as a King hath the fame in- 
 fluence, and the fame Caufality in ourjuftinca- 
 tion, that Faiths refting on Ch rift's latisfying 
 for as aPrieft hath, becaule as Chrift's Prieftly 
 Office gives us a warrand to reft upon Him for 
 Juftification, fo would His Kingly Office, ( if 
 it were the objeft of Juftifying Faith as fuch > 
 when taken hold of for our obedience: We have 
 touched on this. 1. That ye may fee the war- 
 rantablcnefs of this Dcftrine which is received 
 in the Churches of Chrift,and that ye may con- 
 sider Chrift a^ the high prieil of your prof fjjion, and 
 plead Juftification from His Sacrifice, a&ing 
 Faith upon Himaccordingly. 2. That we may- 
 put a Bar againft the introducing ofjuftification 
 by Works under one pretext or another, how 
 fpecious foever, feing the Scripture fo directly 
 oppofes Faith and Woiks in our Juftification ; 
 for if we once admit that Chrift, as King, is the 
 Objccl ofjuftifying Faith as fuch, it would o*. 
 verturnthe diftinft way of Faiths a&ing upon 
 Chrifts Righteoufnefs, for anfwering the Charge 
 put in the Sinners hand by the Law ; and when 
 the foul getteth a challenge for Sin, would put 
 it to look what obedience it hath given to Chrift, 
 as a King to anfwer that challenge or charge by, 
 and would in the fame manner, aJfo put the Soul 
 to gather the ground of its peace from the one, 
 as well as from the other, that is, both from 
 Chrifts Righteoufnefs, and from its own obedi- 
 ence, not only as an evidence, but afocialcaufe 
 or not only to it's own fence, tut as to the ef- 
 fect : But we leave this as a thing to be regrared, 
 that when there is ground enough offtumbling, 
 becaufe of our ignorance, and blindnefs, there 
 fhould, and that very neccifarly, be fuch new 
 occafion offtumbling to Souls cafe in the way 
 of Faith. 
 
 We come now to fpeak of the Aft of Faith as 
 Juftifying. called here Kmwltdge, and (he A''.ow- 
 Itdge of him, to (hew thit it points at Juftifying 
 Faith; for if it were not fo:it were the fame with 
 
 Ki.ig and hath fubdued us, but it is on this c< nimon Knowledge, whereby wc believe any 
 
 f round, that he is our Pnrft, and hath farisned 
 ufticc for us, and payed our Debt, and procu- 
 red a discharge to us; So the Apoftle fpeak ; ng 
 pfChrii?5 Sufferings. Col. 1. Say's, That he blot. 
 ted out the hand writting of ordn.ancts that was 4- 
 gair.ft us, and took it out of .he way, naihngit to his 
 
 Iliirory of the Bi'Ie; bur this being Juftifymg 
 Knowledge, it muft be Knowledge of another 
 kind : We fhall htrc clear. 1 Wherein the 
 Aft ofjuftifying t i'h ionfifti- : R m vt 
 fomc uiiitakvi abcuc it, aodwfcefcme Uic of 
 it. 
 
 For 
 
J* 2 ifniah ? 3 , 
 
 For the Flrft, we fuppofe there are thefe Four 
 requifit, in, or tojufhfying Faith, though not 
 ah' ays ill the fame degree. 1. That there be a 
 diftinft Knowledge in Tome meafure ^f the Ob- 
 jeft; an antecedent that Faith prefuppofes f and 
 for which caufe Faith gets the name or' Knowledge 
 here andelfe where in Scripture, the antecedent 
 being put for the confequent ; For Faith harh 
 always Knowledge with it, though Knowledge 
 hath nor always Filth. i.That there be an aflfent 
 to the thing known ; as when we know that we 
 are Sinners, and that it is the Blood of Chrift 
 that mult cleanfe us from Sin, we muft aiT<nt 
 to the truth of thefe, as Chrift fays, John 8. If 
 ye believe tiot Mojcs his writings, how jhall ye believt 
 tny wirds ? If ye affent not to the truth of that 
 he hath written, how can ye believe my fpeak- 
 ing ? both thefe are in the understanding, and if 
 there be no more, this makes but Historical 
 Faith. 3. When the Soul knows it's a Sinner, 
 and under the Curfe, and that Chrift is a Savi- 
 our, aid that there is Salvation to be gotten by 
 fuch a Mean, and that he i> an able Saviour,and 
 hath ajftnted to the truth of thefe •, there is a co?i- 
 Jenting of the heart to that Truth conditionally 
 pmpofed, and made offer of, that is, to receive 
 Chrift as he is offered in the Gofpel ; which in 
 Scripture is called a. receiving of Him, John 1,12. 
 To as many as received him, &c. And this is an 
 Aft of the mil, refpefting Chrift a:; offered, and 
 a bargain propofed that will make the Soul hap.» 
 py where Faith accepts 4. There is a refting 
 on Chrift received as a good bargain, which is 
 alfoan Aft of the heart, or will, called in Scrip, 
 ture ^committing onrfelves to him, a leaning on him, 
 or rolling cur [elves on kirn ; which we con- 
 ceive to be the fame that Paul hath, Philip. 3.9, 
 That I may be found in him : When the Soul places 
 its fafety here, and lippens to Chrifts Righte- 
 oufnefs alone, as contradiftinguifhed to its own; 
 Thefe Two laft Afts are properly the effence of 
 Faith as Juftifying, and they are well holden out 
 in tl e Catechifm, where Faith is defenbed to be 
 afavlrg grace, whereby *»e rtceive and refl upon Chrift 
 as he is offered in the Gofpel • we mall iliuftrat it in 
 a comparifon made ule of before to this pur- 
 pofe. Suppofe there were a number of Rebels, 
 that had incurred the Princes difpleafure, and 
 were guilty of Treafon by the Law ; fuppofe al- 
 fo the Princes Son, or fome Courtier hath fatis- 
 fiedfor them, and procured their Pardon and 
 Peace, upon which there comes out a Procla- 
 mation, that if they will fubmit,and yield them- 
 felves, and lay down their Arms, they fhall be 
 pardoned, and admitted to friendship, as if they 
 had never rebelled. Thefe Rebels muft know. 
 1. That there is an Aft of Favour paft, and a 
 
 P r/ , ,f * • ^ r , -r *erm.rfo. 
 
 Proclamation made on fuch Terms, a. They 
 
 muft have a general Faith and Aflint t<". the thing 
 and that there is no Queftion but fuch a thirg 
 is done. 3. There is a conlultation by the un* 
 derftanding withthewill, if they wiJ] admii G f, 
 and receive it, and truft themfdves to it. And 
 then. 4. There is tht hearts confenung to ac- 
 cept of the offer of Grace, on the Terms of the 
 Proclamation, and a refting on it,which is a lip. 
 pening of their Defence to it, that if ever they 
 mould be called to an account, they will nuke 
 uf« of fuch an Aft of Grace, and of the Piocla. 
 mation for their Defence and fafety, and lipptn 
 to it, and to His Faitbfulnefs who made the 
 Proclamation, believing thaf He will fulfil His 
 Word and Promife : It is juft fo here, in a Sin- 
 ners afting Faith for Juftification ; We may in- 
 stance and iliuftrat it alfo in the example of the 
 Prodigal, wherein we may find fcmeth'ng ofaJl 
 this ; when he had been in the height of his 
 diilraftion and madnels, in his natural conditi- 
 on, it's faid, He came to himfelf, >>ht knew and be- 
 lieved that there was meat enough in hisFathrrs 
 houfe, andrefolvedto go home,upon his know- 
 ledge follows hisrefolution/and his will con- 
 fents, I will anfe and go, which fuppofes his Faith 
 of an offer of meat, on condition of his going; 
 and then there is that whereon he grounds his 
 Defence, Iwilljay, father, I have finned • I w jjl 
 aifciaim all, and betake me to thy Grace, im- 
 plyedinthe wo:d Father; herefolves to table 
 his Defence on thisground,and upon this comes 
 home. 1 i • 
 
 More particularly, 1. Knowledge of the Ob- 
 jeft refted upon is necefTary, Rom. 10 How can 
 they believe on him cfwhom they have not hea d ? Ic 
 is not pofllble we can believe what wt know 
 not : And as every other ftep hath fome doftri- 
 nal miftake, and fome praftkal, fo hath this ; 
 The Doftrinal miftake is that Error of Pap (Is, 
 unworthy to be refuted ; they fay there is no 
 Knowledge requifit to Faith ; Yea,fome oftheir 
 prime men have faid, that Faith is rather Ig- 
 norance than Knowledge; fcurfurtly then Faith 
 would not be called Knowledge, if it might rather 
 be defined Ignorance ; but this they maintain 
 to keep the People in Ignorance of the Gofpel, 
 and it's the ground of many rnoe Errors, and 
 much Delufior- ; It's even as a blind man cou'd 
 fco well in a flippery place where are manyPitsj 
 for Knowledge is no lefs necefTary to Faith than 
 eyes are to fuch a man : The praftical Errors in 
 this are fuch as we find in many of you, who 
 think ye can believe well, but ask, and put you 
 to it, ye cannot tell what; many of you areob- 
 ftinat maintainers of implicit Faith, while y e 
 
 fay 
 
> Ipn'tk fj« 
 
 '• h a V e Faith, and yet cannot tell what it 
 
 is, nor whereon it is grounded ; but we fay that 
 Knowledge isioncccflary co Faith, that it it be 
 net apart of it, yet it's necelTary antecedanious 
 to it, and prefuppofed 3 Therefore, if ever ye 
 would be accounted Bclievers,ftudy Knowledge, 
 and the Knowledge of Chrift crucified at leak to 
 far as to ground your Faith upon ; It s lad that 
 fo many will maintain the reality of their Faith, 
 and yet are grofly ignorant or the Fundamentals 
 of Religion ; Knowledge is the very rife of and 
 firft fcep to believing and yet it s hardly poflible 
 to brangle the vain confidence of many, whom 
 it's as impoflibfe to bring to Knowledge. • 
 
 2. There is an Affait reqiiflt to the Object 
 known, which is that we call Hiftorical Faitb t znd 
 this is to be confirmed in the general Truths 
 contained in the Go/pel, asrhat Adam was- made 
 according to Gods Imagt,rhat he fell, and brake 
 the Covenant of W./rks, and made himfelf* and 
 all his lyable ro Go.s Curfe,that we are by that 
 Covenant under Gods curfe, that Chrift ?efus 
 the Son of God, according to the Covenant of 
 Redemption, entred Himfelf Cautioner for the 
 Ek#, that He really died and pa>ed their Debt, 
 that His purchafe is made offer of in thcGofpcl, 
 and t^ according to the Covenant of Grace, 
 there is an real abl^ !u:Iou from Sin, ar.d an eter- 
 nal happineftto be had at the great Day,through 
 embracing of H-m ; Th,ere mufc be an aflent to 
 the Truth of thefe things ; for k is impoflible, 
 that they .-who* -think not tKemfelves Sinners, 
 and that mind no^a day of Judgmenr, and a 
 reckoning, will ever : clofe with Chrift, and lip- 
 en to His Righteoulnefs ; I tear there are but 
 few hearers of thcGofpel that comethe length of 
 Z)evilsin teiieving, and yet all will needs be 
 counted Chriftians : we would here upon the 
 one hand declaim the Pofifh Error, thatplaceth 
 all the effence t>f Faith in the underftanding, 
 Which is fomewbat.ftrange, feing they fcarce 
 think Knowledge of the thing to be believed 
 neceilary ; the reafon is, becaufc they know, or 
 at leaft own nothing more of the concurrence 
 of Faith in Juftification than is obedience ro a 
 Commindment ; they think it's a duty and obe- 
 dience to a Commandment to affenc to any 
 Truth, therefore' they take this general hiltori% 
 cal Faith to be the only Faith, as they take Ho- 
 linefs to be the only ground of their peace, when 
 they are called to an account i and thus| Faith. 
 as a part of th.:ir Holinefs comes in, but they 
 admit of no particular refpeft to Faiths taking 
 hold of Chrilh Righteoufnefs, as the immediat 
 ground of their peace: Upon the other hand, 
 we would iccludc the vain Faith of many Pro* 
 
 V "t**\ 3 33 
 
 fefiors, who fome way believe all that's in the 
 Bible,foas they queOion nothing therein, they 
 know no other Faith but this i yet if this were 
 Juftifying Faith, the Devils mould have it, For 
 they hlitve and tremble, they believe there . is a 
 God, that Chrift is the Son of God, that they 
 that believe fhallnot perifli, that God is Faith* 
 ful ; <£v. But this Hiftorical Faith is not enough. 
 1. Becaufe ( as Ijuft now faid ) it may be in 
 Reprobats and Devils. 2. Becaufe the Scripture 
 exprefly differenccth this fort of Faith, fromfa«j 
 ving Faith,many were called Bclievers.to whom 
 Chrift would not commit himfelf, as it is, John 
 a. 24. For, though they believe it to be tiuth 
 which He fpake, yet they refted net on Him ; 
 So in the parable of the Sower, Matth. 13. 
 There are three grounds that receive the Seed, 
 which* imports, in two of them at le?ft, a kind 
 of Believing, but the fourth ground is only 
 good. 3. Becaufc this Faith acts upon every 
 revealed Truth alike, and aiTentstoall pafTages 
 recorded in the Bible alike* as on, and to that, 
 Paul left his cloak at 7>M*,and the likejas it acls on 
 that, this is * faithful 'paying, that Chrift came into 
 tbt world tofavefnners, and fuch like ; But ac« 
 cording to that ground formerly given, Faith 
 as it Juftifies afts on Chrift only "> and therefore 
 this bare affent to the Truth of the Word can- 
 not be Juftifying Faith, becaufe it afts no* other- 
 ways on Chrift, than it doth upon other things; 
 ye would therefore know a difference in your 
 practice betwixt thefe two. Thecrediting the 
 truth of a'thing, and your actual receiving,and 
 refting upon that Truth; As for example,a man 
 propoferh Marriage to a woman, and fhe belie- 
 ves that he is in earneft, and not in feern, yet 
 there is a great difference betwixt that and her 
 aftual confenting to marrie him; So it is here, 
 the man may believethat Chrift doth really make 
 offer of Himfelf to him and yet be far from cor- 
 dial receiving of him ; or t*kejt in the example 
 made ufe of before, fuppofe that fome of the 
 Rebels we fp»ke of, believe the Proclamation to 
 be a Truth, yet thinking it h^rd to be under the 
 bands of government f hey do not embrace it. If 
 it be 0£jftf<^ here; That the Scripture often cal/s 
 Juftifying Faith a believing, thst Chrift h the Son 
 of God, which is no more than th : s affent of the » 
 judgement, or Hiftorical Faith. 1 or AnJ'vtr, a 
 would be confidered of whom the Scripture 
 there fpeaks I. It is of 'jevsfox tl e rrofr pair, 
 who had theFaith of the M.'fah geneial.'y an 
 them ; and no queftion, the itelicvcrs c ft' 
 fuch as the proielyted luruch, Manh.i, ar.d 
 had the Faith of the MCjpsA fatisfying Divine 
 Juftice> and of thefr Juftification through His 
 X x Satis- 
 
3M . A . tfH*lSl* 
 
 Satisfaction ; But the great queftion of the Jewt 
 was, whether Jcfusthe Son of Mary was the Mef. 
 Gab or not, and it being revealed, and believed 
 that he wai, the other followed, they reftedon 
 Him of will, ( to fay fo ) as the M'fliah. a. Be- 
 lieving of Chrift to be the Son of God, doth not 
 exclude, but include their confenting to the re- 
 ceiving of Chrift, but it holds forth alfo their 
 affent to, and perfwafionof that Truth that was 
 then debated, that He was indeed the promifed 
 Meffijk and the Son of God> For the Devils con- 
 fefled Him to be the Son of God ; and none will 
 fay, but there was more in their believing Hiin 
 to 6c the Son of God, than in the Devils believ- 
 ing it,who never believe unto Salvation is they 
 did. 3 Conilder that as fometimes Knowledge 
 is put for Faith, fo this aflent may be put for 
 Faith where yet more isimplyed in it, efpeci- 
 aljy confidcring that, Rom. lo. Faith is called, 
 Faith of the heart, with the heart m*n belitvtth ; 
 Now believing with the heart being an aft of 
 the will, thefe Teftimonies fetting our Faith 
 to be a believing Chrift to be the Son of God, 
 snuft imply a lipning to Him following upon it, 
 we are therefore never to look on thefe places as 
 comprehending a bare aflent only, but as inclu- 
 ding alfo, and carrying alongft withir.the cor- 
 dial receiving Him, and of refting upon Him. 
 . For the 3. to wit, the receiving Aft of Faith, 
 which differs from thefoimer,as we (hew in the 
 examples hinted at before ; it looks to the Co- 
 venant of Redemption betwixt Jehovah and the 
 Mediator, it accepts of the Terms of the Co- 
 venant, as they are propofed in the Gofpd and 
 confents to the bargain ; and as God propofes 
 the Righteoufnefs of Chrift, it fubmirs to the 
 fame ; which Paul, 1 Tim. 1. calls zjaying wor. 
 thy 0] all acceptation, to be welcomed and belie- 
 ved as fuch ; and the Believers mentioned, Hek. 
 11. are faid, not to have received the fromifgr, hut to 
 havejeen them afar of , and to have embraced, ( or 
 faluted ) them ; This receiving is no Phyfical, or 
 Natural Aft,as if we were to receive fuch a thing 
 by the mouth, or bodily hand ; It's an Aft of 
 Faith in the heart, proportioned and fuitcd to 
 this Spiritual Bargain, or Marriage propofed in 
 'the Covenant of Grace ; and it's like a man 
 confenting to a civil bargain, orlike a womans 
 «:on Tenting to marry a man : As when it is faid 
 to Sinners, ye are naturally dead in Sins and 
 trefpaftes, and under Gods Cuife \ But, be it 
 known to you, thai we preach Remiflionof Sins 
 xS you through the Blood of Chrift ; Faith 
 conllders this offer, accepts of and welcomes 
 
 it- 
 
 The a,'h t tud lad Aft.U * rtfiv* on btm t whkh 
 
 r '. r fi": . 1 Serm. #*<>, 
 
 is ltill the fame Faith, but another Aft 
 of it; Not as if there might be a receiving, and 
 not refting, or a refting, and not a receivings 
 is if we were to difference them in refpeft of 
 time ; but Faith is faid to receive, as it refpefts 
 the Gofpel-orTcr of Chrift, and his Satisfaction • 
 and it's laid to reft or rely, as it refpefts Chrift 
 and his Satisfaction; the thingoffered ar.d receiv- 
 ed, with regard to the charge to which it is ly- 
 able ; It's here that it refts,and to this it betakes 
 it fclf, as to its defence, when challenged : It's 
 difficult to difference thefe two, or peremptory 
 to fay, whether Chrifts Righteoufnefs be receiv- 
 ed, or relied upon i yet it's made our defence 
 becaufe it's clofed with, and we make them two 
 Afts of the fame Faith,though it's hard to make 
 the one of them to be the effeft of the other, or 
 the one of them to be antecedent to the other 
 in reJpeft of time at leaf! ; As a Proclamation of 
 Pardon being made to Rebels, they fay this Pro- 
 clamation gives a freedom from the Laws pur- 
 fuit, becaufe they have embraced it, and thefe 
 Rebels make that the ground, if ever they be 
 challenged, whereon they found their Defence; 
 they have this to lippento, and upon this they 
 ieft: Though none of thefe afts can well be faid 
 to be before,or after the other in refpeft of^me; 
 For clearing of this a little more, confider that 
 this refting may be locked on, either Pa{Jively y 
 or jtftivcly, Pajpuely, in refpect of the Believers 
 zcquiefcing in Chrift, and alluring himfelf that 
 all fliallbe well ; This is not that Act of Faith 
 that is called for to Juftification, but fuppofes 
 thePerfon to beJuftified,for he muft bejuftiflried 
 ere he can reft, or icquiefce in it ; Ailivily, in 
 refpeft of our refting on him that we may beju- 
 ftiflcd, as the Apoftle hath it, Gal. 1. J6\ And 
 this Ijaiah c; 6. is called a taking hold of Gods co- 
 venant ; It is an aftaal committing of our felves 
 to Him, that we may win to peace, or a leaning 
 on Him;asfuppofe one wc/e to reft upon a Staff, 
 it doth not only imply the effeft, his having of 
 eafe, but alfo andfirftly, his leaning to or reft- 
 ing on it, in order to eafe ; Therefore it's faid, 
 Matth. II. 28. Qomt unto me all je that pre weary t 
 and heavy lo*din y and ye fhallfird rift : The Aft 
 that Juflifies is this laft and active Acr ; the Act 
 of coming, or leaning, or refting, and the paf- 
 fivc Act of acquiefcing, or aflurance is, that 
 which follows upon it, as a fruit and effect of 
 it : And therefore we humbly conceive, that it 
 is not fafe, to define Juftifying Faith by 4jju* 
 ranee, or to fay t^at wherever Faith is, 
 there is AiTurance;Itis rather a refting onChrift 
 thai wc may have reftjand a ground of Defence, 
 
 and 
 
s«rm. 6*0. .„ - .«;^?**' 
 
 tnd reafon to be propofed.if wc mould be quar- 
 relled for, or charged with the Debt of Sin. # 
 
 The C/fc/ are: r. To remove the difficulties; 
 as namely, it may be asked here, is there no con- 
 fidence nor aflurance in this active Act of Faith 
 which istheElTence of it ? Weanfwer ihortly, 
 There,arc Three forts of confidence pleaded for, 
 that are far from the nature of Faith, and yet 
 Faith wants not its own Confidence and Aflur- 
 ance, if it be taken in i "gbt fenfe. The i. is 
 for a man to believe, that Chrift. died for him 
 
 frail (bake you out of that confidence, and blow 
 upon it, and make it evanifh j ye cry out on 
 them that live in Eriror, yet ve practife theft 
 fame Errors ( to fpeak fo ) as raft as ye can; wc 
 cannot by much Preaching get you brought (o 
 the Knowledge of the Truth, but ye can drink 
 in Error ere ye hear of ir, and it will ruin your 
 £ouls, if Gacre prevent not i and many of you 
 ihalJ find that thus you have deftroyed your 
 Celves. A $d. Sort of rotten confidence* is that 
 which fome have, who cannot fay they ire for 
 
 in particular, at the firft hand,and to think that the time Juftified, yet they have a perfwafion to 
 
 get Heaven, and to be Juflified ere they die, or 
 that at death they will be fure of it.and they wot© 
 Well they (hall not defpair ; This is alfo naughty 
 prcfumption, and continued in, is hazardous as 
 outer defperation, and killeth moe Souls than 
 aefpair doth; fe>rfuchre(t quietly in their hope 
 of being fred frcm wratb.and having their peict 
 made with God, and yet never go to Chrift to 
 
 he hath no more to do.but to believe that Chrift 
 died, and fuffered for him, and that thereupon 
 he is Juflified ; For this layeth a. ground for u- 
 niverfal Redemption againft the current of the 
 Scriptures, and can never be a ground of in- 
 terest in Chdft's Righteoufnefsjlt fuppofesthat 
 to be done already, and admits not the Soul, to 
 concur by believing for coming to the applica 
 
 tion.and yet this is very rife amongft People, I have it done ; this is like that mans prefumpti^ 
 
 believe that Chrift died for me, and (hed his on » thatfayes, tulh, / {hall have peace, though I 
 
 precious blood fcr me, ^ and fo long as they can w *fcjzihe im sanation of my own heart ; God is 
 
 maintain this preemption, and not fuffer them- firacieus and merciful, and I hope he will not 
 
 felves to admit of any debating, and qucftion* Dc fo fevere as He is called; the Lord callcth this 
 
 ing, whether they have ground and reafon for * belying of Him,foi He fays in His Word,thac 
 
 it, or not, they think they have Faith enough ; there if no peace to the wicked, and the fcolifk 
 
 but this is no Act of Faith, nor of the nature of Prefumer fayes, I (hall have peace ; fhall His 
 
 true Juftifying Faith, which is to take hold of 
 Chrift offered, that we.may come to be abfolv- 
 ed through Him ; Therefore, when ever the 
 Scripture puts us to believe, it commands us to 
 take hold of Chrift offered, and not at firft hand 
 to believe, that he died for us in particular; I 
 fuppofc many are carried away with this pre- 
 emption, that will to their coft atlaftfind it to 
 beotherways. 2. Others think that all Faith 
 confifts in this, to believe that God loved them 
 from all Eternity, and that they are already Ju- 
 ftified, which is the Antinamian way; They be- 
 lieve not that they may he juft'Jic d y which was Pauls 
 way, Gal. a. 10. but they believe that they arc 
 Juftified; And this alfo prefuppons an univerfal 
 Redemption, and to prefs it upon you, were to 
 bid you all believe that God hath loved you, and 
 pardoned you from all Eternity, which were to 
 bid you believe a lie ; for we wot wellfromthe 
 Scriptures of Truth, that God hath not loved 
 all from Eternity, and yet this is the Faith that 
 many of you prefumptuoufly practifes ; we aic 
 all naturally fome way Jntniomianr, Papifts % »nd 
 Jrminiansm ourPractico , and the way of Error 
 is more confident ,tnd current with our nature, 
 than the way of Truth : But, O ! prefumptu- 
 ous hypocrites, will ye daringly and without 
 any ground believe Gods Love to yeu ? God 
 
 Word or theirs ftand ? they fay, Jtr. «. 12. and 
 
 7- 9- The temple if the Lord, the temple of the Lord 
 
 *re thefe, they make a fair (hew of attendance on 
 
 ordinances, and yet Real, murder, and commit s- 
 
 duktry y and fay we are delivered to do all the fr thing f; 
 
 is not this a grofs belaying of the Lord ? God 
 
 (hall beat back many or your vain confidences im 
 
 your faces, and yx>ur faces wax pale, when God 
 
 mall caufe your Charge and Summons to come 
 
 unto Judgment, found in your Ears ; Thefe and 
 
 fuch like confidence will never bear you through 
 
 it is not thefe we fpeak of. 
 
 Yet a/y.Wc fay that the right cxercife of Faith 
 wants not its own confidence, comfort, and af- 
 rance,when taken in a right fence much where- 
 of is attributed by fome to the definition of 
 Faith ; for fome miftake Faith, andot'ers are 
 miftaken, or mifunderftood in their (poking 
 of Faith; Some Divines that writ of Faith.fpejfc 
 of its being an alliirancc, dtfineing it ac its 
 hight ; yet generally they take in.and piefup* 
 pofe the aftivc aft of Faith rcfting on Chrft; 
 others define it by thefe two afts, a receiving of, 
 and rcfting upon Chrift ; Therefore we would 
 never conceive cfthem, at leaft of mary of 
 thcm.as making this aflurance to our fenfe to be 
 X x t iflcr.tial. 
 
 ■ 
 
35 £ v***i» $i 
 
 effentlal.and absolutely neceffary to the being of 
 Juftifying Faith; much lefs would wc think, that 
 they misken,and pafsby the true ASts of receive 
 ing and retting upon Chrift i only fome of 
 them (which we humbly think is iheir niiftake,) 
 having ro do with P*p:Jls,who place Faith in the 
 undemanding, add an aflurance of Faith to the 
 former A£h ; in which we fay there is a ground 
 of confidence, or a conditional afTurance upon 
 fuppofttion, thit Souls receive Chrift, and red 
 upon Him, they may be confident, that that is 
 a ground that will not fail them, they maybe 
 confident that He will not deceive them; a con- 
 fidence in ths, that they may ftep to, or lean 
 upon Chrift, and not fear that He fail them, or 
 that ihey may without all fear of hazird caft 
 themlel; es onChrift;Therefore He is called a />;- 
 ed,ele£}, precious, corner Jlone,a fure foundation-^ indeed 
 that isnofmal! ground of confidence,that when 
 a Soul comes to Chrift by believing, it may be 
 fure lie will not Fail it. 2, Being lure that we 
 have committed our felves to Chrift (which fup- 
 pofes Faith's being put toexcrcifcand practice) 
 there may be a confidence in this refpeft, we 
 may be fure He will not fail us in particular. 1 
 Tim. 1. It. 1 know in whom I have behoved, and 
 that he is able to keep that which J have committed to 
 him, and that 1 fhall not be ajhamed; He puts both 
 theft together, 1 know that He'isable, and that 
 H - wi>] not fail me, I fhall not be afhamed; So 
 Rem 8. lam perfwaded, that neither death nor life, 
 &c. jhall be able to fefarat us from the Uve of God 
 that it in Chrifl Jefus ; If Souls have received the 
 offer,they may be fure it will not mifgive them. 
 3. Add; that this a&ual, or a&ive refting on 
 Chrift may befeparatc from the fenfe of it, or 
 
 from the paffive act of Faith, or quietnefs that 
 follows on retting on Chrifl J for there is a ref- 
 ting on Chrift, which is very Faith it" fclf, and 
 not the effect ; come and ye fhall find refl ; coming 
 is before finding of reft, to our fenfe at Jeafr we 
 arenotto knit this paflive reft, with the ether 
 active act of retting, as if it were impoflible to 
 refc on Chrift without prefent fenfiblc eaie ; be- 
 fide, it is this active retting that gives us right 
 to Chrift, and not the paflive, Gal. a . 16. W§ 
 bdievedtbat we may be jufiified \ This necefTarly 
 goes before our believing toat we arc Juftificd. 
 
 To clofe with a word of more particular Ufe t 
 let me exhort yoti to Jay lefs weight on your 
 bare thinking that ye believe, on your prefentill 
 grounded hope and peace ; Aim, and endeavour 
 to Act, and excrcifc, Faith on Chrift actively, 
 receiving and retting on Him for winning ro 
 Peace ; This practice of Faith is the over word 
 ( to fay fo) of the Doctrine of Juttification ; 
 Thatfcing there is fuch ground of Juttification 
 laid down, the Righteoufnefs of ChrifiSand that 
 it is propofed to you.andfeing this is the very 
 Aft of Juftifying Faith, to receive and reft on 
 Chrift, as He is propofed and offered; when this 
 offer is made to you, let your Faith receive, 
 take hold of and confent to the bargain; and 
 ground and found your Defence here, for an- 
 fweringall challenges that the Law and Jufticc 
 may prefent againft you ; That there was a Sa- 
 viour offered to you, and that ye received 
 Him, and refted upon Him, will be a ground 
 that fhall bear you cut when ye come before 
 God ; and except this be made fure, our fpea- 
 king and your hearing of Faith will be to no 
 purpofe. 
 
 SERMON LX I. * 
 
 ISAIAH L 1 1 1. XI. 
 Vef. 11. B; his knowledn fhall my righteous fervant juftifis many, for he fhall bear their iniquities. 
 
 THisisa great affcrtion, and of migh- 
 ty moment, wherein torhe Know- 
 ledge of Chrift, the Juftification of 
 many is attributed ; and indeed if 
 we knew what an advantage and be- 
 nefit it weie, theje would be nothing more ftu- 
 died than how to obtain it ; For it is the very 
 inlet, and opens the door to Glorification ; and 
 if to be hippy in the enjoyment of God be a be- 
 nefit of great concernment, then this of Juftifi- 
 cation muft be fo. 
 
 We propofed to fpeak of the way how this 
 benefit is applyed, and that is by faith fet out 
 
 under this expreflion,H/7 Knowledge^ or the know 
 led£e of him ,and touched on the benefit of Faith, 
 and the neceflity thereof, for attaining Juftifica- 
 tion, God having fo ordered it in the Covenant 
 that none others fhould bejuftified, but fuch 
 as have Fairh. a. We fpoke alfo to the Object 
 of this Faith, Chrift Jefus as our Righteoufnefs 
 and Peace : So that Chrift becomes in a peculi- 
 ar manner the Object of Eaith befideany other 
 thing ; Becaufe ic-s only in Chrift it can find a 
 fhelrcr, therefore it's only to Chrift that it flees, 
 when it is piufued. 3 We fpake like wife of the 
 
 * nature 
 
6/ iffUh $3. 
 
 Mature of this Faith, or its Aft, it being the 
 hearts trailing it felf to Chrifts Righteoufnefs, 
 whereon it hazards the weight of ^s Peace and 
 reives here ; And as all the Terms of Juftifica- 
 tion are borrowed from Law, wherein there is 
 fuppofed a Charge, a Tribunal andaJudge;So 
 is this retting in like manner ; It s in effett an 
 arraigned Perfons making of Chrift snghteouf- 
 nefs, his Legal Defence againft all Challenges; 
 The fubftanceof the phrafc is in that cf Philip. 
 3 o That lmaybt found inhtn, ntt having m) own 
 rigbtmfnefs, &c. Where prefuppofing a ly bel- 
 ling andCharge,whereto does theApo;ile betake 
 himfelf, and what is his refuge r Irs Chrift and 
 His Righteoufnefs, even to be found in him ; 
 as if the queftion werepropofed,/W, what wilt 
 thou do in tkeday of Judgment? what wilt 
 thou lean to for a Defence in that day? To 
 which he anfwers, not to my own Righteouf- 
 nefs, but this is it even to be found in Him ; 
 which he exponesto be, the having of his Righ« 
 teoufnefs by Faith, that's the Righteoufnefs of 
 Chrift by Faith taken hold of by me,whichFaith 
 flitits upas it were Paul in that Righteoufnefs, 
 and hides him fo, as he ispaft over, as if there 
 were no unrighteou r nefs at all in him. 
 
 The Ejf'.ft of this Faith follows, when a per* 
 fon is chafed, and hath fled unto, and laid hold 
 on Chrift ; the effeft, I fay is, he ihall be Jufti- 
 iied ; wc may confider this feveral ways, and 
 for explication s fake I fhallfhortly put by fomc 
 of them. 
 
 I. Then, according to the expofition of the 
 words, take this Obfervation, That there is fuch 
 a thing as Juftification diftinft from San&ifica- 
 tion, That benefit of Juftification follows on 
 Faith's taking lipid of Chrift, becaufe it's fuch 
 a benefit as follows Chriftstakingon our Sin ; By 
 hit knowledge fhall.be jtuft'.fie-. tnany, for he [hall bear 
 their iniquities ; Now Sanctification is not that, 
 but the infufing ofHolinefs in us, and is the 
 work of Gods Spirit/inwardly working a change 
 }n the man, wedid fome way clear and confirm 
 .^his in the expofition of the Wprtfs, and fhew 
 you how S'anctifi:auoi, d iTcrcth from Juftifica- 
 tion ; xVuw yc are justified, now ye are fantllf.ed, 
 S*yes the Apoflle, i.C«r. 6. Making them di- 
 stinct benefits : To clear it a little further, Twt 
 things are to be considered in Sin, both which 
 »re to be removed by Chrift, but differently; 
 .JL Something that, defies and pollutes us, and 
 makes us difconform to Gods Image, hence Sin 
 is in the Scripture compared to Coils and Sores, 
 and menftruou* Cloa hs, and is called filthinefs. 
 a. There is a guiltinefs that follows on this, 
 whereby we are not only preTuppofcd unclean, 
 but are made Jyablc to the Laws Certification, 
 
 Verf. n. 357 
 
 wherein it's faid, Cwjcd is ever.) en* that ttntinu- 
 eth not in every thing written inthefackof the law U 
 do it; Now if we fpeak of the removing ofthefc 
 two, Juftificarion takes away the guilt of Sin, 
 when the Sinner ts purfued before God's Tri- 
 bunal, he is discharged by the imputation of 
 Chrifts Righreoufnefs, to which he is ffcd for 
 refuge ; The Lawabfolves him. not becaufe he 
 wants Sin, but becaufe the Mediator hath fatis- 
 fied for his Sin, and that Satisfaction is by Faith 
 laid hold of ; Sanctification takes aw2y the pol- 
 lution, and blot cfSin, the Perfoa that had 
 thefe Boils and Sores is cleanfed, or healed, or is 
 a healing, and under cure, ( for there is no com- 
 pleat healing while on this fide of Heaven ) As 
 fuppone a man by tranfgrefling the Law, had 
 wounded himfelf, in wounding or hurting ano- 
 ther, there is here both a gailr, and a deformi- 
 ty ; aguiltin tranfgrefling the Law, by hurting 
 his neighbour, and a deformity in wounding 
 himfelf .Juftification is as if the ptmhy of the 
 breach of fuch a Law were not exacted, by the 
 interpofmgof a Cautioner; and Sanctification 
 is like the healing of the Wound in a mans fc\f 9 
 by taking or application of fome Phyfick,or Plai- 
 fter; So is it here, Juftification fetsus freefrom 
 the guilt.and Sictification cures us of the wound 
 of Sin ; mans fall was a guilt, and by that fall 
 he wounded himfelf; and by Chrift both are ie« 
 moved from the Believer : by His Satisfaction 
 He juftifles,andby His Grace and Spirit He San- 
 ctifies him. 
 
 Ujc, We obferve it only in pafling, becaufe 
 it ferves to clear all that concerns Juftification, 
 and therefore when we fpeak of Juftification by 
 Chrifts Righteoufnefs. 1. It's notas if we had 
 a Righteoufnefs communicat to us, and were 
 made actually holy, but ii's the imputation of 
 £hrift 's Righteoufnefs to us; the confounding of 
 thefe two doesilJ, and is very prejudicial, not 
 only to the Papiffs. but to others, who think 
 they are juftifud, w"heri they think they have 
 fome good frame, which being wanting, they 
 fufpecttheir 7'jfcifi.ca: t !. 2 The meaning is 
 not as Chrifts R were our Sanctifi- 
 
 cation, which fstne Error of the Mimmi*nj y \x\\o 
 imkeallSanctification to be7uftification,eren as 
 the Papi/ls make all purification to be Sanctifica- 
 tion ; therefore we would learn to diftinguilh 
 thefe two, yet not fo as to feparat them. 
 
 2f>, Otf<r ve . Thar this efface juftification is 
 not only nor mainly the feufe of being pardon- 
 ed and abfolved ;' but it's real jibfolution and par- 
 don itfelf >becaufc this 7uiti:Tcuion that follow s 
 Faith, is tfiat which Chrift hath purchafed by 
 His Soul-travel, and bearing of our iniquities, 
 
3 5* tfaiah fj. 
 
 and mtitles the Juftined Perfon to Him, and 
 makes him tobt of His Seed ; and that is, not 
 to have the fenfe that we are Juftificd, but aftu- 
 ally ro bejuftified : And here there is another 
 miftake to be adverted to, to think Juftification 
 to be the evidence of that which is paft before we 
 were born, yea from Eternity ; The Juftificati* 
 on here fpoken of, is that which makes us ftand 
 before God, is oppofit to Woiks, and to the 
 Curfe, and frees us from it; But the fenfe of 
 Juftification is not that,whercby we ftmd before 
 Godi and is oppofit to Works and the Curie ; 
 and therefore take this Advertifcment, that Ju* 
 ftification is not to be fenfible of our juftificati- 
 on, but it is really to befo,whether we know and 
 be fenfible of it or not, and that by vertue of 
 Chrifts Righteoufnefs apprehended by Faith. 
 
 The Third t and main thing in this effc£t, is, 
 That laying hold on Chrift by Faith as He is 
 offered in the Gofpel does before God ferve to 
 the juftifying of a Sinner, and the abiblving of 
 him from the guilt of Sin, That is, when a Sin* 
 ner fenfible of Jin is brought to lay hold on 
 Chrift's Righteoufnefs, then follows Godabfol- 
 vingofhim, as if he had never had Sin, or had 
 fatisficd for his own Sin ; which is not only 
 holden out here, but is frequently fpoken of 
 through the Epifilcs, and is the Juftification that 
 ftands in oppofition to the way of Works ; to 
 wit, when a poor Sinner fenfible of Sin, is per- 
 fwaded by Gods Spirit to flee unto, and reft u- 
 pon Chrifts Righteoufnefs offered in the Gofpel, 
 upon which follows Gods abfolvlng of him; 
 This Dotfrine.ttkcs in the fubftance of trie Text, 
 By the knowledge of my righteous fervant fhall many be 
 juftifitd. 
 
 There are fcveral things that will fall to be 
 cleared in the profecuting of this, which we fhal 
 fpeak to fhortly. for clearing of that Queftion of 
 the Catechifm, what is Juftification ? becaafe 
 this Doctrine holds out the Form of it, and deduc- 
 eth it in th's order. I. A Sinner is here fuppof- 
 ed to be living under Gods curfe according to 
 that, Gal. 3.10. Cur fed is every one that continue/ 
 hot in all things written in the law ; This is mans 
 condition by nature, a. It is fuppofed that Chrift 
 becomes Cautioner for cleft Sinners, and takes 
 on their Debt, and fatisfiesfor them, on condi- 
 tion that if they fhal believe on Him, they fhall 
 bejuftified, and have His fatisfa&ioa imputed 
 to them; and that the Lord Jehovah accepts of 
 the Mediators fatisfa&ion, and ingageth to make 
 out the condition. 
 
 3 . The Lord in the Word of the Gofpel hath 
 revealed this, and hath comprehended the way 
 of a Sinners Justification in the Gofpel Covenant 
 and promifes, and makes effer of ic to all that 
 
 **£ '*• „ . Serm. tfr.t 
 
 hear of if, faying, He thAt believer in the Son fhal 
 n$t perfh, but have eternal lift and all that believe on 
 him fhall be \uf\fitd from all things ,whoreby they could 
 notbejuflifiedbythelawofMofes : This is the exter- 
 nal instrumental caufe of Juftification.that holds 
 outtheway to Life, which fuppofesthe former. 
 4- When this is made offer of in the Gofpel, 
 there is the Operation of Gods Spirit on the Soul 
 inlightning the Mind of the Sinner.convincing 
 him of his hazard, chafing Ihim to Chrift, and 
 powerfully perfvvading him to take hold of His 
 Righteoufnefs made offer of to him, whereupon 
 the Soul comes to put forth the Act of Faith, 
 and to reft upon His Righteoufnefs ; as when it 
 was faid by Philip to the Eunuch, Jet. 8. if Then *#- 
 litvtB. thou mayefl be justified ; TheSoul anfwers, 
 / be/ievt in Chrift the Son tfGtd i whereupon it be« 
 comes a bargain ; and this is the inward mean, 
 or infrrumental caufeof Juftification. 5. Fol* 
 lows Gods imputing to that Sinner,that receives 
 Chrift as He is offered, and refts upon Him by- 
 Faith, His Righteoufnefs, and Chrifts payment 
 and latisf action to Juftice is counted his, and ac- 
 cording to this his Sins are pardoned, for th* 
 merit of that Righteoufnefs, and he himfelf is 
 accepted & accounted Righteous, as if he had ne« 
 ver tinned, and he hath fucha fentence paft on 
 him.as is held forth in thefe words of Pfal, 32. r. 
 BUJfedis the man whofe tranfgrejjion is forgiven, vtboft 
 fin is covered t towhom the Lordimputs no iniquity; and 
 in thefe, Rom. 3 1 . there is therefore now no condemn 
 nation to them who are in Chrift Jefus &c. Even as be- 
 fore he fled to Chrift, there was a Curfe ftand- 
 ing againft him : And this is an Act of God, the 
 Soveraign and efficient Caufe, To dtelare his right- 
 eoufnefs, that hi might bejufl, and tin juftifier of him 
 that believes in Jefus, as it is» tXtm, 3. 26". which is 
 the final caufe. 
 
 We may confirm this either as to the pofitive 
 part, that by believing a Sinner is Juftified or as 
 to the negative parr, that there is no other way 
 poffible whereby a Sinner can be juftificd,but by 
 believing ; So that thisgreat Effect follows from 
 a fenfible Sinners taking hold of Chrifts Righte- 
 oufnefs by Faith. Ye may look upon a few Scrip- 
 tures to this purpofe as namely, GaU 2. io\ 
 Where the Apoftle entering; in the debate 
 Jayes down this conclusion, Knowing that a man it 
 not justified by (b c works of the law % but by faith in Jf 
 fus Christ y even we have believed in Jefus Chrift, that 
 we might bejuftfiedby the faith of ' Cbrift, as if he 
 had faid.we have taken this way for the attaining 
 of this end,bstieving that wo might be juflified ;The 
 Apoftle fpraks here,r Of a Juftification by Faith 
 which is oppofit to Works.and as he afenbes it 
 to Faith fo he denyes it to Works. 2. He makes 
 
 't 
 
Serm. 61 : 
 it exclufive, 
 
 , and will nave no other thing to 
 concu/ in the manner at lead, by Faith < ; *..»- 
 int ( faith he ) that a man is not )uftifrd by works, 
 but by Faith 3. He holds out his own, and o- 
 ther Believers praftice; Iven we have behead, 
 that we might beefed', As ifhehadfaid,*e 
 took this way of Faith to be abfolved before£od, 
 which by the Law, er the works of the Law, 
 would never have been i See alfo to this pur. 
 pofe, the £#/!/« to the Romans 1.1; 3, 4, and 5. 
 Chapters, efpecially the 2, and 4, in the y. C**?. 
 v U When he isfummingthe Doctrine ofju- 
 ftification into a compend, he fayes, mom God 
 bath fet forth fbeapropitiatunthrjugn faith, f de- 
 clare bis rigbttoujnefs for tht remiffion if fins, &c 
 Where Chrifts Righteoufnefs is called a Prafiti* 
 mtion through faith, and Faith is nolden out as the 
 Channel in which J unification runs ; and in the 
 words following the Believer is holden out as 
 the Objeft of it ; So chap. 4 It is holden out in 
 the inftance of Abraham, particularly in v. 5. 
 To him that worketb not, but blltevethon him that ju. 
 BifUththe ungodly, hs faith is counted for right eou'mfs; 
 Where the Apoftle propones r»e ways of a Pcr- 
 fons aiming to be jultified. The in whereof is, 
 when a man worketh, and on that account feeks 
 to be juftifted, and-that way is rejeaed. The 
 a. is, when a man hath no works, or worketh 
 not on that account to be juftified by thern, 
 but by Faith betakes himfclf to Chctfts S*'iu 
 faft on, and that way is eftablifhed, for tnatmans 
 ' Faith is counted for Righteoufnefs, and is the 
 ground of his peace before God; We gave fome 
 Scriptures before for this, and fhall not there- 
 fore now inffft. There is alio good reafon why 
 it cannot be other wayes, I. If we confider what 
 man is in him r elt, ungodly, rebdlious, having 
 nothing to prefent unto God; but when a 
 Righteoufnefs is prefented to him by way of 
 offer, ami he is through Grace brought to ac- 
 cept of the offer of the Righteoufnefs of ano- 
 ther, nothing can be conceived to be brought to 
 receive it but his Faith ; and if Chrifrs Satif- 
 fa&ion be his Jufrincation,and if it be Faith that 
 takes hold of it, we have a clear reafon why 
 Juftification is attributed to Faith, 1. Confider, 
 That this contributes mod to Gods end, which 
 , is to glorifie himfe-lf, efpecially in his Grace, in 
 51 the juftificitron of Sinners, even to hold forth 
 J the manifold riches of bis Grace } and nothing 
 contributs to this fo much, and fo well, as that 
 which fpeaks the Sinner to be empty, and no- 
 thing empties the Sinner more than Faith; Ir 
 :ing the great Aft of Faith to bring the Soul 
 lorFits own bo'tom, and to (top all boairing; 
 jj:ltO drive it out of ic felf to be found io Him i 
 
 ■> 
 
 fV/u. 53* 
 
 Therefore, it is f aid to be of Faith, that ilmrgtjt h 
 •f Grace, Rom. 4 16, As if h«had faid, if it were 
 by any other thing, it could not be by Grace, 
 but Faith claims nothing but the Righteoufnefs 
 ©f Chriir to reft on ; He hath payed the price, 
 and made the Satisfaction, and that Satisfaction 
 is mine, faith Faith, becaufc it was offered to 
 me, and I hava been brought to lay hold on it, 
 and the nature of this pleading ftops the mouth 
 of the creature, and proclaims Juftification to 
 be alone the effctt of Gods Grace, and of Chrifrs 
 procurement. 3. Confider, Thatif it depended 
 on any otherthing, ourjuftification could never 
 be perfite; when we fpeak ofjuftification, and 
 calJ it perfite, it is not fo to be underfiocd, as 
 if Faith were perfite, but Chrifrs Satisfaction 
 which is cur Righteoufnefs, and which Faith 
 layes hold on is perfite, though our Faiths grip 
 be weaki Hence it is, that the weak Believer is 
 juftified, as well as the ftror.g ; all who look 
 unto Chirfr, though with a weak lighted eye, 
 get Salvation through him as well as jibraham-, 
 becaufe his Righteoufnefs is perfite, which Weak 
 Faith takes hold of as well *s ftrong Faith, -Now 
 if Juftification were founded on ought within 
 us, it cou'd never be perfite, -but by himalltkat 
 believe are juftified from all things, from which they 
 could not beiufified ^ :ht l»w */ Moft* : And one 
 °f jhcTn made as free as another ; It's not here, 
 as if one part of the Debt were fcored and blot- 
 ted out, and not another, but all is blotted 
 out, becaufe the Righteoufnefs prefented be- 
 fore Gods Tribunal, and imputed to us, which 
 is the Defence that Faith gives in, isperfitejWe 
 may compare frrong and weak Faith to two 
 Advocats, the one more able, and the other 
 weaker, pleading the fame caufc befor a jufc 
 Judge ; ftrong Faith pleads more ftrongly, fully 
 and distinctly, weak Faith pleads not fo fully 
 and diftincrly ; but bo:h pleading on the fame 
 ground, God the ?aJge judgeth apt according 
 to the diftinctnefs, Or u.idiftinrtncfs of the 
 pleading, but according to the Defence, or Rea- 
 fon given in, and abfolves both alike, and the 
 wc^kBeUevar is is fully pardoned as the ftrong is t 
 The Ufes are many and comfortable, 1. It 
 ferves for our Direction; if any were asking, 
 how theymaycome to be juftified?ThisDocliir»r 
 anfwers, by Faith in Jefus Chrifc, by raking 
 with your Sin, and raking hold of Chrifc.i Righ- 
 teoufuefs offered to you in the Gofpel, an.l by 
 making that your defence before God, and is nor 
 this a teflon worthy the learning? Which the 
 whole Word of God aims at. ever to mftiOCI 
 you how ro nuke your peace with Him: h s by 
 the knowledge of Guilt, or by Faith :n biin, 
 
3 4<> //to* $3. 
 
 by refting on Him, as He 19 offered in the Gof- 
 pel ; and this cannot but be a folid and Ticker 
 way of Juftilication, becaufe we have Gods 
 Word for it, it's founded on His Faithfulnefs, 
 and on the Tranfattion made betwixt God and 
 tlu- Mediatof ; we have nllb thi experience of 
 all the Saints for it, Al>mh.\m before the Law, 
 P.ivid under the Liw, and Pxd flnce the Liw, 
 all of them were led the fame way : ye would 
 take norice of this,- not only as the great quefri- 
 on in Catechizing, or Examination, but as the 
 ground w-hereon ye build your peace,ifye were 
 dying; there is a perfite Righteoufnefs in Chrift 
 made offer of to you in file Gofpel, on conditi- 
 on ye will receive Him as He is offered ; and if 
 yc i'o receive Him, it mail be yours, and ye (hall 
 at Gods Bar be ablblved ; the Righteoufnefs of 
 Chrift fhall be as effectual for your abfolution, 
 as if it were inherent in your felves, and Faith 
 Hull unite you to Him, and make you one with 
 him ; In a word, ye mull all come before Gods 
 Tribunal, and there are but two Defences to hi 
 propofed ; either fomething in your felves, as, 
 your love and charity, or good carriage and du-' 
 ties; or to take with your Sin, to condemn your 
 felves, and to flee to Chrift, and prefent H s 
 Righteoufnefs, as the Righteoufnefs of the Cau- 
 tioner that h*thp5}'ffd iUMj*'Debr>*irtJ according 
 as ye take the one way, or the- other, ye may 
 expect to bejuftified, or not ; and this DeBrfat 
 rejects the one way, and ownes and confirms; 
 the other, which is by Faith. 
 
 And therefore, 2. ( which is the great Ufeo£ 
 all this Dottrine ) here there is ground laid down 
 to any that would bejuftified, how they may 
 Avin to it, and a warrand to propofejuftification, 
 as a thing attainable through Faith in Him ; ye 
 have it in your offer on thefe terms, and there- 
 fore let me earneftly intreatyouto accept of the 
 offer; if this be the way of Juftification,take this 
 way, feingthej-e is anaofolute neceflicy of Faith 
 in every .one Sat would be at Juftificationjinake 
 it fure that ye are indeed fled to Chrift, and that 
 it is His Righteoufnefs, which ye make your de- 
 fence before the Bar of Gods Tribunal : We 
 fliall branch forth this Ufi of Exhortation in 
 thefc Tao or Three words. 1. When Chrift is 
 fpoken of in the Gofpel, let him be by Faith 
 received ; and if ye would know what this is, la- 
 bour I. To know, and to take up the difference 
 betwixt 5clf-Righte;oufnefs,and that Righteouf- 
 nefs which is by Faith ; For many are fo igno- 
 rant, that they know neither the one nor the o« 
 ther,orat leaft not the one by the ether. a. When 
 ye are come to know the difference betwixt 
 the:'"- two, and are lbberly weighing what ye 
 
 ould lippen to, in your C9ining before God, 
 
 Vtr l\ l }\, . Scrm. <5r. 
 
 with indignation fnuffle out, and caft by, dif- 
 claim and renounce your own Righteoufnefs 
 and grip to the Righteoufnefs of Chrift • here 
 Faith will have a double Work, upon the one 
 hand to rejeft Selt'iigJiteoufnefs, and upon the S 
 other hand to reft upon the Righteoufnefs of 
 Chrift alone, according to that, Philif. 9, 9.3/y. 
 When ye have gotten your own Righteoufnefs 
 caften, and Chnfts Righteoufnefs cloitd with, 
 there is a neceflity to cover and hide your felves 
 in ir,that ye may never fo much as in the vaging 
 conceit ofycur mind, be found cut of it; Ic 
 alludes to the City of refuge, wherein, when 
 once enrred into, andabidenin, theperfonwas 
 fafe, but if he was at any time found without, 
 he was in hazard to be killed by the avenger of 
 blood '-, which held out not c nly the act of Faith 
 fleeing to Chrift, but its abiding in Him, being 
 hid in Him, containing and keeping it felf in 
 h:m, and continuing to plead it's defence on 
 that ground ; there may be in a fit of fad exer- 
 cifc' a renouncing of our own Righteoufnefs, 
 but when that is over, and We begin to conceit 
 fomething ofthatwhich wehavc,done, we are 
 ready to torget Chrifts Righteoufnefs, and to 
 lean to our own > and and that is in a manner 
 fo come out of Chrift,and from our City of Re- 
 fuge, if ever we were in HiiruFaith as- it betakes 
 it felf to Chrift, fo it ftatesit felf in Chrift ) w2)^e 
 only it dare abide the tryal. 2.Wc would com- 
 mend this to you, as the great ground of your 
 peace and hopejeven that ye would^pi^t it to the 
 tryal, and make it fure, whether ye.be in the 
 Faith or not , It is true, there are many bcguil- 
 cdinthi?, and take themfelves to bt iri the Faith • 
 when they arc not'; and others queftion their 
 Faith and their being Juftified without juft 
 ground, yet it's impoflible to win to clearnefs of , 
 intereft in Chrift, or to the having ot any folid ] 
 and comfortable hope of enjoying Gcd, except 
 there befome clearnefs, that we are jn'the Faith, 
 and hare indeed betaken our felves to Chrift ; 
 which cannot be win at, without putting it to 
 the tryal ; other evidences^fcrve to clear ourju- 
 ftifkation, as they clear our Faith, and as they , 
 prove Faith, fo they conclude and prove ourJuV 
 ftification, and the out-gate promifed; Now if 
 believing be fuch an evidence of Juftification,6cl 
 of a well grounded hope of Heaven, is there not J 
 reafon we mould put it in good earneft,and fre-1 
 cjuently to the tiyal, and feek to know whether i 
 we be in the Faith or not ; The Apoftle, 2 Cor\ J 
 13. 5. Doubles his Exhortation to this purpofe,-] 
 Examine your {tbvesjfye be inthefaith,fro<ve your own 
 /elves, know ye not jour own felves, kiw that Jefus 
 Qkri(l ii in you, wtpt ye be nfrgfatf. We do 
 
 the 
 
the rather prefs this, becaufe if we were fen- 
 ous in the Tryal, there would through Gods 
 bleffing, be more Faith m fome, and Jefs pre- 
 fumptionin others: and thefe that have Faith, 
 would have more peace and comfort in it. But 
 that which makes many content themfelves 
 with a counterfit in ftead of Faith, is that they 
 put it not to the tryal ; and that which makes 
 them who have Faith to want Peace, and live 
 in much anxiety , is, that they do not more 
 
 ; Vitl 11. 34r 
 
 prove themfelves, as to their Faith; Thefe ate 
 then the Two main points of Believers duty, by 
 Faith to take hold of Chrift, and to reft on and 
 in Him, and by tryal to make it clear and fura 
 to themfelves , that they are Believers; and 
 thefe Two are the great up-fhot of all this Do&- 
 line, to perfwade us to believe, that we maybe 
 Cure, and to perfwade us to ftudy to be fure 
 and clear in it, that we may be comforted 
 thereby. 
 
 SERMON LXII. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XI. 
 
 By his kmwledge Jhall my righteous fervant juftijie many, for he Jball bear their 
 
 Verf. ir. 
 
 iniquities. 
 
 THe DocVine of Juftification through 
 Faith in Chrift Jefus was wont to 
 be much thought of among the 
 People of God, It is called, Gal, 
 3. 8. The preaching of the Gofpel to 
 r Abraham, when God fore-told him of a way of 
 Juftification and Salvation , through Chrifts 
 coming of him, That in him all the nations of the 
 earth jkould be bUfftd ; This was the telling of 
 good news to him, and we are fure it is as good 
 news now as ever it was, and would be fo to us, 
 if we could look on it Spiritually, as they did ; 
 for there is as great hazard in Sin, and thecurfe 
 is as terrible and infufferable, and the love of 
 God as frefti now as they were then. 
 
 We have for fome days been fpeaking of 
 this Do&rine of Juftification, and it will be 
 much to fpeak and hear of it profitably, wede* 
 fire not to infift on what may be unufeful, but 
 we conceive there is fome neceflity in in« 
 lifting on this ; it's our own negligence, and 
 ignorance that makes many things of this kind 
 to be very unufeful, even fo that we fcarely 
 conceive them, and we are made heartlel's in 
 fpeaking of them, becaufe to many they are, as 
 if fpoken in a flrange language, which is, and 
 (hould be for a lamentation. 
 
 The laft thing we propofed, was to hold forth 
 the mean by which Juftification is attained, to 
 wit, Faith; which we obferved, to fhew how 
 Faith concurres in the attaining of Justificati- 
 on ^ Few »r none ever denyed Faith to be ne- 
 cefTiry for the attaining of |uftification, neither 
 can any that read the Word of God with the leaft 
 confideration, but have that impreflion of it; 
 but the great thing wherein the difference lyes, 
 and wherein men mifcarry, is, in attributing 
 
 to Faith the right or wrong manner of its con* 
 currencc, in the attaining ot this efFeft, though 
 thefe things may at firft blufh, look like meer- 
 ly notional fpeculations , and fuch as d® not 
 concern Chriitians practice ; yet there is no Er- 
 ror in Dodhine about this matter, but there is 
 fomething in folks praftice, that locks like it, 
 and is influenced by it.and it's mens inclination 
 to error in practice, that makes them as it were 
 to coyn errors in Judgment. 
 
 We fliall Obferve two generals further , and 
 proceed, The 1. whereotis, That Faith hath a 
 peculiar way of concurrence for the attaining 
 of Juftification , which can agree to no other 
 Grace, nor Work, nay nor to Faith it felf, con- 
 sidered as a Work ; Therefore Jujlfeationifmany 
 is here derived to them by knowledge, or by Faith 
 in Him, that is byFaith'in Chrift, as fecluding 
 all other things, it's by Faith that Juftification 
 is deryved and applyed to us, and by Faith 
 we come to have right to ir, and an Intereft 
 n it. 
 
 The 2d.\s, That however Faith concurrfor 
 attaining of juftification ; yet it's not Faith of 
 it felf, or by any vertue or efficacy in it felf; 
 but as taking hold of Chrift as the Objeft of it, 
 that it juftifies, therefore it's faid to be by the 
 knowledge of him, or by Faith in Him, it's by re- 
 ceiving Him, uniting us to Him, and reitin* 
 on Him, that we are Juftified. 
 
 We fliall fhortly explicat both thefe Branch' 
 cs , and then come to fome practical ufe of 
 them together. 
 
 1. Then, we fay that there is fomething 
 in juftification attributed to Faith , that can- 
 
 V y 
 
 not 
 
34* , I , V»i& n< 
 
 not agree to any other thing, winch is imply- 
 cd in many Scriptural Phrafcs, and in thisText; 
 in as far as it is faid, that by his knowledge, or by 
 Faith in Him, Juftification is attained: And 
 therefore when we are faid ro be juftified by 
 Faith, we affirm that Faith hath a peculiar way 
 of concurring for the attaining of Juftification, 
 which can agree to no other Grace, as to re» 
 pentance, love, meeknefs, patience, &c nor to 
 prayer, almefdeed, or any otner gocd Woiks, 
 or Work; For confirming of this conhver, t. 
 That we are faid to bejuftified by Faith in op- 
 position to Works, and that there is fomething 
 attributed to Faich, which is enyH to Works: 
 Geneially this U clear in th.fe Ep files written to 
 the Rowans and Galaians ; particularly, R9m. 4. 
 1, 3 If Abraham mere j fifitd by works, he hath 
 •»h<r tftog'o<y. but not before God for what faith the 
 Scriptures ? Ab> abam believed God, audit w, is count- 
 ed tt him fo>- right eoufnc Is, mw to bfm that worketh 
 i* the reward not riehned cfg r *ce, but of debt , but to 
 him that worketh not. but believeth on him that jufli* 
 frith the ungodly , bit faith is counted to him forrigh- 
 tewfnefi ; aheremoft clearly a )d convincingly, 
 believing and working are dire&ly oppofite, the 
 one to t-e other ; and Gal. 2. i5. We whs are Jews 
 hy nature, knowing that a man it not juflified by the 
 works gf the law, b%t by the faith of '/ejus Chrift, 
 ( or as the word is, no not by Faith, that 
 is, a man is not juftified by Works, but by 
 Faith ) Even -we have bdieved in Jefus Chrift, that 
 voe might be juftified by the faith of Chrift, and not by 
 the works of the law; Where the Apoftle cannot 
 more purpofely and preflingly make a difference 
 betwixt any two things than he doth betwixt 
 thofe two, Justification by Works, and Juftifi* 
 cation by Faith: And in all this difcourfe, it 
 cannot be faid, that the Apoftle only excludes 
 Works in refpeft of Merit, or Works, as they, 
 look to the Works of the ceremonial Law ; for 
 he oppofeth Faith, and all forts of" Works , or 
 Works in whatfoever refpeft , as inconfiftent; 
 It's not one or two forts of Works, bur all forts 
 of Works of the Law ; and there can be no 
 Works, but fuch as are commended by the 
 Law, which are excluded. Now if the Apoftle 
 feclude all rhe r e, what are the Wo:ksthat we 
 can be juftified by? 2. Colder the peculiar 
 phrafe, that the Scripture ufcthtothis iHirpofe^ . 
 and where we are fud to be Juflifiid by faith , 
 there is a fort of caufaliry attributed to Faith, 
 that can be attributed to no other Grace, nor 
 Works i hence the Righteoufnefs of Chrift is 
 called the R.ip:teoufnefs of faith , and we arc faid 
 to be iufiipd by faith 4* his bind. So Phil. 3, 8, 
 
 9 I count all thing! to be but dung, that 1 may win 
 . , "» ? n * °'f*"d in him, net having mine own 
 ngkteo»lnefi, which u of the Law, but that which u 
 throuh the faith if Chrift, the tight eoujnefs which u 
 of Goa by faith, and Rom. ^ a;, W,:om G:d hath . 
 Jet forth to be a propuiition though faith in his blood', 
 many moe luch pbtafes the.e ar- ; a; d truly it 
 would JfeOk very unlike the Scripture, ro ex. 
 
 P ? n ,« , Scnp Ure P hrares o( » Righrc<.uiii«.fs 
 or Wo.ks or by Works. 3. Confider how the 
 Apoftle oppofeth the two Covenants, the Cove- 
 nant of Works made with Jdam&the Covenant 
 of Grace made with Believers in Jcfus Chrift, 
 Rom 10. 5,6. Mofes dejcribeth the right eoufnefs of 
 the Uw, that the man which doth theje things fball 
 live by them; The Righteoufnefs of rhe Law 
 fpeaks of doing, by which we come to be JulYi- 
 fied; But the righteoufnefs of faith , or the Cove- 
 nant of Grace, Speaketh on thti wile, The word is 
 near thee; even in thy month ^and in thy hear:, that if 
 thouconfefs with thy mouth the L*rd Jefus, and fh alt 
 believe in thy heart, that God ra.fed htm from the 
 dead, thoujhaltbefaved: Where the Apoftle op- 
 pofeth thefe two Covenants, not in refpeft of 
 merit only, as if the one were inconfiftent with 
 Grace, and not the other: but he oppofeth them 
 in this, that the Righteoufnefs of the one Co- 
 venant is in doing, and the Righteoufnefs of the 
 other Covenant is by believing; and rherefore,ac- 
 cording to this oppofition, whatever is a mans 
 doing is not the ground of his Peace, and Jufti- 
 fication before God, becaufe the Righteoufnefs 
 of his doing is the condition of the Covenant of 
 Works ; and the Righteoufnefs of the Covenant 
 of Grace is quite of another nature; to wit. 
 Believing in him whoj ftifieth the ungodly. 4, Con- 
 fider that the thing that is the ground of our 
 Juftification before God, is Chrifts Righteouf- 
 nefs inherent in Himfelf, and imputed to us, 
 for the covering of ournakednefs;becaufeHe,as 
 our Cautioner, hath payed the Debt; hence it 
 follows, that Faith hath another way of concur- 
 ring in Juftification, than any other thmg c*n 
 have; becaufe it's Faith which receives and 
 puts on that Righteoufnefs , which no other 
 thing doth ; That I may be found in him, faith the 
 Apoftle, Philip. 3. 9 not having viir.e own right* 
 oufneft, but the righteoufnefs which u by the faith of 
 Cbrifl ; Sothat to be tn him, is to hzve His Rigf- - 
 teoulhefs, and this Righteoufnefs is put on by 
 Faith: Only take two words of Advertifcment 
 ere we come to clear the other Branch of the 
 Doftrine. The I. is this, when we fpeak of 
 the peculiarnefs of the way of Faith's concur- 
 ring in Juftification, fo as no other Grace or 
 
 Work 
 
 
Work doth, vrt defign, not to weaken or cry 
 down the neceility of Repentance, jnd of other 
 Graces, nor of good Works, the very thoughts 
 whereof we abhore, but c give every one of 
 them their own, and the right place ; and there- 
 fore it's a grofs calumny to fay, that we affirm, 
 that the ftudy and practice of Holinefs and good 
 Works is not neceflary , we only cry them 
 downtm this account, that when we come be- 
 fore God, our Works, or Holinefs are not to 
 be prefentcd to Him as the ground of our Jufti- 
 fication, and Abfolution, but the Righteoafnefs 
 of Chrift that Faith takes hold of* and in tins 
 we fay, that Faith peculiarly concurres as no 
 other Grace doth, becaufe it's fitted with an ap- 
 titude to receive and apply Chrifts Righteouf- 
 nefs, which no other Orace is, as we lay, its 
 by the eye that a man fces,though,if he had not 
 a head, and brains he would not fee, fo though 
 Faith and Holinefs, or good Works be not fe» 
 parat,yetFaith is as it were the eye of theSoul, 
 that difcerns and takes hold of Chrifts Righte- 
 oufnefs. The ^. is this, That when we lpeak 
 of good Works, wefpeakof them asthe Apoftle 
 doth, Tit. 3. S- where he faith, not by the works 
 $f righteoufnefs which we have done,but according tohis 
 mercy he laved «;; and by good Works de- 
 nyed in the point of Juftification , we under- 
 ftand all that is our own doing , not excluding 
 only fome things that were lb accounted in the 
 time of darknefs, a*almsdteds, and the like, but 
 ( as we have faid) all that is our. own doing. 
 
 The id- Branch is, That this peculiarnefs of 
 Faiths concurring in Juftification, is not from 
 any tfticacy in Faith, or from Faith confidered 
 as our deed or work, but as it Acts on Chrift, 
 as the Object of it; and therefore when it is 
 faid, R»w». 4- 3- That Abraham believed God, and 
 it was accounted to him for righteoufnefs ; The 
 meaning is not, as if God had accepted his be- 
 lieving, as an aft or work for his Rghteoufnefs> 
 and tl»at it was accounted as a perfect Grace;but 
 the nvanin^is that Chrift Jeius the piomifed 
 Seed icceived by Faith, or his betaking of him* 
 felt to the Righteoufnefs of Chrift holden out 
 to him in the P'omi.e. wasaccounred bisRigh- 
 teoulnefs, as if he had had an inherent Righ- 
 teoufnefs of his own ; and fo Faith is imputed 
 not in refpedVof i's Aft, but in refpeft of its 
 Object i by his Union with Chrift through 
 Fa : th. Chrifts Satisfaction became his: To clear 
 it a little, take thefe conliderations. 1. Con- 
 fider Faith as a Grace in us, and fo it cannot be 
 imputed for Rigbteoufhefs, for in that refpeft 
 it's aWork^aiU is excluded by the Apoftles 
 
 i 
 
 Verf II. 345 
 
 oppofition, made of Grace and Works, it muft 
 therefore beFaith confidered as acting on itsOb- 
 jeft. 2. Confider that in Scripture, to bejufti- 
 fied by Chrift, bj hit blood, and by Faith, are all one; 
 becaufe when it is faid, we arc juftified by Chrift, 
 or by His Blood.it takes in Chrift and His 
 Blood laid hold on by Faith, therefore fome- 
 times Chnjl, fometimes Faith, is called our Rgh» 
 teoufnefs, becaufe as Chrift confidered, as fsf- 
 fering, and fatisfying is the meritorious caufe 
 of our Juftification, lb Faith is the Inftrumentil 
 caufe taking hold of His Satisfaction, which is 
 our Righteoufnefs, both are neceflary in their 
 own way, and Chrifts Righteoufnefs implyes 
 Faith, and Faith implyes Chrifts and His 
 Righteoufnefs, the one implyes the other ne- 
 ceflarily 3. Confider the Phrafes ufed in Scrip- 
 ture to this purpofe, as where we are faid tobe 
 juftified by faith, it ever refpefts Chrift, and where 
 we are faid by faith to put on Chrifl, it is net Faith 
 confidered as Righteoufnefs of it felf , but it's 
 Faith confidered as acting on Chiilt arid His 
 Righteoufnefs j Therefore it's the Righteouf- 
 nefs which is by Faith, the Righteoufnefs which 
 is in Chrift, and by Faith, taken hold of by us, 
 and becoming ours. 
 
 The Ufa are feveral, 1. For Information and 
 Conviction, and we wou'd, 1. Be Informed in, 
 and underfrand well the meaning of this Doct- 
 rine, when we lay, thatFaith is neceflary to Ju- 
 ftification, and cencurrtth in attaining of it, as 
 no other thing doth , that ye may give it its 
 right place, and may make no confuiion of thefe 
 things that arediftinct, u We deny not Works, 
 notwithftanding of all that we have faid, tobe 
 recelTary, more than we do Faith i I ut the great 
 diffarence is anentthegivirgot Faith & Woiks, 
 or Faith as it is a work an equal (hare, in refpeft 
 of caufality in our Juftification ; And therefore 
 we would beware with Piptfls to attribu'eafort 
 ofcondignity to Faith, as if it merited eternal 
 Life, which flows from their ignoiai ce of Gcds 
 Covenant; For they think, that fince he com- 
 mands us to believe, and pr» mifcth Life to be- 
 lieving, that there is anerit in believing , as 
 they fincie, there is in Prayer, Almtf- dt eds, 
 aid other Duties, r-r good Works ; but in this 
 refpeft, as it is a Woik in us. the Apoft'e ex- 
 cludes Faith, a : 1 • i mikes our JuftifuaMrn free; 
 whereas if Fauh in Jufttficarion were confidered 
 as a Work meritirrg ourjuftification, i r II 
 not be free ; and a!t' ough here 1 1 
 pic fciTion h r tit ivy 
 
 fome Sctlutnot a few (ha trtinfcGi L . is . ! 1 
 them,btCaule they bclicv< .&tharexj d 
 Y v a 
 
544 *&**> *!• 
 
 and Life Eternal on that ground, even as when 
 they pray, thty think they fhould be heard for 
 thYit praying, and when they give Almes, that 
 they ihould be rewarded for the fame, as a me- 
 ritorious tVoik. 2. Ne thcr do we underftand, 
 wlien we fay that Faith is nectary to JuftiCi- 
 catitn. and concurreth in the attaining of it; 
 that by believing we are dlfpoftd to be holy, 
 and fo more enabled to jurtific cur felves which 
 is alfo iPepifb Error, wherein, I fear, ma:,ypro- 
 feiTors of the Gofpp] anion ^ ft us ]y, who tiiink 
 they are obliged :o tfcieii Faith, becaufe it dif- 
 poferh them to hear, j ad piay, aud rhe like, 
 and fo eniblerh them to wor* oi.t a Righte- 
 oufnefs to them elves , whtr t by they ex- 
 pect to be yuftified , this is another fmlt, 
 and Error to be guarded againft ; for though 
 we give Faith a radical vertue , to keep Life in 
 other Graces, yet fo conndeied, it is ftill a piece 
 of inherent Bolinefs, and pertains to San&ifi- 
 carion, an 1 nor to ./unification. 3. When we 
 fLy, that Faith cor.curres in the attaining of 
 Juirifica'ion, we do not fay that it concunes in 
 the fame manner that Repentance, Prayer, and 
 good Works do concur; But it may be (aid 
 here, leing we g«ant, that good Works and 
 Duties are necefTary, what then is the difference? 
 I anfwer, in thefe two. 1. Faith is the proper 
 and peculiar condition ofthe Covenant of Grace, 
 and notour Woiks, 01 Holinefs, whereofFaith 
 confidered as a Work, is apart; Works is the 
 condition of the Covenant of Works, foritfayes 
 in this manner, The man that doth thefe things fbail 
 live by them, but the Covenant of Grace in op- 
 pofition to it, fayts, If th$u believe with thy heart 
 in the Lord Jefus, and confefs -aith thy mouth, that 
 Gsdraifed him from the dead, thiujhalt befavedf as 
 it is, Rtm. 10 What Works is in the one Cove- 
 riant, Faith is-in the o her Covenant, and that 
 as ir is oppofed toWoik , and to Faith it felf, as 
 it is a Work in us. 2. There is a peculiarnefs In 
 Faith s concurring for the afaining of Juftifi- 
 caton, in refpeft of it's inftrumentalnefs , in 
 taking hold < f Chrift for our Juftification , or 
 in receiving and refiingupon Him ( as we faid 
 before ) for tnat end ; For when Chrift is offer- 
 ed in the Gofp.l, Faitli flees to H ; m, receives 
 Him, t.kss hold of Him, and refts on Him; 
 neither "Rtpcn'ance, nor Prayer, nor any good 
 Wo-ks, ha h an aptitude, and fitnefs to receive 
 Chrift, and prefent His Satisfaftion to God as 
 the ground of the Sinne s defence, as Faith hath; 
 And therefore it's fo oft«n faid by D;vines ac- 
 coiding to the Scripture, that Faith is the In- 
 ftru.nental caufe of our Juftification ; which we 
 flull clear in two or three fimilitudes,which the 
 Scrip cure makes ufe of, 1. Chrift compares 
 
 Verf. fi. 
 
 lifted up upon the Croft, is S r o D0 r e H "*' 0r 
 Faith to lock upon, as the brazen^r! ° °'" 
 propofed to them that were IW an? „, X, " 
 on a poll for that end, and as there w , P ", C "P 
 >ng to the flung tfrrtl,,,, .xcejt h« oXIro 
 It, and the Cute followed to none L, \l 'r 
 WO d id behold it; So ChriftjVu^ ^df, 
 the O jefl, and meritorious Caufcofl„n c 
 t.on Judifies none but fuch as Jook^CcV 
 F tk j and although they we re to look to t he 
 B,az-n Serpent, yet their look gave them „ 
 efficacy to the Cure, but it flowed from Go? 
 ordaining that as a mean of their Cure- even fn 
 it is not from any efficacy in Faith confined 
 in rtfclf, that Sinners are [unified bn-Jr ;,<- 
 
 {ft U5 d C ' Uift t ? bjea ' "".tRitfe Vt HiS 
 lifted up, as the Saviour of the elect, and ffrs 
 Satisfaaion as appointed of God for th» ■ £f 
 doth Juftifie : and'thereforc it may well be 3* 
 led an mftrumental caufe, becaufeit is not Chrift 
 abltraftly confidered, thatjuftifies, mote th n 
 it was the Serpent confidered abferactly with- 
 out their looking to it, that did Cure, bit Chrift 
 confidered, and laid hold on by Faith w 
 thisrefpecr, Faith is faid to Jufdfie, et'n as the 
 eye looking to the Brazen ^erpent'put "hem in 
 capacity ofthe Cure, though the Cur" flow 
 from Gods appointment, and not from their 
 looking ; So if inn Faith's concurring for the 
 attaining of Juftification. A :<«. Similitude U 
 that of miraculous Faith, we find it of „ Aii 
 by the Lord in His working fuch C u " »J 
 faab h«h,»«t et h, vMt , There w„ no efficacy 
 in Faith it felf for prod ucmg the Cure, but I 
 was the mean by which the Cure was trinfmV 
 ted to the Perfon under fuch a dtttfe?So* t 
 in believing, ,n order to our Juftification ; I ! 
 by believing onChrift, that ourSpiritual Cure 
 in Juftification is tianfmitted to uf, ,„,|„,° 
 faid to be Juftified by Faith, becaufe by Faith 
 it is conveyed to us. A 3 J. Similitude for 
 clearing that Faith may well be called thl 
 Inftrumental Caufe of Juftification, may be 
 
 u h ' S '1, JT Vr tbe Ad r oca " Pl«ding may 
 be called the Inftrumental Caufe ofthe Client, 
 abfolving; Asfuppofea man whofe Caution"" 
 had payed his Debt, were cited to anfwer fo, 
 the Debt , his Advocat pleads his abfolution 
 and freedom from the Debt, becaufe his Cauti- 
 oner had payed it; although the Debt was pav- 
 ed yet the man had not been abfolved if it 
 bad nee been fo pleaded on his behalf, So the 
 
 con. 
 
Sernr 61 tf*' 1 *^ tt* VeY ^ M 
 
 concurrence of Faith in the Sinners Juftificati* Chrift, here is 
 
 on, is to table Chart's Satisfaction for his de- 
 fence before God, and to plead his absolution 
 
 on that ground ; The believing Sinner s Faith 
 " fays ic is true, 1 was owingfo much Debt of .Sin, 
 
 but Jefus Chart my Cautioner to whcml am 
 
 fled hath fatisfied font, therefore I ought to be 
 
 abfolved ; and the Law allowes of this lore of 
 
 pleading, and upon this ground ; In which re- 
 
 fpeft Faith concurred in ataimng, and may 
 
 well be called the Inftrummtal Caule of our 
 
 Juftification ; I fhalJ fay no more on this Uje, 
 
 but thefe two words, we may partly regrate our 
 
 great ignorance, that we know fo little of the 
 • life of Faith in out Juftification; And partly 
 
 we may lament the great confufion chat is in 
 
 thefe times , wherein men are fee to over* 
 
 turn fuch a clear truth, as if Faith had no In- 
 
 ftrumentality in our Jurtification, but as if it, 
 
 and other Duties ard Works were equal (harers 
 
 and alike in it: Which, I. overturns the na- 
 ture of Gods Covenant of Grace , in making 
 
 Works the condition of ir, as if there were no 
 difference betwixt the two Covenants of Works 
 and of Grace, a It hath this miferable ill at- 
 tending it, that it moulders out Chrifts Righte- 
 oufnefs, and ftiumes in an inherent Righteouf- 
 nefs of our own, as our defence when we come 
 immediately before the Throne of God ; where- 
 as the Gofpel puts us to a Righteoufnefs with- 
 out us, and imputed to us 5 This way leads us 
 to feek Righteoufnefs in our ielves , whether 
 Works, or Faith, as a Work, be made the ground 
 of our Jurtification, it is all one. For if Faith 
 confidercd as a Work in us difpofing us to Ho- 
 linefs, and as a pait of fincere Holinefs, be the 
 thingprefented to God, as the ground of our 
 jurtification, it is Hill Something within us, 
 & fuch a thing,as is rtill unperfite which would 
 miferaby mar poor Souls comfort; whereas the 
 Righteoufnefs of Chrift laid hold on by Faith, 
 being made the ground of our Jurtification, it 
 affords folid confolation ; For though Faith in 
 us be weak and imperfe&,yet His Righteoufnefs 
 is perfite, and as it was not the ifrstlitts looking, 
 as we Old, that was the ground of their health 
 and cure, but Gods appointingof fuch a mean 
 for their cure looked to; Otherwayes they that 
 were weak fighted, and had bleared eyes might 
 think themfelves not in fuch a capacity of heal- 
 ing, as thefe who were ftrong and more clear 
 fighted, whereas they were all alike cured, if 
 once thiy locked; even fo is it here. 
 
 A id. lift of this, and rhe other DocVine for- 
 merly fpok:n of, is for Direction, and practical 
 Infoimacion ; would any know Nullification by 
 
 34* 
 the way ; It's by Faith in Him; 
 when Chrift Jefus and His Satisfaction is made 
 rfter of in the Gofpel, for Juftifying all felf- 
 condemning Sinners, that lay hold on Him ; Sin> 
 ners by Faith flee ng to Him, and rerting on 
 Him, get a title to His Righteoufnefs, that can- 
 not but fave them ; So that if it were 1, asked, 
 What is that which a rnan appearing before the 
 Throne, dare hazard to prefent to God, as the 
 ground of his defence? I 's anfwered,. Chrifts 
 Righteoufnefs, His Satisfaction. 2. If it were 
 asked, How c mes one to have Title and Right 
 to that R ; ghteoufnefs, fo as he may owne and 
 prefent it for his defence ? Ic's anfwered, thatit 
 is attained by believing in Him ; 3. If it be 
 asked, how comes Faith to get a Title to that 
 Righteoufnefs, is it by any vertue, or efficacy 
 in Faith, as a Work in us? It's anfwered no, 
 but it comes to get Title to it, by going out of 
 it felf, by receiving, and taking hold, and ma- 
 king ufe of the worthinefs that is in Chrifts 
 Righteoufnefs, which is as a Garment, able to 
 cover the Sinners nakednefs, and to hide all his 
 fpots, and as a compleat Ranfom to pay all his 
 Debt : And thus we fee here upon the one fide, 
 a neceftity of Faith in order to Juftification, and 
 upon the other fide, a warning , not to count 
 Grace, and the Righteoufnefs of Chrift, the lefs 
 free ; that Faith hath an Inftrumentaliry in the 
 application of it, Faith having Two things that 
 it pleads upon. 1. Emptinefs, and need in 
 it felf, whence it arrogats nothing to it's own 
 pleading, But 2. founds it's defence on the 
 good ground it hath to purpofe; And there- 
 fore, asupon the one hand, we would know that 
 there is a way to come by Juftification, by ta- 
 king hold of Chrifts Righteoufnefs by Faith i 
 So upon the other hand, we would be afraid to 
 let any thing ftick to us from our Faith, as if 
 we had a meritorious, or efficient hand in, or 
 were to be thanked for our winning to Juftifi- 
 cation ; For as a Beggar, in receiving an Alms, 
 canalleadge no merit to be in his receiving or 
 calling for it, fo no more docs Faiths receiving, 
 mar the freedom sf our Juftification, by any 
 merit in it. 
 
 Uje 3. Seing Faith concurres Inftrumenfally 
 in the attaining of Juftification, there is here 
 clear ground to exhort you, by Faith to receive 
 Chrift i and ro commend you to the exercifcof 
 believing, becaufc without if ye cannot beju- 
 ftifud, and by it ye ftull certainly be Juftified. 
 
 Uf: 4 Here, O ! here is ground of confolati- 
 on to poor Sinners, lenfible ol 5jn,trembling at 
 Gods Bar, as being obnoxious to the Curfe,that by 
 receiving of Jtfus Chiift they may be abfolved 
 
 frc 
 
14 6* v tf* i0h *3. 
 
 from the Debt of Sin, and fred from the Curfti 
 Therefore, if there be any fuch here, put forth 
 your hands, and receive what is in your offer ; 
 open your Souls mouth wide, and let in Chrilr, 
 and He will fill it, Faith having, as to our Spi- 
 ritual Life, the fame place, that the mouth hath 
 to the body as to the entertaining of the natural 
 and bodily Life, it opens and receives what is 
 needful to keep in the Life of the Body: And 
 are not thefe good news to poor Souls burden- 
 ed with Sin, loathingthemfelves, and their own 
 righteoufnefs, feeing it all to be but as filthy 
 Rags, and .crying cut with the Jayhr, what JhaS 
 we do to befaved? Paul would fay to fuch, and 
 we fay it in the Lords name; Believein the Lord 
 Jefus, and you Shall be jujlfod, a^d Javtd ; for Ju- 
 ftification is derived by Faith in Him to the 
 Sinner. . 
 
 Ufe $. This ferves exceedingly to humble a 
 Sinner; whether it be a Sinner aiming, and feck- 
 ing to be Juftified, or a Sinner that hath attain- 
 ed Juftification, in fo far as there is no ground 
 of boafting here; If yebe aiming to bejufttfied, 
 it may humble you, for what can ye contribute 
 to it? being enabled, ye can indeed receive what 
 is offered, and that is all ; neither can ye receive 
 except ye be enabled, as is faid ; It lerves alfo 
 to humble fuch as are Juftified; Have yeRigh- 
 teoufnsfs ? It's not your own, but Cimfts; It S 
 He only that did the turn; if it mould be faid, 
 ye believed, and may boaft of that? I ask, what 
 did ye when ye believed ? did ye any more but 
 this? ye pleaded guilty, and did conlentto take 
 Chrifts Righteoufnefs, and the pardon of Sin 
 through Him freely; and what matter of boafr- 
 ing, I pray is here ? none at all ; Thus this Do- 
 ftrine contributes both to make thefe who are 
 feeking pardon, and thefe who havegotten par* 
 don, humble ; When is hailing then ? ( fayes the 
 Apoftle ) it is excluded, by what lave} by the law of 
 works ? no, but bjLthe law of faith, as it is, Rom. 
 3. 17. The believing Sinner does nothing, and 
 hath done noting towards the procuring of 
 His own Juftification, bur gets all freely : We 
 can never think, nor fpeak aright of Juftificati- 
 on, but it layes i ur vain humour, and Hops the 
 mouth from boafting, while it faith, What hail 
 thou, O wan! but what thou had reeeivedUndiftkou 
 haft received it, why dot! thou boafl '; as if thou hadfl 
 net rtceived it. , ■,'*.•. 
 
 ' We fliall clofe an a fluit up the whole of this 
 Docliine by propol/rg fome few Confiderations 
 a; Conclufions fr^m it ; 1. See here a nectffity 
 hfWrng acquainted with the Truths of the Gio- 
 fp-1 tmTwith this Truth in particular, concer- 
 ning Tuftification,( whereof, alas, many are very 
 ignorant) king [here are fo many wayes to go 
 
 Vm. ir. Serm.' -61} 
 
 wrong, and fomany do go wrong about it, we 
 had need to be the more clear in the right way; 
 If there were more knowledge of this, and of 
 other Truths , we might fpeak and hear 
 with more profile, and if ye did nor pleafe your 
 felves with meer and airy notions, but fought 
 to be fettled in what ye hear of other Truths, 
 and of this in particular, it would contribute 
 much to your peace, and rid you out of many 
 doubts and difficulties. A id. Confederation is, 
 That there is much need to walk in holy fear, in 
 fludying this, and other Truths, there are fo 
 many wayes to err, and a wrong ftep here is 
 very dangerous j It were exceeding piofitable 
 to be more in the ftudy of Juftification, that is 
 of the very marrow of the Gofpel, and is de* 
 fervedly accounted to be articulus (lantis, aut cm. 
 dtntis ecclefi* ; but ye would come to it in fear, 
 being jealous ofycurown ignorance, and flial- 
 lownefs of capacity rightly to take it up, efpe- 
 cially, when new queftionsare rifing, and flirt* 
 ed concerning it; And as Paul and David (\udkd 
 this way, and held it forth to others, as the way 
 whereby they went to heaven, and whereby 
 others muft come to it ; So we commend to you 
 to follow them. A }d. Confederation is, If Faith 
 be fa neccflary to Juftification, as without it ye 
 cannot be Juftified, is there not reafon that ye 
 fliould ftudy to be diftinft, and clear that ye 
 have Faith, and that ye are indeed Believers? 
 This is one of the great IJCts of the Doclrine ; If 
 there be no way but Faith, and if in fludying 
 this one way many go wrong, then as ye would 
 make your calling and election fure, fludy co 
 make this fure by putting your felves to the 
 Tryal, if ye be taking th's way, as the Apoftle 
 mod pathetically exhorts 2 Cor. 13.$, Examine 
 your felves, if ye be in the fai h prove your own filves, 
 &c. It's truly matter of wonder to th:'nk. how 
 fo many men and women are fo Toon fat.' fied 
 in the matter of their believing, whi h yetisfo 
 tickle and difficult a bufinefs, we would have 
 none to be jumbled 3nd confounded about ir, 
 who defire to be ferious in the thing , ,yet we 
 would have all waVened, and put to diligence; 
 many men have taken pains ro go wrong tn this 
 mitter of Juftification, and how few-ot you 
 have taken p?ius to go right in it? and how is 
 it that many of you win fo eafily a' it? Seing 
 the Anoflle, Rom 9. cal : s it. a /tumbling /lone to 
 many,and a rock cf offence; Surety if it be fo, your 
 conrng at it by guefs, and ignoranrly u to be 
 fufpeftcd; and therefore on this coniiderjiun 
 ye would be awakened, to put yur felves more 
 ferioufly to the ftudy of it, and ro try >our 
 (elves, if ye be come \vell to it, for ir is the 
 
 fp^ciil 
 
 
Serm. tfj. {'' */**& 
 
 fpecial, yea the only ground of your peace be- 
 fore God i Thre are many of you, who in a 
 manner thirk it impoflnle to mifcar.y in this; 
 For yek'OA' that there is no way to be Juftifi- 
 ed bit by Fa th; and yet: if many of>ou were 
 put ro it, ye k. ow nor <he mannel nor wiy 
 h w Fiirh J iiHiicS, A-hieh (hews that it is not 
 fo ea ie a matter as ye think it to be. A *tb. 
 Con/idcrati n s this. That in fpeakingof Jufti- 
 fici ion. and Faith's pecuharnefs, or peculiar 
 wa> ot concurring in it, ye w.-.uld be war of 
 Cry n » i.own W k"=> as to their ufefulnefs, or 
 Decern* y ; th s was in error that foon entered 
 in t e Church, as Com as Paul cleared and pref- 
 fed th: D -cVineof Juftification by Faith, fome 
 arofe, w\ ( i$ James fhews in the idChapterof 
 his Epftlci) affi.med, that Works were not 
 needtu;, but :a;th would fave them , no fayes 
 James (hat faith is dead and vainthat wants works; 
 And therefore remember, I. That though we 
 tell you thdt Works are not properly the con- 
 dition of the Covenant of Grace, yet we fay 
 that Fa'th and Works are never feparat in a Ju- 
 ftified Pcrfon; found Faith cannot but work, 
 and put on the ftudy of Hoi. nets. 2 We fay, 
 although Works concur n t in the obtaining of 
 Pardon of Sin, yet we fay they are needful fo 
 Salvation , and to folks entry into Heaven; 
 
 <j. Verf. if. J47 
 
 For the Apoftle faith, Heb. 12. 17. That without 
 htltnefs none jhall fee the Lord: Though it's Fai'h 
 that makes our friendfhip, yet its by Holinefs 
 that its entertained, and its holinels whereby 
 our communion iskeepedup with God ; There- 
 fore, col 1. 12. We are faid by it, to be madt 
 meet :o be partakers of the inheritance of the faints in 
 light ; For it transforms us to Gods Image, 3. 
 Works are necelTary, though not to procure our 
 peace, yet for the entertaining of our peace, 
 and except we have Works, we cannot have a 
 folid proof that cur Juftification by Faith is re- 
 al i and in this re lp eft, ]amp fa\es, Chap. 2. 
 that Abraham was Juftified by Works, rhat is, 
 by his Works he was declared to be a juftified 
 perfon, as to the Juftification of his per lbn, he 
 was juftified by Faith, before lfaac was born,but 
 by his offering up of ljaac t and other fruits of 
 his Faith, he was declared and manifefted to be 
 a Juftified man, and made fuitable to the Cove- 
 nant that he was engaged in with God ; There- 
 fore as the fum of all, be exhorted ro ftudy the 
 exercife of Faith, and Helinefs, fo as every one 
 of them may have its own room and place, for 
 that will be your advantage, and without this 
 no other thing will advantage you. Now God 
 himfelf that calleth for both, Sanftifie and en- 
 able us for both. 
 
 SERM 
 
 I S A I A 
 
 Verfe , 1. — — ^ f, n he Jbsll bear their miyeitm. 
 
 IT's a thing that can neither fe eafily be- 
 lieved, nor yet underftcod, how by Chrifir 
 I knowledge, or by Faith in Him, many jhall 
 - be ju/iifad'y in rhefe Words, the Prophet 
 adds aReafon, that both confirms and clears ir, 
 it mail be, faith he that many (hall be Juftified 
 through Faith in Him, Fsr he fly til bear their ini- 
 quities ; He fhall take on, and pay their Debt i 
 and fo., ( as I faid ) it is a reafon confirming the 
 former Truth, and fhewing that it cannot be 
 otherwayes, but they mjft be a folved through 
 Faith in Him, becaufe He bears the punifhment 
 due to them for their Sin; it ferves alto to 
 clear how Juftification is attained by Faith, to 
 wit , not by any vertue or efficacy rhat is in 
 Faith, abftra&ly conftd^red, as if believing of 
 it felf did fhe turn, bu by vertue of Thrift bear- 
 ing their Iniquities, and making Satisfaction for 
 them, which Faith layes hold on i S*o 'hat w!»en 
 he faid, By his know leda,e jhall m<r,iy be juftified; Ic 
 is not by any efficacy attributed to thuir believ- 
 ing, but by vertue of Curi(hRighteoufneis,and 
 
 O N LXIII, 
 H LIII. XI. 
 
 Satisfaction which only Faith gives a Title to ; 
 *and is the midfe, and way by which a Believer 
 comes to it, and fo ( as I have faid ) it ferves for 
 explication of the former Ti uth: So that if rhe 
 queftion be asked, how can Sinners be Juftified 
 by believing ? It's hereanfwered, becaufe Cluift 
 fhall take on their Debt, and the Righteoufnefs 
 purchafed by Himihall redoun^o them, and be 
 reckoned thcirs;fc\s rhe fame on the master, with 
 that which we have, 2 Cor.y ult*He that knew no fm t 
 war made fin for ..'J, and what follows ? That wemighf 
 bemade'the right eoufne ft of God in him t which clears 
 that this way of Jiifrificatinn which the Gofpel 
 holds' out, i> 1 ot as(Ijuftnowfaid)byany efficacy, 
 or worth in Faith 't lclf,nor by a .»> inherent qua- 
 lifications in the perfon -hat beliefs bur 'his is 
 the ground of i r , Chri'fs bearing of our iucjutti,}', 
 The Elect were Sinners, and Chrift hath taken on 
 Him their iniquities therefore they cannot but 
 upon tNcir fleeing to Him hy Faith be Juftified, 
 when they plead! JisSatisfa&ion for their cefence 
 before Go j, their .ibiblution muft necJs fofW; 
 
 Tim 
 
34 3 friah n 
 
 This is the fcope of thefe Words, which are as 
 it were the bond knitting all the reft together, 
 and containing the foundation whereon our 
 Juftification is founded ; There are only Three 
 Words here that need a little of explication, I. 
 By iniquity is not mcaned fin formally takrn, 
 we fhew when we fpake of the <5. v. That Chrift 
 was not the Sinner formally confidercd, that 
 being inconfiftent with His holy nature , and 
 with the perfonal Union of the Man-head with 
 the God-head, but the meaning is, that He took 
 on Him the punifhment due to our iniquities,or 
 the punifhment that our iniquities deferved- 3. 
 When He is faid to bear their iniquities; it im- 
 ports a burdenfome bearing, or His bearing it 
 with a weighr, and that there was a weight in 
 ir,is it's faid, verfts 3. and 4. He was a man offer* 
 rows, and acquainted with grief -, jurely be hath bom 
 our griefs, and carried our forrows ', and therefore 
 the Apoftle, 1 Pet. 1. 24. faith, He his own ft If 
 bare our fins in his own body on the tree, when he 
 was made a curfe for us, as it is Gal. 3. 13. He 
 did bear our Sins, by coming under the curfe 
 that was due to us for them; in a word, His 
 bearing of our iniquities is a real Satisfying of the 
 Juftice of God for them, by Interpofing His 
 own blefTed back,and taking on the Stroaks that 
 were due to us. 3, When it's faid, Their iniqui- 
 ties, it relates to the many, that in the former 
 words, are faid to be Juftified through His own 
 Knowledge, it's fpoken of the iniquities of the 
 Elett, and Believers, who through Chrift are 
 made friends with God, and therefore thefe be- 
 ing the many, they cannot but be Juftified, be* 
 caufe Chrift hath payed their Debt, according 
 to His Ingagement. Thefe Words § as almoft 
 every other verfeof this Chapter contain thefub- 
 ftance of the Gofpel ; Take (hortly Five or Six 
 Obfervations from them, which we (hall put to- 
 gether. The t. Ts, That the perfon who is to 
 bejuftified by frith in Chrift is naturally lying 
 in iniquities; mis is fuppofed, while it is faid, 
 that Chrift [ball bear their iniquities', even the ini- 
 quities of them who are to be Juftified, through 
 Faith in Him» So it's faid before, The Lord hath 
 laid on him the iniquities of us all, and we all like 
 Jheep have gone afiray ; Thefe, and many other 
 Scriptures, nay, the whole current of the Scrip- 
 tures, confirm the point , and put it beyond 
 debate. 
 
 I obferve it for thefe Ends and Ujes, which 
 will (hew why it is fo frequently marked. r« 
 That the freedom of Gods Grace may kyth the 
 more in their Juftification ; They are Sinners 
 even as others are, and it's Grace that makes the 
 difference ; Tnerefore their Juftification mud 
 
 u er f lX -c^ , Serm. 63. 
 
 be free, if then any would have good, or have 
 gotten good by the Gofpel, and by Chrift of. 
 fered to them therein, let them know that* it is 
 Freely 2. That a Believer who is Juftified 
 mould be very humble, for he was a Sinner as 
 well as others, and is ftill a Sinner in part 
 therefore it becomes him to walk feftly, with a' 
 (topped mouth, and to be tender and compaf. 
 fionat towards other Sinners; there is not a Be- 
 liever but the weight of his iniquities would 
 have born him down to Hell, had not Chrift in- 
 terpofed, and taken them on Him, and there- 
 fore he ought to be both humble, and thankful 
 3. That Sinners, who have the offer b£ C'hrift's 
 Righteoufnefs in the Gofpel, may not defpair 
 how great foever their Sins be; indeed, if they 
 refolve to continue in Sin, or to Sin that Grace 
 may abound, they have no ground to expeft 
 pardon ; The Apoftle doth, with abhorrency 
 rejeft the drawing of fuch conclufions from the 
 Grace of God, Rom. 3. But for a guilty Sinner 
 that hath no good in himielf, to commend hini 
 to Chrift, to lean to , and to believe in Him 
 who juftifies the ungodly, is a Doarine which 
 the fame Apoftle approves, and gives an open 
 door to them that dellre to abandon Sin, and to 
 expeft Juftification through Chrift's Satisfaction- 
 Thus a door is fet open to you, to believe in 
 Him who juftifies ungodly Sinners , to betake 
 your fclves to Him who is the Saviour. 4 ; To 
 confound and flop the mouths of all Self-righte- 
 ous men, as having nothing to do with Chrift 
 He came to take on iniquitie, and to bear it • He 
 came tojeekand to fave that Which was /<?/?, and hath 
 not a commiflion to fave Self-righteous Folk - 
 For he came not to call the righteous, but fmners to re* 
 pentance ; and fo long as they continue in that 
 condition, they cannot look on themfelves, as 
 perfonswhom Hecame to call, neither can they 
 take any comfort in, or from His coming. 
 
 The 2d. Obfervation is, That where- ever in- 
 iquity is, it's a burden, a heavy burden. There 
 is nothing more heavy than Sin, it being that 
 which prelTes the guilty perfon to the loy/t(t 
 Hell. It brought the fallen Angels out of Hea* 
 ven to the pit, ye may take an inftance or two 
 of it's weight on a Sinner, when he becomes 
 fenfible of Sin« Pfal. 38. 4. My iniquities, fayes 
 David, are gone over my head, ass heavy burden the f 
 are too heavy for me : It's true, Sins are nor al- 
 wayes weighty to Folks fenfe, yet in themfelves 
 they are weighry, and fometime they will be 
 found to be fo, by the Sinner. So, PJal 40. j 2 . 
 incumber able evils, fayes the Pfalmiff, h.vve compah 
 me about', my iniquities have taken hold of me, fo that 
 I am mt able to lookup t they art mtthan the hair; of my 
 
 btadj 
 
Serm. 6*3. ! J* tab * 
 
 bead, therefore my heart faileth me ; In a word, if 
 the wrath of God, and His curfe be heavy, Sin 
 muft be heavy ; Is not that heavy, which dam- 
 ned, and drowned the old Woild, and will 
 burn and bury in afhes this World that now is 
 {landing? Is not that heavy,which hath brought 
 onfo many weighty curfss on the Creaturts,and 
 fubje&ed them to vanity?Is not that heavy that 
 brings by it's weight fo many thoufands and 
 millions to Hell? and that made our blelTed 
 Lord to cry, yet without all fmful anxiety , Mr 
 God, my God, why bail thou/or/aken me} and my 
 foul is heavy to the death. And is it not that which 
 makes the Lord fay, that He ispref/td, with his 
 pTofeffing peoples Sins, as a eart is preffed with 
 (heaves; all the indignation, and oppdition of 
 the men of this World is nothing to Him, in 
 comparifon of the Sins of His people, He can 
 break through briers and thorns, and confume 
 them together, but the iniquities ofHis People 
 are faid to prefs Him, to ftiew the abominable 
 loathfomnefs and weightinefs of them* 
 
 Ufe. 1.' It may make us wonder, that Men 
 and Women think fo little of Sin; There are 
 many that will tufh at a challenge or threatning 
 for Sin, but let me fay it, that mountains of 
 Lead, yea, though all this World turned into 
 one Mafs, or Lump of Lead, it mould not be 
 fo heavy, as Sin mould be to you ; your drunk- 
 ennefs, filthinefs, covetoufnefs, lying, the vag* 
 ing of the mind in privat duties of worfhip 
 throughout the week, and in publick duties on 
 the Lords Day; your neglett of prayerin feciet, 
 mocking at piety, &c. mail ( however light 
 now ) one d^y be found to be weighty, when 
 as it is, Revel* 6. 6. Te Jhill cry to the hills and 
 mountains to \*ll upon you, and hide you from the 
 wrath if the Lamb ; A mountain would be thought 
 light in that day, but t'fe Face and Wrath of 
 the Lamb fhal! be terrible; Therefore either 
 give up with Sin, and flqdy Holinefs, or make 
 you for this dreadful pofturc, that ye would 
 wifh to have a hill or a mountain tumbl'ng on 
 you, and yet fhall not get that wifh granred *, 
 what mean ye, O Athiefts! and defperately fe- 
 cure pleifures of your felves, with your Idols, 
 that ye dare thus to ly and live under this bur- 
 den? Will ye be able to'come before the Throne 
 of God with i? upon your back ? it's a truth, 
 that Sin is fuch a burden as will fink vou to the 
 pit, if ye feck not in God's way to fluke it off 
 in time. 
 
 idly If it he fuch a bur Jen, make rhi s twofold 
 Ufe of it. !• Beware of keep : np frill upon you 
 the burden of bygone Sins, but take vvich them, 
 feck to be fuirably afTc&td with them , be- 
 take your felves with all fpeed to Chrift.and caft 
 
 3 i Vert II. . 349 
 
 your felves and your burden on Him ; it's for 
 this reafon that Faith is called a leaning on Chriff, 
 becaufe when the burden of Sin is like to break 
 the Sinners back, Faith cads himfelf and his 
 burden over on Chrift. a. For the time to come 
 ftudy Holinefs, and take on no more of this bur- 
 den; alwayes remembring, that when ye take 
 on the Debt of the lcaft Sin, or feek to hood- 
 wink (as it were ) the conscience, and to put 
 cut the eyes cf it, that ye may Sin the morefe- 
 curely, and with the greater liberty, ye are all 
 the while but heightning your burden, and ma- 
 king the weight of it the more intolerable; and 
 is that wifdom, think ye, to be taking on a bur- 
 den of that which will prefi, crufh , fink and 
 drown you eternally , under its grievous and 
 unfupporrable weight. 
 
 %dly. Obferve, That for as heavy a burden as 
 Sia is, Chriir Hooped down, and took it on His 
 blefTcd back, John t. 29. Behold the lamb of God 
 that takethavoay, or beareth, and by b aring,rak- 
 ethaway the fins of the world, 1 Pet. 2. 24. tVh* 
 his own felf bear our fins in his own body on the tree. 
 So the juji fuffered for the unjujl; Heb. 9. ult He war 
 once offered to bear the Jins of many ; Whrrher it 
 was the fame very burden that the Ekcl mould 
 have born, or the equivalent of it, we will not 
 now debate, having fpoken iomewhatmore par- 
 ticularly to it before; either of them being ac- 
 cording to the terms of rhe Covenant of Re- 
 demption, and accepted of the principal Credi- 
 toj, yet it would feem he did bear the curfe in 
 the eifentials of it, and inthar refpeft came un- 
 der the fame burden ; He died, bscaufe He was 
 threatned, The day thou eats, thou Jhtlt furely die t 
 and the foul that ^ns fhmll die, and He died a curf- 
 ed deuh, becaufe a curfed death was threatned, 
 as it is Gal, 3. 10. compared with 13. and fo 
 came under the curfe : Here is love indeed, and 
 a true friends kind turn, that when Sin was fuch 
 a heavy burden , Chrift came in betwixt the 
 EIe$ and it, and took it on Himfelf, and Hood 
 at the Bar of God, as chargeable witft our Debt, 
 which was really charged on Him, as it is, \fa. 
 co. 6. He gave his back to the fmiters, and his cheecks 
 to them that pluckt off the hair ; he htd'not his face 
 for jhame and /pitting ; all thefe buffrtings of pro- 
 phane Soulders, were but little to that weight 
 of wrath that was laid on Him, to the making 
 of Him eroan, c „ that Cup which ; n the Garden 
 He drank out, and which made Him fweat Wood, 
 and cry out, My Joulis exceeding CorrOwful an-i heavy 
 even unto death'; And Father, if it be ptfjiel 
 this cup pafs from me, yet *».' my will, beet thin* be 
 done : O ! what a weight was it that made Him 
 fo cry out ? There needs no more to prove tint 
 Z z He 
 
m 
 
 Jfaiah <). Vtrf. it. 
 
 lie bare our Sins, and that there was an exiftmg 
 of Him what wc were owing, and that His but 
 ieiingsare indeed aSatisfaftion to Julhce for 
 them, even for the Sins of all the EleCt, 
 
 The 17'*/ are two, i- It fctves to hold out and 
 confnm this Truth, That our Lord Jefus His 
 Sufferings werea reilSatUfaftion to Julhce, for 
 the Sins of the Eltft ; and that by His Suffer- 
 ings He was indeed put to bear their iniquities, 
 and that they were not only, nor mainly for ex- 
 ample, though w« may well make that ule of 
 them ; but He was made lyable for our Debt, 
 wc finned, and He Suffered and Satisfied for our 
 Sin, wc debauched our Stock, and played the 
 bankrupts, He payed our Debt. a. ^ ferves 
 hudgly to commend to us the love or Uod, that 
 cave His Son, and of the Mediator, that came 
 to buy and redeem EkaSinners at fo dear a rate, 
 and to take on fuch a weighty burden to cafe 
 them of it; Were there any here (as we hope 
 there are ) that know the weight of Sin, O I but 
 they would think much of this, even of Chriits 
 taking on the burden of Sin, and calling it by, 
 having fatisfiedjufticcforit. and louied the 
 knot of the Law, and of the Curfe that tyed it 
 to them ; to become Man was much, but to bear 
 the burden of our Sins was more : Angels won- 
 der at this, that He who is their ■ H id mould 
 become fo low , as to fift Himfdf before Gods 
 Tribunal , and to undergo the Suffering ,of 
 Death, and to take on the weighty burden of 
 the Elcfts Debt, and tofatisfiefont. if we were 
 in a right frame of Spirit, we could not hear 
 this word, but it would ravifh our hearts, and 
 put us to a paufe, and holy non.plus; but the 
 rnoft part, alas! walk lightly under the bmden 
 of Sin, without ever confidering what Lhriit 
 hath done to remove it from off His People*; 
 nay I am afraid that Btlievers.who have ground 
 to'bclightncd, through Chrifts condefcending 
 to bear their burden, do not as they ought ac- 
 knowledge Him , who hath taken cl\e burden 
 •ff them. '■' i . . ' .. 
 
 4/7. From comparing tKcfe words with the 
 former, Many fall b* ]uB>fitd t flP befall bear their 
 iniquities. Obftrvt. QuiiTs bearing or their ini- 
 cmities, and His Satisfadien for our Sins, is im- 
 puted to us as the immediat ground of our Ab- 
 solution, and Justification before God; So that 
 if it were asked, what is the ground on which a 
 
 Serm. 6*3 , 
 
 his Cautionerhitk payed it, and the ground or 
 which that Debtor is Abfolvcd, is hisinftruft. 
 ing that the Cautioner hath payed the Debt, 
 which being done, he is fet fice, fo is it here, 
 the Believer he is Gods Debter, Chrift Jefus is 
 his Cautioner, who hath payed his Debt ; who, 
 when he is brought to the Bar or God , and 
 fomewhat is laid to his charge, he phads upon 
 the ground of Chrifts fati.sfy ing for his Debt, 
 and that therefore lie ought not to be put to 
 anfwer for it himfelf; accoidmg to that Word, 
 Rom, 9. ?4, Who fall lay any thing to the ehargt •/ 
 Gods eleStt It u God that jftififs, who (ball condemn? 
 and the ground follows, It is Chritl that died, He 
 h-'th payed the Debt. 
 
 Ufe, Among other things, there are two con* 
 f quences that follow upon this Doftrine, that 
 fcrves to clear the Doftrine of Juftificati^n. if 
 That the Righteoulhefs whereby we ate Juftifi- 
 cd, is imputed to us, and accepted ef God, as 
 if it were our own ; ye arc fometimd hearing 
 of imputed Righteoulhefs, and it's a great con- 
 cernment to you to know it -well, yet I am 
 afraid, that-many of you arc ver> ignorant of it, 
 I lhall therefore, in a word or two explicat it,by 
 comparing the two Covenants: The Righteouf- 
 nefs of the Covenant of Works is an inherent 
 Righteoufnefs,as it is,Tit, 3. c. Mot by works 0/ righ" 
 ttoujnefs whieh we have done\ It's a Righteoufnefs 
 of our own doing, made up of our Praying, 
 Hearing, and other Duties, as they are Atts of 
 ours: The Rghteoulnefs of rhe Covenant of 
 Grace, is an imputed R!ghteoufncf>,that is, when 
 Chrifts doing&Suffcringis accounted oursrTakc 
 both in this comparfon ; The Righteoufnefs 
 of the Covenant of Works is like a Debtor , or 
 Tei nent, his paying of his own Debt or Renr, 
 by his managing his bufinefs providently and 
 dexteroufly, and none other is troubled withitj 
 The Righteoufnefs of the Covenant of Grace is 
 like one that hath fpent up and debauched all, * 
 and ha'h not one penny to pay his Debt or Rent 
 wirh, but hath a worthy, able and relponfal 
 Cautioner, who hath payed for him; Both be- 
 ing purfued and brought before thejudge; The 
 fiift man is abfolvcd, becauie what he wasow* 
 ing he payed it at the term precifely , The other 
 man granted, that he was owing the Debt, but 
 pleads that his Cautioner hath payed it, and the 
 Law accepts of the Cautioners payment, and 
 
 5nner is Tuftified before God? The Text anf* purfues the Debter no further,but abfolves him; j 
 wers Becaufe Chrtft hath bom tbe.r tummies, He 
 
 huh payed the I}ebt, even as ( to make acorn- 
 ■ irifon for clearing of it ) when a Debtor is 
 purfued, and hathnotbiog to pay, yet he pleads 
 tkBL^hcDebttaanot be eAa&edfif*um> becaufe 
 
 So it is here, when the Believer comes to ftand 
 at God's Bar, it is nothing in himfelf that he I 
 pleads upon, but its Chrift's Sufferings; who 
 laid on theCrofs, itu fnijhed. The D.ebt of my j 
 Pceplc is fully payed, and Faith pleading for 
 
 Abfolution { 
 
Serm. tfj. //«"«* H- 
 
 Abfolurion en that ground, according to the 
 1,'aw of Faith, he is abfolved, as if he had payed 
 the Debt himfelf, or had been owing none, : If 
 then it mould be asked, Believers, what ground 
 have ye to expefl: to be Juftified ? The Prophet 
 anfwers here, Chhji hath bom our iniquities, and 
 this is the Believers Defence j and therefore fee 
 here a poflibility to teconcilc thefe 7w#,thatfomo 
 men fcorn and flout af, as irreconcilable, to 
 wir, how one can be a Sinner, and yet Righte- 
 ous, he may befinful in himfelf, and yet Righ* 
 teous, thrcugh the imputation of (Thrifts Righ- 
 teoufnefs; So,i Cor. 5. ult. He wssmade fin for ut, 
 who knew no fin, tbst we might be madt the rigbte* 
 oufntjs of Go a in him, Rem. 4,5. To bint tbst work' 
 eth not) but bdieveth on him who jufiifieth the ungod* 
 fy, bis f sit h it counted for rigbteoujnefs j The man 
 ungodly in himfelf is juftified through the Sa- 
 tisfaftion of Chrift, imputed to him for Righ- 
 tcoufnefs, and laid hold on by Faith ; as if he 
 had not finned, or had a&ually fatisfied himfelf. 
 idly. This confequence followeth, That it 
 ferves to clear how Faith Juftifies, as when we 
 fay, Faith ts our right toufnefs, and it imputed to ut 
 forrigbteoufnefs, we are not to look on Faith pro- 
 perly, as a Grace in us, and divided, orabftracV- 
 ed from the Objeft,no,by no means; but 3S it is a 
 laying hold on r.heObje&jIt's Fsith in hint that jw 
 liifafyindThrough his knowlcdgejhall many be juftified, 
 becauTe he fbsll besr their iniquities ; Faithjuftifies 
 by vertue of Chrtfts Satisfa&ion, and as taking 
 hold of it ; Faith does not Juftifie, as it is an a& 
 of Grace in the Sinner, but as a clofing with 
 Chrift the Obje& of it, even as in the fimili- 
 tude we made ufe of before ; It's not enough 
 that the Cautioner hath payed fuch a mans 
 Debt, but that the man mull inftruft it by pro- 
 ducing the Difcharge, the production whereof 
 is the caufe of his Abfolurion in Law; yet the 
 vertue that makes the Difcharge fo to concur, 
 is not the Difchaige it fe'f, but the Cautioners 
 payment.or Satisfaction mentioned, & contain- 
 ed in the Sinners Difcharge ; even fa is it here, 
 it's Chrifts Righteoufnefs that cdncurrerh, as 
 the meritorious caufe of the Sinners Abfoluti- 
 on, and Faith concurres as the Inftrumental 
 Caufe, in the pleading of that Defence, where- 
 on Julrification follows, as. an.eflfcft of thefc 
 Caufes; We know not when, or if ever ht reaft* 
 er we may have occafion to fpeak fo much to 
 the Doctrine of Juftification ; Therefore let me 
 pefs the ftudy of it upon you again and again ; 
 See* to know what-this imputed Righteoufnefs 
 is, and '• ^w different from that which is in your 
 felve ; WIrat is the m:e meaning of it , as a 
 main hinge of the Gofpel, without which the 
 
 Vtrf \U 5 .'f 
 
 Covenant of Grace can never be underftood 
 aright, the ignorance: whereof makes many live 
 in fecurity upon the one lide, and keeps many, 
 in much anxiety upon trie other. 
 
 %ly. Obfervt, That although Chrift Jefus hath 
 born the iniquities of many, even of his own 
 People, yet not the iniquities of all Men and 
 Women, but only the iniquities of them that 
 fhall be Juftified, and brought to the a&ual pof» 
 fefllon of that which He hath purchafed : This 
 may be made out from thefc Three in the Texti 
 i» The relative Their, it's their iniquities, which 
 are born by Chrift, that (ball be Juftified , and 
 who thefe are, the former Words tells Through 
 his knowledge Jks'U he juftifie many. 2. The con- ^* 
 nexion made by tne Prophet betwixt thefe two, 
 Many fhall bejuftifitd t for be jhsll besr their iniquities; 
 All whofe Iniquities Chrift hath born mail be 
 Juftified, it could not be an argument to prove 
 their Justification, if Chrift fliould bear the ini« 
 quities of others, or of all Men and Women, 
 multitudes of whom are never Juftified ; for it 
 might be objected, that Chrift bears the iniqui- 
 ties of thofe many who are neverjuftified, which 
 would be quite contrary to Gods Covenant, and 
 exceedingly mar the confolation of the Believ- 
 er; Befidc that it would make the Prophets rea- 
 foning here inconfequent ar.d impertinent- 5. 
 Confider thefe Words, not only as they ftand 
 in connexion with the former, but as they are 
 a reafon why in Juftice fuch mould be abfolved; 
 and fo they wi.ll alfo clear the Doctrine, for fo 
 confidered, they imply that it's Juft, that the 
 Believer fliould be Juftified ; even as when the 
 Cautioner hath payed the Debt, it's juft that the 
 principal Debitor mould be abfolved ; and upon 
 the other hand, it is not juft that the Debtor for 
 whom the Cautioner hath notfatisfied mould be 
 abfolved; the Words will bear this twofold con- 
 fequence, for he knits thefe two, their being 
 abfolved, and Chrift bearing their iniquities, 
 and being made fyable to their D:bt; and He 
 confequently dii'jcyns thefc two , Chrifts not 
 bearing the iniquities of others, and their not 
 being abfolved i and fo although Chrift hath 
 born the iniquities of many, that is of the Elect, 
 and hath Satisfied and Suffered for there, yet 
 not for all, but only for the many , who in 
 due time (hall through Hit Krowlcdge, that is 
 through Fairh in Him, be Juftified; and thefe 
 whoaie left ro pay their own Debt, Chrift ne- 
 ver died f r them, it were very unlike the Pro* 
 phe's reakming, to fay that fuch a man is in 
 Hellj and yet Chrift bare his in'quicirs 
 
 Uft, 1. It ferves to confirm the former Truth, 
 Z z 2 tvtuld 
 
3?* 
 
 Jfaiah f|'. y e rf. if. 
 vould yc know whofe iniquities Chrift hath 
 born? It's of as many as arc Juftified, the ini- 
 quities of fuch He bare, and of no moc. 
 
 a It ferves to provoke you that have gotten 
 id Chrift this priviledgc, TO be very thankful ; 
 This is it that makes the Song of praife heart- 
 fome. Revtl $. 9. Tbm haft redit^ed us to God by 
 thy blood, tut of ev^ry kindred, tovgue and nitiey, 
 Becaufe it's not a common.but a peculiar fpecial 
 mercy if any be fo, ; 
 
 6ly- From the connexion Objcrve , 1 hat al- 
 though Chrift hath not born the iniquities of 
 all Men and Women, yet he hath born the ini- 
 quities of all than believe, and none ever believ- 
 ed on Him, but they may conclude that He hath 
 born their iniquities; and on that plead their 
 Juftification, through His Satisfaction; although 
 there be a reftri&ion upon the one fide, yet there 
 is none on the other, all are not juftified j but 
 thefeonly whofe iniquities He hath born ; yet 
 all who through His Knowledge, or Faith in 
 Him, are Juftified , their iniquities He hath 
 born: And hence it will follow, That never a 
 Porfon believed but Chrift hath born his iniqui- 
 ties ; Not that the mans believing is the caufe 
 of Chiifts bearing, for His bearing of the mans 
 iniquities is the caufe of His believing ; But it 
 is to (hew the connexion, betwixt His bearing, 
 and the mans believing; and that his believing, 
 is the evidence of Chrifts bearing of His inqui- 
 ries : And this is more comfortable than the 
 Doctrine of univerfai Redemption athoufand 
 times i For itjoyns Chrifts dying and the Jufti- 
 fication of all that believe on Him; So that there 
 are none, that by Faith betakes thcmfelves to 
 H m, but they may expeft freed cm from the 
 Curfe, and Abfolution before the Throne of 
 God ; Whereas the Doftrine of univerfai Re- 
 demption faith, that Chrift died for all, yet all 
 mail not be faved, and I wot not whether I (hall 
 be faved or not, and what ground of anxiety is 
 th ; s • but this Dottrine hath folid confolation in 
 it, Chrift hath nor died for all (imply, but for 
 all Believers, he hath born all their Sins > but 
 I have betaken my felf to Him by Faith, there- 
 fore He died for me, He hath horn my iniquities, 
 and I lhall never bear them my felf, but be Ju- 
 
 I fuppofe we need not to fray on the confir- 
 mation of this, f. It's impregnably proved 
 from the reafoning of the Prophet in this place; 
 Ail that are Believers cannot but be Redeemed 
 andjaftined, becaufe he hathborn their iniqui- 
 ties who by Faith betake themfelves to Him. 2. 
 If Faith in Chrift b: a fiving Fruit of His Death, 
 and ii none can believe but thefe, whofe ini- 
 
 Serm. 63. 
 quities He hath born; then wherever Faith is, 
 the perfon may conclude, that Chrift hathborn 
 his iniquities, and that he (hall bejuftiiied; But 
 Faith in Clnift is a Paving Fruit, and Lffeft of 
 His Death, for He hath purchafed it among the 
 reft of thefe Spiritual Bkflings fpoken of, Ephef. 
 1.3. Where we are faid to be bUffU with all Jpir.tu* 
 al bhjjings in him j And it being aPromife of the 
 Covenant of Grace, it cannot but be purchafed 
 by the Death of the Teftator Chrift Jcfus;There« 
 fore, &c. 3. It's clear alfo from the Apoftles 
 reafoning, &om. 5. 10. For if when we wcrcenemies, 
 we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, 
 much mire being reconciled, we fhall be faved by his 
 life-, Will he net, who hath payed fuch a deaf 
 price for us, to purchafc leeonciliation to us, 
 make it out by bellowing on us the Fruit of His 
 purchafe? 
 
 The it Ufe Serves to vindicat this our Do- 
 ftrine, concerning Chrifts dying for, and bear- 
 ing the iniquities of Believers only, which is 
 moft unjuftiy loaded with reproaches, and de- 
 bated againit by mens cavillings, as if it were 
 a comfortlefs Doctrine; fure it*s more com- 
 fortable, more fure, and more agreeabJe both to 
 the Wifdom and Grace of God, than the D©« 
 ttrine of univerfai Redemption is i Forputthefe 
 together, That ail Believers are redeemed and 
 juftified, that Chrift hath born their iniquities, 
 that Faith is a Caving Grace , and a Fruit of 
 Chrifts Death, that fuch as believe may conclude 
 their Juftification, and that Chrift will make out 
 the benefits of His purchafe to them, what want 
 Believers that may be for their comfort? Where- 
 as, if we fhould lay it for a ground, that Chrift 
 died kit all, what comfort were in that ? For all 
 are not Juftified and Saved, but only Believers} 
 yea, by the Do&rine of univerfai Redemption, 
 though ye were even n&w Believers, ye could 
 not conclude that ye fhould be faved, becaufe 
 ye might fall from it again : But our Do&rine 
 of Juftification hath folid confolation; For, 
 Rom. i. 16. It is the power of God unto falvation, 
 to every one that believes. And,R«w.j. 2#/fV unto all, 
 and upon all them that believe; And it makes the 
 Believer fure of his perfevcrance, for it's an ex- 
 prefs Article of the Covenant. We fhall only 
 fay this, That ye will find, that all that in Do* 
 ttrine , or Practice make the way to Heaver^ 
 wydeft, they make it moft unficker and unfure^ 
 and they are in greateft confufion; and indeed 
 it's impofiible it can be otherwayes; For if men 
 go once out of Gods way,which is the ftraitand 
 narrow way, they can never be ficker and Co* 
 lidly fure, becaufe there is no folid ground of 
 coniidnte in it* . 
 
 The 
 
Scrm. 6*3. A If**** Sl< 
 
 The 2. life, ferves to anfwer iguefiton, that 
 fomc ouc of curiofiry puffel themfelves with, 
 which if well, foberly, and wifely followed, 
 would be no curiofity, and it is this ; How fhall 
 I know if Chrift died for me ? Anfwer, make it 
 fure that ye believe, and then ye fhall be fure 
 of the benefits of His Death; For if He hath 
 born the iniquities of thefc that believe, and 
 if there be no way to make it fure, He hath 
 born our iniquities but by believing, it is a need- 
 Jefs ftir and noife that is made, about the know- 
 ledge of Election, and of Chrifts intention in 
 His Death; for though we would fay that He 
 died for all, it would not comfort, except we 
 faid alfo, that all go to Heaven ; but are ye bur- 
 dened with Sin, and have ye by Faith fled un- 
 to Chrift ? and do ye actually reft upon Him ? 
 Then ye may on that ground conclude your in- 
 tereft in Chrift's Death, and from that afcend 
 to Election; That which makts many Believers 
 to be in helltation as to this, is their never 
 throughing, and making it clear to themfelves, 
 whether th?y have believed ; and therefore, if 
 ye would fee your Election , and Intereft in 
 Chrifts Death, put the matter of believing to a 
 point; For it's the door whereby ye win in to 
 other fecrets of God, fuch as Election is; and 
 there is no other way to win to it; Therefore 
 thefe two are knit together, "John 6. 30, 40* This 
 it the "will of him that fent me y that of all that he 
 bath givenme, Ifhmldlofe nothings and if it fhould 
 be asked, How fhall I know, who are given to 
 Chrift to beredeemed by Him ? The next verfe 
 anwfers, This is the mil of him that fent me, that 
 tvery one which feeth the Son, and believeth en him 
 may have everUfling life, and I will raife him up at 
 thelaft day 1 would ye then know who are given 
 and redeemed? They are Believers, I mean of 
 fuch as are come to Age; for none will make 
 the queftion concerning Infants? And there- 
 fore if ye would know the. way of coming to 
 the knowledge of your Juftification, Redemp- 
 tion, and Election of God ; begin at the loweft 
 
 Ftrf. II. 3 <j 
 
 ftep of believing, and make that fickcr, and all 
 the reft will foliow of will j but if ye miskca 
 and overlook this, and will go up to the top of 
 the ladder, per falium. and at the firft > it will be 
 juft with God, that ye never win at the Know- 
 ledge of thefe fecrets, which were in His heart 
 before the Word was. 
 
 ^ Ufe 3. It's macter of Confolation to the Be- 
 liever, who may as certainly conclude an inter- 
 eft in Chiift's Death, as it he had heard the 
 Tranfa&ion of Redemption read over, and had 
 feen his name in the Boik of Life, for our Lord 
 faith, John §• 16. God ft loved the.world % that he 
 gave his only begotten Son, that whofosver believe th in 
 him fh)uld not peri jb, but have eternal life-. If thou 
 be a Believer thy name is there , Chrift hath 
 born thine iniquities, and what Confolation is 
 that to them who are clear anent their Faith? 
 But, alas! it fays there is much rotten, unfound 
 and llippry Faith among us, and alfo much Faith 
 that is but little lively , that there is fo little 
 folid comfort following it. 
 • Ufe 4. It ferves to demonftrat the neceflity 
 of believing the advantages of it, and the ne» 
 ceility of our endeavouring to be clear that we 
 do believe; if thefe two go together, Juftifica- 
 tion and Believing, then there is a neceflity of 
 Believing ; and if thefe two go together, clear- 
 nefs about our Believing , and the Knowledge 
 that Chrift did bear our iniquities; then there 
 is in fome refpeft a neceflity, that we know we 
 believe , orherways we can have little or no 
 comfort in Chrifts bearing of ouriniquities, and 
 cf our being given to Chrift to be redeemed by 
 Him ; from thefe t*o the advantages of Believ- 
 ing may appear, therefore to make all fure, Ju- 
 ftification , Chrift's bearing of your iniquities, 
 and your being given to- Chi ift, make it fure that 
 ye are in the iraith, and this way give all dili- 
 gence to make your Calling and EleQion fure ; 
 And the Lord Hi rnfeif prevail with you fo to 
 do. 
 
 Verft 
 
 SERMON LX1V. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. XI 
 
 crle Ij. Th'.refire will I divide him a portion with the great , and hi fhtll divide th: [pail with the firm?: 
 beeaufe he hath poured out hit M unto death ' and hi was numbed with tranfgrefjors, and he bare th* 
 
 fins of many % and made intercefjion for tranfgrrffours, 
 
 THere hath been a compendious Sum of 
 the Covenant of Redemption deliver- 
 ed by the Prophet in this Chapter, 
 wherein, what is required as the price for Elcft 
 Sinners from the Mediator, is holden forth on- 
 thc one fide, in a large defcription of His Suffer* 
 
 rings ) and what is propofed as the Fruit that 
 fhould follow, and as the Satisfaction that the 
 Mediator fhould have for His Sufferings is on 
 the ether fide alio laid down; as that lh fmula (.$ 
 hisfeed,and prolong kit dajs, and the pltaf.^e of lie 
 Lord fhould proffer in his hand: Th at he fhould fit oft'kc 
 
 travtl 
 
m '/"'** ft* r»l '*• m Serm. 64. 
 
 travel of his foul and hi fatisfitd, and that by his that were formerly captives thou haft redeemed 
 knowledge many fha'J bt jaMfied. In this ver(e, we from their captiyity, aid led them captive that 
 have a fummary Re-capitulation, and Repctiti- carried others captive ; as the People of God 
 
 on of this mutual Bargain ; only it is propofed 
 in a different method, for before what was re- 
 quired, and undertaken by the Mediator, was 
 rirft fet down, and then the Promife made to 
 Him were next fet down ; Here the method is 
 altered, and the Promifes made to the Mediator 
 are firft fet down, and the conditions required 
 of Him laft fet down ; it's like, to fhew the onc- 
 nefs cf the Covenant, and the mutualnefs of the 
 Terms of it i and that though, as to our con- 
 ceiving, and up-raking of it, there be fomethiog 
 firft, and fomething laft, yet with God there is 
 no filch thing, but it is one prefent Act: The 
 Promifes made to the Mediator are two exprel- 
 fions, with an inference in the Word, Thertftrt, 
 knitting this to what went before, I mil dividt 
 him a portion with (be great, and he fhaH dividt the 
 fail with the ftmig; i n fhort, the fimilitudes here 
 ufed, are taken from Conquerors, and Vigors, 
 
 pray, Pfal. Ia6. 4. Turn again our captivity. . Ic 
 
 takesin the excellent Viaoiy.thegrcat Triumph 
 and Glory, that the Mediator lhould have by 
 this means ; He is exalttd above every name that is 
 named, that at the name tf Jefw every knee Jhiuld 
 bow, of things in heaven, tf things in earth, and tf 
 things under the earth: For further clear* 
 ing of it , we (hall recommend toyou Twt 
 or Three places in which it's like there is an 
 allufionto thisjas thatC#/. a. 14,15. Blot t ing tut tit 
 band -writing tf trdinancet that was again ji us, and 
 contrary tt us % takingit tut of the way, and hailing it 
 to his crofs , tearing as it were the Obligation that 
 the Law had ever the Elect, by his paying of 
 their Debt ; And having jpoiled principalities ard 
 p overs, he made a [hew tf them tptnly, triumphing over 
 them in it: There is his Victory, and Triumph; 
 He combats with, fubdues, and trods underfoot", 
 all His, and His Peoples Enemies, by farisfying 
 
 who' having been in a War and Fight, and hiv- thejufticecf God for the Elects Dcbt,andfpoils 
 
 ing defeat , and routed all their Enemies, and them of many Souls that were Jed captive by 
 
 put them off the Field, have a notable Out- gate, them; and triumphed openly over them, declar- 
 
 Viftory, and Triumph, and a great Spoil,as the ing Himfelf to have gotten the Victory in a mod 
 
 Fruit of' War ; And lb the meaning is, That the Majeftick manner j A 2d place is, Phil. J. g, p. 
 
 Mediator by His undertaking to Satisfie for the Being found in fatten as a man, he humbled himfelf , 
 
 E!e&, lhould have a great Fight, and Com- 
 bat with many Enemies, but Hefhould lofsno- 
 thing by it, Hefhould have a notable Out-gate, 
 an excellent Vittory, and glorious Triumph, 
 great glory and fpoii ; So that there was never 
 War like His, nor Enemies like thefe that He 
 had to encounter with, fo there fhould never be 
 'fuch Viaory, Triumph and Spoil, as our Lord 
 Jefus lhould have. The word Portion is not in 
 the Orignal, but well fupplied. It is only, I will 
 divide him man?, as the Word is often ufed, and 
 He Jhall divide the fpoil with the ftrtng, That is, He 
 (hall in dividing the Spoil be above the ftrongeft. 
 The Words infer, and take in thefe Three, 1, 
 Agreat Dcfeatof, and Vi&ory overall theMe- 
 •diators Enemies, the Devil, Death, and the 
 Curfe; He gets a great victory over them, and 
 gives them a grear defeat, fo that they vz quite 
 beat off the Fjeld, as dividing of the Iptil imports, 
 : Tfal. 68. 12. She that remained at home divided tht 
 fpoii; and Ifa. 9. 3. As .men rejoyce, wktnthty divide 
 the fpoil. 2. The great number of Captives that 
 our Lord in His Victory, and Tnumphtake$and 
 brings off; that is.He gets agreat bootie, which 
 is that fpoken of in rhe words before, By his 
 knowledge fbali many be jufifad; am! it's that which 
 is expreft in that Pfal. 6$. 18. Thou haft afcended on 
 high, tht* haft Id captivity captive; that is, theie 
 
 and became tbedivnt unto death, tven the death tf the 
 crtfs, wherefore Gtd hath highly exalted him, and 
 giVtnhim a name, which f* above every name, that at 
 the name of Jr(us, every knet fnould bow , of things in 
 heaven, in earth, and under the earth, and that entry 
 tengue Jhall ctnfefs that Jcfus thrift is Lord, /• the gle* 
 ry tf Gtd the Father; This is His Victory, Tri* 
 umph, and Glory, fuch as none in Heaven or 
 Earth ever had.orfhali have theIike:A$JJ. Place 
 is that, Eph» 2. 20, 2 ; , a 2 H> railed him from the 
 dead, and fet him at hut own right hand, in the beam 
 vthly places, far abtvf all priticipalttte, and power 
 and might, and dominion, and every name that is na- 
 med, not only in this world, but alfo in that which as 
 to ccme % and hath put all things under hit feet, and 
 gave him to be head tver all things to the Church, 
 Whether r hey be Devils, or grod Angels; of 
 Men, Saints militant, or triumphant, He is a- 
 bove them all, all are made fu je& to Him, and 
 He is the head of His Church. 
 
 The expaflions run indifferent Petfong, ^he 
 firft is in 'he Hrft Ferfon. / will divide him a 
 portion : IrA a Pi omife of God the Father to the 
 Mediator, for His attaining the Victory, as it's 
 faid, Epkef, t. 30 God railed him frtm the dead • 
 The id Expreftion is in the %d Perfon, H^ Jhall 
 dividt thefprl. To fhew that the Media t 1 - .; . d- 
 man concurred in the attaining che V ftory; 
 
 There- 
 
Therefore, Km. r. 4. lie is f aid U rat ft btrsfelf; 
 and in that it's faid-7 will dividefr He Jkali divide: 
 Iris to hold out the Mediator His attaining and 
 nofTcfling of what was Pronvfcd, and to mew 
 That there is nothing promifed ro the Mediator 
 bur attually He is, and (hall be put in the full 
 ooff=(fion of it. 
 
 The laft part of the Words holds our the con- 
 ditions on the Mediators fide, in F>ur Exprefli* 
 ons, I. Becaufe he hath figured out hit foul untoaeash; 
 That is, becaufe he willingly condefcended to 
 die, He yetted, or poured out His Soul ro death. 
 2 He vat numbered with tranjgufurs , He had a 
 reproached and ftiameful Life, and a reproach- 
 ed and curfed Death; He was thought the worrt 
 in the World.fo that Barrabas a Murherer was 
 preferred unto Him : It alio points out the re- 
 fpe& that His Death had to a Sat sfaction for 
 the Sins of the Elect, He was legally numbered, 
 and counted amongft tranfgrefTours, though He 
 was no tranfgrenour, 3. He bare the fins 0} many, 
 which exppnes the former, and fayes this much, 
 that not only He fimply died, and died a Ihame- 
 ful Death, but that He died for this end, to bear, 
 and by His bearing to remove the Sins of the 
 Elect; for it relates to the many that in former 
 Words are faid to be just fed by bit knowledge; And 
 it cannot be but thele many fhill be Juftificd, be- 
 caufe He did bear their Sins-, as to the Punifh 
 ment, and Curfe due to them, and whofoever 
 Sins are from by Chrift, thefe are and fhill be 
 Juftified ; and therefore He muft be Victorious, 
 and have a glorous trrumph 8c our-gace,bccaufe 
 He layes down tiis Life for His Sheep, as it is 
 'John lo. 17. Therefore doth my Fattier love me, be" 
 CMuft I Uy down my life, and rake it up again : And 
 by the way it is a ftrjnge thing tha^ the only 
 begotten Son of God, ihould be loved on this 
 account, accepted, a.-.d glorified in this Work, 
 even becaufe H- pour d tut bisfiuliinfi death, ouc 
 of zeal to His Fathers Glory, in profecuring 
 thi Work "of Sirincrs Redemption. 4. And he 
 made iiiteneffxm for the iranjgreffifrs : Which points 
 out the application of His Death, an i rhe be- 
 nefit thereof ro the m«Ky; whofe Sins He bare, 
 He" died to rake their Sins away, and interceeds 
 to have His purcrnie made effl-c ual; For though 
 this be applyed ufjally to His Prayer on the 
 Crofs, yet that is bur one particular of His In- 
 terceflion, which 1$ of larger extent, and there- 
 fore it's noted as a condition required of the 
 Mediator, that He mult not only die, but alfo 
 intcrcced, that the ben-fits of His Death mig it 
 be made forthcoming for them, for whom He 
 died. 
 Thus ye fee, we have thefum of God's Cove. 
 
 nant here, as if the Lord were propofing to the 
 Mediator ; Now, Son, if thou wilt pour ouc thy 
 Soul unto death , and thereby bear the Sins of 
 myEleft Peopje, and makelnterceflion for them, 
 thou (halt loie nothing by it, thou fhalt have a 
 notable Victory, and Triumph, and a great fpoil; 
 In the Words before, the Mediator having ac* 
 cepted the terms of the Covenant* and perform- 
 ed them, though not actually at that time, but 
 m the purpofe and Decree of God, which now 
 are actually performed; therefore the Promifes 
 are turned over in a concluded Covenant, and 
 in an abfolute Right to Him. 
 
 What needs further explication, we (hall en- 
 deavour to reach it, as we fpeakto the Obfervati* 
 ens, and becaufe the Words for the moft part 
 yield the fame Doctrines that have beenfpoken 
 to before, we mall not infiir in them. 
 
 i. Then from the repetition, Obfervein gene* 
 ral, That the nature and terms of the Covenant 
 of Redemption betwixt God, and the Mediator, 
 is a profitable Doctrine, and ufeful to be under- 
 stood , and believed by the People of God; 
 Therefore it is lo clearly propofed, ?nd again 
 and again repeated, and laid before their eyes; 
 and fummed and repeated in this verft, to keep 
 them in mind of it> Thefe that know the Cove- 
 nant of Redemp:ion, as that wh"ch hath in ft 
 thefum of all the Foundations of our Fairh,and 
 the ground of our accefs to God, and of our 
 peace with Him : they will e.ifily grant that, 
 that it's very neceiTary to be ftudied, known and 
 believed; For Firjl, by it we know what we 
 may expect from God, becaufc what we are to 
 expect, is piomifed toChiiftin this Covenanf, 
 as to our Head, This portion with the great, and 
 this dividing of the fpoil with the Jirertg, He hath it 
 as our Head. 2. Becaufe we know by this Cove- 
 nant, how we come by thefe things promifed : 
 And that is, by pouring out of his foul unto death, bear* 
 mg of our Jin s, and inter ceeding.fr us, which fup* 
 poles, and includes our betaiing of our fclves 
 unto FF.m by Faith 3. Becaufe by this Cove- 
 nant, the rich and free Grace if God hath it's 
 due Glory, Fcr there is nothing confidcred 
 here, as the reafonof fetting captives free, but 
 Chnifs paying of the Price ; it comes freely co 
 usj as a g ft bellowed. 
 
 idly. And more particularly, Oljirv:, That 
 though our Lord Jefus Chiitt, in theWoikbf 
 Sinners Redemption, had aforcCombat andFiglr, 
 yet He hath a glorious Out-g^te. Triumph and 
 Victory ; it was the grcatdt, lorcO, and molt 
 fuiious onfet, and alTault that ever was hcaid 
 of , that our Lord Jcius encountered with : 
 
 As the rememb.ance and 
 
 conlideiation 
 of 
 
of what hatlibeenfpoken, o£ His being in an ago* 
 rsy andfweating dr.ps of blood, of his praying, that 
 i\ U wtre ptfitte, that cup might depart frm him , O! 
 His cryir.g, my God, my God, *hy haft thu forjaken 
 me? Bcc Will mod convincingly make out, the 
 Juftice of God purfuing Him for all the guilt of 
 the Elect, Principalities and Powers being in 
 His reps ; the Devil, the Prince of this World, 
 having all His Inftiuments y^ked, and at Work, 
 fome m nod the head, fome to mock and fecurge 
 Him, &c. Yet He did abide it all out ; He gave 
 bit back to the f miters, 'and hii cheecks to than that 
 fulled off the hair, and hid not his face from Jb am e and 
 fritting: And had a moft glorious Viftory, and 
 Triumph over all ; what we faid in expomng 
 of the Words clears it fomewhat, & that Word, 
 John 12. 13. Nor* is the judgement of this world, now 
 fhall the pnnceof this world be caH out; to point out 
 His Victory over the World , and the Devil, 
 and that Word, Col. 2. 14, H>. » failed principa- 
 lities and powers. Heuncloathed them, and left 
 not. ( is we ufeto fpeak ) a whole rag on them} 
 He by a ftrong hand pulled all the Elefct from 
 them, and left none of them in their poiTelTion, 
 He brake open the prifon doors, and ft them 
 all at liberty. This was indeed a great Victory, 
 He alfo hath a great fpoil of many Captives,and 
 great G'ory, being exalted in our nature, At the 
 right hand of the Majefly on high, having a name a- 
 hove evey naT ne, that at the name of Jefus every knee 
 might bow: and that patfage, Ephef 1. 20, al. Is 
 to the fame purpofe, He hath put all things under 
 his feet, &c. If we lock to Keafon it cannot be 
 otherwayes. »'. If we confide* what our Lord 
 Jefus was in his Perfon, being the Son of God, 
 He cannot but be glorious John 17.5. He prayes 
 Father, glorifie me with that ghry which I had with 
 thee b-fore the world was i Though by being Man, 
 He became of no reputation , and a vail was 
 drawn over the declarative Glory of the God- 
 head in His Perfon for a time, yet He remain- 
 ed ftill the Son flfGod, and Glorious in Him- 
 felf, and it cannot be but He that is God mull 
 be Glorious in His Exaltation, when that vail 
 that obfeured His Glory is taken away. 2. His 
 Office, as Mediator, andHead of the Electproves 
 it; He that was appointed Head over all things 
 to the Church, could not but be great and glo- 
 rious and therefore when that of, Pfal. 10. 10. 
 Is cired by the ApoQle, Act. 2. 24- and »3- 35* 
 It's faid, Thai it was impojfwle that death could keep 
 him. j. It will be char, if we confider the Work 
 it felf wherewith He was intruded, it being a 
 Work rhat was fo well liked of,& approven by 
 God> He could no: but have a Glorious Victory 
 and Oufgate; Therefore fayes He, John 10, 
 
 Vft. 1 «. Serm, 64. 
 
 [ My Father loveth me, becaufe I lay down my 
 life for my fheep, and Philip, a. 8 It's fad, Be- 
 caufe he humbled himfelf, and became obedient 
 unto death, therefore God hath highly exalted 
 him J It was the contiact betwixt God and the 
 Mediator, that he mould firft beccme low, and 
 then be exalted, and # therefore He behoved to 
 be exalted, and made* very glorious. 
 
 Ufe, 1. Learn, not to undeivalue, nor to vail 
 and obfeure the Glory of the Mediator, frcm 
 the consideration of His Sufferings; fot though 
 He was low, yet He is now exalted, He had a 
 moft noble, excellentand glorious Victory, and 
 Triumph over all His Enemies: There are none 
 of us all, but fhall at the day ofJudgement,when 
 He will be feen to be Judge of quick and dead, ' 
 ( whxh is a pait of His Triumph) having fo 
 many Redeemed (laves , ( to fpeak fo) at His 
 back, having a confirmation of this Truth in cur 
 bofom: And indeed it is.no little part of Re- 
 ligion to get this point deeply imprefTed en our 
 hearts, That our Lord Jefus, who was once low, 
 is now exalted to luch Glory; Lock to it, and 
 we will find a great part of our deadnefs, and 
 unfoundnefshere, that His greatnefs bulks not 
 fuirably in our eye » alas! we do very much 
 undervalue Him; but His humiliation being for \ 
 us, it mould not make us think the lefs of H/rii, 
 nor make us leiTen the high efteem we ihouid 
 have of Him , but mould in reafon make us 
 think the more of Him, and put the greater 
 price on Him# 
 
 Ufe. a. It is a moft comfortable Doctrine, in 
 reference to all ups and downs of the time, and 
 to all the traits that His Church and People can 
 be put to ; It cannot be ill with Chrift, and ic 
 (hall not be ill with them; He may hare con- 
 tells, but He (hall get, yea, He hath gotten the 
 Victory, He once died to die no more; all that 
 He hath now to do, is to make application of 
 His purchafed Redemption, and to divide the 
 Spoil; to notice ( which he doth moft narrow- 
 ly ) what of His purchafe is yet in the Dcvifs 
 pofleflion, andtorefcueandfet it free > He hath 
 gotten the PofTeiTIon of the Kingdom, and ic 
 mult, and it fhall go well, let the World rage, 
 and let the Sea roar, and the floods lift up 
 their voice, and the mountains be call in the 
 Sea;whatever confulionsand overturningscome, 
 or whatever troubles be, our Lord Jefus hath 
 gotten the Victory, and is dividing the Spoil; 
 He will take no other divifion, than what Je- 
 hovah hath made , and carved rut to Him; Ic 
 will not be what Devils, or Men, what great 
 Men, Kings, Princes, Parliaments, Potentats, 
 Armiesjdrcare pleafed 50 give,or allow to Him, 
 
 buc 
 
Serm. $4. #"** 
 
 but He muft needs have the Portion promifed 
 Him with the great, and the fpoil with the strong ; 
 He fhsll certainly get thar, and none (hall be 
 able to bereave Him, or take a bit of it from 
 Him, yea, none fliall poflefs a Foot broad of 
 ground beftowed on Him, and His followers ; 
 He (hall have a Church, and Ordinances difpen- 
 fed therein, where He intends it; and Souls (hall 
 be gathered to Him, from all quarters, as they 
 were given to Him i and maugre all rhe malice, 
 and proud oppofition of Devils and Men, all 
 that the Father hath given to Him (hall come to 
 Him, without all peradventure, or poflibility of 
 mifgiving; they (hall not by all their oppofiti- 
 on and perfecution, be able to keep any one of 
 the gifted ones , from coming to Him, in the 
 reafon agreed on, betwixt Jehovah and Him. 
 And idly. l?s comfortable to Gods People,as to 
 their own particular cafe; corruption is a ftrong 
 and formidable enemy, the Devil is a reftlefs 
 enemy, and goeth about like a roaring Lyon 
 fecking whom he may devour ; The World is a 
 deceitful, enfnaring enemy, and doth ofren in 
 a manner even overwhelm them > but our Lord 
 Jefus hath the Vi&ory, and parting of the ftaiks, 
 ( to fay fo ) or the dividing of the Spoil ; Thefe 
 that remain at home, the fecklefs Boy or Girle, 
 Lad or Lafs (hall divide the Spoil; Thisis it that 
 Job comforts himfelf with, Chap* 19, / know that 
 my redeemer liveth, and that hi fhall Jl and at the lat- 
 ter day upon the earth, to wit, as fole and abfolute 
 Conquerer, the Vi&ory being intiiely on His 
 fide, with thefe eyes Jhall I fee him, and no other for 
 me though verms dejiroy this body : Believers, O ! 
 Believers there is a good d»y coming. He hath 
 gotten the Viftory, and fo (hall ye: The God of 
 peace jhall brtuf* Satan under your feet Jhonly: And 
 whatever wrongs ye fuffer, and whatever (traits 
 ye be under now, while the wicked are in pro- 
 iperity, there wjl be a new deciiion, yea, anew 
 decilion ere long , all (hall be fnatcheJ from 
 wicked men but your cup (hall run over ; There 
 lhall be n© more fighting, no more parties to 
 give you battel, or to eppofe you, when He 
 fhall have beaten all Enemies off the Field; It 
 will be a poor and forry portion that many will 
 get in that day, who did not lippen and truft to 
 Cbrifts <poil, when ye believers lhall be (harers 
 with H.min it. 
 
 Ufc, 3. This fayes, that it is both hard , and 
 fad to top with Chri^i and to be found in op. 
 pofirion to Him: I fpeak not much of publick 
 conrefts.fuch as PitstiyHcred, the Series & Pharifeis 
 had w;th Him, and which many great Ones of 
 the Earth (till keep up againft Him, who will find 
 the fnwrC of their oppuficion ere long ; but of 
 
 cj. Verf. 12. # \ .35* 
 
 all that contend with Him in His Ordinances, 
 and who fliall fay by their practice at leail, Let- 
 us break his bands sfunder t andeaft away hu cords [rem 
 us, as it isPfsl. a. And we will vet have this mae 
 te reign ever us, as it is, Luke 10. He will fay, Bring 
 eut thefe mine enemies audjfsj them before me : Be- 
 loved hearers this day is coming, when all of us 
 will (land before Him, and (hall fee Him divide 
 the Spoil ; and wo wo will be to that Perfoa 
 that day, that would not fubmit to His Go* 
 vernmtat ; O what a dreadful thing will it be 
 to be (lain before the Mediator , to have the 
 Prince of Life taking holy pleafure in thy death* 
 becaufe thou fided with the Devil, and the Jufts 
 of thine own heart , becaufe thou refitted and 
 quenched His Spirit, and barracaded the way 
 of His accefs to thee, and would not let Him in, 
 to reign in thy heart, nor yield thyfelf as a Sub- 
 jc& to Him ? But it (hall be well , unfpeakably 
 wall with Chrift, and all that are His in that day. 
 He, and they (hall triumph moft gloriouily.'The 
 fplendor, fpiritual ftate, and Majefty of that 
 Triumph fhall infinitely tranfeend all that hm 
 keen looked at, with wonder in the mod glori- 
 ous Triumphs of the greateft Emperours,Kings. 
 or Captain* generals in the World'. 
 
 idly. Confider what this Spoil is, even to fe$ 
 his(eed,ind to jujlifit many, & to get them brought 
 in to Him, and made partakers of His Grace 
 and Glory: otftrve. That it is a psrt of Chri£» 
 Vi&ory, Triumph, and Glory, to get the Devil 
 defeat in, and dung out of Souls , and to gee 
 them Converted , JuftifiVd and Saved through 
 His Blood ; when He is Triumphing over ene- 
 mies, as it is, Col a . 14, 1 c. What is He doing? 
 He is even tearing the Bond that was above the 
 Ele&s head, and blotting out their Debt, in that 
 He triumphs mofr glonoufiy ; So, PJaL 6&,Tbo« 
 hafl afcended on high, thou haft led captivity tap: ive t 
 There is His Triumph and Spoil, even a com- 
 pany of poor Slaves redeemed hy Him: The 
 weapons, faytfs the Apolle, of eur ware/are are not 
 eer lal, but fpiritual, and mighty through God, te the 
 bringing do-ten of ilrong holds and leading (.very thot-rbt 
 and imagination lifted up againtl God captive unto the 
 obedience of Ckrijt • There is Chrifls ViGory and 
 Triumph i What are the ftrong holds that he 
 battcrs,ftorms and takes in?He makes fome proud 
 hearts to (loop, and yceld to Him , and carries 
 fome that were Rebels to Him, captive to His 
 obedience : O happy Captivity ! It is not meant 
 in refpeft of Thraldom and Bondage, but in re- 
 fpect of Voluntary Subje&ton to Him. This is 
 a moft noble, notable, and lovely Vicljry, and 
 Triumph, and a Glorious Day indeed which is 
 ours, as well as His; it being the ledeeming of 
 A a a poor 
 
58 
 
 jfaiah n« M. a. Serm t± 
 
 and bringing in of many World without, and a deceitful htarr, and a 
 
 fickle humour within thcmfelves 
 
 poor captive imn«rs. 
 
 followers fo the Lamb*, and therefore, v. I l.ltl 
 called Satisfaction for the travel if hi: Joul, and the 
 juttifying of many : That is the Spoil and the Prey: 
 wrfi 10. It's called tbepleafure 0} the Lvi\ and in 
 thai*. Hh Portion and Sp§t I. What doth oar bluf- 
 fed Lord Jcfus take to Himfelf, what doth this 
 Divid claim, or take to Him as His Spoil, who 
 is the .:lone Monarch of this great Univerft? It's 
 a number of poor Sinners; Come to me fays he, ye 
 huffed of my Father, inherit the KJttgdem prepared for 
 you . He hath no more, He feeks no more, but 
 io many fouls asHc minded to do good to; When 
 the Lord divided the Natimt, as it is Pjal. «35- He 
 l hi ft J act b for ku portion: If we cOnfider a little 
 more particularly, we will find the Juftirlcati* 
 on, and Salvation of Sinners to be our Lord Je- 
 . fus His Victory, Triumph and Spoil; becaufe 
 ' nerein He.is Vi£rorious,and Triumphs,and gets 
 the git ry of His Obedience, Faithfulnefs,Grace # 
 Power, aod Love > the Glory of the Mediator 
 Alines manifcftjy and confp cuoufly in all thefc 
 heic 1- The Glory of His Obedience, when He 
 hith it to fay, as it is John 18. 9. Of all that thou 
 hafl given wit, I have bfl none ; He gets fo many 
 Souls committed to Him of the Father to re- 
 deem, and when He hath done, and performed 
 the Work, and brought them in, He hath the 
 Glory of His Obedience to His Father, who 
 faith to Him, Thou art my beloved Son in whom 1 
 am well pleafed. a. The glory of His Faithfulnefs t 
 according as He did ingage, and undertake to 
 Jehovah, He hath keeped His Word, and there 
 is a ueceffity lying on Him, that it mould be 
 fo, that of all committed to Him.He ihould lofe 
 none, but prefent them without fpot or wrin- 
 kle, or any fuch thing; Therefore He is called 
 the Faithful fhepherd, becaufe He lofes none of 
 the Sheep that are given Him. 3. The glory of 
 Grace, and infinite love, the moe that are faved,the 
 more Grace & Love mines forth in paying their 
 Debt and ranfom. and in bringing them in to 
 fcc partakers* of H ; s Love ; Therefore, John 17. 
 He fayes. That tie hve wherewith thou hafl loved we, 
 way he inth'.m, and I m them-, He would have the 
 love communicated by the Father to Him, to be . 
 in them, that it may be known that He hath lov- 
 ed them, as the Father hath loved Him; There 
 cannot be fuch a proof, and demonftration of 
 Love as this* It is evidenced in His exaltation, . 
 as their head, and in their being brought where 
 He is. . 
 
 4. ThcGlary of Pever dines forth here that 
 trampiedupon, and triumphed over all difficul- 
 ties, that are in the way of faying Eject Sinners; 
 And>0! what difficulties there are in the way 
 of Paving Sinnci s? He. having the DevH and th« 
 
 to encounter 
 with; bo many Sirs to mortifie, and fnares to 
 lead through; yet none plucks HisSheefJout 
 of His hand, therefore, 1 Pet. 1. They arcfad 
 to be keeptd h the power of God, through Faith unto 
 Salvation, In a Word, as it was the manner of 
 old for ConqueVors to ride in triumph, and all 
 their Pnfoners, led before or after them, at 
 their back- So our Lord , for manifefting the 
 Gloiy of His Grace , Faithfulnefs and Power 
 brings lomany Sinners thtough to Glory, and 
 hath a greater train, than ever any Conqueror 
 had, and He counts it His Glory, to get many 
 loft Souls faved, John 17. Thtni they 9efe,andthou 
 gavefl them me, and tarn glorified in them ; How is 
 that ? / have given them thy wtrd, and they have 
 received it ; He counts himfelf glorified in Sin- 
 ners fubmitting to Him, in their believing on 
 Him, and in their taking pardon from Him • 
 Now let me fay, that if we were wailing and 
 making choife of iD&rine, to warm the heart 
 ofafenfible Sinner, to flume unbelief out of 
 the World, and to give impregnable ground to 
 hazard on Chrift, here it is, That our Lord Jefus 
 placeth His Viftory, Glory, and Triumph and 
 Spoil in this, even in doing good to Sinncrs.and 
 in having Sinners getting good of Him i it's His 
 Portion when ( to fay fo ) the World is dealt 
 that He gets a number of loft Sinners to fave as 
 His (bare, And though He he the Heir of all 
 things, and the firft born, yet He loves that bet- 
 ter than a thoufand Kingdoms; when He hath 
 His Spoil, and Prey at the taking, this is it,and 
 He choifcth no other j O Sinners ! do ye think 
 this little ? Or do ye think little of this ? Had 
 He placed His Glory, in crufliing under foot all 
 the Pnfoners of the Earth, or in bringing the 
 World to nothing, who could have laid ukat 
 docft thou? But when He placeth His Glory 
 and Triumph in this, to overcome the Dtvi], 
 to caft him out of Souls, to relieve poor Sin- 
 ners, and to bring them into acknowledge Him 
 as the Author oj tttrnal Salvat'un, and istheau'.h* 
 and finijber of 'their frtbi If ye would havefome* 
 thing to wonder at, is it not hare? He will 
 burn the World intoafhes, and leave it, and 
 will caft many Kings and great Men into Hell, 
 and yet He gather* poor Elctt Sinners out of 
 that burnt heap, »ic wereas the thing He hath 
 deligned for His Spoil; He hath no more, and 
 He feeks no more, fas I faid ) and yet He gets 
 no gain ofthefepoor Sinners for all this. 
 
 And therefore, as the 1. Vfe of it, wonder at 
 
 this, will it not be a glorious day, when Chrift 
 
 is crowned, and hath all redeemed 5innersat*/i$ 
 
 » baci, 
 
Scrm. 64. , t . . j e . . «*** *1 
 
 back with harps In their hands, Singing Salva- 
 tion, Glory and Power, to the Lamb? O! won- 
 der, that there is not only a Saviour, and Life, 
 andSalvationto be had throughHim.butthat it's 
 fuch a Salvation, as is wonderful in this tefpect, 
 that He counts it His Glory,and triumph to have 
 many Sinners faved, when He might have glo- 
 rified Himfelf in fending us all to hell ; May we 
 not wonder at this ? and yet we ought to believe 
 it, and the little Faith «f it makes it to be fo 
 little wondeicd at? Ah! Sinners for the raoft 
 part believe not that Chrift think* fo much of 
 the faving of Sinners*, and therefore they won* 
 dcrnotath, are not fuitably affected, andtaken 
 
 up with it. . * &. . 
 
 Ufe, t. There is here a fweet and folid ground 
 for quieting, and fetling the Faith of lenfible 
 5inners, who would have footing to their Faith, 
 Chrift counts it His Glory and Triumph tofavc 
 fuch is ye are ; and if ye perHh that would fain 
 be at Chrift and His Rightcoufnefs tor Life, 
 Chriftfhall wane His Glory and Triumph, and 
 may not that ferve and fatisfie you, that your 
 Salvation is His Glory and Triumph, which He 
 will not come (hort of? the Father hath here 
 promifed it, and He (hall not, He cannot wane 
 it;Sinnen he mufthave and (hall have to be faved, 
 becaufe His Victory, Triumph and Spoil depend 
 on it ; A wonderful condefcenfton of Grace, 
 ( which isnot eafily believed) that all thefc are 
 Jinked and cupled together, and through other, 
 as it were, Sinners Salvation, Chrifts Victory, 
 Trumph, andSpoil,and Gods Glory inHisGrace, 
 Love, Faithfulnefs and Power *, ye reflect no 
 doubt on Gods Faithfulnefs, who fufpect and 
 are jealous of your Salvation, if indeed ye do by 
 Fairh betake your felves to Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Uje 3. Doth Chrift think Co much of the Sal- 
 vation of Sinners, that He counts it His Victory 
 and Triumph, His Portion and Spoil ? Then 1. 
 All that give not Chrift their Souls to be faved, 
 do what they can to lefTen Chrifts Portion, and 
 to fruftrate Him of His Glory. 1. If ye wou'd 
 do Chrift fervice. that is moft acceptable toHim, 
 
 Virf. i\. 35* 
 
 give Him your Souls to be faved by Him, fru- 
 ftrate not His Grace, Jay your Sins on Him, and 
 lock forSalvation through Him inHis own way; 
 He came to fight with Principalities andPowers, 
 and to vanquifli them, and by the ftrong hand 
 to refcuc Souls from them; and ftep ye to at His 
 back,forthat is his Satisfattacn.His Portion and 
 Spoil ; We wote well there is here a ftrong and 
 effe&ual motive toperfwade to Faith in Chrift, 
 and a ftronger&morc effectual cannot be thoughc 
 upon ; It will be Chrifts Triumph to pull you 
 out of the claws of the Devil, and if He do ic 
 not, ye on the matter allow the Devil fome way 
 to get the victory over Chrift, which is yet im« 
 poffible, but the Devil will certainly have Vict- 
 ory over you; to whom ye will be Slaves and 
 Diuges forever; There is alfo ground of great 
 terrour,and of dreadful warning to fuch as yield 
 not to Chiift, becaufe they do what they can to 
 impede His Victory; when He ccmesby His Or- 
 dinances, to turn than from darknefs to light ,andfrom 
 the power oj Satan fo God, they thwart with Him; 
 the Day is coming, when this Doctrine will be 
 comfortable to fome, and terrible to others, when 
 there fhallbe none of us, but we lhall fee it con- 
 firmed with our eyes, when He ( as a man fort- 
 ing and fliaring His Spoil after the Victory, ) 
 (hall fay to thefe on His right hand, (Com$ yt 
 kltjfed §f my father inhtrit the Kingdom prepared fir 
 you ; and to others, Depart from me ye c-rfed ivt» 
 eve) tatting f re , prepared for the devil and hie angels : 
 Even as if a Conqueror (hould take fome Prifon* 
 ers,and make them Sens and Heirs, and fet them 
 upon Thrones, and (hould caft others into per- 
 petual Prifon, who loved not liberty : And in- 
 deed it will be a fearful Prifon to beinHell with 
 the Devil and his Angelsj either we will be part 
 of Chrifts Portion and Spoil in that day, or He 
 will refufe, difown and reject us, having us to 
 be an evcrlafting Prey to the Devil ; Happy they 
 whom He choifeth, and wo to them eternally 
 whom He cafh as refufe ware : God give us 
 wifdom to lay thefe things to heart. 
 
 SERMON LXV. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XII. 
 
 Veife l*i Therefore mill divide him a portion with the great, and he fh ill divide the fpoil with the ffrog: 
 ba aufe he hath poured out his foul unto death s and he was numbred With the traufgrtjjtrt, and he t>*re 
 the fins of many , and made mtercejjion fr the tranfgrtjpurs 9y 
 
 THi* Covenant of Redemption is a great 
 B.r£ain, ther* wa$ never fuch Paitics 
 as the Lord Jehovah, and the Media* 
 tor ; and we may fay, there was never fu^nOpn- 
 dirions and ArricJts in any Birgain as arc in 
 this The Verfe now read doth c>ntain\lhefum 
 of that which was agreed upon becwi^i#iefc performed 
 
 PartiSs^; The Promifes upon Jef-ovansfid? made 
 to the Mediator, and what He fhall ' ave on H's 
 accepting of rhe offer, and performing cf the 
 Condition required of Him. And what are the 
 terms propofed to the Mediator , and the Con- 
 ditions which He is to perform, or rather hatli 
 
 A a a a 
 
 1. Tlwre 
 
3&° lfsi*h Jj . 
 
 i. There are two things promlfed to the 
 Mediator, / mil divide him a port ion with the great, 
 a fair and large Vittory, and a good and glori- 
 ous Out»gat«, and Hefhall divide the /foil with the 
 firong ; As thcfc that arc Conquerours and Vig- 
 ors ufeto (hare mod largely, and deeply in the 
 Spoil, fo ow Lordjefus fliall hare a rich Spoil, 
 a large Booty , many redeemed Souls, a Bride 
 whom He fliall prefent blamelelsto the Father; 
 Thefe are rhe Spoil, the Jewels that He fights 
 for, and the Prey He choifcth ; when the World 
 is burnt, and the relV are fent to Hell, He ga- 
 thers out fo many for Himfelf, a. The Conditi- 
 ens on the Mediators fide are four, He comes to 
 this Victory, and Triumph, becaufe Hohaihpeur- 
 tdoup his foul unto death, becaufe He was numbred 
 with tranfgreffours, becaufe He bare the fins of many t 
 and becaufe He made interceffion for tranfgrejfeurt, 
 therefore fliall He be fure of all this- 
 
 Although there be no exprefs name of a Co* 
 ven*nt here, yet ye fee the thing; becaufe as in 
 Covenants amongft men there arc two Parties, 
 and their ingagements are mutual, and the per- 
 formance of thefe ingagements in the one de- 
 pends on the performance of the other ; So is it 
 here, i< The Parties are Jehovah, and the Me- 
 diator, a. There are two things promifed to 
 the Mediatory glorious Viftory and a rich Spoil, 
 the juflifying of many. 3. The Conditions on 
 the Mediators fide, on which the performance 
 •fthe promifes depends, He condescends to die, 
 and co die willingly, to be numbred with tranf- 
 greflburs, to bear their Sins, and to make inter- 
 ceffion for them; this Jehovah condefcends to 
 accept of, and upon this many, to wit, all Elcft 
 Si oners ivefuflified through Him, as it is, v. 1 1- 
 
 1. From the Promife madetoChrift ( where 
 the Pcrfon is changed ) I mil divide him a porti- 
 on with the groat, and he jball divide the fpoil with 
 the firong. I will grant Him fuch a thing, and 
 He fhall obtain if, take this general Obfervation, 
 as the reafon of it, that all the Promifes made 
 fcy Jehovah to the Mediator are certain,and fliall 
 actually be performed, I will grant this to Him, 
 jnd He fiuJ]£et it; The connexion doth alfo 
 Confirm if ; Becaufe ho hath poured out his Soul Unto 
 death: So, Pfal. 89. J 4, 37. Once I fware by my ho- 
 lintfa that I mill not lie unto David; my covenant 
 will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out 
 of tay lips ; and indeed it cannot but be fo, if we 
 conflder either the Perfon that makes the Pro- 
 mife, He is God unchangeable in Himfelf , ab- 
 folutely faithful, and cannot deny Himfelf, Once 
 have If mom , and 1 mill mt lie unto David; Or the 
 party to whom the Promife is made, He is the 
 Mediator God-man, in when. thcFather js w»U 
 
 Verf „. 
 
 pleafed *, and the MrAU**. l ! Senn - ^< 
 
 what He undertook /or t ?LE,cA g f r rf ° lmed 
 ground to gueftion th* L.r "' the,e " ■"> 
 Sufi made to Him perforo "o« of the Pro- 
 
 ence to particular „V, } Med.ator, in refer. 
 all (hall S ' W °' Publick Mercies, 
 formed; Chdft is HI P b ' nd inf ™»»bly pet. 
 mifej are made anS I l"% t0 * hom ' he P '°- 
 form wLus or " d ^ h0Vi '' CJ , Bno 'fiil toper- 
 than theMediaforTl f •? $' Med »tor, more 
 He undertook f ,V I't '" *#"»«« what 
 diator, Pfa i' a "°% ,ts P'om,kd to the Me- 
 
 Where 7 her? r-hefc £ •** * *»jf <b y.uth : 
 ".That H 5 Peool ft.n k** ft °, miCtd ,0 Ch " ft . 
 day of HitpoVe? ww'fc • *"** y iUin *«» the 
 «• 44 N. mZcll ,'Z , " " p0ned in tnat,/.A* 
 
 bornefs, an fro\Zw ? d . tak «»way the ftub- 
 make, tCfplvrifcKS* 1 ,s in ?« El<».a»d 
 give up tfceiS&tote ?£%***> a " d / e «ive,and 
 pie ihaJJ b7^ er Vm ^ ,ft - \ Tb " His Pe °" 
 Jhall b e numerousaM 9 J y ° Ut -'' of His womb 
 3- They flSlb. htl '^d'wmthe morning. 
 
 Mediator, that all nlu*. ■ s ,Pf om «'ed to the 
 tothat,7.4«< ,„„^ a . nd this js according 
 
 betakes himfelf to G X pSift ^ by Fai -V h 
 cannot fail h ;m , becauf/tf,^ M '/ he P - r0m,fe ' 
 fibred as the party to 'h Me d»tor is con. 
 made, and the abf/lur, « 7 °- m the P romife '* 
 on of Beliems h r rhe r at '° n , andRed « m Pti- 
 Though they be in hazud r h ° P! '^ pr0mi ^ d » 
 
 wherein He is ingaged A«inif v.l«'v W tbaC 
 
 ffi*7 'J" Wor W, and that we fliall be 
 .ontkued «nd preferyed, &,. Thefe promife, 
 
 fttl 
 
Serm 6< Ijaiah $§; 
 
 (ball certainly be performed as that.PW a. 6. 1 
 havefetmy King upon my holy bill of Zun, ask ofmt t 
 and I wiB give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, 
 and thtuttermft ends of the earth for thy pofeffion % A 
 fruit of which promife , is our preaching, and 
 your hearing the Gofpel here this day, and the 
 Promife, Pf*l «9 from verf. 20. and forward, 
 With him my hand fhall be efiabltjhed, and my arm 
 (ball flnrtgthen him, the enemy [hall net exacJ upon him, 
 nor thfin of mokedntft afflitt him ; 1 will beat down 
 his foes before, his face, and plague them that hate him, 
 I will ]et his hand on the fea, and his right hand on 
 the rivers ; 1 wiU make him 'my frfl born higher than 
 gg the kings of the earth t my mercy will I keep fir him, 
 his feed Jball endure for ever, if his children forfake 
 my lav, then! will vijit their tranfgxeffions with the 
 Jed: neverthelefs my loving kindnefs I will not utterly 
 take from him, mrfuffer my faithfulnefs to fail. There 
 is Ha/. 3. a promife of the ingathering of the 
 Jews: And If*. 9. 6. It's faid, that The govern. 
 went Jhall be upon his jhoulders, and of the inereafe of 
 bis government there Jh.ill be no end : And, ReveU 
 11. 1 ji It is proclaimed ,The kingdoms of this world 
 are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of hit Chrift: 
 All thefc, and many the like promifes, fhall be 
 accomplifhed ; though the World fliould be 
 turned upfidc down every monethoncc, let be 
 every year, tnc g roUri d °f tnc Churches con- 
 tinuance, and prcfervation is not, becaufefuch 
 and fuch Peifons govern ; otherwayes, what 
 would have become of the Church when Anti- 
 chrift prevailed ? but the promife made to the 
 Mediator: Here lyeth the Chriftians peace,when 
 he hath to do with challenges, it's impoflible 
 that the Believer in Chrift canperifh: and here 
 is infured the Churches prcfervation » even Ly 
 Gods promife to the Mediator . that He fhaJl 
 have a Seed, and that many fhall be Jufrified, 
 that He fhall divide the Spoil ; And though we 
 Tee but very little appearance of the fpreading 
 of the Gofpel amongft the /fwand Pagans, or 
 where Antichrift reigns ; the vilibjt Church be- 
 ing now for many years rather incroached upon 
 than extended, yet there is not one word here 
 promifed, but it fhall be accomplifhed; And this 
 is both a ground of our peace, and of our con- 
 fidence in prayer, as it is, Pfal, 72. Prayer alfo jball 
 be made for him continually, and day I) jball he bepraif' 
 ed : Tw© fweet excrcifes , dayly to be praying 
 for that which is in the pattern of prayer, Let 
 thy kingdom come, and dayly to be praifing Him 
 for the coming oi His Kingdom. 
 
 But *dly t What is fpoken of Chrift the Medi- 
 ators part, we tike ic fur granted, that there is 
 nothing fpoken of, but it is, or fhall be perfor 
 
 Ver\. is. 361 
 
 med ; the Father engages to perform to Him \ 
 whatever Promifes are made to Him, becaufe 
 He hath performed whatever He undertook, and 
 although lfaiah, long ep*the Mcffiah came in the 
 Fleth, (pake of it as a thing done in the preterit, 
 or by-paft time, when as yet it was not actually 
 done, yet he doth fo, becaufe it was as certain as 
 if it had been already done : Qbfertie, hence,that 
 there is no part of Chrifts undertaking as a Me« 
 diator in the Covenant of Redemption, but ic 
 is, and fhall be actually performed; Olbut there 
 are two refponfal and faithful Parties in this Co-. 
 venant ; it is not God and Adam who brake the 
 Covenant, and played the traitor; but it's God 
 upon the one fide and the Mediator Immanutl, 
 God with us, on the ether fide: Therefore there 
 is. faithfulnefs on the Mediators performing ac« 
 cording to His undertaking, as well as there is 
 faithfulnefs in Gods f erforming whatever He 
 hath fpoken of Him, or promifed to Him: Ye 
 fhall only take two or three Teftimonies for 
 this;Theii i s Matth.i.ti&ij.^Thit is my beloved 
 Son, in whom I am wellfleafed ; He undertook to 
 fatisfie the Elects Debt , and hath accordingly 
 performed it, fo that the Father is well pleafed. 
 A 2d. is, Jthn 17. 4. Where He appeared before 
 the Father, and ufeth it for an argument for Hit 
 glorifying «/ him with the fame glory which ht had 
 with the Father before the world was : I have glorified 
 thee on earth , / have finished the work whicfr thou 
 gaveji me to do ; I have goten a Task, and piece 
 of Work committed to me, and now it's per- 
 formed ; And that other Word He hath on the 
 Crofs, is remarkable to this purpofc, Its finifhid: 
 Now the Task and Work is ended, 1 have no 
 more to do,but prefently to pafs to the Vi&ory, 
 and to the dividing of the Spoil: And a $d. 
 Teftimony is our Lord Jefus His afcenilon to 
 Heaven, and the glory that He will appear in, 
 at the day of Judgement, when His Kingdom 
 fhall be confummat; That fhall be a Proof and 
 Teftimony, that He left nothing undone, that 
 was given Him to do, that He bare the Sins of 
 many,that He gave His back ro the fmiters, and 
 His cheeks to them that pulled off the hair,and 
 that He fatisfied Juftice freely, and afcended to 
 Heaven, as it is, 1 turn. 3. 16. Great is the myflery 
 ofgodlineff, faith the Apoftle, God manifested in tht 
 fiefi, juffrfied in the Iptnt, fully abfolved, as hav- 
 ing performed all whatfoever He undertook, feen 
 of Angt Is, and raifed up wto glory. 
 
 Uje. This is aKo, th -ugft a general, yet a very 
 comfortable Doctrine to the People of God, in 
 as far as from it they know , that there is no 
 more to be payed to the Juftice of God for 
 
 the 
 
*<$j Jfaiab fj. Vtrf 11. 
 
 the Sins of theEle£t; it hath gotten full Satis- flare of a Believer, who have 
 the Cautioner hath payed all their Debt, 
 
 faftion, 
 
 and is now excrcing His Office, for applying to 
 them His purchafe , making Interceflian for 
 them, overfeeing them , proving a Tutor to 
 them, guiding them, and all that concerns them, 
 and His Church ; even doing all things well, 
 managing the affairs of His Fathers boufe, as a 
 Son, and He cannot but guide all well ; Other 
 fheep, faith He, / have, which are not of this fold> 
 them I muft bring in, and theyjhall hear my voice,and 
 J give them eternal life, and they fball never perijh; A 
 mod pregnant ground of comfort to the Believ- 
 er, that his eternal well-being cannot but be 
 fure and ficker, becaufe it hath the Father and 
 the Mediator their faithfulnefs ingaged for 
 its if Jehovah perform the promiles made to 
 the Mediator, and if the Mediator perform his 
 
 Serm. tfe. 
 - fuch ground of 
 aflurance ; The greateft Monarch on earth hath 
 not fuch ground of aflurance ftr his Dinner or 
 Supper , as the poor Believer hath for eternal 
 L.re; For the Word fpoken by Jehovah to the 
 Mediator, and the undertaking of the Mediator 
 to Jehovah, cannot fail; and the Believer hath 
 that to reft upon, as the ground of his aflurance 
 Moreparticularly, the Afticlcs on theMtdN 
 ators fide are ( as I faid ) in thefe Four Exprcfll- 
 ons, I He hath poured out his foul unto death, 
 He was numbred with the tranfgrdTouis , He 
 bare the fini of many, and made interceflion for 
 the tranfgrciTours. I. He muft die,] cxprciTed in 
 thefe Words, He hath pur U out hit foul unto desth- 
 which implycf Three things. I . That it is an Ar* 
 tide of the Covenant ot Redemption, and of 
 the Mediators undertaking, that he (hould die 
 
 ingagement to Jehovah, and raifc up Believers for Sinners; and fo it is aneedlefs.curious, un«* 
 
 at/the laft day, then it muft follow, that their 
 Salvation is fure : This is the main ground on 
 which Believers Peace is founded ; and here we 
 may allude to that, Heb. 6. He hath [worn by two 
 Immutable things, wherein it is imyflibU for God to 
 lie, that the heirs efpromife, who are fled for refuge 
 tolajholdon the hope fct before them, may have flreng 
 eonjolation : even fo here, there are two immu- 
 table things, to wit, Gods promife to the Me- 
 diator, and God will, and muft keep His Word 
 to Him, and the Mediators ingagementto God, 
 and He will, and muft keep His Word to Him; 
 and indeed we have good proof of both already* 
 
 warrantable difpute, whether fallen man might 
 have been redeemed any other way, or whether 
 a drop of His blood was not enough to redeem 
 man ? becaufe we fee here it is determined, and 
 articled in the Covenant of Redemption , that 
 Hefliould die, Jehovah will have the Mediator 
 dying: andbepoflible what may to Gods iove- 
 raignity ( which we would not make to clafli 
 with Hisjuftice, nor His Juftice with His So- 
 yeraignity ; this may bound and limit us, that 
 it's concluded in this Covenant of Redemption 
 that the Mediator fliould lay down His Life' 
 and it being concluded, it's certain, i. That 
 
 For it was this ingagement that made the- Fa- God hath given man a Law, threatning him,that 
 ther fend the Son of His Love, out of His bo- if he mould break that Law, he fliould die, j. 
 fom, to be incarnat, and to undergo the Work That all Mankind, aodfo the EKc"r have broken 
 
 of Elcft Sinners Redemption ; and it was this 
 Ingagement that made the Mediator die, of 
 whom the Father exafted the Price, till He de- 
 clared Himfelf fatisfied, and well pleafed : Now 
 when thefe things that feemed moft difficult are 
 accomplifhed, what can fail ? * " • 
 
 i. Then there is here ground to fix our Faith 
 upon* and indeed there is need to fix it rightly, 
 
 that Law, and foare lyable to the threatning and 
 curfe. 3.That the Mediator became Cautioner,fc 
 undertook to fatisfie for the £le£h Debt, it was 
 necefTarthat He mould die, becaufe He under* 
 took to pay their Debt, and to fatisfie for their 
 Sin, which was death by the Law to them, and 
 fo the [uftice of God is vindicat, He cannot be 
 called unjuft, nor partial, nor unholy, though 
 
 the ground that our Salvation, and Perfeverance He do not actually punifh every Sinner, that 
 
 in the Faith is founded on, is not our continu- 
 ing to Pray, to Balieve, and to love God , but 
 this Ingagement betwixt the Father and theSon; 
 and it is the caufe procuring the other, as an nc- 
 cefTary and infallibly certain effect ; it's mainly 
 on this, that Believers fhonld reftquiecandcon* 
 fident. a. It fhould make Believers humble and 
 cheerful, feing though they be weak in them- 
 selves, yet here they have a grip, and hold for 
 every hand, as it were Jehovah's Word, and he 
 Mediators Word for their through bearing. ?. 
 Ic mould much commend believing, and the 
 
 hath finned in his own Perfon, becaufe Gods 
 holinefs, and Juftice appear confpicuoufly, that 
 He would rather execute what was due to the 
 Elett in His own Son than that their fins fliould 
 go unpunilhed : And confidering the nature of 
 the Mediators death, that it Was a violent and 
 •curfed death, that which had extrean* anguilh 
 and forrow going before, and alongft with it; I 
 it fhews that the Lord hath purpofly taken that I 
 way, to make it known how bitter a thing Sin ; 
 is, how terrible a thing His Wrath is, and how 
 holily fevcre His Law is, and to let all know 
 
 that 
 
Scrffl. 6<. \. '. . '/«'* *1 
 
 tKat it is a dreadful thing to come in topes with 
 Him, who did fo put His own Son to it. 
 
 life i This Doftrine> though it hath been fpo- 
 ken to before, is a foveraign DoSrine, yea the 
 Soverafgh Do&rine, and Corncr-ftone of Reli- 
 gion, th*t Chrift hath died for the Sins of His 
 People : If gives us accefs to preach the Gofpel, 
 which is therefore called, the preaching $f Chrift 
 erucifid; know therefore, and believe that the 
 Mediator died, and that it behoved Him to die, 
 for it was required as a condition of the Cove- 
 nant of Redcmptipn, to be perfoimcd by Him, 
 to which He yielded, and confented ; O.' what 
 love is here to Article fuch a thing befc re Sin- 
 ners had any Being » it wis more than to be 
 hungry andthirfty, and weary, He behoved to 
 die, and to be made a curfe; when Sacrifices and 
 Burnt offerings will not do ; He iayes,L», Icomr, 
 in the velum of thy book,it s written of me J delight to 
 do thy wili, O ! my God, f heartily accept of the 
 
 Bargain. . _ Tr 
 
 Ufe 2. It fpcaks an fadly alarming Word to 
 all you who are fecure Atheifts, and care not 
 for the wrath of God; O! what will become of 
 you.when the Wrath of iod and you fhail meet? 
 If Sin brought the Cautioner to death, O ! what 
 Wrath {hall ye csme under, when ye Hull be 
 put to reckon for your own Sin? The fmiting 
 of the Shepherd was mote than if all the Sheep 
 had been fmitten, and though now ye think 
 little of Sin, yet the day cunes wherein ye fhall 
 know to your colt Chat it is an evil ana bitter 
 thing to depart from God, and that it is m fearful 
 thing to fall i-nto the hands of the living God' 
 
 Ufe, 3. See here the Decertify of making ufe 
 of Chrift* Death, either ye muft do it, or die, 
 and comeundtr the Curfe of God your fclves, 
 there is not a mid fe ; If ye have Sin, how will 
 it be gotten put by, and f-ti.'fied fir? not by 
 your Prayers, let it be a laughter or Anils \ n; r 
 by your living of an honeft life 1 as ye call it, 
 Chrift had infinitely more of this than any of 
 you, and yet He get not Sin fo put by ; we may 
 here allude to that,£f^ -f. 8 8. There is nv djthdrge 
 in thai war, neither jhall wickedncjs delivtr them that 
 sre given to it j Deathwhen it Imh acommifllon, 
 and Gods terrour backing it. O! how will it 
 jiandle the fecure ftubborn Sinner, when the 
 hand of God (half purfue him eternally ? Alas ! 
 what ire many doing that never ftajr- the Wrath 
 of GoJ, that fufpcnd,put off, and delay the c'of- 
 ing of their accompts, and all endeavours to die 
 to Sin, and live coRighteoulhefs, and eirlicrpafs 
 over their days as Atheifts, or as formal Hypo* 
 cures » and fuch a re fome of >ou thac hear me 
 this day, who never feck to be found ii\ Chrift, 
 
 Verf. Ift. 3 4j 
 
 nor to improve Hi's death to the mortifying of 
 Sin 9 What will ye do in the day when ye {hall 
 be called to a reckoning ? ye will curfe the day 
 that ever ye heard the Gofpe), and that it was 
 concluded that Chrift fliould die, it will be the 
 favour of death to you, through all eternity, 
 and will be the moft Soul-fearching, and tor* 
 menting Word that ever ye heard ; and ye will 
 wifh that the Work of Redemption had never 
 been heard of, nor refolved upon. 
 
 Ufe, 4, It's a comfortable, and encouraging 
 word to fenfible Sinners; fuch betaking them- 
 felves to Chrift, may be fure to get good of Him, 
 for He hath payed the Price already, and hath 
 given His Word for it, That juck as believe in him, 
 fhouldntver ptrifb^but that he will raife htm up at the 
 lafl day. Ye would not think that it will be dif- 
 pleailng or disfatiifying to the Father, or to the 
 Son, that ye come to Him, and take ho'd of 
 Him; fori: was for that end that GodfentHim, 
 and that He laid down His Lift, and died, (hut 
 He dies no more ) it will be no trouble to Him, 
 but fatisfa&ion'to His S. ul, for all the travel of 
 it, to make application of His purchafe to you ; 
 And feing it will not difphafe, but be moft ac- 
 ceptable to Him, that ye believe on. Him, and 
 be faved by Him , and fince not believing 
 rubs fbame in a manner upon Him, why do 
 ye not betake your felves unto Him by Faith, 
 for His fatisfi&ion, and your own Salva- 
 tion. 
 
 2dly. He not only died, but it's faid, He poured 
 out his foul unto death, which imply es two things* 
 1. The intenlhefs of it, it was an uncouth and 
 ftrange Death, not only was His Body affli&cd, 
 but HisSoul was poured our. 3. It looks to His 
 good will, readinefs and chcerfulnefs in dying; 
 Father , ( as if He had faid ) muft I die? and 
 wilt thou have my foul forrowfol and heavy? I 
 am content to be fo, thou (halt have my Life, He 
 comes not prigging to die, to fpeak fo ) but cafts 
 down His blelLd Life at His Fathers feet, and 
 plentifully gives it out to the uttermoft, fothat 
 He will not, as it were, leave one drop of His 
 Blood, but will needs pour and yett it out in 
 abundance, even all of if. 
 
 Hence Obfervc, Thar our bleffed Lord Jefus 
 was mift hearty in laying down His Life for Sin- 
 ners, was moft cheerful in undertaking, & moft 
 willing and cheerful in executing whar He did 
 undertake; He nukes not two words in the bar- 
 gain, ( cofpe.kfo) but when Sacrifice and OfFet- 
 ing will not do it, as itis f P(al. 40. Then fayes He 
 LoJ come, in the volum of the book it it written of me, 
 1 delight to do thy wiH, O my God. There is nO land- 
 ing, nor dilputing here on the Mediators fide, 
 
 but 
 
3*4 #"** W' 
 
 but a prefcnt willing and netrtfome undertak- 
 ing; Therefore, Prev 8. He layes Though hi was 
 continually with the F*ther> even from everlasting ; 
 yet his delights were with the fans of men % rejojttng in 
 
 fomeaHoufe, fome afeckfefs Pleafure, fome 
 a Sport, fome the fatisfaftion of their Lulls, 
 or a moments fmful Mirth ; O pitifully poor 
 bargain! what wiU become of the Mirth, or 
 
 the habitable parts of the earth: Ere ever the World Luir, or Pleafure, of this H ufc, or of that La*nd 
 was made, ere ever there was a Sinner in becing when Kings, and great Men will ly crawling' 
 
 like fomany worms befoie the Lamb ? ye will 
 not get your H;ufes or Land with you ye will 
 not get leave to wear your brave cloathes 
 
 to be redeemed, He rtjoyced beforehand, think 
 ing there would boluch an opportunity tenia- 
 nireil His good will grace and mercy, and if 
 we look through the Gofp-:!, how often will we 
 find this mide good ? No »« tsketh my lift from 
 me, bur ( faith He ) Hay it down ofmyfelf and I 
 take it up again: And when they came to take 
 Him, and Peter drew his fword, He faid, Could 
 not I have commanded twelve legions of angels ; but 
 all that is written ofmemuft be fulfilled: I have bar- 
 gained to lay down my Life, and ic mud be: and 
 \_ I haveabaptifm to be biptized with, and how 
 am I tlraitncd till it be accomplifhed ? J and 
 when it came to be accomplished though He 
 gave evidences of His power , in making them 
 fall backward, who came to apprehend Him, yet 
 He raifes them again, and goes with them j and 
 when they mockHim,and buffet Him, and nod 
 the head at Him,& bring Him to theBar,&que- 
 ftion Him,$c when they faid,[Iftbou be theKing 
 of Ifrael, come down from the crofs.and we will 
 
 o — »• ** t» »»■• j vui l/iavw cioatncs 
 yc will have no Giver nor gold in your purfe in 
 that day j and fuppofe ye had it, the Redempti- 
 on of the Soul is precious, and ceafeth for ever 
 by any fuch price: It's a wonderful thing, that 
 wnenChriil elieemsfo much of Souls, that Sin- 
 ners fhould efleem fo little of them ; is it not 
 juft that fuch Souls goto hell, whto they 
 efteemed them fo little worth ? 
 
 Uje. 2. Itlhould teach you to love, and hearti- 
 ly to welcome this Lord Jefus Chrift; what ar- 
 gument of Love and of Trull, what motive to 
 welcome Him can there be, if this be not ? That 
 He (pared not His Life, but poured it out unto 
 death for Sinners ; how long /hall we halt be- 
 twixt Chrift and Belial ? We dow not endure 
 f mortifie a Lull, to want our fport andlaugh- 
 ter, or a bit of our credit or honour, though it 
 ihould coll us the want of Chrift : But, O in- 
 believe thee ', ] which we may think He could grate fools! is that a becoming requital to Him, 
 have done, though they were but tempting Himi that took His innocent Scul in His hind, and 
 
 poured it out for Sinners, and when Htl was 
 iomeway melted, like Lead in the fire of Gods 
 Wrath, was content to yettit forthabundantly. 
 out of love to their Salvation ? Should it not ra- 
 ther call for love to Him, forrrufting and wel. 
 coming of Him, and to Suffering for His fake 
 if He call you to it ? Will y e sk.r ro hazard your 
 life for Him that poured out His Soul for Sin» 
 ners ? It would do a Scul good to think how 
 willingly, and cheerfully He fuffered ; Bur, alas! 
 how rcluftantly, and unwillingly come yeun- 
 der Suffering for H m ? However, let rr.e com- 
 mend thefe Three Words to yon. r. Love Him 
 For even Publicans will live theje that love them, and 
 give Chrift love for love. a. Credit and Trull 
 Him do not lock for all at His hand, what grcund 
 is there to fufpeel Him? It is His glory to do 
 good to dinners , and He counts them His tri» 
 umph and Spoil, and to make conquelt of them, 
 He poured out His Soul unto Death, as the Word 
 is, Phil. 2. He emptied btmferf; Which feems to 
 look to this Word of the Prophet, and is not 
 that warrand furrlcient for you, to trull and cre- 
 dit H:m, andtolay the weight of what concern*; 
 you upon Him? And 3 welc me Him, which^ 
 is afruit of Faith and Love, He is a fwect wooer, 
 He it that [ good fhepherd that laid down his 
 
 life 
 
 have done, though they were but tempting Him*, 
 jetin all thefe He was filent, and never opens 
 His mouth, till He come to that, It is fimfhed: 
 Ht never fpike a repyning word.It was wonder- 
 fully much to Suffer, and to die fo cheerfully, 
 but to pour out His Soul unto Death, to take 
 His Life in His own hand, and to be foholi- 
 ly prodigal of it, as to pour it out, there having 
 never been fuch a precious Life, and fo pre- 
 cious Blood poured out, this was much more. 
 
 Ule. it (hews what elleem ye (hould have of 
 Souls, and every one of you of your own Souls: 
 Our Lord Jefus poured out His Soul unto Death 
 for Souls, Ht. values Souls fo much that He gave 
 His precious Life for them : Therefore it's faid 
 1 Pet. 1. 19. [We are not redeemed with cor- 
 ruptible things, as filverand gold, but with the 
 precious blood of Chrift: J If He eileemed fo 
 much of Souls, what wiilit be thought of when 
 ye wafte your Souls, and ye know not whereon. 
 Hi bought Souls dear, and ye fell them cheap, 
 for a little filvcr and gold, or for that which is 
 worfe, and far lefs worth : what an unfuitable- 
 nefs isthere betwixt Chriils eilimation of Souls, 
 and yours, betwixt His buying them at fo dear 
 a rate, and your carting them away, for that 
 which is very vanity? What do the moll pare 
 of you get for your Souh? iome a bit of Land, 
 
Serm, 66. § . . tf*i*b 
 
 life for hit fb°ep, he gave bimfelffor bit church, as it 
 is, Ephef «. Therefore, I fay , welcome Him ; 
 Thii is the great thing the Gofpei aims at, fuch 
 expreiTions are a great depth, and it would 
 require time to read, to ponder them , and to 
 won der at them, and we would be much in pray- 
 ing for a rig^t up-taking of thcnir 
 
 3<ty- From the connexion, Becaufe He hath 
 poured out His Soul unto death. Objerve, That 
 our Lord Jefus His willing Condefcending to 
 die, is moft acceptable to the Father; There* 
 fore, He fayes, / will give him a portion with the 
 great, and he Jhtll divide the fpoil with the firing, 
 because He hath done lb and fo ; and all the Pro* 
 mifes made to him confirm this; that is a won- 
 derful Word, John 10. 17. Therefore does my fa. 
 ther love me, beeauje I lay down my life for my Jheep : 
 The only begotten, and beioved Son of the Fa- 
 ther, cannot but be loved, Vet he fayes, There* 
 fore, or on this account, does my father love me j 
 That is, as I am mediator, the Fathers Minifter, 
 Steward, or Deput, in this Work of the Redem- 
 ption of Sinners; and becaufe I fo willingly and 
 cheerfully lay down my felf for them, He hath 
 given me this Victory and Glory ; Si well plea- 
 ling t0 God is the willing and cheerful death of 
 * ne Mediator, that it (hou d be admired by us : 
 
 and mould have this weight laid on it by us, 
 that feing cheerfulnefs in obedience is fo accept* 
 able to God, we would fhidy it, for He loves a 
 cheerful giver , and cheerfulnefs in any duty: 
 it s much we have this word to fpeakof to you] 
 many Nations never heard of it, and ye would 
 makeTome other Ufe of it, than if ye had never 
 heard of its O ! but it will be dreadful to fuch 
 as have heard it, and do flight it, their fouls 
 fhall be poured out into hell, even fquiezed, and 
 wrung eternally by the Wrath of G©d j There- 
 fore look not lightly on it, do not think all this 
 tranfaction of Grace to be for nought, if we 
 were fenous, we would wonder what it means: 
 Alas ! we think little or nothing, to make our 
 peace with God, and yet all thisbuilnefs is ere 
 the matter can be brought about, it's a great 
 evidence of the ftupidity, fenfleiTenefs, and ab- 
 furd unbelief of many, that they think nothing 
 of Sin &Wrath,and of the hazard rhat their fouls 
 are in ; and that they look at peace with God as 
 aneafiebuiinefs ; but one day it will be found to 
 be a great matter to be at peace with Him, that 
 Sin is bitter, and Wrath heavy; and that to 
 be in good terms with God, is better than a 
 thoufand Worlds: God himfelf make you to 
 think feri&ufly on it in tim?. 
 
 SERMON LXVI. 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XII. 
 
 tyerfe Il« Therefore villi divide bim a portion with the great, and he Jh ill divide the fpoil with the slrmg\ 
 becaufe he hath poured out hit foul unto death' an I hi was numbred with (betr*f}j£ri£irj t and he bare 
 the fins, of maty, 
 
 'lis foul unto dea'.h'- ant he 
 and he made intercejjion for the tranfgnffours% 
 
 THere was never Bargain fo ferioully 
 entered in as this, betwixt Jehovah 
 and the Mediator, never Bargain 
 was of fuch concernment, and 
 weight; It is therefore no marvel 
 it be iniifted upon. 
 The Prophet hath been holding forth the 
 terms and conditions of it on bo'h fides, and 
 now he fums them up in the laft Pirfa that the 
 fcttfinefs may be left clear, and diftinft, letting 
 forth what the Lord Jehovah ingagerh fur to 
 the Mediator, and what the Mediator ingageth 
 for to Jehovah ; only with this difference, that 
 in the former part of the Chapter, the Mediators 
 ingagment is fir ft fet down, and then what are 
 the Promifes that the Lord Jehovah made to 
 him, but in this Vtrfe where the Covenant is re- 
 fumed, what the Lord ingageth for to the Me- 
 diator is firft fet down, and then what the Me- 
 diator is to perform, in the laft place : to (hew 
 ( as I laid ) the mutualnefs of the Covenant of 
 Redemption , and that it is but on© Bargain, 
 one link whereof can never bs lcofed on either 
 fide. 
 
 In the laft part of the Vtrfi, what the Media* 
 tor is to perform, it is fet down in Four expref. 
 fions, aspaft and donejbecaufe of the certainty, 
 and efficacy of the Mediators Sufferings, and of 
 his performing what he undertook, and of di- 
 vine Juftice its acceptation thereof. The r. \?, 
 becaufe He hath poured out his foul unto death ; Ic 
 was propofed to the Mediator to die, which he 
 undertook, and in thi execution goes cheeifuily 
 about it; He poured out his foul unto death, without 
 any prigging i grace and love, ( to fpeak fo with 
 reverence, ) were fo liberal and prodigal of tha 
 Life of our Lord Jefus, for the Salvation of loft 
 Sinners, that his blciTcd Soul was feparar from 
 his Body, and he made obnoxious to rhe CurlV, 
 which moft willingly he under-went, his Life 
 or Soul was poured out unto deirh. The 2d. \s t 
 HeWas numbered with the trarJg>eJf,u^t\ which im- 
 plyes three things, 1. It fuppons that he wis in- 
 deed no tranfg re flour, there was n> guife fouad 
 in his mouth, yet he behoved to (loop {o low. 
 as to be reckoned among , or nvmbred with 
 tranfgreflburs ; a$ the fotffter expreflions holds 
 B b b oj; 
 
WPP*""**! 
 %* If'*''* It 
 
 out the painfulntfs of his Death* fo this holds 
 out the ignominie of it> He not only died, and 
 behoved to die , but He was looked upon as 
 a defpicable Perfon.evcn fo defpicable, that Bar- 
 rabas a chief and robber was preferred unto him, 
 of this we fpake from vtrje 3. Ht wasdefpifed 
 *nd rejeftidtf men. 1. It implyes mens ingrati- 
 tude, that when our bJeflcd Lord came to Re- 
 deem them, they did not count him worthy to 
 live , but looked on him as a tranfgreiTour ; 
 This was alfo fulfilled in the Hiftory of the 
 Gofpel, as Jthn 18. 30. They fay unto Pilat, if 
 htwtrtr.it a malefactor, we would nit have delivered 
 him untt thee. 3. It implyes the low cor.defcen- 
 dence, and depth of the love of our Lord Je- 
 fus Chrift, which hath no bottom, He will not 
 only die, but die afhameful and surfed DeJth, 
 and take on reproach and ignominie with the 
 debt of Sinners, when they are defpifmg Him, 
 the Cautioner mHft not only die, but die a 
 fhameful death; fome deaths are creditable and 
 honourable, and men will with a fort of vanity 
 affcS them, but it behoved not to be fo with 
 our Lord Jefus, when He entered Himfelf Sin- 
 ners Cautioner, He mud not only die, but be 
 defpicable in his Death, as it is, Chap. 50. 5. 
 He g*ve hit back to thefmiters t and his chetksto them 
 that plucktd off tht hair, hi hid nit his fact from 
 flume snd /pitting; becaufe it was fo Articled, 
 and agreed upon; when he was reviled, he reviled 
 not again : O ! what condefcending-love fhines 
 forth here, in the Mediator ; It was much to 
 pay the Debt, and die, but more in his dying 
 to be counted the tranfgreiTour j much to be 
 Cautioner, but more to be counted the dyvour: 
 As if fome wicked & perverfeOrlicer,fei(ing on 
 the Cautioner, fhould not only arreft him for 
 the Debt, andexacl it off him; but account and 
 call him the dyvour Debtor, yet bears all pati- 
 ently. It would learn us to bear reproach for 
 him, he bare much more for us than we can 
 bear for him ; He was railed on, reviled, buffet- 
 ted, and fpittcd on, they in derifion faid unto 
 him Hail king if the Jews; they mocked him, 
 coded the bead at him, hanged him up betwixt 
 two thieves, as the mod eminent malefactor of 
 the three;and Mark faith, Chap. i$.i$. That this 
 ftfifturt was fulfilled, which faith, and ht was number* 
 id with the trsnfgrefturSiGod had appointed it,and 
 the Mediator had condescended to it; and there- 
 fore it behoved fo to be; We fpake to the mat- 
 ter of this before , and will not now infift on 
 it any further. 
 
 The %d is, He bate tht fins if man) ; which i* 
 alfo caufal, as the former are; It's put in here, 
 
 k } 'a t ». . **»• «• 
 
 of his death; His death was a cur fed death; 
 but not for his own Sin, but for the Sins of 
 others, even to pay the Debt, that was owing 
 by his Elefi; the many here are the fame many 
 fpoken of in the former verfe wht by his knowledge 
 arejufti/i'd Its not the Sins of all that Chrift 
 bare, but the Sins of many, and the many whofe 
 Sins he bare, arethem^ that are juftified, and 
 all who are juftified, their Sins He bare, and of 
 no moeiSo that as many as have thei. Smsborn 
 by Chrift are juftified; and whoever are jufti- 
 fied, had their Sins born by him. 2. It thews 
 alio, how theJins of thefe many are taken away, 
 it was by Chrifts bearing the punifliment due 
 for their Sins, this is that which we Ipake to 
 from, verfe 6 The Lord hath laid on him the iniqui- 
 tits tf us all- I n a word, it's this, the Mediator 
 Articleth , and agreeth to take on the guilt of 
 the Sins of theEJeft, though not their Sins, 
 themfclves formally confidered i he took the de- 
 ferving, or burden of their Debt; Of this we 
 have alio fpoken before, and will not therefore 
 infill any more particularly on if. 
 
 The 4 th and laft Article, or part of the cor- 
 dition required of chc Mediator, is, Ht made in- 
 itrctffim for the tranfgrejJour s \ There was more re- 
 quired of him than to die, and to die fuch a 
 death for the Elefls Sins, He mult alfo make 
 application of his Death, and he will do that 
 hkewifc: whereupon is founded hisInterceuW 
 that the benefit of his death and fatisfaft.'oa 
 may be applyed,and made forthcoming to them- 
 which is.fet down in thefe Words, He made m. 
 terceffion for the tranfgrefurs ; wherein alfo we are 
 to carry along the thoughts of his condefcead- 
 mg love.who not only will facisfie for the Elefts 
 Debt, and procure to them Righteoufnefs and 
 eternal Lfe, but when they continue in oppo. 
 fition to him, will make IntercelTIon for the ap- 
 plication thereof to them, He having a number 
 given to him, not only to pay rheir Drbr by 
 dying for them, but alfo aftually t0 apply the 
 benefits of his Death, and purchafe to them; ac- 
 cording to that, John 6 % 39. This is the will of him 
 thatftnt mt, that tf all that he he hath given mi J 
 jhtuld lofe mthing but raije them uf at the Uft da\ • 
 Thefe Fwr do plainly, and fummarly compre- 
 hend the Mediators ingagement in the Covenant 
 of Redemption, as to his Prieftly Office; and 
 having fpoken fomewhat of the full three we 
 (hall infift a little on this laft, concerning his 
 httercejjitn.. * 
 
 For clearing whereof, when he prayed on the 
 
 Crofs, Luke 23. 34. Father Joryve them, for they 
 
 know not whAt thty df. this was in part fulfilled; 
 
 i . To (Jicw the end of hit dying, and the wturt Rutins Praying,or making Incerctflion for trmf- 
 
 grcflbrf, 
 
Scrm. 66. _. . tf'i'b $ r 
 
 greflours, 1$ to be confidered Twt ways. I. As 
 he was a man under the Law, and Co he was to 
 pray for other tranfgreflburs, than the Elcft on- 
 ly : »s Stephen following his example did, A&s 7. 
 60. When he faid, Lud, lay not this Jin U tbttr 
 charge : 2. As he is Mediator, and fo he prayes 
 only for the Klea : as is clear, Jthn 17. 9. And 
 his Interceflion thus confidered is alwayes effect- 
 ual and runs in the channel of the Covenant of 
 Rederaption,and is commenfurable, and of equal 
 extent with his Death, His Interceflion in the 
 F.rft fenfe is moic largely extended, he might, 
 confidered as man under the Law, have inter* 
 cceded for his Enemies, that were not Elefted ; 
 Therefore we take his Interceflion here in the 
 Second fenfe, as he is Mediator, and as Matthew, 
 chap. 8. 17- Applyes his bearing of our griefs, 
 tnd carrying of our forrows fpoken of t verfn. of 
 this chap. To his carrying of our temporal bodily 
 infirmities: So there may be an allufion to this, 
 in the Lords Prayer on the Crofs : We mark this 
 dirtin&ion, becaufe Arminians, that pretend to 
 an univerfal Redemption, plead alfo for an uni» 
 verfal Interceflion : and on this ground, they fay 
 that Chrift prayed for many that went to hell : 
 But we anfwer, that our blefled Lord Jefus, did 
 not there, if he prayed for any fuch, intcrceed 
 as Mediator properly, but as man under the Law; 
 even as in his prayer in the Garden, when his 
 holy humane nature finlefly forred at the bit- 
 ter cup, He payed, Father, if it be p ffible, It: :hi* 
 cup depart from me; and it was agreeable to the 
 humane natme, to feck innocently ro efchew 
 the drinking of fuch a cup ; But, when in the 
 fame Prayer, he fpeaks as Mediator: He fayes, 
 net my will, hut thine be done. And for thiscaufe came 
 I unto th.s hour; So when he preached as man, 
 and a Minifter of the circumcifion, he fayes, O! 
 Jerufalem, Jerufahm, how often wtuld 1 have gather* 
 edthee, and thou would not.: Whereas, if we con- 
 fider him as Mediator he doth what he will; 
 and calleth none but they come, and willeth 
 none to be garnered, but fuch as are gathered; 
 The Interceflion here meaned is that which is 
 an Article or the Covenant of Redemption, and 
 apiece of Chrifls Pricftly Office, to which the 
 promifc in the firft part of the verfe is made; 
 and therefore we have here clear accefs to (peak 
 of it, according as the new Tcftament holds it 
 out to us 
 
 Then we Obftrve this Doctrine from it,That 
 according to the Covenant of Redemption, our 
 Lord muft not only die, but alio intercced for 
 tranfgrdlouis, or (innersi or, it is a part of our 
 LordsOffics agreed upon in theGovenant of Re* 
 5 demption.tliat hclhould be interccilbur for trank 
 
 liili 
 
 Verf. Is. j£ 
 
 grefleurs; It's on this ground thit it** faid, fjS. 
 1 10. 4, The Lord hath fwsru, and will not repent : 
 thou artaprieH ftr $ver, sfter the order if Aielcbifedek; 
 He ij a Prieft after Melchiftdelcs erder, and not 
 after fhe order of Aarm, and Rem. 8, 34. He iff 
 faid to bear the right band if God, making inttrcef* 
 fionforut: It is faid likewifc, Heb. y. 25. That 
 Ht t'sablt ti fave to the uttermost all that time tt Gil 
 by him: Sting heeverliveth ti make interctjfitnfor 
 them: So 1 Jthn a. I. It's faid, If any man fin, art 
 have an advocatwitbtht Father, Jefus Chrift the figh; 
 teous : And frequently clfe where, it's in Scrip- 
 ture attributed to him: If it be asked, why be* 
 hoved Jefus Chrift the Mediator to be an Inter- 
 ceiTour ? We anfwer, for thefe Thru reafons, r. 
 It was fuitable to the glory of God, that the 
 great Lord Deputy , appointed for the inga- 
 thering of Eleft Sinners , Giould be furnifhed 
 with this Office ; and hi# Interceflion is derived 
 from it, Heb. 7. 25. He a able tt fave to the utter* 
 moft, feing he ever liveth to make intercfjjion for us : 
 He cannot fit up, nor fail in proving himfelf to 
 be an able Saviour, becaufe he lives for ever to 
 intercced. a. It's fuitable and meet for the glo* 
 ry of the Mediator, and of his Priefr-hood,thac 
 he mould not be a Prieft for a time only, but 
 for ever; Therefore, when he is brought in as 
 a Prieft, Pfal. 1 1 o. compared with Heb. 7. He i$ 
 preferred to the order of Aaron, and faid tt bt s 
 Prieft fr ever, after the trder of Melchifedek ; by fo 
 much as he is furety of a better Te foment : They were 
 maW, becaufe they were not fujflrcd ti Continue; But 
 this man, becaufe he antinketh fir ever, hath an un. 
 changable Ptiefi.hood. It was meet, in refpeft of 
 the confolation, that Believers in him have from 
 this his Interceflion ; there had been a defeft in 
 the confolation of Believers, if he had not been 
 interceflbur ; but feing, asitis, Heb. 10. 19. Pfe 
 havt fuch an high Prieft over the houfe of God, we 
 have boldnefs ti enter iitt the holies!, by a new and 
 living way ; and may draw near with full affuranct 
 of faith, And that which gives us this boldnefs, 
 is rhat(as it is,Hib.^.l$, i6\ ) We have not an high 
 Prieft wuich cannot be touched with the feeling of our 
 infirmities, but was m all points tempted like as we are: 
 Then follows, Let us therefore come boldly unto thk 
 throne if grace , that we may obtain mercy , and 
 find grace^tt help in time of need. a. We may add, 
 That it's fuitable for this reafon.to wit, if we 
 confider, and compare the Type with the Anti- 
 type, Exod. 30. ro. and Levit. \6. compared witb 
 Heb. 9. The high Prieft had Sacrifices preferr- 
 ed to hjm for himfelf,and for the people, u hen 
 he went once in the year, into the moft holy, 
 with the bloodoftheSjcrifice.whichlicnfizJ.thic 
 B b b 2 Chrift 
 
mffmrn 
 
 Chrift after the laying down of His Lifc 4 was 
 to enter into, there to apptar in the prtfexce oj Gid fir 
 
 us, Hcb 9 24- ... ... , 
 
 This is a point which may yield us many and 
 creat Vies as r. For Information to clear us about 
 Cfa/ifiS Interccflioiv a- For Cer.folaticn, Tofhew 
 us the ad-.'antrges that flow to Believers from it. 
 <* I<or Dintfion in Duties, to !eam us what ufe 
 weflxould m.keof it. And 4. I 01 R^r«/ and 
 ConviBion, for, and of the (in of our much flight- 
 ing and neglefting this pan of Chnfh P.ieftiy 
 
 As for the Krff, It ftrves, we fay, for frjie- 
 matien- and to let us fee that M'have an excel- 
 lent highPrieft, who is not only anfwerable to 
 the Type, in dying, but alfo in mrerceedmg, 
 who died , that he nvght nuke application of 
 what he purci.afed by his death 
 
 For further clearing, and pn leaning of this 
 Vfa we ftiill fp«ak a lirtlc to lome few quefttons, 
 As, 1. What rhis In ere fli n is? 1. Who Ifl- 
 terceeds? 3 For whom? 4. For what? 5. How 
 this Interctflion is perfoimed ? 6*. What are the 
 grounds on which it i^ f -unded ? < i 
 
 For the f/r/f, what this Interctflion is in ge- 
 neral ? and fof clearing it, ye would confider, 
 what it is not; and 1. There is here nohum- 
 blii « of the Mediator in way of Suppli- 
 cation, as he prayed when on earth : or as we 
 prav, or as one manintreats, or interceeds with 
 another ; That way of Interceding isinconlift- 
 ent with his Exaltation, his Humiliation 
 bein* perfefted and by , and he being now 
 cxilted at the right hand of God. a. It s no ver- 
 bal thing, no bringing forth, or uttering of 
 Words : There is no fuch language in our Lords 
 Lireiccfllon ; and fo we are not to conceive of 
 his In'ercefllon, as if he made a formal prayer: 
 That manner of dealing, or proceeding is not 
 no vv betwixt God and theMediator. 3. Neither 
 d rh rhis his Interceflianconfift in any newpar» 
 ticular aft of his will, as if he did act, or will 
 fomething that he did not before ; therefore he 
 is laid to L'"ve forever, to make intercfjpon, and to 
 f .bide a Pries! continually; His Inrerceflion is con- 
 tinuii, asis clear, Ueb. 7- 3, *5« His being in 
 Heaven, and appearing there in our name, is his 
 Iiitqrccffion. And therefore, 2. Let us fee in 
 the next place, what it is? And more generall}? 
 tve may take it up in fuch expreflions. as the 
 Scriptures make uie of to hold it out by; and in 
 the!timilitud'e, and analogic whence it s borrow- 
 ed 1 for it's a borrowed thing, as the Covenant 
 of Redemption is, from compa&s among men, 
 bechife we ca^no- take up divine, and myfteri- 
 cus things, except they becxpreft after the man- 
 
 r«l '*. Serm. 66. 
 
 ner of men for our capacity : Such is this, as if 
 a Kings Son were intcrpofing for a perfon not 
 in good terms with the King, or, for whom he 
 would have fome benefit fu.m the King his Fa- 
 ther; The fimilitudeleems indeed to be drawn 
 from this, yet it muft not be aftrifted thereto: 
 Therefore, 1 'John 2. 1. He is called an advocat 
 with the Father : and yet he doth not idvocat our 
 caufe verbally, aswefaid before; And \ Tim. -. 
 5. There is one God, and one Mediator betwixt God and 
 man: Where the Apoftle is (peaking of praying} 
 And here he isfaid to make InterCefGon for us, 
 as the high Prieft did in name of the People ; in 
 a word, it is our Lordjefus Chrift his making 
 of what he hath purehafed, and hath ingaged 
 to him in the Covenant of Redemption, effectu- 
 ally forthcoming for the behove of his People, 
 as if he were agenring their caufe, as an Advo- 
 cat in Heaven ; which is fo held forth, for the 
 help of our Faith ', that the Mediator having 
 made his Teftament, and confirmed it by his 
 death is looking well that his death, and the 
 benefits purehafed to EUQt Sinners thereby ,may 
 be made effectual ; and is as it were lying as 
 Agent, and Advocat at Court, to procure arid 
 bring about this bufinefs, according to that, John 
 17. 19, 20, 24. For their fakes IfaiicUfie my [elf , that 
 they alfi may be tanttified, &c. Neither pray 1 fir 
 thefe alone , &c and Father, I will that thefe -whom 
 thcu haft given me, ma) be with mi , where I am : 
 It's even that all may be made good to them for 
 whom he fan&ifled himfelf , and the effectual 
 making out of that which he hath purehafed to 
 them, that is called his InterceJJhn. 
 
 idly. Who makes InterccfTion ? It is not 
 enough that Chrift, as man makes Interceflion; 
 but it is Chrift Mediator God and Man in one 
 Perfon : Ir being an error of the Pafi'sV, to trnkc 
 the InterccfTion of Chrift, to be a thing perform- 
 ed by the hunune nature, only, which JefTeneth 
 the confolation of Believers, and is inconfiftent 
 with the Union of the two natures, ?nd detracts 
 ftcrn the weight that his God-head gives to his 
 InteiceiTion. 
 
 3rf/y. lor whom does he interceed ? There 
 are here cxtreams on both hands to be efhewed. 
 j. Some make his InterccfTion over broad, as if 
 he interceeded for all the iVorld ; this he expref- 
 ly. dei:yes, John I 7. 9. / pray not fir the world; 
 and hislnterctflion being grounded on his death, 
 and Satisfaftion.it muft be of equal extent there- 
 with, and muft relate to the Covenant of Re- 
 demption, wherein lo many were given him to 
 be redeemed by his death, 2. Others make his 
 Intcrceffion too narrow, in making ic only for 
 
 them 
 
., Ifaiah 
 
 them that actually believe ; He alfo refutes this 
 oD'mion hhn ,7^0. By faying, &**» ff*J I 
 
 throuzh <l>eir word And it if alwayes on this 
 ground that he interceodi, to wit, becaufe they 
 driven ', So that it's for the Elcft converted, 
 or unconverted, that he interceeds; The rea- 
 fon why we mark this, is, to overturn thereby 
 T*o corrupt diftinaions, that are made ufe of, 
 to bring in an univerfal Intcrceflion, as well as 
 an un veifal Redemption. 1. Some make his In- 
 ter cefli >n common to ali, but we according to 
 the Scripture, acknowledge no fuchl uerceiTion 
 to belong to Chrift, efpecially as Mediator ; 
 however he might, as man under the Law, 
 have prayed for fome that mall not be actually 
 faved, as he commands one man to pray for 
 other men.yet not for all men (imply. 2. Others 
 make a conditional Interceflion for all, as they 
 make a conditional Redemption of alii and 
 make both abfolute for Believers only, which is 
 alfo corrupt; For confidering the objeS of his 
 Interceflion as Mediator to be only theEleft, 
 as indeed they are ; it overturns both this, and 
 the former opinion ; if he prayed not forall, he 
 died not for all: the one whereof is grounded 
 on the ether. § 
 
 4ly, For what doth hs interceed? In general, 
 for all rhat is conditioned to him in the Cove- 
 nant, for the behove of his People; He prayes 
 for the fulfilling of all the Articles of the Cove- 
 nant, as that all the Ele£t, who are not regener- 
 ate maybe regenerar, and made Believers, that 
 many through his knowledge may be juftified, 
 that thefe that are regenerat and Believers, and 
 by Faith have betaken themfelves to him, may 
 be juftified, pardoned, and received in favour, 
 friendfliip and fe'lowQiip with God, that Believ. 
 ers may be keeped from temptation, that temp- 
 tations may be prevented, and they made to 
 p^rfevcre, that Satan may net make their Faith 
 to fail them, as he dcfigns, and the Lord gives 
 account of his defign, Luke 22. 32. Satan hath 
 fought to winnow j on , but I have prayed that thy faith 
 fail not : That they and their prayers and fervice 
 may be accepted, that the fuirs and Amplicati- 
 ons that they prcfent, and put up in his name 
 may get a hearing, tharthey may be armed againft 
 the fear of death : That they may be carried m 
 in the gradual advances of Sauftification to the 
 end of theirFaith, the filvation of their Souls, 
 that they may be glorified, and be where he is, 
 to behold his glory ; In a Word, he inrerceeds 
 for every thing needful, and fcr every thing 
 promifed to them,^ his Interceflion being as 
 broad as his Purchafe. 
 
 53« nrf> !*• . 3*9 
 
 5/y. How doth he perform this p*rt of his 
 
 Prieftly Office for his People ?. It's performed by 
 
 his entry into the molt holy place, in our na- 
 ture and nam:, as having fatisfled Juftice, and 
 vanquiftied death, where he appears before God 
 for us, So that we are to lcok to Chrift's being 
 in Heaven, not (imply, as glorifying himfc f, 
 or as glorified in himielf, for h:mfelf; but as our 
 head, and forerunner, to anfwer all that can be 
 faid againft his -Eieft, for whom he fuffcred,and 
 fatisfled; as it is, H b. 9 23, 24. It was thtre fore 
 necejfary that the patterns if things in the heavens, 
 jhould be purified with thefe, but the heavenly things 
 themfelves with better jacrifices;forCbrifi is not entered 
 into the holy places made with hands, which are the 
 figures of the true, but into heaven it felf, now to ap- 
 pear in th ■ prejence of God for us ; So that our Lord 
 Jefus by his entry into heaven doth declare ( I 
 mean macerially, ) His victory in our name,and 
 appears there, as a publick, and not as a privat 
 perlbn : His entry into heaven is not to be look- 
 ed on, as the entry of hlfes or of Elias, but .as 
 the entry of him who is head of the Eleft, vvhofe 
 entry there is a Declaration of what he would 
 be at i As by the power of his God-head, he 
 convoyed hm felf in thither; So that he hath 
 taken poiTeilion in our name, and according to 
 the Covenant declares, that thefe whofc room 
 he fuftains, may and muft be admitted to g-ory; 
 And we muft conceive an fpecial efficacy in his 
 being there, for procuring to them what he hath 
 purchafed. 2. His Interceflion is performed 
 through the efficacy of his blood andfatisfa&ion 
 flowing from the nature of the Covenant, which 
 hatli amoral, real cry, for making effectual, 
 what he by his death hath procured : as the A- 
 poitle fp:akmg cf Abels blood, and of making 
 application of (Thrifts Blood , H,b» 12. 24. Saith, 
 It fpeaketh better thirds than (he blood cf Ab'.l ; For 
 AbAs Blood had a demerit in it to cry guilt, 
 and could no: but have a turfe following iti 
 becaufe God had curfed the (heddcr of Blood ; 
 but Chris's Blood considered, as the price of 
 Redemption for the Elect , hath an invaluable 
 and unconceivable merit, and worth in it, and 
 muft have a cry for the blcflings purchafed 
 to them bv it. 3. He performs this his Inter- 
 ceflion by his conftant care» and by his continu- 
 al willingness, anda&ual willing, that what he 
 hath purchafed for his fcleft People may be ap- 
 plyed to them, that fuchand fuch pe f i'onsm-y 
 be brought to believe, that upon their believing 
 they may be pardoned, delivered from fnircs 
 and temptations ; kctped in favour with God, 
 m?y be accepted in their peiformances. <N\ For 
 he had that prayer, John 17. 20, :•}. And he cr n- 
 
 tinucs 
 
tinues to knrethat fame Sympathy ; His way on 
 
 earth wis alwayes finlcfs, but now is glorious 
 ind Majeftick, fuitcd to his glorified ftatc; He 
 continues to interceed according is he intended, 
 ind his actual williognefs is a main pare of his In- 
 tercefTion, which is not in renewing of acts ( to 
 fpeakfo) but in his continuing defire, endwil- 
 lingnefs, that what good he hath purchafed, may 
 be conferred, according to the Covenant ; For 
 Chrift in heaven is ftill a true man, and harh a 
 will, as he had on earth, continuing to feck that 
 they may be glorified with him, for whom he 
 fatisfied, and this actual willing, defiring and 
 affecting, thatfuch a thing fhould be, is called 
 his Interceffion, becaufe it cannot but be fo 
 efteemed, as to have the effect to follow , ac- 
 cording to the Covenant, as he fayes, John ir. 
 41, 4a. I thank the Father, that thou haft heard me , 
 and I know that thou hear eft me alwayes: This, as to 
 his actual willing, cannot but be in heaven : 
 Howevei, we are fure that he is there, and in 
 our name, and that his Death, and Blood-med 
 hath an efficacy, to bring about what he hath 
 purchafed ; and that his will and affection are 
 the fame, and have an efficacy with them , and 
 the effect certainly following ; fo as nothing can 
 go wrong there, more than a man that hath a 
 juft Caufc in a Court of Judicature, and an able 
 Advocat,with much moyen, to agent and plead 
 it before a Juft Judge, can be wronged, or lofs 
 his Caufe. 
 
 6ly. The grounds of his Interceffion are, 1. 
 The excellency of his Perfon* who, though he 
 be man, yetne is God alfo, equal with the Father, 
 the brightnejs of his glory, and the exprefs image of hit 
 per fin, and upholding all things by the word of bit 
 pwer, As it is, Heb. i. 2. Which cannot but add 
 weight to his Interceffion, as well as to his Satis- 
 faction; the Perfon that intcrceeds being God 1 . 
 The a. is his Satisfaction, which is the ground 
 of his Interceffion; for upon his Satisfaction he 
 maketulnterceffionrcvenas if a Cautioner would 
 fay, I have payed fuch a mans Debt, and there- 
 fore he ought to be absolved ; Therefore 1 John 
 2. 1, 2. Thefetwo are joyned, We have an Advm 
 cat with the Father^ JefusChrifl the righteous , and, 
 be' it the propitiation for Jin ■ So Kom. 8. 34. They 
 are joyned, It's Chris! that died, who is at the right 
 band of God, andmaketh intercejjionfor us. 3. The 
 Covenant of Redemption is the great ground 
 on which his Interceffion is founded ; Such and 
 
 Ferf 11. s 
 
 ^chperfons are given to Chrilt, and fu<£ £ 
 viledges, and benefits offered to be conferred «' 
 on thcm,on condition the Mediator would I u£ 
 dertake, and fatisfie for tfaem,and he ha vine un 
 dertaken and payed the Price; there sfonrf 
 ground for his interceeding, for 'the mak n f a D . 
 plication of the purcbafe: Therefore be L?/ 
 John ,7 ij*m they were , and thou gav eft 1mm/ 
 c\c This gives him right to plead and ZZ ' 
 ceed for them i feing he* hath endued Sou," I 
 vel for them he ought to fee his Seed, an d * 
 have many Juftified, and fred from the CUr fe a nd 
 condemnation that they were obnoxious ?n 
 as the fruit of their fore SouLtraveJ t0 ' 
 
 In, and from the confideration of thefe w- 
 c,7 fiather " hat is ** <"ture of Chrift Int*! 
 ceffion, awdhow wt may make ufe of ir, a !j 
 how particularly we fhould be ware of a carnal 
 mifrake in many about his Interceffion • ., h J 
 wercpra y) ng in heaven, as adiltinct parr'iefrom 
 God 5 it s true, he is a diftinct P.rfon of the e °£ 
 nous Trinity, but not a diftinS Partie in infer 
 ceeding, as fome ignorantJy conceive of hSZ?* 
 and therefore think him eafier to have accefe 
 than the Father, and therefore will pray him \° 
 pray the Father fo, them ; as if, when they p™ y. 
 ed to him, they were not praying to the Father- 
 or as if they were not one object of Worfhip - 
 This flow, from ignorance of the nature of 
 Chrift s Interceffion, as unbecoming a Chri 
 ihan ; for fuppofing a man to reft by Faith on 
 Chrift the Father is content, and well picafed 
 to pardon him, as well as the Son is, bee, ufe he 
 is ingaged in the Covenant of Redemption fo 
 todo-,andifhebe not a Believer, neither the 
 Father nor the Son will refpeft hirn • our Ufe 
 making of Chrifts Interceffion doth confift ra . 
 therinthe founding of our hope of fpecdini? 
 with God on ir, as on his Satisfaaion, than m S 
 puting upwards of prayer to him, to interceed 1 
 for us, as if he were to pray in heaven, as he 
 did on earth ; or as one man interceeds for ano- 
 ther ; The point is fublimcly fpiritual, and 
 fome way tickle : ; and I indeed fear to enter on 
 moe yjei, t at leait for the time, only remember 
 that He is an IntercefTouri And learn to make* 
 right ufe of H-m, as an IntercefTour ; And rhe 
 kord Himfelf make the benefit of His Inter- 
 ceffion forth* ceming to us* 
 
 SERMON 
 
 on 
 
 hop 
 ■li/et 
 
 ih 
 
 
£erm. 67. 
 
 If a! ah *$. Verfi 1% 
 
 %7S 
 
 Verfe ti* 
 F Chrift were k^own in the greatnefs and 
 
 Ivaft extent of his worth, O .' how lovely 
 would be be? How incomprehenfiblie full 
 areH-j Offices of grounds of -confolation 
 to his People? But the mean and low 
 thoughts wc hare of b-m and the poor confola* 
 tion wc feed on , do evidence much igno* 
 ranee of him, and much unbelief of the folid 
 worth and fulnefs that is in him , and in his 
 Prieftly OfHce in particular ; and yet, O ! how 
 full of confolation is it ? Such a high Prieft became 
 ttfy Hsb. 7. 26*. Even fuch a High Prieft as Sin- 
 ners had need of: There hath been much fpo- 
 ken of one part of his Prieft-bood , to wit, his 
 Sacnfice , and offering up of himfelf, in the 
 former verfet of this Chapter; Now ere the Pro- 
 phet clofe, he gives a hint of rhe other part of 
 his Prieftly OfHce, to wit, of his Intercejfim, a 
 main commendation of Chrifts fulnefs ; It's that 
 which evidenceth him to be a Saviour, able to 
 fave to the uttermofl fuch as come unto God through him, 
 becaufe be lives for ever to make interceffim for them : 
 as it is, Htb $■ 2 j. And it's a piece of the confo* 
 lation of Gads People, that Jefus Chrift hath 
 this Office by the Fathers allowance, and that 
 it is Articled in the Covenant of Redemption 
 betwixt the Father and him : That as he fhall 
 four out hu foul unto death, be numbred with tranj- 
 ■f^e fours, bear the fins of many. So hefhill make inter- 
 ceflion for the tranfgrtfours , Therefore, Heb% 7. all 
 He is faid*» be made an High Priefi vith an oath Joy 
 htm that f aid unto him,P(al.i\o» 4, The Lord J ware, 
 and will not repent, thou art a Prieft {or ever, after 
 the order of Melchifedek: He was a Prieft on earth 
 by offering himfelf in aSacrificc, and by inter- 
 ceeding for Eleft Sinners, and he is a Prieft in 
 Heaven by his Interceflion : and therefore is pre- 
 ferred to all the Priefts on earth, Win did not con. 
 tinue by reafcn of death, but be cont.nues for ever; and 
 none can ftart him wrong, to /peak fo with re- 
 verence of Him. 
 
 We (hew in our entering on thisverfe , that 
 this his Interceflion is not to be aft rifled to his 
 prayer on the Crofs,that was but one evidence, 
 or particular inftance of it, but it takes in his 
 whole Interceflion, becaufe the Scope of the 
 Prophet here is to hold out, as what God pro- 
 mifed to him on the one hand in the Covenant 
 of Redemption, fo on rhs other what he inrer- 
 ceeds fori and fo his Interceflion looked on in 
 e Covenant of Redemption, takes in his whole 
 ttrceflion, efpecially as it is gone about in hea- 
 
 SERMON LXVIL 
 
 ISAIAH LIII. XII. 
 
 Jnd he made intercfjfion for the trtnfgre fours. 
 
 ven, by vertue ©f his 
 
 Sacrifice once for all 
 
 offered up when he was on Earth* 
 
 We Obferved the laft day, That according to 
 the Covenant of Redemption, our Lord Jcfas 
 Chrift behoved not only to die, but to be an I • 
 tereeflbur, or that it belongs to our Lords Prieft- 
 ly Office, agreed upon in the Covenant of Re 
 demption, not only to offer up himfelf in a Sa- 
 crifice, and to die, but to make Interceflion for 
 his People; He made int tree fjion for thetranfgrefars; 
 or as the reft may read in the future time, fo this, 
 He fhali make intercfjfion for thetranfgrejfours ; but for 
 the certainty of the thing it's fet down in the 
 preterit, or by-paft time, the Father did take 
 his word, and fo it paft as done in the Court of 
 Heaven. 
 
 vVe cleared this point, and propofed Four Ufes 
 of it, The Firft whereof was to inform us anenc 
 Chrift's \ fulnefs, to difcover his unfearchablc 
 riches, and to let us fee what an excellent high 
 Prieft we have, that continues an Interceftbur : 
 Not only hath he once for all offered up his Sa- 
 crifice, as the high Prieft under the Law did once 
 a year, but hath entered within the vail, tc ia- 
 terceed, and thereby to make the benefits of his 
 purchafe effectual, and forthcoming to them,for 
 whom his Sacrifice was offered : Even zsLevit. 
 i5. C where the rules for the high Priefts offering 
 are given) after he had offered the Sacrifice, he 
 took the blood, and entered within the vail,and 
 by the Sacrifice, & his going in to pray»he made 
 atonement for the People typically *, anfwerable 
 to this our Lord Jefus, by bis once offering hatbper* 
 felted for ever thefe voho are fanftified : and by his 
 going within the vail, he executes this part of 
 his Prieftly Office, in imerceeding for tranf- 
 greflours. 
 
 In profecuting this U/>,we anfweredfome£*r- 
 ilions, which now we mall not infift to repeat : 
 Only there is a fhort Question or two,that fur- 
 ther may be asked, which will clear the former, 
 ere we go to the next life. And the 1. is, if our 
 Lord before he came in the fleih,difcharged this 
 part of his Prieftly Office ? Th# reafon of the que- 
 ftion or doubt is, becaufe in the new Tcftamenr, 
 his Inrerceflion is alwayes, at leaft very ordinary, 
 fubjoyned to his Afccnfion. The id is How his 
 I terccflion now differs from his Interceflion 
 b?f. re bis Incarnation, or in what rel'petts the 
 confolation of Believers, that flows from his 
 Interceflion is ftronger now , than the con- 
 folation of Believers flowing therefrom, 
 
 was 
 
If»i»h n ; 
 
 ^ 7 ' . r l »« ',nc«rnit ? A$ for the Frft It 
 was before he was mcar>» InterCt flbu. 
 
 m ^WhuVch « the World, for it', a 
 fince hehtdaChur and he waj made 
 
 part »f his P" elt ' y n ,, , th , in the Covenant of 
 Priefr, by the etern £ "^^j^fi,^ „i 
 ■Redemption, WW- «•_♦; . } er . And h , 
 „,ll «« rafrtfi '™;«4w-W. Pri«n-*"» S >"0 
 there being but one way t„»iyZ„-» 
 
 Heaven by ^'^.^M- It muft beholden 
 from ,h, *«.•>*.■« •/«*« X t hi Interceffion is as 
 for a fure eonclulion. that his i >^ be- 
 
 old as. his Sacrifice, and he mwsm 
 
 fore his Incarnation in ■ *«| ™ e d ^, elIlfei . 
 In refpea onnsOffic^be. gdefi n^ ^ ^ 
 
 ceffour i For ( as » e , ,lQ ' bef * re his Incarna- 
 
 Prieft, ' nd , bein S S^cefTour alfo: For that 
 t.on, he behovedo Ulnterc x ^ ^ 
 
 way he d.d Medi t and tn . ^^ 
 
 to Sinners from the beP»«»« T It - S 
 
 of his In^rceffion; Jh^ ;£**<«««<*<•'«' 
 faid,7*,« « '»' G «^f I"/ ,'nd there was never 
 »»», rfe m "J?"rJJ r T ' -ver M»/« might be 
 another real Mediator, h°we%e / j = 
 
 h.s future Sacnhce •»=- Sacr;fice 
 
 carnation tnterceed by ^"^ h there was 
 
 .dually offered, » s , n ° w m h . . d °c a c r ifice to be of- 
 vertu. which flowed from h«S.«m 
 
 fered, to the people of ^od , as 
 
 now ken it haih been long «»«»*£*; * 
 
 Sin. of .U that ever we. P"^ W « d foal- 
 
 doned on the account of hi b i« nc ^ , 
 
 fo the fpiritual benefits »«**•* d his Inter . 
 
 them, did redound to them Jb'B ftme s§> 
 
 ceflbn then, as now. h> «r"ie c t 
 
 crifice ; b=« ufe t«dtha" his Sacrifice ftould 
 
 when he fliould otter tn-u ,.- • ■-■ , 
 
 IrtfiH, that fc*jg* "^-^nterceVui 
 itm\ he came and died. 3 n . f a f 
 before hi. Incarnation, ." »£ r '%£ P 
 
 the effeas that f°» 0W L* "V^pfe of God before 
 God, then 3nd now : The 1 eepie or 
 
 acccfs to him, thou » _^ ^ pr 
 
 gree of boldnefs, tn«y prci chri(> 
 
 through, .and were bholdcn tot hjs 
 
 f ° ra JC^eYoie k i "nation extended to 
 terceiTion bctoic ™" f fts but with this 
 them, as to us m thefe «P^c«, ^ 
 
 SrfKW be offe,ed,..nd now he pre 
 
 r<Hf 12, L< y ^rm t5 7 . 
 
 curei them to his People, fince his Incarnation 
 and afccnfion, by vertue of the fame aJcsnfion, 
 and by vertueof the efficacy of the blood offered. 
 As to the id. How his Mediation, and Inter* 
 ceflion new differs fince hisafcenfion, from his 
 InterelTicn before it, as to the ftrengthning of the 
 confolation of the People of God ? For anfwer, 
 I. We lay down this for a conclufion i That 
 though our Loid Jefus was Mediator both be- 
 fore his Incarnation, and now , yet fince his af- 
 cenfion, he hath a new way of Mediation, and 
 Interceffion,that exceedingly abounds to the 
 ftrengthning of the confoianon of his People: 
 Tiaereforeit's ordinarily fubjoyned to his afcen- 
 fion, becaufe of his new manner of difchirging 
 that his Office ; It is true, there is no addition 
 to that grace which is infinit in him, as if he 
 could be more gracious ; or as if in refpectof the 
 Covenant, thero could be larger Promifcs, as to 
 cffiential things contained therein; but by taking 
 on our nature, he hath a new way of being af- 
 fected, and a new way venting his affection to 
 us, and is capable of another manner #f touch 
 with the infirmities of his People now, that he 
 hath humane bowels, though glorified, and glo- 
 rious ; and the Faith of his people hath ground 
 fupperadded, whereupon to expect the commu- 
 nication of that grace, mercy, and goodnefs that 
 is in him ; though all the effeas that followed 
 to his people, before his Incarnation.hadrefpect 
 to his future Incarnation ; So thefe effects had 
 refpect to his future IntcrcefTion, in our nature, 
 ss well as to his dying, and laying down of the 
 price for thefe that were admitted to heaven 
 ers he came in the flclh, were admitted the fame 
 way that we are. t 
 
 But 2dly» and more particularly, if it be asked 
 wherein this addition to the confolation of 
 God's People, by hislnterceltion, after hisafcen- 
 fion kythes, or manitefts it felf ? We may take 
 it up in thefe s.xfteps, which will alfo ferve to 
 illuftratche manner of his interceeding. i. Ic 
 kv thes in this, that he appeareth in heaven in our 
 nature i now the man Chrilt is in heaven inter- 
 ceeding, and as Advocat anfwenng forpurfued 
 Sinners, or as AmbalTador, and Legat, agenting 
 the affairs ■ f them that are given him of the Fa- 
 ther, as it is, Kb. 9 . 24- , * «i *»* tnund int. the 
 hh places made with hands, but into MVinitJtl^ 
 to appear now in tbiprrfemt .{God for us'. Where 
 the Apoftle having been .peaking of the 
 excellency of his PnetVhood before and 
 comparing him with the Type, he tells that he 
 ls Tot entered into the Typical Tabernacle, but 
 into heaven it felf , to appear in the pretence of 
 God for us; And this is a folid ground of 
 ^ w confolatioii 
 
Scrm 6>. § § fdiai 5 3 
 
 Confolacion to t poor believing 5inner, that he 
 hath Chrift in his own nature in heaven , inter- 
 file of his Office , and" of the efficacy of his Sa- 
 crifice, ro be offered, When he mould be In- 
 carmtj He now being Incarnat, and afcended 
 performs it, we having God in our nature, be- 
 came a manlike unto us, to care for the things 
 of his People, and if any new queftion arife, or 
 debate be ftarted, to entertain the treaty, and 
 to effe&uat, and make out their buiinefs, that 
 nothing that concerns them mifgive. a. Their 
 confolation is ftronger in this reipeft, that he 
 is in heaven, by vertue of the efficacy of his Sim 
 crifice already offered,as theHigh-Prieft when he 
 had offered the Sacrifice>took the blood with him 
 wichin the vaiJ,& interceeded for the PeopIe.So 
 our Lordjefus is not now interceeding by ver- 
 tue of his Sacrifice te be offered, but by vertue 
 of his Sacrifice a'ready offered , having entred 
 intoncaven, and takmthe efficacy of his Sacri- 
 fice with him, to enter it ( tofpeak fo ) in the 
 book of God, to frand on record ;. my he fland- 
 eth there himfelf, to keep the memory of his 
 blood fre{h,and by each appearance of him there, 
 who is never out of the fight of the Majefty of 
 God, there is Hill a reprefntation of the worth 
 and efficacy of his Sacrifice, and for whom, and 
 for what he was offered^ 3. There is by the man 
 Chrrit his being in -Heaven, this ground of con- 
 fohtion fuperadded, that he hath afympathie 
 with finners, o.herwaycs thanbefore, not as to 
 the deg.ee,nor as to the intenfnefs ©f his grace 
 and mercy, ( as I hinted before ) but as to the 
 manner how he is affethd ; lb that he. ha h .he 
 true nature, and flnlcis arT.&ion ofa man. and 
 fo hath jowels to be wrought upon, which ky rh- 
 ed while he was on earch, although we cinnot 
 take up the manner how he is touched, yet he i$ 
 touched otherwayes than God abftra&ly conli- 
 dcrcd can be : a-»d otherwayes than an angel in 
 heaven can be coached : as we may fee, HJ>, 2. 
 17 Wi have an high pritft which cannot be touched 
 with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in a'l.hir.gs 
 temped as we are, yet without fin : And it behoved 
 him to be like unto his brethren, that he raight 
 be a merciful, &faichful High Pried. 5c have edm* 
 parti n cri the ignorant, & them that are rut of 
 the way:He is Sinners friend that isIntercciTour, 
 inlfachai Ineiccffur that intcrcceds from 
 theimpfcffiou that the holy, an J ir. conceivable 
 fym 'ichic which he hatli with his members, 
 rut 1 u,)Oi him ; as his exprtfiion to P.tul fp.aki 
 f r '\,A3> 9 Saul, Saul, why ptrftcuts thou me? 
 counting himfelf a fufferer with his 1 eo- 
 ple, which canape but have it's own influence 
 
 ' ^onhiVlnterccffion, and.add to the Confolatios 
 of his People i that what he interceeds for the 
 
 1 V ■■• ' + — : " c r mm way 0Tl tm * 
 
 ground, as being a favour to their glorified h«*4. 
 4. Befide this fympathy he harh a longing ( to 
 fpeak fo ) to have all the wants and defers 01? 
 his People fupplied, and made up '■> and to have 
 all the Promifes made to him, in behalf of the 
 Ele& fulfilled: Not any fuch longing, as may in 
 the lead incroach on, or be inconfiftent with tie 
 glory, and glorified frate of our bleffed Lord Je« 
 fus ; but considering, that there is a near relatit 
 on betwixt hira and his followers, he being the 
 head, and they the members, and that he hatha 
 fympathy and affection according to that relati- 
 on : It is anfwerable and luitable that he mould 
 defire, and fome way lcngfor the perfecting of 
 his body the Church, which Ephef r. is called 
 Tbifulmfs of him v>k9 fillelh all in all ; And he hath 
 no queftion, though a pure and regular, yet a 
 mod kindly and fhong defire, and longing to 
 have his Body pcrfyted* to have the EIe& ga- 
 thered and brought in: As he had on earth a 
 longing to have the woik finimed, which was 
 given him to do: And this cannot but be a 
 weighty part of his Intercefiion, and very com- 
 fortable to his People, his longing to hare fuch 
 and fuch a perfon converted, fuch and fuch a 
 perfon more mortified, and more perfected, and 
 made more conform to him : There is a word, 
 H<b. 10. 13. that gives ground for this, From 
 henceforth expefiing till all his enemies be made hid 
 footjiool : And what is fpoken of this txpeclingaf 
 what is t&re mentioned, may be applyed to 
 oher rjhings ; He is fure expecting till all thefe 
 promifes coocerning his feeing of a Seed, and 
 the juitifying and glorifying of many be fulfil- 
 Kd ; becaufe that was promifed him in the for- 
 mer verfe : and expecting till he divide the fpoil 
 with the firong, as is promifed fa the former 
 part of this vfrfe- Now our Lord Jefus having 
 laid down his Life, wh*t is he doing in heaven; 
 even longing till thefe Promifes be fulfilled"; 
 Not that he hath any longing that implyes a de- 
 fect in him fimply } for he is abfolutly glorified, 
 and glorious ; yet fuch lo n ging as is confident 
 with his glor.ricd fbte, as ( if we may make the 
 comparifon, though in every thing it le not 
 fu.tab'e ) the Sou s in heaven are p*rfcftly glo- 
 rified, yet they have a longing for the- Union 
 of their Bodies, for the perfecting of Chrifts 
 BoJy inyllical, and (or the Union of all thf 
 members i a Soul and' Body with the head ; So 
 Chrilt confide* ed as Mediator, God-man in hea- 
 ven h ith a longing and holy defire which agrees 
 wuhhis Olfice,anJ is aqu hficacion thereof* d 
 Ccc doch 
 

 — > 
 
 if?* . ti*%*i si* 
 
 iioio no ways interrupt his happinefs, that what 
 concerns his Elc& may be perfected ; Therefore 
 S ^I'^^ir^/r Imputing 
 
 Dtr U ought in » *>'?£ £ f it . ' He n8tll an 
 W1 c wiitine and longing *"» »*• > * 
 X»lw ng. and continuing delire, that what 
 heh.tbpnrcn.fcd to fuel, and luchpertonjm.y 
 be .pp .Wed : And this is not imply to will for 
 i. i r /,k,„„ M.th but > declaring of it in he.- 
 ten t. fuch and fuch things may be rn.de 
 ven, mac iu ma accffeftu;l for the behove 
 
 ftBZMMtflS he ^tended in , ,£ 
 
 T ft? *8*S witg vhofe P wm 7, 
 
 the Mediator God-man vn.iw. 5 , ... fr ' , 
 
 141 , . r A|., rnnform to the willot God, 
 
 »t, /I &c I will ttatfuch .nd fuch things 
 ing gid » m. for them may be made good . ha 
 r.,?K .nA fuch nerfons be pardoned and brought 
 fuch and ,ucl iP" 10 " 5 teprefervedfrom temp- 
 through, th.t ther m»y B P heird> tnat < he y 
 
 S.y Si -de" S1&& -* may be glorified. 
 So that we cannot imagine . cafe wherein Gods 
 People have ^«gfigjfi& 33 
 
 wrfuppofe refpefts Ctuift ... Meduto. r. to be 
 tt'<hd as gre.t Lord Deputy in our nature o 
 'nfwer the S p r.yers of hi. We, ^ «P 
 
 .i,w", «*, /•>""-'•. «din»nother place 
 V that ri. win- »«*. It's a" one , but it is 
 .« «L» tb.r what the Father doth, he will do 
 b & y7he£n SSfc*"*-' he will .GuaUy 
 perform if, And thefe thre< ■"P^ljhJ li 
 t r»y thi Fxhtr, eni 1 v>,H find, and the Father _ »,« 
 V j i.„M nn r^s That as the Father doth by 
 fen fo this Ui P." of Chrifts Interceflion 
 
 wc taveneed «f. J, In all tfe-s there is m the 
 
 f*rf. FfT Scrm. 6y. 
 
 ManChitft, an adoration of the Father, which, 
 though it be net fuch as is unfuicable to his ex-^ 
 liWthat is Man," and in that refpecf, is"at his 
 right hand to give to God J I Dull only fay fur- 
 ther here, that though we cannot teJJ how he 
 interceeds, to fatisfie our felves fully, yet this 
 is clearly held forth to us, that whatever is 
 needful, by his being in heaven, we may confi- 
 dently expect it will be performed from the man ■ 
 Chrift, from him who is God-man inonePcr- 
 fon;and fo his Interceflion with theFathei is his 
 a6fcual procuring, and doing fuch a thing, and 
 that not as God (imply, but as Mediator; There- 
 fore thefe two words are put in the forecited 
 expreflions, Whatsoever ye ask. in my name, I will 
 do it y that the Father viay be glorified in the Sen y and 
 whom the Father will [end in my name ; That is by 
 vertue of my procurement, by vertue of my 
 Sacrifice and Interceflion; and the fending of 
 theComforteT fliews,that it is performed by him 
 that is God-man, out of the refpec~t he hath to 
 his Members; and on the account of his Office, 
 which he purfuesfor their edification; And fo 
 there is enough to anfwer the queftion, and 
 abounding Coniolation to his People, which is 
 the next Uje. 
 
 Ufe, 2. To (hew the notable Confolationthat 
 flows from this part of Chrifts Office : O ! What 
 favourinefs and unfearchable riches are in this 
 part of his name ? That our Lord Jefus, as In- 
 terceflbur, appears in the prefence of God for 
 us ; W« mall fpeak here of thefe Four things. 
 I. Wherein this is comfortable ? or to the ex« 
 tent or it. ft. To the advantages that follow on 
 it. 3 . To the grounds of this Coniolation, which 
 are confirmations of it.4.To this, at what times, 
 and particular occasions the People of God may, 
 and ought in a fpecial manner to make ufe of, 
 and comfort themfelves in it : And 5. on what 
 terms this Confolation is allowed, that they 
 grow not vain, and proud of it. 
 
 For the Firft, Our Lords Interceflion gives a 
 Fourfold extent of Confolation,thdt makes it won- 
 derful. 1. In it's univerfaliry, as to the perfons 
 to whom it's extended j Not indeed t© all men 
 in the World, but to all that will make ufe of it; 
 And though it were (imply of univerfal extent 
 to all men in the world, yet it would comfort 
 none but fuch as made ufe of it : And thar vani- 
 ty of the jtrminians, that extends Chrifts Death, 
 and Interceffion to all, can truly fay no more 
 for folid Comfort; for they are forced to fay, 
 that Chrift died, and intended his death for ma« 
 ny that will never get good of him, but we fay 
 all that he intended flaould get good of his death 
 
 d* 
 
Serm. 6 7 . f J r , '/"*'* 5J 
 
 do get the intended good of it; yet, we lay, that 
 whoever willmake ufe of hun,fhal get good both 
 of his Death, and of his Interccffioni So, Hib. 7 .< 
 a . & i S a ble to fave f the uttermeft, all that come 
 unto God through him ; Though the caufe feemed 
 to be defperat, and the fenfence pronounced ; 
 CwfeSit he that continues net in all things written m 
 the Wyec he is able to fave them ; Therefore, 
 
 words VVt have an Advocat, what, an Advocat 
 for any man? yea, for any man that wiH make 
 ufe of him: For as we fcew before, though it s 
 true that his Intercefiion is bounded to his Elect, 
 yet it's as true, that he refuies no Caufe that is 
 honeftly given hint to plead ; // any man fin,we 
 have an advocat : He will not fay to fuch poor 
 Souls, I will not be for you, I have done all that 
 I may but it is againft me i neither will he prig 
 ( to fay fo ) with you, he will not fay, 1 will 
 have this or that ere I undertake your Caufe for 
 youi but if any manfm: If any man fee his need, 
 and will imploy him, whether he he a great 
 man, or mean man, whether he be poor or rich, 
 bound or free; whether he be an old finner that 
 has lived infecurity, hypocrifie, or prophanity 
 or be afitten up profc(Tour,whetherhe be young 
 or old ; if any of you all thatare here will come 
 to him, he will not rcfufe to be imployed by 
 you: By him therefore ( as the Apoftle exhorts, 
 Htb. i $ I S- ) let us offer prafeto God continually : 
 And as praife, fo the facrifice of other duties, 
 and they (hall be accepted ; as the offer of the 
 Gofpel runs on an univerfality , and excludes 
 none, but thefc that by their unbelief exclude 
 thcmfclves: So his Inteictflion runs on an uni- 
 verfality, It any man lin, and will imploy him, 
 he is an Advocatat hand: And feing it is Chrift, 
 and Chrift as Interceflbur for tranfgreiTours,that 
 we arc (peaking of, as the ground of Sinners 
 * Conization, let me in palling defire you to re- 
 member, that he is pointing at you, men and 
 worn n; and if there be any ot you, that have a 
 broken-Caufe to plead, any debt that ye would 
 fain be fred of, any Sin to bcpaidoned, or your 
 peace to be made with God ; here is an Advo- 
 cat, and the very beft, offering himfelf to be im- 
 ployed : Such an Advocat as laid John 1 1 % % I thank 
 thee, Father, for I know thou heart ft me always : This 
 was true while he was on earth, and will betvue 
 to the end f the woJd i The extent of rhis 
 Contortion appears in rdpect of all cafes, as his 
 Inurceflion fecludcs no perton , 'hat will make 
 ufe of hwn, fo ir fecludcs no ca.e , though it 
 look -d like a loft Caufe, and th >u jh the Con- 
 fcience iad pronounced fhe Scni-ncc, God is 
 greater than the Cwufcience , and cin loufc 
 
 from it, ehougk the Aft were pair in trie Law, 
 he can cancel it : And here comes in rke tii* 
 umph, Rom. g. 33, 34. FFhtfiuoll lay any thing to 
 the charge of Gods eieS ? it is God that iuftfes, Will 
 the Devil , the Law, the Confcience , or any 
 thing lay ought to the charge of the man whom 
 God juiiifics ? No, why fo ? It it Cir/5 that died: 
 But that is not all, alas ! may the Soul fay, How 
 will I get good of Chrifts death? I cannot ap- 
 ply it, and make ufe of it, He anfwers that ; He 
 isalfo rijtn again, and fit ten down at the right hand 
 of God t and there maketk intercfjfion for us ; to wit, 
 that his purchafe may be applyed, and there 
 needs no more, ye will get no more, ye can fetk 
 no more, and that clofes the triumph. There is 
 no fin befcre, nor after Conversion, no fin of ig« 
 norance, no fin againft light, no enemy, no temp- 
 tation, whatever it be, but the word anfwers all; 
 Who can lay any thing to the charge of Gods elt& ? 
 Where Chrift; takes the finners cafe in hand, 
 who will ftand up againft him, he istooftrong; 
 a pa* tie; If Satan ftand at the High Priefis hand, 
 it's the Lord that rebukes him ; Zech. 3. That as 
 it wereboafts him from the Bar. 3. The extent 
 of this Confolation appears, in refpoct of the de- 
 gree, and height of the perfection of the Salvati- 
 on that comes by Chrifts Iaterceflicn, to all that 
 make ufe of him in all Cafes Heb 7. 15. He is able 
 to [ave to theutttrmoft : The word is very fignifi- 
 canr, he isableto fave perfectly, to perfection, 
 and to perfection at the height of perfection, and 
 what more would ye be at ? He can fave fiom 
 corruption, and pur without the reach of it ; He 
 can lave from wrath that it (hall not come near 
 you, He can fave from all the effects of lin and 
 wrath ; He fhall not leave a tear on the 
 cheek of any of his own ere all be done ; and 
 that is the ground of ir, Fir kcLvcrfor ever t to 
 make inter ctflim for us: If any fhould lay, he may 
 fave from one (in, but not from another, or he 
 may bring me a piece of the way to Heaven, and 
 then leave me rhere;It*s folly, fayes the Apoftle, 
 to think fo, For he is able to Jave to the utter mofi, 
 becaufe he Uvis for ever to make intercejjion : Al- 
 though his death feem to be tranlicnt, once for 
 all perfected, yet that cannot mar the applicati- 
 on of the benefits puichafed by it; for he is In- 
 terccftbur, and he that piocurcd thy entring in 
 the way, will carry thee on in it; he th.it pro- 
 cured a fanftified conviction to come in, Will 
 through ir; he that piocured thy juftificarion, 
 and pardon of fin, will alio apply it to thy Con- 
 fcience, Cxbnng forth an intimation of ir,whenhc 
 thinks fit, 5c fancti fie thee thr ughly.& his is in- 
 deed gieacCs?nfolar'ontoa(inncr,(hjthewho haCil 
 C c c a b;gUii 
 
lfaiab 53« 
 fan the work will perfeait, and he will not 
 ie^c it till it be at fuch a height ofperfefti- 
 in «itc nnot be defired to be no higher. 4. 
 The extent of this confohtion is fuch that it 
 mcheth To all tunes: There is not aBchever 
 • ' n!«orcafe that is wreftling with any 
 d-ff culc P y tha can come wrong to Chrift : He 
 tcZ in readinefs to be imployed : There is 
 never an hour nor moment that he hath his 
 don fhut He di-d once, bur now lives forever, 
 to die no more f &He live' for ever to makelnter- 
 ceffion He is encred into immortality, to make 
 cftau.1 what be hath undertaken in favours f 
 His People; He is always at the Bar ; and when 
 his own are but little imploding Hun, He is 
 M&7& affairs night ™*g>™*; 
 ingover them every moment; *" L«*a ". 
 If ere the Lord fayeth, P<»r («'*™ffirik 
 
 fail not: Satan gave in a Bill againft ^ 
 fee had no mind of it, but the Lord repelled it, 
 The grettcft cheat, or the moft fubtile tdver- 
 f.ry, that fteals out Decreets cannot circum- 
 veen him, He is ftill waiting on at the Bar 
 that nothing come in againft his People to their 
 
 Vtrf. lu Serm.tr. 
 
 prejudice; and if it do come in, it's that He 
 may crufh it in thefirft motion; O! how doth 
 the confolation of Bclieven ftream out here ? He 
 sviU not cry , nor lift up, nor cau(e his voice to be beard 
 on high } abrufed rred will he not break, and the 
 (moaking flax will he not quench, vntill he bring forth 
 judgement unto tr u :h : He will hot contend, nor 
 fay, man or woman, how is thi\ th*< tru u haft 
 put rhy felf in the my re, and w< uld ha\e me 
 to t?ke thee out of it, that 'hob b ings a bro» 
 ken Plea to me, and fecks of me to h^ fit t? He 
 will not ask, whether ye h»v- money, all His 
 implojmeat is free; nor will he put > ou back 
 till the morrow, nor bid you wair on till ano- 
 ther time, morning and ovening , and at «T,id- 
 night he is ready ; and when the Elecl Sinner 
 hath little thought, He is watching over his 
 need, preventing many temptations, keeping 
 from many ill turns, carting many challenges 
 over the Bar, that the Devil, and the Law put 
 in: Therefore ftudy hi* Offices more, and rhis 
 among the reft, we much wrong him, in not 
 ftudying of them, and acquainting our felves 
 with them that we may feed upon them;Himfelf 
 open up his Name to us, and to Himbe praifc. 
 
 SERMON LXVIII. 
 
 ISAIAH LIU. XII. 
 Verfc 1 1. dni made intercejjion for (he tranfgrefourt, 
 1 That Sinners were ferioufly con- ers boldnefs with God 
 ' fidering how much they are oblig 
 ed toChrift; He hath in the for- 
 mer words Feuredout his foul 
 
 unto 
 death, for Sinners, and was wound- 
 ed for tranfgrcflbrs, and yet that was not all, 
 though Sin was eur Lords death, he hath not 
 carten out with Sinners, but having gotten the 
 Vi&ory over all enemies , and fitren down at 
 the right hand of God; He makes inter -ceffion and 
 to make it the more full ; It's ftid * rnahs ft. 
 tmtiTun for tranfgre^urs : All his Offices have an 
 eye to Sin, and Sinners, and this part of his 
 
 °^e KVo Sk of a, Ufe of comfort that 
 flows from this i and truly if any Doctrine > be 
 comfortable, this is 5 ; That Sinners Have an Ad- 
 vocat with the Father; what would Sinners 
 do, when their Peace is broken, and there is a 
 door (hut betwixt God and them and h.sback 
 is turned on them, and the Conference is wak- 
 n-d and they cannot think on God, but it s 
 ironblefome to them, if they had not a friend 
 In Court, with whom the Father cannot but be 
 
 well pleafed ? - - t 
 
 This Confolation being a main part of the 
 „fe of this Doarine, and the ground of Belie v- 
 
 In the following of it 
 forth, we propofed Five things to be fpoken to. 
 1 To (hew the largenefs and extent of the con* 
 folation thatflows from this ground, and ofthis 
 we fpike. *J The particular advantages that 
 the Scripture attributes to Chrift's IntercefTicn, 
 and tlie Confolation that is in them. 3. The 
 particular times, when efpecially IHievers are 
 called to make ufe of this Confolation. 4 Some 
 grounds warranding them to nuke ufe of it. 
 And J. Some Caveats , or Advertifemcnts to 
 them that would warrantably comfort them- 
 felvcs from it. 
 
 To pioceed now, and to fpeak to thefe laft 
 Farthings. I. The particular advantages rhat 
 the Scriptures attribute to Chrifts Interctflion, 
 and if ye look through them, we will find that 
 there is nothing that may be ufeful to aBel ever, 
 cither as to a particular or publick mercy, but 
 it'i knit to Chrifts Interccflion. 
 
 1. For private mercies. 1. Look to the be- 
 ginning and growth of our fpiritual life, and 
 the pouring out of the fpirit. It is made the 
 fruit of Chrifts Interceflion John 14. \6 I will 
 pray the father, and be jhtll fend the comfontr : ard 
 John j 6, If Igo not <•»#;, (be comforter will not come: 
 
 Thif 
 
Serm. **. . e 9 ., &**}& 
 
 This is the Confolation of « Believer labouring 
 under deadnefs of fpirit, barrennefs and un- 
 fruttfulnefs That the pouring out of thefpiric, 
 is a remedy of that, and the pouring out of the 
 Spirit is a fiuit of Chrifts Interceflion ; it's this 
 that procures the firft conviction of the Spirit to 
 an E;e& lying in nature: It's this that continues 
 tbefe convictions, & procures the fpirits quick- 
 ning ofthemjthn 6.3. If it fhould then be asked, 
 how a p*rfon Jying in black nature gets any 
 good? It's aifwered, That it's Chrifls Intercefli- 
 on th it does the turn. a. Ic'sfrom Chrifts Inter- 
 ceflion.that we arckeeped from many temptati- 
 ons, or when they atfault, that they prevail not 
 utterly over us ; The Divil lyes alwayes at the 
 wait, and we are often fecure ; but our Lord 
 Jefus, ( to fay Co) watchcth the ftot, or rebound 
 of the temptation, and wairds it off, as the dc. 
 figned prejudice* Luke 11. 32* Simon, Simon % Sa- 
 tun hath di fi>-ed that he may have you that he may 
 winnow you, but I have prayed fir thee, that thy faith 
 fail not: There are many temprations that he 
 Jt.cps off, that they beat not on us, and when 
 they aifault us, he breaks the power of them, 
 that the Believer fuccumbs not under them : 
 Hence it is, that we are keepedon cur feet, 
 otherwayes what would become of us ? when 
 David fell in adultery, and Peter denyed his Ma« 
 fter, what would have become of them, had it 
 not'been for this? there would be no living for 
 us in the multitude of temptations, ii he were 
 not interceding for us, what would we forefec 
 of Satans fnares ? what ftrength have weak and 
 witlefs we to refill temptations ? what could we 
 do with tl>c fpeat of corruption, when it rifes 
 like a flood upon us, and Saran forceth his alTaults 
 upon us, as if he were fpeaking with mans voice, 
 or mouth, biding us do this or that? Cut there 
 is an InterceiTour that pleads our caufe. 3. We 
 have by this Interceflion the preventing of ma- 
 ny Judgements temporal and fpiritual > when 
 the ax is laid to the root of the tree, and it is 
 found barren, and Juftiwe cryes , and the com- 
 mand comes out» Cut it doWn,why cumbtrethit the 
 ground? How comes it, that the ax ftricks pot ? 
 why is it not hewed down?There is an elficacyin 
 Chrifti Interceflion for fparing of it a little long- 
 er, as it is, Luke 13. 6 Toe drtfftr o\ the vineyird 
 fayet, jpare it jor this )tar, and it's granted : O! 
 but we would have a mod finful a id miferable 
 lift, if there were not an Interccif ur at GoJs 
 right hand. 4 Difpolition for dutic, and help 
 in rhe performance of dutie flows from his In 
 tercefllon, it's this that makes us pray, and that 
 gives us boldnefs in praNer, and in oth-r duties, 
 that there is fitch an high Prieft over the houfe of God, 
 
 rerf. I> v7 
 
 as it is, Heh. 10. ip, 20, tr. It's this that gives us 
 ground of approaching to God, and to expeft a 
 hearing ; and as it is, Luke 1 3. 7, 8. It is his dig- 
 ging and pains that makes the barren fig-tree 
 ffui ful. 5. I: flows from this, that our prayers 
 arc heard, though theie be much infirmities in 
 them, and that they are not caft back in our 
 fices as dung, but are made favoury to God; 
 It's through the efficacy of his Interceflion: We 
 have a type of this Kevel. S. 4, c. Where John 
 fess an Angel come and {land at the altar, having 
 a golden cenfer, and there was given unto him much 
 incenfe, that he jhittld offer it up, tilth the prayers of 
 all faint s t and the fmoak of the incenfe which came up 
 with the prayers of the faints , afcended up before God: 
 It was favoury and acceptable to God, and made 
 the prayers of all the Saints acceptable, for the 
 weight of Gods accepting their prayers is laid 
 on the fmoak of his incenfe ; it's he that takes 
 the mangled and half prayers of his People, and 
 prefentsthem to God: and when they would be 
 caft back as the fupplication of an enemy, He as 
 great Matter of Requefts, through the accepta- 
 tion that he hath with God, makes them accept- 
 able, we fhould have no ground to pray with 
 confidence, noracceptat'on to be heard, if there 
 were not a golden cenfer in his hand. 6. We 
 have from his Interceflion, an anfwer to all chal- 
 lenges: There is much debt on our fcore, the 
 Law purfues hard, and curfcth us for our habi. 
 tual inimi'y, and all the particular Acls of it, 
 and his Interceflion is the laff defence, on which 
 the triumph of Faith riles, by the other fteps, 
 Rom. I. 43. Who {hall lay any tbirg to the charge of 
 GodseltB? Is it becaufe they want a charge? No, 
 for there is the Devil, the Law, and the Confci- 
 ence to Charge them', But it's God that juftifies, 
 W'io fh.ill condemn ? It's Chrsfl that died, yea, rather 
 that is rfen again, who is at the right hand of God t 
 and m.ikth i-terceffm for us : We have a high 
 Prieft there that hath payed our debr,and pleads 
 thattheapplication of his purchafemay be made 
 forthcoming j and, who I pray , will lay any 
 thing to our charge in that Court, where God is 
 Judge, and Chriffjs Advocat ? 7. More particu- 
 larly, our Lord, by his Interceflion, taketh away 
 the guilt of our holy things for when we ap- 
 proach to God in worfiVp, there is a catna'nefs 
 and pollutednefs in the beft things we do, much 
 irreverence, much unbelief, much want of hw 
 mility, zeal, fincerity and ter den. els ; So that all 
 our r gbtetujwffs are but as filth) rags; But the /ulU 
 Fricff, Exod 38 28. hath on I is fore-head, H./i- 
 nets to the Lord: And His Office is, to bear the tni- 
 quitit of the holy things of the children of Jfrad, 
 
 that 
 
37* tf*'*& n 
 
 that they may bs accepted before the Loid; 
 and in this he was a Type of Chrift the great 
 high Prieft going in unto Heaven, to make In- 
 terceffion for his People, who bears not only 
 their iniquitiesi but the iniquity of their holy 
 things; Auron anfwers for them, as the Type. 
 Our Lord Jefusasthc anti-type, He being emi- 
 nently kolimfs to the Lord, and having holinefs on 
 his fore-head, and being lb well pleafing to the 
 Father *, however our Prayers and Praifes, and 
 other partsof fervicc be but little worth, yet he 
 makes them acceptable, and procures that they 
 be not rejected, when he is, for this end imploy- 
 ed, and made ufe of. 8. iVe will rind that 
 frrength to bear through under a Crofs, and a 
 good out- gate from under the Crofs comes from 
 him, as IntercefTour ; O! fo advertanc as he is, 
 when his own are under the Crofs, his bo'wels 
 are then moved, though not as they were on 
 earth, yet certainly they want not their own 
 holy motions, fuitable to the glorious eftate 
 whereunto he is exalted: Therefore, Atts 9. He 
 cryes from Heaven, Saul t Saut,why persecutes thou 
 me ? And Stephen, whenftonedto death, feeshim 
 {landing at the right hand of God, executing this 
 part of his Prielrly Office; One part whereof, 
 is to keep off a Crofs, and another part whereof, 
 is te help to get it honourably born, and to a 
 viftory over it- 9. Our pcrfeverance in the Faith, 
 and perfect glorification is a fruit of Chrilts In- 
 terceflion, fo that his own cannot but perfevere, 
 and be glorified,btcaufe he inrerceeds for them: 
 This is it that is fpoken to feveral times, John 
 17. efpecially vtrfes 15. and 34. In the 15. v. I 
 pray for them, that they be keeptd from the evil: He 
 prayes for them, that they may be keeped from 
 the evil of fin efpecially ; he prayes for them, 
 that they may be keeped that they fall not fiom 
 the Truth: And v. 54. Father , I will that thofe 
 whom thou haft given me, be where Jam, to behold 
 my glory : That longing and effectual defire and 
 will of his, prefented by him in Heaven, is con- 
 tinuing (till effeftuail for all the Saints in the 
 Church militant* There is ground ofquietnefs 
 and comfort from his Intercefllon,&by vertue of 
 it they have hope, that not onlyprcfent,but com- 
 ing fnares and temptations ihall not prevail: 
 Therefore the Apoftle, Rom. 8. 38. tohisfpeak- 
 ing ofChrifts InerctfTunfubjoynes his higi.cfr 
 triumph, / am perfwaded, that neither death, nor 
 life, principalities, nor powers, things pre fcnt y northir.gs 
 to come ; and beciufe it's Imp fliblc to number 
 all things, he fayes, mr any other creatur- Jhall be 
 aifleto Jtparat us from th* love of Cod, which is in 
 Xhnft ]e(usour Lord: Now, if all thefe be put to- 
 gether, befidesmanymoe that may begachcied 
 
 i "# "•' i _ Sernv 6g. 
 
 from Scripture, what wants a Believer for his 
 own privat and particular Confolation, which 
 this one word, that Cbrift is an intersitfour, doth 
 not anfwer ? 
 
 But 2. There is not only Confolation for a 
 Believers particular Condition from this ground 
 but alio in reference to the publick cafe of Gods 
 Church : There are Four things efpecially, that 
 feems very heavy to the Church, and publick 
 work of God ; in reference to all which we will 
 find Confolation from this ground The j Is 
 A? fc n r ° f f fcf?** or weaknefs of the publick 
 Mimftry: that being the great gift which he hath 
 given, tor the edifying of his body, and it be- 
 ing a prejudice to the Church, when (he hath 
 not Paftors, according to Gods own heart : But com 
 pare Pjal. 6*. *8. with Ephef. 4. 8, 12, i 3 , l4 . an< J 
 we will find that his Interceffion anfwers all 
 that fear ; in the Plain, it's faid, Thouhafl afctnd. 
 td on high, thou hafl led captivity captive, thou had 
 received gifts for men, which fuppofes hisfeekin* 
 of, or making fuit for them» or as the word if 
 thou haft received gifts mtheman y that is, being 
 in our nature, he procured them: And. Ephef. 4 
 It's hiA,he gave gifts tomenfr compare thefe Tw» 
 places with a Third t to wh.Atis 1.4. Where he bids 
 his Apoftl«s tarry at j/trufalem till he fend the pro- 
 mifedfpirit ; and immediately, after his afcenfion 
 as it is, JSts a. He pouted it out, which abode 
 on them, in the hkenejs of cloven tongues of fir g: it's 
 Jjkewile faid, John 11. 39. That the (pint was not 
 given, for Jefus was not yet glorified', All which 
 ihew an influence that Chrift's afcenfion hath on 
 the pouring out of the Spirit, and on the gifts 
 given to men, whether Mmifters, or others - 
 There is nothing amongft men readily lefs car- 
 ed for, than a Miniftry, fome would r a\ e none 
 at all, others would have them of fuch a rtamp 
 as would pleafe and humour them, but our Lord 
 hath received Gifts to give unto men; And he 
 that poured out fuch gifts on the Apoftles, and 
 others, hath what Gift* he pleaietb, and fees need- 
 ful for his Churches Edification yet to give- 
 and that he gives fuch Gifts to men, that his 
 People are not praying much for, whence is ir 
 but for hii Interceffion ? Therefore, RiveL 1 We 
 wiilfi.id that ,e delights in thjs Propertie as a 
 piece of his fpmtUaJ ilate,and grandeur, Tkatht 
 holds the Jiurs in his right hand, fuch is his refpeel 
 to them. •;.» i . is to Ji:" f ofeof them. 2. It's 
 ag,ea ly tx-ioiing d fficulty to the Church of 
 Go , to chj»fc o: the mighty ipp-.fit.on that is 
 n.ad b : . enemies: Mah.imt, Heathens, Amichrt$ % 
 faljt Brethten t tiira:n ng to fwallow up the little 
 flock, the Cburcii of Chiift, who is like a bufiV 
 burning wilhiiic and not coufumed: But for. 
 
 this 
 
„ *« ifaiab %\. 
 
 5? m rkfr.'t S a Confolation inChrhYs Interceffi. 
 on Sng to that word, H.*. , .. I* * /" 
 
 °. n '.*?5?I. "J5** A-*<< *f God, from hencejorth ex- 
 peclim, till his enemies be mate **-£-*-*, » ■*"■» 
 this for his mite at the Fathers Bar, and is back- 
 ine it; upon this it followed, and as a fruit of 
 it, that all the fir ft peifccutions were broken i i 
 on this it hath come to pafs , that AnttcbrifU 
 kingdom is tottering, -and its on this ground, 
 that his bearing down, and utter- breaking will 
 be accomplifhed j Hence it s moft emphatically 
 faid, i Cor. 15.24. That He muji reign till he bath 
 put all enem.es under his feet : According t© the 
 Promifc made by Jehovah to him,Pjal.i jo.i, The 
 Lord fard to my Lord, fit thou on my right hand, till I 
 make thine enemies thyfoosjlool: He cannot but be 
 an IntercefTour, but his enemies mud down ; 
 For who^TJray, will be able to fhnd, when he 
 gives in h;s complaint againft them ?who will 
 plead Antichnfts , and other perfecutors caufe, 
 when he appears againft them ? and he is fo cer- 
 tain of his enemies being made his footftool, 
 that he is waiting till he fee it done, he muft 
 reign till then, rmugre all the malice and might 
 of Devils and Men. 
 
 2. It's a difficulty to the Church and People 
 of God, to think on fuch great Confufion* as are 
 in the world, there arcbutfew Judicatoriesthat 
 are for Chriit, But few Governours higher or 
 lower that do confult his honour,or regard him} 
 jt'fl others that have the Throne and Court,and 
 the guiding of things, than friends and favour- 
 ers of his lntereft, for moft prrt; but here the 
 Confolation lyes, that there is a Court inHeaven, 
 that gives out orders, where the Church hath an 
 Agsnt conftantly lying, where the Devil and 
 the World harh nonejefus Chrift a the Church- 
 es Agent, and IntercefTour there : Daniel Chap. 
 10. 13. Hath a word to this purpofe; Ihe prince 
 of the kingdom of P erf a withsloedme one and twenty 
 dayts, but Michael ihe chief prince came to help me: 
 And v. 2 1 . There is none in all the court of Perftatktt 
 boldeth with me in theje things , but Michael your 
 Prince-. The great IntercefTour was at Court, 
 looking that nothing went wrong, feeing that 
 no decree were pift torhe prejudice of the people 
 of God, and his work, in the time when they 
 •were building the Temple , He,- Zcch. 6. 13. is 
 faid to build the te* fie of the Lord, fo bear the glory, 
 and to be a Priefl , fitting and ruling On his thrme j 
 having the Government committed to him^ 
 what hazardthen is there here, when Heaven 
 guids all, when the Church harh m Agent at the 
 Court, to fee ( as 1 laid ) thatnothing go wrong, 
 when Michael the Prince is there, and fees all (he 
 
 rtrf. ill V* 
 
 ASts and Decrees of the Court* and readeth 
 them, yei drawcth them , and looks well that 
 there be nothing in them hurtful to his Church: 
 * nA r O\ may we not, andfliould we not thank 
 God for this." 4. a. rwrtn tfiing Urau troubles the 
 Church of God, is the abounding of offence in- 
 ner felf, and the fpreading of errour which like 
 a flood threatneth to drown the Church ; and 
 great ftormy winds come, that are like to blow 
 down the houfe of God ; offences and ftum- 
 blings abound, anderrours, which (Tjuft now 
 faid ) as a flood is like to drown alJ, when the 
 Devil is put from the Throne, and gets not vi- 
 olence afted,he turns about,8c falleth on another 
 way, and fpe ws out this flood of errour, to de« 
 vour the Woman and her Child ; but our Lord 
 hath a vote here alio : After the perfecution of 
 the Heathens is over, Revelation 7.1, 2. John 
 fees an Angel afcending from the eafl, the great 
 LordKeeper,or Chancellourof theFathersCoun* 
 cil, the fupream Deputy over all under Officers, 
 that hath the keeping of the great Seal of the 
 living God, and there is nothing relevant nor 
 valid till it be fealedbyhim", And mark the time 
 when he appear '.It's when the winds are holden, 
 and ready to blow, as verf, 1 but he cryes with 
 a loud voice , Hurt not the earth, nor thejea, 
 nst the trees, till we have fealed the Strvants of God 
 in their fore-heads : Stay , faith he a little, ere 
 thefe winds blow, that will take the moft pars 
 of? their feet, ere thatdelufion go forward, there 
 are fome fervants of Gcd that muft be naarkcd t 
 and put without the reach of the hazard, and 
 then the wind fhall get leave to blow: what 
 reafon then of anxiety is there, or could be here, 
 if the folidand lively faith of this IntercefTour, 
 and Advocat, his being in Heaven,and thus in- 
 tetceeding, were in our hearts? 
 
 2dly. As to the particular times, and occafi- 
 ons when the People of Ged fliould moreefpeci- 
 ally make ufe of this ground of Confolation, 
 and comfort themfelves in it, ( I fpeak not of 
 Chrifts InterCeflnn Amply, but of the Confola- 
 tion that flows from it,) I. In their languid 
 and lifelefs conditions; when the body ofdearh 
 eomes in on tnem, like a wave of the Sea, and 
 is ready as it wers to drown them; they ought 
 to comfort themfelvcs in this, that they have an 
 IntercefTour that can rebuke that; when tempta- 
 tion is violent,and a perf >ri fears be b6 undone 
 he hath a grip here to hold himlelf by: Jefus 
 Chrift is interceflour , He prayes that my 
 graces fail not , that my Faith and Patience 
 be not undone , that the Devil get not his 
 will of me , the man would be defperate , 
 
 if 
 
 
?fo Ifaiab e 3 
 
 if he were not in heaven, and Interceeding; but 
 he gathers confidence from this ground , and 
 fays, I jhaB not die, but live, and Jee the jalvationof 
 God; For he is ablet* Cave to the utter™*/* -»'•'<-' 
 come unto G»d through him , J'eing he ever liveth to 
 make interceffion for them : And therefore, although 
 1 cannot win out of the grips of this temptati- 
 on, yet he can rebuke it, and break the forccof 
 it: And hence is that comfortable word, Htb. 2. 
 laft. For that he himfelf fuffeYed, and was tempted, he 
 is able ft fuccour them that- are tempted : Sometimes 
 it will not meet with Believers condition, that 
 Chrift fuffered, but this doth ; when he comes 
 on, and finds that he was tempted ; It's true, there 
 was no corruption in him, and temptations had 
 no finful influence on him, and the more com- 
 fort to us, He is the ftrongcr to overcome in us, 
 yet he was fct on and aflTaulted by the temptati- 
 on, he was tempted, and this is a confolation; 
 when Jo[huA the high Prieft' is in his du- 
 ty, Zech. 3. and the Devil is at his right 
 hand to refift him, and mar him in it, and 
 he can do, or fay little himfelf, he boafts him 
 with authority frcm marring K;5 fervant in his 
 work: A great Confolation it is, when the temp- 
 tation is ftrong, and we weak; when the Devil 
 is violent, and we are defpairing to refift him, 
 that there is a high Prieft at hand whofe Office 
 is to do it. A 2d. time is, when challenges are 
 very frefh, when the charge cf ones Debt given 
 in is long and large, and the Law isfevcre in 
 exacting, and Juftice in preffing, and prcfling 
 hard, and the confeience cannot deny, nor re- 
 fill * and the man hath nothing to pay his Debt, 
 and he is like to be dragged to ths Prifon, and. 
 thercis none to undertake for him ; there comes 
 in that word, 1 John 2 % 1, 2. / write thefe thing; 
 U you, that ye Jin not: I give none a difpenfation 
 to fin, but if any man (in % wc have an Advocat with 
 the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous, And this is 
 the ground o£ Paul's triumph fo often mention- 
 ed, Rom 8. 34. Who f\) all lay any thing to the charge 
 cf Gods eltcl? it is God that juflifies, &c. Though 
 the charge fliouldbe given in what is the mat- 
 ter, there is away to be fred of ir, there is an 
 Advocat at the right hand of God in Heaven, 
 who became Cautioner for, and payed the Ele&s 
 D-bt, and is now interceding for them ; and 
 who can lofe the caufe when he pleads it ? and 
 here he quiets, and comforts himfelf, giving a 
 defiance to challenges, and all that can be label- 
 led againft him. A }d. time and occafion is, un- 
 der a Crofs'condition, when Chriftians have the 
 World on their tops, and there is confufion in 
 publick things & there is darkness and indiftin- 
 ftnefs in rur privat condition, it eughr to com* 
 fore us, that we have an Advocat in Heaven, 
 
 Ver[. is, g 
 
 who pleads our caufe, and will not defpjf c the 
 fait ol the poor.nd needy. A ¥ h. timc£,wh« 
 w« our ielves cannot intercced fr- - '- — n , 
 •HaMM -v^iflj, uuc uui F i* >6 rs are much man* 
 gled, and Jittie worth, and we think frame to' 
 look upon them we wc uld then look on what 
 accompt our prayers are put up, if en the ac- 
 count of Chniis Inteiccffi.n, a ligh, a groan, a 
 broken word, nay a bieathii.g will be accepted; 
 the InterceiTour hath his own incenfe to per- 
 fume it with, and it's accepted on the weight 
 that it hath from him i and though our prayer 
 be but as the fhadcW of prayer, jf rhcre bcho- 
 nelty in it- it s a comfort, it will be accepted 
 on that account ; Whatever ye [hall ask the Fa* 
 iher in my name I will do >. And Revel. $. He ac* 
 ceptsthe prayers of all Saints, the weakeft as well 
 as the belli for the beft goes not up%ut by his 
 cenfer, and incenfe, and the weakeft goes un 
 that fame way: And there is in fomereip e ano 
 diftinftion of Believers, and of their fervent or 
 
 n r 0t r^ V a n T PrayC ^ S thcfC ' ? , h#ncft > thc ftrv'our 
 of Chnfts Interceffion, and the favour of his in- 
 cenfe makes all go up, and be accepted, becaufe 
 the reafon ofGc &s heari.g of em prayers i $no t 
 m us; clfe he ftiould hear none of them- but 
 it's in his Interctflion, which is of equal worth 
 and extent to all honeft prayers of found Be- 
 lievers i He is able to fave t$ the uttermoft all t k Mt ' 
 come unto God through him ; though there be no 
 ability nor worth in themfeJves, becaufe he lives 
 for ever to make interceffion for them ; but thc two J.ft 
 things will clear this yet more. 
 
 idly. Though this m^y feem ftrange like yet 
 it is true, if we confider the grounds warrant- 
 ing us to make ufe of his InterceiTion, and to 
 draw this Confolation from it; And they are 
 Four, I. That his Interceffion fuppones adefeel 
 in us, a libel and charge given in againft us eKt 
 what needed we to have an Advocat and Inter- * 
 ceflour ? Ifour Plea were juft and good as four 
 our felves, we needed not one founder akc for 
 us, thc Judge would ab'olve us, but the defects 
 that arc in us, give accefs to this p:rt of his Of- 
 fice. which fuppofes us to have infirmities elfc 
 we needed not an high Prieft, if we w C re' like 
 Adam in his innocency, for he needed net an 
 InterceiTour; and therefore in the Text, it is 
 for the tranfgrfjjours that he makes Nrerceffiemafid 
 1 John 2 2. If any manpn,w e have m Advocat, &c r 
 All the weightof Chrift's Interceffion, and the' 
 grounds whereon he pleads, arc in lim elf- 
 and therefore none need to ftand back , be' 
 caufe there is nothing in themjfclvc.j ; yyj 
 have an Advocat with the F*h'r , jefus 'cbri'l 
 the righteous t and be is she fre filiation . 
 
 Ctiiii 
 
 ft/J 
 
 pari 
 
 nor 1 
 
 M 
 
Sctml *8. 'J*'** 
 
 Chrid hath in him a fulnefs to pay the Debt 
 hlmfclf, and he pleads on that, and nothing in 
 the creature : He fays not, let them be pardon- 
 ed becaufe they have not fin, nor becaufe they 
 have fuch and fuch qualifications, but becaule 
 I have be*a*a propitiation for them, I havepay- 
 edtheir Debt ; Therefoi z he is called the righte* 
 tut, becaufe be hath reafon for that which he 
 fee'ks, He hath payed for what he feeks, and 
 therefore it cannot but be granted. 3. There 
 is a freedom in the application of all, the appli- 
 cation is free Grace every way, and that is clear 
 from the parable of the barren fig-tree ; what 
 could the tree fay, when Juftice pleaded it 
 fiiouldbe cut down ? There is nothing in it to 
 procure a delay, but the Gardner (lands up and 
 bids fpare it, and he will take pains on it, and 
 apply what is needful ; caufes are not here caft 
 baek becaufe the party is poor, nor becaufe he 
 hath much debt on his fcore ; No, if any man fin, 
 he hath an Advocat, the thing is obtained with- 
 out money ; and without price ; would ye then 
 have a Prieft that fuits you well ? ye (hall have 
 him,and have him freely;ifye imploy him to un- 
 dertake for you, he will do it freelyi and it is 
 his honour fo to do. 4 It's free and effectual, 
 It cannot mifgivc ; for who pleads ? Is it not 
 the Son? before whom pleads he? It is before 
 his own Father, who hearcth him alwayes; for 
 whom doth he plead ? lYs for them who arcthe 
 Fathers own Elect, and hisalfo ; Thine they were, 
 and thou gavefi them nte ; and all mine are thine % 
 and thine are mine: It's for them whom the Fa- 
 ther loves as well as he: what doei he feck and 
 plead for? for that which is covenanted; and 
 he pleads for it, according to the terms of the 
 Covenant ; Therefore it is fure, that though 
 Heaven and earth may be mixed, and over* 
 turned, yet none can loufe a link here ; Ir/sim' 
 poffible, but what he interceeds for, he muft 
 obtain ; and for whom he interceeds, he pre- 
 vails, and that is for all that imploy him. 
 
 4/y. For Advertisement or Caveat ; it may be 
 asked here,may all comfort themfelves in Chrifts 
 Interceflion ? Some will think, that were good, 
 but in truth it would make the confoJation of 
 all unfure ; Therefore there are Four qualificati- 
 ons of a perfon that may, and only may war- 
 rantably take the confolation whereof we have 
 fpoken, 1. It is a perfon that hath betaken him- 
 felf to Chrifts fatisfa&ion ; for there are two 
 parts of the Prieftly Office, His Satisfaction and 
 ..his InterceJJion, and there is no dividing of them, 
 nor making ufe of them, but in the right-order: 
 Firft he fatisfies, and then interceeds ; ^ and he 
 muftbeuken, and made ufe of in thisoider, 
 
 J2_. V'.rf. II. - j££ 
 
 1. In his Satisfaction to divine Juftice, and it 
 on this ground that we muft found ourrightc* 
 oufnefs, and plead for abfolution, and whoever 
 have made this ufe of his Satisfaction may, in 
 th* id, place, comfort themfelves in his Inter- 
 ctilion ; becaufe it is grounded on his fatisfactiv 
 on, I John 2. 2. for whom he interceeds, fo* 
 thefe he is ^a propitiation, and he is apropitia- 
 tion for aH who by Fiith have betaken them* 
 felves to him j This is the very hinge of our 
 Confolation, even to take with our Debt, and 
 to betake our fclvcs to him, according to the 
 Covenant,lippeningfor falvationon that ground, 
 
 2. It is thefe who are effaying and practifing 
 themfelves in the duties of hoJinefs, wreftling 
 with a body of death, and exercifing themfelves 
 to Godlinefs, that may warrantably comfort 
 themfelves in Chrifts InterceflioQ ; as Paul, who 
 Rom. 7. being put to it in the conflict with his 
 corruption, comforts himfelf thus, / thank Qed 
 through Jefut Chrift our Lord : Though they be 
 forely harafTedwith a corrupt nature, yet they 
 may expect an outgate, through vertue of his In* 
 terceflion ; Therefore, Revel. $. Chrift % s incenfo 
 ( as I have often faid ) and the Saints Prayers 
 go, and go up together ; Lazinefs and fecurity 
 hath not this confolation, but if a Perfon be 
 praying, and be ferious, though weak in ir, he 
 hath an Advocat, who, when it comes to be 
 asked, what mall be thought of fuch an ones Sa- 
 crifice ? pleads that it may be acceptedi 3, It's 
 the Perfon that not only is aiming, and minting 
 to do ducie, but is denyed to it, hying no 
 weight on it, defpairing ever to get victoty over 
 corruption in his own ftrength, or to come by 
 the hearing of his prayers through any worth 
 that is in them,and not daring to ftepfor ward his 
 alone ; but leaving all he does at Chrifts Feet, 
 to make it acceptablejwhich leads to the 4. thing 
 requifit, ( viz. ) when Perfens, whether their 
 doing and duties be of worth or not, Jefus Chrift 
 is made by them the upfhot of all; they lay 
 weight on him to get them done, and to get 
 them accepted when they are done, and with« 
 out him all would be defperac in their cfteem; 
 this was Typified in the Peoples giving the fa» 
 crifices to the Prieft to be offered, and though 
 it were but twoTurtle dovef,ortwoy< ung Pige- 
 ons, they were brought to the Prieft, as well is 
 other facrifices: Bur fuch as conlider not the 
 inimity and finfulnefs that is in themfelves, and 
 adventureto ftep in to God without him, can- 
 not lay claim to this confolation, which runs 
 always on this ground; Heb. 7. 25. Hi is able U 
 [ave to theutterwojl all that come unto God through 
 fang he tvtr liv$t 19 make «»f rc'Jfm fer tkem U 
 
 D d d chert 
 
3?a lfaiah $j. Verfx it 
 
 there not then ground of Confolation ; ind fuch 
 as there is reafon to beftow a Preaching upon 
 it, to teach us how to clear our felves in it, and 
 make ufe of it, and how to clear our felves in 
 it ; Ye that feclude your felves for this Confo- 
 lation, O ! but ye (pill and mar a good life to 
 
 - f , Serm. 6V 
 
 your felves, and hiiard your own caufe, that 
 will rooft certainly goagainftyou, becaiife ye 
 put it not in the right hand ; which the Lord 
 give you wifdom to amend, and give us all the 
 right ufe of this through Jefus Chrift. 
 
 SERMON LXIX. 
 
 isaiah liii. xii. 
 
 Verfe it. ■■ And made Inter affm for the Ttanfgri fours. 
 
 IT were a very great Confolation, and a 
 main furtherance in all Religion, to get 
 this folidly believed; That Chrift Jefus, 
 who is tkeexprefs image of his Fathers Perfon t 
 and the brlghtnefs of his ^lory. is now in hea- 
 ven in our nature, and hath ir for his work 
 to be interceedmg, and intercecding for tranf- 
 greffburs; -we are every day reaping the good ef 
 this Interceflion, in reference to many evils that 
 ire keeped offus,& in reference tomany mercies 
 btftowed on us, that we pray not at all, or but 
 little; and we come never to hear a preaching, 
 but we are beholden to it ; It being a peculiar 
 fruit of his lntercefllon, that gifts are given to 
 men, and that the Gofpel is fent through the 
 earth ; and if ever any get good of a Sermon, it 
 is by veture of this lntercefllon, feing he hath 
 faid, that he will pray tie Father, and that he will 
 fend the Comforter ; and whenever we come to 
 hear a preaching, there would be ( to fay fo ) a 
 revifing of the thoughts of Chrifts lntercefllon 
 and aftirring up of our felves to get the faith 
 of it lively in its exercife. 
 
 That w hich we fpake to the lafl day, was con- 
 cerning the comfort that flows from this, and 
 indeed if any Dottrine be comfortable,this muft 
 be comfortable, that we have fuch a friend in 
 the Court of Heaven, inverted in this office of an 
 Advocat, and IntercefTour for us. 
 
 U.e 3. of Exhortation, feing there is fuch an 
 Office wherewith Jefus Chrift is inverted, and 
 fuch an Officer that bears thisOffiee, to be an 
 Advocat for finners, then finners would be ex- 
 horted to learn to improve, and to make ufe of 
 this Advocat, and of his Office, ftnee he hath 
 this Office of anlnterccflbr ; O .' do not defpife 
 fuch a mercy, neglect not fuch an advantage, 
 but learn to make ufe of him, and in your wor» 
 fo ip applications to God, to approach by, and 
 through him: The ground of this Uie or Exhorta*. 
 • tion is clear in the Words, and from the nature 
 of the thing ; For if Chrift Jefus bear thefe Of- 
 fices, and it he bear them for us, then lure we 
 
 mould improve them : If he be a K *g, we mould 
 make ufe of him, for fubduing fin in us; jf a 
 Prophet, we mould improve that Office, for at- 
 taining of Light, and laving Knowledge from' 
 himi And if he be a Prieff fo fatisfie d'vine Ju- 
 ftice, and to make Interceflion, we mould im- 
 prove both parts of that Office : The neceffity 
 of our improving Chrift's Inerceflion ij pears 
 from this* if we confider in wh.t terms we ffand 
 with God, have we any boldnefs or accefs of our 
 felves ? is not the door /hut • n us ? and is there 
 not aftated controverfie ftandrg berwixt God 
 and os ? And have we any acce's but by hismoy* 
 en ? The neceffity of it is further clear, from 
 the order that God hath laid down in the way 
 of his adminilrration of grace ; why, I pray, 
 hath he appointed a Mediator and IntercefTour? 
 Is it not for good reafon ? even for confolation 
 and encouragement of Sinners to draw near,who, 
 if they be in earneft, cannot but be affc&ed with 
 fear to approach unto God ; and is itpoflible to 
 come unto God, and not by this door ? and were 
 it not ingratitude to neglect it, feing he hath 
 contrived this new and living way of accefs un- 
 to him ? 
 
 But to defcend to more particular difcourflng 
 of this matter, which is as difficult a thing to 
 fpeak of aright, and to pra&ife fuitably, as any 
 part of Religion; ifefpecialiy he himfelf teach 
 us not j for fometimes we will make ufe of his 
 Sacrifice and Satisfaction, when we know not 
 how to make ufe of Ms Interceflion; for either 
 we do all our alone,and misken the Interceflburt 
 or we will do nothing, and give it over as de- 
 fperat, as if our bufinefs were quite broken and 
 hope!efs,and as if it were needlefs, or uftlcfsto 
 lay any weight on Chrifts Interceflion; And 
 thus whether we apprehend our felves to be in 
 better, or in worfe cafe, he is much miskent, 
 and neglected : That therefore we may the bet- 
 ter know how to make ufe of Chrifts Intercefli- 
 on ; We fhall, 1. In the general, (hew what ic 
 is to improve it. 2. Speak to fome particular 
 
 cafes- 
 
IJSIM* J J 
 
 to be 
 
 ferm. 69. 
 
 cafes, wherein it in a fpecial manner is 
 improven. 3. Satisfy and remove fome objecti- 
 ons, or anfwer fomc qaeftions that may be 
 moved about it. 4 We ihall give fome charac- 
 ters of one that is ferious and tender,inintproV" 
 ing of his Interceflion. 
 
 For the Firfi, It is indeed a thing fo difficult 
 to improve Chnfts Interceflion bright, that we 
 cannot eafiiy tell how to conceive of it, being 
 a confidence part of the myftery of Faith, to 
 go ro God by a Mediator an£ Intercciiour ; 
 However, we (hall I. fhew fome miftakes that 
 are ro be efli- wed. 2 . We (ball fhew wherein it 
 more properly confifts, which is, in the exercife 
 of Faith in him, with refpect to his Intcrceffi. 
 on, 3. We ftiail illuftrat it by fome finrJitudei, 
 for the further making ufe of it. 1- Then, when 
 wefpeak of improving Chrifts Interceflion, and 
 of going to God by him, we would have thefc 
 miftakes cfhewed. 1. Beware of thinking that 
 there is a *oing to the Mediator in a diltinct, 
 or in a different manner from what is in go- 
 ing to God, for he is God : or, that we may go 
 to God ar one time, and to the Mediator at an- 
 other time, as if we would firft fpeak a while to 
 the Mediator, and thenfp^ak to God, or would 
 firft make our moan to rhe Mediator to pacifie 
 God, and when God were calmed to fprak to 
 hi «b ; as if he were to make moyen *ith God 
 for us, as a Courtier m kes moyen with the 
 King, the offended partie fc aReoel.we would 
 beware of this: For it divides in our appre- 
 hension the God- h ad, that is indivisible; for if 
 we confidcr the Mediator as the i bj.cr of our 
 Worlnip, he isto be confidered isGod ; though 
 We may, and are alfo joyntly to confidcr him 
 as Mediator, and on that account to make u!c 
 of him: And if we confider him as God, we 
 muft consider him as the fame God with the Fa- 
 ther, and the holy Ghoft; But to have this ima- 
 gination of him, that we ire to fpeak to him, as 
 to another Partie, or n®t as God, is torn ke him 
 another thing, which is unbecoming that ap- 
 prehenfion, andeftimation that weoughttohave 
 of the Unity of the bl flVd God-hcad» 2 Be» 
 ware of thinking that theie is a greater facility 
 or cafinefs to have accefs to the Mediator, than 
 to have accefs to God, or that it is moreeafie to 
 have accefs to the Second Perfon of the Trinity, 
 than to the Firft, or Third Perfon ; we are afraid 
 that there be miftakes here alfo, as if the Me- 
 diator were more eafie to be dealt with than the 
 Majtltv of God; or as if there were more aCic 
 accefs unto himjwhereas he being the fame God, 
 and fo con':dcred , there if e the fame grout ds, 
 whereon fmncrs may have acccfc to the Father, 
 
 rerj. 1*. j»j 
 
 as to the Son; For if we look on a Sinner repent- 
 ing, and believing, he is as welcome to the Father 
 as to the Son > but if we confider the (inner as 
 not repenting and believing, he is fo, neither 
 welcome to the Father.nor to the Son: It is true, 
 the Son being confldcred as man, there isafym- 
 
 pathy, that the Second Perfon united to our 
 nature hath, which is not in God abftractly 
 confldcred, yet this is not fo to be underflood, 
 as if the mercy of the Mediator , having the 
 two natures fo united in his perfon were of lar- 
 ger extent than the mercy of Gcd, or as if he 
 could be merciful when God is not: Fcr there 
 cannot be a greater mercy than that which is in- 
 finit, and this is the efTential attribut of the Fa« 
 ther, Son and holy Ghoft; only this fympathy 
 in the Mediator is to be confldered, to ftreng- 
 en and confirm our Faith, in our application to 
 God, that we have him to approach to in our 
 nature, but it is not to give us any new ground 
 of having accefs eafier to Chrifr than to God ; 
 bur ( as wcfaid ) only to confirm our Faith, in 
 having accefs to God : Hence it is that Jefus 
 Chrift is alwayes propofed asthemidfe, where- 
 by and through whom a (inner comes to God, 
 fo that we hav« acctf* with boldnefs, not to th« 
 Mediaror as a diitinft Parry,bur to God through 
 and by him : Therefore trure is the fame com- 
 mon way of application to Gcd, and to Thrift, 
 the fame Covenant and Piomifes. the fame ex- 
 ercife of Repentance , of Faith and of Prayer, 
 which gives us accefs to God, and rhat gives us 
 accefs to the Media r or. 3. Beware of placing 
 this improving.and ufe-makingof the Mediators 
 Interceflion in words, or Petitions dirtied to 
 the Mediator which I apprehend , is the ufe 
 that the moll part make of his Interctflion : to 
 put up fiich Petitions as I am afraid to fpeak of, 
 as namely , O ! Mediator at the F thers right 
 hand ple^d for me, as if the Mediator were a 
 diflinft Party from the Judge, to whom we 
 mud fpeak tor interceeding with the Judge, 
 which ItilJ leads us to look en the Mediator as 
 another different party, or as having other terms 
 whereupon he dealeth with Sinnas, as if there 
 were another way of nuking ufe <r f h?m,' and 
 of application to him, and on other grounds 
 than of, and to God, the contrary whereof we 
 have {hewed; whereas the ufe- m. king 
 Interceflion confifts rather ( as 
 pear ) in Faiths application to 
 
 ifter 
 id 
 
 of his 
 will ap. 
 in 
 
 him, 
 
 and laying weight on his Interc- flion for ac» 
 cefs, and acceptance of our perfens and fcrvicc s; 
 when we make ic the ground of cur addrefr 
 to God , the ground on which we drew 
 near ; and this we mav and fhou!d go , 
 D d d a v. Excj 
 
jf4, jjkist n- v«l ■ 
 
 when we name Chrift, or priy to him as God, to 
 with refpeft to his Office of being Interccflour; 
 even as when we look to him by Faith, to get 
 fin pardoned, there is a looking to him as God, 
 with refpect. to his offering and fatisfaction to 
 the juftice of God, on which account we ex- 
 pect, to be pardoned. 
 
 Bat idly, to explicat this a little more, we flial 
 fhew wherein this exercife of faith, in making 
 life of the Mediators Interceflion, doth mainly 
 confilt, and for the moie clear following forth 
 thereof,we fhall fpeak to thefe Two, i. To fome 
 things prefuppofed. a. To fome things whcie- 
 in more properly it confifts : To both which we 
 would premit this word, that when we fpeak 
 of making ufe of ChriiVs Interceflion, there are 
 7>8 extreams to be avoided ; One is, when per- 
 fons go to God miskeningChrift,and do all that 
 they do, as if they were conftantly friends with 
 God, and in good terms with him, and had need 
 of none to make their peace, or to keep up, and 
 mainrain their peace with God, which is in 
 erTeft the way laid down in the Covenant of 
 Works, when Adam was a friend : Another ex* 
 tream is in the defect, and that is, when perfons 
 go to God by Chrift, yet do not lay weight on 
 his Interceflion as becomes ; when not only 
 they want confidence, which the other hath, 
 though on a wrong ground, but do not lay the 
 burden on the right ground, but go to God 
 faintingly and difcouragedly, as fearing to truft 
 or lippen to Chrifts Interceflion; there is neceflity 
 to guard againft both thefe; for there muft be 
 fuch an ufe making of Chrifts Interccflion, as 
 we dare not go by him, and yet a concurring 
 aft ofFaith, putting us to go to God by himi 
 arid to lay the weight of what we feek and ex- 
 pect on him, and on his Interceflion ; Now the 
 things that are prefuppofed to the ufe making 
 of ChriiVs Interceflion, guard againft the firft 
 extream, and thefe things wherein the ufe-ma* 
 king of it properly confifts, guard againft the 
 other extream. 
 
 Firft, Then thefe things prefuppofed are i. A 
 convi&ionof our natural finfulnefs, not only of 
 the diftance that is betwixt God and us, but of 
 the quarrel and inimity^ end that by our defer 
 
 his Interceflion till this ground be laid 
 caufeall the efficacy that is in Chrifts Interceilf 
 on, refults from and is founded upon his Satif- 
 faction ijohn a. a« If snyfin, we have an Advoi 
 cat with the Father, Jefus thriR the righteous, who 
 ts thejropinattonftr eurftnt : He procures nothing 
 \ y h i S i In J terc 5 fll ? n / but through the vertue of 
 that Blood, which he offered in a facrifice to fa- 
 tisfie Jufrice, and therefore in impioving of his 
 Interceflion, this method muft be followed • 
 there muft firft be a betaking of our felves to his 
 fatisfaction, as the ground of our peace and 
 whereupon we plead for peace, and for 
 any other thing that we ftand in need of; ex- 
 
 ? Cpt th j s ™ bc . , «*l 1 the Sanations that we can 
 have of Chrifts Interceflion ( is if we would firft 
 prevail with Chrift, conceiving char he will foon 
 beingaged, and then have hopes of prevailing 
 with God) if his fatisfaction be mhkent, wjll 
 be to no purpofc ; for as we fhew in the Firft 
 ufe of this point, he interceeds only for his own 
 people, who are Believers in him, and have 
 clofed with his fatisfaction, as we fhew from 
 Rev* 8. It's only the prayers of all Saints tl at 
 are offered up by him, I mean, none can corn* 
 fortably conclude, that he interceeds for them 
 but Believers and Saints : And therefore till his 
 fatisfaction be rcfted on, as the ground of our 
 peace, we can look for no benefit by his Inter- 
 ceflion. 3. There is beyond this required, the 
 conviction and impreflion of our own unfut- 
 ablenefs, to keep up friendfhip and fellowfhip 
 with God, through our remaining corruption 
 and the prevailing of temptation, without a Me* 
 diator; and withal an approbation of Gods way, 
 who hath appointed a Mediator for that end, and 
 a loving to keep up communion with him by a 
 Mediator; So that fuppofe we were clear, that 
 our fins are pardoned, yet we would know, 
 that this conviction and impreflion is necelTary 
 to put us to make dayly ufe of this part of the 
 Mediators Office; for we may have conviction 
 of the Firft part, that is, that we cannot make 
 our peace without Chrifts fatisfaction, and yet 
 we may be defective, as to our walking under 
 due conviction of the Sectnd, that is, of a n c* 
 ctflity of keeping up of our Communion with 
 
 ring wemayjuftly have the door ofaccefs to God, by vertue of his Interceflion; which is, 
 
 as if a Rebel, being reconciled and made a 
 friend, by the procurement of fome great Per- 
 fon, yet having to do with the King, mould not 
 dare to go unto him, without the man that was 
 inftrumental in making his peace ; or we may 
 allude to jiftloms coming home by Jeabs pre*; 
 curement, who was three years thereafter at je 
 
 ruJsUm 
 
 God fluit upon us, that is it that puts the finner 
 to ask for an Interceflbur, and to make ufe of 
 him, as thefe who^ have provoked a great Per- 
 fon, fear to go their alone to him, but fetk for 
 themediation of fime fpecial friend or favourite, 
 i. There is prefuppofed a confenting to, and 
 acceptation of Chrifts fatisfaction, as the ground 
 of our peace with God ; For there is no accefs 
 
Serrn. 69. _ ff*!*f> p* 
 
 rufalem ere he faw iiis Fathers face, and had a 
 new dealing with 7o^ for that end ; So its 
 very fuitable to the way of Grace, andfhews 
 that our being, and Handing in Grace is free t 
 not to dare to go in to God, even when our 
 peace is made, without the Mediator. 4. Upon 
 the back of all this, there is a neceffity oi the 
 Faith of the Mediator, or IntercefTor, his being 
 at the right hand of God, ready to agent our 
 caufe,through whom we may have accefs, when 
 there is reafon enough in our felves, why we 
 mould be keeped at the door ; and though we 
 dare not go our felves alone, yet to adventure 
 to go through him to God: And though this be 
 but the do&rinal Faith of the thing in general, 
 yet it's neceflarily prefuppofed, as well as the 
 reft, that when a challenge rifes, and the Con« 
 fciencefays, how dare thou go to God ? Faith 
 may anfwer, becaufe there is a friend there in 
 our nature ; when the Sinner is convinced of 
 fin, the Confcience challengeth, and the Law 
 condemns, and there is fome fad expectation of 
 the drawing forth of the Sentence ; There is an 
 aft of Faith that convinces of a Saviour, whole 
 fatisfaftion, if it be made ufe of and improven, 
 all will be well : This we fay, is neceflarily pre- 
 fuppofed to the ufe making of Chrifts Interceili- 
 oni 
 
 idly. Thefe 4. being prefuppofed, it follows, 
 that we (hew what properly it is A to make ufe 
 of Chrifts Interceffion, or, wherein it confifts ? 
 And 1. When Faith hath laid hold on Chrifts 
 Satisfaction for peace with God ; in the im- 
 proving of his Interceffion, there is an aft of 
 Fairh whereby we aftually beftir. our felves to 
 approach unto God/upon the weight we lay on 
 his Interceffion, that when the foul fees it felf 
 fecluded, confidcred in it felf, yet it will go for- 
 ward lippening to that, fo that if a challenge 
 come in its way, and fay, what ground haft 
 thou to look that thou w ilt be welcome to God? 
 the Soul fays, none in my felf, but there is a 
 friend before me, with whofe fatisfaftion 1 have 
 clofed for my peace, and I.lay this weight on 
 his Office, and on Gods call to make ufe of him, 
 that on the ground of his moyen with God, I 
 dar hazard to go forward, even as if a Rebel, 
 after his peace were made, had fome bufmefs to 
 do with the Prince, and hearing that there is a 
 friend at Court, yea, the fame friend that made 
 his peace, he thinks that a good time, and fit 
 fcafon, to go and prefent his fuit, expeftingto 
 come fpeed through his moyen : And this keeps 
 always the weight and honour of our obtaining 
 any thing wc feck, as a prerogative to Chrift, 
 
 Vtrh «. 3 »e 
 
 and (lops the perfons own mouth, from looking 
 to any thing in it felf to boaft of, even as the 
 Rebel hath no caufc to boaft of his getting a 
 hearing from the Prince, but gives the thanks 
 to him, who, as he made his peace, fo alfo 
 procured him a hearing, and it is according to 
 that word, Heb. 10. 21. Homing an high Frieftovef 
 the houfe of Cod, let us draw near with full ajfuranst 
 of faith, exptfiing a hearing: and that, Heb. 4. 15, 
 16. Seing we have an high Priefi, who was tempted 
 in all things, like as we are yet without Jin-, let us 
 therefor t come boldly unto the thrtne of grace, that we 
 may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of 
 need: This is theF/r/2ftep of Improving Chrifts 
 Interceflfon, when the juftified finner is at a 
 ftand, on fome new challenge for guilt, and dar 
 not go forward, nor adventure to appraoch unto 
 God, on this account and ground, that there is 
 a Mediator, and Advocat at his right hand, to 
 hazard ( if we may fpeak fo )or rather with con- 
 fidence to go forward, and prefent his fuit to 
 God. 2. There is an aft of Faith, as in under- 
 taking, fo in expecting and on-waiting upon 
 God, for obtaining a hearing of our fuit, on this 
 account, that Jcfus Chrift is an Intercefibui in 
 Heaven for fuch as imployhim, and this guards 
 againft both the failings before mentioned, to 
 wit, againft anxiety on the one hand, and pre- 
 emption on the other : againft anxiety and fain- 
 ting, when as there is net only a propofing of 
 our defire, but an on-waiting for, ind expecta- 
 tion of a hearing from God, againft preempti- 
 on, and turning carnal, when the expectation 
 of a hearing is not founded on our own righte- 
 oufnefs, but on the Interceflion of Chrift ; This 
 is it which we have, Dan. 9. 17. compared with 
 'jonah 1.4. In the 2. of 'Jonah 4. v. He fays, Then 
 I [aid, I am cajl out of thy fight, yet will 1 look again 
 toward thy koly ^ temple ; the which look was in 
 efftct, a looking toward the InteFceffion of 
 Chrift the Mfjjjah ; the Temple with its Sacrifices 
 having been typical of him ; and the Mercy- feat 
 that was there, being typical of his Interceffion 
 it is as unbelief had fuggefted, O Jonah, now 
 Jonah, what will become of thee ? thou art i 
 gone man, and needs not pray any more; yet 
 lays he, / will look again towards thy holy temple; 
 and though he knew not well, now being in 
 the belly of the Whale,vvhere the Temple ftood, 
 yet his Faith having an fuitable exercife on the 
 MeJJtah fignificd by the Temple, and his lo< king, 
 being an act of Faith, carried in his fuit to God, 
 which was accepted ; and indeed this is a main 
 thing, by which a poor Believer caft down, 
 wins to his feet again ; The other place is, 
 
 D»o. 
 
**6 . If'i'b U- Ptrf. 
 
 Dan. 9. \6 t 1 7. Where* when he is ferious, and 
 doubling his Petition! he hath thcfe words, 
 Cauje thy face to jhine upon thy Smftuary, which it 
 dsfelae (or the Lords lake: and to let it be known 
 
 I*, 
 
 what he mcaned, by faying , for the Lords lake, 
 wh-.ch looks to him who was to be InterceiT ur 
 in our nature, he expones it in the following 
 words, .0 ! my God incline thine ear, and hear, open 
 thine oyer, and behtld our deflations ; For we do not 
 freftnt our fuppli cations before thee, jot our righteeufi 
 ttefses, but for thy gnat mercies That is an im- 
 proving aright or Chrifts Interceflion, not to 
 pray dire&ly to him as a diftinct Parry, but to 
 pray for mercy upon the account of hii Infer- 
 ceflion ; For what is for mercti lake in the latter, 
 is fir the Lords fake, in the former, viz becaufe, 
 by him, and by vertue of his Interceflion, mercy 
 comes out unto us: And this is amain ufa to 
 be made of Chrifts Interceflion, to wir, to have 
 upon that ground an expectation of a hearing, 
 Or to found our expectation of a hearing on that 
 account* and let it bear the weight of it, as well 
 it can. 3. The right improvement of Chrifts In- 
 terceflion hath rhis aft of Faith; that although 
 there feem to be many difficultes and long. fF- 
 putting, yet Faith, upon the account tf his In- 
 terceflion, will continue its expe&ation of a hear, 
 ing, and its looking for, of what the perfon hath 
 fought, and ftands in need of, whatever crofs 
 difpenfations thwart its expe&ation, and what- 
 ever figns of anger appear in the way of its ob- 
 taining, it waits on for all that : Though Jonah 
 be in the belly of the IVhale , and the weeds 
 wrapped about his head , yet will he look to- 
 wards his holy Temple : So though a Soul have 
 no life, nor fenfe, no inward feeling, nor an 
 guments in the mouth, yet acdng on Chrifts In- 
 terceflion by Faith, it will not ]c»ve, nor give 
 over its fuit, confidering, that though it hath 
 no sround of expectation of good from it fclf, 
 yet from Chrifts Interceflion it hath, which is 
 the Improvement of that, Hei. 7. 3$. fie is able 
 sofave to the uttcrmoJi t aU that e$me unto Ged through 
 him, &c. If there were never fo ftrong Objecti- 
 ons from unbelief, and carrwl rcafon, and if it 
 fliould be fuggefted, ye have fuch and fuch dif- 
 ficulties, that cannot be overcome, lyingin the 
 way of your Salvation, and there is nothing in 
 you concurring to make out your Salvation.yet 
 Faith fayes, He is able to jave to the uttertnoft, or 
 or, as the word is, he can fave to the full, or to 
 the yondmoft : and uhat is the ground* B#- 
 czufe be ever lives to ma\e Inter Cfffun ; And this is 
 the main thing to be raken nonce of , in im- 
 proving of hii Interceflion, when the flnncr 
 harb presented his full , or rcqusft to God, 
 
 through the Mediator, to get hii mind quiet- 
 ed on the account of Chrift s Inrerceffion, rhat 
 it Hull be anfwered, even as a man, who hav- 
 ing a Caufc to plead, and getring an able Ad- 
 voeat, who fayes to him, I will warrand your 
 Caufe. quiets himfelf, becaufe of his undertak- 
 ing: So proportionably there is a weight laid 
 on Chrifts Interc*fli n by Faith lippning to 
 him which makes the Soul to be without an- 
 xiety : And this continued Ac> of Faith dorh 
 not at al) fofter Sin, but ftrengthneth rarher to 
 oppefc fin, quiets the mird, and makes more 
 humble., and makes a tranquillity in the Soul, 
 in Bands as well as in Liberty, becaufe it Jayes 
 the weight of its coming ip?ed with G«d, not 
 on its own argumenring, but on the Mediators 
 Interceflion: For as we fhew firm Revel. 3. 
 The prayers of allSaints go up from his cenfer; 
 the wcakeft, as wet as the (tiorgeft. brcauf ir's 
 his Incenfethat makes them lavomy. 4 Tnere 
 is an improvement of Chrifts Inrerceffi n, u c n 
 any tiling is obtained , whether it be a mercy 
 in preventing fuch and fuch a ftmak, or the be- 
 llowing of fuch and fuch a favour, and that is, 
 when Faith derives not that mercy from, not 
 Attributs it ro its own praying, though it did 
 pray, and pray fomewhar ferionfly, but derives 
 it from, and Attributs it to the verrue and effi- 
 cacy of Chrifts Interceflion , ind counts it lelf 
 obliged to that, as the rife of all the Perfons 
 good, and again by him returning thanks to 
 God for it; And this is a little proof of im- 
 proving Chrifts Interceflion: Sometimes when 
 we want whar we would have, and are reftra ; n- 
 ed, we will improve all means to obtain , yet 
 when we have obtained, there is but little ac- 
 knowledgment of him therein ; which acknow- 
 ledgment is our duty, inflnuat John 14 13, 14. 
 Hhstfeever ye ask in my name, 1 will do j that the 
 Father may be ghrifedin the Son ; And in this fenfc 
 we ought to walk in the ufe of every mercy, as 
 bearing the acknowledgment of Chrifts Inter- 
 ceflion; and to be aff cted with love to Gd, 
 and fhould withall have anew impreflion ofits 
 obligation, to be forthcoming for God, upon 
 the account of his Interceflion; whereas the 
 moft part of folk take their mercies, and think 
 not thrmfelves to be in his common for rhem ; 
 neither do they owne him wth thankful ac- 
 knowledgment of them, whon they have got. 
 ten them ; even as a man who hath gotten a 
 favour through the Afedhtion of anorher , and 
 mould forget him, would be very ingrate;the 
 making ule of Chrifts Interceflion in this re* 
 fpeft is the improving of it , far the awaking 
 
 of 
 
 J 
 
$erm! d> , , Ifcth 
 
 of our thankfulneft, ind the confirmiiig 01 our 
 obligation to him ; if wc look through our life, 
 is there any day, or hour, but we (land in need 
 of fomething ? and be enjoying fomething rand 
 the improving Chrifts Interccfiion thus, would 
 make the thoughts of Chrift always fiefli and 
 Jovtly to us, but wc feek, and get, and enjoy, 
 as if a Mediator were' not in Heaven; but as 
 we acknowledge him in praying to him, when 
 V/t have need; fo when any thing is gotten, we 
 would acknowledge, that we have received it, 
 and do enjoy it on the account of his Interceffi- 
 oni who obtained it for us* 
 
 idly. We faid, That this might be illuftrat 
 by fimilitudes, and there are thefe Three, where* 
 by it may be illuftrat. The 1. is, ( if we may 
 call it a fimilitude ) the comparing of the ufe» 
 making of his IntcrceiTien, with the ufe-making 
 of his Santtification ; ( wherein there is a re- 
 
 femblanct ) we make ufe of his Satisfaction, 
 when we are convinced of our natural finfulnefs 
 tnd inimity , .and that we cannot make ou' own 
 ptace our feWcs, yet hearing of his Satisfaction, 
 and having an offer of it, and believing that its 
 tble to do our turn, we hazard on that ground, 
 to clofe with God in the Covenant : And 
 though the fenfe of peace come not for a long 
 time, yet we with confidence wait for it } bc- 
 caufe the ground we lean on for it cannot fail ; 
 proportionable to this, we make ufe of Chrifts 
 Interceffion, when under a challenge, we are 
 Convinced of a quarrell, and dare not approach 
 to God ; yet hearing tell, that there is an In- 
 tercefTour in Heaven, who will undertake for 
 them that imploy Him, wc hazard confidently 
 on thar ground, to propofe our fuits unto God, 
 and notwirhftanding of difficulties, expect and 
 wait for an anfweri It may be Qbjttted here, 
 that it fecms there is no difference betwixt the 
 improving of his Satisfaction, and the improv- 
 ing of his Intercefsion. Anfver, There is no dif- 
 ference, in refpect of the things fought, nor in 
 refpect of the Acts of Faith, whereby we make 
 ufe of the one, and of the other, nor in refpect 
 of the grounds whereupon ; for Chrift hath 
 Piyed the D .be of them for whom he Inter- 
 cc '^ s » nt ha h purchafed the fame things for 
 which he maketh Intercefsion , they are the 
 
 l mC /- AtS 0t F *' th chat makc ufc ot-both; it's 
 the fame Covenant and offer , that wirrands 
 os, to come to his Satisfaction for peace, that 
 warra-ids us to make ufc c£ h slntercefsion for 
 the application ofpeacejthtrc is only this differ- 
 ence, that by his Satisfaction he procures us 
 peace, and a right to it, and our peace is made 
 by his laying down before God the price, 
 
 ft- «f/ 11. $&7 
 
 which we by Faith take hold of; but when he 
 mterceedf, he hath nothing to pay, but intei* 
 ceeds for what he hath purchafed : Therefore 
 the Scripture hangs the application of his pur- 
 chafe upon his Inrerceflion ; He hath bought 
 peace, and every good thing that we ftand in 
 need of by his death ; and by his Intercefsion, 
 he procures and makes the application: There- 
 fore it's on this ground, that the Spirit is pour- 
 ed out; as among men, it's one thing to make 
 peace, and another thing to bring the offended 
 perfon into familiarity with the offended party 
 So it's the fame Faith acting on Chrifts Satis* 
 faction, for being brought into Covenant with 
 God, as the meritorious Caufe that acts on 
 Chrifts Interceffion, for application of that 
 which he hath purchafed j but under a different 
 consideration, looking on his Satisfaction as pro- 
 curing 5 and on his lntcrceffion, for ipplication 
 of the fame things. A id. Similitude to clear ir, 
 is, the people under the Law their making ufe 
 of the high Prieft ; There were two parts of 
 the high P/iefts Office, or two things, wherein 
 the people made ufe of him. *. For offering 
 Sacrifice; 1. For IatercelTion; The high Prieft 
 went into the molt holy once a yea r, and fp rink- 
 Jed the blood, and prayed for the people; in 
 which time they were (landing without pray- 
 ln g, in the hope cf having their prayers made 
 the more acceptable; This uas by Gods ap- 
 pointment typically to prefigure our Lords In- 
 terceffion in Heaven ; It is true the high Priefts 
 praying for them was nothing to the Souls ad- 
 vantage, of him or them, if Chrift was not made 
 ufe of, both by him, and by them ; yet he was 
 t>pica], tndfo&ew this much, they were f 
 improve Chrifts Intercefsion, as well as his Sa- 
 crifice and Satisfaction ; Theiefore, Luke J. 10. 
 When Zac&sriAj went in to pray, the whole 
 multitude of the people was wirhout praying. 
 A 3*". fimilitude (which we hinted at in cur go- 
 ing along ) is drawn from that way which \s 
 ufed among men, for bringing two parties that 
 are at odds and variance, to be reconciled, and 
 at one; which, though we are not to conceive 
 m that carnal manner, yet it holds as to the fub- 
 ftancc of the thing i is if the offcr.ding party 
 durft not go h^ alone to the party orrended, 
 butfliould carry along with him a fn'end , tint 
 hath place, and power to prevail with the other.; 
 when he undertakes to go along w»'th him,con* 
 trary to his deferving , he will capect con- 
 fidently to get a good hearing; and if any 
 fhould fay to him , how dare you go to fucli 
 an one, whom you have ft piovock'd? 
 
 lit 
 
3 81 V*i*h $* 
 
 He would anfwer, becaufc I hav<» *ftU»XW 
 fore me, that will make moyen forme; and 
 
 Scrm. 7°J 
 ;, O! that there" 
 
 joyctng, prGtc..».. 5 Mi. 6 .~* r---» -- 
 
 friend; i'oisit here as to the thing, though as 
 was faid, we wquld guard againft carnal con- 
 ceptions of taking up God and the Mediator, 
 as diftinct Parties to be made application to, we 
 
 fk»U infiflno further tor the time, 
 
 were ferioufnefs to improve his Blood and Si 
 refaction, for warning us from the guilr of fin, 
 and for making our peace with God, and his In- 
 terceflion, for upholding our peace and com,* 
 munion with God, and for the attaining cf eve 
 ry good, that he hath purchafrd and promifed 
 which is the fum of all: God help us to th 
 practice of it, and to be confeientious in it. 
 
 
 
 SERMON LXX. 
 
 isaiah on. xir. 
 
 Verfe ia. And he mads inttrcejjion fir tke TranfgreJJourt. 
 
 r A Lthough this be amoft neceflary 
 /% thing, and that whereof we have 
 / _\ daily and hourly ufe, even to be 
 / % improving Chrilts Interceflion ; and 
 JL JL although it be one of the moft ex- 
 cellent, and moft comfortable things that aChri- 
 ftian hath to look to in his walk ;there being no 
 condition, but there is a ready help for it here; 
 yet this is our iinful mifery,that either through 
 our blindnefs, or our indifferency, we are much 
 out of Capacity, to improve aright fo rare a 
 Priviledge: For as much as we have heard of 
 it, are there many of us that can tell how Chrifts 
 Interceflion is to be improved ? Sure we may 
 know that if ever we do it, there is no thanks 
 to us for the doing of it; And indeed it is of 
 fuch a nature, that we even cannot well telJ, 
 whether it be better to fpeakofic, or to befilent, 
 ■being fo little able to make any thing plain, of 
 fuch a myfterious, yet very concerning thing. 
 
 Ye may remember the DoSfrine that we pro- 
 pofedto fpeakto was this ; That our Lord Je- 
 fus hath this for a part of his Office, to make 
 Interceflion for Tranfgreflburs, being a real 
 Prieft, he not only offers a Sacrifice, but goes 
 in, and hath gone within the vail, with the 
 vertue of his Sacrifice, to appear before God in 
 Heaven for us ; as all the Offices of Chrift are 
 idvantagious,and would be fhidied by us,andwe 
 wouldftudythem welljthishath many advantages 
 with it, and we would improve it, left we fru- 
 (trat our felves of the clufter of priviledgesthat 
 is in this one Doctrine, Thatjefus Chrift makes 
 Interceflion for tranfgreflburs, or finncrs. 
 
 We (hewed the !aft day wherein the improving 
 of Chrifts Interceflion doth confift : we (hall now 
 anftance fome cafes wherein Believers,* in a 
 fpecial manner are to make ufe of it. 2. We fhall 
 give fome directions for clearing fome queftions, 
 or for anfwcriog fome doubts about it. And 
 
 
 3. We we fhall aflign fome Characters of fucK 
 as are rightly improving Chrifts Interceflion. 
 
 For the Fir ft t Chrifts Interceflion ought to b 
 m»de ufe of in as many cafes as are poflibly in 
 cident to a Believer, and therefore we are no 
 to reftrictit to one cafa more than to another 
 although indeed there be fome wherein more e 
 fpeciaUy we are called to improve it; Now t 
 clear it, that there afe fome cafes wherein, in 
 fpecial manner, the Believer is to make ufe o 
 this Office of Chrifts interceeding for Tranfgref- 
 fours; It may be inftanced in thefe, 1. A Be^ 
 liever hath cither liberty, or he is in bonds ^ 
 and there is a fpecial watchfulnefs called for in 
 both thefe cafes, that the Interceflion of Chrift 
 be not flighted. 
 
 r. When he hath liberty, and his fpiritu; 
 condition thrives, he prays, and his heart melt 
 in Prayer, he hath what he would have, th 
 exercifes of Religion becomes pleafant, and 
 hath no will to came from them : In this ca 
 the Believer is to beware left he be ftollen 
 his feet, and miskens Chrifts Interceflion ; for 
 then he is ready to think that he cannot but be 
 well, and his prayers cannot but be heard ; be* 
 caufe he gets liberty to put them up, and It's 
 then often that there is hazard to lay lcaft weight 
 on Chrifts Interceflion. To improve Chrifts In-i 
 terceflion aright in fuch cafes, thefe Two are toi 
 be adverted to. r. That his Interceflion be ac- 
 knowledged as the Fountain, and procurin 
 caufe of that liberty and livelinefs, and fo w 
 are to carry a flopped mouth before God, and no( 
 to boaftofit. For (as we (hew) the pouring 
 out of the Spirit is a fpecial fruit of Chrifts In« 
 terceflion ; It being by vertue thereof that gifti 
 are given, and grace to worfhip God in a fpiri- 
 tual manner. a« That we beware of rhinkird 
 that our Prayers are in a fitnefs. or that they put 
 us in a fitnefs of accefs to God, becaufeof thai 
 
 liberty,- 
 
 J 
 
Serm. 70. J J a ! aff 
 
 liberty, except by vertue of Chrifts Intercefsion, 
 more than if we had not t word to fayjThere is 
 in our unbelief & prefumption a fecret inclina- 
 tion, to lay the weight ©four acceptance on 
 our own liberty, Whereas, Revel. 8. the prayers 
 of all Saints muft come up before God, having 
 the fmoakofhisincenfe to make them acceptable; 
 In which refpett, in a cafe of liberty, Chrifts In- 
 terceflion is madeufe of and im proven, when 
 we are denyed to our own liberty, and it is 
 not irudc the ground of our confident applica- 
 tion to God, but Ciirifts Interceflion only: Again 
 2. when the Believer is in bonds in fome emi- 
 nent manner, fo that he cannot pray, he fcarce 
 hath a word to fpeak to God , he goes it's true 
 about the duty, but he comes noc fpeed, his 
 Prayer relifties not to himfelf , he is like one 
 fpeaking,but not praying, his heart is not warm- 
 ed, neither is there, at leaft to his own appre- 
 henficn , any connexion betwixt his words, 
 whereupon he is ready to think, that his pray* 
 er is as good as no prayer, becaufe of that in- 
 clination that is in all of us, to reft on our own 
 praying without making ufe of the Interceflion 
 ofChrift;The reafons why in this cafe we would 
 prefsthe ufe making of his Interceflion are thefe. 
 I. Left we faint and grow weary in Prayer, 
 which cannot but befal us, if his Interceflion be 
 not made ufe of. 2. Left we lofe the eftimation 
 of the excellent worth of Chrifts Intercef- 
 lion ; which is exceeding derogatory to him that 
 is mighty to lave, sndon xebom help is laid: and it is 
 efptcially for fuch a time and cafe, that he is 
 holden forth for fuch an Interceflbur : Now 
 there is a twrfeld improvement of Chrifts Inter- 
 ceflion called for in this Cafe , when the 
 Believer is in Bonds , and cannot fo much as 
 fig'i ; but it's called in queftion, whether it be 
 accepted though yet the man is ferious. 1 .There 
 is an improving of it for obtaining of that which 
 we have beenai;ning at, though we cannot tell 
 our own tale ( to fpeak fo ) nor open our caufe, 
 nor make known our requefts to God ; yet to 
 expeft what we have been aiming at, and feek- 
 ing after, by Vertue of Chrifts Interceflion, for 
 as ill fee together as our prayers hath been, be- 
 caufe it is founded upon the Interceflion of the 
 Mediator; and we expect a hearing on that ac- 
 count alentrly , it- being his lute: ceflion rri2t 
 makes our Prayers acceptable , it can make a 
 poor Prayer- acceptable alfo ; whereupon the 
 Soul refts quiet, and expe&s a hearing on this 
 ground, becaufe, as we fa id, the Prayers of all 
 Saints go up frcm his Cenfer, and with his In- 
 cenfe, and none arc caft back, that arc put up 
 through him, and by vertue of his Interccftnn ; 
 Hence fometimes loolcr, fomermes thoughts, 
 fometimes broken words, and groans come up 
 
 5J. rerj. 12.1 lfp 
 
 before God, are acceptable, and get a return; 
 The reafonis, becaufe, through the interceflion 
 of the Mediator, the Prayers of all Sainrs are ac- 
 ceptable : This is even as if a man fhould credit 
 his able Advocat with the ranging of hisCaufe, 
 although he cannot, ( to fpeak fo ) mouth-band 
 his own tale, nor exprefs himfelf fatisfyingly to 
 himfelf in it; Hence we have thefe words often, 
 John 14. and r£. Whatever ye ask in try name, be~ 
 lievingly, ye [hall receive ; and whatever ye ask in 
 my nam*, 1 mil do it ; that is, when ye ground 
 the expectation of your hearing, and f peed-com- 
 ing in Prayer on me, and my mediation : when 
 folks becaufe of their fhort-comings in Prayer 
 give over the txpe&ation of a hearing, and a re- 
 turn, they give over, in fo far, the laying of 
 due weight on his Interceflion : only ye would 
 remember the terms on which a perfon is war* 
 ranted to make ufe of his Interceflion ; for when 
 he follows not his way, in the improving of ir # 
 we cannot expeft to come fpeed, or get good 
 by it. 2, A Believer in his bonds would expeel: 
 a Joufing, through the vertue of his Interceflion; 
 And this is another wayjhow we would improve 
 it in this cafe, when we are bound up, and ("to 
 fpeak fo ) Jangled, that we cannot ftii in prayer, 
 then we would have an eye to the efficacy of 
 Chrifts Interceflion , ( this is of continual 
 vigour and efficacy, even when we are very- 
 dead, indifpofed , and lifelefs, ) for the attain^ 
 ing of liberty and livelinefs; This is indeed to 
 caft a look to him, and fingly to improve rhe 
 efficacy of his Mediation, when we cannot fpeak 
 one word to work up cur felves to a diTpofiri- 
 on for that work: And thefe two go weJi to- 
 gether, to be improving his Inrerctflioij, fcr 
 obtaining what we need for the timeprefenf,ind 
 for the time to come and tt run vie are in Londs, 
 to be improving for liberty and freedom. 
 
 idiy. There i*. an ufe* making of Chrifts Inter- 
 ceflion called for ; both when we aim to ob- 
 tain any thing,- and when we have obtained that 
 which we would be at, 1. In our aiming to have 
 or obtain, we would improve it , that our ad- 
 drelfcs to God may be in his name, and our 
 Faith of obtaining may be founded on Chrifts 
 Interceflion, and not on our own, and that our 
 Faith may be (hyed, and fixed in exp-.£bticn of 
 :hing: The improving of. Chi ills Intercef- 
 i:on in this refpe£t leads us; 1. To the rigtrt way 
 of profecutingourfuits toG^d, and 2, It quiets 
 ard fixes us in expt&lh* of an anfwejr, ind 
 when this is wanting, (?hriftiansate either dil- 
 couraged, and know not faOw to purfuc their 
 c:.ufe, or elfe theyare carnally fifcure,5c prefump- 
 tuous, which is very ordinary; for tirncr, I 
 'Fee hi\e 
 
3?9 f 1/aiab J}, fljr/. Is. 
 
 have faid, we tre under in anxious fear, fo that much bitternefs 
 
 we know not how to go about dutie with any 
 
 hope of fuccefs ; or elfe wc grow fecure and 
 
 (lack, and careleg in dutie. 
 
 idly. There is an ufe- making of Chrifts- Inter- 
 
 Cffiion, when we have obtained any. benefit, 
 
 which keeps the Scui in his common and debt, 
 
 and in acknowledging it fclfto be his Debtor ; 
 
 This makes Chriftians, when they have gotten 
 
 any thing,. to be humble, and helps them to a 
 
 fanftificd ufe of the thing received ; whereas, 
 
 when this is forgotten, though Perfons may be 
 
 feemingly humble, when they are praying for a 
 
 thing in his name, yet when they have gotten 
 
 it, they grow carnal, and fome way wanton, 
 
 and he is forgotten, is if the benefit had never 
 
 come from himi But on the other hand, when 
 
 there is an acknowledgement of Chrifts Inter- 
 ceflion, when any thing is obtained : it keeps, 
 
 as I faid ; the Perfon humble, and holily afra ( d, 
 
 when it hath go: ten, as well as when it was feek 
 
 ing, and it makes warrie in uflng,and fearing to 
 
 abufe any benefit received , left it be found a 
 
 wrong and indignity done to Chrift and bis In- 
 
 terctffion. 
 
 idly. We may inftance the improving of 
 
 Chrifts Interceflion, both in a moft lad, and in a 
 
 moft cheeiful condition: In reference to both 
 
 which we Ihould make ufe of Chrifts Interceffi- 
 
 on ; and it being readily one of thefe conditi- 
 ons that we are in, either a more fad, or more 
 
 cheerful one ; we would think our felves dc- 
 fe&ivc, and faulty as to our duty, when we fuit 
 
 and conform not our way to our condition, 
 
 I. If it be a more fad condition, whether we 
 befpirituallyfadj the Soul being heavy, and re* 
 fufing to be comforted, or whether we be under 
 a temporal outward difconfolate condition, there 
 is an ufe making of Chrifts Interceflion called for 
 in both 5 For a Believer cannot btin any fo dif- 
 confolate a condition ; but he may draw re- 
 frefhing from this Fountain, in reference there- 
 to} and *hen we make not ufe of His Inter- 
 ceflion in each, as it occurs; either anxiety, 
 and difcouragement grows, or we turn to fome 
 unwarrantable and crooked mean , or way for 
 an out-gate from fuch a condition. 
 
 Now to make ufe of f and to improve Chrifts 
 Interceflion aright , in fuch a difconfolat con- 
 dition and cafe. i. The Soul would gather, and 
 compofe it fell, to fearchand fee what is ufeful 
 in Chrifts Interceflion for it's cafe j feing that 
 fad c fe cannot be imagined, but Chrifts Inter- 
 ceffion is a cordial for it, upon which, as aTo- 
 lid ground, th* Soul may be quiet, that k can- 
 Sot mifcarry in that for which it is now in fo 
 
 Serm. 70 K 
 feing Chrift Jefus hath tbe^ 
 managing of its cafe and caufe : Hence it may 
 reafon thus, although I was unwatchful , and 
 this condition came on me unawares, and-I was 
 furprifed with it, yet. it's not any furprife to 
 him ; He was not fleeping, though I was, Hd\ 
 knew what was coming, though I knew not; 
 therefore this will not hurt nor prejudge my 
 main caufe, becaufe it comes through his hand.i 
 2. There is an Improvement of his InterceflTori' 
 in this cafe, when the cut-gate, -though defpeJ 
 rat as to us, is yet hopeful by vertue thereof; 
 and when thisis made the only, or main ground 
 of cur hope, to wit, That there is a friend at 
 the Court of Heaven, who can order our caufe I 
 and make fuch a tiling work for our good, it -I 
 puts fpirits in us to pray, and actively to go a- 
 bout the ufe of the means } whereas, when we 
 ufe not the means, or ufe them without due, 
 . refpfcet to Chrifts Interceflion, thebufinefs be* 
 comes Reartlefs, hopelefs and defperat. 
 
 2. It our condition be, or fcem to be more 
 folacious and cheerful, there would be an im- 
 « proving of Chrifts Interceflion , left cur cheer- 
 fulnefs grow carnal, which it cannot othcrwayes 
 be, but when he is acknowledged to be the au- 
 thor of our folace, and chee rful n e fs ; when he 
 is depended upon for the continuance of it, and 
 when the praife of it is returned to him, it 
 bounds the heart, that there is no accefs to grow 
 carnal, in which refpeel, thefe things wherein 
 others grow carnal, fuch as health , ftrength, 
 meat, drink , apparel, commodious dwelling^ 
 the recovery of thcmfelves, of their Children, 
 or of other near Relations, or dear Friends from 
 ficknefs, &c. are thus fpi ritualised, and made 
 fpiritually refrtflbing to the People of God; be- I 
 caufe there is no up-taking of them, as coming f 
 through Chrifts Interceflion, and returning of 
 thanks to Him for them; Hence, Hck. 13. ij. 
 It's faid, By him therein let us offer the Sacrifices 
 ofpr*ifet»God; There being the fame accefs to 
 praife in our fpiritual cheerfulnefs, that there 
 is to pray in our heavinefs, and difficulties; He 
 that is the ground on which we ought to found 
 our prayer,is alio the ground on which we ought 
 to build eurpraifes, andit*< he that puts life in, 
 and va*ue upon, the one and the other. 
 
 4/y. We may inftance it in this cafe, when 
 the Believer is under challenges, it's then afpe- 
 cial feafen to make ufe of thrifts Interceflion, 
 and to put the Lybel in his hand to anfwer it ? 
 which )S done by Faith's refting on Him as a 
 Prieft, for the obtaining of anabfolution from 
 that charge, although we cannot anfwer it our 
 felves, yet expecting an anfwer through him ac 
 
 cording 
 
 
S m * a IjAiab e% 
 
 cording to that famous place Rom. 8. J4. W%» 
 Znajsny^ » the cbarge of Godt eUm Who 
 will lybel them ? among other rcafons of the 
 interrogation, which bath the fWce of negati- 
 on this is one ; It u Cbrift who dud, Wi rather 
 w bo is rilen again, who is. at the right hand ofGcd, 
 ,v l king txterceffionfor us : This turnilheth an An- 
 f* c r to the Charge put hi then hand ; Or.when 
 the B-liever is under calmnefs, and tranquilli* 
 rv his Interceffion would be improven i for 
 there ca.moc be a fanftified cilrnnefs without 
 depending on him, by vertuc of whofc Satis- 
 faction and Procurement we have it, and by 
 v«-tue"of whole Interceffion ;c s continued. 
 The Reafons why we have hinted at thefe 
 things are i« To hold out to yoa the con- 
 cernment of ChrirVs Interceffion; for we can- 
 not'beinthat cafe ; but the JkJievcr hath there- 
 in to do with it. 2. To (hew our great obligati- 
 on t - God, wo bath given us iuch an Inter- 
 ceiT urfor all thefe cafes; In tnis one wordtheie 
 is 'deed up a treafure of confolation , tor all 
 cafes that a Chriuiancsn be in. 3. That we may 
 bended to our duty of improving and making 
 ufe of nim according to the leveral cafes we are, 
 or may be in ; Fo. though his Intcrceihon be 
 mainly to be made ufe of when we come to 
 pray ' yet rot only then, but at other times, and 
 in other cafcs,aswhtn we fear any hazard, when 
 we need any good thing; when we expect, it, 
 Or would be cheerful on the receipt of it; and 
 when we are in any difficulty, and know not 
 what to do, we will find fomerhing called for 
 from us, in reference to his Offices and to this 
 in particular. 4. Becauf- this Lie-making of 
 Chriljs Interceffion commends Chrift , and 
 nr-ikeihim lovely to u> j An indeed that which 
 makes ^Believers think fo little of him, is in part 
 at leaftf the little improving of his Interceffion, 
 wh.ch fliould be made ul> of in the leaft things, 
 if it were when vvc need any thing, in our 
 'thought to bok up to God through him, and 
 to found the 'hope of our getting it on this 
 ground , becaufc there is an ImcrcciTour ; If 
 this were the practice of Believers daylv, they 
 would fee a neceffiy of thinking much cf him; 
 O 1 when will we be ferious ard confant in the 
 ufe making of this part of his Office ? ?. Be- 
 caufc it may fcrvealfo for ground of con viri- 
 on to many that arc called Chriliians, and who 
 go through many cafcS as:d difficulties, and yet 
 know not what it is to acknowledge him Ln his 
 Iftterccffinn: o! it'& a fad thing for folks to beat 
 the name of Chriftians, and yet if they wantany 
 good thing, and can get it another way. tluy 
 neglect ?nd rnisken hini;And if it be well with 
 themi&lfthey obtain vvhit the y would have, they 
 
 facrifice to their own net , and he is fl'ghtcd. 
 
 The next thing in order is, to remove iome 
 Objeftiom, and to anfwer tomeQutJiitns concern- 
 ing this improvement of Chriit's Interceffion, 
 in the manner that we have fpoken cf, and there 
 will readily be flore cf them in our carnal 
 minds. Now for the removing of thefe Objecti- 
 ons or Doubts, I mall lay down feme grounds 
 for direction, that may anfwer any D ubt of 
 that kind, which may arife paitly from the 
 doctrine, It being a puzling piece ofexercife to 
 fome, that they think they know cor how to 
 improve Chrifts Interceffion, or that they never 
 did it aright, or poffibly both thefe may be 
 their exercife. 
 
 The 1. ground I would lay down is this,That 
 ye would remember that there is an unfearch- 
 ablenefs in this myftery of the God- head, in the 
 myltery of Gods becoming Man, and in rhe 
 myftery of the Mediator his raking on thefe Of- 
 fices, to exercife them in our nature; and in 
 fpeaking or thinking of them, there is a necef- 
 fity to iilcnce th-t which cur curiofity would 
 propoic for Satisfaction about then-; as namely, 
 how there are , or can be three Perfons in the 
 God«hcad, and yet but ( ne God ? how one of 
 thefe Perfons can be Alan? and how it is that 
 by him we have accefs to God the Father, Son, 
 and Ho'y Ghoit ? There is Iilcnce required in 
 the how of thefe things, which leads to the next 
 direction , 2. We would fiudy Satisk&ion in 
 the matter of the truth it felf, rather than to be 
 poung into the manner, or how of profound My- 
 llenes, efpecially fuch as concern the blciTed 
 God-head ; winch f J higher than the heavens, broad' 
 tr than the earth, deipertban the fea : That is, ( as 
 we hinted at before ) we would fiudy rather to 
 know that there is fuch a thing, then how it isz 
 and in this particular, we know that the Son of 
 God became M«m, took on our nature, and in 
 our mture died, rofe agiin, and afcended to 
 Heaven, fat t'own on the right hand of God, 
 and makes Interceffion for us > Xfeefc are clear- 
 But if we a k , ho* tiieie things can be ? That 
 God can be Mai, and the two natures can be 111 
 one Perfon, and how God can interceed ? they 
 are things much above cur reach , and not fo 
 property tie object of our Faith, ( I fay, as to 
 the ho-ao cf them ) and our Confolation lyes not 
 fo much in knowing hew fuch a thing is, as in 
 knowing that it is: And I make no queftion. 
 but theie are many who pray in Faith, becaufe 
 there is an IntcrcdTour, who, if the quclti- 
 •*on were asked , how he performs «ha{ w.>ik? 
 Tluy could not tell well , if at alj ; Til 
 that can t:ll moft cf it , arc but v 
 wcrant of it, and can tell but ii:" 
 
 E c e 1 The 
 
3H . J f aUh *3 
 
 The Lord in his goodnefs hath fo ordered the 
 matter.that he hath given grounds for the Faith 
 ofhisPeon-le, ro walk on in their duty, tutwill 
 not fatisfie their curiofity ; and truly if we will 
 ferioufly reflet, we will find that thefe things 
 which moll readily vex us, are queftions about 
 the manner, and not about the matter of things, 
 we do not doubt but the Son of God is Gcd, 
 that the holy Ghoft is God, and that he pro- 
 ceeds from the Father and the Son ; that the fe- 
 cond Perfon of the Trinity became Man, &c. 
 But the perplexing queftion is, ho-a thefe things 
 are or can be ? The Lord hath made it neccfTa- 
 ry, to be believed, that there is one God, and 
 three Perfons in the God-head; but to be in 
 reafon'fatisfied, as to the h*» t or manner of their 
 fubfiftance, and operations, that is not requir- 
 ed as necefTary ; So is it here in this matter of 
 Chrift's Inrerccfiion ; And therefore this fecond 
 direction is, that ye would ftudy clearnefs in the 
 grounds that ye are to go upon, in the ufcrna- 
 king of his Interceflion ; but ye would not be 
 curious in fecking fatisfa&ion about the kow, 
 or manner of it. 
 
 S: In our addreffcs to God, and in our im- 
 proving of C h i i ft s Interceflion, we would be- 
 v are of imagining, or framing in our imagina- 
 tion Reprefentations to our feives of him, who 
 is the object of our Worfhip, or of the manner 
 of the Mediators Interceflion, as if we had fcen 
 him, or heard him with our bodily eyes, or ears; 
 a thing thatfometimes is fafhious and trouble* 
 fome, as well as it is finful, and which we 
 are not called to; yea, if it were pofiib'e to at- 
 rain to any Reprefcntation of this kind, yet it's 
 but a Reprefcntation of our own forming, and 
 lb a breach of the fecond Command : And there- 
 fore in going to God through the Mediator, 
 never reprefent to your feives one party (land- 1 
 ingbefide, cr by another; For that is bjgt a di- 
 verting of the Soul from the exercife of J?ait/i 
 on a purely r - 
 
 ^ritual andfimple object ? and de« 
 legatory to the Miijefry ct God : 2nd y;hcn 
 ever fuch Reprefentations are made, or rife in 
 the imagination, or in the mind, God would be 
 looked to, for cruming of them ; Ir's from this 
 thtt many of our doubts and queftions arifc, 
 and there is no loofing of them, but by the 
 abandoning of them; If there were 2 podibiljty 
 to conceive fomerhing like God, yet the Lord 
 abhorreth that; and Deut. 4. 1 5. and 1*. 30. All 
 Similitudes and Reprefentations of God are dis- 
 charged. 
 
 4. In our addrefTcs to God through the Me- 
 diator, we would red ojr Faith on what is re- 
 vealed in the Word, fecking rather to take up 
 
 M- ". ( Serm. 70. 
 
 God and Chrift, as they are revealed in it, than 
 without the Woid , to feek Satisfa&ion to our 
 curiofity ; we would from the Word ftudy to 
 tai.eup the attributes of God, His omnifcience, 
 cmnipotency , omniprefence , wifdom , grace, 
 and mercy, purity and holinefs, foveisignity, 
 and ahfolute dominion, in guiding all ; and as 
 being at fuch an inflnit diftance from, and in- 
 finitly above all creatures, that thereby a right 
 imprefTion of God may be wrc ught in the heart; 
 we would likewifc ftudy clearnefs in the pro- 
 Ciifes made concerning Chrift and his Offices ; 
 and in application to God, we would fix our 
 Faith on thefe known grounds; believing we 
 fhall be heard, and being quiet on that: Mfes 
 Exid. 33. Is under a vehement longing to fee 
 God, Ibcfcech thee, faith he,/tan> me thy glory: The 
 Lord tells him, that he cannot fee it, and live, 
 but he willmake hitgeodncfrpafe before him : He will 
 Jet him fee as much as is meet ; and Chap. 34, 
 When he gives him his anfuer; It is not any 
 glorious vifible brightnefs he lets him fee, but 
 he proclaims his name to him ; The Lord the Lord 
 God, merciful and gracious, &c. And comparing the 
 words with the fcope. Ic fayes that there can be 
 no faving uptaking of God, but as he is reveal- 
 ed in the word ; and that way we arc to be fix- 
 ed in the Faith of the excellency that is in him, 
 and in going to him by Prayer, through the 
 Mediator, we would guard againft any Reprt- 
 fentation , and fix our Faith on clear Promifes, 
 and Attributes, as Scripture holds him forth. 
 
 5. We would endeavour rather to have a 
 compofed frame of Spirit, with holy reverence 
 in the exercife of Fear, Faith, and Love, and of 
 .other fpiritual Graces, than to fill cur under* 
 fhnding with things mecrly fpeculative , and 
 Itfs practical and profitable"; ana fuppofingthat 
 we are in fome mcafure clear, in what is reveal- 
 ed of God., and of his attribute, and promifesin 
 the Word, in as far as may found our Faith, and 
 warrandusroput up fuch and fuch fuits to God 
 through the Mediator, and that we come to 
 him in holy reverence, we are rather to exercife 
 our Graces, and have an eye downward, in re- 
 fljfting on our fclves,feekingto be clear,in\vhac 
 is called for in a worfhipperofGod, than to be 
 curioufly poring& prying into theObjeft of our 
 w«rfhip,Himfelf ; And therefore let this be well 
 ftudied, even to be up at that wherein we are 
 clear, and which we do not queftion, nor make 
 any doubt of; as namely, that we fheuld be in a 
 compofed frame of Spirit,in holy revercnce,and 
 underthedue impreflion of thcMajefty or God.- 
 and then there will be the lefs hazard, if any ac 
 alj, of going wrong; whereas, if we divert from 
 
 this 
 
ibtrm. 71. t , *i***» 53- 
 
 this,and feck to fatlsfie our felves in the how, or 
 manner of wptaking of God j we will but myre 
 our felves, and mar the frame of our own Spi- 
 rits, and bring our felves under an incapacity 
 of going about duty rightly. 
 
 This much we have fpoken to on the Third 
 part of the Ufe of Exhortation, wherein we allow 
 afober and folid up-taking of thethings "of 
 God; and in as far as may be profitable for 
 founding of our Faith, and for guiding of our 
 Practice, but not to fatisfie curiofity; For if we 
 once go to chafe, and follow gueftion upon que- 
 
 rerie i z, 
 
 ftion, in what concerns the Doftrlnal, and fpL 
 culativc part of this Doftrine, we will run our 
 fdve$ a ground ; and therefore God having 
 made thefe things wherein our duty neceflarily 
 lyes, clear, that there is no hazard ro go wrong 
 infingle following of it, we would fhidy theft 
 things that are clear ; ( which might be another 
 dire&ion ) and .hold us with, and at what we 
 are clear in, and not fuffer our minds to run cut 
 on either groundlefs, cr unprofitable fpeculati- 
 ons ; God himfelf help to the fuirable practice 
 ofthefe things; and to him be praife. 
 
 Verfe tw 
 
 SERMON LXXL 
 
 ISAIAH Lin. XII. 
 
 And he made intercejjim for the trinfgrcjf.urs. 
 
 IT's a great mercy that God hath beftowed 
 fuch a Mediator on Sinners, that He hath 
 given fuch an High Prieft, that can be 
 touched wit?i the feeling of Sinners in- 
 firmities, fo as to make Interceilion for them ; 
 And O! butlc's a great mer:y to be helped to 
 make right ufe of him : Wh»n thefc two go to- 
 gether, to wit, a Savieur offered, furnifhcd with 
 all thefe Offices of K>'ng, Pritfl and Prophet ; 2nd 
 a Soul fan&ified, and guided by the Spirit of 
 God, in making ufe of him according to thefc 
 Offices, it's a wonderfully, and unconceivably, 
 gracious difpenfation ; And it's no doubt a very 
 valuable mercy to be helped to make ufe of this 
 part of Chrifts Office ; to wit, of his Intercef- 
 fion » This is that whereof we have begun fomc 
 few days fince to fpsak to you, and for the bet- 
 ter clearing of it, we endeavoured to anfwer 
 fome doubts, orqueftions, that it may be, have 
 arifen,&been toffed in the minds of fome, while 
 we have been difcourfing of, and opening up 
 this matter: That which we would now fpeak 
 a little to, is a fubjeft of that nature, that con- 
 fidering our lhallowntfs in up-taking ofthefe 
 things, we cannot eafily tell, whether it be bet- 
 ter to fpeak or to forbear the fpeaking of any 
 doubt, or queftion, left one occafion another; 
 And therefore moft certainly there would be 
 much fobriety here, and an abandoning of all 
 finful curiofity ,- left unfeafonable and intern- 
 perat defires to know , either what is not to 
 be known, or wlm we cannot know, mar and 
 obftruft our improvement of what we do , or 
 may know ; fcv^ral things doubted of may be 
 
 moved and objected here; but we mall only 
 fpeak a word to the clearing of thefc Four. r. 
 Something concerning the Objeft of worflvp, 
 and particularly of Prayer in general- 2. We 
 (hall confider how the Afediator is the objett of 
 our Prayer , or how he may be prayed unto. 
 3. A word more particularly ; in reference to 
 the form of fome particular Petitions, and to 
 what feems moft warrantable from the word in 
 thefe. 4. We (hall anfwer fome practical doubts 
 that have , or may have fome puzling influence 
 on the confeiences of fome Chriftians; But as I 
 faid, we had need, in fpeaking and hearing of 
 thefe things, to be awed with fome deep impref- 
 fion of the Majefty ot God on our hearts, left 
 we medle carnally with matters ofmoftfubli- 
 mely fpiritual and holy nature • For clearing of 
 the flfrfl then, we lay down thefe aflertions, The 
 1. whereof is, That as there is one woifhlp, 
 fo there is no formal Objeft of worihip but God; 
 This is clear, kecaufe the worfhipping of nny 
 with divine worihip, as namely with believing 
 in them, or praying to them, l'uppofes them to 
 have fuch Attributsof Omnifcience , Omnpo- 
 tency, Supremacy, &c. As are only agreeable to 
 the Majefty of God : For we cannot p\.y to 
 one, but we mult believe that he hears us, and 
 fo that he is Omnifcient; that he is able to help 
 us wid fo Omnipotent ; thai he is above all, 
 and fo fupream \ as it is, Rem. 10, 14 H>w Jhall 
 they call-In him in whom they h.ive r.o: 
 There can be no divine Objeft cf woiflwp to 
 lettls the Soul u^on , but where the eflcntial 
 
 Attn 
 
lfaUh J|. 
 3 94 -t. r r K- God-head arc ; and it's on this 
 
 ' 1 r tf!feriie tfTcnial pro- 
 
 1-^ MiUfty of God f as well asEtenuty 
 
 ; i i; v are There can be no Ador- 
 a . a Immutability are , n «■ . f 
 
 lor^p-an^'he'eis none c.fible of 
 th?.r woi Inp, ana bchg dllc ar d 
 
 ^, r/nPm onh l "Vlt though rhpre 
 God-head diftina, vet there are not three d 
 
 Perf. it. Jerm 7*. 
 
 Son, men would then beware of thinking thiC 
 there is a difference in the Object they are 
 praying to; or, as if they began to piay to one 
 of the Perfons , and now they are praying to 
 another, as a diftinct paity ; for it is ftill the 
 fame God, who is the O; ject of woifhip ; We 
 obierve it , to teach ycu calmnefs, fobeinefs, 
 and ccmpofcdr.efs of -frame in approaching to 
 God*, wherein foiks would beware of curious 
 t< fling in their m nd , and imagination, whan 
 may be the Object of their worship, and of fuf. 
 fering it to run in an irchingly curie us way on 
 
 n- i'nr fti of Woifhip, but one Objcd of the oininction of the Perfons ; but would flay 
 
 iv, n ■ I.. . TN" Father is not one Object their mind upon one God in three Perfons, and 
 
 ^ V Vn \he Son another, and the Holy feck after no more. 
 
 of Worlhip, the ^. ^ hw> So ^ and Ho , y Tne 2d ^ Howthc McdiatorIs t l K object 
 
 Oho»L a en ' Object of Worfhip ; of our prayers, or may be prayed unto ( and foi 
 
 I* .clea.ing of this, we would piopofe thefe con- 
 
 ray to one, we pray to all; I ne 
 nd r W . ! ? ,W P Becaufe though there be three 
 
 reafon is clear, 
 
 bu 
 
 we 3 
 the 
 
 r -i,,. nod-heid, vet there is bu' one 
 
 I^n "la "h G,dtad , & Che divine efl-n- 
 
 fJofe God ) are elT.ntial, end agree to .11 
 
 Perrons of the God-head ; ibe Father hath 
 
 not on" Omnipoterxy, and the Son another, 
 
 ""a"... there t-vo Omnipotent^, tut one 
 
 n ; "JL '3o li and fo in other Attributes, 
 
 ?£?V "he fame e&nti.l prunes of the 
 
 r^W and ino mmunicabie ' And there- 
 
 foretho -h the Father be another ferlbn, and 
 tore t>o. „■■ . . he ,. „.,- an0 . 
 
 h^VthilfolXbutthe'iWaod.w.ththe 
 S ", «dttoly Ghoft ; And although the Per- 
 thtt hive a real diftinctionamongft tkemfelw*. 
 It nc of them are really diftinct J™**** 
 God head; and fo there is but one Object of 
 Worftdp" end therefore, though fomenmes all 
 the Perfons be n=med, yet .t's not co ftew any 
 diftihctU in the Object of our wc.ft.p, bucto 
 ft w v »o isthe OSjectof our eorft.p; cowie, 
 ^e God yet three Perfons or m three. ?. 
 Tha though in prayer to God w. may name 
 eifh-r cKe lather, the Son, or the Ho,y Ghoft, 
 &S. « name, ifs .Iw.yes the fame 
 '-" r ij >Lr S-n and Holy Ghoft that is ivor- 
 r j ° ,'*4 Arrd th " f lowe* well on the for- 
 • .1 ,rav be Se u!e of it : For if the Fa- 
 S5 h God 'and if we .eorftip h,m as GoJ.we 
 tiur 0. ^ lu - .. b „ we mu ft woifhip the 
 
 hsfamc God, having the f.me elTentul At* 
 
 4*. Whcnfcevcrwepray 
 Pcrfon*. we would not 
 
 tributes: And rhere 
 
 to nnd name one of the region-, 
 
 Ao^eive that lie is lefs woHrnpped, that is nam- 
 
 5 A that we pr.y Uis colmn tnat ,s not nam. 
 
 ed a i t may be in the fame pray*, when a 
 
 Pe'rfoVb-ins at firft, he names the Father.and 
 
 ll'Sfc.teh Preceded a Ink, nc names the 
 
 piop 
 
 ^derations, i. That ir is a certain truth, that 
 the Pcrfon that is the Mediator is the Ob- 
 ject of our worlhip and may be prayed unto, 
 b-caufe he is God, the fecond PerJon ot the 
 God head ; And therefore jffsj. attheclofe,a 
 direct prayer is put up to him by Stephen, Lord 
 Jt]jU* t laith he, rtcuve my Spirit. 2. Wc lay this, 
 That the Adoration and Woifliip that is given 
 to the Mediator, is not of any diftinc*t kind from 
 that Adoration, and Worship that is given to 
 the Father, jmd the Holy Ghoft, but the fame 
 fupream divine woifliip, for he is the fame God 
 wirh the Father and Holy Ghoft ; and although 
 he be Mediaror, it derogates nothing from his 
 God head ; and the Scriprure fpeaking of no di- 
 vine Worfhip bur c,ne, we are therefore not to 
 conceive him to be woifiiippcd with lefs con- 
 fidence, fear, or reverence than the other Per- 
 fons of the Trinity : For there is no fuch wor- 
 fhip in Scripture, and to give him lefs, wculd 
 dcrogat from the Maje^y of Jcfus Chrift, who 
 is God equal with the Fatf cr, and the Spirit ; 
 For, although as Mediator, he be.infeucur to 
 the Farher, yet the Pcrfon whem we worfhip, 
 is God egual wirh the Father, and the Holy 
 Ghoft. 3. The worshipping < f Jcfus Chrift Me- 
 diator, 2nd the giving of him d.'vire worfhip.is 
 not the worfhipping of any other Objc£f, but 
 of the fame to wir, God, who is made fkfh, 
 and is manjfefted in our nature, by the 1 nion 
 of the fecond Pe.fon of 'heGod head, with the 
 humane nature which he ha'Ii alTumed and taken 
 to him; upon which ir follows , that Jcfus 
 Chrift muft be the fame Objeft of woifhip, and 
 that our worfhipping of him, is the worfhip- 
 ping of Godi and that our praying to him, is 
 praying to Gcd the Father, Son and Spirit: 
 And there Is reafon to take heed to this be- 
 caufc, when we in prayer are fpeaking to tic 
 Mediator , thoughts may- il eal in x 
 
oerm. 71. m—m* j j« 
 
 were not fo Immediatly and direaiy fpeaking 
 eo God, as when we name the tatner. 4- 
 Confider, That Cfuift Jefus being Worshipped 
 with this divine Worfhip, as the one Object of 
 Worfhip ( for as we {hew, there cannot be two 
 Obicfts of divine VVorfhip ) it will follow, that 
 Chrift Jefus as Goi is Woifhipped, for though 
 it be the Perfon that's Mediator, and Man that 
 is Worfhipped ; yet it's net the Perfon as Man, 
 but as Goi, that is Worfhipped ; And the rea- 
 fon is clear , becaufe it's not Chrift Jefus as 
 Man, but as God' that ruth thefc Properties of 
 God, to be Omni fcient, Omni-pstent, Infinir, 
 Supream, Adorable, &c* And therefore as up- 
 on rhe one fund, we fay that Chrift God died, 
 and fuffered, becaufe he being God and Man in 
 one Perfon/ the Perfon that was and is God 
 died, and fuffered, though the God-head did 
 not fuffer, neither can fuffer : So upon the o- 
 ther hand, we fay, that Chuft-Man is prayed 
 unto, becaufe he who is Gcd^Man is prayed 
 unto , as God j But though there be an union 
 of the two natures, in the Mediators Perfon, 
 and though the Properties of the one nature be^ 
 fomcrimes Attributed to the other, became of 
 the ftraitnefs of the Union, yet we muft ftill 
 keep the Properties of each nature diftincl, and 
 in our Worfhip to make application to him. con- 
 fider him according ; As to be finir, agrees 
 to his humane nature, and is to be Attributed 
 to that; and to be infinite, agrees to his divine 
 nature, is co be Attributed to him in refpeel 
 of that j To clear it a little, ( if it be pcfliblcfor 
 us to clear it ) we muft conceive in our Wor- 
 shipping of God, in the Perfon of a Mediator, 
 a threefold Objeft of our Worlhip ; Cfor fo Di« 
 vines ufeto diftinguifh, and we would hold us 
 clofs by them ) i The Material Objeft, or the 
 Object which we Worfhip,that is the Perfon we 
 pray to. 2. The Formal Obje£t of our Worfhip, 
 or that which is the ground or account on which 
 we Worfhip that Peifon. 3. The Oijeft ofour 
 C9>}Jtd<ration t in our Worfhipping of that Per- 
 fon, on that account i As for inltance. 1. The 
 Man Chrift Jefus is the Perfon whom we Wor- 
 lhip, or pray unto ; but ?, The formal Object 
 of our Worfhip is Chrifts God- head, and we pray 
 to him on that account, becaufe He is the Eter- 
 nal, Infinir, Omni-potenr, Supream, tfc. inre* 
 fpeft of his Divine Nature. 3. In our Worfhip- 
 ping. of this Mediator, on this account, or 
 ground, (he mind may be fwayed to if, on con- 
 fidermon that the Perfon whom we Worfhip is 
 God, is alfo the Mediator and Man ; and this 
 piopofes no newObjett of Worfhip, but gives 
 a motive to induce us ro Woifhip him, and 
 warms the heart with love to him ; as when 
 we go to pray to him, the mind may ccnlidcr 
 
 him is one that died ; now fo confidered 
 he is not the Objeft ofour Worfhip, becaufe it 
 holds him out as humbled, and fuffcring, yet 
 our fo confidering him ftrengthens Faith j to 
 expert what we need from him , and ir indu- 
 ces to pray to him , and engages to leve him: 
 even as the People of Ifrael , in praying to God, 
 fometimes ufed that Title, 0:r Trimmer that 
 brought us out of Egypt: Yet the ground, and ac- 
 couaton which they Worfhipped him, was his 
 being the Eternal, Infinir, and -Omnipotent 
 God, and the conlidcrat on of his Work* were 
 but motives to induce h m to Worfhi > him, 
 and to Aiengthen their Faith, in expecting what 
 they flood in need of from him: So is ir here, 
 for if it were pcflible to conceive, that the Me- 
 diator that died were not God, we would not 
 pray to him , for God is the alone Objeft of 
 Divine Worfhip; yet to ccniider , that he is 
 God, and yet died, is an inducement to us, to 
 pray to him, and it ftrengthens eur Faith to 
 confider, that as he is God, and alfo Alan, one 
 that died, and hath alfo entered himfelf in this 
 near Relation to us. 
 
 For rhe 3^. ( Which will help to clear the 
 former ) That is, the furm of fuch Petitions 
 as may be ufed , in Petitioning the Mediator; 
 we need the lefs to Hand on ir, if ( as hath bc«n 
 laid') we hold us Hy thefe grounds. I. That 
 there is but one Ohjeft of \Vo»fhip. 2. That 
 this one Object of Woifhip is Gcd. 3* That in 
 Worfhipping the Mediator, we do not divide 
 that Object of our Worfhip: Yet we fliall 
 fpeak a word for clearing, 1. What formieeros 
 moft allowable here? 2. For clearing offome- 
 what, which we hinted at the other day, anent 
 one particular form of Petition. 
 
 Firft then, this is clear, that we may pray d> 
 reftly to the Mediator, by naming him, as 
 Stfphen does , Afts 7. at the clofe. 2. That the 
 Mediator, when prayed to, may be confidered 
 as fuch by us ; for there is a difference betwixt 
 that which is confidered by lis, in the Av"t of 
 our Worfhip, and rlnt which is rhe OSjcft of 
 that AcV> and ( as we faid) the motive t/iatin- 
 duces us to that Aft is c ;;c uprakirg of him ss 
 Mediator. 3. That he mrfy be-defigred Media* 
 tor and Redttner, and may get thefe Njmesand 
 Titles, becaufe they ferve to ftrengthert our 
 Faith, and to warm our affections to Dim j 
 as when the People cr* Krael prayed ro God, thty 
 remembrcd that he was their Redeemer 2: 
 Jiverer, and had wrought fo and fo for 
 and thefe were motives to induce them to 
 pray, and ferved co ftrengthen their Fairli 
 in praying to him , yet t 
 count on which they Worfhippcd 
 
 v is 
 
orf ifaiah $ 
 
 was his own infinlt gloiicus Majeny. 4. It's 
 clear that when the Mediator 11 piaved unto, 
 fome'thing may be fought from him,, that igiees 
 to the OnVe of the Mediator: for lnftance, he 
 may be prayed unto, to take to him his Govern- 
 ment, and to exerce it, to give gifts unto men, 
 to s ither his own Elett, to make his will effect- 
 ual for the ingathering of them, &c. yos even 
 then a difference would be put betwixt the Ob- 
 jeer of ourfuire, and the matter we lmteior, 
 which belongs to him as Mediator, yet as God 
 he is the Object of our fuit and prayer : This 
 ieems to be hinted at, Pjal. 4 5- when the Pjalm- 
 t(l fpeaking of the Son the Mediator, iayes, G.rd 
 thy fword upon thy thigh, ride pnjperoufy; let the 
 kings arrows be /harp in the hearts of his enemies : 
 Which upon the matter feems clearly to relate 
 to Chiifts executing his Office as Mediator, yet 
 look to the Title he gives him, and the ground, 
 or account on which he puts up h.s prayer, it s 
 the confederation of him as God; Thereiore, he 
 fayes , O th»u moji mighty ! a divine Attribute 
 pointing him out to be God; And thy throne, O 
 God, ( faith he ) it from everltfting, Sec 
 
 Now as for the 2d. thing, If all this be grant- 
 ed, it may then be asked, why we feern not to 
 befatisfied with that manner of exprelfion , or 
 form of Petition, which we hinted at the other 
 day, Lord Jefus t make interCfJjjhu fir me, plead for 
 me, xaith, or before the Father ? Seing we allow fuch 
 a Petition as this, Lord Jefus, make me partaker of 
 thy intentflim, and the like, as warrantably,wrun 
 •we put up with Reverence and Faith, the fame 
 Object of VVorQiip being invocat with them 
 both? Jnfxocr 1. We fay, that the ufe-making, 
 and improving of Chrifts Interceffion, is not to 
 bej reftricted to this manner of expreflion, or 
 form of Petition, and it was for this end that 
 we obferved it : For it cannot be faid, that only 
 we make ufe of Chrifts Interceffion , when we 
 ufe this form, and fo it's not eflVntial, nor ne- 
 ceffary to the ufe-making of Ch rift's Interctfliom 
 This is the fault that is in it, as if there were 
 no ufe- making of his Interctflion, butwhenthis 
 form of Petition isufed, whereas we fhew, that 
 it is mamlv the exeicife of Faith, refting o;i 
 his Iurerceflion , whereby >t is improves ; and 
 on e may be ufing this form of ■■vords,and yet not 
 be improving his Interceflionlanxl another may 
 uf c this form of Words, and yet be improving 
 it, when Faith is exercifed on it? indtherefcre 
 to imorove his Interceffion, is rather by theex- 
 ■'rcilVof Faith to reft on ic. than in auy fuch 
 form of wordsc 1 pray to him,md that we wen' J 
 not think that C drift's Interceffion is made - 
 or", when the Father is prayed unco, or v\hea 
 
 3 Htf »*• Serm. jiM 
 
 fuch a form of words is not ufed, but placed in 
 the exercife of Faith alone. 2. We fay, if fuch 
 a Petition be well undcrftcodand qualified, it is 
 not (imply (inful or evil, if fo be our meaning 
 in it amount to this much.Lord Jefus, let me be 
 partaker of the benefits cf thyIntercclTion,even 
 as we may pray, Lord Jefus, let me be partaker 
 of the benefits of thy Satisfaction ; yet we 
 fay, it would be well underftood and qualified ; 
 and a Perfon in putting up fuch a Petition would 
 advert well, that he be notpraying to any other 
 Object of,Worfhip but God, and that his mean- 
 ing be the fame, as if he were praying to the Fa* 
 thcr, and faid, Father, let me be accepted through 
 tbe Interceffion of the Son: and thus the one is 
 an improving of Chrift*s Interceffion, as well as 
 the other; for although the altering the nomi- 
 nation of the Perfon may ftrengthen Faith, yet 
 it is never to befo underftood, as if there were 
 a different Object in Worfhip, orasif there were 
 lefs accefs to Chrift's Interccificn, or to tlie be« 
 nefits thereof,inthe one form than in the other. 
 Yet 3. we fay there is often a readinefs to mif- 
 carry in this form of Petition; For ye would 
 confider and examine. 1. If it dorh not often 
 flow from a mif informed judgement within, 
 and if it hath not a tendency in it, toobfeurethe 
 nature of the Unity of the Obeject of our Wor- 
 ship, and readily difpofing to, or flowing from 
 this opinion, that praying to the Mediator is 
 not the fame, that praying to God is, asif there 
 were two diftinct objects of Worfhip. Or, a. 
 If there be not a readinefs to confider the Per- 
 fon that's Mediator to be of lefs Glory and Ma- 
 jefty than the Father, and to confider the Father 
 to be of lefs loving kindefs and tendernefs to 
 finners than the Son, and to other things of that 
 kind, which move Feople to put up fuch a 
 fuire in fuch a form, which makes it fo difficult 
 to keep the thoughts of one Object of Worfhip 
 under fuch a form, than orh:rwayes: Yet 4. we 
 fay it may be ufed byt and accepted of God, from 
 many that have net that diftinctnefs, and clear- 
 nefs in the ridding of their thoughts,in this My« 
 fiery that is requ'fir, becaufe there may be real 
 Faith under fuch a formof words, ( though in- 
 firmity in the ufe making of Chrift's InterCeffi. 
 o 1 ) and God refpects that wherever it is. And 
 under fuch a form there may be two things. 
 1. A Soul-fcnfiblenefs, that the Perfon hath no 
 accefs to God * but through a Mediator. 2. A 
 r:fting on the Mediator for acceptance, & where 
 th^c rwo are, though the form be ufed, it may te 
 accepted; although if Faith be, though this form 
 be not , ic macs not the Pcifons acceptation ; 
 
 For 
 
Scrm. 71. f *f** h ** ViT $- »*• J97 
 
 For no queftion many of the People of God, Prayers to God, with the one word difclaiming 
 
 both before Chrift came , and fometime after, 
 had not that diftinttnefs in ufe-making of the 
 Interceffion of Chrift, as now is holden forth, 
 as Chrift fayes to hisDifciples, John \6. a 4 . Hi- 
 therto )e have a:ked nothing m my navee; and Cornelia 
 us mentioned, Aci. 10. and others, their prayers 
 were accepted of God, though they refted by 
 faith on the Mediator in a more contufed daik 
 way, and had not that diftin&nefs in them, of 
 ufe-making of him, which was afterward more 
 clearly revealed ; And therefore, j. and laftly, 
 though we will not be peremptory in condemn* 
 ing iuch a form akogether,yet we think it large- 
 ly as fafe to abftain from any fuch foim of 
 words, in the ufe making of Chrifts Interccffi- 
 on, as may have in them any appearance of, or 
 tendency to the dividing of the Obfcft of our 
 worfliip, or the Mediator from his God* head, 
 efpecially in praying with, or for others, where 
 it may ftumble more than edific; and when it 
 
 I is ufed, it would be very warrily, and well 
 guarded, remembring alwayes that theimprov 
 ing of Chrifts Interccffion confifts more in Faiths 
 refting on it, and in making addrefs to God 
 through him, and according to the ufual man- 
 ner of the Scripture, than in any other thing 
 or way whatsoever; 
 
 The 4. thing we propofed to fpeak a word 
 to, was fome Practical Doubts or Queftions, that 
 may puzle fome Chriftians, who, having obfetv 
 ed what hath beenfpoken en this fubjeft, may 
 be ready to think, and fay, That the improving 
 of Chrifts Interceffion is to them a greater my- 
 ftcry than ever it was, many times they have 
 prayed and minded it not, and when they mind 
 it, they are not diftin& in their improving of it, 
 •nd they are never like to mind it: For Jnfwer, 
 r. Ye would look to what is eiTential to the inv 
 provement of Chrifts Interceffion, and make that 
 fure ; And if ye ask, what it is ? It takes in thefe 
 Four, which where they are, His Interceffion is 
 made ufe of, though there may be unclearnefs 
 in mmy other things, 1. That aPerfon pray to 
 God, that he be called on and worlhipped. a. 
 Tnat our addrelTes be not founded on any thing 
 in our (elves, but that there be a renouncing of 
 our own Righteoufnefs, as it was with Daniel, 
 Chap. 9. it. Wt do not prefent our [application unto 
 thee, for our own righteoufnefs, &c. 3. That there 
 be a believing of our acceptation through Jefus 
 Chrift, though there be adiftance betwixt God 
 and us, yet there is a way through the ufe-ma- 
 king of Chrift to come over that diftance, and 
 to win at nearne&to Him. And 4. Upon that 
 account to enter our fuit, and to put up our 
 
 our own Righteoufnefs , and with the other, 
 pleading on the account of Gods mercy, throigh 
 Ciirift, as Darnel doth; Not for our own right tout- 
 neft, but for thy mercies fake , and for thy names fake; 
 Now I lYppofe that Souh Gieuld not be able to 
 anfwer fevera) qucllions about the ObjeS of 
 woifhip, and the way of improving of Chrifts 
 Interccffion » yet if they call upon Ood,. if they 
 renounce their own Righteoufnefs, not know- 
 ing any ground in thcmfclves ro lean to, or to 
 put up their fuite on, and make ufe of Chrift 
 for the ground of the^r acctpr.nce with God 
 and if it were asked them , what gives you 
 ground to expeft a hearing of your Prayers* 
 they would anfwer, even the fame that gives ur, 
 ground to expeft pardon cf Sin, and we would 
 never expeft to win to either without a Media- 
 tor, they are amongft them who are improving 
 Chrifts Interceffion, and fuch wauld filencc 
 and ufh other queftions, if they be clear in this. 
 2. We anfwer, That there may be a real ufe- 
 making of Chrifts Interceffion, and it may be 
 accounted fo, where there is much indiftinftnefs 
 in the uptaking of it; as thefe inftances clear, 
 of Cornelius, Alls 10. and of the Difciples , John 
 io\ who prayed not on the account of their 
 own Righteoufnefs, or of theCovenantof worksj 
 ( for they made confeffion of their fin ) yet the 
 Mediator , and his Interceffion was not fo di- 
 ftincliy as fuch confidered by them in their io> 
 doing, for they did not diftin£Uy take up him, 
 as Chrift fayes, Hitherto ye have asked nothing its 
 my name ; yet there was an actual reft ng on him 
 by Faith, and their Prayers were no doubt ac* 
 cepted of God, He not being fo diftinttly known 
 to be the InterceiTour as now he is; and there- 
 fore there is required a more diftinft ufe»mak* 
 ing of him now, and not a refting on him inde- 
 finitely, but particularly ard d ftin&ly, He bc« 
 ing clearly revealed now to be the Media'or. 3- 
 We anfwer, That Believers m?y fometimes be 
 making ufe of Chrifts, In'erceffion, in approach- 
 ing to God by him, and yet thtmfcJves not 
 knowing diftin&ly, that they are doing fo ; As 
 we fee in the Difciples, John 14 4. Chiift fayes, 
 Whither I go j e know , and the way ye know ; And v» 
 6. fpeaking of coming to the Father by him. 
 He fayci, lam the way, thetrurh, and the life; md 
 yer, v. c Thomas fayes, Lord, we know not whither 
 thou gotfi, and how can ve know the way? Ai.d the 
 Lord turns it over to him, and *ayc$ , thar they 
 have both known him and the way : As alio Believ- 
 ers may fometimes through want of clearnefs 
 and diftin&nefs in this, what it is to make ufe 
 of Chrifts Intciccflion, or bccaufcthcy want 
 F f f that 
 
39* M'k *3, 
 
 thar meafure of diftin£tnefs they would be at, 
 think that they are doing nothing, as to the ufc- 
 making of his Interceflion, and yet the work of 
 Gods Spirit, though they know it not weiJ« 
 may be leading them; For it's in this,as it is in 
 the ufe-making of his Satisfa&ion, a Believer 
 may be making ufe of Chrifts Satisfaction, and 
 be jnftificd by it, when he knows not that it is 
 fo, or poflibly cannot well tell what it is to 
 make ufe of ir, which may quiet any rifingsor 
 reafonings that may be in their minds about 
 this matter. 4. We anfwer, that explicite 
 thoughts of Chrifts Interceflion are not alwayes 
 neceiTary, nor rcquifit for the ufe«making of ir; 
 even as we are to deilgn Gods Glory, as to our 
 main end in all our undertakings, fo we are to 
 pray in the name of Chrift ; but as it is not re- 
 quiflt that there be alwayes, and all along the 
 action, an a&ual minding of Gods glory, but 
 that being laid, as our principle , which we 
 Walk by, antf the ftrain of our walk, and con- 
 verfation tending to that end, it is and will be ac- 
 cepted before God, although there be net in, 
 and along every thing we do explicit thoughts 
 of His glory ; So is it in our p«aying in Chrifts 
 Name, and in improving of his Interceflion, 
 there may be a virtual, though not an a&ual and 
 explicit retting on it; the Soul having laid 
 down that for a ground and principle, that it's 
 not for any thing in me, that I do expect a hear; 
 
 *tf **. , , Serm. 72. 
 
 mg, but its through Cbrift, and all the con- 
 fidence that I have to be heard, it's through him; 
 
 5. We anfwer, That a poor Soul, that wots 
 not well what to do in this cafe, would eye 
 Gods promiie, to be guided in the ufe-making 
 of Chrifts Interceflion without anxiety, as it 
 is, Join 16. 26. In that day ye {hall ask m my name : 
 As if ha had faid, it hath been your fault, that 
 ye have not hitherto prayed in my name, 
 at leaft with that diftinttiiefj, that ye ought ; but 
 1 give you my word for it, ye (hall fray in my 
 namt ; and when through confufion , we are 
 ready to faint, we would eye this Promife, to 
 be guided in the ufe making of his Luerccfficn. 
 
 6. We would learn rather to hold us in onr 
 worfliipping of God , with tkat which is 
 practical, and ferves to bring us under an awe 
 and reverence of the Majcfty of God, than give 
 our felves to that which doth indifpofe and dif- 
 quiet us : And I (hall clofe all with this word, 
 that we would even admire, how Souls are car- 
 ried and. brought to Heaven, that we mould be 
 fufTcred to pray, and that God breaks not eut 
 upon us, and we would, fiudy to be deeply 
 humbled for our ignorance of God, and of 
 Chrift, and would think our felves to be much 
 in his Debt and Common, for teaching us to 
 make right ufe of Him, feing we are fo ready 
 to mifcarry, even when we defire, and endeav 
 vour to make ufe of Him. 
 
 Vcrfe 
 
 THcgre 
 r 
 Sin, 
 exec 
 
 is.' 
 
 SERMON LXXIL 
 
 ISAIAH L1II. XII. 
 
 Jndhe madt interajjton for tht trlnfgrtjfourt. 
 
 He greateft privileges that we have 
 by the Gofpel,do often hold forth 
 the greateft aggravations of our 
 Sin, as being againft fo great and 
 excellent Priviledges; New that 
 the Lord hath given us a Mcdia- 
 tor,ind that this is one part of his Mediation, to 
 wit, to make Interceflion for Tranfgreflburs, ©r 
 Sinners; is one of the great priviledges of the 
 Gofpel , is beyond all dout ; and therefore, 
 we had need to fear, left by our abufing, and. 
 not improving aright of this priviledge,it prove 
 an aggravation of our guilt: And this is the 
 laft thing that we would fpeak a word to, from 
 thefe Words ; That feing our Lordjefus is in- 
 verted with this Office , to be an Interceflbur, 
 shen it mult be a ground of Expoftulation with 
 and reproof of thefe, who lhall be found {ligh- 
 ters of His Incerccfiion ; For, if it be aDuty to 
 improve His Intcrccfli.cn, and ;f it be a Mercy 
 
 that we have it, and if many advantages be got- 
 ten by ir, then it muft be a grievous Sin , a 
 matter of juft challenge, and great fhame, that 
 Sinners (hould have fuch an Advocat and In- 
 terceflbur provided for them, to take and plead 
 their Caufe fo freely, and to manage it fo dex- 
 teroufly, as He doth, and yet to flight Him, and 
 not to put that truft in Him, as to commit 
 their Caufe to Him. 
 
 In profecuting of this Ufe, we lhall i, Shew, 
 that there is fuch a Sin, as not improving of 
 Chrifts Interceflion, and how it is fallen into. 
 
 2. The caufes of it, or whence it comes, that 
 folk fo much misken this part of Chrifts Office. 
 
 3. The great inconveniences that follow on it, 
 and the great prejudices that are fuftained by it, 
 
 4. We ftiall hint at fome fymptoms and evi- 
 dences, where this Sin is. And j. fpeak a word 
 to the remedies in opposition thereunto. 
 
 For 
 
Serm. 73; #«>* 55- 
 
 For the Ftrfl, That there is fuch a Sin, it 
 rmy be clear from a few Confideration.that may 
 be obvious to every one of us. 1. It may be 
 clear from the effeft. what is the caufe that fo 
 many come fo little fpeed in prayer, that they 
 pray, and yet get not a hearing , fo that in the 
 day of Judgement, it will be found that many 
 prayed, and that their prayers were caft back, 
 as dung upon their faces, They fought to enter, and 
 •were not able, as it is, Luke 13. And this will be 
 found to be the reafon of it, that they went to 
 God, but misken'd, or took not notice of Him, 
 who is the way, the truth, and the life ; For where 
 Chrifts Interceflion is improven, there is an ef- 
 fect following •, For God hath laid it down for 
 afoiid ground, thztwkofoeverbelievetbin himjhall 
 not ferijh, and vhatfoever ye ask in my name, it [hall 
 be granted: And therefore, where there are many 
 Petitions put up to God, and no anfwer at all, 
 there is fure a crack and default in folks making 
 life of Chrift ; For God is faithful, and will per- 
 form His promife- a. And more particularly, 
 all the Members of the vifible Church may be 
 reduced to thefe Three Ranks, and will find a de- 
 fect, as to the ufe-making of Chrifts Interceflion 
 in thsm all, though not of the fame degree, or 
 rather of the fame kind. 1. Either they are pro- 
 fane^ have not fo much as a form of Religion, 
 and fuch do (light Chrift, aid his Interccffion, 
 altogether. Or 1. They are Hypocrites , that 
 make a fafhion of prayer , but come not to God 
 by Him, but at the fliort cut proudly ilep for- 
 ward, and put up their fuits upon the account 
 of their own righceoufnefs ; as they ground their 
 Juftification on it.and not on Chrifts Satisfaction, 
 fo they put up their prayers to God on the ac- 
 count of their own Righteoufhcfs,& not on the 
 account of Chrifts Intercefsion.Or 3. They are 
 ♦fuch as have fomething of God in them, and fo 
 are Believers, and even in fuch there is often a 
 great defeft , as to this : as Chrift fayes to the 
 Difciples* John 16. 14, Hitherto ye have asked no. 
 thing in my name ; He chargeth them not (Imply 
 for not praying, He grants that, but ye have not 
 ssked in my name, that is, ye have not made ufe 
 of my Intercefsion, as ye mould have done; al- 
 though there be not fuch a defeft in them as 
 there is in the former two forrs yet there is a 
 great ftiort-coming , and not an improving of 
 Chrifts JntercefTion, as they Ihould And there- 
 r ore. 3. It will be more clear, if we confid-r 
 l e particular cafes incidenr toBelievers;whcrein 
 u will find. that but very fcrcely Chrifts Inter- 
 pn is improven in any of them ; As 1. If 
 
 ce; 
 th 
 
 Jhtvcv hath liberty in prayer , he is ready 
 w "'own on it, and to conclude that he can- 
 
 Vtrft 11. J90 
 
 not but be heard, bec'aufe he fcath lnSerty ;.and 
 there is not fo fmgle an eye made to Chrifts In- 
 tercefsion, and often it's more difficut to h«Jd 
 ofFthisSin, when liberty iserjeyed, than when 
 it is wanting: becaufe, though liberty be gcod 
 and defirablein itfelf, yet through our corrupti- 
 on, and pride it's often abufed ; even as when 
 Chriftians win to fome gocd meafure of holi- 
 nefs, it is in feme refpeft more difficult to reft 
 upon Chrifts Rightcoufnefs , than if that mea- 
 fure were not attained ; fo is it here more dif- 
 ficult, fome way to reft upon Chrifts Interceflion 
 when we have liberty in prayer, than when we 
 are in bonds, and under reftrarnt. 2. Upon the 
 other hand, if we look to a Believer when he is 
 ftraitned, and it goes not well with him in pray- 
 er ; there is then ordinarily a great defect in 
 making ufe of Chrifts Interctfliom asif it could 
 not in that cafe avail us, and upon this follows 
 anxiety and fretting, and the Believer is ready 
 to conclude, he will be nothing the better o£' ; 
 prayer, and that it is better to pray n^ne than 
 to pray fo ; whereas an eye to Chrifts Intercef- 
 fion would give the mind fome quiernefs. .3. If 
 there be an ill and very neceflitous cafey': or if 
 there be challenges, and fome commotion, dif* 
 compofure and difquiet be in thefpirirj there is 
 readily little refpett h.id to Chrift ; If quiernefs 
 and calmnefs be, there is alfo hazard of fitting 
 down on thar, and we readily forget that we 
 hold it of him; And indeed it will be found 
 difficult, eithe/tohaveor to want, and in either 
 the one cafe or the other to be making right ufe 
 of his Interceflion i Now when I fpeak ofthif 
 Sin, it not only reproves them that pray none 
 at all, which fmellsof grofs Atheifm, but alfo 
 thefe who muffle by Chrift, and ftep forward at 
 theneareft, as if they were not to come to God 
 by him; As it is, Rib. 7. 25. and John 14. 6. 
 
 2. The Caufts of this Sin,and whence it comes 
 to pafs, that folks fo flight the ufe-making of 
 Chrifts IntcrctfTion. I. There is a great difficulty 
 in the thing, it's tickle- :. There is an natural 
 averfnefs from, and enmity at that thing in us. 
 3. There is a readinefs to pitch on fome other 
 thing, and to misken, ard over-lcok this; now 
 let ail thefe Three be put together , and we will 
 fee the reafon and way, hovv folk 4lide , and fall 
 into this fault. 
 
 1. I fay there is a difficulty in the thing, it 
 being one of the moft purely fpii in al fublime 
 and denyed things in all the Go/peV ne of the 
 greateftexercifes of Faith, &we k owri ar all fuch 
 thingshave to our nature a gre;t d fficu'ry. • Ir'sa 
 difficulty to bang a man to be but foimal in 
 Religion* 
 
 F f f » j. There 
 
— - 
 
 4 oc , , */"'** n 
 
 V. There is a difficulty, when he is made formal 
 to make him ferious, even in a legal manner, 
 and to be any thing aff:cted with the exercife 
 of Repenrance, and of other duties; So r at he 
 be not grofly diflembJing. 3. When he is made 
 thus ferious, it's a difficulty to bring him over 
 that ferioulhefs ; and to draw him from refting 
 on thefe duties, which he hath been drawn to; 
 I fay, us a great and difficult work Co get a man 
 brought to the performance of holy Duties, 
 and as grtat a work to get him brought over 
 them, and from refting on them , to reft on 
 Chrift's Righteoulnefs for his Juftification, and 
 on Chrifb Intercefllon, for the acceptance of his 
 prayers ; And therefore when the Lord hath 
 once gotten His Difc-ples to pray, and honeft- 
 ly yoked and ingiged therein, He trains them 
 on to pray in his Name, and fo to get heir pray* 
 crs rightly qualified. 2. If we confider our na- 
 ture, we will find that there is an avcrfnefsand 
 backwardnefs therein to it, as there isavcrfnefs 
 in us, to all things that tend to the making us 
 deny our felves, and lay the weight of every 
 thing on Chrift; that whxh thwarts with our 
 Pride, and (lands and fticks at our ftomachs ( to 
 fpeak fo ) and goes not well down with us, nf 
 fuch nature is this, For ourufe-makingofChrifts 
 Inrerceffion implyes, that we of our felves are 
 at a diftar.ee with Gr-d , thar we have broken 
 Covenant, and are not to be trufted without a 
 Alediator, and there is in our nature a fecrct 
 fort of difdain of this \ ue cannot naturally in- 
 dure it; Hence , Rem. 10. It's faid of the Jcwr, 
 that being ignorant of Gods Righteoufnefs, that 
 they did notfubmit nor ftoop at the fame, but 
 fought toefiablifh their own RightccufneJs. 3. 
 There is a readinefs to pitch and condefcend al- 
 moft on any other Sin, rather than on this, and 
 therefore folks may be longer under it than un- 
 der many, and yet not he chall.-nged far Lying, 
 Swearing, Sabbarh bre-king, and the like, but 
 they deep more fecurely in rhis Sin than in moft 
 ethers ; it is a Sin eafily fallen into, and a Cm 
 not eafily recovered from, or win -out of, be- 
 caufc it is a Gofpel-fin, that the light of na- 
 ture reacheth not, and that the Confcicncc 
 hath notfuch an aw^n convincing of, ir'sagainft 
 natures light to neglett Prayer, or torakc Gods 
 name in vain, but this runs in the Channel of 
 the Gofpel , to pray in rhe name of Chrift, 
 and to make all our address to God through 
 Hm: The finful neglect whereof cannot be 
 "d'Tcovered, but by Gofpel-light, and we find 
 by experience, that many will be convinced of, 
 and have challenges for our-breaking of Sins, 
 who yet will have no challenges for the neglect 
 
 *"/ »• Serm. 7 , # 
 
 of this duty, Even as it is eafier fo convince 
 folks of a breach of the Law, than of not be* 
 Jieving in Chrift ; many will grant that igno- 
 rance cf God is aSin, and that irreverence, and 
 wandering in prayer are Sins, who yet will 
 ftand and ftickat this, and cannot be gotten con- 
 vinced, but that they frill believe in Chrift, and 
 make ufe of his Intercefllon. 
 
 For the Third, to wit, The Inconvenitncies 
 and Prejudices of this evil, they are very many; 
 we (hall only hint at them, for they are directly 
 oppofit to rhe good that comes by the improv- 
 ing of Chrift's Intercelfion. 1. It makes many 
 prayers to be fruitlcfs and fruftraneous, though 
 folks (hould weary themfelves in prayer, yet it 
 is all but loft labour, and the Lord will fay, as 
 it is, llaiah 1. Though ye make many prayers, yet I 
 will not hear them, if Chrifts Intercefllon be ne- 
 glected; but one word put up in Chrifts name 
 hath a gracious hearing. 2. If makes many pray- 
 ers, and other duties to be lifdefs; No duty 
 goes with folks, neither can it go with them 
 when Chrift is flighted, feing it is by Faith in 
 Him, that we have Life derived to us, where- 
 by we are made lively in every thing. 3. Ithath 
 much anxiety following on it, to be playing, 
 and to have no expectation, nor grourd of ex- 
 pectation' fa hearing j for if we look no fur- 
 ther than to fomething in our felves, it is but 
 a poor foundation of quietnefs and peace. 4. 
 It hath this prejudice, thatit injures, hahituats 
 and accuftomes us to a low efteem of Chrift, and 
 makes us Want many fweet experiences that we 
 might have of hisuicfulnefs, and worth, and it 
 fofters adif-refpect to Chrift, whereas the ufc- 
 maki r -g of his Intercelfion keeps alwayesup an 
 efteem of him, and makes the thoughts of him 
 frefli, and it is ever well with the Soul while he 
 is eftcemed of, and it isimpofllbJc it can be well 
 when he is nor in requeft. 
 
 Now, ye may eafily gather what all this aims 
 at, even that ye may not fatisfie your felves 
 with theform cf Dutie, but that ye may look 
 that it be rightly difcharged, Co as Chrift in his 
 Offices, and particularly in His Prieftly Office 
 and more particularly in this part of it, be made 
 ufe of : It may be, there are fome here that 
 have been called Chriftians thefe ;o, 30, or 40. 
 years, But I would inquire at you, what ufe 
 have ye made all f he while of Chrifts Intercefll- 
 on ? The neglect of this is a Sin againft mercy 
 a fin againft your own Souls and the caufe 
 many other Sins ; Therefore take it among y 
 other leproofs, that not only ye hive neglei 
 prayer, lived in ignorance, and taken his 
 
Serm. 72. _. 7 /^* J 
 
 in vain, but ye have alfo long profeflcd Ptirh 
 in Chrift, and yet have rot made ufe of Chrjfts 
 Interceflion ; This will be amongft your fad- 
 dcft cha.lenges when ye come to fickotfs, and 
 to your deathbeds, and ye will have it heavily 
 chirgcd on you, that there faarn. been great 
 (lighting, and m skenning of Chrift, even when 
 ye thought that ye were praying to him. 
 
 In the 4. place. To clear it yet further, we 
 Jhall I. Hint at fome fymptoms or evidences 
 of neglecting of Thrifts Interc (lion. 2. At fome 
 Characters of a Perfon that is making ufe of 
 Chrifts Interceflion aright. 3. Ac fome Directi- 
 ons that may help to rhc fuitable performance 
 of this duty, And 4. At fome Motives, and In- 
 couragement to it. 
 
 Fir (I, For the Symptoms or evidences of mif- 
 kenning, and flighting of Chrifts Interceflion. 
 J. This is one when there is little walking un- 
 der the Impreflion of the need of His Sacrifice, 
 when folks walk whole-h- arredly ( to fptck fo ) 
 and without due conviction of the d fta .ice that 
 is betwixt God and them 5 F01 Chrifts Inter 
 ceflien flows from bis Satisfaction, and the im- 
 proving rf His Satisfaction flows from the con« 
 viction of our natural diftance from God, when 
 , folks are not fenfible of their enmit) , and cf 
 their vilenefs, and fee not their need of wait- 
 ing, when they have a heal heart, few challen- 
 ges, little exercife of Repentance, and of Self- 
 loathing, it's a great evidence , that there ii lit- 
 tle or no ufe made of Chrifts Interctlfion The 
 id Symptome is deep fecuriry, and much felt 
 confidence, where thefe are, Chrifts Interceflion 
 is little, or not at all made ufe of, when a Soul 
 makes no queftion of, nor hath any doubt a* 
 bout it sown peace, or about it's pr-ying . or 
 getting a hearing : This is indeed felt-confi- 
 dence, and does flow from the f rmer, to wit, 
 Ignorance of our diftance from God; n hich is 
 clear both from experience, at d from Scripture; 
 They that make leaft ufe of Chnfts Interc<ftion, 
 and have moft csvoal co.ifid.nce, have readily 
 feweft cha'lenges: Tills the Phanf,e ftands, 
 Luke .8. a id ptayes, faying. Lord. J thank thee, 
 Cxc. Thegreareft par: of folks prayers is thanks- 
 giving on carnal grounds, v> hercas the poor Pu- 
 blican dare not come near, bur when the Phari- 
 fee ccmes L>old ! y forward, He ft an 4s a jar ojf\ 
 d fayes, Lird, he merciful to vm afiantr Who, 
 ( as if he had fad ) have a refpec I e- 
 
 nant of Grace,and Co to the improving of Chrifts 
 •teicclTon ; ir's certainly an ill r< k n r 
 Hs (it down with confidence to their 
 PJ.ers, and rife up from them without all fear 
 °* *«g denyod, and faid nay A JjJ. Sympto* 
 mc Mot making ufe of Chrifts Interceflion, is, 
 
 J Vtrf. l\> 40 1 
 
 when folk? have too much anxiety whichr is 
 a fault that a Believer ma;> eTily fall in, when 
 he hath no ground from imfelf to propofe to 
 God for a hearing, -and when he cannct anfwer 
 hisownchal/c ges, and is therefore d-.fcouraged; 
 which fayes, that he lippens no; much to Chrift, 
 and to His Interceflion^ A yb, S>mptcme i«, 
 when duties of IVorfliip become burdehfeme, 
 when it wearietri f Ik to pray, to fanctifie the 
 Lords Day, &c. When thele are fafhious and 
 cumbericme to them; the rcafon where of is, 
 becaufe they take the burden wholly . or moftly 
 on thernfeJves, and lay it not over on Cprili ; 
 whereas, were He rightly made ufeof, it would 
 be found to be a truth, That/;./ yoke is caf. 
 his buYdm light t as himfelf fohh,Matth. 11.30. 
 A cfjb. Symptome is, When folks are not thank- 
 ful for any mercy they receive, and are not 
 wondering, how it comes that they get fuch 
 mercies as they have, when they think little of 
 their dayly bread, of Ordinances, of accefs to 
 pray, &c Souls that are improving Chrifts In- 
 terceflion think much of any mercy, fcecaufe the 
 leaft mercy is quire without the icach cf the 
 merit of ought they can do, and rr.uft come to 
 them by the Mediation of another ; Thus every 
 mercy becomes a double mercy, as it is confi- 
 dered in it felf, and as it comes to them b;. 
 tue of Chrifts Interceflion, therefore the Believ- 
 er -mproving Chrifts Interceflion , wonders at 
 everything he meets with fr; m God; that he 
 is admitted to pray, or to praife, for he knows, 
 that it's f.om free- grace, thus admitting Sinners 
 through, and by a Mediator. 
 
 As to the 2d. To wit, the Characters, or evi- 
 dences of a perions making ufe of Chrifts In- 
 terteflion, T^e I. may be this, a conftantufe- 
 makingof Chrifts Satisfaction, when the Soul is 
 never quier, bur when it hath a refpect to that, 
 and ( his uie.making of Chrifts Satisfaction hath 
 i i', always cither more implicitly, or more ex- 
 prtfly, an ufe maki g of his Interceflion, and 
 leaves the weight of duties and mercies 1 pen 
 Him ; Hence a Soul will he under through con- 
 viction of it's enmity, and very much ed<;cd 
 and eager in its deftres after peace, and.uiJl 
 lave expectation of obtaining ii through h'm. A 
 ut t Evidence is, when f. k in rheirapprcich«s 
 ro God, have Faith and £e« going together ; 
 Anxiery and Fear withi it 1 aith are not rood, 
 and tfel ^confidence ujthoit Fear is II ill"; I'ut 
 when Faith and Pear go rogcther, it's good, . 
 Pear aiifing from the impp Aionof cur 
 worthinefs, and discovered diftance, and Faith 
 fio'm the difcovcy of Chrifts folinefs, kerpir g 
 the mind quiet, looking ovei its own unwc 
 
 08, s. ntff 
 

 -** 
 
 4#i , &** M. 
 
 net's, to His worthinefs, like that fpoken of 
 Ktdh, Ihb. ll. Byf'ith Utah mived with f(*r, prt* 
 tired an *rk: Prefumption will not hold up 
 with Fear: and therefore, when theHypociite 
 is angered, he turns anxious , becaufe the 
 groiin/rhat he leans to is fhaken : neither is that 
 which is fuppoftd to be Fzirh gcod without 
 Fear, for it turns ro fecu ity, but fear is good, 
 having confidence mixed 'vitli ir, for it layeSi 
 that there is aUppcnin-j to tome what elfe than 
 any thing in the Souls fcrf 3. They that make 
 u.'e aright of Chrifts Interctflion, betake them- 
 felves to it, when in a manner th?y have given 
 over, and been formerly hopelcfs, like thefe 
 fpoken of, Pfal. 107, Then they cry in their dijirefs, 
 &c. Miny have a confidence, bscaufethcy were 
 never br^ng'ed ncr fliajcen,& have win to quet. 
 "rcIs this way , even as it is in the matter of 
 'making peac^with God, many will profefsthat 
 t,hey alwayeshad it, even from their youthup, 
 they never doubted of it, which fpeaks its un- 
 foundnefs ; but it is a folid evidence of Faith, 
 wnen the Soul hath once b?en brangled and 
 fiiaken, and this gives it confidence, that Chrift 
 hathfatisfied, and makes Intercefllon, and they 
 betake thtmfelves to that. 4. Where Chrifts In- 
 tercefiicn is improven and made ufe of, it will 
 be ground of rejoycing, and comfort to think 
 on it, when Souls themfelves can do little, be- 
 ing bound up, and under bonds, yet they cheer 
 themfelves, and blcfs God, that they know 
 they have an Advocat » I apprehend there 
 are many to whom it was never refrefhful, nor 
 matter of glad.nefs, that He is an Advocat, or 
 that He ftands in fuch a relation to plead for 
 Sinners, furcly fuch have not made ufe ofHim. 
 A $th. Evidence is this, When any thing is at- 
 tained, the improving of Chrifts Intercefllon 
 m^kes thankful and humble, if the Soul have 
 liberty, it is net puffed up with it, becaufe it 
 confiders , that it's a mercy come through 
 Chrifts IntercelTion, it hath received it, and 
 therefore fhould net boaft; it's no? t:fhi own 
 procurement, but it's obliged to rree grace for 
 it. 6. The Soul that is improvingChrifts Inter- 
 cefllon, when it obtains nor, it gives not over, 
 but continues adhering and waiting for attain- 
 ing of th3t which he is feeking ; the caufe of 
 fuch a Perfcn is never quite defperat : if it be 
 a thing conditional, it's fubmifllve; if it be Am- 
 ply necefTary, it's dependent, and will not quite, 
 nor give over, becaufe, though it obtain not to 
 day, it knows it's poffible to attain it, and that 
 it will in due time be attained ; it layes not the 
 Weight of it's obtaining on its own prayers, but 
 on Chrifts Purchafc and Intercefllon : And 
 though tkc Believer may be fame times a fault* 
 
 IW «* Serm. 71 
 
 td, and fet upon, to quit his fuit, and then his* 
 Faith is brangled, yet he leaves it notfo, 7. It 
 is a d fficulty to the Believer, to get Chrifts In- 
 terctfllon rightly depended on, and made ufe of 
 when he prays, this isas great a difficulty to him, 
 as to get words, and greater : As it is one pieca 
 of his exercife in prayer, to get words, affw&ion 
 and reverence, lo it is another piece of his exer* 
 cife to get his prayer accepted through Chrifts 
 IntercelTion : it is here as in Juftiflcation, it is 
 one part of his exercife to do Duty, and another 
 part of his exercife to be denyed to it, and made 
 to betake himfclf to Chrifts Rightcoufnefs allen- 
 arly for his acceptation ; but other Perfons that 
 make not ufe of Chrifts Intercefllon, if they get 
 words, and any a bit of tendernefs, they think 
 all is well enough i But it is a Believers exercife, 
 to fee that his mind mifcarry not in the ufc- 
 making of Chrift. 8. Souls that are improving 
 Chrifts Intercefllon, their confidence is not up 
 or down, according to their liberty , words or 
 reafons, they win to make ufe of in prayer,but 
 they are up or down, according as they win to 
 get the thing they feek committed to Chrift ; 
 Hence a word or lock willfometimes quiet the 
 Soul, when at another time many hours pray- 
 er will not do it; For this is fure, fo long as 
 the thing refls on our felves , the Soul gets 
 never a kindly lair, & that which purs it off our 
 felves over on Chrift, is the exercife of Faith, 
 and not Liberty, nor the multitude of Words, 
 at another time a Believer will rife from pray- 
 er, and not ferioufly look, whether Chrift have 
 been depended on, or not, but is quiet, becaufe 
 he hath prayed; whereas, when Chrifts Inter* 
 cefllon is improven, he is quiet ©n that ground, 
 that it isGod that is prayed to, through Chrift ; ' 
 it's tha* which gives him ground of confidence 
 to expect a hearing, and on that his Soul reftr, 
 when he hath done praying: And therefore we 
 would commend this to you, in place of many 
 qusftions that might be moved on what ye have 
 heard, even to carry a diftintt anfwer in your 
 bofom to thefe Two, whether when ye are going 
 to pray, or when ye have done with prayer, i. 
 To whom are ye to pray, or have ye been pray- 
 ing ? That it's the great God, that one God, the 
 Maker of all things, who ought alone to be 
 wotfhipped , that being properly, and formally 
 the Objctt of your Worfhip, and particularly 
 of this your prayer. 2. Up»n what ground do ye 
 hazard ro put up a fuit to this great God, an 
 what is it that gives you confidence to expect 
 anfwer ? It's that, not for any Righteoufnefs 
 Worth in your felves, or in your prayers 
 for Jefus Chrift, for his Satisfaction and I 
 
 ce;' 
 
 
wer 
 
 For the Third thing, What is it that will help 
 us to make ufe of Chnft's Iuterccffion ? Jftjfc 
 confider that it's our duty , Souls often mind 
 nor that God hath not fimply bidden them 
 pray, but commanded them to pray m the name 
 efCurift; He hath not bidden )ou fimply ap- 
 proach to him, but to approach to Him, in and 
 by Chrift; this would be rcmembr 
 
 forget the half of our duty, Co wit, the 
 
 - to God, which is a 
 We would 
 
 elfe we 
 man- 
 
 neTnow we Ihould come 
 main, if oot themain part or it. 2 
 remember , and think upon our condition by 
 nature, thai upon the one fide, God 1$ a con- 
 fuming fire, and we on the other like dry flub- 
 ble, and that there is no approaching to Him 
 without a Mediator ; there were the Ms hazard 
 of going wrong, if folk were walking under 
 the fuitable impreffion of their finfulncfs and 
 mifery by nature; the want whereof makes too 
 much forwardnefs, inftepping to God without 
 Chrift ; Therefore we commend to you all, and 
 efpscially when ye* go to prayer, to endeavour 
 to b-under deep imprcfilons of your own fin- 
 fulncfs, and bafenefs; As we fee it was with 
 Abraham, Gen, 18. Bsbold, now I have t*Kf* enmt 
 U fpeak t$ the Lord, who am but siuji and ojhts. 3. 
 Mind the promife of God's hearing you through 
 Chrift, and His promife of leading youinaflnc- 
 cefTary truth, and fo to perform duty in this 
 manner ; Mind 1 fay, 1 . The promife of hear- 
 ing, that it's not a promife lo hear us fijnply in 
 what we pray for, but in wh* *e pray for with 
 other requifit qualifications olpraycr, a.-.d with 
 thiff in particular j That it bcin Cniift s N<mk*f 
 Hence is, A-kinginhis nawe,lo often mention- 
 ed, John 14. -v. 13, 14. aad 16 v 23, 24, 26 To 
 mind that there is apiomifc or hearing, draws 
 a Soul to pray to God , and to mind that the 
 Promife is mide ro praying thus qualified, to 
 |i wit, that it be in ChrifYs Name, binds the Soul 
 i to this way, becaufe other wife it forfaults the 
 li Promife, if it obferve not the due qualification; 
 i. I fear there are too many, who look on thePro- 
 mife as abfolute ; It's tme, though there are ab- 
 folute Promifcs in the Covenant, yet there are 
 othcrPromifes that have qualifications and con- 
 ditions, whereof this anent hearing of prayer is 
 one^and we. arc to cxpeft the performance of 
 the Piomife, when we feek after the qualificati- 
 on and condition. 2. Mind Charts Promife 
 
 WW* li. 4«3 
 
 whereby he ruth mgaged, as to lead us in all 
 neccflaiy truth, fo in this part of it, to put up 
 your Prayers in His Name, John i5, 24. In that 
 
 dayytjhul ask in my name ; To confider aright 
 of this Piomife , gives feme" ground of confi- 
 dence to win at the performance of it, and holds 
 the Soul in dependence on him, and makes it 
 to be quiet in the duty of improving Chnft's 
 Interceflion ; and indeed this is a main part of 
 Religion : Learn therefore to put thefe things 
 together, Frjl, Think it a mercy, that ye have 
 a warrand and accefs to pray. 2. That ye have 
 a Piomife to be heard 3. That ye have a Medi- 
 ator to intcrcetd for you. 4. That a Promife is 
 given you to learn how to make ufe of Him, 
 and that though theufe-making of His Inter* 
 ceffion aright be difficult, and many do misken 
 and miftake it,yet that by- the eyeing of thePro- 
 m fe, ye may win to the right ufe.making of it; 
 ye would by any means eye the Promife, that 
 ye be not miftak«.n; it may be there is a look 
 now and then to Liberty, and it is good in it 
 felf, but there may be a defect, here, That ye 
 look net to Chrift to be helped to pray with li- 
 berty, and to be guided to pray in His Name, 
 fo ss to lay the weight of your being heard on 
 ChrilVs Inrerceflion. # 
 
 4(7. Whrn there hath been an eyeing of the 
 Promife, not only for the thing we feek, but 
 alfo to be guided in thefceking of it, ye would 
 be often taking a review of your (elves in, and 
 afrer prayer, whether yc be indeed praying, and 
 / ave prayed in Chrift's Name, that when the 
 Soul looks back, and fees that it hath much mif- 
 kened and ncglecred Chrift, it may take it felf 
 in this evil, and difclaimit, and fettle it felf on 
 aright ground j In a word, there would be 
 leoking well on the one fide , that Jefus Chrift 
 be the ground we bui'd on, and on the other 
 fide, that when we eye Chrift, and build o» 
 Him, we be not afraid ro hazard on Him; For 
 into one of thefe ex . cams wc readily run,either 
 to lippen and ?• to feme other thing than 
 Chrift, or, if/ no othur thing to lean and 
 
 lippen to, and be ncceftirat ro eye Him, wedif- 
 truft Him, and are* loath to hazard on Him. 
 
 sb. And Jaftly, if u-e confider well, wc will 
 fee good ground, 1. To prefs. a« To encourage 
 us to this way, not to be doing duty only, as 
 men under the Caw, but asChnftian, menun- 
 d rtheGofpel, with refpeft to ChriftsSatisfacri*. 
 on & Inrerceflion; And, F"jl, For preffing it,con* 
 fidcr that there is a neccflity of it in reference 
 to as many prayers asarc accepted or God : if it 
 be neeeflary to get a hearing, it's neccfljry ro pray 
 inChnft'sNamCjicmay be many think it to be but 
 
 an 
 
 __^. 
 
—T^ 
 
 404 Jf*>* 53 
 
 sfn indifferent thing, that wc have been prtfling, 
 
 • VUtthc while that wc have been Jpcaking of 
 Chriih Interceflion; but indeed it's of more mo- 
 ment than our prcfling you tp any external 
 duty, for the external duty of prayer, though 
 ic muft needs begone about, is yet but the car- 
 cafe, this is the Soul and Lite of Prayer, and 
 therefore let me exhort and obtelt you, never 
 to iatiifie your fclves with a legal performance 
 of the mofb fpiritual duties in themfelves, ex- 
 cept ye win to a Chriftian way of performing 
 them, that is, that they be done in ChrifVs 
 ftrengtb, and tharye reit on Him, for the ac- 
 ceptance of them, it's as neceflary to worfhip 
 God in and by the Mediator, as it is t© wor- 
 fhip the only true God, and not to worlhip a 
 falfe or ftrange gcd. I make no queftion but 
 moft part of the hearers of the Gofpel , do de- 
 (troy themfelves here, by refting on their legal 
 performances, and not making ufe of Chrift. 
 2- For your incouragement, confider that it is 
 mod advantagiousand profitable; Thefe words 
 in the Piomiie are broad and full, Whatfoever ye 
 ask in my name x I will do it, and the Promife is 
 frequently repeated in thefe forecitcd Chapters 
 o£j9hw f O! what calmnefs, tranquillity » peace, 
 viftory over anxiety, wtiat patience in waiting, 
 whether when in bonds or liberty, do flow from 
 the exerciftng of Faith on this ground, to wit, 
 That we have an Advocat in Heaven with the 
 Father; Further confider the great ground of 
 confidence that hath been given us, that we 
 fliall come fpeed in this way, which fliould ftir 
 
 • r«f- '*• Serm. ?*: 
 
 us up, hearten and incounge us to it, which 
 will manifeftly appear, if we joyn thefe Two to- 
 gether, , 1. That this blcfled Advocat is our 
 Jirother, that He was made like unto us in all 
 tilings except Sin, that He is a fellow-feeling 
 high i'rieft, that is touched with our Infirmi- 
 ties, that He refufcth to grant no fuits of His 
 People, that arc for His glory, and their good, 
 that He faves all to the uttermoft that come un- 
 to God by Him , none could ever fay, that Ha 
 refufed to take their Caufe in hand, when they 
 indeed committed it to Him, it cannot but car- 
 ry, and be fucceiful, for as He is Man, fo He 
 is God, and He Is heard alwayes; This blelTed 
 Mediator ( aslfaid juftnow ) refufcth the fuit 
 of none, and n« fuit is refufed Him : Andnow, 
 what can we fay more to you, for your up-ftir- 
 ring and incouragment to make ufe of Him? 
 It is no (tranger that we have to go to, and 
 t?iere is good ground of confidence, that when 
 we go, we fhall come fpeed ; Therefore let Him 
 ever be gone unto more and more, and blefs 
 God heartily, that He hath given fuch an high 
 Prieft unto Sinners, Who is able to Jave to the ut- 
 termoft, all that come unto God through him : to this 
 God, who can effectually teach us to make ufe 
 of the Mediator every wa/, and particularly'in. 
 His Interceilion, fuitably and fuccesfully ; and, 
 who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all voe 
 ask, or think, according to the power that worketh in 
 us, bi glory in the Church bf Chrifl Jefut, throughout 
 all aget , world without tnd. *men. 
 
 fin I s. 
 

 
 
 404